(A/N: This might be the last chapter for the time being, I dunno. I do now that this will be the last chapter coming out TODAY. Most of this is all going to be done from scratch. Xerosonic provided me with a lot, but that reservoir has almost completely dried up as of now. Anyways, please enjoy the chapter.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of the Abyss
3rd Person pov
4th Division
Night had finally fallen over the Seireitai. Things seemed peaceful outside as the wind gently blew across the air, but all was not as it seemed.
Footsteps frantically ran down the hall with random shouts of apology. Isane headed down to the 3rd section care ward and put her arms on the doorway shouting, "Hakutan-san!"
"Isane, please don't yell you're in a care ward," Unohana said turning towards her.
"G-gomen," Isane said bringing her hands together scrunched up like used napkins, "Gomen…gomen…gomen…" water was beginning to form in the tall lieutenant's eyes. Isane started letting our stifled, sorrowful yelps. "Is…is he all right?"
Unohana stood up and walked towards Isane and put a hand on her arm, "Hakutan-san is going to be fine. He's resting now, but he'll recover."
"Y-you're not just saying that?" Isane asked, holding back tears, "He's…he's alive?"
Unohana nodded, "Yes, you can go to him if you'd like. I think he'd like having your presence near him. I finished treating so you can stay and watch over him." Unohana looked at Isane's face. Her eyes looked just about ready to gush, "Isane what's wrong?"
Isane just hugged her captain and let out all her tears, "I'm so happy," she sobbed.
"I understand," Unohana said, rubbing Isane's back, "You were quite frightened weren't you. Just calm down Isane, everything's going to be all right."
12th Division Grounds
"Is that all you'll be needing Luke?" Nebilim asked him as she handed him some files as the two stood in her office.
"Yeah thanks Nebilim, you sure you're ok trusting me with everything?" he asked her.
"From the sound of it you and Asch already are neck deep in whatever's going on. That in mind I can rest easy and focus on my current task," Nebilim said turning her attention to close down some unnecessarily opened programs.
"You mean locating the Ryoka?" Luke asked, tucking the paperwork under his arm.
"Well there's that too," Nebilim said, "But I have something else I need to take care of. Not to mention I haven't had much luck locating whatever other Ryoka there are."
"Well don't give up," Luke told her, "Who knows maybe you'll find them if you look again."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Nebilim smiled.
"Anyway thanks again for the report, I'm sure Asch could really use it," Luke said and made for the door.
"Tell the kid to get some sleep while he's at it and not to push himself!" Nebilim called as Luke ran off, but had no way of knowing if Luke heard her or not. She sighed and shut off her terminal. "Well guess I'll make another search for the Ryoka then," she said. She exited out of her office, locked it with her key, and took off out into the night. She walked around until she saw a giant explosion. A fight, maybe the Ryoka are there. She smiled, I'm so glad I came out on patrol. She bounded towards the explosion.
Uryu's pov
I'd been fighting the man who killed my grandfather and I was going to make damn sure he would die. I had removed the glove my grandfather had told me never to take off. I had to. It was the only way to ensure that this fiend, this genocider of Qunicies would pay for his crimes. My power was overwhelming him. He couldn't keep up with me. It was time to make a threat and see if he bought into it. "Beg for mercy and I just might let you live. Provided you go and never appear before me again! Refuse and the next shot will be three times stronger."
"DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY!" the captain shouted, "A mere quincy taunting me, the nerve! If that's the way you want it I'll return the favor and attack with equal power!" He began laughing and then put up his sword in front of him and said, "Bankai."
What is this? Ban..what? I found myself thinking as I looked around. I watched, in sheer horror, as Kurotsuchi's sword transformed into a giant Buddha-headed caterpillar-like creature.
"Behold, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizou," Captain Kurotsuchi announced.
"But how?" I questioned, "I thought that sword was already released?"
Kurotsuchi cackled, "You didn't know. All Zanpakuto have two stages of release not just one."
"What?" I thought I knew everything there was to know about Soul Reapers. How could I not know about this? Damn it!
