Don't own Bleach.

Utsumi was back at the beach. The golden sands underfoot and the surf lazily sweeping in from the ocean. He sat down and made himself comfortable in the sand and looked out to see. The horizon glistening with the sunlight. A cool ocean breeze bringing with it the moisture from the ocean. He took in the smells of the beach, the water, the air.

He sat a stared for what felt like forever, until he saw her. She emerged from the water. Dressed from head to toe in black. Her black hair still styled in a punk style with well styled spikes and fringe. She twirls and the water flies off of her cloak. "Why are you here?" she asked in much the same demeanor as she had in the dream.

Utsumi looked at her in the her dark green eyes, "We need to talk." He began. Before he could continue, Utsumi's interrupted by Seigi no Torento.

Her tone took on and angry edge, "Is it about your reluctance to help those that are victims to injustice. Or is it about something else." She eyes him suspiciously.

Utsumi stood up and approached her, "I want to apologize for being a coward and believing in you to guide me down the right path. I need you to help me live up to the potential that you have, I don't want to let you down." He said

She turned away and looked out to the oceans. She sighed, "You are going to have to trust me and what I say. I won't guide you wrong you have my word. I will teach a technique whilst not my strongest will serve you well until you can prove yourself worthy of my Bankai."

Utsumi just nodded in agreement. He knew that he would be on her timeline now and no matter how many times he asked she would always say that he has to earn it. She truly was a stubborn woman but Utsumi knew that he would be stronger for it and was thankful for it. "I understand. I won't let you down again." He said as he looked out to sea.

She nodded and turned to him, "Be sure you don't." She said coolly. She materialized her Zanpakuto into her hand already in its Shikai state. "Now are you ready Utsumi Kaito?" She asked.

Utsumi stepped back and drew his Zanpakuto off of is back released it, "Fusei o arainagasu ti seigi o mamoru, Seigi no Torento!"

They stepped away from each other and took up battle stances. They stood sizing each other up for a moment before coming together in an explosion of Reiatsu. The force of it sent sand soaring in all directions causing a small sand storm. Their swords were swung with intensity that they were roaring as they swung. Utsumi's desperation to get strong to save the Soul Society from itself and the Spirit's determination to keep Utsumi on the right path kept the fight alive.

The Spirit's sword is getting closer to her target every swing, she can feel it. She can feel the desperate, last ditch effort blocks and deflections from Utsumi. She knows this is how it works, how it has always worked. She needs a strong wielder and she is the only one who can make him stronger. Not those in the real world, her and her alone and she'll prove it. With one last swing she hits him over the shoulder, the blade penetrated the flesh and hit bone.

Utsumi winced as he felt it. The cold blade slicing its way through his shoulder. He can't feel his arm. It goes limp by his side. His Zanpakuto falls to the ground with a clunk. He failed. If he can't even get through this part of his training then how is he meant to obtain Bankai. He can't.

He was never supposed to be this. A Shinigami. He was lucky to be found by one. If it wasn't for her, a nameless stranger who took note of the good he was trying to do good in his district. Utsumi was some half cocked soul vigilante trying to keep his district fair but you can't cure a disease without proper medicine and he failed then too, until he was spotted by a Shinigami and made it to the academy.

I won't fail again! He said to himself as he picked up his sword with his off-hand. His attacks are going to be weaker and his blocks are going to be less effective. He needs a strategy. He raises his sword high, wavering slightly. He regains his composure and yells, ""Kurenjingu no taki!" the rush of water comes from behind him, just as it reaches him he shunpoes away. The Spirit couldn't see him. The wall of water comes crashing down on her just as she feels the Zanpakuto creeps its way to her throat.

She smirks, "Using that technique to mask your amateur shunpo, not bad." She grabs his wrist and throws him back where he came from. "Did you really think that it would be that easy to defeat me? My most basic technique will never be enough. That technique is merely a set of training wheels to make sure you were capable of wielding me. It turns out, you are. I guess it's time to show you another technique." She raises the blade vertical so it is just in front of her face. The blade started to glow blue. Getting brighter, the Spirit's Reiatsu was increasing, her hair and cloak whipping around and the sand around her was soaring through the air. "Kaiyō nami!" She called out.

