AN: fuck it, I'll be honest. I don't really like Ganju much. It's not that he's objectionable - he's just boring. He's not a very relevant character even in the periphery plots, and has next to no bearing at all on the core plot. Add that to the fact that the fight is 99% running - I will not be writing Ganju vs. Yumichika. Sorry, folks.

X-X-X

The Striking Snake

Ch15

Misdirection

X-X-X

"That way! That way, Ken-chan!"

The huge captain inclined his head, looking at the tiny, pink-haired girl who clung to his shoulder as he sprinted.

"Are you sure?" He growled.

"Yes, yes! Of course I'm sure! They're definitely that way!"

Kenpachi skidded to a halt, turning down the alleyway where Yachiru had directed him... to find a dead end.

"There's nothing here!" He practically shouted, barely restraining his frustration.

"Okay, then go back that way!"

"BACK THAT WAY?!" He fumed. "You told me not to go that way! Are the ryoka back that way now?"

"Yes, yes, of course they are! Are you doubting my ability, Ken-chan?"

"You'd better be right this time!"

X-X-X

"Ah!" Orihime jolted awake, pushing herself up. She then cringed, taking the weight off her right arm. "Ow..."

"Good, you're awake. You were only out for a few minutes; luckily, that injury isn't serious." Uryū looked around, pushing his glasses up. "I'm sorry. I should have tried to land better. You'd probably be uninjured now if you'd been with Ichimaru."

"Oh!" Orihime blushed. "Well, I'm kind of a klutz anyway, to be honest. I'd probably end up injured anyway!" Unintentionally illustrating her point, she moved her injured shoulder in a shrug, and winced at the stab of pain.

"Uhh... yeah." Uryū shook his head. "Anyway, we were lucky to land in a deserted area, but we came in pretty loud. We need to get out of here - they'll be sending soldiers to investigate any minute."

X-X-X

From his perch in the branch of a tall tree, Chad surveyed the Seireitei around him.

He had in fact landed quite close to Orihime and Uryuu, but had refrained from meeting up with them. Instinct dictated that a larger group was stronger, but this was a case where strength alone would not aid them. They were up against an entire army - even the full seven of them together would not be strong enough to out-match a sufficient contingent of Shinigami.

So, better to remain in smaller groups. They were harder to detect that way.

His eyes panned across the various barracks and military buildings. One particular complex seemed to have less activity then the rest. It would do.

Chad quietly dropped from the tree.

X-X-X

The first thing Ikkaku noticed was the searing light in his eyelids. Despite the late hour, and the fact that the sun was quite low in the sky, it seemed unbearably bright for a minute.

The next thing was the sharp, brutal pain in his chest whenever he took more than a shallow breath. A similar pain rapidly made itself known in his left shoulder, right below where the arm anchored on the acromion of the shoulder blade.

"Che," he muttered, disappointed. "Not only was I defeated, but he couldn't even be bothered to finish me off..."

"Y'know, I didn't know a zanpakutō would re-seal itself if the user fell unconscious," came a smug voice with a mocking Kansai accent. "Good thing to know."

Ikkaku turned his head to see the silver-haired rogue sitting idly on the flagstones, balancing Shinsō across one finger.

"You treated my injuries?" Asked Ikkaku, a wary edge to his voice.

"You're still useful ta me," replied Gin. "You're a third seat. Yer paperworking skills could be in the toilet for all I know - and I bet they are - but you're still a ranking officer, and officers tend ta know what's goin' on around the fortress."

Ikkaku chuckled, wincing at the pain in his chest. "Questions, huh?" He muttered. "Okay, you beat me, so why not. Ask away."

"Oh, I only have one. Well, maybe it counts as two, but the second is just a follow-up of the first." He stood up, holding Shinsō in a proper grip instead of loose. "Where is Kuchiki Rukia being held... and how do I get there?"

"Kuchiki?" Ikkaku's brow furrowed. "Oh, she's that class one criminal, isn't she? The captain's sister."

"Sounds about right."

"Why do you want to know?"

Gin's grin grew wider. His eyes opened the tiniest fraction, revealing two glittering crimson slits. "Because me and my hundred swords busted inta' yer fortress for one reason. Just one." he sheathed Shinsō in her sleeve scabbard. "And that's to rescue one Kuchiki Rukia."

