Hollow Hunter: a Bleach Fan Fiction

24: Final Fight

Ichigo

Once in the basement, Evie and Yajimaru prepared to fight. They glared at each other as Yajimaru drew his sword, and Evie tapped into Rachel's power. The left glove-now the colour blue-unraveled and wrapped around Evie, giving her the kimono of a soul reaper. Evie held her blue zanpakuto in both hands. Since we had switched our powers back, I guess Evie realized that she could tap into the power of only one Eye. A red glove continued to cover her right hand. 

Why she chose Rachel though, I have no idea.

Orihime rocked nervously on her heels. We hadn't seen a lot of Evie's fighting ability, which I guess was the reason why Orihime wasn't sure how to feel. The rest of us was were pretty calm, though. We trusted Evie.

Without warning, Yajimaru ran forward, holding his sword low.

Evie sidestepped, and raised her sword. Yajimaru lifted his up and blocked her's.

I had originally planned on fighting Yajimaru, but Evie had wanted to do it.

Her words rang in my head.

Ichigo. I know you plan on fighting, but no. This is my fight. Don't interfere unless I'm dead.

I clearly heard the uncertainty in her voice. She didn't want to say those words, she doubted her power against the half-being.

I was going to object, but Kisuke-who somehow always knows these things-gave me a look, one that said, don't make it harder on her.

Evie charged at Yajimaru, refusing to give him the first attack. The half-being was expecting this, but he wasn't fast enough. Evie attacked his arm, slicing right through, but it wasn't very deep. Just a scratch. Despite that, a small smirk emerged on Evie's lips. She knew she would succeed. 

The battle had truly begun now.

The swords clanked with each hit, ringing out throughout the training ground, Evie and Yajimaru charging each other without hesitation.

White wings spread out from behind Evie and she flew herself upwards, to a point that she was barely seen. She pointed her sword downwards and folded her wings up again, diving towards the half-being. As she fell, I remembered my own wings I had for a bit. The only reason I didn't use them was because I forgot about them. I wasn't used to it.

Just before Evie's sword made contact with Yajimaru, he jumped out of the way, causing Evie to crash into the ground, causing dust to billow into the air.

"You cannot beat me, child," Yajimaru called out to her.

I saw Chad clench his fist, but still didn't step in. It took everything we had not to interfere with this fight.

Evie

I stared up at Yajimaru. His words didn't have even the slightest bit of truth to them. 

And he knew it. 

I lunged at him, watching as the panic emerge on his face. As I flew towards him, I drew back Rachel's power and pulled out Michelle. My black kimono switched to a white one and a hollow mask was created on my face. I summoned my red sword and stabbed it right through his stomach, my hand having pierced all the way through. 

Blood began to drip from his mouth. When he coughed, some splattered onto my hollow mask, which I simply wiped away as I drew my hand back from his stomach.

Yajimaru fell backwards, surprise-and peace?-marking his features. "Y-you actually d-did it," he muttered. I had to strain my ears to hear. 

"Of course I did," I said. I moved my hollow mask so it rested to the side of my face. 

"I-I terrorized you s-since you were a little g-girl." He closed his eyes, tried taking a deep breathe in, failed miserably. "I-I'm s-sorry."

I let out a small gasp of surprise. Then, closing my eyes, I turned away from him, starting to walk back to my friends. 

"And..."

I froze, turning my head slightly to look at him through the corner of my eye.

"T-tell Hanbu... I-I'm sorry."

My mind completely froze as Yajimaru took his final breath, his body turning to light and disappearing. It was oddly... fitting. 

I turned towards my waiting friends, walking towards them. Yajimaru's blood continued dripping from my arm, but I didn't want to wash it away. 

Not yet.

When I finally reached my friends, no one spoke a word. Whether it was because speaking would be inappropriate or they just couldn't figure out what to say, it didn't matter. I was grateful. 

After a full minute of standing and silence, the only noise our breathing, I finally collapsed to my knees. I stared at the ground blankly, two tears rolling down my face, reaching the ground.

"I'm finally free," I breathed out. 

I felt a hand press itself against my head, messing up my hair. I looked up into Kisuke's grey eyes. I could see happiness-happiness for me-dancing in them.  

"Yes you are."