Puppet Master

The bus rocked gently as it drove across the rugged terrain. The unkempt dirt road stretched on for many kilometres until it reached civilisation. For the long ride, light conversation was attempted on several occasions, but for the most part everyone huddled together in silence, mourning those who had fallen and those left behind.

The nightmare was behind them, for now at least. There was still the issue of Kaien Shiba, the evil mastermind behind the whole prison trade conspiracy. He was the last hurdle on the path to freedom, and he had to be stopped!

"Where do you think he is?" Kiyone asked, throwing the question out to anybody who wanted to answer.

Isane took it upon herself to answer. "If my hunch is correct he's located at a remote prison in a nearby town. We should be there in ten minutes."

"Really? But we're in the middle of nowhere."

"So is the prison. It was located out here so that even if they escaped from the prison, the isolation from civilisation would destroy them. This desert has no food, water, shelter...It's a death trap for anyone lost out here." Isane scanned the barren wasteland around them. She only just spotted the fork in the road and turned sharply, heading towards the prison.

Another tense silence ensued. Those present in the vehicle sat perfectly still, except for the occasional rocking as the bus ran over the bumpy road.

Soon enough the fortress for the damned stood out on the skyline, a relatively small prison, but imposing nonetheless. High stone walls with coils of barbed wire at the top surrounded the area. A faded sign used to show the name of the prison, but years of dust storms and extreme weather had scaped most of the paint off, making it indecipherable. Two sentry towers were situated near the electrified front gate, which unlike the rest of the perimeter, was a mere steel mesh fence.

As the bus came closer, Isane began to rifle through the weapons they had onboard. She looked to her sister and nodded while waving a hand at the handgun. Isane opted for the rifle and sat back in one of the seats at the rear of the bus.

"Stop!" A guard in the left tower roared. He trained his sight on the bus while a guard from the opposite tower went out to check the guests.

As the man stepped onboard a loud bang escaped from the back of the bus. The man was just on the bus then and he reached into his hip holster for his gun, but Kiyone shot him in the heart, killing him almost instantly. He tripped and fell out into the dirt.

Rukia screamed but Isane patted her back and calmed her down. "These people are all involved. If Kaien is staying here it means that every staff member is aware of his deeds and is in league with him. We can't how mercy to them."

Rukia nodded weakly and Ichigo helped her up.

"Kyouraku, go and open the gate. I'll drive from now on." Isane commanded.

Kyouraku did as told and hopped off the bus and took a key form the dead guard. He then unlocked the door to the sentry tower and scaled up it until he was at the top where he found a button to release the locks on the gate. By the time he was back down Kiyone and Ichigo had swung the gates open and were back on the bus.

Kyouraku followed on foot and closed the gate behind them before jumping back on.

Isane took the wheel and rolled slowly through the large open courtyard. "I know a little about this place. I've visited several times for various cases in the past. She drove the bus over to a large shed located behind a large building which Isane informed the group was the offices.

They parked the bus in the large covered shed and stepped out. To their surprise there was no other prison transporter from Karakura Maximum Security.

"Funny...Kaien's bus isn't here...Unless he was picked up someone from here..." Isane lost herself in though.

"Is he really here?" Rukia whispered fearfully.

Ichigo's hands tightened around her thin frame and he whispered in her ear. "I know he is."

"How" Rukia queried.

"Trust me...I can feel it." Ichigo kissed Rukia on the cheek and hugged her. "Don't worry; I'll protect you no matter what."

"Thank you." Rukia smiled weakly. "I'd be lost without you Ichigo."

"Alright, let's search this place!" Isane commanded, loading a fresh clip into the handgun she took from the dead officer outside the gate. "I'll search the offices with Kiyone. Kyouraku, Ichigo, Rukia, you go search the courtyard. We'll regroup in the meeting hall in thirty minutes, got it?"

Everyone nodded and went on their separate paths.

Kyouraku led the way for Ichigo and Rukia. He fumbled around with a lock on a small door and then wrenched it open, holding it for his two companions. The door led to a large holding area for the prisoners. Many of the cells were empty, but some were occupied with screaming lunatics who clawed at the intruders.

Rukia whimpered and confided in Ichigo's embrace. "I don't like it here."

"I know, but we have to go through here to get to the courtyard." Ichigo explained while studying the prisoners on the left hand side. Shunsui checked those on the right. They didn't find Kaien so they set off for the next barred door which led to the courtyard.

Ichigo and Kyouraku both wrestled with it and the heavy locks until at last it came free and the door swung open. They dragged it shut behind them and stepped into the courtyard.


Back at No Man's Land the gunfight between guards and prisoners was drawing to a close. The ammunition was running low and already, keen fighters were charging out into the open with knives and clubs, ready to finish off the few stragglers that remained.

The Black Cat's regrouped and counted heads. They were missing some members. Yoruichi bowed her head and cursed.

"They got Hiyori...Those bastards!"

Lilynette cowered from a deafening gunshot and whimpered like a puppy during a thunderstorm. Soi Fon slapped her over the back of the head and warned her to keep quiet. Lilynette sniffed and nodded.

"We have to get out of here. Grimmjow's crew will charge the guards no matter what. We just have to wait until they're distracted and then we make a run for it. Understood?"

Everyone nodded.

Meanwhile, Grimmjow pounced on a terrified guard. He used his bare hands to claw at the man's throat and slay him. A second guard backed away screaming, taking out his pistol and trying to hold his hands steady to line up a shot. He fired twice, but both shots went wide.

Grimmjow approached slowly, cackling like a madman. "Come on! Shoot me!" He snarled.

