Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Prize of Victory 2
By : NovaAlexandria
Category: Bleach > General
Views: 56251 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make a profit from this story
Chapter List
- 96
- 97
- 98
Reunion

Before the Escapees left, Ishida Ryuuken had assured them that Aizen would meet his end by sundown today. He�d also insisted that the tyrant would no longer be a threat to anyone or anything in any of the Realms.

�Yeah, this would do it,� thought a dazed Grimmjow. �Guess he wasn�t just blowing smoke up our asses or giving up a pep-talk. Good to know.�

He was still working on just how close that lethal Quincy arrow had come to both Karin and him. He hadn�t seen the archer fire, as he�d had his back turned. Nonetheless, the shot was as clean and as precisely-aimed as one of Ulquiorra�s Balas. Grimmjow doubted that either he or Karin would have had anything to fear from it.

The arrow�s appearance wasn�t the most shocking part of the whole incident. It was who had fired the thing that left everyone speechless.

�I believe, Ichi-nii, Grimmjow-san, that now is not the time to be imitating my school of prized Koi.�

Ishida Yuzu tucked the vaguely familiar Quincy cross beneath the elegant French cuff of her white silk blouse and refastened the sapphire link. The heels of her sensible flats clicked sharply as she picked her way carefully around the rubble, coming to a stop several yards away at a spot that gave her an excellent view of the entire courtyard. Her practical, tailored ensemble, including a fine pair of summery-white linen slacks, would have looked more appropriate in an expensive doctor�s office than a battlefield, but at this point Grimmjow could have cared less what she wore.

He now understood the deep respect and occasionally, knee-knocking fear the Escapees had for their pretty hostess. For the nearly two weeks he�d lived in her home, ate her cooking and watched her keep her houseguests in line, she�d never once shown any sign that she knew her way around a weapon� unless one counted her skillets and the kitchen knives. A sidelong glance at Ichigo revealed his brother-in-law was just as shocked as he was. It made him feel less like a fool for failing to recognize such a dangerous predator when he sat at her dinner table.

There was more than a little irony here, he thought, still-light-headed from the revelation. Maybe the best final insult to Aizen was that two �harmless� human women had been the ones to erase him from existence. He and Kurosaki had softened the bastard up, but Yuzu and Karin been the ones to deliver the killing blows.

�Damn woman, never knew you had that in ya!� he exclaimed and followed it up with a laugh that dispelled some of the tension �How long have ya been holding out on us?�

Yuzu favoured him with a smile before something behind him caught her eye. Grimmjow turned around to look at the real reason he was here, his increasingly agitated mate.

Karin wasn�t looking at him and he watched with a sinking heart as she raced towards Ichigo, flinging herself in her brother�s arms with a cry of �Ichi-Nii!� Her voice was thick with unshed tears, which turned to real sobs when she buried her face in his chest. Ichigo�s arms rose of their own accord, embracing his sister. �I am so sorry,� Grimmjow heard him whisper into her hair.

�I didn�t know if you would come or not, not after��

It was hard to make out her muffled words and she trailed off in favour of dousing the black fabric he wore with saltwater. Her brother�s shoulders heaved once and he reached up to run his fingers along her cheek, wiping some of it away.

�It�s okay. Everything you said to me that day, while it was hard to swallow, was right. I should have told you the truth when you confronted me about it. I am so sorry I wasn�t strong enough to stop all of this from happening. I wish I could have come sooner, before��

Ichigo couldn�t bring himself to speak of what had happened aloud and simply held her tighter before Karin took a step back and tearfully acknowledged the approaching Rukia. The little Shinigami quickly received a sniffle-laced hug.

�Karin. You have certainly grown,� Rukia said as she eyed Karin critically.

�You too,� Karin replied and scrubbed her face. �I see you have been keeping Ichi-nii in good shape.�

�I do what I can. He can be quite stubborn, you know.�

�Hey, I�m right here!�

Grimmjow couldn�t bear to watch any longer. His ears and tail drooped along with his shoulders at Karin�s rejection of his presence amid the three siblings� joyful reunion. He couldn�t blame her for excluding him when he�d failed her so completely. The scent clinging to her was a harsh reminder that Aizen had mounted her and abused her. The bandages, the stench and her ragged appearance was evidence enough that she had every right to cast him aside for another, more worthy male, one that could protect her.

Before he could continue down that depressing mental path, he found his arms full of his mate, her grief and gratitude pounding into him in equal measures through their bond.

