Chapter Twenty-Eight: Hisana-sama and Nazen Takuaji
Soi Fong's P.O.V.
The captain of the 2nd Division walked down the hallway with a young girl following from behind. The girl wore all black and her face was covered.
"And remember," said Soi Fong, "now that you've been accepted into the Kuchiki clan's personal guard, you must give everything to protect Lady Kuchiki of the 6th Division."
"Hai, Soi Fong-taicho," the girl said.
They reached the end of the hall and the door was opened by two servants. Soi Fong and the young ninja stepped inside.
Kuchiki Hisana sat in the middle of the room on a large cushion. After four and a half years since entering the Kuchiki clan, Hisana had yet to dress in more formal attire, dutifully wearing her Shinigami robes. She gave a respectful nod to Soi Fong. Soi Fong jerked her head toward the girl.
The girl went on her knees and bowed her head. "Hay Lin reporting, Lady Kuchiki…"
"Good, you're here," Hisana said to the girl. "Has Soi Fong-taicho explained everything?"
"Hai," the girl said. "I, Hay Lin, will give my mind and body to protect the Lady of the Kuchiki clan…"
"Don't be so formal," said Hisana. Hay Lin looked up at her new mistress.
"Quit that 'Lady Kuchiki'," said Hisana. "You can address me more familiarly. Like Hisana-san or something."
"I-I dare not think it!" insisted Hay Lin. "Speaking so to the Lady of such a noble clan would…"
Hisana's eyes saddened for a moment.
"W-Well then…" said Hay Lin, "may I call you Hisana-sama?"
"Phew! You sure are a stuffed shirt, aren't you?" said Hisana. "Well fine, call me what you like. I called you here because I recognized your strength. What you call me doesn't matter."
Soi Fong watched Hisana and Hay Lin converse as if she was at a tennis match.
"I'm expecting good things from you, Hay Lin," said Hisana.
Hay Lin's eyes brightened. "Hai!"
Soi Fong left the room, her captain's haori and her two long braids billowing in her wake.
"Goddess of Air, Kuchiki…" said Soi Fong. A single tear ran down her cheek. "Yoruichi-sama…"
Hisana's P.O.V.
"Rangiku! Get your ass down here right now!" Hisana screamed. Hisana was standing on the hill of the north side the West Rukongai's 3rd District. The newly appointed 10th Division lieutenant was above her, sitting in a tree.
"Lighten up, Hisana," said Rangiku, "You sound like Kaien with all that yelling. I think I deserve a little break in honor of my promotion…Ouch!" Rangiku rubbed the spot on her head where the green apple had make contact.
"Where do you keep all those?" asked Rangiku.
"Mind your own business!" snapped Hisana. "You're going to have to work harder than before, Mastumoto-fukutaicho. Being a lieutenant is not all about bossing subordinates around. You'll have to show your dedication, just like I did."
"Easy for you to say," Rangiku dropped from the tree and landed on the ground. "You're married to your taicho."
"Quit making excuses," Hisana drew out Takuaji. "Now, come at me again."
"Fine," said Rangiku, "Growl, Haineko!" Mastumoto's zanpakuto dispersed in a whirl of dust.
"Sing, Takuaji!" the black whip cracked in Hisana's hand. They sparred for a few more hours until Rangiku was thrown backward, her back slamming into a tree trunk.
"How do you do that?" Rangiku demanded. Hisana stood above her, her hand
outstretched.
"Your zanpakuto's power is very similar to Byakuya's. It scatters into ash and can cut through steel, very much like Senbonzakura." said Hisana. "Though, in a way, yours is a little more evasive because I can't see Haineko's dust as well as Senbonzakura's petals."
Rangiku sighed and let Hisana help her up. After the dirt was wiped off Rangiku, Hisana took her fighting stance once more.
"Now remember, focus," said Hisana. "Concentration is everything, if you want to keep Haineko's ash out of control of my tornadoes…." But Hisana abruptly stopped talking when Takuaji materialized right in front of her. Hisana starred at him. He had his black hair, purple eyes and raven wings. It had been a while since she saw him in his complete natural form.
"Why did you become a Shinigami, Hisana?" he asked.
Hisana was puzzled by this question.
"You know that answer, Takuaji," said Hisana, "There were two reasons. Jūshirō-dono let me continue to search for my sister, and I wanted to be closer to Byakuya."
"Are those the only reasons?" asked Takuaji. "You continue to look for your sister every day, and Byakuya is now your husband. So, why do you still work as hard as you do?"
"Hisana! W-Why are you glowing?" asked Rangiku in a tone higher than usual. Hisana ignored her.
"Is there anything else that motivates you?" Takuaji asked.
Hisana bowed her head. Yes, there was another reason, a very selfish one.
"When I abandoned my sister, I was helpless. I left her in my selfish weakness to die. I hated feeling like that. Part of me joined the Gotei 13 because with a Shinigami's powers, I knew that I'd get the self security that I would never be that weak again. So I struggled every day to get more powerful."
Takuaji calmly regarded her. "Do you still want more power?"
Hisana looked at him. "Do I need more?"
