"...Cree's zanpakuto is named Hebi Denkou. It can control lightning, transforming when released into a lightning bolt, and it's spirit looks like that of a serpent with wings. Apparently, she first released it when we got into a sticky situation coming back from someplace. Somehow, she never new of zanpakuto, or what they are capable of. Odd, considering that almost everyone in the Soul Society knows about them, even the young children I guess. But, she's becoming more and more advanced it seems, seeing as how she's training it pretty much everyday for hours on end, coming home drenched in sweat and sometimes, even blood (which I must admit that kinda got freaked out by the first time I saw her come back). I'm proud of her, and I envy her determination. I just hope that all her hard work hasn't been a waste, and that she's become as powerful as I know she can become. I want her to be strong..."
July 10
SOUL SOCIETY
Cree's Perspective
"C-Cree! Cree, stop!"
"Hmm?" Cree breaths, turning to see Rikuto flashstepping after her.
She feels her heart begin to beat faster.
"Rikuto! What is it?" Cree asks as he comes to stand beside her.
"I ran into Kayla." Rikuto answers.
Cree's eyes widen.
"Really? Is she alright?!" Cree asks.
He nods.
"Yeah, she and Bianca appeared to of defeated Shukaku on their own."
She blinks in surprise.
"They did?!"
"Yeah, I was surprised too."
"Wait, where was Kayla when you met up with Bianca?"
"Unconscious on Kayla's back."
"W-WHAT?!"
"Apparently she used up all her Spiritual Pressure trying to defeat him."
"Oh..."
Rikuto senses the worry in her voice.
"Hey, don't worry, she should be fine and awake within an hour." Rikuto reassures her.
"Alright, if you say so, those two seem to always get into the worst situations." Cree comments.
"I've noticed." he comments.
She laughs.
"But oh well, we live with them, it's what friends do."
"Yeah..."
She turns to stand right in front of him.
He blinks.
"What?" he asks.
"Is something wrong?" Cree asks.
"No, why?" he asks.
"No reason, you just seem a bit...oh...depressed about something."
He chuckles.
"Sorry, I've just been a bit confused lately."
"About what?" she asks.
"Oh, nothing special. Just about random things."
"Like?"
He raises an eyebrow.
"Well, you certainly seem to like to get into other people's problems."
"Oh, sorry. Looks like Mariya is rubbing off on me."
He sighs.
"Yeah..."
"You did it again!"
"What?"
"The depressed "Yeah"."
"I did?"
Cree doesn't respond.
Rikuto notices the odd silence.
"Cree?" he asks.
"You're depressed about Mariya, aren't you?" she asks.
His breath catches, taken back by her question.
Though, he soon sighs.
"Fine. Yes, I'm depressed over Mariya." he confesses.
"Why?" Cree asks.
"Because..." Rikuto trails, "...she ended the date.."
"Hmm?" Cree says.
"When I took her out, she flat out asked if she could leave."
Cree's eyes widen.
"She did?" Cree asks, though remembering Mariya telling her something similar to this.
"Yeah, and when I asked why, she said the most straight answer I've ever heard."
"Which is?"
"She said plainly "I know that if anything, you and I will probably never be anything more then friends. I know that there is someone else that is right for you, who we both know. You may not see it yet, but you'll see her for what she'll be to you soon when the time is right. So, with that, not to hurt any of your feeling Rikuto, I think I would like to go home, and see Toshiro." Man, I was so mad!"
"Because of what she said?"
"No, I was mad at Captain Hitsugaya."
Cree raises an eyebrow now.
"Toshiro?" she asks.
Rikuto nods.
"If he hadn't done what he had done to win her over, I might of had a chance."
"What did he do?"
"He made her remember how much he meant to her."
"Huh?"
"Before Mariya's death, I was in the squad for only about four months, but I knew as soon as I became a member, that I thought Mariya, even though she was younger, was a great person, if not the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
Cree sighs, feeling her heart sink a bit.
"But, when I did talk to her for the first time, I also met him."
14 YEARS AGO
"Rikuto reporting for duty Ma'am!" Rikuto says as he bows before his new Captain.
Without warning, a small shock erupts as he feels himself hit on the head with a rolled up bulletin.
"OW!" he yells, before looking up, "What was that for?!"
"For calling me Ma'am!"
His eyes widen as he gets a good luck at the girl before him for the first time.
She's short, but thin and curvy, her long, chestnut locks tied up with a black ribbon tied in a bow. Though her bangs cover her right eye, her left eye makes up for it by shining a warm hazel, specks of green, brown, even a little pigment of blue mixed in, making them even more beautiful. Everything about her seems petite and flawless, from the first line pattern of her unique uniform, to the last freckle on her cheek.
This is his captain, the young Mariya, only 125 at the time.
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"I hate it when you people call me Ma'am, it just makes me feel old." Mariya answers.
He watches as she returns to sit behind her desk, flipping through his files.
"So, Rikuto, is it?" Mariya asks.
"Y-Yes Ma'a-" he starts.
"No Ma'am crap." Mariya interrupts.
"Oh, um, yes...Miss?"
She rubs her forehead.
"Oi, why do newbies have to always have to be like this?" Mariya mumbles, before looking back up at him, "Good enough, now, it says here you were in Squad five with Aizen before taking the test, correct?"
"Yes."
