Trial of Fire

Chapter 2

Sonpo and Soi Fon



Taka was severely jealous as Kinomi showed off her Zanpakuto. Galgo merely cracked an eye to look at the blade before closing them and continued to play with his lunch. Due to their mixed heritage most of the other students were weary of the HMKs (Hueco Mundo Kids), as they had been dubbed. As such they tended to eat together.



Even Reina, Akata and Barbo would join them, though they would usually sit at their end of the table quietly, speaking only when necessary and noses in some book.



“Leon has some new move he wants to show Zan-kun. Do you guys want to stop by later so we can see the new technique?” Kinomi asked them all.



“You sure it’s not going to be something lame again like combining a low level wind and fire Kidou to spell our names in the air?” Taka demanded.



“No idea, but Zan-kun seemed really excited.” Kinomi answered. “I got a bet going with Zan-kun that I can do it long before he can though.”



“What did you wager?” Taka asked in interest.



“A week of doing dishes if I lose.”



Reina sighed, putting her book down to look at the two girls.



“That was a foolish thing to do, Kinomi-san. You will be unable to accomplish the technique.” Reina commented.



“Oh, and why’s that?” She demanded.



“You will gain understanding this evening.”



With flashes of Shunpo and bangs of Sonido, the HMKs headed back to their respected classes. Even with the promise to meet Leon later Taka and Kinomi still stopped by the 11th, although this time they brought a box of chocolates to share with Yachiru and walked through the front gate instead of sneaking in.



“Kenpachi-sensei, Yachiru-chan.” The two girls greeted, Kinomi dancing around as she presented her blade.



“Ooo, Neko-chan, you got your Zanpakuto.” Yachiru cheered.



“Uh huh. Her name is Kyattsuai.” She beamed in pride. “I can’t wait to show Grimm-ji, although I don’t know which is more exciting, my first bell or my Zanpakuto.” She admitted.



“Both are good accomplishments.” Yachiru pointed out. “What about you, Tori-chan?”



“I haven’t had even a whisper or a hint yet and since I can’t use any shinigami powers. I think it is safe to say I won’t be getting one.” Taka sighed in frustration. “Okaasan says not to worry about it and Otousan actually woke up long enough to tell me I should be ready to practice my Resurrección in a few years and to not worry about it.”



“I can’t wait to see that.” Kinomi admitted.



After the box of chocolates and chasing the unseated men of the 11th into exhaustion to cleanse them of the sugar rush, Taka and Kinomi headed to the Kuchiki estate where Rangiku and Ggio were still living in a small house on the outskirts of the large estate with Leon and Reina.



Leon and Zan were waiting for them, both of them lounging on the highest branches of their respective trees. Taka and Kinomi joined them shortly, launching off the ground to land in the air beside them.



“Oh you are here, awesome.” Leon jumped to his feet and landed on the branch with an ease that made the other three slightly jealous.



“I still think I will be able to pull this new tech. of yours off before Zan.” Kinomi boasted.



“Trust me, you wont ever be able to pull it off, no offense Kinomi-neesan.” Leon declared, warming up his legs and stretching. “Ready?”



“Whenever you are.” Taka snorted, crossing her arms and staring at him.



With a wide grin Leon moved in a burst of Sonido, the three spectators having no problems following his movements, and then half way through the Sonido he was gone in a flash. They all blinked in shock.



“What the hell was that?” Taka gasped.



“Holy shit.” Kinomi gapped.



“Oh you have got to show me how to do that. And I win Kinomi, you can’t do Sonido so you will never be able to pull that move off.” Zan taunted.



Leon reappeared before them as if out of no where.



“Was that a Sondio launching a Shunpo?” Taka demanded.



“Yep.” Leon grinned, and then held up what appeared to be a long, yellow ribbon.



“Oh you didn’t?” Zan laughed.



“What is that?” Kinomi asked curiously, eyeing the yellow sash.



“Zaraki-taichou may enjoy having whelps like you stealing from him, but I do not.” A cold voice declared, causing the four youngsters to jump in shock and turn to face the scowling face of a very annoyed Soi Fon.



“Soi Fon-taichou, what ever might you be implying?” Leon asked innocently.



It was then Kinomi noticed the taichou seemed to not only be missing her yellow sash, but her hair was down and wet, as was her uniform. It took all of her will power not to burst into laughter again, realizing now just what the yellow thing Leon had claimed in his demonstration was and how he had managed to get it.



Soi Fon’s eyes narrowed dangerously at the still grinning Leon, who had somehow managed to hide the sash without the rest of them noticing.



“Leon, there you are, you were suppose to be home for dinner ten minutes ago.” Came an annoyed voice from down below. “Reina-sama does not like to be kept waiting.”



“He is so whipped.” Kinomi muttered softly under her breath so only Zan and Taka could hear her. “It’s not like Barragan’s around anymore to make him take care of her.”



“Duty is duty.” Zan pointed out.



“Ggio.” Soi Fon noted coldly.



“Eh.” He looked up to stare at her.



