A/N: Lets switch things up a bit, eh?
I'm trying to update a slew of different categories this month~! Hopefully Genshin and Demon Slayer among them. Slifer's working on Partners in Crime while I gear up for another update spree.
My health has been...better. Between back and breathing problems I'm feeling the pains of being old.
Still not taking those muscle relaxers. They really mess me up.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
Alright then, this old geezer has kept you waiting long enough.
As ever! I own no references, quotes, themes or memes.
They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.
Lastly, for this chapter, the soundtrack ought to be-
Invasion, by Shiro Sagisu.
LETS HAVE A BRAWL!
"It'd be real boring if you died on me now, hollow!"
"...you're afraid this fight will be boring?
I'LL SPICE IT UP FOR YA THEN."
~A reference.
Surpass Your Limits
Neliel pitied the weak. Truly she did.
She wasn't entirely certain why she felt this way-yet the feeling persisted. Nagging at her. Doubtless she'd been much the same when she was alive; helping those who were less fortunate, protecting those incapable of protecting themselves, teaching hard-wrought lessons to those who refused to learn otherwise. Sometimes those lessons meant mercy. At other times, force was required.
This little one was no different.
Rukia Kuchiki might have been strong, once. Before she'd given up much of her power. Now...how far she had fallen.
And yet for all that, she threw herself at Nel time and again, determined to get past her.
"Get out of my way!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, shinigami." Nel smiled softly -sadly!- as she brained the little reaper with her still-sheathed sword, sending her sprawling into the street once more. "Don't worry. Our objective isn't to kill Ichigo Kurosaki. Or you for that matter." she raised a palm, letting a harmless kido crash against her open fingers. It didn't even tingle. She waved her hand, letting the smoke fade away like so much steam. "I do so dislike bullying the weak, but I've been asked to keep you busy in the interim. This would be so much easier for us if you just sat down...
"Don't underestimate me!"
"Why wouldn't I?" Neliel tilted her head toward Rukia. "You're weak."
She watched those words take root in the poor girl; a seed planted in the depths of her heart. My, my, but she looked furious now. Good. Maybe she'd learn to become strong again. Perhaps stronger still. But for that to happen, for Rukia to truly understand where she stood in the pecking order, she might have get a little...rough.
Naruto would understand, surely. This was necessary. This little one would never become strong otherwise.
Another kido smashed her harmlessly in the face. She sighed softly.
Violence it was, then. How uncivilized.
"For what its worth, I don't hate you, shinigami." She set one hand to the hilt of her sword and unsheathed it slowly. "Think of this as a learning experience."
"Of what...?"
She smiled sweetly. "The gap between you and I."
To call what followed a fight...well. It wasn't. Nel beat the girl down until she was wasted and gasping for air, her body left littered with countless cuts. To her credit she tried to rise again; she simply lacked the strength to do so. Her left leg buckled now and she went down in a heap. Poor thing couldn't even crawl forward.
"Have you learned now?"
Rukia growled at her from where she lay. Perhaps she had learned. Perhaps not. It no longer mattered.
'I do hope Naruto's alright...
A deafening explosion rattled the world.
"Honestly!" Nel palmed her face and sighed softly. "He can be such a boy sometimes...
"You think so?"
A tan heel clipped Nel's head and her world went sideways.
(.0.0.0.)
This man was a lunatic!
Naruto swayed back with a hiss, giving ground as that jagged blade whisked over his head. A few stray strands of blond hair fluttered through the air in his wake. He punched right through them and sent the shinigami sprawling for all the good it did him. He tumbled away and came up swinging again.
It wasn't at all like fighting Aizen, that one was slippery but he at least had a rhyme and reason for everything he did.
But this man...this Kenpachi Zaraki...he didn't care for reason. Not for words nor wounds or the difference in their strength; not anything beyond battle. That made him damn hard to predict, and it didn't help that was actively trying not to kill him. The same couldn't be said for this crazed reaper.
He just! Kept! Advancing!
And he was getting stronger. Slowly but surely, for every wound he inflicted he got a little better, a bit faster. It wasn't enough to best him, but he was starting to notice all the same. For all the fire in him, the madman refused to stay down. He was relentless. Ordinarily he would've respected that; the determination to never give up.
