And so the battle continues! Whooo! How will it end?! How?! Who dies?! Who lives?! Who get's together?! Oh wait, uh, scratch that last part. Um! Just get on with the reading!! Go! Enjoy!!
Refusing The Truth
Chapter 6
Obviously I was given a chance to redeem myself, Renji Ichigo, and Rukia too. Maybe even Taicho. Although I was still sore at him.
Everyone withdrew their Zanpakuto and ran for the ice dragon form of Kusaka. "Let's go, Ichigo, Rukia, Renji!" I said and ran with the others and flashed stepped onto the ice branch above me.
"Matsumoto!" Taicho called, I simply ignored it. Ichigo and the others followed and we ran up the branch.
I watched as others released their Zanpakuto, Byakuya being the first.
"Chire, Senbonzakura." He said and his blade dissolved into thousands of cherry blossoms that flew over and crashed into the ice that just emerged. Renji followed after his Taicho.
"Horeo, Zabimaru!!" He shouted and Zabimaru extended towards Kusaka's head. Kusaka simply grabbed it and pulled Renji toward him. He fell to the ground. "Renji!" I shouted.
Shingami appeared around his head. He simply cackled again. "Beat it!" He shouted and used a blast of his energy to blow them away, destroying some of the ice branches in the process.
The branch me and the others were on, crumbled under our feet and we fell to the ground below us. I ran over to Renji. "You okay?" I asked. "Dammit!" He shouted. "That hurt!" He cursed. I rolled my eyes, he was fine.
We looked up and saw a great big purple dome forming over Kusaka. "Has he released all of the Seal's powers?" Rukia asked.
"No, the Seal is going berserk." Kurotsuchi said as he and Nemu appeared behind us. "W-What'd you say?!" I asked.
"The reiatsu of the Seal is growing stronger and larger. At this rate the Seal will cover and destroy all of Seireitei. "D-Destroy?" Ichigo choked.
I clenched my teeth, that's a bit much isn't it? Didn't Kusaka say he wanted to be king of Soul Society? Not destroy it?
"The King's Seal is an otherworldly weapon that can fully manipulate time, space, and matter in an area." Kurotsuchi explained. "Yeah, we know that already." Renji barked.
"I'll bet you don't know that in an area like this, the user actually becomes god." He sneered.
We all stiffened. Not king, but god!
"Elimination and rebirth are trivial to him now. But since Kusaka has yet to master bankai, using it to do that much is near impossible." He explained.
"In other words. We're in the most dangerous state imaginable!" Renji scoffed.
Suddenly a bunch of ice pieces that recently crumbled fell on top of us. Kurotsuchi and Nemu, being the cowards they are, jumped back and away. The ice was so heavy and huge it hurt. I tasted the blood in my mouth and knew I was hurt even before I felt it.
"Matsumoto!" I heard and the ice crumbled on top of me was removed. "Matsumoto." I heard again and I was being lifted. I groaned loudly and opened my eyes. Taicho was the one holding me.
"T-Taicho." I groaned. "Are you alright?" He asked. I removed myself from his grasp. "I'm fine. What about Ichigo, Rukia, and Renji?" I asked.
We got up and looked around. "Hey! You guys okay?!" Renji's voice called. "Renji! We're fine! Are you?!" I called. "Yeah! But take a look around!" Renji called.
I looked above and gasped. The sky was purple and there was a giant broken building towering over us. That's why the ice fell. The tall towers reaching great heights.
"W-What is that?" I asked. Renji appeared by me. "It's Kusaka's castle I think. We're trapped within it's spiritual walls now." That's why the sky is purple, we're within the barrier.
"What should we do?" I asked. "How should I know?" Renji asked. "Hey!" Ichigo said and he and Rukia appeared by us.
"Ichigo!!" We heard and Yoruichi and Soi Fon flash stepped on top of an ice boulder. "Yoruichi-San!" I called.
