Buddha and the demon [JT | Benjiro]

[Deleted]

It was early in the morning, and yet the Tenth's Barracks were already abuzz. While the squadron's home still lie in a ruin, the reconstruction efforts were proceeding smoothly, with mostly everyone around the squadron lending a hand. One such person was Aoshi, though he had waken up earlier so that nobody would realize that he was actually helping the same people that had already rejected him without barely crossing a word other than to curse his presence in their oh-so-precious squadron. Needless to say, Aoshi was not doing that for them, but for the very few people in the squadron he actually respected. On one hand, Celes had been the one to save his life by taking him under her wing, despite her protests on the matter. He needed to pay that debt back, and that was what he intended to do.

On the other, Benjiro, also known as Rocky, had earned Aoshi's respect through their last mission together, one that had sent Aoshi to the hospital. Despite his status as a criminal, Benjiro had protected him and relied on him as if he was another member of their squadron, which was a breeze of fresh air. That, and his devout dedication to his duty, had made Aoshi decide that he was more than willing to take orders from that seated officer. With the seat of Vice-Captain empty, he had no doubts that Benjiro would be able to become a perfectly fine candidate. As for him, he didn't really care about rank, and there was no way Squad 10 would accept him as any sort of authority figure, accomplishments be damned.

Once he had done his part for the reconstruction, Aoshi went to the middle of the barracks's land plot, where he had agreed to train with Benjiro. While he waited for the Kido expert to arrive, he began warming up his body, first by a couple of quick laps around a small area, then shadowing some moves of his particular style of martial art. Throughout all these, he was always mindful of his breathing, of the way his body moved, allowing him to barely break a sweat while he got prepared for a day of hard work. While doing this, however, Aoshi couldn't help but to notice something.

His body felt good. Really good.

Better than ever before, actually. Aoshi's mind thought back on the treatments he'd went through; nothing too out of the ordinary, and certainly not something that warranted him feeling this well. Perhaps he simply felt well because of having had a few days of rest before getting back to work? Whatever the case, as he swung his arm and threw a few punches to the air to shadow box, he could feel his strength surging to similar levels that when he had lost control with Fuuko and in the fight with Eshin. The Kenpachi smiled, thinking that perhaps, he had finally gotten his freakish strength under control, and that now it would simply be time to train, steadily growing. He did not know how long it would take, but once he and Benjiro were strong enough, they would go back to finding Mio's captors and giving them a new face, courtesy of his fists and Benjiro's Kido.

Of course, Aoshi was blissfully unaware of the truth. His power hadn't stilted on those levels, and instead rose much, much higher--only he would not be able to harness it in that state. No, he was at his strongest while going all out and dropping all mental restraints, reveling in battle and relishing the chance to have a good battle, regardless of whether it would destroy him or not. In fact, his power had grown so rapidly that he was pretty much at the same level than many high seated officers were. That was the freakish strength that Soul Society was so interested in, the one that had seen him get saved from an early death in order to fight for the Gotei 13. All that was left now was to culture that strength, and turn it into something better than it was now.

Those around him watched him train while going about the reconstruction, scowling and even outright asking if he should not be helping. Perhaps failing to try and socialize with them, Aoshi merely disregarded their words, keeping at his training. He had no intention of being told what to do by the same people that dropped a sword at the sight of a slightly stronger Hollow. No, the only man he intended to take orders from in that squadron would most likely arrive soon. It was only a matter of waiting for him, and making sure that he'd be ready for whatever training regimen he had prepared.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

The morning sun cast a gentle glow upon the Soul Society as Benjiro prepared for his day of training. With a heart full of determination, he began his day as he always did—by meditating with the Buddha. This time, however, he offered a special mantra, a fervent plea for guidance and strength on this path of growth and self-discovery. His Zanpakuto, Futan Juzemasu, seemed to shimmer in response as he placed his hands upon its hilt, a sign of the newfound connection between them. "Chin up, Benjiro. The day is fresh and ripe with opportunity, it is up to you to pick it!"

"You are wise as ever, Futan Juzemasu. Thank you for your guidance."

