Fog Won't Stop Me
Taka sliced another nameless arrancar across the chest. Stumbling backwards, the arrancar cursed. Taka went in for the kill.
A negacion beamed down, evacuated the arrancar. Taka swore. Somewhere else, another negacion burst out of the sky. This time, however, it was stopped by the Five Holy Lotus Petals.
Taka shook his head in dissatisfaction. Quickly scanning the battlefield, he could see over two dozen other negacions helping arrancar make their escape.
"Something's wrong," Taka muttered. "Whoever's leading the arrancar doesn't want us to attack their home base."
This was obviously the first of many more waves to come. Only low-level arrancar had attacked. This was not a major offensive. This was clearly a stalling tactic.
Taka could hear the sounds of battle in the distance. One by one, the arrancar reiatsus were either extinguished- a slow, messy affair- or simply disappeared- a negacion.
Taka chuckled. "Fog of war, eh?" he said to himself.
"You're not fooling me, Aizen," Taka said, smiling.
----
Ishida Uryu's soul was consumed with hatred. It had been for the past week or so. Inoue-san had died, damnit, and Uryu hadn't been able to do anything!
His father entered his room. Uryu looked up at him, resolve burning in his eyes.
"You can train me however you like. Just give me my damn powers back."
-----
Roaring, the hollow swung his mace at Ichigo. Ichigo deflected the blow with his sword, but was thrown back in the process.
Growling, the hollow leapt forward. "Die!" he screamed.
Ichigo winced as the hollow's mace collided with his sword. He could feel the shock run up against his arm. "Shit," he muttered.
The hollow rained blow after blow on Ichigo. Ichigo could feel his arms grow weak. "Damnit," he thought.
The hollow sensed the desperation in Ichigo's eyes. He raised his bladed gauntlet and faked a thrust at Ichigo's chest. The orange-haired boy fell for it. Ichigo raised his sword to block, forgetting about the hollow's mace.
The hollow slammed his mace into Ichigo's chest, feeling the satisfying crunch of broken ribs. Ichigo stumbled backwards, coughing up blood. "Shit!"
Cackling, the hollow leapt forward. "Game over, Ichigo!"
Again, the hollow's mace crashed into Ichigo's chest. Not stopping his relentless assault, the hollow drove the mace's spikes into Ichigo's chest, creating four puncture wounds in Ichigo's torso.
The hollow laughed. "Don't you understand, Ichigo? This is life. Every single hard battle that you've fought, I helped you. You're useless without me. There is no miracle to save you now."
Zangetsu snapped his fingers, and the two combatants melted away.
The hollow screamed in frustration as it woke up in Hueco Muendo. He looked down, and saw white sand and his hollow form. Cursing, it whipped its body around and saw Ichigo's Shinigami form standing a few feet away, completely uninjured.
Something caught the hollow's eye. It was a sword, lying a few feet away from him. "My sword," the hollow realized.
The hollow's eyes burned with hate. "I'm going to kill you."
Ichigo stood his ground, determined to kill the hollow once and for all. He heard Zangetsu's voice in the back of his mind. "I rejected the hollow from your body, Ichigo. You would have died otherwise. Run, now!"
The hollow drew his sword and charged Ichigo. Ichigo, still dazed from the encounter within his soul, was too slow to react.
The hollow stabbed his sword through Ichigo's stomach. As Ichigo collapsed to the ground, the hollow swung again, this time cutting across Ichigo's chest.
"Well, King," the hollow mocked. "You wanna know why I haven't just cut your head off?"
Ichigo just glared at the hollow.
"Chances are, you'll die out here, alone in Hueco Muendo. But there's just this thing… about you. I don't think that you will. But you see, you made me suffer when you trapped me in that cage you call a soul. And so, I'm going to make you suffer too."
Ichigo stared at the hollow in contempt. "Do your worst," he spat.
The hollow grinned madly. "What was that girl's name? Tatsuki? And the Shinigami, Rukia. Chad, Uryuu, Orihime… but wait, Orihime's dead, isn't she? And your two little sisters. Karin and Yuzu. How adorable."
