"You should have waited for me—now look what you've caused,"
I felt like I'd been hit by a train. Everywhere hurt—just shifting my body a small increment made me sharply inhale. I opened my eyes to a glowing chartreuse that illuminated the night sky from the corner of my eye; the familiar surreal feeling cementing where I was. Speaking of said cement—I felt something heavy holding me in place; as if someone put a blanket over me that weighed over a ton. I was barely able to move my head, but did so enough to get to the chartreuse source.
My zanpakutou sat next to me—her legs crossed and her back straight as a board; her eyes closed and brows furrowed in concentration.
"Y-You're back," I managed to smile.
"I never left; you just left me incapacitated—much as you are now."
"Why?" I exhaled the question since breathing itself was a struggle. "What's happening?"
"You made a bad decision again," she took a breath. "Had you had just waited for my full recovery,"
"Don't make me," I breathed deeply to combat the light-headedness. "repeat myself," I finished.
"The experiment." She began. "You let them begin to uncover the truth about you, and now it's all gone awry. You've put everyone in danger—especially yourself."
My vacant mind finally remembered—the research experiment; Kurotsuchi-Taichou and that demonic-looking force that he used to—
Oh Kami—what was happening?
-x-x-
Hitsugaya Toushirou
I wasn't on board with this at all.
While I'd trusted Kurotsuchi with my life in the past, it by no means meant that I trusted him unconditionally. The man was gifted with his mind, yet was quick to jump to irrational conclusions. One would think that with his intellect, he'd take all the knowledge he obtains with a grain of salt until further convinced, but he wasn't that type—Urahara was, and everyone knew how Kurotsuchi abhorred any similarity between himself and the former Taichou of his division.
Kurotsuchi had a nasty habit of coming to a conclusion and pulling the plug if the results seemed treacherous; he already considered Akinoyo an enemy—I wasn't about to let him make such an irrational call.
She wasn't holding up underneath her bravado created façade—not at all. With the short time I've known her, I could already pinpoint what was happening with just one gaze into her lavender eyes—she was stifling herself with a stern, cold gaze and a hard line on her lips. With her past, her reaction was completely understandable—I could only imagine how terrifying that experience must have been. I didn't want her to be scared anymore, but—until this whole situation is over—remedying her fear was nearly impossible; all I could do was be there for her, and that's exactly what I planned on doing.
Abarai and I were in Kurotsuchi's main laboratory rather than in the hidden spare room of his office where he took Akinoyo's blood last time. The room was rather spacious; the seating area a good distance away from where a table stood in the center. There was an additional wheeled table that was near the main focal point of the room, and other preparation stations spaced apart.
He instructed Akon to prep the area with the help of his 8th version of Nemu, while Akinoyo was being thoroughly scanned in the next room by him along with some of his female subordinates I strongly urged to accompany him. While I knew it was for science and a part of his investigation; Akinoyo was already scared enough as it was—a man she wasn't fond of thoroughly inspecting her nude body alone was something that was not only improper, but a situation I'd be damned to let happen. I'd made sure that his female subordinates joined them before easing myself into taking a seat next to Abarai.
As we sat, the slight edge Abarai displayed seemed to legitimately express her concern for Akinoyo—which was to be expected, but still comforting for me to see. I want Akinoyo to have somewhat of a normal life when all of this is over, and regardless of Abarai's reasoning behind the concern, it seemed like she would help make that hope a reality in the future.
"How is she holding up with the Koizumi Fumiko event?" Abarai turned to ask me.
"She's doing her best—what happened is very scarring to those inexperienced in combat." I replied. I didn't want to make Akinoyo sound weak in any way by extensively going into it; I decided upon brevity for her sake.
"I see—it's good to hear that she's at the very least attempting to keep moving forward." She commented.
There was a silence that passed briefly between the two of us amidst the clanking of objects due to the preparation. I could tell that Abarai wanted to say something, and within seconds she proved the theory.
