(A/N: I have nothing to say, except thanks to L002 for his help with suggesting what to do for some of the latter parts of the chapter)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of Symphonia. If I owned Symphonia Kratos and Zelos would've BOTH been in the sequel.
Ichigo's pov
I woke up the next morning lying in bed next to Sheena. I could hardly believe last night really happened. Sheena and I were both naked and cuddled up next to each other. I was up first it seemed as Sheena was still breathing slowly and her eyes were closed. She was smiling too. I looked over across the room and put a hand on her shoulder. I don't care what Hat and Cloggs says, I will come back here. I don't care if Sheena has forgotten me or not. If she has, I'll make her fall in love with me all over again. As I thought this I thought about what Yuan said about how one of the four samurai was Ukitake-san. I thought maybe I could ask Byakuya if he could go to Meltokio and see if Ukitake-san could shed some light on the situation while the rest of us went and raided Cruxis to get Orihime back and stop Mithos. My thoughts were interrupted when Sheena stirred. She opened her eyes slowly and then looked up at me with have lidded eyes.
"Good morning, my love," she said to me. She leaned up and we shared a brief kiss. "Last night was incredible," Sheena said lying back down against me. "I'm so glad I decided to do it with you." Her beautiful body felt so warm as it was flush against my skin.
"Sheena," I said.
"Hmm," she looked up at me.
"There's something I need to tell you I—"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
God dammit, "Who is it?" I called
"Ichigo get ready and meet us outside ok?" It was Lloyd, "We're discussing our next move."
"Yeah sure. I'll be right out," I told him. I heard his footsteps walk away. "Well that killed the mood," I said rising out of bed.
"What was it you were going to tell me," Sheen asked.
"I'll tell you later when there's time," I said, suiting up, "Right now we should get ready and head on outside. Bundle up."
"Yeah, ok," she said.
Lloyd's pov
Sheena and Ichigo walked out together where we had all gathered together. "Nice of you two to finally join us, were you having a sweet love affair while you were all alone," Zelos laughed to himself.
"That's really not your business," Ichigo returned.
"Well well, my apologies," Zelos backed off.
"Well Lloyd you called this meeting, what's our next move?" Captain Kuchiki asked him.
"First things first," I said, "How's Altessa?"
"Captain Kyoraku dropped by earlier, apparently everything's fine. Those who had gone to help him are staying with him and Sajin to make sure they get better and get some rest," Captain Kuchiki said.
"Captain Komamura's a fighter though, he should be back on his feet soon," Soifon said.
"Ok then here goes," I cleared my throat, "The world is never gonna change if we just wait for Cruxis to make the next move, right? So this time, we're going to strike them first."
"Well, so you're finally ready to do it! We're gonna raid Cruxis!" Zelos declared.
I nodded. "Yeah and we have three objectives: Prevent the establishment of Mithos' new Age, release Origin, and save Orihime."
"But if you release Origin what about Kratos?" Genis asked.
I turned towards Captain Kuchiki, "I was thinking, when he releases all the mana from his body could you supplement some of your own power to help him."
Captain Kuchiki thought about it for a minute, "I suppose that wouldn't be outside the realm of normality, in fact it would be rather easy."
"Well that solves one problem," Ichigo said, "And while we're on the subject of asking you to do stuff, I have a favor to ask you."
"A favor?" Captain Kuchiki turned towards him.
"Yeah, while we all raid Cruxis can you go and talk to Ukitake-san about the Tale of the Four Samurai?" Ichigo asked.
"What for?" Captain Kuchiki asked.
"I spoke with Yuan yesterday, before he left, apparently he met one of the four samurai, the spirit of reversal. He said the samurai's name was Jushiro Ukitake," Ichigo answered.
Everyone from Soul Society seemed shocked by this. "How…how is that possible?" Soifon pondered.
"I've been doing some thinking," Ichigo said, "What if we didn't get zapped into a game. What if…what if this place is real? What if that lock-in mode actually caused us to get warped to some other world?"
"I dunno that sounds rather too convenient," Renji said, "We get warped to this world just as it's having a problem."
"Perhaps its fate," the professor said, "even so it's a possibility nonetheless."
"But then how do you explain that bucket hat guy's holographic projections?" Zelos asked. No one had an answer, "See no answer. Like I thought."
"I will speak to Ukitake and see what I can find," Captain Kuchiki said.
"I'll travel Tethe'alla and see if I can dig up any information on these Four Samurai. Maybe I'll even go to Sylvarant if I can't find anything," Soifon said, "I don't care what that Storyteller woman said if a character can name Ukitake-taicho by name then this myth is worth looking into."
"Is that all right though cutting two captains out of the fight, Yggdrasil was ridiculously strong the last time we faced him," Sheena indicated.
"I'm a direct attacker," Soifon said, "I won't be of any use in the real fight."
"And I'm not the type to go out on raids," Captain Kuchiki rationalized.
