Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Daydreams Come True ❯ Bankai Beauty ( Chapter 33 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Tite Kubo owns Bleach.  I just borrowed the characters.
Waking up in a cell made it clear to him how wrong things were.  Days ago he'd been on the other side of the bars tormenting Rukia, until they both stopped trying to skirt around the issues and admitted the truth.  There had been honest romantic love between them, until he'd messed it up by his revolving door policy while at the Academy.  
The omission of declaring his love for Rukia the one night they'd spent together and his subsequent actions meant that she'd been hurt from his infidelities and finally found someone to love her who didn't want to sample women in all their flavours, before he committed himself.
Instead, she'd fallen for a boy, 15 years old, to her 40 plus years?  Yeah, well he wouldn't go there.  Even he knew the stupidity of mentioning a woman's age to her, or to anyone else.  For all he knew there was a special check females did, to tell if you'd even been thinking about their age. The boy was 15 years old.  Hardly out of nappies and Rukia loved him and committed one of the biggest sins possible by passing on her powers to him, which was why he was in this mess.
If she'd just thought about things before acting, for a change.  While she may have been dying, there was that other Shinigami based in the real world.  Why hadn't she asked him for help?  She'd always been proud and sure of her abilities, but in situations where it got out of hand, it was okay to ask for help.  Or maybe now she was a member of the Kuchiki household, it would besmirch the honour of the family name to admit to anything less than perfection.
Like her brother, his oh, so, respected Captain.  The man he aspired to beat.
And the reason he wanted to beat him, putting aside all the crap about how strong he was and the fact he'd beaten Renji with little evidence of effort, and had adopted Rukia, and was an insufferable prat and all the other things that were so evident about the man?  Why did he want to beat him?
To make him show some emotion other than cool indifference or smug superiority.  He wanted to see Captain Kuchiki act like a normal Shinigami without all the pretensions and platitudes about honour and integrity.  Seeing him lose his cool and battle like a normal person without reverting to tactics and strategy would make him seem less untouchable.  Very little seemed to affect him, unlike Renji who knew his temper was quickly roused.
Mostly he wanted to beat the guy because he'd really contributed to screwing up his chances with Rukia.  Sure he'd slept around a lot at the Academy, and once she'd left he'd redoubled his efforts to sleep with each available female student, at least once.  Some had shared his bed on more than one occasion and while the sex had been good and all that it should be, it was sex without love.
He'd been a fool.  Trying to convince himself that sex without love was a fair substitute, or love without sex would work too, but his body didn't like the second option and his brain liked the fug of sated passion where all other matters dropped from being important.  Groaning, he admitted how long it had been since he'd spent any time in bed with a woman once the sex was over.  He'd get out of the bed quickly, unwilling to prolong the contact with any type of cuddling.  The sex might be good, but extended hugging of another person afterward struck him as insincere.  He'd done the sex without love for a long time and he was tired of it.  
The past was behind him. Thinking about all the reasons he'd lost Rukia didn't change anything, except to strengthen his resolve to beat her brother by any means necessary.  It meant he had to work on his bankai.  He was close, really close to fully mastering the initial stages, but he'd made a conscious decision not to try it out on the kid.  The first person to experience the full majesty of his bankai would be the man who had inspired him to work so hard toward it.  To reveal it to a person of secondary importance wasn't part of his plan.  Even when he knew he was losing, even as the anger and despair of defeat had ripped through him, there had been no consideration that he would call forth Zabimura's penultimate power and tear Ichigo apart.
Because he'd made a promise.  Rukia wouldn't forgive him if he killed her lover and the kid was genuinely trying to save her.   Until recently he'd believed the charges would be dismissed and she'd be punished in some way, that she wouldn't die.  It was pretty obvious the execution would proceed and the more people trying to rescue Rukia added to the chance of success, or he thought it might.  Her death might satisfy the Council, and serve as a warning to anyone else, not that it was necessary, but aside from that it was a dumb thing to do.  
