Author's Note: Sorry for not updating the story earlier... I had planned to update it once a week every Wednesday. But, I went on vacation and the wifi was so bad I couldn't upload it, then I didn't get back home to decent wifi until late the next Wednesday night. So, to make up for it. I'm going to give a little preview for the chapter that's next after this one... It's already written and ready, part of me wants to upload it to make up for 2 weeks of no updates.
Also, Akane's shikai appears in this chapter... I did a sketch of it on my deviantART... Because of link blocks, just type in their website, then add: /art/Akane-s-Shikai-472220233
Also, please review! It helps me know if you are actually liking it, a lot more than just a view does. Doesn't have to be long, just a comment works too!
The early morning light seeped through the door into Akane's quarters. He awoke and stretched, he couldn't remember what time he got to sleep last night, or when Rangiku actually left after getting plastered. But he knew he had to wake up. He had to make a good impression on the rest of the squad.
He was out the door and on his way to get some breakfast, it was still daybreak, when he noticed the Captain sitting in a secluded area of the courtyard, his zanpakto out of its scabbard and sitting in front of him. "He must be meditating… Or talking with his Zanpakto's sprit…"
He tried to slip out as to not disturb his captain. He knew he was probably up this early because it was one of the most peaceful and quiet times of day.
"Akane, good morning… Come, sit."
He sighed, went and sat next to his superior.
"Good morning Captain… Did I disturb you?"
"Not at all… What are you doing awake this early?"
He replied with a truthful answer, he wanted to get some breakfast and be ready to start training some of the men. When the Captain scoffed.
"You already made quite the impression. You put my lieutenant flat on her ass without even drawing your sword. I made the excuse of liquor for her when I know she didn't have much earlier"
"I could tell she was sober…"
"If it was that obvious to you, imagine how the rest of the squad saw it. You did make an impression; they seem to respect you, at least, from what I've overheard."
Akane grinned, it seemed as though he was already starting to become a part of the squad.
"Um, thanks for the opportunity to be a part of the squad. To be honest sir, I was happy when you requested me."
Toshiro seemed confused; he had only picked him based on his abilities.
"May I ask why?"
"Well… Squad 10 has always held a place in my heart, ever since I was young, and living out in the Rukon District. Things happened and some innocent people were killed… and Squad 10 was the one to show up and save everybody."
He was embarrassed; he never thought he would tell his captain this. At least he didn't tell the whole story.
Toshiro was somewhat surprised, but he responded, not thinking twice about it. "Hey, it's what we're supposed to do."
Then, the Captain stood up. "Come on, lets go get some breakfast. You've got a busy day ahead of you"
"Alright men! We're going to be running through some drills. Please pair up with one person and set your swords aside."
It was soon after breakfast. All the squad members had just finished eating and were told to meet at the training grounds. They seemed confused, setting their swords aside.
"Don't worry… it will still be there later, I promise." Akane said assumingly and they did as they were told. "The purpose of these exercises are to improve your hand to hand combat skills and use of Kido, which are important when for any number of reasons the use of your sword is impaired. Now, I want you to begin sparing. Nothing too serious please, I don't want to have to send some of our men to squad 4."
The men did as they were instructed, and began to train, Akane made his way amongst the soldiers, as a whole, he took charge and made orders, but when it came to individuals, he was more patient and helpful in teaching the techniques.
"Okay, now one person in each group, pick up your sword and practice fighting like that."
Again, he made his rounds, helping the individuals who needed help the most. There were a few who were picking up the skill with ease, Akane decided to test just how well some of these men were handling the skill…
"Now, everybody put your swords back down."
As soon as everybody set them, for the first time in about a month, Akane drew his sword. Its appearance was nothing special aside from the webbing alternating in colors on the hilt. Then, without warning, he charged one of his subordinates, he was reaching for his sword before he got to the startled soul reaper and kicked it away. Akane was holding his sword to the soldier's neck and standing with a disappointed posture before they even realized it.
"I'm disappointed… What have we been doing here for the past 5 hours?"
Akane was about to tell the men to practice what they'd learned today and dismiss them for lunch when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a hell butterfly coming towards him carrying a message from the Research and Development Department of Squad 12
"ATTENTION: This is a notice from Squad 12, two large groups of hollows has been detected in the east Rukon district! Squad 10 is ordered to respond and exterminate on sight! They appear to be heading towards a large village! Please respond to the location immediately!"
Just then, Captain Hitsugaya and Rangiku appeared.
"Alright men!" Ordered Hitsugaya "You are hereby ordered to respond to the dispatch, Rangiku and Akane will head the mission! Split into two groups and follow their orders!"
With little delay, they members divided amongst the two.
"Good luck rookie." Said Rangiku
"Thanks." Said Akane
Meanwhile: At squad 12's Barracks:
"Third Seat Akon! We're getting readings that a very strong hollow has appeared in the Rukon district amongst the others! We're reading it's heading towards Squad 10's newly appointed third seat's group!"
Akon ran to check the monitors and his eyes grew wide. "Get word to Third Seat Tamotsu immediately!"
