Vegeta swung forward at the man who turned back to him bearing a sword. In a flash the man moved back away from him and positioned himself on the outer edge of the lookout while Vegeta moved towards the center, effectively trading places with each other. Vegeta turned around to face him as the man did the same.
Vegeta looked at this man with anger in his eyes, while he looked back with a look of dispassion, as if he hardly registered anyone was even there.
Vegeta felt a sting along his left cheek, and he brought a finger up to feel it. When he moved his hand away his white gloved finger turned red from a small cut on his cheek and the blood dripping down from it. Vegeta closed his hand into a fist and grilled down his assailant.
He continued to look upon him with indifference. Only when a small stream of blood trickled from the edge of his mouth did he mimic Vegeta. The tips of his finders were stained red as he wiped it away and he turned back to view his attacker.
Vegeta's brow furrowed "Alright! Who are you?! What are you doing here?!"
The man lowered his sword "I could ask the same of you." he said emotionlessly with a voice to match his expression. He then noticed something in Vegeta's hand. A round orange ball with one star on it "I suppose I should thank you, though." he pointed towards the object in his hand "For bringing that to me. I surmised there was one more when I could not find one such as that. Yet it was not revealed on the device." he said producing from his long white robe the very Dragon Radar that had gone missing from Capsule Corp.
Vegeta looked down to see the one star Dragon Ball in his hand "So this is what you want?" he held it out for him to see. The man nodded. "Then what is your wish? What could you possibly hope to gain?"
"To gain?" he seemed puzzled by the question "Nothing." he answered. Vegeta perked up at the sound of that for it certainly wasn't the answer he was expecting. But he would get an explanation for it "There's nothing these balls can grant me that I want. Whether they could or not I can't say, but.." he paused as if a bad memory had been running through his mind "that doesn't matter. I have dealt with items such as these before. Nothing good can come from something that breaks the laws of nature, the balance of life and death."
"What are you prattling on about?" Vegeta spat.
"How much blood has been shed just to find these I wonder?" he mused.
"Enough to be worth the price." Vegeta answered smugly, but that didn't seem to sit well with him.
"No cost is worth the cost of order and stability." he retorted, hardening his resolve.
"Hm." Vegeta scoffed "Spoken like a softhearted fool." he insulted him. But the mans tranquil demeanor didn't change. He merely closed his eyes.
"I didn't expect someone like you to understand." he spoke just as dismissively.
"Someone like me?" Vegeta grinded his teeth and clenched the ball tighter in his hand "You fool there are none like me!" his voice grew and carried over to him at the other end of the lookout "I am Vegeta the Prince of all Saiyans!" he announced proudly.
An eyebrow was raised curiously at him "A prince?" he questioned looking him over "Your brash nature leaves any sort of regal qualities... but I will take you at your word." He politely bowed his head politely "I am Byakuya Kuchiki. 28th head of Kuchiki clan. Captain of Squad 6 of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
"Spare me your formalities!" Vegeta barked, seemingly offending his royal equal "Tell me what your here for and depending on your answer I'll let you go."
"Let me go? I will not leave until my mission is complete. I was ordered to inspect this world, and I found these balls. And I will not leave until they are destroyed."
"Destroyed?!" Vegeta let out shocked "So you're one of those sword wielding freaks it seems." he surmised aloud. 'This is what that fool Gohan left to fester once he left. New friends. Bah' Vegeta thought to himself and then spat.
"So it would seem." Byakuya nodded "And I would like that one to complete the set."
"Never!" Vegeta held it tighter in his fist.
"If you will not cooperate with me. Then I will take it by force." Byakuya warned though his voice remained placid.
"You threaten me?" Suddenly before his eyes Byakuya seemingly disappeared. Vegeta's eyes widened, and he darted his head to find him. Then he felt the Dragon Ball get torn from his hand, and he looked to see Byakuya holding it in one hand and in his other, his sword slashed at him. Vegeta moved out of the way, but barely managed to dodge as the sword dragged itself up his arm.
'He's fast?!' he thought. He quickly lunged up at swung at him his fist planting hard into Byakuya's face. The force was so great it sent him hurling back across the lookout and the ball dropped from his hand.
Byakuya skidded back across the floor and almost to the edge on the other side before stopping himself from falling over. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth.
"He's strong." Byakuya said to himself turning to look at him again though eyeing him dangerously now.
"Hey!" Vegeta snapped his head back to Dende and Mr. Popo who cowered behind him. The two looked frantically to him "Hold onto this." he ordered showing them the ball "I'll finish this quickly!" he tossed the ball to Dende who held his hands out to grab it.
Then suddenly it stopped in mid-air between them and Byakuya appeared holding it once again. Dende and Popo cried out and Vegeta went on the attack again.
He threw a punch at Byakuya who moved back and slashed his sword at Vegeta who dodged the blade. Vegeta swerved around swinging a kick at him, but Byakua moved back. Vegeta charged at him and Byakuya raised his empty hand.
"Hado #1. Shō" he said and a small blast extended from his hand towards Vegeta, but instead of being pushed back he wasn't stop him at all. He swung at Byakuya again, who dodged him again and moved back to put distance between the two. Vegeta moved, planting his feet in front of Dende, Popo and the other six dragon balls. Byakuya stood out on the edge of the lookout. Lying between them was the dragon ball once held firmly in his hand. He looked at the scene before him, from the ball between them to the ones behind Vegeta who stood defiantly before him. Calmly he came to a simple conclusion.
