Sapphire Eyes In The Pale Moonlight [CTP Training, NDE]

[Sozen Kuchiki]

This is an encounter thread. Sozen and Takashi Kuchiki, who will be training. BUT, not before some epic background flashback posting which details how they met, how Takashi was brought into the Kuchiki, and the story behind this side of the legendary family, as well as the tragedy of Ryota and Lisanna Kuchiki.

Either one can post first.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{This music}

Several months ago...

There's no doubt about it...That's him... Sozen thought as he watched the student. Alright, quick overview. Why was Sozen Kuchiki watching a student of the Shino Academy in Kendo class? Normally, he wouldn't. A student who was about to graduate, certainly, had some skill in Kendo which could be said was worth observing, but to a Thirteen Court Guard Squad Captain, it wasn't anything impressive. The moves that Sozen observed in the sparring match between the two students involved only techniques he could do in his sleep if he needed to.

But Sozen was intrigued nonetheless, because he had found the boy that he had come here for, Takashi. He'd already known the name Takashi from his research, but there were several students with that name, who fit the physical description Sozen had been given, and who were that age. It had not been easy to locate him. Well then again, it had not been easy to investigate and learn all of that either. It had taken Sozen a long time and a lot of resources to even get that far to find this boy.

What made this boy special was his blood. He was a Kuchiki, and that was enough reason for Sozen to seek him out. Over time, more than one Kuchiki had been lost to whatever circumstances, and Sozen had made it his job to track every single one of them down, and return them to the family that they came from. Now, what was special about Takashi was also how Sozen recognized him. Sozen could tell by Takashi's eyes that indeed, he was son to the Kuchiki couple Sozen had promised to reunite with their child.

Takashi had not lived as a Kuchiki. He had grown up under an adopted family and an adopted name, but Sozen wanted the return of his relative. Sozen had promised that couple that they would see their son, at least once, before they died. And it was about to come to pass. It was here, watching Takashi who would be a Kuchiki in a Kendo battle in final year Kendo class, that Sozen would at last hold true to this promise. As Takashi ended his Kendo battle, and class ended soon after, Sozen approached him.

It would be as Takashi left the classroom, carrying books for his next class, and for some reason without any of his friends or academy comrades walking and talking with him, that Sozen would approach. The taller man appeared before Takashi, beautiful scarlet eyes falling upon the boy, and a warm smile upon the Kuchiki Head's visage. "Good afternoon," Sozen said, introducing himself despite his white Captain's Haori which boasted the sixth division's insignia, and the flock of students who had gathered around him in wonder. "My name is Sozen Kuchiki, and I would like to speak with you today."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play this now}

Present day.

Now, months later, with Takashi recruited into the Kuchiki, they had other things to get to. For instance, training. Training was always important. Sure, Takashi graduated from the academy, with some good skills, but he needed more than that. He needed practice to fight in unusual situations, not just with his sword, but without it. He needed spiritual abilities such as Kido and his Zanpakuto. He needed strength in his reiatsu, and a sufficient pool to draw from.

"I'm glad that we were able to get this far," Sozen admitted. "That I can train you right now is a blessing." It was more than that, too. Together, Sozen and Takashi would find a certain someone. That certain someone responsible for Takashi's separation from the Kuchiki, and for so much more pain. Pain that would be avenged. Pain that would never be forgotten. The Kuchikis never forgot their debts. They always repaid them. They never forgot what they owed. They always made things square and even.

Sozen drew forth a sword, not his own, at that moment, and held it aloft in one hand. It was a regular wooden training katana purchased from some cheap store, of poor quality. It was not meant to do battle on a high level, and had been drawn out for the purposes of this training. If Sozen used his own Zanpakuto, it would sever even Takashi's metal blade instantly. It was better to use this blade, which could clash with Takashi's for practice, and to train the young boy to become something of a fierce combatant.

"Come now," Sozen invited. "Attack me. You will need to evoke everything in your mind which you can. All strategies you learned in Kendo, and any you theorized yourself. Any Kido you can use, and any you would like to attempt. Today, I will take you on the next step toward becoming a master combatant, and one step closer toward our goal of finding that man." That man? The one they would be later hunting together. The one who had caused pain to certain Kuchiki members, and would find revenge coming soon.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

The block of compressed wood which was now in the shape of a Katana was held tightly against the young man's sweaty palms. His crystal blue eyesdarted from the area in front of him towards the right. Students had gathered around a man wearing a white Haori. A sweat dropped from Takashi's forehead as he made eye contact with the Taichou; gulping as he saw the man's warm eyes and suave smile. Takashi made sure to look back momentarily to see if the man was perhaps looking past him...but no such luck.

Seriously, what in the HELL was a captain doing at a graduation ceremony!? Of all times he had shown up when Takashi was fighting!? What was with that smile he gave too?

Focusing himself, the white haired shinigami let out a soft sigh. In an instant, he felt his grip tighten around his wooden weapon.

No time like the present to show what skills I bring to the Gotei 13

He thought. His eyes locked on in confidence towards the student in front of him. The wind blew from the west towards both of them; the creases in their clothes increasing. The moment was a stand off, wooden swords pointed at one another like in a samurai movie seen in Human World. Takashi held steadfast to his stance. With his left leg out at a forty five degree angle from his right leg and bent hands, he gripped the bottom handle of the sword particularly tightly. As the brown haired and brown eyed opponent charged him, Takashi let out a "He...yah!", as he rotated his hip counter clockwise.

The screen grew more and more white as the fadeout came to Takashi standing with his sword lowered

With a soft sigh, he brushed off the sweat from his brow. Bowing to the referee and the crowd, he looked at his fallen opponent; giving him one last bow as well. Soon, the hand was raised to declare the winner. Before Takashi knew it, the exam had finished and he was grabbing his books to attend the next class.

As he walked forward, he noted the Taichou once more; the same smile present on his face. He blinked for a moment before standing erect and tall. His demeanor was the same slightly colder and distant eyes. Inside however, he held he was doing mental flips due to his excitement. Takashi walked towards the man, as he seemed to walk towards him as well.
As the Captain introduced himself, Takashi gave a respectful slight bow towards him before getting up and giving a salute.

"Captain Sozen, It is my pleasure to meet you as Academy Student Takashi Fushichou. Wanting to speak to me sir is quite the honor."

He said as he stood erect, saluting and having the same laid back eyes yet strict posture.

The time passes...

Takashi stood now in the training grounds of the Kuchiki family. His expression was the same as he held out his wooden sword to the side, now shaped much more like a katana. He nodded in agreement with what the Captain had to say.

"The pleasure is all mine Taichou"

He said as he lowered his head in a slight yet respectable bow once more. Soon the Captain was asking him to raise his wooden weapon towards him.


With his katana in his right hand, lowered, Takashi's heart began to twist as he heard the words Captain Sozen spoke. With a soft sigh under his breath, he gave another nod before looking up with the same bored eyes. Lifting his wooden katana up, he grasped it with both hands. With his grip tight he rushed forward towards Captain Sozen with his full 100 speed; he kept his katana in his bent elbows, indicative of the stabbing motion. Upon reaching him, he stepped out with his right foot and stabbed forward towards the Captain, the blade aimed towards his lower left abdominal.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{More Hunter x Hunter music for my post}

Several months ago...

Those eyes...Yes, it was unmistakable. It was the same hue of blue that Sozen remembered from the past. The same from Lisanna and Ryota of the Kuchiki family. The beautiful eyes which had allegedly made even the Spirit King jealous, and been more precious than any gem from the royal family. The beautiful eyes which were coveted by all but their masters, who simply took them as a sign of purest love. Many had desired them and been envious of them, and had become friends with the couple if only to gaze longingly upon those eyes, and to desire not only the eyes, but their masters. But, it had been a man who called himself a true God of Death, a man who called himself Shinigami, that had finally taken action against those eyes.

And, gazing at them now, Sozen could not deny that they were enviable. Looking into Takashi's eyes, Sozen could forecast that, in time, as his reiatsu grew more and more prominent, his eyes would not only rival, but surpass those of his parents. And, gazing into the eyes of this bedazzled academy student, Sozen felt rage gather in his heart. It would be undetectable to the student, and to any who did not intimately know Sozen, such as his love or his childhood friends. However, the rage was there, even if others could not detect it. Anger, that any would dare to attack the Kuchiki family. His precious family. And one day, the man who called himself Shinigami would understand why they called Sozen "the demon."

But, continuing to smile here, Sozen spoke to Takashi, betraying none of the rage he felt over the memories those eyes brought to him. "I have been searching for you for a while, Takashi," Sozen said, immediately telling the student that this was, for Sozen, the end or mid point of a journey, and that it had been his intention from the start to speak to the student. Teachers and elder students had begun hoarding all of the other, gathered students into their classrooms, so as not to be late and not to disrupt class, and eventually this would leave Sozen and Takashi practically alone in the courtyard, with Takashi held by the scarlet gaze of the Kuchiki Head.

