Thanks to SilvermistAnimeLover, Fukuko-chan, lonewolfgirl-sademo588 and BehindTheSky for reviews, hope you enjoyed the cookies. It seems that Allen did at least.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I still don't own the animes, but I do own the plot, kolkolkolkolkolkolkol. (Those who recognise the laugh get an extra cookie)
Warning: it does get a little graphic in the fights.
Chapter 14 – The First Clash
Confusion reigned throughout the clearing, exorcists trying to kill the Noah, shinigami and hollow following their lead, hunters unsure as the human girl tried to protect them and the demon calmly sitting in the middle, daring anyone to get past him with the look in his eyes. The Noah stood ready, not willing to break the fragile trust between them and the girl that was protecting them from her companions, also they were cautious of the demon that stood between the two groups.
"Enough!" A surprisingly loud shout, from the usually quiet girl, halted everyone in their actions. The wolf looked to her, appearing to raise an eyebrow at her, even though he doesn't actually have eyebrows.
What have you done, child. If I remember correctly these were our enemies. Aeshma continued to stare at the girl, making her exceedingly uncomfortable as she tries to put her thoughts together in order to explain what happened that night.
It's kind of complicated but the Noah are, sort of, on our side now. Saeko looked away, the demon's disbelieving stare boring into her head. Road grabbed a hand to give a measure of comfort to the girl who had helped them without a care as to who or what they may be.
Fine. But I don't know how you'll get Allen to understand that. Saeko grimaced slightly at the thought before releasing Road's hand, sending a smile her way, and slipping around the demon to talk to the small angry mob on the other side. Allen rushed over to her, checking she was alright, and asking the all important question of what the hell the Noah were doing here when they were supposed to be near Kanda's enlarged group.
"Allen, calm down, I'm fine, they didn't do anything, and they won't now. A lot's happened tonight." After a fair amount of soothing Allen and Lavi glomping Saeko in relief, the girl managed to calm everyone down and explain what had happened during her vision. The Noah stood awkwardly on the other side of the, now lounging, wolf. Said demon sighed, rising and nudged the newcomers closer, staring menacingly until they sat before settling himself down once more, this time curling around his adoptive daughter, protecting her from the chilly night air. An uncomfortable silence fell, no one either wanting to speak or knowing what to say.
It was finally broken be Road, coming out of her depression over the betrayal, and giving Allen an over-enthusiastic hug while shouting his name. Only Ichigo tried to hide his laughter, the others finding it too difficult, Hichigo sounding a little insane with his (surprise, surprise) and Lulubell just shook her head muttering something about children. The white-haired exorcist scrambled away, hiding behind Ichigo, before the child-like Noah could kiss him, silently cursing the crush she had on him.
Tyki eventually meandered over to his 'sister', sitting her back on the ground and telling her to calm down. He then turned to the exorcist peeking around the side of the ginger shinigami he was using as a shield, offering a hand to the teen.
"I believe this would be a good time to start over, Shounen. My name is Tyki Mikk, Noah of Pleasure. These are my sisters by Noah, Road Camelot, Noah of Dreams and Lulubell, Noah of Lust. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Exorcist." Allen took the offered hand, slipping out from behind his human shield, and opening the door for an exorcist and Noah alliance - although how it would be taken back home was another matter entirely.
Thoroughly confused, the hunters just accepted the fact that the Noah seemed to now be friends, and there was no need to fight them.
Timcanpy took this moment to appear, barrelling into the back of Allen's head without noticing the Noah in front. The group gathered to listen to the message the golem brought, Noah subtly hiding behind the others so as not to panic the golem.
"Oi, Moyashi, Lenalee says to be careful because the Noah have vanished, but I'm sure a moyashi like you will find trouble like you always do." Allen had a Hichigo worthy death-glare on full force at the air where the hologram had been projected. The others edged away from the fuming teen, not wanting to be caught in the glare. Timcanpy bit an unprotected ear to stop his master before he set some poor soul alight if they happened to walk in the wrong place.
An overenthusiastic Noah, panicking golem, long explanation and recording of said explanation later, Timcanpy was sent back to the second group and the enlarged group settled down to get some more sleep, exhausted from the too-early morning excitement. To her relief, Saeko did not dream again that night, peaceful darkness carrying her through the dark hours till the rising sun broke through.
At the dawn, the fighters departed the camp, heading to the Arrancar's. Nel and Saeko stayed behind, Lavi remaining to watch over them. After a large amount of complaining from Aeshma, the demon consented to Road riding him, as long as she got off when they actually started fighting.
Once the others had left, Saeko huddled at the base of a tree, deciding that even if she can't fight, she would send her dream-self to watch the enemy's movements.
