The Death and Life of Erza Scarlet

by Goshinzilla

Death is only the beginning. Erza learns that much at the tower of heaven. But the afterlife, it turns out, isn't much better than life, with all its flaws. As she becomes a shinigami, Erza seeks to make a better world- but Aizen has the same idea... (ErzaXMomo)

48. Ménage à trois

As i'm about to put this chapter up, I am about to take one of my last classes in college. I'll be graduating on the 28th of April. It's going to be a big change and moment for me...But I want to just let you all know that this story is almost as important as my graduating. You guys and your support have helped me out in more ways than I can say.

From my stress from work and college, to the depression i've suffered from the recent trend of Erza hate (Its Bullshit!), her loss in death battle, and the ending of Bleach, which is now soon to be followed up by fairy tail, you guys have helped me get through all of these harsh moments. Your reviews really have helped me out that much. I cant thank you all enough. I sincerely cant.

We're also close to 900 reviews now. I'm positive we can reach that before the ark ends, so im hopping this chapter helps entertains you enough to leave one.

This chapter in particular sparks the beginning of the end of the soul society arc. It is here where the changes become more apparent. How and why I wont say, you'll have to read to find out!

Thanks once again to Greatkingrat88 (for writing) and jcampbellohten (for being our Beta)

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun.

---

There was the grey of dawn, where everything looked a little pallid, robbed of the colour daylight would give it. The sun was just about to rise, dispelling the dark of night, leaving them with the blandness of dusk. The conspirators had all gathered in the woods outside the cave, each one as well rested as the stress of their situation would allow. There was Erza, of course, with Ichigo, Masaki, Yoruichi, and Renji by her side. Erza's two pupils, young and old both, had something of a glow about them- nothing physical, but there was an energy surrounding them that was fresh, giving off an aura of unconstrained power. They had both gained bankai in this short time, and that always changed a body fundamentally.

Meeting them from the outside was Rod, flanked by Lisanna and Rangiku. The short vice-commander of the stealth force gave them a nod. Without ceremony he kneeled down and from his shihakusho took out a map, which he unrolled on a flat, dusty part of the forest floor.

"The plan," he said simply.

"We got updated-" Erza said, but Rod cut her off, shaking his head.

"No. We go through it again, until everyone is dead clear on what they're doing. Goes for every operation, especially high-risk madness like this. If you were all stealth force, I wouldn't bother, but as you aren't, I'm going to have to treat you all like you're cattle that need a good prodding to move."

"Charming as always," Erza murmured. Ichigo and Renji exchanged glances, and Lisanna sighed. "All right, lay it out."

"Pay attention. This," Rod said, pointing at the map, "is a complete layout of Sokyoku hill. I've marked our respective routes in red. I myself, Strauss, Abarai, and Matsumoto will attend the execution as normal. Meanwhile, Scarlet, Kurosaki, you approach directly. I've made it so that half an hour prior to the execution, there will be a clear approach, a gap in guard shifts. Suppress your reiatsu, and you should be able to come relatively close to the execution site without being detected."

"So, what do I do, hmm?" Yoruichi said.

"I was getting there, Miss Commander," Rod said. There was a hint of irritation in his voice, but it was less than Erza would have expected. He looked at her with respect, she noticed. Yoruichi had been commander of the stealth force once, and that meant something, apparently.

"You will go here," he said, pointing to a red dot on the map, "where you will remain hidden until you hear us begin to engage."

"Undetected," Yoruichi said, nodding. "From there, I go at maximum speed, snatch Rukia, and run until I find someplace safe. Yes?"

"Yes," Rod said, nodding. "If we accomplish that, then our mission is complete. All we need prior to that is a distraction big enough."

"What about me?" Masaki said. "Shouldn't I be with Ichigo?"

Rod shook his head. "Change of plans. We need distractions, like I said. We're lucky in that department- I had a word with Hinamori, and apparently she's taken an initiative of her own. Zaraki is on our side now, apparently, for a given value of the word 'side', at least. This is likely to blow up in our faces- but if we're lucky, it'll blow up in theirs, too."

"Well, that's settled then, right?" Masaki said, clearly unwilling to leave Ichigo's side.

Rod shook his head. "No. We're still talking about assaulting all the remaining captains. Even with Kurotsuchi likely not attending, even with the possibility of non-hostility from Kyoraku and Ukitake, even with my captain up in the air- even if all of them are out, that still leaves divisions Three, Four, Six, Seven, Nine, Ten... not to mention, of course, the old man himself."

There was a collective shiver among all those in the group who had seen Yamamoto. The man was like a mountain of raw power, and just as immovably principled.

"To that end, we need another distraction. Kurosaki Masaki, you will start raising hell half an hour before Scarlet and Kurosaki Ichigo move forward. Hopefully, a quincy of your strength will attract the attention of at least one, maybe two captains in time to delay them from attending the summit. Combined with Zaraki, this is our best bet at reducing the number of S-class hostiles in the mission zone."

"That still leaves the old man himself," Erza said, frowning. "How do we even..."

"I suggest praying," Rod said dryly. "It's our best bet, really. Hopefully, he will delay acting directly. He is powerful- so powerful that he'd rather not act, out of concern for the sheer power he possesses. If he let loose, he could obliterate the hill without a second thought, along with everyone on it."

"Damn..." Ichigo muttered.

"He's the single strongest shinigami that ever lived. 'Godlike' about describes it, and we're all mad for trying," Rod said, and shrugged, "but that's what we've decided to do. My latest intel implies captains Unohana and Hitsugaya seem occupied; if we're lucky, they might not come. Still, none of this can be counted on. This, of course, isn't even taking into consideration what Aizen himself might do."

"Right. Charge in, make a mess, Yoruichi grabs her and runs," Ichigo said and nodded, "yeah, we could work with that. Sounds a bit too simple for a war council, but-"

"Shut your mouth and listen, you ignorant puppy-dog," Rod said bluntly. "The best plans are the ones that are simple and direct. This, you learn in beginner classes in the stealth force. Keep quiet when the adults talk, until you stop taking your ideas of plans from spy movies, or whatever."

"Take it easy, now," Erza said, putting a hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "Is there anything else? Where is Orihime and Tatsuki in all this?"

"Instructed them to bust out the quincy and your tall, quiet friend," Rod said. "Makes for another distraction, and I imagine you'd want them out. Gave them a map, and a cell number. They'll break them out, and make their way to the hill to assist. We'll probably be done for by then, but I like to think of myself as an optimist."

Erza couldn't tell whether he was being sarcastic or not.

"As for the main plan, if Shihoin should fail, there needs to be a backup. And a backup to the backup. One of us has to grab Rukia. Kurosaki, that means you. If that fails, Scarlet, you're up. If that fails, Abarai. Failing that, me."

"You sure put a lot of thought into that, huh?" Renji said.

"I'm working under the assumption that we're all going to die," Rod said plainly. "You make preparations accordingly."

"Hey... we can do this, right?" Ichigo said, looking at Erza.

"Yes, we can," she said resolutely. "Rod's job is to evaluate risk and formulate a strategy. Ours is to give it our all. We're going to make it through this, and so will Rukia."

"Or die trying," Rod added, sounding almost cheerful.

"...Let's just do this," Ichigo muttered.

"That's about it for now," Rod said. "I got to get going, and so does Strauss, Abarai and Matsumoto. See you all on the hill." He waved at the lot of them, as if to shoo them away, and one by one his co-conspirators began to move. Erza stood there for a moment, waiting for him to leave as well.
He rolled up the map, put it back in his jacket, and stood up. He looked her in the eye.

"Been an honor, or whatever they say. I just want you to know... it's all worth it. Don't feel sorry. This time, it's our choice."

He really thinks he is going to die, Erza thought. Considering where they both came from, what they both had been through...

"Tell me that tomorrow," she said confidently.

She was not without fear, doubt, and hesitation, herself, but as the de facto leader of the group, she could show none of it. Rukia... today, her fate would be changed. Erza just hoped the cost wouldn't be too great to bear.

---

The morning crept into day, and Rukia's execution loomed. In just an hour, he would see her for the last time. Kuchiki Byakuya had always made a point of being punctual, and this day was no exception. Slowly, his mind abuzz with thought, he made his way toward the hill. There was plenty of time. Normally he would have tried to be a bit more productive, but on this day, this one day of all days, he allowed himself a bit of laxity.

He sensed Abarai Renji well before he could see him. Barring his way, on a bridge a kilometre or two from the foot of the hill, he wasn't even trying to hide his presence. Reiatsu flowed freely from his form, powerful and energetic.

Byakuya did not change his pace as his vice-captain came into view. Renji had gone missing a couple of days ago, and though there had been a search, Byakuya had had his suspicions. The old student of the traitor, best friend of the sentenced... no, his intentions were not a mystery. He had shown himself again, and the why of it was clear.

Some three yards away, Byakuya finally stopped. Abarai had been so promising. The thought of slaying him was rather a shame. Then again, he was past the point of any hesitation. He had nothing left to lose; compared to what was to come, his vice-captain was nothing.

"Renji." he said dispassionately, his face the same well-practiced mask of stoicism as always.

"Captain." Renji said. His arm was not on his sword, not yet, and Byakuya resolved not to be the first to draw. He was a defender of the Gotei, not a murderer. Let the traitor sully his hands first.

"You changed," Byakuya observed, drinking in his vice-captain's spiritual signature. It had grown considerably in size, but it had also changed its structure; richer, fuller, more advanced.

"Gaining bankai does wonders for a man, apparently."

"Step aside." His voice was calm, restrained, but there was no mistaking it as an order.

"No, I won't," Renji said, shaking his head, "not till we're done with each other."

"You think yourself my equal just for having gained a bit of strength?"

Renji shook his head. "No, sir, I don't. Power don't come easy, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the more experienced fighter wins. I don't think I can beat you."

"Then why bar my way?"

"Well, first thing that comes to mind is, 'you try anyway, even if the odds is one to a googol'. Somebody taught me that. Somebody taught me about power and experience, too."

"You've thrown in with Erza Scarlet."

"She taught me that, sure," Renji said stubbornly, "but I ain't here on her behalf. I'm here for me, and for you."

