Bleach Reborn: Shadows Within

(A/N: in reference to the latest chapters of the manga and the revelation of how zanpakuto's are made over time using reishi standard blades that mould and form as spiritual energy is placed into them by the Shinigami over time…..well. someone better pick up that phone I think…BECAUSE I FUCKING CALLED IT BOYS! *does a dance* oh, sorry for the wait. This will get done and continued, just being slightly lazy with it. Hehe)

Chapter 12

Waking up always seemed to be an interesting experience for me. I always seemed to be finding myself in a new place or staring up at a strange person. This time it was both.

A bright light burst past my eyelids before everything came into focus. The ceiling above was beamed with a deep wood with slight red tinges, and there was the scent of incense from above. I sat up and winced due to a stabbing pain in my side where I was bandaged. I finally got to grips with where I was, not because I'd been here before, but because the nearby sign that openly said '4th Division Intensive Care Unit' kinda gave it away.

As though sensing my rise a member of the fourth division entered my room to look over me. He didn't speak as he worked, unbinding my wraps and ignoring any complaints I made about dignity, he ignored my semi-nudity and saw to the large bruise on my side that was rather painful.

He seemed to sigh. "Your healing well, how do you feel?"

I hesitated before answering. "I'm fine…can I have my clothes back?" He looked at me with an annoyed expression, went to a set of drawers and pulled them out, washed and folded, shoved them in front of me and walked out as though I'd offended him.

I sighed and just began dressing, finally pulling on some form of dignity before I exited the room and looked for the exit. I was stopped by a presence behind me. An audible groan emanated from my mouth before an unbreakable grip took hold of my shoulder and spun me round. Nicholas Darkfury, the 4th Division Captain stared down at me.

"Your Captain wishes to speak with you." He said firmly.

I sighed before hesitating. "Can I see Aroki first?"

"He's not here; he's at the 12th Division. But you must go see your Captain first." He demanded and all but marched me out of the door.

I would have fought if I had of thought I stood a chance.

The view of my Division house somehow seemed daunting now I was approaching it with trouble over my head. The door opened roughly and for the first time I saw my Taicho standing there with a look upon his face that was neither happy, smiling or in any way amused at something. The fact that he was sober was also a factor that made me very concerned.

"I'll take it from here." His voice was stern as he spoke, his eyes never leaving mine with a gaze that was so intense it made me turn away.

Darkfury-Taicho left after that and I walked into the Division house under the stern gaze of my captain.

I found myself standing before the entire Division, everyone's eyes on me.

"You disobeyed orders, you broke protocol, and you fabricated orders, and caused huge structural damage in the world of the living." He said, his gaze never wavering. "I have been ordered to discipline you severely, and I shall."

I hung my head, staring at the ground, fully prepared to take any punishment. I deserved it, I mean…yeah, I just saved someone but doesn't change that I did wrong to do it. So I stood in silence.

"You will clean the Division house from top to bottom, and will be commencing heavy Zanpakuto training with me starting this week. I expect my new Third seat to catch up to her title and do it justice."

My heart halted and my head snapped up. There was a smug smile on his face. "I…I don't get it…"

He chuckled. "You faced down a Bount, one of the most difficult being's to face due to their very natures. And despite breaking so many rules, in doing so you saved the life of a fellow Shinigami, at the expense of your own health. You have shown creativity, and great strength. As well as the will to drive forward when you have something you believe in. I need that. So you're promoted to Third seat, but you still have your punishment to do. Now I expect you not to make me regret this…HEY!" He yelped as my arms found his waist as I hugged him, pressing close. "Thank you, Captain…"

He smiled and gave my head a pat before pulling away. "You start training tomorrow, so get cleaning."

The next few months passed by in a blur. I was dragged into training like a machine, to the point where I would find myself almost passing out after the training sessions. But each time I lasted longer, could go stronger, and faster. Each time it felt like I was gaining something, closer to something and the more I fought, the more my blade…seemed to purr. Like something inside loved the fight, but it purred the most, and almost vibrated in desire when I would get hurt, like it enjoyed its Masters pain.

The weird part was…I think I did too.

Not to say I was feeling masochistic, but every stretch of pain I felt…it felt like I was achieving something.

I understood what was happening and why I was being pushed. I was a third seat now, and such a high level officer should at least have attained Shikai, the second and evolved form of a Zanpakuto. The embodiment of its power.

This was a state I desperately wanted to attain, I however wasn't aware that it was also desired greatly by my own superiors.

The day that it finally happened was a day that my entire understanding of even my own nature changed. A Zanpakuto represents the core of its Master, emotions, personality; the core of a person entirely dictates the power it wields when it forms. Through this it is possible to see the kind of person a Shinigami is based on the form their blade can take. It could even be said we do not even know our own selves until we see such power.

I wasn't prepared for what I saw, and I'm not sure anyone else was either.

The sun rose on this day to a sky that was streaked with black heavy clouds that gave a foreboding of rain. I woke up, washed myself and got dressed in my hakama. Stepping outside sent a chill down my spine when I realised how cold it was. But despite that I saw my Taicho; he was topless showing a body ripped with muscle and scars. He grinned, holding his zanpakuto ready.

I swallowed and approached, drawing my zanpakuto, its black blade glinting in the dull light. The first few drops of rain fell then and I wasn't pleased that more than a few landed down my collar and onto my back causing me to shiver.

Before I could do anything about my shivering, my captain was suddenly in front of me. My eyes widened as his blade slashed down with force that made me panic. My blade flashed out, stopping his a little too late, my cheek slicing open. I hadn't seen him go so serious before. I jumped back but suddenly he was behind me, a kick sent me sprawling to the ground. "W-wait!" I protested, but sadly in vain, the tip of his blade lashed out and I screamed, feeling it imbed in my shoulder. Under the pain…something seemed to whisper.

In that moment I reacted without thinking, my hand gripped his blade, yanked it out and imbedded it into the ground to overbalance my taicho, I spun, my blade slashing out for his stomach only to meet air. He was several meters away…and smiling.

I fell to one knee, clutching my shoulder gasping. He hadn't hit any organs, but I was beginning to feel the blood loss. Still my blade had started humming, I began to feel the vibrations deep within my core, and I felt as everything began to get clearer. And the more the pain throbbed, the more there seemed to be a whisper.

I attacked.

This was going to be a long fight.

Chapter fin.