Changing Its Course
By: shinigami-no-elie
A/N: Okay! Credits to:
-Ochi and Rara for allowing me to borrow their character! Thank you!
-My sister for her character and her big support!
-BestFanOfAnime who always pushed me to update this fic
-You who reviews!
Read and read please!
Disclaimer: (Zzzzz…zzzz) huh, uh-oh…I'm sleepy. You knew the rest… (zzzz…zzz…zzz)
Chapter III
Draw your Keyblade…
-Italics- one's dream/vision/thought?
-Bold- thought/talking to one's mind
"Looks like were really in deep trouble…" said a white-haired keyblade master as his back was against the blonde.
"I'll say that again…" panted the other boy. His Keyblade was as if glued tightly on his right hand; ready to slash anything in his way. They were surrounded by thousands of heartless without anyone to help.
The two keyblade master swung their keyblade. Sora jumped here and there to avoid their vicious grasp. With several slashes, he managed to kill at least 50 heartless. He smirked at his success and ran to help Riku who seemed, didn't have to be helped anymore. Riku gracefully avoided their attack and killed some heartless. He united with Sora again.
"Darn it! When can these stops!" cried Sora furiously as he slashed more heartless.
"It's just…" Riku avoided more attacks. "…never stopped!" He slashed more heartless. He groaned when more heartless came approaching them. "Tch…"
"That's enough…" A voice shouted. Seconds later, all heartless teleported; it left the two keyblade masters alone. Sora scanned the area. Nothing; No more heartless. He lowered his Keyblade. Riku was still on his guard. Something told him that it wasn't safe yet. And he's right…
"Not bad…" the voice said as it revealed his form. A white-haired man stood on distance, smiling wickedly. Riku glanced at the source of the voice, searching who said that.
"Who are you?"
Riku's question had to wait when suddenly the man vanished, reappeared behind Sora and knocked him out. Riku was going to attack him but felt pain and fell into oblivion…
"No!" Roxas screamed. He was sweating. He panted hard, scared of what he had seen-or what he had dreamt.
"Nightmares…" He caught his breath and took a deep breath. "Already morning…" He murmured to himself. He lazily got out from bed and opened the curtains, letting both fresh air and sunrays hit him. Seiretei wasn't as bad as he thought it would. He smiled a bit and went to his bathroom, taking a shower. Finished, he wore his new shinigami uniform and made breakfast. He ate it quickly and went to Nenke's office.
"I wish I could be a shinigami faster…because I felt something is not right with Sora-tachi."
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Ukita was signing her papers, again. This time, there were several lines below her eyes, signing her tiredness. Her Fukutaichou, Shichi, brought more papers for her to sign. Ukita groaned and stood up.
"I'm leaving for good!" She groaned at her papers. She hadn't eaten anything since last day. Shichi looked at her a bit annoyed, though it would be disrespectful for her to do it.
"I'm sorry Captain, but no sleep or food until you finished your work. You said it before that this tasks is important so…" Shichi stopped as she saw Ukita stood and took her sword. Ukita grinned at her mischievously and off with her shunpou. "Taichou!"
Ukita jumped here and there, carrying his hilted-sword. Sensing that Shichi was after her, she sighed and added her speed. She saw Roxas walking to 14th squad headquarter. She stopped to greet Roxas.
"Hi, Roxas-chan! Enjoying your stay here?" She chirped. Roxas was startled seeing her already in front of him. He couldn't help stepping back from her. "Oh…Sorry for making you a bit…shocked. Where are you going?"
Roxas stared at her. "Does shinigami have to shock other people by appearing in front of him or her like that?" He scowled. Ukita grinned.
"Nope. But we, the captains and lieutenants of course, are used to it. No offense, but I like it that way. So, where exactly are you going to?"
Roxas blinked, "I thought Nenke-fukutaichou had told you." Though Roxas said Nenke's title, he still added it forcefully.
