Chapter Twenty Eight: The Spirit in the Sword
"And so he decided it, just like that?"
Shunsui cast Juushirou a quizzical look as the two boys left the Hohou classroom, making their way along the hallways towards the dining room to meet up with their classmates for the midday meal. The gong had already sounded, but Uebashi had called Juushirou back after class to collect the notes he had missed during his six day absence, and Shunsui had elected to wait for him, saying with a grin that being late was nothing new for him and that nobody would even blink at it.
In truth, though, it was the older boy's first opportunity to speak to Juushirou alone since the day that the school had been rocked by rainstorms, and though the subject of Sougyo no Kotowari had come up between the curious second years many times, Shunsui had more or less held his tongue, knowing that the questions he wanted to ask were ones he did not want to voice in front of his fellow students.
Juushirou was different now, after all, and Shunsui felt a connection to that difference. Juushirou's zanpakutou fascinated him most of all for, though it was connected irrevocably to his friend's spirit, even he could trace the spiritual threads of energy that ran through it, giving it its developing, raw power. Each of them had reacted to it differently – for Kai it had simply been a matter of course, for he was so used to being in the constant presence of his sister's zanpakutou that to him the budding strength of Juushirou's was simply just another powerful sword beginning to be honed into its true shape. Hirata had treated it warily at first, his own experiences with zanpakutou making him more cautious, though Shunsui knew that the young boy trusted Juushirou's motives and that, in the end, he had accepted the blade as part of his friend's evolving power. Ryuu had tried to pretend he was not impressed, though Shunsui had seen him glancing at it when he thought he was not being watched, and something in the Kuchiki's furtiveness had amused his indolent classmate. As for Enishi, he had thumped Juushirou on the back and congratulated him warmly, but Shunsui did not think that the tall boy had discerned more than the vaguest overview of the weapon's power even now.
And for Shunsui, it was entirely the opposite. For Shunsui, for whom the concept of zanpakutou had become suddenly so vivid over the summer holiday, Juushirou's sword seemed alive with energy and promise, every tiny little flicker and flare of reiryoku proof that this was a living weapon and a part of Juushirou's own self.
Yes, Shunsui was fascinated by Sougyo no Kotowari. Yet he had kept his thoughts and feelings to himself, longing to know more but unsure about asking the questions and revealing the reasons behind them until he and his District friend were alone.
Juushirou nodded now, oblivious to his classmate's train of thought.
"He reiterated it yesterday, too. From dinner till bed I'm to take Sougyo to his study and he'll train me himself." He agreed. "It sounds a bit funny to me too – his study isn't that big and if my weapon can cause flares that bring down storage huts…surely we shouldn't be inside at all? But that's what he said, so that's what I'll do. Genryuusai-sensei isn't exactly someone you argue with, after all."
"Mm. I s'pose not." Shunsui pursed his lips, eying his companion keenly. He paused for a moment, then,
"I've noticed it though, you know."
"Noticed? Noticed what?" Juushirou was startled, and Shunsui grinned.
"The way your reiatsu was wavering before – like it was going in and out of focus and like it might explode at any time…it isn't like that, now. It's actually quite steady – for you. I guess that in the end Yama-jii was right to make you train like he did."
"I'm sick and tired of the Healing Bay." Juushirou admitted. "But other than that, I guess so. Unohana-sensei said that my body was under less strain now that the blade's power was confined in its own form…so I suppose that's a part of it. I feel…all right. Not as up and down as I have felt, nor as tired or worn as I was when I collapsed. I'm all right. And with me, all right is fine."
"All right, but not perfect?" Shunsui's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Ah, so you can call on the services of Nurse Edogawa, then?"
"Shunsui." Juushirou sent him a weary look, though Shunsui could see flickers of consternation in the hazel eyes and he nodded to himself, his unspoken suspicions confirmed. "I thought you'd let that drop – don't begin with it again, please?"
"I won't. It's up to you in the end." Shunsui assured him. "Besides, I think…you took my advice. And if that's the case, there's nothing more for me to say. You might not be able to do anything about it now, but if you've acted…and followed your gut…then that means you don't take it lightly. So maybe not now – but that's all right. We're going to change this world so as it doesn't matter who's seen with who…and then you and she can ride off into the sunset together on Kuchiki-ke white horses."
"White horses?" Juushirou stared, and Shunsui nodded.
"When Nii-sama was talking about plans for the wedding, he joked about the Kuchiki and how they like to send their brides on white horses to the ceremony." He agreed. "Apparently it's some tradition of purity or something like that…and Juu, you've gone a very funny colour. Don't tell me that you followed more of my advice than I gave you?"
For Juushirou's cheeks had flushed scarlet, and he shook his head hurriedly, grabbing Shunsui by the arm and pulling him firmly into the nearby empty classroom before wheeling on him and fixing him with a dark glare.
"Don't say things like that! I'm me, not you. Of course I haven't!" He protested hotly, and Shunsui held up his hands in mock surrender.
"All right! I'm sorry. You only kissed her."
"Yes! I mean, no! I mean…ack, you did that on purpose." Juushirou suddenly realised the trap, burying his face in his hands. "You took me off guard…Shunsui, you fight dirty sometimes, you know that?"
"Yes, but it's fine. I know, now, and I won't pursue it any more." Shunsui said matter-of-factly. "You're not me, like you said. You wouldn't kiss a girl you weren't in love with. And I know she loves you, so the barrier between you is simply the matter of social level. Which we're here to change, aren't we? So it's not really that much of a barrier at all. Not if you wear a haori and stand in Inner Seireitei alongside her kinsfolk."
"You're being crazy. What are you talking about?" Juushirou demanded. "I've barely raised my sword, let alone done anything of note with it! And haori…haori belong to Clansfolk! There's never been any Gotei leaders who haven't been Clan – and I'll be happy if I only become a Shinigami who can make a difference to those around me! You've said it, and Mitsuki's said it, but you're both biased. The reality is that we're a long way from that yet. A long, long way. And you might inherit your haori when you graduate – but I'm going to have to work as hard as I can from the start. I'm not taking it for granted that I'll get there – I'm simply going to work as hard as I can and see where it takes me!"
"You're a little bitter about this, I see." Shunsui rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then he sighed. "To be honest, Juu, I don't really want to inherit the haori. But…I have made up my mind to do it, now. So I'm going to be working hard alongside you – and I'd like us both to get there together. District or not, what you've done recently already outstrips the rest of us. And that should be an indication at least – that you're at least the same level as we are. If not, maybe, higher."
"No…I'm not higher. Especially not higher than you." Juushirou shot him a cool look. "If you worked, you'd be well ahead. You'd probably have your sword in hand already, Shunsui. You don't need to work, after all. Whether you do or you don't, things still piece together and you still do well. You're a natural Shinigami – in all ways. You will deserve the haori when you wear it – but you'll wear it far sooner than any of the rest of us will, if any of us ever do at all."
"Well, I think you're wrong." Shunsui said pensively. "But if it comes to that, I'll make sure you don't get overlooked because of Clan snobbery. If the Gotei are too fool to know what to do with you, I'll have you with me. In Eighth. Without a moment of hesitation."
"I appreciate it." Despite himself, Juushirou shot his friend a smile. "But that would be as bad as anyone else being picked on grounds of favour. I mean to earn my place, Shunsui. So earn it I will, no matter how hard it is. It's the only way they will accept me - if I work hard and show them that I can do it too, after all."
Shunsui was silent for a moment, and then he nodded.
"Do you mind if we're very late for lunch? Or, in fact, if we skip it completely?" He asked hopefully. "I have some food in the dorm that I snuck out at breakfast, and we might make a picnic of it by ourselves since everyone else will be in the Dining Hall."
"Why would you want to do that?" Juushirou looked confused, and Shunsui sighed.
