SOOOOO I am really, really terrible at writing fight scenes as I have recently discovered. Remind me to avoid them in any future stories. That being said, please enjoy this chapter and accept my apologies for any crapness.
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Chapter 7: Toshiro.
Toshiro's bankai curled around him protectively as his limiter was released and the other 80% of his power coursed through his veins.
He had managed to dispose of the arrancar fairly quickly. The young looking girl didn't even have time to release her zanpakto before he was in front of her, slashing her nose to navel. This time he had the advantage of fighting her type before, knowing full well to destroy an arrancar before they can reach their most powerful form.
She'd be cocky too. She joined in on the Espada's attacks, not thinking she would need to release so early into the fight…but she should have. Toshiro planned to take her out first when he had taken on the two opponents. He knew that the large Espada would be hard work, so he aimed to get rid of the weaker one first in order to focus all his energy on killing the giant currently in front of him. Lucky he had recently gained a lot of experience taking out lowly arrancars without his limiter being removed.
"I am Yammy – Espada Number Ten," the colossal being in front of him boomed, realising the fight between himself and Toshiro was now one on one.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya – Squad Ten Captain," Toshiro yelled back, his vast ice wings stretching out and flaunting his power.
"Another 'Ten', hey?" Yammy smirked, "and captain level too; you must be one hell of a kid."
Toshiro growled but said nothing. He had no time for the insults of Espadas, especially not ones that would soon be dead by his hand.
"Toshiro!" Ichigo called, suddenly appearing beside him, worry etched all over his normally goofy face, "What's happening?"
"Kurosaki, take Abarai and relieve Madarame from Grimmjow. Combine your short range attacks with Abarai's long range and end your fight quickly, no show-boating. Understood?"
Ichigo must have nodded in affirmation for he did not give a verbal answer. Toshiro's eyes remained locked on the Espada; he could not risk becoming distracted and Ichigo would have understood that.
"Now, go! And send Kuchki over here, I want to combine our ice attacks."
"Right!"
"And Kurosaki…"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful."
"You too, Toshiro," the grin was obvious in Ichigo's voice; Toshiro didn't need to turn around to know that.
He felt Ichigo move away and decided to make his first move. Toshiro charged at the Espada head on; keen to see how this large man would respond to such a move. The Espada was big alright, and Toshiro theorised that this might mean he would be quite slow. He clashed his blade against Yammy's tough forearm, skin not even breaking, and then flash stepped behind him – a touch slower than normal – in order to gauge Yammy's reflexes and response time. Hyorinmaru had almost made contact with the skin when the Espada tumbled out of the way. Yes, he would be a lot slower than Toshiro when he was had full speed.
"Captain Hitsugaya!" Rukia Kuchki appeared a few paces to his right.
Toshiro swiped his blade horizontally and sent a massive ice dragon down onto the unsuspecting Espada before appearing at his new team mate's side.
"Kuchki," He acknowledged, "We have never had the chance to test it, but I believe combining our ice attacks may be quite effective, and effective is what I need right now. I've heard you are lieutenant-level in strength now?"
"Yes, Sir!" Kuchki answered quickly, "It would be an honour to fight alongside you and Hyorinmaru."
Toshiro nodded. He had always liked her. She was very respectful to all her superiors and was a very hard working soul reaper. He had no doubt she would do a perfect job as Ukitake's second in command, so long as her adoptive brother allowed her to go for the position. Captain Kuchki was the other reason he had picked her to fight with him; the Sixth Division captain had been quiet clear in their brief meeting before the mission began– his little sister was to come home safely.
Toshiro also liked the way she could slap around her two idiot friends; but he would not tell Ichigo that.
Just as he was about to return his attention to his opponent, he heard the awfully familiar sound of hollows screeching; hollows, as in more than one. He looked up and was horrified to see perhaps a hundred regular hollows emerging from that same rip in the sky.
"Shit."
"Aizen must think we aren't keeping you busy enough, Captain," Yammy mocked, having too noticed their new guests.
Toshiro turned towards Yammy and sent another ice dragon to rain down upon him since he had obviously recovered from the first.
"Oh Captain Hitsugaya!" sung out Kisuke Urahara, appearing on his left alongside Yoruichi Shihion, "How about we take care of those nasty bottom-feeders for you? You've obviously got your hands full down here."
"Do it," Toshiro nodded and the two best friends grinned at each other before rushing up to meet their new opponents, all one hundred of them, but he knew they would not struggle much against those weak things.
Yammy was still distracted with the second ice dragon, so he used this brief moment to visually check on the other battles around him. Madarame and Ayasegawa were fighting the other arrancar; well, Madarame was while Ayasegawa watched on and twirled his finger around his hair, staying back unless he was absolutely needed. Rangiku was on the ground with Inoue – defence stance activated – while Inoue's protective shield was up. Rangiku would be acting as floater, helping out wherever she was needed, but the human was still her main concern as Toshiro doubted that the shield would hold for long against an Espada. Ichigo and Abarai were destroying half the town in their battle against Grimmjow and loud curses were heard over the destruction; maybe he shouldn't have grouped the three loudest, most irrational men together.
He heard a pained groan come from Yammy has he destroyed the second dragon. He looked up at Toshiro with murder in his eyes.
