Author's Note: Hello, all. It has been a while. Here is the latest chapter of A Town Called Hino. The next one is already finished and just needs proofreading, so that one should be up some time next week. The chapter after that is about 45% done. I'm hoping to have steady updates from now on, but for those who know me best on here, I make no promises, lol. Quick shout out to everyone that messaged me asking me if I'm okay. Other than some financial troubles, I am a-ok, so thank you for your concern. See ya next time.
-diamonddust131
#
Chapter 33
Cherry Blossoms During Winter
"Allow me to show you what an attack aimed to kill looks like, Rukia."
Though she might have been his younger sister, Rukia took Byakuya's threat at face value. Perhaps because they were so close she understood he would end her life the first chance he got.
Calm down, she thought, pleading with her knees to stop shaking. She was certain she had mentally prepared herself to face her brother, prepared herself for the prospect that only one of them could walk away alive. Why then was she so afraid? She could not move. She could hardly even breathe.
Byakuya's Zanpakutou sunk into the ground and created ripples as if it were falling into water. Behind him spawned two rows of towering blades.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
At his command, the swords burst into thousands, if not millions, of smaller blades that Rukia at first confused with cherry blossoms wafting in the wind. They hovered around their master like a swarm of locust.
"T-This is his Bankai…?" said Rukia, utterly astonished. No matter how many times she told herself it was, this was no dream. She may have anticipated a fight to death, but at the same time, she never seriously considered her brother would go so far as to employ his Bankai against her. She could not even begin to describe how naive she felt.
Byakuya, gleaning her thoughts from her expression, said, "Adopted or not, Rukia, we are both members of the Kuchiki Clan. I am offering you one last chance to come along quietly with me to your execution. You will die, but you will die having upheld the laws of Soul Society. Come. The others are waiting for us at Soukyoku Hill."
It was hardly much of a deal to Rukia. Sweat poured down her white face as she endeavored to remain standing in the face of Byakuya's pulverizing spiritual pressure. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before, and she considered it a miracle her soul had not been smashed to pieces already.
C-Calm down! Think!
Weighing her options made the situation more depressing; no matter what she decided, it would more than likely result in her demise. It had been the gravest of errors for her to allow the battle to drag on long enough to give her brother the chance to use his ultimate weapon.
In place of calming down, her resolve was ebbing away. She shut her eyes tightly and pictured the one person who might actually be thrilled with such an insurmountable challenge.
"He really is an imbecile, that Ichigo," she said, growing frustrated simply recalling their time together in the Human World. If there was anyone that would go charging head first into danger without so much as giving the consequences a passing glance, it was Ichigo Kurosaki. "And then he had the nerve to even follow me here after I told him not to. The fool…"
Her one woman discussion ended with her straightening her posture and nodding.
"Allow me to borrow some of that reckless courage of yours, Ichigo!" she proclaimed. She held out her palms and chanted, "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus! In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens!"
Her prepping some Kidou gave Byakuya an answer in terms of her giving up or not. He muttered, "Fool…" and waved his arm forward, causing the blades encircling him to hungrily race toward Rukia. Their speed was incredible, and she nearly lost her train of thought.
"Way of Destruction Number 73: Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down!"
She did it at the last possible moment, but she launched a massive surge of blue energy at the sea of blades. An explosion strong enough reduce nearby buildings to rubble went off, scattering azure smoke over the area. It swept past Byakuya, who paid it little mind.
"Impressive, Rukia," he said. "To think you possessed such mastery of high level Kidou."
The complement did little to flatter Rukia. Her Kidou had done enough to keep her alive, but she had not come out unscathed: Her arms hung limp at her sides, blood leaking out of numerous gashes. Gripping her Zanpakutou was troublesome, not that it really mattered. The sole parts of Sode no Shirayuki that remained were a pitiful amount of the blade and the handle.
"I'm sorry," she breathed to her sword. "I…shouldn't have underestimated him…"
With the strength sapping out of her legs, she fell onto a single knee, unable to do anything more than breathe heavily as Byakuya closed in on her.
"You did well to fend off my Senbonzakura Kageyoshi," he told her. The cloud of blades returned to his side. "Not many can see these blades, let alone do anything to defend themselves against them. Nevertheless, you've gone far enough. It is pointless to resist any longer."
"Yes. Perhaps you're right," replied Rukia, her vision glazing over. His sister was finally coming around, Byakuya thought. However, the ferocity in which she scowled at him made him reconsider. "But I'm not planning on giving up just yet, Brother!"
"…Why? Why are you so insistent on rescuing Kana Mitarashi? Are you so blinded by your kinship to her that you would throw away the laws of Soul Society, throw away everything you stand for as a Shinigami?"
"Of course," said Rukia at once. Byakuya's eyes widened. "Mitarashi is my friend. Unfortunately, I don't have some elaborate reason for wanting to save her."
Such a flimsy excuse was not what Byakuya expected from a fellow member of the Kuchiki Clan, adopted or not.
"A wise man once told me," Rukia continued, smiling ever so slightly, "that someone who is about to die will never be able to protect a thing. I cannot allow you or anyone else to kill me, Brother, not before I reach Mitarashi! I'm placing my pride as a Shinigami on the line!"
Byakuya scrutinized the resolve on her countenance ahead of replying, "…Is that so? You have a strong memory, Rukia."
