A/N: Sorry for the wait. I've been a bit busy, well, maybe a bit is an understatement. Regardless, here's my next chapter. I can't promise how soon the next will come, because the next little while could be even more so. But please enjoy. And thanks go to Infinite Dragon, who did a magnificent job on the editing.

x

The Heir Apparent
Chapter 38: No Defense

Kukaku stood in the street outside the research and development centre, shining with her Bankai's power. She was dressed in the white kimono of a patient, pushed open just below her neck by her voluptuous bosom. Her skin tingled, and the tiny hairs on her arm stood strait up. Her spiky hair was lifted higher than usual, despite its growing dampness, and it waved in the breeze. Her feet were bare, and in her hands was her engraved staff; electricity running down it in loops at intervals. Static would flare when they reached the end. On the middle of her spine was a small ball of light, and from it eight lightning bolts extended; each around two meters long; like legs of an invertebrate. The air between and around them hummed.

Serena, facing her, was in a Shinigami's Shihakushou, the sexless outfit muting most of her feminine traits except her beautiful face. That face was now contorted with fury; her sea-blue eyes were narrowed, and she maintained a low stance. She held her harpoon launcher with both hands, twisting it idly so that the four compass-pointed axe blades spun. Water was starting to seep through gaps in the paving, even though the rain had only just started falling.

'You're in the wrong uniform,' said Kukaku.

'So are you,' Serena shot back.

'True, we're almost in each other's colours. Ironic huh? But seriously, do you really think you can beat the strongest electric-type zanpakutou in Soul Society?'

Lightning crashed and thunder boomed. The rain thickened to a steady drip.

'Lets just see if you Shinigami captains are all you're made out to be, Shiba-taicho,' Serena said, spitting out the last word.

They moved at the same moment, both sprinting with their weapons held along their arms behind their backs. At the last moment they dived forward, clashing in a shower of sparks. Liquid sprayed and static crackled. Again they clashed, and again. Kukaku's weapon was lighter, so she could move it more freely. But because Serena's was heavier she took longer to recover from blocking her blocks. She pulled back a meter, channeling her power.

'Seiryoku Inazuma,' she cried.

'Huellewasser,' cried Serena.

The electric shock wave and the water blast struck each other, but neither offered any resistance to the other. They passed through undiminished to hit their targets.

'What the-' Kukaku said as she was lifted off her feet and thrown into a nearby wall, hard enough to crack it. Despite her painful and slightly stunned condition she quickly pulled herself up, and noticed Serena doing the same further away.

'So,' said the other woman, 'Your powers will not block mine, nor mine yours.'

Kukaku nodded, 'So it seems.'

'Then this is a battle of unstoppable attacks. The one who kills fastest, gets to live.'

Again, they started sprinting at each other at the same time.

x

A storm had brewed over the skies of Seireitei, the rain came down steadily and growing ever thicker. Bolts of bright lightning flashed down at intervals, smashing walls and towers and anyone unfortunate enough to be close by. Shinigami were running through the streets like headless chickens, not knowing where they were going, nor in many cases where they were. Seireitei wasn't easy to navigate in daylight, and it was doubly difficult at night.

Rukia was close on her captain's heels as he sped through the streets, 'Get back to your barracks, or find some shelter,' Ichigo cried as he passed a group, deliberately slowing down so they could see them.

'But what about the Ryoka, Kurosaki-taicho?' the officer in charge shouted back.

'There's only one left, and we're going to deal with her. Follow your orders, dammit!'

As though to stress the point, lightning smashed into a tower nearby, showering them with fine rubble and making the top half fall towards them. The Shinigami ran out the way, while Rukia and Ichigo increased their pace. They were well past it when it smashed into the ground, crushing a good section of the mortar and brick maze.

'They all made it out,' Rukia said, feeling at the spiritual signatures.

Ichigo grunted in acknowledgement.

The Ichigo she'd known before would have stayed behind until the last moment to make sure that everyone was safe. What had changed? Actually, that was a stupid question, she knew very well what had. With things happening so quickly he hadn't had time to come to terms with what he'd done. With what she'd made him do.

She tried again, 'I can feel Kukaku's power up ahead, I think she's gone Bankai!'

