The Nightingale

Chapter 2: Soldier

Spring. Year x491. Kaien, 18 years old.

Kaien was quite pleased with what had happened, he had never imagined that breaking the war map, at the time they were being threatened by Kuvar, was going to make Ichigo leave the castle. With the rightful heir out of his way, all the possibilities to win the favor of his father were at his fingertips, he just had to take them.

Without Ichigo in the castle, his father had no one to compare him with, there was not that rivalry that used to occur between the children of two different women, and everything was for him. He concluded his academic and military studies as he was supposed to. He was a prince, recognized by his father in front of everyone, even in front of the queen who had refused to do so. Everyone treated him for what he was, a prince.

For a long time he thought that he would be nothing more than a prince and he wanted to be more than it, he wanted to be the king, he wanted him with all his being. He admired his father and that helped him so that his father would always have him close to him, learning and talking with him, listening to his advice and being humble enough to show him that he did not want the throne.

Ichigo returned to the kingdom at the best time for him. The news of the arrival of his brother caused a stir in the council, where he already had a seat as the king's eldest son. The councilors did not let go of the fact that Ichigo should already be chosen as the Crown Prince and that he should take his own place on the council. Kyoraku and Ukitake insisted so much that he had no doubt that both men just wanted to get him out of there for being a bastard.

The moment of his appointment was the best, the expression on the faces of those men was priceless and would be something he would remember until the day of his death. When his father was dead, Kyoraku and Ukitake would be the first to leave the council. That idea made him smile and he adjusted his clothes better.

Kaien hesitated for a moment to put on the silver badge but in the end he placed it on his chest, it was the symbol of the heir to the crown just like Ichigo's ring. After all, he would have another insignia, more elaborate and luxurious for the special celebratory occasions in the kingdom.

He left his room, his father was meeting with one of the councilors doing what he had to do as well as the queen, both busy with their affairs. Kaien, not being required by either of them, headed to the training ground where the new recruits were training under the fierce gaze of Kenpachi.

The man was a sadist, he himself had privately trained him as the king's favorite son, and the only prince in the castle, until he managed to have the perfection and handling with the sword that he had at that time. His father was a faithful believer that he should learn to handle a sword because in war he had to go to fight together with the soldiers but Kaien thought differently; He believed that the king should not move from the camp, but that from that strategic position he should guide the attacks and only advance until the end when the victory was completely his.

For Kaien, the soldiers were only a means to a single end, conquest over enemies.

When he got close enough to the training yard he could see that Ichigo was wearing the same uniform that was given to all new recruits who were in training. That uniform was the symbol that they were not yet soldiers of the kingdom but mere applicants to belong to the most powerful army in that part of the continent. That sight made him smile with pleasure.

— Attention! Your royal highness Prince Kaien is here! — Kenpachi yelled causing all the recruits to stop doing the exercises and stand in salute towards him. How nice it was to no longer be a recruit!

— Rest. — He ordered after answering the greeting. He looked at the recruits, they were tired, sweaty, red-faced and short of breath. Only Ichigo seemed not to be that exhausted. — Have you taught them how to use the sword, Captain Kenpachi? — He asked with that fake smile that he had been using for a long time and that came out so well that everyone believed it was real.

— Yes my Prince. Everyone knows where to hold it but they don't know how to hit more than once, and they do it badly. Prince Ichigo joined us this morning and he still doesn't know how to grab a sword. — The Captain explained and Kaien just nodded contemplating the possibilities of humiliating Ichigo further.

— Well. You two, — He pointed to a couple of recruits. — Go get the swords, I want to see how badly the recruits fight. It will serve as a warm-up before going to training as well.

With that said, the recruits moved to the weapons room and returned with the training swords, which were similar to real swords only blunt and slightly heavier. Kenpachi handed a similar sword to Kaien to defend against the recruits' attack attempts and walked away saying it would be fun to see everyone end up on the ground.

— Don't be so bad, they are the future of the kingdom's soldiers. — He said that with a smile that tried to be kind. — Come on, who wants to be first.

All the recruits looked at each other, hesitating to heed the call. He was a prince and they were afraid. Kaien enjoyed that look on the new ones until one of them stepped up to respond to his challenge.

