Italics + ' = Thoughts (Etc. = 'What is that?')

Bold + '' = Inner Hollow/Secondary Spirit (Etc. = ''Fucking Quotation marks!'' He roared) (Or Zangetsu in Ichigo's case).

Italics + '' = Zanpakuto Spirit (Etc. = ''Do not hesitate, Ichigo'' Zangetsu said) (Quincy part of Zangetsu for Ichigo's case).

I DONT OWN BLEACH!

Chapter 8: Training to protect - Dragons Shadow ARC

They wandered the desert, together in death. No hollow dared to even approach them, a Vasto Lorde and a Shinigami? Better they got the hell out of there, they were nothing but a bunch of weaklings.

He and the Shinigami had just wandered, the Shinigami had to rest often and the hollow took watch over the body, despite not being asked to. It would wake up and they would continue doing whatever, with nothing to do in Hueco Mundo they often visited the human world for short periods of time due to the amount of attention from hostile Shinigami that he had to kill.

He had come to think of his traveling friend as a companion; one that never left his side and trusted its life with him. It was an odd feeling and stirred something in the hole in his chest, though he always brushed the feeling off as a side-effect of being around a living soul for too long.

They would be companions forever, no matter how hard the universe fought to keep them apart.

''I regret fighting you'' I moan from the ground.

''Oh be quiet, I wasn't even trying'' She scoffed ''If you think this is tough then wait till you see what I have for you later on, but that's besides the point; your defence is sloppy, you don't treat your blade like you should and your attacks are rushed''.

''What did I tell you? Miss bitch'' His hollow/Zanpakuto sneered.

'I think I am starting to agree with you'

''Get up'' She said and removed the tip of the sword from my neck, walking a few paces away and taking a stance ''Stop treating your blade as a mere weapon''.

''Well a Zanpakuto is a sword with a spirit inside it, right?'' I frown at her as I get up, not missing the growl in my head.

''Of course not'' She scolded ''A Zanpakuto is a part of your soul, the blade you wield now is an Asauchi - which is a plain old weapon. If you want to turn it into your Zanpakuto you should treat it as an extension of your body, think of it like when you fight against those pesky gangs or whatever - you wouldn't carelessly throw your fists about, you would be careful because you could damage them if not cared with precise aim''.

''So I just have to treat it like an extension of myself in a sense?'' I frown and she nodded, her stance changed in an instant and that's all the warning I got before she appeared in front of me and swung down at me. I raised my Asauchi to block and my entire body buckled under the strike, I swear the ground cracked below me. She was deliberating going easy on me, which was abundantly clear by the calm if not relaxed (yet still stoic) expression on her face.

I was going at full throttle, dodging and weaving her blows while hacking and slashing with the weapon in my hands at her. She easily blocked the attacks with only one hand on her sword while the only hang by her side almost tauntingly, showing she had no use of using two hands when fighting myself. Each time our swords met she had easily held her ground, even pushing me back with a simple push forwards. Despite I knew I was outmatched I had to get stronger so I could rescue Rukia and I had six months to do so.

With new-found vigour I speed up as much as I can, her expression remained unchanged as she continued to block each of my strikes, though her eyebrow had lifted in a show of mild surprise. She disappeared in a blur and appeared ten feet back, the passive hand glowing a bright blue and crackling.

''Hado #4: Byakurai'' She said and a bolt of lightning barely missed me, going over my shoulder and striking what I assumed was a tree ''That was a low-level Hado spell, its the second Hado spell I will be teaching you, though I want you to try and cast it; push your Reiryoku, or energy, into your fingertip and imagine firing a bolt of lightning''.

I point out a finger and do as she asked, picturing the same attack she did and pushing my power into my finger. It glows a crackling blue as a small ball of energy forms at the tip of my finger, I look on in awe at it and momentarily lose concentration of it. It shook slightly and I immediately tried bringing it back under control but did not expect it to blow up... in my face.

I stumbled back from the small puff of black smoke that came from the explosion and turned my gaze onto Asami, who while seemingly remained impassive held an obvious glint of amusement in her one visible eye causing my eyebrow to twitch.

''You... you knew that was going to happen, didn't you?!''.

The corners of her lips twitched upwards slightly ''I had a hunch''.

I growl but quickly decide to dodge when the same bolt of lightning comes at me, courtesy of her pointing a finger at me. She disappeared again and running on instinct I twirled around to see her already swinging her blade down at me, I raised my sword to block but greatly underestimated the power behind this attack and was sent hurling through the air into a tree, bringing it with me to the ground.

