Here's the next chapter…
You know, I can write these out so quickly and enthusiastically, I'm really enjoying writing this story…Despite the fact that reviews and reading seem so minimal for this story, while Bleach fanfics full of clichéd tripe seem to be getting hundreds upon hundreds of reviews.
But I persevere, and I hope those who are reading are enjoying this. We're entering an exciting phase in this arc…I'd call this particular "Kaworu Arc" about 25 done or so.
Get ready for more excitement, and as I've said before, fans of characters and pairings that haven't appeared yet, don't fear…you will see far more of your favorites before this Arc is over.
Enjoy this arc!
Enjoy yourselves!
Let's get this started!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters, settings, etc.. Did you really need me to tell you that?
Izura Kira grit his teeth as he blocked yet another one of the old man's bladed salvos, pushing the old Shinigami backwards and leaping away.
It must've…doubled in weight so far…and doubled that…
Gendo grunted in surprise. This was the second time he felt this, his muscles straining to lift the blade connected to his metal fist.
"Tokikaze?"
Kira grit his teeth, laughing with a rather cold and sinister tone.
"Sorry old man, I'm not like Lieutenant Nurse over there. Wabisuke doubles the weight of whatever it strikes, and then doubles that the second time, and so on and so on…Soon you will find your arm bowing to the ground, as well as your entire body, thereby begging for my forgiveness, offering me apology."
The guard speaking the sentence halted.
"Do you have any last words? Perhaps you will apologize for your sins and ask for forgiveness from your leader?
Gendo grit his teeth, unable to move.
"I will say this…"
Pursing his lips, he spit directly in his brother's face.
"That is all, I am-"
He gasped as he felt Shigekuni's blade slash deep across his chest in a spray of blood and the guards sent him tumbling down into the dark abyss of the pit.
Gendo grit his teeth, raising his blade in Kira's direction.
"Young man…I will never feel the urge to apologize for my actions, nor bow my head to any man who stands before me…I may be old…but I still have the strength to lift my blade. I will have no need to touch my metal against yours any longer from this point on, nay, I will touch my metal directly against your flesh and end this.
Kira sneered, slightly put off by the old man's confidence.
End this huh?! I'm not going to be embarrassed again like I was against Rangiku! I'm a Lieutenant, goddamit! I'm taking this bastard down!
Kira rushed forward, Wabisuke raised over his head to slash down at Gendo.
Just a few more strikes and he'll be down on the ground unable to lift anything up…Apologize, old man!
Gendo only shook his head, his blade still pointed in Kira's direction as he spoke in his wizened and melodious voice.
"Show him the stillness of fate, Tokikaze."
Lieutenant Izura Kira only laughed as he rushed forward, swinging Wabisuke down at the old man just as he muttered something Kira couldn't hear.
Kira's eyes widened as his blade…slided directly through the old man and out his back with no effect whatsoever, as if the old man was made of…air?
Suddenly, despite the fact that he could see the old man directly in front of him with Wabisuke intersecting him with no effect as if he were a ghost, despite that…he heard Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai directly behind him.
"I…apologize…for this pain you are about to receive."
"YA! Finally I've got ya!"
Kenpachi growled, swinging his massive blade out in excitement as he prepared to fight this monster of spiritual presence he had heard of…
Only to see his blade miss a simpering terrified young Shinigami who looked rather weak. His sword had just barely missed decapitating the young man.
Hanatarō Yamada let out a miserably terrified shriek, his pale face twisting into a whimpering pout as he sped off into the distance leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
Kenpachi snorted, turning away in disappointment.
"Shit! Where the hell is that spiritual presence!?"
Kenpachi had definitely felt that…or at least heard it…
"Ay! Yachiru, you felt that at least, didn't ya?!"
"Wow, Kenny! Do you think it was that strawberry head?!"
Kenpachi grunted, shaking his head gruffly.
"No…Ichigo can't be that strong…it's something else…someone else."
Yachiru giggled, swinging her head down to look at Kenpachi's face upside down as she balanced on his shoulders.
He looked quite serious, as if he were contemplating something.
"What's on your mind, Ken-chan?!"
Kenpachi suddenly glanced up at her and gave her a wide, ferocious grin.
"Just how much I'd love to fight whoever the hell this is and cut him apart!"
She pouted.
"'He'? Why can't it be a girl!?"
Kenpachi grunted in exasperation.
"Feh! It doesn't matter what age, gender they are, what they look like, if they're a big ugly fox thing like that Captain guy or some idiot blind man…I don't care…I just wanna cut 'em! Take me there, Yachiru!"
Yachiru giggled, swinging back to her upright position on Kenpachi's shoulders and pointing in a seemingly sudden and random direction.
"That way Kenny!"
Kenpachi grunted in affirmation and they headed off into that direction.