"And, this also says that you're well versed in kido and hado. But, you've been having troubles with your time psychic abilities?"
"That's right."
"Just how many abilities do you have? It doesn't say."
"Oh, I have five."
"That's good, and those would be?"
"Oh, See the future, invisibility, telekinesis, stop time, and create barriers."
"Oh, you got the strong abilities." Mariya comments, grinning.
Rikuto feels his cheeks become hotter.
"T-Thank you." he replies.
She laughs, and stands back up, walking back around to stand in front of him.
"Stand, dude." Mariya says.
He immediately does as told, taking her by surprise, and causing her to redden a bit.
She holds her hand out in front of her, causing him to blink.
"Welcome to my Squad, man!" Mariya says, smiling.
He grins, taking her hand.
"Thanks." he replies.
"Oh! And by the way, " Mariya starts, "I would be happy if you just called me by my first or last name, alright?"
"Oh...so..." he trails.
She laughs.
"Call me Mariya, and I'll call you Rikuto, it's what friends do." Mariya says as they release hands.
He blinks in surprise.
"Friends?" he asks.
"Of course!" she replies, still smiling.
After a moment, he smiles.
"Alright...Mariya." he says with a bigger grin.
"Mariya!"
They both turn at the sound of a door opening.
Mariya's smile becomes even brighter as she sees the boy with white hair.
"Toshiro!" Mariya yells, running over to the boy, hugging him as he closes the door.
"Ack! Mariya, what are you doing?" Toshiro asks.
"What does it look like?" Mariya asks, laughing, before blinking and looking up at him, "Hey, why are you calling me by my first name today?"
Toshiro's eyes widen.
"Hmm?" he asks.
"You're calling me Mariya." Mariya says.
Rikuto blinks.
...W-Who...is this...kid?!...She's totally draping herself all over him!...And he's not even trying to stop her!...Wait, this kid...he couldn't be...
"Oh, I don't know." Toshiro replies, before looking up to see Rikuto staring at them, "Hey, is this the new guy to your squad?"
Mariya smiles.
"Oh yeah, Rikuto, this is Toshiro. Toshiro, this is Rikuto." Mariya introduces.
Toshiro holds his hand out.
"Nice to meet you." Toshiro says.
Rikuto returns the favor.
"You too."
"Toshiro is the 3rd seat of Squad 10, and right now training to obtain Bankai." Mariya says.
"Oh, that must be intense." Rikuto comments.
"It is, trust me, considering she's my coach." Toshiro replies.
...She's his Bankai coach?!...And he's a third seat?!...Of course, this Toshiro kid...is her...her...Boyfriend!...
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Mariya asks, hitting Toshiro in the shoulder.
"I mean that you're a tough person to train Bankai with!" Toshiro responds.
After staring at each other for a few moments, Toshiro sighs.
"Look, are you ready to go, or not?" Toshiro asks.
"Sorry, but I'll leave you two love birds alone." Rikuto says.
"What?!" Toshiro and Mariya yell at the same time.
"Well, aren't you two dating?" Rikuto asks.
"NO! Who told you that?!" they yell at the same time.
"N-No one, you guys are just acting like it." he responds.
"Oh..." Mariya says, blushing a bit.
"I'm going ahead to the training grounds, come when you two are done, alright?" Toshiro says as he reopens the door.
Mariya sighs, but nods.
"Alright." she replies, watching Toshiro walk out.
After a minute, Rikuto steps up.
"Um, I'm guessing I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Rikuto asks.
Mariya blinks, turning back to face him.
"Of course not! It was just a simple mistake. Don't worry about it." Mariya replies.
His eyes widen.
"R-Really?" he asks.
She nods.
"Of course." Mariya says, "I mean, Toshiro and I are really close, but nothing like that."
His grin turns bitter sweet.
"I see..." Rikuto trails.
"Now, let's get you to your barracks. Just follow me." Mariya says, walking out a different door then Toshiro did.
"Alright." Rikuto says, following.
PRESENT
Cree blinks in surprise.
"Oh..." she trails.
"Yeah, even though I tried to get her to like me, it seems that she somehow has subconsciously picked who she wants." Rikuto says.
"Huh?" Cree asks.
"You mean you haven't noticed?" Rikuto asks.
She shakes her head.
"The way Mariya and Captain Hitsugaya act towards each other?"
She thinks it over.
"They're protective of each other." Cree comments.
"Yes, but there's a connection they share."
"Oh yes, you explained it last time we had a talk."
"Their connection, even with Mariya's memories loss, couldn't be broken." Rikuto says, "And it seems that their choices have been sealed."
"With what?" Cree asks.
"Her death."
Cree's eyes widen.
"By giving up her life for him, she pretty much signed that she would die for him, and he has done all he can to repay her by protecting her with his own life so that she'll be safe." Rikuto explains.
"Mariya..." Cree trails.
"Yeah, so it looks like there's no one for me any-" Rikuto starts.
Without warning, Cree sees something coming at them from behind, and pushes Rikuto out of the way, taking him by surprise.
She turns back to see that the object was a long concentrated stream of water, now returning to where it came.
"Hehehe...seems that I got a good opponent to play with."
"Damn it, a Bijuu." Cree whispers.
"You girl, how about you come and play with me?" the Bijuu calls.
Cree narrows her eyes.
"Well, what's your name?" Cree calls back.
