Bleach: Awakened — Chapter 33 - Three Dual-Blade Wielders (Part One)

"Try it, try it?" Shunsui Kyoraku blinked, then laughed. "The two of us aren't exactly warmongers. A peaceful resolution is naturally best."

"Besides, Rukia Kuchiki is my subordinate." Jushiro Ukitake picked up the thread. "You looked after Rukia while she was in the World of the Living, I have no reason to raise a hand against a subordinate's friend."

"Hmm..." Ichigo refused to let it go. "But aren't you curious? You're both dual-blade users, same as me. Aren't you even a little curious?"

"We're a couple of old bones. We don't want to end up like Captain Ichimaru."

"Well... that guy's a special case. I'm not some gangster, a light spar is plenty."

"...Is that so..." Shunsui Kyoraku's eyes went flat and still as stagnant water, lost in some unreadable thought.

"That said, a light exchange isn't entirely out of the question." Jushiro Ukitake shifted course. "Personally, I don't mind, but the presence within me is quite interested in you, young man."

"Oh!" Ichigo nodded eagerly. "What about you, Mister Floral Shirt?"

"Floral shirt... you really have a way with words..." Shunsui Kyoraku shook their head with a long-suffering look. "If it's just sparring, I don't have any serious objections."

"Is there a place for it?"

"Right next door is the training hall, plenty of space." Shunsui Kyoraku looked the two of them up and down. "Though if you go in looking like that, it won't do. If you're spotted, it won't just be a spar anymore."

"No problem!" Ichigo grinned. "Orihime, you're up!"

"Got it!" Orihime gave a firm little nod, looking utterly adorable. "This time it'll definitely work! Goten Inton, I reject!"

As the words fell, the six-petal hairpin in Orihime's hair began to radiate light. Five small points of light shot out with a rush, spiraled through the air, and formed a pentagonal shape above the two of them.

Amber-orange light flickered. With those five points as vertices, a curtain of light materialized and enveloped both of them. Before either captain could react, the pair's figures vanished from sight.

"Whoa!" Shunsui Kyoraku let out an exaggerated cry. "Not a single trace, you can't even sense them."

"If you hadn't seen it happen and couldn't still reach out and touch it, there'd be no way to detect them at all."

Jushiro Ukitake reached out and ran a hand along the surface. Something smooth as glass was there to the touch. Even serving as a support role, the ability was exceptionally powerful.

"Hehe!" From behind the invisible barrier came Orihime's adorable little voice. "Pretty good, right?"

"It's even more impressive than our related Kido," Shunsui Kyoraku said. "And somehow it feels like it's influencing my perception, I know perfectly well there's someone in that unseen space, yet somewhere in the back of my mind another voice keeps insisting there isn't."

"I learned this from another... hmm... very skilled person! Their barrier techniques are incredible!"

"Truly hidden dragons and crouching tigers, this World of the Living."

With that, the two captains walked out of the room and headed toward the training hall next door. The two behind the curtain of light followed just at their backs. They passed other Soul Reapers along the way, but those Soul Reapers could only see the two captains.

"Alright—this is the place."

Roughly half a football field in size. Every squad's barracks had a training hall like this, varying somewhat but not by much. Only Squad Eleven's was the smallest, since they had a particular talent for wrecking the place, smaller meant less work to repair each time.

"Oh! Pretty big!" Ichigo looked around and nodded. "I can open up a bit more here."

"Speaking of which, can we only do kendo-style—hmm?"

"Goten Inton—I reject!"

The incantation cut Shunsui Kyoraku off mid-sentence. The five small points of light took flight again, this time not above the two of them, but appearing in the center of the training hall.

As Orihime's spiritual pressure continued to rise, the curtain spread outward. Before the astonished eyes of both captains, the light curtain extended beyond the walls of the hall and enveloped the entire structure.

"This... has already crossed into medium-to-large barrier territory." Shunsui Kyoraku quietly sensed the scope, then couldn't help but marvel. "Rather than simply hiding the hall, it's invisibly altering the perception of everyone outside. What a remarkable ability."

"And those outside can't sense any spiritual pressure from within at all," Jushiro Ukitake added. "A flawless barrier."

"There are still weaknesses," Orihime said softly. "From inside, it's fairly easy to break."

"I see... but that doesn't change the fact that this is an excellent barrier."

"Ah... thank you!"

"You're welcome."

"Alright, alright, that should do it." A slightly savage smile crept onto Ichigo's lips. "I really want to see what kind of power two fellow dual-blade wielders are packing. And don't worry about getting hurt, Orihime's healing is extraordinary. Even if I cut you both half to death, she can bring you back."

"...Quite confident, aren't you, young man." Shunsui Kyoraku shrugged off the floral shirt and tossed the hat aside. "Captain of Squad Eight, Shunsui Kyoraku."

"Captain of Squad Thirteen, Jushiro Ukitake."

"Karakura Town's top dog, Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Let's have a good fight!", all three, together.

The instant the words fell, all three drew their Zanpakuto at once. Ichigo was faster. One lunge and he was right in front of Shunsui Kyoraku, the black longsword in his right hand descending with a whistling, unstoppable force.

"Hey, hey, too fast!"

The protest didn't slow the hands one bit. The moment the blade cleared the sheath, Shunsui Kyoraku crossed both swords in front of the chest. The impact drove them back regardless, it was desperate, but the strike was blocked.

"Truly impressive, Ichigo!"

A gentle yet utterly unwavering voice came from behind. Jushiro Ukitake, dual blades in hand, brought them straight down in a clean slash. This was the person who had nearly cut Gin Ichimaru down in a single strike, going one-on-one would just be asking for punishment.

"As expected of a captain, what reflexes!"

Golden light flickered. Spiritual pressure converged in an instant onto the short blade in his left hand. Without even glancing back, Ichigo swung behind him.

BOOM!

A thunderous impact. Jushiro Ukitake's body was driven back several steps before barely managing to steady. The Zanpakuto in hand had already changed its appearance.

"Terrifying."

The spiritual pressure within surged and roiled. Both hands shoved hard, pushing Ichigo away. Shunsui Kyoraku stumbled back several steps and caught a breath.

"One exchange, and I'm already forced into Shikai." A wry smile. "What a frightening opponent. They really can stand shoulder to shoulder with old man Yamamoto."

"Flower winds billow, the flower goddess weeps! Heaven winds billow, the heavenly demon laughs! Katen Kyokotsu!"

➤ Next: Two Wielders of Twin Blades (Part 2)