"Ashisogi Jizou is the first stage of my Zanpakuto, the Shikai. Konjiki Ashisogi Jizou is the second stage called the Bankai. The deadly poison gas it spews will cause your painful death in minutes. The giant nightmarish creature spewed out a purplish gas towards me. He then ordered the creature to attack and charge towards me. I created an arrow waited for the creature to get within point blank range and fired my shot right through it, splitting it in half. I had aimed for the head of Captain Kurotsuchi, but it seems I missed and only struck through his abdomen, oh well another shot would get him. He suddenly shouted in Fury, "DAMN YOU, YOU QUINCY BASTARD!" while raising his sword above his head.
Suddenly I heard another voice, a woman's that called out with the words, "Repent, Ochitamegami." (Fallen Goddess) In the next instant a yellowish-white blast collided with Kurotsuchi's arm and torched it causing his Zanpakuto to drop to the ground. A woman in a white lab coat and an orange Shihakusho stepped gracefully onto the battlefield, landing on the tips of her left foot. Her hands were in her pockets. Her coat fell down at her sides as she stood in her location. She had white hair. Her spiritual pressure was quite formidable as well. I could only assume she was using a Shikai of some sort, which made her a Soul Reaper, but that didn't explain why she had just attacked Kurotsuchi. Was she helping me?
"Gelda what are you doing?" Kurotsuchi shouted at the woman, "For your sake I hope that attack was meant for the Quincy!" The woman, Gelda, took her left hand out of her pocket. There were gems attached along the cuffs of her jacket. They sparkled momentarily, to which a sword made out of the same colored spirit energy as that blast earlier formed in her hand. Based on the flow of spiritual energy about the area I could tell that with Kurotsuchi's injuries that her spiritual pressure was keeping him from fleeing. She took her sword and pointed it at his throat. This shocked both of us. "What…are you doing?" Kurotsuchi demanded to know.
"It's time for you to own up to your crimes Mayuri, for the last few decades I've wondered how I could possibly usurp the power of the 12th Division out from under you and now I have the perfect chance," based on what she said I could tell that Gelda must be a member of 12th Division and have some bad blood with her captain. I didn't know whether to run or watch how things played out.
No, don't run, I told myself, watching with resolve, I should wait around and see, if my grandfather's killer will be dealt his necessary justice and punishment.
"Crimes…what crimes?" Kurotsuchi denied any wrongdoing.
"Your experiments, the Quincy study, the Menos in Rukongai 44," Gelda named what I could only guess, since she mentioned what he had done to Quincies, the atrocities she had documented of her captain, "Your madness has to stop and I'm making sure it will. You will not hurt another living being again."
"And what will you accomplish by killing me?" Kurotsuchi almost seemed to be mocking Gelda like she didn't have the guts, "Nemu cannot lead the research bureau it'll fall apart!"
Again he mocks his lieutenant this man makes me sick!
"She can't," Gelda answered and then added with confidence, "I can!" She pressed her blade further into Kurotsuchi's throat, drawing some blood, "I have already attained Bankai several years ago. I have all the necessary qualifications to take over once the Ryoka threat has been dealt with. However, the trash needs to go first."
"Mer…cy," Kurotsuchi gagged.
Mercy? He's asking for mercy, I erupted tranquilly, keeping my demeanor calm, but my words full of venom and hatred, "You want mercy?" I asked, "Did you ever show any to my people as you butchered them all?"
"This concerns you not Quincy!" he shouted at me.
"Oh, but it does," Gelda corrected him, "With this one single act 12th division will finally be freed from your tyrannical reign. Farewell Kurotsuchi Mayuri, may the next world have mercy on your soul!" with that she cut his head clean off. Kurotsuchi screamed in agony, his body somehow still able to function. "Gah you make me sick you know that?" she asked. She held out both her hands. The gems on the cuffs sparkled again and she made some form of hi-tech device, which turned out to be a flamethrower when she torched the remains of Kurotsuchi and put an end to the screaming. She sighed and her lab coat dissipated and the orange color on her Shihakusho stripped off her body as though it were a parasite balled up into a sphere and then extended to create a Nodachi with a golden handle and two turquoise ribbons attached to the hilt. The guard was a bronze colored heptagon. She sheathed it slung it over her back. She muttered something. It sounded like it was possibly a prayer of some sort, but I couldn't hear her.