"Oh, how indecent of me. I am the great three tails, Isonade." he answers, bowing to show three shark fins lining his spine as the water spins around him now, "And I'm also the man that'll claim your life, girl."
Cree chuckles.
"Cree, we need to get out of here, we're not supposed to get involved without at least a lieutenant." Rikuto says.
"Rikuto." Cree says.
"Y-Yes?"
She turns and looks at him, the look in her eyes catching him off guard.
She grins.
"It's alright, just let me do this." Cree says, beginning to glow a bright yellow.
His eyes widen.
"Cree..." he trails.
She laughs.
"I want to protect you." Cree admits.
His eyes widen as Isonade laughs.
"Child, DIE!" Isonade yells, directing his water right at Rikuto.
"Cree, we need to go!" Rikuto yells.
Though, she ignores him, instead stepping right in front of him to take the attack herself.
"I will protect you." Cree says.
Glowing still, Cree puts her hand out in front of her.
The water crashes hard upon a surface, starting Cree's own battle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rikuto's Perspective
His eyes are wide as he sees Cree's barrier come up, shielding them from Isonade's attack.
In a blur of yellow and clear blue, the powers meet, the impact causing Rikuto to loose his footing a bit.
He looks up to see Cree still standing strong, grinning as the attack comes to an end.
Isonade stares at her in amazement, then laughs again.
"Well, it seems I underestimated you, girl." Isonade says, chuckling, "But this time, I'll make sure you're dead-"
"Ugh, you guys seem to never shut up, you and Shukaku, and I hear Kaku was a talker too." Cree says, glowing even more intense then before, "Seems that there's only one way to get you guys to stop talking."
"Oh?"
Her sword suddenly appears from thin air, an ability that the stronger and higher ranking T.P. Soul Reapers posses, taking him by more surprise.
His eyes widen.
...She was able to use that ability....Only Mariya, Lieutenant Aneko, Kenta, and Miyoko are able to use it...
"Strike..." Cree trails.
...just want can Cree do?!...
"HEBI DENKOU (Lightning Serpent)!"
With a crack, Cree's katana lights up, extending and contorting into the shape of a lightning bolt, shining brighter than any light he's ever seen, causing him to cover his with the shade of his arm.
As it calm, it pops and cracks, energy seeming to seep from the blade. Cree holds it in the middle, incredibly not being burnt by what looks to be hotter then the flames of Hell.
Isonade steps back a bit.
"What is it, shark boy?" Cree asks, "Not a fan of lightning? I can see why, considering that it not only is hot and can evaporate your water, but it's electricity, and since water is a conductor, you'll initially electrocute yourself."
Isonade grits his teeth.
"Why you..." he growls.
A spark flies at Isonade, sensing water present.
"Water, protect!" Isonade yells.
Only seconds pass before a great wall of water appears in front of Isonade, catching the fly away hazard.
Cree and Rikuto's eyes widen.
Isonade smirks.
"Seems this won't be so difficult as I first thought." he comments.
Cree narrows her eyes.
Rikuto takes hold of her shoulder.
"Cree, you're not strong enough for this guy." he whispers into her ear.
She turns to look at him.
"So you don't trust me?" she asks.
He catches his breath.
"N-No, that's not what I meant, it just seems that this guy is very powerful, and I don't want you getting hurt." Rikuto explains.
Her eyes widen, and blush rises to her cheeks.
Rikuto notices and blinks in surprise.
...Why is she...blushing?...
She looks away, but chuckles.
"You should stop worrying, I can take care of myself. True, I'm not as powerful as Mariya, but I know I am getting stronger." Cree says.
"Cree..." Rikuto trails.
She turns back and smiles.
"Beside, I already promised that I would protect you."
His eyes widen.
"...I know that there is someone else that is right for you, who we both know. You may not see it yet, but you'll see her for what she is and what she'll be to you soon, when the time is right..."
His breath catches.
...This girl...Cree...Am I really so stupid?...
"One should face the man that will send them to meet their maker!"
With great force, he sends the electrically charged water at them.
"Cree, get back!" Rikuto yells, taking her by the wrist.
The action puts her off guard, leaving him to creating the barrier as he holds her close to his chest.
"Barrier!" Rikuto yells.
The familiar box like shape appears around them, protecting them from the even more powerful attack.
This time, instead of just crashing and falling to the ground by gravity, Cree, uses a higher hand signal to suck in the water, causing it to vanish.
"Barrier: Level 2: Kaihou (Release)!" they both yell.
With a small glint of his blue and her yellow spiritual pressure, the water reappears, faster as it races back towards Isonade.
"W-What?!" Isonade yells as he tries to protect himself from the attack, to no avail as the electric water hits him, shocking him to his core.
As he contorts a bit, Rikuto and Cree pant a bit, a little taxed over using a high level T.P. ability.
Cree looks up at him as he still holds her close.
"W-Why did you do that?" Cree asks.
Rikuto sighs before answering.
"Because, I kinda just realized something." Rikuto answers.
"And what would that be?" Cree asks.
Rikuto holds her closer.
"I want to protect you." Rikuto admits.
Cree's eyes widen as she turns redder then before.
He grins.
"Promise to be careful?" he whispers into her ear.
She nods.
"Y-Yes." she stutters, embarrassed.
He chuckles.
