The Dreams are Gone, Midnight has Come (Semi-Closed (for now), Incomplete, partial AIM-Log)
Byakuya: When Byakuya reached his home after work, he did not expect Renji to be sitting on the front steps waiting for him. Renji was usually either inside keeping himself occupied or at the bar (and not getting high). Though it was a nice thought for Renji to wait for him.
But as he drew closer, Byakuya saw something that had him put his guard up, slowing his pace slightly. Renji’s eyes were not red. They were a yellow color, nearly gold.
This was not Renji Abarai.
“Who are you?”
Renji: The thing wearing Renji’s body manipulated the facial muscles into a sick smile.
“Looks like I’ve been found out early in the game,” it crooned in Renji’s voice - smoother, perhaps, and certainly with better diction, but Renji’s voice nonetheless. “How disappointing.”
It uncurled from its relaxed sitting position on the front deck and got to its feet much more elegantly than Renji ever had and took slow, confident paces towards Byakuya.
“Tell me, Captain Kuchiki,” it said, a feral growl beginning to come into its voice underneath the croon, “Did you know my dear little Renji was hearing voices? My voice? For this might have gone a whole lot better for the both of you if you had.”
With its left thumb, it pushed Zabimaru loose of his sheath. “Or, of course, maybe you did know, and are simply incredibly, incredibly stupid.”
Byakuya: Oh, he knew something had been bothering Renji. But that his lover was hearing voices? No, he didn’t know. Byakuya suddenly felt ashamed that he didn’t. He should have asked Renji, should have pushed him, ordered him, to tell him what was wrong.
None of this showed on the captain’s face, however. Byakuya narrowed his cold eyes. “I demand you release my Lieutenant at once, demon,” his own hand went to his sheath, but it only rested along the hilt. “Or feel the bite of my blade. Abarai may have survived Senbonzakura once before, but I do not doubt that you will fall.”
Of course, this would mean Byakuya would have to fight Renji’s body, quite possibly damaging it. The Captain would rather not, he would rather not bring any harm to Renji’s body should the demon release him.
But then another thought entered his mind when he realized the demon intended to use Zabimaru. “You think you can fight with Zabimaru?”
Renji: The thing using Renji’s body let out a laugh that was distinctly not the Lieutenant’s and strokes the hilt of the sword at its hips. It didn’t need Zabimaru - but using him would be fun.
“I’m afraid I can’t release your Lieutenant, loverboy,” it said, looking Byakuya straight in the eye. “You see, he’s dead. I killed him.”
Byakuya: “Of that, I refuse to believe,” Byakuya answered, staring right back at the demon.
Renji: Renji’s body laughed.
“You’re a deluded man,” he chuckled, then straightened. “I am Taurvi, the Destroyer. Do you really think I would leave your obnoxious little dog alive when I came into possession of his body?” The feral sound in the thing’s words was more pronounced now, the croon fading away to a secondary quality of the demonic voice.
The wind was picking up, too, bitter and cold, and only around their house. It was cooler than was natural for Rivelata. The Daeva’s wind broke a large branch off a nearby tree.
Somewhere in the back corner of the Daeva’s mind, so small and removed it had escaped the demon’s awareness, a different male voice was shrieking, I’m alive, ‘Kuya, I’m alive, but could not move a single muscle in the usurped body.
Byakuya: Byakuya felt his heart shatter completely. For a third time. He had no reason to believe this… this thing. However, the possibility that it was correct. That his lover was dead…
NO!
Byakuya would not allow himself to think this way. As the bitter cold swept in around them, Byakuya’s eyes grew colder, hardening fiercely. “Well then, Taurvi the Destroyer. Prepare to be the Destroyed.”
Senbonzakura left her sheath, quick as lightening, and was swept in a wide arc toward the Deava, Byakuya flashstepped close to him.
Renji: And Zabimaru went up to meet the gleaming sword, glowing with a dark force that certainly hadn’t been there before. And Renji’s body had never moved so fast - save in flashstep.