Executing a person for a crime of this nature was stupid.  As far as he knew, those who committed brutal murders weren't brought swiftly to justice and executed for those crimes, at least not if they were considered valuable.  This was one of the reasons this situation made no sense to him.  Her execution was scheduled and appeals to the Council to rescind their decision had apparently fallen on deaf ears.  Once more he put aside the sneaking suspicion that his Captain was manipulating the situation to remove a person who was the cause of too much embarrassment to the family name.
Lying in bed in the cell wasn't going to help him.  Thinking about all he'd lost was depressing, and he had to keep avoiding the dangerous thoughts where it was clear that his actions had partially contributed to the situation.  
Zabimaru interrupted his thoughts.  Never fond of being cooped up for long, his spirit insisted he leave, with vague promises of finally permitting him to gain control of his bankai.  All the time he'd worked toward this his zanpakuto has only seemed slightly interested in that event.  More often a different activity might be suggested rather than rigorous training.  Competitions involving the consumption of sake, joining the Shinigami Men's Association (and he'd pretty much let the membership lapse due to his Captain's disdain for the club), wasting time with Kira, sparring with Ikkaku or mooning after Rukia, not that he admitted he did the last.  Sometimes he'd allowed the future to beckon him as he planned the life they would share together, the children they would raise and the nights, too short to explore his love for her.
The last would never happen again.  She was in love with the kid and sentenced to die.  Even if she survived, she was lost to him forever, but he had to save her.  He almost grinned at the stupidity of the thought.  She was lost to him whether she lived or died, but he wouldn't accept her death, not without a fight.
Which was what his zanpakuto spirit was offering.  A fight,  a chance at improving his bankai and freedom from lying here uselessly, brooding about things he should be fixing rather than thinking about.  
"How do I get out?"
Within a few breaths he was free of the cell and on his way to the secret training area he'd found on one of his aimless wanderings.  He'd used it before and it was always deserted.  The privacy meant he could practice all he liked without worrying about harming anyone else if his attempts at overcoming his zanpakuto failed.  
Once he'd believed that it was the aim of each Captain to help subordinates to improve as it would increase the strength of their Division.  That was when he'd graduated from the Academy and had a head full of ideals and standards that had slowly been crushed by reality.  Captain Aizen had tried, or told him he'd tried, to help him.  All the times the man had kindly talked to him, pointing out the mistakes he'd made, forced Renji into feeling guilt.  Each time they'd had one of these discussions, some of Renji's enthusiasm had been leeched from him.  It was hard to understand why.  After every talk he'd felt angrier and more distanced than before.  He'd tried.  He really had. Each attempt at meditation had failed due to surges of anger that overcame him while trying to empty his mind.  Sleep had become a fleeting phantom which eluded him regularly.  The anger led to more fights, more talks with Captain Aizen.  He'd been trapped in a spiral of anger and guilt.
Then he'd gone to Captain Zaraki's Division.
Why was he thinking about this again?  Something was eluding him.  A fact, a comment.  Whatever it was, it bugged him like crazy.  The gut feeling said it was important and had to be recognised. What could it be?  Captain Aizen was dead, the Ryoka were there, Rukia was going to die, his Captain hated him and he'd been imprisoned.
Was hate the right word?  Despised.  Yeah, the cold bastard despised him, that was clear in every frosty word he threw his way.  So what if he wasn't noble?  He was a fighter and he'd come farther than anyone expected a gutter rat from the dregs of  Soul Society.  It was great.  He'd evolved from a stinking rat to a lone wolf, howling at the moon.  
In some cultures wolves were revered.
In others they were treated a dangerous vermin.  He may have changed, but there would always be people who looked down on him and hated him for what he was.  That was the nature of the world.  No matter how famous, kind, rich, intelligent, generous or helpful you were, one person might hate you for those very reasons.  There were those who expected more, no matter how much they were given, and were quick to judge if they felt there was even some infinitesimal imperfection in what they were offered.  It's easier to judge what is freely provided than to attempt to give in return.
