100. One Hundered chapters. I honestly cant believe that we've actually gotten to this point. I still remember when i put up the first chapter, not sure if this story would warrent enough attention for me to want it to continue. But sure enough, here we are, over 5 years later in the arrancar arc. I want to thank each and everyone of you who helped this story make it this far. To any and all of you who have left reviews, you have my sincere gratitude.
Before I continue however, I have a brief writer's note from Greatkingrat88.
"Hi all. I can't believe it's one hundred chapters already- I never imagined what it'd be like to get this far. And we still have like, half the story left to tell... well, here's to another seventy chapters at the least.
A couple clarifications, by the way: since at least one person mentioned Segunda Etapa, I thought it might be good to clarify one part of my agreement with Goshin in writing these. As his writer I reserve the right to refuse to write any idea I find too stupid to write around. For example, you'll never see the Final Getsuga or Zangetsu turning out to be Yhwach- those were horrible, horrible ideas that I will not ever want to touch. The Segunda Etapa is one of these ideas. While not as obnoxious as the other examples, it feels inconsistent to give just one espada an extra form for no reason. I've worked parts of that form into Ulquiorra's resurreccion, but we won't see anything beyond that.
That's all, folks. Enjoy chapter 100!"
Now then, I wont dely you from reading the chapter properly any longer. We have alot of ground that need's to be covered, so lets not dely any more shall we?
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.
"Hikotsu Taihou!"
Energy travelled through one segment after another rapidly, and the bamboo serpent spat a beam of red death. The espada didn't even flinch, and in an instant he was where the beam was not, sword raised for another strike. Lisanna desperately tried to hold him off, sending out an arc of lightning. It coursed straight through Starrk's body, but he advanced on her, seemingly unaffected, with an eerie calm. Renji cried out with frustration, sending out Hihio Zabimaru for another futile strike.
They had really tried. They had done their duty, put their feet down and held their ground. They had ordered their soldiers to retreat and fought a fight they knew they couldn't win.
Coyote Starrk had lived up to the title of primero. He seemed untouchable when he moved, and so far it seemed only his general reluctance to fight had kept them alive. Lisanna was lashing out with increasing desperation, her serpentine bankai doing little to deter the espada. The bastard… he barely seemed to have warmed up. Renji shuddered to think what he'd be like when fully released.
There was the blast of another kido spell, a flash of light, and then a sudden burst of movement that took a second for Renji to even register. One moment Lisanna was fighting, and the next she had a sword through her chest. She let out a dry hiss, her eyes widening with shock. She stiffened, and then she went limp. She dropped to the floor, and Starrk turned his eye toward Renji as his bloodied blade came free.
He was a frightening sight. There was a wildness in his eyes, despite his calm demeanour and emotionless face. It was like watching a predator move, every step carefully calculated, always ready to pounce…
"Come on, then!" Renji snarled, knowing the fear was showing in his voice. "Come on, you son of a bitch! COME ON!"
He'd make it a good death, at least. He'd been captain for, what, a month? It might be a new record low. But, at least his men would be able to say that their captain died on his feet, died like a man without turning back.
If there's the slightest chance, even one in a googolplex, you try. The old words of his sensei came to him as the primero approached. Renji didn't like his odds, but he was going to at least give the bastard a fight. He motioned the bamboo serpent into action, and its giant head came down on the espada. Just like every other time, Starrk just wasn't there, a sonido step having taken him just out of the way. He was in no hurry, only moving as much as he needed against each strike, coming ever closer. Renji growled and steeled himself, continually swinging his bankai at the espada, to no avail. Soon, Starrk had come too close for the serpent to be able to strike. Renji made it coil together to form a defensive wall, but a second later, Starrk had swung his blade. There was a rush of power and the pieces were sent flying, forced apart by the sheer force of the cut. Knowing it was futile, Renji deactivated the bankai, returning to shikai. As if it made a difference whether he went all out or not.
"I guess you won't turn and run now, huh?" said Starrk.
"Hell no," Renji snarled.
"Nothing for it, then, I guess," said the primero with a sigh.
Renji let out a loud battle cry, howling with suicidal anger, and charged. He raised his blade, aiming to bring it down on the espada's head.
Then he was on the floor in a pool of blood, cut from shoulder to hip. He gasped, twitching as he lay there, his breath coming in sharp bursts as he tried to manage the pain. His vision blurred, and the last thing he saw was Starrk standing there over him.
Starrk sighed again as he watched the captain fall unconscious. He should finish it, he supposed, but something in him had never much cared for fighting something that didn't fight back. What was the point? He looked down at the dying shinigami, gently prodding it with his foot. Shrugging, he wiped his blade clean of blood and sheathed it. Whatever. The place was teeming with hollows and arrancar, and at least one was bound to show up and claim the glory of killing a couple of captains. Let them. His part was done. Wordlessly, he turned around and walked back the way he had come.
She could feel him, alive but fading quickly. More importantly, she could feel the espada nearby, appearing to be no worse for the wear. As Unohana Retsu raced through the halls, she quickly reflected on the situation. Kenpachi was still alive, despite having been defeated. That would suggest the espada was either too wounded to finish the job- unlikely; the reiatsu signature seemed stable and strong- or he had wound up with one of the less combative, ruthless fighters. Like Lanza Valiente, or…
"Neliel to Oderschvank," she muttered under her breath, as she rushed through the doorway leading into the great hall where Kenpachi was bleeding out. At first, the espada didn't seem to notice her, seeming preoccupied. She was bent over another arrancar, and as Unohana came closer she could see that she was trying to stop an injury from bleeding- and badly, too, by the looks of it.
The hall certainly bore the marks of a clash of titans. Several pillars had been broken, and large sections of the tiled floor had been shattered and upended into an ugly mess of gravel. There was blood on the ground, a thick trail, and at the end of it… Zaraki Kenpachi, his back against a pillar, head leaned forward. There was a crack in the pillar some three meters up where it looked to have been pierced, and a long, red trail of blood ran down from that point to where Kenpachi sat. She couldn't see very well, but by the looks of it, it was as solid a beating as the stubborn, brutish captain had ever taken.
