Well hello everybody, and welcome to another chapter of Fated Death. You guys are sure vocal in your opinions and for that I say thank you. You have really helped put in perspective the shortcomings of this story, and hopefully I have corrected them…or at least I am starting to work toward it. I can only do so much character-rewrite in one chapter. Instead of going through all my reviews like last time I'm only going to hit important ones, but that being said let me address the three big things I saw in the reviews.
One is Durendal. God dang is that sword a god-buster or what? I'm not going to nerf it's abilities in anyway, however I will impose a miracle-use cost on the blade, so that Shirou can still spam the sword for its never-dulling sharpness, but here's how the miracles will play out. More powerful the miracle = more powerful the toll on his Circuits. For example, telling Durendal to make sure this hit lands would be much less than say Durendal shatter this binding if Shirou was going to attack some of the Kidō used to bind Aizen.
Second, are the relationships and the news told by Shirou to Ukitake. These may be separate things, but they go hand in hand. I heard some voice that my relationships were unbelievable, and I agree. I'm sorry for that, I was so hyped at how much response I generated from this, chapter 2 got pumped out way too fast. As for the info dump on his powers…that stays but only between Jūshirō and Shirou, as for the universe thing...Only Rukia and Ichigo know for now, but his powers will be made know to Yamamoto. However a reader asked why I don't make people piece it, which is how it will go from now own. And yes…Central 46 will try and talk with Shirou about the sealing away stuff.
Thirdly, and probably most important, is Shirou's Zanpakutō. I already have a concept for it drawn…heck I had it a few months when I first got this idea, but everybody wants to see Shirou be able to copy Zanpakutōs, so I will give in, and submit. It's Shikai will have the ability to copy up to Shikai of every Zanpakutō it encounters, and as for Bankai…well the side ability would be to use Bankai of every Zanpakutō…but in a fashion similar to Shirou's noble phantasm it will be a rank lower, but the true power of it…well that's coming later on. Finally time for a few responses:
NIX'S WARDEN: Very Nice. But what made you choose Senna?
Response: I really don't know what drove me to pick Senna as the "heroine" of my story, but I just feel that as I develop her and Shirou they will just flow together. She had such an unexplored character that I feel I can really mold her into something to work with, and yet still stick with her nature as opposed to thinking up an OC, which I really don't want to do.
sanddrake111: hmm, will Shirou get his own Zanpaktou or not. And also i surprised that 47 hasn't tried to apprehend Shirou. Not to mention, Watch your back Shirou, Mayuri is coming for you...
Response: Yes he will as I stated above. Central 46 will come into play sometime, but something or someone is keeping them at bay for now…I wonder who. Oh lordy I forgot about Mayuri…yes some fun scenes will ensue there!
Pyrozack [Guest]: Plese don't make Shirou friendly with Rukia, she essentially killed him by taking off the Shroud
Response: I realize that, a I wrote it. I've planned big things for Rukia and Shirou's friendship, although I will dial it back a bit for these chapters. I mean heck, I made him encounter Rukia first for a few reasons: 1) Homage to Bleach, as Ichigo met her first too. 2) Start their relationship early. Trust me, she plays a large role as both a supporting character and one of the main cast. She's not being cast to the wayside.
pandawa: Why,why you take such delightful plothole? Then we will not see clash beetwen same weapon. But i will wait n' .read
Response: Shirou is already god with the old Durendal (I am revising it), but hopefully my explanation earlier on is good enough.
Fangking2: So this is after Fullbringer, but before Quincies right?
Response: Yes, essentially my timeline is this: Bleach universe is as you stated. Shirou is circa 5 or so years after the 5th War following my own mix of Heaven's Feel and Unlimited Blade Works. I won't get into the Wars right away since those are still ongoing, so until that arc is complete I will probably just make up my own arcs, pulling from old Bleach arcs, or the movies.
Aviman12: This'd is a very good story keep writing it please. Maybe you should have the fate characters come in some how. Maybe even Saber or Shiki can come some how.
