Version Edit 1: 2/24/2015

Chapter Twenty Four: True Power

Anna analyzed her opponents. One active Captain and the other two were former Captains. She knew she did not stand a chance. Captain Hitsugaya drew his katana as Yoruichi and Kisuke watched Anna. She now knew that Kisuke concealed his Zanpakuto in his cane however Yoruichi did not have anything that could conceal a katana. Yoruichi flash stepped behind Anna but kept her distance effectively cutting off any escape to the rocks Anna uses for cover. "Great, how am I getting out of this one?" Anna thought to herself as she drew her katana.

Captain Hitsugaya charged at Anna. He sliced at her left shoulder which she quickly blocked. Anna was amazed at the amount of power Captain Hitsugaya was able to convey. He was much smaller than her yet he had substantially more power in his attacks. He charged again aiming for her right side this time. Anna blocked but was pushed back again. Their blades locked for what felt like an eternity but it was only a few seconds before Captain Hitsugaya pushed off and jumped back. He was testing her strength and planning his next move.

Anna sole focus was on Captain Hitsugaya and she forgot to keep tabs on the other two combatants. Yoruichi flash stepped to her and kicked Anna hard on the right side. She yelped in pain and went tumbling twenty feet where she skidded to a stop in a crouched position. Anna glanced from Yoruichi to Captain Hitsugaya from under her bangs that were now covering her face then quickly jumped to her feet not giving her opponents a free shot at her. Yoruichi resumed her position between Anna and the rocks.

Captain Hitsugaya charged at her again. Anna tried to stare down Captain Hitsugaya as their blades crossed in between them. "Hadō Number 31: Shakkahō." Kisuke yelled from the right side of Anna. The crackling red energy ball of spirit energy flew at Anna and Captain Hitsugaya.

"Aw shit!" Anna thought. She placed her foot on Captain Hitsugaya chest and kicked off separating them. "Disintegrate Benifenikkusu!" Anna yelled as she spun around and swung her blade at the oncoming attack to dissipate it. A crimson misty arc flew off her katana tip and dissipated the Hadō attack. She continued her spin and swung at Captain Hitsugaya's right side before he had a chance to attack again.

While Anna and Captain Hitsugaya had their katanas locked, Yoruichi attacked Anna, this time from the left. She kicked Anna harder than last time. She tumbled in Kisuke's direction and further away from the shelter of the rocks. Anna cried out in pain and was coughing up blood as she staggered to her feet. She could not track Yoruichi because her movements were too fast. Anna did not know what to do, she could barely take on Captain Hitsugaya and he was only using his katana, not Kidō, shikai or bankai yet. Anna did not know how she was going to survive this fight let alone win it.

"Reign over the Frosted Heavens! Hyōrinmaru!" Captain Hitsugaya yelled releasing his shikai. He slashed at Anna. Ice flew off the katana tip and took the form of a crystal blue Chinese dragon. It flew at Anna at an incredible speed. She attempted to sidestep the oncoming attack with flash step but the dragon matched her move. Anna gasped and used the mist from disintegrate as a shield. The crimson mist sphere shattered the dragon.

Ichigo was watching from the sidelines with Rukia, Renji, Rangiku and Orihime. "Something is wrong!" Ichigo almost yelled.

"That she keeps getting back up? She doesn't stand a chance in this fight." Renji commented, his concern sounding more like sarcasm.

"No, her shikai is the wrong color. It has always been black. Earlier today it was flecked with crimson and white but I thought she had just undergone a change from getting her powers back. The last two sparing matches it has been crimson. Also what I'm feeling from her is different as well." Ichigo explained as he watched Anna collapse to a knee and cough up blood.

"Anna has barely been injured and yet it looks like she had been run through." Rukia observed.

Anna quickly staggered to her feet breathing hard. She knew she could only defend herself like that a few more times before it killed her. Kisuke fired another Shakkahō blast at her. "Two can play this game." Anna thought. She deflected the attack with disintegrate. "Levitas Battuo!" Anna yelled as fired a white beam of spiritual energy at Kisuke which he dodged with ease.

