He was content no more to bow to the old man's will. With a slight movement, the force field surrounding them shattered. He could feel all eyes dart toward him, but he was not ready yet to actually join the battle.
However.
Gin and Tousen were now free to do as they wished.
Aizen grinned slightly and spoke but one word.
"Go."
xxx
When Yumichika regained consciousness, he was furious at Kira and Hisagi. But then they stepped aside, and there he was.
He held his best friend close to his chest. He didn't know who had defeated the enemy that Ikkaku couldn't beat but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered.
The third was dying.
In his arms.
And he couldn't do anything to stop it.
Kira stood next to him, shifting from foot to foot, and watching their surroundings carefully. Hisagi was gone, off to fight the next opponent.
But it didn't matter.
His hands curled tighter in Ikkaku's clothes.
And then the bright light of healing surrounded them both, and he looked up to find Hanataro doing his best to save Ikkaku.
He let out a sigh of relief and laid the third down, before stretching out next to him and resting his eyes.
They would be ok, it seemed.
xxx
The air was filled with tension. You could almost smell it. Well, he could actually. Komamura turned his amber eyes toward his old friend, and felt a growl rise in his throat.
And then Hisagi was by his side, a defiant glare in his own eyes.
He glanced towards the lieutenant, and nodded.
They charged, together.
xxx
The atmosphere changed suddenly, tension crackling in the air. He looked to the side to see that Aizen had sent out Gin and Tousen, briefly following their forms before turning back to the battle before him. Juushiro bit his lip.
Stark had finally decided it was time to be serious.
He had called Lilynette to him, and with a sinking feeling, the white-haired captain watched as Kyoraku readied himself for the real fight.
He just didn't want him to die.
He didn't think he could bear it.
xxx
She coughed, choking on her own blood. The fracciones had managed to do a number on her, despite her best efforts. She glanced over to the side, witnessing her lieutenant fighting bravely but she knew that he was no match for them.
And then she swooped over the top of them.
Long purple hair streaming behind her.
Sui-Feng didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or shout in anger.
Too bad she couldn't actually do any of those things.
The blood kept coming.
The darkness closed in on her vision.
And then she felt movement.
She coughed again, opening her eyes to see none other than the green-and-white hat above her.
Stupid…
Bastard.
xxx
Kensei growled lowly in his throat.
Where were they?
They should have been here by now!
He kept checking the surrounding area, hoping for their safe return.
Hopefully the arrancar brat would be with them.
They could use his firepower.
And yet, no sign of Shinji, Hiyori, or Ichigo.
Aizen was standing right there—they were so close! His hands curled into fists and beside him the other Visored shifted uneasily.
"I can't take it anymore!" he spat, eyes narrowing. He shot forward, only to screech to a halt as a swirling mass of a garganta opened in front of him.
His eyes widened as people he didn't know stepped through—Soul Reaper captains…a girl…a Soul Reaper…a-was that a Quincy? And the one to have opened the garganta- a blue haired arrancar, smirking and looking like he owned the place.
"So, what'd we miss?"
He could hear the arrancar's damn chuckle across the sky.
XXX
I'm sorry it's so short, I have to write a paper and I keep putting it off…Okay so it's been a while (like, a year) since I've seen this anime so I may have things that seem really far off from canon. But it's fanfiction and the whole lineup has changed anyway, so it doesn't really matter? As long as I can write something believable in context you guys will forgive me, right? Anyways... Did I fake you out once again my readers? I keep putting off Ichigo's fight with Ulquiorra XD I know that's what everyone wants to see. I'm building up the tension, that's all! And WHAT? Grimmjow opens a garganta for the Soul Reapers, Orihime, and Ishida? What's going on here?! Tune in next…tomorrow, for the answer!