Don't own Bleach. Boo.
Thanks for the reviews, to all you new and repeat offenders. Sorry, about how long this is getting. I'm trying not to be slow with this, but I had some big plans (I think…) and they took a little bit of time to brew.
Also, Rukia's bankai took a long time to come up with. I didn't want to make her too powerful or too similar to other bankais, but I couldn't help myself. Stuff just sounded cool and as I said in my intro-notes all the way back in the prologue, my idols are all strong women. Rukia. Will. Be. Tough! While still trying to stay true to the original Rukia-Shirayuki combo that is. And the powers of Marks, Jack, and Anna took me a while too…I did a lot of staring at a blank computer screen.
Also, I'm sure I'll be screwing something up in terms of how things work in the original Bleach universe with powers and reiatsu and such…but I guess that's why this is fanfiction. Oh deary me oh my!
'These are thoughts' "This is speaking" and duh, this is normal narration. Just throwing it out there. There are going to be long notes at the end of this chapter (just some info that may or may not be of interest).
Now, boys and girls, let's crack this shit wide open.
"Love And…"
CH 8: Love and Trouble: it's brewing here, it's brewing there, it's brewing everywhere!
It was a clear, crisp evening in Soul Society. The perfect night for star-gazing, maybe a moonlight stroll with a loved-one...
Alas, as peaceful as the weather was, the overall atmosphere of Soul Society would not match.
Rukia and Hitsugaya wanted to smack themselves. All of the captains and vice-captains and practically every soul reaper who wasn't on duty showed up. Of course, word had spread about the four western representatives, and of course, everyone would come to 10th division to see them. Especially if two of those representatives were going to fight two very well-known Soul Society figures.
"Rukia! Toushiro!" Ukitake yelled waving his arms in the air. "Do your best!" The 13th division captain nudged Byakuya, who was standing right next to him (as usual, he would try to escape his white-haired colleague, but as usual it wouldn't work). "Go cheer for Rukia too!"
"Please do not touch me, Captain Ukitake." Was the reply. The Kuchiki clan leader shifted ever so slightly and had the barest trace of a scowl on his face.
Ukitake shook his head and laughed. 'He's worried sick over her!'
"Show 'em what you're made of, Vice-captain!" Kiyone and Sentaro screamed. Ukitake, Byakuya, and the two third-seats were standing on the sidelines receiving an update on all current events from Renji and Matsumoto.
"This is turning into a complete circus!" Rukia exclaimed as she waved to her brother and friends.
"Well, you can't expect everyone to not be curious about our guests here. Besides," Hitsugaya smiled, "maybe we'll all be able to get a glimpse of this magnificent bankai of yours." He reached over to ruffle her hair. "If it even exists, that is."
Rukia swatted away his hand. "Of course it exists! And it's a pretty cool bankai at that!"
"Hey! You two ready or what!?" Marks yelled. He and Jack were standing in the center of the expansive training ground.
"Are you really that eager to lose?" Hitsugaya shouted back.
Marks just laughed. He, Jack, Hitsugaya and Rukia were finally all facing one another. "So, how should we go about this?" he asked.
"We fight until you're both beaten, of course," Rukia answered.
"What makes you so sure we're gonna be beaten?" Jack grinned.
She merely shrugged her shoulders and gestured to the crowd. "Home team advantage."
"Anyways," Hitsugaya redirected, "Should we tell each other about our powers and then fight? Or leave all that a surprise?"
Marks looked over at the excited on-lookers. "Why don't we just explain as we all go along? Demonstrate and then go for it." He turned his gaze back to his companions. "I assume we can all use what you call 'bankai'?"
"Yup!" Rukia chimed.
"Would I be a captain if I couldn't?" Hitsugaya snorted.
"You know I can!" Jack whined. "Let's get this show on the road!" He jumped back from the others and drew his zanpakuto. "Cerbrius! Gather together! The Final Release*!" Jack's once silver blade became as black as sin and emanated a dark aura.
The crowd gasped and cheered as the other three followed Jack's example.
