The Fall of the Gotei 13
There he was in the flesh. Standing there as real as the air around them.
"T-Toshiro." Rangikus said. She was so happy to see him again, so happy he was alive. But in her glee she didn't notice the strange new detail about him.
True everything was the same, except for the dark complexion of his skin. Chojiro noticed it and raised an eyebrow to the unfamiliar sight but Rangiku was blinded to it as she walked towards him.
"Where were you?" she asked." What happened?" She kept getting closer to him. He had the usual calm expression about his face and stoic stature of his body." We thought you died. We had a funeral." He still said nothing." Oh say something will you!" The tears continued to build in her eyes, starting to break out and run down her cheeks. Toshiro said or did nothing." But it doesn't matter." She moved forward and put both arms around him, pressing her face into his chest. "I'm just happy your back." She cried." We're together, now everything's going to be fine."
After a few moments of happy bliss Rangiku looked up to see that Toshiro had finally moved. He had raised his arm with sword in hand and prepared to swing down at her.
But before that could happen another blade made it's way between them. Toshiro and Rangiku turned to see Chojiro had come in to save the day.
"Get back Lieutenant." He said to Rangiku.
"What?!" she exclaimed." What's going on?!"
"I said move!" Chojiro commanded. With one free arm he pushed Rangiku aside, moving her away from Toshiro.
"What's going on!?" she screamed. Chojiro stepped forward and swung at Toshiro. The former Head-Captain avoided the blade by jumping back several feet." No, don't hurt him!"
"Don't be fooled Rangiku." He said back to her." This is not the Toshiro we knew. This is not the Toshiro you loved!"
"No." Rangiku shook her head. She looked at him standing in front of them. It could only be him, there's no way it couldn't be.
The presence of Toshiro Hitsuguya was felt all across the Soul Society.
"Is that really the Head-Captain?" Yushiro questioned. He looked up to his Captain for an answer but found Captain Kuchiki to be more stoic than usual. Captain Unohana silently moved from Yushiro's side and began walking towards the exit of the Squad Six Barracks.
"Where are you going?" Captain Kuchiki asked.
"There is something I have to take care of." She responded. With one hand Unohana brushed threw her hair, releasing it from it's braids and making it flow behind her.
Toshiro advanced forward swinging Hyorinmaru only for Chojiro to block.
"No." Rangiku said as she watched. "This can't be happening." But some found humor in her misery.
"It looks like your boy toy moved on." Candice said from behind Rangiku. In a fit of rage the Lieutenant turned around and unleashed Haineko , firing a gust of ash at Candice. But the Quincy jumped back onto the rooftop while the ash destroyed the spot where she once stood.
"So you wanna play rough do ya?!" she called back. Candice raised one hand and then the other, forming a lightning bolt in each. She shot one bolt down which Rangiku avoided and then the second. And when it flew over her head Rangiku swung up and shot another gust of ash at Candice.
Candice raised her hand and shot another lightning bolt to meet the ash head on. But the bolt passed easily through the ash and Rangiku had to jump aside or risk being hit.
But as she jumped into the air Candice was on her.
"Gotcha!" she announced swinging up at Rangiku. But the Lieutenant easily avoided her punch by tilting her head to the left and then countered with a punch of her own. With both fists forward she punched Candice in the chest, sending her back onto the ground. Rangiku never excelled in hand to hand but she had learned a thing or two from Toshiro. Like here with Sokotsu.
She watched as Candice plummeted into the ground, dirtying up more of the precious outfit she so enjoyed.
But then Rangiku felt a sudden pain in her side. Looking down a huge piece of her right torso so missing, just above her hips and below she chest. Standing beside it she saw a floating mouth with a great pair of sharp teeth. Not wanting to see what else it could do she quickly moved aside, and turned to better see her surroundings. She saw them alright.
Candice was to her left but Liltotto was to her right. And it was from that little girl that this deformed mouth had come from. Standing right before her was Giselle and Meninas was behind her. This was going to be harder than she originally thought.
"It appears." Ywach said to Commander Shunsui." Your predecessor had a change of heart and switched sides."
"You did it?" Shunsui asked. Ywach smiled once more.
"If the shoe fits." He answered, a malicious smile to accompany it.