�I knew you would come,� she whispered into his highly sensitive ear, backing her statement up with a hard squeeze, as if she was trying to merge their bodies together though willpower. He tightened his embrace, unwilling to let her out of his arms and mindful of the blades that adorned them. Hot tears scorched his chest. His own eyes felt suspiciously wet, and he closed them as he drank in her scent, trying his best to ignore the lingering traces of Aizen that corrupted it. When they had a spare hour or two, he was going to see to it that she got a decent bath, and then he was going to make sure the only scent on her was his. Unless, of course�

�Karin.�

He�d only uttered her name, but it was so much more� a question, a declaration and a promise all rolled into one. She let out a ragged breath and met his gaze.

�I am fine,� she assured him. �We won and he is dead. I won�t let anything he did affect us. Before long, he�ll be nothing more than a horrible memory and a cautionary tale in the history books.�

Grimmjow took that to mean that Aizen�s legacy wouldn�t include an heir. The profound relief he experienced at that made him want to find a place to sit down and send a prayer of gratitude to the powers-that-be. Her words were resolute, but her trembling and the emotions he got via their Claim told a different story. He also wondered if any of it was Szayel�s, and he vowed that he would find someone else to take the Espada�s Claim, or speak with Hachi when the Vizard crawled from his hiding place. He�d been the one to fix Nel�s mask. Maybe the Kido Master could fix his mate�s pet as well.

Putting that idea aside, he contented himself with stroking Karin�s oddly-plaited hair. There was little else he could do for her right now, until they could get her to the 4th Division. She was right; she would be fine� in the long run. Unfortunately, he didn�t think that his original vision of their reunion, the one with him ending up balls deep in her while he pinned her against the nearest surface, would happen anytime soon. She was going to need time and maybe even space to deal with whatever Aizen had done to her. He would have to give that to her before he could even consider playing out a few of the scenarios he had in mind, particularly the one in which he got to watch her breasts bounce and her hips writhe as she rode his cock�

�JI-JI!� an excited, childish voice cried out. Its pitch and tone neatly knifed through his daydream, banishing it in an enthusiastic flurry of multicoloured wings.

Karin withdrew from him, but didn�t leave his embrace entirely. Grimmjow kept one arm around her shoulders as Vindula flew across the devastated courtyard to land on a very relieved Renji. Abisara did his best to keep up with her, displaying a heretofore undiscovered ability to navigate rubble at top speed without tripping. Red pulled both of his charges into a one-armed bear hug the moment they were within range. The gauze wrappings around the little girl�s hands at first puzzled then angered Grimmjow, enough for a growl to generate in the back of his throat. For a moment, he wondered if Aizen had hurt the child, until Karin�s reassuring fingers found his forearm. Red evidently had the same concerns, letting go of the twins and inspecting Vindula�s hands with a vengeful expression, which softened slowly when it became apparent the girl wasn�t in pain. He also saw the man put his palm on Abisara�s forehead and frown.

The ever-calm Nemu trailed behind her children, followed by an absolutely haggard-looking Gin. The emaciated, cringing servant kept glancing wildly about the courtyard as if he expected Aizen to materialize at any minute. Szayel, intercepting the two, held up both hands to keep Gin from bolting or drawing his Zanpakuto needlessly.

�He�s gone,� said the Seventh to the terrified former slave, �purified by a Quincy�s arrow,� he swept his arm in a grand gesticulation towards Yuzu, who inclined her head in Szayel�s direction, confirming the death with a gracious smile.

When Aizen failed to appear, Gin�s shoulders slumped and he went to his knees. Roughened fingers curled into fists that supported his weight as his lungs flirted with hyperventilation. Grimmjow could sympathize, though they really didn�t have time to deal with a mental breakdown, no matter how well-deserved. Fortunately, Gin seemed to know this and quickly regained his composure. Then he looked up at each of the Escapees.

