Countdown To The End Of The World: 1 Week, 0 Days, 5 Hours, 48 Minutes, 7 Seconds...
The ground shook violently as Ichigo clashed his sword with Myatsu's. Even the ground broke away as beneath their feet, from their powerful collision. Nel wastched in fear though. It wasn't that she wasn't sure that Ichigo would win, it's just that the dream she had was so real, and looked so similar to what's happening now.
"Why do you want Nel?" Ichigo asked, pressing his sword against Myatsu's blade. Myatsu jsut grinned a bit as he started holding back Ichigo's attack with one hand. In the other hand, he started channling power into the form of a sphere again. Ichigo thought he knew what to expect after that, so he prepared to take the brunt of the attack. But, surprisingly to him, the orb seperated itself, seperating and moving behind Ichigo. He began to panic as he saw that he was aiming for Nel. He quickly took a step back after he found the perfect opertunity to move away from Myatsu's sword. He grunted a little as he took the brunt of the blast attack from Myatsu.
"Itzygo!" Nel said, worried. Ichigo breathed a bit heavier, for a moment, before standing upright again.
"I'm alright Nel, but I don't think I'll be able to take him unless you get somewhere safe." Ichigo said, looking at Myatsu. Nel was worried about Ichigo. She knew he was right about getting somewhere safe, but she didn't want to find out that her dream would come true.
"But...where are I suppose ta go?" Nel asked. Ichigo grunted as he knew she had a point. They didn't know any place safe enough for Nel to go to, even if they wanted too. Nel stiffened though as she realized Ichigo wasn't paying attnetion. "I-I-Itzygo..." Nel said, breathing a bit heavy from fright. When Ichigo looked back, his eyes widened as he saw Myatsu behind him.
"Too slow!" Myatsu shouted, thrusting his blade towards Nel, who was frozen in fear. Ichigo quickly turned around, as the blade pierced through his skin. Nel looked even more terrified than she did before. She could easily see the blood coming from Ichigo's mouth, and the blood that was on the sword that stabbed him. Myatsu growled a bit, seeing he missd his target. "Stop getting in the way!" Myatsu shouted, shoving the sword deeper through Ichigo, trying to hit Nel. Ichigo grunted as he grabbed the sword with both his hands, trying to pull the sword out. But, with his hands bleeding, the blood and Myatsu made it impossible for Ichigo to pull out, but he did manage to resist Myatsu stabbing him. But Nel was starting to feel like she was losing it. She couldn't stand seeing Ichigo in pain.
"Pwease! Stop it!" Nel begged, as Ichigo screamed from the pain. Myatsu just chuckled.
"And why would I do that? I can kill two birds with one stone this way!" Myatsu shouted, pulling out the sword. Ichigo screamed in pain again as he felt the blade leaving his body. He fell to his knee, wincing, unable to stand from the pain.
"Bastard..." He said quietly, but loud enough for Myatsu to hear. Myatsu's expression changed to irritated.
"Stubborn, aren't we?" Myatsu said. The minute Ichigo looked up, Myatsu kicked him, full force, in the face, sending him flying again. He barely had enough strength to grab Nel, protecting her from the buildings they came smashing into.
By the time they landed again, Ichigo was coughing a lot of blood, and there was blood smeared all over the ground where Ichigo landed. Nel looked at Ichigo with watery eyes, hearing him breathing heavier each second.
"Itzygo..." Nel said, crying. Ichigo lifted his head, seeing Nel on top of him again.
"Nel...get out of here..." Ichigo said. At that moment, Nel screamed as she was picked up from the back of her tunic. "Nel!" he shouted, seeing Nel struggle to break free. Myatsu held his blade right to Nel's neck, causing her to stop in fear.
"Itzy..." Nel started, before feeling the blade get tighter to her neck.
