PresentAnother day of being turned down by Kasumi, he had tried using his recent promotion to charm her, honestly he thought it only made her want to kill him more then take his position. It made him chuckle every time he thought about it, she was so cute when she was angry, her being here longer than him but him joining and always staying a rank above her. Now he was lieutenant which he knew ticked her off, but he wouldn't mind fighting that one. But he knew she had somewhat of an advantage of him, but he pushed that to the back of his mind as he headed out.
Heading out of the Soul Society and into the woods, Hikari came upon a mountain but didn't climb it. Instead he walked around it, heading towards the cave that was hidden by bushes, trees, and rocks. His hands stuffed into his Shihakushō he closed his eyes taking a breath, remembering his first time training with the so called man of a thousand techniques.
Hikari vs 100With his Zanpakuto drawn Hikari stood twenty feet away from Tabo, aka the man of a thousand techniques. Hikari lightly twirled his Zanpakuto, "So you're gonna train me in Zanjutsu huh? Man....Of a thousand techniques."
"Hey, hey, hey now! It's not man of a thousand techniques, it's
the man of a thousand techniques," Tabo said as he gave a light smile, chuckle, and a tip to his hat.
"But yes, yes I am....Now, shall we get started?" Tabo asked as he lifted his cane from his shoulder and activated his Shikai with mere thought, or so it seemed as he did it so quickly. His cane had transformed into a roulette that had only seven spaces on it, and instead of numbers the roulette had random symbols. Instead of a ball, the roulette had a spinner. Spinning it, Tabo smiled, "Let's see what style we're gonna train you in!"
Immediately after he said that the spinner stopped on a clown face, in which a clown face shot out the roulette and opened it's mouth letting it's tongue drop to the floor and roll to the ground. A giant cero-looking beam then shot out at Hikari whom eyes widened along with Tabo's. Tabo shunpo'ed above the beam and hit it with his palm causing it to hit the ground right in front of Hikari.
"What the fuck was that Tabo!?" Hikari yelled as he gripped his hair, eyes wide, freaking out as he almost fucking died by the person who was supposed to be training him! Hikari was honestly starting to doubt this, but he needed the training.
"Minor malfunction, happens all the time!" Tabo said, brushing it off easily as he walked back to the roulette and began spinning it once more.
"Minor!? You call that minor! I-I almost lost my life, I almost died!" Hikari said as he facepalmed with a sigh as he whispered, "For the love of the Soul King...."
"Ah, here we go!" Tabo said, causing Hikari to look up to see Tabo tossing a katana back and forth in his hands. Tabo then pointed it at Hikari, suddenly all white figures began surrounding him one by one, then by the twenties up until there were a hundred. "What....?" Hikari said utterly confused as he looked around him keeping his Zanpakuto gripped tight.
"Clones, one hundred exactly. This is the ability of The Puppeteer, the other ability before was The Jester. I can create clones, up to the hundreds, and make you fight exactly who I want," Tabo began switching the looks of all the puppeteers at once, Kasumi, Kenta, Shinji, himself....Tabo turned them back to the default white clones, "But let's keep it simple, your job here is to defeat all one hundred. Your face, it tells me you're thinking how could it help Zanjutsu? Well, it'll help me see your faults in Zanjutsu, or what you'll excel best in. Now, start."
Not a second later all the clones charged at Hikari. One punched at him in which he side-stepped, beginning to strike it was canceled as he was punched in the ribs causing him to wince and move to the side in which he was then kicked and sent flying. A clone appeared above him and kicked him in the gut causing blood to fly out of his mouth as he hit the ground.
"Remember, there's one hundred, and the enemy will
not let up. The enemy will
not give you a second to breathe or recover, you have to be quick and swift. Reaching back too far to attack with your weapon leaves you open on the ribs, keep your elbows closer to your body….Or be faster with your attacks, either or!” Tabo said with a smug look on his face as he sat crisscrossed in the air.
Smug bastard, Hikari thought before multiple clones jumped into the air and landed on him with kicks and punches. Hikari stood up and pushed them all off of him with the help of releasing spirit energy to get them away. As they ran at him Hikari dodged a punch and sliced the clone’s head off before quickly pulling his weapon back and back flipping to dodge an attack, he landed on a clone and stuck his sword into it’s chest before pulling his sword out and doing a quick spin with his sword pointed outwards cutting the four that tried to attack him from all angles. They were down for good.