"Naaah! She's too lazy to report things like that. So, where are you going? You haven't answered my question yet!" she asked. Roxas sighed.
"I'm going to her office. She wants to test me about…something…" Roxas said to her unsurely. Ukita glanced at him worriedly but smiled again.
"I'll go with you. Honestly, I'm being after by Shichi - you know, my fukutaichou – beside…" she said as she swung her sword to her right. It somewhat pointed to a pillar. "…It's not like you, Hitsugaya, to tail me rather than to ask me personally…Am I right?" Firstly, Roxas didn't know what Ukita means. His question was answered as a white-haired shinigami boy shorter than him, revealed his self. Ukita lowered her sheeted-sword. Roxas could feel insane amount of power radiating from the boy. The boy looked furious.
"Ukita…shouldn't it be you who train the boy?" He asked with suspicion. Ukita scowled. The white-haired boy, Hitsugaya, didn't move an inch. He still waited for her answer. Ukita stopped scowling.
"And should I put Rukongai to such dangerous situation like I did the last time I trained Nenke? I've told you before, haven't I?" She sneered, though upset ness could be heard from her tone. She turned her back to Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya sighed.
"Alright…alright…I give up. Reassuring you are one thing but training him…" Hitsugaya looked at Roxas from the corner of his eyes. Roxas didn't move an inch. He had somehow rocked by his presence. Petrified. "…is another thing. I hoped he could become a shinigami with his condition right now. He can't wait…" Hitsugaya said, stressing the word 'he'. He took off with his shunpou. Roxas fell on his knees.
"Who-who is he?" He said shakily. He could still sense the boy's reiatsu from distance. How he could do it? He doesn't know how!
Ukita sighed. "The genius. Toushirou Hitsugaya. He's the captain of 10th division squad. Better not to mess with him. You'll end up frozen. Come on. I want to see your test." Ukita said, back with her smile. He turned away and walked, followed by Roxas.
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Namine walked through the corridor of 3rd division headquarter. She sometimes hummed along her way. Her hands were holding papers for her captain.
Hitsugaya appeared. Apparently, she's on the 3rd division and didn't expect to saw Hitsugaya appeared; seeing that he's the captain of 10th squad.
"Err…Morning Hitsugaya-taichou…err…are you searching for…err…Ukita-taichou or…someone else?" She said shakily; a bit afraid. Hitsugaya stared at her for a brief moment. He kept walking, passing her with ignorance but stopped for a moment and turned to her.
"Namine…go to 14th squad headquarter. You can see Roxas there. Though…" he said with dark tone. Namine turned at his back.
"What do you mean, Hitsugaya-taichou?" she looked puzzled. Hitsugaya turned against her but this time, making Namine only saw his back.
"…His training will be more painful than yours…" he said as he turned left, leaving Namine all alone in that deserted corridor. Namine got it now. Her eyes gotten big and she dashed as quickly as she can to get to Roxas' place.
"God! Don't make me late!" She prayed as she dashed through the corridor and ended up outside headquarter.
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Roxas entered his headquarter along with Ukita. He knocked Nenke's office door, but there's no reply. Roxas knocked harder. Still, there's no reply. Ukita interrupted him as she swiftly opened the door and saw Nenke was vast asleep.
"Nenke…time to teach!" Ukita tapped her cheek so that she could wake up. Still, Nenke remained still. Sometimes she murmured. Ukita sighed.
"Roxas, could you bring me a glass of cold water please?" She asked. Roxas nodded and quickly got her water. He handed over to Ukita. Ukita, grinning wickedly, splashed some water onto Nenke's face, making her groaned.
"W-whoa!" Nenke groaned uncomfortably. Her face was already wet from water.
"Time to wake up, Nenke! You got a student to teach!" Ukita said as she splashed some water at her again. Nenke groaned again and lifted her head up.
"Ukita-taichou…is it really morning already…?" she asked lazily.