Response: The only other Nasuverse character appearing in Fated Death as of now will be Zelretch, way down the road. This is a Shirou insert into Bleach, granted even throwing another character would be plausible, it takes away from the uniqueness.
Guest (2/21/13): Shirou should be able to copy a zanpakuto after he fights that person. The clashing of blades in a true fight is a resonance, you can understand the other persons soul. He could use the zanpakuto to whatever shikai or bankai they used in the fight. The whole point of shirou in bleach is that he can use his ability to copy weapons.
Response: His Zanpakutō will have this ability, not Shirou directly. His Zanpakutō is an extension of his soul which would greatly personify his tracing properties. And no, placing Shirou in Bleach just for weapon spam is not the whole point of this. Hell, his tracing ability will be able to do things totally outside of canon in here, or maybe not outside canon, but not seen in F/SN at least.
Alrighty enough of me, now onto the main reason you're all here! Story go!
Thirteenth Division Barracks, Seireitei
As I looked out around me, I saw nothing but endless wasteland, with swords littering the landscape, and unimaginably huge gears churning in the distance. I had no idea why I was within the Blade Works, but it was for something. I continued to take in my Reality Marble and after doing a full turn, found nothing unusual, until I heard something.
It was very faint, almost like a whisper, but I had heard it and whipped around to see where it was coming from. Far across the wasteland I could faintly make out a figure sitting in a meditative pose. The features were obscured by countless swords, but the outline looked vaguely feminine. I started to walk toward the area this person was at, but no matter how long I walked the silhouette never seemed to get any closer. I tried to call out to it, but nothing escaped my throat. As the figure furthered from the place I had come to rest at, darkness engulfed my vision.
I awoke with a start, and looked around at my surroundings. Nothing had changed. I was still in the room that Ukitake had provided for me the first night I had stayed here. That was nearly five weeks ago, why am I still not used to this place? The captain of the Thirteenth had invited me to stay with them while I was undergoing my 'accelerated' Shinigami training. It had taken another three weeks after I first settled in for the captain to convince the Captain-commander to allow such a thing. That was not a fun experience.
I noticed that I was gripping a blade in my hands rather tightly. Looking down I took in the fact that sometime during my sleep I must have grabbed the Asauchi I had been given two weeks ago, the official sign that I was, for better or for worse, a Shinigami.
Flashback
Two weeks prior
As I stood around the barracks, I began tracing blades, if nothing else to ward off the boredom of waiting. As I traced a spear in my hands and tested the weight of it, I pondered why on Earth I had waited here for over two hours. Ukitake had requested my presence earlier in the morning, and I made a prompt arrival as to not keep my host waiting. However I could feel the tick forming on my brow as my patience was reaching its end. I dissolved the spear in my hands.
Tracing a set of Black Keys within my hands, I wandered over to tree and began to occupy my time with target practice. Got to stay sane somehow. After another fifteen minutes, the tree was looking rather sad, but I heard a large number of footsteps approaching the gate. Letting the od go from my projections, I walked over to the place I had initially been told to wait and gathered in the sight of who was coming up to see me.
It was a rather large party, maybe forty people present, most just foot soldiers or some other low rank that I paid no mind too. I saw Captain Ukitake walking with the group accompanied by Rukia, Sentarō, and two other seated officers. Kotsubaki, the other third seat of the Thirteenth, and Kajōmaru, the sixth seat, were both to the left of Ukitake. I saw a few more people that I didn't recognize. Most noticeably was a large, tall man, he must have been nearly seven feet tall. Standing next to him was a much shorter woman, she had raven black hair like Rukia, except her bangs stopped above her brow, and her long hair was pulled into two braids wrapped in a white cloth. Finally there was an educated looking man, tall and proud. He had a shaved head, wore a pair of glasses, and was dressed in a different manner than all those who were gathered.
"Ah greetings Shirou, thank you for waiting so diligently, it took longer than expected to gather everyone necessary for the preceding. Gathered among us today are various members of the Gotei 13 who are here to bear witness. Some here will also administer your training as you will not be going to the academy as we discussed earlier this week." I nodded.
