The Black Phoenix
Chapter 2: Power Revealed
-Last Chapter-
"You have a beautiful voice Avatare and people don't like it well they can go away!" Orihime said and with that they settled down to sleep. Avatare's last thought was Great Guardians, please protect them, I hope I can repay them for this kindness. And with that Avatare drifted off into the world of dreams.
-This Chapter-
Avatare woke with the dawn panting lightly. She looked to see Orihime and Rukia sleeping peacefully nearby, she smiled and stretched for the morning. After she was finished she slid the door open and slipped out into the main room carefully picking her way around the guys to open the front door to watch the sun rise. As she stared out into the morning she was startled by a voice at her left shoulder. "Good Morning Avatare"She whirled to see a striped hat and a grin. "Kisuke..you startled me and good morning to you"He smiled and asked her to join him for morning tea. As they sat quietly lost in their own thoughts a voice yelled from below. "Avatare! Where are you?" It was Orihime and she sounded worried. Avatare got up and walked down stairs coming up behind the woman. "I'm right here Orihime" Orihime screamed and whirled startling the guys into running into the room with only their towels on. "What happened?" Ichigo said and Orihime explained. Orihime noticed that Avatare wasn't paying attention in fact she was carefully tracing Renji's tattoos with her eyes.
The guys retreated back into the bath with a blush and a yell. "You OK?"Orihime asked, Avatare nodded. "Beautiful" Orihime nodded she thought Renji's tattoos were lovely as well. Avatare headed back up to rejoin Kisuke upstairs after telling Orihime where she was going. Kisuke and Avatare wound up talking most of the morning. Until Rukia came up and told them breakfast was ready and they would show her where they found her after they had eaten. Chad watched Avatare as she ate to him she was beautiful, tall and strong she wasn't small like Orihime. He blushed deeply when her jeweled eyes met his and she smiled at him. "Ready to go Avatare?" Rukia asked as Avatare tugged her shirt into place. "Yes, Rukia Ready Orihime?" Orihime finished putting her star clips into place and nodded. The group set out with a good pace, Ichigo and Renji arguing over who was leading and the girls in a quiet conversation. Uryu watched Avatare bend over so that Rukia could whisper in her ear while still walking, she raised her head and nodded before leaning forwards and whispering to Orihime who turned bright red.
When they arrived at the street where they had found her, she knelt down on the smudged stain in the middle of the street. " I almost died here" she mumbled. Then the group was startled by a beeping sound coming from Renji's pocket. He plucked out a white cell phone and his eyes widened."Hollows" Ichigo's head snapped up. "where?" Several shapes appeared around them. "here" Renji mumbled before he transformed and started to fight. Ichigo and the others jumped in to help leaving only Orihime to protect Avatare. Avatare had backed into a corner trying to stay out of the way. Ichigo sliced through one enemy after another but misjudged the distance between one enemy and the next and it got him thrown into Uryu. Renji was fighting a six-on-one odd and doing pretty good until another came up from underneath him and separated him from his Zanpaktou.
Renji saw his Zanpaktou hit the ground and slide towards the farthest corner of the street.
He was thrown into the hollows below him with a bellow.
Rukia had seen it happen and charged for the pile her heart in her throat. Ichigo and the others where mostly kept busy fighting their own sets of hollows while they were trying to help Renji. Avatare bit her lip she wanted to help but she didn't know how, then she heard it. Help me I must save Renji. "huh" she mumbled. I must save him help me. Avatare had never heard the voice before but it was pleading. "How do I help you?" Touch me and call out my name. "Where are you?" She asked looking around. Down here by the wall. She looked and it was Renji's sword it was glowing red, she could feel a faint pulse coming from it. She crawled towards it, her gaze locked on the weapon. "What is your name?" I am Zabimaru hurry girl, he needs me. Avatare reached out and grasped the hilt of the weapon and dragged it towards her. "Please let this work."she mumbled and took a deep breath. "Help Zabimaru!" she called the sword exploded into action transforming into a magnificent serpent and tearing through the hallows and setting Renji and Rukia free. Avatare didn't see the hallow that came up behind her but when the shadow fell over her a streak of power sliced through it and Orihime called out her name. The rest of the Hallows vanished quickly sensing the loss.
The others looked at her and she noticed Renji was patting the skeleton like head of the serpent. She smiled and looked at the weapon. Thank you girl. "It was my pleasure" she mumbled out of habit astonished. Renji looked at her from his leaning position on Rukia's shoulder. She stumbled to her feet and looked at him as the sword detransformed into its Shikai form. Orihime noticed Avatare's legs shaking and her heavy breathing. She saw her friends eyes glaze over and close, as she passed out. Chad caught her and lifted her with ease Renji's sword hanging from her grasp.