"Brace yourselves!" Marks warned Hitsugaya and Rukia. "Metestro! Final Release!" The brunette thrust his sword into the ground and the earth quaked.
Hitsugaya instinctively held on to Rukia as the ground fell beneath their feet. Dust filled the air, consumed the lungs and blinded the eyes of all. The pair of ice-wielders hacked and coughed as the dust began to settle.
"God, Cap'n Marks, you really need to give people a better warning when you do that." Jack grumbled. He searched for his and Mark's opponents and laughed at what he saw. Rukia and Hitsugaya were on the ground, entangled in each others arms. "Getting cozy there, you two?" the messy-haired teen smirked.
Hitsugaya blushed and ignored the comment. "You okay, Rukia?" he helped her up.
"Please, it was just a measly fall, Toushiro." Rukia coughed and looked around. "A…silly fall…Woah!" Rukia's violet eyes were wide with surprise.
The four of them were now standing in a giant crater, with the still-curious bystanders craning their heads to get a better view. Marks' bankai transformation had carved the earth into a smooth bowl. Many of the lanterns that had lit up the training grounds had gone out and people were scrambling to get more lit.
"Sorry about that. Still think you two can take us?" Marks grinned. His zanpakuto had transformed into a broad sword of crystal.
"Of course. Flashy tricks and swords won't scare us." Hitsugaya drew his zanpakuto. "Daiguren Hyorinnmaru! Bankai!" The trademark ice wings, tail, and flowers of his zanpakuto appeared and everyone cheered. "Let's show them what the Gotei 13 is all about, Rukia."
"Got it!" Rukia took a deep breath and held Shirayuki before her. "Upon the earth and through the heavens!" Rukia cried. "Dance with me once more, Sode no Shirayuki! BANKAI!" There was a blinding flash of light and as soon as everyone could see, a chorus of 'Oohs' could be heard along with a few spattering of snickers.
"That's her zanpakuto's final release?" Anna's snotty voice could be heard over the whispered chatter. "She doesn't even have a sword!"
Hitsugaya was completely entranced. Snow was gently falling to the ground as Rukia gracefully slid into a defensive stance. Her black soul reaper's uniform was replaced by a pure white kimono with silver butterflies embroidered into it and a large, plain satin bow billowing in the back. In Rukia's hands were two very large white fans composed of thin blades of ice, with long with ribbons flowing out their ends down to the ground. She looked more like a dancer than the fierce warrior her friends knew her to be, and the now snow-covered training ground was her stage.
Hitsugaya smiled softly and shook his head. "It figures your bankai would be something like this." He turned to Marks and Jack, who were at a loss for words and gaping at his crush. "Rukia has the most beautiful zanpakuto in all of Soul Society. And even though her bankai looks like this, I probably wouldn't underestimate her if I were you." he gazed fondly at the raven-haired soul reaper.
Rukia smirked as the snow her transformation had caused came to a halt. "You'd better listen to Toushiro, he is a prodigy after all." She smiled at Hitsugaya and nodded to their opponents.
With a smirk to each other, both Hitsugaya and Rukia yelled. "Let's go get 'em!"
------------------------------------Ahh! I didn't plan on it! I even said it in one of these divider-author notes! I would not let these OC's take over! But alas, nothing goes exactly as planned for me and here we are. I like to lie. I don't know if it's enough of a habit for it to be some sort of psychological disorder, though. I'd tell you their presence has a purpose, but that might just be a lie as well---------------------------------
Every single light in Soul Society was either out or transported to the 10th division training grounds. Everyone was eager to witness the best entertainment since Rukia Kuchiki had decided to fight her way out of marriage; no one was around the 13th division holding cells.
A lone figure in black stood in the cool night air under shining stars and glowing moon. He slinked into a room of the 13th division and smirked. The guard was fast asleep with a note of apology taped to his forehead, probably from his partner who had run off to watch their vice-captain take on those foreign twits.
