Chapter Three – Sōō Zabimaru.
By morning the next day almost everyone in Seireitei had heard about the fight between Renji's seven year old daughter and the 20th seat of squad eight, of course, some of the rumors were highly exaggerated and ridiculous; some had claimed she stole Renji's bankai, some said she used a kido spell to steal the 20th seat power and them humiliated him, others claimed she killed him on the spot; let it be known that the poor 20th seat wasn't dead…. Just severely injured with a few broken bones and missing teeth.
Today was Renji's fight with Ichigo and as usual there was a crowd, most had come to prove that Renji had gotten weaker during his stay in the living world, Matsumoto had even set up a betting poll and the only people who bet on Renji was his daughter and some anonymous person (I'm sure you know who).
"Oi Renji, hope you won't run away today." Renji gave him a cocky smile.
"Prepare to have your ass handed to ya Ku~ro~sa~ki-tai~chou." The redhead drawled in a sing-song voice, he had spent way too much time with Urahara. Ichigo smirked in response.
"Roar Zabimaru." Zabimaru transformed into his shikai the extended blades heading for Ichigo, Ichigo blocked the attack with his sword, Renji tugged on his sword returning all segments, Ichigo attacked before all six segments returned, to his surprise Renji had anticipated the swing and blocked it with Zabimaru. The two fought evenly matched both blocking each other strikes, neither giving the other the upper hand, neither willing to lose.
"Bankai Tensa Zangetsu."
"Bankai Hihiō Zabimaru."
The reiatsu from both men were overwhelming, the officers of lower ranks were barely able to stand. From afar Byakuya watched the two men, he knew what Ichigo was capable of and if Renji's bankai was still the same as it was seven years ago then the Redhead was going to lose this fight. Next to Byakuya stood several Captains; Kyōraku, Ukitake and Toshirou.
Renji's skeletal snake curled around him, the difference in the two were obvious, Ichigo was going to win the fight, Kyōraku looked at Miki and to his surprise she wasn't worried, there was a soft smile on her face, Byakuya as well as the other captains noticed this. The two fought to a standstill, Renji attempting to crush Ichigo with the enormous snake, Ichigo dodging each attempt at a speed barely visible to most soul reapers, Ichigo's attacks were blocked by the skelental snake curled around the red-head in defense.
"Renji, you got weaker heh?" Renji smirked in response
"Getsuga Tenshō."
"Hikotsu Taihō"
They all watched as both fighters used their strongest attack, the spiritual pressure from the attacks destroying the most training ground. When the debris and dust cleared Zabimaru's skeletal form laid broken in pieces around him. Ichigo was breathing heavily.
"I won." Renji stood up shakily and laughed. The crowd looked at the Redhead as though he had lost his mind, what surprised the captains was that Miki was laughing. "Oi, what's so funny."
"Ya think that was the best I had? You haven't even put on your hollow mask, there's no way that's enough to defeat me."
Byakuya watched Renji curiously, although Zabimaru seemed to be damaged, he didn't look the least bit bothered, even Miki wasn't bothered by it. Byakuya was sure Renji had something up his sleeves although he doubted whatever he had would work against Ichigo.
"Ban...Kai Sōō Zabimaru."
Everyone's eyes widened, Miki broke into a crazy laughing fit, which drew Kyōraku attention from the redhead covered in a fog of light red reiatsu to the laughing child. When the reiatsu around Renji increased to the point where he could feel the pressure all the way to where he and the other captains were he knew something was definitely wrong.
The fog around Renji cleared and they saw Renji's new bankai. Ichigo looked at Renji in disbelief, he had never seen that form before and the reiastu around Renji reminded him of his first battle with Kenpachi, he felt overwhelmed.
"Oi, Renji, What is that?"
"My Bankai, ya scared already?"
"You have two bankai?"
"Nah, this is Zabimaru's real form."
