Chapter 38: Ulquiorra Vs Miketsukami Vs Byakuya

Orihime and Chiharu jumped through the Senkaimon into Soul Society. There, they heard explosions, saw people lying bloodied on the ground, and smelled the smoke in the air from the pure destruction. Little did they know that they had been followed into this world.

"Chiharu-san, I'm scared!" Orihime cried out. "I-I have to help these people! Who am I kidding, thinking that I could kill Yamato!"

"Inoue, you'll be fine! You can do this, I'll help you! I'm going to be the decoy while you strike from behind!" the hooded girl assured.

"I can't have you risk yourself! What if I mess up!?"

"Onna, enough of your worrying," the two girls heard behind them.

Turning around, they saw Ulquiorra out of his gigai and carrying Murcielago. Orihime's eyes widened and small tears formed. Ulquiorra simply walked up to the two girls and stood by them. The anxious girl, as expected, grabbed the boy into a long embrace as she cried into his white uniform from Hueco Mundo.

"I'm sorry, Ulquiorra!" she cried out.

"Do not apologize, onna. Thanks to you, I am still alive," he simply said. "I know all about the things you've been through for me. Onna, you have to be brave now. You have to be the one to kill him. You are stronger than you believe yourself to be, you can do it. I shall help you."

"Oh, so that was your plan, miss," the small trio heard.

Glancing around, they saw nobody there. Orihime's eyes were widened along with the other two's- though you wouldn't see Chiharu's eyes since her hood covered them. Just then, a shadow was lifted off the ground and created a human figure.

"Miketsukami," Chiharu hissed.

"Hey, Chiharu. I see that you've been planning a rebellion. Sorry, but I'm going to have to dispose of the three of you now. I'm sure that the master will be okay without you two," the shadow said.

Miketsukami finally came out of the shadow and slowly approached them.

Suddenly, the four of them heard a deep voice say, "Byakurai."
A shot off lightening then flew towards Miketsukami. Unfortunately, the boy was fast enough to sink back as a shadow onto the ground. Looking towards where the attack came from, Orihime and the others saw Byakuya standing about 20 feet away from them with his finger pointed towards the shadow user. The captain then moved his finger towards the trio.

"Byakurai."

Ulquiorra jumped in front of the two girls and used his zanpakuto to easily block the attack.

"Onna, run," he instructed, preparing to attack.

"No!" she shouted, only to be given a demanding look from Ulquiorra.

"Inoue, let's go. He'll be fine," Chiharu said, pulling the girl away. The two girls left as Orihime kept staring back at her loved one.

"Ulquiorra, Schiffer. You were arrested by Soul Society but fled. You are an enemy." Byakuya announced. The captain then glanced at Miketsukami- who was just getting out of the shadows again- and said, "You are also an enemy for attacking Soul Society. Prepare to be destroyed."

Miketsukami chuckled and said, "Let's get this over with."

Miketsukami was the first to attack. He swung his arm up in a swift motion and Byakuya's shadow instantly spiked up to attack him. The leader of the sixth division quickly jumped out of the way while shooting another Byakurai at him. While the shadow user jumped away from Byakuya's attack, Ulquiorra appeared behind him and slashed at his back, creating a deep gash in him. Miketsukami coughed out some blood and glared at Ulquiorra.

"I have to get back to Yamato," he said while transitioning his gaze between the two enemies, "so I'll be ending your lives very quickly."

Ulquiorra and Byakuya stayed silent as they watched Miketsukami. The teenage boy closed his eyes and drew his arms up. Opening his eyes- revealing that they had changed from a brownish shade to a deep, dark black- he quickly pointed his arms towards the two. Shadows dispersed from his hands and flew at great speeds towards the two. The two of them tried to block with their zanpakutos, but it was to no avail. The shadows were too strong and they swiftly cut the teenage boy's enemies.

Once the shadows cleared, Miketsukami saw Ulquiorra and Byakuya slowly getting back up while they were covered in scratches and cuts.

Regaining his posture, Ulquiorra glanced at the boy and said, "You have taken away my sun. For that, I will dispose of you as the trash you are so that I can quickly retrieve her."

Byakuya watched as Ulquiorra stood straight up, pointed a finger at the boy, and said, "Cero."

A dark green light quickly formed at the hollow's finger and shot off towards Miketsukami. The shadow user- wide eyed and terrified- tried to jump out of the way, but it was pointless. He was consumed in the explosion.

"So I believe this fight is now between the two of us," Ulquiorra said, turning his gaze towards Byakuya.

"Senbonsakura," Byakuya said.

Ulquiorra prepared himself for the attack, only to be surprised when the attack wasn't aimed towards him. Turning back to the smoke that was clearing from his cero, he noticed that Miketsukami was indeed alive and struggling to get back up. Ulquiorra then noticed the millions of petals flying towards the teenage boy, finally hitting him. The espada walked towards the boy and saw Miketsukami lying on the ground, bloodier than ever.

"He is dead," the hollow finally announced.

"Yes." Byakuya said.

Ulquiorra suddenly launched towards Byakuya, swinging Murcielago down without any mercy. The captain blocked the attack and shot a Byakurai at him. Ulquiorra quickly dodged and was about to shoot a cero until he saw the older man walking away.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To find an enemy," Byakuya answered, not even glancing his way.

"I am your enemy, you said so yourself."

"I've changed my mind."

"Why?"

Byakuya stopped in his tracks and said, "I have overheard you three say that Inoue, Orihime is not a traitor and that she is the only one who can kill their leader. She has been planning a rebellion against them. Also, she is my sister's friend."

Ulquiorra could not help but stand wide-eyed at the captain's remark. Byakuya Kuchiki showing mercy towards who was being considered an enemy to Soul Society, it was immensely strange. The captain flash-stepped away to find a new opponent, leaving the hollow gaping.

"Maybe not all of these shinigamis are trash."

Author's Note: So the very first death so far in this war was Miketsukami! Now, here is the preview for the next chapter: "Stop!" Lyon demanded, trying to wiggle his way out of the kid's grip. "Please, stop! Mia, run!" Next chapter is 2 Vs 2 again, one of the duos being the twins! Who do you think the other duo is? See you next time! :D