A/n: Thanks for the reading, reviews, follows and favourites. Yes, people. I am still alive. If we have anyone to blame then its the devilish thing known as writing my original story once again. So I focus on four separate stories when I'm not working or watching my episodes. This and MoI, then my original stories Sacred Stone and Among the Cursed. So far, Among the Cursed has been hitting me with a bit more inspiration than the others, but Hidden World has not left me yet.

Don't worry... I promise that I will not abandon Suki or Kei. *Crosses fingers* I'm kidding!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its plot. The only ones I own are the badass Kobayashi Suki, the spunky Mizushima Kei and Ukeire Atsushi for number 1 jerk :D

I will warn that there may be errors, don't let that you stop from reading the chapter

Chapter 36

"Are you ready Suki? This training could possibly kill you."

Recognising the silver eyes glint with determination, Suki let herself nod with a mirroring look. There was no way Suki was going to lose again, "I can handle it – I have to."

A smirk formed on Atsuko's face, "Good choice."

"Was that the same thing you said when you stole Urahara's basement design?"

The look on Atsuko's expression suddenly darkened in annoyance as she scowled, at the blank expression from Suki. She barely looked amused at the never ending desert basement. "He designed it for me so shut up!" Of course Kisuke designed it for Atsuko. Apparently Suki didn't realise until now that her parents used to live in Karakura before her birth.

Currently she stood in the basement of Atsuko's first house. It was a rather large house, but incredibly dusty due to the lack of years of being inhabited. Since Atsuko still owned the house, Suki simply assumed that the woman had been spending her nights in here.

Both females were a few metres apart, Suki standing against her mother with her bat's strap lazily hanging from her shoulder. Atsuko on the other hand had a bag, her features slowly returning to a neutral expression as she calmed down from her outburst.

Suki's eyes looked away from the design before focusing on Atsuko, "Whatever... it doesn't matter I suppose. Let's just get this over and done with." Her eyes hardened as she locked her gaze with the silver pair, "What do I need to do?"

"Plenty of things – get a better attitude would be nice," Atsuko replied almost lazily. Before Suki could retort, she fell silent at Atsuko's expression turning rather serious. "Fortunately, you already know how to use Shinen and you know the side effects of using it. Shinen increased the impact of your original attack, which can be extremely deadly for your opponent. If it's a hammer, it will shatter the earth, if it's a blade, it will cut deeper. Each of the ordinary objects you use lacks the space for the reiryoku usage which results in its destruction, but while you were recovering I managed to modify those boots you wear and made you a pair of gloves just so you can attack without your bat."

"You made me gloves?" Suki wondered with a perked eyebrow. She spared a glance down her feet, realising it wasn't just her when the footwear felt different somehow. "Wow... you're actually taking responsibility up for a change." The look on Atsuko's face didn't change as she pulled a pair of black, leather gloves from her bag and chucked them towards the daughter. Suki's eyes narrowed as they landed in her hands and she quickly observed them.

They felt like her bat did whenever she held them, like her gloves were going to be a part of her soul.

Atsuko ignored the comment and continued, "I was informed that were taught by Yoruichi-san about the fighting style hand to hand combat. That you can actually defend yourself if you ever lost that bat of yours."

Sparing a glance at her trusty partner, Suki felt more comfortable with her weapon by her side. For the longest time Suki had her bat, it was the same bat that gave her the first homerun. Throughout the years, Suki had cared and treated the bat like it was her own child.

"So what do you have in mind then?" Suki asked, looking away from her weapon back to the other woman. "You want me put these on and then we just fight?"

Atsuko sighed in exhaustion. "No..." The answer surprised Suki. Her eyes slightly widened with confusion. Usually that would've been the case, but why was it different now? Before Suki could ask her question, Atsuko had an answer prepared, "I want you to put them on and hit me once!"

Suki felt herself glaring back at her mother with slight hesitation in her features. What kind of idiot was Suki taken for? She wasn't going to hit Atsuko just because she said to. There had to be some sort of hidden motive behind it. While Atsuko was blunt, very blunt, she always had a second meaning to her terrible advice.