"You!"
Neliel cried out, clumsily grabbing her blade from the floor before getting to her feet. Her eyes were red, and blood had mixed with tears on her cheeks.
"You shinigami bitch, I'll kill you!"
She charged. The warrior in Unohana saw it, the wound in her side, the way her shoulders trembled, how her injury and emotional state would make her vulnerable. An easy target to kill. Some part of her knew it could be easy if she tried. Just sink a blade deep inside her and end her and move on. It would be the easy thing to do, and from there on she could work on Kenpachi.
But, as the espada came in, all Unohana did was draw her blade for a parry.
"I'll kill you too!" Neliel hissed, hate in her eyes. "I'll kill you just like he killed them!"
She lashed out at Unohana. The thrusts were sharp and masterful even despite her state, and Unohana started to see how Kenpachi had taken such a beating. Finesse and power?
Even so, her own skills were more masterful. Just like riding a bike. With ease, she slipped into a familiar defensive pattern, avoiding and parrying the set of rapid slashes. Then Neliel overextended just a little, and Unohana seized the opportunity. She redirected the espada's sword downward, batted the blade aside, and in a single, smooth motion raised her sword, letting Minazuki's edge rest against the espada's throat. A single thrust would sever her windpipe, and an instant later her spinal cord. It would be instant death.
"Just do it," said Neliel defiantly, staring hatefully at Unohana.
"Why are you in a rush to die?"
Something about Unohana's words, or maybe just her tone, seemed to surprise the espada. It was a legitimate question, not a taunt, and it seemed to have impacted.
After a pause, Neliel said, "He… he… my friends, he…"
She glanced back toward the arrancar she had been kneeling by. Unohana could see two of them, one skinny and one bulky, both of them carrying the signs of Zaraki Kenpachi's handiwork. There was blood there, and Neliel's hands were covered in it. She loved these, Unohana deduced, just like any shinigami might love their friends.
"They're not dead," Unohana said calmly, "not yet. They will be soon, though."
"Are you going to mock me before you kill me, huh?" Neliel said, tears in her eyes. "I can't- I can't save them, I can't… and if they're gone…"
"Listen," said Unohana, tentatively lowering her blade, "I am sure you know who I am."
"Unohana Retsu."
"Yes," said Unohana with a nod, "and if you know my name, you would know that what I do is not to kill. I help those in need. All I want here is to save Zaraki's life. He… matters."
"You aren't going to kill me?"
"Not unless you make me. Listen," Unohana said, daring to lower her blade entirely, "there is no time to waste on fighting for either of us. I am going to make you a proposition. All I want is for you to listen."
"…Talk," said Neliel, her voice trembling.
"It's simple: Their lives for his. I will stabilize your friends and save them from immediate danger. In exchange, you will let me do the same for Captain Zaraki, and let us retreat in peace."
There was a mad glimmer of hope in the espada's eyes. But, a second later, she furrowed her brows. "How can I know you'll uphold your end of the deal?"
"You have my word."
"Not good enough," said Neliel, her arms trembling. "Heal them first. Right now. Then you can take him and go."
"Then I'd have to trust your word, wouldn't I?"
"Tough," Neliel said, giving Unohana an icy stare, "but that's the deal. Save them, or I'll make sure to give you a fight hard enough that you won't have time to save anyone."
Unohana sighed, shooting Kenpachi a glance. Slowly, making sure to avoid any sudden movements, she sheathed her zanpakutou.
"He's a tough bastard," she said, hoping deeply her words would hold true. "Show me to them. The sooner I can stabilize them, the better."
"R-right," said Neliel, lowering her blade.
If she had wanted to, Unohana could have launched a surprise attack here. Vulnerable, her will faltering, the espada would have been easy pickings. A strike to the throat, a quick kido spell, and a blade to the neck, and Neliel Tu Oderschvank would no longer be her problem. She could get right to helping Kenpachi, and retreat.
Once upon a time, that's how she would have handled it. But, that was not who Unohana Retsu was. Not anymore. Taking a deep breath, she let the espada lead the way.
Hang in there, she thought. Don't die on me. Not yet.
"Hey, come on, now. Don't faint on me yet."
The tall espada's sadistic voice rang out as he brought his huge weapon down once more. The cut was powerful, but sloppy, almost lazy. Kiyone jumped out of its range just in time, knowing it was meant to be that way. He was too strong for her to handle, and he knew it. He had already cut down Sentaro, who was lying still in a pool of his own blood. A score of thirteenth division officers lay dead around them. Still, for some reason, Nnoitra Gilga had decided to let her live a little longer, to play with her like a cat with a cornered mouse. And, even cornered, Kiyone had nothing that could really hurt him. His hide was too tough, his attacks too strong… and he hadn't even released his blade. How was this ever supposed to work out any other way than this? If only- if only Captain Ukitake had been here, if only…
But, he wasn't. She was the last one standing in the advance party, and soon, when he tired of playing with her, she'd be dead.
There was another wide swing, and Kiyone felt the rush of air as it passed over her back when she ducked low. She somersaulted back as the espada readied another swing, and defiantly raised her blade.
"Real cute," he said, his widening grin revealing two rows of big, white teeth, as predatory a grin as Kiyone had ever seen. His form was vaguely human, but it looked wrong, as if stretched too long, too thin, like whoever had made him had seen the monster inside and made sure anyone who looked at him would be reminded of his inhuman nature. It was terrifying to face.
"Tell ya what, woman," he said, raising his strange-looking weapon high, "just stay still right now and let me kill ya. It'll be quick. It's as good a deal as you'll get. No one's comin'. It's just you and me…"
Kiyone didn't give him what he wanted, of course, instead dashing to the side. He gave a raspy laugh, seeming amused by her spirit. It was all she could do for now: keep him busy and hope that somebody would be here in time.
But, she was running low on hope.
There was another cut, faster this time, and Kiyone couldn't quite get away in time. She parried as she dashed away, and the blow glanced against her side. Kiyone managed to not get cut, at least, but she was sent flying in an undignified tumble across the floor. A sharp pain blossomed in her right arm, and although she could move it, she was sure it was fractured. Her time had run out. She saw him approaching, standing over her now. She couldn't help but tremble, and a tear appeared in the corner of her eye. Like this? Killed by a monster, with no chance of fighting back?
