"Linake…"
Amaya Aizen forced her breathing to a normal rhythm, as she kept trying to call out to her best friend through her mental link. Through her link Amaya was able to comprehend that Orihime was trying to heal Linake's human body, but Amaya felt the ball of anxiety sitting in her gut all the same. Would Orihime be successful, or would Linake's soul have to be placed back within her human form in order to heal?
The questions swarmed around Amaya's overloaded brain, as the inner thoughts and emotions of every member of the Gotei 13 pulled at her consciousness. The weight was taking it's toll, and Amaya wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to hold her Bankai; the power was too new, not yet practiced for an extended time period.
Going out on a whim; more of a gut feeling, really, Amaya turned her mind outward, searching the vast area for Ikkaku and Yumichika. She knew the two men would not have left Linake's side, it had been a direct order from their Captain to stay with her if for some reason she was separated from Kenpachi. Amaya felt her throat tighten on a sob as she connected with Ikkaku's inner thoughts. Linake was with him, yet, it seemed like Godai; Linake's Zanpakuto spirit had manifested in order to protect her.
"Shit!" Amaya huffed the curse from under her breath, reaching out to get a better feel for the situation. Somehow, some way, they needed to merge Linake back into her human body, so that the healing process would work correctly.
"Ikkaku, we need to get Linake's soul back into her body." Amaya spoke, somehow managing to sound calm as she entered the squad 11 Lieutenant's mind.
"This thing won't let anyone near her, Amaya…" Ikkaku replied out loud, his sigh after he spoke telling her just how defeated the man really felt inside. Amaya didn't like prying into the emotions and thoughts of others, but in certain situations, it helped her understand them.
"You did not fail her, If anyone failed her, It was me." Amaya choked on the knot in her throat, knowing that she was the one to blame, she hadn't been able to see it in time to prevent it, what was the use of being able to read every situation on the battlefield if she couldn't prevent something so simple?
"We all did, Amaya…" Ikkaku countered, the normal conviction in his rough tone sounding melancholy as he spoke, as if he were coming to terms with losing Linake.
"Stop! Don't think that way! She can't die! There has to be a way to get her back into her body. Orihime is here, she is stabilizing her, but Linake won't heal fully without her soul." Amaya pressed.
"So, we just gotta get her body here in one piece?" Ikkaku lifted his head, his brow lifting into a determined furrow, turning to his best friend, he met Yumichika's violet gaze, and without so much as another word, the two men vanished on swift heals, both using their flash step.
Amaya turned her attention forward, facing the enemy once more. As she scanned the area, her felt a bit of relief. Now that the leader of their enemy had targeted her, the other officers and captain's had less to deal with. Reaching out and watching, Amaya pushed back her worry, pushed back the possibility of losing her best friend in order to prevent the loss of anyone else.
Amaya knew it was what Linake would have wanted her to do, to save all that she could, even if it meant pushing her mind and body to it's limit. Even now Amaya could feel herself trembling, feel the cold sweat that dripped from her brow down onto her chest, the dryness of her mouth. It wouldn't be too much longer and Amaya would be of no use, her mind would shut down in order to protect herself; like it had when she'd first manifested her abilities.
Karina ducked down low, pumping the handle of the tranquilizer gun she held in her hand as the other women surrounding her gave her cover. Karina cursed under her breath, standing to her full height once more she aimed and fired, taking Ayumi's advice and aiming for the more fleshy part of the creatures.
Part of Karina's mind told her this was all just a silly dream she had managed to conjure, a simple overactive imagination and not enough sleep, that was all. But then she smelled the metallic pungency of spilled blood, when she licked her lips, Karina could taste death on her tongue, foul, cold and bitter.
Pushing past the clenching of her stomach, Karina followed Yoruichi's lead, as the four of them traveled deeper into the melee, Karina could see just how much Linake had risked by shooting the craft from the sky. The giant twisted lump that was once a spaceship lay in the middle of a crater so large, Karina couldn't even imagine the damage this English town would have suffered if they had not switched the land mass to another location.