The guard lined up a shot, but it was too late. One of Grimmjow's henchmen, a tall fellow with long black hair and an unnaturally large grin crept up behind the guard and slit his throat with a hunting knife.

As the guard collapsed to his knees both men laughed manically.

"This is easy boss! Let's kill 'em all!"

"Have fun Nnoitrra. This is the most fun we're going to have for a while!" The henchman cocked his head and Grimmjow explained. "We're in the middle of nowhere dumbass. It's going to take days to reach the nearest town on foot."

"Then how about we hitch a ride?" Nnoitrra gestured to an abandoned car across the street. "I know how to hot-wire!"

Grimmjow smirked and took the pistol from the dead guard. "Alright. You go start her up. I'll take care of things here!" The sadistic, blue haired man scanned the area for his comrades. Due to their unarmed charge, many were shot dead, but there was still one more of his men out fighting.

The man had spiky blond hair and wore a white eye patch. He had worn it ever since he had his eye gouged out in a brawl several years ago. The fact that he managed to still stand and fight after losing his eye was enough of a sign for Grimmjow to recruit him.

Even now, Tesla was fighting courageously against the three guards who surrounded him. Bullets tore through him, but he advanced still. He managed to stab a guard in the chest before succumbing to his wounds and dropping like a bag of cement.

Grimmjow licked his lips. The final guards were his for the taking now. He leapt over the makeshift barrier he had created and ran towards the three guards. The one who had been stabbed leaned against a wall while clutching his wounded chest. He stubbornly clung onto life, even after knowing full well he was done for. His companions dashed aside to clear a gap between their opponent, leaving their friend as bait.

Grimmjow lunged, digging his teeth into the man's neck and tearing free a chunk of flesh as if he were a wild animal. He roared like a beast and then slammed the guards head into the wall with enough force to crack his skull. The dead guard slumped over and Grimmjow hopped over his corpse and headed for the guards.

The guards split up. One stood out on the road while the other hid behind a barrier. The one behind the barrier shot at Grimmjow and drew his attention while the other prepared to shoot from behind.

Grimmjow pursued the one in hiding, oblivious to their plan. As he neared him he noticed the grin on the guards face, but his joy was short-lived.

His partner lined up a shot and drew his finger back on the trigger. Before he could pull it all the way back he was hit by something big and heavy. The hotwired sedan barrelled into him. He rolled over the roof and was thrown far off into the dirt. As he tried to crawl back to his feet the car reversed on top of him, crushing him.

The final guard fired blindly out of panic. Grimmjow easily dodged the untrained shots and calmly made his way to the helpless man who curled up into a ball and loaded the final bullet into the chamber. He glared at Grimmjow and began to sob. He aimed the gun at himself and finished the job for his assailants.

Grimmjow howled with sadistic glee and hopped into the car. "We did it! Now we're free! We can finally go back home!"

Nnoitrra chuckled menacingly. "You know what that means!"

"Yes...I've been locked away for too long. Now I can get back to what I do best..."

Nnoitrra licked blood from his hands and chuckled. "Lock your doors and windows eh? Ha ha ha!"

Grimmjow glanced out the window and frowned. "It looks like it's going to rain..."


Ichigo led Rukia under a roof and he glared at the rain which was falling heavily on the courtyard.

"Ichigo, are you alright?" Rukia asked, noticing his anger.

"Oh, I just hate the rain." Ichigo murmured. "Do you hate rain?"

Rukia bowed her head. "It makes me sad...It's as if the sky is weeping..." Ichigo nodded and placed an arm around her to shield her from the cold.

Kyouraku yawned and looked at a clock that hung high up on a wall behind them. "It's about time to meet Isane and Kiyone. We should go..."

Ichigo nodded and they approached a door which was opened by someone on the other side. They stepped back as Isane ran through screaming.

"Run! The guards are after us!"

Kiyone followed, sobbing as she ran.

"What the hell?" Kyouraku peered through the doorway and was clubbed with a baton. Three guards spilled through the door and surrounded him.

"Kyouraku!" Rukia extended a hand to help him but Ichigo dragged her away. They ran out into the open air and the rain pelted them, soaking them from head to toe in only a few seconds. Rukia wiped the rain from her eyes and stumbled over to the exit.

The guards were already giving chase leaving behind two men to apprehend Kyouraku while the others pursued the intruders.

Ichigo pushed Rukia ahead and stood his ground against the guards.

"Ichigo!"

"GO! I'LL HOLD THEM OFF!' Ichigo roared through the pouring rain.

"NO!" Rukia ran back to him and he yelled at her to leave.

"Get out of here! They'll kill you!"

"No! If you die, then I die...Together..." She embraced him and Ichigo cursed.

"You can't...Please...Go. Live on, for me... I don't want history to repeat itself." Ichigo whispered.

Rukia froze. "What do you mean?"

Ichigo shrugged. "It's nothing, just go!"

Rukia bowed her head and noticed something drip onto the ground beneath them. She stared into the puddle of water which was beginning to turn orange...

"What on earth...Ichigo?" Rukia looked up into the eyes of her beloved. He looked oddly sympathetic.

"Rukia...I'm sorry..."

"Wha-" Rukia was cut off as a sudden pain shot through her chest. She glanced down at a knife embedded in her chest. She coughed and blood splattered the arm of her assailant. She followed it with her eyes and glanced up at the man standing before her...

Ichigo bowed his head and revealed a black patch of hair on his drenched head.

"I'm sorry..." He repeated.

Rukia reached out with a shaking hand which soon dropped by her side. Her body went limp and her head rolled forward. Ichigo let go of the knife and she collapsed in the puddle at her feet. With the last of her energy Rukia gazed into the eyes of her assailant.

Ichigo smiled menacingly as the colour drained from his hair...

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