The Revival *Part 2*

The doors had been an issue. They were locked. Kaiyo might have been hasty in her decision to kick them clean off the hinges and knock out an innocent lab worker; but she was feeling a little terse so nobody had challenged her on it yet. She still allowed a wandering glance of concern to the man in question; he was out cold and being carted off for some rest. She returned her attention to the sword on the illuminated stand. She didn't have to ask, it was hers. Her Zanpakuto spirits were silent though and that sent a probe down into her brain, spreading the tinge of concern it had caused her. Kaiyo was going to fight for her squad, to do this, she needed her sword back. To her, it was literally that simple but she had a habit of ignoring problems.

She was entranced. A golden light that only she saw had emerged from the blade, seeping through the air like smoke and contorting around her small frame. She tentatively pressed her hand through the fog, watching the fibres of gold wrap and coil around her fingers. The shinigami that had rushed to catch up with the girl had paused, staring at the crazy lady running her fingers through thin air. They had the sense to remain quiet.

Kaiyo stepped forwards, a single flash bursting through her vision as the light began to snake away from her and back into the blade, she rushed forwards to the sword. Yanking it from it's stand as she swung her arm around and held it out, her mouth open as she froze once more...It was like her heart was tearing apart. How could she? Was it possible? To forget the name of your own sword. She dropped the unfamiliar metal; staggering backwards in shock. 'How can it?-'

'Please take a seat Taichou..' the first responder held a calming grip on the girl; slowly lowering her onto the nearest seat. Several faces stared and whispered at her. She blinked slowly, un-responsive. Anger bubbled beneath the surface as someone important entered. Kaiyo didn't see them first of all, only the response. Each shinigami in there straightened their posture and even drifted her hands toward their own sheathed swords. The woman looked nerdy enough to be smart, at least that was Kaiyo's opinion. Her brown hair was tied up in a neat bun, and her wire frame glasses were resting perfectly over her emerald green eyes. She looked down at the short girl. Her eyes flickering between Kaiyo and her clipboard. 'We, here at the 12th squad would like to aid you Captain. Being the ones responsible for your current predicament, we have devised a few simple steps that will allow your soul to reconnect with that of your Zanpakuto'. She spoke clearly and without emotion. Kaiyo looked suspiciously at her. If she'd known of another way, she would have refused and bolted for the hills; but Kaiyo was stuck. Even if it meant risking the 12th squad dissecting her or something- she'd do what needed to be done. Reluctantly, she rose to her feet; still a few feet short of everyone else around her. She sighed. 'Fine...' she mumbled, not proud of her decision. Scientists were tricky folk- she'd always said that, in fact in ways, they were worse than the second squad.

A Zanpakuto is born within the soul of their shinigami; they fight as a representation of that shinigami's heart.

'Erm...' she stared intently at her bare arm, 'Do i really need an injection? Like, NEED, need?' The woman rolled her eyes, wiping something cold over Kaiyo's arm as she spoke flippantly, 'It'll save you excruciating pain if you can deal with this small needle for a few seconds, so yes, it's NEEDED'. She shrunk her neck into her shoulders as she recoiled. Kaiyo really hated injections. In fact, the blonde girl was just about to mention that she'd rather take the agonising pain, but the woman had already jabbed her in the arm. Had she not been tied down to her table, she likely would have flinched and ran away, but as she was, Kaiyo managed only a little squeak of pain. She clenched her eyes shut, trying to avoid thinking about the fact that she could feel the stuff being pushed into her body. It might have been pertinent to ask what she was being injected with, but Kaiyo had already blindly agreed so really it was her own fault for going along with it.

A haze washed over his vision as her senses blurred, her body slowing and relaxing as she lay almost motionless on the table. She was still perfectly aware of her surrounding, just less anxious and worried about them. People began to bustle around her, more people than she even realised were around. They jabbed and prodded different parts of her body with pads and needles and monitors. Her head lolled to the side when they finished. A momentary silence whistling through the room. Her blonde hair was sprawled across her face and had she not been high as a kite, she probably would have been annoyed by it tickling her nose.

