Chapter Two
When Hollows Attack
Two Days Later..
Nick heard the shrill alarm tone echo throughout the underground canyon at Dominic's shop. He looked over at his sister, who oddly enough had little Kyo perched on her shoulder. "Dominic, what is that?" He asked as the shopkeeper appeared next to them.
"There are several Hollows appearing downtown. They don't register as being very strong, so do you two think you can handle it?"
"Isn't there a Soul Reaper patrolling town, though? We'd get found out as being unknown parties." Suzanna brought up.
"From the information I have, the patrol went back to the Spirit Plane late last night. That means you both are good to go." Dominic noticed a look in Nick's eyes: worry. "Saryna will be fine. She's stronger than she looks. I'll make sure she stays that way."
"Nick, come on," Suzanna said, placing Kyo back on the ground. "You need something to take your mind off of her." Saryna had been undergoing the procedure Dominic had told them about, hoping the Arrancar girl would truly regain her humanity. Needless to say, Nick hadn't gotten much sleep since he had been told, and his focus was truly lacking because of his now constant worrying.
He nodded. "Yeah, we can take them. It gives me a reason to really try my Zanpaku-to out in battle." Nodding, Dominic waved them off, both teens hurrying back up the ladder.
Meanwhile..
Saryna sat down in the manifestation of her soul, a stormy landscape with a pond full of koi fish in the center. Staring at the pond, she saw the ripples from the drops of rain falling from the thundering clouds, wondering why she was still inside herself when she could swear she had done everything Dominic had advised her to.
"You've done what you needed to. Except for one tiny little thing." Said the manifestation of her Hollow powers, or Resurreccion, Songyo.
"What? What tiny little thing?" Saryna asked the spirit, who chuckled.
"You can't become what you seek until you can call your other half's name. Your Zanpaku-to. You do realize being one of those Visored people means you can use both sides of the coin, right?"
"But how do I speak with them? With you it was easy, I've been an Arrancar for almost a year now."
"You called out to me to speak to you. What makes you so sure your Zanpaku-to won't answer like I did?"
Saryna sighed. "Guess you're right. Here goes. Zanpaku-to, hear my plea. Come speak with me, she who rules over this soul."
"Hmmph." Came a new voice. "Took you long enough to even attempt calling on me." Looking in the direction the voice emanated from, Saryna saw a man dressed in a lavish golden robe, flames and lightning bolts adorning the fabric. "Now, why do you summon me?"
Saryna could sense the authority this new spirit held, yet she did not hesitate to answer. "I wish to unlock my Soul Reaper abilities, the very powers you allow me to wield. It is that simple."
"And why would you want my powers all of a sudden? That defender over there gives you access to much power as is."
"Because I didn't ask to be what I am. It was forced onto me, and if unlocking your abilities means I can go and even attempt to live a somewhat normal life with my friends once again, then that is what I am determined to do."
The Zanpaku-to spirit laughed. "And what makes you so determined, exactly? The friends you were forced to leave behind? The family that mourns your former passing every day they continue to live past their lost member? Or is it the boy you regret never being able to confess your true feelings for? While some spirits would take these responses as good enough to allow the use of their powers, I do not."
"Yes, all of those reasons pertain to me, but my true purpose to obtain my full potential is to protect those I care for and to defeat those who would harm them. I may be an Arrancar now, but I am not heartless like my former comrades. I'll only ask once more. Allow me the use of your powers!" Saryna half-shouted, ready to battle the part of her soul if she had no other choice.
To her and Songyo's surprise, however, the man chuckled. "Good. Now that was the answer I was looking for. Very well, I shall grant you my power. But know this: soon you must bring both mine and your soul's other half into total balance, otherwise you will never reach the peak of your potential. Go forth, girl, and call out my name! For I am-"
Saryna's eyes opened to find herself now in the canyon under Dominic's shop, Dominic looking at her in both surprise and anticipation. Taking a breath, Saryna held her hand out. "Call upon the thunder, lightning and rain! Come forth, monarch of destruction! Roar, Ghidorah!" Dominic had to shield his eyes as a burst of light radiated from the young Arrancar, engulfing part of the area in pure white.