After a moment of silence, Atsuko sighed in annoyance and scowled. "Seriously... didn't you want to hit me? Want to beat me up about me leaving you? Didn't you hate me?" Suki found herself lacking a response as Atsuko continued, "Come on now Suki! Don't prove to me that you're a coward that backs out of your damn promises!"

The silver haired student scowled in annoyance. "Shut up! You of all people shouldn't talk about keeping promises." Her amber eyes met the silver pair and she bristled in despise. "The most you do is end up breaking promises and destroying everyone's life."

Atsuko kept her scowl as she repeated Suki's words, "Everyone's life." She sighed again, keeping her eyes still on the prize. "You say that term so freely, it almost sounds convincing... but almost..."

"Stop blabbering nonsense," Suki snapped, tightening the clench of her own fist. "Tell me the whole purpose of this training or I'll find my own way."

"Even finding a way to change the subject – typical," Atsuko continued, rolling her eyes as Suki's scowl deepened with displeasure. "We both know the real reason you act like I'm the bad guy is because I left you. You feel betrayed that I didn't care about you, even though I'm your own mother..."

"That's not true," Suki denied in annoyance. This was beginning to get on her nerves. Why did Atsuko have to be stubborn? It was bad enough Suki had inherited the woman's thick headed personality. "You treated us like dirt in the old days. Then when you were bored with us you left behind Dad to raise me and then you showed up like nothing's happened. Why do you get forgiven so easily?"

"If you're so angry with me, then why don't you hit me? Or better yet admit that you're angrier because I left you behind?" Atsuko taunted, offering her face as if it would do something. The silver haired daughter stared back with annoyance, her jaw clenching together felt like her teeth were about to shatter. And it was all because Atsuko wouldn't say the damn truth. "You're weak Suki! You can't fight off anyone if you keep holding back! If you hate me so much as you claim, then hit me in the damn face – stop being a pussy about it!"

That was it; Suki had enough of Atsuko's constant chatter.

Suki activated her power through her gloves and rushed towards the woman that dared to call herself her mother. Her eyes flashed with annoyance as she stretched out her fist, "Shut up damn it!" But Suki wasn't honestly expecting her fist to sail through empty air. Suki's eyes went wide at the realisation, but it was already too late, Atsuko grabbed Suki's wrist and lifted her arm up before planting a foot into her ribs.

It was safe to say that it hurt like hell. Suki let out a curse as her body flew back, crashing into a large boulder a fair distance away from the other woman. She would've been sore if not for the adrenaline and pushed herself out of the crumbling rock to glower at Atsuko. With a grumble, Suki spat out the dirt that went in her mouth.

"See?" Atsuko continued to taunt with a sneer. "Nothing but recklessness is going to get you killed Suki."

"What the hell is the point in all of this?" Suki asked, brushing the silver strands back.

Atsuko sighed for the third time and continued her explanation. "The reason why you lost back at Soul Society is because you haven't accepted the reality of what's happening which makes you hold back." Suki's eyes slightly widened in surprise as the other woman began to explain, "That's probably why you can't activate your other abilities willingly."

However Suki was more surprise that Atsuko knew more than she let on. "How do you know about that?" She hadn't spoken to anyone about the Ichimaru Gin fight, nor had she opened her mouth about her strange ability back in the fight with Kei and Grimmjow.

"I'm your mother Suki," Atsuko replied lazily, waving a hand dismissively at Suki who suddenly flinched at her choice of words. "I'm meant to know these things about you – there's nothing else to it." After a moment of silence, Atsuko turned away and looked in the opposite direction, "Look – take a break... I know that it's hard to accept but you've been holding back. Go for a walk to see your friends, clear your head... just think about what's holding you back."

Suki was left dumbfounded, staring at the other woman's back as if it would provide the answers. If Suki was holding back, then why on earth would she in the first place? Atsuko had never been one to be clear on her actions, even before she left Suki and her father behind.

Annoyance grew on the silver haired female's features as she cursed to herself, "Such a pain..." One thing Suki hated was trying to figure out riddles that her mother placed.

-:-

"Be careful you two!" Kei called out, watching as Chad went flying through the air to smash several metres away from Renji's Zabimaru. They had been at it all day with the same thing; Chad would fight the large snake of a bankai and Renji would send him flying. Chad refused to give up and attempted the smash the poor thing into oblivion.