"Indeed it does." Shunsui said with his head bowed. He began turning his swords in both hands. Turning them so the blades face the opposite way now, away from his opponent." And I think that is the greatest crime of all so far." He picked his head up and looked at Ywach." I don't think I could ever forgive that." He raised his swords into the sky, the blades pointed down. Ywach did not know what would come next but he prepared himself. Shunsui stabbed his blades down and into the ground." Bankai!"
It was now just Toshiro and Chojiro. The Head-Captain lunged forward and slashed his sword against Chojiro's. And the former Lieutenant knew it was a lost cause. He'd fought Toshiro before and he'd lost. The only way for him to win this one was to appeal to the real Toshiro deep down.
"It doesn't have to be this way Toshiro." he said." Whatever they've done to you, we can fix it!" But Toshiro stayed silent as their blades grinded against each other. Then Toshiro gave a silent pushed forward, knocking Chojiro back. He raised his sword above his head and came slashing down, only for Chojiro to block. Then a second one this time with more strength and enough to knock the former Lieutenant to one knee.
Toshiro raised his blade and prepared to strike once more but this time he was stopped. A thick matter of blood lashed out. But the former Head-Captain turned and slashed at it, dispersing the substance around him. Chojiro used this distraction to jump away.
Toshiro continued to look in the direction of the blood and once it had stopped flowing he saw it's master. Captain of Squad Four and Former First Kenpachi Yachiru Unohana. She said nothing as she looked the young Head-Captain over but nothing needed to be said when her eyes said everything. She stood on Toshiro's right while Chojiro had touched down several feet away to his left. But Toshiro's cold, dead eyes were on Unohanna.
"Head-Captain." She said running her free hand along her blade." I wish to have seen you again under better circumstances." He gave no response, not even a grunt." But know I'll do everything I can do change what they've done to you." The tip of her blade touched the dirt and began to disintegrate the small area below it before expanding. "Arm yourself Captain Sasakibe." She said.
"Yes Ma'am." He said as he held his blade before his head.
Kenpachi jumped up and not only sliced through Gremmy but the buildings behind him. Kenpachi stayed there hovering in the air pleased with himself until he saw Gremmy's form vanish like the wind only to reappear in full form above him.
"Why won't you DIE!" he exclaimed pointing to him. The Quincy gave no response but a simple chuckle. And suddenly Kenpachi went from standing in the air to being trapped in a prison of water.
His men fared no better on the ground below. They had managed to defeat any Quincy who came through the door, until there was only Gremmy. But the Kenpachi had claimed him for himself, leaving his men to watch. But then suddenly another horde of Quincy appeared, this time double from the previous attack.
They fought and bled like the ones before them but when they were killed they simply evaporated into the wind. And now the only ones left were Lieutenant Yachiru, Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame, Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, and Fujimaru Kudo.
"Captain!" Yumichika yelled.
"We've got to help him." Fujimaru said.
"Just watch." Yachiru said despite the direness of the situation." He'll be fine. Kenny's always fine." And as she predicated he was. With one swing of his sword Kenpachi cut free of the prison that held him and landed on the ground below. But then the stones and concrete below him took his form and came at him. But with a slash of his sword he reduced them to rubble.
"Is that all you've got?!" He yelled at his enemy, to cowardly to fight on his own.
"That's right Kenny, you tell him!" Yachiru cheered.
Gremmy slowly turned his head away from Kenpachi to his number one fan, his Lieutenant.
"NO!" Kenpachi cried out. It was the one time anyone had ever seen distress on his face. He turned away from the battle and instead to his Lieutenant, reaching his arm out to her. But all Gremmy had to do was blink and Yachiru went from standing there to falling to the ground.
"Lieutenant!" Yumichika yelled as he also dashed forward. He, Ikkaku and Fujimaru all ran to her while Kenpachi came crashing down. But by then it was already too late. Whatever Gremmy had done to her, she was dead. Every limb separated from her body into one big, bloody mess.
"You Fucking Animals!" Ikkaku let out." Get him!" He pointed to their enemy. Yumichika had been the first to attack, jumping over his Squad mates and swinging his blade at Gremmy.
But the second he came within a three foot radius of him all he had to do was blink. And then like the Lieutenant before him Yumichicka was simply torn in half.
"NO!" Ikkaku yelled.
Kenpachi turned away from his dead Lieutenant and now to see another of his Squad members dead. Then he looked up at the Quincy responsible for it.
"Your mine. "He said pointing his sword at him. But that didn't seem to frighten Gremmy. As if he willed it the sky above them turned red and fire rained down on them from above.
