Wind pushed through the ash as a figure appeared at the far edge of the ruins, stepping carefully over broken stone. His eyes scanned the wreckage, hard and searching.
Ichigo Kurosaki had arrived.
He stopped, sensing the lingering reishi, the static in the air from Yoruichi's lightning, the shadowy residue of something dark and pure evil. His hand tightened on the hilt at his side.
Whatever had happened here wasn't over. Ichigo's eyes scanned the carnage ahead, his jaw tight as he pushed forward.
"Dammit, I hope I'm not too late. Yoruichi's energy. It's faint, but she's still alive and kicking. The same can be said for Rukia and the others. I just hope it isn't a trap." Ichigo spoke, his face showed no emotions, but his eyes burned with a fiery passion to stop this war.
The war wasn't going to end here, not while he was still breathing. If this battle in the ruins was the hinge on which fate turned, he was determined to force it in their favor.
He pressed forward, weaving between skeletal remnants of old walls, each movement calculated. The courtyard lay ahead—where Yoruichi and Primal, had fought. Ichigo knew Yoruichi had faced worse in her lifetime, but he wasn't aware of the terrifying monster Primal was, Ichigo had never met Scarlet. Or at least he couldn't remember if he had, everything was a haze for him. So much was happening and had happened.
"Hold on just a little longer." Ichigo spoke under his breath.
The wind rushed through the broken bones of Soul Society, carrying with it the taste of ash and the faint sting of ozone. Clouds hung low over the shattered skyline, jagged silhouettes of ruined towers cutting into the horizon like gravestones. The echoes of battles and the distance sounds of war were the only sounds that filled the air.
"Whoever Yoruichi was fighting, their presence isn't a friendly one....I haven't felt this much evil from one person in a long time.." Ichigo muttered to himself as he kept making his way through the ruins.
Meanwhile, in the safe heaven area. The air was warmer, though only by degrees, Kotori Itsuka sat on the edge of a low bench, her crimson eyes half-lidded, her breathing steady but shallow. She had made it to safety, to recover and regain her mana. The flame that burned in her very core was slowly recovering. She felt bad though, for having to leave Yoruichi behind, but she knew she was strong.
Renji Abarai stood a few paces away, arms folded, scanning the perimeter. His hair was tied back tightly, but there was fatigue in the lines of his jaw. He kept glancing back toward Kotori as if expecting her to vanish in smoke at any moment. "You're still recovering, don't be reckless. You go back out there, you're only going to get yourself killed. Or worse."
"Trust me, I'm not planning on putting my life in jeopardy right away. Even if I did...." Kotori spoke. "I'd just get in the way and slow things down." She crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "But, if we wait too long, we lose everything and everyone."
Renji didn't argue with that, he knew she was right. Still, he didn't want her to risk putting her life in danger. Around them, medics worked in hushed tones. Faint blue glows lit the space where kido healers eased wounds and stabilized the fallen. Every now and then, a muffled boom from the distant battlefield made the walls tremble.
"But." Renji spoke. "Ichigo is here, his spiritual pressure, it was just felt. It's stronger than I remember."
Kotori did feel the tremor when Ichigo arrived in Soul Society, but her gut was telling her that Ichigo may end up killing Primal, even before Scarlet could regain control of her body. But she only hoped that he didn't. She knew Scarlet couldn't die, but this was a different feeling. "If he can knock some sense into Scarlet, I hope he does it fast." She mumbled under her breath.
Kotori hated the way her body felt right now—light, but fragile. The Flame Spirit was not used to weakness. When her powers were whole, fire answered her like breath itself. But after the last clash, the energy inside her was fractured. She could feel it: threads of flame trying to knit themselves back together, struggling against exhaustion.
~~~
In the courtyard, the air was thick. Sparks flew through the air a reminder of the battle Youichi had with Primal. But she still held her side, her breath was ragged and slow, she winched with each breath she took.
"Ichigo? Huh? Do you really think someone can save you? Save her?" Primal asked as her shadow looms over Yoruichi. "I'm in control of this body, not her." She knelt down and cupped Yoruichi's chin.
Yoruichi glared at Primal and spits in her face. "Go to hell."
Primal lets go of Yoruichi's chin, cleaning her cracked mask. "You will pay dearly for that." She pulled her arm back and balled her hand and fingers up into a fist. A smirk played at her lips under her mask, her first flew forward as she punched Yoruichi in the face, breaking her nose in the process.
With a sickening crunch, Yoruichi's nose had been broken, blood gushing down her face from the contact. She still didn't show fear, she wanted to piss Primal off. Spitting blood to the side, she chuckled. "Is that all you got, you bitch."
Primal growled, her crimson eye glowing. "Cocky much?"
"Not as much as you." Yoruichi spoke with a smirk on her face, her hand going to her blade. "Just because we may appear beaten and worn out, doesn't mean we can't tango a little longer. I'm not going to let my limits way me down. Not now, not ever."
