The Morning Run [Social/Closed]

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi had been steadily growing stronger in his time at the academy. He didn't know if it was the food they were feeding him, or if any of the seemingly pointless exercises in 'focusing his spirit energy' were somehow taking root. Where as he had started by walking around the academy grounds carrying a pole over his shoulders, both sides weighted with baskets of stones, he now ran. His footfalls were heavy and rapid, and his breath came and went just the same, but still he carried nearly half of his body weight on his back at a running pace.

This morning, as every morning he trained, the sun had yet to rise. His breath misted cold in front of him and the sky was dark. He was alone running the outside of the perimeter wall. As he made each turn, he saw more of the Seireitei with its immaculate tiled paths stretch out before him. He'd yet to venture farther than this. The castle of the afterlife kept its secrets from him, and he did not pry. His mind was outside of these walls. Thinking about who he had left behind to come here.

He'd never needed any outside motivation to train hard, but if he had Miku and Miyo would bring it in spades. He missed his younger siblings like the flower misses the sun in winter. In the evenings when he prayed, it was for their safety. It was truly them who he trained for. So that when he returned he could bring them close to him again. If not into the Seireitei, at the very least into one of the 1st Districts, just outside of these walls. He would keep them safe and he was the only one who could.

He'd been counting his steps around the academy perimeter his first few outings. He estimated it to be about a mile and a half circuit. A quarter of the way into his second lap his legs were screaming for the pace to slow. He was on the last straight away before he did. Coming to a walk at first, fully intent on soldiering through the finish of this lap and to begin the next when one of his legs gave out, buckling as he tried to transition his weight to it. The weighted pole carried him to the ground across the back of his neck. He hissed and groaned, making it to a kneel before he could roll it off of his shoulders.

There was no shame in taking a minute to rest. The weight had bested him for now, but he would catch his breath and bear it once more.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Patrolling was something that had become a sort of constant, Haunzu wasn’t sure how he really felt about it. Mistress Kimiko knew the drawbacks and still went along with it so he had no place to question it. All he could do was act accordingly while doing the best he could. Personally though like so many of the others he hadn’t really made up his own mind yet. Sure it was nice to be brought forth during a battle and help Kimiko obtain victory. Moving throughout the endless white forest though was different. This was only his second time out patrolling and at the moment all he could say was it happened to be quite boring.

Walking around for the last couple of hours, listening in on the conversations and movements of the Shinigami that for the most part didn’t even notice him. Whether they just believe him to be a pet or actually have knowledge of what he is didn’t seem to matter. It was almost like they were unable to interact with him. He had to question just how his mistress had turned out the opposite and be thankful for that fact. The dark sky was at the moment the only thing that brought Haunzu conform, actually making him think of his home, where he wants to be now.

That’s when he heard it though, the sound of something falling to the ground with a heavy thud. The noise of several stones scattering across the ground. Jumping up from the pathway Haunzu would land without a sound onto the wall glancing down and around, spotting the trainee after only a few seconds. Zatoshi laying there would eventually look up in order to move the pole off his neck so he could stand, when it did though he’d meet the scarlet eyes of the black and grey wolf only a couple feet away.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi had never seen a wolf inside the Seireitei. He'd never seen one with red eyes either. And furthermore, he lacked the ability to sense the spiritual nature of the wolf, the fact that it was a manifestation of a zanpakuto completely escaped him. Which is exactly how Zatoshi ended up slowly picking up a rock from where they'd scattered across the ground. His motions were slow and steady, and he kept eye contact with the wolf. He'd heard from somewhere that the worst thing you could do was run. If you were confronted by a wolf you had to stand your ground, avoid looking like easy prey.

He curled his fingers around the stone and held it close as he engaged in the silent exchange of eye contact. None of this made any sense -- how would a wolf get inside the Seireitei in the first place? He was sure in his orientation he was told that the walls surrounding the seireitei were completely impenetrable, even by sky or a burrowing attempt. That had to mean something, but he'd yet to figure out what considering half of his brain was currently devoted to watching the wolf's every movement, mentally ready to fight for his life.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Relevant Skills}Lack of Fear - I
Strength of Will - I
Analysis - I

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Picking up one of the stones that had been attached to the pole before falling, showing a bit of survival instincts that was good for a Shinigami. Although he was right to not back down and show strength against what appeared to be a wild animal. He was definitely lacking just by the mere fact he couldn’t tell this wasn’t an actual wolf. Although Haunzu had to be fair and remember that a fair amount of Shinigami had no talent for sensing reiatsu including his mistress. Either way though by grabbing the stone he’d be able to witness the eyes of the wolf signaling that it recognized what he was going to do.

