Today was the day that the Eighth Squad was obtaining a new member, the rumors, no matter how much truth was behind them scared most of the members of all the Squads. All except Captain Shunsei, he was ready for her more than the other members of his Squad. He sat with the other members waiting for her to arrive. They were disscussing the woman who was about to be their fourth seat.
"I heard that she's very violent," said one member.
"I heard that the Squad Eleven only rejected her out of fear, and no other Squads wanted her," Another member pointed out.
"Are you sure it's safe to have someone with such a reputation in the Squad," Asked Nano.
"Enough, ladies I can assure you that she will not be a problem, she is a good fighter and a very beautiful one at that," Commented Shunsei "She wont cause too much problems."
At that same moment the barrack door had opened and revealed a wolf anthro, sleak in build with black and gray fur. She walked in with a royal aura about her. The wolf got down on one knee and showed respect to her Captain.
"Please, introduce yourself to the others Aru," Requested Shunsei
The Wolf's fur on her neck stood on end and in an angered tone she replied, "I request to be adressed as Lady Aru, I will not stand for such incompetence!"
Nano stood to her feet and was about to address her actions, but Shunsei grabbed Nano and stopped her and simply smiled at Aru and approached and stroked her head.
"Squad Eleven missed out on you, I am glad to have you here. I will take you to your barrack and you may get settled," Shunsei joked.
Aru's ears droped, the comment hurt far worse that any blade ever could. She was not ungreatful to her captain for taking her in after she was rejected by Squad Eleven. The fact was still there in her heart, her place was in Squad Eleven.
"With all due respect Captain I do not wish to see my barrack now, I wish to be on my own right now," Aru responded.
Shunsei nodded and she stood up and walked away, when she got outside she jumped on to the rooftops and left all but her Captain confused.
Aru jumped from rooftop to rooftop looking, searching. Later she found what she was looking for, the practice grouds for Squad Eleven. She stood on the highest roof to watch one of the most feared Squads prepare for battle. Out of all the Squads they were the only Squad that were malee-focused. This was the Squad she wanted to be in, but since her technique was not malee they rejected her. This was the place she thought she belonged, now it was nothing more than a mere pipe dream. She watched them practice and studied them, the more she looked on; the more it hurt. She closed her eyes and remembered that fateful day.
-Flashback-
It was the day that Aru had been waiting for, since the day she saw a member of Squad Eleven at the Academy. She had applied to get into the Squad the day she graduated. It took some time, but all her waiting paid off. Her entrance exam was now, she had one chance to get in.
"I will not fail," She thought.
She stood in the middle of the practice grounds surrounded by the entire Squad. Captain Zaraki walked up to her. Aru couldn't help but be happy, a smerk appeared on her face.
"Your smile shows me your ready for your challenge," explained Zaraki.
"I was born ready, this challenge is no more than a mere test of skill," Aru claimed.
This made Zaraki even more impressed by her, if she did pass she would be a living legend. The first female of Squad Eleven. Zaraki turned toward his Squad and signaled for silence.
"This Lady wants to be in our Squad, and as you all know; there is only one way into MY Squad," The Captain announced.
" THE DANCE OF DEATH," The Squad yelled.
Then the Eleventh Squad Captain turned back to Aru and explained, " Lady Aru, the Dance of Death is very simple, you must be able to defeat a high ranked member of my squad, Fifth seat and up, in other words Kill them."
"May I choose my opponent," Aru asked.
"If you are that bold, then yes, yes you may," Zaraki smerked.
Aru looked at the five choices, and one stood out from the rest. He was bald and had an unusual grin on his face. It looked like easy pray, but she knew that there was a reason he was a high ranked Squad member. The stupid cocky smile he gave her was more of a challenge as well as a insult.
"I want the bald one," Aru commanded showing her fangs in intimidation
Yumichicka looked like a deer caught in the headlights when he heard her choice. Yumichicka knew something that no one else knew. His stomach told him to warn the girl, but he was bound by his word. Ikkaku on the other hand enjoyed just laughed at her, then took his katana; still in it's sheath and started to sing
"Who is lucky? I am lucky. Not so lucky but ME! That right I said ME. Lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky...MEEEE!"
Aru turned her head to the side, compleatly confused, she hoped that this wasn't a requirement to get into the Squad; otherwise she would find another Squad that had some class.
"You fool," Ikkaku began, "I will put you down like the dog that you are!"
Aru growled in response, "We will see who is the fool is, after I kill you!"
A lower ranked member stood between them, they drew their swords and waited for the command.
"Ready, Set...ahem...READY AND FIGHT!" He cried as he ran for cover.
The fight began; They charged at one another, their swords clashing multiple times. They both of them were giving it there all, using all their might behind each blow. Zaraki and the rest of his Squad looked at the battle in utter amazment. The spiritual pressare alone was bothering the lower ranked members. Zaraki was liking her more and more, if she was able to even scrach Ikkaku, she was more than welcome in his Squad. They landed on opposing sides to one another, they were panting and sweaty, but neither of them were tired.
