Chapter 14
AN: What's up my readers? I'm back and updating one of the two chapters like I said I would try to do. Since most of this chapter is random stuff I wanted to get through, it really doesn't have a title but next will be a minor filler with some important points. So this your warning don't get too excited about the next chapter just yet but the chapter after will wrap up this part of the story for now. Like I always say: Read, Review and Enjoy!
"My answer is yes," those were the first words Fernando had said to Tatsuki. Those were the also only words he said to her during their morning meal as he knew that the tomboy did not want her best friend to know.
"Where'd that woman go? The one that was here yesterday?" Tatsuki asked but the others in the room were both too busy stuffing their mouths to answer her.
As the two girls left for school, Fernando waited awhile before leaving; a caution that he would usually take to insure that he would not be spotted by Tatsuki. In the meantime, he pondered about two things, the first being the whereabouts of his fellow Elemental and secondly, how to help with Orihime's boy problem. Though the first was perhaps easy to resolve as he had told about seeing Urahara for training and so he may know where she had gone to.
But the second was going to be harder to deal with, 'Ok, so what do we have to work? A guy probably too thick-headed or oblivious to see a ten in front of him. A girl who is too innocent to realize what kind of body she has and she can use it. This isn't going to be as hard as I thought hopefully, all we have to do is show her how to use those weapons of mass distraction of hers but that's not the only thing she's got going for her. She has a very beautiful face and hair and a personality to match. With all that it really shouldn't take much for her to win him over.' He nodded to himself contently, and then gave a grin, 'You really are one lucky bastard Ichigo. You better appreciate her.'
'We still don't understand why you just don't take her? If only for a single night,' the voice returned once again.
'Look if I ever get in relationship with someone, I want to be in it for the long haul. I don't believe in one night stands. First off, I'm on the run with no guarantee that I'll come back, whether because I can't find my way back or because I won't make it through this. I can't just leave her here with that thought if I did somehow manage to make her fall for me. Second, I don't want to make her fall for me, if she does fall for me it is because she did it on her own. I not act differently and make her fall in love with a person that isn't me, I don't want her love unless it's for me and who I am,' the young Elemental thought.
'Not the usual kind of teen, are you kid?' the voice asked.
'Isn't that one of the reasons you chose me?' he grinned to himself again as he left out the window in the room.
A few hours...
Arriving at the small shop, he saw Jinta talking to himself about an imaginary baseball game where there were two outs, base loaded, bottom of the ninth and he was up at bat with all the hopes of winning the game resting in him hitting a homerun. Right before he swung his giant
"Hey, where's Urahara?" he said while the red-headed boy pick himself up with a vein bulging from his head.
"What's the matter with you?" he yelled then recomposed himself. "Well I guess I shouldn't too mad you. Thanks to you mentioning that woman to Urahara, she's done all of my work. I don't even have to trick Ururu into doing it for me."
"Ok, that still doesn't answer my question," he told the smiling child.
"Where do you think?" Jinta answered very rudely, the usual way he addressed Fernando. "Underground, training that woman."
Making his way down the long ladders, Fernando was actually able to hear Urahara giving commands in unordinary stern voice, "Again!" Then followed a feminine grunt, "Again!"
Another grunt followed, "Again!" And yet another grunt but this time a thud and coarse gasping followed. "Better but you still can't guide it very well. If you learn to guide it then you're attack will much more dangerous and useful. It already has the power you just need to the control over it. It is an attack you'll need if you want to survive because though very fast, there's not much power in those arms of yours."
"Now I… know… why you… were… so tired," Fuu said between gasps as Fernando approached.
"Looks like this one doesn't have as much stamina as you, huh? She's already tired out," the blond shopkeeper said as stared at the gasping girl lying on the floor. "Are you ready to start again?"
"Well, I was actually hoping to learn about the opening 'Doors' from her," the young student said, also staring at the exhausted woman on the floor. "But looks like she's out of it."
"It… isn't… gon…gonna… take… that long… to… teach… you," Fuu paused, trying to control her breathing. "Maybe… a day… or two."
"So that means it's up to you to decide when you will leave," Urahara said to his young apprentice. "You can learn then leave the next day."
