Chapter 13
The day was upon them. The battle royale was to be held at noon between the captains and Nyruki Sawada and with heat having returned to a reasonable degree, there was no postponing it any longer.
Ever since the sun had crested over the horizon at dawn, the squads had worked to prepare the Seireitei. Several squads worked to line the massive wall that protected the city limits with bright red flares, marking the boundary for out of bounds. Others sealed the sewers so the battle would remain above ground and all while this was going on, Byakuya and Nyruki were just waking up.
It was mid-morning, and both were still in bed, simply enjoying the feel of being embraced together. Byakuya softly trailed his fingertips up and down Nyruki's arm, keeping his lips against her forehead as her own fingers traced circles over his chest. Neither wanted to move, but both knew that they had to and get ready for the upcoming day.
Placing a long and lingering kiss to her forehead, Byakuya loosened his hold on her and pulled back just far enough to look into her eyes.
"I have to meet with the other captains soon." He said lowly as he cupped her chin and raised it to place a soft, tender kiss to her smiling lips.
"To strategize?" Nyruki asked, placing a kiss to his chest before pushing herself up to sit.
Byakuya nodded, "Yes." He interlaced his fingers behind his head as he watched her shed her loose robe and head for the bathroom.
"I'd ask for tips, but it would appear you've slept with the enemy." Nyruki chuckled as she slipped through the bathroom door.
Byakuya smiled as he got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. She was standing nude in front of the mirror as she brushed out her long hair, taking care not to tug it and break the strands like he had told her. She was taking far better care of her hair and it spread a soft smile across his lips as he watched.
"Part of the strategy." He smiled and winked at her.
Nyruki sent him a playful glare for a moment before sticking out her tongue and returning to brushing her hair.
He softly laughed as he stepped into the bathroom and went to the shower to turn it on, needing to clean the night's activities away and knowing she did as well. The water from the six shower heads rained down like a hard rainstorm and he allowed it a few minutes to get warm before stepping in.
As Nyruki finished with her hair, she watched him wet his hair, how the water careened down his body, but as he turned his back towards her, she gasped loud enough to earn his attention.
"What's wrong?" He asked, looking back over his shoulder at her, but saw what she was seeing in the mirror.
His eyes widened at the sight of his back being clawed from shoulder blade to the middle of his back. They were nothing more than scratches; red marks that weren't even deep enough to draw blood. There wasn't even any pain as the water ran over them from above.
"Sorry." Nyruki cringed as she set the brush down on the counter and turned to step into the shower.
"I should say the same about your neck." Byakuya smirked.
Nyruki froze before she could fully step underneath the water and went back to the mirror. At first, she didn't see anything wrong, but when she pulled aside her locks to expose the skin just below her ear, she saw the purple bruise that his teeth and sucking lips had left behind.
"They're gonna see this!" Nyruki gasped, cupping a hand over her mouth as she wheeled around to glare at Byakuya.
Byakuya laughed as she stepped into the shower with him and playfully attacked him, pinching at his backside and attempting to tickle his sides that he skillfully defended. However, she was able to push him into the corner where she trapped him with her body and poked at his sides.
Still laughing, Byakuya wrapped his arms around her and trapped her arms between them, ceasing her playful attack as he smiled down at her.
"You're asking for it, my love." He said as he ran a hand back over her hair to keep the soaked locks from clinging to her face.
Nyruki just shrugged as she smiled up at him, stretching her neck up that was met with his smiling lips. Their kiss only lasted a few lingering moments, as both knew that if they allowed things to progress, Byakuya would be late to his captains meeting and that would instantly tip all of them off about what he'd been up to.
As if the hickey wouldn't already.
They smiled at each as they bathed and helped each other wash their backs. They just enjoyed being in each other's company, washing their hair and settling their minds for the upcoming battle. Nyruki felt rested, at ease with what was to come. She would fight with all her prowess and take Rukia's words to heart in that she needed to make quick, near instinctual decisions while in engaged in combat. She needed to take Byakuya's teachings to heart and search for each opponents openings, as she knew each would have one no matter how small. She would fight to the best of her ability and she would accept whatever the outcome would be.