“Aha!” the Daeva crowed, all croon lost from its voice now. “That’s what I wanted to see!” It laughed and sent at Byakuya a flurry of attacks - easily. Too easily. “Did you know, it took your pup a rather long time to die… he screamed so loudly, too… shame you weren’t around to hear it!”
The last two words came with an animalistic cackle, a headlong leap forward and an aim to kill. The wind blew with him, shattering a window and cracking trees, and the awful force around Zabimaru flared.
Byakuya: Bykuya dodged and weaved frantically. Renji’s body was now a lot faster than ever before. He ignored the demon’s words, he would not let them aid in this fight. Not now.
Senbonzakura clashed mightily against Zabimaru, sparks flew from the blades, and it was all Byakuya could do to not let the demon get an advantage.
Renji: Renji’s eyes were wild with bloodlust and gold with demonic power.
“Pitiful!” the demon shrieked as it ran at Byakuya, the plants in the garden ripping up from their roots as it passed. “And the dog was so convinced you would defeat me, too. I had been look forward to this, Kuchiki. You disappoint me!”
A slash towards Byakuya. The movement tore up the lawn.
Byakuya: Blood flew in an arch in the air. Byakuya’s eyes were wide as he stumbled back, a deep gash from the left side of his chest to right shoulder split open.
Steadying himself, Byakuya launched himself again at the demon, parrying as he tried to find any opening he could.
Renji: The Daeva laughed; far away, in the hidden corner of its mind, what was left of Renji Abarai was screaming to get loose.
The demon threw away Zabimaru, which lodged to the hilt in the front door and then shattered it with a crash. The dark glow clawed around its hands.
“I know this isn’t your full power, Kuchiki!” it roared. “I’ve seen it in your little pup’s head! Fight me!” It launched itself at Byakuya, tearing out the boards on the side of their house with an awful creak as he passed.
“Fight me!” and the wind tore a section off from their side of the roof, spiraling into the beginnings of a miniature, isolated twister.
Byakuya: Byakuya flashstepped away, hard and fast.
Byakuya skidded to a stop, the pain of his injury not showing in his face, and held his sword to his face. The flat side of the blade faced both the captain and the insane demon running at him.
Then he turned the blade, so that it pointed toward the ground.
Byakuya let go of his sword.
“Ban Kai.”
Renji: A maniacal grin tore open Renji’s face - a strange expression, one those muscles had never before formed.
“Good boy!” crowed the Daeva. “I see you have given up on the mangy mutt! For you must know… if he were alive and I were to leave his body, every injury you dealt me would then be his… and I’ll tell you a secret: I’ll bet I’m much better at healing than he is!”
It tried a singsong voice, but it only sounded feral.
Renji, from his corner of his brain, sent a ferocious mental kick the Daeva’s way. The demon, unaffected, mentally reached back and squeezed, choking the tattered Soul Reaper in his own mind.
You see your lover now, dog? the Daeva thought to Renji. If you had been strong enough to resist me, he wouldn’t have that lovely red gash, would he? It’s your fault he’s going to die, poochie. And you, my friend, are going to watch yourself kill him.
Taurvi cackled as it waited for Byakuya’s Bankai to descend.
Byakuya: “I would never give up on Renji Abarai, demon,” Byakuya said with a harshness in his voice that would cut steel. “Nor will I ever.”
And that is why, this attack will not kill.
Two rows of large blades rose up from the ground as Byakuya spoke, “An infinite number of blades rise from the ground and with their scattering, infinitely more blades rise. Impossible to know their numbers, impossible to even read their path, much less avoid them. Nothing to do but watch as one watches the wind pass and wait for the blades to pass through you. One can do nothing but stand there, frozen, and then be swept away from this world.”
With a sweep of his hand, the blades shattered. “Scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.”
