TTGL: So this is the Heavens.
Chapter 13: Your sword cannot break my manly resolve.
The village looked just as desolate as it had done days before when the Dai-Gurren had passed through its broken structures, each a remnant of a lost way of life. Sasori cried as they gazed upon the ruined streets and begged to go and search for his family. Kamina knew the pain of loosing loved ones all to well but he knew that the kid would find nothing but more sadness. Even with this in mind and the protests of the other members he allowed the boy to go and look while the Dai-Gurren halted to wait.
"A man has to follow his heart and that kid is crying out for a remnant of his past. What right do I have to stand in his way even if I know he won't find anything. He needs to find that out for himself and no amount of us telling him will change what he feels. Sometimes, you just have to ignore your own head."
"What are we suppose to do in the mean time then?" snapped Renji.
"We wait. Helping that kid to move forward is more important than time, or of my life. He is the next generation and if we don't give our all to make them happy with themselves then how can we die in peace knowing that they will be continuing our legacy, our mantle, without any heart or hope."
"He won't have a damn future to inherit if we don't get our asses in gear!" argued Renji but Kamina had made up his mind. Without another word the blue haired brawler turned his back to the assembled shinigami and walked to the prow of the Dai-Gurren. With his legs crossed he sat at the very end of the battleship and became still.
Hours passed by without any movement from Kamina. The rest of the crew waited around anxiously as the sun moved across the sky and the light began to fade. Soon night fell and still Kamina didn't stir. Slowly people began to retire to bed.
Another hour passed until the battered shape of Sasori returned upon the deck. He looked disheartened and on the verge of collapse but a new determination glistened behind his bloodshot eyes.
Kamina finally turned his head. "You find anything?"
The boy nodded dumbly and held out a broken bracelet. It looked cheap but he held onto it like the world's greatest treasure. Silent tears rolled down his face. Kamina wrapped an arm around him.
"My parents died too. I never knew my mum but me and my dad were close. One day we left for the surface to lead a new life but I got scared and stayed behind. I always imagined joining him again one day and showing him the man that I had become but when I finally found him he had already died. This cape was his. I took it as a keepsake, just like that bracelet. We'll fix it up for you then when you wear it you'll know that your parents are always with you. I know that that thought has kept me going more times than I'd be willing to admit."
Kamina crouched down and motioned for Sasori to climb onto his back. "Come on kid, time to grab some sleep. Its gonna be an eventful day tomorrow, one way or the other."
The next day started early with Kamina clanging saucepans together. He marched through the ship as he did this and shouted loudly for everyone to get their asses out of bed. Grumpily and with much complaining the crew complied.
"What the hell you playing at, getting everyone up this early?" grunted Renji before stifling a yawn.
"We've gotta make up for lost time."
"Its your fault that we wasted time." began Renji but Kamina had already moved on.
"Today we're gonna find and recruit captain pink mist. With him on our side we'll have enough strength to take on anything! Move out and be prepared for anything!" he bellowed before heading up to the command deck.
By their calculations the lake was only half a days walk from the village in the Dai-Gurren. The battleship headed in a straight line while Kamina sent out teams to search the surrounding area for any signs that might otherwise be missed.
The lake itself was a clear body of water about a mile long. It looked a peaceful place but there was no sign of life at all, no fish, birds or small creatures. The forest where Renji hid extruded an aura of emptiness, you expected it to be deserted but here it seemed more sinister as you expected to see the place teeming with life.
They scoured the immediate area but found nothing. When the scouts arrived back at the Dai-Gurren though they told of destroyed trees and desecrated corpses. More worryingly, the bodies all belonged to shinigami, all of the ones identified belonging to Squad 6. Not that there were many recognisable features left.
"Anything that dares to do such a thing to anyone deserves death. I don't care how strong it is, its part of Team Dai-Gurren's job to punish evil. Get everyone on the ground, we're goin' monster hunting!" announced Kamina when the scouts finished their reports.
They were led away from the lake and into a wooded area by the head scout. The wood was nothing like the forest they had just left behind. The trees were further apart and looked healthy. Sun bathed the area in its gentle radiance but again it was as though animals had never been present.
