Field Day (JT/Closed)

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi yawned tiredly as he strolled through the hall. It was interesting walking through the academy these days. It was such a short time ago that he was a student here that he hadn't had the chance to even adjust to being a seated officer yet. It imparted him with an emotional vertigo, encountering those that were his peers just a few short months ago, as well as those who were his seniors - left behind in an instant.



He still wondered if maybe there were things that he hadn’t learned that he should have learned -- things he’d missed for the sake of a war-time commission after the demon invasion. He didn’t trouble himself with it much however - from what he could tell, he deserved and was prepared for everything he’d been given, perhaps more. Everyone else seemed to think so anyways, who was he to disagree?



Despite this he still felt some trepidation at being selected to lead today’s activities. He’d really only gotten a basic familiarization for basic shinigami duties in the world of the living. Such things were completely outside of his assigned position. As such he hardly felt like he was the best person to teach this sort of thing. He was sure the students would have questions that he couldn’t answer - both from a lack of theory and a lack of experience. He fully understood the casualties that had occurred however, and the strain left on teaching these lessons while also rebuilding, repairing, and reorganizing. The students today would have to make do with somewhat haphazard instruction. Their progression towards becoming shinigami had to continue. The machine could not function without more meat and gristle to replace that which had been lost.



He slid open the door to the classroom in which the students for this trip were gathered and cleared his throat. “I apologize for keeping you all waiting.” He entered the room as he took stock of those sat within, his voice loud enough to cut over any existing chatter of the students and bring the room to a silent attention. Zatoshi would be an interesting sight to an academy student. He couldn’t be said to be older than them in appearance. He wasn’t particularly physically imposing at his five-foot-ten height or his build. Yet he was garbed in a black shihakusho that marked his status over them, with not just a fully formed zanpakuto at his hip - but one that was locked in a partially released state, his spiritual pressure a feeling like concentrated murder - just held back somehow. Perhaps it was the red silk strip that was tied through the sword’s tsuba, binding the blade into its sheath that held that danger at bay. That was far closer to the truth than any of them present would care to believe.



“My name is Zatoshi Kizukara. I am the eleventh seat of Sanbantai, as well as a member of the Sanbantai Expedition Recovery Team.” He spoke slowly and concisely, pausing for a moment.



“Today I will be escorting you to the world of the living so that you might receive a formal demonstration and practical experience with some of the basic tasks that you will be expected to carry out as a shinigami. This includes the performance of konso, receiving fragmentary orders by hell butterfly, as well as the operation of a soul pager.”



“It is a requirement that today each of you perform konso successfully one time,” He shook his head a little, reaching up to scratch his head. “Don’t worry about it, it’s... You’re not going to be able to mess that up. Not unless you’re a special kind of stupid.” His tone said that he would be equal parts amused and dismayed if someone managed.



“Before we get over to the senkaimon I’m going to open up the room for any questions you might have about this before we do it, but I’m going to pre-empt something right now: We will not be fighting any hollows if at all possible while we’re over there. You all will listen to everything I say with the knowledge that any command I give you is a binding, lawful order and that disobeying those orders is both insubordination and potentially reckless negligence. I have this class’ safety as my number one priority, and if you as an individual refuse to listen to what I say in a way that endangers your classmates I will have you both academically punished as well as taken to court martial.” Zatoshi’s ice blue eyes were deadly serious. He let that sink in before he finally folded his arms across his chest.



“Now - are there any questions? Any at all - everything you can ask here is just something else we can get out of the way so that we’re not going through it when we’re over there.”

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

Kazuhiko waited in the classroom on the edge of his seat! This was it. His final week as an academy student! Their final exams had already concluded and those who had proven themselves had been promised an escort into the human world for a special lesson! There were only three of them present for today's special lesson. But three academy students could still be quite the handful, even for an experienced teacher.

The boy wore the blue and white of a male academy student rather than the eventual black and white of a graduate. The uniformity of the academy garbs ensured that Kazuhiko couldn't hide his missing arm. One sleeve hung at chest height, completely vacant and waving like a lazy flag. His left arm rested upon his lap, and was just as skinny as the rest of him. The presence of glasses upon his nose completed his rather nerdy aesthetic.


This wasn't the only thing that stood out about the small boy's form. His Asauchi had already manifested into his Zanpaktou. A great Odachi that he had to keep sheathed at his hip rather than upon his back like all of the other students. It was four feet in length, nearly as tall as him. It stuck out behind him like a great tail. He had an unfortunate way of standing out that fit his rather vibrant and youthful energy.

The door to the classroom slid open and Kazuhiko nearly jumped out of his seat with excitement! His senior entered into the classroom and immediately filled the room with an aura of seriousness. While the man was not intimidating in appearance, the prestige of his placement in the Gotei 13 made it impossible not to look up at him. It helped that Kazuhiko himself was only five foot two.