"Bloody Hell…" Karina whispered, taking in the scenery, looking out across the vast filed, body parts scattered every which direction, blood soaking the grass, making it look like soggy crimson sludge. With every step Karina could hear it sloshing against her booted feet. She forced the surging of her stomach back down, she wouldn't vomit! She didn't have the time to act like a ninny!
"I think I see the Head Captain up ahead." Yoruichi called out from a couple paces ahead of them, her brow furrowed as her amber eyes took in the situation.
"What about Mayuri? Do you see him anywhere?" Ayumi called out to her, the hope in the woman's voice made Karina want to find a less blood soaked patch of grass and curl up into the fetal position; no, this wasn't a dream, this was a bloody nightmare! Karina lifted up on her tiptoes, trying to spot Grimmjow. Thinking for a second, Karina slipped out her tongue, letting it flick across her teeth and lower lip before pulling it back to taste. There it was! Grimmjow's taste, he wasn't far from her then.
Karina felt her body tense as emotions seemed to flood her, relief that Grimmjow was still alive, the excitement of being able to see him again, the pressure in her chest pulled so tight with such a sweet ache, she braced herself to run, only to be stopped cold by the harsh grip of Ayumi's hand on her upper bicep. Karina jerked backward and turned to face the other woman.
"What the hell are you playing at!?" Karina spat as she turned to meet the vacant expression of Ayumi Kurotsuchi.
"Ayumi?" Yoruichi called out to her, only to get no reply.
Karina's brow furrowed, her agitation swiftly turning into concern at the behaviour of the scientist. With her free hand, Karina caressed Ayumi's cheek.
"Ayumi? Can you hear me?" Karina asked.
"She's having a vision." Yoruichi stated, coming to stand at Ayumi's side, while lifting her head to scan the area for any threats.
Karina dropped her hand from the woman's cheek, only to stare up at Yoruichi. A Vision? Is that how they had known the enemy was coming? Had Ayumi Kurotsuchi been able to see it before it happened?
With a sharp intake of breath, Ayumi's grip loosened on Karina's arm, the woman's vacant eyes seemed to burst with life once more as she blinked.
"Oh, god. Linake's been hurt! Amaya doesn't have much strength left, she is about to collapse, I give her no more than twenty minutes." Ayumi panted.
"What do you mean Linake is hurt?" Yoruichi pressed.
Ayumi shook her head, her intense green eyes pooling with fresh tears as she choked on a sob.
"I have to get to Mayuri! I don't have much time!" Ayumi stated, seeming unable to give anymore details on what she had been able to see.
Karina felt her stomach clench with another wave and once again, forced it back down. Yoruichi nodded her head before she turned away from them and in a flash of speed that still made Karina blink with astonishment, the woman was gone.
"Oh, that's perfect, just leave us here to our own defenses…" Karina huffed, the air from her breath pushing her purple bangs higher on her forehead.
"It is easier to bring Captain Kurotsuchi to us." Nelliel spoke softly, coming to stand closer, but not taking her eyes away from their surrounding area.
Karina realized that they would all need to pay better attention, turning, she pressed her back into the Espada's and without being told, Ayumi turned pressing in close to the other two women, the three of them each watching from all directions.
"Y-You didn't see Linake die, did you?" Karina dared to ask, the curiosity was eating at her insides, she had to know.
Ayumi shuddered against Karina before she answered.
"If Linake's soul is not reunited with her human body; she will not last the hour."
Karina choked on her own breath, the bile she had been holding back spewing forward, forcing Karina to hunch forward in order to allow her stomach to empty. Ayumi's soft warm hand caressed her arm gently, soothingly, as if she were preparing not only herself, but Karina for the loss of such a wonderful woman.
"Oh, god…Kenpachi…" Karina gasped, forcing herself to breathe.
"I know…" Ayumi sniffed, trying to get control over her own emotions, but seeming to fail.
