- Location
- The Colored Room
- Pronouns
- TheOne
Story of the manga.
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No One Stands On the Sky: An Aizen Quest (Bleach) (DEAD)
- Thread starter stairmaster
- Start date
- What if?
Story of the manga.
- Location
- Midwest
Like Aizen just being "oh I convinced a god or two to join my ranks" would have been a great plot beat to instill dread. I never liked what Hammered Down did to Stark but maybe they had the right idea all along?
- Location
- The Colored Room
- Pronouns
- TheOne
To be fair, Kubo learned that lesson in the last arc. Not that the body parts of the Soul King seemed all that cool once it was revealed what the Soul King was, but still.
Hammered Down?
- Location
- Italy
3.yes they are the Hollows from Unmasked. Basically before the betrayal of the Soul King Hollows in the Vasto tier were able to form spontaneously, only they seem to be a species since they all are shaped like demons/bat's. I don't know if the author explained how or why since an Hollow shape and abilities are linked to the heart they had when human and this Vasto Lorde were never human in the first place.
4. Barragan was born before the betrayal of the Soul King and may have formed as a spontaneous Vasto Lorde.
This makes Barragan, Ulquiorra and the Vasto Lorde of the commune millions years old since they predate the formation of canon Soul Society and the Living World.
I think Kubo may have planned this since when Aizen tried to recruit Barragan without having to fight with the promise of conquering new lands he shows disinterest saying that Hueco Mundo was the only real dimension.
Kkutlord
Prince of Breath
- Location
- Indianapolis, Indiana
Nope, and I don't have any ideas to suggest besides the same old "Kaname learns Aizen sort of has a crush on his sword spirit." Maybe have people comment on Aizen's Competent Rank in Zanjutsu and Kido?
CH 3. OMAKE: An Open Question
- Location
- The Colored Room
- Pronouns
- TheOne
An Open Question
However easily sleep usually came, tonight just wasn't doing it. Whether it was because he was just a bit more restless than usual, or he had something to get off his chest, Sosuke didn't know. He didn't know a lot of things, now that he thought about it.
Being inside his own head so much over the last few weeks was odd. Very odd, in the grand scheme of his life. Up to this point anyway.
Sosuke didn't fancy himself a dull man, he was actually rather mindful. Especially relative to his peers, but that didn't mean he was mindful about himself, the parts that mattered most anyway.
What he believed? It was always in flux.
Every new fact to be learned, every piece of information was context for further understanding. The more he took in the less valid his previous understanding became. That was the nature of learning he guessed. But that had odd consequences for his soul, for his thoughts.
Just how quickly he could slip into a new mode of thinking, of action, it was beginning to dawn on him. All it took was something new to steer him in another direction. He led himself by the nose with every bit of information that crossed his path. No part of his outlook was permanent, ingrained or written in stone.
He was like water.
He supposed that was why he enjoyed training so much. The time with Kyoka Suigetsu, with the illusions was the most exciting part of his day, of his life really. In that narrow space behind his eyes was the meeting place between himself and something beautiful. And that place had as much definition as a puff of smoke.
There were constants of course, but even those were just things that had yet to change. There was always time for the water to dry or the sky to empty. Even he wasn't a constant at this point.
His inner world was the truest expression of everything that he wasn't and could be at a moment's notice.
What is Sosuke Aizen?
He can't say an individual, not during Jinzen anyway. How many of himself were there after all these sessions? He had lost count. So many dead copies, broken copies, bad copies, perfect copies. Copies with sweet smiles, copies with hard eyes, copies in pain. So many pieces of himself were scattered about and not one of them was whole.
Was he honorable? Was he cruel? Was he dangerous? Was he weak?
At times he'd made a pretense to all the above and plus some.
That was the nature of his zanpakuto, he guessed; to be everything at once or only a few things at a time.
What could be seen was only a function of how much practice he put in or attention he paid. The illusions were all up to him, up to his moods, up to his actions. And She was along for the ride. Will be along.