All at once everything changed. The skies immediately darkened, so much so that even their immediate surroundings had become covered in shadow. Ywach could see little, hardly even the hand before his face. But there was more than just darkness that came with it. There was a deep self-loathing about this. A deceiving mist of despair and gloom.
"Your Bankai?" He questioned.
"That's right?" He heard the Head-Captain's voice but could not see him. His voice was accompanied by echoing footsteps and Ywach looked around to try and find them. Soon enough he did as Shunsui came into his sights. "It's the special little trick we have."
"We?" Ywach questioned. He could not see but there were two, long slender arms wrapped around Shunsui's neck.
Whatever the Bankai's abilities Ywach knew he could not let it unfold. He raised his hand pointing at Shunsui and prepared to fire at him. But Shunsui did not fell concerned about the matter, in fact he didn't even seem to notice. But that he took notice of.
The Quincy had no information about Shunsui's bankai as he never used it since becoming a Captain. So Ywach knew he'd have to be careful, he pulled his hand up and away from Shunsui ending his attack.
"Very good." Shunsui said." It seems you didn't confuse my cool calmness as just that. Very perceptive of you."
"I'm well aware of a Bankai's power." Ywach answered." I'll not make a move until I've learned about yours."
"You'll learn soon enough." Shunsui smiled." Second Dan,Nidame: Zanki no Shitone." And just as he finished his sentence Ywach felt a strange sensation all around his body. Looking down at his left hand he saw it covered in a black spot. But it didn't stop there as it was all over his body. From his hands to his feet, all the way up his neck and onto his feet. And just as quickly as they appeared they were gone as they exploded, leaking blood all over Ywach's body. He clutched at his bleeding throat, trying to stop it in any way possible but it was too much. The pain was unbearable and the bloodless too much, he collapsed to one knee. But Shunsui would not stop there.
"Third Dan. "Shunsui continued." Dangyo no Fuchi." And suddenly Ywach found himself under water with Shunsui. This would be the final move. Ywach would drown in his own spiritual pressure and then this war would end.
With his sword he blocked Izuru and with his shield he blocked Renji. Then he shot his shield out and hit Renji across the face, then again in the chest forcing him to stumble back. Now with Hoffnung he turned on the lieutenant. With one swing of the sword he knocked Izuru's blade out of his hand. But when he stepped forward to try and take his head Izuru rolled under his swing and grabbed Wabisuke before returning to his feet. But Gererd was already starting another attack.
From the tip of his sword reishi began to form. It formed into a ball before firing out forward at the Lieutenant.
Izuru jumped aside as the blast came firing at him, and he thought he might have made it. But when Izuru looked down to his the right side of his chest and abdomen blown away. Along with his right arm, blown off at the elbow. What remained of his arm fell to the ground, still clutching his sword. Izuru followed shortly after and collapsed to the ground.
"Izuru!" Renji let out. Gerard turned from the Lieutenant to the Captain.
"And now!" He announced." It's only you and I." Renji was blistering with rage. This would be how it ended. He raised Zabimaru above his head.
"Bankai!" In place of the simple extending blade from before it now took on the shape of a giant snake, with a skull for a head. Renji's own attire had changed as well, with red fur around his shoulders and arms. The Quincy was delighted.
"Yes! Yes!" Gerard said upon seeing it." A Bankai, I'm glad to finally see one." He raised Hoffnung." But even your greatest power is no match for mine. For with Hoffnung I will help guide my people into the light of-" He said no more as Renji swung Zabimaru forward, crushing Gerard beneath it. He had expected one hit, one kill but it wasn't that simple.
Gerard was holding Zabimaru back with Hoffnung pressed between the snake head teeth. But then Zabimaru open it's mouth, letting out a great red blasts. But with a single slice of Hoffnung the blast was cut in two, destroying everything behind Gerard but Gerard himself. And now it was his turn.
Gerard jumped forward and stood before Renji. He bashed his shield against Zabimaru, knocking it and the arm holding it aside. Then with his greatsword he stabbed forward and punctured a hole right through Renji's stomach. But he wasn't the only one to feel the pain.
"Renji!" Rukia let out. All her attention, all her motivation suddenly went to him. But her Division had been nearly overrun.
"Go." Captain Ukitake said over his shoulder. She turned to him now confused." Go!" He said before she could question him." I'll be fine here." She simply nodded her understanding and her thanks before disappearing from the Thirteenth Division and across the Soul Society.
