Ribbons of Blood
Chapter Twenty-one
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, or any of the characters.
AN: Eeek I've got some major exams coming up, so I better post this up before I totally run out of time D': Thanks for all the support you awesome lovely people! Thank you moonlightrurouni, blackshadow878, TheBigPumkin, thablueGRRL and BleachmyNaruto for the kind reviews :D This chapter's slightly longer, hope you enjoy!
Ketsueki was beyond worried; she was exhausted with anxiety. But this time, it wasn't Zaraki she was anxious about.
It was Renji.
They had not spoken since the day Ketsueki had told him Zaraki had kissed her. In fact, Ketsueki hadn't even glimpsed those dark, narrowed eyes in the past two weeks. She had searched the training sites, the corridors, and had even tried looking in her small clearing in the forest, but to no avail. She simply couldn't find him.
Was he avoiding her?
Every time Ketsueki thought of this, she felt her heart sink deeper into her chest. She hated the thought that she could have caused a rift between them, because there was surely a rift now, a gap of misunderstanding.
You've done nothing wrong, Ketsueki shouted at herself. You explained to him, you've done nothing wrong!
Yet Ketsueki couldn't shake off the feeling that Renji was distancing himself from her. And it killed her inside. She longed to be held in his arms again. She wanted to wash his concerns of Zaraki away; they were false, they did not have any standing in this world, because Ketsueki felt nothing, absolutely nothing, for the man, that despicable man.
Didn't she?
After many days of searching, however, Ketsueki was forced to give up. She simply could not locate him. And she had other things to attend to, like her training with Yumichika. So, on a dull, misty morning, Ketsueki descended the steps and out into the hazy training grounds. At least it isn't too hot today. Come to think of it, it's probably mid-autumn already …
Ketsueki scanned the grounds briefly for Yumichika. Not spotting his elegant style anywhere, Ketsueki trudged toward a nearby tree and did some stretching. She pushed against the tree as she stretched out her calves, extending them behind her. She felt the familiar tingling sensation whenever she sensed a battle approaching. But she was slightly weary. More than once, she had detected a flicker of impatience in Yumichika's eyes. She didn't want to trouble him, and it was mainly due to this that she was so eager to improve.
"Oi, Ketsueki! Get your butt over here!"
Ketsueki jumped and peeked over her shoulder. Ikkaku was striding toward her, his zanpakuto in hand, and a devious grin on his face.
"Ikkaku, sir," said Ketsueki, turning to face him as he joined her under the tree. "Have you seen Yumichika?"
"Screw that idiot. I'm gonna be training you from now on," announced Ikkaku rather proudly.
Ketsueki winced. She had not been expecting this. "Is Yumichika all right?" she asked, half-hoping that this would be a one-off thing.
"Yep, perfectly fine," fired Ikkaku, stretching his arms and shoulders, his muscles rippling under the folds of his robes. "He just thought it'd be good if you trained with me instead. He told me he didn't think he was up for it, thought I'd be a better instructor. And rightly so!"
Ikkaku's loud and commanding voice was drawing curious looks from the other shinigami who were training. Ketsueki half expected Ikkaku to order them to join him.
"But I thought Yumichika was a great teacher."
Ikkaku scoffed. "Him? No way. He just wanted to get you on the right track. He really does seem to wanna look after you."
Ketsueki suddenly felt a little warmer inside; the cold drizzle didn't seem to bother her as much.
"All right! Let's get started," said Ikkaku, and without further explanation whacked his zanpakuto, still in its sheath, against Ketsueki's head.
Ketsueki, who had been expecting further instructions, was knocked clean off her feet and landed painfully on the ground. She grimaced, but before she had time to fully recover, Ikkaku took another elaborate swing toward her, this time the blade of his sword glinted in the mist. Yelping, Ketsueki rolled out of the way as the sword stabbed the spot where her stomach had been seconds ago.
"Gimme a second here!" she complained, unsheathing Injuken.
"Would an enemy 'give you a second'? I don't think so!" Ikkaku remarked, striking again and again at Ketsueki.
Ketsueki was growing angrier and more frustrated by the second. She grit her teeth and made to knock Ikkaku's sword out of his hands, but he was much stronger than Yumichika, and this move proved useless against him. She backed off slightly, defending more instead of attacking.
Sensing her hesitation, Ikkaku advanced menacingly. "Com'on! Gimme what you got!"
