Chapter 11: Best Night Ever

The first sensation I became aware of was a rushing feeling, as if I was creaky plumbing system through which torrential river was trying to force itself through. It was such a wild and extreme feeling, I felt like I was about to come apart entirely. I was blinded by light, deafened by noise... I couldn't tell if I was screaming, what was up or down.

But I had not been enduring hellish training for no reason. Though my control was still pretty crap, I had learnt to vaguely sense and manipulate my own spiritual energy. Slowly, painstakingly, I wrestled with my power, shoving it down. Atfer my trip to the inner world, I was able to visualize the source of my power, understand it a little better. And gradually I sensed the pressure slackening off, and became aware of my own harsh breathing. Focusing on an inhale-exhale meditation technique I'd recently learnt, I was finally able to slam a lid on my rampaging power once and for all.

See, zanpakutou? I told myself triumphantly, I'm getting better at this. But he made no reply, retreating into that frozen inner world. I wondered when I'd get to speak with him again, and if it would be easier now that we'd come to - kind of - an understanding.

I staggered dizzily to my feet (when had I fallen on the ground? Oh, that's right, I blacked out...) and raised a hand to my face, scrubbing at my eyes. Why was I blind? But even as I began panicking, vision was returning in spots and hazy shapes, as if I'd been staring directly into the sun.

In a crater about five meters in diameter, the ground of the training field was torn up and blasted from my spiritual power, the remnants of which hung, shimmering on the night air around me like a heat haze, while I stood in the epicenter, unharmed.

Well, not unharmed, exactly.

I suddenly coughed, violently, and glanced down at the hand I'd reflexively brought to my mouth.

"I'm coughing blood." I said in surprise.

I'm coughing BLOOD.

"Holy shi-" I broke off into more coughing, doubling over as crippling pain reminded me of my injuries. And the three blades still sticking through me. How had I not noticed until now?

I felt a spike of panic- this looked bad. Like, really bad. However you looked at it, it was a fatal wound. And yet, though it hurt like a bitch, I didn't feel on death's door. The strength of my reiatsu was still surging through me, more contained now, but potent. It gave me the strength to stand, to keep conscious and aware even though I was fighting to breathe.

Pretty sure at least one of my lungs are punctured...

My hands were trembling, the first signs of shock beginning to set in. I wondered whether it was a good idea to remove the weapons. Each blade was slightly different in form, the rough length and width of an unreleased zanpakutou, but each had a unique curve and slightly different shape. My fingertips reached behind me, groping blindly until I found the hilts, sticking out of my back like porcupine quills. The movement had me spasm in pain and cough again, spitting more blood.

I was also beginning to feel more and more pissed off.

I didn't think I could move very well with these swords still in me, and that was a problem. For revenge reasons.

Deciding to inspect the wound before making any rash decisions, I carefully struggled out of the sleeves of my training uniform, peeling it away to pool at my hips, exposing my chest (my modesty was preserved by the thin vest I wore beneath, now ripped and soaked red). The swords had created a gigantic vertical slash directly through my chest. They'd cut into me at an upward angle, entering through my lower back, with the sharp tips exiting through my sternum. If I'd been human, of course, the bone would have shattered and nerves and tendons and all that stuff would have been messed up. But this was the spiritual world, and I'd been cut by spiritual weapons. They'd simply gone right through me, cutting bone as easily as flesh. Not to mention the vital organs in between. Like my intestines. Liver. Kidneys. Whatever else was in there.

Again, how the heck am I still standing? I wondered. The wound hadn't healed or anything miraculous, but the bleeding seemed to have stopped by itself.

That is pretty miraculous, I guess.

Would my guts spill out if I removed the swords?

"Only one way to find out." I muttered, clenching my teeth so they stopped chattering, in anticipation of the agony to come.

I reached behind me and gripped a hilt.

Three, two... one...

My choked scream rang out across the training fields. I couldn't see anyone outside of my crater, but I imagine the scene was pretty eerie for anyone nearby. It was the dead of night and the area was blanketed in misty residue of my rampaging power.

I dropped the stained sword on the ground in front of me, and noted in relief that at least my organs weren't pouring out of me. Yet.

Number two...

I tried to hold it back, but I couldn't help a choked groan and a string of expletives from streaming out. For the third sword, an involuntary howl was torn from my throat.

At last it was over, and, panting shallowly, I looked down at the three blades lying in the dirt. My fingers twitched.

I drew my rapier for the first time since this whole mess began.