No wonder she cares how I feel so much, she's stuck with me no matter what I do.
He was a blank slate, he realized. More than less at any rate.
He was young now, but what does this boy lying on his cot know about the man he will be in a hundred years' time, two hundred, or even just fifty? Shinigami can live for ages if they're smart and powerful. Maybe even forever if they're crafty enough, who knows what's possible?
It was a frighteningly open question, it was a beautiful question. About himself, about Her, all of it.
Just what will they become together, if she keeps pushing him, if he keeps following where she leads? What happens if he leads?
What mask will fit best?
What mask will satisfy himself?
What mask will satisfy her?
She liked it when he was ruthless and crafty, he thought.
Or maybe she just liked that he played it smart.
Maybe she was just happy that he was learning.
Maybe he was happy that she was happy at all.
He certainly wanted to keep her that way.
Sigh.
"Kaname-san?" Sosuke asked in the dark of their room, he suddenly felt the urge to speak. "Are you awake?"
"Only until your reiatsu calms down." Kaname said, after a beat.
"I apologize... I'm usually more well put together by lights-out." It's the truth after all.
"What troubles you then?" He asked softly, "So we can both get some sleep."
A number of things and nothing at once.
"I'm curious. Could you…tell me about your relationship with your sword. If it's not too personal." Sosuke asked, edging toward his real question:
Is it odd to feel the way I do, about the woman that is also my sword?
"There is not much to tell, truth be told. We are bound by a common history, our souls are joined. This may change in the future, but for now we are pleasant with each other."
"When you speak to your zanpakuto…" How do I say this? "What is their tone?"
"I have the feeling that you're avoiding your real question, Sosuke-san."He replied, not quite exasperated, but getting there.
"You may as well say 'get on it with it…'"Sosuke muttered to himself.
"If it gets you to make your point, I may have to."
"I think my sword and I have a mutual affection. I don't think this is normal."
Kaname was chuckling to himself, very softly of course. It was very much unlike him. Far be it from him to even crack a smile.
"I suppose it's normal for boys our age to feel this way about our swords…"
Damn you Kaname, "I'm serious."
"I'm just making my fun Sosuke-san, Isshin-sama has that effect on people." He said, still trying to hold back from making another joke. "Though I should ask, since this is a serious question, what exactly do you picture my zanpakuto to look like?"
"I could hardly guess. I hoped it to look like a person at least."
"A person? How interesting…"
"A woman to be specific, a very beautiful one. She's the one who's been giving me all these beatings."
"Well that explains a few things. Namely why you can't seem to speak clearly. " Kaname mused. "Though this means we can still be friends, if yours was also an insect I might need another roommate."
"I shouldn't have to say that this stays between the both of us."
"Understood."
"So what is your zanpakuto, exactly?"
"A cricket, or something close. They sing sometimes, mostly sad songs..." He said, catching his training of thought "Though they do have many legs and a beautiful voice, they're very much not my type nor should they be anyone else's, Sosuke-san."
"No wonder you think this is so funny. All you have to do is make small talk with a bug the rest of your life."
"The 'bug' resents that statement... Though I wonder what your lady thinks of mine so far."
"She hasn't spoken much tonight, actually. Now that I think about it."
"Does she not speak much? Lisa-san would be very disappointed in your taste if that's the case."
"If I knew you were so quippy at night, I'd have kept my thoughts to myself."
"I'd try to help it, but it's in the air. Nighttime always puts me in odd moods." He pondered thoughfully. "I've been told that when the sun goes away that you all have a hard time seeing as well."
"It makes me feel at peace. As if the world was fair for just a few hours a day."
This is more what I expected from him. More philosophizing, less jokes.
"Hmm, I suppose that's true. I can't see much of anything right now. It's distracting how few distractions there are here."
"Are my quips not distracting enough? I hoped I could joke you to sleep."
"No such luck Kaname, no such luck..."