A echoing thud lapsed the silence as a leaver was yanked down. Then came the attack. Precise and vague at the same time- charged and specific shards of pain that jolted across her body. Her small frame shook violently on the table. The lights dimmed when the seemingly eternal torrent of agonising pain ceased. At the back of her mind, Kaiyo made a mental note to smack the lying bitch. Sweat glistened across her face as she panted heavily, her bated breath catching herself in a spiral of confusion. This time, they covered her eyes, injected her three times more and seemed to increase the amount of pain bearable before a person actually dies. Kaiyo felt like she was being tortured, and she'd damn well agreed to it. Her face had drained white and her eyes pale and milky white; sweat dripped from her body. She tried to clench her fists against the pain, but couldn't managed the motor function. She barely even made her fingers twitch.

The third time, she felt something else. Beyond the pain that had made her wish for death. Something in the very essence of her core that seemed to shift. A small alteration; a re-kindling even...She blacked out.

Spoiler:

The chink of the woman's armour pattered closer to the girl. Kaiyo began to stir, instinctively groaning in pain before she took check of herself and her voice trailed up with mild surprise. At least she felt fine...More than fine even; she felt more like herself, more powerful than she had in a long time. The oddity of slowly gaining power was that you never quite realise just how strong you are- now, she realised.

'No time for sleeping, Kaiyo' The stern voice matched the sharp kick that knocked into her bare foot. Her blue eyes shot open: their crystal pigments as sharp and bold as ever. Kaiyo sat up, blinking away her dreams as she lifted her gaze to the woman in question. Deja Vu?

Kaiyo tilted her head to one side, chewing on her bottom lip as she remained silent. She knew this woman, she knew her very well...But for the life of her, she didn't remember her name. Amidst her thoughts, her mind began to unravel. She wasn't in the 12th squad anymore, nor was she in any pain. Her eyes narrowed as she leant in closer. Tracing up and down the image of the figure standing before her; strong and imposing as ever. The woman sighed, apparently not so enthralled by the question. She folded her arms gracefully, moving so freely and fluid despite the armour that encased her frame. 'Do I really have to beat it out of you again...' The threatening tone of the woman jumped her name on the tip of Kaiyo's tongue.

The blonde girl jumped up to her feet, slowly bringing her seemingly lethargic arms up above her head as she stretched upwards, rolling her shoulders forwards and backwards until they clicked. The woman was talking again; arms folded, looking down at the girl with a scolding glare. Kaiyo ignored her, stepped slowly past her as she had a look around.

A smooth fog seeped around her ankles, it soft tendrils lingering across the otherwise soft dirt ground. It seemed dark here, darker than she supposed it should. There was no moon, nor were there clouds in the sky, curious. Kaiyo took another step forwards, feeling a small rumble from the ground beneath her feet. It wasn't dark, rather, bereft of light...Or life. There was no wind of breeze, but a small mass or air had encircled the girl, pushing and swaying at her black shinigami robes. 'Kaiyo!'

She twisted back around to the woman, jolting backwards when she realised just how far in her personal bubble she now was. She hadn't even heard her move. 'Erm...' She muttered, picking nervously at her nails as she slowly braved a look up at the woman. As her eyes lifted, they caught sight of the woman's blade. Her mouth dropped open as she instinctively moved her hand towards the now gleaming weapon. 'That's, mine...'Her own voice hit her mind, rippling through the cracks of her memory as she stepped back to safety, withdrawing her hand as she did so. 'So are you...'

She looked different, that's why Kaiyo hadn't recognised her. Everything here was different, and yet now she knew, it was so definitively hers. A light smirk tussled through the woman's expression, 'Take your time kid' she snarled in her usual manner. 'Tenrai...'

A spark of life shot around her body; sweeping away the fog with a powerful ease. Kaiyo glanced up as the skies folded in on itself, shading slowly to a light blue. Glorious mountains edged the horizon, sprinkled with a perfect green and glistening white. A trickle of water grew louder and louder as a waterfall splashed and spurted from behind her. Kaiyo smiled slowly, it was nice for there to be life again; she knew all about that.