Now? Not so much. 'Is this what its like to fight me?!'
YES! Just more bloodthirsty!
"Who you talkin' to, Hollow?"
"None of ya business!" He decked him in the face only for the reaper to rush in and swipe at him with his sword. No form, no substance. He just swung the blade around like a metal bar. A very dangerous bar and one he wanted to avoid at all costs. He doubted the man could cut him, but he could probably still hurt him. Impact and momentum were a helluva thing.
This couldn't go on.
...at this rate, he would have to kill this man.
He didn't want to. He really, truly didn't. But if this continued...
(.0.0.0.)
A good fight.
For the longest time, it was all he sought.
Pretty much the only thing Zaraki Kenpachi had ever wanted, really.
Someone strong for him to fight. No need to hold back, a chance to truly cut loose and wage war with all his might...
.
..
...wasn't that what he wanted?
No, maybe that wasn't quite right. A fight was good an' all, but he craved more. A rival. Someone to push him to the edge and beyond. Someone he could fight again and again and again; a fighter who wouldn't snap like a stick. Well, he'd finally found one! And surprise surprise, it wasn't a shinigami but a hollow! This bastard was different from the rest. For one it almost looked human, not that he cared about that bit.
More importantly! It didn't die one hit!
"I SAID! GET! OFFA ME!"
A boot barreled into his chest, sending him skidding backward. His blade bit down in the street, spraying sparks as it killed his momentum.
His head snapped up, the barest beginning of a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Now that's more like it!
Damn good thing Yachiru had jumped off his shoulder. Now he could fight without havin' to worry about her. Because that damn Hollow was getting up again and he didn't look happy.
"Whoever you are," he growled, dusting himself off "I don't have time for you. "I've had enough. This ain't a warning, this is a promise. Buzz. Off. Or else."
Promises, promises! He wasn't going anywhere. "Ain'tcha gonna draw your sword?"
"Don't got one." the hollow shrugged. "Don't need one either. Not for you."
"Ha! Cocky bastard. Lets see-
A fist shot out and smashed hard into his ribs, producing a startled grunt. Momentum caught up with him a moment later to launch him down the street. He was still hurtling through the air when a golden meteor crashed down from the heavens, stomping him into the asphalt in a shower of dirt and dust. Anyone else would've been worried. Maybe even wounded. Not him.
"Give up." a sandal-clad foot stomped on his windpipe. "Or so help me, I'll knock you out!"
Never.
Zaraki laughed at him. The blond balked. That moment of hesitation cost him. He almost didn't see his jagged blade sweep out the smoke. The hollow dodged aside out of reflex more than anything else- moment he did, he stopped putting pressure on his throat. Dumbass. You didn't give your enemy a chance to breathe, not even for a second. Just how green was he?
Kenpachi made him pay for it; grabbed him by the ankle, and whipped him head first into a building.
Real shoddy construction; damn thing crumbled like a house of cards around the Hollow, swallowing his his prey whole.
Zaraki climbed to his feet, idly rubbing his neck as he did. Good. He could still breathe. Damn thing hurt like a bitch and he'd nave a nasty bruise there come tomorrow, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Disappointment warred with excitement in his head, and the former won out when his foe didn't emerge. A frown creased his scarred face.
"What, is that it?" He rumbled at the rubble. "You done already? It'd be real boring if you died on me now, hollow!"
"...you're afraid this fight will be boring?" A low, muffled growl reverberated with the depths of the debris. "I'LL SPICE IT UP FOR YA THEN."
The wreckage erupted.
No other word for it; stones blasted in every direction, some even flew his way.
Kenpachi lazily cut a large piece of mortar in half, only for the berserk blond to come barreling through the severed halves and tackle him. A clawed hand closed around his face and smashed him down with a vicious yank. Then the Hollow ran, dragging him across the street, grinding his visage into the ground, tearing a furrow as he went. His good eye glared up at him only for it to end as quickly as it began; a savage spin launched him up into the air.
