Chapter 14 – Breakthrough, the First Gate
Hikari's sword changed into her bankai form, 'Gosai rozehana.' She launched many blades at the two vice-captains with great accuracy. They dodged so suddenly that it was unexpected (sort of like waiting until the last second type of thing). The blades crashed into the ground raising a vast dust cloud. Seconds past and the dust cleared. Both two vice captains came into view once more, unharmed.
'That was slow, even for you, captain Uera,' said Shuhei Hisagi, standing there like nothing has happened.
'Indeed it was. For once I agree with you Shuhei,' said Tetsuzaemon Iba who already has released his sword into shikai form and now a great falchion was wielded in his hands. He swung it over his shoulder and didn't look at all worried. 'This shouldn't be too hard. Shall we take them down Shuhei?'
Shuhei raised his fists, 'Let's go.' They both instantly vanished and appeared on either side of Hikari. Tetsuzaemon hacked down with his blade whilst Shuhei aimed a kick at her. Ratiasu flash stepped and blocked Tetsuzaemon's attack and Haruka flash stepped to clock Shuhei's kick.
Rukia stood there with her released sword and attacks, 'next dance, white ripple.' A stream of ice froze both Tetsuzaemon and Shuhei while Haruka, Ratiasu and Hikari flash stepped away so they are not in range of her attack. The ice shattered and they were both free again, although everyone expected as much. Shuhei charged without warning and landed a kick in Rukia's face knocking her out cold with one hit. She flew to the side, rolled over on the ground and lay still.
'Too weak, captain Kuchiki,' said Shuhei standing where Rukia was holding his sword. The Hisaigo mark on his head was flashing white.
He was about to do the finishing blow when he suddenly had flash stepped away because Ratiasu came in and tried to stab him in the back. 'Yeah, you get away from her,' she shouted after him. Ratiasu grabbed Rukia and flash stepped a far distance away to heal her. Haruka flash stepped by her and helped her carry Rukia. Meanwhile Hikari was fighting both vice-captains and isn't doing too badly, but then again all you could see were a blur of attacks and slashed and shooting blades.
'How is she?' asked Haruka, leaning over Ratiasu's shoulder.
'She'll be alright. There's barely any damage but she'll be out for a while. I'll stay behind you guys and look after her then. Try to keep them away from here.'
'Gotcha, keep them away.' Haruka turned the other way and watched Hikari's battle for a few second, 'Well since Rukia won't be here to see this. I think I should just finish them off.' She launched herself just when Hikari was about to get hit and blocked the attack.
'Thanks Rika, you came just in time,' said Hikari sounding relieved that someone finally came to help her.
'How are you feeling?' asked Haruka.
'A little tired now, but other than that I can keep going.'
'Alright, I want you to go and protect Ratiasu and Rukia, let me deal with these weaklings,' said Haruka holding out her sword as if she's about to release shikai.
'Oh, well go for it but don't over do it,' said Hikari taking the hint and left off towards Rukia.
'Hey, we're not finished here, captain,' shouted Tetsuzaemon running after her. Haruka quickly flash stepped in between them.
'You're not going anywhere, you're going to be a nice person and die, or get severely wounded and can't stand up, either way it's fine with me,' said Haruka.
'Ha, you sure talk big for a soul reaper who isn't even ranked,' said Shuhei dropping next to Tetsuzaemon.
'Oh, but I'm more powerful than anyone and I'm going to show you that power so watch closely and keep it a secret,' she held her sword up. 'Brighten the darkness, Hidoragon.' Both vice-captains were blow back by the sheer force of her spiritual pressure which exploded around her.
'What is this?' screamed Tetsuzaemon shielding his face with his hand. He didn't get another chance to speak for he was blasted away by a white arrow which just missed his stomach but pierced sides, blood sprayed out where he was cut. He fell out of the sky lay still on the ground with blood pouring out from his sides.
Shuhei stood his ground and saw Haruka walking up towards him, he instantly flash stepped behind her and tried to kick her but she saw it coming, pointed two fingers behind her effortlessly as if she expected that and said, 'Hado number sixty three, thunder roaring cannon.' A white burst of light shot out of her fingers and completely engulfed Shuhei. A few seconds past and the light faded, Shuhei floated there in mid-air, severely cut up. He dropped down out of the air and collapsed in a heap on the ground.