Myatsu just chuckled a little to himself. " I really must thank you Ichigo Kurosaki. Because of you, you made the job of finding this little rnaway a whole lot easier. I'm sure you'll feel alot better in the next l..." Myatsu started. But before he could finish, he felt an immense spiritual pressure as Ichigo grabbed his arm, holding his sword. Myatsu looked shocked, not only at the fact Ichigo was standing, but the immense spiritual pressure he was feeling.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Ichigo shouted, smashing his fist into Myatsu's face, sending him through a building. He managed to catch Nel before doing so. Nel looked at Ichigo, a bit shocked and relieved.
"Itzygo!" She said, a bit cheerfully and sadly at the fact he was still wounded. When Itchigo looked back, he saw the building he sent Myatsu flying into, completely fallen apart on top of him. He fell to his knees though, from the amount of energy he had just exhausted, causing Nel to worry with watery eyes.
"Ichigo!" Rukia shouted, running up behind him. Nel let go of Ichigo, standing near him.
"What happened?" Geddon asked, seeing Ichigo's wounds.
"Itzygo got hurt..." Nel said, sniffling. "He...He was twying to pwotect me..." She leaned her head against his shoulders, tears rolling down her face. Ichigo slowly lifted his arm, putting it on Nel's head, rubbing it gently to comfort her. Still with tears in her eyes, Nel looked as she saw Ichigo with a slight smile.
"Relax...It'll take more than that to down me." He said. Nel just sniffed a bit as more tears rolled down. However, Geddon was a bit worried.
"W-What happened to...my brother?" She asked. Ichigo looked at her for a bit before closing his eyes, sighing.
"I think he's ok. I didn't smack "that" hard." Ichigo said, pointing towards a building... Geddon put her hand to her mouth, with a stricken look of fear in her eye. Ichigo looked at her confused. "What's wrong?" Geddon just looked at the destroyed building for a few seconds before back at Ichigo.
"Ichigo, get out of here, now!" She yelled. Ichigo just continued looking at her, confused. The four of them started hearing the debris from the building move, as Myatsu pushed his way out of the rubble. Everyone was a bit shocked. They thought they had at least a few minutes before Myatsu would get up. Myatsu just grunted as he brushed off the debris from his shoulders.
"N-No way..." Ichigo said in disbeleif. Myatsu looked back at Ichigo for a second before looking at Nel, who was standing right next to him. He grew a slight grin as Nel looked back in fear. Ichigo began to grow angry as he knew who Myatsu was focusing on. He got up slowly, picking up his bankai, getting ready for anything that could happen.
"That was quite impressive. I never had anyone land more than one blow on me before. I must admit, you earned some of my respect." Myatsu said, sarcastically.
"Rukia." Ichigo said, still looking at Myatsu. Rukia looked at him, curiously. "Take Nel and go to the Soul Society." Ichigo said. Rukia's expression went blank.
"What?! What are you saying?" She asked, in disbelief.
"I'm going to try to hold him off..." He started, breathing heavily. "...For as long as I can." Nel looked up as well, unable to believe what Ichigo said.
"No! Itzygo pwease!" She said sadly, tugging on his kimono. Ichigo just smiled as he looked down.
"Don't worry Nel. I'm not going to die, and that's a promise." Ichigo said, glaring back at Myatsu who seemed to be chuckling to himself.
"Such bold words. Remind me to carve that on you after I kill you...given I leave anything of you behind." Myatsu said. Ichigo didn't have to look to know Nel was shedding tears. Rukia sighed as she quickly picked up Nel.
"Be careful." Rukia said. She raised her hand up behind her, summoning a portal to take them to the Soul Society. Myatsu glared as he saw this.
"You're not getting away!" He shouted, dashing at Rukia and Nel. Before he could get to them though, he blocked as Ichigo clashed their swords together.
"You didn't forget about me, did you?" Ichigo said, shaking a bit from his wounds. "Geddon, I want you to go with them." Ichigo said. Geddon, feeling guilty about all that's happened, simply nodded as she walked up to Rukia. They both entered the portal, while Nel looked back, crying.
"Itzygo!" Nel cried, as the portal closed behind them. Ichigo looked backed as they did, smiling.
