Part XXIX: Be Patient
"The weather's nice." Jushiro said breathlessly, the continuous walk beginning to take its toll on him.
"It's not snowing," Ichigo replied. "I'll take it."
"Let's not talk." Kira murmured, his quiet voice somehow carrying to the entire group. "I'm listening…"
"Listening to what?" Shunsui asked, watching Kira out of the corner of his eyes.
"Listening for…" Kira corrected, holding a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture.
They walked in silence for several miles. The warmth of the sun disappeared first and then the light. Dark, ominous clouds filled the sky and the pleasant breeze suddenly stilled. It was as if all the air was sucked from the world. There was nothing. No sound, no movement. Only lifelessness.
"Move!" Kira shouted, his blue eyes wide with panic. But there was no time to move, no time to even process Kira's instruction.
Lightning struck the earth, piercing directly in the center of the group. The ground split and shifted with a terrible groan. The dirt beneath their feet rumbled and loosened and for several terrifying seconds it appeared it would swallow them up.
Byakuya moved first, grabbing Renji's arm and yanking him away. He pushed Ichigo as he passed him, nearly knocking the shifter over. He gripped Ichigo by the collar and ran full out, heading for the cover of a large formation of rock.
"They're not moving…" Byakuya breathed out, his heart pounding in his chest. "They need to move…"
Byakuya pushed off from the rock but Renji held him back. "Wait!"
Byakuya exchanged a look with Renji. Byakuya nodded wordlessly and Renji released his hold. Byakuya ran, his body nothing more than a blur to the eye. He dodged the moaning, shifting earth and jumped, just as a small plot of earth fell out from under his feet.
"Shunsui, Ukitake!" Byakuya yelled, the vibrations from the ground numbing his legs. "Kira!" Byakuya paused, only a finger's length away from Kira. "What are you doing? Move!"
Orihime was screaming. It was nearly impossible to hear her over the earth's quaking. She had been screaming so long her voice was hoarse. Byakuya narrowed his eyes, frustration coursing through him. "What are you…?"
Shunsui, Jushiro, Kira, and even Orihime, all were gaping up at the sky. Byakuya looked up slowly, a peculiar sensation carving out his insides. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. He reached out for Kira, grabbing the Master tightly. He meant to tell him to move, but it was impossible.
A giant hand descended from the sky, trailing through the dark clouds like smoke. The fingers curled, the hand balling into a fist. It was an enormous hand, nearly as big as the elephant Byakuya had seen at the Roman court once. And it was just the hand…
"Shunsui!" Kira yelled, suddenly snapping out of his stupor. He twisted unexpectedly, freeing himself from Byakuya's grasp. He lunged forward, pushing one hand against Shunsui and the other against Jushiro. He knocked the two men nearly one hundred yards away, Orihime falling with a thud to the ground.
The mammoth hand punched the earth where Shunsui had been standing. It was sudden and painfully slow at the same time. Byakuya felt the wind whip through his hair. He felt the intensity as the ground caved from the force. He felt the power tremble up his legs and chatter his teeth.
A splatter of blood dripped down Byakuya's pale face. His steely-grey eyes were wide, his mouth open ever-so-slightly. He was frozen in place, staring at the brown knuckles in front of him. He only had to lift a finger and he would be touching that hand…
"Kir-a…" Byakuya murmured, using his fingertips to touch the fresh, warm blood that dripped down his face.
The hand rose, higher and higher, until it disappeared back into the clouds. Byakuya couldn't move, couldn't speak. He could only stare at the hole where Kira had been moments before. There was nothing. No body, no clothes, no scraps of bones. The only thing that proved Kira had been in that spot was the blood that trickled down Byakuya's face.
"Byakuya!" Renji shouted. He tried to jump over the rock barrier but Ichigo held him in place. Renji struggled but Ichigo refused to release his hold.
Good boy, Ichigo, Byakuya thought, his body still unable to move.
Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. That noise was like a whispered threat or, perhaps, even a malicious laugh. It was an unnatural sound that made Byakuya's skin crawl. It erupted from the hole, increasing in volume until Byakuya could no longer stand it.