I sensed a weird energy coming off the other zanpakutous... like a bad smell.

Fear.

Good.

It took one slash, the edge of my blade barely brushing the surface of the other weapons. Instantly, they shattered, like a fragile teacup trodden under a boot.

Despite the pain I was enduring, I managed a savage grin. My rapier strictly wasn't a slashing weapon, yet in all the excitement the bloodlust had built up, sharpening the edge. It was a little... over-eager. Plus, I had no reservations about destroying the zanpakutous which had caused me such pain; there was no uncertainty in my heart to dull the blade.

Now it was time to deal with their owners.

Seeing as I still didn't want to commit murder - though they deserved it - I stuck my zanpakutou back into my belt, cracked my knuckles meaningfully, and began clambering out of the crater, still spitting blood occasionally.

Renji and his men arrived on the scene promptly, since their barracks were quite close by.

The first thing he saw was the slim, bloodstained figure of a young woman, breathing heavily but standing tall - over the bodies of three other students. Five others were lying nearby, too. None of them were moving.

And she was yelling at them.

"Hey, you little shits, GET UP! D'YOU HEAR ME?! I'm not done with you just yet!" she stamped her foot in a fit of temper, and Renji winced, feeling her spiritual power pressing down uncomfortably on him. His squad-mates seemed reluctant to approach, and he couldn't blame them. He could feel her bloodlust from here.

But he was no slouch with spiritual power himself.

"Oi, Raen!" he shouted, striding forward while drawing his zanpakutou. "Step away from them! What the fuck did you do?"

At the sound of his voice, she turned towards him, and he stopped dead, eyes widening. There was a gaping wound on her chest - bone and all sorts of grisly things were actually visible in the violent slash. She had blood leaking out the side of her mouth. Despite all of this, she was standing, quite normally, and her eyes were clear and aware.

And she seemed pleased to see him.

"Renji!" she greeted, "It's good tha-" she paused briefly to hack a cough and spit some blood, "That you've come."

He just stared, still too shocked to react. What on earth...? He noticed that she hadn't drawn her zanpakutou - it's blade was clean. The bodies didn't seem injured, outwardly, beside some very bruised and swollen faces. What the...

"Arrest these cretins," she said confidently, "They attacked me without provocation."

"Sir," one of his subordinates seemed to have pulled himself together enough to check on the students lying strewn around. "They're only unconscious."

Renji scowled at Raen. "Right. I'm taking you into custody-"

"Why?" she exclaimed, sounding very offended. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Nevertheless, I need to get everything straightened out - hear the full story. Will you come without a fuss?" His grip tightened on Zambimaru.

Raen looked him up and down for a moment, and Renji felt a chill crawling up his spine. That gaze was sharp, shrewd, assessing... Nothing like the dreamy innocence of her usual expression.

But fortunately the moment passed, and she shrugged, agreeing. "Sure."

Renji narrowed his eyes at her - there was more to her than met the eye. No wonder the Captain had taken such an interest in her that day of the entrance exam. It had been a little out of character for him, but he was smart like that...

He turned to his mean. "Get Fourth Squad here, immediately. We need medical attention for..." he counted, "... Nine." he was counting Raen, too. He didn't know how long she could stay conscious while in that condition, though she didn't seem that bothered at the moment. It was kind of creepy, like she was a zombie or something. He'd seen shinigamis fight in worse condition, sure, but she was standing there all relaxed, as if it was nothing.

"Now, Raen, I need you to surrender your zan-"

"MITSOMIYA FARAENDYS REDENDRA!" roared a loud and obnoxious voice, as a gigantic man with a giggling pink-haired girl clinging to his shoulder landed on the grass, causing another crater to form from the force of his landing.

"Ah, shit.." groaned Renji, as the ground trembled beneath his feet. He grabbed the shoulder of the nearest shinigami. "Get the Captain. Now!"

The man gulped and nodded, flash-stepping away.

"FIGHT ME!" the new arrival bellowed cheerfully. He completely ignored the bodies lying around and Renji's ticked off expression.

Raen held up her hands, "Um, well..." she gave a nervous laugh, "I don't really want-"

"SCREW THAT, LET'S GO!" Zaraki Kenpachi was tired of waiting. He launched himself at her, swinging his sword down at her shocked face.

Renji felt his headache worsen, but didn't let it slow his reaction.

"Howl, Zambimaru!"