Which was back down the exact way they had come from in the first place, retaking their tracks and heading off in another totally incorrect and random direction.
It didn't seem like there'd be any Kenpachi action for a while…
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai let out a humorless grunt as he sat upon his ivory throne, his face revealing no emotion or compassion.
He had governed this land as well as he could as a warrior and compassionate Shinigami, or so he thought.
Perhaps he had made sacrifices or decisions that may be seen as cold or merciless, but one has no choice when encumbered with such an awesome responsibility.
His face was mottled with many scars and wrinkles that spoke of this responsibility, of the toils of battle and misery and experience and glory.
He barely flinched or even reacted at the explosions in the faraway distance, or the spiritual presence rising that was so connected to his.
It was obvious though…who had returned…inevitable even…his…
"Don't be difficult….I'm leaving you with your uncle…"
"No! Daddy, please don't leave! Where's mommy?!"
"She's dead, Kaworu…"
"No! You're lying!"
"You saw it with your own eyes…you remember…"
What a weak willed boy…So easily spun into a rage, or sorrow, or compassion or love! So easily emotional, so fragile! He had fallen into a terribly heavy love with that fool woman; he had fallen into a gravely decisive anger because of the slaughter of a mere thousand or so Quincy. How pitiful.
There could be no such weakness in the Yamamoto-Genryūsai line, Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai knew this well. Such weakness could endanger Soul Society itself.
One had to be unflinching and even sometimes cold and cruel to rule this land safely.
He turned to see his Lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe kneeling before him, ready for orders. A far younger Chōjirō Sasakibe was kneeling before him, speaking in calm and measured tones.
"She was…she became a Hollow, Captain. We had no choice but to eliminate her."
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai stared at him intently, hiding any emotion or regret.
"Understood. Good work."
Shigekuni only sighed gravely, nodding to his Lieutenant as he delivered his orders in similarly calm and measured tones.
"Follow them…make sure the executions are done efficiently, if not, destroy them all…I give you permission to use Gonryōmaru's true ability on this occasion if needed, unlike the run-in with the ryoka."
Go…and do the will of Soul Society…Mercy is a luxury in our age.
Izura Kira stumbled backwards, gasping in exhausting, exasperation, and what was slowly becoming a sheer terror of the events that were occurring.
Yet another blow had been dealt to his teetering, bloody body, and he had the feeling he had just barely dodged a fatal wound this time around. There were slashes covering his entire body.
Gendo only shook his head, his blade still pointed in Kira's direction as he spoke in his wizened and melodious voice.
"Show him the stillness of fate, Tokikaze."
Izura grunted, watching as Gendo pointed his blade at the Lieutenant again, the same motion.
That bastard…what the hell is going on? I strike at him, and strike nothing…as if he's a ghost…and then he just appears right behind me ready to attack!? And even if I don't attack him, he's suddenly behind me anyway, in an instant, yet I still see him in front of me…What trick is this? It isn't flash stepping or sheer speed, it's even faster, there's no sign of his spiritual presence or movements when he does whatever this is…it's untrackable!
Kira grit his teeth, staring at Gendo, the old man standing wistfully in front of him.
This time, Kira would concentrate.
You're not taking me by surprise this time, old ma-
"Daydreaming, young Lieutenant?"
Kira had no time to react as the blade sang through the air towards his unprotected neck.
Kisuke Urahara had stumbled upon the fight at just the right time it seemed, Renji Abarai following close behind.
This old man? Can it be?
Kisuke watched absentmindedly as Lieutenant Izura Kira faced down the old man before him.
Renji watched silently with an annoyed grimace on his face, having been urged back by Kisuke before he could leap in and help his fellow Lieutenant.
What the hell?!
Izura Kira was standing still like a pole, staring off intently at some spot in front of him while the old man had leisurely strolled past him and behind him, raising his blade to attack.
So-that's what's going on…but…Shit! There's no time!
He shoved Renji backwards quickly, giving himself space as he drew his sword cane.
"Okiro, Benihime!"
"Daydreaming, young Lieutenant?"
Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai smiled sorrowfully as he brought the blade coming from his fist down towards Lieutenant Izura Kira's neck.
The young man had had no time to react to Tokikaze's abilities or speed.
"Goodby-"
"Nake, Benihime!"
What?!
Gendo's eyes widened as a small oval-shaped crimson barrier of energy surrounded Lieutenant Izura Kira, finding his blade unable to pierce it and continue the strike at the young Lieutenant's neck.
In fact, he found the force of the sudden barrier sending him stumbling backwards, grunting as he pressed Tokikaze into the dirt to steady himself.
He grunted as he raised his gaze just in time to glimpse the fluttering robes of former Captain Kisuke Urahara just as he landed between Gendo and the surprised Lieutenant Kira.
