All my stories have been translated from German to English. Since English is not my native language, translation errors may occur. But I hope that they are not too serious. If you notice any, feel free to tell me.

Have fun!

XXX

"What the fuck is this again?! Do you have tomatoes in your eyes or what?!" - The angry voice of 9th Division Captain Muguruma Kensei echoed loudly across the remote patch of the forest they were in. He stood leaning against a tree with his arms crossed and a throbbing vein on his forehead, looking at his Vice-Captain, who was trying to defend himself against their Super-Captain Mashiro.

It was maddening! Why was Hisagi acting like a freshman from the academy, damn it! He didn't dodge the attacks cleanly. He wasn't attacking properly, and he was wielding his Zanpakutō as if he was holding it for the first time! How was he supposed to learn his bankai like that if he didn't even dare to attack his enemy? It was definitely not Mashiro's fault that Shūhei was so coy. Kensei was sure of that. Everyone knew she was tough and wouldn't let anyone beat her up that easily. No matter how petite, fragile or even childlike she looked. She was a sly dog! Mashiro was a good fighter. One of the best! What one could not really say of Hisagi now!

Kensei continued to follow Hisagi's movements. Analyzed every step he took. And it only made him angrier! - With a lot of momentum, Shūhei jumped onto a branch whose associated tree stood at the edge of their chosen and contained training ground. - But at least he had managed to call his Zanpakutō into the shikai at all. It had cost Kensei a lot of nerves and Shūhei a lot of beatings on Mashiro's part. But there was no other way, which Shūhei also realized at some point. After all, he could not reach his bankai with the sealed form of his Zanpakutōs. Not to mention that without his shikai, he didn't stand the slightest chance against his comrade.

Shūhei was about to launch an attack with Kazeshini when he suddenly saw it flash bright and red. - A cero! - "Hadō no 33: Sōkatsui!" - The penetrating force of the cero-even though Hisagi was sure Mashiro was holding back on the matter - was fierce to the point that the branch he was standing on broke, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Say, are you stupid! You better use your Zanpakutō!" - Kensei was clearly angry and his Vice Captain should feel that calmly. Even at the beginning of the training, he had made it clear to him that Kidō was off limits. But Shūhei couldn't take that into consideration right now. He would never have been able to fight off this Cero with Kazeshini alone. He was already too weak to fight and had already suffered several injuries. The last attack, if not for his Kidō, would have guaranteed to raze him to the ground. - "It would have killed me!" - "Then try harder!" - Shūhei glared at his Captain. After all, he knew that Kensei would not be squeamish with him. That he would kill him if he was too weak. But to experience it now in his own body- The words hit him hard and it was almost as if only now their meaning really got through to him. For Kensei, this was no simple training. He was dead serious.

A hard blow to the stomach, Hisagi pressed all the air out of his lungs. Mashiro had used his careless moment and pulled him off his feet again. Hisagi was lucky that Mashiro preferred to fight with her fists. He didn't want to imagine what would have happened if she had had a Zanpakutō at hand. - "Come on! Get up already!" roared Kensei, but Shūhei could not make another move. Mashiro had rammed him relentlessly into the ground. He lay on his back, in the dust and dirt of this forest, trying to get air back into his lungs. Everything hurt him. He slightly raised his upper body, supported himself with his forearms and fell backwards on the ground again. - When had he become so weak? When had he reached the point where even a single blow put him out of commission? - He heard footsteps.

"Get up," Kensei spoke, tugging him to his feet by his Shihakushō. He was no longer yelling, but his voice sounded pressed. Kensei was under pressure, Hisagi knew. Four of the Captains had already lost their bankai to the Quincys. They were serious opponents and a great danger for the Soul Society. Especially after Yamamoto-dono was defeated by Yhwach. The only one who could have saved them was killed by the Quincys. The pain still ran deep. Their General Captain had died for the good of the Soul Society, and now the Shinigamis had to do everything they could to pay their last respects to him. They had to grow stronger so that Yamamoto-dono's sacrifice would not be in vain. Everything hung on this one battle that could come at any moment. If they lost that - if they weren't strong enough to stand up to the Quincys, then that was the end of them. And yet, Kensei could not ask for miracles from Shūhei. After all, he was already doing his best, even if he knew it wasn't good enough for his Captain. Learning bankai usually took years. And to perfect it decades. And he was supposed to do it in one day? Even more so with this stubborn Zanpakutō who didn't like him anyway? That was impossible. - Kensei sighed heavily.

