CHAPTER 13 Part 4: Showdown – The Pentagon
Thanks to all those who reviewed!
Kuro – Ippikiookami21: "But wouldn't Hitsugaya feel the reiatsu, so he'd know if it's Hinamori or not..?" Let's just say that she hid her spiritual pressure for safety… Thanks for bringing that up. XD
Author's note: This is the last part for chapter 13, finally. This is unbetaed so there may be mistakes.
/…/ Flashbacks The flashbacks are from chapter 12 but the full version instead
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bleach, manga or anime.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: FINAL SHOWDOWN
His sword swiped swiftly down towards Aizen's neck and stopped just less then a centimetre from it.
"It's over, Aizen Sousuke." Stated Urahara as he looked down at him. Aizen looked up at him, tired but not defeated, never defeated. He laughed a soft and maniacal laugh.
"It takes more than a knife to my throat to bring me down, Urahara Kisuke." He replied smoothly. Urahara's features were unmoved.
"That's why I said it's over." He sheathed his sword and, using shunpo, disappeared out of Aizen's sight into the fog.
Aizen peered around. What are you up to, Urahara? He thought suspiciously as he got up. An eerie noise broke the silence. Aizen spun around frantically, trying to find the origin of the sound but all he could see was fog. Why can't I see anything? Realisation hit him, this is my illusion technique - someone is reflecting it back at me so I have no idea what is going on around me, but Urahara was real. What is going on!
The realisation enabled him to break through the illusion, seeing as illusions only work as long as the victim believed them. However, instead of dissolving slowly as usual, the illusion shattered into a million pieces then dissipated into the air – much like what happens when a hollow is eradicated. Unease built up in Aizen but he remained calm.
As the shattered pieces disappeared into the air, Aizen identified a moving light. It was purple and seemed to be moving at a fast speed. When everything was cleared, he turned around to observe his surroundings. The light seems to be making a shape around me, a diamond? He turned to follow the moving light with his eyes. It was approaching its point of origin, obviously about to join with it to complete whatever shape was forming around him.
The moment the line touched the origin, its light grew brighter and brighter until Aizen was momentarily blinded by its purple luminosity. When the light finally dimmed, he found himself surrounded by five captains – each stationed at one of the five points of a pentagon. He was trapped.
/ "Excellent defence plans, Zaraki Kenpachi. Well done. However, we will need to strengthen them. It is my first presumption that Aizen sent this poor excuse of an army of hollows to force us to reveal our new defence system.
But this small gain will be his undoing.
I wonder if any of you other captains noticed but when Aizen sent his army of hollows, he unintentionally showed us a path in which we can reach him." He continued to explain his observations of how it could be managed to send an army of shinigamis to the land of the hollows.
"So this is how the plan will go. Divisions two, six, eight, ten and eleven will enter the land of the hollows. Division one, seven, twelve and thirteen will remain here to protect Soul Society. Division four shall remain here also. Division three, five and nine will go to the living world. While this is happening, the captains-in-training will continue the three-day-bankai program." His paused for a moment, his tone going deeper.
"I have invoked the assistance of the Demon Art Brigade to defeat Aizen. Urahara has informed me that when one uses the Hyougoku, even without utilizing its full power, the user will become united with it. Therefore we must destroy the Hyougoku if we are to defeat Aizen."
"How do we destroy the Hyougoku?" Asked various captains at once.
"That is what I am going to tell you. Listen carefully: a single mistake can lead to failure of destroying the item. If the Hyougoku detects a threat towards its existence, it will release its full power into its current konpaku."
"So that's why Aizen is using the four month purification period instead – it was too risky for him to unleash its full power within his own body."
Yamamoto nodded then continued.
"Fukushima Hoshiko will trap Aizen in an illusion to make him believe that everything is going well. During this time, the Brigade will form the pentagon around Aizen. However, someone is needed to distract Aizen from realising that he is being trapped in an illusion. Urahara, this is where you step in."
"But sir, I am ordered to go to the living world." Replied Urahara.
"And you will go, but I will fill you in on that after I have explained the plan. So Urahara, you will fight Aizen to distract him but you will not be trapped in the illusion with him. Withdraw as soon as the line forming the pentagon reaches its second last point - the others will take it from there." He looked at the five captains that will be there.