"I wanted to talk to you. Alone. About zanpakutou." He said heavily, running his fingers through his tousled brown hair. "In a way that I can't talk before the others – or even, yet, to Yama-jii. I haven't told anyone any of it – but I think you're the person who'll understand the most and maybe, give me the right answer. If there is an answer – I'm not sure about that, yet."
"You've lost me." Juushirou shook his head. "My zanpakutou? Zanpakutou in general? What do you mean?"
"If you come upstairs with me, I'll tell you." Shunsui responded simply. "Well? Will you?"
Juushirou sighed.
"All right." He said at length. "Since it's obviously important to you and from the way you asked, quite serious, too. But if it's about zanpakutou, well, I'm not an expert on it. I barely know anything, really, except what Nagoya-senpai has taught me and the bits and pieces Sensei and others have said. True, I have Sougyo now, but…"
"That's why." Shunsui interrupted. "Because you have Sougyo now…I think you'll understand."
"Well, if you say so." Juushirou agreed. "I'm coming. But if we get into trouble…"
"I'll say you had a coughing fit and I stopped to help you. Nobody will question that since you're beyond all suspicion." Shunsui said airily, relief coursing through him as he pushed back the classroom door, leading his companion across the winding building to the landing that housed the boy's dormitory. "It's useful, sometimes, you know – having a best friend who does obey rules. That way, if it's just me, I might get punished – but if it's the both of us, well, they won't think of you cutting meals without good cause."
"Your logic always hurts my brain." Despite himself, Juushirou grinned. "I get the feeling you could talk yourself out of anything, Shunsui – I doubt you need me as a shield at all."
"Well, it's always wise to have plan B." At this moment they reached the dorm, and Shunsui slid back the door, leading the way inside and gesturing for Juushirou to close it. "And really, Juu, all joking aside – I've been waiting for an opportunity to speak to you for a while now. Only it hasn't come, and I haven't really known how to create one. You've been busy…and I didn't want to pile more on you since you were so focused on your training. Still, now you've summoned your sword…"
He paused, his gaze drifting to the unit where the weapon lay wrapped in a thick cream blanket.
"And you need to get a scabbard for that. It's a weapon, Juu, not a baby. You don't need to nurse it."
"I'm trying to think of safety." Juushirou objected, embarrassment in his hazel eyes. "It's a raw, sharp edge, even if it's sealed. Someone might get hurt if they knocked it or if it fell by accident. So I wrapped it up I haven't had time to think about a scabbard yet. It's too different in shape to fit into a generic asauchi sheath - give me a chance!"
Shunsui chuckled.
"I know, but you do treat it like a mother hen." He said teasingly. "The first thing you did when we came in here was head over to check on it – you only stopped because I mentioned its bedding. You're like a new mother with your just-hatched chick. Perhaps you would make a good father – you're certainly very attentive."
"Shunsui!" Juushirou glared at him, completely discomfited, and Shunsui dropped down on his bed, letting out a resigned sigh.
"I guess I find it easier to tease than I do to be serious, sometimes." He admitted. "Sorry – maybe that was over the line. I really did want to talk to you about something, Juu-kun – all my joking aside, I did."
"Then do so." Juushirou settled on his own bunk. "Though it must be pretty serious, if you're having trouble voicing it even now we're alone here."
"Yeah." Shunsui was silent for a moment, then, "I'll make a deal with you, then. If you hear me out – seriously and without laughing or doubting what I say…then I'll take responsibility for that sword's sheath."
"Pardon me?" Juushirou stared, and Shunsui rolled over onto his stomach, resting his chin in his hands as he met his friend's gaze.
"It's a bit silly, in places, even when I say it inside my head." He admitted. "So if you promise not to laugh, I'll be a good surrogate uncle and buy baby Sougyo-kun its first scabbard."
"…I'm not even going to rise to that last remark." Juushirou rolled his eyes. "You don't have to make a deal, anyhow – I'll listen, either way. You can be stupid, Shunsui, but when it's serious, the things you say aren't ridiculous. And you don't make things up – so I'll believe you, whatever you have to say. You know me, don't you? I don't need you to compensate me for my time."
"No…no, I know." Shunsui agreed. "But…I think I'd like to, to be honest. If you'll let me. Since scabbards are expensive – decent ones, anyway, since they're custom cut and designed to fit the blade properly."
He grinned.
"Your blade is special, after all." He said simply. "It's the first zanpakutou any District person has ever summoned, at least in known record. You've begun crushing down stereotypes and accepted orders and all kinds of things. Sougyo no Kotowari is a trend-setter. I'd like to do something to mark the occasion – if you don't mind."
Juushirou smiled.
"If you feel like that, then I suppose I don't." He acknowledged, and Shunsui nodded.
"You can consider it an early birthday present." He said flippantly. "Though it's only just autumn now, it'll be winter soon enough."
"I suppose so." Juushirou pursed his lips, casting his muffled sword a glance, then,
"So what is it, then, that's bothering you? Something big…to do with swords…care to explain?"
"Mm." Shunsui faltered for a moment, then, "Remember that you promised to take me seriously, no matter what it is I say?"
"I remember." Juushirou agreed. "So go ahead. I'm all ears."
"You'd look funny if you were." Shunsui said absently, "But yes. Okay. You know that I went home for the summer break..? Well, of course you do. You're not so unobservant that you wouldn't have noticed my absence for ten days, I hope! And while I was there, Juu, I went to the borders – on an errand for Nii-sama, I went to the refugee camps and saw things for myself."
"Oh." Juushirou's expression became serious. "And?"
"It's as bad as I thought, and worse." Shunsui sighed. "I felt it, I think – the amount that they're suffering in all of the craziness District Seven has going on. That Clan is a menace to Soul Society – at least, certain parts of it are. I didn't like to see it, really – what a Clan can do if it puts its mind to it. How much it can hurt the people beneath it."
"Families like mine, if I'd been born in a different place." Juushirou said sadly, and Shunsui nodded.
"Yes. Yours, and Kira's, and Hanako's and Atsudane's." He agreed. "Children and adults, men and women. Old and young. It made me…angry. Very angry, I think. Seeing them like that."
He sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
"The next day, I had to go to Nii-sama's study on a family matter." He continued. "I can't explain that to you – not at the moment, and maybe not at all, so please, don't ask me to."
"If it's private to your Clan, of course I won't ask." Juushirou looked rueful. "I've grown up beyond that, you know – I realise there are things that don't get told for reasons beyond what I can see – it's all right, and you don't have to justify it to me."
"I'm glad." Shunsui admitted. "Because it's not really me or my family so much as other things…it's complicated and at the moment Nii-sama hasn't given me permission to discuss it. I really…don't think he'd want me to get you involved and while none of us are…it's a Council and Clan matter, not anything to do with us. But the significant factor is connected to it. As I said, I was in Nii-sama's study…looking through records for something that had come up."
"You were looking through records?" Juushirou blinked. "Was that hulking great manservant of your brother's watching over you?"
"I might've known you'd find that the oddest part of the story." Shunsui grinned wryly. "No. He helped me get them down, but he left me to myself. It was my errand, after all. Not anything to do with him."
He pursed his lips, then,
"Nii-sama has always kept Tensonshin in the study." He said quietly.
"Tensonshin?"
"Father's zanpakutou."
"Oh…yes. I think…you've mentioned that to me before." Juushirou looked apologetic. "I'm sorry – a lot's happened lately."
"It's all right." Shunsui grinned. "It's a dead sword anyhow. It's been dead a long time. At least…so we all thought."
"So…you all thought?" Juushirou blinked. "You mean…it isn't dead?"
"It…is, really." Shunsui sighed. "But while I was there, it…reacted to me. Like it was trying to either tell me something or assess me - I'm not sure. It didn't really have a consciousness, though it seemed like it was crying. Father broke it – he severed their connection and left it damaged and alone when he died. It's trapped, now – not a proper zanpakutou but…not a dead sword, either."