I did hear Nemu scream out, "MAYURI-SAMA!"
Gelda picked up her head and strode over to Nemu. As she passed I could see the color of her eyes, red. She picked her up by her shoulders before slapping her across the face. "Hey!" I shouted. Did I just witness the death of one monster at the hands of another?
Things didn't turn out to be the case though. Gelda spoke rather…motherly to Nemu as she said, "Nemu, wake up! You don't need to rely on him. He never appreciated you!" Gelda's voice softened, "I do, please Nemu, forget your father. You're not programmed just to serve him." I couldn't see Gelda's face, but I figured it had to show some form of sorrow with the way she said, "Aren't I worthy of your devotion Nemu?"
I watched as Nemu's eyes began to water, "Gelda-sama," she threw her arms around Gelda, "Gelda-sama! Thank you," she sobbed, "thank you."
I smiled this woman was a kind individual. She really seemed to care for the poor girl. Now if only I could get some information out of her other than the fact that her name was Gelda. "Miss Shinigami," I called out to Gelda.
"It's Nebilim," she said standing on her feet, "Gelda Nebilim, 3rd seat of Squad 12."
"I…thank you for your…" I suddenly, from out of nowhere, hacked up blood.
"The poison!" Nebilim-san shouted, "Nemu the antidote!"
"Underneath my armband," Nemu stated.
I was suddenly handed a bottle, "Here drink this," Nebilim-san told me.
I did so without question, for what would be the point of poisoning an already poisoned and dying man. The liquid tasted terrible, but it was worth it to save my own life. Now that I was saved I had some questions for Nebilim-san, "Why did you save me?" I asked, "I'm a Ryoka, a Quincy to boot."
"Kurosaki Ichigo asked me to check up on his friends, when I saw the explosion I made haste towards the area. Even if this was just pure dumb luck that we ran into each other, you gave me an excuse to take down Captain Kurotsuchi, so thanks."
"You and your Captain seemed to have had a lot of bad blood between you," I said.
"You could say that," Nebilim-san responded, "I couldn't stand all the experiments performed. They were inhumane, completely unethical, the fact that Central 46 turned a blind eye to such an atrocity. It was cruel."
"So he did other things besides dissect Quincies and turn his troops into living bombs?" I inquired.
"Oh plenty more," Nebilim-san said, "Which is why I wanted to take the 12th Division for myself. The man certainly wasn't retiring any time soon and Central 46 wasn't about to let him be court marshaled, that only left the permanent solution. I couldn't rightfully just waltz into his office and kill him, too many witnesses not enough ways out of it Scott free."
"Aren't you going to be court marshaled anyway for killing your own captain?" I asked.
"Worst comes to worse I can pin it on you," she chuckled. I took a step back. "I'm kidding," she said, "I have enough evidence to prove my actions were justified, but if I get into a sticky situation maybe I'll ask for your testimony."
I laughed, "You certainly are a strange woman."
"You should get going," Nebilim-san told me as she got Nemu onto her back, "12th Division members will be swarming the area soon. I need to get Nemu some treatment."
"You seem to care for her quite more than a lower seat would care for her lieutenant," I noted, "Is there some special reason for that?"
"Captain Kurotsuchi told you that he created Nemu out of his own DNA correct?" she asked.
"If I recall," I said, even though I knew that was the case.
"Well apparently the man likes taking all the credit for a joint effort," she said flicking her head and looking straight ahead.
"Joint effort? Wait you helped create her?" I asked.
"Where do you think he got the estrogen from?" she asked.
"Noted," I said as I pushed in my glasses.
"Anyway, I know this is going to sound strange," Nebilim-san said, "and I know Quincy and Shinigami are enemies, but when this whole mess gets sorted out perhaps you'd like to drop by 12th Division for a chat," she offered.