Standing, thinking, wasn't getting him anywhere.  This was not the time to be contemplating the functioning of the Universe. It was time to gain control of his bankai and prepare to save Rukia.  His priority was clear and the past wasn't changing, no matter how many times he examined the parts of it he didn't see clearly.  Then he almost laughed.  The past couldn't be seen clearly.  Later events changed the way he looked at it and he was again thinking instead of acting.
Surreptitiously leaving the building he noticed patrols of Shinigami's were present in the streets but he managed to avoid them.  Keeping to the roof tops seemed the wisest plan as mainly Captains used those to move speedily around the Seireitei, or to crouch, waiting for prey.  There were only 12 Captains left and he'd be pretty unlucky to run into any of them.  All the same, he kept down and moved quickly and quietly.  Being able to shun-po as fast as his Captain might have helped, but it wasn't an option.  He'd work on it later, once this was all over and there was time, if  this was ever over and he was alive.
As he was about to leap from one roof to another, he heard voices below him.  If he jumped, they might see him so he hesitated and idly began to look at the sky until he heard Rukia's name.
"Rukia Kuchiki dies tomorrow?  They changed the day again?"
"Yes, Captain Kuchiki's sister will be executed at noon tomorrow. I heard the announcement from the Hell Butterfly," the other voice said.
"The Council must really want her dead."
"She committed a crime.  All criminals must be punished."
The news staggered Renji.  Tomorrow?  He'd planned on spending all the time left on training in order to be ready, but now he had less than a day?  
Knowing this made his stomach churn.  Was it possible for him to get as far as he needed?  He had to try.  If he didn't try, he'd fail.
Entering the underground cavern, he was taken aback by the noise and the sight of a beautiful woman.  He gazed at her, wondering who she was, while she yelled at someone.  Would he like it if the woman yelled at him.  He stared at her figure, noticing the clothing outlined her curves, showing the perfection of her buttocks and the long slim legs.  No matter which way you cut it, Rukia would never be able to dress like that and not look short.  This woman had grace, style and a temper.  The sort of woman who appealed to him: strong and passionate.  Not a lump who sat and cried or waited for someone to take care of her.  Rukia didn't do that.  None of the women he admired did.  
After staring for a while he finally turned his eyes to the person she was yelling at and swore softly.  That damned kid, again!  What was it?  A curse on him that since he'd become an assistant captain so every woman he found romantically interesting would be involved with the kid?  Was it some deity having a long practical joke?  Who'd he offended this much?  Or was it just a cruel coincidence to force irony down his throat until he was gagging?
He had a choice.  Either give up, or put up with the situation.  He wanted to train and it had to be now.  Leaving it until later might mean Rukia's death and the loss of his best friend.  That wasn't going to happen.  Instead, he'd play it cool and pretend it didn't matter.  It didn't matter, as he didn't know the woman and was unlikely to become friends with her.  The kid was lucky, that was all.  Lucky to get all the women who might interest Renji.  Briefly he wondered what Rangiku would think of him.  Would she fall victim to his nonexistent charms as well? She'd quickly told Renji she wasn't interested.
Then he heard the woman's name.  Yoruichi.  It seemed familiar, but he could not recall seeing her. She was powerful, there was no doubt in his mind of her abilities.  Who could she be?  Had there once been a captain of that name?  It didn't matter.  
Adopting a cheerful smile that made his teeth ache, he called a merry greeting.  During the short conversation that followed, he made certain to mention the change in the time of execution.  Then he admitted he wasn't ready.  Why did he do that in front of the kid and the woman?  It made him seem weak, but at least he'd been honest.  Having delivered the message and his reasons for being there he went as far from them as possible and prepared to work harder than he'd ever worked before.
"Focus," Zabimaru hissed at him.  