''Damn it'' I grind my teeth ''How the hell are you so strong?''.

''I have trained for three quarters of my life Kurosaki'' She said as she walked over to me casually ''However if your growth rate is true, then you could catch up within a year''.

''Really?'' I blink in surprise and she nods, with new-found determination I rise to me feet ''Then I better try harder''.

A barely perceptible smile flashes across her face before she disappeared and reappeared in front of me and slashed at me ''By pushing your Reiryoku into your feet will allow you to perform Shunpo, which is why I keep blurring''.

I frown ''Uh, thanks?''.

Speak of the devil she disappeared in another blur, I heard the same indescribable sound behind me but when I spin around she wasn't there. A fierce pain shoots through my side as I catch sight of her blurring form again.

'Push my Reiryoku into my feet? Easy said than done...'

I tried doing as she said but instead it felt like my soles were on fire, prompting me to cut the flow off. I tried again with the small window of opportunity she was giving me and somehow still failed, irritating me.

''Holy shit your dumb as fuck'' His hollow groaned ''Ya have ta put intent behind it if ya want ta move''.

'What the hell does that mean!?'

''Reiryoku must have intent behind it to function, be it consciously or subconsciously. The reason your earlier spell failed was because you didn't intend to strike your opponent with it, rather you took to observing at it... though to be able to nearly perform a Hado so early, particularly since this is your first Kido you've learnt is incredible'' His Quincy supplied.

Mentally nodding, I focused on a piece of land a few feet away and pushed my Reiryoku into my feet and the world, if only for a fraction of a second, became a blur. It had worked, yes, but in a battle - especially against someone of Asami's calibre - it would be useless. She was as strong as a captain (I think) so that means if I can defeat her before we leave for soul society then I'll be strong enough to beat almost anybody (right?).

His instincts suddenly screamed and as such he used his newly acquired Shunpo to move a few feet ahead and spun around, barely raising his blade in time to block her strike and be sent skidding back. She was back on me in an instant, her long katana swinging with deadly precision of flurrying slashes and stabs. I used Shunpo to move to the area to her left and swung at her, her face showed brief surprise before she brought her blade up and blocked it with apparent ease.

''We haven't been in here for a quarter of an hour and you can already perform Shunpo? Impressive Kurosaki'' She stated ''But if you want to save your friend, the you'll have to get better!''.

Her Reiatsu flared slightly making the air heavy before she bolted forwards, her katana swinging to slash my torso in two. I brought up my blade but like many times before I was sent flying back, this time extra far. He skidded to a stop before using Shunpo to move closer to my opponent, it worked and I intercepted her sword mid-flight and brought us back to a deadlock, though her expression was morphing into barely-there respect.

Ignoring that fact, I moved back slightly then shoved forwards in an attempt to off-balance her, it partially worked in she lost her balance but it only happened for less that a millisecond - making it useless. She came back full force, her swings near unpredictable yet each had an overpowering strength behind them.

'Dammit! I will win!'

I block another swing, I attempt to get inside her guard but she easily stops me from doing so. My breaths had began to come out in pants and I had numerous cuts on my body, all of them ignored. I had gotten a few good hits on her too, though it only made her increase the difficulty each time. I Shunpo to the side and slash at her but the blade it blocked by her own, she twists her body and breaks the deadlock before slashing down my torso. I wince and Shunpo backwards, narrowly avoiding another slash at me.

She extends her free hand ''Bakudo #4: Hainawa''.

A golden chain shot out of her open palm, it took me off guard and I had no defence to block it. It wrapped around my torso and forced my arms to stick to my sides, I put pressure against them and struggle to break free but I never got the chance. Like a whip, she snapped it to the right and not a moment later I found myself shooting with the rope still binding me. I smashed into a few trees before my momentum stopped and the rope disappeared, I involuntarily cough and spat out blood before wiping my arm with my sleeve.

Dust surrounded me but I could faintly sense Asami ahead of me, taking a shot in the dark I raised my index finger.

''Hado #4: Byakurai!'' I cry, focusing on the bolt from earlier that Asami had wordlessly used and aimed it at where I felt her coming from. It worked, though with nowhere near the level of precision that she used. It flew into the dust cloud and I followed with Shunpo, which brought me out of the smoke cloud to see Asami standing casually with a mildly impressed look, a burnt smoke smoking on her right bicep.

