Ok here we go another chapter hope you guys enjoy.

Chapter 7: Path to Power

Four minutes later, Shino Academy sparing arena

Brendan's POV

Our blades clashed back and forth as I test the waters with my opponent 'Man I'm still not used to fighting with a sword.' Is the thought that crosses my mind because while I have been training hard with my sword it is clear that this guy has been doing it for much longer and focusing solely on his swordsmanship.

Our blades clash again and some space is put between us as a small smile creeps onto Hakumen's face "I will admit it you aren't half bad with the sword and if your opponent have been anyone else then you probably would have won easily. However, your stance is still too sloppy and you will never be able to beat me like that." He pulls his sword so that it is by his head getting ready to charge at me once more.

I also smile "If you think that this will end with your victory you got another thing coming." I say as I bring my sword to my side also ready to charge as I think 'I talk a big game, but I really am still not used to fighting with a sword. Still this will provide good practice and if push comes to shove I can always go for pure hand to hand to get the edge.' I pause for a second realizing what I just thought 'I think Yang is having a bad influence on me.'

In that moment Hakumen sees this as an opportunity and charges hoping to get a hit in. I snap out of it in time to bring up my blade to meet his own, but he takes advantage of my haste and forces my sword to move away to create an opening that he exploits slashing my arm as I jump back a few times to put distance between us again. He doesn't press his attack instead he stands there looking at me "If you give up now no one would think badly of you."

I take this pause to examine the wound he just gave me and I begin to chuckle "Looks like I have been the one underestimating my opponent this time." I mutter to myself then I look up at him "Why would I give up. This is just getting interesting." I grin at Hakumen and get into a lower stance as I take the sword into my right hand and have my left hand in front of me ready to charge once again.

He brings his sword up like before ready to charge "You are a fool." He says as he quickly moves toward me.

I breathe deeply and right before he is about to strike I use Shunpo and seem to vanish from his vision. While I have not completely mastered how to use it I can manage short bursts to cover short distances quickly, but Ruby is progressing much faster in this technique then everyone else. Still this little boost is all I need as I appear behind him while his blade is still above his head and swing to cut his backing thinking that this strike will end it. What I wasn't expecting was a clang from our blades connecting as he blocked me by moving his sword down. I jump back again putting space between us my face not hiding the shock I felt "How did you know to block there!?"

He looks at me the smile he had gone "Do you think that you are the only one who has learned about the advanced techniques." To prove his point he uses a Shunpo of his own to appear right in front of me and tries to strike, but I manage to bring my sword up to block and this time I try to use the momentum from his own swing to create an opening. However, he blocks my attack and we try a few more times to strike at each other before we both back off our efforts fruitless. Hakumen clicks his teeth "If I was allowed to release my Shikai then I would be able to take you down easily. This is just a waste of my time."

Me and the rest of my group, including Urahara, are shocked to hear this while the principle just smiles at his student's achievement "What!? How did you unlock it!?"

"That's simple because I am a true Shinigami not some kid pretending to be one."

Before I can retort the principle steps forward again "One moment." I look where he has just come from and see Urahara standing there with his fan hiding his face. This sends a chill down my spine about what he has planned now, but before I can question it the principle smiles as he announces "There has been an agreement between me and Mr. Kisuke Urahara." He pauses before he turns to Hakumen "I am going to authorize the release of your Shikai and kido up to level 50."

He then starts to move back to where Urahara is while I am still shocked by what is going to happen, but I snap out of it before the battle resumes "One moment please. Can I please talk to Mr. Urahara for a sec. before we begin again?" I say more calmly than I thought I would have been capable of.

The principle thinks about it for a moment then nods "Very well, but please keep it brief."

I nod as I move to stand next to "What is that you needed to talk to me about?" Urahara asks me

I laugh a little "What do we need to talk about? I don't know how about the fact that you are going to get me killed!" I whisper harshly trying really hard to not let my frustration show.

"Whatever do you mean?"

I can't take much more as I grab him and start to shake him "What do you mean what do I mean!" I shout, but after I noticed the looks other people are giving us I stop and start whispering again "Why would you agree to that!? We both know that I am not able release my Shikai!? So if he releases his I will have no chance of beating him!"

