"Is that it, Karin?" Renji smirked, forcing Zabimaru to constrict back down as the one it had hit panted with exhaustion.
"Oh shut up," She grumbled, lifting up her fiery red rapier and letting it become coated in flames. "Once I get Bankai I'm kicking your ass!"
"Can't wait!"
Sitting at the sidelines, Toshiro watched them with some amusement. It was almost exactly like a fight between Renji and Ichigo, only Karin used fire and was actually capable of Kido, even using hand-to-hand when the long rapier became a hindrance. She was better adapted to other styles than her brother because her power didn't come to her as quickly as her brother's. As such she easily became a hard opponent to fight. Even without Bankai she definitely had the capability of becoming a Captain, mainly because of her 'upgrade' in the Soul King's Realm taking the Five Trials.
Leaving them to it as they crossed swords once more, Toshiro turned to the book in his hands, able to read and remain up to date with the battle. It had been three days now since he'd first arrived, and Karin wanted to get back to her training, meaning Toshiro had to find his own entertainment until she was done, hence the book. He didn't mind all that much, though, and he particularly liked this book.
A flare of Spiritual Pressure and the young king frowned. Oh he did not need this right now. Every time he visited the Squad Eleven Captain attempted to pick a fight with him. There were several problems with that. First, Ruala was very adamant about not letting him fight unless he absolutely needed to and tended to step in the minute Kenpachi Zaraki approached, as he could sense her doing now, which irritated the warrior. Also, Toshiro's power as king surpassed that of even Kenpachi's massive amounts of power, meaning he'd win anyway. However, if Kenpachi miraculously managed to pull ahead and injure him, and no doubt attempt to kill, there was a high risk of the realms starting to break apart. Hence why Ruala prevented the fight before it could even begin.
Frown still present, Toshiro continued reading and let the Royal Guard take care of it. As much as she despised fighting, Ruala was willing to spar with Kenpachi so that he would at least stay away from the king. He hated making her do that, but he wasn't in the mood to argue with anyone right now, especially that hot-headed Captain.
A shout averted his attention to the battle. The shout was a startled yelp from Renji, a fiery form standing between him and an equally shocked Karin. Homuratei. Karin's zanpaktou spirit. The flame-covered Wyvern turned to her master, her tail lashing out behind her to back off the red-head at her back.
'It seems Homuratei wishes to further her training in Bankai,' Hyorinmaru muttered.
'I didn't expect her zanpaktou to be so aggressive about it, usually zanpaktous fight tooth and claw against their masters learning Bankai,' Toshiro responded, watching the event play out with interest.
'Because we want to see how resolved you are to truly master us.'
'Homuratei must be worried to push her master into learning it against her will.'
Lessening the fire, Homuratei lifted her head high, heat waves making the air around her shimmer and seem rather menacing. Renji Flash Stepped up near where Toshiro sat, crossing his arms to watch this play out, to see what would happen between the zanpaktou and its Soul Reaper. Karin stood firm before her spirit, the initial surprise gone.
"Coming out without me calling you, how rude." Karin smirked.
"Hmph, how about you stop playing around with monkey-boy and try for a real battle?" The wyvern snapped back with equal mirth, fangs gleaming as she grinned.
"Monkey-boy?" Renji's brow twitched. "Just because she's a god damned dragon doesn't mean she can insult Zabimaru."
"She's a wyvern." Toshiro corrected, the Lieutenant giving out a huff. "And who said she's insulting Zabimaru?"
"Alright then." Karin's voice caught their attention again before Renji could make a retort. "Ready to give me Bankai?"
"Ha!" Fire burst forth as the spirit laughed. "In another decade, maybe!"
"We'll see about that!"
Homuratei didn't hesitate to start the fight, digging the claws of her fore-wings into the ground, fiery cracks spreading across the ground of the Sixth Squad training arena and spouting lava from large holes that appeared.
"At least it goes back to normal when they finish." Renji grumbled as the earth became spider-webbed with fire-spouting cracks.