With a soft bow, he wrapped the prayer beads from the hilt of Futan Juzemasu around his wrist, feeling the familiar tug from his spiritual companion. Afterward, he ventured towards the rapidly repairing Barracks of the Tenth Division, a soft smile gracing his features as he inspected the grounds. Much of the damage from the invasion had been repaired, the bones and foundation of the place restored. There was hope in the air, and he felt a sense of pride in witnessing the division slowly returning to its former glory. But now, there were more pressing matters at hand—their training.

Heading towards the empty plot of land that served as a makeshift Training Pit, he found Aoshi diligently going through his martial arts routine. For the second time in a row, the Twelfth Seat watched with pride as he saw Aoshi's dedication to martial arts. While the experienced Shinigami had yet to find a martial art he could practice in this way, he reflected back on his life prior to his death. Aoshi reminded him of his rival and best friend, Kazuto. Benjiro admired his dedication and discipline, beginning to feel a bit of a respect and kinship with his junior.

However, his keen senses also picked up on the disdainful looks and rude comments from other Officers, mostly the Unseated ones but still. Protective flames flickered within him, and he couldn't bear to see Aoshi treated this way. Most of their judgements were made without knowing who the man was. Regardless of what they thought, Benjiro trusted and vouched for the new member, recognizing the heart of a warrior within him. "Disgraceful. Is the Tenth not a family? How dare you all look upon your brother this way."


In a voice that resonated with authority, Benjiro addressed the crowd, admonishing their behavior. "Aoshi Kuzan is preparing for a mission under my orders. His life will be at risk as he faces foes that even I may not be able to handle. If you want him to help with repairs and stop training, then take his place and put your life on the line." In that brief moment, Benjiro's spiritual pressure surged outwards. It bared no ill will to it, but rather a discomforting heat that asserted his challenge.

He looked around for any further comments, any disdain or insult hurled in their direction. Despite their earlier protests, the members of the Tenth understood both Benjiro's strength and his authority as a Seated Officer. During his time there, Benjiro had earned their respect, and as such, they begrudgingly accepted this turn of events. As the Twelfth Seat and an Officer vying for Vice Captaincy one day, Benjiro decided to use this opportunity to teach. "Hold your tongues and avert your gazes. The right to judge is reserved for those strong enough to defend their judgements. Use that time to get stronger and find what matters most to you." 

Benjiro's gaze then turned to Aoshi, concern and confusion filling his clouded eyes. "Why do you not defend yourself, Aoshi?" he asked gently, hoping to understand what lay behind the young Shinigami's silence. One's actions should be weighed with their intentions after all, and Aoshi's character was still in question despite Benjiro's good faith. Still, Benjiro couldn't help but feel a bias to like Aoshi more than most would, as both Aoshi and his dearest Akira did the one thing that most of these officers didn't. They treated others like people, not officials. While respect was useful and authority served to create discipline and competence, authority also bred pride, arrogance, and superiority. People like Aoshi and Akira tore that down and kept people humble. 

[Deleted]

It did not take too long for Benjiro to arrive to the scene. What Aoshi was not expecting was that he would not take kindly to the stares and scowls of his fellow Shinigami from the Tenth Squadron. Instead of ignoring them and telling Aoshi to do the same, the giant of a man turned toward them and called them out for their shameful behavior, projecting an authority that the Kenpachi himself would never be able to master. He was not that cut out for leadership, probably. No, he was more of a troublemaker, a man who did what he pleased--with certain self-imposed restrictions, of course. No, he was not cut out to handle all that lot. Frankly, the lives of his peers didn't really interest him that much, considering neither of the two parties had made much of an effort towards that idea of family.

He went as far as to say that he was preparing himself for a dangerous mission, which was true, under Benjiro's orders, which was also true. He had helped with repairs, though, but Aoshi didn't do that for the glory. Nah, that was done out of respect for two of his superior officers and nothing else. As such, Benjiro was the only one present at the scene to actually get a greeting from Aoshi--but only once he stopped chastising their squadmates. That was way too fun to interrupt. "But we'll be able to handle them soon, right?", he said with a cheeky grin. "Hey, Rocky. Top of the morning to you too~", the Kenpachi said, finishing one last set of stretches without a care in the world.