With all of the presence of a Captain, and far more, Sozen gazed upon Takashi. Indeed, the Kuchiki were known for their beautiful eyes. Nearly all of them, even those adopted, for whatever reason, possessed uniquely colored or bright eyes. Sozen's eyes were a perfect crimson scarlet hue which made even the most delicious of rubies falter in comparison. His lover's were a perfect jade emerald which could astonish even the inanimate caves that such gems formed in. But, Lisanna and Ryota had had unique eyes, which even by Kuchiki standards were exceptional. And, Sozen could see that hue in Takashi. "I have been searching a long time for those blue eyes of yours, for which many have told you they are envious," Sozen explained. "I have sought you out, so that I could ask you the simple question of whether or not you know your true story. Do you know where your eyes come from? Do you know that once, those same eyes belonged to a now blind couple named Lisanna and Ryota of the Kuchiki family, and that, by all accounts, our blood and theirs runs in your veins as well, giving you such a gaze?"

SPOILER: Click to show

{Switching it up with Two Steps From Hell}

Present day.

Sozen was fast. As a matter of fact, he had seven times Takashi's speed, and that wasn't even including Sozen's reflexes, ability to analyze combat, and his superior training, as well as masterful swordsmanship. He had gone toe to toe with the likes of Kuroi Naito, and C "The Cardinal" Caesar. But, this was why it was so perfect. Under no circumstances could Takashi even scratch Sozen. Of course not. Sozen was stronger than Takashi in every way, and such a difference existed that Sozen could probably end it just by flexing his reiatsu, if it were life or death. But it wasn't life or death. It was practice. All Kuchiki members received much training to become exceptional among Soul Reapers, and Takashi would receive the same from Sozen. A sort of crash course.

Sozen observed the movements of the student, noting that the academy's instructors were impressive to have given him such meticulous form. In terms of technicals, in other words how well Takashi held the sword, how he moved, and the way he gauged his opponent, it was good. If he were a competitor in the human world, he might be quite something. But, in Soul Society, and in the spiritual realms, just that Kendo wasn't enough. The training that Sozen was to give to Takashi would give him that extra boost that he needed. But, the first thing that came to mind for Sozen was to correct errors which Takashi was performing.

A quick motion with his own sword, done at only slightly faster speed than Takashi, about 130, deflected Takashi's stab. Yes, Sozen was perfect for this. Because he could not be hurt even if Takashi landed a blow, though it was unlikely that the student could land a blow, he could devote his everything to being instructional. All Takashi had to do was adapt, listen, and learn. First, Sozen had advice to give to Takashi. "Never open with a stab," Sozen instructed. "Stabs are easy to deflect, and it's easy to cost you your balance when you do it. And, even if in a real sword fight you stabbed me, your blade could get stuck in me, and while you have trouble pulling it out, I can attack you."

That was the first lesson. The next would come as a retaliation from Sozen against Takashi. After all, the Kuchiki Head himself had a great deal of skill. His block had been holding back, and done at 130 speed, and had used Takashi's momentum against him, pulling the student offbalance and to Sozen's side. Sozen, however, did not move. Normally he would have stepped to the side to gain a more clear advantage when he struck, but today, he was going to make a point to not move from his original location. Takashi's goal was to force Sozen to take a step back, forwards, or to the side. Sozen's goal was to remain completely in place.

Sozen jabbed his elbow toward the Takashi at his side. If it struck, Takashi would be hit square in the ribs and knocked away by the hardness and sharpness of the elbow meeting his side. Even with a physical strength deficit, Sozen could do damage because he knew what to hit with. "Opening with a frontal assault isn't a bad idea, but only if you have more planned than that attack," Sozen said. "You must have misdirectional attacks and combinations ready if you plan to attack from the front. This is especially true if your opponent is more skilled than you are." There was also the non-vocal lesson from that exchange just now.

Sozen had attacked with the elbow after using a basic deflection of extreme skill to pull Takashi offbalance. There was more to combat than swordplay. Takashi had used Kendo alone, but Sozen, not even in a sword stance, and using only one hand, had used a street style "dirty sword" maneuver, and then attacked with his elbow instead of his weapon. Both of these wouldn't regularly come up in the academy's Kendo classes, save for the highly advanced ones. In a fight, anything goes, was what Sozen was saying. Honor and tradition were meaningless in combat. The most important virtue was not pride, but cunning. Being able to sacrifice pride in combat was the most important virtue of any warrior.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

Flashback..

The students gathered around Souzen like buzzing bees, curious to see the captain up close. Even mentors and those of the like were intimidated by his presence, seeing such a well respected and recognized man was always awe inspiring. His gaze however, fell upon none other than Takashi. The crystalline gem's that seemed to be Takashi's eyes lit up as they gazed into the captain's eyes; those that possessed a passionate red hue yet calming clarity as well. Gulping, Takashi looked back as he held his normal attentive yet still 'unamused expression'; much like an assassin. However, deep within his conscience, he felt a sort of warm glow that filled his entire body.

Thump....Thump...Thump

The rhythmic beating of his heart began to race in frequency. Standing erect with his hands to his sides, Takashi stood in the silence. The strange invisible spotlight had fallen on him and it was one that was quite uncomfortable to him.  Despite the fact that he held such a calm look, inside he was quite the opposite.

I can't believe that a Captain is here...what is he doing? What does he want to do with me?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Music 1}

Takashi questioend to himself as he stood looking at the man. He hadn't noticed but the students had been cleared out of the area where they were standing. The intense stare that came from the man over powered his sense of reason. It was almost as if he could feel the man's strength by simply looking into his eyes; a testimony to his many fierce battles. As the captain opened his mouth, Takashi's heart would skip a beat. His eyes widened a bit for the first time as his mouth opened up slightly. Standing looking towards the imposing figure was something that caused Takashi to feel a strange nervousness. His expression was a rather confused one as he looked towards the Captain. As he spoke, it felt like the Captain was drowned out by Takashi's beating heart. His expression was further confused as his eyes were spoken of. These eyes...the dreaded eyes that had brought him so much hate.

His memories slowly faded back to a time when he felt anger and deep sorrow due to his solitude. The others would point and laugh at his snow white hair and unusual eyes; leaving Takashi in a corner. Many times, as a child, he was beaten for simply staring at someone. Now back to the present, Captain Sozen's intense stare was captivating Takashi. As the Kuchiki Clan's name came to mind, Takashi envisioned the famous noble house which was praised for their strength and solidarity. So many names had come from this clan, many of whom were captains. The Clan dominated in many aspects and having their leader in front of him was beyond humbling. Finally, the word of Kuchiki came to become synonymous with that of Takashi's name. He let out a soft yet confused gasp, barely noticeable. At first, he was startled. In that moment, he could feel his heart skipping a beat. He opened his mouth to speak but didn't say anything. Closing his eyes, he collected himself before reopening them to show a more controlled and confident look; the same assassination eyes he had before.

"Sozen Taichou...I am sorry, I do not know what you speak of. However...I'm quite interested. Kuchiki blood? I..posses it?"

He questioned as he narrowed his eyes.

"Who..were those people? Ryota and Lisanna? Please tell me more.."

Present Day

SPOILER: Click to show

{Music 2}

As Takashi rushed in, he stabbed forward, but felt his sword cast aside, up into the air with a single swipe. AS the sword was knocked up in a forty five degree angle, Takashi loosened his grip with his left hand, allowing the sword to be thrown up. However, he used his hands to arc the sword in a way that it would make a semi circle, having it ready to be swung down. Unfortunately for Takashi, he felt the sting of his rib and the cracking noise that emitted from it. Pushed to the side, he let out a grunt as  he was flung to the side. With his right foot, he pressed it down on the floor along with his left, slowly sliding back. Gripping his sword once more, he looked towards the Captain, gritting his teeth with one eye closed; the other in the same half bored expression.

"Yes Taichou. Thank you sir"

He said as he listened to the man and his advice. He paid close attention to what was said. This time around, Takashi wouldn't attempt the same maneuver again. Instead, he let out a soft sigh and collected himself. He rushed forward once more, holding his sword out in a stabbing motion. As he neared the Taichou, he stepped out with his left foot. As he did however, he twisted upon the ball of the foot, allowing his left hand to let go of the sword. In a clockwise motion, Takashi aimed the sword's strike towards Sozen's right arm.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Now we have Game of Thrones music}

Several months ago..

"Come with me after your classes, and I will show you..." Sozen offered.

Hours later.

