Ok, so I wanted to apologize for the major delay in updates. Especially since its almost over. I pmed one of my readers about it but I'd lost my flash drive. And felt pretty hopeless about the story after that. There was so much stuff on that flash drive pertaining to this story. Particularly what I'd planned to do with the remaining chapters. I found it weeks ago, started going through what I needed to, to get this chapter going, and then I lost it again. But I found it today. (In a puddle of goo from my boyfriend's melted Jolly Ranchers. Needless to say he isn't allowed to have them anymore. It cleaned up just fine though. Now he's in here to distract me with Battlefield 4.) So here we go.
Chapter 31: Battle Royal
The army was closing in. Ulquiorra knew that it was time to wake up Orihime. The bald man also seemed to notice the large angry presence heading straight for them. Both of them moved in the direction of the sleeping figures. Ulquiorra gently shook Orihime awake. Drool was dribbling out of her mouth as she slowly opened her eyes. She wiped the side of her face and yawned. The expression on her face made Ulquiorra almost regret waking her. The pink haired child was also stirring. "We are going to have to fight woman, I would suggest you finish waking quickly," Ulquiorra told her. Orihime stood up and brushed herself off quickly. She looked at him for guidance. "I could get us out of here with lots of casualties. I will do so if I must. Keep your eyes on the child." he told her. The pink haired girl laughed at him.
"Tears is funny Hime-chan!" she giggled while clutching Orihime's pant leg. From seemingly no where, the child pulled out a Zanpakuto on wheels. Ulquiorra glanced at the bald man.
"Yachiru is the Lieutenant of 11th," Orihime reminded him. Ulquiorra had been under the impression that it was only because she was attached to Captain Kenpachi. "Do you actually fight Yachiru?" Orihime asked sounding only slightly shocked. The girl placed her hands on her hips, her cheeks all puffed out. Purple energy swirled around the girl. The bald man actually looked a little nervous.
"Not now Yachiru," Ikkaku said quickly. Just as quickly as the energy had started, it stopped. Ulquiorra felt outward with his pesquisa and knew it was time to go outside. Wordlessly he turned and headed for the exit. He heard the others following. As he passed the threshold, he saw the horde of Shinigami rounding the final corridor to meet him. He withdrew Murcielago slowly, waiting for something to happen. At first, neither side did anything. And then.
"Become furious, Tora," a soft voice deadpanned. It came from his left. A blinding purple flash later, and he saw a large tiger dashing towards the army of infected. Atop the back of the tiger, Yachiru was hanging on my handfuls of fur and laughing. Wasting no time himself, Ikkaku followed her, steering clear of the tiger. It seemed maniacal clawing anything in its path. Orihime placed her hands on the side of her head, and out popped her six fairies. Knowing she would take care of herself, Ulquiorra moved forward into the battle.
Ichigo felt the reiatsu of Orihime, Ulquiorra and Ikkaku spike, and they were all in the same area. He could also feel a lot of people in that direction. He grabbed Renji's arm and nodded his head in that direction. Renji noticed himself at that moment. "Rukia, Orihime's fighting." Ichigo called out to his friend. She was off a ways from them, discussing something with her brother. Upon Tia's arrival with Matsumotto, the Lieutenant of 10th demanded they leave her to fight her captain. Tia stood off a distance from everyone, staring off in the direction of ninth. "Oi, Halibel!" Ichigo called out. "Orihime's fighting somone out by 11th! You coming? Or are you heading to ninth to check on Hisagi-san and them?" Tia pointed to the sky in the direction of first, and then buzzed away. Ichigo wasn't sure where she was going. But in the direction of first, in the sky, Ichigo could see what at first appeared to be a large blob of white. As it came closer, the blob individualized and Ichigo could tell it was reinforcements of some kind. He platformed into the air to meet them. Nel was in the front and Ichigo knew it was the Las Noches bunch. Renji and Rukia leapt up to join him.
"Nii-sama is going to inform the other captains that the infected can be saved. He's the fastest. Lets go help Orihime." Rukia stated.
While Orihime and himself avoided using lethal force, the same could not be said about the two from 11th. And while Orihime was in the back, defending herself, and healing the illness in the survivors and sending the attack fairy out, Ulquiorra had resorted to using the blunt edge of his blade to the heads of those he encountered and tossing them behind himself to her. It was not enough. They would not make it out of this without severely damaging the ranks of the Shinigami. Just as he was about to release his Zanpakuto, the sound of a hundred battlecries reached his ears. He searched the skies and found Ichigo leading a group of Hybrids. He could make out the faces of Nel and Nnoitra and he quickly fell back to inform Orihime. "Woman, Neliel has returned from Las Noches. You need to rest, you've exhausted yourself again." And she had. She was sweating, her damp hair clinging to her face, and she was panting like she couldn't catch her breath. Orihime leaned against him in relief. Instinctively, one of Ulquiorra's arms wrapped around her. He helped her back into the doorway of the mess hall and gave her a nudge. "Sit down and rest woman, I'll make sure there are still people for you to exhaust yourself saving later." She smiled at him weakly, leaning up on her toes and kissing him on the cheek. She then disappeared into the mess hall. Ulquiorra, putting that away for later, returned to the battle.
Ok so kind of a shorter chapter but I am terrible with battle scenes after all. Hope you enjoyed. Next chapter will be the last one just like I predicted. And then of course, the epilogue. Til then!