As the light receded, Dominic was amazed at the scene before him. Saryna stood there, three golden spears floating behind her. She was no longer dressed in the white uniform of the Arrancar, but in a black form-fitting suit that resembled exercise clothes. The choker made of bone was gone, replaced with a black mesh choker with a purple charm in the shape of a raindrop dangling from the middle above her chest.
He also noticed that Kyo no longer had the Hollow mask on his face as well, making Dominic assume the bond between him and Saryna caused him to shift as she had. Looking around, she frowned as she noticed the absence of the twins. "Where are Nick and Suzanna?"
"While you were still undergoing your heart-to-heart, Hollows appeared downtown. I sent them ahead. Do you think you can handle a Hollow so soon after unlocking your powers?"
Saryna nodded, the spears behind her moving in synch with the girl. "No way to know without trying." Before Dominic could reply, the former Arrancar was already halfway up the long ladder to the surface.
Shaking his head, he looked at Kyo. "You have any abilities you wish to share, my little friend? It wouldn't be the first time a cat gained spiritual abilities." Kyo just stared at the man.
Downtown..
Nick slashed at one of the several Hollows that had appeared, slightly surprised the sealed Zanpaku-to didn't do more than a harmless scratch to the Hollow's hierro. "Damn it! Guess I have to turn up the heat," Placing one hand on the flat of the katana, he continued. "Fires born deep in the Earth, incinerate those that oppose you! Burn, Katonryu!" The katana was engulfed in flames as Nick swung it to his side, the flames dissipating and revealing a greatsword with a red colored blade. He smirked as he saw the Hollow begin to charge at him. "You asked for it, now. Spiraling Flare!" As he swung his sword, a stream of fire flew towards the enemy Hollow, curling in on itself like a spiral as it hit the Hollow in the chest, causing a large scorch mark to form.
The Hollow bellowed as it raised it's claws, throwing them down and causing four streaks of energy to fly towards Nick. A wall of ice formed in front of Nick, caused by Suzanna who had swung her icy staff around and bonked the Hollow she was dealing with in the head, a frozen spot forming. "Thanks, sis!" He called.
"Don't thank me, just pay more attention. We don't want you getting killed already." Suzanna called back as she twirled her staff around, causing several parts of the Hollow she was fighting to freeze over, shattering when she struck the same place a second time.
Nick rolled his eyes and brought his Zanpaku-to up to block another attack from his own Hollow, wincing from the force of the blow. "You know, these guys are stronger than I figured they would be."
"Maybe if you focused on the fight, brother." Suzanna said, shaking her head as another Hollow fell to her Yukihime.
"I am focused! But these guys seem to not stop coming."
The Hollow in front of Nick shrieked as it attacked him again, the teenager blocking and then striking when he found an opening. Time seemed to stop, however, when a new voice called out. "Lightning Storm!" Suddenly, the Hollow Nick was fighting and several others were struck by white bolts of lightning, leaving the fewer numbers of Hollows looking around to see where the attack had come from.
Suddenly, as the jump Nick made indicated, Saryna was standing next to him, her three spears twirling behind her. "I heard you two could use a hand." She said, smiling.
"Saryna? Thank God you showed up. And looking.." Nick couldn't find an appropriate word to describe her new look, although his Hollow was cackling madly in his head because of his thoughts on the matter. "Anyway, that was some attack."
"I know. But that's not my only trick. Ghidorah, skewer." On cue, the three spears behind her stopped twirling and shot forward, stabbing three of the remaining six Hollows straight through their masks, the dark souls disappearing.
"Ghidorah? Like King Ghidorah? Nemesis of Godzilla?"
Saryna looked at him, obviously not realizing the connection. "That's where I've heard it before. No matter. Let's finish these guys. Combine!" Saryna's spears flew to her hand, the three combining into a single spear topped with a trident formed from lightning bolts. Without another word, she sped off toward one of the last Hollows, leaving the other two to the twins.
Nick slashed at his own Hollow, making a long gash across it's chest, causing it to shriek in pain. The Hollow kicked out, Nick jumping backward to avoid the sharp claws on it's foot before slicing at the leg, severing it from the rest of the Hollow's body. "I won't be beaten by a shithead like you." He said before stabbing his greatsword through the Hollow's mask, killing it and sending it's spirit particles back to the Demon Plane.
