Captain Yamamoto sat looking over his captains as they gave their approval over his decision. Looking down at the dark-haired man kneeling before them, he felt a surge of pride tinged with sorrow. "You may rise, Captain Shuhei Hisagi, accept your captains Haori and join your peers."
The tattooed man rose, standing tall as he accepted the ninth division captains Haori with shaking hands. Bowing slightly to him, captain Yamamoto continued, "Captain Kuchiki I am sending you to the world of the living to assess Nanamiku Tsubachi's progress and to discuss the contents of this letter with her, then you will return to the Seireitei as soon as possible to give me your report. Miss Tsubachi's progress will allow us to finally set the day of our invasion of Hueco Mundo and the assault on Los Noches." Standing, Captain Yamamoto looked at all of his captains, "The day is near for the final battle, prepare yourselves and your squads. Dismissed."
Before leaving Captain Kuchiki came up to him to accept the letter Yamamoto wished for Byakuya to discuss with Nanamiku. Byakuya bowed slightly then turned to leave. Yamamoto felt a little apprehension over having the sixth division captain assess Nanamiku, but he knew Byakuya was the only one capable of talking with her over this matter.
"Hey Ichi, you're getting slow." Nanamiku said as she watched Ichigo sail through the air. Vaulting off a boulder, Ichigo came at her again. Laughing Nanamiku blocked his sweeping blow with Riku.
"Not fair." She gasped as Zangetsu's getsuga tensho began to cover the blade. Pouring her own power into an attack, Nanamiku pushed hard hoping to at least cancel out the blast.
"Remember this was your idea. I just wanted to relax but you wanted to play." Ichigo said laughing as he released the blast. When the dust cloud began to settle, Nanamiku was standing about twenty feet away, one hand on her hip with Riku laying lazily on her shoulder firmly gripped by her other hand. "Well how was I to know you would take this seriously. Geez Ichi can't you ever just have fun."
"Nope." He said launching at her with a smile.
Byakuya arrived at the Urahara shop. Sighing inside, he approached the door. "So it was you they decided to send." Snapping his head in the direction of the voice, Byakuya narrowed his eyes at the smug looking black cat.
"Yoruichi," he said in greeting.
"They are inside the training room, come with me I'll show you the way." Yoruichi said as she jumped form her perch and trotted in her cat body to the door. Stopping she looked up at him. "Do you mind? I cannot open the door."
Then change form, Byakuya growled inside but said nothing as he slide the door open. Yoruichi lead him to the back of the shop, then into the living quarters of Urahara's shop. She stopped inside a sitting room as a large man with glasses sat sipping his tea at the table. "Good evening lady Yoruichi, Captain Byakuya. How may I help you?"
"Open the trap door Tessai. Byakuya needs to access Nanamiku's training." Yoruichi said in her gruff voice.
Tessai looked at Byakuya then stood. "You will want to remove your gigai. We wouldn't want you harmed while in that form."
Byakuya wouldn't admit it but he was grateful he did not have to remain in that body. Sighing in contentment he stepped away from his gigai to the trap door Tessai had opened.
"Be ready for anything once down there. Ichigo and Nanamiku tend to forget anyone is around when they are training." Tessai said in his deadpan voice. Yoruichi gave a very unladylike snort in response. Byakuya just looked at them in question a moment, then jumped into the hole in the floor. He could feel their spiritual pressure now but it still felt far too weak. A light appeared below him, then he felt something strange wash over his body a moment before he was blasted with the combined pressure of Ichigo and Nanamiku. Landing on the ground of the enormous underground chamber he dropped to a knee not expecting the power behind the pressure.
"It can be a little disorientating at first." Looking up Byakuya saw Urahara sitting on a rock waiving his fan before him. Byakuya noticed the man was sweating from the prolonged exposure to the spiritual pressure.
Standing Byakuya walked over to where the man sat. "There is a barrier around the place."
"Yes. There was no other way to protect the city. So they sent you to check on Nanamiku's progress." Urahara said.
"Yes and I must admit she is farther along than I had expected." Byakuya turned in the direction of an impressive column of dust and debris.
"This is nothing. They are just playing rate now." Urahara said as he stood. "Better be on guard, they are coming this direction."
Just then Ichigo was slammed back first into the ground not twenty feet from them. Rolling, he pushed off with his hand a blink of an eyes before Nanamiku landed where he had been. Sinking into the ground from the force of the impact Nanamiku looked up at Ichigo with a wicked smile on her face. Launching into the air she rushed Ichigo swinging Riku with enough force to blast the onlookers with a gust of wind.
"Break time!" Urahara yelled at the two clashing Shinigami. They did not hear and kept at it until Urahara yelled, "Food!"
With that Nanamiku faltered resulting in a direct blow from Ichigo and a final impact with the ground. Lying there she looked at Urahara "Where?"
Urahara laughed as he walked up to her. Ichigo landed beside them. Byakuya was a little startled to notice they were not even breathing hard after that display. Nanamiku's eyes landed on him, rolling onto her knees she bowed. "I apologize Captain Kuchiki I did not realize you were here."
He was still a little speechless as he walked up to the group.
"Hey there Byakuya so what do you think? She has come far." Ichigo said drawing Byakuya's attention, he was about to give him a lecture about being so casual in addressing him when Byakuya noticed he was in Bankai. For the first time in his life his jaw dropped. "She could keep up with you in Bankai?" he said in shock.
Ichigo chuckled as he released his Bankai and rolled his shoulders.
"She sure can." Ichigo said smiling. "She can even take me at my maximum while hollowfied."
Byakuya looked down at the blushing girl as Tessai came up with a heaping tray of food. Nanamiku's stomach let out a loud growl.
"I'm sorry sir." she said a moment before she dove into the tray of food.
Ichigo laughed then said, "her hunger is more insatiable than Renji's. You wont be getting anything from her until she his finished."
"I have been ordered to test her to her fullest ability." Byakuya said looking at Ichigo, wanting to ask for advice but unsure how to do so.
"I suggest using your Bankai from the start. Keep her unbalanced." Ichigo said with a serious look "She and Riku make a formidable pair."
Another first, Byakuya nodded to show he would take the advice to heart.
Byakuya was impressed with what Nanamiku was capable of. He had to use not only the absolute limits of his Bankai but many kinds of Kido to keep her down. She was fast, strong, and almost unstoppable. He felt the corner of his mouth twitch in a smile as he watched Tessai lift Nanamiku to take her unconscious form upstairs. Byakuya had been a little worried when she had just dropped to the ground unconscious when they had ended their battle. Then he had heard a light snoring sound as Ichigo burst into laughter. "I guess her new limit is three days."
It was then that Byakuya had been told she had been training for three days straight against Ichigo's Bankai.
After they had all left Byakuya asked Urahara. "How long will her Bankai last and what kind of range will she have?"
"If my estimates are right. Two hours and all of Hueco Mundo, if she only uses her Bankai. If she had to fight or use any Kido, the time frame will shorten but not her range."
"I see." Byakuya said, impressed with the range. "Two hours should be enough time."
"I hope." Urahara said.