"Soi Fong, Byakuya, Shunsui, Ichigo and Hitsugaya – you will form the five points of the pentagon. Zaraki, you will need to remain where the battle against the hollows is taking place."
"But sir, I'm going to the living world as well." Said Ichigo.
"I will get to that point later, Kurosaki." Yamamoto replied slightly impatiently. He continued.
"When you are all in position, the pentagon will temporarily blind you with its light. Do not do anything, and I stress anything, until the pentagon shines yellow. This may take a while depending on the Brigade."
"But during this waiting period, wouldn't Aizen be able to escape?"
"No, once the pentagon is formed around him, he would be drawn into the centre circle from which he cannot walk out of. The moment the pentagon shines yellow, the five of you are to release your bankai into the circle on which you are standing on. It would then absorb your attack and transfer it into the centre circle."
"Isn't that overkill?" Asked Unohana.
"It's just perfect." Remarked Zaraki.
"The Hyougoku demands such an attack." Yamamoto sighed, and then he became even more serious.
"You must be careful. The plan will fail if any captain releases their attack with less then perfect emotional stability. Don't let your emotions blind you. Remember, Aizen knows this so he would use any possible method to trip you. Keep in mind that this is his agenda and don't listen to him. Be reminded again that if the pentagon fails, Aizen will receive the complete power of the Hyougoku. At that time, nothing can defeat him."
The was a moment of silence as the information replayed itself over again in their mind.
Yamamoto then proceeded to tell Ichigo what to do when he arrives at the living world.
"Ichigo, Urahara and Renji – you will go to the living world as planned and lead your division with you. Ichigo, your squad will be responsible for the area around which you live. However, once you give your commands and check that everything in your area is in order, you must enter the hollow's land. To do this, you must enter from where ever the hollows are entering by using a modified spirit ball. Is that clear, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Yes sir."
"Urahara – you will do the same as Ichigo except for your area. Renji – you will remain in the living world with Yoruichi and Isshin. Is that understood, you two?"
"Yes sir." They confirmed their understanding.
"So be it then. This shall commence tomorrow at dawn."/
The Pentagon huh, thought Aizen as he observed his surroundings, this could work to my advantage. He looked around and smiled to himself when he saw Hinamori standing behind Hitsugaya.
"This is a funny sight, wouldn't you say so, Hinamori?"
"Leave her alone Aizen." He warned. Aizen ignored him and continued.
"I seem to recall a time when you cared more about me then you did about Hitsugaya-kun. Isn't it ironic now how you are helping him fight for my death when at that time you were fighting him to avenge my death?"
Hitsugaya growled.
"And over a piece of paper too! You were willing to kill your beloved childhood friend for me. Doesn't that make you feel cheated huh Hitsugaya?" He exclaimed amusingly, a smug expression appeared on his face.
"Doesn't it just kill you to know that I meant more to her than you did?"
"Shut up Aizen!" yelled Hitsugaya, he was fuming with anger.
"Ignore him Hitsugaya, it's not true." Declared Hinamori. Aizen laughed.
"What have I said that is not true? Did you not try to kill him because you believed he killed me? Did you not believe me over him?" He rebuked her.
"That's not fair!" She retorted back at him. "I was confused. I didn't know what to believe." Her voice came out soft - weak in its argument.
"But in the end you chose to believe me. Tell me, how did you feel when Hinamori pointed her sword at you Hitsugaya?"
Hitsugaya glared at him but beneath the glare, Hinamori could tell that some of the words had hit home, and Aizen knew it too.
"Shiro-chan" She said softly, trying to get through to him. "Don't believe him, you know how much I love you."
Unfortunately for her, Aizen heard and let out a laugh.
"I see, so you two are a couple now. You should thank me then, Hitsugaya-kun. If I didn't do what I did then she wouldn't have chosen you. Do you honestly believe that she would still be with you now if I hadn't left? I'll tell you this, until the moment I stuck a sword through her chest, she only had eyes for me."
"You're delusional." Hinamori muttered.
"Oh? Am I now?" He asked. Hinamori looked away.
