I've been getting review on how my Espada are overpowered, and you fears are justified. But if I don't say this now, I fear I'll lose my reader. YES, the shinigami will win some of the battles; you'll just have to wait for part two of each battle. On a side note, please vote for the poll on my profile page.
Toshiro stood in the air as the wind flapped at his haori. Rangiku stood by his side with her hand on her sword. Across from them stood a man with striking silver hair, and on his face was a silver mask with no semblance of a face. He wore a white hakama and his robe opened in a narrow 'V' down to his waist, closed to below the hips, and then open again to the hem, which fell to mid-calf. His robe had long bell sleeves.
"Are you ready, Matsumoto?" Toshiro's voice was as calm and collected as ever.
"Of course, Taicho." Rangiku drew her sword as Toshiro slowly did the same.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya, Taicho of the tenth squad." He put his guard up.
"Rangiku Matsumoto-fukutaicho of the tenth squad."
The man across from them folded his arms so that they were hidden in his sleeves. His blank mask conveyed no emotion. "Nobu; it's a pleasure to meet you, Hitsugaya."
Hitsugaya blew at the hair that hung over his forehead. "I wish I could say the same."
"Aww, now that hurt my feelings."
"This is a war; don't try to get friendly with me." Hitsugaya calmly shot back.
Nobu sighed heavily. "You're so cold."
Hitsugaya ignored the pun "Matsumoto, you ready?" He pointed his zanpakuto at Nobu.
"Of course, Taicho." She gripped her wrist with her other hand, ready to release.
Nobu pulled his hands out of his sleeve. In his right hand, he held a small wakizashi with a unique S-shaped guard.
"Let's begin." Nobu jumped forward with his sword held high. He brought his blade down upon Toshiro's head.
Hitsugaya placed his forearm on the flat of his blade in order to block the strike. "Nice strike." Toshiro grunted.
"Thanks," Nobu jumped up and back to avoid Rangiku's attack. She quickly pulled her sword back so she didn't strike Hitsugaya. "Nice try; Rangiku-chan." He kicked her into a nearby building, burying her in rubble.
"Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyourinmaru!" Toshiro appeared behind Nobu and hit him with a large beast of ice.
Nobu turned around and caught the dragon's jaw, keeping it open as he was pushed down into the street. His back crashed into the street. He held the beast back, but ice slowly climbed onto his hands. "Damn…" Nobu muttered beneath his breath. The beast shattered on itself, burying Nobu in a mound of ice.
Hitsugaya dove down and stabbed the pile of ice, burying his blade deep into Nobu's stomach. Hitsugaya left the blade where it was and sighed. He opened his eyes as he heard a high pitched whistle below him. He leaned to the right, and a flash of white light extended into the air; grazing his cheek. Toshiro jumped back with wide eyes as Nobu retracted the strike and shattered the ice pile.
He stood relatively unscathed, save for a growing red circle on his stomach. Nobu gently prodded the wound in his stomach. "Not bad, Shiro-chan. This isn't very deep though."
None of what Nobu said registered in Toshiro's mind. That strike… Hitsugaya thought. Impossible...
Hitsugaya was dragged out of his thoughts as he felt Nobu close in on him. He blocked the attack and slide a few feet as he clashed. Toshiro locked eyes with Nobu's blank mask. "You're strong, Espada; but that won't change the outcome of this battle." Toshiro sidestepped, allowing Nobu to stumble past him.
"You're right..." Nobu turned and narrowly blocked the incoming attack. "…it won't change the outcome." Nobu spun on his heel and ended up behind Toshiro, allowing him to slash his back.
Toshiro turned to face his opponent, only to be met with a flurry of strikes. He blocked and avoided most of them, but several grazed his chest. He jumped back and threw the crescent moon blade.
Nobu effortlessly blocked it, but this caused the chain to float around his blade and entangle it. "Damn!" His released his sword as Hitsugaya pulled back, causing the moon to cut along his arm. He flung the chain, leaving Nobu's sword embedded in the ground a block away.
