Mirokumaru: I Always Accepted You

"This is my power," Mirokumaru said.

"And I developed it," Senna answered.

The wind swirled between them.

Mirokumaru's eyes flashed with satisfaction, though her expression stayed cold.

"You changed my power without permission."

"I grew with it."

Mirokumaru stepped forward. Wind wrapped around her like armor, cutting the air with every movement.

Senna did not retreat.

"Bind, Mirokumaru."

Wind chains burst from the staff and wrapped around Senna's arms and waist.

Her eyes widened.

That was a technique she had imagined but never fully completed.

If Mirokumaru could use it now, then Senna's guess was right.

"Pierce, Mirokumaru."

The staff extended like an arrow. Wind and yellow lightning twisted around its point as it shot toward Senna's head.

Senna stayed still.

The arrow grazed past her ear and tore a strand of hair away.

It did not touch her body.

The wind chains vanished.

Senna walked forward until she stood in front of Mirokumaru. Then she reached out and patted the spirit's head.

Mirokumaru froze.

"You..."

"You were testing me," Senna said. "That binding technique is one I imagined. It is not in the memories I inherited. If you never accepted me, how could you cooperate with me to create it?"

Mirokumaru looked away.

"You only realized that now?"

Senna smiled awkwardly.

"Sorry. I guess I ignored you too much."

Mirokumaru was quiet for a moment.

"I no longer remember my previous master clearly. A Zanpakuto should vanish with its master. The old Mirokumaru is gone."

Her gaze returned to Senna.

"You are my only master now."

Senna's throat tightened.

"Yes."

Mirokumaru's body dissolved into wind and leaves.

"Then try using my true power."

The staff reappeared in Senna's hands. Her reiatsu rose sharply, breaking through the level she had shown before and pressing toward captain class.

For the first time, she could use Mirokumaru completely.

Mirokumaru's final words settled in her heart. Senna had not gained new power from nowhere. Her doubt had been sealing away part of what was already hers.

...

Not every reunion went so smoothly.

Hisagi nearly died against Kazeshini before Kira arrived and pulled him out of the killing path.

Renji fought Zabimaru until both sides were battered, cursed at each other, and finally reached something that looked enough like understanding for the two spirits to return.

With that, Renji became the third confirmed Soul Reaper to recover his Zanpakuto.

Unlike Senna, Renji had not solved the problem by talking. Zabimaru's complaint was simple and cruel: he was too weak. Renji answered the only way Zabimaru would accept.

...

Muramasa returned to the hidden gathering place of the rebellious Zanpakuto.

Hozukimaru looked up.

"You were defeated?"

Kazeshini's grin widened.

"Was Ichigo Kurosaki that strong?"

"Yes," Muramasa said.

The answer made several spirits react.

Haineko leaned forward with visible interest.

Muramasa's voice remained calm.

"Capture Ichigo Kurosaki alive. Do not kill him. I am curious about his power."

"Alive?" Kazeshini sounded disappointed.

"Alive," Muramasa repeated.

Haineko smiled like she had just found a new toy.

...

At Squad Four, a small strategy meeting formed around Ichigo, Retsu Unohana, Shunsui Kyoraku, and Jushiro Ukitake.

Central 46 had already hidden itself away. No one expected real leadership from them during the crisis.

Ichigo explained what had happened with Zangetsu.

"Muramasa pulled Old Man Zangetsu out of me. For a while, I could not use that side of my power. But I brought him back, and Zangetsu did not change afterward."

To prove it, he raised his blade.

"Cry out, Zangetsu."

The Zanpakuto answered.

Ukitake watched carefully.

"How did you reclaim him?"

"It felt similar to Bankai training," Ichigo said. "When a Zanpakuto materializes, you defeat it and subjugate it again. The difference is that Muramasa makes the resentment stronger and convinces them to run."

Shunsui tilted his hat back.

"So if we beat the materialized Zanpakuto, we can recover our blades?"

"That is how it worked for me."

Ukitake's expression grew serious.

"If we injure a Zanpakuto spirit too badly, will the Soul Reaper lose that power permanently?"

"No," Ichigo said. "At least, not from fighting them like this. It is closer to the subjugation required for Bankai."

Retsu nodded.

"Then the danger is not fighting them. The danger is failing to understand what Muramasa has amplified."

Shunsui exhaled.

"That helps. At least we can fight without freezing every time our blades appear."

Renji and Senna were brought in to confirm the theory.

Renji folded his arms.

"I fought Zabimaru. They do not remember everything about being controlled, but they sure remember calling me weak."

The snake boy's voice echoed faintly from his blade.

"Because you are."

Renji's eyebrow twitched.

Ichigo stared at him for a moment.

'Is this how people normally get along with their Zanpakuto?'

Senna explained her own experience with Mirokumaru.

She had not won by force. She had realized the contradiction in Mirokumaru's rejection and answered it honestly.

Mirokumaru had kept her materialized form for a while even after returning, which made her case different from Ichigo's. The spirit had not been crushed back into obedience. She had chosen Senna again.

Shunsui rubbed his chin.

"So there are two possible routes. Defeat the spirit and subjugate it again, or resolve the resentment directly."

"Do not be too optimistic," Retsu said. "Ichigo's Zangetsu only wanted a contest over power. Renji's Zabimaru resented his weakness. Those are simple. Unless the relationship is like Senna and Mirokumaru's, battle may be unavoidable."

No one argued.

Muramasa had not created every crack. He had only forced them open.

After the meeting, Ichigo went to Rukia's room.

She was still recovering in Squad Four. Her breathing had steadied, but the damage from Soren Sokatsui and Sode no Shirayuki's ice had not been light.

Ichigo sat beside the bed and took her hand.

"You really are reckless," he said quietly.

Rukia did not wake.

He stayed there anyway.

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