Chapter XXVI

Well here it is, the latest chapter of Legends of Chaos: Chaos Pawn of the Gremory. I pray that all of you, or at least most of you, enjoyed the previous chapter, and at least a few of you did it seems. I also hope most of you enjoy this one as well, post a review if you do, or even if you do not, or if you are confused or unsure on anything. I would also like to thank my coauthors Bakuto Masaki and TheLastNanaya for all their help with this story as usual. That about sums up all the preamble, so it is time to move on to the reviewer responses then it seems.

jenny hotkins: Complete what? I do not believe I understand the question I am afraid...

7: Glad you enjoyed it. At least I... think you enjoyed it. It is kind of hard to tell. Well I will just assume you did and say thank you.

hornofdesolation: Ah, yes he is, or rather was, Dr. Stylish, the insane scientist of Esdeath's special team, the Jeagers. As for the others, I am not telling because it is a secret. Well, it is right now anyway. But do not worry, the truth will be revealed in time.

Galeiam: I did not add them with no reason. I added them because I like their plot lines and their stories, as well as their characters. Mostly their characters though I will admit. Try something more along the lines of a one hundred member harem my friend. Or was it two hundred? I have honestly lost count at this point, but I can say it is big. I will accept your backhanded compliment though.

Well, that wraps up the reviewer responses, leaving me with not much else to say. So, without further stalling, let us begin the chapter.

Kazuma rushed into the room where Kuroka was recovering to see Koneko standing over Kuroka, wailing loudly. He then noticed a dagger lying on the floor.

"I… I can't do it…" Koneko lamented as tears fell down her cheeks.

Kuroka smiled and wiped the tears away with her hand.

Kazuma blinked and then smiled before walking over to Koneko and putting a hand on her shoulder. "That's a good thing. It means you don't hate your sister yet."

"But…" Koneko muttered in a weak voice. "But what does… that mean…?"

"It means that you were lied to. It means that the society built around you by the devils is so corrupt that your older sister was branded as a felon just for protecting you. But, it also means you can move forward without the lies and corruption clouding your eyes."

"But I said so many mean things to her… and hated her so much…"

"I'm sure she'll forgive you. Right, Kuroka?"

Kuroka nodded. "Yes, nya. I could never hate my adorable little sister, nya."

"See? So, how about you start fresh?"

Koneko lowered her head in thought. "I… need to think about it."

Kazuma nodded with a smile. "Take all the time you need."

Kazuma walked out of the small room and saw Yoruichi standing in front of him. "Need something?"

"You have guests. Gods know how they got in here," Yoruichi relayed with annoyance.

"Guests?"

Kazuma gaped as he saw Muzet, Rangiku, Prim, and Arcueid standing in the cave. "Wh – wha… but how?"

"We tracked you using Arcueid's nose," Rangiku explained.

"So you did… but that doesn't explain what you're doing here, Muzet."

Muzet smiled and answered, "Well it's been so long since we've all seen you. So I brought everyone here with me."

Rangiku blinked in thought. "Wait, everyone? Who everyone?"

Several figures then popped up over Muzet's back. A silvery fox, a white owl, and a red, hair-like creature.

Kazuma gaped slightly. "Oh you've got to be kidding."

The fox erupted in a burst of smoke, the fox becoming replaced with a tall, buxom woman with long, flowing silver hair that flowed down her back, with playful amber eyes and a set of fox ears atop her head accompanied with a silver-furred fox tail just above her bottom, wearing a red kimono with golden flower patterns on it.

The owl was engulfed in light before it too erupted in smoke to reveal a tall woman with long, mid-back length, straight, lemon-white hair, bangs falling over her forehead and two locks extending down, framing her face which had dark maple red eyes and matching red lips, wearing a pink fur cape that extended down to her waist, a light purple choker, and a series of belts wrapped around her sizable bust and her abdomen, leaving both mostly exposed, a light purple garter belt attached to knee-high, light purple, high-heeled boots with fur cuffs, and furry white gloves attached to her cape with several light purple straps.

The hair floated in the air before light flowed down, causing a body to materializing, forming a fairly tall woman with long, maroon, wavy hair that reached down to her waist, blue eyes with a ring in the middle, fair skin, and a beauty-mark under the left side of her lip, wearing a shoulder-less, dark-pink, gi-like shirt with several stripes going down the middle, loose arm warmers that reached her upper arms, two simple earrings, and light-purple spandex shorts.

Kazuma sighed slightly as the three women appeared before him.

Rangiku looked at the three in confusion.

"Who are they?" Arcueid asked.

The fox-woman bowed with a smile. "My name is Ginko." With a playful smirk she added, "Oh, and I'm Kazuma's first."

"Technically Serina is," Kazuma corrected, "but I still have trouble understanding all that."

The owl-woman waved to the others. "My name's Artemis. Oh, and by the way, I'm a Succubus. One of the first, in fact."

"My name is Fuka," the red-haired woman added. "We'll leave behind the information on what I am if you don't mind."

Yoruichi sighed and turned to Kazuma. "How many more of these friends of yours will show up?"

Kazuma shrugged.

However, before he could answer fully, Prim rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "Papa!" she exclaimed happily.

Kazuma chuckled lightly as he hugged her in return. "It's good to see you too, Prim. Though I never would've expected you to become a Soul Reaper."

"Big Sister Alicia is too," Prim added.

"Is she now?"

"Kazehana and I encountered her," Yoruichi commented. "She's rather powerful, if I must say."

"Good to know," Kazuma responded with a smirk. "She is my daughter after all. So no surprise there."

"Papa!" Prim moaned in annoyance before he turned to her.

"Yes?"

Prim immediately leaned her head up, pressing her lips against his deeply.

The others gaped in disbelief as their kiss lasted several moments before Prim pulled back with a contented smile.

Inside the Repentance Cell, Erza sat when one of the guards explained, "Your execution date has been changed once more."

"It has?" she asked disinterestedly.

"Yes. It has been expedited to tomorrow morning."

