Kido Destiny

Tessai and Masaki stood on opposite sides of the giant rocky plane underneath Urahara's shop. The hat wearing ex-shinigami stood atop one of the mountains, grinning down at the combatants. "This should be an exciting match. If little boy Nakamura is truly worthy of the title of captain."

"So we are agreed," Tessai called out. "No zanpakuto. Only kido, hakuda, and hoho."

Masaki nodded. "No zanpakuto." He crouched into a fighting stance. Masaki held up his middle and index fingers. They tinged with power. "Hado 4," He pointed at Tessai. "Byakurai!"

Lightning shot from his fingers! Tessai easily sidestepped and punched at Masaki. A ball of flame flew form his fist at lightning speed and incinerated the area in a wide radius around Masaki. The red haired shinigami jumped back, his shirt scorched. He panted.

Kisuke grinned, snapping his fan open. Interesting.

Tessai threw several more punches, each sending out shots of the red flame cannon. Masaki ran across the plane, just missing the explosion each time. Hado 31, He realized.

Masaki jumped into the air and pointed at Tessai. "Hado 54: Abolishing flame!" A violet shot flew from his fingertips. Tessai was long gone when it hit the boulder behind him, disintegrating it into ash.

Tessai was behind him instantly. He flicked Masaki behind the neck, sending the boy crashing into the ground. Masaki's impact created a cloud of dust, and Tessai wasted no time using his advantage.

He threw a punch at the ground. "Thunder roar cannon!" A giant blast of lightning flew from the ex-captain's fist, right into the crater Masaki made on impact. Tessai nodded.

"Kisuke, prepare the medical bed."

The white haired shop owner shook his head. "Look close, Tessai."

Tessai looked down into the crater. Within, a transparent wall had absorbed the blast. But even more shocking, there was no boy within the crater.

"Orchid sky!"

A tornado shot from Masaki's fists and flew straight into Tessai's back! Tessai flew to the ground and kicked off a crater, leaping onto a plateau beside the red haired prodigy.

"You were pretending to need to say the number of your kido," Tessai realized. Masaki shook his head.

"Name? Name's are for when I need extra power." He snapped his fingers. Shining golden chains flew from the air and wrapped themselves around Tessai. Masaki grinned. "I've evolved beyond the need to say even names for certain spells."

Tessai smirked. "You're a clever boy, that's for sure." The ex-captain flexed, destroying the chains. "But you've forgotten; I was captain before you!"

He threw a fist, and shining chains shot from his fist. Tessai then pulled his arm back. "Hundred steps fence!"

He threw a rod of light that became many rods. The addition of the name gave them a giant boost in both speed and power. Masaki's eyes widened.

The mountain top he was on crumpled into dust. He stood on the other side, bound by the shining chain. He cursed. Masaki didn't posses the physical strength Tessai did.

"Now you know why I became captain," Tessai made several hand signs at lightning speed. "Bakudo 99! First song; Halting fabric."

A spiritual fabric appeared and flew around Masaki, tightening around his body and suffocating him.

"Second song,"

The fabric burst into flames. Masaki flew from the fire and punched Tessai in the chest. "Bound lighting!"

Volts of power flew from his palm and into Tessai's body. The two crashed into another rock formation, turning it into dust!

Before the dust cleared, Tessai kneed Masaki in the chest. He then spun and kicked the boy away before throwing another punch, sending twin shots of blue fire at the flying boy.

As Masaki flew back, he threw a fist at the earth. "Pale lightning!" He shot himself into the air and flew at Tessai. The ex-captain flew straight for him as well. Together, they threw their palms forward, and their twin yells filled the rocky plane.

"Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon!"

They clashed in a flurry of sparks and light. For a moment, Kisuke was almost blinded. When he could see better, his eyes widened.

In the center of the plane, dark energy swirled around the two opponents, concealing them from view. It formed into a giant black box, Hado 90. Black swords appeared outside the box and quickly stabbed the area inside. The box disappeared, and from it fell Tessai, holding the unconscious shinigami in his hands.