The noise coming from the side had been nothing but that, noise, so even if he didn't mind it, he was glad it was gone the moment Benjiro chose to step in. It'd allow him to concentrate better on what needed to be done. The Kuzan tilted his head to each side a few times, stretching and warming up his trapezoidal muscles. A couple of cracks were heard, but nothing too concerning, and then he went to warm up his shoulders a bit more. Those were more fragile joints, after all; best to be safe than sorry. When asked why he did not do anything to defend himself, the answer was very clear. He had no need to. What were those fuckers going to do, jump him? Aoshi had the feeling that he could cave all their skulls in with a single punch if he put them all in a straight line.

In short, it wasn't worth worrying about them. But he had a funner way to put that in words, as usual. "Ah, don't you see? I live for my public. Without me, all this reconstruction would be awfully boring. Isn't that right, my dearest comrades?", he shouted that last part, turning toward the antagonized Tenth Squadron mooks, fully intent on antagonizing them just a little bit more. He then turned to Benjiro, knowing full well the fuckers wouldn't say anything with a superior officer there. The shield of Seireitei, his ass. He'd trust a salad strainer more to protect the Soul Society than that sorry lot. Still, he guessed some good might come out of it. Celes and Benjiro had been in the Tenth so far, right? Well, he wasn't sure about the Captain herself, but it was still a good guess.

"Besides, I get the feeling that defending myself could be used as grounds for being labeled as dangerous, or some other bullshit like that. That gets me a straight ticket towards the giant fire chicken, and as much as I like rotisserie, I get the feeling that one is just not for me", he said with a cheeky grin, finally finishing his first set of exercises. His body felt warm, ready, up to the task. His latest missions and recovery had forged a sturdier, fast physique, and he felt brimming with Reiatsu. All in all, he felt good. Great. Better than ever, actually. "And to be fair, this is just funner. I'd rather have some fun than be angry all the time. I'll worry about consequences later~"

With that said, the Kenpachi put himself on a fighting stance, eager to begin. "So, what are we going for today, Rocky? Good old one on one action? Or did you have something more specific in mind, o captain my captain?", he said. He was in complete control for the time being, holding back at 300 in all boosted stats. No signs of Ruination for the time being, and hopefully it would stay that way, because the Tenth's barracks were already beaten down enough without him doing further damage to them.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

In the early morning light, Benjiro and Aoshi stood amidst the rapidly repairing barracks of the Tenth Division. The Unseated Officers, once judgmental and disdainful, now watched in awe and respect as the seasoned Shinigami approached his junior. Aoshi, seemingly entertained by the spectacle, greeted Benjiro with a cheerful "good morning" and questioned whether they would become strong enough for their imminent mission. Benjiro's bright smile conveyed both enthusiasm and determination. "That is the goal, Aoshi. Our strength will be put to the test, and we shall rise to meet it."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Benjiro's training look}

Removing his green haori, Benjiro revealed a physique that betrayed his primarily spiritual fighting style. He had always been much larger than most, with a strength comparable to his size. That alone was enough to overpower many Shinigami, but Benjiro was anything but complacent. Despite not relying heavily on his physicality, he had diligently trained his body, resulting in an impressive and well-toned form. On appearances alone, Benjiro would seem to overpower Aoshi and perhaps even Captain Celes, though they would be vastly mistaken. Joining Aoshi in his stretching, he embraced the ritual that prepared them for the challenges ahead.

Amidst the banter, Aoshi's light-hearted demeanor shifted as he confessed that defending himself could have led to dire consequences, even execution. A shadow passed over Benjiro's eyes as he contemplated the unjust treatment his junior had endured. To think that the Soul Society could simply execute its warriors who have so diligently fought for its protection, simply due to a misunderstanding and spite of others? It was sickening. Yet, he was heartened by Aoshi's resilience and positive attitude, which seemed to keep him going amidst the challenges.

With their stretching complete, Aoshi took a fighting stance, eager to face whatever training Benjiro had in store. He clearly assumed that they would spar right away, and while that would have been his favored type of training on normal circumstances, this was anything but. The mission that they would undergo called for a much more rigorous and disciplined training regimen. "At ease, Aoshi. Before we can fight, we need to prepare ourselves. Consider it a warmup routine before sparring." He said with a calm smile as he cracked his neck.