"Yes, I remember. What exactly is going to happen here today?" Ukitake moved forward and presented the vastly assembled crowd.
"Today we will be inducting you into our tutelage. You will be made aware of the laws of Soul Society, and should you comply with them, then we shall proceed from there. Are you ready?" After nodding my head, Ukitake, followed by the large man, woman with twin braids, and the bald man dressed in a different uniform, all gathered before me and formed a semicircle. The remaining crowd gathered around us in a large circle surrounding the proceeding. "Bear with this Shirou, as this proceeding is very new to us, as it is to you." Wonderful, they don't know how to do this anymore than I do.
"Very well, I am ready when you are," I replied to the captain. The three Shinigami stepped back, and the bald man stepped forward, and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"You are well met, Shirou Emiya. I am Gengorō Ōnabara, and I will be inducting you formally as a student of our Academy. This is very uncommon indeed, but I welcome you none-the-less. Now then, you must first swear on the laws of the Soul Society, do you accept?" I nodded. "Very good. It is against the law for a Shinigami to give their spiritual power to Humans. It is against the law for a Shinigami to use forbidden Kidō. It is against the law for any citizen of Soul Society to create weapons of a dangerous nature not sanctioned by the feudal government. To do so is treason. Do you swear to uphold these?"
"I swear," I replied.
"It is against the law to attack a captain. To do so is treason. It is against the law to commit terrorist action or attempt overthrow of the balance of Soul Society. To do so is treason. It is against the law to commit murder. It is against the law to kill a Human that a Shinigami has not been ordered to kill. Do you swear to uphold these?"
"I swear."
"It is forbidden for a Shinigami to acquire or attempt to gain Hollow-like powers. It is by ancient law that two Shinigami cannot hold the same Zanpakutō. They must fight for the honor of bearing the spirit, with the spirit going to the winner, and the loser being executed. It is against the law for the Gotei 13 to meddle in the affairs of the noble families unless the family in question breaks one of the laws of Soul Society beyond a shadow of a doubt. It is a crime for a Shinigami to remain in the Human World longer than a certain time limit. Finally, do you swear to uphold these?"
"I swear," I replied for a third time. I found nothing wrong with these laws, except for maybe the law regarding the noble families. Gengorō nodded his head curtly, and then shook hand.
"Then it is my duty to acknowledge you as a student of the Shinōreijutsuin. Welcome Shirou Emiya," the man boomed out. I bowed to the man, and then Ukitake stood before me again.
"Now, Shirou, it is time that we install you as our student. I, Jūshirō Ukitake, Captain of the Thirteenth Division, recognize Shirou Emiya as a candidate for tutelage in the art of Kidō. I swear upon my station to train this man to the utmost of my ability." Ukitake paused and then looked over to the large, towering man.
"I am Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of the Eleventh Division, and I recognize this man, Shirou Emiya, as a candidate for my teaching in the art of Zanjutsu. I swear upon my station to train this man with all that I have," the giant man proclaimed loudly. I nodded toward him, and then the only woman among them spoke.
"I am Suì-Fēng, Captain of the Second Division, and I recognize the man named Shirou Emiya as an aspirant for my instruction in the arts of Hohō and Hakuda. I swear upon my station to teach this man to the fullest of my capacity. What say you Shirou Emiya?" My mouth went a little slack at this. All three captains would be personally training me in the four arts of being a Shinigami. I finally found my voice.
"I accept the invitation being extended to me, and pledge myself as your student, until such time that I am deemed fit to assume the role of a Shinigami. Thank you for this opportunity." That answer seemed to satisfy the captains, and the Ukitake signaled a Shinigami standing to the side.
"Akiyama, bring me the Asauchi please," the captain of the Thirteenth requested of the Shinigami. A young woman with violet hair tied up in a red ribbon approached the captain. He nodded to her, and she moved to leave. The woman, Akiyama, gave me a fleeting glance and a small smile and returned to her post. "Now Shirou, this is an Asauchi, it is the first form of the Zanpakutō before it becomes your personal weapon." I took the blade in my hand and test the weight. "Be aware that this is not the final form of the blade. Over time it will shape itself to its true form."
