Celestial Maiden Rising

In Seireitei… At the Gates…

"Michiko-san, we're glad you've come back safely" Ikkaku said as he saw her stepping out of the portal. Yumichika was also there as well as Ukitake Taichou. What surprised Michiko was that her son Shiro was also present, who rushed to her arms as soon as he saw her.

"Okasan… has otōsan left?" Shiro asked his mother.

"Yes, Aka-chan. He's there already. He sends you his love and wants you to stay here with me and be safe." Michiko replied as she hugged her son.

Ukitake smiled at them and as Ikkaku, Yumichika and Shiro walked ahead, Michiko looked at him and asked,

"Is something the matter, Ukitake Taichou?"

"Iie, it's just that things are happening so fast, that's all. I know that the three of you can handle your division well. We are also training our men, preparing them for this battle with Aizen." Ukitake replied

"You're right Taichou, this battle is so sudden. But rest assured the Taichous would finish this before long" Michiko assured him.

Ukitake looked at the young shinigami and smiled. He was happy for both Byakuya and Michiko; and felt that they were meant for each other, a perfect union. He was glad that his former apprentice finally found his other half after a long time of grieving for his lost love. The only time he saw Byakuya happy was with his late wife Hisana and it devastated the young noble when she died. Now that Byakuya was given a second chance in love, Ukitake knew that he would not let anything or anyone harm his wife and his adopted son.

As they were silently walking towards their respective divisions, Michiko's zanpakutou suddenly spoke through her thoughts.

"Milady, it seems that your reiatsu is exceptionally quite high… is everything alright?" Ryū Hoshi asked

"I'm alright Ryū Hoshi, nothing's amiss. Though you know that I'm thinking about my husband" she replied

"Then there's nothing to be anxious about, milady, Kuchiki Taichou is one of the strongest captains. Would you like to train later on? It's been awhile since the last… " He asked, his tone teasing.

It was then that it dawned to her on the possibility that her zanpakutou is implying something about her possibility in achieving Bankai, since it was her zanpakutou who also mentioned that her reiatsu level is getting higher. A small smile formed on her features, which Ukitake noticed as they were silently walking.

"Michiko-sama, are you alright?" Ukitake asked this time, looking at the lovely noble shinigami.

"Hai, I am alright Taichou. We're here in our division, thank you for taking Shiro to the Gates to see me.

"Ne Michiko-sama, it's alright. Your son has a very promising future as a shinigami. That is, if you and Byakuya-sama would permit him to be. I will not be surprised if one day he would be one to replace me, Kyouraku-san or his father for that matter" he chuckled.

"Of course he would be a shinigami just like his parents and forefathers before him, he wanted to be under your tutelage since he knew that Byakuya-sama was under you before he went to the 6th Division" Michiko replied, smiling at the gentle captain.

"Ah… he admires his father, that is not surprising, knowing Byakuya-sama… though that former apprentice of mine can be stubborn when he wants to, am I correct?" he said, his smile warming his usual pale features.

"Hai, Taichou, I certainly agree to that" Michiko said and both burst into laughter.

Later at the 11th Division training grounds, Michiko, Yumichika and Ikkaku were preparing to leave after training their respective squad members. Ikkaku and Yumichika agreed they would visit their friends at the 10th Division while Michiko decided she would head straight to the manor. The two bade her goodbye and left ahead of her, as she was about to leave, her zanpakutou spoke to her.

"Are we forgetting something milady?" Ryū Hoshi asked.

"Ara… I almost forgot!" Michiko exclaimed "Alright, let's start, are you ready then?"