"That's just about the prettiest sight I ever seen," said the monster, raising his weapon once more.
"Isane!" Kiyone cried, closing her eyes.
Then there was a thud of sorts, and Kiyone realized she wasn't dead. Being dead wouldn't hurt this much. Tentatively she opened her eyes, and looked up. There he stood, wild, blue-haired and predatory. One hand on his blade, he grinned wide with earnest joy, staring down Nnoitra. Blood trailed from the lanky espada's nose, and he was just getting back to his feet.
"Do me a favour, will ya?" he said, cracking his knuckles. "When ya get back, make sure to report I came on in and saved the fuckin' day, like a goddamn hero."
Gaping, Kiyone nodded.
"Grimmjow," Nnoitra snarled hatefully, his malicious cheer gone.
"Nnoitra," said Grimmjow happily, throwing his arms up. "I always knew you were a piece of shit, but bein' so busy playing with your food that ya didn't even notice me coming? Fuck me, that's sloppy. How they put you a rank over me, I'd never know."
"You want some, you traitor fuck?" snarled Nnoitra, pointing his double-crescent pole-arm at the former espada.
"Don't act like you give a shit about 'treason' or dumbfuck ideas like those," said Grimmjow dismissively, confidently taking a step forward. "You're a ruthless bastard, but I figure you at least ain't stupid enough to buy into Aizen's bullshit."
"Ya know what?" Nnoitra said, cocking his head. "Yer right. Who cares? But, you are a little shit who grew too cocky. Forgot about the pecking order. You got in over your head and paid for it, you little prick!"
"True," Grimmjow said with a shrug.
By the side, Kiyone trembled, slowly crawling back. Her rescuer barely seemed any better than her assailant. It was two monsters staring each other down, circling each other like a couple of rabid wolves.
"The fuck you mean, 'True'?" Nnoitra sneered, raising an eyebrow. "Admitting weakness? Them shinigami really got you in the head, didn't they?"
"Maybe they did."
"Fuckin' knew it," Nnoitra said with a snort. "You always was weak, Grimmjow. You got to be where you was 'cause the rest was even weaker scum. You think you could take me on? Fuckin' dream on."
"See," said Grimmjow, "by my reckoning, you're full of shit. First time I met Red- ya know, Erza Scarlet, the scary lady with the red hair and the armour- I nearly beat her to death. First time you met her, you nearly got beat to death. Then Halibel bailed you out. How's it feel, Nnoitra? You got your ass beaten to within an inch of your life, by a woman, only to have your pathetic life saved by a woman."
Nnoitra's features twisted with anger, and he lashed out with his great weapon.
"You fuckin' piece of-"
Elegantly, Grimmjow jumped over the blow, and leaped forward. Nnoitra brought the weapon back for another strike, but Grimmjow somersaulted over it, and the next moment there he was, inside Nnoitra's guard. He slammed a fist into the espada's jaw from beneath, knocking the lanky arrancar off his feet.
"Get the fuck up, you dumb bastard," Grimmjow said, letting out a maniacal laugh. "Fuck, this feels good. I've been kept chained up like a pet for over a month now, and I finally found me someone who won't be a real pushover. Someone the shinigami will prob'ly give me a medal for killin'. I'm gonna enjoy every last fuckin' second of this, you slow, dumb, easily tilted piece of shit, so get up!"
Nnoitra rose to his feet, a look of pure hate passing over his features.
"You'll regret not coming after me when I was down, asshole," he hissed.
"I'm sorry, all I heard was, 'Please, Miss Halibel, save me from the big, bad panther! I can't do it myself'," said Grimmjow with a snicker. Nnoitra let out a gurgling cry of rage and lashed out again. Grimmjow dodged, drawing his own blade, and the fight was on.
It was mad. Ikkaku was bloodied, cut in a dozen places, and so was his opponent. Neither one seemed to be anything less than thrilled about it. Iba Tetsuzaemon was no stranger to violence. He had grown up in a rough part of the rukongai, and he'd learned to fight almost as soon as he could walk. He'd always considered himself tough, and he was. A person didn't make vice-captain without a bit of grit. But, to him, violence had always been a means to an end. A way to end a conflict, to get something he wanted, to force somebody dangerous to submit, or take their life if he had to. In all the Gotei, only Eleventh Division considered violence its own reward.
Iba had always been friendly with Ikkaku, but sometimes he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong with somebody who got a kick out of fighting for fighting's sake. Iba had his own shikai activated, but he had barely accounted for one out of ten hits so far, the frenzied third seat taking the spotlight. Zancrow was more than a match for the both of them so far, able to spin around and parry every time Iba tried to flank him.
"See, here I was afraid this was going to be disappointing," said the espada with a sadistic grin as they momentarily broke apart, circling each other. He stared down Ikkaku, and Iba couldn't help but feel ignored.
"That makes one of us," said Ikkaku, his breath only slightly laboured. It was as if this had just been a bit of a workout, not an intense battle to the death. "I knew from the start you'd be dead hard. All I ever wanted, a proper challenge."
"You'd make a great hollow, ya know that?" said Zancrow. "I've never seen a shinigami fight like you."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
"If you ladies are done jerking each other off," Iba snapped, "we have a war to wage and a battle to win!"
Zancrow shot him a glance, as if staring at something the dog had left on the carpet. "Oh, right. You."
"To be fair, he's right," said Ikkaku, slowly spinning Hozukimaru around. "I get all fired up, but… there's all sorts of strong people in this place. Can't get bogged down fighting one all day."
"Work with me here, Madarame!" Iba demanded. "If you keep him busy enough, I should be able to cripple him. You clearly can't do it on your own. You need to go all out!"
"I've given all I can give," Ikkaku insisted.
Iba's blood boiled. Why Ikkaku insisted on hiding his bankai, he didn't know, but it was hard to miss it. Any officer who spent enough time attuning their blade would notice it in another user if they paid enough attention, and Iba was sure of it. Ikkaku was holding himself back. Why? Even with the two of them, they were at a disadvantage, and the arrancar hadn't gone all out yet.
