Volume 97: Night II

[Kaze]

Chapter Three: Disciplines of the Shinigami (4,017 words)

The third seat of the Eighth division stood for several moments in the greatly dim lit hallway of the puzzle, his eyes going back and forth from each side wall to the other inspecting his surroundings for any clue of what the first test was going to be in the variable size box. Not having enough light to get a very good look at what was on the walls, the young shinigami soon decided that he should make his traversal of the hallway onto wherever it would lead him to. Taking a few steps forward, Zalin noticed the lighting grew slightly brighter directly next to him. The symbols on the wall could clearly be seen much better than before, as well as several tapestries he had failed to notice when looking around in the dim light.

The symbols on the walls were very similar to those on the outside of the box, making Zalin's interest in them even greater. Though, he noted that many of these symbols had a more distinct resemblance to Japanese writing than the ones he had seen before entering. Shaking his head for a moment as he thought about the symbols more, Zalin soon enough turned his attention to the strange tapestries adorning the walls also. Many of them were covered in dust and torn while one specific one seemed to stand out in Zalin's mind. The picture on it was strangely familiar to him, four black clad men of various dress standing before a grand antechamber. All but one of these men had their faces covered by sometime of their apparel, and that man wore the most strange of black light armor. One of the covered face men stood with an ornamental glaive as his weapon, his face had a mask of a demon over it. Another had only his lower face covered by a black cloth, his weapon appeared to be a long katana weapon.

The last man in the picture though was the part of the tapestry which held the greater portion of his attention, for several moments it appeared as if he being standing looking at the man on the tapestry forever. The man wore a black hooded robe which was deep enough to hide all his features from sight; at his side was his blade on his left hip. Around his waist was a small pouch, one which appeared to be similar to those wore by mages in the pictures on many of his fantasy genre novels he had at his home. Taking a step towards the tapestry, Zalin felt an urging feeling to forget the cloth art and proceed on.

"I do not know the significance of that tapestry, Kageboushi, but I felt like it was nostalgic to me. Like I should know very well what it is and means." Zalin spoke aloud, knowing his zanpakutou's spirit would hear him. "You seem to keep quite a few things from me, what lies inside of my mind that you seem to be able to access with the greatest of ease?"

If you really wish to know, Zalin, then you should continue on. It is not up to me to explain to you everything though, some things must be found out through your own searching. Kageboushi's voice spoke, echoing through the hallway as if he was somewhere nearby.

Zalin walked away from the tapestry, and continued on his way through the hallway. The light on both sides of him continued to become brighter as he passed by then fade down back to be dim when he became so far from it. As he walked, he noted that the walls still had the strange symbols and more worn tapestries along the way. He felt like he walked on for hours, never finding any sign that he was close to the destination where the first puzzle was housed.

Soon enough, the young shinigami heard a quiet sound all around him, like a slight breeze breaking inside of the box from the outside. Yet as he walked further and further, the Kidoushuu's Hanchou found no sign of a breeze hitting him or going by him. Looking ahead once, Zalin saw a dim light ahead of him as if the hallway was coming to its end. Making haste towards the dim light, the young third seat arrived at a door glowing with the strange markings from the walls. Placing his hand onto the symbols, he felt an odd warmth from them.

"Is there a price to open this door?" Zalin asked of his zanpakutou spirit as he moved his hand around the door.

Alas, no there is no price to enter through this portal, Zalin. Though I am surprised you did not check the door first to see if it was locked.

"Ah, I see. It slipped my mind to check it first, though if I had tried the door first you would something tells me you would have posed why I did not ask if a payment was necessary to open it." Zalin commented more to himself as he took grasp of the door's knob and turned it slowly.

As the doorway opened before him, Zalin soon found the interior beyond the door to be that of a training room of some sorts. Walking carefully into the room, as expected the door shut then disappeared from sight as such did in his dreams several times. Gazing around the room completely, Zalin noticed several training dolls, stations used to train speed, and even several kidou targets throughout the room. Crossing his arm to think where he stood, Zalin felt the presence of Kageboushi around him.

"So tell me, what kind of puzzle involves a training area for several types of combative areas?" Zalin posed to the presence of the shadow figure.

I would have thought you could guess such an easy task. the voice of the spirit spoke. This task is a very basic one, simply show your ability in your disciplines and you can pass through to the puzzle part of it.

