All my blisters now revealed
In the darkness of my dreams
In the spaces in between us
"Take his head off, Captain!"
"Rip his flesh from his bones!"
"Show no mercy!"
"No mercy!"
"No mercy!"
"No mercy!"
Led by Squad Two's third seat, thousands of unified tongues wagged, all urging for the stone tiles beneath Trunks' feet to be stained with his blood. With a clench of Super Saiyan teeth, bioelectricity sparked before the eyes of every spectator, only to be subdued by a lone wave of opposing spiritual pressure. Silence ushered in as all gazes honed in on the tension amassed in the arena's focal point.
Darkness crept over the Seireitei, which triggered overhead lights to flash on. The combatants would have every action exposed under bright luminance. Though Trunks' eyes maintained their focus, his fingers twitched in and out of their natural fighting position.
In his solitude, he never regretted his refusal to clash with Soi Fon, even at his own expense. He only considered striking a woman if he had no other options; attacking someone who he held romantic inclinations toward was downright heinous. Yet she stood before him, poised and prepared as ever to pounce.
Desperation led him to search for a tiny gesture - a flutter of a brow that betrayed the rest of her being. He'd take anything that showed she didn't wish to fight just as much as he did. No such sign ever came. Her fists clenched with no hesitation, and her intensity calcified his muscles.
Why? Did she still hold residual anger toward him, or did her loyalty trump any concern for his personal stake in this tournament? Maybe he could've avoided their confrontation if he visited her barracks, but her callousness ate at his thoughts. Regardless, he sustained his solemn expression, a means to uphold the lie that he'd cross any line to keep his Zanpakuto.
"Are you ready?" Trunks jerked his head to Unohana, who disregarded her usual smile and erected an open hand above her head. He snapped back, then lowered himself into a fighting stance. Evasion was the only tactic that came to mind, but even with boosted speed from his Bankai, five minutes against Soi Fon would be dangerous.
As Unohana waved her arm downward, Trunks exhaled and relaxed his hands.
"Begin!"
Like their previous bout, she closed the distance first. He pressed an arm against the side of his head to guard against a roundhouse kick, and his memory helped him duck underneath a subsequent spin kick. She Flash Stepped behind him; Trunks spun in anticipation of a fist headed toward his face.
Neither the fist nor Soi Fon turned up in his sight. Once he realized she maneuvered behind him again, his ribs caught the full force of her shin. He stumbled back, but turned himself around to witness her lunge forward. With her fist pulled back, Trunks shifted his hands upward to guard the blow that cracked against his jaw once before. After she drew within striking range, Soi Fon lowered herself and buried a fist into his abdomen. Trunks' body bent forward while three more punches lifted him off of his feet. As gravity carried him downward, a kick to his chin caused him to tumble across the tiles.
He rolled upright as his foot reached the boundary, then soared into the sky. Once he stopped, Soi Fon appeared in his presence to bombard him with a flurry of strikes. Trunks found it more difficult to dodge her than in their initial fight.
Soi Fon's constant pressure led him down toward the ground, placing him with his back a meter above the dirt outside the ring. However, a final shot aimed to pummel him into the dirt passed through an afterimage. Trunks landed back into the ring, while Soi Fon used the moment to stand upright in mid-air.
The brief pause raised goosebumps along his arms. In the next second, she cut the distance and kicked his legs from underneath him. Before she swung her heel and broke tiles with his head, Trunks pushed himself away. As soon as he arrived in the ring's corner, Soi Fon showed up in his face.
His eyes widened in shock. He knew his reflexes dulled from months of inactivity, but her speed and agility took a sharper leap than he expected. If he wished to survive, he had to gain separation.
He raced to another side of the ring, only for her to keep up with him. No matter which section of the arena he escaped to, she read his movements and stayed within close range. Soon enough, Soi Fon made a preemptive arrival in every location he attempted to retreat to. His collected demeanor eroded without another attack directed at him.
Outside the ring, Ichigo clenched his jaw. "He can't keep playing defense like this. Why the hell doesn't he fight back?!"
"Put yourself in his shoes," Rukia said. Her head moved about as she kept track of the battle. "Would you be so willing to strike Orihime, even if your Zanpakuto was on the line?"
