The Black Phoenix
Chapter 13: Beast within
She turned and walked away, her jacket billowing behind her. Ulquiorra, Grimmjow and Stark flanking her. "I was never aware you could use our Zanpaktou also." Stark said, and Kage chuckled. "The first I ever met was Pantera. Etapa came to comfort me when I passed out on the battlefield." She said not turning her head, she could feel the growls of the Zanpaktou as they exchanged ideas over making Ichigo sorry for scaring her. "He is lucky that it was
Murciélago that acted first. Few of the others have his restraint." Ulquiorra's eyes widened in pride, she complemented his Zanpaktou. The four walked into their hall. Kage dropping onto a large pillow. 'I can't believe he actually got in my face like that.' Her thoughts raced the Zanpaktou were still growling, suddenly she wasn't sitting on her pillow anymore warm strong arms were coiled around her and she felt the power in them. "Grimmjow.." She whispered before her nerve broke and her emotions got the better of her. Her tears were silent but her shudders were hard. She blew her nose on a kerchief she pulled from her pocket and leaned against the Lorde. "Sorry for the overload, Guys. Its hard. Everything is pulling me in a thousand different directions all at once it seems.". "Hn." "Ah." "Heh." She laughed at the three, not one of them were looking at her but the sounds were amusing.
Days passed quickly for the new 5th squad captain. She was trying to earn the trust of her squad, and train with the three arrancar. Her symbol was a black crescent moon. As she no longer had a Lieutenant. She asked Ulquiorra to step in as her lieutenant. She got Coyote to be her third seat and Grimmjow as her 2nd lieutenant. Her squad was completely designated to protect the inner Seireitei. She watched Grimmjow train her new requites and noticed a familiar face among them. She walked down the stairs and Steel saw her and the clothing she sported including her Captain's jacket. And she saw his mouth drop open. "Good morning all, I am your captain Tsukakage Ukitake. You will be working with arrancar and the substitute soul reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. If you have problems with this, kindly remove yourself from the squad."
Several of her former classmates left. Yet Steel stayed, he wanted to know how she had become a captain in such a short time. She went through a short speech introducing the arrancar and herself. "Now to move on to the burning question I see in your eyes. How did one such as myself become a captain in such a short time living in the Seireitei? Its because I have a special power and I fought the former captain Kaname Tousen and killed him in battle. I am the woman who is recognized as Kenpatchi Zuraki's daughter. I am sister to Genryusai Jushiro Ukitake the captain-commander. I have seen and been in combat with both arrancar and the former soul-reapers Gin Ichimaru and Sosuke Aizen." The members of the squad were in awe of their captain's words. "Um, Captain?" Someone asked from the crowd below. "Yes?"
The voice got stronger. "Dos that mean you have used and mastered your Bankai?" She smiled. "Used it yes, Mastered it, that's another story. One does not master Bankai without shedding some blood, sweat and tears. I am working on mastering my Bankai. So I will be training right along side you. I know Hueco Mundo better then any other Captain due to the training I received under Stark here. We are not a heavy combat unit like the 11th squad where I came from. Instead we are the glue who holds the squads together. You will be training with other squads every day of the week save Sundays, and those are to ensure the chores and paperwork around here is kept up with. Every other week you will get a day to train yourself and discover if what you have learned can be turned into a strength. Squad Five is charged with protecting the inner Seireitei. So we must learn from those more experienced then us, on how to do so properly."
She received cheers from the squad below and with that she departed leaving the arrancar to divide the squad and assign sleeping quarters. She retreated to her office and began her paperwork, by the time she was finishing up a light tap was heard on her door. "Yes?" She asked and the door slid open to reveal Grimmjow. "Its time for dinner." She grinned at him and set her papers aside. "Good timing I just finished." The arrancar's chuckle sounded down the hallway. "Lets go." He said and they walked down the hall towards the dining room. When they entered and she took her place at the head of the table, the cooks brought out the food and they began eating. Several days passed she had not found the key to retake her Bankai form. There was an emergency in the human world and Squad 5 was part of those they sent to handle the sudden mass of hollows. Five Captains and their lieutenants stood at the gate. Kage laughed as she passed Byakuya on a cloud of cherry blossoms. Toshiro chuckled as they passed into the living world, the feeling of the hollows caused the humor to vanish.
