Blackout2010: All right class what is it that we've learned up to this point in the Fanfic?
Mako-Hero: Aizen is apparently a god in his own mind.
Aizen: WTF! Blasphemy!
Blackout2010 (ignoring): Correct. What else?
Grinja: A person will always have enough power to have sex with their significant other despite being on death's door.
Blackout2010 (awkward):…ummm…
Ichigo: Firstly I was only stabbed…a lot. Besides I've shrugged off a lot of things.
Shaolin: No comment.
Mirokumaru: WHOOO! TAKE IT ALL OFF!
Senna: (head-desk)
Artsianrose: I learned that people can die in this fic.
Ganju: No kidding. (looks over at Byakuya) Asshole.
Byakuya: Is that anyway to address the head of a noble family?
Ganju: Well I-
Byakuya (throws hand out dramatically): Kneel before your noble betters!
Rukia: (nii-sama's so authoritative today….I should try and follow his example.)
Blackout2010: This is getting us nowhere. Tell you what, how if you want the next chapter just say 'go' and fist pump the air. On three. 1. 2. 3.
Everyone: Go!
Chapter 24: Without you there's no me, but there's still her…
In the misty early morning hours of the day following the betrayal of Sosuke Aizen and his cohorts, a female figure stood silently in a dim hospital ward. Her hands lightly gripping the cold cylinder bar on the bed out of deep-seated concern as she kept her sentinel like gaze fixed upon the unconscious carrot orange haired hero of Seireitei. The woman had a solemn frown on her face, as the man beside her had still not woken from his forced slumber yet.
Closing her eyes, she tried to keep up her stereotypical impassive front people assumed of her as often as humanly possible after leaving Ichigo's side at Sokyoku hill to locate and coordinate safe transportation of survivors. At this point it was the only real sliver of self restraint left that prevented others from seeing all the panic, all the fear, all the uncertainty that hid just beneath the surface of her skin.
She knew well enough that he was alive, even if Shinjiro had made no silent mentioning of it, even if Unohana herself had said she was unsure of his survival, her gut told her he would make it and she believed.
but…
Standing here…beside him, looking down at his defenseless and wounded body, forced her to recall-to relive the moment of when she first heard the news of his collapsing. She remembered the edginess swirling inside her as she ran across the roofs as fast as she could only to arrive at the fourth division to see him being wheeled inside on a stretcher, headed straight toward the emergency room; suffering from such an extreme case of spiritual emission exhaustion, that it was uncertain if he'd fully recover…and all from having realized that his mother, who had raised him by herself for sixteen years was truly no longer with them.
Right now, he looked exactly like he had back then. Back when she visited him every single day during the hellish three weeks he was hospitalized.
And it ate her soul.
It ate at her fear of knowing that within the blink of an eye, the boy beside her who would shrugs off the hardest of training regiments, who could fight harder than any soldier she'd ever witnessed, one of her most treasured friends, could become just another number in the vast bloody history of Shinigami who died in service.
She looked at the clock on the far end of the room, noting she'd been here for at least a good hour before visiting hours were even allowed by doctors. The woman faced away from the clock, and looked softly at Ichigo. She then shook her head softly to rid herself of the lingering doubts, assuring herself that her fears while valid weren't real.
That, yes, he was seriously injured from multiple lacerations and yes he had a great deficiency in his reiatsu supplies, but that was an easily curable condition with the medical teams working round the clock. The crisis was averted and this situation was most favorable, instead of him being in the morgue, he was in a comfy bed still very much alive.
With a calming sigh she collected herself, knowing she'd need to go soon, and take care of official business, and get things in order, before worrying about Ichigo too much that she'd refuse to leave his side, thus causing more problems for everyone.
Bending forward and leaning over the guard rail Shaolin kissed Ichigo on his lips rewardingly if fleetingly, as it lasted for only a few seconds "I promise that I'll take care of my job as a warrior first before my job as a woman." She promised to the man, though doubting he was able to hear her. "But, I will be back, Ichigo." Her grip on the cold metal increased significantly. "I swear it."
"You're here much earlier than I anticipated. Though, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised considering your persistence in wanting to see him. I should have foreseen your bending of a few rules to meet that end." The calm voice of Retsu Unohana said in a non-threatening manner, as she closed the door behind her as quietly as she had opened it.
While Soifon did raise her mental defenses; because, she didn't want to talk to Unohana about her own personal fears if she happened to overhear her, Shaolin turned fully towards her fellow Taicho and bowed forward out of genuine respect instead of habitual formality. "If you knew I would be here outside of regulation, and yet you still you allowed me to stay, then I must offer you my heartfelt thanks for granting such a privilege, Unohana-taicho." She replied since if Unohana knew she was going to be here, she could have asked her to leave at any time and Soifon would be forced to comply, personal preferences aside.
"As long as you don't overdo it, or end up neglecting your own health, like the last time Ichigo-kun was hospitalized. I am ok with you being here, and visiting." Retsu admonished thoughtfully, as Shaolin righted herself and gave her word she would "If I might be so bold as to ask, what might you have in mind for the Ryoka-Shinigami, Senna-san?"
Soifon leaned to one side as she thought it over about what she should do with her. "Well, there's something I've wanted to try, and I think she'd be a good test subject for it." she closed her eyes remembering a certain little detail that made her feel a bit wary around her "She also seems to know about my relationship with Ichigo, so I'm going to get answers for that, one way or another."
"As long as you don't send her to the hospital; we do still have our hands full." Unohana replied with a smile, though it wasn't the typical joking kind, but had a certain seriousness to it.
