Chapter 7: The Shinigami, The Flower, and The Beast (Part 1)

Time flew by faster than she could have imagined. Lady Sakura had finished adapting to her special gigai, and now resided in a small luxury high-rise apartment in New York City. She kept in regular touch with her family back in Soul Society, usually via letters sent through Kisuke Urahara (she made sure that he couldn't open them prematurely… she could not trust the sandal-and-hat-wearing ex-Shinigami to not try to creep on the private messages she sent to her father.) Many a night had been spent sitting in her apartment, thinking on whatever graced her mind.

But tonight was her first night as Lady Sakura. She knew that she could not just sit idly by any longer. She was no longer just a skilled Shinigami with immense power. She had a penance to fulfill. She would not fail her father. Not again. She would not be blind like a newborn child any longer. She may not like the ways of Asgard and its residents, but she would no longer let past grievances make her a fool. No, most certainly not.

Father, I hope I can make you truly proud.

She sat on the rooftop, eyes narrowed and focused, listening carefully to even the smallest of things, and remaining sensitive to disturbances in the flow of spiritual energy throughout the World of the Living. Minor disturbances such as weak Hollows or small crimes she left in the hands of the weaker Shinigami or the authorities of this world, respectively. She was waiting for the time to be right-the time where a Shinigami with the power of two Captains would be needed.

She didn't have to wait long.

She felt a spiritual presence unlike any other. Several small presences that made up a force all their own. It was a most confusing thing for the Kuchiki girl. However, she didn't let it phase her. She stood up, and turned towards the direction of the force.

Now, it begins. My first battle… as the Floral Maiden, Lady Sakura.

She tore off in the direction of the force, hand close to her beloved sword.

"This is incredible! New York City is amazing! Right, Akane-chan?"

"Yea… if you don't mind dealing with all the assholes and the fact it's practically a Hollow buffet!" Akane complained.

Hehe. I don't mind at all-more ass for me to kick!

"And more problems for me because of you!" Akane snapped.

"Akane-chan?"

Akane rolled her eyes.

"It's nothing, Inoue. Come on, let's get-"

Both of them suddenly stopped in their tracks.

"Akane-chan… Do you feel that?"

"Yea. It's weird… It's not like anything I've ever felt before, but it's so unnaturally… big."

Well, whaddya waitin' for?! Come on, let's go check it out!

"Right… Let's go."

HELL YEA!

Akane let out a string of curses as she leapt up to the top of the nearest building, before leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Her friend looked at her, concerned.

"You make me worry, Akane-chan…"

Her friend soon followed suit, directing spiritual pressure into the ground in order to launch herself up into the air, and using that same power to keep herself in the air.

It did not take long for the Avengers to have been called to deal with yet another Pulsian Lunar Army attack (the name having been given to them by Black Lancer), this time with Final Fantasy joining them. They also received assistance from Strike Team Alpha (sans Cyber Queen, who refused to leave her tech fortress and opted to just help from behind-the-scenes). They barely had any time to properly prepare, not to mention that halfway there, their ride was shot out of the sky.

Hawkeye caught Black Widow, and used a zipline arrow to save their asses from complete and total splattering on the pavement, dropping the Widow on the ground in her position in the process. Iron Man grabbed good old Captain America, and well, Thor was Thor. He was a damn Thunder God, for heaven's sake. He could fly anyways, so he was never in the Quinjet to begin with. Hulk just used a nearby building to break his fall. The Avengers were safe.

Ragnarok grabbed Starseeker by the back of her neck (being extra careful to not injure her partner) and dug her claws into a nearby building to stop a lethal impact. Black Lancer deftly leapt from place to place (her time hunting in the great expanse of Gran Pulse had taught her much) before landing safely on the ground. Storm Paladin snapped her fingers, activating the AMP (Antimatter Manipulation Principle, as she had clarified many times, and quite angrily at that) technology embedded in her namesake armor, allowing her to land safely on the ground. Lady Miqo'te, in all her feline grace, was able to shift into a cat form and land on a high rooftop, before leaping down to the ground.

Black Falcon loaded a zipline bullet, caught Crimson Shadow, shot a nearby rooftop, and managed to not only drop Crimson Shadow safely at her point, but successfully get in her rooftop position, opposite of Hawkeye. Crimson Shadow took her stance next to Black Widow. The three teams were ready-Final Fantasy, The Avengers, and Strike Team Alpha. Just as they were about to begin, Iron Man noticed that Thor was looking towards the sky, seeming a bit distant.

"What's wrong with you there, Point Break?" He asked. Thor turned to face the armor-clad man, and shook his head. He tightened the hold on his beloved and trademark hammer.

"It is nothing, Man of Iron. To battle!" Thor replied, roaring the last part.

He spun Mjolnir a good few times, taking off into the sky. Iron Man folded his arms.

"I'm not the only one who can smell the bullshit, right, Jarvis?"

"Indeed. Mr. Odinson must have something on his mind. Perhaps it concerns his beloved, but we must focus on the matter at hand."

"Right. Crazy psycho army on the loose. Let's not have a replay of Reindeer Games and the Aliens."

He took off into the sky as well, firing at the soldiers. Just as one of them was about to get a lucky hit on him…

"Chire, Senbonzakura."