"Is what you see inevitable then?" Karina demanded as she stood upright and wiped at her mouth with her forearm, her own cheeks dripping with tears.
"The visions I am given are warnings, Karina. It is why it is dire for me to find my husband, we must get this under control, it's also why I always come up with more than one plan of action. I am going to do my best to prevent my vision from becoming reality." Ayumi explained.
"Captain Kurotsuchi!"
Mayuri turned swiftly, his brow furrowing in recognition before Lady Yoruichi appeared fully in front of him. Shunsui turned, his grey eyes showing concern as he too stepped forward.
"Yoruichi, what are you doing here?" Shunsui asked, knowing that his order had been for her to stay behind to look after the students at the academy.
"We had a breach, one of them got inside the Serertei." Yoruichi blurted, not seeing any reason to sugar coat it.
Mayuri tensed, his slim body going rigid.
"And why are you addressing me, precisely?" Mayuri demanded.
"Your wife is here, on the other side of the field, Mayuri. We have a plan, well, she has a plan."
"My wife is here!? What the hell is my wife doing in such a place as this? An open battlefield, have you lost your senses completely?" Mayuri barked.
"I couldn't stop her from following me!" Yoruichi countered, her arms coming to cross in front of her chest.
"Besides, you should give her a little more credit than that, she may not be able to fight like us, but her mind is a weapon on it's own, you should be proud-"
"Okay. I think we've gotten off track here." Shunsui interrupted.
"Uh, guys…we don't have anymore time…" Ichigo stated, his body facing the mayhem only feet from them. The enraged acid yellow eyes of the Alien leader locking with his, inside those depths Ichigo could feel that this creature didn't have a heart at all, he had no compassion, nothing to live for other than the prospect of power.
"Go, Captain Kurotsuchi, we'll hold them off for as long as we can. Listen to your wife." Shunsui demanded as he turned away and lifted both blades up, preparing to defend until his last breath.
"You ready for this?" Ichigo smiled over at the Head Captain, his own blade rising in his hand as the first wave of lower ranked primordial soldiers rushed forward.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Shunsui sighed, looking over his shoulder as Mayuri, Yoruichi and surprisingly, Grimmjow all took off in the same direction. Now why would the Espada want to follow Kurotsuchi so closely?
"Ayumi!" Mayuri's commanding voice rang loud in Karina's ears as the blur of white came into focus. Karina turned her body, the urge to stand in front of Ayumi to protect her from her husband's wrath filling her, but deep down, Karina knew the man would never do anything to hurt the woman he married.
"Mayuri!" Ayumi sighed his name, running to him with outstretched hands. As she grasped the white fabric of his Haori, Karina felt her chest tighten. Standing there, watching the squad 12 captain raise his hands and cup his wife's face tenderly was almost surreal. He was normally so crass and seemed so heartless, until Ayumi was by his side, she was his balance, Karina realized.
Karina's body jerked as she felt the sensation of something hard touching her arm. Karina spun on her heal, releasing the gun with her left hand she struck out, not fully understanding the situation until her fist slammed into hard bone. Sucking in a shocked gasp of air, Karina lifted both of her hands, the gun falling to the sludge at her feet.
"Grimmjow!?" Karina gasped his name, walking forward as he growled at her and took a step back.
"I-I'm sorry…I didn't realize it was you…" Karina blurted, her diamond shaped pupils searching the male she loved. He didn't look like himself at all, his whole body was transformed, almost catlike, with sharp black claws tipping both his fingers and toes, his feet were in fact feline, and his body, the body he had used to pleasure her was like carved white granite, bone so dense Karina found herself shaking out the hand she'd struck him with.
"What the fuck are you doing here, Karina?" Grimmjow growled, keeping a couple feet between them, his claw tipped fingers curling into fists as he stared down at her.
Karina swallowed, taking in the long flowing blue hair, his harsh facial features, the sharp teeth now bared at her in an angry snarl.