Taking a quick breath Hikari ran through the crowd making quick and swift cuts, flipping, dodging, sliding, he did what he could to avoid attacks and managed to kill clones while at it. Jumping into the air it seemed as if the clones followed his exact movements as most of them jumped into the air with him, some coming right at him from the air. As one came at him with a kick he blocked it with his Zanpakuto and flipped the clone behind him, then dodged an attack from the next by spinning behind it and stabbing it in the back. Turning back around he ran forward cutting through the long lines of clones, then began dropping back towards the ground cutting through the clones that were in mid-jump. He began spinning with his Zanpakuto pushed out while dropping to the ground cutting and killing the ones that jumped at him.
As he landed his sword was pushed into the head of a clone, he then released a massive amount of spirit energy to push the clones back. He began panting, hunching a bit as he looked at the clones charging him. He had released two massive bursts of energy and had been fighting non-stop, it took allot of him. He put a hand to his face, he
needed it!
No, you’ll never be good if you rely on that. You need to focus on your own abilities, Hikari thought as he took another breath and looked around. They were still charging not quite to him yet, so he took this time to regain most of his breath. He stood still, letting the clones surround him, suddenly he used Hōzan Kenbu dropping most that came after him. Finishing he quickly pushed spirit energy into his blade and stuck it into the ground, smirking before a large explosion erupted destroying the rest of the clones.
As the dust cleared Hikari was just standing there battered and bruised, mostly from the explosion as his clothing was ripped. Tabo walked towards him clapping, “Good job, but you forgot one thing!” he said. “What’s that?” Hikari asked slowly as he focused on gaining his breath but was interrupted by a knee to the gut.
Hikari coughed up blood before falling face-first into the ground. He slowly rolled around holding his stomach seeing Tabo turn into a white clone then disappeared, the real Tabo hovering over Hikari with a grin holding up a peace sign with his fingers, “You only killed ninety-nine!” he said with a laugh that made Hikari sigh and close his eyes.
PresentHikari opened his eyes as he walked into the cave, remembering how after that Tabo had taught him the Zanjutsu style Iaido. As he walked deeper into the cave Kai walked out and smiled at Hikari, “Been a while Hikari, what’s up?”
Hikari smiled back with a nod, “Looking for Tabo, he around?”
“Yeah, he’s just finishing up something in the back. He told me to wait out here until he was done,” Kai said as he walked over to the cave walls and sat. Hikari sat across from him and closed his eyes, remembering when Kai and he met. Tabo saw how poorly Hikari did against the Hakuda clones, and decided to make Hikari and Kai spar.
Hikari vs Kai: Zanjutsu vs Hakuda!“Hikari, this is Kai. Kai, this is Hikari. Beautiful meeting right? I know, you two will fight each other,” Tabo said with a smile.
“Fight him? You mean a simple spar or…?” Hikari asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked at Kai, whom looked over at Tabo. Tabo shrugged, “I’d prefer if you went all out, Kai needs practice against Zanjutsu users, and Hikari you need work against Hakuda users. Since the problem came to me, I figured why not an all out spar? Give it all you’ve got!”
Kai nodded and stepped up, bowing to Hikari who bowed back in respect. They both straightened themselves as Hikari pulled out his Zanpakuto, while Kai activated his Shikai. His body was now encased in white armor with a snake that stayed above him but was wrapped around his waist. Hikari nodded, indicating that he was ready.
Kai shot at him, he was fast! Faster then Hikari expected, raising a hand Kai tried grabbing Hikari’s face but Hikari shunpo’ed into the air. Before he could do anything the snake jumped at him, almost biting him before Hikari used shunpo again to get to the ground. Kai quickly turned his body and dropped down to Hikari aiming a punch at him. Before he got a hit off, Hikari jumped back letting Kai punch the ground. As he jumped back the snake went after him in which Hikari sliced upwards killing the snake and causing it to dissolve as if it were a hollow.
“Hm, looks like I got that out of the way,” Hikari said.
“Oh you really think so?” Kai asked as he bent down and touched the ground, hand glowing purple as small purple snakes raised from the ground disappearing afterwards. The snake had reformed around his waist and rose up, staring at Hikari.
Hikari just narrowed his eyes, thinking faster than Kai could move to attack.
