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Chapter 37
Kurono Walking
Kurono POV

We reached the training grounds around 7am and I automatically was confronted by Yoruichi. She smiled at me
“I see you're not one for the royals then?”
I shook my head as I let a smile spread across my face. It seemed like to me that I had been doing quite a lot of smiling lately, it was weird; I never once had any real reason to smile…
“Now Kurono, are you ready to learn Bankai?”
“You think I'm ready?”
“Not yet”
“WHAT!? I'm getting tired of being led on like this”
“We have to first practice your Shikai and make sure you are at harmony with your Spirit. It shouldn’t take very long.”
“Fine, what do you want me to do?”
“Release your Zanpakutō and fight”
“I have no idea how to do that”
Yoruichi’s face went solemn
“Unlike Ichigo whose sword was already released you must learn yours. Do you understand?”
“Sorta, but how do I learn it?”
“Your spirit should know, simply shout the command.”
“Sounds easy enough”
-------------------------------------- 2 Days Later-----------------------------------------------------

I leapt up onto a ridge of rock, stretching out my arms to balance myself. I smiled at Yoruichi as she nodded, watching me teeter
“Nice work. In the completion of this course did you succeed?”
She looked at the sword hanging in my white sash.
“That will be decided the next time I fight”
Yoruichi nodded and I spun, feeling the wind in my pony tail.
“Are you ready?”
I looked down at Yoruichi and nodded. I leapt off the rock and faced Zelo and Seji. Both nodded and I grinned.
“Thank you all for what you’ve done. Helping me find all that I needed and fixing myself”
Zelo extended his hand gesturing to the exit
“Shall we go?”
I sighed and squared my shoulders
“I have some things to do first”
“Yes Kuro-chan! Whatever it is we will help you!”
Zelo slammed his fist into Seji’s face
“Shut up for once!”
Seji held his nose and grunted
“You didn't have to hit that hard!”
“If it gets you to shut up then yes I did”
I smiled and looked at Seji.
“I challenge you to a duel; you and Zelo, not at once but a challenge to knock one another's swords out of their hands. No releases.”
Seji looked at Zelo who nodded. Both flash stepped away and I stared dumbfounded at where they had once been standing. I heard a whirl of air and Seji appeared his dagger in hand. He smiled
“I can't take it easy on you Kuro-chan.”
I nodded
“Please don’t. I want your full force”
He charged and I barely dodged. Fighting Seji made me wonder if I could face Zelo. Even though I had fought Zelo before I could tell he would not using his usual style.
Seji knocked me to the ground but I still managed to hold onto my sword. I kicked out, standing as I went, and missed him completely as he latched onto my hilt; holding both my hands in place with just one. I tried to yank away but he was strong and I couldn't get the right leverage. Locked in a stance with his right hand holding the dagger to my throat and his left holding both of mine hands to the handle made me feel stupid.
“Let go”
“Can't do that”
“How am I supposed to get away then?”
“Figure it out”
His sword was awfully close to my throat so I decided to try something. I lifted my left leg and wrapped it around the back of his leg, bringing me really close to him. His eyes bulged and I smiled devilishly and yanked my foot towards me; yanking his foot with me. He fell backwards, but something I didn't plan on was him bringing me with him. I landed on top of him and I rolled off, finally able to get the leverage I needed to pull out of his hold. Using my foot I stepped on his wrist and kicked the sword away. With a sigh I help Seji up as he eyed me and smiled with that feverish look in his eyes.
“Don't get any ideas lover boy.”
He chuckled, retrieving his sword and flashed stepped away.
Zelo appeared behind me and attacked; cutting me across the back with a sword in his right hand. I gritted my teeth, turning just in time to block a 2nd blow. He stepped closer locking his blade with mine. I could feel a strange vibration in the blade. This sword was a long sword, with a black blade and handle. It had leather wrapped around the grip that ended in a flat garnished golden pommel.
“Your opponent won't always be as fair as you. You must adapt to his style”
He pulled out one of his other swords; a long katana with a black handle and a cross shape hand guard. Elaborate golden designs ran along the hilt, gleaming as Zelo brought it horizontal with his face. He slid back, crossing the blades in front of his chest and began a whirlwind of blades. Over whelmed I blocked with fear in my heart which allowed him to make more blows then I needed. I knew I would have to push myself harder with Zelo; he wasn't playing.
For about half an hour blocking was all I could do. Green Spiritual Energy burst around him. But his first sword glowed black as the other glowed a light shade of yellow.
He had two swords I had to get rid of and I had no idea how I was going to do that. So I flash stepped away and tried to get behind him but he blocked from over his shoulder. I flew back as he turned to cut me and we went back into the frenzied blocking routine. I tried to stab him in the chest; right where his heart is. But when I hit the skin it was like my sword it a rock wall. And I remember what Makizo had called him. In a hushed whisper I spoke in utter awe
“Stone Heart”
He pushed me back to the ground and held both swords ready at my throat. But my sword was still in hand and I needed to get his. But how? I rolled away slicing my sword across his legs. But nothing happened; no blood. Only his pants tore showing untouched skin.
“How?”
He brought his sword down and I rolled away, standing quickly only to flash step away. I couldn't even beat him at Shunpo. No matter how many times I managed to get behind him he always blocked me.
He did a twirl and I finally saw it and reached out before I knew what I was doing. I slammed my forearm against his wrist and whacked my sword into the tip of his blade, making it uneven in his hand. With my foot aimed for the hilt I kicked; knocking the sword out of his right hand. I felt it like a shockwave; the sword was angry and screaming for blood.
Zelo started spinning again and as his left hand came around I used my right foot to kick the blade up, making it miss me completely.
Flash stepping away I decided to come from above. Landing on his blade I grabbed the hand guard and flashed stepped away; dragging him with me. The blade yanked out of his hand and I dropped it to the ground. Panting I turned to Zelo who was smiling at me. In that moment I knew that if Zelo wanted me dead; I'd be dead. Something about those Zanpakutos he carried made me uneasy.
Zelo stood and extended his hands to his sides. I stared amazed at the blades flew back into his hands. With a swift movement he sheaved them and left the training field; crossing his arms behind his head as he did so.
I grinned and headed for the door. I ran to catch up to Zelo and Seji. I found them right outside the door and I smiled
“Uh… do you think you can lead me to where captain Ukitake might be?”