Ichigo grunted. "There's gotta be another way." He swiveled his head to Goten. "Any ideas?"
With his arms crossed and eyes fixed ahead, Goten remained silent.
"Hey!" Ichigo said. "This isn't the time to play deaf. If he doesn't do something now, he's screwed!" Unwavered, Goten did not respond, which prompted Ichigo to turn back to the battle. "Come on, Trunks. You gotta figure something out."
Soi Fon's mind games fed into Trunks' irritation. What did she seek to prove? Did she want to break him down before she beat him? Her cold eyes gave no malice, but they placed him at a distance from understanding her true intentions.
Why? His blood simmered every time he asked himself this question. Why was she so set on fighting? Why couldn't he open his mouth and form words?
He couldn't allow another thought to distract him. As she appeared behind him once more, Trunks swiveled around and flung a blast to the ground, creating a smoke screen across the ring. Once his feet left the ground to hop away, Soi Fon yanked him by the wrist and landed a right hook against his cheek. Several subsequent jabs snapped his head back and forth until anger grasped him. He shot a hand forth and snatched her fist, and after her other fist smacked against his palm, the two interlocked fingers. For a moment, a vicious aura rocketed from Trunks.
However, he quelled himself while Soi Fon continued her push for dominance. Blood trickled from his nostril as his arms bent toward his body and the tile beneath his feet splintered. Instead of allowing his temper to rise once more, sorrow took hold of him.
If this was the path she chose, then so be it. It was the least he could offer for the pain he caused her. Still, the persistent question nagged him once more.
Why? After the events of the day before, why did she fight with such fury, as if she still held animosity? Why couldn't things be simple between them?
However, Trunks' expression soon changed to one of bewilderment. To his surprise, Soi Fon's lips parted to reveal gnashing teeth. Her fingertips dug into his hands. Why would her mood sour when she held complete control of the battle?
Frustration. No matter if she won or not, a victory against a passive opponent would never sit right with her. A resistance to combat was equivalent to disrespect. After all, she was a warrior, just like him. It was a simple conclusion that he shielded himself from for far too long.
With clarity brought the uncomfortable truth. He couldn't bridge the space between them with words alone. Was the only path forward to engage? If he wanted to understand her, he needed to accept her in totality, even if it required him to take part in what he considered dishonorable.
Sparks flew from his body before he threw her hands off of his. After she stepped back, Soi Fon jumped and flung her leg at Trunks' head. Trunks ducked underneath, but grabbed her shihakusho and jerked her toward him. With his fist balled, he smashed an uppercut onto her chin. Her body spun in a full rotation before she landed on her feet.
Gasps halted the audience's deafening cheers. Meanwhile, Soi Fon straightened her posture, then massaged her chin.
"Not bad at all," she said before she lowered her hand. "I'm more stunned than hurt, really. What's the matter? Are the stakes too much for you this time?"
"It's not that." Trunks' hand trembled. He never thought he'd use it to strike her soft skin. Still, his fist settled once he reentered his fighting stance. "Let me make this clear: I will never be comfortable hitting you, but you're not gonna bully me around this ring."
"I already have, so what will you do about it now?"
"Beat you, of course. I think that's pretty obvious."
"Unless you intend to use more power, that statement is nothing but dreaming."
"I can't, actually. I haven't fully recovered from yesterday, but I still have a few cards to play."
"Then play them while you're still conscious."
Silence fell between the two as they continued to lock eyes. Faster than a blink, they disappeared from the ring. Above the stadium, the two combatants traded fists with one another. Several shockwaves tore at the ground below every time they collided. Hundreds of mouths gaped open as they flashed like lightning around the stadium.
Trunks, however, refused to be passive anymore. His relentless attacks forced Soi Fon to guard and evade. Aggression guided his attacks, and the guilt of his first blow vanished in a short amount of time.
His earlier dialogue with Yoruichi couldn't replace the insight he gained at that moment. Elation within him swelled once a grin spread across her lips, even while its cockiness matched his own. Though the match would serve as the cathartic death to their despair, instinct stripped away all nuance and outside distraction, leaving two fighters who wanted nothing more than a victory over the other.