"Then go and kick his ass." he whispers.
Cree grins.
"I plan to, I have a plan." Cree whispers back.
"As I hoped you would." he replies.
"How dare you..." Isonade trails, irritated as the shocks have now faded away.
Cree chuckles, and stands.
"Looks like I finally got you to take me seriously." Cree says, before pulling her arm behind her like her lightning bolt of a zanpakuto is a substitute for a javelin, "Dendou Yari (Electric Spear)!"
Throwing it with all her strength, the lightning bolt flies straight towards Isonade at intense speed.
"Water, protect!" Isonade yells.
With a great impact, the water somehow stays solid, leaving Hebi Denkou stuck inside as it spurts electricity left and right from it's meeting of the water.
Isonade breaks into abrupt laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Silly child, you are such a simpleton! Because of your actions, your only chance is now forgotten, considering that my water has now caught your zanpakuto." Isonade laughs.
Cree grins.
"Is it really?" Cree asks.
Isonade raises an eyebrow, catching the sureness in Cree's voice.
"Of course, there is no way you could reach it through my chick waters, you've lost it to my tides." Isonade replies.
"Lost it? Well, I must say that I disagree with that completely. True, I may not be able to get to it, but that doesn't mean that I've lost it, or even lost the ability to use." Cree comments.
Isonade's eyes widen.
"You can't use it, it's impossible!" Isonade fights.
Cree smirks.
"You never should be so sure of yourself, it makes you look ridiculous when you're wrong." Cree says, "Sukima (Crack)."
Suddenly, Hebi Denkou goes into hysterics as it begins to crack and spit, contorting and erratically elongating.
Only after a few moments, The bolt cracks through the wall, sticking Isonade right in the side as the water spills onto it, making the electrocution even worse.
"UH, AGHHHHHHHHHRRR!" Isonade screams, contorting in such inhumane ways as he gets the lethal blow, that it looks that he might not survive.
Cree falls to her knees, panting even harder then before as Hebi Denkou still sends volt after volt.
Rikuto hurries over to her side.
"Hey, you alright?" he asks.
"Actually, no, Sukima is fifth and final ability of Hebi Denkou's Shikai state, and because it's one of the most powerful, it takes out at least half of my Spiritual Pressure." Cree answers in between breaths.
"At least you already took him out." Rikuto says, "He shouldn't be able to do anything after receiving that many volts."
"Yeah, let's hope." Cree says.
Rikuto grins, pink rising in his cheeks as he helps her to her feet.
She falls against his chest, causing his heart to pound a bit harder.
...Really, already?!...
Cree notices, and looks up at him.
"What?" Cree asks.
He blinks, then grins.
"Oh, nothing."
She now blinks, and chuckles, blushing some herself.
"Let's go-" Cree starts.
"You little BITCH!"
Their eyes widen as they turn to see Isonade speeding at Cree, a random katana clenched in his fist.
"H-How is he-" she starts again.
"Cree, get out of the way!" Rikuto yells.
The last thing he knows, Isonade blade is sticking through his side, blood running out of his wound and dripping from the tip of the blade.
Cree is a few feet away, staring in horror at him, as he had pushed her out of the way at the last second.
He chuckles.
"So, this is what Mariya felt like when she saved Toshiro...." he trails as he tries to breath through a punctured lung.
"Ri-Rikuto!" Cree yells, crawling over to him as he falls on his side.
He tries to grin.
"Hey, calm down, I'm alright." Rikuto reassures her.
Tears begin to form in the corner of her eyes.
"Are you an idiot?! There's a sword sticking out of your chest!" she yells through the tears as they begin to stream down her face, "Th-This isn't fair! You shouldn't of pushed me out of the way!"
His eyes widen as he sees her distraught.
"Cree..." he trails, before reaching for her hand, causing her to stop slightly, "You were worth protecting..."
Her eyes widen, even more tears pouring from her eyes.
"This isn't even the worst part, you wench."
His eyes widen as he feels the metal contort and enter his body.
He feels himself begins to choke.
...I-I...can't....breath!....
Gagging, Rikuto does his best to find a way to get oxygen into his body, but fails.
Cree cringes.
"Rikuto! Isonade, STOP IT!" Cree screams, tears still streaming.
Rikuto feels himself fall slightly, feeling the water escaping his body, allowing him to get in some failing breath as more blood escapes his body.
Cree shakes his shoulders.
"Rikuto! Stay with me!" she yells.
He reaches for her.
A tunnel effect begins to start.
...No...not yet...I finally...realized...not now...please...
His limbs fall to his sides.
All the life in Cree's eyes vanish.
Though somehow still a bit alive, he barely sees as Cree suddenly begins to be absorbed by her own spiritual pressure, engulfed with what he takes as grief.
She stands, though some her spiritual pressure stay behind, covering him instead.
...What...the...?...
"You...bastard...how dare you..."
...Cree?...
"I"M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU ASS HOLE!!!"
He somehow senses the earth around him crack and break, taking him by surprise.
...What's happening..?...
Clashing erupts, each one leading to one or more cracks or small explosions, probably coming from Cree's sword.
Slowly, he gains back sight.
Above him, Cree easily overpowers Isonade, who's trying to get away.
But, Cree's too worked up on revenge to care if he's scared.
July 10
SOUL SOCIETY
Cree's Perspective
"C-Cree! Cree, stop!"