"I trust that you still remember my words, Hitsugaya-Taichou—I still mean them." She leaned back to cross her arms.
She'd told me during the first meeting with Akinoyo to call on her for anything and everything. She made it clear that she was her Taichou—I wasn't. Akinoyo was ultimately her responsibility whether or not I was supervising her; when and if she became a burden, I was to let Abarai know immediately. Granted, Akinoyo never was, but I think ultimately Abarai felt completely obligated to take over the investigation in my stead. The reasoning I gave them to leave me on the assignment was the fact that I was the first she met, and had trouble trusting others, but that clearly wasn't my only reasoning behind subtly fighting for her.
I had a feeling Abarai knew that—with her recent years as an Abarai, it was only natural for her to make those sorts of assumptions. Regardless of my thoughts about her; Abarai was smarter than she looked—even during her days as an unranked squad member, she continuously proved that intellect of hers again and again throughout the years.
"I remember—I'll let you know if that's the case." I replied.
"I appreciate it," she began, "above all else, I want her to feel at ease; you seem to be executing that effortlessly, but on the off chance—I'm here to help. I'd love to get to know her and see these abilities of hers; she already seems like a great fit, and I'm anxious to get to know her at her best. I guess you can say I'm a bit jealous you're having all the fun," Akon prepping the table by loudly whipping a clean sheet over it interrupted her temporarily. "She seems to have quite the personality." She smiled in conclusion.
She left the door wide open for me to accidently leave a blatant compliment about Akinoyo—I refused to give her the satisfaction. "She often tells me she's impressed by you; she's hesitant to get close due to your rank over hers, but ultimately she seems fond of you in particular over most. I'm sure once this is over she'll be quite the lively addition to your Squad." I studied her features for a moment; a faint trace of a blush on the former Kuchiki's cheeks.
"That's good to hear," she looked up at me—I looked at the performance in front of us.
Jealously, hm?
The sound of a door sliding open had both of our heads turned in the direction of the room Akinoyo was in. Kurotsuchi walked out first; his head down and focused on the paperwork in his hands as he strode into the room we were in. The two came out next, ushering Akinoyo out with light, calm facial expressions with hints of smiles to no doubt calm the panicked female I called my own. She emerged with a white gown no doubt tied together by lace on her backside—barefoot and looking extremely cold and uncomfortable. She had all her prior garments folded in her arms; gripping them to satisfy her nervous habit as her eyes searched for me—a miniscule ease washing over her when she finally saw me.
The subtle change in her when she saw me made me feel...accomplished—for lack of a better word. Something about her from the very beginning perked my interest, and getting to know her and being there for her only amplified that interest into a necessity. As the days went by, I wanted her to feel safe with me—trust in the fact that I truly am here for her. Seeing her display subtle mannerisms like this made my icy demeanor begin to thaw after several years of self-isolation. Where we stood in our feelings for one another warmed me unlike anything had before—I wanted that more than ever, and I wanted it done by her. Above that self-gratification, I wanted her to partake in her own gratification—I wanted to give the ebony-haired female the same relief and satisfaction she gave me.
Seeing her express any negative emotions like fear or sadness hurt me—I didn't want to see her like that. I wanted to see the smirking version of herself displayed only when she was at ease; that shy, almost sheepish smile that raised her tinted cheeks when I held her—that's the Akinoyo I wanted more of. Not this scared, panicked, scarred wreck she consistently convinced herself she was. It was almost childish, but I knew that I wouldn't be satisfied until I was able to chase her troubles away—I was going to do it no matter what it took.
I stood up as she approached; her steps cautious and as if she were walking on pins rather than just the cold floor. Her lips formed that hard line they always did when she needed to display bravado, and her eyes focused on the path she took to me in a blank stare; that miniscule warmth from just a few seconds ago dissipating instantly.