Suzanna, thanks to her Zanpaku-to's ability to freeze her enemies on contact, had less trouble than Nick did, easily disposing of her Hollow foe with a few well-placed whacks of her staff. She breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the final Hollow speared through it's mask, Saryna smirking as she did so. She's actually really dangerous with that Zanpaku-to. Suzanna thought to herself. Maybe Nick was right to worry about her changing..
Once every Hollow has been taken care of, the trio breathed synchronous sighs of relief. "Not gonna lie, that was tougher than Dominic made it seem." Nick said, to Suzanna nodding.
"You're right. He made it seem like it would be one-two-three. But, thanks to Saryna.."
"Yeah, that was amazing. Your Zanpaku-to is ridiculously powerful. It's a good thing you're on our side, Ryna."
"Thanks, Nick." Saryna smiled, hiding the slight blush that crept up her cheeks. "I think I'll head back to the shop, then. Can't very well walk back into my house, yet."
"True. We'll stop by tomorrow after school, yeah? Before Suzanna's date."
Saryna gasped. "No! Elliot finally grew a pair?"
Suzanna's face was priceless. "Does everyone know about that?"
Saryna shrugged. "I don't know. Seemed more than obvious to me." She giggled.
"Oh yeah? Like your kind of obvious?" That quieted the former Arrancar, who gaped at her friend. "I'm kidding. Are you alright to get back to Dominic's by yourself?"
"Yeah, I should be fine. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Saryna smiled as she turned to make her way back to Dominic's.
Suzanna looked at Nick, tilting her head in Saryna's direction. After a few moments, he realized what his sister was trying to tell him and nodded, rushing to catch up to their formerly-deceased friend. "Wait up, Saryna." The girl turned back to him. "Mind if I walk you back anyway? I.. I wanted to talk to you."
"Of course, Nick." Saryna replied as the two continued walking in the direction of the Santos market.
For a short while, neither teenager spoke. Until Saryna spoke up. "Everything alright, Nick?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Everything's great. Listen, I.. God, I'm bad at this." Nick chuckled, shaking his head.
"Oh, come on. It's just me." Saryna said, smiling.
"I know that." Nick sighed. "When I heard you had died in that crash, it.. It sent me to a bad place. To be honest, I never really left it. But, I was getting over the grief of losing you. Then I found you, injured in the park the other night.
"I didn't realize it was you, though, until you told me your name the next day. At that moment, I really thought that my life had turned into some weird, ridiculously twisted nightmare. And I know that makes no sense, but I can't help but be a little scared of you."
Saryna had stopped walking, Nick continuing several steps until he realized she wasn't right beside him anymore. As he looked at her, she frowned. "Why would you be scared of me?"
"Because at that point you were technically a Hollow, a creature whose decisions are based on pure primal instinct. Not to mention the whole eating other Hollows for power thing. I was scared that even if this process was successful that you would still be affected by being an Arrancar for as long as you were."
Saryna stepped forward again, smiling softly. "And what, after these last few days I've been back, would make you think that?" Nick mumbled something, too low for Saryna to hear. She took another step closer. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
Nick sighed. "My Hollow.. He said that you were the reason I would lose focus in a fight. And he was right. Saryna, if anything happened to you, especially so soon after I've gotten you back.."
"Don't finish that sentence, Nick. I am more than capable of taking care of myself. But, it's nice to know you worry about me. And it's incredibly sweet." She had taken another step closer to the somewhat brooding boy, their chests now touching each other.
Nick hesitated. "Saryna? What are you up to?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
The girl giggled. "Something I should have done a long time ago, you big dummy." She said, leaning up to kiss him.
For the second time that day, time seemed to stop for Nick as his mind tried and failed to function properly as the girl he had crushed on for years kissed him. When she brought her face away, both teens were panting slightly. When he regained control of himself, Nick chuckled. "I've waited so long to be able to do that, too." Before Saryna could say anything, Nick had pulled her close and kissed her, this time more passionate than hers.
They stayed like that for several moments, neither wanting to let the other go. But, the need for air was eventually too much as they once again separated. Saryna giggled, leaning her forehead on Nick's upper chest. "How long?"
It took Nick a moment to register what she was asking. "Since about fifth grade. Maybe fourth."
