"Your zanpakuto is in your cane?" she asked, her voice filled with awe. How did she not guess that? He always had that silly cane with him! But, more importantly, how did he manage to sneak it out of Soul Society? Would he even tell her if she asked?
"You are very observant, a crucial trait in a shinigami," he agreed, watching her carefully. There wasn't much he could get past the young woman. "Awaken," he cooed, his sword being unleashed. "Benihime is my zanpakuto's name," he explained, revealing the sword's shikai. "Like yours, it has many different abilities in its initial released state."
"How many?" she asked, keeping her eyes focused on the sword. From the week they had been training, she had learned to never turn her back on the mysterious shopkeeper. Part of her still distrusted him from her previous gigai experience. Urahara had given her a gigai intended to drain her spiritual energy, making her human and sealing an important weapon inside of her soul. All of it unbeknownst to her. While she understood his intentions, why did he have to choose her? She never wanted to be human...at least not until she met Ichigo and his family. She shook the thoughts from her head.
"Now, now, I can't share all my secrets with you. That would take us to a whole new level of intimacy, Rukia-chan!" he grinned, lightly gripping the handle of the sword. It was longer than most zanpakuto hilts--a crimson tassel dangling off of the slender, curved handle. The blade was shorter, angling at the tip instead of tapering like most swords.
His words slowly registered, her eyes flickering their realization. "Shut up, pervert!" she hissed, slicing the air in front of him with her zanpakuto. He easily dodged the half-assed attack. He flash-stepped behind her, instantly holding his blade to her jugular vein. She groaned in realization. Even after weeks of training with Yoruichi, she still lacked the expertise to protect herself from the two Second Division leaders.
"So, you have another dance you have yet to reveal?" he mused from behind her. His eyes following Sode no Shirayuki's movements as she slouched in defeat. His latest invention had worked successfully for his newest student.
Her eyes flew open in realization. "H-how did you know?" she whispered. Ever since she began training with Yoruichi, another one of Sode no Shirayuki's dances had crept into her mind. She had barely mastered the fourth dance, afraid to unleash her fifth. She didn't know what to make of the sudden nagging thoughts as they pulled at the back of her consciousness every waking moment.
"I expect that you have at least five," he commented thoughtfully, backing away from the shorter shinigami. She turned to face him as he continued, "I'm not sure why I chose that number, but from your reaction, I can assume I am correct." He smiled cynically.
"Something like that," she used shunpo to buzz around him, something about his tone was...off. He blocked her first attack, but she managed to trip him with a swinging kick followed by kido. His hat blew off of his head, landing in the dirt. He reached down to pick it up.
"Very good, Rukia-chan. Yoruichi has taught you well. You have improved immeasurably. You are both stronger in hand-to-hand, kido, and shunpo. Quite impressive," he rubbed his index finger and thumb along the stubble on his chin. "I can see most of that from how much Renji sulks around the shop," he smiled. "Though, Ichigo did learn it more quickly."
She balled her hands into fists. She did not like being compared to Ichigo, regardless of his undeniable skills as a Shinigami. Urahara noted the rigidity of her posture. "However," he began, cautiously, "I did almost transform him into a Hollow. So he didn't really have much of a choice."
"You what?" she croaked, her eyes bulging from her head; fear laced her voice. It was an abomination!
"No worries! He managed to make it to Seretei to save you in time," he smirked. She fumed at his implication. So it had been his concern about Rukia that allowed him to overcome the hollowfication. But, the fact that he was willing to risk it...for her...was unbelievable, and almost satisfying. She felt slightly guilty at the fact that he was technically a Vizard because of her. She realized the shopowner was silently watching her with his dark blue eyes.
"What?" she grumbled. Why did he look at her like that? Like she was some sort of experiment.
"Did you learn Flash Blossom?" he replied calmly, changing the subject.
She shook her head, "I have an understanding of the movements, but not quite. I need more time."
"But you are coming along more quickly than even you anticipated?" he pressed. Something was...suspicious about his tone. She nodded. "Hmph....it took Byakuya two decades to learn it," he mumbled.