Damn that Kurotsuchi. What was taking Matsumoto so long? Perhaps if Akinoyo got the news she wasn't truly a captive—
"Hitsugaya-Taichou," she broke my train of thought. She shakily extended her garments toward me as she cleared her throat. "Can you hold these for me please?"
I took them from her with a small nod, and once her hands were free, she took out the last item of her own—her hairpiece. "If you could—"
"Kiteyama Akinoyo, on the table—now." Kurotsuchi commanded with zero regard for basic courtesy.
She took a deep breath with her eyes closed, and stared into my chest with focus. "Just, please don't lose the hairpiece," she held it out to me.
I held my palm out to receive it; sneaking in a brief touch to her skin to hopefully provide just a small gesture of ease—clearly to no avail.
"I won't," I replied as she withdrew her hand.
"Table—now." Kurotsuchi ordered again.
Before any other words could be exchanged, she side-stepped past me, and toward the small stool to help her onto the table. I put her hairpiece in my inner pocket as she faced Abarai and I, and Kurotsuchi strode toward her; Akon on the other side of the table with Nemuri.
"Lay down."
As soon as she did, Akon murmured under his breath, and she instantly panicked when she realized he used kido to restrain her.
"W-Wha—"
"It's only for your protection, Kiteyama-san—it isn't mal-intended," he told her—she sucked in the panic and dealt internally instead.
"Oi, Kuro—"
"Are you aware of the scars from prior incisions along her abdomen?" Kurotsuchi shot at Abarai and I.
"I wasn't aware—were you?" Abarai quickly stood.
"I am aware," I put her clothes down on the chair, "and because I am aware, what you're doing right now to her is horrific," I replied; the anger surfacing in my words hard to stifle.
"And you find the story full-proof?" he questioned.
I remembered just how I felt when she told me the story—how the pain that laced her words was an intensity even I had trouble keeping a straight face with. Now the fact that she was strapped down to a table again must have forced her to embark to the mental void I wanted her never to go to again.
"How could I not believe her? How could I not believe her story when she—"
"It's okay!" Akinoyo cut in loudly.
I turned to look at her; a small, forced smile on her lips.
"I-I'm okay, Hitsugaya-Taichou…h-honest…"
She tried to grin, but her quivering lips only let her get half-way—this was unacceptable on all accounts. This wasn't the time for her bravado—regardless of how long ago the event was, she clearly wasn't mentally ready for it, or past it where it became merely a vague event. This was too much for her and she knew it. I looked into her eyes—slight determination underneath glazed layers of mental void.
Her pride was at stake—the bottom line behind her expression. To Hell with pride—it wasn't worth subjecting herself to this. The waters were dangerous however; the line between caring for her, and trampling her self-esteem were almost perfectly condensed—utter bullshit. There was only one option I could take without making it worse.
I walked to her, put my hand on her shoulder, and stared into her in hopes that she understood that if she gave the word, I'd end this immediately. "Are you sure?" I asked firmly.
She gave me a single nod as she spoke quickly due to her nervous habit. "Lets just get this over with, please,"
"Hitsugaya-Taichou, the restraints are merely a precautionary measure in case of convulsions, or any other effect that could cause harm to Kiteyama-san. If the restraint becomes too much, I will not hesitate in releasing the kido," Akon explained—at least someone here in this damn division of insanity was courteous.
"Hold your tongue, Akon," Kurtosuchi warned with thick irritation. "While she is in my custody, everyone in the room will obey my command—including you,"
"Kurotsuchi-Taichou," his name sounded on the loud speaker.
"What is it?" he growled.
"Ise-Fukutaichou and Matsumoto-Fukutaichou request your presence."
Thank Kami—it was about time for some of this madness to get straightened.
He scoffed before answering. "Bring them." He ordered.
The room grew silent, and within seconds the two women entered the room accompanied by Kurotsuchi's squad member that promptly left after showing them the way.
"Kurotsuchi-Taichou," Ise began, "from what has been brought to my attention, it seems you've misinterpreted the orders given to you by the Soutaichou." She paused to see Akinoyo on the table—a stern look on her face as she redirected her vision back to Kurotsuchi.