'Good to be back' she mused to herself, allowing her eyes to flutter around her surroundings; taking in all the beauty it held. 'Yeah...It's not that easy though is it?' Tenrai stepped closer, her own expression turning darker as her hand wavered down to her blade. Kaiyo moved in time with the woman, stepping back as she held her hands up with a slight surprise. 'Heh, woah...What?' she stammered, uncertain of the out-come here. Did this not mean she had her Zanpakuto back?

Tenrai slowly unsheathed the blank Katana. She'd been wrong, the guard and hilt had the same woven golden thread, the same tremendous lion on the guard: but the blade wasn't hers. She didn't understand.

'If you want us back...Fight for us?'

Kaiyo threw her body backwards as Tenrai lunged at her. Skidding shakily backwards through the ground as small circles of dust swirled around her body.

'Us?'...'

It was like a dream, a really horrible dream that she couldn't wake up from.

Kaiyo had already tired of running, it wasn't getting her anywhere and Tenrai was clearly faster than her. She bobbed under the woman’s blade, weaving back up the other side as she spun round- her blonde hair sprawling out around her as she snapping her shin against Tenrai’s side. The armoured woman shot through the air, grinding through the earth as she dug in her sword to stop the momentum. Kaiyo had allowed herself a small cheer of victory for her first hit. It felt good to be able to knock the woman back. Of course, her victory didn’t last long.

The rejuvenated life that had surged through the world around Kaiyo had become terser. The previously blue clouds had tussled and rolled around each other; shadowing darker and darker until the distant roaring of thunder began to crack into Kaiyo’s recognition. She took a moment from her concentration to glance up to the sky. She looked back up time to dodge the very tip of the woman’s blade. ‘Woah!’ she jeered, ‘Fairly certain you’re not meant to kill me!’ Kaiyo snapped in a petulant voice. Tenrai looked outraged, yet her reaction wasn’t quite what Kaiyo had expected. The short girl winced as soon as Tenrai moved, slowly returning to her stance as the woman sheathed her blade and marched forwards. ‘You’ve already died…Do you not realise that we have too?!’ Kaiyo had already begun to argue back when her expression sank. That hadn’t even occurred to her. She swallowed, allowing her breath to catch itself for a moment. ‘I didn’t…’ she began; her muttered words were cut off by a right hook. Even her neck was sore from that one. Her hand clasped around her searing hot cheek as she indignantly frowned back up at her Zanpakuto spirit. ‘You never do…’ Tenrai sighed and began to walk away from the girl.

Kaiyo had never felt so put to shame. She was speechless. Emotion choked in her throat as she inhaled slowly. ‘Well…What can I do now?’ she called out for the woman, holding her hand out with mild hope. Tenrai stopped in her track, turning slowly back around to Kaiyo with a sombre expression. ‘You can become stronger than you were...You can fight with more purpose and cause…You can never give up…You can…You can…’ An idea seemed to strike the woman, her face softened for a split second as she walked slowly back to Kaiyo, unsheathing her blade once more with her steps. Kaiyo didn’t move this time, she didn’t even flinch. There was no aggression in the woman’s movements or stance, and Kaiyo was already intrigued by what she’d just decided anyway.

The metal of the Katana glistened as it caught the light. Above the pair, the clouds split; letting loose a torrent of energy that bolted down between the pair; exploding with a golden light that was damn near blinding. The earth broke beneath the lightning, heating Kaiyo’s feet in seconds. She stood aghast, staring at the charred, burnt and cracked ground between herself and Tenrai. The woman pulled at the sword, sliding the metal across her palm as she held out the handle to Kaiyo. The girl waited a moment for further instructions- none came. Urged on by Tenrai’s own piercing blue eyes, her wavering hand reached out to the blade and her small fingers slowly wrapped around its handle. No sooner had she grasped the sword, did Tenrai move. With exact precision, she turned the blade on its side, withdrawing her own armoured hand as she snapped it back at the sword: shattering the metal in a single strike. So shocked by the action, Kaiyo had allowed the handle to fly from her grasp, lodging itself a-top the waterfall. Her head flicked between the two tragedies; her broken sword and her crazy sword spirit. ‘How the hell is that meant to help?!’ she snapped, already turning from Tenrai in her anticipated trek up the rocks to get the remaining piece of her Zanpakuto. ‘You can’t seem to transform your Zanpakuto back, so maybe you can find it…’ Kaiyo paused, lowering her hand from the first rock as she turned back round to Tenrai. Despite the woman’s calm and collected expression and general demeanour- Kaiyo knew she’d lost the plot. She sighed, ‘Of course I can find it, it’s kind of obvious’ she retorted too confidently. Tenrai smirked, dropping her weight onto one leg as she bent it, crossing her arms, ‘Look again’ she smirked. Very confused, Kaiyo glanced back to the rocks. Her eyes shot wide open in time with her mouth. There were hundreds of identical blade handles there. Her head dropped back in despair as she snapped back round to Tenrai. ‘Seriously?!’ she yelled, throwing her arms up in annoyance. Tenrai laughed back at her.

