Aizen vs Yukari pt 1 - Slumbering Spirits

-

-Unknown Realm-

“Lady Yukari, its been well over a few months since you brought that boy to the Neatherworld. Shouldn’t it be helpful to check in on him?” Ran questioned, sitting next to the purple dressed youkai. Indeed, it has been awhile since she had those young men fight to the death. She didn’t feel a lot of pity, but considering the circumstance, it was best to keep a foreign viewpoint rather than intervene and trespass on it. Plus, arguing is such a pain.

“Now Ran, trust me on this. The worlds are collapsing after all. Sometimes the best option to prevent it is to cause some ruckus as well.”

The Kitsune Yokai nodded to her master and sighed. She could never figure out what was going on through that brain of hers. In any case, she had a job: keep watch while Yukari gathers warriors. With the Spirit Detective and Substitute Soul Reaper staying at Yuyuko’s place, she was just curious on what actions will transpire in the future. “Now, Okina has brought over quite the interesting person. I’m going to see whether he is friend or foe.”

A single gap opened in space, and with a smile, Yukari walked into it.

-Mt. Targon-

Aizen traversed the unknown landscape, impressed with the surrounding mountains and land around him. He was unaware of this strange location, but it didn’t bother him at all. If anything, a new location presented new chance for him to cut loose. Maybe test the subjects and find a new way to build the power of the Hogyoku. Before he could test this however... he felt a new presence in the distant. One that was alien even to him. He smiled and closed his eyes.

“I can sense your spiritual pressure. You can come on out.”

A tear in space... and it open, revealing the eyes of millions of lost souls... at least to the human eye. A woman with blonde hair smiled as she stepped out and sat on the tearing gap. She faced Aizen, as if to study a new walk of life.

“I do believe we never met.” She said politely. Aizen turned to face the anomaly and gave a smirk. “I am Yukari, now, who may you be~?”

The traitor of Soul Society turned, his hands still in his pocket. “Sosuke Aizen.” He studied the gap behind Yukari, intrigued on how she arrived. “You must be a Vasto Lordes... no, not a human, Soul Reaper, or Hollow... your spiritual pressure is quite strange.”

Yukari smiled, impressed he picked up so quickly on this. “A Youkai.” She replied. “And don’t be surprised. We’re not an extinct species. You must notice your original home is gone, correct?”

Aizen didn’t even seem to reply. But he knew immediately what she meant. Yukari continued, placing her fingers just under her chin to rest them as a gap formed just underneath her elbows to be used as a table. “I saved a number of those from that realm. My ability is strong indeed. And I can sense quite an impressive level coming from yours.”

The Soul Reaper approached, intrigued at how much she knew. “I appreciate the offer. But. I’m afraid I must decline.” He said. “However, they may have something in common. I believe we can reach a reasonable conclusion.” He closed his eyes, his smile not leaving his face. “The Espada. I can feel their spiritual pressure across this new world. Join me, and we’ll gather them. You can be of some use.”

In that instant, Aizen jumped back, an instinct told him to dodge, and it was good. Peering to his left, he saw a beam of light nearly struck him, and the gap that had formed closed. Yukari gave a smile.

“Please, don’t take me for a fool. I saw you go and reach for your sword.” Yukari stated. “Offer one hand but arm the other correct? Wise. But foolish. Perhaps I made a mistake coming to you for an alliance.”

Aizen’s eyes narrowed as he grabbed his zanpakuto. Both warriors knew where this was heading. And soon, only one was going to walk away alive.

FIGHT

Yukari aimed her parasol and fired first, sending three clear orbs of energy at the Soul Reaper. Aizen barely had time to react as he swung his sword, slicing the energy out of existence.

Curious, he glanced to see his blonde foe, finding that she vanished from view entirely. With a smirk, he turned and swung, blocking what was an obvious move – a strike from behind.

“Did you expect to catch me with such a common trick?” he questioned. Yukari smiled.

“No.”