Although it might have simply been her imagination, Rukia could have sworn that for a fleeting moment, he flashed a proud grin.
It was gone by the time he said, "You're also stubborn, not unlike that man."
Rukia garnered he was comparing her to Kaien Shiba. She shook her head.
"If there was truly anything I had him common with him, I would consider it a compliment of the highest regard, but…I'm nowhere near reaching his level. I still haven't forgiven myself for what happened to him that night either. Still, though I probably have no right to think so, I…I would like to think he would approve of what I'm doing, Brother!"
"That man was…"
Uncharacteristically, Byakuya let himself be distracted enough that he had not paid any mind to the broken section of Sode no Shirayuki lying at his feet, a rope of ice connecting it to Rukia's hand.
"First Dance, White Moon!"
Byakuya narrowly avoided a pillar of ice that erupted from the ground and grew up into the heavens.
"Since when has she been able to use her Shikai's abilities in that manner?"
It was a question that would have to wait. In the midst of distancing himself from Rukia, Byakuya came upon a blue sphere of Kidou floating behind him, one that had not been there moments before.
"Way of Binding Number 31," said Rukia, "Suspending Star!"
The blue ball became elastic, shooting eight ropes that attached themselves to surrounding buildings. Once Byakuya made contact with it, the Kidou hastily wrapped itself around him like a spider's web greedily ensnaring its prey.
Rukia knew that if she was going to strike, she would have to do it now. It took everything she had, but she lifted her arms, which felt like lead, and gripped her sword closely.
"Third Dance, White Sword!"
The missing part of her Zanpakutou regrew with the help of ice, looking as good as new. It enabled her to hold it out for her next move.
"Forgive me, Brother," she said earnestly. "Fourth Dance, White Arrow!"
More ice spawned around Sode no Shirayuki, this time taking the shape of a bow, with the sword itself acting as the riser. She prepared a frozen arrow, placing her fingertips on the frigid string. With an air of hesitancy, she swallowed her doubt, wrenched back on the quiver and sent her arrow streaking ahead. The area flooded with blistering air upon it hitting its mark, and tiny snowflakes fell upon Rukia. They were cold yet relieving as they melted on her skin.
"I burned too much spirit energy just now…"
She took comfort in the fact Byakuya Kuchiki was not a person she, or anyone for that matter, could afford to hold back against. Taking a seat on the ground—her legs refused to keep her up any longer—she cringed from the bevy of cuts littering her arms. The pain chose to rear its ugly head the moment she lowered her guard.
"I'm still alive," she mumbled, relief washing over her. "I'm still alive!"
She would have had a good laugh if it did not hurt her so much to simply take in air. She settled on a faint smile.
"Right. There isn't any time for me to rest. Mitarashi is still…"
Her concentration was broken as she paid far more mind to the cherry blossoms dancing near her. By the time she realized what they actually were and made at attempt to drive them away with her sword, they had already lacerated most of her body. With a look of shock, she fell on her back, unable to move or even scream. Blood pooled under her, and she could hear footsteps slosh through it before a figure hovering over her appeared in her failing sight.
"Not good enough, Rukia," she heard the person say. It was unmistakably the voice of her older brother.
"H-How…?" she choked out. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's fluttering blades gave her the answer as to how its master had managed to shrug off her offense. Other than a small, bleeding cut on his forehead, Byakuya was no worse for the wear. The idea they could be used defensively never crossed her mind. "D-Did I…?"
"You held back at the last moment. A costly mistake," said Byakuya. Finding his adoptive sister bordering on death did nothing to break his cold expression and tone. "Was that all you had, Rukia? If so, you were a fool to challenge me in the first place. Or was it just hubris? Whatever the case, allow me to bring you back to reality."
Rukia, her broken body refusing to budge, could do nothing but watch the infinite blades of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi encircle her, ready to deliver the final blow.
#
Sasune stopped all of a sudden. "…There's a disturbance in The Force."
Her curled his lips and got an insatiable urge to leer at the skyline behind him. There was nothing there other than the bright sun and some clouds, though his bad feeling lingered.
"Hey, idiot," said Uryuu hotly. "Daydream on your own time. You're slowing the rest of us up."
"That's Mister Idiot to you! Leave me alone, jerkface! I'm trying to think…"
"That's a first," said Uryuu under his breath. He would have sulked off and left his older brother to fend for himself like usual if it were not for Sasune looking deathly serious about something. That was another first. "Hey, what's going on?"
Sasune faced him, replying, "If we're going to rescue our princesses trapped at that Repentance Tower, we'd better do it quickly. We're running out of time."
"What's the big rush? We already know the execution has been moved up, so…"
"You idiot!" shouted Sasune out of the blue, placing his hands firmly on Uryuu's shoulders.
"Please don't touch me. Whatever is going on with you might be contagious."
"Forget that! And I washed my hands!" Sasune paused. "Er…I think."
"I seriously have no idea what the hell you're going on about."
Then again, Uryuu never did. He freed himself from Sasune and paid his cryptic warning no mind, whirling around to go. That was when he bumped into something hard enough to knock him over. He grabbed at his throbbing nose and was glad to find it was not broken, unlike his glasses, which had a small crack in one of the lenses. He cursed under his breath and was glad he had brought along a spare pair. When he did not hear the expected and mocking laughter from Sasune—his brother was too busy fearfully gaping at someone—Uryuu moved his head up and felt his blood run cold too; Kenpachi Zaraki was scowling at the Ishida brothers, radiating the intent to kill.