Ichigo froze. "You… bastard," he whispered. "Don't you dare-"
The hollow cut Ichigo off with a wave of his hand. "Did you even care, Ichigo?" the hollow asked. "Did you ever think about your hollow, trapped inside your soul for months on end?"
"You tried taking over my body!" Ichigo screamed. "You tried to kill-"
The hollow laughed. "Why of course," he said sarcastically. "I don't have a soul, isn't that right? I'm not a person. I'm a monster."
Ichigo stared at the hollow in hatred.
"If that's what you think, then why shouldn't I be one!"
----
Aizen and Uliquorra stepped foot in Karakura. Uliquorra quickly located the nearest Vizard. Aizen had already set out in that direction.
When Uliquorra gracefully landed next to his master, the deed has already been done. A blonde haired man watched in astonishment as his own body was impaled by a very good likeness of Uliquorra.
"W-w-hat the," Shinji stuttered, turning around. "Aizen! What in the-"
Uliquorra remained as impassive as ever, but he couldn't help but be amused at the Vizard's confused reaction. He quickly shunpoed behind Shinji and knocked him out.
Aizen smiled, satisfied with his handiwork. "One Vizard in the bag."
Aizen did not notice Taka observing the pair capture Shinji. Neither did Uliquorra. Taka observed Hiyori run up to Shinji's fake corpse and start sobbing.
"Aizen's very good at this kind of stuff, isn't he?" Taka mused.
----
The minute the hollow arrived in Karakura, about a week later, he could feel the presence of several strong Shinigami in the area, including his former partner. He snorted. "Typical Ichigo," he thought. "The moment he gets back to Soul Society he alerts the Gotei 13 about my existence."
The hollow saw a brown-haired boy with armor covering his left arm charge. Without sparing him a second thought, the hollow sonidoed behind the boy and stabbed his sword through Chad's gut.
"You're one of Ichigo's friends, right?" the hollow cackled.
Chad's head flew off of his neck. The hollow looked around, and spied the Kurosaki residence. He raised his finger, charged up a cero, and fired away. The Kurosaki's house exploded.
Uryuu appeared behind the hollow. "You bastard!" he screamed. He formed his bow, and fired.
The hollow was mildly amused. "Oh?" he thought. "This one seems strong." He easily evaded the firestorm of arrows Uryuu had rained down on him, and sonidoed behind Uryuu.
Uryuu's eyes widened as he saw the hollow up close. He had been training for the past week, and had not learned of Ichigo's situation. "Kurosaki-"
"Not my name," the hollow growled, drawing a hand back to impale Uryuu.
The hollow's hand fell to the ground. Grunting in pain, the hollow whipped around to see a Shinigami. He narrowed his eyes.
"You," he hissed. "You're Ichigo's father."
Kurosaki Isshin looked at the hollow with cold eyes. "And you're my son's hollow."
The hollow drew his sword, regenerating his hand as he did so. "Come on," he taunted. "Get me!"
----
Tosen left Shinji's prison and headed straight for Aizen's quarters. Szayel had picked up some rather interesting reiatsu in Karakura, and Aizen had to know.
Tosen entered Aizen's quarters and bowed respectfully. "What is it, Tosen?" Aizen asked.
"Do you remember Kurosaki Ichigo?" Tosen asked. "His hollow has been sighted in Karakura."
Aizen looked mildly intrigued. "So Kurosaki Ichigo has been taken over by his inner hollow? Interesting. According to Urahara's files, hollows don't have the sentience necessary to think of freedom."
Tosen shook his head. "Szayel's data indicates otherwise, Aizen-sama," he said respectfully.
Aizen raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Please enlighten me."
"It appears that Kurosaki's hollow was created in a mirror image of his own soul. As such, the hollow has a mind of its own."
Aizen smiled. "Mirror image? Oh, I wouldn't say that. There have to be some characteristics that hollow and Kurosaki share. Kurosaki just denies it."
