Waterfall Eclipse

Tomasu vs. Katayama

Chapter Sixty-Seven:

Tómasu vs. Katayama

Before Rani knew it, it was time for the battle with Fourth Seat Katayama. She wasn't worried about being able to defeat him. She was more worried that she would, in fact, kill him.

"Tómasu. Katayama. The rules are simple. This is a fight to a simple defeat, so use all of your strength and knowledge." The Captain Commander announced for everyone to hear. "When I see that there is a clear victor, I will call the battle. When I do that, it is the end. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir." Rani and Katayama agreed.

"Good. Let's get this battle on."

"You won't win." He muttered towards her.

"Don't be so cocky." She retorted as she saw him pull out his katana. She did the same.

They first clashed blades using normal Zanjutsu.

"Testing my skills?" She questioned.

"Maybe. But I can and will defeat you regardless."

"I hate repeating myself. Don't be so cocky." She replied as she went to block one of his moves.

They exchanged offensive and defensive attacks, occasionally successfully nicking or slicing one another. While she was able to get him in his arms, he managed to get here there, as well as her stomach and cheek.

"Well, that sucks." She said as she wiped away the blood running down her right cheek. "I hope that doesn't leave a scar." She added with a grin.

"O Lord, Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter wings, you who bears the name of Man, Inferno and Pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, March on to the south! Hado number thirty-one: Shakkaho!"

Half way through his chant, Rani was already thinking of her counter-measure and next attack.

"Bakudo number seventy-three: Tozansho!" She called forming the pyramid-shaped barrier, which blocked the red flame ball directed towards her. "O Lord, mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of man, truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws! Hado number thirty-three: Sokatsui!" She chanted and called releasing the wave of blue flames from her hand and just barely hitting him, but hitting him nonetheless.

"Scattered beast bones! Spire, Crimson Crystal, Steel Wheels! The wind if it moves, the sky if it stops, the tone of the spear striking fills the lone castle! Hado number sixty-three: Raikouhou!" He called firing yellow lightning at her blasting her back into a tree and then fell to the ground head hitting a rock.

~~Up At The Top~~

"RANI!" Lily yelled worried Rani was seriously injured.

"It's all right Lily. Rani can handle it." Kiyomi told her as she was holding the nine year old back.

"But that had to hurt." Lieutenant Abarai stated from behind.

"Uh, is she bleeding?" Chiharu asked.

"Just watch." Captain Kuchiki ordered.

~~Down Below~~

"Ow! Shit!" Rani said out loud as she got up. She felt the back of her head and it was wet. When she looked at her hand, it was bloody. "Yikes!" She said as she shook it off. "Hado number fifty-eight: Tenran!" She yelled firing a tornado blast that widened as it formed.

He dodged and suddenly was aiming at the audience, but he moved his hand to the left. Rani looked to see where he was aiming at, and then she saw. Lily had moved down the line as she watched the battle. Katayama was slowly aiming for her.

"Damn!" She said and then shunpoed in front of him forming a Bakudo number forty-four Sekisho barrier against his Hado number seventy-three Soren Sokatsui double blast attack. "You aimed at the captains and lieutentants you moron!"

"I know, but I was aiming at your precious Lily actually." He informed her. "Play - Akumano'o." Katayama suddenly called releasing his Shikai. His blade changed into two larger katanas.

"Shit!"

"Are you scared now?" He taunted her grinning.

"I finally realize who you remind me of."

"Oh, really? Who?"

"Former Squad Three Captain Ichimaru." She answered as she dodged his Shikai's first attack. "So, what does your Shikai do? This is my first time having the pleasure of battling it."

"When the blades are apart, they are two separate entities. They work like normal katanas." He started to explain. "However, if I place them ever so nicely next to each other, they are the ying and yang to one another." He added as he put the two pieces together. "If they touch, they act as a cero cannon, continuously firing blasts at my opponent until I stop it."

~~Up At The Top~~

"Captain?" Lieutenant Abarai questioned. "Was that what we were told his Shikai was?"

"No. Not at all. We were deceived." Captain Kuchiki replied.

"Do not worry." Captain Commander Yamamoto began. "I have faith in Third Seat Tómasu that she will defeat him. He's the deceitful one, lying to his commanding officers about his Shikai's true powers."

~~At The Bottom~~

Rani's eyes got wide. That couldn't be possible? Could it? She had to disarm him before he finished her. She had wanted to give everyone a slightly drawn out show, but that clearly wasn't an option now. She had wanted to trick her opponent into thinking it was still her one tail whip Shikai and not the new three tails. What Captains Kuchiki and Hitsugaya knew about his Shikai was wrong - a complete lie, probably planted by the former Squad Six Third Seat.

"Well, if you're going to go right in and get serious now, I guess I will have to as well." Rani stated as she pulled out her zanpakuto. "Rush - Taki Nisshoku."

He kept his eyes on her, not on her new Shikai version

"Your Shikai will not be able to defeat mine."

"I told you not to get cocky." She stated.

Two of Taki Nisshoku's whip tails stealthily wrapped themselves around the bottom part of each hilt before snaking up to his wrists while he paid attention to the third that looked like it was on its own in front of him.

"I am not afraid of one little electric piece." He boldly stated. "I can make a cero blast before it even has the opportunity to touch me."

"You really aren't observant, are you?" She rhetorically asked as the two tails slowly started to tighten. "I guess that's expected of someone who is willing to charge into battle, not making a plan for themselves. That only ends in defeat, death mostly." She said with a sigh. "I admit your Shikai is much more powerful than mine, but you need to be smart. Not take your time in using it, or be hesitant. I leave you with that final thought."

"You haven't defeated me!"

"Oh, haven't I?" She asked as the tails went as tight as they could against his wrists. "Do you want the pain, or surrender?"

"Bring. It. On."

Rani shrugged. She then twisted the handle of her whip and the tails emitted the electric pulses, causing him to release the two katanas. The tails placed them down gently on the ground.

Once they were on the ground, Rani released him from Taki Nisshoku's grasp. Katayama collapsed to the ground, knocked out. Captain Commander Yamamoto came seconds later and declared Rani the winner, while the Squad Four members came to check out Rani and Katayama.

As Rani was making her way where everyone else was with her back turned to him, he started to move and flexed his hand at her.

"Hado number fifty-four: Haien." He whispered before passing out again.