Don't worry friends, I'm still here~
I've been quite busy, so I apologize for taking so long to release this next chapter! Just wanna say, fight scenes are not my thing haha.
I hope you all enjoy and I just want to say thank you for sticking around and for the amount of love this old fic has received. I appreciate all of you for putting up with my cringe.
Until next time!
*Kuchigane: a metal collar on a spear where the blade meets the shaft.
"Ouch!" Akane exclaimed as Miku poked her with the acupuncture needle.
Two weeks have passed since Hajime left for the internship and Miku still hasn't adapted to Akane's demanding schedule.
"I-I'm so sorry, Akane-Sama!" Miku exclaimed as she bowed deeply.
"Just forget it," Akane snapped as she got up from her bed, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but… I can't wait for that piece of filth to come back." Sighing, Akane slammed the door to her bedroom and tried to clear her head by taking a walk in the garden.
"Don't worry about her, dear," Akihiko spoke as she tried to console a defeated Miku. "She's just under a lot of pressure."
"Did Kisumoto really learn how to do all this?" Miku asked as she looked over all the acupuncture materials.
"While she has a horrid attitude, I have to say she is a quick study," Watching Miku put the acupuncture tools down, Akihiko took this as an opportunity to see what fuel she could use against Hajime, "Do you know Kisumoto Hajime well?" She asked nicely.
"Everyone knows about Kisumoto Hajime," Miku explained with a candid attitude.
"Oh?" Akihiko intrigued. "Would you care to share? Byakuya-Sama is sponsoring her, after all. I would hate for her to be a problem."
Miku couldn't say no, Akihiko was incredibly intimidating. So, Miku told Akihiko everything she heard about Hajime since she's been at the Academy. Going into detail about the rumors spreading about her concerning Byakuya and how people think she's trying to steal him away from Akane. Miku also told her about the 'date' the two of them went on during the Year-End Festival and how close they got during one of the games. Anyone could tell that Akihiko was fuming, and she couldn't wait for Hajime to come back to appropriately punish her for interfering with her daughter's marriage.
Wanting to get out of there and not incur Akihiko's wrath, Miku gathered her things and gave a farewell bow as she made her way to Squad Six's Barracks for today's training session.
"I knew it," Akihiko spoke aloud, seething, "she's nothing but trouble."
. . .
Today, Squads Nine and Ten hosted a joint training session. Meeting at Squad Ten's outside training field, Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro greeted Hisagi's five interns.
"It's nice to see you all again," Hitsugaya spoke, "Let's have you all pair off with a student from the opposite group and get today's training started."
Not wanting to partner up with Hajime, the other eight students quickly paired off on their own, leaving another student named Rei to partner with Hajime by default.
"Ahh," Rei spoke disapprovingly, "You all left me with Kisumoto!"
"You'd do best to not underestimate your opponent," Hisagi spoke as he walked toward the two, "the second you let your guard down… it could very well be your last battle," Rei scoffed at Hisagi, confident he would be the winner of this matchup, "If we're all partnered up," Hisagi shouted to the other students, "You four groups can take each corner of the field! And you two," he looked back to Rei and Hajime, "will claim the middle of the field."
As the students were rushing to their corners, Hitsugaya announced no one should hold back during this training session. When you fight to protect what is yours, you lay it all on the line. "Are you all ready?" Hitsugaya asked as he looked to everyone. Adrenaline was pumping through them as their fingers itched for their Asauchis. "Begin!"
Rei quickly unsheathed his Asauchi and slashed down at Hajime with all his might. Hajime could barely block as he was clearly faster than her. Pushing back against her Asauchi, Rei leaped through the air and landed further back from where he started.
"You should just quit now, Kisumoto," He taunted, "I can tell… You haven't learned your Asauchi's name yet." With a large grin, Rei flipped his Zanpakuto in the air and called for its release, "Pierce the heavens, Ryūja no Yari (Google Translate; Dragon Serpent Spear)." Converting mid-air, Rei caught his newly transformed Zanpakuto in his hands. Changing its appearance into a spear, Ryūja no Yari is an ice elemental based Zanpakuto. The full spear measures six feet long with a sparkling silver, stainless steel shaft, an open-mouth silver dragon kuchigane*, and a waving ten-inch blade that converges into a pointed u-shaped tip.
