Chapter 12 : Snow from Tears of Sorrow

Rukia and Jonouchi were awoken the next morning and chained up. These special chains restrained their spirit energy. They were in for a long walk to the Execution Grounds. Jonouchi had no regrets, nor did Rukia. He would finally stop causing his friends so much sorrow. They walked to the grounds where all of the Shinigami Captains had gathered. There was the giant cross upon which the execution was to occur, the Soukyoku not far from it. There were several men positioned around the Soukyoku, faces covered.

"Jonouchi Uchiki..." Yamamoto spoke, stepping forward. "Step forward and face your punishment." Jonouchi did as he was told. He was raised onto the cross and floated there. The amount of Spirit Energy coming from the sealed Soukyoku was amazing. It kept him floating in mid air. "Do you have anything to say before we begin?"

"Just one..." Jonouchi whispered.

"Then speak it now."

"Hitsugaya. Tell Kaze, Koukeisha, and Anna I said I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused them." Jonouchi requested. Hitsugaya nodded in reply. "Thank you."

"Please begin." Yamamoto said to the men positioned around the Soukyoku.

They began making several handseals, and each wire holding the Soukyoku snapped one at a time. The power was so immense that it was breathe taking. A large fire burst around the Soukyoku, but to Jonouchi, it was really cold. He watched the onlooking Captains and smiled. He thought one last time about the friends he had made since coming to the Soul Society. Kaze, Koukeisha, Anna, the other Captains. And Kalinda. He did regret that. Causing her so much pain. His eyes began to tear up as he looked into the fire. There was a giant fiery bird staring at him. This was the Soukyoku's true form.

Jonouchi closed his eyes and lowered his head as the bird charged him. The fire was suddenly very hot. He wouldn't open his eyes, he knew it would be all over in a second. But nothing happened. He slowly opened his eyes, and found himself staring into someone elses. Her lavender hair blew violently under the immense Spirit Pressure.

"Kalinda..." Jonouchi managed a small smile. "What are you doing? Let me go."

"No..." she growled. He looked closer and saw that she was crying. "I'm not going to let you die."

"I've caused nothing but pain for you. I'm better off dead." he said.

"Don't you EVER say that!" she screamed, struggling with the giant fire bird. She had her zanpakuto in it's released form. It was a Phoenix, but much smaller than the other bird. The Soukyoku was quickly pushing its way forward. "I've been through too much with you and seen you work too hard to just give up now!"

"It doesn't matter." he frowned. "I just want you to be happy."

"And you think this makes me, or any of your friends happy!?" she cried. "I was wrong and I should have listened to you. I'm sorry..."

"No, you were right." Jonouchi replied. "I should have trusted you. It's not that I didn't. But I didn't want to cause you any harm. And I did just that."

The bird fiercly fought back now, pushing Kalinda backwards. She screamed as she was thrown back, but quickly got back up and defended.

"Captain, please. Just fight it. I know you can."

"I can't do-" he began but was cut off by a loud shout.

"Eliminate, Haiyaitanin!" There was a large gust of wind that began pushing against the bird. Jonouchi and Kalinda both looked up, and Jonouchi's Vice-Captain flew in to the scene. He had his Zanpakuto drawn. In its released form, it looked like a hilt with a Velociraptor claw on the end. There was no gaurd, only a swirling wind between the hilt and blade. His Zanpakuto had split into two blades. He pushed the bird back with all of his might, but the Soukyoku was still more powerful. It was slowed, but not stopped. "Cut the Bullshit!" he shouted at Jonouchi. "That's not like you at all. Just quitting like that! You COULD if you tried!"

"No. The Soukyoku is too powerful. We can't stop it."

"Not alone." Kaze said.

"But together..." Kalinda cried, turning to Jonouchi.

The Captains below were bewildered. Those Shinigami were fighting the Soukyoku. "That's our Kalinda..." Ukitake smiled.

"You think this is funny." Kyoraku smiled back.

"I think it's a test of how much faith they have in him. Not only as a Captain or subordinate, but a friend." Ukitake replied.

"Shall we get started?"

"Not yet. Wait until I give the signal."

The bird was getting extremely close, and Kalinda and Kaze Akurei beside Jonouchi. Jonouchi closed his eyes, but suddenly they snapped back open. He was face to face with Kalinda, who also was crying. "Jou-kun... I really do love you. And that's the truth." Her hand fell limp, and she dropped her Zanpakuto. She slowly began falling to the ground. In an instance Jonouchi's senses raced. He could hear voices. He heard his friends, and then came a familiar voice. He closed his eyes, and saw it.

O'kamitoku was standing next to him. The air was growing cold around the execution grounds. Snow was falling from the sky, although the giant bird was looming overhead.

The wolf spoke. "A bond between friends cannot be broken. Man and Man." Jonouchi began speaking with it.

"Man and Beast. Let us fight, side by side again. Howl once more!"

Jonouchi's eyes shot open, and he heard the howl. His Zanpakuto was by his side, melting away.

"Bankai!"

"NOW!" Ukitake shouted, a large rope launching into the sky, wrapping around the Soukyoku. They gave a sharp tug, and the bird exploded, flames falling to the ground. The other Captains were dumbfounded. There was a loud explosion, and a cloud of smoke. The smoke cleared, and standing on what remained of the cross was Jonouchi, Kalinda in his arms, unconscious. By his side was a large frozen wolf. It was up to Jonouchi's waist, its large yellow eyes shinning. It's crystal body glistened as the snow fell.

"Come, O'kami Suishou." Jonouchi growled. "This ends now."

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and now the fighting begins!