Ch 29: Be Strong…Believe

"Swamp Seal, Kai!" I shouted, releasing the preset seal.

The entire room disappeared into black murkiness.

"Jerico!" I shouted.

He pulled himself over to us.

"Captain, I'm not running." he said, choking on blood.

"We have to." I urged. Gene was looking around, trying to find us, the bog seal cutting off his vision and hearing.

"No. I'm stopping him here. He'll just come after us." Jerico said.

"Fine. Stubborn bastard." I said, resigning myself to what was going to happen. Suddenly the room shook.

"What the hell was that?" Jerico asked.

"The Final Form of a Quincy. He's pulling spirit particles from everything, including this building. It's gonna collapse soon. Like I said, we need to get out." I said again.

"Captain, I'm killing him. Then the whole things over." Jerico said.

"Stand up. This is all I can give you." I told him.

He stood up, more blood falling to the ground. I picked up my brush and forced myself to my feet, my body screaming in agony. I painted the seal for Heaven on Jerico's body. Then I painted the seal for Hell.

"When I activate this seal, you'll have abilities on par with Shunko for ten minutes. After that, you'll be on your own. It'll heal your wounds as well." I informed Jerico.

"Alright. Ten minutes." Jerico said, forming a silver revolver in his hand.

"Order Seal, Kai!" I shouted, activating the seal.

My brush shattered and Jerico was engulfed in black light, his Shihaksho top tearing to nothing. I picked up Maria, taking care with her arm, and draped her over my shoulders.

"Come on Quincy!" Jerico shouted as the Bog seal faded.

"Die!" Gene shouted, firing a stream of arrows at Jerico.

I carried Maria to the doorway and glanced back in time to see an arrow narrowly miss Jerico. Then I forced myself to look away and make my way out, linking myself to Captain Urahara.

"Captain, how many Shinigami are still in the building?" I asked.

"Many. Naomi, what was that shaking?" he asked me.

"The Quincy leader activated the Quincy Final Form. Overseer 3rd Seat Jerico is engaging at the moment, buying time for us to escape. The building will collapse soon." I informed Urahara.

"Understood. We'll pull out. Where are you?" he asked.

"The basement sir. Lieutenant Overseer Kasha was injured and is unconscious." I informed him, choking slightly and crying a bit.

"Understood. We'll send aid." Urahara said.

"Thank you sir." I said, breaking connection.

I hauled Maria as fast as I could, my legs screaming at me and my stomach churning from the pain. At one point, I dropped Maria due to my arms giving out and threw up due to pain. I caught my breath for a second, the sounds of Jerico's battle still fierce, then I forced myself to my feet and picked up Maria. I cleared into the main antechamber, just before the door. Two Quincy dropped from the second floor.

"Where do you think you're going?" one asked.

"Yeah. We'll keep you two for ourselves." the other said, lust in his eyes.

"Dammit…" I muttered, setting Maria down and standing before her. "You…won't take…either of us."

"A strong one huh? We'll enjoy breaking you." The Quincy said, drawing his bow.

"Two men against a single woman? That's despicable." came a voice from behind the Quincy.

They turned in time for one of them to be cut down.

"Ryuugi! Masurao!" I cried in recognition and relief.

"Bastard!" The Quincy yelled, firing an arrow at Masurao.

His gauntleted hand shot up and caught the arrow, shattering it into nothing.

"Only a coward attacks a defenseless woman." He said coldly, Shunpoing in front of the Quincy.

The Quincy crumpled to the ground from Masurao's fist.

"Come on." He said, picking me up in his arms.

"Put me down!" I shouted at him, embarrassed.

"Relax. This is quicker, and we've got a way's to the camp." he explained.

"I'll get her." Ryuugi said, carefully lifting Maria in his arms.

Masurao and Ryuugi carried us out of the castle and back towards the portal.

"Set me down." I said to Masurao before we got to the portal.

"Why?" he asked.

"There's still someone in there." I told him.

We stood and waited and hoped. For several minutes, nothing happened. Then, my zanpakuto handle appeared in it's sheathe. The Order Seal had run out.

"Please God." I muttered.

Another minute passed, then the castle began to collapse. After another minute, all that remained was a pile of rubble.

"Oh God…" I whispered, crying freely.

"…come on." Masurao said, lifting me up again.

"I…want you to promise that…you won't tell anyone about me breaking down like this…" I cried, tears falling as I gripped Masurao's shihaksho.

"Of course not." he said. "Right Ryan?"

"Yeah. We won't tell anyone." he promised.

"Thank…you." I muttered, passing out completely.

I awoke several day's later, in the sick bay at Seireitei.

"W-where am I?" I muttered, trying to sit up and finding I couldn't.

"Well, you look pretty banged up." came a familiar voice.

"Tobias?" I asked, glancing over and seeing the blonde Lieutenant in a wheelchair, his chest and head bandaged profusely.

"Yeah. I'm allowed to move around in the wheelchair, but Lieutenant Kotetsu say's it'll be a while before she lets me get up though." he said with a small grin.

"Yeah." I muttered.