That surprised Saryna. Nick had been hiding a crush for her the same length of time as she had for him? "Why didn't you ever say anything?"
Nick chuckled. "Honestly? I always thought you were too good for me."
"You big dummy. Come on, let's get me home so your mom doesn't think you got yourself killed." She laughed, intertwining her hand with Nick's as the two began walking again.
The rest of the walk passed in comfortable silence until they reached the Santos Market. "Well, this is me.." She started.
"For now. Soon, Dom will do whatever he will to make everyone think you were just gone for a while. Or something. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Saryna nodded, smiling. "You better. Night, Nick."
"Goodnight, Saryna." Before she entered the shop, she leaned up and kissed Nick one last time, giggling.
Negron Household, A While Later..
Nick entered the house with a goofy-looking grin plastered on his face. Suzanna, sitting on the couch, smiled. "Looks like someone had a good walk."
Nick plopped himself on the couch next to her. "We kissed." He said simply.
Suzanna gasped. "No! Really? I thought you were only going to talk to her about your fears?"
"I did. Then she confessed, and I confessed and well yeah."
"Aw, you two. So, are you like together now?"
"I.. Don't know, actually. Oh well, a question for another day. I'm gonna go shower. I feel disgusting after that fight."
"Go ahead. Your body is still laying in your bed." Suzanna said, making Nick realize she wasn't in her spirit form any longer.
"To be honest, I forgot we weren't in our regular bodies." He laughed as he made his way up the stairs to his room.
Spirit Plane..
Captain Henry Sykes looked up from the paperwork on his desk as his second-in-command of his upcoming coup entered his office. The Soul Reaper, Sykes' lieutenant Kieran Lowry, nodded as the Captain acknowledged his presence. "There are reports of unknown Spiritual Pressure in Crystal Springs. It seems there are three signatures that went and wiped out that little attack party you sent."
Sykes scratched his chin. "Three, you say? Well then it can't be that fool Santos. He never was the biggest combatant. However, if he knows anything of our long-awaited plans.."
"Come now, Captain. You know as well as I do that Dominic Santos can't possibly know that you are both the reason he was banished and the leader of the upcoming war."
"Indeed. But he may be behind these new reapers. Dominic Santos is one of the only beings left in the Living Plane who could possibly find living souls with the ability to become reapers."
"Other than the few Quincy that escaped the Thousand-Year Blood War, of course."
"Yes, but those bow-using imbalances wouldn't know who to choose and would more likely cause the emergence of a new breed of Hollow."
"And wouldn't that be terrifying? A weapon possibly better than your already perfected Arrancar."
"Silence, Kieran. Nothing could be a better weapon than my Arrancar. Even with them bickering with each other as they have been. Is there any word on the member who was banished by the other Espada?"
Kieran frowned. "Not as of yet. But, I took the liberty of sending one of them after her. The best tracker your current regime has spawned."
Henry smirked evilly. "Good. We can't have little Saryna spoiling the surprise to any Soul Reaper who decides to listen."
Demon Plane..
"Are you sure you're ready for the task?" Asked Roman as he stood in the doorway of the other Arrancar's living quarters.
The athletic Arrancar with platinum-blonde hair turned to the elder Arrancar, a glare evident in her face. "Of course I am. It doesn't matter what kind of history me and Saryna shared. Hunting her down and killing her is the will of our lord, and such I will carry out."
Roman nodded. "Very well, Phoebe. Just don't let your guard down. A Hollow, even pacifistic, will not hesitate to defend themselves. Even more so for an Arrancar." Phoebe waved the other Arrancar off, finishing her preparations.
Living Plane, Negron Household, Later That Night..
Gianna sat in her bedroom, her cell phone to her ear. "Are you sure, Dominic? They're just kids, and you're preparing them to be thrust into an upcoming war?"
"They might be the best hope we have at winning. This war has been a long time coming, and even the full might of the S.P.A may not be enough to combat it." Came Dominic's voice over the phone. "If there was anyone else I could even think to bring everyone together, when we truly need it, it's those twins of yours. Saryna was.. An unforeseeable variable that luckily enough works in our favor. Not to mention the other kids in their school who have their own abilities thanks to Nick constantly leaking his Spiritual Pressure before I helped him reign it in."