With that, something distorted behind Aizen, a gap filled with an unholy amount of eyes and arms trying to claw for him. The Soul Reaper maintained focus on Yukari but held one arm back, firing a blast of blue spiritual energy from it. The arms inside were struck, vanishing back within the gap as it closed. Aizen had a suspicion that this was a trap, it seemed too easy to destroy something with a low level kido – even if he made it weaker. He turned back to see Yukari had stepped back, unfolding a small fan just over her mouth, likely hiding a coy smile. But, this was his primary chance.

“Shatter.” He held up his sword, the blade seemingly to glisten. Yukari seemed to catch on quickly and hid her hand. In that moment, a tiny gap formed just before the sword and grabbed it. The Soul Reaper seemed to glance… and smirk.

“Quite stubborn.” he seemed to compliment before grabbing the wrist. He swung his sword back and swiped down, attempting to sever the hand. Just before he could, a slit in space opened just above the entire arm, forcing him to try and stop his own momentum before he lost the blade in it.

“My, such good reflexes.”

Yukari chuckled and easily pulled her dainty arm back, escaping Aizen’s grip as the Soul Reaper checked his peripheral. A slit was right next to his neck. If he tried to hack off the arm, he would've just ended up decapitating himself. This woman was quite clever. But he was a genius for a reason.

As soon as Yukari united her arm rightfully to her side, Aizen aimed for her with his index finger.

“Rikojokuro.”

At that instant, six light spikes formed around Yukari and shot for her waist. The youkai didn't seem bothered as she spun in place, striking all six bars with relative ease, knocking them from existence. Right as she did, Aizen closed the space between them and held his palm for her waist. “Shakkaho.”

A flame erupted from his hand! Striking Yukari’s belly and carried her across the sky - towards the clouds. The youkai didn't seem bothered by this as she simply swatted it back with the back of her hand.  It barely even singed her glove. And Aizen was quick to notice. Even without an incantation, he had put enough power into that to burn down at least a few dozen skyscrapers. He was… amused… to say the least.

“Sokatsui.” The Soul Reaper held his hand up, unleashing a blue wave of energy. A normal Soul Reaper would make a simple ball of fire - a Captain would make it the size of a small city block without the incantation. For Aizen - with his sheer reiatsu levels, it was as if an ocean covered the very sky itself. Leaving no boundary of a cloud as it heated the atmosphere. Yukari just stood, waving her hand across her hair as she held her parasol and opened it.

The ocean of energy split in two! Separating the moment it hit the parasol, reducing one of the various mountains in the back into atoms. While this was occurring, the Youkai looked at her nails with minor disinterest, opening a gap just in front of the parasol and had the wave swallow itself inside. When it cleared, Aizen had appeared right behind her, swinging his sword for her head.

“I appreciate the gift, Sosuke-kun.” She then opened a gap right before him… and unleashed the rest of the energy, having it fire into the stratosphere and beyond. “But I’m afraid I have to send it back, purple is more my color.”

Aizen was rather impressed as he finally stepped clear from the blast, his white uniform slightly scuffled as the wave disappeared over the horizon. It seemed that her distortions allowed anything to move between them. That was going to be a problem if he wanted to remove her from any future endeavours. But she seemed to sense when he was about to activate Kyouka Suigetsu as well. Truly, this woman was not going to be easy to overcome. He closed his eyes and smiled.

“Yakumo, was it? I believe you grow confident of your own skills.” he stated, sheathing his sword in respect. It seemed that she bested him for now. “I hereby forfeit.”

“Is that so?” Yukari began, “Good. It would get boring if I had to kill you with such ease.” she turned her arm back, “That is. If you there in the first place.” She seemed to grab the sky and pulled, revealing the true Aizen hiding behind a distortion.

“I see, you sensed my reiatsu even here.” Aizen sighed. Yukari smiled and turned around, throwing her hand out. Her dainty fingers reached for the Soul Reaper’s eye, barely missing as he dodged and tried to counter with a stab for the stomach. Yukari giggled at the futile attempt and lifted herself upwards, spinning across the air and placed her hands on either side of Aizen’s face. The Soul Reaper felt something… alien… his heart picked up speed as he ducked down and tried to slice the woman with the thought she’ll land behind him.