Once they had finished showering, they dried and dressed, with Byakuya taking the top layers of Nyruki's hair and braiding it, letting it lay against the rest that still hung long. It helped to hide the sucked bruise just below her ear, while still allowed her vision to remain clear of her hair.
As much as neither wanted to, they parted ways with Byakuya heading to the meeting room at the Squad 1 barracks. It wasn't hard to know that everyone was excited for the battle to kick off, as nearly everyone he walked by were, in some way, talking about it while they worked. Many tried asking questions of him, but he simply waved them off, or all out ignored them on his way to Squad 1 with his hands clasped behind his back. He had settled into his typical demeanor of being cold and callous, but he knew he wasn't fooling anyone. Not anymore.
He arrived at the meeting room just as the others arrived, which he offered a sigh of relief that he wasn't late and would have to explain why. They took their places inside, standing in two rows with the Head-Captain sitting in the chair at the head an with cane in hand.
As soon as the doors closed, he banged the end of his cane against the floor.
"The preparations are nearly completed. Are the terms of today's engagement understood?" Asked the Head-Captain gruffly.
"Yes, Head-Captain." They all said in unison.
"Are there any questions?" The Head-Captain asked.
"Actually, yes, Sensai. Where will you be during the battle?" Ukitake asked from his spot towards the back of the left row.
"In my office. Nyruki Sawada is not aware of this to add another level of difficulty. She will need to search." Answered the Head-Captain.
"Understood, Sensai." Ukitake bowed his head.
"Any others?" Asked the Head-Captain.
No one spoke.
"Very well. Use this time to strategize. I will be in my office."
The Head-Captain stepped off the raised platform and left the office, leaving the captains to themselves. It afforded Byakuya a chance to study the other captains, and all seemed fairly neutral, save for Captain Ukitake. He was clearly worried with today's outcome, evident by the ultra fine covering of sweat across his forehead. He understood that worry and he felt it as well in the pit of his stomach that he planned on keeping hidden.
"So what's our plan? Do we stop her outright, or allow her to turn us and this thing's over in less than a minute?" Kenpachi asked, crackling his knuckles.
"We need to have lines of defense to stall those whom will inevitably be turned. No less than three lines need to be installed to keep Nyruki from reaching the Head-Captain's office too quickly." Byakuya said, standing up straight and still with his hands behind his back.
"Agreed. Captain Unohana and I will station ourselves in the office with the Head-Captain." Ukitake said with a curt nod.
"Why you?" Soi-Fon asked, furrowing her brows.
"I am the most likely to repel any of your attacks with Sōgyo no Kotowari." Ukitake said, lightly furrowing his brows.
"Our attacks? Isn't it Nyruki Sawada we're after?" Soi-Fon asked, crossing her arms.
"You forget the purpose of this battle. The purpose of this is to test if Nyruki was able to train at least one of us in breaking free of her Zanpakutō. Whomever is assigned to the first line will, within seconds, be turned." Ukitake explained.
"What do you mean?" Komamura asked.
"Nyruki has a single ability other than her ability to enthrall. It is a descending mist that disorients her potential victims. It is not unlike the mist attribute of her Bankai, but is solely geared to aiding her in acquiring a thrall as fast as possible." Ukitake said.
"Then what do you suggest, Jūshirō?" Kyōraku asked, stuffing his hands into his sleeves.
"As I said, Retsu and I will take up position with the Head-Captain as the last line of defense. I am the most likely to repel your attacks and buy some more time. Kenpachi Zaraki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Byakuya Kuchiki will be the first line, as they are the ones whom are most offense oriented. You will be Sword Team." Ukitake began, stepping out from his spot to pace up and down the center aisle.
Kenpachi grinned wide, "Excellent."
"Your plan is to sacrifice the first line." Byakuya said, taking in a deep breath.
"Precisely. You are the most likely of us to garnish your freedom, but you need time. Kenpachi has a good chance as well, should he win his fight with his illusion's image, but that is not a guarantee." Ukitake said, shooting both quick glances.
"Who's in the second line?" Soi-Fon asked bluntly.
"You, Shunsui and Sajin will be the second offensive line. You are Knight Team. Your abilities are more suited for well rounded combat with firm defense. It's your job to stall as long as possible against the first line." Ukitake said, his brain working on overdrive to put together their plan.