"Others? Dominic, we can't hope to keep all of them safe! Sooner or later, these Hollow or Arrancar are going to be too much for them, how do you expect to help these other teens who have inherited some kind of spiritual powers when they most likely won't have the Hollow or Soul Reaper powers Nick, Suzanna and Saryna have?"
Dominic laughed. "You let me worry about all of that. For now, concentrate on the twins. If I know what's to come, then they're the prime targets to draw out and initiate this Soul war."
Gianna sighed. "Alright, fine. Have it your way. Just know that if anything happens to my children-"
"I know. I'll welcome death by your hands if this doesn't pan out. I'll keep you posted about anything I hear through my extensive grapevine." By grapevine, Dominic meant the ridiculously well-hidden cameras scattered about the Spirit Plane. They were most likely the reason why he knew about this war he had called to warn her about.
"Alright. And don't forget. I may have stopped using my powers, but if you need me, I will fight."
"Of course, Gianna. I would imagine so. Sorry to keep you up. Goodnight." Gianna hung up without returning the statement, settling instead for laying back in bed, her mind unable to stop worrying about the safety of her kids.
Spirit Plane, Squad Ten..
Elias Negron was woken up by a knock on his door. "Come in." The door opened to reveal Captain Carlisle.
"Evening, Elias. Sorry to come by so late, but I had news I figured you might like to be aware of." He revealed a tablet from his pocket, offering it to the former Captain.
Elias took the small computer and watched as the battle that had occurred earlier in downtown Crystal Springs played. Instantly, he recognized Nick and Suzanna. His eyes widened at their fighting prowess and was more surprised when a third figure appeared, eliminating several enemies at once. "Those two are my kids, sure. But, who is this second girl?"
The Captain shrugged. "We don't know. She only just showed up now. I figured you might have an idea, but apparently not. Maybe if you see the zoomed shots of her face." He took the tablet and played with it a bit, handing it back to Elias, who gasped. "Do you know her?"
Elias hesitated. "I think so. But, from what I hear from our old friend back in the Living Plane, this girl died almost a year ago. Friends with my twins, I believe. If she is who I think she is, they were all close since even before I died again. No idea how she has such powerful abilities, though. She is very impressive."
Carlisle nodded. "Indeed. I thought you would like to see how that old friend has been treating your family, especially with rumor of a war coming."
Elias looked at the Captain with a glare. "What war? Tell me what you know?" With that, the Captain began explaining what little information he had to share.
The Next Day, Crystal Springs High School..
Nick, Suzanna and Elliot were sitting in homeroom when their teacher, Mr. Beck, cleared his throat. "Attention, students. We have a somewhat new student joining us after being away in Europe for the last several months. Please, come in." The door to the classroom opened and in walked Saryna, Nick looking at Suzanna 'That was fast.' He mouthed.
'Dominic is a strange man.' She mouthed back as Saryna took a seat next to Nick. "Oh, hey." He smiled, chuckling.
"Hey, yourself. Hi, Elliot. Congrats on the date tonig-ow! Zanna!"
"I have an image to maintain, Saryna." Suzanna said simply, turning around.
Saryna laughed, leaning back in her new seat. "Oh, it actually feels good to be back in school." She said.
"And it's even better having you back, Ryna." Nick smiled, remembering their little talk the night before.
Elliot saw the look that passed between his best friend and the girl he hadn't heard anything from in almost a year. From the looks of it, he would have guessed they were dating. "Did I miss something?" Even Suzanna laughed at the irony of his question.
Lunch Period..
Elliot was the only one not sitting in the quad outside the cafeteria when Nick turned to Saryna. "So.. How did Dominic manage this so quickly after you awakened your second powers?"
"He told me neutralized.. No, that's not the word. Oh, he neuralized everyone in the city last night other than you two and your mom."
"Neuralized? Like, as in Men In Black?" Suzanna asked, dumbfounded.
Saryna shrugged. "Who knows? Dominic's weird as fuck."
"Got that right," Nick laughed. "Way to surprise us though, showing up in homeroom."
"Yeah, Dominic thought so too. Figured he might as well get me out of the shop, I guess. I can go home whenever I want and change out of these clothes." It was then the twins actually looked at what Saryna was wearing.