"Peh, fine do what you want. We'll handle that Yggdrasil bastard and his armada of angels," Kenpachi reassured.
"You guys stay out of trouble ok," Ichigo said to them.
"Who do you think you're talking to?" Captain Kuchiki shot back.
"Well good luck you two," I said. Both nodded and left using Shunpo.
"Man they're quick," Zelos joked.
"Well anyways now that that's settled we have a bigger issue," Renji said, "What're we going to do about the Eternal Sword? Genis and Raine are the only two people we've got who are half-elves and it's not like either one of them could wield a sword."
"Don't worry about that, I've got it covered," Zelos stated.
"What do you mean?" Nel asked.
"Why do you think I can use magic swords? I received magic injections with the latest in Tethe'alla technology," Zelos answered.
"In other words you have elven blood in you?" Nel asked in confirmation.
"Yup, yup, sure do," Zelos said.
"Then I guess this will be our final showdown with Cruxis," Ichigo said.
"I'll do my best too," Colette said.
No…she can't come…not this time. I turned towards her, "Colette I need you to stay behind."
"Why?" she asked.
"They want you as Martel's vessel. We'll have either Mizuho or the Renegades hide you, or one of Ichigo's frien…"
"No," she said outright, "I'm going too!"
"But," I protested.
Zelos laughed, "I get it. You don't think you can protect her. That is so sad."
I glared at him, "What did you say?" I snapped.
"Fear not my little cutie Colette. I, the great Zelos, shall protect you," he declared.
"Zelos!" I was appalled.
"Take her along, Lloyd. They're gonna be after her no matter where she is," Zelos told me, "You ought to know that by now. Be a man! Show her what you're made of!"
"Wow, we actually have the same opinion for once. Sorry, Lloyd, but I agree with Zelos this time," Sheena said.
"All right, Colette will come with us, okay?"
"Yes, it's like I said, I always want to be by your side," she said.
"Right then, let's go everyone," Toshiro said and led everyone away save for Zelos who stayed behind next to me.
"All right, let's go kick come Cruxis butt, Lloyd!" He shouted with glee.
"Zelos," I turned towards him. I had to make sure of something.
"Huh? What is it?" he asked.
"Can I really trust you?" I asked him.
"What are you saying? Of course you can trust me! I'm the type that responds to people's trust," he said.
"Really?" I asked wanting to make sure.
"Really! Really, really, come on, let's go!" he shuffled me out of the town.
"All right, if you say so," I said.
Tower of Salvation
Ichigo's pov
We entered the Tower of Salvation and walked into the room where we had encountered Kratos the last time. The Eternal Sword was still where it had been before.
"Leave this to me," Zelos said.
"To you?" I questioned unenthusiastically.
"I figured something like this might happen, so I prepared a little something the last time we were here," he explained. He looked at Colette, "Hey Colette come here a second."
"Hmm, um okay," she walked towards Zelos only for angels suddenly to form around her and her to be transported onto the transporter in the room. Pronyma appeared as well.
"Zelos!" Genis shouted out taking the emotions in calling the redhead's name out for us.
"What the hell do you're doing?" I shouted.
"Oh, shut up," he said rudely "I'm just putting myself on the winning side. What you're trying to do is hopeless and meaningless. What's the big deal? Colette wanted to be a sacrifice, remember?"
"Zelos! You traitor!" Lloyd shouted.
"You know it's so funny you would say that. It's not like you trusted me in the first place," Zelos remarked.
"Well who the hell could trust a jerk like you?" I asked back.
"Betray you?" Pronyma laughed, "How amusing. Zelos was our spy from the very beginning."
Rangiku-san looked heartbroken, "It's not true, is it? Please say that she's lying!"
Zelos didn't look the least bit emotional, in fact he had a smug grin on his face as he said, "Sorry Lady Rangiku, but it is how it is. I side with the strongest. It was a simple matter of weighing the Renegades, Cruxis, and all of you."
"The Rengades!" Nel gasped, "So when Yuan said we had an inside man it was…"
"Me. Bingo," Zelos' attitude was really pissing me off. Could the idiot, flamboyant, perverted chosen we'd been travelling with really a two-faced, backstabbing traitor?
"I can't believe you!" Sheena cried out. "You were always a pervert, but I never doubted that you were a good person when it came down to it."
"Why thank you my sweet voluptuous hunny," Zelos said as though she had complimented him, "but in the end I choose this side because Lord Mithos promised to relieve me from my duties as a chosen of Mana."
"You hate being the chosen so much that you would betray your friends?" Toshiro snapped, "Vice Captain Ise looks after your sister day in and day out endlessly, without queston, and this is how you repay her?"
"Oh, yeah, I do. It's because of that title that my life has been a total joke. I can't stand it. I can't wait for Seles to become the Chosen instead of me," Zelos said. I clenched my hand tight against my blade.
"You lying!" Lloyd shouted, "I still trust you do you hear me? You're the one who told me I could trust you!"
