Hey everyone! It's been forever and i'm so so sorry. Things have been in the way (including the dreaded writer's block that has come back to haunt me) ^^ that aside, i hope you all had a great holiday. Please enjoy!
Yura didn't even have time to open her eyes before she found herself choking on water. She pushed herself up and doubled over as she coughed up a ton of water. When she was sure she was done, she leaned against the wall, still grasping her stomach. She ground her teeth together, coughing one more time before she straightened up. How long had she been out? She looked around. Mizu was nowhere in sight. Did she leave, or was she hiding? Yura couldn't be sure. There wasn't anywhere Mizu could really hide in here. But it was her place. She knew it better than anyone. That gave her an advantage.
Yura sighed and leaned her head against the wall. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had to come up with some kind of plan. But what? She could run now, but that's cowardice. She came here with a motive, a mission, and she won't fail herself. Yura took a step forward when she felt the walls vibrate. She looked up and listened. An explosion? Yura closed her eyes and concentrated on the spirit energy. Who is-
Yura snapped her head up and turned around, just in time to block an attack from Mizu.
The Espada grit her teeth together in frustration. "You're such a nuisance. How are you still alive?!" Mizu kicked Yura in her stomach.
Her back hit the wall, further cracking it. Mizu pulled back and held her hand up as a silver light illuminated around it. With a frustrating yell, she pointed the cero at Yura and fired it. When the smoke cleared, there was a hole in the wall and Yura was gone. Water started pouring out of the large room and outside. Mizu walked over to the gaping hole and stared down. Yura was lying motionless on the sand, her clothes were tattered and in smoke. Mizu narrowed her eyes. She could still sense Yura's spirit energy. She was still alive.
Mizu jumped down and walked over to Yura, hovering over her. "Tch. What does it take to kill you?" Mizu pushed the side of Yura's face with her foot. She sighed and frowned. "This is a boring game if you ask me." Mizu muttered. She placed her foot on Yura's throat and slowly began to crush it. "Might as well make your death slow and painful."
When Mizu put more pressure on Yura's throat, Yura gasped and grabbed Mizu's ankle, trying to pry it off. Mizu smirked and stepped down harder. Yura opened her eyes and Mizu lit up on her pressure on Yura's throat. Yura's eyes were now an electrifying blue and Mizu took a slight step back. Yura lashed out with incredible speed and grabbed Mizu by her throat. Mizu gasped in shock and Yura threw her down in the sand. The latter coughed and gasped for air, only to have her throat grabbed again. An electric current traveled from Yura to Mizu, but with the electricity going directly to Mizu's throat, her vocal area, it was impossible to scream in pain. She couldn't move, couldn't resist. The thousand bolts and above of electricity coursed through her body. Her nervous system could've fried. Had she been human, she would've been dead in one second if not less.
Yura let go of Mizu, watching the Espada's body collapse in front of her. Mizu continued to twitch violently, her eyes empty as they stared at nothing in particular. Yura stared down at her, hatred in her glowing, blue eyes. Electricity crackled around her hand as she raised it. She was about to grab Mizu again when suddenly, she felt a strong force deep within her soul. Yura clenched her teeth, attempted to ignore it, and went for Mizu again.
Yura, stop!
Yura gasped as her eyes glazed over and she lost all feeling in her body. She struggled to move, but couldn't find the will to. Denakuma was forcing her back.
Don't let your lust for revenge consume you! Don't become mad with power! Resist!
Yura stumbled backwards and shut her eyes. Her head began to throb as she was warring against herself. She knew she had to stop. But the urge to kill Mizu then and there was nearly irresistible. The power that surged through her when she fights this specific Espada is exhilarating. She wanted that feeling again. But Denakuma wouldn't allow it.
Find yourself, Yura. Resist. Yura stumbled again. It was getting hard to breathe. Her chest was getting tighter. Yura!
Yura gasped and her eyes snapped opened. She fell to her hands and knees and coughed. When she was done, her chest started burning. She sat there for a second longer before lifting her gaze. Mizu was lying in the sand, completely still. Yura slowly got up and walked over to the Espada. She stood over her. Yura couldn't tell if she was alive or not. But she didn't plan on sticking around to find out. She had to get out of here. Yura started walking backwards before turning around and running. She felt too weak to use Flash Step, but it would be fine. She just had to get away from Mizu.
