Chapter 52: Bankai Training Day 2

"So what's on the agenda today Hisagi?" Tom asked standing in front of the vice captain's desk as Shuhei spun around in his chair "Oh you're back from training already, well how was it?" "Excellent I learnt quiet a lot from Mitch and feel more than prepared for the upcoming battles against the White Lotus". "That's great to hear as for your errands today I decided you can go down to the 9th squad training grounds and practice with some of the other squad members".

Tom stared at him slightly confused as to why he needed more training when he had just come back from the rigorous training with Mitch. Hisagi noticed his apprehension and confusion "I know it seems strange, but we have a new squad member and after our previous captain's betrayal everyone is a little wary to trust newcomers. It would be good for everyone if you trained and sparred with them so they got to know you more personally and trust you which I'm sure they will after today". "Oh, when you put it that way I'll gladly get to know everyone" Tom said a wide smile on his face as he dashed out of the room eager to get to know his comrades even better.

"Are you ready for your second day of training?" Kanzen Bi asked as Ania nodded her head the strange pink that she had fought Grimmjow in yesterday slowly began to spread across the battlefield as she unsheathed her zanpakuto still wondering just what exactly this mist was and its purpose. Closing her eyes to sense out Kanzen Bi she found that the panther's spirit was everywhere almost like she had become the mist itself.

Opening her eyes something came to Ania whilst sensing the mist "Bankai trainings are all about the persons inner self and their spirit therefore this mist must have something to do me, why though is Grimmjow inside this mist and what connection could he possibly have to my inner self" she muttered to herself as an all too familiar voice spoke from inside the mist "Ah it's so refreshing to see your face once again and clash blades together".

Grimmjow stepped out of the mist smirking with his sword resting on his shoulder "Shall we resume where we left off yesterday?" Sheathing her zanpakuto though Ania placed both hands on her hips and glared at the blue haired man "First things first what exactly where you doing in my dream last night?" "In your dreams? Just what the hell are you talking about woman" Grimmjow stared at her completely clueless.

"Strange that he does not remember being in my dream and not to mention the one in my dream acts completely different to the one standing in front of me, are they perhaps two different people?" Ania thought to herself while Grimmjow continued to stare at her more visibly annoyed than confused. "Not that I don't mind staring at you but are we going to start fighting anytime soon?"

Snapping out of her trance as it was wasting precious training time Ania leapt towards Grimmjow slashing at his chest as he stepped back avoiding the strike his battle grin reappearing "It's about damn time!". Initiating a counterattack and going on the offensive Grimmjow lunged at Ania swinging down blow after blow which were all parried away by her as the two of them leapt about through the pink mist almost in a war like dance.

As their little dance wore on Ania found herself enjoying fighting against Grimmjow and even just being in his company "I wonder if he feels the same way that I do" she thought ducking under a swing and looking up at his face to find that massive battle grin plastered there as she guessed it'd be hard to tell from his facial expression.

Slashing at his throat Grimmjow leapt back avoiding the attack before dashing off deep into the foggy pink mist his laughter echoing around the battleground. Closing her eyes Ania decided it was best to try and sense him out rather than rush in blindly and risk being ambushed as she opened all her senses to the surroundings. All she sensed was Kanzen Bi but pushing that aside she searched even deeper and eventually located him and yet there was something very strange with his reiatsu.

There was traces of her reiatsu intertwined with his as she opened her eyes wondering that if he had her reiatsu then Grimmjow somehow had to be a part of her. "That can't be possible" she muttered to herself slowly stepping into the depths of the pink mist attempting to stalk Grimmjow who at the same time was doing the exact same thing to Ania smirking that she had fallen for his trap.

Leaping through the mist she sliced through a shadow only to find nothing was there as it dissolved away into pink mist before there was a sharp stabbing pain across her back followed by the warm feeling of something running down her back. Slowly Ania placed a hand to her back to find it was covered in blood, slowly she turned around to find Grimmjow standing there grinning as his blade was dripping with fresh blood. "Nice little trick there am I right?"

Ania pointed two fingers towards Grimmjow firing off a thin beam of lightning which he easily avoided, unleashing multiple bolts all of them were easily avoided as Grimmjow laughed the entire time "Just where the hell are you aiming woman?" That answer soon came as he jumped back and hit his back against a rock-solid object before realizing she had led him into a narrow rocky alleyway while Ania this time smiled "Seems I've caught my prey".

"Don't you always know a cornered prey is always the most dangerous!" Grimmjow roared charging straight at Ania his sword raised high in the air as it came arcing down towards her head. Side stepping the blow she pierced Kanzen Bi through Grimmjow's heart for the second time as blood erupted from his mouth "How ice cold of you stabbing me in the same place yet again" he said spitting out blood while placing a hand on the wound as Ania pulled her blade free.

Sheathing Kanzen Bi and assuming he was finally dead she stepped back only to watch Grimmjow rise back up the wound closing in a cloud of pink mist "You have got to be kidding me". "Can't kill me that easily Ania" he laughed as Kanzen Bi's voice echoed throughout Ania's head "To truly defeat him you must first defeat what is inside of you" "WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN!" she yelled in frustration as Grimmjow smirked "You're quite sexy when angry". "I think I'll take my frustrations out on you" she growled charging towards Grimmjow reigning blow after blow filled with all the rage at these useless riddles she could not solve.