As time passed, Soi Fon's speed prevented Trunks from making contact. He pressed forward until his hand phased through an afterimage. Once he spotted her below, he raced downward to the ring. As he drew near, dozens of speed clones materialized across the ring, all with their stare directed upward. Too close to blast the entire area, he brought his boot toward a clone near the center. Trunks passed through and slid to a halt along the tiles, only to turn and find Soi Fon standing in mid-air, at an arm's length away from Goten.
After an immediate dash, Trunks watched as she weaved past every high-speed strike he threw.
"Left… no, right!" Ichigo said. "Kick! Dammit, it's like you're trying to miss!"
After several strikes flew before Goten's solemn face, his lips finally curled upward into a smirk. "Jeez, Trunks. She's standing right here; just hit her already." Soi Fon swayed past another punch and escaped to the ring. "In case it wasn't clear, you're fighting her, not the air."
"First you don't wanna hit her, then you hit her, and now you can't anymore," Ichigo said. "Make up your mind already."
"Must be distracted by the side boob."
"Can't you guys be serious for once?" Rukia asked.
"It's okay," Trunks said. He turned his stare back to his opponent. "I've got a new technique I've been saving, anyway. I'm hoping it's pretty effective. It's called Getsu-go fuck yourselves."
Once Trunks darted back into the fray, Ichigo turned toward Goten. "Suddenly, I've found myself rooting for Soi Fon now."
"Who knew he had an attack that potent?" Goten said. He shifted to Rukia. "Guess you and Unohana are his only supporters now."
Rukia rolled her eyes. "It's hard to believe you two can joke at a time like this."
"Even if we weren't, could you blame us? She has him in the palm of her hand."
"No, that's not…" Rukia gazed toward the battle and followed as best as she could. "It's hard to follow them completely, but Trunks hasn't allowed her any space to attack. That has to count for something."
"Not really," Ichigo said. "The gap in their speed's been clear since the get go. Even the uppercut he hit her with was a freebie; he hasn't landed another hit since. I have a feeling that once she's ready, he's gonna get his ass handed to him-" Rapid booms splintered the ground before them. "Huh, didn't think it would be so soon."
An elbow to his jaw caused Trunks to reel backward. Soi Fon charged, but Trunks stopped her pursuit with an energy blast. She leaped upward, prompting Trunks to thrust his hand to the sky and direct his blast toward her.
As he chased behind his attack, he reached a conclusion he tried to brute force his way around for the duration of the fight. He possessed neither the physical prowess, the skill, nor the power to win.
Soi Fon swatted the blast toward him. Trunks sidestepped the attack, only for her to cut the distance between them and force him to guard against her blows. If only he had an extra boost to make up for his lack of god Ki.
His eyes widened, and he sent out an immediate telepathic message. "Ichigo, how do I use the mask?"
"Sorry, but I'm still shaken from that Getsu-go fuck yourself," he said.
"Not the time to be busting my balls. I could really use the help, please!"
"Alright, alright. I'm not sure it'll last long, though. I could only use mine for eleven seconds when I first had it."
"No offense, but you didn't have the best control over your spiritual pressure when we met."
Soi Fon clutched onto an arm Trunks left away from his body a second too long, then spun to fling him higher into the air.
"I don't care if it lasts two seconds, please just tell me how!" Energy blasts rained down from Trunks' hands in rapid succession, but Soi Fon navigated past each one as she made a hasty ascent.
"Place your fingertips at the edge of your hairline. Visualize your inner Hollow and feel its power in your hand, then claw down to your chin."
"Thanks." Trunks made a narrow escape from Soi Fon until she made a tight rotation to throw a kick at his body. He swiveled, and before her shin reached, he shot out an energy blast, then leaped back. Smoke dissipated to reveal that her crossed arms shielded her from any damage, all while her grin remained intact.
"I waited all this time, and that's all you've got?" she asked.
Trunks returned a smile. "Cut me some slack. My last fight wasn't enough to get me back to my old self. You're just having fun wailing on me, aren't you?"
"Knowing that you won't last much longer, it's bittersweet. You're still holding something back."
"I've been going full throttle, but if anyone's been holding back, it's you. Don't act like you haven't bumped up your speed since we got serious."
"Did you know your nose twitches when you lie?"