Tosen didn't really pay attention to his superior's observation. "The hollow has a sword, and is capable of Resurreccion. Should we retrieve it?"
Aizen curtly nodded. "Yes. Let's."
----
Alacran and Uliquorra observed the fight between Ichigo's hollow and two captains, a Quincy, and what appeared to be a former captain. It wasn't going very well.
Alacran put a hand on his sword. "Aizen-sama said 'retrieve'," he muttered. "I guess that means in one piece, doesn't it?"
Uliquorra aimed his finger at Kuchiki. "Cero."
The green blast of energy roared towards the senior captain, who barely managed to dodge it.
Grimmjow appeared out of nowhere and blocked Hitsugaya's sword. The other two Shinigami, Ichigo and his father, whipped their heads around in surprise.
Ichigo was already rather shocked at the revelation that his father was a Shinigami. However, in a situation like his, he didn't have much time to remain dumbstruck. There was a rampaging hollow on the loose, and it was the Shinigami's job to kill it.
Ichigo's hollow growled. "I don't need help from the likes of you." (A/N: A gaping plot hole used to be here. Ichigo's hollow called the Esapda "Aizen's pets". The thing is, he thinks that Aizen's still dead. Um... well, either nobody caught this, or they did, figured me for an idiot, and didn't bother to take the time to pm or review the story to correct me. I wouldn't blame them. Hehe. My bad.)
Uliquorra stepped forwards. "You don't have much of a choice," he said.
The hollow's face twisted into a smile. "Houttsu, Caballero Lagarto!"
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Bankai: Tensa Zangetsu!"
Byakuya released his own Bankai. "Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Ichigo frowned. There should be more people here. Where were the Vizards?
----
Harribel and Stark stood in front of the Vizard's hideout. Lillynette, always by Stark's side, frowned. "So what are we supposed to do?"
Stark sighed. "Stop the Vizards from interfering. They should be coming out right about…"
The barrier around the Vizard's hideout crumbled. Harribel noted, with some satisfaction, that all of them looked rather… enraged. A fight for revenge clouded one's senses, and it made people weak, and that made them easy to kill.
Harribel drew her sword. Stark just stood there looking bored.
----
Isshin watched as his son battled his own hollow. He looked down at his own sword. He could already feel his powers waning.
Love was a powerful thing. It had driven Isshin to give up his Shinigami powers for a human woman.
And now he couldn't do a thing as his own son was fighting for his life.
Love had a vengeance.
----
Taka drummed his fingers at his desk. Two of his fellow captains had already gone down to the real world to battle a hollow.
"What was it that Aizen called them?" Taka wondered. "Yes, Espada. Two of them I know are not loyal to Aizen. If he takes in that boy's hollow I can almost guarantee that he will join the two who are rebelling."
Taka smiled. Of course, Aizen had already captured that girl, Orihime, as well as a Vizard. This war (which the Shinigami were oblivious to) was going to be a messy affair.
Taka could only speculate as to when Aizen would reveal his hand. Taka assumed that it would be when Aizen had developed an army of Hougyoku arrancar.
Taka would just have to be ready for Aizen when that happened.
Urahara entered Taka's room, bowing slightly. "You called, Taka-taicho?"
Taka smirked. "Ah, yes, Urahara-san. Please sit down."
As Urahara sat down, Taka took off his glasses.
"What I am about to tell you is more confidential than any secret you have ever heard."
---
Ichigo's hollow looked around as pink petals surrounded him. "What kind of man uses sakura petals for weapons?" he thought.
The hollow would have been reassured that he was not the only person to have asked that question before being crushed by Kuchiki Byakuya.
Numerous cuts crisscrossed the hollow's body, cutting through armor and skin alike. The hollow winced. His armor had protected his flesh from the brunt of the attack, but it still stung. Concentrating, the hollow regenerated the more serious wounds.
"Getsuga Tensho!"
The hollow turned around to face Ichigo's attack. As a result of this, it didn't notice Kuchiki's storm of petals descend upon him.