This conversation could go on for hours and they'd still get nowhere. Maybe it was better to have it at another time. Maybe with someone else.
Maybe you should talk to me?
That would make sense wouldn't it?
.
.
.
.
Author's Note: Assume for the first section, that Kyoka Suigetsu is responding to those questions, but Sosuke's too caught up to hear her.
Kaname does actually help him toward the end, even if neither of them knows it. Having no one on the outside to talk to about this, conversely, leads Sosuke to look inward.
And now they'll have a heart to heart off screen, because I don't know what @stairmaster wants to do with this relationship, if anything.
Definitely a Kyoraku question, but that's for another time, another Omake. Shame that we're not further on into the quest, though there could be a part two for this, over a cup of sake instead.
EDIT:
To any of the people who're reading this close to the posting time. I've probably edited more than a few things. Everything's the same, more or less. But I polished up that dialogue to something respectable.
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- Location
- Midwest
I'm gonna give that 100XP. Edit out the part where Aizen's aware(because he's a dumbass teen and has some internalizations about aristocracy from growing up in a feudal society) that Sei has a crush on him and you can have that extra 50XP.
- Location
- The Colored Room
- Pronouns
- TheOne
That's it? Well that was an easier sell than I was assuming.
- Location
- Midwest
I was gonna also reject it for jumping ahead in terms of Aizen and KS's relation but yall will probably end up there anyways judging by previous discussion. I'll put the threadmark on the post after I get the update out tonight.
Kkutlord
Prince of Breath
- Location
- Indianapolis, Indiana
@stairmaster: Will we get opportunities to do weird science shenanigans? I'm kind of hoping we could secure some Mod Souls, and artificially producing / manipulating the creation of Fullbringers would be interesting. Hmm, a custom Mod Soul meant to emulate Fullbringers...
Besides that, we're clearly going to need science shenanigans if Aizen and Kyoka end up being the main ship. Hmm, would the science child not even need a Zanpakuto to perform Shikai and Bankai?
Besides that, we're clearly going to need science shenanigans if Aizen and Kyoka end up being the main ship. Hmm, would the science child not even need a Zanpakuto to perform Shikai and Bankai?
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
Isn't "I'm in love with my Zanpakutou Spirit" the ultimate expression of Narcissism? You're in love with yourself, so much that it's a manifestation of your soul that's pseudo-distinct....
- Location
- The Colored Room
- Pronouns
- TheOne
Not necessarily, but it can certainly end up that way.
I tried to write the relationship as a growth oriented kind of deal. It doesn't have to be something as base as "being in love with yourself."
- Location
- Midwest
Of course, @Kkutlord . How quickly you get into SCIENCE will vary based off of your choices at graduation of course.
@KnightDisciple I did kind of envision KS as being a manifestation of Aizen's Ego.
@KnightDisciple I did kind of envision KS as being a manifestation of Aizen's Ego.
- Location
- Midwest
anyways it's a moot point because who'd go into a fanfic quest and waifu an oc?
CH 3-2. Obsession
- Location
- Midwest
You stare impassively at the money. In your chest, your heart thumps wildly.
"Hold on though, you said lend?" You look up from the bag of coins to the captain. "What happens if we end up losing even a portion of it?..."
Kyoraku Shunsui chuckles. "Well, then you'd get to witness firsthand my overflowing generosity." He puts the coin sack in your hands. "Plus, if you have more money I can put in more when I'm the bank." He winks.
"So it's not about bribing us to join your division when we graduate?"
"Of course not, I know you're not one of those hopeless losers whose going to just throw themselves at the Onmitsukidō or Twelfth Division when their beautiful captains make an appearance at the academy, right?" Shunsui smirks. You resent the implication that just because you're a young man-
Lisa chimes in. "Hold on, how beautiful?"
Shunsui turns to Lisa, confused. "Eh? well I supposed Captain Hikifune is your traditional buxom type while Captain Shihouin is more athletic but still- What are you doing?"
