Chapter 37 – Farewell, but not goodbye

'Get Renji to safety Rukia, let me and Ketu handle this,' said Haruka as Ketu just showed up next to her.

Rukia nodded, heaved Renji onto her shoulders and ran off in squad four's direction.

'Well this is an unexpected surprise, I didn't think you two could revive yourself after taking the eyes so fast. Ah well, I suppose if I wanted to take out soul society I had to face you two eventually. But if I take you two down now, then that means there'll be no one that stands in my way,' said Ratiasu in a thinking pose.

'Cut the small talk, what have you done with Terri?' asked Haruka menacingly pointing her sword at her.

'Terri? Ah yes, the old Ratiasu. Let's just say, that girl was too weak and she couldn't control me, so instead I controlled her.'

'What!? Oh no.' Haruka's eye widened with horror as she realized what was meant.

'What do you mean oh no? What's happened?' demanded Ketu urgently.

Haruka explained to him what had happened with her 'eye' and said that it's probably what had happened to Ratiasu. The eye was too strong for her to bear so she was taken over by the power of the eye. Thought Ketu argued that, that wasn't what happened to him.

'I'm guessing you got lucky then. It's not like I know how this eye works. But all I know is that the eye is in control of Terri and we need to break her out of it,' said Haruka.

'Any ideas how?' asked Ketu looking worried and nervous.

'No clue. Maybe if we defeat her she'll give Terri up,' suggest Haruka.

'Ha, that's laughable, even if you defeat me I'll still be in control. The only way you can free Ratiasu is by killing me. But then your precious Terri will also die with me, so think carefully about what you plan to do,' laughed Ratiasu.

'Sorry Ket, but it looks like we have no choice. We'll have to kill her,' declared Haruka getting ready to attack.

'No wait, there must be another way. You can't possibly expect me to kill her can you.'

Ratiasu laughed, 'there is no other way, if you can't face the fact of killing your dear Terri then I guess you're just worthless and I should finish you off right now.'

'No, it can't be. I can't help Terri at all? Argh,' he screamed, dropped to his knees and punched the ground.

'You're pathetic. You don't deserve to live.' Ratiasu flash stepped behind him and stabbed at his back.

Haruka intercepted the attack, 'he won't die, not as long as I'm here.'

'Fine, I'll enjoy fighting someone who's just as powerful then,' said Ratiasu jumping back to gain some distance from Haruka.

'I'm not just as powerful.' Haruka's spiritual pressure glowed brightly around her, 'I'm more powerful. Brighten the darkness, Hidoragon.' Her blade's handle grew longer five centimetres and become thinner, turned red. Blade extended by ten centimetres, also thinner and turned red. 'Shiraenkouya.' Spirit particles gathered in front of the sword and fired out in a concentrated beam.

'Oh? Let's match fire with fire, shall we?' She held up her hand, 'Wave of destruction number one, white thunder.' Both attacks hit in the middle with a huge explosion that was strong enough to blow away any buildings or rubble clearing the field for a fight. The explosion brought up a cloud of smoke, but it was cleared away instantly when both Haruka and Ratiasu clashed swords in the middle and another wave of spiritual pressure was released. 'You're quite strong aren't you? Even without bankai you can match my attack.' Ratiasu looked to be a bit struggling with holding the deadlock, but then again so did Haruka.

'I see you're not one to underestimate people,' said Haruka. They both pushed apart from the deadlock and jumped backwards.

'I don't underestimate anyone, especially not someone who has achieved Dorakai. But even if you have Dorakai I'm still unbeatable.'

'Is that how you judged my power? Only because I have Dorakai, you think I'm strong? Well then, that is underestimating, because I was already powerful before I obtained Dorakai, that's why I don't need to use bankai and I can still give you a good match. This power can be a nuisance at times though,' she said quite frankly.

'Tell me something, you have power, yet you don't use it. If that's true then what is your reason for this fight?' asked Ratiasu

'If it helps save my friends then I'll fight, this power has separated me away from other soul reapers, everyone is afraid of me. But these people didn't care for what I was and became my friends anyway. As long as I have these friends I will keep fighting if not for myself, for them.'

'Touching speech, too bad one of your friends is a bit of an idiot. I mean look at him, he's pathetic, whining on the ground like a dog.' There was a flash as Ratiasu hastily blocked an attack from Haruka.

'Don't you dare insult my friend like that, otherwise I'll make you regret ever being alive.'

Ratiasu was having a hard time holding Haruka back. With the anger she had her strength went up. 'My, my, aren't you a bit sensitive.'

'Shut up you bitch,' Haruka said furiously pushing Ratiasu in the opposite direction.