''You continue to impress, Kurosaki'' She nodded before disappearing in a blur once again, causing me to grumble out an incoherent curse before raising my blade to block hers from the front.

''I've been meaning to ask'' I say, blocking her rapid strikes with less difficulty than before ''Your as strong as a captain right? that means if I beat you, then I'll have n problem in soul society''.

''Nope'' She replied simply ''I'm on a much higher level than the captains, save the senior captains who could give me a run for my money if they went Bankai''.

''Senior captains?'' I frowned ''Are they like a rank above regular captains?''.

''Technically? No. They are like all the other captains but the reason they are called senior is because they have been around for the longest, centuries, maybe even a millennium. While the share the same rank as the other captains, their strength is unprecedented. They could likely take on two Bankai from other captains with only their Shikai, I haven't seen their Bankai before and I was told they haven't used it in centuries''.

I Shunpo'ed out of the way of another literal jab ''Can you explain the whole hierarchy thing please?''.

She nodded but continued to slice at me, ignoring the fact I was panting like a dog ''The bottom of the food chain are unseated officers, they can be put on the same level as a weak hollow. There are hundreds of unseated officers in each division and mostly have basic jobs like taking reports somewhere and replaying messages. Next are seated officers, each seat has a fair boost in power to the last seat. It goes from 20 all the way down to 3, the lower the number the more powerful - especially the 5-3. Next is a lieutenant, like the pineapple you fought before''.

I snort at hearing the nickname for the lieutenant but allow her to continue without interruption, pushing myself extra hard not to get sent flying back just so I can hear this whole system.

''They are leaps and bounds stronger than others so if you encounter them, do not hesitate when fighting them. Next up are the captains, who are far stronger than any lieutenant and possess Bankai, do you know that term?''.

''You've mentioned it a few times in passing'' I reply quickly.

''Mm, basically Bankai is the second release of your Zanpakuto, the first being Shikai which is what your training to achieve. Bankai usually requires a decade of training to achieve, though that time varies on person to person really. Most leave it at that, knowing Bankai and all done and dusted. What most people fail to do, hell what most cant do is master their Bankai... Bankai is an understanding of yourself and your Zanpakuto and accepting it, it is simple in theory but requires honesty, since your Zanpakuto can see through lies and will not be happy if you go lying to it''.

''Mastering your Bankai grants a huge power boost, and I mean huge'' She finished.

''Have you mastered your Bankai?'' I ask, blocking another swipe.

''Plural'' She corrected, gesturing with her free hand at the other sword at her waist ''And yes''.

''Oh, I thought both blades were the same Zanpakuto just in two'' I admit.

''Mm, that's what any duel wielder would say'' She explained ''My mothers side of the family tree were inherent duel wielders, we are born with one blade and spawn a new one once our soul is powerful enough''.

''Is that even possible?'' I ask with wide eyes, her lips tug up in the corners slightly.

''I've made a self-sustaining dimension, and your asking if having two different Zanpakuto is possible?''.

''Point taken'' I grunt ''When are you going to show your Shikai?''.

She chuckled ''You can barely hold up against me when I'm not going all out in my sealed state and you want me to release? Don't get cocky Kurosaki''.

She disappeared in another blur and appeared by my side, blade already in motion. I Shunpo away but still get a small gash on my side, making me curse silently.

She held out a palm to me, silently signalling Kido spell ''Hado #31: Shakkaho''.

A red ball of fire forms quickly and just as quickly shot out at me, despite looking much less dangerous than a Byakurai the higher number silently warned me. I Shunpo'ed out of its path and prepared to charge Asami when the Shakkaho must've hit something because a huge rumble, I spun around and my jaw nearly dropped at seeing the massive pillar of red fire.

I used Shunpo just in time to avoid a sneak-attack from her, I held out my fingertip as another Byakurai spell began charging up. She disappeared into her usual blur and the sound of her appearing behind me signalled me to ditch the attack in favour of attempting to block her attack with both hands. It sent me skidding back but at least I didn't go flying.

I spun around to meet her blade for the millionth time, I move forwards and jab forwards rapidly and forcing her to go on the defensive. I didn't know how long we were fighting for but despite feeling tired I felt... elated for a better word. My unnamed Zanpakuto still refused to tell me its name (damn him) but at the same time, I kinda didn't want to know its name, not until I can force Asami into Shikai. Speaking of which...