Nobu dove forward and caught Hitsugaya's wrist.
Toshiro didn't react to the assault and merely smirked, surprising Nobu. Hitsugaya jumped up revealing Matsumoto behind him.
Nobu grimaced in pain as he received a clean strike straight across his chest. Fresh blood shot from the new wound. He disappeared with a burst of Sonido and grabbed his sword, and then he stepped back and began to slide. "I don't enjoy combat. I don't hate it, either, but I don't enjoy it." His reiatsu began to rise. "I've been given a very important task that does not involve you." His sword glowed bright. "Shoot 'im dead; Dios Matando Lanza(God Killing Spear/Lance)!" Nobu disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Toshiro leaned to the right and caught a piece of metal headed for his face. He examined it and realized it was Nobu's silver mask. He tossed it aside and raised his sword. "Daiguren Hyourinmaru!" he yelled to the heavens. Rangiku once again released her sword. Toshiro stood waiting for his opponent.
The swirling torrent of reiastu around Nobu dissipated. Nobu's shirt had torn off and he stood with his arm out to the right, which had become covered in white armor. It was narrow and perfectly round, like a spear, with a protrusion that extended from his elbow, and touched his shoulder.. His hand has three fingers which closed to create a perfect point. The armor extended from his shoulder, across his neck, and covered his other shoulder. His right chest was covered and the chest plate gradually went up and to the right, leaving his left pectoral exposed. A large three was emblazoned across his chest. Despite the revelation of his rank, this was not what surprised the combatants. They stared at his uncovered face. It was narrow, with thin lips curled up in a slight smile, and silver eyes.
"Gin! Impossible!" Toshiro turned to Rangiku, "Run, Matsumoto, he's too stro…" He paused when he saw the tears welling up in her eyes.
Nobu popped his jaw. "I really hated that mask. Why on earth did Reina-sama force me to wear it?" He looked forward. "Oh, how you doing, Rangiku-chan?" He put emphasis on the last syllable.
Rangiku reformed her zanpakuto without a thought. She shoved away Hitsugaya's hand and stood up. "Why are you here, who the hell are you? Gin died ten years ago, no matter how much I want to believe you are him, I know it's not true!" Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Who are you?"
Nobu placed his arm across his chest and rubbed his fingers together. "I am Nobu Ichimaru. I'm not pretending to be him, I just happen to look like him apparently." Nobu pointed at Rangiku. "I have been given a much more important task than fighting you. Now die!" In an instant, Rangiku's blood spilt from a hole in her stomach. It had happened so quickly that she hadn't even felt it. Nobu's arm still resided in her stomach.
"Wha-what, how?"
"Matsumotooooooo! Toshiro slashed at Nobu's arm, and hit nothing. He looked at his opponent, and saw him lick the fresh blood off his hand.
"Don't even bother. Assuming you could hit my arm, it's the strongest part of my body, and you can't cut it."
The words traveled past him, as Toshiro examined the wound in Rangiku's stomach. Matsumoto was breathing heavily. "Matsumoto, retreat now. You don't stand a chance against him."
"No tai-."
"That's an order, Matsumoto!" Toshiro stared into the eyes of his ally.
Wordlessly, Rangiku turned and retreated to a nearby rooftop. It the most she could manage with such a wound.
Hitsugaya turned to face his opponent. "How did you do that? I didn't even see you move."
"You saw my arm didn't you? My arm functions the exact same way as the bankai of Shinso, Kamishini no Yari. Although I don't possess poison, mine is faster than it." He clapped his hands. "You hear that? My 'spear arm' is 500 times faster than that."
Hitsugaya widened his eyes in surprise. Immediately he folded the wings over himself as Nobu pointed at him. No sooner did his wings close was he pushed back by the incredible force behind the strike.