Tessai set the boy onto a bed and covered him with a blanket. Both their faces were covered with bandages. Kisuke walked into the room.

"How does he look?"

"He should be good as knew as soon as he wakes up. I don't doubt he can heal himself back to full strength."

Kisuke nodded. "I guess we finally know who's superior, don't we? It seems like we oldies still hold the crown."

Tessai shook his head. "I might have beaten him, or you might even call what happened a tie. But I can assure you, it will never happen again." He patted the boy's forehead gently. "Frozen in time for many years, this boy only had his own mind to teach him the kido he knew in our fight. Kisuke, his ability to learn amazes me."

Kisuke nodded. "But surely you could still take him on, right?"

Again, Tessai shook his head. "He's learned a lot from this fight, and I don't doubt he'll go back to the soul society and learn even more. I can not hope to defeat him again. You see, Urahara, I wasn't the one to cast that last kido."

He took a step back. "He did it himself."

Masaki put his arms around his fiancé in his new living quarters, the captain's quarters of the kido corps barracks. Nanao blushed, but gently cupped his face in her hands.

"You will be a great captain, I know it."

Madaki kissed her nose sweetly. "I'm glad you have faith in me. Because the truth is, I need it. You can give me confidence, you can give me strength."

She kissed his cheek tenderly. "All I can do is help you see what already lies within." She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him onto the bed playfully. "Mr. Captain."

He chuckled as she jumped onto him and started kissing his neck. "Now, now, I haven't even undressed yet."

Nanao gently scratched his chest. "I'm impatient."

Masaki reached over and turned off the bedside lamp, leaving the couple in a happy darkness.

The next day, in the early morning, Masaki finished signing his name on the last bit of paperwork that he had to do. Well, for that morning at least.

"Sir!"

Masaki looked up to see Ana, his lieutenant, bowing stiffly. He chuckled. "You don't have to bow, Ana. We're friends."

She stood up and nodded. "Right. It just feels weird, sir. Having to call you sir and all, sir."

Masaki chuckled. "You don't have to do that either. Anything to report?"

She nodded. "The head captain has ordered a captain's meeting at once. He requests that you attend as well."

Masaki's eyes narrowed. "We're not a part of the 13 court guard squad. The last time the Kido Corps captain attended a meeting,"

Ana nodded. "I know sir. Clearly, it is extremely important."

Masaki nodded. "I will attend."

The red haired captain opened the door to the meeting hall and stepped in. He felt the gaze of the other captains on him. As the door closed, he stood in the entryway.

"Thank you for joining us, captain Nakamura." The head captain greeted. "It is important that we begin the meeting immediately."

Masaki nodded. "I understand."

The head captain continued. "There are some rather unusual reports coming from the human world. Signs of something we have all feared. There may very well be multiple Vasto Lorde roaming the world of the living."

Everyone's eyes widened. "Vasto Lorde?" Ukitake asked. "You're sure?"

"That is what we are trying to find out. To that end, I am sending four of you to the human world in order to discover whether or not there is any Vasto Lorde to be found."

"I am ordering captains Kuchiki, Hitsugaya, and Soifon to the human world, and I am requesting Captain Nakamura go as well."

I get it. He can't order me because I'm not under his jurisdiction. Masaki nodded. "I will go as well."

The captain commander banged his staff on the ground. "Then it is decided. Ready yourselves, and go before the sun sets."

Hours later, the captains stood atop Sokyoku hill, all wearing packs of supplies. Masaki slammed his palms into the earth. A door appeared from the air and opened, revealing the way to the world of the living.

"Right then, let's go." Soifon stepped through the door, but not before turning to Masaki. "This is your first mission as captain. Try not to screw it up."

Toshiro was next. He nodded at Masaki. "I trust that you'll perform well." He too stepped through the gate.

Finally, there was Byakuya. The noble captain stood just outside the door and turned to Nakamura. "Try not to get in my way." He stepped forward.

Masaki chuckled. "We're an interesting bunch." He stood up and walked through the door, before it closed slowly and vanished.