Chapter 10 – (S)train

Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite. Hanako and Ray though, do not. Neat.

Note: italic phrases are most likely thoughts.

It was the soft sound of warm spring rain gently tapping on the glass ceiling that woke me up…

No. Rather it was the fierce pounding of an angry storm that scared the hell out of me and caused a hard fall on the dirty floor of my ex-lab.

If someone ever tells you that the soul keeps the memories and knowledge from previous lives somewhere deep and finds its way in places familiar from back then, don't buy it! Because I hit, broke, spill, upset at least 7 things before I was able to stand up.

A/N: Well, either that or I'm just way too clumsy. Judging from the miraculous way of learning Japanese… the latter is much more plausible.

Anyway, it was a very appropriate beginning of a crappy month, spent mostly with Hanako, the flower child who seemed to hate me in her guts.

Demon magic was not a problem, of course. It took me from 20 minutes to a day of training to learn just about any move. Indeed, not all of my spells were powerful, but each successful one made my teacher, guard and torturer Hanako grit her teeth so fiercely that the sound caused me pain. Sadly, soon she found hope in my hopeless physical condition and disastrous swordsmanship. After the very first training she condemned me.

"You are far from deserving to even watch me train. The idea of me training with you is absurd beyond reason."

"Umm.. How about if I beat you by demon magic?"

"There is no way you can beat me and my zanpakuto by any means, not in a thousand years."

"#You never know till you try:P#"

"Keep dreaming. W h i l e you train by yourself."

This came so sudden after the long weeks when she wouldn't leave me alone, not that she was coaching or teaching me, more that she felt obliged to watch my every step and constantly remind me of her loathing towards the likes of me. So I tried to keep my face calm and not let her notice that I would enjoy our separation equally to her.

"But… How am I going to pass the exam?"

"It's obvious. You won't." – Hanako grinned, but as soon as she flash-stepped away, the smile faded.

"It has been months" – she thought –„ Long months since I've followed that trail. Someone is messing in Hueco Mundo and he is no hollow".

***

6 hours later

Captain Kuchiki Byakuya sat in his office and sipped his jasmine tea without even noticing the fine taste and scent. His usually impassive face was frowned and concerned. Until the moment one of his subordinates came in, that is. In the presence of other souls Kuchiki's feelings and thoughts were hidden deep below his marble-cold features.

"Taicho, this Reiko person has been detected within the 11th squads' grounds; she might have picked up a fight with one of their higher seats, Abarai Renji."

"So get her out of there and put her in our prison cell for a few hours. If she is still alive, of course. And find lieutenant Hanako, she is supposed to prevent Ray from causing trouble."

"Yes, captain, but…we don't know where she is and Reiko… might be winning."

„Curses…"

***

I would never be able to trap Renji in painful spirit energy net if he weren't so careless. He played gentleman (did not knock me down in the first 10 seconds). Well, he could have shown his manners by helping me train without saying: "Nope, brat, if you want help you must try to beat me first and not bore me."

So I did. And I bet there was nothing boring when he fell in the trap of my Cephallos, whom I kept in its dagger-form hidden, until the violet fireworks and freshly learnt kidos gave me the chance to throw it at Renji. The latter caught the blade before it even scratched him. But he did not let go immediately. Huge mistake. I didn't know how that happened and simply followed the orders of Cephallos ("Throw me at him and than make good use of the time I win for you.")

Explanatory note: See, Cephallos is much like an antenna. It receives various information of the spiritual activity within its range (including reiatsu, but also the life force of the animals, plants and… minerals, in short: everything.) The zanpakuto can also act like a transmitter to anyone who touches it. To me, his owner, it filters the most important stuff. To Renji, our "enemy", it transmitted everything. That shockwave stunned the poor redhead for minutes; it must have felt akin to The Total Perspective Vortex of Douglas Adams, just not as deadly.

Renji clutched the knife and bled without noticing. So I used the scarlet droplets to enforce the beautiful violet net that would immobilize him. Meaning it would cause him terrible pain if he tried to move. It wasn't really a net, more like seven violet strings that hooked Abarai-s vital points to the ground.

Until Kuchiki-taicho showed up, Renji seemed to obey the pain. The violet strings I created at my current level were not too hard to break, but those were impregnated with his own blood. However, with the arrival of the 6th squad captain and the tangible chill that spread with it, Renji stopped pouring curses and his body prepared to fight the nasty kido.

"Shall I take her to our quarters, sir?" – The nameless subordinate asked.

"Later. Ray…ko. Release that shinigami."

"I don't need to be released from her." – Renji spoke slowly. - "I can do it myself."

I couldn't believe that the person who strained his body probably beyond the limen of endurable pain and tore the threads was the same who whined about "no fair, dirty kido tricks" a few minutes ago. He fell on the ground afterwards, indeed, but he didn't even pass out, just his breathing became erratic.

I learned three things from that experience.

Byakuya's influence on Abarai is frighteningly strong. (Up to now I've only observed this in the females of the 6th squad. Was Renji gay? I certainly hope not…)

Renji is way stronger than his cocky appearance and semi idiotic attitude suggest. (So again I hope he is not gay.)

…Need… stronger… threads… and swordsman skills, damnit!

"Reiko" – a low, cold voice ended my reflections. – "Before you are put in that cell, come with me." - Kuchiki sent away the very irritated girl whose name I still don't remember, to call someone from the 4th squad for Renji. "You felt that chill, didn't you?" – He continued quietly.

"When you came? At first I thought it was your angry aura, but in fact it was…"

"Hers. Find her. You used to have a special gift in tracing reiatsu. I can feel strong but inconsistent signals."

"Indeed. Someone seems to block and confuse the spread of her spirit pressure. But that freezing wind might be helpful."

"She teached you flash-steps, didn't she?"

"Um, sort of…"

"Go."

It took months, didn't it? Sorry. I've already started the next one, so probably it won't take so much time. It's a snowy tale, right for the season. Please review and note if you find unclear or inconsistent parts of the storyline. Thanks to Fallen Oblivion Angel and Be Nice to Anime for faving/following the story.

I also edited all of the chapters. They certainly needed some.