She had on an outfit that neither sibling had ever seen their friend wear before. She had a dark purple tank top (with no bra as far as Nick could tell, not that he was going to say anything or admit) and black, very form-fitting yoga pants. She still had the choker they had noticed the night before after the battle. Seeing the looks on her friends faces, Saryna frowned. "Too much? Too little?"
"No, it's not that." Nick defended quickly. "It's just.. Different than what we're used to you wearing, that's all. I like it."
"Of course you would, you're a guy," Elliot said, sitting down at their table. "And Saryna looks absolutely hot now."
"Gorgeous, not hot," Nick said. "And back off."
"What? I have Suzanna, remember? And it's not like you two are together, right?"
"Not official until after tonight," Suzanna interjected. "And these two are a long story." She laughed at the identical frowns Nick and Saryna gave her. "It is!"
"Yeah, and we haven't fully discussed it, yet." Nick said, ending the conversation.
"So, Saryna, where have you been these last eight months exactly? Europe looks small on a map but it is pretty big."
"Um.. Italy, Venice to be exact but I also spent a month in Paris and a week in London. Honestly, though as beautiful as Europe was, nothing beats being back home in Crystal Springs."
"I bet. Especially with how crappy the weather is always advertised in London." Elliot laughed.
"Oh yeah, way too much fog and it was still summer when I went, so it was ridiculous humid."
Nick was surprised how easily Saryna was able to carry on the lie of a story, but Dominic probably coached her a bit before he sent her to the school. "When's the movie tonight, anyway? And what are we seeing?" Suzanna asked Elliot, poking him with the end of her spoon.
"It starts at seven, and it's that new horror movie."
"Wait, you mean Return to the Cave? The sequel no one saw coming but always expected?"
Suzanna rolled her eyes. "Of course you know it. You were obsessed with that movie when it came out. Why don't you see it, then?"
Nick looked over at Saryna. "You want to?"
"I don't know, Nick. I kinda got sick of it after seeing the first with you so much." She teased, making Nick groan. "But, if you're actually asking me out.."
"Of course I am, why wouldn't I? And it's not like I'd neglect someone so damn beautiful sitting right next to me." That made Saryna smile. "And we would be sitting far away from these two. I'm not getting kicked out of this movie because Elliot tried something stupid."
"Not gonna defend your sister?" Suzanna said, feigning shock.
"You can handle Elliot. I worry about him more than you." Nick laughed.
"Whatever. I guess we'll all meet up at the theater then?"
"Yeah, sounds good." The bell rang, signaling the four minutes the students now had to reach their next class.
As the group walked back into the main building, Nick noticed the corner of Saryna's messenger bag pull open, revealing a single slitted eye. He walked up next to her. "Saryna, did you really bring Kyo to school?" He whispered.
"Yes! I had to, Nick. Dominic thinks since Kyo changed back into a regular cat as I shifted from Arrancar to Soul Reaper, he has some kind of abilities. I wasn't going to leave the little guy at the market alone with him." She whispered back.
Nick nodded. "Good point."
Suddenly, another voice made itself known. "Hey, guys! Oh, Saryna, you really are back. I thought it was just baseless gossip." Said another of Nick's friends, the fifteen year old Leo Solari.
Saryna giggled. "Hi, Leo. Just got back home. And much happier for it. Europe just wasn't the same without you guys. Shame to hear about Phoebe, though."
Leo frowned. "Yeah. Although, I could have sworn that you were with her that day." Nick and Saryna exchanged a look before she spoke.
"No, I was supposed to be with her that day, but my parents sprung our extended vacation on me a couple days earlier."
"Looks like the other rumor was right as well." When the two looked at him confused, he sighed. "I overheard a couple of the other junior girls saying that you two were now dating, and complaining that Saryna's only been back less than a day and that she's probably a witch or something."
Saryna pouted. "Give me names, Leo! I can guarantee they didn't say 'witch' and those girls need to pay." Her anger dissipated, however when Nick's hand squeezed her shoulder gently.
"Listen, bud. We haven't really discussed it, yet. Just be careful around Ryna for a bit with what you say, yeah? She's more dangerous now than she was before she went to Europe." Seeing the serious look on Nick's face, Leo nodded and bid them farewell, rushing off to his next class, the two doing the same.