"Y-you've already achieved shikai?" Hajime questioned in shock.
Swiftly, Rei leaped toward Hajime with his spear pointed directly at her. He felt much faster than before. Blocking with her Asauchi, the force of Rei's attack pushed her back, and she noticed her blade crystallizing and freezing. Feeling confident, Rei continued to apply pressure against Hajime's Asauchi and didn't notice her chanting beneath her breath. Moving her hand to support the side of her blade with just her thumb, she pointed her finger at Rei and yelled, "Hadou #63, Raikouhou!"
Retreating, Rei barely avoided the attack by bending backward and slashing his spear against Hajime's Raikouhou, creating a stream of ice. Smoke filled the area as the two attacks collided. Relentless, Rei quickly found his footing and jumped straight toward Hajime, cutting the side of her cheek. As blood was dripping from her wound, she felt a sharp pain on the side of her face, as if she was frostbitten. Turning his body, Rei used the shaft end of the spear to attack Hajime from the other side, which knocked her forcefully against the ground. Not allowing her the chance to get up, Rei leaped from above and struck down with his spear as Hajime mustered all her strength to block.
"Hadou #11: Tsuzuri Raiden!" Electricity enveloped Hajime's Asauchi as the energy was transferred over to Rei's spear, shocking him. Dropping his guard for just one second, Hajime was able to quickly get back on her feet.
"If all you do is block," Rei exclaimed as he shunpo-ed behind Hajime preparing for a fatal strike, "How do you expect to win?!"
As Rei's spear thrust toward her, Hajime swiftly jumped into the air upside down, resting her hand against the spear as support as she fired Shakkaho from her other hand at point-blank range. Unrelenting, Hajime pushed her hand against the spear, sending her further into the air, firing three more Shakkaho successively before her hand froze. Smoke filled the field once more, but Rei remained mostly unscathed (only suffered minor cuts and bruises) and continued to lunge at Hajime. However, he was too late as Hajime cast Bakudou #62 Hyappo Rankan, which summoned a large rod of energy that disintegrated into smaller rods, pinning Rei to the ground.
Hajime quickly shunpo-ed to kneel beside him with her Asauchi at his throat.
"This can't be possible!" Rei exclaimed. "You don't even have your shikai! You beat me with Kido?!"
Sheathing her Asauchi, she released Hyappo Rankan and held out her hand to help Rei up. Swatting her hand away, he was furious. He lost to someone he deemed to be extremely weak. "How did you do it?" He asked, without turning to look at her, "You should have lost."
Hajime didn't know what to say except, "I had some pretty skilled teachers. They've taught me well. Your shikai is impressive though," she complimented, "there are very few ice-type Zanpakuto's from what I've heard." Rei simply scoffed and walked away.
Meanwhile, two hell butterflies made their way to Hisagi and Hitsugaya.
"I see," Hitsugaya spoke, "We'll handle it." As he lifted his finger, the two butterflies flew away. Hisagi and Hitsugaya gave each other a knowing look and a nod as they called their students back over to them.
"Listen up!" Hisagi spoke, "I hope you're all warmed up because we have a mission to take care of… and you're all coming with us."
"A mission?!" A student exclaimed excitedly. "Is it in the World of the Living?"
"Are we going to see Kurosaki Ichigo?!" another student asked.
"You idiots!" Rei snapped. "Why would they send us to Karakura Town if it already has Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"We're not headed to Karakura Town," Hitsugaya spoke, "Let's go."
Without a moment to waste, Hitsugaya inserted his Zanpakuto in the space before him and opened a Senkaimon. All the students watched in wonder as this was their first time seeing the gate being opened. Reaching the other side, the Shinigami entered through a dark, abandoned alley.
