a/n - you like speed? (not the drug, as in velocity... or typing so fast that i can't use my left hand for a while D=)
"Come on; we gonna settle this with words, or with swords… and whatever the hell that weird thing is" Kira taunted, pointing at River
"Riptide Sword Style: Split River" Layne intoned, splitting his hands apart, River forming into Oblivion and Oathkeeper again
"So you weaken" Kira growled
"You don't know what you're talking about" Ichigo replied, rushing forwards with extreme speed, clashing Zangetsu against Kira's scythe
"I've been fighting for longer than you've been alive boy, don't get cocky"
Layne stood back and watch them fight, unwilling to join in as he was now
"Dammit Roxas…is River really all I'm capable of… really, I can talk big… but I don't appear to be able to back it up ,even with my Bankai"
"Mi Gai Dageki!"
One of the pitch black energy bursts deviated from its aim on Ichigo and impacted the unprepared Layne, picking him up and tossing him backwards
"Layne!" Ichigo shouted
"His own fault" Kira replied, grinning widely
"Getsuga Tenshou!" was Ichigo's reply
"What the…" Layne said, looking around at his surroundings "This… this isn't Roxas' lake… this is…"
Layne heard voices from the nearby brown brick house, raised voices
"This is… my house… on that day"
"GET OUT!" a woman screamed "GET OUT, BOTH OF YOU"
"Well you won't find me coming back to this shithole" a male voice replied, one Layne knew all too well "Come on Jed, maybe your little brother will have what we need"
Layne realized he was standing in the middle of the quickest route to Joel's house, so he flipped over the fence, just in time to avoid being seen by Kieran and Jed
"I was downstairs… I didn't move to help Mum, because I was sure I couldn't do anything"
The scene froze and Roxas' voice sounded from behind
"Yeah, you didn't do anything and someone you cared about got hurt"
"What could I do Roxas… I was weak"
"You're being weak now"
Layne felt ashamed, a burning shame that spread from his toes
"What can I tell you Layne, Man the Fuck Up, anything you can do will be better than standing around getting hit by pitch black energy bursts"
Layne said nothing
"…you can go back to classic Layne anytime now"
Layne turned around, and stared at Roxas "I'm going to start over again… from here now"
"Since you put it that way" Roxas said, snapping his fingers, causing Layne to disappear
"Dammit Layne, how come I don't see a proverbial fire in your eyes but rather… churning waters?" Roxas whispered to herself
"Dammit all" Ichigo growled, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mount with the back of his hand
"I was surprised you managed to cut me with that blunt sword of yours" Kira commented, inspecting the gash in her arm, through the sleeve of her blood red shihakusho
Kira grinned a little "That was fun, but I'm over this, Haburi Kei Gai!"
Black rectangles formed in the spaces between Kira's scythe blades and triangles thicker than Kira's fist formed from the ends of that
"Ready to die?" she said
Layne woke up on his bed, hearing voices upstairs, and realized what he had to do almost instantly
He jumped out of bed, realizing he was dressed in his normal street clothes, instead of Shinigami uniform
Pausing only for a moment to pull on some fingerless wool gloves, that he felt accentuated his current style, he ran up the stairs and into the firing line
"Just give me the money mum" Kieran said, standing near the front door where Jed was waiting outside
"For the last time Kieran, you've stolen enough from me over the years for me to give you any when you ask politely"
"But you said we'd discuss it" he said obnoxiously
"That doesn't mean yes!"
