Chapter 23 - Self-Inflicted
Byakuya's POV
As I let Senbonzakura slip from my grasp, our immediate surroundings were slowly covered in the dark blue haze that was a hallmark of our bankai. As my blade slips into the ground without a sound, two familiar rows of blades erupt from the ground, standing tall on either side of both me and my opponent.
Judging from his very distressed expression, the Espada did not expect to find himself in such a position.
A sad showing if there ever was one.
"What is this madness?" He then asks, his shock palpable as his eyes take in the change of scenery.
"This is my true power finally unleashed," I say in a simple tone. "Senbonzakura Kageyoshi"
The blades emit a light pink glow before breaking apart, becoming the thousands upon thousands of shards that look like flying sakura petals in the light, a last sight for all those that dared to engage in battle with me.
"This power does not impress me. I'll just take control of them."
"He cannot be this dense . . ."
"Some like to remain stubborn when they find themselves within the jaws of defeat Senbonzakura." I say in return as the Espada outstretched his arms, more eyes now appearing around his body.
With just a thought, Senbonzakura surrounds the Espada, allowing him no chance to escape, but he does not try to make one. His spiritual pressure remains in place within the sphere, as if he still believes that he can control Senbonzakura like he tried to control my limbs and my sister.
"You stubborn fool," I say as Senbonzakura opens a small window in the sphere, giving the Espada one last glimpse of me before I seal his fate. "My bankai consists of thousands of blades, and each eye you possess can only control one object at a time. Do you really believe the odds are in your favor here?"
His shock was all the answer I needed as my blade closed the window shut.
"Gokei"
Normal POV
The building imploded mere seconds later, sending debris and dust flying everywhere as the ceiling and half of the walls were blown into oblivion. When the dust settled, a barrier of kido was covering Hanataro and Rukia's prone forms as Byakuya stood nearby, protected by a Danku barrier.
"Hmm, this is more damage than what I expected. . ."
"I may have overdone it a little, but in my defense, you were not subtle in how much you wanted the Espada to hurt, master."
"Was I really?"
"Your face may do a good job in hiding it, but I feel your anger, and you make it very obvious . . . I would talk more about it, but it seems that the enemy is not dead yet."
"Unfortunately so . . ." Byakuya thought as he felt the spike of reiatsu. Turning around, his eyes found the spot where Zommari last stood. The lingering dust dissipated to reveal that the bottom half of the Espada's body expanded to shield the upper half, though it was still not enough to prevent his blood from flowing, as numerous wounds lined his skin.
"Do you think a move like that is going to stop me?" Zommari exclaimed as his upper half emerged from his shielding. He sent his power straight at Byakuya for one more attack, but the Sixth Division captain simply blocked it with Danku. "NO! I will not lose to a shinigami like you!"
He sent more attacks, but the Kuchiki's Danku barrier remained firm, holding up well against the futile onslaught.
"This is just sad. . ." Senbonzakura thought as the attacks continued to be blocked. "There is no sense of composure left within him. None, whatsoever."
"It seems he has embraced a wild sense of determination in his final moments," Byakuya thought in return, resisting the urge to shake his head at such a display. "He is lost, and it is best we end things now before they can go any further."
"Your power will no longer work against me." The captain declared, coolly glaring at his enemy. "When I used my Kido to stop you from making the female shinigami kill herself, I deduced that your power has similar characteristics to that of kido. . . Similar characteristics that can be canceled out."
"Canceled. . . out?" Zommari asked, flabbergasted at the news. "You're able to stop my power?!"
"Almost easily in fact." Byakuya admitted, his tone cold at how slow Zommari seemed to be understanding his situation. "Now that your power has been rendered ineffective, how do you expect to defeat me now?"
A look of newfound fear crossed Zommari's face as he realized the situation he now found himself in. His expression then switched to pleading, a look that only inflamed his dislike for the Hollow even more.
"Please, have mercy on met" He groveled, somehow managing to not tremble. "I was only following orders!"
"Orders that you were more than willing to carry out." Byakuya said in return, which only managed to spark anger in Zommari, his expression switching to that of blatant rage.
"And what is the alternative?!" He asked, his eyes blazing. "You shinigami are arrogant fools!"
"He's not the first to say that."
"He likely won't be the last either Senbonzakura."
"Your kind believes that you have some . . . unwarranted authority to proclaim us Hollows as evil creatures," Zommari accused, pointing a ginger Byakuya's way. "How can you easily make such an assumption? What gives you the audacity to proclaim yourselves superior to the other? Your sense of pride may be something you see as a strength, but it will only be your ruin!"
"The ruin of who?" Byakuya asked, suddenly appearing behind the Espada with Senbonzakura at his throat. Zommari quickly batted the blade away and used his Sonido to reappear across the field, his eyes frantic. "You are so quick to question my pride, but I would suggest you look in a mirror before you speak. Pride comes in many forms, and it seems you lack self-reflection in your own sense of pride."
"My own sense of pride?!"
"Factors of the past have led to shinigami and hollows seeing each other as perennial enemies, and you debase yourself by working with Aizen?" Byakuya accused, staring the Espada down. "You say my pride will be my ruin, but it is because you attacked my pride that I fought you in the first place."
Zommari went wide-eyed as Byakuya appeared behind him again, this time standing with his back turned a few feet away.