"Fine," Iba spat. "Let's just go."
"Wait," said Zancrow, holding out a hand. "Let's make it interesting."
"Go for it," said Ikkaku.
Iba wanted to swear. He was inviting the monster to release his blade?
"Alright." Zancrow aimed his blade down, and his reiatsu rose. "Burn 'em to a crisp, infierno."
There was an overwhelming wave of heat as the espada's reiatsu peaked, and his wide mane of blond hair became a thing of fire. Great pieces of what looked like black rock wrapped his form, barely containing a writhing mass of fire underneath it. His features were barely discernible beneath it. His hands ended in great, black claws, wrapped in fire. He was bigger than both shinigami now, some two-and-a-half metres tall.
"Right, then," Zancrow rumbled. "I guess I can't really end you without using this. Consider that my final respect to you, before I turn ya both into ash."
"Oh, not bad," said Ikkaku, sizing up the transformed arrancar. "Seen tougher, but not bad."
"Madarame, for fuck's sake!" Iba said, raising his blade. "Get your head in the game!"
"I'm never out of it!" Ikkaku said, and with a cheery battle-cry, he charged, his three-section blade spinning round at full speed as he came in close. A black arm blocked the strike, shoving Ikkaku back.
"La pared de fuego!" cried the arrancar, and at his call, a barrier of flame was erected before the third seat.
"Okay, then," said Zancrow, turning around to Iba. "You. The killjoy."
Iba steeled himself, knowing there was no room for error. A great gout of flame spat from the raised palm of the espada, and Iba rolled out of the way. He jumped over a clawed strike, and raised his fingers, quickly chanting a kido incantation.
"Hadou thirty-one: Shakkahou!" he cried, and there was an explosion of red as the spell impacted straight into Zancrow's chest.
"Ya gotta be kidding me," said the espada, sounding unimpressed. He lashed out with his great arms, sending gouts of fire wherever they went. Iba was nearly consumed by an inferno of fire, and he felt the oppressive warmth of the attacks as he evaded, dodged for dear life. He felt fire envelop his leg, and the pain made him flinch. It was instinctive, his lizard brain acting before he could think, and it was enough for him to lose his balance. Before he could recover, he saw Zancrow's claws closing the distance.
Ikkaku had at first tried to beat his way through the wall of fire, only to realize it was futile. So, he had dashed around it, and it had taken much longer than he had wanted. The chamber was expansive, but so was the barrier. The heat scorched his skin, but the pain was secondary. Iba was tough, but he wasn't going to last long alone, not against that monster-
Then Ikkaku finally passed round the barrier's edge, weapon out, and he saw it: Iba, hanging limp from three claws impaling him. He was burning, fire slowly consuming him. With a dismissive flick of the hand, as if throwing aside a piece of trash, the espada threw him to the floor.
"Man, he was a buzzkill," said Zancrow, chuckling darkly. "I hope you can at least give me a real fight. Now that it's just you and me, and the trash's been taken out."
A wave of anger washed over Ikkaku, the joy of battle fading away. His features hardened.
"You son of a bitch-"
Before his words could become a heated tirade, he felt Iba's hand tugging at the leg of his pants.
"Don't- don't-" he rasped weakly, "don't… die like this, Ikkaku. You have to…"
Then the vice-captain's grip slackened, and he lay there still. He was badly burnt, and Ikkaku knew enough about reiatsu sensing to know his friend was dying.
"You said to make it interesting, didn't you?" Ikkaku said coldly, staring up at Zancrow.
"Don't disappoint me. If I'm goin' to the trouble of using this form, you better have something else planned. Ya know how much energy this eats up?"
"That's good to know," said Ikkaku. His knuckles grew white as his grip on Hozukimaru tightened. He'd treated this fight as good fun. He always did. But, it hadn't just been his fight. It had been Iba's, too, and he hadn't made it. It… it was time to stop playing around.
"There ain't nobody around here, is there?"
"What kind o' question is this?" said Zancrow, puzzled. "All the little shits you call allies scattered. I think they'd fall on their swords rather than face the likes of me."
"Good," Ikkaku said with a nod. "Good. Because, I'm gonna kill you, and I don't want anyone else to see how ugly that'll get."
"Good one," Zancrow said with a chuckle.
"Bankai," Ikkaku cried. "Ryuumon Hozukimaru!"
His reiatsu exploded, and his blade released fully. Behind his shoulders, a great axe-blade floated, connected by lengths of chain to the thick, unwieldy spade and hatchet in his hands.
"Well, I'll be damned," Zancrow said with a wicked grin. "Ya do know how to keep shit interesting, dontcha?"
All out of words to spare, Ikkaku charged with a vindictive battle cry. A life had been lost here, and it demanded retribution. A life for a life. If it meant using his bankai… so be it.
"Hakuren!"
Szayel cursed inwardly, dashing to the side. The shinigami officer had proven surprisingly able, much more so than any of Aizen's data had suggested. Kuchiki Rukia was noted as a fairly unexceptional shinigami, with almost no real data. He had barely even remembered her name from the files Aizen had given him to study. This lack of knowledge was vexing. Against any enemy he was familiar with he could be quite lethal, even against a captain, but so far he had yet to find a way to smoothly and easily subdue her. Worse, behind her the company of soldiers she had brought were retreating quickly. If this kept up, they would soon return to the shinigami lines, outside Szayel's immediate reach. Letting go of so many subjects did not sit right with Szayel, and the obnoxious little girl was only adding to his frustrations. There was a wealth of data to analyze about her, and it would be so much easier if she wouldn't constantly throw ice and kido at him.
Rukia's heart was thumping. She was completely on edge, throwing all she could at the arrancar. She was, deep down, more than a little surprised. She had expected something to have gone wrong by now. She had pinned down the pink-haired monster with her shikai for the last couple of minutes, keeping him on his feet. They had crossed blades, but Rukia had given him no openings to exploit- frankly, his swordsmanship had been sub-par. Was he toying with her, trying to lull her into a false sense of security? If so, he was losing his opportunity to come after her company, as he had threatened to do.
