Ethanol
11-09-2006, 02:06 AM
This is the story of Kurokawa Taiki achieving control of his total bankai. It is based on the Create your own Division RP that has been occuring, which can be seen in the bleach general talk section. These series of events occur after the fight with Samanosake( Undying's character).
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Kurokawa Taiki laid in his hospital bed late at night. He was recovering from his battle with Samanosake, the 14th Division Captain. The two of them had an all out fight where neither one was going to hold back. Sadly, Taiki was the one who lost the battle, and only thanks to the help of Samanosake and the assistance of the 4th Division, was he still alive today.
Taiki was starting to have doubts about himself and his ability. Before he returned to man the 17th division, he was an exiled shinigami, labeled too dangerous to be anywhere near Soul Society. He was still respected for his great mind and tactical abilities, but his blade was the danger. He was trained to be a skilled swordsman, whose blade was one of the fastest during his time.
It was during this long night of contemplating that his blade began to glow. Slowly, the image of a nine-tailed fox appeared in the room, its fur was silver and shined as the light hit it. The face of the fox was one that seemed sage-like, mystical but warm. This mythical creature was Myobu, the spirit that lived inside Kurokawa Taiki’s blade. He turned to look towards his master and began to speak.
“Taiki…..what are you doing with these doubts?” Myobu asked his owner.
Taiki sighed as he looked over at his old friend, “I don’t know if I’m strong enough anymore….I thought with your power of infinite vision that I could defeat an opponent like him. Apparently our powers combined aren’t enough to defeat such a man….”
Myobu laughed, or what appeared to be a laugh for a fox as it responded, “You fool….did you think that was the only power that I had? I have many other abilities that you haven’t even tapped into yet. You stopped when you learned the first one of infinite vision.”
Taiki looked dumbfounded. Could it be true? “What do you mean other abilities? I thought I had mastered bankai. There is still more to go?” the tone in his voice had changed from desperation to one of hope. This was the only light of hope that he had in getting stronger.
Myobu nodded, “Yes…you still haven’t completed my final challenge.”
Taiki began to think it all over. This was his chance. He had to do this, it was the only way to regain the old him. No, not the old him; the old him wasn’t strong enough. He had to discover the true power that laid within his sword. Only when he could fully use Myobu in battle will be he satisfied now.
“Once I get out of here….I can begin my training again.” Taiki said.
Myobu moved over to one of the empty beds in the room, hopping onto it as he turned around to face Taiki, sitting on the bed. “Why not just start it now….?”
Taiki looked at his companion. “Are you crazy? There’s no way I can train in my condition. My body is…”
“It’s not your body that needs training…its your mind.” Myobu interrupted, “You’re body is trained enough to deal with all…you have mastered Infinite Vision. The rest is just mental training…which you can do in my world.”
Taiki never heard of such a thing. Was it even possible? He would know the best on how to achieve bankai so I guess I should believe him. Taiki sat up in bed and looked over at Myobu.
“Let’s do it.” Taiki said in a determined tone.
Myobu flashed that sly grin which foxes were infamous for. Shortly after, the entire room around them began to bend and warp. It seemed the entire world was collapsing around them and only the two of them were left. When it was all said and done, Taiki was standing next to Myobu affront of a temple.
The temple was one of the weidest that Taiki had ever seen. Its front doors were decorated in artwork that he couldn’t quite make out. The windows were all closed and there was no sign of any light from outside entering. It almost seemed like a gigantic chamber of darkness to him.
“What did you do?” Taiki asked, trying to figure out how he could stand so easily.
“I just altered reality a bit….one of my powers. We are now in my world…” Myobu motioned over to the temple. “Your test is in there. Inside that temple someplace is my star ball. If you can locate it and return it to me….I’ll grant you all my powers.”
Taiki nodded as he looked around himself. He saw his katana was next to him and picked it up, sheathing it back to his left hip. “Tell me Myobu…..what awaits me in there?”
Myobu just grinned, “You will find out when you enter….”
Taiki slowly headed towards the temple. He pushed apart the large gates and entered the first chamber. This room was rather plain for what he expected. The only furnishing it had was two statues of samurai that stood in the corners of the room. He looked around the room and noticed what the interesting fact was. There were three doors leaving the room. It was up to Taiki which door to pick.
“A maze huh…” Taiki said, amused at Myobu’s humor. Taiki turned to the door on his right and slowly walked through it. He barely had anytime to go through the door before he had to draw his sword and defend against a raider. Some mysterious figure was attacking him, and his skills were good. His movements were almost flawless as they clashed back and forth in the room.