"That's so sad." Juushirou's gaze instinctively flitted to Sougyo no Kotowari, then he frowned. "I can't imagine how he did that…broke the connection, I mean. When it takes so much to form it…I don't even know how you would break it, to be honest."
"That's why I thought you'd understand a little." Shunsui nodded. "Since you have that bond now – and I thought the same. Father was really…that much against fighting and using it that he poured all his negativity into it and warped it until they could no longer fight together. So it seems, anyhow. So it's trapped in its grief. Lost and alone. There's nothing else to do with it – it's trapped forever, most likely."
"Your Father was a really lonely man, in the end, wasn't he?" Juushirou murmured, and Shunsui sighed.
"For the first time I was angry at him, too." He owned. "For making the sword that unhappy. I felt the grief and pain when he died – all Father's, I thought, but now I'm not sure. Some of it…may have been Tensonshin. It's hard to know, when you're six years old – but I imagine that some of it was."
He shrugged.
"Kept hung up in the room your master died…and therefore the place your master ultimately abandoned you." He said frankly. "It's not a nice fate…I'm thinking of asking Nii-sama to move it someplace else."
"So Tensonshin reacted to you…and it never did before?" Juushirou questioned. "Because you're Matsuhara-sama's son? Because I didn't know they could do that."
"I haven't finished yet." Shunsui pursed his lips. "But forgive me if I head off on another tangent. Juu, do you remember after Seimaru's curse – I told you I'd seen a bat demon in my delirium?"
"Yes…vaguely." Juushirou nodded. "But I didn't think a lot about it. You were fevered. Hallucinations happen."
"They do, so I dismissed it, too." Shunsui agreed. "Till…the night after I'd seen Tensonshin glitter."
"And then..?" Juushirou looked curious. "You saw the demon again?"
"No. Quite a different creature, actually. Much prettier to look at." Shunsui's eyes became mischievous. "But it still connects to that. She called herself Seibara, Juu. Sainted Rose. Something like that. And she mentioned Amaki – the demon. Heaven's demon. They belong together…and they're not just hallucinations or dreams. They're…"
"The spirit of your zanpakutou." Now Juushirou understood, his eyes becoming big and Shunsui nodded.
"Seibara said so, and I believe it." He admitted. "Even though I only have her word for it, the things she knew made me sure that it was true. She and Amaki – both of them – consider themselves children of Tensonshin, since I'm the son of Matsuhara and I inherited so many things from him. I've always thought he was right to run away from conflict, but since I saw those refugees and since I felt Tensonshin's pain, I'm starting to feel differently. I'll never be proactive like you are but…just a little bit…I want to make this world change."
He glanced at his hands.
"And because of that, Seibara spoke to me." He murmured. "And made me realise…exactly what she was."
"Two spirits. Just like me." Juushirou whispered. "But Sensei said it was unusual…and yet…"
"Perhaps it's only unusual because so few people have raised zanpakutou yet." Shunsui suggested. "Although…your fish are always together, aren't they?"
"Yes. Aren't yours…?"
"Seibara took great pleasure in telling me that she was light, Amaki dark and that I'd have a whole lot of trouble getting both of them to show up at once." Shunsui said ruefully. "From the way she said it, I think…she wasn't joking."
"Did she tell you why?" Juushirou wondered, and Shunsui shrugged.
"The summary is that I've really messed the both of them up ever since I was little." He said with a gusty sigh. "Amaki is a bat-demon because I keep being negative…Seibara is tiny because I've never had any resolve. Harsh, huh? Pretty damning stuff."
"I see." Juushirou's eyes narrowed. "Well, you can't really argue with them, can you? I mean, that's probably true."
"Thanks." Shunsui groaned, and Juushirou grinned.
"Welcome." He said casually. "But seriously, Shunsui, I had realised something had happened over the summer break. I didn't know what, but I had noticed you'd started reading the notes Kazoe gives us, instead of just tossing them down by your bed and hoping you'll coast through next class. And all this talk about changing the world – is that part of it, too? Because of what this Seibara spirit said to you?"
"Mm. Maybe." Shunsui agreed. "Or more…that I don't want to be my Father's son as much as I thought I did."
He looked pensive.
"At the time the comparison was my Uncle, and I knew he was someone I couldn't be like, so I worked on the premise that made Father right." He said regretfully. "But I've bit by bit come to realise that isn't necessarily the case. I know doing nothing can be a bad thing, sometimes. But even so, often I've still not done much. Just coasting my exams isn't really being fair to my Clan, either. Or Seireitei. Or those people who are currently sheltering with my family hoping for protection. Eighth District doesn't have a Gotei Shinigami, Juu. Those people only have my brother's retainers and good sense to keep them safe, while I just drift by and let it all happen. I can't…just do that any more. I don't care much about the wider Clan – but I do care about Okaasama and Nii-sama and I think I'll come to like Rae-hime as well. So I don't want to burden them by being useless. And most of all…it's like you said. Those people sheltering could be families like your family. Are like your family, really, in all respects except they live in the wrong District. And they need someone to stand up for them, too. Not just stick up for Clansfolk but…for everyone. Just…like the old guy says."
Juushirou eyed him for a moment, then he nodded, a serious expression touching his clever features.
"Yes." He murmured. "I don't find any of it funny, Shunsui – or any of it anything to mock you about. If you say you heard your sword, I believe you. If you say your Father's blade reacted to you, I believe you. And if you say…that this is your resolve now…then…I believe that, too."
He smiled, holding out his hand.
"It's what I want as well." He added. "Whether I can do anything to change the world or not. But I'd like us to be working together, too. I don't know if I have any hope of reaching the very top of the Gotei. But I'm still going to do the best I can. If you do too, then one day, it might actually happen. We might actually be able to help Genryuusai-sensei and well, make it so people like those people aren't suffering any more."
Shunsui leant across to grasp Juushirou's thin fingers in his, squeezing them tightly before letting them go.
"It's a deal." He said solemnly. "Thank you for hearing me out, Juu. Just talking about it with someone…helps."
"Then I'll give you the advice Ryuu gave me. Go speak to Sensei." Juushirou responded, but Shunsui shook his head.
"I've only just heard them speak. I'm not like you – it's not anything beyond that yet." He said seriously. "The way in which I have to work isn't like yours, after all. It's not my physical state that needs training, but my mental one. That's not something Sensei can help me with. I have to find that on my own. Resolve, Seibara called it. She said she'd be testing me and that those tests would be hard ones. But if she is…if she does…that'll be when I'll find out if I'm ready or not to start training with my sword."
"That sounds almost ominous." Juushirou reflected, and Shunsui nodded his head.
"Yes…it does, rather." He said pensively. "But the truth is, Juu, I probably deserve that as well. You can't coast forever. Not everything can be easy. If it's easy then at some point it's going to rear up and bite me – I'm pretty sure that's the case. You've worked hard and harder than most and that's how you summoned Sougyo. I've never really wanted to work that hard, but I know now that I won't summon my sword – any sword – unless I'm committed to doing so."
"And are you?" Juushirou questioned. Shunsui shrugged.
"Not sure, yet." He admitted. "Which is why I don't want to talk to Sensei about it at the moment. There are a lot of things I don't fully understand and I want to think them out for myself before running to him for help. I'm not like you, after all – there's no rush for me to do it in the same way you have. My physical health isn't under any kind of threat – and I'm not about to lose control of my reiryoku. I don't intend on just sitting back and doing nothing," He added, as Juushirou raised an eyebrow. "But it's going to take a little bit more time to beat the lazy out of me. If it's even possible to beat it out. I don't know. I guess we'll see."
"Maybe it's not so much laziness as fear of the unknown." Juushirou pursed his lips. "Because it is scary. Very scary. When they're pushing through your thoughts and your power surges and you really don't know how to explain it to anyone else. I felt…very alone, Shunsui. Even though you were all there and I could talk to you – it was harder actually being able to do it. It's different, trying to make someone else understand something that's, well, inside of you."