As before, he only made a noise.

She remembered the first time she'd killed someone. It had happened in the worst possible way. She'd been forced to end the life of a trusted friend and mentor, Shiba Kaien. A man she knew now as her and Ichigo's son in a previous life, her own blood. It had taken her years to recover, only facing the remainder of his soul in Hueco Mundo had allowed her to put it to rest.

Ichigo didn't have years to get past his pain. A few hours was the most they could spare. Perhaps she had been mistaken to push him into it. No, now wasn't the time to be second-guessing herself. Indecision could get him killed, she'd had to get him through it, no matter the cost. She wouldn't, she couldn't let him die. And she had no illusions, if he hesitated when he fought that Takumo guy again it would be the end of him, and then she would never see him again. In this life or any after.

Eternal death would be better than that fate.

It was in that moment that Rukia realised how deeply she loved him. Sure, she'd had feelings for Ichigo before. In the beginning those could have been summed up as exasperation, anger, amusement and; occasionally; tenderness. Those had remained throughout, but the range had increased substantially as they grew closer. It often felt like they'd known each other for their entire existence, though it had been less than two years. The roots of their lives had become so firmly entangled that they couldn't possibly be extracted without destroying both. She couldn't imagine a life without him now.

A blast of lighting smashing the road and walls in front of them stopped them short, and halted Rukia's thought process. Kukaku's power signature filled the air, but there was another, weaker one. Well, weaker wasn't exactly the best way to describe it. Rache power signatures were Quincy mixed with Shinigami energy. For the most part it was impossible to detect the Quincy part of their energy, meaning that they could sense about half their power, and only after they'd released.

She recognized the smaller signature though. It was the woman Kukaku had fought earlier. Last time the Rache had had a substantial advantage, now that Kukaku had released her ultimate ability who knew who would prevail?

'Where's Byakuya?' said Ichigo.

'I don't know,' said Rukia, looking around. Has something happened, she thought, cold touching her heart.

Then Kyoraku flash-stepped beside them. 'Bya-kun is safely away. He suffered a sprained arm and is on his way to the 4th division,' he announced.

'Good,' said Rukia with relief, 'Then we can go help Shiba-san.'

She was about to move when Kyoraku placed a hand on her shoulder. 'We shouldn't interfere,' he said.

'But why?' If they did they would slaughter the enemy.

'Kukaku-chan needs to prove to herself that she is worthy of the title of taicho. She has been living in her brother's shadow for a very long time, ever since her own career in Gotei thirteen was cut short. A victory here will prove to her and everyone else, once and for all, that she is.'

'And if she loses, we're a captain down,' said Ichigo bluntly.

'That's not the only reason, those in her division need to know of her strength. And if she wins it alone, it would recover some of the morale we lost after that terrible raid.'

'That's a big if.'

'This is her fight, Ichigo. We shouldn't interfere.'

'He's right,' said Rukia, 'This is about her pride.'

'I'm not gonna let her die!' said Ichigo.

'Neither am I,' said Kyoraku, 'If it comes the point where she's about to lose, I'll step in and save her. Even if it sacrifices her pride for the sake of her life, I will do it. In the meantime I want you two to gather up the judicial members and special guests.'

'But why?' said Rukia.

'Seireitei is no longer a safe haven for them. We have to take them to the one place the Rache won't be able to touch them. I know they're not their primary targets, but if they kill them out of spite we'll be in a real pickle. Oh, and pick up your father while you're at it, Ichigo.'

'Understood,' she said, and flash stepped away, Ichigo in grumbling tow.

x

In the mortal world, under the ground in a massive cavern, Urahara Kisuke straightened.

'Ow,' he said, stretching his stiff back. 'Okay, we're all done. The portal is complete.'

'About time,' said Yoruichi, who had been helping him.

'I presume you can take these off now,' said Ishida Ryuuken, indicating to the spirit-draining cords on his wrists; which were linked to power cables running to the portal site.

'Sure thing,' said Urahara, moving to his side.

Although it would have been possible to create a portal to hell with Shinigami energy alone, adding the Quincy power had given a useful counterpoint that stabilized the gateway and cut hours off the time needed to break between realms.

'Don't forget about me,' Nel murmured.