�So,� Gin asked hesitantly when his breathing calmed, �what are ya plannin� ta do next?�

�A �round up,� to borrow a suitable foreign phrase,� Hachi answered as he and a pale, weary Hana trudged towards the gathering. The round Vizard used his thumb to indicate the still-mobile and coherent Arrancar shuffling nervously under the watchful gaze of Ulquiorra, Starrk, Jushiro and a pack of ghostly wolves. He didn�t bother with the poor sap hanging from Zabimaru�s coils or the two entrapped in Rukia�s heavy ice. They weren�t going anywhere. �It would behove us to move quickly in this regard.�

�Maybe I�ll take Kurosaki�s advice and not bring up Ajuga�s rabbit-hunting abilities after all,� Grimmjow decided. �I like my body temperature above freezing, thanks.�

With their leader gone, the Palace guards didn�t seem interested in continuing the battle, and most of them stared fearfully at both Ichigo and Yuzu. Grimmjow found that understandable. They had no reason to continue to follow a dead man�s orders or adhere to any of the laws he�d issued. Starrk was technically the strongest, so leadership of the Arrancar would fall to him and none of the Numeros would want to test a Quincy, not when she�d just demonstrated how unforgiving those arrows could be to Hollows and Shinigami alike. Speaking of his sister-in-law�Yuzu chose that moment to approach them. Honestly, Grimmjow appreciated the fact she had given he and his mate a few minutes to reacquaint themselves with one another as well as deal with his instincts. Maybe Nel had seen fit to give her a head�s up about his kind�s etiquette before she�d arrived.

�It has been a long time, Karin-chan,� Yuzu greeted her sister with a deceptively sunny smile. Then she drew Karin away to envelop her in hug. Her twin returned it with equal fervour.

�Yuzu-chan, you certainly filled out!� Karin held Yuzu at arm�s length so she could study her. �You seem to be doing well,� she added, eyeing her costly clothing and her eyes widened when she saw the expensive looking wedding ring adorning the blonde�s finger. Before she could ask about the arrow, Yuzu placed a fingertip on Karin�s lips, hushing her sister for now.

�Indeed. We have lots to catch up on, and I can�t wait to hear all about Ajuga-chan! She certainly is a charming young woman and I just have to see my niece�s baby photos!�

The finger then waggled in Karin�s face, a warning that there had better be a visual record of Ajuga�s childhood, though Grimmjow couldn�t remember if Ukitake had a camera, because he hadn�t owned one before the destruction of their first den. Then Yuzu�s smile faded and she regarded Karin soberly. �That being said, you still have several other people who need rescuing. I promise we�ll talk� in fact, I insist on it, but not right now.�

His sister-in-law was right; they still had to deal with Yammy and Barragan or they would find themselves embroiled in a much bigger fight as the Numeros decided which Espada they wanted to follow. Some Arrancar would use this opportunity to flee with their pets while others might go on a Claiming spree when they learned of Aizen�s demise.

�Yammy�s mine,� Renji snapped, still gripping Zabimaru�s hilt. Grimmjow tried very hard not to roll his eyes. Red would have looked much more menacing without Vindula glued to his side, supporting her weight with his free hand. Abisara was content to stand beside his guardian, but the kid had smarts enough to look worried when Red dropped Yammy�s name. By this time, he�d put down the limp guard he�d vanquished and let Zabimaru return to its normal state. The Arrancar he�d spared had lost consciousness after remaining suspended, head down, for too long.

�You�ll have to fight Byakuya at the same time,� Grimmjow reminded him, before Starrk and Jushiro joined them.

�Perhaps not,� the First interjected. Ulquiorra stood guard over the Arrancar with the circling wolves, and Grimmjow saw that there were quite a few Zanpakuto at the Fourth�s feet. It was as good as a declaration of surrender to the new pack, as well as a supremely smart choice. It also killed any potential conflicts before they could start.

�Do you have a plan?� Rukia asked Starrk, the hope in her voice painfully obvious. She evidently didn�t like the idea of taking on her adopted brother either.

�I�ve been gnawing on an idea for a while,� Starrk drawled and regarded Karin speculatively. �You can see reiatsu and you manipulated the Hogyoku�s reishi, thereby destroying it. You can also cast Claims and you can differentiate between the reishi of the Claimed and that of the Claimer. If I�m right, you should be able to break a Claim cast by someone other than yourself. Karin, I want you to unwind the strands of my reiatsu from Jushiro�s, in the same way that you took apart the Hogyoku, separating them. That should enable you to free those Shinigami with harmful Masters. Don�t you agree?�

�An excellent idea Primera!� Szayel brightened, only to frown as something else occurred to him. �I wonder why I didn�t think of it. I should have remembered the time you took down the practice Claims on Tesra, Karin.�

Karin sighed, foregoing answering Szayel�s rhetorical question. �Those were my Claims to begin with� but I�ll give it a try.�

She scrutinized her housemate, brows knitting as she worked out Starrk�s reishi from that of his �pet.� Finally, she nodded and rested a hand on Jushiro�s shoulder, letting it stay there as she concentrated. Whatever she�d done took less time than Grimmjow expected, because she stepped away a few moments later and looked expectantly at Starrk.