Lieutenant Kira gasped in a sharp breath of air, unable to understand what was going on and why he was alive, falling backwards on his behind as Kisuke ordered him to run away.
Dammit! I failed again…damn…what the hell is this guy Gendo?!
Kisuke gave Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai a wide grin. Obviously they recognized each other through the foggy mist of time.
"You're supposed to be dead, Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai."
Gendo snorted, staring fiercely at Kisuke as he hissed out a reply.
"Same to you, Kisuke Urahara. Kaworu told me all about you."
"Did he now? Send him my regards; I'm surprised he's back around these days. Maybe I'll give him a greeting personally?"
Gendo growled, pointing Tokikaze's blade at Kisuke.
"You'll do no such thing…I will send you into the grave you belong within, Kisuke Urahara."
Kisuke gave him a lazy grin.
"What, with your fancy shikai? Will you use the same tricks and fool games you used on young Kira here? I'm not easily fooled, old man. I know all about your abilities."
"Hm?!"
"Oh yes…I understand it all completely, your move. It's quite clever, tricking your opponent by- "
"Silence!"
"Did I hit a nerve?"
Gendo growled, raising Tokikaze at Kisuke.
"Silence, I said! Show him the stillness of fate, Tokikaze."
Kira turned to Renji in fear.
"Shit, he's dead Renji!"
"Calm down, Kira!"
Kisuke's eyes watched intently as Gendo stood in front of him, and his blade Benihime rang out just as intently as Kisuke spun around just in time to gracefully block the sword of the Gendo Yamamoto-Genryūsai directly behind him.
Gendo's eyes widened in surprise and he just barely managed to dodge Benihime's return strike. The old man stumbled backwards, leaping and landing a few feet away from Kisuke's grinning form.
Gendo stared at him in angry disbelief.
"What? Surprised I saw through your attack? As I was saying before you interrupted me so rudely, I understand it completely. The foundation of your abilities are based on one of Tokikaze's hidden techniques…illusionism…I remember it now. But your illusion is different from normal ones, it takes a few steps. First you raise your blade to point at your opponent, attracting their full focus with that weird pose. Then you slowly move your hand to reveal that kanji on your palm, reading 'fate', letting your opponent focus on your face slowly revealed behind your palm."
Kisuke paused, drinking in Gendo's surprise as he continued.
"The scariest thing about this technique is that the better you are at observing an opponent's moves or detecting their spirit, the more you'll stare at these deceptive movements you make with Tokikaze. Then the opponent who stared at your zanpakutō moves into the third stage of the illusion, all of this having lasted a few mere seconds, creating instant unconsciousness between consciousness…this unconsciousness lasts only a few seconds, but that is already sufficient. They are left staring at what appears to be you standing before them, when in reality they are in a spell of momentary unconsciousness. By the time your opponent realizes the 'mirage' in front of them isn't real, you have already maneuvered yourself to a position behind them, ready to strike and kill! From the view of the people who get caught by your technique, it almost looks like you teleported."
Gendo's eyes widened.
"How…did you find out?"
"When I saw the 'you' in front of Kira had absolutely no shadow…It reminded me of reading your profile in the Shinigami Research Institute I founded after you left…Oh, I read all about your shikai in the records…it's very fascinating you know. I had all kinds of access like that when I took over as Captain of 12th Division after your 'disappearance'."
Kisuke paused, smirking, though his eyes had a tinge of sorrow as he continued.
"Plus, there was once a wise and kind soul named Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai who told me, 'Don't be arrogant over one's skills, Kisuke. Don't completely believe everything, believe what you really see'."
Gendo grit his teeth, nodding wistfully to himself as if he had decided something after Kisuke had finished speaking.
"Then…I will absolve all formalities…Let me show you something I formulated past your records and knowledge…Deep within that dark pit where I lay for centuries."
Kisuke's eyes widened now in response to Gendo's words, if only an imperceptible bit.
"What do you know of pain, Kisuke Urahara?! Of exile? Of Soul Society's punishment? You and that whore my young nephew adored, you two simply fled, I have heard, fled your punishments! We were not such a dishonorable, cowardly sort. While you were out there, I was rotting away in that hole…until Kaworu came. I learned much in that darkness, and so did Tokikaze…"
Kisuke took a step back, urging Renji and Kira to give him room as Gendo continued.
"Let me show you the lessons of time and eternity, Kisuke Urahara, one colleague to another. Let me enlighten your fascinating research, Kisuke Urahara…"
He gripped Tokikaze by the blade that sprouted out of his metal hand as he continued, as if he intended to yank it out.
"Tokikaze…Bankai! Chireksi Okki!"
Ichigo Kurosaki grunted, barely conscious against the rubble Yoruichi had rested him upon.
His vision blurred as he squinted his eyes, barely making out two figures in the distance, facing each other.
One seemed female, the other tall and masculine.