"As a Quincy, it would be rude of me not to accept an offer of a kind woman, I'll think about stopping by if I have time after Rukia is safe," I told her, "You seem like a pretty understanding and intelligent person Nebilim-san," I walked past her to head off. "See you."
"Be seeing you," she told me and then I felt her spiritual presence disappear.
Nebilim's pov
I returned with Nemu to 12th Division and brought her to the operating room so I could patch her up. That's the trouble with artificial souls it's harder to heal injuries this way.
"Gelda-sama," Nemu said as I strapped on a glove. I looked at her. She was smiling, "Thank you for caring."
"Baka," I said, "You don't have to thank me you're like a daughter to me. I'll always watch out for you."
Tears formed in her eyes, "Thank you Gelda-sama,"
I kissed her forehead and rubbed the side of skull, "It's nothing really. Now hold still your 'father' really did a number to some of your organs so this may sting a bit," I said as I put on a facemask, "Do you want some anesthetics?"
"What?" she asked.
I removed the mask, "Anesthetics," I repeated, "so that you don't have to suffer while I operate?"
Nemu smiled, "Thank you Gelda-sama for treating me to such a thing."
I replaced the facemask, "It's not a treat," I said reaching for the fluid and a syringe, "You can expect to be treated as you deserve to be now that I'm in charge…well technically you are until I become a captain, but even so…"
"It's just enough to know that you care Gelda-sama." Nemu smiled again, "Thank you."
I sighed, "You're welcome." I injected the syringe into her neck. She didn't even flinch.
"I feel sleepy," she said.
"Don't fight it," I told her, "You'll feel better if you don't."
"Ok," she submitted.
"Now then," I said getting out the tool kit, "Let's fix you up."
One day later
Evening…
Third Person View
Momo's cell
Luke, Hitsugaya, and Rangiku ran over to Momo's cell after they received word that she broke out. The three of them came to the scene and saw that there was a huge hole in the wall and cell bars. The guard that was in charge of watching her came to approach them about this matter.
"My deepest apologies." The guard said. "When I heard Hinamori Momo calling out to me and I turned around, my vision became blank and I awoke to see things the way you see here." The man bowed to the floor. "I have absolutely no excuse for this."
"Hakafu correct?" Luke guessed.
"Yeah, Momo is a master with Kido. If we really intended in shutting her in, then we would have sealed her spirit force." Hitsugaya stated. "But the reason we didn't, is because no one thought she would go this far."
"It's not like she was going to be executed. Why would she do this?"
"I have a clue." Luke said as he bolted out the door outside and leapt on top of the roof. He had taken off like a bullet all over the Seretei in search for Momo who had broken out of her cell.
Damn it Momo, what are you thinking! Luke shouted in his head as he continued to search the immediate area he was in. He stormed across rooftop to rooftop in hopes in finding her soon before things get out of hand. Eventually he did meet up with someone, but it wasn't Momo. It was Gin, but what blew Luke off was that Izuru was with him as well. Luke came down from the rooftop he was at and landed in front of them, ironically near the 3rd division barracks.
"L-Luke-san?" Izuru stuttered.
"Gin, what are you doing? I heard Izuru had escaped from his cell. Was it you that let him out?" Luke interrogated.
"Escape? Dear me, what gave you that idea?" Gin answered with one if his own questions. "I'm simply relocating him that's all."
"But there was no authorization to do so, and his cell is rather wrecked to begin with." Luke shot back. "What are you planning?" At that moment when Luke was getting himself ready for a fight, he saw a silhouette of someone descending from above. When the person landed, it revealed to be Momo.
"Finally, I found you." Momo said to herself. "So this is where you've been."
"Momo, I know you're still upset but don't you can't fight-" before Luke could finish his statement, he found Momo's sword pointing towards his face. "Momo?"
"Captain Aizen's…murderer." Momo whispered with tears in her eyes.
"Me?" Luke questioned. "What are you talking about?"