Toshiro just grimaced a bit at the heat, letting his Spiritual Pressure rise just enough to keep himself cool and perhaps Abarai too as he started to sweat. It would only get worse if their battle start was anything to go by, flames searing the earth and rising into the sky. Teeth and claws meeting sword with very close encounters. Though unhappy with how brutal Homuratei was to her master, Toshiro dared not interfere, as not even he had the right to stop a battle between a Reaper and their inner spirit.
"Jeez, watching this almost makes me think she went easy on me." Renji laughed, before pausing. "…Almost."
He turned to Hitsugaya to see what he thought of the battle, only to see the boy looking upwards, frowning and concentrated.
"Something wrong?" Abarai asked, only to get silence as his reply. Whatever the white-haired being was focused on, it had all of his attention.
Then, just as soon as it had come, Toshiro's strange attitude was gone, his gaze returning to the book in his hands as if nothing was wrong. Utterly confused, Renji just let him be and continued to watch Karin spar with the giant wyvern of flames.
In truth, Toshiro was still nervous. What he had sensed was a cause for concern, but it was so faint he couldn't be sure if it was actually a threat. The barriers had been strengthened significantly by Ruala's special light, meaning the demons couldn't get in as quickly as they had once before, but the stronger ones were capable of creating gaps. One small gap was all the demons needed to flood in like a wave of shadows and attack. Surely they wouldn't attack with him here.
'Shall I investigate?' Myndræl spoke, sensing his partner's distress.
'I doubt it's anything, but better safe than sorry.' Toshiro confirmed.
A shadow passed overhead as the Ice dragon moved towards the source of alarm, having been outside the training grounds with Dyrilæn while they trained. Surely there would be nothing, just a scout or something that posed no threat, nothing that could do any harm to the barrier. That in mind, Toshiro turned his attention to Karin and Homuratei, having abandoned his reading after repeated distractions. She was tiring, that was obvious, but the determined fire in her eyes kept her going, defending blow after blow and trying to figure out what it was the spirit wanted from her to achieve Bankai. Every spirit was different. Just because they were fighting didn't exactly mean that Homuratei wanted her to win to achieve it. Perhaps there was a special circumstance needed to prove herself worthy.
A strike from a flame-covered tail knocked her down, sword clattering to the ground.
"You can no longer hold me." Homuratei rumbled, voice a little softer than before as her master struggled to stand. "This battle has ended."
"No…wait." Frustrated, Karin gripped tightly to the golden hilt and used it to help her get back on her feet, her muscles aching in protest to the abuse, wanting to just freeze up and stop moving. Sheer willpower prevented it. "I'm gonna…get…that Bankai…I promise…"
"Not today." Homuratei sighed. "You aren't doing what I suggested. This won't earn you Bankai."
The fires were dimming, the cracks reversing themselves and returning to normal. The damage done seemed to become undone, anything related to fire vanishing in an instant and leaving only gouges and dents in the earth that were easily fixed, considering such damage was common in the arenas. Homuratei was turning to flame and vanishing.
"Dammit." Karin scowled, upset with failing yet again to achieve the power her brother had so easily gotten. How could she pass the Five Trials in seven weeks yet not obtain Bankai after almost two years of training?
The air cooled, a welcome refreshment to her burning muscles. Problem was, that made her body turn to jelly and become unable to support her, knees buckling as she fell to the earth. Thankfully, a pair of strong, cold arms caught her before she hit and assisted her in standing.
"You and Ichigo both fight until you drop." Toshiro chuckled.
"Shut it." Karin grumbled, too tired to take his sarcasm.
Instead of taking offense, Toshiro just sighed lightly and lifted her up, carrying her over to the exit where Renji was already waiting, the hooded figure of Ruala standing nearby. Fortunately, Ruala's healing magic worked like Healing Kido, healing the spirit which made for faster healing wounds.
"Normally I'd say I can walk, but I can't even feel my legs." The raven-haired girl in his arms grumbled.
He frowned, concerned just how much she'd pushed beyond the limit, and whether or not that would have any lingering negative effects. He usually never got to see her practice Bankai, as he'd never stayed so long before, so he wasn't sure if she was always like this after training. Whatever the case, it upset him to see her like this.