"Since we'll be doing a lot more than fighting, we need to develop our bodies and souls holistically. I'll leave the choice of which to start with to you, so pick between strength training, speed training, endurance training, stamina training, or spiritual training." The seasoned Shinigami offered a range of options. Benjiro was prepared to lead them through each, recognizing that true strength came from mastering various aspects. Versatility and competence in various fields was what the best Officers were capable of, after all.

"Whether we are together or not, we will be doing each of these exercises daily until the mission begins. Each aspect of our training contributes to our overall growth. Remember, we are in this together. We must push ourselves beyond our limits. Only then can we truly become formidable enough to face our challenges." He spoke with a smile. He remembered those words fondly from Abbot Eshin back in his youth. When he and Kazuto first began to train, the Abbot imparted those words of wisdom upon him. 

[Deleted]

When Benjiro said that they were not going to fight right away, Aoshi clicked his tongue, mocking being hurt. "Tch. You tease. Hope you don't do the same to your girlfriends, Rocky. Or boyfriends. Both? Don't really know the way you swing", the Shinigami said, though he was joking, of course. It was good to train with a particular direction in mind, and Benjiro's amount of experience would serve them both tremendously for it. Eager as he was, Aoshi was still pretty green when it came to actual methods of improving himself. All he knew was to jump into the fray, fight the designated bad guy of the week, and learn from that experience. The battle with Eshin had been a painful reminder of how that approach would only be getting him killed in the end; Aoshi still did not know how he had managed to walk out of that one alive.

Benjiro then went on to explain how it was important that their regime worked on every single aspect of their existence as a Shinigami. All of them were important for a rounded skill-set, right? Well, Aoshi almost grimaced at the mention of 'spiritual side', but he was pretty content with either of the rest. If he had to choose one to start with, it might be best to do something he was already working on, then move onto more complex things. Imitating Benjiro, Aoshi also took off the top part of his training attire, letting the jacket fall on the sides and exposing his bare torso. He was nowhere near as muscular as Benjiro, in fact he looked like a twig right next to him, Aoshi was pretty ripped. His muscles were almost sculpted rather than trained, only his usual attire concealed them with ease, making him kind of a sleeper build. On his forearms, he had the tattoos given to evildoers in his district of Rukongai; stark reminders of his crime.

"Let's go for stamina, then. I can break in a sweat before the rest of the training. Plus, I think I'm getting really good at pacing myself; I'm no longer fighting as I did when I first came here", he said, then chuckled. "Well, if we can call that fighting. More like 'flailing angrily'."

The Kenpachi stopped himself short of saying that he was good to go if Benjiro wanted to move somewhere else so as to not stand right there, where everyone in the tenth could see them. Not that Aoshi minded, considering he did live for his public, even if said public hated his guts and would rather see them tied up into the execution platform for the Kikōō to turn him into charcoal. Still, with the possibility of moving a bit away from there, he just recalled there was something that he should not--or could not, according to his superiors--leave behind. It was something that he often forgot, even while he was fighting.

"If we're going go anywhere from here, I guess I should be picking this up?" Aoshi said, and then, from the ground, picked up a sword that had been collecting dust so far. Dirt was all over the scabbard, and it was clearly handled without any sort of care. Given this fact, it would be easy to mistake this for an ordinary sword, but for someone with Benjiro's keen eye, it would be painfully obvious that this was, in fact, Aoshi's very own Zanpakuto. Normally, the Shinigami would have a deep connection with their weapon, one that would continue to develop and grow over the years. However, Aoshi's treatment of the blade denoted no hints of any connection or attachment to it whatsoever, not even for the company of the spirit inside.

Haphazardly tying it to his Shihakusho without any care at all, the ex-convict Shinigami nodded at Benjiro, ready to start their run at his behest. Such treatment of the Shinigami's companion weapon might be seen as yet another slap in the face for those who were big sticklers for the Seireitei's traditions. Lord knows what Seijuro might have told him if he saw such a lack of care for the sword. Celes also placed a lot of importance on communion and communication with the spirit living inside... but Aoshi was not at all convinced that having a voice in his head could be all that good. Like, at all.