I felt a rush of affection for Renji as he prevented my instant annihilation by flash-stepping in front of me, his sword snaking through the air in undulating links, like a snake. It blocked Kenpachi's attack with a scream of grinding metal, sparks flying.

What a cool sword release! I gushed to myself, feeling a little jealous.

"Thanks, Re-"

My words were snatched away by the wind as Kenpachi delivered a brutal kick to my erstwhile protector's stomach... and sent him flying about twenty metres away.

So much for that, then. I winced sympathetically on his behalf - that kick had looked really painful - but of course I had my own problems to deal with. This time, there was nothing between me and the man trying to kill me. Nowhere to run.

It was time to survive.

At least Renji had interrupted Kenpachi's first attack - I hadn't been one-shot KO'd, which the survival handbook was always harping on about.

Now, I had time to draw my zanpakutou and take the stance I'd been taught in zanjutsu classes, bracing myself for the coming onslaught. Obviously I didn't have experience in fighting - like, at all - which is why drawing my sword wasn't exactly instinctive. I couldn't just react when someone attacked my face out of the blue.

Or tried to stab me in the back.

But now I was prepared, and I stood my ground with my rapier raised and ready. It was a killing weapon - not much good for defense, either - and yet I'd seen the power I was capable of summoning. Furthermore, my zanpakutou was crying out for blood. It's savage eagerness made me keen to see it in action; I was fully aware Kenpachi was on a whole other level, which meant that I had to go all-out... and hope it was enough.

"Bring it, bitch!" I squeaked, clenching my jaw.

He just laughed like an insane man and attacked with a flurry of blows.

Left - right - left - head - leg -

I swung my rapier rapidly, barely meeting each of his blows. To my relief, my narrow rapier was a lot stronger than it looked and held up well, causing a spray of angry sparks each time our blades touched. I didn't have time to respond in kind, and I was getting pushed back with every blow, my feet making trenches in the dirt... And I could tell he was holding back. Like, a lot. He was just feeling me out.

"Too slow!" he grinned, and with embarrassing ease, he slipped past my clumsy block to slash open my right shoulder to the bone.

The blood sprayed out - no mysterious force was preventing that wound from acting normally.

"Fu-" I gasped, staggering back.

"That all you got?" he taunted.

I could barely grip my sword - he'd slashed through the muscles and tendons in my right shoulder. But the molded grip was not made for the left hand - I felt a spike of panic. If I was having trouble maintaining my grip on the hilt, now slippery with blood, how the heck was I supposed to block the next attack?

I glanced around, but during the fighting I'd been pushed some distance away from Renji and the other shinigami.

I could try a kido, but the incantation was long and hard to remember - plus I was really crap at it. I didn't want to blow myself up by mistake. So, what to do?

For some reason my mind flew to the conversation I'd had with my zanpakutou, in the inner world. What was it he'd said...?

If you have an enemy, cut him down. If you don't want to be cut down yourself, then leave your SHITTY sense of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS at the door!"

Rude, but perhaps he had a point. This whole time I'd been so concerned with being nice, being polite, working well with others. I'd wanted to make friends. I'd wanted to get stronger. I'd wanted to improve myself, strive for something. And where did this get me? Stabbed in the back and on the brink of death.

It was time I stopped playing nice.

With this surprisingly vicious thought, I suddenly remembered that yes, I did have something else up my sleeve - almost literally, in fact...

Giving Kenpachi no warning, I suddenly bent my knees and snapped them straight, using every bit of my recently acquired flash-stepping skill to enhance my speed. Since I was already friggin' in front of the guy, I covered the space between us in less than a blink of an eye.

His reaction was just as fast, though. I'd slipped under his arm (fortunately for me, the dude was built like a tank and his arm was well high enough for me to duck) and my rapier was slicing towards his ribcage, but even quicker than I could finish the attack, he'd changed grip on his sword and brought it crashing down. With my ruined arm, I had no way of holding onto it - it span off into the night with a sound like a ringing bell.

But in the meantime, I'd already done the damage I wanted with my left hand.

I retreated to a safe distance and watched the result.

"Close, but not qui-" Kenpachi stopped abruptly, eyes widening.

Yeah, you feel that, y'bastard?

He looked down in confusion, then thrust his sword tip-down into the ground as his right leg buckled, one knee hitting the dirt with a heavy thud.

"Ken-chan?" questioned the pink-haired girl with raised eyebrows. The little weirdo had been clinging onto his shoulder all along. She hopped off and took a closer look at him.

