Chapter 41 (Kumiko)

There's a moment before a Zanpakuto and its Shinigami fully release their combined power that the air stops. A brief pause—the calm before the storm. It's like Nature is bracing itself for the brutal force about to be unleashed onto itself.

The rumbling of buildings and earth ceased. Maxed out spiritual power plummeted for a moment. Like the final milliseconds before a bomb went off—the silence lasted forever. And then all hell broke loose.

"Bankai."

Hisoka and everyone around us was knocked off their feet. Others took their battles elsewhere, away from the scathing heat of my sword as it disintegrated. The searing heat crept into every inch of my skin, muscles, organs. I became my Zanpakuto. Its power swished through my blood. Infinitely powerful, but only for as long as I could hold this form. This state tore my Soul Chain apart with its power—which meant I only had five seconds to finish Hisoka off.

Easy.

Just as he got back onto his feet, I appeared in front of him and slammed my foot into his cheek. He grunted and flew backwards. But he managed to catch himself quickly and made his swing at me. I dodged him the first time. The second time. The third.

Hisoka smirked and disappeared. For a brief second, the quiet took over us again. And then his sword drove itself through me—just he had done to my daughter.

"Kumiko!" I heard someone shout in the distance. Kisuke.

I couldn't hear him over my rage. Over my laughter. This stupid fuck was dead.

His sword sliced through my torso, but what happened next shocked him into a frozen state. The two halves of my body mended together within seconds, and I tackled him. I only had two seconds left.

"That's a neat trick, Kumiko, but I'm afraid it won't—"

My hand braced itself over his face, gripping the sides of his mask. He growled and struggled against the heat rising in my palm. But he couldn't escape. He screamed as I burnt him away. I screamed too as my skin melted away and gave way to the lava-like embers that burnt underneath.

Jigoku no mouka. A Zanpakuto forged in the fires of Hell. A dark, raging power consumed it. No one would ever properly wield such a lethal sword.

But I had used it well. Even with a fraction of its power, I watched as lesser-ranker Arrancar melted around me. Hisoka was nothing but ashes in the wind.

I looked up at Aizen as my vision began to fade. He smirked, "How scary."

The zanpakuto ripped away from my body, blinding me with agony.


The ground was warm. Melted. I lay on warped concrete from one of building that had melted in the heat of my Bankai. Plenty of other buildings were destroyed around me, but not of my doing. The battle had lasted long after I had lost consciousness.

Now, I lay in the quiet wasteland of the fake Karakura. Not a soul was in sight.

I crawled up the inclined slab and peered over the edge. Shinigami gathered. They were turning over buildings to look for those who had fallen in the battle. I looked around and found Tessai and a few from Squad Four in a makeshift clinic. A large Senkaimon was open as well, where injured Shinigami were being rushed back to the Soul Society.

"There you are."

I looked over my shoulder and frowned, "I'm surprised you have a scratch on you, Yoruichi."

She smirked, "I'm surprised that you're alive. You were basically a corpse when you collapsed after your battle."

"Where's my daughter?" I slumped up against a steel girder to support me. I needed to stand up and find Shizuko.

"She's back at the Soul Society," Yoruichi surprised me by wrapping my arm over her shoulder, "Captain Unohana thinks that she'll pull through. But there might have been some damage to her Soul Chain."

I shut my eyes and felt tears escape down my cheeks. She was alive. All the strength left my body and I would have fallen if it hadn't been for Yoruichi. She helped drag me to Tessai.

"Kisuke…" I whispered as I was forced to lie down in a stretcher, "Where is he?"

Yoruichi didn't say anything for a moment and dread took a hold of me again. Where was he?

"We haven't seen him since Aizen was defeated—"

I shoved the Squad Four members from making me sit down again. My feet were on the ground again and I looked around frantically.

"Ma'am, you need to come with us," One of the healers tried to convince me but I ignored her.

"We're going to find him," I looked at Yoruichi, who nodded. She grabbed me again and we began to limp our way through the rubble again. After a while, I gritted out to her, "He's not dead."

"I didn't say he was."

"Your silence is," I stopped as we reached a tall vantage point. There was no sign of him. Panic squeezed me tight and I fell to my knees. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my hands to the ground, "He's not dead."

I concentrated. Beads of sweat rolled down my neck as I forced my mind to focus on the spiritual presences around me. Yoruichi was beside me. I could sense the large gathering of souls by the Senkaimon. A few here and there, most likely sifting through the rubble. But no Kisuke.

No Kisuke.

And then suddenly he was behind me. Like he had materialized from thin air. I turned to him and found him wearing his clever, stupid cloak—the one that masked his presence.

"Kisuke—" Before I could get a word out, he picked up and gathered me in his arms. I shut my eyes and began to cry, "You stupid moron. I couldn't find you."

"You shouldn't be out here," He whispered, "You're hurt."

I pulled back and cupped his face. He smiled crookedly at me, but his eyes were pinched with worry. Shizuko wasn't out of the woods yet.

"I'm fine…" I whispered, "But I need to go back to the Soul Society."

"Byakuya went back with Shizuko," Yoruichi murmured, "She's with someone. But Kisuke and Tessai…they aren't allowed back still."

I swallowed hard. Kisuke pressed his lips against my cheek, "Go."

"I'll let you know what's happening," I wrapped my arms tightly around him as he took us to the Senkaimon, "I love you."

"She'll be okay. Don't worry," He set me down in a stretcher and smirked, "Now behave for the Squad Four members. Don't be too difficult."

"Don't tell me what to do, old man," I smirked as they carried me off. He held onto my hand until he couldn't anymore, and I smiled as he whispered back…I love you too.


Hey guys! I am so sorry for the LONG hiatus but I'm back! 2020 turned out to be an absolute nightmare, like I'm sure it was for many of you!

I have spent quite a weekend busting out the rest of these chapters! Luckily the whole story is plotted out--just need to actually write the chapters!

Expect a lot of updates because I'm busting this baby out so I can get back to focusing on writing my own book!

Thank you for your patience!