Sorry for not posting this sooner. It took a lot longer to write than I thought it would. I tried to make this chapter as long as I could, but it didn't turn out as long as I'd like. Oh well. At least it's out, right?
Yay for the reviews! I love reading those. :D They always put a smile on my face. :)
ruler of dragons: lol You have no idea how much I wanted to tell you the truth when you were guessing the connection earlier in the series. It was killing me! I'm glad I could get that secret out in the air and out of my head. lol Congrats on graduating! :D I wish I could say I miss high school right now, but it hasn't actually hit me yet that I'm not going back to that stupid building again. It will later when my sister goes to school and I'm getting ready for college probably. lol I'll try to update as soon as I can! :D
Amaris Solbes de la Vega: I know, right? I had to add some cuteness in there, even though it was the hardest to write in the whole chapter! lol
Sweet Nightmare's Good Byes: Thanks for reading! :D
Peaches-Life'sSimplestTreasure: I finally got it out!!!! It took me awhile but it's here. :D I'm glad the ending didn't completely suck. It was so hard to write. I seriously took forever to write it. It was beginning to drive me nuts so I finally just wrote what I have posted. lol That's cool you're moving. I'm kinda stuck at my mom's house until I can get an awesome job and get rid of my other job at Dairy Queen. :D
*evil grin* I love this! Confusing people. It's awesome. Is Kana jealous of Rukia? Is Renji jealous of Ichigo? Hm... Who knows? Only time will tell. :D
It's okay. I got what you're saying. Just messin' with ya. I do feel old though. I was actually just talking to one of my friends and we were discussing old toys we use to play with and his little sister who was a few years younger than us had no idea what we were talking about. lol
Yes, I am going to college. Just a small one by my house though. Nothing major. My dream college was Ohio State, but that obviously isn't going to happen with my grades. I would have to have straight As my whole high school career to get into that school, but no biggie. :D
lovelydasom: Thanks so much! :D I did have a picture I based her off of. It's posted on my profile page, but she doesn't exactly look like that. It's a little different. I'm trying to draw her, but it's not turning out so well. lol Hopefully that will help out. :D
xXYuzukiCrossXx: Really? You read everything in one day? Whoa! lol I'm glad you like it that much! :D
And thanks for the PM twilightchick13!!!
Keep the reviews coming!!
Chapter 10:
To Train or Not to Train
"No."
"But, Ichigo-"
"No."
"Nothing will-"
"No."
Kana let out a heavy sigh, getting somewhat frustrated by Ichigo's consistent answer. She went over to his house to ask if there was any chance that she could train her new-found powers she never knew she had. Too bad Ichigo thought it was a bad idea.
Becoming stubborn, Kana crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. She stared at her boyfriend who sat in his desk chair staring at her just as determined.
"Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't train," Kana said, pretty sure that Ichigo couldn't find one.
"You could get hurt."
Kana stayed silent for a moment, thinking that reason over.
"I lied. Tell me two good reasons why I shouldn't train."
"Kana, I'm not arguing with you about this. You are not going to train and that's that."
Now pouting, the blonde fell onto his bed and began to glare at him. There were many times when she found Ichigo's over-protectiveness was cute. Obviously, she now found it incredibly annoying.
"What if I said Rukia thinks it's a good idea."
"I'd say it won't help your case," he stated simply while crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. "She's probably the one who gave you this stupid idea."
"It's not a stupid idea!" Rukia's voice suddenly shouted out. The closet door suddenly slid opened and Rukia in her gigai form sat there glaring at Ichigo's direction. This happened quite frequently, much to Ichigo's and Kana's dismay. Most of the time, Rukia tended to interrupt during study breaks causing the rest of Ichigo's and Kana's time together ultimately awkward. Ichigo hated that Rukia couldn't seem to find another place to stay, but Kana didn't seem to mind too much. Then again, Ichigo always had a hard time reading how Kana felt. "What if those guys come back for Kana?! How is she suppose to protect herself?!"
"Rukia," Kana's voice said, making the soul reaper stop her yelling and look at her. Giving a small smile, she continued, "Can you please leave us alone for a little bit?"
"Yeah, sure," Rukia said, smiling back and walked over to the window. Before jumping out, she glared over at Ichigo and said, "Just remember this, if she doesn't get any training, she may be in more trouble than she would be if she were trained." Then Rukia disappeared from sight.
