Chapter 35: Bankai Training Day 2
Jerking upright suddenly Tom gazed around the training grounds as he wondered whether this was real or if he was still dreaming. Slowly rising to his feet he heard a loud banging sound followed by the ground shaking as he looked up to find Mitch and Yoruichi sparring against each other in hand to hand combat. Leaping up to the top of the mountain Mitch turned around to find Tom standing there slightly wary and on guard "Uhh what's wrong Tom you look like I might try and kill you".
Before Tom could answer he turned back around side stepping a punch from Yoruichi as she just laughed "Where was this amazing dodging ability in the hot springs last night?" she joked as Mitch's face went red for a second just before he charged forward to tackle her but only succeeded in tackling the dirt face first as Yoruichi shunpoed away and appeared behind him laughing even more "That's what you get for trying to tackle the goddess of flash".
Jumping back up to his feet face still slightly red from her earlier comment Mitch awkwardly coughed and turned to face Tom "Well that's enough sparring I think it's time for Tom to continue with his bankai training". Tom wasn't even listening though he was staring at the ground almost in a stupor as Mitch waved a hand in front of his face "Erm are you ready Tom?" "Wha huh?" Tom looked up from his stupor as Mitch raised an eyebrow "You sure you got enough sleep". "Yeah of course I was just thinking about something" Tom laughed attempting to act normal while the entire time he was busy thinking about what those dreams meant and why they happened.
Heading back down to the bottom of the cliff Tom unsheathed Tamashii Seigei stabbing the dummy again as it flashed a bright white light and the old wise tiger appeared laying on the ground fast asleep. Groggily he yawned opening one eye "Ready to begin your second day of training?" slowly standing up he stretched out "Very well let us begin Tom".
Attempting to catch Tom off guard the tiger darted forward his paws lowered to throw Tom off where he would attack. Not phased at all though Tom stood perfectly still and calm watching the tiger's movements attempting to analyze just how the tiger was planning to attack him.
Moving to the right Tamashii Seigei swiped his claw down as Tom jumped back leaving the tigers claws racking the dust. Counter attacking Tom swung his zanpakuto down as Tamashii Seigei leapt back and waited for another attack but to his surprise Tom merely stood blade raised patiently waiting for him to attack instead. A smile appeared across the tiger's face "I see you've understood at least one of my riddles that's good work Tom, but I am curious how did you figure it out?"
Tom shrugged his shoulders "I had some help from an alternate reality in my mind or a dream I'm not quite sure" Tamashii Seigei cocked his head slightly confused but chuckled "Well either way you are now one step closer to achieving your bankai but can you still figure out my other riddle, how to defeat a man without killing him?"
Done with all the talking Tamashii Seigei leapt through swiping his paw as a huge dark red spiraling reiatsu blast flew towards Tom and slammed into his chest sending him flying backwards onto the ground. Not leaving a second to spare Tamashii Seigei lunged forward biting into Tom's right arm as he cried out in pain but just as the tiger released his grip and went to jump back Tom grabbed onto him and sliced a red gash across the tiger's stomach.
Tamashii Seigei jumped back surprised at the blood dripping down from his stomach as he licked at the wound while Tom took a moment to catch his breath as he looked at the teeth marks embedded in his right arm. "Don't think I'll give you to long for a breather!" Tamashii Seigei roared lunging towards Tom his claws retracting back out and swiping down towards Tom's head.
Looking up from his wound Tom was only given a few moments to react as he blocked the strike pushing the tiger back before swinging a counterattack that the tiger parried away. They moved around the arena exchanging blow for blow each one blocking the others strikes neither one giving way to the other. "I wonder how long Tom can keep up with Tamashii Seigei doing this" Mitch said to Yoruichi as sure enough after deflecting a blow away and leaping back Tom was breathing heavily sweat dripping down his forehead as he looked over at the tiger who wasn't even phased at all.
"If I keep doing this I won't manage to last the entire day I need to conserve my energy" Tom thought to himself taking another step back and raising his zanpakuto in a defensive stance waiting for the Tiger to make the first move. "Tired are Tom pity there is still so much time left in our training" Tamashii Seigei said slowly circling around as Tom kept his eye on him every single one of his senses solely honed in on what the tiger was going to do.
Thinking Tamashii Seigei had Tom in his blind spot on his back the tiger raced forward as Tom merely stood still unmoving until the very last second as he placed his zanpakuto behind his back without even looking expecting to block the attack. "What?" Tom said confused as he didn't feel metal meeting claws but simply watched Tamashii Seigei phase through his body exiting out the front and then vanishing.
