Authors notes: SORRY!!!! I haven't put up anything in almost a week I just haven't been in a writing mood...you see I seem to have two muses one for writing XD and the other for Art...though I think my writing is much better then my art...anyways My writing muse is back so on with the story!

Chapter Eight

Challenge

Raika walked down to the Training room her and Ichigo normal used as she stepped in there she found that one of the captains was training a girl. She knew both of them as she entered the room she was suddenly hugged by the rambunctious Setsuna. The woman smiled brightly.

"RAIKA!!!!!" she yelled happily. "I was so worried! I saw Kurosaki-san bring you into the squad four healing room yesterday!!" she was holding on to Raika tightly as the girl blinked slightly her mind wasn't completely working yet it was still on that Scary Fairy.

"I-I'm fine Setsuna-san. He took me out to fight hollows...I wasn't as Ready as he thought I guess" Raika frowned. She had been hoping to find Ichigo here but of course he wouldn't have been. He had other things to attend to then look after her. She sometimes felt guilty for taking up his time. Why was it he had come into this room that day? Why had he chosen her out of everyone to train? she looked down at her hilt and her hand absentmindedly rested on the blade Zabimaru.

"Ohhh how reckless of him! Oh but hes still handsome!" Raika enjoyed the passion that Setsuna had she was always happy and expressive.

"Setsuna-chan...do you want to continue with training or are you going to continue yapping..." the captain in the room said. Raika looked at him and instantly felt like the room had constricted. It was Kenpachi Zaraki. The man was huge and really creeped the poor girl out.

"SORRY ZARAKI-SAN!" Setsuna said suddenly as she let go of Raika and ran back to the center of the room pulling her Zanpakto from her back where she stored it. As she did Zaraki looked at Raika then his eyes fell on to Zabimaru. Raika shielded it slightly from his view as he looked at her. Suddenly the man smirked and he charged at Raika the girls hand went not for the long Zabimaru but to her Smaller Zanpakto. She blocked his blade but barely her tiny dagger was no use against his sword. "CAPTAIN!!!" Setsuna said suddenly in shock at his actions. Raika hadn't done anything to warrant his going after her.

"Heh...Been wanting to challenge you Raika was it...Ichigo said your strong for a beginner Shigami... "His harsh voice said. Raika looked at him completely in shock she had never had another Shigami challenge her except when she was training with Ichigo. Suddenly Zaraki pulled his blade back and went for another strike at her she blocked again barely keeping his sword at bey. She could feel her feet slipping on the smooth floor underneath them. She didn't want to fight. He once again hit at her with another powerful blow this one nearly hitting her as she dodged to the side.

"Stop!" Setsuna called as she saw Raika almost get hit again as the girl threw herself away from the attack. Setsuna ran out of the room quickly. Raika felt like she had back in her dream helpless against him. He charged at her his sword raised high over his head. She jumped back again as he brought it down now she was up against a wall. Zaraki sent his blade once again to hit the girl this time she blocked his sword his her small dagger. Zaraki looked at her what was she doing using that tiny dagger when she could be giving him a real fight with Zabimaru. He pushed down harder on his blade and he hands slipped closer to her body. Raika closed her eyes as she felt his power behind the sword. Suddenly without thinking she heard herself call out one word.

"KOKKAIJINJI!!!!!" she screamed. It was a defense mechanism from her dreams it would make the evil go away but when she had screamed it out however she found in the real world it had a different effect. Zaraki did pull away but it was not because she had said the name. Instead he watched as the dagger in her hands morphed and it took on a new form. The weapon that was now in her hand was a long scythe that seemed to be constructed of bones. Zaraki smirked and charged at her this time she blocked with the handle of her scythe.

"Zaraki! Quit!" a sharp voice said from the door way. Ichigo Kurosaki had come to see what had happened after a distraught Setsuna had found him in his office. Zaraki looked up at him and frowned. "I'll give you a good fight later...Raika isn't near strong enough..." the tall man frowned then walked from the room.

"You better make it worth my wild...Kurosaki..."he growled. Raika watched as he left the stared down at the bone scythe in her hands. Ichigo walked in slowly and looked at her Zanpakto he then smirked slowly.

"...So...How long have you known your Zanpakto's name" he said looking at her lightly. Raika stared up at him from where she stood.

"Uh...I-I didn't know...that was it's name" she said slightly. Ichigo laughed softly and nodded.

"It's ok...so how did you find out then...I bet it was a dream right?" Ichigo spoke with such kindness to Raika that the girl couldn't help but feel at home around him.

"Ya...this Fairy with black wings kept on yelling at me to say Kokkaijinji...then she grabbed my shoulders and started banging me into the wall..." she whimpered slightly as she said it. Ichigo frowned her Zanpakto sounded like it was uneasy about something to be in such a hurry for a release. He watched Raika lightly wondering if she was in danger then she saw Raika's hand rest on Zabimaru and he laughed.

"I see...Your Zanpakto is jealous of Zabimaru" he said still laughing.

"W-What! Why?" she asked looking at the scythe in her other hand. Ichigo pointed to her hand on Zabimaru.

"Do you do that often...rest your hand on Zabimaru..." he asked. Raika looked at her hand and frowned.
"...I didn't even know I had done it this time..." she sighed. "I didn't mean to make my Zanpakto Jealous..." Ichigo couldn't help but laugh slightly.

"Don't worry about it just don't start favoring Zabimaru..." he said seriously. Raika nodded slowly then looked at her Zanpakto.

"How do I...Umm turn this back" she held up the Scythe she didn't want to have to carry around such a large blade all the time.

"You know...I don't know..." he said pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. "My Zengetsu is a full time release Zanpakto..."

"C-could mine be" she said with a sweatdrop. Ichigo frowned and looked at it the scythe was almost as tall as he was. It was completely out of proportion for the girl. Suddenly Raika spoke.

"Umm Kokkaijinji can you turn back to the dagger?" she said out loud. Suddenly the blade became a dagger again she smiled brightly and tucked it into her sash.