Erza sat silently, her eyes widened momentarily before returning to her normal composure. "… I see…"

In the Squad Four barracks, Toshiro looked over Momo as she lie unconscious, Hinata standing next to him.

"Commander Hyuga, thank you for rescuing Momo," Toshiro stated.

Hinata nodded in response. "I saw no other course of viable action."

Toshiro then turned his attention to the letter he found on Momo. 'This letter… could it really be that Gin is the one after the Sokyoku's power?'

"Attention all Soul Reapers," a voice stated over the broadcast system, "the execution date of Erza Scarlet has been moved up to tomorrow morning."

Toshiro narrowed his eyes in thought. 'I can't wait any longer. It's time to stop this execution.'

Kazuma sat in the underground training area, looking around him as he was surrounded by Yoruichi, Kazehana, Cera, Muzet, Prim, Arcueid, Ginko, Fuka, Artemis, Rangiku, and Kuroka, whom was still bandaged from her previous injuries.

"This is quite a gathering," Cera remarked in amusement.

"I'll say," Rangiku added.

"Are you sure you should be out of bed, Kuroka?" Kazuma asked.

Kuroka nodded. "I'll be fine, nya. I'm more worried about Koneko, nya. She has yet to come out of her room, nya."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to call her Shirone anymore?"

Kuroka shook her head. "Koneko Toujo is the name she's taken for herself, not Shirone Hanekawa, nya. So I'll accept the change and address her by the name she prefers, nya."

Kazuma nodded. "That's good."

"Have you really been in this place for the past couple days?" Arcueid asked as she looked around the area disapprovingly.

"If you don't like it, you're welcome to leave," Yoruichi snapped.

Muzet turned to Kazuma and asked, "So what exactly are you doing here? In Hel?"

"Hel?" Rangiku asked.

Kazuma answered, "Hel is the name of the galaxy, or rather, Realm, that the Soul Society is located in. Just know that it's an extremely complex and confusing subject to go through. I'll explain some other time if you want."

"I see…"

"Well, how about it?" Muzet urged.

"Yes, yes," Kazuma responded in mild annoyance. "A new friend of mine, Erza, has been set for execution by these jackasses. So I'm here to rescue her from them. Though it's proving to be a little more difficult than I anticipated. Right now my power's at only about ten or fifteen percent of what it used to be. That combined with my incomplete devil transformation thanks to that Evil Piece thing and all of those Soul Reapers' blades are like battery acid to me. If only I had Masakados it wouldn't be such an issue. But there's nothing I can do about that now. So I've been trying to master this new weapon I've obtained, the Zanpakuto Zangetsu, to give me an edge against those guys. And for the most part, I think I've managed it. And I picked up on something that gives me an extra boost as well."

"What's that?" Yoruichi asked.

"Well let's just say it's a surprise for later."

Yoruichi frowned in annoyance.

Rangiku raised an eyebrow. "Wait, mastered it? You can't mean Bankai…"

Kazuma smirked. "I mean that exactly."

Rukia and Ichigo hid behind a corner as more Soul Reapers ran past.

"Geez, they're all over this place," Ichigo snarled.

"Well from the sounds of it, several of the Captains have been taken down, and I think even outright killed," Rukia explained. "If that's the case, then the Seireitei is probably in severe disarray right now. Meaning they've stepped up guard to try and find whoever has taken them out and prevent further destruction."

"Yeesh. Whatever, come on, let's go. We need to try and meet up with somebody. I'll take anybody at this point. Even that idiot Ganju."

Rukia nodded and followed beside Ichigo as he ran. As they did, she frowned in thought. 'I just hope… this isn't a cycle of repeat.' Rukia recalled to the time when she first joined the main body of the Soul Reapers.

Rukia sighed as the other members of Squad Thirteen mocked Rukia for her placement in the squad.

"You gotta be kidding me," one snarled.

"Yeah, she skipped a lot of the exams to get into a squad because she was adopted by that pompous Kuchiki clan," another chided.

"That's enough!" a new voice shouted as a tall, young-looking man with aqua eyes and spiky, raven black hair wearing the standard Soul Reaper Lieutenant uniform approached the group and knocked the others away. "Get back to work!"

The man then walked into the room Rukia was waiting in and saluted. "Hello, I am Lieutenant Kaien Shiba. Welcome aboard."

Rukia blinked in thought, somewhat surprise. "I see… yes, sir."

Kaien twitched an eyebrow in annoyance. "… What did you just say…?" He then stepped forward and grabbed her by hair. "What kind of greeting is that supposed to be!?"

The sudden and rather violent action surprised Rukia as he pulled her close.

"I am your commanding officer! You are supposed to state your name and say 'pleased to meet you, sir'! What's your name dammit!?"

Rukia, surprised, confused, and mildly afraid, sputtered, "Uh… it's Rukia Kuchiki, sir…"

Kaien leaned closer with a growl. "Aanndd…?"

"And…? And I'm pleased to meet you, sir!"

Kaien smirked and patted her hair down before standing straight. "Alright, you're okay, Rukia!"

Rukia, bewildered and taken aback by the surprisingly normal greeting and scolding she had just received, began to pat her hair back down.

Kaien gave her a thumbs up and continued, "Welcome to Squad Thirteen, the best squad of them all! Unfortunately our Captain isn't in the best of health, so I pretty much run things around here." His tone turning proud, he added, "In fact, it's okay if, every now and then, you accidentally forgot and addressed me as Captain Kaien!"

"Uuhh… 'kay, I'll try to remember."

As she continued running beside Ichigo, Rukia smiled lightly. 'After such a long, strange road, that sense of normalcy is exactly what I wanted.'

Sometime after joining Squad Thirteen, Rukia sat, bowing to Byakuya in the Kuchiki clan's compound.

"Lord Byakuya," Rukia greeted with her head lowered, "my entrance to Squad Thirteen today was successful."

After a moment of silence, Byakuya, whom sat with his back to Rukia, asked, "What Seat were you named?"