"Don't worry; I wouldn't intentionally hurt her to such a point. I'm going to try and be as hospitable as my station and personal feelings allow. Anyway, there too much unknown information and too many secrets about her for my liking, and I doubt beating her into the ground will get me any close to the truth. More than likely it will just mean me or you being forced to heal her wounds later on."
"You've certainly changed your tactics, Soifon-taicho." The perceptive doctor saw, since the standard way would have been surround her, capture her, disarm her, then proceed to the torture and interrogation, until the poor girl cracked.
The captain nodded as her smirk returned to her face "I loathe admitting it, but changing to fit the circumstance leads to less unnecessary headache. Just look at Ichigo, we butted heads for a while, and then we started to go with the flow. Turns out that seems to work with the more mellow individuals like this Senna girl, which speaking off…" the woman's eyelids slide about half way as she continued to look at the doctor scrutinizingly "Is there something you're not telling me about her?"
The doctor giggled, amused at seeing the younger girl's pressing for information though she was centuries too young to make a good effort against her "Why, yes, there is." She admitted right out the gate, which Soifon frowned as she could practically feel the 'but' coming along "Unfortunately," there it was as she closed her eyes, while Unohana chuckled more on the inside "Senna-chan has asked me not to disclose it to anyone. So you'll need to wait until she decides to tell you herself."
The woman let out a frustrated sigh at having easily obtained information, denied and being forced to go the roundabout way "Then I've no choice; but to see this through to the end." She then looked at the clock again, and knew it was about time to start what she had planned today "If you'll excuse me, I need to go see my division and make an announcement."
"Please be sure to visit soon. Ichigo would appreciate it." The fourth captain replied merrily as the second captain made her way out the door "Oh, and tell Senna whenever she has the time to come visit me. For…certain medical procedures. You know blood test and stuff…"
A strange questioning plastered itself across Soifon's face though she didn't think anything of it "Yeah, sure, I will." She answered as she stepped around her, before disappearing in a flash step.
(Senna)
The light of a new day filter through the room of ex-third seat Subaru Kujo, the temporary guest stirring within from the window across from the bed. Senna opened her eyes sleepily, as she didn't want to get up, the fatigue from all the fighting and running around having finally caught up with her, not to mention she finally found a warm bed and it was the middle of summer, left her reluctant to get up and more motivated to drop her head back down against the pillow and stay asleep.
'Noooo~, I gotta get up.' She thought bitterly, trying to think of this as a test of willpower, one she couldn't allow herself to lose at. After much infighting the woman was able to successfully get out of the bed. Stretching her arms, legs and back, she then walked out of the room, her hair a disheveled mess, since she wasn't all that comfortable with wandering around the room especially since it belonged to someone she knew.
Walking two doors down, she knocked on the door and called out to the woman inside. When no response was given she reached down and turned the knob to enter the office of the second division commander. "I'm coming in." she announced as she slipped through and was about to close the door but remained in the doorway when she saw nothing. "It's…empty." She observed, seeing no one in the room. 'She doesn't seem like the kind of person to leave a door unlocked when she's not around.' Her eyes then wandered over to the doors along the walls, as she contemplated maybe the woman was inside and still asleep. 'Perhaps I shouldn't bother her.'
"You're up early for a kid." The familiar voice of Soifon said from behind Senna, sending a jolt of surprise through her causing the teen to involuntarily jump in surprise.
Closing her eyes as her sandals touched back down the woman steadied her nerves before speaking "Do all members of this squad sneak up on unsuspecting people? Or is it just you?" Senna asked with trace amounts of sarcasm, as she wheeled around to face the impassive Taicho 'Is her face stuck in frown mode all the time? Definitely needs to lighten up.'
The captain mostly ignored the question "I wouldn't know, but that's besides the purpose of why I came for you." She then backed up to leave gesturing with two of her fingers to come with over her shoulder "Walk this way, Senna-san."
"Wait! Where are we going?" Senna called out, while the captain only replied with a dull scolding of 'Just. Follow. Me'.
So with nothing else to do and not having sufficient knowledge of Seireitei, Senna reluctantly followed behind the forceful Taicho. They walked through the dark and unnervingly ominous corridors in silence, until they came to a large metal door, in which the captain stopped and looked back at her follower "Senna-san, before we proceed through these doors, I would ask that you do as I say. Firstly, you are to follow me unto the platform and then back up roughly five spaces. Next, you are not to speak, or otherwise broadcast your presence. You are to stand still until I am finished with my address. Do you understand? Or must I repeat these instructions to you?"" she finished requesting, though it still sounded like an order
Senna looked up in thought "Let's see: follow you, step back, standstill, and then be quiet. That's it right?" she recited making sure she got everything perfect.
"Correct." Soifon grunted as she turned back to the door and pushed it open. "Let's go."
The pair went through the large doors, and were met by a sea of black clad ninja's standing at attention in the morning light. The barely visible slits of their face's showing their eyes following the movement of the captain and the unidentified Shinigami beside her. They hadn't so much as moved a muscle as the commander had yet to give them a command, as the two ladies walked up to the platform overseeing the training area.
Shaolin turned to face her soldiers, and gave a small glance to Senna who also turned to face their direction and proceeded to back up a couple of feet. 'Good to see she can follow orders. That should make things easier.' The bluenette learned quickly.
'Geez look at all those ninja. 20…30…40. Wow, there's so many, and Ichigo was really a part of them?' Senna wondered in amazement as she took a side glance at the Taicho who had opened her mouth to speak 'And that girl, that captain, trained all of them to be deadly assassins?'
