Next Chapter!
Mikazuki: we'll just have to wait and see what Rukia's bankai looks like ;)
Allyieh: OMG, thanks so much for pointing that out. I'm not on crack, I swear! I did edit it, since it was kind of a big deal! Thanks again! I tend to do that A LOT. Just point it out! Iba Kira crossover...hmm.....interesting....
Hope it's not too boring. I gotta make her training believable! Thanks for reading! Enjoy the weekend!
Ichigo watched the sunlight vibrantly dance across his ceiling. His arms were folded behind his head, as he allowed his thoughts to consume the passing time. Where is Rukia? he asked himself. It had been three days since he had seen her last. She had been sneaking out of his room that morning, acting as if she had been caught doing something naughty. He had known her for quite some time, and could tell that she was hiding something from him. Part of him was hurt that his friend couldn't--or wouldnt--discuss what was troubling her. Ever since they returned from Hueco Mundo, she had seemed different. Distant, even.
She admitted to meeting an Espada that resembled her squad's former vice captain. Something about the way she spoke of her former lieutenant aggravated Ichigo. He knew Shiba had died at her hands, much to her own regret. She had still not come to terms with his death, and the Espada had managed to open those old wounds. Ichigo didn't know why the memory of her mentor upset him so much. He knew that Kaien had meant a lot to her—perhaps even more than he did. He was married, Rukia had shared with him one night after too much alcohol. They had all enjoyed a few too many drinks at the Kuchiki manor that night, and Rukia had done more talking than anyone was used to. Hell, even Byakuya was more personable…if you could call it that. But, Rukia had shared her feelings of idolization of Kaien's wife and her affection toward her lieutenant. Ichigo had realized that perhaps Rukia's feelings for the shinigami had extended past those held for dear friends. How did she feel toward him? Did talking about him evoke that much emotion in the tiny Soul Reaper?
Ichigo sat upright, pushing his thoughts aside. He didn't want to think about how her face lit up when she remembered her former vice-captain. Why was it bothering him so much? It wasn't like he thought of her like that. She was more than three times his age! Plus, she was a shinigami, and he had never heard of such blasphemy. Sure, he became defensive when his classmates accused them of dating or when one of his male friends would ask Ichigo if they could ask Rukia on a date. But that was because he knew who she really was, and he couldn't let them objectify her in such a manner.
"Ichigo!" he heard Karin pounding on his door. "Your friends are outside!" She ended the statement with a well-placed kick to his door panel. He could hear the slight cracking of the wood.
"Kurosaki!" Ishida's voice echoed from outside the window. He could hear Orihime chattering as well. For a moment, he wanted to ignore their company. It was almost awkward for him to be around Inoue, especially after she had confessed her feelings for him in Hueco Mundo. As much as he cherished her friendship, he did not think of her with romantic feelings. He had wished that he could return her amorous desires, but he just...could not. She had taken his rejection with such grace and poise, that he felt more guilty each time he saw her. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt one of his friends. And he could tell, behind her smile and kind words, that she was indeed hurting. He knew in time she would get over it, but he wished she never had to get into it. He sighed at his frustration with life at the moment.
The orange-haired man stuck his head out of his window, instantly spotting his three friends, "Oi! Ishida, Chad, Inoue!" he offered a weak smile at his three classmates.
"You want to get something to eat, Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime's voice floated through the air as she offered a vibrant smile. It looked a little less fake this time. Perhaps she was healing much more quickly than he anticipated. He hope so. Besides, from the way that Ishida stared at her in class, he was sure that the young Quincy would be more than willing to take her mind off of the substitute Soul Reaper.
"Eh, sure!" he agreed, "I"ll be out in a few!" he swiftly closed his window and pulled on a respectable outfit. He needed to do something to keep his mind off of worrying about Rukia and her three-day absence. Three days, twelve hours, and forty-two minutes, his inner voice chided. Shut up!
He opened his closet to find Kon sleeping on Rukia's makeshift bed. The modified soul had also felt saddened at Rukia's absence, asking Ichigo where his "nee-san" had gone to. "Oi, Kon, want to grab a bite to eat with us?" The stuffed lion peeked at Ichigo out of one of his eyes. He studied the young man for a moment. "Well?" Ichigo huffed, disliking the mod soul's analyzing.
"Count me in!" Kon yawned as he leaped onto Ichigo's shoulder. It wasn't like the human to be this kind to him. He suspected that something deeper was going on with Ichigo. I hope nee-san returns soon, he thought to himself as Ichigo closed the bedroom door behind them.
"No more!" Rukia huffed. "I need a break!"