“You saw it, did you?” Yukari questioned. “Your death?”

Was that what it was? For a moment… despite how feminine her fingers felt, her slender her arms were, petite and ladylike, he could admit that for a split second, it felt like she could’ve crushed his head like a grape or snatch it off his body like a one would pull a pillow from its cover. No effort in the slightest would’ve been needed. Just what was this woman?

Yukari smiled, it seemed…. Off. Uncanny some would say. As if behind the curve of her lips was the sheer inhuman nature. Aizen was used to being ahead. This should be no exception. But what was it that made him desire to cut her down? This wasn’t right, hes not human, hes not even a Hollow, Quincy, or God forbid, a Fullbringer. What was he feeling?

“Is that fear, dear Aizen? Do I scare you?” Yukari teased. She was beginning to sound like her friend Yuyuko. Vague and letting a childish act get the better. This act… was enraging Aizen. “I’d love it if you do have a tinge of that fear.

A swing! Aizen’s sword was aimed right for her face, and the youkai seemed to laze like one would on their chair and held her fan over her mouth, hiding a giggle.

“Fear. Don’t be silly.” he began. “I’m merely curious in your nature. Its not something that exists, yet it does. Like a paradoxical puzzle. A youkai was it? Could it be that you need fear to survive based on your statements?” Yukari’s eyes narrowed a bit, the lower half of her face covered by her fan to hide her expression. It could be anything at that rate. Anger, caution, or worry were Aizen’s primary choices. But he could be wrong. “I’ll take that as a yes.You don’t truly exist.” he mocked. “Like a kyouka suigetsu.”

Kyouka Suigetsu? Why would a proverb Yukari’d expect from that bratty Celestial be something he’d pick- unless.

A tinge of pain. A stab through her heart. The youkai’s eyes widened with shock as she looked down… Aizen’s sword… had pierced her at last, jutting from her bosom as the one before her… evaporated like mist.

“I see, I can finally touch you, Yukari Yakumo. But you… lack any way of escaping Kyouka Suigetsu’s perfect hypnosis.”

A swing, Yukari’s shoulder was completely cut open, much to the youkai’s surprise as she held it back. The Soul Reaper obtained his confident smirk, approaching with the ease of a man on a sunny stroll and the gaze of a serial killer inside. He was obviously assuming his victory was assured.

“I see… so you’re the type to talk big.” Aizen mocked. Holding his hand out, “But once exposed, will fade into obscurity. A creature that should only exist as an abstraction of human thought - will be cut down here.”

Yukari blinked, acting annoyed as a gap opened to her side and fired a violet beam of light, the blast hit Aizen dead on, eating away at his torso… but he vanished. At that moment, the sword had appeared jutting through her belly.

“Absolute Hypnosis you say…” Yukari muttered, she was quick to catch on… and broke the sword with her hand. “Then I suppose I’ll just have to wake myself up-.”

Her body was set ablaze, confusion rang across her being as she forced herself to retreat in a gap and reform a good distance. Just what happened?

“No matter what you do, Yukari Yakumo.” Aizen began, “None can escape this ability, even if they are aware. Your ability to use your portals will only delay the inevitable downfall.” How was he speaking? Telepathy?

The youkai turned in confusion, seeing what appeared to be an army of Aizens surrounding her. Each one coming at her with sword in hand. The youkai smirked and simply held her fan above her head. This seemed more up her alley.

Yukari's Arcanum "Danmaku Barrier"

At that moment, two signals - rings with patterns similar to a summoning circle - scattered apart and began to spew forth blue orbs of light, all tightly packed together from one as the other ring fired pink orbs. The Aizen copies noticed and saw the orbs fly forth, forcing them to scatter before being bombarded. At that moment, the bullets stopped just short of hitting the youkai and fired back away - resembling a beautiful duo-colored flower. The Aizens were paused due to the speed and sheer number coming at them, leaving them open for the next set that ripped through them like butter, reducing them to nothing.

