Behind him Kage could hear everyone training hard. Explosions and heavy impacts rocked the ground as people released their spirits inside the training center ad began working with them. And yet, deep inside Kage couldn't help but feel that there was something...wrong with this. If it was possible to achieve bankai in three days with this method why didn't all shinigami use it? Was it just because it was Uraharas technique? Or was there another reason...
None of that really mattered at the moment though. Ahead of him was the massive man that had lead him away. He didn't recognise the name. Tessai...something told him that he should know it from somewhere but for the life of him he couldn't remember, but whoever he was he was an associate of Urahara's, and that likely meant he was an outcast or exile. But after walking for some time in the expansive center, Tessai finally came to a stop. Kage nearly bumped into him as he skidded to a stop.
"Hmm? What's going on?" Kage asked, looking around. There was nothing but dusty ground here, not even a whole lot of rocks to speak of. Tessai was silent, still facing forward as though he never even heard him speak, but then he turned around. Plunging his hand deep into his pocket he shuffled around a bit before withdrawing it, holding a small pill between his fingers.
"Eat this. It will restore you." Tessai told him. Kage reached out his hand, holding it flat. Tessai dropped it in his palm and let his arm fall back down to his side.
"Hey, this is one of those energy pills..." Kage said as he looked at it. Rather than give Tessai a chance to snatch it back though he popped it in his mouth and swallowed quickly. Immediately just as before he felt it spreading through his body.
"Yes. Kage, you must learn to conserve your energy more. Your kido is strong. Soifon must be very proud of your shunpo. But you use it too much, too fast. Regulate your spiritual energy, draw it out in a constant stream of power. Like water, it can crush all at once or hold forever. Keep your mind ever focused on your energy. You may have what it takes to join the kido corps." Tessai explained to him. Kage looked up at him incredulously.
"Kido corps? Wait...I've heard of them. They're the ones that open the sekienton when we travel between words. You mean I'd be promoted to a doorboy?" Kage asked him.
"The Kido corps handle much more than the Senkaimon. They're elite specialists, like the members of Squad 2. You are gifted to be under Soifon, realise your potential." Tessai told him before he walked away. Kage stood there and waited as the large man picked up a large object and brought it over.
"Realise your potential." he said, standing up a doll with a large hole in the center of it.
"It's a doll." Kage said, folding his arms over his chest, "I already told Urahara that would be a bad idea."
"Do it anyway." Tessai instructed him, "Your kido is strong, but you may find it is not enough. It would be best for you to train as well."
Kage sighed and looked at the doll. This did not seem like a good idea in any respect. Plus, this doll already had a hole in the chest. What use would this be?
"Alright, alright." he said, reaching into his robes and grabbing his zanbakuto. The slight sound of metal sliding against wood whispered in the air as he drew it, flourishing the blade before it came to rest at his side, "But why does this doll have a hole in it? Why was it over here?"
"Yoruichi sent this from the Seireitei. She used this when she aided Kurosaki in achieving his bankai." Tessai explained. Kage's eyes widened at the thought. Ichigo...he'd heard that name. Ichigo was one of the people that blew up half the soul society. He was so strong...and so recklessly dangerous, but so very strong...
"Well...I guess one doll is as good as the next, right?" Kage said as he brandished his sword. Looking down at the blade, he could only think of Gleam. He knew what she was like in her world, this was going to bring her into his. He hesitated for a moment before he struck the blade.
"One thing though," Kage said, looking at Tessai as he held the doll up, "Is this why you brought me all the way over here? Do you know something about my zanbakuto that I don't and you wanted me away from everyone else?"
"No, I just didn't want to give everyone else a pill as well." Tessai said, fixing his glasses with his free hand, "It would have been rude to give you one and not share."
Kage blinked a couple of times and shrugged.
"Oh, I guess that makes sense. Um, thank you, Tessai." Kage said, sincerely appreciative. He turned his attention back to the doll and took a deep breath, thrusting the blade forward. His reishi spiked around him, the air becoming thick as his spiritual pressure grew. The blade peirced the doll effortlessly and reishi began to pour into it around the blade. From the hilt of his sword the threads in the wrapping began to rush down the blade, wrapping around the doll and covering it. They continued as the threads grew and grew into a cocoon shape. Kage struggled against it, pulling on the blade as the cocoon closed around his arm. Before it could ensare him for sure he let go of the blade, ripping his arm away just as the hole sealed up.
"GLEAM!" Kage yelled as he looked at the black silk prison. A moment later they began falling away though. He took a few steps back away as he saw what was inside. Tessai let go but did not move away as the body that was revealed began to unfold. Tucked up tightly it fit in the cocoon, but as it unfolded...
Eight grinding sounds as the metal leg-tips peirced the dirt. A deep breath as the body rose above the abdomen. A soft 'mmmm' as she stretched out her body. Kage watched as Gleam rose up over his head, her white eyes opening as her crimson lips curled into a grin.
"Kage, my little boy, so nice of you to finally invite me to your world. I suppose if you wouldn't spend the day with me, then I'll come spend a few days with you, hmm?" she said as she reached down, her hand brushing over his cheek as she lifted his face, dragging a sharp finger up under his chin.
"Eehhh...." Kage got out as he shyed away from her touch, "Yeah, sure. I'm...glad I could have you along..." he stammared out. Gleam's amusement was almost palpable as she stepped forward, all eight legs moving in sequence. Her body rose and fell while her large abdomen did the same in counterpoint while her hand slipped from his chin over his shoulder and around his back.
"Well so am I." she said with a sadisticly playful tone, "Now come with me, Kage-chan. Introduce me to your little friends." she said, walking forward and sheparding him along with her. His sword was inside her, as much a part of her as his own heart was of him. He was defenseless. Casting a look over his shoulder, he gave Tessai a pleading look. Tessai merely folded his arms over his chest. If Kage was going to handle her, he had to do it on his own.
A few minutes later they were coming up on the rest of the group. Brad and Ken were sparring together...or something. Ken was naked again, an image that he was never going to get out of his head. He turned his eyes away from that while Gleam ushered him forward. Around her he felt like the little boy she kept insinuating he was, and this, compared to everyone elses spirits, was embarassing. And at the same time, frightening to his very core as her pointed fingers pressed against his skin, holding him firmly in the event he tried to run.
"Well?" Gleam said as she looked down at him. Most everyone had scattered, it was just Ken and Brad, but they would have to do.
"*ahem*", Kage said, clearing his throat, "Brad, Ken, this is Gleam, my spirit." he explained. Gleam looked at the two of them, that familiar grin spreading across her lips. They parted ever so slightly as her tongue passed from the right to the left and she let go of Kage, folding her arms across her chest.
"My pleasure." she said to the both of them. The way she said it, the tone in her voice, made Kage visably shake as a chill ran through his body.
Oh god, please don't. Not them... was the only thing Kage could think, and for a change Gleam couldn't hear it.
