Chapter 6 – The Fallen Angel (Note: this starts a day after Raven freaks out and leaves, so it's around the middle of chapter four)
Raven was calming down by a plum tree, the first flowers were blossoming and a petal fell on his clothes. It had been an entire day since he ran off after freaking out and he still had no idea where Usaitar was. He has calmed down a bit, but still wasn't thinking straight and was relaxing by a plum tree. He didn't know what to do next, he was confused, he wanted to go back and see if Naomi is alright or not, but also he didn't want to go back having done nothing at all. He's been wandering aimlessly around the outskirts of seireitei and around many poor residential areas. All windows were closed; it was like a ghost town everywhere he went. However, he didn't notice any of that, his mind was blank and he couldn't think.
He walked and walked for hours, the day was still young, and a light chilling breeze blew. The sun was shining down warm and happy, but he was feeling unusually cold and upset. He grew tired eventually so he stopped by a tree, sat down next to it and feel asleep.
He had a dream, he was lost, he was alone and still he didn't know what to do.
'What should I do?' he asked himself standing alone in his dream in an empty dark void that was his heart.
'You should do what you think is right,' suddenly said another voice inside him.
He was surprised at first, but he felt like he knew the voice, so he asked, 'but how do I know what's right and what's wrong? I've made so many mistakes in the past, made promises I failed to keep and most importantly I was unable to protect my sister. I don't know what's right anymore.' He still felt almost like a fool talking to a voice in a dream, but he knew that it had the answers for him.
'Mistakes can be forgiven, injuries can be healed. However, if one's feelings are hurt it will take more than an apology to heal.' The voice paused while Raven was thinking of what this meant.
'Wait, are you talking about Crystal?' asked Raven now feeling worse.
'Yes indeed, deep down inside you know like her. And I can tell that she loves you too. But you have always turned a blind eye and pushed her away, why is that?'
'I… because I had things to do, I didn't have time for her' said Raven now looking sad, hanging his head.
'And where did that work get you? You've failed to protect your sister, and you've hurt Crystal far beyond an apology.
'I… I….' Raven couldn't speak, he realized that the voice was right, and he couldn't come up with an argument.
'No one truly knows what the right way is,' the voice went on, 'but as long as you know what yours is then you can't go wrong, and I think you know what the right way is for you.'
'Yes, I know' said Raven, the look of realisation on his face.
'You need to heal a broken heart, but before that, I think you want to make sure that you sister will be safe.' said the voice in a commanding way.
'Thank you,' said Raven bowing though not entirely sure who to.
'Don't thank me. Thank yourself. After all I am a part of you.' Raven jerked up and saw that he was still sitting by the plum tree. He noticed Hollows were flying and jumping about everywhere inside seireitei. He stood up and saw that two little kids were backed into the corner by a large hollow. Raven pulled out his sword and flash stepped behind the hollow and sliced it in half down the middle.
Their mother came running out of no where towards them shouting their names. 'Hiragi, Kyo, are you two alright?' she asked desperately.
'We're fine now,' both of the kids said. Raven was in deep thought again after seeing a happy family reunited.
The mother turned around and said, 'thank you so much, Mister, er….'
'Ruhodesu, Raven Ruhodesu. But please don't thank me, I was just doing the right thing. Stay safe now, go hide somewhere I have a feeling there's going to be more hollows coming.' said Raven in a serious way. The mother took both children and went the other way after thanking him again.
The kid called Kyo turned around and shouted in a very disturbingly low and serious tone, 'Be careful Raven, you now walk a dangerous route.' Raven stared after him in disbelief, mouth wide open.
'So Raven, are you ready?' asked the voice inside him.
'Yes, I finally am.' Raven sheathed his sword and looked up to the sky, 'I know what I have to do.' He flash stepped away back to his house.
It wasn't easy getting there though, hollows were everywhere he went, he had killed more than a dozen hollows before reaching his house. He regretted going in because everyone was dead. There was blood everywhere, on the walls, ground and even on the ceilings. He made his way quickly to the central hall slaying a few hollows that got in his way. He arrived at the hall a few minutes later after being hindered by a few hollows. Two of his servants lay face down on the ground in the hall a pool of blood underneath them. Raven closed his eyes and shook his head. He went straight to his sword rack (which doesn't have a sword on it) lifted it up to reveal a small secret compartment and took out Shinso.