In a warm, fairly spacious study with an open, lit hearth fireplace and many, many shelves of volumes, tomes, and general novels for books, with a deep red bear skin rug on the floor, and otherwise not much else decoration, Sozen Kuchiki explained to Takashi one of the saddest stories to be heard in the Kuchiki Family of this generation. It was the story of Lisanna and Ryota Kuchiki, now spoken of as "the blind lovers." Sad Kuchiki members who were, in fact, Takashi's parents. Takashi Kuchiki. Of the Kuchiki family.

"Lisanna and Ryota Kuchiki had a love so pure, and reiatsu so harmoniously in touch with one another, that they developed the unique quality of sapphire blue eyes which were so beautiful a hue it was said the Spirit King himself envied them," Sozen said, showing Takashi an open book with a picture of both Lisanna and Ryota, both with their glowing blue eyes. It was wonderfully luminous, even in picture form, despite this doing them no justice. Any who saw even the picture, however, would be incredibly mesmerized.

"It was said to be the most beautiful color ever before seen in the Soul Society," Sozen continued. "And many adored them and sought their friendship simply to be able to gaze lovingly and lustfully upon those eyes. They made many friends and many enemies with those eyes. But, among these enemies, there was one whom they encountered who did more than watch..." Of course, as always, such stories of love and joy had to end in tragedy, for there could be no permanent happiness so long as there was also greed in any world.

"There was one, a man who called himself Shinigami by name, who considered himself the most beautiful, and felt threatened by those gems in the skulls of the Kuchiki couple," Sozen continued. "And so, he hunted them." And Sozen turned the page of the book, showing an archaic drawing of a spider with a skull for a head chasing two stick figures with glowing blue eyes. This was clearly meant to represent the attack on the Kuchiki couple, though maybe the opponent hadn't actually been a spider.

"In their attempt to escape, they were forced to leave their child behind in a dumpster to keep him safe. But, in the end, they were unable to escape, and so Shinigami gouged out their eyes and left them for dead. And though our medics saved them, they were unable to find their child again after...And thus was born the story of the blind couple of the Kuchiki name." It was a tale that had made Sozen incredibly angry. And continued to make him hateful and angry.

"It took me months and a great deal of money and resources to find that child again..." Sozen said. "It took me a long time to find you, Takashi. But now that I have, I would like to extend to you an invitation. An offer to join back into our household, the Kuchiki family, and to meet those who are your birth parents. An offer to join us, and not only become stronger as a result, but find yourself immersed in your blood and kin. Of course, if you've any pre-existing family now, we don't wish to replace them or keep you isolated from them..."

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Now Death Note music}

Many months prior

Sozen was in his room, alone, among his lavish pieces of furniture, and finely painted walls. He was sitting in a simple wooden chair, next to his large, ornately designed window, with sunlight peaking in just as the sun began to set. The orange hue touched on Sozen's face and illuminated his eyes like fire as he stared out of the window blankly, pondering on his time not only as the Kuchiki Head, but as a Kuchiki in general. Sozen considered his place in the world as son to Mephisto Kuchiki, grandson to Ginrei Kuchiki, and great grandson to mighty Sozuo Kuchiki. And, even before Sozen had been Head, his younger brother Onuya had also preceded him in the position.

How did all of these tragedies happen while I was gone...? Sozen pondered to himself. And he pondered just what had happened. Onuya Kuchiki, 28th Head of the Kuchiki Family, killed in the war against Azeru Cho and the original Espada. Ryuu Usagi, youngest brother to Sozen, turned lost child when Sozen's own parents were being hunted by a powerful assassin. And now, a new child, that of Lisanna and Ryota Kuchiki, was lost the way Sozen's youngest brother had been, because those two had been hunted much as Sozen's parents had been. The difference was this couple had survived, and been scarred all the worse for it. To look upon them now, whilst being able to remember their beautiful eyes, was tragic and utterly saddening.

Have I failed as the Kuchiki Head? Sozen wondered to himself. Certainly, under his leadership, the Kuchiki had grown powerful. Five Captains of Kuchiki name now reigned, and the Central 46 had several of their name as well. In fact, Sozen essentially controlled the Central 46. Their riches, estates, and powers had exponentially increased while Sozen was head. In just two short years, he had made the Kuchikis more powerful than they had ever been previously. None dared challenge them. The Kawadas had shrunken and all but diminished compared to the Kuchikis, and the Shihoin and Kasumi'Oji names had no chance of catching up anymore, after what Sozen had done. But was it even good enough?

Sozen couldn't help but wonder if it was. Prior to becoming Head, he had, centuries ago, eloped for love. He'd thought Onuya would be better in taking the reins of the Kuchiki, and Onuya had done admirably, but Sozen couldn't help but wonder if the tragedies could have been prevented had he stuck around. After all, look at what he'd accomplished. With this level of power, prestige, and resources, would any have dared to target Lisanna and Ryota Kuchiki? And, even so, couldn't Sozen have stopped their tragedy? How could all of this have happened...just because of one decision Sozen made hundreds of years ago...? And thus, he sat there, and pondered...

I need to find that child and make it right...

---

Click here for music

Present day.

Now, with Takashi attacking yet again, Sozen came up with a new defensive maneuver. With such vastly superior speed and with the honed senses of a true warrior, Sozen was easily able to anticipate what Takashi would do. Observing a student, it was only natural for a Captain to be able to do that. Sozen was quick to spot that Takashi was only faking the stab. Judging by the way Takashi's muscles tensed, and his preparation for a pivot, not to mention Sozen's advice only seconds before, it was almost a thoughtless deduction to think that Takashi would slash again. Sozen knew from the start that a slash was coming rather than a stab.

And, judging by the angle, which arm was untensing and which was tensing, as well as noting Takashi's dominant versus non dominant hand, as well as where the student's eyes fell, and how his body was positioned in regards to Sozen's, it was a quick deduction that it was a slash at the right arm. Sozen, moving at the same speed as in their last exchange, moved his weapon yet again, and this time switched hands, to his left hand, and pushed the sword into the way of Takashi's, blocking, but then pushing outwards, so that as Takashi's blade struck Sozen's, the force was dispersed downwards, and the momentum was forced downwards as well, causing Takashi's blade to once again be deflected.

This time, however, it was deflected into the ground, yanking Takashi's arm and hips downwards as well, using the momentum of his strike and the power generated by his pivot against him. This single motion allowed Sozen the advantage needed to slash at Takashi's face. Given the student's suddenly being pulled toward the ground by his own momentum, and the inexperience against an opponent such as Sozen, it might be extremely difficult to block Sozen's next attack. Sozen did a down to up slash, going from lower to higher, so that his strike might hit Takashi's face, and knock him backwards if it hit. Regardless of outcome, Sozen had more words of wisdom.

"A much better attack," he first complimented. "If I were to take it a step further, I might also make even that final inward slash merely a distraction or a feint, as I prepare my real attack in the form of a spell or something else. This is something to consider when you attack in future. For now, come at me again." The purpose of this was not only to instruct Takashi, but to hone his skills and his instincts. He would spend a long time being beaten around by Sozen, but gradually, as he started to adapt, his ability to fight would increase. Most opponents weren't as skilled as Sozen, and so once Takashi started to be able to react to Sozen's maneuvers, other opponents would become a piece of cake.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

In the Past

Takashi gave Captain Sozen a slight nod before clutching on to his books.

"Excuse me then Taichou"

He said with a respectable bow as he walked past the man and towards his next class. Upon entering, the teacher ceased her lecture before speaking well of Takashi and asking him to take a seat. No doubt, seeing him with the Taichou had caused people to see him differently. He paid no particularly attention as he sat down. Many of the others gave him strange looks, the kind he was use to ignoring; the fascination of looking at something unique. All throughout class, Takashi sat with his elbow resting against the wooden table top. His chin rested firmly in his palm. Takashi's crystal blue eyes gazed out through the window through the luscious green scenery and various forestry around the area. His mind flashed back to the conversation with Sozen Taichou. At times, he felt himself tapping his finger upon his desk, unable to focus on the lecture graduation speech.

What had Sozen Taichou meant by what he said? It almost sounded like he was saying I was apart of his family; it felt like that with the way he treated me. Could that be a clue into what he meant? Even so, why wouldn't he send for someone else to come to get me?

His heart raced as he thought about the Captain wanting to meet him, ideas of finally being recognized almost brought a smirk to his face.

Meanwhile, the teacher in the center of the class had clapped her hands, clasping them together after three claps. She bent down a bit before raising her hands into the air.

"and with that students....CONGRATULATIONS! You are now one step closer to your goal to becoming successful Shinigami! Fighting the hollow and the enemies of soul society! Protectors of all! Now go out there...and.."

"DO YOUR BEST"

The class all said in unison. Takashi let out a soft sigh as his attention once more returned to the lecturer. As students began speaking amongst one another, Takashi simply pushed his seat out and then stood up. Grabbing his books, he made his way past the students without a word.