"What are you fucking stupid?" Zelos looked at Lloyd like he was the biggest sucker in the world. He turned his head towards Pronyma.
"I leave the rest to you," she told him and warped out with Colette.
"Lloyd! Lloyd!" she called to him.
"So this is how it ends," Zelos said.
"Why Zelos? Why are you doing this?" Rangiku cried out.
"You were our friend," Lloyd added.
"Friend huh?" Zelos mulled over, "I never did get you to trust me though."
"Perhaps if you hadn't sought our trust in such earnest, maybe you would've earned it," Renji said releasing Zabimaru's shikai and holding it at the ready.
"There's gotta be some sort of explanation for all this. This is just another joke right?" Lloyd asked him.
"I don't know what to tell you," Zelos said, "I'm just a weak lazy bum. All I want is a fun, easy life. Nothing more, nothing less." Zelos drew out his sword and then a small orb from his pocket. It was his Cruxis Crystal. "Prepare yourselves," he said. A bright goldenrod aura enveloped him and suddenly goldenrod, translucent wings emanated from his back just like Orihime's orange ones and Kratos' blue ones. I couldn't take it anymore. I slipped on Shadow's ring and lunged forward at Zelos who took a giant step back. "Ooh scary," Zelos mocked. I fired a Getsuga blast at him. He sliced it with his sword. "Severing Wind!" The attack dissipated. "What's the matter Ichigo," he said with the same smug attitude he had been using all this time, "do I piss you off?"
"Hell yeah you do. We treated you like one of us, like an equal, and then you go and stab us in the back. Sorry, but I'm not just going to stand there and let you trample all over us, like your time with us meant nothing."
"You want to take me on?" Zelos asked, "Bring it."
"With pleasure!" I shouted and charged after him. Zelos blocked with his shield.
He smirked, "Air Thrust!" I leapt back and dodged the strike. "Fire Ball!" Zelos shot 3 fireballs at me. I swatted each one away. He came leaping at me from on high "Fierce Demon Fang!" I blocked and destabilized him. He back flipped away.
I held up my sword, "Getsuga Tensho!" Zelos blocked with his shield and I use Shunpo to get behind him and stabbed him right in the back. He turned at the last second and I wound up tearing off a bit of his clothing.
"Holy wings reveal thy power! Angel Feathers!" Goldenrod discs were sent sailing at me. I dodged and blocked each one as I charged towards Zelos and attacked. He blocked with his shield. "If you keep doing the same moves Ichigo it's going to get boring," Zelos laughed to himself and brought up his leg to try and kick me in the side of the head. I blocked with my free arm. With his free leg he back flipped and flip kicked me right in the jaw and then, while I was still reeling, punched me in the stomach and sent me sliding back. I started to pant. "Man what's with you? Is this all the power you have?" Zelos mocked.
"Shut up!" I shouted.
"Perhaps I should tell you the drawback of your current form," Zelos said, "Ya see as a summon spirit of darkness Shadow does offer quite a bit of power to those who can limitlessly use his power, but it comes at a hefty price. The more power you exert the faster it drains your energy. So while you might be much stronger you get weaker as the fight goes on. Reflexes," he appeared behind me and prepared to slash at me, "are the first things to go!" I blocked with Tensa Zangetsu, surprising him.
"I had a feeling that was the case," I said. "Thanks for confirming that," I exuded more energy. "Luckily for me I've never had a problem with over exerting myself. I have an abundance of spirit energy, or mana, within me." I turned, swung, and slashed Zelos across the stomach, cutting him deep in the abdomen. He teleported away from me and clutched his wound. "An enemy of mine once told me that distancing yourself is only useful for beings of equal power." I raised my reiatsu further, "Can you really say that you and I are on equal level?"
There was a pause and then Zelos smirked. He let his sword rest against his shoulder and clapped his hands. He then reequipped it. "Nice speech my man, nice speech, but yeah I do think I'm on equal ground with you. You want me to prove I'm on equal ground with you," he appeared in front of me and attacked. I dodged. He appeared again and attacked. I blocked. "I'd be happy to show you what I'm made of."
A jolt of energy ran through me, My body…I can't move. A crimson energy field appeared at Zelos' and my feet.
"Take this," he said and rose into the air stretching out his wings as they flashed a dark red color, "Shining Bind!"
I screamed as lighting tore through my body from the energy field beneath me. I heard Sheena and several others call out my name. The attack didn't last more than a minute…significantly less than one actually. I found myself panting and feeling significantly damaged. Zelos landed back down in front of me with that ever annoying smug grin plastered on his face.
"So you're still standing," he said, "Not surprising considering this is the guy who took out Volt with one fell swoop," he shrugged, "Ah well," he swung down at me, "Round two!" I parried with Tensa Zangetsu and struck him across the chest. I pulled my sword and back and put both hands on it, crouching and taking a stance. I looked at Zelos with fierce determination and controlled the flow of the air to push him back from me.