"I'll be fine, I promise." Ichigo whispered to himself. He glared back at Myatsu who seemed to be grinning.
"Why do you presist on making promises? You can never keep it if you don't live up to it."
"That's why I don't plan on dying!" Ichigo shouted, increasing the weight on his sword, causing Myatsu to take a step back.
"You simply think keeping a promise about living is easy when you're fighting me?" Myatsu said, smirking. "Oh Ichigo, I haven't even been trying yet." Ichigo looked at him a bit surprised, unable to tell if he was telling the truth or not. Myatsu's eyes started to glow as the aura started growing again. Expecting it, Ichigo jumped back a few feet, away from the aura. But to his surprise, Myatsu jumped out of the sphere, and it was still there. Myatsu reappeared behind the sphere, slashing at it with his sword. The sphere came hurdling towards Ichigo, who wasn't expecting this. He instantly guarded with his sword, thinking he could send it back. He gasped though as he felt the sphere pressing against Ichigo with tremendous force. Ichigo's eyes widened a bit as he saw it starting to glow. A few seconds later, it exploded, sending Ichigo flying through a house again. Reacting quickly, while he was in the air, Ichigo flipped backwards, stopping completely as he floated in the air.
"What was that?" Ichigo asked himself. He was quite shocked at the fact he couldn't hold back the blast at all. His eyes widened as he realized Myatsu suddenly appeared behind him. He tried turning around, hoping to block the incoming sword attack. But instead, Myatsu grabbed Ichigo's head, pushing him down from the twenty feet sky he was floating over, all the way to the ground. The ground shook violently as Ichigo collided into the ground, causing a bit of debris to go flying, creating a hole in the ground. Myatsu jumped out of the whole as soon as Ichigo landed. He looked back as he saw the unconsious Ichigo on the ground, shaking a bit, unable to get up. Myatsu smiled as he aimed his hand towrad Ichigo, gathering energy.
Out of nowhere, an arrow shot out, pircing through Myatsu's leg. He simply stopped forming the sphere, as he watched the arrow dissipate, leaving only blood, and the hole where the arrow pierced. When he looked at the source, he saw Ishida with a bow made out of spiritual energy, seeing how it was aimed right at Myatsu.
"Well, I never imagined you were a Quincy, this could get alot more fun than I had imagined." Myatsu said, facing towards Ishida.
"Then you're gonna love this." A mysterious voice from behind said. When Myatsu looked behind him, he saw what appeared to be a giant boned serphent, with a rose like neck, charging right at him. Myatsu jumped out of the way quickly just as the strange looking snake was about to touch him. Myatsu grinned a bit as the snake swirled around Renji, as if to protect him.
"So, Ichigo appears to have more friends than I thought." Myatsu said. When he looked back at where Ichigo was, his eyes widened as he saw he was gone. When he looked back at Ishida and Renji, he started to glare as he saw Chad carrying the uncouncious Ichigo over his shoulder, standing next to Orihime.
"He has more friends than you could ever have!" Orihime shouted, with a stern look. Myatsu sighed sarcastically before he spoke.
"Oh dear, whatever shall I do? It looks like I'm completely outnumbered." Myatsu said, raising his sword up to his head. The others watched a bit shocked as they saw the sword starting to glow. "I think it's time I let the hollows come out to play." He said, clicking his fingers. Instantly, hundreds of hollows started to appear, floating in the sky.
"W-W-What did he just do?" Orihime asked, gasping.
"Now I get it, he's been keeping hollows in that sword of his the whole time!" Renji yelled. Myatsu just grinned again.
"Well, I will admit, I was the one who captured them, but I haven't kept them in this sword. Oh no, I keep them somewhere else..."
"Orihime, you and Chad take Ichigo somewhere safe, we'll hold them off as long as we can." Ishida said, starting to fire at the incoming hollows. Orihime nodded as she took off running with Chad. Renji screamed as he slashed with his massive Zambimaru at a wave of he incoming hollows. Myatsu just scuffed to himself as he instantly vanished.