"We'll take a break. And you'd best go to the 4th to get taken care of. You'll need the strength" - Kensei looked at him sternly. Hisagi just nodded and turned on his heel to run out of the forest. Actually, his every bone ached and he would have loved to lie back on the ground. But he could not do that. And especially not in front of his Captain. So he gathered all his last reserves of strength and ran to the 4th Division. He didn't need to explain to anyone there why he looked so damaged. They could certainly guess, and Shūhei was guaranteed not to be the only one to visit them in this condition. That's why they healed him without a word and he could walk again. - "Vice Captain Hisagi! Please take care of yourself!", Hanatarō still called after him hesitantly and with a slightly shaky voice as he walked through the door. He almost didn't hear it because the 7th Seats voice was so quiet that it was almost drowned out by the sounds of the surroundings. But it reached Shūhei, even though he said nothing in response. What could he have said? After all, he could not promise. He didn't know what he would have to face in the next training session.

Shūhei made his way to the 9th Division. He had no idea how much time had already passed or how long Kensei wanted to hold the break, but he needed to rest for a short moment. He wanted to go to his office, which was two doors down from where his Captain had found his place. Thus Shūhei was the only Vice Captain - apart from that of the 1st Division and so the General Captain - who had his own office. Normally, he would have shared one with Kensei. But that right was reserved for Mashiro. And there was simply no room for three people. So he had been billeted two rooms away. At first, he had really resented being the third wheel. In Captain Tōsen's time, this had been his office. After all, he was the Vice Captain! But with Kensei's appointment as Captain of the 9th Division, things had changed. He was no longer the right hand of the 9th Division, even though his title might have suggested that. But in reality, he had been demoted to left hand. And Shūhei was sure that if it had been possible to relieve him of his function, he would have long since ceased to be Vice Captain. After all, Kensei, Mashiro had. What did he need a good-for-nothing like him for then? - He slammed his fist down on his desk with all his might. - What had he thought? The training with Mashiro had shown him again that she was superior to him in every point. He was a weakling in contrast to her!

"Shit!", Hisagi cursed softly and dropped to his knees. What did Kensei think of him now? Probably nothing but the truth. He wasn't worthy of being his Vice Captain. Not when he knew Mashiro was at his side. - His hands clawed tightly into the fabric of his Shihakushō that covered his thighs. - What was he going to do? He was weak! And Kensei knew it. He had shown his weakness to his great idol, of all people. Of all people, the man around whom his thoughts were constantly circling. - Shūhei clenched his jaw tightly. He felt the familiar burning in his eyes. He squeezed his eyelids shut. - Yet he never wanted anything but to be like Kensei. He wanted to be just as strong. But it was only because of him that he had become a shinigami. He had joined the 9th Division. With a lot of hard work he had fought for the position of Vice Captain. And for what? To disgrace himself in front of Kensei. To show him that he was nothing more than a small, stupid boy who tried to play hero. - Hisagi fought back the tears that welled up in his eyes at the thought. How long had it been since he had last cried? Oh, that's right. Back when Tōsen had disappeared, it had gripped him. The endless grief, the anger, the fear. But this was different. It was pure pain he felt. He wanted to scream and cry in pain. But he didn't. It would only make him weaker. And yet, he couldn't stop a sob from escaping his lips.

"Stop crying!" - Startled, Hisagi's body tensed as he heard the harsh voice behind him. He wrenched his eyes open, yet he didn't dare turn around. He felt heat rush to his face. He felt such infinite shame that he would have preferred to sink into the ground. This situation was nothing but embarrassing! He was sitting here on the floor of his office, almost crying. And Kensei, of all people, found him. Now his Captain not only thought he was a weakling, but a crybaby as well!

