Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo/Shonen Jump. I do own OC's and plot
Author's Note: Happy Belated New Year! It was a year ago, I started this fan fic and hopefully this year I will finish it. I am so sorry for the wait! Thousand apologizes with a cherry on top. Over the last few months, I have planning this chapter and couldn't decided how it should end. I literally had like 5 alternate endings because I didn't know which one you readers would like most. So to help my dilemma, I was going over some comments (which I greatly appreciate. Please keep it up it helps me plan the next chapter and see how I'm doing with the storyline). One comment in particular, thank you bleachpower, for giving me an idea and snap me out of my indecisiveness.
Thank you to all again to those who have reading this fanfic since the beginning. The song paired with this chapter is "Unravel" from the anime "Tokyo Ghoul." You can either listen to the original Japanese version or any of English versions. All are amazing!
One final note, since I haven't posted in a while, I thought I'd share whose pov will be in the next chapter. Next chapter will be Byakuya, Hansuke, and ends with Ichigo.
Title: An Unraveling Heart PT 1 (Multiple Pov)
Hisana Pov:
There was no way my brother could be alive. He's dead. I had to keep reminding myself that because with every strike and every swing of his blade. It was exactly how my brother fought. Even his spiritual pressure felt familiar to me. Despite seeing my brother a few times in combat, I'd remember his techniques perfectly.
So, how could this be possible?
All sorts of possibilities were going through my head. It couldn't be that Espada who absorbs people's memories, body, and soul. In the corner of my eye, among the speculator crowd, Shiba Kaien (who really is Arienero) was standing right there. Hand on the pommel of his sword, leaning casually back watching us. His eyes going from the imposter to me, back to him.
I wondered if he knew I was his blood relative. I wondered what he thought of my mother giving birth to me who was made in love by his second cousin; the great Kurosaki Ichigo whose name would have been Shiba if it wasn't for my mortal grandmother Misaki.
He really looks like us. I thought, getting sidetracked. The Shiba genes are strong in our family. Genetics are truly a wonder-
Watch out! My zanpakuto yelled through our bond. I felt my arm and cheek sting like the dickens. I advanced with a lunge and pushed back, breaking us apart by a few feet. I knelt, holding the side of my arm. A stream of blood trickled down my face as my right hand felt sticky, red oozing liquid between my fingers. Irritated by my carelessness, I leaned on my zanpakuto and stood up again and took a stance.
"Hisana, please stand down." The false Kaien said in a concerned plea. He took a step forward, lowering his sword. "I-we- are telling the truth!" He placed a hand over his chest. "I am your brother, Hisana..please stop this madness! You can't stop this that's why I'm protecting you! That's why I made that deal with Ayahiko!"
I nodded my head in confusion and disbelief. There was no way my brother would do such a thing. He was like my uncle. He honored tradition and fought righteously. He would never join someone so twisted, so evil. I pressed a hand on my face, forcing back the tears that were forming in my eyes. When I closed my eyes, I could clearly remember the dark bleak sky, pouring sheets of rain on a black sleek casket that was covered in white flowers. I could hear my mother's cries in my uncle's arms from behind me. Silence. White silence surrounded me. I stared at that casket blankly, thinking it was just all a nightmare. As I was being pulled away from the grave by my grandfather, I saw my father alone on that hilltop, pounding the floor as he pleaded to the gods to give him his son back. When I woke up the very next morning, I ran into my brother's room shouting his name but found it empty. My worst nightmare became a reality.
Five years of grief my family has endured. Five years of sorrow and isolation was bottled up inside me. I could feel the fires of rage burn within my very soul, waiting to be unleashed. "If you truly are my brother then, then you know that Kurosaki's never give up so easily!" I said coldly as I let go of my sword, with a twist of my wrist in a counterclockwise motion. "Darken and gleam in the twilight," I muttered. "Gesshoku (Eclipse)". With my zanpakuto in release from, I charged with everything I had.
Ayahiko Pov:
When I said this fight would be a once in a lifetime experience, I truly meant it. For once, I did not want to foresee the outcome. I wanted to truly witness it like everyone else, and from the battle so far the Kurosaki siblings did not disappoint.