Not sure if he controls the snake or if it has a mind of its own….Also not sure if he can just summon the snake whenever he chooses. Though I do know if I move to dodge one of them then the other comes straight for me. So it would be a matter of speed, or just take one of them down. It seems as though he can’t form the snake without touching a solid substance of some sort, evidence as to why he touched the ground, otherwise he would have just made it grow back. So get the snake to attack me, I’ll kill it, then charge him to stop him from forming it. I win there!As he finished thinking everything snapped back to normal, though Kai had got a punch on Hikari’s face sending him flying back into a cave wall. Moving past the rubble, Hikari emerged from it and smacked dust away. Before he could get out Kai appeared in front of him and punched him back into the hole and continued punching him, beating him down. Hikari grunted, the punches seemed non-stop by how fast they were.
This guy is strong! Hikari thought, before he managed to get his foot free and kick Kai back. Quickly recovering, Hikari shot off and punched Kai out of the wall. Hikari got out himself and jumped into the air, landing he aimed his Zanpakuto at Kai as he slammed down. Kai rolled away before getting stabbed but Hikari turned and slashed at the ground trying to hit Kai as he rolled away. Quickly getting up him and Hikari charged each other, Hikari’s Zanpakuto slamming down as Kai used his arms to block the blade grinning as his snake shot for Hikari. “Perfect,” Hikari said before slashing upwards killing the snake. Slicing down, Kai rolled out the way and slid backwards using his claws to stop him from going further.
“You have good agility and speed for your size,” Hikari said.
“People usually underestimate that,” Kai said smirking as he touched the ground about to summon the snake again until Hikari appeared in front of him, “Same for my speed.” Hikari brought his Zanpakuto down and cut through Kai’s armor leaving a wound from Kai’s shoulder down to his arm then hand causing him right arm to drop.
They both jumped back, Hikari glad that he was able to bring him down to just one arm. “Looks like I’m the winner of this spar, you can’t summon your snake so you have nothing to watch your back,” Hikari said as he let his Zanpakuto rest on his shoulder.
“You may be right about the snake thing, but don’t think you’ve won this match!” Kai yelled as his claws dug into the ground, Hikari now running towards him. Kai lifted the entire ground leading from his towards Hikari, raising his hand the ground began lifting, then Kai pushed forward letting the ground raise and fall towards Hikari.
Hikari began running up the ground, and just as he reached the top he flipped over it just as it crashed to the ground. Hikari quickly shunpo’ed to Kai and sliced his chest before shunpo’ing behind him and turning towards Kai who had stood up from his crouching position. Hikari ran towards Kai as Kai ran towards him, Hikari ducked dodging a punch then made multiple cuts with Zanpakuto to Kai’s torso before sheathing his blade and then moving forward. Kai turned to Hikari with narrowed eyes, armor cracked at the torso with bleeding wounds and a dead arm. “You’re strong Hikari, doing this much damage to someone who trained under your same teacher you had for a couple months, who had trained under him for a couple years. Impressive really.” Kai complimented.
“You’re strong too, but I feel like you didn’t give it your all…I know I didn’t either,” Hikari said with a chuckle, that chuckle hurting his gut from the previous punches, “Next time we’ll go all out alright?”
“Heh, yeah, next time,” Kai said with a smile as he turned and walked away. Although they didn’t fight at full strength, they both learned something about the individual fighting styles that day.
Present“So I see you’ve got a promotion,” Kai said pointing to Hikari’s lieutenant armband.
Hikari eyes opened and he chuckled, “Oh yeah, I did! Lieutenant had retired, so I got the position,” he laughed, “Kasumi is so mad!”
Kai gave a small chuckle before looking down, a sad look in his eyes as he tone lowered, “Must nice right?...Having friends? Things to actually fight for?”
Before Hikari could reply Tabo walked out from the back and tipped his hat towards Hikari, “Nice, you’re lieutenant. You’ll get Captain one day,” he said before turning around and beginning to walk, “I’m ready for you.”
Hikari nodded and stood up before following, looking back one last time before leaving to see Kai walking out of the cave with his hands in his pockets and head down. Hikari looked away and walked to the back, entering the battlefield him and Kai fought it. Well…The ground looked fixed atleast.
Hikari looked up to see Tabo standing next to someone, a man with a jacket and no shirt.
“Another spar?” Hikari asked.