"That depends on how you use power," said Takuaji, "A Shinigami uses their power to keep balance between the human world and Soul Society. Would you ever use power to try and surpass or hurt anyone else?"
"You are too fiery and outspoken to remain in the Kuchiki clan for long. You will run away from the rules and restrictions that come with nobility soon enough. And I shall be waiting when you do," said Aizen.
"No," said Hisana. "There is a difference between defending one's pride and just seeking vengeance. I would use every ounce of my power to protect Soul Society."
Takuaji smiled. "Then you are indeed ready for this power. Just say the words."
"Hisana!" Rangiku took several paces back. She was oblivious to Rangiku's presence.
Hisana's eyes went from navy to light blue as the fused with spiritual energy.
"Bankai," said Hisana.
Byakuya's P.O.V.
Byakuya and Ukitake snapped their heads up as a tremor of a strong reiatsu vibrated in the air.
"Byakuya, what is that?" asked Ukitake. "That spirit force, it's captain level at least, but…I don't recognize it."
"I do not know, but it seems to be coming from West Rukongai," said Byakuya.
They followed the spirit force out of the Seireitei. As they reached the 3rd District of Rukongai, the reiatsu became more Byakuya and Ukitake came into the clearing, the saw a figure lying on the ground, her red hair covering her face.
"Matsumoto-fukutaicho," said Ukitake in concern. They both shunpoed toward her.
Besides her lack of consciousness, she appeared to be unharmed.
"Matsumoto-san," called Ukitake. Rangiku slowly opened her eyes.
"U-Ukitake-taicho?" mumbled Rangiku.
"What happened?" asked Byakuya in a business like voice.
"Ugh…spirit force…too strong…couldn't look her in the eye without passing out…"
"Couldn't look who in the eye, Matsumoto-san?" asked Ukitake kindly.
Rangiku's eyes started to droop again. "Hmmm…Hisana…bankai…" and she fainted.
Ukitake starred at Byakuya.
"A Shinigami lower than a captain capable of bankai?" wondered Ukitake out loud. "Such a thing is unusually rare."
"We must find her," said Byakuya. "She might cause unintentional damage to both herself or others around her."
Byakuya left Ukitake with Rangiku and followed the trail of spirit force.
Hisana's P.O.V.
When Hisana opened her eyes, she realized she was alone. She sat up and looked around.
"Rangiku?" called Hisana, getting to her feet. Once she stood up straight, she noticed how heavy the back part of her body felt.
She peered over her shoulder and gasped. Two narrow, black raven wings were protruding from her back. They had to be about ten feet long. Her hair wasn't short, but was flowing to her knees. Finally her head lowered to look at the hand that had held Takuaji's handle.
She wasn't holding anything anymore. On her right hand she wore a jet black gauntlet that reached all the way to the top of her forearm. The gauntlet was glowing faintly and it had a symbol of two raven wings crossing one another to make an X.
"Nazen Takuaji."
"It's something this small?" asked Hisana. "How could this be Takuaji's second release?"
"The most precious things come in the smallest packages," said Takuaji.
"I wonder what it does…"
"Hisana!" Hisana turned at the sound of her name. But this broke her concentration and the weight from her back lifted as the gauntlet morphed back into a whip. She looked at Byakuya's shocked face before passing out…
The next thing Hisana knew, she was lying down on a very cushy bed. She opened her eyes and shifted her head to the side. Hisana was met with a view of a pond in the middle of a garden.
"The Kuchiki House…" Hisana said to herself. Her head moved to the right and she saw a small red cushion next to her bed. Hisana reached out to touch it.
"It's still warm," said Hisana. "Byakuya-sama…"
The door opened and Hisana looked up. Hay Lin shuffled into the room.
"Hello there, Hay Lin," said Hisana. Hay Lin gave a low bow.
"Please, come closer, Hay Lin," said Hisana. "How am I supposed to have a conversation with you if you're way over there?"
Hay Lin strode to Hisana's side and dropped to her knees.
"My deepest apologies!" said Hay Lin quickly.
"For what?" asked Hisana, slightly confused.
"I should have accompanied you with Mastumoto-fukutaihco," said Hay Lin. "It's my duty to protect you, Hisana-sama. When I saw Lord Kuchiki bring you home unconscious…"
"That's the problem?" said Hisana, rolling her eyes. "Don't worry about it. This was unavoidable. There was no need for you to protect me."
"But…" insisted Hay Lin. Hisana looked at her.
"When I say it's all right, it's alright."
The door opened again and Byakuya stepped in.
"Byakuya-sama," said Hisana happily, smiling at him. Byakuya looked at Hay Lin.
"Leave us," he ordered and Hay Lin bowed again and left.
Once she was gone. Byakuya sat next to Hisana. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay," said Hisana. But then she frowned. "I didn't figure out what my bankai does."
"Don't worry about that now," said Byakuya, "It will take you awhile before you'll be able to call your bankai again. That's how it always is the first time." Then Byakuya leaned over and kissed Hisana on the forehead.
"I'm so proud of you," he said. Hisana felt her heart swell at the praise before drifting off to sleep again.
Author's Note: Even in the fics where Hisana is a Shinigami, I have yet to see her bankai. I'm the first, yay me!