Rukia thought for a moment then answered unconfidently, "Uh… well… my deepest apologies, Brother, but with my abilities, I… wasn't able to qualify for an officer seat upon entry."

"I see," he retorted blandly. "You may go."

Rukia bowed and closed the door before leaving.

At some later point, Rukia sat near a river when Kaien leaned over to look at her.

"Aagghh, not the long face again," Kaien groaned. "Now what?"

Rukia flinched back in shock, not expecting to see him there so suddenly.

"And why is it you practically jump out of your skin every time you see me?" Kaien asked, somewhat annoyed. "You're hurting my feelings… Anyway, I brought this for you," he then handed her a wooden bottle, "so drink up."

Rukia merely mumbled in response as she accepted the bottle from him before he sat next to her.

After a moment of silence, Kaien asserted, "Knowing you, you probably won't tell me anything, but I… have to ask. What's got you so depressed?"

Rukia turned to him in surprise.

"Just remember this: as long as you're a part of this squad, Rukia, I will stand by you even if it costs me my life."

However, the atmosphere Kaien and Rukia had was crudely interrupted as Kiyone and Sentaro suddenly interjected.

"Smells like love!" Sentaro remarked loudly, surprising both Kaien and Rukia and causing Kaien to spit his drink.

Both Sentaro and Kiyone proceeded to mock and joke at the conversation Rukia and Kaien had just shared before Kaien jumped up and growled, "Kiyone, Sentaro! Shut up you two! How dare you show up for duty drunk again!"

"Don't let it get to you, Rukia, I'm from the slums too so I know what it's like! All these snobs telling me I'm low class really gets annoying! Whenever they try just do like I do and flick a booger at 'em! Works every time!"

"Now that's class!" Kiyone chimed in before laughing hysterically.

As Sentaro and Kiyone's antics continued Kaien eventually had enough and interjected, "Alright! That's enough outta you two loudmouths! Sober up and get back to your posts!" He accentuated his demands by splashing the two with water.

Shaking the water off, Kiyone rebutted, "We were just having fun! You're such a killjoy!"

'Kaien always had a way of making me feel at ease…' Rukia thought as she and Ichigo rounded a corner.

However they had to stop when they came face-to-face with a large group of patrolling Soul Reapers.

"Ah crap…" Ichigo grumbled.

Rukia blinked curiously as Ichigo picked her up before turning and running as the Soul Reapers gave chase. "What the hell are you doing!?"

"I'm getting us out of here!"

"You don't have to carry me like a piece of luggage to do it!"

"You can't run as fast as me, so it's quicker this way!"

"That's the dumbest logic I've ever heard!"

"Just shut up while I try to get away from these assclowns!"

Rukia groaned before laughing quietly.

"Great, what now? You develop a case of the crazies too?"

Rukia shook her head. "No, you just remind me of someone."

"I see… is that good or bad?"

"I'm not sure really."

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow.

"Die Hollow!" Kaien bellowed as he killed a Hollow that he and a group of other Soul Reapers, including Rukia, had cornered.

Rukia sat, with a graze to her cheek, in shock as he effortlessly cut down the beast.

"Well done Lieutenant!" one of the Soul Reapers praised.

"Excellent work!" another added.

"Alright, mission accomplished!" Kaien cheered, finally knocking Rukia from her shock.

Shortly later, Rukia sat away from the others as she cared to the scrapes and bruises she had received during the fight. With a hiss she muttered, "I hurt myself…" However, before she could finish caring for the wounds herself, another Soul Reaper came up behind her and cleaned the wounds for her. "Ms. Miyako!"

Miyako, a young woman with long black hair that was tied back into a ponytail with two strands hanging down, framing her face, and dark blue eyes wearing the standard Soul Reaper uniform, smiled and asked, "Are you alright?"

Rukia blinked in thought before immediately turning to her and sputtering, "Uh, y – yes, yes, it was nothing! Thank you."

"Oh, good. I was worried for a second."

"Hey, who's that!?" Kaien shouted as he ran over to the two. "Is that you Miyako?!" He slowed to a stop as Rukia stood up. "I wasn't expecting you," he said as he turned to Miyako.

"I've been here a little while, long enough to see you take care of the Hollow." With a playful smirk, she added, "I came in just in case you messed it up and needed me to save you."

Kaien blinked for a moment and then laughed loudly. "Well at least it's nice to know you have my back!" As Miyako herself laughed, he turned to Rukia and ordered, "Rukia, go alert the squad. Have Sentaro and Kiyone help. Tell them that we're pulling out."

"Yes, sir," Rukia responded with a nod before turning to Miyako and bowing. "And thank you for helping me, Miss Miyako."

Miyako smiled and responded, "You take care of yourself now."

"Yes, I will," Rukia answered with a wide smile before bowing and running off to the others.

Sometime later, Kaien stood near one of the Seireitei's gates, opposite Miyako whom stood gathered with a small group of other Soul Reapers.

"So, do you understand the mission?" Kaien asked.

Miyako nodded. "Yes. A reconnaissance mission to observe and discover information on a Hollow."

Kaien nodded in return and then ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "… Unfortunately this Hollow is an unknown entity. And none of the Soul Reapers it's attacked have survived to report back." After a pause, Kaien's expression softened as he urged, "Don't be reckless."

Miyako smiled and remarked, "You have to admit, that's some rather unusual advice coming from someone like you, Lieutenant." She laughed lightly.

"Quit joking around," Kaien urged in mild annoyance.

Miyako smiled and replied, "It's alright, I take my mission as a Soul Reaper very seriously, and this Hollow's horrible crimes cannot be allowed to continue. I'll do whatever I can to put a stop to such evil."

Rukia, whom was stood next to Kaien, then interjected worriedly, "… Miss Miyako…"

Miyako's smiled widened slightly as she returned, "Oh, don't worry about me. This is just a recon mission. We'll gather all the information and leave all the heavy stuff to you and the Lieutenant." She then ordered, "Recon team, let's move out."

