Sorry that it took so long, guys. With school starting up again and my teachers giving more and more homework, I'm running out of breathing room. BUT! Here's the next chapter and I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 3—Strength and Loyalty
Captain Zaraki slashed and Koji hurriedly ducked out of the way. A loud clang told him that Jin had withdrawn his own zanpakuto, blocking Zaraki's slashed with remarkable ease. Zaraki brought his sword back and slashed again, horizontally this time. Rather than block it, Jin did something odd. He hopped up, landing gently (almost inaudibly) on Zaraki's blade.
"This isn't fair," Jin whined. "You're twice my size."
"Size doesn't matter in a fight," Zaraki replied, pulling his sword back again and swinging once more. That look on his face... he seemed like a wild animal. Jin seemed content to simply dodge the strikes rather than attack on his own. He used his zanpakuto mostly in defense, never attacking.
"Hado 1: Sho."
Zaraki did not expect that. An invisible force pushed him back slightly, and Jin backed away, looking confused.
"Why are we fighting? I don't want to fight you," Jin said.
"I want to see if you're strong," Zaraki answered. "Don't need a reason to enjoy a good fight!"
He charged again and Jin ducked underneath his sword, skipping backwards without taking his eyes off the brutish captain. A cut appeared over his nose, extending just beneath his left eye. His demeanor changed almost instantly. He was scowling.
"What'll happen if I don't fight?"
"Then I'll kill ya," Zaraki said simply. "Cowards shouldn't be captain anyway."
Jin said. "I really don't like meaningless fights, but you're really not leaving me much choice. Force is the only thing a beast like you understands, isn't it?" He held his sword up to his wrist and breathed deeply. "Take to the sky, Izanagi."
The sword glowed with a greenish light, transforming, shifting... shrinking, until the glow had vanished... The sword had transformed into a gauntlet, covered his right arm up to his elbow with black metal. Wing-like protrusions extended from where his wrist was and a golden, beak-like blade covered his hand on the top and bottom.
Koji stared in amazement. That pressure... There was no doubt that this kid (could he really be called a "kid" anymore) deserved to be a captain.
"First strike," Jin murmured, his voice barely audible. He held his hand forward, using his left arm to hold himself steady. "Royal crow blast!"
From the two tips of the beak, two spheres of green light formed... and fired. The orbs, different, merged in flight and Zaraki brought his sword up to defend himself. The spheres exploded on contact, rupturing in bursts of light and smoke. Zaraki slashed through the smoke, dirtied and surprised, but otherwise unharmed.
"Wow," Zaraki said. "That's some power for a kid."
"Royal crow blast!"
Another pair of orbs fired just as Zaraki began to run forward. Zaraki jumped over them, airborne like a hawk, before coming down. He slashed, but Jin blocked the blow with Izanagi's gauntlet. He pushed back and Zaraki stumbled, laughing.
"There! See! You can fight! Make me glad I challenged you, kid!"
Jin stood up straight and pointed his zanpakuto's blade directly at Zaraki. The blade glowed.
"Second strike, Crow Barrage!"
Ten orbs of light came out from the zanpakuto. They floated around Jin, who was grinning widely. The orbs started to transform and darken, until they took the form of black-feathered birds... Crows...
"Attack!" Jin ordered.
The birds charged forward and Zaraki's surprise had vanished almost instantly. He slashed at the first bird... and was blasted backward as the bird exploded.
"Flying explosives, huh?" Zaraki mused. "Nice trick, but it won't beat me."
The rest of the birds continued to fly forward, but Zaraki had learned his lesson. He did not attack the birds. He dodged them at the last moment, letting them explode without hurting himself. When the final crow had exploded, Zaraki ran forward, ready to kill now.
"Third strike! Wild crow dance!"
Jin had been prepared. His zanpakuto seemed to get a mind of its own. It glowed with green light and almost seemed to drag him forward, slashing with the beak-like blade at Zaraki. Once, twice, four times, each movement getting faster, getting stronger. But Zaraki seemed to be ready for each strike, blocking them.
Then there was an explosion.
Koji watched carefully. It had taken all of his concentration to try see all of the strikes and had he not been focusing so hard, he would have missed it completely. At the end of the series of strikes, Jin's zanpakuto had released an orb, not unlike his Royal crow blast. Zaraki had not been ready for that and it blew him backward ripping and his clothes. Zaraki pulled the tatters off him, grinning madly.
