Chapter 46: Squad 8

Captain Shunsui Kyoraku sat at the entrance of his division. The feeling of errant reiatsu filled the Seireitei, along with powerful spiritual pressure from eight people he hadn't sensed in a long time. One in particular was headed straight for his division. Tipping head back he gave out a deep sigh as he suddenly heard a flash step sound near him. The familiar power washed over him like a welcomed breeze. "Lisa." Her name alone made his chest tighten. He loved all of those that served under him and losing one always hurt so much, but none had hurt as badly as when he had lost his lieutenant a hundred years ago.

"You're procrastinating as always." She said, her voice as stern as ever as she leaned against the wall of squad eight.

Kyoraku peered at her from under his sugegasa straw hat, his piercing grey eyes widening at the sailor uniform she was wearing. Pulling the hat back down, his cheeks flushing slightly as he chuckled. "What the hell was that look for?" she yelled at him as she slammed a foot into his side. "You're just as perverted as ever." She sounded annoyed but she actually was happy to see him again.

"Ah, Lisa..." he sighed sadly as he felt her reiatsu change slightly with a powerful hollow tone to it. "You never change either." Suddenly a blast of kido power hit Lisa in the back from behind her. Stepping out of hiding Nanao Ise , lieutenant of the eighth. "However, I felt you miles away and so did Nanao." He looked at his singed former lieutenant.

Lisa glared at him but before she found react, Nanao began another powerful attack, unfortunately before she could finish her attack, another voice sounded. "Aoitora Sengetsu!" A blast heated reiatsu beat against the walls of the eighth, destroying them before heading straight towards the trio. Without much thought, Captain Kyoraku grasped Nanao, tossed her over his shoulder as he jumped into the air to escape the blast of released energy. Placing his lieutenant back on her feet on the top of the still semi-standing back wall of the eighth, Kyoraku watched the energy pull back towards where it had been released. Standing at the center was Verena Kurosaki.

Flash stepping towards her, Kyoraku was about to speak when he took in the different look that the human girl had about her. Verena's once orange hair now had blue stripes in it. Her normal human eyes had taken on a feline look as blue marks had appeared near her eyes. In her hand was a single large sword that looked like a normal katana, only was twice the size of what it should have been and was glowing blue, like it's owner. To top it off she was giving off a lot of heat. So much so, that he could feel it from where he stood.

Her reiatsu feels deadly. Nothing like before. He made a mental note to learn how this was possible. Suddenly she was gone. She's fast! He almost wasn't able to move quick enough to block the kick coming from his left. Before he could grab her though, she was gone again. He blocked the second kick coming towards him at his right. She was gone again, but this time instead of a kick he felt pain pace his back as she struck him across the center of his back.

Coming to the front she yelled out. "Rage! Hageshi aoi tora!" As the attack sounded blue flames shot out in a crescent form at Kyoraku.

Hmm...A serious fight? He wondered as he grasped his blades just before her flames came near him. Under his breath he muttered his shikai release. "Flower wind rage and flower God roar, Heavenly wind rage and heavenly demon snear." Kyoraku set the two blades against each other then pulled them apart as he muttered the poem-like release. His own release blasting away Verena's shikai attack. The huge curved pair of swords resembled that of black Chinese scimitars with silver edges. "Looks like the real games are about to begin." he stated with a sad grim look in his eyes as swords decided the game they would be playing.

Across the sereitei Tatsuki came to a stop at the sight of large man standing over Orihime and Ishida. His sword having turned into flying balls with deadly blades for wings. Creating a dager with her charged lightning she threw the blade at the man, only for one of those ball blades to block it. Seeming to realize there was an enemy behind him, he man turned towards her. Tatsuki dashed over to her friends with her quick as lightning speed, hoping to be of use in this battle.

As these battles continued across the seireitei, one man watched and waited for his time to come to strike.

M-Angel: Yes! I finally updated this story! Sorry it was left on hiatus for six months and that the update was a small one. I am getting ready for a con and I really wanted to get this out. So, Verena's sword has finally been revealed. I may go into greater detail of how it looks in another chapter, i haven't decided yet.

Sword name meaning: Aoitora Sengetsu (Blue Tiger Crescent Moon)

Shikai attack: Rage Hageshi aoi tora (Fiery Blue Tiger)