Damaged - Chapter 16: Time To Bring The Pain

"Yoruichi," Abarai said. "Why are we headed down to the training area again?"

"The next step to Katrina's training is making sure she has a good grasp on her Bankai."

"Yeah, yeah," he sighed.  "As the only non-captain to achieve Bankai...but why are those two here?" pointing at Hisagi and Kira.

"We wanted to see her Bankai, okay?" Kira replied.

"I'm sure that's the only thing you wanted to see," Abarai smirked.

"What the heck was that supposed to mean?" Kira exclaimed.

Hisagi turned to look at both of them and sighed.

Katrina remained oblivious to the bickering behind her. She didn't think she was fully recovered from the other day, but understood Yoruichi's explanation that you don't get to rest on the battlefield.

"Alright," Yoruichi said after they arrived in the secret training area. "Katrina I want you to materialize Miasma."

"Err....how?"

"Mentally command it to do so," Abarai said.

"Just try," Yoruichi added. "While I am now comfortable with the option of using the Tenshinkai with you, I'd rather we not use it today."

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

"No," Miasma replied.

"Why not?" she asked.

"We are not puppets to be used for show and tell."

"This is not show and tell, this is to benefit the both of us."

"We don't see the benefit. No."

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

Katrina was inexplicably knocked across the field by some unseen force.  She had been just standing there with her eyes closed attempting to manifest Miasma.

Yoruchi sighed.  Tenshinkai it is then.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +
The sound of screaming filled the air, as Abarai, Hisagi and Kira ran and cowered behind a large rock.

"That...that's her Zanpakuto Spirit??" Abarai stammered.

Yoruichi ignored them, her hand on the control part of the Tenshinkai. "You should know what to do," she said to Miasma.  "Although Katrina's already achieved Bankai once before, I am fully aware that it was for your self-preservation, not hers."

"Feh," Miasma replied.  It loomed over Yoruichi and Katrina, it's black demonic form billowing blackish haze around itself. Realizing it had freedom of movement, it stretched, sprouting giant bat-like wings before taking to the air.

Katrina saw that Yoruichi was about to deactivate the Tenshinkai. "No. Let me handle him."

Yoruichi nodded and stepped back.

"Bankai: Darkness Falls, Vaporous Miasma!" Greenish black haze surrounded Katrina. When it dissipated, her hair was down to her shins and she held a fold-able metal fan in each hand.  Keeping her eyes on her rebellious Zanpakuto Spirit, she launched herself into the air, in hot pursuit.

Miasma flew in a high overhead arc, trying to place itself behind Katrina, but she backhandedly threw one of the fans at it, grazing its arm. It responded by launching ribbon-like tendrils from its claws, catching her by the ankles.

Using the fan still in her hand, she sliced off the ribbons and reached for her other fan, returning, boomerang style. "Are you that incredibly stupid?" She screamed at Miasma. "Stop letting Kurgan lead you. You outnumber him!"

"Heh, heh, heh," Miasma laughed. "The Highlander's favorite little whore can't tell us what to do."

"Howl into the Winds," she growled through clenched teeth, as she lashed out with her fans, forming an X like dual slash attack, catching Miasma in its path.

Closing both fans and using them as dual daggers, Katrina lunged at Miasma, driving each fan dagger into its shoulders.

Miasma's form dissipated and the form of the Tenshinkai fell to the ground. Katrina hung in midair with her hair whipping wildly, but otherwise motionless.

Kira didn't hesitate to head up to where she was. "Katrina?"

"I hate him," she replied quietly. "I hate that Kurgan. I can deal with the rest of Miasma fine." She turned away and headed back down toward Yoruchi.

"You did well, Katrina," Yoruichi said. "I can now see why Miasma had been giving you problems ever since you came to Soul Society.

Katrina could only nod slightly. She couldn't look at Yoruichi. She couldn't even look up. She didn't want anyone seeing the tears in her eyes.

"This Kurgan must have been some sick bastard," Abarai said to Hisagi quietly.

Hisagi nodded.

"You may be in control now," Miasma said inside Katrina's mind, "But we know how to still get to you. Blondie there is an easy target."

"What?" Katrina exclaimed aloud, her eyes were wide but staring at nothing.

"Huh?" Yoruichi looked at Katrina more carefully. "She needs to get out of Bankai, NOW!"

"Kira," Hisagi called out. "Do you still have Shintin on you?"

Kira nodded, then dashed over to Yoruichi, applying Shintin to Katrina, knocking her out.  He caught her before she hit the ground, letting the fans fall, where they vanished and reformed into its sealed state.

"I don't know if that was the right thing to do," Yoruichi said.  "She slips into Jinzen far too easily.  That and this Kurgan.  I don't know if a single spirit can be purged from Miasma, but if anyone could figure out a way, it'll be Kisuke.  I just hope using the Tenshinkai didn't make matters worse for her."

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

Katrina Lau © Tygerlander
Bleach characters and references © Tite Kubo
Mortal Kombat and references © Midway, Warner Brothers
Connor Macleod, Highlander, Immortals and Quickening references © Dimension Films