"I most certainly am milady… let's do this" Ryū Hoshi replied

Michiko walked to the center of the training ground and closed her eyes. As she opened them she is no longer at the training field but in another world, Ryū Hoshi's dimension – his realm. It has been awhile since she last entered his dimension and as she took a step a smile curved on her lips as she remembered the first time her zanpakutou revealed itself to her. The dark surroundings was lighted up little by little by tiny bright stars, and as she stepped forward, she saw him, hidden among the clusters of stars in the heavens, gazing down at her. She unsheathed her zanpakutou and the two began. Ryū Hoshi began to multiply itself, and said to his wielder,

"These replicas of myself will fight you with no mercy Michiko-sama. For you to achieve Bankai you have to find me and defeat me. As always I never go easy on you milady, even though you are carrying your babe I would strike, you know that…."

Upon hearing her zanpakutou, Michiko braced herself to attack the first approaching celestial dragon, her reiatsu flared and her achieving of Bankai began.

Minutes turned into hours and she lost track of time, being in Ryū Hoshi's dimension. She lost count of the dragons she defeated and she was starting to get tired. Ryū Hoshi chided her saying,

"Are we going to continue this till the morrow milady?

"Iie… I will only stop when I'm finished and you know that Ryū!" She snapped.

"Are you ready to give up?" Ryū Hoshi teased her as he teasingly slapped her behind with his tail.

"Urusai you wily dragon! I am not done with you yet!" she said as she wiped her brow.

"Ahh… now that's the Michiko I know… Finish this we will milady" her zanpakutou replied as he saw his wielder position herself for another attack.

Outside the training grounds, Ukitake was on his way home when he felt Michiko's heightened reiatsu. She will achieve it … he thought to himself as he saw Shiro, his nanny Aiko and one of the security aides from the House of Kuchiki approaching.

Ukitake smiled at the approaching party and greeted the young noble, "Greetings Shiro-chan, are you looking for your mother?"

Shiro, Aiko and the security aide politely bowed in greeting and as Shiro stepped forward, the two remained in their places.

"Ohaiyo gozaimas Ukitake Taichou. Yes, I am looking for my okasan. She did not go home last night and I am worried" Shiro politely replied.

Gently Ukitake lead the young noble and spoke to him privately. "Your okasan is at the training grounds with her zanpakutou, can you feel her reiatsu?"

Shiro became silent, following Ukitake's advice, he sensed his surroundings and after a few seconds he looked up and said " H-hai Ukitake Taichou, is my mother achieving Bankai?" He asked, his eyes full of wonder

"Yes Shiro-chan, you are absolutely right. Once you get to see your mother tell her to rest for I am certain that she would be very tired. She is getting stronger like your father and in time she will also be one of us..." Ukitake replied, his features smiling at the thought of Michiko becoming a division captain in the future.

The young noble was in awe at the thought of having both his father and mother lead their respective divisions. With wonder etched on his face, Shiro asked the kind captain, "Taichou, do you think I could also be a good shinigami when the time comes for me to train? Just like otōsan and okasan?"

"Of course! I am very certain that you will be as good as your parents Shiro-chan! And which Division would you like to join when you graduate from the Academy, may I ask?" Ukitake replied

"I have three choices actually… the 6th, 11th and your division Taichou." Shiro shyly answered.

Ukitake fondly ruffled the young noble's hair as he felt Michiko's reiatsu approaching. Shiro felt it too and turned to the direction to see his mother, her face flushed and a tear on one of the sleeves of her kimono approaching them slowly.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Shiro excitedly rushed and hugged his mother. Michiko smiled feebly at her son and collapsed.

At the 4th Division infirmary…

"Yaruchika-san, is Michiko-sama going to be alright?" Ukitake asked the 4th Division's 3rd seat officer as he went out of the examination room.

"Yes she will be alright; she was exhausted after all the activity she went through. A whole day's rest is all she needs and she can go back to duty." Yaruchika Iemuro smiled behind his thick glasses.

Shiro was with his mother in the room and her son was sitting beside her as she was propped with a number of soft pillows. She smiled gently on her son who had a worried look on his face.

"Ne, no need for you to worry little one, I am fine. Thank you for taking care of me Aka-chan" Michiko said to her son as she gently hugged him

"I am happy that you are well now mommy. Mommy, I have something to ask…" Shiro said

"Ask away Aka-chan…" Michiko teasingly said

"Mommy… Were you able to… achieve Bankai?" Her son suddenly whispered

Though surprised at his question, Michiko tenderly smiled at her son and it was then that Ukitake entered the room.