'Hmm, maybe I did go a bit overboard. Guess I shouldn't have released Hidoragon. Oh well, I can't reverse the past. What's done is done.' She picked up both bodies and carried them to where Ratiasu was resting.
'Oh great, more bodies to carry,' said Hikari sarcastically.
'I think we should dump them somewhere,' said Ratiasu jokingly.
'Terri,' shouted both Hikari and Haruka, annoyed.
'Only a joke, calm down.'
'I think we should heal up Tetsuzaemon and Shuhei, make sure they won't die and leave them here. When Hisaigo dies they'll be back to normal,' suggested Haruka.
'Sounds good to me,' agreed Ratiasu and started healing Tetsuzaemon and Shuhei but made sure that they'd still be unable to chase them if they wake up.
Minutes past and Shuhei and Tetsuzaemon were healed. They left both of them in front of the gate and set off with Ratiasu carrying Rukia on her back. They passed through the gate that was now wide open after defeating both of the guards. What's inside was exactly like the outside, barren brown land, nothing in sight except another giant wall about a few hundred metres in front of the first wall. They made their way slowly towards the second gate and took it in turns to carry Rukia. Still wasteland, just a massive plain of nothingness, empty. A light chilling breeze blew over the hard solid earth. It was all quiet, all calm. No one said anything as they walked, Hikari led the way. They arrived at the wall and stood before its vastness and dullness.
'Which way? Left or right?' asked Ratiasu stopping short of ten metres in front of the wall.
Hikari stood there for a while looked around stared at the sun with was just about to set, she then turned and faced the wall walked up close and said, 'This way.' Pointing to the left.
'O…kay,' shrugged Ratiasu. They set off left all three of them close by each other as it was getting dark and it was hard to see. 'Maybe we should stop for the night.'
'No we must press on, we'll rest after we meet up with the other group,' said Hikari firmly and they kept moving through the pitch black.
Ah hour past, nothing happened, they just kept walking, following Hikari. Another hour and still nothing.
'Are you sure this is the right way?' asked Haruka, 'We've been walking for hours and still haven't come across anything.'
'Don't worry, we're nearly there, just a few more minutes and we should have rea-' she was cut off when a large voice came out of nowhere.
'Stop there intruders. And prepare to die.'
(Go back in time to when Byakuya and Renji was in front of the gate)
Meanwhile Byakuya and Renji were still sitting there and suddenly they heard a click. Both jumped up swords at the ready only to see that the huge gate has swung open revealing the deserted land behind it
'No time to lose, let's go,' commanded Byakuya walking off. Renji picked up Rangiku and Toshiro and followed after him.
They walked one way for a long time seeing nothing interesting just a hard ground.
'Captain, are you sure we went the right way?' asked Renji looking tired after carrying Rangiku and Toshiro for ages.
'I don't have a clue actually,' said Byakuya calmly but honestly. Renji made a weird face and quickly went back to normal when Byakuya looked back, 'But I do know we are nearing the rest, I can just about sense their spiritual pressure up ahead.
'Good enough for me,' said Renji. Both carried on moving through, the sun beating down on them. There were no clouds in the sky, it was hot but a light wind blew over. Soon a giant gate came into view attached to another huge endless wall. They were about half a days distance from the gate.
'There it is, let's hurry,' said Byakuya who started running towards the gate. The sun had set and they still kept going, but before they were half-way there Byakuya stopped. 'Wait something isn't right. Their spiritual pressure disappeared. I can hardly see in this dark.' He peered around his current location and saw nothing. 'Either they just suddenly lost their way or they've been killed. I doubt it was the latter though.'
'Captain, what do you think we should do?'
'We press on, we need to rendezvous there and we are a bit early maybe that's why.' They carried on moving and were just about to near the gate when Byakuya suddenly stopped and shouted, 'Come out, whoever you are. I know you're there.'
'What?' said Renji who was completely bewildered.
'You have a good eye, captain Kuchiki,' boomed a voice above him and a shadow of someone descended in front of him.
Next chp, next week.