"We're not to attack Nyruki?" Komamura asked.
"No. You need to control her thralls. Nyruki by herself, is not the strongest fighter. She is not a front liner, and as such, if we take out her thralls, she is drastically weakened. However, there comes a rising risk with this plan." Ukitake said, stopping his pacing to stand between the two rows.
"What is it?" Kyōraku asked, pulling his brows down.
"Since this plan calls for throwing away three of our strongest fighters, Nyruki will drastically grow in strength because of it. The more of us she turns, the stronger she becomes. Nyruki becomes a general and has indirect access to our abilities. In other words, when Byakuya is turned, he will use Senbonzakura to its fullest extend." Ukitake explained.
"So what is Knight Team's exact objective?" Komamura asked.
"Subdue and restrain Sword Team. If one is to garnish their freedom, immediately release them." Ukitake said.
"Understood." Knight Team said with curt nods.
"Our third line will be Shield Team, as in to say it is a team of one. Mayuri Kurotsuchi, that's you." Ukitake said, shifting his eyes to the blue haired and painted captain.
"Why just me?" Kurotsuchi asked with a mild scowl.
"Your abilities are wide arcing and affect indiscriminately. However, that can be used to our advantage to stall. Use your Bankai to subdue those from Sword Team and Knight Team." Ukitake said, returning the scowl.
Mayuri simply grumbled and crossed his arms.
"That leaves you and I, Jūshirō." Said Captain Unohana.
"That it does. Should Nyruki and her thralls reach the Head-Captain's office, I will advance first. Your task is to solely concentrate on keeping me in play." Ukitake said.
"I will do my best." Captain Unohana said with a bow of her head.
"We all know and understand our tasks. Let us hope it's enough."
Noon was only a half hour away and the entirety of the Gotei 13 had taken up their positions, standing atop the large wall between the red flares. Every member of every squad stood, encircling the city and were grouped in order from one to thirteen. They cheered as the minutes ticked by, all chanting their respective squad mottos and cheering on their captains.
Where Squad 13 was concerned however, they not only chanted for their captain, Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, they also chanted their support for the other side of the field.
"Ny-ru-ki! Ny-ru-ki! Ny-ru-ki!" They chanted, pumping their fists into the air with each syllable.
She could hear their chants as she stood within the starting cage at the far Northern end of the city. She shook her nervous hands and bounced from foot to foot, staring down at the floor as she hopped. Her stomach was so knotted that she didn't even think throwing up was within her realm of capabilities. Each minute that ticked by, her stomach rolled, but she kept the lurches at bay by drawing in long breaths and muscling herself passed it.
As she shook out her arms and continued to hop, the door in the back of the cage opened.
"Nyruki? You ready?" Rukia asked as she stepped inside and closed the door.
"As ready as I'll ever be. How's the other side?" She asked, finally looking up from the floor to look at Rukia.
"In their cage on the Southern end." Rukia said.
Nyruki nodded, "Wish me luck."
"You don't need it. You'll do fine... and trust Nii-Sama. He's got your back." Rukia said, crossing her arms.
"I know," She sighed, "Sounds like the squad is pretty pumped for this." She added, listening to their chants outside.
"Everyone is. Nothing like this has ever happened before. No one's ever had a power like this that can go up against all the captains at once, so everyone is pretty jazzed to see how it turns out." Rukia said with a half shrug.
"However it turns out." Nyruki shrugged.
"Give it your all." Rukia said, placing her hand on Nyruki's shoulder.
"I plan to." Nyruki smiled.
A deep sounding shell horn blew off in the distance, signaling that they had five minutes before noon. The sound echoed around the city and was joined by a surrounding uproar from the squads outside. The horn blast lasted five seconds before silencing, but the cheers continued, causing Nyruki to smile a bit that they were all here to watch the battle royale.
"Looks like it's almost post. You should head over to the squad and get a good seat." Nyruki grinned, but was still drastically nervous.
Rukia nodded, "Give 'em hell."
Nyruki gave one last nod as Rukia left the starting cage. The distant shell horn went off again, lasting another five seconds in its minute countdown to post. Nyruki stared off blindly into the distance as she breathed, blowing out her steadying breaths through her mouths and drawing in more through her nose. She continued to hop from foot to foot and shake out her arms, rolling out her shoulders and neck to loosen up her muscles.