"Shinigami of the second squad and Special Forces unit: Onimitsukido. Today, marks the day that we will be devoting our entire focus on the destruction of one man. Never before has Soul Society been forced to devote it's entire focus, it's entire force, on the eradication of a single individual." The woman said above the silent crowd of assassins "I am of course speaking of Sosuke Aizen, the ex-Taicho of the fifth division. His crimes all of which he has been guilty of include: obstructing justice, plotting rebellion against the spirit king, the framing of several individuals ranging from commoner to the former heads of the great noble four, and treason of the highest order by turning his back upon us. That is why we must redouble our efforts. Why we reorganize our ranks. And, that is also why…" she took a deep breath and gave an even look at all of them "I am ordering you all to take the day off." She finished as she looked over the crowd gauging their response.
All of the Shinigami present couldn't help, but look at the black clad neighbor next to them, with an easily seen look of puzzlement, and low clamor of words of discussion. Even Senna who had only met her yesterday couldn't stop herself from looking at the woman, since she figured she'd be way stricter at least according to what Ichigo had told her about her methodical nature.
"You all seem confused. I can't say I'm surprised." She replied a bit more casually, though she retained her poker face "The reason I am giving you all this day off, is to mourn your losses, be it family or friends. This past week has been a horrendous loss of our own forces, ranging from large amounts of property and equipment damage to life. I understand the concept and importance of reconstructing our defenses," her eyes softened slightly "But…I believe until we can pick ourselves back up, until we can stand again on our feet and have successfully steadied ourselves; and are prepared to move forward as one. Any and all defenses that we construct will be rent asunder again by our weak hearts. That is why I am giving you this day off, to lick and close the wounds that have been inflicted upon our allies, families, friends, and in some cases…spouses. We will focus and harden our hearts so that tomorrow when the reconstructive effort truly begins we will remain unwavering in our efforts." She ordered which was followed by a deafening silence that swept through the ranks.
With her announcement finished, she began to turn around to leave when something she hadn't expected occurred. One of the black clad figures straightened their back and raised their right forearm to the corner of their face "Yes, Ma'am! Thank-you ma'am!" The man yelled to his commander.
Soon the action was mimicked by other nearby Shinigami, each one straightening themselves up and repeating the action and words. Each one causing the cold captain to look back a little more and further adding to her silent astonishment at the response given in kind, as the normally cold, collected, captain continued to watch she could feel a calming sense of anticipation radiating off them.
A sense of trust…
A sense of gratitude…
Shaolin nodded her head in affirmation "You are all dismissed!" She said throwing her hand around issuing her last order for the day. All that was heard before the crowd of Shinigami vanished was a resounding 'Hai, Taicho!'
With the large crowd gone the woman let her hand drop back down and took a moment to observe the now empty training ground 'Hmm…I suppooose kindness has its place, sometimes.' She thought to herself having seen the result, which she was honestly taken off guard with how well they responded, even after that moment she expected dissention for seemingly counterproductive orders.
With more positive reinforcement the captain wheeled back around to her charge, intending to 'get to know her' to see further into if changing one's attitude and perspective would help her. To at least try and reach that goal. "I appreciate your obedience, Senna-san." She said in a mild tone trying to extinguish the rather foreign feeling of passion, and return to her normal stoic self.
"Thanks." She replied "You know, you're not as bad as you seem."
The woman scoffed bemusedly "Ha! You barely know me, and yet you presume such a notion? Your way of thinking is rather…interesting."
Senna missing the humorous intention frowned at the sarcasm "Is that like a defensive mechanism of yours? Or are you really just bad at communicating?" she shot back, no longer playing little Goody-two shoes-san after being treated so roughly so quickly.
Shaolin was taken aback a bit, and after a steady pause managed to pinpoint where she was coming from. 'Hmm, she seems to be made of sterner stuff. Anyone else would have attacked from such a perceived slight and been promptly put down at this point. She tries to keep a cool head. I wonder how far I can push her.' The captain looked at the girl appraisingly, as she formulated her own opinions "You've got a lot of guts talking to me that way, do you have a death wish?" she mocked with an arrogant smirk
Senna's eyes widened a bit from the insult then returned with a fierce glare "I don't plan on dying. But I have no problem turning your smile sideways little miss Loli."
A devilish smile revealed itself on the captain as she turned away "Wonderful, I had wanted to fight you. This will be a good test to see what you are like."
"Oh, I'll give you a test you won't forget!" Senna yelled as she brushed past the Taicho and jumped off the platform and turned around with her sword drawn, staring back into the face of a puzzled short woman.
"Why are you so angry?" Shaolin asked in interest, as she saw the angry girl now sending her an incredulous look "Do you not know when someone is pretending? Hmm, you seem to take mere words on a personal level…"
"What?" she said visible asking for a repeat of her statement "Are you telling me that you were just, just, screwing with me!"
The Taicho calmly walked forward and jumped off the platform, landing on her feet a few feet away "No, I'm perfectly serious about fighting you. I was just trying to decipher if you were a hot head like my fuku-taicho or a thinker like Ichigo or Yoruichi-sama. You are clearly the latter." At this point Senna stared at her for a second, and then closed her eyes painfully trying to register what it is the woman did "That is one thing I have come to learn about you." She further added
"Why…didn't you just ask me?" the teenager gritted out, not seeing the logic behind her backwards ways "Wouldn't that have been so much easier?"
"Sorry, this is the way I'm most familiar with getting information out of a possibly hostile target. Interrogation and torture, but since I won't torture you; I'm probing your mind to try and get a feel for you."