Each tiny blade would go straight through the body of his lover, cutting deeply and spewing blood onto the ground. But none would hit anything vital within the precious body.
Renji: “Beautiful,” the demon said, watching each blade destroy itself before bursting towards Byakuya, hands carrying a deep, dark power. It flew into the cloud of blades as they ripped through its borrowed flesh, and it laughed.
As it flew towards Byakuya, both arms raised into claws, the black glow inside them reeking of strength, it grinned.
Byakuya: Byakuya’s eyes widened as the demon continued to come at him, even as the blades continued tearing at Renji’s body. Many more raced ahead to barricade their master, strengthening their power to keep Byakuya from anymore harm.
Byakuya Kuchiki actually felt fear strike his heart as he watched through the mass of his tiny blades Renji’s possessed form come at him with those eyes that were not his own.
Renji: Renji’s body descended upon Byakuya with the force of an army, one arm outstretched, aimed to shatter his ribcage like his sword.
Byakuya: The shattered blades flew about them both now. They were in a frantic dance but they did not have enough power. They were barely able to slow the demon down.
Byakuya felt multiple ribs on both sides crack as he went down from the force of the blow, Senbonzakura saved him from having a completely shattered ribcage, ensuring his death.
Instead, blood burst from his throat and down his jaw and neck as he hit the ground, the broken ribs shifting dangerously. Byakuya was lucky to have survived, thanks to his zanpakuto. The petal-like blades continued to swirl and congeal around him. Desperately trying to push the manic demon away
Renji: Renji fought and screamed in his corner of his brain so much the Daeva had to squeeze him into immobility and keep him there.
That Renji was screaming for this to stop, for the demon to stop hurting Byakuya, only made it more delicious.
It pushed through the spinning blades, body unaffected, and leaned over Byakuya’s face, grabbing the noble’s jaw to force him to look up at its demonic eyes.
“I am going to destroy you now,” it murmured to Byakuya, a little of the croon back in its voice. “You can be with your stray dog soon, Kuchiki. You two were dead souls in a living world. Reborn.”
“The destroyer has come to restore the balance. I am merciful in giving you another death, Captain Kuchiki. And you should be grateful to receive the honor of having your death be a glorious one.”
It stroked Byakuya’s forehead with its thumb, an unconscious motion. A habit locked into this body from practice.
The other hand came up, black power writhing in its palm; ready to smash it into Byakuya’s head.
Byakuya: Byakuya coughed and choked pitifully on the blood still in his throat, his face held immobile. His eyes widened at the demon’s words and in an unconventional move, one born out of fear and a frantic need to escape, he reached up to stay that hand and the other slammed into the demon’s chest.
“Hado 33: Sokatsui!” Blood spurted from his mouth.
Oh God, please survive this Renji… Byakuya thought, watering eyes shut tightly.
Renji: The Daeva was launched backwards into the house, shattering the living room window and only barely holding onto its balance.
That attack had burned. It had hurt. The demon scowled at Byakuya, hissing through its pain, taking its time to stand upright again.
The voice of Renji in its head was dead silent as it stalked back over to the captain.
Byakuya: The captain struggled to his feet, vomiting up more blood than was healthy, and watched with trepidation as the figure of Renji walked toward him.
Senbonzakura could do nothing against it and Byakuya called her back, her weight back into his hand, though shaky.
Byakuya pointed a finger at Taurvi. “Bakudo 61: rikujōkōrō!”
Renji: Taurvi was bound by the spell for two whole seconds before it began to crack.
A low growl, almost Renji-like, formed in its throat, but then it crescendoed and grew into an echoing sound not even remotely human.
Byakuya: This time, the demon would not be able to move but Byakuya had to be quick, his spell would not hold for long it seemed.
Forgive me, Renji…
“Hado 33-” Byakuya clasped a hand over his mouth, blood flying from it and through his fingers. His entire chest was on fire and Byakuya was forced to his knees, trying desperately to breath and not choke on his own blood.
