Chapter 32: Bankai Training Day 1
"Alright we're here" Mitch said as Tom looked at the rock cliff overlooking the sea "We're going to train here? I mean there isn't much room" he said slightly confused as Mitch laughed "No we're not training here, we're training down there" he pushed a boulder aside as a ladder went down into a darkened area. After climbing down Tom stepped out into a huge desert like place that stretched for miles and had no sign of life at all simply giant cliffs and boulders.
"What the hell is this place?" Tom gasped as Mitch and Yoruichi both smiled "It's a place Urahara and myself made many years back that we used to play in" she said as they left Tom to wander around and take everything in. "So here's how this training is going to work" Mitch called out to Tom as he turned back around to find Yoruichi holding a target like statue of a person as Mitch walked over to it and continued to explain "This is a special device Urahara made that when stabbed by a zanpakuto forces your spirit into a physical state so that you may train with it in this world thus lessening the time that it takes to learn a bankai from 10 years to only a matter of days. You must complete the training in 3 days though because if you stab the device more than 3 times it can be hazardous to both your spirit and you".
Done with his explanation he stepped back to let it all sink into Tom's head before Yoruichi stepped forward to explain things even further. "You'll train for as long as your body can hold out then we'll call it a day and you can rest up for the night and resume training early next morning". Tom nodded his head in agreement as he walked towards the statue like thing and stabbed Tamashii Seigei through the centre as his sword sunk into the statue causing it to flare up in a bright white light. When the light had cleared Tamashii Seigei stood in front of everyone in his tiger form.
"Alright Tom your training starts now, Yoruichi and I will be watching your progress from on top of that cliff" the two of them shunpoed to the highest cliff before taking a seat to watch Tom begin the 1st day of his bankai training.
"So you wish to achieve your bankai Tom? Well for that to happen you must defeat me but know this before we begin, to defeat a man he does not need to be dead" Tamashii Seigei said as Tom tried to make meaning from his words but couldn't figure out the answer to this riddle.
Placing his left hand at the top of his blade he went to release his shikai only to find that nothing was happening. Confused he looked across to Tamashii Seigei who just grinned as well as a tiger could "That's not going to work Tom, like I'd allow you to use my very own powers to defeat myself you'll have to rely on your own skills and trust in yourself to win this fight". Glancing down at his unreleased blade which was nothing more than a regular katana Tom took a deep breath and closed his eyes trying to remain calm as he began to think.
"Alright you can't use your shikai but that's still no reason I can't defeat my own sword I mean I have other skills besides my zanpakuto" with that thought in mind Tom opened his eyes and ran towards Tamashii Seigei as he slashed the air but as nimble as a tiger Tamashii Seigei leapt easily out of the way and lunged at Tom his razor sharp claws extended out ready to rake Tom's bare flesh.
Tom only just managed to avoid the claws as he jumped back giving him some distance away from his opponent before attempting to sum up the situation he was in once again. "Right so I need to beat my spirit using my non released sword while he has access to all my shikai powers and on top of that I barely know any kido, so how do I beat someone who is stronger and more prepared than I am?"
"I'm not going to be giving you any time to think Tom!" Tamashii Seigei said with a snarl as the tiger lunged towards him teeth wide open ready to land a solid bite. Breaking free from his thoughts Tom looked up seeing the massive white tiger closing in quickly "No time to think here only to act". Tom brought his blade up as the tiger's teeth sunk into the metal while he was held midair with his razor-sharp teeth inches away from Tom's exposed throat.
With the tiger immobilized for now he ran forward and slammed the tiger into a boulder as Tamashii Seigei released his teeth from the sword and dropped straight to the ground. Tom swung his blade above his head and went to bring it down onto the tiger as it quickly leapt away to the side and started to sprint off as Tom ran in pursuit. The tiger ended up running into a dead end with a cliff to his back and Tom to his front as he grinned thinking that finally he had caught his man.
Charging forward his blade arced through the air as Tamashii Seigei slashed at the blade and knocked it back with his claws. Tom reined blow after blow with the tiger swatting each strike away with apparent ease and grace. Growing even more frustrated that none of his attacks had landed took a big horizontal swipe as Tamashii Seigei leapt high above the swipe landing on top of the blade. Stabbing up now the tiger leapt from the blade over Tom's head and landed behind him.
Slamming his paw into the ground a tiger composed of reiatsu raced towards Tom and leapt at him teeth and claws bared as he avoided the attack with shunpo and then ran a circle around the tiger expecting Tamashii Seigei to try and follow his movements but the tiger was far to wise as he sat down and closed his eyes merely waiting for Tom to strike at him instead.
Breaking free from his running circle Tom charged in from behind assuming he wouldn't notice the tip of his blade angled at the tiger's stomach. "I got you now" he thought to himself before Tamashii Seigei as elegantly as could be stood up leapt to the side avoiding Tom's stab and then spun around raking his claws across Tom's right arm as four bright red gashes appeared across his forearm as blood began to trickle out. The pain seared up his arm but still he gripped onto his blade spinning around and taking a slash at Tamashii Seigei who ducked under the attack and then moved swiftly again as Tom's blade slammed into the ground leaving only a small crater behind along with dust.
"Come now Tom you'll never be able to defeat me using those attacks. You still don't realize there are more ways to attack a man then through just brute force" the wise tiger spoke as Tom lifted his zanpakuto back and held it by his side attempting again to figure out the wise tiger's riddle.
"Enough time pondering you don't have the luxury of thinking while we're training" the tiger roared out as he dove at Tom who side stepped his attempt to grab him in a giant bear hug as Tom spun around his blade flying through the air as it nearly connected with Tamashii Seigei who managed to leap away just in time the tip of the zanpakuto slicing a few hairs from his back.
After 5 hours of sparring Tom dropped to the floor from exhaustion as his left and right arm were covered in multiple scratch wounds while blood was weeping from them. There was a particularly nasty bit mark on his neck from when the tiger nearly latched on and tore his throat clean open as Tamashii Seigei stood in front of Tom not even broken a sweat or covered in any scratches. "Well until we resume this tomorrow Tom think on my words" he said before evaporating into thin air and turned back into the target like dummy.
"Alright Tom go take a bath in the hot springs over to the right they'll heal all your wounds" Mitch yelled down as Tom looked up to see he was talking to Yoruichi about something but couldn't quite make out what it was and he was far too tired to even try. Dragging his tired and sore body across to the hot springs he practically face flopped into the water feeling the warm waters relaxing his aching muscles. He found while soaking in the water all the wounds on his arm were slowly beginning to close as he scooped up a handful and splashed it over the bite mark on his neck as that began to heal.
Laying back against the edge of the spring he pondered what Tamashii Seigei had mentioned earlier in their battle. Before he could think any deeper on the subject he felt the ground tremble and a huge explosion coming from the direction where Mitch and Yoruichi had both been earlier. "I should probably go check that out…. But I'm far too comfy" Tom thought to himself as he laid back and shut his eyes enjoying the warm feeling of the waters.