"Why am I a 'hostile target'!" Senna shouted angrily "We're supposed to be allies!"
"The reason is, as far as I know, you are someone who has broken into Soul Society, caused massive amount of panic and damage to both personnel and facilities, and was at one point a high profile target set for either capture or assassination." She then crossed her arms and looked away "The fact I am usually wary of strangers, who know too much about me for my own liking, and my possessing of a slight but still regrettable social ineptitude, does not help your case."
"Well…ahh…" Senna's argument died in her throat since most of it was her doing, and she couldn't blame it on Aizen because he was in no way running interference with the things they had done to stop Aizen. It also didn't help since the captain admitted her own faults, leaving little to pin blame on "Alright." She huffed lightly to cool her jets "Let's try this again."
Senna quickly respired and walked over to Shaolin with a neutral look on her face. She then bent her right hand upward and extended it gently "Hi, my name is Senna. And you are?" she tried to re-engage
Shaolin looked at the hand with a bored look "You're joking right?" when an awkward couple of seconds passed in silence, "You're not joking…" the woman sighed to herself seeing that Senna was perfectly serious "Fine…I am Soifon-Taicho." She said grabbing the hand for less than a second, before letting it drop again.
"We don't need honorifics Soifon. We're friends now." Senna insisted trying to build a level of trust between them.
Shaolin however disagreed with her ideology "You are incorrect. This gesture" she referred to the handshake "doesn't automatically make us friends or even really allies. If this is your definition of friendship, then I must say," she then scowled fiercely with disapproval "you are a naïve, stupid and shallow child."
The woman's word weren't met without consequence "Well at least I'm not cold, cynical, anti-social bitch." Senna returned just as hot, which made the captain's twitch again, from the unexpected insult.
"I'm sorry. I must be hard of hearing in my age. Ehehe." She commented in a joking manner that belied the dangerous undertone which she was using "But I'm pretty sure you said something that might result in the breaking of a few bones." Her eyes then turned chillingly cold "Then again, a wimp like you would never have had the balls to say that to my face, so I must've been mistaken, right?"
"Clear out your ears then, granny! Because I said 'you're a cold, cynical, anti-social BITCH'!"
"Really?" Soifon muttered darkly glaring daggers at her
"Yeah, really!" Senna responded quickly with a death glare of her own
Shaolin then pulled her hand back and brought it to her Zanpaktou's hilt "Then how about we settle this!"
"I was already rarin' to go!"
The two ladies glared hatefully at each other, neither one taking their eyes off the other even as they released their Zanpaktou into Shikai state. Shaolin took a side step backwards and raised both her arms up ready to fight as Senna broke her weapon into its sword and bludgeon state, holding the pipe out in front of her while the sword was raised horizontally on her right hand side.
Soifon took a small step forward to test the water, before dashing forward at her opponent. Senna immediately flipped her sword around and turned as she swung the sword to cut the woman in half. The blade went through the girl in her entirety, before her body started to haze out like a mirage in a desert.
"Too slow." The female voice of the captain said behind the unbalanced girl, who could only look back to see the woman slam her elbow into the back of Senna. As Senna's body lurched forward, the Onimitsukido master slipped underneath the woman's arm, and wrapped her own arms around the woman's neck and threw her over her shoulders.
As the weapon bearer hit the ground painfully, the captain backed up to give her some space to get up if she wished, but to also fight off the slight numbing sensation in her arm "Are you done already?" she asked in a patronizing manner, as she flicked her wrist back and forth 'Is she wearing armor underneath her clothing? She certainly didn't feel heavy. An innate toughness perhaps?'
"No, I'm not!" Senna grunted as she got back up to her feet as she resheathed her weapon into Shakujo state. Turning around she squared off with the captain, widening her stance and gripping the staff firmly between her hands, while the captain returned to her initial stance 'Ok, so she hits a lot harder than Nanao, but that little claw on her arm doesn't have a lot of reach, so let's try something else.'
Senna tightened her grip on her weapon, as the captain made a small step forward once again. Senna leapt backwards into the familiar air and after condensing her power, swept her staff around, calling forth a gust of air and sending it rushing to the patient assassin. The woman flash stepped from her spot as Senna created a short burst of wind to leap higher into the air. Soifon appeared a couple of meters to the right of where Senna would have been had she still been grounded, analyzing for a good way to combat her aside from kido and Shunko.
Back flipping once more into the air, Senna started to twirl her body in a circle, transforming the air around her in a swirling vortex that created an intense upward suction. Shaolin buried her stinger into the concrete to keep herself grounded and not be sucked up by the attack, unsure if the fierce winds were similar to Senbonzakura in cutting power once caught up in it.
In the eye of the storm Senna dropped down to the floor safe behind her protect wall. She pulled her blade out and let it scrape harshly against the edges of the raging winds, giving her full control in the direction and advancement of the cyclone. 'I got you now!' she then stepped forward and swung her sword around launching the twister at the grounded hornet intent on blowing her away.
"hmph. That alone won't get me." She tsked in annoyance as she brought her free hand in front of her, and let her own energy spiral around the out stretched arm "Shunko." She whispered dangerously, as the energy shot out from her arm and pierced both the tornado and hitting the woman beyond it. As Senna was sent skidding across the ground, Shaolin looked at her hand "It seems merely mimicking the actions of Yoruichi-sama wouldn't produce the same results, though I am surprised that it did launch it like her. I'll need to discuss this with her later." She reported her finding, to herself, eager to keep it in mind
The captain then looked back to see her opponent struggling to get back to her feet, her arm clutching the general area of her stomach, which was the more than likely the impact spot. 'Damn, that really hurt! Uggh, I can still feel it throbbing in my stomach. I better watch out for that.' Moving her arm away to no longer support the tender spot she raised her weapon, trying to run through her options.
