New and Improved

[Hinata Nakayama]

Hina was at peace in the "comfort" of Hiroki's lab. Hiroki was doing everything he could to get to the bottom of his granddaughter's predicament. From the testimony of the others, he was at least able to deduce that something was affecting her on the spiritual level. It was an interesting, almost unfathomable method that the enemy could use to force their way into a Shinigami's world. No matter what he did, Hiroko couldn't do anything from the outside. His attempts to force his way in were met with resistance. He would look at the monitor that kept track of her vital signs. Unfortunately, it would offer no help at all. This may have to be a battle that she fights on her own.

Hina stood in the center of a dark and empty room, staring at the cage that imprisoned her. Her captor stood before her, glaring at her with utter disdain. He had been sent here because of his Fullbring, he still disliked being here. He didn't know why his leader had chosen her to be his captive, but he was determined to find out.

" I am still baffled as to why he chose you. When he approached you, you hardly put up a fight, and now you refuse to do so. I would have thought that as the daughter of a captain, you would have some fight in you. But perhaps I am mistaken."


" I am nothing like my mother or anyone else. I can't do what they can. I am not as strong as she is. I guess I am just a disappointment. Why bother trying when I already know the outcome? It's pointless."

Hina was frustrated that she couldn't measure up to her mother's standards, let alone anyone else's. She felt like she was carrying a heavy weight that she couldn't get rid of. How could she compare to her mother, Ryouji, or Shiori?


As Hina stood in the center of a dark and empty room, staring at the cage that imprisoned her, she felt her Zanpakuto's spirit materialize beside her. It took the form of a lithe male that was covered in scales from head to toe. The scales were shaded silver that glinted in the dim light, and they moved with his every movement. He had a forked tongue that flicked in and out of his mouth as he spoke.

"Lady Hina, you are far too hard on yourself. It might sound harsh, but I must tell you the truth. You will never be like the people you idolize. You are you, and nobody else. You are a unique individual with your strengths and weaknesses. You are holding yourself back by living in the shadow of others. I sensed this the moment we bonded. I am duty-bound to protect you, but you must first learn to stand on your own. This is why I cannot impart you with even a fraction of my strength. Until you can stand on your own, I cannot help you."

As she thought about what her Zanpakuto spirit had said, she realized that he had given her the answer. She was her person, not her mother or uncle or anyone else. The more she compared herself to them, the more she doubted her own strength.

" I've been trying to follow in their footsteps for so long that I've forgotten who I am, who we are. I've been so focused on being like them that I've lost my identity. But that ends today. I will no longer hold us back. I am strong, and I am going to fight for what I believe in."

The spirit would walk to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. It was a start, after all.

"Let's show our uninvited guest what we're truly capable of now that you're worthy of knowing my true name!"

"Rise... Hibashira!




The spirit re-formed as a curved blade with serrated edges in its master's hand. It looked like a snake's fang, ready to strike. Its menace radiated danger, and anyone crossing its path would feel a chill. With a newfound resolve, Hina had finally awakened her Shikai, and she couldn't wait to try it out. She summoned her Zanpakuto, and the blade immediately recognized its master. Hina swung the blade at the cage that held her captive, and it slashed through the bars. The Fullbringer was caught off guard, and he was unable to defend himself. But as Hina unleashed her new Shikai, she also received a shock in return. The pain caused her to cry out in agony. Her Zanpakuto sensed her distress and guided her to use this moment to her advantage. Hina turned her shriek against the cage and its owner. The vibrations disoriented the Fullbringer, and he was unable to fight back.

The battle raged on, with neither fighter able to gain an advantage. The inner hollow appeared, its mask hiding its face and its silence speaking volumes. Hina looked from the hollow to her Zanpakuto, seeking advice. After all, both entities were part of her soul. The outcome was inevitable.

As things progressed, Hiroki did what he could to help. It wasn't much seeing all that he could do was tend to physical injuries caused by the internal struggle.

