Bankai training
Over the next few days Toshiro and Sajin would skip out on work and pay many trips over to the ninth division in order to train Shuhei so that he can learn and master Bankai. So they trained relentlessly day after day after day, with no end in sight. Shuhei was a good fight but his fighting skills never seemed to evolve.
Shuhei bent down to one knee and began panting while Sajin stood over him.
"I'd say that's enough for now." Said Sajin. Shuhei could not reply so only gave a panted nod while Sajin turned and walked over to Toshiro.
"Not going well." Said Toshiro with his arms crossed.
"I don't understand." Said Sajin as he stood next to him." We've trained him day after day, pushed him to his limits but none of its working."
"I think we might be in over our heads."
"Well it's too late to back out now, after all the time and effort we put in."
"Where the hell is Soifon?" Said Toshiro." Shouldn't she be here helping us."
"Oi!" yelled a voice from behind him that made Toshiro jump up and turn around. And when he did he saw Soifon standing there.
"Soifon." He said nervously." What a pleasant surprise."
"How's he doing?" asked Soifon.
"Not too good." Answered Sajin. Then they looked over at Hisagi who was panting on one knee." He makes no visible progress."
"Perhaps you two aren't doing your job. Has he fought against a bankai yet?"
"No." said Sajin." He's not at that level."
"Well he'd better learn fast." Said Soifon. And then she moved over to Shuhei but was stopped by Sajin.
"Not now." He said." He's taking a breather."
"No." said Soifon." He's got to learn what it's like to fight for survival, and fight against the best. Don't forget my neck is out on this." Then she moved forward towards Shuhei, leaving her fellow Captains behind.
"Well at least she's helping." Said Toshiro. Soifon kept walking towards Shuhei.
He noticed two feet walking towards him and summoned what little strength he could to look at the person's face when the feet stopped before him. There was Captain Soifon.
"Ready for another bout?" she asked with her arm up.
"We're…." he panted." We're taking a break."
"Not anymore." Said Soifon with a smile." BANKAI!" Shuhei's eyes bugged wide open and a gust of energy sent him back into the wall. Sajin and Toshiro stood back. When Shuhei opened his eyes there was Soifon with a large missile attached to her arm.
"Now." She said." I'm going to close my eyes and count to ten, you just try to dodge. One." Shuhei quickly got up and scrambled around as Soifon continued to count.
"This can't end well." Commented Toshiro.
"TEN!" shouted Soifon. Then her missile suddenly went forward and exploded. Shuhei was out of the way to avoid getting killed, but not out of the way entirely. The wind that followed the missile was enough to knock him over.
The missile flew forward and hit the ninth squad barracks, destroying half of it.
"Oops." Said Soifon casually as she observed that. She looked over and saw Toshiro and Sajin standing over Shuhei's body. Sajin rolled him onto his back and he appeared to be unconscious." Well he lived." Said Soifon as she joined him. Toshiro and Sajin only glared her down.
"So now what?" asked Toshiro.
"This isn't working." Said Sajin as he ran his hand over his head." He's not improving."
"So what should we do?" asked Toshiro." Abandon this little mission of ours and-"
"NO!" shouted Soifon causing Toshiro to duck down and Sajin to move his ears behind his head." We cannot fail, we will see this out to the end!" Once the other two had gotten rid of their fear of her they spoke again.
"So now what then?" asked Toshiro as they three looked back to Shuhei's body. Silence overtook them as they all thought of an idea, and then it came to Sajin. He perked up and looked over to see Soifon had a similar look on her face. Then the two turned and looked at Toshiro. He didn't notice their looks at first but when he did it put him on edge. Then the two began flashing their eyelashes at him." What are you looking at me for?"
"I've got an idea." Said Sajin. But then Soifon leaned over and hit him in the ribs." We." He corrected." We have an idea."
The next thing Toshiro knew he was in the world of the living, before the house of Mayuri and Kiganjo. Sajin and said of how Kisuke Urahara had created a parallel world to master bankai, and since Toshiro was such good friends with Mayuri asking for such a thing couldn't be too hard.
Now Toshiro was a regular visitor in their home just as they were regular visitors in his, there would be nothing strange for his sudden arrival. Toshiro knocked on the door and it was soon answered by Kiganjo.
"Good to see you little man!" Kiganjo exclaimed as he swung his hand down and over Toshiro's head nearly covering it all. Then he began ruffling his white hair.
"Hey Kiganjo." Toshiro muffled his reply in-between Kiganjo's fingers." How's everything here?" But Kiganjo ignored his question and instead scanned the area around.
"Are you here alone?" he asked turning back to Toshiro." Gandalf hasn't sent you to assassinate me has he?"
"No."
"Well he can try. He's been trying to kill me for two hundred years but I don't have to tell you that. One time-" Kiganjo continued to talk on but Toshiro wasn't listening. If he was going to have any success with helping Hisagi learn Bankai, this was the place to do it. He could not afford to be set back.
