Man, this is one of the times that I'm glad I have a second opinion before I post. Okay, I think that from now on, I might be able to post weekly, and I blame homework. This is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Thirteen: What's coming to you
"Kurosaki, do you have any idea what you did wrong during your little spar?" Raiden questioned. Ichigo shook his head. "I thought not. When you fight, you block the vast majority of the blows aimed at you. You never try to dodge unless you have no choice. Your fighting style is based purely on instinct, and is therefore linear, easily predicted and countered by those with true skill.
"You react to things instead of acting to cause them. You let your opponent control the battle by being able to herd you into position. You never see the next blow until it actually lands. That is the problem. You will never defeat Aizen unless you learn to see through your opponent's moves. That is especially important where Aizen is concerned because his zanpaku-to is an illusion-based zanpaku-to, as you found out firsthand. To even have a chance of defeating him, you will have to be just as controlling as he is, as flexible in abilities, and as misleading as his intentions are. Naturally, this is the complete opposite of what you are right now."
"What do you mean by that?!" Ichigo demanded with mounting anger as Raiden's critiques fell upon him like blows.
"I mean that you must be able to instantly change styles, to adapt to anything, and to see the complete picture. You also have to learn how to take control over a battle."
"Huh?" Ichigo wondered intelligently.
"What I mean by that is that you must learn how to control your opponent during a battle," Raiden clarified.
Ichigo's head spun. "Is that even possible?"
Raiden grunted in reply. "Of course it is. How do you think I would get a decent fight if I couldn't keep my opponents from running the hell away from me? I control the battle so that they have to fight me, so it is possible.
"And it is exactly that which I will be teaching you this week. But first, we will brush up on hand-to-hand combat, so stick that oversized kitchen knife" Ichigo swore that he felt an unconnected annoyance upon hearing that nickname. "in the ground for now, and we'll get cracking."
***
Chad grunted as he was slammed for the umpteenth time into the rocky ground beneath Urahara's shop.
"I hope you aren't done yet, Sado Yasutora!" Renji called mockingly as he recalled the massive bone snake to coil around him.
Chad clenched his right fist. "Sorry to disappoint," he relied before lunging forward once again.
Urahara observed the clash from far away. Sado Yasutora, your power...what concerns me is that it is neither shinigami nor quincy in nature, it's almost as if...
"Man, I didn't know that the freeloader was such an idiot," Jinta commented.
"Well, I did persuade him to wait awhile with his questions, Jinta-kun."
"But still-whoa!" Chad and Renji had just demonstrated the effects of a point-blank blow from Chad's right arm. "Yeesh, that's scary!"
"Relax, we're well away from being caught up in the blast. There is nothing to fear."
Urahara had spoke too soon. He immediately detected an absolutely livid Kuchiki midget, back from Soul Society thanks to Sayu.
"Urahara!" she literally growled while Jinta disappeared, suddenly remembering more life-preserving things to do. "Why the hell did you tell Orihime that she was too weak to fight?!"
Urahara, sensing that a quick explanation might be a wise decision, held up both hands in a placating gesture. "Maa maa, Kuchiki-san! Let me explain-"
"You better!" she replied as she entered shinigami form.
Now let's see, how to do this without being entombed in ice... "It's simple. Inoue-san's powers are primarily those of defense. Her one method of attacking has been eliminated, and I doubt that even Hachigan, one of the vaizard, would be able to restore it."
"But you saw her healing abilities! Why take her away from the battle entirely?!"
"Because that power is not healing."
"What?!"
"It is spatial distortion. Her Soten Kishun is the ability to deny that an event or series of events ever happened. Through this, Inoue-san can theoretically raise the dead."
"...is that even possible?" Rukia's unquenchable anger had been replaced by incredulity.
"Hai, and it is also possible that her unique power has drawn Aizen's attention. That is the real reason that I wish to keep her from the front lines."
"...then why didn't you say that outright?"
"If Inoue-san believes that she is a liability on the field, she will be more willing to stay away. If I had tried any other way, she would have still attempted to help, regardless of the danger to herself. It was the only way."
Rukia was silent while Urahara turned his head back toward Chad and Renji, and his thoughts to speculation on Chad's powers.
***
"N-no, please! I'm sorry for attacking you, but Aizen-sama ord-Geya-" K-K-Krek! Kreesh! The arrancar's protests were cut off as he was encased in ice and destroyed without mercy by Enishi. Enishi silently threaded (or froze) his way through the cowering mass of hybrid hollows, dispatching them with the casual ease that Aizen would be familiar with.
"How dare you attack us! Aizen-sama will-" Fwash! Kreesh!