"Michiko-sama, it's good to know that you are awake… how do you feel?" Ukitake asked.

"I feel better Taichou, thank you so much" she replied.

"You had us worried back there Michiko-sama. Had Byakuya-sama been here surely he would be worried sick" He said

"I guess I overdid the training" Michiko reflected, then looking at, Ukitake she asked

"Ukitake Taichou, any news from Urahara-san?"

"We have not received any reports yet Michiko-sama. Do not worry, as soon as we get word I will let you know. But first you must rest and you still have a division to train along with Ikkaku and Yumichika" he replied and as if on cue, both Ikkaku and Yumichika entered the room.

"Michiko-san! Still ravishing as ever even if you are in the infirmary… kawai, kawai…" Yumichika greeted a bouquet of flowers in his arms.

"Ho, Michiko-san… you rest and we need you at the barracks as soon as you are alright. We miss you already" Ikkaku teasingly said as Ukitake chuckled at his remark.

Ukitake left the three division officers and after he left they discussed on the training that needs to be done for their division's new recruits as well as their other comrades. After their discussion Ikkaku and Yumichika left, leaving Michiko with her son Shiro.

"Aka-chan, Aiko-san and Hiruki-san will take you home as I need to stay here for awhile. Please do not worry, I will be fine. Tomorrow morning I'll be coming home, okay?" Michiko told her son

"Okay mommy, please rest. I'll see you tomorrow and tell me what happened with your zanpakutou" he replied

"I promise Aka-chan. Take care, I love you little one" she said

Later that night, Michiko was sitting on her bed; sleep was eluding her since she slept most of the day after her son left. She gazed at her zanpakutou which was resting on the side table. It gleamed in the darkness as it acknowledged her. A small smile appeared on her features as she reminisced the event that took place earlier…

Ryū Hoshi was attacking her relentlessly. Not only twice did she almost end up being cut into shreds as he emitted an icicle-like substance that was composed of tiny star shaped blades that would embed one's flesh as it hits its opponent. That was a close one, she mused to herself as she dodged his attack.

As she stood before him, exhausted and almost breathless, she heard a tiny voice on her head,

"Okasan you can do it… its time" the voice said

She knew that it was her unborn child's reiatsu who was encouraging her, a smile formed on her lips as she gripped her katana and assaulted her zanpakutou. As Ryū Hoshi rose to space so did she, gathering all her reiatsu she leaped towards his direction and used senka, her husband's favorite fighting technique and this time she was victorious.

As the defeated dragon star was starting to fade she heard him say,"Wakiagaru, Amatsoutome (Arise, Celestial Maiden)… you have achieved your Bankai!"

As the spirit of Ryū Hoshi returned to her zanpaktutou, it was then that Michiko realized the changes around her. For one, her blade changed its color. The blade's color from its shikai form of silvery blue turned to glistening crystal silver, while its guard retained its six-pointed star and on its hilt were three thin silver ribbons in various lengths and star shaped blades were connected to each end. She also noticed that her hands were enclosed with a silvery white hand guard with a small imprint of a star at the middle. What she did not notice was that her midnight blue hair which was usually fashioned into a ponytail was now lose, and on her head was a glistening headpiece that reached her forehead, on the center was a star shaped crystal.

Michiko gently touched her belly and thought, "Arigato aka-chan for bearing with me as I achieved Bankai." And with a smile on her lips, she slept.

At a remote area in Inuzuri, a portal opened. Plateado Arturo stepped out and inhaled deeply, now I can resume my plan… he thought.

oOo oOo oOo

author's note: gomenasai for the long delay, i got stuck in editing and re-writing this since i wanted it to be in full detail in michiko's achieving her bankai...

thank you so much for reading and taking time to comment. : ) ja ne