9: Duel

Train raced off towards the awaiting enemy and lunged, swinging the sword in a high arc culminating in a heavy downward slice which threw Shawlong off-guard and forced him to stagger back, giving Train the time to bring his sword back around in a horizontal slash, clipping the flat of Illfort's own sword and ending in a deadlock. The two pushed against their weapons, trying to overpower the other and it was Illfort who won, shoving Train back and launching a counter-attack.

Train side-stepped and caught Illfort's sword arm with one hand, while with the other driving his sword up through his side and burying it deep into his flesh. Illfort cried out in agony and struck Train with his fists. The Black Cat wrenched his blade free of the confines of his opponent's rib-cage and thrust it forward towards his heart.

Illfort sluggishly stepped aside and brought his sword up towards Train's throat. As the blade inched closer to his neck Train only just managed to duck under it and then dived forwards out of the way of Illfort's counter strike.

Shawlong now returned to the battle and hacked at the troublesome Black Cat, but well-honed reflexes allowed him to jump back in time to avoid a painful death. Shawlong quickly recovered and swung his blade in an upwards arc, only just missing Train's chin. He cursed at his failed attack and launched a furious offensive, striking madly at him. The two fought on for a while as Illfort caught his breath and concentration.

The two feuding warriors were unable to best one another and ended up both being breathless and only slightly wounded. They stood several paces apart, both panting heavily. Train shifted his grip on his sword so that he held it in his right hand only and then took out his gun with the left. He stood with his sword arm bent towards his opposite shoulder, with the blade pointing out to his opponent and his gun held out straight in front of him.

Shawlong closed his eyes and flash stepped behind Train. With lightning fast reflexes folded his gun-wielding hand back so that the barrel faced behind him. Then he opened fire, sending a bullet straight through Shawlong's shoulder. The point-blank shot did enough damage to throw Shawlong off his pursuit for a while and Train shifted his focus back on Illfort who had taken up a fighting stance. He opened his mouth to speak but Train didn't want to wait around any longer and so he put a bullet in his head.

Illfort's jaw went slack and he started to fall back, blood spewing forth from his mouth and his ruptured forehead. Before he hit the ground Train dashed over and lanced him through with his sword. Illfort gave one last agonised scream before he went still.

Train quickly drew his sword out and prepared for an enraged Shawlong to strike, but instead he was bowing to his master who had now taken up his sword and entered the fray. The blue-haired demon was fearsome to look at. His cold blue eyes and wicked grin, mixed with the monstrous, bony set of jaws that adorned his face like a terrifying ornament. Coupled with his bloodied and scarred body he was utterly horrifying.

Train felt a chill down his spine as Grimmjow took a step towards him.

"Amazing! You took down Illfort with ease! You must be stronger than you look! Face me and show me the strength of mortals!" Grimmjow held out his sword and assumed a fighting stance. "Come! Fight me!"

Train hesitated and Grimmjow grew angry. He howled like a madman and took the initiative himself, racing across the battlefield with unimaginable speed. Train was barely able to trace his movements but worst of all was his strength. With one swing, even being blocked, Train felt the jarring impact through his bones and dropped his sword as his fingers went numb. He stepped back but Grimmjow had already crossed over to him and backhanded him. Train was flung across the battlefield and immediately after he hit the ground he felt Grimmjow's stomp on him with the force of an elephant.

"Are you serious? You took down Illfort and yet you can't even block one hit? How pathetic! I should kill you right here and now, but I'm bored you see. Sven managed to slip away from me and I can't be bothered looking for him right now so I'm going to have to settle for you. Since I need entertaining I'm gonna see how much pain you can take before you die. Doesn't that sound fun?" Grimmjow laughed manically. "So, here's the rules. Basically," Grimmjow drove his sword into Train's thigh and twisted it. Train cried out in agony. "I hurt you," He grabbed Train by the hair and slammed his head down hard into the earth. He then poked him in the eyes. "and you cry like a little bitch! Got it?" Train tried to get up but Grimmjow threw a trio of thunderous punches straight to the face. Train went limp for a while, staring dazedly up at his foe.

"Master Grimmjow shall I resume the search?" Shawlong asked from aside.

"No," Grimmjow snarled. "I want you to stick around. Sven is mine and I won't let you finish him off before I get my revenge!"

