Chapter 36 – Defeated again and again

'Daiguren Hyorinmaru.' Toshiro's ice bankai sparkled in the sunlight.

'Is that supposed to scare me?' Ratiasu smirked.

'It will.' Toshiro flew at Ratiasu, sword in front. Ratiasu flew higher in the skies to dodge, Toshiro gave chase and stayed behind her.

'You're a fool.' She flash stepped to gain some distance from Toshiro, turned round in the air and rapid fired a variety of kido attacks downwards. Toshiro swerved in mid-air to dodge the attacks but all the while still flying up.

'Hado fifty four, abolishing flames,' she shouted aiming this one perfectly into Toshiro as he ascended upwards. It hit him directly and he was forced back a few metres by the impact of the blast. With her hand still aimed she readied another kido attack, 'Wave of destruction, number two: Blaze Hellfire Blast.' A vermillion wire of fire, shot at Toshiro not giving him a chance to recover. The attack hit and yet again raised a dust cloud.

Ratiasu turned to leave thinking that she had a direct hit. The dust cleared slowly and revealed that Toshiro had hid behind his two wings and now he charged and took this chance when Ratiasu wasn't paying attention to strike her down.

'NEVER turn your back on an opponent.' He raised his blade, the guard of it turned. 'Thousand years ice prison.'

Ratiasu watched in shock as huge pillars of ice materialized from the air and completely surrounded her. Toshiro twisted his sword and the pillars at once gathered in the centre smashing into and trapping Ratiasu.

'You bastard,' she shouted just before the ice pillars all enveloped her. Toshiro breathed a sigh of relief.

'You're finished, give it up.' Toshiro's sword was still raised and pointing at the mass of ice. 'I'll give you another chance, give us back Ratiasu and nobody gets hurt.' There was no movement in the ice, complete silent hung in the air, an eerie silence. 'Not going to answer? Fine, die.' The ice shined white and then Ratiasu laughed.

'Do you really expect to kill me? As I've said before, you're a fool.' The ice's glow faded and shattered into pieces, Toshiro glimpsed Ratiasu for a second, she was completely unharmed, before she flash stepped behind Toshiro who was in a state of shock and didn't expect an attack. She punctured a large hole in Toshiro's back with a close ranged 'Hado Number fifty four, abolishing flames.' Blood streamed out of the wound in large quantities onto the ground. 'I repeat, you're a fool.' She spun round and kicked Toshiro down into the ground. Toshiro was already unconscious, a pool of blood spread out from underneath him. 'I think you might be just a little dead,' laughed Ratiasu. 'But just to be on the same side…' She pointed her sword at Toshiro, energy gathered on the tip of the sword and blasted out a ray of energy a second later.

The ray hit something and exploded on impact sending huge shockwaves of spiritual energy disintegrating the buildings nearby.

'Who is it this time?' asked Ratiasu getting a bit fed up.

'Just me.' Raven shot a bladed kido from his scythe. She didn't move an inch, the attack didn't reach her it crashed into the barrier in front of her and did nothing.

'Is that all you have? Rather pitiful if you ask me.'

'Yes, that was rather poor by my standards. Why don't we go all out then? BANKAI.' Raven's scythe grew in size, five feathers appeared on the lower part of the handle and the sky darkened.

'Oh? That bankai of yours is quite interesting indeed. Let's see how it does in combat them,' Ratiasu readied herself for the third time.

'All those who disturb the peace in soul society will be cut down. You are no exception, so prepare yourself, I won't show any mercy.' Raven swung him scythe again shooting a bladed kido at Ratiasu.

'You're wasting my time.' Ratiasu parried and counter attacked.

At the same time, Rangiku has snuck out of squad four and was witnessing the fight, quickly grabbed Toshiro and flash stepped off to squad four.

Meanwhile in squad four headquarters Kenpachi had just woken up after being healed by Unohana and has explained to everyone what had happened, excluding Hikari who was looking after an asleep Haodong. Ketu and Haruka hid outside the door when Kenpachi was explaining so the other captains didn't know they heard the whole story.

'What do you think we should do brother? Ratiasu's my vice-captain, maybe I should go and talk to her. Maybe that'll snap her out of being controlled,' Rukia asked Byakuya.

'There is no need for talk, if it's like what Kenpachi has said then Ratiasu has no hope of coming back, we should eliminate her, she's already caused too much trouble,' said Byakuya curtly.

Outside both Haruka and Ketu's eyes widened with horror at those words, it was all Ketu could do to prevent himself from barging in there and killing Byakuya for saying such foul words.

'No, that wouldn't be wise. I think we should give Ratiasu a chance to get herself back. I believe she can do it, she is a strong girl. I wouldn't have survived without her,' said Shunsui with Crystal by his side nodding to show that she agrees.

'If she is strong enough to beat Kenpachi without getting so much as a scratch then she is to much of a threat to leave unattended. Actually I wonder why we are all still sitting here, we should have moved out ages ago,' said Soifon.

Just then loud footsteps approached the room, Ketu and Haruka hid away and watched from a distance. Rangiku was screaming 'help' carrying a bloodied Toshiro in her arms as she stormed into the room.

'Help, please help. My captain just lost against Ratiasu, his chest was punctured, he's lost a lot of blood, please save him,' panted Rangiku collapsing from tiredness after lying Toshiro on the ground.

