Daisuke grunts as he cuts the Hollow in half, spattering his already filthy kosode and hakama with it's black blood as he does so. Tenshi seems to be on cloud nine, surrounded by all the death and destruction of the war. The Captains were long gone and Daisuke couldn't help but worry about his friends. He rushes forward, cutting down several more Hollows before they can react.
Four Captains were dispatched to Hueco Mundo to assist Ichigo and his friends while the rest, including the Head Captain, headed to the Fake Karakura Town to fend off Aizen. He had wished for nothing more then to assist Jushiro and Shunsui in the fake town but both had denied him, stating that he should stay behind to assist in the Soul Society...so he had, without futher argument.
The forces of the Soul Society were divided up and sent to the four gates surrounding the Seireitei. Daisuke and most of the Thirteenth Division had been assigned to the north gate. He had no doubt in his mind that the areas surrounding the other gates were just as bad a shape as this one. Those buildings that aren't completely destroyed are engulfed in flames and left to burn as the fires spread without end.
Daisuke slowly glances around at all the destruction. Bodies lay strew across the ground and the screams of the dead and dying assault his ears as Shinigami and Hollow alike fall on the battle-field. Crimson mixes with their inky black blood staining the ground and the smell...it is the smell of death. Sensing a fast approaching Hollow he turns and cuts the beast in half with a single blow before Flash-Stepping to the roof of a rather intact home moments before the ground is pulverized by a Cero.
He rushes the Gillian, covering the distance with a fast Flash-Step and cutting it down with a powerful blow. He had left behind the gate to engage the slower moving Gillian and the Adjuchas commanding them. It only took one of them to make the push before many were following and, yes, the Hollows numbers were beginning to dwindle when compared to the highly trained Shinigami and their commanders.
They would hold their gate, but with heavy casualties. He wipes a spatter of black blood from his cheek as he turns to gaze down at the sea of flames below. Among it he spots a figure familiar to him and in the blink of an eye he's covered it, appearing beside Lieutenant Kotsubaki. "Lieutenant!" exclaims Daisuke. He helps to carry the injured man Sentaro is hefting, moving towards the gate. "Is the gate holding?"
"We're suffering casualties but we'll hold," replies Sentaro. "The tide is turning but I need you to eliminate those Adjuchas commanding the remaining Gillian. Can you do it?"
"I'll get it done, Lieutenant. You can count on me."
"Good. Go! I'll take care of him." Daisuke nods and disengages himself from the wounded Shinigami before rushing back towards the Gillian. It would be easy enough to find them with the Gillian as markers. He lightly grips the black and white tsuka of Otsuge no Inori as he draws closer. The slow moving menos never see's the blow as its head splits completely in two, a second blow quarters it, showering the whole area in black as a result.
A quick Flash-Step dodges the Cero and he turns to face the Adjuchas. Neither wastes any time, rushing at one another. Daisuke doesn't hold back, using full speed from the start. He's pushing the Adjuchas to it's absolute limit as he draws in his speed and with no need to restrain himself, the creature is cut down in no time at all. He Flash-Steps away, avoiding another Cero and then rushing towards the Adjuchas.
This one is stronger then his companion, and smarter, too. The two trade several blows, neither shying away from the conflict as they throw themselves into the war head first. They're fighting for what they believe is right...and both would die to accomplish their specific mission. They turn round and round, the air thick with the stink of death as their move faster and faster.
Daisuke Flash-Step's out of view, appearing behind the Adjuchas and cleaving it in half from shoulder to hip. He jerks his head right, ducking under a set of claws as he's ambushed by a third Adjuchas. He'd tired of them already and turns, cutting it's arm off at the elbow. It screams in pain before he cuts it completely in two and then quarters it with a third blow.
He can sense no more Adjuchas around him and expands his senses to be sure of the fact. When no one to lead them, the Gillians would be easy targets for the Seated Officers of the Thirteenth and Eighth Divisions. Daisuke looks around the battle-field, watching with a rather dark smile as a lumbering Gillian falls to a small squad of skilled Shinigami officers.
The tide is turning. Dropping down to the sea of flames, he quickly happens upon an injured Shinigami and helps the man to his feet. His left arm is little more then shreds, a grievous wound he would be lucky to survive. He helps the man across from battle-field and back to the gate. He would need to be seen immediately by a medic. "We need help here!" calls Daisuke, attracting the attention of several members of the Fourth Division.