"Game over," I told him. I charged Getusga throughout my blade and held it above my head.
"Ichigo! Stop! You'll kill him!" Rangiku-san shouted.
I had no option to stop. My mind was made up. I had felt Zelos heart in his sword. He was fed up with living. I found sadness reflected in his blade. I could feel the repressed sorrow of his life coming across in our fight. He was a death seeker. As an opponent, if this killed him, he'd get exactly what he wanted "Getsuga Tensho!" My blast consumed Zelos and I saw his sword go flying away and shatter into pieces. He hit the ground and his shield broke as his arm hit the ground.
"That was pretty good," Zelos said hoarsely as he lay on the ground. We all walked over to him. I removed Shadow's ring.
"Zelos," Rangiku got watery eyed.
"It's okay, to tell you the truth, I was getting pretty tired of living anyway," he said.
Rangiku held Zelos in her arms, his face close to her chest, "Don't talk like that!" she sobbed.
"Oh yeah, about Colette…She's below, in the hall of the Great Seed. Make sure you save her." Zelos told Lloyd.
"Why did you fight us?" Lloyd asked.
"Because my life was a mistake," Zelos said, "But…once I'm gone…Seles might…be happier and…they'll finally let her out of that abbey."
"Don't tell us that's why you…" Lloyd trailed off.
"Nah that's just a bonus," Zelos chuckled with a big grin on his face. "Make sure…you destroy…my Cru…xis…Crystal," Zelos looked up at Rangiku's face as best he could, "You know when we me met Rangiku, I envisioned myself dying with you holding me exactly like you are right now." He said.
"You don't have to die," Rangiku looked at him with tears.
"It's not like I have much of a choice now do I?" he asked. Rangiku's tears splashed Zelos face. "I'm sorry…Lady Rangiku…" Zelos' body went limp. Rangiku continued sob to the point of howling.
"Damned idiot," Sheena muttered under her breath.
"Why? Zelos why?" Rangiku sobbed over Zelos' dead boy. Toshiro walked up to her, lifted her head up and promptly smacked her across the face. "C-captain," Rangiku held her face where he had struck her.
"Honestly Matsumoto get a grip on yourself, he's just a program," Toshiro said coldly.
Rangiku, to my own surprise, slapped Toshiro, "How can you say that?" she fumed, "How can you just brush it off like that? I…he…we…"
"Focus on the task at hand Matsumoto," he told her "and if you slap me again I'll be sure to punish you and/or demote you when we get back to Soul Society."
"It's just…it's just not fair," she sobbed, "why does everyone I love die?" she screamed out to the ceiling.
"There's not use in bringing her along with her like this," Raine said, "She'll only jeopardize the mission."
"I…I'm fine with staying here," Rangiku sniffed, "I want…I want to confront my feelings."
"Honestly Matsumoto you knew Zelos for a little more than two months. You knew Ichimaru for close to a century, put things in perspective," Toshiro was only making things worse. I put a hand on his shoulder. "Kurosaki?" he looked up at me.
"Let her do what she wants," I said.
He sighed, "Fine let's go."
"About time," Kenpachi said.
We walked over to the transporter. "Is it still active?" Presea wondered.
"Looks like it," I said. "Let's go."
Regal's pov
We warped through the transporter and found ourselves in a giant empty room. There was a ticking dais upholstered onto the ceiling and there were windows all around the room about height level and behind each window was an angelic soldier. "A-angels," Lloyd spoke out.
"There's so many of them!" I looked onward.
"The more there are the longer the fight," Kenpachi said. Suddenly a gong sounded and all the angels were released from behind the glass frames.
"Here they come!" Ichigo shouted. We started fighting them for a while, but we were drastically outnumbered and things were becoming tedious. Lloyd, Ichigo and the others would never make it in time to save Colette at this rate.
"Damn it! There are way too many of these things!" Renji shouted.
"Make a break for that passage!" I shouted indicating a tunnel at the far end of the room. All of them did so except for Kenpachi and Yachiru who were hacking away at angels. I knew it would be useless to talk them out of fighting so I didn't bother. I waited until the others were all safely on the other side of the tunnel entrance and then broke the pillars down forming a barricade.
"Regal!" Lloyd shouted.
"Kenpachi! Yachiru!" Ichigo shouted at the same time.
"We'll hold them off here. Hurry!" I told them.
"We can't just leave you behind!" Ichigo shouted.
"There's no time. You know that. You're the only ones who can save Colette and Orihime," I said.
"I can't just leave a friend behind!" Lloyd exclaimed.
"That's not what you're doing. I…I once wasn't able to protect someone very important to me," I told them, "So this time, I'm going to succeed. I'm going to protect my friends."
"Captain Zaraki and Vice Captain Kusajishi should be more than sufficient assistance for Regal," I heard Toshiro Hitsugaya say, "Let's get out of here while we can."
"No way! I'm busting into there!" Ichigo shouted.