"Stamina training, then! What are we looking at, Rocky?"

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro's commitment to training was unwavering, and as he prepared for the intense session with Aoshi, he couldn't help but chuckle at his junior's cheeky comment. He had prepared a routine today that ended with an all out spar, but in the beginning, it was meant to push their bodies and spirits to the very limits. Aoshi called that a tease, the battle-loving Shinigami wanting to go all out from the beginning. Still, the joke he made about the gentle giant teasing his romantic partners was quite amusing, although it seemed Aoshi was unaware as to what the man's sexuality was.

Benjiro cocked his head to the side. "Have I not told you this before? I'm more attracted to men as opposed to women, though I haven't really been in a relationship yet... Well, there is a man in the Twelfth Division that may be my first." He said with a wistful tone. A blush graced his cheeks as he thought of Akira, the firecracker-like man who had captured his heart. But for now, such thoughts were set aside as they focused on their training. "His name is Akira if you ever meet him. He's a lively one like you, so you'll either get along well or hate each other~" He lightly joked, wondering how amusing an interaction between them would actually be. The thought itself was quite distracting, so he shook away the thought and refocused on his training partner.

As Aoshi removed his Shihakusho top, Benjiro noticed the tattoos on his forearms, a sad reminder of the unfair system that labeled and permanently marred criminals from the Rukongai. With Aoshi's unique situation, the morality of calling him a criminal was questionable to the gentle giant. Though it weighed on his heart, Aoshi didn't seem bothered by it, ready to plunge into their stamina training. It was quite interesting to see that he decided to begin with stamina training, but Benjiro would oblige. Honestly, stamina training was one of Benjiro's least favorite exercises.

That was when Aoshi grabbed something from the ground, apparently saying that it may have been important. A single glance was all it took for Benjiro to recognize what it was, Aoshi's Zanpakuto, and what a sorry state it was in. Dust and grime coated the sheath and the hilt, the blade most likely unpolished, and overall just uncared for. "...What? Yes, you should bring that with you, Aoshi. Maybe you should clean it off first?" He asked incredulously. He was so confused as to how a Shinigami could let their Zanpakuto be so ill-maintained. The thought of treating Futan Juzemasu like that was unforgivable. 

Letting out a deep sigh, Benjiro advised him to take better care of his Zanpakuto. "No wonder you weren't able to use Kido very well, are you in touch with your spirit very much Aoshi? Not even your Zanpakuto's spirit, but your own. Leaving your sword in disarray like this is akin to letting your soul wither." He spoke with an exasperated expression, not scolding like a teacher, but more like an older brother who watched his sibling profusely fuck up. He wondered if Aoshi had even imprinted his Asauchi into a Zanpakuto in the first place!

Regardless of the answer, he needed to begin their training. Benjiro laid out their first activity: the Shunpo Sprint. "I despise cardio, it takes too much time and it's the opposite of fulfilling. Yet, it is tiring. So, how are we meant to maximize the efficiency of time, the intensity of training, and the draining of our physical and spiritual stamina?" He asked, pausing for a moment in case Aoshi could answer. If not, he would continue. "Flash Steps! Shunpo! We will perform Shunpo in quick succession, one after the other in a maximized sprint!"

"Let us begin, this first lap will be on the ground. We train until failure, keep stepping!" Benjiro declared, positioning himself at the starting line. His mind was focused, his determination unwavering. The gentle giant's body brimmed with energy as he prepared to launch into motion. The center of his soul, the reservoir of flowing water in the pit of his stomach remained perfectly still and unbothered. He took a deep breath, centering himself, and with a sudden burst of spiritual pressure, he shot forward like a streak of light.

His movements were precise and controlled, efficiently maximizing the use of his spirit. Benjiro didn't have a lot to pull from, so he had refined his technique to the epitome of his abilities. A single drop of reiatsu stirred the reservoir within him as he flashed forward like a torrential river. Then, as soon as he landed, the circulating waters softened his footfall before crashing him forward again, beginning the next Shunpo immediately. Each Flash Step propelled him effortlessly across the lot. The air whipped around him, and a trail of residual spiritual energy followed his path. He could feel the exhilaration and intensity of the training.