It only left Kei to watch the fight in the corner of her eyes with worry. Her main job currently was to heal the wounds that either man received, but it didn't mean that she couldn't train on her own.

She held her released zanpakuto by her side and since she had her distance from the men, she was the only one to feel the untamed wind brush against her skin. As a wind type zanpakuto, Kyoha was meant to be weaker than most zanpakuto, however Kei didn't mind so much. Her zanpakuto was a reflection of herself, reminding Kei that she may be weaker than everyone else but it didn't mean a thing to her. As long as she could help was the only thing that mattered to her.

Hey! Kyoha bristled and Kei imagined his snarl. A smile appeared on her face once she heard the zanpakuto snap at her, Don't call me weak just because you keep insisting that you are. It's things like that is what holds you back!

Yet it was a complete mystery to how this zanpakuto was so snappish. Was this her true inner self?

Using her own zanpakuto wasn't her best way to fight, but these arrancar weren't giving her much of a choice. Kei tightened the hold on her spear, spinning the massive weapon in her hands to size up the boulder in front of her. She let out a determined cry and lunged her weapon into the obstacle in front of her. The bladed side didn't touch the boulder, just as Kei wanted. As she went past it, her bladed part glowed lightly and Kei commanded her weapon to activate.

Kei's eyes flashed with determination as she brandished her spear, "Daiisso, eiri kaze!" With the single command, a nice clean slice went through the stone, allowing the second half to slip down and crumble beneath her feet. It still wasn't enough; deep down Kei knew that Kyoha had a lot more potential – just like Renji said she had more potential.

Renji always supported her, he believed in her. He somehow knew that Kei was holding back, despite the fact she always tripped over her feet when she was fighting but he said it himself. Back in the fight with the blonde haired arrancar and even the fight with her own brother, Kei didn't fall over because she had the determination.

But what about every other time she fought? Why would she not have determination to fight Suki on the day they met? It was only a theory, but Kei wondered if she hadn't took Suki seriously because deep down, Kei felt that Suki had good intentions. But it still didn't explain her situation... and her lack of weapon training...

"Oh, that's an interesting zanpakuto! It sliced the boulder right through despite it's a lunging weapon!"

Kei let out a distressful yell at the voice behind her before she whirled around to see Urahara standing behind her with a curious look in his intelligent eyes. Blushing in embarrassment at her shriek, Kei bowed down like to hide her embarrassing moment. The previous taicho only looked more confused as Kei bowed down apologetically.

"I didn't even sense you there Urahara-san," Kei admitted as the wind around her weakened. She immediately raised her head and offered a sheepish grin, "This is my zanpakuto's ability as a wind type; as I lunge, the blade creates another blade of air as many times as I like!"

"I've been watching you for a while Mizushima-san, you've been training hard as everyone else," Kisuke continued, waving his fan in front of his face. "You have the potential as a seated officer and Abarai-san already told me that your skills in kido."

Again, Kei's cheeks went red in embarrassment, "Renji talked about me?" She didn't know why she felt so happy that her friend referred her to a taicho – even if he wasn't a taicho anymore. It was still a pretty good feeling that Renji was complimenting her skills in kido. Even if there were people that were far better than her.

The cheerful ex-taicho continued, "I was watching you as well – back in the fight with the arrancar of when you healed Ururu! Your skills only need to be sharpened if you want to go through with your goal of fighting with the rest of the team!"

"Right," Kei nodded in agreement before her grin widened. He was complimenting her and Kei loved every second of it, "Thank you for the advice Urahara-san."

Before the taicho could continue, he suddenly turned to see that Suki was climbing down the ladder to enter the basement. Once again, Kisuke waved his fan around and spoke, "It seems that everyone wants to visit dear old me today!" It wasn't long until Suki approached them, her eyes filled with a harsh determination, "Nice to see that you're ready to start your training Kobayashi-san!"

"The woman told me to go on a break," Suki replied bluntly as Kei quickly realised that Suki was referring to her mother. All of a sudden, Kei felt very worried for the silver haired female – recalling their conversation the night before.