Elsewhere back in the 9th squad training grounds Tom had gotten to know his squad members a lot better after sparring with them and having a chat after. "You know at first we had our debts whether we wanted you on the squad but after getting to know you a lot more we're glad to have you as our 3rd seat on the squad" one of the men said slapping Tom on the back as he grinned happy to be accepted.

Truth be told he had been incredibly nervous when first arriving as everyone glared daggers at him like he had done something wrong to them and refused to talk or spar with him. Luckily one of the younger squad members named Malik was nice enough to chat and spar with him and eventually everyone after seeing how friendly Tom was being with Malik slowly gathered around to have a chat with him".

"Thanks for your help Malik I don't think anyone would've spoken to me without your help" Tom sighed a breath of relief placing a hand on the young boys shoulder "Well looking at you I could tell you were a decent enough man" Malik said smiling. "How long have you been serving on the squad for?" Tom asked as he followed behind the other squad members who were heading to the bar to have a drink of sake to relax.

"I've only been serving for a few months and am a 20th seat but hopefully in time I can rise up through the ranks and become a single digit squad member just like you" he smiled enthusiastically "Well I'm sure with hard work and determination you'll be up in the high ranks". With the conversation finished they had arrived at the bar as the two of them took a seat at the table with their other squad members all of whom already had jugs of sake placed before them.

Grabbing a dish of sake Tom took a sip from the warm liquid "Hey that isn't half bad" he thought to himself never having tried it back in the real world "I wonder if they have beer here though". Looking around at everyone drinking and smiling while chatting away Tom sat back taking another sip of sake "Thank god I was accepted by everyone otherwise life here would've been quite hard" he thought to himself.

Ania dropped onto one knee exhausted from her constant violent barrage of attacks as she breathed heavily while Grimmjow who stood a few feet away was barely harmed and hadn't even broken a sweat. Slowly rising back up she wiped the sweat from her eyes before closing them and taking a deep breath to calm down and steady her thoughts. "Nothing is going to happen with you blindly attacking in anger" opening her eyes and letting out a breath she looked at Grimmjow wondering just how to defeat him as she realised he most certainly was not human but at the same time she could not tell what he was at all.

One thing was glaringly apparent though and that was somehow he was a part of her or she was a part of him in a strange and confusing way. "Whenever you're done taking a nap I'd like to kindly resume our battle, it's getting a bit boring just watching you stand there" Grimmjow said in a mocking tone as Ania's glared at him extending out her right hand as she began to chant a kido spell. "Awww come on I'm getting tired of these pathetic magic spells I want some hard sword on sword action!" Grimmjow growled charging straight at Ania bringing his blade down towards her head.

"Binding Art 26: Curving Light" Ania finished the spell as a bright white light engulfed her slowly disappearing just as Grimmjow's blade slammed into the ground hitting nothing. Gazing around the battlefield he smirked "I can tell you didn't use shunpo to escape so you must be hiding somewhere, but don't worry I'll find you soon enough".

Electricity crackled in his right fist as a small bright red ball of energy began to form, punching the air the red orb shot out at lightning speed crashing into the cliff and leaving a small crater from the explosion. "Guess I missed, well if I keep firing I'm bound to get you eventually" rapidly punching the air a barrage of energy blasts were scattered around the battlefield creating explosions and covering everywhere in dust.

While Grimmjow reigned destruction Ania had moved right away hiding behind a cliff utilizing her kido spell to remain hidden buying her some time to try and think up a plan. "FINE IF I CAN'T HIT YOU AND YOU STILL WANT TO REMAIN IN HIDING THEN I'LL JUST BLAST AWAY THE ENTIRE BATTLEFIELD!" Grimmjow roared out extending his right hand and opening his palm before slicing it with his blade.

Blood poured out from the wound forming a strange bluish orb in the middle of his palm while his left hand gripped his forearm "GRAN RAY CERO". Exploding out of his hand the blast spiraled through the air engulfing the entire ground before creating a catastrophic explosion sending debris flying everywhere while Mitch knelt trying to stare through the dust worrying about whether Ania could survive an attack of that magnitude if she was caught up in it.

Slowly the dust began to clear as Grimmjow gazed around figuring he must've reduced Ania to nothing as there was only piles of debris scattered everywhere and no sign of her. "It's a shame to have killed someone as beautiful as her but oh well" shrugging his shoulders he began to walk towards the edge of the mist as a pile of rubble next to him exploded as Ania leapt from it and thrust her zanpakuto through his head and out the other side.

"If piercing your heart won't kill you then perhaps this will" she said pulling the blade free while Grimmjow stood there for a second a stunned expression across his face. Spinning back around she cut his head cleanly off as blood sprayed across her blade, garments and face.

Watching his head finish rolling across the ground Ania assumed it was finally over and yet she could hear Grimmjow laughing and looked down to see him staring up at her a smirk on his headless face. "That was impressive Ania but sadly it wasn't enough and it seems we're all out of time for today, I'm sad that tomorrow will be our last day together though" he said continuing to laugh as his body and head slowly dissolved away into the pink mist before the fog departed.

Exhausted and injured Ania collapsed to her knee's completely spent as Mitch appeared next to her "You alright?" he held out a hand as she pushed it away and slowly got to her feet "I'll be fine once I take a bath". Hobbling off towards the springs Yoruichi landed next to Mitch "She's a stubborn one not wanting a hand" "She's always been like that" he sighed before Yoruichi glared at him "Reminds me of someone I know" "What me?!"