The fighters found themselves outside the Kurosaki house and clinic. Issun stuck his head out and a grin lit up his face. "Hello Pretty one." Kage laughed. "Hi, Issun." He came out of the clinic and noticed the two arrancar who flanked the woman. "I see you got your dream." She chuckled. "If you only knew Issun." Ichigo appeared then and she was surprised to suddenly be pounced on by a stuffed lion. Kage blinked then it talked. "Hello Beautiful.." She squealed and threw the lion at Ichigo, hiding behind Byakuya. "What the ever loving hell!" The Captains all looked at Grimmjow who grinned. Kon made a face. "This is Kon a mod soul who helps out." She sighed. "Next time you pounce on my chest soul-boy... I'll give you to Grimmjow to show you what a real cat can do." The stuffed lion shivered. They walked the streets when Kage stopped cold outside the Urahara shop. Her eyes were cold and distant, she turned her back on the shop. "I am not going inside." She growled. Ichigo winced realizing she still hadn't forgiven Urahara.
The door to the shop opened and Jinta stepped out with Rukia. "Well if it isn't Captain Ukitake." Kage snorted. "Can the title Rukia." The black haired woman chuckled. Before she could say anything else hollow detectors went off. "Well looks like its time to get to work." Renji said. The substitute team and the reinforcements from Seireitei all headed out to the given locations. When they got there they spread out to cover the greatest area and started to move through the district. Kage was on the roof of a closed down hospital when she felt it, a change in the spiritual pressure around her. Several winged hollows appeared. A guy suddenly burst onto the rooftop and she looked at him in slight shock. "Fear not beautiful maiden! Don Kanoji will protect you." She was stunned as he hit a couple of the hollows she pulled her sword and sliced through a couple. More dive bombed them and Kage was thrown into the railing. She shook her head to clear it when one smashed into the railing next to her and she fell over the edge. As she fell she heard the angered bellow from above. She smiled and felt heat flow through her blood. "Murciélago." She murmured and the transformation took over. She pumped her wings and circled the building. Large white bat-like wings, two tuft tipped tails with rings and her paw like feet returned. Her large triangular ears swiveled to catch sounds as she flapped her wings.
As she gained speed she curled her fingers and claws emerged from her finger tips. She felt several signatures on the roof now when she swooped down and sliced her way through. She didn't see the shock cross the faces below her as she sliced her way through several hollows. "Senbonzakura!" The sky was full of cherry blossoms. "Lets do this!" Kage dove for the remaining hollows. The petals swirled around her. "Ten thousand blades!" The petals swarmed around her slicing everything before her to pieces. Her wings flared and she hovered as the petals danced around her. She angled her wings and floated down to stand on the railing. Her silver hair dancing on the wind. "Well... At least I won't get yelled at this time." She held her hands up to the sky and the petals changed directions and flowed around her in glowing streams and ribbons. "Kage!" She flinched and turned to look at the assembled men. She lowered her head. "Damn it..." She muttered. The man with glasses was looking at her in awe. Her paws remained balanced on the thin rail as she turned to face them.
She stepped off the railing and onto the roof. The men came forward when she felt it and growled. She jumped backwards over the railing and twisting her body the wings opened and she was lifted into the sky out of reach. The soul-reapers were surprised by her actions. When the wall exploded and a hollow followed her into the sky. She flapped her way ahead of it and suddenly an eery feeling of spiritual pressure came from her. "See you next life!" A brilliant blue Cero caused the hollow to boom nicely. She floated down again panting for air. "Holy crap! Those take some oomph! Wow Grimmjow and Ulquiorra are serious power houses to lob those off with ease." Grimmjow's teal eyes were blown wide, his being vibrated from the intensity of his feelings. He went to catch her only to be thwarted by someone else. She landed on top of a skeletal serpent. "Zabimaru, nice to see you again." She said tiredly. Crazy girl, I am here to make sure you are not hurt. "I'm tired but okay." He carried her down to Renji who carefully removed her now detransformed state. "Hey Kage." Soft breaths were all he got as a reply. His captain and the others appeared surrounding them. Issun sighed. "She can rest at my place." They brought her back to the Kurosaki house and Grimmjow stayed to guard her while the others returned to patrolling and cleaning the hollows out of the area. Grimmjow climbed onto the substitutes bed and cuddled against the sleeping woman. Using his body like a shield between her and the door. "Mmmm Grim-kitty." She sighed contentedly and reached over to scratch his head gently. Grimmjow's teal eyes went to half and he started to purr softly.
