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Chapter 4
The sparring continued. The temperature dropped on one side where Inu and Toshiro battled, ice forming in their surroundings. Steam enveloped the other side where Neko and Nezumi fought with water and fire that clashed and created a moist fog. Byakuya seemed to be surrounded my six copies of Hebi and overlapping visions of her sword. And finally, Zabimaru broke against the earth strengthened zanpakuto that belonged to Ookami.
But what stopped training wasn't this. A member of the 8th division came running, followed by the other divisions. Everyone stopped their battles. 'Run!' The shinigami screamed. Behind him a sea of wriggling pasty white flesh followed.
'Hurry!' Ookami yelled, heading for Juuyon-bantai's barracks as they were the closest refuge. Not understanding, the captains and lieutenants were forced to shove the other shinigami before them in the right direction. The 14th division sprung into action, sealing off any openings once the shinigamis entered the vast compound.
A scream was heard as a female shinigami hopped helplessly. Neko doused her in a strong wave of water, allowing another shinigami to pull her away from the wriggling creatures. 'Maggots!' Nezumi squeaked, completely grossed out.
Kitsune stepped closer to take a look. 'Maggot hollows.' She confirmed briefly before sending sharp precise gusts of wind to slice them. She dispelled her bankai as she came over, surveying the rescued shinigami.
'Did anyone get left behind?' Ookami asked, furrowing her brow. These were less shinigami than she expected. But most of the captains and lieutenants were here.
A timid male shinigami stepped forward shyly. 'O-Ookami-t-taicho, the rest are hiding out in the main tower with Yamamoto-sama. The maggots got out from Kurotsuchi-taicho's labs.' He offered.
Ookami nodded her thanks and sighed. 'Well, there's way too many.' She muttered, looking at the unconscious female shinigami that was attack. 'And they eat reiatsu apparently. I guess, we'll just hide out here till Mayuri fixes his shit then.' She finished, walking into her division building.
Silence settled. 'Seriously?' Renji asked loudly. Ookami turned to him and blinked, undoing her own bankai. Renji almost shuddered as her eyes changed back and her tail and ears hid themselves. So strange and… something's wrong there…
'We can't continue training with the lack of space now and I don't think you can leave.' She said mockingly. 'But you're welcome to try if you want.'
Renji grimaced at her but she already turned away non-commitedly, her torn shihakusho revealing too much of her well-endowed breasts. It didn't matter much anyway. Nezumi and Hebi sidled up to her though, looking at her with once again, black eyes. 'Ookami-taicho, it's almost lunch time…' They whined.
Ookami looked at all the shinigami in her barracks. Loud rumbling permeated the air, causing her to sigh. She pet Neko's head, eliciting a purr from the cat shinigami. 'Fine. I'll go cook. Neko, you and Inu come help me. I don't need Kitsune in the kitchen.'
Said fukutaicho sulked, hearing the obvious reference at her inability to not blow something up every time she was in the kitchen. 'What about me, Taicho!' Hebi asked eagerly. She looked at the excited 6th Seat.
'Nezumi, Hebi and I will entertain our guests then. They must have questions about our bankai.' Kitsune spoke, reinstating her pride. Ookami nodded.
'Yes, answer their questions, Kitsune fuku-taicho.' The captain grinned at the somewhat stunned and confused faces of the shinigami present.
'Ano…' Orihime stopped Neko, seeing her as more friendly. She promptly meowed at her in encouragement. 'Can I help?'
The Ryoka blanched. If Orihime was cooking… 'You're so cute!' Neko squealed in excitement instead, ignoring the polite offer. She wrapped her arms around Orihime as the orange haired girl took a step back, panicked.
'Neko.' Inu barked sharply at the magenta-haired shinigami. 'Enough, let's go.'
Neko frowned but released the human and followed Inu and Ookami to the kitchens. Kitsune sighed but refused to face-palm, she had to deal with this exasperation every day. 'Please just sit anywhere, you guys! Kitsune fuku-taicho will answer all your questions!' She said cheerfully, pretending as though no one had noticed her own feral yellow eyes.
She tied up her dark grey hair as everyone seated themselves down. Hebi grinned evilly at Byakuya, both of them sported scratched and shallow gashes. 'What's up with this bankai shit?' Zaraki demanded, having missed out on the training. The rescued shinigamis agreed in mumbles and whispers.
'Hebi. Nezumi.' Kitsune called shortly. Nodding at their fuku-taicho, the two drew their swords and promptly performed bankai. 'Bankai!' Kitsune barked, transforming herself.
'Fluffies!' Yachiru called out happily from on top of Kenpachi's head, attempting to reach for Kitsune's fox tail.
'All member of Juuyon-bantai have attained bankai where we transform into our… animal forms and our eyes revert to their natural colour.' Kitsune explained, ignoring and avoiding Yachiru's grasping hands.
