Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. I do however own all of the OC's in the story, unless stated otherwise.
AN: Hey readers. I have decided, to postpone this chapter an extra day, so I could work on a one shot between Hiroto and Nanao. My friend wants one so I'm going to give it to her. After that, I will update normally until the end of the story. Enjoy! R&R!
...
Chapter 12: Hollow in Control
"Hiss and slither, Serpiente."
A massive rush of spirit energy comes from Vacio's glowing form. You find it hard to stand in his presence.
"So how do you like my ressureccion?" When you look back up at him, you see his lower half had transformed into that of a snake. It looked to be about 15 feet long. His top half was now bare, showing his muscular form. His mask now covered his entire head, making it look like a snake head had replaced his own. His mask now also had a thin slit where his mouth would be with two protruding fangs. The markings on his mask replicated themselves on his newly formed half, and hill tail was striped with random streaks in the same dark blue.
"It's disgusting." You deadpan. He looks offended. "But that doesn't matter, I'll kill you either way." You point your blade at him. "Tobimasu." The burst of energy flies forth and hits him in the chest. He skids back a few feet and comes to a stop.
His mask forms a grin. "Is that all you got! Come on, hit me some more!"
You get angry at how little Tobimasu did to him. You growl audibly. "Tobimasu Tobimasu, Tobimasu!" You shout, repeatedly hotting him with your attack, forcing him further and further away.
"Master of death, Ruler of souls, Keeper of hatred, I give unto-"
"Ha! You think that pitiful attack will work! I'll show you exactly what your up against." He point his tail at you, forming a dark blue ball of energy. "Cero!" He roars and releases his cero at you.
You have no time to move. You must take the hit. You raise your scythe to block the cero. When it hits, you are thrown back into a building. Your last thoughts before blacking out were 'damn, that hurt.'
...
"Crap, not here again!" You stand up and brush the dust off of your hakama. "What do you want now Kanashimi?"
"Me? I want power. I want to rip that bastards throat out. I want you to stop being so weak!"
"I'm not weak! He might be stronger, but I'm not weak!" You yell at her, venting your pent up anger. "If you weren't so weak, then when I hollowfied, I could have beat him! Its all your fault you damn hollow!"
She stands there silently after your tantrum, obviously wounded at that hollow comment.
"Kanashimi-"
"Your right. If I lent you more of my power, you would have had a better chance. If I had though, you would have died. The only way to beat him currently, is if you let me take over."
You stiffen at those words. "I can't do that and you know it. I swear I'll give you your body back. Even if I wanted to keep it, there are 12 captains waiting out there. Of they think you lost control, they won't hesitate to kill you. I'm not going to die over something lie that."
"...You're sure it's the only way?"
"Yes."
"... And you swear to give me control when you are done?"
"Yes."
You heave a great sigh. "If this truly is the only way... I give you permission. First let me tell them so they don't kill me right away."
"Fine." She turns away and disappears into the sand. You close your eyes and focus on the battle. You feel a tugging sensation in your gut. You fade into the darkness.
...
"Hiroto!" You hear the faint yelling of a woman's voice. It's familiar. Where have you heard it before? "Hiroto!" She calls again. It's closer this time. You try opening your eyes, but are met with a heavy resistance.
"Hiroto, wake up!" Your eyes snap open. You see Soi Fon kneeling over you. "Oh Kami, I thought you had died!" Years are flowing down her face.
"Nah, I'm okay." You sit up, grunting slightly at your discomfort. "Listen Soi, you need to yell everyone to back away. I'm going to let Kanashimi take control so we can beat this guy."
"What!? But you can't! If you do, and you can't force her back-"
"Soi. I know what I'm doing, just let them know." She nods reluctantly, kissing your cheek before leaving in a flash.
You stand up, stretching your aching muscles before walking back to the battlegrounds, giving ample time for Soi Fon to warn the others.
"Hiroto." You hear the sturdy voice of Captain Kuchiki call out. "Are you sure you wish to do this? It would be better if us captains took care of this vermin."
"I'm sure. I'm going to be fine, let's just end this guy already." Byakuya shakes his head lightly and steps out if your way. The others stopped fighting Vacio to observe your exchange.
"I've got to hand it to you, that was a nasty cero."