Kaiyo huffed back to the cold rock face, without the blade itself she wasn’t even sure how she’d know which was right…And she got the feeling that the witch behind her wouldn’t be much help either. Her small hand scraped along the rock, grappling to find something to hold on to as she threw her small frame upwards; swinging along a small ledge as she pulled out the first handle. She’d secretly hoped that it would be the first one she found. Kaiyo looked blankly at the handle, turning it over to inspect the same elements that had always been present in her blade. A golden tsuba with a roaring lion on, a black cord wrap with strands of golden thread woven in, and a glistening lion menuki behind the wrapping. The pommel, a blood red. Uncertain at what she was meant to do with it, she whacked the thing against the boulder she was leaning off. Kaiyo nearly lost her grip from shock when the hilt shattered to dust. She prayed silently that it hadn’t been her real Zanpakuto.

‘That’s it! Now find your sword!’ Tenrai cheered from behind. Kaiyo’s snarky response was lost beneath another explosive crack of thunder; the wet rocks glistened and shimmered with each bolt of lightning that seemed to dance through the air from behind the girl. Kaiyo tugged out each handle with a renewed vigour: slamming them against the rock as each one seemed to melt away into the air.

Beads of sweat rolled from the girl’s forehead, her arms were literally screaming for a break. Kaiyo still hadn't found the right sword. Her hand slipped from its place as her feet scraped up the side of the waterfall. Kaiyo winced as she felt the drag of a ragged rock slicing against her arm. She pulled her right hand up, feeling the tension in her muscles as she pulled her body up another metre. There weren’t even that many handles left. Kaiyo had a sinking feeling that her sword would be the very last one she tried: sods law had always been unfortunate with her.Kaiyo reached up, her fingers rubbing against the hard material that wrapped her blade handle as she managed to knock it down into her grasp. In a defeated manner, she slammed the weapon handle into the rock next to her; as expected, the dust of what had once been a handle swept down to the ground beneath her. The same happened twelve more times, until Kaiyo had managed to reach the top of the waterfall.

Her hands wet and her arms cut, she rolled onto her back, panting heavily. There was one more left. ‘Of, bloody, course’ she groaned to herself, mustering the last of her energy as she leant over the edge of the waterfall and plucked out the last handle. It felt no different from the others, but it had to be hers. Out of habit now, she thrust the handle against the top of the waterfall. She screamed in pain as the dust was swept from her palm. 'Wha-?!' Surely she’d missed one; she hadn't just destroyed her hopes of getting her Zanpakuto back had she? Kaiyo tugged herself over the edge, balancing carefully as her frantic eyes searched the rocks. There was nothing there. The heavens opened as a torrent of rain began to splash down around the girl. Blood seeped through her clothes as they soaked through. Still intent on finding the last handle, Kaiyo leant further over the edge. A crack of lightning exploded the air just inches from the backs of her feet and Kaiyo fell down over the edge.

Spoiler:

Amidst the depths of her desolation, her small frame went limp and for a brief moment, she enjoyed the rush of air that dragged against her body. Kaiyo shut her eyes, hoping perhaps for some rest now? To wake up or to fall asleep- at this point she didn't mind which. A boom of thunder caught her descent as her body thudded against something which at the very least, was not the ground. When the motion stopped, she rolled off to the ground, sitting up with confusion as she glanced around to her lion. The warm beast was a welcomed sight: he at least, was exactly as she’d remembered. She stood, now oblivious to her exhaustion as she grinned at the lion. ‘I’ve missed you’ she cheered, throwing open her arms as she hugged the large lion around his mane. As soft as she’d remembered.

