Chapter 10: HOLD YOUR BLADE

(......)

(...It doesn't hurt...?)

(...Oh, that's right. I died...so I can't feel pain, or anything, for that matter.)

(But wait, I felt so cold a moment ago, and now... I actually feel kind of warm...)

(So warm...)

Waaaaaaah!

Oho! Such a swift response! Excellent!

B-Back up! Too close! Who ARE you?!

The customer's awake, Boss!

Hold on a sec, Ow?!

[<gender (...Huh? I'm...not dead...? How...?)/(...Huh? I'm...not dead...? How...?)>]

(...Better yet, where AM I?)

[<gender Now now, you can't be doing that, Mr. <param=player_family_name>. Especially not in the shape you're in./Now now, you can't be doing that, Ms. <param=player_family_name>. Especially not in the shape you're in.>]

If you move around too much, you'll die♥

You're...

You have my thanks for before.

[<gender Did you...save me?/Did you...save me?>]

Oh? Now this feels like a familiar conversation.

If I'm not mistaken, it almost sounds like you didn't want to be saved.

.........

[<gender ......A-Are my friends...?/......A-Are my friends...?>]

They've returned home, safe and sound.

[<gender <param=player_family_name>!/<param=player_family_name>!>]

[<gender The hell did you do to him?!/The hell did you do to her?!>]

Nothing at all... Not yet at least.

...You're Urahara!

Oh dear, you've heard of me?

Doesn't take much to know you're a sketchy old man.

Hey, watch your tongue.

This is Kisuke Urahara, and he was the one who created the gateway to the Royal Palace in the last war, so...so...

So...?

So...basically, he's an amazing guy. Or so I've heard.

Huh?

From what I've gathered, he's a Soul Reaper, the former Captain of Squad 12.

Wait, really?

He was exiled from Soul Society due to certain circumstances, but after several developments he now operates as a scientist for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

As someone harboring great respect for Captain Kurotsuchi, I must admit it's difficult for me to praise him openly...but he is a titan in his field.

Thank you for the lovely introduction.

And what business does a guy like you have with <param=player_family_name>?

[<gender I was hoping you might allow me to assist with his rehabilitation./I was hoping you might allow me to assist with her rehabilitation.>]

[<gender That said, my methods tend to be somewhat drastic. Whether he makes it back safely or not will depend entirely on him./That said, my methods tend to be somewhat drastic. Whether she makes it back safely or not will depend entirely on her.>]

!

Good day.

[<gender Hold it. I can't just let you take him./Hold it. I can't just let you take her.>]

Feel free to inform the Head Captain.

Huh?!

[<gender I'll take good care of him, as promised. He has a bright future ahead of him, after all./I'll take good care of her, as promised. She has a bright future ahead of her, after all.>]

.........

[<gender When <param=player_family_name> wakes up, tell him somethin' for me./When <param=player_family_name> wakes up, tell her somethin' for me.>]

And what would that be?

"If ya don't come back, I'm gonna beat the crap outta ya."

.........

Is it even okay...for me to go back...?

Hm?

[<gender I...I killed Lieutenant Kuchiki.../I...I killed Lieutenant Kuchiki...>]

[<gender ...When I wield my Zanpakuto, it's like I become someone else.../...When I wield my Zanpakuto, it's like I become someone else...>]

My blade moves as though I'm not the one in control...

Even if I try to stop, my body acts against my will... Just like that time with Lieutenant Kuchiki...

That's why I don't want to draw my sword anymore!

[<gender Instead of hurting someone else, I'd rather, /Instead of hurting someone else, I'd rather, >]

, Rather die yourself?

.........

Well, that explains your earlier recklessness in battle.

......You have a problem with that?

.........

[<gender Shouldn't you have a problem with how I avoided the death penalty even though I killed Lieutenant Kuchiki?!/Shouldn't you have a problem with how I avoided the death penalty even though I killed Lieutenant Kuchiki?!>]

I was controlled by my own Zanpakuto. Lieutenant Kuchiki was just trying to protect me...and I took her life. I...I don't deserve to liv,

!

If you want to die so badly, why won't you take up your sword?

[<gender (...I-I can't move! It's like he's pointing a blade at my throat...!)/(...I-I can't move! It's like he's pointing a blade at my throat...!)>]

Did you not defeat Ms. Kuchiki for the sake of the Court Guards?

Did she not ask you to cut her down for the sake of those selfsame Court Guards?

"I killed her, so I must atone by dying"?

.........

Do not burden the departed with the weight of your death.

......