She focused, taking a deep breath. This was no time to get distracted. As Szayel rushed forward, she stabbed her blade down, crying, "Juhaku!"
A trail of ice manifested, rushing toward Szayel. The arrancar twisted out of the way at the last moment, and Rukia saw her opportunity. Rather than let him recover, she seized the initiative and charged. He blocked with his forearm, but even though his skin was strong enough to resist the cut, it was all she needed. She channelled energy into the blade and the air cooled, ice beginning to form around the espada's arm.
"You damnable little-" Szayel snarled, quickly launching a set of balas at Rukia. Forced to retreat, Rukia evaded the little blasts without too much trouble. Szayel stared her down, rubbing his arm where he had blocked her zanpakutou. The area was going white, and Rukia knew he had to be going numb.
"Fascinating," he said, staring at the whitening part of his arm. "Loss of sensation within seconds of touching. Is that an inherent effect, or a deliberate technique?"
"…It was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing," said Rukia, puzzled.
"I see," he said, nodding. "You are better than I expected. A Kuchiki, I believe? I had assumed from your lack of documentation that you had reached your position through nepotism. I see now I must correct that assumption."
"It matters not to me what you expect, hollow," Rukia said haughtily.
"It does. You will see in time," said Szayel with a cold smile. "As a matter of fact, I believe the loss of all these coward troops of yours is not so considerable, after all. Not with a shinigami of your quality to tinker with."
"You will have to beat me first," said Rukia stubbornly. The thought of being prisoner to this kind of monster was chilling, but Rukia kept her head level. Live in the now. Consider only your next move. Put your fear aside.
"True," Szayel said, and slowly drew his blade. He had used it before, seemingly only to test her. Now… now Rukia had an idea of what might come next.
"I've spent enough time playing around," said Szayel, and he raised his blade. He leaned his head back, gaping wide, and started to lower the blade's tip toward his mouth.
Rukia had fought arrancar before, and knew all too well what was about to happen. She had had the initiative so far, but she could not afford to let him go all out.
"Sip," Szayel began, his tongue wrapping around the blade, "Forni-"
"Hadou four: Byakurai!" Rukia cried. The lightning bolt struck Szayel in the temple, violently jerking his head back before he could swallow the blade. Szayel staggered back, spitting blood.
"You little bitch!" He sneered, raising his blade again.
"Second dance," Rukia said, stabbing into the ground in front of her, "Hakuren!"
There was a massive flow of ice, and as it cleared, Szayel stood there with his shoulder trapped in ice.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Szayel snarled.
"I'm not letting you get an upper hand on me," Rukia said firmly. "It seems like your release is a bit impractical. Takes a bit of time to execute. I'm not giving you that time."
Szayel gave her a hateful stare. "We'll just see about that," he hissed. He wrenched himself free from the ice, forming a cero in his hand as he did so. Rukia rolled under the blast, and before Szayel could bring his blade into position she was upon him, aiming a slash at his midsection. Forced to parry, Szayel let out an irritated grunt.
"I have a lot of people depending on me," said Rukia, "so forgive me, but I'm not going to make this easy on you."
Szayel shoved her back, launching a set of balas again. Rukia evaded, she charged, and the deadly dance continued.
Momo let Tobiume levitate in front of her, directed by her hands to spin around in an intricate pattern. The golden light around her responded in kind, blocking a series of strikes from Apache and Mila Rose, both of them pressing her hard. Her defenses had held up so far, although the two fracciones were much too quick to give Momo any time to retaliate. They had hounded her for well over a minute straight now, and it was all the vice-captain could do to stay alive and bide her time.
Sun-sun, she noticed, was staying back. Out of the three, she seemed the most level-headed, and probably also the most dangerous.
The situation could be worse. As ferocious as her two assailants were, they did not play well together. They did not work in tandem, did not press Momo hard so that the other could gain an opening. Both of them fought for themselves, competing rather than co-operating. The both of them hammered against the energy barrier. Bright light flashed with every repelled strike. Maintaining the shield, Momo charged a little extra energy into it, and when the next sword blow came in, there was blinding light. Momo had closed her eyes; Apache and Mila Rose had not. The two of them staggered back, blinking.
"The fuck are you doing?" Apache snarled, clutching her side. A thin line of blood dripped from a cut on her ribcage. "You got me, you dumb bitch. Watch where you're swinging that thing!"
"Eat shit, Apache," Mila Rose said, keeping her eyes on Momo. "How was I supposed to know she was going to do that?"
Just as Apache blinked the flaring lights out of her vision, Momo sent a red fireball from Tobiume's tip, slamming into Apache's midsection. She flew backwards, letting out a gasp. She hadn't been hurt badly, but she'd had the wind knocked out of her at least. Drawing on the energies stored in the energy matrices in her skin, Momo pointed at Mila Rose, and an arc of lightning sailed out, continuously ravaging the arrancar's body. She was sent flying, too, and slammed into a wall. Momo began chanting a spell, but before she could follow up the attack, Sun-sun had closed the distance, blade out. Momo aborted the spell, raising her shield at the last second.
"As much as they'd deserve it," Sun-sun said, her blade grinding against the shield, "I can't let you kill them. Miss Halibel would be very disappointed. I think you understand not wanting to disappoint what's dearest to you, yes?"
"I do," Momo said firmly.
"You two, get up!" Sun-sun said loudly, taking a step back. "Get up and help me finish her. She can't keep that shield up forever."
She wasn't wrong. The shield was very useful, but it drained Momo's energy quickly, and it was all but impossible to attack while it was active. As Apache and Mila Rose got up, singed but very much fit to fight, Momo furrowed her brows. She had to do something, and soon. Erza needed her. So far, the trio had just been feeling her out, but as the fracciones of the tercera espada, they were bound to be powerful. There was no reason to hold back. She had to try some of her new spells and hope for the best. The three began to approach, Apache and Mila Rose circling around her while Sun-sun came from in front. Momo raised her hands, weaving her hands in a different pattern. As the arrancar came charging in, Momo vanished from her position, reappearing instantly behind Mila Rose.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to need you to go away," said Momo, placing her arm on the arrancar's shoulder.