With special reiatsu sealing binds he charmed out of the ever-trusting Aya Mayasune** and the information he had convinced her to search for within that Urahara shop and the 12th division, he set forth to put his plan for revenge in motion.
Daisuke Tokugawa bound and gagged the remaining 13th division guard. He licked his lips in anticipation and a wild, malicious gleam was in his eyes. In the center of the room sat the hougyoku. True to the words he had overheard that blasted Matsumoto say, the sphere was finally complete.
The object is found. Revenge would be sweet.
--------------------------------Things are gonna get so crazy! Guys, I don't think I can handle it at all! Crap!-------------------------------
"That's her zanpakuto's final release?" Anna scoffed. "She doesn't even have a sword."
Kiyone and Sentaro were indignant. Ukitake frowned. Byakuya showed a facial tic. Matsumoto and Renji made rude faces and gestures behind the blonde girl's back.
"Guest or not!" Kiyone pointed a finger at Anna. "You better watch what you say about Vice-captain Rukia!"
"Besides," Sentaro added, "Do you have a bankai?"
"No, but my first release—or shikay, whatever you doofs call it—could knock that pretty little bow right off her bathrobe!" Anna retorted.
"It's a kimono, stupid!" Kiyone corrected.
Anna rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She waved a dismissive hand at the irritated people around her. "I'm out of here." She began to make her way out of the crowd of people who had come to watch her captain and her brother fight that little white-haired boy and that stupid princess girl.
"As if those two would stand a chance against Marks and Jack." Anna muttered. The blonde had come to a deserted court yard. She wasn't too keen on her written Japanese as she was with her speaking and listening comprehension, but she was fairly certain she was at the 13th division.
"Nyah! Vice-captain Rukia!" she mocked. "The first release of Circe*** could have that Rukia on her knees."
'What the hell is so great about that Kuchiki chick anyway.' Anna thought. 'She has those big purpley bug eyes and her hair's all funky, like some cartoon character or something.' She kicked at a rock on the ground. 'she doesn't sound smart at all, or funny. And so what if her boobs are bigger than mine?' she looked down at her chest and crossed her arms over it insecurely. 'It's not like that they're that much bigger.'
Yes, Anna Ripper was completely jealous of Rukia Kuchiki. Not that she'd ever be caught dead admitting that ever. All the family Anna had ever known was her brother, Jack, and their captain, Marks. And since she was rather backwards in the making-friends department, they weren't just the only family she had ever known, they were also the only people who would tolerate her antics. You couldn't really blame her for being afraid that some strange woman they had just met might very well be then end of her small social circle.
"Why are Marks and that stupid brother of mine so interested in her anyways?" Anna threw her arms into the air and screamed, "Rukia Kuchiki SUCKS!"
"I quite agree."
"Aah!" Anna spun around and unsheathed her zanpakuto. "Who are you? Who's there?"
A figure stepped out of the shadows. It was a young man around her age…tall dark, hair, and a boyish face that could get any woman to do anything.
"Sorry to frighten you." the strange boy held his hand out to shake Anna's. "I'm Daisuke Tokugawa, and I think I may have a proposition for you…"
----------------------------Oh, man, even I didn't see that coming! And I'm writing this damn thing! Lemme take out my jazz hands for a second here: (sings) shoobeedoowapwap! Scene change!-----------------------------
'Crap!' Hitsugaya frowned. Sure, he was confident in his abilities, but he didn't think it would be this tricky fighting Marks and Jack. He stole a glance at Rukia, who was currently surrounded by at least seven Jacks.
"Hitsugaya! Don't get so distracted!" Marks shouted as he charged his opponent. His body was now covered in a thick metal armor that was impossible to cut.
Hitsugaya dodged the blow. "Who says you deserve my full attention?" he smirked and shunpoed away from Marks. Try as he might, Ryusenka****, an ability that would freeze his opponent to their very core when stabbed, would not work due to that blasted armor of Marks'. Hitsugaya would have to do something else. "Sennen Hyoro!****" he bellowed.