Unfortunately, she didn't get very long to consider as the captain disappeared in another flash step and remained out of sight for but a second; only to reappear with her shoe coming down to smack Senna across the face. Senna leaned backwards narrowly dodging the strike, but quickly learned it was merely a feint as the assassin buried her stinger into the woman's tender belly, knocking the Homonka marked woman up in the air before being knocked down by a reverse kick by the Taicho.
"How on earth did you survive?" asked the cold captain as she placed her foot on the woman's chest, putting small amounts of pressure to keep her pinned, while the woman closed her eyes from the sharp pain and small but sudden loss of air
Senna reopened her eyes and snarled out "Get off me bitch!"
"Silence you stupid child!" Soifon shouted back coldly "This is a battlefield, not a playground! Here the winner makes the rules. I have beaten you, so now I decide your fate. You have absolutely no say in what I desire to happen to you. You can hurl insults all you want, but look where it's gotten you! Heeled underneath my foot; looking like a pathetic dog ready to be put down." She then leaned forward and spoke in a much more dangerous tone "So call me a bitch all you want, but know I'm still standing above gutter trash like you."
Senna's eyes widened in disbelief for but a second and then looked down now putting more effort to get her off "You're going to get off me…" she said as her eyes changed from amber to a fierce gold, while her strength started to multiply quickly and begin to force the surprised Taicho off of her "RIGHT NOW!"
Senna then threw the woman off with such force that, the captain had to flip her body around to land on her feet while Senna pushed herself quickly off the ground, and ran forward weaponless, knowing that maybe her hands would be much more effective.
Shaolin brought her gauntlet around to defend herself from the incoming fist. The bracing Taicho felt the strike hit her gauntlet, kicking her back about an inch, while the tile behind her cracked under the pressure from the blow. Senna's dark glare hardened as she brought her other arm around to strike.
Shaolin brought her free hand around her body, and pushed the other arm to the side, safely away from her. With the immediate threat dealt with the grappling woman twisted her arm around, and grabbed the forearm of Senna, and leaned forward and kneed the woman in the stomach.
The blow collided into the girl, but the captain could only blink in surprise when the girl didn't wince in the slightest. 'What the hell?' she could only ask herself, having a hard time believing that the woman she'd been pummeling, now didn't even seem to register being hurt by her.
"I got you now!" the purple haired girl declared as she wrapped her arms around the woman's waist. After interlocking her arms, she threw her bundle upwards into the sky, as Soifon started to correct herself in mid-air, Senna cracked her fist ready to deliver a straight hook.
The captain saw what was going on and leaned over to her side, as she fell. When the other woman stepped forward to blow away the smaller girl, Soifon brought her arm from underneath the woman's arm and pushed herself further down to dodge the attack.
Senna's eyes widened as she saw the other girl smirk with the advantage. She was then tossed over the woman, as the Taicho placed her free hand on the ground using it as the support to flip the woman over. The teenager crashed to the ground, while the other woman rolled over and then struck the Homonka mark a second time and looked into the face of the wincing woman "It's over for you." Shaolin said as the Homonka turned red, awaiting a single command
"What do you mean!" the golden eyed girl asked, as she stopped struggling and felt her strength begin to fade from her quickly.
"You see that glowing mark on your body?" she asked pointing out the mark "That's part of my Zanpaktou's special ability, if I strike my opponent twice in the same spot, I will kill them regardless of their strength."
'No…' Senna's eyes widened as her body started to quiver in fear, her lip trembled as she looked at the limb that struck her. 'No, that can't be true!' She frowned at thoughts of what if started to play in her mind, while her strength began to fade from her arms 'Ichigo…I…I' and then closed her eyes, accepting her death knowing the woman wouldn't make a claim if it wasn't true. 'I love you.'
"What are you doing!" The voice of Shaolin said as her free hand gripped the collar of the girl's Hakama forcing the younger woman's eyes to open again as she looked into the steely grey stare of the infuriated captain "Don't just submit to death! If you're going to die, then take your opponent with you. Look," she gestured with her eyes towards her arm "I'm still within grabbing distance, you could strangle me to death, if you have the strength you could pierce my heart and kill me, thus sparing yourself. Do something! Anything! BUT NEVER! EVER! JUST SURRENDER! THAT IS THE COWARD'S WAY OUT!" she then pulled out her stinger from the girl's body "Release!" she yelled making the Homonka disappear from the woman's body, and reared an even look at the stunned woman "Show me your warrior's resolve Senna-bozu!"
Senna blinked not expecting an encouraging, though deeply buried in a layer of harshness, statement from her opponent. Allowing herself to catch her breath she felt her spiritual energy begin to restore itself to a safer working level 'She's right. I shouldn't have given up and surrendered. Rukia didn't give up hope when she was caught, Ichigo didn't give up after being beaten, so I can't be afraid to fight just because things get bad.' The golden eyed girl nodded fiercely "Then I will!" she yelled just as fiercely, as the spy smirked and jumped away from the woman's body allowing her to get back up on her feet.
Bringing her fists back up to protect herself, she kept her mind focused on the task of at least hitting the other woman and knocking her down. She was well aware that she was outclassed but this was her test. And she wasn't going to fail it again.
"Ready to die?" the woman asked haughtily, which was met with a cruel smirk from Senna
"Not unless you die too!" she tightened up her guard to stand her ground.