"Get up, lazy bones! You've got a pupil to teach!" this time, Ukita shouted at her, making Nenke jumped. Nenke placed a scared face and went to bathroom.
Roxas went inside and sat on the nearest seat. Ukita took the teapot and poured the tea onto his cup. "Err...thanks, Ukita-taichou…" Roxas hesitantly sipped his tea. Ukita also poured down the tea into her cup. She slowly sipped her tea.
"You're most welcome." She said calmly. Silence crashed the room. No one knew what to say. Roxas was going to asked Ukita but he had to wait; Nenke had already gone out from her room, ready to teach him.
"Roxas! Follow me, please!" Nenke said as she led him to the field. Having arrived, Nenke stood face to face with Roxas. Ukita just watched what's going to happen. Nenke quickly drew her Keyblade.
"Draw your keyblade Roxas…" Nenke said with a cold and flat voice. Roxas remained still, never hearing her cold tone. It's not like he didn't want to. If he knew how to call his own keyblade, he could summon it anytime freely. Nenke's stance had change from defense into attack.
"Or else, I'll be forced to kill you…" she said as she struck her keyblade at him. Roxas, having a great reflex, dodged it with all his might, leaving him rolled. Roxas hardly gained his balance again. He looked at Nenke. Anger, hatred, everything mixed up on his both eyes.
"What are you doing?" He cried furiously. Nenke didn't show any emotion at all, but still, she answered his question anyway.
"Everyone wants to be a shinigami but only few selected one have that potential. Do you have it or not? This is how we know!" she said as she disappeared and reappeared behind him. Roxas didn't manage to evade this time and got knocked down.
"It seems his test has started." Shikachi came out from her office. She quickly drew herself to Ukita's side. Ukita noticed her but her eyes still locked on Nenke.
"Yeah. I still hope there's another way, though…" she fumbled. Shikachi sighed.
"I have to report something." She said firmly. Ukita turned at her. She gave her a tell-me-that-later face. She soon realized that Roxas was almost reached his peak.
"Get up Roxas!" Ukita shouted from distance. For him, it's just a mere sound. He could barely hear her voice. He stood up. Nenke pointed her keyblade to him.
"Roxas! Draw your Keyblade!" Ukita shouted from distance. "Or else you might be killed!"
"Easy to say that…" he thought angrily. He dodged Nenke's assault. His breath had going into pants. Nenke was still wearing her cold mask.
"I think that ends here. If you want to live, draw your keyblade and battle me." She said challengingly. Roxas nearly fell when he wanted to stand up again. Nenke charged at him again. With all his strength, he managed to dodge his last dodge. Her keyblade had cut some of his hair. Roxas knelt down, panting hard from his tiredness. Nenke still wore her cold-looking expression.
"You really want to die that badly? I can't believe a good keyblade master will do that." She said as she approached him. She stretched her keyblade over Roxas' head. Roxas noticed it. He cursed his self, for being a weakling and for being useless to all. He hasn't done much yet for his friends. Suddenly, he felt power flowing to his right hand. Roxas snapped his eyes and thought the worst; Nenke had him pinned down with her keyblade over his head, ready to strike.
"Sayonara, Roxas-kun…" she said coldly. Roxas closed his eyes, ready for the worse, but the attack never came.
In fact, his right hand had already moved without his command. A clashed sound could be heard. Roxas realized it quickly; He was holding his keyblade. It clashed with Nenke's Kingdom Key blade. Nenke seemed a bit surprise. She retreated a few steps from him. Her keyblade still on attack position.
Shikachi looked surprise. Ukita almost fainted from suspense.
Roxas scanned his keyblade. It's mostly white. He looked at it carefully and swung it. Nenke lowered her keyblade a bit.
"Nice. Still, do you know that sword's name?" Nenke asked him still with her cold tone. She could see Roxas' anger from the assault before. He pointed his keyblade at her.