Later That Night..
Nick, Elliot, Saryna and Suzanna were exiting the theater, Nick most excited of all from the movie. "Definitely worth waiting like eleven years."
"As long as you're not watching it over and over for months on end once it's been released on DVD, I can agree." Saryna giggled, taking his hand in hers.
Suzanna laughed. "I'll walk you home, Elliot. Nick, you got Saryna, right?"
"She's not leaving my sight. I'll see you at home."
"Later," The younger twin said as her and Elliot walked off in the opposite direction as Nick and Saryna were headed.
Ten Minutes Later, Crystal Shores..
Suzanna and Elliot stopped at the front door to his house, both unsure of what to say next. "So, you had a good time, right?" Elliot asked, surprising Suzanna with how nervous he sounded.
She smiled at him. "Yes, I did. But, I'm not making us official. Not just yet."
Elliot shook his head. "Kinda figured that. Well, do I at least get a kiss goodbye?"
Suzanna giggled. "Why not? I think you deserve it, for behaving so well tonight." She leaned up, pressing her lips to Elliot's in a chaste kiss before turning away. "Goodnight, El."
"Night, Zanna. Be safe getting home." Suzanna gave him a thumbs up as she continued walking away, back towards her and Nick's house.
Meanwhile..
Nick and Saryna hadn't yet reached the girl's house as of yet, opting for sitting down at the nearest bus stop bench. "So, about us.." Nick began, stroking Saryna's hair behind her ear. "What do you want?"
"I want us to be together, officially. Nick, when I originally died last July, you were the only thing I could think about. I knew Phoebe, myself and Kyo would all most likely die, but all my mind kept telling me was that I would never get the chance to tell you how I felt for all those past years. You and Suzanna were there for me, for everything I needed someone there to help me through.
"When I was with you, I always felt safe. I still do. And now I can't even think of what I would have done if you hadn't come and found me the other night."
"I couldn't ignore the feeling you needed help, even if you were technically the enemy that night," Nick smiled. "I don't care what kind of screwed up shit you wound up doing while in the Demon Plane. All that matters is that you're here. And I'll always do everything I can to protect you, when you need it."
Saryna giggled as she kissed Nick briefly. "I know, Nick. Thank you, for everything.." Her voice trailed off as she felt something coming. Something she recognized after being an Arrancar. "Oh no."
"Aww, look! It's the forbidden lovebirds, reunited. Nice to see you're making friends with the enemy now, Saryna." Came a voice from behind them as the two teens jumped from the bench moments after it was cut in two.
Saryna growled. "Of course it was you! What? Soul Reapers don't like their pet projects being exiled by their own, so the bastard had to send out a hunting party?"
The new arrival emerged from the shadows, revealing an Arrancar that looked around Nick and Saryna's age, an impossibly long sword in one hand as the other waved platinum blonde hair back over her shoulder. Nick noticed the Hollow bone creating a belt across her waist, and the hole to go with it poking out from above the belt. "Don't be like that, bestie. The Master only wished to have you back. He's even being generous enough to take you back." The sinister smile the new girl gave Saryna made Nick reach in his pocket for the Soul Candy dispenser in his pocket.
"No, Nick. This is my fight." Saryna said, taking the item and releasing her spirit form. It was then that Suzanna showed up, in spirit form and Yukihime in her hand causing a small cloud of vapor to form around the ends.
The look of shock on her face as she looked at the new Arrancar spoke volumes. "Phoebe?! Fuck, Saryna wasn't kidding when she said it was better not to know what happened to you."
"Oh, and Suzanna. Good, now are you coming back with me or not, Saryna?"
Saryna handed the dispenser back to Nick. "Go to hell! Roar, Ghidorah!" The still-sheathed katana on her hip disappeared, reappearing as the three spears behind her.
Phoebe narrowed her eyes at her former friend. "By the way, where's your outfit? Decide white wasn't your color?"
"I'm not an Arrancar anymore." Saryna said before rushing towards Phoebe, the Arrancar bringing her own sword up to block Ghidorah's spears from coming in contact with her.