"I'm not crying," Shūhei had finally brought to his lips, His voice sounded firm enough to be believed. Then he ran his hand treacherously over his cheeks. - "Yes, I heard that" - Kensei rolled his eyes and uncrossed his arms. He took the last steps towards his Vice Captain. Hisagi anxiously followed every step with his hearing and knew that Kensei had stopped immediately behind him. He felt his Reitsu, which seemed to pierce him, as well as the warmth of his body.

"What's wrong?"- With more force than was actually necessary, he rested his hand on Shūhei's head. He didn't exactly gently wave it through his hair, but that was already enough to make Hisagi's heart beat faster. Had his Captain just inquired about his well-being? And even more important for him was the question if this was really happening. Was Kensei really patting his head? And was he imagining it or was he really trying to be gentle?

Of course, Hisagi couldn't voice all the questions that were buzzing through his head. He probably would not have received an answer to them anyway. Which he was absolutely right about. But Kensei would never let himself admit that. He had already realized that he had been pretty hard on Shūhei. Still, he would never apologize for it. In the last few hours, hard times had come for Soul Society, and they required tough measures. So all he could offer him was some encouragement. And so he ran his fingers through the surprisingly soft hair again.

"It's nothing, Captain. I just need a few moments to gather my strength" - Hisagi still spoke in a firm voice. - "Please give me another minute and go ahead. I'll be right there" - He still hadn't turned to Kensei as he spoke and fixed his gaze on the desk in front of him. Shūhei didn't want Kensei to witness him blushing with embarrassment. He didn't want him to see that he had really cried. Even if it was only two tears he had really shed. And if he was honest with himself, he still felt like crying. How could he rise in the esteem of his great role model, if he constantly suffered such embarrassments? How low did he want to sink?

When Tōsen had been his Captain, he certainly would not have minded so much if he had cried in front of him. And it wasn't because Tōsen couldn't have seen it. He certainly would have felt it. Just as he had felt every emotion on him. But he would have understood if he was shedding tears for a good reason. Then Tōsen wouldn't have stopped him. Would have given him the chance to let his grief run free. But was this a good reason? Was Kensei a reason to cry? Maybe. But it wasn't just Kensei. There was nothing in his life that he was satisfied with. He hated his Zanpakutō. He hated the scars on his face. He hated his loneliness. He hated his uselessness. He hated that cold look in Kensei's eyes. - His shoulders shook.

"Don't you start crying again!" had been Kensei's words to Shūhei's body language. Even though Hisagi really didn't intend to burst into tears again. Especially not when his Captain was still in the room! - Kensei crouched down behind Hisagi. He supported himself on one of his knees, while with the foot of his other leg he found a firm footing on the floor, which at the same time offered a perfect arm support. His other hand still rested on Hisagi's head. - "You know very well that I can't handle it when you cry" - That this was an allusion to their first meeting did not go unnoticed by Shūhei. How could he not notice it either? He would never forget that day that changed his life. He had been just a child then. And had cried bitterly. Kensei, who saved him from a Hollow at that time, tried to make him stop in a very rough way. But in vain. That had been the day when Kensei became his great role model. Not because he had tried to comfort him in a very whimsical way. No, Kensei was strong. He managed to protect him, just like everyone else. Hisagi also wanted to be someone who protected people. He wanted to save them, just as he himself was saved.

Shūhei dared to look at Kensei. He first looked over his shoulder and finally turned to face him a bit. He was surprised to hear his Captain say that. - "You still remember that?" he asked, astonished. Shuhei had been sure that Kensei had long forgotten. That incident and the little boy he had been then. - Kensei looked down at him from above. His hand had slipped from Hisagi's head by now as he turned to face him. - "Of course I remember! You cried like a girl!" - The usual harshness accompanied his words, and yet Hisagi could hear a trace of amusement. He was so embarrassed again, however, that he merely averted his eyes.