"Ah, a test of my zanjutsu, hakuda, hohou, and kidou skills, simply showing what I can do in each then showing my ability to use them in combination I take it." Zalin uncrossed his arms to push up his glasses then move towards one of the training dolls which held a sword. "This is a zanjutsu doll by the looks of it, am I right?"

Correct, Zalin, but I must warn you that this is more than you think. When finished the puzzle will require more than just showing how you can combine your skills, but test your knowledge of how to use them. Also, don't get yourself too hurt during this, things do get more challenging as you move on.

"I shall try; it would be a disappointment to get too badly injured on just the first task. Probably, I would never hear the end from you about it. How do I start this anyway, do I just slash the doll a few times with my zanpakutou?" Zalin asked as he drew his zanpakutou which had been resealed since he entered the puzzle.

Oh, you shall see. It will be very apparent in a moment what you have to do. the voice of Kageboushi spoke as the doll in front of Zalin then suddenly came to life and readied itself by taking a combat stance before the young shinigami.

"You have got to be joking..." Zalin said under his breath as the doll then rushed at him with a vertical slash followed by a quick horizontal.

Blocking as quickly as he could but attacks, Zalin found the doll's power to be very similar to his own. He observed for several attacks how the dolls acted and how it attacked him each time. Soon enough, he noticed that the doll had a rather distinct zanjutsu pattern that slightly matched his own. Raising his left hand as if preparing to attack with his kidou to quickly end the encounter, Zalin soon found the feeling that he was not suppose to use his kidou at this point. Moving his left hand to grip his zanpakutou more firmly, he blocked several more blows from the doll.

If I am only suppose to use my zanjutsu, then it would seem we are evenly matched. Unlike the mental apparition, there is no difference in skill or power at all. Yet, it is odd that Kageboushi would set up this task using an opponent that is exactly similar to me in the specific skill. the young third seat thought as he went for his own attack and was blocked only to then himself block the counter attack for the doll. Quite an interesting object I must say though, a doll capable of battling a person at their level for training. Maybe I should try later to make several for use in Eighth's training area under the headquarters.

For several minutes the doll and Zalin fought blow for blow not one of them out doing the other. This draw was soon enough aggravating the young Hanchou enough to begin to try and step up his attacks, yet as he stepped up his attacks so did the doll. It almost seemed as if there was no way to out do the doll in anyway. He then noticed a flaw in the doll's maneuvers; each attack left an opening on the doll to be attacked in the chest area. Watching carefully for the next opening, Zalin quickly rushed the doll and slashed through the opening at the chest area.

The doll dropped its weapon and appeared to cover its chest as if it was a real person with a wound. After a short moment it moved its arm away and revealed the wound which had been made by Zalin fixing itself, looking like nothing had been done to it. Taking a new stance, the doll this time stood with its arm ready to attack; the doll was now readying to attack Zalin with hakuda ability.

"So, I see that once it has been bested once with zanjutsu that it immediately switches to hakuda next." Zalin commented as he quickly replaced his zanpakutou into its scabbard then readied himself in a hakuda stance. "Let us see what you got, Doll."

The young third seat then made the first move and rushed the doll with his fist ready to strike it in the head. To his surprise the doll dropped to one knee then went for an uppercut attack at Zalin, which he at the very last moment was about to dodge himself. Taking a short step back, the young shinigami soon found the doll immediately following for another attack. This time the doll's attack met its mark in his gut.

Zalin felt the pain of the attack as the doll leapt back a few feet to make distance between them. Glaring at the expressionless doll, the young shinigami began to think of how he could best the doll quickly. As he thought though, the doll rushed back towards him for another attack, this time with its aim at his head. Dropping to the ground, Zalin quickly tried to sweep kick the doll to make it loose its balance, but the doll swiftly jumped over the attack then went to kick Zalin.

I see, it would seem the doll was made to have his hakuda skills made slightly greater than my own. Tricky, Kageboushi, first you make me think the doll is equal in skill to me, then you make me realize it was meant to be superior to me in my weakest of disciplines. Zalin thought as he grabbed the doll's leg then flipped it down to the ground right in front of him.

Thank you for the compliment, Zalin, but there is more to this than that. Please hurry and finish the doll off so you can move on to the next stage of this task.

