94 Siege on Kasumioji clan (2/2)

Rukia knew they were in a predicament until she heard Rangiku's voice,

”Growl, Haineko”

Ash filled the sky as she started striking down the assassins yet more and more came. While Rukia kept her back protected, her front was now exposed due to the lack of blade. Seeing more and more assassins converge in front of her, she was able to take them down before they reached her, however they just ended up getting back again. Only when she struck them down a second time did they finally stop.

Rukia also took the initiative as she struck forward,

”Dance, Sode no Shirayuki.”

Rukia's zanpakuto turned into a glistening white katana while its blade and even the handle were pure white. There was also a white strap attacked to the end of her handle, resulting in a beautiful, snow like blade.

Slowly, the numbers started to put a toll on Rangiku until a mistake caused an opening, allowing an assassin to get through. Seeing the assassin get closer, Rangiku was mildly surprised but was still able to analyse the situation. She tried to return her zanpakuto to its original form, however, the assassin was too fast as he was already in front of her. She had underestimated the increase of strength caused by the Bakkoto and now she was facing a dire situation. Seeing the blade descend, she felt that it was unnaturally slow as she dodged with slight ease. Rukia was already some distance away, so she had no reservations about dodging.

Leaning to the side, she watched as the blade flew past her while she rotated her body and landed a kick on the assassin's head. The details of the result of that kick will be put aside.

Seeing the sight before them, even the assassins that had lost their rationality flinched a little before continuing their assault, this time with more vigour. Suddenly, an explosion sounded, and a dust cloud was seen on the other end with a few assassins falling around it. Out came Hisagi Shuhei attacking the nearest assassin. He then rendezvoused with two girls before telling them,

”There's evidence of the Kasumioji clan plotting treason, we are to aid the substitute Shinigami,”

As soon as he said this, the walls of the manor welcomed another visitor. Some of the Shinigami mistook it for a second sun but the voice that originated from it made them think otherwise,

”Ora-ora-ora-ora,”

Seeing the second sun descend with a rather familiar voice he started dispatching the nearby assassins with his released Shikai. Just then the gates to the manor smashed open and ruffian like voice was heard,

”Follow, 3rd seat Madarame!!”

Accompanied with a few roars, the Shinigami started flooding the grounds. Toshiro and Byakuya were looking at this from a vantage point as the former sighed.

”They never change do they.”

”Like your height.”

*snap*

Byakuya quickly turned his face as he covered his mouth with his hand, yet his trembling shoulders revealed the fact that he was trying his best to hold back his laughter. Toshiro was also trembling, yet it was for a different reason. His face turned red as he forcefully held back his anger, he knew that if he retorted now, he would cement the idea of his childishness. Forcefully calming down, Byakuya also returned to his normal stoic look as he also looked at the new arrival. Itsuki stood next to the three while Toshiro refused to look at him in case, he did something unthinkable.

Seeing the gradual defeat of the assassins, Itsuki only had one opinion,

”Too slow.”

His words were like some sort of start signal as black shadows encompassed the grounds and dived straight in. Rangiku had just pushed back an assassin when the latter stopped and went forward to strike again. Swinging his sword, he brought it down only to realise that his mind had cleared, and he felt a certain weightless in his arms. Looking to his right, he noticed the obviously absent right arm. Rangiku was also surprised as she could have sworn, she just saw an Onmitsukido member. Before the pain registered in the assassin's head, it was disconnected from its pain receptors. Rangiku watched the headless body collapse, marvelling as to how the Onmitsukido efficiently dispatched the assassin with two strikes. All it took was two members to attack at the right time at two different vital areas.

Slowly, other saw this and the rest became easier to handle. There were always at least two shadows for one assassin as they would strike when their prey was distracted. One would go for the arm and amputate the connection between the assassin and Bakkoto while another went for the head.

As soon as they were finished with one, they would move onto another. Before they knew it, the ground was littered with bodies missing an arm and head.