"What the fu-" Mila Rose begun, but before she could react, her form begun to warp and shift, the very fabric of reality around her bending into a set of squares. It was as if she had fallen through a door into nothing; one moment she was there, the next she was not.
"Mila Rose!" Apache cried. "The fuck did you do to her, you bitch?"
"She's not dead," said Momo calmly. "She's just… elsewhere for a little bit. I could explain, but it would take a while. It won't hold her forever. Just an hour or so, and we'll have been done with each other for a long time by then."
"Apache," Sun-sun said sharply, "together. For Miss Halibel. Don't let her provoke you."
Something in the elegant arrancar's voice seemed to calm Apache just a little, and she raised her blade, giving Momo a vicious stare. "What do you need me to do?"
"Push her, just like before, and don't let her pull that trick on you. I'll support you from behind. Judging by her reiatsu level, she can't keep using that shield forever, and if she were good with a blade, she'd have used it in the first place. She's a spellcaster first of all, so don't give her the time to cast any. If you push her, I'll find an opening."
Momo swallowed. Most dangerous of them all, indeed. Sun-sun had analyzed Momo as Momo fought, using the impetuousness of her two comrades to her advantage. Momo only wished she could entrap Apache the same way she had done Mila Rose- the spell was experimental, and it had taken a lot of time and space to prepare. She wouldn't be able to use it again, not for this battle.
"You got it," Apache snapped, charging. Momo blocked the incoming barrage of attacks with her sword this time, at least confident in her ability to defend from one assailant. Apache was fierce and fast, and Momo found no openings, but she patiently parried each strike. Only moments after Apache had begun the attack, Momo felt the raw energy build-up of a cero, and twisted herself to the side as a hot, searing ray of red nearly grazed her. She felt Apache's blade glance her side, and she grit her teeth, refusing to cry out in pain. Recovering, she just barely parried a stab aimed at her neck.
"Shou!" she cried, thrusting out her palm. Apache was knocked back a few paces, but a second cero was already coming her way. Knowing she couldn't dodge, Momo quickly weaved her hand in a semi-circle, the glimmering shield flickering to life again. The raw force was absorbed, and Momo just barely parried the next attack.
"Just like that," Sun-sun cried. "Keep her pinned down!"
Momo dashed to the side, past Apache and toward Sun-sun, charging up a blast in her blade.
"As if!" Sun-sun shouted, another cero powering up in her hand. Momo ran right at it, bringing up her weapon for a strike. The red ray went off, and Momo felt the magical shield nearly overload with the raw energy it absorbed. Before she could swing her blade, she was tackled, Apache finally catching up with her. Momo went tumbling across the floor, the breath halfway knocked out of her. She immediately tried to get to her feet, but before she could get more than one knee up, she saw another cero coming. Out of options, she raised the shield once more. As the ray of energy subsided, it flickered once, twice, then dissipated.
"Fuckin' got her!" Apache cried triumphantly, pumping a fist into the air.
"Quick. Before she can get it back on, finish her!" Sun-sun urged. Needing no further encouragement, Apache charged, nearly knocking Momo over. Wobbly on her feet, she clumsily parried one, two, three strokes before a fourth cut her across the chest. She cried out in pain, blood streaming down her chest.
"Any last words?" Apache said gleefully, resting the tip of her blade under Momo's chin.
"Yeah," said Momo. "Thanks for playing along."
"Huh?" said Apache, raising an eyebrow.
"Apache, get away!" Sun-sun cried, as the glimmering light came back. Red, raw energy surged out from Momo's form, striking Apache point blank. It lacked the precise focus of a cero, but there was no way to miss, no way to evade. Apache was sent flying and collapsed on the ground some twenty yards away, covered in burns. She lay still there, just barely breathing.
Sun-sun stared at her. She was composed, calm, but the slight widening of her eyes told Momo enough. She had not expected this. She had been sure of victory, and now… doubt had wormed its way into her mind.
"I underestimated you," she said, quietly admitting it.
"Give up now, and let me pass," said Momo. "It doesn't need to get any worse than that."
"Would you do that if our positions were reversed?"
Momo gave her a look, and felt an odd sense of respect for the arrancar. Real loyalty to one's superior, she understood that.
"Erza told me," Momo said quietly. "I guess I never understood how right she was."
"Told you what?"
"That hollows are a lot like people. A lot more than we think, at least."
Sun-sun gave her an odd look. "I can't look her in the eye and tell her I just let you pass."
"I understand," said Momo with a nod. "Do what you have to do."
She was wounded and tired, now, but Momo had more than enough fire left in her to keep going. Drawing on her reserves, she let the golden light come back, and she let its power lift her into the air. Great circles of intricate symbols took shape around her, weaving complex patterns. Her spell engine was active, and it would be enough. She was not interested in a drawn-out battle. Beyond the doorway, she could sense Erza growing weaker. She would settle this quickly, even if it cost her another of her one-off spells.
Sun-sun's reiatsu began to rise, and she held out her blade. But, before she could call its name, Momo's eyes briefly came aglow, and she spoke the words, reverberating across the chamber.
"Binding of time: chronometron lock."
The golden light flowed out, encasing Sun-sun. When it faded away, it left the arrancar wrapped in great golden plates, held together by chain, totally immobilizing her. Momo breathed out as she slowly descended toward the ground, feeling weak. The battle had consumed most of her energy, and the truth of the matter was that she had gotten lucky. They had underestimated her, and if they ever met again, she would not be so lucky. As she passed by Sun-sun, she spared her a look, and gave her an appreciative nod. It was war, and she was an enemy, but that would be no excuse to kill her. Besides… she had more important things to worry about. Momo stepped through the doorway at last, staring into the chamber. Her mouth widened with shock, and despite her weariness she summoned what strength she had left, praying she would not be too late.
