Chapter 16 – Guess who's back?!
Ratiasu, Haruka and Hikari rushed off towards the right hand path at maximum speed. All there was down the path was a wall that was about four hundred metres high and a concrete ground running for ages without end. No one spoke as they ran, just focused on running. They knew it was going to be a long trek and they were prepared for it this time. The sun's heat was beating down ever so hard, but the three girls felt no heat, they just concentrated on running and wouldn't stop until something interesting happens.
Occasionally a few hollows would jump out from no where and ambush them, but they would either run past it without even looking or blast it to pieces as soon as it appeared. Few hours later finally something happened.
They were running when suddenly two soul reapers jumped out of no where and stood in their way. They stopped running and after all that time showed no signs of tiredness.
'Well, well, that do we have here; a few traitors running down our alleyway? Seems like fun to me,' said Ikkaku casually waving his sword around.
'This is most ugly indeed,' said Yumichika in his usual girlish way.
'Look guys we're in a hurry so could you just clear out of the way, we don't want to hurt you,' said Ratiasu.
'My, my, such big words you're using, vice-captain Ratiasu. But we ain't moving anyway, we're here to fight you to the death.'
'We don't have time for this,' shouted Haruka.
'Oh but I think you'll make time.' Yumichika turned around and pointed at a large open gate. 'You see that gate? That's the gate to the third layer of this complex, and the only way to get there, is to defeat us. As you can see the gate is wide open, you see our master Hisaigo welcomes you to go past and enter into his palace, but we just wanted to fight anyway.' He drew his sword, 'Now prepare yourself cause I'm not going easy on you.'
'Exactly what he said. I'm going to enjoy this,' said Ikkaku also drawing his sword. 'Now, extend Hozukimaru.' His sword and sheath joined and changed into the three part spear.
'Bloom, Fuji Kujaku,' Yumichika's sword split into four sickle shaped blades, as he made a stance and prepared to fight.
'A bunch of weaklings, let's make quick work of them and get on with it,' said Haruka drawing her sword and steadied herself.
'I agree, let's go. Blossom, Rozehana' said Hikari and blades rose out of the guard and starts to encircle the handle.
'Erm, do you mind if I don't participate in this? I'd rather heal you when you're injured, rather than fight,' said Ratiasu backing off to give them room.
'To be honest Terri, I actually didn't want you to fight now. No offence but you just don't have the killing instinct and they'll need healing when we're through, so yeah don't fight if you don't want to cause you'll just end up getting hurt,' said Hikari. Ratiasu backed off, Hikari looked at Haruka, 'you ready?'
'Do you even have to ask?' Haruka frowned. Hikari smiled and immediately flash stepped to attack Ikkaku. He blocked with the least bit of effort, 'split apart,' his spear split into three and one part nearly caught Hikari but she skilfully parried the attack and was able to attack for a second hit in which Ikkaku had no choice but to jump up to dodge. She followed him up into the air and started shooting blades at him.
Meanwhile, Haruka and Yumichika were having an extremely fast sword fast flash stepping everywhere, their blades a blur. Neither of them seemed to be winning it all seemed quite even, nobody broke the rhythm they just kept swapping blows after blows. Neither used any kido or abilities of their swords (then again Haruka hasn't even released hers yet). At one moment it looked like Haruka's attack knocked Yumichika into an opening but he just quickly turned and striked back. Their fight doesn't look like it was going to end anytime soon, so let's get back to Ikkaku and Hikari.
She flash stepped behind him and slashed, he blocked and attacked with the other end of his three part spear. She jumped out the way and pointed a finger at him, 'Hado number four, pale lightning,' a white beam shot out of her fingers and barely grazed Ikkaku's shoulder when he jumped out of the way. 'Now I've got you, Ben dansu,' she shouted aiming her sword at him. He flash stepped away but the blades follow him and eventually smash into him with a bang. He fell down hard onto the ground, with blades still sticking out of him and blood trickling out of the wounds.
'Dammit, how could I lose?' Ikkaku choked.
'You charge into a battle, blinded. With no strategy whatsoever, how do you expect to win? Real battles are fought with the mind, not the sword. Remember that, it may help you someday.' She walked away to Ratiasu and Ikkaku fainted.
'Well, time for you to work your magic Terri,' said Haruka.
'Yes indeedy,' Ratiasu started healing Ikkaku. The battle between Haruka and Yumichika rages on.
Haruka for whatever reason seemed to have slowed down her attacks and aren't looking as sharp (no, yumichika hasn't absorbed her spiritual energy if that's what you're thinking). She seems to be blocking more than attacking and even her blocks are getting sluggish.