"What? No, it doesn't. You're making that up… right?" Trunks rushed a finger to his nose, then mumbled to himself. "Is that how Mom can always tell?"
"That's besides the point. Whatever trick is up your sleeve, use it now."
"Fine, fine. But I promise, I was giving it my all. I only learned this a minute ago."
Trunks raised his hand, but just after it crossed his eyes, he hesitated. A deep breath soothed him before his hand carried onto his forehead. He could do it. He wouldn't lose himself this time.
The image of his inner Hollow crossed his mind, and he placed all his focus on controlling its feral power in his fingertips. Dark energy discharged from his palm and thickened the air throughout the stadium.
Soi Fon raised her brows, then narrowed her eyelids. "You'd willingly release your Hollow powers in the Seireitei, of all places?"
"I didn't know you were so focused on optics. Are you judging?"
"I'll only judge if you don't make me sweat."
"Not a problem." Trunks gritted his teeth, then clawed down his face, dawning his mask. The ground beneath quaked, and his aura flared outward as he let out a distorted howl.
In an instant, the tiny amount of god Ki his body recovered had depleted. His mind acknowledged these two power sources worked against each other for a second, only for a rush of adrenaline and energy to electrify his veins.
Soi Fon Flash Stepped beside him and threw out a fist, but Trunks' finger stopped her knuckles before they reached his face. Once he pushed her punch away, a barrage of attacks came his way. Through his yellow irises, he processed her movements at a quarter of the speed they once appeared, which helped him bypass each punch and kick with ease.
A step inward past a backhand led Trunks within a breath's distance of her, where he landed a half-inch punch into her abdomen. Soi Fon dug her heels across the sky, but stopped when she bumped into Trunks' back. She gasped, but clenched her teeth and spun around to kick. He vanished before her foot touched him, then encircled her with several afterimages.
"You know, say what you will about Hollows, but this power feels incredible," Trunks said.
Soi Fon grinned. "You sound like you're enjoying yourself. Is that because you're winning?"
"Kinda. It's mostly because I made you sweat, as promised."
"I'd hardly call two droplets sweating, but I digress." Soi Fon shot an open hand outward. "Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!"
A golden chain appeared from above and wrapped around Trunks' body, halting any further movements. "Ooh, nice catch."
From her palm, an orb of yellow energy formed. "Hado #33: Okasen!"
A concentrated beam fired and struck an immobilized Trunks, creating an explosion that concealed her visibility. Soi Fon narrowed her eyes, but discovered through the dissipated smoke that Trunks disappeared once again. She turned her head left and right to find him until a voice called out from above.
"Incoming!" Soi Fon lifted her head, but Trunks' boots smacked across her cheek, driving her downward before she crashed into the ring's center. As the ground rumbled from the impact, a mushroom cloud of dust bubbled beneath his feet.
Trunks huffed out a heavy sigh, then slipped down into the dust. He had his fun and proved himself enough. A calm ring out would serve as a satisfying conclusion to the high stakes of the tournament, as well as the explosive chapter between them.
A fragment of his Hollow mask chipped away from the cheekbone. Confused, Trunks stopped and brushed his hand over it. Why would his mask crack when he barely depleted his energy? Searing pain across his finger led him to pull his hand away from the mask. Upon further inspection, blood dripped down into his palm.
"What the hell-" Pressure from below caught his attention. The surrounding cloud of dust swirled around him.
"Shunko!"
The dust blew away to display Soi Fon, risen from the rubble and shrouded in pellucid spirit energy. Frenzied gusts forced Trunks to squint. At a distance closer to the Shakonmaku than the stadium, it was remarkable that winds tore at his skin from her energy alone.
The increase in power held the same weight as a Bankai release. No, it would be more accurate to compare her technique to the Kaioken times ten. As someone who'd been deceitful multiple times throughout his life, he knew she played him, yet all he did was give kudos.
She vanished, and once he shot his gaze above to find her, a fist crushed into his eye. Without control, he tumbled to the ground as half of his mask shattered into the wind. Even while his pain pulsated around his skull, a swooning heart spread joy across his face. His admiration grew as she sped downward to deliver another punishing blow.
"Dammit… Goddammit."