"Mm. For the first time I'm beginning to understand that." Shunsui agreed. "But I'm lucky."
He grinned.
"You've already done the first step. Therefore you understand more about it than I do."
"But everyone's sword is different. Everyone is different." Juushirou pointed out. "Sensei said as much to me after I first came around. All swords release and work in a way unique to themselves – so what might be true for me may not be true for you."
"Probably." Shunsui acknowledged. "But at least if I'm hearing voices in my head, you won't think I'm crazy."
"No more than I already do." Juushirou laughed. "And I'm well used to that."
"You're so cruel, Juu-kun." Shunsui pulled a mock-hurt face. "And you come from such a nice family, too."
"Well, sometimes being cruel to be kind works." Juushirou said matter-of-factly. "In the meantime, you said you had food? Not to change the subject or anything, but if we're not going to the dining hall – I'm starving hungry and I definitely need to eat something before we go to class this afternoon."
"You and your appetite." Shunsui chuckled, nonetheless getting to his feet. "All right. I get it. Where you put it all is still a mystery, but I suppose you did hear me out. We'll eat, and put this topic aside for the time being. I still have a lot to think around it, after all – and hopefully find a little bit of that 'resolve' thing that Seibara was talking about, too."
"Good evening, Juushirou."
As Juushirou slipped inside the headmaster's study, the old man glanced up from the papers he was reading, shooting his student a smile and gesturing for him to take a seat. "I have just to sign these, and then we can begin – I trust that you've had some time to think about your sword and what it means in the time since we last spoke?"
Juushirou nodded, obediently kneeling on one of the cushions spread out for the purpose, and Genryuusai's moustache twitched thoughtfully at his student's demeanour. He swept the brush across the page deftly, then got to his feet, pushing the documents to one side and coming to join his companion on the cushions on the floor.
It was a week now since Juushirou had first come to Genryuusai's study, and contrary to the boy's expectation, he had not once asked to engage the weapon in any kind of conflict. In fact, since the first time Juushirou had reported to his headmaster, he had barely touched his weapon at all – most of the time having been taken up in discussion and explanation about the properties of the shinigami zanpakutou.
Yet despite his lack of preparation, Juushirou had responded quickly and eagerly to the complicated concepts Genryuusai had put forward. He was an intelligent boy – perhaps verging on more than intelligent – and Genryuusai had been gratified by the speed at which his capable student had made sense of the complicated values he was beginning to learn. This was, after all, fourth year work – even the most basic zanjutsu theory classes did not begin until the final semester of the third year – yet even without that grounding, Juushirou grasped at the knowledge, formulating it carefully together into a logic that was both well-considered and sound.
Fleetingly Genryuusai had wondered whether he should be moving his young pupil up to the third year after all – and then, with a wry smile, he had discarded the notion.
Perhaps he is academically ready for it, but even so, I will not do it. His current classmates have accepted him and I will not risk showing favour beyond the necessary to a student of District blood. While I believe in him and while he is piece by piece living up to my expectations, I will not mollycoddle his ability nor make his path an easy one. He of all of them requires the most detailed grounding and education – at least for the time being, I will not think of moving him.
Out loud he said now,
"Yesterday we discussed the different types of zanpakutou and how their elements can dictate the kind of release command they require. In particular we spoke of my sword, Ryuujinjakka – but also of other elemental blades and the different ways in which they can be released. Today we're going to focus more specifically on your blade – and on the elements that drive it most of all."
"Storm and sea, Sensei?" Juushirou looked startled. "Isn't that…what you said to me?"
"I did." Genryuusai nodded. "And I still feel that to be the case. Your sword was summoned in the power of a natural storm, after all – the environment was conducive to it and so you successfully harnessed that power in order to protect yourself. Yet simply 'storm and sea' is not enough to understand what your blade requires of you. That action was instinctive. We might call it…innate. To control that action – requires something more."
Juushirou sighed, pursing his lips and Genryuusai could see his student was thinking this over carefully. He was still very young in some ways, the old man realised – yet in others he was already an adult and ready to fully embrace the challenges that would face him from this point on. They would not be easy to overcome – Genryuusai knew this better than anyone. That Juushirou could gain acceptance here was one thing – but out in the world and before the Gotei…that was a test yet to come.
"Have you spoken to your fish at all about this?" He asked softly now, and Juushirou started, slowly shaking his head.
"I tried, last night." He admitted. "When we went to bed, I closed my eyes and tried to get them to talk to me. But In said that it was something I had to find for myself, and You told me to stop expecting to be spoon-fed just because I'd managed to form my blade. So I tried to think it over for myself…then I guess I fell asleep. I do know what you're saying, Sensei – but even so, I'm not sure how to go about it. I understand that zanpakutou each have their own release – but…"
"Your sword is a very powerful one." Genryuusai reached a wizened hand across to hover it over the blade, feeling its sleeping reiatsu as he did so. "Even sealed like this, it's easy to tell that it is a long way from reaching its full potential."
"But if I can't unlock that…" Juushirou sighed, shaking his head. "My memories of the storm are hazy. To defend against the lightning, I summoned my blade. But everything overwhelmed me, and it's still not completely clear even now what I did. I know there was a flare…like energy burst through me then back out into the surroundings. But…"
"Through you and back out?" Genryuusai latched onto this, and Juushirou nodded.
"That's how it seemed." He confirmed. "One moment I was being engulfed and the next I was on top of the world. And then…I crashed back down again, and couldn't even keep awake."
"I see." Genryuusai stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Yes, that does make sense."
"Does it?" Juushirou looked doubtful, and Genryuusai nodded.
"Stand up, Juushirou." He commanded. "And take your weapon in your right hand."
"Yes sir." Juushirou looked startled, but nodded, getting obediently to his feet and tightening his fingers around Sougyo no Kotowari's hilt. "But surely…in here…if I can't control it…"
"There is already a kidou barrier placed around this chamber." Genryuusai said simply. "I put it in place when you entered, and it is more than a match for anything your sword may or may not produce. Besides, I don't intend to attack you. I don't want you to react instinctively to an outside force."
He tapped his cane, then,
"For some fighters, the only way they can raise their sword is to be pushed almost to the brink of death. In desperation they then cry out their weapon's name and in turn learn its commands." He continued. "For others, the reaction and the power is there, just beneath the surface. The challenge is not to raise it once it has been first awoken – but to control it so as it only works when its master calls it. Your power levels are high. To fight you to a near-death point would be dangerous for you and for anyone in the surrounding area since your body is fragile and your blade would probably overreact to compensate. So instead we're going to try a different tactic."
He gestured.
"Hold your weapon as though you mean to fight me. As you would in your kenjutsu classes – or if facing Nagoya on the training ground."
"Y…yes sir." Slowly Juushirou did as he was bidden, and Genryuusai ran his gaze over the boy's stance thoughtfully.
Too much tension even now. We'll have to do something about that – the tighter he is, the more unstable his reiryoku will be.
Aloud he said,
"Are you afraid of your sword, Juushirou?"
"I…" Juushirou faltered, glancing at it, then he shook his head.
"No, sir. I don't think so."
"Then why do you hold it so gingerly – and with so much apprehension in your eyes?"
"I…suppose because…it might fire or something. It might do anything – and I won't be able to stop it."
"But I've already told you this place is secure and you cannot damage it." Genryuusai pointed out. Juushirou bit his lip.
"But you're inside the barrier too, Sensei." He said awkwardly. "And I know I…I probably couldn't kill you, even if I was completely out of control. But I might injure you…and…"
"Juushirou." Genryuusai stood, coming to rest a hand on the boy's sword arm. "As I've told you before, this arm will one day wield a great sword. You've taken steps towards it, but your anxieties will hold you back."
