197 The Hangover 7

(Retsu's pov)

Yuuki-kun put his Zanpakuto on his shoulder, looking a lot more relaxed and not drunk at all.

Zangetsu: "I'm never letting him drink again. The body feels all weird. It'll take some time to get used to it."

He talks like this body doesn't belong to him. How strange.

He then looked at me and grinned.

Zangetsu: "It seems that introductions are in order. I'm Zangetsu, and I'm Zanpakuto of, the guy you call Ryoto."

Retsu: "It's the first time I have seen a Zanpakuto spirit possess his wielder."

Zangetsu: "I'm full of surprises, and Ryoto-"

He didn't seem to enjoy saying his name.

Zangetsu: "is even more full of them."

Retsu: "You have a pretty high opinion of him."

Zangetsu: "Huh? High opinion? Where? I'm just stating facts."

Not so honest, Zanpakuto spirit.

Retsu: "So what do you plan on doing now?

Zangetsu: "Well, since I got this chance literally on a silver plate, I'm going to use it."

He pointed his sword. Himself? At me.

Zangetsu: "I'm going to fight you until I'm satisfied!"

I put my hand on my cheek.

Retsu: "Ara ara, you think that I can satisfy you? I'm honored~."

Zangetsu: "Tsk, perverted woman."

This is the first time someone called or even dared to call me that. I'm not sure how to react.

He then rushed at me, and I could immediately feel that he was stronger than before, and his crazed smile showed me that he enjoyed fighting a lot.

I blocked his swing with my own Zanpakuto.

Zangetsu: "Nice reflex, but how about-."

His smile widened as he put his hand on the blade.

Zangetsu: "Getsuga Tenshou."

My eye widened as he used the previous attack. I decided to dodge it this time using Shunpo.

Zangetsu: "I love using this attack. Something about it makes it very satisfying when I surprise my opponent with my swingless attack."

Retsu: "Wasn't the name of this attack Excalibur?"

I said from behind him.

He then turned to me.

Zangetsu: "He was drunk and made a reference. You can't take everything he says seriously."

He grabbed the cloth and started swinging Zanpakuto by it.

Zangetsu: "But right now, less talking, more fighting."

He threw the weapon at me, which I deflected but just soon after, he pulled it back just to throw it again.

I see, so it is a medium to the short-range weapon. Interesting.

Yuuki-kun, or should I say Zangetsu tried to keep me at a distance which I didn't understand why. We both know that I could shorten the distance between us in an instant. To see what he was planning, I used Shunpo to appear in front of him the moment he attacked. As soon as I used Shunpo before I even finished my movement, I could see his grin as if he had gotten me into a trap.

My instincts told me to block the attack that was coming at my back, and I put Minazuki to stop the blade coming at me, but at the same time, Zangetsu rushed at me to attack me with a kick.

I used my own leg to stop his momentum, but he just pointed his index finger at me.

Zangetsu: "Hado #4, Byakurai!"

To cancel out his attack I used the same Kido as him and lowered my power not to overpower him too much.

Retsu: "Hado #4, Byakurai."

Both spells clashed and canceled each other out. It looks like my control is as good as ever, but my sparring partner wasn't too happy.

Zangetsu: "Are you looking down at me?"

It seems that he isn't happy that I'm holding back, but until I find someone able to give me the best fight to end my life, I'm not planning on fighting seriously.

Retsu: "I apologize if it looks like I'm making fun of you, but you are too young and weak to fight me seriously. Besides, we're having a sparring match, not a fight to the death."

Zangetsu: "Then I'll just force you to fight me seriously!"

He attacked me with a big swing. It was strange. He turned his back on me just to create bigger momentum, but it's not practical. It seems that it's time to finish this spar.

As I was about to strike him down with the back of my sword Isane appeared in front of me, making me hesitate for a moment, but the next moment I blocked the attack from the left.

I quickly checked where the girls were sitting, and they were still there. Illusions?

My eyes turned slightly sharper as Zangetsu jumped doing an overhead flip, and he vanished. I could still feel his Reiatsu in the same place though so I blocked his attack just like before.

Looking at him, I noticed smoke coming from his eyes. Smoke? He still had a big smile on his face, though.

Zangetsu: "Looks like I forced you to be a little bit serious."

Realizing that, I relaxed. He made me a little angry. I'll need to punish him later.

Zangetsu: "How about I'll show you one last trick? I could fight you all day long, but it's not fun when you're not fighting back."

He then turned his blade into its sealed state and got into a weird stance, but one without any openings.

Zangetsu: "Shortie, we are doing it!"

I feel like he is not saying that to me but then who?

The next moment he swung from three directions at the same time. They weren't just three high-speed attacks. They existed at the same time, so blocking only one would result in getting slashed by the two others. I quickly used Shunpo to jump backward.

What a dangerous attack.

Zangetsu: "Tsk, it seems that if the opponent's strength and speed are a lot above the user, this attack won't work. He will need to work on that in the future."

He returned his sword to his scabbard.

Zangetsu: "I hope the next time we fight, I'll force the old you out."

What he said shocked me. He implies that he knows about me from the past. In the present not many know about it but before I could ask him for answers...

Retsu: "Wait, what do you mean by-"

Ryoto: "Huh, where am I? Did I lose?"

It looks like Yuuki-kun returned, and my questions will be put on hold for now.

But I must say, I'm anticipating the moment he really forces my old me out but that will be the day I'll die.

Yuuki-kun, maybe I should call him Ryoto-kun from now on. Just to mess with him when he meets me the next time.

Ryoto-kun stood up, walked up to Isane, and did a dogeza.

Ryoto: "Forgive me for my failure!!! To atone for my failure, I'll tattoo a dragon on my arm to both remind me of my failure and as a promise to be as strong as one!!! Also, because it looks cool!"

Isane: "Y-you'll do it for me?

Ryoto: "Of course!"

He turned then to me.

Ryoto: "Unohana, where can I get a tattoo!?"

(Ryoto's pov)

*Present day*

Retsu: "Afterwards, you got the tattoo, stole handcuffs for some reason, and went to the bedroom with all the girls here to 'rest'"

She then smiled at me, notifying me that she knew what we did there.

Retsu: "I hope that you're a responsible young man."

Yep, she knows more than she should. I put a lollipop on her desk in silence.

Retsu: "My subordinate is still worth more."

I was forced to give up ten lollipops to her while a single tear ran down my cheek.

---

END

(A/N The Hangover mini-arc has ended. It was fun while it lasted, but it will probably be the last time Ryoto gets drunk willingly. Can't blame the guy, really.)

(E/D: Me who knows Author is Zelretch's reincarnation and will probably turn him into a Magic Girl in front of everyone: (°ー°〃))

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