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"Bankai!" Speech

"Bankai!" Zanpakuto

"Bankai!"Hollow

The Reapers of Earth Bet

Prologue: Rebirth

=TREB=

Rebirth 1.1

22:05 PM, January 3 2011

Locker room

Winslow School

Brockton Bay

Earth Bet

I stepped through the Heaven's gate, my feet landing on platforms made by spiritual particles. My senses extended once I was back in the world of the living, feeling only a single human nearby. There were no spirits in my detection range, Hollow or mere plus souls. At least that was relief.

I was in no condition to fight a new born kitten, much less something that could actually hurt me.

The dimensional portal sealed behind me, leaving me to float in darkness.

"So that's how it ends." My Zanpakuto mussed, her voice warming my heart.

My lips twitched in a sad smile. "We had a great run, my friend."

"All for a woman you don't even love."

"That?" I smirked. "You know better."

"Do I? You are the one I want, need to protect. Yet I no longer can."

"Nonsense. You can't protect me from myself. It's done. The war is over."

"And we are dying."

"I am. You might yet find another wielder." I said as my feet touched the tiled floor and I started walking towards the sole human that was nearby.

"It's unlikely. Even if it's her daughter."

"Perhaps. It won't be long now." I reached a particular locker, one that stank of rot and decay. I grasped the door, flexing my fingers. The metal screamed in protest, giving under my unnatural strength and shearing as if it was made of paper. I discarded it and looked within.

My eyes had no trouble piercing the darkness to reveal a deadly pale girl, covered with trash. Her clothes were torn and bloody and now I could barely perceive the smell of infection below all the horrible stench emanating from this improvised, yet effective prison.

I gently picked up the girl and laid her on the floor.

She was scrawly, fragile looking thing, yet I could see the resemblance between her and my mentor. There was no doubt in my mind, this was Annette's daughter.

"So, it's her all right." The other half of my soul mussed. "She doesn't look like much."

"Neither did I when I became a Soul Reaper."

"True enough."

"It's time I fulfilled my promise." I smiled sadly. "You know, I never thought that it would end in a place like this."

"We should have died in the war, that's true. It did kill us, after all."

"We are just too stubborn to die just yet." I smirked and looked tenderly at the girl.

"Taylor Hebert." My Zanpakuto muttered.

"It's time, no matter what you'll decide." I said.

Moths of pale light were detaching from my skin as my body started rapidly dissolving, the Kido keeping me together finally failing in it's task.

"Is this what you want, my wielder? We were meant to walk the same path together."

"I made a promise. And both of them deserve better."

"Perhaps. Captain Annette certainly did. I don't know enough about this child to decide."

"Time's up, old friend. Please."

"So be it. I hope you finally find peace on the other side."

"I hope you won't be joining me any time soon." I smirked.

With a single fluid motion, which had become a second nature, I pulled out my sword. The broad, double edged blade gleamed in the darkness.

"May you find her worthy..." I smiled and plunged the blade into Taylor's heart.

For a moment the night became day. I grinned as I felt what little Spiritual Energy I had left being drained through my Zanpakuto and straight in my former Captain's daughter.

I closed my eyes and felt at peace.

=TREB=

Taylor awoke with a gasp. She floated in a star filled void, numb to the world. Then something entered her vision. It was vast beyond comprehension. A space whale traveling the ether.

Behind it, countless sparkling crystals rained in the night. One whirled in the void, streaking straight at her. Taylor knew that she should have felt fear, yet she was too tired for that. Exhausted beyond resistance.

Destination.

A strange, alien mind touched Taylor, studying her for a moment that lasted eternity. It probed, prodded. Violated her mind.

Agreement.

She could feel it, scraping through her brain, preparing to do something. A shard of dazzling crystal sailed towards her head.

"Ah. None of that." An accented voice sounded in her head.

Shock. Surprise. Curiosity.

Inquiry.

"Nope. You aren't laying your slimy tentacles on her. Bankai!"

An uncomprehendingly vast ocean of power washed over Taylor. She felt like suffocating under immense pressure.

Confusion. Indignation. Anger.

Defiance.

"I won't fail him. Death or rebirth, Taylor will be free."

A figure in gleaming plate armor appeared before her. He looked like a Knight from the stories mum used to tell Taylor, when she was a little girl.

"Taylor Hebert, do you wish to live?"

Huh. What an odd question. Did she? Taylor didn't know. She just wanted to be left alone. For the bullying to stop once and for all. Was that too much to ask?!

"Not really."

She could sense that the figure was studying her from under his ornate helmet.

"What the hell. Why not? It's not like I have anything better to do now."

Huh. Not there was a dazzling sword in the Knight's hand. Where did that come from? She looked at the blade. It was beautiful.

"One way or another you'll be set free, that much I can promise you. Little owl."

What? Only mum called her that! Who was that man? How did he know it?!

The sword blazed with power, nearly blinding her. It flashed and Taylor gasped in surprise when the blade sank into her chest.

Hurt. Pain. Agony!

"Heh, you might just do."

Taylor screamed as white hot wave of energy slammed into her very soul and tore it asunder. She could feel a piece breaking, turning into a cloud of sparkling moths. Then something slammed in the jagged hole, before absorbing those particles within itself.

Then she knew no more.

=TREB=

The blazing light vanished as abruptly as it appeared in the first place. It left behind a dark hallway and a dying girl. A few sparks of Spiritual power gently rained upon her still form.

Taylor exhaled for one last time, a content smile appearing on her face.

Lub-lub.

Her eyes closed.

Lub.

And Taylor Hebert died.