End of Trial
"It's done, isn't it?", Ryuji asked Senjumaru as he sheathed his Zanpakuto.
"Yes, it is done. You have defeated a hundred hollows.", Senjumaru told him.
"Well, did it impress you?", Ryuji asked her, looking her sharp in the eye.
"Defeating 35 hollows in a single evening is impressive enough. You have passed the trial.", Senjumaru told him, looking back into his eyes.
"As I thought.", Ryuji commented.
"You guessed that this would be my answer?", Senjumaru asked him.
"I knew it.", Ryuji asked her.
"Pretty confident, aren't you?", Senjumaru asked him.
"Nope…", Ryuji replied with a sigh, making Senjumaru smile.
"Let us-", Senjumaru's answer was cut by her sensing a hollow.
"What is that?", Ryuji asked, looking up at the sky.
"Menos Grande…", Senjumaru spelled out as a Menos Grande appeared in Karakura town.
"…", Ryuji stood without making a sound as he watched Ichigo make the Menos Grande retreat and Ishida stabilize Ichigo's power.
The Next Day, Karakura High School,
"Ryuji!", Ichigo shouted to Ryuji while dribbling the soccer ball.
"Ichigo! Shoot!", Ryuji shouted back as he ran forward toward the opposing goalpost.
"Here it comes!", Ichigo shot the ball toward the goalpost.
"It's a clean save!", the goalkeeper yelled as he stood in the path line of the ball.
"Not so much!", Ryuji said with a smirk, changing the course of the ball, and hitting a goal.
*rrrriiiinnnnggggg*, the coach blew his whistle, ending the game.
"4-1?", Ryuji asked Ichigo while taking short breaths.
"4-1.", Ichigo replied with a smile.
"Hm…", Ryuji smirked and high-fived his brother.
"You two have steel for bones to kick like that.", Mizuiro told them.
"Opinions vary.", Ryuji replied.
"Hurry up and put all the equipment back in the room!", The coach yelled, making the boys collect all the cones and the soccer balls.
"How many more?", Ichigo asked pushing the ball cart.
"The last one…", Ryuji placed the last ball in it and helped Ichigo push it to the room.
"I can handle this myself.", Ichigo told Ryuji as they put the cart in its place.
"Probably.", Ryuji replied, stretching his arms and walking off.
"Hey Ichigo, how about going to karaoke?", Keigo asked Ichigo, letting Ryuji walk away to his own devices.
'That incident with the Menos Grande will drag attention to Ichigo.', Ryuji thought to himself, sitting under a tree.
Sometime Later,
'Where am I? Why is it dark?', Ryuji thought to himself as he could only see black.
Opening his eyes, he saw…
Walls…In front of him, Ryuji found walls taller than the largest skyscrapers. He looked down to notice that he was standing on lush green grass. The sound of water falling seeped into his ears. He found himself drawn to it somehow, evident by his walking towards it. He entered an area filled with tall trees that had slash marks on them. He followed the sound for a while, leading him to his destination.
"A waterfall?", Ryuji asked himself.
"Here…", A voice reached his ear.
'Who was that?', Ryuji asked himself as he turned around.
"Look here…", The voice called out to him again.
"Who are you?", Ryuji asked as he turned around to find a fairly tall man of fair complexion.
He had black eyes, under which were long, pronounced tear troughs. He had jet-black hair that was pulled back in a long ponytail and his face was framed with center-parted bangs that extended down his chin. His attire consists of a maroon long-sleeved cloak with a burgundy highlight that flares out into ragged ends, dark blue pants, and black open-toed sandals.
"Who? What are you talking about? It's me, _.", The man replied to him.
'I didn't hear it.', Ryuji observed.
"I see. It seems that I can't reach you. How sad… How many times should I cry out before you could hear me? There is no one in this world who knows me more than you.", The man told him with a sigh.
"Forgive me but I don't remember ever knowing you.", Ryuji replied.
"You seem to have no problem wielding me to fight your battles. ", The man stated.
"What? You are talking as if you're my-", Ryuji said with a mocking laugh before his eyes widened in realization.
"Finally realized it?", The man asked with a smile.
"Are you my…Zanpakuto spirit?", Ryuji asked him.
"Yes.", The man answered with a smirk, confirming Ryuji's realization.
"Senjumaru told me that in order to gain more power, I need to know my Zanpakuto's name. But, as I witnessed, I can't seem to hear it.", Ryuji stated.
"You are as sharp as I knew you'd be.", The spirit praised him.
"And yet, I can't hear your name. How do I do it?", Ryuji asked his spirit.
"You need to thin the mental barrier placed between us.", The spirit replied.
"How do I-", Ryuji's question was cut off by a shiny, bright light blocking the two.
"It seems that you need to go back. We'll meet again, Ryuji.", The spirit told him as Ryuji disappeared.
At School,
"Ryuji! Ryuji! RYUJI!", A voice called out to Ryuji who was on the bed.