The man gave his introduction. His way of speaking was formal and direct. And the fact that he was somewhat uncomfortable with the role he had to play today went right over Kazuhiko's head. He couldn't do anything but admire the man. His excitement for his first adventure as a (almost) Shinigami was about to begin! "No sir!" He replied heartily in response to the man's search for questions. That wasn't entirely true... The young looking student was full of questions! But a question would stall the adventure!

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

There were mirroring responses from Kazuhiko's fellow students. Zatoshi sighed with exasperation present in his features, frowning as he adjusted the beaded bracelet on his wrist. He considered admonishing them briefly; he knew better. Someone had a question that they weren't asking despite his instructions.

"Fine." He said finally, his lips curling around the world like it was a sour fruit. He gestured upwards with a palm. "Stand up and follow me. From this point forwards consider yourselves attached to me by a ten foot rope unless otherwise stated." Kazu's peers; one a rather muscular woman, the other a stocky lad likely to go to either squad 3, 10, or 11 undoubtably followed. The other boy showed just as much enthusiasm as Kazuhiko did.

Zatoshi lead the group of students to the senkaimon in the courtyard. He slid his zanpakuto, sheath and all from under his obi and thrust the hilt towards the empty space between the posts. A ripple formed in the air before two sliding doors manifested into being. They cracked open with a radiant white light. A small number of black butterflies exited the gate and began to briefly alight on shoulders, hands and heads. Generally any horizontal surface that the group of shinigami had to offer seemed fair game.

Zatoshi turned a half step back, appraising them all once more. He considered Kazuhiko with a critical eye. The kid had to have promise to have made it this far with his obvious disability. Zatoshi could respect progress made in the face of adversity. It was unfortunate then, that this meant Kazuhiko could expect extra attention from his senior. Showing promise to Zatoshi only meant that you were a freshly quenched blade that needed the abrasion of a hard whetstone to see your full potential.

"You - the one missing the arm," Zatoshi addressed him bluntly. "Why do hell butterflies land on shinigami before they pass through the senkaimon?"

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko was very lucky that her little brother was a prodigy. Not only was she supremely proud of how special he was and how diligently he worked, but she reveled a bit in the fact that since the focus seemed to go onto him, it meant that less of it was on her. She had done everything she could to get through the academy and, while she certainly excelled in some areas, there were other areas that she had passed just by the skin of her teeth. Now, while she waited for what she hoped would be the final lesson, she enjoyed a little catnap until their assigned liaison for today's filed trip arrived.

And maybe until a little after he arrived too...

With one ear open, Fuuko prompted herself to rise with the others. She hid a deep yawn behind her sleeve and followed along as Zatoshi asked if there were any questions. She was super excited to get to go to the real world, but when Zatoshi explained things, it just seemed like he had gotten assigned babysitting duty. No fighting. No fun. That sealed Fuuko's lips up right away and she continued to hide behind her brother's shadow as best as she could.

Which, was not so easy. Although she had no blemishes except for a scar above her right eye, she had modified her academy wear just a bit. She'd cut off the sleeves, showing off the tattoos on her arms. She'd pulled open top so some of her ample chest was exposed and she had cut the hakama pants and modified them into a rather short skirt. It was something she had done throughout her tenure in the academy, and a point of contention between herself and the faculty. It had nearly gotten her expelled, but Fuuko had proven to be good enough and dutiful enough in other areas for the faculty to, eventually, get tired of the fight.

Now Fuuko watched as Zatoshi called out her brother, Kazuhiko. Fuuko grinned. Asking a question like that to her smart lil bro? Who did this guy think he was?

'C;mon, Kazu, don't let this guy lob a softball past ya!' Fuuko thought.

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

Always the dutiful, obedient soldier. Kazuhiko sprang to his feet as Zatoshi ordered the party to rise. He did take a moment to peer behind him. And what he saw put a smile on his face. Fuuko, his sister, was no longer napping. While Zatoshi had stated there was no fighting, he suddenly felt much safer in acknowledging his sister's presence. While he had occasionally admonished her for fighting too much, she always made sure that he and everyone else around her was safe.

Kazuhiko's attention snapped back as the officer summoned his attention. He didn't bother checking the room to see if there were any other students missing an arm... He knew how unique his affliction was. Here in Soul Society, lost limbs could potentially be healed... That is, unless your amputation occurred while you were alive. This had happened to him as a child, and his missing arm was as much a part of his soul as the rest of him. Though, at the moment, he didn't realize just how true that sentiment was.

"Satoshi Kazuhiko, Sir." He replied to the officer as he stood to attention. The officer hadn't asked his name, but he feared not introducing himself would result in being referred to as 'the one missing an arm' throughout the duration of their excursion.

