Moonlight glinted off the edges of pink blades as they danced across the star filled sky. Byakuya Kuchiki stood with his sword raised, willing his shikai to create a barrier that surrounded the 79th district.
Off in the distance, Byakuya watched as the captain of squad 11, Kenpachi Zaraki, was overrun by their enemy. Archaic creatures with skull like faces surrounded the giant man, attempting to rip away at his flesh.
The battle loving brute did nothing more than laugh at their feeble attempts. Kenpachi lifted his right leg kicking a hollow who stood well over ten feet tall in the chest. The impact from the captain's blow rendered the hollow defenseless, caving in its chest. Kenpachi moved forward, swinging his sword and savagely cut down six more with perfect precision.
Byakuya kept his steel gaze focused on the fray that stood before him, keeping a vigilant eye out for any hollow who would dare to test his boundary.
Renji Abarai circled around closing in on the fray from behind, just as his captain had instructed him, tipping his head back, the Lieutenant of squad 6 looked up, noticing more hollows springing forth from the Garganta, like a plague.
"Damn! If only there was some way to close it!" Renji growled.
Reaching for his Zanpaukto, He pulled it free from his sheath, calling upon his Shikai before he charged forward into the chaos.
"Roar! Zabimaru!"
As his Shikai awakened Renji thrust his arm forward, using the extended blade to cut down their invading enemy. The squad 6 lieutenant could barely make out the white captains haori of the 11th division captain, but the man's amusement was evident by his laughter. While Renji knew the hollows stood no chance against the powerful warrior, he noticed that not all of them were targeting Zaraki, but instead, trying to bypass him.
"At this rate, we're going to need more help!" Renji grated.
A giant hollow standing around eight feet tall lunged for Renji, catching him off guard. The beasts long scaly green fingers coming within inches of his throat.
"Fuck!" Renji spat as he jumped backwards.
Renji braced himself by flash stepping, but the hollow seemed to expect the reaction and only followed the soul reaper. Just as the hollow was about to hit its mark, and plunge it's long yellow nails into his chest a cold rush of energy burst forward trapping the beast within a barrier of ice. Renji used the advantage, lifting his sword in hand, he struck the hollow down with a hard blow and watched as the beast shattered into pieces.
Renji paused, turning his head in all directions seeking out the one who had aided him. He sighed heavily when he spotted Rukia standing only thirty feet to his right, coming in from the east.
"Goddamn it, Rukia, we told you to say back at the barracks!" Renji growled his frustration before pushing himself forward, forcing himself to focus on the fight in front of him.
Now that Rukia had joined the battle the hollows wouldn't be able to get passed the east side, Renji himself blocked the south while his captain took control of the north. Captain Zaraki stood in the middle, right under the garganta taking the horde head on, which left an opening to the west.
Renji charged forward, using the strength in his back and arm he hurled the extended blade of his zanpakuto forward catching a group of hollows off guard, he sliced through their bodies like butter before they had the chance to rush Kenpachi. Renji knew the captain wouldn't want his help, but now wasn't the time to worry about it.
"Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!"
Renji jerked his head to the west, hearing the command of the 12th Division Captain's Bankai being released.
"What the hell!?" Renji grated surprised to see the man entering the fray.
Renji craned his neck looking up at the giant golden infant like creature that sprang forth, the bells connected to its silver halo chimed as the eerie infant like cries echoed throughout the area. Renji's stomach dropped as dread filled him.
"Fuck! That bastard's gonna poison all of us!"
"Rukia! Fall back!" Renji bellowed as he turned his body in the direction of his wife just as a cloud of purple vapor hit him, he had no other option but to breath in the poison as he slashed at oncoming hollows, the only thing that mattered to him now was getting his wife to safety.
Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo hovered in the night sky easing its way forward, its eerie wailing cries filling the night as Mayuri commanded his Bankai to fill the gap between the dimensions. If the beasts thought they could pull one over on them, they had been mistaken! Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo blocked the pathway between the worlds spewing out enough poison to terminate any and all hollows within a seven mile radius.
"Ah! How fitting, I shall exterminate every last one of you in this manner, it's almost quite poetic…" Mayuri grinned.
With the gateway now blocked preventing more hollows admittance, Mayuri stepped forward.
The manic laughter of the Squad 11 captain became apparent as Mayuri cut a pathway for himself, intending to use the opportunity to his and Zaraki's advantage. Mayuri had always been the type of man to prepare for any possible outcomes.