"I can kill them." Karina whispered, not sure how else to react, Grimmjow looked so different, so much more animal than man in this form. Karina felt her cheeks flush before she dropped her gaze to the blood soaked ground. Bloody hell, he shouldn't be so appealing in this form! What is wrong with me!?
"What?" Grimmjow grunted, stepping closer, giving Karina a better view of his black feet, they reminded her of a panther.
"I don't care if you have synthesized a weapon, woman!" Mayuri's voice broke through the moment, making Karina's brow furrow as she looked over at the couple.
"My venom kills them, I found that out when I was attacked." Karina spoke lowly, but it seemed Grimmjow didn't have any problem hearing her. His fingers released from the death grip on his right hand and he lifted those dangerous claws to her cheek, caressing her as he leaned in closer.
" How the hell were you attacked?" Grimmjow growled.
Karina shrugged her shoulders, keeping her gaze on Ayumi. She was reaching into her lab coat and pulling a syringe from inside. Mayuri glared down at her and all the woman did was smile back at her husband. They fit so well together, it made Karina's heart squeeze with the envy she felt growing like a weed within her.
"Karina…" Grimmjow whispered her name, making her look up at him once more.
"One came through the Senkaimon. Takeo thought it was Kenpachi or Linake coming home and ran to see, I couldn't let anything happen to him, so I put myself between the creature and the kid." Karina admitted, bracing herself for his disapproval.
Grimmjow cursed under his breath, turning his head and tilting it as if confused. Karina turned to look and watched as Ayumi Kurotsuchi injected her husband with whatever was in the syringe. What the hell had she concocted?
"Those two are fucking weird…" Grimmjow sighed, turning his attention back to Karina, his comment making her smile, showing off her small fangs.
Grimmjow's gaze zeroed in on them, his own lips lifting into a small grin.
"Don't poison me." Grimmjow blurted before leaning down and trying to press a kiss to her mouth. Karina stepped back and pointed down at the soiled ground. Grimmjow shook his head.
"Thanks for the warning." He chuckled, running his claws through his hair as he studied the woman who confused him but left him reeling, it seemed that with each separation, Karina became even more distant, something he didn't like. Was she afraid of him in this form? Damn woman is always over thinking everything, didn't I make it clear to her last time that she belongs to me?
"We don't have much time." Ayumi spoke loud enough to gain their attention.
"So what's the game plan?" Yoruichi asked
"We have to get Linake's body back to her soul within the hour. Now that I have given Mayuri the antidote to Karina's poison, he will be able to use it without it killing him. Karina, will you give Mayuri a pure sample?" Ayumi asked, turning to face her.
Karina nodded, walking the few feet over to the mad scientist who glared down at her.
"So much for being useless, Eh, Kurotsuchi?" Karina couldn't help but taunt the man a little.
"Yes, Yes. It seems I stand corrected, now, open your mouth…" Mayuri demanded, making Karina smile before complying.
With swift movement Mayuri allowed one of her fangs to prick the pad of his thumb, mixing his own blood in with the drops of pure venom, which only confused Karina further.
"You should all stand back and seek cover, anyone within a three mile radius of me will be infected once I make the adjustments to my Bankai." Mayuri announced.
"But what about everyone on the battlefield?" Yoruichi countered.
"They have ten minutes, I suggest you reach Amaya before she passes out so she can relay the message to evacuate." Mayuri shrugged.
"Shit…" Yoruichi blurted before taking off in the direction of the carnage.
"Where is Linake?" Karina turned, asking Ayumi.
Ayumi sighed, turning her body and facing east before she answered.
"About two and a half miles that way. I saw that Ikkaku and Yumichika are coming to try and get her body to her, but…they are not going to make it." Ayumi answered as her head fell forward.
"Why wouldn't they make it?" Karina demanded.
"Karina…" Ayumi sighed.
"No!" Karina yelled, shaking her head, she refused to believe it, she refused to accept it! Nobody was going to die, goddamn it!
"We have a problem. Zaraki is out of his head, how are you gonna use that if he's still out there on the field." Grimmjow asked.