He'd drawn his zanpakuto, but was standing there, staring at nothing, doing nothing.  He hadn't even been consciously thinking.  Just breathing and existing rather than face the events in his life which only brought disappointment.  Even though he kept reminding himself he couldn't change the past and it was better to live in the present, it was impossible to let his earlier life go.  All the mistakes, pain and loss were behind him, but with him at the same time.
"If you don't think, how can you act?" The spirit said.  
"I don't want to think," he said.  Thinking hurt.  
"Fool.  Think about bankai, not your piddly little emotional boils."
Boils.  The word made him smile.  Zabimaru made light of his thoughts often, wanting him to stop brooding.
"Right," he shot back.  
Concentrating he once more formed his bankai and it held.  This time it was stable and he began to work with it.  While it might be slow, it was powerful and it could move with the speedy strike of a snake.  Bankai!  He'd trained hard to reach this level.  Two ambitions fulfilled; assistant captain to the man he was determined to watch and learn from and then defeat, and bankai.  If only his romantic life was gaining as much success!
"Bankai, not women," Zabimaru chided him.
Then he wondered about the kid trying for bankai so quickly.  Was it even possible?  The small amount of training he'd observed was different to what he'd practised.  The long, slow and occasionally painful process of trying to win against his spirit had caused both despair and elation.  Most people took centuries to get as close as he was and he'd felt pretty damn proud of getting there so fast, but now this Ichigo kid who'd had Shinigami powers for a few months was trying for bankai in 3 days.  It made all his efforts laughable.  
He might really begin to hate the boy.  Did everything come so easy to him?  Renji had struggled, watched friends die from hunger and the harsh life of an abandoned kid, but this human got powers and seemed to learn the name of his zanpakuto without even trying.  He got the women, the help, the friends, but he didn't have the looks or the intelligence.  No intelligence at all.
When they'd met in the human world, he'd challenged Captain Kuchiki when he didn't even seem to be able to measure his reiatsu.  He'd laughed at Renji and demanded Rukia's release.  The kid was dumb but lucky.  He'd even managed to befriend a Shinigami from 4th Division and some person from Soul Society.  Was it possible there was more to the kid than he'd originally thought?  Everything that happened seemed to force him to accept that probability.
The distraction made his bankai disappear.  "Why won't you focus?  This is more important than any orange haired child."  Zabimaru placed a clenched fist in the middle of Renji's forehead.  "Think with this," and then punched him sharply in the chest, "not with that."
"Okay!" Renji stuttered, the small pain reminding him of the importance of this.
"Block out all other noise.  Work with me."
He tried. The noise the kid was making faded into the distance.  He forgot Rukia and his ambitions and the relief from those guilty thoughts made it easier to concentrate.  Each attempt brought him closer to holding his bankai for longer.  The way he interacted with the new form became less clumsy, more direct.  Working closely with his spirit he began to learn some of the assets, the ability for the joints to separate.
Would it be enough?  Letting the bankai lapse, the new doubt formed.  There was no time to perfect it and as he had witnessed so few bankai's it was difficult to compare.  Worrying about it now was stupid.  He would leave and check out how events were unfolding.
He paused before he left and watched Ichigo try and fail.  The kid had progressed, yet he was failing consistently.  Even from a distance, Renji could see he was panting and blood was staining his face.
Despite his reticence he asked Yoruichi about the chances of success.  The ensuing conversation didn't make him feel any more confident of Ichigo's chances, even though he could sense his determination and Yoruichi's belief in the kid.  
One part of him wanted to stay and observe.  Realistically he realised events might be moving fast outside this refuge and it would be wise to check.  Watching the boy train wasn't going to help anyone.  
Emerging carefully from the cavern, he took refuge against a wall.  More patrols of Shinigami were moving around.  
"Are you going to wait?" Zabimaru asked.