What the hell is this? Someone was in here? Taiki thought as he parried the next few blows, coming back with a counter attack that also was unsuccessful. His opponent was wearing a mask so it was impossible to see whom he was fighting. There was a pause in the fighting, and it allowed Taiki to begin his tactical planning. He has to have an opening….no one is perfect.
His opponent rushed towards him, and began to use shunpo. That wasn’t what surprised Taiki, what surprised him was that he was using it to move zig zag towards Taiki. That was one of Taiki’s common tactics that he used in battle to throw his opponent off. He clenched his zanpakuto as he prepared the counter attack. It had to be done just right. At the moment he was zig zagging, Taiki flash stepped as quick as he could right at his opponent, in the center of the zig zag path with his blade leading the charge. Sure enough, he caught his opponent in mid flash step and the blade went right through him. The attacker stopped as his body slowly slid off the blade and fell to the ground. Taiki moved over to the dying opponent and removed the figure’s mask. He gasped when he saw the face.
It was him.
Taiki stood up quickly, trying to figure out what it meant, but his thoughts were quickly interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Shocked? You shouldn’t be…..you can’t rely on your old abilities anymore.” Myobu’s voice was heard throughout the temple. “You need to discover a new way of fighting, you have to show me that you can improve…”
Taiki sighed as he turned and headed back into the central. When he got into the center room again, he looked around and decided now it was time to go into the center door. He made his way in and was relieved to not see a person fighting him.
In the room, were too large pillers. One had what appeared to be flames sketched on it, and the other was lighting bolts. Taiki scratched his head trying to figure out what the point of this room was. Then, he noticed it. At the other end of the room on a pedestal was what appeared to be a key. That key was probably the point of this room. He slowly walked towards the key, but stopped when the pillars began to glow.
From the flame one, a spiral of fire shot out towards him. He rolled out of the way, only to get blasted by a lighting blast from the other pillar. He moved back to a safe distance from where the pillars wouldn’t attack him.
“So that’s it huh….these pillars are trying to stop me.” Taiki said as he thought it over. “Let’s try this…”
Taiki flash stepped towards the key trying to get it, however he was met with a wall of fire that slowed him down, only to fall for the same lightning blast which sent him across the room and into the wall. Taiki grumbled as he slowly stood up.
“I thought fighting Samano and his lighting was enough….but come on…” Taiki said, wiping a little blood from his lip as he looked at the pillars.
“You can’t be doing foolish things.” Myobu said, “ I have no problem ending your life right here in this temple if you can’t make it through.”
Taiki thought it over. This whole temple was a test for him. He had to throw away his old common methods of fighting and old thinking habits to learn a new way, the Myobu way. He leaned against the wall and began to think it through. He made one important note…the fire pillar always attacked first. He grinned as he pushed off the wall and prepared for his attempt.
He began his run to the key. As expected, the flame pillar glowed and the spiral of fire came at him. Taiki rolled forward, and knew what was coming next. The lighting blast was coming directly at him but he held out his hand and began to concentrate energy in his palm.
“Hadou 63: Raikouhou - Lighting Tiger Cannon”
With that, a blast of energy shot out and intercepted the lighting bolt, canceling out the attacks. This was his chance to make a move for the key, before the pillars attacked again. He flash stepped towards the key. He could sense that the fire pillar was preparing another attack. He lunged towards the pedestal and grabbed the key off it. The second the key was removed from the pillars, both of them shut down and their energy was drained. Taiki exhaled a sigh of relief as he tucked the key into his pocket and headed back to the central room. There was only one more room for him to go into.
“Interesting method…I see you’re starting to become versatile with your tactics. Good work.” Myobu said as Taiki made his way back. He turned and entered the last room that he didn’t enter yet. This one was even more complicated than the last.
The room was empty except for a large mirror that stood in the center of the room. Taiki moved up to it and stared at it.
“What am I supposed to do here?” Taiki asked out loud, hoping Myobu would answer him.
The mirror began to change and Taiki saw a different reflection. The reflection was of Taiki in bankai, the glowing kanji for “eye” on his forehead as he looked back at the real Taiki coldly.
I get it, I have to face my past. Stare back into the old me and conquer him.
Taiki held his blade affront of him, and the mirror image did the same. He concentrated as his reiatsu began to increase. The glow was a mixture of colors, signifying the conflict that was going on within Taiki’s mind. This was the moment where he had to shed his past and become reborn like a phoenix.
I am not just a swordsman
I am not just a tactician
I am not just a captain
I am a warrior
I am a leader
I am…..
I am….
I am….
“KUROKAWA TAIKI!!!” Taiki yelled out at the top of his lungs at the mirror.
