Here is the next chapter of "A Rose That Won't Bloom". I hope you enjoy. It will be coming to an end within the next couple of weeks.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters. I only have the OCs I have created.
Kagami had heard the message of the attack through Renji's door. She hadn't wasted a minute in leaving with Kurogoke at her side. She now ran as quickly as she could towards the East Gate, where the first wave of attacks had been launched. Kagami knew there would be more than one front to fight in this battle. She was only left to wonder which front Kaname Tousen would be. She had a score to settle. Kagami didn't need to worry about being seen any longer. With Tousen attacking the Soul Society, her disappearance would be the last thing on anyone's mind. As she neared the East Gate, she could see a tall, thin, blond man running alongside a shorter, petite woman with her dark hair in a bun.
"Izuru!" she called. "Momo!" The two Soul Reapers stopped and turned to see who had called after them. Shock crossed their features as Kagami neared, not that she could blame them. She hadn't had much contact with either of them in close to thirty years.
"Kagami?" Izuru asked disbelievingly. "Where have you been?"
"Everyone's been looking everywhere for you," Momo added. Kagami was amazed at how healthy she seemed. It looked as though that human girl had truly done well in healing Momo.
"I know. I've been working on a mission of my own," Kagami answered.
"In your state?"
"I've been managing. It's all going to end today."
"What makes you so sure?" Izuru asked.
"You know me. I'll make sure it ends today."
"This is about Hisagi." Kagami nodded slowly and looked at them both.
"I want to apologize to you both for not keeping contact with you."
"Kagami," Momo started.
"And I'm sorry you had to be dragged into this mess."
"Don't you dare," Izuru warned, obviously knowing where this was heading.
"You both are the greatest friends I could've asked for and I regret not keeping you as close as I should have." Kagami could feel the tears stinging her eyes, but refused to let them fall. Momo looked as though she would start crying at any moment, and a sharp frown pulled at Izuru's lips. "Both of you had better stay alive… Goodbye."
Kagami ran past Momo and Izuru, not daring to look back at them. She knew she would falter if she did, and she couldn't afford that. Now was the time to be strong, to put an end to Tousen and show him just how capable she was. Upon arrival at the East Gate, Kagami found herself surrounded by hundreds of Soul Reapers. They had been separated by division and were being assigned to guard the other gates. The Sixth, Ninth and Eleventh Divisions were chosen to remain at the East Gate. Kagami hid herself among the crowd, quickly making her way to her own division. She was spotted by one of the older men first. He was an unseated Soul Reaper and a very muscular man. His black hair was cut short enough to leave him nearly bald and the zanpakuto he carried was thicker than most.
"Third Seat Okasawa," he murmured in shock. Kagami smirked as she approached him.
"Good to see you, Yakushi."
"Where have you been? You disappeared." The surrounding Ninth Division Soul Reapers noticed the conversation and a crowd was quickly forming around Kagami.
"I've been preparing for this battle. I thought it only fair to warn you all who the leader of this attack is. It's our former captain, Tousen." The shocked expressions on the faces of her comrades were to be expected, as were the mumblings that spread through the division.
"How can we be sure?" a voice asked above the rest. Kagami turned around as Nakane stepped forward, a scowl on his lips. "You abandoned us, you know? Why should we trust you?"
"Don't pick a fight with me, Nakane. You'll lose."
"You're not our commanding officer anymore!" the younger Soul Reaper yelled. Kagami flinched, understanding what he meant. She was no longer Third Seat of the Ninth Division. She had no authority over them. A smug expression crossed Nakane's face as he watched the shock display on Kagami's. She quickly replaced it with a scowl directed at him.
"Who is Third Seat?"
"We don't have one," Yakushi answered. "Fourth Seat Jipushi has been placed in command for the time being." The man in question stepped forward, his thick red hair making him stand out as much as Kagami did. He was thin, though well-toned, and had most definitely earned his place as a seated officer.
"What do you say, Jipushi?" Kagami asked.
"I'll follow you, Third Seat Okasawa. You're more experience and I'm loyal to you," he answered, earning a smile from Kagami.
"Thank you. Alright, every one who is with me, I'm going to tell you now to pace yourselves in this battle. The enemy will consist mainly of Hollows and Arrancar. Do not let your guard down. Make sure you have each other's backs. Tousen has a powerful weapon at his disposal and will cut you down if you aren't careful."
"Where will you be?" another Soul Reaper asked.