'You know, I really do hate getting insulted,' said Ratiasu calmly. Her wings spread out to pull length and blasted a wave of concentrated spiritual pressure at Haruka. She broke of the deadlock and jumped back. 'I'll show you the true power of both eyes.' She beated those huge wings of hers and flew up into the sky.

'Oh wow you can fly, I'm so impressed,' said Haruka sarcastically.

'You imbecile.' She blasted down wave after wave of non stop kido attacks.

'What the?' thought Haruka as she moved swiftly between attacks and dodged any and all that came to her.

A veil of smoke raise from the attacks, Haruka took a chance and jumped high up into the air. One glimpse and she air her attacks with perfect accuracy at Ratiasu. Ratiasu saw the threat, redirected her attacks and sent them to intercept Haruka's kido. Both attacks crash with such ferocity that even Haruka had to brace herself so she didn't get blown away. Ratiasu jumped out from the smoke from the explosion and slashed down at Haruka. Haruka raised her sword and block, but was driven downwards into the ground by the force of Ratiasu's attack. Haruka used her other hand and aimed a close ranged kido attack into Ratiasu. Ratiasu somehow saw it coming and flash stepped away the moment the kido attack fired. Haruka flash stepped after her to give chase, and launched a barrage of hacks and slashes at lightning speed. Ratiasu, who was always known for her speed was able to block each attack with excellent timing. After seeing her attacks fail, Haruka backed off and tried a different approach.

She fired a kido attack directly at Ratiasu then instantly flash stepped around to her back and slashed. Ratiasu didn't even try to block, she flash stepped the instant the kido was fired. She appeared behind Haruka and attacked. Haruka reacted instinctively, turned round and blocked.

'Come on, is this all you've got? If you're not going to show me your Dorakai at least show me your bankai,' taunted Ratiasu, pushing Haruka downwards.

'I don't need it to beat a half-wit,' teased Haruka.

'You've sure got a way with words haven't you?' said Ratiasu as she sent Haruka crashing into the ground with a kick and fired a concentrated beam of kido at her. As soon as the attack came into contact with the ground, a huge crater was created and bits of the ground around the target area melted away effortlessly.

When the path was clear, Haruka was no where in sight. A volley of spears suddenly rained from the sky. Ratiasu turned and enveloped herself with her wings, they acted as a very strong shield and any spear that came in contact with the wings would either break or bounce off. But the spears that do make contact also scratch the wings which hurt Ratiasu. Haruka appeared above Ratiasu with no damage from that kido attack before.

'So you finally use bankai,' said Ratiasu looking a bit weary.

'Well yeah, I was thinking why bother prolonging this when it should've been over half an hour ago,' said Haruka in a frank tone.

'You sure do talk big.'

'I only speak the truth,' said Haruka honestly

Haruka attacked again with the rain of spears. Ratiasu was prepared this time and blasted them all out of the sky with a huge kido move that looked as if it tired her out a bit.

'You really shouldn't use kido moves you can't handle. It could be the last mistake you'll make.' Haruka charged down swiftly and quickly, and attacked with full force. Ratiasu was just able to hold her sword up to block. Both blades clashed together causing another explosion on contact. Haruka back flipped out of the explosion as the dust from the ground spread out into a huge mist. Haruka breathed heavily as she landed, but was relieved when nothing came out of the mist.

'I think this fight's finally over,' she thought. The mist slowly moved away, but surprisingly Ratiasu was still standing, thought body was covered in blood, bruises and cuts, she still stands.

'This… isn't… over… yet…' she panted, stumbling forwards at Haruka.

'Give it up you're beaten, I could kill you now with one more attack. But I do not want to lose a friend. So, I'll make you an offer, get out of Terri and I won't kill you. Stay there and… I'll have no choice but to eliminate you.'

'Eliminate me? You think too highly of yourself, I've told you before, no one can defeat me. I AM UNBEATABLE,' she screamed, her sword flashed five times with a green glow. Then a weird gas like substance flowed out from the sword and engulfed her. Her wounds were being healed, quite quickly as well. Her cuts closed, the blood disappeared and the bruises vanished. 'This is the true power of my sword. I'm sure you're aware of Ratiasu's healing abilities?'

'I am very aware of her extraordinary healing abilities,' agreed Haruka.

'Yes, and that is why if you don't kill me. I'll always be able to recover. And you won't kill me, I know you don't have the heart to kill me. And I also know that Ketu there won't kill me either,' she said glancing over at Ketu, who was still with his head towards the ground. 'No one can kill me, no one.'

'I beg to disagree,' Byakuya came walking out of no where, put his sword vertically in front of him. 'Scatter, Senbonzakura.'

But, just before the blades had a chance to break apart Ketu stepped in and stopped Byakuya's sword.

