Don't Own Bleach.
The water was filling up the training ground. Urahara has taken high ground on a large rock opposite Utsumi. They both stood looking down at the large pool of water beneath them. Urahara was the first to speak, "That is quite some technique Kaito. It's getting stronger as well. Tell me. Is it just a shield you can expel with your Reiatsu or does it do more?" He asks with hiding his face in the shadow of his hat.
Utsumi thought about it for a minute. He realized he never asked what it did, he just accepted that it just did what she showed him. "I have no idea, I figured if it does any more, she would show me when she's ready. No matter how temperamental she may be, I know she'll show me when the time is right." He said confidently as he regained his composure and adjusted his stance just as Urahara did the same.
Urahara smirked, Naive he thought as his pupil charged him again. Urahara found himself holding back less, Utsumi's Reiatsu has increased a lot since they had begun training. Utsumi has trained hard with both Urahara and Yoruichi for the last two months. In those last two months his shunpo is almost on par with a Captain and his, skill with his Zanpakuto is increasing quickly, it could still be a while until he reaches a level where Bankai can be obtained and mastered. It has been quick, but he was obviously training hard when he was in the Soul Society but still he has made exceptional progress. Utsumi also had a few days training in the Kido arts with Tessai.
Urahara has noted that Utsumi has being coming at him extra hard. No holding back. It seems our young friend has lost patience. Urahara easily holds his own against Utsumi. Although, it could be said that he had finally found some of the belief he was lacking when he arrived. "My, haven't you improved Kaito." He said teasingly before he was surrounded by water once again. He shunpoed to higher ground once again, figuring out a plan to overcome the decreasing land. He fired a red Reiatsu attack through the small lake that Utsumi has made of his training ground. It traveled down, cutting its way through the water with ease towards the ground. A rumble was heard around the training ground as the water level began to decrease.
Soon enough, the ground was visible again. The two combatants readied up again preparing for another round. "Are you ready, Kaito?" Urahara asked.
Utsumi nodded, "Are you?" he asks.
Urahara smirked, disappeared for a moment then reappeared right in front of Utsumi, swinging his Zanpakuto at him. Utsumi deftly deflected the blow and the nearest boulder was destroyed. They dueled, matching each other strike for strike for some time until Urahara thought it was best to end it and countered Utsumi and defeated him by forcing him into submission by having his blade pointed right at Utsumi's throat.
They went upstairs and cleaned up while Tessai repaired the training grounds. They made tea and sat down at the table. Urahara was first to speak, "Well Kaito, your improvements so far, have been promising. We still got a way to go yet you'll get it." He said.
Utsumi knew he still had a lot to learn but he's already been here for two months. The Soul Society are bound to be looking for him by now. "Hey Kisuke, how long do you think it will take for the Soul Society to find me? It's already been two months, they've got to be close now surely." he asked.
Urahara dropped his fan and looked at Utsumi, "They sent a couple of patrols recently. However when you are downstairs they can't sense your Reiatsu. So unless you decide to go for a late night stroll again or they glance in the shop when you are up here then you should be fine." He assured the younger man.
Utsumi sighed in relief, he didn't want to make more trouble for Urahara and Yoruichi. They had allowed him to stay here for no charge and train him. For what? The slight chance of getting a reprieve from Central 46. It was no guarantee he could do it. Or even if he managed to get to Central 46 would they listen? "Thank you Kisuke, for everything." he said looking directly at the man who had helped him when he had no reason to.
Kisuke just nodded, stood up, patted the man on his shoulder and left the man to his thoughts. Urahara has to hand it to the man, he's stuck by his guns. His plan to get back to the Soul Society and expose Aizen for the criminal he is and get Central 46 to reverse the orders against Urahara and everyone else.
Utsumi sat there as the sun set and the light around him dimmed. He stared at his empty cup thinking about the future. How is he going to expose Aizen? Will Captain Kyoraku help him? Will anyone help him for that matter? Where would he begin, once he reaches the Soul Society? He can't just waltz up to Central 46 and demand an audience. He needs someway to get a meeting with either Central 46 or Head Captain Yammamoto. He suspects that the Head Captain would be easier if he could guarantee his Captain's help. What if other Shinigami get involved? I don't want to have to kill anyone I don't have to.
Utsumi was brought out of his thoughts by a hand being waved frantically in front of his face, "Hellooooo? Anyone there?" She asked, seeing a response she continued, "I've been here for ten minutes and you haven't moved a muscle. It was like looking at a gargoyle." She joked, trying to get a smile, "What's on your mind, Kaito?" She asked.
Utsumi shook his head, clearing his thoughts, "Oh nothing, just thinking." he said, seeing her arch an eyebrow he continued, "The future, how all this could go. I don't what I'm going to do or how I'm going to do it. I just know that I'm going to do it. I won't allow anything to stop me." he paused. "I don't want to have to kill anyone if I can help it. I don't want that on my conscience. I don't want to have to end the lives of the innocent majority just to get to the guilty minority." he said staring back at his drained teacup.
Yoruichi nodded in agreement, she didn't want that on his conscience either. Over the last two months he has accidentally given both her and Urahara injuries and he felt guilty over that let alone hundreds of dead Shinigami. She also know that if you start a war prepare for bloodshed. "I know you'll try your hardest to spare innocent lives, but when you are over there, you are in enemy territory, everyone will try to bring you down given half a chance. You are going to have to stay on alert Kaito, even your old squad mates will now be your enemy. I'd imagine by now they have labelled you a deserter and a traitor." he looked up at the word 'traitor' "I know you're not, Kisuke and Tessai no you're not, however, seeing as your departure to the world of the living was just shortly after Urahara's and the others exile they' assume the worst. I... We don't want you dying over there so we are going to continue to train for as long as we have to make sure that doesn't happen." she said staring intently into Utsumi's unyielding blue gaze.
Utsumi Kaito was speechless, he hadn't expected that. He grabs her hand and squeezes it. "Thanks Yoruichi, I'm glad I have you. I don't know where I would be had I not ran into that odd looking black cat a couple of months ago." He says still holding her hand.
Yoruichi was almost too caught up in the moment to process the backhanded complement. Almost. She twisted his arm back and as he yelped she smirked and said, "Who are you calling odd looking?"