The ethereal form of Saeko's dream-self faded into existence in a small clearing near the Arrancar's camp. As was often the case, Ulquiorra was in the same place, watching her emotionlessly, seemingly uncaring that she existed at all. The girl wandered closer to the camp, seeing who was there. All but Ulquiorra and Grimmjow were gathered, the former back in the smaller clearing, the latter unknown. Saeko reached across the telepathic link to Aeshma, relaying the information to him, knowing he can sense her location.
Child, what precisely are you thinking by spying on them? I know they can't hurt you but you shouldn't be reckless. A dose of fatherly worry laced the mental voice even as the demon altered his course to lead the others to the right location. Allen and Ichigo shushed the others when they were about to ask about the route change, knowing the slightly vacant look in his eyes meant that he was speaking to his adoptive daughter.
I want to help any way I can. I know I'm no fighter but I can do this to help you. When the actual fighting starts I'll keep out of the way, but I'll keep an eye out, in case anything should happen. Saeko positioned herself within a tree, keeping herself out of the Arrancar's sight. She knew Ulquiorra didn't care if she's there or not but the others may not be so indifferent.
Be careful, Child. I know you well enough to know that nothing I say will make you change your mind, but do try to stay out of trouble, you seem so good at attracting it. The wolf lightened the mood slightly, trying to prevent himself from worrying, if nothing else.
After a weak, mental punch at the demon for calling her a trouble magnet, Saeko told him she would be careful and stepped out of the tree, heading away from the Arrancar, to look around for the missing Grimmjow. Over the past few days Aeshma had been teaching her how to sense presences, she was already good at finding the demon when necessary, but it seems she wasn't quite good enough yet to find the blue-haired Arrancar that way, so resorted to the normal method of just looking, though she stayed alert for if she got close enough to sense him.
"It seems you're quite the troublemaker, little girl." Saeko curses her carelessness in not keeping her senses open for anyone that came close. She turned, an Ulquiorra-worthy, stoic look in her eyes, as she noted the presence of Aizen watching her. She gave the ex-shinigami no response, instead checking the location of Aeshma and figuring that he was still about half an hour away.
"Pretending to be mute again are you? No matter, it appears some guests are on their way. The Espada should be happy to greet them." The girl held her mask in place as the man left, ignoring his attempt to disturb her, before she hid herself in another tree and told Aeshma that Aizen knew of his coming. Saeko finally managed to sense Grimmjow, heading back to the camp. She relayed the information and chose a tree to sit on, keeping her senses open to keep track of everyone's movements. She could vaguely sense the large multitude of hollow and akuma that were around the other group but she could do nothing to help them and stayed quiet, not wanting to distract anyone from their own fights.
While she remained hidden, Saeko tried to think of how to return everyone home. She had brought them here so there must be a way to get them back. Her thoughts broke off as she felt the first clash between her friends and the Espada.
The demon, exorcist, hollow, shinigami, hunters and Noah spread themselves to meet the oncoming enemies. The wolf crouched in readiness, smelling the approaching foe, listening to the footsteps that the Espada didn't even try to disguise. The large hollow passed the crouched demon, blind to his presence and unable to sense the well hidden demonic energy. Aeshma leapt at the unprotected back, claws scoring deep gashes through the thick hide, jagged teeth burying themselves in the being's shoulder till blood was tasted. The tenth Espada ripped the demon from his back, a large chunk of his flesh torn from his shoulder. The wolf spat out the hollow meat, growling lowly at the Arrancar, his eyes taking on a red glow as black flames start to burn over his paws.
"Buchikirero, Ira." Reiatsu flared as the already huge hollow grew even more, sprouting extra legs and a tail. Before the enlarged Arrancar could react, the wolf charged again, biting through one leg, claws dragging through another, the black fire spreading through the wounds causing Yammy to yell in pain and rage, lunging at the demon who effortlessly dodged the huge arms, scoring more lines of blood and black fire through the creature's hide. A pool of the thick, red liquid gathered around the hollow's body. Two more legs fell to the ground splashing viscidly into the red puddle below.
The red, crackling energy of a cero barely missed Aeshma as he landed, slightly singing his fur. Another growl left the wolf as a second cero flew at him, burning one leg when he didn't dodge in time. Before another was released, the demon lunged, his claws burying themselves into the Espada's face, teeth tearing into his eyes, leaving only shredded remains of the optic nerve and retinal blood vessels, then he dropped away as the creature tried to grab him. The demon slowly pads around the Arrancar, preventing the, now blind, being from knowing his position. The hollow gives up on trying to find him, the wolf too quiet in his movements to pinpoint, and starts randomly firing ceros in all directions. Aeshma automatically dodges any that come near him, ignoring the pain in his burnt leg, and charges forwards, tearing through the mask over Yammy's head and watching him disintegrate.
