Okay, everybody, ready for another chapter? Sorry it's been taking so long, but I've got it ready for uploading.
Chapter Seven—The First Round
This was it; the first round of the tournament...
Jin walked up to the newly (and hastily) made arena with Komamura on his left and Shuhei on his right. Koji and Tetsuzaemon were discussing something behind them, but Jin was too preoccupied with his own thoughts so notice. He was too concerned with the tournament to really pay attention to much.
"Are you ready, Captain Narukami?" Komamura asked in his deep voice, eyes forward as he walked with a noticeably more brisk pace than usual.
"Yes, I think so," Jin replied. "Just a bit nervous, I guess. A lot of people will be watching, right?"
"Many nobles will be observing," Komamura replied, "and from what I understand, they've been making bets as well."
"So, they're trying to decide which captains are the best?"
"I suppose..."
"Then we can't disappoint, can we?"
"No."
The arena was large and circular, massive and filled with plenty of the Rukongai's citizens. The captains and their lieutenants (along with a few lucky Third Seats—Koji) stood in the middle of the arena at the bottom, looking up at the numerous spectators who were remarkably loud and slightly obnoxious.
Then Captain Yamamoto lifted his walking stick and slammed it back onto the ground at the base of the arena. The sound was almost too loud to have come from just the walking stick and Jin stiffened, swallowing hard. He looked over at Captain Komamura and Koji, who did not look back, although Koji had noticeably been disturbed by the sound.
Lieutenant Sasakibe stepped up beside his captain and cleared his throat before speaking. His voice had been amplified amazingly too; it echoed loudly and was heard clearly by everyone in the stadium.
"On behalf of the Gotei 13, I welcome you to the Captain's Team Tournament and thank you for your patronage. I hope that you all enjoy the spectacle. Do not worry; the Kido Corps has been asked to assist us. For your protection, there is a barrier between the stands and the area where the captains will be conducting their battles. Please, do not leave your seats during the tournament battles. For added protection, the use of Bankai has been prohibited by Captain Yamamoto.
"For the first battle, we have captain of the Ninth Division, Jin Narukami, with the captain of the Seventh Division, Sajin Komamura"—Jin and Komamura stepped forward and received their cheering from the crowd—"against captain of the Eighth Division Shunsui Kyoraku and captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jushiro Ukitake." Kyoraku and Ukitake moved forward and took their applause as well.
Within a few seconds, the non-competing Soul Reapers moved off the field, leaving the two teams alone on the field. Once the other Soul Reapers were behind the barrier, Jin's zanpakuto left its sheath.
"Hate to do this to you, kid, but I don't think I'll just take it easy on you," Kyoraku remarked, withdrawing his two sword. "Tell you what; I won't use Shikai if you don't."
"Sorry, but I fight to win," Jin replied. "Take to the sky, Izanagi!"
The zanpakuto transformed and Kyoraku sighed. "You know, I've got a few years more experience than you, right? You might not win."
"I'll take my chances."
"Okay," Kyoraku said, pulling out both of his sealed swords. "Two swords it is." He waved the two swords and an instant later, they had transformed; two large scimitars with long red tassels. "Bushogoma."
He slashed with his swords, creating a whirlwind and Jin had barely had time to respond. "Royal Crow Blast!"
The blast of energy had met the whirlwind and they dissipated each other almost instantly, leaving the ground bald where they had met. Jin ran forward, Izanagi ready to slash. Kyoraku parried the blow with his shorter sword, ready to slash with his longer sword. Another sword appeared to stop the longer sword and Jin looked up to see Komamura standing over him, blocking the blade. One instant later, Ukitake had come over, his right finger on Komamura's chest, and his left on Jin's shoulder.
"Hado number one, Sho."
Both Komamura and Jin flew backward, narrowly catching themselves as they tumbled through the air.
"Bushogoma!"
Another whirlwind came flying at them and Komamura held his sword upside-down before him. "Roar, Tenken!"
A phantasmal sword, much larger than Komamura's sealed zanpakuto, appeared, slashing through the whirlwind and forcing it to vanish. The massive sword started to follow Komamura's movements as he stabbed the air in front of him. The tip of the phantom blade charged at Kyoraku who seemed unfazed.
