And so the story continues with the big battle! Whoo hoo!! The best part of the movie in my opinion! Hope some of you have seen it by now. Note the major differences in it.
Well, let's just start the story! Yay! Enjoy!!
Refusing The Truth
Chapter 5
I stood on a power line. Eyeing the warehouse. I felt a little nervous about going in. Haineko growled within me, and I simply stared at the location Kusaka had mentioned. It was big with fire escape stairs running down the side I saw.
Taicho was going to be in there. I know he was. How could he not? Kusaka said he was the guest of honor. Meaning you can't have a party without the guest of honor.
Why a warehouse though? What's so special about it? I know for certain Taicho has never been here. I sigh. This mystery is so tiring. I can feel my head ache, and I can feel Haineko growling just by the building's presence.
So now I stand here, staring at the place that will change my life the second I step inside it. If I go in, I may not come out alive. I didn't know what was going to happen when I got in there other than a major fight.
"Rangiku." Renji snapped me out of my staring contest with the building. "You ready?" He asked.
"No. Let's go." I said and jumped off the power line and landed in front of the door. The others landed behind me. 1:00 P.M. was exactly two minutes from now. I struggled to keep the bag I carried on my shoulder. It's content was important.
I threw a glance at Renji, who nodded as I put my hand on the doorknob. I traded glances with Rukia and Ichigo who did the same. My glance returned to the knob. I swallowed roughly and turned it slowly. The tension was killing me.
I felt a little scared actually. But I wouldn't let it get to me, I do this kind of stuff all the time. Although, those other things don't involve me losing either way. If I win, Soul Society executes me, if I lose Kusaka executes me.
Lose-lose situation as they call it. Oh well, I've had a good life. I turned the knob until it went all the way around, I heard a click. Taking it as a sign, I threw the door open.
Nothing happened.
Silence, darkness, and emptiness filled the warehouse. It was nothing but stray boxes and dust everywhere, pillars all around.. We entered with caution. Hands ready to withdraw just in case. Seeing nothing yet, we walked towards the center of the warehouse.
It was real quiet. I suspect we were lied to, as an excuse to get us away from the real battle so we wouldn't interfere. Dammit.
I was about to say no one's here, until I heard a door open a few stories above me.
"Hide!" I hissed and we hid behind the crates that sat in the corner. Why were we hiding? I don't know, I got jumpy. I feel like this entire mission has totally shattered my self confidence. I peaked over the box to see who it was that began walking down the steps.
T-Taicho!
His very presence had froze me where I stood. My eyes trembled as I watched him step down the stairs. He often grimaced, I assumed he hadn't been properly healed of his wounds.
I finally caught a glance of his eyes as he came down the last flight of stairs. They looked so empty and tired. I felt obligated to just tackle him right then. But I held myself down.
A hand appeared at my shoulder. "Rangiku, what do we do?" Ichigo asked. "We stay until we're either found or Kusaka shows." I whispered.
Obviously we were in the right place, because Taicho came.
Taicho.
Just seeing him again brought butterflies to my stomach, I couldn't help but sort of feel... Happy. I haven't seen him since he ran away, which was about a day ago. As I recalled the even I felt my heart sink, that's right.
Ichigo had said he felt bad about leaving a subordinate. But I guess Taicho just said that out of spite. If he really meant it then he wouldn't have ran away from me.
I hugged myself harder to keep from jumping out and attacking him myself. It just hurt to know my own Taicho would run away when I tried to help him. He walked down the last step and towards the middle where we were just at.
"Ah, Toshiro! You found me. I've been waiting for you." I threw my gaze to the side to see Kusaka standing there. When did he get there?!
"Kusaka!" Taicho said with wide eyes as he removed his mask. "I knew using Hyourinmaru to wound you would be helpful. I'll bet your wondering how I'm still alive?" Kusaka laughed and took a step closer to Taicho.
"Doesn't matter anyway." Kusaka said and walked to the side to a stone box. "You know how the 13 court guards are like and yet you stay there. Is it for that innocent girl?" He turned to look at Taicho. Momo? Is that who he means?