Another blast from the horn, three minutes left, and a minute later, another blast from the horn to signal two. There was no turning back, no halting the last minutes before the cage would open and the battle would commence. She would fight with all she had and no matter the outcome, at least she would have ensured her pride by putting forth all her effort.
The one minute blast sounded and Nyruki began to tick away the last sixty seconds in her head. Forty, thirty-nine, thirty-eight, thirty-seven, each number was counted down. Her stomach stilled in those last seconds as her iron will and determination solidified and as the last ten seconds arrived, she tightened her fists which cracked her knuckles.
Noon.
The metal cage lifted and before it had even fully opened, Nyruki was through in a flash. She sored through the air and was awarded with her first look at the sheer scope of the arena. The entirely black line of the Gotei 13 standing along the wall made it easy to see the city's outline and across the city, with the sun directly overhead, she could see the captains screaming through the sky.
Nyruki flash stepped to the ground and drew her Zanpakutō, and with the softest of mutterings, entered Shikai. With the captains on their way, she would need a way to defend herself until an opening exposed itself for her to enthrall at least one of the captains. She knew, that without a thrall, she was weak and thus, she would lead her offensive with the only ability she had at her disposal.
With her sword handle in hand, she flash stepped up onto the nearest roof where she saw her first three opponents coming at her. Her brows furrowed hard and her teeth bared as she tightly gripped Kibōyūwaku, holding her ground as she readied her resolve.
As they drew close, she realized just whom were to be her first opponents, as the swirling pink mass of Senbonzakura gave it away. Byakuya was rushing towards her, surrounded in the cutting pink petals, while Kenpachi Zaraki simply had his jagged sword raised with a deadly grin on his face. Hitsugaya was the third and he had already entered Bankai, his back adorned with icy wings and tail that reminded her of the ice ghoul she and Byakuya had encountered.
She had a second to decide on what to do, as simply defending herself with a sword against all three of their abilities was going to get her nowhere. She stood up straight and raised an arm into the air, keeping her brows furrowed as she used her singular ability to even the playing field.
"Kokoro Yokubō; Kōjun Misuto." She said as she brought her arm down.
The skies above the three darkened with the swirling mist that fell down like sand and been poured over them. They screeched to a halt and all looked up just as the mist fell over them, drowning them in whatever their heart's desired. The scent of watermelon, blood, or the scent of her hair flooded their senses as their bodies went limp, letting them hang in mid-air with a blurry haze in their eyes.
Sword Team never had a chance.
The three tried to focus through the blurry haze as she entered Bankai, saying its name too softly for their dulled ears to hear. Hitsugaya's icy wings broke away as he lost his concentration and the storm of Senbonzakura stilled in their orbit of her lover. Kenpachi's sword hung at his side with a hand that only gripped its handle tight enough to keep it from falling to the ground below, leaving him entirely open to the ball of mist that crashed into his face.
Nyruki sent another ball to consume the Captain of Squad 10, but the last, being Byakuya Kuchiki, she afforded herself a little indulgence.
"A sacrificial lamb." Nyruki said lowly as she stepped up to him and cupped his chin to lift his hazy gaze to hers.
"T-Turn me." He said as the petals of Senbonzakura began to slowly swirl around them both.
"I will. First... Where's the Head-Captain?" She asked, holding his blurry, half lidded eyes.
"H-His office." Byakuya struggled to say as his breathing became unsteady, labored from the mist that made him dizzy.
"Thank you... My thrall."
She leaned forward and placed her lips to his, parting them with her tongue as she exhaled the mist into his lungs. He took in every particle, every ounce of mist she breathed into him and his chest filled fully, rising as high as it would go. With that much mist, he was turned in an instant where Senbonzakura came to brush across her cheek without cutting her skin.
With a flight of her hand, the descending mist whisked away as if carried by a breeze, leaving her three thralls standing blindly in front of her.
"Ready for battle." She commanded of them.
Without hesitation, they stood up straight and stood in a row in front of her, with Senbonzakura backing away from her to swirl around its owner in a tornado that stretched up towards the cloudless sky.
