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Here is Chapter Seven! I'm happy to say I got it done sooner than I thought *glare* mainly due to coming home from college with a migraine…
Anyways! Here it is and it is the beginning to the battles between Ichigo's friends and the Espada. I will do a chapter for each battle, with one or two chapters in between for future yaoi ect.
WARNING: some scenes of violence but nothing too bad
On with it!
Chapter Seven: Espada!
At last the group had found their way into Las Noches; they were currently walking down a long darkly lit tunnel which looked like an unused emergency exit.
They walked in utter silence, only the sound of footsteps on stone echoed. They're battle with the hordes of hollows and Arrancar outside the walls had left them weary and eager to leave as soon as possible. They had been lucky to escape as soon as they had, and certainly if it had not been for Inoue's ability to heal them they would have been in a much worse state.
Byakuya let Renji go in front of him; the fukutaichou was using his appalling attempt at kido to light a path and Byakuya was inwardly in agreement with Shirosaki, who had pointed out that even with the small light Renji was creating… His hair was more than enough of a torch.
Renji stopped suddenly, causing his captain to bump into him; he looked around at the noble and was certain he could see a slight blush on his cheeks, he could have been wrong… But he doubted it.
"Why've we stopped?" Shirosaki called from some way back.
"There's a staircase ahead…" Renji replied just loudly enough for him to hear.
"Shouldn't we continue then?" Tensa asked, holding a hand over the albino's mouth.
"I… I guess so…" the red head nodded but was pushed aside somewhat gently by Byakuya.
The noble gave him a faint smile, "I'll go first." He murmured and helped extinguish the kido.
Renji merely nodded and followed him up the stairs slowly. Byakuya hesitated as he came face to face with a solid metal door and rested a hand on it, "By the looks of things this door leads to the newer part of the building… If we go through we'll likely be entering an area which is in use unlike the tunnel we've been in so far. We should think things through before continuing otherwise we don't know what we'll be up against… And anything could happ-"
"Oi… Byakuya… Move outa the way…" Shiro called as he walked over, he felt Tensa transform beside him and caught the hilt of the katana, he sighed and tilted his head, slicing downwards suddenly, "Getusuga Tenshou!" he barked.
Byakuya's eyebrow twitched slightly as the door blasted inwards and the rest of the wall crumbled into pieces and felt his fingers twitch in the direction of his own Zanpakto, longing to slice and dice the albino, who was just as tenacious and obstinate as his orange haired counterpart.
Shirosaki appeared unaware of Byakuya's seething and walked forwards, "Ah… Another staircase…" he announced.
Ishida winced, noting the captain's twitching fingers and eyebrow, "Shirosaki! We should think about this first!" he told him.
"Shaddap Ishida… We're gonna smash through all of 'em 'nd force our way forwards!" he cut him off and ran up the stairs, slicing through the next door.
He continued through before finally pausing and feeling Tensa change back again. He looked around slowly, "Finally… A place that ain't likely to collapse!"
The group walked into the room they had arrived in and glanced at their new surroundings. They were in a huge circular room which had many extremely tall doorways leading down separate corridors. Between each doorway was a large torch, burning bright orange flames out into the air, both warming and lighting the way.
"The path splits here huh…" Ishida sighed.
"We sure picked a grand spot to come out…" Renji added as he ran a hand through his hair.
"We're going to have to check them all out one at a time… It's going to take a while." The Quincy said as he looked at the doorways.
"Don't be ridiculous." Byakuya said in a soft tone, "It will be much quicker and much more productive if we split up here and take a route each."
Shiro looked around suddenly, "Wha'? But these are the Espada! We can't risk splittin' up… It'd be safer to stick together…"
The noble met his gaze, "Do you forget who you're speaking to Shirosaki? We have a captain and a fukutaichou present, as well as Rukia who is as you know… Quite talented and more than capable of looking after herself. This is the battle field now Shirosaki… You should not insult a soldier."
The albino faltered and looked back at him; he clenched his teeth for a moment before conceding defeat, "Fine… We'll take separate paths." He agreed.
Chad looked between them all for a moment before speaking, "There are five paths. Which means most of us will be paired up anyway."
"And two people will have to go alone." Inoue whispered.
"I will go alone." Rukia said suddenly, looking at her brother for a nod of approval, which came after only a moment of hesitation.
"I'll take the other route alone too." Ishida decided, "After all… I'd be ashamed to have to pair up with any of you Shinigami."
"Renji and I will take this path…" Byakuya said as he gestured to one of the routes.
"I will look after Inoue." Chad rumbled.
Tensa and Shirosaki glanced at each other and sighed, nodding, "Alright… We're decided then."
Renji rested a hand on his hip, "Alright then! I've got something to bring us good luck!" he declared, surprising everyone including his captain at his outburst.
