Alright we are closer to the end... I'm not sure if I'm going to finish typing the few remaining chapters and post them all at once or individual like I've been doing...
Thanks to everyone who's stuck with the story to this point. I appreciate it.
Chapter 20: Protect the Innocent
Before Ichigo could object and Yamamoto could interfere, Baldo engaged the Espada. Immediately, Algera showed she was no match for the Squad 14 Captain.
Draco and Baldo fought in sync since the start. Baldo changed from Shikai to his low level Bankai to Shikai to his full level Bankai without having to ask or even think the command. The dragon changed instinctively in tandem.
Their flurry kept the Espada off balanced and guard. Ichigo couldn't help wondering why Algera didn't wake her zanpakuto.
'Is she toying with him,' Ichigo thought concentrating on the battle. 'No,' his thought continued, 'she's trying to awaken but Baldo isn't giving her the chance.'
The fear on her face turned to a victorious smile when her eyes fell on Sajin Komamura still on bended knee. "You cannot win," she laughed at Baldo in his human form, "Not while your weakness is on your sleeve!"
"Render all things in the universe to ash, Ryujin Jakka," Yamamoto commanded. His cane shed its wooden frame and transformed into a long katana blade.
Pointing the sword at Sajin, a intense wave of fire blazed a trail toward the fallen Komamura. Baldo broke away from Algera and reached his father as the flame engulfed them.
"Baldo," Ichigo screamed, "Captain Komamura!"
When the flame subsided, a badly burned Baldo in his full Bankai form shielded the wolf who escaped unscathed. Tears flowed from his golden eyes when Baldo released him.
"Are you okay dad," Baldo asked falling to a knee, "Are you hurt?"
"Why Baldo," Sajin's tears choked his words, "My body's stronger and I'm already hurt."
"You are my father," Baldo answered staring into his dad's eyes, "I need no other reason to sacrifice myself for you. I've already lost you once. I am not strong enough to lose you again. I love you."
Sajin's tears prevented the wolf from responding.
"That's why," Algera broke into uncontrollable laughter, "That's why you sacrificed your only chance at winning."
"Shut up," Ichigo yelled with such malice that Algera stopped laughing immediately. "Who are you to make fun of his reasons?
"You, who blindly follows Aizen, a master that betrayed his own friends and army," Ichigo's anger continued, "Your motives are what's laughable here."
Algera's face flashed with rage. "I grow weary of our little spat," her smile returned when she saw Baldo couldn't fully stand. "Do you know how the Head Captain's flame destroys the seal?
"Each circle represents the north, south, east, and west sections of the Seireitei," she continued excitedly pointing out four half moons that were painted in four places at opposite walls and a full circle at the center of the chamber.
She continued, "When the Head Captain's flame ignites the center pillar, it'll channel the flame into all four regions expanding until the whole Seireitei is destroyed.
"Even now Lord Aizen's plan is flawless! The Soul Society will be destroyed anyway," Algera shrieked with laughter, "Now Captain Yamamoto."
The Head Captain stabs Ryujin Jakka into the center circle. Holding the zanpakuto's hilt, Yamamoto fed its flame directly into the ground. As the flame poured into the center moon, the four half circles erupted into fiery towers.
Baldo's eyes narrowed when Draco entered his thoughts, 'I agree, Baldo.'
'Draco, this is going to hurt a lot,' Baldo responded in his head.
'I am with you,' the dragon promised.
Baldo pushed Sajin and flashed stepped. "Baldo, what are you doing," Sajin screamed as Baldo grasped Ryujin Jakka's hilt over the Head Captain's hands.
"Breathe Draco, In," Baldo roared as loud as he could.
The fiery towers reversed back into their circles and retracted through the sword into the dragon's body. Baldo even breathed the remaining flames from Yamamoto's spirit energy into his body.
Algera screamed, "No! No! No! I won't let you ruin Lord Aizen's plan." She flashed stepped to Baldo but her blade was interrupted by Ichigo.
"I won't let you touch him," Ichigo yelled as both he and Algera began sweating. They separated and backed away from each other.
"Ichigo, why'd you back away," Sajin asked staring wide eyed at Baldo.
"The heat being generated from Baldo's body was too intense," Ichigo looked at his arm. "Just being near him made my skin blister and by the looks of it, her too."
After all the flames were consumed, Baldo grabbed an exhausted Yamamoto and threw him in his father's direction. Sajin caught the Head Captain. Placing Yamamoto gently on the ground, the wolf's attention shifted back to Baldo.
The dragon hunched in the center of the room holding his sides. Thin slits began appearing all over Baldo's body releasing a mix of flames and blood. Baldo screamed.
"Baldo," Sajin struggled standing digging Tenken into the ground for support, "I'm com-."
"Stay where you are," Baldo ordered involuntarily spitting fire. "I can't contain it." The dragon continued wrenching in pain.
Sajin's tears evaporated as the heat intensified. "I don't understand," the wolf cried horrified.
"Baldo told me that when he eats elements it feels like Aizen casted Hado 90 inside his body," Ichigo said sadly.
"Kurohitsugi," Sajin recalling the black box that once surrounded him and the attack that killed Baldo while he was alive.
"It appears to be more than feeling," Head Captain Yamamoto propped himself on his elbows. "Ryujin Jakka's cutting him from the inside out."