Nobu retracted his arm as Toshiro revealed himself. With a burst of Sonido, Nobu appeared behind his opponent with his arm down. He opened up his hand and his three fingers extended out, allowing Ichimaru to create three deep gashes along Hitsugaya's back.
Hitsugaya turned around "Hyōryū Senbi!" he swung his sword with ice overflowing from the point and swung at Nobu.
Nobu caught the ice flow in his right hand.
Toshiro wasted no time as his opponent blocked. "Zekku!" The ice burst forward, encasing Nobu.
No sooner was Nobu trapped, than he shattered the ice around him. "Nice try, Shiro-chan."
Toshiro had been prepared, and stabbed Nobu as soon as he escaped. With the blade still impaled in his opponent's chest, he roared, "Ryusenka!"
Nobu grabbed the sword with his right hand and put his left on Toshiro's face, but it was too late. Toshiro's blade was forced from his grip, as Hitsugaya was sent back by the force of the ice burst. Nobu shattered the ice by extending his arm at full speed. "That's it!" Nobu gripped his hands together and pointed his elbow at Toshiro. "Paso De Baile." Nobu's elbow shot out and straight at Toshiro.
Only luck prevented a killing blow as Hitsugaya was pierced in the left shoulder. He grunted in pain, but he ignored the wound and jumped away. He turned around as he heard the telltale sound of a Sonido, but it was too late.
"This is gonna hurt." Ichimaru had his arm around Toshiro's left. He jerked his arm away, and separated Toshiro's arm at the shoulder.
Blood gushed from his shoulder. Toshiro was unable to contain his roars of pain. He turned around and stabbed, but his blade was easily caught.
"Such a lovely sound." Nobu commented. Sadistically, Nobu raised the ice-covered severed limb, and struck Hitsugaya to the ground with it. Immediately after he did so, he screamed in pain as a large cut was drawn across his back. He turned around and gripped his assailant's throat. "Oh, it's you Rangiku-chan."
Matsumoto gasped for air. "You don't have the right to call me that." She defiantly spat blood on his face as she tried to escape his unbreakable grip.
"Don't worry…" He put his face close enough to hers that they could feel each other's breath. "…that's the last time anyone will call you that." Using Toshiro's severed arm, he once again pierced her stomach. He smiled as he enjoyed her screams. He removed the arm and slashed her shoulder, leaving a large gash on her neck. "Sayonara." He threw her down to the ground near her captain. "Finally I can get to my mission." He shaded his eyes and looked around. "Where is that orange-haired bitch?" Nobu opened his eyes at a sharp whistling behind him. He turned around and caught a dark, solid arrow. He closely examined it. "What the hell? Who uses a bow anymore?" He looked up and saw its owner.
Clad in white, with the wind flapping at his robe, stood Uryu Ishida. He was wielding a black bow with intricate markings, and spider like webbing. "Uryu Ishida at your service."
Nobu had no time to respond. A blade crashed down on his shoulder and sent in the streets with a gaping wound.
Hitsugaya dove and nailed his opponent to the ground. He breathed heavily as Nobu struggled for breath.
Nobu grimaced. "You're one tough bastard." He wiped some blood from his mouth.
"I could say the same for you."
"Most people would be in too much pain to even move after having their arm torn out."
"Hello, I'm still here." Uryu landed on the street. "You ruined my perfect entrance."
Toshiro popped a vein and punched Uryu in the head. "You could have arrived BEFORE he tore off my arm."
"I have just received my orders to deploy." He defensively put his hands up. "Unohana had a separate squad that would deploy to help those already tired, so that we'd have plenty of energy to face tired opponents."
"I'm also still nailed to the ground if anyone cares." Nobu called out.
"SHUT IT!" They both called out.
Uryu regained his composure. "You need to fall back; you can't keep fighting like that." He motioned to Toshiro's shoulder.