Countdown To The End Of The World: 1 Week, 0 Days, 4 Hours, 12 Minutes, 32 Seconds...
Nel just stayed there, kneeling at where the portal had opened. Even when she tried running for it, she couldn't run fast in time to get into the portal, just as it had closed. She had been there for the past ten minutes, with tears rolling down her face. Rukia just stooda few feet away, knowing how hard it must be, esspecially being in the form of a child, to see someone leave. Even Geddon was feeling sorry for her, and unknown to the others, she felt like she was suffering the most. She didn't tell them everything, not wanting to ruin the rest.
"How do you think she is?" Geddon whispered to Rukia. Rukia just shook her head.
"I'd rather not ask to find out. It was one thing to lose her brothers, but now someone she really cared about..." Rukia replied. "I think we have to worry more about what we're going to do though. Whatever your brother is planning to do to her it can't be good." Geddon just looked back at Nel, still sniffling. "We could try hiding her at the acade..." Rukia said, before Geddon interrupted.
"That won't work, they have a good chance of trying to capture..." Geddon said, before stopping. Rukia looked at her confused for a bit, until Geddon moved her head in Nel's direction, not wanting to say it.
"What? Why would they..." Rukia started, before being interrupted.
"My brother is going to keep killing humans and have them turn into hollows. His sword can seal the hollows into...things. He's waiting till it has enough spipritual energy so it can all be released at the same time, unless he get's Nel..." Geddon said. Rukia looked shocked as she looked back at Nel, still crying a bit. Rukia, in anger, grabbed the collar of Geddon's coat roughly.
"What! Why the hell didn't you mention this before we came here!?" Rukia said, accidently a bit louder for Nel to hear. Nel sniffled for a bit.
"Pwease..." She said. Rukia and Geddon both looked at her. "Pwease stop fighting...I don't want anymowe people to get huwt..." Nel said, crying again. Rukia just looked a bit saddened by what she said. She looked back at Geddon before sighing, letting go of her. They both looked back at Nel, a bit sad at the pain she has been feeling in her heart. Rukia walked over to Nel's side as she kneeled.
"Listen Nel, I know it might look bad but trust me, I know Ichigo..." Rukia said, catching some of Nel's attention. Rukia started having flash backs of when he came to save her from the execution. "He does whatever possible, just to keep his promise. No matter what pain he endures, what moments might seem hopeless, he'll see it through to the end..." Rukia said, with a bit of a smile. Nel looked up with watery eyes, being reduced to a snifle.
"W-Weally?" Nel asked. Rukia smiled as she nodded. She turned around, kneeling again so Nel could hop on her back. She walked back over to Geddon right after.
"You ok now?" Geddon asked. Nel just sniff as she nodded. "So what is the plan?"
"Well, for now we might as well go to an Inn and think about what to do later." Rukia said, as the two of them started walking. "Hopefully, I'll be able to get someone from the academy to help us. I know at least one or two that won't mind helping." Rukia said.
"Den what?" Nel asked. Rukia turned her head around, smiling a bit.
"Then we go back to help Ichigo." Rukia said, causing Nel to smile. Geddon smiled as well, even though in the far back of her mind, she knew that all was pointless...
Countdown To The End Of The World: 6 Days, 22 Hours, 2 Minutes, 47 Seconds...
Ichigo winced a bit as he slowly lifted his eyes. He couldn't tell where he was, but he did notice it was a somewhat familiar place. As his vision unblurred, he slowly got up, using one of his arms to help push him off from the ground. He suddenly felt a pain in the chest as he did. When he looked down, his eyes widened as he saw his chest completely bandaged, front and back. It took him a few seconds to remember what happened the other day, trying to protect Nel from Myatsu's sword. He snapped out of his flash back as he heard one of the sliding doors open. His face went to irritated at who he saw.
"Well, look who finally decided to wake up." Urahara said, flapping the fan on his face as usual. He screeched a bit as he was pushed over by Ichigo's sisters. They cheered in delight as they ran over, hugging Ichigo, unfortunately bringing unnecesary pain to Uruhara, who they stepped on.