They seemed to have known each other for ages, or so it looked to Ichigo as he watched them standing silently before each other.
Useless…I was…useless…
He grit his teeth, his head lolling back as he let out a sigh that was painful to exhale.
Dammit…dammit…I'll become stronger Zangetsu…much stronger…I'll show that bastard!
Yoruichi Shihouin slowly circled this lost past, this bleached memory long forgotten, this disgruntled male Shinigami who stood before here.
He stared intently at, though his face betrayed no emotion or anger, and she almost felt like reaching out and stroking it.
This was madness of course. She had seen what he had mercilessly done to Ichigo, he was like a coiled viper, he would stop at nothing to harm…
But how had SHE harmed him? Beyond measure? How could she stand here again, ready to harm the one she lov-had loved…No…she couldn't let such thoughts weaken her…she had moved on…experienced much with Kisuke Urahara…This was a figment of madness from her past she had no choice but to eradicate.
Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai meanwhile continued staring at her silently with his grave deep eyes, not speaking a word as she circled him once more.
Suddenly she rushed forward, her graceful and blinding flash steps bringing her directly behind him as she launched a lithe roundhouse kick at his back.
Quickly he caught her foot, swinging her away as he rushed forward himself, grunting as he sent a cascade of punches hurtling at her flying form.
"I…wanted you to…strike first you know…a part of me wanted it to affirm that nostalgic vision of you stabbing me as I embraced you…still couldn't believe it had been you, my love, who stabbed me so…now I know…my delusion was not illusion…"
She grunted, barely dodging her punches as she flash stepped behind him, only to discover he was already right behind her and sending a powerful kick at her back.
She dodged most of it, stumbling away with a painful and angered grunt.
"What?!"
Yoruichi's eyes widened as the punch she sent at his face was firmly but almost gently caught by his open hands.
Kaworu smiled sadly, as if acknowledging and reading the disbelief in her mind.
"The 'Goddess of Flash' being outpaced! Surprised? This is the power given to me by my bankai…the only one who ever glimpsed it was father…back then…but you know the story…He's still standing, isn't he, more or less alive…"
Damn! At this rate she'd have to use her…No…she hadn't used Hachimitsu since that day…why use it now? She didn't need to depend on her blade, she hadn't since then! She wouldn't start now!
She grit her teeth, leaping nimbly backwards, back flipping a few times gracefully before she landed.
"Enough…talk of the past…Kaworu. It was unfortunate, I understand, but there are no justifications for your actions. We made mistakes, but-"
Kaworu's eyes widened with a barely perceptible madness that seemed deep as the abyss.
"'Mistakes'?! Mistakes? Made mistakes? You killed me. You killed me, Yoruichi Shihouin."
He lifted up his Captain's garments partly, revealing the long scar that ran deep across his torso.
"Or did you forget? We were young, after all! Things like murder and wanton betrayal are easily forgotten by such a mind, hm? I guess you just moved on, huh? Kind of silly for me to be dwelling on the past, huh?"
Kaworu's voice was growing uncontrollable, as well as the swelling sadness in Yoruichi as she listened.
No…I can't let myself break down…I have orders…I have responsibility…if Soul Society is allowed to fall…then chaos will reign...this is unfortunate, but a victory for Kaworu would be a victory for Aizen…I cannot allow that.
Suddenly she flash stepped forward at blinding speed, interrupting Kaworu's rambling words as she sent a nimble kick swinging straight at his face.
Only for her lithe leg to be blocked by Inazuma's long spear pole.
Kaworu slammed the spear down into the dirt so it would stand upright by itself, so quickly that Yoruichi's foot was still slamming into his upright spear as he leapt forward freely without a weapon in his hand.
Quickly he sent a hard kick into her stomach, and as she slowly (in his perception) reacted from that, he sent a quick punch to her neck which was surely painful and a more powerful swinging blow directly at her face.
All this had happened in but a few mere seconds.
When the dust had cleared, all that stood upright were Inazuma and Kaworu as he landed from his quick combo.
Yoruichi grunted and coughed spittle and blood, her eyes hardening as she watched Kaworu.
So…he's gotten this much faster…and stronger…I can't humor myself with the idea I can continue to fight at this level…I'd…die…No…I have no choice, do I, Hachimitsu?
Slowly, but surely, Yoruichi Shihouin reached for the blade sheathed at her hip, the one she hadn't used or drawn in centuries…since it had been used to slay a certain Kaworu Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
It was almost poetically appropriate.
Almost.
Well, hope you're enjoying this fanfic…Do keep reading and reviewing…
Anyway, expect Yoruichi to pull out her big guns to try to bring Kaworu down in the coming chapters…
And let's see if the other prodigy, the always calm and confident Kisuke Urahara can defeat old man Gendo, embittered and enraptured by time and his past.
Seeya next chapter!