"Leave Hinamori out of this." Taicho hissed. My heart sank lower. "Oh of course. I know. It's about that lieutenant of yours, isn't it?" Kusaka snickered.
I clenched my fists. Using me and Momo to get to Taicho, how low!
"She has nothing to do with this." Taicho said. "Oh but I think she does, and so does the substitute. And two others." My eyes widened. Does he know we're here?
"What do you mean?" Taicho asked. "I ran into them just yesterday, took a nasty beating from the menos, but I'm sure they're better now." I knew Taicho knew what he was talking about.
"So that was your menos that got to them." I knew it, he did know.
"Not mine, my followers. Speaking of followers. Come on out Matsumoto." Kusaka called and I froze in my place, we all did.
Hesitantly I stood up straight and the others followed my example and stood beside me, and we walked around the crates.
"M-Matsumoto?!" Taicho was baffled, I could see that. I didn't respond, I didn't feel obligated to. "Aha! They've been searching for you this entire time, and I even helped them by telling them to come here." Kusaka laughed and walked in between Taicho and me.
"Where's the King's Seal?" I demanded. "Right here, of course." Kusaka said and dug out a small yellow object with a golden glow. It's light was almost blinding.
"This one little object is going to make my dreams come true." He said, staring at me. I felt small under his gaze.
"Dreams?" Ichigo asked. "Yes." Kusaka said and the Seal began to glow brighter, the light filling the room. So it begins.
"What is the power of the King's Seal, how do you know of it?!" I demanded. I so desperately wanted to know. "Ah ah ah! You'll all know soon enough." He answered calmly.
All of our eyes widened as the room began moving and changing. "Now let's go!" Kusaka began laughing maniacally as the room moved and the entire area transformed. A bright light blinding us all, and I had to close my eyes.
When I opened them... we were all standing on Soukyoku Hill.
"This is the power of the King's Seal. It is able to move time, space and matter into another dimension. All according to the user's desires." Kusaka explained. So that's what happened. The Seal moved us from the Living World to Soukyoku Hill. In short, it makes transportation easy.
"So that means you can use it to transport an enemies attacks before they even hit!" Renji concluded.
"And you can return your body to any shape it was before if you're injured." Rukia added.
"That's right." Kusaka snickered. "Kusaka, that means you..." Taicho started. "Yes, I was transferred to Hueco Mundo and reincarnated." He said.
Urahara was right, he has been in Hueco Mundo, this entire time. Searching for the power of the King's Seal. "I shall now use this Seal to take revenge on Seireitei!" Kusaka said and held his hand with the Seal out to Taicho.
"Toshiro. Cut it! Your bankai should be able to cut the seal!" Kusaka smiled and Taicho's eyes widened. "Cut... the King's Seal?" He murmured.
"Yes! When you do, everything in this world shall evaporate." Kusaka held the Seal above his head and began laughing.
"You're crazy! Power like that is too much to release in this dimension!" I shouted.
We all froze when two familiar shinigami appeared. "Looks like we got here first." Ikkaku! Ayasegawa!
"Indeed Ikkaku." Yumichika said. "Rangiku. You've been a very naughty girl, joining the other side, leaving your Division unauthorized. Most unbecoming, and most ugly." He added. "No point in asking why now, so why don't we just get this party started?" Ikkaku suggested.
"Ikkaku! Stop! You don't under-" I shouted but before I could finish Ikkaku had already launched himself for an attack. "I don't have to!" He said and struck at Kusaka only to have it blocked by... Taicho!!
Ikkaku jumped back. Noted that Taicho was wounded. To counter with that wound means he's serious.
"Why are you doing this Taicho?! Why are you going through such lengths for him?!" I demanded angrily. When did he become so stupid?!
"Stay out of the way!" He hissed, and his breathing was hitched, he was in pain.
Suddenly other shinigami flashed all around us. "That's far enough!" A female commanded. I looked all around me.