"So stubborn." I heard Kaien mutter with a discontent frown on his face. He sighed as his blue eyes narrowed onto his little sister. "Shroud all in sight, Osoi" (Hoarfrost) He commanded and his plain zanpakuto shattered like ice in his hand. Then out of the thousand glittering fragments transformed itself into two identical glass longswords. The wrapping on the handles were icy blue as the blades thin, transparent like icicles. When he swung his arms, snow and ice would be trailing behind like fairy dust.
Hisana faked left and then vanished. Kaien looked around then glanced up. She appeared a few feet above him, thrusting her wakizashi blade down with momentum. Kaien went on the defensive and raised his blades, crossing them to form a X. In this moment when their blades touched, fire and ice erupted and clashed. I smiled knowing that the real fight was about to begin. They sped up their movements now. No doubt using their full extent of their flash technique. One second, it appeared that Hisana had the upper hand. Kaien had a few matching cuts on his face,arms, and chest like his younger sister. It was Hisana's way of declaring to her foes: Whatever you can do, I can do better.
She was about to make a blow-a strike to his upper right shoulder when Kaien's dementor changed abruptly. He countered and swung left and slashed Hisana in her arm, not showing any emotion of what he had done like previous encounters. For a while now, I felt his spiritual pressure fluctuate. It wasn't just written on his face or the fact that he was pulling his punches, but he was truly having mixed feelings about this fight. I knew in his mind, he was deciding whether or not if he should let Hisana win. I wasn't worried because I knew he would ultimately make the right decision.
Kaien's attacks became sharper, faster, and his swings heavier. Hisana stared at him, grinning as if she started to enjoy herself. Her curved lips said:
Finally giving it your all?
Kaien replied a smirk of his own- a cocky grin I haven't seen since his days in Captain Zaraki's squadron.
Who says I wasn't? His grin replied as he pushed her back away from him a few feet then with a swish of his ride blade, rapid ice shards appeared and hurled straight her. Hisana flash stepped to bypass the attack, but she wasn't quick enough. One of them impaled her left shoulder. She grunted and took a few steps back, slumping in pain.
"Yes! I knew Kaien would be victorious!" Kohana cheered who stood to the left of me. She turned her body and looked to her brother who stood at my right. "Pay up, brother dear."
"No, it's not over, yet." He stated with a calculated stare as his arms were crossed. "Isn't that right, master?"
I did not answer as I kept my eyes on Hisana. She turned her head in our direction, hearing the remark, but she did not look at me. She looked at Kohana and her a death glare (I knew too well) as she yanked the ice shard from her shoulder and tossed it aside like it was nothing. The shard slid across the ground until it reached the base of my feet. The tip coated in her blood.
From the corner of my eye, my father who sat in his own chair stared at it with yearning. As if he wanted to snatch it up and experiment on it because who knew what secrets the blood of this shinigami hybrid held. What powers she inherited. What powers were just hers. I too was curious myself, but secretly this was one of the purposes of this fight. I wanted to see how far Hisana's skills had grown, and what secrets she held up her sleeve.
"Nice moves, imposter. You caught me off guard, but you're going to have to do a lot better than that. " She said to Kaien, but I knew it was to me. Returning her focus back on her opponent, she flash stepped and slashed upwards in a slanted angle towards the front of his face. Kaien slowly moved his head back, missing the arch of her blade by an inch.
"Dai," she spoke as she did another slash in the open air, aiming towards his feet which ignited an embered circle around Kaien. "2saikuru, faiasupin!" (Second cycle, firespin!)
Before Kaien would even react, a fiery tornado trapped him instantly from all sides. This was probably her most powerful attack in shikai. It was a technique only used for close combat, nearly impossible for her opponent to escape from. The flaming vorex will gradually spin inwards,temperatures as high as an erupting volcano. There is one way to escape from, the very top of the vorex before it closes. However, the consequences are severe and if not done immediately and correctly. My knight will be incinerated into nothing but ashes.
"Checkmate. Let's see how you counter that, brother of mine." Hisana said standing in front of the flame. Even from all the way over here, I could feel the intense heat kissing my skin as if I've been bathing underneath the sun all day. Seeing the flames illuminate behind Hisana, her eyes fixated on the crowd before her, standing tall and proud despite the red blood that stained her clothes and body-despite the exhaustion that was shown in her face. It proved that not only as she grown, but that she truly earned the Captain rank. The other day, I've overheard the conversation between father and Kohana. He had asked her why I'd be interested in loving someone like the daughter of his foe. In private, he had also asked me why I helped Kaien stray from death.