"I have not, Ise-Fukutaichou; the orders given to me were to evaluate the situation at hand in regard to the possible Hougyoku by investigating Kiteyama Akinoyo thoroughly, and to detain her in the event that she is a threat—which she is," he explained.
"Wrong, Kurotsuchi-Taichou; her detainment would only be in the event of treachery—tell me, has she done something treacherous?" Ise combatted.
"Absolutely not," I answered before he could. "She's been recuperating from yesterday's bout in my presence this entire time."
"Kurotsuchi-Taichou?" Ise initiated a rebuttal.
"Her very existence is treacherous, Ise—letting her wander about without handling the situation is absolu—"
"That's where you come in, Taichou; you are to figure out the exact situation before anything surfaces. She isn't in your custody as a prisoner or a traitor, she merely is in your custody as a patient rather than anything else. As it stands, Hitsugaya-Taichou and Abarai-Taichou are still in command as far as her Guardian and Taichou—you are merely to inspect her and get to the bottom of this Hougyoku plight. Am I clear?"
It took everything in my power not to smirk at the result—Kurotsuchi's bewilderment was hysterical. Akinoyo's subtle long exhale brought me out of the smug behavior the results brought.
"Crystal," he stifled the bark he desperately wanted to give—turning around to do something at one of his preparation tables.
"My apologies, Kiteyama-san," Ise approached. "While the arrest is something you no longer have to worry about, the research about you must be continued—please understand that this is not only for your benefit, but the benefit of others,"
Akinoyo's nodding halted Ise's words. "I understand—thank you for coming all this way to clarify." Akinoyo thanked.
"Of course—thank you for your patience and understanding." Ise graced her with a smile.
"Did I miss anything other than the Hougyoku news?" Matsumoto came to my side as Ise spoke to Akinoyo.
I shook my head. "Thank you for bringing Ise,"
"Of course," she replied as she took a seat where I sat prior. "Anything for our Akinoyo-chan," she winked.
She wasn't showing it, but I'd known my Fukutaichou for so long that I knew she was relieved not only at the news, but at the fact that I was partially relieved. Although it was quite annoying at times, her care for me not only as her Taichou, but as a companion—although her motherly tendencies came into play from time to time—was something I was grateful for ultimately. Not that I could show that with out it going to her head.
"If you're done here, Ise-Fukutaichou, I have research to begin." Kurotsuchi cut off her conversation with Akinoyo.
Ise knew she pissed him off, but even so she held herself to her standards and remained professional. "Thank you, Kurotsuchi-Taichou—please report your findings as soon as possible." She quickly bowed at him, then turned to the other three of us to do the same before leaving.
Once the door shut, Kurotsuchi cleared his throat. "To get back on topic—the prior incisions. According to her story, she doesn't remember how the event ended; she miraculously escaped the man's clutches to live another day. Looking at it rationally; he was already at the point where he could have just taken her life. I find it hard to believe that he stopped on his own accord—with what she described happened on the day of the infiltration, he was forced to stop; she hadn't seen him again until the day she took his life. Why the separation until then?"
He approached Akinoyo from the other side of the table; leaning down to inspect her. "If she was able to kill him with just a knife, he was an ordinary human—implying he was one of the many that were clueless of the true situation at hand. My guess is that they feared him either killing her, or getting to the Hougyoku hidden inside her. Which then implies that they didn't want to remove it if that was the case." He turned around to the table behind him; picking up an object before turning back around.
"Perhaps it's still developing inside her—perhaps it is her. Regardless, I have no other alternative but this," he held up a small, cylindrical object no bigger than small glass vile.
"No!" Abarai took a step forward. "Don't you—"
"I realize what the consequences were, Abarai-Taichou. For you to think all these years have past without any improvement to the original schematics of this device is insulting."
