::Warning:: This chapter contains the description of graphic violence, if you are on the squeamish side, or don't enjoy these aspects of war being described, please proceed with caution::
Orihime Kurosaki heaved a breath as she held her arms out, willing her power to surround the boulders she stood upon. Above her, Amaya floated upon the air, her hair fanning out, silver in color. When her, Ichigo and Uryu had finally managed to get in touch with Akon, he had allowed for them to travel through the Senkaimon. It had been a sigh of relief when they'd made it, but also bittersweet.
The battlefield was bloody, many lower ranked officers lay dying in the soggy grass, their bodies so still that Orihime knew it was too late to try and save them, within the next ten minutes, they would all become Reishi. The thought made her throat ache with sorrow, but she willed her tears back, remembering that this was a battle, and she couldn't afford to let her compassion deter her from her goal. Ichigo had told her to protect Amaya; from what they could see, her power seemed to be what was giving the Gotei 13 it's edge.
Orihime allowed her hands to fall to her sides, knowing that she would be able to keep her amber barrier up with just her mental will. Turning, she took a peak out in the opposite direction. Her large blue eyes widened, taking in the massive wall of thick scaly bodies that tried to rush Aizen and Captain Zaraki. It took Orihime a few minutes to realize what they were after, tucked between the boulders lay Amaya and Linake's bodies.
Frantic with worry, Orihime tried to figure out a way to lift the unconscious shells of each woman up onto the boulder with her, but she knew Zaraki and Aizen didn't have the time to lose focus, all it would take was one wrong move and the enemy would be able to grab one of the women. Lifting her head, she peered out across the melee, trying to spot any friendly face that Amaya might be able to call upon. Orihime knew the woman had the ability to speak with her mind.
As the thought sat heavy on Orihime, she looked up, taking in the profile of the woman in question. Orihime wasn't connected to Amaya though, most likely because she hadn't been present during the beginning of the battle. Awed by the power she was looking up at, Orihime was taken off guard when the rough almost crazed voice of the squad 11 Captain yelled.
"Drink! Nozarashi!"
Orihime sucked in a breath as she crouched down low, the blast of raw energy filling the air was enough to almost send her flying off the top of the stones she perched on. Keeping her gaze forward, she watched as Kenpachi's blade morphed into the shape of his Shikai. Kenpachi lashed out, swinging the now large cleaver like blade out with one arm, he managed to cut five of the alien's in half at once.
Orihime squeezed her eyes shut, averting her face from the carnage, her chest aching at the sight. She knew it was what had to happen, but it still didn't change that fact she had an aversion to such violence. Shaking her head, Orihime forced her eyes open, she had to stay vigilant.
"Captain Zaraki!" Orihime cried out, flopping her body forward onto her stomach, Orihime tried to reach down and grab Linake's ankle, but she was too far up, her arms wouldn't reach!
"Kenpachi!" Orihime screamed as loud as she could while meeting a pair of acid yellow eyes, the beast was crouched down low, a bit smaller in stature than the others and it was pulling Linake's unconscious form out from between the boulders by her arm.
Orihime shook her head, pushing her body up and swinging her legs over the edge of the boulder, her mind was still focused enough to keep her shield up around Amaya, but she couldn't let this thing take Linake. If they destroyed her body, she would…die.
"No! No! Leave her alone!" Orihime screamed at the creature, her wide eyes brimming with tears. In one desperate attempt to help, Orihime threw herself off the top of the boulder, landing with a hard thud on her knees, she let out a gasp, but forced herself forward. It was so loud down here, so much noise, no wonder Kenpachi didn't hear her call out to him, it was chaotic, the screams and cries of so many soldiers, the swish of Zaraki's massive blade, the heavy sonic boom of Aizen's spiritual pressure being released.
Orihime reached out shaking hands, her cheeks dripping tears as she caught hold of Linake, pulling with all her might, she managed maybe a couple inches before the reptile smiled at her, it's teeth long sharp and yellowed, saliva sticking to it's protruding gums. Orihime stared in horror, her gut wrenching scream echoing out of the small space as the primordial lifted it's hand and plunged it's claw life fingers into Linake's chest.
