Chapter 46: A Score to Settle

Sogyoku Hill was an imposing sight from wherever you were in the Seireitei, and only grew more imposing the closer the group got to it. Natsuki had warned them that this was to be Rukia's place of execution. It still baffled her that an unseated Shinigami with ties to the Kuchiki Clan were was to be executed in such a manner.

She led the way as best she could, gently coaxing Yachiru when the Lieutenant tried to take a different route, but it was still a slow journey to get to the centre of the Seireitei. To their relief, there weren't many Shinigami blocking their path. Most were either staying away because of both the Ryoka invasion and the impending execution, while others were terrified by the clashing of Reiatsu between Shinigami across the Seireitei.

When a burst of light shot up from the hill above, the group running slowed to a stop to look.

"What is that?" Orihime asked as they stared up at it warily.

"I wonder if the execution has started," Yachiru spoke thoughtfully as she studied it.

"What?" Uryu gasped. "Then we must hurry!" he exclaimed. They were out of time, and they knew Ichigo would be there. They had to help.

"I'm going on ahead," Yachiru decided, but as she made to jump from Natsuki's shoulders, the blonde shook her head.

"Me too," she said, and Yachiru smiled, patting her head.

"What? Why?" Orihime gasped, not understanding why the two were leaving them behind.

"I don't care about the execution, but Ichi might be there," Yachiru told them. "If he is, I have to help Ichi," she explained, looking up at the light in the sky.

"Thank you," Orihime's relieved words made Yachiru giggle.

"You're so funny! Why are you thanking me, Chubby Chest?" she laughed. "Helping Ichi is only natural! After all, Ichi is Kenny's friend," she explained,

"And I still have a score to settle. Sorry Haruki," Natsuki glanced at the Shinigami standing with them, and grinned. "You can deal with her afterwards," she told him. Haruki opened his mouth to argue, before drawing back and shaking his head.

"No, it's only fair," he replied, and saw her grin widen. Haruki then flashed a smile back at her. "Try not to lose this time," he warned, earning a laugh this time.

"Careful, Haruki. From the moment we heard that Kirara was training someone, everyone in the Soul Society was worried about you turning out like her. Don't prove them right," with that warning, Natsuki turned away. "We'll clear the way. Don't let the stragglers slow you down," with that, she took off at a much faster speed and disappeared within seconds.

"So fast!" Uryu grunted as he raised his arm to shield himself from the wind kicked up.

"And crazy!" Ganju muttered.

"No time to deliberate on the sanity of Squad 11," Haruki walked ahead of them and pushed his hair from his face. "We still have an execution to stop," he told them with a grin.

Able to run at full speed now that she wasn't hindered by the Ryoka, Natsuki closed the distance to Sokyoku Hill much faster. She and Yachiru cleared out any Shinigami unfortunate enough to be in their path, finding that none of them were particularly strong as the majority of the Captains and Lieutenants were already gathered at the execution site, or scattered around the Seireitei fighting.

"And they say we're obsessed with fighting," Natsuki said to Yachiru, who giggled as she sent another Shinigami flying. The unfortunate man had been tasked with guarding the steps up the hill, and hadn't lasted even a moment against the Lieutenant.

Now at the stop of the steps, the two found themselves surrounded by white trees. There were no other Shinigami around, and it seemed eerily quiet as the two slowed to a stop and looked around. "Why would they leave one guard and then no others?" Natsuki wondered as she looked around. The blue light continued to blaze, only a short distance away.

"I haven't seen Ichi anywhere," Yachiru said, swinging her feet.

"He's still getting dressed. Got to look presentable for his dramatic entrance," both looked up sharply at Kirara, who was sitting on a branch.

"Ah! You're one of Ichi's friends!" Yachiru exclaimed, recognising the woman sitting there. She looked better than she had when Natsuki had last seen her, but her clothes were still a mess.