Soi Fon, Byakuya, and Komamura walked up from behind Ikkaku. "Taicho." Renji whispered.
"Surrender Hitsugaya." Soi Fon ordered. "And the man behind you. Also Matsumoto, Abarai, Kuchiki and Kurosaki." Komamura added.
Taicho didn't move. "Pathetic." Kusaka said with a laugh.
"Who are you?!" Komamura demanded. "No one of your concern! Cut it Toshiro! Cut the Seal! So that these fools can witness our hate! Our suffering!" Kusaka shouted and held up the Seal which began glowing and the wind got heavy.
"Capture him!" Soi Fon commanded and she and other shinigami ran towards us.
"Getsuga Tenshou!!" Ichigo shouted and used his dark energy blast to stop them and separate them from us.
"Stop!" Renji shouted. "This is wrong! Neither us nor Hitsugaya are the ones you should be attacking, Kusaka is the one doing all of this!" Rukia shouted.
"Is fighting all you know how to do?!" Ichigo demanded. "Shut it substitute! We have our orders as members of the court guards. And two lieutenants from the guards should know by now." Soi Fon shouted.
Renji and me stiffened. "You can't always assume someone has betrayed Soul Society when you don't know the whole truth!" Ichigo growled.
"Enough! If you show any resistance, you'll be killed!" Komamura shouted. The shinigami around us withdrew their Zanpakutos. I expected a fight against Kusaka, not all of Soul Society. I put my hand on Haineko's hilt.
"Halt!" We all heard and we threw our eyes over behind us and all the shinigami except us, Taicho, Kusaka, and the captains bowed before the owner of the voice.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni!" Rukia murmured. Behind Yamamoto Kyouraku came close behind, leaning on Nanao for support. I was overjoyed.
"K-Kyouraku! You're alright!" I exclaimed happily. "Somewhat, but I'll have nightmares if I watch innocent souls be punished." He smiled, tipping his hat at me. I smiled wider.
Yamamoto slammed his cane down to regain all attention. "So you are alive, Kusaka Soujirou." He said.
"'I thought you were killed' right?" Kusaka asked with a smirk. His face pissed me off.
Yamamoto's eyes opened. "The King's Seal gave you new life and raised you in Hueco Mundo." Yamamoto clarified. "Yes, and I have returned." Kusaka said casually.
"With the power of the King's Seal, I shall become King of Soul Society!" He cackled. "K-King of Soul Society?" I whispered. Was he willing to kill all these shinigami just to make his dream a reality?
"How arrogant." Yamamoto said sternly.
Kusaka chuckled and held up the Seal. "You're the ones who're arrogant. So learn your place!" Lifting it above his head, the glow grew brighter.
He was about to move time and space again. I had to act, and act now! Before I could move, Taicho had already struck at him.
Using his own Zanpakuto to block him, Kusaka threw a punch with the hand that held the Seal. Taicho jumped back. "Taicho!" "Hitsugaya!" We began to run for them.
"Stay back Matsumoto!" Taicho shouted and we stopped, I stared at him, his back facing me.
"This is my fight." He said less angrily. "What do you think you're doing Toshiro?!" Kusaka asked, his Zanpakuto still withdrawn. "I never had any intention of joining, from the very start." Taicho responded, forming a protective stance.
I felt my eyes widen. "Didn't he betray the 13 court guards?" Kurotsuchi-Taicho asked. I took this opportunity to yell at him. "Shut up Mayuri! Taicho never intended to betray anyone!" I exclaimed. Except me. Especially me. I wanted to say, but the words dare not escape my lips.
"Then why did he attack us?!" Soi Fon asked.
"What will you do Toshiro?! Kill me? Again?!" Kusaka demanded. "I'm just trying to make up for my own crimes." Taicho said and I stiffened. His own crimes?
"And just what is your crime?! Do you expect to make up for it by killing me again?!" Kusaka got angrier. Taicho didn't waste another minute and attacked him. Clashing, blocking, swings, strikes, all over the ground around them. I wanted to jump in but something held me back.
