Chapter 56

Xcution At Midnight Part III

"So, you say you're here to kill me? Sorry, lady, but that's not happening."

Jackie Tristan stared long and hard at Emi Otomi, the Green-Haired Devil of the Eleventh Division.

"You idiots just keep popping out of the wood work," she said, curling her lips fiercely. "Allow me to show you the door."

In contrast to Jackie's anger, Emi was bored out of her mind. She spun her Zanpakutou around and around, finding it the sole entertainment.

"That big guy owes me for this," she grumbled. "He just had to play the dashing hero while I have to deal with the trash."

"'Big guy?'" Izumi repeated. "Wait, just how many of you showed up?"

#

Sparks flew as Aaron and Konoka clashed steel. They matched one another blow for blow.

"You've gotten better," said Aaron earnestly. "The last time we went up against each other was at that crummy sports festival. ...I guess this is a little different though."

"Save it," Konoka spat. She landed a stiff kick to his stomach and knocked him back. "You wanna die? Start taking this seriously."

"Trust me. I am."

Aaron, breathing deeply, forced himself back into a fighting stance. Konoka followed his lead. The break in the action allowed Aaron to eye the other Fullbringers. Ginjou, Tsukishima, and Yukio seemed keen on watching, though he was assured they would eventually jump into the fray.

"Why are you doing this, Mitsumi? Even if Tsukishima has messed with your memories, you've seen firsthand how screwed up your new friends are."

"Shut up."

"This isn't like you. You might have a bad reputation at school, but..."

"Shut up! Quit talkin' like you know me, Higuchi!"

Konoka swung her Maternal Gift, thrusting a wave of green energy. Aaron employed Seigetsu to slice it down.

"Open your eyes, dammit!" he cried. "You're being played!"

"God, stop talking already!"

With the aid of Bringer Light, Konoka sped above Aaron before bringing her golden glaive down. Aaron lifted his blue tachi over his head and had to use both hands to fend her off.

"You're strong alright, Mitsumi."

"I told you to save it! Just who do you think you are?! Some knight in shining armor? Get real, Higuchi! You can't save everyone!"

"...Maybe you're right. I'm gonna try to save you though."

Aaron drove her back and then swung his sword dangerously close to her head. Her eyes widened, though she managed to flip back just in time.

"So, you got some bite to your bark after all," she remarked, smacking her lips. She pressed her fingers against her intact throat.

"Don't make me do this, Mitsumi."

"I really hate wannabe heroes like you." Konoka twirled her Fullbring over her head. "Do I gotta beat the cold, hard truth into you?"

"I'm not a hero, Mitsumi. ...Apparently, I can't even save one person, let alone the world."

Aaron's Hollow mask slowly covered his somber face, the sight giving Konoka pause. She froze even more when a massive Cero ripped apart the ground on its way toward her. She fired a flurry of energy blades at it, only for the Cero to charge right through them. Left with little choice, she used Fullbring on the ground to vault over the blast.

"...Dick move," she mumbled.

"Yeah, but not as much as this one."

Konoka gasped. Aaron's voice came far too close for comfort. Leering over her shoulder, she spotted Seigetsu about to carve her in half. She blocked with her glaive though soon realized this was only slightly better than taking a direct hit. The force of Aaron's swing rocketed her across the rooftop. Unable to stop herself, she crashed into a wall with a sickening thud.

"Not to point out the obvious, but she's losing," noted Yukio.

"What the hell? We trained her harder than this, right?" said Ginjou.

Tsukishima replied, "Perhaps she's holding back after all."

Aaron removed his mask to catch a glimpse at Konoka being slow to her feet. Blood trailed down her forehead, and her blurring vision informed her of her Maternal Gift being split in two.

"Still wanna go, Mitsumi?"

"C-Cocky bastard…!" Konoka snarled. "I can still fight!"

She could hardly balance herself. Aaron didn't get it.

"Why? Why do we have to fight? Tell me what your problem is, Mitsumi!"