"You will not raise your blade to me?" Byakuya said, curious behind his calm.

"Not if you don't raise yours first. We got things that need saying, and we ain't going to that hill till they're said."

This was an unexpected turn of events.

"Your tongue over your sword, Renji?"

"A wise man chooses his words first and his sword second."

"Another lesson from Scarlet?"

Renji shook his head. "No, that one was me. I don't live by that, but maybe I should. Right now I do."

"How out of character for you. Enough. I know what you are to say- that Rukia deserves to live, that we should save her together, that the law is wrong."

"No," Renji said, shaking his head, "no, that ain't it at all. Now respectfully, shut up and listen."

Byakuya raised an eyebrow. This really was unusual.

"The law ain't wrong. That ain't it. You are wrong, Captain."

He stared Byakuya in the eye, and he looked... oddly mature. His manners were still uncouth, but he spoke with confidence and certainty.

"You think you're doing the right thing, keeping your mouth shut when this goes down. Sure, I see that. You've always been one for the rules. It's what made me seek out your division back in the day, 'cause you always was a man of principle. A man who sticks to his guns even when it's inconvenient, a man who cares about doing right, who don't do politics and works for the Gotei, not for his clan. That's the man I always admired. After my old sensei was disgraced, you were the example I always strived to live up to. As a captain, you're the best the Gotei has to offer, and I stand by that no matter what. That's why you stand by this- because justice is justice, even if it's your own family."

Byakuya stared at Renji intently, unsure of what to make of this. He was saying things he had never said before, honestly and directly, and in a small way it warmed Byakuya's heart. To be the exemplar of a perfect captain... that had always been his goal.

"That's why it pains me to see you go so goddamned wrong," Renji continued bluntly. "You think you serve justice, but you don't. You think you do your clan right, but you don't. You think you're with the law, but you ain't. For Rukia, I'd draw my blade on you, but because I respect you, I got to call it like it is."

"Oh?" Byakuya said, keeping his cool.

"You ain't serving justice, that's plain as day. Execution for a few misdemeanours, is that justice? That ain't a rhetorical question, Captain. Is that justice?"

"I have no time for games-"

"Is it?!" Renji demanded. "After all this shit, after all the years you been a big brother to her, after all the years I gave my all for you, I think we damn well deserve an answer. Is. It. Justice?"

Byakuya quietly clenched a fist, keeping his mouth shut. How dared he?

"It ain't, and you know it ain't," Renji said firmly, "so is it doing right by your clan? Damn well ain't the case, 'cause a leading family member executed over nothing, that only weakens the clan. Ain't that the truth?"

For but a moment, Byakuya raised his eyebrows. He felt anger rising in his chest.

"But finally, the law. Tell me, Captain, what is the law?"

"Renji..."

"What is the law, Captain?" Renji insisted furiously.

"The law is the code of conduct for all the Soul Society, the Gotei in particular, as laid down for us by the Soul King, interpreted by the wisdom of the Central Forty-Six, the pillar of our society and the source of order," Byakuya said, struggling to keep his temper. He did not need this, not now.

"That it is," Renji said, and nodded. "So, tell me, has there ever been a precedent for a noblewoman executed over something petty? When was the last time anyone of the nobility was even executed? 'Cause I never heard of that happening, except for treason."

"It is not for us to-" Byakuya said, knowing he shouldn't get into a discussion, knowing he should strike Renji down for his audacity. The vice-captain cut him off.

"Ain't it? 'Cause the centrals sure don't seem to know what they're doing. Name me one damn support in the entire law for executing a shinigami for a misdemeanour, Captain, just a single bloody one, and I'll march next to you to the hill and watch her be executed!"

Byakuya clenched his fists tightly, grateful that his sleeves concealed his hands well enough.

"You can't, 'cause there ain't one. Tell me, Captain, is the law the law, or is the law what the Central Forty-Six say it is? Is the law a real thing that can't be changed at will, or is it whatever those old bastards say it is?"

"The law is the fundament of our society, our bedrock, and it cannot be changed lightly! It is certainly not subject to the whims of some arbitrator!" Byakuya snapped, realizing too late he had raised his voice.

"That sure is true. So how the fuck are you serving the law, then, Captain?" He stared into Byakuya's eyes, the captain glaring back at him.

"You don't serve justice, you don't serve your clan, and you don't serve the law, Captain. You blinded yourself trying to follow the rules, but you never considered that maybe the rules got it wrong."

"You dare." Byakuya said acidly.

"You're the man I admire more than anything, Captain," Renji said plainly, and turned his back to him, "and if you're the man I know, the man who cares about what's right, then you'll march right by me to the hill and do something about what you know is unjust and illegal. If you don't... hell, feel free to stab me in the back like a coward, 'cause I ain't going to stand by."

With that, Renji begun walking toward the hill at an even pace. Behind him, Byakuya did not fall in line. Life was not as simple as that, and rigid minds do not often change easily. But, the captain's mind was on fire. He clenched his fists hard enough that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood, a storm of emotion running through his head. Renji had not convinced him, but he had taken a sledgehammer to Kuchiki Byakuya's resolve. He wanted to strike down the insubordinate, insolent vice-captain, teach him his place, but found he could not even move. Why? Why did everything have to be so difficult? Rukia...

She had to die. Didn't she? Wasn't that what was right? Wasn't that what the code of honor demanded of him?

---

With gusto, Tatsuki opened the manhole, scrunching her eyes shut against the sunlight, heaved herself up to street level, and extended a hand for Orihime to grab. She pulled her friend up, and blinked against the bright daylight. Nozomi had guided them through the tunnels to about a hundred yards back before hastily leaving, citing duties she had to attend to. That was fair enough: she had to maintain her station, and she had already stuck her neck out for them. Tatsuki hurriedly grabbed Orihime and marched the both of them to a street corner. She put a hand up to screen her eyes from the sun, still adjusting from the darkness below, and blinked to check for a landmark.

There it was, just like Rod had said: the walls separating the second division from everywhere else, looking more like a prison compound than anything else.

"Once you're out, move fast," he had said, after handing them a simple map of the prison. "The Gotei's back to order, and there will be patrols. Expect to get made- you're not trained in stealth. You should be able to reach the cells in good time. Most of the higher-ranked officers are still posted throughout the Seireitei- once you get in, just follow the map and get them out, and resistance should be light enough to get through if you don't let yourself get bogged down."

Tatsuki made a fist and looked at Orihime.

"Well, that was exciting," the redhead said cheerily.

"No time to waste," Tatsuki said, trying to focus her mindset, trying to be like the sour-minded ninja. "Let's go. With me, fast as you can."

"Yes, sir!" Orihime said, saluting in a manner most flamboyant. Tatsuki smiled, and sighed. Holding Orihime's hand, she burst into a run, heading right for the gates of second division.

---

Fifth seat Akira had no idea what could possibly cause such commotion. He was the officer in charge, with the captain and vice-captain away for the execution, and seats three and four stationed in the field, and he had resolved to run a tight ship. All force members not on active duty were doing spars and drills in the yard. Every interrogator was busy in a cell. Every archivist was filing paperwork. Things were going to be neat when his captain came back.

However, this had unwittingly played right into the enemy's hands. Aside from a couple of sentries, there were no defenses manned, no guard patrols, and by the time an out-of-breath junior operative came barging into his post, her mask half off her face, having lost her headwear, it was already too late.

"What is the meaning of this?" Akira said strictly.

"We're under attack, sir!" the junior operative burst out. "The ryoka- they're here!"

Akira, whose thoughts had first gone to how she ought to be punished for her insolence, for her untidy uniform, gaped. Ryoka? Here?! Who would dare assault the second division?

"Alarm!" he cried, snapping out of a moment of pure surprise. "Full alarm! I want every seated officer on duty ready and able to fight!"

"Yes, sir!" cried the junior officer, seeming relieved to have a reason to be anywhere else. Quickly, she made her way out. Akira was already out the door, heading to the main courtyard of the division. There were no ryoka, but a clear path of destruction. The two sentinels keeping watch were both unconscious on the ground, and so were the guards by the fourth barracks. The doors there were wrecked, blown off their hinges. That... was where the prisoners were held. They had to be here to liberate their comrades. Moving with the speed and ease of a stealth force veteran, Akira followed the trail of destruction in a blur of speed. There was a swathe cut there, officers laid low right and left. No fatalities, it seemed, although more than likely a few broken bones.

The attackers seemed to know what they were doing. There were no open cell doors, aside from the ones where stealth force agents had stepped out to face the new threat. All of this Akira took in at a mere glance, in a fraction of a second, as he made his way toward the holding cells furthest down, where the two freshly imprisoned ryoka were held.

Sure enough, there they were. They had gotten both of their comrades out of their cell, breaking open their restraints. Akira's eyes narrowed. The imprisoned ones were bound to still be weak from their reiatsu-draining restraints, meaning the primary threats would have to be the new ryoka. Two young women, by the looks of things, neither looking like a professional. Still, that could not mean underestimating them. They had beaten all the officers on their way here, after all, and they didn't seem to have even a scratch to show for it. Akira slid to a halt, assuming a stance and putting a hand on the short blade by his side.

"Ryoka! Down on the ground!" he barked through his mask. "You are under arrest for assault, aiding a felon, attempted murder, and wanton acts of terrorism against the Gotei Thirteen. Surrender now, or face the consequences!"

One of the women, carrying a staff and an oddly satisfied look on her face, stepped forward. She had short, black hair, and the posture of somebody who knew how to use a weapon.

"You know," she said, casually assuming a stance, "I really needed this. Punking the ninja corps or whatever, it's doing wonders for my mood."

Akira's eyes narrowed. The staff was a common enough weapon in the force. He knew well how to fight against one. This ryoka was powerful, to be sure, but it would be hard to imagine her being more experienced than he. Slowly, he drew his blade. He knew how to find an opening. He'd just test her guard-

But then she lunged forward, with ludicrous speed and force, and Akira only barely evaded the first hit. He took a step back only to hit something hard, trip, and fall. In the next second, he could see the ryoka's staff coming down on his head, and then he saw nothing else.