I wasn't there the day Aizen extracted the Hougyoku from Abarai, but it was clear that this was the same mechanism.
"It will not render her any harm, or any side-effects as it did with you—Abarai-Taichou. This will merely extract the object without damage to her aside from the initial recuperation time from the extraction. All of you stand back." He instructed.
Abarai scoffed in her angered discontent, and followed his order reluctantly. I looked at Akinoyo—her face paled with fear, but her eyes looking into mine with acceptance. She nodded at me, and as much as I didn't want to, I adhered to to the request.
Matsumoto stood as I approached—the worry on her face apparent, but masked with a serious gaze toward the focal point. I stood between the two women, Akon and young Nemuri joining us by the seating area we loomed over.
With a quick flick of Kurotsuchi's fingers, the device activated. Almost instantly, six curved green spears rose from the ground around them in a circle—the two of them in the center and the rest of us on the outskirt. Abarai noticeably cringed from the activation—bad memories of the day of Aizen's betrayal no doubt surfacing to torment her. Her fists clenched as she focused on the scene before us.
Akinoyo's fear painted her face publically now; her chest noticeably dropping and rising in her panic as she stared at Kurotsuchi's now matching green-encased hand. I clenched my hands into fists—seeing her like this…
With a swift movement, Kurotsuchi's pointed-fingered hand pierced into the center of her chest. Akinoyo's breathing halted with a choked exhale; her eyes wider than I'd ever seen them before—the fact that I couldn't do anything amplifying the anger already building within me.
As he reached further into her, the area of her chest separated to form a wider opening around his hand; a reaction from the reiatsu-driven device no doubt. Kurotsuchi didn't have to say anything—his face gave him away. As soon as he'd touched something, his eyes lit up with a smug display—the 'I told you so' mere seconds away from vocalization. However, once his hand retracted, confusion washed over all of us.
Floating in his opened palm was a flower—a closed, white-petal flower with a healthy green stem still connected to its roots that was encased by a clear as glass, icosahedron shaped substance.
As Kurotsuchi opened his mouth to ask the question on the tips of all of our tongues, the closed petals slowly began to open; the entire encased flower circulating subtly as it did. All of us watched in awe as it fully opened; the pale yellow center seemed to pulsate as the roots at the bottom began stretching out in all directions within the casing. A golden glow emitted from it as soon as the petals fully stretched—a choked gasp from Akinoyo as soon as it happened.
In just one second, everything changed.
A high-pitched frequency sounded from the flower, and instantly all the glass in the room shattered at once as an intimidating pulsation of reiatsu pumped out from the flower. Following the end of the pulsation, one of the heaviest reiatsu's I'd felt in my life suffocated the room; Nemuri falling to her knees and even Matsumoto noticeably struggling to catch her breath.
As I looked to Matsumoto, Kurotsuchi's short breath of surprise had me snap back to the scene. He leaned back from the flower hovering over his palm; the quick change of its appearance striking to us all. The once white petals were now a deep wine shade with black pulsating veins coursing through the petals. The stem was now a withered brown with sharp, curved thorns that left little of the stem bare; the roots squirming around and piercing through the clear casing.
Akinoyo began convulsing on the table—the kido restraint on her wrists and ankles keeping her in place, but the seizure causing her body to shift abnormally and painfully as a result.
"Kiteyama!" I shouted, shifting forward to make my way.
"Akon, the—"
Kurotsuchi's words halted along with my movement.
I couldn't move, and I couldn't breathe.
My eyes already set on Akinoyo couldn't shift to look around the room to check the others—my mind seemingly the only thing left within my control. While I had so many questions, I had one to two minutes max to think of a way out of this situation—it was one thing to be paralyzed, but another to not be able to breathe; Nemuri wouldn't be able to last.
"Hyourinmaru!" I called. If I could at the very least get a connection to him—
"Master," he replied—thank Kami. "Your orders."