Of course, having hollow energy too shortened it even further.

'Che, I don't know how you put up with it,' said Grimmjow.

'I did because I had to,' said Nel simply. 'Or would you rather have waited another six hours, twiddling your thumbs?'

'When I could have been fighting? Hell no.'

Urahara had to smile at the expression, considering where they were going. Most of the others, even the hollows and hardened Shinigami like Renji, were looking decidedly green at the prospect of entering the plane of the damned. Grimmjow was the only one raring to go. He liked the idea of being stuck in perpetual combat until they fought their way to the only gate that could take them into Soul Society.

Well, maybe not the only one. Urahara was excited by the new research prospects it opened up. Even he'd never gone to hell before. In this expedition he wouldn't be able to take samples or the like, but certainly he could use the experience as reconnaissance to plan his future scientific trips.

Nel and Grimmjow were still arguing when he removed the bindings from her hands. 'Well I don't want my power taken from me,' said the blue-haired Arrancar.

'So I did it for you, you should be on your knees thanking me,' said Nel.

'You know, you two remind me a lot of another pair I know well,' Urahara said idly.

Grimmjow turned to stare coldly at him, 'It had better not be Kurosaki and his lieutenant.'

'Why yes, actually, it is. Do you know they're a proper couple now? I mean, they're keeping it under wraps, but anyone who has eyes can see.'

'We're not like that,' said Nel calmly.

'Goddamn right,' Grimmjow agreed, nodding vigorously.

Yoruichi caught his eye and mouthed the words "Not yet."

Urahara grinned widely. 'Nevermind, nevermind. So, on that note, it's time for us to enter the realm of the "Goddamns". Everyone ready?'

Once they had all had given their assent, somewhat hesitant in most cases, he tapped his cane once. The portal opened quite suddenly, a pair of stone gates ripping through the floor and sending pieces of earth in all directions. Urahara was safe, being too close to be in the line of their descent, but the others had to dodge some of the larger chunks. The two skeletal guardians wrenched the door open, and immediately red light and screams flooded out.

'Well, in we go,' he said.

x

Static danced through the heavy rain as Kukaku and Serena clashed. Kukaku tried to release a blast of energy, but Serena had wizened up and attacked before she had a chance to draw sufficient charge. They locked weapons, pitting their strength against each other.

'What happened to that spear-shot of yours?' said Kukaku, referring to the move she'd used to kill Sentaro, 'You forgot how to do it?'

'No,' said Serena, breaking away.

'Ah, I see, it takes a while to recharge, doesn't it? So you don't want to use it until the most advantageous moment.'

If her assessment was correct, that meant that the shot she'd half stopped; the one that had injured her; had been fired at low power. This woman truly was worthy of her Bankai! Kukaku started marking points for her second weave, but Serena swooped before she'd had time to ignite them all. They clashed weapons, and the glowing points fizzled out.

'You're even worse off, you need time to prepare your initial attack,' said the Rache woman.

Then she stuck out her foot and tried to trip Kukaku up. She beat a hasty retreat, and in that moment realized that Serena was pointing her harpoon launcher at her. She jumped and twisted just before the other woman fired, from almost point-blank range. To her it was like everything had suddenly sped up, though in the seconds after she could view the attack with stunning clarity. The steel bolt, propelled by a super-powered blast of water, shot just under her. The water though cleanly cut out a section of her thigh and back, on her left shoulder blade. She landed solidly, then her leg wavered and she nearly fell. Blood was pouring from both wounds, which weren't deep but very wide, staining her ripped white kimono and dribbling on the floor.

'I missed,' said Serena.

Click, click; a new steel harpoon head emerged from her weapon.

'Urgh,' said Kukaku. She stumbled forward and nearly fell to her knees. Her lower leg was now shaking uncontrollably, she couldn't feel her left arm. With an effort she steadied. 'I guess I have no choice,' she said.

'Too true, you have no choice but to die,' Serena snarled, and launched herself at Kukaku.

Kukaku touched her staff to one of the lightning-shaped branches extending from her back. Instantly it vanished, the power now pulsating on the weapon, almost a living being in its liquid intensity. 'Second weave, Denkikumo no su,' she cried, jabbing her staff at her enemy.