"Ichigo, I didn't knock down all these pillars to keep you all out. I did it to keep the angels in," I turned towards the passage and shouted, "Now go!"
"You fool!" Ichigo and the other ran off. Lloyd stayed behind momentarily.
"Regal, don't die. Don't make me go through the same pain you did, you hear me?" he chastised and ran off.
"Heh. You sure don't make things easy, Lloyd. I'm sorry, Alicia. It looks like it's still going to be a while before I join you," I told myself. I looked at the angels that had chosen me as their target and shouted, "You shall not pass!"
Sheena's pov
We ran down the tunnel and into the next room. There was a long winding staircase leading down. At the bottom there was a giant tree root wedged into the ceiling, hanging over a large, slightly unstable, moss covered bridge. When we tried to run by the tree root it attacked us.
"Wh-what the heck is that?" Toshiro shouted.
"This thing looks like leftovers from earlier," I said.
"Leftovers from earlier?" he pondered. "Wait this is a remnant of the giant tree?"
"Yup, no doubt about it," I said, "Just stand back and leave this to me."
"You sure?" Ichigo asked.
"Just trust me," I said. I pulled out my fist full of summon spirit cards and yanked out the Tethe'allan ones. "Disciple of Everlasting Ice!" An astral image of Celsius appeared. "Hammer of Godly Thunder!" Volt's astral image appeared. "Servant of Mother Earth!" Gnome's astral image appeared. "Envoy from the Dark Abyss!" Shadow's astral image appeared. "I command thee! Gatherest before me and unleash thine power!" The summon spirits converged into one ball of energy which I absorbed and prepared to use as an attack.
"What are you going to do?" Lloyd asked me.
"My impression of the mana cannon," I said, "Well, it won't be nearly as powerful, but it should be enough to take care of this thing. When I give the signal, run underneath it. Got it?"
"Yeah sure," Ichigo said, "but what about you?"
"I'll be fine," I assured him, however I really didn't know what would happen to me. I stood stolidly and channeled the energy I absorbed and then fired it into the tree root. "Now!" I shouted everyone ran underneath it and across the bridge. The root fell and broke the bridge in half. It created a gap to wide to cross. I dropped to one knee.
Ichigo turned around, "Sheena!"
"I'm fine," I called back to him, "I just need to catch my breath." Suddenly a tree root came out from the ground and grabbed my leg and pulled me down towards the dark hole below.
"Sheena hang on I'm coming!" Ichigo shouted. I thought of when we first me and started to laugh. "What, why are you laughing?"
"I was just remembering the time when we first met. It looks like I have a strong affinity for falling into holes," I told him.
"Just hang on I'll be right there," he called.
"Don't worry about me! Just hurry up and go rescue Colette and Orihime!" I can't act like I have to rely on him.
"This is not the time to act tough!" he shouted.
"I'm not acting tough," I tried to sound like I was telling the truth, "I just don't need you to save me every time I get in a bind. You'll see I'll get out of this jam and be there to help you when I do."
"Do you promise?" he asked.
"Yes now go!" I shouted.
"Ichigo, come on!" Raine called to him.
"You'd better not die Sheena!" he shouted. I heard everyone leave.
I'm so stupid, I scolded myself, I really need to act more feminine at times like this and let him rescue me. I laughed to myself. That wouldn't be my style now would it? I stopped struggling and let myself be dragged down, Ichigo…good luck…I love you.
Nel's pov
We had already said goodbye to a few friends. I was wondering if we would continue having to do this. I was afraid as to who would be next. We entered the portal and found ourselves in yet another empty room. This one was rectangular shaped with a very high ceiling. On one side of the room there was a force field blocking off the warp to the next location.
"Well that's just great now what?" Captain Hitsugaya asked.
I looked up at the ceiling. There was a switch up at the top that looked like it might disable the force field. "Ichigo try using your Getsuga Tensho to hit that switch up there!" I pointed.
"Ok," he agreed. He aimed up at the ceiling, but he missed. "It's no good, it's too high up. I can't aim properly."
"What do we do then?" Genis asked.
"I'll have to go up there and get it manually," I said.
"And just how do you plan on doing that?" Captain Hitsugaya asked me.
"I plan on doing," I pushed down on my feet, "this!" I began bouncing up and along the walls until I got close to the ceiling. Bingo, I thought and drew out my sword. I slashed the switch and smashed it.
"You did it Nel the force field is disabled," Lloyd said. I smiled as I began my descent only for something to swerve out and grab my legs, my arms and several parts of my body. I realized all too late that I had been trapped by a security measure. I tried to struggle, but the ropes ensnaring me bound me too tightly.
Ichigo obviously noticed this because he called out to me. "Nel!"
"Don't' worry about me!" I shouted. "Go get Orihime and Colette!"
"I can't just leave you behind," he said.
I guess it's my turn, I thought. I smiled down at him, "I think we both know there's no other choice."
