Chapter 8 – Slashed Promises

The Captain Commander and the rest of the present Soul Society was off to one side facing the Sôkyoku with Ichigo and the others. Aizen, Gin and Tōsen were facing the Soul Society and neither side were watching each other; instead they were watching the scene in front of them.

The smoke cleared to see Kaname on her knees; her eyes were narrowed as she looked at a black-haired woman. Blood dripped off the woman's right hands' fingers, slowly making a pool of it below.

"Saria!" Kaname softly growled out as she got to her feet. Saria smiled as she licked her fingers of the blood.

"Kaname!" Saria mocked just as loud, her grey eyes seemed as if it were staring into your soul. Her voice sounded just like Kari's, but dripped of bloodthirstiness.

"It's so nice to see you! How long has it been since I've really seen you? Maybe about 5…" Saria never finished, as she had to dodge a cross to the face.

"Tch, that's not very nice Kaname. You could have at least let me finish." She said, dodging multiple punches and kicks to the face.

"KANAME! WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING KARI!" Ukitake yelled, sending Rangiku, Izuru, and Shūhei to stop her.

Rangiku had Kaname in a chokehold, while Izuru and Shūhei had her arms.

"Sorry, but I can't forgive her." Kaname whispered as she let out just enough of her reiatsu for the 3 lieutenants to drop down. The captains gasped at the amount that poured out, not really knowing that with all her reiatsu out, she could easily knock out the entire captain population with few exceptions.

"Oh? Getting serious?" Saria said as she walked towards Kaname. Kaname just stood there, concealing her reiatsu once more.

Once in range, Kaname's elbow flew out and hit Saria in the jaw. A loud crack was heard, and another followed as Saria popped her jaw back into place.

"Kaname what's wrong with you!" Rukia yelled as she ran forward but was held back by Yoruichi.

"That hurt Kaname, why would you hit your own best friend?" Saria chuckled loudly.

"You're not Kari!" Kaname yelled, going in for another punch. Saria grabbed Kaname's fist and threw it without any effort, sending her flying.

"You're no fun Kaname! I mean, when do I ever get to come and play?" Saria asked as she stretched.

"play…Play…PLay…PLAy…PLAY!" Kaname said starting in whispers and ending up yelling. " You freakin cut off Kari's arm the last time you PLAYED!" Kaname spat, coming back at Saria and performed a roundhouse to her side, but was blocked.

"What?" Rukia whispered, remembering why she couldn't see Kari's entire tattoo.

"Well, that was because my opponent was too weak and that was the only way that I could make the fight more interesting." Saria said with a smirk.

Kaname pulled out her sword and went to cut Saria, but Saria grabbed the blade.

"If you're not Kari Kurotsuki, who are you?" The Captain Commander asked with intensity in his eyes.

"The name is Saria, I'm Kari's multiple personality." She grinned, grabbing the Zanpakutō hanging on her back; she deflected another blow done by Kaname.

Everyone's faces were of pure shock at this information.

"And Kaname, this is my body too, not just Kari's so I can do what I want." Saria said seriousness dripping from her words as the wind and a storm started to brew.

Kaname gave an angry growl as she cut Saria's neck. Saria had wanted to block the blow but Kaname's sword snapped the Zanpakutō she held, having the tip cut her. Now an angry red line went from Saria's neck to her left shoulder, also cutting the strap that held the glove of her left arm. With a small smirk, Saria removed the top to her shihakushô, and removing the strap that secures the glove to her arm.

The glove fell to the ground and all that replaced it was metal. A metal both Kaname and Saria knew was impossible to cut.

"So, Kaname… how does it feel to cut the flesh that your best friend owns." Saria crackled. Kaname's eyes widened as she dropped to the ground, realising what she did.

Kaname started to weep into her hands as past memories flooded into her mind. Saria ditched the broken Zanpakutō that belonged to Kari, mumbling something about it being dirt and picked Kaname up by her throat. Raising her high, Saria started to question her.

