Author's note: Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of updates. For those of you who don't know, November was National Novel Writing Month. I decided to take part in it, thus putting the story on hold. I am sorry to state that I did not do as good as I thought I would do since college got in the way. Well there is always next year, and hopefully I will be successful. Sorry for how this chapter turned out. I really mean it. Don't forget to review after you read!
Chapter 24: Grand Battle!
"Are you ready for this Ichi?" Thomas asked his orange hair companion as they reached the end of the middle and final hallway. The two teens arrived at a pair of oversized double doors that looked elegant and should belong to be big fancy, or really important building.
"Yeah I guess," he sighed with that scowl on his face. "I don't know why you're asking; it's just a battle like any other."
"Not really, it's a boss battle," Thomas corrected. "The final battle at that. Plus we know nothing about the opponent we are about to take on. For all we know our powers and abilities won't have any effect on him."
"Well if you put it that way," the orange hair teen sighed again. "Guess I can't stay too calm about it."
"That's it? Are you sure Orihime was kidnapped?" the raven-haired teen questioned with a grin on his face. "Are you sure she just didn't run away because the guy she loves might as well be a robot?"
"Guy she loves?" Ichigo wondered, "She doesn't love me!" Thomas sighed and opened the doors. He rushed in and started running towards a light. "She doesn't love me!" Ichigo shouted again as he started chasing after the teen.
Some time had passed as the two teens finally arrived at the master's room.
"Orihime!" Ichigo shouted as soon as he entered the room. He saw the orange hair girl passed out on the floor with tattered clothing. The orange-haired boy quickly rushed to her side.
"Ichigo," she weakly said, 'I knew you would come for me."
"Who did this to you?" the orange-haired man demanded to know.
"Other than the obvious," Thomas stated.
"I just wanted," she gasped, "I just wanted to to be useful and not be too dependent on you always coming to rescue me. I couldn't even do that much."
"Just be quite for now Orihime," Ichigo reassured her, "just rest and leave everything to me."
"No," Thomas told him, "leave everything to me. Ichigo is still weak from the battle he was involved as soon as he entered the house." Ichigo placed the young girl on a couch that was conveniently placed in the room. Ichigo wanted to argue with the teen, but he was slightly right. Out of the blue, a clapping noise was heard. It echoed, mocking the teens.
"Bravo, that was a touching story," a male voice commented.
"Would you say Oscar worthy?" the raven-haired teen asked.
"No, I wouldn't say that," the male voice shot the teen down. His silhouette could barely be made out in the current lighting of the room.
"I am never going to get an Oscar at this rate," Thomas sighed.
"Maybe it would help if you actually..." Ichigo started before getting a death glare from the other teen.
"Calm down killer," he told the other teen, "we've got more pressing issues right now."
"You're right Ichi," Thomas stated. "You there, what is the goal of the Crusaders? They've been after me and my friends for a long while and I demand to know what's up!"
"Oh my, you jump right to the point," the mysterious man chuckled and walked into the light. The moonlight made his long silver hair glow and radiate. He had bright, golden, hazel eyes that just seemed to glow. He was a statuesque man to top it all off. Thomas and Ichigo were pretty tall, but even he made them feel short. To top it all off, he was wearing a bright and pure white suit. The only color on his outfit was a yellow tie that matched his eyes."You don't even fake pleasantries before we do battle, how crass."
"Maybe I would have been a lot nicer if this confrontation was sooner," the raven-haired teen defended his honor.
"Well I am not the one to blame. You and your sad little group took forever to find my hideout. It's sad, I had to get one of my best members to run away and flee just to give you a hint to get here," the stranger mocked.
"Does that mean..." Ichigo started piecing everything together.
"No! That means you sent Molly to tell us where you were!" Thomas shouted his deduction.
"That is right. I need to get you little kids out of my way, but since you took your precious little time, you practically forced my hand," he continued to mock the teens efforts.
"That's it! You're a dead man!" Thomas growled and drew his blade. "I'll finish this right here and now! Rise from the ashes!" the teen called out, but nothing happened.
"Prohibition!" the man chuckled while pointing to a sigh.
"What does that have to do anything?" the orange-haired teen asked, confused at what turn the battle took early on.
"It's going to decide the battle," the man smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear. "Why don't you explain it to your little friend there. He seems a bit confused." Thomas glared at the Leader.