�Jushiro, jump!� the Primera commanded, letting those observing know he expected perfect obedience. Jushiro blinked, but remained where he was. Seconds ticked by and his feet stayed firmly on the ground.

�It worked!� he said with undisguised delight and then stretched his arms overhead, smiling broadly at the young woman.

�We need to free as many as we can, starting with Byakuya, then Barragan�s slaves.�

�I wouldn�t worry about those with Masters we know we can trust, such as Hitsugaya-Taichou, since time is of the essence,� Szayel cautioned. Starrk yawned and put in his two very sensible yen for consideration.

�Let�s round up the Numeros and contain them here. As long as Ulquiorra, Lilinette and I remain as guards, this lot won�t cause problems. Hana-chan, please let Yoruichi and the General in charge of the operation know that we were successful. Once we eliminate the larger threats, they can issue the Swarm�s orders to retreat.�

�On it, Starrk-ji,� Hana replied and gave the First a worn-out salute. Grimmjow thought she had all the vigour of a wet dishrag. Thankfully, he wasn�t the only one who saw how exhausted the girl really was.

�I�ll go with you Hana-chan,� Yuzu spoke up. �It would be best for me to get off of the battlefield, since I won�t know friend from foe and there are� side effects to using my abilities that will cause more work for Ajuga-chan and Diaemus-kun should I need to defend myself.�

�I will accompany you as well,� Nemu added, and motioned her children to her. �Vindula-chan, Abisara-kun, come along.�

Reluctantly, Vindula fluttered from Renji�s arms and the small party made their way back to the sewer entrance. Grimmjow assumed that they were going back to the Science Division via the safest route available, to rendezvous with Szayel�s horde of geeks and the General.

�I will assist with the containment,� Hachi offered, flexing his fingers. Unlike Hana, he appeared just fine, if just a little winded. �If any of the Arrancar force their pets to fight us, I can contain them without doing them harm. Rukia, may I borrow your phone, to inform Yoruichi-san?�

�Fine, let�s go,� Renji declared impatiently. While Grimmjow had no personal feelings about the situation, Red was right. Of all the Claimed Shinigami, they needed to cut his daughter�s calligraphy teacher and his thousands of deadly pink blades free of Yammy before they did anything else.

�What about you, Gin?� Ichigo asked, turning around to address the silver-haired man. There was no answer, only an empty spot where the servant should have been, and no sign of him anywhere. Grimmjow cursed, since he�d never seen the man leave.

�He probably has a bone to pick with Nnoitra,� Rukia explained, then shrugged as she tossed her device to Hachi. �It wasn�t well known, but Rangiku always did have a soft spot for Gin. After everything we�ve learned, I believe it was mutual.�

�Well that�s just great. We could have used the extra blade too,� Grimmjow grouched inwardly, but when Karin squeezed his hand, he decided he had bigger things to worry about than Gin. After a brief call to the Shihoin Heir, they left the courtyard behind and the Arrancar in the keeping of the Fourth and First Espada.

The Swarm still circled over the Seireitei, making life difficult for any Hollows they encountered and Grimmjow was grateful for that. It meant they could use the chaos as a cover while they moved from hotspot to hotspot. However, he didn�t want to take too long in bringing Yammy and Barragan to heel. It wasn�t apparent now, but by mid-afternoon, the more intelligent of the Numeros would figure out that the conflict at the Palace was over and that someone new was in charge. There were also those Arrancar at the 4th Division to consider. Unohana and her staff would just have to make sure they stayed put, even with the distraction of incoming wounded.

The search for Yammy was thankfully short, easy and consisted of following a spectacular trail of debris through some of the better, lower-numbered Districts. The brute was in his full Resurrección, roaring with the force of a full-blown hurricane while he rampaged over anything in his path. Seeing the destruction, Grimmjow let out a low whistle of appreciation. Yammy, for all that he had bricks for a brains, never did things by half measures. Between the Swarm and the sheer mass of the Tenth�s body, there was little left standing. He could feel Karin�s concern for any trapped civilians, but it was better to let the 4th Division handle that issue, after they took the moron down.