"Hmm?" Cree breaths, turning to see Rikuto flashstepping after her.
She feels her heart begin to beat faster.
"Rikuto! What is it?" Cree asks as he comes to stand beside her.
"I ran into Kayla." Rikuto answers.
Cree's eyes widen.
"Really? Is she alright?!" Cree asks.
He nods.
"Yeah, she and Bianca appeared to of defeated Shukaku on their own."
She blinks in surprise.
"They did?!"
"Yeah, I was surprised too."
"Wait, where was Kayla when you met up with Bianca?"
"Unconscious on Kayla's back."
"W-WHAT?!"
"Apparently she used up all her Spiritual Pressure trying to defeat him."
"Oh..."
Rikuto senses the worry in her voice.
"Hey, don't worry, she should be fine and awake within an hour." Rikuto reassures her.
"Alright, if you say so, those two seem to always get into the worst situations." Cree comments.
"I've noticed." he comments.
She laughs.
"But oh well, we live with them, it's what friends do."
"Yeah..."
She turns to stand right in front of him.
He blinks.
"What?" he asks.
"Is something wrong?" Cree asks.
"No, why?" he asks.
"No reason, you just seem a bit...oh...depressed about something."
He chuckles.
"Sorry, I've just been a bit confused lately."
"About what?" she asks.
"Oh, nothing special. Just about random things."
"Like?"
He raises an eyebrow.
"Well, you certainly seem to like to get into other people's problems."
"Oh, sorry. Looks like Mariya is rubbing off on me."
He sighs.
"Yeah..."
"You did it again!"
"What?"
"The depressed "Yeah"."
"I did?"
Cree doesn't respond.
Rikuto notices the odd silence.
"Cree?" he asks.
"You're depressed about Mariya, aren't you?" she asks.
His breath catches, taken back by her question.
Though, he soon sighs.
"Fine. Yes, I'm depressed over Mariya." he confesses.
"Why?" Cree asks.
"Because..." Rikuto trails, "...she ended the date.."
"Hmm?" Cree says.
"When I took her out, she flat out asked if she could leave."
Cree's eyes widen.
"She did?" Cree asks, though remembering Mariya telling her something similar to this.
"Yeah, and when I asked why, she said the most straight answer I've ever heard."
"Which is?"
"She said plainly "I know that if anything, you and I will probably never be anything more then friends. I know that there is someone else that is right for you, who we both know. You may not see it yet, but you'll see her for what she'll be to you soon when the time is right. So, with that, not to hurt any of your feeling Rikuto, I think I would like to go home, and see Toshiro." Man, I was so mad!"
"Because of what she said?"
"No, I was mad at Captain Hitsugaya."
Cree raises an eyebrow now.
"Toshiro?" she asks.
Rikuto nods.
"If he hadn't done what he had done to win her over, I might of had a chance."
"What did he do?"
"He made her remember how much he meant to her."
"Huh?"
"Before Mariya's death, I was in the squad for only about four months, but I knew as soon as I became a member, that I thought Mariya, even though she was younger, was a great person, if not the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
Cree sighs, feeling her heart sink a bit.
"But, when I did talk to her for the first time, I also met him."
14 YEARS AGO
"Rikuto reporting for duty Ma'am!" Rikuto says as he bows before his new Captain.
Without warning, a small shock erupts as he feels himself hit on the head with a rolled up bulletin.
"OW!" he yells, before looking up, "What was that for?!"
"For calling me Ma'am!"
His eyes widen as he gets a good luck at the girl before him for the first time.
She's short, but thin and curvy, her long, chestnut locks tied up with a black ribbon tied in a bow. Though her bangs cover her right eye, her left eye makes up for it by shining a warm hazel, specks of green, brown, even a little pigment of blue mixed in, making them even more beautiful. Everything about her seems petite and flawless, from the first line pattern of her unique uniform, to the last freckle on her cheek.
This is his captain, the young Mariya, only 125 at the time.
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"I hate it when you people call me Ma'am, it just makes me feel old." Mariya answers.
He watches as she returns to sit behind her desk, flipping through his files.
"So, Rikuto, is it?" Mariya asks.
"Y-Yes Ma'a-" he starts.
"No Ma'am crap." Mariya interrupts.
"Oh, um, yes...Miss?"
She rubs her forehead.
"Oi, why do newbies have to always have to be like this?" Mariya mumbles, before looking back up at him, "Good enough, now, it says here you were in Squad five with Aizen before taking the test, correct?"
"Yes."
"And, this also says that you're well versed in kido and hado. But, you've been having troubles with your time psychic abilities?"
"That's right."
"Just how many abilities do you have? It doesn't say."
"Oh, I have five."
"That's good, and those would be?"
"Oh, See the future, invisibility, telekinesis, stop time, and create barriers."
"Oh, you got the strong abilities." Mariya comments, grinning.
Rikuto feels his cheeks become hotter.
"T-Thank you." he replies.
She laughs, and stands back up, walking back around to stand in front of him.
"Stand, dude." Mariya says.
He immediately does as told, taking her by surprise, and causing her to redden a bit.
She holds her hand out in front of her, causing him to blink.
"Welcome to my Squad, man!" Mariya says, smiling.
He grins, taking her hand.
"Thanks." he replies.
