CHAPTER 13: BANKAI!

Tayomi sat down in the living room, opposite Kiseida. They both entered a meditative state, ready to come into contact with their Zanpakutou. Trying her best to clear her mind, freeing it from thoughts of Hitsugaya, Tayomi shut her eyes, gripping Inazuma Kaze's hilt as she entered her inner world, positive that if she did it right today, she would achieve Bankai. Her heart had been burning with curiosity ever since fifty Soul Society years ago, when she started training for Bankai. This was her second year in the Human World, which means that twenty years had passed in Soul Society. After tinkering with her communicator endlessly, she was still unable to fix it, though she knew that there was a part missing in her communicator, preventing it from functioning. She took a deep breath and entered her inner world.

The lightning storm had grown stronger in her inner world, ever since she began Bankai training. Inazuma Kaze had been going harder on her too, pushing her to the edges of her limits. Tayomi stood in the cold, dark blue water, unable to get a clear view of her surroundings. Bankai training had changed her inner world drastically. She was surrounded completely by mist and her surroundings were further blurred by the heavy rain and lightning flashing across the sky uncontrollably. It was a quiet storm, as no thunder was ever heard, even though lightning was streaking across the sky almost all the time, one after another. She shivered, as the temperature in the atmosphere plunged. The lightning storm had made her inner world freezing cold and made her hair stand. To make things worse, she was standing in icy cold water.

"YOU'RE OPEN!"

Tayomi instantly raised her blade, defending an attack from Inazuma Kaze. Inazuma Kaze still looked the same, wearing a dark blue cape, with a pale yellow shirt and navy blue shorts underneath. She had long yellow hair with blue highlights, with her fringe brushed to the right side of her face and the rest of her hair tied up into a low ponytail to the left side. She had fierce, sharp eyes which were pointed at the ends and her eye colour was sky blue. Her fingernails were painted gold and she had a pink cord tied around her right wrist, sharing the same shade of pink as Tayomi's hairband. Inazuma Kaze wore black boots and had another pink cord tied around her right ankle.

She cringed, as Tayomi managed to defend her attack. Lightning struck the area around Tayomi, causing her to get the feeling that Inazuma Kaze was going to be very harsh on her this time. She quickly escaped from the lightning area as fast as she could possibly go. Running with your feet in the water was not exactly the easiest thing to pull off. Inazuma Kaze dashed after her, shooting several lightning darts at her. One of them hit Tayomi straight in her left arm and blood started to drip from her wound. Tayomi grabbed the lightning dart and brutally pulled it out of her arm, knowing Inazuma Kaze's intention. Apparently, for Inazuma Kaze, part of her training included enhancing her durability. She had to admit, durability was important and ever since she started Bankai training, her body had been able to withstand more attacks as the years passed by. Taking a deep breath, she charged at Inazuma Kaze, raising her blade. She managed to land a hit on her, slashing her arm and causing blood to pour. Inazuma Kaze grinned and threw off her cape, before sending twenty lightning arrows at her. Tayomi neatly dodged every single one of them. Her speed had increased drastically as well ever since training. Tayomi had grown rapidly as a Shinigami, becoming stronger and stronger, getting closer to Bankai.

Just then, a breeze swept past and Tayomi immediately knew what it mean. Inazuma Kaze was going to use her final technique on her. She watched as the air around her turned into mini lightning bolts, attempting to electrify her. It was another test of durability. Tayomi was determined not the let the attack get to her. At the very most, the attack would not do much damage to her. She used Bakudou 73, Tozansho, creating an inverted pyramid-shaped shield around her. The lightning wind surrounded the inverted pyramid, electrifying and destroying it. Tayomi fell into the sea of water, landing on her feet and creating a small splash. Inazuma Kaze nodded, deciding on the next trick to pull on her master.

The fight had ensued for about an hour by now. Inazuma Kaze pointed a finger at Tayomi, creating a large bolt of lightning, aiming it in Tayomi's face. Tayomi knew exactly what Inazuma Kaze wanted her to do and raised her blade as the lightning bolt sped towards her. Inazuma Kaze would keep shooting the lightning bolts at her, increasing its speed if she did not do it right. Tayomi placed her palm against her Zanpakutou's blade, as it absorbed the lightning bolt. The impact caused by the lightning bolt was strong, as it pushed her backwards, creating a massive wave of water which splashed all over Tayomi. She stood strong and pushed her wet hair out of her face, before swinging her blade, directing the lightning bolt back towards Inazuma Kaze. Inazuma Kaze smiled and vanished all of a sudden.

Tayomi held her breath as she looked around her. If there was one thing Inazuma Kaze had taught her, it was that she must never reveal her fear to her opponent. She must never panic or be afraid whenever she was in front of them. She had to stay calm, breathe and stay on her toes. Tayomi gripped her Zanpakutou, waiting for Inazuma Kaze to appear before her eyes. Where is Inazuma Kaze? She waited, standing in the ice cold water, in the middle of her misty surroundings. Just then, she felt something move and raised her blade, nicely defending herself from an attack from Inazuma Kaze.

