Bleached: Ep. 36
Disclaimer: We don't own Bleach, just Airi and Zezuri.
Note: Honestly, I love this fight scene you're about to read. I, unlike Kubo, like to let some other divisions besides 6th, 10th, and 11th have all the glory. -Airi
Airi had never been very good with her sense of direction, she now as cursing her luck in her head as she found herself at the gates of fourth division. "Guess I should ask where sixth division is from here…" she thought, "looks like I can't avoid the people who recognize me either…" Sighing, she nervously entered the large division's courtyard.
The members of fourth squad were running around frantically dividing up into groups and going to their designated relief areas.
"You there!" someone yelled to her.
"Uh… hi," Airi responded to the silver-haired lieutenant.
"Aren't you… no it couldn't be…"
"I am, or more of was… that arrancar…" Airi wasn't sure this was the best way to go about this, but she didn't have time to waste with worry. "Could you tell me were I could find Zezuri?"
Just then Unohana flash-stepped into the area. "Isane, prepare for an attack, one of them is headed here," The captain turned to Airi, her eyes held a million questions, but she with held them. "Renji is guarding Zezuri, she'll be fine."
Airi wished she could believe in the fourth captain's words. By now all of fourth division was deserted, save for Isane, Airi, and Unohana. They stood back to back in a triangle formation, sensing the approach of a strong presence.
"Friend or foe?" Isane asked her captain.
"Foe, I don't know anyone this powerful, save for maybe the general." The three waited with baited breath for the attack.
"Above us!" screamed Airi thrusting her sword upwards to block herself.
Metal rang out less than a second later as Airi's green glare met another, fiercer one.
"An espada," gasped Isane.
In a series of quick attacks Airi's opponent sent her flying into the wall. Her landing was accompanied by a large green cero blast. Airi wasn't there when the dust settled. Instead she was standing a little further to the right of where she had landed.
"Ulquiorra…" she panted, clutching a small should wound.
Unohana attacked the fourth espada next, swinging her long curved blade expertly. This was the first time Isane could remember her captain using her sword in combat. Unohana was at least three times as powerful as Airi, but Ulquiorra blocked all of her moves without any difficulty. Isane charged in after Unohana caused the black haired espada to step back. Ulquiorra saw her coming and side stepped her attack. Airi picked up her sword again and released its first level of power. Sparks flew as she ran at Ulquiorra. He barely flinched at the impact as he blocked Airi's sword with his wrist.
"Why did you leave me if you only are going to kill me now?" Airi yelled, tears running down her face, "You saved me for what?!"
Ulquiorra didn't respond, nor did his face display any emotion. Airi had lost all of her normal calm and was fighting in a confused frenzy. Again, Ulquiorra sent Airi flying into the wall. This time the captain charged in before he could use cero. Isane rushed over to where Airi had landed and cast a quick healing spell before running to join her captain.
"We're not going to last much longer at this rate, I'm afraid," shouted Unohana guarding from another series of attacks.
--
Ichigo and friends had run into Nnoitora and all four of them were now locking in battle. Kira had run off to attempt to get a message to the captains in the real world.
--
Joushiro looked out his window. "They're here…" he commented. "Are you ready, Rukia?"
"Yes, sir."
"What about us captain?!" Kyone asked.
"You two must stay here, I'm afraid that these enemies are too powerful for you." Joushiro said as he and Rukia exited.
They didn't get far before, "Captain Ukitake! They're here!" Shuhei said rushing over to them.
"I know, be prepared Hisagi, here comes one now!" Joushiro announced.
And with that Kaname Tosen stood above them in mid-air.
"C-catain Tosen!?" Shuhei hadn't expected him.
--
Renji was still running, carrying Zezuri in his arms. "One is catching up… and fast…" Renji thought. Suddenly, a blue cero blast headed straight for him. Renji dodged it in time, but lost his balance and fell over. Zezuri tried to help Renji up; he was practically crushing her. The sixth lieutenant looked over his shoulder and noticed the blue-haired arrancar. Grimmjow looked around and saw the person he was looking for.
"Tch. Found ya…" he said to himself as he remembered the time he had been sent to find her in the Menos forest.
"That spiritual pressure…" Zezuri looked up and saw Grimmjow. "Grimm-"
"Zezuri, stand back!" Renji unsheathed his zanpakto.
Grimmjow's eyes narrowed.
"Wait! Don't fight!" Zezuri pleaded.
"I wouldn't have to if he'd put his sword away! Now I suggest you get away from here Zezuri, I'll win, and take you back with me!" Grimmjow made himself a promise.
Renji stared. That promise sounded just like the one Ichigo made when he came for Rukia. "Here…" Renji grabbed Zezuri and flash stepped her to a safer ahead. "Stay here…"
"Please…. I don't want you two to fight! You're on the same side!"
Renji was confused but he flash-stepped back to the battle. "Same side? We can't be… fighting for the same thing…" Renji thought, but he had to focus on the battle ahead. "She's safe for now, let's fight!" Renji said.
"Fine by me…" Grimmjow readied himself.
--
Zezuri hid in some bushes, "Why is this happening again… just like-" Zezuri's thoughts were interrupted.
"Ah… so we finally get to meet again, after so long," a voice came from behind her. She whirled around to see Syazel standing right behind her.
"You…" She said surprised.
