Scott and Wayne sped at each other, swords ready. As Scott ran he trailed Zangetsu behind him causing sparks to fly from the giant Zanpakuto.
They met in a loud clash of steel, and the force of Wayne's blow once more pushed Scott back. He had no time to contemplate it as the Reaper leapt high into the air, but when Wayne landed Scott wasn't there.
If Scott thought that Wayne had been fast before, it was nothing like the speed the Reaper attacked him with now. A combination of sword strikes and kicks had Scott once more on the defensive, falling back under the rain of blows until the two were eventually pushed apart by spinning blow that had Scott rolling across the floor.
Wayne didn't give him time to get himself together, running through the air and charging Scott just as he found his feet again. The battle was fierce!
And then Zangetsu was stuck from Scott's hand.
In a move he didn't even know he knew, Scott spun on the spot and reached out and plucked his sword from the air, whirling in time to parry the killing blow Wayne had lined up. The blow was hard enough to force Scott to his knees, holding Zangetsu with both hands to protect himself.
This time it was Wayne who smirked as he spoke.
'Are you kidding me?'
With a flick of his wrist Zabimaru hit Zangetsu twice in quick succession, thrusting Scott first up then backwards several feet. Scott needed to use his sword to stop, flipping up and over onto his feet. Wayne didn't give Scott the chance to recover, racing after the man and by the time Scott had stopped the Reaper was actually running up his sword to stand on his shoulders, about to deliver a killing blow.
Scott was almost as fast, slicing upwards so fast that Wayne had to corkscrew away to get clear. He landed on his feet against a car and immediately charged again before Scott could catch his breath, swinging around him.
But Scott was ready, and as he jumped up and over Zabimaru he kicked out, catching Wayne on the upper shoulders and catapulting him forward and onto one knee.
They were both breathing hard by now, and they paused for a second. Wayne couldn't believe Scott had caught him so hard and he screwed up his face in hatred, looking behind him just in time to see Scott bringing Zangetsu down hard.
Twisted smartly out of Scott's way, the Reaper kicked the blade out and as Scott continued to move due to momentum he brought his knee up. Scott couldn't stop his chin from slamming into Wayne's knee, flying backwards on impact.
Wayne followed Scott so closely that when the human landed he was there to stand over him, his foot on Scott's cheek, effectively pinning him in place. He licked his lips as it was his turn once more to use Zabimaru to kill Scott, but Scott surprised him with a parry from the floor and the two flew apart, Wayne rolling away on the floor as Scott rolled in the air above him. Scott struck down hard and once more the two blades clanged together.
Not out yet, Wayne once more spun upright, kicking Scott away from himself and along the ground between two buses.
Scott lay there for a moment, winded. He tried to move his right arm but couldn't, and he could see from the shape that it was probably broken. He struggled to his feet, panting heavily as Wayne stood there smirking at him.
'Is that all you got, human?'
Wayne might have been outwardly smirking, but the fight with Scott had shaken him a little. He'd thought that it would be a simple battle and then Kayo could come home, but as Scott fought for her too Wayne began to realise that there was more to Scott than was first evident. Once this was over he would talk to Captain Kyrano about how any of this was possible.
But first he had to finish this. He spoke as he took up a fighting stance.
'My turn.'
Holding Zabimaru out to the side, Wayne released his Zanpakuto fully. As Scott watched Zabimaru grew until it was over three feet long, with each segment starting and ending with a sharp tooth-like protrusion.
'Behold, the Zabimaru – and hear it roar!'
And with that Wayne thrust it at Scott, who barely had time to move. Wayne whipped his sword from side to side, Scott ducking repeatedly until he was forced to jump up, using that momentum to leap onto the top of one of the buses. He barely had time to turn and raise Zangetsu to ward of the continuous attack as Wayne leapt onto the other bus and knocked Scott onto his back again.
The next few moments were just Scott ducking or leaping over the flying Zabimaru as Wayne flung it again and again and again. This was more like it! He finally began to feel more confident that he could win this!
And with a mighty flick Wayne caught Scott with his Zanpakuto pinned to his side, Zabimaru wrapping around them tightly. Yes! He had caught them! He threw them over his shoulder and across the square, backwards and forwards a couple of times before releasing them and watching Scott tumbling until a car stopped him.
'Goodbye now.'
Zabimaru picked up a car from behind Wayne and flung it full force at Scott. It landed on top of the group of cars where he had landed and the cars exploded. Flame reached higher than the buildings and Wayne congratulated himself on a job well done. He pointedly didn't look at Kayo's stricken face, but as she started forward he jumped down to stop her, holding a normal-sized Zabimaru in front of her.
'Looks like I've gone and killed your sweetheart. No hard feelings, Kayo.'
There were any number of retorts on the tip of Kayo's tongue, but the sound of movement behind Wayne stopped her saying any of them. Her eyes widened as Scott jumped over the cars and landed heavily on his knee and free hand.
Wayne didn't want to look, but he didn't have a choice. He turned and watched as Scott straightened up, the unsufferable human was smirking at him! Why and how was he not dead yet?
Scott straightened up and fixed Wayne with a hot stare as he slowly walked forwards a couple of steps before placing Zangetsu on his shoulder in an easy stance.
'You wanna know what I'm starting to think? That I'm not going to lose to your sorry ass.'
Scott charged.
Wayne lashed out with Zabimaru but Scott was prepared, spinning around and knocking the enlongated blade aside until he was nearer. With a shout he swung Zangetsu down onto Wayne's blade as he lifted it to protect himself, and the resultant force flung Wayne back into the side of one of the buses.
The Reaper climbed shakily to his feet, anger and fear coursing through him as Scott stood there panting. Wayne spat out a mouthful of dust and pulled Zabimaru close for another attempt.
Only Zabimaru was no more. The blade had been severed near the pommel. He stared at the remains of his sword in disbelief. He wasn't the only one.
Then Kyrano spoke. Things had gone far enough.
'Wayne – step aside.'
It was time for him to finish this.