During his free fall, he drew two conclusions. The first was that he fell for a woman that could kick his ass, a feature that attracted him by surprise, even if it led to his downfall. The second was that every sentence Soi Fon spoke, every mannerism, her self-assertive and arrogant nature, and even the way her eyes scanned over her environment, breathed life into his being. If he allowed himself to walk away from the match without an attempt to connect with her, he'd regret it until the end of his days. Though smitten, he'd be damned if he abandoned his pride and let her win.
Trunks plummeted onto his feet, then sprang out of the way to avoid a crash course with his opponent. After Soi Fon slid into the ring, the two lunged at one another and collided with fists. Trunks recoiled, but flung himself back in for more. Shockwaves thundered as they matched each other blow for blow; the remains of the platform beneath disintegrated with every strike they hurled. Trunks transferred more energy into his limbs, but it remained a struggle for him to hold his ground.
Ducking underneath his punch, Soi Fon clutched his arm, then fling him over her shoulder, slamming him through the floor. When she pulled her hand back to attack, Trunks fired off a blast that forced her to back away. The space allowed him to spring to his feet, but Soi Fon appeared beside him and landed two quick jabs across his face. A current of wind circled around her right arm before she sank a hook punch into Trunks' stomach. He cried out while the force of the blow carried him near the edge of the ring.
Face down, he struggled to lift himself on all fours. A sensation akin to twisted organs forced a hand to cling to his stomach. Dry coughs transitioned to heavy breaths as he rose to a knee. The sweat that dripped from his uncovered forehead signaled that his unconditioned body neared its limit.
"I've watched you shake off harder hits than that," Soi Fon said. He stumbled up from the floor, only to spot her with her hands on her hips. "If that's all you can stand, then I suggest you walk backwards until you touch dirt. It'll only take a few steps."
A smirk crossed Trunks' face. "I should just give up because you hit hard?" His teeth clamped together while he balled his fists. "Not a chance. Not a chance in hell!"
Golden rage and electricity exploded before he dashed forward. A burst of movement led him behind her, but a swift heel smacked his skull when he arrived. Trunks dug into his heels, then reversed his momentum to smash his knuckles against Soi Fon's jaw. She shot her head back toward him, then rammed another fist into his midsection. Trunks withstood the attack, then countered with his own punch to her gut.
His will alone anchored him in place. He abandoned guarding her strikes to make sure he reacted fast enough to pay each one back to her. The damage toll continued to add, but pride and adrenaline allowed him to look beyond it.
Trunks threw out a knee aimed at her ribcage, but Soi Fon leaped above it, then pushed off to catapult herself away. Before he chased her down, she touched down and launched a wind current from her arm. Trunks darted into the air, only for the current to change its trajectory and follow him. Approaching too fast for him to outrun, he slammed his wrists together, creating a yellow orb between his palms.
"Final Flash!" The blast exploded outward and dwarfed the current. Both its size and intensity tinted the area's color.
"Is he insane?!" Rukia asked. "He'll kill us all!"
"Insanity driven by desperation," Goten said.
Soi Fon watched as the blast encroached on her, then acted when it came close to impact. "Bakudo #81: Danku."
The translucent barrier erected in time to collide with the blast, and the ensuing eruption clouded Trunks' sight. To make matters worse, Soi Fon restricted her spiritual pressure. His eyes moved in all directions, trying to find any movements in the smoke.
His ears caught the slightest noise of piercing wind beneath him, and Trunks moved in time to only suffer a sideswipe. Racing past him, Soi Fon contorted her body to attack once more, but Trunks flung out his arms and repelled her with an energy push. Before she regained balance, he dashed after with his fist chambered by his body. Soi Fon stopped herself, then kicked off of the air to propel forward with her fist cocked.
He channeled all his remaining power into his hand. All of his passion, his shame, and his hope would fuel one last attack. He could only pray that she would reciprocate. The fire in her gaze once they neared told him everything. Once he saw she sought the same, he gave her his all.
His fist crushed into her cheek, while hers burst through his mask. A shockwave surged outward, destroying any remnants of the ring and molding a crater in its wake. Yachiru, Captain Unohana, and all the other spectators braced themselves for the winds and debris that blew in all directions.
When the air calmed, Rukia lowered her arms from her face, then fixed her eyes upward. "Did he do it?"