She quickly made it all the way to Squad Three, landing on one of their roofs. Looking down she saw Renji battling Sternritter 'M' Gerard.
"RENJI!" Rukia yelled. But she was too late. With the next slash of his sword Gerard cut Renji. And the next she saw of him he was on the ground. "NO!" she yelled getting Gerard's attention. She had quickly gone from mournful to vengeful." Dance!" she commanded as she drew her sword. But Gerard dealt with her just as easily.
He swung not his sword back but his shield and Rukia had hardly seen that before she felt Hoffnug stabbed right into her chest.
"Pathetic." Gerard commented as he ripped his blade from her sternum forcing more blood out of her. With that he turned and walked away, prepared to leave her to die instead of finishing her himself. He was there and then quick as a flash he was gone.
Despite the pain in her chest Rukia managed to get to her feet. She didn't even bother grabbing her zanpaktou and instead used both hands to cover her wound. Then with short steps she stumbled to Renji.
"Renji." She moaned his name. He didn't respond." Renji." Still nothing. He couldn't be dead, not like this. She collapsed down by his side and put both her bloody hands on his head." Renji." She said with a soft push. But with that soft push she saw his head roll away from his shoulders. She jumped back stunned." AH!" she turned her head and screamed to the sky.
Pepe groaned as he picked himself up and when he did he saw Matsuri standing over him from the one broken lense of his sunglasses. She held the tip of her sword against his chin, parting his beard. But despite this threat he didn't seem afraid. In fact he smiled.
Not wanting to see it anymore Matsuri gripped her sword with both hands and prepared to swing down on him. And she did but once more Pepe was saved.
Matsuri watched as blood filled the air. She was fine on moment thinking it was his but she was shocked when she saw Momo between them, the binding kido still around her body. Yet somehow she was able to move.
Pepe's power was love, making anyone under his spell do whatever he commanded. To fight and die for him. Love will conquer all.
Matsuri had cut Momo from her right shoulder all the way down her torso to her left hip. She watched in horror as her own Lieutenant split into two pieces before her own eyes falling to the ground.
When she hit the ground Matsuri did too. Her sword not even in her hands. But Pepe rose to his feet. He removed his glasses, breathing on them before wiping it on his sleeve and returning to his head. But then the final lense broke off. He grumbled his annoyance as he removed it, then turned his attention to Matsuri.
Once again he moved his hands as if using a bow and this time it appeared in his hands. The tip of the arrow aimed right at the back of the Captain's head.
He released it but when it hit the back of Matsuri's head it vanished into thin air. Pepe tilted his head looking confused. He watched as Matsuri slowly rose up her sword extended out at her side.
"Bankai." She said." Ryukyu Kotomaru!" An armored dragon's head appeared on her left shoulder, a long white cape coming out of it. The blade had completely changed made of wind and the spirit energy of it's owner, pink. Matsuri turned and with one swing of her sword slashed not only Pepe, his reishi weapon, but the building behind him and every building for miles.
Pepe stood for a moment shivering as if cold. He continued for a few moments until he suddenly split right down the middle.
Unohanna lunged forward and clashed against Toshiro. Her blade of boiling blood burning and melting his frozen sword. But at the same time his sword chilled and froze her's. She stepped back, raising her arm up and slashing down at him, only to be blocked.
But she did not fight alone. Chojiro Sasakibe appeared from behind Toshiro, raising his hand.
"Hado #33 Sokatsui!" he shouted. Like a dog, Toshiro quickly turned his entire attention to Chojiro. He swung Hyorinmaru once, shooting the Ice Dragon from it, chilling the blue fire in an instant and then overtaking Chojiro.
But at the same time his back was turned and Unohana came slashing down. But with one easy pivot Toshiro turned and swung his blade up at her. Each had found their mark.
Unohana and slashed Toshiro across his chest, burning away at his new cloths and nearly melting the skin to the bone beneath it. At the same time her entire left arm had been frozen, luckily it was not her dominant arm. And it could be easily replaced.
Acting quickly Unohanna slashed her sword down to sever the arm where the ice ended. And then the next second grew it back with the help of healing kido. But Toshiro had done the same, running his hand along his chest and healing himself. She had taught him well.
But then the skies darkened and rumbled above them, and Chojiro Sasakibe reappeared on the battlefield, his sword held out before his face.
