Bleach: A Vizard's Story

Chapter 1

The beast drifted through the darkness, finding the door that it had been searching for during the last few hours. The beast was not pleased, this made obvious by the deep, menacing growl that was vibrating in the beast's throat. The beast was very hungry, saliva dripping from its mouth like a waterfall. It entered the house, looking around. Where are you wifey…? The beast said this in a slow, metallic voice. It did not seem to know what these words meant, but the beast had taken to uttering this over and over, for it was a mindless beast. At last, it located exactly the room it was searching for. It passed straight through the door, and looked around, seeing it's soon to be victims. Meal time… The beast opened it's mouth, and. . .

Zouma awoke from his nightmare, sweating, breathing hard. He wiped the sweat from his brow, and sat up in his bed. A face hovered above him, and he flinched, his right hand flicking to the side of his bed, fumbling for the hilt of his blade. The figure above Zouma's head reached out quickly, grabbing his wrist. "No no!" the figure exclaimed. "It's me!" The face of the figure was illuminated by the lighting of a candle, revealing a young, pale, beautiful girl's face. She had long, silky, beautiful brown hair that drifted to her shoulders. She was wearing a white bath robe, and she had glimmering brown eyes. "It's Rein!" the girl said, grabbing Zouma's shoulders and shaking him. Zouma immediately came to his senses, and exhaled a sigh of relief. "You were screaming in your sleep", Rein said. "Are you all right?" "Bad dream, that's all…" Zouma replied. "You should go back to your room before rumors get started." Rein smiled at Zouma. "You're sure you're all right?" she asked. "Yeah", Zouma responded, closing his eyes and laying back in bed. Rein left his room, disappearing off into the Squad 5 hallways and going back to her own room. Zouma opened his eyes back up again. He was not going to sleep again that night.

Zouma swung out of bed, smiling at Rein's kindness. She'd been his friend for years, even dating back to their time before becoming Shinigami. Zouma, Rein, and their other friends Udon and Kuroi had known each other and practically been a family back when they'd lived in the poorest district of Rukongai, fending for themselves and stealing to survive. Udon was dark skinned with heavy muscle, and a buzz cut. He was huge, at least seven feet tall, and with glimmering green eyes. Kuroi had silver colored eyes, and gelled back silver hair. He was the same height as Rein. Zouma was glad to have such friends, and glad that they were so loyal to him, and he to them. Zouma grabbed his Zanpakutou from the bed side, and donned his black shinigami robes. Zouma then proceeded to leave his room, and also leave the living portion of the Squad 5 Barracks. He entered a large grassy area inside of the barracks, which happened to be a training area. Zouma noticed multiple puddles, signifying that it had recently been watered, or signifying that Udon, who was the third seat, had recently trained in this area with his water zanpakutou. Zouma looked down at his own reflection. He was tall, about 5'11, and had tanned skin. He had brown eyes, and short cropped black hair. Zouma's outfit had a badge on it which signified that he was the Vice Captain of Squad 5. Zouma was a significantly powerful Vice Captain, wielding a zanpakutou known as Tenrai. Tenrai had two abilities. The first was to generate blue flames which Zouma named Cold Fire. The Cold Fire could burn the exterior of a foe, while freezing their energy flow in the burned area. If afflicted in the right area, Zouma could stop a foe's Reiatsu completely. Some said that Zouma's zanpakutou was second only to that of The Captain Commander of The Gotei Thirteen, Captain of Squad 1, Yammamoto Genryuusai. It came with a second ability known as The Infinite Cut. This ability was a cut that never stopped it's damage. Once Zouma inflicted the injury, the cut would spread and deepen until nothing was left, or the body part that was cut was severed. Not even Zouma was immune to his own ability. "I am Zouma Santeku, Vice Captain of Squad 5", he told himself with a grin, thinking back to when he had first joined the Gotei 13, and looked up to higher authorities. Now that he was somewhat of an authority, he no longer finished off hollows when hunting them. He let his teammates do that. However, it was not because of his authority that he did this. Mainly, it was because a few years previously, Zouma had reduced a hollow to pure Reiatsu, and absorbed it. He didn't even know how he did it, but it had happened more then once. Since then, Zouma had refrained from finishing off hollows, for fear of absorbing them again, especially in front of someone else.