Byakuya was easy to spot too, thanks to the cloud of pink blades slicing into Locust after Locust and the white haori sporting the kanji for the numeral �6.� Once they�d confirmed his location, Grimmjow shared a look with Ichigo. As one, the two moved to intercept him. Each grabbed one of the noble�s arms and dragged him straight down to the ground. They proceeded to pin him there while Karin came in behind them. Byakuya struggled for approximately two seconds before he recognized who had hold of him. He didn�t try to capture them either, meaning Yammy hadn�t ordered him to do so. Grimmjow in particular didn�t want to take any risks should Yammy suddenly notice what they were going to do. Better safe than sorry, he thought, especially so soon after getting back his mate. While he couldn�t do what his instincts wanted, which was to lock her in the den until it was safe to come out, he could mitigate the danger by immobilizing the Shinigami.

Byakuya went deathly still as Karin laid her hands on his shoulder. A moment later, the dark-haired man�s head fell backwards, dark hair spreading out against the concrete. Slate gray eyes closed and much like Gin had done earlier, he seemed to wrestle with his unexpected, newfound freedom. Then he opened them and nodded at Grimmjow�s mate, who helped him sit up. The noble also sent the most hateful glare Grimmjow had ever seen towards the grotesque centipede fighting one street away. . The murderous intent he saw in Byakuya�s eyes was truly breathtaking. Yammy appeared oblivious to the dissolution of the Claim, but the Sixth figured it was because there wasn�t space enough in Yammy�s head for both the bloodlust associated with combat and the two brain cells the idiot possessed.

�Taichou, how are you feeling?� Renji asked hesitantly, coming to a halt amid the wreckage and kneeling next to Ichigo.

Byakuya had just enough time to recognize Renji before Rukia threw herself into her brother�s arms with an excitable �Nii-sama!� Surprise temporarily replaced rage and he returned her hug after only a second or two of hesitation. At the point where the embrace would have become improperly long, Rukia extricated herself and did her best to recover her dignity, deliberately looking away from what her brother was not wearing under his haori. The redhead sitting next to her coughed into his fist.

�The Swarm are with us, Taichou. We don�t need to worry about them. We also have an asshole to cleanse,� Renji informed him, jutting his chin in Yammy�s direction.

Byakuya�s answer came in the form of a cloud of blades that ceased holding back an equally large cloud of Locusts and instead turned and raced towards the massive Arrancar. A ball of hot, red energy and a shot of ice joined Senbonzakura�s assault. As much as Grimmjow wanted to stick around and witness the fight, they needed to locate the Second.

�Come on� They can deal with him. Let�s find Barragan�s pets next!�

Ichigo looked like he wanted to refuse, but a glare from his little sister kept him quiet and got him moving. Unfortunately, figuring out where the Second had holed up was tougher than they�d anticipated. With all of the reiatsu signatures blazing around them, the task was like trying to pick one flame from a field of thousands of burning candles. It didn�t help that Karin insisted on stopping and breaking the Claims that surrounded the few �taken� Shinigami they encountered, as well as incapacitating their Masters when necessary. Grimmjow began to worry about their lack of progress after the third such run-in.

�Now where the hell did that geriatric buzzard hide himself?�

For the first time in ages, Byakuya felt like he could breathe. He had no idea how Karin had removed Yammy�s Claim, nor did he care. What he really wanted now was swiftly-delivered vengeance. He didn�t give a damn about the atrocities Yammy committed against his family or himself. He was accustomed to making personal sacrifices, thanks to his position and his title. What little love he�d had for his clan had died an ignoble death earlier that morning, when his aunt had put the last nail in the coffin by bringing in that poor Kyoraku girl.

No, he wanted revenge for Senbonzakura and for all of the terrible things Yammy had made him do to his sacred companion, as well as the atrocities committed against the staff of his estate, most of whome had done their best to help him when they could. With that in mind and with Senbonzakura a steady presence in his inner world, he ordered his millions of sharp blades to rain down up on his tormentor. Renji, spoiling for a fight, retreated a few yards and summoned his Bankai.

Yammy had no warning, and yowled in pain as the petals tore open his Hierro. His pig-like eyes managed to lock on to Byakuya�s position, just in time for the fire from Zabimaru�s bone canon to hit him squarely in the nose. The impact left the brute�s face smoking and even uglier than before. Rukia�s ice, on the other hand, connected with Yammy�s large tail, freezing it into place. Byakuya was pleased with her choice of targets, as it removed the appendage as a weapon and served to slow down his advance. Whether it would stay frozen was up for debate, but if Byakuya had his way, the Tenth wouldn�t live long enough for it to defrost.