Shattered remains of a Hollow mask floated into the crater. The two fists slid off the cheeks each one struck.
Ichigo exhaled through his nose. "Damn…"
Goten's arms remained crossed. "Well, it's not like we didn't expect this."
Trunks' eyes rolled into the back of his head. Lavender hair sank as gravity led his body away. Before he took the plunge, a hand caught his wrist.
Seated before a front row, Yachiru rubbed her eyes of dust and dirt. "Is it over?" Once she opened her eyes and raised her head, a smile lit across her face. She rushed the microphone to her mouth. "Ladies and gentleman, I think we can skip a ten count! Our winner by knockout is… Captain Soi Fon!"
No celebration, nor an expression of victory, appeared from Soi Fon. Instead, her chin sank to her chest as she rested her somberness on his limp body. After a deep breath, she released Shunko, then descended with him. Reishi cushioned their landing next to the hole in the earth, where she shifted her hands to set his body down, then cradled his head in her palm before she laid it on the dirt.
The distant sound of pained groans prompted her to stand upright. Across the stadium, captains and lieutenants assisted lower-ranked Soul Reapers crushed by the pressure of the brawl.
"Mother? Where did you put… my head?" Karasu said, with his body folded over a chair.
Omaeda rushed to his aid. "Stay with me! You're gonna make it!"
"Oops," Soi Fon said as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Maybe we should've held back-"
Lone cheers and applause from Yoruichi hurled out from a distance. Soi Fon winced with embarrassment before her eyes flowed away and upward. Once they met Yamamoto, he nodded his head at her.
"At least he tried," Yachiru said. "Trunks' loss means that scaredy-cat Hanataro will have another shot at advancing to the final round. Who will his opponent be?"
"He lost? That's impossible." Soi Fon furrowed her brows and turned to Unohana. "Surely that lasted longer than five minutes."
"It definitely did," Goten called out. "By the time I counted to 300 seconds, Trunks just started throwing punches. Missing punches, but still throwing them."
"So that's why you didn't talk before," Ichigo said.
"If I said anything, I'd lose count, and I'd have to start over."
"You're correct in your assumption, Captain," Unohana said. "I timed the match to end at fourteen minutes and thirty-seven seconds."
Soi Fon's eyes grew wide. "Fourteen minutes?! Why didn't you stop it?"
"It wouldn't feel right to prematurely end a bout when the two of you were enjoying yourselves. I've never seen you display that level of enthusiasm."
Soi Fon sucked her teeth. "I guess it's good that the judging wasn't left solely to Yachiru."
"Ah, my fucking head." She turned to the rustling next to her to find Trunks rising with a hand attached to his temple. "Gonna feel that one in the morning… again."
"You shouldn't get up so soon."
"Eh, I'll be fine. Bruises and concussions usually sort themselves. How's your jaw?"
"A bit of a sting, but far from a serious injury. If you were at full strength, I'd be in your position."
"I won't speak on a hypothetical, but you had my number from the start, so thanks for taking it easy on me. Without that, I'd be watching Zangetsu go up in flames."
"There's no need for thanks. You survived through your own efforts, even if they were sloppy."
Trunks chuckled. "I'll be sure to tighten up my punches before we fight again."
"Didn't you say you weren't comfortable fighting me?"
"Well, yeah. But I don't think I've ever found a fight as fun as that, even if I got my face pounded in."
Soi Fon crossed her arms. "I suppose I haven't either. I'll look forward to a rematch."
"Awesome." The corners of his lips made a slow downturn. "There's, um… something I gotta get off my chest."
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"I originally came here to talk to you, but I somehow got sucked into this contest. This has been a long time coming, but I'm sorry for the pain I caused and for running away from it. I'm not really sure how this tournament started, but I'm sorry I got you caught in the middle of it. If I could take it all back, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
Her eyes fell away for a second, but returned to him. "This isn't the most ideal place for this conversation, but you shouldn't apologize. I've had plenty of time to think, and I'm the one who should've understood you better. If I did, I wouldn't have forced us to fight, or screamed in your face."
"You did what you thought was right. I never knew that a swift kick in the ass would help me move past that shit I felt after Aizen, but it has now."