"About time," Ichigo muttered while closing his eyes. After he didn't hear anything from Kana, he opened his eyes and saw her staring down at her hands on her lap. He sighed silently and said, "If you want to train so bad, why don't you talk to Mr. Hat-N-Clogs? You know he'd train you, no questions asked."
"Yes, but I don't want him to train me," she stated in a four-year-old tone. "I want you to."
That response shouldn't have been shocking, but it was to Ichigo. Though he hid his surprise quite nicely with another heavy sigh. He was happy that he was the one Kana wanted to be trained by. He felt a bit of relief also after hearing that. If Kisuke would have trained her, Kana would be in such a mess she wouldn't know what to do. Kana, on the other hand, could see Ichigo's hidden happiness and in her mind believed that having him train her would be the way to let her train. Not that she wouldn't want him to train her either. She would rather have Ichigo than anyone else, but she knew that if she said that, there was a sure chance she would get her training.
"Well then," Ichigo began with a hidden smile, "I guess that means you're definitely not training."
"Wait, what?" Kana's face fell as she stared at her boyfriend. She wasn't expecting that to happen. Maybe Ichigo wasn't as predictable as she has figured. "But I thought you'd like the idea since you'd be training me."
"Nope."
"But, Ichigo-"
"No."
"But-"
"I said no."
"Just hear me out. Please, Ichigo," Kana said, almost pleadingly. Ichigo looked at the desperate look in her eyes and sighed once again, silently telling her to continue. "If I had at least some kind of lesson then that would help protect myself for when no one is around. I don't have to go into full training mode like Kisuke would do if he would train me. Just enough basics to let me able to handle my own for a little before running off."
"There's no need for that." Kana looked questioningly at him as he continued, "No one is leaving your side. Oh, that reminds me, did you walk here by yourself?"
Kana sighed. "Renji wouldn't let me out of the house unless he walked me over here. Don't worry. He has the same protective problem as you."
Now Ichigo had done it. He could sense the attitude and bitterness in her tone, revealing that she was angry. Being angry was rare for Kana, but not impossible. He had seen her like that before, but when he had, it was usually towards Keigo. Never was her anger towards him.
There was one time Ichigo was actually entertained when she was angry and that was when her anger was towards Renji. Kana got angry with him for making a "time of the month" comment to her and she gave him the cold shoulder for two days. Renji obviously wouldn't stand for it and that was the reason why the whole situation was funny to Ichigo. Renji's many failed attempts to get her to talk were very amusing. Then Renji bought Kana a bear and he was quickly forgiven, ending Ichigo's fun.
Knowing how this was going to end, Ichigo attempted to calm her down. "Kana, listen-"
"No, it's fine, Ichigo," she said, interrupting him just as he did to her many times already. "I get it. I just don't want to be a burden. I want to help, and you're not letting me. You're making me feel like I'm useless. You may not need my help, but I don't want to be a burden either."
Ichigo couldn't say anything. Yet again, she was right, but he didn't want to admit it. He was just as stubborn as she was, so saying anything now would get no where.
Breaking the tense silence in the room, annoyed muttering could be heard from outside Ichigo's bedroom. Then, the bedroom door swung open revealing a very angry stuffed lion, glaring at Ichigo. He opened his mouth to scream when his eyes caught someone he absolutely adored. That person was Kana Mitsuya.
"Kana! You have returned!" the lion screamed and ran over to the blonde haired girl. He easily dodged Ichigo's attempt to grab him and hopped into Kana's lap, hugging her tightly. "I missed you so much! Ichigo's been very mean to me, throwing me at his little sister every time you come over!"
"Aw. Don't worry, Kon," Kana said, cooing at the stuffed lion before glaring over in Ichigo's direction. "You can stay as long as you want because I'm mad at Ichigo, too."
Ichigo let out a huff while Kon asked, "You are? What did he do to you?"
"He won't help me train as a soul reaper."
"Really?" he said while letting go of Kana and placing a paw up to his chin. "I have to agree. Being a soul reaper is a dangerous job. I mean, Ichigo constantly gets injured in battle, even with a stupid weak hollow. I think it's best you stay on the sidelines."
Ichigo would have yelled at Kon for the insult if the stuffed animal wasn't agreeing with him on the situation. He actually couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kon usually went against everything Ichigo said, so the teen couldn't help but be happy he wasn't the only one who thought Kana idea was bad.
"Yup! Then I could protect you because I'd be in Ichigo's body!" Kon then exclaimed with hearts in his eyes. "Instead of Ichigo, I'd be protecting you, my sweet angel."