�The fuck, Chicchai-Hime?� Yammy snarled, absently crushing a dozen Locusts to a pulp with one fist while trying to turn around to glare at his �pet.� His exhalation created a stinking wind that violently tore at Byakuya�s hair and his haori. It was hard not to succumb to gagging at the stench, but he did his best. Renji, in contrast, was more than happy to express his disgust.

�Kami, what did he eat for breakfast? A goddamned latrine?�

�Ah, it�s you!� Yammy smirked at Renji as he caught sight of the former Fukutaichou. �Szayel�s a traitor, which means your Claim is up for grabs! I got two free Claim slots, and I plan on using one of �em to fuck you!�

�Like hell you will,� Renji snorted. �The only way this will end is when I purify your sorry corpse or the beetles get you with their acid. Your pick, asshole!�

Rukia joined Renji, and Yammy noted her silent approach.

�I remember you!� the beast roared with laughter, ignoring Renji�s threat. �So you�re my Chicchai-Hime�s lil� sister eh? I think I�ll use my third slot on you, assumin� you can survive my cock plundering your pussy. Those stuffy bastards are whining about an Heir� maybe I�ll get my pet to put his seed in you instead of the broad Barragan lent us! I bet he would like that!�

To her credit, Rukia�s face remained impassive in the face of Yammy�s appalling creed. He wished he were as successful at hiding his revulsion. The thought of Yammy forcing him to rape his adopted sister was almost more disturbing than the threat of having to rape his own Zanpakuto in public. This was exactly what he�d feared when he felt Rukia�s reiatsu, though she seemed to expect the Tenth to make such threats.

It was what Yammy said next which caused all the blood in his body to head for his ankles, leaving his face white and his limbs unable to move. Worse, the bastard had said it, not to him, but to Renji, who went equally pale. The bone links comprising Zabimaru began to shake in response to its wielder�s unsteady hand.

�I can�t wait to force you to fuck your pretty Taichou again!�

Renji�s reply was little more than an animal�s enraged growl, and another blast from the baboon skull�s jaws silenced the laughter. Rukia gasped at the revelation. Her large eyes went back and forth between her friend and her brother, slowly filling with a mixture of horror and grief. Byakuya found he couldn�t meet them.

�So that was it. Well then�� he heard her say, her words almost inaudible beneath the buzzing of the Swarm. When he looked back at his sister, her face was grim and cold. Her voice was equally icy, and carried far more authority than he remembered.

�Nii-sama, leave this monster to me.�

She and Renji shared a look between them, resulting in his sister using Shunpo to move a short distance away. Meanwhile, his former subordinate latched on to his arm and hauled him in the other direction. Byakuya could tell she�d grown stronger, but it wasn�t until she coldly called out her next set of words that he realized just how far she had progressed in the last fifteen years.

�Bankai! Hakka no Togame!�

The air chilled tremendously behind him. In his mind, he felt Senbonzakura mutter something flattering, but he couldn�t tell what had his Zanpakuto so impressed. Sadly, he had no time to focus on what his sister was doing either. Yammy had broken his tail free from the ice and had zeroed in on Renji�s bright hair.

�Come back here, you bugs, so I can swat you and put you beneath me where you belong!�

Yammy�s meaty fists swung after them, smashing everything in their path. Renji released Byakuya�s arm and they split up, giving the Tenth two targets instead of one. Neither one had trouble dodging such ham-handed attacks, but the size of the swings made them effective blocks for any attacks they might have thrown at him. He aimed Senbonzakura�s blades at the brute�s face, trying to take out an eye, but Yammy countered the swirling cloud with a handclap. When the slap connected with the ground, the force of the blow and the wash of air it created sent a torrent of dust-laden wind in all directions. It levelled buildings for at least a kilometre and sent timbers and plaster flying. The heavy gust stung Byakuya�s eyes and almost knocked him from the sky. He hoped that the local citizens had done the smart thing and evacuated.

Rukia hadn�t joined the fray yet. She seemed content to stand her ground with a look of deep concentration on her face. The temperature continued to fall, feathers of frost forming on everything in the vicinity. That included Rukia herself, he realized with some alarm, but he did his best to keep Yammy�s attention away from his sister. Instead, he redirected Senbonzakura to come around and attack Yammy�s right side while Zabimaru and Renji hit him from the left. Senbonzakura�s blades cut into Yammy�s flesh, but the monster treated them as if they were little more than scratches. Byakuya pulled them back and changed their configuration to resemble a giant blade. The Tenth screeched and howled as the sword�s fine edge penetrated his armour just below his ribs.

