Chapter 8: Taura, the lost zanpaku-tō.

Everything seemed to stop as I shouted. My blood felt cold and watery as it rushed through me, and as though it was flowing through my sword.

"TAURA!" I bellowed again, and suddenly everything shook and an abnormal amount of spiritual pressure was emitted from me. A pale blue light surrounded me and weaved in and out for what seemed like minutes. I felt different somehow, as though something was missing from me but found its way back to me. I glanced at my zanpaku-tō amidst the chaos and found that the rust had been shaken off – the blade shiny and the handgrip clear blue like the sky. The sword wasn't like most others – it was always in its shikai state, but had a few releases that varied in style. There was no hand-guard as such, although the hilt was wrapped in cloth and where the hand-guard would normally extend, a curved edged trapezium with equal sides stood before the blade extended. The sword was longer than most zanpaku-tō; at its full length it was around 160-170cm, nearly the height of Zooi who was 195cm tall. The blade's end was slanted inwards unlike other swords and had patterns on the non-hand guard shaped like snake's fangs; where the cloth was wrapped round the handle, the cloth dangled off the end. Seeing it again after all this time made me so happy, but I couldn't help but the shake the feeling as though something ominous was coming…

Kenpachi Zaraki

As I shielded Yachiru from the immense spiritual pressure, I watched in angst as blue light and dust filled the cave; what was causing this enormous pressure? The last thing I heard before this was Zooi bellowing something…hold on, could this be her zanpaku-tō name? Has it finally been recovered? Hmph, I'm slightly jealous I guess – the pain of not having a name, of being abandoned is familiar to me – and Yachiru too. If so, I'm glad; maybe I could finally fight her? I'd heard that she was extremely skilled with a sword before she was imprisoned. I grinned as the dust began to settle and the light fade. Yachiru was wriggling out from under my arms, and Miss Unohana was standing 30 feet away.

"Stay back!" she called. "We don't what's happened." As I looked at her eyes, I could tell that she was deadly serious. I knew what she meant – a stronger spirit pressure was emitted from the other

side of the cave where Zooi was.

Finally, the dust completely settled and we saw Zooi standing, holding a sword as long as she was tall. Its form had changed drastically – the rust was gone, cloth cleaner and the patterns clearer. Along either side of the blade was a funny sort of protector that held the blade in place, however it looked magnificent; Zooi looked magnificent. She looked so alive holding her sword again – her eyes burned with the desire to fight. Ha! At last! Have I finally found someone who I can fight? Hold on, her eyes…they look different…they don't look particularly normal – the pupil was like slits and the iris all kinds of blue. Her spiritual pressure feels different as well, sharper and more dangerous. I watched as she looked up and down at her sword.

"Zooi! Are you okay?" Miss Unohana called.

"Yeah, I'm fine" Zooi's voice rang and sent shivers down my spine.

"Very well, continue training."

"Um, I'm sorry…I don't know if I can restrain myself. It's been so long since I felt like this." Her voice resonated round the cave and I smirked and chuckled lightly.

"Yachiru, we might want to get further back. We wouldn't want to be in the way of when Zooi attacks would we?" Yachiru looked at me and smiled.

"Okay Kenny!" she tinkled. She understand exactly what I meant. She clambered onto my shoulder and I leapt onto the highest rock, the furthest away. Zooi leapt at Miss Unohana and sung her swung her sword down. The immense pressure from it had already started making a dent in the ground, but what came next was something. A ginormous explosion happened; dust and debris was flown all-round the cave. I began laughing (but then choked…there was too much dust in the air) and Yachiru tugged on my hair.

"I sure hope Miss Unohana is okay" I said gleefully as the noise settled down and the dust floated to the ground.

Zooi Tamyaomo

Miss Unohana raised her sword up to protect herself as I swung Taura down, but made contact and forced her back. The explosion sent her flying backwards but I managed to keep my ground even though the rocks and debris that was thrown up into the air scratched me and passed along my skin. I didn't care though, I found her name – that's all that matters. I could feel Taura connecting to me and guiding my actions. We are one, we are not separate entities – we connect to each other in mind and in soul. We were both lost, but now we are found. Perhaps in future I can find her releases…and possibly continue with my Bankai? I'm so happy…

That was the last thing thought before I collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, still holding Taura…Once everything died down, Zaraki jumped down from the rock towards where I lay and kneeled down. Miss Unohana (who had already healed her wounds with Minazuki) soon appeared.

"The first part of her training is complete." Miss Unohana said serenely. "She'll turn out to be a fine Soul Reaper."

"Yeah, she definitely will. I can tell." Zaraki scooped me up and stood up. "I'll take her back to Squad 11 headquarters. Could you bring her sword?" Yachiru followed Zaraki as Miss Unohana picked Taura up. A sharp stinging sensation whipped her as she touched the blade and she quickly held it by the handle. Two marks appeared; one in the shape of a fang, the other in the shape of a pitch black circle. Something that looked like veins exited from the circle and fang and spread across her hand very slowly; grey in colour. 'If I remember rightly, this is the poison…if I touch the cloth then it should go.' She touched the cloth and the grey poison disappeared. However, the two marks were still there although very faint. Miss Unohana hurried after Zaraki.

"Be careful Zaraki, she's rather delicate at the moment – the thing may appear any moment…" Zaraki narrowed his eyes as he looked forlornly at me.

"I know. I want to help her. I want to help her restrain it and I want to fight with her. I'll take good care of her. I promise." Yachiru smiled and tinkled a small laugh. I wondered what they were talking about; I'd found Taura…but what was 'the thing'?