"Fine." he said aloud as if resigned to what was to come "I'll take you first." he said raising his sword out in front of him and closed his eyes. 'No matter what happens I cannot allow another Hogyoku to continue to exist.' he thought.
"Finally!" Vegeta cackled "It's about time I had something to show for all this!" Vegeta took a stance and prepared for his attack. But what happened next confused him for it was no attack at all.
"Scatter." Byakuya stated peacefully and the sword began to glow a bright shade of pink "Senbonzakura." Then starting at the tip, the sword began to dwindle away like dust in the wind. Disintegrating down all the way until all he had left was his sword hilt. It did just as Byakuya had said and scattered. The sight of it certainly didn't impress Vegeta.
"Ha!" he couldn't help but laugh "Some swordsman you are. How do you intend to fight me with no weapon?" Byakuya's eyes opened to see no sword obstructing his view of the Saiyan Prince, but he didn't seem stressed by the fact. But what could be seen were countless pink fragments swerving through the air. Vegeta's laugh continued until he was cut across his shoulder again. He looked down shocked at the blow.
'What happened?!" he thought seeing nothing, but the pink fragments around his wound. He looked to Byakuya who appeared to remain stationary, save for his arm still holding onto the hilt. 'Did he move?' Another cut went across his cheek below the first one adding another bloody line to his face.
He saw it now!
Dancing before his eyes were pink shards, just like the ones on the sword before they disappeared. They moved in closer to him, but he flew into the air evading them, yet they followed him up. Vegeta flew around them across the sky before landing back on the lookout and looking to the Byakuya who remained embedded in place.
"What is this trick?" Vegeta raged.
"No trick." Byakuya responded in a far more docile tone. "This is the release state of my zanpaktou. My shikai; Senbonzakura. You may think me defenseless, but I am far from it. You see, I have a thousands of blades to fight with." he waved his hand and another hail of pink came at Vegeta. Vegeta raised his hands above his head and fired a blast up at the oncoming pink mist. His blast travelled through the sky, but the pink blades swerved around it evading his blast which continued on aimlessly in the air. Vegeta's eyes then went to Byakuya. He snapped his arms out a fired blasts from his hand towards him, but he remained motionless.
The blast travelled across the top of the lookout and towards Byakuya, but before it could hit him, the pink wave appeared before him taking the brunt of the blast.
In the aftermath of it, Vegeta saw Byakuya clear as day, standing in the same spot. He bounded off his feet and flew towards him throwing a punch. It would have connected with Byakuya's face had he not waved his hands and the pink blades not swarmed in to protect him, just as it did before. Vegeta's knuckles singed against the blades and he backed off, but the force behind it was so great that even Byakuya and the blades had to move to dodge it. A hint of shock was on the captains face. Vegeta threw a kick instead which was blocked as well by the blades cutting into him, but Byakuya still ducked behind them.
He brought his arms parallel to each other and a purple aura began to build all around him. He shot his arms forward and unleashed a blast with it.
"Galick Gun!" he cried as it flung forward at Byakuya and he disappeared into the void of purple that overtook him. When it cleared there as no sign of Byakuya or any of Senbonzakura; only a noticeable top half of the lookout that left with it.
Suddenly Byakuya appeared next to him.
"So you moved?!" Vegeta let out. He threw a punch which was Byakuya evaded, but he responded by slashing his hand across Vegeta's chest which Senbonzakura followed cutting him. Vegeta cried as blood spilled out before punching Byakuya so hard he fell back and off the lookout. He looked on contently as he saw him fall over the side.
"Vegeta he-" Dende call out.
"Let him drop!" Vegeta said crossing his arms, content with his performance and Byakuya's fate "Good riddance."
"He can fly." Dende finished. As if on que Byakuya appeared up and over the side of the lookout once again and graceful placed himself back on the edge; a nice streak of blood coming from the edges of his mouth covering his chin completely. He swung his sword again, and it disintegrated as he did; no command was said.
The pink blades resembling cherry blossoms flew through the air towards Vegeta. He readied himself. He fired numerous blasts from his hands, but no matter what he did Senbonzakura swerved around evading him. It came down upon him now, and he jumped into the air as it came crashing down tearing into the lookout before moving up to follow him. Vegeta would not play this game, however. He flew right towards Byakuya ready to break through his defense and beat him into submission. He swung down at him only to have his fist grind against the fractions of blades once again. Then they shot out to attack him before he could and jumped back away.
Vegeta starred down Byakuya as he held his sword in his hands. Nothing else entered his vision.
That was until a green dot hurled itself over the side of the lookout and landed right behind Byakuya. The Captain's eyes rolled back to see what it was.
"I have made it!" Rock Lee declared triumphantly "And in record timing! Korin said so!" he said before picking up a sack filled to the brim with Senzu Beans and tossing it up and down in his hand "He also said I should take some of these with me. He said some evil doers made their way to the top and there was no way of knowing what was going on up there."
Although he didn't show it Byakuya was certainly puzzled by this new development, despite his silence. He looked to Vegeta out of the corner of his eye.