"Oh? You can still walk? That's quote a surprise. Your a resilient one, aren't you. Want me to test just how resilient you are?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather just kill you." You take a stance with your draw zanpakuto. You whisper to yourself under your breath. "Do with me what you will, Kanashimi."
Vacio charges another cero, but stops when he sees you shaking with laughter.
"What's so funny boy?"
"Oh the power! I feel it coursing through my veins! It's wonderful!" You laugh loudly to yourself for a moment. Suddenly you stop, completely immobile. Your head snaps to one side with an audible snap. Then the other. You heave as a torrent of a thick white substance comes rushing forth from your body, covering your face and shoulders. You feel a stabbing sensation I'm your face when the liquid covers it. A few moments more and you were covered.
...
-Kanashimi POV-
"Ah, I feel much better now. Although I don't really like the bulky build..." You stop admiring your new body and turn to face your onlookers.
Everyone is shocked, except of course for Captain Kuchiki who is wearing his stoic face. You smirk under your mask.
"Why the shocked looks? Do I really look that bad?" You mock them, feeling somewhat accomplished with yourself. "It's not like you have never seen-"
"Bitch, don't turn away from a fight!" Vacio roars behind you. He charges and swings a clawed hand at you. You raise your hand in defense, stopping the blow effortlessly. This surprises Vacio and the captains. Captain Kyoraku actually fell back onto his rear.
"You turn slowly to see a confused Vacio. "Bitch, don't interrupt me." You deliver a swift kick to his midsection, sending him flying into a nearby building.
You start to walk towards the crash sight."You think you are the strongest hollow? You think you have the right to be number one? You think you could become a god!?" You scream the last part. As he pulls himself out of the wreckage, he looks at you, seeing you cracking your knuckles.
"I am god, and now it's time for divine punishment." You unsheathe your sword. "I didn't teach Hiroto everything. Kurayami Shotto." A black beam, similar to a cero, shoots from the end of your sword and pierces his stomach.
"Cero!" He fires a cero at you.
"Kui Korosu." Your mask splits in half vertically, opening up to devour the cero.
"What! How the hell could you eat my cero!"
"I do have a mouth, don't I?" He looks like he is going to retort when he sees your face. It leaves him speechless.
"Kanashimi?" You here one of the captains call from behind you. You turn to face them. Soi Fon screams, Captain Kuchiki's facade drops to show terror, and the rest of the captains look mortified.
"Yes, disgusting isn't it? This is my hollow hole." You know very well what they see. Your hollow hole is on your face. More precisely, it is your face. Except for you'd mouth, the hole encompasses your nose, eyes, and most of your forehead.
"We can talk about it all day when I'm done with this freak."
"Your the freak here! You don't have a face!" You turn back to face Vacio. You close your mask and run at him, sword at your side.
"Cero!" He fired another cero which you dodge. Reaching him, you slash at his upper arm, creating a deep cut. You then punch him on the gut, keeping your fist connected to him, and swing him around throwing him outside the building. He lands with a thud, struggling to get up.
You walk over to his new position, raising your sword for another strike.
"Doku Hitokuchi!" He lashes out at your leg, piercing it with his fangs. You wince at the pain, but shrug it off. It was now or never. You swing your blade downwards towards his midsection. You strike connects, loping off his tail.
He cries out in pain, releasing you from his grasp. His tail flails about, not used to being severed.
"Bitch, you'll pay for that." He reaches out for you, but you step away. He grins. He rips open a garganta, rolls inside, and it closes.
"Damn. He got away. That wound should finish him off, but I really wanted to see the bastard squeal as he took his last breath."
The approaching captains hesitated at those words. "Hollow." You turn towards the voice of Captain Kuchiki and see him standing in front of you with his zanpakuto drawn. "You made Hiroto a promise. Now honor it."
"Yeah yeah, I was just about to leave. What, you don't like having me around?" You say this sickeningly sweet voice. He hears the mocking in your tone and tightens his grip on his zanpakuto.
"Ok, I'm going now. You'll thank me later." You turn your sword to face yourself, startling some of the captains, and break off a piece of your mask. Slowly it starts to fall away and you eel yourself being pulled back into Hiroto's mind.
...
-Hiroto POV-
Coming back into your body, you utter two words before passing out.
"Nap time."
...