"Right!" the four other Soul Reapers responded in unison before following Miyako out of the gate.

After the sun had begun to set in the sky, Kaien sat in the Squad Thirteen office with Jushiro, whom was coughing as usual.

"Do you need anything, Captain?" Kaien asked.

"Thanks, I'll be fine," Jushiro responded weakly.

"Excuse me," Rukia announced as she walked into the room carrying a tray of drinks.

As she knelt down, Kaien taking a few drinks from the tray, Jushiro asked, "Rukia, is there any report yet from the reconnaissance team?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. They still haven't returned.

However, Sentaro suddenly burst into the room, frantic. "Sir, the recon team, there's bad news!"

The three seated Soul Reapers gasped in shock.

In Squad Four's infirmary, Jushiro, Kaien, and Rukia entered a room where Miyako lay, unconscious.

"Miyako!" Kaien shouted frantically as he ran over to her unresponsive form.

"She's unconscious now, but her life isn't in any danger," the Soul Reaper monitoring her reported to Kaien.

"And the others?" Jushiro asked.

"The others are all dead, sir."

Jushiro widened his eyes in shock. "All four of them…?"

"Kaien…" Rukia eased unsurely as she walked up to him.

Later that night, as the air in the Squad Four infirmary sat still, Miyako, in her lone room, began to sit up and move in an unnatural manner.

Outside, several Soul Reapers sat around a pool, conversing.

"We've had our share of bad luck lately," one lamented.

"Yeah, I can't believe the whole reconnaissance team got wiped out like that," another added.

"Except for Miss Miyako, that is," the third chimed in.

"How is she? Is she gonna be alright?"

"Yeah, they said her life's not in danger."

"That's good," the first said with relief. "She's one person this squad really couldn't do without."

"Yeah…"

However, all three turned when they noticed Miyako slowly walking towards them.

"Miss Miyako, should you be out of bed so soon?" the second asked before she suddenly swung her Zanpakuto, cutting a large gash in his side.

The other two stood in shock before Miyako cut them down as well.

Jushiro turned suddenly as he heard the pained shrieks of his men.

He and Rukia arrived to find Miyako killing multiple Soul Reapers, covered in their spilled blood, before turning to them.

Rukia gasped in horror. "Miss… Miyako…!"

"What happened here!?" Sentaro shouted as he and Kiyone ran to the area.

"This is horrible!" Kiyone exclaimed.

Miyako immediately turned and charged at the four, aiming for Rukia.

However, as she did, Kaien appeared on the scene and stood between her and the others, bellowing, "Stop it Miyako!"

Miyako stopped mid-swing and flinched before backing away slowly. She grunted and growled as she appeared to fight against her own body, unnatural cracks and creaks emanating from her. After a moment she simply leapt away and fled from the area, the sounds of dying Soul Reapers echoing through the air as she cut them down on her way out of the barracks.

"Kaien, hurry," Jushiro ordered, an order Kaien obeyed without a word as he sped after Miyako.

"I can't believe she did this…" Jushiro lamented as he and the others looked over the mauled bodies of the Soul Reapers Miyako had killed on her way out of the area.

"Oh Kaien…" Rukia remarked in despair.

Kaien turned to Jushiro and pleaded with a trembling voice, "Let me go after her, Captain. She couldn't have gotten very far, sir."

"No, don't!" Jushiro argued. "Think about it Kaien! Following her is exactly what the enemy wants you to do."

"That may be… but it's still the only option. This monster that's controlling Miyako… used her to kill her own men. Men who trusted her. Miyako's honor has been defiled. You must let me go, Captain."

After a silent moment of thought, Jushiro answered, "Very well. I shall go with you."

The others turned to him in shock and disbelief.

"What…?" Kaien asked in disbelief. "… You Captain…?"

Jushiro nodded and then added, "You come too, Rukia."

"Yes, sir," she responded simply.

Jushiro then addressed Kiyone and Sentaro. "You two, seal off this area and call the squad to battle stations."

"Understood, sir!" the duo responded with salutes.

"Let's go!" Jushiro ordered before he, Kaien, and Rukia charged off.

Deep in the forest, a figure sniffed the air before sighing in delight. "Aahh… I smell more prey approaching. More foolish meat!"

Soon, Kaien, Rukia, and Jushiro stood near a tree as they saw a shred shihakusho, empty and torn, hanging from a tree.

"What is that…?" Rukia asked tremulously.

"Kaien…" Jushiro interjected as Kaien walked over to the shredded robe.

However, before Kaien could grab it, long tendrils shot from the sidelines and attempted to impale him, the raven-haired Soul Reaper jumping away before they could.

Kaien, Rukia, and Jushiro jumped to a branch high above as they looked down upon their assailant, a large, green-skinned, six-limbed creature, with a tall white mask with orange flame patterns around the eyes and a flock of tendrils on its back.

Rukia grabbed her Zanpakuto as she readied herself. "I'll go first, sir. I'll scout out what its abilities are."

However, as she said this, Kaien stepped forward. "Captain… I beg of you… permission to go fight it alone…"

Rukia widened her eyes in horror.

After a moment of silence, Jushiro replied, "Go…"

Kaien wasted no time charging in towards the beast.

The Hollow laughed in amusement. "So, you're the first, eh? You're nothing but a boy!"

Kaien turned to the shredded robe and lone Zanpakuto nearby. "Tell me… how many Soul Reapers have you devoured so far…?"

"Aahh… how many?" It then laughed cruelly. "Sorry boy, I don't keep track of such trivial things."

"Have you ever… even once… had any regrets about it?"

"Such a stupid question! I, Metastacia, have a heart, you know, just like you. There isn't a single night that I don't have regrets after eating a Soul Reaper. Even now I'm having regrets… about that woman Soul Reaper. I regret not eating the rest of her!" Metastacia taunted before laughing maniacally.

"… So you controlled her and made her kill her comrades…?"