When he yelled out loud, all his reiatsu changed to one color: silver. The explosion of silver reiatsu caused the mirror the shatter into a thousand pieces. He had done it. No longer was he scared of his past, no longer would he be weighed down by all the worries and responsibilities that he had. He would deal with them the way that he knew how. No more fitting into a mold, he would be his own person.
Taiki turned and slowly headed out of the room, beads of sweat pouring down his forehead as he entered the main room. He was proud of himself for rediscovering himself, but he still hadn’t found the star ball he needed to. He looked and noticed that the two statues that were in the corner of the room were also in shambles. Apparently, they must have been connected to the mirror somehow. What was more intriguing was that on the wall behind one of them was a keyhole.
He walked over to the keyhole and took the key out and slowly inserted it, turning it. When he did, he heard a strange cranking noise coming from the center of the room. The middle of the floor opened up and a pedestal holding the star ball arose, shining in all its glory. The star ball was shaped slightly like a pear, and was made of pure opal. He reached over and took the ball and slowly walked out of the temple to give it back to Myobu.
Myobu smiled when he saw his master coming out with the star ball. “You did good.” Myobu said as Taiki stood affront of him. Taiki offered the star ball back to Myobu and he took it in his mouth, swallowing it whole.
“I don’t get the point of the star ball….” Taiki said, a bit deflated from thinking he had accomplished it.
Myobu motioned to his katana. “You never noticed…but you had one all along.”
Taiki looked over at his sword and gasped. At the end of the hilt was a miniature replica of the star ball that he had just recovered. It was made to be a part of the sword, and was where the true power hid. Myobu nodded as the star ball began to glow.
“It is my turn to unlock your power….”
With that, a blinding light came out of the star ball in the katana and engulfed everything in light. Slowly, the world was returning back to Seireiti with Taiki back in the hospital bed. He screamed as his entire body was engulfed in that radiant silver aura that he had acquired from his training inside Myobu’s temple. He fell back to the bed unconscious, having drained himself of mental energy through all that, and the reiatsu slowly withdrew back into him.
He had completed his bankai training and had acquired skills that he would need to practice to master. Somehow, deep down, he would have the ability to already use these skills. It was all thanks to Myobu who helped him become stronger and reestablish himself as the strong man he used to be before all the drama occurred recently.
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Note: This story is based on the myth that if you had a kitsune's spirit star ball and returned it to them, they would grant you a favor in return. The ball was believed to contain some of the kitsune's power.
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Kurokawa Taiki laid in his hospital bed late at night. He was recovering from his battle with Samanosake, the 14th Division Captain. The two of them had an all out fight where neither one was going to hold back. Sadly, Taiki was the one who lost the battle, and only thanks to the help of Samanosake and the assistance of the 4th Division, was he still alive today.
Taiki was starting to have doubts about himself and his ability. Before he returned to man the 17th division, he was an exiled shinigami, labeled too dangerous to be anywhere near Soul Society. He was still respected for his great mind and tactical abilities, but his blade was the danger. He was trained to be a skilled swordsman, whose blade was one of the fastest during his time.
It was during this long night of contemplating that his blade began to glow. Slowly, the image of a nine-tailed fox appeared in the room, its fur was silver and shined as the light hit it. The face of the fox was one that seemed sage-like, mystical but warm. This mythical creature was Myobu, the spirit that lived inside Kurokawa Taiki’s blade. He turned to look towards his master and began to speak.
“Taiki…..what are you doing with these doubts?” Myobu asked his owner.
Taiki sighed as he looked over at his old friend, “I don’t know if I’m strong enough anymore….I thought with your power of infinite vision that I could defeat an opponent like him. Apparently our powers combined aren’t enough to defeat such a man….”
Myobu laughed, or what appeared to be a laugh for a fox as it responded, “You fool….did you think that was the only power that I had? I have many other abilities that you haven’t even tapped into yet. You stopped when you learned the first one of infinite vision.”
Taiki looked dumbfounded. Could it be true? “What do you mean other abilities? I thought I had mastered bankai. There is still more to go?” the tone in his voice had changed from desperation to one of hope. This was the only light of hope that he had in getting stronger.
Myobu nodded, “Yes…you still haven’t completed my final challenge.”
Taiki began to think it all over. This was his chance. He had to do this, it was the only way to regain the old him. No, not the old him; the old him wasn’t strong enough. He had to discover the true power that laid within his sword. Only when he could fully use Myobu in battle will be he satisfied now.
“Once I get out of here….I can begin my training again.” Taiki said.
Myobu moved over to one of the empty beds in the room, hopping onto it as he turned around to face Taiki, sitting on the bed. “Why not just start it now….?”