Her lips widened into a slight grin. "Better late than never." She turned and stepped away. "I suppose I should let you enjoy your victory. Your friends are probably waiting for you to celebrate."
"Hang on." Once she stopped and faced him again, he caught up to her and lowered his voice. "This might be a bit personal, but, well… Did you wanna go on a date with Shuhei or Karasu?"
She shut her eyes and grimaced. "I'd rather cut out my tongue and swallow it than spend time alone with either of them, especially if it's with one of my subordinates."
"Wow. It's that bad?"
"There are more graphic details I can give to describe my disgust, but yes, it's that bad. This entire event has been a nightmare from hell's depths."
Trunks placed his hands on his hips. "Well, I guess my job's not done yet. I have to win the tournament."
She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. "I don't follow. Why would you put any more effort into this ridiculous contest when the stakes are no longer high?"
"Because the stakes are high. Higher than before, actually. I think people should at least have a choice in who they go on dates with."
"But this game is rigged against you."
"And I'm still here. Whatever it takes, I'll find a way to first place. And if you wanna cheer me on tomorrow, that'll give me the boost I need."
"I don't cheer… But if you're serious, I expect you to keep your word. Don't disappoint me."
A Flash Step led Soi Fon to Yoruichi's side, leaving Trunks smiling to himself. "She never says bye; she just leaves when she's done talking. I guess Mom and I really have the same type."
Yachiru's voice pierced from the speakers above. "Attention everyone! Even though Trunks got beat up in a really painful and embarrassing way, he somehow lasted five minutes, which means he'll take the last spot for day two of our Tournament of Love. However, since we won't be postponing, I'll need a lot of volunteers to rebuild the ring. Make some noise if you'll help!"
Moans of agony hurled out from every direction.
"My legs!" a Soul Reaper shouted. "I can't feel my legs!"
"That's the spirit, everybody!" Yachiru said. "Now grab a shovel and fill up that hole!"
Wanting nothing to do with cleaning the mess he made, Trunks faced his friends. Ichigo and Goten already walked toward him.
"It's been a while since I've seen that smile," Goten said. "Either you're too happy about her dog walking you in front of a few thousand, or your conversation went well."
"I'd say the latter," Trunks said. "It feels good to be on speaking terms again."
"When you say that, do you mean you guys are friendly now, or is she gonna whip you back into shape with some 'late night training sessions'?"
Ichigo rested a hand on Goten's shoulder. "Slow down, Speed Racer. He's got a long way to go before he gets there."
Goten drew his head backward and turned to Ichigo with his eyebrows pushed together. "What? Slow down, Speed who?"
"Speed Racer… You don't know what that is? The anime from the '60s?"
"The '60s? Trunks, do you know what he's talking about?"
"Probably another one of his B.S. pop culture references."
Ichigo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Well, excuse me for sometimes forgetting you two come from a whole different universe."
"Nah, we're just fucking with you," Goten said. He yawned and stretched his arms. "I need a nap, but if you guys wanted to hang out later, then-"
"I'm sorry for intruding…" Goten's weary eyelids snapped open. His gaze averted to the tender voice before him - Isane. "But I have some news regarding tomorrow's events."
"News?" Trunks asked. "Is it about-"
Goten slapped his knuckles against Trunks' chest. He looked up at her with a welcoming expression. "Well hello, Isane. You look lovely this evening."
Her cheeks flushed into a light pink. "Oh, thank you. I don't think I did anything different to my appearance today."
"Well, whatever you're doing, it's working great."
Trunks and Ichigo rolled their eyes at each other before Trunks interjected. "Anyway, what was the news you were talking about?"
"Oh, sorry!" Isane said. "Some members of the Women's Association decided that it'd be best if we organize the events for tomorrow. Lieutenant Kusajishi threw this together on a whim without any of us knowing. In the interest of fairness, we asked each contestant to choose a game to compete in. The three games, followed by a mystery game, will decide the winner."
"Did the others choose already?"
"Yes, we asked them before the start of your last match. Lieutenant Hisagi chose a game of riddles, and Karasu chose five-on-five basketball."
Trunks' mouth fell open. "Basketball?! Seriously?!" When she nodded, he grinned and shook his head. "He listened to that podcast. He's challenging me, and I will violate him accordingly."
