What? An actual, full chapter? What's happening? ... Inspiration struck. I quite like it.
Anyways, sorry for missing yesterday =( I was busy being kicked, slobbered on and screamed at by one little baby. Oh, and getting blood drawn didn't help much either. I might go for a double update today, if I have time...
If I owned Bleach, we'd know the name of Nanao's zanpaku-to. And it would awesome.
Kaili was just about to kill the dragon in front of her when the beast croaked something unintelligible. She paused, and stared at it, wondering if she was just imagining it. Tears began to roll down the dragon's long snout, and dripped softly to the ground.
"Mommy," it whimpered. Kaili cautiously approached it, and the dragon began to tremble in fear. Cautiously, Kaili sheathed her sword, and placed a gentle hand on the dragon's nose.
"You can talk?" she asked quietly, stroking the smooth scales under her fingers. "Do you have a name?"
"Calcifer," the dragon whispered, shifting a bit. The paralysis was wearing off.
"I'm Kaili. Why were you attacking us?"
"Bad man took Mommy," Calcifer replied quietly. "He won't let her go! And he makes us attack, or he'll hurt us." Slowly, he lifted his head, and gently nudged Kaili's shoulder. "Want Mommy."
"Where is the mean man?"
"In the big cave." With a flick of his tail, Calcifer pointed. "He's got people, all wrapped up in webs."
"We're trying to find the people the bad man took," Kaili told Calcifer. "Can you take us there?" Calcifer nodded his enormous head, and whistled something. The other two dragons stopped and looked over at them. While Calcifer explained, Kaili grabbed Renji and Byakuya and pulled them aside.
"They're going to help us!" she exclaimed excitedly. "They were only attacking because their Mom was stolen!" Both Byakuya and Renji looked sceptical, but they heard her out all the same.
Dagger had left, leaving Bren and Tara with whiny Janice and Annica. None of them were pleased with the arrangement. Actually, Tara and Bren were ready to leave. Being bound up in spider webs was getting old, and neither of them wanted to play the part of the frightened victim, screaming her head off in her cage and doing nothing to help the situation. Instead, the two of them ignored the constant complaints coming from Annica and Janice and began to plot a way out. Unfortunately, their bonds seemed unlikely to come loose no matter how much they struggled.
But Tara and Bren were smart people. They were getting over ninety in every subject, had both gotten Honours with Distinction all through Junior High, and were in full IB. Between the two of them, they could think up a way out of this, even if the conclusion they finally drew was nothing less than impossible.
"Nobody else could see them," Tara pointed out. "They were like ghosts, and they had swords!"
"Except they have bodies, so they're not dead. It's almost like what we saw was their soul, and then they go back into their bodies.
"So if that was their souls,"
"And we were pulled out of our bodies,"
"So this is our souls,"
"And they had swords, which are impossible to buy if you're a spirit that can walk through trees and buildings and shit,"
"The swords are something like an embodiment of their soul,"
"And we're souls."
"So," this last bit was said by both, and left unfinished, much to the confusion of Annica and Janice who were had quit complaining and were listening in, although neither of them had understood any of the conversation. But Bren and Tara had both figured out what they were doing, and had gone quiet, both staying completely still with their eyes shut. Surely it couldn't be that hard.
Renji squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ignore the fact that he was riding on the back of the dragon that had just tried to kill him. He had already decided that he really didn't like it, although Kaili seemed to be having the time of her life. Byakuya seemed as indifferent as usual, and it was only somebody who knew him extremely well, like Renji, who could see the small spark of exhilaration in his eyes.
Renji groaned softly as the dragon turned sharply. Was he the only one not enjoying this?
"We're almost there," the dragon, who had introduced herself as Jinxx, assured him in a gentle, warm voice.
"Wonderful," Renji grumbled, clinging tightly to the row of spikes along Jinxx's neck. 'Almost' wasn't good enough for him.
When Bren opened her eyes again, she was no longer wrapped in spider webs in that cave. Also, as an added bonus, Janice and Annica weren't there either. Tara was, however.
Two identical women skipped across the grass in front of them, giggling.
"Welcome, welcome," they sang.
I have brought you,
For one reason and one alo-
"I never thought I'd say this but…" Tara interrupted.
"Now is not the time for singing Phantom of the Opera." Bren finished.
"Who are you?" the two chorused.
"I'm Tsuin," one said,
"And I'm Futago."
"We're your zanpaku-to spirits!"
"Zanpaku-to… Those are the sword things, aren't they?"
"Yep! We're the embodiment of your souls! Sit down, and let us explain."
"I don't think we really have time…"
"We have all the time that we need. Sit."
Bren and Tara exchanged a look, and then sat. After all, what did they really have to lose?
After a brief explanation on Shinigami and zanpaku-tos, they got the lecture on what they were. This was much more interesting than the other stuff, which they had mostly figured out.
"See, you two are special," Tsuin began.
"You're twins, except not," Futago finished for her.
"Twins?"
"Except not?"
"Yes. Somehow, you're souls are like the equivalent of identical twins. That's why we look identical. You're connected, and it's impossible to separate you again. Nothing like this has ever happened before, but oh well."
"So we are twins…"
"Awesome."
"Normally, two Shinigami don't share a spirit world, but you two do."
Tsuin smiled slowly. "We'll explain more later. Right now, we have things to do."
"You need to remember our names," Futago added. She placed a hand on Bren's shoulder. "I am your zanpaku-to."
Tsuin pulled Tara to her feet. "And I am yours."
"Let's go."
The three dragons landed neatly on the cliff by the cave, allowing their passengers to slide off.
"We'll find your Mom," Kaili promised, patting Calcifer's warm nose. "Don't worry."
Once again, Renji was distracted by the odd reiatsu, which was much closer, and much, much stronger now. There was a thud from the cave, and some laughter.
"Double high five!"
"We are awesome!"
Suddenly, it all clicked. Renji stepped in through the door of the cave.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked, incredulous.
"Oh, hey Renji." Tara and Bren said, pausing in their victory dance. "Do you mind waiting a second before you start asking questions? We're kinda in the middle of a victory dance here."
So anyways, review? Maybe?
-Stormy