He suddenly erupted into violent laughter, crazily pleased by what I'd done. "Fuckin' brilliant!"

Between his fingers clutched over his stomach, blood had started flowing - no, gushing - out of him.

"Why, thank you." I said politely, tucking my dagger back into my robes. I'd used it to hamstring him and slash through his abdominal muscles, while he'd been distracted by the rapier. It wasn't pretty... it wasn't kind... But it did exactly what it was supposed to. No power, no explosions, no special ability... Just a cutting edge like you've never seen. It had cut into his reiatsu-strengthened flesh like a knife through butter. If I'd thrust upward, I probably could have reached his heart.

But a wound like that wouldn't slow him down for long - already I could see the bleeding slow, as a yellow haze began rising like steam off his shoulders.

I quickly flash-stepped away and retrieved my rapier, holding it awkwardly in my left hand. My right was just about useless by now, but I was determined to make a go of it. I had no illusions about using the dagger again; it was a weapon which relied on surprise, after all. I pumped out more reiatsu in preparation of his counter-attack.

Kenpachi lurched to his feet with a grunt. "Yachiru, back off." he ordered with a grin.

"Kay, Ken-chan!" she back-flipped away to a respectable distance.

He stepped closer to me, and I noticed he was limping.

A plan began to hatch in my mind. There was a thick band of trees ringing the field, and it was dark.

"Mitsomiya Faraendys Redendra, eh? Y'actually got some bite in ya, after all."

I flashed him a bloody grin (I was still spitting bits of my ruined lung out every now and then), "Call me Raen. M'name's a bit of a mouthful."

"Sure thing, Raen. I wanna see how far you can go." his grin was wolfish, scariest friggin' thing I'd ever seen. But I kinda liked his straight-forwardness, all the same.

I still had no intention of dying, though.

"You'll have to catch me first." I challenged, and launched into the fastest series of flash-steps I'd ever attempted.

I heard his yell of annoyance, and then heavy crashes right behind me as he tried to run me down.

He was injured, I was injured... neither of us was very mobile. My legs were about the only part of me still intact, so I was slightly better off. I quickly moved into the trees, presenting a moving target that flickered around tree trunks and leapt between branches in order to escape him. Because he was right on my tail, I could hear his breathy curses. As soon as he got close enough, he would swing his sword wildly in my vague direction, destroying lines of trees and giving me a minor heart-attack each time.

The chase can't have been more than two minutes long, and I was already pretty bushed. Running for your life on half a lung is not generally recommended, and flash-stepping was draining at the best of times.

At last I dived out of the way of another particularly violent attack (I swear a few strands of my long, dirty-blonde hair got sheered off, it was so close) and I lost my footing, tumbling into a clearing.

I panted raggedly, pushing myself to my feet, as Kenpachi approached.

"Finished running?" he taunted, whistling a cheerful tune. The bastard seemed mostly unaffected by his wounds.

"Aren't you tired yet?" I asked hopefully, struggling to raise my rapier to shoulder height. Damn, my arm won't stop trembling...

He shook his head. "This doesn't end 'til one of us is lyin' on the ground," he explained. "And you just keep getting right on up. This is just too FUN!"

I gritted my teeth and tried not to sway on the spot. I could play dead, but I had a feeling he would know I was lying. I still had an ocean of reiatsu to call up if I needed it, but... I wanted sleep. And food. Holy crap do I need food.

Seeing the fire re-ignite in my eyes, he kept on smiling that maniacal smile, and raised his sword, foot angling towards me, as-

A dashing figure in a white haori suddenly materialized between us, catching the edge of Kenpachi's sword in one elegant hand and stopping it dead.

"I think that's quite enough."

I could've wept. I'd know that haughty, cultured voice anywhere - I'd heard it so often in my dreams. (The nice kind of dreams... if you catch my drift...)

Oh yeah. This is officially the best night ever.

Captain Sexyhair had just arrived to save my sorry ass.

Author's note:

For those of you who think Kenpachi is being a gigantic jerk: yes, he's kinda insane. But also bear in mind he did not kill Raen, even though let's be honest he has the skill and power to do it. If he took the fight seriously from the beginning she'd have stood no chance. The one injury he gave her was not life-threatening.

Also, why can Raen endure so much of a beating? Things will be explained pseudo-scientifically later. But it is based off an anime, so a little craziness is totally okay. How many times did Ichigo come close to kicking the bucket before recovering miraculously without even a scar? I rest my case.

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