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21 - Battle for Bankai! Ichigo Loses?
Ichigo Kurosaki went flying backwards, catching his footing and skidding across the sky. From his face, his mask crumbled, the boy panting heavily, blood running from his mouth as his hair fell over his face. He held himself up, hands on his knees, his back heaving as he breathed slowly.
'I don't even know how long I've been in here anymore…' he thought to himself, sweat dripping from his forehead as he looked up wearily, gritting his teeth. Stepping down in front of him upon the skyscraper was Tensa Zangetsu, the young spirit swinging his black sword in front of him, his cloak whirling around him like wispy flames. Narrowing his eyes, he stared Ichigo down before scoffing in disgust.
'Hmph. It looks like you can't win. That was supposed to be the blow to end the fight. But you can barely move.' Tensa Zangetsu said coldly, Zangetsu appearing behind him, his oversized weapon out by his side. Tensa looked back at the older man, raising an eyebrow. 'You want to finish him?' he asked, but Zangetsu looked up, tilting his head.
'Finish him? He…' the spirit said slowly, his eyes lifting up to look past the young man and straight at Ichigo. '…doesn't look finished yet.' Zangetsu said darkly, Tensa Zangetsu's eyes widening in shock as Ichigo's gleaming blade came speeding towards him. Instinctively, Tensa Zangetsu darted backwards, avoiding the sword narrowly. Kicking down on the floor, Kurosaki changed his direction, swinging his shining zanpakuto sideways, aiming for Tensa Zangetsu's head.
'What…!' Tensa Zangetsu choked, diving beneath the sword and looking up sharply, aiming his own weapon upwards. However, Ichigo was suddenly gone, Zangetsu appearing behind of Tensa Zangetsu, the sound of metal clashing upon metal ringing throughout the area.
'You need to look behind you, Tensa.' Zangetsu instructed, the younger spirit scowling as he watched Ichigo pushing down on Zangetsu. Tensa Zangetsu looked at Ichigo, the boy's eyes weary, with bags appearing beneath them, his hair matting over his face, sweat and blood running down his cheeks. His teeth were bared and he was shaking, but still pushing against the opponent.
'He's clearly weakened beyond belief…' Tensa Zangetsu thought to himself. '…and yet, we cannot defeat him. Why?' The spirit thought as he smashed into Ichigo's blade, the orange haired substitute back flipping and summoning his Hollow mask again in a wave of red and black reiatsu. The two locked blades again, Ichigo leaping over his zanpakuto spirit, Tensa Zangetsu twisting around to lock weapons again, sparks flying as the two thrashed against one another, swinging wildly, leaping and darting about the area.
'Is it because of his resolve?' Tensa thought, swiping at the boy, Ichigo catching the Bankai in his bare hand. Tensa's eyes widened, the zanpakuto spirit cursing as he span round, landing a firm kick into Ichigo's chest. Spiralling backwards, Kurosaki picked himself up and was instantly back in front of his foe.
'Is it because of his sisters?' Tensa cursed, ramming his hilt into Ichigo's chest, the boy spluttering, his mask exploding, the chunks flying around them, time seeming to slow down around the two. Narrowing his eyes, Tensa smirked. 'Whatever it is…he's lost.' He thought, watching Ichigo begin to fall back. Suddenly, Ichigo reached out and grasped Tensa Zangetsu's hilt, the spirit's eyes widening in shock. With a thrust, Ichigo hauled him towards him, the spirit choking as Ichigo raised his shikai, bringing it down with an almighty swing, crying out wildly, Tensa cursing.
'Aaaaaargh!' Ichigo roared, slashing Tensa Zangetsu down the middle, blood erupting out of the spirit's chest. Fazed, Tensa hung for a second in mid air. Then, in an instant, he lashed out, stabbing Ichigo through the heart with his zanpakuto, Ichigo spluttering, the thin, black katana bursting out of his back. Opening his eyes, Tensa watched Kurosaki, the boy hunched over, clutching the sword that impaled him. Slowly, Tensa began to fade away, turning to dust in front of them.
'You win, Kurosaki Ichigo. I have delved into your heart and realised your resolve. I have realised you truly want to save your sisters and truly want our help. Well done.' Tensa whispered to Ichigo before closing his eyes and vanishing into the air around them, Ichigo still grasping a hold of the sword in his chest. Waltzing over to the boy, Zangetsu looked down at him.
'So…you did it.' Zangetsu said, Ichigo chuckling, looking up to the spirit.
'Did you ever doubt me, Old man Zangetsu?' the boy smirked, the spirit raising an eyebrow. 'But…there's something I don't get…' Ichigo piped up as Zangetsu turned to walk away. '…you barely tried to attack me. You were watching almost the whole time and…I've been using my shikai for the entire fight. It's almost like you didn't want to fight me.' Ichigo wondered. Zangetsu had his back to him, but a smile crept along the spirit's face.