"Bankai." He announced." Koko Gonryo Rikyu!" He held his sword to the sky, the rumbling increased and lightning flashed in the darkness. Then Chojiro pointed his blade at Toshiro and lightning shot down from the sky and upon him.
Rangiku was surrounded on all sides. She used Haineko to create a wall of ash around herself. Using it to repel and attack her four opponents. Rangiku swung her hilt and like a wave the ash lashed out at Meninas and Giselle. The two girls jumped back avoiding it.
But while her attention was on them Candice jumped in for a sneak attack. But this time Rangiku noticed her, ducking her head under her swing before swinging Haineko and causing ash to cut across Candice's unprotected stomach. The Quincy jumped back but only to put her hands together to make a blade of her own. A weapon of pure lightning. Then she dashed forward, swinging.
Rangiku raised the ash to block but the lightning cut right through it. But when Candice looked forward she came face to face with Rangiku's palm.
"Hado 31 Shakkaho!" she announced. And then she hit Candice point blank in the face. But the attack did little more than dirty Candice's face even more.
"You Bitch!" she yelled swinging her lightning blade again. Rangiku prepared to dodge but was attacked from behind once more. Lilotto and her misshaped mouth appeared once more to bite a big chunk out of Rangiku's back. One enemy was infront of her while another was at her back, while two were unaccounted for she'd have to act quick. With a swirl of her swords hilt Rangiku made the ash around them rise up.
Then like a tornado it began to blow round and round picking up Candice and Lilotto in it, ripping and tearing at them. But then the ash tornado dispersed around her as her third opponent appeared, Meninas came up behind her. Rangiku watched as her arm suddenly grew twice it's size in muscle. Then with one great swing she not only punched Rangiku to the ground, but hit her down into a crater.
The water continued to splash all around him. It was heavy and each moment felt as if it might be his last. Looking forward Ywach saw Shunsui standing there calmly.
Ywach opened his mouth and roared out laughter.
"Is that it?" he questioned." Is that all?" Shunsui watched Ywach carefully and noticed something change about him. First he saw that he was not uncomfortable with this underwater prison, in fact he seemed to hardly notice it at all. Second he saw that his wounds had healed and that the bleeding black spots of his second dan had gone. Lastly and most important, were his eyes. In each eye he had an extra pupil." Behold." Ywach said as he extended his arms. He clapped his hands together and with that simple clap the water around them disappeared and the two combatants fell back onto solid ground. " My true power. With it you cannot hope to match me." Victory was assured. But Head-Captain Shunsui Kyoraku wasn't done yet. He had one last trick up his sleeve. He sheathed his swords and prepared for his final attack.
"Fourth Dan." He announced. He swung his fingers forward, forming a thin layer of red thread around Ywach's neck. The cut was small at first but then quickly expanded until it took off Ywach's entire head in one quick slash.
The battle was done and Shunsui sat back into two soft, tender arms.
"So nice to see you again." He said as Katen Kyokotsu came into real manifested life." It's been a long time hasn't it?" She managed a smile.
"Behind you." She said calmly. Shunsui took little notice of the tone of her voice and did as she said, turned around.
Shunsui watched as Ywach's head reappeared and attacked to his body. There was no blood or scar, it looked as if nothing had happened to him. This was the Power of A "The Almighty". The Power to not only see into the Future but to understand it, thus making every attack in this battle known and therefore unable to harm him.
Shunsui raised his blades and prepared for another strike but Ywach beat him to it. He raised his hand and from his palm came thousands of Reishi arrows all at once.
Shunsui took one to the shoulder, another to the stomach, two in the chest, and one right in the throat. Each staggering him worse than the last. He dropped to his knees where he was hit in his right eye. This time he was knocked off his feet and onto his back. And the darkness, the world that was his bankai was gone.
His Bankai, his Ultimate technique had been defeated.
Unohana and Chojiro watched as the lightning strike stopped on Toshiro. To their amazement he looked no different than he had before, hardly a mark on him. He snapped his head and attention over to Toshiro, leaping across the battlefield and slashing down at him. Chojiro raised his sword and blocked. But then Toshiro shot his knee up, covering it with a spike of ice and driving it into Chojiro's stomach. The former Lieutenant groaned as he stepped back. And luckily for him before Toshiro could continue his assault Unohanna stepped in. Jabbing out Minazuki to stop the killing blow.
