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

DREAMS OF RUKIA: Chapter Twenty Five

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Tsunayashiro, huh? Never heard of you."

"I'm not surprised. We Nobles typically skulk in the shadows, out of sight of the Court Guard. But I just couldn't resist intervening."

Anger still bubbling within me, I draw my axe and point it at Touma. "I don't even care about your motive. There's no excuse for what you've done, so I'll deliver the justice the Court Guard won't! I'll be the one to strike you down!"

"I'd like to see you try." Within a second he's on top of me, and before Rukia can step in Touma has hit me in the gut with the hilt of his blade, knocking me back...

...and over the edge of the cliff.

"Tsuchiya!!" Rukia calls out from the cliff edge as Touma leaps after me. I break my fall by solidifying reiatsu beneath me, and I cough as I stagger to my feet. Rukia breathes a sigh of relief as the other Captains join her at the edge, watching.

"Should we step in?" Shinji looks to Kyoraku but he shakes his head.

"No, Shinji. At least, not yet. Tsuchiya has defeated Byakuya, Kensei and even Tier Harribel. Let's see if he can defeat Touma on his own. Toshiro!" Hitsugaya turns to Kyoraku. "If Tsuchiya ends up near death, you and I will step in if needed." "Yes, Head Captain."

-----------------------------------------

As Touma lands in front of me, he draws his blade. "So you want to defeat me, huh? Not a chance. My blade, Enrakyoten, is unstoppable."

"I've defeated several Captains and Queen Harribel. I think I can kill you too." I scoff as I fire a wave of ice at him, but he blocks with... flames? Something wasn't right.

"So you have a fire Zanpakuto?"

"Not exactly." A massive phoenix head billows out of the flames, its maw opening wide as if to consume me. It was then that it dawned on me. These were flames like the deceased Head Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto's Zanpakuto, Ryuujin Jakka! That means...

Enrakyoten can mimic other Zanpakuto powers.

I dodge the flames and flash behind Touma to strike him, but he dodges and a wave of fire singes my left arm. I yell out as I slash at him, landing a hit but I feel a stab at my right arm. As I leap back and look down at my arm...

There's a mark of Suzumebachi on my hand.

"What the hell is this?! An illusion?!" I demand that Touma explain how he was just using flames, but now is using Suzumebachi's power.

"Oh, it's no illusion. The flames that burned you AND the mark on your hand are completely real. My Enrakyoten, or rather, the blade of the Tsunayashiro family, has the power to mimic any power it's seen, and can mimic multiple powers at once!" He laughs maniacally. "How could you ever even think of beating me?"

I snap my axe handle in two. "I've surpassed all odds before. I can sure as hell do it again. Bankai!! Zettai-Tekina Samu-Sa no Kurai Mofu!!"

The cold armor forms on me once again, clouds forming as the temperatures drop to frigid levels once more. Suddenly, Touma's blade extends out into a whip of sorts, resembling the power of Zabimaru. But how can that be? I thought Renji Abarai didn't exist in this timeline...

I block the oncoming attack and the blade that touched me freezes on contact. The ice breaks, however, and I create a sword out of hard ice to lunge at Touma, our blades clashing repeatedly. After more fighting, I step back.

"So, Tsuchiya. How many times did you strike my blade...?"

I look confused, but suddenly the ice sword I made begins to feel... heavier. Soon enough it becomes too heavy to hold up, even with two hands, and I just let it fall to the ground several hundred feet below, shattering like glass. I make two scimitar-like blades appear and, with no time to think about Enrakyoten using the power of Wabisuke, I block more strikes from the blade.

Suddenly, I see the end of the blade heading right towards me. He's going to use Suzumebachi's power to strike the marking and kill me! Time seems to slow as I think of a counterattack. If I'm technically alive...

I begin lowering my body temperature, yet another example of my power of evolution. Soon enough, by the time Touma strikes the marking...

Nothing happens. And the marking disappears.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm back! The final battle with Touma Tsunayashiro has begun! Tsuchiya has learned the hard way that Enrakyoten can mimic any power he's witnessed, and can copy multiple powers at once! Will Tsuchiya prevail? Or will the Court Guard have to step in to save the man they, just hours ago, were trying to kill?

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