She snuggled into his chest as her sleepy fingers wove themselves into his vibrant hair. He purred and she slid further into sleep feeling totally safe against the Pantera. Ulquiorra wished he had stayed behind with Kage. "Kurosaki, do you have a death wish?" Ichigo chuckled. "Maybe, but I want to know what the fuck made Kage, the second nicest girl I know refuse to even see hat-n-clogs." Ulquiorra had to admit he too was curious. Toshiro asked where they were headed. "To figure out what the fuck hat-n-clogs did to make Kage avoid him like the 11th plague." Soon most of the Soul-reapers and three quincy wanted to know. They all gathered in Urahara's shop. "Oh I didn't realize I was going to have visitors today.. What can I do for you?" Shunsui glared at his friend. "What did you do to Kage, why won't she come near you now?" Kisuke looked down and sighed. "I screwed up.. Really bad.." Eyebrows raised. "What foolish thing did you do in order to get the most forgiving creature, who even forgave me, to refuse you?"
Kisuke sighed meeting Ulquiorra's eyes. "When she was taken from the shrine I figured I would go looking for her.. Yoruichi accompanied me and everything was fine until the night before she apparently found her way back to Seireitei.. Yoruichi and I had several drinks and when I awoke the next morning.. I had betrayed the woman I had handed my heart to.. I don't deserve her forgiveness." Many of the men exchanged glances, now things made more sense. "What are you going to do if this Yoruichi person and my sister cross paths one day?" Shivers ran down certain backs. "If you don't tell her what really happened you are going to cause her more hurt in the long run." Kisuke nodded. Hisana groaned. "And you may want to try talking to her in a place you don't mind getting torn up.. And probably before she gets back to that Zaraki guy." Nods and amused smiles from most of the people who knew her.
Back at the clinic Grimmjow's purring form was now totally tucked against the still breathing captain. A new form entered the room only to meet the enraged teal eyes of the Pantera. "The fuck do you want?" Gin bowed to the arrancar. "I need to try and fix this.. Rangiku is my everything and I have to tell her what happened." A soft sigh. "Grim-kitty." She mumbled to soft for anyone but Grimmjow to hear. "Your not fucking disturbing her. She's tired from using a new attack." He flipped out his black phone and Gin could see a carefully drawn version of his pantera form on the cover. Ulquiorra's phone rang and he opened it. "What is... WHAT!" The spiritual pressure that rolled off the arrancar was staggering. "I'll be right there." Orihime looked at him. "What's happening?" Ulquiorra was very angry but his words were smooth. "Ichimaru just broke into Kurosaki's bedroom where Kage was sleeping. Grimmjow called because he can't leave her undefended to fight him. She's still out." They all flashed away and Gin was getting ready to leap out the window only to be yanked out of it and tossed into the street. The Murciélago was fuming as he flapped his wings, Grimmjow's teal markings glittered as he jumped out the window holding Kage to him. "Here bat-boy. Get her outta here." The rather steamed Murciélago took the sleeping woman from the Pantera. She was bundled into the pantera's jacket and he turned and headed for the shrine. Ulquiorra landed there a few moments later and found the room that smelled like her, though it was almost undetectable. He settled her into bed then heard a soft voice call out to him.
"Ulquiorra? Where's Grimmjow?" The Murciélago tried not to give to much away so she wouldn't panic. "Someone disturbed him and the hothead needed to beat up a few hollows to calm down." A soft smile. "Ulquiorra? Will you keep me warm?" He went to change back. "Like that please? Your rather adorable like that." It was his first complement on his second form. He curled himself against her back and he felt her sigh in contentment. He used his tail to pull the jacket away and settle the blanket over her. She gently cuddled his fluffy tail tip to her cheek. If he could blush Ulquiorra's face would resemble Renji's hair. "Your very handsome like this Ulqui.." She dozed off still snuggling his tail. He folded one wing over her and felt one hand stroke over the thin flesh. "Ulqui..orra." A warm feeling coursed through him. It felt nice to be wanted.