"I already lowered the temperature around my arm to stop the bleeding. I risk frostbite, but it's better than bleeding out. I can still fight; if there's anyone that needs healing, it's Matsumoto."
"Orihime is already on it." He adjusted his glasses.
"Who'd you just say?" Nobu called out from his position on the ground.
"He is stuck to the ground. Why haven't we killed him already?" Uryu questioned.
"That is easily rectified." Toshiro walked toward Nobu.
Ichimaru grabbed the sword, removed it from his stomach, and sprung up. "Just for the record, I could have done that earlier." He tossed the sword to Toshiro. "You four-eyed idiot. You've brought my target right to me."
Uryu raised an eyebrow. "Would you please elaborate?" He summoned his bow.
"I have the honor of taking that bitch with me. We need her abilities."
Uryu drew an arrow. "Kidnapping her didn't work ten years ago, why would it work now?"
"The only one who could defeat Aizen-sama was Kurosaki, but he's dead now."
Toshiro widened his eyes. "What does Aizen have the do with this?"
Nobu smacked his mouth, "Damn it! Well you'll probably figure it out anyway." He leaned forward. "Aizen-sama's plan was flawless, save for two things; Ichigo Kurosaki, and Soul Society. What we plan to do is essentially a streamlined version of his plan. Except we will kill Soul Society, then use our plan. We are going to kill you all, then use Inoue to revert Aizen-sama back to his glory. But we've got an ace up our sleeves. Ichigo is not on your side." He stuck one of his clawed fingers. It glowed, and extended a few feet, creating a perfect sword. "You are in my way." He swung his 'sword' in a forward arc, forcing his opponents to jump out of the way.
Uryu charged up his. "Aizen was the worst crisis to ever grace all worlds!" Uryu charged up his bow, and fired 1,200 arrows; each one was solid black, rather than blue reiatsu.
"When he saw the state of the battlefield ten years ago, he killed the last remaining Espada; Tia Harribel, third espada." He launched an ice dragon.
"I will gladly be a pawn if it means crushing all shinigami. All we've ever done is follow our instincts, and you deem us monsters. Did it ever occur to you that we don't have a choice! If we don't eat souls, we die! It's simple survival of the fittest! We aren't monsters, at the most we're mindless animals! All shinigami must die for this!" He swung his sword wildly and destroyed both attacks. "Aizen will make this world the way it should be! If I don't live to see the results because the pawn must save the king, then so be it. That is the mentality of all of us here." Nobu gripped his hands and pointed his elbows forward. "Fighting you is a waste of time; I have a job to do for Aizen-sama. Paso De Baile: La Hoja Serie." A huge burst of white filled both opponents views.
Toshiro covered up with his wings, and Uryu was left to fend for himself in the mass of blades.
Nobu sustained the attack for a full minute. When, he stopped the attack, Toshiro wings scattered, and Uryu's clothing was sliced all over, and many of the openings were red with blood.
"How the hell did you survive?"
Uryu tapped his shoes. "Ancient Quincy artifacts. Turns out Mayuri…" he cringed at the name, "…had a large amount of artifacts sealed away. These allow me to move at ridiculous speed, and these…" he tapped his temple, and some goggle folded out in front of his eyes. "…allow me to react. I even have ancient Quincy armor under my clothes."
Nobu cringed. "Well, I doubt he can do the same!" Before either man could react, Nobu extended his arm, and embedded his hand in Toshiro's chest cavity.
Uryu removed his Seele Schneider, from his waist and cut Nobu's arm. Nobu withdrew his arm and nursed his wound.
"Orihime! Get over here to Hitsugaya!"
Inoue quickly ran out from the rubble of the building Rangiku and Toshiro had landed in earlier. She set up a barrier and began to heal Toshiro. "Hang in there."
"Orihime, what about the other shinigami?
"She's fine, I healed her wounds already, but this is a bad wound, it won't be easy to heal."
"I'll cover you." Uryu jumped in front of the shield.