Why does everything hurt so much? Oh that's right, you let your hollow abuse your body.
You grunt and groan as you pull yourself into a sitting position. How is it possible to ache everywhere at once? The door to your room opens and Captain Unohana walks in.
"Captain Unohana, what are you doing here?"
She smiles at you. "Well this is the 4th division Hiroto."
You give surroundings a quick look over. You now realize that the bed you are in is actually a cot.
"It seems that everything is okay health wise with you. Take a few days off for resting and you should be as good as new."
"Thanks." Captain Unohana leaves the room. You pull yourself to the edge of the cot and step off. You wince slightly at the discomfort you feel from the earlier fight between Vacio and Kanashimi. Thank Kami for Captain Unohana's expertise. If not for her, you probably wouldn't even be able to walk yet.
Stumbling over to the door, you open it gently and grab the shoulder of a passing 4th division member.
"Excuse me. Could you tell me what day it is?"
The soul reaper in question turned to face you. She was a little shorter than you were. Her eyes were a deep brown in color, and her hair cascaded down he back in shoulders, in light blue curly locks. Her face had a small blush on it.
"Its been 2 days since you have been conscious, if that's what you mean, Hiroto-kun." She blushes slightly harder, shuffling slightly in place.
You give her a smile and thank her. Stepping around her, you start to walk down the hallway the best you can when you feel a hand grab your hakama. You turn around to see the shy looking 4th division girl.
"Do you need something..."
"Yuka Isoko."
"Yuka, did you need seething?"
"I... I was wanting... that is... I want to say..." She shuffled back and forth on her feet, her hand never leaving your hakama, looking very nervous, almost scared. "I... I really like you Hiroto-kun! Will you please be my boyfriend!"
She nearly shouts the last part, but immediately covers her face with her hands. Really? How many girls actually like you? Why do you get the bad feeling that this won't be the last time something like this happens.
"Yuka, you know I have a girlfriend, right?" She looks back up at you, her eyes are glistening. She shakes her head. "Well I do. Captain Soi Fon."
She stares at you silently for a moment. She nods in understanding. "Ok." That was all she could manage. You wince at her downtrodden tone.
"Hey it's ok. I'm sure that there is someone out there for you, it's just that I'm not them."
"It's ok Hiroto-kun." She gives you a small, yet sad smile and walks away. You can't worry about her right now, you need to get back to your barracks.
...
"Hiroto!" Oh great, what now. You turn to face Renji with a strained smile, that is until you see him. Two things stick out to you. One, he is wearing a captains Haori. Two, his face is stricken with fear.
"Congrats on the promotion Renji. You deserve-"
"No time! Captain Hirako is in the 4th division right now. His wounds are fatal. Captain Unohana is trying her hardest, but she doesn't know if he will make it."
You smile drops. Shinji might die? "Let's go then." You both flash step off to the 4th division with nothing good on your mind.
...
Arriving at his room, you open the door quietly and both Renji and yourself enter. All of the other vizards were present, minus Ichigo. Even Love, Lisa, and Hiyori, who had been absent from the soul society since the vizards were reinstated to their former positions, were here. Love and Komamura didn't want to fight for a position, and Love didn't think it would be right for him to usurp his position. The same went for Lisa and Nanao. Hiyori couldn't stand the thought of working with Captain Kurotsuchi so she stayed with Love and Lisa.
But that wasn't important right now. Everyone's eyes were on the one person who was. Shinji was laying on the cot, minus his haori, while Captain Unohana was doing her best to tend to his injuries. He was incredibly pale and had a pained expression on his face.
"There you are Hiroto." His voice was soft and weak and it wavered slightly when he spoke. "Come here, I don't have much time. Captain Unohana, thank you for prolonging my death. You can stop now." Reluctantly, Captain Unohana stepped away from Shinji with tears in her eyes. Its not everyday that a Captain dies. She bowed and excused herself.
"Hiroto, I have already talked with the captains and gave Renji my position. He still has to pass the captains exam, but he will pass with flying colors. There is still one thing I have left to give." He coughed lightly, some blood trailing from his mouth. "The captains all agreed to it, as well as the vizards. You may not know this, but I am the leader of the vizards. We act independently, but if we are together, they follow me. I have to give my position to someone. I chose you."
