Jupiter staggered and landed on his back, shaking and trembling, as if that certain ghost was visiting him from the grave. Phantom ( in Ichitarō's body), ambled slowly towards Jupiter. His creepy smile appeared on his face, revealing a crimson blood pupil that painted around his black eyes like the blood moon in a dark, starless night.
Even poor Rukia couldn't understand what is going on.
" You ungrateful cur. You're supposed to be dead, HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?!" Jupiter boomed with fear. Phantom giggled with his disembodied voice and no words came from his mouth. He even looked at Ichitarō's body at first, thinking he might get used to it despite being an adolescent.
" Amazed, isn't it? Let's just say, Mother's miracles always happens. At the right place, at the right time. Now that I'm inside this boy, everyone in the spirit world owes me something and the lad I last saw was just a begining. A soul for a soul." He stated, blurring the lines whether or not he's telling the truth.
Clenching his fist when he saw the evil smirk on Phantom's face, he stood up, sprinted to intercept the possessed boy and leapt onto him head-on. To Jupiter, it was a hasty job. Which leads him to chant a spell, spreading horizontally across him. However, it didn't took seconds before he swung him around and tossed him to the ground.
Their fights were vehemently strenuous along with their flying fists. Each countering attacks of another. At the same time, Phantom find it amusing, but briskly grew bored. He simply lifted his leg and soccer kicked Jupiter in the side of his face, nearly threw him to the icy ground.
He shook his head when he encountered a super kick, bruising the side of his face. Once he's in balance, he lifted his hand forming fist meant for Phantom on the stomach and charged forward as he pulled back. By the time he was about to punch him, he suddenly vanished.
Jupiter lost his mind when he circled around like a madman looking for something. His brow furrowed by madness together with rage and fear, only when his eyes gazed to Rukia, who also doesn't know where Ichitarō is.
" Y...You! Where is he?" He bellowed, pointing his finger to her; " WHERE'S THAT LITTLE BRAT, SOUL REAPER?!"
Rukia couldn't answer him, drawing her zanpakuto and pointed right at him, in defence. Fearing for her own life.
" Of course. You're turning yourself into a mute." He said, finally calmed down; " I guess I have no choice but to kill you myself until your words will come out of your mouth."
Jupiter went to Rukia and activated an onyx black orb, illuminated with dark magenta. He threw it towards her, when an invisible force countered his attack and desecrated like it's nothing. Jupiter's eyes widen and was incredulous at what he witnessed.
Rukia was surprised at first, but actually senses a powerful spirit energy, assumed it wasn't Ichitarō at all. Her conscious might be right after all, but wasn't sure.
"I told you not to hurt the Soul reaper." Phantom warned, slowly approaching from the shadows.
" Or what?"Jupiter scoffed, sensing any spirit energy from Phantom;" You're just a road block for my decades of planning and I'll remained victorious. NOW, CUT THE CRAP AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN YOU ARE!! NOT A FORSAKEN COWARD!!!"
Phantom chuckled lightly when he appeared behind him and with a whispery, ghost like voice he simply muttered : " As you wish."
Jupiter saw him when he turned around and jumped to the right. Then, he pounced from his right flank, though Phantom tilted his head. As his fists were rocketing towards him, Phantom spun around his body, reached out and sling-shot his two fingers against his forehead with enough force to knock him back. Afterwards, he grabbed one of his fist and contorted his arm with the completed rotation, moreover damaging it.
Unleashing his painful scream from his lungs, he grasped Jupiter's arm tightly, releasing his own fist out of the way. By then, Phantom landed a brutal kick to the chest and pulling him back, three times like a yo-yo and grabbed him by the neck.
With a sneering smirk appeared on his face, he activated an orb and without chanting its name, he pulled the trigger onto Jupiter. Furthermore, he crashed towards fewer buildings and to the ground.
Phantom remained content, baptising himself with Jupiter's blood on his hair. He simply took a deep breath and summoned a bigger spell, aiming it on him. Not only did it grabbed everyone's attention, but also his spirit energy had completely obliterated the turquoise smog from it's existence.
However, a sharp pain in his chest had stopped him from killing Jupiter. Rukia couldn't help but to figure out what's wrong with him when she ran towards him after dropping her zanpakuto.
" Ichitarō, are you okay? Talk to me." Rukia asked, tried to comfort him by any means necessary. Phantom gently grasped her wrist when she placed her hand to his cold cheek.
" M.... My energy.....", Phantom grunted, looking at Rukia and revealed Ichitarō's royal blue pupil. Yet, his black eyes and a skull face paint remained. Then he requested, which brought Rukia to tears; " Dear child, you must go back to the world of the living. Someone has my hogyōkū. Please find it. It's the only way to______."
On the other hand, his request was cut off when a sudden blow to his head was knocking him down with a gasp alongside his eyes became normal again. Without a single word coming out of Rukia, she witnessed his eyes rolled up to his head and fainted. Now lying on the ground, Ichitarō's eyes were shut and could no longer see who was responsible.
