KoriChi - I'm glad you liked the chapter...! :)
Cityangelz - I thought Tatsuki needed a lot of developing, too. Thanks!
Hisanachan - well... shinigami don't really remember their former life, according to the second Bleach movie... um... I'm glad you think I portrayed her well... I was worried about that. :p
JapanManiac - I'll give them a weapon soon. Don't worry! :p Well... I don't think even Captain's remember. Urahara never said anything about that in the movie that I got the reference... hmmmm.... I'll put the pairings up for vote, if you'd like! :)
So... I'm pretty much done here....
Disclaimer: I REFUSE TO DISCLAIM...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :] eep! The disclaimer lawyers! Run for your livvveesssss!!!!!!!!!
heh.... Lol....
Oh, by the way, I'm referring to the teams as Team Ichigo and Team Tatsuki just to say... I don't want to put TEAM ONE AND TEAM TWO because that just doesn't seem original.........
xTEAM TATSUKIx
"Both of you will undergo a strict curriculum focused on your survival and fight techniques," Tatsuki stated. "Let me ensure you that all of this is voluntary - should you want to leave, you may."
"At any time?" Inoue asked. Confusion rang clearly in her voice. "I thought we were supposed to be an asset in the war, Tatsuki-ch..." she hesitated, "I mean... Tatsuki-san." It tore at her to address her former friend so formally, but her friend didn't even know her yet...
"Soul Society doesn't intend to force any of you into any of this." Tatsuki managed a half-hearted smile. "We try not to interfere with the living. But, sometimes, it's neccessary, as in this case."
"How long a curriculum?" Sado inquired - his voice, though low - caught both girls' attention.
"...Well, a year if we're especially lucky, but probably only a few months, which is why we're working at top-notch schedule." Tatsuki smiled warmly. "Any questions so far?"
"Not really..." Inoue said softly, speaking for both of them.
"Good." Tatsuki's features changed, turning abruptly serious. "Orihime-san... you have Shun Shun Rikka, a defense and healing projection, ne?"
"Hai."
"I'm going to lay out the fundamentals of Shun Shun Rikka for you. There've only been six Shun Shun Rikka users in all of history - including you. The five before you have left behind a rather detailed description of professing their power to the full limit. I don't have them now, but I can send for them back in Soul Society. At the latest, the papers will come back by tomorrow."
"Fast messaging system?"
"Something of the type." Tatsuki half-smiled before turning to Sado. "We're not sure of your weapon, but, based on your immense humane strength - we imagine it has something to do with the like."
"So... when will Sado-kun get his weapon?"
"I'll be working with him on that..." Tatsuki half-turned towards Inoue. "Meanwhile, I'm planning to teach you to reject a being's entire existance."
"....Entire...existance?" Needless to say, both apprentices were staring curious at Tatsuki who appeared oblivious of their odd expressions.
"Well... what are you guys waiting for?" Tatsuki's voice rang out - crystal clear and commanding. "Let's go!"
"H-Hai!"
xTEAM ICHIGOx
"Both of you will undergo a strict curriculum... blablabla.. um... all of this is voluntary, but if you wanna leave, I'll dump you in Hueco Mundo..." Ichigo raised an eyebrow - looking away from the piece of paper in which he was reading his lines from. "All okay? No questions?"
"Curriculum?" Ishida demanded. "Isn't this just part-time training?"
"We're going to be in a war." Rukia hissed under her breath to the Quincy. "How much more idiotic can you get, Mr. I'm-A-School-Genuis?"
"Yup, a curriculum... well, according to the notes Tatsuki left me, anyways." Ichigo stared off-handedly at the notes.
"Did she really give you permission to dump us in Hueco Mundo if we wanna leave?" Rukia asked, casually leaning against a nearby tree in the garden they were in.
"Um... no. But since her notes were a bit vague, I editized on them. You know... improvision..." Ichigo waved aside her skeptism, absentmindedly.
"Er...."
