Chapter 9

Eight weeks had past and Tatsuki was doing great. She had found some kind of routine in her everyday life. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays she trained with Rukia. Her reiatsu control was so good by now that Rukia had started teaching her Kido. Momo was giving her extra Kido lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ichigo trained her in shunpo almost every afternoon.

Her Zanjutsu trainers varied on a daily basis, depending on who had time. Normally it would be either Renji, Ichigo, Ikkaku, Toshiro, Kudo or sometimes Captain Hisagi.

The Head-Captain had informed her that she had to absolve all the final tests of the academy if she she wanted to become a member of the Gotei 13. And therefor she also had to learn the theoretical parts. So basically she had trained and learned the last weeks none stop.

On the rare occasion that she took a day off on the weekends she went out with Rangiku, Rukia or some of the boys. By now she was friends with most of them and Renji and she had come to the agreement that they should be just friends.

So far it worked. They would eat lunch together or meet in the evening for a cup of coffee where he would help her with some of the academy stuff. Wouldn't there be the occasional glances they shared. But she was determined to keep it the way it was right now.

She was walking down the street on her way to the Squad 5 barracks when she was stopped by a tall shinigami.

"Arisawa- san?"

"Yeah."

"My Captain wishes to see you."

She was a bit taken aback by that.

"And who is your Captain?"

"Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of Squad 6. Would you please follow me."

The man turned on his heels and walked off, expecting her to follow. What would Rukia's brother want from her? He was one of the three Captains she hadn't met so far. She didn't know much about him but she could tell by the man's behavior that his Captain was no man to dismiss.

So she followed.

He led her down the street and around a corner where they stepped through a gate and onto the ground of his division. Walking down corridors he stopped in front of a pair of closed doors and knocked.

"Come in." sounded a deep melodic voice from inside.

The man pushed the door open but didn't step in.

"Sir, as you wished I've brought you Arisawa- san."

"Send her in."

He stepped aside and ushered her in. She came to a sudden halt at the sight in front her. He stood next to his desk. His black hair fell past his shoulders and was held back by some kind of hairpieces. His facial expression gave nothing away but he was gorgeous. And tall. Was it some kind of unwritten law that every male Captain has to be tall?

Remembering his position she fell back on the courtesy that was hammered into her by years of training in dojo's.

"Captain Kuchiki. I'm honored to meet you."

She bowed deeply and hoped it was enough. It was never a good idea to aggravate a Captain you didn't know personally.

"The pleasure is all mine. I hope I'm not keeping you from your training?"

Straightening back up she looked at him.

"No, Sir. My Zanjutsu lesson was canceled for today since everyone was busy otherwise. I was just on my way to your sister to ask her something."

He inclined his head in acknowledgment and went over to a small couch in the corner, gesturing her to follow.

"May I ask you about your progress in becoming a shinigami?"

She sat down on the other end of the couch.

"Of course, Sir. I'm able to perform most of the basic bakudo and hado spells. My shunpo is advancing as well. My Zanjutsu is at a stagnation right now because of me not having a Zanpakuto. But I train none the less."

"That is good to hear. Have you tried to communicate with your Zanpakuto?"

"Yes, Sir. But with no avail."

He didn't say a thing for several minutes. Just looked at her as if seizing her up. His stare was intense but she didn't flinch. She was used to stuff like that. One of her former instructors in karate had tried it for years without success.

"This is a really personal question and I would perfectly understand if you don't want to answer it, but have you ever heard your Zanpakuto's voice?"

She knew what he meant. A Zanpakuto was part of ones soul and therefor it was not talked about in public. But she would take all the help she could get.

"No, Sir. I have never heard it."

"My sister told me you were experienced in meditation?"

"I am. It was part of my training in the world of the living."

"Has someone shown you how to meditate to get into contact with your Zanpakuto?"

This started to feel like an interrogation. But she played along.

"No. They said I should try meditation and I did but as I said with no avail."

"I see. I could show you another way of meditation if you like. Maybe this might give you excess to your Inner World."

She was baffled by his offer.

"I would love to. But just if it isn't too much trouble for you, Sir."

She could swear that the corner of his mouth had twitched a little as if he had tried to suppress a smile.

"It isn't. Come to my family's mansion at eight tonight. If you would excuse me now. It was a pleasure to meet you."

He stood and turned back towards his desk.

"Thank you, Sir." she said and left the office.

