The Cindered Sister Chapter 5

A/N: Sorry about the wait again. It was a crazy summer – I went and got married! I hope this chapter was worth the wait! Enjoy and don't forget to point out things that don't make sense!

Ichigo stood with his back against the fence just outside of Urahara's shop early Saturday morning – so early in fact that there was only the faint glow of morning light in the sky. The sun had not yet begun to rise. Ichigo looked up and the sky above him was still dark and twinkled with stars. At least he could be glad of the fact that it wasn't raining and that the morning air was comfortably warm. And what was the reason he was waiting outside of Urahara's at such an ungodly hour?

Ichigo looked down at his watch. 4:59AM. He was seconds away from wondering where his friends were when the sound of footsteps caused him to look up and see Orihime and Chad making their way down the small street. Orihime waved happily and Ichigo returned the gesture. Uryuu had yet to make his appearance. He was never tardy and so Ichigo surmised that he had decided, much to the annoyance of the young shinigami, not to come this morning.

Of course, it was the prerogative of the Quincy to prove his foe wrong and landed only mere inches from Ichigo, having simply dropped in from above. They both glared at each other.

"What the Hell was that Ishida?!"

"What was what?"

"You practically landed on my damn head!"

"Are you always this dramatic so early in the morning?"

"Are you always such a dick so early in the morning?"

"Ah-hah, good morning," Orihime said attempting to break the tension. "Sado-kun and I brought snacks for everyone."

Ichigo's attention quickly shifted from Uryuu to Orihime who held up a back with a happy grin on her face.

"That's great, thanks Inoue," Ichigo stated.

"Where is Keisotsu?" Sado inquired looking around.

Ichigo shrugged.

"It figures she wouldn't show up after all the arm pulling we did," Uryuu scoffed.

"Did you ever think that she might already be inside?" asked Isamu with his cool voice as he appeared opposite the group.

"Good morning Keisotsu-san," Orihime greeted with her cheerful smile. "Will you also be joining us this morning?"

Isamu nodded and then walked past the group into the courtyard.

"You know she only agreed to this with the stipulation that you keep your distance," Ichigo stated as the elder Keisotsu passed him.

"You let me worry about that," Isamu stated and continued into Urahara's shop. The rest of the group followed him in and were quickly greeted by Tessai.

"Good morning Tessai-san," Orihime chimed once again.

"Good morning," Tessai responded and then made a gesture toward the back of the store. "If you'll please come with me, Urahara and Keisotsu-san have already begun below."

"What do you mean Tessai-san?" Ichigo asked.

"Keisotsu-san arrived nearly an hour ago," Tessai commented as he opened the trap door in the floor and gestured downward. "Please," he said.

The five descended one by one down the ladder into Urahara's subterranean training grounds one after another. As soon as Isamu touched the ground and took in the sight around him: the hills, sand and the blue sky, he let out a whistle.

"All this under his tiny shop," Isamu stated a little bewildered.

"And the perfect place for our exercises to go unnoticed," Urahara stated cheerfully as he approached the newcomers. "Welcome Keisotsu-san, what a pleasure to have you join us this morning."

Isamu smirked and shook his head. "Yeah I know. But I think I can help."

"I think you can too," Urahara stated.

"Where is Keisotsu, Urahara-san?" Ichigo asked.

"She's finishing her warm up," Urahara stated with a smile. "Please follow me."

Urahara led the group around a short rock face that seemed to jut out of nowhere. It was then that everyone took notice of the small explosions and the rising dust that followed. They all looked at the former captain quizzically. He continued forward, walking up what appeared to be small staircase carved into the surface of the stone. They followed suit rising above the explosions and dust.

"Urahara-san, what's going on?" Orihime questioned.

"I asked Keisotsu-san if she could come a little early this morning so that I could assess her," Urahara stated looking out at the cloud of dust before them. He was about to continue when Yumi suddenly leapt out from the cloud into the air above them, turned 180 degrees and fired off two arrows before disappearing once again beneath the dust. Then they heard rustling and the footsteps of something rather large before Yumi appeared again on a smaller rock face opposite them. She landed hard on her feet and surveyed the area below her. They could tell by the movement of her shoulders that she was trying to catch her breath and yet her eyes remained completely focused and alert as she awaited whatever it is that she was fighting.

