Chapter 1: When the Doves Cry
"Yo, Mizuiru, what's up?"
Mizuiru's face grew into a pissed expression to face the one who had tried to get his attention. "What the hell do you want, Hirako? I thought I had the day off from training today."
Shinji scratched at his ears and couldn't quite look at him, "Well, you see…"
Mizuiru got even more pissed and yelled, "Just spit it out already, would you!"
The other sighed and proceeded to use his other hand to scratch his head in annoyance, "Yeah, about that, I am afraid that the one Vaizard that you haven't gotten to meet yet wants to test your skills in battle."
"What? Why!?"
Shinji just glared at him, "I don't know why, idiot. What, do you expect me to some how be able to read his mind in order to figure out his motives for wanting to fight you? Well how about you just let me know when you've figured out a way for me to do that, and I'll personally introduce you to a flying pig."
"Tch. You didn't have to be a jerk you know." said Mizuiru. He sighed, "All right, I was feeling kind of bored anyway."
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Mizuiru walked down the stairs into the training grounds underneath the building that the Vaizard inhabited. He noticed that all of the other Vaizard seemed either on edge, or in the case of Afro and Hiyori, a state of anticipation.
"I brought him just like you wanted me to, so can we watch or do you want it to be a private show," said Shinji. Mizuiru wondered who he was talking to for a second when the black-clad Vaizard showed himself to everybody.
"I thank you, Shinji, and no, I do not wish for this to be a private showing, at least in the case of my fellow Vaizards. Is the shield set up properly?"
"Hai!" said Hachi.
The Vaizard bowed to the shield expert Vaizard in acknowledgement. He then turned to Mizuiru and said, "Well then, Mizuiru-san, shall we?" Mizuiru nodded his head in the affirmative as he drew his blade. The other Vaizard withdrew his own blade as well and spoke, "We will fight without the assistance of our hollows, and will we won't use Bankai, at least not at first. You have two goals in this fight: 1. To stay alive, 2. To figure out my identity. Show me what you got!"
The black-clad Vaizard launched himself at Mizuiru and immediately aimed a thrust towards his heart, but Mizuiru managed to block it and push it away from himself before going on the offensive. He aimed one of his elbows towards his opponent's face who ducked to miss the blow. Mizuiru knew he would do this, however, and had already positioned himself to thrust directly downward at his enemy. The Vaizard though had continued his backward motion in order to kick Mizuiru in the face. Mizuiru had seen this and had changed motion in mid-air in order to land a blow to his opponent the exact same time that he received one. They both flew in the air only to land harshly against the rocks. They both got up quickly and decided to take it to the next level using shun-po.
After almost three minutes of intense shun-po fighting, one could tell that this battle would be going nowhere if they did not call out the names of their zanpakutoh. Mizuiru was the first to call out his soul slayer's name.
"I summon the bitter cold, Ashi Aisu!" (evil ice) yelled Mizuiru. His sword changed shape into a serrated black and white blade. The atmosphere seemed to become like that of the Artic wastes. Mizuiru got into his favorite stance, blade poised over his head while being parallel to the ground. His feet spread wide apart, his other hand with palm facing his opponent.
His opponent cocked his head to the side and then shrugged. He grabbed hold of the tassels hanging from the hilt of his sword. He then proceeded to start spinning it about in a tight circle, so fast that it appeared that he held a shield was being held. As he slowed down his sword started to change shape.
"Pierce the night sky, Zangetsu." (cutting moon) said the Vaizard. His soul slayer was more akin to a cleaver used by a butcher, than a sword used for fighting. He raised it up into the air and screamed the last two words Mizuiru heard before blacking out.
"Getsuga Tenshou!"
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Mizuiru shook his head to clear away the last remnants of unconsciousness he still felt. He looked around him and saw that he was in the upper levels of the Vaizard hideout. He noticed that all of the other Vaizard were there, as well as the one he had just fought. The black-clad warrior was facing away from him so were he couldn't see his face while being worked on by Hachi.
Oh yeah thought Mizuiru, I forgot I had used my Reflecting Ice Mirror right before I got hit. Ugg… did that hurt or what. That must have been his zanpakutoh's main ability, or else I wouldn't have been hurt to this extent. I think I might have gotten him, but I'm not entirely sure.
The black-clad Vaizard let out a hearty chuckle upon sensing that Mizuiru had awoken. "I sense that you finally decided to join the conscious, Mizuiru," said the Vaizard. "That technique of yours was very good. Congratulations, you past my test, and now I can no longer hide my identity from you." He got up and turned to face Mizuiru, "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, and I welcome you to our brotherhood, Mizuiru."
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The sickle moon in the night sky cast a somber glow onto Seiretei, as if the thoughts of Soi Fon were making themselves known to the sky and it was acting accordingly. She sat quietly on the patio in the courtyard of her house, every once in a while taking a sip of tea. She sighed as her thoughts turned more and more dark. She gripped her mug tight as she recalled what happened in the last 100 years.
First, a hundred years ago, she lost her Captain. She had been Soi's best friend and confident, teasing her and encouraging her in the same breath. She had been like the older sister she had never had, helping her develop her abilities and training with her almost every day. Then she had just up and left her behind, not even considering for a second that she would have willingly gone with her.
Many other things had happened since then over the past 100 years. She had almost died when she had been cornered by fifteen Gillian while she had been alone in the human world. She had lost many subordinates over the years. And just recently, Aizen had led his betrayal of Soul Society. Those were just a few of the many things that had happened, and were as much as she was going to let herself think about.
"Soi Fon-Taichou, are you going to let sadness rule your life forever?"
She gripped her mug with vigor as tears started to well up in her eyes.
"Don't worry Captain, I am a Fuku-taichou after all. I can take care of one measly hollow."
Her body started to shake violently in an effort not to break down and weep.
Captain, where are you Captain? I can't see anything Captain. Everything is turning black.
She bowed her head as choked sobs started to escape her.
"Captain…I..I..Love..y.you..."
The mug shattered in her hand right before she fell to ground. She curled herself into a ball and cried herself to sleep, the memory of what happened six years ago plaguing her dreams.
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TBC…..