Her vision was going hazy. The world was a blur, and Erza was distantly aware that she was in a lot of pain. The blood loss had mercifully dampened her ability to sense it, although it was not much of a silver lining. She was on her very last legs now, desperately lashing out in long, fumbling strikes, her movements having become clumsy and slow from exhaustion and weakness. Willpower alone kept her standing, as she stumbled back one step after another. Halibel was advancing on her, in no hurry to finish the job. Perhaps it was sadism, but somehow Erza felt like Halibel was just trying to let her have her warrior's death. Halibel swung her bone blade in a wide arc again, and Erza felt it graze her midsection as she jumped back and out of the way. Another spurt of blood squirted from the stump where her sword arm had been, and Erza nearly lost her footing. She managed to keep standing, just about, only to find the tip of Halibel's blade against her throat. Erza stared her in the eye, breathing heavily. Sweat mixed with blood, but she still felt cold. Her strength was leaving her, and soon her consciousness would, too. She would never wake again.
"Are you ready to die?"
"Not… while I can still hold a weapon," Erza said weakly, batting her sword against the bone blade. It was a pitiful hit, barely moving the blade aside. Halibel pulled her blade back, grasping it in both hands, readying it for a final strike.
"You did well," Halibel said neutrally, "far better than I ever expected. I commend you on the strength you've gained. But, this is as far as you go."
Erza just stared at her. Half dead already, she spared a last longing thought for her friends, for her family, for Momo…
"Do you have nothing else to say? I do not expect you to beg, but I would expect at least some defiance."
"T-tell…" Erza said, finally lowering her sword, having run out of the strength to lift it at last. "Tell… Neliel I'm sorry it turned out this way. The same… goes for you. I wish… we didn't have to be enemies."
Halibel raised an eyebrow. "Even now, I don't think I understand you," she said, shaking her head. "Never mind…"
She raised her blade, and Erza fought the urge to close her eyes. She would see this coming. She was Erza Scarlet, and she wasn't going to back down for anyone. Not in life, and not when she died, either. She saw the blade rise up once, then twice, like that of an executioner…
This is it. Here I go, then. I… I tried. You will all have to find a way without me.
Then a giant armoured fist slammed into Halibel, and Erza blinked in dulled shock. The espada blocked the strike at the last second, the fist grinding against the flat of her blade as she slid back a few paces, feet firmly planted in the floor.
Tenken. Erza recognized the giant's fist as soon as she saw it: Captain Komamura's shikai. She glanced over to her side, seeing the towering figure of Komamura Sajin approaching, sword in hand. He barely looked any better than she did, riddled with cuts and bleeding badly from a gut wound.
"N-no…" she rasped weakly, barely able to get the words out. "You have to run- you have to-"
"Not while I can stand," he said firmly, breathing heavily. Mustering strength from some unseen reserve, he let out a loud battle cry, and brought his blade down from afar. In response, the giant's blade manifested over Halibel, coming down with tremendous force. She nimbly side-stepped. She was weakened, of course, and injured, too, but Komamura didn't even have his bankai active. Halibel still had her resurreccion active, and she still moved unhindered. This could only go one way.
Halibel aimed her blade, and a burst of water shot out. An armoured hand rose to absorb the blow, but by the time it did, Halibel had already closed the distance between them, bringing her great weapon to bear. Komamura parried the first strike and managed to evade the second, but his movements were sluggish, slow. He might have won his fight, but it had cost too much. Erza could only watch as the tercera mercilessly pushed him back. A third strike, nearly batting the blade from his hands. A fourth, leaving the weary captain open with his guard down, unable to raise the blade in time. Then, a fifth, massive, downwards swing caught him right in the shoulder, cutting deep. Komamura let out a loud, pained grunt, but remained standing. Halibel stared at him coldly, and whatever mercy she had extended to Erza she was not about to grant him.
"The Gotei… will prevail…" he hissed, placing his one good arm against the bone blade cutting into his shoulder. "Your lord… will fail."
Halibel, not sparing him another look, wrenched the blade free, and Komamura sunk to his knees. Erza's eyes widened and she tried to force her body to move. She could see Halibel raise the blade, poised for a thrust. Come on, just move, just move! Don't let it happen!
Then the world seemed to stop, and Erza could see it happen as if in slow motion. The tip of the blade travelling upward, inexorably…
Erza raised a hand, mouthing the words to cry out for the captain, unable to even speak anymore.
Then it was over. A single, fluid stab caught Komamura in the throat. The tip of the blade emerged on the other side, red with blood. The beastly captain went limp, and as Halibel pulled back the blade, he collapsed to the floor. A new, fresh stream of red began to pool around his head as he lay there, twitching a few last times.
"He died bravely enough," said Halibel, turning back to Erza.
Tears streamed down Erza's face, the shock of what she had seen still washing over her. The last thing she saw before she closed her eyes was an approaching golden light…
The magical bombardment hit Halibel in the chest, sending her tumbling back. The sheer ferocity of it had shocked her, quite literally. Fire and lightning rained down on her in cascades, like an artillery barrage. She was thrown off her feet, immediately scrambling to recover. When she stood up, she snarled angrily. What now? She had waited a long time to settle this score, and to be interrupted twice? By magic that had only stung her? As the heat waves cleared, she saw it. A girl with her hair in a bun, wrapped in golden light, slinging Erza's unconscious body over her shoulder.
"You think you can steal this from me?" Halibel said, gritting her teeth as she advanced on the vice-captain. "You think you can take me on?"
"I don't," said the vice-captain. She looked entirely unafraid. She looked… focused. She carried the cuts and bruises of a recent battle, but it was as if none of it mattered. "I can't beat you. But, I can't let you do this either."
"You don't have a choice," said Halibel, moving closer. That golden light couldn't be unbreakable.
"We'll see about that."
Cloth wrapping shot up from her arm as she raised it, and Halibel realized what was happening. Shinigami trickery! Deceitful magic, about to steal her prey away from her. Grasping her blade in both hands, she dashed forward.
"Sentan Hakuja!" the vice-captain cried, and the cloth wrapped around the two of them. Just as Halibel's blade came down, they were gone. Her sword ripped through open air. For a moment, Halibel felt like swearing loudly. She had been that close.