"That's right. Kusaka was a man who originally swore allegiance to Soul Society. And because he and Taicho shared two Zanpakuto, he was killed instead of getting the fame that came with it." I said.
"Yeah, and Hitsugaya thinks it's all his fault." Renji added. It all made sense to me now. "Taicho couldn't bare to kill Kusaka again with his position in the court guards, so he rebelled himself and is trying to finish this on his own." I explained. Several gasps were heard from the crowd around us.
"Even if it means his life." I added.
"So from the very start..." Kusaka said as they clashed again. "That's right." Taicho admitted. "I see, I misunderstood, again." Kusaka said and the Seal began glowing again and thrust Taicho back.
"I'll do this on my own!!" He shouted. We all stared as he summoned up the Seal's true power.
"We have to stop him! He'll destroy us all!" Rukia exclaimed.
"Answer my call! King's Seal!!" He called and the power flowed all around him. "What?!" Taicho hissed. "Since you won't use bankai to cut it, I'll just have to do it myself now!" He said with a wry smile and held out the Seal.
I knew right then what he planned to do. "Renji! Ichigo!" I said and we charged for him. "Matsumoto! Stop!!" Taicho called.
Kusaka then proceeded toss the Seal in the air and used his own Zanpakuto to cut right through it. The Seal's glow grew and the blast that followed knocked the three of us back. "Ichigo! Rangiku! Renji!" Rukia called and ran to us, now on our backs.
The energy was so strong it felt impenetrable, and it grew and swirled around Kusaka.
The wind itself was so strong it made me squint my eyes. "Kusaka!!" Taicho shouted over the roar of the energy, of the Seal.
"So this is the power of the Seal, and now that it's released..." Rukia said. I got up and staggered to my Taicho. I stepped in front of him, Haineko now withdrawn. "M-Matsumoto? Move it! You can't be here!" He shouted.
For some reason, it felt nice to have him yelling at me right now. Even in a situation like this.
He put his hand on my arm but I shook it off. His touch was gentle, yet undeserving. I turned to face him. "Stupid Taicho!" I yelled. It felt good. He glared.
"You didn't have to face this burden alone! You could've shared your pain with us and we would've assisted you to resolve it! Idiot!!" Oh yeah, I was on a role, this was taking off a lot of anger on my part.
"I'm no longer a captain Matsumoto." He said and turned his head to the side. "Don't look away from me!!" I shouted and gave him a good left hook. He took it in the side of his face and fell over.
I just hit my captain! In the face! And boy did it feel good yet wrong at the same time.
"Did you ever consider how I or anyone else felt?! Do you know what it was like to watch you take on this burden alone?!" I demanded. Taicho lifted his upper body and looked at me.
I could probably tell what my face looked like. It was probably all twisted into anger, frustration, sadness, and most of all, depression.
I suddenly felt something wet on my cheeks. I saw Taicho's eyes, and eyes all around me widen. I lifted a hand to my cheek.
I was... crying.
I haven't cried in so many years, I forgot what it was like. All this time I've been wanting to cry, but my eyes wouldn't let it go. But now that I've seen Taicho like this, the tears are slipping away. Haineko was actually weeping.
Taicho watched as I rubbed away the tears. "You see what you do?! You make me, ME of all people cry. In the end I'm weaker than everyone else." I said and couldn't help but smile through a sob.
No matter how many times I wiped them away, the tears kept coming back. I guess it was because I was holding in all this pain for so long that I never actually opened my emotional bottle. I never cried when Gin left, or when Taicho left, or when I saw him last time.
So many memories that hurt caused so many tears to fall from my eyes.
These eyes that have seen so many sad things, and have never spilled a drop of water, are now crying a river of tears.
Taicho wiped the blood form his lips and stood up. "Matsumoto." He murmured as he watched my tears fall, his expression baffled yet soft.
