Keep Pushing! (Hono/Hana)

‘What do you mean I already know it?'

'I have said it three times now, Hana. You refuse to hear. I am not blocking you. You are doing that to yourself.'

'I don't... Why would I...'

'Fear. It's that same fear you had when Hiroe chose a different Division, when your Captain made you feel worthless, when you failed your missions, when you were hurt... THINK! Stop ignoring me and figure it out, Hana! I'm sick of being overlooked!'

As Hono's attack came in, Hana was cut once more. The pain shot through Hana's body and in a desperate attempt to get away, she shunpo'd to the opposite side of the room. In doing so, however, she slipped, lost her balance, and slid until she hit the wall of the training area. She looked up to Hono, her back against the wall.

The look in Hono's eyes was terrifying. Hono was so focused and her reiatsu was making it all worse. Hana gripped her blade tightly, taking the time to stand up as she tried to remember the name... Was her zanpakuto spirit lying to her?

I don't understand... I don't remember... I can't do this alone.......

Stop ignoring me...

Alone...

'I'm sick of being overlooked!'

'I haven't... Oh. I get it now... I didn't realize... I'm so sorry... Please, forgive me.

As Hana got to her feet, she was sweating and trying to catch her breath. Still, a smiled formed on her face as she laid the dull edge of her blade in her hand. Running her hand up the blade and toward the hilt, the blade began to glow.

"I finally understand... Chill the Wind," Hana said as the air around began to coalesce into small flowers floating in the air around them. "Fukaorimiya."

With the name finally spoken, the sword she once held transformed into a traditional, blue and gold folding fan. Hana's first instinct was to wave the fan toward Hono, releasing a freezing burst of wind that may have the capability of pushing Hono back. There was no way Hana could be sure of that. Unfortunately, this burst of wind carried the floating flowers with it. Each of these flowers flattened out into small shuriken-like blades that flew at Hono.

‘Call me Miya, okay?’

‘Okay, Miya… Thank you…’

When Hana first looked up to Hono, what happened didn’t register. It was only when she allowed her shikai to automatically reseal and looked up to see Hono starting to stand that Hana realized. Hana’s eyes widened, her jaw dropped, and she felt the air catch in her throat. “HONO!” Hana yelled and ran over to her friend as Hono ran back. She saw the blood, the tears. “I am so so—…”

Wat.

Hana was shocked that Hono was hugging her. “Wh-What? You are? I hurt you!” Hana said, trying to separate herself from the hug and check Hono’s injuries. But after hearing Hono’s reaction to what happened and seeing Hono's joy, Hana could only smile and finally, tightly, return the hug. “Thank you, Hono…”

It was… strange to have someone be so proud of her. Hana’s smile never left. Maybe this is what it felt like to have a sibling? Or… even a mom that cared about you? Hana would never truly know that, but this only strengthened her care for Hono. She planned for the two of them to be friends for a long, long time.

Hana’s smile grew brighter as a single tear of joy squeezed it’s way from an eye. “I did… I learned her name,” Hana said, joyously. The mention of food activating Hana’s stomach. She felt it cramp a little and then giggled. “I would love that, but lets both head to the infirmary to get looked at.” Hana took a good look at Hono, doing her best to hide the guilt on her face. “We should change clothes too.”