Ms. Kuchiki won't be able to rest in peace if her death led a youngster with a bright future to their own.

You didn't take her life. She entrusted it to you.

Entrusted...

An officer shall die in the Court Guard.

Is that not the resolve of those who become Soul Reapers?

.........

Ms. Kuchiki was a Soul Reaper. What are you?

[<gender But I'll just end up hurting someone with my Zanpakuto agai, /But I'll just end up hurting someone with my Zanpakuto agai, >]

...No, I should be asking...

What do I do to prevent that?

Finally, I get to hear something goal-oriented out of you.

.........

You'll need to face off against this Zanpakuto of yours...

...So, with that in mind, eat this.

What is it?

You're going to be using your brain a lot, so you'll need to replenish your sugar.

O-Okay... Down the hatch, I guess. *gulp*

Next, I'm going to stab you in the chest with this sword.

Huh...?

Don't worry. You shouldn't feel a thing unless I miss.

Unless you miss...?

I'll go on three. Just relax,

Wait, hold on,

Here we go! One, two,

Ngh!

...Three.

Can you hear me? You can hear me, right?

Huh...? Um, where exactly...?

Just so you know, I can't hear anything you're saying.

W-Wait, really?

If you can't understand what I'm saying or if I get cut off, please keep forging ahead.

You have to be kidding me...

First off, you need to learn what your Zanpakuto's capable of.

So go wild. Use your sword to your heart's content.

Is that such a good idea...? What if I lose control again?

You currently exist within your Zanpakuto's memories.

[<gender The only thing that can be cut down in there is your own weakness, Mr. <param=player_family_name>./The only thing that can be cut down in there is your own weakness, Ms. <param=player_family_name>.>]

Can he REALLY not hear me...?

...

Now, grasp it.

...Alright.

You did well. So? Did you manage to remember?

Even if you didn't, let's continue!

O-Okay...

This Spiritual Pressure...?!

...This is very interesting, indeed.

*pant* *pant*...

.........

*pant* ...*pant*...

[<gender It seems like he's struggling./It seems like she's struggling.>]

There is much more you have yet to confront, much more of yourself you need to face...

*pant* *gasp*... How can Kurosaki be so powerful...?

I see... Once the situation has escalated to a certain degree, the Zanpakuto takes notice and begins its observation.

Hmph...

According to Head Captain Kyoraku, the incident occurred right after the battle with this fake Mr. Kurosaki...

[<gender Are you ready, Mr. <param=player_family_name>?/Are you ready, Ms. <param=player_family_name>?>]

*pant* *pant*...

Bankai, Hakka no Togame...

That's...?!

Kisuke, end this now!

...Oops.

This Zanpakuto is truly fascinating. I thought it simply commanded my attention...but it might be more accurate to say it bewitched me.

[<gender It's time to wake up, Mr. <param=player_family_name>./It's time to wake up, Ms. <param=player_family_name>.>]

Urgh...

Here, I believe this belongs to you.

...Thanks. ...Hm?

You won't find a stab wound. I didn't stab you, after all.

Huh? But I could've sworn...

An illusion, on the grotesque side, perhaps, used to help break through the walls around your heart.

Think of it as a kind of shock therapy.

Walls around my heart...

So, were you able to speak to your Zanpakuto?

Honestly, I didn't learn a thing... All I know is that this sword scares me...

Is that so?

I'm sorry. You'd think since it's my own Zanpakuto I could,

No no, that is more than enough.

How about you, Mr. Urahara? Did you find anything out about my sword?

Nope, not a thing.

Huh?! No way...

However, after observing you, I did gather enough information to make an educated guess.

P-Please, tell me!

Your sword is a completely new kind of "cursed blade". One that upends everything we previously knew about Zanpakuto.

Cursed blade...?

Indeed. Let's refer to it as a "Soul Encroachment-Type Zanpakuto".

Soul Encroachment-Type...

Mind you, I could be wrong...but at its core, I believe this Zanpakuto embodies the concept of "thirst".

The soul's innate thirst for salvation causes it to desire the souls of others.

To put it in layman's terms, it's lonely.

The sword is lonely...?

Without a doubt. This sword simply cannot bear to be alone.

And if you can't create a "bond" with your Zanpakuto, it will devour you.

...!

To save yourself, you must show the strength of your will, your courage, and call your Zanpakuto by its name.

Its name...

In other words, you must force your Zanpakuto to acknowledge you.

Doing this will also allow you to obtain tremendous power.

.........

The key to that lies in your bonds with others.

Think back to when you used Bankai.