"I will be around, taking out as many Hollows as I can. Primarily, I will be going after Tousen. I want all of you to be careful, and try not to die," Kagami finished, using the finishing line she'd always added to the end of any speech she made before battle. A roar erupted from the men and women surrounding her as the first wave of attacks came.
Hollows swarmed the gate, seeming to be a massive cloud of black and white. Kagami immediately unsheathed her zanpakuto as the Hollows neared. She had brief flashbacks of her mission to protect the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. There hadn't been as many enemies then, but she could recognize the similar tactic. Kagami thought to Shuhei's death and her grip on her sword tightened.
"Hold your ground!" Jipushi barked to the other Soul Reapers. Kagami was glad to have in on her side through this.
"Ensnare, Kurogoke," she hissed and her zanpakuto dissolved into the air. The particles surrounded her hand, hardening into a black, armor-like coating with two red triangles marking the back of her hand.
'There's the Kagami I know.'
Without another thought, Kagami released red strands of spiritual energy from her fingertips. The threads shot forward, delving into the body of the nearest Hollow with precision. The Hollow soon slowed in movement as a fast-acting poison spread through it. Kagami withdrew her spiritual threads and quickly moved on to the next enemy. All around her, she could hear the battle cries of the other Soul Reapers. Zanpakuto were being released and blood had already been spilt. Of course, the latter was guaranteed with Captain Zaraki on the battlefield. Kagami knew the fighting style of Kenpachi Zaraki and his division. She could think of no stronger allies, and no more fearsome enemies.
"Okasawa!" someone yelled and Kagami spun around, now hearing the low, guttural roar of a Hollow preparing to attack. Unfortunately, her long hair blinded her momentarily and she could only put her arm up in defense. Kagami squeezed her eyes shut, only to hear the sound of scraping metal. When she opened her eyes, she saw Yakushi standing before her, a Hollow disintegrating in front of him.
"Yakushi… thank you," she said.
"You should watch your back, Third Seat Okasawa. You're hair's too long for this kind of battle," he answered. Kagami smirked, knowing he was right.
"I need you to cut it for me." Kagami reached behind her head and pulled her hair back. In a moment, she felt the cold edge of Yakushi's zanpakuto on the back of her neck. In the next second, her hair was free and only reached her cheeks.
"Try not to die," Yakushi said as she turned away.
"The same to you."
Kagami began running to the front lines, where she could see members of the Sixth Division fighting. There were fewer Hollows there, but more Arrancar. It wasn't long before she found Renji and saw what she could only guess what his bankai. His zanpakuto was no longer a blade, but what appeared to be the bones of a giant snake. Around the skeleton's head was a mane of bright red fur. It was an impressive sight, especially because Kagami hadn't expected Renji to have achieved bankai.
"Get a haircut?" Renji questioned once he saw Kagami.
"Impromptu, but effective," she answered as she wrapped her spiritual threads around half a dozen Arrancar. Tightening her hold, she motioned for Renji to attack. Zabimaru's reptilian head fell upon the enemies with astonishing power and the beasts disappeared.
"You always fight like that?"
"Only when my partner's zanpakuto works well with mine." Kagami was about to smile and add a wise crack about how Renji would have to suffice, but a familiar, heavy presence fell upon the battlefield. She froze and looked up to see Kaname Tousen as he neared the ground. Kagami scowled and raised her arm in front of her to prepare to fight him.
"Wait," Renji warned. Kagami glanced at him sharply. She knew Tousen's fighting style better than Renji. She knew to wait. The battle still raged around them, but time seemed to slow for Kagami as she watched Tousen lift the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. No, imbedded in the blade, was the stone she knew was the Sessho-seki. A smirk crossed Tousen's lips and she was brought back to their previous fight.
"I know your fighting style, your personality, your emotions."
Kagami's eyes widened as she realized what Tousen had meant. He must have known about her feelings for Shuhei, and killed him. It was only safe to assume he knew her feelings for Renji as well. She glanced at the other Soul Reaper, who was watching Tousen carefully. He couldn't have known what the traitor was planning.
'Go!' Shuhei's voice screamed in her mind. Tousen brought the sword down and she could feel that wave of abnormal spiritual pressure again. She ran as quickly as she could and timed seemed to come to a complete halt.
"Renji!"
I was excited when I wrote this. I got to use Kagami's zanpakuto for the first time. ;)
And don't ya love the cliff-hanger... I'm so bad, I keep using them... Anyway, please R&R.