One is Too Many

Aaaalllllright! Here we go, last chapters, faster paced. The next chapter will be fairly short but I'll post daily until the end. :) Enjoy and let me know what you think! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, I'm so excited you liked it so much!



**Two months later**


~Ikkaku~


“Move it!” Fuck, fuck, I hate this, this rush, this scramble to move out in seconds; if it were only me, maybe Yume and Kira, I would love it. There, the last of them flashes by me. The orders came in seconds ago and who knows how much damage has been done by now. I race through the gate as it closes; the brief disorientation of travel and we're back on the ground, facing nearly a dozen hollows, big bastards, and two arrancar. That wasn't in the report.

“Captain!” Kira's running towards me to skid to his knees; he was first through, the position I wanted but he managed to scoot ahead. “The advance squad is gone, wiped out.” Well hell, now we're at even more of a disadvantage. Doesn't matter.

“Send Kazuma back for reinforcements. You guys take care of the little ones, I've got the big ones.” For a second, he wants to argue but just nods and darts off, calling for our messenger. Commands are being shouted in all directions and my team performs well, coordinating themselves to attack, three per hollow.

No time to be proud, I call Houzukimaru and charge straight in, swinging him over my head. Joy pulses through me, mine and his, the thrill of battle rushing through us. The first cero is dodged and I get a hit in on the bastard's side before the second one swipes at me, sending me flying back to the ground. “Cowards!”

Big, liquid eyes blink slowly at me through a half mask, impassive. I launch again, striking quickly at their heads only to be pushed back by strikes from both sides. They aren't that strong, both in the twenties which is supposed to mean weaker but I'll have to use Bankai; no choice against two. “Bankai!”

The triple blades are heavy in my hands and I relish the feel as I leap forward. Deep cuts have both of the assholes screaming, power crackling through the air, and another sends the smaller one's head tumbling. One down. I laugh, delighted as Houzukimaru shrieks with me, energy rising eagerly as the second bastard falls back to regroup; make it interesting you loser. I won't even be bothered introducing myself to idiots like this.


~Kira~


I wish I could help Ikkaku but he's determined to take them both on and I'm needed to handle the hollows. Right, lead, Kira, don't be a burden! “Tetsummi! Take half and wipe them out!” A salute as he runs past, his team following neatly. Mine is waiting, already in formation, teams of three and I swing my arm to move them out. “Go!”

“Sir!” They charge and I follow, leaping straight into the fray, Wabisuki swinging, screaming her battle song to me. Long unheard but still harsh and sweet.

The hollows are big but fall quickly under our orderly attack and we split up to aid others, tearing through their ranks. Men fall, screaming but we press on and one after the other, our enemies fall to us. Toudou, our new fourth, takes the lead from me as I drop back to heal as best I can, making sure as many as possible will survive.

It feels like we've been fighting for hours, the injured innumerable, but it's only been an hour at the most, closer to half that we arrived. Wabisuki wants to fight but I resist; life is more important than killing. I keep an eye on both teams so I can go if I'm needed. A shriek from behind my little hospital camp and I turn, dreading the appearance of more hollows, or worse, arrancar.

No. It can't be, please, don't let it be... Kazuma dangles from a long sword through his stomach and out his back, still screaming as it twists. I know that pain, the horror that comes of being impaled on that sword.

Shinsou, and holding his pommel, Him.

He's grinning at me, smiling as if He never left, never abandoned me, never sliced me to ribbons and tossed me out the door. A flick of His wrist and Kazuma goes flying, falling through the air in a scramble of flailing limbs and bright spray of blood; I want to run to him, close his wounds but he'll be gone by the time I get there. I've seen the former Captain use His sword too often to not know.

He's sheathed His sword now, hands open as He approaches, my name on His lips. “Kira, my pretty Kira, what are you doing out here? This is no place for you!” The same gentle voice He always used with me, kind and loving, right before He stripped me and left me screaming.

