From Dusk...To Dawn - Sequel to 'Into the Sweet Darkness'

Chapter 12 - Return

Sana pov:

After Haschwalth san had left me alone with the Soldat, there wasn't much that I had to do. Haschwalth san had told the Soldat that I was allowed to do whatever I want as long as it wasn't escaping of trying to break the seal. I for one, didn't have the energy to fight. Its not like I was in any harm anyway, so why bother?

While I was stuck here, there were many things that I was able to sense. Ichigo, Yoroichi san, Sado, Orihime and Ganju san who I remember meeting when I first came to Soul Society had arrived here to fight Juha san despite my requests for them not to come.

Juha san had said that he was going to destroy the Soul King. I had felt a rather strange presence here in the Soul King's Palace and I was sure it was the Soul King himself that I had been able to sense. But just before Ichigo and the others reached where Juha san was, the presence had completely disappeared. Once that reiatsu had disappeared, I had experienced a violent earthquake.

I don't know why that had happened but it had left the room I was in with lots of cracks and falling plaster. I was a little concerned at first, but it had stopped soon enough. Besides, the Soldat who were guarding me didn't seem worried about the earthquake so it was okay for me to stay calm too, right?

After the disappearance of the Soul King's reiatsu, there were several fluctuations in Juha san's reiatsu, Ichigo's reiatsu, Yoroichi san's reiatsu.....everyone's. They were fighting but Juha san obviously had the upper hand. Ishida and Haschwalth san were watching from the sidelines, not interfering with the fight.....until one point.

When Ichigo didn't seem,to stop fighting Juha san, I sensed Ishida release his reiatsu soon after and the distance between Juha san and Ichigo's gang increased. It was like they were blown away or something....the fight was short and Yoroichi san seemed to have gotten hurt. The others were fine though and they had been completely separated from the Quincys.

The Elite army of Juha san along with a few other Sternritter had turned up to where the Soul King was, gathering with Ishida and Haschwalth san. There was a bit of shaking yet again but it was because of the blast. It soon stopped and I sighed with my eyes closed gripping the couch rather tightly still startled.

I opened my eyes and got up from the couch. I walked to the balcony to get a better view of what was going on. The Soldat followed me and I stopped near the railing, looking up at the building I was in. I was on the lower floors and the Soul King was right in the middle of this huge floating building. When I looked up though, I was rewarded with the dust from the building shaking and I coughed as a bit of remaining dust fell on my face. I stuck my tongue out with a look of disgust and tried to get off the dust on my tongue by wiping it on my sleeve. Yeah, I know that's gross, but that was the only thing I could do now.

I stood in the half destroyed balcony for a while just watching the now ruined landscape of this world. Juha san had pretty much succeeded in what he wanted to achieve.....so what was he doing now? I sighed tiredly, rubbing my dry eyes. I hadn't slept for almost two days because of all this ruckus let alone the nightmares I kept having about the accident that woke me up with a start everytime. I wanted to sleep at least now....since I had nothing else to do, might as well take the chance to rest, right?

I walked back into the room, the Soldat followed again. Jeez, I felt like I had a bunch of stalkers following me everywhere. But unlike the rest I had hoped to get, I was barely in the room when Haschwalth san teleported into the room. I turned to face him and cringed as I remembered what he had done just a few hours ago. I didn't meet his eyes as he came to stand in front of me. "His Majesty wishes for your help." This time though, I looked up. "My help? I thought you didn't need my help. I don't want to help any of you and be called a traitor again...."