I grunted under the strain and force of Chad's attack. Somehow, I had managed to hold my own so far, but it frustrated me that every day, he was getting stronger and stronger. At my current speed of growth, I was falling behind. Comparatively, Chad was pretty powerful, though not powerful enough to take on Espada.

I glared and then used my legs to shove him back. I leaped back from him as he charged at me again. In mid air, I turned to face him as he jumped at me. I brought my Zanpakuto out and blocked his strike again but the force flew me even higher into the air. I tried to gather my energy to create an invisible platform that I could push off of, but I was unable to. I gritted my teeth as I rotated and started my descent towards the ground.

Despite the sting of the rushing air in my eyes, I managed to see where I was heading. A raised stone pillar, and fairly tall at that. I brought my arms out then quickly tucked them in, spiraling my position to land on it a bit better. After being tossed around these past few days like this, I had gotten better at aerial rotations and movements, but I knew that I was a far cry from what most shinigami could do. Even Ichigo, with only his instinct, could do better than this.

I looked back at Chad who had just landed on the ground, several paces away. I tched, running over the pillar and then leaping to another one, a short distance off. I lept farther and farther away, finding a wide valley before finally stopping on the other side, keeping my eyes peeled for Chad.

"Running away?" I heard and nearly lept out of my skin in fear and surprise.

"Yoruichi-san," I grumbled, quietly. "Don't scare me like that." I scowled at the black cat at my feet.

"If all you do is run, then you won't get anywhere," she said before stretching.

"I can't just face brute strength like that. I'll be pulverized in a heart beat," I complained.

"Then nullify the strength. Tire them out. By running away like this, the enemy can chase you at their leisure while you tire yourself out," she said and I harrumphed. Her explanation made it seem like Chad was being a cunning fox while I was a panicking chicken.

I looked around then wondered why Chad hadn't already appeared. Then I heard shouting in the distance, and I cocked my heard in confusion. Without asking a word, I lept from my current position and stealthily followed along the pathway I had come till I stopped as a loud crash was heard and I covered my face before the rubble from a nearby explosion could get in my eyes. With a bit of curiosity, I walked around another pillar then stopped as my eyes gathered in the info before me.

Somehow, Renji had come in and was now engaging Chad. I inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. Since we had begun this training, I would fight with Chad during the day, while Renij took him on after he returned back to the shop. I left them, not willing to join them in their bout. I had enough of my fill today.

I spotted Yoruichi nearby and cocked my head in question. Why did she stick so close to me. Was she evaluating my skills? I groaned. I had been slacking a bit lately, mostly due to being so sore after training with chad all this time. I even delved into my inner world. But try as I might, I couldn't get an inkling on what to do to release my zanpakuto to its shikai form. I began to wonder if I would ever reach that or if I was a regular ordinary 'shinigami' who got lucky to have a zanpakuto, but never reach shikai and heaven forbid, bankai. As I felt the mantle of despair, I also felt a hand clamp down on my shoulder.

"Daijoubu. You are getting stronger." I looked back at Yoruichi. Had my frustration and despair been that apparent? She leaned back upright and folded her arms as she smirked.

"You should take up Kisuke's offer to train you," she said and I chewed on my lip.

"I don't..." I began but she cut me off.

"I know. But he has a way with training that is tailored to everyone he takes on," she said. I thought about it, but I still felt like it was wrong. She sighed then walked past me.

"When you are ready, he is waiting," she said.

"Not now," I managed to reply softly. She nodded once in recognition to my reply, but said nothing more.