"Wait…What?", Ryuji asked as he opened his eyes and found that the voice was Tatsuki
"Thank God... You passed out near the tree.", Tatsuki informed him as Ichigo walked in with the group.
"Are you feeling alright?", Chad asked Ryuji.
"I'm fine. Thanks, Chad.", Ryuji replied.
"You made us worry a lot.", Rukia told him.
"Yeah…Tatsuki-chan was on the verge of crying…", Orihime said before Tatsuki pushed her hand on her mouth.
"Wait…What was that?", Ryuji asked.
"Nothing! It's nothing…", Tatsuki told him while blushing.
"Well, you guys take off. I'll bring him home.", Ichigo told them.
"Get well soon, Kurosaki-san.", Rukia said before leaving with her signature way of bowing down.
"We're taking off as well.", Tatsuki said as she turned around.
"Make sure to not think about me…", Ryuji said with a teasing smirk.
"W-Who'd think about an idiot like you?", Tatsuki said embarrassed before leaving with Orihime.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?", Ichigo asked Ryuji.
"Absolutely…", Ryuji replied, earning a sigh from Ichigo.
"Let's go now…I'm glad you're okay.", Ichigo said with his back to Ryuji.
"I as well, Ichigo.", Ryuji replied.
Kurosaki Household, After School,
"We're home…", Ryuji and Ichigo announced in sync.
"Welcome home, you two….", Isshin wished with a large smile on his face.
"Ichigo…Be ready.", Ryuji warned his brother.
"As If I'd say that!", Isshin yelled before executing a dropkick.
"Hmph…", Ryuji dodged the drop-kick while Ichigo got hit straight to the face.
"You delinquent sons! You have broken the 7 PM rule again.", Isshin scolded.
"It's 6:55…", Ryuji pointed out to Isshin.
"Heh? Really?", Isshin asked him.
"Yes…", Ryuji showed his watch to Isshin.
"S-Sorry for punishing you without checking. Haha….", Isshin told them with a nervous laugh.
"Dad!", Ichigo spelled with a death glare as he got up.
"W-Wait Ichigo! I have a good explanation! No…No…NOOOO!", Isshin started saying in fear and screamed at the end as Ichigo approached him with the devil's glare.
'I don't know why but that felt good.', Ryuji thought to himself, knowing that his watch is 5 minutes slow.
Later that night, The Abandoned Warehouse,
"I'm here…", Ryuji announced, walking inside the warehouse.
"…", Senjumaru watched him walk in without any expression.
"My family's asleep, just like you asked.", Ryuji told her, standing before her.
"…", Senjumaru's expression didn't change.
"…Senjumaru?", Ryuji called out her name.
"…", Senjumaru was still wearing the same expression.
"What's wrong?", Ryuji asked her, being on alert.
"Ryuji-kun…Do you know what you should do today?", Senjumaru asked Ryuji with a smile.
"What?", Ryuji asked her, relaxing a little.
"…Die.", Senjumaru said with a serious expression and the soldier attacked Ryuji from behind.
"Argh!", Ryuji grunted at the pain as he barely dodged that attack.
"…", The soldier stood before Ryuji, his blade coating its sword.
"Senjumaru…What the hell is going on?!", Ryuji asked Senjumaru, confused by the situation.
"…", Senjumaru gave him the same face, summoning more soldiers.
"I see. You want to take back the power given to me.", Ryuji theorized in realization.
"Yes…", Senjumaru replied.
"Didn't you say that you'd let me be a Shinigami if I defeat a hundred hollows in a way that impresses you? Kind of bad of you Shinigami to go back on your promises.", Ryuji stated after the question.
"It's true that you impressed me with your progress. But I am obligated to get back the power given to you.", Senjumaru replied.
"On what basis? I passed the trial.", Ryuji stated.
"That is true.", Senjumaru replied.
"What you say makes no sense!", Ryuji scowled out loud.
"SHUT UP! DID YOU THINK A MERE HUMAN LIKE YOU CAN BECOME A SHINIGAMI?!", Senjumaru yelled, hitting the nail in the coffin.
"…", Ryuji's bangs hid the that was radiating out of his eyes.
"…", Senjumaru watched Ryuji as she regained her composure.
"If you want my power, come and get it!", Ryuji acclaimed with rage in his voice, unsheathing his Zanpakuto.
"Do you really think that you, a Shinigami that doesn't even know his Zanpakuto's name, can get out of this alive? You're a hundred centuries early!", Senjumaru asked him before yelling out her statement, making the guards attack him.
"Guh!", Ryuji bit his teeth as he launched himself toward them.
One of the soldiers tried to slash Ryuji's chest but was tackled by Ryuji dodging and boosting forward. Another soldier, who was on Ryuji's way, tried to stab Ryuji but was blocked by Ryuji's Zanpakuto. Ryuji, placing his entire weight on his Zanpakuto, went 180o and kicked the guard on the back of its head. Before he could recover, another soldier attacked him. Ryuji used his acrobatic body to lock the arm of the soldier with his legs and countered into an arm lock.