Soifon disappeared in another flash step, moving far too fast for the Miko to keep up. Feeling a sudden pulse, Senna moved her arm to her side, blocking the kick from the Taicho in mid-air, the latter tsking from missing her head. Still with her leg there, Soifon twisted to the side and wrapped her other leg around the arm and flipped the girl clear over.
What surprised Shaolin was that instead of the girl landing face first into the floor, she moved both her arms, and hand sprung backwards, in a way remarkably similar to Yoruichi, leaving her open. As Senna's sandals hit the ground, she snaked her arm to grab the woman's leg and then hurled her over at the wall.
"Uggghhh!" Shaolin grunted as her body slammed against the wall with incredible force sending large spider web cracks around the impact site.
Senna let the woman's leg go, letting her fall back down, as the Taicho fell to her shaky knees. The purple haired teenager, punched the stomach of the woman with her left then her right, and was going to upper cut her into the jaw, but was stopped when the woman sent a right hook into her side.
Now back in control from her female opposite's staggering, she kicked the side of Senna's leg making her hop over half a step, then chopped her in the back of her neck with enough force to send her to her knees. Putting both hands on the woman's Hakama, Shaolin pulled her close and then kneed her in the stomach, then pulled her leg back and kneed her chin.
Senna staggered backwards as blood came from her mouth from the increase in damage. In her stumble she put both her hands on her knees as exhaustion and pain throbbed all over her body. As she tried to push herself up to continue the fight, she was hit full force right in the sternum by an open palm strike. Knocking her clean off her feet and backwards into the air, until gravity took over and she hit the tile ground breaking it underneath her weight.
As Senna out a low groan no doubt from pain, Shaolin calmly pulled her hand back from the strike, as she returned to a standing position 'I'm definitely going to ask how she retains such toughness and mobility later on.' She then folded her arms behind her back and walked towards the downed woman with a small smirk from having vanquished yet another foe.
The teenage girl continued to breathe in and out rapidly as she heard the approaching footsteps of her opponent. When the irritating but respect earned woman came into sight, the female Kurosaki, closed her eyes in a way to show respect. "You're really strong." Senna said respectfully as she lay on her back.
Soifon's side smile grew just a hint further "And you're not as weak as I initially thought either." She said not in a condescending tone, but in a way to state a change in her opinion of Senna, which she judged from the brief moment of awe was well received
Sliding one of her arms back, Senna pushed herself up to not seem quite as pathetic for when she would ask something of the captain. "Can I ask you something?" she asked believing maybe this woman could help.
"And that is?" Soifon responded with a raised eye brow
"Can you help me be as strong as you?"
The noblewoman's eyes rose extensively from the request, since she had never been asked to be the personal teacher of anyone before. She mulled the thought over before saying "I don't take students."
"Please? Would you please reconsider?" Senna begged, as she whipped her body around and bowed her head submissively to the Taicho in front of her "I don't want to be a burden on anyone ever again. During the invasion, I managed to beat a couple of people, and then I lost my first big fight. I got to do a little more training, but I just don't feel like I'm making any progress." She then raised her head to stare back into the cold captain's face "I don't want to be useless anymore! It's because I was useless that Ichigo ended up in the hospital. I'm not saying I could have stopped Aizen, but at least…" she humbly dropped her head back down "Ichigo would still be up and about."
Shaolin brought her hand to cover her mouth and let out an audible hum. As she continued to look, she couldn't help, but feel like she was staring at herself "You seem to have a great deal of adoration for him." She replied, mentally drawing the parallels between Ichigo and Senna to Yoruichi-hime and herself.
The teenager got up from her position to stand "More than you can know." She said sadly, with a frown. She then closed her eyes "But, that alone won't help him."
"Suppose that I considered it, what exactly do you know about fighting already?"
Senna raised her head, while she lit up on the inside "I-I've only learned the basics of fighting with a katana, my staff I learn from the source itself. My Teacher was Yoruichi-san though only for a week."
"I see." She said aloud, now taking more of an interest since if Yoruichi saw potential in her and trained her a bit, it would explain how she survived and her power during the small scuffle. The bluenette's steel gray eyes gave the girl an invisible once over and deemed her ok. After spending a moment trying to think of a reason not to, she shrugged because she couldn't. 'Well if I'm stuck with her, this will make things easier I guess. At least I'll see what it's like to be a genuine instructor for another.' She reassured her conviction
"Very well. I'll teach you." She then gave a harsh glare and held her hand up "But, before you get all excited, I'm telling you up front that it will not be easy. It will take many hours of your day. We will fight and train hard, because we're preparing for an actual war. You will be by my side constantly possibly dirty, tired, sweaty, bloody, bruised, beaten and broken from training, and still being expected to do more work. This is what you have asked upon yourself."
A small breath escaped Senna's lip as she got her chance. "I swear I promise I won't fail you, Soifon-san." She said with a three-fourths bow forward.
A loud smack rang through the air of the training ground, as the back of Shaolin's hand met the right cheek of Senna, who winced and nursed the spot with her free hand
"From this moment onward!" The Taicho barked fiercely as she pointed her finger imposingly at the girl "you are to refer to me as Soifon-sensei or Soifon-dono. Am I understood Gakusei (student)?"
"Ahh…ye-yeah!" she replied only to be smacked again as the hand turned back in the opposite direction and hit her other cheek
"Say it with confidence! As if your life depended on it!" the captain snapped
"Yes Ma'am! I understand Soifon-sensei!"
