Daisuke dodges the mindless Hollow with ease, back-peddling sharply from it's lunge. It strikes the ground and turns, rushing him a second time. His finger-tips lightly graze the tsuka of Otsuge no Inori and time seems to slow for only a moment before it splits in two, a half passing harmlessly on either side of the young Shinigami. Another attack on the Soul Society...but far less organized then Aizen's army.
Rather, the Gargantas had opened and Hollows had simply streamed out, throwing themselves blindly against the Shinigami forces in waves. Their numbers are great but the determination of the Shinigami is greater. And with Captain's to assist in defending the Seireitei, they stand little chance. Bodies of Hollow and Shinigami alike lay strewn across the battlefield. Black and crimson spatters everything.
Move Hollows gather, crawling out of the rubble of the Third Rukon buildings to slowly surround him. They charge and he turns, delivering a strike from the black and white tsuka of Otsuge no Inori to the white mask of the mindless Hollow. It throws it straight back, bowling over three others as he turns, free hand lightly gripping the tsuka. The Hollow he faces never see's the first strike that splits it completely in two or the following that quarters it.
He turns on his heel striking another and cleaving it in half from head to waist. It splits open with a sickening squelch only moments before both half's fall in opposite directions. Daisuke turns to face a small group and grips the tsuka. He's behind them a moment later, Otsuge no Inori free of her saya. He cleans the black blood off the blade with a simple flick of the wrist and sheathes it with an audible 'click' that the Hollows are not around to hear anymore as they turn to little more then must under the withering number of strikes.
Exhaustion claws at him...it's making his movements slower and slower. And why not? He's been fighting for nearly twelve hours, the members of the squad Ukitake had deployed were long gone. He was the only one who remained behind when they were recalled. Daisuke had begun moving souls away from the battlefield towards the outer Rukon districts...which was all he could do for them, unfortunately.
More Hollows begin approaching, turning into a large horde to stand against him and he growls a bit in response. "Don't they know when they've been beat?" Daisuke asks himself, widening his stance and moving Otsuge no Inori towards his hip in preparation. There's a soft noise behind him and he glances back to find Shunsui standing there, lightly gripping the brim of his grasshat.
"Well, now, this is a surprise, Daisuke," speaks Shunsui. "I'd heard you were still out on the front line but I never imagined I'd run into you." A Hollow leaps down at the Captain from the top of a building and he slowly glances over. "Huh?" Daisuke turns, gripping the tsuka of his Zanpakuto. The Captain draws one Zanpakuto faster then Daisuke can see and splits it in half with a single blow. A half crashes to the ground on either side of Shunsui. Daisuke moves to his side, facing off with the other Hollows.
"Looks like they've got is pretty well surrounded, Daisuke."
"Looks like it..." The Hollows close in on the two with no regard for their own well-being, far too gone in their own hunger to see the danger presented by the two men of Captain-level strength. Shunsui and Daisuke move quickly, in opposite directions as they cut down Hollow after Hollow. Black blood hangs in the air like a fine mist, staining everything and everyone.
"So, how long have you been fighting here?" asks Shunsui over the sounds of Hollows dying.
"A few hours," retorts Daisuke.
"I heard it was more like twelve. You stayed behind when the others were pulled out of the area." Daisuke splits a Hollow in half from shoulder to hip before glancing back at the Captain.
"Someone has to evacuate the souls, Shunsui." The man smirks under his grasshat, cutting down several Hollows with ease. The horde of Hollows falls before them with little effort on their part and soon they're the only two occupying the road, surrounded by the bodies of Hollows.
"Come on. You should leave while you can. I'll take care of things here."
"There's still fighting to be done, Shunsui." A mixture of sweat and black Hollow blood drips from his frame, staining his white shitage and further staining his black kosode. He winces as it drips into his eyes and wipes it away with the back of his wrist. All in all, the young man looks ragged and completely exhausted.
"Not for you, Daisuke. You need to get some rest before you collapse." Daisuke looks around at all the destruction and then nods, slowly returning Otsuge no Inori to her saya before sealing away his Shikai.
"Alright...alright." As if on cue the relief unit finally arrives in the form of several carts drawn by horses and loaded with supplies as well as Shinigami. Members of the Thirteenth, Twelfth, Tenth and Eighth Divisions all of which begin unloading the carts. Among them he spots two familiar faces and approaches. "Can I lend a hand?" Kiyone and Sentaro look at Daisuke and then bow.
"Lieutenant!" exclaims Sentaro. "I'm so relieved that you're ok."
"When you hadn't returned with the forward squad we assumed the worst and hopped the first transport we could find," adds Kiyone.