"Oh! And by the way, " Mariya starts, "I would be happy if you just called me by my first or last name, alright?"
"Oh...so..." he trails.
She laughs.
"Call me Mariya, and I'll call you Rikuto, it's what friends do." Mariya says as they release hands.
He blinks in surprise.
"Friends?" he asks.
"Of course!" she replies, still smiling.
After a moment, he smiles.
"Alright...Mariya." he says with a bigger grin.
"Mariya!"
They both turn at the sound of a door opening.
Mariya's smile becomes even brighter as she sees the boy with white hair.
"Toshiro!" Mariya yells, running over to the boy, hugging him as he closes the door.
"Ack! Mariya, what are you doing?" Toshiro asks.
"What does it look like?" Mariya asks, laughing, before blinking and looking up at him, "Hey, why are you calling me by my first name today?"
Toshiro's eyes widen.
"Hmm?" he asks.
"You're calling me Mariya." Mariya says.
Rikuto blinks.
...W-Who...is this...kid?!...She's totally draping herself all over him!...And he's not even trying to stop her!...Wait, this kid...he couldn't be...
"Oh, I don't know." Toshiro replies, before looking up to see Rikuto staring at them, "Hey, is this the new guy to your squad?"
Mariya smiles.
"Oh yeah, Rikuto, this is Toshiro. Toshiro, this is Rikuto." Mariya introduces.
Toshiro holds his hand out.
"Nice to meet you." Toshiro says.
Rikuto returns the favor.
"You too."
"Toshiro is the 3rd seat of Squad 10, and right now training to obtain Bankai." Mariya says.
"Oh, that must be intense." Rikuto comments.
"It is, trust me, considering she's my coach." Toshiro replies.
...She's his Bankai coach?!...And he's a third seat?!...Of course, this Toshiro kid...is her...her...Boyfriend!...
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Mariya asks, hitting Toshiro in the shoulder.
"I mean that you're a tough person to train Bankai with!" Toshiro responds.
After staring at each other for a few moments, Toshiro sighs.
"Look, are you ready to go, or not?" Toshiro asks.
"Sorry, but I'll leave you two love birds alone." Rikuto says.
"What?!" Toshiro and Mariya yell at the same time.
"Well, aren't you two dating?" Rikuto asks.
"NO! Who told you that?!" they yell at the same time.
"N-No one, you guys are just acting like it." he responds.
"Oh..." Mariya says, blushing a bit.
"I'm going ahead to the training grounds, come when you two are done, alright?" Toshiro says as he reopens the door.
Mariya sighs, but nods.
"Alright." she replies, watching Toshiro walk out.
After a minute, Rikuto steps up.
"Um, I'm guessing I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Rikuto asks.
Mariya blinks, turning back to face him.
"Of course not! It was just a simple mistake. Don't worry about it." Mariya replies.
His eyes widen.
"R-Really?" he asks.
She nods.
"Of course." Mariya says, "I mean, Toshiro and I are really close, but nothing like that."
His grin turns bitter sweet.
"I see..." Rikuto trails.
"Now, let's get you to your barracks. Just follow me." Mariya says, walking out a different door then Toshiro did.
"Alright." Rikuto says, following.
PRESENT
Cree blinks in surprise.
"Oh..." she trails.
"Yeah, even though I tried to get her to like me, it seems that she somehow has subconsciously picked who she wants." Rikuto says.
"Huh?" Cree asks.
"You mean you haven't noticed?" Rikuto asks.
She shakes her head.
"The way Mariya and Captain Hitsugaya act towards each other?"
She thinks it over.
"They're protective of each other." Cree comments.
"Yes, but there's a connection they share."
"Oh yes, you explained it last time we had a talk."
"Their connection, even with Mariya's memories loss, couldn't be broken." Rikuto says, "And it seems that their choices have been sealed."
"With what?" Cree asks.
"Her death."
Cree's eyes widen.
"By giving up her life for him, she pretty much signed that she would die for him, and he has done all he can to repay her by protecting her with his own life so that she'll be safe." Rikuto explains.
"Mariya..." Cree trails.
"Yeah, so it looks like there's no one for me any-" Rikuto starts.
Without warning, Cree sees something coming at them from behind, and pushes Rikuto out of the way, taking him by surprise.
She turns back to see that the object was a long concentrated stream of water, now returning to where it came.
"Hehehe...seems that I got a good opponent to play with."
"Damn it, a Bijuu." Cree whispers.
"You girl, how about you come and play with me?" the Bijuu calls.
Cree narrows her eyes.
"Well, what's your name?" Cree calls back.
"Oh, how indecent of me. I am the great three tails, Isonade." he answers, bowing to show three shark fins lining his spine as the water spins around him now, "And I'm also the man that'll claim your life, girl."
Cree chuckles.
"Cree, we need to get out of here, we're not supposed to get involved without at least a lieutenant." Rikuto says.
"Rikuto." Cree says.
"Y-Yes?"
She turns and looks at him, the look in her eyes catching him off guard.
She grins.
"It's alright, just let me do this." Cree says, beginning to glow a bright yellow.
His eyes widen.
"Cree..." he trails.
She laughs.
"I want to protect you." Cree admits.
His eyes widen as Isonade laughs.
"Child, DIE!" Isonade yells, directing his water right at Rikuto.
"Cree, we need to go!" Rikuto yells.