"Congratulations Takashi-kun! Word on the street is that a Taichou has taken a liking to you! That's my student!!"

The teacher said enthusiastically as she gave him a thumbs up. Takashi nodded towards her, his eyes giving the same bored look as always. With a soft sigh, he made his way towards the door. Nervously, he turned the handle and made his way towards the assigned area.

Upon arrival, he noticed the warm welcome he felt. The kindled fire and the cozy atmosphere that surrounded the captain. The fire illuminated his eyes, giving them more of a passionate color. Met with a smile, he gave a bow to the captain before taking off his shoes and entering the domain. Taking a seat close to the captain. He sat with his hands on his knees, looking attentively at the man.

After the initial pleasantries, Takashi sat for a moment with silence to bare. He finally was able to cough up what he wished to say.

"Taichou, you asked me here to tell me bout a tale from the Kuchiki Clan. Please, if you would.."

Thus began the story. Takashi listened intently at what Sozen had to say. His normally half shut, unenthusiastic eyelids slowly rose as he listened into the story. Upon gazing at the pictures, he noticed the same look as in his eyes. His heart began beating quite quickly as memories of the past rushed in, extradited and feeling like an outsider...that is all these eyes had brought. He swallowed what felt like a lump in his throat. His heart began to flutter as he heard about his eyes being envied by even the Soul King...the idea was unimaginable to him.

My...eyes?

-----------------------------------
Takashi's Childhood Flashback

"Hey hey! Did you see that one kid!?"

a boy in rags with bleach blonde hair spoke. He wore a raggedy shirt and shorts. A top of his head, there was a strange cap. He pointed towards a small chubby faced white haired boy who sat in the corner with his white rags.

"Yeah! His weird eyes and hair! Who has that?"

Another child began laughing, standing a few inches below the other. He wore the same rags and had some suspenders to hold his pants up.

"Maybe we shouldn't look at him! His eyes are probably cursed! Evil eyes Takashi! Evil eyes Takashi!"

Another boy with black hair, no shirt, and pants teased.

Meanwhile, Takashi was huddled up in the corner as they began pelting with with things they found laying around; cuddling himself in the corner.

---------------------------------------

The Past Once More

As Takashi looked at Captain Sozen, he noticed the story began to take a darker turn and his heart began to feel a strange compression. He listened to Captain Sozen, eying the pictures with great interest. The drawing of the strange creature was also one that was odd to him. As the story continued, the tension was built. Shinigami was introduced and Takashi looked up a moment towards Sozen Taichou. He felt his body become numb with a strange sensation he couldn't describe. Sitting in that chair, he felt a mix of joy and sorrow. Finally, as the story came to its end Takashi realized what the Captain had said. His eyes widened and everything began to make sense.

So...those were my parents? Ryota and Lisanna...I was that child...Shinigami...he took away their eyes..their light? I...I didn't know. All this time, I thought I was an orphan, someone whom no one wanted. However, here stands before me the Captain of the Sixth Division, wanting me to hear this story...MY story...I can't believe it.

Takashi took a moment to let the memories settle, he almost had a tear in his eye but he held himself back from it. Instead, he slowly lowered his eyes and collected himself once more. The words of family was one that held nothing but negative emotions. However, this particular story seemed..genuine..and reassuring. His emotions were mixed but upon being asked he looked closer at the Captain.

"Taichou..I do not know how much you know of me. However, with that question, I feel it isn't much. I was raised as an orphan and I never made very many friends. An incident happened to me..a loss which I feel sadness because of to this day. I vowed when I came to soul society that I would protect others from this fate, and I wished to do it alone. Now, you are telling me that I have family here...not only family but those of the Kuchiki..I am..happy.."

He let his voice trail for a moment as he looked down at the floor before realizign where he was. He looked back up with his assassination stare, a look for some reason that wouldn't leave his face; despite the situation.

"I humbly accept your offer Taichou....Thank you.."

He said, his voice cracking a bit at the end of the sentence, to which he cleared his throat.


Present

Takashi twisted his body, sending his sword twirling towards Captain Sozen. He would however, feel his sword being angled downwards by the man. He gritted his teeth as this happened. Soon, he felt a strong grip upon his right arm which dragged him down. Before he knew it, the wooden blade was coming towards his face. With his free left hand, Takashi braced his face for impact, having his forearm to cover his face. As the blade came forward, it struck his forearm and send him flying back. Tumbling backwards with his sword, Takashi let out a few coughs and an 'ugh' as he landed. Breathing a bit quicker now he looked towards Captain Sozen with one eye open. Collecting himself once more. He listened to the man speak, hearing his words and letting them sink in.

"I understand.."

He said calmly before getting to his feet. Grasping his sword once more, he was asked to take the offensive. With that, Takashi rushed towards Captain Sozen. With his sword pointed downwards towards his right, he made a diagonal slash upwards towards the man's chest. As a follow up, he retracted his sword towards his hip and stabbed forwards towards the man's abdomen.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

The more recent past...

Now, Sozen had groomed Takashi a bit over the past two months since they'd first met. He'd fed the orphan boy, first of all, and exercised him. Sure, Takashi already had an athletic body, but his days as an orphan had left him partially malnourished, and his body could have been in better shape, still. He was not at his best. But, luckily, Sozen was extremely rich, and so any issues were nothing that Sozen couldn't fix. They were inconsequential and irrelevant, and by the time Sozen was through with Takashi after two months, the boy would be in far better than perfect health, just as essentially all Kuchikis were. To be the peak of physical specimens was only natural for anyone of Kuchiki blood. It was in their genetics. In their lifestyle. In their very name.

And, during that two months, Sozen also called all of his Kuchiki brethren to gather. Many of them lived in the manor, but another many of them also lived in other homes, scattered all around Soul Society, because they too had lives of their own to lead. Not all Kuchikis were important figureheads or Soul Reapers. Some just lived, and took on trades of their own. Sozen called two in particular as well, who had become sellers of beautiful flowers, among other plants. These two would be joining all the Kuchikis whom, in reunion, would celebrate the birth of Sozen's child, the promotion of Takehiko Kuchiki to Lieutenant, and Sozen's location of Takashi Kuchiki, who would be joining their family with open arms, for they all loved their blood.

And, most importantly, the two who sold flowers, the blind couple, would meet Takashi. It was Lisanna and Ryota Kuchiki, Takashi's parents. And, after two months, Sozen wore a white tuxedo with no tie or bow tie, a black dress shirt beneath with one extra button down, and a silver chain around his neck. His pants were black however, and he had a red rose on the front pocket of his tuxedo jacket, which was buttoned with a three button style. Takashi as well had been expected to wear something of a formal garb, which Sozen had provided based on Takashi's specifications on what he liked or would like to wear. And now, standing behind a large set of metal double doors, about to enter a party, Sozen would tell Takashi the truth.

"There is a truth I must confess to you, Takashi," Sozen said. "This party is about more than your introduction to the Kuchiki family." Sozen paused for a moment before continuing. "The truth is, I also brought you here to meet someone. Lisanna and Ryota Kuchiki, your parents. I would like them to be reunited with you, and for you to be reunited with them. They will not be able to see you, for they have lost their eyes, but they will be able to love you nonetheless, if you will permit it. But, if you aren't ready, I understand. I would like to hear what you have to say before we go in." Sozen didn't want to just force this on Takashi, of course. The boy had to choose.

---

The present day.

Once again, Sozen was in motion. It was as if he moved in rhythm to a beautiful song, for his movements, ever so elegant, ever so graceful, were mesmerizing to observe. But even as they were mesmerizing, they were also incredibly dangerous. It was obvious to see as Takashi approached. The first attack, a simple slash, was deflected off to the side with yet another beautiful, flawless motion of Sozen's blade, moving at that same speed which was just above Takashi's, and the same mastery which had repelled the academy student time and time again. But, the academy student, undaunted, recovered quickly, drew back, and went in for a stab toward Sozen, only to find an awful truth.

Sozen, suddenly, doubled the speed at which he was moving, changing from 130 to 260. Immediately, Takashi's weapon, rather than being deflected, was drawn into a figure eight, which yanked it out of his grasp, and then threw it to the side. Sozen had disarmed the poor academy student, and now he aimed his blade at Takashi's neck, signifying victory. However, Sozen was not done with his lectures, or with that encounter. Rather than do anything with his blade, Sozen suddenly blew forwards at maximum speed, his elbow slamming into Takashi's stomach, and then Sozen continuing past. He arrived behind Takashi, but had struck with enough speed and force to knock Takashi over onto his butt, so that the back of the student's head might slam against the back of Sozen's leg because of the momentum.