Linake paused, her breath catching in her lungs. Turning her head she met Ikkaku's horrified gaze.
"Linake!" Ikkaku fell to his knees, shaking his head in denial to what he was seeing.
Linake coughed, sending a splatter of crimson across her Lieutenant's face before falling face down to the ground.
"Oh, No! No! No! No!" Ikkaku repeated, crawling on his knees closer to where Linake lay. Pushing his large hands to the center of her back, right above the fading green light, he looked up, his panicked eyes searching their surroundings.
Yumichika sat next to him both of his hands covering his mouth, bis body so still, that he appeared to have gone into shock. Without much thought, Ikkaku rushed to his feet, bending down, he scooped Linake up into his arms and ran for cover. In the distance, Ikkaku could hear the pained bellow of his captain.
"They got to your body, didn't they?" Ikkaku huffed, turning and heading away from the melee, getting as far from the enemy as he could. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw Yumichika running behind him a few feet. That was a good thing, at least.
"W-we have to get her somewhere safe, until Captain Kotetsu can save her!" Yumichika yelled.
Ikkaku shook his head slowly, a single tear falling down his right cheek as he looked down at the woman who had become his sister in every way.
"This wound is on her human body, Yumichika…" Ikkaku grated.
Yumichika paused, shaking his head at his comrade.
"I refuse to accept that!" Yumichika snapped back, pulling Ikkaku by his sleeve, he lead his best friend deeper into the woods, knowing that someway, somehow, Linake would not die!
Orihime pressed her hands into the wound upon Linake's chest, she could feel the blood seeping between her fingers, her tears clouding her vision she let out a choked cry. As she looked up to the fight in front of her, her body froze, cold fear gripping her as if her blood had turned to ice.
Kenpachi stared down at Linake, his eyes wide, shaking his head, his face contorted, showing his pain. Orihime sucked in a breath as the giant man flung his head back and let out a cry unlike anything she had ever heard. It was a howl of pain, of sorrow and it broke Orihime down to her very core.
In a rush of movement, the squad 11 Captain turned, swinging his blade at the creature who had pierced Linake's chest, Orihime closed her eyes, but she could hear the bounce and roll of the creatures severed head. Another guttural cry pierced her ears, forcing her to look back up, all Orihime could see was the color red.
"Now would be the time for you to get back up on the boulder." Aizen's calm voice spoke.
Orihime turned her gaze to her once kidnapper and tried to speak, but her words wouldn't come. Aizen bent down, grasping her by the arms, he pulled her to her feet, then lifted her back up onto the protected rock. Orihime's gaze went forward, watching the red body of the Squad 11 Captain tearing the enemy apart like a savage.
His vacant eyes glowing with the turn of his head, Kenpachi pulled arms out of sockets, sliced bodies in half with his blade, crushed skulls with his grip, headbutted with his horns. Any creature that got within arms reach was torn to pieces, pieces that lay at the crazed man's feet. Orihime pushed her bloodstained hands to her chest, letting her tears fall freely. If only she had gotten to Linake sooner!
"Orihime." Aizen's soft voice pulled her attention back to him and she noticed he was hoisting Linake and Amaya's bodies up onto the boulder.
"Can you heal her and keep your shield up at the same time?" Aizen asked.
Without answering, Orihime went forward and surrounded Linake's body with her own healing energy. She didn't know if her healing power would be able to reverse the damage of a soulless shell, but she was determined to give it her best effort.
Ikkaku fell to his knees, heaving a breath, him and Yumichika had come to a thick wooded area a couple miles from the battle. Setting Linake down on the ground, he studied her wound. Now that her Bankai had subsided she looked like the woman he'd known for so many years and he couldn't keep the guttural sob from escaping his chest. This was Takeo and Akio's mother, the wife of his Captain, and they had all failed her.
"The captain is still fighting, I can feel him from here." Yumichika sighed.
"Do you think he knows?" Ikkaku asked.
"From what I am sensing, I think the Captain is using his Bankai…" Yumichika replied, keeping his gaze down on Linake.
"Ikkaku, watch out!" Yumichika warned.
Ikkaku slid back on the dense forest floor, his eyes going wide as the tree limbs and vines started snaking around Linake's arms and legs.
