A.N: Well, if you've been reading the past few Bleach chapters, it's good to see old Kenpachi back. Also, for those Rose and Kensei fans, don't freak out yet. The reason those two are dead has to be because that damn Sternritter, Gremmy imagined that they're dead. If I had to come up with a rather optimistic theory, it's that once Gremmy is dead (which will happen because come on, it's Kenpachi), everything he imagined will end, including the deaths of Rose and Kensei.
Okay, since that rant about canon stuff is over, back to the story. This will conclude Ichigo and Grimmjow's showdown, and set up just a bit more. I hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter 15: Who is the King?
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez laughed maniacally at the state his hated rival was in. "You don't look so good Ichigo," he grinned, "you look like crap."
Ichigo struggled to his feet as Grimmjow continued taunting him. "Such a great fall from grace," Grimmjow cackled, "after having your head in the clouds for such a long time, you've fallen hard!"
"But hey," he continued, "someone had to bring you back down at some point. I'm just glad that it was me who did it!"
"Will you shut up for once?"
Grimmjow glared down at Ichigo, who was shaking, but looked like he could still fight. "Stop talking as if the fight is over. I'm still standing, so I can still fight!"
Ichigo brought up his hand to his face. "And since I can still fight, that means I can step up my game against you, Grimmjow."
Grimmjow grinned. "So, you're finally bringing out that mask of yours, eh? That's fine with me, I've been wanting to beat you at your best ever since I recovered from you and Nnoitra almost killing me."
Ichigo 'pulled' the mask over his face. His voice instantly became much more demonic. "This is what you wanted, Grimmjow." Ichigo reminded him. "Don't go crying to me when I kick your ass."
Akio Yamamoto and Rukia Kuchiki stood over their defeated foes. Akio stretched out his arms casually. "That wasn't so bad." He grinned.
Rukia nodded. She immediately started looking around. "Now, how are we gonna get out of here?" She mused.
Akio started looking around as well. "I wouldn't worry too much," he told her. "These guys got down here somehow. There's no doubt in my mind that we can use whatever they used for an entrance, as an exit."
Akio turned to Rukia. "Rukia, would you mind lighting up this place a bit more with some Kidō? I want to get out of here as quick as we can and rejoin the fight."
Rukia nodded. Pouring a little spirit energy into her Kidō, she spoke. "Hadō #31, Shakkahō!"
A medium-sized fireball lit up in Rukia's hand. "All right, light the way, Rukia."
And lets get out of here, Akio added mentally.
Renji Abarai returned to Pesche and Dondochaka after defeating his opponents. "That takes care of that." He said, panting slightly.
Renji glared at Pesche and Dondochaka. "No thanks to you idiots might I add!" He shouted at them.
"My handsome face could not afford damage." Pesche and Dondochaka said in unison.
Renji found himself contemplating murder. Before he could act on these thoughts, however, he managed to calm himself down. That won't solve anything, Renji thought, that won't solve anything, Renji.
"So what do we do now?" Pesche asked.
"Only thing we can do," said Renji, "we get the hell out of here."
Kenpachi Zaraki laughed as he stood over a mountain of corpses. "Come on, you pansies!" He shouted. "Where are the real warriors."
"Yeah," Yachiru gleefully squealed, "come out and give Kenny a real challenge!"
Neliel tu Odelschwank sweat-dropped at the antics of Kenpachi and his adopted daughter. Don't they realize that everyone else is dead? She asked herself.
"Captain Zaraki!" Neliel called. "They're already dead. You killed them all!"
Kenpachi looked at Neliel in confusion. "No way!" He shouted at her. "There's got to be more! There's no way in hell that's it. It's too damn easy!"
"Kenny's right Mega Boobies!" Yachiru shouted at Neliel. "It can't be that easy!"
Neliel sweat-dropped once again. His lust for battle is even worse than Nnoitra's. And did that child just name me Mega Boobies?
Neliel sighed. "If you two want to look for enemies that don't exist at the moment that's fine. But I'm going to look for a way back up."
Neliel than decided to bait Kenpachi. "After all, I'm sure there are much stronger enemies further up."
This caught Kenpachi's interest. "If that's the case, than lets go up!"
"Yay, we're going up!" Yachiru cheered.