Of course, Sozen stepped forward again so that the head would not hit his leg, because, fuck, heads are very hard. "That's where I want you to be," Sozen said. "I'm going to teach you to be even faster than I am, so that even a Captain will be unable to see anything but a blur when you move." Sozen was serious, too. Turning around to face the student that he was training, Sozen lowered his sword, and allowed Takashi to do as he pleased, whether it be stay there and listen, or go and retrieve his sword, lying about ten feet away. Sozen would continue talking in the meantime either way, because most important was what he said to Takashi now. He had a proposal, or as it was, a suggestion.

"I have a suggestion," Sozen said, sword lowered, still watching Takashi's reaction. "But it will depend first on what you tell me now. On how you answer my question here. This proposal of mine can come to fruition only if you give me the right answer, whilst telling me the truth." Sozen paused once again, waiting to see Takashi's response to this. He might also perhaps answer any questions which Takashi had in the meantime, or any remarks in regards to what Sozen was saying. It was about to become more than just a "Yes Captain" sort of training relationship. From now on, the real training would begin between the two of them. "Tell me, Takashi...When I told you of what was done to your parents...What did you feel?"

[Takashi Kuchiki]

The clicking of dress shoes against the glass-like tiles of the floors made a distinct clicking noise. Ascending the stairs and walking into the hall, Takashi made his way towards Sozen. The newly found Kuchiki was wearing black dress shoes along with crisp ironed black dress pants. The belt around him with black in color, made of leather, and it contained a distinct silver metallic color buckle to match. Further up, Takashi wore an ironed black blazer with silver buttons at the end of it. The blazer also had a side pocket which possessed a distinctly whitish-silver handkerchief that was folded neatly in a triangle in it. There was also a white dress shirt underneath his blazer and a tie wrapped around his neck.  Finally, Takashi had on white gloves, his hair was also slicked back from the top and to the side. The man casually walked over to Captain Sozen, his eyes still plainly the same with their seemingly emotionless intent. With a half smile he looked towards the captain who greeted him as such.

"Goodevening Souzen Taichou"

Takashi spoke with a bow. However, the captain seemed to be getting to business after the initial greetings. Takashi's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened in on what the Taichou had to say. His heart began to beat loudly in his chest, only seemingly audible to him. He swallowed the large lump in his throat and he breathed out a calming sigh to himself.

Meeting my parents? Those whom had to abandon me...its been so long though..do they still care? Ugh...I haven't been close to anyone in such a long while. Parents...

Takashi's memories flashed back to a time where he remembered watching a film that was screened for the orphans with parental figures in them. While he was a young boy, his wide gem like eyes were glued to the screen. He recalled the main character relying heavily on his parents; a feeling he wished he had. He wasn't sure why those memories were rushing back now of all times. Clearing his throat at the question the Captain had presented, he looked at him with his dazzling eyes, meeting the Captain's passionate ones. Takashi was hesitant at first, but soon gave a subtle nod.

"Yes..Taichou, I would like very  much to meet them"

He said, his heart still beating out of his chest.


Present

Takashi felt his sword clashing against that of Captain Sozen's. The clang of metal on metal rang out as Takashi's sword was pushed to the side. Reeling his sword to his hip, he thrust out towards the Captain. However, the captain used his speed to his advantage quite quickly. With the loop motion, he flung Takashi's sword from him. With his great speed, he also went as far as to elbow him into the stomach. Takashi let out a cry as his body pushed forward due to the momentum. He attempted to push back on his heels, kicking off of them to lessen the impact; however, it was not enough. Sozen Taichou quickly retaliated by coming behind Takashi and delivering a swift kick to Takashi's upper left shoulder. He heard another crack as he was pushed forward; rolling until he came to a stop. Gritting his teeth, he began to breath a bit more heavily. As he slowly got himself up, he listened to what the Taichou had to say to him. He looked towards him, still out of breath with one eye closed.

Faster...than a captain?

Takashi thought to himself. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but was soon quieted as another question came to him. Sozen Taichou seemed rather serious, Takashi opened his other eye and then stood with his hands out, attentive. He mirrored the respect that Sozen seemed to be showing him. The question seemed to linger until it finally came. Takashi's heart began to twist as he took a moment to allow the memories to pour into him. He didn't look at the Captain, instead, he looked at the ground for a moment.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Music}

"I'm not sure what to tell you Taichou...growing up..I never had a family. I was abandoned, or so I thought. The kids at the orphanage would pick on me, call me names, or throw things at me. I wouldn't say anything to them, just sit in the corner and hope something would change. Its silly, growing up, I thought one day two people would walk through the doors, asking for their child. They would say there was a mistake and take me away from everything...but that day never came. Going to school I never had any friends either...I didn't know what to do until I met Keiko, a girl whom I cared about in the human world. Before she passed, she was the only one who cared for me. Now..now you're telling me someone else cared for me. My entire past wasn't simply parents abandoning me into a cold world. It was a story that was of two loving parents sacrificing...or rather being sacrificed. I wasn't sure until I saw them Sozen Taichou...on that day I really felt.."

Takashi stopped himself for a moment.

SPOILER: Click to show

{music}

"In any case, as for Shinigami...I didn't feel anger. Rather, I felt the need to eliminate for my beliefs. I feel like the man has harmed my family and it isn't rage..it isn't any emotion that clouds my mind..I feel a strange tension. Perhaps that's the way I feel anger or other emotions. I do not know...what I do know is I still feel that..enough that it makes me do this"

Takashi rose his hand towards the Taichou, perhaps he hadn't noticed, but it was shaking as he held it up. Takashi's face was calm, yet his hand was trembling.

"I don't know what this is, nor what this feeling is. All I wish to do, is eliminate him to alleviate this feeling...take those who harm and show them justice through my sword. Slay those do wrong...regardless of whom they may be...nor their rank.."

Takashi slowly put down his hand, it slowly stopped trembling after a few moments as he looked towards the Taichou with those same ice cold crystalline eyes.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

Several months ago..

When the doors swung open to permit Takashi and Sozen, they were immediately bombarded by countless sensations. The first smell to be encountered was warm chocolate, indicating some kind of amazing dessert awaiting them already inside. Also came a light smell like champagne, indicating fine drinks, if Takashi wanted to partake in those. Also grabbing at his attention would be the brightness of the room. The lights were ubiquitous, so that not one spot was touched by shadow, and the chandeliers overhead possessed hundreds of lightbulbs, if not thousands. They were clearly very expensive and very large, and every single lightbulb shown like a golden beacon, as if saying to have hope, or else saying that Sozen was super ridiculously rich.

And then, amid the flourishing couples, singles, and groups in their Eastern style formal-wear, spanning from violet flowery yukatas to elegant golden silk robes, as well as those in Western style formal-wear in the way Sozen was, with tuxedos, ties, and beautiful dresses, Takashi would be able to see them. Or, likely, he'd just know. Well, forget that they were the only couple with such potent auras in the room. They also had their eyes closed as they danced together, almost sadly, and yet somehow so perfectly in step with each other that one had to wonder if they were truly as blind as was said. Well, they had to be pretty blind. They didn't have eyes. Those had been gouged out. And here they were now, the blind couple, Lisanna and Ryota Kuchiki.

Lisanna was physically in her 40s now, and yet aside from the faded crinkles on her lips to indicate she had once been a girl who smiled constantly, she was without wrinkles. Her hair, a beautiful, silky black, had a few traces of white in it, and some wisps up top, showing age had begun to reveal itself only recently, but that she had decided long ago not to tamper with looks, perhaps because of not being able to see how she herself looked. Her figure was still slender like a ballerina, graceful like a circus seal, and deliberate like a stealthy fox. So, all in all, not too bad. She wasn't some gnarled, disheveled, destroyed person anyways. It was good that she could still live normally, right?

Her husband was in better condition, though. He had large shoulders, and rippling muscles in his arms. Whatever had happened to them hadn't left him crippled, as evidenced by that huge frame. He had a black beard, and enormous hands which held Lisanna's gently, delicately, despite that he looked as if he could crush her skull in his grasp instead. He possessed more wrinkles than she did, and many more gray hairs, but somehow this did not diminish the frame of strength he had set pu for himself. He only looked more impressive, if he was able to accomplish looking like that whilst being blind, and emotionally wounded by such a terrible tragedy as separation from a beloved child.

Takashi didn't get very much time to ponder about it, though, because he was swept up by Sozen and brought before them in...half a step? Half a second? Holy shit, Sozen was fast. Yeah, Sozen was fast. That wasn't a flash step. That was a non step-aided movement, but still unbelievably fast. Actually, Sozen had just used a Hakuda technique called Shukuchi-Ho, which magnified his maximum speed by three times for two steps, and without reiatsu cost. It was a good technique, though Takashi probably hadn't heard of it. It wasn't taught in the academy, or known to any lower echelons beneath the Captains. It was an impressive feat, though. That speed was immeasurable. Statistically, Sozen moved at 2100 with it. And with that speed, he brought Takashi to the boy's parents.