Tatsuki took a step back. "Huh. That's one way to use your barrier, I guess."

"You're welcome!" Orihime said cheerily, letting the small, orange barrier she had erected just behind the officer's leg dissipate.

"Anyway, let's get out of here," Tatsuki said, shrugging. "There's no time to waste with these people. The sooner we get away from here, the better."

---

Kira Izuru wasn't sure just why his captain had ordered him to head toward the second division before heading out. Normally it was customary, although not mandatory, for a vice-captain to escort his captain to as momentous an event as an execution. Nevertheless, he hadn't objected. Having a task to focus on, even one as vague as just going in one direction, was welcome.

His mind had been fraught with distraction ever since he had woken up in Fourth's hospital wing, and remembered just how badly he had lost to his old sensei. The entire situation had unnerved him. And now, on top of that, Rukia's execution...

Part of him hadn't believed it would actually go through. It was such a ludicrous charge, such a ludicrous accusation with such a disproportionate response, that it rather seemed like satire than reality. But, here they were, Kuchiki Rukia less than an hour away from death...

He hadn't known her personally, certainly, but he had good friends who did, and by all accounts it seemed... unfair. This entire business had left a bad taste in his mouth, and the sooner it was over, the better. Pushing back these thoughts, he marched toward second.

Then suddenly he felt it, and realized why Captain Ichimaru had sent him. Ryoka. Attacking the second. Of course- the captain had to have figured the ryoka might strike when so many of the captains were away, and had sent Izuru there in his stead to defend it. His heart swelled a little with pride as he quickened his pace, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

After beating a few more officers, Tatsuki and Orihime had made their way out of the division, Chad and Uryu in tow. The two were all right, it seemed, but weakened- their reiatsu was still recovering, and they were slower. Everything was on the two of them now, and the thought of it... serious as it was, it made Tatsuki feel good. To be responsible for something important, to make a difference, it was all she had wanted.

They were rudely interrupted, however. No sooner had they crossed the gates and gotten onto the main street than a shinigami barred their way. Blond, with a vice-captain's badge: Kira Izuru.

"I would ask you to surrender," he said coolly, "but I think anyone with the resolve and audacity to attack the second division itself is well past that." He slowly pulled out his sword, and Tatsuki drew in a sharp breath. She had the feeling of standing on a cliff's edge when a strong wind was blowing. She had beaten strong shinigami before, but unlike that fat oaf she had trashed, Kira exuded an air of confidence untarnished by arrogance, of quiet competence and danger.

"With me, Orihime. Chad, Uryu, stay back," she said firmly. She held out her staff as Orihime walked up next to her, the glimmering orange power already beginning to manifest around her.

"Raise your head, Wabisuke," Izuru said, already releasing his shikai. The sword extended a little, and bent into a half-square-shaped hook of sorts toward its tip, "I would usually wait, but it's become clear you are not ordinary ryoka."

"Watch my six," Tatsuki said, giving Orihime a quick glance, "I go in first, you support me from behind. Block any blind spots or holes in my guard. If there's reinforcements coming, protect Chad and Uryu."

"Yes, sir!" Orihime said firmly, puffing her chest.

The vice-captain didn't seem too keen to make a first move, holding firm in a general stance with his blade out. Time was not on their side, Tatsuki knew, so she had to act. Letting out a cry, she jumped forward, closing the distance between her and Kira in the blink of an eye. She launched a set of jabbing attacks with her staff, as quickly as she could, trying to get a read on her opponent.
To her surprise, the elite shinigami didn't even try to attack, simply parrying her attacks, even to a point where he took one, two steps back. His defence was solid, though, and after a few seconds Tatsuki stepped back.

"Eleven times," he said, sounding confident. His voice was cold, and Tatsuki didn't like the sound of it.

"Eleven times?" Tatsuki said quizzically, not taking her eyes off of him.

"Eleven times, I parried. Not counting the times I simply dodged or evaded your attack, I made eleven parries."

"So what?" Tatsuki muttered.

"You should feel it... just about now."

Suddenly, Tatsuki's arms plummeted toward the ground, and she only barely held on to her staff. It had become heavier, ludicrously much heavier, and she was very close to dropping it.

"What the actual fuck?" she said bewilderedly, struggling to even lift the weapon.

"That is Wabisuke's power," explained Kira. "Anything it touches doubles in weight. Cumulatively. Your staff, if it weighed a pound, weighed two after the first hit, four after the second, eight after the third..."

"Damn it..." Tatsuki muttered. That was just unfair. "Orihime, little help? Anything you can do?"

Orihime let out a grunt and moved her hands about, and an orange glimmer appeared around the staff. It became lighter; Tatsuki could lift it properly again.

"It won't work forever," Orihime warned. "If Mr. Death Note here keeps on doing the same thing, it'll take effect eventually. My powers work miracles, sorta, but they only go so far."

"Gotcha," Tatsuki muttered, nodding back at Orihime. Well, this was a hell of a challenge...

"Interesting," Kira noted, keeping his eyes focused on Tatsuki, "I've never seen anyone counteract my Wabisuke yet."

"Yeah, well..." Tatsuki said, trying to think of some cool-sounding retort. It always looked so easy when it was a manga. "...Go screw yourself."

Excellent.

Kira lunged at her this time, and Tatsuki found herself dodging like a madwoman, trying her damnedest to simply evade or dodge his attacks. This, she concluded after a few intense seconds, was madness. How could she possibly win if she couldn't even block her enemy's attacks, let alone actually break his guard and hurt him?

Kira pressed on with the experienced form of a true elite, outpacing Tatsuki with ease. She was driven back, over and over, and she noticed Orihime struggling to keep up with her. The only reason she was still in this, she realized, was because of her friend, and it couldn't be easy for Orihime to focus with Tatsuki moving as quickly as she was.

Then, of course, it happened. It was inevitable. Kira got a good slash in, and to save herself from a bad cutting injury, Tatsuki batted his sword aside. Kira pulled his blade back, the hook of his blade scraping against the edge of her staff on the way out. Immediately, Tatsuki felt the staff grow heavier. A few seconds later, it got lighter again, Orihime having focused her energies anew- but there was no mistaking it, Tatsuki's weapon was heavier, even by a little.

"Two more hits," Kira said with satisfaction, "and it wasn't without effect, was it? Let's see how long you last, then."

Damn it. Damn it all. There had to be a way. She refused to have come this far just to get struck down by some ridiculous magical ability. God damn it!

Kira came at her again, and Tatsuki tried her best to anticipate his strikes, to find a hole in his defence, to counter-attack, but all that happened was him blocking her attacks, scoring another two hits. The staff became a little heavier again. Tatsuki snarled frustratedly, putting some space between herself and the shinigami.

"Getting desperate?" he said, casually twirling his blade around.

"Go fuck yourself!" Tatsuki spat back angrily. No way. No way would she let herself go down this easily. She saw Kira make ready, raising his blade for another charge. But then, it came to her.

"Orihime. When I say 'go', drop the staff. Let it weigh just as much as it would otherwise. Okay?"

"Huh?" Orihime said quizzically. "I mean, sure. You get him."

Kira charged again. There was one way, just one way...

Tatsuki ran to meet him, thrusting her staff upwards, aiming for his head. Please, please, please, please take the bait...

Confidently, Kira blocked her attack, and Tatsuki's staff slid up against Wabisuke's edge, stopped by its hook.

"GO!" Tatsuki shouted urgently, and then she felt the full weight of the staff as the orange glow faded. Immediately, Tatsuki thrust forward, pushing Kira back. The sword, staff caught in its hook, slammed into the ground. Tatsuki dropped the staff; it was way too heavy to even lift... but in this one moment, Kira's sword was pinned. The shinigami looked shocked, as Tatsuki launched herself into the air, slamming a roundhouse kick into his face. He hesitated, refusing to let go of his weapon, desperately pulling to get it free. It bought her maybe a second or two, but it was all she needed. Nimbly, Tatsuki landed on her feet, and let out a spirited, loud cry as she slammed a fist into his solar plexus. Kira let out an 'oof' as the air in his lungs was pushed out, and he almost keeled over.

Relentlessly, Tatsuki continued raining down blow after blow on her near-helpless opponent, refusing to give him any time to recover. One punch after another landed, at superhuman speed, slamming into his chest, his shoulders and arms, and his face.

However, Tatsuki knew she was working on borrowed time. The staff was the key to her strength; it was what balanced the flow of her reiatsu, and without it, she would soon feel the weight of her humanity. She had a minute at most, she knew that fully well. With that urgency keenly on her mind, she continued her assault.

Kira was not a vice-captain for nothing, though. Grunting, he finally let go of his sword, and parried one of Tatsuki's blows with one hand. He extended the other, palm open, and cried,
"Shou!"

The kido was hastily constructed, weak and incomplete, but it struck Tatsuki point blank, and was enough to send her back a couple of yards. She was breathing heavily, and assumed a stance.

"Not bad," Kira said, a little anger in his voice. He spat blood, and as Tatsuki got a better look at her handiwork, it was obvious it hadn't been for nothing. His face was red, and there would be serious bruising soon enough. He was swaying a little, and shook his head, as if to clear it.
"Not bad at all. But I'm not done yet, Ryoka."

Inwardly, Tatsuki cursed. She could feel her power draining already, and in no more than half a minute, she'd be as helpless as a kitten, a mere human lost in a world filled with spiritual giants. She had to act, and act soon.

Kira preceded her, though. Assuming a stance of his own, he surged forward.

"Byakurai!" he cried, and a bolt of blue lightning flew from his fingers. Tatsuki quickly hopped to the side, but it had only been a distraction. He was already upon her, one of his arms slapping aside her defence, and his other fist primed to slam into her face. Tatsuki steeled herself-

-and then his arm stopped mid-air, slowing down as if it had gone right into a vat of tar. There was that orange glow, and Tatsuki felt a sense of relief. There were two of them in this fight, after all. Kira looked perplexed, trying to break his arm free.