Then without any transition the pleasant woods became a scene from hell. The trees were a carpet of splinters and among the wood fragments lay dozens of bloody corpses, most cut up so badly that they were barely recognisable as even human.
"Damn!" cursed Kamina. Even he was wordless. "Renji, lock onto any spiritual energy in the area that isn't from us."
"Er, I can't."
"What do you mean? You're a captain! it's a basic at the Academy so you should be able to do it!"
"Strength dims that ability. Me, Ichigo and Kenpachi can't sense anything at more than a few yards. The way it works is we are pointed to the enemy then we go pummel them. Who are you to judge anyway, you cant do that kind of stuff either, Mr Self-exploding-kido!"
"Ha! I've seen the video's of you're kido lessons back when you were there. Talk about dumbass!"
Myu smacked them both across the back of the head, seemingly taking the opportunity to assault a captain while he was rankles. "Shut up and listen!" she ordered. She ushered Nemu over.
"I am picking up a strong reitsu from about one thousand yards that way." she intoned, pointing toward a nearby hill that blocked the view to the south. "It feels familiar."
"Captain Kuchiki?" asked Renji.
"I am unsure. It is strange, like a dampener effect or some other such occurrence is interfering with the signal."
"Well then, we just have to saunter up that hill and take a look ourselves." said Kamina, already half way across the distance.
He crested the hill to gaze out upon an open field that spread out before him for several miles. Below, a short distance into the open space walked a solitary figure. Renji joined Kamina at the top.
"Is that…it is! Captain Kuchiki. Looks like he killed whatever butchered his men. Come on." Renji began to jog down the hill toward the captain.
"Captain Kuchiki! Wait up!" called the red headed captain. Kuchiki didn't slow or even acknowledge Renji's finally drew even and grabbed the other captain's shoulder, pulling him around.
There was blood. Renji leapt back, a shallow gash across his chest. If he had been any slower then it would have been a killing blow. He looked across at Byakuya with a look of shock plastered across his face.
Byakuya's face was deathly pale and his eyes were completely black. Tar like veins strained against his skin. Cut deep into his chest was what appeared to be a large black gear of hardened shadow. His robes were tattered and torn, crusted with dry blood.
"What the hell has happened to you? Fight whatever it is damn it!" Renji roared but Byakura made no signs of hearing it. Kamina stepped up to Renji's side.
"I'm guessing that that gear wasn't there before." he ventured. "I vote we remove that and see what happens. I'd be pretty grouchy too if I had that wedged into my vital organs."
Byakuya still showed no sign of movement. Renji slowly stepped toward him and reached out for the gear. Captain Kuchiki attacked but Renji was prepared and easily dodged. Rather than a single slash like last time though, Byakuya leapt forward and swung relentlessly.
"Kamina, stay back! He is still at full strength. He'll destroy you instantly!" Renji ordered.
As ever, Kamina ignored him and bounded straight into the battle. Without even looking, Byakuya fired a kido at him that shot him straight into the hillside.
"Howl, Zabimaru!" commanded Renji. His zanpakuto shimmered and changed into a segmented blade with sharp teeth like protrusions that shone upon each section. "I'm sorry to do this to you, Byakuya."
Renji slashed and the blade extended, swinging around the other captain and wrapped around him. There was a flash of pink that forced Zabimaru to loosen allowing Byakuya to escape its grasp.
A wave of pink rushed toward Renji who rolled out of its way before pouncing at the other man. A pink shield formed in front of Byakuya, blocking Renji's attack. He tried again, attacking from all angles in rapid succession but the thousands of small pink shards of metal could attack and defend simultaneously.
Kamina charged in again, dodged a stream of pink mist but was blocked by another pink shield. He span aside as the shield shot out as a giant spike at him. He swung at Byakura's head but the captain ducked and kicked up at Kamina. A fuchsia blade drove him back.
"Damn! I'm gonna have to go all out!" growled Renji after being beaten back once again. "Bankai!"
His sword began to glow again but this time it rapidly expanded and elongated. As the lightshow died down Renji was left holding the tail of a giant skeletal snake with a white hollow-like mask. It was several hundred yards long and contained dozens of large fragmented sections like a spine. Renji himself had somehow grown a red fur shoulder drape.
