Author's (that's me!) Blurbs.
Greetings would-be readers! This is my first time trying my hand within the realm of fan fiction. Normally I would peruse these forums, shifting through the crap to hopefully find the gems within, but I did little feedback or getting involved within the community. But, mostly to keep my writing skills in shape, I've decided to do a fan fiction totally different from what I normally write (usually fantasy).
As an author's note pertaining to this story, I feel it necessary to point out a few things about this story. One, I will leave out most, if not all, Japanese honorifics. It's a story in English, and I feel it is necessary to keep it true to said medium. Sorry if this offends anybody.
Two, I am going to change a few things. Neither the story arc, nor the exact words said will be exactly true to the original series.
Anyway, hope you enjoy. Constructive criticism not only welcome, but encouraged.
From Behind the Mask
Chapter 1: It is all about the size of your Bankai.
Fear is perhaps ones of the greatest paradoxes of humanity. When harnessed properly, it can motivate us to excel above and beyond our limitations; often for no better reason to prove to ourselves that we can do it. There is a sort of epiphany that results from such things; one feels lighter as if one is walking on air; logical, for it is the unfettering of one's own mental chains.
In that brief moment of elation, we are invincible.
And yet far too often do we let fear fester within us. There is nothing more debilitating, more paralyzing, and more degrading than what results. Instead of motivation, it becomes a wall blocking our path to self growth and exploration. It makes our blood run cold, our limbs sluggish, and meddles with our thoughts. It can reduce even the most able person into the very basic of creatures; one acting on barely more than self-preservation.
The worst facet that it can spiral like a whirlpool, trapping us within our own self-made nightmare. What does one do when our path is clouded? A strong willed individual can perhaps fight his way out.
But such things are the exception, instead of the norm.
Such journeys only become possible when you have someone with you, someone to lend a hand and guide you through the fog...
Bright light flashed with every powerful swing, the resulting clash of the two weapons sending shockwaves of power that rippled throughout every corner of the execution grounds and the nearby areas of Soul Society. It was if the land itself shuddered in anticipation of the fight to come.
Two titans were locked in combat, each trying to get across their beliefs in perhaps what is the purest language of all. One represented law and order, the very fabrics of what he believed made up a society. The other fought against those rules, insisting that one with power should fight against that which is unjust, law or not.
Physically, the two were as different as their beliefs. One wore the traditional cloak and robe that indicated the position of a Captain of Soul Society. His hair was black and formal. Everything about him oozed a quiet dignity; from the porcelain pallor of his face, to the calm demeanor in which he fought.
The other, in contrast, had a simple black robe and bright orange hair. His movements reflected said hair; being flashy, violent, and unnecessary to the extreme. But there was a undeniable spark of energy behind those eyes that just couldn't be extinguished. He was enjoying this fight, that much was obvious. Every ring of metal was accompanied by a grin.
"Bring out your Bankai, Byakuya. All of this fighting, and you've yet to cut me up like you promised you would." The orange-haired combatant taunted as their swords locked against each other.
As if by mutual agreement, the two pushed off, skidding back several feetwith their swords coming up in the guard position. "Impudent brat, " Byakuya spat during the momentary respite, "How dare you just demand such a thing! You talk as if a mere human would stand a chance against a Bankai! You are still a thousands years too young to waste my Bankai on."
"Pull it out and prove me wrong." The orange-haired fighter gripped his sword, the bandaged hands tightening around the hilt as if drawing strength from it. "I came here to rescue Rukia from Soul Society. You are her brother and yet you are trying to get her executed! I cannot forgive such a thing! So I will crush her brother with all my power, and take her away from here with my own hands! Victory here would mean nothing if you're not at your full strength!
Byakuya's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Hmph. As you wish, Kurosaki Ichigo. You should feel honored, you'll be the first human ever to see this." As the words left his mouth, he held his sword out in front of him with one hand, blade down, and unceremoniously let it go. To Ichigo's astonishment, the sword did not hit the ground like he expected, instead it vanished, swallowed up in its entirety by the earth.