"So, what's the mission?" Rei asked as he and the other students examined their surroundings.
Curious, Hajime walked to the end of the alley and realized that she recognized the street they were on!
"We-We're not in Hachiko, are we?!" She looked over to Hisagi as the memories of her past came rushing through her mind.
"How'd you know?" Hisagi asked.
Before Hajime could speak, the sound of a Hollow's roar echoed through the air. Quickly making their way over to the source of the sound, they were greeted by a numerous group of Hollow. The hell butterfly from earlier reported that there was a substantial surge in Hollow appearances in Hachiko. They placed Hitsugaya and Hisagi in charge of cleansing the Hollow from the area.
"Get into your pairs," Hitsugaya shouted as he lunged to cleanse a Hollow, "and purify the Hollow!"
Quickly, the students grouped up with their partners and attacked the surrounding Hollow. Though, some were easier to purify than others. As Hajime made her way to Rei, a middle-class Hollow with a threatening presence stopped her. Preparing her Asauchi to attack, the Hollow's mask suddenly shattered, revealing a familiar face.
Hajime dropped her guard in shock, as she didn't want to believe it, "Mom?"
Behind the mask was Hajime's mother, Aiko. Looking into Hajime's silver eyes, she regained her consciousness for only a second, "Ha…jime?" Then, in excruciating pain, Aiko held her head in her hands as her Hollow mask regenerated. Letting out an earth-shattering roar, Aiko retreated and ran towards the local park.
"Wait!" Hajime immediately chased after her mother, separating herself from her group.
The class of Hollow ranged from Gillians to high-class Hollows (right below Adjuchas level) and the students were having a difficult time keeping up with the amount of Hollow spawning in Hachiko. Hisagi and Hitsugaya noticed a Garganta would open periodically, refreshing the number of Hollows slain.
"Fukishima!" Hisagi called out while he was simultaneously fighting a group of Hollow and performing a headcount on his group of interns, "Where's Kisumoto?!"
"How should I know?!" Rei shouted back, struggling to fight against the group of Hollow surrounding him.
"She's your partner!" As Hisagi purified the Hollows that attacked him, he quickly shunpo-ed over to give Rei a helping hand, "She should have been with you!"
Is this why I couldn't find you all these years? Hajime thought to herself as she was following closely behind Aiko, I never thought you would have turned into a Hollow!
When the two reached the park, Aiko simply stood and stared, clearly fighting back the urge to devour Hajime's spirit. Knowing the only way to save her mother is to attack her, Hajime tightened her grip around her Asauchi and prepared to strike.
"Now, now, now," a voice called out from the darkness of the trees, "How's this for a family reunion?"
Hajime couldn't believe her ears as she recognized that voice anywhere. Emerging from the shadows and revealing the head of white hair she always resented inheriting, was Kazuto. After Kazuto's death, his soul was left to wander, and he eventually became a Hollow. Driven by his insatiable need to devour souls, Kazuto was able to evolve and become a Vasto Lorde.
"You! H-How?"
"Did you think," Kazuto spoke as he walked closer to Hajime, "you were free from me, Hajime-Chan?"
"How is this possible?"
"I became powerful," Kazuto explained as he gave a menacing laugh. "After devouring the souls of hundreds of Hollows and lingering spirits, I finally regained my consciousness. It's been years since we've died. How many souls do you think I've eaten since then?" He asked as he licked his mouth.
"Why are you here?" She asked, defensively.
"Hachiko was our home before you went and ruined everything," He hissed. "I lured all these Hollow here so your mother could devour them. She's close to evolving. Her appetite has been insatiable lately. When I saw you with that group of Shinigami, I couldn't believe my eyes."
"And you used her as bait? How could you? After what you did to us…"
"How could I? How could I?!" Walking closer to Hajime, his tone was spiteful, "Don't you dare blame me for your mother's death! You're the reason she died—her blood is on your hands!"
Gritting her teeth and tightening her grip around her Asauchi, Hajime quickly charged toward Kazuto, but the Hollowfied-Aiko interfered and pushed her back. Straining to keep her Asauchi steady against the force of Aiko's hand, Kazuto continued to taunt Hajime further.
