Ichigo and Toshiro must defeat Kiriobi Shintatsi without harming Momo! How can they do so when she is attempting to defeat them herself!?
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Chapter Twelve The Furnace
Momo was standing in front of Kiriobi, the flames burning ever brighter. Ichigo and Toshiro watched as she drew her sword, Ichigo gripping his hilt.
'Ichigo…' came a weak voice and his eyes darted over to Toshiro. 'Don't…hurt Momo…' he pleaded. Ichigo nodded.
'I'll try…' he thought to himself, his gaze flicking back to the lieutenant. Her sword was pointing towards Ichigo now and lowered it to the small captain.
'I think I'll have her destroy you first Captain Hitsugaya.' smirked Kiriobi. He nodded to Momo, who pulled her sword back.
'Snap, Tobiume!' she cried and he sword transformed with a burst of red sparkles, a loud sound being emitted.
'The snapping noise!' Toshiro thought to himself. 'Of course, how could I be so stupid!?'
'Lets see how you feel when your life is destroyed by the one closest to you!' Kiriobi laughed and Momo flung herself at Toshiro, her sword building up a flame. She swung her sword round, the spiral of fire scorching the floor as it roared towards Toshiro. He vanished as it slammed into the wall behind, causing parts of it to fall in and explode, sparks and embers shooting out everywhere. The small captain reappeared behind Kiriobi, his sword poised to strike.
'I don't think so.' smiled the student and he tilted his head slightly as Momo appeared suddenly in front of Toshiro, ready to take his strike. He pulled back, swinging his sword behind him in an effort to dodge her and his sword struck the floor.
'I suspected as much…' jeered Kiriobi and Momo cracked Toshiro in the jaw with her foot, the captain falling backwards, ever closing to the reaching flames. Ichigo grimaced.
'This is Toshiro's fight…but I can't just sit here and watch him be pummelled…' he thought to himself, looking desperately at his blade. 'What do I do?'
Toshiro looked up, blood dribbling down his chin.
'Momo…' he spluttered as she walked over to him, her sword in her hand. He reached out to her, his hand wavering in the air. Quick as a flash she brought her foot down on it, a sickening crack being made. Ichigo turned away, but turned back, torn between what to do.
'What do you want Kiriobi!?' he shouted, the student not looking at him, but still at the fallen captain. 'Haven't you made your mark?' there was silence, except for the crackling of fires.
'What do I want?' Kiriobi chuckled, his eyes illuminated by the burning red flames. 'I want to see Soul Society burn.'
Ichigo gritted his teeth, his fists clenched.
'Once I have killed everyone in the 5th Division, I'll move onto another, Momo as my vessel of revenge. Once I have at last destroyed every Shinigami alive, I will finally crush this girls soul into nothingness.' he grinned maliciously, his hand outstretched.
'Wont people begin to catch on when they realise Momo is the only survivor of the 5th Division?' Ichigo exclaimed. Kiriobi shrugged.
'It does not matter. If they kill her that is one less job for me and I shall just take over some other rat.' he said, his eyes resting on the captain.
'Would your family want this Kiriobi?' Ichigo asked, solemn now. 'Wouldn't they want you to side with the Shinigami in bringing down the Hollow's that killed them?'
Kiriobi was silent.
'No.' he said eventually. He turned his head slightly to look at Ichigo, his eyes red with the flames. 'This is what they would want.'
Ichigo narrowed his eyes.
'So be it.' he said quietly. A slight grin on his face, Kiriobi turned back to the others.
'Now to die, Captain Hitsugaya.' he smiled slightly, gesturing for Momo to move away. She nodded and stepped off of his hand, Shintatsi appearing beside him, his blade held above his head. 'Farewell, Toshiro Hitsugaya!' he laughed, the flames creating dancing shadows over his face. Suddenly there was a flash of black and a blur. Kiriobi's eyes widened as Ichigo was in front of him, his sword knocking Kiriobi's to the side.
'Now it's my turn.' he said, his eyes flashing open. Quick as a flash he shoved his elbow into the students chest. Kiriobi choked and spiralled backwards, smashing through the wooden wall and disappearing into the flames, a sparks shooting upwards, the wooden planks collapsing in.
'Ichigo…' Toshiro coughed and Ichigo helped him up, sweat dripping down his forehead.
'It's a bit warm in here for my liking…' Ichigo said, looking around and Toshiro managed a small chuckle, nodding in agreement, his icy blue eyes fading to a dull grey. 'Come on, let's get you both out of here.' Ichigo said, helping the captain up and turning to Momo. Her eyes still had that dead look about them and she stepped in front of them, her sword pointing to Ichigo's chest.