"I'm guessing maybe a week longer here," Fernando said, thinking hard, trying to estimate the amount of energy he leaves the longer he stays. "Maybe two but that might be pushing it."
"Do you think that'll give you all the time you need to finish things here?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Hopefully, there are just a few more loose ends here and a couple of good-bye's," the teenage boy responded.
"Do you think you can return?" Urahara asked.
"Why? Do you need me back?" Fernando asked his master.
"If things don't go as planned, I may need you back," Urahara said quietly. "By then, I'm sure that you'll have had more training and experience. You'll be my insurance."
"If you want me to help you, then you'll have to tell me with what. I can't just blindly volunteer on something," his student responded, knowing that his master a plan that was at risk of being ruined.
"Hmm…" Urahara paused to consider telling him. A long silence followed with Urahara to his back to his student. It almost seemed as if time stopped with no movement happening between the three people in the room. Finally, it seemed that the shopkeeper had decide, "Fine, I'll tell you but you must come back within about a couple of weeks from now."
"That's manageable," the young man said.
"That all depends," Fuu finally managed to catch her breath. "Time flows differently in all the different worlds and dimensions."
Both males stayed quiet, creating an awkward silence that Fuu finally detected. "Oh, ok. I get it…" the woman left, fading away from sight.
"You see Rukia, the shinigami from the Soul Society, is also on the run and she asked for a Reiatsu Concealing Gigai, like my own," Urahara was stopped by his student.
"Wait, what's a Gigai?" Fernando asked.
"An artificial body made to host a soul. I didn't not give her exactly what she asked for instead I gave her a Gigai that would slowly turn her human, eliminating her Reiatsu completely. She is still undetectable but I gave her this Gigai to hide something much more danger within it, the Hōgyoku. Something that have been trying to destroy since I have created it," Urahara paused once again.
"She doesn't know this, does she? Who exactly is chasing her?" Fernando asked him.
"No, she doesn't. I was hoping that it could work but since our little incident with the Hollows appearing all over Karakura, the Soul Society seems to taking a look into this small town. With an eye on here, it will only be a matter of time before they find her and the process of her bonding with the Gigai is not nearly complete. She has committed a crime against the Soul Society and they will send agents to come retrieve her and I can't let myself get directly involved. No one here is strong enough to stop anyone of a seated rank other than myself and Tessai. They will succeed in getting her to their detainment center to await execution but with her making friends with that Ichigo and I can predict that he'll want to save her but he will first have to train, which I'll gladly help in," Urahara said, hiding a smile with a fan he apparently pulled from nowhere.
"You are one sadistic man, Urahara. You're going to put that poor kid through hell like us. He really doesn't know what he's in for," his current trainee commented.
"What can I say? I love helping people," Urahara said, still hiding behind his fan.
"And I'm your trump card for this little rescue, huh? You're expecting me to risk my life to save a girl I barely know because of something you've done wrong?" Fernando asked angrily, leaving Urahara with a bit of shame on his face. He quickly changed his tone, "Of course, I'll do it. You're my master; I have to do what you ask. 'What can I say? I love helping people.'"
"So you will help me?" Urahara asked him in disbelief that someone would trust a person who committed such deceitful acts to cover up a mistake he made.
"I've made a lot worse mistakes, if I can help someone out with theirs then I will," Fernando said to his master. "I have my own reasons for helping out as well. Orihime with her new found powers will be training even harder to help her crush to save Rukia and I've made a promise to keep her safe which I will be keeping. She won't abandon her friends either, which Rukia has been slowly becoming one for her. But I have other reasons too."
"I'm pretty sure I can guess at one of them," Urahara stated with a perverted smile coming across his face. "Ah! How great it is to be young and in love?"
"Shut up!" his young apprentice said a blush coming over his face, though it was unknown from what it was, of anger or embarrassment.
"It is perfectly natural for kids your age," he said with the same smile on his face. He quickly changed to a much more serious tone, "What is it that you have done that is so unforgivable that you can't forget? You seem to always have it in the back of your mind that you aren't worth as much as others."
"Do you really want to know? Would you treat me the same way if I told you? Would you trust me if I told you the truth of who I was?" the silvered-boy asked his master.
"You haven't done anything that I have never seen already," Urahara simply responded.