"Look closely, Hajime-Chan! Look at what you did to your mother!" Struggling to hold Aiko back, she looked at her mother with regret, "Your mother loved you so much, her soul continued to linger when she died! She was so devastated by your death, she turned into this monster!"
Gathering enough strength to slip under and away from the force of Aiko's arm, Hajime quickly shunpo-ed and attacked her mask. However, the force of her Asauchi wasn't enough and only barely cracked it. Grabbing onto Hajime, Aiko threw her to the ground, where she yelped in pain.
"Please, Mom," Hajime spoke as she slowly regained her footing, "Let me save you from this pain." As she faced her mother, Aiko was already preparing a cero to fire at Hajime. Holding out her two hands, Hajime cast Bakudou #39 Enkosen, which summoned a shield of condensed spiritual energy to block the cero. The power of the cero was so strong, it immediately shattered the shield and knocked Hajime back.
Aiko moved swiftly and as she lunged to attack Hajime, Hajime rolled her body to the side and fired three Sokatsui to no effect. Am I too weak to save you?
Watching the scene before him, Kazuto laughed hysterically, "Come Hajime! Join us and we can rule Hueco Mundo together!"
"If you think I'm letting you leave here alive," she spoke as she got up, "you're sorely mistaken. Bakudou #61: Rikujokoro," Six beams of light slammed into Kazuto's midsection, holding him in place, "I'll deal with you after." Hajime grabbed her Asauchi and lunged at Aiko. Drawing a symbol in front of her, she chanted, "Disintegrate, black dog of Rondanini. Look upon your burning soul and sever your throat! Bakudou #9: Geki!" Engulfing Aiko in a red light, she was paralyzed. Though Hajime knew it wouldn't hold her for long. She then cast Hadou #48 Gaki Rekko which summons a circle of energy that then fires a blast of green light from its center in a cage-like formation, widening the crack from earlier.
Leaping onto Aiko's mask, Hajime furiously swung her Asauchi hoping to destroy it. "Please. Break!" she begged as she continued to swing until the crack deepened. Casting Tsuzuri Raiden, she engulfed her blade in an electric current and prepared to swing for the finishing strike, but before she could, a condensed cero fired through her shoulder, causing her to fall.
Kazuto broke free of Rikujokoro and grinned at the injured Hajime. As he made his way closer to her, she was only focused on freeing Aiko from her Hollowfied form. Whispering a chant to herself, she fired a fully charged Raikouhou at Aiko's mask, almost breaking it. Quickly, with all her strength, Hajime threw her Asauchi at the mask, cast Bakudou #9 Horin (creates a tendril of energy that wraps around and ensnares an object, the end of it remains in the hands of the caster allowing them full control of the path of the tendril) to wrap around the handle of her Asauchi and pulled, ripping through the mask and cleansing her mother's spirit.
As the body of the Hollow disintegrated, Aiko's soul emerged, and Hajime looked up at her with relief. Before passing on to Soul Society, Aiko cupped her hands around her daughter's face. "You've gotten so strong, my sweet, sweet girl." Hearing her mother's voice, tears ran down Hajime's face. "I am so proud of you."
"I'll find you," Hajime swore, "If it's the last thing I do."
"No," Aiko insisted, "It's time for you to live your life and not worry about me anymore."
"But-"
"I'll always be with you," she said with a smile. As her spirit was fading to the skies, ready to pass over to Soul Society, Aiko departed one last wish to Hajime. "May you always be surrounded by love and happiness."
With Aiko's soul passed on to Soul Society, Kazuto screeched in hatred, his roar harrowing. Using his sonido to keep Hajime pinned to the ground, he jabbed his hand right into her wound. The pain was excruciating, and her screams were torturous. "You took everything from me!" He yelled, aggressively, "Die!" As his hand was ready to stab through her heart, he leaped away as Hisagi's Kazeshini swung at him.