"Good… Luck?" Shiro asked.
"Yeah! It's like an old ceremony that the Thirteen Protection Squads used to do before a big battle. It isn't done much these days… In fact barely any of the squads still use it… But-" he paused, "I recon now is a darn good time to bring it back into fashion…"
He put his hand out abruptly, "Alright! Everyone put their hand on top of mine!" he told them, "Don't give me that look… It's awkward for me too…"
Shirosaki glanced at Tensa before he nodded and walked forwards, watching as Byakuya, Rukia, Ishida, Chad and Inoue clapped a hand on top of Renji's. He added his own hand at the same time as Tensa did and they all looked at the vibrant red head to see what to do next.
"Now, we head towards the battlefield! Believe and our blades will not break! Believe and our hearts will not bend! Though we take different paths, our iron hearts will beat as one! Swear that even if the Earth is torn asunder, we will live and return here once again!" he exclaimed, giving a moment's break before the group shot towards their allocated route.
"That was quite the speech you gave Renji." Byakuya commented as they jogged along the white corridor, "I was impressed… I never thought you would have the memory for such details."
Renji looked at his captain, "Thank you Taichou…" he murmured, "It just seemed fitting."
They continued in silence for a long while, not encountering another soul, not even sensing a hollow; let alone any Espada.
The corridor began to curve and bend; the pair became noticeably tenser as the hallway started to brighten.
Renji stopped suddenly and stared at the wall, "Taichou… That's the second time I've seen that crack in the wall…" he frowned.
Byakuya stopped and turned, looking at the crack in the white wall, "You're right… I've seen it before too. That means… We've gone around in a circle!"
They looked at each other and faltered, looking up and down the corridor sceptically, "How's that even possible?" Renji murmured, "It only just started to curve…"
Byakuya brushed a hand over the wall and frowned only slightly, his lips pursed gently as he mulled it over, "We'll have to try again. If we've gone around in a circle and not seen an exit it means the door back to the room we came from no longer exists either."
"You're right…" he sighed and started walking again.
They paced themselves at a light jog and followed the path around; Byakuya pulled his fukutaichou to a sudden stop and pointed at the door ahead of them. Renji looked back at him and nodded, resting a hand on the hilt of his Zanpakto.
Byakuya pushed the door open and the pair slowly edged into the new room. Thankfully they discovered they had not been in this area previously, it was new and unexplored. Though they were abruptly interrupted and overwhelmed by a thick mist-fog and within a few minutes alone could hardly see their hands in front of their faces.
"What is this…?" Byakuya murmured, highly unimpressed.
"This is just superb…" a voice echoed towards them, they both looked around but were unable to see whom it belonged to, "… I honestly didn't think anyone would fall for the simplest trick… yet here you are."
Renji and Byakuya shared a look.
"Oppsie… How rude of me… I haven't even introduced myself yet…" there was a sound of a door opening and closing again and slowly the mist began to clear, "I'll only say it once… So I hope beings of such low intelligence can remember it."
There was a moment's silence, in which Byakuya started to show unusual murderous signs. The mist lowered until it was around their middles and both shinigami looked towards the third figure in the room.
Renji's eyes widened suddenly, "You! You were one of the Espada who kidnapped Ichigo!" he exclaimed.
"Yes… That is correct. I'm Espada number Eight… Octava Espada… Szayel Aporro Granz."
"Espada…" Byakuya murmured, "I see… One of the ten who supervise the other Arrancar…" his eyes narrowed slightly.
"My, my… Don't look so scary!" Szayel said quickly with a nervous smile and his hands lifted in front of him, "Even though I am an Espada, I'm not good at fighting. I'm a researcher. I enjoy gathering data on different spirit patterns. It is the most enjoyable thing in the world to me." He tilted his head slightly, "And of course… You are both fantastic. Your reiatsu patterns are completely different to any I've research previously-" he said as he looked at Renji, his gaze flicked back to Byakuya, "And your reiatsu patterns are so wild and erratic… So unlike your persona. So I planned to give you both the warmest of welcomes. I do hope you'll come with me… Never mind… You don't have a choice."
Byakuya and Renji glanced at each other and nodded, both drawing their Zanpakto slowly.
"You must be kidding…" Renji scoffed, "We didn't come here to chat with you."
"We came here to rescue Kurosaki Ichigo… And destroy Aizen Sousuke's Espada." Byakuya finished, "If you wish to speak to us… I suggest you do so whilst being cut to ribbons. Because I for one… Am not going to hold back."
Byakuya stepped forwards and lifted his katana, angling the blade vertically downwards before he dropped it, "Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." He commanded, looking at the scientist as his Zanpakto was absorbed into the ground with a ripple. Simultaneously, dozens of larger blades slowly slid up in two rows either side of Szayel.
