With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
As the fighting ceased, two thoughts ran through Hotaru's mind: she was safe. She was happy. Relief washed over her; she didn't think she was afraid to die, but the fact that she had simply survived, and the fact that she would continue to survive consumed her and made her grin as the bakudo cloaking her was released. She almost laughed aloud as she emerged from the cavern, shortly joined by her sister, unmasked and grinning, sweat dripping down her temples.
The two looked at each other, Hotaru unable to decipher what her thoughts were at the moment. Confusion consumed her, but at the same time, joy enveloped her.
The consanguineous pair jumped up atop the mountain, just in time for Samuii to make that comment.
Kaki stumbled a few steps, laughing all the while, "I can't believe that worked!"
As she laughed, Hotaru began to smile, the same way she did when she was handed candy, or ice cream. She started to giggle, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth, her other hand swinging her umbrella of a zanpakuto carelessly. She had won the battle, and she was too happy to think about murder just yet.
"It... it did work perfectly," she half-laughed, half-said.
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
Samyeru tilted his head at Samuii's entertainment comment. He wasn't sure what to make of this, but he shrugged it off. "Well, if you hadn't shown up, I'd would have had to fight both of those Shinigami." He said giving her an innocent smile, when his advance sense came into action.
His smile widen as the smell of Hotaru came back into this world, but her smell was nothing compared to what he heard. Laughter. He heard the two sisters laughing together and that was a good sign in Samyeru's book. If they could laugh together, perhaps Hotaru has given up on her revenege.
"They both are just fine. They are laughing together as we speak." He motioned with his thumb, pointing toward the cave that Kaki has called home for some time.
"You know, I haven't given my name." He started, thinking it rude not to introduce himself. "Samyeru Fenrir." He stretched his arm forward for a handshake, though is she will accept it is up to her.
Samuii smirked and glanced at the two sisters, who were now laughing jovially. She wasn't sure if Hotaru remembered, but wasn't she supposed to, you know, make with the stabbing her sister by now? After all, the shinigami were gone, and, well, there were no more obstacles in the way. "They're laughing? I don't think this is the time to be laughing. I'm not sure about you, but there's still some business to attend to,"
Before she could walk towards the girl, the other arrancar, apparently named Samyeru, introduced himself and offered a hand. She looked at it for a moment, and then up at Samyeru, "I'm not a handshake-type of person." she said coolly, "I also don't like giving my name out to people I don't really want to know."
She sonidoed away immediately, before anything else could be said. Appearing behind Hotaru, she clapped her hands, similar to how a teacher would call a class to attention, "All right, kiddies, play time's over." she said, and then bending down to Hotaru's level, just as she slowly removed her sword from its sheath, "Aren't we forgetting something?" she asked, right before swinging the sword down towards the girl
Kaki froze, her laughing ceasing. Would Hotaru really take it upon herself to end her life right in a moment of victory? And who was this woman? Why did it matter to her if Hotaru attacked her. Hotaru seemed to freeze the same as Kaki.
"Perhaps," Hotaru mumbled, "Senpai... it doesn't matter if she lives another few hours; long enough for a last meal."
Kaki sighed with relief, certain that Hotaru wasn't going to end a moment of joy over a petty--well, not so petty--bout. Kaki had been glad just to survive long enough to meet her sister, and perhaps if she died, her sister would be able to find and live in peace.
Wishful thinking.
Her eyes widened as she saw the red-haired arrancar raise her sword in attack, ready to swing down upon her sister's tiny form. "Hotaru!"
Not thinking, she leaped before her sister, knocking the girl back and protecting her from what would have been a life-taking blow. She felt the sword tear across her chest, from her left shoulder to her right hip, the blood gushing from the wound and spilling across the ground and blade. Her eyes widened; it hurt!
As the sword traveled its path, she began to feel a quiver in her arms; at the moment it was removed from her, she fell backwards, breathing sharp, pained breaths.
Hotaru's eyes widened themselves, with a sort of terror and shock. Her sister, the same who had murdered her father so heartlessly, had just taken a blow of that nature for her. What was wrong with her? "Nee-san!"
She stepped to her sister's side, grudge forgotten for the moment as she extended her arms, forcing whatever kidou she could remember out into the form of a measured green glow, meant to help save her sister's life, to keep her from bleeding to death.
Samyeru's gesture was ignored as she vanished from his vision. It was almost in slow motion as he turned around to seen the scene. His eyes on the crimson liquid that was Kaki's blood hit the ground, it was horrific. The sight caused old feelings to raise as his vision narrowed on the assaulter, she was not to be forgiven.
It was incredible how anger Samyeru is, he hadn't been this mad for ages, and it made him sick to his stomach. However his sickness would have to wait as he crouched on all fours, and his transformation began.