A raising lip upwards would reveal a layer of sharp teeth so mighty that they could snap this Shinigami apart with no struggle. Haunzu didn’t really growl at the Shinigami despite the fact he was holding what he knew to be a potential weapon. He was showing him that he could fight back, but he wasn’t making the first move. A stalemate for a couple seconds before Haunzu took a step back while keeping eye contact. Over the next few seconds the Shinigami would be given the space he needs to stand up.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi stood slowly as he maintained eye contact. He didn't put down the rock, but he held it by his side. Seeing the wolf's teeth didn't seem to be enough to dissuade him from the idea of defending himself rather than running. There was a certain absence in his eyes. He had reason to fear the wolf, sure. There was certainly the heart rate, and breathing of someone staring a possible death in the eye. The absence that was there was one that might be unexpected of an academy student: the absence of innocence.

There was not the fear that a wide-eyed youth had when first confronted by a mortal contest of wills. In truth Zatoshi could not quite be called 'battle hardened', but he had killed men before. Some specifically to get to this academy. It was not so much a 'factoid' as it was a degree further separating him from his peers. Most students in the academy could be described as innocent. Even many unseated shinigami in the thirteen court guard squads had never killed a man.

They too, then, had the look that was absent from Zatoshi's eyes.

This silence was eventually abated when Zatoshi finally spoke. He felt somewhat foolish speaking to a wolf. It was a limb he had to go out on.

"Are you a guest within these walls? A protector, perhaps?"

[Kimiko Shihoin]

The look this academy student was giving Haunzu told the wolf everything he needed to know about the little thing holding a rock to defend himself. It was almost like he was staring down a boy that would rather slam the rock into him then throw it at him out of fear. He could tell he was better at handling fear than the majority; it was something that came with experience. At least that’s the feeling Haunzu was getting about this one. He didn’t quite feel like the mistress had when she’d first fought against them yet it was good all the same.

What came next though was something that a good deal of Haunzu didn’t do due to the random chance of success, conversation. When it came to communicating with other Shinigami or really anything besides the mistress it was essentially playing a game of guess with an animal. So when Haunzu was asked if he was a guest the wolf made a few motions of his head from side to side. At the word of protector though his movement would stop and he’d lift his head high. This was going to get irritating and Haunzu knew that though.

All the same it seemed Mistress was having fun watching as he heard her snickering in his head. “Do I really need to interact with him more?” Haunzu posed the question to his mistress, the question traveling between the mental connection they shared together. “Of course. You don’t have too many chances to make friends. Perhaps he’ll come join us if he thinks we’ve got a cute mascot.” “Mistress, I doubt anyone beyond you finds us cute.” Haunzu remarked yet wouldn’t ever do something his mistress didn’t want and thus over the next couple seconds he draped his front paw against the ground marking in two different spots.

Staring at the student, Haunzu looked down to the mark on his left side then shook his head no while placing his paw on the mark. He’d gaze up hoping that this guy got what he was implying right away. Following up by doing the same thing with the other mark on his right and moving his head up and down to signal yes. Haunzu despite trying to establish an easier way to communicate couldn’t keep his feeling of embarrassment from permeating throughout his body while imaging just how stupid he appeared.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi watched the wolf with mixed emotion. At the very least it confirmed his suspicion that the animal had a reason to be here. What was more a surprise is that it actually worked. That meant that the wolf was intelligent on a human level, able to understand language. He was pretty sure that the wolf was trying to indicate its status as a protector of some kind as well.

This was a lot of information to process for someone who had thus far very limited experience with the esotericism that was involved with being a shinigami. "It's okay. I'm not great at conversation either." Zatoshi quipped as the wolf re-iterated its point.

"So long as you aren't the guardian of the academy landscaping - here to eat me for borrowing a few stones - I don't think I need this anymore, right?" He asked, gesturing with the rock in his hand. He smiled very slightly at his own joke. If the wolf was intelligent, allowed to be here, and interested in communication, he was pretty sure that he might be okay to begin piling the rocks back into the baskets. So he did.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Asked if he needed the stone in his hand, Haunzu's right paw moved forward pressing on the mark that he’d made in the ground to signal confirm what he was asking. Haunzu wasn’t quite sure if this Shinigami trainee got it, but at the very least it seemed the tension between them was dying down. Haunzu was sure that his mistress wouldn’t have liked it if the trainee was hurt, especially since a little stone wouldn’t have done anything. Haunzu, deciding to be nice and play along with what his mistress wanted, bit down on one of the stones, picking it up with his mouth and then placing it in one of the baskets.