In another room, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Hachigen Ushōda were walking down a hallway that their opponents had entered from. Meanwhile, Nemu Kurotsuchi and Hiyori Sarugaki were doing the same. Strangely, they had not fought as many enemies as Tōshirō and Hachi had fought.
"Sir, we have just received reports that the Adhuchas underground have fallen to the enemy."
A messenger had broken the news to Benito, who seemed composed in spite of the current situation. Surprisingly, he did not lash out at the messenger in a fit of anger for giving him more bad news.
"Oh, they have?" Benito inquired nonchalantly.
The messenger nodded. Benito raised an eyebrow at the young man. "Where is the professor? Is he amongst the casualties?"
The messenger shook his head. "No, Your Majesty," he replied, "the professor is holding his position inside his lab. He did not once exit to assist the Adhuchas."
This surprised Benito. He then chuckled, realizing his subordinate's intentions. So, like a spider, you intend to lie in wait for your prey, eh? Benito thought. The only question is, who is it going to be? Just what do you intend to do, Mayuri?
"Aren't you the least bit concerned about this?" Tia Halibel entered Benito's line of sight.
"No, I am not concerned. There is no reason for me to be concerned." Benito replied to his lover.
Halibel was surprised by his response. "They served their purpose," Benito continued, "regardless of wether they succeeded or not, they served some sort of purpose. The enemy has now been scattered. They held the advantage of numbers before, but now, not so much."
Halibel looked at Benito, still stunned by his callousness. Benito sighed. "Please don't look at me like that, Tia," he told her softly, "you should know that war requires sacrifice. Take comfort in knowing that their deaths have meaning."
Benito started walking away. "Join me in the throne room if you are done preparing. We shall begin our journey to the Soul Society very soon."
Halibel watched Benito walk away. She wanted to cry at how much he had changed, but could not. Benito, she thought sadly, is that what everyone has become to you? Mere chess pieces meant to be sacrificed for victory? Will I become like that at some point?
The thought of it caused Halibel to feel pain in her heart. More than anything, she continued, I fear that the most right now. Because even after how much you've changed…I still love you.
Ichigo vanished from Grimmjow's sight at even higher speeds than before. Ichigo reappeared in front of him and swung Tensa Zangetsu straight at Grimmjow's head. Grimmjow gasped upon seeing the attack and blocked it with one of his arms. Grimmjow narrowed his eyes upon feeling the increased strength behind Ichigo's swings.
Damn, he thought, it's like he was never injured to begin with.
Grimmjow swung his left leg in a roundhouse kick to knock Ichigo away. The kick landed, but Ichigo was only sent back eight feet. Seeing this, Grimmjow started to grow frustrated.
That kick would've sent him back twenty or thirty feet if it hadn't been for that mask, he thought angrily, damn bastard, he's hiding behind that mask of his.
Ichigo quickly recovered from Grimmjow's attack and coated his blade in black spirit energy. "Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo shouted, swinging Tensa Zangetsu.
Grimmjow quickly sped out of the Getsuga's path. "Garra de la Pantera!" Grimmjow shouted, firing darts from the arm not used last time.
This time, Ichigo was ready for the five darts. He raised Tensa Zangetsu and parried the first two. Ichigo whipped his head to the left to avoid the third. Then, he moved slightly to the left to dodge the fourth. Finally, he swung Tensa Zangetsu downwards and cut the last one in half.
Grimmjow narrowed his eyes in frustration. "Just die already, Saltar!" Grimmjow shouted, leaping at Ichigo.
Ichigo took notice of the blue spirit energy on one of Grimmjow's claws acting as a buzz saw of sorts. He quickly raised Tensa Zangetsu and blocked the attack. The two glared at each other as they came face to face.
"Block and dodge as many times as you want, Ichigo, I'm still gonna kill you!" Grimmjow shouted at him.
Grimmjow raised his free hand. "I wanted to make this as painful as possible, but I'm running out of time. I've got to finish this up quickly. So hold still while I crush you in one attack."
Grimmjow started charging blue spirit energy. Ichigo's eyes widened, immediately realizing what he was about to do. "Gran Rey Cero!" Grimmjow shouted.
In a split second, half of the top of La Torre was blasted away by Grimmjow's attack. Grimmjow grinned at the destruction he had caused. He laughed maniacally.
