Author's Notes; The Corps want to recruit little Masaki, who challenges Kaname. It's a cliff hanger, and I know that's totally mean of me. Please Rate and Review
Kido Destiny
Kaname Tosen had always been Masaki's rival. Although Tosen had been about even with him in most other styles, Masaki always beath him in kido, and he was always beat Masaki in zanjutsu. As each entered the all combat arena, Masaki felt confident and ready.
Unlike the other arenas, the all combat arena was large and always packed. The toughest students in the academy came to decide who was the toughest. The arena had a sand floor with a half kilometer radius. Today, it looked even more impressive.
Tosen stood on one side of the arena. He had been informed of a challenge, and he didn't want to disappoint. It was just who he thought, Masaki Nakamura. The boy had been his rival ever since he set foot in the academy. Though Tosen was a in his final year at the academy, he had been annoyed to no end to discover that a second year student was more skilled than him in any area.
The announcer was floating above the arena. "Welcome students and teachers of Shinigami Academy! On the right, we have Kaname Tosen, blind, yet he sees better than most."
Masaki had issued the challenge to Tosen after he had plenty of time to get to know his sword. He was ready. Ready to fight.
"And on our left, we have Masaki Nakamura, rising star in the art of kido."
"Combatants, prepare for battle!"
"Ready!?"
Tosen placed his hand on his hilt. Masaki didn't move.
"Set!?"
Masaki's instructor sat behind his desk as the man from the kido corp entered the room. "Excuse me," The man asked. "Are you the instructor for the students of class A, year two?"
The instructor nodded. "That's me. I don't mean to sound rude, but can we do this quickly? One of my students is about to fight in the all combat arena."
The man nodded. He produced a scroll from within his sleeve. Even before he opened it, the instructor knew that there two lines for signatures in the scroll. One was preffered. The other was mandatory. Recruitment.
"Which of my students will you be recruiting?"
"A child by the name of Nakamura, Masaki."
The instructor froze. "I refuse to sign."
"Your signature is not required." The man reminded. "But it is much preffered."
"The boy is too young." The instructor reminded. "He may excel at kido but he has much to learn. He has yet to kill a hollow or even perform a konso."
"By our records, killing a hollow would be an easy feat for this student." The man replied.
"How about this," The instructor sighed. "Why don't we go to the arena so you can see the boy for yourself."
"Hado 31: Red flame Cannon!"
Masaki fired a ball of concentrated flame! It torched a hole through the center of the target. He clenched his fist and grinned. "Another bull's eye!"
He basked in the glow of the small crowd of students as they gathered around, congratulating him. He was used to being congratulated for his excellence in kido. There was no doubt in his mind that he was the greatest in his class. The greatest in the school even. And it all went to his head.
"Nakamura,"
He turned his head and saw Kaname Tosen staring back at him. Not really staring, his eyes were never open.
"Kaname-san," Masaki greeted. "Come to congratulate me?"
"Congratulate?" Tosen mocked. "For what? You've shot a red flame cannon."
"It's just the latest spell to enter my arsenal." Masaki corrected. "You know I've already perfected Byakurai, I mean, pale lightning." He crossed his shoulders. "Didn't even need any real instruction on that."
Tosen frowned. "You're getting a swelled head over nothing." Tosen remarked. He held out two fingers and pointed them at Masaki. "When the monkey climbs to the high tree and thinks himself tall, it is the duty of the wind to knock him down and teach him some humility."
Masaki stiffened. "Hado,"
"Bakudo 4: Crawling rope."
A shot of gold colored light flew from Tosen's fingers and wrapped itself around Masaki's body. He watched Masaki struggle as the red head fell to the floor.
Masaki looked at Tosen with ferocity in hid eyes. The blind shinigami had just embarrassed him in front of the whole class.
Tosen turned around and began walking away. "Where are you going!"
The blind shinigami turned his head back. "You'll thank me for this some day."
And he did. Because of what Tosen did, Masaki learned to never let his skill go to his head. Because of Tosen, Masaki pushed himself further and further, never satisfied with his current level. He spent hours in the library memorizing spell chants. He valued all spells equally now. He grew to be a skilled practioner instead of a pompous gloat.
"Thank you," He whispered, hoping Tosen would somehow be able to hear it.
"Begin!"
Tosen vanished.
Masaki was instantly on edge. Shunpo. Tosen reappeared in the air.
"Hado 33: Blue fire crash down!"
A shot of blue flame flew from Tosen's hand. It crashed down on the ground where Masaki stood. As the dust cleared, Masaki was nowhere to be seen.
Masaki appeared high above. He grinned at Tosen.
"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast,"
He saw Tosen's face go blank. It was exactly what he wanted. The blind shinigami charged right for him!
"He's an idiot!" The instructor remarked from the loud audience. "He's trying to perform a level 60+ kido at his level!"
The man from the kido corp didn't say a word but only watched intently.
Tosen hadn't even drawn his sword. The combatants were fighting in the air, Tosen trying desperately to stop Masaki from finishing the chant.
"Sharp tower . . ." Masaki chanted as he dodged and fought back. "Red crystal, steel ring . . ."
"You're a fool!" Tosen yelled.
Masaki vanished and appeared behind Tosen, flying backwards. "Carriage of thunder! Move and become the wind!"
Tosen threw his arm back. "Hado 9: Disintegrating circle!"
A tendril of orange and yellow light shot from Tosen's fingers.
Just as Masaki wanted. As soon as the tendril was close, Masaki reached out and grabbed it with both hands.
"Hado 11: Bound lightning!"
Volts of electricity flew from Masaki's skin and poured into the tendril. They flowed through the kido and jolted into Tosen's body. He spasmed in the air before falling to the ground.
The man smirked. "It looks to me like young Masaki made the right choice."
The instructor just shook his head. "He didn't have a problem with foolishly attempting high level kido before."
"Maybe he's grown."
The instructor shook his head. "I doubt it."
The crowd was hushed as Tosen stood up. He was obviously injured, but still willing to fight. "You've become more powerful, Masaki-san."
Masaki flew to the ground several meters away from Tosen. "Thank you, Kaname."
Tosen's hand was glowing a bright green. He slammed it into his chest. The glow spread all over his body. Masaki watched intently as he healed himself. Done, Tosen stood up straight and cracked his neck.
"Masaki, I am about to release my zanpakuto. But before I do, I want you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
Tosen grasped the hilt of his sword. "Promise me that you will use your power to help those in need, that you will not stray from the path of light."
Masaki gripped the hilt of his own sword. "Ah, Tosen," He closed his eyes and smiled. "I wouldn't imagine doing anything else."
They flew at each other.
Tosen pulled his sword out an inch. "Cry, Suzumushi!"
"Screech, Higurashi!"