"Two...decades?? How did I......you!" she almost screeched. "What did you do? To me?"
He raised his hand, "Nothing too invasive, I assure you!" She stared at him as if hoping he would drop dead. Her silent threats were not missed by him, "I merely slipped one of my...uh, elixirs...into your tea. It enhances your spiritual endurance and training. Like I said, not invasive. Purely performance-enhancing."
She hit him with kido, immediately slapping him across the face. "How could you? After what you did to me last time? I almost lost my powers!" she was breathing heavily. He didn't resist, he knew he deserved it.
He avoided her gaze, "I'm sorry, Rukia. You asked for my help, and I gave it to you. It would have taken you years to accomplish all of what you learned in a matter of months. Would you really have not taken it had I told you all of this beforehand?"
She stared at him for a moment before letting her gaze fall to the ground. He silently undid her Way of Binding, standing before her. "It was only to help you," his smooth voice broke the silence.
She balled her fist, punching him in the stomach, "That's for the last time!" She turned on heel and stormed off.
He doubled over, retching from the sudden impact. He smiled to himself, She knows I'm right! He watched her stomp away, calling out to her. "Would you allow me to witness it?" he asked, his voice steady.
Again, she was caught off guard. She spun around, "Are you serious? It's your fault that I lie awake at night because my zanpakuto keeps calling for me to learn my new shikai. I should kill you with it!"
"I suppose I deserve that outburst, but what's done is done. You have been given a rare opportunity. It's not like you are doing things you would not be capable of, otherwise," he offered.
She chewed her lip, considering his argument. He was right. Of course he was right. She sighed, "My apologies. I asked you for help. I did not stipulate how you should help me. You are right, of course. I should be thanking you." She struggled with the words, her face turning red.
He shrugged, "Eh, it's done. But I would very much like to see your new dance, Go no mai," he informed her.
"Is it safe? Remember what happened to Renji?" she asked warily, concern knitted in her brow.
He nodded, "Yes, but I'm not Renji. And I'm expecting it. Maintain control of your spiritual energy and summon it without the intent to kill," he instructed as a smile pulled at his features.
She took a deep breath, silently recalling her dream. "I'm afraid," she confided.
"Do not be afraid, your sword is your guide. You are its mistress—its captain. Remember that," he offered. "It feels what you feel. It listens to you and obeys you."
She unsheathed her sword, looking at the smooth blade. Do you really hear me? she silently asked her zanpakuto.
"Now, reveal it to me!" he commanded, his voice more serious than before. Rukia was startled by his tone, nodding her intent. She flash-stepped backward, distancing herself from Urahara. She gracefully swung her sword in the usual half-circle while calling out the new dance formation. Her fifth dance, Go no Mai, was still foreign to her. She had no idea what "Ice Retainers " would unleash. Nor if she could control the command. Her hands shook as she called out Sode's fifth—and newest—dance.
Almost immediately, the smooth white blade shattered into a million tiny ice shards as two pure white feline forms materialized from the disintegrating slender blade of Sode no Shirayuki. The animals had deep azure eyes that flashed their deadly lust as they unleashed their sharp claws. The icy claws clicked on the earth as the two animals circled Rukia, guarding her. She gulped as she unsteadily swung her empty sword hilt toward her blond opponent. "Dance" she whispered. The two anima hurtled toward Urahara, as he instantly cleaved through them with Benihime. His eyes betrayed his shock as the two large felines disintegrated at the sword's edge, only to re-materialize after Benihime had sliced through the air where they would have lunged. The tiny ice crystals glittered as they gathered into the shapes of the two snow-white pumas. They circled, attacking a second time.
"Chikasumi no Tate!" he bellowed, shielding himself from the guardians' assault. The two animals shattered as they connected with the blood mist shield. The shards of ice fell to the ground.
