A/N: Sorry it took so long! I got out of the habit of writing a bit every day, and I ended up procrastinating and putting it off. I'll try to do better for the next chapter! Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter, and please review this one when you're finished!
Hinamori's Apprentice
Chapter 32
"What do you mean? Wasn't Uryu the reason you're here?" Ichigo asked.
"We would have liked to capture the Quincy, true enough, but a much more important target has arisen. As we speak, an attack is being launched on Seireitei by our allies," Yochito said. Ichigo's eyes widened.
"Byakuya!" he yelled, turning to Byakuya, who was standing a short distance away.
"I know, we've just received an alert from Seireitei," Byakuya said, his normally calm voice displaying audible tension.
"We have to get back!" Ichigo said.
"We can't, the Senkaimon has been blocked and we can't make another one. We're stuck here for now."
"What?!"
"Is it normal for you to turn your back to an enemy like this?" Yochito said calmly. Ichigo immediately turned back to him, his sword pointed at Yochito threateningly.
"What are you after? Why are you doing this? What did you do to make Senna follow you?" he asked aggressively. Yochito remained quiet, causing Ichigo to grind his teeth angrily.
"I see. I guess I'll have to beat the answer out of you," he said harshly.
---
"Shit!" Toushiro growled, nearly crushing the earpiece that just delivered the message that Seireitei was under attack.
"Still as crafty as ever, I see," Kyouraku said to Mansamusa.
"The credit does not go to me this time," Mansamusa said, "This attack was planned by someone far more ruthless and skilled in the ways of warfare than I."
"Just how many of your underlings have you sent to Seireitei?" Kyouraku asked.
"That is not really important at the moment. What matters is that the Gotei 13 has two unfilled Captain positions, one Captain too injured to fight, three Captains and a Captain-level fighter stuck in this world, and the Captain-Commander away. Added to that, Captain Unohana will no doubt focus on healing the wounded, so in effect there will be only three Captains able to fight."
"Don't underestimate our Captains, you should know that we are a hardy bunch," Kyouraku said.
"You would be wise not to underestimate us either, my old friend," Mansamusa said. He held his crystal spike with both hands and broke it down the middle. There was a bright light, and crystals began to grow from the point of the break, encasing Mansamusa's hands and travelling up his arms. The crystals continued to grow until they had completely covered him. He was now shielded with glittering crystal, which also formed a spiked crown atop his head. Toushiro and Kyouraku faced him down, preparing for an even more difficult fight.
---
Chaos reigned in Seireitei. The warriors and the hollows they controlled rampaged through the streets, setting buildings aflame, battling Shinigami, and killing anyone unable to defend against them. Some rode atop hollows fitted with armor and chains, others ran through the streets on foot, fighting any Shinigami they came across. Some held chains to hollows that they directed to attack like beasts of war.
Usagi grinned as he watched the chaos from atop his glider. Occasionally he would take a shot at a Shinigami on the ground, but for the most part he was content to watch. He glanced at a long-legged hollow attacking a number of Shinigami with tentacles on its underside. Atop it sat one of the robed warriors, directing it to attack.
He was rather pleased with himself. This mission was going quite nicely. All that was left was to capture the target…
As he flew around, he noticed something between two buildings. He flew down to see it, and grinned when he saw that it was just a pink-haired little girl.
"Well hello there!" he giggled, "I wonder what someone like you is doing in a place like this. Perhaps I should take you with me…"
"You'd better watch out mister," the girl said with a bright smile, "Ken-chan wants to play with you!"
"Eh? What's a Ken-chan? Some kind of gerbil?"
Suddenly there was a loud roar behind him. Usagi turned to see the large hollow cut cleanly in half, a Shinigami with a mad grin standing in front of it.
"I suppose you must be Ken-chan, huh?" Usagi said irritably, readying his weapons for battle.
"I am Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of the Eleventh Division!" the man said with a wide grin, "I've watched you floating around for a while. Why don't you come over and fight me? I'll even give you one free strike!"
"Really? Sweet!" Usagi said with a grin, taking his sharpened black rod and lunging at the man calling himself Kenpachi. A satisfied smirk spread across his face as he made contact, but it disappeared when he realized that it hadn't even broken the skin. Kenpachi grinned down at him.
"Oh shit…" Usagi muttered.
---
"The northern and western gates have been breached by two separate groups. They have spread out and penetrated deep into Seireitei. We've been able to create a defensive perimeter around the Fourth, Second, and First divisions, but everywhere else the fighting is chaotic and unorganized. The enemy is disorganized as well. Aside from a more solid attack force from the north and west, smaller groups have broken off to fight all over Seireitei. There are only a few areas left untouched. This is one of those areas, hence why we're here," Shuuhei Hisagi said, a map of Seireitei in front of him as he spoke to Renji, Iba, and Sasakibe.