With great effort, Hina was able to defeat the Fullbringer, who was left panting. His powers were exhausted and unable to keep it going. He would chuckle to himself as he began to fade away.


" Now that I understand... You should enjoy your freedom while you can. Remember that we found you once, and we can do it again. If you think you can just walk away from this, you're sadly mistaken."



As Hiroki studied the monitors, he could easily see whatever was going on had finally calmed down. Her pulse... Heartrate... They were finally lowering. He had let out a sigh of relief. He would contact the others to let them know they needed to meet him as soon as possible for him to go over all that had happened.

[Ryouji Onigata]

With Hiroki doing what Hiroki does…which is confusing as heck Ryouji was coming upstairs to check to see how Hina was doing. He raised his hand and was preparing to knock on the door then he felt rather silly and lowered his hand. What if she was angry for what his hollow did to her and what would have happened to the enemy but Azumi stopped him. It would have been over already but she stopped him and told the assailant to flee. He would be back and Ryouji hoped that he wouldn’t be alone. That also brought about the fact that his adorable Daughter-in-law.

Emi had one weakness that she was okay with having. The fact that he’s even alive today because she raged enough to deal with his sister, Kaori, and the others. Things were better now between Azumi and Kaori. Leave it to twins to make better for everyone. Ryouji turned away from the door and walked back down the hallway and leaned against a wall and folded his arms. Everyone can at least defend themselves. Emi however, doesn’t have to hurt anyone. While that is commendable, Ryouji was hoping to train her so if she had to fight, she would.

Azumi walked up the stairs and saw Ryouji doing the usual brooding. She stopped in front of him and waved her hand in front of his face, but he didn’t say anything. Before she could say anything, he interrupted her.

[Ryouji]: “You know that I know when you are around Azumi, IIt would be sad if I couldn’t recognize the woman I married. Even with my eyes closed. I could smell your perfume!”

Of course he could smell her. That was what she loved about him, even when they were dating, Ryouji always could pick her out of a crowed of people. Regardless, there was something that she wanted to say to him.

[Azumi]: “Why aren’t you going in to talk to Hina?”

Ryouji opened his eyes and looked in Azumi’s direction. He told her of his thoughts about how Emi and how she would defend herself if she needed to. She sighed, It would be about defending herself and luckily it was Ryouji who wanted to teach her something at least!.

[Azumi]: “Do whatever you think is best, besides maybe with you teaching her, she might actually listen!”

Ryouji could only smile from hearing her retort. All that remained is to speak with Hina. He hoped that she would understand, he only wants the best for all of Yuri children. Once getting off of the wall, he leaned over and gave Azumi a big kiss, which caused her to blush.

[Ryouji]: “Thank you.”

Ryouji turned around and walked towards the door and knocked on it. When he heard “Come in” he opened the door and walked in.

[Hinata Nakayama]

When Hina heard the door open and close, she knew it was her uncle. A flood of emotions came over her, and she felt like she might burst. There was so much she wanted to say, but the lump in her throat made it hard to speak. Maybe, instead of telling him, she could show him. She quickly went to Ryouji, hugged him, and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. She hugged him tightly as if she were afraid he would disappear. She held on for a long time, and when she finally let go, she was exhausted. He would stand there, hugging her as he let her get whatever was bothering her out of her system.

Soon, she would let go and wipe away her tears. She knew he wasn't mad at her. Even so, she felt like she should apologize. Apologize for hurting him and Azumi.

"I... I know you'd never be mad at me but... I still want to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you our Auntie Azumi. After what happened, Hiroki... I mean... Grandfather, brought me here to his lab to see if there was anything he could do to help. It was more... Like I had to do something. It wasn't pleasant being able to see everything that happened and not being able to stop it. You and Auntie being hurt like that... Seeing you hollowfy because of me... I was just about to give up. That is until my Zanpakuto helped me realize something important. I was holding myself back by trying to be like you or Mama. As much as I hate to admit it, I never can be like either of you. Knowing that I can find my path to walk."