Panic grew over Rukia and immediately noticed a piece of yellow paper, written in Chinese words in running script. By the time Rukia was reaching the paper, which was sticking on the back of his head, her brother stopped her.
" Rukia, don't. You'll make it worse." He spoke.
" Byakuya....I thought.....Ichitarō was going to say something and _____." She stammered, but her brother, once again, stopped her.
" Rukia, just because it's Ichitarō, doesn't mean he can control.... whatever that's inside of him. What I'm saying is it's dangerous to have him here. It might cause him serious damage or it can lead to fatality to either you, the spirit realm or himself, if he can't control it." Byakuya explained, then Rukia noticed something when she met Kisuke and he, eventually gave the hogyōkū to her. Sadly, she lost it when Aizan stole it from her. She now, realised what Phantom's cryptic message was.
" That's it. The hogyōkū! We need to find it as soon as possible. It's the only way to save him." She said, but Byakuya shook his head.
" I know that. But Aizan is dead and the hogyōkū was taken from him. How the hell are we supposed to find it....? " Byakuya inquired. But then, he remembered; " Kisuke and Yoruichi. Maybe they'll help us. We have to go."
" Wait, we can't leave him or the other lieutenants as well." Rukia remarked.
" Don't panic, Rukia. Li and the others are getting them out of here."
Rukia breathe a sigh of relief when Yoshimura and Rangiku sprinted to the scene. They were startled when they saw Ichitarō, unconsciously lying on the icy floor.
"Hey, Ichitarō. We heard a commotion outside. Are you dead or something?" Yoshimura asked, rushing towards him. Dropping the blue arctic cat from her arms and it sniffed right at his body. Rangiku went on her knees beside her brother who's remained unconscious.
" What happened to him?" She mumbled then both saw the paper. Ramune grabbed Tobimaru and Ichitarō's stuff, heading straight towards the rest of the group when the captains slowly rose. Yet, a spirit energy coming from an already destroyed building had risen.
Jupiter was in agonizing pain when he rose to his feet. The more steps he took, the more excruciating the pain was. Almost all of them froze, yet prepared to fight him.
In an unexpected way, he saw Ichitarō unresponsive. His smile beamed on his face and he spoke:
" It seems he's worn out. Poor thing. I guess ending his life before he could rise again."
" I'm not letting you take another life, you scum bag."
Shunsui remarked, but Jupiter crackled, writhing with agony.
" You don't get it, do you?! I will make sure nothing stops my plans on freeing my father. Even if it means ending the entire spirit realm and overthrow the Soul king. Especially a petty dragon like him!" He exclaimed.
The moment he drew closer, a white unicorn arrived, scooping both Rukia and Rangiku towards its back and Byakuya, managed to hop in. Everyone seemed shocked at his actions and Ukitake asked:
" Captain Kuchiki, What in Celestia's name are you doing?!"
He didn't reply. Yoshimura desperately chased them, begging him to take her and Ichitarō as well. But the white unicorn was too fast and she nearly tripped and fell from the ground with tears in her eyes as she saw the lights on the Japanese style gates. The moment they entered those gates, it closes shut and vanished.
Yoshimura remained motionless and left some of the Captains jaw dropped, yet Shunsui fathomed at Byakuya's action, giving him an idea. When she dropped Tobimaru and helped him to rise up, she softly told him :
" Hang in there. We'll fight him together."
" Ramune, go and take the boy." He ordered. Ramune was baffled at his request.
" Zhàng fū... I... You're asking me too much. How can I ____?" She asked, but Shunsui eased her tension by pressing his lips to hers, whilst Mayuri covered the young boy's eyes.
Once they separate themselves from their passionate kiss, Shunsui glanced at her shimmering eyes and said:
" Don't worry about me. Take him to the Heavenly Dragon gates and we'll meet you there. Use Murasaki."
Without any alternatives, she nodded before raising her hand and shoot a small purple light to the sky, which was meant for Murasaki.
" Shunsui?" Jushirō asked, looking at him.
" Jushirō, take the red haired girl and come with me. with Aiden. The moment Murasaki arrived, we'll leave." Shunsui said. This startled him, but Mayuri said to him:
" Don't bother yourself too much. I'll keep your son safe and we'll meet you there. "
Jushirō finally nodded at Shunsui's plan when Jupiter's patience had reached its boiling point.
" I have had enough chitchat for now. Time for business." Jupiter chuckled. He incarnates a darker spell when he senses something.
He halted and everyone could hear a ferocious roar, suddenly broke the essence and, by then he saw a dragon swooshes around and grabbed Ramune and Ichitarō, he took his bat like wings and flew. It creates a dusts as well.
That gave them the opportunity to escape. Jushirō scooped Yoshimura up in his arms, and ran along with Shunsui. Shunsui immediately one last shout towards Mayuri, "Meet us at the Heavenly Dragon gates!" Mayuri nodded and took Tobimaru and lifted him up. Both of them ran away to the other side.