"What did you–?!" Ichigo's words died in his mouth as the ground erupted huge archways of swords, a proverbial gleaming tunnel of death.
"Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
"Senbonza..." Ichigo's words trailed off as he stared at Byakuya's display of power. What now?
Time seemed to slow down as each of weapons dissolved into millions of cherry blossoms joining together to form a vibrant pink swirling mass. Ichigo had to admit quietly to himself that it was beautiful. Every one of the petals seemed to catch the light ever so subtly, bending it to cascade a thousand different hues of pink in all directions.
Such thoughts were dashed as Byakuya raised a single hand toward Ichigo, and the petals responded, rushing forward, each one now reflecting his inevitable demise on their mirror coat. Panic filled Ichigo's eyes. MOVE!! He screamed at himself, but his legs wouldn't respond; they were leaden with fear.
Get a grip on yourself, Ichigo. The comforting voice of his sword, Zangetsu, sounded in his head. You are not alone. Always remember that.
"Aye, old man." Ichigo whispered, taking a deep breath and immediately feeling calmer; his resolve was back. He couldn't afford to die here, he gave his word to his friends. Ichigo braced himself and pushed off, the crimson wave crashing down were he had been only a moment before.
I can do this. Just have to keep moving!
Dodge left, shift right, jump. Each successful avoidance of the cherry blossoms brought him a bit closer to their owner and Ichigo saw his chance in as he narrowly ducked yet another attack. He's open on the right!
He barely rolled under a wave, the stream of cherry blossoms slicing strands of his hair off in the process. But his gamble left him in the perfect position to counter attack. Setting his foot underneath him, Ichigo pushed off with a burst of speed, his sword high and leading the way. The razor sharp weapon hissed as he brought it down with all his force, only to come to a complete halt against a pink wall of blossoms. WHAT?! He can use that to be defensive as well?
A surprised Ichigo barely had the sense to tumble back, narrowly avoiding being sliced to ribbons as the wall almost came tumbling down on him. Now it was Ichigo's turn to be on the defensive. The cherry blossoms were everywhere, coming at him from all angles, pressuring him from every direction. He was on his backs of his heels more often than the balls of his feet, giving ground with each attack, barely managing to do more than dodge. Using the length of his sword in desperation to block a particularly vicious attack, Ichigo had the hunch to look up. What he saw terrified him.
Byakuya had set him up. He was surrounded on all sides by that crimson wall of death. He had been herded like an animal! Even as his eyes widened at the realization, the dam broke, drowning out his ensuing scream with the dull roar of millions of tiny cherry blossoms coming down with enough force to shake the entire plateau.
The petals dissolved in the wind, leaving a broken and battered Ichigo at the bottom of a crater created by the impact. "As you can see, brat, my Bankai is the perfect defense and offense. Now you realize how foolhardy you were, but it is too late. Your journey ends here."
"Damn...damn...damn..." The orange-haired fighter seethed through clenched teeth, using his sword as a prop to get back on his feet. Still, though battered and bleeding in several places, he wore a wry smile. "Foolish me. I got too cocky. I thought perhaps I could go further. But I was wrong to try to fight a Bankai without releasing one..."
"Quiet, brat. The way you talk makes it sound like you have already achieved Bankai."
"Did I stutter?"
"It is impossible for a mere human to achieve Bankai. It is the pinnacle of Soul Society. Those who achieve it are destined to forever to be remembered, assured of greatness in the annals of history. It takes thousands of years to attain, and you say you have it after only a few months? Don't make me laugh, brat."
'Then watch and see."
A short distance away, a bright glittering pair of yellow eyes watched the ensuing battle with rapt interest. Said eyes were firmly socketed in a black feline head, attached to a feline body quite comfortably at rest in a feline manner on a tree branch. For all intents and purposes it looked like a normal cat, from the gently swishing tail to the way it managed to even make the act of lounging look smug.