"So." he said, suddenly serious. "How'd it go? I haven't heard anything."

"I…I think we won." I said, not so sure.

"…who died?" Tobias asked quietly.

"…Adeline Jerico." I said, choking on the words.

"Adel huh? It's not your fault." Tobias said quietly.

"How!? I let him stay!" I shrieked.

"This is a hospital. Please keep your voice down." Tobias said.

"Sorry. But how is it not my fault?" I asked again.

"Because, it was his choice to go." Tobias said.

I didn't say anything.

"If it's of any consolation, Maria is going to be fine and out before you." Tobias said.

"Really?" I asked, perking slightly.

"Yup." Tobias said with a small grin.

"And how's…how's Captain Nakazume?" I asked.

"She's…she'll live." Tobias said sadly, looking away from me.

"That's good." I said, because there was nothing else to say. Then I was struck by a question, "Tobias?"

"What's up?" he asked.

"Do you think…do you think we did the right thing?" I asked, uncertain all of a sudden.

"What do you mean?" Tobias asked slowly.

"The Quincy. Eliminating them just because they weren't considered useful." I explained.

"Quincy kill souls, not redeem them." Tobias explained.

"Yes but, the way they said it, we stepped on their pride." I said.

"We did. As a matter of fact, there are still Quincy pushing to be allowed to act as a kind of early warning system." Tobias explained, a look of bitterness on his face.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"The Quincy want to stay where they are and fight a limited number of hollow, if only to keep the Hollow busy so that Shinigami can arrive." he explained.

"Then, why don't they allow it?" I asked.

"Central is…no. I'll say no more." Tobias said, turning away.

"Why? Why not fight for this?" I asked in desperation, realizing he hated it.

"Because. It would jeopardize my being with Shino…and I won't let that go for anything…" Tobias said.

"I'm…sorry." I said, staring at the sheets.

"Forget it…" he said.

Tobias stayed for awhile, then excused himself.

"Wait." I said.

"What's up?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Um…from now on…can I call you by…can I call you by your first name?" I asked, blushing and feeling embarrassed.

Tobias stared at me with a confused look on his face.

"Never mind! Forget I said any-" I began.

"Go ahead. I never said you couldn't Emma." Kyle said, wheeling away.

A few day's passed after that. I was allowed out in a wheelchair like Kyle, and Maria visited me frequently. She fussed that I was too reckless. I let her keep saying that, being to tired and relieved to argue back. Slowly but surely, Adeline Jerico's ghost left me. The memory didn't hurt as much, and it was easier to think of him. Slowly, a year passed without incident. The captains that had been injured in the Quincy attack, except Nakazume and Unohana, were up and moving, even if they were still stiff and couldn't move that well. As soon as Yamamoto was up, he ordered a meeting of every Shinigami to allow a moment of silence for those who fell in the war. He called them heroes, those who died to stop the renegade Quincy. Shortly after, a Quincy denounced the attack, calling it the work of rebels and extremists. He wasn't killed, but he was assured that if any Quincy stepped foot in Seireitei again, they would be killed without hesitation.

Slowly, life returned to normal…

*******************Kyle Tobias's Perspective********************

"Lieutenant Tobias?" came a voice from behind me as I patrolled Seireitei, interrupting my thoughts.

"Hmm?" I said, turning to see that it was Isane. "Hey Isane."

"Lieutenant, Captain Nakazume woke up." Isane said, causing my emotions to spiral.

"Is she alright?" I asked.

"Her injuries are almost completely gone." Isane said.

"Can I see her?" I asked, my heart racing.

"Yes. She asked for you." Isane said.

Without another word, I Shunpoed directly to the 4th division barracks. I raced inside, finding Shino laying in the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Shino!" I said breathlessly, my heart still racing.

"Kyle?" she said, almost as if she couldn't believe it.

"Shino." I said, planting a kiss on her lips and holding it until my lungs were screaming.

"Oh my god you're alive. You're ok!" I said breathlessly.

"Yeah…how…how long have I been out?" Shino asked, red faced from the kiss.

"It's been…almost six months." I said.

"So long…Wait. What about the…?" she asked suddenly.

"It…didn't make it." I said, a cold pain strangling my heart.

Shino stared at me as if she couldn't believe it. Then she started to cry.

"It's alright." I said, knowing it wasn't.

She didn't say anything, only cried. I reached down and pulled her up into my arms. I held her until she stopped crying. People passed us, wondering what was going on.

"Why is a Lieutenant holding a captain like that?" one of them asked.

"Because she's my wife." I said, not looking at the person.

Shino told me she was tired and went back to sleep. I left and called a squad meeting. When everyone arrived, I told them that I had been married to Shino for several years already. They stared for a second, then they cheered, congratulating me on my marriage. Several came up to me, saying that we should have a party to commemorate the occasion. I gave them permission, owing to the fact that we had had nothing to celebrate in awhile.