Unohana started treating Toshiro immediately, 'he has lost much blood. It'll be difficult, but I think he may just make it. Any more blood lost and he would've died for sure.' She worked quickly and stopped the blood flow, 'Isane, take Rangiku to the wards, I think she needs some rest from the shock she's been through.'

'Yes, captain.' Isane picked Rangiku up and left with her.

'That girl is dangerous, we must kill her. Two captains have already fallen to her blade, we can't risk anymore captains. We need to all attack her at once.'

'Speaking of captains, where's Captain Ruhodesu? Shouldn't he have return with Toshiro?' asked Renji.

'Oh no, Raven,' exclaimed Crystal and she ran off immediately.

'Crystal come back, you haven't recovered yet, don't be an idiot. Rest up I'm sure Raven's fine, just leave him,' shouted Shunsui running after Crystal.

'Like brother, like sister, even if they are only cousins. They're both gonna get killed,' said Renji. He stood up and was about to go after them, but Byakuya put his hand out to stop him.

'Leave them, if they want to die then they can go, we don't need to sacrifice any more people. But if you want to go then we should all go at once,' said Byakuya.

'How can you be so insensitive captain. They're both like to die out there, I'm going and you can't stop me.' Renji moved Byakuya;s hand out of the way and marched out the door.

'Renji you idiot,' cursed Byakuya under his breath.

'Let him go, we need to plan out our attack, now that we've lost a few numbers this'll become harder,' said Soifon.

'What's to plan? We just go in kill her and it's done,' said Iba.

'I cannot agree to this, I'm going after them,' interrupted Rukia and she also stormed out of the room.

'Why is everyone an idiot today,' said Byakuya who made no attempt to stop her from going. The remaining captains and vice-captains discussed the best way to attack Ratiasu, to take her by surprise.

'Ketu? Are you alright?' asked Haruka nervously. Ketu's fists were clenched tightly, sweat was dripping from his head.

'Let's go, we need to get to her before they do. If Terri's being controlled then I'll break her out of it. If she needs to be executed then I'll be the one doing the executing,' he said forcefully as he flash stepped out and followed the spiritual energy from Ratiasu.

'Yeah, I'm right behind ya.' Haruka followed.

The battle between Raven and Ratiasu was over pretty quickly. Ratiasu received only a cut on the shoulder whilst Raven got completely battered.

'Why? Why must I always lose? WHY?' screamed Raven as he knelt on the ground swimming in his own blood.

'Why? Because you're weak,' smirked Ratiasu still in the air looking high and mighty.

'Why you-' Raven didn't finished, he grabbed his chest as he said the words and his mind went blank.

'Another one? My, my how many of you weaklings do I have to kill before you can take a hint?' shrugged Ratiasu. She held her hand up and stopped Zabimaru's shikai without moving an inch. 'Just another insect I must crush eh?'

Renji appeared behind her and pulled Zabimaru back. 'Ha, so I see, it is you, Ratiasu.'

'Your point is? So what if it's me?'

'Oh nothing really. I'm just here to get back the real Ratiasu.'

'Ha, that white haired kid already tried and failed. What makes you think you're better than him?' asked Ratiasu sounding as if she really couldn't careless anyway.

'I doubt I'm stronger than captain Hitsugaya, but Ratiasu was a good comrade to me. So even if it kills me I'll still free her from you.'

'Friendship is useless, but if you think you can beat me, then try. I'll have some more fun killing you.'

'I don't think so, BANKAI.' The snake like segmented bankai of Renji's formed coiled around him. 'Hihio Zabimaru.'

'But I do.' Ratiasu had already flash stepped right in front of Renji with her hand out, 'hado thirty three, pale fire crash.'

Renji's eyes widened, 'crap.' Another explosion, Ratiasu jumped out of it unharmed but Renji received a direct hit and is still there. Another annoying dust cloud hung there surrounding Renji his fate unknown. A few seconds past and there was some muffled sounds from where Renji stood. 'That's not going to finish me dammit,' he groaned trying to stand.

'And there's another bloody mess to add to the pile,' said Ratiasu smiling. Renji could barely stand up, he stumbled a few times getting up, but still unable to find his balance. Ratiasu walked up to him slowly, 'what was that before? You'll free the old Ratiasu from me? Did you really think such a weakling like you could do such a thing. You're too slow and pathetic, you didn't even get a chance to attack. Oh well, better luck next time, but unfortunately for you, there isn't one.' She thrusted his sword into his chest and pulled it out just as fast. Blood splattered onto the floor in front of him and he collapsed forwards. His bankai disappeared and reverted back to his normal sword. Ratiasu turned and walked away.

'RENJI.' A scream came from behind her. Rukia had rushed next to Renji and was holding him in her arms. 'Why Renji? Why? Don't die on me now' she said repeated clutching Renji in her arms.

'Aww, how sweet,' expressed Ratiasu.

'How could you do such a thing Terri? Why? Why did you do it?'

'The old Ratiasu is long gone so don't talk to me as if I'm her. I'm only here because I'm the opposite of the old Ratiasu, meaning I will destroy everything she ever liked.'

Rukia wasn't listening, she was still holding Renji, tears dripped continuously from her eyes.

'Aww I think I'm going to make me cry. Actually, I think I'm going to DESTROY YOU.' Ratiasu charged sword held her, Rukia wasn't even looking and she didn't even make an attempt to stop the attack. Just before the attack hit, which would've probably killed Rukia, someone flash stepped in the way and blocked the attack with ease just in the nick of time. Ratiasu backed off and in front of her stood Haruka.