"Huh?" Ikkaku blinked in disbelief. "You, rescue her? Just how many of you damn ryoka are there?"

Gin put his finger to his chin. "Six, I think," he said. "Actually, seven, what with Ganju. And a cat."

"A... cat..."

To his credit, Ikkaku did his best to stifle the welling laughter, but it still ripped forth in a deep, throaty boom. "You're a pack of idiots!" He gasped. "Seven people and a cat? You're screwed, man! Screwed! The captains won't even have to draw their swords!"

With a hacking cough, Ikkaku's laughter stopped - his wound had re-opened from his paroxysms. He grimaced, regaining his composure. "In any case, I'll answer your question," he said. "As a first class criminal, she's headed to the Sokyōku. All the condemned criminals who're destined for that end are held in the Senzaikyū tower."

"And that is?" Gin arched his eyebrow.

Ikkaku pointed. "You literally can't miss it."

Gin's gaze followed Ikkaku's finger towards the rather striking rock formation in the center of the Seireitei. Its sheer walls the very picture of imposition, it stuck out like a sore thumb from the barracks units around it, towering over every nearby structure.

Every structure, that is, except the slim spire of the sterile white tower standing directly beside it, linked to the monolithic plateau by a lone narrow bridge.

"Don't know how much good it'll do you... that tower's made of solid deathstone." Ikkaku scratched his scalp. "But hey, you asked. Is that all?"

"Yeah, that's it," said Gin amiably. "I should probably go before more Shinigami show up. I'll make it up t'ya later, 'kay?"

"Pff... don't bother. It was a good fight; that's more than enough payment." Ikkaku cocked his head. "Hey... I got a question for you too, Gin."

Gin turned back to his former opponent, raising his eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Seven people... would you say you're the best of your group?"

Gin tapped his lips with his finger. "Well, now... best..." He mused. "I don't really like to say things like 'I'm the best.' Always somethin' new ta learn, after all."

Ikkaku grunted, unconvinced.

"... but, that said," Gin continued, "it doesn't seem to me that I can think of anyone better."

"That a fact." Ikkaku lowered his eyes. "Well... you wanna watch out for my captain, Gin. He ain't got any patience for weak people. And if what you say is true, he will find you."

"Heh." Gin smirked. "He's strong, is he?"

"The fact he's a captain should be enough, but he's powerful even amongst the titans," replied Ikkaku. "You'll know when you see him. Actually... you'll know how strong he is, if you survive meeting him."

Gin whistled. "Well, what's his name?"

X-X-X

"Again! It's a dead end AGAIN!"

"You're so mean, Ken-chan! Just because you have no sense of direction!" Replied Yachiru, a childish pout on her pink-framed face. "Go back that way! I'm sure I can sense them that way!"

Impressively, Yachiru managed to point in a direction that was away from every single landing zone.

"I've been following your directions..." muttered the captain, but he took off.

For a moment, there was silence in the alleyway. Then, an orange-haired girl poked her head up over the ridge of one of the roofs.

"I think they're gone," said Orihime. "They felt so strong... good thing they didn't see us."

"Yeah. Strong, but very poorly skilled. Lucky - for us, anyway." Uryuu pushed his glasses up his nose. "Anyway, which way should we go now?"

"How about over there?" Said Orihime. "I can see a tall tower that way."

"A tower? Where?" Uryuu turned to face Orihime... and his face went pale.

"It's right that way," Orihime pointed. "Ishida-kun...?"

And then, the massive Shinigami behind her brought his sword down, smashing a hole in the roof and raising a cloud of dust.

However, as the dust cleared, there was no trace of his victim.

The seven-foot man narrowed his eyes, and glanced over his shoulder. "To dodge so quickly... not bad," he muttered. "Nevertheless. Regret your ever coming before me, ryoka... if you had not, you might have lived!"

X-X-X

With a hiss, Gin flash-stepped into existence at a crossing in the deserted streets.

"Now where did he go...?" He muttered.

Ikkaku had told him that the man after Ganju was the fifth seat - not someone to take lightly, but hardly guaranteed to win.