Yadomaru Lisa is deep in thought now with her hand under her chin. "If I win big tonight, could you introduce me to them?"
Shunsui sighs deeply. He turns back to you and smiles. "So Aizen-kun, my cousin-in-law says you've aced the kido exam, and you've also figured out shunpo?"
"Michiko-sama?" You ask referring to your kido instructor. Shunsui nods. "Yes, I've gotten a perfect score on the final kido examination but I think there's still room for me to improve." After all, Isshin is still a great deal better at it than you are currently.
Shunsui looks thoughtful for a moment and then-
"Yeah, but he's still really lagging behind when it comes to martial arts," Lisa interjects. Hey!? What the hell?
"Oh?" Shunsui asks, grin widening. "Do tell."
"I do not know where this is coming from," You begin to retort. "Considering Yadomaru-san has never actually sparred with me."
"We've all seen your spars with Tosen and he's clearly using a soft touch."
That can't be right. You're always struggling to keep up with him. Then again he's a lot fiercer with other opponents...
"Why don't you two settle this in our practice hall?" Shunsui asks.
Both Lisa and you raise an eyebrow. "You mean we should duke it out?" she asks.
"Oh, no I'm just thinking you'll have plenty of time to talk it out while you're sweeping the place," Shunsui pats you both on the back and walks off. "I'm going to go take a nap."
Are all the captains like this?
---
"So..." You and Lisa eye the 8th division's sole athletic facility. It's much smaller than the zanjutsu dojo back at the academy but more importantly: It doesn't look that dusty. "You think anyone will be able to tell if we actually swept it or not?" Not like anyone is going to be using it this time of year.
"Nope," She walks over to the stand and tosses you a wooden blade. You catch it and hold it over your shoulder.
"You really want to do this?" You ask.
Lisa shrugs and takes a stance. "I assumed you'd want to avenge your pride or something."
"I'm not the prideful sort," You reply and Lisa scoffs at that. "Okay, perhaps a little. Certainly though why would I stake it on a lie that could be revealed in a matter of seconds?"
Lisa smirks. "So you admit your swordsmanship is inferior to mine and Tosen's?"
You lower the blade and take your stance. "...I would certainly not use that word."
Your hand burns as you grip the handle, and your field of vision narrows filtering out the parts of the world that do not contain Yadomaru Lisa. Reishi pours from your wrists as you raise your reiatsu and Lisa matches you. Accounting for the difference in skill, you raise it higher and she reciprocates once more. At this point, you would step in to attack but today, without an instructor present to halt the spar, you are free to up the ante. You fan the flames of spiritual energy and feel a bead of sweat roll down your head. Have you ever put out this much before?
To your shock, Lisa matches you yet again and you begin to see faint waves in the air like the distant haze of a hot summer day. Though far less consistent, your aura is like the sun's ray beating down whiles hers is like a rough tide ebbing and flowing, it is no less powerful.
Then... Lisa relaxes her reisatu. Her stance slackens. "Hold on, this is stupid. We're just gonna break the blades if we go at it like this."
Oh... yeah that probably would happen. You relax. "So just our physical strength then?"
Lisa grunts in the affirmative as she rolls up her sleeves and dear Soul King are her arms toned. What else is under that Shihakusho...?
No! Focus! "Yadomaru-san, how long have you been practicing martial arts?"
"On and off again since I was a kid."
"On and off?"
"Yeah, my mom really wished I had just stuck to archery or the naginata."
"Is that why you're not at home right now?"
"Is that rhetorical?" She asks as she steps in. You thrust your blade but she parries it and lunges for your heart with her own. You step back and raise your own blade to bring it down. Lisa steps in, raises her blade to meet yours, and then... kicks you in the gut.
You reel backwards, more shocked than hurt, and fall over. "Did I strike a nerve?" You ask.