"...You really don't get it. I knew you were dense, but..."

"What?"

Konoka grit her teeth. "It's because you're always yappin' on and on about savin' people! I told you—I don't need rescuin'! I'm right where I wanna be! I am not that frilly, useless excuse for a woman you're always chasing after!"

"...Kana?" Aaron narrowed his eyelids in confusion. "Why bring her up? I don't get it."

"Of course you don't! Like I said, you're dense! No, you're an IDIOT!"

Aaron stood in complete and utter shock.

So, she has a bone to pick with Kana? Why?!

He would have to figure it out later. Konoka came first.

Speaking of her, she slammed the ends of her broken Fullbring together. Green light emanated from her, spreading across the battlefield.

"That's...probably not good," Aaron admitted. He felt the same about the ground quaking violently.

"Well, I'll be damned," said a smirking Ginjou. "I didn't think she'd go and evolve her Fullbring in the middle of a fight."

"She's a genius when it comes to fighting. It's like she was born with that glaive in her hands," added Tsukishima.

"I guess all that training of yours came in handy after all. Or at least, she thinks it did."

Tsukishima chuckled. "I wonder..."

The green light faded, only for Aaron to be blinded by gold. He lowered his hand, his eyes growing in both surprise and amazement.

"Mitsumi…?"

Golden armor adorned her from head to toe. Emerald blades now stood on each side of her glaive. Alongside her abrupt change came a swell in her energy. It was so intense, it burned Aaron's skin.

"So, it's a clad-type Fullbring. Interesting," noted Ginjou.

"It would appear you were wise to add her to our ranks," said Tsukishima. "What do you think, Mister Higuchi?"

Aaron ignored the remark and got back on guard. "I don't know what you just did, Mitsumi, but it's hella impressive."

"I get you now, Higuchi," she stated. "You really are the type of idiot that doesn't get it unless you're beaten senseless."

"Now you're making me sound like Kurosaki. Well, if you're getting serious, I guess I'd better too. Aaron held Seigetsu straight. He could have sworn he heard it imploring him to get a move on. Thus, he nodded. "BAN...KAI!"

#

"What the heck are those idiots doing up there?"

Riruka pouted. The building had been shaking for awhile, though the last rumble was the worst of all. She peered up and hoped the complex would hold together.

"Why doesn't Ginjou just kill that punk already? God, they can't do anything without me."

She had half a mind to rush up to the roof. Of course, she had her own business to attend to.

"It feels like Miss Mitsumi is misbehaving up there. Tricky girl, you see. She's always..."

Deviko nearly punching a hole into Sasune shut him up. Shrieking, he avoided the mad attack and responded with a hail of arrows. All of them bounced off his target without leaving a scratch.

"What is this guy made of? Or did shrinking make me weaker?"

With a roar, Deviko struck again by splitting apart the ground. Sasune avoided a similar fate by crawling to safety. He gave a shaky laugh at the smoldering hole left by Deviko's fist.

"And of course this thing doesn't have the same issue."

"Mo-oooo-oron!"

A muscle in Sasune's jaw twitched at the less than kind moniker. He glared at a grinning Riruka, saying, "You wanna repeat that?"

"Moron. Those puny arrows can't hurt my precious Deviko. Can't you do anything else?"

"Sure, but then I wouldn't look as awesome."

When he launched another arrow, Riruka rolled her eyes. "Are you hard of hearing, moron? I just said your arrows can't..."

She ate her words when Deviko howled in anguish. Sasune had shot an arrow straight into one of its eyes. He used the opening to run for his life.

"You can't escape!" Riruka shouted after him. "So long as my Fullbring is active..."

"Not listening!"

Moving as quick as the wind, Sasune jumped down to a lower level of the miniature castle.

"That seriously doesn't sound anything like a bunny," he said concerning Deviko's continued hollering. "I guess it really is a devil."

He peeked over the wall he used for shelter, cursing at his foe climbing down.

