I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.
Trail of Destruction
Hitsugaya staggered away from the Momo Reigai. The fight had, so far, been going horribly. So far, the Reigai had been using his inability to attack Momo to attack him without him fighting back. First was a stab, then a slash to the back, then a fireball. As he staggered to a stop, a second Momo appeared in front of him. This one looked surprised to see him, then shocked that he was wounded.
"Snap, Tobiume!" the Reigai shouted appeared behind him and blasting him, sending him flying past the second Momo and into the wall where the fireball exploded.
"Shiro!" Momo screamed.
She turned back around and froze in confusion.
"Are you me?" she asked before her eyes spotted the blood on the Reigai's zanpakuto, instantly attacking with her own sealed Zanpakuto. "You attacked Shiro and hurt him didn't you!? That's unforgivable!"
"It wasn't my fault!" the Reigai pleaded. "I didn't do it because I wanted to believe me!"
Hitsugaya sat up, seeing the two dueling. Just as he was fully sitting up, they both turned their heads to him.
"Shiro!" one shouted.
"Help me please!" the other cried out.
One shoved the other away and the other leapt into the air holding out two fingers.
"Bakudo Four, Hainawa!" the Momo shouted, binding the other's arms.
"Shiro please, you have to help me!" the bound Momo cried out.
"Don't let her trick you," the other said landing between them. "She's an impostor."
"I'm am not, you're the impostor!" the bound one shouted.
"Shut your mouth, impostor!" the free one shouted, charging forward.
"Please believe me Shiro!" the other one shouted, tears flowing from her eyes.
Hitsugaya appeared in front of her, holding up his hand and said, "Stop it now!"
Instantly the bound Momo was free and stabbed him through the abdomen less than a second before the other stabbing him as well. Both pulled their swords free, darting around to stand together behind him.
"I'm sorry," one apologized.
"So sorry," the other stated.
"Now snap, Tobiume," both said, a massive fireball forming from their swords and blasting Hitsugaya away, blasting him into a wall and exploding, leaving him lying in the debris.
"We're both sorry," one stated as they appeared behind him.
"This is Kageroza's strategy," the other stated as they began to swap every few words.
"The truth is, We're weaker than you Shiro."
"He said if you dropped your guard-"
"-we'd be able to defeat you. He knew something we didn't, that you could never attack us Shiro."
"We're so sorry."
"Please don't hate us for what we've done."
They both raised their swords as Hitsugaya began to try to stand.
"So you're both Reigai?" Hitsugaya asked falling back to the ground. "That's...good."
"What did you say?" one Momo asked. "How can you say something like that?"
"How can this be good?" the other demanded. "We tricked you!"
"It is good," Hitsugaya groaned, managing to get up to one knee and one foot. "Because I didn't have to get the real Momo involved in this mess. I made a vow...never to...get Momo hurt ever again."
"I see."
"In her honor-"
"-we'll make this quick."
They raised their swords to end him just as a massive fireball blasted the two of them, launching them into a building where a second hit them and collapsed the building on them. Then, the real Momo landed beside Hitsugaya, kneeling and making him lie back down.
"Rest Little Shiro," Momo smiled down at him. "I'll handle this."
"No..." Hitsugaya growled, pushing himself up anyway. "I won't put you in danger. I'll handle this. You need to leave."
"No," Momo said stubbornly as the two Momo Reigai stood.
"So close," one of the two stated. "But we failed."
"And I'm glad," the other stated.
"I just wish, I could have been you," the first stated.
"Please take care of Shiro," the second said.
"Snap, Tobiume!" both Reigai shouted, blasting a tower the building had been attached to and dropping it on themselves, killing them both.
"They...killed themselves?" Momo blinked. "But why?"
"Your guess would be better than mine in this case," Hitsugaya stated.
"I must have been...because they were forced to attack you, Shiro," Momo stated. "If I were forced to try to kill you I would..."
She stopped, remembering that she had attacked him once before. She covered her mouth as tears began to leak from her eyes and Hitsugaya wrapped an arm around her, hugging her while holding his stab wounds with the other.
"It's alright Momo," Hitsugaya sighed. "I'll be fine."
Momo nodded, wiping her eyes but staying in his embrace.
"You didn't even draw your sword," Momo finally spoke up. "Why?"
"I...I couldn't," Hitsugaya finally sighed. "I could attack them."
Momo pulled back but before she could say anything, a massive Spiritual Pressure brought both to their knees. Then, a Reigai of Kurai wearing bone armor and holding two bone swords appeared in front of them, kicking Hitsugaya away. Hitsugaya pushed himself up, struggling to breathe under the crushing weight of the Reigai's Spiritual Pressure, as it raised one of its swords, planning to kill Momo.