His tail curled up as his feet and hands changed into paws. His face became elongated as his wolf face took over his normal human looking one. Fur began to grow from his skin and his hair became wilder under the armor he wore. After his transformation, his scarf blew in the breeze as he growled loudly.
His eyes narrowed, ears went back, teeth exposed, his tail curled up as high as it could go. All these signs indicated that Samuii is in deep trouble. Samyeru charged her, his eyes on her with shear hate. Each second took forever, he was getting closer but not fast enough. It was at the last few feet that he sonidoed at her with the intent of inflicting great harm.
How could I let this happen? It's my fault, I should have known better. These thoughts rolled through his mind as the guilt sunk in. He truly felt it was his fault Kaki was hurt, like he was able to stop it. If he wasn't so mad, the tears would have been pouring out of his silver eyes.
Samuii stepped back, in a bit of a shock. She wasn't supposed to hit the vizard...just Hotaru! And it wasn't supposed to be deadly! Just a little scratch!
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
She flicked her sword, the blood splattering on the rocks. Looking up, she barely had enough time to see the wolf-ish creature leaping up, fangs bared and ready to bite. Samuii knew she didn't have enough time to run, so she raised her arms, protecting herself from the canine teeth.
Crimson liquid dripped down as the teeth closed in around her bare arms. Samuii bit back a scream as sudden, searing pain rushed through her arms. Opening her mouth, she shot a quick cero, unbelievably weak due to cutting the charge time in half, and ripped her arms out of Samyeru's mouth. The motion was painful, but she temporarily blocked it out of her mind and sonidoed away down the mountain without saying another word.
"K-!" Hotaru cursed, lurching over her sister, continuing to attempt to heal her. Why was she doing this? She could just as easily end her existence right there! Why couldn't she do it?! Why was she so weak that when the moment was right before her, when her sister's life was dangling on a thread, the scissors in her own hands, why couldn't she just cut that damn thread?
It was confusing. For some reason, she just wanted her sister to live. She wanted to save her. How could Kaki save her life twice in the same day? Why would such a monster do that?! It made no sense to Hotaru. Human nature prevented such acts of altruism. She shouldn't have given her life for her!
She shouldn't have faked becoming a threat to Soul Society! She shouldn't have offered to let Hotaru kill her! She shouldn't have taken the blow!
"B-b-baka!" Hotaru cursed, forcing what energy she could out to Kaki. She didn't want her to die. She couldn't let her die--she hadn't paid her back for this! Paid her back? She took Otou-chan away! How could Hotaru feel any sympathy towards this monster?! This hollow?!
"Don't just die!" shouted Hotaru. "You'd better not!"
Kaki moaned at the yelling, cracking a crimson eye open. "Too noisy... mn..."
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
Samyeru's jaws bit into the object of his rage, blood dripping on his mouth, and on the ground where the two stood. He hadn't bitten someone like this in a long time, the taste made him sick. However, he kept his hold on her, that is until she launched a Cero at him.
His jaws loosened as the Cero hit him. He felt her arms being pulled out of his mouth and as he shook his head from the blast she escaped. He was blinded for a short time, changing back into his Human self, and rubbing his eyes. Once his vision returned, he knew she was long gone. "Damn." He said under his breath, wiping the blood from his mouth, and resealed his Zanpakuto.
He was sure that they'll meet again, but for now his concern was that of Kaki. He rushed over to the sisters, going on his knees, and looking at Kaki's body. He felt the tears coming as he felt powerless to do anything. He was a fighter not a healer, it filled him with shame, and that only increased the guilt.
I'm going to make this right, I will find a way. He thought waiting to see if Kaki would be ok. His fist were knuckle white while they laid on his knees. Once more those he got attached to were hurt, but this time he'll make sure it doesn't happen again.
She continued to heal Kaki, who giggled lightly, despite the pain. The arrancar seemed to have come back a little too early, that or he was too distracted to see her crack her eye open before she closed it. Hotaru felt a vein throbbing, and she let out a breath of air.
"Do not say that you were faking," Hotaru breathed.
Kaki frowned. "I wasn't."
Hotaru sat in silence for a moment, continuing to heal her sister. "You are going to be alright, nee-san?"
Kaki nodded lightly. It hurt, but she wasn't bleeding much any more. She could rest quietly if she needed to, and well, she needed to. "Weren't you gonna kill me?"
"I..."
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
Samyeru was so caught up in his guilt that it took him a couple of moments to realize that Kaki was going to make it. He blinked a couple of times, his fist became loose as he held in his joyous excitement. His eyes became enlightened, the held tears began to pour, and he covered his eyes with his bandage covered arm.
He wiped his eyes as he looked at the sisters, happy at the fact that Kaki will be alright. This is wonderful, both sparrow and firefly are gonna be ok. He thought, not wanting to interrupt this sisterly moment.
It was a great moment, he almost wished that he could have one with Lilith. She always ruined them anyways, just trying to get money or something else out of him.