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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 and my feet landed on platforms made by spiritual particles. My senses extended once I was back in the world of the living and I only sensed only ordinary humans nearby. There were no spirits in my detection range, Hollow or mere plus souls – that was a 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 plunging me into darkness.

"So that's how it ends." My Zanpakuto mussed. Her throaty voice warmed my stuttering 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." I found the door locking me into a storage room and simply crushed its lock before letting myself out. Even helpless as I was, my waning strength still surpassed that of an ordinary mortal.

"Do I? You are the one I want. The one I want 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 let out a pulse of Reiatsu that helped me locate the single familiar soul in the building - it was quite easy really – I could simply feel it gently leaking spiritual power so similar to that of my captain.

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

"Perhaps. It won't be long now." I muttered. My left hand closed around the second Zanpakuto I was carrying. It quietly pulsed with the soothing Reiatsu of my late captain as I walked pass a row of lockers.

Here – the Reiatsu source was literally staring me in the eyes.

I reached a particular locker - one that stank of rot and decay and stopped. I grasped the door and flexed my fingers. The metal screamed in protest as it gave under my unnatural strength and sheared as if it was made of paper. I discarded it and looked within.

A deadly pale girl covered with trash was stuck inside. Her clothes were torn and bloody. She was covered with filth from head to toe. 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 pulled her out, then 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." My Zanpakuto pouted.

"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.

"What choice my wielder? Where you go I will always follow." My partner smiled sadly.

"I made a promise. Both of them deserve better." I sighed. "For what's worth, I'm sorry."

"Perhaps. Captain Annette certainly did. I don't know enough about this child to decide. Besides, after everything – dying here and simply ceasing to exist… There certainly is some attraction to the concept. We may finally find a measure of peace."

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

"I told you – I'll be with you to the end." She muttered stubbornly.

"Impossible woman." I smiled fondly.

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 muttered and drew Annette's Zanpakuto. A moment later I plunged the blades in 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. Annette's Soul Cutter tingled in my hand and fell apart in a rain of green Reiatsu that softly few upon Taylor before melting in her body.

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 twisted, entwined worm made by countless swirling prisms traveled the ether.

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

Destination...

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

Agreement...

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

"Ah. None of that." A familiar, soothing voice whispered 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, yet at the same time it felt warm and welcoming.

Confusion... Indignation... Anger...

Defiance!

"None of that!" A wave of blinding power slammed into the sparkling shard and blew it away – back in space.

A figure in gleaming plate armor appeared before her. She looked like tall and majestic – like a noble knight from the stories Taylor's mother used to read her when she was a little girl.

"Taylor, do you wish to live?" That maddeningly familiar voice asked gently.

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." Taylor managed to croak.

She could sense that the figure leaning above her was shocked by that answer. The armored woman – the knight was female all right, frowned under her ornate helmet.

"I'll have none of that, young lady." The voice was gentle, full of love, yet firm and un-yelding.

Just like Taylor mother's used to be when she was both concerned and angry at her.

Huh. Now there was a dazzling sword in the Knight's hand. Where did that come from? Taylor looked at the blade. It was beautiful.

"One way or another you'll be set free, that much I can promise you. Little owl." The woman declared with absolute certainty.

What? Only mum called her that! Who was that woman? How did she know it?!

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

There was no pain… for a moment that is.

Taylor screamed as white hot wave of energy slammed into her very being 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 an empty 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.

Lub.

Her heart stopped.

And Taylor Hebert died.