Kieran made a grab for Kathie's purse, but Layne reached his hand out and grabbed Kieran's arm in a vice grip
"I'm pretty sure she told you to rack off" Layne said lowly, staring expressionlessly at the face of a man who had harmed Layne more than anything else in the world
"Get the hell off me" Kieran snarled, yanking his hand from Layne's grasp "You little shit, I don't give a shit how old you are, you aren't fucking allowed to touch me"
"Please don't fight" Kathie pleaded "I don't need to deal with this right now"
"I don't give a shit what you need" Kieran snapped at her "I need money"
"What you need" Layne countered, wondering when it was Kieran decided he was going to murder the woman in front of him "Is a good solid thrashing"
"And just whos going to give me one? You?" Kieran snickered "I've kicked your ass so many times its ridiculous"
"Shut up, Kieran, and get away from me" Kathie cut in "Layne, instead of starting fights, go study downstairs"
She retreated into her bedroom, slamming the door and locking it behind her
Layne and Kieran stared at each other silently, until Kieran spoke
"This isn't over you friendless piece of shit" Kieran growled
"Backyard, anytime you're feeling like a man Kieran" Layne replied calmly
Ten minutes later
Kieran appeared, surprising Layne by being so quick
The grass felt cold and slightly damp from recent rain on Layne's bare feet and soaking the very bottom of his jeans
"What are the gloves for?" Kieran said snidely "Afraid your hands are going to get hurt?"
Layne formed a fist with his right hand, coloured normally in this time and answered Kieran's question
"Nah, they're to cushion your face, so I don't hurt it so badly it becomes unrecognizable"
"Oh" Kieran replied with a grin "Well then, I'll let you have one free hit then, see how much damage these gloves will prevent… probably all of it, as shit as you are"
"Don't regret it" Layne said, stepping forward
To Kieran, it looked like Layne threw his arms forwards three times within a split second
That alone surprised Kieran, but not as surprising as what it felt like
Like getting hit nine times, Nose, Forehead, Jaw, Throat, Sternum, Gut, Balls, Bladder and Mouth
Kieran fell backwards, in incredible pain
"You always underestimate people you cocky shit, Of course when you ambush me with ten of your goons and I don't want to cause a scene, then I'll lose… but don't ever get it into your head that I'll let you do to the rest of the world what you've done to this family
Kieran picked himself up
Layne cocked an eyebrow "I knew you were durable, but I didn't expect this"
"You dirty motherfucker!" Kieran howled "I'll fucking kill you for this!"
"You don't have the balls to kill anyone, let alone me"
Kieran cried out like a wounded bull and charged forward "You anime watching, friendless, waste of space, I'll destroy you"
Layne grabbed the back of Kieran's head, and used his own momentum to increase the speed of the knee Layne applied to Kieran's face
"Kai Lo" Layne muttered "A move I picked up, from anime"
Kieran fell to the ground, unconscious
"You appear to have set this occasion right" Roxas commented
"Shame it's only in my head" Layne said regretfully
Ichigo slammed into the ground, right next to Layne's body, just as he was stirring
"About goddamned time" Ichigo muttered
"Sorry, Ichigo… I won't hesitate anymore"
Layne and Ichigo rolled to each side to avoid getting hit by Kira's scythe
"Oh, you're back now are you?"Kira noticed
"Bite me" Layne replied "Bankai!"
The clear glass gloves filled with water appeared on Layne's hands, and in addition, clear water filled sleeves from halfway up his upper arm/to halfway across his forearm,
"Oho"
Kira sliced through Layne's head, then stared in surprise as the water her turned into, that her scythe passed harmlessly through
"Sup" The watery version of Layne said, his words slightly distorted
"What is this?" Kira reacted in surprise, swinging her scythe wildly, dissipating Layne into the sky
"Oh come on" she said derisively "That was almost too easy"
Water formed together, coalescing into Layne's shape, and becoming shinigami yet again
"Surprising isn't it?" Layne said calmly "You can't kill me with force like that"
"Aight, fuck this" Kira declared "I'm sick of you two and your shit, Bankai! Kaibutsu Kira!"
The sheer force from Kira's Bankai blew Ichigo away and Layne managed to dissipate just in time to avoid a similar fate
Layne coalesced, and chain swore, loudly at the sight of Kira's Bankai
A wolf that towered over Layne, easily the size of several football stadiums with a ridicuously sized pair of her Shikai scythes attached to its back. Mounted on its back as well was Kira. In her hands she wielded two double edged scythes, each one easily double the size of Oblivion or Oathkeeper, with a chain running from each end of each scythe to her back.