Chuckling darkly, Primal crossed her arms. "Fine, we'll dance." Getting some distance between them, Primal glanced back at Black Rose. "I suppose I'll use my other half's weapon."
Yoruichi chuckled as she grabbed it, tossing the scythe towards Primal. "Catch."
Catching the scythe, Primal glanced at the dust gray covered blade. She swung the scythe, cleaning it of the dust and ash that covered it. "Round 2."
A droplet of blood and sweat dripped from Yoruichi's chin, falling down to the cobblestone ground below.
Primal moved first. The air shifted, a blur red, silver and black vaulting toward Yoruichi with impossible speed. She brought her blade up instinctively, steel screaming as it met the curved blade of Black Rose. The shock rattled through Yoruichi's arms, sending splinters of pain up her muscles.
Ash and fragments of stone sprayed from the impact.
Yoruichi winched but then surged from the side, lightning crackling across her frame as she aimed a strike toward Primal's exposed flank. But the Grimm girl had evaded her attack, kneeing her in the gut. Which was what Yoruichi planned for, she tilts her head back and then slams her forehead against Primal's.
Blood trickled down Yoruichi's forehead as Primal's mask cracked within the forehead region. Chunks of the mask fell down to the cobblestone ground. Yoruichi stumbled back, she felt dizzy and woozy, her vision was spinning for what seemed like an hour or so. Primal chuckled darkly as she watched Yoruichi.
"Seems like the pussy cat is realizing she's getting weaker by the second." Primal purred a smirk playing at her lips under the mask.
~~~
Back at the safe heaven, Kotori stumbled up to her feet. She glanced around briefly as she took a moment to think. Her crimson red eyes scanned the area. She took note that Rukia hadn't returned, she started to wonder if her fight with Lilitotto was still dragging on, she knew the same could be said for Kenpachi as well. But she knew those two were strong. Still, she didn't want to sit by and be dead weight for not doing anything. Even if she had done what she could, she bit her lip and cursed under her breath.
"Don't even think about it." Renji spoke as he tightened his sash around his waist. "You're still in no shape to go anywhere."
Kotori shot him a small glare, but she knew he was right. "Oh yeah, and what are you going to be doing?"
Renji was silent, he looked up at the smoke filled sky. "Someone has to go make sure Rukia isn't dead."
"Her brother is still out there, you don't need to go play hero and check." Kotori spoke crossing her arms.
Renji chuckled. "That may be true, but Byakuya could have his hands tied. Those Quincy's have a medallion that can drain our Bankai's and use them against us."
"I know, Bambietta tried to do that on me, but since I don't have a Bankai, she couldn't do anything with her's." Kotori spoke. "Regardless, what will happen if you run into Scarlet? What then? She clearly isn't in control of her own body."
Renji paused for a moment. "Then I'll just have to beat the living shit out of her. Even if Yoruichi is managing to slow her down until Ichigo comes to her aid. Well, as long as no Quincy gets in his way."
Kotori opened her mouth to say something, but she didn't. Renji walked off, leaving the safe heaven area. The Flame spirit grumbled under her breath and sat back down, she let out a heavy sigh before closing her eyes. "I hope after this, or whatever happens. I can go back home."
Kotori was asking for a lot and dreaming big for that miracle. But she held onto that hope, elsewhere, in whatever part of Soul Society. Ichigo tightened his grip on Zangetsu's hilt. Somewhere ahead, was the courtyard Yoruichi was at. Then a bellowing roar, echoed from the distance. A monstrous one, it reached everyone who was fighting or taking safety. Kotori knew that roar, a chill went down her spine.
Making a sprint for the path ahead, Ichigo went into full speed, running towards the direction of the sound. Renji did as well, picking up the pace.
Primal had let out a loud bellowing roar, she kicked the tired and worn out Yoruichi with a powerful kick to the gut. Yoruichi, battered but unbroken, blurred across the courtyard in a streak of violet lightning. Her body showed exhaustion — blood streaked her arm, her breathing tightened — but her movements were precise, refusing to give an inch.
"I refuse to give up.." Yoruichi spoke under her breath, blood trickled down her arm as it dripped onto the cobblestone below. "You'll have to kill me..."
With a dark chuckle, Primal's eye glowed, she raised Black Rose up over her head. The shadow loomed over Yoruichi. "So be it..."
Right as she was about to swing the scythe down over Yoruichi, the curved blade clashed with another. Primal's eye widened, a growl escaping her lips. Standing before her was Ichigo. He blocked her attack with Zangetsu, he clenched his teeth. Primal's strength pushed against him.
"You're late." Yoruichi spoke but grins. "But I'm glad you showed up."
"Kurosaki..." Primal spoke in a low angry and pissed off tone. "I remember you...."
Ichigo was silent, his gaze harden and serious. "I can't say I remember you, I would've remembered a ugly face like yours." Keeping his gaze on Primal, Ichigo spoke to Yoruichi. "Sorry for the delay...I got held up."