"Was that crazy chick serious about me being unable to break out of here?"

If so, he decided defeating her would likely reverse her Fullbring. Even so, his arrows weren't having any effect on Deviko. He hardly doubted she would make an easier target.

"Chicken," she said just then. "Why don't you come out and fight like a man?"

"I'm not a man yet, only a hormonal teenager. I haven't even grown all my hair down there yet."

Riruka shot her hand over her mouth in disgust. "Ugh! You disgusting pervert!"

"Like I haven't heard that one before."

Sasune jumped out into the open and fired off another volley. They did nothing but agitate Deviko, who swatted him out of the air. He rolled across the ground but quickly sprang to his feet.

"Plan B then."

He dodged another attack. Then a second, and a third. While Deviko was strong, he smirked at it being slow. He would be able to avoid it while coming up with the supposed 'Plan B.'

Deviko put a wrench in that plan, chasing after him with newfound speed. Once again screaming like a little girl, Sasune hightailed it.

"Moron," said Riruka smugly. "Don't you know that cute bunny rabbits are quick on their feet?"

"I thought it was a devil?"

Riruka, realizing her error, cried, "S-Shut up already!"

Sasune couldn't celebrate the small victory, not with Deviko ramming its fist into his rib cage. Blood spilled from his lips, and he heard something snap. A roundhouse kick to the side of the monster's head got it off of him, though the damage had been done.

"Dammit! How does something that looks so cute and plushy hit so hard?!" he cried, jumping back and grabbing at his side. "God, how do my bones still work at this point?"

"This is so pathetic. Die already, would you?" said a apathetic-looking Riruka.

"At least have the dignity to kill me yourself. Dying to a stuffed animal wouldn't be the most heroic story to tell in the afterlife."

"...You're a bit screwed in the head, aren't you?"

"Man, everyone keeps saying that about me too."

The building rumbled again. Riruka scoffed as her head shot up.

"Now that Mitsumi girl is going crazy too. You're telling me Ginjou and Tsukishima weren't enough to handle some intruder? They really are useless."

"Well, they're up against a true hero. What did you expect? Speaking of which..."

Riruka froze. There shouldn't have been an arrow pointed at the back of her head. Her quivering eyes fell on the miniature castle. Only a fallen Deviko stood inside.

"Impossible!" she cried. "H-How did you…?!"

"Now, isn't this familiar?" said Sasune with a toothy grin. "I'm afraid our roles are reversed this time."

Riruka, though furious, didn't dare move. "How did you escape my Dollhouse?! You shouldn't have been able to without my permission!"

"Something about all this reminded me of that Yukio kid, so I got to thinking. 'What happens if you destroy the place you're trapped in?'"

"What? B-But you didn't…!"

"No, I didn't. That oversized stuffed animal of yours did all the work."

Riruka realized he was spot on. Over half the castle had been flatted by Deviko's rampage. In fact, it was crumbling to pieces. What she thought was Sasune running around like a headless chicken had an actual purpose.

"But, how did you defeat Deviko?!"

"Huh? That thing? I didn't do anything. While I was trying to figure out how to escape, it just fell down."

Speaking of Deviko, it began to groan. It stood and then leered around in surprise.

"Not you again!" it declared, aiming a paw at Ririka. "You went and kidnapped me again!"

Deviko removed its head, revealing an agitated manwith a face Sasune felt only a mother could love.

"So there was someone in that suit," the Quincy said, intrigued. "Poor bastard."

"Stupid Giriko! He said his Fullbring would last longer!" Riruka muttered bitterly.

"And the plot thickens. I don't know what you're going on about, but I guess you lose." Sasune placed his glasses on, ensuring the next arrow he launched would hit the markl. "That Yukio kid was a pain, but I'd probably be dead if I didn't go up against him first."

"Shut up! His powers aren't anything like mine!"

"Touchy."

Riruka clicked her tongue. "...What are you going to do? Just kill me already!"