"A little," Lisa admit as she kneels down to give you a helping hand. You can't help but not how warm both your hands are after so little exertion. You feel a twinge of warmth in your cheeks as well as you get up. "Mainly though, I just wanted to cut loose. Things are a lot more restricted at the academy, you know? Since their first priority is training you to fight hollows." She continues. "Do you want me to tone it down?"
You shake your head.
You welcome the change in pace. Lisa is far more eager to punish you for your mistakes than Kaname. It's almost like facing Kyoka Suigestu except with more shoulder checking and opportunistic kicks to the thighs. At least the wooden blade is less painful than the dull edge of your zanpakuto.
---
It's a fruitful but tiring session. Like with Kyoka Suigestu, you begin to develop a certain... clarity when it comes to fighting in response to negative reinforcement. Perhaps you'll make an effort to spar with Lisa more often. After a quick trip to the shower (Seireitei's abundance of indoor plumbing still astonishes you), you are put on duty watching the front gate of the barracks. Visitors are sparse and don't offer that much in the way of conversation.
Then evening comes, and you are relieved of your post.
---
"Glad to see you made it," Kyoraku Shunsui gestures for you to sit to the left of him.
You shrug. "My schedule is somewhat open right now."
"He means he thought you were going to take the money and run." Third Seat Kuze, a man with an overflowing mullet, retorts from the captain's right.
Shunsui protests: "You don't really think I'm a pushover, do you?"
"When it comes to kids, and pretty girls? Hell yeah!" The bald tenth seat Eizo shouts.
Shunsui strokes his chin. "You know Eizo-kun, I've been thinking.... perhaps your talents would be better served in the Fourth Division's supply company." Eizo goes pale while Kuze and the unseated officers laugh. "But perhaps not." Shunsui smirks. Eizo relaxes but still eyes the Captain warily. Suddenly you feel goosebumps over your exposed skin. "Ah, our friends from the eleventh are here."
The ground doesn't shake, but it feels like it should as the captain of the Eleventh Division Kiganjo Kenpachi enters the room. You were expecting a man not a gorilla. Your entire body feels four times heavier just standing in his aura. He wears a feral grin as he leans under the door in order to fit through the frame. It feels like he takes up half the room with his mass. "You boys ready to empty your wallets?"
Behind him trail a mix of faces both familiar and unfamiliar. You recognize two of the shinigami from the bar fight: the man with the goatee and the red head but also you see.... Tsunayashiro Kimiya?
Your eyes meet and he sits down across from you. "Aizen-san, It's been so long since we last met," He smiles and you try to recall when that was. The image of him kneeling on the ground a month ago flashes in your head.
Oh right.
Suddenly his smile takes on a whole different meaning. Then you notice he's not wearing the academy uniform; he's clad in the same black robes as everyone else in the room.
What the hell? What the fuck?
"Tsunayashiro-sama..."
"Call me Kimiya. Did you know you can just challenge seated officers for to duels for their position in the Eleventh?" You nervously shake your head. "I'm pretty lucky that I decided not to go back home this week, huh?"
Shunsui cuts away from his own conversation and turns to you two. "You're Aizen-kun's classmate?" He turns back to Kenpachi and adds: "And you let him fight one of your officers?!"
Kenpachi chuckles. "Yeah, when the pipsqueak challenged my twentieth seat I asked him if he had a death wish and the son of a bitch answered '"Yes"'". Kimiya is still smiles warmly. You're not afraid of Kimiya, but of something else you can't quite put a finger on.
"Why the hell would you let him do that?" Shunsui cries out.
Kenpachi frowns. "Stop busting my balls, can't you tell the kids fine?"
"It's the principle of the matter!"
"If you want to get all Kant about it-" Who? "-then what happened was in pefect accordance with the principle of that rule"
"So..." Kimiya gestures for your attention while the two captains argue. "You want to know how I did it?"
Not like there's many options. Kido isn't allowed in the eleventh and Kimiya's swordmanship wouldn't give him great odds against a seated officer which leaves only one major possibility...
Damn. That son of a bitch!
But, also damn. "You achieved shikai in only a month?"