Another explosion of red fire lit up the side of the Arrancar�s skull a few seconds after the noble withdrew his blades. This time Yammy lost an eye, but it was to Zabimaru fangs. Renji had used Byakuya�s attack as a distraction, plucking the orb from its socket and crushing it between the baboon skull�s jaws under the cover of the bone cannon blast. Yammy responded by slapping at the thing causing him pain. He also moved faster than Renji could as he brought his whip around. The back of Yammy�s hand connected with Renji�s body, sending is soaring. He went end over end to land in a heap on a mound of red tiles and broken beams. Byakuya suspected that the redhead had incurred more than a few broken bones and bruised innards.

�YOU BASTARD, MY EYE! I AM GOING TO FUCK YOU SO HARD YOU WILL BE BLEEDING FOR A MONTH, AND WHEN I AIN�T FUCKING YOU, MY CHICHAI-HIME WILL BE!�

Yammy gave full voice to his outrage, one huge paw covering the hole in his head. The damage had an unintended side effect: it served to add more fuel to the raging conflagration that was the Tenth�s temper. Throwing his head back and screaming obscenities to the sky, Yammy underwent a second metamorphosis. The centipede lost its extra limbs, and grew to tower over the ruined District. Its massive arms lengthened until its knuckles dragged through the rubble and shaggy hair covered thick, ape-like legs and feet. Yammy�s tail also grew, becoming a club that beat against the ground, sending pulverized stone and dust into the air. Crowing it all was a multi-horned mask ending in tusks, two vicious red eyes glaring out from its center.

This was the monster that had beaten him down, had defeated him and resulted in years of torture and rape. This was the form that had enslaved and broken him. Byakuya had only seen this form once, and despite his best efforts, he couldn�t help the fright that crept into his gut upon viewing it again. Worse, Yammy was on a direct course for where Renji lay draped over a building�s remains, unmoving save for a twitch of his fingers and bleeding from several gashes.

Byakuya shoved his fear aside. He had no time for it; Yammy had already drawn his fist back for a punch. Instead, he used Senbonzakura�s petals to create a �shield� between the fallen Shinigami and the Arrancar�s battering ram of a hand. Obviously, Yammy has lost his mind and didn�t stop to think that this attack would kill the very pet he wanted to Claim. Half of the shield �shattered� when Yammy�s knuckles connected with it, but it kept the man under it alive, even as the ground surrounding the protective circle gave way, sinking half a meter. Byakuya sprang into motion, trying to remove some of the distance between himself and Renji, intent on grabbing the injured fool and getting him out of the way before Yammy could land another blow.

�Hah ha� you�re a disgrace to monkeys everywhere!� Renji followed that up with a weak chuckle, coughing up blood and moaning. �Fuck that hurts!� Then his eyes rolled upwards to take in Yammy�s mass looming above him. �Oh, and by the way� checkmate!� he wheezed and added, �White Queen takes dipshit!�

Yammy froze with his fist still in contact with the remains of Byakuya�s shield. At first, it seemed as if Renji�s taunt had shocked the brute, but as he got closer, Byakuya saw that the Espada�s body was incapable of motion. The reason Renji had dragged him away from his sister also became terrifyingly clear. A cloud of freezing mist, with Rukia at the center, swamped almost all of the Espada�s frame. Renji, and by association, Senbonzakura and Yammy�s fist up to the part just past his wrist lay only a few yards outside of the area affected by her Bankai. The rest of Yammy�s body disappeared within the deadly haze, but not before the Espada�s remaining eye exploded in a shower of crimson ice crystals. A full minute went by without any sounds from either Rukia or Yammy and when the mist lifted, Byakuya beheld an amazing sight.

�White Queen� was something of a misnomer, despite the icy half-crown adorning her frosty hair and her elaborate white robes. The term didn�t do the beauty of her Bankai justice. However, the rest of Renji�s statement was quite accurate. Yammy�s bulk had frozen solid and the fist that had escaped the white circle of death began to disintegrate, turning to black ash at the same time the majority of the monster began to sublimate. Rukia remained still as well, Sode No Shirayuki held at the ready until Byakuya saw her finger wriggle. Then her eyes blinked, their silvery color fading to the more familiar violet.