“Indeed, this time we’ll be focusing on hoho. Naito here is a master at hoho, so with this spar I’ll be comparing your speeds. This will help me determine what to teach you in terms of it,” Tabo said and nodded, “You two, you may begin…And Naito, don’t go all out.”
Naito nodded and slowly began pulling his Zanpakuto out from behind his back, all while eyeing Hikari.
Next thing Hikari knew was that Naito was now behind him slicing down his back, Hikari quickly turned around slicing at Naito who shunpo’ed behind Hikari again slicing at him. This time Hikari did a flip landing behind Naito, quickly unsheathing his Zanpakuto and striking Naito who used Utsusemi appearing right next to Hikari.
“Aside from that first strike you’re actually keeping up, and with your natural speed too. You have potential to be very good at hoho if your natural speed can keep up with that of a hoho master, but with this I’m afraid that you won’t fair well anymore,” Naito said before clawing over his face summoning his hollow mask.
So he’s one too? Hikari thought as he remembered his own Hollow training.
Hikari Vizard training!“I know you’re nice, but being nice doesn’t fit this world,” Hikaru said sipping his tea, “When you’re fighting your Hollow, you have utterly
destroy him in combat. Abandon your emotions and just
fight.”
“….I don’t know if I can,” Hikari said hesitantly, looking at the ground, “Defeat the hollow….Yeah, I can probably do that. But abandon my emotions? That’s not me…I
don’t….want to fight like that.”
“Hikari,” Hikaru said with a sigh, “Someday you will have to fight like that…If it’s not now then it’s later, now are you ready?” Once Hikari nodded Hikaru poked his forehead causing Hikari to fall back dropping his cup of tea. “You’re strong, so you’ll need it double,” Hikari said as he used Kin and then Gochūtekkan.
“Fight and gain control my son, you already survived the hollowfication process when you were younger….But now you need to show your dominance,” Hikaru said before walking out of the temple.
~Inside his head~
“Well well Light~” Hollow Hikari said, “What a surprise to find you here, it’s been a while!”
“You don’t look surprised at all,” Hikari said narrowing his eyes, “Still keeping that smug ass face, huh?”
Hollow Hikari grinned, “What smug face?...Oh you mean the smirk? That ain’t smug, that’s called my nature~”
“Whatever it is I’m gonna wipe it off your ugly ass face!” Hikari yelled.
“Ugly? No need to be insecure, don’t forget that I’m an exact replica of you,” Hollow Hikari said, “Don’t worry, you’re perfect the way you are~”
Hikari sighed and closed his eyes, knowing he shouldn’t lose his cool
here of all places! Opening his eyes he kept his cool, running towards his Hollow he slashed at him in which he blocked. “Faster I see….Well I’ve always seen~”
“Shut up,” Hikari said calmly before backing up, he then slashed down but was parried by his Hollow who grinned and then stuck his sword through Hikari’s stomach. Blood began dripping from his mouth, but he smirked ignoring the pain as his own blade slammed down on his Hollow’s shoulder. Hollow Hikari winced and jumped back, not having a sword now but instead a hurt shoulder, “You bitch!”
Hikari didn’t reply, instead went into a crouching position letting out a breath. He grabbed the handle of the sword in his stomach and chuckled a bit, “I think you can see how this is going to turn out bad for you, you see…Thanks to the man of a thousand techniques, you know, the guy my father introduced me to? Thanks to him, I can do this.”
Hikari gripped the handle of the sword and pulled it out of himself as he stood up, “Who’s the bitch now?” Hikari asked as he ran forward sending multiple slashes to his Hollow, in which he dodged some, but he got most blows directed onto him. Falling to his knees he chuckled, “So after this….I guess you’ll have full control huh? Yeah, get rid of the one who’ve saved you in multiple battles.”
Hikari grabbed his hollow by the collar and lifted him up, “You only came in to save your damn self, and then you tried taking over. Yeah, it kept me alive but it was by chance that you didn’t take over!”
“Is that what you really think Hikari? Hm, and I thought you were a smart one,” Hollow Hikari said chuckling, “Well, I guess its bye bye time for me!”
“You’re damn right it is,” Hikari said as he dropped his Hollow and grabbed his Zanpakuto, giving another blow to his Hollow’s back causing him to drop while laughing.
~Outside his head~
The mask on his face faded and the Kido’s dispelled, and Hikari was picked up and tossed over a shoulder….Though not by his father, but Tabo himself, then man of a thousand techniques.