"Yep, ever since that day I was filled with... motivation to catch up to you," He explained. Your eyes drift down to the collar of his robe as you finally notice the scar jutting out from underneath it. You wince internally. Kimiya leans in closer. "So... you want to see how we compare now?"
At that point, you realize what was worrying you: That this was all your fault. Where the hell is Lisa? She probably wouldn't know what to do either but you really didn't want to handle this alone. I think she took the money and ran. Perhaps you should take him up on his offer. You'd finally get a chance to use Kyoka Suigetsu in the material world but... after the drastic reaction Kimiya had to your display of power the last time you're not sure that's a good idea. That's his problem, though.
You're too damn tired and sore for all of this tonight. You just want to drink some wine and place some bets. You:
[]Take him up on his offer. Tommorow, when your bruises have healed.
-You and Kimiya will don protective equipment and proceed to spar with your zanpakutos. Lisa will be your coach/second.
[]Turn him down politely.
[]Make an excuse and leave. Go see what Lisa's up to.
-You take the money and run.
"Hold on though, you said lend?" You look up from the bag of coins to the captain. "What happens if we end up losing even a portion of it?..."
Kyoraku Shunsui chuckles. "Well, then you'd get to witness firsthand my overflowing generosity." He puts the coin sack in your hands. "Plus, if you have more money I can put in more when I'm the bank." He winks.
"So it's not about bribing us to join your division when we graduate?"
"Of course not, I know you're not one of those hopeless losers whose going to just throw themselves at the Onmitsukidō or Twelfth Division when their beautiful captains make an appearance at the academy, right?" Shunsui smirks. You resent the implication that just because you're a young man-
Lisa chimes in. "Hold on, how beautiful?"
Shunsui turns to Lisa, confused. "Eh? well I supposed Captain Hikifune is your traditional buxom type while Captain Shihouin is more athletic but still- What are you doing?"
Yadomaru Lisa is deep in thought now with her hand under her chin. "If I win big tonight, could you introduce me to them?"
Shunsui sighs deeply. He turns back to you and smiles. "So Aizen-kun, my cousin-in-law says you've aced the kido exam, and you've also figured out shunpo?"
"Michiko-sama?" You ask referring to your kido instructor. Shunsui nods. "Yes, I've gotten a perfect score on the final kido examination but I think there's still room for me to improve." After all, Isshin is still a great deal better at it than you are currently.
Shunsui looks thoughtful for a moment and then-
"Yeah, but he's still really lagging behind when it comes to martial arts," Lisa interjects. Hey!? What the hell?
"Oh?" Shunsui asks, grin widening. "Do tell."
"I do not know where this is coming from," You begin to retort. "Considering Yadomaru-san has never actually sparred with me."
"We've all seen your spars with Tosen and he's clearly using a soft touch."
That can't be right. You're always struggling to keep up with him. Then again he's a lot fiercer with other opponents...
"Why don't you two settle this in our practice hall?" Shunsui asks.
Both Lisa and you raise an eyebrow. "You mean we should duke it out?" she asks.
"Oh, no I'm just thinking you'll have plenty of time to talk it out while you're sweeping the place," Shunsui pats you both on the back and walks off. "I'm going to go take a nap."
Are all the captains like this?
---
"So..." You and Lisa eye the 8th division's sole athletic facility. It's much smaller than the zanjutsu dojo back at the academy but more importantly: It doesn't look that dusty. "You think anyone will be able to tell if we actually swept it or not?" Not like anyone is going to be using it this time of year.
"Nope," She walks over to the stand and tosses you a wooden blade. You catch it and hold it over your shoulder.
"You really want to do this?" You ask.
Lisa shrugs and takes a stance. "I assumed you'd want to avenge your pride or something."
"I'm not the prideful sort," You reply and Lisa scoffs at that. "Okay, perhaps a little. Certainly though why would I stake it on a lie that could be revealed in a matter of seconds?"
