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Falling Together
Chapter Eighteen: Unexpected Betrayal
NOTE: I posted up previews for my next chapter, I hope you guys don't mind. The Fanfiction is almost coming to a finish. I can't wait to end it because I have a few more plots in mind to create. They won't be olden days like this…more modern like ones. Please enjoy this chapter!
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Aizen waited. He was a tad concerned about how things were going right now. Ichimaru was gone from his post leaving an impatient Soi Fong and Urahara, Hinamori was dead leaving a devastated Hitsugaya, and the soldiers he had released to the west and east gates were easily being beaten by the soldiers that accompanied Ukitake and Kyouraku's group. "Damn…" The man sighed in an upset tone. He scratched the back of his head and leaned against the wall, contemplating on more tactics. "Well…there's always -" Footsteps approached him and he turned around facing his subordinate. "…Ichimaru."
"…Taichou." The white-haired soldier replied in a calm and collected voice. Although he had such a serene composure, Aizen immediately could tell his unbalanced reiatsu surrounding him.
"What are you doing leaving your post?" Aizen asked as he stared at the man who seemed rather paranoid.
"…Hinamori-kun died." Ichimaru whispered, his ordinary smile was completely gone and he seemed worried for the first time. A smile crept up on Aizen's tan face as he noticed Ichimaru's change of emotions.
"Yes. I know that." He answered simply and clasped his hands together. "And why is her death such a bother?" Aizen asked placing his chin on the top of his hands. He was obviously interested of what Ichimaru was thinking.
"Well…yah know…you gave her that drug, and you guaranteed it's benefits." He stated and shrugged while circling his captain. Aizen nodded and watched Ichimaru encircling him. "So since she died, it means yer drug isn't really great." The man let out a sigh and heaved his hands up in the air to demonstrate how awful it was. Aizen nodded once more. "So I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to -"
"Kill me?" The man answered for him and pushed the rim of his glasses. Ichimaru's smile suddenly appeared.
"Well. Two great minds do think a like." He whispered laughing a little and pulling out his sword. Aizen let out a sigh and pulled his sword as well.
"Our minds are nothing alike." The man grumbled with a sympathetic grin. They performed their fighting stances.
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Matsumoto stared at the path in front of her. It was midnight and she had already lost her captain's footsteps. "Dammit!" The lady grumbled to herself and rushed through the desert searching for any sign of the white palace mentioned by Ishida. "You're such a stupid man…" The woman thought to herself, leaning forward to gain more speed.
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"Our minds don't think alike, eh?" Ichimaru whispered licking his lips. Aizen let out a smirk and touched the tip of his blade. He ran his fingers on the smooth edge and glared at the traitor in front of him. "Well…I guess in a way." And he vanished.
Aizen sighed and blocked the blade that had attempted to pierce him from behind. It was obvious for him, the effects of the stimulant he had used were taking place. "I see you've injected those drugs in yah." Ichimaru replied childishly as he hung on the chandelier that floated above Aizen. The man stared above and found the blade extending towards him. "Don't seem as strong as I thought it would." The white-haired soldier replied with disappointment.
"Say whatever you would like." Aizen laughed and parried the blade away from him. Ichimaru back flipped from a direct attack, and Aizen's sword cut off a piece of his sleeve. "These drugs will bring an end to your life." The man let out a chuckle and followed Ichimaru's shadow that cast in front of him.
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Byakuya stared from above, Aizen was currently winning due to his advantage. Those injections that he had taken proved to be quite a feat. The man sighed and opened the glass roof, he was about to interrupt the battle but was soon held back by a large hand.
"Not yet." Isshin whispered finding a surprised Byakuya. "When the timing comes we will attack." The older man murmured. Byakuya sighed and nodded.
"Very well."
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Ichimaru could not attack. He kept on avoiding, but it brought him nowhere. Aizen's laughter echoed throughout the hallways. Pictures were torn, vases were broken, the walls were scratched as well. "You're my successor, aren't you supposed to be as good as I?" Aizen asked slashing at Ichimaru who seemed too busy blocking his moves to respond.
"Well…I am pretty powerful." Ichimaru replied in a low voice. "I'd be more powerful than you if you didn't take them drugs, though." He laughed, angering Aizen for his incompetence. "By the way…" The white-haired adult asked as he blocked the hard hits. He could feel his blade shattering. "Know any of them side effects that could happen?" He asked.
"…Side effects?" Aizen grinned as he continued to slash towards his subordinate. "As far as I can tell…there's not really any bad side-effects." He chuckled, enjoying himself. He knew he was going to win. And he knew Ichimaru knew he would lose.
"Then why are you sweating so much?" Ichimaru questioned avoiding his master's cuts. Again another piece of his sleeve fell.