"You're going down!"
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Namine jumped from one roof to another. She finally arrived at 14th squad headquarter. She ran towards the training center where she thought that would be the perfect place to teach Roxas. The only problem is she didn't know where it is.
"Oh Roxas! Where are you?" She thought wryly. Shortly after, she heard a clash. It seemed someone is sparring. "Is it you?" she thought as she ran through the corridor and ended up in training field. Namine couldn't believe the scenery in front of her eyes.
Roxas was fighting fiercely against Nenke while Shikachi and Ukita stood outside the field doing nothing. Seemed like Roxas had landed few combos towards Nenke but in vain. She could see Nenke's expressionless face. It made her shiver. Somehow, she thought that Nenke is a puppet to destroy her target when she made that expression.
It made her think that Nenke is a heartless…
Namine ran towards Ukita. She held Ukita's hands tightly, scared. Ukita noticed her quickly. She turned at Namine for a while.
"Ukita-taichou! What's going on here!" she cried. Confusions swarmed within her eyes. Ukita sighed and turned to the two. Nenke and Roxas were colliding against each other.
"It's her test, Namine. We can't interfere." Ukita said calmly. Namine looked angrily at her and decided to help Roxas. Before she could step, before even she lifted her zanpakutou, Shikachi had one on her neck. Namine stopped. Fear engulfed her.
"Didn't she tell you to sit and watch?" she said coldly with no expression. Namine shivered. She was about to be killed right now. Namine stepped back. Shikachi lowered her zanpakutou and sheeted it. She sighed. Ukita approached them.
"You two are ruining the sight. Just sit and watch!" Ukita scolded the two. Her hands were slick from sweat; suspense had made her afraid of the result. Shikachi remained silent but then nodded and saw the match again.
Nenke's keyblade collided with Roxas'. Once again, a clash could be heard. Nenke drew her keyblade and took a few back steps, smiled proudly.
"That's how it has to be." She said. She pointed her sword's tip to Roxas. "But still, not-knowing the name of your sword…" she had her attack stance. An enormous amount of reiatsu flowed around her. Namine noticed this and knelt down. Her reiatsu was unbelievably scary. Ukita and Shikachi didn't move an inch. Shikachi smiled flatteringly.
"…is not enough." She unleashed her Zanpakuto's true form; the Okamiboshi. "Now let's see…" she said again; this time, with a sneering tone. "…that is you really deserve that keyblade? Or not?" she said as she reappeared behind Roxas. Roxas didn't have time to react and was sent flying across the field. Nenke stared at the boy coldly. "Don't hold back, Roxas." Roxas panted hard. They've battled for at least 15 minutes and the battle hasn't ended yet. He tried to stand up with the help of his keyblade.
"Huh…I never hold back when I'm fighting." He said for the first time within their battle. Roxas kept his attack mode and ready to charge at Nenke. "When I hold back, I'm underestimating my foe. And I'm prohibited to underestimate someone."
Nenke sighed at his opinion. "Is that so?" too late. She already appeared again behind him. Thankfully, he dodged it even though, in a hard way. It caused him to roll for several meters, leaving him off-guard. Nenke took this chance and was going to stab him. Her keyblade had pointed onto Roxas' head. Roxas, for the 2nd time, was ready for the worse.
But the blow didn't come…
Nothing.
Time had suddenly halted…
Roxas stared at Nenke. Her keyblade was mere centimeters away from his head.
"What had happened?" he thought to himself. He scanned the area; seemed everybody had frozen at their place. Namine was still kneeling on the ground, Ukita still watched him from distance, and Shikachi still smiled flatteringly happy. His eyes stopped beside Shikachi. There's someone there. He had a blonde hair, the same as Roxas'. His hair was hanging around, blown by the wind. He wore a gray coat with adventurer suit. He stared at Roxas sharply.
