The eight Gaians who were soon to become Substitute Soul Reapers themselves had finally adjusted to the Spirit Energy of Soul Society, enough that the Soul Reapers with them didn't have to try so hard to suppress their powers, though they still needed to suppress it some for the Gaians who were not becoming Soul Reapers.
When the initial surprise of the change was over, Cloud had noticed their weapons were gone. Retsu, one of the Captains who had come to watch the process, gave a possible solution by saying that they were weapons of their mortal bodies, and so their still hidden zanpaktou spirits had either cast them out or absorbed them, since they would no doubt be similar in their released state. Once their names were learned, anyway.
"So how do we find these 'inner spirits'?" Yuffie asked, stretching herself out now that it didn't hurt anymore.
"Well, I would love to explain," Retsu sighed, "but since you gained these powers in a different way than anyone, even Kurosaki, I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that."
"How am I to gain a blade when I can't use one?" Red questioned.
"Urahara must have something in mind for you or he wouldn't have singled you out with the others." Sajin replied this time. Over the few hours that Kisuke had been gone, the two wolf-like beings had shown signs of a good future friendship.
"I'm interested in how that man intends to help them find their zanpaktou spirits." Mayuri came up to them rather suddenly, making them jump and Kadaj even backed away a few steps.
"I'm sure he has everything planned out and that everyone will be fine." Retsu replied with a small smile. Not being on the receiving end, the Gaians didn't feel the oppressing aura behind her smile that caused Mayuri to frown and walk away.
Of the three Visored Captains only Shinji came to watch. His interest was on Kadaj, the one with the darkest feeling Spiritual Pressure. Of the eight Gaians, Kadaj seemed to be the only one with powers close to a Hollow, making him frown. Shelke had some dark feeling to her power, but not enough to warrant any concern, only Kadaj. After thinking about it a moment, he guessed it was because Kadaj was a Remnant, therefore a reincarnation of Sephiroth, an evil man. As for Shelke, he assumed the dark feeling came from whatever was left from her induction into the Tsviets.
Pushing that aside, Shinji focused on one thing. He needed to keep an eye on Kadaj to see if he developed an Inner Hollow during Kisuke's training. He'd already been warned that Vincent would definitely have one, possibly three, so he wasn't all that surprised to find another possible Visored among Gaian ranks.
There was a swish of wind and Kisuke had returned. He was alone.
"Where's Vincent?" Tifa questioned after confirming that the man in red was not anywhere in sight.
"His training will continue with Toshiro and Ichigo for now." Kisuke said evasively. "After all, I have more than one student this time. It looks like you have all adjusted."
"Yeah, now let's get on with this." Barrett snapped, waving his silver arm threateningly. Only he knew that at the moment it didn't work, probably for the same reason Cloud and the others were missing their weapons.
"My my, so impatient." Kisuke pretend pouted. "But I suppose we should get on with it. Do you all know the basics of what a zanpaktou is?"
"Captain Hitsugaya said it was an extension of a Soul Reaper's power with a spirit of its own." Cloud answered for them, as not all of them knew.
"Correct!" Kisuke surprised the swordsman by patting him on the head before quickly backing away when Cloud attempted to push him back. "And did he tell you how a Soul Reaper learns the name of their zanpaktou?"
"I thought you just knew it." Yuffie replied with a confused expression, glaring when some of the watching Soul Reapers snickered.
"Oh no, not true at all." Kisuke snapped his fan shut and wagged it at her like one would wag a finger at a bad child, making Yuffie stomp her foot childishly. "It takes trust between Soul Reaper and zanpaktou as well as communication. Since you've only just had your energy changed for Spiritual Pressure, the zanpaktou spirits inside have only just awakened and you won't be able to hear them. They won't trust you as their master at all. So! The first thing you need to do is try to establish communication with them!"
The Gaians thought that was simple enough, since they had seen some Soul Reaper or another meditate to speak to their zanpaktou. It was when Kisuke's expression turned dark that they knew it wouldn't be so easy.
"But, as I learned when using this method on young Karin Kurosaki, they don't easily respond if you're perfectly fine and have no need of them. It's best if they have a reason to speak with you."
"What are you getting at?" Kadaj scowled.
"Well, since there are so many Soul Reapers nearby, why don't you pick an opponent!?" Kisuke gestured to the gathered Soul Reapers dramatically. They also seemed stunned but recovered quickly, understanding what the man was getting at more than the Gaians did. "Better yet, to make it challenging, how about we let the Soul Reapers choose one of you as their opponent?"
The first to respond was none other than Byakuya, who Flash Stepped to stand in front of Cloud, startling him. For one of the two to vote against having them become Soul Reapers, Cloud thought he seemed rather eager to test them. The next two immediately partnered was Kadaj with Shinji and Yuffie with Soi Fon, Red with Sajin partnering soon after. Rangiku went to join Tifa, the girls seeming more willing to talk it off rather than fight and Rukia, ignoring them, went to join Shelke, bowing in greeting to the Ex-Tsviet.
Cid and Barrett almost thought they had been ignored until two new faces came towards them. One was well-built with tanned skin and a bald head, red coloring around his thin black eyes. His uniform had the sleeves cut off with a gold shoulder guard on his right shoulder with a Japanese symbol on it.
"Ikkaku Madarame, Third Seat of Zaraki's Squad." The bald man grinned wickedly, his zanpaktou resting over his shoulders, and stood in front of Cid.