"Urahara-san, what's going on?" Ichigo asked stepping forward, his eyes not moving from Yumi – the loose t-shirt and bicycle short she wore bearing the signs of struggle.

"He's trying to assess her reiatsu and skill level," came Yoruichi's voice as she appeared behind them. "Her skills are rudimentary, but her focus is excellent."

"And what would either of you know about Quincy skills and abilities?" Uryuu questioned, rather annoyed.

"Kisuke knows a lot more than you give him credit for," Yoruichi stated, crossing her arms over her chest.

"But unfortunately not nearly enough as an actual Quincy," he stated looking at Uryuu. "She's going to need your help if she is to succeed and get a proper handle on her powers – I can say that much for certain."

"Look," Sado stated, causing everyone to look back toward the area in which Yumi was standing. They watched as the dust cleared enough for them to see the ground below. In the plain between them and Yumi there was a Hollow. They watched as it leapt into the air and dove at Yumi, who managed to fire of a quick and uncoordinated shot before the Hollow ploughed into the rocky surface that Yumi had been perched upon. She managed to jump but it was too late and she was thrown into the air. She fell, but amazingly enough landed on her feet only stumbling after her initial landing.

"What the Hell is this Urahara-san?" Uryuu demanded. "You're assessing her by having her fight a Hollow?"

"There isn't a better way to do it. Besides, it's a dummy," Urahara stated pointing at the creature and smiling.

They watched as Yumi and the Hollow came face to face. She called upon her bow and prepared to fire another arrow but not before the beast jumped her and pushed her to the ground. They watched with hitched breath as she struggled beneath it, attempting to free herself but to no avail. Its jaws were growing dangerously close to her head.

"Urahara, stop this!" Uryuu demanded with clenched fists. "She clearly isn't prepared."

"Wait," Isamu stated glaring at the Quincy.

They watched as Yumi continued to struggle. It was apparent to everyone that she was getting tired.

"Come on Yumi," Isamu stated under his breath, his eyes never leaving her struggling form.

Suddenly, in a burst of strength Yumi forced her legs beneath the Hollow and in a swift thrust upwards threw it off of her. It charged back toward her and she scrambled quickly to her feet. She didn't bother to summon her bow. Instead she simply balled her hand into a fist and with all the force she had punched the Hollow full on in the face knocking it backward once more. Now was her opportunity and she took full advantage of it. She summoned her bow and without a thought fired and struck the Hollow dead center in the mask.

Everyone watched in awe what happened before them. Isamu beamed with pride at his younger sister, but said nothing to that effect. The mechanical Hollow lay motionless on the ground now.

"Oi Keisotsu-san," Urahara called down to Yumi who looked up and noticed the group that had gathered. "How about a break before we get started with everyone else – Inoue-san brought snacks!"

Yumi nodded curtly clearly unhappy that Isamu had showed up. Moreover, after all of Uryuu's objections and refusal to acknowledge that she had any Quincy talent, the jack ass had the nerve to show up. Wiping the sweat off her brown, Yumi took a deep breath and joined the group.

"That was amazing Yumi-chan!" Orhime stated excitedly as she handed Yumi a bottle of water.

Yumi blushed at the compliment, but nodded just the same as she took the bottle from Orihime.

"I don't think I've ever seen anyone except Chad punch a Hollow in the face before," Ichigo commented, surprised.

"It was a training Hollow," Uryuu stated pushing up his glasses.

"Which are programmed to act like the real thing," Yoruichi commented. "Though I am surprised that someone of your stature was able to flip a Hollow like that, let alone strike it with your bare hands."

"Well it wasn't without consequence," Yumi stated looking at her right hand and trying to flex it. A couple of her knuckles were cracked and bleeding. Her entire fist had started to swell. She winced once again as she opened and closed her palm, assessing her range of motion.

"That looks painful!" Orihime exclaimed. "I can help with that!"

Yumi shook her head. "Don't worry. It's nothing, really – I've had worse."