The first thought I had was to focus my reiatsu combined with Hyourinmaru's to freeze the malevolent lifeform, but before I was able to do anything, Akinoyo's seizuring body stopped; settling against the table momentarily.
The kido that held her back broke immediately with her—now fluctuating—reiatsu. She rose almost as if she were gravitating toward the flower—her eyes void of any emotion in a blank gaze in front of her. From the hole in her chest emerged black filaments similar to the veins of the flower that spread over the rest of her. They leapt at the flower in Kurotsuchi's hand, and once they took hold of it, began multiplying rapidly and weaving around it for a firm hold. Once they completely covered the icosahedron-cased flower, they began pulling it back toward her, and shortly it was inside her once again; the filaments continuing to spread outside of her body and up her neck to her face. Her entire body elevated, and her legs crossed in a meditative position with her opened palms down at her sides.
As she lifted one of her hands, several objects scattered about the room elevated with it; their very shapes morphing in an abrupt motion all sorts of peculiar forms. Whatever it was that was happening wasn't good; it wasn't Akinoyo behind this—it was that thing doing this, and it—
Out of my periphery, Nemuri's frozen body rose beside Abarai—Akinoyo's other hand rising as a fist, and spreading her fingers in a quick burst movement. The objects floating about the room changed to sharp, piercing elements—all pointed at Nemuri.
"Hyourinmaru," I began.
"Understood."
As we began to raise our reiatsu, Akinoyo's head began moving sporadically—almost as if she were having another seizure.
Nemuri gravitated toward her—her small body spreading out forcibly by the whim of the flower; all floating objects backing up for a momentum-based pierce. I was running out of time. I exuded my reiatsu so fiercely that the room glazed with frost; the temperature dropping significantly as I rapidly increased the output. By the look of it—I wasn't going to get to Nemuri into time.
In an instant, Nemuri's arms and legs snapped and broke—her scream stifled by her lack of ability to breathe. All the speared objects launched instantly—all hope for Nemuri lost in my mind.
A scream from Akinoyo halted Nemuri's imminent death—Akinoyo's eyes now a vibrant glowing chartreuse; her gaze piercing with ferocious determination into Nemuri. The black filaments had pierced into her tear-ducts and parts of her face; her overall expression not one she would normally make.
Suddenly, Nemuri along with all the floating objects dropped to the floor in an uncoordinated thump and shatter; my lungs regaining the ability to circulate oxygen in that same moment. All of us gasped—Kurotsuchi quickly seizing Akinoyo by her neck and slamming her down to the table.
"What do you think you're—"
"Hitsugaya!" Akinoyo called to me—her glowing eyes affixed on me in a gaze I knew better than to assume was her.
Not even 3 milliseconds passed and I already plucked Kurotsuchi off her. "Zanpakutou," I replied to her.
She turned her head to look at me—her teeth grinding with struggle, and her breaths choked from how hard she focused.
"What's happening?" I urged as Kurotsuchi pushed himself away from me.
"I'm," she began, pausing to close her eyes for better concentration. "I'm holding it back the best I can, but it's been so long that I—"
Her head shook violently as she death-gripped the sheet beneath her; the implication of the flower attempting to completely possess her again was more than clear—this zanpakutou was so stubborn and fierce, that I knew when she actually displayed struggle, the threat was a powerful one.
"Listen," she managed through her grit teeth. "Time is limited and I have no other alternative," her head turned to me, and eyes shot open to look directly into me. "Either I feed this thing a blood offering now, or everyone within a 10 kilometer radius will die."
Wait. She—
"And here I was correct as always! The fact that none of you—"
"Now isn't the time!" Abarai spat at Kurotsuchi from her new position on the opposite side of the table—Matsumoto with her as Akon tended to the injured Nemuri.
"There's no alternative?" I reaffirmed.
She shook her head—damn.
"Are there any animals you keep here as test subjects, Kurotsuchi?" I quickly asked the infuriated man.