"Controlled her?" With a maniacal laugh, he added, "Oh, not the way you're imagining. I was actually inside her body! Then I ate my way out of her and returned to the form you see now! Too bad you didn't get to see that part. Aahhaahhaahhaahh!"

Kaien's mana flared violently as he drew his Zanpakuto.

"Wanna see what it's like for yourself!?" Metastacia taunted as Kaien charged at him. "Come on boy, I'll eat you too!"

However, to Metastacia's surprise, Kaien moved fast enough to catch it off guard and sever two of its arms before leaping on top and grabbing at the crop of tendrils atop the mad beast.

"You're fast… but not fast enough."

"Wrangle the seas and the sky, Nejibara!" However, before his Zanpakuto's Shikai could activate, the blade shimmered and then melted. "What the hell!?"

"You fell for it, boy! Once every night, the first person to touch my tentacles will see his Zanpakuto destroyed!"

Kaien gawked in awe and disbelief at his shattered Zanpakuto before one of Metastacia's tendrils sent him flying. 'Impossible! I've never heard of such a power!'

"Kaien, get away!" Rukia shouted frantically before reaching for her sword.

However, Jushiro stopped her.

"Captain…! Kaien has been disarmed, we have to help him!"

"But if we were to step in now, what would become of Kaien's pride?" Jushiro argued.

Rukia slackened weakly.

"Even if by going to his aid you were successful in saving his life, the cost of such an act would most certainly be the death of his pride forever."

"That doesn't make any sense at all, Captain! What good is pride to a man if he's dead!?"

"Listen now, and remember these words: There are two kinds of battles, and those of us who have chosen to be warriors and to fight those battles, must always be aware of the difference between the two. There are battles that are fought to protect lives, and there are battles that are fought to defend honor."

As Kaien fought Metastacia, jumping and dodging its attacks before leaping onto its back and tearing off one of the tendrils, Jushiro continued.

"Right now, Kaien is fighting with all his heart and soul to defend honor. That of his men who died, his own honor, and above all… his beloved wife's honor."

After a moment of hesitation, and of watching Kaien continue to struggle against the Hollow, Rukia sighed and released her blade.

As Kaien slid to a stop from one of Metastacia's hits, the Hollow laughed indignantly. "What's the matter, Soul Reaper? Too full of yourself to ask your friends to help you?"

Panting with exhaustion, Kaien retorted, "Shut up. I don't need a sword or anything else to handle scum like you."

"We'll see about that. Because now I'm going to do unto you just as I did unto your beloved and delicious wife! I'm going to play you like a puppet from the inside! And against your will, you'll slay your comrades with your own hand!" Metastacia laughed insanely before his tendrils curled up and launched forward at Kaien at great speed.

Rukia and Jushiro watched in horror as the tendrils stabbed into Kaien's upraised forearm and then disappeared into his body before Metastacia's body crumbled.

Her eyes wide in horror, Rukia called out weakly, "… Lieutenant… Kaien…?"

"Yes… what is it girl?" Metastacia asked tauntingly, now in control of Kaien's body, before turning, revealing Kaien's skin having turned dark green, orange, flame-like marks around his eyes, the sclera turned black as night, and the pupils and irises replaced with a single, glowing white spot. "What do you want!?"

Rukia gasped in horror at Kaien's mutated appearance. "… Lieutenant… Kaien…!"

"What is it with you, girl!? Why do you keep repeating my name again and again!? Are you that worried about me…? Or maybe you're in love with me!" Metastacia then leapt up to Rukia, his tongue sticking out in a crazed manner. "I guess if you love me that much, then maybe I should eat you first!"

However, before Metastacia could make good on his threats, Jushiro jumped in the way, blocking the parasitic Hollow's charge with his Zanpakuto, though Metastacia prevented it from killing him by grabbing it with his teeth.

"C – Captain…" Rukia muttered in shock and confusion.

"Rukia, get out of here," Jushiro ordered.

Rukia merely grunted in confusion.

Jushiro turned and shouted, "Get out of here! Run away, now!"

Knocking herself from her daze, Rukia immediately turned and ran. As she ran frantically through the forest, away from the battle zone, she shouted in her mind, 'Why…?! Why did this have to happen!? Kaien!' She grit her teeth as she fled, tears falling from her eyes.

At the same time, Metastacia and Jushiro dashed through the forest, opposite each other.

"Why aren't you attacking me, Soul Reaper!?" Metastacia taunted. "I think I know what you're waiting for… you're trying to think of a way to rip me out of this body so you can still save your friend, eh!? Isn't that right!?"

Jushiro maintained his cold gaze.

"But this is different from human possession. We are both spirit beings, and now our spirits are united! It can never be undone!"

Jushiro narrowed his eyes and dashed forward, slicing open a gash in Metastacia's neck. "I see, then you leave me no choice. I'll kill his body and you, inside it."

Metastacia turned to him in shock. "Are you insane!? What kind of a Soul Reaper would slay one of his own men!?"

"Kaien no longer exists," Jushiro retorted as he turned and readied his blade. "I won't let his body become food for a monster like you! Now die!" Jushiro howled as he slashed at Metastacia once more.

The Hollow jumped into the air to dodge another strike from the determined Captain before leaping into the trees to escape.

"Coward!" Jushiro taunted and prepared to chase after the fleeing monster but stopped as he felt a tremor through his body and spat up blood, bringing him to his knees with a fit of coughing. 'Now of all times!?' His eyes widened however, when he looked in the direction Metastacia had fled and saw Rukia standing in its path, her sword drawn. 'Rukia…?' "You were supposed to get away from here you idiot!" Jushiro stood up weakly and attempted to chase after Metastacia as it neared Rukia.

Rukia stood, shocked and with no plan of attack, as Metastacia charged at her, laughing maniacally as tendrils began emerging from all over its body. However, just as soon as the beast reached her, it was impaled on her blade, its blood splattering on her face as the rain began to fall.