PresentHikari glared as Naito put on his mask, Hikari chuckled.
“You’re not the only one of course,” Hikari said as he moved his hand across his face revealing his own mask.
“Oh wow, the tricks are indeed real. Show me more!” Tabo said grinning, watching the fight like a child watching his idols. He sensed the Hollow in both of them, of course he knew the full extent of Naito’s power, but he didn’t know Hikari could control his.
Hikari’s natural speed was almost on point with a hoho master who used shunpo constantly…So I wonder the increase of speed he’ll gain with that mask, especially if he used shunpo he’ll most likely be faster than Naito and turn the tides. He’s certainly something; I see why you passed him on to me, Hikaru… Tabo thought with interest.
“You certainly do have allot of tricks,” Naito said as he used speed clones, all fifteen surrounding Hikari, “But I have more!” All of them said at the same time. “Seal, Sasinwang!” At that exact moment all the clones disappeared and Naito dropped down towards Hikari from behind. Just as he was about to get hit Hikari shunpo’ed and ended up behind Naito, getting a lucky hit across the back. Hikari jumped away just as Naito turned around swinging.
“Hm, I wonder what that does,” Hikari said as he pointed towards the Shikai.
“Why don’t you come find out?” Naito said as he stood on the ground, holding his Shikai out with the blade pointed downwards.
“Alright!” Hikari said as him and Naito shunpo’ed to each other clashing Zanpakuto, though Naito’s Shikai was bigger than it seemed on the ground, much bigger. Naito used all his force and sent Hikari flying into the cave wall in which he kept flying through until he was shot out of the cave and into the forest, shooting through some trees.
Hikari smacked into the ground and rolled, stabbing his Zanpakuto into the ground to stop the sliding. Half of his mask had broken due to the force, but he didn’t care. He panted, not noticing the three people around him. He shot off forward heading back to the cave.
Shooting towards Naito he slammed his sword down, aiming to cut down his shoulder instead Naito turned around and smirked grabbing Hikari’s Zanpakuto as his mask broke.
“Wha….But I can keep it up long-“
“My Shikai ability cuts the soul’s connections off. Therefore you can’t use Zanpakuto abilities or your mask,” Naito said as he pushed Hikari back and pointed to the cut on Hikari’s arm he dealt which they clashed swords and he pushed Hikari out the cave, “Fair enough to say I’ve won this spar, I have the speed advantage and you have no Zanpakuto abilities or power boost.”
Hikari took a breath before giving a nervous chuckle, scratching his hair, “Wait, is this all your speed?” Hikari asked.
“Yeah, why?” Naito asked.
“Oh…I was holding back,” Hikari said giving another nervous chuckle.
“I knew something was off,” Tabo said smirking.
“You were fucking what!?” Tabo screamed.
“I was holding back, my speed atleast, Tabo told you to hold back so I thought it was only fair if I did,” Hikari said, but then gave a smirk as he appeared in front of Naito and used Senmaioroshi to break his mask while Naito just stared there in shock with his mouth wide open, “Never let down your guard!” Hikari commented, as that’s how Hikari just cracked Naito’s mask, and then jumped back.
Naito just shivered in anger, then ripped his jacket off, “You piece of shit!”
“I…See you’re easily angered,” Hikari said.
“Ban-KAI!” Naito yelled as his energy raised, when the dust settled it revealed his Bankai.
Hikari’s eyes widened, as immediately after activating it a large red beam of Kido shot out towards Hikari with massive speed giving Hikari no time to move out of the way. Even if he did, his heartbeat would increase while running as well being hit would increase the chance of him dying. He had fought a Bankai user before, but this was faster, deadlier…For fuck sakes it was just a spar!
Hikari vs Elder!“So you’re the one….The one who ordered Kaguya to fight me,” Hikari said gripping his Zanpakuto with his head held low, “Huh, Kago?”
“You are correct,” Kago said as he held his Zanpakuto behind him, his eyes scanning the temple before laying back on Hikari, “It was to test your strength, you killed Kaguya…One feat not many could achieve, hence her kill count.”
“I
didn’t kill her,” Hikari said.
“What was that?” Kago asked.
“I didn’t kill her!” Hikari yelled looking up at Kago, gritting his teeth with tears spilling out of his eyes, “My
hollow killed her! You know, the thing that happened when I was younger!?.....Tell me what these test are about Kago.”
