Okay. Next chapter. Here we go. Enjoy.
Chapter 12 ~ The Final Bout
Jin was first aware of Soi Fon's quick movement, a blur of speed followed by a sharp pain in his stomach as he sailed backward, propelled by the enemy captain's own power. He quickly reoriented himself, but Soi Fon was closing in, leaving no room, no chance for recuperation.
Hurriedly, he brought his zanpakuto up to defend himself, Soi Fon's blade bouncing off the his own. They quickly separated and there were two flashes of light as the zanpakutos were released. They charged at each other again and Jin swung first, but Soi Fon had moved too fast for him to connect; she was behind him now, poised with Suzumebachi for the first strike. But Jin quickly dropped, free-falling to the ground below. He caught himself at the last minute and landed gracefully on his feet.
"Nigeki Kessatsu," he muttered to himself. He had served in the Second Division before his appointment to captain; he knew of Soi Fon's power. But was she really fighting to kill? She was staring below at him, as calm as she always was.
"I don't recall ever teaching my subordinates to run like cowards," Soi Fon said. "You're a captain now; captains don't run from a battle."
"I'm not running!" Jin replied. He pointed Izanagi at Soi Fon. "Crow Barrage!"
The ten crows flew out from Jin's gauntlet, flying upward towards Soi Fon who gracefully dodged each one as they detonated, glaring down at Jin with a scowl. "Is that all? I expected more."
Komamura blocked yet another blow from Byakuya, feeling each strike forcing him back inch by inch. Byakuya was just as relentless and unforgiving as his partner, as emotionally vacant and just as powerful.
"Hado 1: Sho."
Forced back by Byakuya's Kido, Komamura struggled to maintain his footing. He looked up just in time to see Byakuya's zanpakuto split apart, separating into several different shards of metal, each one glowing pink. The pink shards started to surge forward and Komamura could scarcely brace himself as each one scraped by him, slicing into his fur, his clothes, his flesh. As soon as the barrage came to a stop, Jin landed beside him. They were back-to-back now, each one facing an opponent.
"Got a plan?" Jin muttered.
"Thinking of one," Komamura replied. He lifted his sword. "Roar, Tenken!" The phantasmal blade appeared and Komamura slashed; with noticeable ease, Byakuya had dodged it, landing just beyond the reach of Komamura's range.
"Bakudo 62: Hyapporankan!" Jin launched the single pillar of purple energy forward, and it soon expanded into many, all of which were dodged by Soi Fon. She glided and weaved around each attempted strike, showing no signs of effort or fatigue. "Damn it. Royal Crow Blast!"
For a brief moment, Jin was positive that the blow had landed... but that was just too easy. The blast had been evaded and destroyed Soi Fon's abandoned haori, leaving its tattered remnants to fall to the ground.
"Utsusemi," he mumbled to himself. He couldn't expect anything less from the Gotei's most skilled assassin. "Sajin, let's try switching. Your strength could match her speed."
"That doesn't mean anything if I can't hit her," Komamura answered. Jin wasn't listening anymore. He jumped over Komamura and dashed for Byakuya, who readily defended the haphazard blow.
"For a child, you are quite strong," Byakuya admitted, "but as a captain, you have much to learn."
"You like the sound of your own voice, don't you, Captain Kuchiki," Jin taunted as he was pushed back. "Royal Crow Blast!"
"Danku."
The blast hit the transparent wall and exploded, leaving no impression. Byakuya seemed completely unconcerned. He held his sword vertically in front of him and Jin acted quickly; he recognized that movement. He struck with his gauntlet's blade. The sound of metal echoed within the arena.
"Sorry, but I'm letting you release that sword again," Jin said with a grin.
"Indeed, you are skilled, but it's not enough to bridge the gap between us," Byakuya said. "Come back when you have lived one hundred years longer."
Komamura swiped at Soi Fon, trying to keep just beyond her reach, but still trying to hit her. She danced around him, unconcerned by the sudden change in opponents. She took to the sky and drew a circle in the air.
"Bakudo 30: Shitsusansen."
The three blasts of light flew forward, nailing Komamura dodged only two; the third hit him in his chest, nailing him down to the ground. Soi Fon grinned as she charged, and Komamura quickly lifted his legs to counter. Barely touched by the counterattack, Soi Fon moved back and through brute strength, Komamura broke from the Kido, hurrying to his feet just as Jin skidded along the ground by him.
"Get up," Komamura insisted. "We've still got work to do."
"I can see that," Jin huffed as he got to his feet. "We might need to use Bankai, Sajin."