"I haven't fought like this in quite some time, not bad for a mutt like you, my name is Ikkaku," Ikkaku stated.
"For someone who thinks a dance will change the tide of a battle, your not that bad yourself, as you already know I am Lady Aru" Aru commmented.
The fight continued, Aru surpirsed Ikkaku and slashed him in the back, his skin opened and blood immediatly seeped through. Although it cut close to his backbone it did not even slow him down. His strikes were still as intense as his last. Yet this only made her fight harder. She knew this battle would take alot longer than she originatly thought.
As both of their bloods' stained the field around them, they both decided to take it to the next level, their Shinkai's would now meet and with some well placed strikes could end this bloody war. Aru grabbed her katana with both hands and howled,
"Burn! Hi no okami!"
Her blade extended then the hilt transformed into a dreamcatcher, then at the end of the handle a coral stone glowed and two feathers draped. She got back into stance, preparing for Ikkaku to do the same.
"Extend! Hozukimaru!"
Ikkaku slammed Hozukimaru's hilt into its sheath and the regular katana transformed into a naginata. The pommel had a red horsetail tassel. They quicky attacked each other several times, both getting more hits and injuries. As more blood splashed onto the ground, Ikkaku saw a opening. Ikkaku jabbed and stabbed the wolf anthro seven to eight times, this injury took it's toll on her just as fast as she received them. She dropped to the ground and began to bleed out.
"No unlucky soul shall win againist me," Ikkaku commented, "Zaraki shall I end this mutts life?"
Zaraki's thought about it, but before he could give the ok to Ikkaku, Aru's body began to glow light blue. He sensed her spiked spirtitual pressure and watched her. Ikkaku turned towords her in confusion and surprise.
Aru slowly got up as her aura continued to glow. She was still bleeding but her blood only made the flames more intense. She glared at her opponent as her eye color had changed from brown to gold, her iris' had dissapered.
"Engulf yourself Hi no Okami Kingu!"
Her blade did as it was told and engulfed itself in light blue flames, at the tip of it's blade the flames formed the shape of a wolf's head. Ikkaku rushed towards her, but using Shunpo she jumped and dodged. She began to swing her blade towards him, the wolf extended and bit Ikkaku as well as burned him.
"Does it burn Ikkaku, my flames will burn you 'til there is nothing but ash," Aru said.
Ikkaku still was able to fight, but he knew the marks from the wolf's bite would scar him. He decided that he would have to use long range attacks to put this dog down.
"Spilit apart Hozukimaru!"
His weapon did as its was told and split into three parts, connected by a chain he was ready to attack from a distance. This tactic only worked for a time. Aru attacked the chain with her spirit and broke the chain that bound his weapon together. This angered an already agitated Ikkaku, she increased his speed and tried to strike her more but she was already at full speed and he could barly scrach her with his zanpaktu. Aru, on the other hand continued to asssult him, he was bitten in multiple places and everytime the wolf spirit punchured his skin it burned like nothing he had never experienced before. Lucky for him he knew he could take it and his only concern was to kill her.
Zaraki was begining to reconcider Aru's enrolment, her fighting style changed just as fast as her zanpaktu. He didn't like the fact that she was using flames to tear her opponent apart was something he and his Squad looked down upon. He and Ikkaku were brothers since they were in the Squad, to see him begining to lose to such a weak tatic angered him. He suddenly jumped onto the field and took a fire-filled bite to the left arm, protecting Ikkaku. Aru stopped her attacks and waited for Zaraki to speak his mind, maybe she reconized her as a skilled fighter and saw enough to just let her in, without further bloodshed.
"I have seen enough of this match," Zaraki started, "Aru your tatics in battle are not ones we use here in my Squad, I'm sorry but; your enrolment has been rejected.
-End flashback-
Aru opened her eyes, just remembering that day brought tears to her eyes. All of a sudden a familiar spiritual pressure approached her.
"I thought I would find you here," He said.
Aru looked and saw Captain Shunsei standing there behind her with a smile upon his face. He walked by her to stand by her side and commented further,
"I know your wounds healed faster than your heart, but no matter what, me and my Squad are your new famiy now. You are a beautiful warrior and you will only get stronger as time goes on. That fight you had here only proved that you deserved better than what they could have offered you, don't you see it, don't you feel it. Aru paused and thought about it for a moment, she agreed that fate had something else to offer her in Squad Eleven. Her competitive spirit still burned and she wished to get stronger.
"Captain," Aru started.
"Yes m'lady," Shunsei answered.
"Race you back to the barraks," She grinned.
Shunsei was already ahead, and she had some catching up to do. She started heading back to her new home, the barracks of Squad Eleven.