He places his hand on my shoulder "It is alright I have complete faith in you." He then spins me and shoves me back toward the center of the arena. I stumble a little bit as I make my way back to the center and hear him call out to me one last time "Just remember that we are all counting on you."

I look back at him angrily thinking 'If I get through this I am going to have to pay him back for this.' Then I turn and walk back to my opponent to face him and get into a stance that I use for mostly evasion.

Then he positions his sword behind his back and starts what I think is the chant to release his Shikai "I am the white void. I hold cold steel. It is the just sword. With blade in hand I shall reap the sins of this world, and cleanse it in the fires of destruction." As he says this last part he slashes the air in front of him and I can clearly feel the increase in his spiritual pressure "Now let us strike Kemono sureiyā (beast slayer)!" then there is a short burst of light from his blade. Once it fades it reveals a longer sword that doesn't come to a point, but instead is flat at the tip. There are also seven bright red symbols along the side of the blade. The guard is smaller almost non-existent and the handle is longer now too with the lower end of it forming a decorative gem that also has a red symbol on it. As he pulls it into position next to his head he speaks to me "If you hold still I will make sure that it will be over quickly and you will be able to recover."

I laugh nervously "Sorry, but even against these odds I have no intention of giving up."

"Very well." He then shifts his legs getting ready to charge.

The principle smiles as he is about to begin the match again 'The fool! Urahara your student will lose and then we will have you teach our finest students and you will be under my command!' he thinks as he raises his hand "Ready! Begin!"

Hakumen dashes at me and tries to bring his sword down on me, but I dodge to the right and good thing I didn't try to block it as the ground where he striked was cut very cleanly and his blade comes out easily. 'If I get hit with that head on I'm done for!' I think as I try to come up with a strategy to go against such overwhelming power. 'Ok just have to avoid the sword at all cost and counter as often as I can.' I get ready for his next strike to come and he goes for another downward swing that I dodge, but this time I go to stab his arm hoping to weaken his swordsmanship. However, it seems that he was expecting this as he moves his arm out of the way grabs my arm and kicks me in the gut with enough force that it sends me flying through one of the few windows and out into the courtyard.

The principle smiles as he is about to call the match, but Hakumen stops him "Please allow the fight to continue."

Seeing as his student is easily moping the floor with me he nods "Very well, but if he is not able to continue then I will have to call the match." Hakumen nods acknowledging the condition and uses Shunpo to chase after me.

I am surrounded be glass and bits of wood as I am on my hands and knees gasping for air thanking whatever God there may be that I'm not coughing up blood. I then hear someone Shunpo just a few meters from me and I look up to see Hakumen. I try thinking up a new strategy as I slowly get up 'Ok mental note his kicks and probably his punches should also be avoided.' I am almost completely on my feet as I finish coming up with a few attack plans. Once I catch my breath I get into my stance as I have my left hand in front of me and my right hand with my sword in reverse getting ready to begin my attack. The rest of the people from the arena now file into the court yard to continue watching and others have joined as well that were passing by.

As my group moves to the front they see me alright enough to fight and Ruby starts cheering "Yeah you get him! Go all out and show him whose boss!" the rest of the group follows suite calling out words of encouragement.

I look over and smile at the encouragement more confident in my plan. Then Hakumen speaks up "Are you done flirting so we can finish this."

I blush slightly "I'm not flirting! It's called having friends you should try it some time, but you are right we should finish this." Then I use Shunpo to get in close as I slam my hands on the ground "Bakudo number 21: Sekienton." then a cloud of red smoke engulfs us as I jump a few steps back and begin the next spell as I raise my left hand out to the side my index and middle finger extended "Bakudo number 9: Hōrin." As a yellow beam of energy comes out of my fingers I swing my arm having it move across the battlefield making sure that it will make contact.

Then the smoke clears revealing that I have captured Hakumen "Do you really think that you have the skill to keep me contained."