"I never really thanked you for saving me" - "You're not supposed to," Kensei interrupted, looking at Hisagi with a gaze so firm that it reached Shūhei even without the latter looking at him. - "It was my duty as a shinigami," he continued speaking. - "That's why I became one. I wanted to protect the people around me" - Why did this all sound so strangely familiar to Hisagi? It wasn't the first time he had heard those words. Ichigo once said the same thing. Protecting people, especially the ones you cared about, seemed to be the biggest drive of all, I guess. - "Why did you become a shinigami?" - Shūhei was silent at first. Could he just freely tell Kensei what his motives were? They would certainly sound ridiculous to him. - "Because of you," he spoke it out nonetheless, looking down at his hands in his lap, still clutching his Shihakushō. - "When you saved me back then, you became my greatest role model. I wanted to be like you and not be inferior in anything."-"I can see that," Kensei replied, poking Hisagi's cheek rudely with his index finger. Right in the places where the tattoo sat.

"You silly child. It was a stupid idea to do that" - Reflexively Shūhei squeezed his eyes shut as the finger dug painfully into his cheek. He knew, of course, that his Captain was talking about the sixty-nine that had immortalized itself on his skin. - "You probably don't even know what it stands for, and in your zeal you've completely blindly fallen into something" - Indignant at these words, Shūhei withdrew his face from his Captain, whose cheek he was currently pinching to pull heartily afterwards. - "The six stands for your last name, which also contains the kanji for the number six, and the nine for the 9th Division. Don't think I would really act so stupidly and thoughtlessly! It was because of you that I went to the academy back then! I wanted to be as strong as you! I wanted to be the one to save you someday!" - For the first time since he was a shinigami, this struck him. He didn't want to be as strong as Kensei. He wanted to be stronger. And he didn't want to save just anyone, either. He just wanted to save Kensei. Shūhei owed him his life. Without him, he wouldn't be here. He owed him a great debt. And he would pay it. Even if it took centuries!

"That may be, but that doesn't change the fact that you rely far too much on others" - This instantly took the wind out of Shūhei's sails. He had actually believed that Kensei would now laugh out loud at him for believing that he could save him from anything one day. However, Kensei seemed to just skip over his last words. - "You take so much example from others that someday you won't be yourself anymore. It's good for you to have an example. It can remind you of what you want to achieve. But don't be a copy. Don't constantly compare yourself to others and try not to emulate them. You have to find your own way. And neither Tōsen Kaname nor I can show you that path. Don't just follow the footsteps, but build your own roads. Even though there will be people who think they are wrong" - That had been one of the first things Kensei noticed about his Vice Captain. He had become so lulled by Tōsen's principles and viewpoints that he was even afraid to fight. He frantically tried to avoid any fight. Even when his life was at stake. And even now, when Tōsen was long dead, he held on to him. Allowed no criticism of him whatsoever, as he proved once again before training began by telling Kensei that he would not tolerate a bad word about his former Captain. He was so desperate for someone to lead him. Someone who was perfect that he went through life blindly hoping to find that someone. But no one was perfect and Shūhei knew it. That's why he turned a deaf ear to every bad word. This showed Kensei that Shūhei still had a lot to learn. And even though he would like to give him a little push in the right direction, he couldn't ignore the signs in the process. For he looked up to his Captain, made him his guide. And got mercilessly lost in it. But Kensei did not want that. He didn't want to play the hero. Besides, he was neither Shūhei's mother, nor a lighthouse! Shūhei had to do this on his own. And he would, if only he finally realized that he didn't have to make his life dependent on others. Kensei hoped that would be the case someday soon.

Hisagi didn't know what to say. Kensei looked at him with such a penetrating gaze that he almost forgot to breathe. What he didn't forget, however, were his words. And though his heart was beating up to his throat, he was contrite. He looked away again and his hands tightened. How should he deal with this? Was his Captain right? Was he really getting lost in something? But how could that be? Was it wrong to take others as an example? Did he really hate himself that much? Did he really want to be someone else so much that he forgot himself? What had become of him?

"Hey, you're going to take some criticism, aren't you?", Kensei snapped him out of his thoughts. As he had done before, he waved his hand - again with too much force - through his hair, Shūhei's head inevitably going with the movements without him being able to stop it. Shūhei still did not look at him. He suppressed the heat that was trying to spread across his face to give it a rich shade of red. - Kensei was touching him again! It was going to drive Hisagi crazy if he didn't stop it soon. The heart in his chest was racing and his pulse was going fast. What was going on here? Hisagi's inner world was shaken. He felt like a tornado was raging in it. So many emotional impressions were crashing down on him that he didn't know what to feel first. Happiness? Sadness? Shame? Self-hatred? - He had to do something quickly.