"Oh, I am so outta here!" cried Sasune, who equated running away with cowering behind Uryuu's equally thin frame.
"Can we help you with something?" said Uryuu stiffly. He stared warily at Kenpachi while resisting the urge to smack his sorry excuse for flesh and blood upside the head.
In place of her Captain, Yachiru Kusajishi popped up from behind one of his broad shoulders, her favorite resting place, and shouted, "Ken-chan is in a hurry to find Icchi! Don't slow him down, dummies!"
"Don't yell at me! Yell at this idiot!"
"That's Mister Idiot! Put some respect on my name!" declared Sasune with pride. He jabbed his finger at Yachiru's bobbing, pink head and added, "And I'm already in a foul enough mood without hearing from a lousy, loudmouthed, snot-nosed brat like…!"
A glob of spit landed smack dab between his eyes. His pupils shrank as it ran down the bridge of his nose, all while Yachiru roared with laugher.
"I'M GONNA KILL HER!"
Uryuu had to hold Sasune back, the latter whipping his arms everywhere in blind fury. Yachiru giggled even harder.
"Well, looks like they're having fun," remarked Ikkaku Madarame dryly.
"Even our Captain's spirits have been heightened by all the brewing conflict," said Yumichika Ayasegawa with a smirk.
"You're serious?" asked Emi Otomi, shooting her squad mate a disbelieving glance. "The Captain is actually happy right now?"
His rigid, ready-to-snap-your-neck-of-in-an-instant face was the same as always in her opinion.
"You're one to talk," stated Konoka Mitsumi, crossing her arms. "It's hard to tell what you're thinkin' on account of that ugly mug of yours."
Emi felt her 'ugly mug' grow hot. "Oh, still cheeky are we? I thought you would be a bit more grateful, little girl, that I busted you and your friends out of that cell!"
"No one told you to do that, you fat cow. You won't hear any thanks from me."
"F-Fat cow?!" Emi blushed even harder on account of all eyes falling upon her oversized bosom, prompting her to cover herself with her arms. "Oh, that is it! I should've done this a long time ago!"
She drew her Zanpakutou just like Konoka knew she would. Grinning from ear to ear, the Red-Haired Beast cracked her knuckles.
"If you want to get beat down by me again, I ain't gonna complain."
"Oho! You don't hear me bragging about lucky wins! I'll skewer you for sure this time!"
"A sore loser is still a loser, fat cow."
"I'm going to chop off all that pretty, little red hair of yours, little girl!"
The two pressed their noses against one another's and growled like feuding dogs.
"Such beauty wasted on them insisting on making such unsightly displays," said Yumichika, shaking his head.
"For real," said Ikkaku. "Those two are way too damn similar."
He regretted ever opening his mouth on account of the vile looks he received from Konoka and Emi that made his heart whimper in fear.
"We really shouldn't be fighting guys," said Orihime Inoue. She spoke in a wispy voice that barely carried to the others. "We still have to save Kuchiki and her friend."
Sasune gave her quite the jolt by striding over to her faster than her eyes could register.
"My dear Miss Inoue, my apologies, my apologies," he said, bowing to her and placing his hand over his heart like a knight in the presence of his queen. "These savages know no better than to shout and grunt. Forgive them. Although I do not know why they insist on holding us up…"
"You were the reason we stopped in the first place!"
"…know that I am forever at your beck and call," said Sasune, ignoring Uryuu's disgruntled comment. "Come. Let us brave any dangers and conquer any hurdles in order to rescue Miss Mitarashi and Miss Kuchiki from the jaws of death!"
She would not admit it out loud, but Orihime had not the slightest idea what he was rambling about. Neither did the others, though Konoka did give Sasune a mocking round of applause.
"Thank you, thank you," he said in earnest.
"I think they're missing something here," said Yumichika.
"Yeah, what are you guys going on about? Didn't anyone tell you there's only one person left in that tower?" asked Ikkaku, who thumbed at the far off Repentance Tower.
The Ryoka registered the news sluggishly, their brains unwilling to absorb it at first.
"Oh, that's right," said Emi tenuously. Guilt blanketed her face, and she did her best Sasune impersonation by preemptively darting behind Ikkaku. "Um…I-I guess I…forgot to tell them about that little…issue."
The Ryoka advanced on her like an angry mob and bombarded her with questions.
"What do you mean there's someone missing from the tower?!" said Uryuu.
"Was it Miss Mitarashi or Miss Kuchiki?" asked Sasune.
"Did something happen? Did…one of them get executed early?" asked Orihime tenuously.
"You fat cow!" bellowed Konona, looking so irate that Emi squealed a bit. "What did you and your cronies do?!"
"I-I'm sorry!" said Emi, teary-eyed. The sight made Ikkaku and Yumichika gaze her at like they had never seen her before. "I really did forget though! There's been a lot going on you know! And what are you two staring at?!"
"N-Nothing," said Ikkaku, who snorted and quickly looked elsewhere.
"So, even the Green-Haired Devil can become flustered. Interesting," mused Yumichika.
"I have feelings too, you know!" hollered Emi, blushing radiantly.