"Either Lieutenants are getting younger, or I'm getting older," Kirara grinned, not moving from where she sat. She'd been watching the two approach Sokyoku Hill, taking out anyone who was in their way. It had almost made her laugh.

"Lieutenant," Natsuki spoke softly, and Yachiru looked down at her. "I'll handle this," she told her, and Yachiru giggled before jumping off her shoulders. She landed in a tree nearby, sitting on one of the branches like Kirara was.

"I'll keep watch for Ichi!" Yachiru decided, and Natsuki nodded as she looked back up at Kirara. For a moment, neither moved. Then Natsuki had her Zanpakuto drawn and was swinging down at her. Kirara dodged easily, leaping from the branch before Natsuki cleaved through it in one strike. The branch crashed to the ground loudly, and Natsuki followed as Kirara moved backwards.

Natsuki knew that Kirara was leading her, drawing her away from the Lieutenant and the path to the Sokyoku, but she didn't care. She hadn't come to stop the execution or wait for Ichigo. She had known Kirara would be there, and so she'd gone.

"I'm surprised you're willing to fight me again. I had to put in so much work the last time," Natsuki complained as Kirara landed on another branch and looked down at her.

"That's exactly why I'm here. I knew you wouldn't be satisfied just yet, and I'd rather do this than have you trying to piss me off again," Kirara said simply, and Natsuki snorted.

"You were quick to protect Haruki the last time. Made your little speech about hating Shinigami a bit hard to believe," her words made Kirara's indifferent expression falter, her eyebrows drawing closer before she rolled her eyes.

"So you were awake. Or did you and Feathers have a nice chat?" she asked.

"First off, love the nickname," Natsuki said, before leaping up. Kirara dodged, and Natsuki cut through another branch. "Second, how could I miss your little speech? So grandiose as you threaten to kill me - which, by the way, I know you'd never do," Natsuki spoke as she followed Kirara, who drew her Zanpakuto to block her strike. She was pushed back from the force, and let herself move with it. "You're not the kind of person who kills a helpless person just to give themselves an advantage," Natsuki continued, and Kirara found herself speechless.

Instead of focusing on the words, Kirara started attacking. She knew she couldn't just dodge and dance around Natsuki forever, so she threw herself forwards and kicked up. Natsuki blocked it with the flat of her blade, only to find herself being thrown backwards from the power behind it.

Natsuki stopped talking then too, focusing her efforts on fighting the woman who had already beaten her twice. She hadn't come to talk, and she hadn't come to beat answers from her. This time she was there just to fight, and she wouldn't let Kirara dominate as she had done the last two times.

As Kirara slammed against a tree and choked, Natsuki launched at her again, only to stop as she felt the power explode nearby. It burned, heating the air and made it hard for both of them to breathe as neither could stop themselves from looking around.

"The Sokyoku," Kirara breathed. Both of them had been stunned into stillness as they felt the sheer power behind it, neither having experienced the stifling power of the halberd before.

"Aren't you going to interfere?" Natsuki asked as Kirara's voice broke the hypnotic lull of the Sokyoku's power. Kirara glanced at her, snapping back to reality too, before shaking her head.

"That's Ichigo's job. I have faith that the idiot will save Rukia," she grinned, and cracked her back with a groan. "Meaning I can put my full focus into our fight," she said, and Natsuki smirked back.

"Good, because you're going to want to focus," she warned as she let her power flow. "Or you might end up worse off than last time," Natsuki told her. "Bounce, Tsuki no Usagi!" Natsuki shouted, transforming her Zanpakuto into its Shikai form.

Kirara's grin faded as she focused on the fight once again. She refused to lose now, not when they were so close to saving Rukia and escaping the Soul Society.

The two traded blows without pause, but neither gave an inch despite the relentless assault on both sides. Kirara was breathing heavily as she took a step back, ignoring the stinging pain in her side where Natsuki's blade had caught her. Natsuki was blinking away the stars after taking a punch to her nose, which was bleeding profusely.