"Let's see... None of you have a weapon?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Wait. Quincy-san here does."
"I have a name," Ishida retorted.
"Ok, ok! Ishida!" Ichigo replied - the faintest hint of sarcasm laced his voice. "You have one of those glowy-blue arrows, right?"
"They're bows!" The Quincy snapped. "They're made of reiatsu - they're not glowy-blue or whatever you try to call it!"
"That's what Tatsuki wrote here. 'Arrows created of pure reiatsu.' Can you read through paper or something?"
"It's standard knowledge for all Quincies and, if your kind has anything close to history ettique..." Ishida glanced at the Kurosaki. "...You would know it too."
"Tatsuki does, and whatever she knows covers me as well." Ichigo replied, defensively.
"How does that logic even work?" Rukia demanded.
"She's my vice-captain."
"Ah, what amazing insight." Rukia commented - her voice dripped of sarcasm.
"Shut up or I really will kill you." Ichigo muttered in reply. "Anyways - Rukia... you don't have a weapon, do you?"
"Not really..."
"They have a few zanpakutos back at Seirete that aren't reserved for the Academy. I'll see if I can contact them about it."
"Zanpakuto?" Rukia's brow creased in confusion. "Is that some kind of bow-weapon like what Ishida has or something?"
"God forbid - no. It's a type of katana."
"Like yours?"
"Something like it..." Ichigo murmured. "Actually... they had this zanpakuto put up in my office. I don't really need it and I think that you'd actually match up with it.... at least..." he appraised her. "Considering that you're not adverse to ice..."
"I love the snow." Rukia blinked, startled. "But how is that related...?"
"You'll see." Ichigo replied cryptically. "I can get it sent over by tomorrow. For now, I'm going to try to help you with reiatsu control."
"Didn't you just say when we were evaluating reiatsu amount that your reiatsu alone would burn me to a crisp?"
"I'll work extra hard not to burn you to a crisp." Ichigo promised. "Is that good enough?"
"Um...."
"Anyways, back to Quincy-san!" Ichigo called, turning his attention back to the other apprentice. "Quincy-san here doesn't need reiatsu control practice because he already has it. Or else he'd be a failure as a Quincy. Ne, Quincy-san?"
"Quit it with the 'Quincy-san.' It's getting on my nerves." Ishida's eyes glanced at the Captain haori. "....Kurosaki."
Ichigo's lips twitched with amusement. "O...kay? Anyways, you'll be working with Rukia on reiatsu-control...."
"Didn't you just say that I didn't need reiatsu control practice?" Ishida demanded.
"You're going to learn how to apply more of your reiatsu in your attacks." Ichigo elaborated. "It helps you build structure."
"Er...."
"I'll explain as we go along." Ichigo rolled his eyes. "If you don't like my teaching methods - go complain to Urahara-san."
"Urahara?" Rukia asked, curiosity ignited. "Who's that?"
"An insane candy-shop owner."
"And you would know him how?" Ishida inquired, warily.
"Oh. The insane candy-shop owner used to be my teacher." Ichigo shrugged, absentmindedly. "And.... why are both of you backing away from me now?"
ooxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxxxxxxoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoooxooxoxoxoxoxooxooxooxooxxooooxooxoxoxoxooo
xTEAM TATSUKIx
"There. Exactly. You felt it, didn't you?" Tatsuki asked. "A wave of pure reiatsu?"
"I'm not sure." Sado hesitated. "It felt like an unmovable barrier..."
"That would be the regression. Your more humane side that's battling against your powers," Tatsuki explained. "Focus on the 'unlocking' methods that I just taught you, okay? I'm going to go help Inoue-san."
"Sure." Sado offered.
Tatsuki smiled before turning away, focusing on Inoue - who was watching both of them with intent, gray-dappled eyes, as if to learn everything there was to learn.
"Thanks for waiting, Inoue-san." Tatsuki offered a warm smile.