"Yes, you've become more beautiful and stronger since I last saw you…" he stepped forward as she took a step back. "Lord Aizen has been dying to see you too, why don't you come with me without the fussing?" he held out a hand.
Zezuri stared, repulsed, "No!" she fired off a quick kido spell.
Syazel dodged it and dusted himself off. "I see…" he adjusted his glasses.
--
"He's holding back!" yelled Unohana. It was quite obvious; the espada could have easily destroyed the two shinigami and lone Vizard.
Airi had pulled out her mask; she'd only had a bit of training with this, and wasn't able to maintain it for more than five seconds at a time.
Isane was thrown into a wall, slammed her head on the solid stone and was rendered unconscious. Unohana had made many attempts to heal her lieutenant, but Ulquiorra blocked all attempts. By now both the captain and Vizard were reaching their limits and Ulquiorra was just warming up.
Airi was about to attack when she noticed Ulquiorra attempt a cero at the unconscious Isane. "No!" Airi shouted, knowing she wouldn't be fast enough. Isane would be killed and she couldn't save her. Ulquiorra's cero blast shot off and screamed past Airi. "Isane!" Airi was sure it had hit the silver haired shinigami.
But, as the smoke cleared another form was visible; Unohana. The fourth captain had managed to flash-step over in time to intercept the blow. She fell to her knees, having taken the full blast, and passed out, leaving Airi to fight the fourth espada by herself.
--
Renji was the one to charge in first. "Roar, Zabimaru!" he shouted, releasing his zanpakto. But Grimmjow just blocked the blow with his hand and punched Renji in the stomach, knocking the red haired shinigami backwards towards the ground. Renji caught his balance and landed on the ground, stumbling slightly from the blow. "He's too strong for my shikai form…" Renji thought. "Bankai!!" Renji's sword transformed into a huge, snake-like creature.
--
"So it's going to be like that? I can't kill you, but I can take you to Aizen by force," Syazel unsheathed his zanpakto.
Zezuri glared at him, waiting for him to move, making sure that she would be faster with a spell.
--
Airi knew she couldn't last for much longer; she couldn't summon enough energy to pull out her mask and maintain her shikai as well.
Ulquiorra attacked again.
Airi put her sword up for defense, but it was futile. Airi let out a moan as she was slammed into another section of the wall. She looked up to see the green-eyed espada looming over her. "Why are you holding back? Your intent was to kill me, I know you're more powerful than this," Airi remarked softly.
Ulquiorra's right hand began to glow green as he prepared a cero blast, "Aizen-sama's orders."
With that the green beam of light soared at Airi. Her mind ran frantically for what to do as well as through all the unanswered questions she still had. Why he had bothered protecting her for all this time was certainly one neither of them had an answer for, save for "it was Aizen-sama's orders." Airi could just envision the pale arrancar stating his favorite line just one last time. Here it was, the end, oblivion and emptiness awaited her, Airi knew that no matter what she did, this was it. Only Zezuri would miss her anyways. She closed her eyes, put up her final guard, and waited.
"Didn't I tell you to be careful?!" Yelled someone, clearly not Ulquiorra, from in front of her. "Geez, you're a mess. After all the trouble Hiyori and Mashiro went through to get you a nice looking outfit and here you are getting all beat up."
Airi opened her eyes.
"As for you, Ulquiorra, what purpose did it serve you to rescue her in the first place?" Shinji Hirado stood before her.
"S-Shinji!" Airi couldn't remember being happier to see anyone.
Ulquiorra had stopped his stream of attacks, seemingly deep in thought.
Shinji didn't take his eyes off his opponent, "So, Sosuke, what is it you truly want?" he muttered, "Airi?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you have enough energy to continue?"
Airi looked at her tattered condition; she had a large number of cuts and bruises, but nothing broken. Her clothes, like Shinji had said were not looking too good. Sparks faintly fell from the hilt of her sword; a mere shadow of what they were when she'd first released it.
"No, never mind," said Shinji sensing her hesitation, "I can take this one." The Vizard faced the espada for what seemed like an eternity.
Airi felt like she was watching an old west showdown waiting for the draw.
Suddenly, Ulquiorra vanished without a word, he knew he was overpowered by the newcomer and had little pride to lose in retreating. Sensing that the fourth espada had left and wasn't attempting a sneak attack, Shinji sheathed his sword. He turned to Airi whom was still lying in the rubble.
She put her sword away and let out a sigh. A smile crossed her face as Shinji pulled her up from the wreckage.
Once Airi was on her feet Shinji embraced her on the spot. At first, Airi was stunned, this kind of behavior normally bothered her and she half expected herself to push him away, instead she embraced the other Vizard right back.
"Thanks," she said into his shoulder in which her face was buried.
"It's not over yet," he smiled, "but you're welcome."
They broke apart and Airi remembered Isane and Unohana. She looked at where she'd last seen them, but they weren't there.
"I removed Retsu and her lieutenant from the battle while you held off Ulquiorra," Shinji explained, "Don't worry, they'll be fine."
"Shinji, I didn't think you would get involved in all of this."
"The others didn't come, they're helping out in the human world," Shinji half answered the question, "It's too risky for all of us to come and that's an entirely different story. I'll tell you later. Did you find your friend?"
A shocked look crossed Airi's face; she'd been so preoccupied she'd almost forgotten why she was here.
"Let's go find her."
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