"What the hell!?" Ikkaku grated, reaching out to try and pull them from her body but Yumichika grabbed his forearm, stopping him.
"Let go! I can't let these things make her worse!" Ikkaku barked.
"Look!" Yumichika demanded, pointing up above Linake's head.
Ikkaku tossed his head back and pushed himself farther backward on the forest floor. Blinking his eyes Ikkaku wasn't sure what he was seeing. The being before them looked like Linake had when in full Bankai, but, different. It's body was made up of tree, it's eyes silver orbs, the bright green light in the middle of it's chest thrumming, it's hair electric blue flames, it didn't look male, it didn't look female, it just…was.
Ikkaku looked down, seeing Linake's body being covered by branches, as they covered her, they slithered up, creating a thick shelter above her, within seconds the branches and vines created a braided tree like cocoon. Ikkaku leaned forward, trying to rest his hand upon the shelter, but the being above Linake only hissed out it's warning.
"No one enters!" The ethereal voice commanded.
"What the hell!?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi barked, his golden gaze landing on the red body of Kenpachi Zaraki.
"Why would he go into full Bankai? This doesn't make much sense, not for a man who craves battle." Mayuri continued, as Ichigo Kurosaki helped the Head Captain to his feet.
"I have no idea. Usually Kenpachi just wants the fight to last as long as possible. I sent Orihime over there to guard Amaya." Ichigo replied.
Shunsui got to his feet, a soft smile on his lips as he met Ichigo's gaze.
"Good timing, thought I was a goner there for a minute." Shunsui stated, turning his attention back to the melee around them. Zaraki was in his Bankai and from the looks of him, he wasn't trying to savor the battle, he looked, crazed, as if his only intention was to slaughter.
"Something's up here, I don't like the way he looks…" Shunsui stated, his brow furrowing as he searched the field for Linake.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, have you seen Linake?" Shunsui asked, his shoulders going heavy with tension.
"Now that you mention it, I have not." Mayuri answered, his lips thinning into a frown.
"Well that's not good…" Ichigo frowned trying to find the woman that had become a friend to him over the years, if anything had happened to Linake, that would explain Kenpachi going berserk.
"I didn't give us much time with that attack, they'll be back over here trying to get to Amaya soon." Ichigo warned the two captain's.
"Yes, well. That is a normal occurrence when one is engaged in battle." Mayuri countered, turning his attention back to the direction of the leader.
Zaraki was pulling them apart and it seemed to slow down the regeneration process, also, it appeared that if the head could be severed from the body, they couldn't keep the cellular bond in place. Well, that made things simpler.
"Cut off their heads. It seems that if they do not have tissue connected to the brain they do not have the ability to regenerate." Mayuri blurted.
"Does that mean that will kill them?" Ichigo asked.
"No. It simply means they can not put themselves back together. The brain and heart might share the same cavity within this species of being, it would be the only explanation I can come up with, yet, these are extraterrestrial being's we are talking about, they may have a completely different genetic structure and not require a heart at all." Mayuri stated.
"Doesn't look like they have much of a heart…" Shunsui sighed.
"You three just gonna stand there and have a meeting in the middle of a fight?" Grimmjow growled, walking up to the three men.
Mayuri raised his brow, taking in the Espada's appearance. He was still alive, walking and looked to have minimal damage to his thick bone like skin. Still in his released state, he looked about as appealing to Mayuri as the creatures they were fighting, but that was neither here nor there.
"What's it look like on your end, Grimmjow?" Shunsui called out to him.
"Tch, about the same as here. We can hold 'em back but we can't kill 'em. Nothing seems to slow them down, well, nothing but him." Grimmjow sighed, pointing behind him at Zaraki off in the distance.
"Have you seen Linake?" Shunsui asked.
"Can't say that I have. Last time I saw her, she didn't look like herself." Grimmjow answered.
"Not herself, you say? What exactly are you implying?" Mayuri pressed, his brow furrowing.
"She looked like some kind of Goddess or somethin', her body wasn't the same, and she was wearing a tree for a dress." Grimmjow sighed, rubbing his clawed hand on the back of his bony neck.