Renji knew what he meant.  Wait until the execution to rescue Rukia, or get her now.  It was a tough decision, and he didn't have any one to help, but he'd get her now.  Why wait and prolong her agony?  Once he freed her, they'd hide in Soul Society, maybe return to the neighbourhood in which they'd grown up, but that was a bad idea.  The Gotei 13 would expect them to hide there.  It didn't matter.  They'd find another lawless area where it was easy to disappear and wait until it was possible to find a way into the human world.  
Yes, he was sacrificing his position in order to save his friend, but it didn't matter.  
Rather than think matters through any further, he drew his sword and cut through the patrol in front of him.  More Shinigami converged and by not looking at their faces, or acknowledging he may know and have friendships with any of them, he kept moving forward, not permitting anyone to stop him, or even make him falter.  They would heal. He wasn't trying to kill anyone, only disable them to prevent further attacks.  
Every step drew him closer to the tower.  The closer it was, the more he believed in his success.  No Shinigami he'd fought had provided the slightest hesitation or challenge.  The bankai training had improved his other skills.  His sight was keener, his moves more forceful and his determination was unparalleled.
Nearer, he faltered.  Something had changed.  It was impossible to ignore the overwhelming feeling, one to which he'd become accustomed.  Like other Captains', Captain Kuchiki was prone to lurk, lying in wait for the person he wished to punish, and on this occasion it seemed Renji was his choice.
This meeting was inevitable.  All the time he'd known his Captain would prevent any attempt to rescue his sister.   Instead of feeling the normal sense of awe and admiration, he nearly felt confident.  They were now more equal than they had been.  He'd achieved bankai and could hold himself against any Shinigami, except possibly Captain Yamamoto.   He may fail with some women, but few could match him on the fighting arena.  Conveniently he excluded Captain Zaraki and Ikkaku from the roster of people who'd best him in a fight as they weren't here and he had no reason to fight them, yet.  He'd heard rumours that Captain Zaraki had gone rogue, no surprise there, and might have joined with the Ryoka.  
All this passed through his mind while he tilted his head up slowly to gaze in the direction of the reiatsu.  Then he had to crane his neck even further as the man had decided to stand on top of the highest building to be imposing.  Instead he was nearly invisible.  
Captain Kuchiki demanded to know where he was going, as expected.  It didn't matter how he replied, what would happen after the interchange of words was unavoidable, inevitable, fated.  They would fight and during the battle he'd have the chance to prove his abilities.  Finally the man might be forced to recognise his existence and show him the respect he knew he deserved.
As expected, his Captain moved fast, the blur of motion that normally escaped his vision, was visible to him and he could follow and avoid the first anticipated attack.  The fact that he could feel his Captain's approach and fend off the attack increased his confidence.  Previously his senses were not at a level where he could do either and to face his Captain with this enhanced skill made him begin to believe that there was a chance at victory.  
Voicing this aloud, hearing the words, made his heart beat faster.  His Captain would know that he was facing an equal, not a subordinate who quailed with fear at the thought of being gutted by his blade.  Once he beat this man, nothing would stand in his way.  Rukia would be rescued.
The well remembered scorn washed over Captain Kuchiki's face.  The man seemed to find it impossible to accept that any person was his equal and would never admit it.  Was it so hard for him to accept that others had abilities that were equal or superior to his, or was it the fact that Renji was not of noble family which made it so difficult?
His words refuted any claims Renji made.  Once again he tried to force him back into the role of lesser being and to reinforce his message he prepared to use his shika.  This was his chance and he took it.  Releasing his own shika he prevented the move and was gratified to see the disbelief on the 6th Division Captain's face.  He'd stunned the man who had never expected him to develop into anything more than a second class Shinigami and this gave him a glow of pride.  It was the first time he'd felt a measure of respect from his Captain.
Mixed with the respect was the realisation of his achievement.  If he could use shika without calling the name of his zanpakuto....
Rather than keep him in suspense, he eagerly uttered the word he'd worked toward since he became a Shinigami.  This would be the ultimate proof of his success as he surpassed the man standing in front of him.