The hand reappeared at the top of the sky, parting the clouds with ease. The hand came down quickly, aiming to strike the same spot as before. Only this time, Byakuya would be underneath that fist as well.
"Byakuya! Run!" Renji screamed.
Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Kira crawled from the hole, a mess of limbs. He wasn't human and he wasn't horse, he was a sickening mistake, a dastardly combination of the two. It was almost too cruel to watch him struggle and that is what released Byakuya from his paralyzing dread.
Byakuya moved swiftly, plowing into Kira purposefully. He allowed his body to hit Kira's misshapen form and he pushed with all of his might. Grass and roots and hard earth resisted but Byakuya pressed onward. He ran, his shoulder throbbing from the intense weight of the half-transformed Master.
The fist struck the earth again, but this time Kira was not underneath. Byakuya hissed, dropping to his knees. He closed his eyes and wiped Kira's blood from his face. He didn't need to breathe, his heart didn't need to beat, so why was his heart racing? Why was he gulping for air?
Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Kira grimaced, his long face turned toward the sky.
"This was a mistake." Byakuya thought aloud. "There's no way we can match such strength…"
Tss. Tss. Tss. Tss. Kira whimpered, his bones reforming slowly. His body steamed, sinew wriggling beneath the surface.
"Byakuya, Kira!" Ichigo shouted. "Get out of the open!"
Byakuya nodded, hoisting Kira over his shoulder. He was almost human-looking again. He was almost back to normal. Byakuya licked his lips, his fangs jutting from his mouth. Byakuya carried Kira, running to where Ichigo and Renji were hidden beyond the rocks.
Byakuya lowered Kira to the ground. He wiped his hands on his clothes and straightened up with purpose. "I'll be back."
"Wait!" Renji snapped. "Where are you going now?"
"I have to get Shunsui and Ukitake…" Byakuya explained. "And Orihime…"
"What makes you think this spot is safe?" Renji demanded. "They might be better off there…"
"In the open?" Byakuya asked, arching a brow.
"Sa-ve… the… hu-ma-n…" Kira growled, his voice fluctuating between human and demon. "Sav-e… h-er…"
"We aren't safe here…" Renji groaned. "What do we do? Where do we put her?"
"Safe… here…" Kira said with much effort. "St-stone… not i-…iron…"
"I'll be right back…" Byakuya announced. His eyes met Renji's for the briefest moment. "I'll be back."
Byakuya zigzagged through the decimated field, rushing toward the others. He reached Orihime first, cradling the small child in his arms. He held her tightly, pressing his head against her chest. She breathed shallowly, her heart beating weakly in her chest. He handed her to Ichigo, who took her gently, holding her small, weak body against his.
The fist rained down from the clouds, striking the ground with enough force to bounce everyone into the air. The violent movement was enough to rouse Shunsui from unconsciousness. He sat up, reaching for Jushiro before he even remembered what was going on. He lifted Jushiro into his arms and stood.
Finally, he saw the fist, lodged deep into the earth and he recalled the situation. He looked around, searching for Orihime desperately. His eyes met Byakuya's and he nodded in understanding. And then he ran, over the broken ground, around the upturned roots and into the safety of the rock barrier.
"What's going on?" Shunsui asked, blood dripping down his forehead.
"That's Cero." Kira explained, his entire body shaking as he tried to sit up. His hookah materialized for only a second before disappearing. Kira cursed, trying again and again before finally settling for a small cigarette roll of tobacco.
"That's a Master?" Shunsui asked, looking toward the black sky.
"Yeah," Kira said, nodding his head and licking his trembling lips. He smoked the rolled tobacco quickly, lighting another before the used one even fell from his hand. "He's been collecting all the dark matter from those 'abandoned' towns…" Kira accidentally dropped his cigarette; he wiped at his teary eyes and picked it back up, smoking in desperation.
"That's…" Shunsui shook his head. "He has to be stronger than Aizen…"
"He's not…" Kira explained, tears streaming down his cheeks. He wiped at his face in frustration. "He's just… He's overindulged… He'll have a surge of unbelievable power but he can't maintain it… It's like I said, it's just, I was unprepared… I haven't done this in so long and…" Kira sobbed openly. "Most of us would be dead if Byakuya wasn't here…"
"You're the only one who could do anything…" Kira looked at Byakuya. "This group is supposed to be the best but…"
"We were all unprepared." Ichigo agreed. "But we've seen it now. We understand."
