Some Alone time.

Ri awoke early in the morning some time before anyone else was awake even before the sun could be seen. He got dress silently and without making a sound started moving through the barrack. Little could be hear in the barracks but Ri could swear he heard ungodly snores coming form Kaiyo room.

He pin a small note on Kaiyo door say he was going to be done for a few days and would be back soon. He soon entered the kitchen of the barrack and prepared him self a small meal and packed a small lunch for later.

After eating he left the barrack and made his way quickly out of the Seireitei and into the vast forest of the soul society. He slowly started running and soon was in all out sprint through the forest.

Tree and bushes passed by as nothing more the green blurs as Ri passed them. After a few hours he found him self in an unknown area of the soul society. He saw a mountain range near him and diverted to there.

Ri stood at the base of the mountain and looked up toward the peak of the mountain. Ri smiled as he started running up the mountain jumping from ledge to ledge. The climb was long and dangerous but eventually found himself at the peak of the mountain.

The air was thin and the winds were fierce but Ri felt oddly comfortable at such high altitudes. He eat the small lunch he’d prepared but by now he figured it was dinner time and Kaiyo and the rest of his squad were probably wondering where he’d gone off too.

Ri drew his Zanpakuto and skill fully went through his stances with it. He moved as elegantly and powerful as the wind it self. The stabbed his Zanpakuto into ground and sat down beside it.

He placed his forehead at the guard of the sword and joined his hands around the blade. He sat there meditating; he slowly tuned out the outside world and slowed his heart beat. He focus on his own mind and his own body but this was not easy, he sat in the same position for hours concentrating more so then he’d ever done before.

He didn’t know what time it was or if the sun was still out his entire being was focus on his Zanpakuto but one thing kept drawing his focus, the fierce winds kept shaking his concentration.

The winds howled again nearly forcing Ri back and making him open his eyes but when he opened them he was not on the mountain top, he was in the sky.

Ri stood up slowly, all be could see around him was blue and clouds in the distance, looking down he saw what could be the ground. Suddenly panic over came him, his Zanpakuto wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Ri starting running around looking for it but nothing was in sight.

Then from seemingly no where a might roar came. Ri turned to see a dragon flying toward him, it was far in the distance but like large bird, as it came near and nearer it became apparent to Ri that it was something dragon and must be his Zanpakuto.

The dragon came near and near and Ri saw what it was , it had the form of the man but with wing , a tail and scales all over and in it’s hand was a large blade. The dragon-man landed near Ri and starred at him with it’s vibrant yellow eyes.

Ri kept a calm exterior but inside he was terrified. He thought of taking a fighting stance but instead he bowed before the creature.

“ I am….” Ri begun but was cut off shiftily by the creature.

“I know who you,” The creature said speaking in a firm womanly voice. “I know exactly who you are, I know your strength , weakness , fear and ambitions but do you know anything about me.”

“No but that is why I came here” Ri said in an apologetic tone. “I’ve come to ask you to tell me your name so we may fight….”

“No” The creature said cutting Ri off again and in the same firm , do as I say tone.

“I can’t accept that answer” Ri said as his heart started beating overtime.

“You don’t have but you’re not ready, no anywhere close.” The creature said as it took a offensive stance with its blade. “Let me show you why”

Before Ri knew it a burning pain erupted from his back and then his chest then the creature foot was in his face kicking him. Ri was flung high into the air and landed hard. Ri struggled to raise but before he could the creature kicked him again sending him further away.

“Defend your self” The creature called as it charged toward Ri who’d only managed to get to his knee. The blade was trusted toward Ri’s head but the creature instead of ending Ri struck beside his eye ,only cutting his hair,

“See, when you can last against me in a fight then we can fight together,” The creature said as its odd blade vanished and Ri’s normal Zanpakuto appeared in his hand.

“I though I was ,,,, I though I was ready” Ri said as he held his chest and coughed brutally,
“You thought wrong” The creature said putting his hand on Ri’s back and then suddenly all the pain was gone, Ri stood up confused but felt as if nothing happened.

“Thank you” Ri said amazed, he wasn’t sure what he’d do now other then train and get better. “Will you help me get stronger?”

“That I will do but it won’t be easy” The creature said it’s voice softer now.

“Nothing worth having is easy” Ri responded then in a blink of an eye he was back on top the mountain with his Zanpakuto right in front of him. He stood up and looked around him , he was defiantly back at the soul society and from the location of the sun he figured he’d been on top of the mountain for at least two or three days. He took a deep breath as he heard the wind whisper to him.

“Go now run and clear a path.”

With that Ri grabbed his Zanpakuto and in a flat out sprint started down the mountain. The trip down was fast and as he entered the forest he start cutting down branches and tree that were in his way. He leaped in one jump the top of the trees and changed direction.

By the time he arrived at Seireitei he’d cut a clear back from the Seireitei to the mountain through the dense forest. He found his way back the barrack and after cleaning out the kitchen of all food he collapse in the serenity of the barracks garden