By sacrificing a portion of her Bankai she was able to release an instantaneous attack at greater than full power. Serena's eyes widened as the electric web materialized in front of her eyes and shot at her. She tried to evade, but wasn't quick enough. The sticky ropes wrapped around her as they struck.

'Argh,' she cried, ripping strands off her body. 'Your power cannot hold me.'

She was right, Kukaku realised. Even though the attack was the most powerful of its kind she could summon, and it would easily hold someone stronger than her; Serena was part Quincy. They specialized in constructing and deconstructing spiritual threads. Fortunately, holding wasn't the only thing that the web could do.

She raised her arm. 'Bite, Inazumaitokuri,' she said.

Serena exploded. Rubble flew in all directions and smoke covered that area.

Kukaku breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to start walking away when she realized that her enemy's spiritual pressure hadn't faded.

Serena let out a blast of power, blowing the smoke away. 'I didn't want to use this. But it appears I have no choice. Well done, Shinigami.'

The black outer covering of her uniform had burned off, exposing the white inner layer. Sewn onto this was about thirty energy tubes, placed at intervals around her body. They were glowing with power, the combined effect making Serena appear to have a soft blue shield around her. Three had fallen inactive.

'What in heaven is that?' said Kukaku, shocked.

'It's simple,' said Serena, 'I realized after our first battle that I couldn't defend against your abilities, so I took precautions. Because of the nature of electricity, it can be drawn to conductor points. I provided a few.'

Her eyes narrowed, 'But doing so drains their power,' she said.

'Not quite, it shorts them out, though the effect is the same. But that attack cost you an eighth of your Bankai, and a tenth of my defense. So, which do you think will last longer?'

'Let's find out,' said Kukaku, touching her staff to two of the lighting branches, which were instantly absorbed. 'Finish weave, Shibatsu.'

Her most powerful attack was the only one that required she use more than one branch, it was also the only one that allowed her to use two or more. However, drawing so much power made the attack unstable and nearly impossible to control. If she lost control of it at any time it would be the end of her, the volatile energy would explode immediately. She thrust out her staff, and eight glowing orbs appeared around it, channeling the power in the air into her weapon.

The blast of lightning was sudden, and violent. Even with both hands on it Kukaku could barely keep hold on her staff, it was shuddering so violently. Normally the attack was over in an instant, this one continued for a good few seconds at full power before it started tapering off. For good measure she touched the back of her staff to another branch, reinvigorating it for a further period.

But even still, when the dust cleared, Serena stood; looking thoroughly unimpressed. Her hair was standing up on end, and seemed more green than blue in the static light, making her look like the legendary Medusa with hair of snakes. The front of her clothing was blackened and ripped, strips of cloth hanging over some of the tubes, making it difficult to determine whether they were used or not.

'I thought I told you, that won't work on me,' she said. She raised her harpoon-launcher, and fired.

Kukaku tried to evade, but only succeeded in changing where she was hit. A fist sized hole appeared just under her left ribcage, the lowest bone exposed to air for the first time. Dark blood splattered on the pavement, hearts blood. Kukaku fell to her knees as the feeling in her legs vanished, and would have pitched forward on her face had she not caught her fall with her hands. Blood dripped from her lip where she had bit it. Strangely, there was no pain.

"This is it," she thought, "I'm going to die."

'Chee chee, not all swimming, what happened to winning?" said a new voice, "C'mon, I wanna win, wanna win!"

She blinked, "Inazumaitokuri?"

"Chee chee, who else it be? Don't lose, it be a sin, a sin!"

Kukaku's zanpakutou spirit was hyperactive and childlike in many ways, but she had still helped her on many occasions; and saved her life in more than a few of them. "How can I win now? My power is cut in half, and I can't pierce my enemy's defense."

"Tura tura, shame on you, think like a loser. Harder, you try harder, I lend power."

"The Rache woman has a zanpakutou too, as well as her Quincy powers."

"In pain, it screams in pain. Not hers, nonono, she steal it. No love there, nonono, it wants destroyed master back. Only serves 'cause it has to."

'Come on, Shinigami,' Serena called, 'Head up! I want you to die facing me.'

"I can do this," she told herself.