"I can attest to that," Isamu stated earning a glare.

"…A prime candidate for the Second squad, Yoruichi-san?" Urahara smiled coyly looking at his old friend.

"Ha! She'd have to work a lot harder than that!"

Yumi watched the exchange between the two and was confused at the reference. She looked to the rest of the group. None but Ichigo shrugged and shook his head with a smile – as if to tell her not to worry about it. But when the lightheartedness left his eyes, Yumi looked at him questioningly.

"What is it?"

"Orihime, could you give Keisotsu a hand with her leg as well?" He said turning toward the red head.

Initially Orihime looked confused, until Yumi began shifting her legs trying to see what Ichigo was referring to and that's when they both noticed the gash on Yumi's calf.

"Wow," Yumi stated and then looking at Ichigo, she rolled her eyes and said, "Well, I didn't feel that until you pointed out."

"Hang on Yumi- chan, I'll have it all healed in a moment," Orihime said as she summoned her Soten Kishun and began working on Yumi's injuries. Yumi watched, astounded at her ability. It only took Orihime a few minutes before Yumi's leg was healed, leaving no trace of damage and her fist returned to its previous state.

"That's amazing!" Yumi exclaimed looking at her leg and making a fist. "Thank you."

"No problem," Orihime smiled.

"You've gotten a lot faster with that," Ichigo replied.

"Well she certainly got enough practice healing your injuries," Uryuu stated. "You're way too careless sometimes."

"She doesn't just heal me," Ichigo protested. "Your ass got tossed around just as much mine did."

It was Sado that cleared his throat then and looked at Ichigo with an eyebrow raised. Orihime began to blush, as she knew very well that the majority of the time she was healing Ichigo's injuries.

"Whatever," Ichigo snorted. "Oi, Keisotsu, you ready to start yet?"

Yumi quickly stood and nodded.

"So what's the plan then Urahara-san?" Sado asked.

"Well, you're all here to help with Yumi's training," Urahara started, resting his weight on his cane. "I've already gathered quite a bit of insight into Yumi's skill level and fighting techniques, but we all need to help her train in order to prepare her and to help her keep her reiatsu in check – which is essential if she wants to continue to use these powers."

"What do you need from us Urahara?" Ichigo questioned.

"Well, you all have very different skill sets that will ultimately help Yumi to accomplish her goal, so you'll all be training together to help Yumi with her speed, strength and accuracy. However, the most important task will be left up to Ishida-san."

"I won't have anything to do with this farce," Uryuu stated.

"Then why did you come?" Yumi stated coming nose to nose with the fellow Quincy.

"To ensure you don't tarnish the very name of the Quincy!"

"Like that hasn't already happened," Ichigo snorted. "Look at the Vandenreich!"

"There is no better way to ensure a clean record," Isamu stated. "She's a lot more talented than you give her credit for."

Yumi blushed profusely. After her argument with Isamu the other night and with the way that she had been treating him she did not expect that kind of praise to come from him.

Uryuu looked around him. Everyone had stern looks on their faces: all except for Ichigo, who was outright glaring at him, and Orhime who was nodding her head with hands clasped together in front of her.

Uryuu rolled his eyes. "Fine, but I won't make this easy for you."

"I didn't expect that you would," Yumi stated, with hands on her hips.

"We'll need to start from scratch and go back to the beginning. I don't know the method which my grand-father used to instruct you."

"Wouldn't it be the same way he taught you?" Sado questioned.

Uryuu shook his head.

"He may have had to adapt techniques for Yumi since she has no Quincy blood."

"It may help if Keisotsu-san elaborated on what your grandfather did teach her," Urahara commented.

Uryuu nodded then he approached Yumi and stood so that there were mere inches between them.

"I have one condition."

"And what would that be?" Yumi asked crossing her arms over her chest.

"I will teach you every technique that I know of…"

"I feel a 'but' coming," Isamu stated.

"You're not a Quincy and have no business being one," Uryuu stated once again.

"As you clearly like to remind me…so what's your condition?"

"When this is all over and you've fulfilled your vendetta, I want that cross back."