"All right then since you did tell me your secret, it's only fair…" Fernando said as he began tale from his earliest memory.
A prologue, long interesting story with intriguing twists and epilogue later...
"You did seem to be a lot more mature for your age than most," Urahara after hearing the origins of his student. "I had my theories about how you got to be the way you are."
His master not being too moved by his story, Fernando could not help but ask the age old question that plagues philosophers, "Why? Why aren't you surprised?"
"Back when I was part of the Gotei 13, I was also part of a kind of joint organization called Onmitsukidō. Our jobs included many things, from assassination to abduction to reconnaissance. Like I said, you haven't done anything that I haven't already seen. And I trust that both can keep quiet about each other's secret," Urahara said calmly. "Now we've wasted too much time already, let's begin your training before the day's out."
"Yeah, of course," his young student smiled, finally having nothing hidden from at least his teacher.
Urahara lingered in his spot a bit longer, talking to himself in a hushed voice and an evil smile across his face, "Too bad for him, I know a couple of secrets of his and he only knows one of mine. I never said which I would keep. Maybe I should tell Yoruichi about one, she's training Orihime right now."
"I heard that Urahara," Fernando said, surprising Urahara. "You do that and I'll tell Yoruichi about the pictures of her!"
"Has his hearing gotten better?" Urahara wondered as he never thought he would have heard from such a distance in a low voice. "Wait, how did he know about those?"
Once again, the same scene after each training session with Urahara, Fernando found himself on his hands and knees, sweating and panting for air.
"It seems you've a small boost to you strength and speed since the last time," Urahara commented, though it seemed that it still did not matter as he was not in the least bit winded after their sparring.
"Yup! It happens whenever one of us kills, well in his case, beats a new Elemental! Since he did technically beat me, it happened!" Fuu returned with a big smile on her face, once again appearing out of thin air.
"Why… are you… so happy?" the younger Elemental asked.
"I just ate lunch," Fuu said, patting her unnoticeably bloated stomach.
"You're going have to work that off," Urahara said. "Two days of sweeping the shop."
"Wait… what?" Fuu asked.
"That is why I don't stay here," Fernando said, catching his breath. "He makes you pay for everything you eat."
"I'm just a business man," Urahara said, hiding his face yet again with the mysteriously appearing fan. "Also, there are some questions I need answered."
"No! I'm not answering unless you drop the charges!" a pouting Fuu yelled, turning her back to the blond shopkeeper.
"I'll lower it to one day of sweeping," Urahara bargained with her.
"Deal! What are they?" Fuu asked.
"First of all, these 'Doors' you are talking about, what do they look like? Can non-Elementals travel through them?" the shopkeeper asked.
"As far as I know normal people would probably die if they tried going through them. And as for how it looks like, it's would be better if I showed you," the floating woman answered before closing her eyes and concentrating. "HO!" and with that she swung her right hand and opened a rectangular portal floating alongside with her. It was almost like a vortex of a purplish-bluish black tint. "There you go! Ta-da!"
"That wasn't how Tony opened it," Fernando commented, though the swirling vortex seemed vaguely familiar.
"How long will it stay there?" Urahara asked.
"You know what? I actually don't know," Fuu said as she rubbed her chin. "Probably 'til I go in I guess."
"Well, at least it will give me time to examine it," Urahara as he jumped up into the air and just stood there.
"Just don't touch it," Fuu warned him. "Like I said, it'll probably kill you."
"Last two questions, why was it so hard for his soul to escape his body? And why does his Zanpakutō come to him and why does it have a physical form? All Zanpakutō are spiritual weapon and don't have a physical form yet his does," Urahara questioned Fuu as he examined the recently opened portal.
"Well, the first question is easy. You see Elementals aren't supposed to be separated from their bodies 'cause while in our bodies, we regenerate injuries and energy a lot quicker. So when we're injured or running out of steam, it gets harder to knock us out of our body. And considering it was his first transferring dimensions, he must have been running low on energy," Fuu explained. "The first few times traveling through the 'Doors' really takes it right out of you. It gets easier the more you do it. As for the second, our weapon is bound to us and so it's always with us, we just got to reach for it. Since we do spend most of our time in our bodies, we need our weapon to defend ourselves and so if the weapon we chose only has a certain form then our Element creates the other forms for us. Pretty cool and useful, if you ask me."