"Screw your feelings! Is anyone going to tell us what the hell is going on or what?!"
Konoka got an explanation from the absolute last person she expected.
"That Rukia Kuchiki woman vanished a few days ago," said Kenpachi, his tone detached and uninterested. "No one has been able to find hide nor hair of her since."
"Oh, great," groaned Uryuu. "Just wait until Kurosaki hears about this."
"You dastardly fiends!" cried Sasune, adding on to his brother's misery. "What have you done with Miss Kuchiki, huh?! Answer me, or face my wrath!"
"Shut the hell up already. You're irritating," said Kenpachi, who seemed more bloodthirsty than ever. As if a flipping a light switch, no sound issued from Sasune other than his low sobs.
"Why the hell would we do anything to Kuchiki? Think about it," said Ikkaku. "We already captured and were plannin' on executing her."
"He does have a point, you know," stated a quiet voice behind Konoka.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" The Red-Haired Beast nearly had a heart attack, having no clue the tall, intimidating Sharpscale was standing behind her until it spoke. "D-Don't do that! How the hell long have you been there?!"
"The entire time," the Hollow said casually, turning its head in confusion at her agitation.
Another calm voice remarked, "You'd think he would be hard to miss."
Konoka, covering her mouth to hold back another scream, thought the same about Yasutora Sado, who she had not noticed either.
"Would the two of you stop that?!" she said. Her heart was liable to burst out of her chest and go running for cover at this rate. "Where the hell are all of you even coming from?!"
"We've been here the entire time," said Sharpscale and Chad simply.
"Leave them be," said Uryuu, stopping Konoka from putting one of them in a choke hold.
"Yes, we have little time as it is," said Sharpscale. "The woman you call Rukia Kuchiki is alive and well, though for how much longer, I do not know."
Everyone gazed at the Hollow expectantly, but it said nothing more.
"Is Kuchiki…dying?" said Orihime reluctantly, asking what the others had on their mind but were too afraid to say.
"Of course not! Of course not!" Sasune patted her on the back though did not sound too sure of himself. "Don't listen to this big, scary guy! If Miss Kuchiki is out there, we'll find her! As for now, I suggest we keep heading for that spooky tower to rescue Miss Mitarashi."
"Looks like you've got it all figured out," said Konoka. She hit him on the shoulder as she passed him hard enough to make him cough. "I'm expectin' you take out all the guards once we get there, Pretty Boy. Either that, or I'm kickin' your ass myself."
The others, following her lead, continued their journey to the Repentance Tower. Sasune dragged behind, appearing ill due to the clamminess of his skin.
"You know, that friend of yours is really starting to grow on me," said Uryuu, unable to hide a malicious smirk.
Left alone, Sasune grabbed at his throat, feeling an enormous lump there.
"Ishida? What's wrong? Aren't you coming?" said Orihime once she saw Sasune was not right behind the others. She was only one who seemed to care he was being left behind.
"C-Coming, you worshipfulness!" he blurted, becoming his usual, chipper self.
"Idiot." Uryuu observed his brother stumble over himself a few times in order to get close to Orihime and gush in her presence some more. "We really are screwed if Kurosaki figures out what's going on. …He'll go and do something stupid for sure."
Which would in turn come back to haunt the rest of them. It was at times like these he almost felt his father's advice of staying out of Shinigami affairs was sound.
#
With a sea of tiny blades about to snuff out her existence, Rukia hurried to remember Kidou that didn't require the use of her arms and legs, yet she was in so much pain, she found it difficult to think straight. She begged and pleaded for her body to rouse. She could not die here; Kana was still waiting on her to get her out of that wretched tower.
Move!, she beseeched her being, feeling colder by the second as she lost more blood. Get up, dammit! Move!
"Stone Wave!"
Rukia felt the ground underneath her soften, then, her body sunk into something soft, warm and grainy. Darkness enclosed her as the quicksand devoured her whole. She began to panic, believing she would suffocate, but she inhaled sharply, refilling her lungs. She could breathe. There should not have been any air to take in, yet she could breathe.
What…?
Soothing light embraced her, light that slowly but surely began to heal her grievous injuries. She slowly opened her eyes. Mayu Shiba put her finger over her mouth, indicating for Rukia to keep hers shut while she worked. They were both floating in a vast ocean of sand. Too bewildered by the circumstances, Rukia knew she would not have been able to speak even if she had the energy.
"You done yet, Mayu?!"
Rukia heard the gruff tone coming from somewhere above, although there was certainly nothing around she could call a ceiling. She recognized who was speaking at once.
"Be quiet, Ganju!" Mayu shouted back. "I'm busy! You know I'm not good at healing Kidou like Kuukaku, stupid!"
"Hey, don't talk to your older brother like that, you damn punk! I'm telling Bis Sis when we get back!"
"J-Just shut up already! Jeez!"
She grumbled something that sounded like, "Stinkin' Shinigami…" to Rukia and, "Makin' me use stinkin' Shinigami magic…"
"What's going…?"
"I said don't talk!" interjected Mayu. "I-I need to concentrate!"
Rukia only then noticed how much the girl's hand were trembling. Sweat coated her forehead. She had clearly never been asked to mend wounds on the level of Rukia's and looked terrified at potentially making a mistake.