"Hey." The boy only greeted him like that; Simple and clear. Roxas wasn't sure who he is. Before he could notice, the boy had reappeared next to Roxas. Roxas startled to his speed. The boy only looked straight. "Why are you afraid, Roxas?"
Roxas stared at the boy suspiciously. "How did he know my name?" He thought. The boy raised his eyebrows though his vision seemed to run away from Roxas' stare.
"I know your name. I know your memory. I know what you afraid of are. I know whom the one you love. I know whatever you know, except your reason." He said flatly. He had read his thought! Then, He turned at Roxas. "What are you afraid of Roxas? Don't you see she's not holding back?"
"And why should I answer those question?" he asked offended. The boy smirked.
"...Because you're talking to your sword." He said calmly. "I know everything about you."
Roxas stared at him unbelievably. Yesterday, he had only arrived in this semi-unnatural place. Now, he talked to his sword? No way. Roxas tried to stand but couldn't even lift a finger; Looked like his body had frozen. Roxas groaned.
"Roxas, you haven't answered my question…" he said coldly. Roxas turned at the boy. He couldn't trust him. The boy saw a little particle of distrust shone on Roxas' eyes. He turned away from him. "You have to trust me Roxas. Or else, I can't help you in anyway I can…"
Roxas glared at his back. Is he really his sword? It seemed like impossible! A sword had a will of its own? The boy was about to go. Roxas, at last, spoke, "Wait!"
The boy stopped. His head turned to Roxas. Roxas stared at him sharply. "What is your name?" The boy only smirked.
"I'm the oath keeper, Kail." The boy said. "Do you trust me?" Roxas nodded hesitantly. Kail smirked.
"Your other sword is still asleep, waiting to be awakened. You can use me sometimes until then…like now." He snapped his finger and disappeared into ash.
Time had worked again…
Nenke's keyblade was going to tear Roxas' head into pieces. Roxas felt his reiatsu flowing to his keyblade. He quickly blocked her attack, making her to be repelled. Nenke stared at him; amused of what he has done.
Roxas' keyblade had changed its form a bit. Nenke smirked, "good one. It seems like you've earned your keyblade's name. The training stops here…" she said as she un-draw her Okamiboshi. Roxas glared at her angrily.
"Training? You mean after all the troubles that I have to go thru, it is just a pathetic training!" Roxas screamed at her, making Nenke covered her ears. Ukita sighed in relief. Shikachi smiled at Roxas' success while Namine was almost fainted from the result.
"Relax…that kind of training suited you very much. Anyway, what is your keyblade's name?" Nenke asked. Roxas was still angry and decided not to tell her now. When he turned back from her, suddenly, a group of heartless appeared on the field. These made the two startled. Ukita saw this happened. She wanted to join the two but seemingly couldn't. The field had a barrier around it. Ukita cursed it.
"How are we going to help them!" she yelled furiously. Shikachi patted her shoulder. Ukita turned at her plain face.
"Move." She said simply. Ukita nodded and stepped back. Namine only watched the captain-class shinigamis worked. She was still a bit paralyzed by extreme pressure of reiatsu.
Shikachi drew out her Zanpakutou. "Break it down! Hoshigaki!" she yelled. Her zanpakutou shone for a brief moment. She then swung it here and there but the barrier didn't even flinch. Shikachi grumbled angrily. Namine approached the barrier slowly and touched it for a brief moment. She closed her eyes and snapped back.
"Taichou! This is a wild barrier!" Namine yelled at the two. Ukita looked worriedly at her. Shikachi sighed and looked at Ukita.
"It's worth to try…" she said softly. Ukita nodded. She unsheathed her sword. She mumbled softly, "Ryuuinshi, it's time…" her sword glowed. The next thing Namine knew, Ukita's sword had clashed the barrier but it still stood.
"I guess I can't un-seal it…" Ukita sighed. Namine looked at the field, seeing Roxas slaying the heartless. She looked afraid. Ukita and Shikachi joined her.