'Momo…please…' Toshiro whispered delicately. She did not move. Ichigo sighed.
'I guess this means he is around here somewhere.' he said, looking about. Then, a blast of fire shot out of the wall where Kiriobi had vanished and he appeared in the flames, his cloak seared and torn, his face scarred and burnt.
'Kuro…saki…' he wheezed, stepping from the debris. Ichigo pointed his sword past Momo and at Kiriobi but Hinamori lunged for him and he brought it down fast, their swords locked, sparks flying.
'Ichigo…' warned Toshiro.
'I'm trying not to!' he yelled, forcing against Momo who smashed at his sword relentlessly. He broke off and leapt upwards as she shot a blast of fire at the ground where his feet were. His sword above his head, he lunged for Kiriobi who vanished, Ichigo plunging Zangetsu into the ground. With a crack, Kiriobi was behind him and Momo leapt for Ichigo's back, her sword glinting. Toshiro looked up and held out his hand.
'Bakudo 61, Six Bars of Light!' he cried and a shot of yellow light burst from his fingers and encased Momo, light piercing her at every angle, restricting her movement. Ichigo hauled Zangetsu from the ground, splinters flying up into the air. He span round and nodded to Toshiro, who was now on his feet. Ichigo dashed towards the culprit, his sword raised high.
'Getsuga Tenshou!!!' he cried and a black blast soared from the tip of his blade, the attack spiralling towards Kiriobi.
'Tch, are you blind?' smirked Kiriobi, Momo standing in between him and the attack.
'Fortunately…' Ichigo said, smiling. With a thud, Toshiro had appeared from nowhere, grabbing Momo in his arms and vanishing with her. Kiriobi's eyes widened in shock as the attack rocketed towards him. He held out his sword and it slammed into the end, black light shooting out all over the place.
'…my aim is just fine.' Ichigo smiled, Toshiro and Momo appearing behind him. The light subsided and Kiriobi was standing, hunched over, breathing heavily. He looked up angrily, blood running down his forehead.
'I…will not go down…I wont be…defeated…by you…' he cursed, lifting his sword up. A purple light began to collect on it, the hilt changing shape, a soft whirring noise being made as the guard span round atop the hilt, the blade beginning to glow.
'I wont lose…I will destroy Soul Society…even if it…means…using you!' he cried and Ichigo's eyes widened as the light erupted from his sword.
'Invade, Seigo Hikari! (Light of Control)', he cried, his hair flying around wildly in the wind that was whipping up inside the building, the flames leaping around.
'He's activating his zanpaktou!' Toshiro cried and suddenly a purple light hit Ichigo, his eyes becoming dead. 'No, Kurosaki!' Toshiro exclaimed. Ichigo felt light headed, dazed. His vision was blurred and he stumbled around inside his own mind.
'I control you now…your actions will be mine.' came a voice inside his head and he looked around, Kiriobi standing in his mind, his sword implanted in the ground.
'Never…you'll never control me…' Ichigo panted, fighting his power.
'It's already too late.' laughed the student, his cloak flapping around him, the light from the sword becoming brighter. 'Soon, you will murder all your friends, all those closest to you will be crushed under your blade in a flurry of blood.'
'No…' Ichigo whispered, clutching his head.
'You now only live to serve me, Kurosaki Ichigo. Everything you once fought for is lost. And, when I am finished with you, you will accept your fate, and take your death with happiness.' Kiriobi ordered, a nasty look on his face.
'No…I…I wont…' Ichigo cried, his reiatsu fading slowly into the shadows. He felt something grab his arm and he tried to brush it off but it began to consume him.
'No, I must…I must fight back…' he said, struggling. The shadows were creeping onto him, his vision becoming dark. There was no light, he could no longer see Kiriobi, or the sword. He tried to fight off the shadows when suddenly, a small orange glow appeared in the corner of his eye. Moving sluggishly, he turned his head slowly to it, his breathing becoming heavy. The glow was a circle and it danced around in front of him.
'Wait…' he groaned, his voice becoming slow like his movements. The shadows entangled his legs and he had only one arm free. Then, the glow brightened and slowly, it took the shape of Renji and Uryuu, right before his eyes.
'What you doing on the floor Ichigo?' Renji cried. 'C'mon, get up. We're gonna need you!'