"I know everything. Aizen left a letter behind for me, telling me about how you and Asch were planning against him all this time when you were in the Gotei." Momo said to Luke. "He said that your objective was to get the Sokyoku during execution and that you were planning on wiping out Soul Society. He said that he called you out the night of his murder to convince you to stop, and if you didn't he would cross swords with you." Momo continued. "And yet you killed him in cold blood!" Luke was too stunned to make a comeback to what she said to him, mostly because half of it was true since he really was plotting against Aizen, but he knew that he never made a move against him. While he was still in his daze, Momo let out a battle cry and swung her sword down. Luke snapped out of it and immediately drew his sword to guard against the attack.
"Wait a second Momo I'm not your enemy." Luke exasperated, but the force of her blow created an immense shockwave and blew him back a bit. Momo rushed forward and swung her sword to Luke's left side, but Luke parried and knocked Momo away. "Think about it more carefully Momo!" Luke called out. "I've been against the execution since Rukia was sentenced so how would I get the Sokyoku the? And how can I beat him when I'm only a lieutenant compared to him!"
"He knew you mastered Bankai not too long ago, and he knows you are at a captain's level strength." Momo panted.
Wait, how did Aizen know about me mastering Bankai? Luke thought as the expression on his face gave it away that Momo was right, and that caused her to be more encouraged to attack. Luke guarded once more to deflect her attack, but because Luke didn't want to fight back Momo broke through his defense and cut his right shoulder. Damn! Luke ended up in another weapon deadlock with her.
"Why Luke?" Momo questioned with tears streaming down her face. "We were supposed to be friends. Were all those times we spent just so you could play everyone to not suspect you? When you tried to comfort me when Aizen died? Did it not matter?"
"Momo." Luke exhaled.
"Why did you have to play us like this?" Momo shrieked as she knocked Luke away from her and caused him to lose balance. Momo took her next swing to the right of Luke's neck, but Luke had finally had enough and parried her attack while slamming his right fist into the pit of her stomach. She fell unconscious, but instead of letting her fall, Luke caught her in his arms and held her up.
Damn it, why did it have to be this way? Luke questioned in his head. But while in his thoughts he saw a blade of light come careening towards them at fast speeds. He knew it was from Gin since he saw the same light from the time when Jidanbo was struck down. There was no time to dodge and Momo was still in his arms. He ended up having to throw Momo to the side otherwise she would have taken the blow as well. Hitsugaya then arrived at the scene just in time and caught Momo in his arms while Luke took the blow thrown at him by Gin into his chest. The blade pierced completely through and when it withdrew he fell to the floor face first with a thud. He was still conscious, but the wound is making him lose strength since he was pierced through one of his vitals.
"Hitsugaya-Taicho?" Luke said weakly, noticing the young captain's presence. Hitsugaya places the unconscious Momo on the ground and looks towards Luke. "No, take Momo and get out of here."
"You took a nasty blow to the chest Luke, leaving you here can resort to you bleeding out." Hitsugaya said to him. "Thanks for looking after Momo for me. Now stay down and let me handle this." Hitsugaya looks towards Gin with a fierce look in his eyes. "Have you forgotten what I said to you Gin?" Hitsugaya said with rage filling his tone. Spiritual power begins to flow out of him like a hurricane. "If you spill a single drop of Momo's blood, that I would kill you." He then places his hand on his Zanpakuto and readies himself to fight Gin.
"Oh dear, this is no good." Gin comments. "If you're going to draw your blade against me, then I'm just going to stop you now." Spiritual powers rose from both individuals as they stared down each other in a stare down of epic proportions…if you could say that Gin was staring since his eyes were always squinted shut.
"But Captain Ichimaru," Izuru called out.
"Better move back Izuru unless you feel like dying," Gin said.