His hand shot out again, he ignored the blood flying from his lips as he cried out once more, “Hado 33:… Sokatsui!”
Renji: The spell hit Renji’s body, and the Daeva howled as it felt itself burn.
The spell binding it shattered and took the lawn with it. Renji, in the back of the demon’s mind, become slowly alert, and then hopeful, and then ready to spring.
The Daeva could not take the fire. It could not take the burning.
You hold on, ‘Kuya, I’m comin’ to ya real soon-don’t you dare die on me, babe-
The Daeva shut Renji up. It was getting tired of this body, and the sting from the burn was going down far too slowly. It would take a moment, maybe two to recover, though the actual flame of the attack was gone.
Byakuya: They needed help. The screaming made Byakuya flinch, he could hear Renji’s voice in there, somewhere.
Oh God, they needed help.
From the sleeve of his kimono, he pulled out the journal and frantically opened to a blank page, his fingers smearing blood everywhere. He took out the quill and began writing:
“A Daeva has come. Help. I cannot stop it alone. Home. Renji was taken-” that was all he could right before he coughed, more blood spewing from his mouth and onto the page. Luckily it didn’t cover what he was written, only below it.
Damn it.
Renji: The Daeva threw a burst of power at Byakyua, missing his head out of distraction from the burning sensation.
Byakuya: Byakuya felt the power blow right passed him, causing the captain to reel backward out of reflex. He landed on his back, sending pain through him and he curled up, groaning. Blood continued to dribble out of his mouth slightly.
Renji: The Daeva descended upon Byakuya, angered and ready to take its destruction of the Soul Reaper in front of him as slowly and painfully as possible.
I’ll take one eye first, it thought, and Renji howled in his mind.
Byakuya: A bloodstained hand shakily rose maybe only a few inches from the ground, palm up and facing the demon above him.
Forgive me…
“H-Hado… 33… S-Sokatsui…”
Renji: It hit.
Suddenly, the Daeva was writhing where it stood. It had been far too close for that attack, no matter how weakly it had been cast at it, and it wanted out.
Renji once more gave it a kick in the head, and it hissed for that, too. In a last move before it left the body it felt was burning, Taurvi the Destroyer launched itself at Byakuya without its arcane power but with its rage and insanity, aiming squarely to crush in Byakuya’s skull.
Byakuya: Move. Move. MOVE!
His body was slow in reacting and he pushed himself into a roll. The attack still hit, but Byakuya’s slow move saved his life, it seemed.
The brute forced of the body just barely missed Byakuya’s head, but the sheer power behind it sent Byakuya sailing through the air a few feet. His hand hit the ground first, in a vain attempt to stop himself. Something in his arm snapped and suddenly pain exploded through him as the side of his head slammed into the harsh ground followed by the rest of his body.
Byakuya’s body rolled and few more feet before coming to a stop next to the house, his body sprawled and twisted askew like a ragdoll.
The last thing Byakuya remembered was something warm and wet hitting his face and thinking Forgive me please… before the merciful darkness closed in and he knew no more.
Renji: The Daeva tore from Renji’s mind, and Renji fell.
“’KUYA!” Renji called the instant he could use of his voice, but his limbs took longer to regain control over. It took him thirty full seconds to regain enough coordination to stumble over to Byakuya’s body.
“K-kuya-”
His voice cracked when he turned his lover over and saw him with his own eyes, rather than from the back of his head. Suddenly tears were streaming down his face, panic in his every muscle, and he was moving, frantically trying to bring his lover back to consciousness.
“Don’t you die on me, babe, don’t you FUCKIN’ die!” Renji howled, but he didn’t know what to do. Byakuya was dying right here in front of him, and he couldn’t do anything.
He shook, held, and called for his lover, tears streaming down his face, until he began to bleed. The wounds Byakuya had inflicted on the demon had begun showing up on his skin. He swayed and passed out beside Byakuya, arms still half-around him, within fifteen seconds.