"Is there anything else, before we begin my training?" I asked, causing the three captains to look at my strangely. The large man, Zaraki, actually began to laugh.
"That's what I like to see! Someone who's ready to get down in the dirt and train!" I looked at the man strangely, but he was right. The more I learned the better.
"That will have to wait, Kenpachi," Ukitake told the man, "we still need to get Shirou fully caught up with everything…"
End flashback
When I had first received this blade in my hands, it was a simple katana, but the blade had begun taking on more saber like appearance. I could distinctly tell that it was shaping to be a liuyedao, the Chinese willow saber. I thought back to the dream I had awoken from and wondered if it could be the blade attempting to reach out to me. Renji had told me that it wasn't uncommon when he first obtained his blade, Zabimaru, for it to try and make contact through dreams.
I sheathed the blade, and sat up on my mat. There was no way I was going back to sleep after that, so I decided to take a little late night stroll. I opened the paper door to my room and proceeded quietly down the hall. As I stepped outside into the cool night air, I saw that the moon was out. I still couldn't wrap my head around my situation entirely, but it wasn't like I was in immediate danger of anything. A small snapping of something caused me to turn around, and I looked up at the roof of the barracks to see the woman from the ceremony a few weeks prior. Akiyama I recalled. She seemed to have noticed me as well.
With a graceful movement, the woman jumped from the roof and landed neatly a dozen feet away from where I was standing. The woman proceeded to come up to me, and then began eyeing me cautiously.
"Is there something on my face?" I asked her, still not knowing what the woman wanted. She gave me a look, and then circled me a few times.
"No, nothing like that… I just wanted to see what made you so special, ya know?" Now it was my turn to give this Shinigami a look.
"What exactly do you mean special?" I asked hesitantly. There was no way she could know about my Thaumaturgy, so what was this about? She stuck her tongue out at me quickly before replying.
"Well duh, I mean it's not very often a spirit brand new to the Soul Society is suddenly inducted as a Shinigami without any entrance exam, and it's really rare that not one, but three captains would take a brand new Soul Reaper under their wing so easily. So what's so special about you, mister…?"
"Emiya Shirou," I provided for the woman, who nodded in appreciation. "Normally it is polite to respond with one's own name as well."
"I am Akiyama Senna; I am part of the Thirteenth, which is why I was present at your entrance ceremony a few weeks ago. Do you know why I'm so interested in you Emiya?" I shook my head.
"I haven't the slightest idea why you would be interested in me Ms. Akiyama," I replied without hesitation. Honestly, if this girl was onto me, then she hid it very well.
"I'm interested in you, because you're such a mystery. I've heard rumors about you. They say you're a Shinigami, but have the powers of a Quincy. You can form weapons like they can, but you use your own reiryoku to power yourself, not reishi like the others. So what are you?" This girl was far too curious for my liking, but I couldn't withhold an answer, too suspicious.
"You are correct, I can make spirit weapons, but how is really a mystery even too me," I provided, hoping it would deter Akiyama and make her leave me alone. How wrong I was.
"Now that's even crazier! I guess I can't rest until I solve the mystery that is Emiya Shirou. Until I solve your mystery, Emiya, count on me watching your every move," Akiyama promised exuberantly. Well isn't that lovely. I had just gained a fan…perhaps stalker was the correct terminology for this situation. Whatever it was would have to wait for tomorrow morning.
"Right," I said quickly, slowly backing toward the barracks, "well I'll tell you what, why don't you meet me out here in the morning and we can spar, so you can try and figure me out, and then go on your way." That came out a little colder than I meant it to. She gazed at me for a moment.
"Why? Do you want to get rid of me that badly?" I noticed she had actually gotten closer to me without me noticing, and I backed up a bit more.
"It's not that Akiyama, it's just that…how would you feel if I suddenly started asking you questions about your powers?"
