Out of the corner of her eye, Azdeha saw Chusei flinch and the young shinigami frowned. She wondered what her senpai and Shunen-Ryu were talking about in their inner world. She knew it was none of her business but she was still curious.
"Snap out of it, you need to work this out." Azdeha muttered to herself before pulling herself upright. She looked at Kurobara and sighed. If she was going to work this out she really needed to sit down and talk it out with the Zanpakuto.
Grasping the hilt of her sword, she closed her eyes again and once again found herself in the picturesque gardens.
"Why are you back? Didn't I just kick you out?"
Azdeha turned around and faced the spirit. "I don't want to fight you, I just want to talk."
"If you're hoping to have a girly bonding session, forget it." Kurobara was stood on the bridge over the pond tapping one booted foot on the wooden slats.
Azdeha watched her for a moment, taking her in. She had always loved the way her zanpakuto looked. Her black and pink kimono was short and she wore multiple petticoats underneath it, forcing it to flare out around the tops of her legs. Her Tsuke obi was pink and the sash from the bow was long and fluttered around her knees. She wore knee high socks with pink bows along the top of them, under a pair of black lace up boots and the look was completed by tiny ribbons in her long hair. Byakuya had once commented that zanpakuto personified a shinigami's hidden desires and suppressed emotions.
It's just a pity her attitude isn't as good as her fashion sense.
Kurobara settled herself on the floor under the shade of a willow tree and beckoned for Azdeha to come closer. "So talk."
The shinigami strode forward and dropped to the ground, crossing her legs. She picked at a blade of grass then stared past her Zanpakuto across the pond. "You asked me what I was fighting for."
Kurobara nodded, her interest piqued. "You've worked that out already?"
"No." Azdeha shook her head. "I have no idea what I'm fighting for. I became a shinigami to be with my brother and get to know him, and because I had the spiritual energy to do so. I don't actually think I'm fighting for anything."
"Why are you asking me? This is something you need to work out for yourself."
"You're a part of me. Surely the thing I'm fighting for is the same thing you’re fighting for?" Azdeha frowned as Kurobara shook her head, "Isn't it?"
"Everybody has something they fight for." Kurobara swept her arm behind her, gesturing to the scenery behind her. "Some people fight for the world they live in. Some fight for inner peace. Others fight for those who can't fight for themselves and some simply fight for their beliefs."
"What about those who fight for the sake of fighting?" Azdeha picked at another blade of grass and began to knot it.
"Those are the people who can never truly realise their power and will never know their zanpakuto."
"Like Kenpachi huh?"
"I don't know who that is, but if he fights for the sake of fighting, then yes. Like Kenpachi." Kurobara sighed and stared up at the sky, her hair rippling down her back. "You're here with me now. You know my name...therefore you must have something that you're fighting for. You just need to figure it out."
Both girls sat in silence for a few minutes, merely listening to the sounds of nature all around them before Azdeha spoke, "Why are you helping me suddenly? A moment ago you kicked me out of this place."
Kurobara shrugged, "Because you swallowed your pride and asked."
Azdeha felt a small smile tug at her lips. So Kurobara really was just like her. She stood up and stretched, then brushed the grass off her shihakusho, "So once I figure this out...you'll fight me?"
Kurobara nodded up at the shinigami. "And if I ask for your help, you'll give it to me?"
"If you ask nicely."
Azdeha nodded again and bowed to her zanpakuto. "Thank you. I'll bear that in mind. But for now I need to work out why I'm fighting. Ja ne."
"Ja mata ne Abarai-san."
Releasing the cold steel from her hands, Azdeha opened her eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to the darkness. "Hey, Chusei...you alive?"
"Yeah." Came a deep, angry growl as a reply. "Just peachy. Ever tried to get a dragon to do something he doesn't want to do? It's like getting Kenpachi to wear a pink haori and say "I feel so pretty." It's not fun." Pausing for air, Chusei could be heard taking a deep breath in and out. "I'm ok."
Placing Shunen-Ryu on the floor, Chusei got up in the dark and walked over in the direction of a door which was slightly illuminated by the moonlight caressing it from the outside. Hands fumbling around, eventually they located one of the lanterns, and, after grabbing one of the many match-boxes she insisted on keeping by lanterns, Chusei brought the light to life.
Turning, Chusei practically screamed when she turned, finally relaxed, only to fine Shunen-Ryu in his physical form, standing head-bowed almost in a meditative state, arms crossed over his torso. She could have screamed "what the hell?" and swore her little head off, however it didn't take long for Chusei to get Shunen-Ryu's game. He said he'd help, and he hadn't wanted to in the first place. So now he was helping....
Chusei could have been concerned, after all Shunen-Ryu didn't tolerate much, however she knew he wasn't in this for a battle presently, he was trying to piss her off to win the overall battle.
Chusei sighed and began to walk over to the towering Shunen-Ryu, placing a hand on his semi-bare chest as she stood between her zanpakuto and her friend. "Deha this is Shunen-Bukai Kaze no Ryu. Shunen-Ryu for short obviously. Shunen-Ryu, this is 5th seat in 6th squad, Abarai Azdeha."
This name seemed to awaken Shunen-Ryu. Slowly he raised his head, to reveal his piercing jade eyes.
"Abarai ka? One's your nakama and the other your koibito?" Knowing what Shunen-Ryu was getting at, Chusei scowled up at him. Of course Shunen-Ryu heard a lot about Deha but also knew ALOT about Renji and the Zabimaru he had sparred with in the past. "Interesting." He smirked.
Azdeha frowned at the tall spirit in front of her, "This is your zanpakuto? Wow, he's impressive."