"I will do my best!" - With a sudden jerk, Shūhei rose a little and stood on his knees directly in front of Kensei. Now he was at eye level with him, looking him straight in the face. - "Well wonderful!" was all Kensei had to say to that and grinned. That was all he had wanted to hear. And that his Vice Captain spoke with such determination reassured him. He returned his gaze, which only seemed to make Shūhei crazier. His thoughts were riding a roller coaster again and the chaos of emotions became more present again. It was all so confusing that he didn't know which thoughts to laugh about and which to cry about.

Was his hair really as soft as it looked? Would Kensei mind if he touched it? Did he give everyone that special grin? Was he imagining it, or could he see affection in his gaze? If someone in his life had it? Was it perhaps even Mashiro? Did he notice what was going on inside Shūhei? Would Kensei even get involved with a weakling like him? Heavens, he had such muscular arms! - Shūhei's thoughts literally rolled over while he didn't notice that Kensei was starting to get suspicious. This eye contact between them was already way too long and intense. They shouldn't be looking at each other like that. It wasn't right.

But what was right or wrong didn't interest Hisagi in the slightest. He did not waste a thought on it. He was far too absorbed by the idea of being protected by the strong arms of his Captain. Hisagi was sure that once you were pressed against Kensei's broad chest, felt his regular heartbeat and these arms embraced you, no one in this world could harm you. Just feeling Kensei's presence gave him so much security and safety that he wanted more of it. He wanted more of this feeling. From Kensei's skin, from his voice. He wanted more of this man! - Shūhei's gaze wandered to the neckline of his Shihakushō. The skin looked warm, even though it was so pale. He wanted to touch it. He wanted to feel the strong chest, up to the neck. He wanted to feel Kensei's pulse under his fingertips. To run his fingers along his ear and feel the cool metal of his piercings. He wanted to put his hands to his cheeks, pull him close and kiss him. - He just couldn't stand this desire anymore. He had to do it now!

"We should go back" - Just as Shūhei was about to lean forward, Kensei's voice - suggesting no change in emotion - brutally snapped him out of his ecstasy. - "The break is way too long as it is, and we really don't have any time to waste" - Perplexed, Shūhei blinked a few times and watched Kensei rise from the ground. And all at once, the entire reality came crashing down on him. The entire magnitude of his intention. - Shūhei swallowed hard. He really wanted to kiss him! He had really been about to press his lips on Kensei's! That would surely have been the death of him! His Captain would have surely split him four ways! Because he couldn't imagine a man, like Kensei was, letting himself be kissed by another man. And especially not by him. - Shūhei suddenly felt ashamed of his thoughts and prayed to God that his Captain had not noticed any of this. But he was completely overwhelmed by it. Hisagi simply could not assess this situation. Was Kensei the kind of man who noticed something like this with ease and just had enough decency not to bring it up? Or was he, after all, one of those complete idiots who always understood such things last, even when they were playing the leading role? That was a tough question, and somehow he'd give Kensei credit for both.

"Y-yes," Shūhei replied a bit belatedly, already preparing to rise when a hand slid into his field of vision. He looked at the corresponding person, who avoided looking at him. Kensei had his gaze fixed stubbornly straight ahead and was waiting for Shūhei to take his hand, which he did. He let Kensei pull him to his feet and lead him out of his office. Shūhei looked at the broad back in front of him and noticed that Kensei held his hand much longer than was actually necessary. But Hisagi certainly would not be bothered by that. He was just glad that his Captain didn't say anything about his emotional state and enjoyed the touch of his hand. It was really rough and yet warm and pleasant. If Shūhei had his way, they would never have let go of each other. But no sooner had they arrived in the hallway than Kensei removed his hand from Hisagi's and headed toward the secluded forest where they were training.