"None that I am willing to bestow to the likes of—"
I took him by his shihakushou, and pulled him toward me with an intensity that made it clear I wasn't having it.
"Either you give them up, or everyone within a 10 kilometer radius—including you—dies. If it takes me making you the sacrifice for the greater good—trust in my lack of hesitation." I threatened.
"H-Hitsugaya!" she urged me.
"Decide." I tightened my grip.
With a pump of his reiatsu, he pushed me off him with an audible grunt; his gaze into me with a strong intent to kill.
"Akon!" He yelled.
"H-Hai!" he replied; flash-stepping out of the room.
"I'll let this slide this time, Hitsugaya-Taichou," Kurotsuchi began, "but if you ever do that again—nothing will be left of you." He threatened to my deaf ears.
I could care less about him; the fact that he chose to ignore the situation to stroke himself in that pompous fashion destroyed the very last bit of acceptance I had for him. While he was necessary to this ordeal—he was dead to me on a personal note.
I leaned down to place my hand on Akinoyo's shoulder; an attempt at miniscule comfort to the struggling zanpakutou in control of her.
"As fast as we can," I told her.
This whole situation was hair-raising—just what was this foreign inhabitant? Why did it need a sacrifice, and how has it sustained itself for five years if that is the case?
She looked away from me—her head facing the ceiling and her eyes closing with her brows furrowed in deep concentration. While I had so many questions to ask, I knew that an investigation was completely out of the question until the situation was under control.
"Move," Kurotsuchi pushed me to the side; a syringe in his hand.
"What do—"
"Now is our only chance," he urged.
He inserted the syringe into the hole in Akinoyo's chest quicker than I could stop; extracting clear fluids from the flower I assumed he stuck. "For the time being, I need something to work with to further the investigation; once she regains control of it, my chances of a clean sample are slim—there isn't another alternative!" he urged—I didn't like it, but he was more than likely right. He retracted his hand with the now full syringe, and cut some of the black roots over her shoulder next.
As soon as he'd finished, the main doors of the room burst open with three medium-sized contained specimens atop rolling tables; Akon behind them all and directing the other subordinates forward.
"Leave them and stand back!" The zanpakutou urged.
The subordinates pushed the tables forward as all of us flashed away from the immediate vicinity. The glass containing the alien-like lifeforms shattered instantly; the three beings gravitating toward her.
Without the use of her arms and legs, she elevated again without difficulty; maneuvering herself off the table to stand on her feet in front of the floating life-forms. She held her hand out—fingers spread and rigid in their firm restriction. With an inhale, she squeezed them closed into a fist—the lifeforms screeching in pain as their bones audibly snapped, and their skin rippled and ruptured. In one last squeal, their reiatsu disappeared with their lives; blood spraying out of them as if a balloon just popped.
All of the blood froze mid-air around the creatures; not a single drop seized by gravity. A twist of Akinoyo's wrist, along with the extension and calling of her two forefingers had the liquid scarlet swirling and gathering into one pool. Once gathered, it formed a path toward Akinoyo; diving into the hole in her chest. As this happened, the reiatsu from the flower's first pulsation erupted again—the intensity enough to extract the air from our lungs as if the wind were knocked out of us. Once all of it entered her, the black roots that penetrated through her skin as well as over her upper torso squirmed with a high-pitched shriek—Akinoyo's face of determination relaxing and her eyes closing as she plummeted face-first to the floor.
I caught hold of her passed-out form before she hit the floor; those predatory roots on her taking hold of my skin and gripping on fiercely. While the feeling of them sent plagued shivers to course through me, if it was a for her—I'd deal.
The malevolent reiatsu dissipated quickly, and the roots began receding just as quickly back into her. I picked her up completely—her limp, unconscious body in my arms—and within seconds, all of them retreated back inside of her, and the hole in her chest closed abruptly. I set her back onto the table—the air in the room eerily quiet and all eyes focused on her as the same question no doubt lingered on all of our lips.