Chapter Six

Three Tests of Initiation (Nick Sr. Returns)

Two Days Later, Nick and Jasmine's Flat, Rukongai District 1…

Nick woke up and looked around his room, confused as to where he was. Then, it all came back to him. He laughed. Wow. Two days here already and I still can't remember where I am when I wake up. He thought.

He got out of bed and walked into the kitchen. Jasmine was there, cooking breakfast. "Good morning, Nick," Jasmine said, brushing back some of her raven black hair and turning to look at him. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I guess. I just don't know why I can't get used to waking up in the Soul Society and knowing that I'm here. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up in my bed with Katie next to me. I hope she's okay." Nick said, slumping into a chair.

Jasmine sighed. "Nick, I bet she's fine. Mom's looking after her, so her father can't find out and the two of you will be safe. Mom knows what she's doing. Please, don't worry about your pregnant girlfriend and just concentrate on getting ready for the second Initiation test, whatever it may be."

"I know, but I can't help it, Jazz. I'm going to be a father, and I can't believe it, even after seeing the proof. What would you do if you found out you were pregnant and you knew one of your parents would hate you if they found out? Katie didn't have too much of a choice. For her, it was either tell her father or keep it a secret by moving in with me. Do you see why she did what she did?"

"Yes, Nick, I understand. It's just that I can't see you as a father anyway. Sorry, bro, but you being a dad is just a little hard to see."

"I guess it is, actually. But, at least you get to be the favorite aunt who spoils the baby." Nick said, smiling.

"Really? You think I would do that to your baby?" Nick nodded. "Well, you're right. So, your ready to eat?"

"Yeah, I'm starving." Nick said, rubbing his hands together as Jasmine set the breakfast of bacon, sausage and eggs in front of Nick. "Thank you, Jasmine. It smells really good. You've probably outdone yourself again, as usual."

"Nick, stop buttering up the chef, even if she is your sister. Eat up, or we won't be ready to go to the Initiation test. Actually, you know what's funny?" Nick looked at his twin sister. "The first test was just meeting Captain Barrett, right?" Nick nodded. "So, I wonder what the second and third tests will be? Also, I wonder when we'll see dad again? I miss him so much, and to find out that we can have him back after all these years, it's like we have a second chance with him, you know?"

"Yeah, I feel the same way, Jasmine. So, I'm done, let's go and meet Captain Barrett and Lora."

Jasmine looked at her brothers' plate, still amazed at how fast Nick could finish a plate of food. She nodded and followed her brother out the door.

Walking through the streets of the Soul Society, Nick couldn't help but look around curiously. Sure, they had been here for two days now, but he couldn't understand how his mother could have sneaked the knowledge of the Soul Society into his head when he was little. He was surprised when Katie had told him that they had all known about the Soul Society for years, only two days earlier. Nick's thoughts drifted to Katie. "I wonder how she's doing without me with her?"

"Who?" Jasmine asked, looking back at her brother.

"What? Oh, nothing. Just thinking about how Katie's doing at home without me there to help her through the pregnancy, that's all."

"She'll be fine. Mom's with her, and we both know that she can protect Katie if she needs to, so stop worrying. You shouldn't be worried about her, though." Jasmine warned him in an amused tone, turning back around to see where she was walking.

"Well then, who should I worry about if not my pregnant girlfriend?" Nick shouted, a little louder than he should have been.

"Katie's father." Jasmine said simply, turning to look at her brother.

Nick's face turned a shade of white paler than albino. Jasmine was right, Katie's father would kill him if and when he found out that Nick had gotten Katie pregnant. "Shit!" He yelled, punching the ground and sending a ripple through the surrounding area.

"Thought so!" Jasmine laughed, starting to run.

Nick got back up and followed his sister through the Rukongai District to their destination. They entered and saw that Captain Barrett was accompanied by another person. The twins looked at each other and then at Captain Barrett.

"Captain Barrett, sir!" They said, bowing respectively to the Captain of Squad One.

Raymond looked at them. "Ah, Nick. Jasmine, welcome. Come here, I have someone that you may want to see."

The two siblings came over and the stranger turned around, making both of the twins' jaws drop.

"DAD?" Nick said, shocked.

"Is it really you?" Jasmine was on the verge of tears trying not to cry.

"Hello, kids!" Elias Negron said. "How's mom?" Jasmine couldn't take it anymore and fainted, earning a confused look from the twins' father. "Is she okay? What happened to her?"

Nick, who had recovered from the shock used flash step to rush over to his father, thrusting him into the nearest wall. "Do you know what the fuck you put all of us through? Huh? For the last ten years, mom has been fucking waking me up by almost KILLING me! Even Jasmine got that treatment. I have gotten the shit kicked out of me every day by mom! I can't believe you just went and got yourself killed when mom easily killed that fucking Hollow that night! If you weren't my father, I would kill you right here and now, and I would never regret it!" He yelled at him, rage and hate visible in his eyes.