"Either way, if I have to kill you, I will. Our past be damned." She jumped away from the redhead. "Plow, Kuroshi!" Phoebe's body was engulfed in a black flare of spiritual pressure, dissipating to reveal a monstrous new form.
Phoebe was now standing at just over seven feet tall with black and white stripes resembling a tiger's. There was a long, pointed tail and each claw on her now hands and feet were the color of blood. The only thing about her that still resembled a human was most of her face, which now sported whiskers as well. "Let's see how you handle me now, Saryna!"
Nick instinctively released his spirit form, releasing Katonryu immediately. "Nick, I said no. This is my fight." Saryna repeated.
"Your fight is our fight. I'm not losing you again."
"Ugh! You two make me sick! Fime, have it your way and die together." Phoebe growled out, rushing the other teens.
Nick blocked one strike with Katonryu, the greatsword leaving a small steaming area where the Arrancar's hand had hit the blade. That arm reeled back as Phoebe released a hiss when Suzanna swung Yukihime and froze the arm in place. "Saryna, now! We're not powerful enough to completely stop her yet."
"Got it. Lightning Storm!" The attack she had released the night before streaked out at Phoebe, shattering the frozen arm and leaving a residual shock around the rest of Phoebe's body. "Go back and tell your master that even he won't be able to stop us from coming after and killing him."
Phoebe screamed, an inhuman sound that echoed throughout the area before a garganta ripped open behind her, the Arrancar nursing the now stub of an arm as she went back from where she came. "I'll be back!" They heard Phoebe call as the garganta closed.
The three teens relaxed until another new voice was heard behind them. "Seriously, what the fuck did I just watch?" Turning, everyone saw Elliot standing there, unsure of who to look at more.
"Elliot? What the hell are you doing here?" Nick asked.
"I could ask you all the same! What the hell is going on?"
Nick looked at Suzanna. "Maybe you should explain it to him." Suzanna hesitated but nodded, going back into her body.
"Come on, Elliot. These two still aren't finished, I think." Suzanna looked at Saryna, who nodded somewhat shyly.
Begrudgingly, Elliot followed Suzanna away as Nick and Saryna just stayed where they stood, sealing their Zanpaku-to and returning to their bodies. "That was something." Nick stated.
"Yeah. Nick, thank you, again."
"There's no need to thank me, Ryna. I'll always be there for you. I made a promise that I wasn't going to lose you again."
Saryna smiled. "I know. And I love that. I just can't believe that they'd send Phoebe, thinking I would falter because she was my friend."
"Don't worry. Next time we see her, we'll be ready. For now, I think we both need some rest. And there's no doubt Elliot will assault us with questions later."
The girl giggled. "Yeah, but that's probably your fault, leaking your spiritual pressure unknowingly before training with Dominic."
Nick nodded. "Guess you're right. So let's go, I'm still walking you to the door." Rolling her eyes, Saryna took Nick's hand again as the couple walked the last few houses down to hers.
Stopping at the door, they turned to each other. "Well, I guess this is goodnight."
"Yeah. Goodnight, Nick. Stay safe." Saryna smiled, kissing him.
"You too, gorgeous. I'll shoot you a text when I get home." Nodding, Saryna went inside as Nick turned to go back home himself.
Closer to Elliot's house, Suzanna had finished explaining most of their current situation, or at least what she knew. "And that's about it."
"So, you and Nick are some kind of supernatural hybrids, and in some way so is Saryna?" Suzanna nodded. "And that.. Thing that you three were fighting? That was some kind of evil soul?"
"In a sense. But, that was also Phoebe Yates, or what's truly left of her. But, none of that is your problem, El. Although, it bothers me you were able to see all that. As far as me and Nick knew, you didn't have any spiritual sense."
"I don't know. But, maybe we should keep those questions for later. For now, I think I'll just go get some sleep and see you maybe tomorrow?"
Suzanna giggled. "Yeah, I'd like that. Goodnight again, Elliot." She said, kissing him again before turning away to go back home herself.
A/N: Finally finished this one. Originally, I was going to post it once the initial battle was over, but that was too short and I figured a way to expand the story. I also figured every chapter should include moments within the S.P.A and the main (but only first) conspirators and other characters who will all have their roles to play the rest of this planned (but not planned out) series. Until next time, Flurry of Freezing Flames, signing off.