After returning to the shop and Tessai's angry look, the group gathered around the table while Avatare slept on a futon between Kisuke and Renji. The sword was still gripped in her hand and she mumbled in her sleep. As Kisuke heard the story he understood, and after it he took over the conversation. "I think this is why she has been hunted by the hollows. A girl with the power to command anyone's Zanpaktou would be one hell of a weapon." the woman in question smiled in her sleep and nuzzled the hilt of the sword she was holding. Kisuke looked at her and spoke again. "We need to take her to the squad captains for protection. But we also need to know is she can use the power at will or it was a one time thing." They all nodded and separated for bed.
The next morning Avatare woke up first and sat up holding the blade, the slight pulse it gave off comforting to her. Avatare smiled as she got up and slipped out the door to see the guys passed out all around the room. She set Zabimaru next to Renji and picked her way between the guys to get outside to see the dawn. She felt the hairs in the back of her neck stand up, telling her she was being watched. "Avatare will you join me again this morning?" She turned to see Kisuke she nodded and went inside. Rukia woke up her eyes were drawn to the pallet near hers to see if Avatare was awake and realized her bed was empty. She listened and smiled hearing Urahara and Avatare talking. Rukia got up and went to help Tessai with breakfast. Upstairs however it was quite different. "You used Renji's Zanpaktou yesterday, I was wondering if you've ever been able to do anything like that before."Avatare thought before answering. "I heard Zabimaru talking so I helped I am not sure how I did it or if I could do it again but I've always been able to see the people in black and the monsters."
He nodded and asked her to accompany him to the training room, she nodded and she was shocked to see the massive room below his shop. "Cool!!" She yipped and heard it echo. He removed a sword from his cane and pointed it at a rock. "huh?"she looked at him bewildered. Then a monster attacked Kisuke and she screamed. She saw the ladder but she couldn't leave Kisuke. She watched as the monster threw Kisuke into a big hole and turned towards her, in its hand it carried his weapon and it threw at it her. It sliced threw her shirt and cut her arm, she clapped a hand over the wound. She turned and scooped up the sword and ran behind some rocks.
What do I do? I don't know how to fight. Kisuke please be alright She heard its foot steps and bit her lip to keep fro whimpering. I have to help Kisuke She was shaking and a she wrapped her bloody hand around the hilt of the sword looking at her reflection in it. Please help me I have to help Kisuke. She begged the weapon her blood and tears mixing on its hilt, then she heard it. I will help you for your plea is honest. I am Benihime. The sword started to glow and changed the red tassel tickled her wrists. Trust my power to guide you, until you return me to Kisuke. Avatare nodded her eyes took on a red tint. She stood walking confidently towards the monster.
She raised the sword and pointed its tip at at the monster and she charged it her blade barely missing cutting its head off by a centimeter. Her movements becked the monster towards the hole it had thrown Kisuke in before she charged it again. This time she changed her attack using a shield to force the monster into the attach path. The blade severed the monsters head cleanly. What surprised her was the monster changing into a cut out with a spell scroll attached. She heard clapping and turned to see Kisuke and the others standing there. "Why?" Kisuke placed his hands over hers on Binihime's hilt. "To see if you could tap into the power at will or if it was a one time shot." Before she could move he hugged her and whispered in her ear.
"I'm sorry about scaring you and hurting your feelings. But we had to know." She nodded and cried into his shoulder her arm wrapping around his waist. Orihime was leaning on Uryu crying while Rukia's eyes watered but she kept her tears back by sheer force of will. You have power girl now you must learn to master it "Thanks Benihime" she mumbled. "what did she say?" Kisuke asked and when she told him he laughed. " I was going to say the same thing" she chuckled and hugged him tighter. He smiled at her she let go of his waist and snatched his hat right off his head. "This is payment for making me worry" the group laughed as Kisuke begged and pleaded to get it back.
That night at dinner the group discussed what to do next. "Its not safe for you here, Avatare." She paused as she ate. "Where should I hide then?" She said as she flicked the brim of the hat she was wearing. "Soul Society, if we can get you under the protection of the captains you'll be safe." She raised an eyebrow at him and he proceeded to explain soul society to her. After dinner the girls withdrew into the bath to talk in private. "What should I do?" Orihime smiled and spoke up. "I think you should go, that way We can go too I miss Yachiru." Rukia nodded before speaking. "We can probably go with you so that you can be protected there."Avatare thought about it, and decided to sleep on it. As she lay in bed that night she wondered about the Soul Society, she drifted off to sleep thinking of the look on Kisuke's face when she took his hat.