"Every second counts, the Captain-Commander is preventing this dimension from spreading any further. We have to kill Kusaka while he's doing that." Yoruichi explained.
"But how?!" Ichigo asked.
"We're going to climb up there." Soi Fon said simply. "Then we'll break down the center tower." Yoruichi added.
"We must do it now while he can't move." Soi Fon said. "Okay." I agreed.
"Wait a second!!" My gaze shot behind us and Ikkaku and Yumichika were there. I groaned. "We finally got a real party goin', I don't wanna be left out." Ikkaku smirked.
"Naturally I won't as well. It's not befitting." Yumichika said.
Ichigo smirked as well. We all heard Kusaka roar and returned our gaze to the tower.
"It's begun." Yoruichi said. A blast from the tower came next and a bunch of hollows escaped the blast. "Hollow?" I said lowly. "Don't worry, leave them to us! Just go!" Yoruichi said and she and Soi Fon leapt off the ice and towards the hollows. Soi Fon leaving her coat behind.
"Let's go Soi Fon!" Yoruichi said. "Yes, sir!" Soi Fon said. Together they called, "Shunkou!" And the sleeves of their shirts disappeared as their reiatsu flowed on their arms and shoulders.
They leapt into the large group of hollow and began eliminating hollows.
"We head for the top!" I said. "Yup!" Ichigo said beside me. I then suddenly remembered something. Something really important.
"Taicho!" I said and looked over to him, I caught his attention instantly. I put on a great big smile, and bug in the bag that I still had on my shoulder. It was a burden, but helpful.
I pulled out the item I've cherished for a little while now.
"Here." I said and held out his captain's coat. I heard him catch his breath and his eyes widened at the clothing. I saw him look down, and then back up again to my face. I nodded with a smile.
He took the coat and put it on, fastening Hyourinmaru to his back.
"Matsumoto." He murmured. His back now facing me. "Yes sir?" I asked. He turned his head and I caught glimpse of his eye. "Thank you. Watch my back." He said.
I nodded. "Yes, sir!" I said and gave a salute. I saw him roll his eyes and smile a little. "Let's go!!" He said and we were running again.
"Split into two groups!" Taicho commanded. "Ichigo, you Rukia and Renji go!" I said. "Right, let's go guys!" Ichigo said and they ran off to the side.
"Aww! This means I'm with you two again!" I groaned out loud. Ikkaku cursed under his breath. "Shut it..." He said. We ran up the path until we reached the wall and began flash stepping up the walls giant bricks grabbing hold and hoisting ourselves up.
We went about half way when a giant hollow spotted us. "She's here!" Taicho sid and leapt off the wall, withdrawing Hyourinmaru and using it's shikai to fend off a blast she hurled at us.
I could see in the distance, Yoruichi and Soi Fon running up the hollow's arms and killing off the stray hollow around. I saw them land in front of the hollow and she began hurling fire blasts at Yoruichi, of course she flashed out of their path.
"Soi Fon! Now!" She called. "Leave it to me!" I watched as Soi Fon charged for the hollow and flashed to the hollow's chest.
"Jinteki Shakusetsu! Suzumebachi!" She called and her Zanpakuto appeared at her right arm and finger, she then made the first strike. The hornet's crest appeared where she struck.
"The second fatal blow!!" She said and hit the same mark a second time. She flashed to the front of the hollow with her back to it. The hollow's chest crumbled and broke.
"Did she kill it?" I asked lowly. I watched as the hollow crumble... and then immediately reformed.
"Super fast healing abilities?!" I exclaimed.
Ikkaku leapt up and cut through an energy blast the same hollow through when I wasn't looking and a second one crashed to the level I stood on and I fell with a scream. "Matsumoto!" Taicho called and flashed to my side.
Suddenly, below the tower, a giant blast of energy seeped through and raised to our level. We were about half way up.
"What? This thing can move now?!" I asked. "No, this reiatsu belongs to..." Ikkaku said with a wide grin and we heard maniacal cackling. "Kenpachi." We all said together.