Reiatsu: 1700
-100 for 2 Shunpo

[Deleted]

Benjiro's one mistake was mentioning that there was revealing the identity of the guy that had managed to catch his attention. That only made a cheeky grin appear in Aoshi's lips, as he let out an interested 'oooooooh?'. He would prod him a bit on the matter, although not out of maliciousness, more like a good friend or a brother would. "Well, if he's somewhat like me then you clearly have good taste, so I'm happy for you, Rocky." Of course, Aoshi had no qualms about the sexual orientation of his superior officer; to each their own, right? Plus, it wasn't like the Kenpachi had been in a relationship before either. He'd always been too busy before, what with being chucked into a prison cell, then to the Academy, and then to another prison cell. "If we ever go out for that raging Seireitei nightlife-" he added special emphasis on the sarcasm in 'raging' "-that means no crossover in targets. Awesome~"

The topic would then shift toward the sword that Aoshi had left pretty much on its own for far too long now. The Zanpakuto he was supposed to be carrying was nothing but an afterthought, and that was on very limited occasions. Most of the time, its existence never really crossed Aoshi's mind. When Benjiro mentioned he should clean it up, the Kenpachi waved the sword around rather clumsily, clearly not used to fighting with the weapon--almost as if it rejected his very soul. "Huh. I guess I've never really cleaned this before. Didn't even know we needed to do that."

If there had been any lessons in caring for one's Zanpakuto, Aoshi couldn't remember a single one of them. To say that he had coasted through the academy through sheer physical might alone would be pretty much accurate. Perhaps it was because of the respect he had for him, but Benjiro's words did strike a chord in the Kenpachi, who would take notes on the matter for the very first time. "What do you mean, in touch with my spirit?" he asked, scratching the back of his head. "I guess I have a lot of Reiatsu. Always have had, even if I can't really use Kido. Also, I'll have you know my soul is young and strong, thank you very much", he joked, though it was true. He couldn't use Kido, at all. Not in the 'I don't have the power' way, but in the 'everything Kido-related blows up in my face' way.

"Besides, I've never really needed this. I actually think I forgot it on my patrol last time. Crazy, huh?", the Kenpachi said, letting it drop on the floor before he realized his unconscious action and picked it up again. He was clearly oblivious as to how grave his stance regarding his Zanpakuto. A Shinigami's power was intrinsically bound to their weapon, right? Aoshi may have been gimping himself by forsaking it so much, but frankly, he had always preferred getting close and personal with his opponents. There was a certain satisfaction you got from punching someone in the face rather than using a weapon as a proxy, right?

Benjiro then revealed that his preferred method for stamina training would be a Shunpo run. Fast, efficient, and allowed them to replicate the taxing moments of combat when one had to rely on Flash Steps often. The mountain-like Shinigami took the lead, saying that they would be training until failure, so he was not allowed to stop stepping. Aoshi clicked his tongue, and got ready to follow his superior officer, taking care to focus on the matter at hand.

Truth was, his physical prowess went beyond mere gifts or talent. Through dedicated training, he was getting far better at conserving his stamina than most of his peers. While he may have not been in touch with his spirit, the Kenpachi was in tune with his own physical frame. As he stepped with Shunpo, he took note of the movement, the way in which he stepped, the angle with which his body leaned forward ever so slightly, the position of his arms. He adjusted his position so that it would consume less of his energy.

The world around him became a blur, and the first and second steps only took a tiny bit of their Reiatsu pool. He could keep this up, no doubt. Traveling at a speed of 3500, Shunpo allowed him to cross the same distance as Benjiro, albeit in a lesser amount of time. Despite his headstart, Aoshi would arrive just at the same time as the Seated Officer, ready to continue repeating the same maneuver until failure, just as he had said. All the while, he remained focused on his breathing, his movement and his stamina conservation.

OOC:
Holding back at 350 in all boosted stats (Strength, Speed, Spiritual Pressure)
Reiatsu: 3500 -100[Shunpo x2] = 3400

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

46 paragraphs counted, so that’ll be 230 TP for both participants ^-^