Captain Hitsugaya encouraged you to use Hyorinmaru, and though it was an extreme situation, Lieutenant Kuchiki entrusted her life to you.

I believe your bonds were forged in those moments when they fully trusted you.

And these bonds are precisely what allowed your Zanpakuto to copy and ultimately make use of their Bankai.

Copy their Bankai...

This is most likely the truth behind your Zanpakuto's ability.

Are you frightened?

.........

Are you truly content to just turn your back and run away?

.........

If you are able to master that blade, you will become a Soul Reaper without peer.

I'm not telling you to fill Ms. Kuchiki's shoes.

But...you do have a responsibility to live your own life.

[<gender Live my own life.../Live my own life...>]

Now then, this is where the real fun starts. Shall we begin your training?

...Yes, sir.

Whoa!! What is this?!

Incredible! This huge cavernous chamber is right under my store!

.........

Just ignore him.

Uh, right...

Kisuke, enough fooling around. Let's get this show on the road.

Can't a guy have a little fun...?

Surely you don't intend to keep our guest waiting any longer?

I just thought I'd ease the tension a little... Though I still have plenty of other ideas in store.

.........

Lieutenant Abarai!

Say hello to your training partner.

!

[<gender <param=player_family_name>.../<param=player_family_name>...>]

Yes?

I heard about Rukia.

And I know that people are suspicious of you.

.........

I'll ask you point blank. You didn't betray us, did you?

No. I swear.

...You hear about this "bond" stuff from Urahara?

...Yes.

If he's right, the reason you could use Hakka no Togame was because Rukia believed in you.

So prove it to me. Prove to me that Rukia wasn't wrong about you...and the truth of your words.

.........

Roar, Zabimaru.

!

Whoa!

Draw it! Draw your damn sword!

(I-I can't, )

Behind you.

Aaaaaaagh!

(I'm scared, )

Let me guess. You're worried you might kill me, too?

...I-I...

Start taking this seriously.

Raaaaaagh!

[<gender (I didn't become a Soul Reaper to hurt my friends...)/(I didn't become a Soul Reaper to hurt my friends...)>]

It must feel like crap, knowing you killed a friend... I get it.

But Rukia entrusted everything to you!

[<gender (What exactly did she entrust to me...?)/(What exactly did she entrust to me...?)>]

If you give up, everything that she left behind will die with you!

[<gender (Why did I become a Soul Reaper...?)/(Why did I become a Soul Reaper...?)>]

It's bad enough that you killed Rukia, but what I can't forgive is how you won't even try to protect her pride!

If you still won't draw your sword,

[<gender (...Why did I take up the sword...?!)/(...Why did I take up the sword...?!)>]

.........

Then I'll CUT YOU DOWN!

What, ?

...To protect!

[<gender ...I took up the sword...to protect people!/...I took up the sword...to protect people!>]

...Who are you?

...Your name?

.........

...

Connect, Shingetsu!

Shikai, huh? ..Found your spine at last, I see.

[<gender Oho, so he's finally awakened./Oho, so she's finally awakened.>]

It's about time we move to the final step.

[<gender (There's no more hesitation in his strikes.)/(There's no more hesitation in her strikes.)>]

(I know this feeling well...)

*pant* *pant*

(So that sword is also used for protecting others. That would explain why Rukia...)

(...Well, if that's how it is, I'll follow her lead, )

[<gender <param=player_family_name>... Let's see how you do against this./<param=player_family_name>... Let's see how you do against this.>]

Bankai, So-Oh Zabimaru!

*pant*...*pant*...

Y'see? You can do it if you try.

...Just barely...sir...

Hmph... Thanks for the compliment.

...Yes, sir.

[<gender This is my Zanpakuto... Shingetsu.../This is my Zanpakuto... Shingetsu...>]

No more talk about dying, got it?

Got it!

Lieutenant Abarai, Mr. Urahara... Thank you so much!

Yeah, yeah.

Well then, I'd say that takes care of the Head Captain's request quite nicely as well.

Come on. We're heading back to Soul Society.

Huh?

Head Captain's orders. My job was to beat you into shape and drag you back home.

...!

Well? Did you find your resolve?

To continue wielding your sword as a Soul Reaper, that is.

...I have, sir.

...Good, that's what I like to see.

We are about to commence a top-secret special operation in order to hunt down the Scarlet Rebellion and prevent the revival of Yhwach.

A Special operation?

[<gender <param=player_first_name> <param=player_family_name> You are hereby ordered to join Deadline Squad 44./<param=player_first_name> <param=player_family_name> You are hereby ordered to join Deadline Squad 44.>]

...Yes, sir!