This was a type of interaction that Haunzu hadn’t done before, not just this Haunzu, but actually interacting with a trainee wasn’t typical of the dark wolf. Training others was something that some of them enjoyed, something they’d discovered while working alongside the mistress. Aiding those of the Onmitsukido and now Division Two was something that some of them enjoyed more than patrol yet this one hadn’t tried. Helping out the stones back in the basket didn’t take long and when all of them were put in the baskets Haunzu would start to move forward as if he were leading the trainee back on his laps.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi tensed as the wolf neared once more, despite its indication that he was not, in fact, an enforcer from the landscaping department. When he received help from the wolf he relaxed again. He couldn't help but be surprised even now. Conversation was one thing. A wolf helping him pile his weight back into the baskets was another. He was grateful for the spot of adrenaline earlier - his legs had steadied underneath him once more. The soreness of the lactic acid was beginning to make itself felt again, but he was eager to get back to it and warm his legs back up before they could become stiff once more.

He squatted and grabbed the pole with two overhand grips. He tensed and exploded upwards. As the ropes the baskets were suspended from snapped taut his momentum was only slightly arrested. As his legs straightened he curled the pole upwards and squatted sharply once more, bringing it up over his head and onto his shoulders to stand once more. His eyes fell upon the wolf already heading out in front of him. A wry smile crossed his lips. It seemed he had a running partner.

He would be damned if he was going to let that wolf lead him around like a blind man. He took off slowly for the first few steps, but dug deep until he could pick up into a jog that would bring him abreast of the wolf. It didn't seem like he'd abide the wolf 'leading' him around at all, despite the weight he was shouldering. If the wolf picked up its pace, so too would he. It was a game that no doubt the wolf could win easily, but that didn't mean that Zatoshi wouldn't give it his best effort. Almost three miles in already, Zatoshi was far passed 'fresh' for today's workout. Yet there was no give in him. Not the slightest crumble psychologically.

Physically might have been another story, as it wouldn't be too long before his legs began to tremble once more.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

What happened over the next several minutes Haunzu actually quite enjoyed although perhaps it was the fact that this training wasn’t really training to him. Sure he was moving along the ground, but the speed he was going to allow this trainee to match up despite how much he’d already done, it was barely more than walking. All the same though what he saw from this trainee was the reason he would continue to push him forward figuratively. He was showing his determination to get better, something that quite a few Shinigami lacked. A trait that killed the potential of so many and something that many of Haunzu dread.

They’d watched as dozens if not more than a hundred Shinigami had given up, accepting that they wouldn’t ever have the raw power or skill to keep up with their mistress. Some of them didn’t even compare themselves to her, but to Haunzu and all the same it was like the fangs of their will had snapped after seeing the difference. He was going to help this trainee at least for a little bit and hopefully down the road whether it be a couple months, years or even decades he’d become someone strong enough to help Mistress.

Lap after lap after lap though and eventually the trainee was going to get tired once again, so tired that he’d have to stop and that’s when he’d probably pick up on a little detail. Haunzu wasn’t tired in the slightest. His tongue wasn’t out nor was he panting. There was no massive rise in his fur to indicate his lungs moving beyond normal. It looked almost like Haunzu hadn’t even been running as he just looked at the trainee watching to see if he was going to give up or not.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Continuing on Zatoshi had to dig deep. He had to rip into his reserves of willpower as his body began to fail him. If he were on earth he would be performing a feat of athletic prowess, might, and strength of will that would be unilaterally respected. This was not earth. This was not merely an athletic display. It felt to him as though the wolf was pushing him. Zatoshi would not quit. When it got hard he reminded himself of the reason he was here. Miku and Miyo needed him. They needed him to become strong, powerful. Above all, his task was to become a man so dangerous that he could eclipse the entire gang that had driven him from them in the first place.

This struggle between mind and physical limitations played out on his body and face as a stage. As the pain mounted to increasingly unbearable levels he bared his teeth, ground them together and leaned forwards -- physically forcing himself to continue or fall on his face. His breath came in hisses and growls -- there was not only pain there, but fury and wrath as it got harder. He was not weak. He would not quit. He would not fail. In his mind's eye he returned with a vengeance. He cut them all down -- all of those who harried him from his home with a great and terrible rage. All of those that kept him from his family even now. He fell.