"Good." She then softened her gaze and gently placed her hand against the woman's sore cheek "and in return for my services, I would like you to assist me, in dealing with others. I feel I could learn something from you but," she pulled her hand back "don't let it go to your head." She informed coolly. She was about to turn around and order Senna to follow, when a thought occurred to her and she couldn't help but bring her hand to her head in exasperation "Wonderful." She quietly snarked to herself
"What's that?"
"You seem to have the same infuriating effect on me as Ichigo. I had given my word not to beat you up and to be civil, but merely being around you reminds me of him and his ability to make me lose sight of certain things…particularly what I'm not and supposed to do."
"Ooooh, sorry about that Sensei…I guess." Senna said sheepishly, not sure what to make of that
"(sigh) It's not your fault. Or at least I don't think it is. Regardless, let us be off. By the way, I plan to go see Yoruichi-sama for my own training starting tomorrow, and I'm sure you could use it as well, so you'll be coming with me."
"Of course." Senna replied "Oh, and Sensei?"
"Yes, Gakusei?"
"Umm, about earlier," she fiddled with her hands "Maybe your right that just a hand shake and quick forget was a bit shallow. But I do want to be your friend, so could we try it again?"
Shaolin looked at her, then turned around "How about this, when I'm not beating you into the ground with training, I will see if you are worthy of my trust. But don't push it Gakusei." And started to walk off, but she couldn't help but chuckle when she heard the girl's proud response
"I won't fail you."
(Sou-taicho's office)
"I'm glad to see that you could make it," the aged captain General of first division said to his sandy blond guest in front of his desk "Kisuke Urahara."
"Yeah, well I couldn't put this off any further than I could." The shop keeper said nonchalantly as he sat, gripping the top of his green and white cap
Yamamoto let out a small hum "I'm an old man, so allow me to cut to the chase. Tell me is it possible that Aizen can use your device and what is it, it does exactly?"
"The Hogyoku is a device that allows Shinigami or Hollow to cross the barrier between them and gain the power of the other, like an upgrade," he then shot the man a dirty look "or like the captain's and lieutenants you not so subtly fired and labeled as fugitives."
Shigekuni returned the look with one just as unforgiving "It's your own fault for creating such a device in the first place. Never mind the fact that I had no clue I was being fooled at the time, so keep your looks to yourself boy."
"Fine, fine, whatever." The blond man leaned back in his chair "All I can say is he's gonna be a serious titan to contend with. As for being able to use it. I'm sure Aizen has already thought that through, and has the means to reawaken it from its sealed state." The man then brought a hand to his chin "Still it's gonna take a lot of Reiatsu and time to awaken it, but I think it would be best that I know the people who went with him and the extent of their powers. It's the only way to see the bigger picture."
"It will be done. I will give you unrestricted access to any file you even think would be useful to you. Now I want to ask, how exactly are we to deal with Aizen? From what I understand, no one has escaped his Kyoka Suigetsu's ability."
Kisuke grinned confidently as he looked back at the worried Taicho's face "That thankfully isn't too bad. This is just me throwing this out there, but if you need to see the Zanpaktou to be hypnotized that means, my nephew Uryu, Senna-san, and possibly Ichigo given Aizen's persistence in killing him, aren't hypnotized which means they can see him and kill him. And considering Ichigo and Senna, and from a few of my observations, they can be strong enough individually to defeat Aizen, if they have some advantages that I can think of."
"I see. Are there any foreseeable problem in them gaining this power?"
"Perhaps, but I'll need to see what I can work out. Regardless it's gonna take time." Kisuke said as he got up to leave the room "Later old man." He waved off as the door closed behind him
The old man let out a sigh and looked out the window "Is time on our side though?"
(Time skip two days later)
"Are you ready for another fun filled day Senna-chan?" Soifon said with a dark grin, as she saw the cut and bruised girl, dressed in a typical though no face concealing Onimitsukido uniform, wearily nod her head. The Taicho's eyes then narrowed and her voice dropped considerably "Good. Now remember that one thing I told you to remind yourself."
"Yes, Soifon-sensei." Senna droned, and was then left to play catch up with the woman's intense speed. After coming to a large building, she looked up to find Soifon standing at the top of it looking down on her with an eagle's eye.
"Alright, get to work." She commanded, while Senna felt a depressing wave wash over her body in her assigned task, of running up the side of the building non-stop, with no assistance or hands.
Drawing in a quick breath, Senna looked at the wall, and after pumping reiatsu into her legs ran as hard as she could, her legs allowing her to run vertically up the wall. Everything was going fine and well until about half-way there when her legs final gave out and she started to fall backwards to the ground.
From her perch Soifon leaned over the edge and asked her the same question she had been forced to ask her time and time again. The sole drive that helped her endure the need to cry out in frustration or give up "DO YOU WANT TO LIVE! (1)" she yelled to the falling girl
"I WANNA LIVE!" Senna yelled as she fell all the way back to the ground, and finally hitting with no small amount of speed "ooouuughhh…"
[Exercise two: Reaction time]
Jumping backwards, Senna narrowly dodged the small Anken in her Sensei's hand. As the purple haired girl slid backwards against a wall, Soifon wiped her leg around launching some Anken that were holstered on her leg to the wall Senna was at, then followed it up by spinning around and tossing more Anken hidden within her side.
Senna moved her head to the side quickly as the throwing knife imbedded itself in the wall, then lifted her arm up [thwack], moved her hip slightly to the side [thwack], moved her right leg a little further out [thwack], then raised it up [thwack], pulled her left arm back across her body [thwack, thwack, thwack], then brought her knees inward so they touched narrowly dodging the rest of the knives.