My chest is tight, I'm fighting to breath already and He's nowhere near me. Suddenly, He's standing there, touching my face, fingertips brushing my lips, short nails trailing over my eye. “Good boy, still wear my mark. Such a good boy, I missed you.” His lips touch mine and I can't move, frozen in old terror and conditioned responses.

Don't move, don't run, don't be sick, just stay and be a good boy. Be a good boy, be a good boy, be a good boy. Sound rushes back, making me stagger under His touch and He smiles more. “Pretty Kira.”

Ikkaku's yell of victory makes us both look over, my eyes wide with the faintest hint of hope that he will come save me, His slitted as always, considering. “Kira, you don't think he'll protect you, do you?” A slender arm wraps around my waist, Shinsou in the delicate hand. “Shoot him down, Shinsou.”

“No!” Too late, I can't move as the blade flashes across the battle ground to slam through Ikkaku's back. “No, no, please, no.” My voice is back to a thin whine, a fragile whimper under His smile; I shake so hard I'd fall if He wasn't holding me up. My Captain falls, slowly, thin blade pulling from his body and I imagine hearing the sucking sound it makes; he staggers, tries to stand, swinging his blade once more before collapsing. My head bows and my shoulders round as the nearly defeated arrancar screams its victory and my old master whispers promises in my ear, beautiful lies.

“Only I can protect you, keep you safe. Only I will stay with you forever, love you always. Even scarred as you are, I find you beautiful.” But, but you made me this way, I, I... I watch, terrified as the huge monster laughs and rips at my Captain. Blood sprays and he remains still, not even a twitch of his hand.

Why? Why didn't He take me with Him and I could have vanished from this world, pretended He was all I needed, all I wanted from life. That I had a purpose. I needed Him! I needed to have a reason, to exist for something and He gave it to me; harsh, brutal, but it was worth it, to be worth something. He gave it to me and ripped it away, leaving me to find something else.

And now he's laying on the ground, torn apart while I stand here helpless before Him as always.

A low moan and I collapse completely, watching as the arrancar spits and steps over Ikkaku to attack another group, wiping them out in seconds. His hand rests on my hair, combing it lightly as I kneel at His feet. New hollows pour forward, hidden in my terror but visible now as they shred my men, screams rising. No, no, this isn't happening, please. Please. But there is no one to save me, just like there has never been. Wabisuki screams and I reach for her, pushing away from the silver haired traitor.

I will not stand still. I will fight for once, protect them one last time.

I will not be afraid.

His grip eases for an instant and I bolt, racing across the field, Wabisuki at hand. He's laughing, they're both laughing, nearly bent over double to see me standing over my fallen commander, sword lifted in front of me as I try to stop the bleeding with my reitsu, splitting my attention. The other men have fallen back, retreated to form a circle for protection around someone in the middle, trying to send a message back for help; unreliable at this distance, a sign of desperation to even try. I see Tetsummi staring after me, wanting to come with me; he would have to go through the arrancar and the dozen new hollows first.

*Izuru.* Wabisuki's voice, afraid and angry as she flits about, stepping daintily over blood pools and spatter. *Izuru, what are you doing? You can't fight him.* Her hair flicks at me disdainfully. *Just give it up, he's stronger than you.* I haven't spoken to her in so long, her voice sounds strange, alien. It makes me want to cry, scream that I no longer even recognize my own soul. I've never even been able to call her to physical form and now I have to force it.

*Shut up. So what?* I glare back, kneeling quietly, waiting for the witch to come closer; her attitude is pathetic, a coward and never willing to try. Exactly like me. Her skirt flips at me in annoyance and she stomps over to kick my foot.

*You shut up! You're the one who wants to die so bad.* A tiny smile tilts my lips and she runs, darts backwards; not fast enough.