Mayuri turned his narrowed gaze to the Espada, his lips thinning at the reminder of the crazed squad 11 captain.
" If he cannot be removed within the next twenty minutes, I will have no other choice but to hope he is strong enough to withstand it." Mayuri answered honestly, seeming to only give an inch, by increasing their time frame from ten minutes, to twenty.
"Who the hell is going to be able to get through to him?" Grimmjow growled.
Karina stood with her arms crossed over her chest, chewing on her bottom lip with her fang. Knowing that Ikkaku and Yumichika were about to be ambushed by the enemy while Linake lay bleeding in the woods someplace was making her crazy. She couldn't stand here any longer and discuss things as if they were all sitting for afternoon tea. She had to do something, anything!
"Godai is with Linake…" Ayumi spoke up.
Karina turned her head to the woman, her brow furrowing.
"Godai?" Karina asked.
"Linake's Zanpakuto spirit." Ayumi explained.
Karina nodded, turning her head back to the east before meeting Grimmjow's gaze once more. Karina's unspoken question heavy in the air between them. Grimmjow let out a sigh before he simply nodded then walked in front of her, leaning down on his haunches.
Karina lifted herself up on his back, wrapping her arms around his strong neck and it seemed nobody needed an explanation. There was only one left that might be able to get Kenpachi to comply, and that was Godai.
Yoruichi landed on the balls of her feet atop of the giant boulder that housed Amaya Aizen. Taking in the scene, Yoruichi felt her stomach clench. Linake's human body was there, surrounded by Orihime's amber light as Orihime kept her hands pressed into the still seeping wound.
Orihime raised her gaze, her brow covered in sweat, her blue eyes almost pleading as she kept using her own energy in order to save a woman who was like a sister to her. Yoruichi turned, looking up tot he sky and called out.
"Amaya! You have to tell everyone to evacuate!" Yoruichi tried to communicate.
"What is it, Yoruichi? What's going on?" Orihime called over to her.
"Captain Kurotsuchi is about to use his modified Bankai. Everyone needs to evacuate the area before he activates it." She explained.
"Tell Aizen!" Orihime panted heavy breaths, trying to keep her powers centered, keeping her shields up and her healing at the same time.
Yoruichi raised her head, seeking out the immortal who was once her enemy. Once she spotted the him in the distance, she paused.
"Zaraki…" She whispered, shaking her head before rushing forward.
Aizen turned his head, seeing the woman appear next to his size.
"Lady Yoruichi…" Aizen greeted her, always so cool even under pressure.
Yoruichi didn't see the point in sharing pleasanties at the moment.
"Tell Amaya to have everyone leave the area. Kurotsuchi is about to use a modified Bankai."
"I see. I guess that will leave Zaraki and I." Aizen stated.
"I need you to do something for me." Yoruichi stated.
Aizen lifted his brown, meeting the woman's gaze.
"What would that be?" He countered.
"About four and half miles from here, Linake Zaraki is dying, I need you to get her body back to her soul." Yoruichi stated.
Aizen turned his head, looking out ahead of him to the red skinned beast currently tearing through the enemy, not because of the thrill of battle, but because of rage. Aizen nodded his head, looking up to his wife, his brow tight as he spoke to her through their silent communication. After a minute or two, Aizen met Yoruichi's gaze again.
"Amaya agrees it must be me." Aizen's soft voice spoke before turning away from the battle and flash stepping atop the large boulder.
Yoruichi watched as Aizen waited for his wife to relay the message, more precious minutes passed. One by one, Yoruichi could see black clad bodies running to the outer rim of trees from miles away, like scattered ants, black uniforms disappeared into the trees. Yoruichi allowed her shoulders to relax a bit when she caught sight of white mixed in with the black. They were heeding Amaya's warning at least.
Yoruichi turned, flash stepping forward and even though she knew her attempt would be in vein, she had to try and get through to the squad 11 captain.