"'Course you can," her zanpakutou spirit agreed.

'NOW,' she cried, surging to her feet despite the now escalating pain. She swung her weapon in a three-quarter arc around her, absorbing all the remaining four branches. 'FINISH WEAVE, SHIBATSU!'

The bolt she released was more powerful than anything she'd ever attempted before. The brightness was such that she was blinded, even closing her eyes made little difference. Her staff felt like it would be forcibly ripped from her hands every moment, or failing that, rip her hands out their sockets. Her feet were lifted off the floor, she was thrown to earth, then lifted again. Grimly she hung on as she bucked this way and that, blood from her wound showering in all directions.

It seemed like she was striking the ground and walls at every conceivable angle, cramping pain assailed all her nerves while the wound throbbed in an odd counterpoint. Then she hit her head on the side of a wall, and everything went numb, her ears rang and she saw stars. Yet still she held. She couldn't let go. With this much energy flowing through her the result would be catastrophic, not just for her but Seireitei too.

It was the longest ten seconds of Kukaku's life.

Finally, it was over, and she dropped limply to the ground. The world seemed unusually dark in the aftermath. 'Did I win,' she said blankly, before the blackness swimming in front of her eyes fully covered her sight.

x

Kyoraku surveyed the battlefield, and the massive crater that Kukaku's final attack had left. A wing of the research and development centre had been totally destroyed by it, and other parts were damaged by large chunks of rubble. Urahara wouldn't be happy, he thought, but that was a worry for after they'd won. If they won.

In the centre of the crater lay a blackened figure. Kyoraku flash-stepped beside it. What was left of the Rache woman was hardly recognisable as human. She looked, quite literally, like someone who'd been struck by a bolt of lightning; and smelled like an overcooked piece of meat. He smiled at the thought. Just to be sure, he stuck his wakizashi through the body. It came out crusted with charcoal.

Then he moved to Kukaku's side. 'You did it, Kuku-chan,' he proudly told the unconscious woman, 'I knew you had it in you.'

He'd been on the verge of interfering after she'd been shot the second time. A good thing he'd waited, he wouldn't have liked to be caught in that. Still, she needed medical attention, and would certainly not be well enough to participate in the next phase of battles.

'Maybe I should have taken this one,' he mused aloud. He could have won it without injury, and now they were another captain down.

It was no use regretting now, what was done was done. They had achieved their morale-boosting victory, that was something. He'd just have to find others capable of taking on the Rache top five, now top four. That reminded him of what he'd been contemplating earlier: he couldn't let Isshin get involved. He would certainly want to be, but if the Spirit King was one of the casualties there'd be hell to pay. How to stop him?

Musing on that particular problem, Kyoraku lifted the prone victor in his arms and set off in the direction of the fourth division medical bay. Unohana would have yet another high-profile patient.

x

A/N: Kukaku's abilities:
Her zanpakutou: Inazumaitokuri - Lightning Spinner: a 1.5m metal staff covered in runes. When it strikes an enemy's body, it will electrocute them. With all but the strongest opponents this is fatal, it will sometimes cause the body to explode from sheer excess.

Shikai abilities:
First weave: Aasukanden - Earth Shock: Blasts away the ground around Kukaku, except for where she's standing.
Second weave: Denkikumo no su - Electric Spider's web: Creates a web of sticky electric that can be held or thrown to ensnare the opponent. On command, it will explode.
Third weave: Seiryoko Inazuma - Static Blast Lightning: Creates a powerful short range electric blast. Can be used on multiple opponents.
Finish weave: Shibatsu - Death Strike: Requires the longest charge up. Creates a powerful, instantaneous blast. Power determined by how much charge is used. When used with her Bankai's special ability it requires more than one branch, and can use as many as she activates. This comes with increased difficulty to control.

Bankai: Kumohime Inazumaitokuri - Spider Princess, Lightning Spinner. Kukaku grows eight lightning bolts out of her back, at Spider leg points. These quickly charge up the air, and greatly increase the amount of charge that Kukaku can use.
Special ability, Sacrificial attack: Her branches can be sacrificed for an instantaneous Shikai attack at magnified power, but doing so costs her one each time, and thus decreases her charge up rate. They cannot be regenerated during battle.