I simply replied stating I had my reasons. A few of those reasons are about to show.
"Hope szayel can heal your right hand man, Ayahiko. He's gonna have some serious horror like burns..if he survives that is.." Hisana said turning away from the swirling fiery tornado. She smiled at me, awfully pleased with herself because she "defeated" my best fighter. "Since I won this challenge, I'll be leaving now."
Before she took a single step forward, a rush of spiritual pressure hit us all like a train. Hisana froze in her tracks, eyes wide with realization. She took a quick glance at me as if to say,
What did you do?
I leaned back on my chair and lazily leaned my head on a propped arm.
You should have listened when you had the chance, princess.
"Kentaro." I called.
"On it, master." He replied. Kentaro waved his hand and created an invisible barrier just in time before an aura of icy blue light exploded, blinding the entire courtyard.
Hisana Pov:
I shielded myself with my arm and closed my eyes as the force of an icy wind blew me several feet backwards. When it was over, I opened my eyes, grey clouds began to form in the sky blocking the moon and the only source of light. The temperature dropped significantly in the air, following a cold wet sensation falling on top of me. My zanpakuto took her own action by igniting the blade, providing not only heat but a source of light. I craned my head up and held out my hand, realizing that it was-
"Snowing? That can't be right." I breathed, my breath showing in the frigid air. Gripping my flaming blade, I took a stance and raised my spirit energy until it manifested and clung to the blade. "Getsuga…" I swung upwards towards the sky. "...Tensho!" A crescent shape wave of fire and spiritual energy was sent flying towards the heavens, splitting those clouds apart. The moon returned shedding some light on my surrounds, providing some answers as to what the hell was going on. My eyes went wide as I saw the desert wastelands of Hueco Mundo transformed into a winter wonderland. There was at least twenty-thirty inches of snow in this courtyard. The entire floor was frozen solid, covered lighty in fresh powder.
"What the hel-…" I took a step forward and slipped on some ice. "w-hoa!." I rocked backwards, but stabbed my sword into the ground and leaned on it for balance. "That was a close one."
It would have been embarrassing to have fallen on my ass. Kohana would instantly declare that a loss then laugh as she pointed at me. Remembering my basic figure skating training as a child, I went into the proper position. Knees bent slightly, just over the toe caps of my sandals since I didn't have skates. With my chest up, shoulders back parallel to the ice, I curved my right foot in allowing the left foot to absorb my weight. Gently, I pushed off with my right and began to glide on the icy ground.
"I remember teaching you that. " A proud voice said to my right in the phantom icy wind that seemed to have appeared out of no way, obscured my sight. "I had warned you that freezing Uncle's koi pond would have consequences, but seeing the pleading frown on your face of wanting to skate. I couldn't resist." He continued with a light laughter that echoed my surroundings.
Turning to the right sharply and swung my blade, shouting, "Getsuga Tenshou!" A blast of spiritual energy went flying into the snowy cyclone. It cleaved the icy wind in two, enough to see beyond. Within that split second of vision, I saw some espada brushing off snow from their hair and clothing. I swore I heard Gin scream, "My Chai Latte!". He sounded pretty upset about it.
Keep your guard up, Gesshoku warned.
I casually glanced side to side and behind,hoping my opponent would be somewhere. All I saw was the snowy wind spinning around me in a rapid circle almost like the way Uncle Byakuya's Senbonzakura does when it creates its flowery cyclone. Inside of the eye of the storm, the air felt colder by the second. The fire on my sword dwindled a bit in the last ten minutes. Based on my injures and use of spiritual pressure, it was a sign that Gesshoku and I won't last very long in this atmosphere.
Fire and ice are just natural enemies. The future Captain Hitsugaya said to me at the academy when he saw me unlock my shikai. But remember, one can't exist without the other.
"I see you inherited grandfather's technique." Kaien replied, his voice sounding surprised. "He would have been proud of you."
"SHUT UP!" I roared and sent another blast of fire towards that voice-that familiar voice who spoke of my family informally. "Instead of hiding behind this snow globe effect of yours, how about you face me like a man! There's no honor in hiding, imposter!" Gripping the handle tightly, I kept turning and waiting for him to appear.
"Honor?" His voice dripping in a disgust tone as the cyclone around me stilled-the snow in the air just hovering like if time stilled. Then, it exploded in a small whoosh. Snow began to fall as the air around me began to clear. "That is not the way of the 13th court guard squad. For being a captain, I'm surprised you have forgotten."