"Where is MY Zanpakutō?" She said. She felt cold on her neck and glanced to see Aizen's sword at her neck.

"Release her." Aizen ordered quietly. Saria's eyebrow went up in question. Then a thought came to mind. Throwing Kaname towards the other side of the cliff, she faced Aizen with a glimmer of playfulness in her eyes.

"Now that is just gross." Saria chuckled but soon came to a hysterical laughter; so bad she was on the ground. She heard coughing and knew Kaname was going to soon come towards her.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" Renji yelled as he raised his sword and ran towards Saria. When in range, Saria kicked him in the gut, sending him flying back the way he came.

"Anyway, what I was saying before, that is just gross!" Saria giggled once more. "I mean, you're how old?"

Aizen slashed his sword, trying to hit her but missing as she had flash-stepped behind him.

"Kaname could be arrested for having a relationship with someone so much younger than herself." She laughed. Aizen glared at her questionably.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Saria once again started to laugh.

"If you're about, let's say, 300 years old, and Kaname is 3017 years old…that would make a 2717 year difference." Saria chuckled.

Aizen's eyes widened slightly and Kaname leapt in the air, drop-kicking Saria. "That was a secret, Saria!"

On the ground, Saria laughed, wiping blood from her mouth. "Well, you are old!"

Kaname screamed, "Yeah, well you're ancient! You're a year older than me, freak!"

Saria grinned. "Well, I AM your best friend." She grabbed Kaname's ankle and threw her over her shoulder.

"And it's only ten months!" Saria yelled. Kaname, who had crashed into the ground, got up slowly. Saria couldn't see her eyes but posed the question again.

"Where is MY Zanpakuto? C'mon, Kaname, you know how much it sucks to use someone else's second-hand sword. I want MINE."

Lightning started crackling all around Kaname. The wind started howling as her dark red hair started flying. Kaname lifted her burning green eyes and said in a low voice, "You'll never find it. I sealed it somewhere you'll never think of."

The onlookers were all buzzing as they watched the scene unfold. Aizen, still off to the side onlooking the scene, watched with great interest.

As for the rest of the shinigami, many of them had tried to join the fight, but the Captain Commander had quietly ordered everyone to stand down. "It's their fight. Leave them."

Meanwhile, Saria was trying to stare Kaname down. "Somewhere I won't realize…somewhere I won't realize…it has to be somewhere you'd be able to get to if something happened…it has to be in something not living…" Her stare transferred to Kari's broken Zanpakuto.

"It can't be in a Zanpakuto since it's still living…so it has to be somewhere nearby on one of us. Now, what can it be in that's big enough to hold it and it can be still freely used?"

Kaname glared at her. "Even if you did know where it is, you couldn't unseal it!"

Saria smirked. "Wanna bet?" She clapped her hands, twisted them and brought out her sword, yellow light enveloping it.

Kaname's eyes burned even brighter and she shifted into her battle stance.

Saria laughed maniacally as she swung her sword around with her right hand. Her Zanpakuto was white stained with red dots. It resembled Kari's except for the color.

Kaname put her Zanpakuto away but kept her battle stance; she had her knees bent and her body was facing the crowd. One hand was on her sheath of her Zanpakuto while the other held the pommel.

Saria, laughing wildly, walked towards Kaname with a wicked smile on her face, humming a song. Kaname realized it was "Lose Control" by Evanescence. Her grip on her pommel tightened as she heard Kari's voice.

"Can we play the game your way? Can I really lose control?" Saria whispered. Kaname barely heard her before the deafening sound of metal against metal sounded.

Saria was grinning as she and Kaname exchanged blows. After a few seconds, Saria found an opening and kicked Kaname in the chest, sending her a few feet away.

Kaname went with the flow, landing on one foot, coming back with momentum, flipping to gather more momentum and to travel faster so to give a thrust to Saria's head from above.

Saria spun out of the way and, with the left foot, from the momentum of the spin, tried to kick Kaname.