Yura seemed to run forever. The desert inside of the walls of Las Noches seemed just as never ending as the desert outside. What Yura hadn't noticed before was the change in the sky. It had to be an illusion, right? She mentally shook herself. There was no time to think about pointless things. Yura suddenly stopped and froze. She could've sworn she heard something, but all she heard now was her own breathing. She strained her hearing. There was something… Yura closed her eyes and concentrated. Someone was nearby. If she could find who it is, she'd feel better. She was so weak at the moment as she was still recovering from the war within her. That feeling…
Yura momentarily lost her concentration as she thought of Denakuma. She only hoped her inner spirit was in better condition than she felt. Whatever evil lurked inside of Yura was dormant for the time being. But it would come back, she just knew. It was waiting. Yura clenched her fist and shut her eyes.
Focus, Yura, she thought to herself. Focus. Concentrate.
When Yura finally found peace, she relaxed. That's when she felt it. The spirit energy of the person nearest to her. Because she was weak, she couldn't determine exactly who it was, but she knew they weren't alone. There were three people total. The weakest of the three was barely giving off any spirit energy. They obviously weren't in battle. The next person's spirit energy was faltering. They were struggling to fight but it was nearly impossible. The first two were closest to one another, running together if she was correct. And the third person…an enemy, Yura figured. Chasing down the other two. Their spirit energy easily overpowered the other.
Yura opened her eyes. She had the sudden sense to go help whomever was in danger, but she was in no better condition. She could barely run, let alone fight. Yura wrapped her arms around herself and took a deep breath. "Tensou." A chill ran down her spine as she felt the low current travel through her veins, comforting her wounds and relaxing her muscles. It was enough strength to keep running. Where she was running to? She had no idea. Why she was running? It was the first thing that came to mind. When she was sure she was fine, Yura took a step to start running again when she froze. She heard it before she saw it. The sound of metal cutting through air. But it was already too late. The area was so quiet; Yura could practically hear her shoulder wound reopening as a sword sliced through.
She also heard the smirk, as weak as it was. Mizu pulled her zanpakuto out of Yura's shoulder and used Sonido to get a safe distance away from the Soul Reaper. Yura felt the blood pour down her arm and side. She looked up at Mizu who stood there with rage reflecting in her yellow eyes. She looked different to Yura. Her physical appearance was terrible. Her clothes were shredded and had black spots everywhere from lightning and blood from cuts. Her hair stuck up in every direction and fresh blood spotted her face from the new wound she gave Yura. But Mizu did seem older. She didn't have that playful look on her face.
Yura held her ground, despite the need to collapse and give up altogether. Mizu glared at her. "Is that what you do? Go all psychopath on someone then run away like a frightened child? God, it's just sad and annoying."
Yura swallowed, striving to ignore the pain in her shoulder, but failing miserably as it all rushed to her. "You saw me run?"
Mizu laughed bitterly. "I wasn't unconscious, idiot. I'll admit, you did shock me pretty good. Hm? See what I did there?"
Yura didn't understand how she could joke around. She also didn't understand how alive she seemed after what just happened. Just a few minutes ago, Mizu was in agony from the thousand bolts that entered her veins. And then Yura left her looking half dead. But now she was standing in front of her, looking tall and proud as if she just accomplished something huge. And maybe she did. Yura was weak now. This was her chance.
Mizu leaned forward, her zanpakuto supporting her. "You're not gonna pass out on me, are ya? Cause I actually want a little excitement when I kill you," Mizu shrugged. "Oh well. Guess I'm out of luck on that one. Killing you monotonously will just have to do."
Yura tried to take a deep breath, but it only hurt her chest. She looked down to see blood in the sand. Her blood.
Yura, I can lend you power. But you can't abuse it.
Yura couldn't respond. She wanted to, though. She wanted to tell Denakuma that she would never abuse her power. But in the situation that she was in, it was hard to not abuse it and be consumed. Denakuma's power was seductive and compelling to its wielder. Yura had controlled it for as long as she could, but even so, after mastering her zanpakuto, she was somewhat unstable when using that power. She could feel Denakuma's attempts at helping her, but she resisted.
Yura, you'll die if you don't let me help. Will yourself to stay strong! I won't force you!
Yura looked up at Mizu. Mizu raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You done mourning over there?" She asked. She walked closer to Yura, dragging her zanpakuto. She stood in front of the Soul Reaper and looked up at her. "Don't worry. I'll show mercy for once and end you quickly. Only because I feel sorry for your pitiful self." Mizu raised her zanpakuto.
