Chapter 2
Rika's POV
I could feel myself blacking out. By now you could say that I was used to it. But, when I fell, I felt those cold hands. It was those hands that had helped me up so many times, but I couldn't bring myself to remember whom those hands belonged to.
I could hear voices yet again. They were calling to me. I began to open my right eye, fallowed by the left one. I was surrounded by a group of shinigamis. I forced myself to smile. They didn't smile back.
"What happened?" I asked. I knew that they weren't smiling back for a reason.
"There was an attack, right after you passed out. We're in hiding. We need you to teach us the Third Release as soon as you can. We have to help them, not to mention the war is right around the corner," said the shinigami to my left.
I felt myself sighing. My eyes were feeling heavy again and…
"Give her a rest!" said Rukia. "You go back to sleep, and when your energy is resorted, you can start teaching us."
I nodded and went back to sleep.
"Go back to when you first met your spirit. Go back to the place where it all started. Talk and become one," I said to them.
Unlocking the Third Release was all about being one and together. You had to move together, think together, and fight together.
"Easier said than done," muttered a bald headed guy.
I rolled my eyes and said, "If a ten year old can do it, so can you!"
Unlike him, I could see some of the others actually concentrating. Some had pained looks on their faces. I knew that some didn't want to go back to the beginning, where it all started. For some, it was a painful task.
"Any hints you can offer us?" asked my…. For now, I'll just call him… Ichigo.
"There are no shortcuts," I said repeating exactly what he will say in the future.
"Just think of something you're fighting for."
"That helps," baldy muttered again. This time I "accidentally" kicked him.
"When I go into my Third Release, I go back to where I met her. I think of my mother and how I can bring her back…"
No one said anything. I smiled; realizing even baldy had his eyes closed now.
"Just believe in you spirit. It led you this far, and it can lead you furthur.
Hitsugaya's POV
The icy plain I died on. I had to go back, but yet, I knew I couldn't. The first time I met Hyōrinmaru.
"Go back to when you first met your spirit. Go back to the place where it all started. Talk and become one," Rika said.
She was so young, but she knew. She knew of the pain some had to go through. Could I go back to that icy plain? No.
I smiled slightly, getting distracted when I saw Rika kicking Madarame-kun as he talked back to the girl.
"Hyōrinmaru, I don't want to go back," I said to him, knowing how childish it sounded.
"But you must. You want to defend Soul Society, don't you?" he growled softly back at me.
"Yes, but that plain…"
"I will be with you all the way. Fight as one, remember?" he wrapped his cool tail around me.
"Yes," I whispered, "Take me back…"
Rika was sitting next to me. She had tugged me out of concentration. She smiled and said, "Sorry, did I disturb you?"
I noticed I was frowning pretty hard right then. I softened up slightly and said, "No, you didn't,"
"I can tell you don't want to go back," she said.
I tried to hold the surprise in, but it escaped me. "How did you know?"
"Your face!" she said smiling. Did she ever frown?
I sighed. The girl came closer and laid her hand over mine. It was one of the warmest hand I have ever touched. She whispered, "I'll be right here. We can go together; all three of us,"
The three of us? How could she be with me in that plain? I nodded anyway, but looked away soon after.
Softly, so no one else could overhear us, I said, "Let's go,"
Ichigo's POV
Darn! This is harder than mastering Bankai! Anyway, what was so special about the Third Release?
I saw Rika go over to Toshiro. It looked like they were having a deep conversation. Something inside me stirred, but I ignored it - there was much more I had to focus on.
I plopped myself down on the nearest chair and took Zangetsu out. I stared into the black blade…
"Nice to see you again, Ichigo. What brings you here?" Zangetsu asked.
"Did you hear? There's a release after Bankai. Do you think we can master it?"
"Of course."
"But how? It's not like Bankai, is it?" I said remembering what I had to do the receive Bankai, and suddenly, I felt cold hands on my shoulders. I swiftly turned around to see Hichigo staring back at me.
"Long time no see, Ichigo!" he said smiling,
and suddenly, he sheathed his sword, matching mine. A second later and I would have been cut in half.
"Yeah, I totally missed you. Bankai!"
"You already know that I have Bankai as well. Useless" he was now officially getting on my nerves.
"Ichigo, you have to work together. Become one," Zangetsu said, standing by.
"Um... a little help here would be nice!" I grumbled, barley managing to parry Hichigo's next attack. He managed to scratch my left arm.
"No, Ichigo. I can't. But you can stop him if you know where he's going to attack next, and to do that, you have to think alike. Can you do that?"
"Think like him? No way!" I yelled.
"Ichigo," he said in his sternest voice. "He is you, and you are him."
Then he did the unthinkable. He left. Niiiccccccce, right?
"Darn!"
"Awwwww, are you having a tough time without Zangetsu?" he said swiping at my face. "Some advice he gave you? You, thinking like me? You'll never achieve the Third Release!"
He was close to killing me, and all he did was laugh.
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