Understanding that she was limited as far as her abilities in the short term, he nodded to let her know they were fine. The protective shield over Renji came apart in a shower of petals and Senbonzakura helped the sublimation process along, ferociously tearing into the flash-frozen Arrancar. Bit by bit, he and Rukia took Yammy Llargo apart, until there was nothing left of the Tenth Espada but dust and dwindling ash.

The Swarm, which had strategically retreated to create a sort of dome about them as soon as he�d turned Senbonzakura onto his former Master, dispersed for parts unknown. Glancing around, Byakuya also realized that the rest of the invasion was on the wane. Once again, he looked to his younger sibling for answers.

Rukia had her eyes glued on Renji, but she kept her stance steady as the air around them warmed. He didn�t know her Bankai�s details and assumed she knew what was best when it came to her Zanpakuto. Byakuya was just pleased with her for having attained it at all. He decided that she was, more or less, fine. Renji, on the other hand, needed immediate help. He was by the man�s side in a flash.

At least he was still conscious. Renji grinned at his former Taichou and tried to say something, before whatever it was he was going to say ended up in a bout of bloody coughing that splattered the hem of Byakuya�s haori. There had once been a time such a display would have angered him but now he found he no longer cared about appearances. Yammy had beaten and raped any consideration for protocol out of him years ago. He knelt down next to the redhead and grasped the man�s hand, trying to assess his wounds.

�Hey Taichou,� Renji rasped. �Look like we won this time, eh?�

�Renji,� Rukia was suddenly by their side, drained and breathing hard. That didn�t surprise her brother when he considered how recently she had to have achieved Bankai and how much energy controlling it had to take. �How are you? Can you sit up?�

�I�ll be fine� if I don�t move,� Renji told her. �I think the fucker broke a few ribs.� He winced and added, �maybe my leg too, and I think he did a number on my arm.�

��and your back and your collarbone� baka! Nel�s going to kill you!� Rukia smiled in exasperation down at him and for some reason, Renji blanched. �I�ll go see if I can find you some help��

Her legs had other ideas. Byakuya reached out and caught her before she could swoon and join her friend on the ground. The use of her Bankai had worn her out and it was clear, at least to Byakuya, that this hadn�t been her first conflict of the day. He honestly looked forward to hearing how many Arrancar she had put down at the Palace, though he worried that neither of them were in any shape to flee if they had to make a break for it.

�Maybe I should rest too,� she murmured, embarrassment warring with exhaustion in her voice. He nodded sternly and she sheepishly took a seat next to Renji. As wonderful as Yammy�s death was to Byakuya, it would mean little if another Arrancar came across them in their weakened states. He would die before seeing Rukia undergo the same kind of hell Yammy had inflicted upon him and nothing would mean anything if Aizen still lived. Crouching down next to a tiredly fussing Rukia and a groaning Renji, he used the dust to write out the one question that truly mattered.

�Dead, thanks to a Quincy�s arrow,� Rukia informed him and reached up to brush a bit of dark hair out of her eyes. �Ichigo and the others are rounding up the Arrancar as we speak and Karin is breaking Claims. I need to report in to Yoruichi.�

He sat back, trying to wrap his mind around what she�d just told him as she dug around in her pocket for her communicator. The Escapees and their allies had won, more or less. Glancing up, he caught sight of the members of a 4th Division unit rushing towards them and decided he could have a good, old-fashioned breakdown when there weren�t so many witnesses.

Yammy was dead. Aizen was dead. Rukia would be fine, and with time and some healing Kido, so would Renji. For the first time in a very long time, Byakuya allowed himself the luxury of a tiny amount of happiness. He would still have to deal with his family, as he doubted Yammy�s death would prevent them from insisting that he either produce a suitable heir or relinquish his title in favour of another. That bitter thought ate away at the joy he felt at his reunion with Rukia.

�It would serve them right if I did wash my hands of the Clan, considering the privilege and honour that slaying Yammy will bring to the new regime.�

Then he sighed, sick of thinking of the Kuchiki Elders and their intractability. For now, he would settle for an explanation regarding the band of gold on Rukia�s left ring finger.

Mwhaha got almost all of you. I will confess my original vision was to use Ryuuken, but somewhere near the end of POV 1 I changed my mind to Yuzu as it would be even more unseen, and really get the whole family involved in his ultimate downfall. Stay tuned for more deaths.
- 96
- 97
- 98
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Prize of Victory 2	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > General Views: 56251 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make a profit from this story

Prize of Victory 2