Of course he fell, he eventually had to. He growled in frustration and shoved the carrying pole up off of his shoulders. His gaze passing to the wolf, he tried to steady his shaking legs under him and squat the pole back onto his shoulders the same way he had the first time. He failed, stumbling and falling back. It only seemed to anger him more, but he stood and took a look at things once more. As his chest heaved, he made a decision. He piled some of the rocks out of the basket, halving the weight but eventually again managing to shoulder it. He kept at this, reducing the weight bit by bit.

As the sun dawned and the training continued it became a certainty that he would miss or be late to his first class of the day. He didn't care. This felt more meaningful, more impactful than all of the little spirit energy balls they had him doing while the other students practiced basic kido. Fuck. That. And fuck them. He would find his own path forwards -- but perhaps now, he wouldn't do it alone.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

The trainee had stamina that much couldn’t be denied especially for what his physical had to offer at the moment. His determination kept him moving forward almost like a vehicle of the human world continuing to push along even after all the gasoline in the engine was eaten up. There was nothing left for the Shinigami to use, nothing left to keep his legs making that next step until eventually there wasn’t anything left at all. Not even enough to keep his legs stable, to hold his body up and Haunzu watched as he dropped to the ground once again.

Stopping with no more difficulty than he’d shown before Haunzu accepted the limitations of the trainee in front of him. It seemed even now though this trainee wasn’t willing to give up. Haunzu would simply keep doing what he could to push him further while helping in any way possible. Helping to take the weight of the pole off his body by lifting it up with his mouth. The trainee attempting to get up with a body not quite ready would feel the paw of a wolf on his shoulder. A paw he wouldn’t be able to remove nor lift. A sign he needed to wait a bit more.

Afterwards they’d continue once again making sure they could cover as many laps with the best possible result. The darkness of the night fading away in the power of the light and with it the time Haunzu had to help. It wouldn’t be long after the light began to shine on them that Haunzu would stop and look at the trainee establishing eye contact. A message that training was over and then just like that Haunzu would nod his head down like a nod and start to walk over towards the wall he’d originally come over.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi paused, his chest rising and falling tumultuously when he found the wolf's paw atop him. As soon as he was let up he did so with a bad attitude. In a good way, if it could be called that as he stepped back under the weight and began trudging through the pain once more. It would be almost humorous looking back on this. He wouldn't be able to point to the exact moment the wolf became his trainer for the morning, but it was a dynamic that surely formed.

He continued to train like a cage fighter; there were no rules except 'don't give up'. All the way until the wolf stopped in front of him. Relief flooded through him. His body so badly wanted to fall in on itself that he dropped, just managing to catch himself on a knee. This was a win. A strong, solid win. Because when he picked his head up and looked at that wolf, he knew there was no other reason for stopping than that it was time to stop. A showing of strength then, because at no point could his spirit be spoken badly of. There was nothing cast between them but respect.

Respect was the only thing he needed. It shouldn't have been odd then, that he immediately felt closer to this wolf than he did anyone he had encountered since arriving here. It wasn't like his instructors. There were no caveats, no one telling him 'Your raw ability is there, but...' There wasn't even the incessant prattle that came from his peers. What they had earlier could hardly even be called a conversation. Zatoshi watched the wolf walk away. He just sat down in the grass and dropped the weight, resting and recovering.

This morning had suited Zatoshi just fine. A satisfying start to the day.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Haunzu continued to move towards the wall, easily hopping off the ground with the strength of his legs propelling him up through the air while his skill and experience guided him to land more like a feline than a canine right on the edge of the wall. Taking a look back around the greg and black wolf could see that this student had pushed himself quite far so early in the morning. It was familiar yet distant at the same time. A sight that many Haunzu have not seen since the mistress had been pushing up through the ranks of the Shinigami.

The members of the various different divisions that the mistress had led in the past worked to get better. That much was certain yet it wasn’t always pure. There was a difference between seeking strength with effort and simply following the orders of someone above you. Haunzu didn't often see a Shinigami under the command of mistress that would go out of their way to improve. This student had already made more of a better impression than most, not just on him, but with the mistress as well.

As the student sat on the grass catching his breath he’d hear just a brief vocal message coming from where Haunzu had been standing on the wall. “Keep at it, when you’re ready come and find me. I’ve ordered work for someone like you.” The voice of a young woman with a lot of confidence. Zatoshi if he turned to look would see the Haori of Division Two along with a brown ponytail only for the figure to then vanish. Kimiko though as she moved, stretching her legs after paperwork that like always went on to long, couldn’t help enjoy the smile on her face.

[Kitai Yoru]

Zatoshi Kizukara: 20 paragraphs, 20% bonus

Kimiko Shihoin: 20 paragraphs, 20% bonus