She peered through their ranks to the distant trio that was Knight Team and stepped forward to stand between Byakuya and Kenpachi, raising a finger towards them and issued another command.
"Defend and restrain... Go!"
The three thralls blasted forward towards Knight Team, weapons ready and eyes blind. They covered the distance far faster than Nyruki, where their swords clashed and the storm of Senbonzakura met with Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō in a massive uproar.
Having stayed a few lengths back, if at all to keep her out of the fray, Nyruki was awarded the full scope of their clash. Byakuya was engaged in heated combat with Komamura, using Senbonzakura to keep the massive Bankai at bay. Hitsugaya's icy attacks screamed across the sky in their pursuits of Soi-Fon and Kenpachi's long, gnarl toothed sword clanged against the duel blades of Captain Kyōraku's Katen Kyōkotsu.
She stood back to watch as the uproar of cheers from the surrounding spectators reached a fever pitch and the massive suit of samurai armor swung down in an attempt to remove Byakuya from the fight. He missed as Byakuya's far superior speed flashed him to the side in time for the gargantuan sword to bury itself into the ground, erupting a towering plume of dust high into the air with a sound so great that it drowned out the cheers.
"Byakuya! Turn the dog!" Nyruki called out.
With a whirl of his hands, Byakuya commanded Senbonzakura to push Komamura's Bankai back, shielding them from the armor's advances as he flew by in a downward streak, exhaling a trail of mist from his mouth that washed over Komamura as he flew by. The mist swirled and hissed down his throat, sucking the light from his yellow eyes and placing the massive suit of armor under new command.
"Komamura! Engage Kyōraku!" Nyruki commanded as she began to walk forward on her invisible ground.
The newly turned Komamura shifted his focus from Byakuya and began to fight with Kyōraku without a second thought.
"Byakuya! Aid Hitsugaya and restrain!" Nyruki called out.
Soi-Fon's eyes shot wide as the Captain of Squad 6 entered the fray with her and Hitsugaya, having to flash step over and over to avoid the swarm of pink blades and shards of ice. There was so much polluting her field of view that she lost sight of her opponents, but had to continue flash stepping in order to avoid being cut.
However, Byakuya had entered Bankai as the two long rows of Senbonzakura rose from the ground below and burst into so many pink blades, that the whooshing rustle sound they produced drowned out the cheers from the onlooking Gotei 13.
With the added immeasurable number of Senbonzakura's blades, Soi-Fon's impressive speed was not enough to avoid the onslaught. Petals sliced shallow cuts over her exposed arms and back, slowing her enough to stumble in her flash steps and fall to the rooftops below.
She crashed hard into the roof tiles and skidded along the top, rolling until she planted her feet and stopped her slide. The blood from her cuts was small, but they streaked down her arms in jagged lines that crossed over each other. She was breathing heavily, and her right hand was covered with the gold and black stinger of her Zanpakutō; Suzumebachi.
Before Soi-Fon could catch her breath, ice shards buried themselves into the roof tiles, pinning her pants to the roof as Byakuya suddenly appeared behind her and forcefully grabbed her arms.
"Let go of me!" Soi-Fon hissed as she struggled against Byakuya's hold, unable to wiggle her arms free from being pinned, painfully, behind her.
"He won't follow your commands." Nyruki said as she appeared from her flash step in front of them.
"Your thralls can spread the mist?" Soi-Fon asked, breathing heavily from her crash landing on the roof.
"I have to prepare for it ahead of time. Hence why I heaved more than necessary into his lungs. I made him a bomb. However, I can only use it on three different people." Nyruki said, taking a step closer to the hornet.
"Kyōraku!" Soi-Fon called up towards the last of Knight Team, whom was too busy fending off Kenpachi's wild attacks, all while dodging Komamura's massive suit of armor.
"He won't help you. One misstep and he falls." Nyruki said emotionlessly, raising a hand to her lips where she exhaled some mist into her palm.
"You won't let that happen." Soi-Fon said with a scowl.
"You're right, I won't," Nyruki smiled, "Kenpachi! Komamura! Bring him to me!"
As Komamura moved to command his Bankai, Kyōraku flash stepped out of the way of the massive hand that tried to grab him, only to run into Kenpachi, but as the large Captain of Squad 11 tried to capture the man, he flashed away and out of reach.