Her knuckles whitened as they gripped the hilt tightly. She had… escaped. No- she had been stolen. That feeble little second-rate mage had taken an honourable death from Erza, and a righteous kill from Halibel.
Well then. She had waited long already. She could wait just a little longer if she had to.
"Captain Soifon, update."
"Yes, captain-commander," Soifon said, standing to attention. She had been one of the captains held in reserve, in no small part because she was head of intelligence, and co-ordinating the chaotic mess of incoming information was a task nobody was suited better to than she. As the invasion had commenced, stealth corps teams had followed alongside each route, continuously reporting all significant developments. There was no time for any formal reports, and all Soifon had for reference were the hastily scribbled notes bundled up in her hand. This did not present much of a problem. Memorizing information was something she had a lot of practice with.
"As of the last set of reports, Captain Abarai and Captain Strauss have been neutralized by the primero and are in critical condition. Retrieval teams are heading for their location as we speak, but we cannot guarantee their survival. Captain Zaraki has been neutralized by the quinto, and is near death. Captain Hitsugaya is engaged with the noveno espada, outcome unknown. Captain Kuchiki has engaged the cuarto, Ulquiorra Cifer, in co-operation with the auxiliary element Kurosaki, but they are both hard pressed. The traitor Tousen has been killed in battle. Captain Scarlet has been defeated by Tier Halibel and is in critical condition, and Captain Komamura has been slain in battle trying to save her life. Our invasion commences according to plan so far, but we are facing heavy resistance and high casualty rates. All three avenues of attack report constant counter-attacks from hollows, and none consider the routes cleared safe for movement."
Soifon delivered the information quickly and clearly in a calm, neutral tone, as if she had just delivered a particularly intense budget report, but the enormity of the statement was not lost on her. Four captains defeated and on death's door, and one slain. This truly was a historical moment; not for centuries now had more than one captain ever been killed at a single time.
"What of Aizen?" Yamamoto demanded. "Has he shown himself?"
It was a foolish question, and Soifon was sure he knew it. If he had shown himself, it would have been at the top of Soifon's list. The venerable commander was simply desperate for good news, of any kind.
"None of our vanguard scout teams report any sightings, or any activity suggesting he's made a move."
"What of his primary assets? He has sent out the fifth, fourth and third espada. Where are the segundo and primero?"
"No sighting of the primero after the battle with Captains Abarai and Strauss," Soifon replied, "and no word of the segundo."
"Sensei," said Kyouraku, a hint of urgency in his voice. Yamamoto's two star pupils had waited patiently alongside their master. Although Soifon was not partial to such sentimentality, she was sure the both of them longed to be alongside their own soldiery. They were loyal, to the Gotei and to their divisions. To their sensei, too.
"Well done, captain," Yamamoto said to Soifon. "Be sure to keep me informed of any new developments."
"Of course, sir," said Soifon.
"Sensei," Kyouraku said more urgently, as the old man turned to face him, "we have to act right now. We're four captains short, and we haven't taken down a single espada. Send us in."
"I agree," Ukitake said with a sigh. "Either that, or…"
"This… is war," said Yamamoto slowly, weariness in his voice. "Loss is to be expected."
"Yes," said Kyouraku firmly, "but not if it's this one-sided. If we are to succeed here, we need to act now. Send us in. Ukitake and I together. We'll eliminate his top espadas one by one. He'll be forced to come out and face us."
"Komamura… he was loyal," Yamamoto mumbled, and to his pupils, it looked as if the old man wasn't quite there, staring out into empty space. "He's a good captain. He always gave all he could for the Gotei. Now… he's truly given all he can."
"He became a hero, sensei," said Ukitake, "but…"
"But what?" said Kyouraku urgently. "We can still salvage this. Pull back the forces, secure one avenue at a time. Let us deal with the heavier hitters. Anything, so long as we do it right now!"
"Sensei," said Ukitake, "we've lost four captains. One is dead. All we've managed to do is kill low-tier arrancar and hollows that Aizen can stand to lose, whereas he's lost nothing of value to him. He will not emerge until our forces are well and truly spent. We're sending our soldiers like lambs to the slaughter, and we're not even close to achieving our objectives. We should pull back, and if not retreat then at least rethink our strategy."
"And give up our momentum?" Kyouraku protested.
"What momentum?" Ukitake snapped. "We're playing right into Aizen's hands!"
"He… always stood by me," Yamamoto murmured to himself, "always unquestioningly loyal. He was… so honoured to be leading the charge. He was so… he was…"
"Sensei," Kyouraku said. "Sensei, you need to pull yourself together!"
A moment passed, then Yamamoto's eye turned toward Kyouraku, no longer distant.
"Mind your manners, boy," he said sharply. "I am here, and I will not be lectured by a pup."
"Good," said Ukitake. "Then what are our orders?"
"I've made my decision," said Yamamoto slowly. "Relay the following to all divisions…"
Well now, if you thought things weren't going well for the gotie before all of this...Well they sure as hell arnt now. Konamura, as well as Iba, are now dead, with others to potentially follow. I remember in some of the earlier chapters that some readers were upset that I didn't kill off any characters. The truth is, ive always planned to kill some of them off, but when killing characters, one needs to keep in mind 3 things. Time, place, and how it can help develop other character's.
To kill off characters purely for "shock value" isn't exactly what I personally consider good writing. Once that character is gone, that's it, that's the end, you cant use them anymore. What does their death add to the story? What does it take away? What do you gain by killing that character off. If the answer is to simple surprise your readers, then I personally feel that comes more as an insult to those who like those characters than a good writing decision. I know that both Konamura and Iba aren't exactly the most popular of characters, but I always look at it like this. Every character is someone's favorite. My two favorite charaacters of Bleach are Momo and Bambietta for gods sake. Not exactly the most popular characters either, but my point still stands.
I do plan on killing off more characters in this arc, though I don't plan on saying just how many. Still, for those of you who have been eagerly awaiting for this sort of thing, I hope that I've done well.
Not much left to say, but I am eager to hear what your thoughts are on this chapter in the reviews, so please try to give me your opinion on this. Think of it as a way to celebrate 100 chapters.