Chapter 3.

Ichigo cut through the final hollow. He looked around to make sure that they were all gone, his eyes fell upon Rukia, his breath caught in his throat. She was standing beside his daughters still body, he composed himself, he was being stupid, he could see her spirit standing right beside, her chain of fate ran from her chest to her spirit. He knew that she was dead but he didn't panic, as long as her chain of fate remained unbroken her spirit could be returned to her body. He moved towards but stopped short as something silver flashed through the air, his eyes widened. He ran forwards in a desperate attempt to stop the swords flight but he was to late, even as he lunged forwards it severed the chain.

A look of surprise crossed Tala's face, "what the? Who cut that?" Panic rose within her, without her chain she couldn't get back into her body, she looked at Rukia and her dad, the fear was plain in her eyes. "Help." She squeaked.

Ichigo moved over to Rukia, "what should we do?" He asked.

"There's not much we can do, if she has Death God power's then she'll have to find them, she'll be fine if she does. If she doesn't…" Her voice trailed away, she couldn't say it, she swallowed and made her voice strong, "but she has them and she'll find them, she'll be fine."

Ichigo looked over at his daughter, he couldn't bear the thought of losing her. "Don't worry dad," she forced a smile, "I'll be fine." She was praying that what she had said was true, she wasn't done living yet. Looking down she saw her chain shortening, eating away at itself, she had a few days, not very long, she licked her lips nervously, choking down her panic she took a deep breath and calmed herself. Closing her eyes she searched inside herself for the place that she had visited once before a long time ago.

"Ah so you've finally returned," she heard the familiar lilting voice and looked up at the figure before her. It was a woman with black wings that seemed to shift constantly, it was disconcerting to look at for to long, she had startling red hair, dark shadows danced in her purple eyes.

"Hello Akito," Tala said.

"What brings you here?" Akito asked with a small smile and a knowing look in her eye.

Tala looked around her at the trees that surrounded her, she could see that they were all flickering. "My chain of fate was cut, I need to become a Death God or I'll die."

Akito nodded solemnly, "I know, you'll have to find your powers by yourself though, I can't help you though I can tell you this. This world is fading, you don't have long but in the time you do have you must seek out your powers, you will know them when you see them of course. Now go, you don't have much time." With that Akito vanished in a dark cloud that spread from her back and engulfed her, "good luck," came her voice, it sounded distant, as though it had travelled a long way before reaching Tala's ears.

Shaking her head Tala ran towards the tallest tree she could see, leaping into the lower branches she climbed up, once she was at the top she stood and looked around. She had no idea where to start, where to look what to do but she didn't dwell upon that, she knew that if she did she would begin to panic and then she would never find her powers. The branch beneath her flickered, Tala leapt to another branch the moment before the one that she had been standing on vanished.

"Guess I really don't have much time," she muttered. Jumping down she stood poised on her toes. She began to run through the trees, the ground and trees around her were all flickering and disappearing, she hurtled forwards trying to avoid the gaps that were appearing, she had to leap over several holes and the ground fell away from her feet a few times. Leaping over a large gap she skidded to a halt, "this is getting me nowhere," she snarled to herself.

Closing her eyes she reached out with her mind searching for the spirit force that was her Death God powers. "There!" Her eyes snapped open and her arm shot out grasping a red ribbon. She stared at it for a moment before a grin broke out over her face, she had never been able to do that before, she had seen Rukia do it and had tried a few times but she had always failed.

Returning to the task at hand she sped along still holding the ribbon. It led her through the trees, twisting and turning, she had to avoid increasingly larger holes in the ground, she was surprised when the trees stopped and she found herself in front of a lake. She frowned at the still water, the ribbon trailed into the water, she licked her lips wondering how deep the water was. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a huddle of trees flicker and vanish, gulping Tala ran forwards and dived into the water.

The ribbon trailed into the depths of the lake, it seemed to continue for an eternity. Her lungs burned and her limbs began to ache, her body began to feel heavy, her mind became foggy and clouded. She swam a little further before stopping, she couldn't go any further, she was to tired.

She closed her eyes for a moment and something shook her body, images shot through her head. Her friends, her family, everything that she knew and cared about. A small amount of strength seeped into her tired body. She had to keep going, she forced herself on, her arm flew forwards and struck air. She blinked in surprise before kicking forwards. She tumbled through air and onto a hard stone floor.

Standing she looked around, she was in a dome, she could see the water on the other side. The area was lit by a dim light but she couldn't see the source. She saw the ribbon that she had been following. She ran her eyes along it and saw that it led a the hilt of a sword, it was resting on a pedestal. She stepped towards, her breath came short and her heart beat fast. Her throat was so dry, she felt like her mouth was filled with dust.

Reaching out she wrapped her fingers around the purple wrappings of the hilt. Her eyes lingered on the guard, it was a dragon encircling the base of the hilt, the dragon was grey picked out in dark blue. Breathing deeply she picked up the hilt and screamed.

Rukia had to hold Ichigo back as Tala screamed, he strained in her grip trying to reach his daughter but Rukia refused to let go. "Leave her be," she said through gritted teeth, "you can't help her, she'll be fine."

Wrapping her other hand around the hilt she closed her eyes and tightened her grip, she compressed the force that was coming from the hilt, she had to make it smaller. Opening her eyes she staggered slightly, once she had regained her balance she looked down at the blade in her hands, it was slightly curved, the sharp edge had a wavy black shadow running along its length. Tala smiled and swung the sword, it was perfectly balanced, it felt right in her hands. Looking down at herself she saw that she was dressed in the black robes of a Death God, a scabbard hung at her waist, it was black with a pair of small purple wings set at the top. Sheathing her sword she smiled, it felt good to have it hanging at her side.

Looking up she saw a dark cloud appear, a moment later Akito was stood before her, "nice work." She smiled, "I look forward to fighting with you." Akito took a step forwards and drew her arm back, she brought it forwards into Tala's stomach, she gasped in surprise, the air was knocked out of her. She fell backwards her eyes closed.

When she opened her eyes she was staring up at a dark, star spotted sky, her dad and Rukia were staring down at her, she saw them both breath a sigh of relief and smile at her. Standing up she saw her body lying on the floor, going over to it she forced herself back inside.

Standing up she stretched, her back was to the other two, she couldn't see the looks on their faces, they had both seen what Tala had not, white fragments falling from her face. "Oh no," Ichigo whispered, "please don't let her become a vizard."

Rukia put a hand on his shoulder and turned him so that he was facing her, "don't say anything to her, watch her, make sure nothing happens and stay calm, she may be fine so don't worry to much."

Ichigo glanced at his daughter with an uncertain look, Rukia shook him and he returned his gaze to her and nodded, "ok, I'll keep an eye on her." He looked at his daughter, he hoped that she wouldn't become a vizard, he didn't want her to have to deal with that. Sighing he headed over to her, managing a smile he put an arm around her shoulder and she grinned up at him. He felt bad about not telling her but if nothing happened then he would have worried her for nothing, he just had to hope that she would be fine.

Please review so I know where I may be going wrong and can improve, thanks.