Nyruki scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Hitsugaya... Freeze him!"
The icy wings on the young Captain's back flapped and rose him into the air as he slashed Hyōrinmaru upwards in an diagonal arc, sending a slice of ice screaming towards the Captain of Squad 8.
"Bushōgoma!" Kyōraku called out, spinning his blades with enough speed to produce a slicing wind that cut through the ice without trouble, shattering it into snow to fall to the ground below.
Nyruki growled as she glared up at the three on one battle, stuffing her hand into Soi-Fon's face to push the ball of mist down her throat. Byakuya's words ran across the front of her mind, where she remembered that Captain Shunsui Kyōraku was one of the most capable captains in all of the Gotei 13. Her thralls needed their general's help.
She raised her arm into the air once more and tilted her head to the side, "Kokoro Yokubō; Kōjun Misuto." She hissed through clenched teeth.
Again, the swirl of dark mist formed, this time over Kyōraku's head and halted his efforts in dodging the incoming attacks.
"Halt!" Nyruki's command came from below.
Just before the massive sword came down, it stopped, only feet away from his face. His eyes were wide from the close call as he looked up and with Kenpachi to his right, Komamura in front, Hitsugaya behind him and the newly turned Soi-Fon to his left, he realized he was boxed in.
"Shit."
Nyruki dropped her arm, opening the flood gates of the mist to fall over him, throwing him down into the ground so hard, that the impact spidered the stone beneath him.
Kyōraku groaned as he rolled onto his side, having landed on his back with screaming pain that throbbed mainly in his lower back. However, as he tried to push himself up, his head whirled and his whole body became numb, making it impossible to get up off his side.
He dropped the duel blades of his Zanpakutō as Nyruki and her remaining thrall appeared at his feet. She raised a hand again, but this time snapped, commanding the other four thralls to come to her side, standing in a single rank behind her.
"Byakuya was right about you. You're a fearsome opponent. Not many would be able to fend off three on one." Nyruki said softly as she knelt beside him and flighted her hand over his cheek.
"That wasn't very fair." Kyōraku said through his quickened breaths, having severe trouble focusing in on her right in front of him
"I'll play by your rules if it'll make you feel better... Takaoni." She said in just above a whisper, looking down into his blurry eyes.
"Fuck-"
She jabbed her thumb into his mouth to pinch his jaw, forcing his mouth open as she exhaled and expelled a stream of mist that found its way between his lips. It hissed down his throat to his lungs and as she stood there, holding his jaw, she watched his eyes go dull.
Knight Team had fallen.
She now had six thralls under her command, leaving only three more to stand in her way. She swiped away the mist she had called forth as she took to the air with her six thralls in tow, heading for the towers of Squad 1.
However, she screeched to a halt, as did her thralls, as she saw the creepy, large and very bug-like Bankai of Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi; Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō.
The massive bug baby cried up into the sky as a cluster of spikes shot forth from just below its fat baby chin. A wide spreading cloud of purple hissed from the babies mouth and the large white bug eyes set on them with its master standing at its overly pudgy feet.
Nyruki grumbled at the sight, but quickly formulated her plan of action. She wasn't going to wait around for this. She raised her palm to her lips and exhaled a ball of mist, where she held it and turned to face her thralls.
"Soi-Fon, you're the bomb. You will deliver the mist to Mayuri. Komamura, Kenpachi and Hitsugaya; You will protect her and restrain the enemy. Is that understood?" Nyruki asked, receiving nods from the thralls.
Soi-Fon stepped forward and inhaled the ball of mist from Nyruki's palm before her, and along with the other three, they all rushed forward to engage their target at their general's command.
"Byakuya and Kyōraku... You're with me." Nyruki said before continuing towards the Head-Captain's office.
She rose high above the city with her two protectors at her side, putting the purple cloud and the combatants far below her as they traversed the distance to the open balcony that was in her crosshairs. They flew down towards it with the rushing wind filling their ears and the clash below raging on with reckless abandon.
Komamura's Bankai smashed the ground with a stomping foot, crushing the baby worm into the ground while the others fought Mayuri Kurotsuchi, having all surrounded him.