'Time to put you to good use,' he thought. 'Ichimaru may never be able rectify his sins, but if you and I killed Usaitar you can have a new start.' He tucked the sword into his waist and he set off.
He flash stepped around a bit, but saw no sign of Usaitar, all he saw was hollows and more hollows. A few hollows killed and still no sign of him.
'Geez, just how many hollows are there' thought Raven after slashing down about thirty of hollows. 'There's just no end. Usaitar must be behind this.' He flash stepped roof after roof until he heard a few people talking.
'Hey did you guys hear? All the captains and vice-captains have all disappeared, it was after that meeting they had.' said on person.
'Really, what happened?' asked another person.
'I don't know the details I can tell you all that I saw. And what I saw was Usaitar walking into the meeting alone, a few minutes later the whole building collapsed but at that time I could definitely see the captains still there.'
'So what happened to them then?'
'I don't know, a wave of spiritual energy hit me and I collapsed.'
'Oh you're useless.'
'Although when I regained consciousness I saw Usaitar flying in the way of Sokyoku Hill.' And that's all he said before three hollows approached them.
'Sokyoku Hill eh? Sounds like a fitting place to end Usaitar.' thought Raven making his way as fast as he could to Sokyoku Hill.
On his way there he was spotted by Ikkaku and Yumichika.
'Hello there Captain Ruhodesu, a bit late to be out on a stroll isn't it? So where are you going?' asked Yumichika.
'What's it to you' said Raven stopping for a short moment.
'Well, to be fair, nothing. But during these chaotic times, it is very suspicious that you are sneaking around.'
'Whatever,' Raven was about to move on, until Ikkaku spoke.
'I know you Raven, and I know what you're thinking. So, planning to take on Usaitar all on your own? Are you sure you're ready for that?' asked Ikkaku.
'I'm ready as I'll ever be.' and he gave them a glance of his two swords. 'He's going to pay for all that he's done.'
'Wait a minute, did I just see, was that Shinso?' asked Yumichika with a shocked face. He didn't get an answer because Raven instantly flash stepped away.
It took him a while to get to the hill, all kinds of hollows stood in his way, but he killed everything that was blocking him, and soon he was standing on Sokyoku Hill waiting.
'Ah so you finally showed up, what took you so long?' asked a voice behind him. It was Usaitar. 'I knew you'd come after me, and I've been waiting.'
'You seem to be quite full of yourself.' said Raven calmly, he moved backwards until he and Usaitar had some distance.
'Why shouldn't I be? I've beaten you before and I'll do it again.' He reached into his clothes and pulled out his sword.
'Don't underestimate me. I came for one thing and one thing only - YOUR HEAD.' A circle of dark purple spiritual pressure surrounded Raven. 'Time to take you down, Usaitar. BANKAI.' The spiritual energy exploded with a huge bang. The sword extended and turned into a large scythe, much larger than the shikai form. The sky darkened, five black feathers appeared on the handle's end. Black wings sprouted from Raven's back. 'Kurohane Kujotenshi. Now prepare yourself, for you are going to die.'
'Ohhhhh bankai, I'm shaking now,' said Usaitar sarcastically. 'Obliterate' and again his sword turned into that voulge. 'Shall we get started?'
'After you,' said Raven. They both vanished and appeared in the middle in a sword deadlock. They vanished again and appeared to the left. Then again, this time in another place. Each time they locked blades small waves of spiritual pressure spread out from their blades. Raven jumped backwards and fired off a few fast kido attacks from his scythe. The black kido blades approached Usaitar but were easily parried away by him. Raven kept firing continuously causing Usaitar to run around to dodge them.
He jumped to dodge one of the blades. Raven stopped and fired a more powerful blade. Usaitar spun round in mid air and shouted, 'DESTRUCTION OF PARADISE.' And a yellow wave of energy sot towards Raven from his voulge. The two attacks crashed in mid-air with a massive explosion and both Raven and Usaitar was blown backwards. Raven took this opening and instantly flash stepped behind Usaitar's back and planted a feather on his back.
'What is the meaning of this?' said surprisingly as he tried to grab the feather but he couldn't even touch it.
'It's no use trying to get it off cause it'll stay on you for the duration of this fight and it's impossible to take it off. And as a bonus, if I get all five of my feathers on you, you will be permanently deleted from existence.' Raven smirked and laughed.