"Aha!! Freakin' awesome!!" He shouted. "Yay! Go Ken-Chan!" Yachiru said from his shoulder.
We watched as he released all his reiatsu into his Zanpakuto and struck the tower and cut right through it, causing it to split and causing us to move higher.
We finally reached the top and gasped. Menos were crawling all over the top.
"He can even control the menos too." I murmured. Renji, Ichigo, and Rukia jumped to our side then. "You guys made it." I said. "Yeah." Renji said, he was in bankai.
The menos began spitting out energy blasts.
"Bankai!!" Taicho shouted and grew ice wings and cut through the blasts. Ikkaku then ran to cut through the smaller hollows. Yumichika released his Zanpakuto and cut through the low hollow.
"Haineko!" I shouted and cut through a menos. I landed on the ground and stared up at the ice tower in which Kusaka was at the top of.
"We're almost there! We just have to get past this area!" I said and began running through the hollows, cutting down what I could as I went by.
"Mae! Sode no Shirayuki!" Rukia released. "Tsugi no mai!" She called. "Hakuren!"
The blast she made created a path for us all to run through. But as we ran, the hollows reappeared. Only to be cut again by me and Ichigo. This was pointless!
We were doing nothing but wasting energy! We needed to create a pathway so that at least one of us can get to the top of the tower! I've got it!
"Ichigo!" Called and his head snapped in my direction. "If we create a pathway for you, do you think you can use your Getsuga Tenshou to make it to the top of the tower?" I asked. "What're you saying Matsumoto?" Taicho asked.
"If Ikkaku, Yumichika and I combine our attacks, we might be able to open up a pathway for you to get through. But you'll have to get there in less than a moment." I explained.
"But..." Taicho started. "I like her plan!" Ikkaku said with a large grin.
"But I think I'll open up that pathway by myself!" He said and twirled his released Zanpakuto. "You gonna use it, Ikkaku?" Yumichika asked.
"Yup!" He said. "Matsumoto, Hitsugaya-Taicho, don't you tell anyone you saw this!" His said.
"Bankai!!" He called and his red reiatsu spewed out of him and around. When we saw him, he had gigantic weapons in his hands and above his head. "Ryuumon Houzukimaru!!" He said.
"Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo shouted and cut through about four menos. "Zabimaru!!" Renji yelled and rammed it into hollows. "Some no Mai, Tsukishiro!" Rukia froze some hollow too.
Yet they returned again and this time it looked like they multiplied. "Damn!" I cursed. They all attacked us only to be blocked by rows of pink spears or something.
"B-Byakuya!" I said and he stood several feet from us.
"Try to stay focused. The strain is taking toll on Captain-Commander and everyone outside." He informed.
"Matsumoto Rangiku, Hitsugaya-Taicho. Hurry." Byakuya said. "Right!" We both nodded.
"Renji." Ichigo said. "Yeah!" He grunted with a smile.
"Senkai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." He said and the spears all turned to thousands and thousand of cherry blossoms and covered all the hollows.
Ikkaku had his own handful of hollows outside.
Hikotsu Taihou!" Renji shouted and extended Zabimaru again which sent a red blast of reiatsu at hollows.
Taicho took this opportunity and flew off through the path that opened up. I hurried through the path too. I looked back and Ichigo had put on his hollow mask and sped through the path and up the tower alongside Taicho.
I stopped at the bottom and watched as they both sped up the tower. Kusaka sent ice dragons towards them. Ichigo simply sped and dodged them. Taicho however eliminated them.
"Daiguren, Hyourinmaru!!" He shouted and I saw the real Hyourinmaru fly and clash into the fake dragons.
I stared in aw as I watched Ichigo clash into the burst of energy form Kusaka's mouth and fought against it. Hyourinmaru broke through and wrapped around Kusaka's shoulders and then bit into Kusaka's neck.
Kusaka attempted to move time and space. "Ichigo!" I shouted.
