Chapter Four: Cutting Star

"Sorry, say that again, I just got the first part of that," Karin asked politely not really hearing the rest of the name. Sure, she heard the Zan part, but not the entire name. What good was that going to do her?

Zanhoshiko sighed "Hum, were guna have to work on that…" she snapped her fingers on her right hand and there was a bright flash like lightning. Karin twitched.

The Landscape, or the lack of, had changed from pure blackness to a volcanic waist land. Plumes from distant volcanoes spilled ash into the air creating a violent grey and red clouded sky. Lightning struck very frequent here and the lava never stopped flowing. Karin found her self to be free of the Kido Urahara had put on her, so she took the opportunity to stand up and look around. "Where the hell am I?" She asked in general.

Zanhoshiko still had yet to show any emotion. "This is my home, the very deepest part of your soul."

Karin raised an eye brow. I still don't get it and who is this lady… and why can't she just tell me her name. "Alright so what exactly are we doing here?" Karin inquired.

"Well you wish to become a Shinigami, do you not?" The Red Clad women asked with all due seriousness. Karin gave a nod. Urahara had explained to her that she had the same power her brother did hidden deep within her. He said something about… It was in my blood… what ever that means. "Good… I will not make this task to gain this power easy. Do you understand?"

"Hai," Karin replied. "But why won't you tell me your name?"

"It's not that I can't tell you my name… I am… you're just too stubborn to hear it." Karin's right eyebrow raised as Zanhoshiko said these words and it surprised her. I can't hear her? This doesn't make sense. "And since you insist on knowing my name so quick, we'll make it part of the challenge." The older women smirked at her genius.

Karin how ever was still utterly confused…and she showed it. Zanhoshiko saw this and sighed "Everything will become clear to you once you have finished my task." She paused for a second. "We don't have much time, so we must hurry, before you transform into a hollow."

With that said Karin was brought back out of her confusion and focused on the task at hand... what ever that was. She gave Zanhoshiko a ready nod. Zanhoshiko snapped her fingers again and millions of swords appeared embedded into the rocky and ashy landscape. One dissolved into Zanhoshiko's hand. Karin's eyes narrowed. What's this… is that a Zanpakuto? Karin only knew what Urahara told her about the Shinigami weapon… He was vague on the details. He did tell her it was part of the wielders soul, and suddenly it clicked. Hat and Glogs said Zanpakuto show them selves to their wielders in a physical form… Could this woman be my Zanpakuto? I guess I'll find out.

"One of these swords is the key to your heart. You must cut the sword I am wielding with the correct sword. How ever, even though you may be able to hold your own against me with the correct sword and block my attacks. You will only be able to cut this sword I now hold with the knowledge of my name," Zanhoshiko explained.

Karin's eyes widened. How the hell, out of all these swords, am I supposed to find the right one? She began to protest but it was too late. Zanhoshiko had already started swinging. "We have a little over an hour left… I suggest you hurry," The red head remarked. She looked utterly demonic at this point in time.

Karin backed up against a sword while Zanhoshiko pressed her attack. It looked like Karin was about to be cut in two by the women but she pulled out the sword that she had bumped into. It held Zanhoshiko's attack for a mere second before shattering. Nothing was left except the cross guard and hilt.

"You should have listened… Only the right one will not shatter," Said the now Demonic women. Karin was now between the realms of piss scared and scared shitless. The young girl began to run. Looking at a few swords and over to the left she found Ichigo's or what she thought was Ichigo's for she had only seen it on his back. She tried that one against one of Zanhoshiko's attacks… It was less than unsuccessful.

Zanhoshiko was not going to go easy on Karin during that attack. Right after said blade shattered, she brought her own sword down on Karin and ripped through one of her shoulders. Blood spilled and sprayed from the wound causing Karin to let out a horrifying scream.

Karin fell to the ground. She was tiered, hungry, and desperate. Is this how weak I am? Toushiro I'm sorry I failed you. She looked up and saw Zanhoshiko pointing the tip of her blade at her throat.

"Your weak Karin Kurosaki… You were obviously to young for this. You will become a hollow and be killed by a Shinigami… all due to your lack of courage," Zanhoshiko said in a deadly tone, losing the motherly one from before. Karin looked over the harsh landscape. Off in the distance a sword twinkled. She was some how drawn to it. She proceeded look up at Zanhoshiko and smile.

Standing up, Karin walked slowly over to the sword that caught her attention. She breathed heavily and held her wounded shoulder. There wasn't much pain due to shock… or what ever was equal to shock at that point in time but it still throbbed a bit. Karin neared the sword. There was one thing very odd about this sword. It had a golden four pointed star for a cross guard. This looks familiar… A thought passed through her mind of Toushiro stopping that menos from crushing her the day of that game against those older kids. This is Toushiro's sword. She pulled it from the rock it was embedded in. She felt a surge of energy rush through her, she felt like she could take on the world. This must be it…but why Toushiro's sword… how could it be the key to my heart. The raven haired girl turned to where Zanhoshiko had remained standing. She set her self in a stance that meant business and charged her assailant, spinning the katana before striking down. Zanhoshiko easily blocked it.