Kaname was low that the kick passed over her head so she rammed her elbow in Saria's tibia and broke it.

Saria tried not to show the pain. She forced a laugh. "Well, Kaname, how could you do that to your best friend? Kari's going to feel that when she wakes up. Maybe I should let her out right now to see her sweet little friend trying to destroy her."

Kaname bit her lip and lightning shot Saria's way. As Kaname hesitated, Saria slashed out with her Zanpakuto and cut Kaname on her right hip.

Kaname gasped as blood dripped from her hip. She gave Saria a death glare. "You…slashed my promise." She said in a low voice. She pulled the cloth away from her wound and wiped away the blood. Everyone gasped.

Carved into her skin was "Keep the Secret, Even in Death". Yoruichi's eyes widened in acknowledgement as she realized why, no matter what situation the women were in; they never used their full strength.

Saria smirked. "Oh, I slashed your precious secret, boo hoo. I don't get why you guys even promised that! If it were up to me, I would have said screw it all! Why keep such power hidden in yourselves for all these years? Why stay as squad members when you could easily take over the Soul Society single-handed?"

Kaname looked up. "Because I promised Kari I would. And why would I do such a stupid thing when I can enjoy my afterlife doing what I love with my best friend? Why would I give up the stupid people around me that drive me crazy but I love them anyways? Why would I give up pranks, practice and laughter? WHY WOULD I BECOME LIKE YOU?" Kaname screamed.

Saria shook her head. "You're a fool. We were trained as assassins in the world of the living, we live to fight and kill. You have such power…and you don't use it? I'll force you to use it! To show your true power, I'll take the life of the one you love!"

Saria pointed to Renji Abarai, who looked so confused that Kaname almost laughed. "Who? Me?" He asked, his face getting pink.

Saria laughed sarcastically. "Oh, how cute! Little pineapple didn't know! Kaname, I thought you'd be a little more assertive and TAKE what you wanted. Well, at least I'm lucky enough to have a man who knows I love him! I can smell him in the air! Too bad he had to be pulled back into that Strawberry!" Saria glared at Ichigo.

"Damn you Shirosaki! Why are you so weak? Even though you've been passed down through the Kurosaki bloodline." Saria said.

Kaname allowed a smile to creep onto her face. "You're in love with Strawberry?"

Saria wheeled around. "No! His HOLLOW!"

Kaname's smile disappeared. "I can't forgive you for threatening Ren-chan. Or anyone else. I'll grant your wish."

Kaname switched her hold on her Zanpakuto and disappeared from sight. Saria's eyes widened as she barely dodged a strike that was meant to kill her.

"Now you're speaking my language." she smiled as she blocked another.

Kaname ran behind Saria and stood back to back with her, her hand still in the same hold. Her eyes looked so alive, they shined.

Saria smiled as she recognized what Kaname was trying to accomplish with being back to back with her. With precision, Saria hooked her broken leg with Kaname's right and leaned on Kaname's left side.

It caught Kaname by surprise and she fell. Saria fell on Kaname, trapping her on the ground.

"KANAME!" Rukia yelled in concern but was taken back when Kaname gave Saria a head butt, stunning her. Kaname then rolled over; grabbing her dropped sword, she brought it down on Saria's head.

Saria rolled out of the way and then did a kick up with one foot, to get back on her only working leg.

"Let's take this up a notch, no?" Saria asked, wind started to whip around her body.

Saria took her Zanpakuto in her left hand and Kaname froze.

Saria bit into her right thumb till it started to bleed. Moving her zanpakuto so its tip was facing upwards she let the blood from her finger drip onto it.

"Scream for blood, Kazesora"

The sword pulsated and the wind blew uncontrollably around her. Her sword turned silver and grew. Black chains wrapped themselves around Saria's left arm and locked together.

Saria placed her broadsword in the ground and glared at Kaname with one of those 'what are you waiting for?' glares.

