Chapter 2
Trials
The large pile of paper work was still left untouched even through the evening. Mel stretched her arms and yawned loudly, her windswept hair falling into her eyes. Although Mel respected her captain she couldn't help but feel slightly miffed as she was rudely awoken, after all sleeping is what she did best. Mel wasn't what you would call human, she was in fact lieutenant of the new squad 14, but still she felt nervous around other shingami except her captain and Steven who held the 3rd seat. Speaking of her captain...
"Mel I told you set the meeting with the head captain. AND WHY IS THE PAPERWORK STILL UNDONE?!" Mel jumped from her sitting position and began to think of an excuse about why she wasn't able do the work, after coming up with a saga of faulty excuses she noticed that the captain was giving her a sceptic eyebrow and a slight look of disapproval.
Lee wasn't what you expected any fancy captain to look like; he wasn't brightly coloured or overly good looking, as far as anyone knew he looked like a normal Soul Reaper. Mel knew this wasn't the case, in both skill and appearance his looks deceived what the captain was really like, the captain was strong; stronger than any Captain she had come across even the fearless Zaraki Kenpachi. Her eyes drifted to the zanpakto at his side, she felt the slight chill at the sight and knew that this was the key item that detached him from the rest of them.
"Lee-Taicho gomenatsuei, I got distracted by the sakura blooming, don't you think it's beau..." Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed the plants and trees behind Lee had withered to black husks, her pale cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment realising that playing his hobby against him had epically failed. Lee rolled his shoulders and withdrew his blade, it sung as the thin metal raced across the wallpaper as he slowly walked forward towards his Lieutenant; with a quick flick the paperwork scattered into thousands of shredded paper. Mel laughed nervously scared, then managed to bring her own Zanpakto to met his blade, the hilt of it grew black and cat ears sported from her head.
"Show, Yami Neko" Her spirit greatly increased, her yellow eyes turned into mere slits and she latched her blade forth and sent her captain floating back. She watched him grin as his hand glided across the length of his weapon.
"Dwell in the shadows Li Matsuei!"
The 14th division headquarters was partially constructed. Wood and metal beams showed through the white walls. It took almost a year of hard labour that had been for nothing. The spiritual energy of both captain and lieutenant battled through the battered corridors. Lee's zanpakto crashed against Mel's defences. The blade had changed; the sickle shaped blade was wickedly sharp. Finally Mel had a chance. Pointing at her commanders open thigh she cried
"kido spell 42: black thunder!" black energy lifted the captain into the air after several hundred feet the air shook as Lee was engulfed in a titanic explosion. Mel shunpoed towards the blast area blade ready as the inevitable counter attack came. The smoke blew apart as Lee shot towards her with terrifying speed. Mel's eyes widened as Lee's blade glowed gold.
"Sing to the dammed!!" A golden line appeared and threw itself at Mel whose eyes widened; she uttered a cry and brought her hands to her face enduring the large spiritual power. With a shake the sword eventually split and Mel sunk to the ground rapidly, before she hit the ground her body grew smaller and in that moment four cat feet hit the ground instead; the cat staggered sideways before falling to the ground. Lee floated to the ground and sighed.
"This is what happens when you don't know Bankai," Lee smiled softly before gently scooping the sleeping cat up in his arms, it purred in its sleep and it's paw hit Lee square in the cheek opening a new wound. Lee sighed and wiped away the blood from his face.
"Okay you got me." The cat purred happily.
-
With Mel in bed at the 4th division and Steven nowhere to be found, Lee was free to mope around for a couple of hours; this was until something small flew onto the back of his neck, Lee froze for a moment before reaching behind him and grabbing hold of the tiny butterfly, it's purple wings stopped in motion as a voice echoed through Lee's mind.
'Head Caption, Yamamoto-Senpai, requests your presence immediately at the first division headquarters' Without a second thought, Lee threw the hell butterfly away from him and glanced up at the sky he closed his eyes and waited for that voice that would tell him when to jump and then it came; the sound of the bells. Lee sprung up and flash-stepped across the 4th division's building, with a strong kedo wave he burst his way into the air then almost immediately he leaned back causing his body to curl downwards, the graceful movement of his body would've made even Kuchiki Byakuya jealous especially when a strong gust of Autumn leaves and Sakura petals surrounded his descending form, this of which caused his body to slow down. Lee closed his eyes, and only waited for what would humans called 'a lift', the moment Lee lowered to ground level his arm grabbed hold of a blurring figure that travelled stealthy just barely noticeable. Lee reopened his eyes and turned to smile at Yachiru who smiled playfully at him.
"Leema-Chan!" She cheered her flushed cheeks darkening as her face lifted up into a grin.
"Yo Yachiru, Kenpachi-Taicho." Kenpachi tilted his head back a little, the bells on the tips of his hair jingling softly, his eyes focused on Lee for a moment before they instantly turned back onto what was ahead of him.
"Left! Left!" Yelled Yachiru her face cheerful as Kenpachi took turned left.
-
It was around two hours later that Lee finally arrived at the first division, the rest of the Captains looked irritated at his late arrival; this was until of course Zaraki Kenpachi and Yachiru followed in after him.
"Hi Everyone !" Yachiru cheered rushing along to hug some of the captains; some of the which sweat-dropped while the more cooler ones only bit their bottom lip in amusement. Kenpachi strode forward and let out a grunt as he took his place beside the Captains, he licked his lips as he passed some of more timid squad members, Unohana Retsu glared at him silently when she remembered that Kenpachi was the guy who landed a load of people in her care after recklessly bowling them over with his frantic running.
With Lee now standing alone, Yamamoto glanced up from his rightful place beyond the Captains and in turn they all slowly turned to look at him.
"Where's Lieutenant Mel?" He asked, although his voice almost like a dry cough his voice was as clear as day. Lee bowed down respectfully.
"Gomenatsuei, she's became Ill and-" A burst of wood showered into the room and from the source of it brown dust fogged the view, automatically some of the Lieutenants unshealthed their blades while very few of the Captains turned to the source of the noise. As the dust cleared, the smiling face of a large Manta filled the room, it's mouth lifting in places. Unohana sighed and apologized to no one in particular, approaching the Manta she stroked it softly then whispered something to it. The Manta nodded happily then opened it's both and spat out Lee's Lieutenant.
" Mellie " Yachiru cried. Mel sat up and glared back at Unohana who was sheathing her Zanpakto. Lee stood up and dragged Mel to her feet before an argument began. "You know I could take her and her flying fish!" Mel cried. "That flying fish helped you to the meeting!" Lee hissed, Mel jabbed him. "And that's a good thing!?" Yamamoto cleared his throat and the two quickly turned to him and bowed their heads. "I apologize for my Lieutenants behaviour, she's can be a little rash..." Mel fumed at Lee and it took all her power to not hit him over the head. Yachiru laughed childishly while the rest of the hall remained painfully silent. Yamamoto lifted his head.
"Let this meeting begin then..."