"A comrade of yours?" he questioned.
"A leech more like it." Vegeta retorted.
"A LEECH?!" Rock Lee shouted over Byakuya.
"You know, I rather like the sound of that." Vegeta grinned at himself "Lee the Leech. Has a nice ring to it."
"I will contest that very much." Rock Lee pointed a finger as if it were a sword to Vegeta. Caught between the two, Byakuya's eyes rotated to who ever was talking. "I was told of a dastardly foe awaiting me up here. An arrogant man of some royal bloodline. And here I find you!" he pointed across to Vegeta.
Vegeta scoffed "I'd say you're close, but still far from the truth. Try again, let's see if you can get this right." he mocked him as he crossed his arms again. Vegeta watched as Rock Lee put a hand on his chin and began to scrutinize every one else up here in the lookout. He seemed fascinated with Dende, and Vegeta was certain he would accuse Mr. Popo next, but he passed over both of them he looked to the man right in front of him. Tall and grim in a white cloak over a black kimono. He had a high white collar with gold lining the cloak and a hairpiece on his head. He had a blank stare allover his plain face as he looked down at Lee "Do you know who he's talking about?" he asked the Captain.
"Hardly." he admitted coldly. At that exchange Vegeta couldn't contain himself.
"It's him, you idiot!" Vegeta roared pointing at the soul reaper and Lee's eyes bugged open when he finally pieced it all together. And he looked to Byakuya differently now.
"Alright then, I will not be left out any longer." he raised a finger to point it at Byakuya "I hereby challenge you to fight. I have been gearing up for a big one and will not be denied now." he rambled on as Byakuya slowly raised his hand. Lee reached out and pulled out nunchuk's and began flailing them with both arms "To make it a fair fight I will fight you with my own weapons!"
Byakuya swiped his hand through the air, and a swarm of pink petals overtook Lee from all sides and encompassed him. Disappearing inside it, his cries of agony were let out almost instantly. Vegeta's eyes bulged open at the sight. Without hesitation, he bounded off the floor and darted across towards Byakuya.
Byakuya prepared himself for an attack and it came, but not how he expected. Vegeta swung at him with his leg, but instead it moved passed the captain and cut through his swarming shikai. It parted from his blow and inside of it, Lee floated. Suspended in the air, Vegeta reached out to grab him before turning back to Byakuya who had taken shelter behind his countless blades that retreated away from Vegeta and back to him.
Their eyes locked on each other in a cold hard glare, attempting to read the other's movements. But both remained in place.
Lee hung from Vegeta's right arm, and the two remained grilling the other down. Vegeta's face was scrunched up in anger as Byakuya's was hidden behind the calm demeanor. Vegeta knew they were still not the only ones there, however.
"Hey!" Vegeta snapped causing Dende and Popo to stir "Get over here." They stalled looking at Byakuya "Get over here now!" Vegeta shouted. The two scurried to his side and Vegeta whose eyes remained on Byakuya; the two caught in each others stare. Standing up straight and reaching his arm out with Lee still in his grasp "Take care of this." he demanded and chucked him at the two of them who caught him before carefully lowering him to the ground. Vegeta then put his fists up "I'll take care of this." Byakuya eyed him with a emotionless caution. "Some warrior you are, picking on helpless children."
"When faced with an adversary you do not allow it grow stronger." he stated.
"Hm. Well your about to face just that and now you'll learn it's I you should worry about." Vegeta said bending over and clenching his fists.
"I thought you said he was not your ally." Byakuya stated "It appears you're unable to convince yourself otherwise."
"A pest may be a pest." Vegeta replied smugly "But the bigger nuisances always get beaten down first. And the only thing I'll have to convince is you of your defeat!"
Then suddenly a huge gust of wind blew at them, coming right from being centered around Vegeta. Most hunkered down, but Byakuya seemed unaffected as his coat and hair blew wildly about as he remained in place. Then their eyes were blinded by a bright light, and everyone covered their eyes, save Byakuya who remained focused on it ahead; to Vegeta where it originated. When it dimmed Byakuya peered forward to see Vegeta, but he looked different. His blue sleeveless gi, white boots and gloves remained. His hair had now changed to yellow. His eyes were blue and he was surrounded by a bright yellow aura.
"What is this?" Byakuya asked "Some kind of release?"
"The greatest kind." Vegeta bragged " The ascended form of a Super Saiyan. A super Saiyan 2!" Byakuya raised an eyebrow.
"A second release?" he said puzzled "Not without skipping a level I assume." The change in him was apparent, but his the change of appearance reminded Byakuya more of a Hollow's Resurreccion than anything else.
"Your assumption is correct." Vegeta said "But it won't matter because in a few moments you'll just be a smear under my boot." The second his sentence ended Vegeta exploded towards Byakuya. He quickly waved his hand to have his shikai block for him... but Vegeta made contact first. Before they could move to stop him or defend their master. He swung his fist up to Byakuya and made contact. Vegeta grinned when he saw the Captain curl under his new fearsome might. But when he looked again, he saw something different.
Caught in Vegeta's fist wasn't Byakuya himself, only his white coat hanging from his fist.
"What?!" the prince let out. He was just here, he was sure he hit him!