They approach quickly and then carry the man by stretcher to a make-shift field hospital. "Thank you, sir," mutters the man as he's carried off.
"Just lay back, you're going to be fine." He looks around at the others. They're looking ragged, beaten down and tired.
"Daisuke!" calls Sentaro, approaching. "I've got word for the East gate. They need reinforcements immediately. I want you to take a squad and head that way! Now!" Daisuke nods, selecting a small group of men from the Thirteenth Division and starting in that direction. They cut through streets and across roof-tops as they make to the east gate. What they find is five times worse then the north. More Hollows then any of them have seen in all their years combined.
"Spread out! Cover each other and eliminate the enemy! Move quickly but safely!" A loud chorus of 'Yes, sir!' rings out from them as they rush into the frey. Daisuke cuts down several of them without batting an eyelash, Tenshi radiating her joy at the taste of black blood. Daisuke turns his shouder and then smashes the tsuka of Otsuge no Inori into the gut of the Hollow, throwing it straight back and sending it bowling over several of it's comrades.
He rushes after it, blade flying in this direction and that as he cuts down Hollow after Hollow. Black blood is flung in every direction, some seeming to hang motionlessly in the air as Daisuke moves through them until he passes past his first target with a sudden burst of speed. Those Hollows he's pass split into several portions, falling to the ground as they do so. With a simple flick of his wrist he cleans off the black blood and turns to face even more of the creatures.
A mixture of sweat and black Hollow blood pours off of him. A combination of the strain of maintaining his Shikai for the past four hours and the sea of flames that seems to have engulfed the Rukon. The Hollows continue their attack, pressing the remaining Shinigami hard despite their efforts and the reason becomes apparent immediately as a powerful Spiritual Pressure assaults all present.
A Hollow falls to Daisuke and he glances in the direction of the Spiritual Pressure, watching as an Arrancar cuts down several Shinigami without any effort. Without a doubt it is a powerful Arrancar, easily at his level. He looks around at all Shinigami present. Revealing his Bankai to ALL them isn't something that he wanted to do but fighting it without using full strength? Not possible. "Shit. Guess I've got no choice...Fall from the Heavens! Kurayami no Tenshi!"
His Spiritual Pressure soars skyward, immediately attracting the attention of the purple haired Arrancar. The two men face off in the middle of the battle-field and a Hollow mindlessly rushes Daisuke. It lunges...and splits completely in two a foot from him. A half passes either side of him harmlessly before black blood sprays out. Not a single drop lands on his dark clothes. He's gone the next moment and the Arrancar turns, Zanpakuto crashing loudly against Daisuke's.
"Hmph." He whirls around, snapping out a kick aimed at the Arrancar's temple. He ducks moments before the impact, several strands of purple hair floating in the opposite direction. Daisuke jerks his weight backwards, barely avoiding an upward slash meant to cut him in two. A small split appears in the hem of his black hood a moment later.
'Quick little beast, isn't it? It's kind of cute the way it thinks it can stand against us.' An actual laugh sounds from Tenshi a moment later. 'Crush it completely, boy. I don't want a single piece of this insolent creature to remain when we've finished!' He whirls around, avoiding another slash and nearly kicking the Arrancar for a second time before Flash-Stepping away.
He appears several yards away, stance wide. One hand lightly touches the stained earth while the other reaches over his shoulder. The Arrancar appears behind him, a burst of static alerting him to it's Sonido. He turns and their Zanpakuto clash for a second time and a third. The two disappear, quickly appearing high above the sea of flames that is the Rukon as they fight. Their blades clash and Daisuke steps backwards, disappearing a moment later and then actually body-checking the Arrancar.
It takes a single step forward and turns, charging a Cero at the Shingami on higher ground. "Rend!" The wave of golden energy collides with the red beam and the two explode of contact. Both figures appear elsewhere, their Zanpakuto crashing loudly as they attempt to land a decisive blow on each other will absolutely no luck. Both flow with their opponents movements, showing no signs of fatigue.
Neither is letting up the attack as they push each other faster and faster in the sky. Daisuke appears behind the Arrancar and launches a punch. He turns and then jerks his head in the opposite direction, but Daisuke follows the punch up with a powerful kick that catches it in the stomach. It grunts at the impact and so does Daisuke, feeling a sharp pain in his ankle as a result of the kick. With the amount of pain he was feeling if his ankle wasn't fractured or broken then it would be a miracle.