And, at last, they encountered one another. The looks on their faces registered as shock the instant Sozen even so much as approached them. And, clearly it wasn't Sozen's impressive aura that they sensed, with what must surely be extremely sharp energy sensory, or something else. "That heartbeat..." Lisanna Kuchiki said first. "Can it be?" No, it wasn't Sozen's aura they were fixated on. This was evidenced by how they locked onto Takashi with their faces immediately, even without having eyes with which to gaze upon him. A beaming smile lit up Sozen's face as he introduced them once more to one they had not seen in far, far too long. "It is," Sozen confirmed. "I have succeeded. I would like you now to meet Takashi Kuchiki." But...what could Takashi even say to these people?

Present day.

Pleased by Takashi's answer, Sozen had chosen to lead the boy down into the crevices of a dark dungeon, located underground, not even beneath the Kuchiki manor. The tunnels extended for miles beneath Soul Society, even beneath the sewers. Most Captains weren't even aware that anything existed this far down. How insane was that? The underground was seriously that impressive. So, leading his Kuchiki clansman, Sozen was about to show him something pretty cool. The room they arrived in was circular, with a small circular arena in the center, and suits of identical Western armor holding shields and swords encircling all around the edges and wall of the room. It was a big room, and the arena in the center wasn't the only arena in the room.

All of the arenas, out of the sixteen there, were empty, except for one, within which a figure in a dark blue coat with a hood covering his eyes held twin daggers, and used them in combat against another figure, this one in an olive green jacket with a hood, holding a regular Zanpakuto. This Zanpakuto was flourishing and flicking around at amazing speed. Very amazing speed. Faster than Sozen speed. But, the one with the daggers, undaunted, was blocking and dodging all of the attacks with an even faster speed, and was returning hits too. The one with the sword was able to defend against the daggers only because of a tremendous amount of skill with the sword.

The two both had their eyes covered by the hoods, or at least, if not covered, rendered impossible to see and discern. They could probably see, clearly, since they attacked each other with such ferocity, even though neither one took an actual hit from the other, and they trained with actual weapons. "Welcome," Sozen told Takashi. The others in the room didn't even seem to notice that Takashi and Sozen had arrived. They were only noticing one another's movements and attacks. "From today onward, this is to be where you spend the majority of your time. At least, temporarily. After your training is complete, you will vary, and your home will be wherever you choose. For now, we will teach you here."

"The others are your seniors," Sozen continued. "Though, only I will be necessary to educate you. Here, we will teach you to hide not only in shadows, but also in light. We will show you how to steal, but escape unseen. We will show you how to take a life, and get away with it, undetected. Here, we will give you the tools to forge your blade into the justice you seek, and give you the power which you deserve. The life I offer you is the life of the Kuchiki Assassin, if you are interested." Sozen was giving Takashi a choice now. To be a Kuchiki assassin, or not to be a Kuchiki assassin. Wait, Kuchiki assassin? Yeah, that's right. Kuchiki motherfucking assassin. A term Takashi would never have even heard of.

In fact, no one had heard of them, though. The Shihoin were known to possess their Omnitsukido black-ops, and the Kawada their Tsunami espionage forces, but the Kuchikis were not known to possess any such force. That could mean one of two things. Either this force was extremely new, or another alternative. Judging by how well designed these interiors were, they must have been up for a while. They weren't new. And, judging by the experience of the other two, they were veterans that had been doing this for years. So they weren't new. If things weren't new, then...It meant that the reason not even so much of a whisper of the Kuchiki assassins existed was because they were so good at their job that no one found out about them.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

As the large doors began to part, a small creeping light emitted from them. The bright light caused Takashi to squint his eyes slightly until it fully opened. Standing at the center of the room, the new well groomed Kuchiki seemed emotionless yet again. However, inside he was bursting with wonder and excitement at this new welcome. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest, yet he kept up the same face; his blue diamond eyes scanning the area. This formal event was unlike anything Takashi had seen before. He was in awe at how people could look this elegant. It was only in stories that he had heard about these types of events but never in his life had he seen something like this.

As the couples were dancing, he began scanning the area until he fixated on two. There was a woman who seemed as though she was gracefully aging. Holding her was a rather large man with bursting muscle despite thee wrinkles in his face. Takashi's heart began to beat quicker as he noticed the two hadn't had their eyes open at all. In truth, he was nervous, more nervous than he had been in his entire life. Were these really....his parents? Suddenly the exciting aura of the room faded and his sole focus was these two people. Parents...the word was so simple that most people took it for granted. To Takashi however, this was a treasure. It was something he had waited his entire life for but never thought he would have.

There was a strange pause when he felt himself being pulled...forward? Yes forward. He couldn't imagine how quickly the gap had closed. It was almost like he was looking at these people from a distance and a split second later he had arrived right next to them. It was odd, he only felt the soreness in his arm a second later from being pulled that quickly. He looked to see Sozen Taichou had pulled him along...that explained it. This man was frighteningly quick and it seemed he didn't hold back upon his excitement. Takashi could tell that this man was excited; he wasted no time after all. It was then that he heard her voice...for the first time in so many years.

Takashi's heartbeat began to race as he looked towards the two whom looked at him with such eagerness and delight. His emotions were unchanging, but his eyes were less narrow than normal. It was difficult for him...adapting. He heard Sozen Taichou say he had completed his task. The two looked at him with such excitement. It was strange because Takashi had no idea what to say, his heart continued pumping. Now he stood looking at the two whom he'd never called parents before. He was fully grown and his emotions probably weren't what they expected. There was a reason however, that Takashi turned out the way he did. Growing up in that orphanage was the worst.

---

Flashback

Takashi was sitting in a corner huddled up by himself. He seemed completely different than before. His eyes were sunken in and there were black rings around his eyes. The strange part was that his eyes were still glowing the brilliant blue diamond shine. At this time, Takashi wore dark grey clothing that was tattered up in many places. There were random holes within his clothing that seemed to be made from violent tears. It wasn't simply due to his old clothing, but there were also dirt marks on it. With the bland area and environment, Takashi's snow white hair and brilliant blue eyes were the target of criticism.

The young boy sat, he was simply a small boy, no more than the age of 8 at the time. He had his legs up and his hands were hugging his legs. He was sitting with his head on his knees and there were tears in his eyes. Far off in the distance, there was a few more boys who wore similar rags. They had much more normal hair than Takashi had. They even looked less light in comparison to their skin tone. They were looking towards Takashi with judgemental eyes. The young boy could feel their stares even though he wasn't looking directly towards them.

They called out to him but he didn't respond. The young boy simply sat in his corner and didn't say anything. He felt his heart rate begin to slowly increase more and more as he heard the sound of their voices getting closer. If there was something Takashi hated at this point in life, it was the voices of these small children that had tormented him so much. One of them had brown hair, the other blonde, and the last had light brown hair. One of them kicked Takashi in the shin, asking if he had heard him. The young boy who huddled in the corner didn't say anything, he obviously didn't want to be disturbed.

Soon however, he felt another kick to his shin and he retracted his leg. "What!? You can't hear us!? Are you stupid now too!". One of the boys cried out. He grasped Takashi's hair and pulled him up. The young boy held his face, hiding any and all signs that he was crying or tearing up. However, it was far too apparent as there were still tears in his eyes. His face was rounded and a bit chubby, he always seemed to be in shape or just a bit over it whenever they looked at him....they hated that. "You think you're better than us huh!? You like your white hair I bet snowy! Yeah Snow! I bet your momma left you because you had those really weird eyes! You know, i'd hate to be you. No one wants to adopt a freak like you!"

Takashi looked at them with his sorrowfilled eyes. He was being held up by his hair. The young boy was holding his head in pain and misery. He struggled to get out of the grip to no avail. Pushing more and more, one of the boys finally kicked him. It caused some of his hair to rip out and him to smash against the back of the wooden wall. He let out a grunt in agony as the three looked at him. They tossed his hair at him and the one with dark hair grasped Takashi's shirt. The boy's eyes filled with tears as he finally opened his mouth to say something. He didn't like talking because they hated his voice too, but he hated taking the beating.

"P-please stop hitting me *sob*" He said as snot was running down his nose and tears flowing down the side of his face. "Eh?! You want us to stop snowy!? Well sure! We can stop hitting you! Just tell us when you want us to stop!". Takashi looked up, cautious yet hopeful as to what they were saying. He wasn't sure exactly what they meant. He opened his mouth to say something but he felt something hit him square in the jaw. A shot of pain slowly filled the side of his mouth. Takashi gritted his teeth as to attempt to take the blow. The side of his face felt like it was on fire.

