The Sealed Zanpakuto
Chapter 1
Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. -Friedrich Nietzsche
A sudden scream broke the night. A huddled figure cringed in his bed as he heard the tearing of flesh, the gnashing of teeth. The scream cut off as abruptly as it had started. No one dashed out of their houses searching for the source of the scream. After all, only he could hear them hunting. Only he could see them feeding.
Kazue Hazakashi stood looking at his new school. He stifled a twinge of nervousness, and took a deep breath before walking forward through his school gates. As we walked through the open front courtyard, an eruption of laughter scattered his thoughts, and he angrily glanced at the source. What he saw made him freeze in place, his jaw dropping. Could it be? Is it really him? Brother? he thought. Taking a closer look, he realized that the orange haired boy he was looking at was slightly different from his brother. He sighed in disappointment and kept walking.
Brriing. The end of class bell jolted Kazue out of his dazed stupor. He quickly gathered up his books, and began walking towards the door, when a shout caused him to turn around.
"Hey new kid!" it was that orange haired boy again.
"Yes?" Kazue responded, lacing his words with frostiness.
"Jeez, I'm just trying to introduce myself. I'm Ichigo."
"Nice to meet you," Kazue turned toward the door again.
"Dammit, don't be rude! What's your name?"
"I'm Kazue. Now may I leave?"
"Fine. Sheesh, a guy's trying to help a new kid, and look what I get."
Kazue walked out the door. He heard Ichigo's laughter behind him, and sighed to himself as he began walking home. As he was walking, a sudden bout of giggling startled him.
"Who's there?" Kazue called out. A low giggle was the only reply. He quickly began focusing his reiatsu, steeling his nerves for a sudden attack. Suddenly, a huge hollow leaped out at him from the alleyway next to him. Kazue spun to meet its charge.
"Bakudo number 39! Enkosen!" Kazue shouted. A condensed wall of reiatsu formed in front of him. The hollow slammed into the wall, flattening against it almost like a cartoon character. Kazue shuddered with disgust.
"Hado number 33! Soukatsui!" A burst of blue spiritual energy launched itself from Kazue's pointed fingers and struck the hollow. It spun in lazy circles, trying to regain its senses. Now! Kazue thought, the time for the killing blow is now!
"Combined Hado number 4! Yon Byakurai!" Kazue fired four blasts of concentrated spiritual bolts towards the hollow. It pierced the hollow, ripping off limbs, and cutting it down.
As the hollow dissolved into pieces, Kazue sighed with relief. There was no danger after all, he thought to himself. He picked up his bookbag, and was about to begin walking home again, when he suddenly heard a voice.
"Kazue?" Ichigo behind Kazue in shock.
Kazue turned to see Ichigo wearing some kind of robe, carrying a large sword on his back. Clenching his teeth, he thought, I can't let anyone know about me yet...Sorry Ichigo.
"Hado Number 1! Sho!" Ichigo was launched backwards at an incredible pace. He slammed into a wall, and slumped slowly.
"Combination Bakudo Number 37 and 39! Tsuriboshi Enkosen!" A condensed wall of reiatsu slammed into Ichigo. Then, a lattice web of spiritual energy formed behind the wall, and slowly pushed the wall forwards.
Kazue slowly closed his eyes in remorse, as a small pool of blood seeped beneath the wall. Suddenly, a giant blast of energy pierced the wall, destroying it and the lattice web. The explosion knocked Kazue backwards, causing him to tumble on the floor. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Ichigo rising to his feet, a trickle of blood flowing from his forehead.
"What the hell was that for?!" Ichigo shouted.
Kazue shuddered. I'm going to have to use that hado...he thought regretfully. "Hado number 88! Hiryugekizokushintenraiho!" A huge blue beam of crackling energy shot from Kazue's hands. It blasted towards Ichigo, and was about to hit him before Kazue heard Ichigo yell, "Getsuga Tensho!"
An explosion of energy rocked the feet beneath Kazue's feet, and when the dust cleared, he saw Ichigo walking slowly towards him. "What are you doing?! You could've killed me!"
And I meant to, Kazue thought bitterly.
"I'm sorry Ichigo. I can't show anyone my true power. Bakudo number 9! Geki!" A ball of red light sprang up and encased Ichigo, paralyzing him.
"Bakudo number 26! Kyakko!" Kazue slowly disappeared from sight, becoming invisible. He strode quickly away from Ichigo who was yelling angrily.
As Kazue walked away, something followed him, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. It giggled under his breath; from its hand dangled a bloodied hollow's arm.