"I'm not sure exactly, but I heard about it being used," Thomas confessed.
"Wait, you only heard rumors? That sounds promising," Ichigo sighed.
"Don't give me that! It's not my fault I don't encounter everything that's ever possible in battle," he sighed in frustration.
"Sorry, so what does it do?" the orange-haired teen was curious.
"It basically sets out the rules for battle. Whatever it says, everyone who in the battle must follow those rules until a victor emerges. Since it involves using special kind of battle magic, it must be set up in advance," he explained.
"So, when he told us we forced his hand, he really meant it?" Ichigo questioned.
"That is correct my boy," the leader congratulated the orange-haired teen. "One of the rules is that no soul cutters, zanpaktous, or soul swords may be released from their dormant state."
"That really limits our battling abilities," Ichigo cursed.
"Why would he want to limit the releases?" Thomas thought to himself, trying to figure everything out.
"Say, what's your name?" Ichigo asked.
"I go by many names, but call me Youko," he stated. The leader raised his hand.
"Youko? That not a common name. The only place I heard that name was..." Thomas got lost in his thoughts.
"Watch out!" Ichigo tackled Thomas to the ground, to avoid an attack.
"What was that for?" Thomas demanded to know the reason for Ichigo's actions.
"Hey show some gratitude! I saved your life!" Ichigo responded as he got off the teen. He pointed to the wall. On said wall, there were several leaves sticking out, almost like they were used as throwing knives.
"Thank you," Thomas quickly said and got up. He wasn't sure what they were up against but he decided to be on his guard. "Although if I can't draw my sword, I guess I'll have to use my battle spells."
"You can use that sort of stuff?" Ichigo questioned.
"Of course. What kind of person goes into battle with only one skill?" Thomas sarcastically asked.
"That is a good question," the leader agreed.
"Well about that," Ichigo started to chuckle nervously. "You stay out of this! Thomas, we don't have time for this!"
"You're right," Thomas did not want to admit as he returned his sword. "Before we break off into a huge battle, is there a diplomatic solution to this?"
"I'm afraid not," the leader scorned them with a smile. He swung his arm. Spinning leaves came flying at the teens. They quickly dodged the attack. Thomas rolled on the ground and landed on his knees.
"Battle spell 33, blue flame cannon!" Thomas called out as he placed his palms together. A sphere of light popped out and flew a few inches in front of the teen. With a mighty bang it exploded.
"Damnit Thomas! Watch where you aim that thing!" Ichigo scolded.
"Sorry Ichi, magic is not my forte," he confessed.
"Why didn't you use the incantation? Doesn't that make it more powerful?" Ichigo wondered.
"It does, but it's time consuming to use it in battle," he tried to explain.
"At least it will be more accurate and not blow up in your face!" the orange-haired teen fought back.
"At least I'm trying something!" the raven-haired teen retorted.
"I hate to break up this lover spat," Youko said as he appeared next to the teens. Wooden roots emerged from the ground, "but I have things to do!" the roots ensnared the teens, completely immobilizing them.
"I blame you for this," Ichigo stated with his trademark scowl.
"I blame Orihime for being useless," Thomas passed the blame. Ichigo stayed quite at that remark. "I'll take your silence as an agreement."
"I didn't say anything," Ichigo defended himself in a calm manner. He really did agree, even though it was not directly stated. The leader was chuckling at their pointless bickering. Clearly he was not used to people completely ignoring the fact that they are captured.
"So boss man?" Thomas broke away from his side conversation, "What are the plans of your organization exactly?"
"You opposed us without even knowing that?" Youko asked the teen.
"Pretty much. We were told to stop the Crusaders at all cost," the raven-haired boy sighed.
"Then you and your friends teamed up with him," Youko turned his attention to the other teen suspended in air by roots. "Why would you join forces with a person who does not even know what they are fighting for?"
"Circumstances were right," Ichigo answered.
"Because you captured the useless orange-haired girl," Thomas corrected. Ichigo glared at the teen hanging next to him. Thomas just smiled innocently, like he did nothing wrong.
"Well I guess I can tell you," he sighed then paused for a second, "but then you might stop me if you got yourself free."
"Oh come on," Thomas pleaded, "why can't you just tell us?"