''Hado #63: Raikoho!'' She called and her palms glowed yellow before a shot of yellow electricity at me, I immediately raised my own palm and prayed it wouldn't blow up in my face again.

''Hado #33: Sokatsui!'' I cry and I mentally cheered once the blue shot of fire intercepted her Raikoho and blew both of them up. He once again mentally thanked his Zanpakuto for helping with the spells, instructing him on how he should use them.

'That's the fifth time she's used that spell... yet when I try and mimic her it just blows up, ah may as well keep trying'

She disappeared and struck from the front, her blade met mine in a shower of sparks but she surprised me by shooting her fist into my gut. The oxygen leaves my lungs and my head bows in shock, only for her knee to come up and hit my head, sending me tumbling away.

I grind to a halt a fair distance away and prepare to fire a Kido spell when I hear the words ''Bakudo #4: Hainawa''.

The chain caught my wrist that held my Asauchi-turned-Zanpakuto, the chain yanked and forced my wrist down. She didn't waste a second and rammed her knee into my chest, making me go sprawling away again.

''Damn, you never said you'd be using hand-to-hand'' I growl, spitting out some blood while getting back into a stance.

''I didn't say I wouldn't either'' She retorted and charged me in the blur of Shunpo, a sneaky thought comes to mind.

'I have an idea...'

My palm glowed with yellow electricity as the spell formed, not a moment too soon she appeared before him but widened her eyes upon seeing the Kido in my hand.

''Hado #63: Raikoho!'' I cried out and the electricity surged violently and exploded, the distance between us leaving no room to evade.

'That... was a bad idea'

''Ya think?''.

Scowling, I gingerly lift myself off the ground and back into my stance. There was a large crater where I once stood, Asami had also been pushed back and had mild burns on her skin, though that was probably the most damage I've inflicted so far. I took more damage and my outfit was burnt away at the torso, in any other situation I might have been embarrassed by the lack of clothing but right now the elation and adrenaline from the current battle whisked away such thoughts.

''Interesting use of Kido there, even if you took some damage yourself'' She acknowledged before taking her stance again ''But I don't think your down for the count yet''.

I grin ''Like hell I am, I ain't giving up until I force you t use your Shikai''.

Her lips curve upwards into a small grin ''Then your going to try harder, causing I won't hold back anymore''.

Her body glowed as the weight in the air increased tenfold, in turn I flare my own and charge at her in a series of rapid Shunpo. My blade meets her and upon them meeting she buckles for only a moment before pushing back, she disappeared and reappeared further back for a change.

''Hado #32: Okasen!'' She cried out and from her free palm a huge erratic wave of yellow energy shot out, spreading out the further it got.

'Shit!'

I Shunpo away instinctively but the attack still burns my left side badly, causing me to scowl as I used Shunpo to get closer. Our blades meet and sparks fly off as each of us try to hit the other, the occasion scratch aside it seemed impossible. Both of us were panting now, me more than her but I still pushed on fiercely. If this is as strong as she is without releasing her Shikai then I have a chance.

Jumping back slightly I point my free hand at her ''Hado #4: Byakurai''.

The bolt of lightning shoots out like a bullet, she deftly side-stepped the attack and blurred forwards, though it was slightly easier to see her form as she moved this time around. Our blades meet and I remove one hand from the grip of the blade and throw a punch at her stomach, judging by the expression on her face she clearly didn't expect me to do that. I Shunpo back and build up energy in my free palm while my Zanpakuto tries to keep the spell together, once I reach far enough away I attempt the Hado that kept failing before.

''Hado #63: Raikoho!'' For once the Hado bent to my will and shot out, its aim slightly off but still would hit Asami, had she not done what followed.

''Bakudo #81: Danku'' She said and a mirror-looking barrier appeared in front of her, blocking the shot. The Kido had exploded on contact and made a veil of smoke, hindering my sight until it was cleanly chopped in half by her blade. Instead of using Shunpo to attack she took a few steps forward until she was out of the black cloud, revealing an unsettling yet almost imperceptible grin.

''Lets turn this up a notch, shall we?'' She grinned ''Shine, Tsuki no Megami''. (Tran: Moon Goddess).

Her Reiatsu flared a brilliant white, her simple katana transformed completely; the blade long but retaining the average length of a katana, the silver and blue guard, the blue handle with silver outlines and a short ribbon trailing off the bottom of the hilt. She twirled the blade it her finger once before retaking her stance, disappearing in an even faster blur and reappearing a few steps in front of me. She swung her blade upwards as a white glow spread across it, causing my eyes to widen.