"Overcompensating for anything Renji?" chuckled Kamina as he broke free of the spiralling petals.
Renji ignored him, throwing himself fully into the fight. At his command the giant snake crashed down upon Byakuya and thrashed around, raising up a huge cloud of dust. With another flick of his wrist Zabimaru rose back into the air and rained red beams of energy down from its fanged mouth.
Byakuya burst from the dust and smashed clean through a section of the snake as it coiled to protect its wielder. Renji blocked with the handle and tried to move away but Byakuya stayed up close, nullifying Zabimaru's effectiveness.
"Higa Zekkō!" Renji roared. His zanpakuto broke apart and hovered ominously around Byakuya. The next second every section shot at Byakuya from all angles. A pink sphere appeared, surrounding the captain. The blades on each section bit deep into the shield but didn't fully pierce it. Renji grit his teeth then held out a hand. The segments exploded, shattering Byakuya's defence.
Without pause, Renji charged at him, his zanpakuto now back in its shikai form. He swung, cutting heavily into Byakuya's shoulder.
"I always pledged that I'd defeat you. While you might not be in your own mind I'm gonna make good on that!"
Zabimaru extended and began to wrap around Byakura's throat. There was a flash of pink that caused Renji to grunt. He gazed down to see a pink sword sticking through his gut. "Damn."
A burst of kido sent Renji flying backwards. Byakuya freed himself from Zabimaru and strode towards the injured Renji. As he walked, the black veins on his face spread creating a black mask over his face.
"What the hell!" hissed Renji. "That looks like a hollowfication. This can't be possible." he held out his battered zanpakuto and pumped the last of his power into it, reforming its bankai state.
The snake head lashed forward with startling speed. It bit down upon Byakuya and sped up into the air. Byakura stood staring into the dark abyss of zabimaru's maw as his arms strained to stop the giant mouth from snapping shut. From the darkness came a blazing crimson light. A beam shot out, engulfing Byakuya in a brilliant blood coloured light.
The beam ended but Byakuya remained standing. His clothes were tattered and his skin red raw but he still stood strong. The black mask had shattered. He pointed one finger down the throat and a bolt of lightning ripped down Zabimaru's length and into Renji. Renji dropped to the ground unconscious. Zabimaru disintegrated.
Byakuya stepped toward Renji, petals of metal twirling around him. Kamina strode between the two, a wide grin on his face. "You enjoy the warm-up act? Well now its time for the main event!"
The petals formed together and fired forward. Kamina didn't budge. "Let's make them grit their teeth, Gurren!"
The shades formed in the nick of time, deflecting the attack with ease. A hale of pink assailed him but the dark surface of Gurren took the blow as though it were nothing more than petals in the wind.
"Lucky for you, I can only hold my shikai for a few minutes. It'll only take half that time though to knock you into next week!"
The shades lit up with flames that reflected on Kamina's eyes giving him a truly fiery gaze. He dived forward slashing upward but was blocked. Pink enveloped him but a well timed kido explosion knocked the metal fragments away as Kamina leapt aside. Byakuya slashed at him again and again but Kamina matched him stroke for stroke.
A bolt of kido ripped through Kamina's shoulder, knocking him back. Rather than letting the pain get to him though he threw Gurren at Byakuya who blocked them, leaving himself open to a savage uppercut from one of Kamina's large fists. The blow struck, sending Byakuya skywards.
The captain smashed into the ground. Kamina retrieved his sword. "You captains aren't that tough. I'm disappointed. I expected more."
Byakuya flash-stepped away but Kamina had grown use to that move by this point. He span and caught the captain's sword in the angle between the two points of the giant shades. Petals formed around him and Kamina braced but instead of moving to attack him they positioned themselves like wings behind Byakuya.