The clamor of shouting pierced Rukia's ears and made her wary of what was happening on the surface. Mayu was just as curious; her head jerked fearfully every time she heard Ganju shout something she could not make out.
"What is that idiot doing?" she said after a while. "I swear, I'm going to…"
"Why are the two of you here?"
Mayu was not sure why Rukia's question hit her with the bluntness of a baseball bat. Glaring at the Shinigami, she took a number of moments to formulate her response, striving to keep a tight lid on her rising anger.
"…That sick guy asked us to come," said Mayu. "Your Captain or whatever."
"Captain…Ukitake?" said Rukia breathlessly. "B-But why? How did he know…?"
"I don't know! Quit asking me stuff! You think I wanted to be here?! You think I wanted to help the likes of you after what you did?! You…you…!"
Unable to stop them, Mayu allowed her tears to roll down her rosy cheeks as she sniffled here and there. Rukia could not blame her for her outburst and pursed her lips.
"Yes. What I did to your family was…" But Rukia was unable to find a way to articulate the matter without making it sound like she were attempting to clear her conscience. "…I am not so foolish to ask for yours or your brother's forgiveness after what I've done. If you want to…"
"Is that why you're doing this?!" snapped Mayu, leaving Rukia perplexed. "Your Captain told us what happened the night my brother…the night Kaien died!"
Rukia became stone-faced.
"He said it wasn't your fault," continued Mayu, speaking gingerly now and still sniffling. "He said…you did all you could for him and…Kaien didn't blame you for his death."
Rukia said nothing to this, knowing Kaien's final words better than anyone.
"But I'm still mad!" Mayu puffed out her chest and held back another wave of tears. "If Kaien really told you it was alright, why are you running around with some kind of a death wish?!"
"I-I don't have a…"
"I'm not finished!"
Grimacing, Rukia nodded.
"If you didn't do anything, why are you acting like you did?! Do you think my brother would want to see you like this?! Your Captain said that Kaien liked you an awful lot! Don't you think it's disrespectful for you to be acting this way?!"
Rukia felt like it was just yesterday that Kaien was chastising her for being so formal with him, showing her how to use her Shikai and treating her like he would anyone else in the Thirteenth Division despite her lofty status as a member of the Kuchiki Clan. He never once asked for anything in return.
"Listen to me," said Mayu firmly looking Rukia in her watering eyes. "While Ganju and I haven't…we haven't totally forgiven you for what happened, Ganju said he's willing to let go of some of his hate. I still don't like dumb Shinigami like you, but…"
Mayu strained to finish what she desired to say, having too much pride to admit she could not completely revile Rukia Kuchiki, the woman her brother Kaien deeply cared for. She had grown up learning to hate all Shinigami, especially the one who took away the sibling she never got the chance to meet. Trying to throw that all away was difficult; it felt like the one attachment she had with Kaien.
"D-Don't you cry! Y-You're gonna make me cry!" she told Rukia, sobbing anyway. "I-I just told you it wasn't your fault! Can you stand?"
"What?"
"CAN YOU STAND?"
Rukia evidently could; she practically jumped to her feet at Mayu's command. On further inspection, she saw that she was more or less okay. Mayu had not been able to heal a few cuts, and her whole body still ached, but she could actually move, which was a huge improvement.
"Thank you," she said. "You saved me."
"Don't mention it…" mumbled Mayu, who had already moved her head away to admire some grains of sand.
The two said nothing for a very long time. Rukia busied churning everything she heard, still finding it incredibly difficult to be let off the hook concerning Kaien's fate. No matter what anyone said, she was there that fateful night. She had allowed him to die.
But maybe Mayu was onto something; maybe she did have a desire to atone for her sins by offering her life in return. She had been ready to let Soul Society met out their punishment, and here she was now, ready to throw everything away to save Kana Mitarashi. She thought it was simply her burning will to save a friend, but now…
A scream of pure anguish broke the silence. Rukia and Mayu turned to one another, both aware it had been Ganju they heard.
"How do we get out of here?" asked Rukia quickly. In all her worry, she remarkably forgot her older brother was still lurking out there, no doubt having been locked in combat with Ganju all this time. "We need to hurry."
"You're going to fight that Shinigami again? You're going to fight your brother?" said Mayu. There was no fear in her words, and she was as calm as Rukia had ever seen her.
"I…will not allow another person to die on account of my mistakes. Maybe I'll never be able to forgive myself concerning Kaien, but if there is someone in need, he would want me to do whatever it took to help them."
Mayu studied Rukia, and the resolve on the Shinigami's face caused her to make up her mind. "…Take my hand. Let's just hope that idiot I have for a brother hasn't gotten himself killed. I don't have enough energy to bring us here again, so let's just hope you won't need me to patch you up anymore, dumb Shinigami."
Rukia nodded, and Mayu squeezed her hand tightly. Though there was nothing but more quicksand above, Rukia felt as if they were rising rapidly through some kind of opening. She held her breath, waiting to see her brother again.
#
"Come on, you spoiled noble! I know you've got better than that!"
Ganju was grinning so widely, it was hard to tell he was on the losing end of the fight. Having one of his eyes swollen shut and his left arm dangling uselessly in front of him was a better indication. He kept up his brave face, grasping at his ribs and seeing that three or four of them were cracked. No matter, he thought. It was not like his body breaking down on him would be enough to make him turn tail.