But it was the eyes that gave it away. Two orbs that radiated such intelligence were not normal, even for something as typically shrouded in superstition as cats. Perhaps that's why Ichigo wasn't that surprised when said cat had rescued him, nursed him back to health after his fight with Captain Kenpachi, and later turned out to be a female. Ironically, the only thing that had really surprised him was the fact that Yoruichi, as she was known in both forms, was naked when she transformed.
The mental image of a stammering Ichigo made Yoruichi mentally chuckle, even as she watched the life and death fight unfold. She felt like smacking him for even trying to take on Byakuya without his Bankai, but it didn't stop the sensation of pride she felt as she watched the fight. He had gotten a lot stronger than even she expected.
She had known Byakuya long enough to recognize when he was flustered, and the image on his face at the proclamation of the kid's Bankai was enough to almost send her into fits of laughter, but then she'd probably fall off the branch and such a travesty would be a gregarious blow to her feline image. So she just mentally filed away that image for later stories, probably with Kisuke over some saki...or better yet, milk.
Her mental wanderings were ripped forcibly back into reality as she felt a sharp spike of reiatsu. Ah, yes! The kid's going to release his Bankai for the first time! This should prove interesting...Yoruichi always liked seeing Bankai. She felt it told a lot about a person, and she was curious what Kurosaki's Bankai would reveal about her orange-haired student. She hadn't really known him that long, but with the way his growth was accelerating, it might be prudent to teach him how to use that power sooner rather than later. She shrugged that notion off, that could worried about after he beat the snot out of that cocky ass Byakuya.
She didn't have long to wait. Ichigo had his sword extended out in front of him as he summoned the energy necessary to release his swords ultimate form. The shockwaves of the release could no doubt be felt all throughout Soul Society, and she worried that perhaps more would come to see what was going on. Hurry!
"Bankai!" The rippling waves of power reached their climaxes, sending violent crackling blue flashes as he practically hummed with energy. A thick cloud of dust rose up, obscuring everyone's vision and almost as quickly as it had spiked, the reiatsu vanished. No...not vanished...it's restrained...
Eagerly, Yoruichi shifted and stood up, leaning forward in anticipation. Slowly a figure came into view, fading in like a forgotten dream. Ichigo now wore a black, red lined, tattered cloak that flapped in the wind, and his sword was now dark as midnight and no longer a huge chunk of metal, but instead a long straight-edged katana that flickered with the promise of death in the afternoon light of the execution grounds.
Well now, Ichigo, I AM impressed. She always held more stock in subtle power. No point in having something huge and bulky to show off with. Perhaps that's why she liked cats so much?
Yoruichi's cat ears picked up words being carried by the wind. "You call that a Bankai, brat? There is no way something so small and insignificant could be a Bankai."
You're wrong...You've always been too proud. You let it blind you, Byakuya boy. Show him Ichigo! Don't make me a liar! I promised to make you strong enough to beat him! Show him! She pouted a bit. He couldn't hear her mental cheering, but it made her feel better, so she did it anyway.
"I will crush you and execute Rukia with my own hands!" Byakuya shouted, the petals echoing his cry as they swirled into existence.
Both Yoruichi and Byakuya blinked in surprise. Even as the Captain has mounted his attack, Ichigo had vanished and reappeared, the deadly edge of his blade now resting against Byakuya's throat. It was...instantaneous!? My eyes couldn't even follow him... Yes, Yoruichi was very impressed.
"Come, Byakuya, you can do better than that." Ichigo taunted, removing the tip of his blade and jumping back a few feet.
Byakuya rubbed his throat self-consciously. "Why did you remove yout blade from my throat?" Ichigo said nothing. "Very well, you'll regret throwing away the key to victory just now! You were just lucky this time, miracles only happen once!"
Once again the petals swirled, and the fight continued. Ideal versus ideal. Order and law versus freedom and choice. Who would win? Yoruichi didn't know, but either way, it should be very interesting to watch...