Chapter 12: Rage

"You know that Byakuya only wants to protect you, right?" Kisuke said to a perplexed Yoruichi.

"Byakuya shouldn't be worrying about protecting anyone but himself, right now!" Yoruichi complained, "He's the one who's been chosen to be sacrificed. He's being chased all over the universe. No one even knows I'm carrying the Kuchiki heir, but us and him."

"Well," said Kisuke, "You probably should think about it a little. I mean, you don't want to end up in combat or anything like that at this point. I think that's all he really meant. He certainly wouldn't disparage the hand that just saved his royal…hindquarters…"

"He's just so annoyingly arrogant! I've taken care of myself for well over a hundred years. I don't need him preaching to me about…"

"Whoa! Must be the hormones getting busy. Man! You aren't really you today. First of all, you don't rail on anyone like that, and second…I know you've got a little soft spot for Byakuya. Even if you did rant about someone, it usually wouldn't be him. Although, I do see your point about the arrogance. I just don't think it was arrogance talking before, Yoruichi. I think he was being rather sweet. It wasn't like he stole your opponent in a battle, the guy just offered to deliver the vials for you."

Yoruichi blinked.

"So…I…overreacted," she said, hating the truth in it.

Kisuke smiled.

"Nah, I always enjoy it when I see you open doors with a cannonball!" he laughed, "Yeah, maybe a little. But I'm pretty sure Byakuya won't hold it against you."

Yoruichi sighed.

"Hormones, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I'm hungry," Yoruichi said, looking around the room.

"Again? You ran me out of rice, chicken, and fresh vegetables…oh and…um…black licorice…"

"Maybe Byakuya and I can stop on the way to Hueco Mundo," Yoruichi muttered to herself, "I feel like I haven't eaten in a week."

"I don't think he'll mind. He seems to be pretty willing to spoil you. I'd enjoy that while it lasts," Kisuke suggested.

"Right…well we need to get going."

Yoruichi stepped out of the room for a few minutes, only to return shortly after, looking perplexed.

"What now?" joked Kisuke, "Did he flash step on your toes again?"

"Kisuke, where is Byakuya?" Yoruichi asked, an edge of panic in her voice.

"He was in the next room. Hey, I'm sure he didn't hear what we said…least I hope he didn't!"

"Kisuke…Byakuya isn't here," Yoruichi said, starting to feel very unnerved.

"Not here?" he said uncomprehendingly.

"Yes…" Yoruichi said softly, "and two of the vials are gone."

XXXXXXXXXX

Kenpachi Zaraki stood staring down from the watchtower at the sea of wolves swarming the outpost. It seemed that no matter how many they killed, more showed up. Luckily, his men had gotten to Kenta and Rikichi and the two were now protected by the strongest of his men. He felt a twinge of deep frustration as Renji Abarai crossed his thoughts, but there was no time to dwell on his failure now. There were two others to protect and a fortress to defend. He gripped the handle of his zanpakuto and prepared to jump back into the midst of the fighting.

Just as he moved forward, a bright white light rose up in the distance. The sun had been down for some time and the full moon was outshone by the light he saw approaching. At its appearance, Zaraki was stunned to note that every single wolf stopped in its tracks and sat, nose pointing up to the moon. As the men stopped and stared, mournful cries filled the air and the white light grew ever brighter.

Zaraki squinted and caught his breath in surprise. At the center of the light, a white clad man walked…and as he moved forward, the wolves came to their feet, yipping like puppies and trotting away to join him.

"I'll be damned," he muttered, staring.

He looked closer. The man's features were all too familiar. Zaraki tightened his hand on his sword and sent messengers to find Ikkaku and Yumichika. It looked like the wolves had given up on Rikichi and Kenta for now. They were focusing all of their energy on Byakuya Kuchiki, and from what Zaraki could see, the captain was walking willingly to his death.

XXXXXXXXXX

"There's news from the outpost," Kisuke said as he burst suddenly into the room.

Yoruichi was on her feet in a flash.

"What's happening?" she demanded, "Did Byakuya arrive there?"

"He's been and gone," Kisuke reported grimly, "Apparently, he made some grand appearance and the wolves followed him away from the base and into the desert. I'm sorry…it gets worse. Renji disappeared from the outpost, too."

Yoruichi stared.

"I have to go after them!" she exclaimed.

"Hey," Kisuke said bracingly, "I have to caution you. You are taking some pretty risky action just going there to deliver the vials. I was serious about you wanting to avoid combat."

"Kisuke…I…I can't desert them," she said with lowered eyes, "I already deserted Byakuya once. I can't just leave him to die. And then there's Renji…Kisuke, he is a good friend. I can't abandon him."