"Don't be stupid Izuru," Hitsugaya taunted, "Just moving back isn't going to be enough. In a few minutes I promise you you're not going to want to be within ten square miles of this place. So start running and don't look back because if you stay here you're liable to get drawn into this. And I can't guarantee I won't kill you by mistake." With that Hitsugaya used Shunpo and attacked Gin from above, Gin jumped back to get out of the way. Hitsugaya kept on the offensive, but Gin dodged and blocked his every strike as he and Hitsugaya moved around the area erratically. Eventually Gin managed to find an opening and struck, but with his diminutive size Hitsugaya used that to create his own opening and leapt onto Gin's blade and struck forward, managing to cut the man's hair a shred. He struck forward and Gin did a front flip, using his hand to give him extra momentum and twisted and turned as he flew through the air and landed to stare Hitsugaya down.
"Evidently the rumors about Squad 10's Captain Hitsugaya are true," Gin said, "A child prodigy that comes around only once every few centuries. How very dangerous you are." Hitsugaya responding to Gin's words by powering up his spiritual pressure. "You're really serious," was all Gin could say. Hitsugaya growled in anger and hatred for Gin.
"Now die!" Hitsugaya shouted as he and Gin ran towards each other blades held in front of them. They ran past each other. Hitsugaya took no damage, but Gin's sleeve was torn a bit. Hitsugaya then attacked Gin straight out and Gin blocked. He then tore off his slashed sleeve and threw it at Hitsugaya. The child prodigy batted the sleeve out of the way only to have Gin come slicing in onto the offensive. However, Hitsugaya wasn't considered a child prodigy for nothing. Hyorinmaru, his Zanpakuto, had a chain with a crescent moon on the end of it. He grabbed the chain with his free hand and used it to grapple Gin's sword and then flipped over the 3rd Division Captain's head.
"I see," Gin said, "I had better not underestimate you Toshiro Hitsugaya or else I may wind up regretting it afterwards."
"No you're wrong," Hitsugaya's words, momentarily caused Gin's ever visible smile to turn into a frown, "Because you're going to start regretting this day right NOW! Remember it's you who forced me to do this Gin," Hitsugaya said, "And now you're going to pay for what you did to Momo!" Infuriated and battle mad Hitsugaya leapt into the air. Thunder clouds began to appear as Hitsugaya unleashed his Zanpakuto, "Sit upon the frozen heavens. HYORINMARU!" An ice serpent coiled around Hitsugaya as he unleashed the power of the most powerful Ice based Zanpakuto in all of Soul Society. Hitsugaya sent the attack straight at Gin and Izuru. The former managed to dodge ok, the latter was not so lucky and got frozen in several places, including his legs. Gin leapt onto a rooftop as Hitsugaya unleashed another Frozen blast from Hyorinmaru. Gin blocked it all. Only to realize that the attack was a decoy.
"I got you now!" Hitsugaya called out as he pinned him by freezing his left arm.
Gin opened his eyes slightly to reveal the blue eye color and softly said, "Shoot to kill, Shinso." Gin launched his sword out from behind is robe and it was sent towards Hitsugaya's head. In order to avert fatal injury, Hitsugaya guarded from Gin's attack back falling back and parrying with is sword. "You sure you want to dodge that? She'll die." Gin questioned. Hitsugaya noticed what Gin was planning and looked behind him to see the blade fly towards Momo. Thankfully for him, Rangiku managed to arrive in time to stop the attack directly. The force managed to force her back significantly, but she held her ground solidly. At the same time of when Rangiku blocked the attack, Luke had rolled over to Momo, grabbed her, and moved away from where the attack would've hit.
"Guys." Hitsugaya exhaled.
"Sorry Captain, I know I was supposed to return to 10th division. But after I felt the sprirtual power of Hyorinmaru I had to come back here to find you." Rangiku told her captain as she stared down Gin as well. "Captain Ichimaru, please withdraw your sword. If you do not, then I will be your opponent from here on." Rangiku's blade however did not seem like it could go with her statement since it slowly began to crack.
"That goes double for me." Luke added on as he placed his hand on his sword. Gin stood still for a few moments, smiles, then disappears from the area. From there, Hitsugaya jumps down from the roof of the building he was on and stands in front of Rangiku and Luke. "You all right captain-" By that time, Luke had begun coughing out blood. His previous wound became worse as he fell to his knees.
"Luke!" Rangiku cried out. Luke continued to cough violently. "Hang on."
