Chapter 40 – The Beginning of the End
'So? Any idea as to our next course of action?' asked Naomi walking between the two entrances pondering on what to do next.
The seven of them sat in a circle on the cold grounds of heuco mundo in front of a towering thick wall. The wall had two entrances which headed off into two directions. The six of them stopped there wondering as to which way to go, in this time Ratiasu and Haruka both had fallen asleep.
'We'll wait for Hikari to show up first. She's the strategist I'm sure she'll come up with something,' advised Ketu strongly.
'Mhmm, Hikari always has a plan or two up her sleeve,' agreed Crystal. Raven looked to be either deep in thought or completely bored.
They heard footsteps rapidly approaching and saw Hikari running towards them. 'Hey guys, thanks for waiting for me,' she called racing towards them.
'Hey Kari, we've been waiting,' Ketu called back waking up Ratiasu and Haruka in the process.
'Hikari stopped in front of them as everyone stood up and readied to move on, 'so, have you been waiting long? But didn't I say keep going and I'd catch up with you guys later?'
'Yeah, yeah we know. But we're kind of stuck here,' explained Ketu nodding towards the two entrances. 'There's two entrances and we have no idea of which one to go. So we were waiting for you to give us a plan or to come up with something.' Everyone except Raven, who was still either thinking or bored or staring into space, nodded.
'Well isn't this easy. Just separate into two groups and a group head down each one,' said Hikari as though it was completely obvious.
'I was just about to suggest that,' said Haruka.
'Sure you were, sure,' said Ketu sarcastically. 'Oh by the way what happened to the other four that was with you? And what about those two arrancars?'
'Don't worry, all four of them are, well, not dead exactly. Just really injured so Byakuya came and took them back to soul society. Also both arrancars were annihilated, I'm sure about that,' answered Hikari.
'That's good to hear, what about Haodong? Is he alright as well, make sure you take good care of him when we get back,' insisted Ratiasu. 'I think you two would make a great pair.' Ratiasu grabbed onto Ketu's arm, 'Isn't that right Ket?'
'I guess so?' agreed Ketu although sounding like a question instead.
'What are you saying? I'm not going out with him or anything, I just think he's a kind person that's all. And he's fine, I made sure that he wouldn't die, only because it'd be a shame to let such a brave warrior die,' she said frantically, her face red. Haruka and Ratiasu eyed her suspiciously.
'Hey, are you four done chit chatting. If you don't mind I'd like to get going already, this waiting is boring me. I'm itching for a fight,' complained Raven. 'Especially with those two,' he thought, thinking back to his defeat against Circe and having saved by an arrancar. The thought made his blood boil inside. His pride had been hurt and tossed about and he wasn't going to let those arrancars get away with it.
'Alright okay, we'll be going shortly. Let me just think of the best way to separate our groups,' said Hikari making a thinking pose. She walked and looked through both entrances staring deep down both of them. Both were similar like deep dark tunnels that had nothing interesting in them. She closed her eyes and stood inside each of them sensing the spiritual pressures down each one. 'Well, I can safely say that whichever one you head down, always prepare for a tough fight. I sense strong spiritual pressures coming from each entrance. Be ready for anything and always have your sword at the ready, after all this is Usaitar we're dealing with.' Ratiasu looked down at that moment. 'Don't worry Terri, he may be your brother but we all know that you're nothing like him. You have nothing to fear, once we clear him out we'll finally be able to return to our normal lives. But it won't be simple.'
Just at that moment a booming voice came out from both tunnels at the same time, 'What's the matter? Too scared to come and get me? Ha ha ha ha ha ha, I'll be waiting for all of you, especially you my sister, so get ready to die,' announced Usaitar's voice then it faded.
'That bastard, he's going to get what's coming to him,' shouted Ketu.
'Don't get too excited, save you anger for when we actually face him,' suggested Ratiasu.
'Anyway, I've decided for Raven, Crystal and Naomi to go as one group and the other to go as another. I think it's important for close friends to stay together and help each other, don't you all agree?' asked Hikari rhetorically.
'Got that right, time to end this charade,' shouted Ketu cheerfully.
'Friends eh? Whatever,' thought Raven though he had a smile on his face.
'Come on now, don't look so bored Rae, keep your spirits high, we've got a long road ahead of us,' said Crystal encouragingly.
'I'm not bored, I'm just a bit annoyed, but don't worry about me, take care of yourself,' said Raven calmingly. Crystal smiled at him.
'Let's make haste brother, we've got some arrancars to slay,' said an enthusiastic Naomi.
'Oh yeah, Usaitar's going down, I've never been more ready in my life, now let's get in there and blow some arrancar's head off,' shouted Haruka.
'You seem happy,' said Ketu. 'Whatever, that's expected I guess.' He turned to Ratiasu and held her hand, 'so Terri, ready for the final fight. And finally after this we can have a peaceful life together.'
'A peaceful life. Yeah, that sounds great,' said Ratiasu smiling at Ketu and looking at him as a lover would.
'Awwwwwww, isn't this cute?' said Haruka holding her hands to her chest.
Ratiasu and Ketu immediately broke apart, 'A ha ha ha, well er let's get going shall we?' laughed Ketu awkwardly.
'Yeah, yeah, let's get going, the earlier we leave the earlier we come back, he he he,' laughed Ratiasu nervously.
Hikari sighed. 'I don't do this often, but this could be the last time we see each other. But I trust that all of us will make it back alive.' She puts her hand out in front of her, 'hands in everyone, this is as awkward as it'll get but let's do this for everyone who depends on us.'