Sasune debated the matter. Eventually, however, he lowered his bow. A bewildered Riruka could sense no malice coming from him. He really wasn't going to end her life.

"You're insane," she said under her breath, less than thrilled with receiving mercy.

"Wow. You must spy on me. People call me that as well. Or maybe I'm just easy to read."

"No, you're an idiot! You..."

Riruka's received another shock at him placing his hands in his pockets and walking away.

"It's been fun, Miss Dokugamine," he announced with a parting wave. "I'd like to chat with you again under less auspicious circumstances."

"Get back here! This fight isn't over until one of us drops dead!"

Sasune stopped. Without leering back at her, he answered, "Says who? I'm the victor, so I get to decide who lives and dies. Besides, I already said the world isn't so black and white. Later."

He vanished on the spot. Biting her bottom lip, Riruka eyes burned with tears. While it made sense to go after Sasune, her legs refused to budge.

"...Creep."

#

"Oh, that little girl is rampaging. I need to hurry up here so I can fight her."

The Green-Haired Devil licked her lips in anticipation.

"Hey!" hollered Jackie in protest. "Looks like you still aren't taking this seriously! You're fighting me remember?!"

Emi raised an eyebrow, looking as if she had earnestly forgotten. "I suppose you're right. Come on then. Just know I didn't train so much to take down a nobody."

"This 'nobody' is about to put you six feet under!"

Jackie appeared beside Emi and readied to kick her head off. Emi blocked, though the attack still sent her flying across the sky. Only down momentarily, she leered at her right arm hanging worthlessly at her side.

"Oh, not bad!" she chimed as if the injury was a mere paper cut. "Good idea. I couldn't think of a handicap to give you, so this'll do nicely."

"What was that?!"

Jackie saw her foe hadn't learned her lesson. She closed in again, though her second kick missed. Emi backpedaled and took a swipe with her long Zanpakutou. A gash opened up on Jackie's forehead. She countered with a blinding series of roundhouse kicks. Emi blocked the first and the second but the third sent her soaring again.

"That's more like it!" The Green-Haired Devil exclaimed in spite of the blood gushing her head. "Not bad...for a human."

"She's a maniac!" a wary Izumi noted. She never imagined someone could enjoy getting their behind handed to them.

Jackie didn't get it either. Rather than questioning it, she zipped around Emi, striking every inch of her. Even as her blood flew, Emi's smile didn't falter. A final blow to her jaw created a massive shock wave.

"Such strength," she said, chuckling. In spite of the force behind Jackie's kick, the Green-Haired Devil didn't budge an inch. "Not enough though, I'm afraid."

Snarling, Jackie backed off and caught her breath.

"And now you're running." Emi shook her head. "Where did all that confidence go?" Her eyes trailed down to Jackie's boots, which dripped with her blood. "I've long since figured out how your powers work from watching you beat up that poor human over there."

"...What?" One of Izumi's eyelids twitched. "You were watching me get my ass kicked but didn't jump in sooner?!"

Ignoring her, Emi added, "Those boots of yours make you stronger the more they're dirtied, correct? That's why you exclusively use kicks. An interesting trick. They remind me very much of my own abilities."

"What are you talking about?" replied Jackie warily.

"I almost feel bad releasing my Zanpakutou against a human, but unfortunately for you, you've garnered my interest." Emi held her Zanpakutou up to her delighted visage. "Sting, Itomakiei!"

Red energy swirled around her blade. The mere sight of it gave Jackie and Izumi the chills. It was like the power itself would hungrily lash out at them. Instead, Emi's blade took the form of a crimson, three-pronged spear. A white tassel, resembling a tail, hung from the end.

"I don't get it," Jackie said, her hands on her hips. "You couldn't hit me before. You think that's going to change?"

Emi confused everyone by holding up three fingers.

"I'm feeling generous," she declared. "This is how many times my Itomakiei will hit you, and that's when you'll die."