"Pink wings? Seriously? And people respect you. I mean, come on, a scarf and hair ornaments too. Not to mention that you zanpakuto turns into pink flower petals. I'm not one to judge but…"
Byakuya's power suddenly increased tenfold. His blade pressed against Gurren with enough force to crack its surface. Kamina cursed through clenched teeth. Individual metal fragments shot sat him, slicing at his skin one by one. Another sword materialised in Byakuya's other hand which too was slammed down onto Gurren, further cracking the blade to the point that its surface looked like a mosaic.
"You think that it's strength that makes the man? You're stronger than me, anyone can see that, but I'll tell you now that it's gonna be me who wins this fight! Your sword cannot break my manly resolve, no matter how hard you push! Fighting spirit is my fuel and its what keeps Gurren together! You fight without a soul, a heart, spirit! You can beat me down as many times as you can lift your arm and I'll keep getting back up but mark my words, my attack will keep you down!"
Byakuya renewed his efforts to destroy Kamina's zanpakuto but nothing happened. With exaggerated slowness Kamina grabbed Byakuya's swords with one hand in a steely grip. He freed his sword and a second slid forward like cards in a deck. At point blank range he threw them at the captain.
He began his signature move. "GIGA! SHADE! BREAAAK!"
His fist shot forward, flaming shades between his fingers. A wave of pink descended upon him, ripping his sides to shreds. His body wanted to drop, wanted him to scream out in pain and let the pain disappear but he wouldn't fall for that a second time. He pushed on through both the pain and the barrage of metal fragments, his entire body suffering under the assault.
The attack struck the black gear and there was a powerful explosion. The gear was pushed further into Byakuya's chest before being forced violently out through his back. The strange object spiralled into the air before disintegrating. The black veins died down and a look of humanity returned to his eyes. It only lasted a moment though before they closed and he collapsed to the floor.
Kamina stood swaying, panting heavily. His skin was near completely red with his own blood. Blood dripped freely from several wounds. He glanced around and saw Sasori staring at him with mixed horror and amazement.
"That's how it's done, kid. See, with enough determination and belief, anything is possible. Don't limit yourself with what ifs and maybes. Reach out for the stars and grasp them with your own two hands. That's the way Team Dai-Gurren roles."
He wanted to pass out at this point but with Sasori watching he couldn't bear to show any sign of weakness. Instead he ordered Hanataro to get both Renji and Byakuya aboard and heal them before Kamina made his way to his own quarters in a slow limping stagger. The second he was inside he collapsed onto his bed.
The darkness washed over him, searing pain the only thing that linked both his body and mind. He'd pushed himself too far.
A wedge of light appeared through his eyelids then soft footsteps heralded the approach of someone. Kamina opened his eyes as warm energy passed over him to see Nemu stood over him. Like always she had that same melancholic look upon her face.
"I didn't know you were a nurse too." Kamina chuckled through a racking cough.
"I was designed to be an expert in all fields. My father expects noting less then perfection from all of his creations." she answered. Similar to the possessed Byakuya, Kamina could see no sign of fighting spirit burning within her eyes.
A new resolve entered Kamina's head. "Looks like the clown failed then." he stated. "He made you perfect for the things that he wanted but left you with no self respect, no social skills and no spirit. I look in your eyes and see only emptiness and I know that that is that jackass's fault. Next time I see him I'm gonna sock him in the face so hard he comes to his damn senses. I won't rest until I see some fire in those eyes. You j-"
Nemu injected him with some golden liquid. His words slurred then broke off. "You need to rest." she said, her face remaining a constant throughout his speech.
Kamina felt himself being grabbed by tendrils of sleep within his mind. As he slipped from consciousness his thoughts wandered back to Yoko and the blazing passion that was locked within her eyes from the first moment he had seen them to the last.
A/N: Welcome once again dear readers. Thanks again to everyone for reading this story, I'm truly grateful. Hope this chapter entertained you all.
I will give Kamina some more moves sooner or later as we all know that he certainly isn't a one trick horse. I will also be adding variety to the chapters so they aren't all just 'find a captain, fight or persuade them to join, repeat.' It will all be fleshed out so don't worry.
Again, please leave a review with you comments, questions or suggestions. The poll is still up on my profile if anyone is interested, it'll probably run for another week or two before I start to incorporate any developed parings into the story.
So thanks and farewell.
-FWF