'It did seem like that, didn't it?' Zangetsu said simply, walking away from the boy, his cloak slowly wrapping around the man as he walked away. Turning to look at Ichigo, he smirked at the boy. 'Your sisters were kidnapped and are in the Fake Karakura Town.' Zangetsu revealed, Ichigo's eyes widening. 'Ah…it feels nice to be free of rain…and the Hogyoku, again, at last.' Zangetsu whispered before being swallowed up by his jet black cloak and disappearing into the sky altogether, the sword in Ichigo's chest slowly vanishing along with him. At that moment, the black sword seemed to flow into the boy and he felt a sudden change in his spiritual pressure. His eyes flared blue and he pounced upwards, aiming for the sky, the clouds coming ever closer until, finally, they shattered all around him and the boy breathed the cold air once more.
Meanwhile, in the centre of Karakura, Uryu was watching Ulquiorra atop the rooftop, his eyes shifting to the ball of smoke which Barragan had disappeared into again. Cursing, he watched as the smoke rolled aside, the monstrous king stepping free. However, Ishida gasped as he looked on, an enormous crack in the skeleton's head.
'Damn you…you pathetic excuse for an Arrancar!' snarled Luisenbarn, looking down at Ulquiorra. Turning to Harribel, Barragan clenched his fists. 'Harribel! Kill them! All of them down there! I'm about ready to wrap this up.' the Espada demanded, Tia rooted to the spot, baring her teeth, her eyes challenging the king. 'DO IT!' Barragan exploded, unleashing a torrent of Respira into the surrounding area, houses and buildings rotting away.
'There are people in those houses…!' Uryu cursed, looking around. Shaking her head, Harribel looked over at Uryu, the boy preoccupied.
'I'll finish it…it will be painless. The boy won't even need to know…' she thought to herself. In her head, she was instantly reminded of Starrk's fall from the sky and shook herself down, ready to make sure she wasn't next. Aiming her weapon at Uryu, she lifted off from the ground and barrelled towards the boy, Ishida turning slowly, his eyes widening as he saw her come speeding towards him, poised to kill.
'Damn! I can't dodge her at this speed!' Uryu grimaced, bracing himself for the blow. However, there came nothing. Opening his eyes, the boy gasped, a figure standing in his way. Holding out his arms, Ryuken Ishida was in front of his son, Harribel's blade running him through. His light blue hair hung down his face as he breathed weakly, sweat dribbling down his chin. Harribel pulled her sword out from him, the blood splattering down onto the floor in front of him, the Quincy falling to his knees. Everyone watched in horror, Uryu's eyes shaking in fear.
'F…father…?' he whispered. Ryuken began to fall, but Uryu caught him, holding the man up. 'Father…say something…!' he snapped. Ryuken's eyes opened lightly and he smiled weakly at the boy, tears running down his cheeks.
'U…Uryu…' he wheezed, the boy nodding. '…what did I do, Uryu? What…what did I become? I haven't been a father to you…and for that…I'm so sorry…' Ryuken whispered, Uryu shaking his head.
'I haven't been a son either, father. Please…stay with me…' he whispered, Ryuken's eyes fading slowly. '…father?' he whispered again, looking at Ryuken, the man placing a hand on Uryu's shoulder.
'T…take care of your friends Uryu…it's rare…to find friends who will accept you so…even if you're different…it's rare…' he breathed faintly, his voice low on the wind. Uryu held him tightly, but he could feel the warmth of his father's blood seeping onto his hands. Harribel watched from behind them, a saddened look on her face as she shook her head, her yellow hair falling down her cheeks.
'I can't believe…I tried to kill you…what a fool…I know you will probably never forgive me…and…I know you will always hate me…I failed you as a father and I know this one gesture won't return the love for you I have…stolen over…the years. But at least…' Ryuken whispered, looking up at his son, tears dripping from Uryu's eyes. '…you can fight on with your friends and bring true honour to the Quincy…much unlike I did.' The elder Quincy whispered, Uryu holding him close, sobbing as the man's hand slowly fell from his son's shoulder.
'FATHER!' Ishida cried, shaking his head, Inoue holding her hands to her mouth in horror as Uryu looked down at his dad, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. Everyone was silent now, watching the two in the centre of Karakura. Urahara opened his eyes, looking over to the two. Shaking his head, he clenched his fist and sighed heavily, taking off his hat and holding it by his chest. Uryu's fingers clenched his father's shirt tightly and then, he looked down at the man, the Seele Schneider still sticking out of him. Tears in his eyes still, Uryu pulled the weapon from his father and lay the man on the ground, placing the weapon in between his father's arms.