"Breaks were not part of our deal, Rukia-chan," Urahara's sing-song voice chided her as she collapsed on the ground, tossing her wooden katana aside.
Renji was seated not too far away, equally exhausted. Both were littered with bruises and cuts, some scabbing over, some raw and bleeding. "I agree with Rukia, I'm exhausted!"
Kisuke studied both Shinigami from the shadows of his hat. He had restricted their combat to fake weapons only, insisting Rukia strengthen her hand-to-hand combat skills. In one day alone, she had improved remarkably—as seen by the larger number of newer bruises on her childhood friend. Despite her small frame, her physical fighting capacity was astounding. She was both agile and deadly, a satisfying combination in such a promising young Soul Reaper. Combined with her surprising strength and intellect, she could possibly become quite an accomplished Hakuda master in a relatively short amount of time. Kisuke made a mental note to discuss his thoughts with Yoruichi. She, perhaps, would be better suited to instruct Rukia as the former Captain of the Second Division and Commander-In-Chief of the Onmitsukido. The dark-skinned beauty was from the Shihoin noble family—of whom produced generations of gifted Special Forces commanders and members.
"How is your shunpo?" Urahara asked Rukia.
She turned her head toward him, still breathing heavily. "I am proficient, but in no way an expert," she confided. Urahara looked to Renji, who nodded his agreement.
"I see," he sighed, clicking open his fan. "I think perhaps it would be best to have Yoruichi instruct you, as she is more qualified than I."
"Weren't you the head of the Detention Unit?" Rukia asked, eyeing him warily.
"Yes," he answered simply.
"Then why can you not teach me all of this? Why are you putting it off onto others?" her eyes flashed her anger.
"Don't get yourself upset, my dear Rukia. I merely feel that others are more qualified," he explained, hiding his face behind his fan.
"More like 'you're a lazy bastard'," she mumbled, closing her eyes. Renji guffawed at the outburst.
"Say what now?" Kisuke crooned.
"Nothing," Rukia murmured.
"She has amazing promise. Her spiritual energy is unique in that she can control ice. She has yet to fully control the amount of her pressure, I agree, but she definitely has the potential to be a captain-level shinigami," Kisuke explained to his companion. "whether or not she knows that is another story. I get the feeling she wouldn't like the role of captain anyhow."
The former Second Divison Captain nodded in understanding, "You know, Byakuya would not agree with you training her."
"I know. So sad! I'm sure he has kept her potential leashed for quite some time," the pale blond man agreed.
"That would be like him, so uptight! Just like his father and grandfather…So what exactly do you want me to teach the Kuchiki?" she eyed the mysterious man as she sat back in her chair. A faint rumble told them that the fighting was still ensuing in the distance. Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, "You let them have their zanpakutos back, I see. How nice of you."
Kisuke sighed, "It's been over two weeks, and she has progressed very quickly with her physical fighting skills. I thought perhaps facing off against Renji's bankai was acceptable. At least now, I don't think she will be killed," he explained from under his bucket hat.
"I see. But you are leaving something out," she knew him too well.
He sighed again, "Yes, I suppose I am. It's her zanpakuto. Something about it....I don't know, it's different. Like mine, it has many different types of attacks in its released form. I'm not convinced it's only limited to three, either. Which would mean it's a highly prized sword, making her—"
"—a very gifted Shinigami," Yoruichi finished for him. He studied her face, silently nodding. "Which means that she could possibly have an very powerful bankai?"
"More powerful than we may have ever seen, at least as an ice-based bankai," he confided. "I am afraid that she may not be capable of controlling it. I've been working on a new invention to help her seek out her bankai in a state of subconscious relaxation. I'm not sure how it will work, but perhaps it can help her understand how to release the final form of that beautiful sword."
"So the Kuchiki adoptee may be more powerful than the family anticipated when they took her in. Or when Byakuya took her in as a favor to his late wife," she replied through a mouthful of food.
Urahara smirked, the Flash Goddess was not very lady-like around him. They had known each other for so long, there was very little he did not know about her. "Yes, I wanted to prepare her the best we could, both physically and spiritually. I've had her practice her kido between sparring. She's quite proficient at it, I may add. She can do some of the upper level hakuda without incantations. Multiple ones, too! I witnessed three consecutive kido at one point. Left Renji incapacitated."
"Three? That's impressive, indeed!" she raised her eyebrows in astonishment. "Byakuya can barely do two! I would love to see the look on his face," she mused, thinking about the younger captain of the Sixth Division.
"Rukia-chan admitted that she had done it during her fight with the Ninth Espada, as well," he informed Yoruichi. "I can't say that I'm not impressed by her skill. I wonder why she has repressed it for so long?"