"Extermining great evil - that is a captain's main priority" I replied quickly rubbing the mountain of snowflakes off my eyelashes. "Honor is my family instilled in me since I was a child. A code my brother wouldn't neglect so easi..." I blinked at this new person in front of me. Moments ago, "Kaien" aka the imposter was only wearing his standard royal guard uniform from the Emperor's court. My head trailed from his white waist length hair to his icy blue haori with a matching hakama. On his forehead like a sweatband was a woven crown made of ice. "..ly".
"Impressed with my bankai form?" Kaien grinned as his blue eyes flared a blue flame in amusement. "It's called-"
"Shiroi tsuki-ō-: Osoi" (The White Moon King: Hoarfrost)" I replied softly. I shook my head as a wave of how the hell-did-I-know-that washed over me.
"Y-you remembered?" Kaien said hopefully, taking a step back.
"What? No..." I barked. That's impossible, I shouldn't have known that. Something is wrong with me. I shook my head disregarding the thought. "Less talking, more fighting!" I spat, resuming the fight.
Charing him at full speed, I flash stepped to confuse him. I made it to the middle of the courtyard, about to make a move when all of a sudden a massive ice stalagmite shout out from the ground, nearly impaling me.
"Shit!" I dodged by gliding to the right, using my figure skating skills then another one appeared. I swung to obliterate it out of my way with my flaming blade, but it only got stuck within the ice.
"No. No. No." I tugged on it, hoping I would get it free but it wouldn't budge. "Come on, eclipse, don't fail me now." I muttered.
"It's over." Growled Kaien behind me. I turned around and saw him close his left hand, balling it into a fist. A dozen stalagmites shot out from all directions, attempting to make some sort of cage. Using flash step as an enhancer, I jumped away from my sword and slide under two arched ice stalagmites just in time before it enclosed. I slide across the ice to the other side of the courtyard.
The imposter took another step forward towards me. "I'm giving you one last chance to surrender, Hisana to stop this foolishness. " His eyes held a tormated gaze, but determined to end me if necessary.
It almost made me run into his arms and cry, because he did look like Kaien. Sounded like him. Acted like him. But what if Ayahiko was in my head, making me feel these wavering emotions by unraveling my heart like a puppet on strings. Or worse, what if Aizen was.
I shifted my gaze to get a quick look at the pair of them. That's when I realized that the two were really father and son. The resemblance was a bit uncanny. It sent shivers up my spin. Both sharing the same brown hair and soft brown eyes. Hell, both of them were making the same unreadable expression, but underneath the cool dementor. I knew they were analyzing this fight, trying to calculate the next my next moves and determine the outcome.
I turned my attention back on my enemy and sorted out my true feelings. As much as I wanted to hand this guy his ass for stealing my brother's identity and demolishing his memory, I was on bought time. In truth, this entire fight was a facade. When I was reunited with my blade, Gesshoku told me that I should not linger and demand answers. This imposter plans to have Ayahiko take my soul reaper powers away.
If he truly was my brother? I thought looking at him. Why would he do that? And why would he pledge loyalty to the person responsible for ruining our futures?
Gesshoku didn't have the answers, but said one thing before begin suggesting this challenge:
"Go to Aizen's throne room, Hisana. There you will find your way out."
Recalling stories of Hueco Mundo Aunt Orihime once told me as a child, behind Aizen's throne was a direct portal to the world of the living. It was how he invaded-will invade the Karakura Town to create the stupid key to the palace in the clouds. Since history is screwed up, who knows what he will do now.
Nevertheless, all I had to do was active it and I'm free from Ayahiko's grasp. However, how could I do that when I was the size of a doll? Hence, suggesting this entire fight- a fight I thought I could win, but my foe appeared stronger than anticipated. If I won and Ayahiko honored this fight (which is highly unlikely), would I go back to Hansuke?
"I would never lie to you, Hisana." Hansuke's voice echoed in my head. "We're best friends."
"You see, I really am the Emperor," recalling Ayahiko's complete truth bomb that shocked me to my core. "And best part of all.. Suke knew this whole time. He helped me take over the worlds."
No, I-I couldn't go back to Hansuke. After what happened, I need a moment to myself to wrap my head around these massive betrayals and unravelled truths. So back to the unanswered question:
How can I go the throne room without being followed?