I have her, flat on her back, hand around her neck, legs pinned by mine. *Gotcha. You will listen to me for once in your life!* Anger flares at me but I hold on, forcing her down, under my control. I will not fail this time; just once, I will win. *Obey me!*

Her struggles become more and more faint and my eyes narrow; she's not that weak, she's faking. *Yes!* I'm so shocked I nearly let go. *This time, Izuru,* My name is a purr on her lips and bright light blinds me, filling me. *We will win!*

My eyes open, my ears clear; they're still laughing, seconds have passed, mere moments. Wabisuki presses her small hands over mine, our voices melded in a whisper. “Bankai.”

Light, light everywhere, surrounding me, inside me, my voice is screaming, I'm almost certain it's mine. My sword warps, moving in a flare of liquid heat and brilliant light, wrapping around my wrist, lengthening on both sides of my hand. A bow, with blades as arcs and energy fluctuating as a string, nearly as tall as I am; my uniform settles around my ankles but it's no longer the same either. Loose pants and shirt are tight now, a deep blue against the pale yellow of my long overcoat that reaches nearly to the ground.

“Ah! Pretty Kira, just like a little Quincy!” Soft clapping, elegant hands coming together gently to mock me.

Energy throbs around us, pulsing in every cell of my body, every corner of my soul. *Draw me.* A whisper breathed over my lips and I obey, pulling my hand back, watching the flare of gold as an arrow forms, feeling the pull on my spirit energy as I aim to the sky.

“Disperse.” A low roar as I release and the arrow shoots to the sky to vanish with a snap. White noise brings silence; not even the sound of laughter or clapping makes it through. Rain falls, brilliant and brutal, shattering shields as it falls, masks disintegrating on contact; screams, both shinigami and hollow cut through the air, shrieks of pain and despair.

The arrancar charges, moving so slowly; why is he moving slowly? I saw him, he's faster. *Strike now! While he's weak!* She's right, it doesn't matter; a scream and I charge, swinging both blades above my head in a double handed strike.

First strike removes one arm, the upward swing guts him in a spray of red and dark purple intestine; my hair is plastered to my face as I swing again, taking a leg and a final crash of metal and bone blasts his mask. The shriek knocks me backwards, tumbling under the force of its rage and pain. My legs won't hold me, I can't get up! Panic sets in as soft steps approach.

“Ah, Kira, Kira, you silly boy.” Teasing affection, so kind and sweet; the ultimate lie. “Did you think you could handle Bankai? Look around you, you've already killed half your own men!” No, that can't be! My head barely moves, turning just enough for me to make out still forms on the ground; I can't even see them breathing from here. A soft cry, a whimper under his heel; I'm a failure, as always. A sleek boot rolls me over onto my back, bow across my chest. “How long can you hold it, pretty Kira? How long until you kill the rest?”

No, I won't! I won't! He's laughing again, crouched down beside me, a finger running over my nose. “Well, when you do, maybe I'll come back for you. Would you like that, pretty Kira?” A tear runs down my face and he lifts it, whole and perfect on his finger. A quick lick and it vanishes. “Always such a joy, pretty Kira. Maybe I will come back for you.” He stands and walks away, not looking back once as a door rips open for him, shimmering in the pale sky.

I'm afraid. I'm so very afraid, that I've killed the ones I meant to protect, that the Captain is gone. That I will die now, crushed by my own out of control power. But I'm not afraid of Ichimaru Gin. Somehow, he doesn't seem as terrifying now, smaller, not the near-god that ruled us. But he's gone now and I know he won't come back for me; he never would have.

I'm left alone, silently fighting to contain the energy humming through me. What can I do? I can't move, can't throw it away, can't contain it, I feel like I will burst. Can I heal with it? My body convulses, arching up as I release as much as I can, guiding it over the quiet battleground, seeking someone, anyone alive. There, a few signatures reach up for it; I can't recognize them, too much power blinds me. More and more, I push as far as I can, seeking; a bit is taken but most rebounds to me, unused and I scream, jerking against the ground.

Yumichika is suddenly there, sitting on my chest, sword drawn; so pretty as it glows, his hair flying back to dance over his shoulders as his pupils expand. That perfect sight is the last I see and I think it's not so bad to die like this. I don't remember why I was so afraid all these years.