"Get ready, Kuchki," He ordered, preparing his battle stance, "He is slow but very powerful. If you see an opportunity, by all means go for it, but do not risk yourself unnecessarily."
"Understood, Captain!"
Toshiro flew forward again, clashing with the Espada once more. He flash-stepped, turned and flipped around the Espada and eventually lodged his sword in the giant's beefy shoulder. Yammy screamed out in pain and Toshiro had to jump back to avoid the meaty fist that was flying towards him.
"Now you've done it, you brat!" Yammy boomed, hand on the hilt of his sword as he pulled it from its sheath, "Get ready to meet my released form."
Toshiro was forced to take a step back from the sheer power of Yammy's release. The man was engulfed by spiritual pressure and winds whipped around him so fiercely, Toshiro could not even see through it until Yammy was charging towards him, armour-clad and extremely pissed off.
Toshiro could hear Kuchki behind him chanting as she prepared to release her shikai. He kept Yammy busy, dodging attacks and landing some of his own, all the while listening and waiting so he could move out of the way of her attack.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
Toshiro jumped out of the way just in time and Yammy was caught off guard. He was half trapped in Kuchki's ice pillar. It was similar to Toshiro's own thousand year ice prison but nowhere near as strong.
That last thought gave him an idea.
"Kuchki, do what you can to hold him there for as long as possible. I'm going to try something."
She blasted Yammy with ice again, trapping him once more just before he broke out of the first one.
Toshiro stepped back, closing his eyes and summoning his spiritual power, asking his zanpakuto to lend him his legendary power. He didn't use this attack often as it took a lot of energy and preparation. He also hadn't come across many opponents strong enough to warrant it. In the background, he could hear his team mate continually calling the power of her shikai and throwing in the occasional kido spell too. She seemed calm, so he wouldn't worry about her now, although Yammy would soon begin to overpower her, he was Espada after all.
Minutes passed and he could hear Kuchki becoming tired; her breaths were quick and short and her attacks becoming weaker, he could also hear Yammy breaking free quicker each time. He had to act now before Yammy could break free long enough to land his own attack. Toshiro had no doubt the result would be devastating.
"Sennen Hyoro!"
Ice pillars erupted from the ground, circling Toshiro and his two battle associates. Toshiro grabbed Kuchki's arm and flash stepped them out of the circle as the pillars increased speed. He held out his sword directly in front of him and pointed it towards Yammy. He then turned Hyorinmaru 90 degrees anti-clockwise and the pillars moved in towards Yammy, preparing to crush the him like an insect. A pained cry was the last thing they heard from the burly Tenth Espada.
"Wow," Kuchki whistled, "That was incredible, Captain Hitsugaya."
"Thank you," Toshiro replied breathlessly; that last move had seriously taken it out of him judging by the lack of petals remaining on his bankai, "I couldn't have done it without you, well done."
She certainly did deserve that lieutenant's position; she fought just as well as Rangiku did, and she'd probably actually get her paperwork done too. Maybe he would have a talk to her brother when they returned to the Soul Society.
He saw her blush out of the corner of his eye as he turned to view the other battles. Madarame was being healed by Inoue, having taken care of the last arrancar, as Ayasegawa acted as her new body guard. Rangiku had obviously left her post to assist Ichigo and Abarai who were having a tough time against Grimmjow; evidently there was quite a significant power difference between Espada Six and Espada Ten.
The more Toshiro looked, the more he could see how they were struggling. Abarai was trying miserably to stand up having just been thrown down into the concrete below, creating a rather large crater. Rangiku was down too, her lieutenant strength no match for the released form of the Sixth Espada. Ichigo was at his wits end as well by the look of things, but Toshiro knew that he would never give up.
"Kuchki, please get Matsumoto to Inoue to be healed," He ordered, "and then go see if Abarai is okay."
"Yes, Sir!" She answered before vanishing and reappearing on the ground beside his lieutenant. At least Rangiku would be safe now.
A sudden cackle pulled his attention back to Ichigo's fight. The cackle was one of pure evil, however it was not coming from Grimmjow, but from Toshiro's good natured boyfriend. Ichigo was clutching his eye as he writhed painfully in the air, his spiritual pressure fluctuating wildly and tinged with darkness. He seemed to be in some sort of battle with himself while Grimmjow stood back looking as confused as Toshiro.
Ichigo was lost in his own struggle and was instantly an open target. Grimmjow noticed this too apparently, as his confused expression morphed into a sadistic mask having finally found an opening. Toshiro could feel the panic rising within himself.
Grimmjow lunged toward Ichigo.
Toshiro flash stepped in the direction of his strawberry lover. He wasn't thinking; his body was moving on its own accord, screaming out Ichigo's name.
The next thing Toshiro knew, he was standing between Ichigo and the Espada. Grimmjow's clawed hand had ripped right through Toshiro's body, impaling him like a sword would. Both he and the Espada looked down at it in confusion, and then back up at each other; neither of them had been expecting that.
Toshiro knew he only had one option; kill Grimmjow before he could react…and before the pain of being thoroughly speared could hit him.
Luckily, he knew just the attack to use.
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UGH.
Ok well, Renji's chapter is next for those of you who might be looking forward to it.
Please review, and I'm taking suggestions on how to write fight scenes betterererer (like srsly, pls halp).