He fell to the ground and was huddled up in a corner. They began kicking him and some of them even began spitting on him. The worst part wasn't even that the kids were kicking him...it was the care takers watching. They were standing in the corner, not saying anything. He was the boy that was talking to those things...whatever those things were...were tormenting others. They weren't sure what it was or what he was. Takashi's imaginary friends were causing such problems. All they could do was label him what they knew it to be...a demon. That's all he was to them, it had to be why he looked so different.

He recalled looking out with one eye towards them, laying on his side. His other half of his body was being beat on by stomps and kicks. Blood was now pouring down the side of his face and his mouth. The only thing left was his eye that was shaking...tearing up...looking for the adults for help. Inside he wanted to scream for help but he couldn't. All he could do was look on. His heart twisted and ached. If he had to be honest, he'd take all the beatings in the world, every single one...if it meant he could stop feeling this way. The way his heart twisted and contorted was far beyond any pain he had ever felt in his life.

"Oh my children are you okay!?" cried one of the adults. Takashi's eyes lit up for just a second as he was taking the pain. He could feel his body beginning to hurt drastically from the stomping. The boys however, turned around and looked casually towards the teacher. She knelt down and put her hands on one of their shoulders. "Takashi was picking a fight with you again wasn't he? I imagined so....". The boys simply agreed with her and didn't say anything. The care taker meanwhile was giving Takashi a glaring stare that was indicative of her not wanting him.

Without another thought, she grasped his ear and began to pull him up. The young Takashi could feel his ribs creaking and cracking. There were multiple bruises on the side of his face. He was also bleeding heavily from some areas. However, that didn't matter to her. What mattered was that she thought he had started a fight. To be more precise, she was lying to make sure Takashi would learn a lesson. It was her way of not understanding...and attempting to exile that which she didn't understand. The way she pinched Takashi's ear was far beyond anything. It was...painful..she was driving her nail into his ear.

"You ingrate! We raise you in this orphanage and you go and start fights. This is why we have to hide you whenever the parents come. It seems like yet another batch is coming today! We can't have you bruising up our children. You know what this means don't you!?". She was speaking angrily as she was dragging Takashi across the hall of this old building. The boy had more tears in his eyes as he knew what was coming, he hated this part...anything but this part. He would have taken the beatings over and over...and over again.

"No miss Barry, no! Please stop miss Barry! I promise I won't do it again please! Ms. Barry! I promise I won't hurt them. Please I'll even let them beat me up again! You'll see! I'll stop talking to my imaginary friends! Please! Please Ms Bary!". The young Takashi pleaded but the woman didn't listen. "Don't speak! You are trying to get yourself in more trouble are you!? Huh!?". She said as she turned and slapped him across the face where his bruise was. Takashi fell to the ground and more tears came out of his eyes. He didn't say anything, he knew crying a loud made it worse.

Soon, she was grasping his ear and once again pulling him into the basement. She dragged him down and he resisted with all of his might. Soon, she opened the door and threw him into it. The Basement...that is where no one wanted to be. They threw you into a room which had no lights of any sort. It was simply black...you would stumble over things which you wouldn't know. It was very small as well, only about the size of a crawl space basement. Takashi had to huddle to himself to be able to do anything in the environment. It was so confined...so dark...so lonely. As though a manifestation of his own mind where he could talk to himself. Sometimes his friends would come visit him..the imaginary ones...but most of the time they wouldn't..for some reason.

All my life...all i knew was that horrid place. Human's can be so cruel when they don't understand something. They'll do whatever it takes to dispose of a threat. Whatever they don't understand they will caste aside regardless of anything else. They don't even care if it is a child. If they're able to see them as an enemy, they will simply see you as a demon. The lonliness of that place...it was so horrible that I couldn't bare it anymore. It was so empty...so ...so...scary. I've felt like that my entire life. Going through it, I never got out of that basement. Perhaps the real me is still trapped down there...i don't know. Eventually I didn't even hear anyone down there. It was as though no one came and it was just myself. The hope of the kindled loving parents coming to save me was all I thought about down there. Please...please come get me. I'm here mama..I'm here daddy; was all I thought about.

---

Now Takashi stood in front of them, the two whom he'd wanted to see in such a long time. He wanted to cry but something prevented him from doing so. He wasn't sure what he would do, however, there had to be something done. With this expectation, Takashi did the only thing he knew how to. The young shinigami bowed his head towards them. "...m-..mother...f-father...it is an honor ...to meet both of you. Truly, I...I am happy. He said as he bowed. A few trickles of water dripped from his face. However, if seen from below, Takashi's face was still the same; simply tears were running down his face.

"I-...I have wanted to meet you for quite some time. As a child and arguably even now, I still had thought about you. F-for most of my life, I had figured I would never get to know you all. However...bowing here now. I-I feel...great joy..thank you...thank you so much Souzen Taichou..and thank you...parents". It was obviously difficult for Takashi to formulate any real words to sum up how he felt during the moment. The last word he uttered, 'parents', was a word he had wanted to say for so long. It felt so good to say it that he said it a few times more in his mind. He couldn't believe that he was here.

---

Present Day

Takashi followed Sozen down a rather long dungeon like area. It seemed they had been walking for quite some time in the rocky area. Takashi noticed that the area was well hidden, only having certain torches for certain direction. He didn't say anything to Sozen Taichou, he would be leading him and he would follow him without question now. Soon, the two arrived into a room where two men seemed to be fighting one another. It was even difficult to tell their gender by the way they were dressed. However, the way they were moving was beyond Takashi; it was truly amazing.

He blinked as he looked at the vastness of the area. His eyes finally fixated upon Sozen Taichou who seemed to be speaking to him. Takashi stood attentively and listened to the man speak. He listened to him offering him some sort of position which had to deal with obviously what was going on here. Takashi nodded his head as the taichou spoke. Finally, he spoke the last word of 'assassin'. It seemed the Kuchiki head wished for Takashi to be someone who executed people for the Kuchiki family. He didn't particularly agree with this but he would require information on each target. Perhaps to change the world he would need to do this work. His swordsmenship was needed and he wouldn't let down the man who had reunited him with his parents.

"I will humbly accept the position Sozen Taichou. I thank you for offering it to me and gladly accept." he said with a bow. He slowly rose up however and looked at the man. "Sozen Taichou...I wish to speak my mind if that is alright?". He paused for a moment before speaking."My ambition is to become the strongest. I do not mind training in the shadows. However, I want to train in areas no one dares reach. I wish to attain new heights that requires a great deal of dedication. I would not mind being unnoticed but I wish for my skills to become stronger...the strongest. I do not want to see people whom I care about pass any longer. For that purpose, I will become so strong that I can protect anyone." He said as his eyes narrowed slightly in determination. He wished to be honest to the Taichou about what he wanted.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Note}
Posted some of the flashback before but I expanded on it. It felt very important to the story so I threw it in here; I hope that is alright.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{This song comes first}

One month ago.

"I don't show many people this side of me," Sozen confided in Takashi. And, why should he show this side to people? It was horrifying, and ghastly. But, Takashi, with his stern stoicism, should be able to handle it, right? Not even batting an eye, right? But...had he ever seen something so horrible as this? There they were, in a stone dungeon far underground, with no windows, and the only light existing as half melted candles scattered around the edges of the room. In the center of the room, Sozen stood with Takashi, and before them was a stone slab about three feet tall, upon which rested a man with eyes wide, tongue hanging out, panting, gasping for breath. He was covered in blood already, and his hands and feet were literally nailed into the slab to trap him.

Though the echos had long faded, those screams wouldn't immediately leave Takashi's mind no matter how disciplined he was. AAAARRRGGGGHHH!!! PLEASE GOD, STOP! PLEASE. NO. PLEASE! SOMEONE SAVE ME! Or worse. I WANT TO DIE... I WANT TO FUCKING DIE!! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME ANYMORE. PLEASE. Torture? No, not torture. Such a simple word couldn't even begin to describe what Sozen did to this man on the slab, who once had been proud of his physical ability as an athletic specimen. What Sozen had done was more accurately described as dehumanizing the victim on the slab. It was beyond anything that would be attempted by even the sickest of dictators, or worst of interrogators. Because it wasn't just interrogation, as Sozen said it was. It was something he enjoyed. A sick, twisted hobby.

Sozen was a kind, benevolent individual, who loved his family and would do anything for them. But, because of this, he was also a cruel, merciless individual, who, due to doing anything for his family, would do even the most unspeakable of things. And it went beyond the individual on the slab who no longer had eyes or even eyelids, and who now had had his joints in both knees and elbows cut out. It went beyond that Sozen had stuck unspeakable creatures inside of the man's body and let them roam around to cause even more pain. What was truly dehumanizing was what Sozen had done to the soul, forcing the man's soul chain to rust until his muscles began to deflate and his body wrinkle and wither and rot. Severing the man's spirit ribbon so as to negate his powers completely.