"You took Hitsugaya for granted because he was always there for you – to protect you, to comfort you – he was always available for you, he made himself that way. But you became ignorant of that when you became infatuated with me. Now that I'm gone, you realised that he's still there. How can this be love when it is clearly reliance?" continued Aizen smoothly, trying to rub it into Hitsugaya even more.
Hinamori took a moment to think back to what they had been through and then shook her head lightly.
"It's true that I believed you over Hitsugaya and that I fought him for you. It may also be true that I was ignorant at times." She admitted. Hitsugaya closed his eyes, he knew as much but hearing it from her brought upon him an indescribable pain.
"But it is also true that I was too confused at that time to think about what I was doing. As to your comment about my feelings being only reliance, I know what I feel and I can tell you with the upmost certainty that it is not simply reliance." She replied honestly and forcefully whilst glaring at Aizen.
Hinamori then adverted her gaze to Hitsugaya. He was looking down at the circle now, his silence disturbed her. Aizen smiled triumphantly inside. He then turned on his next victim, for assurance.
"Kuchiki Byakuya, how does it feel to have attempted to take your own sister's life?" Byakuya looked at him impassively in reply.
Aizen smirked and was about to say more when the pentagon suddenly brightened then turned yellow. Byakuya brought his zanpakuto up.
"I am going to enjoy taking your life, Aizen Sousuke." He remarked smoothly as he balanced the tip of the sword on the floor.
"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Hakuteiken." The circle Byakuya stood on illuminated, a surge of pink energy surged through the line connecting to Aizen. At the same time, the other captains had also released their bankai. Their attacks travelled through the line and were absorbed by Aizen's circle.
Nothing happened for a moment.
Then in an abrupt moment a torrent of mixed energies tunnelled Aizen then dissipated. One by one the attacks followed, bankai after bankai. In the last two attacks, Hitsugaya's Daiguren Hyourinmaru had frozen Aizen, along with the Hyougoku. His attack was followed swiftly by Byakuya's bankai as the petal blades swarmed in on him.
When the attacks had died down, all that remained was the bloody puddle of Aizen on the circle.
"The Hyougoku!" exclaimed Soi Fong, pointing at the device hovering above Aizen's remains.
"Don't worry about it. It's over." Said Urahara, looking at his invention without the slightest hint of regret for its upcoming destruction.
Streams of light broke out from the Hyougoku until it ruptured then dissipated. The bright light died down again and the pentagon began to disappear.
"It's finally over." Exhaled Shunsui. Byakuya looked at Aizen's remains once more then took off. Ichigo promptly took off after him.
"Hitsugaya!" gasped Hinamori as she watched in horror as Hitsugaya threw up a large amount of blood. He began to waver then eventually began to fall on one side. She caught him just in time and cuddled him in her arms. He coughed a little then gasped loudly as if for air. Her hands trembled as her fingers moved to wipe away the trail of blood from his mouth.
"Shiro-chan" she called to him softly. He looked at her, his eyes trying hard to focus on her but eventually he couldn't handle it anymore and gave in to the creeping darkness. Hinamori's eyes widened when she saw him slip away.
"Toshiro! Toshiro!" she shouted desperately, shaking him repeatedly. She felt a hand rest upon her shoulder and looked up to see Shunsui.
"Don't shake him, it'd just make it worse. We need to get him to Unohana." Hinamori nodded, still trembling from fear. Don't leave me Hitsugaya, you promised.
"Rukia!" screamed Ichigo into the darkness.
"Try again." Commanded Byakuya after a moment. Ichigo glared at him, though he supposed the prospect of Byakuya screaming out anything would be highly unlikely.
"RUKIA!" He screamed out again then turned to face Byakuya. "Are you sure she can hear us? She was placed in that container thing wasn't she, for the purification period?"
"…"
Ichigo sighed at the lack of response. He tried again. "RUUUUKIIIIIIAAAAAA…"
"I sense her." Interrupted Byakuya, then took off using shunpo.
"Oi…OI!" Ichigo shouted out as he went in the direction Byakuya ran off in.
…
The sight was heartbreaking. Seeing Rukia in that glass coffin, it was as if she was really dead and they were attending her funeral.