"Well, I don't know how I'd feel, but I'm not the weird one here, you are. Stop trying to turn this around on me," she replied. I gave her my best deadpanned look, but it didn't seem to faze her at all. "Fine, tomorrow morning then." She then left for her room or wherever she was going. I just sighed, rubbing my temples.
The following morning
I paced back and forth near the barracks, awaiting Akiyama to come and meet me. I really don't know what I had thought offering her a spar like that on the spot. I guess I had been itching to practice blades with someone, yet no one would spar with me except Sentarō on occasion, but he wasn't that tough and was usually busy with his duties to his Division. Furthermore, I still hadn't figured out the system behind manipulating my reiryoku such as causing it to flow into my Asauchi, but I could pump od into the thing just fine, however it seemed to have no effect on the spiritual blade.
As I mused about my powers, Akiyama approached from the north gate and I moved to greet her. However she seemed to want to get right into things. She drew her Zanpakutō, an ordinary katana, with a red hilt and square tsuba. Hidden within the blade was a Khakkkhara of some kind. Hold on, how in the hell did I just deduce qualities of this blade outside the norm; I've never been able to even begin to add any Zanpakutō to my repository in the Blade Works. I felt something being pulled into my Asauchi, but it didn't feel like my od. I was quickly drawn out of my sudden revelation, as Akiyama swung at my head with her katana. I ducked lowed and swept out my foot to try and trip her up. No luck.
The woman hopped above my sweep, and then tried kneeing me in the chest. I crossed my arms in front of myself to bear the attack, but I still fell backward from the hit. I rolled with the fall and sprung to my feet, Kanshou and Bakuya flashing into my hands. I saw the look on her face turn to one of surprise, and then back to the smirk she bore. I hefted the large blades in front of myself, and slashed at Akiyama. She parried with her katana, before a flurry of strikes headed my way. I managed to dodge and block most, but a few ended up cutting along the legs and the chest once. I jumped back and then threw my blades. Akiyama arched a brow, before she noticed them coming back together right at her. She flash-stepped to the side, and stuck her tongue out at me. I still had yet to figure out how to flash-step very well, but I was still plenty fast. I traced a blade that I only had seen in Archer's memory, but it flowed from me like it was meant to. The blue hilt extended into a large based blade, which narrowed off toward the tip, which was also blue in hue. This was Excalibur Galatine.
While not as powerful as its sister blade, Galatine certainly was a durable blade, and its Noble Phantasm wasn't anything to shirk at either. Akiyama eyed the blade suspiciously, but then charged forward once more, and we engaged in the dance of swords. Strike after strike, blow after blow, we skirted around our practice area. I managed to land a solid slash on her person, but I gained one on my arm for my troubles. She was deathly good. Her swordsmanship was excellent, yet I could tell she was holding back since her blade hadn't entered Shikai yet.
"Why are you holding back, Akiyama? Call out your Shikai and let's really fight," I prodded the woman, who shook her head.
"You haven't achieved Shikai, so I won't use it on you," she replied to me, and I chuckled at the notion of her worrying about hurting me too much.
"Oh, don't worry I got plenty of swords that can handle a Shikai. Just ask Kuchiki sometime," I said, causing Akiyama to look thoughtful. She then nodded, and her blade began to glow a radiant yellow.
"Call forth the twilight! Mirokumaru!" Her blade extended into a long polearm with rings at one end, the other ending in a tipped blade. Suddenly a wind kicked up from nowhere, and Akiyama began to rise into the air, riding a localized tornado. So she has an elemental Zanpakutō as well. If things really got out of hand I always had a Noble Phantasm to turn to. I eyed Galatine. I only knew the activation for it, having never seen its full power in the memories of EMIYA. Wind whipped around the ringed-end of her staff, and I noticed she was aiming for me. I ran to the side as a funnel of wind struck the ground where I had been. "Is that really the best you've got Emiya? You can't even call out your Asauchi, and none of your spirit weapons can hurt me!"
