My Path of a Shinigami by Silent Hero13
A/N: I don't own bleach or anything related to the series, manga or movies and I am a beginner in the world of Fanfic, I only own Kai Shugosha and any other characters I create and add to the story, advice and helpful criticism welcomed, hope you enjoy.
Chapter 7: Showdown
I still couldn't believe Byakuya Kuchiki had challenged me to a sparring match. I didn't know if I should be flattered or terrified. Still it would be interesting to see how he fought and I could learn a thing or two from him. We were in his personal practising grounds; it was similar to the training ground I used around here except it was in the heart of the estate. Rukia and Renji observed us from a fair distance, sitting on the grass on their knees. The sky became orange as the sun set. I could only hear the footsteps on the grass Captain Kuchiki was making and the rustling of the trees as a gentle breeze passed. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of fear going into this. Not that I was afraid of losing, but that I might disappoint. Byakuya had walked a small distance away from me before stopping, still with his back turned to me.
"Draw your sword, Kai Shugosha." Byakuya calmly said.
I did as he said, unsheathing my sealed Zanpukuto. He wasn't making any motion to draw his sword. He just stood there like a statue, frozen. I slightly brought my blade up to the height of my chest, so I would be ready just in case he tried something. Silence filled this intense atmosphere now. He suddenly raised his spiritual pressure, causing the ground to tremble slightly. I could feel it pushing me down, but unlike the day I first met him, this time I didn't budge an inch. I was staring down the intimidating Byakuya Kuchiki.
"I see you have indeed improved. To be so unaffected by this spiritual pressure at your level is quite a feat worthy of my praise." He said unemotionally.
I felt as if I shouldn't talk, at least not yet. I was dead serious on proving myself to him, so I couldn't get distracted. I had to stay focused.
"Come; let us see if you have what it takes to become a Shinigami," He said. "Because if you don't, you are just wasting my time." He finished, and then he disappeared.
I felt his presence behind me. I quickly turned and blocked his incoming attack. Sparks flew as our blades collided. He jumped back and lunged with his sword aiming for my head. I parried the strike upwards and it left him wide open. With perfect timing, I swung with full force at his abdomen, but only to meet nothing. I swiftly reacted to an attack from my left side by side stepping and countered with a horizontal slice, but Byakuya had effortlessly dodged it. Getting a bit frustrated, I began a flurry of slashes, hoping I would hit him, and to my surprise I managed to cut him by the corner of his mouth. It was small, but a cut nonetheless. What frustrated me was that he remained calm since the beginning of this fight, not the slightest bit of emotion was displayed. Obviously he was going easy on me.
"It's about time you got me. I was beginning to fear that you wouldn't reach me at all, but is this all the power you possess?" He said.
'He's mocking me now?!'
"You wish. I haven't even gotten serious yet." I said as I only pointed my Zanpukuto at him with right hand.
"Oh?"
I stared down Byakuya with fierce eyes.
"Strike 'em down, Zankokunaraiu!"
My Zanpukuto transformed into its Shikai state.
"I see you have reached Shikai," he said not surprised in the least. "Perhaps this will not be a waste of my time after all."
I smirked before I charged at him with blitzing speed and our blades locked once again, but this time I saw Byakuya's expression slightly change, I guess I caught him of guard. I was now forcing back while he still held his Zanpukuto with one hand.
"Surprised Captain?" I asked conceitedly still forcing him back.
"I admit I was not expecting such speed and power from your shikai; however..." He said as stopped completely in his tracks.
"The gap between us is inconceivable." At the statement I jumped to see what he was planning.
I felt a stinging pain in my stomach. I looked down to see I had been stabbed; the blood was soaking my uniform at an alarming rate and the feeling of pain was truly sinking in.
'Shit! When did he stab me? I didn't even see him do it or even notice the wound until now. Is he that fast?'
I tried ignoring the pain, but it was gnawing at me continuously. It became more and more tempting to clutch the wound, but I couldn't show any weakness. Things became fast paced when the Captain decided to strike first this time. He was attacking me from all directions using flash step. I was barely managing to keep up due to my injury; I being was overwhelmed very quickly. Time seemed to slow down as Byakuya swung at my neck and managed to cut off a few strands of hair as I pulled my head back to avoid what could have been my head. At that point I felt my heart jump into my throat. Talk about a close shave. Time returned to normal when we locked blades once again. Things weren't going anywhere now. I had to try something, fast. Then it hit me. My left hand crackled with electricity as I was using the energy from a Hado spell.
"Byakurai?" The Captain deduced. "You couldn't hope of hitting me with a Hado I am very familiar with."
I flashed a grin before grabbing Byakuya's arm. A wave of realisation hit him too late as the electricity raced through his body and resulted in a small explosion due to the unstable Kido between us which separated us. I took some damage as well but at least it didn't completely blow up in my face.
'I can't believe that worked.' I thought disbelievingly and then chuckled to myself.
"I see," I heard Byakuya say in a disgruntled voice. "You used the Hado: Byakurai in an unorthodox manner that I only suspected too late. You found a truly unique way to damage an opponent."
I hadn't done a lot of damage to the Captain with my little stunt and he still kept his composure. He didn't look fazed in the least, but his voice sounded like he was really ticked off.
"But as I had said before," He said as his Zanpukuto started glowing pink. "The gap between us is inconceivable."
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
His blade scattered into the air and resembled petals. I didn't know what just occurred. I saw the pink petals dance right before my eyes, then I felt my skin being ripped and shred all over my body. It was unbearable. Blood ran down part of my face and most of my body. Everything hurt.
