Last Chapter
(A/N: Hope you guys like it...)
Urahara Kisuke clutched his zanpakuto tightly as he looked around him. The shopping district of Karakura town was in shambles, rubble everywhere, trees uprooted, cars turned over, children screaming, horrified as their mothers comforted them. Kisuke could not believe something like this would happen again. He glanced at Kurotsuchi Mayuri who stood a couple of meters away from him as the former lifted his zanpakutou and flash stepped behind Kisuke. He unleashed a red barrier and Kurotsuchi was thrown back as he approached it. Kurotsuchi got to his feet and flash stepped towards Kisuke, faster this time. He got behind Kisuke, who barely saw him move and was about to slash him with Ashisogi Jizo but unfortunately for him Kisuke took out his red barrier once again and he was thrown a few meters back.
"Think you'll be able to defeat me by hiding in your barrier, Urahara?"
"Actually… No… I don't think you'd drop dead just by continuously being thrown back by my barrier. So maybe I should do something else now huh?"
"A-are you mocking me Urahara?!" asked Kurotsuchi in a very enraged voice.
"I guess I am! Mr. Robo freak! Well, should I make a move now?" said Kisuke as he shunpoed towards Kurotsuchi and attacked him head on. Kurotsuchi retaliated and attacked him as well. Soi Fon watched in suspense while holding the unconscious Kosuke as the two former 12th division captains battled with such intensity.
"I'd have to say… You've become really fast!" said Kisuke as he still continued to attack and dodge at the same time.
"I haven't shown you how fast I can go!" Kurotsuchi flashed stepped faster than before. Kisuke could barely see him move.
"You should know that I'm used to dealing with really fast opponents. After all, I've defeated Yorouichi countless times during training." Said Kisuke as he let out a mischievous smile. Kurotsuchi attacked Kisuke with such speed that he was almost slashed but it was a good thing he kinda tripped on his own and Kurotsuchi missed him by inches.
"That was really close! You almost got me there! My my! I'm getting old indeed… Tripping on my own like that! How silly of me!"
"You're not taking this seriously Urahara!" exclaimed Kurotsuchi as he once again lunged to attack Kisuke who barely saw him move. This time however, Kisuke was slashed on his right arm by the released Ashisogi Jizo.
"Ooooh you finally got me! I bet my arm's gonna be paralyzed now, huh?" and true enough the instant his arm was slashed, his right arm lay limply on his side and Benihime was now on the ground.
"Hmph. You're still being sarcastic even though you've lost the use of your right arm."
"I can use my left hand you know! I happen to be ambidextrous. Just like you." Kisuke winked at Kurotsuchi as he grabbed his zanpakuto on the ground with his left hand and flash stepped to attack Kurotsuchi. The two went at it once again. Throwing attacks at each other with such speed. But it was almost too obvious in Soi Fon's watching eyes that Kurotsuchi was faster than Urahara and it was only because of his quick thinking that Kisuke was able to avoid being slashed again.
"I've become much more powerful! Thanks to the Hogyoku's power! I can even do this!" Kurotsuchi opened his mouth as bursts of reiatsu began to form. He fired a wide red beam at Kisuke.
"No-no way! Cero!!" The cero launched by Kurotsuchi sped fast towards him. If he were to get hit, there would probably be nothing left of him. Kisuke lifted his zanpakutou in front of him.
"Nake, Benihime." A red pyramid-like barrier surrounded Kisuke. The Cero bounced off the barrier and hit a nearby building, which crumbled into pieces. Too much destruction. Kisuke flinched at the sight of the shopping district, it was about time he ended this.
"You can even use Cero huh? You're really crazy. So how about we end this huh?"
"You're right. I should end your worthless life now, Urahara Kisuke! BANKAI!" roared Kurotsuchi. A black mist covered Kurotsuchi as his bankai appeared. Kisuke stared in disgust at the baby-like image of his bankai.
"Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!"
"Ugh… So this is your bankai! It's hideous! EWW!"
