Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or it's Characters. Bleach (c) Kubo Tite
Chapter 51
I heard someone slide open the door and walk into the room. The old wood floors bended and reacted underneath the weight of the person that had entered the room. I felt someone, a large someone, climbing into my bed and laid on top of me. I was being crushed! I wanted to say, "Um hello? Someone is sleeping here. Get your own bed!" But the weight on me was so great, my lungs could not collect enough air to speak.
Oh but I let out a sneeze. People need to calm down and stop talking about me! I'm ok! So so! Someone save me?
"Hello?" I said with barely enough stregth to pull down the blanket. It revealed to be: Mr. Teesai?
I screamed. "Get off me! Get off!" I pleaded.
Teesai said nothing. He did not react, but instead continued to lay on top of me. I struggled and moved side to side. He grabbed my shoulders to hold me still. "Stop!" I squealed.
"Do you hear screaming?" Azuna asked while walking with the group.
"Maybe someone is getting something amputated?" Ryusuke suggested.
"Why are you on top of me?! Let me go! This is weird! Get off me! No! Don't touch me like that!" Screaming could be heard from down the hall.
"That voice sounds like that brat's voice." Tanaka said as the rest of the group ran ahead. Tanaka was still walking at a normal pace and was left behind.
Byakuya and his father were the first ones in the room. Ukitake, Azuna, Ebara, and Aramaki were next to arrive. Tanaka took his time walking to the room everyone had rushed to. The group was shocked at the sight they were met with!
"Feel the wrath of the Kazehana clan! 1000 years of pain!" I screamed as I, um, did something to Mr. Teesai. With my fingers...
"AH!!" Teesai yelled. "Please, I was told to keep your body temperature up since your body was weakened."
"How dare you speak such heresy! My body temperature was fine! And if it wasn't, just get me an extra blanket like a normal person! No one asked you to lay on top of me!" I shouted as I threw a pillow at him.
"Captain Urahara ordered me to keep your body temperature up by laying on top of you." Teesai said with honesty.
"Looks like more names are getting added to my 'To fight' list." I said in a low growl while shaking my fists..
"Please, everyone must stop fighting." Ukitake tried to break up the fight. "I'm sure it's all a great misunderstanding. Kazehana-chan, you need to rest."
"Yes, rest and get ready for your fight with Ryu-kun" Azuna cheered.
"I'll tell you what. For our fight, if you can land one good hit or make me bleed a few drops a blood? You win." Ryusuke said arrogantly.
"I wonder how well you can wear that Kenseikan if you walk away from our fight bald." I said with a devilish voice while giving out my "evil witch lady" laugh.
"Hmph. I'm giving you one week to recover your energy and get ready. Then, afterwork, it's one on one at the Kuchiki training grounds." Ryusuke stated with a 'bring it on' smile.
"Oh, here's some dango we got for you." Azuna said as she set them down on the table that was next to my bed. I stared at them suspiciously. Byakuya walked up to the table and took one of the skewers of dango and ate it.
"Bya-chan, those are for Hisana-chan." Azuna sighed.
"He's checking them for poison." Tanaka said from outside the room.
"They're not poisoned." Azuna and Ryusuke said at the same time.
"I'm not all that hungry. I lost my appetite when Teesai got on top of me." I said as I glared at the bespeckled vice captain. "I'm going to sleep."
I lifted up my blankets and got back into bed.
"The temperature of this room isn't good with that broken window. You should change rooms." Teesai suggested.
"I'm fine, it's fine." I said as I pulled the blankets over my head.
"Yes, we should let Kazehana-chan rest." I could hear Ukitake say.
"She doesn't look that sick." Tanaka said while walking with the group.
"She's probably just hiding how tired she is, so she wouldn't worry us." Aramaki suggested.
"That kid was able to beat up on that 12th division Vice captain." Tanaka said for his arguement.
"Oh, you can win against anyone that doesn't fight back." Aramaki shot at his comrade.
"Did she look like she was on the edge of death to you? She was up and fighting and threatening the 6th captain." Tanaka continued to argue.
"Kazehana-chan is only acting tough. Inside she's just a confused and scare young girl who doesn't understand the kind of world she's in. She's only been a shinigami for a few weeks! She hasn't even been in the Soul Society for a year yet."
Byakuya almost stopped as he walked. How did he forget so quickly that Hisana had only been a shinigami for a few weeks. Is he insane? Thinking of her as a shinigami that's been fighting for years? She did act strong and tough. Picking fights, losing her temper, were they all acts to hide something? Some fear or pain?
"I feel afraid." I said in a small voice. Smaller than a whisper. "I don't understand these people. They're strangers. They're strangers and I don't know them. Why is everyone crowding me? I need space. Being around people everyday is suffocating. I want to go back, back to my room where I can be alone. I can't stand too many people too often. I want to lock my door. Everyone needs to stay out. And stay away from me!"
I fell asleep. Where I could find my family again. Even if they're memories and shadows. I need them.
I was out of the 4th division and back and work. And do you know what tomorrow is?