'What's wrong Haruka? Can't keep up with my attacks?' taunted Yumichika.
'Oh dear me, I seem to be falling asleep on my foot,' thought Haruka, 'not now, anytime but now.' She yawned and was able to recover just fast enough to block another hit.
'Rika, you okay?' shouted Hikari over the sound of the blades.
'No prob-' she didn't finish as Yumichika placed a fast hit and she didn't have time to block and Yumichika's blade struck a large gash in Haruka's shoulder. She shrieked in pain and fell on her back and, strangely enough, fell asleep. Yumichika jumped above her and charged down with a finishing blow, 'You're done,' he shouted.
'Oh no, this isn't good,' said Hikari and flash stepped to her rescue blocking the fatal attack.
'Don't interrupt,' shouted Yumichika attacking Hikari now who quickly gathered up Haruka and flash stepped to Ratiasu.
'Take care of her.' She nodded her head in Yumichika's direction, 'I'll take care of him,' she said and moved back into the fight with Yumichika.
She rejoined the fight as fast as lightning and was hacking at Yumichika at high speed. Yumichika looked like the battle with Haruka had taken its toll on him as he was slowing down and looking tired. Though Hikari also may have just had a battle she still looked good as new. A slash here and a swing there and Yumichika was forced back against a wall completely cornered.
'No where to run or hide Yumichika. Time to die,' Hikari said raising her sword high.
Yumichika for whatever reason, smiled, 'to die like this beautifully in the heat of battle would have been nice, but I'm afraid I won't be going anywhere today.' The guard on his sword and everywhere around it glowed including the symbol on his head. 'Now it's time to show you the true extent of my power.' A flash of light blinded them and vanished just as fast. Hikari was lying on the ground unconscious and Yumichika by her looking as fresh as ever. 'Aww, poor you captain Uera, you look ever so pretty when you're asleep. Ha ha ha.' A quick flash of her sword and blood was spraying out of Hikari's side. He slashed again but was blocked by Ratiasu.
'Sorry, but I need to go,' said Ratiasu who grabbed Hikari and the Haruka and raced at the speed of light towards the gate at the other side.
Yumichika was hot on her trail but even carrying two bodies Yumichika was no match for Ratiasu's immense speed. She was flash stepping with the least bit of effort stepping off the walls and the floor. Her scarf wavering behind her all the while as she flash stepped. They passed the gate at high speed with a few hollows coming to block her way due to Yumichika's command. She pulled out her sword flash stepped and slayed the hollows with ease and ran through the next bunch. It looked like she was about to lose Yyumichika when she suddenly came to a set of stair and someone descended down the stairs. He stood there at the foot of the stairs blocking her way (oh the suspense, I wonder who it'll be).
Yumichika caught up a minute later and stood there blocking the other way panting. 'Looks like it's the end of the line for you, Ratiasu,' he said a glimmer of victory in his eyes.
Ratiasu laid both bodies down and took her stance. She quickly flash stepped to attack Yumichika who blocked instantly. She flipped over him and attacked again, this time he jumped backwards. Yumichika charged, Ratiasu flash stepped at her side and went for the arms only to be blocked. Yumichika flash stepped in front of her and attacked, she flash stepped to dodge appearing behind her and slashed. Blood sprayed out from where he was cut and Ratiasu jumped away.
'Not bad, I must say. But then again I didn't expect anything less from a vice-captain. You are indeed very fast, I admit I can't keep up with you. So now let's see how you do when you have no spiritual pressure.' Yumichika's blade glowed again along with the symbol on his forehead.
'Not this time,' thought Ratiasu. She held her sword in front of her and whispered one word, 'flash.' A second later Yumichika lay on the floor, a puddle of blood beneath him. A huge sword wound in her back.
A clap was heard behind her and Mayuri was walking slowly up towards her, 'Impressive speed you have there Ratiasu. Yes, yes, an interesting specimen, how would you like to come as my test subject? I promise it'll be painless.'
'Ugh, you're gross just get away from me,' she said backing off barely having the energy to stand up.
'How about this then? We have a fight, and if I win you come with me. How does that sound?' she didn't answer. 'I'll take your silence as a yes then.' He drew his sword. 'Claw out, Ashisogi Jizo.' His sword changed to it's shikai form with a baby's head for its guard and three twisted blades coming out of it. He charged, she parried and went for a counter attack only to have Mayuri sticking out his sword from underneath his haori and striking her in the back. A sudden numbness rushed throughout her body, she dropped her sword, fell and lay still, unable to move due to paralysis.