"I'm fine," assures Daisuke, helping them unload the carts. "I didn't return because I ordered the wounded loaded first and the rest of the squad walked back as guard. As ashamed of it as I am, I don't think I have anymore in me right now. Captain Kyoraku is going to be leading you all so I want you to follow his orders." Daisuke places a hand on Kiyone's shoulder as well as Sentaro's. "Kiyone, Sentaro, I want you both to- whoa, hey!"
Shunsui pushes Daisuke across the filthy battlefield on his heels to the carts. "Don't worry about it, Daisuke," speaks Shunsui. "I'll take good care of things while you're gone so you just go and enjoy your rest." The young Shinigami climbs into the back of the cart and sits down, resting his Zanpakuto against his neck while the cart turns and begins to roll away from the others.
"Some rest," mutters Daisuke, relaxing a bit. "Yeah." Both physically and mentally exhausted it isn't long before his eye-lids start to droop. However, when the cart comes to a stop he awakens quickly and looks around. A small group of Shinigami approach the carts, all of them wounded in some way. Those that are able climb in while Daisuke assists the others in helping the more severely wounded in.
Daisuke rides on the edge, hand gripping the black saya of Tenshi while her tsuka leans against the side of his neck. He stares silently at the ground passing below and releases a sigh. When the cart suddenly, stops he looks up sharply, finding himself in front of a Fourth Division relief station. People come and go from the building and Daisuke takes a breath. 'Was a good rest while it lasted,' Daisuke thinks to himself, before hopping off the cart.
He helps the wounded off the cart and into the buildings occupied by the Fourth Division. "Daisuke," calls a voice familiar to him. He glances over at the approach of Isane, the tall Lieutenant helping him prop up the wounded man he's currently supporting. "I'd heard that you might be coming in from Captain Kyoraku. When he said you'd be coming in I assumed you might have been injured rather severely but..."
"Well, don't sound disappointed, now," teases Daisuke, managing a smile for the tall Lieutenant. She chuckles a bit as well, helping him carry the wounded man into the relief station. The man is taken away by members of the Fourth Division and the young man breaths a sigh of relief as they begin working on him nearly immediately. He would recover...sooner or lately, anyway.
"Lieutenant Arata, there you are," speaks gentle voice. He immediately stands up straighter at the sound of the woman's voice and turns to face Captain Unohana. "Captain Kyoraku sent word to me that you would be coming in. He also told me not to allow you to do anymore work. After all, you've been fighting on the front-line for twelve hours straight, correct?"
"Uh...some-something like that, Captain," replies Daisuke, sweating nervously. "I was just doing my job, that's all."
"You must be tired, then. And hungry as well."
"I can rest when this is over, Captain." He looks around briefly at all the wounded and then back at Captain Unohana. "I'm not particularly skilled with healing kido or kido in general for that matter but if it's just simple wounds I can assist in healing those who are not severely wounded."
"Your assistance won't be necessary, Lieutenant Arata. We're doing just fine so why don't you take a rest? You don't want to over-exert yourself." A cold drop of sweat winds it's way down the back of his neck and he nods, unable to refuse her despite the polite smile on her face. With that avenue so quickly cut off he looks around before selecting a corner of the busy relief station and taking a seat in it on one of the crates.
He props Tenshi up on the crate and leans her against his neck once again before letting his head fall back against the wall. 'Alright,' Daisuke tells himself. 'If I have to rest then just five minutes. Yeah. That's all I need is...five...minutes...'
A soft wind blows and the spirit slowly opens her amber eyes, seeing beyond the darkness of the barren and endless grave-yard to her master. His rest is one that is well deserved, even she will admit that. Having been on the front-lines for hours without a rest and allowed her to taste the black blood of countless Hollows. Yes, Tenshi would allow him the rest he so deserves while she stands ever ready to defend him.
As a child, when he was not aware of her presence and could not even hear her voice she had been there to soothe his nightmares as he slept in his hovel. He might not eat well, but he could sleep undisturbed...and that was the most she could do for the young boy.
Her attention is drawn from the sleeping face of her master to voices across the room. She recognizes the new comes as being Head Captain Yamamoto and Toshiro Hitsugaya and his Lieutenant.
Though it pains her, their presence in the relief station is cause enough for her to awaken her master. "Daisuke...it is time to awaken," speaks Tenshi, voice rippling across their connection gently. "Daisuke...Daisuke..."
He comes awake slowly, amber eyes opening and making out a hand descending towards him. Daisuke grasps the person's wrist tightly and stands, preparing to strike the attacker with the tsuka of Tenshi before he recognizes the person at Lieutenant Matsumoto. The woman arches a single golden brow in surprise. "Aren't you a little jumpy, Daisuke?" asks Rangiku.