Before Zalin could do anything against the downed doll, the doll leapt back up and went at Zalin for another attack. Quickly gabbing its arm, Zalin threw it back down to the ground then punched the doll in the head; which surprisingly detatched the head and caused the doll to dissolve into the air. Looking side to side to see if this was a trick or not, the young shinigami soon found that the speed training stations coming to life before his eyes. Looking at the stations, he felt like approaching them.

"I think that you want me to show my movement abilities on these, am I wrong?" Zalin asked aloud to Kageboushi but found no reply to the question. "Then I guess that is a yes."

Watching the first of the stations for several moments, Zalin noted that several pendulum weights swayed back and forth every several feet of the walkway. Moving towards a railing to look over it, Zalin found that several feet downwards a pool of water sat and a ladder leading back up to his side of the station stood. One false shunpo and I get knocked off to have to start over again, Zalin thought as he worked out how that station worked and what it required to get past it.

Zalin walked down the walkway until just before the first pendulum swinging. It had suddenly begun to swing faster than he had thought when he was farther away from it. Looking down farther he found that the other pendulums seemed to still be going the same speed. Closely compare them with the one in front of him, the young third seat realized what was going on.

"The closer I get to a pendulum, the faster it becomes. If I do not time my shunpo exactly, I will be knocked off the walkway and then will have to try again." Zalin concluded as he watched the fast pendulum swinging. "By the looks of it, the pendulum moves too fast for me to shunpo at either of its apexes of its swings yet right when it it past the walkway would be the most ideal time to shunpo past."

Waiting for the pendulum to barely get past the walkway, Zalin quickly shunpoed past just in time to avoid the weight. Come out just midway down the next part of the walkway, Zalin continued forward to find the next pendulum moving even faster than the previous one. Watching this one now, Zalin tried to notice when during the swing would be the best time to shunpo past it.

"Too fast to go at the same point as the last one, but it seems like as it begins to swing past the walkway that is is fast enough to swing by as I shunpo past and not get hit." Zalin reasoned as he immediately shunpoed as the weight began to go past the walkway.

This time, Zalin felt the breeze of the weight passing just behind him as he came out of the shunpo just after the intersection of the weight. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he slowly walked closer to the final pendulum which became the fastest of the three weights. This one, the young shinigami had to watch carefully for several long minutes just to clearly see if he could sneak by it.

You must be enjoying watching me go through this. Zalin thought of his zanpakutou spirit who was somewhere inside the puzzle box. This is so fast, the only way I could see getting through would be to begin my shunpo as it starts its descent from its apex on either side...but even then it still might not be enough.

Watching the pendulum for several more minutes, he finally decided to give it a try and hope he would not need to start over again. As the pendulum neared it apex, Zalin was ready to quickly shunpo past it before it could swing back at him. When the weight ended its apex Zalin entered the shunpo then quickly came out just after the pendulum came to the center of the walkway and continued on. Breathing out a sigh of relief, the young shinigami walked on towards what appeared to be several kidou targets on the other side of a deep trench.

"Oh good, something that will be a cinch for me." Zalin commented as he looked at the targets across the trench.

Possibly, if you didn't notice there is a platform that extends to let you cross to the other side. Every target you hit will extend the platform forward slightly. Therefore your task is to hit the targets to extend the platform across so you can get to the other side. But to warn you, the platform will move back when some much time since the target was hit has elapsed. Kageboushi explained from somewhere nearby. And I know you do not have very many lower level blast kidou to use prepared, so I wish you the best of luck.

"Oh, how challenging I must say. So then the platform is on the other side then." Zalin looked at the other side of the trench. "I have to use my kidou so I can cross, correct?"

That is what I said, yes. Kageboushi's tone sounded annoyed. Well, actually, with your kidou save Charon's Road. That kidou technique would make it too easy.

"Ah, you guessed my idea before I could fully form it in my mind. I guess I have no choice then but to try something else." Zalin walked towards the edge of the trench and looked to the several targets, eight actually when he counted them. "I only have Hadouken really that could work efficiently, though I'll have to try to get this in one try..."

Zalin held his chin for a moment as he pondered about how he would hit the targets with hadouken without wasting all he energy from casting the high level spell several times. A smile formed on his face as he then stretched and extended his arms and readied to cast the kidou. Clearing his throat, he spoke the incantation bypass.

"Hadou #86, Hadouken!"

