DREAMS OF RUKIA: Opening Arc & Soul Reaper Civil War Arc

DREAMS OF RUKIA: Chapter Ten

DISCLAIMER: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR MAJOR EVENTS AND CHARACTERS OF BLEACH AND ITS SUBSEQUENT LIGHT NOVELS. If you don't wish to be spoiled, then do NOT read until you have seen all of Bleach and know of the light novels Can't Fear Your Own World, WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU, and Spirits Are Forever With You.

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"Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

I began trembling with fear as all the swords of Byakuya's Bankai surround me. This was the end. Of all the Captains that could have caught me, Byakuya was the last one I wanted to run into. Now he deemed me strong enough to use Bankai on, and I was truly shaking in my boots. 

"Since you're just powerful enough to beat my Shikai, I'll spare you a little by not using all of my Bankai on you at once."

But why? Why was he doing this? Byakuya's not the kind of person to do nonsense like this. I wasn't complaining though, as I would have a chance to escape. 

As the swords hit me one by one, cut after cut being afflicted on my body, I accepted my fate. I failed you, Rukia, I thought. I'm so, so sorry... Tears begin flowing as the pain becomes unbearable. 

I let out a scream. 

I don't usually scream like this, but when you're hit by a Bankai like this, you'd understand. This was it, I was going to die at the hands of a stage of Zanpakuto I didn't have.

Suddenly, I feel a pair of hands gripping me as I'm suddenly whisked away. My eyes are still shut tight as I don't know who's holding me. For all I know, it could be another Captain who's apprehended me and is carrying me toward prison.

As I feel me and my mysterious 'rescuer' landing, I suddenly feel a finger poking at my cheek. Over and over. What the hell...?

I slowly open my eyes, and I couldn't believe who I had been rescued by. And yes, upon seeing who snatched me up I knew I was rescued.

As I opened my eyes, I realized I was being held (and poked) by the former Third Espada, Nelliel. Upon opening my eyes, Nel smiles.

"Yay, you're awake!"

"Um, yes I am..." I pretended not to know who she was. "Who...Who are you?"

"I'm Nelliel Tu Odelschwank! Or Nel for short. You looked like you were dying, so I saved you!"

"Um, well... Thank you, Nel. But why save me? I'm wanted by the Court Guard for some reason!" Nel looked confused, as if she didn't know what I meant. "...They think I've done something bad when I haven't."

"Oh! Well you don't look like you've done anything bad. Maybe I can help you!" She begins to swirl her tongue around in her mouth, before... I almost don't wanna say it, it's disgusting.

She began to drool all over me. Yuck. But, something strange happened. My wounds were closing, and I felt... better! But still.

"Ewww, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Sit still! I know it's pretty disgusting, but my drool can heal you! It's the only way I can heal you, sorry!" Eventually my cuts are healed as if I never encountered Byakuya. Nel used her top to dry me off before I stood back up.

"Listen, Nel. You wanna help, right?" She nods. "Good. My... close friend Rukia is set to be executed. She's gonna get killed if we don't act fast!"

"She's gonna be killed? What did she do?" 

"No idea. I'm thinking she was falsely accused, so we need to stop the execution before Rukia dies. You in? It'll be a long uphill battle."

"I'm in!" Nel hops up and down, and I looked away so as to not watch her bounce up and down.

"Great. I'll need all the help I can get. So we need to be stealthy, quiet. We don't wanna get caught, but now since there's two of us we might stand a chance against certain Captains."

"Ok! Lead the way!" The two of us began to make our way closer to the execution cliff. Upon further inspection I gathered that Nel took me to the Squad 9 barracks, so we need to watch out for their Captain, Kensei. He's a bruiser, and his Bankai can seriously injure me just like Byakuya's, but in a different way. But now, with Nel on my side, I might stand a chance against him if I end up confronting him.

As me and Nel sneak around the barracks, I take in the surroundings. There isn't much cover to hide in, and many blind spots to get ambushed. I had to watch all angles in order to avoid being caught off guard.

Speaking of getting caught off guard...

"Keeensei! I foooouuund him!"

UGH.

That annoying, childish voice only belongs to one woman. As I turn to my right, of course there she is. Kensei's Vice Captain, Mashiro Kuna. Her messy bob of emerald hair only gives it away further. And, now making his way towards me and Nel, was Kensei. His presence is terrifying in a different way to Byakuya's; Kensei's presence is commanding, in-your-face, and intimidating.

"Good job, Mashiro. For once..." At least one thing between me and Kensei was the same: we both shared an irritation for Mashiro.

"Didn't you say we had to be stealthy?"

"Yeah, but now we've been caught. No sense hiding now." "Ah, if it isn't Kensei Muguruma, and... and you." I pointed to the two of them as I addressed them. 

"Hey, Kensei! How come he knew your name and not miiine? It's not fair!"

"Ugh, shut up!" Saying that in sync, but not addressing it, I watch as Kensei smacks Mashiro upside the head. I stifle a laugh as I watch Mashiro roll around on the ground in a fit.

"If ya hate that so much, Mashiro, then you go take him down!"

"Really? I'll make him pay for being unfair to me!"

Oh, so I'm fighting Mashiro? Should be easy as pie, I thought as the small green-haired brat sprinted towards me, putting on her Hollow mask.

"Congeal, Tsumetai Shiroi Mofu!"

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Tsuchiya has somehow survived Byakuya's Bankai! BUT, now he's up against another Captain, Kensei. Or at least, his Vice Captain Mashiro Kuna. But even if Tsuchiya wins, will he and Nel be enough to get past Kensei? That's for the chapters to come!

I hope you enjoyed, and thank you so much for reading!