"Sorry," replies Daisuke, releasing her with a slight tint to his cheeks.
"Having a bad dream or something?" He opens his mouth to respond before noticing Yamamoto standing behind her talking with Captain Hitsugaya. Daisuke moves around the Lieutenant and approaches. Feeling recharged even from the tiny nap he realizes that if anyone will send him back to the front-lines it's the Head Captain. He could go right over the heads of Shunsui and Captain Unohana without worry.
However, a messenger rushes to the Head Captain before he can call out. "Head Captain!" exclaims the messages. "Captain Ukitake is requesting immediate assistance in the Fifth Rukon! He and the advance squad have been pinned down my Arrancar!" Daisuke's stomach drops immediately.
"Who is with him?" asks Yamamoto.
"Fifth Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori, Sixth Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and the Espada Tia Harribel!" He grips his Zanpakuto a bit tighter before rushing forward, leaping between Head Captain Yamamoto and Captain Hitsugaya and toppling the messenger as he does so. Daisuke is out the door a moment later, rushing down the ruined streets of the Rukon.
The single-minded desire to protect Jushiro, protect Tia, and Renji and even Lieutenant Hinamori pounds through him, causing him to run faster and faster still despite the fatigue he's still feeling. He can sense their Spiritual Pressure's in the distance, clear as bell as they fight off the Arrancar. He hadn't been informed of any Arrancar presence but he hadn't imagined he would have been considering his position as only a Lieutenant, either.
He snarls as a small group of Hollows appears in the middle of the road and grips the tsuka of Tenshi. "Get out of my way, vermin!" demands Daisuke. He doesn't slow his pace as he dashes through them, black blood spraying everywhere as he unleashes the full extent of his speed against them. By the time he's appeared behind them, only parts of what were once Hollows remain.
Daisuke rounds a corner, continuing at a full sprint towards their Spiritual Pressure. He can sense Tia's, the feeling of it unrestrained is amazing and only rivaled by Jushiro and he can vaguely make them out in the distance. "Now...Fall from the Heavens! Kurayami no Tenshi!" The release of his Bankai attracts attention and it's Tia who is the first to notice the black streak. He broad-sides an Arrancar, an arm flying from his shoulder as Daisuke passes.
A ragged scream is torn from it's throat which escapes Daisuke as he intercepts one of the four Arrancar challenging a bleeding Jushiro. He seizes the surprised Arrancar by the face before throwing it straight towards the Rukon, a small explosion of dust and debris follows the impact moments later and Daisuke stands between them. Jushiro lowers Sogyo no Kotowari, gazing at the young man's back. "Daisuke?" asks Jushiro.
"Are you alright, Jushiro?" questions Daisuke, stepping back towards him. He glares at the Arrancar from under his hood, amber eyes glowering as he takes in the Arrancar.
"Fine."
"Tia! Are you alright over there?"
"Don't worry about me," replies Tia. "Just focus on the battle."
"And you Renji?" The man peers up only momentarily at his friend, before smirking at the Arrancar in front of him.
"Didn't she just tell you to focus, idiot?" counters Renji. "Momo and I are fine. Now, focus!"
"Alright...the odds are a little more even. Let's go!" Daisuke appears behind two of the Arrancar, singling them out as his opponents. A powerful kick to the back sends one of them sailing earth bound before the other turns, Zanpakuto clashing loudly with Daisuke's own.
The young man rushes forward and the Arrancar steps back in surprise as he seizes him by the front of his white uniform and turns. He throws him into the first arrancar he had struck, sending them both earth bound for a second time.
His third opponent appears behind him and he disappears, his Flash-Step almost faster then he can follow. He turns and barely ducks a kick. Several strands of crimson hair float away in the opposite direction with Daisuke's heel. The Arrancar raises and receives a kick to the jaw as Daisuke sends a second time. He grips the black tsuka of his Zanpakuto and disappears from view as the first and second return, appearing in front and behind.
They're too close, far too close to each other for any kind of movement. A silver blade pierces the skull of the first Arrancar, jutting out from between his eyes and piercing the heart of the second. There's a vicious twice and he cuts the blade free with a wide arc, crimson blood and tissue falling with their bodies towards the Rukon below. The resulting loss of two comrades by a single person was what they had expected.
The Arrancar all release themselves...and Tia follows suit. Daisuke gets his first look at the face of the Shark Queen and it causes him to give pause. It was...
"Perfect," mutters Daisuke, staring for only a moment before blinking and turning to face the other released Arrancar. He singles out another Arrancar, one appearing in the visage of a giant bull. It appears before him in a burst of static and spears the young Shinigami...only moments before he disappears. It jerks backwards and receives a blow to the back of the horned head, causing it to step forward.