"Ichigo!" His sisters said. Ichigo grunted a bit as his wound started hurting. He was a bit surprised though. He thought they would be somewhat disturbed being around him after what they saw, thinking of him as some kind of demon.
"Ow. Easy, easy!" Ichigo said, leaning back on his arms again.
"Heh, sorry." Yuzu said, as she and Karin let go, sitting next to him. They started hearing running as they saw their dad at the door way.
"Ichigo my boy!" Isshin said, getting an unwanted look from his siblings. "I missed..." He started, before having the door slammed on him by Uruhara, who got up.
"Well now that's out of the way, let's get down to buisness." Uruhara said, walking over to Ichigo. "Your wounds should be healing rather smoothly, seeing how this is the exact way you ended up here last time...well except you got stabbed ini the back before." Uruhara joked. Ichigo slowly stood, grunting a bit as well. He gave Uruhara a stern look, wondering how he could joke at a time like this.
"Where are the others?" Ichigo asked, seeing how they weren't around. Uruhara just shrugged.
"Oh they're all outside." Uruhara said, calmly.
"Well...that's good right? We're all gathered up and ready right?" Ichigo said. He got a nervous look though as Uruhara shot out a stern look.
"I never said they were waiting for you. It's probably best you come follow me." Uruhara said, heading out the door. Ichigo was confused at what he said, but not wanting to waste time, decided to follow him. As Uruhara opened the door, Ichigo and his sisters saw their dad flat on his back, apparently passed out from having the door slammed on him. Ichigo noticed the sound of the floor creaking, indicating it to be a sign that the place was empty. What really shocked him though was the sight outside. In the sky, surrounding the building, were practically more than a thousand hollows, all charging at once. Ichigo then noticed his friends, who were fighting off the incoming hollows.
"Tsubaki!" Orihime shouted. At the same time, Ichigo saw the black fairy charging through the hollows, slicing them in half as it did. When Tsubaki returned to Orihime's hairpin, she her expression changed to a bit of joy as she saw Ichigo. "Ichigo!" She said in delight, running up and hugging him a bit.
"What's going on here?" He asked, confused at the suddenly appearing hollows.
"They've been showing up since you got here." Uruhara said, past the fan. As Ichigo looked back, he saw Renji slicing through a dozen hollows at once in the air. He glided back down as he saw Ichigo and the others.
"Well about time, I was getting annoyed." Renji said, carrying his sword over his shoulder.
"How long have you guys been doing this?" Ichigo asked, curious.
"About the last five hours." Renji replied. Ichigo looked surprised.
"What?! For five hours?!" Ichigo stammered.
"Ah, it wasn't so bad. All these guys are wimps and chumps, usually only a menos or two every hour." Renji replied, looking back at Ishida, shooting hundreds of spirit arrows at once.
"Would someone care to explain?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't know really. Like we said, it's been like this for the last five hours." Uruhara said.
"It's actually been fun. We've had nothing to do at the soul society except crummy paperwork. We've even played to see how many we can kill." Renji said, laughing a bit.
"Oh really? How many have you killed then?"
"I've killed about 1 48." Orihime said.
"Ha, lowest score. I'm on 683." Renji said, sounding victorious. Ishida finally came over, finishing the last of the hollows that have appeared. "Well well, look who finally finished."
"How many have you killed Ishida?" Ichigo asked.
"Well, even though I don't take the seriousness of this as a game, I've killed 1,283." Ishida said, pushing his glasses up a bit. Renji lowered his head in shame from finding out. "That appears to be the last of them." Ishida said, looking at the empty sky.
"Well will someone tell me where these guys have been coming from?" Ichigo asked, annoyed of not being answered yet.
"It was that Myatsu guy. Ever since we saved your sorry butt, he's been making these hollows appear." Renji replied. Ichigo's eyes widened a bit, shocked.
"What? What kind of hollow summons other hollows?"