"Quickly!" Orihime shouted. Tatsuki snapped back into action. She had been a little distracted; she had been sure the tide had turned. She made a fist, and with what power was left, she slammed it into his chest, once, twice. That not being enough, the vice-captain still conscious, she grabbed hold of his shoulders, and launched herself upward, letting her knee slam into his jaw. Kira staggered back, but was held in place by Orihime's force field, and Tatsuki continued. Mercilessly, she kicked him in the knee, keeping him destabilized, and continued to rain down one punch after another, focusing on his head. She felt a sense of desperation. She was running out of power and she knew it, and he had to go down. It was only when she noticed the blood on her knuckles that she realized he was quite limp, and as Orihime let her powers dissipate, he sunk to the street floor, quite unconscious. Tatsuki breathed heavily. She had done it. She had-

An incredible sensation ran across her entire body, like drowning, like trying to breathe when she had no lungs, and she realized she was out of time. Desperately she scrambled to reach her staff, falling over in the process. She pulled herself closer, and like a mountaineer grasping for a hold with a ten-thousand-foot drop beneath her, she clamped her hands over her weapon. Immediately she felt a sense of relief as power began to stream back into her. She was seeing stars, black spots dancing across her vision, but one thought rang across her mind, over and over: I did it I did it I did it I did it-

"Tatsuki?"

Orihime's voice brought her back to the world, and Tatsuki shook her head, coughed, and took a few deep breaths. Her staff, she noticed, was as light as it should be. The zanpakutou's abilities had to have lifted after he was beaten.

"We... uh, we're... okay, right?" Tatsuki rasped, drawing in air like it was her first time breathing. "Damn, that was..."

"Do you need some help?" Orihime asked, extending a hand.

"I'm- I'm good," Tatsuki said, although she took Orihime's hand, getting up to her feet. The world was spinning a little, still, but she was back to normal... for a given value of the word, at least.

"Look sharp!" Uryu cried, having kept silent until now. Tatsuki blinked some, and looked around her. He was pointing back toward the second division...

Oh crap.

Perched on the walls they had just breached, filling the broken-down gates, were ninjas. In their hundreds. In slick-fitting clothes, black masks covering their faces, they stood ready, seeming to have waited for the duel to conclude. It made sense, sure. The battle was sure to have given them time to organize, and...

There was no way they could take them all. Maybe if they were all up to full strength, but not now.

"Stealth force!" one of the leading ninjas said, pointing their way. "Seize them! Use lethal force if necessary!"

Tatsuki and Orihime steeled themselves. As one, the ninjas charged forward, some leaping toward them from above the walls, raining down like a swarm of bats. There would be too many of them, she just knew it-

"Chronometron: majestic stasis!"

The cry, its voice firm but feminine, rang across the street, and before Tatsuki's eyes, a golden light rippled across the whole area. The ninjas were frozen in place, some suspended mid-air, perfectly still. Bewildered, the teens all looked around.

There, further down the street, running at them like her life depended on it, was a shinigami- a vice-captain, on closer inspection. Her hair up in a bun, short, looking a far cry from the rugged soldiers they had fought so far, she was something else. Tatsuki assumed a stance, but the shinigami didn't appear to have her weapon out. Short of breath, she slid to a halt before the motley crew of ryoka.

"On me! Right now!" She shouted the words, sounding like she was in no mood to be disobeyed.

"Who the hell are you?" Tatsuki demanded.

"Listen, I can hold this for twenty more seconds, at the most," snapped the vice-captain, "so on me, right now, or you can stay and fight!"

Tatsuki paused for a second, then walked toward the vice-captain, and the others followed suit. They didn't know what was going on, but a way out seemed really appealing at the moment.

"Ten seconds," the vice-captain muttered, and started moving her arms about, in an elaborate set of moves, as if drawing on thin air. A golden light followed her fingers, and even Tatsuki could tell she was weaving a spell. "Okay, when I tell you to, hold on to me. Understood?"

She spoke quickly and urgently, and Tatsuki just nodded, afraid to break her concentration. Feverishly, the shinigami worked her magic, and Tatsuki could see several glowing lines under her clothes, the same golden as the one she wove into the air.

"Three, two... NOW!" she cried, and immediately the four of them grabbed hold of the vice-captain. There was a discharge of power, and suddenly everything went black. There was a flash of light, and Tatsuki- along with the others- fell over, disoriented.

They had teleported; that much was clear. Gone were the ninjas, replaced by a pretty peaceful scene- not beautiful, but compared to being stormed by a mob of killers, a small backyard surrounded by white walls was like heaven.

"Whoo!" Orihime said cheerily, being the first to get on her feet. "You're with Mister Ninja, aren't you?"

"Who?" the vice-captain said confusedly.

"He doesn't like it when we say his name, but it's Rod," Orihime said, dramatically lowering her voice at the end. "And you're a friend of Erza's, aren't you?"

"...Yes," the vice-captain said. "I am Hinamori Momo, vice-captain of Fifth Division."

"At this rate, we'll convert the whole Gotei," Tatsuki muttered, getting on her feet. She still felt a little dizzy. "So, how far did we go, anyway?"

"Not very," Momo said firmly. "Second will be up in arms. I'll lead you someplace safe as soon as you all recover."

"And then?" Orihime demanded.

"Then we go help Erza," Momo replied firmly.

"Neat," Orihime said.

"How does she know you, anyway?" Momo asked, offhandedly beginning to prepare a spell. "Are you her students?"

"Not really, no," Tatsuki said.

"I'm her daughter, sort of," Orihime said cheerily.

The spell disrupted, sizzled, and broke, exploding in a small puff of magical energy.
"Her daughter?" Momo exclaimed. "How- I mean what- when did she get married?"

"Oh, she isn't married," Orihime said reassuringly. "Unless she did it secretly..."

"I mean... I guess you don't have to be married to..." Momo stuttered, seeming surprised still.

"She's adopted," Tatsuki clarified.

"Oh. Oh. I see," Momo mumbled. "Well... that clears that up, then."

"How about you work on that spell?" Uryu said, having gotten to his feet. "I'm not sure I look forward to another transfer, but if it's between that and being chased by a hundred of those people, I know what I'll pick."

"O-of course," Momo said, and started to weave another spell, "I'll have you all on that hill in no time."

---

"Kaname, can you be sure?"

The deep voice of Captain Komamura Sajin rumbled through his helmet as he stared across the path leading up the hill. The road was surrounded by trees, a beautiful, green forest extending all around the hill. It was a reminder that the Gotei had not always stood here, that nature had once had free reign.

"It would seem only logical that the ryoka would come this way, would it not?" Tosen said, his voice as even and calm as ever. "Such a grand occasion as an execution may very well attract the attention of the ryoka. As such, it only makes sense that we take it upon ourselves to guard the path leading here."

"We may well run late, old friend."

"Another five minutes?" Tosen said gently. "If we hasten our steps, we shouldn't be late at all."

"Acceptable," Komamura concurred.

In reality, of course, Tosen had been instructed by Aizen specifically to guard the foot of the hill. For this purpose he had recruited his closest friend, who trusted him completely- and what a shame that was- to make sure Erza Scarlet would not easily make it to Kuchiki Rukia. Both of them had brought their vice-captains, Hisagi Shuhei and Iba Tetsuzaemon, who quietly kept watch next to their captains.

Soon, so very soon, Tosen would have the freedom to pursue the justice he had always sought, true justice, true change. Part of him felt saddened that it would come at the expense of people like Shuhei or Sajin, people he knew to be goodly in nature, men of character- but still trapped in the system of tyranny and ignorance that only Aizen could see through. It was a sacrifice, and true change always required sacrifice.

"There!" Komamura thundered, pointing further down the path.

Just as planned.

---

Erza and Ichigo, who had been loping up the path toward Sokyoku Hill at a steady pace, abruptly halted. In front of them stood not one but two captains, flanked by their seconds-in-command.

"So much for not being spotted too quickly, huh?" Ichigo said. "That's... Komamura and Tosen, right?"

Erza nodded. "Fearsome opponents in their own right." Carefully, she took a few steps forward.

"Erza Scarlet," rumbled Komamura, one hand on his enormous blade, "in the name of the Gotei, I demand you surrender, or face the consequences. No matter what strength you have gained, you cannot hope to prevail against the full might of the Gotei."

"You know I cannot," Erza said, standing herself some four yards away from the giant.

"You were once a fine and respectable officer, Scarlet," Komamura insisted, "and it is not too late yet to do the right thing. Surrender yourself and face judgement, and you will have taken responsibility for your actions. There is no need for violence unless you insist upon it."

"Honourable as always," Erza said curtly. "Then I'll respond in kind: step aside, and I will not hurt you."

"She is lost, Sajin," said Tosen, drawing his blade. "You know it can only end one way."

"Let's kick some ass," Ichigo said, letting his reiatsu surge as he pulled out his blade.

"No," Erza said firmly.

"What?" Ichigo exclaimed.

"Not you. Just me. Go on ahead."

"Are you kidding me-?"

"The objective, Ichigo!" Erza said, and there was no disagreeing with her tone. "Trust in me to survive this, and I will trust in you to do what we came to do. Is that clear?"

"...Damn it," Ichigo muttered, putting his sword back. "You better make it, you hear?"

"I will," Erza said stubbornly, "and so will everyone else. We're going to do this."

"As if we would let you pass!" Komamura thundered. "Four to two, and you think we cannot stop you?"

"Watch," Erza said. Quickly, she turned to Ichigo. "I'm going to create an opening. When I do, run and don't look back."

Erza stepped forward, her stride quickly breaking into a run, and she drew her sword. Komamura and Tosen assumed stances, their vice-captains ready to back them up. Ichigo held back, anxiously waiting to see what would happen. Erza was strong, yes, but she was outnumbered, and not by the average chaff soldiery either. Letting out a loud cry, Erza slammed into Komamura, pushing back the giant as he parried her strike. Tosen took the opportunity to stab at her as she was occupied, but Erza was ready. Twisting her body out of the way, she lashed out with her foot, catching the dark-skinned captain in the head, and Tosen reeled back. At the same time she grabbed Komamura by the wrist, and just as she began to unbalance against the fierce pressure the giant was putting on her, she twisted around, and quickly put her blade into the ground, shoving herself back and around, her back pushing against Komamura's legs. Ichigo gaped as she let out a loud, angry shout and pulled at the giant's arm, unbalancing him completely. Falling like a redwood tree, Komamura slammed into the ground. That... was his aunt, all right.