"Kenpachi!" She called out, only to hear his snarl as a response before ripping out the throat of an approaching primordial.
"I'm afraid your effort is going to be wasted. I've been trying to get through to him for twenty minutes." Uryu Ishida sighed, walking to stand next to Yoruichi.
"Why would you be trying to get through to him?" She asked.
"I've been trying to use him to our advantage, Ichigo and the Head Captain have been fighting the leader of these things, he is…stronger." Uryu stated as he lifted his hand to push his glasses higher on his nose.
Yoruichi nodded, scanning the battlefield and spotting both Ichigo and the Head Captain not too far in the distance. If they could get Kenpachi over there somehow he would be able to rip the leader apart, giving Mayuri a clearer shot of attack; but trying to get a Demon to see reason whilst in a rage fueled by heartbreak was easier said than done.
"Evacuate now! Kurotsuchi will be using a modified Bankai! I repeat, Gotei 13 officers, evacuate now!" Amaya Aizen repeated her warning two more times, watching as the field slowly cleared of her comrades. It seemed that some were not sure if her warning was accurate, not wanting to abandon the fight so easily, but Amaya knew Mayuri, and if he had come up with a way to kill the enemy, it would also kill his ally.
Amaya felt her body sway as if blown by the wind and allowed her eyes to slide closed, with one last rush of effort, she called out to everyone still connected to her.
"I am out of energy. Please, evacuate now…" She pleaded, she voice becoming so small, so tired as she allowed her Bankai to break apart. Amaya's silver hair whipped forward around her face as she free fell the few feet to the boulder's surface, but was caught by strong arms.
"I am proud of you, My sweet Amaya." Aizen spoke to her internally, his calming soft words of approval filling her with warmth.
"Save her, Sosuke." Amaya whispered aloud, her crimson eyes flickering open as her iris's returned back to the deep brown he was used to.
"Very well. I will use everything I have to help them both." Aizen stated before laying his wife down on the hard rock surface.
Turning on his heal, he leaned down, taking Linake Zaraki's body into his arms and hefting her up high in his arms. Looking back over at his wife, Amaya nodded to him.
Orihime let out a sob as she crawled over to Amaya, putting her soft hands to the woman's cheeks. Amaya smiled weakly, her hair turning back to it's normal shade of blonde.
"You are so brave!" Orihime praised her.
Amaya shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.
"No. That is Linake." Amaya countered, her gaze moving to watch as her husband flash stepped down next to Yoruichi and Uryu. The three of them exchanged words and Amaya's brow furrowed when Yoruichi walked out in front of the squad 11 captain, coaxing him with her outstretched fingers as if beckoning a wild wolf to come to her side.
"Kenpachi will think that Yoruichi is Linake for the next five minutes. I had no choice but to use him this way, Amaya." Aizen's inner voice filled her thoughts and she closed her eyes tightly. So that was what he had meant when he said he would use all he had.
"It's okay, Sosuke." Amaya whispered back, knowing that it was the only way to get Kenpachi to where they needed him to be.
Amaya hated using a man who had become like a brother to her as if he were nothing more than a chess pawn and she knew that once the illusion faded and Kenpachi realized it wasn't his wife he was following he was going to go truly crazy. How would they be able to calm him later? Would he even be able to see reason again, or would his Bankai not release him? Amaya allowed the tears to fall down her cheeks, wishing with all her heart that there could have been another way.
"I'm sorry, Kenpachi. I'm so sorry I failed you…"
Author's note: I would like to thank anyone who is still supporting me, even though it is taking me forever to upload the new chapters. I have had some life changes and now work two jobs. I am a package handler for Fedex in the early mornings and also work a 40 hr work week for a medical supply company on 2nd shift. I am lucky if I get 4 hrs of sleep each night and I no longer have a day off. This chapter has been written over the past month or so one section at a time when I did have a bit of free time to myself. I am not sure when I will have another ready to upload, but I will finish this story eventually, just bear with me, please. I hope you enjoy! -L.J.