"You Elementals are very… unique," Urahara finally said, struggling to find a word to do them justice. Floating around the portal, Urahara continued carefully every detail of the portal, taking mental notes.
With that both Elementals took their leave, both headed outside where a nice, cool breeze blew in the shop. "Nice, huh? There are other little things that Elementals get," the female Elemental said.
"What are you talking about?" the teen boy asked.
"The breeze, don't you feel it?" the woman smiled.
"You can't expect me to believe you get your own breeze?" the teen asked her.
"Yeah, once in awhile," she answered. "Yeah, just like the shadows follow you as you walk past them."
"What?" the silvered-eyed Elemental asked very confused.
"Look," she said, pointing behind him. "Your shadow is even darker than all the other ones."
Looking at the shades on the ground, Fernando quickly saw that all the shadows of the nearby buildings seem to be stretching towards him, attaching themselves to his own shadow. As he walked, some of the shadows went back to their regular places while others began stretching towards him. As Fuu had also pointed out, he also noticed his shadow was a few shades darker than the ones attaching themselves to it, very strange but interesting side effects to being the Elemental of Darkness indeed.
"Aren't a bit nervous about me being the Dark Elemental?" he asked the woman. "Don't you think that I could turn on you any moment? Don't you think I'm evil?"
"Well, Elementals decide how to use their powers. Humans are very closed-minded when it comes to the different Elements but it all depends on how the Elementals use their powers," the woman as she floated a few inches off the floor as to not draw attention to herself. "That's what makes an Elemental good or bad. Then again, Elementals have to listen to their Element so maybe some of the Elements are more evil than others. Do you think you're supposed evil? I mean I know representing the dark is thought to be bad by humans but... I would get why you still think like them."
"Why do you talk about people like so much different than us? They really aren't," Fernando answered her. "We're a lot alike still and we were humans after all. Though I was never that close-minded to think things or people are determined by their past, I wouldn't have to made it this far if I was. To have to take in so much in so little time, I mean it is really hard but I've learned to adjust pretty quickly to the different situation. That still doesn't make it easy, to learn that I'm not human, that I'm being hunted, that my mother is most likely dead. With all the unknowns on top of that, not knowing whether Tony is ok, whether I'll survive through this, whether I'll ever make it back home, whether, after I leave, I will ever see... never mind. Point is it's becoming a bit overwhelming for me."
"You mean that girl you're living with right now, don't you?" Fuu said, knowing all too well the answer.
"Yes, I do," the teen answered her, ashamed to admit his affections towards his host.
"I learned that a long time ago to not get too close to people," the woman said. "It just hurts that much more when you say good-bye."
"That's where you're wrong because it is a hell of a lot better than being lonely all your life," the teen said. "Even just the hope of seeing them again is good enough."
"How?" the woman asked.
"Sometimes hoping for something better is the only thing drives you on to the next day," the young Elemental said. "To tell the truth, that's the only keeping me from sinking into depression."
"Why would you get depressed for?" the Wind Elemental asked intrigued.
"I lost my mother, my brother, my home, my entire life in a single day. How would you feel?" the silvered-eyed boy asked angrily back, walking quickly away.
"I do know how it feels," the woman left alone said to herself.
A short walk later...
"Are you ready?" Fernando asked his host, looking at her as she finished her dinner. With a nod from her, he led her out onto the roof where they we're mostly out of sight. "The first thing you will learn from me is my defensive abilities, and then it's on to counterattacks, and finally the offensive. First from the defensive is dodging, you are going to learn how to dodge exactly like me."
"Like you?" Orihime asked in disbelief. From what she had seen from him, his dodging ability seemed inhuman.
"Yes, just as fast and just the way I do. Dodging is the best defense someone can have because if done correctly, you will take no damage from your enemies' attacks, no matter how strong," the teen boy stated.
"Why are you teaching offensive last?" Orihime asked curiously. "Tatsuki always taught me that Karate focuses a lot more on offensive."