Kaname wasted no time in thinking, "I have to catch her off-guard" and attacked right away. Saria frowned; she whipped out the chains around her arms and caught Kaname's leg. With a smile, she threw Kaname into the remaining Sokyoku.

"I have no chance if I don't change into my Shikai… up for it Hiaoi?" She asked her Zanpakuto as she laid her sword on her shoulder.

"Like always." Hiaoi said. Kaname closed her eyes and allowed herself a small smile.

"Strike with the wind Hiaoi!" Kaname screamed.

Lightning struck her dead centre and everyone had to shield their eyes, with the exception of Saria.

Once the dust cleared, everyone could see that Kaname now held a sabre; pointing it at Saria, she disappeared once more.

Swiftly, Saria took her broadsword from the ground and blocked Kaname's blows; but she was slowly being pushed back. The crowd watched as Saria grew weaker.

"Impossible!" The Captain Commander whispered after closely observing them.

Shunsui looked at the Captain Commander in surprise. "What do you mean Gramps?" he asked. The Captain Commander stared at the sight in front of him.

"Hiaoi, the Zanpakuto of the Soul Society King's right hand. Kazesora; one of the two Zanpakutos of his left hand. For some odd reason, they have the Soul Society King's Zanpakutos. They are at the top of the forbidden Zanpakuto list. Just who are these women?" He asked in a shushed tone, knowing that Kaname would scream at him for using the word "woman".

Kaname's eyebrow twitched as she heard the Captain Commander speak but she concentrated on Saria. Lighting flashed all around the two as they fought. Everyone that was present knew Kaname was getting annoyed with Saria's smile.

"That's it!" Kaname declared after they had been manipulating each other's energy and redirecting it towards each other for some time.

"CHARGE!" she yelled, and lightning hit the sabre. Sparks flew from it, clearly saying that it was charged with a lot of electricity. Without warning, Saria ditched her weapons and body-checked Kaname in the side. Kaname recovered, glowering at Saria.

"Aizen-sama, I believe that's enough watching for one day. We have to go." Tōsen said to the brown-haired man. With a reluctant nod, another Negación appeared to bring them to their new home.

"Your boyfriend's leaving?" Saria cackled as she hopped to the side to narrowly miss a beam of electricity aimed right for her.

"He's not my boyfriend." Kaname said, seriousness leaking out from her voice. She attacked Saria with even more energy than before. Aizen looked at her once more.

"As much as a mystery they are, you can't say they are not interesting, especially Kaname; it almost seems as if she can control the lightning." Aizen told his minions as they disappeared.

The crowd stopped to stare at Aizen leaving; more than a few oaths were cursed. Even Kaname stopped to give Aizen another death glare; to which he only smiled and winked.

All of a sudden, Saria stopped fighting and fell to the ground. Kaname, who was poised to strike, paused, unsure if Saria was faking or not.

Everyone was surprised, to say the least. Saria's stomach started to contract wildly and her muscles screamed. She kept her screams in her throat even though they wanted to come meet everyone very badly.

She started to cough, and cough, till blood was everywhere. She heaved and only blood came out.

Kaname dropped her charged sword and rushed to Saria's side.

"Damn it, seems like Kari really hasn't used this Kung Fu," Saria whispered.

"You think I lied when I said that we keep the secret?" Kaname growled. "You overexerted Kari's body and now you puking and coughing up blood. Do you want to kill her?"

"Well, you know how I am; man this hurts." Saria growled. She smiled a true smile and gripped Kaname's shoulder hard.

"You've truly grown in power Kaname; now I can leave Kari in your hands. I've done all this for her so when you tell her about me, don't forget to tell her how much I did for her." Saria joked but Kaname knew some of it was true. A lonely tear escaped Kaname's eye.

"I'll meet you again in who knows how long; if I'm lucky, another 500 years. Later." She said as she fell asleep, just like that.

Kaname took a deep breath, wiped the blood off Kari's face and brushed some of her black hair aside; she looked concerned as she put her fingers to Kari's neck, trying to find her pulse. Her eyes widened.

"UNOHANA!"