He turned, sending his young protégé a smile.
"I'm old and have faced many swords. I'm not easy to hurt, let alone kill." He said comfortably. "I don't think that it's necessarily the case that I'm invincible – or that, one day, you might not summon the strength needed to seriously wound me. But that day is not today. You need not be so worried. Nothing you can do today will do me any harm."
"Are you…sure?" Juushirou was hesitant, and Genryuusai nodded.
"I am quite sure." He said firmly. "So release some of your tension. Your fish won't answer your questions if you demand them to with such agitation, after all."
"But I…I'm not speaking to my fish right now." Juushirou blinked.
"You are talking about controlling an element of your power." Genryuusai said quietly. "That power is yours – and you do not need your fish in front of you in order for them to grant your commands. You are the master of this sword, after all. It isn't a democracy – they have guided you and now you must command them. If you let them do as they please always, you will never master Sougyo's release or its true power. Do you understand me, Juushirou? The decisions come from you. Your agitation puts a barrier between you and their obedience to you. If you want their confidence, you must be confident. And you must take the lead. They gave you their name, and accepted you as their master. Now you have to learn to uphold that belief and trust. You are a leader – we've spoken of it before. So lead."
Juushirou's eyes became thoughtful and he gazed down at his weapon, clearly deep in thought. He reached out his left hand, touching the metal of the blade pensively, then he nodded.
"I understand." He said softly. "My fish are part of Sougyo and their power must be, too. The sword is waiting for me to command it. It won't do anything until I do."
"Exactly." Genryuusai agreed. "It protected you – but now, it needs you to take control."
Juushirou's eyes narrowed.
"But I don't know how to find the command." He admitted. "The key to unlock it – that's what you said, isn't it, Sensei? The word that will bring my sword to obey me. At the moment it's a zanpakutou, but it's still…like this. I don't think…that's how it's meant to be. Nagoya-senpai's shikai changed his blade so much – whereas mine…it glowed and there was a surge of power but…I don't think…this is all it can do."
"Without doubt you're correct." Genryuusai agreed. "Your weapon remains in a sealed state. It is a zanpakutou – but aside from its connection to you, it currently has no more means to attack than a normal sword would."
He turned away, settling himself down with surprising nimbleness once more on his cushion.
"Sit." He said mildly, and Juushirou did so, setting the weapon down once more at his side.
"I didn't tell you to loose Sougyo no Kotowari." Genryuusai remarked, and Juushirou reddened, hurriedly scooping up the sword once more.
"It feels alien to you?" Genryuusai asked. "That you so easily let it down when it's not time to fight?"
"I…don't know." Juushirou sighed, then, "No. Perhaps the opposite. Perhaps it feels…too much like me. I don't really know…whether something in my thoughts might awaken it by accident."
"Then we'll clear those thoughts." Genryuusai instructed. "I want you to sit cross-legged, Juushirou – and I want you to keep the weapon with you – place it across your lap, if you like, so that it is within your immediate aura. You've too many things prickling at your reiatsu – too many worries and they're clogging up your ability to properly reach your sword. In short, you're thinking far too much. A zanpakutou isn't controlled by thought. It's controlled by intuition."
Juushirou did as he was bidden, and Genryuusai smiled.
"Close your eyes, then." He said softly. "And focus on the place you first saw your fish."
"The…place?"
"Yes. The place they take you to, whenever you choose to speak to them."
Juushirou hesitated for a moment, then closed his eyes, and Genryuusai could sense the changing in his reiatsu as the boy carefully and gingerly allowed his barriers to drop one by one.
For a while, Genryuusai simply watched him. Then, very slowly, he reached across to rest his fingers against the glittering blade. As the slithers of foreign reiatsu prickled around his wizened skin, a faint image of Juushirou's inner world reflected dimly within his own thoughts.
Ryuujinjakka, can you feel it? This boy's world is a seascape – can you help me reach through it, and to him?
Aye, sir.
A bird-like apparition soared across his thoughts, dropping burning feathers that disintegrated into ash before they had even touched the ground. It was gone in a moment, but Genryuusai found his connection to Juushirou's world growing stronger, as Ryuujinjakka's spirit stretched out and curled itself reassuringly around the newborn blade.
As with others, it is young and uncertain. It needs guidance – and so does he.
Aye, sir. Understood.
The phoenix's words were no more than impressions against the old man's mind, for they were one and had been one since long before even Juushirou's grandparents had taken their first breaths. Genryuusai nodded, closing his own eyes.
Then I trust my eyes to you.
As soon as his command had slipped through his thoughts, Genryuusai found the world around him morphing and changing, the seascape becoming more real in his mind's eye as the study slid away into the recesses of his awareness. He was on the fringe of Juushirou's spirit world – a spectator, nothing more, but the impression was vivid enough for him to track his protégé's thoughts and instincts as he moved deeper and deeper into the spiritual landscape.
Deep beneath the waves, he realised. Deep to a place Ryuujinjakka would prefer not to go.
Yet go we must – even if we cannot fully interfere. To understand his world – without influencing it. You've calmed the confusion and allowed the sword to speak clearly across the bond for the first time. More we cannot do. More we must not do.
Aye, sir.
As they progressed deeper into Juushirou's inner consciousness, Genryuusai became aware of his student's astral self, his body glittering with faint colourless light as he walked along the sandy landscape. Overhead, the clouds were dark and grey, flickering gently with the odd electric flash, yet none of any density or strength and none which Genryuusai felt would suddenly turn hostile. It was, he reflected, almost contented lightning – that it's flickering showed only that it lived, not that it meant to do its host body harm.
The waves too lapped at the sands, foam-capped and eager, yet not threatening, and as Juushirou paused, he crouched at the water's edge, running his fingers through the soft white surf.
There was no sign of his fish, yet Genryuusai could sense their presence all around him. They were waiting, watching, hoping for a sign that Juushirou would find them without them having to reveal their whereabouts to him. Genryuusai's brows knitted together as he considered this – to Ryuujinjakka's senses their location was all too obvious, but if he intervened now, Juushirou's power would be weakened and stunted forever.
So he did nothing except watch as the waves lapped and the lightning danced.
And then, from the blackest storm-clouds, Genryuusai was aware of a glittering haze of light. At first it was tiny, just a fleck on the horizon but, as it got bigger, Genryuusai thought that he saw the form of a woman ensconced inside it – a pale, glimmering, spectral figure who seemed more like an angel than a person, yet an angel with a face he knew and remembered.
Raiko?
As she drew closer to the sands, Genryuusai was struck with another realisation – that Juushirou had registered her presence and had reached out his arms to her, allowing her to cover his pale fingers with her glittering hands. Her fingers were little more than tiny darts of electric energy – and as the two made contact, Genryuusai saw Juushirou close his eyes, tears glittering on his lashes. The apparition engulfed him, little by little, then faded away – and Genryuusai knew that he had drawn her inside of his body.
Almost as soon as the light had begun to fade, there was a crash of thunder overhead, and, in the resultant flashing of electricity Genryuusai saw the waves swell, leaping and crashing against each other as they rose into what could only be described as a giant tsunami. The wave bore down towards the sand, lunging towards Juushirou with a roaring, almost predatorial intent. In its depths, Genryuusai made out the faintest silhouette of a figure, fleeting and brief as its presence was revealed and then cloaked by the still rumbling storm. Juushirou did not move, tears still coursing his cheeks as the wave drove towards him – yet instead of turning to flee from the danger, Juushirou stumbled forward towards it, and as the two collided Genryuusai was half-sure that the wave was embracing the boy as it crashed over his eager form.
At this realisation, Genryuusai felt relief. As the water continued to flood around Juushirou's astral body, the old man made up his mind.
They have come to him, then, in their truest and rawest of forms. And he has accepted them without hesitation. We can leave now, Ryuujinjakka. The boy has found what he was looking for. We are done.