Nobody said anything. Yumi and Uryuu continued to have a staring contest.

"You'll teach me all Quincy skills?"

"Short of the letz stihl – yes. I'll teach you everything I know that will help you kill the Hollow."

Yumi held out her right hand to Uryuu. Uryuu glanced at it then to her eyes. She was serious about this. He extended his left hand but as he did Yumi moved her hand away.

"No more comments about my skill or the fact that I'm not of Quincy descent," she stated and then added, "Because Soken-sama obviously saw some talent in me."

Uryuu glared at the comment about his grandfather, but nodded nonetheless. They both shook hands sealing their agreement.

They all trained for hours and hours that day. Uryuu took point with Yumi assessing her abilities and gauging them for himself. He assessed her speed by having her try to tag Ichigo with a few arrows – something that Ichigo wasn't opposed to until Yumi managed to fire off an arrow and knick his left shoulder. Orihime quickly worked her magic and healed him with ease.

Even her stamina and spiritual pressure were impressive, but only for a short time. Everyone took notice of this during Yumi's bout with Chad. After firing El Directo at her, she had just managed to avoid the attack only to lose her footing and fall off the rock she had been perched upon. Yumi tried to catch herself, but fell hard landing on her right leg, and twisting her ankle in the process. Orihime quickly set herself to work once more and healed Yumi's injury with ease.

"I think it's time to take a break," Urahara said from behind his fan.

"Urahara-san?" Ichigo questioned.

"Yumi will need a few moments to rest before you continue or else she risks over-exerting herself," Urahara stated.

"But…!" Yumi started but was quickly cut off by Uryuu.

"She won't get a chance to rest when she's out face to face with a Hollow Urahara-san," he stated sternly, but truthfully.

"He's right Urahara-san, I have to keep going if I'm going to build up enough endurance," Yumi commented before falling flat on her back, having received a swift kick to the legs from her brother.

"Keisotsu, what the Hell?" Ichigo yelled, taken aback by the sudden attack.

"I'm proving a point," Isamu retorted eyeballing Ichigo and then he turned to Yumi. Glaring at her he shook his head. "There is no way in Hell that you would have ever let that happen if you weren't exhausted."

Yumi took that statement as a personal challenge and pushed herself off the ground. She quickly brushed herself off and tightened her pony tail. Isamu smiled and peeled off the zip up that he was wearing revealing a black tank underneath. With a wink he tossed the discarded sweater to Orihime and then turned back to his sister.

Everyone watched in surprise as she came nose to nose with her brother. Despite the fact that Isamu was a few inches taller than Yumi – her head coming up just below his chin – she made quite the imposing sight with the glare of seriousness on her face. She walked around her brother sizing him up. Since when had he put on the extra muscle? Isamu had always been tall and lean. And since when did he take cheap shots?

After what seemed like an eternity of Yumi glaring daggers at her brother, she took her stance with hands in front of her face, fists at the ready.

Isamu shook his head and shrugged.

"You were always the stubborn one," he stated and crouched slightly with his fists up to block any hits that she would throw at him.

"Is this actually happening?" Ichigo asked looking at everyone.

"You two are so over dramatic!" Uryuu stated, exasperated.

"No we're not. This is just how we take out our frustrations," he stated with a smirk. "Besides, this has been a long time coming."

"Is this really such a good idea Keisotsu-san?" Orihime questioned.

Isamu simply smiled and shrugged at Orihime in a laissez-faire sort of way causing her to blush, and Ichigo to glare back at him.

Yumi noticed that Isamu was distracted and took the opportunity to swing at his head. She put all the force she could into the swing, hoping to wipe that smug little smile off his face once and for all. However, she came up short when Isamu stopped her fist with his forearm no more than an inch from his head. Yumi stood surprised for all of ten seconds when Isamu started to shake his head 'tsk-ing' at her. This pissed her right off, so she went for what she thought was an easier target and decided to knee him in the balls.

Isamu blocked her left leg with his right, twisting toward his center to protect his manhood. Taking cheap shots at the boys was a definite no-no.

Before Yumi could react, Isamu hit her hard in the sternum with an open palm, sending her flying and summersaulting backward. She landed hard on her backside, her glare even more ice cold.