‘Tch, you weren't that excited to see me…’ Tenrai sulked around the girl. Reality swung back to Kaiyo as she lunged at the woman, ‘Where’s my sword?!’ she snapped. Half way through a deep inhale for a great rant- Kaiyo was stopped by the lions deep voice. ‘Kaiyo Saiyouko…Calm down!’ He roared above the thunder that continued to screech through the clouds above. Kaiyo clenched her fists tightly as she swung back round to Zenpyou. Dropping her shoulders as she actively forced herself to relax- a little. ‘You cannot simply find the part of your soul that broke. It, like you, has been reborn…As a shinigami progresses in their training, the slowly and methodically imprint the essense of their soul into their sword. It is in this manner that one moulds their Zanpakuto.’ Kaiyo blinked a few times, her expression wrung out and very confused. ‘So I have to slowly imprint you?’ she regurgitated with a mild hopefulness. Tenrai smacked her in the back of the head, moving around next to Zenpyou as she took her turn to explain. Or at least try to. ‘That’s what normally happens…Your situation isn’t exactly normal though is it?’

Kaiyo was busy tussling her blonde hair back into place to really listen, she shrugged all the same. ‘I guess’ she agreed, returning her attention fully back to the beings in front of her. ‘What we mean is…You have to make us, you know our name and we are still yours and a part of you. So just, call us out again’. Kaiyo scrunched up her nose in confusion, moving her hand to the side of her head as she replied, ‘But I don’t really-‘

The pain returned in a flash, searing every nerve ending within her body as her eyes became sharp dark beads, her back arched as smoke bellowed from her skin. It stopped as quickly as it had occurred and she lay motionless on the table. Voices swirled back into her conscious recognition as she sat bolt up, breaking her bonds clean off the table as she waved her arms frantically, ‘Don’t do it again!’ she yelled, unable to held the wavering edge of panic in her voice. Her vision staggered back to her, as she frantically tugged and yanked out the needles and probes from her skin. She’d be bruised like a peach now. Kaiyo was shaking, she could it throughout her body and yet she could do nothing to stop it.

Her heart beat began to slow as she calmed herself. She felt drained, lost and so confused. Memories swirled back through her eyes with more lucid moments, faces and people she’d known or met. Kaiyo dropped her head, allowing her damp hair to flop around her face. She blinked hard a few times, looking up to the expressionless doc lady. Wire frame glasses over calm green eyes, ‘How are you feeling now?’ . If she hadn’t sounded so un-interested, it probably would have been out of concern for Kaiyo’s wellbeing, but she knew it was just for her graphs and stuff. Kaiyo took a moment, taking full register of how she was feeling. All things considered, she felt alright. She nodded with a light smile, ‘I’ve had better days but I think I’ll live…This time’ she smirked at her own joke, hoping to force a smile from doctor lady. Nothing.

Kaiyo hopped off her table, nodding to herself as she scanned the figures in the room. Her eyes sparked with realisation as she capped her reiatsu, blushing quietly to herself as she rubbing the back of her neck sorely. ‘Okay…I need a big, like REALLY big kind of training ground.’ She nodded to doctor lady with confidence, turning to leave as she stopped herself, ‘After I get a shower first…Want to look my best for when you all see my Zanpakuto again’ a jolt of lightning shot across her face as Kaiyo strolled out of the room.

It had only been the following day that the 12th squad had lead her apparently, deeper and further underground Soul Society to the empty space she’d been allowing. She wasn’t sure exactly how big it was, but seeing as she couldn’t see when it ended, she assumed it would be fine. The ground was hard, a steely blue colour that matched the walls and ceiling exactly. Kaiyo decided very quickly that the decoration would probably make her feel a bit ill if she spent too long down there. A small team accompanied her down the elevator ride that seemed to last hours, they stood in silence. Mainly because they all seemed a little too tense to speak to kaiyo, despite her best efforts. The short girl stepped through the threshold of the elevator and stopped, smiling politely to her companions. ‘Erm…Probably best if you guys head back up, you can record and do what ya like from further away but, I don’t really want to kill anyone just yet’ she giggled slightly. Apparently they didn’t see the funny side of her joke. Kaiyo shrugged it off, maybe they’d get it later. It didn’t matter too much, they had all very willingly agreed and left her in silence. Complete silence…how odd.