"OP as shit" murmered Layne
Ichigo flashstepped next to Layne, and glanced at Kira's Bankai, in all it's glory
"Would fuck my life be a fair description?" Layne asked
Ichigo nodded
The wolf swung one of those huge scythes at them, Ichigo dodged, and Layne tried to turn to water, but the scythe seemed to keep him solid, causing massive injuries
"Layne!" Ichigo shouted, then the second scythe swung from the other side and took him out too
Kira cackled evilly
"That was nearly too easy, funnily a lot more fun than a prolonged fight would've been too"
The wolf turned around and headed for the Seireitei
"Oi bitch" Layne and Ichigo said in unison "Where the hell are you going?"
Layne and Ichigo had gotten up, and were now standing still, swords at their sides
Kira turned around, and jumped off the wolf
"You two don't know when to quit"
Ichigo and Layne swung their Zangetsu and Oblivion diagonally upwards, causing a crescent of black and red, and black and dark green energy to fire towards Kira, who was unprepared and took both the crescents head on
"What the fuck" Kira thought surprised by the sheer power imbued in each hit that forced her Wolf Bankai to disappear
Kira took a second look at Ichigo and Layne
Ichigo looked like he was barely standing up, exhausted from the fighting he'd done with Kira while Layne was knocked out, and Kira could see the faintest trace of yellow leaving his irises
Layne on the other hand… had half a mask over the right side of his face, and Ichigo watched in horror as he leapt forwards to Kira, who reflexively blocked his opening strike, but not his vicious secondary leg strike, which took a bite out of her calf
Kira leapt back "What…what are you?" she asked hatefully "Has Seireitei hired hollows to do their dirty work for them now"
Layne didn't reply, just unleashed a flurry of vicious strikes upon Kira, fighting with no regard to his own safety, but not really having to worry since Kira could find absolutely no moment to counterattack
"Layne Stop!" Ichigo shouted "Don't give in to that thing, take control!"
Layne ignored him and proceeded to knock the scythe out of Kira's hands and pushed her her to the floor
Ichigo appeared next to him and blocked his final strike with Zangetsu, keyblade clashing against long sword
With a quick upthrust, Ichigo brought the hilt up and shattered the mask covering Layne's face
The pieces disintegrated as they fell to the ground, and both Layne and Ichigo fell to the ground, ignoring Kira
"I…I can't believe I lost control" Layne said, sounding super shaken, and not seeing Kira swinging her scythe down
"Pound to Death: Bokusi"
Kira's Scythe met Ren's fist Head on above Layne's body
"Ren, is this betraying me?"Kira asked angrily, her Scythe cutting into Ren's hand, even through the glove
"I've been following you since I managed to escape these guys Kira, since we were nothing more than cannon fodder to you, I don't view this as a betrayal"
Ren had an unconscious Tsubaki slung over his back, and he glanced around, keeping an eye out for any of the Gotei 13
"I'm just repaying a favor"
Layne slowly edged his hand over and grabbed Oblivion, which had fallen out of his grasp when he collapsed to the floor
Ren let go of Kira's scythe, and backed away from Kira
"Life for Life, Layne… this was all that I owed you"
Ren started to walk away, but paused and turned back to Kira
"If you don't feel like continuing this stupid pride vengeance thing, I'm sure Tsubaki would love to have you with us, even if I don't"
Kira spat, signifying a negative to that alternative
Ren turned around again and flashstepped off
Kira turned to Layne and Ichigo, lying on the floor
"I'm going to save the best for last here" she said flatly, and she swung the edge down over Ichigo's downed body
Only to stare in shock as a black keyblade penetrated her sternum, and poked out the other side
Layne had gotten up, and attempted to knock her scythe away, but had missed, and stabbed straight through her
"Well" she choked, vomiting up a severe amount of blood on the ground "Who thought a pussy like you could actually kill someone"
Layne said nothing, but stared in shock at what he'd just done
"Shit… I'm actually killing someone"
Kira grinned
"Come on" she choked "How does it feel, watching someone's lifeblood drip down to the ground, knowing that you'll never have to deal with them again"