Composing himself, Ichigo sped forward, running past the battle-shocked captains with speed. This was all on her now. He'd just have to trust her to make it, no matter how much he wanted to help.

Erza quickly grabbed her sword, pulling it free just in time to face a sideways cut from Tosen. Behind her, Komamura was getting to his feet, sword in hand.

"You should have surrendered," Tosen said, taking a step back. "It would have been less painful."

"I won't be lectured by a pawn!" Erza snarled. "You are being used, and you're too blind- both literally and metaphorically- to see it."

Tosen's voice lowered. "You were offered a place in his plan, and you rejected it. The blind one is you."

Before Erza could reply, Komamura's sword came down ferociously, and she jumped back, narrowly avoiding a hit. In terms of raw power, she could tell, he was easily comparable to Kenpachi.

"Enough," Tosen said, holding out his blade. "Sajin, stand back."

Immediately, Komamura obliged, and the two vice-captains backed off, as well.

"Cry, Suzumushi," Tosen said dispassionately. Erza realized she hadn't seen his shikai in action before. What-

The tone struck her like a sledgehammer, running through her skull. Shocked, she sunk to her knees, then fell over face down, still clutching her sword.

"Well done, Kaname," Komamura said sternly, as the two approached Erza's unconscious form. "Now all we need to do is chain her, and we can pursue the other ryoka."

"I am only glad my shikai could solve the problem so neatly," Tosen said. The two stood over Erza. "Hisagi, use the best bakudo you have. It wouldn't do for her to break loo-"

Bursting from the ground with lightning speed, Erza slashed him, raking the tip of her sword across Tosen's chest, down and upwards. Komamura reacted immediately, slamming his sword down on her, but Erza caught it, and with some effort she held firm, straining against his weight.

"A shikai that bloodlessly and quickly disables its victims, huh?" Erza snarled, staring Tosen in the eye. He had recovered, blood trailing down his chest. "How damn humane of you, lapdog. Your master is an evil man, but at least he isn't a hypocrite!"

Tosen clutched his blade, his brows turning into a frown.

"Hisagi, Iba, be ready!" he said firmly. "We engage her together, Sajin and I. Whenever you find the opportunity, strike her down. Kill her."

"But sir!" Hisagi burst out. "The other ryoka-"

"Will be dealt with by the others!" Tosen snapped. "This one is too dangerous. Now, fall in line!"

"Yes, sir!" Hisagi snapped. Pulling his zanpakutou out with well-practiced ease, he cried, "Reap, Kazeshini!" Following his command, his sword became two scythe-like, double-bladed weapons, its hilt ends connected by a length of chain.

Not one to be outdone, Iba pulled his own weapon out, and cried, "Serve, Inugari!" The blade widened, becoming thicker towards its end with a spike sticking out.

Erza pushed back Komamura's blade and skipped a few steps away from her opponents. Already, Hisagi and Iba were moving around to flank her. Erza took a deep breath. She had fought and beaten Kenpachi, yes, but this was a whole new challenge. Komamura represented raw, brute strength, and unlike Kenpachi he was well trained in the way of the sword; he would make fewer mistakes and his guard would be tougher to break. Tosen, for his part, had a more indirect power, not to mention a more than proficient ability with kido. Hisagi was as powerful as she would expect a former student of hers to be, and who knew what he had learned since she'd last seen him? She knew little about Iba, but it would be downright stupid to underestimate a vice-captain in this situation.

"Hado fifty-four: Haien!" Tosen cried, sending out a fireball toward her. Erza dodged out of the way quickly, knowing the spell was designed to continuously burn its target. Naturally, it was only meant to get her moving.

"Hado thirty-one: Shakkaho!" Hisagi cried. Mid-air, it slammed into Erza, who tumbled across the ground.

"Tenken!" Komamura roared. A giant blade manifested in the air, coming down on her. Erza just barely rolled out of the way, the gigantic sword spraying dirt across the forest floor, shaking the ground beneath it with its impact. She just barely got to her feet when Iba came at her, sword raised, and she was hard pressed to even block, nearly losing her footing again.

Angrily, she pushed back, slamming a fist into his gut. She was unable to do more, however, before Tosen came at her, unleashing a rapid series of stabs and thrusts. Erza was pushed back, one step after another, working entirely on instinct to survive. Tosen cut downwards, hard, and Erza parried his strike. But before another moment had passed, a massive boot slammed into her side. Tosen jumped aside just as Tenken's foot connected with Erza. The air knocked out of her lungs, Erza flew into the trunk of a tree and right through it, cracking the next tree behind her. Her head was spinning; she was seeing stars, but she knew one thing: she had to let loose. She tried to say the words, but she was still gasping for breath.

Tetsu no Tama, I need you! she thought.

The zanpakutou, thankfully, was in a good mood. In her hands, the one blade became two, and she got to her feet just in time to face Hisagi, blocking both of his scythes as he came in close. She sensed movement behind her, and flipped herself over her former student just in time to avoid another attack from Tosen. She ran to get away, to get just a moment to think. She jumped out of the way as Komamura's blade came down again, slamming into the ground where Erza had been a moment ago, its tremendous force shaking the ground like a small earthquake.

Alright. Time to even the odds just a little. She dashed through the woods, sensing who was pursuing her and where, then suddenly she went to her right, where she knew Iba would be. The vice-captain defiantly held up his blade, but Erza had no intention of fighting him.

"Bakudo four: Hainawa!"

Erza was not the best practiced with kido, and she had no time for an incantation, but it still went off, catching the surprised Iba head on. A golden rope entangled him, sending him falling to the forest floor.

Komamura had closed the distance again, however, and came down on her with tremendous strength. Nimbly Erza dodged under his blow, skipping back, only to be assailed by Hisagi. He was spinning his dual scythes with furious precision, and Erza was hard pressed to do more than block. Her old student had come a long way, she could tell, and with two captains to worry about he was nothing to sneeze at. Moving her arms furiously just to keep up, she knew what was going on: whether she moved or stood still, all he was doing was creating an opening for his captain. One-on-one she would have time to find an opening, break his defense, but she had seconds to work with, if even that. But, there was more than one way to crack a nut. Locking her blades with Hisagi's, she pushed back, moving close. The scythes, powerful at mid-range, were long and unwieldy this close up. Erza pushed in, close enough that they were just inches apart, then slammed her forehead into Hisagi's. Surprised, he staggered back, and Erza batted his swords aside, then kicked him in the knee. Grunting with pain, he was forced down, and Erza kicked him in the chest while throwing one blade up into the air, aiming her palm at her old student.

"Shou!" she cried, and the impact of her kick combined with the rudimentary kido sent him flying, propelled at least a hundred yards before slamming heavily into the trunk of a thick tree.

Erza's sword came down, and she caught it just in time. Komamura and Tosen both came down on her together, Komamura cutting fiercely from above, Tosen going for her legs. With no time to dodge or move out of the way, she planted her feet firmly into the ground and blocked, just barely parrying both blades at once. Komamura's hit kicked like a mule, and Tosen was no slouch, either. She strained, both of her arms trembling with effort as she held both their blades in place, refusing to yield.

"You have grown," Komamura stated, almost appreciatively. "Would that you could use this strength for good, Scarlet."

"I'll say the same for you, Komamura!" Erza shot back through gritted teeth.

"This is no place for philosophical pondering," Tosen said firmly. "Sajin, stand back."

Immediately the giant stepped back, covering six yards in just a couple of steps. Erza was impressed: clearly, the two of them were well versed in fighting together, each one accentuating the strengths of the other and mitigating their weaknesses. All the worse for her.

Tosen leapt into the air, clearly carried by some sort of power of his own, and hovered briefly some twenty yards above them. He held out his blade, pointed toward Erza, and as it moved across the air there was a ripple, his blade leaving after-images.

"Suzumushi nishiki: Benihiko!" He said, and the images took form, sharp blades all, and multiplied. In an instant they rained down on Erza with lightning speed, like a hail of death. Erza stared the oncoming storm of swords in the face, and readied her swords. Moving her arms with an insane speed, she cut the air around her, a hundred times per second, batting aside one blade after another. The blades rained down only for a couple of seconds, but in that time the area around her became covered in metal pieces, sticking out from the ground, from the trees, spread in a wide radius around her. As the assault subsided, Erza was breathing heavily, holding on firmly to her swords. Two had made it through her defense, one in her shoulder and one in her thigh.

As Tosen descended, Erza put one of her swords into the ground, and as she stared at the blind man with furious determination, she pulled loose the blade in her shoulder, grimacing as she did so. After another breath, she pulled loose the one in her thigh. She spat at the ground, and grabbed her sword again.

"There was an opening, Komamura," Tosen commented.

"It felt dishonourable to strike her after such a display," the giant said firmly. "We need not knives twisting in her body to defeat her."

"Chivalry will be the death of you, Sajin," Tosen said, with a slight smile. "Together."

"Together always," Komamura said, and together, they advanced. Komamura raised his hand, and from the air above Erza a gigantic mailed fist appeared and slammed down on where she stood. She jumped out of the way only for the gigantic sword to reappear just as she sailed through the air. It slammed down on her, and though she brought a blade up to block it, the tremendous force of it nearly brought her to her knees, the dirt around her spraying as she impacted with the ground. She was pushed into the ground well past her ankles, and she desperately wanted to use more than one arm to block- but she knew she couldn't. Komamura Sajin was indeed worthy of his title and then some; this was raw power greater than her own by far.

Tosen charged in through the settling debris around them. The giant's blade eased just as he came in, and Erza managed just barely to meet Tosen's charge. Finally up close and personal with him, she realized he had been picked as Aizen's lieutenant for a reason. He was fast, he was precise, and his form was immaculate. Even with two blades, he had no trouble keeping up- and Erza, still reeling from Komamura's attack, found herself pushed back. She had always thought most about Aizen himself, and about Gin, murderer that he was, and Tosen... always the quiet one, he was just as dangerous as his rank implied.