When the door closed behind her she took a deep breath. Captain Kuchiki was going to train her. It was said that he didn't concern himself with most other people, that he was cold and apathetic. Renji and Ichigo told her he had a stick so far up his ass it was a wonder the man could sit at all. Rukia on the other hand praised him all the time like he was some kind of God. Right now she had no real idea of what to think of him.

Walking down the corridor her thoughts were interrupted by Rukia.

"Tatsuki?"

She looked up to see Ichigo's Lieutenant walking towards her.

"Hey"

"What are you doing here? Looking for Ikkaku?"

"No, your brother wanted to see me."

Rukia stood there staring with her mouth hanging open.

"You're okay Rukia?"

That snapped her out of it.

"What have you done? Please tell me it was nothing bad."

She was confused now.

"I've done nothing. Why would I?"

"Because Nii- sama wanted to see you?" she said as if that would explain everything.

"He just wanted to talk to me. Nothing else."

She decided not to tell her friend about his offer to help her right now. If she was this freaked out about a simple talk she would probably die of a heart attack if she knew that.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. But I wanted to ask you about this new hado spell I tried. You've got some time?"

Shaking her head Rukia looked in the direction of her brother's office.

"Sorry. Not today. Nii- sama needs my help with some family business. Oh, I totally forgot to tell you. I can't train you tomorrow. We've got a Lieutenant's meeting."

"No problem. I'll ask someone else."

"Okay. I need to go. See you tomorrow afternoon?"

She looked at her questioningly since she had no idea what her friend was talking about.

"Tomorrow afternoon is the SWA meeting. You promised to come."

Damn.

"Sure. See you tomorrow then."

Rukia hurried away and she made her way back to her own quarters.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Renji was walking the corridors of his Division. It was a habit he had developed when he took over the Squad. This way he could talk with his subordinates without the atmosphere of his office which was intimidating for most of the lower ranked officer or the unseated members.

Over the last weeks they had mostly talked about Tatsuki. At first there were many who questioned her presence in the Squad. But as the days went by the negative conversations morphed into praising ones. She had stood strong against them and hadn't been intimidated by their talk. He knew about two minor fights which she had both won within seconds. After the second fight against his Fourth Seat the first squad-members went to her to ask for advises in hand to hand combat.

A week later and after gaining his permission she was teaching a group on a regular basis. Now there was not one shinigami in his Squad who didn't like her.

He was proud of her. He knew his Division could be a handful at times but she had made her way into their hearts and they respected her.

She worked hard and her progress in training was so impressive that the first whispered rumors came up that she was the next genius.

The only thing that concerned him a little was her still missing Zanpakuto.

Deep in thought he didn't see the small shinigami until they bumped into each other.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

He bend down to help the small figure back up when he saw who it was.

"Tatsuki?"

She came to her feet, rubbing her forehead.

"Yeah. You're like a brick wall, you know that?"

He chuckled and saw a book lying on the floor. Bending he retrieved it to see that it was one about kido spells.

"No wonder you fell asleep while walking." he teased her.

"Ha ha. Very funny. But can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"I promised Okada and the others to give them another lesson this evening but something came up. Would you tell them when they come back?"

The group was on a small mission in Rukongai and wouldn't be back until later this afternoon.

"Sure."

She took the book he still held in his hand and turned.

"Thanks! See you later." and with that she was gone.

He stood there for another moment.

He missed her. Not just the sex, but her by his side. It had been just three days they had spend together but it had been great days. Sure, they saw each other every day and spent a lot of time together but it wasn't the same. Yeah, they had come to the agreement that it was for the best to stop sleeping together and he knew it was the right decision but it wasn't easy.

Sighing, he turned and walked on.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Since she had a few hours to kill until her meeting with Captain Kuchiki, she had sat on her couch and learned some new kido spells. The book Momo had given her was a great help.

Stepping out of her shower she contemplated what to wear. Her shihakusho or something else?
She had developed a liking for the uniform over the last weeks. They were comfortable and practical. Deciding her shihakusho would do she sat on her bed and braided her hair into a tight ponytail, her mind spinning around the possibility that she could truly get into contact with her Zanpakuto with Captain Kuchiki's help.

When she looked up she saw that she had only ten minutes left.

Shit!

She dressed in record time and ran out of her quarters and down the corridors. Leaving the Division's grounds she remembered that the Kuchiki mansion was on the other side of Seireitei. She would never make it in time by running. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and did her first flash-step without the guidance of one of her friends.