Layne yanked out Oblivion, which was strangely clean
"Fighting and killing are ways of life…I hope you enjoy this path"
Layne knelt down and cried as Kira died
Much later, when Kyoraku, Ukitake and Yoruichi came to the battlefield, Layne was still crying
"Come on Joel, it's been Ten days since he's spoken a word to anyone, let alone left this room" Moll complained, "I don't even know what happened out there"
"Neither do I" Joel replied "Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake brought him, Ichigo, and Kira's body back… she was killed by one of them, and they said Layne was crying"
Moll and Joel instantly glanced at each other
"You don't think…"Joel began
"Oh no" Moll cut in, kicking the door to Layne's room open
"The fuck? He's not in here"
Layne sat on the Sokyoku Hill, looking down on the Seireitei
"Roxas… I need to know what that thing was… it wasn't the first time it's happened… and it sure as hell needs to be the last"
Roxas didn't answer, and Layne rolled to the side as he sensed a threatening presence behind him
"Tsubaki!" Ren snapped "That's Layne, he's the one guy we can't kill"
Tsubaki withdrew her sword from the ground and sheathed it
"What the fuck are you two doing here?" Layne asked "I thought you bailed ten days ago"
"We needed a place to hide out until they stop watching our Senkai gate" Ren explained "So we were just wondering what the hell you were doing up here"
"Thinking, I've killed someone… what am I supposed to do now?"
"I was somewhat surprised that you survived Kira, to be honest"
Layne turned around
"I realize that with swords it's hard to not kill, but I'd been achieving that thus far, and I guessed I just thought I could continue without having to kill anyone"
"What's so bad about killing?" Tsubaki spoke up
"It makes me like someone who I have sworn not to be like, at all costs"
"Then don't kill pointlessly" Ren pointed out "Kira was probably someone who deserved it"
Tsubaki slapped him
"From your point of view" Ren added hastily "Look my point is, now that she's dead… all the people she killed can rest easy, even though they won't remember it"
"How am I supposed to rest easy?"
"You stopped her from killing anyone else, if she'd been jailed again, then she would of gotten out, and continued her rampage"
Layne sensed Joel and Moll making their way up the hill to him
"You guys better leave, people are coming"
"What, you mean you aren't going to try and take us in?" Ren asked
"If I was Gotei, I'd have to… I'm not though"
"Well, you won't see us again"
Ren flashstepped off, Tsubaki nodding at Layne and following him
"Dude" Joel greeted "Good to see you moving again"
"Yeah, feels good"
Moll gasped theatrically
"Who are you and what have you done with Layne? he'd never admit that moving felt good"
Joel and Layne laughed
"I guess, with friends like these, I really got nothing to worry about… eh Roxas?"
Later on, Layne, with Joel and Moll met Ichigo and Yoruichi by the Senkai gate that would take them back to Karakura town
"Hey Ichigo, Yoruichi"
Yoruichi punched him
"Ow!" Layne exclaimed, holding his nose in pain "What in the world?"
"Next time you have one of your little logic leap, you tell me or Kisuke about it, Technically we are your legal guardians"
"You're kidding me" Layne said
Joel and Moll just laughed
"Traitors" Layne muttered, looking back at them
Ichigo and Yoruichi moved closer to the gate
"C'mon Layne" Ichigo said
"Yeah, gimme a sec"
Layne turned back to Joel and Moll
"Sure I can't convince you to come with?"
"And go back to school? Not a chance dude" Joel replied
"Aight, catchya next time then"
Layne turned around and followed Ichigo and Yoruichi through the gate
Joel and Moll watched as the Senkai gate closed behind him
"It was really hard to say no that time" Moll commented "I really am going to miss that idiot"
"Even though he spent most of his time here asleep or moping?" Joel asked
"Of course, he's always sleeping or moping"
a/n - So it finishes, like a boss
Big shoutout to all who provided me Oc's for this section of the fic, you guys rock
over 100'000 thousand words... and yet i can remember typing almost each and every one, scary isn't it?
also, bugger bleach being on a two week break
You know the drill, green button to feed mah ego =P