Aye, sir.
As Juushirou's inner world slowly faded from his vision, Genryuusai opened his eyes, allowing himself a moment to steady his thoughts before he turned his attention back towards his student.
Juushirou's body was bathed in a faint golden light, and tears ran silently down his cheeks. For a moment he did not move, then, very slowly, his lashes fluttered and his eyes opened, gazing around in dazed confusion.
His sword glittered and hummed for a moment, and Juushirou swallowed hard, meeting his teacher's gaze.
"Did you find it, then? What you were looking for?" Genryuusai asked quietly. Juushirou nodded wordlessly, and Genryuusai knew that he had.
"In'you were not there this time?" He pressed gently, and Juushirou shook his head.
"Then why are you crying?" Genryuusai murmured. "You have nothing to cry about…do you?"
Juushirou swallowed hard, gathering his wits, then,
"I saw them." He managed. "When I didn't think I would."
"Saw…them?" Although Genryuusai knew what Juushirou was talking about, still he pushed for answers. "Saw who, Juushirou? Saw who?"
"Hahaue and Otousama." Juushirou's voice wobbled slightly. "Although they're dead…I saw them."
Genryuusai eyed his student for a moment, and slowly, Juushirou continued.
"It wasn't them. I know that." He added brokenly. "Because they're dead. They've gone. But In…and You…always speak to me with their voices. As though they're real and still watching me. And…and In'you the fish…weren't there. But…they…were with me, Sensei. In was my mother. You was my father. They came to me in those forms…to help me find my power."
"Your mother and your father." Genryuusai remembered the features of the lightning apparition, and he nodded his head.
"Perhaps so. Perhaps by taking on such forms, they can keep your memories of your parents close to you." He reflected. "And let them fight along with you as they cannot do in life."
"I…I think so." Juushirou reached up to wipe away his tears. "At first…it was all storm and sea, and I couldn't find anything. But then…it calmed. Something…steadied. And I saw…Hahaue bathed in light and Father from the waves. In is my storm. You is my sea. They both…gave me their keys, Sensei. When they touched me…they gave me their keys."
"And now you can unlock the door?"
"I…suppose I can." Juushirou's eyes widened, first with realisation then with concern. "But…if I did that…what would happen? If I tried, Sensei, what…"
"Until you do, you'll never know." Genryuusai said calmly, and Juushirou frowned.
"Then…is it okay…for me to try?" He whispered.
"You must. While they are so actively waiting for you – you should acknowledge them and the gifts they've given you."
Juushirou swallowed hard, placing his palms against the silver surface of the sword and Genryuusai had the distinct impression that, although no words were spoken, the two were communicating with one another.
Then at length he raised his head, clasping the weapon tightly in his right hand and holding it out in front of him.
"Nami…kotogotoku." He murmured hesitantly, putting his free hand to the hilt of his weapon as faint, irregular sprays of light glimmered from his fingers. "Wa ga tate to nare."
He faltered slightly, as the blade glowed with a sudden vibrant light, and even Genryuusai felt his astonishment rise inside of him as he registered what was happening. Instead of the weapon blurring and morphing itself into a new shape, he realised, Sougyo no Kotowari was dividing itself...into two distinctive blades.
Of all things…I had not thought…that they were truly twin spirits after all.
"Ikazuchi…kotogotoku." Juushirou spoke tentatively, and as the flare of power around the blade increased, Genryuusai realised that it was starting to shoot beyond the boy's immediate control. "Wa…wa ga…yaiba…to…nare!"
Almost as soon as the words had passed his lips, he screwed up his eyes in anticipation of what was to come. There was a tremendous glow of energy and, as it connected with the still lingering flickers of Genryuusai's own, it exploded into a dazzling flare that sent the boy falling backwards, the weapon falling from his grip in the blast. Genryuusai acted quickly, murmuring the words of a quick binding spell to confine the explosion further, then, once the danger was averted he moved forward, reaching down to help the dazed Juushirou into an upright position.
"Are you hurt?" He asked, and Juushirou shook his head.
"No…just…I felt it was going to…to explode. And then…"
"It did." Genryuusai sighed, his gaze going across to where the fallen zanpakutou lay. "Its power overwhelmed you, but in the end, for a first true release…it could have been far worse. Your weapon is complicated, after all."
Juushirou let out a gasp as he saw his blade's new form, and Genryuusai nodded.
"Your sword is two swords, it seems. Two swords in one." He said frankly. "Two elements that are so potent that they can't be confined in the same blade when your power is released."
"The waves are my shield and the lightning is my blade." Juushirou's fingers closed tentatively around the twin hilts of his fallen weapon, his gaze never leaving them for one moment. "In and You are one sword, but two spirits. And two spirits means two shikai blades…even though they're one zanpakutou?"
"So it would seem."
Genryuusai hesitated for a moment, then, "And in all my years of training and fighting, Juushirou – I have never before seen a weapon divide itself cleanly into two distinctive swords. Though I've seen them fragment and split into pieces…bend and curve and warp into all kinds of different things…never have I known someone to have two spirits, and never have I seen two blades."
"But…" Juushirou seemed to check himself mid sentence, stalling, and Genryuusai eyed him keenly, wondering for a brief moment whether or not he was aware of Shunsui's twin spirits.
If so, Shunsui must have spoken of them himself. And Juushirou is keeping his secret, for now. I suppose Shunsui doesn't realise I've already spoken with Seibara and Amaki - but if he's beginning to understand, sooner or later I will be having another interesting conversation with a very promising student.
"It's really that unusual?" Gently Juushirou lifted the now quiet weapon, eying the two halves with a mixture of awe and wonder. "My sword is really…so different?"
Genryuusai frowned.
"I told you that Nagoya's flexible shikai releases gave promise of more power." He said gravely. "And I have always known that you had at least the same potential flowing through you. Now I realise that it's something more. What you have, Juushirou, is something I have never encountered in my whole life. Your shikai release is longer than most – and it probably needs to be, since you have so much energy to confine and separate and to do so requires a lot of concentration. As you get stronger, you will no doubt learn to do that without needing the words – but for now, you must remember them and cling to them whenever you think to release your sword."
And more, I will have to continue to watch over you. Because even now you've succeeded, your body remains weak. I thought that if you confined your power to a blade, it would alleviate the trouble and so it has. But to release this much energy and control it will provide stresses of its own – stresses that might put extra pressure on an already delicate frame.
His brows knitted together.
I will have to speak to Retsu about the current state of his heart. It will, after all, need to be especially strong to stand up to the level of power Sougyo no Kotowari is going to command – and if there is anything to be done to support it, I would like to begin it now. I don't know what kind of an impact haibyou might have on other parts of his body…but I do know many of his ancestors died of complications when they were still young. It won't hurt to be careful after all, physical weakness or otherwise.
Resolution hardened inside of him as he considered this.
I do not intend on having this student snatched away. He is too important – to the Gotei, to Seireitei, to everything that I've worked for so far. And for himself, too – to finally cast off the cursed mantle and see himself in the way others will see him. Now we've taken the road this far…there is only one direction in which to go.
Out loud he said,
"That took a lot of your strength, didn't it?"
"Mm." Juushirou admitted. "To…to be honest, it…still is. It's..like this and I can feel it – like it wants to do more, only I won't let it. Should I let it? Am I wrong to hold it back?"
"You are the master. Not the sword." Genryuusai reminded him. "It follows your guidance. Hold it back. Don't let it disobey you."
"I'll try." Juushirou murmured. "But…will it do that? Every time I release, will it…explode?"
"It didn't explode. It reacted to my reiatsu because you weren't completely in control." Genryuusai replied. "It's hard to be sure, yet, since it is still so immature. But it seemed to me as though it drew power in – and then sent it out in a blast of raw energy. Your sword seeks to protect you by using others' power against them. That it can think so intelligently even at this point in its life indicates that it will probably have some terrifying techniques of its own…one day, when you are ready to wield them."