As the spell's energy charged in his palms for several moments, the spell seemed to be acting strange from its usually mechanics. When the spell finally fired from the young shinigami's palm, instead of a single large beam, the spell shot out as four smaller beams which all hit different targets. Slowly the platform extended to halfway across the trench, in which Zalin then walked out onto it.

"Now for those last four targets. Hadou #86, Hadouken!" Zalin spoke the bypass again and shot off another four way spread shot which hit the remaining four targets and extended the platform fully across the trench. "That was not so hard."

Stepping from the platform onto the other side of the trench, Zalin found ahead of him was a large metal doll similar to the one from the first two tests. Looking around, Zalin hunted to see if Kageboushi was anywhere in sight. The metal doll seemed to be one more test for him, he concluded.

That was very cheap of you to use your spell shaping ability to pass that test is a matter of moments, Zalin. But a completion is a completion. The next task to prove how well you can make use of all your disciplines in battle. Kageboushi finally spoke as the doll came to life. Defeat it and you can move on to go to the next part of the puzzle.

The metallic doll then rushed Zalin with its blade, aiming for Zalin's throat. Blocking the attack, the young shinigami found the power of this doll was far greater than the previous one. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he tried to continue holding the steel doll back, any minute he could tell he'd be overpowered. His thoughts went immediately to how he could defeat it.

It's a test to see how I can combine my disciplines in combat...right now I am using my zanjutsu skill, so then I should try another... Zalin thought for a moment then pushed the doll back and then rushed for a side kick which hit partially on the doll's back.

As the kick connected, a strange panel on the back of the doll opened, which also brought on the doll suddenly becoming faster than before. As it rushed Zalin, the young Hanchou found blocking the attacks much harder. Blocking the doll's blade, he slowly felt himself becoming exhausted.

I guess time to utilize my hohou ability. Zalin then shunpoed to behind the doll and noticed something interesting about the open panel. Electronic components and a fuse system...I see Kageboushi chose this to be a robot more so than a doll.

The robot doll turned to face Zalin and rushed him again, this time its blade split into several smaller ones all aiming to strike Zalin somewhere. Shunpoing again to be behind the doll, Zalin was prepared to use his last skill to finish the task. A kidou strike at the panel was the only way of finishing it off.

Hadou #63, Raikouhou! Zalin thought the spell for an absolute bypassing of it.

The electric discharge hit the panel and caused a surge in the robotic doll, surprisingly making it go haywire. This reminded Zalin immediately about his battle with the Ryoka Fuyubi, he leaped for cover to make sure it would not be able to attack him if it went into a rage from the surge. From his sanctuary position, Zalin then watched as the robot moved around and around until it finally exploded from the surge's energy.

"I have to ask what possessed you, Kageboushi, to make the last part that specifically. Even I would not ever put such a task unto someone else." Zalin called out to get his zanpakutou spirit's attention.

We are the same being remember, so really you put this onto yourself. Kageboushi's tone of sarcasm echoed through the area.

"...You and your technicalities. Now, when is the way out?" Zalin inquired.

Right in front of you. Are you that blind? Kageboushi's tone was strange as he spoke, making Zalin look before him to see the door opening.

"When was the door there?" Zalin was confused as he walked through the door into another hallway. "I should just expect anything from an illusion zanpakutou spirit."

Blame yourself, Zalin, in the end all of this is caused by who you are. These tasks all come from your knowledge and imagination. Kageboushi explained as the door behind Zalin disappeared.

Zalin walked down the new hallway finding it to be similar to the first hallway, very long and very old. For some reason, he found this hallway to be a lot more lit by the torches on both sides than the other. Also as he moved down the hallway, he felt odd about something as if he was being followed. His best guess was that it was Kageboushi, though the presence kept itself far enough back to where Zalin could not tell.

"I never would have imagined myself eight years after dying coming to be here, at what to most is a rare occurrence. Many never reach this level, yet here I am." Zalin spoke under his breath as he continued walking. "All I can think is that fate smiles upon me every day, I was not in the Eighth Division very long when I was first promoted to being a Fourth seat then a short time later my current rank of Third seat. I am a prodigy amongst shinigami, yet I think there are far more skilled men and women who deserve that title over me. Yet then there is the Kidoushuu and my promotion to being its commanding officer..."

Indeed, Fate has smiled upon you. Kageboushi commented. But then again, you deserve far more than you have right now. One day you will obtain them and also know who you really are. But until then I will guide you to where you must be.