"Bull shit! I'm coming to get you!" He shouted.
"Stop!" I shouted, "Don't bother! Just go! I'll be fine!"
"N-nel…" he didn't seem to be getting the message.
"Ichigo come on!" Renji shouted.
"Damn it!" Ichigo ran off.
I'll have to thank you later Renji, I thought. How fitting that a masochist like me should be captured in such a fashion. Suddenly another rope descended from the ceiling and bound itself under my chin and pulled up my head. Damn it, I may not survive long enough for them to come back and get me. Oh well…hopefully Urahara's fail-safe actually works.
Raine's pov
So many friends we had lost, but I knew it might come to this. We had to keep progressing and pushing forward. Lloyd's special exsphere and Ichigo's advanced growth rate and extreme determination and resolve…if anyone could defeat Mithos they could. The next room we entered had a well locked down door and a computer console.
Guess it's my turn. I started to think and approached the console.
"Damn it! Open!" Ichigo shouted violently clanging his sword against the door.
"Calm down, it looks like you can control the door from here. Leave this to me," I said.
"I'm really starting to hate hearing those words, but ok." Ichigo said.
I input a few keys and one of the doors opened, but there were several more behind it. "Nice work Professor," Lloyd complimented. Suddenly the area started to shake and the ground beneath me gave way. I managed to keep my footing on the platform.
"Sis what happened?" Genis asked.
"It's nothing," I lied, "Just a minor input error." This must be the security set up for this room. I continued to use the console and opened up the door. There was a monster behind it.
"Another error?" Lloyd asked.
"No," I answered, "Get rid of it."
Wordlessly Presea leapt forward and brought her axe down on the creature, splitting it in half, "Enemy defeated," she declared slamming her axe into the ground.
I sighed with relief and returned to the console. Another floor panel fell away as I opened up another door. This pattern continued to repeat of: door then monster and door then floor panel until I barely had any room to stand.
"That should take care of it," Ichigo said killing another monster, "Raine hang on and I'll…" The room began to shake violently and all of us were thrown to the floor. I stood back up again. "Raine! No!"
"Ichigo, Lloyd, this room will collapse soon. Hurry up and go!"
"We can't leave you behind! Are you nuts?" Ichigo shouted.
"I won't let you become a sacrifice!" Lloyd added.
"Sacrifice? When did anyone become a sacrifice? I believe in your ideals. A world that would accept those of us caught in the middle. I believe in your vision of the world. It has become my hope. I came all the way here in order to realize that dream. I've no regrets," I told them truthfully.
"Saving the world won't mean anything if we lose you sis," Genis said.
"My soul will live on in the world you create. But if your ideals die, then my hope dies as well. Living on without hope is worse than death, don't you think?" I asked.
"I don't understand that at all!" Lloyd shouted.
"If you don't understand, then make use of your remaining life to think about what it means for a person to live. That's my final lesson to you as your teacher. Now, go. Do as your teacher says."
"Come on let's go!" Renji shouted.
"Sis please don't die!" Genis ran away crying.
"Professor sage," Lloyd looked tearful and then ran away, "I'll never forget you!" They all left and I was alone, the room beginning to collapse.
"The rest is in your hands now boys," I said out loud, "Farewell my dear little brother, Lloyd my precious student, Ichigo you noble youth, Toshiro Hitsugaya of the Soul Society, Renji you half-elf sympathizer, Presea…watch over Genis for me." Tears welled up in my eyes. This was my end and he still didn't understand how I felt. "Farewell Byakuya Kuchiki. O Captain My Captain." A tear splashed down from my face to the ground.
Hitsugaya's pov
We all headed forward to the next room. I was worried that our separation might continue to go on and was wondering just how much time I had left. The next room we were in was full of explosive vegetation, more leftovers from the Great tree. I sighed. I suppose I might be next then.
"I don't see a warp around here," Abarai said.
"There," Presea pointed to a far end of the room where there were tendrils snaking around it, guarding it.
"Well now what, we don't have Sheena to pull out her Mana Cannon so what do we do?" Kurosaki Ichigo asked.
"Leave this to me," I said.
"I'm getting really tired of hearing that," Kurosaki returned, "It never seems to end well."
"Oh be quiet!" I chastised. I held up my sword. "Bankai, Daiguren Hyroinmaru!"
"Don't you think that's a bit much?" Abarai asked me.
"I know what's going to happen," I said, "The moment I fire forward a blast of ice the rest of the vegetation in this room is going to attack us all. It's best if I freeze it all at once. Run! Now!" I shouted. The group did as they were told. I started with the tendrils behind me and then moved to the tendrils in front of where they were running. I disabled my Bankai and dropped to my knees.
"Toshiro!" Ichigo shouted. He and the others had already reached the portal.
"First of all that's Captain Hitsugaya to you," I reminded him, "Second I'm fine, just a little tired for whipping out my Bankai and disabling it so suddenly. I'll be along in a bit."
