25 The Arrancar's Revenge

Byakuya, Michiko, Yoruichi, Urahara, Tessai, and Ginrei were all astounded on the sudden appearance of Arturo who looked at them from mid air.

"What is it that you want?" Byakuya stated, his voice icy, his expression, stoic.

"You know what I want Shinigami… the remaining Sōkyoku. And it happens that you have the most important part" Arturo retorted, his expression menacing.

"You must go through me first Arrancar." Byakuya replied as he quickly shunpoed towards Arturo. Michiko's hand was on her zanpakutou when she felt Yoruichi's hand stopping her.

"Iie, Michiko… let Byakuya handle this" Yoruichi calmly told her.

"H-hai…" Michiko replied as she watched her husband attack the arrancar.

Arturo and Byakuya were battling against each other when a noise came from above them; a Garganta opens and numerous Menos Grandes appeared.

Yoruichi, looked at Michiko and grinned; "Now is our turn" as both shunpoed towards the Menos. Michiko drew out her zanpakutou and calls out "Otakebi kara amanohara, Ryū Hoshi!" shunpoed and slashed the Menos Grande nearest to her.

Yoruichi used hand to hand combat and defeated a number of Menos. At the corner of her eye Michiko saw her husband battling the self made Arrancar.

As the battle raged on, another Garganta opened and another set of Menos Grandes appeared.

"Yare, yare… and to think I am supposed to be enjoying my retirement" Ginrei sighed as he looked at Urahara.

"Ne, ne Ginrei-sama, you're not that old… and besides, this is child's play to you" Urahara remarked, as pointed his cane forward and muttered, "Okiro, Benihime' thus Benihime being revealed. He then fired a crimson-colored energy blast towards the Menos, killing it instantly.

"Just like the old times, ne?" Ginrei remarked as he effortlessly slain the Menos near him and attacked the other one.

"It sure is Ginrei-sama" Urahara replied as he attacked another Menos

Meanwhile…

Byakuya and Artruro were battling heavily, zanpakutous clashing as Arturo raises his reiatsu. 'He is just too damn strong!' he thought as he swung his zanpakutou aiming for Byakuya's chest when the latter dodges it expertly.

"I am looking forward to getting that Sōkyoku, Shinigami…" Arturo mocked as he continues battling with Byakuya.

"No way will you get that last piece, I assure you that Arrancar" Byakuya replied calmly as he suddenly disappears and appears behind Arturo, delivering a perfect Senka, one of his favorite moves.

"DAMN YOU!!!" Arturo yelled as he felt the blade pierce his body, he sonidos away, and breathes heavily, gripping his zanpakutou as his other hand clutches his chest. "You will regret this Shinigami!!! You will regret this!" He stood still and concentrated on his reiatsu, extends his other arm, manifested a powerful, dark colored saber of energy as he extended his finger forward. All of a sudden, he sonidoed towards Byakuya and cried out, "Mae!!!" as he furiously clashed his zanpakutou with Byakuya's.

Byakuya felt Arturo's rage as he clashed and dodged the Arrancar's attack. 'He's getting so fast, he can match my speed' he thought as he battled with him. As he was about to perform a Bakudō, he was startled as Arturo suddenly gripped his arm and shouted, "Kieuseru!" Byakuya's eye's widened as Arturo's saber pierced him.

"BYAKUYAAAAA!!!" Michiko cried as she felt her husband's reiatsu weakened and turned quickly, she saw him look at her before he stumbled and he plunges towards the ground.

Not contented with his victory, Arturo fired multiple blasts of Bala like a crazed person at Byakuya who was rapidly falling to the ground. Michiko was about to shunpo towards him, only to be stopped by Ginrei who held her arm gently but firmly.

"We must escape Michiko-sama" Ginrei calmly stated.

"No!!! My husband…" Michiko replied feeling helpless as tears started to fall from her eyes. She looked to where Byakuya fell.

"We must go Michiko… for your sake and your children's. Have faith Ojou-sama" Ginrei softly told her and shunpoed with her as she nodded numbly.

As they reached the other part of the forest, Ginrei thrust his zanpakutou forward him and a Senkaimon Gate appeared. "We must hurry. The others will soon follow. But first, your safety is our priority." He stated as they entered the gate. Upon reaching the other opening Michiko was too depressed to notice that they were at the Kuchiki manor's garden. Sullenly she walked, still holding her zanpakutou as a glimpse of silvery white hair caught her attention.

"Shiro…" Michiko softly said as she saw her son running towards her.

"Hahaue… mommy!" Shiro embraced his mother tightly and noticed that Byakuya was missing. "Where is otou-sama?" he asked.

"H-he is… still… in the battle… Oji-sama brought me back… for our safety." Michiko replied, as she was fighting back tears, worrying of Byakuya and what happened to him.

"Ne, Michiko-chan, you must rest. I will wait for them to arrive, do not worry too much" Ginrei calmly told her.

"Hai… I will" she replied as she lead Shiro towards the main house. Ginrei looked at them and walked towards the tea house. Moments later, a Senkaimon Gate appeared, with Yoruichi and Urahara walking towards Ginrei.

"What happened?" Ginrei asked.

"The arrancar is deeply wounded, but he escaped as we were about to get him" Yoruichi replied.

"And Byakuya? Have you seen him?" Ginrei asked Urahara.

"No… " Yoruichi replied. "We went to the area where he fell but there's no trace of him. Not even his reiatsu…"

"I think… " Urahara looked at Ginrei "he's gone"

"What do you mean?" Ginrei's eyes widened in surprise.

oOo oOo oOo

Author's Notes:

hi, i know its been awhile. been busy with work and parenting stuff. gomen ne for the delay. i hope you enjoy this chapter. im sure to those who read the first story 'second chances', the chant to release michiko's shikai is in english. i translated it in japanese and here's what it means.

"Otakebi kara Amanohara, Ryū Hoshi!" – Roar through the Heavens, Ryū Hoshi! *its still the same idea but i have to alter it a little.

and also, you might be wondering on the renaming of my account. it is my pleasure to inform you that i have a partner not only in writing but also in my life, we share this account. his pen name is Kurama Ai and he posted his first fanfict which is based on the game 'Dead or Alive'. i hope you enjoy reading it.

again, thank you so much for taking time to read and review. :)

sakura fuyu