Ulquiorra's eye opened when he felt spiritual pressures filter into the main room. He could faintly hear the snarling of the Pantera. Then the door opened silently and he was gazing at the 10th squad captain. "I'll watch over her if you want to help Kurosaki keep Grimmjow from screaming her awake." Ulquiorra nodded somewhat amused, finally someone understood how infuriating the Pantera could be. "Grimmjow will probably stomp.." They heard foot steps and the still transformed arrancar came inside nearly knocking aside the other captain. They heard him snarl and those eyes opened. She made sleepy finger grabs for him as he went into the bathroom and popped out in a pair of gray sleep pants. He snuggled himself against her and her fingers stroked through his long teal mane. She tugged his head against her body as his arm slunk around her waist. Then to both men's amazement they heard him purr. "Hope you had a good fight." She yawned. Grimmjow's teal eyes met Ulquiorra's emerald a slight nod was all he got. "Yeah kitten, was a good ass-whoopin. I feel much better." His tail lashed behind him and she smiled before snuggling her face back into his hair. "Good.. Snuggle time now.." A yawn and she was once again asleep clutching the Pantera.
It took a day of rest for her to move about unaided. Grimmjow's eyes rarely left her and when she brought him chicken noodle soup. The pair ate in comfortable silence. Issun and Ryuuken arrived not long after. "The hollow your after is playing hide and seek. It seems its tracking someone or something." The Captains were in a meeting on the other side of the temple. "And she has no idea that Ichimaru was there?" Byakuya sighed silently. "Unknowable, the Zanpaktou may reveal it to her if she asks. The fact he was able to get so close to her unsettles me." Nods on both sides of the monitor could be seen. "Something else struck me as odd." Stark said. The assembled reapers looked at the arrancar. "How was he not only able to get passed this many captains and Lieutenants, but us arrancar as well. Had Grimmjow not remained behind to guard Kage... We never would have been the wiser." Nods and Jushiro sighed. "Coyote. I implore you to speak to Grimmjow and Ulquiorra. I want them with her as much as possible. If they are not with her, who would be willing to devote time to this?" Most of the captains raised their hands. "Rangiku and I can easily work a rota out. She loves spending time with the girls for shopping and such. She would enjoy tours of the town from Kurosaki and his friends. I see no problem assigning one of us to her if the arrancar are doing other duties." The meeting broke up and they heard laughter. Kage was giggling as Hisana raised her broom to smack Keigou another one. "Foolish boy! How dare you peek!" Ichigo popped in the way and managed to calm down the raging priestess. "Keigou!" He flushed. "Sorry Ichigo. But your hanging out with some beautiful girls! Even if the redhead's boyfriend hates me." They realized Grimmjow was in a gigai. Kage glared. "You were being a peeking pervert! Your lucky our aniki isn't here or you'd get a beating." Issun came in.
"Now now girls, he's still just a teenager. Will you do this old man a favor?" Hisana and Kage nodded. "Will you go get Karin and Yuzu from my place?" They twins looked at each other then nodded smiling. The pair left with a smile and a waive. "Ichigo, your friends may want to avoid the girls for a bit." Ichigo looked confused. "I'm a doctor Ichigo. I can tell you its the wrong time of the month to anger them." All the remaining men turned white. The sisters were having fun deciding on what movie to watch later. Karin spotted them first. "Are you Hisana?" The younger of the two nodded. "This is my twin sister Kage." The younger girls blinked in surprise. The gothic woman was so totally different from the priestess. The two sets of twins strode down the road finding all sorts of things to speak of. "We know what its like to lose someone.. When we were five our parents were killed by one of the masked monsters." Neither was sure Ichigo had told the girls much. "How did you both become so strong?" Kage grinned. "I'm like Ichigo. I'm a soul reaper." Hisana smiled. "I'm a Quincy. I know you might no understand those terms but. We trained hard to get this far." They were walking when both of the older girls stopped them. "Do you feel that?" Karin nodded. "That foreboding feeling is the sign of a hollow emerging into the world." Yuzu rubbed the goose-pimples on her arms. "That is the sign you feel it to." Hisana showed her her own arm and her hair too stood on end.