"You might wanna move!" Kenpachi barked.
Mayuri stepped to the side calmly just as Kenpachi hurled his blade in Mayuri's direction succeeding in cutting a hollow in half down the middle. The two halves of the large snarling beast's corpse fell in opposite directions as its thick blood spurted, spattering across the dirt.
Mayuri positioned himself behind Zaraki, the two men stood back to back as the carnage ensued around them, both men working to annihilate the remaining threat.
Mayuri caught site of the squad 6 captain not far off in the distance, his array of pink blades danced on the air majestically as they cut through the flesh of any enemy still attempting to reach further inside the soul society.
"Didn't think you'd make it to the party, Kurotsuchi!" Kenpachi grinned as he swung his blade, splitting open the head of an oncoming hollow.
"How could I turn down such a golden opportunity?" Mayuri retorted with a matching grin.
"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" Kenpachi replied.
"If you are in fact thinking to take this fight to the source, then yes." Mayuri answered.
Kenpachi chuckled.
"Just make sure to keep out my line of fire, or you'll end up sliced!" Kenpachi warned.
"Duly noted…I guess it's quite convenient that your spiritual pressure blocks my poison from affecting you, however, it looks as if the squad 6 lieutenant is not so lucky." Mayuri replied as he turned his gaze to the east.
It seemed that the Squad 6 Lieutenant had not been prepared for the 12th division captain to enter the battle.
"My my..." Mayuri commented as he witnessed Renji fall to his knees dragging his wife down with him, attempting to cover the woman's body with his own. Mayuri had known his poison would affect those not strong enough to counter it, but it had been a risk worth taking.
What do you think you are doing Captain Kurotsuchi!?" Byakuya Kuchiki's deep voice demanded as he appeared next to the other two captains.
"Oh my, is that any way to show gratitude for my assistance?" Mayuri countered.
"What is it that you are after? Why have you not called back your Bankai? "Byakuya retorted.
"Ah, well, I am simply taking advantage of an opportunity that has presented itself to me!" Mayuri grinned as he looked up at the sky.
"You see, now I will not have to waste my time creating a Garganta, the hollows have created one for me." Mayuri explained.
"You ready to head out then?" Kenpachi asked Mayuri not even bothering to address the squad 6 captain.
Mayuri turned his gaze to the brute.
"We might as well. I have already taken the liberty of creating a high concentrated injectable dosage of the Reishi Vaccine, to administer to the sick Espada." Mayuri replied.
"Let's get on with it then!" Kenpachi demanded, stepping forward.
"Hey, Kuchiki, Do me a favor will ya? Tell my wife I'll be right back!" Kenpachi demanded.
"Very well. As a courtesy to Linake, I shall deliver your message." Byakuya replied.
"Just one second, I believe you will be needing these..." Mayuri stated, reaching into his captain's haori, pulling out two syringes filled with a thick green substance.
"And why would I be needing those?" Byakuya asked, not even bothering to lift his hand.
"It is the antidote to my poison, while you were safely tucked away from the vapor, I am afraid your sister and her husband were not so lucky." Mayuri explained.
Byakuya's brow furrowed at the mention of Rukia, his dark grey gaze turning, scanning the dirt filled roads littered with the corpses of hollows. There, in the distance, he saw them. Renji and Rukia both slumped down in the dirt, both gasping for what little air they could manage, the tint of their skin already turning violet.
Byakuya turned his gaze back to the squad 12 captain and held out his hand. Mayuri smiled, placing the two capped syringes into the Squad 6 captains palm before turning away.
Kenpachi grinned back at Mayuri as the two of them rushed forward jumping into the air. Mayuri pulled back his Bankai so the two soul reaper captains could enter into the black abyss. The rift between the dimensions closed just as the two men stepped forward once again sealing the Captains of the 11th and 12th divisions inside.
Byakuya turned his attention to the east as he flash stepped forward over to his Lieutenant and little sister. Rukia peered up at him, her wide violet eyes filled with uncertainty as she gasped for breath.
"Brother…" Rukia whispered.
"Do not try and speak, Rukia. I have been given the antidote by captain Kurotsuchi." Byakuya explained before leaning down next to her.
Rukia's eyes closed, and she sighed in relief.
"I thought I had made it clear to you that I did not wish for you to be a part of this battle!" Byakuya continued as he pulled the sleeve to her captain's haori up exposing her small delicate arm.