"This is bad; he needs to be taken to 4th division before he gets worse." Hitsugaya stated. He walks up and removes Momo from Luke's arms. "Rangiku, help him up." Rangiku nods and lends Luke her shoulder for support as they leap up and out the area towards 4th division.
4th division barracks, Early morning
Luke had just awakened after being unconscious for a while, his wound being patched up fully. He gets out of his bed and dresses himself back up with his uniform, then walks out the door to the hallway. He places a hand on his head as a reflex to his grogginess that was afflicted on him when he awakened. He stretches out a bit before continuing down the hall.
I can't believe Momo attacked me like that. Luke thought in his head.
So she was being played in the end as well? Asch's voice pops in Luke's head. So she wasn't working for him, she was just a puppet. You of all people should know how that feels.
A puppet huh? Luke comments softly, remembering the time when Van betrayed him. Luke punched the wall next to him in a short burst of rage that swelled inside of him. Damn him.
You seem to be doing fine after getting stabbed through the chest. I saw the whole thing. Asch told Luke plainly. I don't know what Gin is planning but I would be wary about him more than before. Or just don't confront him until more is known.
Does this mean you're excluding Momo for working for Aizen? Luke questioned.
Yes. But I want her to be watched carefully. She is just like you with Van back then, a puppet on strings and I'm pretty sure those strings are still attached. Aizen is hiding somewhere. Asch noted to Luke and then disconnected from him.
Man can't he ever say goodbye for once? Luke questioned while scratching the back of his head. I should go see how Momo is doing, even though she already tried to kill me. With that decision he made his was down the hall to Momo's room. When he entered, he saw Rangiku and Hitsugaya there as well. "Oh, hey."
"Luke? What are you doing here?" Hitsugaya asked rather worried himself. "You shouldn't be moving around so much with a wound like that. You need to rest."
"Sorry, it's just after what happened I-" Luke couldn't find the words to finish his statement and looked over to Momo who was sleeping soundly. "Is she alright?"
"She'll be fine." Hitsugaya assured. After a brief moment of silence he then asked. "I don't blame you for anything but what exactly happened?"
"Well," Luke then began to explain to them what Momo said to him and their confrontation. Hitsugaya was not only shocked but the fact that he was being scapegoated with Asch made him suspicious about what has been happening. "That's about it."
"Wait, how is that possible? You've been completely against the execution since day one!" Rangiku shouted.
"Matsumoto, keep your voice down." Hitsugaya ordered. Rangiku did as was told as she reflexively rubbed her bandaged arms. "I can assume that the letter was forged somehow. I can't see Aizen writing something like that. It's possible to me that the main objective for Gin is the Sokyoku. I've noticed several confrontations between him and Aizen beforehand. It's the only thing that makes sense."
Bullshit…although he doesn't know as much as we do. Asch's voice appeared in Luke's head. Don't react to me I want to hear this without being noticed.
Luke didn't react at all to Asch and continued on with the conversation with Hitsugaya. A hell butterfly flew in during their talk and landed on Rangiku's finger. The news wasn't exactly the type to be heard at the moment. "Attention, there has been a change of the execution date. As of now, the execution will be held tomorrow." This caused everyone to be put on edge in the room.
Central 46 made the time sooner? Luke shouted in his head.
Could it be that Aizen is making his move, or that there is something else amiss? Whatever the case I got look into this now. Asch stated as he disconnected from Luke once more. At that time, Hitsugaya began to walk out the room. Rangiku and Luke followed from behind.
"Where are we going?" Luke asked.
"To central 46, it's time for me to make a stand as well. We're going to stop this execution." Hitsugaya announced.
To be continued…
(A/N: Whoo boy. What a rush. The Soul Society arc is slowly reaching it's climax and it's end. Well at least I got to do what I'm going to declare my 2nd Favorite Planned scene in the Noble Flames series. In other words: Nebilim killing Mayuri. My first fave planned? Well you'll just have to keep reading until you can find out what it is. Later everyone, don't forget to review! And if you haven't yet subscribe and fave).