"This place again," Asuka thought with an annoyed expression.
"Return so soon?"
"Shut up. You know I'm not here for you."
"Well, since your here I might as well help you train," said the visage.
Asuka tilted her head to the side in confusion.
"Why? Weren't you trying to stop me from training."
"I doubt you'll listen if I ask you to stop. So I decided to take a more physical approach."
"Your really gonna try and make me give up by force," Asuka said with a chuckle,"You really are underestimating me."
"No Asuka. It is you who overestimates your abilities."
The visage then raised what seemed to be an arm in the air and a blade appeared. She then released contra and killing intent so intense it made Asuka fall to her knees and start dripping with sweat.
"What the hell is this. It may not be as strong as Ichigo, but it's far more evil."
"What are you doing Asuka. You'd better get up. This is a battle. Hesitate," the visage then blitzed over to Asuka before she could even react and sliced off her head,"and I'll kill you."
Asuka's eyes shot open and she immediately turned to her side and vomited. She then fell over to her side and started to shake uncontrollably while touching her neck.
"I died. I should be dead. How am I alive?"
"So you met her," said Ichigo sitting by the tree while reading a book
"What? What are talking about?"
"The visage. I assume that's what killed you."
Asuka gave an even more confused expression.
"Wait, how did you know that?"
"So it's true. I guess the seal I put on it is weakening."
"Ichigo nothing your saying is making sense. Seal? What is going," Asuka begged.
Ichigo looked at Asuka and saw how terrified she was and his eyes instinctively softened.
"Sorry. I guess it wasn't good to hold off from telling you."
Ichigo tried to walk over to her but she immediately started to crawl backwards.
"Don't! Don't come near me. Just explain yourself over there."
Ichigo cringed at Asuka's words. But understanding her mistrust sighed and began to explain.
"There is something you need to know about yourself before I explain."
"What is it?"
"Your a trinity Asuka."
There was a deafening silence for a couple seconds.
"O...okay. Is that supposed to mean something to me," Asuka said confused.
"It means that your body is containing three different souls. Each soul is of a different race. This means that you are one third human, one third demon and one third aeon."
"Wha...huh...wait...I'm..."
"I know this is a lot to take. I'm sorry that I never told you."
"How...hiw does that relates to what I saw."
"The person in the visage the manifestation of the demon part of your soul. Typically it would only take form when your experiencing heavy negative emotion. But I guess the contra inside of you must have been strengthened with mine and and started to tear away at the seal."
"Wait, so the demon who killed me was me?"
Ichigo nodded.
"And you said it was strengthened by your contra. How would you have contra?"
Ichigo took a deep breath before answering.
"I am a hybrid. Half human and half demon."
Asuka just sat there so with her eyes widened and all the information she has to ingest.
"Asuka, I want you to know that I-"
"Shut up."
"..."
"....."
"Did you know that when I started to meditate that this would happen."
"...yes."
"How?"
"Fighting and being pushed by one's inner self is how typically one gains their affinity. But for hybrids its different. Their inner self would end up being which other soul was dominant at the time. Like you, I too had to fight my demon side."
"W...why would let fight that thing knowing this would happen."
Ichigo sat silently, pondering what next to say.
"Asuka. There are things that you'll experience that will bring you pain if you insist on going on this journey. It's almost inevitable that will happen. And it will most likely happen when you least expect it to. So I thought it would be best to send you in there blind knowing you wouldn't suffer any physical pain. That's how i was trained."
"I...I see. I guess that makes a little bit of sense."
Asuka stood and started to walk away.
"Where are you going Asuka? You need to get back in there and -"
"I know. But I need rest for a little while."
Ichigo wanted to tell Asuka something but he ultimately decided to remain silent. Especially when he noticed Mei who had just showed up. But, Mei's attention was focused on Asuka.
"Hey Asuka, what's wrong?"
Asuka didn't even look at her and just ran to her room up the stairs.
~
Asuka tried to take a nap but everything she was about to fall asleep the image of her severed head on the floor keeps flashing.
"Why? Why am I so scared? I know the risks. I knew what would happen. And yet-"
Interrupting her thoughts again was the sight of the visage bringing its sword down on her making her flinch and began to shiver. Suddenly, their was a light knock at the door.
"Hello, Asuka. It's me Mei. May I come in?"
Asuka sat up when she heard the sweet voice of the woman. She then took two deep breathes before speaking out.
"Yeah. You can come in."
Having been given Asuka's concentration, Mei opened the door to Asuka's room. When she saw Asuka seated on the bed, she instinctively put her hand on her chest and gave a look of deep concern. It was clear that Asuka was scared. Mei walked up to Asuka and tried to hold her hand and Asuka quickly withdrew it.