Hopping over a low cut aiming for her legs, she stabbed forward, hoping to catch him in the neck. However, Tosen nimbly avoided the thrust by a hair's breadth, then batted aside her next strike. One palm out, he cried "Shou!" The spell impacted Erza's shoulder, nearly knocking her off her feet as she flew back. The thrust had hit her badly, unbalancing her. She turned it into a somersault, however awkward, knowing Tosen would be upon her the moment she hit the ground. She brought her blades up in a cross to block his attack, and felt his sword rake against her neck, just barely stopped from dealing more than a shallow cut.

"Byakurai," he said, pointing two fingers at her shoulder with his off hand, and Erza felt a shot of pain as the spell hit, going clean through her shoulder. She staggered back, desperately trying to keep her guard up. Tosen kicked her in the midsection, and Erza lost her footing, going into a roll. This wasn't going well...

"Well, ain't that some shit."

The voice was familiar, jovial, coarse and rough. Tosen stopped, looking shocked, and Erza got to her feet. She, Tosen, and Komamura all stared at the new arrival.

"Is that the woman that gave me such a thrashing, huh?" said Kenpachi, a wide grin on his face. "You letting a punk like Tosen push you around? If you can beat me, that little shit-stain should be easy."

He was flanked by Ikkaku and Yumichika, Yachiru riding on his shoulder as usual.

"Stand back, Zaraki!" Komamura demanded. "This is not your fight."

"Fuck off, helmet boy," Kenpachi said dismissively. "You, Scarlet. Need a hand?"

"This is treason, Kenpachi!" Tosen snarled.

"Have you lost your mind?" Komamura boomed. "Do you really expect this will be tolerated? Have you gone mad?"

Kenpachi gave him a glance, like he was looking at a barking puppy, and his grin became utterly terrifying.

"Whoever the fuck told you I had any sanity in the first place?"

"Help... me?" Erza said, torn between confusion and revulsion. The man appeared fully recovered, and an ally would be useful- but he was still Kenpachi the murderer, and she was not keen on making friends with the likes of him if she could help it.

"Simple deal, really," Kenpachi said, shrugging. He pointed his sword at Tosen, "I help you get rid of these punks, you promise me a re-match."

"You are mad," Erza said.

"That a yes or a no?" Kenpachi said hopefully.

"...Damn it all," Erza muttered. She had no choice at the moment. "Call it a maybe. Let's see if you can actually win first."

"Pfah!" Kenpachi exclaimed, somewhere in between a snort and a snarl. "Well, whatever. Just so you know, I'm gonna hold you to that. Ikkaku, Yumichika, deal with the small fries."

His companions nodded, and went to find Iba and Hisagi.

Komamura and Tosen formed up, next to one another.

"You are scum, Zaraki!" Komamura snarled. "You betray the Gotei for what? For the pleasure of fighting? You're a blood-maddened murderer, and you shame the coat you wear!"

"Blah, blah..." Zaraki said, yawning mockingly.

"For what it's worth, I agree entirely," said Erza.

The four faced off in the forested landscape, which was now pretty battered. Trees were uprooted or cut in pieces all over their battleground, and it was bound to look worse still soon. Erza felt tense. With Zaraki at her side, however revolting a person he was, she was bound to win. He alone, she was sure, possessed the raw might to outdo Komamura himself- and Tosen was good, but not so good she couldn't beat him. Together... they could win.

"Dibs on the big fella," Kenpachi said, as if reading her mind. "Just don't get in the way of my sword, 'cause I can't promise I won't get too excited."

Fantastic. Allied to a maniac, in a hopeless mission... this was the Fairy Tail way, all right, pushed to its breaking point.

---

Masaki frowned as she absent-mindedly put an arrow into yet another shinigami. The soldier fell over screaming, clutching his shoulder. It was well over her fortieth non-fatal take-down yet, none of the shinigami coming her way having proven much of a challenge.

That was the problem. She had done as instructed, causing serious havoc at the given time. Shinigami had come swarming, and Masaki had counted each minute, expecting a captain or at least a vice-captain to show up any second. She had anticipated it with fear, afraid for Ichigo, afraid for herself, afraid that she would have to kill people because one could only go so far, coddling people this strong...

But, none had come. That was the problem. All of the Gotei in her immediate area was in an uproar, sure, dozens of soldiers trying and failing to catch her, kill her, but the real deal, the truly strong were nowhere to be seen.

This Aizen Sousuke was apparently some sort of mastermind. Had he anticipated this, somehow? It was just too odd.

But, then she felt it. Erza's energy spiking, clashing against two, three, four others...

Damn it. Somebody had once said that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, and Masaki, there and then, felt inclined to believe that. Frustratedly, she clutched her bows, loosing two arrows into the arm and thigh of yet another shinigami. This was her part in the plan. The plan had to be stuck to; that angry little stealth force man had been pretty adamant about that. But on the other hand, she was not fulfilling her purpose in it here anyhow, and Erza... Erza would need help. But there might still be captains coming here, strong people she could distract for just long enough.
Sentimentality had no place on the battlefield. But, this wasn't sentimentality. Sometimes, you just had to make your own calls.

Hoping she wasn't making a big mistake, Masaki disengaged from her battle and sped toward the foot of Sokyoku Hill.

---

Komamura's sword came down with righteous, furious strength, but Kenpachi blocked it with little effort, standing tall like a demonic redoubt of power. His muscles bulged, and his arm trembled a little under the pressure, but he looked quite unimpressed.

"C'mon, big guy, ya gotta do better," he said with a grin, "a hit like that one ain't nothing. Harder and better. At least make me get this eyepatch off!"

"You honorless swine!" Komamura roared. He took a step back, swung his blade sideways, up and downwards, and his giant's sword appeared in the air, crashing down on Zaraki with terrifying power.

"Now that's more like it, ain't it?" Kenpachi said appreciatively, having blocked the blow with one hand still, although he had been pushed back, the dirt around him kicked up as he had refused to move. "Still..."

He heaved upwards, and threw the enormous blade back- easily over forty yards long- as if it were nothing.

"...Ya better tell me that ain't all ya got, big guy."

Komamura clenched a fist. "You hold the title- the esteemed and noble title- of Kenpachi, the champion of the Gotei. That should be held by a man as noble as he is strong, selflessly serving the greater good. Instead, it has been given to a demon."

"Jealous?" Kenpachi said, his grin widening a little.

"I will show you jealousy," Sajin said darkly, and charged forward. His blade met Kenpachi's, and the two clashed furiously back and forth, Kenpachi's wild, reckless style meeting the formal, well-practiced power of Komamura.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" Kenpachi hollered, his blood boiling with the cheer of battle, "Hit me, damn it! Harder! Faster!"

With a growl, Komamura obliged. Ferociously he pushed back the demon warrior of Zaraki in a series of heavy blows. Kenpachi blocked the first few, then dodged under a vicious thrust and counter-attacked with a wide slash of his own, laughing every step of the way.

Komamura, undaunted, blocked the cut with an armoured gauntlet that extended up his wrist and across his forearm. For a moment, Zaraki's blade ground against the plating, the demon testing its strength. Then, suddenly Komamura shoved him back, putting a couple yards of space between them, and before Kenpachi had a chance to recover, a massive boot slammed into his chest, sending him flying. Several trees, mighty, thick, and aged, were uprooted as he flew through the woods, skidding across the ground. Finally, the demon came to a halt, and began propping himself up.

Komamura was not done. The gargantuan blade came down again, hitting true on the unbalanced berserker like a speeding locomotive on steroids.

It was not enough, and Komamura knew it. Even now, he felt Kenpachi's energy push back, vast, stubborn and relentless, holding back the power of Komamura's zanpakutou, a feat only a handful could boast.

"That…" Kenpachi said, having blocked the blade with one hand, using the other to prop himself up, "that's more like it, big fella."

His muscles were bulging, and the ground beneath him had collapsed. He sat in the dirt, a ditch forcefully created by the impact of Komamura's strike. Even so, Kenpachi got up to one knee, then, with some effort, he stood up, resisting Komamura's power defiantly. A fresh cut bled on his chest, where his sword had not been quite enough to block his enemy's strike entirely. First blood had gone to Komamura- but to a captain, let alone a demon, that was but a scratch. Komamura let the giant's blade dissolve, and steeled himself as Kenpachi came at him again.

---

Erza took a deep breath and readied herself, her twin blades working with expert precision as she parried a quick series of attacks. Tousen was fast and skilled, no doubt, but compared to Kenpachi, this was a picnic.

Just minutes ago, before Kenpachi's arrival, she had been hard pressed. The mission itself was stressful enough, but fighting four-on-one had been worse by far. It had given her no time to think, no time to prepare or plan, no time to think of a way out. Now, working familiar ground with Tousen, she had managed to compose herself. As despicable as Kenpachi was, there was no denying the advantage he had brought with him. She could focus again, do more than just the bare minimum to survive.

Now, for example, she had the time- in that ultra-rapid, slowed-down space any seasoned fighter found in mortal combat- to reflect on the fact that she had two blades to Tosen's one. Or the fact that although he had two shikai abilities, neither had proven effective against her. She had time to assess their skills.

Tosen was a skilled, fast swordsman, quite possibly in the upper tiers as far as captains went. He complemented this with a gratuitous use of kido, specifically hado, either to damage or distract his opponent. His style was nearly flawless, and his blindness, though having robbed him of his sight, was sure to have given him acute senses in reading reiatsu. And what was the Soul Society if not spiritual matter?

He was powerful. But, as Erza noticed as she caught his blade, redirected it into the ground, and stabbed forward with her free hand, he was neither flawless nor invincible. Tosen twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding anything worse than a shallow cut, going into what looked like a sideways somersault to avoid losing his balance. As nimbly as he landed, Erza had the initiative now, and she intended on keeping it. Relentlessly she pummelled him with a series of lightning-quick cuts, high and low, her arms moving with precision and speed. These attacks were meant not to hurt but to test his defence, to tax his energies to their maximum. For as long as she could keep this up, he had two options, and they both knew it: defend until there was an opening in his guard, or break her attack somehow. Effectively that meant just one option, because defending was a losing strategy, which meant his position was predictable, which meant she had an advantage. Confidently Erza pushed forward, forcing the blind captain to take one step back after another. He kept up admirably, but two blades to one, in hands like hers, were ultimately two blades to one.