With an amazing display of agility, seeing as how the black band on his wrist sealed his reiatsu complete, he leaped from branch to branch until he was even with them.



“Soi Fon-taichou.” Ggio noted just as coldly. “What brings you to the Kuchiki estate? If you are looking for Kuchiki-sama I believe he is attending dinner with his heir at the main house at this time.”



“I am here because your son,” at this she sniffed at the word, “has seen fit to steal from me.”



Ggio raised an eye at her, and then burst into laughter.



“Are you telling me the great Soi Fon-taichou was unable to stop a mere eight year old boy from taking something from her?” He demanded, holding his side as he tried to quell his laughter.



Her eyes narrowed dangerously, but Ggio seemed unconcerned.



“What could Leon have possibly stolen from you?” He asked, regaining his composure.



“My sash.” She answered smartly.



“While you were wearing it?” Ggio asked in disbelief.



She didn’t answer.



“No…. I was in the shower.” Soi Fon admitted after a moment.



“I was unaware my Estate had become a common meeting ground.” Another voice entered the conversation.



All eyes turned to face Byakuya as he walked calmly up to them.



“Good Evening, Kuchiki-sama.” Ggio bowed respectfully to the man giving him and his family shelter, a respect that had previously only been for Barragan.



“Evening, Byakuya-Ojisan.” Zan and Kinomi greeted with smiles and an incline of their heads.



“Evening, Byakuya-taichou.” Taka snapped to attention.



“Byakuya-taichou.” Soi Fon acknowledge.



“Soi Fon-taichou, what brings you to my Estate at such an hour?” He asked.



It was one thing to yell at the kids and a pet arrancar, it was another to admit the rats had out smarted her to another taichou, even if she had been in the shower at the time.



“Watch this.” Leon whispered to them, an evil smirk on his face.



During the exchange between the adults he had snuck his way behind Zan so he was out of sight. With a quick Kidou sound disappeared from around just them, and then he was gone, only to return in less then a second.



“Soi Fon-taichou.” Leon spoke up, drawing their attention. “If it would make you feel better I will willing submit to a search, but I assure you I have nothing that belongs to you on me.”



Soi Fon was positively livid when a thorough search of Leon’s person did not turn up her sash. Byakuya kindly asked her not to disturb his Estate again and next time to use proper channels.



She stormed off, a look of rage in her eye. Once she was gone the two adults turned their attention to Leon.



“What did you take?” Ggio asked, looking at his son sternly.



With a wide grin, he was gone in a bang of Sonido and returned with a flash all within a few seconds, Soi Fon’s yellow sash once again in hand.



“I call it Sonpo.” He grinned with pride. “It’s a Shunpo launched off from a Sonido. For some reason I can’t seem to get it to work the other way around.”



Ggio looked shocked while Byakuya actually had a hint of amusement in his eyes. Recognize it as a good time to probably head home before they also got into trouble for being late for dinner, Taka, Zan and Kinomi excused themselves.



“Leon-kun is going to be in huge trouble all right.” Kinomi chuckled. “They only get to live on the Kuchiki estate because Ojisan lets them.”



“Why does he anyway?” Zan asked curiously.



The two older girls sighed. Zan hadn’t even been born yet so he didn’t know much about the circumstances surrounding their births.



“It’s for protection. When we first arrived here most of the Shinigami didn’t trust us.” Taka answered. “Several still don’t.” She sighed.



It was another reason Taka and Kinomi wanted in the 11th so bad. They could have been full hollow and Kenpachi wouldn’t have cared less so long as they could fight.



None of them like or trusted the Sotaichou. He was a creepy old man who glowered all the time.



Soi Fon was resentful, although secretly Kinomi believed the 2nd division captain was actually interested in Leon and Zan as their abilities would suit that division well.



Kurotsuchi gave them the creeps as he kept muttering about wanting to use them in some sort of experiment.



As much as Taka loved her mother and Kinomi respected her, the 4th was so not for them.



Shunsui was always polite to them, but then he was exceptionally lazy and they got enough of that from Galgo.



Toshiro was awesome, and Leon’s mother was his Fukutaichou, but they were not so sure they could take orders from someone who looked the same age they were.



Ukitaki was like the older uncle who loved to spoil them, but like hell Kinomi was going to be in the same division as her mother, she saw enough of her at home, let alone at work. The girls had an unspoken rule they would stick together through thick and thin so when Kinomi said no, Taka said no.



Komamura just really wasn’t their type and they had next to no interaction with him what so ever. In fact Kinomi couldn’t remember the last time she had seen him.



Byakuya was Kinomi’s Ojisan, like hell she was going to go there.



Renji would report every little detail to her mother, also a hell no.



Yumichika or Ikkaku wouldn’t be too bad, but they both were a bit weird and neither girl was sure they would be able to stand either pretty boy or loud mouth for extended periods of time.



So the 11th it was, with Kenpachi-sensei and Yachiru-chan. Come hell or high water they would be the first female graduates to join the 11th in over 200 years, if not longer.



The two girls waved later as they hit a fork in a road, Zan and Kinomi going left while Taka went right.



