I think I left a couple of my brain cells over in Thailand.. but, yay! I managed to vomit this chapter out xD Although I don't see any end in sight for this fic just yet
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Ishida was leaning against a tree, resting. He was in the same old place again; the clearing in the forest by the river. How his father even knew of this place he didn't know, but he did not want to trouble himself with these irrelevant details. However, the increasing amount of pseudo Arrancars in the area was a huge cause for alarm as it only meant that Aizen was creating more Arrancars. This in turn meant that it would not be long till the Hougyoku awakened.
As the wind changed its course and began blowing towards him, Ishida lifted his head, enjoying that brief, yet wonderful feeling of tranquility. From the beginning of his training, Ryuuken had not given him a moment's rest. Bombarding him with technique after technique, Ishida barely had time to studying, much less anything else. But although he now understood that Ryuuken's terms were a necessary step, it didn't stop him from hating the man.
Looking around at his surroundings, he realized the surreality of that moment. The sounds of flowing water and rustling leaves, as well as the peaceful setting of the clearing made it seem almost like a dream. He couldn't believe that just moments ago, it had felt like some battlefield as he struggled with one new technique after another.
Taking in an intoxicating breath, he let the smell of the clean forest air fill his nostrils.
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It was amazing how the mere presence of someone could change his mood so quickly.
As Ryuuken's spirit pressure appeared on the edge of the clearing, Ishida's previously relaxed features tensed, his brow wrinkled and his calm expression became cold.
Thus began their evaluation process. Executing move after move, Ishida had to respond to his father's attacks with equal speed and power. When he saw that unmistakable shift of reiatsu near his father's bow, he stopped his attacks and got ready; confident that he would be able to execute the next move perfectly.
Although he had only just learned the skill, he didn't hesitate as he lifted his bow to match Ryuuken's speed. He fired, and at the exact same moment, dodged his father's arrow perfectly, watching his arrow soar toward towards Ryuuken. A triumphant look crept over his face as the single shot broke into a shower of arrows which exploded against the ground in a cloud of smoke and rubble.
This was short-lived, as when the dust clear, Ryuuken was still standing; completely unharmed. Ryuuken's eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second, before that same irritated look crept over his features.
The two Quincys looked at each other, the same cold expression they had mirrored in each other's face. Then, Ryuuken degenerated his bow, and left the clearing.
Ishida heaved a sigh and began packing up his things. Since the first day at the clearing, Ryuuken had given him several techniques everyday before leaving for work. In that short period of time before he returned in the evening, Ishida was to practice the techniques given to him for their daily battle where Ryuuken would evaluate his progress.
But day after day of perfectly executed defensive and offensive techniques had only yielded the same irritated expression; as if he was still lacking in some aspect.
Even upon asking (which tore him up on the inside), Ryuuken had only told him to reflect on the day he regained his powers, which was both ambiguous and unhelpful. But, thinking back to that day, he too felt that that was some clue there that he was missing. It was just the matter of remembering it.
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He had given up on cooking that night, opting for his rarely opened instant food. Even sewing couldn't distract him from the mounting uneasiness that was eating away at his brain. Eventually, he gave up and decided to shower and turn in for the night.
Under the stream of water from the showerhead above, he was staring at his feet. He racked his brain for the details for that faithful day at the hospital training room, but, as far as he was concerned, he had not exchanged any words of significance with his father during the training.
Suddenly, his fingers found the large pentacle-shaped scar splashed across his chest. Then, as if he had received an electric shock, he remembered what his father had said as he was lying on the ground. As if a recording had begun to play, his father's words floated into his head.
"Seriously. Why would you use the Quintuple Binding Frames, if you had used the Sacred bite you could have easily defeated your opponent…"
He had been half-conscious at the time but he knew that what his father said was true. He always avoided killing whenever he could help it. During the first journey into Soul Society, he had wounded many but never went as far as to kill them. He remembered refraining from killing the Arrancars he encountered in the trip to Hueco Mundo; even though they had attacked with the intent to kill.
Was changing his nature the only way? A thousand questions were racing through his mind, but the biggest one was: Why was that decision so hard?
He killed hollows. Yet, he found he couldn't bring himself to deliver the final blow to his opponents; even the Arrancars. That was because, to him, they all that their own consciousness. They all had their own thoughts and feelings. That was why he felt that it wasn't his place to take their lives. Yet, he knew that feelings like this wouldn't only hinder him in the war.
He looked out the window into the star-streaked sky as a tear made it's way down his cheek. Why couldn't they avoid killing?
"Why…"
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Writing late at night impairs my ability to evaluate my own story, so I apologize if this chapter sounds a bit shaky… Next chapter will be up soon… once I find my brain cells…