"Bankai's been forbidden by Captain Yamamoto."
"Then fake it," Jin continued. "Make it seem like you're going to. They'll go for you to stop you and that's how we'll bring them down."
"Do you think it'll work?"
"No, but I don't have another plan."
Komamura nodded and concentrated... The air grew heavy and Komamura's body began to resonate with red energy. The change was immediate. Soi Fon and Byakuya stiffened, and their eyes narrowed. Within a few seconds, they were charging and Jin moved quickly.
"Crow Barrage!"
He aimed the crows skyward and with a quick wave of his hand, they descended, coming down, aimed at Byakuya and Soi Fon who were so intent on stopping Komamura that they seemed not to notice.
Jin quickly helped Komamura away from the smoke and dust the explosion kicked up. He, himself, was barely standing and in the back of his mind, he knew he should have held back on the explosive energy he had put into the crows. Yet he was out now, and he just needed to focus on Soi Fon and Byakuya. He knew them; a cheap trick like this wasn't enough to take them down.
"Scatter..."
The command, remarkably loud in Jin's ears, made his entire body seize. Before he knew what was happening, the pinkish metal shards were coming at him. He felt one slice across his back, then his chest, his side... practically everywhere. His own shouts seemed to harmonize with Komamura's as the blades moved across their bodies and they both fell onto the ground, the blood starting to seep out of them.
Jin had barely turned onto his back when Byakuya and Soi Fon were standing over them, very clearly hurt, but still fighting. Their unreleased swords were pointing down at them in a very clear show of dominance.
"This game's over," Byakuya said. "You've lost."
"You... you'd think so, right?" Jin chortled. He lifted his gauntlet upward and drew on the last reserves of his power. "Royal... Crow Blast!"
The force of the explosion made Jin fall deeper into the ground and Byakuya and Soi Fon went flying back. Jin grinned as the darkness came over him...
This is becoming a pattern, Jin thought derisively as he woke in the Fourth's barracks with Shuhei, Tetsuzaemon, and Koji standing over him. On a bed beside his own was Komamura, who looked to be sleeping.
"Good morning, sir," Shuhei said loyally. "How're you feeling?"
"Peachy," Jin replied sarcastically. "I feel like a punching bag."
"Not surprising," Koji said. "You and Father were really pushed to the limit. Even then, you barely won, if it was even a win. Captain Yamamoto's still debating about which team won."
"Does it matter? The point is that it's the final round of the tournament." Jin coughed painfully and sighed. "How bad was it?"
"Captain Unohana said she'd seen worse," Koji answered.
"That's not reassuring." Jin sat upright, but quickly fell back down. It hurt to move.
"Captain, you should stay there," Shuhei insisted. "The Division's running fine for right now, and it'll be in peak condition for when you return. I just needed to stop in an check on you before I go back to work."
"Yeah, I'm fine, Shuhei," Jin persisted. "Go back the barracks. They'll need their leader."
"Are you sure, sir?"
"Yeah, go. I don't want the paperwork to pile up."
Shuhei nodded. "Yes, sir," he said as he walked out.
"You two, don't you have work to do?" Komamura's deep voice alerted them to his consciousness.
"Yes, sir," Tetsuzaemon said.
"Get to it."
"But, Father, I—"
"Work is important, Koji," Komamura stated. "I'd rather not go back to see the Division falling apart."
Koji sighed. "Yes, sir. Come on, Iba."
Koji led Tetsuzaemon out and Jin turned his head. "Feeling okay, Sajin?"
"Not at all. How about you?"
"Like complete crap, but I suppose it could be worse. We're alive."
"Yes. We're alive."
"So, Sajin, how do you think we did?"
"We could have won, we could have lost, but I have to say, I'm glad you were my partner for the tournament."
"Really?"
"I could not have asked for a better comrade or a better friend."
Jin's grin widened. "Neither could I..."
The room was darkened as nightfall came. It was midnight when Jin became aware of a certain presence in the room. Jin's eyes opened quickly and he sat upright. The pain in his body shot up, more dull than before.
His eyes surveyed the dark room and almost immediately, his eyes looked onto a figure, standing in the doorway to the room. The person was masked, hidden, dressed in a silvery cloak that shimmered in the moonlight that filtered into the room.
"Who are you?" Jin demanded.
"I'd heard you'd been made a captain, but I didn't believe it, little Jin..."
Jin's breath hitched... He knew that voice...
Okay, guys, sorry that it's taken so long. I've been really busy, but here's the next chapter and I hope you like it.