"It seems your soldiers have lost their silver touch.", Ryuji mocked Senjumaru.
"…Got you.", Senjumaru stated with a smile.
'Huh?', Ryuji thought to himself before realizing the intent but, it was too late.
A soldier suddenly appeared behind him out of nowhere and slashed his right shoulder, rendering Ryuji's arm immobile. Another soldier appeared and slashed at him, leaving Ryuji no choice but to use his left arm for wielding the Zanpakuto. Ryuji was forced to kneel under pressure as three more soldiers attacked him with their blades, which landed on his Zanpakuto.
"You were all confident a moment before…now do you see the difference between our power. You can't even defeat my least strong minions.", Senjumaru mocked Ryuji with a triumphant smile.
'Damn it! If this rate goes on, I'll die! C'mon…Think! There's got to be something I can do!', Ryuji thought to himself while trying to keep the soldiers at bay.
"It's over!", Senjumaru told him with her fingers pointing at him.
'That's it!', Ryuji widened his eyes in realization as he watched Senjumaru's fingers and regained feeling in his right arm.
*clang**clang**clang**clang*, More soldiers came in to attack Ryuji.
"Bakudō #39. Enkōsen!", Ryuji chanted while he placed his right arm on the Zanpakuto, generating a dull yellow energy, which takes the form of a large spinning disk of condensed Reiatsu and blasted it, sending all the soldiers away from him.
*clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap*
"That was impressive. To think that you'd use Kido…You've impressed me yet again. But, I still am…going to kill you.", Senjumaru praised Ryuji after clapping and stated her desire to kill him even now as more soldiers appeared before Ryuji.
"…", Ryuji stood there without a word.
"Out of Ideas already…I expected more from you. Well, it can't be helped…you're just a-", Senjumaru's words were interrupted by the sudden spike in the reiatsu emanating from Ryuji.
"…Hmm!", Ryuji's mouth made out a smirk.
"What in the world?!", Senjumaru asked herself as she witnessed Ryuji cut through the soldiers in front of him in seconds.
"I don't know why but I feel so good. It's like you guys have become dead slow.", Ryuji stated, sporting a euphoric smirk and his red eyes.
'You have become faster, you idiot!', Senjumaru thought to herself as Ryuji dominated the other soldiers with his Reiatsu.
"Let's see if it's me who's getting killed!", Ryuji stated before pouncing on a soldier and slashing his head off.
'…', Senjumaru's eyes widened at Ryuji's power.
"One down.", Ryuji counted.
One soldier came at him at insane speed and slashed at Ryuji. The attack was proven ineffective as Ryuji ducked the slash and cut the soldier in half. The blood from the soldier covered Ryuji's face. The second soldier descended on Ryuji with a slash which Ryuji blocked with his Zanpakuto.
"Hadō #4. Byakurai!", Ryuji chanted, pointing at the soldier with his index finger and generating a concentrated bolt of lightning that shot through its head, destroying it.
'His reiatsu is growing!', Senjumaru thought to herself as the other soldiers went on their knees under the pressure.
"To end this…Hado-", Ryuji's words stopped after he shoot up to the sky, prepared himself to shoot a Kido, and found Senjumaru next to him with his reiatsu disappearing completely.
"It's done…", Senjumaru finished her sentence and Ryuji fell to the ground with his back and chest slashed.
'I never saw it…Her moving from there and slashing me…Even the place where she slashed me first, escaped my vision…', Ryuji thought to himself as he saw that even his Zanpakuto was broken by that slash.
"I have shattered the vital spots of your soul, the Saketsu and Hakusui, which means you should die within the hour.", Senjumaru told him as she stood next to his decapitated body.
"…", Ryuji could not utter a word.
"Knowing you, you'd somehow survive. But, it will still leave you with no Reiryoku or Shinigami powers.", Senjumaru stated.
"Look into my eyes when you speak to me!", Ryuji told her after catching hold of her Shihakusho.
"It seems you do not want to live…One day, when you have the same eyes as I do, come and stand before me!", Senjumaru and her words were overridden by someone else with the same red eyes with a different pattern.
"Guh...", Ryuji passed out with a groan and let go of Senjumaru.
Senjumaru activated the gate to Soul Society and left the human world. A couple of minutes later, a tall, lean man with light skin and gray eyes walked up to a passed-out Ryuji. His hair was messy and light-blond (almost pale), with strands framing the sides of his face and hanging between his eyes, and he had chin stubble. He wore a dark green samue, over which, he wore a black haori, which sports a white diamond pattern along its bottom half, reminiscent of an inverted captain's haori.
He wore traditional Japanese wooden sandals and a striped dark green and white bucket hat. Carrying a fan and using it to hide his face, he observed Ryuji.
"Well…well. This is certainly interesting…", The man told himself before starting to heal Ryuji.
End of Chapter – 6.