"What was that you cut me with?" Nobu inquired.
"Seele Schneider, the only bladed Quincy weapon." He notched it onto the bow. "It works wonders against hierro." He pulled it back and fired it. The arrow flew with such speed, and Nobu didn't even see it until after he felt it pierce his chest. He looked up, and four more of them pierced his chest. "Damn you!" He moved to aim at Uryu, but he was paralyzed. The arrows on his chest glowed brightly. "What the…"
"Sprenger, the strongest move in the Quincy arsenal. I increased my speed the point that I could launch it directly on someone's chest." Uryu pulled out a small bottle and put it on the tip of his bow before drawing another arrow. "I've gotten a lot stronger in the past month. You will be the first to die this way." He pulled back and fired the arrow. The bottle would shatter on contact.
Through sheer force of will, Nobu overcame his paralysis and caught the arrow before he was hit. "Too close."
"That's not going to save you." Uryu I disappeared and reappeared in front of Nobu.
Nobu jumped back, removed the five arrows, and threw them at Uryu. Each one was blocked. "Damn you!" He pointed his elbow at Uryu again and extended the blade hundreds of times.
"That won't work on me. I examined everyone's abilities before I joined the battle, when I was deployed to fight you; I took a 'Superhuman Drug.' It was diluted to a useful concentration, and to me, your movements are slow."
"It that so, eh? Well, my orders never specified what condition I should bring her back in." He sneered and turned toward Inoue. "Paso De Baile." Nobu launched his blade at Inoue, who was concentrating on healing Hitsugaya's chest wound.
"Orihime!" Uryu disappeared and reappeared in front of Inoue.
Orihime hadn't even realized what happened until she felt blood droplets on her face. Slowly she turned, and saw Uryu with a spear centered straight through his heart. "Uryuuuuuuuuu!" She shot up and caught her fiancé.
"I knew that would work." He licked the blood of his arm.
"Uryu, Uryu, Uryu, Uryu, Uryu! Wake up, wake up!" Tears streamed down her eyes as she patted Uryu's cheek.
"Just leave him." Nobu closed his hand around her neck and slammed her to a wall. "You're coming with me."
"No Uryu!" She kicked and clawed to no avail.
"Callate!" He slammed her skull against the building and threw her to the side. "I'll let the docs patch you up at Las Noches." He walked over to Uryu.
Slowly, but surely, Uryu gripped his gloved hand tightly, and reached for the spike on his wrist. Nobu stepped on his hand. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but I doubt it'd be a good thing for me." He twisted his foot and snapped Uryu's arm. He turned, and faced Toshiro. Amazingly, the shield had never left him, and the wound on his chest was still closing up. "Might as well end this."
He poised his arm, and right as he was about to stab Toshiro's neck, he was knocked down by an overwhelming force. It was a reiatsu he didn't recognize, it was overpowering, Nobu struggled to breathe. There was something unique about the reiatsu. It was cleaner than most, and it was pure. Nobu turned around and was greeted with the sight of Inoue slowly standing up. Golden reiatsu poured out of her body.
"I won't be useless…" it sounded as if several voices spoke at once, "…I won't be a burden anymore…" The wound on Hitsugaya's chest snapped shut, and the shield moved to Uryu, "…, I won't let anyone get hurt…" She turned around, and her eyes were a glowing gold and golden tears streamin down her cheeks, "…It is my turn to protect."
All right, I probably have some explaining to do. I originally had a back story written for Nobu, but I couldn't find a way to incorporate it into the story, and by the time I decided to trash the back story, it was too late to make another Espada. So here's the short version. He was Gin's older brother back when they were humans. Gin died at a young age. But he doesn't remember because it's his past life.
As to why I made Nobu in the first place, he was really an accident. He came about when I was toying around with the idea of turning the Arrancar into shinigami and the shinigami into Arrancar. It was a stupid idea, but Gin just ended up sticking around.