I rolled my eyes at her unknown ignorance, and I planted my legs into the ground, crouched, and leaped into the air. I aimed right for Akiyama, and slashed with Galatine, but Akiyama caught my blade in the rings of her spear and then flung me over her shoulder. She unleashed a funnel of wind and accelerated my decent, causing me to crash into the ground. I would feel that in the morning, and was really getting fed up with this charade I had to put on. It was time to show Akiyama I wasn't such a pushover, and I didn't care how childish this was of me either.
"The blade of this sword is a copy of the sun itself," I began, causing Akiyama to descend a bit closer to me.
"Are you going to release your sword?" she asked me, but her question went ignored as I continued the aria to activate my Noble Phantasm.
"Holy sword of the stars, swing once again!" I threw the blade into the air, and it began to emit a grand white light. At the same time a magic circle expanded outward on the ground from the place I stood, and the design looked like an archaic etching of the sun. The blade landed back into my hand, and it was now on fire. The circle around me matched the blade's intensity, and Akiyama backed up. She ascended high into the air, knowing full well I was about to release an attack. I watched her as I prepared the Phantasm, the rings of her Zanpakutō glowing yellow, charging power. By now as well several spectators had begun watching our battle, among them was Ukitake. Great, more questions. I had revealed my powers to only him, for reasons still unbeknownst to me, and he was calculating my attack, rather than watch in awe.
"Kita no Kaze! Harikēn shiryoku!" Akiyama cried out, as a large monster wind storm whipped up from her blade, and rushed toward me. I decided to unleash my Noble Phantasm as well. I completed the aria.
"The Reborn Sword of Victory, Excalibur Galatine!" I cried out, and the flames roared on the blade, exploding in response to the sword's name being called out. I slashed toward the hurricane that was rushing toward me, and then white. The hot flames of the sun incarnate collided with localized power of nearly a dozen hurricanes, and the backlash of power was tremendous. Akiyama was sent tumbling from the sky and I was hurled back into the wall, leaving a sizeable crater. Most everyone else, save for the Captain, were knocked back as well.
Akiyama got up from her resting place and walked over to where I was detaching myself from the wall hug. She looked at me oddly, and then laughed whole-heartily, the joy ringing out from her mouth. Despite myself, I smiled at the fight. Hadn't had one that exhilarating in a while. I de-traced Galatine, and Akiyama returned Mirokumaru to its sealed state and then sheathed the blade.
"That was fun!" Akiyama cried aloud, and I nodded in agreement. Honestly it had been a good exercise, and it helped when orange-haired Shinigami weren't raining down on you while actively using Bankai.
"So, does that solve your mystery about me? Are you satisfied?" I regretted asking that as soon as I saw the way her face lit up in childish delight.
"Satisfied? Not after that, I'm not! You showed me a sword that could match my strongest attack, like it was nothing, and that's not even the point. You pulled that sword from thin air. Not even a Quincy makes a real blade like that. Your blade had no reishi about it at all, it was something totally different! You've just added more things for me to figure out Emiya Shirou! Mark my words, I will find out the truth! The truth will set you free!" I rolled my eyes at her childishness, and then looked over to Ukitake. Just what in the hell was he smiling like that for? He nodded at me knowingly, and I just turned away. Honestly, what was he finding so damn amusing.
"Well I'm sure you'll figure it out, Akiyama, and even if you don't, I could always use a good sparring partner to beat up on." She stuck her tongue out at me, and I chuckled again.
"I need to be going now; I have some things I promised the Captain I would do, so I'll talk with you later on. If that's alright with you?" She accentuated the last part, drawing it out into a high pitch. Why did she sound hopeful? I shrugged and nodded.
"Why not, I'll see you later, Akiyama." I turned around and began walking over to chat with the Captain of the Thirteen. However the woman behind me whispered one last thing.
"You can call me Senna," she said under her breath, but I heard it. Pretending to not have, I just continued my walk over to Ukitake, and I heard her footsteps. As I approached the Captain, he smiled in greeting.
"Ah good morning, Shirou, having a bit of fun with my twenty-third seat are you?" The older man's eyes crinkled in mirth, and I just snorted.