You look at him, shocked and surprised. "Me? Are you sure? Everyone else here would make a better candidate than I would."
"Your hollow is the strongest though, except maybe Ichigo's. We have seen what she can do. Do you accept?"
"I..." What Shinji was offering was incredible. You would be the leader of the vizards. You could say no and let someone else take it, but this is his last request... you couldn't neglect him this.
"I accept this honor."
He smiles at you. "Where do you want the seal."
"The what?"
"The symbol of your leadership."
"Oh... on my chest I guess."
"Ok, take off your hakama." You do as he says. You feel his cold fingers press against your chest, along with that comes a slight burning sensation. "It is done. There is the symbol of your leadership."
You look down at your chest. The mark is a little larger than your fist. It consisted of three circles, one inside another with a large star reaching from the center to just a little outside of the circles. Inside the star was the number nine in the center.
"What's the number for?"
"It represents the number in our group. Nine of us are alive, so the number is nine." You do a quick head count, and include Ichigo.
"But there are ten of us?"
"I won't be here much longer, so the number is nine."
"I am the leader, right?"
"Yes."
"Then I order you to change it to ten. You might not consider yourself a part of the group anymore, but I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say you will live on in our hearts. We won't forget everything you have done, and you deserve to be a part of this group... Alive or not."
Shinji stares at you for a moment then chuckles lightly. "I never thought I'd see the day that a 4th seat ordered me around. As you wish oh great omnipotent leader." You give him a grin and he touches your cheat again. The burning comes back, but when it fades, the number was a ten.
"Thank you guys for sticking with me." He lays back in his cot and motions with his hand. "Hiyori could you come here a moment."
Hiyori steps forward, trying to keep her 'i don't give a damn' mask on, but her eyes are glistening. She leans over Shinji and his whispers something in her ear. Her eyes grow wide and the tears fall. He closes his eyes and gives one last sigh before laying still.
She stands up. "What did he say Hiyori?" Mashiro asks her tentatively, completely unlike her normal bubbly self. Given the situation however, it is to be expected.
"The dope finally said I love you." Her facade was quickly failing. "Took twenty years, but I win again." She give him a sad smile. She leans over and kisses his forehead.
She spins around quickly and faces the rest of us. "None of you ever saw that." You give her a smile and pat her shoulder. Typical Hiyori.
"Saw what?" You say innocently. She looks up at you and grins, but the pain and tears still show on her face.
"Exactly."
...
Over the next few weeks, the other vizards and yourself were reclusive. You never left your room except for training and bladder relief. Anytime that anyone, squad member or otherwise, tried to talk to you, you either ignored them or told them you had to tale care of paperwork and then quickly left.
Shinji's death affected everyone. You still couldn't believe he was gone. You even snapped at Yoruichi when she came by. She was just trying to comfort you, but you just told her to leave you alone.
His funeral was tomorrow and you weren't sure if you would even be able to attend. It would just bring up a whole new batch of emotions and you really couldn't deal with that right now.
You just need to relieve some stress. Maybe a spar with Shi no Dansu would give you that. You drag yourself out of bed and get dressed.
Upon your arrival at the training grounds, you find Captain Zaraki sitting in the middle of them, meditating. You walk towards him.
"Hey captain." You call out to him causing him to turn and face you.
"You done crying like a bitch now?"
You stop, completely taken off guard with that last comment. "What!?"
"I said are you done crying like a bitch."
"Captain, I have a reason to cry. Shinji was a good friend, a great captain, and am amazing person. Aren't you even a little sad?"
"Not really. Everyone dies eventually."
"So your not sad over his death!?"
"No. If he died, it meant he was weak-"
"Well what if I died! Would you just sit there and call me weak too! What if Yachiru died! What then!" You snapped. You can't believe you just yelled at Captain Zaraki. He stands up and faces you.
"As long as I'm here, Yachiru won't die. I won't see her when she dies because I'll be dead. You came here to spar, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's fight. I haven't measured your strength in a while, and I have a feeling you're stronger than before."
"Do I have to go all out?"
"Yeah. I won't though. If I pit you in the 4th division, Unohana will kick my ass." You laugh at that. She definitely would kick his ass.
"Ok then. Bankai, Rasuto Shi no Dansu." You make the sweeping motion and your zanpakuto changes. "Let's fight then."