Chapter 17: Catch a Star
Chapter 17: Catch a Star
Karin breathed in the cold harsh air of winter, thin and crisp, ripping at her lips and dry throat. It also didn't help that blood dripping from her black and blue, some what crooked, nose was dripping dark red liquid into her mouth leaving her to taste her own being. It was miserable, for the rest of her physical body felt beaten and torn and it had felt like this for what seemed an eternity. So she sat against a tree for a moment for a bit of well deserved rest.
Meiyotou had been beating her senseless with the Itaikawa technique he was on the rave about. He had taken her on with out even a scratch for little more then an hour and that's where most of her damage came from. That was, until she final was able to hit him with his own medicine. The Kurosaki's were fast learners and now as her teacher sat across from her whipping blood off his lips, the damage was now equal.
The older man inhaled some snot from his nose, expelling it in a spit. The bloody ooze flew across the white flake covered ground and landed in the distance. "You Kurosaki's…" He started. "Learn too damn fast." He ended with a chuckle.
Karin gave him a wild smirk. "Yeah it's a curse really."
That made them both chuckle.
Karin's smile shortly faded though. "I know this is random but other then being pissed at Soul Society for kickin' Hat 'n Clogs out, which can't just be the only reason, why did you leave?"
Meiyotou paused for a moment and became serious. "I, um… was in love with a women I couldn't be with."
Karin narrowed her eyes. "Well that sucks, I know I'm not one for sympathy but I was just wonderin'." She then gave him the best smile she could muster.
"Her name was Hisana." He started… "Hisana Kuchiki, Captain Kuchiki's wife," Karin's eyes were wide by now. "No it's not what you think, I'm not a man toy and I wouldn't fool around with a woman who was betrothed. I knew her when she lived in the Rukongai. She was my best friend and it led me to falling in love with her, just one of those plane old simple stories. I never got around to telling her though so she went and ended up with Kuchiki." He ended with that.
Karin blinked a moment. "But that can't just be the complete reason."
"Nah, it's not. I joined the Academy in order to become a Shinigami and win her love the Honorable way. I was going to Kill Captain Kuchiki in an Honor Bound Match and hopefully win the heart of Hisana." Meiyotou explained.
"Didn't work out so hot I take it?" Karin commented
Meiyotou shook his head with a chuckle. "No, not at all, by the time I was able to even think about standing up to that man's Bankai Hisana had died. I just couldn't take my failure, so I left."
Karin stared at him and mustered out the only words she could think of. "I'm sorry."
Meiyotou smiled lightly and stood. "I suggest you set up your tent and get some rest. We'll be using our Zanpakuto tomorrow. Nice work today by the way." He started off toward his tent which was already erected.
"Thanks." She was able to shout out before he was out of ear shot. She sat there for a while pondering the man who was teaching her how to be a better warrior, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
Two magnificent blades locked, both sealed but that didn't stop them from being just as destructive. Sparks flew and dirt was kicked up. Carters where formed due to the sheer power of a swing connecting with a blocking blade, leaving the defender shorter then they where a minute ago. This was a serious battle, killing intent was off the scale and these two warriors would not give ground, both giving it their all.
Sweat dropped from Karin's head as she thrust at her opponent only for her attack to be parried. He Shunpoed to get behind her but she saw him and quickly blocked. It had gone on for nearly half the day like this. Hack, slash, and flash step. They went through every fighting Technique known in the Shinigami art of Zanjutsu and Karin had covered most of this with Urahara.
Karin had gained the upper hand later on in the match, Meiyotou being the more experienced one, so after being beaten down by Karin's aggressive nature, meaning she forced his sword to the ground with her own and broke his nose with her fist, he decided to move on to the next step.
He stumbled back and put his crooked nose back together with a chuckle. "Alright she devil. I'm going to release my Zanpakuto." Meiyotou watch Karin make ready to release her own and held up his hand to stop her. "You, how ever, will not. In order for you to gain the power you need, your going to have to beat my Shikai with a sealed Zanpakuto."
Karin looked rather flustered. "That's suicide!" She retorted.
Meiyotou shook his head. "Now, now… No complaining." He brought up his sword to his face (much like Byakuya dose) and smiled lightly, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "Hunt, Jinsokutaka."
The rather regular looking Katana suddenly erupted into a blindingly pure white light. Wind shot at Karin from the same direction as Meiyotou, causing her hair to wave. She brought up her free hand in order to save her eyes the agony of looking at the light and before to long all was still and calm again.
His sword was indeed different. The blade had widened by at least an inch, but shrunk to under three feet in height. The point of the blade was now greatly exaggerated and the cross guard was a golden falcon with its wings swept down. The hilt was now only a mahogany handle.
"Come and get me Kurosaki… if you can." Meiyotou egged on.