"I will not ask you again." Byakuya, hovering high above, gave Ganju a look of utter disdain. Having to waste his time with such trash grated at his nerves. "Where is Rukia? What have you done with her?"
Ganju laughed defiantly. "What's the matter? Not used to not having your way? Boy, those Kuchikis must've spoiled you rotten!"
He took a gander over his shoulder. Mayu had not come back yet.
"What the hell does she think she's doing?" he growled. "I can't hold this guy off much longer…"
He brandished a paper firework bigger than his head and lit the fuse against his wrist guard.
"More mundane tricks?" said Byakuya.
"Just keep talking! I'll shut that mouth of yours real…!"
Blood spurted out of a long gash on his good arm, the sight of which made little sense to him since he had seen no attack coming. His firework rolled out of his now useless limb and joined the other in hanging at his side.
"Is this the best someone from the once renowned Shiba clan can do?" said Byakuya. He stood behind Ganju, thrusting the Shiba's blood off his blade. "Kaien Shiba must be rolling in his grave."
"Don't you dare talk about my brother!" roared Ganju, finding nothing to smile about anymore. He would give anything in the world to be able to shove his foot down Byakuya's throat to keep him from running his mouth.
"Silence." Byakuya extended his index finger. "Way of Destruction Number 4: Pale Lightning."
The thin beam of electricity pierced Ganju's right shoulder before he could even react. The intense pain, on the other hand, registered with him instantly. Only out of pride did he contain the scream his smoldering wound begged him to let out.
"D-Damn you!"
"Perhaps now you will feel more inclined to tell me what that girl in your company did with Rukia."
"You're gonna have to kill me, rich boy!" said Ganju fiercely. "I ain't selling out my family! Unlike you, I still remember the value of it!"
"Spare me your worthless ideals."
Byakuya loosed another bolt of Pale Lightning, this time striking Ganju's right leg. Hollering, the victim slumped down on one knee.
"Where is Rukia?" repeated Byakuya. "You try my patience at your own peril."
"I know you got a silver spoon up your ass," said Ganju, looking as resistant as ever, "but you must have one lodged in your ears as well! You hard of hearing? I already told you I ain't selling out my family! If you're gonna kill me, then get it over with already!"
More than tired of dealing with the likes of Ganju, Byakuya had no qualms with that arrangement.
"Scatter, Senbon…"
"Brother!"
There she was, seemingly appearing out thin air alongside Mayu Shiba. Rukia drew her sword and took a step forward. Byakuya did the same.
"Leave him alone, Brother. You are facing me now."
"Rukia."
The two did not need to say anything more; they knew their battle had resumed the moment they laid eyes on one another.
"Way of Destruction Number 31," said Rukia, charging a scarlet fireball in her palm, "Red Flame Cannon!"
"Way of Destruction Number 33," said Byakuya, condescending blue energy into his index and ring fingers, "Pale Fire Crash."
Byakuya's Kidou clashed with Rukia's momentarily, but his overtook hers in the end, heading on a collision course for her. She displayed not even a hint of panic.
"Way of Binding Number 81: Splitting Void!"
A translucent barrier blocked the gigantic wave of energy, allowing Rukia to prep her next attack.
"Way of Binding Number 63: Locking Bondage Stripes!"
Byakuya responded in kind with, "Way of Binding Number 61: Six Rods Prison of Light."
Rukia crafted a long chain of light, closing her fist. The chain, like a snake, wrapped its way around Byakuya and threatened to squeeze the life out of him. Before that, however, Byakuya had pointed his finger at Rukia and caused six beams of light slam to into her. Though both their Binding Spells had found their mark, neither one could capitalize on account of being unable to move an inch.
"W-Whoa!" Mayu felt she was getting quite the treat being present for such a light show. She could hardly keep track of what was happening. "I know they're just stinkin' Shinigami, but…"
"Hey, in case you've forgotten, I'm kinda dying here!" said Ganju, lying on his back and hoping his sister would get back to healing him before she would end up having to buy his tombstone instead.
"Yeah, yeah! I hear you! You know, you're not all that cool right now!"
Ganju normally took a lot of stock in his reputation, but right now, he could deal with it being tarnished if it meant he breathed a day longer.
"Hey, you're…not gonna tell my gang about this right? R-Right? Mayu?"
His sister's amused silence did nothing to ease his nerves.
"Very well done, Rukia," said Byakuya, examining her handiwork. "But you of all people should know a Binding Spell, no matter the level, will not be enough to defeat me."
"Yes, you are right about that, Brother. I think you are underestimating me as well, however."
They looked at one another in understanding. Rukia waved her arm and shook of Byakuya's glowing rods, whereas Byakuya cut himself free of her golden chains.
"Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Seeing Byakuya's Zanpakutou sink into the ground, craft multiple rows of swords and then watch those blades burst into hundreds of smaller ones was a familiar sight for Rukia, although it remained an unwelcome one. It at least told her that her older brother was taking her seriously.
"Mayu, take you brother and get out of here!" she ordered.
"But…"
"There's no time! Just go!"
"Just what the hell do you think you can do against that guy alone?" said Ganju incredulously.
"Buy you some time," Rukia answered. "Besides, for what I have in mind, it would be better if neither one of you were around. There's a high probability I'll kill you on accident."
