To Undo it All

Chapter 2: Execution(Once Again)

"Ban-kai!" My reiatsu exploded outward, powerful enough even when weakened to create a hurricane. With a single, careless slash, I cleared the dust away from the battlefield, revealing my false Bankai to Byakuya. It felt kind of nostalgic, to wear the overcoat again, and to hold the midnight black blade in my hand one more time. Thanks to the head of the Kuchiki Clan being stunned from my release, I analyzed myself, to find an incredible revelation. I always wondered why my fake Bankai blade was black, why all my wounds healed when I released it, and why I was able to use my hollow powers most freely in Bankai. It seemed the simple act of entering Bankai, the truest and most powerful form of the relationship between Shinigami and Zanpakuto, was enough to loosen the seal my Quincy powers had over my Hollow. The blade was black because Shiro's blade was, my wounds healed because of his high-speed regeneration, and I had the easiest access to my hollow powers because it was when the seal was at its weakest. That also explained why the more often and longer I was in Bankai, the easier to use and more powerful my Hollow Mask had become. "Tensa Zangetsu."

'…You just now realize this?!'

'Shut up.' Byakuya finally came out of his shock enough to speak.

"So…that's it? That little weapon-" 'Fuck you.' "-that's your Bankai?" he seemed flabbergasted. "It looks just like a regular zanpakuto. Now I can see: this is no different than your childish display earlier." His eyes narrowed in rage. "What it comes down to is the fact that you enjoy treading on those things we hold sacred. What you need is to be taught a lesson. I plan on showing you what happens to immature brats who try to insult our honor." Senbonzakura rose up like a flood from behind him straight at me. It was just as easy now as it had been then to shunpo past the blades and in front of him, the point of Zangetsu's blade just barely breaking through the skin of the hollow of his neck. He froze in shock.

"You wanna talk about pride?" I began. "Your so-called 'honor' demands that you kill Rukia. Takes a lot of 'honor' to kill your own sister, I assume. If that's the kind of pride and honor you're talking about, you can be damn well sure that I'm gonna insult it!" I jumped back. This had to go on until Byakuya activated Senkei. Old Man was right, Aizen wouldn't reveal himself unless everyone he perceived as a strong enough to be a nuisance was unable to be one, and Byakuya counted. I refocused on the Captain I was fighting, to see him looking confused with a hand gently placed against where Zangetsu was previously.

"Why? Why did you take the point of your sword away from my throat?" For some reason, according to my memories, I kinda just shut up here. "Well? Answer me." I didn't actually know the answer, so I remained silent.

"Arrogance destroys the footholds of victory." Wow, it was like he was reciting something from a book. "That move of yours is not Bankai, and a lowly Ryoka could never attain Bankai. It's inconceivable." Senbonzakura began to glow in preparation to move. "With this attack,you will regret not slitting my throat when you had the chance. A miracle only happens once. Your luck has run out, boy." I distinctly recall performing a great many things others called miracles, which now included going back in time. Pink petals blurred together as they launched themselves at me, and I immediately began dodging them at my fastest in this form. Regularly, the petals would surround me in a way someone slower would deem it impossible to escape, only for me to weave around them without being touched.

'Begin slowing now. This is when you began to get overwhelmed by your power.'

'Understood. Thanks for the reminder.' It was difficult, but with the help of the Old Man, I began to slow myself steadily in a way where someone would think I didn't notice it. 'This is taking too long. I need to get him to use the second level of his Bankai.'

'Taunt 'im.' Shiro recommended. Going with it, I began to shunpo in a circle around Byakuya, fast enough that my afterimages were indistinguishable from myself.

"You haven't hit me since I released my Bankai you know." I announced. "Am I going too slow? I can go faster as soon as you give the word."

"Don't get too cocky." He snapped, finally resorting to his hands. It was good, proved he was starting to get desperate. I dodged a few more times, purposefully ending up in the air and surrounded completely by Senbonzakura. Every petal came at me at once, and I deflected them all with the speed my false Bankai was known for. Not as fast as Yoruichi, but firmly between her and Soi Fon in terms of speed. Once I deflected all of the petals, I realized I had the perfect opportunity to push the elder Kuchiki into using Senkei.

"You said a miracle only happens once, right?!" I asked before shunpoing behind Byakuya, Zangetsu poised to strike. "Then what's this?!" He spun around as I stabbed forth, grabbing the blade so as to avoid being impaled. His face shifted into a dark glare.

"I see. By focusing all the fighting power of the Bankai in that small blade, that Bankai gives you incredible size combined with its intensity allows you to fight at incredible speeds. Even I have to admit such power is impressive." He readjusted his grip on my blade. "Very well then. There is nothing left for me to do but completely crush that power!" His reiatsu skyrocketed, and I mentally sighed in relief.

'Finally, you use the second level of your Bankai.' He and I separated as he prepared Senkei.

"Watch carefully, Ichigo Kurosaki." He began as his reiatsu flickered about his form.

'What is it with people fighting me and saying my full name before they let loose an attack they think is gonna kill me?'

'Dunno, but if people keep doin' it, then it'll be a great warning sign.' Byakuya's reiatsu shot into the sky before forming the dome I knew was coming.

"What you see is what happens when I abandon all defense and risk everything to kill my enemy. This is the true form of Senbonzakura."

'It's great an' all that yer makin' it all ominous 'n shit, but ya think it's smart to let yer opponent know ya aint got no defense in this form?'

'Wise advice.' The dome bled to a dark blue, and the petals of Senbonzakura formed into the blades that floated along the walls of the dome.

"Senkei Senbonzakura Kageyoshi." Byakuya began walking forward as he continued. "Do not worry. These swords simply mark your funeral procession. The thousand swords around you will not attack you at once."

'Y'know, fer such a smart guy, how did he not think ta try usin' all 'o the swords at once before Ichibe told 'im about it?'

'Y'know, I'm with the Old Man here. How are you so smart today?'

'Fuck off. Both 'o ya.' Byakuya kept talking, obvious to my inner conversation.

"This Senkei is the form I show only to those special few enemies," a sword dropped into his hand, its glow fading away to reveal the sealed form of the sword, "who are truly deserving of my vow to kill them with my own hands. You are only the second to ever see it."

"Flattered." Despite how carelessly I said it, I was being truthful. As he was currently, this was his way of saying he had respect for me. I flared my reiatsu, and he flared his in response.

"Here I come, Ichigo Kurosaki."