Ichigo then appeared above Kusaka's head and stabbed Zangetsu into Kusaka's head. "Getsuga Tenshou!!" He shouted and the black and red reiatsu cut through the dragon, Hyourinmaru flashed off before it could hit him.
I watched as all the hollow around me froze. The Seal's reiatsu faded and the tower began to break at the top. Kusaka's ice body was falling apart.
A light shot up from the top and opened a hole in the dome and the hole grew to undo the dimension. "You did it, Ichigo." I murmured.
Taicho floated down, Hyourinmaru's wings breaking off his back and he fell onto his feet beside Ichigo.
I took this moment and hopped up there to see what was going on. As I reached the top, I noted that Kusaka was no longer in an ice body, but back to his regular body.
"Matsumoto. Stay back." Taicho commanded. "Yes, sir." I said and watched.
"Go. Toshiro." Ichigo said.
Taicho held out Hyourinmaru in an attacking stance. Kusaka was breathing heavily and looked up at Taicho. "Hitsugaya..." He grumbled.
"Let's finish this." He said. Kusaka mirrored Taicho's stance. "Yeah, let's." He smiled.
Ichigo appeared at my side again. The two stayed like that for a few seconds before charging to one another, lifting their Zanpakuto to strike.
I saw the two stab at each other and watched as the two Hyourinmaru slid against each other and fused together. The next thing I knew, they were huddled together. I could see blood seeping through Taicho's coat. He's hurt!
I should've moved to him, but Ichigo's presence kept me still. Maybe that's why he came to me.
I saw Kusaka's Hyourinmaru fall to the ground, cracked and broken. The sun began to seep through the gloomy clouds.
"Y-You're a genius after all." Kusaka said with a bloody smile. "You've tried to kill me twice. But I won't die. My existence will continue." He said and began fading away. I thought he was just being hysterical.
Taicho finally got to say his last words to him. "Kusaka... We'll always be friends." He murmured and Kusaka smiled wider.
"But... what if... I try to kill you again?" Kusaka asked and faded away, the Seal fell from the heavens in front of me. "We'll still be friends." Taicho answered.
I stepped forward and picked it up, for the very first time. "Something so small..." I whispered. I had gone through such trouble and suffering for this one little thing. Yet it held so much power. No wonder the Royal Family was so protective of it.
I glanced up at Taicho. He just stood there. So I decided to walk up to him. I slowly approached him.
"Thank you, Matsumoto, Kurosaki." I heard and stopped. I couldn't help but smile.
"I'll bet he regretted what he did." I said. Taicho turned to me with a baffled expression. I tossed the Seal to him.
"But you know, he got to finish his fight with you. As long as we live, there will be times when we can't agree with others. But you have to think about how that'll effect your life." I said.
Haineko purred within me, she knew I was right.
Taicho lifted the seal and stared at it. I went on.
"He came back to life and came on his own free will, he wanted to fight. Not because he was told to, but to finish his own personal quarrel with you. So that's okay, right? Even though the result was total chaos?" I said with a big smile.
In turn, Taicho actually laughed. It wasn't a simple chuckle, but a hearty laugh, which was rare.
"Let's go back, Taicho." I said. His looked down with his eyes closed and smiled widely. "Right." He said and began walking to the edge. "Come on, Matsumoto, Kurosaki." He called over his shoulder.
"Yes sir!" I said and ran to catch up.
Yup, I felt totally whole now. In pain but whole. Taicho never really betrayed me. He just separated himself so that he could solve this without getting others hurt.
I can understand. I would've accepted better if he had told me. But oh well. He's home now, and I feel totally at peace now.
Now that my other half has finally come back to me. Not that I'd say that aloud of course! Aha!
That's it! Done! Finitto! The end! Sayonara! Just kidding. There's still one more chapter. The grande finale, the conclusion, the end, the last words! All that jazz! Well, review your opinion on it. I'd love to hear it. No flames though if you please.
I hope to see you in the next and last chapter of this story. -Bows-
Laterz!! RedPearlVoice.