"How long do you need?" Genis asked.
"I'll be fine in a few mom…"
CRASH!
I turned to see that the tendrils had broken free of my ice. In fact all the tendrils had broken free. This is not good.
"Toshiro!" Ichigo shouted, "Let me give you a hand!"
"No! Kurosaki!" I shouted as a I froze a root and it broke out seconds later, "Stay where you are! Or better yet get going!"
"We can't leave you behind. Who's going to lead us?" Abarai asked.
I activated my Bankai and froze everything again, "You don't need me," I smirked. "Lloyd and Ichigo have several leadership qualities I'd be envious to have."
"Captain Hitsugaya," Presea looked at me with such a forlorn face.
"Don't look at me like that," I said, "Just go with the others. I'll be fine."
"But Captain Hitsu—"
I cut Abarai off, "Go already! This raid is meaningless if none of you make it to Mithos!"
Ichigo sighed, "As much as I hate to admit it, he's right, come on!" Ichigo led everyone away.
That's good. I said to myself. Moments later the branches, roots and tendrils broke free. I prepared for battle. It doesn't matter what happens to me, I said in my head freezing a set of branches. Momo…Presea…as long as you two are safe it doesn't matter what happens to me. More tendrils and roots descended from the ceiling. I am a captain of the Gotei 13. Ensuring the survival of others in place of my own survival is my duty. The entire room converged against me with me in the center. I shouted out a loud battle cry and let out as much spirit energy as I could. This would be my last stand.
Presea's pov
Captain Hitsugaya why…why did it have to be you? I thought, holding my arm to my eyes. If anyone had to go next, why couldn't it have been me? Why couldn't I have gone before you…you and Genis? You both mean so much to me…I…
"Hello! Presea are you listening?" Renji called my name.
I had spaced out, "Sorry what?" I asked.
Ichigo pointed to a small opening in the top of a room. "The door here is locked down tight and we can't bust it open. You're the only one small enough to get through that duct. Genis tried, but his head's a little too big."
"It comes with being a genius, big head means big brain," Lloyd complimented Genis.
"Oh that explains why you're head is so tiny," Genis teased him.
"Hey!" Lloyd remarked feeling offended.
"All right, I'll give it a try," I said.
"Ok, let me give you a boost," Ichigo lifted me up so that I could get into the duct. I crawled through it and got into the other room. There was a computer console inside the room. It was easy enough for me to understand and after a few key presses I unlocked the door but the ceiling near the room started to fall forward. "No!" I shouted I grabbed my axe and ran forward, but a tree branch grabbed my leg. I managed to fight the ensnarement long enough to wedge my axe in between the floor and the ceiling.
"Presea!" Genis called out turning towards me seeing the predicament I was in. By the time he and the others had entered the room. I was being held fast to the wall by a bunch of live branches. "Hang on! I'll free you!"
"There's no time!" I said. "There's no telling how long my axe will be able to hold the ceiling up before it punctures a whole in the stone and the whole thing collapses."
"But we can't just leave you behind!" Lloyd declared.
"Lloyd, please, just go," I told him.
"Presea…I…I…" Genis stuttered.
"Lloyd, Genis you are both very kind people, but if you let that kindness interfere with your judgment, you're merely weak. You both have something you must do. Please do not forget that. Please go. If you don't, I'll lose my respect for you both. I'll be fine. So please hurry," I told them.
"Lloyd, Genis come on!" Renji called, he and Ichigo having already made it to the other side of the room.
"I'm sorry Presea," Genis apologized. He and Lloyd ran underneath the ceiling and it slammed down around my axe.
I've done what I can…the rest is up to you. If not Captain Hitsugaya, I'm glad I was able to ensure your safety Genis. The branches bound me tighter cutting off my circulation. I guess this might be the end, my survival right now is less then five percent. Goodbye everyone. Alicia…I may be joining you soon.
Renji's pov
It was down to the four of us. We had come quite a ways away from the surface as we continued our march underground. The funny thing is the four of us who remained had a similar connection to the person of whom we were from the same world as. It was almost kind of funny. We were just in a long tunnel right now running. I noticed that as we ran forward the ceiling seemed to get lower and lower. I looked behind me. Crap it's actually lowering.
"Damn it! We may not make it to the end!" Ichigo shouted.
Oh yes you will, I thought. You have to save the girl after all. "Bankai!" I stretched out Hihio Zabimaru along the the wall.
"Renji!" Ichigo stopped and saw my Bankai holding up the ceiling as best it could.
"It's my turn," I smirked and also laughed.
"This isn't something to laugh about!" he shouted.
"Can you move with that huge thing holding up the ceiling?" Lloyd asked.
"Wish I could, I'm not proficient yet enough with my Bankai. This is taking enough of a toll on me as is," I said.
"Renji," Ichigo was concerned for me.
"What are you looking at me like that for you dumbass?" I told him.
"You stupid bastard!" Ichigo shouted. "Why?"