Train's eyes narrowed. Grimmjow smirked. "That's right. Your little friend Sven riddled me full of holes! So now uncle Grimmjow is really pissed and he wants to repay him for what he's done!" He started to strangle his victim, closing his airways and relishing in the sickeningly drained look in Train's eyes. "Ha! Die you bastard die!"

Train's eyes started to close and he felt himself losing consciousness. He tried to reach for his gun but it was out of reach, as was his sword. He tried to reach out to his foe but his hands were becoming unresponsive. Just as splotches of black began to mar his vision he saw something in the sky...Something bright red.

As the red pulsating object came closer Train heard something, an animalistic roar that made the breeze itself die mid-gust.

"GETSUGA TENSHO!"

Grimmjow looked up just as the blazing gust of red and black energy collided full-on with his body. Train was thrown about by the resulting explosion and found himself lying on his side at the edge of a crater. In the epicentre of the pit, Grimmjow lay beaten and broken, panting like an overworked hound. He looked badly burned and blood soaked him from head to toe.

Train looked up and saw Ichigo standing over him. He reached out a helping hand and assisted the Black Cat in sitting up. Train wanted to ask him something, but Ichigo was already jumping down inside the crater to fight with Grimmjow.

Ulquiorra approached Lord Aizen's throne and bowed to his benevolent master. "My Lord, I have something to report."

Aizen looked up from his tea and frowned. "What is it Ulquiorra?"

"Grimmjow has encountered the Kurosaki boy, as well as that human assassin. It seems they too wish to find that man, Sven Volfied."

Aizen looked unperturbed. "I see. Then we shall withdraw for now. Summon Grimmjow at once and bring him back." Aizen chuckled to himself and set the cup down so that he could clap his hands together. "Why bother searching for Mr Volfied when our little friends will bring him straight to us? This shall be even easier than I anticipated."

Ulquiorra stared up in awe at his master. His strategies had never gone wrong before. Everything he did was to set himself up for his grand scheme. Every battle, every encounter was just another step towards the heavens.

"Oh, and Ulquiorra? Please ask Szayel when our little pet will be ready. I wish to be able to see her soon."

Ulquiorra bowed his head, "As you wish Lord Aizen." He rose to his feet and marched out, leaving Aizen alone to finish his tea. He stared into the dark liquid and smiled.

"Soon...Soon they will come for me. Then the time will be at hand..."

Sven woke up in unfamiliar territory, not the first time recently. He was covered in bandages and tucked into a simple hospital bed. There were no life support machines or anything of the sort, just a young girl sitting beside him, chanting softly to herself while her hands glowed green. Sven stared at her and was about to ask her what she was doing when he remembered the time Rukia had done the same thing to him. She called it Kido, or something...

The girl smiled at him and then rose to her feet and walked off. She called out to someone and then she returned accompanied by an older woman whose hair drooped down over shoulders and down her front in a large braid.

"You are awake, how wonderful." The woman beamed. "I am Captain Retsu Unohana. You are lucky we found you. Your wounds were rather severe."

"Where...Is the other guy?" Sven asked dazedly.

"Other? There were no others with you. Unfortunately we did find many innocents had been slain. You must tell me who did such a terrible thing. Rukongai is supposed to be free of the pains of war and battle, that is why we keep them separated from Sereitei, for their own protection. To have people committing such acts in a land of peace is truly despicable."

"Grimmjow...That was his name..." Sven muttered, "He told me he was sent to kill me...But why?"

The captain bowed her head and laid a hand on his shoulder. It stung a little but Sven endured. "Do not worry anymore. We shall protect you. It is our duty to defend the souls of all who dwell here. We shall send a search party out to find this man."

"No!" Sven croaked, "He's too strong! He's a monster!"

Unohana chuckled to herself and patted his forehead. "I can be pretty fearsome myself on the battlefield. I do not think there is much to worry about. We captains of the 13 court guards excel in combat. We can hold our own on the battlefield."

"I know...I've seen you guys fight before."

"Hmm?"

"Never mind. That was my past life. I am dead now."

Unohana frowned. "Do not speak such things. Death is not as terrible as it seems. It is natural for humans to fear death, we do not understand it. But once you make peace with what has happened the fear and the pain drift away." The wise captain looked off into space in silence for a moment before giggling to herself. "Listen to me rambling on."

