TTGL: Brothers to the End.
Chapter 9: Numbered Days.
"Iraak should have been back by now." Kamina stated agitatedly. It had been hours since the man's departure but they has heard nothing from him.
Kittan shrugged. "Maybe he just met a girl or something. You know that he is a self imposed 'gentleman' who would go miles out of his way to help a pretty face."
Kidd shook his head, his face set in a worried expression. "He wouldn't do anything to delay this long when he knows what's at stake."
Kamina stood from his perch on a rock and stretched his long limbs. "We'll go check up on him. Not like we have anything else to do until he's back. If I find him slacking off though I'll strangle him with his own hair. Kidd, you know this village, lead the way."
"On it, boss!" the scrawny man replied. He led them up through the forest northward, stopping every few minutes to check for any signs of Iraak. Other than the occasional footprint in the damp soil that showed he had come this way, they found nothing.
Kidd stopped suddenly and sprinted forward into the trees. The others followed, unsure what had startled the ginger haired fighter. He skidded to a halt beside a long sword that was stabbed into the ground so that it stood vertical. Impaled upon the blade was a single sheet of paper.
"Th-this is Iraak's zanpakuto." Kidd stammered. "He'd never leave it behind." Concern for his brother was clearly written across his features.
Kittan removed the piece of paper and frowned. "Damn!" he growled angrily. "Kamina. I have your friend's life in my hands. If you want to save him, seek me out at Devil's Drop." He swore then screwed up the paper and threw it into the dirt.
Kidd cursed loudly. He traced his hand along the blood that stained the ground around the sword. "We have to go. We have to get Iraak back!"
"It's clearly a trap." grunted Zorthy gruffly. "If Iraak was beaten, that means whoever did it is no pushover either."
"That doesn't matter! We can't just leave him, trap or not!" snapped Kidd.
Kamina pulled the zanpakuto from the ground and held it up to the sky. "Of course we're gonna go get him. Team Dai-Gurren never leaves a man behind! Whoever took him has bitten of more than they can chew for I, the mighty Kamina, accept his challenge! Move out. We put everything on hold until we have Iraak back. Devil's Drop isn't far. We hit fast and we hit hard!"
"That bastard's gonna pay for messing with us!" seethed Kidd.
"Yeah! We smash him and we smash him good!" boomed the twins as they pounded their meaty fists together.
They continued on into the village and acquired the horses that Iraak had promised. Saddled up they made quick progress across the sparse forest lands, covering the ground far quicker than they ever could have hoped. Kamina only led them in the wrong direction once so overall it was an great achievement.
Devil's Drop was an area beside the fast flowing Wrath's River. It was a plateau that separated the forest from the vast cliff that formed one wall of the deep river. Any fall from the cliff meant certain death. The height combined with the monstrous water below and jutting teeth like rocks that stuck out from it had taken many souls throughout the years. It had been a favoured location for death duels until the practice had been banned.
The outlaw shinigami approached the clearing with caution, not wanting to fall foul of any ambush. Kamina being the man that he was though, the second he was confident that the way was clear, he strode brazenly out into the open as though he owned the place. The others followed, looking equally as brave and manly.
Kittan held Kidd back. At the centre of the clearing was a cage that held the battered form of Iraak within. He was breathing but he looked in a bad way. Kidd struggled to run to his brother but he could not break Kittan's steely grip.
Beside the cage stood a deathly pale man with a bushy black afro. He was unarmed and his simple robes looked to hold no secrets. Black flames raged around his body, flooding the air with raw power. He smiled upon seeing Kamina.
"So you came." he said innocently. His face betrayed nothing. "I'm so glad. You are crucial to our plans."
"Who the hell are you?" Kamina asked. Even he could tell that the man had captain level strength.
"It doesn't concern you who I am. All you need to know is that you will change the fate of the universe." responded the man vaguely.
Iraak stirred. He grabbed onto the bars. "He's a Meta-Spiral! He has something to do with Simon's disappearance!" he shouted before coughing up blood.