"Well done, Tayomi-chan…" Inzauma Kaze snarled, as her blade started glowing yellow, ejecting lightning bolts. "You'd better give me more than your all for the next hour…"

Tayomi tightened her grip on the hilt of her Zanpakutou. The final phase. She was finally here. It was make or break now. She usually faltered at the last stage, as Inazuma Kaze threw every single attack in the book at her. The last stage never failed to befuddle her, confuse her and make her wonder exactly what her weakness was. Just like Tayomi, Inazuma Kaze possessed extreme intellect. It was just like challenging her very own brain. Knowing Inazuma Kaze was a materialised version of her identity as a Shinigami, Tayomi was quite sure that Inazuma Kaze's weaknesses were the same as her own. My weakness… Tayomi thought as she defended every single attack that Inazuma Kaze threw at her, narrowly avoiding her attacks. Inazuma Kaze always fought fair… If her opponent used Zanjutsu against her, she would retaliate with Zanjutsu. If they used Kidou, she would use Kidou as well. Suddenly, it came to Tayomi.

HAKUDA!

It was risky, but definitely worth a shot. Tayomi kept her Zanpakutou, strapping it back into her white sash. Inazuma Kaze seemed surprised at her move, but decided not to use her katana as well, throwing the blade aside. Tayomi charged at Inazuma Kaze, jumping up and landing on Inazuma Kaze's head. She balanced on her for a while, before jumping up again and kicking her square on the shoulder. When using Hakuda, she was always nervous, not as sharp as she usually was. Smiling inside, she punched Inazuma Kaze's gut, knocking Inazuma Kaze backwards. Inazuma Kaze growled, stood up and prepared to attack Tayomi. Tayomi dodged her attack, then grabbed Inazuma's Kaze fist and flipped her over. They fought violently, as Inazuma Kaze punched and kicked, with Tayomi avoiding every single one of them. She knew she had to end it somehow. If she continued dodging, she would never defeat Inazuma Kaze. After a brief moment of thoughts, she realised that she had to take advantage of the situation. Since Inazuma Kaze was using Hakuda against her and still thought that Tayomi was going to fight back with Hakuda, it was a good chance for her to strike back.

"Hadou 90, Kurohitsugi!" Tayomi shouted, as she watched the spell work its magic. A box of energy formed around Inazuma Kaze, before it exploded. As the dust cleared, Inazuma Kaze coughed and the mist finally disappeared as well. Lightning streaked across the sky more rapidly, as she looked up at Tayomi, smiling.

"You've really grown… Now, Tayomi-chan, please tell me why I should teach you Bankai…" She panted.

"Bankai… The final release of a Zanpakutou." Tayomi's voice was full of determination and passion. " Inazuma Kaze, I really want to learn it. You know what happened. With Shikai, I still watched my comrades get slaughtered and massacred… I became a Shinigami to protect those I love. I want to learn Bankai, because I don't ever want to see them hurt again. If I achieved Bankai, I know it doesn't gurantee that I won't see them hurt, but at the very least, I can protect them and lessen the damage caused by my enemies…"

Inazuma Kaze smiled at her. "Alright then. One last thing though, tell me everything about the boy that has been occupying your mind…"

Tayomi looked up. The mist had cleared and it revealed illusions of Hitsugaya, with all sorts of expressions. His smile, his anger… It was all there. Her inner world was crowded with imaginary images of Hitsugaya, as well as her memories together with him. Tayomi sighed and told Inazuma Kaze all about him, including everything they had went through and her circumstances. Inazuma Kaze looked at her for a moment, before hugging her master and making an attempt to comfort her.

"Be strong for now and listen well. When you return to Soul Society, don't forget to introduce that boy's Zanpakutou to me… I might like him!"

Tayomi giggled, upon hearing Inazuma Kaze's words and nodded.

"Now, remember the name of your Bankai. I will teach you the techniques the next time we meet… I'm a little exhausted right now and I believe you are tired too. Remember it well, Tayomi-chan. I will say it once and once only."

Tayomi held her breath, her ears wide open, ready to hear the name of her Bankai.

"Inazuma Arashi*."

With that, Inazuma Kaze disappeared and Tayomi awoke, with a smile on her face. She had finally gotten her Bankai.

Inazuma Arashi.

Translation:
*Inazuma Arashi: Lightning Storm

Author's note:
YAY BANKAI! :D Now Tayomi has finally gotten her Bankai! Next chapter, Tayomi and Kiseida will run into our favourite candyman! XD Yes, Urahara and Yoruichi will run into them! Urahara will help them with a manual :) Hitsugaya becomes a Captain and we shall peep into his thoughts... ^.^
Stay tuned for the next chapter and please keep reviewing! XD Thank you! :D