Taiki looked at his companion. “Are you crazy? There’s no way I can train in my condition. My body is…”
“It’s not your body that needs training…its your mind.” Myobu interrupted, “You’re body is trained enough to deal with all…you have mastered Infinite Vision. The rest is just mental training…which you can do in my world.”
Taiki never heard of such a thing. Was it even possible? He would know the best on how to achieve bankai so I guess I should believe him. Taiki sat up in bed and looked over at Myobu.
“Let’s do it.” Taiki said in a determined tone.
Myobu flashed that sly grin which foxes were infamous for. Shortly after, the entire room around them began to bend and warp. It seemed the entire world was collapsing around them and only the two of them were left. When it was all said and done, Taiki was standing next to Myobu affront of a temple.
The temple was one of the weidest that Taiki had ever seen. Its front doors were decorated in artwork that he couldn’t quite make out. The windows were all closed and there was no sign of any light from outside entering. It almost seemed like a gigantic chamber of darkness to him.
“What did you do?” Taiki asked, trying to figure out how he could stand so easily.
“I just altered reality a bit….one of my powers. We are now in my world…” Myobu motioned over to the temple. “Your test is in there. Inside that temple someplace is my star ball. If you can locate it and return it to me….I’ll grant you all my powers.”
Taiki nodded as he looked around himself. He saw his katana was next to him and picked it up, sheathing it back to his left hip. “Tell me Myobu…..what awaits me in there?”
Myobu just grinned, “You will find out when you enter….”
Taiki slowly headed towards the temple. He pushed apart the large gates and entered the first chamber. This room was rather plain for what he expected. The only furnishing it had was two statues of samurai that stood in the corners of the room. He looked around the room and noticed what the interesting fact was. There were three doors leaving the room. It was up to Taiki which door to pick.
“A maze huh…” Taiki said, amused at Myobu’s humor. Taiki turned to the door on his right and slowly walked through it. He barely had anytime to go through the door before he had to draw his sword and defend against a raider. Some mysterious figure was attacking him, and his skills were good. His movements were almost flawless as they clashed back and forth in the room.
What the hell is this? Someone was in here? Taiki thought as he parried the next few blows, coming back with a counter attack that also was unsuccessful. His opponent was wearing a mask so it was impossible to see whom he was fighting. There was a pause in the fighting, and it allowed Taiki to begin his tactical planning. He has to have an opening….no one is perfect.
His opponent rushed towards him, and began to use shunpo. That wasn’t what surprised Taiki, what surprised him was that he was using it to move zig zag towards Taiki. That was one of Taiki’s common tactics that he used in battle to throw his opponent off. He clenched his zanpakuto as he prepared the counter attack. It had to be done just right. At the moment he was zig zagging, Taiki flash stepped as quick as he could right at his opponent, in the center of the zig zag path with his blade leading the charge. Sure enough, he caught his opponent in mid flash step and the blade went right through him. The attacker stopped as his body slowly slid off the blade and fell to the ground. Taiki moved over to the dying opponent and removed the figure’s mask. He gasped when he saw the face.
It was him.
Taiki stood up quickly, trying to figure out what it meant, but his thoughts were quickly interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Shocked? You shouldn’t be…..you can’t rely on your old abilities anymore.” Myobu’s voice was heard throughout the temple. “You need to discover a new way of fighting, you have to show me that you can improve…”
Taiki sighed as he turned and headed back into the central. When he got into the center room again, he looked around and decided now it was time to go into the center door. He made his way in and was relieved to not see a person fighting him.
In the room, were too large pillers. One had what appeared to be flames sketched on it, and the other was lighting bolts. Taiki scratched his head trying to figure out what the point of this room was. Then, he noticed it. At the other end of the room on a pedestal was what appeared to be a key. That key was probably the point of this room. He slowly walked towards the key, but stopped when the pillars began to glow.
From the flame one, a spiral of fire shot out towards him. He rolled out of the way, only to get blasted by a lighting blast from the other pillar. He moved back to a safe distance from where the pillars wouldn’t attack him.
“So that’s it huh….these pillars are trying to stop me.” Taiki said as he thought it over. “Let’s try this…”
Taiki flash stepped towards the key trying to get it, however he was met with a wall of fire that slowed him down, only to fall for the same lightning blast which sent him across the room and into the wall. Taiki grumbled as he slowly stood up.
“I thought fighting Samano and his lighting was enough….but come on…” Taiki said, wiping a little blood from his lip as he looked at the pillars.
“You can’t be doing foolish things.” Myobu said, “ I have no problem ending your life right here in this temple if you can’t make it through.”