First looking furious, Jackie's expression settled into one of amusement. "How kind of you. Of course, I'm breaking your other arm before then."

"Oh! Then it's a race then! Sounds fun!"

The two combatants smiled, leaving Izumi questioning what in the world was wrong with them.

No way I'm fighting again if it's going to turn me into a maniac too.

"Are you ready to begin our little game?"

Emi Flash Stepped in front of Jackie and stabbed her spear in every direction. As fast and as furious as she was, Jackie had no trouble sidestepping her assault.

"Is that it? It seems you really are screwing around."

She had spoken too soon. A gash opened up on her cheek. Still, Emi left herself open enough for Jackie to kick her away.

Skidding to a stop, Emi lifted her head, revealing a wide, sadistic grin. "One!"

Jackie wiped her face clean. "And? A cut is supposed to finish me?"

"Two more to go!"

Emi chased Jackie down again, and the two streaked across the starry sky. Try as she might, the Green-Haired Devil couldn't land a clean hit. It was clear to Izumi that Jackie was hardly trying.

"Dammit! I'm screwed! As soon as that lunatic goes down…!"

"This is a waste of time." Jackie popped Emi across the mouth again. "I don't know where you came from, Shinigami, but you should've stayed there."

Her leg connected with back of Emi's head. While it did so, her opponent managed to graze her thigh.

"Two."

Blood spurted from Jackie's wound as if her leg had been severed. Alarmed, she clutched the spot.

She barely cut me! I know she did! What the hell?!

Emi's Itomaikei again glowed a sinister scarlet.

"Jeez. When did you get so slow?" Emi asked with a shrug. "I hit you no problem that time."

"She did?" said Izumi blankly. "What? Her spear hardly touched her."

Assured of this too, Jackie kept her distance, striving to work out a seemingly impossible puzzle.

"That look! It's perfect!" Emi giggled. "I love it when my opponent's make that face. You want to know what just happened, right? Shall I give you a hint? I don't mind giving you another handicap."

"..."

"The more my Zanpakutou cuts something, the stronger it gets. It doesn't matter how shallow the cut is. Right now, I've already hit you twice. The next one means death, I'm afraid. You're fast though, right? I'm sure you wouldn't be dumb enough to let me touch you again."

"You bitch!"

"Yep. I'm called a devil for a reason."

Practically drooling over her prey, Emi slowly made her way toward Jackie. Izumi saw that with only one working leg, Jackie didn't have anywhere to go.

Emi licked her lips. "You poor thing. If only you had known taking on a member of the Eleventh Division is tantamount to suicide."

The blood lust in the air grew palpable. Izumi shuddered like she was the one about to die. Enemy or not, she felt sorry for Jackie.

"H-Hey, hold on," she stammered. "You don't have to—HEY! GET BACK!"

Emi did, understanding why when a ring of green fire erupted around Jackie.

"What? She had another trick left?" the Green-Haired Devil uttered. Attempting to approach the flames only caused them to lash out at her. Annoyed, she said, "What a dirty trick."

Jackie, despite being saved, grit her teeth. "Giriko!"

"Time is up, I'm afraid." Giriko Kutsuzawa, checking the golden pocket watch in his grasp, appeared beside her. "I must say that between you and Miss Riruka, I've had my hands full today."

"Get rid of the fire, Giriko! I can still fight!"

"I'm afraid I cannot. Time Tells No Lies is absolute. Even I can do nothing to quell the flames of time. Instead, I suggest we flee so that I may tend to your wounds."

Less than pleased with the prospect, Jackie punched the ground. "...Fine."

"Running then?" said Emi, neither looking or sounding thrilled anymore.

"I won't forget this, Shinigami!"

Jackie, with Giriko in tow, left with that warning. The flames rose over them before disappearing.

"Too bad. That guy should've joined in. He seemed like fun."

Emi sheathed her Zanpakutou with a long sigh. Izumi felt she resembled a child who received nothing for Christmas.