A wall of water crashed down from the sky and formed a 360 degree barrier around her. Utsumi could only stare at the technique and wonder, is it offensive or defensive? He was looking into the water for any sign that she had left the barrier and was planning a surprise attack. He couldn't confirm or deny whether she was in there or not, he stood defensively preparing for a surprise attack.

A blue glow could be seen through the water barrier. It was getting brighter as if the water was beginning to disappear. It continued to get brighter and her Reiatsu got stronger until, in a blur the glow moved quickly and the barrier blew up with such force that Utsumi was propelled backwards across the beach, luckily there were now soild structures about. The water continued to rain down around the battle field.

The Spirit, now out of the water barrier, smirked at Utsumi halfway down the beach. She shunpoed after him and sat down next to him, "You fought well Utsumi Kaito. With these exiles guiding you, you are sure to become powerful. More powerful than most of the Shinigami in the Seireitei." She sighed before continuing, "Next time you call on me, I will be there. Everything that has been shown today will be at you disposal when the time comes. Believe you are doing the right thing and we will always win." she said looking out to see. She isn't used to talking like this but there has always been doubt in Utsumi eyes when she saw him, she just hopes when the time comes to do battle his belief will be absolute. "Goodbye for now Utsumi Kaito." With that she was gone.

Utsumi woke up beside a rock away from the stream. He got up and looked around him, the sun was rising, the morning frost spread on the grass and leaves. He spots his Zanpakuto still standing up in the ground with Yoruichi leaning against it. Her golden eyes just staring at him blankly. She spoke first, "Hey there Utsumi, Tessai was worried and if I had to here him gushing about how kind you were to notice his hard work one more time, someone else will be tidying stock cupboards. How did it go?" she asked.

Utsumi thought for a moment, how did it go exactly? He got his ass kicked but she can't know that. She could probably guess. "It went fine, you know? It was a tea party." He said sarcastically.

Yoruichi just smirked in response to his sarcasm, "You're sarcastic in the mornings, maybe a night with me that might not happen." She said touching his shoulder

Utsumi recoiled and winced from the pain, "Uh that's okay, I'm just going to head back to Urahara's place." He said in a rush as he tried to escape Yoruichi.

Yoruchi grabbed his hand to stop him leaving. She pulls him back with some force and as he turned to face she saw the same grimace cross his face as when she touched his shoulder, "Utsumi, what happened there?" she asked pointing to his shoulder.

Utsumi stared into her golden eyes to see if there was an ulterior motive to her line of questioning, seeing what looked like concern he sighed and responded, "It just training, you're bound to get hurt. I'll patch it up when we get back to the store." He said.

She was having none of it. She forced him down to the floor and pushed him so he was laying on the ground, whilst she pulled out her first aid kit she packed before leaving Urahara's shop. She took of the top half of his shihakusho for access to his injury. She noticed his lean frame, leaner than most of the Shinigami sh had met. He had muscle definition just not size. "From now on training will be done in the basement." she said mock glaring at the man before she continued, "Why did you just get up and leave last night?" She asked focusing on his wound.

Utsumi didn't know how he should answer. "I needed some fresh air?" He answered.

Yoruichi wasn't buying it, she could tell when people lie to her so she just put extra pressure on his wound causing him to wince, "The truth." she demanded.

Utsumi began fearing for the well-being of his arm. So he decided to tell her. "I'm tired." He began. "I'm tired of being around strangers. I know it sounds ridiculous but I don't know how to make friends. I had squad mates and superiors who would fight by my side, but never friends." he said turning away from her.

Yoruichi knew the difficulties of making friends. When you come from nobility, it's not always easy to tell who was a genuine friend or a leech. "I understand. I couldn't ask for a better friend than Kisuke so maybe you should start with him. Just don't steal him away from me." she said with a smile playing on her lips. She finished patching him up and tapped him lightly on his chest and said, "Come on, let's get back or the others will begin to talk." She said teasingly before going on ahead to Urahara's shop.