She blinked, certain she hadn't been here a moment ago.
That's right, she'd been in her room with Grimmjow.
So, where was she now?
"Sanura-chan!"A voice shrieked. "Help!"
Sanura spun, turquoise hair flying, towards the direction of the voice. Her jaw dropped.
Behind her was an area divided in half by a bright red line. It was about the size of several football fields.
The right side was sunny, and filled with candy trees, plush animals, and chocolate creeks.
The left side was barren, with stormy skies that flashed brilliant blue lightning every once in awhile. A craggy mountain rose in the middle of the left side, peaked with ice. Several skulls on pikes, and dead knarled trees dotted the area.
On the lift side of the bright red line was an iron cage, and inside the cage was a child.
Sanura rushed forward, and had the child out in no time. Picking up the small being, Sanura placed them gently in the green grass of the right side.
"Are you alright?" She asked. The child nodded. "What were you doing in there?"
"He put me in there." The small girl, for that was her gender, pointed across the line to a sulking boy
He had pointed ears on the top of his head, torn and black. His face was sullen, and his eyes were a sharp piercing blue, like ice. He was clothed in artfully ripped black clothing, and a long black fox's tail whipped behind him as he slunk into the shadows.
"Who is he?" The hybrid asked, turning back to the girl.
"I can't tell you!" She giggled. "He'll have to tell you himself."
"Then what is he? And who and what are you?" Sanura noticed two tiny wings of flame on the girl's back.
"We are your zanpakuto spirits!" The girl tugged Sanura farther into the candy forest. "I'm Sanbimu."
"Sanbimu, are you really a sword spirit?" The teen gazed at the girl, who tilted her head back and beamed.
"Yup! I'm the amber zanpakuto." She giggled. "I called you here to rescue me! I've been stuck in that cage for ages!" She made a face, and continued pulling Sanura along. The teen took the time to study the spirit.
Long honey blond hair fell in curls down to her shoulder blades, where the fire wings started. She was clothed in orange, and wore a pair of hakama and a loose top. Sanbimu wore golden sandals, and the curled bangs were pinned back with a golden barrette.
The girl stopped.
"This is where I stay. Do you want some tea?" The girl looked hopeful.
"Sure."
Sanbimu shrieked with happiness, and rushed around the clearing. In the center of the clearing was a round table, surrounded by chairs which were filled with stuffed bears, and bunnies, and ducks.
A seat at the head of the table was left open and a white rabbit scurried away, muttering "I'm late! I'm late!"
Sanbimu placed a tea pot and a set of tea cups onto the table. Sanura strode across the clearing and the little girl pointed to the chair.
Sanura sipped the tea and sat quietly with the little sword spirit.
/
"Now, down to business." Sanbimu suddenly set down the tiny china cup. "Now that you know my name, you'll be able to use my shikai."
"Really?" Sanura's eyes widened drastically.
"However, I'll advise you not to challenge me for the bankai quite yet. You still have a lot of training to do." She looked up at Sanura, her amber eyes deadly serious. "Continue training with Grimmjow."
Sanura nodded.
"Eventually, he'll call you into the inner world again." She nodded to the left. "He will only do so, if you are strong enough to handle him. "
"Do I need a release command for you?" Sanura finished her own tea, and set down the cup.
"But of course!" Sanbimu giggled. "I will answer your call, but your first release command will always be the release command. Got it?"
"Alright." Sanura nodded again.
"You should probably wake up soon." The small girl commented idly, gazing up at the sky. "And about the mask; the closer you get to the Espada, the more Espada-like you'll get. It will continue to haunt you if you ever get close to the Shinigami again."
Sanura stood from the chair.
"The adujero has already started." The blond mused. Sanura lifted the hem of her shirt, peering at her belly.
Sure enough, a hole had started to appear right where her bellybutton should be.
She sighed.
"Shoo." Sanbimu waved a hand, playfully. "Wake up."
Sanura had the sensation of falling backwards and then her eyes flickered open to the worried expression of her friend.
"Grimmjow, you're a little close." She sounded amused. He jumped, and stepped back several paces.
"Why were you hovering?"
"Your reitsu spiked, then disappeared, and you here lying completely still." He frowned, offering a hand to help her stand.
She took it and her left arm tingled.
"It's fine, Grimmjow." She assured. "I was called into my naimen no sekai."
He gave her a slightly confused look, but shrugged it away.
"Your father wants you to come to a meeting."
A.N- Translations are below.
Adujero- hole [Spanish]
Naimen no sekai- inner world [Japanese]