Bleach: Fall and Rise

107: Death by Possession

(a/n ok, we're at this point, warning there will be violence and spoilers for the flashback in the Soul Society arc)

12 years later, Hasine's POV

Opening the windows to let in some fresh air into the room I watched as rain clouds started to move in, an impending rainfall is moving in as the winds started to pick up I remembered that Rukia has a mission today of scouting out a hollows lair with captain Ukitake and Shiba Fukutaicho.

That was yesterday when she told me about the massacre and I immediately had a bad feeling before telling her that I've encountered demons that have possessed people and something told me this hollow can possess spirits and eat them from the inside out.

She asked me if I could come as well but I refused to and I told her I can't interfere with events unfolding or that'll change everything and then I left leaving a seriously confused Kaien in my wake.

Rukia's POV

Watching as the hollows came out of the cave I got nervous, this is the first mission where I've had to scout out a hollow's abilities and kill it, Hasine's words didn't help with anything at all as the hollow said it smelled fresh meat and started giggling maniacally as Kaien took out his sword" Kaien-dono, let me scout out his abilities first..." I said," captain, can I get your permission to...fight it alone." He said.

My eyes widened at the request as Ukitake looked over to him" granted." He said and he jumped down before I remembered what Hasine said again before I could call out to him.

Kaien's POV

"So you're the first? Eh? Brat!" He taunted" before we start our fight? I need to confirm something, how many Shinigami have you eaten?" I asked, the hollows froze a little bit" sorry but I don't keep track of my intake." He said," do you feel regret about killing?" I asked.

"A dumb question. I like you, you have heart! There has been a night where I do feel regret about it...even now I feel it...about what happened last night." He started before lifting his head" ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE WOMAN SHINIGAMI LAST NIGHT! I DIDN'T EAT HER BIT BY BIT BUT I REALLY REGRET DOING IT!!!" He roared and then giggled maniacally.

"Ok." I said and he started charging toward me' he's coming at me.' I thought then zipped right past him and took some of his tentacles with me before launching on top of him and taking my sword out to end it" wrankle the seas and the skies, Nejibana!!" I shouted but nothing happened.

"He he he...the first Shinigami to touch my tentacles...will lose their zanpaktou!!" He yelled' crap.' I thought looking down at my broken zanpaktou then launched off the hollows' how's it even possible to destroy zanpaktou like that? How can such an ability even exist?' I thought and was flung off the hollows" Kaien!" Rukia yelled.

Rukia's POV

I was about to run and help him when a hand grabbed onto my sword, looking up UKitake is the one who stopped me" captain...!! Pl-please, let go of me! Kaien...if we don't help him..." I said then before he interrupted me" if we do that...then what's going to happen with his pride?" He asked, my heart dropped with dread.

"However, at the same time, you will be the one to have killed his pride." He finished as I turned back to the fight between the hollow and Kaien" pride isn't important...to his own life!!!" I yelled" Rukia, remember this, there are 2 types of fights, one when you have to do battle and 2. The fight of your life...or pride!" Ukitake said.

I looked back down to the fight between Kaien and the hollow, he's losing" this fight at this very moment is for his pride! His wife's pride, the men's pride, and most important...his own pride...let him fight...alone like this..." He finished leaving me about to cry when Kaien flung himself back.

Kaien's POV

The hollow taunted me about being a good warrior even without my zanpaktou with me countering back that all I needed was kido which I soon regretted when he shot something at me when he screamed at me for underestimating him.

Rukia's POV

"Kaien?!" I strained as tendrils were shot into his body leaving the hollows dead" you called?" whatever asked turning to us and revealing the maniacal grin and soulless black eyes full of bloodlust my eyes widened as I weakly called out his name" why do you say that so many times? Do you care about him this much?" He asked" RUN!! Do you want to die?!" Ukitake demanded.

My eyes widened for what felt like the 100th time and I ran for it, tears filling my eyes' why? Why does it have to end like this? Why? Kaien!' I thought starting to cry and trying not to remember when I first met him 19 years ago in the 13 division.

Ukitake's POV

Running alongside one possessed Kaien, he turned to me with a maniacal grin and taunted me on why I haven't attacked and presumed that I have to cut down a hollow that possessed Kaien before I slit his throat and he just started yelling at me about killing his comrade when at the worst time possible I broke out into a coughing fit.

'Dammit, it! Not now!'  I thought when the possessed body lunged at me and my eyes widened' dammit!' I thought when a blur zipped past, looking back Rukia I saw Rukia back there holding her sword" you idiot! What are you doing here?!!" I shouted but the look in her eyes said it all.

Rukia's POV

Kaien came flying at me, I only came back because I knew Ukitake would've been doomed if I hadn't" KILL IT!! That's not your VICE-CAPTAIN ANYMORE!!" Ukitake shouted, I got my sword ready as he came closer as the captain shouted kill the hollow again and not even a second later is when the sword impaled him, the blood getting onto my face and hands when it started raining.

".....thank you...captain...it's...because of you...that my heart can...stay here..." He said before his hand went limp and taking his final breath and died, I took him in a hug' I didn't do this to deserve thanks!!' I thought starting to sob, the rain falling harder.

Hasine's POV

A gust of wind rustled some of the paper and it went through me, I knew at that moment that Kaien had died as I looked out the window at the torrents of rain' reincarnate, become a new man, your story has just begun, a new man will continue it.' I thought and went back to work.