"You know what you're risking," Kisuke said softly.

"I know," she said, tears forming in her eyes, "but I don't want this child to be all that's left of them!"

Kisuke sighed.

"I guess I've got no right to stand in your way. If this is what you've got to do, then do it…but be sure to do it right…and come back alive."

Yoruichi stepped forward and embraced him for a moment. Then she turned and dashed into the senkaimon. Kisuke looked after her, sighing.

"Be careful, Yoruichi," he said softly, "I kinda wish now that you'd let Byakuya take those vials."

He turned away from the senkaimon and slowly walked back to the shop.

XXXXXXXXXX

Kenpachi Zaraki was in the midst of preparing to leave the base, when Yoruichi suddenly burst into view.

"Where are Rikichi and Kenta?" she called.

"Right here!" called Rikichi, waving.

She flash stepped to the two and handed them the vials. Both of the young men gulped down the contents and, after a queasy moment or two, drew their zanpakuto and moved to join Zaraki's rescue force. Yoruichi followed them and pulled Rikichi aside.

"Rikichi, I need to ask a favor," she told him.

The boy nodded.

"I need the use of your special eagle form…the one you used to rescue Byakuya and the rest before. I have to stay out of the fighting, but I need a way to know what is going on, so I can be there to help if I am needed."

"Okay," Rikichi assured her, "That's no problem."

"You can maintain the form for an extended time?" she asked.

Rikichi nodded.

"I can do that forever…It's easy, watch…"

"Kassou, Hiwashi Ko!"

His eagle burst out of his katana and swelled to a huge size. Yoruichi climbed on board, followed by Rikichi, Hanatoro and Kenta. The bird rose into the air and followed Zaraki's rescue force out of the base.

XXXXXXXXXX

Why?

Why did I come here?

What's happening?

What's happening to me?

I was safe at the base, waiting for Byakuya to come back, when all of a sudden, the voice rose up inside me and told me it was time to go. I couldn't stop myself. Then the wolves broke down my door and I had to follow them. I am one of them, they said.

I followed them out into the desert and as we went all I could think about was how I was failing Byakuya. I promised him I'd wait. I promised him we could do this together. I meant to wait, but the pull of the wolves was just too much.

They led me down the trail to the valley of blood and I thought back to my battle there, the one that ended with me being turned…changed. I was never the same after. I was still myself at surface level, but the wolves were beneath my skin.

They chose Byakuya. And after that, every time I looked into his eyes, every time we touched, every time we made love, we were bound more and more tightly together. They made me depend on him for life…made me drain his reiatsu so I would adjust to the feeling, so I would crave the relief I felt when his power flowed into me. And as we neared this place my craving for him grew stronger and stronger until my body ached and I panted with pain for lack of it. I hungered so strongly for the taste of that power, it ignited a frenzy inside of me…a bloodlust. And then when he came into my mind, I desired him even more strongly, but now I wanted him only for what I could draw from him.

So I waited for him. I waited for him and wanted him. And when the white light rose up in the distance and the wolves released their cries all around, I cried too. I cried because my waiting was at an end and soon I would take everything he had promised me…his power and lifeblood, so it would flow inside me…and we would be forever joined.

I heard his footsteps as he walked alongside my brethren, as he came through the valley of blood and entered the cave. Turning, I saw his face and the bloodlust flared. I stepped toward him with my arms wide.

He was white with his power and more beautiful than he ever had been, his black eyes fired with love…black hair whipping around him. Black on White…White on Black…I was dizzy with wanting him. Smiling, I stepped into his open arms…

I met him open-mouthed and starving, seeking only to steal the blood from his veins and the power from his heart. But even as I bit down on those sensuous lips and drew the first pearls of his blood, something unexpected flowed from him into me. It burned my mouth and down my throat and into my very center.

It was me…It was who I had been before. He carried it hidden past the throng of his enemies, into the heart of their lair. He reached into their midst and pulled me back away from them. He gave me back to myself, not caring about the cost of it.

He watched my eyes and I knew he was waiting for me to come back, to give some sign that I was there. He must have seen it because his expression became one of relief. We stood there for a moment, holding each other, safe in the midst of our enemies. But all moments have to end, and this was no different.

I knew they were enraged and that danger was all around, but I didn't see that Yuudai Kuchiki still held a zanpakuto…that he had drawn it…and that, screaming in anger, he drove it through Byakuya. All I saw was the sudden surprise in my lover's expression, and I felt him stiffen against the shock of pain. He trembled and his eyes went misted, then his weight dropped against me…and the blood began to flow.