Rukia knew that if she tried to explain herself she would only end up being reprimanded by her brother further, she knew better then to mistake his comment for a question.
Byakuya pulled the cap free to one of the syringes and took hold of the back of Rukia's bicep pushing the needle into the back of her flesh he pressed down on the plunger administering the antidote.
"Renji…" Rukia whispered again.
Her husband lay unconscious next to her, his Zanpakuto still laying at his side. When the poison had started to surround them Renji had tried to cover her, preventing her from taking the vapor head on, which meant he had inhaled the brunt of it.
Byakuya adjusted his stance turning to face his brother-in-law. He repeated the process by lifting the baggy sleeve of Renji's Shihakusho, then administered the injection into the back of his Lieutenants arm. While the squad 6 captain was not sure of how long it would take for the antidote to take effect, he was sure of the outcome. Byakuya knew that when it came to the safety of the soul society, Mayuri Kurotsuchi would go to just about any lengths necessary to ensure its protection.
Ayumi glanced over at the clock taking note of the time, it was fifteen minutes till midnight. Again, Ayumi felt as if her days had started to meld together. The events of the past couple days were almost surreal to her as she thought back on everything that had happened. Never in her wildest dreams would she had ever suspected this was what her future had in store for her. Ayumi walked back over to the chair she had sat in earlier across from Mikka.
Ayumi stilled as she felt an unconscious shift, and even though she didn't understand it, she now knew that Mayuri had left the soul society. The absence of his spiritual pressure sent a small tremor of anxiety coursing through her—you better stay safe!
The few moments spent with Mayuri confiding in him about her new mysterious ability had felt like a massive weight being lifted from her shoulders. He had sat next to her, taking a hold of her hand as she replayed the few events she had experienced. When she had admitted her fear he had not berated her for it, instead he had simply commented that it was understandable.
The topic of conversation had changed when Ayumi told him about her last vison and explained to him that they seemed to be becoming more vivid as time passed. Mayuri had paused for a few moments, taking in the information like he usually did when thinking.
Ayumi had felt a sense of ease come over her when Mayuri had told her he would help her become more comfortable with her abilities, and he had insisted that she come to him whenever another occurrence arose, that way she wouldn't feel as if she were alone.
Mayuri had stood from the bed abruptly announcing that he intended to aid Captain Zaraki by going to the 79th district. It had confused Ayumi at first. She had thought he would have been more content with staying with her, to see the outcome of the vaccine first hand, but when he turned his intense gaze to her and asked if a Garganta was still open, Ayumi had figured out his motives.
While Ayumi agreed it was a golden opportunity for the situation, using the Garganta that had been opened during the attack to invade Hueco Mundo again, she still couldn't help but feel uneasy. It didn't matter how smart or how strong her captain was, she would worry for Mayuri, her heart didn't know any other way to respond.
Ayumi stood from the chair, feeling a sense of restlessness wash over her as her anxiety increased. Just when she was about to leave the room to walk outside for some fresh air she caught the site of movement in her peripheral vision.
Ayumi's jaw fell as her eyes widened, she sucked in a deep gasp as she realized it was Mikka lifting her hand up in the air as if trying to reach out for someone.
Ayumi rushed to the side of the bed grasping the young woman's hand between her own.
"Mikka? It's me, Ayumi, can you hear me?" She asked.
Ayumi felt a slight pressure against her hand as Mikka squeezed her, apparently using that as a means to communicate.
"Can you open your eyes Mikka?" Ayumi asked as she watched hopefully.
The woman's lids seem to twitch from the effort, but it seemed that she wasn't yet able to manage.
"It's okay if you can't! You had stopped breathing, Mikka, so you have been placed on a ventilator to help." Ayumi found herself explaining, she knew if it were her in this situation she would probably be feeling pretty confused and scared at the moment.
"Ayumi! I have good news! Haru just woke up!" Yoruichi stated as she rushed into the room.
Yoruichi paused as she noticed Mikka's raised arm. Ayumi turned to face Yoruichi and smiled as her eyes filled with unshed tears of happiness.
"So has Mikka!"
"I'll go and get Sosuke, so we can remove the breathing tube!" Yoruichi stated before swiftly spinning on her heel to leave the room.
"Just hold on Mikka, we will get that tube out for you as soon as we can." Ayumi tried to soothe her old roommate.
