Chapter 6 – A Spark in the Night

Orihime was very glad that she was not prone to nosebleeds. Tatsuki was standing over in front of Ryuu. Orihime wasn't sure what they were doing, but at this point she really didn't care.

Because of the potential destructive power, Ryuu had decided to keep Tatsuki separate from the other teens, but Mr. Yoruichi let the others go early. Partly out of curiosity and partly because of their prior agreement, Orihime went to watch the end of their practice in a massive, empty lot from a little dirt hill.

Needless to say, she wasn't very disappointed. Tatsuki was just wearing a black sports bra and the pants to her karate gi, showing her well-toned abs and arms. Ryuu was likewise wearing only a black hakama. The pair took fighting stances and suddenly it seemed all she could see was a flesh-toned, silver, gold, black, and white blur.

Tatsuki struck out with her claws only to have them batted aside by her brother. She was forced to retreat a bit.

Ryuu smirked and entered an aikido stance. "Come on Tatsu. Give me your best. You've been holding back."

She shook her head and spat back. "Bring that mug over here. I need to knock something off it."

Ryuu feinted and Tatsuki fell for it, putting a punch where his would have been. Taking his sparing partner's arm, he hurtled her across the lot.

Orihime gasped and took a step forward as she saw a silver streak make its way over towards her. Then the dirt crumbled her and she went rolling down the hill.
Tatsuki finally slid to a stop and looked up at the gold figure coming down at her… holding a sword. "Oh crap." She closed her eyes expecting to open them on her brother's quip about holding back.

"Santen Kesshun, I reject!"

CRUNCH!

Tatsuki opened her eyes to see Ryuu, in full dragon form from the waist up retrieving his sword from the tripoint shield before it disintegrated. "Well Orihime, you've improved."

Ori…? Tatsuki looked down to see Orihime lying in the dirt in front of her, her clothes covered in stains.

Ryuu transformed back and rested his jain back on his shoulder. (1) "Well, that'll be all for today. I'm headed back to the Shoten." Starting to walk off, he made one last playful comment. "I won't get mad if you're a little late tomorrow."

"Oh, you!"

Tatsuki grabbed a chunk of dirt and chucked at her twin, missing terribly and getting a chuckle from him. She then turned back to Orihime.

"What are you doing here? It wasn't like he was going to hurt me."

Orihime looked down as she stood up and dusted herself off. "Well, you see I wanted to watch so I was standing on the hill over their and I slipped and rolled down her and… Well, I guess I just panicked."

Tatsuki laughed at her friend's answer. Orihime looked up, noticing that her friend's laugh sounded different.

Tatsuki was transformed into a dragon from the waist up, like her brother had been. Curious, she started inspecting Tatsuki; a poke here, a prod there. She even looked inside her friend's mouth. Eventually her hands found the whiskers of flesh that hung from the end of Tatsuki's upper jaw.

Tatsuki's eyes half-closed in the pleasure that suddenly assaulted her body. "Orh… Orihime?"

Orihime raised her eyebrows, indicating that she heard her, but kept on stoking the silver whiskers.

"I… I think you might want to…" Tatsuki's knees started shaking and the moan she had been stifling leaked out.

Hearing that Orihime immediately froze and let go, her face swiftly reddening in realization.

Tatsuki transformed back to her human form, her face flush. Clearing her throat, she stiffly turned around and started walking over towards Orihime's house, trying to forget what just happened. "So… whatcha fixing tonight?"

After Orihime went though all the seemingly zany and likely equally unappetizing things she was thinking of fixing on the way to her house, Tatsuki stopped at a convenience store and got some bento boxes along with the ton of junk food suggesting that Orihime take the day off from cooking.

Making their way silently, Orihime suddenly remembered something that Tatsuki told her before they went on break. "Hey, didn't your say you were going to nationals?"

Tatsuki sighed. "Yea, those were today. As much as I would love to compete, I don't have enough control yet to not release my power in an all-out fight. That's the last thing I need, the whole of Japan to know me as the dragon lady."

Orihime took a hold of Tatsuki's arm and put her head on her friend's shoulder. "That's ok. I know you are the Champion of Japan."

Tatsuki smiled the rest of the way to Orihime's house.

A dark figure stands on top of a telephone pole, looking over the city and reminiscing on the past. Suddenly, he jumps away, sensing something coming.
Karin sighed in irritation. Of course, she had to get it; Yuzu had to fix the rest of dinner and Goat-man couldn't be trusted with anything.

As she started to pass though an empty park, an explosion knocked her to the ground. As the dust cleared, a large rat Hollow climbed out clicking it's teeth together.

"Oh, how delicious you smell!"

Karin backed up until her back is on the wall. She closed her eyes, dreading the final blow.

The hollow shrieked in pain and fell back, it's front paws burned. Karin opened her eyes in surprise and saw that she was engulfed in flames. Why are my clothes not burning? Why do I feel no pain? She passed out before she can come up with any answers, the flames guttering out. Her last sight was a dark figure attacking the hollow.

Minutes later, she woke up. She looked around the rooftop she was on and saw her savior standing along the railing, looking out at the city.

His face is regal and hair long, straight, and black. He is wearing a shinigami uniform with a white, sleeveless haori. On the back is the diamond shape of the Gotei 13, but in it, instead of a kanji, is an enso.(2)

He looked over at her. "Ah, good you are awake. Now, I need to take you home."

Karin simply nods. Happy enough to be alive and still in shock, she doesn't ask and questions or resist when she pick her up.

It seems like barely a few moments when he stops at her door. Putting Karin on her feet, the man opened the door to her house and guided her in with a steady hand on her shoulder. I

Isshin looks back from is place on the couch and immediately jumps up, deathly serious. "Don't you think you're a little old to be playing dress-up?"

Karin looks at her dad and then back at the man who saved her life, utter confusion written all over her face.

Ryuu's voice rings thought the house. "Nice to meet you too after so long Kurosaki-san."

Yea, so I lied… but the TatsuHime chapter is coming next, serious this time. I wanted to show you all the current level of Tatsuki's power and introduce some things for later. Also, I apologies if Karin's a little OOC, but the last time she was attacked, she was out of it for the rest of the Grand Fisher sub-plot, so it just seemed to fit.

1 – a jain is a type of straight, double-bladed sword used in China for over 2500 years made with either bronze or steel, Found in Japan in the Yayoi period (400 BC-250 CE), though eventually fading out of use in favor of single-edged weapons.

2 – enso- Translating as 'circle,' it is a common subject in calligraphy and religions art. It's creation often used as a Zen meditation tool and has many various meanings.