Isamu gave her a few moments to catch her breath; after all a hit like that justified a little recovery time. He smirked at her for good measure, throwing fire onto the flame hoping that she'd lose her shit again and try to take a cheap shot.

Yumi, however, was no idiot.

She rose, taking one final gulp of air and straightened herself to her full height. It was still hard for her to breath but she wasn't going to give her ass-hat of a brother the satisfaction of watching her struggle for air any longer. Instead, she smiled sweetly at him as she tightened her pony tail and dusted off her arms and t-shirt, which had a few more tears in it from her tumble.

Ichigo slapped his hand to his face and groaned. He was frustrated at the fact that two siblings were about to kick the shit out of each other and that he wasn't being permitted to intrude thanks to Urahara. Also, there was a small part of him – and everyone for that matter – that really wanted to see what these two could do.

Yumi quickly finished with her little show and approached her brother once again. She stood at arms-length from him now. Both stared the other down. The tension continued to mount amongst the spectators as they wondered who would strike first. But instead Yumi spoke.

"If we're really going to do this, how about we make a little wager?"

"All about those today aren't you Yumi?" Isamu asked.

"If I win you leave," Yumi stated ignoring Isamu's rhetorical question.

"And if I lose?" Isamu asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Then you can stay and 'help' in whichever way you feel necessary."

"You're on then," Isamu stated with a smile. Suddenly he dropped to the ground and swept his foot in an attempt to catch Yumi off guard again.

Anticipating that Isamu would attempt to take another cheap shot Yumi jumped from the ground, throwing herself into a back flip. She landed gracefully and met each of the successive blows that Isamu tried to land on her, blocking his every move.

Their audience was amazed at the level of skill the siblings possessed and wondered where they could have learned such an advanced level of martial arts.

The siblings jumped away from one another after throwing a series of kicks and punches at the other. They each stood semi crouched in a fighting stance trying to figure out the easiest way to take the other down. Their breathing was becoming labored and their skin marred with cuts and bruises.

"This is getting ridiculous!" Ichigo shouted. "Just call it already! This pissing contest is getting old!"

"I agree Kurosaki-san," Urahara stated before calling for Tessai, who appeared out of nowhere with two wooden staffs in hand. With a quick nod to Urahara, he tossed the staffs to the two fighters.

"This'll definitely make things interesting," Yoruichi stated.

Isamu and Yumi each caught a staff and studied them briefly: nothing special, just wood. Then they looked at each other, and once again Isamu smirked at his sister.

"Well the ball is definitely in my court short stack," Isamu stated. "You always sucked at weapons training!"

Yumi charged at Isamu swiping the staff at his head. He ducked, just as she thought he would, so she dropped to the ground and swept a leg under his feet knocking him onto his ass. Within a split second she had raised the staff above her head and brought it down will all her strength to strike Isamu.

Isamu summersaulted backward to avoid the hit, but as he rose he sensed Yumi's staff about to come into contact with his head again and blocked it with his own staff. He pushed away from her again before turning to strike at her from above. Yumi brought her staff into the air horizontally with both arms to block Isamu's attack. Isamu took advantage of the opening and kicked her hard in the stomach.

Yumi stumbled backward from the force of the blow. She realized that he would not allow her to recover and so just as quickly as she steadied herself, Yumi charged at Isamu once again, spinning her staff about her until it came into contact with Isamu's staff once again.

Isamu tried to force Yumi's staff to the ground, but with one swift move she changed position and struck him in the face.

Isamu stumbled back a paces a little surprised, yet proud, that she had managed to recover and catch him off guard like that. He could taste the metallic essence of the blood in his mouth and with a swift turn of the head, he spit it out.

"Not bad little sis," he said whipping the errant blood from his lips with the back of his hand. "You know you're in for an ass kicking now, right? I have a reputation to preserve."

Yumi said nothing and planted her feet to the ground with her staff pointed at Isamu in a sort of universal gesture which told her elder brother to 'bring it'.

And that is exactly what Isamu did.

Isamu charged Yumi, who held her position ready for anything stunt he would try to pull…or so she thought.