Anna noticed motion out of the corner of her eye. Another one of Captain Hitsugaya ice dragons was almost on her. She flash stepped in random directions but it matched her every move. Anna was trying to move closer to the rocks. The dragon finally caught her and bit her right arm and shoulder. A layer of ice covered her arm, shoulder and went up almost to her right eye. "Bankai!" Anna yelled. The ice shattered but injured her where the ice was frozen to her. Blood dripped down her cheek and arm.

"I can't be hit with that again but I also can't use disintegrate to block it." Anna thought as she was trying to control her fear and frustration. She tried to look for weaknesses in her opponents, but they were only toying with her. If this was for real, she would be dead. She knew her only hope was to get to cover.

Captain Hitsugaya sent another dragon after her and she tried to avoid it again all while trying to get to the rocks. Anna was about forty feet away from the rocks when Yoruichi flash stepped behind her and kicked her hard between her shoulder blades knocking her into the path of the dragon. It picked up Anna in its mouth by her torso and slammed her into a rock thirty feet behind her freezing her to it. After a few seconds the ice shattered and Anna fell in a heap at the base of the rock covered in blood. She tried to stand but took one shaky step and fell to her left collapsing on the ground again as she coughed up more blood.

All three of her opponents were closing in and she did not have the strength to stand. "What the hell is wrong with you?! On your feet bitch!" Anna thought harshly to herself and tried to struggle to her feet but was unable to do so.

Kisuke drew his katana and was preparing to strike but was blocked by Ichigo's blade. He took up a position between Anna and Kisuke. "Ichigo, this is not your fight, stand down." Kisuke calmly stated.

"No! You have done enough! She can't even stand, let alone continue to fight!" Ichigo countered angrily.

"You were told not to interfere. Stand down now." Kisuke stated firmly as he coldly looked into Ichigo's eyes.

"Back off soul reaper! This is my fight!" Anna yelled harshly at Ichigo as she struggled to stand again but failed and fell back to the ground with a thud.

Ichigo ignored Anna. "Your way is only going to kill her Kisuke. This is over!" Ichigo emphatically stated. He could hear Anna's wheezing breaths. Ichigo tried to stare down Kisuke. After a minute Kisuke lowered his blade and motioned at Anna. Ichigo lowered his blade as well. He turned and looked at Anna. Her cheeks were wet with tears and her eyes were filled with pain and sadness.

"What do I do?" Anna thought as she quickly retreated to her soul space and to the only person she knew she could count on right now. She ran past Kazuki to Benifenikkusu and almost tackled him in a hug as she sobbed into his chest. Benifenikkusu was startled by her reaction. This was more like the Anna he knew. He held her close and gently caressed her back as she cried.

"Well that was unexpected." Kazuki stated with a bit of a smirk and moved further away from Anna and Benifenikkusu to give them privacy. He noticed that this time both Kisuke and Ichigo had been brought here and walked over to them. "Looking a little green there, kid." Kazuki joked.

"Ugh, does the nausea ever stop? I have never felt like this when I am in my soul space." Ichigo observed.

"Yeah, but that is your soul space. You are an outsider here." Kazuki responded with a bit of a sneer.

Anna was more aware of her surroundings that everyone thought. "Kazuki, please take Ichigo to where the peppermint plant grows. Ichigo, take a leaf, chew it a few times then place it under your tongue. That should get rid of most if not all of the nausea." Anna stated quietly, her voice still shaky from crying. She was starting to calm down but she still had her head on Benifenikkusu's chest.

Ichigo did as Anna suggested and started to feel a little better. He walked over toward Benifenikkusu and Anna. Benifenikkusu shifted his position so he was between Anna and Ichigo and pulled Anna a little tighter. Ichigo walked around Benifenikkusu so he could see Anna but Benifenikkusu countered his movements keeping his back to Ichigo and Anna concealed.

Kazuki had walked back over to Kisuke and was watching the interaction between Benifenikkusu and Ichigo trying not to laugh. He whispered to Kisuke, "Want to make a bet when Benifenikkusu is going to take a swing at Ichigo?"

"Why would he do that?" Kisuke inquired with a mock innocence but he knew the answer.