"I detest using that technique." Vegeta heard his voice let out. He turned to see him, now only in black with his back to him "or anything learned from that woman." some spite and a hint of embarrassment emoting from his voice; all from bad memories. He turned to view Vegeta who tossed his Captain's coat away, it floated on the wind and laid itself out over the ground. "Utsusemi." he named it, but it mattered little to those he said it to.
Vegeta roared at him once again. The increase in his speed alarmed Byakuya, and he quickly raised his free hand at him. A golden spark snapped at the edge of his fingers.
"Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō" he said and six golden rods appeared and smashed into Vegeta attempting to hold him in place. But it was just that, an attempt. Vegeta powered up once again and the rods were forced off him easily. He advanced on Byakuya again with even more fury and rage. He raised his hand again "Hadō #33. Sōkatsui." A massive blue blast shot away from his outstretched hand and towards the charging saiyan. It was so large it almost encompassed the entire lookout.
Vegeta dove through the blast, it having no effect on his just like the last one. It didn't even slow him down. Vegeta broke through it until he was standing before Byakuya himself. He brought his fist down to hit the Captain but he had disappeared from his sight the second his punch would have hit him.
Grimacing Vegeta stood in place and looked around the lookout seeing no sign of him anywhere. Vegeta let out a might yell, his head on a swivel looking for Byakuya. He let out another one before sending blast out in every and any direction regardless of where he was hiding or not. When his volley finally ceased he looked around and still saw no sign of him.
"Come on out and fight!" Vegeta roared, but he received no answer. "Hide all you want, it will do you no good!" he stomped his foot shaking the lookout and causing a small crater to form in under his left boot "That's it! Keep hiding coward!"
"Coward?" Byakuya repeated. Vegeta snapped his head to see him standing before the doorway of the building "Me?"
"Enough of this!" Vegeta roared "Stop running or drop that sword and fight me like a real warrior!" Byakuya didn't stir from yet another outburst at first. But then he slowly moved to do something. He held his sword out before him yet he did not point to towards Vegeta or even up, but instead pointed it down to the ground. He loosened his fingers allowing it to drop to the ground. Vegeta let out a smirk, but Byakuya remained stern. Vegeta's cockiness it turned to surprise when the sword dropped into the ground and seemingly became absorbed by it.
"Bankai." Byakuya's calm voice bellowed.
Suddenly everything became dark, the sky, the lookout; everything. Rising up from the darkness flanking them were two rows of a thousand giant pink blades. Then as soon as they all appeared, they started to break down into tiny pink fractions. They resembled cherry blossoms as they broke down and the quickly took shape and swarmed around it's master; Byakuya.
"More flowers?" Vegeta said.
"It's as you said before." Byakuya said "The greatest kind." he repeated him "This is the ascended form of the shikai of a zanpaktou; Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. Now you will feel the real might of a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guards Squads." he boasted in his own dreary voice. As if on que without so much as a movement from Byakuya the ocean of pedals maneuvered towards Vegeta.
Vegeta dashed away and hurled a blast at Byakuya, but there were so many blades in the air that some had stayed behind to deflect the blast, while other's still advanced on him.
Two swarms broke off and came at Vegeta from both sides. He quickly jumped into the air and flew high above the lookout to evade them. But soon enough those two groups and more were coming up at him.
"How many of these blasted thing are there?!" he shouted as he shot blast down, some which hit others which didn't, but they all kept coming at him while Byakuya remained on the lookout watching him from below.
"It doesn't matter how many there are." he admitted aloud "Thousand's perhaps." he answered somewhat ambiguously "but enough to perform both offense and defense unlike before."
Vegeta swatted some away before outmaneuvering another two which came at him from behind before moving even higher. But no matter where he went the pink fragments of blades followed him. And now he saw so high up that Senbonzakura Kageyoshi had encircled him from all sides and closing in.
It came from all sides.
"You delay the inevitable." Byakuya said as his blades encircled Vegeta "You cannot hope to dodge them all.. Vegeta remained where he was as Senbonzakura Kageyoshi fell in around him, crashing into him at all sides; rocking like waves against the rocks and he was lost in it. "A great warrior race?" he questioned as Vegeta disappeared into the pink abyss "I see why they left you behind." He turned his head to see Dende and Mr. Popo with Rock Lee resting against them. "Now time for-" he stopped short when a muffled cry could be heard from above.
From above them all the pink barrage was suddenly ruptured apart. Standing in the middle of it all was Vegeta who didn't have a scratch on him.
"Impossible." Byakuya muttered, allowing shock to show on his face "The only time that's happened is-" his Bankai began to swarm Vegeta again, but no matter how many came at him or from what side his hands and feet darted around blocking each one "..Ichigo." Byakuya said.
Vegeta let out another deafening roar and unleashed his energy from all sides scattering the Bankai's blades all around. When they dispersed, he saw Byakuya down below; blatantly surprised by the display of strength just now. But he was not the only one watching from down low.
Lee watched from below, his head propped up by Mr. Popo as Dende healed him, but his eyes were stuck on the fight.