"Just a friendly spar between two people, nothing more Captain," I answered honestly. I mean really, it wasn't like I had danced with her.
"Ah yes a spar, always a good way for two souls to connect." I couldn't tell if he meant literally or not. Damn everyone being soul beings. His features became stoic again as he turned to face my fully. "That blade; what was it Shirou?"
"That was Excalibur Galatine, as you heard me shout out. I have only seen the sword in visions before, so I had no idea what its true powers ever were. I'm sorry for the damage our battle caused."
"Oh think nothing of it, that's what training grounds are for aren't they? Besides, it seems that Akiyama is finally coming out of the background."
"What do you mean?" I was confused, she seemed very outgoing to me. Ukitake smiled.
"Well for the longest time, she had been quite and usually reserved in her manners. When she was promoted to the twenty-third seat, she quickly became more involved in the Division's workings, but still she would only speak when needing to, and only on occasion would she speak with my third seat, Kiyone, about something or other. I did not even know she had this side to her."
"Last night, she acted like this as well. I caught her watching me from the rooftop as I stood outside to get some air; I needed to clear my head."
"Clear your head? Was something the matter Shirou?" Ukitake asked, worry in his voice. I grimaced slightly, before I unsheathed my Asauchi from my side and showed it to him. "It's already shaping? What kind of weapon is that?"
"It's a liuyedao, and I had a dream the night before. I was standing in my mindscape, and I saw a figure sitting upon a hill. I could not make out his or her features, but they sounded like they were trying to say something, but as I got closer to them, the distance only increased."
"It sounds like your Zanpakutō may have called to you Shirou. Have you tried meditating with your blade yet?" I quirked a brow at him.
"Meditate with my blade?" I echoed. I hadn't even considered such a thing. Ukitake nodded earnestly, and then continued.
"It is called Jinzen. The first time you enter your mindscape while doing this, you may not be able to find your Zanpakutō's spirit right away, but it will know you are trying to connect with it, thus beginning the forging of your bond with your Zanpakutō. From there, it is only up." I nodded to the Captain, and contemplated this. I wonder what it would be like to only have one blade. For so long I've always been a jack-of-all-trades swordsman, never really honing in on one style; always using my diversity to gain the upper hand to defeat my foes.
"Thank you for this insight, Captain, but I would like to possibly resume our training from where we left off. If my Asauchi is nearing the end of its sealed transformation, I would like to know how to handle the liuyedao more efficiently." Ukitake nodded at my words, and he drew his blade. It was an average sized katana, with a bronze cross-guard and a deep red handle. I brandished my liuyedao in my hands, and readied for the lesson.
"Shall we begin, Shirou?"
"Let us," I replied with steel in my voice. I am the bone of my sword. I sprung for the first strike…
Hours later
After being thoroughly beaten by the white-haired Shinigami, I walked back to my room to relax. It had been an exhaust lesson, and while it improved my swordsmanship, I was still nowhere near being proficient in the use of my spiritual energy. I had a lesson with Suì-Fēng in manipulation of one's reiryoku, but I couldn't even begin to master levitating with it. I decided to try my hand at Jinzen. I drew my Asauchi from its scabbard and placed it upon my knees. I had no idea how this was supposed to work, so I tried the only thing that I thought would work.
"I am the bone of my sword. Steel is my body and fire is my blood. I have created over a thousand blades. Unaware of loss; Nor aware of gain. Withstood pain to create weapons, waiting for one's arrival. I have no regrets. This is the only path," I said aloud, almost completing the aria for my Reality Marble. My Asauchi reacted violently to my spoken words and suddenly I was plunged into the Blade Works once more.
My mindscape was still that same desolate wasteland. Swords littered the ground, but something had changed. The gears no longer hung in the sky, and it seemed that the sun was just about to rise on the horizon. I wonder what had caused this change. A wind from nowhere picked up and I thought I heard something.