Karin took the bate and charged, letting her spirit force flow in complete concentration and sharpening it to its fullest extent on her blade. As she neared Meiyotou, he brought the blade down to his side and focused his own riatsu for a countering attack. "Kaze Tsume," The man breathed effortlessly from his mouth, like he had done it a million times before, swinging his blade in an arch and sending a stream of concentrated wind at his opponent. Karin was able to see it coming and bit her blade into it, sparks flying. So this is his power, controlling the wind and air pressure.
She pushed forward, her blade starting to crack under the pressure but in the end she was able to cut the attack in half and disperse it. The spitfire girl sped forward once again towards Meiyotou, her blade about to strike down on him but it stopped a few inches from his skin. Karin blinked and her teacher smiled understandingly and in that second he was gone, stabbing his blade into Karin's side as he shunpoed along her. She was unable to see him, he was just too fast.
She wavered as she tried to step forward and found it the most difficult thing she had ever done. Her pain was immense and it wasn't going to let up any time soon. She dug her sword into the ground for support and faced her master. "So… you expect me to beat you with that much power difference?" She said in between large breaths.
He simply nodded in reply.
Karin sighed at the thought and rolled her eyes. "This is going to take longer then I thought."
A Graceful falcon flew through the snow caped mountains and dived into the woods. It was on the hunt, except something was different about this falcon. This falcon was transparent, almost invisible, outlined only by the snow the gust of winds along its edges would pick up as well as being a much grater size then any normal falcon. As for what it was hunting that would be the one and only Karin Kurosaki.
Karin ran as fast as she could, a sealed Zanhoshiko in her hands. It seemed useless to even try and fight Meiyotou after he brought out his Shikai's true form. It was useless only because she couldn't bring out her own. She knew if she was able to release her sword she could beat him but for the sake of gaining strength she agreed to hold back her power.
The falcon made of wind and high pressured air dug it's talons into the ground, picking up dirt as it neared the fleeing Kurosaki. If there was ever time to stop her retreat and attack the monstrosity, it was now. Only one thought stopped her and that was the wisdom that her attacks would do nothing to the monstrous falcon. The last time she tried the falcon pressed forward in much the same way and she found a weakness. So she knelt and swung at its talons hoping to sever them but nothing hit her blade. The wind just dispersed leaving her with the fact that her blade would do nothing in its current state. And so she ran, the falcon gaining ground every second.
She was tiered, felt defeated and she was bleeding from several spots on her body. With this in mind she stopped and knelt, breathing hard. Her hand trembled and she saw black spots in her vision from loss of blood and riatsu. She then stood up slowly, whipping blood and sweat from her forehead.
Time seemed to stop as she watched the wind based falcon speed toward her. It halted it's pursuit a few feet from her and the rest of the world slowed down.
From the shadows Zanhoshiko stepped out with a smile, walking up to Karin and giving her a motherly hug. "I know," She started. "Its tuff, child but brute strength won't win this one. You need to be fast and unforgiving like the goddess that you are. Live for my name. Be tactical and cut him down. That is as long as you want to win."
Karin stared up into Zanhoshiko's green eyes. "I do want to win, I need more power. I need to protect Toushiro and Ichi."
Zanhoshiko smiled. "Then don't give up, be relentless yet smart, for he is just as worn down. Use all of the power you have left and let him feel my blade."
Karin received a kiss on the forehead from her Zanpakuto's spirit before the red head vanished and time sped up.
She quickly dodged the falcon, crouching down and putting her free hand to the ground and closing her eyes. Her sense tingled as all the life around her gave her a picture of her location. She search and found Meiyotou hovering in the air controlling his attack. She stood up and gathered her remaining strength and shunpoed to meet her master in the air.
Her attacks were heavy and fast. Meiyotou had barely any time to block or put up his wind shield. Her riatsu flowed like a flooding river as she pressed forward and the minute Meiyotou felt the most powerful surge of spirit power he knew the fight was over. She swung down catching his shoulder and brought her hand to his neck, squeezing to the point of almost crushing it. He grabbed her arm, dropping his sword in the process, trying to stop her and it wasn't until then that he noticed her eyes where glowing red. "K-Karin," He chocked out, "Stop!"
She wouldn't though, instead she raised him up and threw him down to the ground with the force of a meteor crashing into the earth and everything Meiyotou knew of the conscious world was gone for the time being.
Karin wasn't fairing to well her self. Her riatsu was spent and her sword cracked. Her eyes flickered back to their original color and her eyes fluttered before she too dropped Zanhoshiko and flew to the ground in blackness.
They fought for days like that. It was a brutal ugly mess but soon Karin became more powerful. It became much easier for her to beat Meiyotou no matter what trick he might throw at her.
And in their spare time they became close, sharing stories of their life and family. Meiyotou gave a more detailed account on his desire for Rukia's sister. At one point Karin asked if Rukia knew. He shook his head and sighed, saying that Hisana died before Byakuya found her.