— I, my prince. — Said a young recruit who looked nervous. Kaien nodded before him, but did not take any position but stood waiting for him with the sword in one hand, resting the tip of the sword on the ground.

— Go ahead and try to hit me. — He challenged him with a smile and then looked at the new recruits. — Whoever can hit me will get some gold coins.

Those words caused all the recruits to fight for a moment in choosing the order in which they would pass after the first volunteer. The volunteer lunged at Kaien but he dodged him without moving much and hit him on the back with the hilt of the sword, making him end up on the ground.

One by one, the soldiers passed with him and tried to hit him, but Kaien moved agilely before the clumsy movements of the recruits who tried at least to brush him with the sword.

— No one seems to want the coins, they haven't even made me sweat. — He said again with that solidarity smile that he sometimes had to give people confidence.

None of the soldiers managed to give him a single blow, not a scratch or anything. They all ended up full of dirt and with a couple of blows from Kaien as he dodged his attacks and knocked them down. When all the soldiers passed, he looked at Ichigo and pointed at him with the tip of his sword.

— Come, little brother, I promise it will be quick. — He said that very confidently. He had saved Ichigo for last because he liked to enjoy those pleasures with all the time in the world. It was his personal brand.

— I don't know how to use the sword. — Ichigo said holding the sword badly when he came before him.

— Prince Kaien, Prince Ichigo has not learned to take a sword. — Kenpachi, who was a sadist and liked to see recruits suffer, was unwilling to allow someone untrained to stand up to the man he had formed himself and knew what he was capable of.

— No problem, sir. Will be fast. — Ichigo said. The prince looked at Kenpachi with an expression that Kaien could not decipher. It was a mixture of confidence and anger, perhaps a bit of decision on the spot.

— Very well. Then attack me, Ichigo. — Kaien remained standing in place again but without resting his sword on the ground. He smiled, his sword was ready to defeat his brother in one fell swoop and savor his victory watching him on the floor.

Ichigo nodded, took his sword to raise it, lunged at Kaien, and in a movement that no one could see or fully understand, Ichigo moved the training sword in a unique way. Before the swords collided, he reached down and swept his leg at Kaien's feet, Kaien couldn't keep his balance and ended up on the ground.

There was silence. No one said anything, not an exclamation, even the other soldiers training on the esplanade fell silent. They didn't know what had happened but Prince Kaien was on the floor and Prince Ichigo was standing, sword in hand and looking at his brother. No one seemed to want to break the silence until Kenpachi approached Kaien to help him up.

— Beginners luck. — He said rejecting Kenpachi's help as he got up. He still had a smile on his lips but it was somewhat forced. It was evident that he did not expect that reaction. — Once again.

Saying that, the recruits and soldiers who were in the training yard, came to see the meeting between the two princes. Some even made bets in favor of one or the other, and a circle was formed where the two princes were standing. Kaien was shaking the dust from his clothes.

They both stared at each other and began to walk slowly in circles. Ichigo was dragging the sword on the ground in a casual way making a metallic dragging sound and Kaien had his sword firmly in his hand.

— Didn't you know how to use the sword? True? — Kaien smiled sarcastically.

— My apologies, I meant "I don't know how to fight with this type of sword". — Ichigo gave him a cynical smile. By making that move, he had discovered himself in front his brother.

Someone invisible gave an order that only they heard and they both launched at the same time against each other with a sharp clash of swords.

Silence reigned again, everyone was astonished to see how the swords collided over and over and over again. None of them had a shield to protect them so they depended on their agility to dodge or repel direct hits. Ichigo had a serious expression unlike Kaien who seemed to get annoyed with every blow from Ichigo that he repelled with the sword.

— I raise my bet in favor of Prince Ichigo! — A soldier shouted, among so many soldiers who were there, and that was the moment when the silence, which was only broken by the clash of the swords and the movements of the bodies, was completely broken.

Kenpachi was inside the circle where the princes fought, he did not know who to support or if he should stop the fight, they were using training swords and he was glad of that; he had the impression that if they were real swords they would both have too many cuts and wounds. The trainer couldn't deny the supremacy Ichigo was displaying at that moment; he had Kaien where he wanted and how he wanted.

