Disclaimer: Bleach and all its characters are property of Kubo Tite

I Tried
(prompt: violence)

Now that the threat to the pillars was finally extinguished, there really wasn't much left for us to do except watch the remaining battles. I unloaded the still unconscious Yumichika off my back when we'd reached Komamura-taichio, Iba, and Ikkaku. I can't say that I was confident. I knew that the arrancar that we had just beat were nothing to write home about, and what was to come was going to be the real fight.

The first thing I saw, the only thing I saw, was Rangiku being surrounding by a group of three female arrancar. The others didn't worry me. I had my confidence that even Omaeda could win. If it were just one of them fighting her, it'd be fine. Two would be stretching it, but I knew she was strong. Three was just not good odds. While her haineko could be used as a large-scale attack, it wouldn't be enough to take on three at once. Especially not after they'd released their ressurection.

They were far away, so I couldn't make out much of the action. Despite the gravity of the situation, I had to laugh a little when I saw one of them lunge at her before they'd started. I didn't hear what she said, but I knew it certainly wasn't nice. It was good to see that her insults could work against arrancar. I just hoped this kind of momentum could carry through. The good fortune continued for a short while as she used her ash cat to cut and confuse the girls, but my stomach still twisted. She needed more power if she was going to keep this up, and she'd already released her zanpakuto.

It was long before she was struggling. I fought every urge I had to bolt away and help her, but just as I was about to ask Komamura for help, Momo had appeared using on intricate kidou and a blast from Tobiume. My hope, however, was short-lived, as the arrancar girls knowing that their fight had just gotten a little more challenging pulled out their weapons. I knew their resurrecion was next.

"Komamura-taicho, I'm requesting permission to go aid in the situation with Hinamori-fukutaicho and Matsumoto-fukutaicho," I said to the wolf-headed captain.

"I'm not your superior, Hisagi. You have already left the guard of your pillar. If you wish to further assist your comrades that is you decision."

"Yes, thank you, Komamura-taicho." I turned to take my leave and felt Kira's presence behind me.

"I think they can use all the help they can get," he said quietly. He was probably feeling the same worry for Momo that I was for Rangiku. For both of us, it wasn't just about saving comrades.

I'd had fantasies of saving Rangiku almost since the moment I met her. It was usually from something inane, something she'd probably never really be trapped in. Being my fantasy, she usually rewarded me with an extra flash of skin or a soft kiss. I've always wanted to impress her and not just because I wanted the rewards I'd thought I'd get. But I won't say that I didn't want those either. I wanted to show her that I'm not just some guy drooling over her, because she certainly had her share of that. I got to know her more as a person as time went on. She wasn't just the beautiful, curvy vice captain with long blonde hair and lips that could tempt any man. She had an unshakable confidence, a loyalty to her friends and superiors, as well as a warm, comforting spirit. Seeing all those qualities only made me more resolute. I had talents and skills that I hoped would set me apart. My guitar playing had gotten much better, so I was closer to writing that song for her. I always treated her to a few rounds of sake even if my wallet only had enough money for one. Every article I wrote, I poured my all into so she could read the words I loved to write. I wanted to show her that I was there if she ever needed me; I would help her when she was in danger.

As we made our way to them as fast as we could, there was a surge of reiatsu in the air, and it made my stomach sink. Both Kira and I looked towards its source to see this thing that had formed from the left arms of those arrancar girls. This thing was utterly monstrous. I've seen my share of large, disgusting hollows in my day, and nothing could compare to what I think I was seeing. Nothing I could think of matched the overwhelming feeling that emanated from it. Still, we needed to help them with this thing. Even if things were only getting worse, I had to help her.

We were almost there when, in an instant, it moved for Rangiku, and my heart dropped as I watched it rip off a chunk of her flesh as if it were nothing. I had to keep going. I couldn't give up. In a strange way, it was like those huge hollows that attacked me and my fellow students all those years ago. Even if I was in a corner, I'd have to grit my teeth and keep going. I knew that I probably couldn't beat this thing on my own, but there was no way that I could just stand aside.

She was falling out of the sky, and Momo had used a binding spell to make sure and break her fall. It was headed right for them. This was my chance. With a twirl and swing of shinikaze, I had it trapped.

I managed some nice, reassuring words to Momo. We were there. We were going to help. I almost want to laugh when asked me if it was okay for me to be the one to fight. This wasn't the place for matchmaking. It had to be me, if there was anyone that could stabilize Rangiku and Momo it was him. I wish that I could do it, but the best I could do was hold this thing off until he was done. It was the more dangerous job, but I was willing.

I thought I was doing well. When the kidou hit that thing, I really thought that I had a way to beat him. All of those years I spent trying to build up my speed and kidou so I didn't have to use shinikaze were going to pay off, but that thing was only playing with me. It broke the chains in and instant once it had the chance. I should have avoided his hand, but he managed to grab me. Then it got even more disgusting when it looked like it was going to swallow me. Seeing Iba coming from behind it made me feel a little better. I didn't want my demise to be in the stomach of this thing. Then Iba was blasted with a cero, and it went back to me. First there was the wall, then it squeezed me until I felt my body go numb, and it tossed me aside.

Now I'm wondering when someone is going to come and heal me or if my reiatsu is going to slowly drain out of me. But, even now, as I lay here trying to stay conscious, I just hope that Kira can help her, and the selfish bit of me hopes she knows that I tried my hardest to beat that thing for her. Maybe I'll wake up in a bed in the 4th division next to her, and, when she's well enough, she'll reward me with one of those kisses I've always dreamed about.

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