"Come on! That's not all you got, is it, kid?! Show me what I want to see! Show me your Bankai!"
"No," Jin replied. "No, I don't want to fight you." His zanpakuto glowed and started to transform again. For a brief moment, Koji thought he would get to see Jin's Bankai, but his hopes were dashed as the sword returned to its sealed state. Jin sheathed Izanagi, looking sad. "There's no reason for us to fight each other. We're comrades, not enemies."
"Who needs a reason for a good fight? Look, you ain't even cut me! Why don't you come at me seriously?"
"No," Jin said. "I've got more important things to do than indulge a wild animal like you."
Jin's reply was either ignored or hated extremely; Zaraki charged again, but Jin had started to walk away, having already turned his back. Zaraki brought his sword up and slashed... but a crystal had appeared before him, stabbing him through his arm. Zaraki seemed amazed until his eyes found Koji, whose zanpakuto was drawn and released, the blade pointed directly where the crystal had formed.
"Hey! You! Don't get in my fight or I'll kill you," Zaraki growled. He pulled his hand free of the crystal which broke just as easily as glass. "This is between me and the munchkin."
"Koji, don't get involved," Jin ordered. "I don't need you to protect me."
Someone cleared their throat. They all looked at the shadowy image that had approached; Captain Komamuara had arrived, accompanied by a lieutenant: Tetsuzaemon Iba, who was his right-hand man.
"Captain Zaraki, are you threatening my son?" Komamura asked.
"Yeah, so what? What're you going to do about it, mutt?" he challenged, his vulgar tones sounding as if he was inviting Komamura to join the fight which had already concluded. "I'm still waiting for that rematch from before; you ran off before I could beat you."
"I do not engage in pointless battles," Komamura replied, moving past Zaraki with the two lieutenants beside him. Zaraki looked angry but said nothing more as he sheathed his sword. He spat on the ground and turned his back.
"I still expect to finish that fight, Kid-Captain," Zaraki snarled. "Come find me whenever you're ready. I want to fight you at your best."
He trudged off, leaving a sense of awkwardness in the air until Komamura spoke once more.
"Did you just attack a captain?" he asked Koji, who chortled in embarrassment. He just couldn't seem to win today.
"Well, I was trying to be helpful, just to defend my friend," Koji answered. "I wasn't thinking."
"No, you clearly weren't," Komamura sighed. "What'll I do with you?" He shook his head and turned to Jin. "Are you alright, Captain Narukami?"
"Yes, just fine," Jin answered, "although slightly confused. Is Captain Zaraki always like this?" Jin tapped at the cut on his nose; the bleeding had lessened considerably, almost stopping.
"Unfortunately," Komamura said. "He's a wild beast."
"It's okay," Jin remarked. "He answered my question, actually."
"Which question is that?"
"I don't want to be like him," Jin said. "I want to be someone that people respect, not someone that people are afraid of." He smiled up at Komamura. "I think, out of all the captains, you seem to have the most reliable leadership style."
"That's just a matter of opinion," Komamura replied. "You must find your niche just as I did. I learn as I go; I'm still learning. Everybody must find their own way of leading."
"I see," Jin muttered. He continued to smile. "Thank you, Captain Komamura." He thought for a minute. "I should probably return to my Division, huh? I've been all day. I bet there's mountains of work for me to do when I get back."
"I'm sure you can handle the workload," Komamura said. "Otherwise, you would not have been promoted. If you can't, then find yourself a helper." Komamura put his hand on Koji's shoulder. "Someone who can assist you in your work."
"Like Lieutenant Hisagi," Koji suggested.
"Yes. I think you're right," Jin said. He gave a small bow. "I must go. I look forward to seeing you two again."
"Have a good day, Captain Narukami," Komamura said and Jin straightened and started to walk away.
"He's interesting, isn't he, Father?" Koji asked.
"Yes."
"He's pretty strong, too," Koji continued.
"Looks like you've made a new friend."
"Yep," Koji agreed. "Today's been a weird day, but a good day."
"You're still in trouble."
"I am?"
"For playing with your sword on a mission."
Koji gave a whimper-like noise. This was going to be a long lecture...
Okay, guys, here's Chapter three. I promised it and I owed it to you all. Here it is and please read and/or review.