"So you found it young Karin… Maybe I was wrong about you. Now.. shatter this sword!" Zanhoshiko commanded before she went on the defensive due to Karin's powerful swings. It seemed like Karin's attack would never end.

Karin Growled. Break god damn it! Zanhoshiko smirked. "Karin… the sword I hold can only be shattered…" The fight had turned around. Karin was now on the defensive. "With the Knowledge of my name."

Hack slash, hack slash. The Two swords met with ferry. Sparks would fly from time to time the battle was that intense. The both of them held their swords against the others. Karin grinded her teeth while Zanhoshiko looked dead calm.

Karin took this moment to search the eyes of Zanhoshiko. She could see her reflection in the taller women's pupils. She was interrupted buy the loss of her weapon and her butt falling to the ground. Zanhoshiko had disarmed her.

"Well… are you going to get up?" The women asked. Karin grunted and stood walking over and picking up her sword. It glinted again and something in her brain went Click for the second time in one day. Toushiro's sword was the key to Karin's heart. She must use that key to unlock the women's name.

Karin placed the tip of the sword over her heart and impaled herself. She then turned it like she would a key and she felt more power than before flow through her. The pain was almost none because of the power she could feel. She knew now who that woman was and what she was called.

The soccer champ pulled Toushiro's sword out of her chest and stood. She rested the steal on her shoulder and walked up to Zanhoshiko who held her sword at the ready. Karin was calm as she stopped in front of her opponent. She brought down her sword and held it lightly against the blade of Zanhoshiko's. She smiled at the women and said "Thank you… Zanhoshiko." A second later the red head's blade shattered and even more power flowed into Karin.

"Very good, Karin Kurosaki. I shall Give you information on you shikai since you now know my name. I'd rather you had a bit more experience but there is danger abroad and you'll more than likely need it," Zanhoshiko's motherly voice was back as she placed a hand on Karin's uninjured shoulder. "Are you ready?"

"Hai," answered Karin. Zanhoshiko stepped away from the girl. "One question?"

"Yes?" was the women's reply.

"Why didn't you come to me earlier?" asked Karin.

"Because, young Karin. I can only be summoned by the pure thoughts of the heart or if you're in trouble," And Zanhoshiko actually smiled. Karin blushed at the fact she was thinking of Toushiro before Zanhoshiko showed up.

There was silence for a minute before Zanhoshiko tilted her head back and closed her eyes. The ground started to shake and Karin was slowly lifted off the ground, bound for the sky. She started to glow a sun yellow and the landscape around her turned completely white. I feel as if knowledge is being fed into me…could this be one of my Zanpaktuo's powers? Could it be linked to my abilities to see the dead's memories, ever since that cockatiel?

"Be safe Karin, and do well in battle…" Zanhoshiko's voice echoed through her mind. "Let us work together."

"Hai… Zanhoshiko." Karin simply replied.


Kisuke Urahara was an exceptionally smart man. He would spend hours devising his plans, some big, some small, but there was never a day when he wasn't knee deep in one of his latest plots.

He giggled a little to himself as he stood a good distance away from the hole he had placed, sorry, trapped Karin in. He glanced over at Jinta who wore a very eager smile. Not today Jinta, or according to my calculations, more like never.

Poor Jinta really did want to kill out little Miss Kurosaki. She was always getting in the way of his chances with her twin, Yuzu.

Urahara felt a high spike in spiritual pressure as the ground began to shake. The shake was so violent that Tatsuki and Yoruichi had stopped what they were doing to come and investigate.

"What the hell is goin' on Hat an Glogs?" A grumpy Tatsuki inquired.

"Oh just you wait," Urahara responded as the spiritual pressure continued to grow. "Just as I calculated… Higher than Ichigo's when he was at this level.. Wonderful!"

Just then a giant stream of yellow riatsu erupted from the hole Karin was in. Everyone but Urahara and Yoruichi stood back in awe. A tremendous scream echoed through out the training grounds that had originated from the hole. It was not human but, instead, sounded like a dragon.

The giant stream of riatsu finally disappeared and Karin jumped out with a flip and landed in a crouch in front of Urahara. His response was to bring his fan up to his face. Karin didn't look like the Karin that they had last seen. Her raven black hair was now slightly past her shoulders, looking more feminine. It resembled Zanhoshiko's and except for that and her new outfit, that of a Shinigami's, she was pretty much the same.

However, her Zanpakuto was a totally different story. It was a longish Katana, much like Ichigo's Bankai. The hilt was wrapped in black cloth which was wraped so a red diamond pattern was formed. The cross guard was a black sun with rays jolting out every now and then. The Sheath was a red and black marble design. She wore it across her back much like Toushiro did.

Urahara looked his newest student over "Everything was expected except the hair…"

Karin went from a calm and collected look to one of confusion. "Hair?" she asked.

Out of nowhere Urahara pulled out a mirror and handed it to Karin. She took one look into the thing and screamed. "What the hell!"

So much like her brother.


A/N: That was a long one. I had to change the chapter around a lot because Jumper Prime jogged my memory. I went back and watched episode 19-20 and felt like an idiot. Due to the rest of the story this is as accurate as I could get so that I could get Karin to level I need to continue, but any how… Thanks so much for the catch Jumper Prime. Until next update R and R.