As they did, both of them scowled and stood straighter. Natsuki spat out blood, and Kirara put a hand to her side to allow her Kaido to heal her where she stood.

"I know that lurking in the shadows is your job, but either get out here and do something, or piss off!" Kirara shouted. Natsuki didn't so much as blink, and a moment later they found themselves surrounded by a group wearing all black with masks hiding their faces.

"Onmitsukido bastards. I have this handled!" Natsuki shouted at them, having sensed them lurking too.

"Fourth Seat Natsuki Hamasaki, you are suspected of aiding the Ryoka and breaking into Squad 4's barracks to free them and the imprisoned Fourth Seat of Squad 4," one of them who seemed to be the leader announced, and Kirara snorted.

"How criminal of you, Natsuki," she laughed, and earned a glare from the blonde woman.

"And you, former Corps Commander Kirara Yamada. You are a wanted fugitive of the Soul Society who was ordered to be put to death," he announced. Natsuki did a double-take at his words. She almost didn't believe them, until she saw the smile on Kirara's face. It was sweet, but there was danger in her eyes.

"And yet here I am, a hundred years later," Kirara replied, as if the words hadn't lit a fury in her chest. Even the Onmitsukido had turned on her, ready to kill her simply for having the audacity to survive. "Focusing on us, instead of on that?" she asked, pointing in the direction of the Sokyoku. As if on cue, they felt its power splutter out, and Kirara grinned as everyone else fell silent.

"But…how?" Natsuki breathed.

"I told you. Ichigo has it under control," Kirara smirked, but her head was still turned in the direction of the Sokyoku. "But it seems like he might have had some help. Feels like things are about to get really messy there. You sure we're your top priority?" she called over to the member of the Onmitsukido who had spoken.

"We have our orders," he replied coldly, and Kirara tilted her head.

"Orders from who?" she asked, curiosity lacing her question. It wasn't some kind of stall tactic; she genuinely wanted to know.

"That is not your concern. Surrender now," the man ordered, moving into a stance that Kirara knew well. She smirked.

"Clearly you weren't around when I was one of you sorry lot," Kirara said as she pushed her hair from her face and returned her Zanpakuto to its sheath.

"When you try to order Kirara around, she's more inclined to do the opposite," Natsuki spoke suddenly, and Kirara glanced over to her. There was a low rumble, and Natsuki stabbed her Zanpakuto into the ground. "We're in the middle of a fight here. Like Kirara said, either do something, or piss off!" her smirk was feral, and almost made Kirara smirk.

"Take them down!" the man ordered. A beat passed, and Kirara's knee had smashed into his face. He dropped like a rock, and the moment his body hit the ground, all hell broke loose.

It wasn't as if Natsuki and Kirara were fighting together. They were simply fighting a common enemy, fighting off the Onmitsukido members foolish enough to attack them. Kirara had just thrown one member into a tree when another sailed right past where she had been standing, crashing into another.

"Watch it!" she shouted, and Natsuki rolled her eyes.

"If your reflexes aren't fast enough to dodge that, then you've been slacking these last hundred years!" she snapped back, and Kirara couldn't help but laugh. She leaned backwards to avoid the short blade going for her neck, and grabbed it, disarming the man before sending him flying into a heap with the others.

"This is pathetic. Who's been in charge of this lot since we left?" Kirara complained, and leapt into a tree to dodge a Kido thrown at her.

"Uh…" Natsuki's giggle made Kirara glance over at her. "That'd be Captain Soi Fon," her answer had Kirara bark out a hysterical laugh.

"They made Soi Fon a Captain? No wonder," she cackled.

"Bakudo #1! Sai!" the shout was followed by invisible restraints wrapping around both Kirara and Natsuki, and their laughter faded as they found their arms forced behind their backs. Kirara cursed as she fell from the tree where she'd been standing, landing in the dirt. "I got them!" one of the Onmitsukido shouted, before hearing Natsuki laugh.