"No, you're right..." Sven mumbled, "What's done is done. I should look forward, not back into the past. But still, these guys must be after me for some reason. They came here just to kill me. Could it be...Aizen?"

That name struck a nerve with the captain. Unohana's expression faltered for just a moment but she caught herself before she let out anything. Her mouth opened but words did not flow and instead she averted her gaze to the floor. "That man...How do you..."

"I met him." Sven murmured coldly. "He robbed me of the one thing I ever cherished in this life..."

Unohana's eyes narrowed. "Could it be? Were you that man the others spoke of? The sweeper?"

"Sven Volfied. Yeah, it's me. I fought with your buddies last I saw them, but Aizen swooped in and ruined everything. I don't know what that orb was that he took out of Rukia, or just what the hell happened on that day. I don't understand any of that, all I know is that Eve is gone...And every second she isn't by my side is like a bullet in my heart..."

Unohana bowed her head, looking to be on the brink of tears. "I am so sorry...We shinigami endangered you and your loved ones. We brought this fate upon you. We are to blame for your pain and hardships. There is no way to atone for such a crime."

"Hey!"

"We strive to protect the people...Yet we have only dragged more innocents into our battles. We have failed in our mission." Unohana wiped at her eyes and sighed. "I wish you luck Sven. May you live to see your precious Eve once again. As a captain I promise you that Aizen will fall for his evil ways. I cannot stop your pain but I can avenge what is lost."

Sven smiled, "Thank you." He hopped off of the bed and looked outside. He saw someone watching him, someone familiar. It brought a weak smile to his face and he stepped outside to greet him. This man, this old friend, surely he would be ale to help him save Eve. It was worth a shot, and so Sven approached his look-alike, Kisuke Urahara.

The two stared off one another in silence for a while until they both smirked and started laughing.

Ichigo stood over his opponent, sword hovering above the fallen warrior's head, poised to end their brief encounter. He glared at the blue haired demon and kicked him in the ribs, knocking Grimmjow onto his back. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice cold.

"Y-You think I'll tell you?" Grimmjow asked arrogantly, revealing a bloodied grin behind his mask. "I'm Grimmjow Jeagerjaques and that's all you need to know."

"Who sent you? Why are you after Sven?" Ichigo asked, pointing his sword squarely at Grimmjow's face.

"I don't need to answer you. You think I'm scared of a little runt like you? I was ordered to kill Sven and that was it. I wasn't asked to clean up some shit-stain on Soul Society's ass! Why don't you run away before I tear you apart."

Ichigo scowled and thrust his sword with blinding speed, cutting through Grimmjow's cheek and drawing blood. The intruder just laughed mockingly.

"Your sword is nice and sharp. Why don't we test it?"

Ichigo stomped on his chest and snarled, "I don't have time to waste playing with you! Tell me what I want to know and then I can go ahead and kill you!"

"HA! Kill me? You think a threat like that is going to make me squeal? Guess again you moron!" Grimmjow kicked out at Ichigo's hand, knocking his sword aside. He then rolled onto his side and took out Ichigo's legs. As the Kurosaki boy fell the beast pounced on him, latching his fingers over his throat while the other reached for his own sword. "How about I ask you some questions boy? Are you Ichigo Kurosaki?"

That stunned him and Ichigo's eyes narrowed. He did not speak but his reaction was answer enough

"So you are then? Well that's great because Aizen will be ever so pleased if I drag your head back with me as well!" His blade soared towards the boy's throat but stopped just short when a pale hand enclosed around his own gnarled knuckles and held him back. Grimmjow traced his eyes up along the arm to see Ulquiorra standing over him, his face as unreadable as ever.

"Grimmjow. You have failed in your mission. Fall back."

"Huh? No! I can still kill this little son of a-"

"Your mission was to kill Sven. When the time comes to kill the Kurosaki boy you can do as you wish but for now you are to fall back." Ulquiorra's expression suggested resistance would not work. With a reluctant groan Grimmjow rose from his position and followed Ulquiorra and Shawlong through the garganta, only to pause halfway and glance back at his opponents.

"Train, Ichigo...I'll let you live for now...But I swear, the next time we meet neither one of you will walk out alive! I will tear you all to shreds! Next time...You're both dead! You hear me? DEAD!" He strolled off laughing hysterically. And with that the intruder's disappeared as quickly as they had arrived.