"Apparently, he has a diffrent power that no one has seen." Uruhara said. "I'm actually a bit surprised as well. I've never seen something like this in my years as a soul reaper." Chad finally came down, sweating a bit.
"These hollows don't seem to quit." Chad said, breathing a bit heavier than the others.
"Man Chad you sound exhausted. How many have you killed." Chad was a bit quiet at first before answering.
"4,3,82..." He said. Ishida and Renji looked at him surprised before lowering their heads in shame.
"Well then, now we should just go to the soul society to see how Nel's doing." Ichigo said, sonding a bit confident.
"It's not going to be that easy..." Uruhara said, a bit more seriously. The others looked at him, qeustionablly. "You guys think you've been killing the hollows? I'm surprised you never noticed it before."
"Noticed what?" Renji asked, a bit angered.
"You haven't killed any." Uruhara said, with a stern look. The others looked a bit shocked. "Everytime you've been about to, they instantly vanished. You can't tell me you haven't noticed they disintigrated at all when they died?" The others looked shocked, realizing they simply disappeared instead of disintigrating.
"Then what have we been fighting for the entire time? Are they illusions or what!?" Renji stammered.
"Unfortunately no. They've been all real, but apparently Myatsu doesn't want a single one destroyed." Ichigo looked a bit shocked. He was still confused by everything. He was more worried though about how Nel and the others were.
"Then we have to go to the soul society. Nel and the others could be in trouble if Myatsu can summon these things at will." Ichigo said, squeezing his fist in anger.
"Unfortunately, I can't let you do that." Uruhara said, causing Ichigo tool ook at him a bit shocked.
"What? Why the hell not?"
"Well, I can let someone go, but only one person. The others need to stay here to save any survivors they can from the hollows." Uruhara said. Ichigo grunted a bit as he knew he had a point. The more people he kills, the more that turn into hollows.
"Ichigo should go." Ishida said. Ichigo looked surprised...somewhat.
"What?"
"Ichigo, last time Nel saw you, you were wounded badly. What do you suppose she'll think if she sees someone else was sent here?" Ishida said. Ichigo looked down, knowing he had a point.
"Fine, I'll head to the soul society. Will you guys be ok?" Ichigo asked. The others nodded.
"I gotta get my score up if I'm going to beat Chad." Ishida said, running into the city. Renji looked at him angery.
"Hey wait up!" He yelled, running after him. The others laughed as they watched the others racing. Orihime looked at Ichigo with a worried face.
"Are you sure you'll be ok?" Orihime asked worriedly. Ichigo nodded.
"I'm making the same promise I made to Nel. I will come back." Ichigo said, smiling. Orihime looked like she was about to say something, but shruged it off as she ran into the city with Chad.
"Be sure to keep an eye on the place too Uruhara." Ichigo said, using the strange device in his pockets to move into the spiritual world. Uruhara watched as the portal opened and closed, with Ichigo went in. He sighed a bit from the hassal that has been going on.
"How long have you been standing there?" Uruhara asked, not even needing to turn around to see Myatsu standing on the building. Myatsu just smirked as he jumped down from the building, down to the floor.
"You always did know when I was standing around, didn't you?" Myatsu joked.
"I have no idea if the others know yet, but I could really care less if the world is destroyed or not. I just want to live my life the way it has been, laying back in my store and not giving a care in the world."
"Oh don't worry, this has nothing to do with you. I'm just going to have some time to myself, killing Ichigo and all his..." Before Myatsu could finish, he flinched as he suddenly saw Uruhara's sword right in front of his eyes. He felt sweat dropping from his head, noticing Uruhara's incredible speed.
"If you so much as kill any of Ichigo's friends except Nel, I will kill you." Uruhara said, glaring at Myatsu. Myatsu gave a sarcastic cough, taking a step back.
"Very well then, but Ichigo is mine." Myatsu said, vanishing instantly. Uruhara just looked at the spot Myatsu was standing at for a few seconds before looking back at the city.
"Even with Ichigo's incredible power, I know it won't be enough to kill Myatsu..." Uruhara said to himself, walking back inside his store.