Instead of trying to strike her head on, Isamu threw his staff over her head and continued to charge Yumi who held her staff in front of her to block him having no time to process Isamu's actions. He stopped just in front of Yumi, planted his feet and with an open palm struck her staff breaking it in two.

Yumi stumbled backwards and with a yell threw each piece of staff at Isamu, attempting to distract him. He brought his forearms up to block the kamikaze staffs from hitting him, but as soon as he lowered them Yumi punched him in the face hard sending him stumbling backwards. She continued to through shots at his head and torso, unwilling to yield.

With a growl of frustration at the fact that he was getting his ass handed to him and by his little sister no less, Isamu grabbed Yumi's right arm as she swung at him. He had planned to do the same with the other, but Yumi continued to fight back. Seeing no other way to go about getting her to submit, Isamu grabbed the hem of the loose fitting t-shirt that she wore and using some crazy kung fu joo joo, managed to pull it over her head – receiving gasps from everyone in the process – leaving her arms inside the garment. Keeping her right arm in one hand, he left the shirt for the moment and grabbed her left bringing it behind her. Then, just as swiftly, he pulled the shirt up the rest of the way keeping her shoulders and arms bound behind her.

Yumi's face turned exceptionally read, as the only top she had on now was her sports bra. She continued to struggle against Isamu who delivered another swift kick to the back of her left leg, sending her to her knees.

"Her shoulder," Orihime gasped out in surprise having caught site of the garish scar that marred Yumi's left shoulder. Everyone else took notice of it too. The claw-like scar seemed to snake its way up her left bicep to her shoulder, and across the left side of her chest. The scars on her arm were darker than those on her chest.

The sight made Ichigo's insides turn and he winced at the thought of the pain the Yumi must have gone through.

The silent stares and deafening silence caused Yumi to look up at the group before her and she stopped struggling against Isamu.

"Finally yielding to the master?" Isamu jibed.

"Keisotsu-san, I think you've proved your point," Yoruichi stated firmly.

Isamu finally took notice that Yumi had stopped struggling and had her eyes fixed on the group of what were essentially strangers before regarded them, trying to figure out what they were looking at. He followed their gazed to Yumi and finally realized what he had done.

Isamu quickly released her arms and moving to crouch down in front of her he grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

"I'm sorry Yumi, I know how you feel about it," he stated with regret mirrored in his eyes.

"It's fine," Yumi replied monotonously as she shrugged his hands from her shoulders. Now that Isamu wasn't griping her shirt, she shuffled her arms around and freed herself without effort. She pulled the shirt back over her head and rose. "You win. Stay and help in whatever way you feel you need to."

"Yumi, I…"

Yumi shook her head and interrupted what Isamu was trying to say, "No, a deal is a deal."

She didn't wait for him to respond and walked off.

"I'm done for the day," Yumi announced to the group as she gathered her things and left the training grounds before anyone could tell her otherwise.

"That was a dick move,"Sado stated, clearly annoyed and surprising everyone with his statement.

"I did prove a point though," Isamu replied as he took his zip-up from Orihime and wiped his perspiring face with it. "Ever since Yumi developed her obsession with killing that goddam Hollow, it's been tough love."

"Did she get the…?" Orihime asked, not wanting to finish her sentence and instead gesturing to her own shoulder.

Isamu nodded, his eyes becoming downcast as he suddenly found his zip up more interesting than maintaining eye contact with the people in front of him.

"What exactly happened, Keisotsu?" Ichigo asked. "That scar looks like it should have killed her."

Isamu looked up at Ichigo and searched his face. The young shinigami looked concerned for his little sister. "It should have, yes."

"But it didn't," Uryuu stated. "Why?"

Isamu stated as his eyes glazed over and he remained silent, unable to answer.

"Please tell us Keisotsu-san," Orhime asked, placing a gentle hand on Isamu's shoulder.

"Will it help you to help my sister?" Isamu asked.

"Yes," Ichigo stated with unwavering seriousness.

Isamu nodded and took a deep breath.

It would be the first time in nearly ten years that he would speak about the night his sister died.