“That was merely easy mode, even a child could accomplish that.” Yukari teased, more wondering where the real one was hiding. If she was in an illusion as he said, she could surely break free by manipulating the Boundary of Truth and Falsehood, Reality and Fiction, or Awake and Asleep. So why wasn’t any of those boundaries working?

Yukari closed her eyes, allowing the danmaku to fire away as she sensed for Aizen’s presence. The act of playing around would delay a bit of progress. Right as she sensed him, another slash occured - this time, it opened her from the collarbone on down. Surprise made her open her eyes as she witnessed Aizen hold a hand to her face.

“Byakurai.”

In less than a fraction of a second, a bolt of lightning zapped across the sky, burning the surrounding water molecules and ripping across the closest mountain and turning the upper layer into ash. The Soul Reaper knew she likely escaped, but… in a state of hypnosis, escape would be impossible.

Right as he began to imagine where she would be, his arm vanished. Surprise rang across his face as he noticed this, a bleeding stump with even his sword falling. The world around him began to shine - turning into a mix of day and night at once. The mountain range was split completely in two at this rate. Was this a trick? An illusionary kido aiming to confuse him out of his reality?

“I see, so I had to expose the boundaries of Awake and Asleep more than usual.”

Yukari was right behind him, holding his snatched off arm with a noticeable bite into the tricep. Her lips still clean in spite of this. “Your ability is to cast hypnosis you say? I could tell something was off when you made copies of yourself, but all it took was deductive reasoning. And that… dear Aizen, is why you lost.”

As the Soul Reaper turned - his head was reduced to nothing in a heartbeat. His body soon followed…

“The Boundary of Life and Death had befallen you. A tragic and abrupt end befitting for one like you.” With a smile, Yukari unfolded her umbrella… and felt a pained across her back… the spine was shot… causing her to lose her umbrella, her arm fell… and soon, she began to lean forth.

“You are partially correct.” Aizen began. “Any normal hypnosis can be seen through. But…” he smirked as Yukari turned and reached for him… and in that moment, her hand was sliced apart, falling towards the ground below. “Even if you are aware of Kyouka Suigetsu’s power… it will not change anything.”

Another swing… and Yukari might as well have been cut in half… the youkai’s eyes widened… and she fell to the ground below. As he watched the woman fall, the Soul Reaper sheathed his sword. This was his victory.

At least that was what he pictured before sensing another threat from below. Pressing his feet against the foothold of reishi, Aizen jumped back in surprise, seeing something peer at him from below. It resembled an eye, a violet colored ball that blinked at him. Whatever it was, it likely told him that Yukari was still alive.

And at that moment, from every direction - a gap formed in the space of sky, and a barrage of lasers bombarded the Soul Reaper like hail. Each beam moved too fast for him to recognize. Each hit felt like an uncontrollable flame. The Soul Reaper was completely unsure of what happened, but between the seering pain and the sheer tenacity of his opponent, he was certain that he was going to be fighting an uphill battle.

“Aizen, you mustn’t underestimate me.” Yukari’s voice echoed from the gaps. “Even if I could be stuck in an hypnosis, you should know… the Boundary of Truth and Fiction allow me to escape ev- en- that~.”

This was… impossible! Someone escaping Kyouka Suigetsu’s effects?! Not even Yhwach could break that with the Almighty! The Soul Reaper instinctively swung his sword back, seeing it was grabbed between the index, middle finger, and thumb of Yukari. The youkai smiled as she looked no worse for wear - only wearing a new change of clothes.

“Now then, how about we fight without relying on parlor tricks? Show me the true you.” she demanded. The fight… was just beginning!

Yukari tugged, effortlessly pulling Aizen’s sword from his grasp! The Soul Reaper grinded his teeth as he jumped back, seeing the gaps around him form and open, firing blasts of light for him. The Soul Reaper let go of the reishi hold and let himself drop a bit, watching the lights miss him entirely as another one formed and opened just below him, dropping Aizen back in the line of fire before he could react. The blasts completely bombarded him! Holding him in place as the youkai watched with a giggle.