Even released, when fighting against Daisuke's ability to hide his Spiritual Pressure combined with his speed he is a formidable opponent. Regardless he stays on the young man the two of them moving his way and that in an attempt to out-maneuver each other. A sharp body-check from behind stumbles the Arrancar and causes it to turn. It's claws follow in an upward slash and Daisuke springs backwards.
It's back handspring that he turns into a kick, planting one booted foot firmly into the bull Arrancar's chin and causing it to step backwards with a loud cry. He lands in a kneeling position and grips the black tsuka of his Zanpakuto before Flash-Stepping forward.
His attack splits the Arrancar in half at the waist, it's Hierro offering little protection against his Bankai. Daisuke jerks back a moment later, a large slash appearing in his shoulder as he barely avoids the brunt of an Arrancar meant to cut him in half.
The Arrancar streaks back down towards him and he narrows his amber eyes. "Heh! Quick little fucker, aren't you?" taunts Daisuke. There's a loud 'crash!' as his Zanpakuto meets claws and then several more as they meet again and again. Daisuke avoids his claws and then lands a powerful kick that causes the insect-like Arrancar to arch at an unnatural angle for only a moment before it shoves it away and lashes out.
He dodges again and then again before dropping down to it's level, it's arm following the motion. A ragged scream follows as it grips it's elbow, attempting to stem the crimson tide. It's other arm follows moments later and then it's upper-body, from shoulder to hip.
Daisuke catches a glimmer of crimson out of the corner of his eye a moment too late for him to react and the Cero slams into him broad-side, sending him crashing to the Rukon. Blood streams out of several cuts and burns cover his left arm and side from the impact.
He growls and attempts to push aside the agony that comes with them as he rushes skyward to face the snake-like Arrancar. Zanpakuto meets claws and the two turn about, clashing again and again before recoiling as a result of a blow from full strength on both their part. There's a flicker, just a flicker of change in Jushiro's Spiritual Pressure but it's enough to split his attention to his friend.
He's doubled over, coughing violently. "Shit!" He starts towards the man as quick as possible...but far to slowly to intercept the Arrancar. His opponent's Zanpakuto bites deep and Daisuke can see the blade through his back. A crimson splotch covers his haori as he pulls his blade free and the Captain starts to fall. "Ju...Jushiro!" Daisuke moves quickly and far faster then he can ever recall having moved in his life as he intercepts his fall.
He catches his Captain and gently lowers him to the earth below. "Jushiro!" He looks down at the wounds in his stomach, freely streaming blood and offering a view of internal organs. There's a soft noise behind him and he's almost shoved aside by Captain Unohana.
He ignores the others and glances straight up at the offending Arrancar, the only one unreleased. Anger, fatigue, and pain ignite in him life a fireball and the rest of the world fades away as he focuses his entire being in the...grinning creature.
He's off like a shot the next moment, racing skywards towards the Arrancar. The desire for revenge blots out everything else and he cannot hear the Head Captain's commands that he cease at once. The snake-like Arrancar is between them, a Cero charging in it's maw.
Daisuke reaches back towards the tsuka of Kurayami only moments before the Cero fires. Both the Cero and the Arrancar split in half while the enraged Shinigami streaks through both of them.
"I'll kill you!" There's a burst of static and loud 'crash!' a second later as Zanpakuto meet. "What are...you doing...Tia?!" Daisuke grunts as he attempts to force the Shark Queen out of his path but to avail. She was stronger then him unreleased and now he doesn't stand a chance of moving her.
"Have you lost your damn mind?" asks Tia. His amber eyes meet sea-green for only a moment before he looks past her at the Arrancar, now escaping through a garganta. Daisuke growls in frustration.
"Get out...of my...way!" Daisuke grunts and twists his Zanpakuto, raking his across the edge of Tia's and casting a shower of sparks to his right. It has the desired effect, causing the Espada to take a step in the same direction and allowing Daisuke to move forward...right into her tooth-like Zanpakuto. She'd allowed herself to be moved and then switched sword hands. Even though the edge is pressed ever so lightly against his throat, a thin trail of blood races down the white blade towards the gill-markings. "Kuh..."
"Don't make me restrain you forcibly, Daisuke." Blood drops from the silver tsuba of Kurayami as he grips it tighter and tighter still. He meets the Arrancar's crimson eyes with his amber and time seems to slow down.
"I know your Spiritual Pressure now," Daisuke speaks aloud. "You'll never be able to hide from me, Arrancar. I'm going to find you...and I'm going to kill you. I promise." The Arrancar's grin only grows in response as he disappears from view...