"You and I both knew this was coming. Or if you didn't you should've. I'm no hero Ichigo!"
"Damn it Renji!" he shouted.
"Ichigo let's go already!" Lloyd shouted.
"He's got the right idea," I said.
"You dumbass," Ichigo looked like someone just shot his pet dog…if he had one.
"Hurry up and go," I said. "When you see Rukia again…watch over her for me will you?"
"You can reunite with her after we both go forward together!" Ichigo shouted.
"You and I both know that's not gonna happen."
"Y…" Ichigo turned around and ran away shouting, "You fool!" He entered the warp station with Lloyd and Genis.
See you round pal. I smiled. Captain Kuchiki, I thought of him, I hope you're proud of me.
Genis' pov
And then there were three, I thought acting as though this was an adventure book I had just read. I had to…thinking about things as they were actually turning out…it was just too frightening. Sis…Presea…Captain Hitsugaya…they all gave they're lives so we could keep going. I started wondering if I would have to do the same. My body started trembling, not a good sign. I couldn't do anything right when I was scared. Suddenly Ichigo, Lloyd and I became surrounded by a gelatinous force field.
"Well that's just great," Ichigo lamented, "We're trapped."
"What should we do?" I asked.
"If we attack it at the same time, maybe we can punch a hole through," Lloyd said.
"Is that gonna work?" I asked.
"Dwarven vow number sixteen you can do anything if you try," he answered.
"Well we're screwed if we don't try something. Let's try it," Ichigo affirmed. Lloyd used Demon Fang, I used Fire Ball and Ichigo used a weakly powered Getsuga Tensho. We actually did manage to punch a hole.
"All right it worked!" Lloyd declared and he and Ichigo ran forward. I tried to move, but my feet felt like lead. I was too scared. I couldn't go forward. The force field closed on me.
"Genis!" Lloyd shouted turning around.
I laughed, "Whoops I messed up."
"Genis! You stupid idiot!" I shouted.
"If you'd been in my place, you'd have done the same thing. You always jump in without thinking to save someone in trouble. But it was that Lloyd that I looked up to. I wanted to be like you," I said.
"Stop talking like you're about to die!" Ichigo shouted.
"Ichigo's right, the two of us can punch a hole through together and you can get out of there," Lloyd said.
"Go!" I shouted. I started trembling, "I'm…not like you. I'm a coward. When it comes down to it, my body starts shaking…I don't want you to see me looking pathetic in the end."
"Genis…" Lloyd was really let down. I couldn't look him in the eye.
"Lloyd there's no time we need to get going," Ichigo grabbed his arm.
"Do as he says Lloyd, Ichigo…is someone you should look up to," I said to him.
"Y-you fool!" Lloyd ran away and Ichigo followed him.
I dropped to my knees, too scared to stand. You were my best friend Lloyd.
Ichigo's pov
"It's just you and me now," I said to Lloyd. We were in a room where there was a long corridor that had arrow shooters on either side. There was a bridge that looked like it would crumble away the moment we stepped on it. It was wide enough for two people.
"Looks like it's a one way road from here," Lloyd said.
"Yeah sure looks like it," I said, "On the count of three…one…two…three!" We ran forward, dodged every arrow and made it to the other side. I was faster so I made it first. Lloyd made it too only for a secret arrow hole to open up in the wall and shoot him right in the heart.
"Agh," Lloyd hit the ground clutching his chest.
"Lloyd!" I ran over to him and turned him over. There was no wound. I plucked out the arrow. It had only pierced his clothing. A sparkling object glimmered on the other side of his shirt pocket. "What's this?" I wondered holding it up. "It looks like some kind of locket."
Lloyd got up and held out his hand to have it back. I gave it to him. "It's a pendant Kratos left with Noishe to give to me," he clutched it tightly.
"Well that pendant just saved your life it seems," I said.
"Yeah," Lloyd said. "My…my dad protected me."
"Wow I think that's the first time you called him your dad," I said.
"Heh, you're right," he said. Both of us ceased the giddy mood a few moments later and walked around and stepped in front of a wall where there was a sword jabbed into it.
That looks an awful lot like…
Lloyd touched the sword and a hole opened in the wall and the sword fell to the ground. "Another trap?" Lloyd asked.
"I don't think so," I said, "I can sense Colette and Mithos up ahead. We've reached the end," I said. "You and me Lloyd, who could've known?" I tapped him on the shoulder.
"Right then," Lloyd said drawing out his swords, "Let's do this!"
He and I ran forward down the corridor. We were heading towards the confrontation of, what would hopefully be, the final battle.
To be continued…
(A/N: Things are really coming down to the wire here. Yes I did go the Kratos path and kill Zelos. What of it? Lloyd and Ichigo are rushing into hell…so to speak. Will they be able to defeat Mithos and save Colette and Orihime? You can only find out by reading the next chapter of Tales of Bleach…when it comes out. See ya!)