"Figure it out for yourself," the leader told him, keeping the same smile on his face. He turned away from the teens and looked out the window.
"Is there something you can do to get us free?" Ichigo asked in a whispered tone of voice.
"Yes, if you do not mind being blown up again," the teen responded back.
"It's better than being molested by a plant," the orange-haired teen explained.
"Oh come on Ichi, I read the stories, I know you like it rough," the black-hairred teen chuckled.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh nothing to worry about." Thomas glanced at the leader and hoped he was not looking at them, or will anytime soon. "Ichigo, when I break us free, go for a straight attack."
"No need to tell me twice," the orange-haired teen agreed.
"Good," Thomas smirked. "Battle spell 89! Ignis!" An explosion of fire took place where the teens were, getting rid of the entangling roots.
"Gotcha!" Ichigo declared as he rushed to skewer Youko.
"Oh to be young and so simple minded," the leader chuckled as he turned around. He caught the tip of Ichigo's blade with the palm of his hand.
"No way," Ichigo gasped.
"Flower Hurricane!" Youko muttered. Rose petals stormed out of his hand and knocked Ichigo clear across the room, slamming him against the wall.
"Shit," Ichigo cursed as he struggled to get up. "Why is he so powerful?" Youko smirked, proud of his attacked. He looked around the room, trying to find the other teen. After all, there were two people who were gunning for him.
"What are you doing?" he questioned when he saw Thomas by the prohibition sign, "Get away from there!"
"No can do," Thomas responded. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and clicked it.
"What is he planning to do?" Ichigo wondered. He shook his head clear of this thought. Right now, no attention was on him, this was the perfect time to strike. He flashed stepped behind the silver hair man and swung his blade. The man turned around and parried the attack with a thorny whip. The blade caused sparks as it slid across the man's weapon. Ichigo got back on his feet. "You're something else."
"Wish I could say the same for you," the man scoffed. Ichigo swung his sword again, but the man easily dodged it. Ichigo swung again, but ended up with the same results. With one more swing, Ichigo attacked. This pattern continued when Youko dodge with literally no effort. "You should give up; I can easily read your movements." He knocked the blade out of Ichigo's hands.
"Ichigo!" Thomas called out, "I thought you could take him out!"
"I'm working on it," Ichigo shouted back. "What are you doing over there?"
"I'm rewriting the rule," he answered, "but it's going to take some time."
"I'm not going to let you do that," Youko stated and swung his hand. The whip moved snake like towards the teen. With a swift kick, Ichigo changed the direction of the attack.
"Speed it up a bit!" Ichigo demanded.
"How dare you dirty my suit!" Youko shouted. Ichigo left a footprint on the arm he kicked.
"It was dirty the moment it went on you!" Ichigo shouted back.
"Good come back," Thomas remarked. There was a huge possibility that it was a sarcastic remark. The leader flipped his hair and tossed a rose at Ichigo. It stuck in his chest.
"That's it?" the orange-haired teen wondered.
"No, this is," Youko snapped his fingers. It exploded. Ichigo was covered in soot, but he seemed to be okay. Youko looked in disbelief before regain his composure. "Must have been a dud."
"How can a flower be a dud," Ichigo pondered. Which was a really good question. Youko pulled out several more roses. He tossed them at the teen, one at a tile. Ichigo flashed stepped away from each one moments before they exploded. "I need to get my sword," Ichigo thought as he saw it lying on the ground, tangled in the whip Youko used to attack him.
"I need to stop you from moving," Youko told him as he stuck out his arm, "Scarlet Masquerade," storm of rose petals came out of Youko's sleeve and surrounded Ichigo in veil of petals. Ichigo touched the veil with the tip of his finger and it was severely cut.
"Battle spell 79! Ventus!" a huge sphere of wind collided and subsided the attack.
"Thanks," Ichigo said as he ran towards his sword.
"No problem," Thomas smirked. He rose to his feet and drew his blade.
"So, finally joining the fray?" Youko asked. "Gave up on trying to rewrite my rules of the battle?"
"No, I successfully changed it," Thomas boasted. "Now prepare for trouble!"
"Make it double!" Ichigo added. He had the blade pointed at Youko, stilled wrapped in the whip. "Ban.."
"No Ichigo!" Thomas stopped him, "Let me release my blade first!"
