Chapter 8 is here!
-Translations-
Akina (name): Spring Flower
Kiyoshi (name): Quiet
Nami (name): Wave
Baka: Fool
Zanpakuto speaking will be italicized.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Renji asked standing in the middle of the courtyard of the Six Division.
"Of course I'm sure, it was my idea." Akina stated standing across from him.
"I know but I don't want to hurt you." Renji said.
"I'll never get any better if I don't do some real fighting." Akina said with her hands on her hips.
"Captain Kuchiki will kill me if something happens to you." Renji said.
"Are you afraid of a fight, Renji?" Ikkaku asked walking through the Six Divisions gate.
"No!" Renji yelled defensively.
"It sounds like you're too scared to fight a girl. I guess you are a weakling." Ikkaku mocked.
"I am not!" Renji shouted angrily.
"Ikkaku, why don't you fight me instead?" Akina asked, shocking both men.
"Don't do this." Renji pleaded with Akina.
"Why not?" Akina asked and then said, "Unless Ikkaku is afraid to fight a weak, little woman like me."
"Fine, I got nothing better to do. This will be over quick anyway." Ikkaku stated, walking into the fighting area.
"Whenever you're ready." Ikkaku said pulling out his sword.
Akina smoothly slid her delicate looking sword out of its scabbard. Taking a deep breath, she calmed her nerves and cleared her mind.
"Let's show him what we can do, mistress." Nami encouraged in her head.
Smiling Akina nodded to Ikkaku signaling she was ready. Without any hesitation he charged at her, she let her instincts take over and easily stopped his attack. The metal of their blades clanking together with every strike and block.
Akina sidestepped away from one of Ikkaku's heavy blow and counter with a strike of her own but he blocked it with his scabbard.
Akina's movements were quick and graceful with each threating strike.
"Now this is getting fun." Ikkaku said putting his scabbard and sword together transforming it into a staff.
As the time passed by a crowd had gathered around them and watched excitedly as the fight continued to intensify.
Now Akina had blood dripping down her arm from a cut on her shoulder and blood soaking into her pants from a gash on her leg near her hip.
Ikkaku was constantly on the offense while Akina was too busy with her defense to land any effective blows.
She continued analyzed his movements and began to see the pattern in his attacks. He would use high strikes to double its force and then he would use the length of his staff to try and land a hard smack. He would slash out from any angle or would jab with the sharp tip whenever he got the chance. His footing was firm and planted but his air strike left him vulnerable. Ikkaku's weak spot was his defense since he was always using his speed and strength to attack. His movements would leave him little time to block and open to counterattacks.
A hard hit in the stomach, with the butt end of his staff, nocked the air out of her and broke her from her thoughts.
"You're losing your focus. I could have stabbed you just now." Ikkaku scolded.
"You're right. Enough practice and evaluation, I'm ready to end this now." Akina stated, bent over trying to even out her breathing.
"This isn't over yet, I've only got a couple scratches." Ikkaku said. He ran at her and leaped into the air, his staff above his head and ready to crash down on her.
Just as he came above her, she pointed her blade at him yelling, "Now, cry Nami!"
Waves of sound stuck Ikkaku throwing him high into the sky and over the nearby wall, landing in a cloud of dirt.
Cheers rang out all around Akina as the crowd swarmed around her.
"What's going on here?" Byakuya's emotionless voice rang out.
The crowd of squad members rapidly dispersed, leaving Akina and Renji to face the Six Division Captain.
Now able to see Byakuya, Akina gave a light smile and a small wave. She watched as his eyes travel down her beaten body and is face hardened.
Renji quickly said, "Captain, I can explain."
"I'll speak with you later, lieutenant Abarai." Byakuya stated, not taking his eyes off Akina.
"Yes captain." Renji said with a nod.
"Akina, my office now!" Byakuya ordered before turning and heading into the barracks.
With her head down in shame, Akina slowly and painfully followed Byakuya.
"Akina!" Byakuya said sternly as he walked into his office.
Sliding the door shut behind her she said, "Yes my love?"
"Why did you fight with third seat Madarame?" He calmly asked, leaning back against the desk and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Well, Renji wouldn't fight me because he said you would kill him." She explained.
"I still might kill him." He mumbled.
"Don't worry. I'm not badly injured and I won." She said trying to defuse the situation.
"Come over here." Byakuya ordered firmly.
She limped over to him, holding the wound on her hip and her keeping her jaw clenched, tightly shut as she mustered through the pain.
"See I'm fine." She said, with a weak smile as she came to stand in front of him.
"Yes, I see that." He said with sarcasm.
"Nothing a trip to the fourth squad can't fix." She said.
"Akina! You have a deep cut in your right shoulder, a long gash across your left hip and probably large bruise forming on your stomach. Not to mention the countless scrapes and scratches allover." He said angrily.
She closed her eyes and hung her head as tears threatened to fall.
"Why did you put yourself through this? What did you need to prove?" he asked a little calmer.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she whispered, "I need to be strong for… for you and Kiyoshi."
"But you are strong." He said soothingly wrapping her into in a loving embrace.
"N-no I'm n-not. I just b-barely b-beat that Hollow in the woods." She sobbed.
"It was never up to you to be the one to fight with it but you did and you killed it." Byakuya said.
"If I'm weak I can't protect Kiyoshi." She mumbled in his chest.
"Who said you have to do it alone?" He asked pulling her head back and kissing her.
Breaking the kiss he said, "I love you and I can take care of both of you."
"But-" she began but was stopped by his finger over her lips.
"Akina, do you love me?" Byakuya asked and quickly received an exaggerated nod.
"Then let me take care of everything else." He said, gently pressing his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.
As moonlight reflected off the water of the endless koi pond, Nami stood in the knee deep water and studied her reflection.
She looked at the woman before her and noticed how her blood red lips contrasted against her pale skin. Straight, shiny black hair falling midway down her back and her long bangs hung down just low enough to hide her eyes. Most of all she saw what she always saw, herself.
Frustrated she hit at the water with her hand, distorting the image with ripples moving through it.
"Why destroy such a lovely picture." A male voice asked.
Nami looked up to see Senbonzakura walking through the water, over to her.
"What's wrong with me?" She asked quietly with her head falling down.
"Nothing is wrong with you. Why would ask such a question." He said coming closer to her.
"There must be something wrong with me..." She whispered.
"Why?" He asked lifting her chin up and brushing her bang away from her teal eyes.
"Because you've never kissed me." She said a single tear running down her cheek.
Whipping away her tear with his thumb he said, "Oh, my sweet Nami."
He picked her up bridle style and carried over to the island. He set her down on the grass and sat next to her, leaning his back against the tree.
"I haven't kissed you yet because I couldn't let you see my face." He said with a sigh as he removed his mask and reviled a face much like his masters. She saw how his soft brown hair was a complete opposite to his hard jaw firm chin. She felt as if she could stare into his deep blue eyes forever. Then she noticed a long jagged scar running across the left side of his cheek, over his lips and down to his chin.
"I didn't want you to be repulsed by this." He said, his blue eyes lowering sadly.
"You Baka, I think it adds to your handsomeness." Nami said sweetly as she placed her hands on either sides of his face.
He looked at her surprised as she leaned in and placed soft kisses down his cheek following his scar. She stopped when she came to his lips unsure if she should continue. Senbonzakura quickly closed the gap between them, molding their lips and bodies together.
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