"You're free old man," Ichigo asked.
Yamamoto nodded. "Being so close to Baldo like that forced me to breathe the heated air around us. It killed the parasites in me."
"How do we stop it," Ichigo followed up.
"I'm sorry. No one's that touched Ryujin Jakka's flame at that temperature has lived," Yamamoto watched. "That he consumed it and is still standing is in itself a miracle."
He continued with a hint of concern in his voice, "I am sorry Sajin. I do not see your son surviving this."
"There must be some way," the wolf cried watching more cuts appear while Baldo screamed in pain.
"Maybe if there was a way to vent the flame but I doubt he can release it fast enough without being consumed," Yamamoto's eyes narrowed when Baldo's body bent as if he were a werewolf staring at the moon.
Yamamoto finished, "What is certain is that his efforts will be in vain if he stays here."
Baldo's eyes open toward the sky above. 'Vent' he thought 'Draco, I'm going to need all your speed.'
'I am with you, Baldo, to the end,' Draco reaffirmed.
'I'm sorry, Draco. This is going to hurt allot' Baldo's head tilted toward his father. Both Komamuras' faces filled with sorrow. Baldo spoke at a low whisper, "I'm in love with you, dad."
Baldo took off feeling everyone's eyes trained on him as he flew straight up. As Baldo reached the Sekkiseki dome surrounding the Seireitei, he spat at as low a level flame as he could.
"Clever. Very clever," Head Captain Yamamoto said watching Baldo, "Your son may survive this yet, Captain Komamura."
"What," Algera questioned in disbelief, "How?"
"That barrier up there drains spiritual energy. Normally killing any who make contact. However," Yamamoto explained, "Baldo currently has so much excess energy that it's draining Ryujin Jakka's flame.
"The Sekkiseki is literally pulling the energy from all those cuts that appeared on Baldo's body," the Head Captain continued, "At the same time, Baldo's releasing Ryujin Jakka fire from his mouth slowly heating the air across the Seireitei.
"I sense the spirit pressures of the battling captains returning to normal," Yamamoto said to Algera, "don't you feel yourself losing control?"
"Impossible," she shot back, "He'll never survive that."
"On that we agree," Yamamoto stood up, "I cannot imagine the pain he's going through and I cannot say whether he'll survive or not."
"He will old man," Ichigo turns his sword at Algera drawing hers and Yamamoto's attention. "Baldo thinks of everything. I'm sure this was all part of his plan which is bad for you."
"Oh? You think so," Algera asked.
"Captain Yamamoto using his zanpakuto was all Baldo needed to make his fire powerful enough to break your spell which means," Ichigo used his sword, "I can kill you, Getsugatensho!"
Using the last bit of his strength, Baldo tilted his dragon head toward the barrier and shot a flame that separated him from the barrier's effect. Baldo fell unconscious and motionless.
A giant samurai appeared in the sky and gently caught the limp Draco. It lowered the dragon like a feather on a summer breeze. By the time Baldo was placed in his father's arms, he had reverted back into his human self covered in blood and cuts.
"Breathe," a fear filled wolf whispered realizing Baldo wasn't breathing. Sajin gently rubbed his son's chest repeating, "Breathe," getting louder, "Breathe. Damn it! Baldo breathe."
Finally becoming angry at Baldo's lack of response, Sajin yelled mixing a growl and roar, "BALDO BREATHE!"
Baldo gasped his eyes filled with tears looking at his father, "Dad… I'm sorry…" The papa wolf stared into Baldo's eyes, "I'm sorry I got blood all over your kimono."
Sajin erupted into laughter pulling Baldo into an embrace unable to control his tears or laughter, "I thought I lost you."
"He did survive," Algera pulled back from Ichigo's attack. "Absorb and control, Pseudo Ewza." Her sword turned to dust, "I guess it's true. Baldo is the monster of the Seireitei-."
Suddenly Tenken's sword crashed down sideways crushing Algera into dust. Ichigo turned to find Sajin's outstretched right hand while still holding Baldo in their embrace.
The wolf gave the same angry look Baldo gave Omaeda when the overweight lieutenant insulted Squad 4.
"Dad," Baldo said as Sajin held Baldo away from him so he could see Baldo's face, "I have something I have to tell you."
"Shh… Save your strength. Tell me when you're better," Sajin smiled gently, "I have something I want to tell you too."
"Okay," Baldo's eyes closed slipping into unconsciousness.
"What are you doing," Garland shouted from atop the hole, "She's still alive!"
"What," the conscious trio said in unison.
"She's in the AIR," Garland emphasized as the dust swirled around them, "Captain Yamamoto use your flame!"
He exchanged a glance with Ichigo. "I cannot. Baldo drained too much of my spirit energy," he said actually sounding helpless.
The dust surrounded Baldo forcing its way into every orifice from his nose, ears, mouth, and through nearly ever newly formed cut.
"No! Let him go," Sajin yelled. The dust absorbed completely into Baldo's body. "No! No! BALDO!"
Inside Baldo's subconscious the voices of his father, Garland, and everyone quietly faded out until he was surrounded in darkness and silence. "Dad! Dad," Baldo yelled repeatedly in the overwhelming shadow.