"Argghhh!" I screamed.
I was losing a lot of blood. I could feel myself losing consciousness and I was beginning to fall backwards.
"Do not fear. It is not my intention to kill you, but when you fall, try not to be slow." He said as his sword reformed and sheathed it.
'No! I'm not gonna pass out this time.'
I put my leg behind me for balance. I struggled to shakily stay on my feet, but I managed to despite the pain. Every breath I took hurt.
'Heh, I knew I wasn't going to win from the start, but I had to try. Okay, time for the desperation move I was saving for a moment like this.'
I felt a smile like Renji's when he gets cocky appear on my face.
"Smiling in the face of defeat, how admirable." He said.
I said nothing, I just kept my grin.
And then I was gone.
I appeared behind Byakuya using flash step. He turned just a fraction and by the look on his face, I had completely caught him off guard. My Zanpukuto was surging with energy and I instinctively released the same attack I had used during Kisuke Urahara's training. The sky lit up as a wave of electricity flashed and severed the ground. Chunks from the ground was flying everywhere, I couldn't see anything. I was breathless after I used that attack. I still didn't know how I did it, but who was I to question, I was just thankful it worked. When the dust settled I saw the Captain scorched and I smiled at that before I fell on my knee. I had finally gotten him and it was good, but what surprised me even further was that he still maintained his composure. I mean seriously?
"Kai Shugosha, you have gone far beyond what I thought you were capable of. I certainly didn't expect that attack from you or expect that you had learned flash step, but what puzzles me is how come it was so fast?"
"Heh. I learned that one of my Zanpukuto's abilities increases the speed of its wielder, and if you combine that with a basic level of flash step, it becomes even faster." I smirked.
"I see. This match is over." He said as he walked away.
'Match?! This was a freakin' war! The 'match' went out the door the second you stabbed me! Some 'sparringmatch' this was.'
"Lieutenant Abarai."
"Yes, Captain?"
"Escort him to Captain Unohana for treatment; no doubt he will have the opportunity to thank her for her treatment before."
"What about you Captain?"
"I have somewhere I need to be first. Come along Rukia."
"Yes Nii-sama." Rukia answered and they both flash stepped away.
"You're pretty damn lucky kid, managing to survive against my Captain, not many people can say that Y'know?" Renji said as he hoisted me over his shoulder.
"Yeah…" I managed to get out. "I guess I'm more awesome than you now."
"I don't know about that, but you sure are something else kid." He said.
We arrived at the barracks of Squad Four, the lamest division to be a part of, so I hear. Rumours around the Academy say only weaklings that don't know how to fight go there. Renji walked in with me still draped over his shoulder, I was still holding my Zanpukuto, but it had sealed itself in its original state, a katana. The air in the barracks smelt of pure oxygen and all the members I saw walk past looked friendly. Pain jerked my body as I felt Renji start to move again. He walked into a room and in that room was a young woman who wore her hair in a large braid in front with her eyes closed. She was also wearing a Haori and had a sweet smile on her face, but I got a spooky feeling off of her.
"Nice to see you again Kai Shugosha, you probably do not remember me because you were unconscious at the time when I healed you after you returned from the world of the living. I am Captain Unohana of Squad four." She said.
"Thank you very much for healing me Captain Unohana." I said lowering my head in a bow.
"It seems that I must do it again by look of your injuries. Lieutenant Abarai, please lay him down here." She motioned.
"Yes ma'am." He said as he laid me down on the bed.
"Lieutenant, do you not have a special assignment in the world of the living this evening?"
"Yes ma'am, I shall get going." He said, and then he looked at me. "I'll see you around."
"Alright, see ya Renji."
I watched as Renji rushed out of the room, before turning to the Captain in front of me who had already began healing me. The pain was slowly being relieved. I could finally breathe without cringing and I felt the tension in my body slip away.
"Please refrain from getting injured like this in less than a week, I cannot afford to treat you all the time. Next time you might not be so fortunate," She said in menacing tone with a smile still on her face. I was trembling, I don't know why but the way she said it struck a nervous fear into my heart.
"Is that understood?" She said as she opened her eyes.
I froze instantly, eyes fixed on the Captain in terror. I struggled to answer, but when I did, it was in a hoarse voice:
"Y-yes ma'am."
'I guess I found someone who is even scarier than Byakuya.'
"Good, I will be keeping you for overnight examination. Now get some rest."
I obliged by shutting my eyes and I slowly drifted to sleep as she continued to heal me.
I woke up the next morning to find I was in perfect health once again. I realised I had been gripping my sword this whole time. I was still in my shredded training uniform. As I got up I found my sheath sitting in the corner of the room. I slung it over my back and slid my Zanpukuto in it. I asked a random member where Captain Unohana was because I wanted to thank her, but apparently she left for a Captain's meeting. I left the building and slipped on my sandals and took a stroll around the different squad barracks in the area, I'm mean. When will I get to do this again for a while? So I took advantage of the opportunity. I found myself walking past a huge building and it turned out to be the Squad One barracks. It was definitely impressive. I didn't want to risk be caught so I quickly ran and hid myself in the trees behind a smaller building so I could use flash step while being disguised by them. Before I readied myself to do it I saw two people walking towards the Squad One barracks. From my distance I could make out that one of them was Rukia, but I didn't know who the other one was. He was a Shinigami with a big Zanpukuto on his back wrapped in its cloth and he also had bright orange hair.