"How meddlesome of you." the Meta commented. He grabbed the cage with one hand and lifted it clean off of the ground. Shaking it violently, Iraak bounced around the metal like he was inside a washing machine. Then with a flick of his wrist, he hurled the cage off of the edge.
Kittan could no longer hold Kidd back. He broke free of the hold and ran to the cliff edge but it was too late. "Iraak!" he screamed.
"Damn it!" cursed Kamina, already running. He shoved past Kidd and dived over the edge. There was silence, then a splash, then more silence.
Flames shot up back into sight. Kamina rose high into the air, hollow mask on his face and flaming wings on his back. Iraak, was held under his left arm while his zanpakuto was held firmly in his right. He landed back on the plateau, placing Iraak beside Kidd. The mask and wings faded but a burning inferno remained in his eyes. The death glare was directed at the Meta.
"This shit just got real." Kamina growled as he began to stride towards the man. "You can try and kill me as much as you want and I'll welcome the challenge. Throwing my friends off of cliffs though is too far!"
He punched the Meta in the face with all of his inhuman might. The man rocked back, head jerking, neck cracking sickeningly but he remained standing. He smiled devilishly at Kamina, his eyes glowing with bloodlust. Almost casually he grabbed his head and snapped it back into place.
"My turn." the Meta sang. Quick as a flash he darted forward, breaking straight through Kamina's hasty defence and into his jaw with the force to crush a normal man's skull. Kamina flew back, smashing into the ground with bone breaking velocity.
Kittan marched forward, his zanpakuto already in it's skikai mode. He pumped the golden bladed shotgun. "Whadda ya waiting for, you bozo's? get kickin' ass!" he snapped at the other Dai-Gurren members. They didn't need telling twice. All of the charged forward, shikai pre-released.
Jorgun and Balinbow shot their cannons to either side of the Meta, pinning his movements as Kittan slid through his legs, firing his shotgun repeatedly as he passed. The bullets pinged harmlessly off of a spiral shield. Kidd and Zorthy came in from the flanks but without even looking the Meta sidestepped both attacks.
Kamina was back up on his feet by now. He drew Gurren and released it instantly, the shining black shades reflecting his determined face. He muttered a few words and flames spread across its sleek surface. That was about the only good thing that the former Twelfth Division captain had done.
He slashed, replica shades emerging from his blade like quick fire boomerangs. The Meta summoned a spiral pickaxe and deflected the projectiles with deft movements. While he was occupied, Balinbow attacked his back, the massive club cannon descending for the Meta's unguarded head. The Meta stepped to the side, allowing the mace-like zanpakuto to smash impotently into the ground. He kicked out at the bulky twin but Jorgun blocked the attack for his bother.
Kittan rammed his gunsword into the Meta's gut then fired, blowing a huge chunk of flesh away. The Meta staggered then was thrown to the floor as Zorthy smashed a flaming metal gauntlet into his face, setting the afro alight. Defenceless on the ground, the twins pummelled him with their maces.
"That's what happens when you mess with Team Dai-Gurren!" Kidd sneered, kicking the man in the teeth.
The Meta grabbed his foot, snapping his ankle with the force of the grip. Kidd screamed out in pain until he was thrown into the sky, hitting the dirt several seconds later. The man lowly rose to his feet. The black flames burned fiercer around him as flesh began to meld back together. In no time, the Meta stood before them again, completely void of injury.
"Shit!" cursed Kamina. He ran in, no longer holding back. Their blades locked, a struggle of raw power taking place. Zorthy took advantage of the situation and attacked again but the flames raged in an inferno, whipping up right where he sought to wound, charring Zorthy's flesh despite his own fire powers.
Kamina exploded his blade, sending the Meta hurtling into a tree. The force obliterated the trunk, his body continuing through another three before he came to a violent stop. Brushing off the splinters as though he had simply fallen over, the Meta rushed back into the fray, throwing the wood shards like kunai at the shinigami. They too glowed black, obviously imbued with spiral power.
The Dai-Gurren outlaws tried to dodge but the shards altered their directions accordingly. Like heat-seeking rockets they chased the shinigami, gaining on them too quick for comfort. They soon realised running was pointless and turned to face the assault. Kamina threw a dozen shades to combat the shards but as one unit the they pointed toward Iraak and sped like arrows toward him.