Renji stood in front of Ichigo, on his right wrist, he had a gauntlet resembling the top portion of a snake's skull, with a cowl of red fur surrounding its base. A long, bony tail composed of vertebra-like structures protrudes from the back of the skull, and trails behind him. At will, Renji can extend a large blade from the snake's mouth. Renji also has a large cowl of light fur that hangs down from his left shoulder. Additionally, he gains a pair of pauldrons that form an armored collar, as well as other vertebral cords that hang down from his waist.
Loud gasps and murmurs were heard, everyone was surprised at Renji's bankai, they had never seen it before and it was unheard of for one to have two bankai, when Renji said it was Zabimaru's true form they were stunned, most of them only knew Renji's bankai to be the skeletal snake. A feral smile was on Miki's face, her eyes were glistening with passion and excitement, she loved seeing her dad's true Bankai, no matter how many times she saw it she was still intrigued.
Next to Yumichika, Ikkaku and Rukia, Kenpachi had a wild predatory smile, he had found a new sparring partner, and he was definitely interested in fighting Renji now. Ikkaku looked at Renji in disbelief, he could feel the reiatsu from Renji, he broke in to a crazy laugh, he was looking forward to a spar with Renji. Rukia on the other hand gaped openly, wondering how much her friend had changed in the past few years.
The other captains however, looked at the Redhead cautiously; his reiatsu had increased drastically becoming even higher than Ichigo's. Byakuya looked at Renji wondering what he had done the last seven years to have grown this much.
The battle resumed and everyone was surprised when Renji uses his new ability and extra long left arm, Hihiou, allowing him to use the bone fingers to capture Ichigo in it, trapped in the extended arm Ichigo's torso was squeezed until a snapping sound is heard, Ichigo let out a pained cry, The orange haired captain is then thrown on the ground with a force that made their audience wince.
Kenpachi laughed maniacally, at Renji's new ability, he was definitely enjoying the fight and was tempted to join them.
Ichigo stood up shakily, he coughed up some blood, before he could react a large bade extended from the snakes mouth, only grazing his shoulder on purpose
"Oi, come on, I know you are stronger than this, show me your hollow mask." Ichigo refused, he stands up, ready to attack but Renji is faster. Renji then calls for his Serpent King, Orochi Oi, to which he goes towards Ichigo and impaled him right in the shoulder! Ichigo didn't even see this coming.
Hitsugaya attempts to intervene as the fight is getting out of control, Kyōraku stops him.
"Relax, Renji won't do anything drastic."
Ichigo's eyes widens in disbelief, nevertheless he stands up shakily, uses his other hand to put on his hollow mask, his eyes serious and deadly.
The two fight evenly, neither giving each other the upper hand, Ichigo slashes Renji's shoulder in retaliation for the injury the redhead dealt him, he also managed to deal several gashes on Renji's chest. The fight goes on for hours, both are heavily injured and exhausted but neither is willing to lose, the other captains watched the two in disbelief.
With the last of their strength the two put everything they have into their final attack.
"Getsuga Tenshō." With his hollow mask on the attack was even stronger than before, hitting Renji directly.
"Zaga Teppō." Renji clenches his fist, forming a jaw of spiritual energy behind him. These jaws close down on Ichigo, forming the visage of a large, serpentine skull, crushing him with its fangs. Simultaneously, Renji fires a blast of spiritual energy through Ichigo.
The crowd watch in disbelief at the pressure of their attacks, when the dust clears up both men are seen lying on the floor barely moving, covered in blood, cuts and burns.
"The fight is finally over." Ukitake said aloud, the other captains nod in reply.
Miki runs towards her father, so does Hanataro as well as other squad 4 officers.
"Oi, Renji, what have you been up to, you got stronger."
"Urahara and Yoruichi put me through hell for seven years." They both laughed.
"We should spar again, shit maybe after I can feel my body." Renji laughed in response.
"True, ya hollow got stronger damn I'm gonna bed in bed for days."
Yoruichi had heard about Ichigo and Renji's fight and had come to scold Renji for not telling her about it, During the past seven years the two had gotten close to the point where most people thought they were either married or happily divorced (There was actually a story behind that thought), and no matter how much Renji denied and told them he wasn't that crazy they didn't believe him. Ichigo had come to visit Renji when he saw a crowd behind the door, of course since he was a captain, the crowd cleared up and he saw what they were all watching… Yoruichi seating on Renji scolding (Whining actually) him for not telling her about their spar, the two were so engrossed in their arguments that neither realized they were drawing too much attention, Even Byakuya and Rukia were watching them.