"That is why I can beat her easily. I know in total six martial arts combining each ones' strengths to create my own style of fighting," he answered. "Many people who learn Karate focus on offensive ability, the art itself doesn't prefer one over the other, and forget the counterattacks and defensive capabilities it offers. Making it easy to counter most of these people, that is one reason I teach this first. The second reason is the fact that martial arts are for self-defense purposes. A wise man or, in this case, woman doesn't look for a fight. Instead, most fights can be escaped or prevented. Save your energy for fight that are necessary. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should."
"But didn't you say that you like to fight?" Orihime asked confused over his almost contradicting statements.
"Yes but I don't go out looking for fights," Fernando answered. "Risking your health unnecessarily is an idiot's move. Stand back and observe the situation before resorting to attacking your opponent."
"Which kind of martial arts do you know?" Orihime asked, intrigued in how he, being so young, mastered so many martial arts.
"We've wasted enough time so I won't go into specifics," Fernando's voice grew sterner. "First off there's Karate, then Aikido, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kune Do and Krav Maga."
"Are you going to teach me all of those?" the auburn-haired girl asked.
"No," he shook his head. "I didn't say that I am going to teach you how to fight like me. You are going to learn my hybrid style of fighting. It combines elements from each not all at the same time but as a whole."
"So, what are we going to do first?" Orihime asked.
"The basic are first but since we're limited on our time, I'm going have to speed train," he told his student. "Focus, flexibility and other mental aspects. To begin, never predict a fight's outcome; keep in mind that anything can happen between the beginning of the fight and the end. Mentally fortify yourself, don't let your enemy get in your head. Make sure to take into account your surroundings, use them to your advantage or at least make it so that your enemy doesn't use it against you. Anything could happen during a fight, you always have a chance of winning remember that but at the same time your enemy always has a chance to win as well, never underestimate them. If they realize you underestimated them, they will catch you off guard."
Orihime just nodded, trying to take in everything as he said it.
"How much has Tatsuki taught you?" her teacher asked.
"Well..." was the only word Orihime was able get out before her instructor stopped a punch just as the back of his hand touched her nose. But just as quickly, he swept her off her feet and proceeded to catch her with both hands in the same movement. The teen girl looked with wide brown eyes of amazement at the brilliant speed and agility.
"I thought she would have taught you to keep your guard up at all time during training," Fernando said, looking back into her eyes without the usual awkwardness he would fell for being so close to her. "Never let your guard down during a fight, no matter what. Focus is one of the most important aspects of fighting; keeping your mind from wandering helps every other aspect that is why you must practice your dodging and blocking until you never have to think about it."
"How long will that take?" Orihime asked.
"Less than three weeks but because of limited time we'll have to do it in less than one," Fernando answered her. "We'll start with stretching exercises, then we'll begin the dodging training and the best way to learn is through experience. It is important to do these stretching exercises because when dodging, it's best to be limber because your movements must be fluid so that they flow into each other. Forcing a non-coherent movement can be very bad as has a higher chance of failure and leaves you open during the transition."
Orihime nodded, reading herself into a Karate stance.
"Let's begin..."
An hour later...
"Get up!" Fernando said sternly, staring at a winded Orihime on all fours. "We're not done Orihime."
"I-I-I can't..." Orihime said, forcing the words to come out of her mouth.
Remember her soft nature, Fernando calmed his voice. As he helped her back onto her feet, he spoke, "Come over here..." He sat at the edge of the roof where she soon joined him. Unsheathing his blade, he held it up to the moonlight causing it shine brightly. Then slowly, he brought the sharp edge against his right palm, rending his flesh apart and making way for the crimson liquid to seep out.
"You see this, Orihime?" Fernando held his hand in front of her.
"Yes but..." Orihime was quickly hushed.
"Alright," he said as he gestured for her hand. "You trust me completely, don't you?"
"Yes but..." Orihime repeating the same answer but now more nervous about the situation.
"Ok," her teacher grabbed her hand and gently slid the blade edge against her own palm. Both people's blood ran down their arms and dripped onto the roof as he continued to speak, "Now, do you see a difference in our blood?"
"No..." Orihime said, staring at each palm as Fernando neared his to hers.
"What makes us so different that I can do this and you can't?" he asked her. "Nothing does. The only limit on you is the one you put on yourself. When you say you can't do it then you won't. There are only two types of people during training, those who strive to reach their full potential and those who don't. Which are you, the first or the latter?"