So, that's his motive, Ichigo thought while glaring at Kon. Then, he looked at his girlfriend who only gave him a smile and held Kon tightly in her arms. By the look of it, Kon was definitely enjoying the embrace and that made Ichigo's blood boil.
"So, Ichigo," Kana began in her normal, happy tone, "do you still not like the idea?"
.: - :.
"I can't believe you fell for that…"
"Shut up," Ichigo told the red-headed soul reaper as they both watched Kana in her soul reaper form learn some basics from Kisuke before the real training started. Kisuke had already made fun of him for falling for Kana's trick and he was not in the mood to listen to more from Renji. "It wasn't my fault. If you had a girlfriend, would you leave her alone with Kon if he was in your body?"
"I wouldn't have been tricked by a fifteen-year-old girl," Renji commented with a smirk.
"Whatever," the teenager muttered as he used his badge to get out of his body. He would have brought Kon to Kisuke's training ground under the shop if the stuffed animal didn't say what he said just two hours before.
"It's true," the red-head stated while crossing his arms over his chest. He was already in his soul reaper form so he didn't have to worry about getting out of a gigai. "When she asked if I could help her train, I told her no right off the bat. She argued, but I stood my ground."
"Arguing? Please," Rukia's voice then was heard and the two boys looked to see the black-haired girl approaching them with her arms crossed and an amused smile on her face. "All Kana had to do was give you those puppy eyes of hers and you agreed one-hundred percent."
"That is not how it happened," Renji told her while glaring at her. "And I told her 'no'."
"The only thing you said 'no' to was when she asked for you to go with her to talk to Ichigo about it because she knew he would be the hardest to convince," Rukia stated. "You agreed on escorting her to Ichigo's house, but actually talking to him about her training was out of the question."
"I see now," Ichigo said while glancing over at Renji with a sly smile. "You're scared of me."
"Like hell I am!"
Then, Kana approached the group with an upset, questionable look. She looked at her boyfriend and her brotherly friend and said, "Please don't tell me you two are going to fight."
"They're not fighting, Kana," Rukia assured her.
"Yet," Ichigo and Renji both said and then glared at each other.
"Are you sure you want these two to train you?" Kisuke asked the blonde girl as he stood next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah," Kana said, looking up at the blonde shopkeeper. "They both promised they would."
"Good luck to you then," he said and dropped his hand to his side and began to walk towards the ladder that led to the shop above the training arena. He stopped at Rukia before continuing his way and said, "Make sure a war doesn't break out here. I don't feel like remodeling my house just yet."
"Got it," Rukia stated and Kisuke left the basement.
Silence filled the air as everyone just glanced at each other, unknowing what to do next. Rukia, who was a bit frustrated at both Ichigo and Renji, let out a heavy sigh. Kana was beginning to feel impatient as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Are we going to start now?" Kana finally asked before Ichigo's and Renji's glares began to burn holes into each other. She stepped in between both soul reapers, ending their staring game and making them turn their attention to her. "Can we start now?" she repeated while looking back and forth to the boys. "Please?"
"All right," Ichigo said with a sigh and grabbed her hand before dragging her away from Renji and Rukia. "Let's go."
"Hey! Don't think you're the only one training her, Ichigo," Renji stated while following behind the two. "You have no experience training a beginner how to fight."
Ichigo stopped walking and looked at the red-haired soul reaper. "And you do?"
"Of course I do! I'm a lieutenant of the Sixth Division. I am more than capable to train someone!" Renji retaliated while he approached Ichigo. "You're only a substitute soul reaper with little experience at all in fighting."
"Oh yeah?" Ichigo said, stepping towards Renji. "Who beat in the Soul Society just over a month ago? Oh that's right. It was me!"
Shaking her head, Kana looked over at Rukia for help. Rukia caught the message and cleared her throat before yelling. "Stop fighting you two!"
Immediately, the boys stopped bickering and looked at the small, black-haired girl. Kana only smiled at the response, happy that Ichigo and Renji didn't start a full-out battle right there. She remembered the last time they fought each other. Both Ichigo and Renji almost died from that fight. She never saw how Renji ended up, but she heard it was horrible. He was in a worse condition than what Ichigo had and if she remembered correctly, Ichigo had several close calls of fatal blows to his body.
"You two are here to train Kana," Rukia lectured, "not deal with your stupid rivalry."
Anger left Renji's face as he said, "She's right, Ichigo."
"Whatever," was all Ichigo had to say before releasing Kana's hand and using the same hand to grab his zanpakuto off his back. He looked down at Kana and said, "Are you ready?"
