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

DREAMS OF RUKIA: Chapter Twenty Two

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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"So you think you can stop me? Not only is my power all about cold, but I have the unique ability of evolution and adaption, able to devise perfect counters of, or attacks that slightly mimic, my opponent's powerset. Observe."

I raise my axe into the air, a blast of ice shooting upward. The blast branches out, the ice forming a beautiful Sakura tree, petals included. 

"I don't have a name for this one yet, but it's emulating Byakuya's Shikai. So I'll just call it Sakura for now." The petals begin to blow towards Lisa, pushed by a nonexistent wind. Each petal that lands on Lisa freezes a small portion of her body, the ice doesn't spread beyond the exact place the petal touched. The same is true for the ground. Within a minute, I have dotted frozen patches all over Lisa and the ground around her. 

Yoruichi walks up next to me and places a hand on my shoulder. "We'll take it from here. You don't have much time; GO!" 

"Ok, Yoruichi! Nel, stay with her." Nel nods as I use Shunpo to zip past Lisa and make a beeline for the Sokyoku Cliff.

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"As per your final request, I will ensure safe passage for Tsuchiya out of the Sereitei. BUT! He is not allowed to re-enter." Rukia nods as Kyoraku recognizes her final wish. She is marched to the execution stand, and the blocks life her up to the top of the stand's height. She closes her eyes, a tear running down one as she believes all hope is lost for me. The Sokyoku takes on its form of a flaming bird, inching closer and closer.

I'm so sorry, Tsuchiya. I let you down. I hope you're still alive.

Silence. Then...

"KORUDOBASUTO!!" (Cold Burst)

Rukia feels a sudden burst of a draft as the overbearing heat is gone. In its place, I'm standing on the air in front of her, my axe pointed at the Sokyoku. I hear a chorus of gasps and whispers from below as I send a wave of ice careening towards the Sokyoku blade, freezing and then shattering it. The aftershock is felt throughout the Sereitei.

"...Tsuchiya!"

I turn towards Rukia, smiling warmly. "Don't worry, Rukia. You're safe now."

I walk over to her, turning back around and lifting Rukia up by the waist, before I use Shunpo to flash to the ground and make a break for the cliff.

"All Captains and Vice Captains present, AFTER HIM!!" Suddenly I'm tailed by all the most powerful Soul Reapers, and they're closing in fast.

Until... they're not?

"Not so fast!"

I run a bit more and then turn around, a shocked gasp coming from me and Rukia. Blocking the way of the Captains... was Kenpachi Zaraki?!

"...Kenpachi?! What are you doing?"

"Saving your ass. Shinji told me the whole story. Now get outta here!"

I nod and keep running, but suddenly I hear a familiar voice behind me.

"Unhand my sister. Now."

Byakuya had somehow gotten past Kenpachi, and is now standing twenty feet away from me. I let Rukia go, but she stand next to me defiantly.

"Rukia, what do you see in this insolent brat? What makes you support him in favor of the Court Guard?"

"Who said I favored him over the Court Guard? I was wrongly accused and set to be executed, and he saved me. He's doing what you should be." I draw my Zanpakuto and release it.

"You lost brutally to me, brat. How do you plan to beat me now?"

"Oh, so I've been demoted to 'brat'? And if you must know, I've gotten much stronger than I was when we clashed four days ago. You won't stop me from defending Rukia." Unbeknownst to me, Rukia blushes a little behind me.

"If you insist. But know, even if you win, you have the rest of the Court Guard to beat."

"Nah, Kenpachi's probably gonna do that for me. Now, shall we?"

I raise my axe into the air, creating another Sakura tree of ice. "Sakura!" The ice petals begin to fall.

"What's this? Are you trying to copy me? My petals will destroy that mockery of Senbonzakura." Every petal of Byakuya's that hits one of mine, freezes over and hits the ground, shattering. One lands on his cheek and it freezes over. "You haven't gotten stronger. Only more irritating."

Suddenly the differently-colored petals form around me and Rukia.

"Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

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I know this was a slightly shorter chapter, but this is a perfect place to stop. Tsuchiya saves Rukia! But now he is faced with Byakuya, who's just released his Bankai! Will Tsuchiya's Bankai be enough to stop Rukia's brother?

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