"Wha-?" Before he could say anything, a large gush of blood erupted from the Hollow's shoulder, courtesy of a large gash that stretched from his shoulder down through his chest.
"No . . . NO! THIS CAN'T BE!" Zommari raged at the top of his lungs. Suddenly, he outstretched his arms into the air, though the gesture was not enough to stop his body from breaking down into purple smoke. "AIZEN-SAMA! AIZEN-SAMA! LONG LIVE AIZEN-SAMA!"
Only a few more seconds needed to pass before the Seventh Espada was no more, the purple smoke dissipating into the air, never to be seen again.
"His misguided loyalty was astounding to witness." Senbonzakura mumbled as he reappeared beside his master. "The audacity to proclaim his loyalty to a person that only sees him as a pawn . . . It's such a waste."
"He made his choice, and now he has answered for it," Byakuya calmly replied as slid his blade back into its sheath, his head moving slightly to his left. ". . . And now it appears we have company. You can come out now."
The air seemed to shimmer slightly before brightening to form a barrier, which quickly dissolved to reveal Lieutenant Kotetsu kneeling a few feet away, her face betraying no emotion as she quickly surveyed the scene, lingering on Yamada and Rukia for a moment before turning her gaze back on the Sixth Division captain.
"Did Captain Unohana send you?" The noble asked, though he already knew what her answer would be.
"She sent me as soon as we saw the building explode." Isane calmly answered as she turned her attention back on Rukia and Hanataro, their respective shields still covering them from any potential attack.
"Take care of those two first," Byakuya ordered as he turned to look out at the scenery. "My wounds are not that terrible. You can focus on me afterward."
"Yes sir . . ." Isane responded before running over to the two, ready to provide first aid.
"Now that the Espada has been dealt with, we can focus on other matters," Senbonzakura announced as he followed his master's gaze.
"And what other matters could there be?"
"Well, Lady Minata and Mizukiri have yet to reappear since you ordered them to deal with any other Hollows that resided within this building," The spirit suggested, looking over at the man. "I hope they were not given too much trouble."
"On the contrary!" Called an approaching voice. "The fodder we face were merely flies in comparison to what you went through. Numerous, but not much power to really worry about."
The two turned around to see Minata and Mizukiri walking up to them, having not noticed their spiritual pressure till now. Aside from the light covering of dust that covered their robes, the two looked no worse for wear.
"Apologies for taking so long, but we discovered a large nest of low-level Hollows down in the bottom levels that were just too hard to ignore, especially once they spotted us," Mizukiri explained as she bowed her head.
"And you took care of them all by yourselves?"
"Do you underestimate our abilities Senbonzakura?" Mizukiri countered with a question of her own, a hint of malice in her tone. "I hope that wasn't doubt I just heard in your voice."
"Oh . . . never," Senbonzakura countered, though on the inside, he was sweating a little. ". . . Help me master!"
". . . You dug your own grave here." Was Byakuya's immediate reply as he noticed Minata staring at him intently. "Is there something on my face?"
"Not really . . . I was simply wondering if your zanpakuto was speaking for both of you."
"And now I am being dragged into your troubles. . ." Byakuya grumbled in his head as his gaze slid over to Senbonzakura.
"HEY! I am a manifestation of your soul. You are just as much to blame as I am here, if not more!" The masked samurai thought back, his head turning around to face his gaze head on.
"You two are disagreeing about something, aren't ya?" Mizukiri dared to ask as she looked between master and spirit.
"NO! YES!" Byakuya and Senbonzakura chorused together, which only made them glare at each other when they realized that they said the opposite of what the other had said.
"We will agree to disagree," Senbonzakura conceded, knowing from his master's mood that this was an argument that they would likely revisit in the future.
". . . For now," Byakuya finally admitted before turning his attention back on the women. "Can you sense the other captains from here?"
"We can . . . Captain Unohana is the closest to our current position, and Captains Zaraki and Kurotsuchi are much further away, but we can still trace them nonetheless," Minata simply answered him as she looked out into the sandy landscape. "Who are we approaching first?"
"We will meet with Captain Unohana first to regroup," Byakuya calmly admitted as he looked out at the barren landscape. ". . . As for who we will seek out first, it would likely be the one to encounter Kurosaki first."
"And if we find Kurosaki first?"
"Then there is no need to meet up with Kurotsuchi and Zaraki now is there?" Byakuya asked in return, ignoring the smirk that crossed the Third Seat's face.
"You really do not like those two, don't ya captain?"
"Why bother to ask a question you already know the answer to Mina?"
"Sometimes it's just nice to hear the confirmation out loud Byakuya."
"Brother?"
The clan leader's retort was lost on his tongue when he felt the familiar spike of reiatsu growing behind them. Turning around, they found Rukia looking up at them, her eyes only half open as Isane started looking over Yamada.
"What happened?" She asked, now noticing the wounds on Byakuya's arm and leg. "Those wounds. . ."
"Self inflicted," He calmly admitted, his words only being successful in spooking the young woman, much to his chagrin. ". . . It is a long story Rukia, but I am fine. You should focus on your recovery. . . We will need you for the battles to come."
Rukia looked like she wanted to dispute her Byakuya's words, but a quick glance at Minata's comforting expression was enough to stay her hand and nod at his request.
"Self inflicted?" Mina suddenly whispered, sneaking a glance at the man's wounds before looking up at the man's face.
"Like I said Mina . . . It's a long story."
A/N: Leave a comment if you like!