"What why?" Ichigo asked. He looked at the teen and noticed his other blade.
"When my blade goes into its first release state, it nullifies and restores all other blades back to their sealed state," Thomas explained.
"So if I were to use my bankai, my sword will go back to how it normally is?" Ichigo wondered.
"Yes," he sighed, "but no you're bankai wouldn't work regardless. You would have to use evolve as the release command."
"So that's why you hardly use your other blade," Ichigo understood.
"Yes, that's why..." Thomas started to say but then gasp at his realization. "That's why he stopped us from releasing our blade. Youko is the same name that soul sword had."
"So what, similar names do not mean anything," Youko said, but there was a panic in his voice.
"You better be going somewhere with this," Ichigo growled.
"Trust me I am. Youko has the same appearance of the last person who wielded it. I just cannot figure out why," Thomas continued.
"It's true," Youko sighed, "I do have the appearance of the same person who was the last person to wield me."
"Wield, but that means," Ichigo gasped.
"That's right, he is used to be a soul sword that previously belonged to a grim reaper," Thomas told him.
"So what? That Grim Reaper fell in love and decided to live life as a mortal. Completely leaving me behind!" Youko began to rant. "He did not even put me to rest! What the hell was I suppose to do? Just sit back and do nothing?"
"Yes," Ichigo answered the rhetorical question. "You come from his soul, you're supposed to be happy and support any decision he makes."
"When he dies you go back to the Spirit World, and wait until another Grim Reaper is born and you form a connecting with their soul!" Thomas added.
"I'm sorry that's not how I want it," Youko told them. He pressed a button and the roof started to split in half. "When the moon reaches the highest point in the sky, all swords shall be freed! They will take the appearance of the reapers that oppressed them so."
"I don't oppress my blade," Thomas shouted, "we work together. Since you're just another sword and I can finish this right here and now!"
"Oh, but even if you win, do you think your friends can beat my comrades?" Youko question.
"Yes!" Ichigo answered. "I know for a fact that our friends will not lose to them!" He rushed towards the leader. "Evolve! Zangetsu!" Ichigo quickly morphed into his bankai form. With a swift swing, blades of dark energy started flying towards Youko. The silver hair man jumped out of the way.
"Since you rewrote my rules, I can use my full power!" Youko announced. Light formed around the leaders hand. Thick tree roots shot up from the ground, almost creating a forest.
"Diamond Barrage!" Thomas called out as Burno was in its final evolved state. [Remember it goes: Sealed → Released → Evolved] The blade glow a faint purple and shards of diamonds shot out from the swing.
"Ha, it'll take a lot to cut these," Youko started to brag as the light grew stronger.
"Diamond is the strongest, it can cut through anything!" Thomas informed him. The room was quickly deforested.
"Orihime!" Ichigo shouted, hoping that she was okay.
"It's alright Ichigo!" Thomas called out to his partner, "I put up a barrier around her to make sure she's out of harm's way!" Ichigo nodded in acknowledgment. The two teens rushed towards Youko. He was easy to spot since he was emitting a light. They both jumped into the air and swung their swords. The two attacks shot out and merged together. Diamonds with a strong black glow shot out at Youko. The silver-haired man tried to get out of the attack's range, but it was futile. The man took on a little more than half the shards.
"We have to stop him!" Ichigo demanded.
"Thank you Captain Obvious!" Thomas shouted back. The two teens saw Youko running away and they gave chase. The room seemed bigger than it was, since they were running around every inch of it. Meanwhile the light kept growing in size.
"Shatter! Bruno!" Thomas called out. His blade broke apart and scattered in the wind. The teen sent the shard in Youko directions. In a blink of an eye, Youko was trapped in a whirlwind of diamond dust. Although it did not seem like it, the attack was very deadly. Ichigo sent a few of his dark energy blades along with the attack for good measure.
"Lunar Bomb!" Youko smirked as the light reached its greatest size. He casually tossed it up into the air. "In a few moments it will land on the grand, wiping everything out. Since you kids forced my hands, I decided to go down with you all as I take you down.
"Not if I can help it!" Thomas shouted. He jumped and flash stepped into the decent path of the attack. "Rise from the ashes! Fawks!" The attack and the young teen made contact.
UP NEXT: Chapter 25: Turn and Return!