The Ice and blood continued to crack into each other. The clash of their swords was devastating enough but it's aftershock was just as bad. The blood that splattered from Minazuki burned whatever it touched while Hyorinmaru froze whatever it hit for eternity, never to be undone.
Unohana swung for his arm, hoping to disarm him of his sword. She meant what she said. She was going to free him of this, but not kill him. She could never do that.
But this was not the Toshiro she knew. Her feelings were not shared. He swung out Hyorinmaru to clash against Minazuki. And without even a command the ice of his sword began to grow out and cover Unohana's. The boiling, acidic power of her bankai fighting back but loosing.
Realizing this Unohana jumped back and prepared for a counter attack but it was too late. Toshiro lunged forward and plunged Hyorinmaru right through Unohana's chest. She didn't feel it at first. She simply felt cold, and looked forward to see him standing there.
She saw his cold blue eyes and white hair. She saw him before her now. Not the man before her but the boy he was. The boy she'd trained, the boy she'd raised, the boy she'd loved like a son.
With her sword less hand she reached out for his face. Toshiro's face was expressionless as her fingers inched towards him. Toshiro then reared his arm back and took his sword out of her body covered in blood.
With nothing left to support her Unohana fell backwards, her head swinging back, her black hair flowing through the wind. Toshiro stood stiff as a statue as Unohana slammed onto the ground before him.
But then his leg was suddenly gripped. At his feet was Chojiro, hand clasped against his leg.
"Hado #96." He said weakly." Itto Kaso." And a great pillar of red spirit energy shot out around them. And when the dust settled Chojiro Sasakibe was gone but Toshiro Hitsuguya remained, with hardly a scratch on him.
The blood that covered his eye made it hard to see, and even then his vision in the other eye was starting to get blurry. Ywach took a step forward, casting his shadow over Shunsui. But his attention wasn't on the Quincy before him but rather behind him.
There she was, wild purple hair, loose clothing and a patch over her right eye.
"I see that things have certainly changed from a thousand years ago." The Quincy King told." I wonder what Genryusai would have to say about all this." He pointed a finger at him and prepared to launch an unlimited amount of reishi arrows, enough to turn Shunsui into nothing. The defeated Head-Captain could do nothing.
But Shunsui still kept his eyes on her.
"You know that place between sleep and awake?" she asked in a soft voice. His remaining eye slowly began to close as he gargled for breath." That place where you still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always love you, that's where I'll be waiting."
As she stood back arms crossed with a little smile on her face. But then all at once she disappeared only to be replaced with Nanao. Ywach turned around sharply to see the Lieutenant descending.
"Hado 31 Shakkaho!" she yelled.
But as Nanao descended Ywach turned around to her. Her hands already raised and ready for an attack, and he was quicker. With a flick of his finger a reishi arrow flew out from his fingertip and at her, finding it's mark by hitting her right in the chest.
"NO!" Shunsui yelled. Nanao flew back and was pinned against the wall. With a smile under his beard Ywach turned from the Lieutenant and to the Captain.
"And now it is your turn Head-Captain." He said taking a step forward." Fear not. You will join here and the rest of your wretched kind soon enough." The reishi formed around his finger-tip and he shot it once again, this time ready to impale Shunsui.
But quickly as he shot the arrow it had already shot back and hit him back in the chest. Shunsui had another protector now Ukitake, blades drawn and Shikai ready.
"Jushiro." Shunsui groaned.
"It's alright." Ukitake responded." I'll take care of this."
"Nanao." Shunsui groaned leaning forward and against his friend." Nanao." Ukitake looked forward to see Nanao still pinned to the wall. He stepped forward to try and doing something about it but his path was soon blocked.
"Do you think your powers can do anything to stop me?!" Ywach boomed as he rose before them." My power is truly unstoppable." He raised his hand once more.
But this attack was different than the others. This one was meant to annihilate and destroy completely. He was done playing around. The buildings around them were reduced to ash, the ground torn apart, and it seemed like any trace of the two Captains had gone with them. But Ywach knew better than that.
Ukitake grabbed Shunsui and escaped before any true damage could be done. Once he was sure they were out of the way he stopped and set shunsui down.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"N-Nanao?" Shunsui groaned.
"She's back there." Ukitake told nodding over his shoulder. Shunsui set his hand down and tried to push himself to his feet.
"Have to- Have to go back." But Ukitake put his hand against Shunsui's chest and kept him in place.
"There's nothing you can do." He told.