He hovered his hand over the silver blades, pursing his lips.
"They each have a distinctive aura from one another, but they are still working in tandem." He murmured. "I don't think...they will always act in the same way, but they will probably always act as a team. And with you, Juushirou. They have accepted you - you just need to take more time and care on controlling their release. You can hold them, after all. You're proving it right now. It's just on the intial release. You need to reel back your reiatsu before it reaches the level it did just then. This will come, of course, with practice."
He smiled.
"Can you re-seal it?" He asked. "Without my help?"
"I...think so." Juushirou frowned, concentration creasing his brow as he moved the two parts of the blade towards one another. He closed his eyes, and with a flare and buzz of reiatsu, the two weapons merged back into one. He let out his breath in a sigh, raising his gaze to his companion.
"It's easier when it's sealed. Now I understand why people carry them that way." He said ruefully, and Genryuusai chuckled.
"Indeed." He said warmly. "But you have done well, tonight. And you have made my decision for me, also."
"Decision?" Juushirou was startled, and Genryuusai nodded.
"All zanpakutou must be ratified by the Council of Elders once successfully released into their shikai form." He said quietly, his eyes full of seriousness. "All of them, Juushirou, no matter who wields them. Not to do so is a serious criminal offence - an unregistered zanpakutou that is used in any respect outside of the training arena is a dangerous weapon and the penalty for such action is severe. Do you understand?"
Juushirou's face paled, and Genryuusai nodded.
"Now you know why I have brought you here and dealt with you myself since the storm." He agreed. "But now we have reached this point, I can no longer delay my decision. I have already written to the current chair of the Council, Kuchiki Guren-dono...and asked him whether or not he will receive you for assessment. He responded to me by messenger this morning that the Council must uphold its own rules and therefore he will not move to block us. Therefore, you must go. And you must present Sougyo no Kotowari in the same way all others present their blades to the Council."
"But...the Council...of...Elders?" Juushirou whispered, looking aghast, and Genryuusai nodded.
"It must be done." He said simply. "It is the law and all who become Shinigami must adhere to it."
"But..I'm...District." Juushirou managed. "And they...they..."
"Not all Clan are opposed to District Shinigami. In fact, more are in favour now than ever before." Genryuusai told him gently. "But if you cannot face the challenge at this level, Juushirou, your training ends here. You will never be a true Shinigami or a member of the Gotei if you do not find the courage to face those who may be your enemies. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir...I...I suppose so."
"Besides, I shall not send you alone." Genryuusai said evenly. "I have already spoken to Nagoya and he will accompany you. It is his duty, after all, as your shishou, to present you to the Council himself."
"Nagoya-senpai...will...come with me?" Juushirou repeated faintly. "And...he is...all right with that idea?"
"He understands, as do I, that his doing so is a manner by which he can prove his current level of training competence." Genryuusai said briskly. "And he knows his duty. He has accepted without complaint. I think he has expected my summons. Besides, he knows the Council ways and will be able to guide you in how best to act. You can trust in him, Juushirou. He is a proud boy, but he has accepted you as his deshi and will do all in his power to uphold that until his duty is at an end."
Juushirou swallowed hard.
"When...must I go?" He asked softly, and Genryuusai eyed him keenly.
"Two days time." he responded. "You'll travel to Inner Seireitei direct and spend the night in the hostel given over for the purpose. It is simple accommodation as befits those coming for inspection, so you will not feel too intimidated by it. Follow Nagoya's lead and trust in him. You will be taken to face the Council early on the following morning...from that point, it will rest in your hands. But have courage, Juushirou - you are capable of passing this test. If you were not, I would not send you."
Juushirou did not answer at first, then, very slowly, he bowed his head in the old man's direction.
"I understand, Sensei." He said solemnly. "And I'll do my best not to let you down."
"Ukitake's back late this evening."
Kai dropped his hakamashita down on the end of his bunk, sitting on the end of it as he unwound the golden tie from his thick violet hair. "Normally his sessions with Genryuusai-sensei end with the bedtime gong – what do you think is keeping him tonight?"
"Something unusual, without a doubt." Ryuu said pensively, and at this, Shunsui glanced up from where he was folding his uniform, eying Ryuu keenly.
"You feel it too, huh?" He asked softly, and Ryuu nodded.
"Of course." He agreed. "With Ukitake's reiatsu, it's impossible not to. He still flares it from time to time and it is very distinctive a sensation."
"And he was flaring it some tonight." Kai said frankly. "Still, he's with Sensei, so he should be all right...shouldn't he?"
"All of this zanpakutou stuff is kinda new to us, though." Enishi tied the wrap of his night-robe firmly around his broad frame, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't pretend to have the kind of sensitivity you people do to it – but I know he's been working hard. None of us really know what his next step is – we're not even supposed to be learning about swords yet."
"I don't think there's a set age. I think it just happens." Hirata reflected pensively. "I don't think it was a bad flare though, tonight."
"It was an unusual one, though." Kai responded simply. "And anything unusual where Ukitake is concerned quite often spells the onset of trouble."
Shunsui let out a low chuckle at this, nodding his head.
"True, but I think I'm with Hirata on this one." He put in. "He's with Yama-jii, and it wasn't like I've felt his reiatsu flare before. I guess it's connected to the sword – but we shouldn't worry about him so easily. He's the best qualified of all of us now, really. We ought to take that into account."
"I wonder what it's really like, hearing your zanpakutou speak." Hirata murmured, settling himself back against the wall as he considered this. "They're all supposed to be unique, after all."
"Ukitake's are fish. He's said so. Two fish." Enishi remembered. "Though apparently that's a bit unique, since most people only have one spirit."
"What kind of spirit does Sensei have, Houjou? You're his kinsman, so I guess you know?" Kai looked inquisitive, and Enishi shrugged.
"Story goes that it's a phoenix, but nobody's seen him properly release Ryuujinjakka in a long time." He responded. "Still, that's what they say."
"A bird, huh." Hirata frowned. "Sounds more like an Endou, in that case."
"What do you mean?" Ryuu cast him a quizzical look, and Hirata shrugged.
"Endou spirits are always birds. Hunting birds." He said slowly. "That's why there's the head of one on our family crest. All of the zanpakutou registered by my Clan for a long time back have followed that pattern. Grandfather's is a gyrfalcon. Seimaru's is a shrike. Grandmother's was rumoured to be a silver eagle, though I never saw it for myself."
He shrugged.
"Father doesn't have one, but he did once tell me he'd had a dream about an owl." He added. "And he thought that it was his spirit, though he's never been allowed to train to raise it properly and it may just have been imagination. But I suppose, if I ever have a zanpakutou – mine will probably be a hunting bird as well."
"That's kind of neat." Enishi looked impressed. "And all of your family are like that?"
"All of us." Hirata confirmed. "So far as our records go back."
"There's no such pattern in the Shihouin." Kai stretched out on his bed. "Midori-neesama's Akekage is a law unto itself – Kamuki-jisama's was the same. They're often assassin blades, I suppose – but not necessarily. So I've no idea…what kind of sword I might have, if I ever have one."
"Kuchiki swords are elegant." Ryuu said proudly. "Guren-sama's is particularly so, and Shirogane-senpai's weapon is said to be the dance of metal shards when he releases his blade. I expect that mine will also be so – when I reach that level of training."
"Yours will be stiff and straight, Kuchiki, with no deviations whatsoever." Kai said dryly. "Sharp and to the point. Just like you."
"I did not ask for your opinion." Ryuu bristled at this, and Enishi held up his hands.
"Stop it, the both of you." He said bluntly. "We're not gonna fight. This is an interesting conversation, after all."