"What do you intend to acc-" KRAK!
"AAAAAAHHHH-" Shuk!
Enishi twirled his spear with his left hand while firing arrows (black with hollow energy) from his right, and mowing down any who protested or tried to escape.
Yeesh, even I'm not this cold-blooded, his hollow chided.
I control ice. What do you expect?
A more easygoing person?
When I was easygoing, I hadn't yet been betrayed by the very society that I was working for.
Ooh, emo-freak. Come on! Why don't you warm up some?
Is that supposed to be funny? And what the hell is an emo-freak?
Someone who thinks the world and life sucks, and wants to die.
Someone who thinks the world and life sucks, and wants to die? Hmm, reminds me of Kaname Tosen.
"I thought that I had throughly masked my spiritual pressure. Apparently I was mistaken."
Enishi was truly surprised. He had let down his guard. "Sorry, was that out loud?" he asked.
Tosen angled his head before drawing Suzimushi. "I was sent to eliminate any intruders. For the sake of peace, you must be eliminated."
Enishi casually shrugged. "I would have thought" he breathed in a voice heavily laced with sarcasm. "that a captain or former captain of Soul Society other than Kenpachi Zaraki would know when they are completely outmatched. Apparently, the quality of Ninth Division captains has gone down since my lieutenant took my place."
Tosen didn't react visibly to this. "Be that as it may, you must be eliminated."
"This is getting repetitive. Senbon no Hyoro."
Considerably more than a thousand icy needles formed in the air before barraging the exact point that Tosen was standing at, and defeating the purpose of the name of the attack due to the sheer number of needles. Oh I get it, you're just pissed about something, aren't you?
"What gave it away?" Enishi muttered as he turned to where Tosen had escaped to and lunged forward in a thrust with his spear-
***
Sayu, to Soifon's dismay, was currently taking the chance to get reacquainted with Soul Society. This amounted to essentially saying hi to all the captains in a captains' meeting and threatening Captain Kyouraku, whose eyes widened comically when he saw her. Remnants of old wounds began throbbing sympathetically while he involuntarily let out a whimper. While Nanao looked at him questioningly, Sayu wore a sadistic grin behind her helmet.
"Nice to see you remember me, Shunsui-kun. I just hope you also remember what happens if I find you ten feet from me without my permission..."
The first (and only) time that he had gotten that close to her, she had introduced him to Susannoo, blade of the god of storms, the hard way. It had taken Unohana roughly six weeks to patch him back up when that happened.
While Kyouraku sputtered incoherently, Nanao's face brightened. Here was a threat that could curtail his skirt-chasing ways for good, if she played her cards right.
Sayu turned and greeted a faintly smiling Captain Ukitake before she saw Soifon.
"Hey there. Remember how you got your ass handed to you along with Yoruichi-teme?" Soifon unsheathed and released even faster than Byakuya before attacking in blind rage. "Too slow, bitch," Sayu teased while grabbing Suzemebachi and neutralizing her strike.
With an inarticulate snarl, Soifon prepared to yank free and attack once again before she was stopped by, if not a blast then a wave, of reiatsu.
"Soifon-taicho, calm yourself. Attacking allies is not conduct befitting a person of your standing."
Sayu smiled in recognition, not that anyone could have seen it. "Long time no see, old man."
The captain-general had served as Enishi's, Raiden's and her mentor before their own captain had taken them in. To a greater extent, the wizened captain had also taught Kuromaru many of the things he taught his own students. Even someone like herself had nothing but the greatest respect for him. Well, not anymore though, she corrected herself. The old man garnered significantly less respect from herself, her brothers and her surrogate father after allowing them to be sealed away in Hell without the benefit of their powers.
"Hanabusa Sayu, kindly explain why it is you are here."
"What? Can't an old captain drop by just to say hi?"
"Hanabusa-taicho…"
"Ah ah ah, I'm not a captain anymore. You saw to that, old man."
Kyouraku, Ukitake and Unohana flinched slightly. Still not forgiven, I see.
"Now is not the time for this infighting," Yamamoto continued. "All worlds are at risk from Aizen's scheme to gain the power of the Royal Family."
"So what?"
"Did you come here to help us as an ally?"
"Why should we be your allies? Do you think we're just going to put aside our differences after what you did?" Sayu demanded with all seriousness.
"How dare you-"
"Komamura-taicho, let it be," Captain Yamamoto waved it off. "That is neither here nor there. You escaped, and you appear to be working against Aizen as well-"
"I'm going to make this clear, old man. The only reason that we are doing what we are doing now is because it doesn't serve our interests if Aizen gains power either. The situation is, what did Enishi say? Oh yes. "The enemy of my enemy is my collaborator." We are only collaborators for the time being."