"Benifenikkusu views Anna as his daughter and Ichigo has gotten to close to her." Kazuki replied still trying to contain his laughter. "This should be entertaining."

Anna had finally stopped crying. Benifenikkusu brushed her bangs behind her ear. "So are you ready to tell me what is going on with you? You were only relying on your own power in the last two fights. Why? You knew it was going to kill you yet you did it on your own." Benifenikkusu stated gently. "What has you so bothered and scared that you need to do this on your own?"

Anna sighed deeply as she rested her head on Benifenikkusu's chest. Ichigo could see her eyes finally and they were filled with a deep sadness and fear. Kisuke and Kazuki walked over to them. They also wanted to know what was bothering Anna. "Ben, there is something wrong with me." Anna stated, her tormented voice barely above a whisper.

"Why do you think that?" Benifenikkusu asked Anna softly as he brushed her bangs behind her ear.

"Ichigo, could you come closer, please?" Anna asked, her quiet voice almost monotone. Ichigo walked over and stood near Anna. Addressing Ichigo, "You know I love you, right?" Anna asked Ichigo. He nodded yes. Anna sighed and looked away then back at Ichigo. A tear fell down her cheek. She reached out and gently touched his forehead, back of his neck, and the center of his chest. "If we were sparing and I was truly trying, that is where I would attack, even if it was you." A few tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked away sadly. She rested her head on Benifenikkusu's chest again and he pulled her close trying to comfort her.

Kisuke gasped. "So that is why you were not fighting at your full potential?" he inquired. Anna nodded meekly as another tear rolled down her cheek.

"Kisuke, I don't understand." Ichigo asked not knowing the significance of what Anna demonstrated.

Kazuki appeared shocked by Anna's response as well. "Ichigo, that is how to kill a soul reaper. Not wound, but kill."

"There is something wrong with me." Anna stated, her voice breaking as she started to cry again.

Benifenikkusu pulled her closer and caressed her back. He looked very concerned because he had never taught her that style of fighting. "Who taught you to fight like that?" he asked.

"No one, that is the problem." Anna choked out through her tears. "I traced it back to when you unsealed my memories. It was too much for me to process then but the thoughts were there. Then we were injured and I eventually lost my powers so it didn't matter. Now, I'm terrified of myself. When I look at an opponent, I look for their fatal weaknesses. That is fine for an enemy, but it is with everyone on the battlefield. There is no feeling, just a cold brutal efficiency. If I let go, everything on the battle field would be dead before I knew what happened." Anna wiped away her tears. "What the hell am I?" Anna begged as she looked into Benifenikkusu's eyes.

Benifenikkusu was at a loss. "Was this why you were hiding your heart from me?" he asked gently as he looked into her eyes. Anna nodded as another tear ran down her face.

"Anna, no one knows your past but that does explain your bankai." Kisuke stated.

"How so?" Anna asked. She never thought of her bankai as being different.

"There are only two people I have seen who have a small bankai. Most bankai releases are enormous. Take Renji's for example. Think of how large Zabimaru is in bankai. Ichigo's looks small but it is magnified spirit energy and is very powerful. You don't seem to have any more power when you are in bankai, you only have a very small blade, an assassin's blade." Kisuke explained.

"What are you saying Kisuke? That my girlfriend is an assassin?" Ichigo demanded.

"We don't know what her past is. She could be or at least trained to be one. Anna, remember when we sparred the first time? You ended it by putting your blade to my neck. Between that and other little things I have noticed, I believe you have had assassin training. Everyone in squad two learns it, even I have had that training. Just because you are trained does not mean you are a danger. Knowing what you might be, now we can train you to use it. You don't have to be afraid of yourself." Kisuke stated.

"Kisuke, I could kill someone!" Anna exclaimed.

"We can train you so these abilities are an asset, not a hindrance. Proper training and you will be a force to be reckoned with." Kisuke responded with a bit of a smile. Anna still had her head on Benifenikkusu's chest but she had stopped crying.