'Why does your bankai differ from ours?' Byakuya asked firmly, paying close attention.
'We six are not born shinigami. We were humans who had lived a life of suffering and death.' Kitsune answered him stoically.
'We knew each other even back then!' Nezumi squeaked, clashing swords with Hebi in a heated but friendly spar.
'Yes.' Kitsune quipped, displeased by the interruption. 'Our bankai bases off elements mostly, except for Hebi who has an illusion zanpakuto. Because of the unique nature of our bankai, even if you would pit for example; Hitsugaya-taicho against Inu who both wield ice zanpakuto… It would depend on who is more skilled or experienced.'
'Now I get it!' Matsumoto explained beside her captain. At least he hadn't lost to Inu, they didn't finish their fight. Matsumoto was completely taken out by Juuyon-bantai's lieutenant and was now covered in dozens of fine cuts only the wind could create.
'But our elements are a bit strange.' Kitsune acquiesced, giving a pointed look to Hebi and Nezumi again. The two grinned, switching form spar to demonstration.
Hebi swung her sword, splitting herself to surround Nezumi at all sides. Byakuya narrowed his eyes as he watched carefully. While fighting her, he noticed that Hebi's rieatsu could not be pinpointed. There was no way to tell which was real or fake. The multiple Hebis lunged at Nezumi with killing intent but Nezumi merely waved her sword leisurely and a tower of fire encased her. Hebi's swords struck at the fire but could not pass, a ringing sound from being blocked.
Eyes widened. 'Nezumi's shield is completely fire. But our bankai can be controlled to the extent that she can even make the fire dense for defense. Or sharp for offense.'
'Lunch is ready! Come help bring it out!' Neko called, meowing in the end. Hebi and Nezumi dispelled their bankai, followed by Kitsune, the three entering the building to get the meal.
'If even the 6th and 4th Seats are that strong, can you imagine the Captain and the Lieutenant?' Hisagi murmured.
'She wasn't even taking me seriously when we fought!' Rangiku piped in.
'And they haven't trained properly for years. They were probably stronger than this.' Toshiro spoke up.
'A month of good training and…' Kira said with wide eyes. 'They might actually be able to kill Aizen!'
'Don't underestimate him.' Kyoraku interrupted with a smile. 'Aizen has Arrancars… and the Hogyoku.'
Silence befell them all. 'You know, Ukitake-taicho said Hebi-chan and Ookami-taicho were… in love with Aizen and Gin, right?' Renji whispered conspiratorially, looking at a frantic Ukitake. Renji didn't notice those movements said 'shut up'. 'Maybe they can't do it.'
'Oi, asshole.' Ookami's voice came through hard and brimming with daring anger. Renji froze. 'Are you saying that I can't kill Gin?'
Juuyon-bantai turned sharply from where they were piling the large table with food. 'I meant…' Byakuya's eyes sharpened, looking for the signs that he should step in.
'I know what you god damn meant!' She snarled furiously, grabbing his arm and yanking the tattooed man to his feet. 'You think just because I love him, I won't kill him? What kind of weakling do you take me for, huh?!' She growled, leaking a heavy reiatsu. Ichigo and Rukia put a hand to their swords.
The shinigami around her suddenly found it harder to breathe. 'I thought because…' He started defensively, cut off by a hand fisting in the front of his shihakusho. Now even Kira, Hisagi and Matsumoto were alert, looking for how to get Renji out of trouble.
'Don't think. You don't know anything. I should seal you in the ground. Six foot under.' She threatened, her other hand twitching for her zanpakuto. Kitsune , Hebi and Inu appeared beside their captain while Neko and Nezumi pulled Renji from her grasp, shoving him towards the 6th division members carelessly.
'Ookami-taicho's devotion to Soul Society is unquestionable.' Inu spoke stoically but her words carried a weight of burden.
'Ookami-taicho's devotion to this division cannot be doubted.' Kitsune agreed, standing beside her taicho but being wise not to touch the bubbling shinigami.
'We're devoted to Ookami-taicho too.' Nezumi said and this time her voice was not playfully. Juuyon-bantai's eyes trained on everyone but more on Renji.
'If Ookami-taicho tells us to destroy, we destroy. If she says protect, we protect.' Neko said harshly.
'If Ookami-taicho wants me to kill Aizen… I will definitely kill him.' Hebi said, her eyes pained but not at all hesitating. Ookami calmed down more and more with their words.
'Gomen…' Renji muttered, blinking at them.
'Shut up.' Ookami herself sighed in exasperation. 'Lunch is served. Everyone, go eat.' She spoke, gesturing to the laden table. Just like that, the hungry shinigami moved and the bad atmosphere, gone. But Ookami wouldn't be forgetting the tattooed man's words anytime soon.
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