"But you're not..." Orihime was not allowed to finish her sentence.
"Not human... not true. I am still human, I still feel all the feeling you do, I still breathe, still eat, and I can still die," Fernando said. "Now answer me, are you the first or the latter?"
"I..." Orihime hesitated.
"Don't think! Just answer!" Fernando yelled, following it with a swift kick.
"I'm the first!" Orihime yelled, dodging rapidly causing a grin to appear on Fernando's face but to his surprise, it did not end there. She launched a punch of her own to his face which threw him off the roof. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"Ha-ha-ha!" her instructor laughed as he leapt back onto the roof. "So perfect! That's great Orihime!"
"But aren't you hurt?" Orihime asked ashamed that she caused him harm.
"That doesn't matter," Fernando said. "I'm sorry I had to put you through that. I hope that you'll forgive me. But that shows so much potential in you, Orihime."
"I have a lot of potential?" Orihime asked.
"Of course," her teacher answered her. "And I'm going to help you bring it out, like I promised. But I will warn you that the training will only get tougher as we go, I won't be pulling anymore punches. You ask for my training and you will receive it without any special treatment. Your opponent will not treat you kindly but you know that after your fight with that Hollow, don't you?"
"Are we going to continue?" Orihime asked.
"Yes, by the time we're done with today, you will be able to keep up with my full speed," Fernando told her. "Are you ready to continue?"
Orihime nodded as she once again readied herself for his oncoming attack.
Not much later...
A familiar scene showed itself as Orihime was on the ground on all fours, panting heavily, sweat covering her face. Walking towards her, Fernando was about to help her back onto her feet but she began lifting herself off the floor.
"I can still continue, please not yet," Orihime pleaded, getting into her stance once again.
"No, now we have to rest," her instructor told her. "Too much training like this and your body will give out on you. But we can start another type of training, meditation."
"Ok," Orihime said, knowing not to argue with her teacher.
Climbing down from the roof, both entered the apartment. Gesturing his student to sit, he hovered over her. "Like last time you did this, you must be in a position that you feel comfortable in. Meditation allows you to relax and loosen the tension in your muscles which helps after the intensive training but it also teaches you how to attain inner peace which you need during a fight. You cannot let your emotions get the best of you, you must keep your mind clear or your focus will become clouded. Yes it's true that you must draw power from your emotions but this must be in a controlled manner or your illogical thinking could get you or others hurt or killed."
"But how do you meditate?" Orihime asked.
"Well, I imagine the things that make me most calm," he responded. "Something that makes me happy even. I usually take slow, deep breaths and let myself go. It is almost like falling asleep but keeping your conscious awake, focusing on inner tranquility."
"What makes you happy? What do you usually imagine?" Orihime asked him.
"Well..." Fernando answered; a small perverted smile came across his face as he looked towards her. "Now it's something different but it's basically the same even now. You see I never got close to any girl before, except for Shinshyu. That's because I was afraid that they might judge me for what I've done, so what I focus on is usually an ideal girl for me, someone kind and accepting of who I was. And, well... what I would do with her..."
"Like... kiss?"Orihime asked oblivious as to what he was inferring to.
"Yeah... you could say that," he answered her then, under his breath, he continued, "Among other things."
"Do you have anyone that you imagine like that?" Orihime continued her questioning.
"Well... yeah..." Fernando said slowly and embarrassed.
"Who?" Orihime asked excitedly, wanting to know who this person, unaware that the person was closer than she could ever expect.
"That I really can't tell you... Please, just drop it," he pleaded of her.
Orihime frowned, sad that her guest would not reveal his hidden crush and yet still unsuspecting that it was actually her. "Ok," she complied.
"I'll join you," he said, settling himself next to her. "I really haven't meditated in awhile and between my own training and yours, I really need a rest."
After a couple of minutes, an ironic twist from an earlier scene came into view as Orihime soon heard light snoring from her guest. But what had actually thrown her off her meditative state was when his head had bumped against hers. Trying to slowly lay him down on the floor, Orihime accidently let her guest fall onto the floor with loud thud. To her surprise, he was still asleep. Grabbing a small blanket, she covered his body. Quickly making her way to her room, she also fell into a well deserved sleep.