'What is the meaning of this?' asked Byakuya looking astonished.

'If Terri needs to die, then it'll only be by my hands, got it?' Ketu said with a low and evil sounding voice.

'We don't have time to play around, Captain Zakura. She is a threat to soul society, we must end her life now.'

'Give me fifteen minutes. If I'm not able to kill her, then you can do as you wish, just kill me as well,' said Ketu with the same voice and a little difficulty with saying the word 'kill'.

'No Ket, what are you saying,' yelled Haruka running over to him. 'You can't die, I can't lose you too.'

Ketu smiled, 'without Terri, I can't live at all. She was my happiness, my sorrow, my reason for being alive. If she's gone, then my will to live will go with it. I will kill her, then I will kill myself.'

Haruka grabbed Ketu around the waist and hugged him, 'no you can't, I don't want to lose anymore friends. Please don't do this, I'll have no friends if you go.' Haruka was crying, the first time in ages. She had saddest face and it's not like her to be sad.

Ketu tried to ignore Haruka and carry on, 'Byakuya, do I have your word that if I don't succeed in killing her you will kill me and her?'

'That's a promise I can make,' said Byakuya with his eyes closed.

'Good.' Ketu wrenched himself free from Haruka, 'tell Kari I said goodbye. I'm sorry Rika. Please don't cry. Remember, even if I do die, I will be with you in spirit.' Ketu ran off towards Ratiasu.

'NOOOO, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS,' screamed Haruka running to catch up with Ketu but was tripped by a piece of rock. 'No, please don't,' she whispered and blacked out.

'A new opponent I see, good good, I was getting bored with that Haruka girl,' taunted Ratiasu.

An evil black aura appeared around Ketu, his voice was still low and sounded disturbing, 'You took control of the one person I loved, you ruined her future, you ruined my life. You took everything away from me, and now I'm going to take everything away from you. I will free Terri from you, and we'll both die together like we promised that day.' Ketu looked ferocious, like a panther chasing after its prey.

'You're sure looking spooky today, what's got you so worked up?' said Ratiasu, not expecting an answer.

'This is something I perfected when I was training with Terri, she made me promise that I only use it to save someone dear to me for it will most certainly end my life when the time is up. And now, this is as good time as any.'

'What are you rambling on about now eh?' asked Ratiasu.

Ketu didn't reply, he didn't even look at her. He took out his sword and snapped the blade part in two. Inside the part that's connect to the guard he took out a long thin needle about as long as a ball-point pen. 'This is for you, my love,' he whispered and stabbed himself in the middle of his heart with the needle.

His eyes turned vermillion and his haired turned silver just like Ratiasu's. There was a huge increase in his spiritual pressure. His enormous spiritual pressure surrounded him in the shape of a dragon, but not Kazedoragon, it was a black dragon with red eyes and looked menacing. A new blade was in his hand, with a dragon's head for a guard and a long red blade.

'Is that suppose to scare me?' teased Ratiasu though her voice sounded unsure and drops of sweat trickled down from her forehead.

Ketu didn't reply. He charged, moved with the speed of a panther at Ratiasu, sword outstretched.

'I WILL NOT BE BEATEN,' screamed Ratiasu as her spiritual pressure shot out everywhere around her in the form of sharp blades. Ketu charged like a berserker, the blades was literally ripping his body apart, cuts appeared everywhere on him. He was completely covered with blood and sustained heavy injuries where the flesh part of his left arm has been cleanly ripped away showing the blood vessels and muscles below. A few of the blades pierced straight threw him, but still he did not stop. 'THIS CANNOT BE.'

A moment later, Ketu was within striking distance he aimed true and well. His red blade pierced straight through Ratiasu's heart. The expression of shock and horror stayed on her face as she collapsed backwards and moved no more.

Ketu regained himself and dropped to his knees. He crawled next to Ratiasu and shut her eyes. He held Ratiasu's still warm hands in his. 'I'm sorry it had to end like this. I wished we could've had more time. There were so many things I wanted to do with you. You many places we haven't visited, so many things I wanted to say. Oh well, at least we died together like we promised.' Ketu clutched his chest, the needle was taking effect and slowly all the blood in his body would stop flowing. 'At least we'll be meeting up somewhere else.' He closed his eyes as well.

Flashback Their first meeting as kids. When they both graduated, smiling. Their first mission together. Their first embrace. When they both left seireitei and went to the human world. Their romantic holiday in Venice, their first kiss.

Ketu smiled, 'This is farewell. But not goodbye.' He fell forwards right next to Ratiasu, and everything went blank.

End of part 3

And we come to an end of another part. Part 4 starts next week and although i'll admit part 3 wasn't exactly great, i hope you enjoyed it anyway, the major action is on its way