Mikka replied the only way she could, by squeezing Ayumi's hand, and in that moment Ayumi didn't think she had ever felt happier.
Sosuke Aizen stepped into the room a couple minutes later. His brows drawn as if surprised to see Mikka's quick improvement, in fact almost everyone had shown drastic signs of improvement after only an hour of the vaccine being administered, everyone's fevers seemed to be lowering, slowly, color was returning to their cheeks.
"Has she shown any indication that she is coherent?" Sosuke asked Ayumi.
Ayumi looked up at him as he made his way over to the head of the bed and looked down at Mikka.
"She squeezes my hand when I ask her a question, and she tried to open her eyes." Ayumi answered.
"Alright, then. I will go ahead and pull the tube." Sosuke stated as he leaned forward and tipped Mikka's head back on the bed.
"If you can hear me, Mikka, this will feel uncomfortable for a few minutes. You will feel as if you are choking for a brief time as the tube passes through your larynx." Sosuke explained before reaching out and gently lifting the tube that was currently breathing for her.
Ayumi felt Mikka squeeze her hand again, letting her know that she had heard the warning.
"She heard you…" Ayumi replied for her.
Sosuke nodded.
"Here we go then…" Sosuke stated as he leaned down and took a hold of the girls jaw gently in his palm in order to keep her head stable. With his right hand, Sosuke pulled the tube fairly quickly, and just like he said, Mikka made a choking sound about half way through the process.
Once the tube was free, Mikka coughed uncontrollably for a few minutes and then gasped as she once again took control of her own breathing.
"Ayumi?" Mikka croaked, her voice sounding scratchy as her eyes fluttered open.
Ayumi smiled not able to hold back her emotions as her tears fell.
"I'm right here…what is it Mikka?" She asked.
"H…have you been helping me?" Mikka asked softly.
Ayumi paused as more tears fell.
"I have been, a lot of us have been working very hard to help you, Mikka." Ayumi replied, not able to keep the emotion from her own voice.
Ayumi felt Mikka squeeze her hand again before Mikka choked out another feint whisper…
"Thank you…"
Ayumi squeezed her hand back with both of her own and without any form of hesitation she replied.
"You're welcome!"
Violet swirls of poisonous vapor surrounded the two captains as they stepped inside the dark void, like a vacuum, the entrance behind them was pulled closed, sealing them inside.
"Looks like you got 'em all." Kenpachi frowned as he looked around the dark void that was now filled with the floating corpses of dead hollows, their skin taking on a purple hue.
"Yes, it would also seem that whatever spiritual pressure that was being used to open the Garganta has also been destroyed. I hope you are happy, we are both officially sealed inside Hueco Mundo." Mayuri scowled.
Kenpachi turned his gaze to him, his one uncovered eye peering down at him.
"Tch. Use that brain of yours and open another Garganta later, you've done it before." Kenpachi countered.
Mayuri scoffed.
"I am afraid it is not that simple! It is true that I was once able to open a Garganta years ago in order to help Ichigo enter back into the world of the living, but, I am afraid that some things have changed. It seems that since the invasion of the Quincy that this "Queen" of Heuco Mundo has somehow managed to put up barriers." Mayuri explained.
"Barriers? How the hell did she do that?" Kenpachi countered.
"I haven't the slightest idea, but it would seem that if you are not an Espada or a hollow of a certain energy level then opening a Garganta would prove to be in fact quite difficult."
Mayuri sighed heavily.
"Oh well, I guess I will just have to try and work my way around the barriers if it comes down to it, difficult as it may be, it's not impossible." Mayuri shrugged.
"Either way it doesn't matter, we'll get out one way or another." Kenpachi countered.
Mayuri turned his gaze to the pathway in front of him as the two walked, both of the captains still gripping the hilts of their Zanpakuto. While the crisis had been averted regarding the invasion into the soul society, now they were bringing the fight to the enemy and Mayuri had a feeling that once they hit the white desert sands of Hueco Mundo there would undoubtedly be even more bloodshed.
Their main focus would be to find and gain access to the Espada's stronghold known as Los Noches and lucky for them Mayuri had acquired enough information from Aizen to determine the whereabouts of the structure. Why, it almost seemed as if something unseen had aligned the events perfectly for them.