Lisa smirks. "So you admit your swordsmanship is inferior to mine and Tosen's?"
You lower the blade and take your stance. "...I would certainly not use that word."
Your hand burns as you grip the handle, and your field of vision narrows filtering out the parts of the world that do not contain Yadomaru Lisa. Reishi pours from your wrists as you raise your reiatsu and Lisa matches you. Accounting for the difference in skill, you raise it higher and she reciprocates once more. At this point, you would step in to attack but today, without an instructor present to halt the spar, you are free to up the ante. You fan the flames of spiritual energy and feel a bead of sweat roll down your head. Have you ever put out this much before?
To your shock, Lisa matches you yet again and you begin to see faint waves in the air like the distant haze of a hot summer day. Though far less consistent, your aura is like the sun's ray beating down whiles hers is like a rough tide ebbing and flowing, it is no less powerful.
Then... Lisa relaxes her reisatu. Her stance slackens. "Hold on, this is stupid. We're just gonna break the blades if we go at it like this."
Oh... yeah that probably would happen. You relax. "So just our physical strength then?"
Lisa grunts in the affirmative as she rolls up her sleeves and dear Soul King are her arms toned. What else is under that Shihakusho...?
No! Focus! "Yadomaru-san, how long have you been practicing martial arts?"
"On and off again since I was a kid."
"On and off?"
"Yeah, my mom really wished I had just stuck to archery or the naginata."
"Is that why you're not at home right now?"
"Is that rhetorical?" She asks as she steps in. You thrust your blade but she parries it and lunges for your heart with her own. You step back and raise your own blade to bring it down. Lisa steps in, raises her blade to meet yours, and then... kicks you in the gut.
You reel backwards, more shocked than hurt, and fall over. "Did I strike a nerve?" You ask.
"A little," Lisa admit as she kneels down to give you a helping hand. You can't help but not how warm both your hands are after so little exertion. You feel a twinge of warmth in your cheeks as well as you get up. "Mainly though, I just wanted to cut loose. Things are a lot more restricted at the academy, you know? Since their first priority is training you to fight hollows." She continues. "Do you want me to tone it down?"
You shake your head.
You welcome the change in pace. Lisa is far more eager to punish you for your mistakes than Kaname. It's almost like facing Kyoka Suigestu except with more shoulder checking and opportunistic kicks to the thighs. At least the wooden blade is less painful than the dull edge of your zanpakuto.
---
It's a fruitful but tiring session. Like with Kyoka Suigestu, you begin to develop a certain... clarity when it comes to fighting in response to negative reinforcement. Perhaps you'll make an effort to spar with Lisa more often. After a quick trip to the shower (Seireitei's abundance of indoor plumbing still astonishes you), you are put on duty watching the front gate of the barracks. Visitors are sparse and don't offer that much in the way of conversation.
Then evening comes, and you are relieved of your post.
---
"Glad to see you made it," Kyoraku Shunsui gestures for you to sit to the left of him.
You shrug. "My schedule is somewhat open right now."
"He means he thought you were going to take the money and run." Third Seat Kuze, a man with an overflowing mullet, retorts from the captain's right.
Shunsui protests: "You don't really think I'm a pushover, do you?"
"When it comes to kids, and pretty girls? Hell yeah!" The bald tenth seat Eizo shouts.
Shunsui strokes his chin. "You know Eizo-kun, I've been thinking.... perhaps your talents would be better served in the Fourth Division's supply company." Eizo goes pale while Kuze and the unseated officers laugh. "But perhaps not." Shunsui smirks. Eizo relaxes but still eyes the Captain warily. Suddenly you feel goosebumps over your exposed skin. "Ah, our friends from the eleventh are here."
The ground doesn't shake, but it feels like it should as the captain of the Eleventh Division Kiganjo Kenpachi enters the room. You were expecting a man not a gorilla. Your entire body feels four times heavier just standing in his aura. He wears a feral grin as he leans under the door in order to fit through the frame. It feels like he takes up half the room with his mass. "You boys ready to empty your wallets?"