"Momo!" Hitsugaya shouted drawing Hyorinmaru and forcing himself to his feet. "Reign over the frosted Heavens, Hyorinmaru!"
He slashed, sending an Ice Dragon at the Reigai who leapt away, the dragon creating a trail of ice spikes after it. Hitsugaya appeared in front of Momo, gasping for breath, blood already pooling below him, and sword shaking with the effort to hold it up.
"I won't let you hurt Momo," Hitsugaya growled. "Even if it costs me my life, I will kill you."
"Is that right," the Reigai snorted. "Then activate your Bankai Toshiro Hitsugaya. You, being the weakest captain, will need it."
"You're probably right," Hitsugaya agreed. "Please lend me your strength Hyorinmaru. Bankai!"
An Ice Dragon shroud formed around him, his wounds all freezing over to stop the bleeding and Hitsugaya raised his sword.
"Daiguren Hyorinmaru," Hitsugaya growled.
"Good," the Reigai sneered. "Now, come and get me."
Hitsugaya slashed, firing an Ice Dragon at him but the Reigai shot a Bala out of the tip of his sword and the explosion blasted the dragon into mist. Hitsugaya flew forward, slashing at the Reigai who blocked it easily, Hitsugaya's sword being launched away by the impact as Hitsugaya skidded backward along the ground, stopping in front of Momo after both wings had broken off. Momo dragged herself over to him, barely conscious but he pushed himself up, panting, and began to limp to his sword. The Reigai watched him walk to it and as soon as Hitsugaya turned to him with his sword, he grinned and aimed the sword at him.
"You're weak," the Reigai snorted Flash Stepping around so that Momo was behind Hitsugaya. "You bore me."
He fired the Bala and it streaked past Hitsugaya's head in a blur. He instantly realized the true target and spun, using Flash Step to get in front of Momo just before the Bala hit him square in the chest, exploding and blasting him into Momo, all of the ice shattering and the Bala blasting a crater into his chest.
Momo crashed down hard, Tobiume being launched away with Hyorinmaru, then caught Hitsugaya, looking up at the Reigai as it took a step forward then stopped, Kurai, Halibel, and Nemu appearing in front of it.
"There you are," Kurai growled. "You ain't getting away again."
"No?" the Reigai asked. "You should tend to your friend."
Kurai glanced back, seeing Hitsugaya's condition, and growled in rage turning back to the Reigai.
"He has maybe one minute," the Reigai stated. "So, will you fight me, or save him?"
Kurai grit his teeth and the Reigai grinned vanishing as Kurai turned and hurried over to Hitsugaya, activating Haruko's Shikai and healing Hitsugaya, a circular scar being left by the Bala's wound.
"Go," Hitsugaya growled. "Before he attacks someone else."
Kurai left and Hitsugaya sighed.
"Why did you protect me, Shiro?" Momo asked. "You could have attacked him, I would have been okay."
"No," Hitsugaya sighed. "You'd have died. And whether I could have killed him or not, my body acted out of instinct. I couldn't see you hurt. Not again."
Momo smiled, hugging him and sobbing into his shoulder.
"Momo," Hitsugaya sighed. "You're going to get my haori wet."
Momo laughed since the remains of his haori was barely thicker than her finger over that one shoulder and around his waist. After a moment, she let go and cupped his cheek, turning his head toward her and kissing him. Both turned crimson but after a moment, he kissed her back.
Yoruichi and Soi-fon ducked behind a building as a Reigai of Kenpachi and a Reigai of Hitsugaya both passed. They both released their held breath and smirked. They were trying to be quiet but there were so many Reigai that it was harder than they were used to. Plus there was the fact that they were trying to keep track of the progress of everyone's battles. It wasn't going well.
"You two look a bit stressed," Kurai's voice spoke up from above. "You should relax. I know where to go."
"Thank God its you that found..." Yoruichi trailed of, staring up at the bone-armor-clad Reigai of Kurai.
Soi-fon turned to look as well and they both backed away into the street. The Reigai dropped into the street, not bothering to get his swords. He grinned wickedly as Yoruichi and Soi-fon nodded to each other, both activating Shunko as Soi-fon activated her Shikai. Soi-fon flew forward, jabbing her Shikai at him but as soon as the stinger hit, the homonka mark spread then faded.
"See, the thing about being a Reigai is, I have all of his immunities as well," the Reigai sneered, grabbing Soi-fon's wrist and crushing it, her Shikai shattering as her bones all snapped.
