Chapter 23: The Battle's End
Byakuya's POV
I let Senbonzakura slip from my grasp. The environment around us transforms into a dark blue haze as my blade slips into the ground without a sound. The familiar rows of blades erupt from the ground on either side of both me and the Espada, his face very distressed as he looked around at his current situation.
"What is this madness?" he asks me in shock as the silvery peaks stood tall around us.
"My true power finally unleashed," I say in a simple tone. "Senbonzakura Kageyoshi"
The blades emit a light pink glow before breaking apart, becoming thousands upon thousands of smaller blades that look like flying sakura petals in the light.
"This power does not impress me. I'll just take control of them." says the Espada as he outstretched his arms, new eyes now opening around his body. I command Senbonzakura to surround the Espada, giving him no chance to escape, but he doesn't even try to make one. He just stays in place, still believing that he can control the blades like he tried to control my limbs and my sister.
"You confused and disbelieving man," I tell him as I make Senbonzakura open up a small window so that the Espada could see me one last time. "My Bankai contains thousands of blades, and each eye you possess can only control one object. Do you really think the odds are in your favor?"
He looks at me in shock as I allow my blade to close up the window that it made.
"Gokei"
Normal POV
At the impact of Byakuya's attack, the building imploded, debris and dust flying everywhere as the ceiling was blown into oblivion. Once the carnage settled, the area cleared up to reveal Hanataro and Rukia being protected by a Kido shield as Byakuya reappeared into view.
"Do you think a move like that is going to stop me?"
Byakuya's eyes widened for a millisecond as he turned to the spot that Zommari once stood. The lingering dust dissipated to reveal the bottom half of Zommari's body still fairly in one piece. Blood trickled down its' sides as the upper half of his body slowly appeared from within the lower half.
"I will not lose to a shinigami like you!" he exclaimed to the 6th Division captain as he slowly rose back up. He sent his power straight at Byakuya for one more attack, but Byakuya simply blocked it with Danku.
"WHAT? NO!" exclaimed Zommari in disbelief as he stared at Captain Kuchiki in horror. He sent more of his attack straight at Byakuya, but they continued to be blocked by the Kuchiki's Kido.
"Your power will no longer work against me." said Byakuya as he looked at the struggling Espada. "When I used my Kido to stop you from making the female shinigami kill herself with her own blade, I deduced that your power was similar to a shinigami's own Kido. So, it can be canceled out by Kido. Without that, how do you expect to defeat me?"
A look of newfound fear came across Zommari's face as he realized the situation he was now in. His face turned into that of shock, before it converted into a look of pleading.
"Please, have mercy on me," the Espada pleaded as he resisted the urge to tremble. "I was only following orders, but you shinigami, are arrogant fools. You believe that with your abilities, you have some unwarranted authority to proclaim us Hollows as evil creatures. How can you easily make that assumption? Don't you have any pride?"
"Actually . . ." said an impassive Byakuya as he suddenly appeared behind the Espada with his blade at his throat. Zommari quickly batted the blade away and used his Sonido to get away, reappearing just a few feet away. "It is because you attacked my pride that I fought you in the first place."
Zommari went wide eyed when he realized that Byakuya appeared behind him again, but this time he was a few feet away. A large gush of blood erupted from his shoulder as a large bloody gash opened up that stretched from his shoulder down through his chest.
"No . . . NO! AIZEN-SAMA! AIZEN-SAMA! LONG LIVE AIZEN-SAMA!" Zommari yelled at the top of his lungs as he outstretched his arms into the air. His voice was then cut off as his body began to break down into a cloud of purple smoke. Soon enough, the Espada dissipated into thin air.
"We've won" said Senbonzakura as he reappeared beside his master.
"Indeed we have" answered Byakuya as put his blade back into its sheath. "And it appears we have company. Come on out."
The two turned around to see Lieutenant Kotetsu appearing before them kneeling a few feet away, her face all serious as she surveyed the scene.
"Captain Unohana sent you?" asked Byakuya, although he already knew what her answer would be.
"She sent me as soon as we saw the building explode." Isane answered him simply as she turned her attention to a different direction. Byakuya and Senbonzakura followed her gaze to Rukia and Hanataro; their respective shields still covering them from any potential attack.
"Take care of those two; you can focus on me afterward." said Byakuya as he turned to look out into the scenery before them.
"Yes sir . . ." said Isane as she ran over to the two so she could start the first aid.
"Now that the Espada has been dealt with, we can focus on other matters," said Senbonzakura as he followed his master's gaze. "Like the fact that Lady Minata and Mizukiri have yet to appear since you ordered them to deal with any other Hollows that resided within this complex."
"That's true . . ." said Byakuya as he looked down at his injured arm. "But it appears we don't need to go looking for her now do we?"
Senbomzakura looked at his master slightly confused until he heard two pairs of footsteps slowly approaching them. They both turned around to see Minata and Mizukiri walking up to them. They looked the same from the last time they saw them, except for the light covering of dust that covered their robes.
"Sorry it took us so long, but we discovered a large nest of Hollows living down in the bottom levels and they were just too hard to ignore." explained Mizukiri as she bowed her head.
"And you took care of them by yourselves?"
"Do you underestimate our abilities Senbonzakura?" Mizukiri countered with a question of her own, a hint of malice in her tone as she stared the samurai down. One of Mizukiri's pet peeves was being underestimated, and unfortunately for Senbonzakura, he really struck a nerve with his ill-advised question.
"No, no I don't." he muttered as he looked away from his fellow zanpakuto. Byakuya looked at him stoically before turning to Minata, inwardly relieved that she had made it out okay.
"Where are the other captains?" he asked her as he scanned the area.
"They are close; they're not too far away from our position." Minata simply answered him as she looked out into the sandy landscape.
"Brother?"
The four turned around to see Rukia with her eyes weakly opened, staring out at them before her attention moved to Byakuya's injured arm and leg.
"Don't worry about me," said Byakuya as he looked at his sister. "Rest. We soon will have a much larger battle to deal with."
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