"I have seen this before." he groaned as he watched the battle above him with one eye open "No." he declared "I have lived it." he suddenly realized where it all happened before. Memories came back to him of one of his greatest triumphs. He thought long ago when he battled Gaara. When he pierced what was supposed to be impenetrable. When he broke through the waves upon waves of sand and hurt him. Looking up now even though they were two distinct figures above, Lee couldn't help, but feel like seeing Vegeta fight in his ascended state against the endless waves of pink blades was that not dissimilar from his own experience all those years ago. This realization coming over him. He opened his mouth wide and shouted with all the power of his youth "GET HIM VEGETA! EXPLODE WITH THE POWER OF YOUTH!" he cried.
The cheer from below echoed high above and it rang in Vegeta's ears as he soared toward his opponent. A smirk grew on Vegeta's face, and Lee smiled a bit to himself as he saw Vegeta charge down to take the fight directly to Byakuya. 'This Super Saiyan..' he thought as he winced 'not dissimilar to the Eight Gates.. what a fight it would be' he sighed and closed his eyes.
Vegeta flew himself down at Byakuya at incredible speeds as Senbonzakura Kageyoshi reformed itself behind him and struggled to keep up with his pace.
He was before Byakuya now and reared his fist once again, but Byakuya's face had returned to it's default look. His face did not seem to move or register anything. It was only now that he was before him that Byakuya made a movement. A slash up with his left hand.
It was in that moment that Senbonzakura Kageyoshi seemingly reacted fast enough to bring itself to block Vegeta's punch. His fist grinded against the countless blades before him. They ate away at his glove, quickly making it to his bare skin. Blood began to mix in with the pink blades looking like blood diluting a running river. Vegeta moved back to strike again. But Byakuya swiped with his hands again and the blades he'd left behind suddenly came crashing at him from behind.
Vegeta flew out of the way and the blades parted around Byakuya, retaking their place amongst all the others. Vegeta eyed him quizzically.
"What is this? This sudden increase in speed? These blades weren't that fast before!"
Byakuya was silent for a few moments before responding "You are correct." he said blandly "Unlike it's previous form, in Bankai I am not required to move my hands to control Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. Instead, a mental link allows it to go where I command." he paused his droning "You were fast enough to strike away the blades of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. And that would certainly have been my undoing." he admitted "However," he raised his hands, and the blades followed his motion "by exerting myself just a little more and controlling the movements with my hands in Bankai I am able to increase the speed of my countless blades." he swayed his hands once more demonstrating the potential as the petals followed suite around him.
"Ha!" Vegeta scoffed. Not impressed by this display "Is that the best you have? The addition of mere hand gestures?! Hide back there all you want! I've gotten you to move before, and I will again. I'll just pound into each and every one of your blades!" he declared.
"Many have tried." he warned placidly.
"And I will succeed!" Vegeta roared before charging him taking to the air again. Byakuya swung his arms and a wave attacked Vegeta. Vegeta swerved up and swung sideways as he barely managed to block and received another cut across his chest from it. He flung a blast at Byakuya who raised both hands to have the blade petals of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi block for him. And they did just that, but not without taking damage and parting from it, revealing his face behind the petals of his bankai. Leaving him completely unharmed.. and open for an attack.
Vegeta swung forward with his knee, driving through Byakuya's defense and striking him in the chest. Then he flung his left into his neck and blasted him away. Smoldering in place Byakuya raised his arms and Vegeta's right arm was covered in pedals. He let out a groan as he fought through the pain and unleashed a blast from beneath the blades. Light began to shine and break through them before it erupted completely scattering them and revealing his bare arm to be completely red as blood flowed from all over. The blades were soon back at him, covering both of his legs as he jumped to soar into the sky. He hurled a blast at them, but down below Byakuya raised his arms and moved them out of the way. The two hordes at his legs were joined by other's that danced around Vegeta.
In response he would swipe away any that came to close while blasting away others that even tried to move against him. But it seemed the longer he stayed up there the more seemed to appear and attack him. Then the assault stopped and he was about to find out why.
He looked down to see Byakuya watching from below, but without any protection from the tiny blades. Instead, all of them had risen up to assault him together as one. He looked around to see from all angles and sides the tiny countless pink blades.
"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi Gokei." Byakuya spoke the name of the attack.
Swirling around the opponent in a spherical formation, the blade petals of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi encircled the Sayain prince. Then all at one they flew into the target from every and all angles. There was no possibility of escape, before the pedals collapsed in on themselves with Vegeta caught in-between them. A pink explosion let out, lighting up the sky and illuminating everything below.
Dende, Rock Lee and Mr. Popo looked on in awe while Byakuya did with disdain. He would not be making it out of this one unscathed. The explosion diminished and the pink fragments reformed into a blade and returned to his hand. As they did Vegeta dropped from the sky landed on his knees across from Byakuya on the lookout. He starred over and got a look at his opponent.
Deep bloody cuts lacerations were littered over his body, but despite his pained breathes, he looked determined to continue this bout. He reared his arms up and leapt into the air, flying to face him again.
He swung at him, his fist once again outracing his blades and this time he knew his fist connected when the Captain was forced down to the floor. Keeping him close Vegeta raised his foot and stomped down on his head; a pool of blood starting to bury his face in the cracks of the tiles. He did it again, but the tiny pink blades appeared to stop his foot. Eating away at his boot and preventing him from stomping down gave Byakuya enough time to disappear leaving only a blood filled crack in the tiles. Reappearing behind him he slashed his sword across Vegeta's back spilling his blood onto the ground and even himself. Vegeta quickly swung back with a kick which Byakuya hardly managed to evade before disappearing from all sight. Suddenly Vegeta spotted him across the lookout, and he flew over to get him.