"What about yours, then, Enishi-kun?" Shunsui asked curiously. "Any inkling about what kind of spirit you might have?"
"I'd probably not hear it knocking even if it was there." Enishi laughed good-naturedly. "Though there's no particular pattern in the Yamamoto-ke. We're not as organised as the Endou or as elegant as the Kuchiki – ours tend to simply reflect our inner selves and that might mean anything with me."
"Strong, forthright, brave." Shunsui reflected. "That's how I'd see your sword being, based on that evidence."
"I guess we'll see." Enishi grinned. "Though I appreciate the compliment – some would've said clumsy, awkward and block-headed."
"Kyouraku, your father was a Shinigami, wasn't he?" Kai remembered. "What about his sword? Does your Clan have any particular pattern?"
Shunsui looked pensive.
"Father's sword was called Tensonshin, but I never saw it released." He admitted. "Father discarded it before I was even born. However…I suppose…my zanpakutou spirits might be connected to it – I guess time will tell for sure."
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"You said spirits." He murmured, and Shunsui looked rueful.
"Spirit." He corrected, but Hirata shook his head.
"Kai-kun is right." He murmured. "You wouldn't say spirits unless you already knew…it was more than one."
"Kyouraku?" Enishi stared at him, and Shunsui sighed.
"I'm not like Juu, so don't think I am." He said heavily. "It's not like that."
"But you have seen something? Heard something?" Ryuu pressed, and Shunsui shrugged.
"Nothing I can really talk about." He responded. "So please don't ask me questions."
"But spirits. Not one, but more than one." Kai's brow furrowed. "Like Ukitake…you have more than one of…whatever it is you have."
"Mine aren't like Juu's." Shunsui shook his head. "There are two, yes. But they're not…the same. I haven't…seen them together. And…only in dreams. Once each. That's all."
"But you haven't spoken to Sensei?" Hirata asked, and Shunsui grimaced.
"No. Not yet. Please, none of you do, either." He begged. "Juu knows – I've spoken to him – but nobody else is supposed to. Not yet. I'm not ready for that…yet, and nor are they. They're just…there. Fleetingly. And that's all."
"But it's not surprising, really." Ryuu reflected with a sigh. "Ukitake's raised his sword, but Kyouraku is top of the Second Year. That being the case…"
"It's abnormal for any second year to be talking about zanpakutou like this." Enishi shook his head. He offered Shunsui a grin.
"We're never going to keep up with the pair of you in the long run." He added. "If you're already talking swords at this level…"
"You might hear yours speak tomorrow, Houjou." Kai reflected. "So might any of us. I mean, Kyouraku's only just heard his for the first time – right, Kyouraku? There's no telling when that might happen for the rest of us. I don't think Ukitake and Kyouraku are such miles out in front – if they were, Sensei would have already shunted them up a year, and he hasn't done that."
"But if you hear them, shouldn't you train them?" Hirata frowned, and Shunsui shrugged.
"They're not ready and nor am I." He said simply. "We'll get to that stage, but not just yet. So please, keep it a secret. I'd rather nobody else knew."
"Keep what a secret?"
At that moment the door slid back to reveal their missing dorm-mate, and Hirata was on his feet immediately.
"Ukitake-kun! You're late back tonight."
"I know. I guess Sensei kept me a little longer." Juushirou sank down onto his bunk, pulling the cream blanket around the blade of his weapon and setting it down on the unit. He looked tired, Shunsui thought, and there was an apprehensive look in his hazel eyes. "Well? What are we keeping a secret now? Did someone forget to do an assignment or something?"
"Kyouraku's zanpakutou spirits." Ryuu said categorically, and Juushirou looked surprised.
"You told everyone? I thought you didn't want people to know."
"I didn't, but it slipped out because Kai and Hirata are too attentive for their own good." Shunsui grimaced. "But I've asked people not to tell anyone about it. It's not as though they're always on the edge of my awareness, after all. I'm not ready for anything else to happen yet."
"It's all right, Kyouraku. We won't tell." Kai assured him. "It's your secret, after all."
"Shihouin's right." Enishi nodded. "But we should talk about this stuff – all of us, if not to anyone else. Because we're all gonna get there sooner or later, with any luck. It can't hurt to share experiences."
"Anyone would think you were talking about girls, Enishi-kun." Shunsui's expression became mischievous, and Enishi laughed good-naturedly.
"I guess it shows you're true to form, if you interpreted it like that." He responded evenly. "But I am serious. We should."
"I don't mind." Juushirou agreed. "Though I feel a little bit like the guinea pig at the moment."
"No helping that. You are." Kai said bluntly.
"Did something happen tonight, by the way?" Shunsui asked. "You were later than usual and we felt your reiatsu flare."
"Mm. In a way." Juushirou sighed. "I think it's a good thing, though. I managed to unseal my weapon…In'you told me the incantation and it…it worked. It was a little hard to control it, but Sensei's kidou prevented me from doing any damage."
"You released it? To its shikai form?" Ryuu looked excited. "What did it look like? Did it have any special appearance?"
"Yes…I suppose you'd call it that." Juushirou grinned. "It has two blades."
"Two…" Kai's eyes widened, and Juushirou nodded.
"Twin spirits and twin blades." He agreed. "Yes."
"Can you…show us?" Hirata asked softly, and Juushirou sighed, shaking his head.
"I wouldn't be confident of doing it safely." He said regretfully. "So not yet. But…besides, I don't think I'm allowed to. Sensei said all kinds of stuff about using a sword without proper authorisation…anyhow, he's sending me to the Council of Elders so that they can ratify it and so on as a proper zanpakutou. Till that happens…I don't suppose I'm allowed to use it at all. Not even if I did know properly how."
"The Council, huh." Shunsui pursed his lips.
So that's why he's so apprehensive. He's worried about that – and I would be too, in his shoes.
"When?" He asked aloud, and Juushirou looked rueful.
"Two days." He replied. "Nagoya-senpai is to come with me, since he's trained me. Apparently they've agreed to review me, so…two days from now."
"That's not much time to prepare." Kai reflected, and Juushirou pulled a face.
"I've never been to Inner Seireitei." He said flatly. "All the time in the world wouldn't be time enough."
"Inner Seireitei is frightening enough if you have Clan connections there." Enishi agreed. "But Ukitake's not like the rest of us…he won't have."
"Thanks, Enishi-kun." Juushirou groaned, flopping back on his bed, and Enishi frowned.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
"Besides, it's not as though you don't know members of the Council." Shunsui pointed out. "You do know Midori-sama and you do know Tokutarou-nii. That's two out of eight – three, because you're the pet patient of Unohana-sensei, too. It's not so bad when you think of it like that."
His expression became thoughtful.
And I'll be sure to write to Nii-sama. If I send it express messenger, it should get to him by tomorrow night and if I ask him particularly, he'll go. Even if he can't ratify zanpakutou – he can be moral support, and I know that he'd do that, if it was Juushirou we were talking about. After all, he knows Juu's my friend – and since I can't sneak along for the ride, he should be there for me by proxy.
"Knowing them fleetingly and facing them with Sougyo are two different things." Juushirou said quietly. "I'm not looking forward to it. The whole idea terrifies me – but like Sensei says, if I don't do it, my training can't go further. So I will go. And hopefully…I'll not mess it up."
"It will be a big deal either way." Kai said gravely. "A District boy presenting his sword for the Council of Elders. You might make history, given that fact, Ukitake. Certainly if they accept you, it'll pave the way for others like you. Maybe even others here at school with us now."
He snorted.
"Just think of Kira and how he'd go to pieces if it was him. It's better that it's you, you know. You might be nervous now – but you won't give them a bad impression of what District kids can do."
"I hope you're right." Juushirou sighed. "I'll do my best and it's all I can do – but I really won't be happy until I'm back here safely with the rest of you!"
------
Author's Note: Belated Happy Birthday to a certain 'hime' ;)