Rukia swung her sword, "Dance Revival!" Again, they re-materialized. This time, they moved with much more agility than before. They separated from one another as they attacked a third time, one slicing through Urahara's long coat with its claws. The coat immediately began to freeze, the ice crystals spreading along the fabric. Kisuke realized the intent of the attack, swiftly slicing off the frozen part of his coat before it could spread to his body. So their claws freeze anything they contact, he analyzed the feline's smooth movements, as they returned his gaze with their azure instinct. They gnashed their teeth, roaring at Rukia's opponent. He felt a sort of fear as the air around him began to turn deathly cold. They will freeze me in an instant if they cut me with those claws, he told himself, studying the animals' movements. He was sure that after he froze, they would tear his body into many, smaller, pieces. As they prepared for a fourth attack, Urahra heard Rukia command her shikai, "Return," her voice cut through the icy coldness of the air. The felines instantly disintegrated into tiny ice particles, returning to their original maker—her blade. She quietly sheathed her blade, avoiding Urahara's gaze.
"That was different," he huffed, the air around him still chilled.
"I told you I didn't know what to expect," she replied coldly. Part of her was still angry that she was unwillingly drugged.
"Guardians," he murmured.
"What?" she shot him a curious glare.
"Guardians. Those are your sword's guardians. That must be the last dance. I've read about such things. Usually the last of the releases before bankai is the spiritual guardiaon--or in your case, guardians--of a zanpakuto's spirit," he tried to explain. "I'm not entirely sure, myself, but from years of research on others who had multiple shikai releases, I think it is a safe and reasonable assumption." He gestured wildly as he spoke quickly.
Rukia didn't fully comprehend his rambling, but she trusted his judgment. "What does that mean?"
"It means," he said solemnly as he met her bewildered gaze, "that you are closer to meeting your zanpakuto's spirit."
Her eyes fluttered open, "H-how?"
He studied her sheathed sword, "Well, I besides hard work and training, I have two suggestions. If you are willing, that is..."
"Spit it out!" she rolled her eyes.
"One: you use Tenshintai. It's a way to draw out your zanpakuto's spirit, but it has its limitations and 'side effects'," he used his hands to emphasize the last part. "Or two: you allow me to administer another of my inventions..."
She raised an eyebrow, "Go on.." She knew this would possibly be a royal pain. For her.
"It's like Soul Candy, except it forces you into a temporary state of subconsciousness. There you can meet your bankai. I cannot tell you what to expect from the meeting, however. Perhaps an understanding of..er, one another."
"Which one did Ichigo use?" she asked, careful to not betray her feelings. She knew that he hadn't achieved bankai on his own. This would confirm her suspicions.
"Tenshintai--" he started to answer.
"I knew it!" she bellowed, jumping in the air. She had known that he had help. So what she was doing wasn't so much different!
Urahara was amused by her outburst. So she is comparing herself to Ichigo. How amusing! He cleared his throat, "I also used Tenshintai. It would otherwise take decades or longer to attain bankai. So you see, Rukia...this may be your two best options."
"You mentioned consequences of using Tenshintai, what are they?" she pressed.
"Worst case scenario?" he asked. She nodded. "Death," he answered, simply.
Her mouth hung open at the revelation. Perhaps she would try the pill first. "Let's try that new invention of yours," she said, a smug smile forming on her face. "We can work from there." She wanted to practice her newest dance a few more times before she underwent her journey to meet Sode no Shirayuki's spirit.
"One more thing," Urahara interrupted her. She turned to hear him out. "You owe me a new coat. This was my favorite!" he whined.
"Go no Mai!" she began to summon her newfound feline friends. If anyone owed another person, it was he who owed her.
Yeah, I decided on five releases. I figured that if the sword is that beautiful, it needs to be that interesting.
I'm still debating on her bankai, and I am definitely trying to make it plausible.
Please review--let me know if you think I've overdone it with Rukia's training and abilities. I really think she's a kickass character--and has her own weaknesses, but I am so tired of seeing her get her butt kicked in the anime and manga (more in the anime). I think that each shingami can continue learn new abilities with their bankai/shikai, as seen by Toshiro's more recent bankai activity with Halibel. I wanted to incorporate that into Rukia's shikai, since it's unique in that it has more than one Dance ;)
Enjoy!