Standing still Byakuya readied himself. Now it seemed that Senbonzakura Kageyoshi had lost it's form of it's flowing endless waves to take on that of a pink sword in Byakuya's hand. The same way they had when he used them against Renji when he first challenged him. Though Vegeta was proving far more challenging.
Reaching him, Byakuya swung up sending Vegeta into the air with a slash. He shot up to follow as Vegeta shoved his right hand forward and grabbed his head on one side then brought the other over to do the same. Byakuya slashed him again disconnecting the two as they parted crashing against the edges of the temple before coming back down.
Vegeta rushed forward and grabbed him by the head and forced him to the ground as he began to drag him. He reared up to throw him but Byakuya flash stepped himself free and came from behind Vegeta slashing him again. Vegeta the recoiled from the slash as blood spilled out before him. He swung a punch as Byakuya crouched down and then shot up sending Vegeta up and crashing into the temple. He followed him up and pinning him there with his blades before slashing him across the chest again. He then waved his hand and a pink fury swarmed Vegeta and dragged him across to the other side.
Vegeta suddenly burst free from it and came at Byakuya who flash stepped out of the way again.
Byakuya charged him with his blade the tip heading straight for Vegeta. Who at the last moment grabbed ahold of the edge and sporadically stopped Byakuya's advance. His palms bled from his grip and seeped through his fingers. Then he jumped up and then shot down at Byakuya putting all his force forward dragging his back across the grunt as he went. Byakuya then stopped and rose up so the two faced each other now, his hand on the sword hilt and the blade as Vegeta buckled down on the blade entirely with both hands. The two pushed against each other with neither budging. Vegeta pushed forward having the blade cut into the chest of Byakuya.
Byakuya then tore the blade free and swung at Vegeta from one side, but he ducked under it. When he rose back up, he swung again and Vegeta darted forward to elbow him in the face. His blood smeared onto his elbow. He thrust forward with his shoulder sending Byakuya back and then hurled a blast at him. It seemed to explode on impact, but little did he know that it was Utusemi being used again.
Byakuya now hovered above him with his sword pointing down at his head.
"I'll put an end to this chaos." Byakuya declared.
He shot down at him, but Vegeta leapt back as he shot down at him. He snapped his elbow forward impaling it onto Byakuya's face, an explosion of blood overtook his elbow as he did. As he dived forward elbow first Vegeta then swung his lower body forward to follow, this time having his leg surge forward to connect with Byakuya's head sending it into the side of the temple shattering it.
Vegeta dived forward with another punch. Byakuya slide his body evading it and then plunged his sword forward into Vegeta cutting him along his ribs opening his blue gi as red ran down his right side. Vegeta stumbled back and lashed his fist out at him Byakuya evaded the furious blow. He jabbed again cutting towards Vegeta's face, but he ducked beneath it as it passed above his spiky Super Saiyan hair. His aura blew brighter as he bursted forward grabbing ahold of him.
Vegeta tackled into Byakuya sending the two tumbling across the lookout. The two skidded away across the tiles separating further as they traveled. Both were quickly back to their feet. Vegeta raised his hand and shot beams at Byakuya. They took the forms of small circles and wrapped themselves around his neck and arms. When he was pinned in the air as Vegeta raised towards him. Byakuya struggled in the grip unable to wave his hands to force his Bankai to aid him, it was too slow without to it to catch up to Vegeta as he came at the defenseless Byakuya.
At the last moment, he flash stepped out of it before Vegeta could hit him. Then he swung forward with a punch to his gut. Vegeta reacted quickly and elbowed the back of Byakua's head sending him down. He turned around and swung down at him again, but Byakuya moved out of the way and with a pink sword manifesting in his hand, stabbed him in his leg. Grabbing onto his hand and the hilt it held, Vegeta kept him in place and began wailing onto his face pummeling him with his free hand turning his face into pulp. Blood fell from his eyes like tears and poured out of his ears onto his face. Then he picked him up, head butted him and slugged him sending him reeling across the sky. Looking down he saw the blade disappear from his leg yet the open wound now began to flow blood. He looked to Byakuya who stood himself up, blood flowing from his mouth and nose; the rest of his face already covered in blood and swollen. Vegeta himself had his clothes torn with deep cuts and lacerations all over his body, one glove and one boot practically eroded away.
Vegeta hurled a blast at him, and Byakuya swung his arm bringing Senbonzakura up to deflect the blast. The two raced towards each other without a moments hesitation. Byakuya swung his sword, but Vegeta ducked. He threw a kick, but Byakuya dodged before swinging his sword at him. Vegeta moved back, but it slashed his across his right bicep. Then Byakuya plunged his sword right through Vegeta's stomach.
Blood began pouring from his mouth as Byakuya stood before him. Without hesitating he grabbed the sword and pulled himself closer to him. Byakuya moved to pull the sword out of Vegeta and slash him again, but Vegeta unleashed a blast point blank into his face. Byakuya fell back, and Vegeta planted both of his feet into his chest sending him hurling back across the sky. He raised his right hand and charged up another signature blast and fired it at the tumbling Captain.