Kuchiki's attack was blasted away just as Ichigo's hollow crushed his former partner's attack in his hand. Alacran stood in front of Kuchiki, sword raised.
"Our job is to get you out of here in one piece," he said. "So try not to die. Karu, Gavilan!" (Hunt, Falcon!)
When the smoke from Alacran's Resurrecion dissipated, Kuchiki saw that the remains of the arrancar's mask, previously hidden by his long white hair, had grown to cover his entire forehead. The mask curved sharply back at angles and jutted out behind Alacran's head, forming jagged endings. It stopped just above Alacran's eyes.
Brown feathers covered Alacran's upper torso and arms. His hands grew talons, curving wickedly.
"Zommari doesn't like me very much," Alacran thought to himself. "And if Stark had any other personality, he would be also, but he's just too lazy to stay upset."
Kuchiki's eyes widened as Alacran's talons burst through his chest.
"After all, I'm the fastest Espada now."
The proud captain shunpoed behind Alacran to avoid his next attack. He didn't expect Alacran's hand to already be there.
The Espada knocked Kuchiki off his feet. Quickly recovering, Kuchiki made a small motion with his hands. Sakura petals burst out from behind Kuchiki and rushed towards Alacran.
Alacran narrowed his eyes. "Reventar! (Burst!)" he shouted, leaping forwards.
A small hole was blasted in the otherwise impenetrable wall of petals. It was big enough for Alacran. Twisting his body, he burst through the hole and onto the captain.
Kuchiki was tackled to the ground. Alacran raised his hand, ready to kill the captain.
"Senkei!" (Pivotal Scene)
Pink swords surrounded the dueling combatants. Reaching backwards, Kuchiki grabbed one of his swords and stabbed Alacran in the arm. Growling in pain, Alacran rolled off of Kuchiki, grasping his injured arm.
Alacran narrowed his eyes. He sprinted forward and leapt off the ground.
Kuchiki didn't even see Alacran move. He felt his talons rake across his chest, however.
Alacran blurred back into vision in the air behind Kuchiki. His sharp eyes caught the captain shunpo behind him. Leaping forwards over Kuchiki's head, he landed behind the captain.
"Game over," he declared, raising his hand.
Alacran's blow shattered Kuchiki's spine. The captain fell to the ground, paralyzed.
Alacran sighed. Now, the dirty work would begin. He picked up one of the captain's swords and stabbed himself in the thigh, wincing as he did so.
"This is what happens when you're more subtle than Grimmjow," he thought.
He raised the sword to his stomach, pondering whether or not he should go to extremes.
"Might as well," he muttered, stabbing himself in the gut. He hoped the Shinigami healers were competent enough to heal a spine. If they couldn't do that, he doubted they stood much of a chance against Aizen.
Alacran gently laid himself on the ground. "Time to collapse in a puddle of my own blood," he said, smirking.
----
Uryu turned around to find himself confronted by an arrancar. His eyes burned with hate. The hollows had killed Chad. He would kill every single one of them in retaliation.
Uliquorra observed the Quincy before him. He was rather uninterested by the boy.
Uryu drew his bow. "Die," he snarled, letting his arrows fly.
Uliquorra easily dodged every one of them. Turning around, he felt the reiatsu of a captain close in.
Grimmjow drew his own sword and sliced Hitsugaya across his chest. "Pay attention, boy!" he shouted. "It's rude to turn your back on an opponent!"
Uliquorra turned his head, observing reiatsus in the distance. "Harribel and Stark have engaged the Vizards," he observed. "They won't interfere. We should go."
Out of the corner of his eye, Uliquorra saw Alacran collapse. The captain he had been fighting had obviously gone down much sooner.
"That was fast," Grimmjow observed.
"Get Alacran," Uliquorra commanded. "Stark and Harribel can fend for themselves. Our primary objective was to get the hollow. We can leave now."
Grimmjow frowned. The boy seemed to be on the verge of releasing Bankai. "Already?"
"Banaki: Daiguren Hyouinmaru!"
Grimmjow smiled. "Cause it seems like these Shinigami don't want us to go!"