"No." Shunsui fought him." I-"
" There's nothing any of us can do now." Ukitake re-stated." Look." He pointed around them to the place that once was the Gotei 13. It's buildings had been destroyed and if they still stood they wouldn't for much longer. The streets were littered with the bodies of the dead, more Soul Reaper than Quincy.
Nanao was one of them now. The building that she was pinned against had been destroyed and now she lay on her back, looking up at the sky.
Ywach stood on the battlefield with the minor wounds he'd suffered in battle. He reached back his right arm and wipped the blood off his hands.
"Your Majesty." Gerald said as he jumped down next to his Leader." I have done as asked and gauged our foes. What would you have us do?"
Yhwach reached back and grabbed onto the hilt of Gerald's sword. Then he ripped it from it's sheath and held it into the air. Nanao's eyes opened as she saw the sun's light reflect against it. Then Yhwach turned the sword upside and down and stabbed.
Nanao jolted as the sword came down and plunged into her chest, forcing the blood to gargle out of her mouth. Yhwach released the sword and rested it at his side, lifting his head to view his people.
"Kill them all." He commanded.
And the Quincy disappeared doing exactly as they were told. Their numbers were to great and already the Soul Reaper casualties had been too high. There was little that could be done to stop them now.
Rangiku stood up as quick as she could from the bottom of that crater. Being surrounded, she couldn't afford to be down too long. Despite the two chunks of her body missing she pushed herself to her feet. But the second she looked up she came eye to eye with the forth Quincy, Giselle.
"Don't be frightened." She cooed in a sweet voice." It'll all be over soon." Rangiku didn't like that talk. She raised Haineko, the ash already starting to hover around her.
"Get back Giselle." A voice called above them. Rangiku turned around to see Candice, arm cocked back and lightning bolt in her hand. Her left eye was closed and her tongue was poking out of her mouth." This bitch is mine." She said ready to put it right between Rangiku's eyes.
Suddenly a loud roar caught all their attentions. Looking up they saw Captain Sajin Kommamura of Squad Seven. And above him was a giant metal fist. And when he came swinging down it came down, crashing down and destroying the Squad Eight Barracks around them.
Rangiku couldn't see anything, and covered herself from dust and flying debris. Suddenly she was grabbed by the arm.
"Rangiku!" called Iba.
"Tetsuzaemon!" she said upon seeing him but he looked different. He had a withered, tired look about him as if he had seen better days. But then again so had she.
"C'mon." he pleaded as he tugged at her." We have to get out of here!"
"What?! We can't leave."
"We have to. The Head-Captain has ordered our retreat." Rangiku could only think that Toshiro would never do such a thing, but then she remembered that technically Shunsui was the Head-Captain. But even still could it be possible? Could there situation be so dire that they'd abandon their home. She couldn't believe it.
"I can't." she said." We can't." she re-stated.
"Rangiku, we can't stay!"
"Tetsuzaemon!" called a voice. Looking up they saw Captain Kommamura standing above them, paying little mind to the Quincy around him. " I told you to get Lieutenant Matsumoto and get out of here!" he pointed.
"Yes, sir!" His Lieutenant answered. Without another word he grabbed Rangiku, hoisting her over his shoulder and shunpoed away.
Sajin turned just in time as Candice came down with her lightning sword. But her electricity was no match for Tenken. With one great swing the giant fist re-appeared and swatted her like a fly. He turned just in time for another attack.
Meninas came right at him swinging her powerful arm forward. But her brute strength was not match for his, or so he thought. Sajin turned and caught her fist and expected to swing her away but found he couldn't. Instead he found himself struggling against her strength.
Then Meninas swung up her other arm and punched him in the face, knocking him back and into the nearby debris.
"Good shot." Lilotto commented. The four moved in now ready to take the big Captain together. But as they looked for his figure in the debris, they found that he had disappeared.
Byakuya looked out into the courtyard of Squad Six to see the Quincy coming.
"Fall back." He commanded to his Division members hiding inside." Retreat!" The Quincy were coming closer now. Byakuya drew his blade and held it out before his face." Scatter." He commanded. The blade disappeared into pink rose pedals and sliced down the approaching Quincy. But that wouldn't last for long.
"Lieutenant!" Mihane yelled grabbing onto his arm." We have to get out of here!" But Yushiro was still badly injured from his fight, and needed her help to walk.