Zouma practiced some Kidou first, shooting at targets with a technique known as Shakkaho, Shot of Red Fire. He also practiced sword maneuvers. Zouma's training was not very deep or detailed, because it was late, and he just needed to clear his mind a bit. Zouma was about to continue his training, when an explosion occurred nearby. Zouma whirled around. "What the hell?!" he demanded. Zouma ran towards the sound, moving through the hallways and various parts of the barracks, until he reached the exit. Zouma swung open the door, and looked outside. There was a large flame dancing up several meters away, with black smoke drifting from it. Zouma held his zanpakutou tightly in a two handed grip, taking a couple of steps forwards. A white figure flew forwards, striking Zouma. Zouma was rammed against a wall, something around his neck, possibly the assailant's hand. Zouma looked into the eyes of the assailant. "Who are you?" he asked. The assailant grinned, his eyes widening, revealing that they were both blood red, and blood shot. The moonlight gave an eerie, sort of menacing light to the assailant's eyes. He had an all white body, and a six pack on his torso. He had clawed hands, and long red hair. "I'm your reaper…" he whispered with a cackle. "What are you…?" Zouma asked.

Chapter 2

"What am I?" the assailant asked, grinning menacingly from ear to ear. "It doesn't matter. I'm going to kill you no matter what I am." Zouma spat, and he released a burst of Reiatsu. It wasn't very large, because Zouma could not release that much Reiatsu at once since he was backed up against the barracks, meaning releasing too much would damage them and kill people. However, he released enough to knock back the assailant by two inches, allowing Zouma room to stab towards his foe's heart. The assailant, still grinning, launched backwards off of the ground, digging his feet into the ground so that he skidded, drawing up dust and rocks. Zouma rushed forwards, wielding his blade in a two handed grip, and slashing at his opponent. The assailant burst into fits of mad laughter as he drew out a large bladed buster sword with a long chain on the end, and grabbed a hold of the chain instead of the hilt, blocking Zouma's slash by bringing the large blade into the way. The blades clashed viciously, scraping against each other as sparks flew.

Zouma took a large jump back, raising his blade up as he exhaled, his eyes lighting up with his Reiatsu, which was an odd white-blue. Zouma moved forwards again, hacking down diagonally from the left towards the assailant's shoulder. The assailant yanked on the chain, bringing his blade up to block Zouma's once more. Zouma whirled around, and the assailant took three steps back. The assailant whirled the chain around, spinning the large buster sword. Zouma watched it, and the assailant brought his arm roaring forwards, sending the blade towards Zouma in a slashing arc. Zouma brought his blade up to parry, and the buster sword scraped against his blade, more sparks flying as he was pushed off balance by the raw strength of the impact. "HA!" the assailant exclaimed, appearing to be in some form of combat high. He rushed forwards, spinning his blade into a slash down on Zouma's skull. Zouma, off balance already, was knocked to the ground, and sent rolling through the dirt upon blocking the strike. Zouma aimed his left palm at the assailant. An orb of red reiatsu generated on his palm. "Hado #31: SHAKKAHO!" he exclaimed. The shot fired out. "No incantation?" the assailant asked as he took a viciously fast side step to the right, evading the attack. "And it's still pretty powerful. I'm impressed." Zouma rushed forwards while his opponent was still talking. "You'll find that I'm full of surprises", he said. He stabbed towards his opponent, but suddenly, the assailant burst into a mischievous grin. "What's so funny?" Zouma asked as his blade was parried by that of the foe. "It's time to make things more difficult", the assailant replied.