KLANK! The sound of a sword hitting the glass snapped Ichigo out of his reverie. The sword merely bounced off the glass.
"What the hell are you doing?" Yelled Ichigo, "If you break the glass like that it could hurt her!"
"We need to get her out of the glass quickly, brat." He replied as he sheathed his soul slayer. "The barrier no longer exist, therefore she is no longer receiving the essentials to keep her alive in that box."
Byakuya punched into the areas near her legs. A tiny crack appeared. He punched it again and again, trying hard to break through the glass. Ichigo stared shocked as he watched Byakuya desperately attempt to get his sister out. His fist was bleeding from the impact but he continued nonetheless.
"What are you doing? Don't just stand there." Ichigo moved to observe the glass coffin.
"Is there a latch to open it?" he asked.
"Would I be doing this if there was a latch to open it?"
"How did he get her in then?"
"The barrier made the glass around her. If we break through the glass and let the outside air mix with the air inside it, the glass will dissipate."
He gave the glass one final hit which successfully punctured the glass. The glass transformed into micro-crystals and dissipated, leaving an unconscious Rukia behind. Byakuya tore a bit of cloth off his haori and wrapped it around his fist.
"Oi Rukia, Rukia." Repeated Ichigo as he nudged her over and over again. His eyes widened as she began to stir. Suddenly a hand shot up and hit Ichigo up the nose as Rukia sat up to stretch, yawning loudly. She looked at the orange-haired as he doubled over in pain.
"That hurt you idiot!" yelled Ichigo. Byakuya smiled inwardly, genuinely amused.
"Ichigo?" She asked, then she looked at Byakuya, "Nii-sama?" Her eyes wondered to her surroundings.
"Where am I?" she asked, scratching the back of her head.
"Don't you remember?" Ichigo asked, trying to appease his nosebleed.
"We'll explain once we get back. Let's go."
Damn! Thought Matsumoto as she looked around into the fog. I can't see a damn thing. Is this the ability of Tousen's zanpakuto? She spun around as she heard a bloodcurdling scream sound out somewhere in the fog. Another one sounded out no so far from the other one. Damn, so fast!
Suddenly a strong force pushed her onto the ground, her head hit the ground on impact. She remained conscious but dazed. She heard the sound of a sword reflecting another sword. Taichou? She thought as she turned to see who had saved her. It can't be!
"What do you think you are doing, Ichimaru?" asked Tousen.
"Aizen has been defeated, there is no point in fighting anymore, Tousen." He replied with his usual grin.
"Aizen…Aizen has been defeated!" He asked, bewilded.
Slowly the fog faded away. They were surrounded by captains, shinigamis, Vaizards and the Quincys.
The war was finally over.
.
Back at Seireitai…
"Once the Centre-46 has been re-established, the punishments of the traitors Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname will be decided. Until then, they are to be held in the tower of penitence despite the fact that they are not death row prisoners as of yet." He motioned the guards to take them away.
"I will now pronounce the promotion of Shinzaburo Michio to be Captain of the third squad in place of the traitor Ichimaru Gin." At his signal, Urahara stepped forward and handed the folded captains' robe to Shinzaburo.
"As well as the promotion of Fukushima Hoshiko to Captain of the fifth squad in place of the traitor Aizen Sousuke." Ichigo stepped forward and handed the captains' robe to her and patted her on the back of the shoulder.
"To the Quincys, Ryokas and the Vaizards, we are forever indebted to you for your contribution in this war."
"In celebration for this victory, a festival lasting one week will take place starting in four days. At the end of the festival, a grand ball would be held in the quadrant of Seireitai. Normal training will resume in two weeks time."
The crowd cheered.
.
Hinamori could hear the cheering of the crowd as she sat by Hitsugaya's side. He had fallen into a coma and had not woken up yet since they returned a day ago.
She sighed as she finished folding her last paper crane and hung it up. There, a thousand. She got off the stool and sat down next to him again, closing her eyes and clasping her hand in front of her as if she were praying. I wish Shiro-chan would get better soon. She opened her eyes and took his hand into hers, gently brushing his single snow-white bang away from his eyes.
Get better soon, Shiro-chan.
End of Chapter Thirteen
Next: Chapter 14: Amends & Resolutions
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