"I-It wasn't a problem. Don't worry." Orihime smiled back, equally friendly. "So... about the Shun Shun Rikka..."
"Well... your Shun Shun Rikka's strength is based on your will," Tatsuki began. "If your will falters, so will your Shun Shun Rikka. If your will is strong, though, so will your Shun Shun Rikka be. Get it so far?"
"Yeah. I actually noticed this a while back but I never knew why..."
"Technically, it's because your Shun Shun Rikka is created out of your personality. Almost all the Shun Shun Rikka users in history have had a personality similar to yours. Only one of them, Yourinat Mizakan, wasn't. Surprisingly, though, he was the one who advanced the most in his study."
"I get it." The faint crease in the orange-haired girl's brow faded to nothing. "That's amazing!"
"It really is. Your Shun Shun Rikka has three different moves, I believe?"
"Hai."
"Is that all you have?"
"Um.. yes." Orihime turned her head to the side, uncertainly. "Is there more?"
"Well. As far as I know - there's six moves you can use. But, I'm probably off on the number. Anyways - there's definetly more than three."
"Do you know any of them?"
"I remember one of them. I think it was called 'Kuro Hyoumenka: Shiro Akegata (A/N: Black Breaking: White Dawn)."
"Kuro Hyoumenka..... Shiro.... Akegate....?"
"It allows you to completely reject a being from ever returning to life." Tatsuki stated.
"I don't think I really get it..."
"Okay... look. If you reject an inanimate or even a human being through your current techniques, it's obvious that the person or thing will come back. Thus, this technique was created to make sure the person or thing would never come back. It's only to be used in an emergency, though. You have to be careful with using this."
"Oh... That sounds complicated..."
"It is. But it's exceptionally rewarding. This technique can also be used as a shield - like your other defense technique. But... in a way... it's different."
"Different how?" Inoue questioned.
"Yourinat came up with this use to the technique. See... if the attack or something touches the shield, they disappear to nothing. It's effective. According to history, Yourinat got a kick out watching his enemies disappear against his barrier. Very amusing, apparently." Her voice dripped of sarcasm.
"That's cruel.... isn't it?"
"Yourinat wasn't neccessarily a kind person. He was... cold. Emotionless, even. People claim it's because of the enviroment he lived in. But, regardless, kindness became an alien thing to the man. He studied instead." Tatsuki shrugged. "But he was influental."
"That must've been difficult." Inoue murmured, softly. "Living like that." A well of sadness reflected in her eyes.
"It was. But he survived traumatic moments and became a historical figure." Tatsuki smiled absentmindedly. "So... Can we go back to the technique again?"
Inoue smiled back. "Hai!"
oxooxoxoxoxoxoxooxxooxxooxoxxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxoxoxoxxoxooxxoxooxxooxxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
xTEAM ICHIGOx
"...I... don't get it."
"How can you not get it? Are you just dull or something?"
"Don't be cruel, Kurosaki. Not everyone's perfect the first time around."
"Well, yeah! But this isn't the first time! This is the effin' TENTH time she's managed to screw this up!"
"Hey! I'm trying at least!"
"Yeah, well - act like it!" Ichigo retorted.
"Some teacher..." Rukia scoffed.
"I heard that." Ichigo muttered darkly. "Try again."
Rukia stood, not twelve yards away from a willow tree. Ichigo stood to her right as Ishida stood to her left. Both of them looked exasperated... for different reasons.
"Don't get so angry, Kurosaki." Ishida cautioned.
"I'll try." Ichigo murmured. "Again, Rukia!"
"Ugh..." Rukia channeled her reiatsu to her fingers - feeling it contract and writhe with live energy. She quickly calmed it before releasing it...
A burst of blue energy burst from her fingertips.
All looked right. The bolt of energy was about to hit the willow tree....
....Until the bolt of reiatsu disappeared into nothing, leaving Rukia gawking at the ashes, feeling betrayed.
"Oh... for the love of..." Ichigo scowled heavily. "You're not releasing it properly."