Standing proud, he straightened his shoulders and pushed out his chest slightly.  This was the reason he had worked so hard, aside from saving Rukia.  To savour this moment when the world seemed full of endless possibilities that promised everything for which he had longed.  
"Bankai," and the world tilted.  He was standing on top of it.
With the admission that the man hadn't been aware, he lashed out at him, releasing some of the bile that had built over the years.  He'd continued to look down on Renji and treated his sister as if she was there on sufferance rather than a valued family member.
Until now he'd ignored the joy that could be gained from engaging in a battle which encompassed more than the need to win.  He was not simply trying to kill a Hollow, or disable those who stood in his way, but standing as an equal to a person who had until now shown only disgust to be in his company.  A thrill of excitement, tempered with impatience grew within him as he revealed his bankai and saw the shock it created.  He'd been rather surprised when it had first occurred, not knowing what to expect, but he hadn't expected something quite so large or ornate.  
Another challenge from the proud noble. Not being able to force him to one knee.  That was the beginning.  Forcing him to both knees and then watching him beg for his life or simply bleed from the wounds inflicted by his assistant captain might satisfy a portion of the resentment he held.  Wiping the superior expression from his face felt good.
Taking the initiative he sent Zabimaru after Captain Kuchiki, watching carefully as the man dodged the attacks, anticipating where his feet might take him in an attempt to avoid the powerful assaults.  He thought he detected the man breathing heavily as he sent another powerful wave of the bony body of his bankai after him, but it may have been his imagination.  Columns toppled, buildings crumbled under the powerful strikes, but he still didn't manage to hit the person for whom he was aiming.  At the same time he felt immense satisfaction that he was forcing the man to run and not stand there, haughtily deflecting each blow.
After minutes he heard his voice, acknowledging, actually admitting his bankai was worthy of the name.  The smile of pride that nearly crossed his face was suppressed as he waited for the sting to come with later words.  
The words came and the next move was one he'd anticipated.  He'd worked long and hard to be able to counter this specific moment when the Captain decided to break his bankai.  If he'd been unwary and hadn't planned exactly for this, he would have been a fool.  This time he would not act like a moron and prove his grasp of tactics.  The best weapon was understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy.  Since meeting Byakuya Kuchiki he'd made every effort to study the man, watch his attacks and formulate the best way to best him in fair combat.
Releasing the reiatsu the bound his bankai together was impressive.  It appeared his control had been broken by the shika his captain had no hesitation in using.  The small smile of satisfaction that crossed the man's face was not lost on Renji.  He expected this to be the final move in the game of chess in which they were engaged and seemed to be about to pronounce checkmate.  Renji waited a few more seconds, to increase his opponents confidence and make his next move even more startling.
Reassembling his bankai, he felt a grim joy as each bone slotted back into place, slowly at first and then increasing in speed as he released more and more reiatsu.  The glimmer of confused amazement on Kuchiki's face was worth every backbreaking moment he'd spent working on this particular move.  He's sweated, cursed and nearly given up many times, deciding the manoeuvre was too hard, required too much control and exertion of strength, but this was his ultimate aim.  Then he struck and was gratified to see his blow connected and the man was forced to eat his earlier statement as he was forced to one knee.  
He was going to win.  He could taste the victory he'd worked toward and was confident in announcing his success.  Why permit false pride to besmirch this triumph?
They passed more words back and forth and when his captain once more drew his sword, with the smug assurance that the hits inflicted on him were just the result of good luck,  Renji felt his determination grow.  The man would go down and he finally he'd accept Renji as an equal.  It was dumb to believe he'd been seen as superior unless he managed to become the head of a noble house and the Supreme Commander of the Gotei 13 and that wasn't going to happen any time soon.  
Why were they talking about curtains?  Drawing curtains?  Why hadn't he said simply he'd finish it now, but instead he made some comment which got parlayed back and forth for no good reason.  