"Kageoni!"
He fell into his shadow just as the sword moved over it, Ukitake dodging it just as it passed by him.
"Sajin! Get airborne!" Jin called, jumping. Komamura followed his lead, just as a black blade appeared from his shadow, slashing at his sole. "We can't land," Jin continued. "Captain Kyoraku's hiding in the shadow."
Just as he finished speaking, Ukitake came out of the shadow, scowling.
"If you keep running away, we'll never get this fight over with!" he called. Ukitake flew up to meet them and kept his swords ready. "Irooni; Black!"
He slashed, and Jin barely dodged the worst of it; his haori was slashed at the sleeve and it left a rip from his elbow to his shoulder... Deep and painful. Crimson blood fell from the wound and Jin quickly pointed Izanagi's tip at Kyoraku.
"Royal Crow Blast!"
The orb of energy surged forward... and Ukitake intercepted it. He pointed a sword's tip at it, and one instant later, an exact copy fired from his second sword, which was narrowly blocked by Komamura's Shikai; the massive blade flicked it and repelled it back to the enemies who dodged it, but just barely.
"Second strike; Crow barrage!"
Ten orbs of light flashed out from Jin's zanpakuto, transforming into the familiar ten crows. The crows charged forward and Ukitake held out his sword, catching each of them. Then, his second sword fired off a massive beam of energy, aimed at Komamura. Jin was too slow; the beam connected with Komamura's chest and he fell, Jin following after him. Ukitake followed as well, flying so fast past Jin that he would've made it first...
But with a quick display of Shunpo, Jin appeared in front of Ukitake, putting all of his energy into a powerful kick, aimed directly at Ukitake's head. He felt the kick make contact and Ukitake tumbled back, falling to the ground.
"Sorry, kid," said a voice, and too late, Jin realized that Kyoraku was behind him, ready to slash with Katen Kyokotsu. Jin prepared to take the blow, but a strong fist came, connecting with Kyoraku's side. Kyoraku fell away, flying across the arena to the barrier and hitting it with a loud, resounding thud. Kyoraku fell to the ground and Lieutenant Sasakibe hurried into the field.
"The first battle of the tournament has concluded! The winners are Captains Sajin Komamura and Jin Narukami."
The crowd seemed amazed by the ending, but they cheered nonetheless. Carefully, Komamura and Jin returned to the ground, where they were greeted by their lieutenants, Koji, and Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu. Hurriedly, Isane ushered them off the field, holding her hand to Jin's cut; it glowed with green energy as the would steadily closed.
Once they were in a room—specially designated for tournament injuries—Isane fully healed Jin's cut arm, and checked Komamura's vitals. After that powerful hit from Ukitake's zanpakuto, he had two broken ribs, but Isane said that she'd have the broken bones healed soon. She hovered her hand over Komamura's chest, and the green glow appeared.
Koji whistled. "That was amazing," he remarked, "and I got to say, you two really did a good job. Although, I expected you guys to bite the dust."
"Captain Narukami is stronger than that," Shuhei noted.
"And your father's very powerful too," Tetsuzaemon added. "I had no doubt that Captain Komamura would win."
"Anyway," Jin said, "that was really good. Almost flawless partnership."
"Yes."
"And you know, that's really good for the rest of the tournament," Jin continued. "But, Sajin, I have to say, I really like being your partner." He seemed to be debating doing something. He held out his hand, but withdrew it.
"He wants to do it too," Koji laughed, watching Jin's indecision.
"Do what?"
"Almost everybody's wanted to pet either me or Father when they meet us," Koji stated. "It's just part of the territory of being us."
"I'm sorry," Jin said with noticeable embarrassment. "I've just... I really do like the way you guys look. You're big and intimidating and strong, but you're also kind and nice and smart... It's just... You guys are awesome."
"Thank you, Captain Narukami," Komamura stated. "I am also glad to have you as my partner. You are very powerful."
"But it's more than that now, right? We're comrades by our nature, but I think we're more than just comrades, right, Sajin?"
"How so?"
"We're friends."
Okay, everyone; Chapter Seven for your enjoyment. Thank you to everyone who reads. Let me know what you think!