"Where the hell is he!" Tom eyes darted around the battlefield trying to locate his opponent but unable to see him. "Wait calm down" he thought shutting his eyes and slowing his breathing opening up all of his senses to everything around him, it was then he heard the crack of a stone under the tigers paw to his right as he brought his blade up blocking the swat from Tamashii Seigei's paw.
Opening his eyes he found the tiger looking down at him smiling his claws wrapped around the zanpakuto "Very good, very good you have now learnt that keeping a cool head in battle is another valuable technique in defeating your enemy. You are still yet to figure out the true riddle to this training though and until you solve that you won't be able to master your bankai" as the tiger slowly dissolved into a white mist his voice echoed around the battlefield "Think very hard on it tonight since tomorrow is the final day for this". As Tamashii Seigei completely dissolved back into the target and fell to the floor Tom himself took a few steps back slumping down against a rock completely spent "Phew that was something".
"Alright I think that's enough for today" Mitch called out from the top of the cliff as Yoruichi appeared right next to him on the ground "Go wash up and grab a bite to eat". Dragging his aching muscles over to the hot springs Tom hurled his clothes to the ground and practically face planted into the warm waters as he let the warmth of the springs wash over him all of his muscles relaxing along with his mind as he sat back against the edge and shut his eyes.
"Well with his training done I guess it's time for mine" Mitch said angling Ashura horizontally in front of him as the ground began to tremble "BANKAI", flames engulfed his entire body before exploding away leaving him standing in bankai attire. "I see your bankai is just as impressive as I remember" Yoruichi said as Mitch turned to smile at her his teeth now turned into wolf like fangs that sparkled with flames.
Running around the edge of the cliff he created 4 clones before arriving back at the starting point and turning to face them his all too familiar battle smirk appearing while the clones had the exact same grin on their faces as well. They all charged straight towards Mitch blades arcing through the air as he stood calm as ever breathing slowly his eyes shut. At the very last second he used shunpo to race behind them all as 2 dissolved away from a huge gash appearing across their back while the remaining two turned back around swinging their blades as he parried both their strikes away and darted towards them a swift two slashes across their torso's leaving them dissolving away before he sheathed Ashura.
"That was rather brief" Yoruichi said as Mitch smirked flames circling around his fist as he slammed it directly into the middle a violent explosion blasting it clean in half and sending both sides slowly crashing towards the ground. Quick as a flash Mitch unsheathed Ashura shunpoing to the left darting through the cliff cutting it cleanly into tiny rubble like pieces. Not done yet before the right side could fall to the ground he swung Ashura down a spiraling whirl of ice and ice mixed together engulfing the cliff first freezing it completely solid before the flames melted away everything leaving nothing behind.
"Alright are we quiet done now with the destruction?" Yoruichi said re appearing where the cliff used to be frowning as he destroyed a chunk of her underground playground. "Relax I'm done with the destruction" Mitch said dropping to the ground as he started doing pushups "At least my bankai saves me time in removing a shirt for working out" he said as Yoruichi could only shake her head sitting on top of a square piece of rock one of the only remaining pieces of the cliff.
Tom meanwhile had finished soaking in the spa and was sitting down enjoying what he could of the food Mitch brought along to eat. Holding the rice ball in his hand he was busy staring off into the distance thinking about the riddle he needed to solve by tomorrow to master his bankai training. "How to defeat a man without killing him" Tom muttered to himself repeatedly as if somehow saying it would make the answer clear to him.
"Still thinking on that riddle?" Yoruichi said as she sat down grabbing a bite to eat as well "I don't quite understand it and if I don't get it by tomorrow then I'll fail to achieve my bankai". Munching on his rice ball he turned to face Yoruichi "Say what was Mitch's challenge?" Yoruichi looked up at the sky recalling all those years ago just what he had to exactly do.
"I'll answer that for you" his voice came from behind as he took a seat grabbing a rice ball from the bag and popping it into his mouth. "My test was to defeat Ashura in a fight, but I had to learn how to fight without relying on my sword and kido" "So what you fought a wolf bare handed and managed to master your bankai in 2 days!" Tom said as he nearly choked on his food from hearing that. "It wasn't easy though I had to learn how to fight using my other senses besides my eyes and let me tell you I got pretty badly beaten up throughout it all".
"Do you think I'll be able to learn my bankai by tomorrow" Tom asked as Mitch gazed back at him "Well you've got the guts and determination but unless you figure out Tamashii Seigei's riddle then you won't be able to do anything". Jumping up Tom stretched out "On that note I think I'll lay down and think on it" Tom said walking over to his bed, but as he lay there staring up at what he thought was the sky the ever-elusive riddle still wasn't any clearer to him. Closing his eyes Tom thought he'd be able to think about it better but all he found was that fatigue had got the better of him as he slowly sunk into a deep sleep.