At first she was a bit uneasy but with every step she did she got better and by the time she came to a halt in front of a huge gate she was grinning like an idiot.

A guard stepped for.

"Arisawa- san?"

"Yes."

"Captain Kuchiki awaits you. A servant will show you the way."

The gate cracked open and an elderly woman stepped out.

"Would you please follow me."

They walked through miles of gardens, yards and hallways for ten minutes until the woman stopped in front of two sliding doors.

"Lord Kuchiki awaits you."

With that she turned and walked away.

Tatsuki turned towards the doors and wanted to knock.

"You may come in." came his deep voice from inside.

She slid one door open and was taken aback by the sight before her. He stood in front a bookshelf, showing her his back, his long hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. But that wasn't what made her stop. It were his clothes. He wore some loose black cotton pants and a tight black tank top, both clearly western style. And he was barefooted.

His outfit stood so at odds with the regal man she had met this afternoon.

"Is something the matter?"

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she stepped in.

"No, Sir."

He turned around and she had to stifle a gasp. She could see every single muscle under the tight fabric and she had to say that he looked yummy.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips before he could suppress it.

"I hope you don't mind my attire. I have noticed over the years that more comfortable clothing helps to relax."

"I don't, Sir."

She knew what he meant.

"Then let's begin, shall we?"

Nodding she followed him through another set of doors that let outside into a beautiful garden. It was dark now and dozens of lanterns were lit around the vast grounds to cast everything into a warm glow. There was a big pond surrounded by trees with lights dancing on the water.

He led her to the edge of it and sat down with crossed legs. She followed suit, taking a place beside him.

"The first important thing for a successful meditation are your surroundings. You need a place were you are comfortable and that provides you with tranquility. Does this place feels right for you?"

His voice was low and somehow soothing.

"Yes, Sir."

"Very good. The second thing is relaxation. You need to be relaxed or otherwise your Zanpakuto will refuse to speak to you at least in the beginning. Your whole being must be concentrated on your Zanpakuto."

"I know, Sir. But it seems that I am not able to to that. I tried many times..."

"You never tried with a proper guidance. It can be very difficult to get into first contact. Now close your eyes, relax and listen to my voice and nothing else."

Nodding she did what he said and closed her eyes. There was silence for a second but then she heard the sounds of the night. Crickets where chirping all around her, small sounds from the pond whenever a fish came up, the light breeze in the trees. It was relaxing.

"Breath deeply and tune out all the sounds but my voice."

She tried but it was hard.

"Imagine your mind to be a black void."

Everything around her turned into a black nothingness. Panic rose inside her. The darkness. All around her. It was one of her deepest fears. She struggled to stay calm.

"Breath! You're not alone in there."

His voice barely reached her. The panic was too consuming. All she wanted to do was get out of the darkness around her. But she couldn't. It was as if something was holding her there.

"Arisawa- san, you need to breath!"

She didn't understand the words but was that fear in his voice? Why would he be afraid?

"Damn it, Tatsuki! Breath!"

There was no air. No nothing. She didn't feel a single thing but the panic.

"Yeah, Tatsuki- chan. Breath for our pretty boy!"

Everything stopped.

She came awake to the feeling of someone shaking her. Opening her eyes she looked up into a pair of slate gray eyes that widened in shock.

She was lying on the ground with Captain Kuchiki bent over her. Her head spun a little and she tried to remembered what had happened but failed.

"What happened?" she crocked. It felt as if she hadn't used her voice for years.

He helped her up into a sitting position but his eyes never left hers.

"I don't really now. You suddenly stopped breathing and then passed out for a moment."

It all came back. The panic, the darkness, his voice.

Had he really cursed and called her by her given name? Wait! There had also been another voice.

"Was someone else here?"

He cocked his head to the side.

"No."

"Of course there was, Sweety!"

"Who was that?" She looked around frantically. Strong hands came down on her shoulders.

"Arisawa- san! There is nobody here except the two of us. Please calm down."

"I am always here watching you."

This voice. It was scary. High and predatory.

"Ohhh, so you think I'm scary?" the voice laughed wickedly.

She had enough. Her temper flared.

"Stop this shit and tell me who the fuck you are!" she yelled.

"How about I'll just show you?!"

The man in front of her shrank back.

"Arisawa- san, your eyes..."