He tumbled there for a moment, end over end before he finally righted himself. Tch. He'd never been the best at this air-walking bullshit-
The very second he found his balance, the Hollow was on him again. He swung wildly his way in a bid to create some-much-needed-distance, only for the whiskered warrior to catch the blade in his right hand. Sparks flew through the air as it ground to a halt in his fist. Huh. No blood. That was new.
Cold blue eyes sought his with intent. "You're making me angry, shinigami. You won't like me when I'm angry."
"I disagree!" he grinned down at him. "This is far more fun! Give me all you've got! Fight! Bleed! Die!"
For some reason, that made the hollow scowl. "That's not how life works!"
"It does for me!"
...that's a pity." His right hand snapped forward, bearing a spiral of blue light. "Rasengan."
And then there was pain.
Zaraki didn't rightly see what happened next but he felt himself shoot downward. His back kissed a wall then smashed through that, followed by a building, a wall, now a building again. He heard someone start screaming somewhere behind him. Didn't give a damn. Finally he could move again, enough to drag himself up on one knee. His hand came away bloody.
"Heh." A grin tore across his scarred face. "Been awhile since I've seen this much my own blood...
"Gimme a minute."
A heel swooped in at his face. He blocked it with his blade and felt the steel creak in his grasp as the street cratered underfoot. Red eyes leered down at him, harsh and slitted...waitaminute, weren't they blue before?
"You want me to try? Fine."
Zaraki didn't see the punch that flattened him; only felt it again. Like being on the receiving end of one of old man Yama's hits minus all that nasty fire. Pure pain. His head snapped back, blood flying from his lips. All he saw was a streak of those red and then-hey where'd the ground go?
Oh.
Ohh.
Ohhh, there it was.
He struck the dirt once, bounced, and came up swinging. It saved his life. The Hollow ducked out of sheer reflex. He chambered a swing and this time the bloody blond bastard actually deigned to block with an his arms. A second shower of sparks, just like before. He couldn't cut him. A laugh tore out of him.
Another barrage of punches followed-this time, he was able to stand his ground against them and get in one of his own.
The hollow grunted in surprise and stumbled back.
"Give up?!" An amused noise filled Zaraki's ears and it took him a second to realize the sound had come from him. "Why?! I'm finally starting to enjoy myself!"
"You think this is fun?!"
Wham!
Blam!
Slam!
Three blows in less than a second. Liver. Kidney. Spleen. Zaraki buckled with a grunt but didn't go down. Never. Not with a fight like this! Still a, rare hint of concern bled through his euphoria. This was great, grand even, but this shit was actually starting to hurt. He wasn't bleeding too badly yet, but his bones ached. If this continued...
A soft voice rang through the back of his head. A girl's voice. "You'll die."
Zaraki paused. Ha? Was he hearing things?
"Where are you looking?!"
Pain bloomed in the back of his skull as another supersonic punch hammered him down. He felt something shatter in his torso. Felt like his ribs. Clawed fingers slashed out, bloodying the side of his neck. His world went blurry for a second. He grit his teeth, grunted, and fought on, trying to crush the Hollow down with an overhand smash. No dice. Slippery bastard stepped out of the way and raised a hand. Scarlet light swelled within, growing larger and brighter with each passing moment.
"What happened?!" he shouted over the rising hum. "You were talking all that good shit a second ago!"
Red light blazed before his vision. He recognized it. Cero!
"Cut it!"
Kenpachi braved his blade with two hands out of pure instinct. It saved his life. A torrent of red light parted on either side of him as the cero slammed into him full force; the heat seared his skin, threatened to cook him where he stood. A growl boiled in his lungs. He felt his sleeves smolder away in the blast alongside a good bit of his robe. Didn't matter.
He just had to cut it. Simple as that.
A roar ripped through his throat and he followed through, severing the blast in half. It rushed past him unabated. Smoke sprayed across his vision as the blast devastated the buildings around him.
Gasping for air, he crashed down to a knee to catch his breath.
He didn't feel tired. If anything, he felt...great. He'd never been more alive.
"That's right. Remember." There it was, that damn voice again. "Surpass yours limits. Get stronger. BETTER."