Though, she ignores him, instead stepping right in front of him to take the attack herself.
"I will protect you." Cree says.
Glowing still, Cree puts her hand out in front of her.
The water crashes hard upon a surface, starting Cree's own battle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rikuto's Perspective
His eyes are wide as he sees Cree's barrier come up, shielding them from Isonade's attack.
In a blur of yellow and clear blue, the powers meet, the impact causing Rikuto to loose his footing a bit.
He looks up to see Cree still standing strong, grinning as the attack comes to an end.
Isonade stares at her in amazement, then laughs again.
"Well, it seems I underestimated you, girl." Isonade says, chuckling, "But this time, I'll make sure you're dead-"
"Ugh, you guys seem to never shut up, you and Shukaku, and I hear Kaku was a talker too." Cree says, glowing even more intense then before, "Seems that there's only one way to get you guys to stop talking."
"Oh?"
Her sword suddenly appears from thin air, an ability that the stronger and higher ranking T.P. Soul Reapers posses, taking him by more surprise.
His eyes widen.
...She was able to use that ability....Only Mariya, Lieutenant Aneko, Kenta, and Miyoko are able to use it...
"Strike..." Cree trails.
...just want can Cree do?!...
"HEBI DENKOU (Lightning Serpent)!"
With a crack, Cree's katana lights up, extending and contorting into the shape of a lightning bolt, shining brighter than any light he's ever seen, causing him to cover his with the shade of his arm.
As it calm, it pops and cracks, energy seeming to seep from the blade. Cree holds it in the middle, incredibly not being burnt by what looks to be hotter then the flames of Hell.
Isonade steps back a bit.
"What is it, shark boy?" Cree asks, "Not a fan of lightning? I can see why, considering that it not only is hot and can evaporate your water, but it's electricity, and since water is a conductor, you'll initially electrocute yourself."
Isonade grits his teeth.
"Why you..." he growls.
A spark flies at Isonade, sensing water present.
"Water, protect!" Isonade yells.
Only seconds pass before a great wall of water appears in front of Isonade, catching the fly away hazard.
Cree and Rikuto's eyes widen.
Isonade smirks.
"Seems this won't be so difficult as I first thought." he comments.
Cree narrows her eyes.
Rikuto takes hold of her shoulder.
"Cree, you're not strong enough for this guy." he whispers into her ear.
She turns to look at him.
"So you don't trust me?" she asks.
He catches his breath.
"N-No, that's not what I meant, it just seems that this guy is very powerful, and I don't want you getting hurt." Rikuto explains.
Her eyes widen, and blush rises to her cheeks.
Rikuto notices and blinks in surprise.
...Why is she...blushing?...
She looks away, but chuckles.
"You should stop worrying, I can take care of myself. True, I'm not as powerful as Mariya, but I know I am getting stronger." Cree says.
"Cree..." Rikuto trails.
She turns back and smiles.
"Beside, I already promised that I would protect you."
His eyes widen.
"...I know that there is someone else that is right for you, who we both know. You may not see it yet, but you'll see her for what she is and what she'll be to you soon, when the time is right..."
His breath catches.
...This girl...Cree...Am I really so stupid?...
"One should face the man that will send them to meet their maker!"
With great force, he sends the electrically charged water at them.
"Cree, get back!" Rikuto yells, taking her by the wrist.
The action puts her off guard, leaving him to creating the barrier as he holds her close to his chest.
"Barrier!" Rikuto yells.
The familiar box like shape appears around them, protecting them from the even more powerful attack.
This time, instead of just crashing and falling to the ground by gravity, Cree, uses a higher hand signal to suck in the water, causing it to vanish.
"Barrier: Level 2: Kaihou (Release)!" they both yell.
With a small glint of his blue and her yellow spiritual pressure, the water reappears, faster as it races back towards Isonade.
"W-What?!" Isonade yells as he tries to protect himself from the attack, to no avail as the electric water hits him, shocking him to his core.
As he contorts a bit, Rikuto and Cree pant a bit, a little taxed over using a high level T.P. ability.
Cree looks up at him as he still holds her close.
"W-Why did you do that?" Cree asks.
Rikuto sighs before answering.
"Because, I kinda just realized something." Rikuto answers.
"And what would that be?" Cree asks.
Rikuto holds her closer.
"I want to protect you." Rikuto admits.
Cree's eyes widen as she turns redder then before.
He grins.
"Promise to be careful?" he whispers into her ear.
She nods.
"Y-Yes." she stutters, embarrassed.
He chuckles.
"Then go and kick his ass." he whispers.
Cree grins.
"I plan to, I have a plan." Cree whispers back.
"As I hoped you would." he replies.
"How dare you..." Isonade trails, irritated as the shocks have now faded away.
Cree chuckles, and stands.
"Looks like I finally got you to take me seriously." Cree says, before pulling her arm behind her like her lightning bolt of a zanpakuto is a substitute for a javelin, "Dendou Yari (Electric Spear)!"
Throwing it with all her strength, the lightning bolt flies straight towards Isonade at intense speed.
"Water, protect!" Isonade yells.
With a great impact, the water somehow stays solid, leaving Hebi Denkou stuck inside as it spurts electricity left and right from it's meeting of the water.
Isonade breaks into abrupt laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Silly child, you are such a simpleton! Because of your actions, your only chance is now forgotten, considering that my water has now caught your zanpakuto." Isonade laughs.