"Hmph. Say what you want but this hideous thing will be the one to finish you!" Kurotsuchi's bankai let out a purple mist of poisonous gas. Kisuke took out his triangular barrier once more as the trees surrounding them began to wither. He summoned another barrier and it surrounded Soi Fon and Kosuke.
"If you inhale just a tiny bit of this poison, you'll die for sure! Hahaha!"
"Scary! Poison huh? It's soo like you!" mocked Kisuke. "Damn! If he keeps this up, I won't be able to hold the barrier! Kosuke and Soi Fon will be…!"
"Think you'll be able to keep this up, Urahara! I'll make your suffering shorter for you! Ha!" numerous sharp blades came out from the chest of Kurotsuchi's bankai as the entire contraption moved to attack Kisuke. But something was wrong, it was slowing down.
"Huh? What?!"
"It seems like you've used up almost all of your reiatsu. You're bankai's strength is weakening." Said Kisuke
"That can't be! Go!" His bankai kept on going, slower this time to attack Kisuke.
"Denshisen Daikama!" Kisuke unleashed a crimson scythe-like burst of reiatsu as it slipped past the barrier and Kurotsuchi's bankai was slashed into two. (A/n: hard to explain but think of it as a smaller getsuga tenshou but the color is red! If you've played the bleach ps2 game you'll know what I mean…)
"No-no! This can't be!" Kurotsuchi's bankai slowly began to disintegrate and his zanpakutou returned to normal. Kurotsuchi fell to his knees as Urahara released the barrier.
"You've relied too much on your Hogyoku's power. Your body, although physically enhanced, was not able to contain all that reiatsu. If you were an arrancar or vaizard it would have been possible, but sadly you're just a shinigami. Plus, when you used that cero just now, it was just too much for you."
"Impossible! My calculations were perfect! I did not see this coming! I can still fight! HAAAA!" Kurotsuchi stood up and ran towards Kisuke, He swung his zanpakutou at Kisuke but he was able to dodge and he thrust benihime unto his chest.
"Ughh!!! I…You knew this would happen… that's why you just kept on dodging…You never really attacked me seriously… You really are a genius… Urahara Kisuke…" Kurotsuchi Mayuri fell to the ground unmoving, dead.
"Mayuri… You had talent… But it's a shame you were blinded by power…"
"BANKAI!" Smoke and bursts of reiatsu surrounded Ichigo as he used his bankai. He gripped zangetsu harder than before. Ichigo had actually been feeling really nervous. The princess was strong…way stronger than the enemies he'd fought before. He didn't want to admit it but he really had no idea how the hell he's supposed to beat her.
"Nice Bankai there Ichigo… So my offer still stands, how about becoming my lackey huh?" said the princess in her seductive cold voice.
"No freakin' way! I'm gonna get rid of you once and for all!" shouted Ichigo as he used shunpo to close in on the princess as he swung his zanpakutou. The princess used her whip to deflect his attacks. Ichigo moved a couple of steps away from her as he landed and he braced himself to attack her once more. Rukia could only hear the sounds of their zanpakutou clashing. They were moving so fast that Rukia could not see a thing. Tears rolled down her eyes when she suddenly saw Ichigo on his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder which had been hit by the thorns on the princess whip.
"Ichigo!!" screamed Rukia. At the sound of her voice, Ichigo lifts his head and looks at her direction.
"I'm okay Rukia… Just wait for me there okay?" replied Ichigo as he stood up. Rukia nodded as she held back her tears.
"Oh! What a sweet little episode you had back there. So sweet that it's too annoying!" the princess flash stepped in front of Ichigo as he moved sideways to avoid her whip but still he was hit on his right leg.
"Is that all your bankai has to offer? It's pretty pathetic Ichigo. Your speed is not impressive at all!" mocked Kaoru
"Take this! Kuroi Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo unleashed his special move. The princess did not even move as his attack closed in on her. She simply deflected the getsuga tenshou with her whip.
"Too easy!"
"Damn! Haaa!" Ichigo unleashed multiple Getsuga Tenshous at the princess but since she was too fast, she just evaded them. Ichigo finally stopped to catch his breath.