The kick sends the Arrancar tumbling end over end straight towards the sea of fire below where it impacts hard enough to create a small crater. This doesn't seem to phase it however as it comes rushing back moments later and once more the two of them are crossing Zanpakuto. A powerful punch to Daisuke's jaw spins him and as he whirls around he snaps out a kick that causes the Arrancar to arch at an unnatural angle for only a moment before he grips his ankle.
"Shit!" He spins him around and throws him earth bound. The rush of wind past his ears is all he hears for a several moments before he impacts, collapsing a large building as he crashes through the ceiling. For a second the young Shinigami is still before casting off the debris. Ignoring the pain and some obviously broken ribs he rushes skyward to confront the Arrancar again. Neither of them would back if such attacks were the only one's that connected.
It simply wasn't enough to finish either of them off. Daisuke rushes the Arrancar, watching carefully as it raises it's Zanpakuto and then lunges quicker. He raises his left hand and captures it's wrist tightly before throwing his full weight into a punch that connects with the startled Arrancar's nose. It's follows the attack, sliding back in the sky several meters while Daisuke shakes his now completely numb hand. "Jeez...just what in the fuck are you made of, Arrancar...?"
The Arrancar growls in response, blood streaming down from it's crooked nose. With renewed anger it launches itself at him and he meets it blow for blow. Parry, dodge and attack. The two roll from attack to defense seamlessly. Truely a battle between two masters of the sword is taking place above the Rukon and neither of them pays any attention to anything else. Daisuke grips the black tsuka of Kurayami no Tenshi tighter and then stops his attack when the Arrancar disappears with a fast Sonido.
He whirls around quickly and barely dodges a Cero that pulvierizes the earth below him. Daisuke rushes the Arrancar and the two pass each other, a shower of sparks cast away from the impact of their Zanpakuto. Both turn, immediately relying on physical attacks at such close range. Daisuke whirls around and his kick connects with the Arrancar's temple, causing him to take a single step in the opposite direction and further compounding the pain in his ankle.
No doubt it was fractured by now and his fast movements are only making things worse. 'This must be the Arrancar's 'hierro' technique. Damn it! I feel like I've kicked a steel plate!'
'Then quit fighting bare-handed, boy! You'll never kill him like this!' He glances at his wrist, finding the prayer beads to be emitting a bright golden glow...just what he was waiting for. 'Finish him off! Now!' He grips the black tsuka of Tenshi.
"Rend!" The wave of golden energy collides with the Arrancar at point blank range, blotting out a portion of the sky as a result. A ragged scream sounds from the path of the attack as the Arrancar is thrown earth bound, impacting with enough force to create a small crater. Daisuke is left alone in the sky to watch through the dust and debris in silence as the Arrancar slowly crawls out.
In the blink of an eye, the young Shinigami is upon him once again. He rushes forward and runs the Arrancar through with his Zanpakuto, pinning it firmly to the earth by it's chest. Daisuke stands alone, golden energy crackling from Kurayami no Tenshi as though the blade is electrified. For a moment he is still before a fast Flash-Step brings him back to the front of the East Gate.
A Hollow rushes him for a second time and he slowly glances in the direction of the creature. It's cut into quarters, the four half's crashing to the ground behind him with a dull thud. Daisuke looks around at the Shinigami, many of them wounded and exhausted. He needs to motivate them and quickly if they are to hold this gate. He looks around, finding no one 'in charge' at the moment and then nods firmly. 'You'll have to assume the role, boy. Lead these whelps to victory! To glory!'
Daisuke turns towards the Hollow hoard. "Rend!" The wave of golden energy races down the street, obliterating a large swath of the creatures before finally disappearing. He starts down the street and several follow. "Don't back down!" demands over the noise of the battlefield Daisuke, attracting the attention of the Shinigami. "Push forward to victory! We will not...we cannot lose this fight if we work together!" A chorus of battle cries sound from behind him as the men gather their spirits in the presence of an apparent 'Captain' whoever the man is.
Their efforts are doubled as they fight, tooth and claw for the gate and the area surrounding it. "Get the wounded back to the gate! Reinforce the flanks and watch each others backs!" A chorus of 'Yes, sir' rings out from the men he's commanding as they work to move back the wounded and further expand their hold of the area. The fighting continues and the fires grow along with their fighting spirit.