Like a sign from heaven, a moonlight beam from behind a cloud lit the answer. Behind Grimmjow's head, across the courtyard was a doorway that led into the looming white building.
"You know what you have to do." A cold female voice says in my head as I felt familiar presence like a shadow. "Bankai isn't gonna cut it, and you know it. If you want to win; if you want to be free, call on me and you'll be free."
I exhaled a breath and stared at the starless night sky. The crescent moon was so bright and pure like the atmosphere around me. I took it all in one last time-the snowy courtyard, the people, my enemy. I'll remember glimpses of it the next couple of minutes at most. Most likely pass out too if I'm not quick. However, what I'm about to do shows Ayahiko and everyone my true power. Kentaro and Kohana only saw a fraction of it. I'm sure they have told Ayahiko what they saw.
"You're a monster!" Kentaro's voice reverberates in my mind.
But I have no choice, it was either showing my current greatest technique or face a fate worse than death.
All I need to do is create a diversion and run before twins are on my tail. I tell myself in comfort as I raised my left hand over head. I-I have to get to that throne room.
"Oh, it's over it's it? That's a shame because..." I pulled down my mask. My hollow voice manically laughed. "I'm just getting started."
Kaien and the Arrancar's eyes widen at the sight of my hollowification.
"So, it's true." Kaien breathed taking a shaky step back. "You-you hollowfied."
From the corner of my now golden irises, I could have sworn I saw Kohana hide behind Ayahiko's chair. Once on my face, my crippling spiritual pressure increased exponentially, causing some of the fraccions to collapse on the floor at the feet of their masters. Specially, the ones that serve Espada number 2, Harribel. Lilynette also began to be affected by my spike of spiritual pressure all until Stark caught her.
I could feel my previous wounds were healing at a rapid pace, strength returning. However, little did they know, this extra boost of power will not last long and comes with a deadly consequence. With a word, I vanished from where I stood. I was more acrobatic in this form. At lighting speed, I jumped from stalagmite to stalagmite in a zigzag formation. I kicked the imposter across the face, sending him a few feet backwards. Knowing he would recover instantly, I flash stepped stop in front of the right one with my sword. Grabbing it's hilt, I pulled it free in one fluid motion, breaking the ice. It pulsed in my hand as a thanks.
Hearing the Kaien imposter growling in anger and seeing his shadow behind me, I jumped backwards and used the top of his head as a stepping stool to launch myself further into the sky, until I could see the whole courtyard. My eyes narrowed on Ayahiko as he gaze up at me. A proud little smile tugged on the corners of his face.
In mid air, I raised my blade over my head in both hands and swung down, unleashing a massive Getsuga Tenshou upon the speculating crowd. With the dust clouds as cover, I flash stepped to the ground, passed grimmjow who sounded very pissed and ran into opened doorway that led to the palace with a burst of various spiritual pressures trailing behind me.
The inner palace was famous for their vast white labyrinth hallways. Heading to the throne room would be a problem, if Gesshoku hadn't scouted and memorized all routes.
Left. Right. Left. Right. Right. Left. Center hallway. She instructed as my hollow and I quickly swerved into the second right.
My mask cracked in the corner of my forehead, indicating I only had four more minutes of hollowification. I had to make it. If not, this all will have been for nothing. Pushing myself to the limit, I forced myself to flash step even faster.
Almost there. Almost there. Almost there. I was about a corridor away from the throne when I rammed into an unexpected person. Thrown on my ass from the collison, I looked up and instantly frowned.
"Shit." I muttered.
The person I rammed into was none other than Espada number 10: Yammy Llargo. He turned his head and looked down,
"Huh?"
It took him less than a second to recognize me. No one else in this place is wearing as standard black and white soul reaper uniform. Let alone a soul reaper with a blood red obi belt.
"You!" He screamed, eyes narrowing down as a flicker of hatred showed up on his face. "You sliced off my arm!"
My mask began to crack, notifying me I'm greatly running out of time. I grinned, laughing nervously as I got up. "Hey, there, Yammy. So, round two?"
***end of chapter***
Questions to ponder: What do you think will happen next with the new povs in the following chapter, and what do you think will be Hisana's fate? Do you think she'll escape and win or... was this all an illusion via Ayahiko and Aizen messing with her mind?