"My… Captain…" Kaien forced out, in momentary control of his own body as Jushiro approached. "Thank you… for understanding… and for letting me fight… to the end…"

Rukia, her sword still run through Kaien's body, turned to her in disbelief. "… But Kaien… does that mean that you…?"

"… Rukia… I apologize to you… for getting you involved in all of this in the first place… I know this… was painful…" he then weakly wrapped around her as he added, "but thanks to you, I'm saved. Now…I can still leave my… heart here…" His body then went limp in Rukia's arms.

Rukia dropped to her knees, tears falling from her eyes as she held Kaien's body. 'No… I haven't done anything deserving of thanks. I ran away because I was afraid to fight…! And then I ran back… but it was only because I couldn't stand to see you suffer…!'

Rukia and Ichigo sat in a small alleyway, both exhausted from running.

"Holy… crap…" Ichigo grunted in fatigue.

"You didn't have to run quite that far, you know," Rukia chided. "We escaped them nearly five minutes ago."

"Shut up," he snarled. "I'd rather be sure they're gone."

"And die tired."

Ichigo twitched an eyebrow before planting his hand firmly on her head. "Look, I'm the only reason we got away at all, those tiny legs of yours couldn't carry an ant."

"What was that!?" Rukia snarled as she stood up, annoyed.

Ichigo stood up as well, standing taller than her. "You heard me! Now thank me for rescuing you from those jerks!"

"Hhuuhh!? You can't be serious!"

"And why not!?"

"Because that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

A patrolling Soul Reaper saw the two of them arguing and charged in, howling madly.

However, both turned and immediately punched him in the face before shouting, "SHUT UP!"

Back in Shinto Teito, Ryuuma fluttered through the sky, chasing a butterfly, chirping happily.

Meanwhile, in the sky above, a figure floated above the clouds, watching Ryuuma, before flying towards her.

Ryuuma blinked when she noticed the sky get dark and then turned around before paling and fluttering away swiftly.

Medea sighed as she walked down the sidewalk when Ryuuma suddenly slammed into her at high speeds, knocking her to the ground.

"Ooww…" Medea moaned before lightly knocking the little sprite on the head. "What's your problem?"

Ryuuma pointed into the air behind herself, chirping frantically.

Medea raised an eyebrow and then sighed before standing. "Good grief, you're so –" her speech stopped when she instantly felt something nearby and turned to see a massive, centipede-like Hollow with a brown-orange body and a long white mask with pincers next to its mouth.

"Would you mind giving me that one?" the Hollow asked with a female voice. "It looks to be very tasty…"

Medea narrowed her eyes before standing. "Sorry, but I've no intention of letting you eat this one." She then teleported away.

The Hollow snickered in amusement. "Run as far and as fast as you like. You'll just die tired."

Medea reappeared near Kuoh academy with a sigh and turned to see Kon, inside Kazuma's body, sitting by a tree pouting.

"Dammit… why do I have to be stuck in this body with all of the good stuff sealed?" Kon lamented when he saw Medea walking up to him swiftly with a stern expression. Paling in fear he muttered swiftly, "Whatever it is, I didn't do it!"

Medea grabbed his arm and demanded, "Come with me."

Kon blinked in thought but nodded. "O – okay…"

Shortly later they stood near the archery clubroom.

"Okay, what's all this about? Have you finally realized your feelings for me?" Kon asked confidently.

"If it weren't for the fact that you're in Kazuma's body I'd kick you in the pants right now," Medea snarled sharply.

Kon flinched slightly, knowing full well Medea's habit for giving on her threats. "Alright, alright, sorry. So what is going on?"

"There's a Hollow here."

Kon blinked in thought and then gaped. "Y – you're kidding…"

"I'm not. And she's after Ryuuma."

"She?"

"Yes, the Hollow's female. Oh, and it looks like a giant centipede."

Kon turned blue. "Dammit… I thought I'd get my own Hollow like Mira."

"Speaking of, do you know where she is? I can't fight that thing without being seen. At least she can go into spirit form to fight it without being spotted."

Kon sighed and then shrugged. "Nah. I've been stuck here all day doing school stuff for that ungrateful asshole."

Medea twitched an eyebrow.

"S – sorry…"

With a sigh, Medea groaned, "Great. Now what do we do?"

"Don't ask me. Kazuma sealed most of his body's abilities, meaning I can't do a damn thing."

With a sideways glance, Medea chided, "That's because of what someone like you would do with his full rank of abilities."

"Aaww… I'm not that bad…"

"No, you're worse."

"That doesn't even make sense!"

"Aahh… there you are my pretty little snack."

Both Kon and Medea looked up to see the Hollow floating above them, her tongue flicking outside of her mouth.

"Man that thing is ugly…" Kon groaned.

The Hollow looked at Kon and then widened its eyes before narrowing them with intent. "Oh little girl, you can keep the sprite. I've found better prey." The Hollow's tongue suddenly shot from her mouth and wrapped around Kazuma's body, with Kon still inside, before flying off.

"H – hey! Get back here!" Medea demanded.

"Help me!" Kon pleaded as the Hollow carried him off.

"Oh for the love of – dammit! Where is that white-haired bimbo!?"

Elsewhere, Mirajane sat in front of an ice cream parlor, enjoying some of the food before noticing Kon floating through the air screaming. Narrowing her eyes, she then noticed the Hollow carrying him. "Well… that's not good."

"Mmmiirrraaa!" Medea hollered as she ran towards the white-haired woman before stopping nearby. "About time I found you!"

"I suppose you can explain why that Hollow just flew by with Kazuma's body hanging from its tongue?"

"Oh good, you saw that already. I don't know why, but that thing took his body. Oh, and Kon's inside it."

"I see. Perhaps we should go rescue it. Oh, and Kon too."

The Hollow flew deep into the forest before dropping Kon to the ground below.

Kon grunted before sitting up as the Hollow landed in front of him, causing him to shriek in fear.

"Oooohh, that's a good response," she remarked as her tongue brushed under his chin.

'Oh crap… I'm so dead…' Kon groaned in his mind.