"We can't, they don't have any Hell Butterflies with them!"
"Shit… Inform Captain Hitsugaya! Now! Maybe he can get there in time!"
Akane's group arrived on the scene and immediately began taking out some of the weaker hollows while some of the more skilled soldiers worked on the larger ones. Akane was busy shouting orders, just about done with most of them when he heard a piercing scream come from one of his soldiers. Akane instantly used Flash Step to try and find the soldier when he saw a horrifying sight.
The one who the scream came from, was in the hollow's mouth, the hollow was massive, about thirty feet high and was a pale green with black spikes running along it's spine, had the appearance similar to a dragon, a cluster of spikes on its tail. Blood, everywhere, two soldiers were unconscious, lying in a pool of their own blood, one was slumped against a tree, the right side of his abdomen gashed open, the crimson color fluid pouring out.
The soldier in his mouth was whaling.
"Please! For the love of God help me!"
The hollow stopped gnawing on the soldier and spit him out.
"Get these men to Squad 4's Barracks for treatment immediately! I'll take care of this bastard!"
Akane knew he couldn't beat this beast with Kido. He pulled his Zanpakto and held it straight out with one hand, pointing at the hollow.
"How dare you. You fucking piece of scum! I'll teach you to never mess with my men ever again!"
He then moved his sword and held it upside down, pointing it towards the earth.
"Reign! Gaia!" (Goddess of Nature)
Then in a burst of white smoke and strong wind, he released his Shikai. No longer did it look anything like the typical Zanpakto, it looked like an ancient sword out of the middle ages. It had a long blade, extending five feet, a triangular hole at the tip of the blade and another at the base. Angel wings extended from the edges of the guard, and the whole thing had a brilliantly shiny silver color.
Akane rushed the hollow, attempting to cut its legs. But he missed and was thrown against a tree.
"Alright motherfucker…" Mumbled Akane "Since you won't die easily, let's make this more interesting."
He looked, and saw that most of his soldiers had retreated with the injured, only a few remained in case things got worse. He held his sword sideways, pointing it to his right.
"Now Burn, The ending force that erases! Shōkyo shūryō-ryoku!"
Just then bright red flames engulphed his sword. He moved swiftly, circling the hollow laying his flames down in the grass. He stood back and twirled his sword in the air, spinning it tighter and tighter in smaller circles. As he did this, the flames moved closer the hollow, now roaring twenty feet high, they reached the monster and set it ablaze. It screamed out in agony.
"Now you know the pain you've given my soldiers you little shit."
Akane stopped twirling the sword and the flames subsided, the hollow was on the ground, weakened from burns. Akane stood over him, the flames of his sword having faded and rammed its length into its skull. The hollow faded away and so did Akane's shikai as he placed it back in the scabbard.
He turned and walked towards the remainder of his men
"Any word from the Lieutenant?"
Lieutenant Matsumoto had given a report to one of his subordinates while he was fighting the hollow.
All hollows exterminated; 2 minor injuries and 0 casualties.
Rage was building up within him. On his first mission, multiple men were hurt on his watch was the part he was most upset about, but, he had also blundered, he let his men get hurt due to his incompetence and inexperience as a leader.
"Inform Rangiku and Captain Hitsugaya of our 3 possibly fatal injuries… And make sure they made it to Squad 4 alright."
Akane turned around as Rangiku and Captain Hitsugaya were arriving. Akane wasn't surprised by their appearance. He walked up to both of them with a solemn face.
"I'm sorry sir. Due to my negligence and inexperience, the men under my order suffered grave injuries, I don't know if they'll survive… A massive hollow appeared and attacked, they were fighting it outside of my line of sight when I heard a scream, then… I come and find them, mangled and injured… I-"
"Oh shut up… I got a report from squad 12… A large and powerful hollow appeared and was heading straight for you… But we had no way to get in contact to warn you." Hitsugaya said bluntly.
"I talked with some of the other squad members; they said you handled it well. They also said you basically burnt it alive with your shikai, and you weren't exactly merciful with it."
Akane was embarrassed… Here he was, injured men and they were commending him? It didn't seem right.
"Listen" Said Rangiku "The people that sign up for this job know the risks, people can die out here. Do you have any idea how many died in the battles with the Arrancars and Espada? I was barely able to save some of my own, we were lucky we got away with a few bumps and bruises."
Akane felt better somewhat. But that hollow… it was unlike any kind he had studied or seen. Something about it just wasn't right. But he chalked it up as a coincidence, but, it seemed, somewhat rational. When it saw him, instead of finishing off the soul reaper in its mouth, it stopped. To go after him, and the other soldiers, they weren't dead. It's almost as if its goal was just to kill as many as possible instead of eat souls. Hollows loved the souls of a Soul Reaper, so, why didn't it eat them?
He ended up chalking it up mentally as a coincidence, not wanting his superiors to think he was making excuses.
Author's Note:Thanks for reading! I know that you'll love the next chapter! Again, please favorite and leave a review, even if it's just a comment! It makes me more excited to release it. Feedback makes me more enthusiastic :P Thanks!