I smile "Hado number 11: Tsuzuri Raiden." As electricity crackles on my sword I make contact with the yellow energy that connects us and the electricity travels quickly toward him never seeing it done like this before it was truly unexpected and it almost reached him, but he snaps out of it and cuts the connection with his sword. However, he struggles to break the bindings that are wrapped around him so I try a different spell. So hold out my left hand palm facing him using the hilt of my sword to steady the aim and start chanting "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings," he then breaks free of his binding as I continue. "Ye who bears the name of Man!" He recognizes the chant and charges me "Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws." I finish the chant, but before I can fire it he tries to bring his sword down on me again. Acting quickly, I don't break off the spell and use Shunpo to dodge and move just to his right about few feet and shout "Hado number 33: Sōkatsui!" blue fire erupts from my hand heading right for Hakumen. When it hits a dust cloud get kicked up and I can't see the result of my handy work, but I start breathing heavy as this was the first time I launched so many spells all at once and my arms feel like lead weights. I smile thinking I have won, but when the dust clears I instead see a symbol like one from his sword and my smile is replaced by shock as the symbol shatters and two of the symbols on his sword lose their color.

He chuckles a little bit "I have to admit you have been taught well and can use those kido in very interesting ways."

"How were you able to block that!?" I shout as exhaustion is trying to claim my body, but I manage to raise my sword in hopes of defending myself.

He smiles confidently "It's one of the special abilities of my Zanpukto." He shows the flat of his blade and the symbols and one of the symbols that lost its color seem to be regaining its color slowly "By using up a number of the symbols I can activate one of its skills." He brings up his blade ready to strike "Shall I show you another one." His blade then takes on a reddish hue and one of the symbols darkens. He uses Shunpo and gets in close I bring my sword hoping to block and redirect his attack, but to no avail as his sword just forces mine up as he makes a cut right into me.

"BRENDAN!" Ruby screams as I am knocked back and fall to the ground blood spilling from my chest. I lay there for a second before trying to get back to my feet, but only making it to my knees and I have to use my sword as support or I would have fallen back down to the ground. My vision is hazy so I don't see Ruby struggling to get to me as she is being held back by Yang and Jaune "What are you doing!? We have to help him!"

Jaune tries to reason with her "Calm down if you go out there now the match will be forfeit."

Yang tries to reassure her "He is right and besides he was able to take one of my punches head on and could get up so I'm sure he is just catching his breath." This calms her down a bit and she stops struggling to get to me, but tears threaten to fall from her eyes.

I stay still panting hard 'I'm not going to be able to beat him like this. I need to have a Shikai of my own in order to at least have a chance.' I look at my own sword before I place my head against the hilt and speak softly "Please I don't know if you can hear me, but please lend me some of your power. I can't lose here. I won't be left behind. So please just give me a hand here."

As my eyes slowly begin to close I hear something I wasn't expecting an answer "Very well I will lend you some of my power."

I open my eyes suddenly at the answer and look around finding myself in a completely different location and, while it seems familiar, I just can't place where I've seen it before. It looks like I'm in some kind of dojo and I stand up to try to get a bearing of my surroundings, so I move to take a look outside. Outside it looks like there is a huge wall that surrounds this place that appears to be some sort of mansion with this dojo at the center. I step outside into what looks like it is some kind of garden and look around finally realizing where this place reminds me of. "This place looks like the mansion that I first started training at back when I was alive." I am in awe at how similar it all seems "But how did I get here? Last thing I remember I was fighting Hakumen and he…" I trail off as I look down, but find that I have no cut "Where am I? What is this place?"

"You are in your spirit world silly." I look up to see a person sitting on the edge of the roof of the dojo. The person has a long black coat that covers most of their body that has a hood that covers their face. The only parts that are visible are their hands, bare feet and eyes. This person's skin color from what I can tell from their hands and feet are a bit tanned, and their eyes are a bright blue. "Honestly did Mr. Urahara not tell you anything about what would happen when you come face to face with me." The person sighs as they jump down from their perch the coat lifting up revealing that they are wearing shorts that go past the knees and lands softly on to the grass. The person only stands about four feet tall and appears to be a kid, probably around the same age as Sena, but their voice is strange I can't tell if it is a boy or a girl "Sure he can teach you some fancy techniques and lets me come into being, but he forgot to mention some important details." The kid shakes their head from side to side, well if the movement of their hood was anything to go by, and raises their hands to shrug "But what are you gonna do."

"Wait so who are you and you say this is my spirit world, but what does that mean?" I question the kid.

"Ok so first we are in your soul that is what your spirit world is." The kid points at my chest. Then points at theirs "And you should know who I am." Then holds their hands behind their back and rocks back and forth on the balls of their feet.