With a snicker, the Hollow remarked, "I'm gonna take you far away and give you some real lovin', my new pet."

Kon merely sat in dead silence. 'Oh crap… I don't think I'll die before this…' "U – uhm… you really don't want to eat me. I mean, I'm mostly muscle and bone, nothing real tasty."

The Hollow sniggered lightly. "Oh, how cute. Don't you worry, I've no intention of eating you. No, no, I'm going to give you something better." The Hollow's tongue then stretched out towards Kon, but before it could reach him, something hit its head and exploded.

Kon turned in shock and saw Ururu standing nearby, a multi-barreled rocket launcher with bandages wrapped around it in her grasp. "Th – the hell…?"

The Hollow snarled in annoyance. "Who dares to interrupt Quavera's dance!?"

"Up here!" Jinta howled as he jumped down from above, only to be swatted away by Quavera's tail.

"Back off, worm." She then turned to Kon. "I've got something more enjoyable to…" she trailed off as she realized he was gone.

Kon sighed in relief as he crouched near Medea. "Holy crap… I thought I was Hollow food…"

Medea sighed in annoyance.

Ururu fired several more missiles at Quavera. However, to the young girl's surprise, multi-colored orbs appeared in the air in front of Quavera, which the missiles disappeared into.

"Oh that's not good," Kisuke muttered before more of the orbs appeared in the air behind his group. "Scatter!" he shouted as Ururu's missiles shot out from the orbs.

Quavera sneered before a large orb appeared in front of her which she flew into.

"So what is that thing?" Kon asked.

"A Hollow," Medea answered plainly.

Kon twitched an eyebrow. "I know that, dammit! I meant why is it –!?"

However, before Kon's question could finish, a multicolored orb appeared in the air above himself, Medea, Ryuuma, and Mirajane from which Quavera dove, slamming into the ground, sending dust flying up in all directions.

"Well she's not shy, I'll give her that!" Medea grumbled as she transformed into her cloaked outfit.

Mirajane hissed as the massive centipede-like Hollow flew back into the air and snarled.

"I'm not letting anyone take my newest pet!" Quavera snarled angrily.

Mirajane raised an eyebrow in confusion before Alma Diablo appeared in her grasp.

Medea raised a hand and fired several blasts of energy at Quavera.

However, before the shots could connect, they disappeared into more of the orbs.

Medea managed to vanish just as the orbs appeared around her and fired her own attacks back at her.

"You're rather strong for a normal Hollow aren't you, Quavera?" Mirajane remarked with a smirk.

Quavera hummed in thought before turning to her in thought. After a moment, Quavera remarked, "Erm… who are you again…?"

Mirajane twitched an eyebrow with an annoyed smirk. "Okay, if that's how it is, then perhaps this will remind you. Erase, Alma Diablo!" In a flash of light, Mirajane was once again cloaked in her Satan Soul form.

Quavera narrowed her eyes before widening them and snickering. "Aahh, Mirajane, was it?"

Mirajane smirked as she raised her fists. "I'm glad you finally remember, Minerva."

Quavera laughed loudly. "Now there's a name I haven't heard in some time. Unfortunately for you, that name has since dropped from me, since I'm stuck in this hideous form. Although, I notice you've managed to regain your human form, Mirajane."

"Hey, uh… what's going on here…?" Kon asked as he glanced at Medea.

"Not a clue, but I think it's best we don't interrupt," Medea retorted.

"I have, to an extent," Mirajane answered to Quavera.

"Is that so…?" Quavera answered as her eyes narrowed. "I would like to know how you got it back."

Mirajane smirked playfully. "Hhmm… I'll think about it. I think I like you better like that."

"Tch, pompous bitch!" Quavera shouted before charging at Mirajane.

Mirajane dodged to the side, before opening her hand at Quavera as a sphere of green energy condensed in her hand and launched at Quavera at immense speed.

Quavera opened another orb, but one moment too late, causing the blast to hit her side and explode. "Gah! You'll pay for that!" she howled before an explosion erupted behind Mirajane.

Mirajane plummeted to the ground, managing to stop herself before she crashed. "So you're still up to your old tricks."

"And you're still falling for them."

More explosions rocked around Mirajane, but she vanished before the erupted, appearing behind Quavera, and grabbed the immense Hollow's tail, picked her up, swung her over and slammed her to the ground.

Quavera growled before getting back up and charging at Mirajane.

Mirajane put her hands together before energy began collecting between them. "Demon Blast!" she shouted before a stream of energy fired out and slammed into Quavera.

Quavera recovered quickly and opened her maw widely before a ball of orange energy formed in front of her mouth.

Mirajane's eyes widened. "A – a Cero!?"

The orange energy shot out like a beam, however Mirajane managed to dodge it.

Mirajane reappeared behind Quavera and extended her hand forward before smirking. "So, I still have full use of my Satan Soul powers. Interesting." A large, black magic circle then appeared in front of her hand. "Darkness Stream!" she shouted before hand-like tendrils of dark magic shot out from the magic circle towards Quavera.

Quavera hissed before more portals appeared in the air which the tendrils vanished into. She then opened her mouth wide and fired multiple Ceros at Mirajane in quick succession.

Mirajane narrowed her eyes before swatting each of the blasts away.

"… Eh…?"

Mirajane smirked. "You're still stuck in a normal Hollow form. Besides, I've just been warming up."

"Wha –?" Quavera began before Mirajane suddenly appeared in front of her.

Mirajane slammed both of her hands into Quavera's underside and shouted, "Evil Spark!" before electricity surged through Quavera's body and sent her flying. She then put her hands together, the palms facing ahead, before a swirling ball of purple energy gathered in her grasp. "Evil Explosion!" she shouted before the ball shot forward and exploded violently.

Kon and Medea ducked behind a tree as the shock wave from the blast surged past them.

"Holy crap… talk about overkill," Kon remarked. "She just got a whole lot scarier."

Medea gulped slightly. 'Great… she's just as insanely destructive as Heracles.'