'You don't want to just lie there now do you?' Uryuu said simply, rearranging his glasses. Then they were gone, replaced with Orihime and Rukia.
'Kurosaki-kun…thank you…' Orihime smiled at him. 'You saved me, now break free…' she said, her hair dancing in a wind somewhere. A tear trickled down his cheek.
'Inoue…' he whispered, the shadows tightening their grip. Rukia smiled at him affectionately.
'We're all by your side Ichigo…' she smiled and they too disappeared. Then, the dot grew and shone brighter than before. Finally, it took the shape of his mother, Masaki Kurosaki, standing in front of him.
'Tut tut, look what a mess you are.' she smiled brightly.
'Mum…' he whispered back, holding out his arm. A tear trickled down his face again.
'Come on, now lets get you cleaned up.' she said, beaming, reaching out for him. He reached out for her hand, but she faded away into a mist.
'No…mum please…come back…' he cried, more tears falling down his face, the light fading away. His tears dripped onto the shadows and there was a new sound. It was a hissing noise. The shadows were burning away, his tears cleansing them. He stood limp as the shadows released their hold on him, his head lifting up, his eyes burning bright, staring Kiriobi's scared face straight in the eyes.
'Your eyes have no light…' he whispered. 'They are all by my side…even mum…' Ichigo said, the sparkle of a tear dripping down his cheek. 'Your power cannot hold me as long as I have my friends…'
Kiriobi straightened up and let out a maniacal laugh, his arms outstretched.
'Ha ha ha ha!!! You honestly think your friends can save you!? No one is here for you now! No one!!!' he laughed insanely.
'That's where you're wrong…' Ichigo said quietly and Kiriobi ceased laughing, looking at Ichigo. 'They have always been by me…always…' Ichigo said.
'Ichigo!!!' he heard Toshiro's voice outside his mind, calling for him to awaken. His eyes flashed open again and he darted for Kiriobi. The purple light had gone and he hoisted the sword from the ground, the blade becoming Zangetsu in his hands. He struck down Kiriobi and then a light flooded back into his eyes and he was back in the burning room…
'Ichigo?' Toshiro asked, cautiously as Ichigo lifted his head.
'Yeah?' came Ichigo's voice and he turned to the captain, grinning. Toshiro breathed a sigh of relief. Kiriobi backed up, stammering.
'I…impossible…how…?' he asked, unable to finish his sentence. Ichigo looked at him and dashed towards him, Kiriobi lifting up his sword to block him. They clashed blades and Kiriobi's simply snapped in half. His eyes widened and he gasped, leaping backwards. Momo's eyes regained colour slowly and she fell into Toshiro's arms.
'Toshiro?' she asked wearily and smiled uncontrollably.
'Yeah?' he replied, a tear forming in his eye.
'Thank you…' she whispered. He nodded and looked up. 'Ichigo, lets get out of here!' he cried as the building weakened, the flames beginning to make it collapse. Ichigo nodded.
'Sorry to bail out on you Kiriobi, but house parties aren't my thing, especially when the house is on fire.' he grinned. He threw a blast up at the roof and an explosion wracked the building, causing sections of the roof to collapse. They began to escape out of the roof, Momo in Toshiro's arms, the sky becoming filled with smoke.
'No!' Kiriobi cried. 'I will not lose!' he snarled and he vanished, reappearing beneath Toshiro.
'Toshiro!' Ichigo cried from above and the captain looked down as Kiriobi grabbed Momo's limp hand, pulling her down. She fell from his arms and caught a broken rafter below, the fires roaring upwards, the floor of the building lost in a sea of fire.
'I'll take this girl with me!!' Kiriobi laughed and she began to cry. Toshiro held out his hand to hers but her fingers were wrapped around the rafter.
'Momo…' he cried, desperately trying to reach her.
'T…Toshiro…' she whispered and the rafter snapped, both her and Kiriobi falling into the fires below.
'Momo!!!!!!!' Toshiro cried and he sped in after them but recoiled backwards as an enormous explosion wracked the building. Ichigo dived out of the building, Toshiro following, his face stricken with sorrow. They both landed in the middle of the crowd of people, some staring in horror at the Captain's Quarters. Ichigo brushed himself off and clicked his neck, his burns searing him, but he smiled as he saw his friends rush towards him.
Toshiro stood, looking at the burning building, tears running down his cheek. The half moon slowly disappeared behind the clouds and he turned away, falling to the ground in despair, Matsumoto and Kyoraku watching over him as the rest of the Shinigami made their way back into the Seireitei.