"Tsk Tsk… Soul Society's hero huh? That's too bad Ichigo…"
"Shit… I lost a lot of reiatsu with all those getsuga tenshous… How the hell am I gonna beat her?! I guess I have no choice… I hope this one will finish her off…. If this doesn't work… I'm dead meat…"
"What's wrong Ichigo? Giving up?" teased the princess
"No way in hell…" Ichigo lifted his right hand and leveled it to his face. A hollow mask started to form.
"Hollow mask huh? So finally you decided to use your vaizard powers. Interesting…"
"When was the last time I used this? I wonder how long I'll be able to last. If I don't finish her off with this… I don't want to think what she'd do to Rukia if that happens!"
Ichigo ran straight at the princess with his zanpakutou raised and struck with all his strength. Kaoru flash stepped him neatly and retaliated at his chest, but Ichigo's momentum had already taken him out of range. He skidded and turned around, twisting his zanpakutou with him. Kaoru parried and now the battle was in full swing: stroke, parry, counterstroke, neither taking a hit nor giving any ground. Ichigo's speed and power had tremendously increased because of the hollow mask.
Ichigo thrust at her and Kaoru only just leapt back in time, she felt the point nick her stomach, drawing blood. Seizing his advantage, Ichigo pressed forward, attacking Kaoru with a flurry of blows so that all she could do was parry and retreat. She sensed a wall looming behind her; she couldn't let herself get backed into a corner. She ducked a particularly wild stroke and struck her whip upwards. Ichigo flash stepped away from her in such speed.
"Looks like I have the upper hand now, Hime-sama…" said Ichigo in his hollow-like voice. Now it was Ichigo's turn to mock her. The princess dusted herself off.
"That's not enough to beat me, Ichigo!"
"Then let me see you handle this! W-whaat..?" Ichigo's hollow mask shattered. Apparently, even with all his training, his hollow mask still had a limit. Ichigo's reiatsu dropped… way down.
"Sweet… Now I get to see you screech in agony once again!" The princess flash stepped in front of Ichigo and struck at him mercilessly, Ichigo could barely deflect her attacks, and he had been hit all over. He was losing too much blood.
"ICHIGO! Nooo!!" screamed Rukia
"No…This can't be the end! Rukia… I want to protect you no matter what!"
"Do you desire power…?" said a mysterious female voice. The voice sounded familiar.
"Who are you?" asked Ichigo
"Talking to yourself now, are we? You've must have lost LOTS of blood Ichigo. You're delirious!"
"Do you desire power?" said the voice in Ichigo's head once again.
"Yes! I need the power to protect Rukia!"
"Are you hearing voices or something?" asked the princess as she looked curiously at Ichigo.
"Then take hold of me… And I will give you power…" said the voice. Ichigo looked around him; something shining was lying on the ground across him. He finally realized who that voice was. Shakily, he stood up.
"Your delusions finally stopped, Ichigo?" said Kaoru. Ichigo walked limping to the other side. He bent down and picked it up.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki…" Rukia's zanpakutou had been released by Ichigo. The princess was stunned. As far as she knew, no shinigami can release the zanpakutou of another.
"N-no way! That's impossible!"
"I'd do anything for Rukia." Was Ichigo's simple reply.
"Ichigo is using Sode no Shirayuki! H-how?" thought Rukia. Ichigo now started walking towards the princess, Zangetsu and Sode Shirayuki in his hands.
"Doesn't mean that you'd be able to defeat me just because you have two swords!" The princess flash stepped and got behind Ichigo, she lifted her whip to strike him, but her whip was deflected by Zangetsu.
"First Dance, White Moon." A circle of influence had formed around Ichigo and Kaoru was frozen. The Ice pillar shattered in an instant.
"What a lousy zanpakutou little miss flat chested has. Control over Ice? That's so lame!"
"Second dance, white ripple" Ichigo fires a massive wave of Ice from Sode no Shirayuki's blade. The princess evaded it. Ichigo flash stepped in front of Kaoru and swung Zangetsu at her. Her whip entagled itself around Zangetsu and with his other hand, Ichigo struck her with Sode ni Shirayuki and she was hit on her arm. Kaoru steps back from Ichigo. Not wasting anytime, Ichigo used shunpo again to get close to Kaoru as he unleashed a flurry of slashing attacks at her. Ichigo's speed wasn't normal at all. He's become even faster. Kaoru managed to entangle her whip on Sode no Shirayuki this time, and the ice sword shattered to pieces.