"Nick! Stop this! Let him go!" Raymond said.

"No, Captain!" Elias said. "I deserve this. He's right, I have no excuse for how that Hollow killed me that night. He has the right to punish me like this. Let him continue. He needs to get this off his chest."

Nick threw his parent to the floor, sighing. "No, I'm done. Captain," He turned to Raymond. "I'm going to the Training grounds, so can we start these stupid tests, or what?"

"I will be with you in a moment. First, we should wake your sister up."

"Right. I guess I'll just pick a fight with someone while I'm waiting for you." Nick left the building.

"That kid is going to die by the hands of a Hollow, I know it."

"Heh. That'll be two in the family."

"You... Shut the fuck up. If I were you, I'd get ready to go back to the World of the Living," Nick looked at him. "I don't think we'll be training them too long."

"Oh, right. Are you sure that bringing me back is a good idea? I mean, if Tabitha did that to Nick, imagine what will happen to me when I show up."

"I know what you mean. Tabitha had quite the temper when I knew her," Raymond said, talking about his ex girlfriend. "I guess that's where your son got his."

"Probably. Well, I'll go and just look over the Training grounds so as to make sure that Nick hasn't killed anyone."

"Indeed. Jasmine, get up. It's time to start the Tests of Initiation."

Jasmine's eyes opened quickly. "Was I still asleep? Or did I actually see my father?"

"It was your father. He'll be coming back with us when we go back to the World of the Living after your training, so get used to having him back."

"Okay," Jasmine got up and saw that her brother wasn't in the room. "Hold on, where's my brother?"

Raymond sighed. "Well, after taking his anger out on your father, he went to the Training grounds to pick a fight. Your father followed after him to see that he hasn't killed anyone, yet."

Jasmine nodded and left the building along with Captain Barrett.

Training Grounds...

Nick had arrived at the training grounds and had proceeded in, getting strange glares from some of the other people in the area. Nick smirked and just took out his Zanpaku-to. "Blaze, Kyubi!"

After releasing his Zanpaku-to, Nick proceeded to use his giant blade to slice the air, creating jets of flames that shot up everywhere. One of the spectators came over to him. "Hey!" He called. "What're you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm training myself to use my Zanpaku-to better. Why? What's the problem?"

"The problem is that none of us have seen you around here, before. What District do you live in?"

"Rukongai District One. I'm only here temporarily. Me and my sister are only here to train, anyway. After that, we're heading back home to the World of the Living."

"Wait, you're still alive?" The guy said, Nick nodding in response. "Wow. I'm in Squad Ten, and I still haven't been allowed to go there when a Hollow attacks. Have you killed a Hollow yet, boy?"

"Yes. So did my sister, my mom and Lieutenant Kaelin. You've probably known my mother. She's the ex Captain of Squad One, Tabitha Lenora."

"Whoa, wait just a minute! If you're her son, then why haven't you come here before?"

"How the fuck am I supposed to know? All I know is that I'm here to train." Nick slung Kyubi over his shoulders.

"I'll help you out with that. God knows I need a good fight, and if you're really Captain Lenora's son, then this should be a good battle."

"I accept. Before we begin, however, what's you name?"

"I'm Tai Szendy, lieutenant of Squad Ten. Now, let's get started," Tai took his Zanpaku-to out from its sheath. "Bring forth your power. Bloom, Black Rose!"

The katana turned into into a magnificent harpoon that had thorn-like spikes on the sides of the handle.

Nick smiled. "I hope your ready for this."

"I'm ready for anything! Bring it." Tai motioned for Nick to attack him.

Nick used flash step to suddenly appear behind Tai, Kyubi's blade at his sparring partners' throat. "Did I bring it yet? I hope you don't say yes, because I'm not finished yet. Kyubi, Unleash!" Nick jumped away from Tai and shot a large wave of flames at his enemy.

Tai used Black Rose's special ability to shield himself from the flames with the thorns on the harpoon's side, which had just transformed into a large shield that covered his body from attacks. When he brought the shield down, Nick was behind him again, Kyubi back at Tai's throat. "Give up, yet?"

"That's enough, Nick," Raymond said, waking toward the dueling men. "You've passed your first Test of Initiation. Now, let's get on with the tests in the Training Simulation Room. I want to see how well you fare against a Hollow by yourself."

Nick nodded and shook hands with Tai. "That was a good fight. Thanks, Tai."

"No problem. Come back soon, so I can beat you then."

"Fat chance of that happening. See you around." Nick followed Raymond, Jasmine and his father.

A/N: Finally, here's the next chapter for Bleach: Fire of Kyubi. I have had writer's block for the first part of the story for three weeks to two months, so I just finished that part yesterday and the rest was finished today. Well, goodbye for now.