— What's going on here! — The thunderous voice of the king was heard over the screams of the soldiers who were supporting the princes in their fight.

— Attention! Your Majesty King Isshin is here! — A soldier screamed after that first scream and all the soldiers moved like ants to pour water to them.

The soldiers dispersed and the first thing the king saw was how Ichigo's sword was pointed directly at Kaien's heart who was lying on the floor, unarmed and motionless. The king could not believe that he was seeing that and the expression of surprise vanished giving way to anger.

— Your Majesty. — Ichigo squared himself away from his brother, who was still on the floor, and bowed to his father. Kaien took a little longer to react but imitated Ichigo.

— What's going on here? — He demanded to know while still looking at the appearance of his children. Kaien seemed to have taken the beating of his life and Ichigo looked like he hadn't taken much damage.

— Your Majesty, the young princes were training. — Kenpachi started to explain but the king made a gesture for him to be quiet.

— Your Majesty, we were training. Prince Kaien said that he wanted to warm up before going to his training. I have the soldiers and the coach himself as witnesses. — Ichigo spoke up knowing that if he left a hole in his story, he could be blamed for wanting to kill his brother. The map event was something he still kept in mind when it came to matters with Kaien.

The king turned to see Kaien who was standing, as was Ichigo, without undoing his bow.

— That's right, your Majesty, we were training. — He seconded his brother. He was still trying to process what had happened there and looking for the moment when Ichigo had found all of his weak spots. His brother had attacked him knowing where to attack.

— And that's why all this scandal? — He asked angrily. Nobody answered.

— Your Majesty, we get carried away by the fight. Both princes are very good. — Kenpachi excused himself that he had not done what he was supposed to do, he don't stop the fight when he saw that the matter got out of control. The king stared at the coach for a moment and then at his children.

— Kaien, go change your clothes. You will train all day until you feel your soul burning. — The king ordered furious at the way his heir and future king had been beaten up by his brother who was two years younger than him. — Ichigo, come with me. We need to talk.

Kaien undid his bow and left there, with wounded pride, without turning to see anyone and with pain in various parts where Ichigo had reached him with the sword. Later he would find a doctor to help him heal the blows that Ichigo had given him.

Ichigo followed his father, always one step behind him, until he left the training yard where everything gradually returned to normal. They walked in complete silence until they entered the castle, his father guided him to his private office so they could talk alone.

— Since when do you know how to handle the sword like this? — The king asked in a serious voice. He was still upset that he didn't know that Ichigo knew how to use the sword and that his favorite son had been defeated that way.

— Since a couple years ago, Your Majesty. — Ichigo didn't relax his posture. He didn't dare call him father, he didn't see him as his father even though he was.

— Who trained you? — The king wanted to know. Even though he was annoyed by that, he couldn't deny that seeing how Ichigo had reduced Kaien had produced a rising pride in his heart.

— The Commander of Vayalat, Your Majesty. — Ichigo didn't dare tell the king that not only had his uncle trained him, his grandfather had also been watching his military training. Telling him that he had gone to war on Trinity Island was completely unthinkable.

— Why didn't you say it before? — The king asked again.

That revelation had left he upset, he didn't know what to make of everything his son told him. Part of him was hurt that he wasn't the one who taught his son to fight and the other part was upset that his son had withheld that information from him.

— I didn't have a chance, Your Majesty. You ordered me to go train with the recruits and I did.

— You will not return with the recruits, you will fight me in the training yard tomorrow and I will assess which training group you will be in.

— No, your Majesty. I like to be in the group where I am. I will learn what I am taught, you said it the day I arrived, Your Majesty, my military training has not been given as it should and I do not want to generate discord. — Ichigo lowered his gaze as he said that and his father didn't say anything.

— It's okay. If that is your wish, then so be it. Now retreat.

Isshin stared as his son left his office, watching that slow and ceremonious step. Ichigo was a soldier, he had no doubt about that, and a soldier is like a weapon, he just had to find out how dangerous that weapon was.

Without waiting long, he took a pen and paper and began to write a letter to Kisuke. Kisuke had trained his son, he had to tell him what Ichigo knew how to do, and he had to tell him how dangerous his son was.

Thank you for reading.