 

[Kaze]

Chapter Four: The Puzzle Room (3,022 words)

Zalin had walked down the hallway for what seemed to be a quarter of an hour, not finding any sign of the next door he would have to pass through. He finally stopped after a while to rest, leaning up against one of the walls. Breathing heavily, he still felt exhausted from his last task. When he felt he had rested enough, the young shinigami continued on. Deep down, he still felt the pain of exhaustion but he knew he had to move on towards his goal.

Soon enough, he saw a door in front of him. Quickening his pace, Zalin reached the door as quickly as possible. Turning the knob, he found the door would not open. Looking around, he tried to see if his zanpakutou spirit had appeared. Not finding the hooded figure around, Zalin tried to push the door open with more force.

Save yourself the trouble, Zalin, it is not going to open for you right now. I know you are exhausted, so rest for a while. That way you can regain your strength. Kageboushi spoke from some unknown place in the hallway. Besides, I think I might have over done the last part of the puzzle, I should have had it after this one you'll be entering.

"And what is this task?" Zalin asked, looking for the robed figure as he sat on the floor of the hallway with his back against one of the walls. "I mean, are you saying that this task is easier than the last one?"

Far from it, Zalin, what I mean is this task would have been more suitable as the beginning of the puzzle. I am not saying it is easier, just more sensible of placement. Kageboushi seemed to be trying to change the subject partially. Actually I have a wonderful idea, Zalin. How about I keep you occupied with a riddle or two?

Zalin thought for a few moments about the spirit's offer. Resting would help get rid of his exhaustion but just sitting around would be too boring for him being where he was at that moment. Shrugging his shoulders, Zalin stretched and motioned his hand, hoping Kageboushi could see him. A smile formed on his face as he relaxed himself.

"I don't see why not. That way I can see how challenging you can be upon my mind." Zalin spoke to his zanpakutou spirit.

Yes, indeed, Zalin. Kageboushi's tone sounded rather off. Anyway, what riddle to ask you...

Wouldn't he have a riddle in mind before suggesting asking me some riddles...? Zalin thought as he sat waiting for the riddle to be asked to him.

What consumes all with hunger, grows stronger as it breathes, is followed by black and gray, and dies when it is given a drink of water? Kageboushi spoke the riddle he had decided upon and waited for Zalin's answer. Also, do you feel up to explaining your answer? I think it would be more fun to be able to explain why you feel the answer is what you think it is.

Such a strange riddle for him to ask me. It is very obvious that the answer is fire. A fire consumes everything in its path with more fire and burns hotter as it gains more and more oxygen from the air. Ashes are gray and things burned to a crisp are blackish in color, yet by pouring water onto fire puts it out. Zalin was very confident as he thought, then something went through his mind. Yet that is not true of every fire. Some fires are caused electrically and require to be extinguished with a chemical such as carbon dioxide. Also depending on how hot the fire is, it may be able to evaporate the water before it can put it out.

Sitting there for several minutes contemplating about what the real answer to the riddle was, Zalin did not realize a strange glow came about him and slowly was restoring his energy and making him feel less and less exhausted. Soon enough, he no longer was tired from the previous task of the puzzle, yet he had not realized anything had happened to him while he was deep in thought. Continuing to analyze the riddle, Zalin tried harder and harder to see what the riddle really meant.

If it is not fire, what could it be then? Could it be greed? No, that is not followed by black and gray. Fear maybe? But fear does not grow stronger when breathing. the young shinigami thought long and hard about the riddle. It has to be fire...a type if fire has to be it. Let's see now, an ember maybe or possible a camp fire would fit. Though a camp fire is more controlled. So ember has to be the answer. As it feeds and gets oxygen it grows and then leaves ashes. Then when doused with water is put out. Yes, I think I have it.

"The answer is an ember, Kageboushi. It burns what it comes in contact with and can grow hotter by getting oxygen. The ashes and remains of things burned are gray and black in color. Also it can be doused by water because an ember usually is not electrical in origin." Zalin spoke his answer.

Very good deduction, Zalin, though I would have let you answered a fire in general. Not too many people think about the different variations of how a fire starts and the ways of putting out those different fires. Kageboushi explained. The very fact that you looked past the obvious answer shows that you are not satisfied to accept the first thing to come. Every good researcher knows that some answers are hidden deep down in many texts or designs. Such ways of thinking will bring you far in your travels, especially with the many obstacles that life throws at people as they live their lives.