Ichigo shot Anna a supportive smile. Kisuke and Kazuki started discussing what they knew about Anna. Benifenikkusu pulled Anna a little closer and was gently caressing her back. Ichigo started thinking about Anna and her past. Who was she before she lost her memory? His mind wandered to what he knew about her and Benifenikkusu. He remembered his first conversation with Benifenikkusu; he said that Anna was not properly trained to fight but that always seemed wrong to him because she has the ability to use bankai. Benifenikkusu also said he could take control of her body. That thought hit him like a jolt of electricity. What if that was part of their ability? They have always had a different relationship than a normal Zanpakuto and master.

Kisuke saw Ichigo was deeply absorbed in thought when it looked like he realized something. "What is it Ichigo?" Kisuke inquired.

Ichigo looked over at Kisuke then at Benifenikkusu. "Can I ask you a question, Benifenikkusu?" Ichigo asked. Benifenikkusu nodded yes. "The very first time we spoke, you had taken control of Anna's body. Are there any limits to when you can take control, for example, she needs to be unconscious?"

Benifenikkusu looked surprised. "I never thought about it because her body is hers, I would only step in if her life was in danger. I can take over at any time. Why do you ask?"

"That is a unique ability. You and Anna have the strangest Zanpakuto and master relationship I have ever heard of. Sometimes it is like your roles are flipped. What if this ability is necessary for you two to fight at your full potential?" Ichigo inquired.

Kisuke looked surprised, "That is an interesting idea Ichigo." Kisuke stated. Benifenikkusu and Anna both looked a bit astonished as well. They knew that had to have been trained before they lost their memories, maybe this was the training.

Ichigo continued, "What if Anna is the blade and Benifenikkusu is the wielder? Anna has the fighting instinct and Benifenikkusu is the one who can control her."

Kisuke looked like he was in shock. "I never would have thought of that. That is not how this relationship between a Zanpakuto and master is supposed to be, but nothing about them is normal."

Benifenikkusu looked down at Anna. She was looking up at him with hope in her tear filled eyes. "Ben, could this work?" Anna asked as she started to smile for the first time in a long time.

"Anna, I always wondered why I had the ability to control your body, it never seemed right. But if it is part of our fighting style, then that makes sense." Benifenikkusu stated with a bit of a smile. He could feel Anna had completely let him in again. "We should test this theory, any volunteers?" Benifenikkusu asked with a bit of a smirk as he looked at Kazuki.

"Why are you looking at me? No way in HELL I would let you practice on me! Benifenikkusu, you hate me… even if Anna tried to stop you would make sure she cut off my head! Use another guinea pig!" Kazuki yelled.

Anna tried not to giggle, "It's okay Kazuki, Ben was teasing, he does not have the ability to control my consciousness, only my body, and that is in the world of the living. We can't test anything here." Anna explained. Kazuki looked relieved.

"We should go back to the world of the living and test this hypothesis." Kisuke suggested. He was happy that they made progress with Anna but he wanted to see if Ichigo's idea had merit.

Ichigo still had something on his mind. "Benifenikkusu, what would affect the color of your shikai? It was crimson the last few times Anna used it." Ichigo asked.

Benifenikkusu looked surprised. "The color should have been black. I don't know why it would have been a different color." He responded.

"I can answer that." Kazuki responded smugly. "When we used the union spell, it not only fused our powers at that time for a more potent attack but they remained fused. For that spell to work, we each sacrificed part of ourselves. Now for Benifenikkusu, he a Zanpakuto. He sacrificed some of his spiritual pressure. This is very normal. All shikai attacks use some of the Zanpakuto's spiritual pressure. The black mist you are used to seeing is a manifestation of that spiritual pressure. It is the same with both Ichigo's and Kisuke's attacks as well. Where this differs is when we combined our attacks, Anna and I are not Zanpakutos so we needed to sacrifice something else." Kazuki explained.

"So is that why there were three colors in that attack?" Ichigo asked.

"Yes, exactly. You can tell whose power is being used by the color. Or if it is mixed, who is involved. This was an unintended consequence. It was only supposed to combine our attacks for that one time only." Stated Kazuki.

"Kazuki, you mentioned that you and Anna needed to sacrifice something else for these attacks. What do you sacrifice?" Kisuke asked intrigued.