"She probably hasn't realized it yet, Kisuke," she offered. "She's been constantly overshadowed by her friends and brother. I'm sure it's hard to find your own strengths in such circumstances."
"Possibly. Perhaps you are right," he agreed.
"I am right—" she began.
Suddenly a strong impulse of repressing spiritual energy resounded through the training grounds.
"Was that--?" the former Second Division Captain blurted, her eyes widened in amazement.
"Rukia!" Kisuke flash stepped his way toward the source of the spiritual pressure. Yoruichi was immediately at his side, keeping up easily. Her eyes were straight ahead and focused. Something about the quality of the energy had startled her. It was rare for her to be startled. They arrived, to find Renji lying on the ground. Rukia was leaning on her blindingly white zanpakuto. She was breathing heavily, sweat beading on her upper lip. A drop silently ran down from her brow.
"R-Rukia, what happened?" Kisuke asked as he examined the surrounding grounds. He could feel Tessai approaching. He pointed toward Renji, and the Kido master immediately understood the unspoken command. He monitored Renji's shallow breaths.
"I—I," she gasped. "It was Sode no Shirayuki!"
He immediately understood the reason why they had felt such a huge spiritual energy, "A new shikai command?"
She nodded, "I didn't know it would do this! Is he going to be alright?" Her eyes were full of panic and concern for her childhood friend.
"He's going to be fine," Tessai replied. "Good thing he has such a high rietsu. Just how much did you drain from him?"
"I didn't mean to!" she yelped. "I never used that dance before!"
"Well, it appears that you controlled it enough to prevent it from draining all of his spiritual energy!" Tessai sounded astounded by the events that has passed unseen only moments earlier.
"Tell us what happened, Rukia," the Flash Master commanded, her tone gentle. She studied the younger Kuchiki with golden eyes.
Rukia blinked and took a deep breath. "I released Sode no Shirayuki, but this time it felt different. It was similar to when I learned the other dances, as if I knew what to do to command the sword…" she began her lengthy explanation.
It had turned out that Rukia had indeed learned a new release command, supporting Kisuke's earlier hypothesis. This time, the dance did not summon an ice based physical attack--it was more of a kido-based attack. From how Rukia explained it, she pierced her sword into the ground, her hand remaining on the handle as the white ribbon enveloped her hand. Shi no mai, she had called it. The Fourth Dance. Tears of the Snow Goddess. As she called out the dance, snowflakes gently fell to the ground after she plunged her zanpakuto into the ground. The flakes fall around her target, and when she pulled her ribbon-bound hand from the katana's handle, the white ribbon removed itself as well. When this happened, the snowflakes scattered and became razor sharp—injuring her target while absorbing Renji's spiritual energy. Urahara theorized that the absorbed rietsu manifests in the ribbon--and eventually the sword, magnifying its physical attacks or healing the user when necessary.
They had made her repeat the new dance on Tessai, much to the Kido master's displeasure. But he agreed, for the sake of helping Rukia. She was able to control the amount of damage dealt to her victim the second time around—as she was more familiar with the new technique. Urahara and Yoruichi watched in silent respect, taking in the Sode no Shirayuki's beauty. When Urahara finally allowed Rukia to take a break for lunch (and Renji's healing to resume), he decided that her training with the Sixth Division's Lieutenant was no longer necessary.
"I think," he mumbled between sips of his drink, "that she is ready for our help. Don't you?"
Yoruichi agreed with her partner, promising to help the younger shinigami with her endurance. They both avoided saying what they were thinking. Neither wanted to acknowledge the possibility that Rukia could yield one of the most beautiful—and powerful—bankai Seretei had ever seen. That fact would remain unspoken until it was proven to be true.
Rukia was resting quietly in the shop's spare bedroom when Urahara found her. "If you are agreeable, it may be time that your training with both myself and Yoruichi-san began," he informed her.
She looked at him, her eyes both tired and excited. "I would like that very much! I can tell I have improved, thanks to Renji," she sighed.
"Do not worry, he is fine," Urahara promised, understanding her tone.
"We'll see how much he hates me when he's one hundred percent better," she smirked.
Urahara turned to exit the guest room. He hesitated in the doorway, "Rukia, there's something I wanted to ask you…" he started.
"Go on, ask it!" she said, already knowing the question before he spoke put it into words.
"What did Renji say…or do…to motivate you to use your shikai's new dance?" he hesitated, not knowing if he had offended her.
"He said," Rukia smiled mischeviously, her eyes flashing their memory of his words,"that Ichigo put up a much better fight than I do."