Her footsteps echoed loudly through the blank air. Her breathing getting faster and faster as her anticipation and excitement grew. Kaiyo stood still. Shutting her eyes slowly, she took a deep breath and exhaled through her nose. At her very core, she could feel her own sparking energy, shooting and dancing through her veins- she released it. Glorious golden wisps exploded around her body, dancing and curling in on themselves as coils of light intertwined with shards of stronger bolts of lightning. Adrenaline began to course through her body, kicking up the exhilaration as the visible strength and power of the Captain extended to the edges of her confines. It had been a severe mistake to try and contain a Captain for so long.

For each layer of reiatsu that poured from her body, another appeared ten-fold. Kaiyo felt alert, awake: alive. She stretched her hand out with an un-wavering confidence, keeping her eyes shut just to increase her own delight of the situation. She threw her reiatsu along her hand, trails of golden and yellow mixing in a glorious depth that rolled around her arm and encompassed her within that same blinding light. Slowly, she curled her fingers around the space, originally air but now she felt it, the exact feel against her fingertips and her palm. Kaiyo’s eyes shot open as a wave of reiatsu bolted around her body. The handle of her blade alone: a golden tsuba with a roaring lion on, a black cord wrap with strands of golden thread woven in, and a glistening lion menuki behind the wrapping. The pommel was blood red, and the habaki engraved with a single bolt of lightning. A smile toyed on her soft pink lips, revealing her pearly white teeth. Kaiyo dragged her left foot backwards, keeping her right arm out as she wrapped her free hand just above the elbow. She took a deep breath…


‘Light the sky, Tenrai Zenpyou!’

Spoiler:

A grin had spread from ear to ear, her face illuminated with her own power surging through her body and across her blade. It, much like other things, had changed. So had she, and it remained hers. She re-furled her fingers around her grip, stepping forwards into her stride as she slashed her Zanpakuto up and down. Sparks of lightning teased from the blade in playful jolts. The natural warmth that had always seemed to literally radiate from the girl had returned. In her mind, she could hear her Zanpakuto spirits, as helpful as ever. 'What? Is that it? Come on, we trained enough to be a bit more impressive than this...'

That was all the cue she needed. Even in her past life, it was a rare occasion that a Captain of Kaiyo's level would be allowed free reign to release their power and yet here she was, no restrictions or limits. Free play. It was brilliant. Blade horizontal, she released her right hand, spinning around to catch it with her left as she slashed through the air around her; enthralled by the twisting trails of golden light which followed her movements. Her blonde hair fanned out and flicked around her neck as she grasped her sword with both hands. Adjusting her grip to a comfortable position as slowly lifted her arms. Kaiyo looked quite comical holding such a large blade, but she'd never felt it's weight fully. The blue washed training ground had already cracked around her feet, crumbled apart with seamless ease.

'Raikou Mato' she whispered to herself. Allowing that brilliant flash of energy to rush through her body, encircling her blade with a golden sphere as it leaped to the very tip and in a split second: a surge of lightning exploded from her Zanpakuto.

A single lightning bolt can heat the air around it to temperatures 5 times greater than the surface of the sun.

A bellowing smoke drifted from the blade. 'Don't tell me you're tired already' she jeered at her sword. 'Tch, not even close'. The simplicity of this enjoyment had struck the girl and part of her longed to remain in her blue prison cell; away from complications. She sighed lightly, lifting her gaze as she bounced gently left to right. 'Alright, race time' she smirked, her roguish expression toying on her lips. Kaiyo drew her Zanpakuto backwards, allowing her left hand free at her side for a moments pause. She swung the large blade across her body as she called, 'Raikou Mato!'. No sooner had the glowing bolt shot from her blade, had she dropped it; shunpo'ing with all her might to beat the strike. The blurred movements of her fastest step were overwhelmed by the convection currents that shot past her like a hurricane. She halted, sweating and panting as she stopped in time to watch the ever extending bolt of furious lightning collide with the barrier of her dungeon. The entire room shook. A flash of panic that swept across the girl's face was replaced almost instantly with a grin. She hadn't even been able to make out the edge of this room, but damn if she'd found it.