The sudden use of kido didn't sit well with Renji.  The move was underhanded and suspect.  Was he implying he was unworthy of his blade and it was preferable to finish him with kido?  He dodged the attack quickly, wondering why his captain had thought it would work.  Hadn't he learnt by now his moves were visible? Then part of his Baboon King separated.
What was happening?  Hearing the explanation pared his confidence, slightly, but not enough to make him give up.  He prepared again only to be caught by another kido.
Was this fair?  Was this the way Captain's won, by not using their physical weapons, but by substituting kido attacks meant to weaken and bind their enemies?  
In 11th Division he'd learnt to despise kido as an ignoble weapon.  Now it seemed he needed to adjust his ideas.  Rukia used it, he knew that, but she was a girl and women did things differently to males.  
Trapped as he was, he couldn't escape Kuchiki's bankai.  Until now he'd never seen it, and while it was a beautiful sight, he quickly became aware of its deadly nature.  The sting of each blade cutting into his flesh caused him more agony than he'd experienced before, but it did not equal the pain in his heart.  If he lost now, Rukia would die and there was no pain greater than that.  
Even now, fallen and apparently defeated, his captain couldn't resist gloating, reminding him again of the great gulf between them.  The biggest insult was comparing him to a monkey.  Monkey's were comical.  Wolves weren't.  
His foe went on and on about the superiority of his bankai, how wonderful and perfect it was compared to Renji's and possibly anyone else's.  It was one of the few occasions he'd heard the man talk so much, and about a part of himself as well, but Renji wasn't interested.  He was lying there, trying to gather any strength he had left, refusing to let it end this way.  There was a chance, slim, but still there, he could rise and bring victory from apparent defeat.  
Once more he failed.  And now the agony of his heart and his body screamed through his brain.  "Rukia.  Rukia."
"I will not let it end like this.  I have to succeed.  I made a promise to myself!"
His bones complained, his muscles strained hard as his skin wept blood.  Feeling each move like a thousand sharp knives cutting through into his very marrow, he stood once more, refusing to accept defeat.
Their conversation didn't interest him.  He answered the early questions with little thought as his body ached and begged for him to rest.  Kuchiki taunted him about his approaching death,  while he struggled to breathe, forcing his legs to support him.  Once more he approached his captain, each step bringing him closer, while blood surged through his body and out of the cuts, zanpakuto in hand.  The man would let him pass, Rukia would be saved.
Trying to stab the man who stood there, watching him with slight interest, he noticed his blade had gone, shattered.  There was nothing to kill him with.  The handle didn't wound him.  To his surprise he saw a flicker of admiration and compassion on the cold face, but decided it was the pain distorting his vision, otherwise the compassion would have been the worst insult.
The fragile skin that covered his flesh began to separate, the cuts joining together, more blood flowing from the deeper wounds.  Increasing in speed, the weight of the pain and fear bore him down and finally defeated, he fell: fell into despair, death and a few memories of what he had lost and could never hope to regain.
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Author's Note
This is the second attempt at this chapter.  The original chapter featured Sajin Komamura, but I wish to rethink parts of it and it will possibly not be solely devoted to his character.  It may not even be the next chapter I concentrate on.  This partly explains the delay, but life got busy again.  Thanks to TinBuzzard, the-lioness, badkidoh and Rukia's Reflection for the reviews.  
Renji is pivotal to the Soul Society/Rescuing Rukia arc.  His development mirrors Ichigo's and in addition his motivations are more interesting.  It is uncertain whether he will feature in another chapter.
Next chapter?  Problematic.  I'm going to South America at the end of September for a month.  The Sajin chapter might be revisited, however there are other characters that interest me.  Iba, Yumichika, Rangiku, Soi Fon, Retsu Unohana.  So many decisions.....
Manifest is the best convention I've attended and Little Kariboh is even more amazing in real life.  
Please review.
MS  


Converting /tmp/phpjfwHTS to /dev/stdout