"Are you serious?" she asked, her laughter only growing louder. "You think you can restrain me with a level 1 Bakudo?" Natsuki demanded, and with a shout, she shattered the invisible restraints to free herself. "Who the hell do you think I am?" she turned to the man responsible, only for Kirara to get there first.

Her arms were still locked behind her back, but she moved as if she hadn't been restrained to headbutt the man so hard he blacked out and landed in a heap. Before the others could react, Kirara had vanished and reappeared in front of the last remaining attackers, shattering her restraints in a beat to then grab them both by their heads. There was a sickening crunch as she slammed them together and let them drop.

"Idiots. Either use your Kido effectively or don't show it at all. Embarrassing," Kirara scolded them as she rolled her shoulders. "That was a nice display of power there. Even if it was only Sai," Kirara snorted as she glanced over at Natsuki. "I was also a fan of you throwing that guy into the tree," she looked up to where one man was dangling from a branch unconscious.

"I particularly enjoyed how you knocked that guy out while you were still restrained," Natsuki grinned, seeing how red Kirara's forehead had turned as a result.

"I spent half my Hakuda lessons with my hands tied behind my back," Kirara told her. "Made it a lot easier to learn to rely on leg strength," she said, thinking back to her lessons.

"I think that's the most you've ever told me about how you learned Hakuda," Natsuki said, and both sobered. Kirara didn't speak, watching as Natsuki walked back over to where Tsuki no Usagi was impaled, and yanked the blade free from the ground. "Shall we continue this elsewhere?" she asked. Kirara smirked.

"Sounds great," she agreed.

Fighting had started all around the Seireitei after Ichigo had stopped the Sokyoku from killing Rukia. He'd saved her, sending her away with Renji as he focused on fighting Byakuya. Somewhere in the distance, Kirara and Natsuki had both felt the powerful Reiatsu of the Captain-Commander fighting Kyoraku and Ukitake, which had been something they had both commented on.

A loud crash rumbled the ground as Natsuki's massive Zanpakuto cleaved through another tree in her attempt to hit Kirara, who had easily avoided it by leaping over her head. Natsuki then felt a painful force collide with her lower back, and as she stumbled forwards, she tripped and crashed to the ground. Her Zanpakuto clattered to the ground, and Natsuki breathed heavily.

"Really. I knew that all hell was going to break loose, but half the Captains seem more interested in fighting each other," Kirara mused as she stepped back. A bruise was already forming over her left eye.

"You lot really have set off a lot of chaos," Natsuki said as she got to her feet, bringing her Zanpakuto with her.

"You were a ticking time bomb. We were just the spark," Kirara answered simply, trying not to focus on how Ichigo and Byakuya's fight had finally ended. She hadn't missed the darkness of Ichigo's Reiatsu creeping in for just a minute before he'd regained control. 'It's happening more often. I don't think Yoruichi is right, we're running out of time,' she thought to herself, before dashing out of the way as Natsuki threw herself back into the fight. This time when she swung her Zanpakuto, it lodged in one of the thicker trunks and stayed there, making Natsuki curse.

"You did that on purpose," she accused, and Kirara responded by kicking her hard. Natsuki was forced to let go of her blade as she was thrown several feet away. She landed hard enough on the ground to bounce before rolling along.

"Of course I did. I couldn't dodge that thing forever. Sooner or later it was going to be me that you cut in half," Kirara answered honestly. She'd waited until Natsuki had tired herself out enough, and purposefully put herself in front of the larger, stronger trees until eventually the sword would get wedged.

"Damn you," Natsuki growled, getting back to her feet. Even then, she couldn't stop the smirk from growing on her face. This was what she loved, what she thrived on. A vicious fight where neither gave an inch. It might have been with Kirara, and she did still have an overwhelming amount of questions to ask, but she was still loving fighting her.

The more Natsuki fought her, the more she got over that initial anger and hurt and grief of discovering that Kirara was alive and her enemy. Now she could freely fight without those emotions shackling her down, and she refused to stop fighting until one of them dropped and didn't get up.