They were surrounded by what seemed like endless hollows. The older twins were trying to defend the younger pair. Kage threw herself between an attack and Yuzu. Kage realized she had a soul pill in her pocket. She popped it into her mouth and forced it down. A form emerged from her body. White hair gleamed as did swirling inhuman eyes. A pair of skimpy shorts and a halter top made up the figure's clothing. "Kage?" The figure smiled. "Yes. Shall we?" Her zanpaktou sparkled. "Hyorinmaru!" The beautiful dragon appeared. "Beautiful one. I need aid." The dragon cried and vanished. A light raced towards them but it was deflected by a crimson shield. "We dare not retreat or innocent people could die." Hisana's bow dealt destruction. Kage called out and flapped away on Murciélago's wings. She tossed a Cero and the resulting explosion was terrifying.
The soul reapers and arrancar were just finishing an update meeting when the dragon burst into the room. "Mirror dance!" called Toshiro. The dragon coiled round and round then they could see the park near the Kurosaki's house decimated by battle. They could see both Karin and Yuzu, dirty but alright. Hisana struck down anything that came to close. They saw Kage take the hit and skid across the ground. A cry for help could be heard. Then a blue light came out of no where and the mirror went dark. "Come quickly!" They flashed out arriving just after the second Cero hit. They saw the scantily clad figure when the huge hollow surged the sword transformed into a beautiful glave. "I sunder thee, return now to the light!" The green Cero exited her blade and decimated the hollow to ash. "This is my limit.." "Kage!" Grimmjow's voice rang and the new figure turned. "Grimmjow. You are one fast cat." She dropped to one knee and both were suddenly there. She panted harshly. "I've used to much power while being injured.." The hollow retreated with a yowl of rage. "It wasn't.." She panted then passed out into the Pantera's waiting arms. When they had returned to the temple Hisana cleared up Kage's rasped message. "The hollow wasn't after us. It wanted the Kurosaki twins. It wasn't prepared to fight us."
Issun felt like the world just caved on him. If he had sent anyone else save one of the more experienced captains... His babies would be gone at worst dead at best.. Both options terrified him. The call back to the soul society had nearly deafened most in hearing range. Zuraki was on his way with a few others. The door opened and most of them gasped. Jushiro stepped inside with his remaining captains. "How are they?" A few sighs. "Kage took a soul pill and Ulquiorra noticed that she didn't have a chain. Her sword also changed shape.. Not like the first time.. This time it was a glave." The fourth squad captain worked on both girls then she noticed that she was being watched. The Pantera was leaning against the wall watching with the focused stare of a hunting predator.
She chuckled softly. "You were in time arrancar. They will be fine shortly." A harsh coughing and the fifth captain sat up. "Ugh. Should have taken Grimm with me.." She heard the purring turning her head to see the Pantera now an inch from her. "I was just thinking about you.." He chuckled. "Captain Ukitake?" Kage smiled. "Captain Unohana. Thanks for the help." Grimmjow carried her out to let Unohana work on Hisana without his staring or lashing tail. He carried her into the meeting and saw they looked at him with forming smiles. "Not dead.. But we might have an issue." They cleared her a chair and she was settled in. "What do you mean?" She looked at Issun. "They wanted your two.. But I think I know why.." Several leaned forward. "It occurred to me that The Kurosaki kids are like my sister and I. Part Soul-reaper part Quincy." Issun nodded. "Their mother was a very strong quincy. You know what I am." Kage nodded. "Our mother was the soul-reaper, our father the Quincy. Now, I saw it in the twins during our fight.. Their powers are forming.. I believe one will become a reaper the other a quincy." Jaws dropped. "It occurred to me that they will need my sister and I to train them. The bond between twins and their abilities is different from singles." Issun spoke after swallowing a few times. "And your sure?" Kage looked at him. "Yes. You can just barely feel their reitsu.. But, it is there." He left to speak to his girls, feeling the budding spiritual pressure within each. He returned to the table and sat hard. "She's right.. I can feel it to."