Kisuke only grinned at Suki's scowl, "Atsuko hasn't changed a bit! I think I owe myself to have a little chat to her – she's always looking for company." While Suki argued back with an angry protest, Kei watched the silver haired human with worried eyes.

She said that she hated her own mother... Was it possible?

"Are you alright Suki?" Kei wondered, stabbing her zanpakuto into the ground so that she could lean on it. One thing she loved most about her partner was that she could rely on it whenever she wanted – there was no need for something in return except for trust and improvement.

It gained Suki's attention immediately. Her amber eyes stared at the spear for a moment before she faced Kei seriously. "Apparently not – according to Atsuko," She grumbled before a crash nearby interrupted the group from their small talk. Kei was shocked as Renji stepped into their view, his bankai hissing violently beside him. Suki barely paid attention, but once her gaze got caught on Chad recovering from his beating, she was mildly surprised due to her expression. It had been some time since Suki last fought with Renji, so to see Chad recover from Renji's bankai was rather a vast improvement.

Kei only wondered if Suki was still able to take on the redhead. They were both very strong, and they improved consistently throughout the fights. With a sigh, Kei silently wished that she could be more like them who didn't feel so bad about themselves.

"Come on," The fukutaicho jeered, "I think it's a bit early to hit the hay."

"I'm not done yet," Chad responded with a harsh tone before he went at it once again. His loud war cry indicated he still had the strength to continue his fight.

The caramel haired female let out a whine of annoyance. No matter what she said, they were too focused on their training to even consider her opinion. She huffed lightly and turned to see that Kisuke was back to paying attention to their fight. Suki on the other hand, looked like she wasn't even paying attention to the situation.

When Kei met Suki, she knew that the silver haired human kept to herself but she was always aware of the situation. There was no distant look in her eyes, nor was there any hesitation in her features but then again – Kei knew Suki for less than a month.

"Kei."

Immediately Kei saw that Suki's eyes hardened with resolve, "Back at Soul Society... you fought against the Sushi dude." Suki turned down to stare at Kei with her determination glare, "What made you so angry with him? Why did you fight him knowing that you hate to hurt others?"

"Well," Kei put her finger on her chin as she thought back to the day she went against Atsushi. For one, they knew that they needed to get past him since Rukia's sentence was only seconds away. Then he kept insulting her friends; Kei never liked it back in the old days when he would coldly brush her companions off.

In fact, Kei remembered the first time Atsushi and Renji met. He had been in the fourth division, healing from his recent fight when her brother came in. It was normal for him to pop by to see if she was working, but then he badmouthed Renji as soon as Kei introduced them.

Then Renji, being Renji decided to snap back at her brother.

Before Atsushi could say something else to insult Renji, Kei stood up to him and told him the back off from her friend. Both of the males were surprised at the sudden anger the Kei possessed, but she showed no sign of satisfaction when Atsushi did leave. In fact, Kei only felt guilty for standing up to him – except that Renji was left alone after that.

But most importantly, Kei fought with Atsushi because she only wanted to know what happened to her brother many years ago. Why he acted like a complete jerk to her. After the execution she found out that he kept his distance to protect her, but even he knew that Kei was capable of taking care of herself, which was probably why he confessed to her.

Of course, Kei explained all those reasons to Suki in full detail. Not once Suki's attention draw elsewhere, her amber eyes fixated on Kei as she went to her explanation. Eventually Kei did stop with her talking, seeing the new resolve in Suki's eyes. The silver haired female stood to her feet and decided to head on out.

"Kei," Her voice was filled with something that was similar to excitement but Kei dismissed it. As Suki turned, Kei flinched at the small smirk edging her lips. Maybe she was excited – it was strange, Suki didn't seem to be the type. "You're coming with me – after all, someone's going to need to be healed after I'm through with them."

Somehow, Kei felt the chills shoot down her spine.

-:-

When Suki realised it, she felt like kicking herself but she turned it into her determination to hit Atsuko and it kept her from punching the nearest wall. Her feet walked accordingly through the familiar path, listening to Kei's lighter steps behind her. Neither of them had spoken a word since they got out of Urahara's shoten and Suki thought it was too foreign for Kei to be quiet.