Behind him trail a mix of faces both familiar and unfamiliar. You recognize two of the shinigami from the bar fight: the man with the goatee and the red head but also you see.... Tsunayashiro Kimiya?
Your eyes meet and he sits down across from you. "Aizen-san, It's been so long since we last met," He smiles and you try to recall when that was. The image of him kneeling on the ground a month ago flashes in your head.
Oh right.
Suddenly his smile takes on a whole different meaning. Then you notice he's not wearing the academy uniform; he's clad in the same black robes as everyone else in the room.
What the hell? What the fuck?
"Tsunayashiro-sama..."
"Call me Kimiya. Did you know you can just challenge seated officers for to duels for their position in the Eleventh?" You nervously shake your head. "I'm pretty lucky that I decided not to go back home this week, huh?"
Shunsui cuts away from his own conversation and turns to you two. "You're Aizen-kun's classmate?" He turns back to Kenpachi and adds: "And you let him fight one of your officers?!"
Kenpachi chuckles. "Yeah, when the pipsqueak challenged my twentieth seat I asked him if he had a death wish and the son of a bitch answered '"Yes"'". Kimiya is still smiles warmly. You're not afraid of Kimiya, but of something else you can't quite put a finger on.
"Why the hell would you let him do that?" Shunsui cries out.
Kenpachi frowns. "Stop busting my balls, can't you tell the kids fine?"
"It's the principle of the matter!"
"If you want to get all Kant about it-" Who? "-then what happened was in pefect accordance with the principle of that rule"
"So..." Kimiya gestures for your attention while the two captains argue. "You want to know how I did it?"
Not like there's many options. Kido isn't allowed in the eleventh and Kimiya's swordmanship wouldn't give him great odds against a seated officer which leaves only one major possibility...
Damn. That son of a bitch!
But, also damn. "You achieved shikai in only a month?"
"Yep, ever since that day I was filled with... motivation to catch up to you," He explained. Your eyes drift down to the collar of his robe as you finally notice the scar jutting out from underneath it. You wince internally. Kimiya leans in closer. "So... you want to see how we compare now?"
At that point, you realize what was worrying you: That this was all your fault. Where the hell is Lisa? She probably wouldn't know what to do either but you really didn't want to handle this alone. I think she took the money and ran. Perhaps you should take him up on his offer. You'd finally get a chance to use Kyoka Suigetsu in the material world but... after the drastic reaction Kimiya had to your display of power the last time you're not sure that's a good idea. That's his problem, though.
You're too damn tired and sore for all of this tonight. You just want to drink some wine and place some bets. You:
[]Take him up on his offer. Tommorow, when your bruises have healed.
-You and Kimiya will don protective equipment and proceed to spar with your zanpakutos. Lisa will be your coach/second.
[]Turn him down politely.
[]Make an excuse and leave. Go see what Lisa's up to.
-You take the money and run.
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- Location
- Midwest
Sorry for the delay. I slacked off on friday night and was blighted by god the following weekend for my hubris, with some health problems.
And to be clear only the third option precludes continuing on with gambling.
And to be clear only the third option precludes continuing on with gambling.
Kkutlord
Prince of Breath
- Location
- Indianapolis, Indiana
[X]Take him up on his offer. Tommorow, when your bruises have healed.
Win or lose we'll benefit, since either we get sweet rewards or the harsh reminder to level grind like crazy why aren't you doing that already Aizen!? Geez, how do you think all those prodigies got there? Being super passive and relaxed? No, Ichigo kept doing all the crazy shortcuts!
Win or lose we'll benefit, since either we get sweet rewards or the harsh reminder to level grind like crazy why aren't you doing that already Aizen!? Geez, how do you think all those prodigies got there? Being super passive and relaxed? No, Ichigo kept doing all the crazy shortcuts!
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
[X]Take him up on his offer. Tommorow, when your bruises have healed.