Taiki thought it over. This whole temple was a test for him. He had to throw away his old common methods of fighting and old thinking habits to learn a new way, the Myobu way. He leaned against the wall and began to think it through. He made one important note…the fire pillar always attacked first. He grinned as he pushed off the wall and prepared for his attempt.
He began his run to the key. As expected, the flame pillar glowed and the spiral of fire came at him. Taiki rolled forward, and knew what was coming next. The lighting blast was coming directly at him but he held out his hand and began to concentrate energy in his palm.
“Hadou 63: Raikouhou - Lighting Tiger Cannon”
With that, a blast of energy shot out and intercepted the lighting bolt, canceling out the attacks. This was his chance to make a move for the key, before the pillars attacked again. He flash stepped towards the key. He could sense that the fire pillar was preparing another attack. He lunged towards the pedestal and grabbed the key off it. The second the key was removed from the pillars, both of them shut down and their energy was drained. Taiki exhaled a sigh of relief as he tucked the key into his pocket and headed back to the central room. There was only one more room for him to go into.
“Interesting method…I see you’re starting to become versatile with your tactics. Good work.” Myobu said as Taiki made his way back. He turned and entered the last room that he didn’t enter yet. This one was even more complicated than the last.
The room was empty except for a large mirror that stood in the center of the room. Taiki moved up to it and stared at it.
“What am I supposed to do here?” Taiki asked out loud, hoping Myobu would answer him.
The mirror began to change and Taiki saw a different reflection. The reflection was of Taiki in bankai, the glowing kanji for “eye” on his forehead as he looked back at the real Taiki coldly.
I get it, I have to face my past. Stare back into the old me and conquer him.
Taiki held his blade affront of him, and the mirror image did the same. He concentrated as his reiatsu began to increase. The glow was a mixture of colors, signifying the conflict that was going on within Taiki’s mind. This was the moment where he had to shed his past and become reborn like a phoenix.
I am not just a swordsman
I am not just a tactician
I am not just a captain
I am a warrior
I am a leader
I am…..
I am….
I am….
“KUROKAWA TAIKI!!!” Taiki yelled out at the top of his lungs at the mirror.
When he yelled out loud, all his reiatsu changed to one color: silver. The explosion of silver reiatsu caused the mirror the shatter into a thousand pieces. He had done it. No longer was he scared of his past, no longer would he be weighed down by all the worries and responsibilities that he had. He would deal with them the way that he knew how. No more fitting into a mold, he would be his own person.
Taiki turned and slowly headed out of the room, beads of sweat pouring down his forehead as he entered the main room. He was proud of himself for rediscovering himself, but he still hadn’t found the star ball he needed to. He looked and noticed that the two statues that were in the corner of the room were also in shambles. Apparently, they must have been connected to the mirror somehow. What was more intriguing was that on the wall behind one of them was a keyhole.
He walked over to the keyhole and took the key out and slowly inserted it, turning it. When he did, he heard a strange cranking noise coming from the center of the room. The middle of the floor opened up and a pedestal holding the star ball arose, shining in all its glory. The star ball was shaped slightly like a pear, and was made of pure opal. He reached over and took the ball and slowly walked out of the temple to give it back to Myobu.
Myobu smiled when he saw his master coming out with the star ball. “You did good.” Myobu said as Taiki stood affront of him. Taiki offered the star ball back to Myobu and he took it in his mouth, swallowing it whole.
“I don’t get the point of the star ball….” Taiki said, a bit deflated from thinking he had accomplished it.
Myobu motioned to his katana. “You never noticed…but you had one all along.”
Taiki looked over at his sword and gasped. At the end of the hilt was a miniature replica of the star ball that he had just recovered. It was made to be a part of the sword, and was where the true power hid. Myobu nodded as the star ball began to glow.
“It is my turn to unlock your power….”
With that, a blinding light came out of the star ball in the katana and engulfed everything in light. Slowly, the world was returning back to Seireiti with Taiki back in the hospital bed. He screamed as his entire body was engulfed in that radiant silver aura that he had acquired from his training inside Myobu’s temple. He fell back to the bed unconscious, having drained himself of mental energy through all that, and the reiatsu slowly withdrew back into him.
He had completed his bankai training and had acquired skills that he would need to practice to master. Somehow, deep down, he would have the ability to already use these skills. It was all thanks to Myobu who helped him become stronger and reestablish himself as the strong man he used to be before all the drama occurred recently.
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Note: This story is based on the myth that if you had a kitsune's spirit star ball and returned it to them, they would grant you a favor in return. The ball was believed to contain some of the kitsune's power.