"I..I'm sorry. I'm just little-"
"It's alright Asuka. If anything I'm the one who should be sorry."
"No no no please," Asuka said getting flustered,"You've got nothing to apologize for."
"That's good."
There was then a moment of silence between the two of them. Asuka wanted to speak again but Mei cut her off.
"I've talked to Ichigo about what happened."
"I see."
"I made sire I gave him a good tongue lashing for what he did. It wasn't fair to put you through that with warning you first."
Asuka looked downward with a disappointed expression.
"But was wrong though? Sire it might have been cruel but he wasn't wrong was he. I mean, that was the first time I'd ever felt my life was truly in danger and I couldn't do anything. If I had been sent out into the world I would've died right."
"That may be so Asuka. But there's one thing you need to understand."
Mei then took Asuka's hand and pulled her chin up to meet her eyes.
"You are still a child. And there are certain things children should never be put through. Ichigo had gone too far."
"Maybe."
"I know what I'm about to say may contradict what I said earlier, but please don't blame Ichigo too much."
Asuka looked up at Mei confused.
"It's not my place to say, but Ichigo has had it rough. The method he used on you to try and attain your affinity was the same method his father used on him. Only that he was seven years old."
"What!?"
"I know. I was quite shocked to find out myself. His demon counter part had killed him over five thousand times before he finally gained his wind affinity at eleven."
"Wow. That's...wow. He really is amazing isn't he."
"Yes, he is. Yet, he is still human like you and I. He still has some issues from his past that he struggles to overcome at times but he knows that any time he stumbles, I'll be there to carry him. And if I can't do that, I'll simply fall with him."
"Dang. You must really like him."
Mei's face turned beet read. She turned her head trying not to meet Asuka's eyes.
"I do indeed. After all he was the one who saved my future."
"What does that mean."
Mei just smiled at the child and patted her head.
"A story for another time. Now if you'd like, let's go talk with Ichigo."
Asuka nodded and they both made their way downstairs. Walking into the backyard, they were greeted with the sight of Ichigo meditating in the middle of the field. After sensing their presence, he opened his eyes and turned to face them. Asuka's eyes immediately locked on his. She took a deep breath and was about to speak but Ichigo suddenly got on his knees and bowed.
"Asuka. I know I have no right to ask this. But will you forgive me for what I've done."
Asuka was astonished at Ichigo's actions.
"Listen umm...you don't have to do this. Really. I understand why you thought it was the best call and honestly, you weren't entirely wrong."
"Even so. What I did was inexcusable. I'd understand if you wish to walk away from this."
After hearing that, Asuka tightened her jaw and squeezed her fists.
"Hell no. I made a promise to sister. If I have to die over and over to achieve it, then that's what I'll do," she said with determination.
Ichigo then stood up and looked into her eyes.
"No fear. She really is determined."
"Then I will train you as best I can. But, you realize that you'll have to fight your demon counterpart. She will fight to kill."
"That's fine. If I have to do this a thousand times then so be it. Let's do this thing."
"Okay then. But first-"
Black markings began to grow on Ichigo's body.
"I need to reseal the contra in your body so that you stand a bit more of a fighting chance. Prepare yourself. It's pretty painful."
Asuka nodded at Ichigo's statement. He then lifted the bottom of Asuka's shirt and began to draw a seal on Asuka's stomach. Asuka flinched when the seal turned on.
"Wow. This is pretty painful. It's like I'm being burned on the inside."
"Alright. Now you should be able to put up a bit more of a fight. Whenever your ready."
Asuka got into her meditative stance and closed her eyes. The world around her became cold and dark.
"You're annoyingly stubborn, you know that."
Asuka opened her eyes and at the words of her counterpart. When she looked at the visage, it was more surrounded by the dark clouds around her.
"Don't think that because you've sealed most of my power that you can beat me."
Asuka just smirked.
"I know I probably can't be you just yet. Luckily I don't have to. I just need you to attain my nature affinity. No matter how times I die."
The visage drew her sword and Asuka put up her fists.
"Ready yourself child."
The visage began to release her bloodlust which made Asuka flinch a little. The visage then dashed behind Asuka trying to take off her head but Asuka tilted her head to the side just in time.
"Heh. You really thought I'd fall for the same trick."
"Yes," a voice said from behind her. A surging pain shot up Asuka's leg causing her to fall to the ground. Asuka looked up to see the visage raise her sword.
"This is gonna take a while," she thought before her vision darkened.