Senna shakily stayed at her spot while, water came streaming out of her eyes from sheer terror, while Soifon let out another depressive sigh, as she twirled the throwing knife around her fingers. She gave her an even look, but still spoke fiercely "YOU HAVE PINED YOURSELF! YOU MUST NEVER EVER ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE CORNERED! DO YOU WANT TO LIVE!"
"YES! I WANNA LIVE!" she yelled back in her Egyptian-esque pose 'And maybe get a change of clothing while I'm at it!' she mentally added since she didn't want to run the risk of her bladder not being able to hold up with her nerve.
[Exercise fifteen: Toughness training]
In the middle of the squad two training ground, Shaolin stood with her palm held back ready to strike the girl in the chest "Remember, focus your Reiatsu and you will feel no pain."
Senna nodded her head and felt her energy begin to swirl around her.
It was short lived as Shaolin, immediately struck and knocked her clean off her feet and against one of the far side walls, which left Shaolin with a broken wall and woman laying atop the rubble
"I-I wasn't ready yet!" Senna cried out, as she started to twitch upon the ground
"Ahh…" Shaolin began, feeling bad since she jumped the gun, but since she couldn't let her know that it was her mistake, she went with the status quo "STOP COMPLAINING! YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME ON THE BATTLEFIELD! DO YOU WANNA LIVE OR NOT!"
"I WANNA LIVE!" Senna replied back knowing that the mistake most definitely had to be on her, if her Sensei yelled out such a thing
[Exercise thirty-eight: Paperwork]
"THIS WILL TEACH YOU DILIGENCE WITHOUT PEER! AFTER ALL YOU DO YOU WANNA LIVE RIGHT SENNA!" Shaolin yelled out as she dumped another large load of paper work on Senna's, well her, work desk.
"YES! I WANNA LIVE!" she cried out as she scribbled furiously to get the ever mounting workload down faster, as the Taicho twirled around to go fetch some more 'Through preferably in a world not trapped behind a desk…'
[Exercise sixty-seven: Swordplay]
"LESS RUNNING MORE FIGHTING! DO YOU WANNA LIVE!" Shaolin yelled out from the top of her barracks roof top, as she watched Senna with a bokkuko running as fast as she could while being chased by every active member of the Onimitsukido…with real swords.
"I WANNA LIVE!" Senna yelled back as she continued to pour on the steam to avoid being skewered, despite the fact that she was supposed to defeat all of them by herself.
(hours later)
"If you don't need me I'm gonna die now." Senna said as she laid unashamed face first against the white tile in front of Soifon, who looked on impassive on the outside, though inwardly smiling. She had never known that teaching could be so much fun or a great way to blow off steam.
"I guess that's enough for today." Soifon said as she kneeled down beside the girl and began to once again, for seemingly the umpteenth time today, heal her of her wounds and fatigue, knowing that it was building muscle and increasing her endurance levels.
Once the girl was fully healed and able to push her sorry carcass of the ground, Soifon turned away and began to walk off "Where are you going?" the revived girl asked
The Taicho looked back around with a quiet stare "I'm going to go visit Ichigo, perhaps he has awakened." She said knowing that it'd mean missing out on training with Yoruichi today, but there was always tomorrow.
"Wait!" Senna said reaching out with her hand "Can I come with you?"
The Chinese woman turned around fully with a raised eye brow "Are you sure? I don't want you to overdo it."
Senna flexed her right arm and grabbed her developing bicep "Don't worry Soifon-sensei, I still have enough energy to go visit him while he's down and out." She said despite her obvious fatigue, which the captain could see.
'He must have been quite the inspiration on her, if she still has the energy to push herself for his sake.' Soifon noted her observation "Very well. You can come with me." She then turned around, but before flash stepping off she looked over her shoulder and right in Senna's eye. "By the way from now on, whenever we are not training, you will refer to me as Shaolin."
"I can?" Senna asked with a mix of awe, since Ichigo had mentioned that was her name and she didn't readily give it out, plus with the fact of respect from before, this had to mean something.
The captain nodded her head "Yes, I have decided that since we are coming to learn about each other more and more, it would be a good starting point to show my trust and dare I say respect in you." She then fully turned away from her "Do not abuse it." then flash stepped off to the fourth division to visit Ichigo.
Senna looked on for a moment, and then smiled as she tilted her head upwards to the clear sky above them "I won't. That's a promise."
Senna: And so we go another chapter with Ichigo hospitalized…
Shaolin: True…I wonder how he can stay asleep for so long.
Blackout2010:…(looks away) well…
(flashback)
Blackout2010: Here you go Kenpachi, this is Ichigo's room assignment. (hands piece of paper over) he says the best time to attack him is when he's unarmed.
Kenpachi: Really? Haha, certainly gotten more daring with age. I'll go get the boys.
Yachiru: Yay! Fighting makes everyone friends!
Kenpachi: Sure does. (evil smile) suure does.
(flashback end)
Blackout2010:…I don't have a clue…
Nemu: This chapter will now self-destruct in five…four…
Kisuke: That's…not really…nevermind.
Guidepost of knowledge:
1. The line 'Do you wanna live' is from the very good and one of my favorite harem mangas 'Rappai Rangai/Ninja Girls'. In volume 2 or 3, Raizo (protagonist) gets training to be a better warrior from the battle hardened princess Izuna. Raizo, being a pacifist, absolutely suck, so Izuna keeps asking him every time he fails 'Do you wanna live' to which he responds with a resound 'yes, I wanna live'.