“See you tomorrow morning, 5:30 sharp for operation ‘tea snatch?’” Kinomi asked.



“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, later Pantera-chan, Zan-kun.”



“Later, Taka-neesan.” Zan waved.



After dinner brought a nasty surprise as Kinomi was reminded she would never be able to copy Leon’s new tech and as such was stuck doing all the dishes for a week. She was furious. Stupid Leon. Zan probably already knew ahead of time what the tech was.



“Otousan, when do we get to meet up with Grimm-ji again?” She asked after the dishes were done. “I got to show him my bell and Kyattsuai.”



“Eh?” Ichigo looked at his daughter, and then sighed. “Sometimes I wonder which kid really belongs to who.”



“I can’t help it, I miss Grimm-ji and ‘tera.” She smiled at the second name. “Mostly ‘tera.” She added for her fathers benefit.



“You are a little old to be having dreams about another’s Zanpakuto. You got your own now. You need to be careful as they can get jealous very easily.” Rukia warned.



“I like ‘tera.” Kyattsuai comments in a soft whisper in her mind.



“What about Zangetsu?” She asked Kyattsuai.



“Too many people in there. Zan-san himself is cool, but I can’t stand the other one.” Kyattsuai admitted.



“How can Kyattsuai get jeleous of ‘tera? I thought you said an Arrancar’s Zanpakuto is just its power sealed. How can a true Zanpakuto get jealous of power?” She asked curiously.



“Well, if you must know,” Rukia walked up to her and whispered into her ear, “Sode no Shirayuki get jealous of the attention I pay your Otousan sometimes.”



“That doesn’t even make any sense. Anyway, Kyattsuai says she likes ‘tera.”



Rukia just shook her head. Sometimes they really did wonder about Kinomi.



“Well, the Christmas break is coming up and we got to go visit the old man. I am sure Grimmjow will show as soon as he senses my reiatsu.” Ichigo commented.



Well, she could not argue that point. She felt that familiar tingle of excitement run up her spine that she always got before a good fight or while watching one. She was old enough now that she got to watch the real fights between her dad and Grimm-ji, not the one they put on for show for Yuzu, Zan and the others not capable of following the ultra fast movements or able to stand the high level reiatsu that was unleashed during such battles.



Her chores done and the conversation over she headed up to her room. She sat cross legged on her bed, Kyattsuai across her lap. She started the breathing exercises Tatsuki-sensei had taught her.



Once she felt she was deep enough in meditation she sought out Kyattsuai. Learning her Zanpakuto’s name was just one of the many battles she faced on her way to greater power. Soon enough she found herself in what appeared to be a jungle but with sand instead of dirt and a half crescent moon lit sky instead of a sunny day.



“So this is my inner world.” She noted, looking around in interest. “Kyattsuai?” She called softly.



Looking around she couldn’t see nor hear her blades spirit. Having spent her entire life being tested and in training she recognized a challenge when she saw one. Kyattsuai was testing her.



Smiling she sat down and began her meditation again, reaching out her reiatsu to try and find her other half. She laughed as she finally found Kyattsuai, and pointed right where she was hiding.



“Got you.” She declared happily.



With a wide grin, Kyattsuai appeared before her in all of her glory for the first time. Kinomi’s mouth dropped open as she got a good look at her Zanpakuto’s spirit. She knew Kyattsuai was a white panther but this was the first time she got a real good look at her.



Everything about Kyattsuai made her think of Grimmjow. She was beautiful. Strong muscles rippled under her white fur coat as she stalked towards Kinomi. Kyattsuai reminded her of how she had always imagined ‘tera would look like if she had a spirit form and wasn’t just Grimm-ji’s power sealed away.



“Or maybe all this time it was Kyattsuai I saw.” She wondered.



“Kyattsuai, you aren’t ’tera are you?” She asked.



“No.” Kyattsuai sniffed. “I am far prettier.” She declared.



“Of course we are.” Kinomi agreed with a chuckle. “We are both girls. Unlike Grimm-ji I know how to clip nails and brush hair.” She pointed out.



“Speaking of brushing.”



Kinomi chuckled as a brush seemed to appear from out of thin air. Without hesitation she grabbed it and curled up next to Kyattsuai, running the brush through the soft fur. Purring quickly filled the sand floored clearing.



“Kyattsuai.” Kinomi paused in her brushing.



“Hmm?”



“I am sorry for calling for Pantera all this time. It’s my own fault I couldn’t hear your voice.”



Kyattsuai chuckled. “You are forgiving, Pantera.”



Smiling softly, Kinomi went back to brushing Kyattsuai and soft purring once again filled the clearing.







Stay tuned for chapter 3: Christmas



For the record, writing Reina\'s lines are a bitch. She always speaks with big words like any good noble and half the time I had to ask my boyfriend for help with what words to use for her, and how to spell them.



As for Isane\'s second child. It is too young to be hanging out at work, unlike Akata.



Jessy, Kazes, Mom, and Anime, welcome back. I am pleased to see you are still following and hope you enjoy this fic as much as the other one. This one is way more action orientated. Welcome Viola, I am glad you like my work.