Yura closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Now, Dena. She could feel Denakuma's power surging within her. It was a simple flutter, but Yura could sense the power behind it. The fluttering increased, causing Yura's entire body to tingle. Mizu started to bring her zanpakuto down like a guillotine, when time seemed to slow down.
Yura raised her head, her eyes an electric blue. The power that surged through her completely numbed the pain in her shoulder, giving her full range of motion. Yura looked at the zanpakuto slowly coming toward her. She turned her attention to Mizu and took a deep breath. Yura walked around Mizu, hitting obvious vulnerable spots. Yura, in one fluid motion, hit Mizu directly in her abdomen, moved around and jabbed at the back of her knee, struck at the base of her back, and finally grabbed the blade of Mizu's zanpakuto and sent a simple electric current through it and to the latter's body.
Yura stepped back and let a long breath, causing time to pick up its average speed. Suddenly, Mizu had cringed back with an agonizing yelp and fell to one knee. She looked up at Yura and her eyes grew wide. Yura was releasing immense spirit energy, being engulfed in it. Her eyes sparked, remaining blue.
She narrowed her eyes at Mizu and muttered a simple word, "Bankai."
The wind picked up, causing sand to fly everywhere. Mizu had to shield her eyes. The wind slightly died down, but there was still a powerful gust of it. Mizu looked up and her eyes widened at the dark clouds that suddenly materialized and now hung overhead.
Her gaze shifted to Yura and her grip tightened around the hilt of her sword. When the dust cleared away, Yura was left standing there, lightning striking all around her. Her blue eyes lifted to look at Mizu. "I was hoping I wouldn't have had to release this for quite a while, but…guess I had no choice. I promised to return to my friends, and I won't break that promise."
The quick hint of fear in Mizu's eyes was suddenly replaced by cockiness. A grin spread over her face and she even laughed. "It's about time! What were you afraid of that you couldn't show me your Bankai earlier? Were you scared that your power isn't as great as you make it out to be?"
Suddenly, Yura was at Mizu's throat again. Mizu choked out and Yura grinned. "My power is nothing to joke around with, Espada." Yura threw Mizu aside.
Mizu got up and lifted her head to glare and growl at Yura. "I was holding back before to toy around with you, but now you've just pissed me off."
Mizu was gone in the blink of an eye, but she couldn't fool Yura. In her Bankai state, she was even faster than if she wasn't. She used Flash Step to get out of Mizu's way as she attacked, and countered the Espada's attack by coming up behind her and striking her back. Mizu groaned in pain and turned around, swinging her sword. Yura blocked it with her own, causing a bolt of lightning to strike nearby. Yura pushed away and pointed her zanpakuto at Mizu and a bolt of lightning hit the Espada. Despite her excessive twitching, it barely fazed Mizu.
She charged a bala and aimed it Yura, but the Soul Reaper easily dodged it. Mizu charged another and shot it, but a normal cero soon followed, hitting Yura spot on. She flew back and landed hard in the sand. Yura sat up and looked down at herself. The front of her shihakusho burned off, now revealing her under shirt. She narrowed her eyes and looked up at the dark clouds. She was then struck by lightning and was gone. Mizu had finally made it to the spot where Yura landed but confusion was clearly on her face.
Where'd that pathetic Soul Reaper go?
Lightning struck near Mizu and suddenly Yura was there. She swung her zanpakuto and cut Mizu on her side. Mizu kicked Yura and the latter went flying, but was caught by a bolt of lightning and was gone.
Mizu glared at the spot where Yura previously was. What? Mizu watched as lightning struck everywhere, but Yura wasn't in any of them. The Espada was on edge, turning at every strike of lightning. Where are you? Where are you? Where are you!
Lightning struck directly behind her and Yura didn't hesitate in stabbing her. Mizu gasped and cringed as the tip of the sword protruded through her chest. Yura swiftly pulled it out and jumped back. Mizu grasped her chest and coughed. She turned her head and narrowed her eyes at Yura. Yura continued to stand there and look at Mizu, face expressionless. She tightly gripped the hilt of her sword and prepared herself for an attack.
A/N: hope you guys liked it. sorry for any typos, i didn't get a chance to look over it that well. please review. give me some encouragement, advice even. Ideas if you want! I'll take ideas and try to put them in my story if i can. ^^ thank you. And Happy New Year!