"You didn't tell me you and Ichigo had a fight."
"There's no way I'm making that mistake again, I still remember what happened last time, now half the people I work with thinks I'm some sort of stripper."
"Hey, I made good money off your 'performance', I didn't tell you to take off your clothes you know."
"I did NOT take of my clothes, I only took of my shirt… Oi don't look at me like that, there was no ulterior motives behind that, besides it was fucking hot."
"At least they enjoyed the show."
"What the fuck? Is that all you have to say? You fucking chased me around, trying to get me naked, my fucking neighbor thought I was being raped; he even called the fucking police. It was the most humiliating moment of my life."
Behind them, Ichigo was trying really hard not to laugh, Rukia was speechless, Byakuya's only reaction was raising a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
"Well at least you got a nice date."
"Fuck you! It was a woman twice my age who thought I was some sort of escort, she kept trying to shove her hand down my pants, seriously why did you think it was a good idea."
"She did pay a lot in advance and Kisuke wanted those funny chemicals her company produced."
"And you two thought selling me was a good way to make money?"
"We did make a lot of money, although she complained that you were playing hard to get."
"I hate you."
"Aww, I love you too my precious Ren-chan." At this point Ichigo has burst out laughing drawing their attention, Renji was confused as to what was funny, then he realized Yoruichi was on top of him, she called him that ridiculous pet name and he had just blurted out his most embarrassing moment."
"Oi, Yoruichi get off."
"But it's more comfortable like this." She wiggled her bottom on his chest for dramatic effect. Miki who had been silent throughout the whole ordeal decided to speak up.
"Well daddy you are comfortable, it's not aunty Yoruichi's fault."
"Whose side are you on?"
"Well she did buy me those shoes I wanted."
"Seriously? that was months ago, get over it."
"See, that's why she's on my side."
"It's because you spoil her too much, now get off me."
"Don't be shy Renji, I have done more than just sitting on you." The crowd completely took that statement the wrong way. It really wasn't their fault; Renji's face was as red as his hair and Yoruichi had that smug/pervy smile on.
"Pervert, don't say it like that, you're making them think weird things."
"Eh! But Daddy, she was in your bed and you two were moving a lot." Miki said feigning innocence. Renji groaned, wondering why his child had to be so sadistic.
"NOTHING HAPPENED! Aren't you too young to say things like that?"
"Don't worry, Aunty Yoruichi gave me the bird and bees talk." Ichigo and Rukia gaped, Byakuya contemplated smacking Renji for his horrible parenting; he had expected Renji to know better than to let Yoruichi explain something like that to a child. The crowd watched the 'family scene' in disbelief.
"Oh God, I can imagine how creepy that was."
"Don't worry, it is completely natural."
"Stop telling her things like that, you are scaring her."
"She's a big girl, Aren't you?"
"Yea, it wasn't as bad as when she described how babies comes out of someone's body."
"YORUICHI! What the hell! Stop telling her things like that."
"It was important; some kid in her class gave her a flower."
"What the hell, why didn't you tell me? I will kill that kid if he ever goes near you again."
"Um... dad If i had told you, you would have killed him, Don't worry, Uncle Urahara gave him some weird pill and I never saw him again."
"Serves him right!"
Byakuya watched the three, wondering what kind of relationship they had, Renji was obviously the over protective dad, Yoruichi's role was still undetermined. A part of him felt hurt that he wasn't that close with Miki, he might not have known about her for years but she was still his daughter and he wanted to play a role in her life.
Ichigo gaped at the three in disbelief, Urahara had done something to some innocent kid just because he gave the brat a flower, that was messed up!
After listening to the messed up family reunion with Yoruichi, Renji and Miki, most people had concluded that looking at Miki for more than three seconds would get you into trouble with an over protective Renji, a devious Yoruichi and a crazy Urahara.