"I'm finally free!" He shouted gleefully. "I've finally broken away from him!"
Ichigo suddenly appeared behind Grimmjow. Grimmjow's eyes widened as he spun around, only to see Ichigo preparing his own attack.
"Cero!"
Grimmjow was knocked backwards by a blast of red spirit energy. The former Sixth Espada screamed in pain as he felt the attack burn his body. Grimmjow was sent outside of La Torre. Ichigo flew after him.
"You bastard, when did you learn to fire a Cero?" Grimmjow asked.
Ichigo ignored the question and swung at Grimmjow. Grimmjow dodged with Sonido. Grimmjow assessed his injuries. He had plenty of second degree burns, some third degree. He would definitely need to seek medical attention after this battle.
Grimmjow glared at Ichigo. "Why the hell can't you just die? Don't you understand? You must die for my sake!"
This surprised Ichigo. "If I can't prove myself right here right now, how can I be the king? How can I have my freedom? I refuse to give all of that up just because I can't beat you! I will free myself from him! He will no longer torment me!" Grimmjow ranted.
Spirit energy started gathering at Grimmjow's fingertips. "Forget finishing you off quickly and painlessly!" Grimmjow shouted. "I can still end you quickly and painfully!"
Ichigo recognized this ability as well. Crap, he's using that attack again? He thought.
"Desgarrón!" Grimmjow screamed, completing the preparations for his ultimate ability.
"Grimmjow, wait!" Ichigo shouted. "Who are you trying to free yourself from?"
"I don't have to answer!" Grimmjow shouted. "You would never understand! I just want to return to how I was before!"
With that, the former Espada charged Ichigo, screaming in fury. Grimmjow swung both giant claws downwards. Ichigo blocked both. Grimmjow swung at him repeatedly, forcing Ichigo on the defensive.
I can feel it, Ichigo thought, his emotions! It's not about defeating me anymore. He's fighting desperately…like he's trying to prove something, similar to what he said before.
Ichigo coated his blade in black spirit energy. No more, Ichigo thought angrily, I'm ending this right now!
Grimmjow still had Ichigo on the defensive. I can do this, Grimmjow thought, I can kill him. I can free myself. I don't have to be afraid of him anymore. I'll show that bastard! I'm the king! I'm the king! I'M THE KING! I'M…
Ichigo suddenly swung his spirit energy-coated Tensa Zangetsu and broke one of Grimmjow's claws. Grimmjow's eyes widened at the sight. Ichigo then swung again and shattered the other claw. The Captain of Squad 9 glared at him in disappointment.
"What the hell happened to you?" He asked.
Before Grimmjow could answer, or react to anything else for that manner, Ichigo went on the offensive. He started slashing at Grimmjow repeatedly with his energy coated blade. Grimmjow screamed in pain as blood spurted out of each fresh wound Ichigo gave him. Ichigo then raised his blade above his head.
"Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo shouted.
Grimmjow was hit point blank by Ichigo's Getsuga, sending him flying back to the ground. I can't believe this, Grimmjow thought angrily, I've trained for more than two years just for this moment…the gap between us hasn't shrunk at all.
Suddenly, Grimmjow's fall was halted. He looked to see that like their last fight, Ichigo grabbed his defeated form. Damn him, he thought, still showing me mercy…
As Grimmjow was lowered gently to the ground, one thought crossed his mind. How can I free myself now that I've lost again? Grimmjow thought. Benito…I'm still so terrified of him…
A.N: That's right, if you haven't already figured it out from previous chapters, Benito is the one Grimmjow is trying to free himself from. The reason for that will be revealed in the next chapter. I know for a fact that some of you will be disappointed in this fight, but you have to understand a few things. Regardless of how strong Grimmjow is now, Ichigo was already stronger than him before. And after how much Ichigo has grown ever since regaining his powers, Grimmjow didn't stand a chance. This fight was solely to show Ichigo's improvement to set up future showdowns involving someone even higher than Grimmjow on the pecking order at the moment, and in the future (take a wild guess on who it is). I say in the future because I do intend to write some sequels to this series at some point.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you're looking forward to the next chapter as much as I am, because now that Grimmjow has gone down, things are really gonna start heating up.