'Well, that's never going to happen. I'll kill you before you get them on me,' said Usaitar although his voice didn't sound so convincing. He charged at Raven. Raven was getting ready to block but Usaitar flash stepped behind Raven the moment he was about to hit and slashed. Raven knew the attack was coming and was easily able to flash step some distance away before the blade landed. He flash stepped to the side of Usaitar and swung his scythe, Usaitar was just able to manage to block it. But because Raven has missed so much that Kujotenshi's power has grown to an alarming height and he was able to overpower Usaitar, cut him on the arm and also was able to stick another feather on him.
'What's this? Your power wasn't this high when we started.' shouted Usaitar who jumped back.
'Well well, looks like you have just witnessed another power of Kurohane Kujotenshi. You see every time an attack of mine gets blocked or misses then my power increases by two fifths. And at my count I've missed quite a lot.' said Raven who had a very wide smile on his face.
'You think you're good huh? Well let me tell you, I'm only using one tenth of my overall strength, but now that you seem to get more powerful after every hit, I guess I should use all my power to crush you.' Usaitar's spiritual pressure suddenly went up by five folds. 'I can't release all of my spiritual pressure at once, but still this is more than enough to kill you.'
The next second, Raven was kneeing down on the floor, blood pouring from his shoulder. 'What just happened?' he coughed out a load of blood.
'That was my power when I've reached to half full, I'm able to reach incredible speeds and as you just saw slice you with that speed.' said Usaitar who stood by him, his voulge in his hand above Raven. 'This is the end for you.'
'I don't think so.' He secretly pulls out Shinso, 'Shoot 'em Dead, Shinso,' the blade extended out from underneath Raven's clothes, pierces them and shoots at Usaitar. Usaitar who was taken by complete surprise didn't have time to dodge and his waist was cut clean through.
'What's this, another blade?' shouted a startled Usaitar falling backwards. Raven took this opening and hastily put another feather on Usaitar.
'That's three,' said Raven grabbing his own shoulder which was still in pain. He used his wings and flew back up into the sky with Usaitar tailing behind.
'Where did you get that?' asked Usaitar looking intrigued.
'That's none of your business.' Hep ulled the blade back and thrusted it forwards, 'Shoot 'em Dead, Shinso.' The blade extended again but this time Usaitar was ready and he dodged the attack. But he wasn't ready when Raven suddenly flash stepped in front of him and slashed once again with his scythe. He made a clean hit and strikes Usaitar straight in the chest, blood burst out of his chest. Raven took the opening once more and got the fourth feather onto Usaitar.
'Dammit,' screamed Usaitar who fell down and hit the ground hard. Raven was breathing heavily, he ignored the pain in his shoulder and carried on attacking. Usaitar just managed to get up and dodge the attacks. Raven landed on the ground unable to carry on flying.
'It looks like we're both at our limits. But still, I have more power remaining than you.' said Usaitar panting and kneeing on one knee.
Raven shot a kido attack, which Usaitar dodged easily. At that moment Raven put all of his spiritual power into one final attack and launched himself at Usaitar. Usaitar blocked but that wasn't the aim of Raven's attack, he took his last chance and was just about to put on the last feather before-
'Not this time.' Usaitar screamed out. He released all of his spiritual pressure at once and easily blew Raven away. Usaitar went after him and as soon as Raven stopped flying and landed Usaitar stabbed down with his voulge straight through Raven's chest. Raven screamed in pain. 'Time to show you the power of my voulge' he stood there, and then spiritual energy from Raven were absorbed into Usaitar completely healing him. 'You see, I can take energy from anyone I defeat and heal myself.' Then Raven lay still on the ground and didn't move.
'Heh, that was close. You nearly had me, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.' He smirked and walked away.
'RAVEN NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,' a horrified scream came from the edge of the forest. It was Crystal and Naomi, they ran up to Raven, Usaitar backed away and watched from a distance.
'Raven please be alright, don't die on me here,' cried Crystal tears were surging down her face. Naomi didn't speak, she just kneed by him and cried. 'You can't die here, please don't. I've never told you this before, but maybe it's about time I did.' She wiped her tears and tried to stop crying. 'I love you Raven.' And she broke down and cried and cried on Raven's chest.
'Crystal, please don't cry,' whispered Raven just barely able to get the words out.
'Rae?' She looked up and saw that Raven had his eyes open. 'You're going to be alright, right?' sobbed Crystal.