Mayuri signed, 'What a shame, I was hoping that we could work as friends, but guess that's not meant to be. Oh well, let's get this over with.' He raised his sword, Ratiasu closed her eyes, defenceless, awaiting the inevitable, tears flooded her eyes, she thought about her friends, how she failed them. (Life flashing before your eyes type of thing). And then she thought about Ketu, how she was never going to see his happy smiling face again. There was a sound of the swing of a blade and then the whoosh of the wind and silence, a minute or so passed and Ratiasu dared to open her eyes, Mayuri had disappeared, her numbness had gone. She turned around and saw the joy of her life. There was Ketu, one hand pointing in front of him waking towards Ratiasu his haori wavering in the wind. He was smiling, Ratiasu looked behind her and realized that Mayuri had been knocked out cold and trickles of blood were going down his face. She easily recognised Ketu's bankai, but it looked so much more powerful this time and so much faster.
'Guess he didn't waste all that time he was gone,' she though.
'Terri, my love. It's been so long, I thought I'd never meet you again,' his voice was full of happiness and joy. But Ratiasu looked a bit angry, she rushed towards him. 'My darling, I-' she had ran up and slapped him with tears now streaming down her face. His expression didn't change, 'I guess I deserved that,' he said touching where she slapped.
'You bloody well did, taking off like that, didn't you ever consider how I felt? How could you leave me behind? How could you leave me alone? You, you, you insensitive, obnoxious, arrogant, insolent, git. How dare you even have the face to see me again?' She paused and you could see tears sparkling from the corner of her eyes. 'I thought I had lost you, you don't know how worried I was. I waited and waited and you never came back. To show up here, now. I, I….' She trailed off and buried her face in Ketu's chest crying her eyes out.
'I'm truly sorry to have worried you, I never meant to, I went away to become stronger so I could protect you in the future.' He stroked her hair, and she seems to have calmed down a bit. 'I hope we can put the past behind us and carry normally again. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. I make a vow here and now to never leave your side again, even if it costs me my life. Please Terri, give this poor person another chance.' Ratiasu lifted her head and looked at Ketu, she could see sorrow and sadness in his eyes and knew that he was truly sorry.
'I, I forgive you,' she sniffed (a bit fast to forgive someone that just abandoned her I know but, that's the kind of person she is, can't stay mad at anyone for very long especially Ketu. Young love, isn't it great?). 'But if you do leave me alone again, I'm gonna hunt you down and kill you myself,' she said jokingly but with a serious tone.
'I wouldn't have it any other way.'
And there they stood smiling at each other for a long time unable to believe that they were at least reunited, it was indeed a blissful oblivion (that does mean happiness right?). (Hmm… They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, looking at these two, I'd say it's true. Don't you agree?).
A sudden maniacal laugh broke them apart, and they both gazed around to see where it was coming from. 'Awww, so sweet, young love. I guess I should break this up then,' the voice was obvious now; it was Kenpachi's (yes, he is healed up and ready to rock again), but still there was no sign of him.
'Come out where ever you are, hiding like this isn't what you normally do now is it?' shouted Ketu his voice echoed around him giving an ominous feeling.
'You asked for it,' boomed the voice of Kenpachi and suddenly the ground started shaking. It was like an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 7, the ground beneath them seems to break away and scatter into many pieces. Ratiasu held on tight onto Ketu and they both manage to stay standing during the earthquake.
'Where did that come from,' asked a bewildered Ketu looking around him.
'No idea, we should just grab Kari and Rika and go,' replied Ratiasu already moving to retrieve Haruka and Hikari.
Ketu followed behind her, but just as she was about to get them Kenpachi appeared in the sky above her screaming in laughter.
'A ha ha ha, I don't think so. Ratiasu.' He crashed into the ground with a massive impact and generated a huge explosion. Hikari and Haruka both went flying in two separate directions into other parts of seireitei and disappeared into the distance (it's like a nuclear bomb here). Ratiasu screamed as she was blown into the air. Kenpachi took that chance and stabbed her through the stomach and she soon fainted and was falling back to the ground. Ketu had already released his sword, but he didn't even try to fight Kenpachi because he knew he had to get Ratiasu away to safety first. He manipulated the wind to be able to fly at high speeds. He flew and grabbed Ratiasu from mid-fall and raced away into the horizon and soon he was out of sight.
Kenpachi stood there with an ugly smirk on his face, 'Tut, tut, running away like that and you call yourself a captain. What a wimp.' He looked around him and signed, 'That Mayuri, can't even take care of himself.' He walked over to him and picked up Mayuri, 'time to go, our master is waiting,' and he flash stepped out of sight as a chilling breeze swept over the broken land.