"How long?" Renji asked, looking up at the night-like sky. "Until this sucker loses his surge?"
"It's over when the sun comes back." Kira answered.
"How far are we from his house?" Shunsui asked, adjusting Jushiro in his arms.
"Close." Kira replied.
"Can we make it back to his house before he does?" Shunsui wondered.
"Don't be ridiculous," Kira drawled, wiping his face one last time. "He wouldn't leave his house with us this close to him…"
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked, his eyes narrowed. "He's here now, isn't he?"
"No." Kira shook his head, his eyes gazing far-off. "He's using a portal. He can't look and punch at the same time. That's the only reason we had any chance at all…"
"Could you send us to him?" Byakuya asked. "Using a portal?"
"Humans can't use the portals for Masters…" Kira said with a frown. "Not even if they're shifters."
"What about vampires then?" Byakuya pressed.
"I don't know." Kira admitted. "I don't see why not. It's not like you need to breathe…"
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked, concern etched in his handsome face.
"Portals are painful." Kira explained. "They pull and tear at every inch of you… It's not the most pleasant way to travel…"
"We don't have time to waste." Byakuya declared. "It's decided."
"What's decided?" Renji asked, shaking his head in confusion.
"We can't attack a Master who isn't here. Which means we need to get to his actual physical location. We can't exactly continue our walk with those punches hailing down on us…" Byakuya explained rapidly. "Which means we have to wait. He will expend all his extra dark matter and stabilize, that is when we are at our most likely chance of success…"
"But what if he collects more dark matter?" Byakuya continued. "It's easy enough for him. He gets whole villages at a time. He'd be unstoppable and we'd waste a lot of time…" Byakuya leaned in closely. "Ichigo, Renji, Shunsui, Jushiro, and Orihime will wait until the sun returns. You will make haste to his physical location. And Kira and I will use the portal to reach Cero. We will keep Cero from stealing more dark matter. You will arrive as our reinforcements and we will defeat Cero…"
Everyone was silent for a long stretch of time. Finally Ichigo nodded, "How long will it take us to get from here to Cero?"
"Less than a day." Kira answered, his hookah finally materializing between his legs.
"A day?" Renji shook his head. "That's too long…"
"Ichigo's fast." Shunsui reasoned. "He might make it sooner."
"A whole day is too long!" Renji snarled. "Can you imagine holding that thing off for an hour let alone a day?!"
"That 'thing' is one of my kind…" Kira said quietly, puffing on his pipe. "Please don't dismiss me entirely."
"I'm not dismissing you." Renji groaned. "I just don't think splitting into two groups like that is a good idea. What if you die? Two of our strongest fighters will be dead…"
"Cero can't kill me." Kira exhaled, a large 'O' curling from his lips. "He doesn't have the means." Kira's blue eyes met Renji's. "And since I am a whole Master, I won't be sent back to Carcer to start all over…"
"I agree with Byakuya." Ichigo said with a nod. "It's worth the risk…"
"Shunsui…" Renji groaned, turning toward the other with a frown. "We can't abandon two of us to that monster for an entire day…"
"We can't let him absorb more dark matter." Shunsui responded. Renji cursed, covering his face with his hands. "I'm sorry, Renji. But I think this is the best plan…"
"What if you don't survive the portal?" Renji pressed in desperation. "Kira, can you stop Cero from absorbing dark matter on your own?"
"I can also absorb dark matter…" Kira explained. "If all else fails, I can take it from him forcefully…" Kira held the mouthpiece of his pipe just beyond his lips. "I may have the appearance of a delicate, little flower but I assure you, I'm a Master through and through…"
"Do you think we can find Cero without Kira?" Renji asked, licking his lips nervously.
"You'll know." Kira said with a dry laugh. "You'll feel him. You'll feel me. And you'll wish you were anywhere else…"
"This is the best shot we have, Renj," Ichigo murmured, slapping his friend on the back.