Without Natsuki using her Zanpakuto, it turned into a fistfight. Kirara's Hakuda against her brute force, and neither was getting off lightly from it. "Your Hakuda has changed. It's…weird," Natsuki accused as she once again wiped blood from her nose, which was definitely broken by now.

"You think I spent a hundred years in the World of the Living without learning a thing or two?" Kirara's lip was split. "They have so many styles of martial arts, I had to learn a few things," she said, and Natsuki laughed quietly. Kirara didn't enjoy fighting, but she certainly loved her Hakuda all the same.

"Let's see if it's good enough!" she challenged, resuming the fight.

Kirara couldn't deny that in that moment as the two fought, she could understand a little of why Natsuki loved fighting so much. There was something cathartic to what they were doing, even as she took hit after hit. She grabbed Natsuki's arm, intending on flipping her, but Natsuki managed to catch her with a backhand so she could stay upright.

As Kirara then stood over her, her leg lifted to bring it down on Natsuki's head, both of them froze as they felt a strange presence connect in their minds.

'Attention all Gotei 13 Captains, Lieutenants and Seated Officers, and also the Ryoka,' Natsuki recognised the voice that echoed in her head, transmitted from somewhere else. When Kirara lowered her leg, looking confused, Natsuki knew she was hearing the same thing. 'This is Squad 4 Lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu. This is an emergency. This is an announcement from Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana, and me, Isane Kotetsu. Everything I am about to tell you is the truth!' she exclaimed.

Kirara rubbed her ear as if she expected to get rid of the voice, and glanced at Natsuki. The blonde had slowly risen to her feet, looking just as baffled as Kirara felt. Then the message continued, and a sick feeling rose in her stomach as Natsuki's confused look turned to one of shock and disbelief.

"No…that can't be true…" she said, turning to Kirara. "Captain Aizen wouldn't-" Natsuki stopped as she saw the grim look on Kirara's face, and fell to her knees. "Central 46 gone…Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Hinamori injured…" horror had completely overwhelmed her.

"It's true," Kirara's soft words made Natsuki look up. She had turned, looking in the direction of the Sokyoku. "Aizen, you sick son of a bitch," she hissed.

"You knew," Natsuki realised, and got to her feet. Anger grew in her chest. "You knew what Captain Aizen was like, and you-"

"Don't call him that," the snarl surprised Natsuki so much, it drained the anger from her in a beat. "Look. I will explain later, but right now we need to get to the Sokyoku," Kirara had been so focused on her fight with Natsuki that she hadn't felt it until now, but she could sense Rukia's presence back at the execution site, and she wasn't alone.

"But…"

"Please, Natsuki," Kirara turned to her, and Natsuki stared at the desperate look on her face. Kirara was terrified. "This is why I'm here. I can't let him get what he wants," she pleaded, her fists shaking at her sides. She felt like she was going to be sick, and the idea of seeing Sosuke Aizen again had her entire body rebelling against her. She was terrified, but she knew she had no choice.

"Kirara…" Natsuki whispered, seeing how truly scared Kirara was in that moment. She took a breath, and walked over to her, reaching out and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Then let's go. Together," she said. Natsuki didn't miss the relief in her face as Kirara managed to focus her breathing.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," what little colour that was still in Kirara's face drained at the voice, and Natsuki turned quickly to see a man emerge from the trees. He was tall with grey hair and stubble across his chin, and wore the outfit of the Onmitsukido.

"No…" Kirara's shaky whisper surprised Natsuki. Unlike with the last lot, Kirara seemed shaken to see the man. He smiled at her, but there was no warmth to it.

"It's good to see you again, Kirara, but I'm afraid…" Satoru spoke as he blocked their path. "Captain Aizen does not want you interfering. So I'm here to stop you."

Now that has been a betrayal long in the making.

Hope you liked it!