AN: Yo. I have shit I'm doin' these days, so small stuff is really all I can manage right now. But the creative juices are flowing. Yeessss they are...
I Don't Own This...Whatever This Is...I Forget...Who are You Again?
The Void King
Eight
"Yoruichi-san, do you mind if I ask a question?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not," the Shinigami responded, ponderously. She had insisted on walking him home, despite his assurances that he could find his way back alone. Without a care, she'd looped her right arm through his left as if they were a couple on a midnight stroll. "Ask your question, and we'll see how much I mind. Maybe I'll even answer."
His lips twitched upwards. "How was it that you moved so fast, when you cut the Hollow?"
"Ah," she dragged out the syllable, playfully. "That. Well, I could explain it to you…but I'm not sure what you'd do with that information."
He lifted an eyebrow, directing it at the emptiness in front of him. "Nothing untoward, if that's what you're thinking."
"Maybe not. You don't seem the type, Shu-kun." She chuckled, tugging him slightly to one side to avoid a tree in their path. "How about this then—I reveal my trick to you, but you must do the same for something I ask."
"Quid pro quo?"
"Exactly."
"…Alright then." It's not like he'd done anything terribly outlandish in her presence. She couldn't possibly ask about his Apocalyptic nature if she didn't know about it, which was really the only thing he could think of he'd refuse an answer for. "What would you like to know?"
"How is it that you are blind, but still see?" Yoruichi asked immediately. Shu turned his head to 'look' at her, examining the silhouette of her features, easier to identify with their close proximity. To do so, he had to look down. She was at least half a head shorter than him, certainly shorter than he recalled Inori being, which he found amusement in. With people like Gai around, he was used to being the short one among his peers.
"My vision left me shortly before my death, but after awakening here, it was replaced by this…other form of sight," Shu explained. "Instead of light, I see the reiatsu of souls."
"Oh?" She made a curious sound. Her free arm moved. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Um…" Shu squinted at the blob that he thought was a hand. "…Four?"
The hand moved closer.
"Three."
"Huh. Not bad. That's some pretty impressive sensitivity. I've never heard of it manifesting like that, but I've got a friend who could probably puzzle out the 'how and why' if he really tried. He's a nerd like that."
"Your turn, Yoruichi-san."
"Alright alright." She waved her hand around lackadaisically. "It's called shunpo. It's a Shinigami technique."
"Can it be learned?"
"Ah ah, my turn now." The mischief in her voice was palpable. "For one so sensitive to reiatsu, the Hollow's presence didn't seem to have much effect on you. Care to explain?"
To that, Shu shrugged lightly. "It did affect me. I just didn't find it scary."
"Then what did you think of it?"
"I found it sad."
"…I see." She seemed to consider that. "To answer your question: yes, shunpo can be learned by anyone with the drive to do so and adequate reiatsu levels. If you'd like, I could probably teach you a thing or two. Not to brag or anything, but I'm currently one of the foremost shunpo experts. I've been leaving my elders in the dust since my Academy days."
Academy? He'd heard something about that. Shinigami had to be schooled before being allowed into the organization proper, in both combat and more practical amenities. Like boot camp if it dressed up in university robes.
"You think I could do it?" Shu asked, just a little wary. She could likely sense his reiatsu, but he didn't know just how much of it she could perceive. The Hollow had certainly noticed something strange about him, but did Yoruichi notice the same inconsistencies? He didn't particularly want to be labeled a threat so soon into his immortal afterlife.
"Don't look so nervous, Shu-kun. Blind or no, your control of your reiatsu is impressive considering you've never been taught, and you certainly have enough for a low-consumption technique like shunpo. It's an acquired skill, really—with enough practice, anyone can do it."
He tried to relax. "Is that so?"
"Don't think that makes it easy or anything, boyo," she warned. "Becoming even mildly proficient in any of the Shinigami arts takes years of work and discipline. Even then, some just don't have the aptitude to ever be more than mediocre at certain things, despite all efforts otherwise."
"So talent matters?" He liked to think that everyone had equal opportunity to be a master at whatever they put their mind to—but the truth of that matter was that inherent potential could make or break any aspiring apprentice.
"And other natural, inborn dispositions, yes." She shrugged. "Reiatsu levels are not fixed by any means, but they are damn hard to increase. Plenty of Shinigami will likely never reach seated status simply because it would take centuries for them to fulfill the power requirements for the position."
Was she talking about ranks? He knew the Gotei 13 was militaristic, but not much beyond that. "I take it that's never been a problem for you?" Because as controlled as it was, Yoruichi was just brimming with power.
"Not really." She smiled at him, he knew. "Some are just born to it. Rich heritage helps."
She was implying something. "You must be very talented then, Yoruichi-san," he said, innocently pretending not to notice her analytical prompting. At his compliment, she preened in what was surely an exaggerated manner.
"Damn right. I've made it a personal goal to out-race every seated officer in Seireitei. I'm almost half done." She sounded very smug about this.
'She's quite self-indulgent, isn't she?' Inori commented with an amused giggle. 'How fun.'
"Oh," the Shinigami made a curiously disappointed sound. "We broke the turn system," she stated, like she hadn't noticed already. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Shu shrugged. "It seemed appropriate not to when the conversation diverged."
"Don't be so logical." The Shinigami jabbed him lightly with her elbow. "It makes me look bad."
"To who, exactly?" Was she pouting?
"Someone, somewhere, is laughing at me. I can just feel it."
'She's not wrong.'
'Shush, Inori.'
AN:
I like Yoruichi...but she's kinda hard to write. I dunno if I'm doing her justice or not. Probably not.
Enh. I tried.
Read, Review, Gimme Gimme Gimme, I'd really like some cream puffs right about now. Glutton? What lies.
MB
