Hollow Hunter: a Bleach Fan Fiction

21: Bankai

Evie

"Bankai!" I shouted, my rising spiritual pressure creating wind around me, throwing pebbles into the air. Yajimaru stared shocked at my appearance. The kimono had become a white dress, still similar in shape to a kimono. But the dress was covered by the black cape thing. It was ripped at the end, long sleeved and had a red lining on the inside. Zangetsu had even shrunk in size to his bankai, and become much lighter, giving me an easier time to weird him. "Tensa Zangetsu."

"You-you can use bankai?" Yajimaru stuttered.

"Ahh!" I screamed out and fell to the ground, the recoil of bankai attacking every inch of my skin.

Yajimaru cackled at my pain. "Oh, I see now."

I panted as I stood up. My skin was now a raw pink, and my already burnt hand was even worse. "Let's get this over with..." I growled, grinding my teeth through the pain.

He smirked. "I agree."

I charged at him-keeping my grip loose-my flash step faster than before. Yajimaru had no hope of watching me.

I came up from behind and got ready to attack, but Yajimaru anticipated this. Even though he was slower, he was able to turn around in time and punch me in the gut. I went flying towards the wall again, but I dug the heel of my feet into the ground and managed to avoid hitting the wall. I hissed at the pain but ignored it.

Yajimaru pulled out a giant chunk of the rock and threw it at me. "Getsuga Tenshou!" I shouted. I flinched as the burn moved upwards, to my elbow. Dust billowed everywhere as the Getsuga touched the rock, only pebbles flying.

Through the dust, I ran forwards-forgetting I could flash step-Zangetsu held in the air.

I saw Yajimaru's silhouette up ahead. I was going to knock him down and get my powers back.

As I neared him, I suddenly noticed his grin. That was definitely not a good sign.

Quick as lightning, Yajimaru grabbed onto my neck and lifted me off the ground. He held me above him as his grip grew tighter, chocking me.

"B-but how?" I gagged. I wasn't sure if he understood.

"I am the reason the others are perfect beings. I gave them the shards of Rachel. I can control where my biggest strength lies because I am the Ultimate Perfect Being!"

He lowered me, so I was partly lying on the ground, but he still held onto my neck. Then he suddenly launched me into the air. The ceiling broke apart in an instant from the force, yet I continued to climb higher. I could see the Seireitai below me, the people looked like ants, yet I could feel their stares on me.

"Dammit," I coughed, being able to breathe again.

I watched Yajimaru as his form approached me. He quickly caught up, and was above me. He raised his fists in the air. "No!" I screamed just as his fists connected with my back. I was hurled to the ground at blinding speeds. I let out an ear piercing scream that only my own ears heard.

I got closer and closer to the ground. I knew I was going to crash into a building, I was close enough to tell.

I allowed my eyes to close, I didn't want the ground to be the last thing I saw before I died. Instead, I allowed myself to picture my friends: Ichigo. Orihime. Uryu. Chad. Tatsuki. Keigo. Mizuirio. Kisuke. Yoruichi. Rukia. Renji. Even Hanbu.

Just before I blacked out-from my fall, and the recoil of my attacks-I heard a familiar voice ring in my ears:

"Soten Kisshun!"

Hanbu

'Don't worry Evie. We'll save you.'

My thoughts raced as Evie fell, she was still high enough that we could see her.

"You guys go ahead!" I called. They were already in front of me, so they might as well. "I'll catch up as soon as I can."

"Are you sure?" Uryu asked, looking back at me.

I nodded. "Go!"

They raced ahead. In no time, I couldn't see them.

I sighed. Being a perfect being sucked. At least when I was a half-being, I could run like a normal human. I don't care about all this extra strength.

A single tear rolled down my face, but I caught it before it could complete its journey. I was going to have to die so Evie could get Rachel back. There's no way around it. A shard of Rachel was inside me, and the only way to reach it was for me to... Die.

I gasped with realization. For the first time ever, I didn't want to die. And it was because of Evie.

She was the first person to actually treat me like another person. Back when she was kidnapped the first time and she had only just met me, she felt bad for me when she teased me. She healed the scar Yajimaru had given me. We actually had a what felt like a real conversation, and we were enemies at the time!

A surge of strength-not the physical kind-overcame me, and I sped up. I was renewed with energy. Amazingly, I quickly managed to catch up with everyone. Before they could question it, I noticed Evie was quickly getting dangerously close to the ground.

"Is there anyway to catch her from here?" I asked frantically.

Orihime quickly pulled out these two snowflake-shaped pins. "Soten Kisshun!" she shouted.

Three pieces from each pin sprang forth and created a shield right below Evie. She landed on it with a jolt, making me wince at the pain she must be feeling. The shield stayed as fast as Evie was falling but was gradually slowing down. She was lowered into a building.

We barged into the building. The shield was already gone, Evie lying unconscious on the ground. Her skin was a light pink and she was wearing something different than earlier.

"She went bankai?" Ichigo asked, shock written on his face as clear as day.

Before any of us could answer, Yajimaru crashed through the ceiling, landing next to Evie.

"Hello," he greeted.

Anger coursed through my veins. "I won't let you touch her!" I screamed and tackled him, pushing us both through the wall.

"How dare you," Yajimaru dusted himself up as I stood up, towering over him.

He kicked me right in the gut. I fell back down with a "Oof."

"Are you okay?" Chad asked.

I nodded as I stood up, staring down Yajimaru, who was now standing. He was only an inch taller than me. "You guys focus on healing Evie."

Through the corner of my eye, I could see the uncertainty on their faces. After a moments hesitation, they went back into the building.

"It's just you and me," I glowered at Yajimaru.

He simply nodded.

We rushed towards each other, and locked fists with each other.

"Be prepared to die," we both whispered.