"The day you fight with that captain." Rei sighed. "Yes, I've heard you count down all week. Don't break me again."
"Sorry about that. Don't worry, I thought of some unexpected battle tactics. Something I've been thinking of for a long time." I said.
"Like what? What can he not expect?" Rei asked.
"Well, shinigami fighting tactics are based of Samurai fighting mostly. Well, I'm going to change things up. I'm going to, fight like a ninja!"
"What the-!" Rei shouted. "Is that why you've been reading scrolls about ninjas in the castle? Are you going to throw smoke bombs and hide in trees?" Rei began to laugh wildly at me.
"You have to too, Rei." I told her.
"No way is that going to work." She shook her round bird head at me.
"I have a plan. A fantastic unexpected plan! But you'll have to trust me."
Tomorrow was my day off. That was my time to plan out my battle tactics. One problem is, I don't know what Kuchiki Ryusuke's zanpakuto is like. What base element, what kind of attacks does he use? I wonder if anyone could tell me. Yoruichi? She might point me in the wrong direction. I sat at my desk and stared opening a small beauty box I kept items in. I was actually looking for my writing brush, but I found the sakura hairpin that Ukitake had given me for my birthday.
I took the delicate pin and placed it in my hair. I looked in the mirror and saw that the hairpin was a pleasing contrast with my dark hair. I wonder how long he took to find and buy this pin. I took my hairbrush and brushed my black hair. My lips looked healthy, but there were still small pinches of pain I experienced. A memory danced in my mind. I remembered a sparring fight I had with my father. The wooden sword I was given was too big for me to wield, but I used it to fight against him.
He was a tall man. Dark hair, dark reddish brown eyes. Never afraid, or unsure of himself. He was always a passionate, sturn and strong man. Holding the large wooden in my small hands, I swung at my father. He would slowly dodge and deflect my attacks. Compared to him, I was just a bug on his shoulder. Even now, as a shinigami, I don't think I can defeat him. He wasn't just strong, he was a strong as monster. He wouldn't show off in front of people though.
My father could hold a katana lightly, with the tips of his fingers. Yet wield and fight with such confidence and strength. He never dropped his sword. Never became overwhelmed by an enemy, and never lost his battles. One time, when we were sparring with each other, he sneezed in my direction, and I went flying several feet. But before I could create and impact with the ground, he caught me. He apoligized for sneezing on me and carried me on his shoulders.
It wasn't often my father showed me affection. But there were quiet moments where he would send his whole day with me. I was so small, and could fit in his lap for long naps while he read papers. He did not speak much, but for the words he spoke, were so important. I always felt safe with he was near. Confident, comfortable. But now, I don't have him. Oh, Papa, I wish you were here to stand behind me.
I set down my brush and yawned. A light knock was heard at the door.
"Come in." I said while yawninga again.
"Hello, I thought I would pay you a visit." Ukitake said politely.
"You're not hear to talking me out of the fight, are you captain?" I asked.
"Oh, no. I just came here to talk you for for a little while, Kazehana-chan." He said while eyeing the pin in my hair. "It suits you."
"Hmm?" I hummed.
"The sakura hairpin." He said as he walked to my side and touched it.
"It does look nice." I said as I smiled. "But I don't think I have a kimono that goes well with this pin."
"Any, pink kimono should be ok." Ukitake suggested.
"No, not any." I shook my head at my captain. "You have a lot to learn about women and their kimonos. What, did you wish to talk about with me, Captain Ukitake?"
"In less than two weeks from now, you and I will be on assignment to the real world." He stated solemnly.
"Just you and me? Us? In the real--just us? Two?" I said frantically.
"Yes, I hope you it helps you reconsider my offer of your position during the war. It's just that you leading a squad with little experience could be disasterous for your and the members of that squad." He started to say.
"Why isn't, Vice captain Kuchiki coming?" I asked sadly.
"He is going to be busy with Vice captain meetings. Their secondary command is going to be vital during this crisis."
"Captain, I never really said thank you for saving my life earlier." I said.
"It's alright, I would have been very sad if you had died." He claimed.
"Thank you." I nodded. "Oh, I almost forgot. I was going to ask you. Do you know what Kuchiki Ryusuke zanpakuto is like?"
"His zanpakuto..." Ukitake went into deep thought. "The name of his zanpakuto is Shinsei na Hason (Holy damage). The power of his zanpakuto, is unique. It's base power is the power of light. It is a burning light that simply cuts through everything it meets. It's reach is legendary. One swing can cut down an entire forest. Shinsei na Hason is one of the most powerful zanpakutos to ever exist in Seireitei."
"That's, interesting." I said as I shook my head at myself. "Light."
"I doubt he would release his zanpakuto against you. It would end the battle too quickly and you would become injured." Ukitake said.
"We'll see." I said as I smiled devilishly.
I woke up early in the next morning. I thought I would just take my time today. I went back to sleep for a few more hours. I thought of a few plans to use while fighting Ryusuke. The strange power of his zanpakuto worried me. He must be powerful, more powerful than Byakuya. I would have to improvise most of this fight.