"Hey, Ganju!" He called. "If ya hear me, light a firework or something! I - "

He was cut off by movement down the street to his left. A large group of Shinigami were staring at him.

"It's that silver-haired Shinigami! The Hyapponzashi that beat Madarame-san!" Shouted one of them. "Get him! For the glory of the Zaraki Division!"

"Ehh... oops," said Gin nervously. "Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"

The murderous blade impaled three Shinigami instantly, and sliced two more in half as Gin swung it sideways on the retract pull. Having successfully thrown them into disarray, he flash-stepped down another street.

"Ganju! Dammit, answer me!" He yelled.

Meanwhile, a few streets over, a beaten-looking Ganju Shiba was facing the comparatively unmolested Yumichika Ayasegawa, fifth seat of the eleventh division.

"Heh. Had enough of running away?" Asked the extravagant Shinigami. "To escape me for that long... you might be ugly, but I can't deny you're tough."

Gin's voice floated over the rooftops again. "Ganju, where are ya? I'd rather not kill everyone around here!"

"Huh." Yumichika scoffed. "Your friend has a certain elegant grace, but for all his beauty he is a fool. Shouting like that will certainly draw more attention to him."

Ganju smirked suddenly. "You're the fool here," he said smugly. "If Gin is looking for me, he must have already defeated your bald partner. Didn't you hear him? He said he'd killed at least one person already."

Yumichika's eyes widened. "What?! Impossible!" He cried. "He's the third seat of the strongest division! A mere ryoka could never defeat him!"

Panicking, Yumichika cast his reiatsu sense. He was relieved to find Ikkaku's signature alive, but it was severely weakened; there was no doubt he was defeated. There were also five spots in one of the nearby alleys where the dark miasma of death lingered - five of the patrol had been killed. The silver-haired rogue had cut down five members of the eleventh after defeating one as strong as Ikkaku.

"Hah!"

Yumichika snapped back to reality just in time for Ganju to throw a strange bundle in his face - one with a hissing and distressingly short fuse.

Then the fireworks went off, and Ganju was running again.

X-X-X

With a loud boom and a fountain of bright lights, a firework detonated high above the rooftops.

"Oh, there he is." Gin retracted Shinsō, pulling her blade from the chest of the last of his pursuers. "Took him long enough."

He wiped the blood from her blade and dabbed the drops on his face with a cloth, huffing slightly at the fact that he couldn't do the same for the numerous splashes soaked into his shihakusō.

Oh, well. It doesn't really show on the black, anyway...

He grinned, and flash-stepped away.

X-X-X

"Five!"

Uryuu raised his eyebrow.

"Six!"

"Th- thank you, Ishida," Orihime said. "I'm fine now..."

"Yeah." Uryuu's expression was hard. "His strikes are slow. He's not as dangerous as he looks."

Orihime was amazed. Uryuu had reacted like a lightning bolt. There was no trace of the formal but amiable school student - he was a Quincy Warrior from head to toe, and Shinigami were nothing to him but enemies.

"Ten!" Shouted the bulky Shinigami. "All right, your time for regret and mourning is up! Although, I am sure you will mourn even more when I begin to attack!"

He stepped forward and brought his large sword down. Uryuu and Orihime used their respective pseudo-teleport techniques at the same time, appearing on either side of their attacker.

"Tsubaki!" Yelled Orihime. "Koten Zanshun - I reject it!"

The orange streak of light that was Tsubaki detached itself from Orihime's shun shun rikka and flew towards her opponent.

Unfortunately, the huge man was more perceptive then he looked, and had moved to block by the time Orihime was half-way through the incantation. His large zanpakutō clipped Tsubaki's shoulder, sending the fairy spiraling off course.

Orihime cried in dismay and rushed towards her fallen companion/weapon, picking him up and cradling him in her hands.

"Foolish... girl," muttered the fairy. "Attacking with... a strike that weak..."

"Hah! An interesting technique, but I can tell your strikes lack killing intent!" Boomed the seven-foot Shinigami. "Pathetic. This is a battleground, not an amusement park! Attacks that weak won't accomplish anything!"

He raised his huge sword, and swung downwards with lethal force.