Just as she did, something changed in the atmosphere… a boom of spiritual energy forced the lights away, and Aizen stood, a look of perplexed anger on his face as he regained his footing. He felt something attempt to strike the back of his neck and repel right off the green shield kido hiding at the blindspot, a large blast of light from another gap. Keeping his focus on Yukari, the traitor watched as she disappeared from view and turned, seeing her flying at him like the rotors of a helicopter and held his arm out, stopping the youkai’s momentum entirely and held onto her arm before using his other hand to strike her in the stomach. The blow didn’t phase Yukari too much, and while its been awhile since he had to rely on hakuda, it didn’t mean he lost his touch.

Aizen took his hand and balled it to a fist, only to be suddenly pulled away by a massive red claw emitting from a distorted space behind him. Confusion was quickly replaced with shock as he saw Yukari wave her fan, sending what appeared to be blades from it. The fact he was being held by the claw completely complicated things. At least, it should have if he wasn’t already skilled in kido. The traitorous Captain focused ahead and almost as if he gained telekinesis, a clear wall suddenly formed before him, deflecting the blades with ease.

Taking note, Yukari simply had the claw squeeze, beginning to crush Aizen in its grip. Despite its mighty hold, the Soul Reaper didn’t make a sound. His gaze met hers, and he smirked… Taking one hand and pulling it free, Aizen grabbed onto the distorted claw and applied pressure…

Crack…

And just like glass, it shattered apart, dissipating below much to even Yukari’s surprise. To show this new feat of strength wasn’t just in his hands, Aizen seemed to disappear from view. The youkai’s natural guess was that he’d pop up behind her with some cliche ‘no, I’ve already cut you’ attack. But to her surprise, he was right in front of her, and he swung his hand in the same matter as knife cutting through water, and completely sliced open the youkai’s neck. Yukari gripped onto it in shock, the sensation of pain sweeping across her body as Aizen held one hand out and fired what appeared to be a red concussive blast, another shakkaho - only this time, it evaporated at least five mountains in the distance. This power… his strength was steadily improving. Just as he desired.

“Tell me, Yukari. Do you believe in evolution?” he asked. The youkai stood there, a forcefield surrounding her as the smoke cleared.

Fear is necessary for evolution. he remembered telling that to Gin. It seems that just maybe, the same could apply here… Against her, someone who could find a way out of Kyouka Suigetsu, he’d need to do something new to stand a remote chance.

Yukari seemd to calculate his strength. To break free so easily… she’s never seen this even from a Lunarian. She supposed that this was a sign. If hes growing stronger, than her best bet would be to vaporize him before he comes close to reaching her level. The youkai seemed to grab nothing, clenching her hand on the air around her. The Soul Reaper didn’t have time to react as she seemed to pull - and in that moment, it felt as if everything was sliced in two around Aizen, his abdomen seeping blood and the clouds parting several kilometers away like butter. Right then, something emitted from Aizen’s body, a white crystal-like substance that almost seemed to fuse his clothes with his skin and make branching protrusions.

Aizen glared and held his hand up, only for something to redirect the blast of blue energy towards the ground below and completely eradicate a forest below. When he looked, it was a blonde woman - no, one with multiple white tipped tails and a mob cap barely hiding her fox ears. So, even kitsune exist.

“Ran, I don’t remember summoning you here.” Yukari sighed, opening her fan.

“Forgive me, my lady. But Chen and I couldn’t just sit idly by. This thing is not one I think should be handled in a mere one on one scuffle.”

The youkai simply approached and struck her over the head with her parasol.

“Kya!”

“My, it seems you’re malfunctioning a bit, I thought I told you that I can handle it. Do I need to do a hard reboot?~” Yukari asked, hitting the parasol over the kitsune’s head again.

“Owowowow! Lady Yukari-! Ow!”

Aizen could just watch. In fact, it was amusing enough that he actually wanted to sit down and enjoy the show. However, he was a rather busy man… and it’d be for the best if he settled the debt now.

“Raikoho.”