"You look worse than Ichigo does after a spar with Kenpachi." Renji teased, smirk wide.
"The minute you step outside Dyrilæn will fry your ass." Karin spat back, grumpy from pain and exhaustion.
The red-head flinched back, unsure if she meant it or not, while Ruala silently stepped closer and cast her magic. As the spell washed over her in a calming wave, she let out a sigh of content and leaned her head on Toshiro's shoulder while it took effect, her energy starting to return and her Spirit Energy setting to work on healing the wounds. It was a temporary effect, though, as the happy feeling left her.
"Are you always like this?" Sofia questioned from her master's shoulder, violet eyes mischievous.
"What?" Karin looked at her curiously without picking her head up.
"Fighting to the point of death? That's a very unhealthy habit." Sofia shook her head in mock disappointment. "Not to mention it worries the young king."
Having been about to send a retort at the feline for the first sarcastic comment, Karin froze midway into forming the words and then closed her mouth, guilt spreading quickly at the thought of worrying Toshiro. The point of getting Bankai was so he wouldn't worry about her.
"Alright, I can stand now," Karin said with a slightly demanding tone.
She felt his grip on her tighten slightly, saw his teal eyes turn to her with a concerned expression, before he obliged and set her on her feet.
Not seconds after did he let out a yelp of pain and fall to his knees.
"Toshiro!" Karin shouted in alarm, kneeling down next to him and wondering how he'd gotten hurt. His hand was at his heart, gripping tight to the fabric, the mark on his hand flaring with an icy light as his power flared, taking her breath away for a moment as she was unprepared for the sharp increase. She had to raise her own Spiritual Pressure just to get her breath back and speak. "Toshiro, what's wrong?"
He didn't answer at first, eyes shut tight with pain. Ruala was at his other side, wondering what could have caused this as she sensed no Fear. Or, at least, not enough to cause him harm.
"M-Myndræl." Toshiro finally choked out. "He's…no!"
Without further explanation he was gone, speeding towards his dragon with panic common in those whose partners had been injured.
'Myndræl!' He called out mentally, tone pleading for a reply to make sure the Ice dragon was indeed alive, that the stab to his heart had not been the death of his partner. Not so soon after losing someone else important to him. Not now.
No reply.
'MYNDRÆL!'
The silence was horrifying, the worry he could normally set aside rising to a level he could not control with thoughts of the sapphire body possibly laying prone somewhere near the walls. He should not have sent Myndræl alone. He never should have doubted the danger posed by demons. They were tricky beasts, willing to resort to anything, such as killing helpless souls, to get what they wanted.
But as his worry rose, so did his fury. How dare Kamai attack his dragon! The Dark Master would suffer for this.
His speedy Flash Step brought him straight to where his dragon was, near the South Gate, and as he spotted the large beast he feared the worst. Crimson was splashed across the sapphire scales, breathing shallow. There was a gash straight across his chest. Fortunately, the demon responsible was currently crushed between Myndræl's jaws, the blade responsible for the wound broken in pieces, the end still attached to the dark creature jagged and cutting into the demon itself now.
"Myndræl!" Toshiro landed near the large head as his dragon dropped the horrid creature, spitting out the distasteful black blood. "How did it get past?"
"The one…called Erol…let it in." Myndræl panted, attempting to stand. His partner forced him back down and tried his hand at Healing Kido on the wound before any more blood was lost.
Erol Nightstalker, one of the few humanoid looking demons left, his partner Star Blodgharm killed off two years ago in one of his assaults. So he was back again for another go, it seemed, only this time he was being cautious, not letting in a swarm of demons but one or two deadly assassins, which thankfully Myndræl had apprehended and killed before any harm was done. The wound he had received, though, was worryingly deep and bled far too much.
"Just hold still." The tone of Toshiro's voice was still somewhat panicked, his hands shaking a little at the thought of how close he'd been to losing his partner. Surely Karin would get Shimmer before coming, or at least a healer, someone better at this than him. He would not let Myndræl die.