'I will be.' He then turned his head towards Naomi. 'Sis, I'm sorry, I failed you again.'
'No, you didn't fail me; you've never failed me, I've always been glad to have a brother like you,' wept Naomi, 'save your strength you need it to survive.'
'My strength was always for you.' Naomi looked away and cried. Raven turned back to Crystal. 'I'm sorry Crystal; sorry I've always ignored you. Will you ever forgive me?'
'Of… of course Rae, I've love you too much to stay mad at you.'
'Thank you. You know, deep down, I really like you too,' and those were his last words before he closed his eyes and fell unconscious again. Crystal cried harder than ever, her head over Raven and her blonde hair flowing on his body, blown lightly by the wind, shining in the sunlight.
'How very touching, but I'm afraid I'll have to break up this reunion.' Usaitar finally started talking. He slowly walked over to them.
'You, you did this didn't you,' shouted Crystal with an accusing face.
'Hmph, I don't deny it,' said Usaitar still walking calmly towards them.
'How could you be so cruel?' asked Naomi.
'I never said I was kind, I lost my sense of kindness long ago.'
'You're going to pay for this,' said both Crystal and Naomi. Then they both drew out their swords and shouted, 'BANKAI'
'Shirohane Youshatenshi,' said Crystal. Crystal's sword split into two axes which Crystal held in both hands and grew white wings.
'Kozumikkukouken Seireitenshi,' said Naomi. Naomi's sword extended into a big bardiche. Neither of them had a plan they charged blindly and attacked Usaitar.
'My, my. You two are hasty aren't you?' said Usaitar easily dodging the attacks. Crystal and Naomi both jumped back to their original places
'SHUT YOUR FACE, YOU BASTARD,' screamed Crystal.
'You really shouldn't use such strong words, they make you seem weak.' said Usaitar with a smug look on his face.
'DIE,' Crystal charged at Usaitar again.
'Wait, Crystal, don't be too hasty,' shouted Naomi warningly after her. But she was too late, before Crystal could hit Usaitar relinquished his voulge and pierced Crystal straight through the chest. She, inch by inch looked down at the blade that was stuck in the chest with shocked eyes. He pulled it out and kicked Crystal who flew up and landed right by Raven, her axes have turned back into her original sword and her wings have disappeared. Blood gushed out of her chest and she also coughed up a lot of blood.
'I'm sorry Rae,' she whispered trying to crawl to Raven but fainted before she could reach him.
'NO, NOT YOU TOO,' screamed Naomi. However, she didn't dare lower her weapon or move even an inch.
'Two down one more to go,' said Usaitar gleaming, he disappeared instantly, reappeared in front of Naomi, and attacked. Naomi barely had time to block and was cut lightlyon the shoulder. She moved backwards slightly and launched her attack. Usaitar was again easily able to dodge.
'Dammit, my bankai isn't strong enough yet,' thought Naomi trying to fend off some very fast attacks by Usaitar.
'You're quite slow, I must say,' he vanished again appearing behind Naomi and sent a wave of spiritual pressure at her. Naomi didn't have time to move out of the way and was blasted away with a massive cut on her back. She tried to stand up but couldn't and kneed down on the floor.
'Don't bother getting back up, I can see that you don't have the strength to carry on.' said Usaitar walking slowly to Naomi. She was choking on massive amounts of blood but still managed to get up and launch a surprise attack on Usaitar.
'How foolish,' whispered Usaitar to himself who saw this coming and held his voulge out just before Naomi hit. She landed straight on the voulge, which penetrated straight through her stomach. Blood gushed out and splattered on the floor. Usaitar then threw her to where Crystal and Raven was lying. She landed next to Raven.
She used her last ounce of strength to hold Raven's hand, 'I'm sorry, Raven. Looks like I wasn't strong enough after all,' and she also fainted after that.
'What a bunch of weaklings,' said Usaitar, 'I didn't even get a scratch so I guess I'll just leave them, though I will deliver them to him.' He walked to retrieve the three bodies when Ketu, Ratiasu, Haruka and Hikari arrived. After a while of talk (at the end of chapter five), which involves Haruka carrying Raven, Crystal and Naomi away.
The three that are left Ratiasu, Ketu and Hikari, all shouted.
'BANKAI'
To Be Continued… (Monday next week… I think)