"Shirou…" It began very faintly, but I heard it. A strong, yet definitely feminine voice whispered, the voice softly beating against my ear drum. I turned in the direction of the sound and saw a figure standing across the ways from me. I began to run toward the figure. I had no idea why, but it just felt so natural. I couldn't help but wonder who this person was. "Shirou…"
I wandered ever closer to the figure and I realized that they weren't getting further away with each step. As the person came into view, now I knew it was a woman. Standing before me was a rather tall woman, standing around five feet, maybe seven inches. She had a small, petite face and very long brown hair that flowed freely behind her head. She was garbed in Qipao with a split that ran up to just below her waist. It was red with a golden dragon pattern. There was a triangular cut out in the chest which showed off her ample cleavage, and she smiled sweetly at me.
"Who are you?" I asked cautiously, I already had a sneaking suspicion of who this woman was. Or rather what she was.
"Shirou, Shirou! It's wonderful to finally meet you, but how can you not recognize me?" The woman asked me excitedly, and I thought it over for a minute and then sighed. This is her?
"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met," I replied politely, and she huffed at my politeness. I smirked slightly, and she pouted.
"I am Nanika," the woman began, "I am your Zanpakutō spirit." Yes, this is her…
And enter Senna and Nanika! It feels good to be back writing this story guys! I really have big plans for this, and after a few more chapters, probably chapter 5 or 6 will see the unveiling of the first arc. Now to explain a few things so I don't have to later on.
First is Senna, who I also gave the surname of Akiyama (which means Autumn Mountain, it fits her gigai in the movie well I think) she is and will be Shirou's love interest for this story. I am sticking with this since the pairing is what sparked this story. Sure I might ship characters from Bleach together, but that's kind of up to you guys. Who would you want to see be paired, and give a good explanation why too. I've read plenty of good arguments on IchigoxRukia vs IchigoxOrihime, and since this is AU we could twist fate a bit and make Ichigo never turn down Orihime or make up some big event where he and Rukia or Orihime get together. Up to the readers on that one.
Second is the spar between Senna and Shirou. I don't know I think I played it up pretty well until I unleashed Excalibur Galantine. It may seem underpowered since it could only counter Senna's Shikai move, but it is only a B ranked Noble Phantasm in its true incarnation. Shirou's uncanny ability to knock a NP down a Rank plus the fact that in this story's canon he's never used Galantine well it worked alright I suppose. Thoughts on that.
Next, training scenario. I totally skipped that this chapter just for the fact that it would turn into more info dump with Shirou and Ukitake sword-playing, or just Ukitake mopping the floor with Shirou. So I time-skipped. I won't do this as much in the future, next chapter will actually be the "training montage" (cue eye of the tiger…you know Fuji-nee and her Tiger Dogo XD) but it will allow for character development for Suì-Fēng and Kenpachi's relationships with Shirou. They will be probably the three most featured Captains for a while, as they are his teachers. Do you like my choices for his tutors? I mean Ukitake is a given, but how about Suì-Fēng or Kenpachi?
Finally, the big ender here. Nanika. Something totally of my invention, which is obvious considering Shirou Emiya is not Bleach canon. Nanika is a female spirit of Shirou's Zanpakutō. The sealed form of the blade is a Chinese liuyedao. As for the Shikai, well that comes hopefully next chapter. Bankai…I don't know how I'm going to give Shirou that. I know it will have to involve Urahara, and I already planned Shirou to learn super-duper Shunpo from Yoruchi when he is deployed to the Human World for some reason that I have yet to show.
Anyway thanks for your continuous support of this fic, and I also thank my critics and reviewers alike. Both your praise and critiquing help sharpen my skills and make this more enjoyable for us all.
Oh Crap one last thing, what Divison should Shirou join after his teachings? Division Number, possible seat number, and why he should go there. I will overlook reasoning such as so-and-so is there and they should be friends. I mean I understand 13 would be because of Senna, Rukia, Jūshirō, and Sentarō, but I want to kind of have Shirou in a different squad to develop himself. I'm rooting for #2, but it's up to you. No Squad #1 though, just won't happen.
Thanks!