And missed, his sword clashing against the roof tiles with a a clatter... and a high-pitched whine of energy bolts.

The Shinigami's eyes widened with shock. His bleeding hand had been thrown off course by a blow at least as strong as his own.

"You want an attack with killing intent?"

Both heads turned to see Uryuu, his hand on the string of his glowing bow.

"Come and get me, then. My bow is full of your... killing intent."

The large man's eyebrow rose as he regarded the incandescent longbow.

"How intriguing," he said at last. "That bow... I've heard of things like that before. You wouldn't be a Quincy, would you?"

"That's right," replied Uryuu, his tone cold. "I am Ishida Uryuu, and as far as I know, I'm the last trained Quincy alive."

"One uses a technique I've never seen before... and the other is a Quincy," mused the Shinigami. "And both use ranged weapons."

Uryuu summoned another arrow, hooking it on his bowstring.

"It's almost like destiny's paying a joke on me!" The man laughed. "For you two, who would dare attack me, I will show you the strength of my zanpakutō!"

He placed his off hand on the tip of his sword.

"Spread your wings, Tsunzakigarasu!"

He slammed his hand downward. However, instead of slicing his hand open, the blade of the sword split into dozens of curved dual-bladed throwing knives, which dispersed and flew around the man apparently at random.

"How's that?" He crowed. "I bet you're regretting this battle now!"

Orihime's eyes widened and she swallowed nervously. Uryuu, however, did not seem fazed.

"I am Jirōbō from Nanabandai... nicknamed Kamaitachi Jirōbō!" He yelled. "'Kamaitachi' was the legendary name of the strongest airborne weapon known! And as countless knives dancing in the air... truly it is the name my Tsunzakigarasu deserves! No opponent of mine has seen it and lived!"

Uryuu smirked slightly.

"So how about that! My weapons fly faster than the eye can see!" He ranted. "For the short life you have left, you will truly regret challenging me! The master of projectile weapons!"

And then there was a hail of light.

Jirōbō's jaw dropped as every blade around him shattered at once.

"Hmm... perhaps here, things are different from the world of the living," Uryū mused, bringing his hand hack to the steaming bowstring. "But, in all honesty, I didn't expect 'the greatest in soul society' to be a mere idiot who talks non-stop."

Jirōbō's eyebrows dropped. "That... don't get cocky! That was just a lucky shot!"

The Shinigami put the empty hilt of his weapon against his scabbard, summoning dozens more of the blades as he drew it back. "It doesn't matter if the blades are destroyed! I can - "

In a single smooth motion, Uryū drew the bow back and released.

"You can create as many blades as you want... as long as the hilt's intact. Is that what you were about to say?"

Jirōbō's expression was one of pure shock as he stared at the shattered handle of his sword. Uryuu's arrow had burned clean through both the hilt and Jirōbō's hand.

"Well, I expected that to be more difficult," Uryū mused. "I don't really like the sound of 'Kamaitachi Uryū,' but if you were the greatest range warrior in soul society, then you have undoubtedly lost the title."

Jirōbō scowled.

"In fact, as a ranged fighter yourself... I would say it should be you who is regretting running into me."

Jirōbō's expression snapped to one of rage. "Don't... don't get cocky!" He yelled. "I told you, you're the one who will regret this!"

He lashed his huge hand out towards an unwitting Orihime, intending to crush her with raw strength. However, in the blink of an eye, Uryū was standing between them, his bow raised.

"Attacking Inoue-san because you were too weak to defeat me... that's low," said Uryū coldly. "Or were you planning to take her hostage?"

Jirōbō swallowed. His eyes shone with pure terror.

"Come to think of it... you've been targeting Inoue from the start, because you though she would be weaker, correct?" His eyes narrowed. "I see the Gotei still employ the same scum they did in my grandfather's day."

Uryū's finger twitched, and the arrow in his bow began to glow.

"Anyway, I'm kind of in a hurry. I don't have time to wait for you to... regret your decision."

Jirōbō started. "Wait! I - "

His statement forever remained unfinished. Uryū's seething bolt struck him in the center of his face, blasting his head apart and turning his neck into a charred stump.

Jirōbō's headless corpse slowly keeled over backwards.

X-X-X