"Shit!" Marks cursed as he saw pillars of ice begin to materialize before him. He could feel the cold surround him and slow his movements. He stabbed his sword into the earth with all his might and shouted "Ring of steel!" Immediately giant, spikes made from metal and rock rose from the ground around Marks at an angle. Marks pulled his sword from the dirt and immediately the spikes began to spin around him, destroying the forming pillars meant to freeze and trap him.
"Figures," Hitsutgaya muttered.
Marks chuckled. "You're really playing hardball, aren't you?"
Hitsugaya shrugged, "Might as well. Don't want to ruin my reputation after all."
"Got to give everyone watching an electrifying show too, right?" Marks grinned, his armor reflecting the lights in the sky and on the ground.
An idea suddenly hit Hitsugaya. "Yeah, right! Electrifying!" He threw his hand out and cried, "Hadou number 63! Howl of singed thunder!" He put all the reiatsu he could into the spell.
"Oh goddamn it!" Marks yelled as a thin stream of lightning flew towards him. His thick metal armor was a good defense, but at a great price.
"AUGH!"
Marks was not fast enough to get out of the way of the blast. The western captain could definitely feel the blast sear through his armor. He grit his teeth in pain and tried to focus on getting out of his armor. He finally got the metal plates to fall off and back into the earth from which he had summoned them.
On the ground and breathing hard, he gasped out, "Metal as a conductor…huu...huu…Good one!" Marks' clothes were singed and faint wisps of smoke came from his body.
"Give up?" Hitsugaya stood before Marks and held his hand out in assistance. "Though I certainly won't have a problem continuing."
Marks gave him a good-natured grin and accepted his help. "I think I'd like to take a break…that Hadou spell of yours really packed a wallop." He nodded to Rukia and Jacks. "Let's go see how your girlfriend is fairing against my vice-captain."
Hitsugaya turned red. "She isn't my girlfriend."
"But you'd like her to be! I see how you two look at each other and the way she and Anna got into it earlier proves she's into you!" Marks laughed. "Don't worry! I'll stop talking about that marriage stuff with Jack and tell him to back off of her."
Hitsugaya turned even redder. "Thanks," he feebly replied. "But what about you?" he pointedly looked at the taller male. "You weren't as forward as your friend there, but you definitely seemed interested…"
"I'll try, but I won't make any promises," Marks teasingly grinned. "You, of all people, know how great a girl she is." He winked. When he saw Hitsugaya's face falling into a glare, he laughed and continued, "Come on! I'm kidding!
"Sure." Hitsugaya snorted. The two faced the area where Jack and Rukia were fighting. They were quite surprised to find the number of Jacks to have doubled.
"Yeah, Rukia? I don't think that slice 'em and dice 'em approach of yours is working…" Jacks laughed. "The Hydra ability is pretty tricky for a lot of people. You slice them and that just doubles the number of Jack copies to deal with."
Rukia gave him a sardonic grin. "No joke; I'd do well to keep them from increasing…"
"Especially since they all come equipped with all my attacks." Jack continued. "And believe me, all those attacks coming all at once are not a pretty picture."
Rukia smirked. "Good thing I don't just summon freezing ice blades with these fans of mine." The raven-haired reaper raised her fans into the air and brought them down with a single, graceful swoop. With this one gesture, all the snow that had covered the ground flew back into the air, blinding everyone. When it settled onto the ground again, each and every fake Jack was frozen solid. A light dusting of snowflakes on each was the only evidence of the attack ever happening.
"Damn…" Hitsugaya breathed. Indeed, he was right when he had advised Marks and Jack not to underestimate her.
"Hey!" Jack spun around, looking all over for his opponent. "Where'd she go?"
Indeed, Rukia was not to be seen. Unless she wanted you to see her, of course.
"Look sharp, Ripper!"
"Gah!" Jack barely dodged the fan that Rukia had swung at him…from about 15 feet above the ground. Jack looked down at the ground he had been standing on only to find a large, deep gash in the earth and snow. He whipped his head up to gape at Rukia who seemed to be floating on air. "Those things are made of blades? And how are you up there?"