There's nothing they can do…
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Nenke swung her keyblade all over. She repelled all the attacks that came to her while Roxas sliced them fiercely but smoothly. Roxas smirked at his success. He didn't seem to realize when suddenly, a heartless hopped on his shoulder. Roxas attempted to throw the heartless but in vain.
"Roxas, kneel!" Nenke yelled as she charged at Roxas. Roxas hastily knelt. Nenke jumped over him, taking the heartless on his shoulder. Roxas came back to stand.
"Thanks." He mumbled shyly. Nenke grinned at him.
"No problem." She replied as she slew more heartless. Roxas joined her. Nenke did a spin and destroy every heartless near her with just one blow. Roxas jumped here and there, avoiding their attacks. He swung his keyblade like a mad man, killing every heartless in his way. Nenke was sweat-dropped. Her back was against Roxas. Nenke could barely hear Roxas panting hard; he's absolutely exhausted. Nenke couldn't blame him, though. She's also almost reached her limit. She sighed.
"Roxas focus your reiatsu on your right palm and follow my word." Nenke said as her left hand swung her keyblade onto some heartless which approaching them. Roxas stared at her.
"But I don't know how!" he said.
"Then just focus your magic to your keyblade!" she growled. Roxas frowned a bit but did what she said. Nenke started again, "Spire, Crimson crystal, Steel wheels…"
"Spire, Crimson crystal, Steel wheels…" Roxas followed her
"…The wind if it moves, the sky if it stops…" Nenke now quickly swung her keyblade all over them to protect Roxas.
"…The wind if it moves, the sky if it stops…" He closed his eyes and followed her.
"I know this incantation!" A voice in his head yelled. Roxas ignored it, though it's unusual for him to hear some sorts of things like that. Nenke continued her words.
"…The tone of spear striking fills the lone castle…" her hand glowed into a yellowish light and her reiatsu spun on her palm while the tip of Roxas' keyblade also did the same.
"…The tone of spear striking fills the lone castle…" Roxas' hand was slick from sweat.
"DESTRUCTIVE ART NO. 63! LIGHTNING'S BURNING HOWL!" This time, both Nenke and Roxas screamed it out loud. Then, a shot of thunder stroke from the sky. For Roxas, his keyblade had destroyed most of the heartless with only one strike of his incantation. Nenke scanned around and saw no more heartless left. She sighed.
"Nice incantation…" she praised Roxas. "You have potential Roxas! Not everybody can use that skill on their first try…" she said as she sat down, utterly exhausted. Roxas blinked at her.
"What is that again? The name?" He asked Nenke. Nenke smiled.
"Destructive art 63, lightning's burning howl. You'll learn more, later." She said as Ukita, Namine, and Shikachi ran across the field, making sure that they're alright. When Shikachi asked her, she just smiled faintly as she lied down; very exhausted. Same went to Roxas, except for him, he just fell down; fainted. Namine was already panic seeing him like that but Shikachi managed to get her off and ordered her to take him to 4th division headquarter. Namine nodded slightly and took Roxas to 4th division headquarter which is, thankfully, close enough from their location. Ukita sat beside Nenke, mumbling softly.
"Choosing you as his mentor is really a good decision to make…" she mumbled as she picked her on her shoulder and dragged her with Shikachi. Shichi arrived at the spot and scolded Ukita. Ukita only shrugged and said goodbye to Shikachi. She left the two and ran again with her fukutaichou.
Shikachi went to the 4th division headquarter, taking Nenke along. She heard Nenke squeaked a little, mumbling about foods and stuffs. Shikachi only smirked a little.
The 1st lesson had been done…
Tsuzuku
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A/N; Yay! I have finished the 3rd chapter! Review please!
Oh, and about the incantation, I've just watched Kuukaku used it on the battle. Please tell me if the incantation is wrong! XD