"The poor dumbass," Ichigo said. "I know we've got the three of us, but who's gonna be our other two?"
"We might have to bite the bullet on this one," Goten said. "It's probably gonna have to be Toshiro… and Renji."
"No, please," Trunks said. "Renji is horrible. He dribbles with both hands, bro."
"I know, but we can run our own offense. We just need bodies; he can at least rebound."
Trunks sucked his teeth. "I guess it'll work. Now, what game should I choose? I'm drawing a blank."
After a moment of scratching his head, Ichigo snapped his fingers. "A talent show!"
"A talent show?"
"Mhm, and I've got the perfect idea for you."
"Um, alright then. I'll choose a talent show."
"Will there be anything you'll need for your talent?" Isane asked.
"A grand piano," Ichigo said. "If you don't have one, we can always find a keyboard."
"I'm sure we have one collecting dust somewhere. I'll make sure we have a panel of judges to ensure an unbiased contest. We'll be starting at 8 a.m."
"And just to be sure. There are no strings attached, right? Gramps isn't gonna flambé anyone's Zanpakuto if they lose?"
"G-Gramps?"
Goten chuckled. "He's referring to the Head Captain. You'll have to excuse Mr. Kurosaki. He's what we call a heathen."
"And you're what we call a jackass!" Ichigo said.
"Anyway, you ladies are doing a great job running this thing. I hope I'll get to compete next time for a date with you."
She averted her gaze and brushed her hand through her hair. "Oh, my. That's so nice of you, but I'm sure there are other women that you'd be more interested in."
"Not at all. In fact, whenever you're free, I'd love to sit down with you and have tea."
Her eyes opened wide. "S-Sure! I think I'll be free on-"
"Woah, would you look at that," Trunks said. "Looks like Hanataro's foaming at the mouth. I think you better help him, Isane."
"Oh, no. Not again!" Isane sprinted off, leaving the three men to themselves.
"Why?" Goten asked. "You two should've been taking notes on how to execute."
"Because fuck you, that's why," Trunks said.
"Well, fuck you back. Do you get paid to be such a big hater?"
"It's in the royal genes. Not all of us are HETAP-sponsored college athletes. By the way, do they have a new line of tea coming out? Because as long as I've known you, you've never drank it."
"Actually, I had tea with Chojiro and Master Genryusai during our training for Hueco Mundo, and it was pretty good. I'm sure Isane and I will have a great time."
"What happened to you not looking for love?" Ichigo asked.
"Who said anything about love? I'm just trying to see if she's up for the friends with benefits route."
Trunks rubbed his hand over his eyes. "Chi-Chi and Gohan would be disappointed." He sighed, then shifted to Ichigo. "So, what song am I gonna play on the piano?"
"It's a classic." Ichigo hummed the tune, and Trunks' eyes lit up.
"That's perfect… except I don't know it at all and I haven't played piano in forever."
"We can watch videos and find sheet music once we get back to Karakura Town."
"Learning that in less than twelve hours is gonna be rough, but it's doable. You know where we can find a keyboard?"
"I think I can borrow one from Mizuiro."
"We still have to work in a shootaround before 8," Goten said. "Probably should come up with a few plays, too."
"Shit," Trunks said. He groaned with his head back for a few seconds, then flung it forward. "Go get the HETAP from the apartment. We're not sleeping tonight."
A/N: Hi, everyone! Thank you for reading, and a special thank you to everyone that's followed for this long. It shouldn't have taken this long to write but work was busy, and the fight was a challenge. Kinda missed my goal of where I wanted to be in the story before the TYBW anime came out, but oh well.
Loving that it's finally animated btw (big Quilge is killing it). I know what's coming, and I'm still sad every time the episode ends.
Anyway, the hope is that I'll bust this next chapter out soon, but you never know. I thought this would be 3,000 words, and I doubled it. I expect the word count to look similar to Chapter 36, if not a bit longer. Also considering a Youtube playlist instead of Spotify.
Hope you all enjoyed this one, and I'll see you on the next, tentatively titled "Pure Imagination". Have a great day!
Spotify link: openDOTspotifyDOTcom/playlist/0pCKih1zrn1maC8A3Vr4ug?si=9628d91627214cd4