"You fate was sealed when you chose me as your opponent, Szayel Aporro Granz." Byakuya told him in his usual monotone.
"Hmm? Oh… I'm not so sure of that." Szayel smirked widely.
Byakuya's brow furrowed faintly at his words but took little notice as the blades erupted into millions of blossom petals and all shot towards the pink haired scientist.
There was an explosion.
Byakuya's eyes widened massively and he stared in disbelief as his bankai was not only deflected… But defeated. In one fell swoop… And the scientist had not even lifted a finger. Byakuya looked down as his katana reappeared in his hand and faltered, momentarily at a loss of what to do.
His thought trail was cut off by a yell from his fukutaichou, "BANKAI! HIHIŌ ZABIMARU!" the red head exploded, throwing his Zanpakto forwards as a wind picked up and the blade transformed into the giant serpent. Renji shrugged to set his bankai's fur jacket into position and threw the handle of his bankai forwards, sending the serpent's head towards the scientist.
There was another explosion.
Renji gawped as his bankai caved in on its self and dropped onto one knee as his reiatsu was sapped slightly. He panted and looked down at his now ordinary Zanpakto.
"W-what's going on?" he exclaimed.
Szayel walked forwards slowly, "See? This is what happens when you don't wait for me to finish speaking." He smirked, "This room… Was designed to prevent your bankai's from working."
The pair faltered and shared a glance before looking back at him, "We… can't use our bankai's?" Renji repeated in scepticism.
"Correct… Go ahead… Call out for it again. It'll make you look like a complete fool." He said as he pointed one hand to his own head and the other at Renji, smirking all the while, "I have all the information I require concern your bankai's. If I know every detail… I can nullify it."
"How did you get such information? Only someone who has fought against the bankai could know." Byakuya half growled.
Szayel swept a hand through his hair, sighing softly, "My brother. Did it not click when I told you my name? Szayel Aporro Granz. Yylfordt Granz was my brother."
Renji's eyes widened, "Yylfordt Granz… I fought him in the world of the living!"
"Oh? You remember trash like him? I guess I should thank you for that."
"I'm guessing by your tone you aren't angry about his death?" Renji frowned.
"Pfft… Like I'd do that for trash. Anyway, I implanted Spectral parasites into his body so when you fought him I was able to record the fight, watching it over as many times as I required. And then… When you killed him… The parasites transferred into your body. And when you had an innocent training session with your Taichou… I recorded it again. And learned everything about his bankai too."
Szayel took a step towards the pair and reached around, sliding his Zanpakto sheathed behind him before gripping the hilt and slowly unsheathing it. He looked at the pair, "Now… There is no way for you to win or to escape… Please do not struggle. I'd rather not have to kill you."
"Like hell!" Renji yelled and lifted his Zanpakto again, "Howl, Zabimaru!" he exclaimed and hurled the now extendable blade towards the Espada.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!" Byakuya declared and directed the smaller amount of blossoms towards Szayel.
Szayel ducked and blocked the attacks from Zabimaru, watching as the blossoms headed towards him.
"What's up? Didn't you get all my information?" Renji yelled with a grin, "Now… the final blow!"
Szayel sighed and rolled his eyes, suddenly lifted his Zanpakto to a different angle and watching as Zabimaru merely clunked and ricocheted away, "Just kidding… Sorry…" he smirked, sending a cero into the blossoms as they drove towards him. With a slash of his Zanpakto both captain and fukutaichou were sent to their knees with minor injuries to their chests.
Szayel took several slow steps forwards and rested a hand on his hip, "Well… As fun as this has been I have my orders. So unfortunately I'm going to wrap this up now."
"O… Orders?" Byakuya winced as he pushed himself back up to his feet, "What orders?"
Szayel raised his eyebrows, "Hmm? We Espada were ordered to allow you to make it to Las Noches and not to interfere. Aizen-sama called a meeting as soon as you got into the basement… And told us to capture and NOT kill the enemy."
"What?" he gasped, "Why would he want us caught?"
"I don't know… We don't question him we just so as he says."
Szayel shrugged and smiled widely, "Well then… I will fight you at my full strength, which in its self is a much sicker joke." He lifted his Zanpakto and aimed the tip of the blade towards his open mouth, "Sip, Fornicarás." He breathed as he slid the blade down his throat.
His mouth was filled by a bright pink glow and his body exploded suddenly. Byakuya and Renji, both slightly disgusted by the change in appeared, could not help but stared as the Eight Espada's hair grew longer, his clothes changed and his glasses were replaced with a bone like structure.
As the transformed Espada set foot back upon the ground he let out a long groan of pleasure at bein able to return to his favoured form, "Ah… Now it is time for Act Two." His eyes flicked to look at the pair, "Oh… Sorry no, let me rephrase that… Now it is time for Act Two's finale."