'Count me in,' said Ketu placing his hand on top of Hikari's.
'Yeah,' said Haruka and Ratiasu together who both also put their hands on top. Crystal and Naomi followed, and although Raven looked really uneasy about this also put his hand in though it looked half hearted.
'This is it, the end of the line. We will face Usaitar and his arrancars with courage, with bravery, and we will not back down until we are dead. We charge now into battle, but we may not charge into victory. We may go separate roads but our destination will be one. With this we all vow to meet back alive, our swords may break our spirits may shatter but we will stay alive until the very end. This is a promise that will be kept. We shall not back down, we shall not retreat, we shall keep going until the job is done. We face Usaitar for the last time here and now, and we shall scream and shout until his head is ours. And now, we face the end. Everyone. Good luck, if you die, never die alone. Remember those who you are fighting for, remember those who you are trying to protect and you won't falter. Show me your resolve. Now we face the final fight. Let's go.'
With that speech from Hikari everyone separated and ran off in their groups. Raven's group headed to the left and Hikari's group headed off to the right.
Raven, Crystal and Naomi ran down the tunnel at high speed focused on just one thing; kill anything that appears. They quickly saw light at the end of the tunnel and rushed towards it.
They hadn't escaped the tunnel yet, they had arrived in an excessively large room that was five times the size of a football pitch but with nothing in it except. There at the other end of the room stood Plata Acerogarra.
'Welcome, I've been expecting you, especially you Raven. Remember me?' he asked mockingly.
'How can I forget?' said Raven through gritted teeth and gripped his sword tightly.
'You seem to be on edge today. Relax a little, after all what good is being angry at your death bed?' he said walking towards them slowly and calmly.
'Don't screw with me you piece of shit,' shouted Raven pulling out his sword.
'Ha ha ha, how easy it is to anger you. Let me ask you, do you even know who I am?'
Raven's eyes widened with shock then he remembered why the feeling of this arrancar seemed so familiar and evil. 'Crystal, Naomi. Go ahead without me. I have a score to settle with this guy.'
'What but we can't just leave you, wouldn't it be better to face him together?' asked Crystal, but then backed off when she saw Raven's angry face.
'Leave this one to me. No matter what happens I'll take him down,' said Raven confidently.
'Big words, let's see you back them up.'
'Go, and good luck,' said Raven as Crystal and Naomi ran off past Plata and carried on going through the door into another tunnel.
'By now you must've realized who I really am, isn't that right, Raven?' asked Plata with a chilling laugh.
Raven walked with the intent of murder on his face towards him, 'I do, you murderer. Today I will have my revenge and I'll do what I've wanted to do since I came to soul society.'
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'Hey are you sure that leaving Raven there was a good idea?' asked Crystal as she and Naomi ran down the tunnel.
'Don't worry, it's Raven we're talking about here. I'm sure he'll be fine, let's just worry about getting out of here,' reassured Naomi.
'Yeah I guess you're right. Hey look I see light at the end again,' said Crystal pointing to the light in front shining through yet another doorway.
They both slowed down as they approached the doorway and walked into another large room. This room was exactly the same size as the previous one except this one was completely filled with water and nothing else. It was like a miniature ocean. And yet again one person stood blocking the entrance. It was Circe Marreina the one who previously fought Raven, but neither Crystal nor Naomi knew this so they both stared at the arrancar.
'Who are you?' asked Naomi reaching for her sword.
'You don't know? I'm Circe Marreina, arrancar, number four of the Wu Jian, and I'm also the one here to kill you both,' she said with a little too much confidence.
'Sorry, but we don't have any reason to fight you, and I'd prefer to settle things with a drink,' said Crystal calmly.
'Geez, you've been hanging with Shunsui too much,' sighed Naomi.
'He's my cousin so what'd ya expect. And besides Raven was in squad four most of the time when he returned. Anyway as I was saying Circe, neither of us have any reason to fight you, so would you just please move out of the way. I'd prefer avoiding pointless bloodshed.'
Circe let out an evil laugh, 'pointless you say? What if I told you if was me who sank that idiot Raven into the sea.' Just as soon as she had finished speaking Crystal had vanished and was already in a deadlock with swords against Circe. 'Now that's more like it, so shall we then?'
'You bitch, I'll teach you for hurting Raven, I'm gonna slice you into pieces,' yelled Crystal unable to contain her anger.
'My, my. You're a feisty one. Let's play eh?' said Circe coolly.
'Naomi, go on ahead. This one's mine,' said Crystal with a low evil voice that sounded nothing like her.
'Sure thing,' agreed Naomi nervously and decided it was better for her to move on. She moved forwards but Circe quickly blocked her path. But as she did Crystal came in and knocked her off Naomi's path. 'Thanks,' she said and ran through the doorway.
Naomi kept running, unwilling to turn or look back. She knew she had to keep going it was the only way to end this. She sensed that someone else was up front waiting for her, but she didn't slow down at all. She kept going and ran out of the tunnel into the familiar heuco mundo scenery. She looked up and in the far distance she saw some sort of massive building that resembled a pyramid. But before she could look further a blade swung down on her and she had to quickly jump out of the way to avoid it. She looked ahead, the land was empty except for one person standing there with his sword out and looked ready to fight to the death.
'The name's Zeo Oseomartir, fifth of the Wu Jian. And I've only got one thing to say to you young lady. Prepare to die,' said the arrancar and he charged at Naomi.