'I'm sorry…father…I couldn't prevent you from the path you took. Maybe if I had been a better son, things would be different. At least in death, I hope I can make you proud.' Uryu thought to himself, standing to his feet. Behind him in the sky above, Barragan looked down upon him, chuckling.
'Hmm…missed your target Harribel. Never mind, that's one more down anyway.' the skeleton sniggered, Uryu turning round to face him, clenching his fists. Summoning a bow, Uryu aimed it at Barragan, firing off a barrage of arrows, each one rotting away to nothing before even striking the villain. Cursing, the boy summoned his Seele Schneider and prepared to leap at the enemy but he felt someone tug at his arm. Looking down, he saw Harribel holding onto him.
'Stop it. Don't be a fool.' she said simply, looking up at the boy. 'I know you won't listen to me, but you don't know what you're going up against. You don't want to die right now, do you?' she asked, Uryu pulling away from her.
'That's funny, coming from you. You're the biggest coward I've seen here today. You killed my father because you were too afraid of this bastard. I'm coming for you next.' Uryu said dangerously, speeding towards Barragan, Harribel scowling at him.
'Tch…are you, kid?' she spat. Uryu rocketed towards Barragan, launching more arrows at him, the skeleton watching them burn away in front of him, laughing at his foe. The Quincy vanished as he got too close, Luisenbarn turning slowly, Uryu behind him.
'You're a slow learner.' Barragan bemused, chuckling under his breath. He reached out and grasped Uryu's Seele Schneider with his bare hand, the energy fizzing and spitting before disappearing, the handle rotting away, Uryu letting go just in time to see the weapon crumble into nothing.
'Damn it…' Uryu thought to himself, looking down at his hand. 'I don't have the will to fight anymore. We failed you, Kurosaki. We couldn't protect Karakura…' Uryu thought to himself, clenching his hand into a fist. Opening his eyes in a fury, the Quincy ran at Barragan, summoning another Seele Schneider to his hand in a burst of blue lights, twirling the weapon.
'I WILL KILL YOU!' he snapped, poised to strike out. Suddenly, someone crashed into him, the Quincy landing hard on the floor, the figure on top of him standing up, brushing some dust off his shoulder. Uryu's eyes fluttered open, his glasses askew. '…who…?' he wondered, his vision blurred by the sun.
'Yo.' came the voice, Uryu's eyes widening. Standing above him was Ichigo, the boy draped in his long, black coat, the thin, jet black katana in his hand, shimmering in the light, reflecting off of Uryu's glasses. Ichigo was smiling warmly down at him, his orange hair blowing softly in the wind.
'K…Kurosaki-kun…?' Orihime whispered, looking over at him, the boy standing tall over the Quincy.
'Y…you…' Uryu began, looking up at Ichigo. '…you hit me…?' he spluttered, Ichigo's face dropping.
'You were about to run into that guy, I've seen what he can do!' Kurosaki sniggered, but then his smile faded and his brown eyes shot over to Ryuken's body. He didn't say anything, but Uryu knew he saw it.
'Kurosaki…' the Quincy began, but Ichigo shook his head firmly.
'Forget it. You don't have to tell me anything. It's your family. It's your honour. I wouldn't know how to ask anyway without traipsing over your feelings and covering them with dirt. So until the day comes where you want to talk about what has happened here, I can wait.' Ichigo said simply, the wind blowing through his hair, Uryu watching him awe.
'He really has changed…Ichigo has truly changed since the battle…well done, Kurosaki…' Uryu thought to himself, Ichigo's black cloak billowing in the wind. The two turned around as someone touched down on the ground behind them, Ulquiorra walking over to them, one of his leg's almost turned completely to bone. Ichigo looked at him in surprise.
'U…Ulquiorra…' he spluttered, his eyes looking down at the Arrancar. '…your leg…' he wondered, the Hollow shaking his head.
'That's not important, Kurosaki Ichigo. What is important, is that you're now here. Now we can finally end this.' Ulquiorra nodded to Ichigo, the boy looking at him in awe. Then he turned his head, looking over at Orihime, the girl still trying to heal Tatsuki. Finally, Ichigo nodded and looked back at Ulquiorra.
'You're right. It's time to clean this place up. Then I can rescue my sisters.' Ichigo grinned, Ulquiorra nodding, smirking slightly. The two of them turned to Barragan, the skeleton cursing as Ichigo raised his sword, Ulquiorra summoning a fiery lance to his hand.
'Let's go, Ulquiorra. It's time to wrap this up.' Ichigo smirked, the two of them ready to fight.
Ace Aero, animelover1993, gundamzbd36, Kitsune-242, Nickstar1991, Ulquiorra-quatro, 7500fx, beyondrepent, Firemage1000, Illidan the Half Demon, Mjjshade, Neko of Death, TheUnseenProphet and Unleash the Shadow can you guys please review, it's greatly appreciated! Thank you!