Chapter 37: Final Day

"Alright Tom put in your all because if you fail I'm afraid it'll be to hazardous on your life to attempt another day" Mitch said before shunpoing up to the top of the cliff leaving Tom to stab his zanpakuto into the target for what would be the last time. Tamashii Seigei appeared in a bright burst of light as he stood up yawning "I hope you have figured out my riddle for there is no time left" as Tom smiled triumphantly "The answer to your riddle of how to defeat a man without killing him is simple, I must be stronger than that man so when we fight he won't be able to hurt me but I can easily defeat and break him".

Upon hearing those words uttered Tamashii Seigei smiled "Excellent now take those words to heart and defeat me using those values" he roared a valiant battle cry charging towards Tom who readied himself in a defensive position to finally take down this tiger and master his Bankai.

"Wait what do you mean you forgot there was some extra paperwork!" Ania cried out as Matsumoto sheepishly smiled "Well umm I kind of didn't see that extra pile sitting next to my other pile, sooo can you kind of help me? It'll be done quicker and then I can go and do some other erm work". Shaking her head Ania knew Matsumoto just wanted her help so she could off and drink earlier but didn't want to outright say it "Fine I'll help" "YAY thank you!" Matsumoto gave her a boob crushing hug to her face in appreciation.

Sitting down she started to sort through the papers before noticing Matsumoto had fallen asleep on her paperwork "I can't take much more of this Mitch better hurry up and collect me to train for my bankai soon otherwise I'll go insane". "Mmmm look Tai chou I did all the work you wanted me to" Matsumoto mumbled in her sleep as Ania sighed grabbing her pile of paperwork as well and adding it to her own as that was the only way this would ever get done.

"I mean I know the answer to the riddle but actually putting it into practice and defeating Tamashii Seigei without killing him is easier said than done" Tom thought to himself as he side stepped a vicious claw swipe and then parried away a second swipe from his other paw.

Jumping back from the engagement he quickly looked around at his surroundings trying to figure out a way he could use them to his advantage to pin the tiger down. "Stop thinking and just act by what you feel" Tamashii Seigei said as he quickly disappeared from in front of Tom's eyes and appeared behind him with a clone directly next to him "So by feeling can you tell which one is the real me?"

Closing his eyes Tom focused solely on the tiger as he shut out all the noises from other life forms around him even the terrain pinpointing his mind just on the tiger. Opening his eyes his body moved without him even realizing blocking one strike from the tiger before he rolled him off the blade and then deflected a blow from the 2nd before slashing upwards cutting across the tiger's chest as it slowly dissolved away.

Shunpoing behind the remaining tiger he stabbed it through the chest as it dissolved away in a haze while a chuckle from Tamashii Seigei echoed around the arena.
"Not bad you knew they were both clones but where am I hiding?"

Shutting his eyes Tom focused his mind yet again as he felt a tiny force located between a pile of rocks just behind him "I think it's time I tricked this tiger". Slowly Tom went walking past pretending to have his guard up and not able to sense him as Tamashii Seigei thought he had his man waiting right until he had his back turned directly in front of him.

Leaping out of the rubble his claws retracted out ready to rake Tom's flesh, but he received quiet the surprise as Tom disappeared from in front of him as the tiger nimbly spun around blocking the counterattack. Before Tamashii Seigei could attempt to attack again Tom shunpoed away racing around the arena kicking up a dust storm. "Hahaha just because I can't see you boy doesn't mean I can't sense or smell you" the tiger closed his eyes focusing for Tom's reiatsu only to find he couldn't.

"Fine if that's the way he wants to play it" the tiger growled sniffing up into the air as he picked up Tom's scent hiding in the rubble where he had hidden earlier. "Nice try Tom but you should know it's impossible to sneak up on a tiger" the tiger roared leaping up into the air as his paw came slamming down sending debris scattering everywhere but instead of Tom being underneath all he found was the top half of his cloak.

He then felt the cold steel of Tom's blade pressed up against his throat as a knee was stuck into his back pinning the tiger down to the ground "Looks like I've subdued you without harming you" Tom said as although Tamashii Seigei had been beaten there was a huge smile across his face. "Well done Tom I'm impressed, you've now mastered your bankai congratulations." Tamashii Seigei slowly dissolved away into a white smoke as Tom collapsed to the floor battered and tired from all his training.

"Nicely done you managed to pass and not with a minute left to spare" Mitch said appearing next to Tom giving him a slap across the back as he face planted straight into the dirt. "Heh whoops forgot how tired you must be, well rest up and relax because tomorrow I'll start training you in kido and how to use your bankai in battle" he shunpoed away to do some of his own training leaving Tom to slowly drag himself up and over to the warm and embracing hot springs.

Elsewhere back in Seireitei Ania had her face flat down on the bar as she slept completely spent from all the work she had done and the lack of sleep as a result. "Hey Ania we could use some help cleaning the 10th squad training grounds" one of the men from her squad called out to her as she slowly raised her head letting out a groan "So much work I just want to sleep and relax". Picking herself up off the stool she grabbed a jug of sake and downed it all hoping the warm liquor would help get her through the long and surely eventful day she had left.