Shuhei Hisagi and Kelani Tosen

Chapter Three

Kelani paused at the gate as she watched Hisagi pass through it. All she wanted was for him to gaze into her eyes like he did yesterday, but there is no chance for that to happen. Renji clipped her shoulder to comfort her. It did not help. They both entered and once they were in the World of the Living they went to where the last known sites of the Vasta Lordes were. Shuhei bent down to the ground and smelled the air.

Hisagi commented, "We need to be careful they are powerful."

All of sudden a Lion VL came out of nowhere and Kelani flash stepped and the girl lioness banged swords. Kelani with all her might pushed her off as the girl VL caught the ground.

"The name is Lionka and you are now my prey girl," she purred then laughed maniacally.

Kelani turned behind her to stare at Hisagi who held a wide eye stare, "Then lets go then," as she still stared at Shuhei who turned his head away, "no one help me. This girl is mine."

Renji roared with laughter, "Maybe you should be on the 11th Squad."

Kel retorted, "I have a kido based zanpakuto Abarai if I didn't I would be on that squad."

A baboon VL charged at Renji who then commented, "How ironic is this? Roar Zabimaru," his sword transformed into a six segmented blade that extends when thrown.

Lionka pounced towards Kelani and she barely had time to react and the next thing she knows Kel is eating dirt. Kelani managed to get up, but her bones were now aching just from that simple technique. In the distance she heard Hisagi call out, "Reap Kazeshini," these VL were taking a toll on them and they barely just got here. Suddenly claws scratched horizontal across Kelani's right side of her face. That was going to leave a scar since Lionka has hollow inside of her. That is what she was before turning into a VL.

Kelani's resolve burned gold as she seethed, "Deliver all life to Hades to be reborn from the ashes of golden flames, FIINIKKUSU!" Her phoenix blew fire out as it joined Kelani above her head. Lionka eyes went big as she took a step back.

"A girl shouldn't play with fire," Lionka teased.

Kelani glanced down as she said, "And little lion cubs should know that everything that fire touches turn to dust," then her eyes met Lionka as she also swung Fiin forward, "Destroy to Ashes."

Lionka did not even have time to respond as Fiin wrapped his flames around her and encircled his trap around her. Kel saw Lionka use her power to try and cancel hers, but Kel uttered, "Fighting is futile," as flames filled up the circle and shot into the air and they burst into ash. Kel sheathed her sword and said in a mellow tone, "I'm done. I didn't even get to toy with her."

Renji now stood beside me, "You're definitely not like Kaname."

Kelani rolled her eyes, "I am his younger sister, but we never lived in the same house," then she stopped there.

"You can tell me," Abarai urged.

"The only person I want to hear this story is Shuhei and he isn't talking to me, so you can go bother someone else Abarai," Kelani admitted.

A shocking wave of spiritual pressure clouded her as something sharp went through her left collarbone.

Renji screamed, "Kelani!"

At that sound Shuhei rotated and got hit with a blast. He pulled on the chain of Kazeshini and the blade bought the VL he was fighting down. After all the secrets that came out today Hisagi could not bear himself to see Kelani die. He might not ever take her back, but to see her everyday would be more than satisfactory. The pain escalated as she felt another puncture through her stomach. Kelani could not even cry as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She knew this might happen, but it never happened like this. Her zanpakuto may kill, but anything that falls victim to it can be reborn from the ashes into another life. But never has Kelani ever seen anyone recover that fast to come back the same way before they died.

Shuhei ran to Kelani's side, "IZURUUUUUUU!"

Blood spat up from Kelani's lips, "Please kill me Shuhei Hisagi."

"I can't," Hisagi shook his head.

She gripped his arm and peered into his eye, "You have to do it! Do you trust me?"

Hisagi did not want to, but he has known her for so long. He taught her when she was in the academy, was a fellow lieutenant, and for a short while her lover. He trusted her more than anyone even her own brother and then replied, "Yes."

"Then kill me," Kelani gripped even tighter as she pleaded with her eyes.

Hisagi breathed heavily, "Reap Kazeshini," and then pierced her heart.

A blissful smile covered Kelani's face as bright white flames with gold at the top encrusted her. Then she began to rise from the ground as the flames descended to ash and fell back to the ground. Moments later an arm reached from the ash and dirt and began crawling from the underground with a golden reiatsu emancipating from them. Shuhei and Renji stared on in amazement fixated on that Kelani was coming from beneath the earth. Her black hair shone purple and whipped wildly in their curly glory. Dirt and grime maimed her Soul Reaper uniform as she coughed when she was entirely out.

Kelani's chest heaved up and down as she said out of breath, "I'm baaaack."

Shuhei squeaked out, "H-h-how?"

"My zanpakuto is unlike any other it can bring people back to life if they seem worthy enough. But if I am the one dying then I need a fellow comrade or ally to have enough courage and sacrifice their humanity to save me, then my zanpakuto will send me to Hades and I have to climb my way back up," Kelani gasped then smoothed back her hair, "That is why I needed you to kill me Shuhei."

"You could not just tell me?" Shuhei asked.

Kelani shook her head, "No my zanpakuto will know if I say something. It has to be the person's will."

"I'm just glad you're okay," is all Hisagi said as he got up and walked away.

Kelani's eyes saddened, "Lets go Abarai."

Renji caught my arm and confessed, "If he loves you he'll come to his senses. I know Hisagi and if he doesn't then there is always someone else."

"Leave me alone," she chided Renji and went to where Capt. Hitsugaya had been fighting, "What did we find out?"

Hitsugaya replied, "The Vasta Lordes were sent here by someone."

"Do we know who?" Kel asked another question.

"That we do not have the answers to," and he has grown so much these past years now looking more like a teen. He is now around 5'11" with a swimmer's build all lean with muscle just in the right place. Can't forget his infamous white hair and turquoise eyes, they are his signature features.

Hitsugaya turned to me and said, "You've grown a lot too these past years," Kel opened her mouth to say something, but Toshiro waved her off as he continued, "I am not a captain for nothing."

She smiled weakly as they all made their way to Kisuke Urahara's shop. Kelani walked beside Izuru as they chatted and laughed. Hisagi sighed as he trudged along the road not knowing what to do about Kelani.

Renji interrupted his thoughts, "Shuhei we have been friends for a while?"

"Yes, Renji we have," he answered.

Abarai bit his lip as he told Hisagi, "If you leave her now she will find someone else and you will be left with the agonizing question, what if? Put aside your pride and doubts and follow that stone heart of yours."

Hisagi gritted his teeth, "This isn't really any of your business Renji."

"You made it my business when you almost got killed fighting Vasta Lorde because you were too busy trying to see if Kelani was alive," Renji said back with the same venom.

Shuhei held his down, "I can't take her back Renji. She reminds me of Kaname too much and now that I know they were kin, my heart just won't be able to take it."

Abarai sped up as he slightly angled his back towards Shuhei as he promised, "You will regret this for the rest of your life". Then he left Hisagi there to walk behind the pack, alone.