Jorgun ran to block them. Half of the projectiles peeled away and darted for Kidd, targeting the prone fighters. Balinbow rushed to his rescue. The twins blocked the attacks easily but were taken by surprise when the weapons exploded. They packed a punch, knocking the two men clean off of their feet.
Kamina turned back to face the Meta but he was gone. He span around to find the man, cursing when he saw him stood over Balinbow. Kamina boosted to try and stop him but the Meta was too quick. He lunged the pickaxe into Balinbow's back before disappearing again.
"We need to come up with a plan to beat this guy quick! We're having our asses kicked!" growled Kittan as he checked the larger man's pulse. Balinbow was still alive, just.
The Meta flashed toward Kittan but Kamina intercepted him, tackling him to the ground. They struggled across the dirt, fists, feet and heads pounding into each other again and again, neither able to gain the upper hand. Kittan stomped over and fired his weapon straight into the Meta's face.
Blood splattered out but hung in the air, frozen like ice. With astounding speed it hardened then lunged forward like spears, spiked tendrils lashing through the air to their target.
Kittan gasped. Six blood shards had embedded themselves into his chest, protruding from his back. He coughed blood with a dazed expression, his mind not yet catching up with events. Without any words he dropped, blood pooling around him.
The Meta healed himself then stood back up. "All of your friends have been defeated. Are you ready to come with me yet or must more pain be instigated?"
Kamina was shuddering with silent rage. The voice in his head telling him to step back and let the hollow take over was growing louder. Kamina pushed it aside, not even wanting to rely on the mask anymore. He held out his sword.
"Bankai!"
The sword flashed, consuming Kamina in a blinding light. Power swelled around him, thick like mud in the air. The light grew dim slowly after several seconds.
The Meta's knowing smirk vanished. Before him stood Kamina but his ragged trousers and bare chest were gone, replaced by shining red armour that covered his entire body. Etched into the knight style armour were the patterns of Kamina's tattoos which shone a dazzling blue as though plasma ran through them. The helmet looked like a crimson steel skull, its visor orange triangular shades. Around him flowed a stunning cape that looked like it belonged to an old king of legend. The large black shades remained in his hand, the flames that surrounded it now burning blue.
"What?" snarled the Meta. "This isn't right. We did our research on you. Your bankai is a giant mecha, the one you used on earth!"
Kamina shrugged, the large plate pauldron baring the Dai-Gurren insignia rising with his shoulders. "You're right. That was my bankai. It was unrefined though, just a mass of raw power taking the shape of what weapon I wanted the most. Soul resonance or something. I've been training to control it, compressing the same amount of power into a less wasteful form. You've volunteered to be its first test dummy."
"It doesn't matter. Your power is still nothing compared to that of the Meta-Spirals!" the man roared, slamming his pickaxe at Kamina's chest. The drill tip hit but glanced off harmlessly.
Kamina returned the favour, his shades cutting at the Meta's defences with lightning like speed. The Meta fought back furiously, visibly strained by the effort for the first time. Kamina's face was unreadable behind the helmet.
Again and again Kamina tore through the Meta's flesh only to watch it instantly heal. The man might have been out powered now but Kamina could do nothing to keep him down. The Meta screamed, his muscles bulging and his pickaxe growing larger. He hit back at Kamina harder than ever, finally forcing the shinigami back a few steps.
"You're mine!" he snarled as a second pickaxe appeared in his spare hand.
"Hell's raging rainstorm of unquenchable destruction!" roared Kamina. He held his hands straight out before him, legs apart, his defence laid wide open. His armour opened up, hundreds of small gaps revealing themselves to the world. Each began to glow.
"Oh shi-"
They all fired, a maelstrom of lasers leaving Kamina's body and ripping into the Meta. Like a torrent of rain the attacks continued, boiling the air between the two combatants. As suddenly as it had started, the gaps closed once again.
The Meta stood swaying. His body was a mess of holes. Unable to support itself, he crumpled to the floor.