"Is this supposed to be a game?"

"Well kind of. I can't speak my name until you say it."

I scratch my head trying to think "Well do I at least get a hint or something."

The kid thinks about it for a minute then nods to them self apparently coming to a decision "I don't see why not follow me." Then the kid turns back to the dojo and heads back in.

I follow while thinking about this situation 'Well this is weird, but if what the kid says is true then why is he, or she, in here. I mean I asked my sword for help then I heard a voice then…' I slap myself in the head "Of course you are my Zanpakuto! I feel so stupid not seeing it sooner!"

The kid giggles a bit as we stand in the center of the dojo "About time you figured it out." Now standing in the center the kid spreads out their arms "You said you wanted a hint right. So here it is, my name is here inside this building somewhere, say it and I will be able to give you a hand in battle."

I look around and see many things that have words written on it and anyone of them could be the name I'm looking for. I scratch my head in frustration as I don't know which one it could be. I look at all of the different words but nothing sticks out to me "How am supposed to know your name if there are so many to choose from."

The kid walks over and places a hand on my shoulder "Just pick the first thing that comes to mind."

I walk over to a poster that has a saying on it and read it out loud "'We avoid the things that we're afraid of because we think there will be dire consequences if we confront them. But the truly dire consequences in our lives come from avoiding things that we need to learn about or discover.' Shakti Gawain, The Path of Transformation. This was the quote my first teacher had up to remind us that no matter what we face we need to face it head on because it is those things that will transform us into the people we are supposed to be." Then a word comes into my mind and I realize what it is and look over to the kid "Wait is that what your name is?"

The kid shakes their head up and down and holds up both hands making the victory sign "Congratulations on figuring it out." then a door opens up behind me and I turn around to look into it. All I see is a bright light and then a push from behind that makes me stumble into the light "Now let's go beat that guy together!" is all I hear as I am enveloped in the light.

Back at the courtyard

The principle is staring at me I haven't moved from the same position for a few minutes and he sighs "Looks like I am going to have to call it after all." he mutters and looks at Urahara "It looks like your student loses this one."

Urahara smiles and pulls out his fan to hide it "I wouldn't be so sure yet."

The principle is about to question it, but is cut off when Ruby shouts out in glee "He is getting up!" the principle turns around and true enough I am slowly raising to my feet breathing heavy and the bleeding in my chest has slowed down a good degree.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, but someone just had to play a game." I say raising my sword.

Hakumen speaks "What are you talking about?"

I relax my stance "What you think you are the only one that can ask for help from other sources." I slightly move my sword from left to right.

He becomes wide eyed "Impossible! Are you telling me that you just now unlocked your Shikai!"

I smile "How about I just show you and erase all doubt." I take a deep breath and position my sword pointing upward and look straight ahead "Change to become stronger: Haken!" my sword becomes enveloped in black flames that expand along the blade and it grows until it looks like it is about to go out of control before it dissipates revealing an enormous broadsword. From tip to handle it is about five feet long with a single edged large blade approximately one foot wide. The blade is a lighter color on the bladed edge while the rest of the blade is black and the handguard appears to be bolted or riveted into place. There are two holes near the handguard and the handguard has red swirls that look like flames. I do a couple of test swings and my smile widens "Now it is about time we fight on equal terms." And point my sword toward Hakumen ready to begin the battle with renewed vigor.

Whew all done. This one came to me a lot easier than other I think because my writing spirit was reignited from hearing the news about RWBY.

Oh man I can't wait till October 22nd what about you guys! I really hope I can finish the parts of my stories that I want to finish before it is released.

Oh yeah so I should mention this before someone complains about why he can do what he can do. So he can use Kido well because look at who his teacher is. Also I am aware that normally it takes a really long time for an Asauchi to unlock, but again look at who his teacher is. I mean Ichigo was able to achieve Bankai in a very short amount of time after unlocking his Shikai thanks to Kisuke so it can stand to reason that he could speed along the process for the group.

Next is that I won't deny any similarities between anything I write and what already exists because that is just the way it is.

Finally I still would like some input about OCs and about the Zanpakuto for the group.

There that is all that I want to be say at the moment hope you guys liked it and hope you like what I planned for the future and let me know what you guys think.