"Hey Kiganjo." Spoke up Toshiro not caring what part of the man's story he interrupted." What's going on in Lord of the Rings?"
"Oh Great shit." Replied Kiganjo." I was just in the part of the fellowship where the Nazgul are in the shire."
"Sounds real interesting." He lied." Why don't I come in and you can show me it?" Kiganjo appeared to be frozen in his stance.
"Do you know how long I've waited for you to ask me that?" he asked with some solemn sorrow in his voice. Then Kiganjo reentered the house and Toshiro followed him. The two walked on and Toshiro kept scanning the area for Mayuri.
"So?" he asked Kiganjo as they walked." What's Mayuri been up to?"
"Well he had that fuckin herb come over here a few days ago to help him with some of his bullshit." Told Kiganjo. The two continued to walk on and as they passed by the kitchen they saw him.
Mayuri sat casually at his table reading a newspaper as Kiganjo and Toshiro came walking in. Kiganjo led the way and Toshiro followed.
"Hey Mayuri." He said as quickly and casually as he could, then he continued to walk by.
"Wait a minute." Spoke up Mayuri, not looking at Toshiro but reading his paper. Toshiro grimaced as he was caught but looked normal when he faced him.
"Yea?"
"What are you doing here?" asked Mayuri casually as he looked at Toshiro.
"Kiganijo's got the new Lord of the Rings DVD's." told Toshiro as he pointed a finger over his shoulder at Kiganjo." Thought I'd go take a look." Mayuri looked unfazed.
"Why are you really here?" he asked as he set his paper down.
"Okay look." Toshiro said quickly as he sat down across from Mayuri." I've been caught up in something, I really don't want to be caught up in. But we've been looking to fill our Captain's positions so Sajin said Hisagi as a candidate, but then Head-Captain Yamamoto said only if he get bankai so we've been training nonstop and-"
Mayuri put his hand up stopping him." Who's we?"
"Sajin, Soifon, and myself."
"And you want what now?"
"We thought you might have a training area that might be of some use. Can we use it?" he leaned in a pleaded the last line.
"Yea alright." Said Mayuri casually as he turned back to his paper.
"Alright? You mean that's it?"
"Yea that's it. Come by later and I'll have it set up for you."
Toshiro thought the whole thing to be very strange and when he told it to Soifon and Sajin they felt the same. But Mayuri said they could use it so they didn't complain too much.
So later that evening the three captains and the one lieutenant traveled to the world of the living and to Mayuri's home. They stood before the door and knocked as usual it was answered by Kiganjo.
"Come in." he said to them. He politely allowed Toshiro in but grilled down Sajin and gave Soifon a strange look. Hisagi followed in last and when he passed , the former Kenpachi made a fist and pounded it into his open hand. They made their way to the back of the house where they found Mayuri waiting. He stood leaning against two large doors.
"What is that?" asked Sajin with a raised brow as she pointed to the large doors.
"This." Said Mayuri as he raised his hand and tapped the doors." Is the training area."
"I take it, it's behind those doors." Said Soifon.
"You're not as dumb as you look." He replied earning a scold from Soifon. Then Mayuri picked himself up off the wall and began walking around them." Think of this as a time chamber. While we may spend years in there only a few seconds will pass out here. And no matter how much time passes in there, out here nothing will change." Kigano came over to Mayuri's side now, pushing past Sajin and Soifon.
"So it's like we have all the time in the world." Said Toshiro.
"You could say that." Said Mayuri.
"This is perfect." Said Sajin. Then he turned to Hisagi." Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be sir." He said.
"Then let's do this." Said Sajin and he took a step forward, prepared to begin. But as he walked forward Kiganjo put his hand up and stood in his way." What is the meaning of this?" asked Sajin.
"I am allowing you to use my system at my expense." Told Mayuri as he stepped up, his hands buried inside his coat pockets." Surely you didn't think it would be free." Soifon turned and glared at Toshiro.
"Nothing's ever simple." She grumbled.
"For using my premises." Continued Mayuri." I asked something of each of you."
"And what is that?" asked Sajin as he looked away from Kiganjo and to Mayuri. Mayuri then pulled out his hands and revealed he held three bottles, two in his left and one in his right.
"Each of you must take a sample of these liquids." Told Mayuri." It will change you slightly and give me a basis to start my research. You will take it and report to me what you think of it. A survey if you will."
"Change us how?" asked Toshiro.
"Only your appearance. It could make you older or younger, or anything in-between. I don't know which."
"How long will these last?" asked Sajin.
"As long as I decide, perhaps a few days at most. Once I feel the experiment is complete I will deliver you the antidote." Silence followed after. Toshiro turned and glared at Hisagi who did not notice. This whole thing better be worth it for him.