Meanwhile, they were silent. But it was not an uncomfortable silence. Because everyone was thinking his own thoughts, which made talking unnecessary. Kensei walked two steps in front of his Vice Captain and was glad for the time being not to have to look at him. Because even if he really had nothing against Shūhei - rather the opposite, he liked him very much - he couldn't bear to meet his eyes at that moment. Their last eye contact was still in his bones and he knew that if it happened again, he wouldn't be able to stop Shūhei from pressing their lips together. For Kensei had noticed very well what Shūhei was up to, but said nothing. What could he do? After all, he still wasn't sure if he was averse to this at all. Actually, he was even sure that if he had not been the next 'chosen one' of Hisagi, he would have allowed it. Which was why, after all, he wasn't entirely comfortable with the situation himself. And to bring it up now would only create a tense atmosphere between them, which they really didn't need. They needed full concentration for the upcoming battle. That's why Kensei had to get a clear head quickly, which was currently completely taken over by Hisagi. And this, although he knew that it was actually pointless to think about it any further. For it was clear to Kensei how all this had really come about. It was obvious - at least to Kensei - that Hisagi was attracted to him because he had led him. Because he had done what he had actually not wanted to do. By telling his Vice Captain his opinion, he had shown him another way. He had given him something to follow again. And that drove Kensei crazy. And why? Not because he had a problem telling others what to do. It was rather the fact that he had really been so stupid to let his feelings for Hisagi drag him into this. By having feelings that were completely wrong, he was now involved in Shūhei's dilemma in a personal way.

But this was not how he was supposed to feel, nor did he want to. After all, Kensei had managed quite well without a partner at his side for the last two hundred years. So why was this kid messing everything up now? It wasn't even that Kensei could claim that he was in love. Hell no! He was still far from that. Still, he couldn't help but notice the pleasant feeling he felt near Hisagi. And he knew that it had nothing to do with pure friendship. And just because of that, Kensei did his best not to push the matter any further. Shūhei was not someone to have a relationship with. - God! To think that he was already thinking that far! - In any case, Kensei wouldn't be able to. He would never really be sure why Shūhei stayed with him. Because he was his role model? Because he idolized him? Because he had true feelings for him? Because he saw him as the perfect person? Yet Kensei was anything but perfect. He probably had more quirks than anyone else. And he just wanted people to take him as he was. He didn't want Shūhei to gloss over anything or sweep it under the rug. Kensei wanted him to be aware of these flaws and accept them anyway. Simply because he was. But Kensei was sure that Shūhei was incapable of doing that. And that was why he would let it go. He had always been good at distancing himself. This time would be no different.

Mashiro was lying on the ground, snoring peacefully, when they finally arrived at the training ground. Whereupon Kensei woke them up with a juicy kick. - "Get up!" he snarled, standing at the edge of the 'battlefield'. Mashiro was instantly awake, shedding small tranches to accompany her whining words that Kensei should wake her more gently. Just then, Shūhei stopped himself from laughing softly. That was just so typical of Mashiro. She really had kept every bit of her childlike nature and had no intention of changing that at all. Even if it did make Kensei pull his hair out more than once. But somehow Shūhei liked just that about her. She never let the bad things that happened around her get her down. She had a smile for everyone in all situations. - "Mashiro! Attack him!", Kensei interrupted in a harsh and, for his Super-Vice Captain, heartless tone, her whining that stopped immediately. Shūhei readied himself for an attack. - "Karire, Kazeshini!" - Shūhei's Zanpakutō went into shikai form, forming into two kusarigama with two blades each. Even though he hated fighting like this, he had no other option. He would never be able to fight Mashiro any other way. He had learned that much during their first training session.

Mashiro attacked with full force and hit right on the first kick. Shūhei's shoulder hurt, but fortunately was not seriously injured or dislocated. He was able to block the next blow by holding Kazeshini protectively in front of him. Masahiro's fist hit one of the blades, but that didn't make her lose her cool. Shūhei tried to put enough distance between them to then use Kazeshini in ranged combat. But his opponent seemed to sense his intention and gave him no time to dodge to one of the trees. He tried again and actually managed to put a few meters between them. With enough momentum, Hisagi whirled one of the Kusarigama above his head and then hurled it in Mashiro's direction. It hit her and the chain holding Hisagi's kusarigama together wrapped around her body a few times, the blades missing her by mere millimeters. Almost confident of victory, he pulled on the chain to close the distance again. What Shūhei hadn't counted on, however, was Mashiro breaking free of the chains with an elegant and skillful pirouette and a delighted exclamation, gripping the Kusarigama's hilt tightly in his hand.