"Where are the other Captains?" Sasakibe asked.
"Captain Ukitake is fighting near his division, and Captain Komamura is directing Shinigami at the front lines," Hisagi answered, "Captain Unohana is treating the wounded and Captain Kurotsuchi is somewhere in his division. We can't get in contact with Captain Zaraki."
"Sir, shouldn't we be going to help in the fight instead of dawdling around here?" Renji asked impatiently.
"We need the information we've gathered to be transferred to our forces. Iba, you go inform Captain Komamura and assist him in directing the battle. Sasakibe, you can go inform Captain Ukitake. Abarai, I'd like you to stay with me for the fight. Understood?"
"Yes sir," all three of them said.
"Good, now hurry up and inform the Captains about what I've told you," Hisagi said. Sasakibe and Iba quickly used shunpo to leave, with Renji staying behind.
"Shuuhei… I mean Captain Hisagi, is something wrong? There were times you didn't seem very confident when you were briefing us on the situation. Is something else going on?" Renji asked.
"It's… probably nothing," Hisagi said, "I just happened to notice that the invading force has entirely avoided the tenth division despite it being directly in the path of the invaders. It's like they're intentionally avoiding it."
"Well, that's good, isn't it? It means fewer buildings damaged and more troops that can join in on the main battle without having to worry about their own division," Renji said.
"Yes, but why not target it? No, forget that, why are they targeting these other places? They haven't done anything except cause damage. Their attack doesn't make any sense unless… they're trying to keep that one area isolated…" Hisagi said slowly.
"But why would they do that unless…" Renji's eyes widened at the realization.
"This entire invasion is just a ruse so they can capture one person…" Hisagi finished for him.
---
Karin winced at the sound of an explosion in the distance. Rangiku stood across the room, speaking into a headset as the battle raged outside.
"No, keep your flanks strong and don't let them surround you," she said to her subordinates, "If they manage to separate you from the main force, you're done for!"
Karin listened as she gave several more orders before turning the headset off and sighing.
"Maybe you should go help them," Karin said.
"No, you and I will be staying here. I can direct them well enough like this," Rangiku said.
"You don't have to stay here to look after me, I'll be fine on my own," Karin said, "There aren't any enemies in this area, and even if there were, I could fight them off."
"I know, but I can't just leave you. Ichigo would never forgive me," Rangiku said. Karin sighed, not liking the idea of just waiting around while a battle was going on outside. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door, causing both of them to stiffen. Rangiku placed a hand on her sheathed sword and slowly walked towards the door.
Gripping her sword tightly, she nervously opened the door. She breathed a sigh of relief to see that it was not an enemy, but Momo and Izuru.
"What are you guys doing here?" she asked, hiding her relief.
"Well what are you doing here? We need you on the battlefield!" Izuru said.
"The Tenth Division Shinigami are without a commander," Momo added, "You need to join the battle as soon as possible."
"I'm relaying orders to them via voice-link," Rangiku explained, "They'll do fine without me there."
"But they'd do better with you there! Come on Rangiku, we really need to hurry!" Momo said anxiously.
"I'm sorry, but I can't go," Rangiku said.
"Why not?" Momo said in exasperation.
"I… I just can't," Rangiku replied, crossing her arms awkwardly. Momo glanced over at Karin, quickly realizing why Rangiku was refusing to join the battle.
"Karin will be fine here. She's more than capable, and the battle isn't even near this area," Momo said.
"Come on Rangiku, you're really needed," Izuru urged her.
"I know that… but I just can't. I have a really bad feeling about all of this, and I can't just leave her alone," Rangiku said.
"Rangiku, please be reasonable! You can't-"
"Shhh!" Rangiku suddenly said, stiffening, "Do you hear that?"
They all became completely quiet, straining their ears.
"I don't hear anything," Izuru said. Rangiku put a finger to her lips and shushed him again.
"There it is again! Can't you hear it?"
Several moments later, they did indeed begin to hear what Rangiku spoke of. A strange clicking, tapping sound could be heard from above. A sense of dread immediately came over all in the room. Rangiku's eyes widened in recognition of the sound.
"We have to get out of here now," she said urgently.
"What is it Rangiku?"
Before she could answer, the ceiling exploded, sending dust all over the room. When the dust began to clear, all four of them froze. The terrifying, skeletal being that Rangiku knew all too well stood before them, its tiny yellow eyes turned towards Karin.