Deliberately, she let both her blades go low, in a predictable pattern. It was a feint he might perhaps have seen through, but right then, pressed as hard as he was, he seized the opportunity and parried with his own blade, pushing both her blades down, locking them to the ground.

Erza had counted on it, and suppressed a smile as she slammed a kick into one of his knee joints, then kneed him in the chest. It was not traditional swordplay, but her decades of training with Yoruichi had opened her eyes up to a world of pragmatic, brutal ways of tipping a fight her way. Tosen let out a pained grunt and staggered, nearly losing his footing. To his credit, his blade was up in time to block her first strike as she broke her blades free from his hold, but the second slid forward unhindered, sliding halfway into his chest. He let out a gasp as Erza pulled the blade out, and not a second later his pristine white coat began to dye red with blood.

Not done yet, Erza pushed forward, unrelentingly raining down blow after blow. Tosen was not done, however. He fired off a wild Byakurai before using shunpo to put space between himself and Erza. The kido went wide, harmlessly searing a tree, but he had managed to break off nonetheless. Erza stared him in the eye. She had landed a good hit, sure, but this was a captain, and she wasn't strong enough that she could end it this easily. The longer this went on, the more time the others had- not to mention Aizen. She might have to use her bankai…

Tosen stared back, no doubt entertaining similar trains of thought, and given another moment, the two would have clashed again. However, the moment was interrupted by Kenpachi, tossed like a ragdoll, slamming through a tree and impacting the ground with enough force to create a minor crater, landing just between the two. Unaffected apart from his clothes looking even more ragged than usual, he got up, looking like he had the time of his life.

"Hell, that big fucker knows how to throw a punch!" he said appreciatively, giving Erza an uncomfortably friendly glance. "I might even get t' take off the eye patch. I shoulda gone after him ages ago."

Tosen stared at him with loathing, and Erza felt odd to realize that, for all their differences, this was at least one thing she and the blind captain had in common. The three of them could feel Komamura's thunderous steps as he charged toward them, aiming for Kenpachi. Quickly, Tosen pointed a finger at Kenpachi.

"Bakudo sixty-three: Sajo Sabaku!" he cried, and with the skill of an expert, the advanced binding kido formed, a set of golden chains springing from his fingers, wrapping around Kenpachi. No doubt he intended for the demon to be helpless when Komamura struck, and for a second Erza felt conflicted. As vile a man as he was, it didn't feel right for him to be hit like this.

She needn't have worried, though. Kenpachi let the chains wrap around his body, then flexed his muscles. The kido held for a few seconds, but then Kenpachi twisted his arms, straining against them, and they burst completely.

"Get the fuck outta here with that pansy bullshit, ya cowardly milksop," Kenpachi sneered, looking angrily at Tosen. Just then, Komamura came in, sword raised, and Erza's body seemed to move by itself. With a shunpo, the moved to Kenpachi's side, blocking Komamura's fearsome strike as it came down. She strained against it, but held firm, and Komamura backed off.

"Ya think I wasn't on top of that, woman?" Kenpachi said, sounding not unfriendly.

"How the hell am I supposed to know what a lunatic is thinking?" Erza snapped.

"That's fair," Kenpachi said, and it was frustrating how nothing seemed to dampen his mood. "Well since ya volunteered, why don'tcha handle this one? I think I'll teach this little fairy piece o' shit how real men fight."

"Wait-" Erza said, but it was already too late. Komamura had raised his sword, and quickly Erza switched her weapons, opting for longsword and shield. In the same instant, Kenpachi charged, slamming into Tosen like a hellish juggernaut.

Komamura had reach and power with his blade- that was sure enough as he rained down one blow after another- but it lacked Erza's speed, and her defence was solid. As Komamura let out a rumble of a battle cry, a dance of sorts began. Erza would dodge, roll, and parry, refusing to get hit, while Komamura furiously rained down blows. She pushed in closer when she could, trying to aim for his legs or his gut, but he was too skilled.

"For the Thirteen Court Guard Divisions!" he bellowed. "For Commander Yamamoto and the King!"

"For Fairy Tail!" Erza shouted back, swept up by the heat of battle.

---

Tosen stood opposite Kenpachi, having endured the initial assault. The wound Erza had given him hurt, but it was nothing he could not bear. What frustrated him was the nature of their predicament. Kenpachi had turned coats, and Tosen's opportunity to end a failure like Erza, to show his master how devoted he was, was slipping from him. Instead he was stuck battling a monster, one notorious for not dying no matter how badly beaten. He would have to use bankai, something he had meant to use on Erza…

"Keep still, why don'tcha?" Kenpachi said, surging forward with another set of wild strikes. Tosen easily avoided them, needing only to parry the one, but he knew better than to underestimate his opponent simply because of his inferior swordsmanship.

"You truly are an embodiment of the cancer of this society!" Tosen snarled. "Your kind will soon be washed away like filth before an oncoming flood!"

"Blah, blah," Kenpachi said, slashing wildly at him. "Less yappin', more fightin'!"

Tosen dodged under another strike and hopped back, launching a Shakkaho at his opponent. The red fireball impacted squarely in the demon's chest, seeming to accomplish nothing.

Damn it! Damn it all!

---

Masaki had slowed down as she came closer, feeling more closely the energies clashing. There were weaker ones at work, but the ones that interested her, Erza and Ichigo… Ichigo was nowhere close, and Masaki couldn't be sure if that was something to be relieved about or not. Erza was fully engaged in combat, and two more equally powerful energies were clashing just nearby. At least it looked like she had made the right choice in coming here.

---

Erza blocked another blow that felt like it might knock her arm out of its joint, then pushed forward, slashing at the giant. He towered over her, but Erza had fought bigger and won. It wasn't about one's size, it was about how one used it…

Dodging under a sweeping cut, she rolled forward and came up with a quick thrust. Komamura stepped back, avoiding the stab, but Erza pushed forward. His sword came down, awkwardly as she was inside his guard, but she caught it with her shield. Letting out a determined cry, she slashed him, up and down, and felt the satisfying sensation of steel cutting into flesh. Komamura grunted with pain.

He was not going to let her continue, though, and suddenly Erza felt a shock as his fist slammed into her face, knocking her over. Quickly, she got to her feet. The fight was well and truly on now.

---

Tosen dodged under another slash. The demon was remarkably quick and agile for such a hulking brute of a man, and it would have been easy to let his appearance deceive one into expecting less. Tosen, however, kept his guard up. Parrying two fast strikes, he held fast. He was not lost, not against the likes of Kenpachi, not against anybody.

He tried to analyze his opponent. Zaraki was fast, yes, and furious, yes, but the same wildness he was famous for was a weakness, too. He didn't even care about guarding himself. It was time to teach him the error of his ways.

As Kenpachi came down furiously, with far more strength than was really efficient, Tosen redirected the man's blade, causing it to slide harmlessly to the side. Immediately, Tosen cut upward, slashing across his chest. Following up immediately with a thrust, he felt an almost gleeful satisfaction as the blade stabbed deep, almost to the hilt. Kenpachi stopped, standing still, his mouth widening, and for a moment Tosen let himself be fooled into thinking that maybe, just maybe he had done it.

Then Kenpachi grabbed Tosen's zanpakutou, by the blade, and grinned widely.

"An' here I was afraid you'd be a pushover."

It was like looking into the face of some hellish apparition. Tosen was blind, but this close, he could read the spiritual particles that made up Zaraki Kenpachi, and they were ugly. Terrifying.

Slowly, without even showing a hint of pain, Kenpachi pulled Tosen's blade out of his gut, holding on firmly to the weapon as if it didn't even have a sharp edge.

"See, now," the demon said, "now I think I might actually let loose."

"Now, now, now, ain't that summin'."

The voice was unmistakably familiar, and Tosen let himself be distracted just a second. Casually walking down the path from Sokyoku hill was Ichimaru Gin, seeming every bit as twisted as Zaraki Kenpachi.

"Ichimaru?" Tosen said confusedly. "I don't understand…"

"Ya had your shot to take care of business, see," Gin said in his usual, lazy drawl, "but looks to me like you ain't handling shit. So, good ol' Aizen sent me here t' give a helpin' hand. Whatcha say ol' buddy, ol' pal, wanna go back to back fightin' the forces of evil?"

"I can handle this!" Tosen sputtered out angrily. He had never liked Ichimaru, and although he had understood his master's reasons for using him, he knew an animal when he saw one. His back was the last place he wanted Ichimaru Gin to be.

"Aizen?" Kenpachi said. "I dunno what this is about, but me, I'll take ya both if ya want."

Their banter was interrupted as Erza slammed into the ground, just barely keeping to her feet, Komamura hot on her heels. He would have come at her again in no time, but a hail of arrows impacted the ground between the two, spraying dirt across the forest- which resembled more a chaotic glade at this point, trees having fallen over left and right. Some forty yards off stood Masaki, closing the distance in but a second, landing on a fallen tree-trunk, her bow strung and aimed at Komamura.

"We-ell, look at that," Gin said, giving a whistle, "looks like we got ourselves a three-way, don't we?"

Even now, his voice made Erza's skin crawl. Tosen was bad enough, but Gin? With Komamura on top of that? Masaki's arrival couldn't have been timelier. Realizing she had only moments before this would erupt in chaos, she barked:

"Masaki! Deal with Tosen!"

"Huh?" Masaki said. "I figured we'd-"

"You're a perfect fit," Erza insisted, in no mood to argue. "I'll deal with Komamura."

"What, you think you get your pick?" Kenpachi objected crossly. "You get the big fella, the one that can really punch, and I don't get to show blind boy over here how you win a fight properly? Leavin' me with that scrawny piece of shit?" He gestured with his thumb at Ichimaru, and it was clear he didn't think much of him.

"Believe me, he's the nastiest son of a bitch you'll ever meet, and I say that as somebody who fought and beat you," Erza said firmly, "and if anyone can take him, it's you."