Belfay. You are not giving up yet. He is just as strong as we hoped. Use our powers and capture him quickly.
"Yes." croaked the Meta groggily. Gates within his mind were opened and fresh power flooded his veins, doubling his strength. Even as he forced himself back onto his feet, the holes closed themselves up, rebuilding half of his body like it was nothing.
"No way!" grunted Kamina, not really believing his eyes. "Stay dead when I kill you damn it!"
"The game is over now." stated the Meta, his voice echoing as though more than one voice was speaking.
The Meta threw one of the pickaxes, it growing in side until it was half a mile long, destroying vast swathes of forest as it passed. Unable to dodge, Kamina tried to grab the giant weapon. It hit him, driving him back to the very edge of the cliff. Kamina dug in his feet and was about to halt its progress when it exploded, all of its spiral energy releasing itself with the force of a nuclear bomb.
Kamina lay smouldering at the centre of a vast crater, his armour cracked but still intact. He forced himself to his knees but the Meta drove his second pickaxe into his back. This time the drill point did pierce through, drawing a gush of blood.
Kamina swung has shades but the Meta shattered them with a deft counter strike from a newly reformed secondary pickaxe. An armoured fist struck out but again the Meta caught it, snapping Kamina's arm easily. A few follow up kicks ensured Kamina was flat on the ground again.
"Do you submit?" repeated the Meta smugly.
"Who the hell…do you think I-"
The Meta grabbed Kamina by the throat and lifted him into the air as though he was weightless. He delivered a few punches to Kamina's gut to further his point.
There was a bang and Belfay dropped Kamina suddenly. The Meta staggered, his spine exposed through a mess of blood. Kittan stood behind him, shotgun still smoking. He was pale but managed to limp over to Kamina and together they moved to the edge of the cliff. Belfay was already regenerated.
"Shit!" growled Kamina through laboured breaths. "I'm going to have to go hollow to beat this guy."
"Real men don't rely on bad guys." wheezed Kittan, his eyes locked with Kamina's. "Don't betray yourself to that demon over this bastard. Get outta here. Learn to fight another day."
"What! No way! The mighty Kamina never runs from a fi-"
"Forget that! He's coming! Go!"
The Meta realised what Kittan planned. He started to run. "Don't you dare!"
Kittan stepped up to Kamina. "Kick this guy's ass to protect everyone. Heroes get remembered, legends never die."
"Wait!" Kamina shouted but too late. Even his super fast reaction times couldn't stop Kittan from raising his foot and smashing it into Kamina's chest Sparta style. Unable to resist the force, Kamina was launched backwards of the cliff. He hit a rock then disappeared under the water.
Belfay stopped and closed his eyes. "No life detected. You have disrupted our plans. Now you will pay the ultimate price for you're insolence."
Kittan pumped his shotgun and strode forward. "Bring it on, bitch."
000
There was lots of pain and a spinning motion that completely disoriented the mind. Dimly it registered that most of the body's bones were broken and many organs were ruptured. There was no air at all.
Then there was a glorious intake of breath that hurt as much as it relieved. The constant motion stopped then light broke through the dark haze.
Kamina looked around him blearily. He had been kicked into the river then had been carried by the fast currents, hitting rock after rock until he had finally drifted to one side and beached on a shore. Now it was all he could do to keep breathing.
There was movement in his peripheral vision. He tried to turn his head but couldn't manage it. An orange blur entered into his line of sight, then a sharp pain ripped through his chest, returning him to darkness.
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A/N: Sorry about yet another delay, writing is not easy when you're feeling down and take a few days off due to illness. Anyway, cool fight scene for you all and a retake of Kamina's bankai after the clumsiness of him having a giant mecha fighting normal sized dudes. Hope it met with your approval. Still needs work I feel, after all, I suck at description and detail.
I have another kick ass fight scene ready for the next chapter and a special character appearance set to enter in the chapter after that so lots to look forward to.
If any of you have any omake suggestions or want to ask any questions then feel free to contact me via review or PM. I will always answer unless you're anonymous. Please review and I hope you all enjoyed. Next chapter is ready so update time next week will be the usual scheduled day.
-FWF