As soon as Jupiter attempts to follow either of them, his wounds got worse and he'll bleed to death if he continues. He had no choice but to retreat.
~~~~~~~~~
{ YAMAMOTO'S POV}
The Old Head captain Yamamoto, stood tall above the Senzaikyu building. Witnessing his home burt to the ground by destruction and chaos at the hands of Kazumi and her step brother. He didn't show any other emotions, except calmness, as he himself had expected this.
Now that the smog vanished by Phantom, he didn't lifted a single finger, only his breath. Though, it didn't took a mere seconds before Kazumi appeared behind him, unleashing her spirit energy.
[ CELESTIAL ART: CROSS BLADE ]
A cross shaped blade, forged in starry light, appeared in her hand as she pointed straight to Yamamoto. Yet, the old Head captain hadn't shown any signs of cowardice nor a flinch at her.
" You never listen, Kazumi. Even if I made it clearly, you're still too stubborn. Neither you nor Aizan can rule the Seireitei and change the rules of the Spirit world." He spoke, in a taunted tone.
" I was doing this for your attention. Now that your little lieutenant isn't here to save your old arse, we'll finish this fight once and for all. For `my` Aizan." She responded and Yamamoto smirked.
" I'll see about that, old woman." He scoffed.
Kazumi spread her golden wings and dashed towards Yamamoto, whose spirit energy collided with hers. Waves of flames were unleashed from him as he activated his zanpakuto's ability.
{ ALL THINGS IN THE UNIVERSE TURNED INTO ASHES : RYUUJIN JAKKA}
[ KA-BOOM!!!]
His spirit energy exploded across the Seireitei. Capable of throwing any spirit leaders, especially Kazumi. Almost immediately, Kazumi threw strange light beams towards him. Yet he swung his flaming zanpakuto and the beams were diluted into nothingness and threw waves of flames, directing straight at Kazumi. She ducked the flames, whilst causing more damages.
By the time their swords collided, the entire Seireitei was almost in ruins. Many Soul reapers retreated and some were lucky enough to escape to the world of the living. Their fights grew more intense than ever before, it was so strong that it caught attention to other spirit leaders.
Kazumi disappeared and reappeared behind Yamamoto. Surprisingly, he caught her sword in midair with his zanpakuto and crashed her down all the way to the Sōkyoku hill.
[ DOOF ]
As Kazumi struggled to stand up, Yamamoto rose his zanpakuto and activated a certain ability that was almost impossible to escape.
{ ZANGEKI MOERU YŌNA!!! }
His enchanted scream echoed as his flaming zanpakuto was heading where Kazumi landed, slicing the peak end of the rock. Consequently, a large chunks of rocks fell and landed somewhere in the Seireitei and Yamamoto, once again, glanced at this majestic sighting.
As soon as he's ready to walk away, a red light appeared out of nowhere at the ground he stepped and chains instantly grabbed his arms and around his neck, forcing him to kneel down. Struggling to see who was responsible, he saw Lila placing her hands on the cold mud-like sand, which angered him even more.
Kazumi meandered slowly towards him with few scratches on her arm and torso. Her sinister grin disgusted the old captain yet again. She leaned towards him and said:
" You're getting old, Shigekuni. I think it's time I ca control the Soul society."
Yamamoto chuckled turned into a booming laughter at what Kazumi said. When the chains brought his arms together, he forced himself to get up as he stated, already figuring out Kazumi's plan:
" So, this is your petty plan, Kazumi. To take over the Seireitei and take control of it. You and Juha Batch are the same - always looking for power and destroy everything in your path to get what you wanted for the people they care about. At the end of the day, Celestia would never allow this to happen. You won't rule the Seireitei, you bastard and I hope you'll remember my words when you regret this."
Kazumi didn't heaved Yamamoto's warning when Jupiter appeared from her shadow. He was heavily injured by Phantom and as soon as he told her how he failed, Kazumi didn't reacted.
Kazumi turned to face Yamamoto and pushed him to fall on his backside. She watched him groaning in pain when she stepped on his chest.
" You know what, I'll never regret my decision. I'll destroy everything you hold dearly. Enjoy the show, you old fool." She cursed bitterly, before letting him go and commanded Lila., " Tell Bezel to locate the boy first. We'll get the rest of them later."
~~~~~~~~~
Excalibur managed to escape the bird cage and saw the destruction of the Seireitei. He then realised Ichitarō's journey didn't end and finally flew outside to follow him. The noises soon softened and faded until everything became quiet, only snow dropped on the cloudy skies.
Excalibur kept on searching for Ichitarō far and wide and a light caught his eye. He then dived down to that illuminated light. Once he landed on the snowy island of Hakune island. There he was, unconscious along with Murasaki. But no sign of Ramune at all.
Excalibur briskly flew to him and noticed the paper was placed on the back of his head. When he used his beak and removed it, Ichitarō was his normal looking self again. When he looked around, his eyes only glanced at Excalibur with a puzzling, expressionless face.