The idiot she knew would often not stop talking.

As Suki found the familiar house that her dreadful mother owned, Suki opened the door without any regards. She heard Kei nervously and awkwardly step in, but the silver haired female pushed it to the back of her mind. Kei followed along like a lost child as the silver haired student climbed down the stairs, recognising the stolen desert idea before she saw that Atsuko turned around with a smirk in her features. Seeing the smirk made Suki's blood boil.

"Back already?" Atsuko wondered, peaking over her head to see that Kei was with Suki. The woman raised an eyebrow with a lazy grunt, "Why'd you bring a shinigami with you?"

Kei let out a startled yelp. She ignored the question as her minty eyes stared back at the woman in recognition, "You look so much like her Suki..." Well it was true, as Suki hated to admit. Their silver hair was the distinctive feature, then it was her sharp nose and the body frame that made Suki look closer to Atsuko. However, unlike Suki – Atsuko had an average bust for her age.

Suki didn't say anything to Kei out loud however; since she was too busy focusing her power on her gloves. Her amber eyes flashed dangerously towards Atsuko and felt the power core through her own hands, "She's here because she's going to heal your sorry ass!" She let out a yell and sent her gloved fist towards the woman, "I'm going to hit you and send you wishing that you hadn't come back!"

"That's brave of you to say," Atsuko replied with an unfazed expression. Instead the woman easily dodged Suki's attack, "So you really admit you're angry at me for leaving you?"

"Angry at you?" Suki snapped, raising her arms to hold back a blow that Atsuko had prepared. Surprise flashed in Atsuko's features as Suki shot out her fist in attempts to hit her. Even though Atsuko dodged or block each blow, Suki pushed herself harder, "Of course I'm angry at you! I'm mad that you left and left me alone to get bullied all those years! When I finally found someone who didn't care about that, I lost him and not once you bothered to care! It has been ten damn years, and now that you're here I feel like that same damn child again that wants to impress you. Well here's a newsflash Atsuko – I don't care of what you think of me! You can't torment me Atsuko, not anymore!"

As soon as Suki hit something with her fist, she felt her eyes go wide with surprise as she realised it connected with Atsuko's face. The woman went flying through the air and not even a few boulders could stop her from her course. When her body smashed into the ground, Kei immediately let out a yelp of alarm and rushed to the older woman.

"Hold on Kobayashi-san! I'm on my way!" Kei raced off, to heal Atsuko and Suki silently walked towards the devil woman. She always knew that the strange impact ability amplified her attacks, but this time it really did amplify her attack. Suki never thought that she could send someone flying with a punch across their face – even if it was someone like Atsuko.

"So you figured it out yet?" Atsuko wondered, from her position as she nursed her face. If Suki hadn't been so damn cross, she would've noticed that Atsuko was covered by dirt head to toe. Just by looking at the face, Suki could tell that her cheek was going to bruise from the punch. Luckily for the damn bitch Suki brought Kei along to heal any injuries. The younger female looked away from her hands and dismissed her power before meeting the woman in the eyes.

"What the hell do you mean?"

Atsuko's expression didn't change, "Ain't it obvious? When you put your true feelings into your attacks it does extra – my point is that you have to actually start thinking about why you want to win before you go charging headfirst into a battlefield." She dusted herself off from the dirt and scowled, "Your strength and skill isn't the only thing won your battles Suki – it was your determination. Think about it – you were subconsciously holding back until you had a reason to fight, now you should use it to your advantage."

Suki's eyes narrowed slowly, attempting to consume the new information. Here she thought about the times she won a fight – it was because she was determined to find Orihime. When she lost that fire by trusting Uryu, Suki didn't win her battles. In exasperation, Suki clenched up her fist and glowered at Atsuko.

Finally, Suki responded, "So, what crappy movie did you steal that line off?"

Atsuko immediately growled in annoyance, "I didn't steal any line damn it!"

A/n: And the mysteries intensify... nah just kidding... this is one of the training chaps. Unfortunately we have a few of these to go and I'm not exactly proud of them.

Bleh.

05-04-2015*

Ciao!

Please review.