“Well that’s simple enough, the tests are to test your strength, and get you stronger….You see Hikari, you’re the golden boy. Once every generation there’s supposed to be a new head, someone trained to become stronger than the rest…Hikari…ever since birth you had a high Spirit Energy,” Kago said, “Hikari, do you know how your mother died? Because yo-“
“Don’t say it!” Hikari said.
“Because your Spirit energy was too high for her to handle.”
“I said don’t fucking say it!” Hikari yelled, blind with rage as he shot off towards Kago swinging his Zanpakuto as Kago raised his large katana and pushed Hikari away, “The thing you use everyday, thing you use in every fight, it was used to kill your very own mother. Do you feel nothing every time you use it? Every time someone comments on it, reacts to it?”
“I said shut the hell up!” Hikari yelled, charging Kago slicing at him in which Kago just did the same thing as before. Kago chuckled, “Continuing these tests Hikari, you can learn to be great without the use of spirit energy, just pure, raw, skill.”
“Fuck your tests and fuck your raw skill, fuck the clan, fuck everything!” Hikari yelled as he began shivering with rage, head hurting because of it, body heating up.
“Hm, well if you say so Hikari, I’ll just kill you here and take your place then!” Kago yelled as he activated his Bankai, flames beginning to circle around him black and white.
“…And fuck your Bankai,” Hikari said as he stared at the flames.
“You think you can beat my Bankai?” Kago asked.
“I know I can,” Hikari replied.
“Try to get close!”
As Hikari began charging, the flames pushed forward towards Hikari in which he flipped over them. Landing, he continued running towards Kago until a tsunami of flames came down towards him. Hikari flipped backwards to avoid it but once it hit the floor it quickly shot towards him in which he shunpo’ed in the air hanging upside down. He shot off from where he was towards Kago, once he got close he swung at Kago’s face but black flames blocked it as it were a solid substance. Red flames hit Hikari’s hand causing him to wince and jump away from the flames going towards him.
Now would be a good time to lend me your power Ken….Ken!? Hikari thought angrily, remembering the last words Ken spoke of their last conversation.
You don’t use me, at all….I’m nothing to you, but one day you’ll need my power. Then you’ll understand how much you need me when I don’t come through…..Goodbye Hikari.“Fuck,” Hikari mumbled.
“You said you can beat my Bankai, but it isn’t going well is it?” Kago said, “I know you have a Shikai, but I want to fight you at full strength. Show me your Bankai!”
Next thing that happened was a giant swarm of black and red flames going towards Hikari, no going above it or below or around it. Hikari jumped back, blocking his face until he hit a wall,
fuck!The swarm of flames had hit him and sent him out the temple and into the grounds outside. Slowly he stood up, breathing heavily with his head hung low, clothes ripped and skin burned. “To actually survive one of my strongest Bankai abilities, you truly are the golden boy….Too bad you’re gonna die with my ultimate.”
Before Kago did anything else Hikari lifted his head and shot a cero into the ground, spreading dust, his mask broke afterwards. As the dust cleared Hikari was nowhere to be seen, leaving Kago to search. Meanwhile Hikari had escaped into the forest, sitting in a tree on a thick branch breathing heavily.
He…Came out just as I was about to get hit, Hikari thought with his hand to face that moved it’s way to his hair.
I got too angry, didn’t fight right….If I didn’t have the mask at that time then I would have been toast, and I’m not talking figuratively, Hikari thought as he tried regaining his breath and closed his eyes,
Took a Hollow mask, most of my energy….I survived the attack but look at me, battered and bruised, I can hardly fucking walk. And to top it off, my Zanpakuto spirit abandoned me….All because I fucked up, I’m sorry Ken, I admit it…I fucked up.
With that last thought Hikari covered his eyes, silently letting tears fall. Figuring this was the end, he was beat up….Stressed….Confused, it all was getting to him and he didn’t know what to do.
So you finally see…. A faint voice was heard.
“Yeah….Yeah I see,” Hikari said with a sniffle, “I need you Ken….I
always needed you!”
“And I always needed you….I want you to have my true form if you promise me one thing,” Ken’s faint voice was heard, it took all of Hikari’s focus just to make out his words.