Later that evening, the party was in full swing, drinks being passed, music playing, and people dancing. Captain Hirako had come by and crashed the party; but considering he brought his record player, he was allowed in. Sosuke looked out of place, but at the same time, he looked like he belonged, dancing with whoever asked him too, and smiling at everyone. He even brought 3rd seat Gin Ichimaru. The kid didn't look it, but he was a ladies man. Most of the women crowded around him, hoping to dance. Ryan and Mikey were flirting with whoever they could, and dancing with whoever. I sat on the sidelines, watching with a smile. Midnight came and went, and the party showed no signs of stopping. In fact, and this was the strangest thing ever; Yamamoto came along with Ukitake and Kyoraku.

After a time, I called a quiet and stood at the head of the room.

"Everyone. This party is for more than just marriage. We've had precious little to celebrate for a long, long time. But, we can't forget. We must never forget. Those who were killed. Those who are missing. And those who are still here. Each and everyone of us lost someone important in the war. Every single person here, who put their life on the line for a stranger, who helped a friend, who fought for what was right, is a hero. Those who didn't make it, either through deceit or resolve, are beyond heroes. Adeline Jerico, who stood toe-to-toe with the leader of the rebellion; Ajara Cross, who took not one, but an entire barrage of Quincy arrows to protect a disabled ally. Countless healers who were struck down doing their duty. Please, I ask you all, let's give them a moment of silence to remember, to grieve, and to overcome." I said, motioning for the others to follow suit.

No one moved. I don't think anyone even breathed. The moment of silence was given, respect was laid, and then the party was resumed, a cloud of guilt dispelled.

Eventually, I left, abandoning the party and going to the sick bay. As I walked, I heard a strange sound, almost like Shunpo. For some reason, it put me on guard. I kept walking, one hand straying towards my zanpakuto.

I got to the sick bay and entered. Shino and Captain Unohana were sleeping. I went to Shino and watched her sleep for a time. Then I kissed her on the forehead and walked out.

"Come out. I know you're there." I said, feeling a reiatsu that wasn't Shinigami.

"So. You found me?" he asked, Shunpoing in front of me.

"Another Quincy huh? And what're you doing here?" I asked, drawing my zanpakuto.

"Oh, just a small assassination. Then, I'll reunite the Quincy and we'll attack again." the Quincy said, drawing his bow. It looked different from other bows.

"You…you had to Repent?" I asked, releasing my Shikai.

"Heh. Smart child. My name is Gene Schell, leader of the Quincy." Gene said, firing an arrow.

I brought up my hand, distorting the arrow to nothing.

"Lieutenant of the 14th Squadron, Kyle Tobias." I announced, Shunpoing in front of him and attacking.

Suddenly, he was holding a sword! I leaped back, smashing another arrow as it was fired.

"I thought Quincy only used bows?" I asked, wondering what the deal was.

"This is Seele Schneider, the only Quincy weapon to have a blades edge." Gene said, diving at me and firing arrows.

I blocked them and parried the Schneider, noticing that as I did, a small portion of Sia's blade flew off.

"That thing's pretty sharp." I commented.

"Not sharp. It vibrates, breaking bonds on a molecular level." Gene explained.

"Oh. Never mind then. I figured that out of the two of you, at least the sword was sharp. Guess not. Kazeheki Shikon!" I shouted, sending the green wave of reiatsu flying.

"Bastard!" Gene shouted, slicing the attack in half.

We exchanged blows, his speed a match for mine, our instincts staying sharp enough to keep from getting hit. The Schneider eventually shattered, the handle dying down. Gene drew another and began attacking with it alone, using his bow as a shield. Then we both stopped, breathing heavy and sizing the other up.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"To prove the superiority of the Quincy! Even your captains fell before our arrows!" Gene exclaimed.

"You attacked in cowardice! How does that prove your strength!?" I shouted, confused at his reasoning.

"Simple! A Quincy would have felt the arrow and evaded it with ease. But you Shinigami can't feel it unless you already know it's coming!" Gene explained.

"Why not just negotiate? Couldn't you have been left as a small militia in the real world!?" I asked.

"The Shinigami told us to mind our own business. They trampled our pride. That's why we attacked." Gene said.

"Shinigami wouldn't do that." I said, my faith in the Shinigami way strong.

"Kyle?" came a voice from behind Gene. He glanced over his shoulder, giving me an opening.

"Focus!" I shouted, Shunpoing and attacking.

Gene let out a gasp, blood flying from his mouth. My zanpakuto was rammed through his stomach.

"You…bastard. I'll kill you…I'll kill you!!!" Gene shouted, then his body slumped to the ground.

"Kyle?" it was Emma and Maria.

"Hey. I found the idiot who started that war." I said, wrenching my sword from Gene's lifeless body.

"What was he doing here?" Maria asked.

"Trying to assassinate Shino and Unohana." I said, sheathing my sword.

"Oh my god." Emma said, realizing what had almost happened.

"Don't you two have too much fun. And use protection." I said with a grin after Gene's body disappeared into spiritrons.

"Pervert!" Emma shouted, punching me in the stomach.

After that, life really did die down. There were no more attacks by the Quincy. However, there were witch hunts against the Quincy, to corral them and keep watch over them, as they were nearing extinction. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. A year would pass before anything else would happen.