It took three more flash steps to reach her Zanpakuto again, and with a slight grimace she bent down and picked it up. 'Nice try kid' the smarmy voice of Tenrai rang through her ears: she sounded far too triumphant to Kaiyo. The blonde girl huffed away an out of place hair from her vision, sweeping her hand back as her indefatigable energy kept her bouncing on her toes. The glinting metal of her blade seemed to shine all that brighter with her renewed vigour. Already, Kaiyo could feel her heart pounding against her chest, her eyes darting with a sharper vision and her muscles screaming for more of a challenge. She needed a fight. A cold rush swept along the back of her spine as she tried to calm herself down: she didn't know who'd taken her Captain spot, but she knew she couldn't wait to fight for it back.


With a precise flick of her wrist, she flung her Zanpakuto up into the air, leaping up through the trail of yellow wisps she regained a grip on the handle as she thrust it back down to the ground with all her might. Flipping back over herself, she felt her own reiatsu gathering around her feet as she yelled. 'Denkou Kabe'. As she yelled the last syllable, her foot collided with the hilt of her blade; digging it even deeper into the ground as the blue flooring began to glow and buzz with a golden energy. It tremored and roared for an instant, before exploding up to ceiling. Thunder barked around the towering wall that had erupted just inches from the girl, reaching the skies with a terrifying depth. A pang of worry hit the girl as she grabbed her sword from beneath her feet and leapt through the wall just as it dissipated. Large chunks of blue ceiling fell around where she'd stood, and in it's absence; sunlight splashed into the cave. The luminescent lights shattered and cracked around her and all Kaiyo could do was laugh. She knew her time was running out, she she was no reason in leaving the rest of the space un-touched. She licked her lips slowly as she rolled her feet forwards with calm and measure steps. Her body shook gently in anticipation as she flipped her sword, and dug it deep into the ground.

She lifted her head, her piercing blue eyes fixated at a point ahead of her. Her muscles twinged as she rested her hands atop the handle. Buzzers and sirens had begun to fill the room, but she was already too far gone to pay them any attention. Ready to lay waste to everything that had been confining her and holding her back...

'Now be honest...You missed us.'

- - -

'Chouwa no tomoshibi'
Her vibrant yellow reiatsu mixed and swayed amidst the lightning that seeped through the blue basement floor. The static grew around her small frame and for a brief moment: there was silence. The tremendous light exploded around her, encompassing her senses with the purest forms of lightning she'd ever seen. Behind such beauty, the deadly force that lay waste to all in it's path. A single chamber of light could be seen shining on Kaiyo, standing, awe-struck, amidst her own destructive force. When it finally dropped to her feet, there was no ceiling left to crumble, no ground left to break and no walls to shatter. A large crater had formed around the sweet blonde girl, at it's edges; intricate corridors and buildings remained of the underground barracks. Kaiyo was truly alive now.

Kaiyo slouched her shoulders, wiping her glistening forehead as she caught her breath back. Unable to stop smiling, the girl at least withdrew her sword from the ground, silently releasing it from shikai as she sheathed it back at her hip. Her hand rested over the sealed sword protectively, the thumb rubbing against the engraved lion on the hilt as the vision of her previous ability swam through her mind. The reaitsu it required alone was more than most shinigami could dream of, and releasing it: well Kaiyo could think of only one thing she'd like to do more.

Returning to reality, the girl kicked her feet over the last patch of blue flooring where she stood; shrugging to herself as she sat down and waited. Several things were about to happen to her, which probably should have stopped her in the first place, but it was too late for regrets already. For all their consorted efforts, the 12th squad had been unable to hide Kaiyo's reiatsu when she broke free of their container. Such a high release, and given that it was her own would likely set of a few extra alarms around Sereitei. The 4th and 2nd squad would be called to keep peace and hurt anyone injured. Though from a quick mental scan, the worst injuries were the nearest scientists who'd just passed out from her reiatsu; they'd be fine after some rest. Still, it would be eventful none the less.