Chapter 5: A familiar voice
"Pick it up, Zooi." Miss Unohana ordered in a soft and gentle voice. I noticed that her hair was in a plait down her back, not her front. An ugly scar ripped down the centre of her chest and I wondered who could've done it. A clatter in front of me awoke me from my thoughts. My breath caught as I glanced in disgust at the…no, my zanpaku-tō lay on the dusty ground. I hadn't seen it in all 36 years I was imprisoned. It was because of this weapon I was imprisoned. Because I hadn't used it, I felt no connection with it. If anything I felt compelled to tear it apart because I loathed it so much. A low snarl ripped from my mouth.
"Zooi, I said pick it up." Miss Unohana's voice was more urgent this time; I snatched it and immediately I felt something gushing through my blood and a coolness that refreshed my growing anger. The soft braids on the handle felt soft and moulded to my hand shape. I breathed deeply and gripped it tighter.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Zaraki looking at me narrow-eyed, waiting for something to happen.
"Okay then Zooi, what do you feel?" Miss Unohana asked politely.
"Huh?" I was confused, what should I be feeling?
"You're holding your zanpaku-tō for the first time in 36 years…you're bound to feel someth-"
"I feel hatred. Loathing. Disgust. I despise this thing." Miss Unohana looked at me in concern while I glared at her. "I never wanted to touch it again, until now. Although I know it sickens me, it feels right." A smile crept up on Zaraki's face as though something interesting was going to happen.
"Okay then. Assume the fighting stance." Miss Unohana drew Minazuki, her zanpaku-tō and assumed the fighting stance. "Don't worry, I'll go easy." She smiled, but it was cold, nothing like her usual calm smiles – was I…scared? Before I knew she leapt towards me, baring her sword at me. I brought my sword up, but too late; I was thrown back into the side of the cave, but I was given no time to prepare – she lunged again, but I quickly dodged and held my sword protectively.
"Good, good. You still remember. Always hold your weapon even if your limbs are ripped off. I'm impressed, I was expecting you to pass out." She chuckled, but I could hear the murderous intent in her laugh. All her usual mannerisms had disappeared, and she now sounded cold and murderous. How could she change so quickly? I'd always known she was an excellent swordswoman but her killer's instinct still shocked me.
Suddenly, something spiked through my hands and up my arms like an electric shock and I lowered my sword slightly. In that time, Miss Unohana saw an opening and lunged again. As I brought my sword up to block, the pain spiked again but quickly soothed. What the heck was going on? Miss Unohana backed away and lunged again. I saw her before her sword made contact with mine, and I quickly dodged to the right and leapt on top of one of the rocks but suddenly Miss Unohana was up in the air – I couldn't dodge! As I brought my sword up to defend I heard a rattling sound. I couldn't afford to lose concentration (Miss Unohana would end up killing me…) so I thought nothing of it. KRANG! Her sword connected with mine, but her power and strength was overwhelming and I screamed out in frustration and pushed her back with all my might. The rattling sound was back, though this time it sounded like a hiss. Again, I had no time to think about it – Miss Unohana was on the move, but she suddenly disappeared. My senses were on high alert. I stopped moving. I heard something rustle behind me and leapt forwards out the way. There was no way I could land a blow, she was just too strong. Am I really this rusty after 36 years?
"Zooi, calm down." A voice came out of nowhere: it sounded harsh and cold. Miss Unohana came at me again but I dodged nimbly and brought my sword down. I noticed that the handle was glowing slightly.
"Zooi! Concentrate! You never know where I could attack." Miss Unohana barked. "I don't know if you know what I'm trying to do yet, but I know you'll figure it out soon." She smiled but leapt at me. A coolness flushed through me and I blocked her attack with ease and jumped back. Zaraki was smiling on top of the rock and chuckled lightly. Yachiru was perched on his shoulder and grinning at me.
"Zooi! Concentrate! She's preparing for an proper attack that will probably hurt you this time." It was the voice again. It sounded familiar, as though I know what it is, but can't quite my finger on what it is. I shut my eyes briefly and heard the voice clearer. "Calm down. Breathe, feel the movements, now open your eyes." My eyes flashed open and I saw Miss Unohana bringing her sword up high and swinging it down. As I brought mine up, Miss Unohana easily pushed it away with her hand and brought her sword down…down onto my face and down my right arm. I feel down and everything echoed. Blood trickled down my face and my neck into my shikakushō. I felt where she hit me – down the right side of my forehead and down my right eye (though missing it…just…) and across cheekbone until it connected with my jawline. Ow. What was it? How could…how could Miss Unohana do that? The last thing I saw before I passed out, was her looking at me as she drew Minazuki for what seemed like the finishing blow. Ow. Blood pooled around me and into my pale blue hair. Ow…help me….my zanpaku-tō fell out of my hands, but I could feel a pulling sensation as though it was drawing me to it.