"You are also former captains-"
"-who owe you no loyalty after you betrayed our trust!"
"I had no choice!" the soutaicho thundered. "You know as well as I that the word of Central 46 is law, and that the Thirteen Court Guards are duty bound to carry out their decrees-"
"You did have a choice!" Sayu hissed back. "You could have refused to cooperate! It was you who taught Shunsui, Jushiro, Retsu-chan and the captain that we must decide for ourselves what justice is! You, who are the strongest shinigami, against the old men who comprised the council. Old men who never had lifted a blade, and never will thanks to the traitors. And you have the gall to say that you had no choice! If you won't own up to your choices and decisions, I don't see how we should honor a past allegiance to you. Besides, I only came on the captain's orders. He told me to tell you that in two weeks, he will forcibly stabilize the Dangai and allow events to proceed according to his plans. He also told me to warn you that you'll get what's coming to you, and it won't be nice."
"You would dare to threaten Soul Society that way?"
"That's not a threat. It is informing you of imminent events. That is the only reason I am here, and I could care less what you think."
There was silence while everyone present processed her words.
"And what is coming?"
Sayu turned her eyes back on the captain-general. "Something that you set in motion, twenty-three years ago."
***
Ichigo wove through yet another wall of countless blows from Raiden as he struggled to learn when to dodge and (painfully) when to block.
"No!" Raiden growled as Ichigo ducked to the side while shunting away a punch that came nowhere near him in the first place. "If it isn't aimed directly at your chest, don't try deflecting it! You just leave yourself open to attack that way!" he added as he rammed an open left palm under Ichigo's chin.
"Gah-" Ichigo flipped to regain his posture, just in time for Raiden to knock his feet from under him.
"Your recovery time is too much! You need to be able to instantly regain control of yourself after a strike like that!" Raiden criticized as he rained punch after punch after kick on Ichigo's pitiful defense, which crumbled soon afterward.
"Alright that's enough," Raiden said. "Let's take a break."
Ichigo didn't need to be told twice. He collapsed on the ground and struggled to bring air back into his lungs. "You know," he gasped. "I've been wondering, why do you guys wear armor?"
"For several reasons, Kurosaki. One, it can deny our opponents vital information. Two, it can be used as a tool of intimidation. And three, it is not for protection. It restricts the usage of our maximum power level, so we can train and evade detection from our enemies. Although, we really don't have any enemies, serious ones anyway."
"Why?"
Raiden snorted. "What idiot other than you would be stupid enough to challenge us? Be serious Kurosaki."
"Hey!"
Ya know, he's got ya there, partner. Ya were bein' pretty fucking stupid when you attacked his captain-
"Screw you!" Ichigo grumbled back as his hollow smirked at him.
"Huh, you say something Kurosaki?"
"My damn hollow."
Hey!
"But why don't you fight at full power?" Ichigo wondered while ignoring the tirade that his hollow was throwing.
"Ya know what, you're an idiot Kurosaki, but we already knew that. If we fought at full power all the time, we would probably destroy the Real World. Besides, you shouldn't show off your power. You should hide it unless you really need it; at least, that's what the captain says."
Ichigo snorted. "You don't seem like the type who hides their power if you like fighting Kenpachi."
"Which? The current one? You're right, I don't like to hide my power, but I do want to get stronger, and fighting under a limiter helps out in that department."
"How?"
"I'll have Enishi explain later, when he gets back. Break's over! Let's get back to training!"
***
The battlefield didn't look like a desert anymore, but more like a forest of icy trees bordering a massive plain of ice that was dotted with black reishi arrows. Time and time again, Tosen and Enishi clashed. Time and time again, Tosen was forced to give ground by the sheer strength of his predecessor. Enishi, meanwhile, was tiring of playing cat-and-mouse.
"This is getting old, and you're not getting any closer to beating me. I would advise that you call upon your bankai, Tosen Kaname!"
Tosen held up his zanpaku-to in a salute, before briefly spinning in on the ring protruding from his hilt and then expanding it so that it was as wide across as he was tall.
"Bankai!" Ten rings formed and then locked themselves into a dome around the two. "Suzimushi, Suishiki, Enma Korogi!"
Enishi was seemingly plunged into darkness, while Tosen readied himself. "For the sake of peace, you will be eliminated!"
So how was it? Please review! And currently, the vote is 1 person for Raiden having a purely flame-based zanpaku-to, and 1 for a flame and lightning based zanpakuto.