Kana grew a huge grin on her face as she answered her boyfriend. "Of course!"
.: - :.
"You remember everything, Kana?" Renji asked after repeating the simple basics of fighting (stance, zanpakuto holding, etc.). Apparently Kisuke's simple breakdown of the basics were more complicated than Kana had predicted.
"Yep," Kana replied, feeling the determination and confidence filling her body. She hadn't even done anything but stood and se was already getting this feeling. It excited her that she was learning how to fight. Especially by her boyfriend and her best friend.
"Good. Now with all your might, swing at Ichigo."
Her confidence and determination completely diminished as she dropped her zanpakuto, which she was holding out in front of her, to her side and stared at Renji with shock. She was not expecting that sentence to come out of Renji's mouth.
"What?" Kana questioned while she looked over at Ichigo, then to Rukia, then over to Renji. "I hate to attack Ichigo? I don't remember anyone saying that."
Everyone, excluding Kana, let out a heavy sigh. It was already distinguished that Ichigo would be Kana's sparring partner, Renji would be supervising her to make sure she was doing it right, and Rukia would be supervising the boys to make sure they didn't blow up at each other… again. Apparently though, Kana wasn't paying any attention when all this was decided.
"Get back in your stance," Renji ordered in his "lieutenant" voice. Kana quickly picked up her zanpakuto and went back into her previous position and stared right at Ichigo who held zanpakuto with one hand and casually let it sit on his shoulder.
Kana was not feeling very comfortable with using Ichigo as a dummy. She didn't want to swing and accidentally hurt him. That would kill her. And though she was holding her stance and strongly as she could, everyone could see she was beginning to look nervous by the way her zanpakuto was shaking. It was already shaking before because Kana wasn't use to the weight, but it was shaking more noticeably now that she was nervous.
"Don't worry, Kana," Ichigo said, shaking his girlfriend out of her thoughts. "I won't get hurt."
Kana only nodded and tightened her grip on her blade. From the corner of her eye, she could see Renji nodding his head, as if to say that she could start whenever she was ready, and then looked forward at Ichigo again. She swallowed hard as she could feel the uneasiness in the pit of her stomach.
Slowly, she lifted her blade above her head and closed her eyes, not wanting to see the result of her actions. Then finally, she swung her sword downwards and came into contact with something metal. She felt vibrations travel from her zanpakuto to her arms, scaring her and making her drop her sword. She let out a small scream as she fell to the ground. That was when she opened her eyes and noticed everyone staring at her in disbelief, and she had a feeling that their looks were not from her doing an awesome job.
"So… How'd I do?" she asked sheepishly, already knowing how horrible that was.
Ichigo walked over and held out his hand for her to take as the two full-fledged soul reapers let out heavy sighed. Renji shook his head and looked over at his childhood friend who thought exactly what he was thinking.
"We have a lot of work to do."
And there it is. Chapter 10 of The Secrets Within Her Soul. Since Chapter 10 is written and posted, do you know what that means? The next chapter is a special chapter, showing Kana's and Ichigo's relationship before the first story of the series. :D Aren't you excited? I know I am, but that's because I know what it's about. It's going to be funny. Why? I can't tell you that just yet, but it is going to be good. I promise. I mean, what special isn't good when there's Isshin Kurosaki involved? :D
I have a favor to ask everyone. I am making and AMV/trailer for this story on my computer. I know, cool right? Well, the thing is, I don't have any good songs that would fit the story. I tried looking for them, but to no avail. If anyone has a good song that describes how maybe Ichigo felt after Kana was kidnapped or something, then that would be awesome!
And you know what would be even more awesome? If someone can either find/draw a picture of my OC character Kana!! I've been attempting to draw her, and I could make her face just fine. I just can't draw the body. I know... It's sad... I can't draw bodies. They're not my strong point. Anyway, I don't care what form she's in (human or soul reaper) but if anyone draws the pictures of Kana, I was going to put them in the AMV also for all the world to see. Isn't that cool? If you need help with what Kana looks like, she had wavy, blonde hair, blue eyes, and Orihime's height. I have a picture of a girl resembling her on my profile page, but it doesn't exactly look like her. So if anyone can do that for me, that would be awesome!
If you're wondering why I'm making an AMV/trailer for the story... I'm just bored. If I have a minor writer's block or something, I like to mix and match videos and such so I thought I could work on something when I can't think of anything to write.
Review please! And thanks for reading! :D