The hollow surged out of the smoke for him again. This time, he was ready for him. He ripped took one hand from his swords hilt and decked him right in the nose. A startled grunt greeted him. He grinned and spun, then swung down with both hands. Whether through arrogance or blind bloody luck, the hollow didn't get out of the way in time.
Blood sprayed through the air.
.
..
...too shallow.
Kenpachi knew it the moment the Hollow touched a hand to his shoulder and frowned.
"Alright," he allowed, flexing his wounded arm. "You're one determined bastard, I'll give you that. I'm gonna have to try now, ya know?"
He'd been holding back too?! Could this day get any better?!
"Yes, excellent!" Laughter bubbled out of Zaraki; dark and exultant, a deep, raucous laugh swelling through the air. "I haven't had this much fun in ages!" he raised his head, lone eye blazing a bright shade of gold. "What did you say your name was, hollow?"
...Naruto." turning his head aside, the hollow rolled his wounded shoulder once. He couldn't quite keep the smile from his face, either. "Uzumaki Naruto. And don't call me a hollow!"
"I see how it is." the voice sounded decidedly sullen now, almost childish. "You ask his name but not mine."
She wasn't making any sense. "Who are you?
"Do you want to know my name?"
And in a single blinding instant, Kenpachi Zaraki understood.
"That's a good name!" raising his ragged blade, he reached for his eyepatch. "I'll be sure to remember that! And to you, Naruto Uzumaki!" his fingers curled around it ready to tear it free. "Thanks to you, I can finally hear it!"
The blond squinted at him, unable to understand. "Hear what...?"
Kenpachi grinned ear to ear, bearing his teeth in a savage, shit-eating grin.
In the same instant, he tore his eyepatch free. A column of spiraling light burst his body to ravage the world.
Two words tore forth his lips, a declaration for all the world to hear.
"Drink! Nozarashi!"
A/N: OH LAWD HERE WE GO.
Here we go~!
As ever, the Embers rule yet remains. Meaning...
If folks don't like this story...well, that'll make me sad, and I'll not continue it. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke! I really don't have much time to write these days and feedback is the wind beneath my wings. Silence is a lead weight that just drags me down.
As ever, reviews/feedback keep me writing them. Without them, I lose all hope, creativity and imagination.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly!
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
(POTENTIAL PREVIEWS. Be sure and vote for what you want to see~!)
Red light crashed into gold. And the battle was joined.
Urahara fanned his face. "My, my, they're certainly making a mess of things...
Nel tutted softly. "You got the drop on me, I'll give you that. However...
Merry golden eyes gleamed at her. "Well, well! Aren't you a sturdy one? Or maybe I'm a bit out of practice...
He caught the cero in his fist. And then he.
Snuffed it out.
With a smile.
She jumped him.
EDIT: References ahoy~!
"Who says all arrancar are bad?" he turned his head and spat a wad of blood. "The world pushes hollows without mercy, and when some of us push back, the world points and cries 'evil!' And for what? He climbed to his feet ignoring the seething light chains wrapping his body. "You think defending myself is evil? No. You haven't seen evil. You have NO IDEA. So screw you and your precious Kido. Here's one of mine. Made it myself, ya know.
"Nonsense! One cannot simply create a kido-
"Wanna bet, bitch?"
His right hand broke the binds and rose. The sky stained itself scarlet.
"In the beginning there was One. Then she was split into Nine. The Nine were scattered across the world.
Clouds ruptured overhead; bursting one by one, tearing themselves apart as he spoke.
"One tree. Nine beasts. Now only one remains."
A crazed grin tore across his face.
"I tell you of creation. I speak of destruction."
Ebony cracks crawled across the whole of reality itself.
"Before there was light, there was darkness. I walk to the beginning. Rushing forward to an end not yet seen...
Cruel claws pushed through the tear in the world and a massive golden creature emerged. Its shadow dwarfed them all. Great gaping jaws opened wide. Black light glimmered within.
Some of them tried to flash away. It wouldn't save them. "Therefore...!"
Naruto grinned. "Bijudama."
Let there be light.
"I~chi~go~!"
"Not you again?!"
"What, can't I check in on my favorite strawberry."
"..."
Is that a no?"
"Surrender, boy."
STAY TUNED! R&R! =D