Byakuya, overhearing them, suddenly declared, "When were any of you under the impression I would allow you to flee from here?"
At his command, the blades of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi swarmed at Rukia and the Shiba siblings. She shot in front of them and readied to defend them, yet the blades soared past them harmlessly. They scattered everywhere, appearing like a raging blizzard of cherry blossoms.
"W-What's going on?" asked Mayu nervously.
"I…don't know," said Rukia. While the blades were not doing anything to harm anyone, they did cut off any kind of escape route. "Everyone, stay close to me!"
"It's not like I got any choice in the matter," said Ganju, groaning in pain. Mayu had forgotten all about healing him again.
"Senkei," said Byakuya. "Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
The pink, glowing blades coalesced, slowly fashioning a spiraling row of rotating swords. Another column formed above it, spinning in the opposite direction. This repeated a third and then a fourth time until a horrified Rukia gandered up and all around at the cage of death she and the others were now trapped in.
"W-What in the world is this?!" she gasped.
"G-Ganju…" Mayu, much more timid than usual, clung to her brother's arm.
"I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to you, Mayu!" asserted Ganju, finding renewed vigor at their predicament. He got to his feet and tried his best to keep his cool for his sister.
"B-But those blades…t-there's so many of them! T-They're gonna…!"
"I just said I ain't gonna let anything happen to you! Dammit, I promised Big Sis I would, so shut up and…and let me think!"
Rukia opted to do the same. Not much came to her though. The one plan she did have required Ganju and Mayu being far, far away, which was not an option at the moment.
"Do not fret," said Byakuya as if sensing their apprehension. "These blades are not meant to strike all at once. This is Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's true form, the form I only use when I've decided to crush someone with my own hands."
He held out his arm, and one of the floating swords flew into his grasp. Despite his words, Rukia, Ganju and Mayu kept a wary eye on the rest of the blades.
"Congratulations, Rukia. You are only the second person that has ever seen this form."
Naturally, his sister was none too thrilled. "So, you mean to tell me that you still plan on executing me, Brother?"
His silence was as good a rebuttal as any. It left her with no other choice.
"Mayu," she said the individual in question just then. "Listen: Do you have any experience with Kidou barriers?"
The query caught Mayu by surprise, but she replied, "Uh…only a little. My Big Sis taught me a little, and I think I remember the one Arashi used. Why?"
"She's about to do something stupid," said Ganju simply.
Rukia faintly smiled. "Yes, I am. Mayu, can you do it? I need you to put up the strongest barrier you can, strong enough to protect you and your brother. You said you cannot go back to that world from before, so this is the only way."
"But…what about you?" said Mayu, who did not at all like where the conversation was headed.
"I…don't know what will happen to me. It won't matter. Just promise me you will not drop the barrier until you see an opening to run. Run as far away from here as you can, and don't even think about coming back. Promise me that."
"But why…?"
"Promise me!"
"You heard the crazy chick," said Ganju, placing a firm hand on his sister's shoulder. "I don't know squat about Kidou, so I'm leavin' it up to you, Sis!"
"T-That's easy for you to say," Mayu mumbled, who felt they were asking her to make a mountain out of a molehill. "I'll try my best though! Anything a dumb Shinigami can do, I can do better!"
That was music to Rukia's ears. "Thank you. Thank you for…everything…"
Ganju and Mayu got the hunch she was not solely being appreciative of their cooperation. Rukia had her back facing them, so they were not aware of the tears welling in her eyes. They were brushed away without delay as Rukia steeled herself for what was to come.
"Now!" she declared.
Mayu got the message loud and clear; she placed her hands on the ground and diverted all her remaining energy to projecting a shield she prayed would hold up against whatever Rukia had in mind. Not skipping a beat, Rukia held out Sode No Shirayuki and began radiating light as white as snow.
I can no longer hide behind your shadow, Brother. Today, I walk my own path!
Byakuya regarded Rukia's steadily rising spiritual pressure with much confusion. It was already equal to that of a Captain's and seemed to have no intention of stopping. Was this really his younger sister before him? Since when had she grown so strong?
"Bankai!" shouted Rukia. "Hakka no Togame!"
It happened in an instant: a pillar of white energy erupted from where Rukia stood, followed by a surge of air the froze everything in the area solid. Buildings and the blades of Byakuya's Senkei crumbled to dust alongside Mayu's barrier, which managed to protect those inside it from a similar fate.
"W-What the hell?!" cried Ganju, thoroughly freaked out. His teeth started to chatter on account of the frosty air still lingering. "T-T-This i-is i-i-i-in…ins-s-s-s…"
"It's crazy!" said Mayu. Her foot slipped on the ice-coated ground, causing her to fall right on her rear end. "I-If I hadn't kept up that barrier…"
She shuddered as much at the thought as from the extreme temperature.
"Hey, what's that? That looks an awful lot like…"
Ganju pointed to the life sized sculpture of Rukia Kuchiki that seemed to be made out of snow, though it was in a much different outfit than her Shinigami uniform. It wore a white, ankle-length kimono with beautiful, lined patterns, wide sleeves and an ornate collar. Lengthy, flowing ribbons were tied at its back in the shape of large loops. A small ice flower stood at the center of its chest, and a half crown of ice protracted around the back of its head. It was a true work of art, one that was so lifelike that the Shiba siblings found it rather disturbing.