But I must stop digressing. I have healed you while you thought about the answer to the riddle and I must also explain that I lied to you to a point. The door would not open because you had to answer the riddle first as the first part of the second task. Kageboushi sounded like he cleared his throat. This part of the puzzle is a mental test for you. The last part of the puzzle tested your physical attributes and kidou, therefore now I want to see how your mind works in full. In the next room there is a very special puzzle I have prepared for you. When you are ready to solve it, I shall allow you to enter to see the puzzle. I must warn you though; the puzzle is very dangerous and possible life threatening to you. Enter only when you are fully sure you feel able to take the mental stress it may cause you.

Zalin slowly stood up as he finally realized he had been healed and no longer was exhausted. As he listened to Kageboushi, he could tell the puzzle had to be very dangerous to him by how the spirit sounded as he explained it to the young shinigami. Walking over to the door, he turned the knob and with his free hand pushed up his glasses.

"I am ready right now, Kageboushi. Whatever this puzzle is, it is better for me to start now so that I can finish it early so that I am not in this box longer than I need be." Zalin spoke, his tone sounding very serious. "No matter what it is, I am sure that I can survive with out taking any mental anguish."

If you say so. But remember that I was willing to allow you a little bit more time before entering. Kageboushi said as he let the door open.

As Zalin entered the room, he found a large grouping of red tiles in the middle of the room with a single gold tile in the middle of the others. Counting them, the young shinigami found there to be nine tiles in total. He scratched his head for several moments as he examined the tiles then looked around the room. Something was strange about the room, as if some ominous force was waiting to jump out behind him. Every moment the feeling grew stronger and stronger until finally the Kidoushuu's Hanchou turned around and found something very much unexpected.

Towering to be much taller than him, the creature had dark yellow eyes and a set of jaws that could easily crush his body in two in mere moments. It was covered in black scales, its teeth stained dark red with blood, it seemed to be something from some ancient mythos. This huge monster stood waiting behind him licking its lips in anticipation of eating Zalin. Turning slowly back towards the tiles, Zalin felt Kageboushi was also near inside the room.

I am sorry to say this, Zalin, but this puzzle must be solved exactly or else you shall be consumed by this beast. Kageboushi's voice came as Zalin felt the breath of the monster and a drop of its saliva on the back of his neck, it had its mouth wide open to swallow him whole when he would fail to solve the puzzle. This puzzle is of a simple concept. Under each tile is a picture of something, and under all these tiles are pairs of pictures save one which is in the center. The puzzle is for you to tell me what is under the center tile without lookinbg under any of the other tiles.

"What..." Zalin was taken aback by what the puzzle was. How can someone figure out what is under the center tile without being able to see what is under the others. I am doomed to be eaten by this monster behind me. Does Kageboushi truly want me to fail and die?

No, Zalin, I want you to pass this test. But you are right that you can not answer randomly without something to use as a guide. Under each tile the picture is like a mirror. Kageboushi told the single hint that Zalin would have.

Zalin's looked at the tiles in wonder after hearing the hint. The thought that the pictures where like a mirror made the puzzle sound easier, yet what did they reflect that all the pictures had a pair save what was under the center tile. Looking over the tiles, he realized that how they were that what was reflected behind him. Quickly turning to face the black jaws of the beast, Zalin looked over the monster to see what were in pairs on it.

"Two of the tiles reflect the creature's eyes, Kageboushi. Even though my task is to solve what is under the center one, it would seem I must first solve the rest as well." Zalin spoke confidently.

Very good, Zalin, go on. Kageboushi urged Zalin as two of the tiles flipped over to reveal eyes under them.

"Two of the other tiles reflect its claws and arms. For at this moment the creature stands on its hind legs with its claws ready to grab me." Zalin went on as two more of the tiles flipped over behind him.

"Also two other outer tiles reflect its hideous ears. Both of which are not of this world, more than likely this creature had to come from my imagination, am I correct?. Also the last two tiles must be his nostrils. Therfore..." Zalin explained then began to speak his answer.

Wait a moment, are you saying after only a few moments analysis that you can already solve this puzzle? No you must know the answer already from seeing this before? Was it a manga or something you once read or did one of the books you read have something similar to this? Kageboushi seemed annoyed by how fast the young shinigami had solved the puzzle.

