Okay, guys, found some extra time between studying, so here's the next chapter, just for my readers.
Chapter 16—The Meaning of Power
Day one had come to an end much sooner than Koji would've preferred and, despite the aching pain in his bones, Urahara had intervened, tapping the zanpakuto spirit on its shoulder to turn it back into its foam form. Regardless of his own desire to learn Bankai, Urahara and Komamura had both told him he wasn't ready just yet and the training had come to an end for the day.
That night, Koji found himself outside, his joints still throbbing and his bandaged cuts still aching. He wasn't sure why he wasn't sleeping, but he knew why he had come outside; he had always loved the sight of a full moon amongst a backdrop of stars. He had gotten atop the roof of Urahara's shop just for the sight and relaxed slightly. He laid down onto the roof, wincing slightly as one of his wounds was pressed down. He had started to drift when somebody had joined him on the roof.
"I figured I'd find you here."
"Sorry, Captain," Koji said, "I couldn't sleep."
"Do not apologize," Komamura said, "that's a bad habit you have. Do not apologize when you have done nothing wrong."
"Yes, sir," Koji said, biting his lip on the apology that had started to form. "Are you alright? How's your wound?"
"Healing," Komamura replied.
"Is it keeping you awake, sir?"
"No. I've endured worse. I actually came up here to talk to you, Koji," Komamura stated. He was quiet for a brief second. "Why do you want to learn Bankai? What drives you to achieve Bankai?" Koji was about to speak, but Komamura said, "If it's for the same reason you achieved Shikai, then you will not succeed. Achieving Shikai is not the same as Bankai."
"I want it because I need it."
"Why?"
"We won't win without it."
"Is this just about victory? Getting the upper hand in a single battle with a rogue that you may never see again?" Komamura inquired. "That is not enough for Bankai."
"We need it."
"Wanting it for other people isn't enough either. What is truly driving you? What aren't you telling me?"
"I don't know. I just... feel... I feel like I won't be able to relax until I have it."
"Why are you upset?"
"I'm just angry."
"About what?"
"I don't know."
"At who?"
"I don't know!" Before he knew it, Koji was shouting, his heart pounding as he felt his eyes start to water with tears.
"At me?"
"No!"
"Then who?"
"I don't know!"
"Answer the question, Koji."
Silence... then...
"Myself," Koji admitted sadly. The tears started to fall, matting down the fur on his face as the tears got caught in the hair. He quickly wiped them away. "I'm angry with myself. I just... You shouldn't have been hurt because of me. Everyone's right; I'm nothing but a coward. That's why I need my Bankai. So I don't have to feel like this anymore. I don't want to drag anyone else down anymore. I want to be able to fight with you. I want to be able to save my... friends, not get them hurt." Koji couldn't believe it; he had almost called Komamura his 'father'.
"Was that so hard to say?" Komamura asked, looking down at him.
Koji didn't answer.
"Wanting power to protect someone else... That is noble," Komamura said, "and that may very well be what power means to you. And it may just be the way you achieve Bankai. Use your power to protect your comrades, not to kill your enemies."
Koji nodded, understanding. Komamura yawned, a sound that reminded Koji of a fierce roar. He didn't flinch, yet smiled. He had become used to hearing the sound with his close proximity to the captain. In fact, he had come to expect it whenever the captain felt like sleeping...
Yet right now, he felt like he had to say something. He looked away before speaking.
"Captain, may I talk freely?"
"Yes."
Koji swallowed hard before saying, "Is it wrong that I think of you as more than my captain?"
Komamura didn't say anything.
"I think..." He trailed off, wanting to find the right words.
"I think I know what you're trying to say," Komamura remarked, "and I must say that I am not really so surprised. I supposed that I had noticed it myself."
He did it again; Komamura's hand touched Koji's shoulder and he was looking down... Just like a father would to his son. There was a softness in his expression that Koji noticed, a kinder side that Koji had either not seen or had forgotten. He did not seem bothered, but peaceful, relaxed.
"I understand," Komamura said. "I think, somewhere in my heart, I've started to feel for you too."
The conversation was over, and Komamura climbed down. Koji watched him enter the shop once more before returning his attention to the sky. He knew now... He knew what he needed to do.
Day 2... This was it.
Komamura watched from afar with Urahara once more, and he found himself surprised. There was a new kind of fervor to Koji's skill, a new kind of resolve and determination that Koji had never shown before. Even his Kido seemed more powerful.
"What'd you say to him?" Urahara inquired. "He's acting differently."
"I noticed..."
Then it happened... Hikari no Inu fell backward. Koji stood over him, his sword pointed at his enemy's throat. They were staring at each other—one with resolve and the other with fear—briefly frozen as they waited for the other to speak or move.
"Aren't you going to do it?" Hikari no Inu questioned. "You can kill me now, you know."
"No," Koji said. "I won't use my power to kill you when I don't have to."
"You're weak," Hikari no Inu snapped. "Why should I teach you Bankai when you aren't even strong enough to—"
"You don't need to teach me anymore," Koji said. "I know what the secret is to it."
Hikari no Inu's eyes opened wide. "Secret...?"
"Your power isn't about hurting others; it's about protecting friends, isn't it?" Koji asked. "That's how I'll achieve Bankai, right?"
Hikari no Inu was struck by the blatant statenment. "You know...?"
"Took some time, but I understand it now," Koji explained. "I'm not supposed to use this power to kill. It's meant to save."
Hikari no Inu jerked upward and Koji jumped back, his sword still pointed at the zanpakuto spirit. Yet Hikari no Inu's sword started to dissolve into a steam-like vapor, vanishing steadily as the spirit approached. The spirit reached him and pressed his hand to his wielder's heart.
"You've done it," the spirit said. "You're ready for it..."
"For Bankai?"
"And much more."
The spirit smiled as it started to dissolve into the same vapor as its weapon, yet, instead of disappearing into nothingness, it seemed to enter Koji, disappearing into his heart. Koji felt a warmth take over him and he turned to Urahara and Komamura. He waved to them and ran over.
"So, how'd it go?" Urahara asked. "Did you do it?"
"I'm ready," Koji explained. "I think I can do it now. Bankai. I'm ready to face the rogue now."
"Well done," Komamura said. "I couldn't be prouder. But are you sure it'll work?"
Koji looked up at his captain. "I swear on my life that I won't fail."
Well, here's Chapter 16. Felt rushed to me, but I hope you like it.