The Ice dragon let out a hoarse purr to ease the tension, turning his head so he could nose the young king gently. He spared a concerned glance before returning to his healing.
"Toshiro!"
At the familiar voice his heart lifted, hopeful, and he turned to spot Dyrilæn landing with both Kurosaki twins upon her back, the small Shimmer holding onto the scales behind them before gliding quickly over to her wounded kin. Karin had done exactly what he'd hoped, her sister rushing over behind her dragon with a satchel at her side of the plants Shimmer ate to gain her healing powers. It was less exhausting for Shimmer to have the plants ready instead of having to grow them herself and then use them to heal.
Toshiro gladly moved aside as Shimmer examined the wound and instead knelt by the Ice dragon's head, one hand upon his muzzle. As he did so, Karin came to his side and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I got here as fast as I could," She said softly. "What happened?"
"Nightstalker." Toshiro replied. She could feel him shaking a little and knelt beside him. "He let a demon in."
"Bastard." Karin then growled, letting him hold onto her while looking over at Yuzu and Shimmer as the two healers went to work, the latter swallowing a few plants and turning back to the wound, scales sparkling even more with built up power. "Guess he's not done yet. But why wait two years?"
"There's no telling." Dyrilæn snorted, her gaze towards the walls to spot any other possible gaps. "But I'm gonna roast him."
Myndræl gave a low rumble of thanks and the dragoness turned to him, touching noses with him gently. At his chest, Shimmer breathed out a pearly green smoke onto the wound. The smoke shimmered with light and took effect immediately, working at the tissue and speeding up the healing process. The blue dragon hissed as the wound closed up, causing a bit of pain, before it faded as all was done and left nothing but a pale blue scar. Shimmer nodded, satisfied, and turned back to the satchel in Yuzu's hands to find a combination that would help replenish the lost blood within the dragon's body.
"See, he's all better." Karin grinned up at Toshiro.
As if waiting for those words the young king relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief, the panic and worry from before leaving him. Unseen, Ruala frowned, as even though the danger had passed, there was darkness already inside. The demon had been killed before it could do any harm, how had the Fear gotten there? Did they now have a way to pass it through the bonds between dragon and soul? She didn't worry too much, as Karin's presence usually removed the Fear from him.
There was a sound. Hardly noticeable, a tiny noise on the wind. It could easily be passed off as a tree snapping or someone cracking their knuckles loudly. Most nearby ignored it. But most were not tied to a creature with heightened senses.
Dyrilæn and Myndræl both lifted their heads towards the gate. Sofia appeared near them as a large white panther, hackles raised and saber fangs gleaming as she snarled in the gate's direction. Shimmer gave a short yip of alarm and pushed her partner away, frightening Yuzu a bit, before looking to the gate with worry.
"What is it?" Toshiro asked his dragon, moving to stand beside him and follow that icy gaze while Karin went over to Dyrilæn, confused.
The dragons both let out low growls deep in their throats, a signal of danger.
"This battle not yet over," Shimmer whimpered, standing protectively in front of her partner but shivering as well, hoping the larger dragons and the Royal Guard could fend off this evil behind the gates.
The sound went off again and the four spirits listened closely this time, trying to figure out what it was. The beasts became tense, Dyrilæn and Sofia nearest the gate as they were more prepared for a fight, Myndræl still fighting off the dizziness of blood loss. Toshiro scowled as he realized he'd left Hyorinmaru back at the arena in his haste to get to his injured partner. Kido it was.
"The demon was a distraction," Ruala said as she joined them, her blades shooting out from her sleeves as she activated them. "We weren't supposed to kill it so quickly."
"Good thing Myndræl did, then." Karin scowled, drawing her zanpaktou. Homuratei hummed for a fight.
There was a tense moment of silence, waiting to see what was going to happen, wondering if they really could get through. Yuzu had already taken the chance to send word with a butterfly to the other Captains, hoping to prepare them if something does happen.
This time the sound was nearly deafening as cracks spread along the gate. Their worst fears were realized in that moment.
The demons were trying to break open the gate.
Time to get some action in here! Enjoy!
Beta'd by Writer of Craziness