The walkways were deserted as I followed Zelo and Seji to squad 13 barracks. Yoruichi had left to take care of some other matters and it felt odd not having her there. As I watched Zelo and Seji walk I couldn't help but laugh to myself. They seemed not to like each other and yet they were friends. It just seemed odd to me, to be friends with someone you don’t like.
“Kurono I have a question”
I looked at Zelo who had stopped and was looking at me.
“What's up?”
“How is it that you remember?”
I cocked my eyebrow
“What do you mean?”
Seji gave Zelo a warning glance but Zelo went on.
“When souls die and become Soul Reapers they forget everything. It’s been bugging me ever since I met you. You remember you were a hollow and the people you knew, and also your human life, that’s odd isn't it?”
“I never thought of it before…come to think of it I actually don’t remember my human life. I remember talking about it so I just told myself that was my past.”
“What do you mean?”
It was Zelo’s turn to be confused
“Well the truth is… I have no idea what my past was”
“Then how do you…?”
“Then how do I know about my family before? Simple, I recall a recent hollow memory of me talking about them because that memory is the closes to now. I have lost all of my human memories. Even when I was a hollow I knew only the basics and small little useless memories. Now I have no past and yet it follows me here.”
I pointed at the new arrivals; my family, or great, great, great, great, great, great, great, nephew and his wife.
Eijida-ku and Yukisuno were coming closer and I wanted to hide. No doubt they were upset about me ditching them.
“Kurono”
I gritted my teeth and stepped before them.
“Hello”
I looked Eijida-ku in the eyes and he smiled as he put a hand on my shoulder
“I would have ran away too”
I chuckled and relaxed my shoulders, happy to see he was not angry.
“Sorry, I had some training to do and I didn't wanna sit around while I could be working.”
“It’s understandable. Now we have important matters to discuss”
“Now is not the time. Can't this wait till I get back?”
“I don’t…”
“You know what? I'm head of the family and my first command is that I be left alone until I can return”
Eijida-ku frowned and tilted his head
“Where are you going? When will you be back?”
“I can't tell you because I don’t know when I'll be back. I'm sure you can run things until I get back. Ta-ta!”
I started off but Yukisuno blocked my path
“You're being reckless. Stop being a child and take command of your birth right”
“Uh, I don’t think I will. I have more important matters to attend to like helping my friends and saving the world.”
“Kurono…”
I breathed out and gritted my teeth.
“You think I was training for nothing? I need to go help my friend. Then we can discuss your important matters. Till then leave me alone!”
I stormed off leaving my family behind. With a quick glance Seji and Zelo ran after me.

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