Shortly later, the three walked up to the smoldering crater.

"Yeesh, there's not even ash left from that thing," Kon remarked.

Mirajane, back in her normal form, narrowed her eyes and then shook her head. "No. She escaped."

"Huh!?" both Medea and Kon shouted in disbelief.

'That Hollow survived an attack like that…?' Medea thought in disbelief. 'This is bad… I hope Kazuma finishes up whatever's holding him in Hel.'

"If we're lucky," Mirajane added, "she won't come back."

"You don't sound sure about that," Medea asserted.

"Because I'm not. The chances of her coming back are high. She always was persistent."

Medea raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"

Mirajane nodded. "Yes. In life she was known as Minerva Orlando, a mage like myself. However she had a… difficult upbringing, causing her to come to crave power to an insane degree. To the point she turned herself into a demon, or, devil, I suppose. I'm guessing that there were still Sin Particles in her body when she died."

"Sin Particles?" Medea asked.

Mirajane shook her head. "It's a little complicated. Plus it might just be an old term for something more modern. For now, let's head back to the apartment. There are others here."

Medea glanced to the side and noticed Kisuke hiding nearby and nodded before her cloak expanded out, covered the three, then shrunk into a single spot and vanished.

Kisuke narrowed his eyes in thought.

Outside the underground training facility, a figure stood with a sword over its shoulders. "So… that's where you went you bastard…"

Inside, Muzet turned to one side. "Hhmm…"

"Something wrong?" Prim asked as she sat in Kazuma's lap.

"There's someone nearby."

"Yes, I wonder who –" Yoruichi began before the entrance to the training ground exploded.

Everyone inside tensed before Renji dropped to the ground.

The women tensed, but eased when Kazuma raised a hand and resumed stroking Prim's hair.

"I assume you're here for a reason?" Kazuma asked.

"You're a pretty cheeky guy, going off to do Bankai training by yourself like this," Renji rebutted.

"How does he…?" Yoruichi muttered.

"Are you here for a rematch?" Kazuma pursued.

Renji hissed. "I wouldn't waste my time."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes. "Oh?"

"I'm here to complete my own training in Bankai. Also, to let you know that Mo – Erza's execution date has been moved up again."

Kazuma sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow?"

Renji nodded.

"It's impossible. You'll never reach Bankai in that time."

"I did, didn't I?" Kazuma remarked confidently.

"You're a… special case."

Kazuma nodded as Renji walked away. "I have no doubt Renji will do it. He had that look in his eyes. That look which tells that not even Eustoma could stop him."

Yoruichi blinked in thought. "Eustoma?"

"You call him God."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow and then sighed. "I don't think I even want to understand that."

"Probably not."

Kazuma sighed after training some more when he noticed someone hiding behind a rock nearby. With a sigh he ordered, "Come on out, Koneko, I know you're there."

She tensed before stepping out from behind the boulder.

Kazuma sheathed Zangetsu and sat on a large stone nearby. "So, mind telling me why you were spying on me?"

She frowned mildly and puffed her cheeks slightly. "I wasn't."

"Alright, so be it. Then what were you doing?"

She remained in sullen silence.

Kazuma merely chuckled and then asked, "Okay, so what do you want?"

She looked around uncomfortably and then asked, "Can we… talk?"

He raised an eyebrow before nodding with a smile. "Of course." He patted the spot next to him.

Koneko frowned in thought before walking over and sitting next to him.

"I have to say I'm surprised. It's unusual for you to initiate conversation like this."

Koneko huffed before elbowing him in the gut.

He grunted quietly before turning his attention back to her. "Alright, alright. So what's on your mind?"

"… Why…?" she muttered quietly.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Why what? Why are you so cute?"

She frowned in irritation.

"Okay, okay, got it. No jokes, I promise."

"Why… did you intervene like that…?"

"Like what? You mean with you and Kuroka?"

Koneko nodded silently.

"Ah, well the answer's really quite simple."

She glanced at him curiously but did not turn.

"You're sisters. So you shouldn't fight."

That got her attention as she turned to him in surprise and confusion.

With a warm smile he explained, "You're family. And you're both also the only family you've got left. You shouldn't fight and hate each other. You should help each other." His expression turning sour, he continued. "It's not a good thing to remain all alone, especially when surrounded by people who want to make you happy. It'll eat away at you. Destroy you from the inside. If you let it."

Koneko raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Kuroka's your sister, and she only wants what's best for you. Everything she's done has been for your benefit, directly or indirectly. You were bound to discover the truth about her at some point. Whether it's now or in the future. So, think about this: what if you had succeeded, and had killed her? What would happen if you found out the truth after that?"

Koneko furrowed her brow in thought.

"Well, if you're a good person, which I can tell you are, it'd have killed you inside. So, I wanted to prevent that. Now, let me ask you a question."

After a moment of rumination, she nodded.

"Do you believe what Kuroka told you?"

She looked down at the ground as she stirred her thoughts. "I… don't know."

"That's good."

Koneko turned to him in confusion.

"It means you're at least considering the possibility that she's telling the truth. So, for now, let's stick with that. Just ponder that in your mind. You don't have to come to a decision immediately. But… we're coming up to the end of this mess. If Erza's execution has been moved up so soon, then I can't sit around for much longer." He narrowed his eyes as he clenched his fists. "I've got one more thing I need to finish. If I can do it, then I know I can win."

And that is a wrap! So this concludes the latest chapter of Legends of Chaos: Chaos Pawn of the Gremory! Be sure to let me know what you thought of it with a review. Whether you enjoyed it, were confused or unsure about anything in it or about it, or if you simply disliked it. If you did dislike it, you can go ahead and post a review, it is not like I have the power to stop you anyway, but it would be nice if you had a point in it beyond bashing the story. Though thankfully reviews of that sort have been rather scant. Otherwise, just go and do something you actually enjoy instead, rather than wasting everyone's time. Well, with no further points to make, until next time, buh-bye!