"Kisumoto!" Rei, who followed Hisagi, shunpo-ed over to grab Hajime and settled her behind Hisagi who was spinning Kazeshini in his hand.
A Vasto Lorde? Hisagi thought to himself as he studied Kazuto. What is he doing here?
"Oh?" Kazuto spoke. "You dare to interfere with my daughter's punishment?"
"Daughter?" Rei and Hisagi questioned in unison as they looked over at Hajime.
Slowly, Hajime got to her feet as blood was seeping from her wound. "It's me you want!" She called out to Kazuto, "Leave them out of it!"
"Kisumoto, what do you think you're doing?" Hisagi asked.
"You don't understand-" Cutting her off, Kazuto used his sonido to launch a surprise attack and kicked Hisagi, who blocked with his two blades, pushing him back. With the force of his hand, he struck his palm against Rei's chest and broke his ribs. Continuing to try to pierce Hajime's heart, Kazuto was caught by the chain of Kazeshini that Hisagi looped around his arm.
Taking advantage of the momentum, Kazuto lunged at Hisagi and wrapped his hand around his throat. Stronger than he expected, Hisagi was struggling to breathe. Detaching the armband he usually wears, he flicked it toward Kazuto and it exploded. This loosened Kazuto's grip and Hisagi managed to shunpo away. Charging and firing a cero, Hisagi threw his spinning Kazeshini, cutting the attack in half. However, Kazuto stopped Kazeshini with his bare arms.
"Will you continue to let others protect you, Hajime-Chan?!" Kazuto insulted.
"Kisumoto," Hisagi spoke as he looked over to the two interns with significant injuries, "Take Rei and bring him to Hitsugaya Taichou."
Gathering the strength to stand, Hajime picked up Rei and supported him with her shoulder. Grabbing her Asauchi beside her, she walked over to Hisagi and quickly tossed Rei in his arms, "Oi, Kisumoto!"
Instantly lunging to attack Kazuto, he blocked her Asauchi with his arm, grinning. Pushing her back and knocking her to the ground, he laughed at how weak she was.
"Kisumoto!" Hisagi called out.
"Hisagi Fukutaichou," she spoke as she slowly got up, "This is my fight." Her eyes sparkled against the darkness, "Please let me finish this." He reluctantly agreed to let her take Kazuto as her opponent.
"Are you crazy?!" Rei spoke between pained breaths.
Sheathing his Zanpakuto, Hisagi held Rei in his arms. "I'll be back," Hisagi stated as he looked back to Hajime. "Hang on until then." Swiftly, he shunpo-ed away to get Rei back to safety.
"You can't… leave her there!" Rei pleaded as Hisagi was shunpo-ing away.
"As you grow stronger, there are different types of battles you will face," Hisagi explained, "and it would do you well to know when you should and shouldn't interfere. Hajime's battle right now… is her own."
Struggling to get up, Hajime stabbed her Asauchi in the ground to help support her. Not giving her the chance, Kazuto used his sonido to kick her from the side. Hajime quickly cast Seki which summoned a small shield on her forearm, knocking them both back. Rolling against the gravel, Hajime lost her grip on her Asauchi. Using his sonido again, he pulled her up by her hair and relished in her struggle.
"What was it you said to me earlier?" He taunted, "Oh, 'If you think I'm letting you leave here alive, you're sorely mistaken,' wasn't it?" With an enormous grin, he kicked her in the stomach and sent her flying back towards her Asauchi. Crawling over to her Asauchi, Kazuto simply laughed, "When I saw you were a Shinigami, I thought you'd put up a fight. It seems I was sorely mistaken."
Ignoring Kazuto's words, Hajime's sole focus was grabbing onto her sword. I must keep fighting, she thought to herself. I can't let him win again! As she reached out her hand to get closer, she heard her Asauchi's spirit call out to her, say my name, it spoke, if you wish to fight, call me by my name… My name is…
Finally, grabbing a hold of her Asauchi, she called for her Zanpakuto and released an incredible amount of spiritual pressure.