The two men continued down their own personal pathways created by their spiritual pressure. Mayuri found himself pondering many factors as the two walked side by side down the dark rift between the two dimensions. Would the end of this Garganta be sealed now that the source of energy that had opened it had been killed? If so, how difficult would it be to open from the opposite side?
Mayuri's questions were soon answered as the pair came to a source of light just ahead of them, it seemed that somehow the entrance to Hueco Mundo had not been effected. Mayuri let out a sigh of relief, even he would have had his work cut out for him trying to force the entrance way open between the worlds. It wasn't an easy feat to escape once sealed inside a bridge between.
"Looks like we made it to the finish line." Kenpachi grinned as he stepped forward first, feeling his feet sink down into the white sand Kenpachi continued forward scanning the area around them.
Mayuri stepped forward and turned, curious as to whether or not the Garganta would close once they had exited. When the rift failed to close Mayuri tilted his head, finding the events peculiar. The entrance way coming from the soul society had closed almost instantly, yet, this one seemed to be stuck in an open position even though the force that had opened it was no longer around. Have the hollows come in contact with another form of power?
"You just gonna stand there all day or what!?" Kenpachi snapped.
Mayuri sighed, turning his attention back to the brute.
"I simply find it odd that the Garganta has failed to close now that we have exited, in fact, I half expected it to be closed entirely." Mayuri admitted.
Kenpachi's brow rose.
"Tch. You mean there could have been a chance of us being stuck in there?" Kenapchi asked.
"Oh yes, in fact the chances of us being stuck within the rift would have been a high probability. It would have taken me time, but eventually I would have been able to force it open. Although, I do have to say I am quite pleased I will not have to go to such measures. The simple thought of being stuck in an eternal void with one such as you is far from appealing." Mayuri countered.
Kenpachi chuckled.
"Feelings mutual…" Kenpachi retorted.
"Shall we then?" Mayuri asked.
"How the hell are we supposed to find what we're looking for anyway?" Kenpachi asked as the two of them walked forward.
Mayuri kept his eyes peeled, looking for any of the landmarks that Aizen had given him during their conversation. All Him and Zaraki had to do was head straight and eventually they would run into the structure they sought, it was strategically placed within the middle of the vast dessert.
"I spoke with Sosuke briefly before I joined the fray, all we have to do is head in a straight direction and eventually we will come in contact with the stronghold, that is, if we don't walk around in circles. Pay attention to what we pass, mark any tree along the way, so we will be sure we do not lose our bearings." Mayuri replied.
"Sounds easy enough…" Kenpachi replied.
Mayuri snorted.
"Coming from the man who still takes the "scenic route" when looking for another squads barracks." Mayuri taunted.
"Yeah, yeah…cut the shit, Kurotsuchi!" Kenpachi retorted.
Mayuri smirked as the two of them continued onward in silence, both men keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. There was no telling when another horde would descend upon them as they continued on their journey, just when Mayuri thought the situation wouldn't be that bad, the barbarian opened his mouth…
"You fix things with your woman yet?" Kenpachi asked, his features giving away the man's apparent boredom.
"I swear, I will never understand your sudden obsession with my personal affairs!" Mayuri countered, beginning to feel frustrated all over again.
"Tch. I really don't get what she sees in ya. I mean, a woman like that could take her pick…" Kenpachi taunted.
Mayuri felt the tension in his shoulders rise at the mere thought of Ayumi being with another.
"Yes, well, the same could be said for Linake, why she would want to be with a pigheaded Neanderthal like you is beyond me!" Mayuri snapped.
Kenpachi laughed.
"Fuck if I know, but I got her, and that's all that matters to me." Kenpachi grinned.
Mayuri sighed, seeming to understand that for some reason the brute had taken it upon himself to guide him, even though Mayuri found the prying less than appealing, he guessed there was no harm in humoring Zaraki.
"Everything has been discussed if you must know. " Mayuri replied.
Kenpachi nodded as he smirked, the sides of his lips lifting as he reached with his blade carving a slash into both sides of a tree as they passed by. It seemed that Mayuri's admission that things were once again well between him and Ayumi had stemmed the brute's curiosity enough to drop the topic of conversation, which in turn allowed Mayuri to bring his mind back to the more pressing matters. The situation between him and Ayumi had indeed been addressed and Mayuri couldn't help the welling of emotions that filled him when he thought about the coming future.
Would the woman want him in the same way Linake wanted Zaraki—Do I dare dream of having this kind of life?