"You never asked what they were made of!" Rukia replied. "And I'm standing on small ice pieces I just summoned!" And with that Rukia leapt down and used her fan's ribbon to swing it towards him once more. With her other fan Rukia made a half-circle in the air and a slicing motion.
Jack blocked the fan with his sword and laughed. "Come on! That again? You—" Jack was suddenly silent. He could feel the coldness of it before he could actually feel the edge of the object itself. He craned his head around to try and see the huge blade Rukia had summoned against his back.
"Cat got your tongue, Jack?" Rukia chuckled. "Or is it a blade at your back?"
Jack was silent for a moment, contemplating his next move. He could feel the chill of the blade coursing through his body already. Concede or keep fighting? He needed to decide fast!
"I'd make a decision if I were you…" Rukia smirked. "Wait too long and you'll get frostbite."
"Shit…" the blonde cursed. "No matter what move I do, that blade will always be there ready to cut me down, won't it?"
Rukia nodded with a bright smile. "Yeah, pretty much."
Jack lowered his sword and took a bow. "You're a regular demon, you know."
"As long as I'm a demon who wins!" she smiled. She let the blade behind Jack's back dissolve.
"Don't let your guard down just yet! Look!" Hitsugaya yelled. He and Marks made their way closer to Rukia and Jack—Marks next to his vice-captain and Hitsugaya shielding Rukia.
Rukia could sense it before she could ask what was going on. Her eyes were wide with shock as she yelled for all to hear: "Hollows are coming! WATCH OUT!"
"Look!" Hitsugaya pointed above them at a Menos who had stuck his head through a hole in the sky. The hole was increasing in size with no indication of stopping. As the first Menos looked around him to observe the mass gathering of soul reapers below it, a myriad of other hollows and even some arrancars and other Menos could be seen trying get around him and into Soul Society. They writhed and pulsed, a ring of destruction waiting to descend upon the crowd.
Panicked screams and shouts began to fill the air. It began to snow again.
"What is going on—"
"Why are there so many of—"
"CALM DOWN!" Head-captain Yamamoto bellowed. There was instant quiet, save for the sounds of hollows trying to invade the world below them.
Yamamoto commanded for all to hear. "I want all 4th division healers to gather and be ready for casualties. No reaper is to take on an opponent they are not strong enough or skilled enough to take down, especially on their own! Leave all stronger hollows, Menos, and Arrancar to your seated officers, Vice-captains, and Captains!" He looked around at everyone and continued. "Most of all be sure to keep an eye out for each other! Let's get this situation under—"
"LOOK! HE'S DOING SOMETHING!" Jack shouted. Everyone turned their attention back to the sky. Multiple gasps and screams were heard. The look-out Menos that first entered their world was getting ready to fire a cero towards them!
The crowd began to panic once again.
'Damn it!' Yamamoto cursed. 'At the rate this group is panicking it's going to turn into a huge unruly mob and then no one will be able to defend us properly.' The old man was getting irritated. And when he noticed the snow he couldn't help but bark, "Hitsugaya! Control yourself!"
"It isn't him, sir!" Rukia cried out. "Don't worry, I've got this one!" With that single proclamation almost all eyes were on her. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as Rukia, who was crouched low on the ground, began another dance. She took a few light steps, swaying and twirling to music only she could hear, brought her fans up above her head and swung them down.
The Menos fired his blast.
There was screaming once more.
The sky was filled with white.
"What the hell…Rukia?" Hitsugaya gasped and looked at his companion in admiration.
Rukia gave a shaky grin. "Job well done if I do say so myself." She said, still poised to continue her deadly dance.
All of the snow had gathered to form a shield to protect the crowd from the blast. "No kidding," Hitsugaya looked back at the sky with awe.
Rukia smirked. "Now watch this one!" Again, she made graceful and light movements and the snow that was protecting them changed into a field of long, pointy pure white blades that flew towards the onslaught of monsters.