"How am I supposed to release it?" Rukia retorted.
Ichigo tapped her left hand. "Lower your hands, okay? Your reiatsu's not thick enough to remain stable in the sky."
"Oh..."
"Try again, Kuchiki-san." Ichigo encouraged.
"I'll try," Rukia muttered before stabilizing reiatsu at her fingers. Hesitantly, she released the bolt of energy.
The new bolt of reiatsu shot for the tree.
In the instant before it hit the rough bark, Rukia felt a glimmer of hope. If this one didn't disapppear, she swore...
Ishida inclined his head, betraying his calm facade.
The bolt of reiatsu crashed into the tree. A singe of smoky ash was left behind.
"You made it." Ichigo muttered.
"That was amazing, Kuchiki-san," Ishida murmured, reassuring her.
"Thanks, Ishida."
"He's right... Ishida, I mean." Ichigo clarified at Rukia's puzzled expression. "That was amazing."
"Thanks." She smiled radiantly before hesitating. "...Um... but, Kurosaki-san?"
"Yeah?"
"The way you implied the words... it almost sounded as if the attack was supposed to destroy the tree. Not put something that looks like a bullet in the tree."
"Depends on the amount of reiatsu you have." Ichigo shrugged.
"Could you try?" Rukia offered. "I mean... if you're a Captain... it would be a shame if you can't even demonstrate properly, right?"
Ichigo smirked - rising to the bait as he lifted a hand absently at the same tree.
"Watch." He muttered at the two of them.
For a moment, nothing happened.
And then... the Kurosaki's lifted hand just began to glow with pure blue energy, before a solid orb of reiatsu formed. Nothing like Rukia's half-formed dagger of reiatsu. This was much more calm and controlled.
A second passed... flickering...
And then the orb of energy rebounded off of the Kurosaki's fingertips, aimed at the tree.
The moment the orb of reiatsu so much as touched the tree, though - the tree exploded into debris, leaving a certain Kurosaki smirked in his own self-satisfied way and Rukia and Ishida gaping at the wreckage.
"See?" Ichigo's tone was pleasantly bored. "Nothing to it."
"...That was on a level of it's own..." Rukia murmured.
"It's possible both of you can achieve that same destruction if you have the right amount of reiatsu." Ichigo shrugged. "This is elementary practice for Kido, the next step."
"Kido?" Rukia repeated.
"I'll explain later." Ichigo pointed out another tree - equal in size to the one he had just blasted off. "Ishida - Your turn now."
The Quincy scoffed. "This should be beyond easy," he muttered before aligning his reiatsu.
"You'd be surprised," Rukia replied.
He should have listened, too.
A bolt of pure reiatsu blasted off of the Quincy's fingertips, but, unlike Ichigo's - his disappeared on instant, leaving a faint blue afterglow but nothing else.
Silence reigned for a few short moments - short, and tense, and awkward.
"See? Even Quincy-san here didn't get it." Ichigo broke the silence - sounding amused. "And what were you saying? 'This should be beyond easy,' huh?"
"Shut up."
"I saw the sky one day. It was bright blue. When I checked later, it was black. Do you know why? It's because nothing is all-good or all-bad. Thus, everything is balanced. You don't believe me? Just look at the sky..."
Wow. I can't believe my editor finished this. Apparently, she was 'drained like hell,' and 'didn't want to talk,' after she was done. -.-
VOTE HERE - PLEASE READ HERE - I HAVE VOTING STUFF TO TAKE CARE OF! PPPAAAAIIIIRRRINNNG VOTES! YES! PAIRINGS! LOOK HERE PLEASE!
Do any of you want IshiHime in this fanfic?
A ~ Yes, definetly! :p
B ~ No. :(
AND - HEY - LOOKIE HERE! ANOTHER VOTE!
Do any of you want TatsRen in this fanfic?
A ~ Yes, Onegai!!! :P
B ~ No.. O.O"
Please review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