“That I’ll use you more? I will!” Hikari promised, now seeing that he needed Ken despite wanting to use his sealed more. He could have used Kaze rūsu to help his escape, or help him attack before the black flames caught up. Hiraishin to stun him every time he tried attacking, so much he could have done with the weapon….The person he constantly ignored for just simple Zanjutsu.
“….That’d be much appreciated, but promise me….That you’ll live, and kick his ass!”
“For mother…For Kaguya…For father….Kenta….I promise you all, I’ll kick his ass!” Hikari said.
“So that’s where you’ve been hiding,” Kago said, turning to Hikari as he gently landed from the tree. Kago walked closer to Hikari, glaring at him, “Last words before I kill you and take your spot on the throne?”
“Yeah, I do….BAN-KAI!” He yelled as he raised his Spirit Energy kicking dust into the air, his new Shikai form in his hand, his true form. Hikari hadn’t even seen it, but him and Ken made the plan. It’d use the rest of his Spirit energy, but if he was going to die then this bastard was going with him!
“Kaze rūsu,” he whispered as wind surrounded him, it helped the dust cover him. Now he was faster, “Hiraishin,” he whispered as lightning zapped his new Zanpakuto.
Let’s roll, he thought as he shunpo’ed, being in enough distance to get around Kago.
“You bitch,” Kago said as he quickly turned around swinging his Zanpakuto at Hikari, it ended up in the slit of Hikari’s Shikai. Kago had found himself paralyzed, everything was going according to plan. Hikari shunpo’ed to Kago’s shoulder and tossed his Zanpakuto forward letting it cut across Kago’s arms, he then shunpo’ed to the other shoulder catching his Shikai and then quickly bending down cutting Kago’s legs, as Kago dropped down Hikari spun around with his Shikai out, the blade connecting with Kago’s neck.
After that Hikari dropped down face first shivering in pain, he could no longer move or go on without proper healing. He soon blacked out, but afterwards he stood up, a mask covering his face. The Hollow him screamed into the air, then looked to his right seeing two people walk up. “…Than you,” Hikaru Shinrai said as Hollow Hikari walked up, mask disappearing causing Hikari to fall into Hikaru’s arms.
Tabo picked up Hikari’s sealed Zanpakuto from the body that was now in six pieces and laid it beside Hikari who was now on the ground. “Let’s heal him together, then we’ll bring him into the temple…I’ll teach him to control his Hollow, then you take him for Zanjutsu training, sounds fair?”
Tabo tipped his hat, “Let’s just worry about the boy surviving, alright?” he said with a smile.
PresentHikari noticed the blast had gotten smaller just before it hit him, but it was still enough to bring him down. Hikari was still alive, but he just….Hurt, and burned everywhere. He couldn’t move, but he heard Tabo yelling at Naito and ordering him to leave.
Tabo walked to Hikari, hovering over him, “Sorry, I don’t know what got into him…Luckily I dented the power of that blast when I did, otherwise you’d need more than my healing,” he said as he activated his Bankai that Hikari couldn’t see. But he did see some….Creature, above him, its many mechanical arms coming down towards him. He couldn’t focus on it.
“Hm? Oh, you see that? Go to sleep child,” Tabo said running his hand over Hikari’s face causing him to go to sleep.
Upon waking up Hikari was healed, but his clothes had been…Ruined, looking over it again eyes widen as he lost his-“Looking for this?” Tabo asked as he tossed Hikari’s lieutenant badge in his hand, he sat it down and stood up.
“We’re gonna train you in hoho now, and if you don’t feel like it then good, you have to fight even if you don’t feel like it,” Tabo said.
Hikari stood up too, nodding, “I know that feeling already, no need to worry.” He gave a light chuckle.
Hours had passed with Hikari and Tabo training in nothing but hoho, Hikari in those hours learning Senka, Speed Clones, and Utsusemi. He also upgraded his Shunpo a little, but now it was time to head back. Grabbing his badge, he headed out with a wave to Tabo. He had walked past Naito, who had given him nothing but a glance….He didn’t see Kai though, and wondered where he was off too.
Going back into the Seireitei he hopped no one questioned his clothes, but it was probably because he shunpo’ed all the way back to the barracks. “My legs are killing me,” he mumbled as he walked inside the barracks going to his office, putting the sign as do not disturb. Hikari collapsed, taking a nap after all of what happened.
(I feel you Hikari bro, I wanna take a nap after all that too T^T)