Without warning, Mayu shrieked and hid behind Ganju. He was not too upset with her since he was on the verge of running as well. The Rukia sculpture began breathing, issuing subzero exhales that were visible with the naked eye.
"Um…c-call me crazy," said Mayu, who seriously wished she was losing her mind, "but I think that thing is Rukia!"
"You don't say?" Ganju reached out to touch whatever it was and hastily pulled his finger back. It had been encased in ice on contact. "Cold, cold, cold!"
As he ran about like a headless chicken and desperately breathed on his finger to thaw it out, Mayu walked around Rukia, who had not budged whatsoever, and marveled at what she had become.
"Can you hear me, dumb Shinigami?" she asked gingerly. Rukia did not, and was perhaps unable to, speak. She did, however, manage to nod her head so slimly that Mayu just barely noticed. "Whoa! It really is her! Uh…do you need help?"
With some difficulty, Rukia shook her head.
"So, you'll go back to normal on your own then?"
Rukia nodded again.
"Co-ooo-ol!" said Mayu, giving the frozen Shinigami another glance over. "I wish I could do something like this! How about you, Ganju? …Ganju?"
She presumed her lughead of a brother was still preoccupied with his finger until spotting him staring up at something with a complete look of shock. It was not the sun; whatever Rukia had done created a mist powerful enough to darken everything. No, Mayu soon saw the same figure Ganju did. He was enclosed in a golden cube of Kidou that disintegrated like everything else.
"A barrier…" said Mayu, her voice cracking.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" added Ganju, snarling.
"You have exceeded my expectations, Rukia," said Byakuya Kuchiki. His compliment betrayed the frigidness in his statement; he came off as less than pleased with his sister's accomplishment. "I never expected you to learn Bankai in such a short time after regaining your powers. However, your mistake was employing it before having complete mastery over it. Just learning your Zanpakutou's final form is one thing; it usually takes one another ten years to fully master it. It would appear that yours has a fatal flaw: You are forced to thaw yourself out slowly to prevent killing yourself."
Rukia said and did nothing to contradict his assessment. She had only managed to unfreeze her left foot so far.
"Which leaves you quite vulnerable," added Byakuya, brandishing his Zanpakutou.
"Don't even think about it!" said Ganju rebelliously. He and Mayu crafted a wall in front of the helpless Rukia using their own bodies. "Her Captain told us to keep her alive, and if there's one thing Ganju Shiba doesn't go back on, it's a promise! It's a man's code of honor!"
"That was actually pretty cool, Bro!" said Mayu adoringly. Ganju cackled triumphantly.
Byakuya, meanwhile, did not think things so humorous. "I believe I said it before: You can spare me the displeasure of your worthless ideals."
Before he could strike, and before he could claim Rukia's life at last, someone hollered, "Howl, Zabimaru!" It forced the Sixth Division Captain to divert his attention to blocking the snake-like Zanpakutou of Renji Abari, his Vice-Captain. The force from Zabimaru sent Byakuya crashing into the ground. He did not remain there for long, standing in spite of a trail of fresh blood trickling out of the side of his forehead. He met Renji's eyes, eyes that burned with resolve.
"I'm going to have to ask you to step away from Rukia, Captain," said Renji rather sadly. He had no desire to cross blades with his Captain if at all possible, but he knew from the aspect of Byakuya's face that he had no choice. Byakuya had intended to cut down his own sister without hesitation before his interference.
"Renji…" Byakuya half expected the man before him to be here. He was not disappointed. "So, you too would defy Soul Society's will?"
Renji glanced at Rukia, who remained frozen from the waist up, before turning his head back to Byakuya. "I'm only here for one thing: to save Rukia! Please, Captain, stand aside!"
"You will do no such thing."
"I will." Renji paused as if gathering the rest of his courage. "…Is there nothing I can say to make you change your mind?"
"I will not say it again," said Byakuya so concisely, his response sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Renji had nothing more to say to him, shifting his focus to Ganju and Mayu. "I don't know who you two are, but you look trustworthy, and I need a favor: Take Rukia and go! Leave this man to me!"
"You Shinigami have got a lot of nerve orderin'…!" Ganju chose not to finish his grumbling due to his sister leering at him pleadingly. "…F-Fine, but you owe us one! Let's go, Mayu!"
"You're talking like that wasn't the reason we came in the first place, Bro," she said.
Ganju's cheeks reddened. "S-Shut up and just go already!"
He cautiously approached Rukia before guessing at least the bottom part of her was safe to lug over his shoulder without him becoming a popsicle. With Mayu at his side, he began dashing away, looking back to see Byakuya doing nothing but observing them. The Captain knew he could track them down effortlessly once defeating Renji. They were nothing but trash after all.
"I really hate that guy…" muttered Ganju bitterly. "I hope that other guy kicks his ass."
Ganju chose not to stick around to find out though.
"R-Renji…"
Rukia moved her frozen head up inch by inch until she got a proper view of the red-haired man about to do battle with her brother. She had to tell him to run; Renji had no clue what he was getting himself into. She lacked the strength to say anything, however, her mouth giving a wordless warning. Renji was about to fight for her. A lone tear rolled down her face and solidified on her cheek.
Renji was about to die for her.
END