He answered immediately after his introduction. "Hell Butterfly help to guide us through the Senkaimon when traveling between Soul Society and the world of Humans. Without it, we would need to pass through the Precipice World." He took a moment and straightened his robes and adjusted his glasses. "Further, they can be used to convey important last minute orders from your superior officers. Sir." And with the last unrequested bit of information, he returned to full attention and awaited his appraisal. Raion-sensei had been a dangerous instructor... But that had resulted in his lessons being seared in the mind of the meek Academy Graduate.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi evaluated Kazuhiko for a moment, staring down into his eyes for a few heartbeats of silence. His initial reaction had been annoyance in that Kazuhiko provided more information than what was asked of him. It was good then, that his habitual response to baser nature was to question it. Why would that annoy him? Was it not appropriate for the setting they were in? Kazuhiko was not one of his subordinates. This was not a final review of mission before they went through the senkaimon.



Kazuhiko was a student, and furthermore he was clearly a student who wanted to impress. Perhaps not impress him specifically, but anyone who held station above him and acted as a mentor. It was understandable even if it wasn’t behavior that Zatoshi ever had.



The tension didn’t exactly leave him, the appearance of levity that Zatoshi tried to display was fairly artificial as he forced a smile. “That is all very correct, Kazuhiko.” He glanced at Fuuko for a moment as they stood amongst the butterflies. This was the first moment he seemed to really pay her any mind -- at least in a manner that she was an individual and not as a part-of-the-whole that was indeed ‘the academy students he had to babysit’.



“...You know, most students are not permitted to alter their uniforms. If you would only wait until you were a shinigami it would fall under the judgement of your Captain as to what level they would authorize alterations to the uniform. If you say this isn’t unusual attire for you I’ll overlook it, but I don’t approve.” He states, his voice as blunt as his direct eye contact.



It might have been obvious, but the only reason he wouldn’t make a bigger issue of it was that he wasn't a permanent party to the academy. He hadn’t the time or energy to fight an issue that they’d given up on.

[Satoshi Fuuko]

'Ha! See! Easy~ Nice job, Kazu!" Fuuko thought, her eyes lighting up when Kazu gave the correct answer. Now, hopefully, they could get on with heading to the world of the living. Fuuko wanted to see it. She hadn't been there since... She shook the thought away. It had been a few years in Soul Society time, but it was still pretty fresh in her mind. She was hoping they could have some fun, though!

Unfortunately, she was called out and Fuuko raised her eyes and crossed her arms under her chest. "I didn't ask fer permission." She said and stuck a finger in her ear and gave it a little twist. "But the regulation pants are too constrictin for me." She protested. "And the sleeves, too. I need ta be able to move when I'm swingin my zanpakutou!" She explained as she pulled some wax from her ears, gave a little sniff, wrinkled her nose in disgust at her own actions and flicked the speck of wax in a random direction. 

She lifted her hand and waved it dismissively at Zatoshi. "Don't worry, Ojisan, no one at the Academy cares." Anymore. She reassured. She'd been at war with the teachers over it, but in the long run, because her grades in most areas were exemplary, it wasn't worth disciplining her. That was fine with her. Her remark, though, was intended as a bit of a joke and she smiled at Zatoshi while calling him uncle. Although he was leading them, he looked younger than Fuuko and they were about the same size. If anything, Zatoshi could be another one of her kid brothers. 

"How many more questions we gotta answer before we can get goin?" She asked, trying to get the small group to get on with it. "I can't just stand around when the portal is right there!" She barked with a tone that conveyed excitement, eagerness and a little annoyance. 

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

Kazuhiko's answer seemed to give his superior pause. There was a moment when both shinigami looked into one another's eyes. And after a few seconds of that, Kazuhiko dutifully looked down. He didn't want to appear to be challenging him... And beyond that, his gaze was heavy. By the time Zatoshi finally cracked a smile a grim chill had already run down the boy's back. He'd messed up. He wasn't sure how. But he'd frustrated their supervising officer in some way.

"Thank you, sir." He bowed his head and accepted the merit, forced as it might have been.

He did catch Fuuko's enthusiastic excitement at his technical success, however. And in return, he offered her a sheepish thumbs up. Speaking of Fuuko, whatever offense Kazuhiko had committed was quickly subsumed by his sister's... Unique... Attire. It had been a source of much discord within the academy. She had been penalized greatly because of it. So much so that it had nearly affected her ability to graduate. However, Fuuko's degenerate resilience was legendary.

Her kid brother's mouth dropped open as she replied to him by fishing gunk out of her ear. She did offer a rational explanation for the change. But she punctuated it by calling him uncle. Kazuhiko's mouth dropped. He stammered, preparing to intervene while simultaneously staying out of the way. His instinct demanded that he protect his sister. But his wits knew she'd never allow it. So instead he watched and waited. Would their supervisor engage in Fuuko's rebellious nature? Or would he, like the rest of the Academy staff allow it to pass under the presumption that Fuuko was worth the trouble?