Damn! Aizen thought to himself, finally realizing something. He was shedding much perspiration lately, and it hasn't been longer than five minutes. He gazed at Ichimaru who's eyes shimmered with an annoying shine. He continued to hack at him. The side effect…It's draining all my reiatsu at once…Aizen grumbled angrily feeling his loss. Ichimaru's smile widened. Oh well…I'll just have to end it like this. He thought with a grin.
The two began circling around the dining room. They were in an intense atmosphere and seemed to be in utter concentration. They knew that one mistake could lead to their death. "You should give up, Ichimaru." Aizen replied in a dangerous stone and took off his glasses. His subordinate made a small attempt of a shrug.
"Why do you ask me to do that?" The man smiled. "You know I'm pretty bad giving up." He smiled and vanished. Aizen's eyes began to blur, but his awareness was still at it's peak. He could sense the lingering reiatsu of Ichimaru pierce throughout the air so clearly. A smile formed. He blocked the attack that Ichimaru created and sliced his sword through the man's ribs. He twisted it, making such an uncomfortable feeling. Ichimaru growled in pain, and stumbled backward away from him.
"Well…you'll have to give up now." Aizen grinned and was about to stab him. Ichimaru let out an angry glare and extended his sword piercing the man through his shoulder. It was strange. Aizen couldn't sense that attack. The side effects! The man angrily yelped and skidded backwards from the attack. Ichimaru held onto his injury and limped forward with a demonic smile.
"Now…die…" He whispered finding a terrified Aizen. He took his sword and placed it across Aizen's throat. He was ready to kill him, but found it hard to slay his master since his loss of blood. He stumbled backwards and fell on the floor groaning. "Dammit…I'm supposed to kill you." He grumbled curling up to relax his ripped muscles. Aizen got up and looked at Ichimaru with pity. He had almost killed him, but since a tad of his reiatsu returned he knew he would defeat this flea.
Suddenly the door flung open and the two stared at an anxious woman. It was Matsumoto who had come in such a bad time. "TAICHOU!?" The woman hollered and then found the two bloodied and cursing. My god…The woman whispered to herself and took out her sword , finding Aizen in a dangerous position. His sword did not pierce through Ichimaru yet, and he seemed content to kill her.
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"It's time." Isshin replied after the two found Matsumoto entering the room and in a great need of help. Byakuya opened the glass ceiling and fell from the rooftop to the marble floor. Isshin followed and the two appeared protecting Matsumoto. "Well, hey…" Isshin smiled waving at a confused Aizen. Ichimaru closed his eyes, beating his head softly against the cold marble.
"…Kurosaki…" Aizen responded coldly. He was in no good position. Shit. He thought to himself and backed away when Isshin stepped forward. I have to run…His heart raced and he turned around and faced a rather furious Byakuya. He looked to his left and found Matsumoto and to the right where Ichimaru clung against a poll pointing his sword at him. …Is this the end? The maniac asked himself and started laughing.
"No matter…even if you kill me you won't help your son…" He replied facing his defeat. His reiatsu was depleted and he knew he had no more tactics. All he could do was wait for help, but there was only a slim chance. He was too cruel of a man to get help from anybody.
"Move and we will kill you." Matsumoto hissed as she found Aizen twitching with unease. The man stared at her with a smile and a blade ran though him. "What the hell!?" She shouted and found Aizen fall to the floor. Ichimaru's sword was stuck in Aizen's corpse and she could see the man's happiness. "What in the world did you do that for!?" She shouted, but the man did not hear her.
"Heh. I beat you." He replied with a calm composure and fell down. He was dead.
Dammit! Matsumoto shouted in herself and raced towards the man hoping to heal him. She was too late. He was gone.
"That's enough, Matsumoto!" Byakuya commanded after finding her attempt to heal Ichimaru's grave wounds. The woman stared at him. He seemed quite strange today. "He is our enemy, he is dead. Don't try to do such foolish actions." He responded and turned around. "Find my sister…at once." He murmured.
"I'm afraid you can't do that." Isshin's voice interrupted the silence. Byakuya turned around to question him. "My son is the only one who can find her." He replied with a calmness in his tone. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to trust him." He answered.
Byakuya was outraged and was more annoyed on how helpless he was to save his own sister's life. Isshin calmed him down, and Matsumoto tried hard to please his attention by performing such stupid card tricks. "Fine! But if he harms my sister you're clan will pay." The normal cold man responded clearly upset. A smile approached on Matsumoto's face. She seemed happy to see Byakuya so concerned for once. It was like him in the old days.
Chapter Nineteen Preview
To Hate Someone Loved
Soi Fong and Urahara have a hard time understanding each other. Both in love with the same person, and both utterly confused with their positions in life. Soi Fong's unrequited love and Urahara's lucky love. The two dual against each other to see who is worthy for Yoruichi. Will they realize their similarity wanting? Or will they die by a comrade's hand?
(Not technically yaoi)