In the distance he can see Gillian an unfortunate fact that must be dealt with. He appears in front of a Gillian, cutting it to pieces before it can react and then turns his shoulder, dodging the Cero of one of the lumbering beasts. He rushes forward and plants his uninjured foot firmly into it's mask. It shatters like glass under the powerful blow and it's head snaps back, following it to the ground with a massive 'crash!' that crushes many burning homes. "Damn."
He jerks his head right to avoid a set of claws and splits the Adjuchas completely in two with a single blow from Kurayami. As much as the tide of the battle has turned there are still many Hollows that have to be delete with before any of them can rest. Two Adjuchas rush him, from front and from behind. Daisuke reacts quickly, dodging their attacks with relative ease due to his Bankai and ending one with a blow that splits it from shoulder to hip.
He whirls around, planting his booted foot into the other's stomach and sending it skidding backwards through the sky. Daisuke follows quickly and the Adjuchas fires a Cero when he's only a foot from him. It's world becomes a swirling torrent of gold as Daisuke's attack cuts through the Cero and blots out a portion of the sky once again, this time taking with it an Adjuchas and a Gillian standing several meters away.
As the attack slowly disappears, Daisuke listens...silence is his greeting. The silence of a battle field soaked with blood and littered with the bodies of the fallen. And only moments later, a joyous cry of victory from those brave Shinigami who stand below at the East gate. 'Victory...' He disappears from all eyes a moment later and then, appears in front of the east gate. He seals his Spiritual Pressure as well as his Bankai.
There are a great many wounded to be moved and treated by the Fourth Division in their make-shift field-hospital and almost an even number of casualties left strewn across the battle-field. There would be no rest tonight as they combed the Rukon for survivors...if there were any survivors. 'So this is a victory...hmph. I'd hardly call all this death a victory.'
'We've come out alive...does it matter if anyone else does?'
'Tenshi-'
'No. If they were too weak or too foolish to understand the limits of their strength then I won't spare them my pity. They aren't worthy of it.' Daisuke doesn't response to her harsh words. 'I thought as much, boy. You see there is truth in my words.'
'Not now, Tenshi. I really don't want to argue with you right now.'
'Hmph. Aren't we being a bit moody.'
'...Look who's talking.' He doesn't notice the approach of anyone until the man lays a hand on his shoulder and he looks over sharply at Lieutenant Kotsubaki. "Lieutenant?"
"I knew sending you was the right idea." He narrows his eyes and Sentaro steps closer. "I heard from Captain Ukitake that you dealt with TWO Arrancar in the World of the Living and brought back that Espada in the First Division. I knew if anyone could do it then it was you."
"Uh, thanks, Lieutenant." Sentaro gives him a thumbs up. "I need to ask you-"
"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me, 'Captain'," teases Sentaro. "I won't tell a soul...not that everyone doesn't already know, mind you. But if you want be to keep quite then I suppose I can do that."
"Thank you."
"Alright!" exclaims Sentaro. "Let's move the wounded moved to the field hospital! I want half of you to help move the wounded and the other half to secure the area and start searching for anymore wounded!" A chorus of 'Yes, Lieutenant!' sounds from the men as they split to handle the task. When Daisuke makes the join the men in searching, Sentaro captures him by the back of his ragged, stained kosode. "Why don't you take a break? You've earned if after all."
"I can take a rest later, Lieutenant. I should help out while I can." Sentaro notices the slight wheeze to his breathing and shakes his head immediately.
"You need to be looked at. The last thing we need is you collapsing because you've got yourself all busted up. Go get yourself looked at and if you're cleared by the Fourth Division then you can help out."
"But-"
"Go, Daisuke. Thats and order." After a moment he nods and then starts in the direction of the field hospital set up by the Fourth Division. Compared to the battle-field...he isn't sure which is more chaotic but when he does manage to flag down a healer the woman quickly gives him an examination.
"You've got several broken ribs and a fractured ankle," she tells him.
"So I can go, then?"
"...You've got four broken ribs! Of course you can't go!" The woman is approached by another member of the Fourth Division and speaks with him for only a brief moment before turning back. "Now, you...hello?" She looks around, finding Daisuke to be gone from where he was sitting. "Oh, no...I am so going to get fired..."