"I am augmented so it would take too much explaining for me but Anna sacrifices her life energy for these attacks." Kazuki responded.

Ichigo looked shocked, "So is that why her color is crimson?" Ichigo inquired.

Kazuki nodded, "Yes. Her color is crimson because it is in essence a blood sacrifice."

The researcher in Kisuke was taking over. Life sacrifice is strictly forbidden in the laws of the soul society, but almost all of Anna's abilities have some aspect of life sacrifice. "Why does Anna need to use her life energy? Why not use her spiritual pressure like soul reapers and Ichigo do? I have felt her spiritual pressure and it is very strong. Why not use that?"

"Actually she has minimal spiritual pressure, barely more than a normal human. It appears like she has very high spiritual pressure but it is something else. It is obvious that Benifenikkusu and Anna are different. They are connected unlike any Zanpakuto and master I have ever known of. They combine his spiritual pressure and her life energy and it makes very powerful enhanced spirit energy." Kazuki explained.

Benifenikkusu and Anna looked at each other in surprise. "You're wrong Kazuki. I have spiritual pressure." Anna affirmed as she stepped away from Benifenikkusu and took a step toward Kazuki.

"I have had time to study the two of you. I know I'm right. Kisuke, how much spiritual pressure did Anna have when Benifenikkusu was unconscious? Did she have any at all?" Kazuki asked.

Kisuke shook his head. "It was barely detectable." Kisuke responded.

"They need to be united for their powers to work. Remember I said I was augmented? I think she might be as well. How else would a human with barely any spiritual pressure capable of having a Zanpakuto, or even be able to go to soul reaper form for that matter? Also the fact we both know the same elementalist skills leads me to believe that the same bastard that augmented me did something to her too." Kazuki explained, his voice strained hiding his anger.

Anna stood there is shock, she never thought that she could have been created. "What am I? Is this why I don't have memories? Was my whole life a lie?" Anna asked herself. Benifenikkusu pulled he back into a hug, he could feel her doubts because he was having them too.

"Anna, your past does not matter. You are who you are right now and you choose who you become in the future. Do not let doubts about your past destroy your future." Kisuke stated in a fatherly tone as he put a hand on Anna's shoulder.

"Kisuke's right Anna, I love you, no matter what is in your past. I'll be by your side." Ichigo affirmed and he tried to give Anna a hug but Benifenikkusu pulled her back slightly. Anna looked up at him with pleading eyes and he let her go. Ichigo pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her cheek. "I will always be with you."

"Well, this does not change the fact of who you are now, so we have training to continue. Benifenikkusu, how confident are you that you will be able to control Anna and stop her attack if necessary?" Kisuke asked.

"I have no doubts, if anything I restrain myself from taking over." Benifenikkusu responded while glaring at Ichigo. Kisuke snickered at Benifenikkusu's comment. He felt the same way about Anna.

Anna returned to Benifenikkusu. They looked at each other, Anna was still concerned about hurting someone. "We will need a volunteer in the world of the living to test this theory." Benifenikkusu stated.

Before Ichigo could say anything, Kisuke volunteered. "With Anna having feelings for Ichigo, it could taint the experiment, I'll do it." Kisuke stated. Benifenikkusu agreed and Kisuke, Anna, and Ichigo faded out of Anna's soul space and returned to the world of the living.

Anna looked around, she was still sitting on the ground. She reached for her katana and a sharp pain went through her arm into her back. Anna did more damage to her body than she realized by fighting alone. "I'll need a few minutes." Anna told the group. She started meditating so she and Benifenikkusu could heal some of her injuries. In her present condition she could not move let alone fight.

Kisuke went over to Yoruichi and explained what he learned in Anna's soul space. "Is that even possible? The Zanpakuto has more control than the master? This is going to be an interesting sparing match." Yoruichi commented thoughtfully.

Kisuke nodded, "I believe that Benifenikkusu can control her but I am tempted to switch with a portable gigai." Kisuke said with a bit of a smile.

Yoruichi laughed quietly, "That was why you volunteered, isn't it? You could observe and not be in danger but still test her, clever Kisuke." Yoruichi commented with a smile.