"Hitsugaya-Taicho!" I heard and looked to see shinigami from our division and several others gathered around us. "Taicho!" "Fukutaicho!" "Hitsugaya-Taicho!" "Matsumoto-Fukutaicho!" We heard as they gathered. Ready to take a command.
I couldn't help but smile wider. "Toshiro!" Ichigo exclaimed. "Take your stance, Matsumoto. He's coming." Taicho whispered.
My gaze flashed to the puff of dust where Kusaka used to be. Wind, and dirt flew everywhere, just swirling constantly around Kusaka until it disappeared and revealed a giant ice dragon.
It spread out it's wings, slammed a clawed hand into the ground, and roared loudly.
"It's finally mine at last! This is the true power of the King's Seal! Magnificent!" The dragon cackled, it was Kusaka's voice. Kusaka was now a giant ice dragon.
We all stared at the giant before us until we all felt a sudden burst of energy and Kenpachi-Taicho burst through us with his Zanpakuto, laughing maniacally, his energy going wild and forming the shape of a skull.
"Yay! Go Ken-Chan go!!" Yachiru shouted gleefully.
"Kenpachi!" Ichigo shouted. We all watched as he attacked the dragon with full speed and watched his energy burst through as he clashed into the dragon.
When we could see, he had gone right through the dragon, the enemy totally stiff. As if frozen.
"Tch. Done already? Guess you were all sh-" He was interrupted when Kusaka grabbed Kenpachi's Zanpakuto and ice surrounded the two, we saw nothing but ice that spiked/
"What?!" Renji exclaimed. The ice shattered when Kusaka took off into the air taking Kenpachi, who still held onto his Zanpakuto, with him. He flew over the side and went out into the open. "Your attacks won't work on me!" Kusaka cackled.
Kenpachi just laughed. "You aren't dead yet? Now we're talkin'!" He said as he pulled his Zanpakuto and began clashing with Kusaka. He just blocked with his own arms.
"You're mine!!" Kenpachi shouted. "That's won't work!" Kusaka said and slashed Kenpachi in the shoulder, actually cutting him. Blood gushed out of his shoulder.
"Ken-Chan!" Yachiru shouted as she watched his blood gush.
Kenpachi coughed up blood and fell. "Ken-Chan!" Yachiru shouted as she ran over the side and jumped after him. "You're in the way!" Kusaka said and threw giant ice spears at them and with a big crack they landed on the ground below.
We changed our gazes to Kusaka as he flew over to a building and stood on it. The building immediately covering in ice.
The ice on his foot spread over the building and the ground surrounding it, his wings growing and spreading wider. The ice of the building towered him to great heights. He cackled again.
His laughing was pissing me off!
"It's just so wonderful! This power is spectacular!" He laughed and lifted his hands towards the heavens. Thunder was heard and two orbs of blue and yellow came flying down from the dark clouds.
The orbs turned their shape into people.
"Those are Kusaka's followers." I said. They landed weakly on Kusaka's shoulders. They looked so beaten up. I assume they attack Urahara's place and got beaten by Orihime and the others.
"What happened?" Kusaka asked, no hint of concern at all. "Don't tell me you ran with your tail between your legs?" He growled. They both bowed apologetically.
"Please, forgive us Kusaka-Sama." The red one said. "Whatever." Kusaka said and covered them both in ice. "What?!" Ichigo exclaimed.
"He's absorbing their power!" Rukia said.
A white glow covered Kusaka and he roared and the ground shook. "Is he going to transform again?!" I asked.
His ice became spiked and white mist spewed over his sides and the ice spread and spiked into the shape of a giant ice tree. Branches of pure sharp ice. The branches spreading over our heads.
The ice crushing into the ground far behind us and destroying several buildings.
We all started backing away. "Don't be afraid!" Yamamoto called. "We must not fall back, kill the felon Kusaka Soujirou!" He commanded.
"Yes sir!" Everyone said, and that's where it really began.
That's the end of this chapter. The second half of the battle is on the sixth chapter, already posted. That's Chapter 6: So it ends. Enjoy it.
Laterz!! RedPearlVoice.