Holy…! If that's what she does to people she doesn't want to fight, I'd hate to be the person she came here for.

#

The moon that hung over the rooftop was large and blue.

"What the hell is going on?" asked Ginjou, observing it like a hawk. He had a similar opinion about Aaron's radical transformation.

Armed with a pair of slender, white swords, Aaron said, "Seinaru Seigetsu."

Konoka looked upon him with awe. "...How many tricks do you have?"

"You're one to talk. Let's get this over with."

Aaron fended off an attack, but it didn't stem from Konoka. Tsukihima had attempted striking from behind, though his would-be victim parried without facing him.

"I was wondering when one of you would jump in."

Tsukishima smiled. "You should have expected nothing less storming into the enemy's base."

"True. You all can gang up on me if you want. I don't mind. ...I'm gonna end up killing you anyway."

"He's mine, Tsukishima!" Konoka roared. "Back off!"

"Sorry, kid. No can do. I'm getting sick of looking at this guy's face," said Ginjou, who formed his Cross of Scaffold. "It's time to take out the trash."

"Then you'll have to take me out as well!"

Ginjou jumped back in time to avoid being flattened by an attacker from above. A large figure stood, lifting his armored arm from the now ruined floor.

"Sado?!" cried Aaron and Konoka at the same time.

Yasutora Sado peered at their stunned faces ahead of turning back to Ginjou.

"Ishida—your Ishida—filled me in on what's going on," he explained. "Higuchi, I'll leave Mitsumi to you. I'll keep everyone else off your back."

"That's some confidence," said Ginjou, smirking. "And who exactly are you?"

"Another Fullbringer from the looks of it," said Tsukishima, joining Ginjou's side. "We should celebrate. All our brethren are coming to us of their own free will."

"Get the hell out of here, Sado!" said Konoka bitterly. It was an order, not a request. "Dammit, Pretty Boy! He's not even here and he's finding away to get on my nerves!"

"You sure about this, Sado?" asked Aaron. Honestly, he was grateful for the help. He just had no interest in getting someone else killed.

Chad nodded. "I owe Mitsumi for what happened in Soul Society. This is my fight too."

"God, would you two SHUT UP!" Konoka gave everyone another taste of her crushing spiritual pressure. "Since when did you idiots get to decide how I live my life?! And save it, Sado! You wanna pay me back? Take a hike! You'll live longer!"

"Sorry, but we can't let any of them go," said Yukio. "Nothing personal. Besides, all these hero speeches are getting old. It's like a bad script out of an RPG."

A digital box started forming around Chad, Ginjou, and Tsukishima.

"What the…?! Didn't his handheld break?!" cried Aaron, recognizing Yukio's Fullbring.

"I swiped it back while you idiots weren't looking. Did you really think I couldn't fix it? Serves you right."

"Thanks for the assist," said Ginjou as the box swallowed him and the others up. "Guess we won't kick you out of the group after all."

"Like you had a choice. It's my money that keeps our ragtag bunch afloat."

Ginjou laughed. "Fair enough."

"Sado!" Aaron moved too late. Though stabbing at Yukio's prison, he couldn't break it. "What did you do?!"

"The same thing I did to you and that other idiot. I call it Saving. Relax. Your friend is fine...for now. No one gets out of this thing though unless there's a winner. Those are the rules to the game."

Aaron snarled.

"Well, thanks to maintaining this, I can't attack you," said Yukio innocently. "Besides, I get the feeling she'd kill me if I tried."

Whirling around, Aaron blocked Konoka's Maternal Gift by the skin of his teeth.

"You should've stayed at home, Higuchi," she told him coldly. Driving her knee into his gut, she caused him to stagger back. "Now I've gotta do this."

Blood flew everywhere as she brought her double-sided glaive down. It came from a long gash on Aaron's torso. Huffing, he ignored the white hot pain and saw his own life, and not Chad's, took precedence.

"Alright then, Mitsumi. If it's an honest to goodness fight you want, you've got it."

END