"With all due respect, sir," snapped Ketsueki, parrying his attacks, "You're a third seat officer, and I'm – "
"Idiot! Don't think about those things when you're fighting," said Ikkaku darkly, and he managed to cut Ketsueki's arm before she could retort.
The pain was excruciating, but somehow, Ketsueki's mind became clearer and more focused. She glared at Ikkaku through a haze of pain and pronounced viciously, "Bleed, Injuken."
And once more, the red ribbon flowed from its hilt like a running stream, only a thousand times more deadly.
Ikkaku's eyes gleamed with new energy, and so did Ketsueki's as she felt the pulse of adrenaline and power coursing through her veins. She felt alive, and she felt good, even though she knew what a destructive weapon her zanpakuto was.
But in battle, these things hardly mattered.
"Nice," stated Ikkaku, and with one quick slice through the air, he attacked her weakened arm.
Before the blade reached her wound, Ketsueki repositioned herself and stretched out a piece of Injuken in front of her. Ikkaku's blade was stopped by the thin fabric, which absorbed the impact of the attack and seemed to transfer it against Ikkaku. He had not expected this, and was shoved backward by Ketsueki roughly, who was grinning broadly now.
"What the hell?" muttered Ikkaku, his eyes narrowing. "That's your first stage?"
"Yep," said Ketsueki, and she made a sudden movement toward him, flicking the ribbon rapidly at Ikkaku.
"Oi!" Ikkaku ducked. The ribbon soared over his head, but Ketsueki channelled her spirit energy through the fabric and it came spinning back toward Ikkaku. It sliced a shallow cut across his chest. He winced and tried to get out of range, but the ribbon seemed to be following his every move.
"Enough!" he seethed, and he jumped, took two steps in mid air and somersaulted over Ketsueki. Landing behind her, he slashed her back and knocked her to the floor.
Ketsueki winced as pain erupted through her muscles, but she managed to block it out and stand up, bracing herself.
"That's enough," said Ikkaku, more calmly this time. He held up his hand. "I get your first stage. You've got potential, but I guess that's one helluva hard thing to control. I can tell you've trained loads, right?" When Ketsueki nodded meekly, Ikkaku smirked.
"Well, you're gonna train even more now."
Renji smiled at her as he picked her up and twirled her around in her pure white wedding kimono. A dazzling, exquisite veil sat upon Ketsueki's head, and she brought a hand up to the delicate fabric, making sure it was still in place. She laughed joyously. They were getting married, at last!
They ran up to the shrine together, incredibly eager to be wed. A man was standing in front of the shrine, but he was shrouded in shadows. She could not see his face; his features were blurry, and his entire figure seemed to be made of nothing but mist. She didn't care, as long as she could be forever bonded to the man by her side. She beamed up at Renji, and he smiled toothily back at her. His red hair was styled back in a sleek ponytail, its normally spiky strands tamed for this special occasion. He wore a dashing, black kimono.
They continued with the formalities and said their vows. As Ketsueki promised to forever be loyal to Renji, she glanced around at the wedding guests. She saw Ikkaku arm in arm with Yumichika, who adorned a dress made solely of peacock feathers. Ikkaku was wearing what appeared to be a pink, furry wig, but upon further inspection it turned out that Yachiru had attached herself to his bald head. She was wearing a warm, yellow kimono.
"I like what you've done to your hair," remarked Yumichika to Ikkaku.
"Shut it."
At last, it was nearly time for them to drink sake, symbolizing their everlasting bond. Ketsueki was nearly trembling with excitement as she held the cup in her hands …
"I object," stated a frosty voice. Everyone in the vicinity froze and turned toward the speaker. Ketsueki felt her heart sink.
In the midst of the wedding guests stood a red-headed figure. His hair was short and wild, strands sticking straight up in the air, and he was dressed in a white kimono stained with blood. His arms and exposed torso were bandaged in bloody rags. His eyes were of the same shade as he glared at Ketsueki. He raised a bony finger at her, like a ghost. "I object," he repeated.
"I object as well," said another voice, and Ketsueki turned to face the man standing before the shrine. His features were visible now, and she recognized him instantly.
"Zaraki!" shouted Injuken, his face contorted with rage. "We must stop this."
"Damn right."
Ketsueki felt a sharp pain in her chest. She looked down, and was surprised to find the hilt of Zaraki's sword protruding from her torso.