At that moment, a wave of lightning erupted, the speed and pressure turning the entire sky a pale white for a split second as the mach cone breached the stratosphere and burnt against the ground. The kitsune managed to catch herself and use her tails to block the blunt of the attack, allowing Yukari to disappear back into a gap. Aizen almost seemed impressed by the reaction speed she displayed. But he knew she said someone else was nearby.

A cat-like creature was barreling towards him! Spinning like a ball caught in a wind storm and aimed for the traitor’s neck. Aizen turned to face her and simply spun, throwing a kick that propelled the nekobata into one of the last few mountains at speeds surpassing even the fastest of jets. The sonic booms echoed as Chen was smashed several hundred miles away, no longer a problem for him in just one go.

As the lightning dissipated, Aizen turned to see Ran coming for him, her claws out and teeth bared in pure bloodlust.

“I suppose you are more of a weapon than backup.” Aizen guessed, grabbing the kitsune by her neck and throwing her towards the ground at breakneck speeds. He turned to see Yukari’s hand reaching for his spinal cord and grabbed it, pulling the youkai from her hiding spot and swat her across the sky with a hit to the cheek. His strength was definitely improving. And with these two newcomers, he was going to have to be on his guard moreso than usual. And of course, almost right on cue - the nekobata was right before him. Even this two tailed feline was fast enough to get the jump on him it seemed.

As Chen tried to claw at his face, Aizen simply grabbed her wrist and pulled - ripping it clean off before using it as a blunt tool to strike her down. The Soul Reaper turned and smirked, noticing the kitsune gunning for him as Yukari vanished into another distortion. Aizen dropped down, making her miss and threw an uppercut, striking the jaw and staggering Ran just long enough to push himself to her level and strike her stomach and face in rapid succession.

The traitor still had his guard up, even like this and used a flash step to get behind Ran, causing  Chen to strike the eyes of Yukari’s personal shikigami. The blood curdling howl from Ran echoed as Aizen quickly rammed his arm through her torso, stunning the kitsune long enough for Chen to realize what she did.

“R- Ran-sama!!!”

At that moment, Aizen appeared right behind Chen and swung his arm. The gust alone was more than enough to gut open the youkai, but the fact he still hit her was overkill. Chen was split in two… and the two shikigami fell below. This allowed Aizen a chance to breathe. He barely had time to react to their speed. And given their supernatural nature - he couldn't help but wonder if that was even enough. Still, as perplexing as it was to deal with them, the fact Yukari didn't even attempt to help them was peculiar in its own right.

“I see. They were tools after all. Am I correct?” Aizen questioned. Yukari stepped out behind him, a smirk on her face. This smile didn't seem to be out of sarcastic amusement, nor did it seem to be out of mocking glee. It hid something. The fact Yukari used her fan to cover her mouth and had her face hidden by her parasol confirmed this.

“Is that not how you treated your subordinates in the past?”

Aizen was unsure if she knew of his past deeds. In fact, he was pretty damn sure she was just trying to psyche him out. He wasn't going to play her little game.

“I believe your attempts at manipulating me just isn’t something you can do. Now, maybe you can try to send more of your pets at me. And watch as they collapse one by one.”

Yukari closed her fan, the loud clap being the cue for a beam of light to blast across Aizen’s face, almost erasing the entire half in one go. The Soul Reaper sighed, more annoyed than injured as he cracked his neck. Another light… and another… and another… and another… they were striking him from all angles! Blasting the traitor to where any normal person would’ve been turned to ash within less than a fraction of a second. Aizen kept his gaze focused… and  unleashed a simple burst of spiritual pressure. The force repelled the lasers, much to Yukari’s surprise as he approached. His fused clothes resemble bolts of lightning before fusing into one and extending to cover his face. His mere prescence gave an illusion that he was something more… his spiritual energy seemed stronger but non-existent as well.

“Now then. Yukari Yakumo. Allow me to show you, the power of one’s evolution. And what it shall entail against a mere fairy tale such as yourself.” The alien faced Soul- nay, evolved being, had faced her. A chrysalis hiding the butterfly of death underneath. He didn’t think he’d have to return to this form, but to do so… it was almost nostalgic. But to Yukari...

“Why are you wearing a onesie?”