"Yeah." Renji breathed out heavily. He nodded his head, his red hair falling into his face. "Of course."
"One more thing," Kira said, speaking up. "Shunsui, leave the damn humans behind…" Kira's eyes narrowed in anger. "Wise up or go ahead and dig their graves yourself… We won't help you…"
The pounding stopped. The earthquake stopped. The group of men sat huddled, listening expectantly, but the earth had grown still and peaceful. A tiny sliver of sun emerged from behind the clouds and Renji sighed deeply.
Byakuya stood, Kira following directly behind. "It's time," Kira announced. Ichigo nodded and leapt to his feet, dropping Orihime into Renji's arms. He showed no hesitation, his form rippling from view as he took to the trees. Kira smiled at Shunsui, a sad sort of smile that was laced with disappointment. "We'll be waiting…"
"We'll be there soon." Shunsui said, climbing to his feet with Jushiro in his arms. "Good luck."
"Good luck to you too." Kira replied. He lifted his arm waving it in a wide, broad circle, almost as if he were painting in the air.
"Byakuya," Renji began unsurely.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Byakuya replied dismissively.
"Byakuya!" Renji called again, more firmly this time.
"Yes?" Byakuya asked, turning to look at the redhead.
"Don't die yet." Renji nearly shouted, his eyes closing.
"I won't." Byakuya said, a peculiar smile tugging at his lips. "Not yet."
An enchanting golden ring of light appeared in the air. Kira nodded and stepped toward it. The portal pulled at him, like an inescapable vacuum. His skin stretched, his bones snapping grotesquely. "Come on, vampire…"
"I'm coming." Byakuya replied, stepping away from Renji and through the portal. He disappeared, the golden ring of light closing around them and extinguishing.
Byakuya felt as if every muscle, every bone, every fiber had been pulled apart from the next. He felt dissected. There was pain and agony and then there was nothing, because he was nothing. He was Byakuya when he entered and suddenly he was no one. It wasn't floating, it was too fast, too violent to be called floating. It was like birth, like being ripped from the canal whether he wanted to go or not.
And then it was over. He sank to his knees and retched. Blood spilled all over the stone floor, soaking between his fingers. Byakuya choked loudly, jumping when a hand brushed gently through his hair. "There, there…" Kira drawled. "Let it out…"
"It…" Byakuya groaned, closing his eyes as he readjusted to being alive, to being Byakuya. "…was horrible…"
"I know…" Kira whispered, his fingers wrapping around Byakuya's shoulder. He squeezed in a comforting way before standing. "But now we're here."
Byakuya nodded, struggling to climb to his feet. He wheezed for a few moments before finally standing. He wiped his mouth and looked around the room they had suddenly appeared in.
The room was dark and empty. Even the walls were bare. The stone was wet and cold, green sludge growing between the cracks. There was a door on the far side of the room, seemingly the only thing that wasn't stone within sight. "Where are we?"
"I don't know." Kira admitted. "Somewhere in Cero's home."
"Do we take the door?" Byakuya asked, distrustful of everything around him.
"No." Kira refused. He smiled and shrugged. "I'm not going to wander around the place and get lost…" Kira dropped to his knee, balling his hand into a fist. He rubbed his knuckle against the stone before lifting up his elbow, raising his fist high. "I'd rather make a bang."
Kira punched the stone, breaking through the solid rock with a terrible crack. The floor splintered into fragments and before Byakuya could react he and Kira were falling through the floor and into a large, warm room.
They fell to the stone floor, the rocks falling all around them. Byakuya looked up, staring in shock at the terrifying man sitting in the throne. He was a large man, taller than a giant and weighing more than three men combined. He had dark skin and hair and strange red markings on his face. Swirling black designs were tattooed into his skin.
"Suerte…" Cero murmured, a smile spreading across his stern face.
"Cero," Kira said, climbing to his feet.
"It's Yammy now, Wabisuke…" Cero growled.
"It's Kira now." Kira replied.
"Is this it? Just you?" Cero barked with laughter. "Where's Katen?"
"He's coming." Kira said, his bones snapping as he grew, larger and larger. "Be patient."
"Patient?" Cero laughed again. "You'll be dead in five minutes."