"What?" Zouma questioned. Suddenly, the assassin yanked on the chain, and grabbed the buster sword by the hilt instead of the chain. He swung powerfully, and Zouma parried, but just barely. The assailant dragged his blade across Zouma's, sparks flying as a metallic screech sound was heard. He brought his blade chopping down immediately as a follow up, and Zouma once more brought his blade up to block. The assailant never lost his grin as he dragged his blade across Zouma's again, this time cracking Zouma's blade. "Tch…" Zouma muttered as the assailant whirled his blade backwards once finished drawing it away, straight into the air. The assailant punched Zouma in the gut, and Zouma gasped, blood flying out of his mouth as a crunching sound was heard, and the assailant twisted his robe with the punch. Zouma flew back, bashing against the wall of the Squad 5 barracks, creating a crashing sound as he hit, and falling back from a crater he had made in the wall by hitting it. "You're faster then me", Zouma said. "But you're not stronger." He dashed forwards, slashing at his opponent, who grinned widely. "THAT'S THE SPIRIT! FIGHT ME EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR DEFEAT IS INEVITABLE!" He slashed forwards to meet Zouma's slash, and Zouma's blade cracked even more as the impact was made. Zouma was sent rolling through the dirt, and he aimed his palm at the assailant again. Another shakkaho fired out, but the assailant this time grabbed it, gripping the reiatsu. He then threw it back like a ball, straight into Zouma. An explosion of energy occurred, and smoke billowed all around Zouma. As it cleared, Zouma was revealed to be on one knee, covered in first degree burns, and with blood dripping from wounds on his shoulders, and one on his hip. He was breathing heavy, but his eyes were glowing. "So that's how it is." He noted. "I was never strong enough to defeat you without it in the first place. That's fine, it means you're pretty strong, that's all. Good, now I have a chance to practice. It's a bit rusty." He stood up, blood dripping from his wounds. Zouma ignored his injuries, and looked straight into his opponent's eyes.

"What are you talking about?" the assailant asked. "My Shikai of course", Zouma replied as if this was obvious. "I am a Vice Captain after all. Is it not obvious that I have it?" The assailant grinned. "Show me your bitch ass shikai!" he challenged. "I'll still kill you!" Zouma gave a cool smile to his assailant, and held his zanpakutou up high. "Then you better get ready for this." Zouma spoke lightly, softly. "Eviscerate…Tenrai…" A gigantic burst of Reiatsu materialized, pressure crushing down on the area as sparks of Reiatsu became visible all over. The assailant gasped, dropping to one knee as the pressure threatened to crush him. Cold Fire danced all around, moving like a fiery storm around Zouma's body. It moved behind him, revealing that his Zanpakutou was black and covered in white hieroglyphics. "Here I come…" Zouma whispered. He rushed forwards, and slashed once towards his opponent. The assailant parried fairly easily, though he was sent skidding back, Zouma on his tail, their blades still pressed up against each other. "Your first mistake, letting me this close", Zouma said. A sudden burst of Cold Fire exploded out of his blade, and the assailant gasped. He tried to move, but was hit anyway. When the smoke cleared, he was revealed to be covered in second and third degree burns. "My reiatsu is…gone…" he whispered. Zouma rushed forwards again, slashing wildly. The assailant whirled his blade around trying to parry, but his burns obviously affected him greatly, for he took several cuts along his arms, hip, and one on his cheek. Zouma took four steps back, and the assailant did the same. Zouma spoke once more. "Your second mistake, letting me cut you." The cuts on the assailant began deepening, even to a bone deep level, as they began spreading all over his body, becoming countless pathways on him with blood leaking out. "NO!" he exclaimed. "I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!" He rushed forwards, swinging his blade in a two handed stroke. "Your final mistake", Zouma said, "Challenging a Vice Captain when you were unprepared." He slashed into his opponent's blade once, and a gigantic flood of Cold Fire rushed out from underneath his opponent, incinerating the foe in an instant, and reducing him to ash.

Zouma sheathed his sword as it returned to normal. Suddenly, he began looking around as pressure that was not his own began crushing down. Zouma looked to his left as a shadow began rising out of the ground, blood red in color, and slowly started to materialize into a figure. The figure was thin, and had pure red skin. His hands were clawed, and he wore a black robe. He was bald, and his eyes were a solid black. His nose was flat, simply two holes, kind of like a snake. He looked like a reptile with red skin, even having a sort of scaly look to him. The newcomer clapped, staring at Zouma. "Who are you?!" Zouma demanded. "Kudos to you for defeating my servant, Vice Captain." The newcomer said. "You really are stronger then you're supposed to be." Zouma coldly regarded the newcomer, drawing his sword back out and aiming it as his Shikai released once more. "State your business", he commanded in the double tone of a leader, the same tone he used when instructing practice drills. "I am Zokuwa" the newcomer said simply, not offering any more information. Zouma held his blade, tightening his grip on it. "Don't make me laugh", Zokuwa said. "You are injured, not to mention you have not completed that Bankai training of yours." "How do you know about my training?" Zouma asked. "I know everything about Seireitei's Shinigami", Zokuwa responded. "And I am easily as powerful as a Captain." He drew out a katana with a curved blade, like a scimitar, but not quite one. "Prepare yourself, Vice Captain."