"Stop playing!" shouted Kensei grimly from afar. - "Mashiro! Put on the mask!" - Kind as Mashiro was, she released Hisagi's kusarigama before hollowfication and raised her hand to her face. Hisagi wondered if he should take the chance to disappear into one of the trees again. But when he saw the mask that formed on Mashiro's face, he knew it was pointless. He would not be able to run away from her in this form. He wasn't fast enough for that. Hisagi had to somehow manage to master her hand-to-hand combat. And although he was also one of the best in hand-to-hand combat, even he was no match for her.

Mashiro attacked again with a kick. He had a lot more power than her last ones and made Shūhei slither backwards across the floor for a few meters. But now it was Shūhei's turn to attack, and he threw one of his kusarigama at Mashiro with all his strength, hoping that the blades would hit them. But his attack had no effect. Mashiro merely raised her arm, which collided with the handle of his weapon, changing its direction of flight. With full force, it flew in the opposite direction and thus away from its actual target. The blade of his Zanpakutō bored deep into one of the tree barks. He pulled on the chain, but it was useless. His kusarigama was stuck in the tree and he would not get it out until he pulled on the handle with enough force. If he was lucky! In the worst case, he would have to blow away a part of the tree. But first he had to reach this tree at all. Mashiro attacked again, bringing down Hisagi, who immediately tried to defend himself. He stretched his arms defensively in front of him to use Hadō no 31 against them as he paused. Kensei had forbidden him Kidō. - Shit!

Mashiro, however, did not care what Shūhei was allowed to do or not. For her it was only important what she was allowed to do. And Kensei had ordered her to have no mercy on him. And neither would she. She formed a cero with her hands. - Shit! Shit! Shit! - It shot through Shūhei's mind like a mantra. If he didn't think of something right away, she would kill him! Pure fear flowed through Shūhei's veins. He was so fucking scared! She's going to kill him!

"You're in trouble, aren't you?" - That amused and insane voice he would recognize among thousands echoed loudly through his soul. Almost as if he were being guided, he raised the hand in which he held the remaining Kusarigama and turned it so that one blade pointed toward Mashiro in front of him, who was firing the Cero. Kazeshini's blade actually managed to split the Cero, which now thundered away at both of his sides. And even if he had been able to avoid the worst, the Cero had still hit him. The wound on his left upper arm was deep and bleeding profusely. The blood flowed down to his hand and even wetted the handle of his weapon. But he could not worry about that right now. Nor about the fact that his Zanpakutō had really managed to block this attack. The important thing now was to run away as fast as possible. With everything Hisagi's legs could give, he stumbled away from Mashiro and headed for the tree in which his Kusarigama was still stuck. He tugged at the handle and somehow tried to pull the blade out of the tree, but he could not. His left arm was badly wounded and hung powerlessly on the handle of his weapon, without him managing to really pull on it. How was he supposed to get it out with only half his strength?

"Since you're not talking to me, you don't seem to need my help," that cloying voice sounded again inside Shūhei. - "No, wait!" he shouted almost in panic in his mind. Or at least that's what he thought. Because the strange look on his Captains face made him think for a moment that he had said it out loud after all. Desperately Shūhei pulled on the handle while the laughter of his Zanpakutōs deafened him to everything else. And forbidden or not, he simply had no choice anymore. - "Hadō no 31: Shakkahō!" - Shūhei heard the cracking of tree bark and the splintering sound of wood. - "Don't you dare shoot me!" complained Kazeshini loudly, growling. - "Would you rather be flattened by a Cero?" barked Shūhei at him in thought. And almost as if Mashiro had been waiting for that cue, she fired another Cero, which finally brought down the tree Kazeshini had been stuck in until a moment ago. Shūhei tried to put distance between them again and ran away. - "You have to help me!", Shūhei said to Kazeshini and as expected he could hear his crazy giggle again. Briefly, the grin of his Zanpakutōs that graced his lips in every situation flickered before his inner eyes.