Karin felt for the man and that only strengthened the bond between them.
Later in the week the both of them stood in the air, breathing heavily, sweat dropping and blood dripping. They had been at their age old battle for a few hours when Meiyotou suddenly stopped his attacks.
"I think you're ready for the final step." Meiyotou was able to let out in between heavy breaths.
Karin let her guard down for a moment as she brought her hands to her knees. "You mean your Bankai?"
Meiyotou nodded. "Yes, you are allowed to bring out you Shikai now."
Karin nodded and readied her self releasing her Zanpakuto without a word, the blade erupting in flames and her riatsu increasing.
"You can call upon your sword without saying its name. I thought Kisuke mentioned something about a Bankai." Meiyotou said with a smirk. "Now it's my turn, Bankai." He brought his free hand to the point of his blade and pushed down until the blade disappeared. He then brought the hilt to his side like he was about to draw a sword, which he did. This time a long broad sword, double edged and strait. The hilt was griped metal and the cross guard was a well decorated steel bar. He put both hands on the grip and tightened his hold on it. "Hantokingu Jinsokutaka."
Karin cracked her neck a smiled. "I'm ready when you are."
And so it began.
Karin walked along side Meiyotou down the path to Urahara's shop. The two of them remained in a comfortable silence, not seeming happy or sad, just in the middle, their expression hard to read.
She looked up at Meiyotou and tried to smile. "I'm… I."
He simply shook his head and smiled down at her. "Don't worry about it; you don't have it completely under control yet. Just give it some time and you'll get it." If one looked the pair over they might have noticed that Meiyotou was covered in bandages from ankle to neck. "Just, if you ever get in a bind, make that the last resort."
Karin simply nodded at the advice. "Got ya." She paused to think. "Still…"
He chuckled putting an arm around her. "Don't worry about it, please. I shouldn't have pushed you into that corner." He gave her a hug and she giggled, patting him on the stomach.
"Thanks for everythin' Meiyotou." Karin said sincerely as they stepped onto Urahara's porch.
The older man simply ruffled her hair, "Anything for my best friend's daughter."
At that moment a bruised up Isshin stepped out into the semi warm weather of a Karakura winter, sliding to his knees and hugging Karin. "My Beautiful Shinigami daughter has returned to me," he cried, "I sure hope you don't love dear Meiyotou more then your dear old dad!."
Karin blinked at her father and socked him one for old time's sake, "Yeah, nice to see you dad." She said as she entered the shop, on a quest for her love.
Isshin stood up rubbing his cheek. "She gets that right hook from her mother."
Meiyotou chuckled. "Oh believe me, I can tell." He paused for a moment. "I need to talk to you about Karin, Isshin. It's very serious."
Isshin suddenly dropped his goofy father face. "Then she is who Urahara thought she was."
Meiyotou nodded. "It appears that way. We should find him and have a more… private discussion."
Isshin nodded, "Agreed."
Karin was not able to find Toushiro in the shop so she used the sent of his riatsu to track down his where abouts. He was not too terribly far away but still it was a few flash steps to the west of Urahara's.
She found him in a grassy field overlooking the town. He looked peaceful, standing and watching the sun set, one of his favorite things to do and she would sometimes join him if they had patrol together.
She had masked her riatsu so she could surprise him but when he turned around and grabbed her waist right before she was going to tap him on the shoulder, she new that it was a waist of effort. Damn Captain's and their little tricks.
Toushiro had her on her back in a matter of seconds, looking over her face with a smirk, "Got ya Kurosaki."
"Beginner's luck," Karin protested, the warmth of his breath on her face making her heart flutter. Wanting, needing.
"Oh really," he retorted.
"Just kiss me already you bastard," She punched him lightly after saying this.
He gladly accepted the order, mashing her lips with his. They fought for dominance, a fight for who missed who the most. In the end Karin seemed to win, pushing Toushiro over and straddling him, all the while not removing her lips from his.
Things might have progressed a bit further if it wasn't for a familiar voice calling to Toushiro, "Tenth Division Captain Toushiro Hitsugaya!"
The two quickly separated from each other only to come face to face with their worse nightmare, Head Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and the rest of the Captaincy of the Gotei 13 standing in front of them, the gate closing and vanishing behind the mass of white haori. "What is the meaning of this…?" The old man questioned.
Toushiro was always the kind of man to answer on time and when he was asked a question, but right now he was tongue tied. The only word he could muster was, "Fuck."
A/N: That was a good ending for a chapter I think. I didn't want to spend to long on training. Giving away the secrets of someone's power is for the real battles right? So I bet you're wondering what Isshin and Meiyotou are talking about. And what will happen to Toushiro and Karin now that Yama-ji knows what is going on between them. Stick around and you'll find out. As always thanks for the reviews and until next time r and r.