Then, he hurled her into a wall, the pieces of her Shikai reforming as her sealed Zanpakuto. Yoruichi shouted in rage, darting at the Reigai and punching him in the jaw, sending him blasting through several walls. When the dust settled, he brushed some dust off his shoulders and sighed, unharmed. He Flash Stepped back to them, appearing in front of Yoruichi and kicked her away, sending her crashing along the street like a rag doll. Then, the Reigai turned back to Soi-fon as she charged, slashing at him with her zanpakuto. He smashed the blade with a palm strike then grabbed her by the throat, nearly crushing her windpipe. He snorted in amusement and slammed her down, cratering the ground before spinning and hurling her down the street away from Yoruichi. When Soi-fon finally stopped, the Reigai appeared over her, stomping on her legs and shattering both of her thigh bones. Then, he began to rise into the air.
"The weak must be destroyed," the Reigai stated holding out his hand and charging a Cero but not firing it yet. "That is the way of the world. Those who cannot defend themselves must be killed to make way for those who can."
"You crazy fucker," Soi-fon spat, blood flying out of her mouth. "I can't wait until Kurai kills you. I hope it's painful for you."
The Reigai simply grinned as the Cero fired. As it flew, Yoruichi appeared in front of Soi-fon, holding up her hands and focusing her Shunko there, barely holding the Cero back.
"You won't...hurt...Soi-fon!" Yoruichi snarled, slowly being pushed backward. "I won't...let you...touch her...again."
"You're losing ground Yoruichi Shihoin," the Reigai noted. "How much longer do you think you can hold it back?"
The Cero ended and Yoruichi fell to one knee, gasping for breath.
"Damn you," Yoruichi growled.
"Lady Yoruichi...run," Soi-fon pleaded. "I'm the one he wants. Please get out of here."
"No," Yoruichi growled standing and reactivating her Shunko. "I made a promise. I promised I would always be by your side. Nothing will make me leave."
"You are very loyal," the Reigai commended. "Let's try another shall we?"
He charged and fired instantly and Yoruichi barely managed to block it. Soi-fon shouted for Yoruichi to just run while she still could but again Yoruichi refused. Then, the Reigai appeared in front of her.
"Goodbye, Soul Reaper," the Reigai growled. "Cero."
The second Cero hit Yoruichi square in the chest just as the first dissolved. The second picked up both Yoruichi and Soi-fon, flying a hundred feet before exploding, both of them crashing down in the center of the crater. The Reigai began to walk down to them, drawing a sword but as he approached, Yoruichi stood, barely able to move and horribly wounded. She stepped between Soi-fon and the Reigai and the Reigai stopped, blinking in surprise then laughing.
"You truly are determined," the Reigai sighed.
"L...Lady...Yoru...ichi," Soi-fon breathed. "P...please...leave...I can't...bare to...see...you die."
"I'm not leaving you Soi-fon," Yoruichi said flatly. "Not again. I can't. Not a day went by that I didn't think of you. Not a day went by when I didn't regret leaving. I'm not going to leave you ever again. I swear. Even if it kills me I will defend you."
"Why?" Soi-fon asked, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"You really have to ask?" Yoruichi smiled back at her. "Because I l-"
"Enough of this shit," the Reigai snarled. "Just die bitch. Bala!"
The Bala blasted Yoruichi in the chest, launching her backward and she crashed into the side of the crater, rolling back down to Soi-fon. Then, she pushed herself, up, staggering around Soi-fon, and raising loose fists.
"Still you are capable of getting up and trying to fight me?" the Reigai spat, incredulously. "How?"
"I told you," Yoruichi snarled. "Even if it kills me, I will not allow you to harm Soi-fon any further. Because...I love her. And I will do whatever it takes to defend her."
"Love?" the Reigai snorted. "You're this strong because of love? Ha! That's the best joke I've heard all day. Now tell me the one about how you aren't going to die today."
"Alright," a voice behind him spoke up. "It goes something like this. Pierce his Flesh, Shinso!"
The Reigai began to turn just as the blade erupted from his chest, blood splattering across the ground before the blade retracted. The Reigai turned, seeing Gin Ichimaru standing before him, holding his zanpakuto aimed at the Reigai's chest.
"Gin!" Yoruichi gasped happily. "Thank God."
"Are you two going to be alright?" Gin asked.
"Yes," Yoruichi nodded.
"Good," Gin nodded. "Allow me to handle your little pest problem."
"No," Kurai spoke up, appearing beside Gin, Nemu and Halibel arriving a moment later. "He's my responsibility. Go kill Kageroza."
"Very well," Gin nodded. "Good luck."
"You too," Kurai nodded.
Gin left and Kurai raised both zanpakuto. the Reigai sighed and raised his swords as well.
"I suppose that makes this the end of my trail of destruction then does it?" the Reigai growled.
"No," Kurai sighed. "Our fight is bound to be excessively destructive. But this will be the last time I fight my own Reigai."
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