"No, you should know if I have. I just merely realized that the puzzle reflects the monster behind me. Therefore under each tile which has pairs reflects things on the monster in pairs. And so under the center tile would have to be the only thing not with a pair, its mouth." Zalin explained then answered.

The final tile flipped over to reveal a mouth, causing the monster to disappear and two doors to appear a ways in front of Zalin. Seeming perplexed that two doors appeared, Zalin waited for Kageboushi to speak. For some reason, though, the spirit remained silent for several moments then began to laugh.

Was it actually so easy because of that hint? But then again without it, you never would have been able guess without being able to turn at least one tile over. Next time I try something like this I should think ahead to how a simple hint can affect the difficulty of a puzzle. Kageboushi spoke then became serious. But anyway, very good. You have passed the second puzzle of this part of the puzzle. Now for you to try your hand at the last part of this puzzle room. These two doors each lead down to different rooms. Pick the one you feel is the best choice for you to make. One goes though a hallway where everything can be seen and known. The other is dark and what lies down it is unknown to anything that walks down it.

"That's not a puzzle though, Kageboushi, that's just a choice of where I want to go. How does this even counts for anything aside from which set of puzzles are down them?" Zalin inquired to his zanpakutou spirit.

I am the one administering this, Zalin, even though yes it is just a choice of where you go the point is I still want to see how you think. Now think about this choice and tell me which door you want to travel through. Kageboushi made clear Zalin should just decide and not think about the actual mechanic the task was.

One is a path that is clear and straight forward what I'll find down there. Like with the riddle, this choice represents the simplest answer and most obvious one. Taking the clear path would just be too easy to do. A researcher is curious and prefers to travel a path where he must keep his mind thinking of what he may find and be open enough to accept what he finds to be the absolute truth. Zalin thought as he looked from door to door. Through the door that leads through the unknown, I may find something I don't want to find, yet it would also be the one choice that fits what I must do. Searching for answers is my goal as a shinigami, and through the door of the unknown is the only one which will let me solve what is to come on my own.

"It is tempting, Kageboushi to choose the path that is mapped out and everything down it is known. Yet it would not fulfill my curiosity of what is to come like the other choice shall. I will travel through the unknown, as I shall always in my life as a shinigami. To know what is to come can also cause me to feel like turning back if what I must face is something I can not do mentally, therefore traveling not knowing will let me move on and face the task when it comes up because once there I can not turn back to escape." Zalin explained his choice and waited for the spirit's reply.

A noble choice, Zalin. Kageboushi spoke as the one door disappeared. But remember this, once you choose something there is no turning back and trying to choice the other. Do not later regret this choice, Zalin, from here one the unknown is your fate.

"I will not regret this, Kageboushi. There is no reason to, especially when my goal in this is to obtain bankai." Zalin said as he walked towards the remaining door that would lead to the unknown passageway.

I hope that you are right. Now go, Zalin, open the door and move on. You are closer to the end, yet there is still much you must do before the end comes. Kagenoushi's voice seemed to fade slightly.

Zalin slowly placed his hand on the door knob and turned it. As the door opened to reveal the hallway on the other side, all Zalin found was darkness which he could not see very far through. Standing in surprise at the darkness, Zalin breathed slowly then looked back to see if Kageboushi was anywhere. Sighing, Zalin went to take a step forward yet felt as if his body could not move.

What is this I am feeling? It can not be fear of what is to come, possibly it is a feeling of anxiety of what I shall come across. Zalin thought trying to explain why he could not move.

Children fear the darkness because it holds the unknown. You are experiencing the fear of this primal respect of darkness. Everyone experiences it sometime. Kageboushi's voice came as the doorway suddenly moved towards Zalin then past him causing Zalin to moving through the door into the darkness.

I do not remember ever being afraid of the dark as a child...could it be this is my first time expressing it? Zalin thought as he entered the darkness. Or is it I am remembering a subconscious memory of a time I did? All I know is, I need to move on to wherever this passage leads me to.

Good luck, Zalin, because down this path are the puzzles which I feel should never be known to a person before coming to them. And each choice from this point on will determine your final task in itself. Kageboushi thought as the door shut behind Zalin and disappeared. Too bad, he would have chosen this passageway, too. Humans are so strange how some will take the easiest way available to them and others choose to take the most challenging of ways to go.