"A little going-away present for you!" Vegeta sneered before he unleashed it; his Big Bang Attack.
Byakuya's red face looked up to see the oncoming attack.
"Bakudo # 81 Danku" he let out and a clear but strong shield appeared before him. The blast travelled through the shield shattering it and Byakuya moved out of the way in the last second "That seal is incredibly powerful. The strength needed to shatter it-" he stopped as Vegeta appeared before him kicking him in the gut causing him to bend over. He connected his hands above his head and slammed them down onto Byakuya sending him plummeting down to the earth below.
Byakuya crashed down into the earth landing deep into the ground. Vegeta came down after landing no top of him and smashing him even deeper into the ground, cracking it further amongst the blood spattered rocks. Dripping with blood, he reached down to grab Byakuya and hurled him over his shoulder back into the air. He flung another blast at him and when it hit a large explosion erupted through the sky. Byakuya fell from the sky and landed on the ground, on his knees in a much similar fashion as Vegeta had before. He gripped his sword tightly and the two jumped into the air and flew towards each other.
Byakuya buried his sword into Vegeta's left shoulder, then from behind another pink one manifested and stabbed through the right one. Byakuya then raised a finger to Vegeta's forehead.
"Hadō #4. Byakurai." he said as a pale light was emitted from his finger and shot out to burn into Vegeta's forehead. A smoldering black hole was made on it, but nothing else "The last time I used that technique it went right through." Byakuya commented.
Vegeta then flung his head forward and knocked into Byakuya's before placing to hands on his chest and prepared to blast him into nothing. Then two more swords appeared and stabbed through Vegeta's legs pinning him to the ground and into his arms to try and stop him. Fighting through the pain Vegeta went through anyway and blasted Byakuya away who disappeared behind a bright light.
Looking ahead after it cleared, Vegeta saw only the entrenchment he caused among the ground, stretching back as far as the eye could see. Then appearing in the middle of the trench with the top half of his uniform burned off was Byakuya. His bare pale torso was soon muddied as blood trickled down from the open wounds on his face and dirt and grim stuck to him. He got to his feet and raising his sword he swung it down as two more pink ones dropped onto Vegeta. Flying forward he dodged those and others as he rocketed towards Byakuya. When he made it, he threw a punch which Byakuya dodged.
Then he came at him with a series of rapid sword swipes. Vegeta dodged each one while throwing his own blows at him which were dodged as well. Moving to his left side Byakuya jutted his sword hilt into his left cheek. Vegeta swung a leg up to kick him back. Turning his sword and jutting forward, he knocked the hilt into Vegeta's nose. Blood flowed out, even getting on his hands and the sword hilt. Vegeta reached out and grabbed Byakuya by the throat with his left hand and with the second snapped forward and cracked him in the face. The two stumbled back from each other in the aftermath of the blows.
Byakuya lunged forward knocking the hilt into Vegeta's forehead sending him down. Vegeta dropped to one knee, the other remained up to keep himself in the fight. On his knees Vegeta placed his right hand onto his right knee to prop himself up. A wrong move as at that moment Byakuya dove down driving the blade not only through his hand but his knee as well pinning in there. Vegeta hurled his head back in a blood soaked cry. He raised his free hand up to blast Byakuya at point blank range but the Captain pivoted on his feet and lifted his sword up and Vegeta with it sending him crashing across the ground and his blast was deflected away to destroy the mountains on the outskirts of their battlefield.
Landing on his feet Vegeta surged towards Byakuya punching him in the gut and raising his fists into the air as Byakuya had just done to him before blasting releasing a blast onto him.
Byakuya vanished in the flash of light that overtook him yet in the middle of his blasts eruption a pink sword still appeared next to Vegeta's outstretched arms over his head and stabbed through his forearms connecting them. Vegeta cried out as his blast faded from his hand, yet Byakuya was not longer in sight.
Vegeta reeled back on the ground the sword still stabbed through both his arms, blood pouring out from them as they were held together by the sword.
A simmering scolding Byakuya appeared before him; smoke rising off of him from the blast with blood still pouring down over his body. But Vegeta stood back with his arms still embedded by the sword. Another one came into Byakuya's hand and he swiftly came at Vegeta. He jabbed at Vegeta cutting him across the side of his neck as he barley managed to evade the blow.
The sword in his arms then disappeared and Vegeta clung his fists together and hurled them at Byakuya. They connected with his face knocking him back as another swing upwards from them sent him reeling the other way. Blood flailed off of Vegeta as he swung and out of Byakuya as he was hit. Vegeta let out a fierce bloody cry as he slammed it down on the top of Byakuya's head hitting him hard.
Byakuya slashed his hand and a pink sword flashed at Vegeta. He leapt back as the sword cut across Vegeta's shoulder and arm, tracing many wounds he had already received from Byakuya already. The strap over his shoulder fell as it was cut letting fall to reveal even more of his scarred bloody chest.
As he did, the arm that wasn't hit hurled a blast at him. Byakuya sidestepped it as it travelled past him and exploded in the distance. Both found their footing, but did not remain there for long.
Then at the same time, they both jumped into the air and came at each other again. Byakuya swung his sword. Vegeta flew over it to deliver a kick. Byakuya ducked and jabbed up. Vegeta kicked the sword away and would have kicked him had another one not appeared and he chose to dodge that instead.