Instead of landing directly on the balcony however, Nyruki guided her two thralls to the roof where they stopped so she could prepare. Her mind raced as she studied the distance, how the whole of the Gotei 13 was still cheering and enjoying the display of all out power. She offered the sight a soft smile, as it was very likely that it would be the last time she would ever see it.
She drew in a steadying breath as she exhaled two balls of mist into her hands and turned to face her thralls.
"You two are bombs. Should the two remaining enemies advance, turn them without my command. Otherwise, defend and restrain." She said as she released the balls of mist to enter her thralls' bodies.
With her trap set, she and her thralls flash stepped to the balcony below.
She was not surprised to see the remaining captains there, with the Head-Captain standing in the back of the office with his hand on his cane. Captain Ukitake and Captain Unohana stood in front of him, their swords drawn and brows furrowed as they examined her and her thralls whom flanked her sides.
"You can't be all that surprised." Nyruki said, making no attempt to move, which meant, neither did her thralls.
"We aren't." Ukitake said quietly, holding the conjoined duel blades of Sōgyo no Kotowari out in front of him.
"You can lower your swords, Papa. They won't attack." Nyruki said with a forced smile.
"I'm sorry, Flower, but I won't risk it." Ukitake said, never taking his eyes off them.
Nyruki half shrugged, "It's fine. Your resistance is refreshing."
Ukitake sighed, "I'm sorry, Flower... I'm sorry none of us could come through for you." He said as his shoulders relaxed the slightest bit from his sadness.
"I resolved myself quite some time ago that this would be the outcome, Papa. My power is just too dangerous to be allowed to exist." She said, gripping her upper arm shyly.
"Do you yield, or are you going to see this to the end?" The Head-Captain interrupted.
"This thing isn't over until your captain's haori is in my hands, Head-Captain." Nyruki said, drawing in a deep breath.
"Then make your move, Ms. Sawada." The Head-Captain said gruffly.
"Byakuya... Kyōraku." She said lowly.
The two thralls stepped up to either side of her and Ukitake and Unohana both readied themselves for battle. Ukitake's brows furrowed as hard as they would go as he widened his stance, and Unohana brought her sword up over her head with and arm extended out in front of her.
Nyruki couldn't help but huff a weak laugh, and with just a snap of her fingers, both Byakuya and Kyōraku shot the balls of mist from their mouths as if they were dragons. The balls screamed across the gap between the opposing sides and smashed into the last two captains' faces, drawing them both into their illusions and putting their bodies under Nyruki's command.
"Come." Nyruki said as she stepped forward a few steps.
Ukitake and Unohana obeyed their master's command and took up spots on either side of Byakuya and Kyōraku. The four thralls stood rigid with eyes turned down towards the floor, standing with their feet a shoulders width apart and arms hanging lifeless at their sides. They were like statues, whom would only move should their mistress wish it.
Nyruki glanced back at them over her shoulder, offering a small smile that she had at least shielded her pride from simply giving up. She would not regret having it end this way, would not dwell on what could have been. She would welcome the outcome and live her life, far better than she ever could have hoped.
She came to stand in front of the Head-Captain, whom never flinched as she drew close. With another snap of her fingers, the rest of her thralls appeared, all standing alike in a single row; All nine of them.
"So this was to be your end." The Head-Captain said, scanning the row of enthralled captains.
"It appears so, Head-Captain." Nyruki said softly, looking at the floor instead of at him.
"Do not feel ashamed, child. You fought with strength and prowess until the end." Said Head-Captain Yamamoto.
Nyruki looked up to meet his aged eyes, but her own were glassy, stricken with unshed tears she was unsure she actually wanted to shed. There was no more time she could buy with words, as the time to end the battle had come whether she liked it, or not. She didn't blame the captains, was not angry with them for not being able to break free. It was a far fledged hope that any of them would anyways.
"Do you have any last words?" The Head-Captain asked, breaking Nyruki out of her distant thoughts.
Nyruki's teary eyes focused in on the Head-Captain as she reached out and clutched his captain's haori that hung, draped over his strong shoulders.
"Yes." She said in just above a whisper.
"Then speak them." Huffed the Head-Captain.
A single tear leapt free of her one golden eye as she began to pull the fabric from his shoulders.
"You lose."