"Just a few days?" asked Toshiro turning to Mayuri who nodded in reply." Fine then." Then Toshiro walked up and took one bottle from his left hand. When he approached Mayuri handed him the second in his left hand.
The two Captains stepped back holding their bottles, then all their eyes turned to Soifon who had not moved and looked as if she wouldn't.
"Captain Soifon." Mayuri's voice trimmed as he held the last bottle up. Soifon crossed her arms and looked away scowling.
"C'mon Soifon." Spoke up Toshiro." It's only a few days, what's the worst that could happen." Soifon rolled her eyes over to him.
"We're already in too deep anyway." Said Sajin." Do you want to go back to the Soul Society a failure." Soifon now turned and faced the large Captain. Then with exaggerated steps she stomped over to Mayuri and tore the last bottle from his hands.
"I hate you." She said to him. But Mayuri only smiled in response.
"Good, good." He said with a smile." Now." He said with a clap of his hands. This case Kiganjo to go over and pick up Hisagi." You all go back to the Soul Society and do whatever it is you retards do on a daily basis." Kiganjo then dropped Hisagi down next to Mayuri." And we will handle this."
"What?" asked the Three Captains confused.
"No." said Sajin." We've invested all this time, WE are the ones who will train Hisagi."
"That is our duty." Said Toshiro." That's why we came here."
"Was your duty." Said Mayuri." Now it is our's." he motioned to Kiganjo and himself." You should really be thanking me, I've left you all open to more activities."
"Like being you're Guiney Pigs?" said Soifon sharply.
"Preciosity."
"Fuck this!" Said Soifon as she threw her bottle to the ground smashing it. Then she turned and walked off.
"She's right." Said Sajin as he walked over and handed his bottle back. Mayuri however said nothing and took it no questions asked. "Let's go Hisagi." he said as he turned and prepared to walk away." We'll just continue training like before." Hisagi prepared to walk away. Toshiro however stayed in his place and looked at the bottle in his hands and then to Mayuri.
"Because that worked out so well before." Said Kiganjo. The three Captains turned and looked at him, Kiganjo only smiled in reply.
"He has a point." Said Mayuri as he juggled Sajin's bottle in his hands." Your previous work hasn't gotten the desired results." The Captains said nothing and only stared to the ground solemnly." But if you leave him here, I'll assure you that he'll learn."
"How can we trust you?" asked Soifon turning to him.
"You don't have to because I'm not asking you too." Mayuri replied.
"Wait." Spoke up Hisagi." Don't I get a say in this?"
"No!" everyone else replied.
"You've all invested so much time in this already." Said Mayuri as he walked forward and between the three Captains, getting much too close to Soifon for her comfort. Mayuri would also spit his long tongue out when he spoke." And it has failed, therefore I'll be taking over. I alone will be responsible for this endeavor whether if fails or succeeds." He stopped now and looked to all three." Since I will do this all I'm asking is one tiny-little-but-ever-so-crucial-tiny-detail." Then he held up the bottle in his hand that Sajin had returned to him.
The three Captains looked to each other and shuttered.
"Let's just get this over with." Said Toshiro as he gripped the bottle in his hand. He over all the Captains trusted Mayuri, however that trust may wear thin someday and get him into trouble. Sajin and Soifon looked to each other and shared similar looks of disdain. But in the end they decided to go forward with the plan.
Sajin walked up and took the vile from Mayuri with a silent 'thank you'. And then Soifon stepped up looking somewhat proud of herself.
"Oops." She said." I dropped mine before, looks like you don't have anything for me." She said with a victorious smile. But Mayuri did not falter and smiled in reply.
"As a matter of fact." He smiled." I do." Soifon's expression dropped. Mayuri reached into his pocket and pulled out a vile." Here you are." His voice hissed as he handed it to her.
"And what will this do?" she asked." Make my skin fall off, grow hair all over my body?"
"We'll see." He smiled. Soifon rolled her eyes and ten walked back to Sajin and Toshiro, each holding a bottle in their hands.
"Let's get this over with." Said Toshiro removing the cap. Sajin and Soifon did the same." Cheers." He said extending his, the other two leaned their glasses out and clicked them. Then the three leaned back and drank it. They quickly finished and all stood there, but nothing felt different.
But Mayuri stood back and laughed a loud, dark, laugh." Have fun." He said turning to them and then opening the doors to the training area behind him. He pointed to Kiganjo who nodded.
"Let's go boy." He said as he picked up Shuhei and then jumped in the portal after Mayuri. Then the doors shut behind him.
"I don't know what he meant I feel-" But Sajin stopped and suppressed a cough." I fell f-" but then stopped to cough violently once more.
"Oh God." Groaned Toshiro. Then he leaned over and began coughing violently. The two then began coughing violently and making horrible swallowing sounds in their throats. Then the both fell over on the ground and began rolling around.
Soifon however was unaffected and stood by with her hands in her pockets." I feel fine." She said casually.