The two blood soaked warriors continued their battle in the air. Byakuya swiped at him, but Vegeta moved back throwing a blast that he blocked. The two continued swirling up and around Korin's tower as they duked it out encircling it and swerving at all sides as they ascended. Sword jabs, fist, kicks, blasts, waves of pink and powerful blows were exchanged as they passed up the to the top of the lookout and the petrified Korin and Yajirobe.
"Get em Vegeta!" Yajirobe cheered.
The two fighters kicked off the other as they made it to and passed the top once again. Rising above the structure they starred off on opposite ends of the lookout. Watching from the edge of lookout they could see Dende, Mr. Popo and Lee's head swerve up to watch them.
They didn't notice the other large group approaching their ensuing battle.
Breathing heavily and painfully the two's blood dripped off their bodies before falling back down to the top of the lookout, high above the world below.
"I've put up with this for far too long." Vegeta spat.
"Will you step aside then?" Byakuya said.
"No." Vegeta grinned "I'm going to wipe you from existence!" he declared.
"Very well." Byakuya said finalizing his position.
Vegeta spread his arms out wide and must have looked like a pretty revealing target for Byakuya as he floated before him. But with all the energy he was gathering up he was prepared to end this in one big Final Flash.
"Prepare to witness the true form of my zanpaktou." Byakuya said just as grimly. Then strangely his body began to glow like Vegeta's only his was pink. but it wasn't his body doing so, but his own blood splattered all over him. It began to glow before rising up to mix with the pink blades. Everything started to become dark like when he first released his bankai and just like that, appearing all around them were swords suspended in the air as if hanging on a wall that wasn't there. It looked as if they were cut off from everywhere else and in a world of their own. "Senkei." he said as the rows of blades flowed around them. "This is the form that abandons all defenses. I reveal only to those who I am determined to kill. You mark only the third who has seen it."
"I don't care!" Vegeta shouted ""I've had enough of your swords! And soon you'll be finished along with all of them."
"This fight will come to its end now." Byakuya agreed "but by my hands." he stated and a surge of bright white energy flashed over him, masking him completely before it grew out behind him to form to massive overbearing white wings and hovering behind them was a round white halo. "Shukei Hakuteiken. All my swords you revile so much have been condensed into one, amplifying it's killing force." That did not deter Vegeta.
"You'll need that halo." Vegeta grinned "You'll be dead soon. I'll send you there myself!" Vegeta shouted as he swung his arms forward and was ready to unleash his ultimate attack. Calling a pure white sword to his hand Byakuya was ready for this attack no matter how great.
"Vegeta Stop!" a familiar voice suddenly commanded from the darkness.
Stalling his blast Vegeta turned his head to see of all people Gohan coming at him. The swords and the darkness left and the normal blue sky returned. Looking further past Gohan, Vegeta even saw Piccolo touch down onto the lookout with Dende, Popo and Rock Lee. Accompanying him was a masked man with white hair. His attire was like Vegeta's long and blue to cover his entire body including his face. Yet like Vegeta's it had bloody patches and tears through it yet his face remained obstructed.
Vegeta saw though that he was not the only one who was getting greetings. Running over to Byakuya's side were to women; one petite with black hair to match her robes, the other had dark skin and a curvaceous body in a torn up uniform.
"Brother!" the smaller of the two let out.
"Little Byakuya." the other said playfully. Though he was not one to display emotion, even Byakuya seemed somewhat surprised by the developments and stopped.
To some of the onlookers, it seemed that more had come to the fight. But even Rock Lee standing behind it all wasn't forgotten in all the commotion.
"Reinforcements." he said aloud and prepared to take a step forward, feeling better and ready to render aid himself "I have to-"
"Don't worry about it too much." a calm reassuring voice let out as a hand was placed on his shoulder, effectively stopping him. Turning over he saw some one who looked faintly familiar standing over him.
"Kakashi-sensei?" he asked needing clarification. Kakashi nodded. Lee took another moment to look over the Jonin, taking a good look at his current battered state. "If I may say sir, I have seen you looking better."
Kakashi put his hand uncomfortably behind his head "Well, it's along story." he admitted, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"Here." Lee held up the bag "Have a bean." he offered.
"Thanks, but I've just eaten." he chuckled uncomfortably and put his hands up defensively "You keep em. We may need them soon enough." Lee looked up to him curiously.
"Get out of my way!" Vegeta snarled at Gohan before pushing him aside. He was prepared to continue his fight.
"They're not the ones were after." Gohan tried to assure him, but Vegeta was worse for wear and just as ready to press on.
"No, but they're after us!" he shouted enraged as more blood fell off of him "Look at what's happened here! To everything!" Despite being so dismissive of this before Vegeta was entrenched in it now.
"I don't know everything that's happened Vegeta." Gohan admitted and that was more than enough for him to here. He peered at Byakuya over Gohan's shoulder. Who eyed him with the same intent despite being stopped himself. "I think I know someone who does." he said before running off, putting himself between the two parties. Vegeta was about to fly forward and fight again, but stalled now.
What could he possibly mean by that?
Next time: A Sage vs A Saiyan vs A Substitute! The Final Battle comes to a conclusion. The Prophesied Battle Part 2! The Truth Revealed!