"I'll be damned, you don't think…" Shunsui whispered.
Mayuri grinned, meeting the head captain's eye.
"It would appear that both Amaya and Linake have mastered the use of their Bankai."
"I can not allow it." Byakuya Kuchiki stated, his lips thinning into a line.
Yoruichi crossed her bare arms, having changed into a black jumpsuit in perpetration to join the battle. She had managed to find three dart guns, two in the style of a rifle, and one like a hand gun. Akon and Ayumi had spent the last hour speedily synthesizing Karina's venom and inserting the liquid very carefully into emptied out tranquilizer darts, thanks to the efforts of everyone left behind, even Nemuri and Ichika, they had as much of a supply as they could get.
Karina stood next to Yoruichi, her brown furrowed and her mouth pursed, her brown eyes shooting daggers at the squad 6 captain behind her glasses. The never of him to try and prevent them from helping! She had the answer! She could kill these bloody things and Mr. Big and important noblemen wanted to get in the bloody way!? Bollocks! Complete Bollocks!
"Allow?" Yoruichi countered, her lips lifting into a smile.
"Last time I checked I didn't need your permission to do anything. I can enter this war any time I want." She continued.
"Yes. You may, she may not." Byakuya replied.
Karina let out a frustrated growl.
"I am getting bloody sick and tired of everyone here thinking they know what is best for me. If it's not Mayuri telling me I'm of no use, when, Hello! I am the bloody answer; it's you telling me I can't go as if I'm a child." Karina blurted.
"You are human. You will only be led to your death." Byakuya countered.
Karina scoffed.
"Well maybe that's my bloody lot in life then. Seems like ever since I met you lot, I've had nothing but brushes with death. Grimmjow is out there and I care about him, I-I love him. I know you soul reapers don't give two shits if he dies, but I do. I want to help Linake and Amaya, two other human's mind you." Karina countered.
"Byakuya, standing here fighting about this isn't going to do any of our comrades any favors. I need her to go with me. You know that she needs to go." Yoruichi pressed.
"I will go." Byakuya stated.
"No. I need you here with Akon in case anymore get through the Senkaimon again. You gave your word that you would protect those children." Yoruichi retorted.
Byakuya turned his head to the side, looking back towards the manor house full of children and weaker soul reapers, members of the 4th division, the 12th division. While in his mind he knew Yoruichi was correct, he didn't have to voice it aloud. Instead, he simply turned, giving the two women his back and walked away.
"About bloody time!" Karina snapped, squaring her shoulders and bracing her booted feet apart.
Yoruichi had let her borrow one of the black body suites that belonged to the punishment force and she'd found a couple belts designed to hold bullets and even though it was mad, Karina couldn't help but feel a bit like some hero from an action film.
Each belt held fifty rounds of ammunition, but in this case, each clot was filled with a dart that held her venom. It had been decided that Yoruichi, Karina and Nelliel would all head to the battle in order to give their assistance. Even Nelliel had a leather strap wrapped across her front holding as many darts as it would carry.
Karina had the handgun tucked in a holster at her hip and in her hands she carried one of the rifles, it held six rounds and all she would have to do is pump the barrel, kind of like a shot gun, but once she fired six, she would have to take cover and reload. The third gun had been left behind at the lab, Nelliel and Yoruichi stating they were strong enough to throw the darts at a target and have it be successful. Karina hadn't doubted the statement in the slightest.
Yoruichi walked forward and the large doors the the Senkaimon came to life, revealing the large black tunnel that Karina remembered. Akon had told her that he'd already had the area set for human travel, due to Linake and Amaya using it so frequently. That was a blessing then, she wouldn't have to worry about her body coming out all wonky on the other side.
"Ready?" Yoruichi asked the two women.
Both nodded, walking forward to follow her into the void. Karina swallowed thickly, trying to keep her own nerves at bay. She had already fought one of these ugly buggers, she could do it again, and this time, she wouldn't have to get close, she could kill them from an advantage point, give Mayuri a sample of her venom and all would be well again…she hoped.