She could hear Renji's voice yelling her name.
"Ketsueki Donato!"
She collapsed to the stone floor, her body shivering. She fell through the floor, through the darkness, through nothing …
"Officer Donato, this is Shiba Kunjo reporting!"
Ketsueki woke up with a jolt. Odd dream. She scrambled out of her bedsheets, dampened with sweat, and scuttled across the floor to open the door. Standing before her was one of the junior Squad 11 shinigami. Seeing Ketsueki, he bowed and declared, "Sorry for disturbing you, officer Donato! I have a letter from Captain Aizen to you." He revealed a sealed envelope and handed it to her.
Still reeling from her dream, Ketsueki nodded her thanks.
The non-officer bowed once more and walked away swiftly. Ketsueki shut the door and opened the envelope. Inside, she found a slip of paper printed with neat handwriting.
Dear Ms. Ketsueki Donato,
I hope you are doing well. I apologize for keeping you the other day. I hope I did not bore you.
I am writing to offer you a temporary teaching role in the Spirit Academy. If you wish, you will be guided by one of the teachers and will help out in the classrooms and training grounds. I think you might enjoy the chance to work with new students. Perhaps it might allow you some relief from your squad. It will also allow you to seek personal training from the teachers there. If you wish, I could arrange for you to become an instructor at the Academy permanently, after you acquire the skills necessary.
I hope you will accept this offer. I do not often give offers like such to shinigami, especially to those in a different squad. But I feel that both you and the Gotei 13 will benefit more if you accept. I have sent a separate letter to Captain Zaraki to gain his permission. (You will still belong to the 11th Squad and will have to respond to orders from the Captain). If he allows you to go, then please write back as soon as possible and I will make the arrangements promptly.
You are a bright officer, and you have much potential. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Captain Aizen
Ketsueki's heart beat rapidly as her eyes scanned through the letter once more, making sure that she fully understood its contents. A teaching role? In the Spirit Academy? She had always felt warmly and nostalgically about the Academy. She had spent so many happy years there, gaining experience and nourishing under the teachers' help. It would definitely be a wish come true to be able to go back again, but this time she would be the one to instruct and teach.
One problem. Zaraki had to approve of this.
Ketsueki's brow furrowed, and involuntarily she punched her pillow. He would never grant her permission. Why would he, after everything she had said to him? She felt small, like how she felt when she first set foot in the 11th Squad. This opportunity was a treat to her, and it rested in Zaraki's hands.
And it would be so, very awkward for them to talk again. Ketsueki had actually enjoyed the silence that had followed their argument. She didn't want to disrupt the calm that had settled over them.
What's the point. I might as well just write back and say I'm not interested.
Ketsueki stared at the letter in her hands, reading it once more.
She stood up. I have to try!
She rushed down the open hall, the sun gleaming and encouraging her with its warmth. She clutched the letter in her hand, and knocked with the other loudly on Zaraki's office door. Be nice. Be polite. "Sir?" she called.
Hearing footsteps approach the door, Ketsueki took a step back. The door opened, and Zaraki stood before her, glaring.
Her stomach doing nauseating somersaults, Ketsueki started speaking before she became too scared to talk, "Captain, did you receive a letter from Captain Aizen about me leaving for – "
"Yeah, yeah, I got his stupid letter," snapped Zaraki, gaze wandering away from her.
When he didn't elaborate on this point, Ketsueki pressed hesitantly, "And?"
"And what?"
"C-can I go?"
Zaraki watched her for a while. "Yeah. Yeah you can go."
It was the sudden calmness, sudden normality in his voice that surprised her. It was as if the incident in the forest had never happened, as if they had never insulted each other and thrown horrible words at one another. That surprised her, as well as the fact that he was actually going to let her go. For a few seconds Ketsueki found it difficult to form a reply.
"Anythin' else you wanna ask?" asked Zaraki, his voice turning impatient again, snapping Ketsueki out of her daze.
"Um, n-no sir," hurried Ketsueki, confused, then added, "I just thought – "
"What? You want me to change my mind?" Zaraki growled.
"No sir, I – "
"Good." With that, Zaraki made to shut the door.
But before the door closed, Ketsueki managed to squeak, "Thank you, sir. Thank you!"
She was smiling.
AN: Could they become friends? :'D Who knows … LOL