"Watch out for the bodies!" the young Kuchiki hollered. Many of the hollows that were pierced by the spikes fell to the earth, frozen and bleeding.
"Nicely done, Vice-captain Kuchiki!" Yamamoto cheered. "Now why don't you let the rest of us get in on the action?"
"No kidding, Rukia!" Hitsugaya chuckled and playfully elbowed her. "Why don't you leave the rest to us? Hey, Rukia? Rukia?"
Rukia's eyes were wide and her mouth gaped. She looked completely in shock and had to force herself to stutter out, "Ah-ah-I know why this is happening!"
"What!" Hitsugaya took hold of her shoulders and asked, "What are you talking about?"
All of the captains and vice-captains were crowding around the two by now, straining to hear what would be said.
"I can sense it, and so can they!" Rukia looked Hitsugaya straight in the eye. "The hougyoku! It's here! It's not in the holding cell!" she wailed. "That's what those monsters are coming for!" she glared up at the sky. The hole had stopped growing and most of the hollows had retreated after Rukia's attack, but there were still some higher-level ones trying to enter their world.
"What? Rukia, are you sure?" Ukitake asked.
"Oh, I'm not too sure I'd trust her, Ukitake!" a voice cackled. Up on the roof of one of the nearby buildings stood Daisuke Tokugawa, emanating a power that was not his own.
"She's a filthy, common liar who's going to DIE!"
Rukia's eyes widened even more.
From the sky, coming at a speed almost too fast to beat, a stream of crackling, searing-hot lighting flew towards her.
"RUKIA!"
End CH 8: Love and Trouble
Hope those fights weren't as slow as I perceived them to be. There'll be more on the way (I think), so expect the updates to be slow.
*English translation bankai time!
**See previous chapter.
***if you couldn't tell, it's the name of Anna's zanpakuto.
****Hitsugaya's bankai abilities! Ryusenka (dragon hail flower): freezes an enemy when stabbed, encasing them in a frozen cocoon, enabling Hitsugaya to shatter them or whatever he wants to do. Sennen Hyoro (thousand year ice prison): summon ice pillars that freeze enemy for 1000 years. Guncho Tsurara (icicle flock): tons of shards of ice come at enemy with the intent of impalement. Hyoten Hyakkaso (frozen sky-hundred flowers funeral): 100 snowflakes fall down from the sky and anything they touch gets turned into a frozen flower.
General comments about the bankais that were not Tite Kubo sanctioned (in case you're interested): For Marks I was thinking of the earth and meteors and metal and things that were massive or really heavy; things just went from there (Metestro!)—he takes things like metals from the earth and uses them for defense (armor) and offense (underground spikes). For Jack, I was thinking of Cerberus the multiple headed watch dog of the underworld and based his powers around that mythological beast (Cerbrius!).
For Rukia's bankai, all over the net there's this focus on butterflies and dancing, and I wanted to stray a little from the butterflies bit but keep that whole dance thing in there (I mean, look at the names for her shikai attacks!). In my head it was all a dance, never really introduced by words but rather actual dance moves (except for one that is). Just in case you couldn't gather this info for yourself, tah dah! Pretty wordy, but since she's a main character, you can just deal.
The basics of Rukia's abilities: ability 1: from the snow that falls after she initially unleashes bankai, she can make those flakes spread far and wide or swarm a single spot and freeze her target solid. Ability 2: summon blades of ice from water and ice in the environment that cut through anything and can also freeze anything, the movements of these and where they materialize are controlled also by a dance. She can also use the snow that comes from her first ability to make these blades. Blades can have other uses for Rukia besides cutting and freezing. Ability number 3: These ice users use moisture in the environment, and for the purposes of this story, everyone's blood—reapers, humans, hollows and the like—contains a certain amount of water. So basically, Rukia can freeze her opponent's blood, or manipulate it into a blade that slices them from the inside. The trade off for this is it consumes a lot of reiatsu and she still isn't very good at it yet, either damaging herself or an innocent bystander (it's usually herself though).
Standard freezing from contact of all ice made objects and even fans made of blades apply.