As the three women rushed forward, each of them picking up speed as they ran down the dark walls, the energy seemed to shift, and something tickled at the back on Karina's neck. She had been the last one through but she could swear she heard footsteps behind her. On a whim, Karina turned her head back, expecting to see the pinprick of light, but instead all she got was a pair of stunning green eyes.
"Ayumi? What the bloody hell…" Karina started.
"My husband is out there, the father of my children, do you really expect me to sit here and do nothing after being told what he's up against? Besides, I came up with a backup strategy, in case the numbers are higher than we thought." Ayumi countered, now jogging at Karina's side.
Karina sighed, nodding her head, she couldn't blame Ayumi for wanting to help, hell, she wasn't qualified to go running into battle, but here she way, who the hell was she to judge? For all she knew Ayumi was a badass. Wasn't likely, but, who knew? Karina looked over at the woman and smiled.
"Do you even know how to use that thing?" Karina asked, pointing to the extra rifle she had left at the squad 12 barracks.
"Load, point, shoot. Really, how hard can it be?" Ayumi countered.
"Pretty much…" Karina laughed.
The dark tunnel seemed to go on forever, but after a couple more minutes, inky grey could be seen overhead. As the four women exited the Senkaimon, they paused. Yoruichi's amber eyes searched the blood stained ground littered with bodies, looking for faces that she knew, faces of her students, faces of her friends. Was Linake hurt? Was Amaya?
"Stick together. This just got serious, ladies." Yoruichi demanded, slowly padding forward on silent feet.
Nelliel hung back, sandwiching both Karina and Ayumi between both Yoruichi and herself, knowing that if they were swarmed, they would have better reflexes. Dart in hand, Yoruichi kept walking through the carnage. Up ahead the swarm of sounds could be heard, the high pitched cries, the guttural grunts, the sound of what could only be described as a war cry.
"This is worse than I thought; Maybe I shouldn't have brought you two with me." Yoruichi looked back over her shoulder at the human and the scientist.
"Too late now. Bloody hell, we've come this far, the least we can do it give them some kind of backup." Karina countered, her finger hovering over the trigger to her gun, eyes peeled, looking for any sign of movement. Without thinking about it, Karina allowed her tongue to slip passed her lips, the action making her pause for a moment, but then she realized it intensified her understanding of their surroundings.
"Do you sense something?" Ayumi whispered, looking down at Karina's mouth.
"Up ahead, we've got company." Karina answered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Yoruichi tensed her body, going up on the balls of her feet, her lithe form graceful as the group entered into the melee from a side that seemed to be less active. Walking together, keeping close the four women cut across the blood soaked field, each of them keeping their eye's open for white captain's haori or a familiar face, some kind of reassurance that this had not just been a slaughter.
Karina slipped her tongue from her lips, turning her head, she met Ayumi's wide green gaze.
"What is it?" Ayumi whispered.
'Why do you keep asking me?" Karina countered.
"Because you're in your fullbring form and you can sense a threat!" Ayumi retorted between clenched teeth.
"Wait, I've changed?" Karina blinked, lifting her left hand to her forehead, where she could feel the raised scales there.
"Keep your focus! Now is not the time!" Yoruichi chided from the front of the line.
"Incoming!" Karina called out, turning her body to the left just as four very large, very ugly alien's came tearing around a bend of trees. Yoruichi tossed up one of the darts into the air and with a spin and kick of her flawless form, she sent it hurling into the forehead of the closest one.
"Shoot now, Karina!" Yoruichi called out.
Before Yoruichi had finished calling her name, Karina had hit two of the remaining three square in the chest, while Ayumi managed to shoot the last square in the eye. Karina looked up at the scientist and nodded her approval.
"If you can aim for a more fleshy part of the body, the venom will enter the bloodstream at a faster rate." Ayumi stated, her voice high enough to be heard over the pitiful groans of the fallen enemy and it was in that moment Karina understood why Ayumi was Mayuri Kurotsuchi's wife.
Author's note: I'm back again! I hope that the beginning of this chapter wasn't too bad for some of you, I decided to give the warning because I know some of this stuff can be a trigger for some people. Needless to say, this is war, and war is never pretty. I hope that those of you who are following are still enjoying the story, not too much farther to go now. Thanks for the support! -L.J.