Cree grins.
"Is it really?" Cree asks.
Isonade raises an eyebrow, catching the sureness in Cree's voice.
"Of course, there is no way you could reach it through my chick waters, you've lost it to my tides." Isonade replies.
"Lost it? Well, I must say that I disagree with that completely. True, I may not be able to get to it, but that doesn't mean that I've lost it, or even lost the ability to use." Cree comments.
Isonade's eyes widen.
"You can't use it, it's impossible!" Isonade fights.
Cree smirks.
"You never should be so sure of yourself, it makes you look ridiculous when you're wrong." Cree says, "Sukima (Crack)."
Suddenly, Hebi Denkou goes into hysterics as it begins to crack and spit, contorting and erratically elongating.
Only after a few moments, The bolt cracks through the wall, sticking Isonade right in the side as the water spills onto it, making the electrocution even worse.
"UH, AGHHHHHHHHHRRR!" Isonade screams, contorting in such inhumane ways as he gets the lethal blow, that it looks that he might not survive.
Cree falls to her knees, panting even harder then before as Hebi Denkou still sends volt after volt.
Rikuto hurries over to her side.
"Hey, you alright?" he asks.
"Actually, no, Sukima is fifth and final ability of Hebi Denkou's Shikai state, and because it's one of the most powerful, it takes out at least half of my Spiritual Pressure." Cree answers in between breaths.
"At least you already took him out." Rikuto says, "He shouldn't be able to do anything after receiving that many volts."
"Yeah, let's hope." Cree says.
Rikuto grins, pink rising in his cheeks as he helps her to her feet.
She falls against his chest, causing his heart to pound a bit harder.
...Really, already?!...
Cree notices, and looks up at him.
"What?" Cree asks.
He blinks, then grins.
"Oh, nothing."
She now blinks, and chuckles, blushing some herself.
"Let's go-" Cree starts.
"You little BITCH!"
Their eyes widen as they turn to see Isonade speeding at Cree, a random katana clenched in his fist.
"H-How is he-" she starts again.
"Cree, get out of the way!" Rikuto yells.
The last thing he knows, Isonade blade is sticking through his side, blood running out of his wound and dripping from the tip of the blade.
Cree is a few feet away, staring in horror at him, as he had pushed her out of the way at the last second.
He chuckles.
"So, this is what Mariya felt like when she saved Toshiro...." he trails as he tries to breath through a punctured lung.
"Ri-Rikuto!" Cree yells, crawling over to him as he falls on his side.
He tries to grin.
"Hey, calm down, I'm alright." Rikuto reassures her.
Tears begin to form in the corner of her eyes.
"Are you an idiot?! There's a sword sticking out of your chest!" she yells through the tears as they begin to stream down her face, "Th-This isn't fair! You shouldn't of pushed me out of the way!"
His eyes widen as he sees her distraught.
"Cree..." he trails, before reaching for her hand, causing her to stop slightly, "You were worth protecting..."
Her eyes widen, even more tears pouring from her eyes.
"This isn't even the worst part, you wench."
His eyes widen as he feels the metal contort and enter his body.
He feels himself begins to choke.
...I-I...can't....breath!....
Gagging, Rikuto does his best to find a way to get oxygen into his body, but fails.
Cree cringes.
"Rikuto! Isonade, STOP IT!" Cree screams, tears still streaming.
Rikuto feels himself fall slightly, feeling the water escaping his body, allowing him to get in some failing breath as more blood escapes his body.
Cree shakes his shoulders.
"Rikuto! Stay with me!" she yells.
He reaches for her.
A tunnel effect begins to start.
...No...not yet...I finally...realized...not now...please...
His limbs fall to his sides.
All the life in Cree's eyes vanish.
Though somehow still a bit alive, he barely sees as Cree suddenly begins to be absorbed by her own spiritual pressure, engulfed with what he takes as grief.
She stands, though some her spiritual pressure stay behind, covering him instead.
...What...the...?...
"You...bastard...how dare you..."
...Cree?...
"I"M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU ASS HOLE!!!"
He somehow senses the earth around him crack and break, taking him by surprise.
...What's happening..?...
Clashing erupts, each one leading to one or more cracks or small explosions, probably coming from Cree's sword.
Slowly, he gains back sight.
Above him, Cree easily overpowers Isonade, who's trying to get away.
But, Cree's too worked up on revenge to care if he's scared.
"DIE IN HELL, ASS HOLE!!" Cree yells, Hebi Denkou becoming a bigger bolt then ever, over twice her height now, "KEN NO SHAKISHAKI (Sting to Crisp)!!"
Exploding in light, the bolt roots more and more, sticking Isonade in any place it touches, ultimately ending him.
"SUKIMA!"
With that, Isonade is no more, nothing but ashes blown to the wind as Cree comes to sit beside him.
He uses his returning strength to look over at her.
"You definitely over react to stuff...even when I tell you I'll be fine." Rikuto jokes.
Using what strength she has left, she grins, and wraps her arms around him, causing him to blush as she completely passes out on his chest, still somehow healing him in her unconscious state.
He chuckles, but takes hold of her waist.
"You're going to be a hand-full...oh well." Rikuto comments, leaning his head against hers, "At least we're alright now, right, Cree?"
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