Renji had his breath knocked from his lungs as one of the large wings coming from Szayel's back snapped around and threw him into the wall and pinned him there. He began gasping for breath as he attempted to wriggle free of the Espada's trap.
Byakuya's eyes widened slightly, "Renji!" he yelled and took a step in his direction before looking at the Espada, "Hado Number 4, Byakurai!" He shouted as he pointed at Szayel, he gritted his teeth as he sent a blast of blue lightening into the Espada, "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado 31, Shakkaho!" he chanted quickly in succession to the first kido and fired a large ball of red fire from his palm, "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws!" he added in quick progression and shot a large wave of blue lightening from his hands.
He covered his face as he heard a yell form Szayel's direction and coughed at the onslaught of smoke which plumed from his kido attack. He lowered his hands slowly as the dust settle but faltered, his eyes flying wide and his mouth falling ajar as he was confronted by a monstrous scene. Szayel Aporro Granz… That slippery bastard… Had moved Renji in the way of his attacks… His precious fukutaichou and heart throb… Was hanging half dead from the Espada's grasp.
"R… Renji…" Byakuya breathed, his hands shaking slightly.
"Oppsie… Looks like you were a little hasty…" Szayel half purred with a cackle.
"RENJI!" Byakuya hollered suddenly and flash-stepped as fast as his legs would allow him to.
Szayel tossed the unconscious and badly bleeding shinigami aside and threw his other wing forwards towards the blur which was Byakuya, the red droplets coiled around the blur and closed around him before spitting him back out onto the floor.
Szayel laughed as a small doll was dropped into his hand and lifted it up, "Ohhh… Look what I have here…" he smirked as he showed Byakuya the doll version of him, "It's Byakuya-kun…"
Said noble recovered his breath and got to his feet, glancing at Renji who was unconscious and bleeding out; clenching his teeth he looked at Szayel, "What is this?"
"Whaaaaat?" Szayel smirked widely, "I'm just pretending he's you…" he pouted and brushed a thumb over the cheek of the Byakuya doll. Byakuya's back stiffened as he felt a slight poke on his cheek.
Szayel grinned, "You felt that didn't you? Like someone poked you? Simply put, this doll acts as a controller of your five senses. For instance-" he flicked the doll hard in the forehead and watched as Byakuya's head snapped back.
With a chuckle he began tugging at the doll, he bit his bottom lip softly and let out a small 'ah' sound as the doll popped in two. He smiled widely at the split in half doll and then at Byakuya who was looking a mixture of confused and shocked.
"What's that face for?" he asked with a small frown, "Did you think you two would split in half if the doll did? Idiot. Its set up to do this."
"W… what is this?" he asked a little shakily.
"Hmm… See these?" he asked as he stirred a finger amongst the multi-coloured beans inside the bottom half of the doll, "These small parts are what make this doll truly fun. But for a simpleton like you… Understand would perhaps come quickest from experience. So… let's see."
Szayel dipped his thumb and forefinger into the doll and swirled them around gently before picking out one of the parts, he tilted his head slightly and hummed quietly, "The stomach huh?" he murmured before crushing the piece until it shattered.
Byakuya's eyes widened and he hunched over, falling to his knees as he felt his stomach burst, he leaned onto his hands and knees, spewing water onto the floor abruptly.
Szayel grinned widely, "Oh. You see now? You understand what this doll does?"
"Y… You… b… bastard…" he groaned weakly and held his stomach, rocking slightly before he yelled out as his radius and tibia were crushed soon after his stomach.
"Such language." Szayel scolded, "Now sit quiet and surrender. Or I'll be forced to crush every bone in your body… Followed by the rest of your organs."
Byakuya lasted until his kidney was crushed soon after his ankle, Achilles and wrist bone were snapped. He shuddered for a moment before sinking down unconscious onto the floor in front of the Eight Espada.
Szayel smirked slightly and checked that the pair were fully unconscious before he transformed into his usual self once again, he put the ear piece back into his ear and pressed the button, "Aizen-sama… Yes… The intruders who entered the Laboratory levels have been apprehended. Ah… Yes… They do require some medical treatment as they were a little unwilling to cooperate." He sighed softly and nodded, "Very well Aizen-sama. Oh… It was Abarai Renji and Kuchiki Byakuya."
Aizen sat back in his chair and looked out of the open balcony doors, "Excellent Szayel." He told him softly and cut the connection, "Hmm… Two down, six to go." He smirked.
So here is the end of Chapter Seven, hope you enjoyed it! In the next chapter I will be writing one of the requested pairings from the reviews I received so keep yer eyes peeled! And as mentioned in the previous chapter, if you want to see any particular pairings in future chapters let me know!