"I never thought that you would ask me for help. What do you want from me?" - "Show me the bankai!" - Out loud, Kazeshini snorted. Didn't seem to want to get a hold of himself at all, while Shūhei was still running. Was Mashiro still chasing him at all? He didn't have time to look behind him. - "Why would I do that? When you detest me so much!" - Shūhei gritted his teeth. They really didn't have time to discuss this! And he did not do this now truly voluntarily! Because if he had had the choice, then he would never have come on the idea to learn the Bankai of his Zanpakutōs! It would only kill again! Kazeshini could not do anything else. - "Besides, you're too weak! You would never be able to wield my blade! Weaklings like you, I don't teach anything!" - The laughter had stopped and given way to an aggressive tone. - "I am not weak!" shouted Hisagi. He was finally fed up now! After all, he could deal with the fact that he wasn't as strong as Mashiro or Kensei. But what he couldn't handle was Kazeshini calling him a weakling! He couldn't let that slide, if only on principle! He would do like hell and allow this shithead to insult him!

"Why do you want to learn the Bankai?" asked Kazeshini, completely unimpressed by the volume his partner struck. - "You know very well!" - Kazeshini grinned broadly and spitefully again. Of course he knew it. He could see into the darkest corner of his heart, after all. He always knew exactly what was going on inside Hisagi. Because it was deeply rooted in his soul. And just because of that, he was not surprised what Shūhei's motives were. It had been clear from the beginning. Because there was never anything else inside him than this stupid guy who called himself his Captain. It just disgusted Kazeshini. All these feelings and thoughts about this guy. Kensei this, Kensei that. He could puke! - "Do you really care that much?" so Kazeshini continued to ask. - "Yes," Shūhei replied. Of course it was important to him. He just had to make it work. He had to protect Kensei! He had to do whatever it took to show him that he was worth fighting by his side. And to stay there, too. - Kazeshini laughed exaggeratedly. - "Do you trust me?" - "Never!" came it quickly from Shūhei without him thinking about his answer, which made Kazeshini laugh even louder. But that was okay. He hadn't expected anything else. In fact, he would have been disappointed if it wasn't. After all, the basis of their connection was pure distrust. Kazeshini didn't trust Shūhei any more than he trusted him. They were probably the only ones among the Shinigami and Zanpakutō for whom it worked that way.

"Do you fear me?"-Kazeshini's voice grew sharper. So sharp that it almost cut through Shūhei's soul. - "Yes" - Shūhei had always feared Kazeshini. Even back in the academy, when he had been merely an asauchi, he had feared his later form. For it embodied everything that was Shūhei. What was locked inside of him. Was Kira perhaps right in the end? Was Kazeshini the product of his anger and hatred that he never wanted to acknowledge? Did his inner self perhaps consist of nothing more than these two feelings? If he was honest, he had not been in his inner world for such a long time that he almost forgot what it looked like. It was probably a single battlefield on which there was nothing but ruin. Was that why he had always tried to be someone else? Shūhei could not give himself an answer. But he hoped that it was not so. That this hatred never got the better of him. He did not want to be like Tōsen, who, clouded by his hatred, had left everything behind. In a single pile of rubble. - And yet, it couldn't go on like this. If he wasn't himself, then who was he? He had to find out. He had to turn the abysses of his inner self inside out. Even if he perished from it. He couldn't keep lying to himself. Not when others saw that he was just pretending. As Kensei said, he had to find his own way. He had to change. He had to do what his gut told him to do. And just that told him that he had to do everything to protect the Soul Society!

"Would you kill for that?" - Shūhei swallowed hard. - "Yes" - Kazeshini laughed louder than before. Louder, more spiteful, more vicious. That was just perfect! Because he would do nothing but kill! He would destroy everything that stood in his way! He would spill blood and sully his partner's hands with it! - Shrill laughter echoed through his soul one last time. Made him numb.

"Bankai!"

09.11.2014