His Senkei rose around us, a final act of love to buy us time, time I thought was meant for farewells. But even as the pink swords rose, he urged me to take the weapon from his hand…and I saw the irony. He had given everything…his love…his protection…his power…his blood…his very life without hesitation. And I had sought to take it all. And after that, he took me back into his arms, under the shield of the pink blades and he placed the symbol of his power in my hand.

Senbonzakura.

Even as I laid my hands around the hilt, I felt the sword's spirit raging inside. I felt it screaming his name. It brushed my mind only to know who I was…and why I held the sword, and why he wasn't answering. The sword's rage flared into deadly fury.

The pink blades exploded around us, blasting through our enemies and bringing a rain of rock and debris down on us all. Still the wolves moved forward and I stood over him with his sword gripped in my hand.

And inside the sword, Senbonzakura seethed and ached for revenge…for release.

"Wake up!" it called to him.

And still he did not answer.

XXXXXXXXXX

I feel myself made light, lifted, and set free. There is a feeling of harsh separation and then I can see, even without use of my eyes. Somehow, even as my body lies torn and broken at his feet, I am still with him.

The dust of my Senkei settles and the roar of our enemies echoes all around us in the ruined cave. Renji's face is lit with the red fire of his resolve and his hands curl lovingly around the light blue hilt of Senbonzakura.

And he is right. Help is approaching. I feel the thunder of zanpakuto and kido, see the lightning of shunko, and hear a rising chorus of battle cries. They are crossing the valley of blood in a vibrant golden wave that falls upon the wolves and sends them tumbling into the darkness of death.

Senbonzakura is moving, sweeping upward against the wolves left trapped with us in the cave. Howls and screams break against the silent stone. Yuudai Kuchiki stands back watching as the last of the horde descends on Renji and his battle cry tears through them with all of the deadly force of the legendary sword he now wields. Even so, some of the dark claws and teeth find their mark and his blood begins to flow, adding streaks of bright red to the tanned skin and black lines of his body.

Even so, he stands against them, protecting my still, pale form. His body turns, spins and rains heavy blows on all who reach for us. Impossibly, he holds against far more than a single soul reaper should, screaming his defiance at them and bathing Senbonzakura in their blood. The blood runs in streams down his hands, falling to join the crimson pools and spatters on the ground all around him.

This is the fighter who captured my heart when he came to my rescue in Inuzuri. He is the one who stood unrelenting and unbent against the shattering force of the blade he now wields on my behalf.

"In defense of my captain, I am prepared to die."

And he proves it with each stroke of my blade, with each turn, with each cry, with each sliding step forward. He proves it with hard eyes, taut muscle and blinding speed.

Renji Abarai

Absolute loyalty

Resolute courage

My vice captain

My lover

My partner

My lifelong friend

He shreds them until all have fallen, until their bodies litter the ground around him, until the floor is thick and red-stained and the howls have faded into silence. He stops then, painted in blood, panting with rage, peering through long waves of blood-soaked red hair, his eyes dark with challenge as he faces my ancestor and the ancient zanpakuto he wields.

Yuudai Kuchiki smiles and steps forward.

"I congratulate you, Renji Abarai and I must tell you that this is why I wanted you. Such strength, such courage. To stand against so many and not to fall. It is a shame that I have to kill you now."

He raises his zanpakuto and a great golden wolf springs out of it. Eyes raging with demon fire, it flashes towards Renji, claws extended, teeth bared. Against only a sealed katana, its proud spirit held back by the loss of its soul.

As the wolf closes in, I feel the pull of the thousand swords reach for me. Swept out of the air and into its seething depths, I cannot resist. It takes hold of me, of my need, of Renji's, of its own…and as the combatants meet, it dissolves into a brilliant display of pink blades. They spin around Renji and swirl out and away from him. They wrap around the golden wolf and shred it, sending it into nothingness with an agonized shriek. The blades do not stop there. They envelop Yuudai Kuchiki and tear him to pieces, sending him to the death he thought to elude all of those years ago, by bonding with the blood of the ookami seirei.

Renji simply stares as his enemy falls and disappears into dust, and as the thousand sword re-gathers its petals and is sealed once more. The light dies. Renji lowers Senbonzakura and drops to the ground beside me.

As the rock is shattered and our rescuers pour in, they are met with the sight of him leaning over me and lifting my unresponsive body into his arms. He stumbles past them, out of the cave, his eyes searching. They come to rest on a huge eagle, just coming to light in front of him.

"Rikichi…" he says in strangled cry, "You have to get him to Orihime…quickly!"

As the eagle rises, I feel myself pulled close and held nearby. He isn't letting go of me. He won't let me leave. By sheer force of will, he grips my soul and won't release.