Seigen swung his sword forward, shooting a bolt of lightning at Bazz-B. The Quincy easily dodged and pointed his finger at the Captain.
"Burn Finger #3!" Bazz-B announced. And now a fire greater than the others shot forward and this time pierced Seigen right through the heart. He took a weak step back, struggling for balance as he placed his free hand over his wound. He looked up to see Bazz-B standing there, smirking at him. And that only filled him with rage.
Seigen took a step forward and raised his sword. But the second he did Bazz-B raised his hand again, shooting another blast of fire, this time stabbing him through the stomach. Seigen stumbled another step back, managing to find a wall to support himself against since standing was becoming too hard.
Looking forward he soon saw Bazz-B was not alone. Dozens more Quincy had shown up, overwhelming and taking over Squad Twelve with their numbers.
"Take him." Bazz-B ordered. Seigen grinded his teeth together and growled as the Quincy came towards him. His Barracks had been taken over, his Squad defeated, his Lieutenant killed.
The first Quincy that stepped towards him he took by surprise, using all his strength to shunpo forward and slash the Quincy's head in half. He quickly turned to the next, blocking his sword before using shooting lightning from his blade and zapping that Quincy into the wall.
"C'mon." Bazz-B groaned." I warmed him up for you." Seigen turned and cut down another Quincy. And by that point Bazz-B had had enough. He raised his finger again.
"Burn Finger #4." Seigen turned just in time to see his blaze coming at him. But he had little hope of dodging and even less for blocking. The fire shot forward and engulfed. Bazz-B watched as the flames continued on to Squad Twelve itself, setting it ablaze. But it's Captain still stood, barely. His body blackened from the fire, skin beginning to melt.
Seigen had managed to stand himself to his knees. He looked up to see the sun beaming down on him, only for it to be covered by the head of Bazz-B and his fiery red mowhawk.
Bazz-B put his index finger against Seigen's forehead and with one final attack, burned a hole right through him.
Chojiro Sasakibe was wounded but not defeated. Even with one arm he could still hold his own. But he was a wise man and knew this wasn't the time to fight. He knew the others had gone to the world of the Living, he had to get there and regroup with them.
He pointed his blade into the ground and put his weight on it, using it as a sort of cane as he stumbled along. He could hear the Quincy all around him and the cries of the Soul Reapers.
They were gutted in the place they called home. Some were flung from the rooftops to certain death on the ground below. Others were lined up only to have their throats slit.
But Chojiro could not help them. If they found him the Gotei 13 would be out another Captain, and right now they needed good commanders. So he limped on using his cane, fortunate so far he hadn't been seen. Or so he thought.
A loud crack boomed across the sky and Chojiro lifted his hand up to feel a hole through his neck. His body shivered, his skin turned pale. Suddenly a second shot cracked out this time shooting him right through his chest. Chojiro's sword fell from his grip and to the ground with him following after.
Former Lieutenant of Squad One, Captain of Squad Eight Chojiro Sasakibe was dead.
From a rooftop far across the Soul Society was Lillie Barro the X-axis. In his arms was his signature weapon, the gun that killed Chojiro.
And any Soul Reaper left in the Soul Society would soon share his fate.
Unohanna lay on the ground the gaping hole still in her chest. She tilted her head up to view the surrounding destruction all around her. But over the cries of death she could hear something coming towards her. The soft stomping of boots against the gravel as it got closer and closer to her. She turned her head and in the view of the sun high in the sky she was a cloak figure in black.
Ywach himself had traveled a distance across the Soul Society. All to find her.
Her sword lay only a few inches from her outstretched hand. Slowly she extended her finger to try and grasp it, Ywach looking down at her the hole time. His eyes bugged wide open in eager anticipation for what she'd do.
Just as her middle finger touched the hilt of her blade his boot came down and casually slid it even farther from her grasp. He then turned his back to her for only a few steps as he turned once more and sat beside a stone, continuing to watch her in comfort.
Blood was filling in lungs, her breaths were becoming short and raspy. It wouldn't be long now. Ywach interlocked his fingers, rested his elbows against his knees and leaned forward. Listening as if it were a sweet melody. And even long after it had stopped he stayed and watched.
Never before in the history of the Gotei 13 had this ever happened. They had lost battled before but this was something entirely different. Not only had they been beaten, their numbers had been crushed to less than 1/3 of what it was. And worst of all they had been driven from their home in the Soul Society, scattered and divided into the World of the Living.