The large wolf, allows himself to rest for a moment, licking at his wounded leg to clean the blood, healing the burns. He feels the presence of the stronger Espada approaching, and settles down to wait for them, leaving the others to their own fights for now, knowing he will need his strength for other battles.
Tyki chased after Road, who was clinging to Allen - again - leaving the third Noah to herself, thankful for the peace without the more excitable, younger-looking Noah. However, this peace was to be short-lived as an Espada made his entrance. A tall, white, elongated mask pierced with eight holes covers his face. The beings wears what appears to be a dress with a long, black lined, white coat over the top, the collar almost reaching the top of his mask at the back.
"ooh, one of the little traitor, hmm... How nice to put you in your place," the voice alternated between deep and high pitched, as if two people were talking. The Espada drew the katana that hung at his waist, the hilt bound by a cloth.
"Better to be called traitor than under the control of one who wants me dead, Natural Akuma." Lulubell transformed her arm into a blade and struck first, ripping the mask off the other's head, revealing the glass case holding his two heads. Aaroneiro missed his return strike, his sword finding only empty air where the Noah used to be. Without missing a beat, Lulubell landed, turned and launched herself back at the hollow, barely missing his head tank as he twisted away from her.
The arrancar, annoyed at the ease the Noah can control the fight, released his sword into the form stolen from Shiba Kaien and lunged at the other, the new, trident form of his sword granting him extra reach, keeping his opponent away, giving her no chance to land a hit on him. The trident tears through Lulubell's side, a spray of blood almost reaching its wielder. She paused for a moment, clutching the wound, her opponent only laughing before he strikes again.
The Noah thinks quickly, needing to end this fight before the blood loss slows her down or causes her to make a mistake, only just avoiding the trident continuously being thrust at her. She changes her form the mimic Aeshma, catching the other's weapon in her newly formed jaws and dragging it from his grip, tossing it behind her before he can take it back. In the short moment her opponent stood stunned, she lunged, claws shattering the head tank and crushing the released skulls.
Lulubell morphs into her preferred form of a black cat, leaping into the trees and heading towards the sounds of battle, staying at a leisurely pace as she regains her breath and begins to heal the wound in her side. She pauses noticing the new wave of opponents that are approaching, she moves on again, now angling herself towards the newcomers.
Allen crouched silently on a tree limb, watching the approaching hollow through his cursed eye. Across from him, the hunter Asura waits, eyes closed, listening to the enclosing enemy, the trees too dense for normal sight. The arrancar stepped onto the path between the two occupied trees and paused, glancing into the canopy.
"You may as well come down, I can feel you up there." Szayel Aporro Granz spoke evenly, unconcerned about the two waiting for him. Allen dropped from his perch, innocence activating on the way, Asura mimicking his movements, onyx eyes finally opening and his twin wakizashi drawn on his landing. The Espada watched carefully, analysing the pairs actions.
No words were exchanged as the hunter made the first move, lunging for the hollow. His first wakizashi was evaded, the second blocked by the hollow's katana, both serving as a decoy to allow Allen to rake his clawed hand through their opponent's left side, just low enough to miss the ribs. The three broke apart, blood dripping from the arrancar's wound and the exorcist's claws.
Szayel let out a crazed laugh before sonido-ing behind Asura, stabbing at his back, barely blocked by Allen catching the blade in his claws, crouching behind his comrade. The hunter whirled, slicing at the hollow but missed as he pulled away, sparks flying from the friction of his katana on Allen's clawed hand. The exorcist rose, running at the Espada, claws angled towards where the being's heart should be. The hollow blocked the blades, evading the hunter's side attacks with ease. He pushed Allen away, into the path of his comrade who was charging in again. Asura ducked around the flying exorcist, giving him a quick nudge on the way to help him regain his footing, and sprung at the waiting hollow, just managing to deepen the wound that Allen left, again leaving the Arrancar open for Allen to slash, this time tearing through his right thigh.
The wounded Espada kicked the hunter away, carving a line up Allen's arm as he backed away. The exorcist grabbed the wound, assessing the damage. It wasn't too deep, so he ignored it, the blood already drying to seal the laceration, and joined his new-found ally in rushing the Arrancar once more.
Please review, as always I'm giving cookies.
Happy Halloween for those who celebrate it.
Your Never-Written-Fight-Scens-Before-So-Hoping-It-Turns-Out-Alright Author
Kouseki