The second man was as different from Ikkaku as the sun was the moon. He was overweight and looked rather unwilling to be there, yet interested all the same. Black hair that receded from his forehead and pointed up slightly crawled around his head and had small sideburns. There was a purple mantle of some sort around the collar of his uniform. There were multiple rings on his fingers.
"Marechiyo Omaeda, Lieutenant of Squad Two." He introduced himself to Barrett. The black man had not expected this fat Soul Reaper to be a Lieutenant, and definitely not part of Soi Fon's squad.
"It seems you all have opponents now." Kisuke caught their attention, waving his fan for good measure to make sure they were all paying attention. "So, you'll obviously need your zanpaktou to fight these lovely gentlemen and ladies squarely. When your zanpaktou senses you are in danger they will attempt to call out to you. Listen for them and establish communication to learn their name. Oh, and don't get killed!"
That said, Kisuke joined the other Soul Reapers at the edge of the arena with Flash Step. Just in time, too, as all but Marechiyo and Rangiku drew their blades immediately, their Gaian opponents backing away to dodge first strikes and spreading themselves out. While the Gaians could tell that the Soul Reapers were holding back, especially since they had witnessed the power of a Captain themselves when Toshiro fought Omega, but even at this level they felt the threat of death at every stroke.
Shelke had managed to at least keep her quick reflexes, but her magic was gone which meant she couldn't create a shield. Not to mention her unique skill, data hacking and the like, was useless in a situation that called for swords. Rukia, who had smiled so warmly when greeting the Ex-Tsviet, was now a mask of no emotion. The blade in her hands sang through the wind as it passed mere inches from her skin.
'Are you going to run all day?' A bored and monotonous voice sighed. 'Though you're probably better off than the others.'
'You…are you my zanpaktou?'
'Depends, doesn't it? Can you figure me out?'
Shelke scowled and rolled to the side as Rukia came by for another strike.
'Are you going to help me?'
'Not much in it for me, is there?' The female spirit spoke in such a monotone voice, but by the way she sighed it was obvious she was bored.
'Or me!' A second female voice, much more emotional than the first, cried out loudly.
'I have…two?' Shelke dodged to the side when Rukia swung down and kicked out, surprising the petite Lieutenant. Grunting, Rukia backed away before shooting the Byakurai spell at her.
'Two spirits, one name.' The bored spirit replied. 'Can you hear it?'
Shelke heard the louder one cry out something twice, but it came out too muffled for her to understand.
'I can't hear it yet. What do I have to do?'
Shelke sensed the bored spirit perk up at this, as if she hadn't expected the woman to say that. Stoically excited, the spirit began to explain.
'Remember what you're fighting for now. What you promised yourself when you followed Vincent and left the Tsviets to live with your sister.'
Shelke was beginning to tire but still managed to dodge Rukia's strike. The young woman noticed that her opponent's blade was changing shape.
"Dance, Sode No Shirayuki!" She called out, spinning the blade in a half circle in front of her. The air turned cold, but more like the soft cold of snow than the bitter ice felt when Toshiro released Hyorinmaru, and the blade began to turn white, shortening a bit. A white ribbon extended out from the end of the hilt and a bell-like sound played in the air.
'Come on! Don't let this midget one up us!' The louder spirit called out. 'Say our name, our name!'
'Remember my promise…I promised to protect others, just like Cloud and Vincent do. I promised to stay with my family.'
'And you can't do that if you can't fight.' The bored one said, encouraging her. 'Show them what you can really do when you have something to fight for!'
Shelke paused in her run, holding her hands out in front of her and crossed over. Catching on, Rukia paused a few feet away, watching. The spectators watched in awe, as Shelke seemed to be the first one.
"Dive, Corumaica!" The petite woman shouted out, a thin orange aura beginning to seep off of her as her Spiritual Pressure rose.
The two zanpaktou spirits inside gladly obliged and a form began to take shape in her waiting hands. When the orange glow of her Spiritual Pressure faded and the wind settled, Shelke saw that she held a blade in each hand. The right was a blade as long as her arm and glowing bright orange with heat, the hilt in her hand black clothed with a spherical guard that had orange energy swirling inside. A long cord extended from the hilt's end and to the blade in her left hand, which was shorter than the other with the same hilt but did not glow. Instead the blade was black and had a neon orange line running down the middle.
'Well? The best way to learn our power is to fight!' Shouted the spirit of the shorter black blade excitedly.
'I'm…I'm so tired…' Shelke fell to her knees and Rukia rushed over, blade returned to normal and sheathed.
"That's enough for today, you already learned your zanpaktou's name." The petite Soul Reaper smiled. "Let's get out of here before one of the others crushes us."
Supporting the young woman Rukia quickly Flash Stepped away. Kisuke nodded to the Lieutenant in approval, since Shelke had finished the lesson, and returned to the others. By the looks of it, Cloud and Kadaj were on the verge of releasing their zanpaktou as well. The others were getting tired but showed no signs of giving up.
It was only a matter of time. If they could all find their zanpaktou spirits within the three days that Vincent also had in the Shattered Shaft to find his, then they would be at a good pace. Bankai could come later, they needed a way to fight when the time came for it. That was most important now.
He frowned as Yuffie fell under Soi Fon's harsh attacks, unable to continue. Sighing, the assassin took the now unconscious ninja out of the arena. Perhaps it wouldn't be that easy.
So Shelke is the first to get her zanpaktou! Miss smarty pants would of course be first, in my opinion anyway. And yeah, the names are elvish. Corumaica stands for Cunning Blade. For future reference, the bored one will be called Coru(Cunning) and the loud one will be called Maica(Blade). Shelke splits the name since there's two of them, hehe. Enjoy!