To show him what she meant, she would unsheathe her Zanpakuto.

"With that new resolve, my Zanpkauto gave me his true name. I want to show you that resolve as well. Rise, Hibashira!"

Her Zanpakuto transformed into a curved blade with seratted edges to mimic the look of a snake's fang. The area did have a certain chill to it, but it wasn't because of the temperature. The weapon itself was emitting a sense of it along with a small tinge of danger. It was warning the attacker that if they came any closer, the both of them would strike without hesitation. Not that she would do that willingly to Ryouji, of course.

"Together, we broke free of the literal and figurative cage holding me back along with the intruder. However, he said something that bothered me. They may try to come back after me again. If that's true, would you mind training me? I was going to ask Mama as well, but if she finds out the reason why, I don't think she would."

[Ryouji Onigata]

When Hina hugged Ryouji and started tearing up and explaining everything including her knowing the name and how quickly she could use it in Shikai form was strange. He was certainly proud of her and achieving such a mastery of a complex meditation.

Before he could speak, on it Hiroki interrupted him and claimed that she managed to achieve it by undergoing a technique used by him and his colleagues. It doesn’t have a name, obviously so they don’t have to explain how it works or what it is. In any case, he was proud of her. He won’t tell Hina of stories about her mother and how when she used her Zanpakutō she would fall asleep. Some things are better left unsaid.

Ryouji extends his arm out in front of him and his Zanpakutō appeared in his hand. He bent his arm and caused the Zanpakutō spirit to come out. Into the world. A woman dressed in black with a face guard covering her nose and mouth appeared next to Ryouji. She looked around the room and then to Hina. Immediately she turned her back to Hina and folded her arms across her chest not saying anything.

[Ryouji]: “This is my Zanpakutō, Akuremasu. Akuremasu, this is Hina. If you could, I would like you to monitor Hina and help her summon her Zanpakutō’s spirit.”

Upon hearing the request from Ryouji, Akuremasu said “No” and immediately returned to her Zanpakutō. Ryouji sighed and shook his head. Since becoming Akuremasu, she is vastly more stubborn than she was before joining with Akuma.

[Ryouji]: “Sorry, she is being incredibly mean. In any case. I would like to teach you how to call forth your Zanpakutō’s spirit into our world! So you can communicate with it. If you want to…”

He also needs to find Emi. He was going to teach her to defend herself!!!

[Shiori Onigata]

Now that her father was upstairs talking with Hina, Shiori was downstairs looking for Emi. Unfortunately for her dad, Emi got the idea that he wanted to train her to try and defend herself but she was hiding from him. That also means that she is hiding from her too…which bites but what can you do?

[Shiori]: “Emi, where are you hiding? You can come out you know. Dad is upstairs talking with Hina so we at least have a few minutes to talk! I have an idea about how you can escape my father training you for at least a couple of days”

Emi slid out from underneath the table and stood up. Fortunately, for her Emi had already thought of a great idea that would surely keep Uncle ‘Ouji from wanting to train her. Shiori knelt down and picked up Emi and sat her down on her feet. When Shiori asked Emi to explain her plan, Shiori realized that they really did have the same idea.

[Shiori]: “I think that it’s time for them all to meet. Plus them meeting for the first in such a very long time means that you can get out of him training you for at little while!”

Emi smiled at the thought of Uncle ‘Ouji and Auntie Mei-mei meeting their mother again. Thanks to Restructing ther mother, Emi was more than excited to have them see each other and not being trained by her uncle for a little while at least.

Shiori was wondering exactly what her father would actually say about this. Or really, any of her sister’s would say. It’s really all of their first times meeting Grandma. Shiori knows that when they meet her, she will brighten up all of them. Emi loved her they second they hugged, then again Emi loves everyone anyway.