"Bollocks!" Kenpachi snarled. "You don't get to-"

"Do it or the rematch is off the table. I don't care if you're going to cut me down dead, I won't fight you ever again," Erza said ruthlessly.

"...You drive a hell of a bargain," Kenpachi muttered. Then, the grin returned to his face, and he turned to Gin. "Well, ya're outta luck, it looks like."

"What, lil' old me? I reckon I couldn't scratch ya," Gin said innocently.

"Don't believe a word," Erza said firmly.

"Enough!" Komamura thundered. "The die has been cast. Six enemies, three fights. Let it be so. Tosen, handle this ryoka, and I shall deal with the traitor. Captain Ichimaru, keep the demon occupied. Together, all three of us, we will bring him to justice after we finish our fights."

"All right... die's cast, I guess," Erza said, and in her hand, the huge, black blade formed. "Masaki, don't die."

"I don't plan to," Masaki said firmly, and stared Tosen in the face.

Six people. Three enemies, three fights. It couldn't have been more climactic if they'd tried.

That made it all the worse, because getting bogged down in fights they might not win was exactly what they wouldn't want. Then again... that was part of the plan, after all. Erza grunted, and hefted the black blade over her shoulder, facing down Komamura. The die had been cast, and now they could only hope it'd turn up a six.

---

Yoruichi had never liked being a stealth operative. She had enjoyed being good at it, perfecting her craft, but holding responsibility for other people's lives, killing mercilessly... that had never appealed to her.

But now, where she was, well concealed both from any prying eyes and from any skilled sensors, she couldn't help but feel a thrill. There were parts of her work she had enjoyed, and sneaking up, hidden from the enemy, that had always made her heart race. Even the wait didn't bother her. All it did was build up anticipation, making the actual climax that much more satisfying. At a snail's pace, she crept closer to the hilltop, carefully sensing for Rukia's energy. It was a while yet before the execution, and although she was in a good position already, considering her speed, it couldn't hurt to get a little closer. Skills she had almost thought forgotten made themselves reminded, and as quietly as the cat she usually preferred to be, she moved forward, barely even disturbing a blade of grass. Soifon wouldn't be far, she knew- her old student was savvy to her tricks, and might just patrol the area, but even she wouldn't be able to locate her if Yoruichi didn't want to be found.

To think they had a plan that, though it would come at a hefty cost, was actually doable. They could save Rukia. They would. Yoruichi, herself, didn't care too much about the girl- her dying would be a shame, sure, but people died unjustly all the time, whether they had powerful friends trying to help them or not. But, the thought of her snubbing them all, the shocked look on their faces as Yoruichi raced past in a blur...

If there was one thing she and Kisuke had in common, and she would admit this to nobody, it was that they were both show-offs. They both enjoyed attention, enjoyed displaying their select, expertly crafted skills. They were geniuses, after all, and using that seemed right, at least occasionally.

That Sentry kid wasn't too bad, she thought. Simple plans were the least likely to fail, after all. She would-

"Shihoin Yoruichi."

The voice, calm, assured, and arrogant, immediately sent a chill down Yoruichi's spine. There was a surge of fear, but she quashed it as soon as it rose, her training refusing to let her lose focus. But there was no mistaking it. Aizen.

"You haven't lost your touch. It's a far better plan than I expected the likes of Erza Scarlet to come up with- her style is to simply barge in righteously and hope for the best. But then again, you are the former commander of the Stealth Force. What good fortune, then, that I kept a wary eye on the developments. If I hadn't expected your return, this could possibly have set back my plans."

Yoruichi quickly glanced around her, trying to determine where his voice was coming from. No matter how she tried, she couldn't see him, couldn't get a location- her senses told her the voice came from nowhere, from everywhere. He had hypnotic powers, she knew, and there was precious little she could do about that.

"Don't bother," he said smugly, sounding quietly pleased with himself. "Before my zanpakutou, you are helpless."

"How did you find me?" Yoruichi said, trying to buy time. "You can control what I see, but you're not omnipotent."

"That is true, sadly," Aizen said, with a mockingly regretful tone, "but with such a power, it would be all too easy to rely simply on that. But what sets me apart from the rabble I am about to outwit is that I don't."

"So, how, then?" Yoruichi said, carefully moving a little, trying her damnedest to sense an incoming attack.

"Oh, once I heard the news that the legendary assassin was back, it occurred to me. The goddess of the flash, herself? She alone could possibly be fast enough to snatch up Kuchiki Rukia and run well out of my range, potentially even back to that cowering little pseudo-scientist of yours."

"I'm well out of shape, you know," Yoruichi said. She was completely on edge, and although she tried to sound calm, she knew she wasn't succeeding. Aizen Sousuke! The man that had banished Kisuke, and by extension her! The one responsible for all their miseries, the cruel and scheming monster behind it all- and he had her under his thrall.

"Don't discredit yourself," Aizen said with the certainty of a man completely sure he had control, "after all, you rescued that pet project of yours just a couple of days back. What do you expect that will change, hmm?"

Damn.

"You still haven't answered my question. How did you find me?"

"Oh, fine," Aizen said, and although she couldn't see him, she could practically hear him roll his eyes, "do you know what makes for a good plan? A workable scheme?"

"Don't overcomplicate it?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Aizen snorted. "No, the strength of a plan is that you always maintain it, that you always consider how you might fail, and what you can do about it. Such as considering what route a stealthy assassin might take when trying to steal your quarry, and burying sophisticated sensory devices at regular intervals all across wherever she might approach. It was time-consuming and painstaking, but after my so-called death, I had plenty of time."

"Damn," Yoruichi swore under her breath. This had supposed to be their ace in the hole, and he had already seen through it.

Forcibly, she cooled her thoughts. For as long as he was occupied bragging, he wasn't attacking her. Fighting wasn't an option. The entire plan might be a bust. But in a second, she could cover whole leagues if she got her speed up. She was still the goddess of the flash, and half a second would be all she needed. Powerful though he was, nothing could keep up with her.

"Well, you got me," she said cautiously, eyeing her surroundings, more out of habit than out of any expectation it would help, "I fell for your brilliant scheme of having complete control over my senses. Must take massive skill."

"If only you knew," Aizen said cheerfully. "After all-"

Yoruichi got up, and dashed forward. Just the blink of an eye, the blink of an eye and I'll be out of here-

But before she had gotten more than a yard, she felt it. A long blade, sliding effortlessly through her ribcage down to the hilt. Her eyes widened, and she let out a pained gasp. Coming into vision at last was Aizen, his face inches from hers, staring down on her with amused contempt. Just above her sternum, her orange shirt began to dye red, and powerlessly, she clutched at Aizen's robe. Her other hand went for her knife-sized zanpakutou, but he effortlessly, almost gently, grabbed her by the wrist before she could even reach it.

"It's so strange, how shinigami work," he said, his voice a whisper. "On the one hand, we are superior to human beings: stronger, faster, more durable. But, on the other hand... all you need to do is find just the right spot, and we're as frail and vulnerable as any human."

Gently he pushed Yoruichi back, sliding his blade out, and she winced at the sudden burst of pain. She was starting to feel it now, the sudden adrenaline surge blocking the shock at first now fading, and she staggered. Clutching her wound, desperately trying to stem the blood flowing freely from her chest, she fell over on her side, feeling too weak to even curse him. As he walked past, she grabbed him by the end of one of his pants' legs, defiantly staring up at him.

"Look at you down there," he said, and smiled. "What an apt metaphor you make for the entire Gotei, bleeding and dying by my feet."

Easily, he wrenched his leg free, and began walking away.

"Who knows?" he said. Yoruichi heard his voice only faintly. The world grew dimmer by the second. "Maybe you will live. You never know your luck. But if you do, it will not be a world you will find worth living in. Farewell, assassin."

Letting out a pained gasp, Yoruichi propped herself up, powerlessly extending an arm after him. Not like this. Not like this! She wasn't finished yet!

But the universe is indifferent to our wishes, and Yoruichi soon felt the familiar sensation of oncoming unconsciousness, as her blood began to pool on the forest floor.

---

Well now, wasnt THAT an awesome chapter or what!?

I figured it was about time to let Tatsuki and Orihime shine again. I dont have anything agaisnt Kira, I really dont, but i didnt exactly have othr characters I could really spare for them to fight against besides him. Everyone else is either busy or changed sides. Dont worry either, this isnt the last fight Tatsuki and Orihime will get in this story. Im going to do my best to keep this cast balanced.

I also plan on doing something with Orihime and Momo. Considering their relationship with Erza, I think they'll get along great. Its such a shame they never met in cannon.

Also that scene with Byakuya and Renji is one I just love. Renji, RENJI of all people, manged to turn his world upside down. Its nuts, and yet it works so well!

But the main focus here was the fight. Erza's 4 vs 1. While I had ALWAYS planned on her fighting Komamura since I made this story, her having a 4 vs 1 was something rather new. We dont really get many fights in bleach that focus on multiple people. Its something new that I wanted to try out and I think Greatkingrat88 pulled it off rather well.

As you can see, Erza managed to handle herself rather well. We know from cannon fighting multiple enemys isnt something she cant do. However her, she's restricted to not using any of her armors, making the fight far more difficult. I think all things considered, she did very well.

But, as good as she is, she isnt THAT good. (I am NOT dealing with the "mary sue" bullshit she's unfairly labeled with in cannon!) Having Erza and Kenpachi "team up" was something I also wanted. I added Masaki and Gin into the mix though when I realized that if Im going to put Masaki in this story, I better use her whenever I can. Besides, Gins not doing anything right now.

Thus, we have our new battles. Erza vs Komamura, Kenpachi vs Gin and Masaki vs tousen! Who will win!? Who will lose!? Who will die!? You'll have to find out next time!

Last but not least we have Aizen and Yoruichi. Oh she tried. Hell if it was anyone else, she just may have succeeded...But its AIZEN. Guy always plans 10 steps ahead. Of COURSE he's going to see a plan like this from miles away.

But thats enough of me just yammering on. I'm excited as hell to see what you all have to say about todays chapter. Im seriously REALLY looking forward to it! So please, leave us a review, it really does make a huge difference.