''Mikadzuki'' She called calmly as the white glow took on the form of a thin crescent-shaped white mass of power. It flew at me and felt like twice the amount of her normal swing strength, I blocked it but it was pushing me back even as I dug my heels into the ground. Eventually after what seemed like forever the attack lost its strength and faded away completely, less than a second later Asami was on me again and we clashed blades for a brief second before I as sent skidding back by the sheer power behind her attack. (Tran: Crescent Moon)

Despite all that I couldn't help but grin, I got her to use her Shikai - which also made my Zanpakuto speak up.

''I think yer strong enough ta know ma name'' He said suddenly ''I had intended a fight between you and me but fuck that! This is way too much fun! C'mon and call my name...''.

The words were muted yet all to clear at the same time, I Shunpo back several dozens of feet and pointed my blade to the heavens with a wide grin.

''Pierce the heavens, Zangetsu!''.

''Chiro''.

Said girl turned to look at me, her eyes wide and full of panic as a cold sweat ran down her cheeks. Her body was heaving and panting as if she had just ran a marathon, which she had clearly not at this time of night. Her bed sheets were disturbed and ruffled, her pillows visibly wet from what he could only guess was tears and/or sweat.

''T-T-Toshi?'' She whimpered, her voice so soft and vulnerable sounding.

''Are you alright?'' I ask gently, who would've guessed Chiro of all people would be in such a... terrible state from whatever nightmare she had?

''Y-Yeah'' She audibly gulped ''P-Perfectly fine''.

I was silent for a long moment, she was shaking slightly and had signs of a nightmare for sure but... what could scare her? It was hard to admit but despite how cheery she always was, he thought of her as near-invincible. She took on multiple Vasto Lorde without releasing her Shikai and ended the fight in less than a minute, where-as I could barely hold up against one. What could make her quiver? Certainly not the monster Zaraki Kenpachi, nor the madman Mayuri Kurotsuchi or even the stern captain commander, hollows even less.

Broken by her own mind, huh... fitting.

''Nightmares?'' I break the silence, she looked away and found the floor suddenly interesting. I sigh, walking in the room and sitting on the edge of her bed.

It had become an odd routine. Chiro had nightmares on a semi-regular basis; maybe one in every four nights. Her father, Kisuke, or her sister Asami usually came in and waited until she calmed down and sent her back to bed after a few comforting words. One night I had woken up to her thrashing in the other room, I had assumed something was wrong like assassins or something and made my way to her room. She had a bad case of PTSD according to Kisuke, though he politely asked that I not bring it up and I obliged, since despite how much the residents included me I was still - technically - a guest and didn't want to overstep any boundaries.

I had inadvertently taken up the role of calming her down, since she seemed at ease around me. Kisuke and Asami still did it too, though more often than not it was me. I didn't mind too much and adjusted my sleeping schedule to it, I would stay up a few hours after she went to bed and if she didn't wake up, then that basically meant that she was sound for the night.

It always left a bad taste in his mouth; what if she had experienced this when in the Gotei 13 for those few months? Nobody familiar to you or to comfort you, how did she survive? Admittedly it wasn't dangerous and even if nobody did anything to help her she would calm down on her own, though it was the fact alone that she had to suffer so much when she was under his command... it made his stomach churn in guilt.

''Do you want to talk about it?'' I ask in a soft whisper, since I had never asked such a thing before in fear it would set her off. She stiffened over and a sense of guilt washed over me, but before I could apologise she gave a barely perceptible nod. Silence ensued for a few moments, the only light being that which came through the small window at the other side of the room.

''Its a long story'' She sighed softly.

''I can listen for as long as you want me to'' I reply.

She gives me a small but grateful smile, one that needed no words to convey what she meant.

''It happened 105 years ago, on July 17th...''.

A/N: I will say now that next chapter will delve into Chiro's past and show a bit more of her friendship with Toshiro, and will contain darker themes and stuff like that.

SPOILER!

She gave me a sad smile ''Nee-san found out what happened''.

I pale slightly, her sister had never shown even an ounce of anger towards him or anyone else apart from casual banter with her father. An angry Asami? Hell may as well break loose.

''What happened next?'' I gulp.

She smiled darkly ''Anything within a fifteen feet radius of her was destroyed from existence from her Reiatsu alone, be it living, dead or inanimate''.