"Got you!" Kaoru seized this chance to strike Ichigo. Ichigo defended her attacks with Zangetsu. Unknown to Kaoru, Sode no Shirayuki was beginning to form again, and when it did, It was too late for her to realize that Ichigo had thrust Sode no Shirayuki through her chest. The princess fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.
"N-no…! H-how…?" Rukia felt the binding spell of the princess lift as she landed on the ground. That only meant one thing, the princess was dead.
"Ichigo?" called Rukia.
"Rukia… T-told you I'd do whatever it takes… Hehe…" Ichigo's reiatsu started to fade away…
"ICHIGO!!!"
"What's the latest on Soul Society?" asked Toushiro, they were all gathered in Urahara's living room, all looking battered with wounds.
"The Menos have all been dealt with. Now they're rebuilding the place." Answered Kira Izuru, who had just arrived from Soul Society.
"How bad was it? The damage?" inquired Hisagi Shuuhei
"Really bad… About 75 of Seiretei was destroyed. The rebuilding would take some time."
"We will go back as soon as everyone has recovered." Said Byakuya
"How's Kosuke doing?" Tamaki asked Hanatarou, who led a small medical team to attend to Ichigo's team.
"He's fine. He'll be up and about in no time… But Ichigo-san…"
"Is he going to be okay?" asked Renji, he and Ayame were the ones who found Rukia and Ichigo.
"I can't say for sure… If he does recover… I'm afraid he'll just be an ordinary human." Answered Hanatarou. Everyone shared the same sad looks…
"Ichigo taichou is strong. I believe he'd be able to get through with this!" said Ayame out of the blue
"I think so too… All we can do is be here for him and support him all the way!" said Renji. Everyone nodded in agreement. Ichigo had become an important friend to all of them; Even Byakuya had to admit that Ichigo's a really nice guy. He was irreplaceable in many ways. They would do anything they can to help their comrade.
"Ichigo? How are you feeling?" asked a very concerened Rukia. They were in one of Urahara's rooms. Ichigo had just woken up.
"Like hell… Rukia… I'm sorry…"
"You don't need to apologize, you idiot… I'm just really happy you came for me…" said Rukia. She couldn't help but start crying. Ichigo reached out to cup her face.
"Don't worry… If I won't recover my shinigami powers, I'll find a way…"
"I know you will… It's just… I don't want us to be separated…" said Rukia, as more tears rolled down her eyes.
"And we won't be. Rukia I told you before… I'd do whatever it takes to stay with you. I promise…" Ichigo sat up from bed and pulled Rukia towards him. The two hugged each other tightly as if tomorrow wasn't coming. They would be going through much more difficulties from now on, but they know they'd always have each other, when everything else would be gone. And no former shinigami with a Hogyoku or a crazy princess can stand in their way.
A/n: Not what I had originally planned but… Oh well… Finally! The last chapter! Thank you so much to my very loyal readers! Who stood by the fic til the end! Hontou ni Arigatou! Watch out for the sequel! It doesn't have a title yet but I'll give you a short summary on what to expect!
Ichigo, drained of his shinigami powers, tries to live a normal life but has changed drastically, Rukia stays by his side but feels neglected, incomplete. Her feelings for Ichigo take a drastic turn when an unexpected character enters her life. Ichigo/Rukia/OC triangle. But don't worry folks! It's still IchiRuki! And a bit of SoiFon/Kosuke, Renji/Ayame, the other minor pairings I've introduced (Rangiku/Ikkaku, Shuuhei/Nemu), and Toushiro/????? It's a secret! Let me give you a clue… it's not Hinamori!
And about this OC caught in between Ichigo and Rukia, he's a character I've introduced in this fic! Can anyone guess who? This is it guys I'm signing out! Thanks again you guys! Hugs and Kisses and World Peace! –Ponget15