"This side of me, however, is something you must see," Sozen explained to Takashi. "This is what I do to enemies of the Kuchiki, should they merit it. This will be the inevitable fate of the man who calls himself Shinigami, should you choose to capture him rather than to kill him yourself. It is a choice I will have you make. What is justice for what the man has done? An ironic death at your hands, or something beyond death at mine? This, what I do, is unspeakably cruel and befitting of only a monster. I wish for you to see what monstrosity is, before I train you." Sozen had promised Takashi that the boy would be trained in a month's time. But first, he would get him much more acquainted with the Kuchiki's history, duties, lineage, and everything else Takashi had missed. And, he'd show him a bonus. Something not many Kuchikis saw. The hobby of Sozen Kuchiki, who enjoyed nothing more than dehumanizing the enemies of his family.

"Speaking of Shinigami..." Sozen suddenly decided, and turned to the man on the slab. "Tell me where he is... Or I can do far worse." But the man didn't know. And he professed to not knowing. And this did not appease Sozen, either. Why should it? He didn't just do this for information. Otherwise, the man was far beyond ruined anyway. He wasn't going to stop. This wasn't just a job. It was a hobby. Sozen enjoyed this. What he would do now was everything the man hoped would not be done to him, and turn him into something unrecognizable. From that day on, Takashi would be aware of one of Sozen's most secret hobbies. And he was taught its existence by the screams of the man on the slab, which echoed for hours, until eventually...they stopped.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Now this song}

Present day. Music stops momentarily.

"Power. Power corrupts. If it is of evil, we become monsters that harm what we swore an oath to protect. If it is of good, we become so arrogant as to believe we are infallible. But we will always have our losses. Always." Sozen told Takashi in response to the younger man's ambitions. "My father told me this once. It took me a long time to understand what he meant. Put simply, he stated that it is impossible to protect everyone on your own. I will make you powerful, but do not think yourself invincible no matter how strong you stand. When you need assistance, it is required that you ask. Don't forget to ask for our help." This was one of Sozen's more benevolent sides, since it was of course directed at a family member. One of the most important Kuchiki lessons...Teamwork.

"Well, that said, I suppose this is something you must have," Sozen told Takashi, producing, maybe even from thin air like a fucking magician, a sheathed katana. Simple. Basic. But with some sort of latent power. Something...unique about it. This, he handed to Takashi. "That's what you would call an Asauchi," Sozen said. "A soulless Zanpakuto. It will be up to you to pour your spiritual strength into it, and imbue it with a spirit of its own. After that, it will also be up to you to achieve your own Zanpakuto abilities, as all Soul Reapers of any merit come to possess. I give this to you in the hopes that you will use it well, and do us proud." Well, hopes, sure. Sozen had faith too. He knew, somehow, inherently, that Takashi was going to be great. A powerful Kuchiki well beyond the ordinary level.

"There is but one thing I must warn you of, with your Zanpakuto," Sozen said. "There are some who might seek to embalm themselves with Hollow powers to grow stronger. The Asauchi is indeed capable of allowing this. Therefore, I must warn you not to, for killing Vizards, quite unfortunately, is a hobby of mine..." Well, they didn't call Sozen the Vizard Killer for nothing. He was almost single handedly responsible for the genocide of the previous Vizard company led by Zouma Santeku. And, he could see Takashi was ambitious for power, and therefore had decided to warn Takashi not to attempt to become a Vizard. Or he would die. Because no one could stand up to the murderous intent of Sozen Kuchiki.

One week ago.

"And what were your feelings when you killed them?" Sozen asked, sitting in his study, with a voice speaking to him from out of the shadows. It was the voice of an assassin. His assassin. While Sozen personally selected each assassin, and technically they answered only to him, he left it up to the leader to choose most of the targets, assuming these would benefit the Kuchiki family or the Seireitei as a whole. But, this assassin here was someone who presently reported directly to Sozen, as was his assignment for an indeterminable amount of time. It was an assassin of the Kuchiki family who had infiltrated Omnitsukido, the Kawadas, and even enemy ranks in the human world. And this was a long term assignment for him. All to kill one very specific person.

So now, for now, he reported in secret to Sozen, and spoke now of two whom he had recently killed. "They spoke of justice, but did not clarify for whom," was what Sozen's assassin told him. "Their loss benefits everyone." Good. This assassin was shaping up nicely. Part of the assignment had been to gauge his mental ability, which Sozen needed to understand. As long as he knew what kind of psyche each assassin had, he could be comfortable having the Kuchiki assassins. And, aside from his other mission, this assassin had a second task while he was here. He was, for now, to watch over Hotaru and Takashi Kuchiki, two new Soul Reapers both of whom had ambitions within the Kuchiki assassins.

"Then tell me, what did you observe of Takashi?" Sozen asked, discussing a time when this assassin had watched Sozen training Takashi, and then later when he had watched Takashi on missions, in battle, and training on his own. It was an assassin that had, for a long time, been stalking Takashi and watching all of his battles and training. "He has lost numerous fights, because he often challenges people out of his own league," the assassin told Sozen. "But in exchange, his strength has increased continuously. He will soon be more than capable of a real assassin mission." That was also what Sozen wanted to hear. Soon, he had been told, Takashi would be ready to make his first real kill...

...And now, that present day becomes the past, and we shift...several months pass... <--- TIMESKIP. TAKASHI'S NEW CLASS AND TP SHOULD NOW CATCH UP WITH HIM.

SPOILER: Click to show

{This song now}

Sozen had Takashi now underground once more, for there was no possibility of surveillance in their underground hideaway, and was speaking to the student who had only just begun to truly bloom. Takashi had, as far as Sozen had observed and also been told, already achieved Shikai. It was also true that Takashi's statistical abilities had gone way up, meaning that, as far as Sozen was concerned, Takashi was physically and spiritually ready. All that needed to be check was if Takashi was mentally, instinctively, and knowingly ready. Did Takashi have the raw instinct, the sound peace of mind, and the vast awareness and knowledge required to continue down this path now, and start as a Kuchiki assassin? Could he hit the next level?

Of course he could. "You've come quite far since we first started training," Sozen told Takashi. "And now, you have advanced to exist far beyond the ordinary level of combat for those of your rank. It won't be long before someone takes notice of you and snatches you up as a Lieutenant. However, Lieutenant is but a secondary goal for you. First, we need to evaluate you. Show me what you've learned, and battle me. I want to see not if you can be a Lieutenant, but if you can be an assassin." In the name of the Kuchiki Family, the parents who had been hurt, and the Seireitei, Sozen would forge onwards and create this boy's future. A future of skill, secrecy, cunning, and more. This boy was going to be something special. Sozen could feel it.

This time, it was Sozen who attacked first. He was faster than before. Last time, he had moved at a speed only slightly beyond Takashi, and this time he did the same. However, last time he had been slower than now. This time, he was faster. Sozen, in a blurring motion, disappeared instantly. He was using 400 speed this time, just a little bit above Takashi. Takashi, at most, Sozen estimated, could only hit around 90% of this current speed. He guessed this from all of their training sessions in the past. Now, don't get this wrong. Sozen hadn't ever been the attacker before now. Except for their first lesson, Sozen had always stood in the exact same spot, and challenged Takashi to approach. Never once had Sozen budged, or initiated first attack.

So, for Sozen to initiate first attack, Takashi would be surprised. And it wasn't with any sort of fake training sword or anything of the sort, either. Sozen was using his actual Zanpakuto. This meant that Takashi had to be doubly careful and show off good instincts. Sozen's sword could cut through Takashis like butter, meaning that almost always, Takashi was not going to be able to just block Sozen's weapon. Blocking was as good as out of the question here. Also, because Sozen was moving with roughly a 10% or more speed advantage on Takashi, dodging would be difficult. Doable, yes. For multiple attacks consecutively, yes. But taxing nonetheless. Difficult as well. Dodging was going to be by less than an inch each time. By a hair's breadth. Every dodge would be a very close call.

However, since Sozen was using his full Zanpakuto, which was extremely sharp, even single, smaller hits would draw blood, and most probably deep blood. There would be no light scratches. Only deep, painful, stinging cuts were coming. That was the issue with fighting against a Captain. Takashi could fight seated officers, Lieutenants, and whoever else. It did make him stronger, but not enough to face Sozen Kuchiki. But that was to be expected. It would have been true also of Kyomei, or of Iro, or god-forbid of Okusa, who would most certainly have thrashed Takashi just because of the possession of supreme stat advantage. The problem with fighting Okusa as the type of combatant Takashi was came about in melee, where one might for the first time ever find themselves statistically outmatched by the monster named Okusa.

Well, enough of that. Sozen moved first, attacking first. Moving at 400 speed, he performed a straightforward attack, and came in with a horizontal slash across Takashi's lower stomach area, just above his legs. It was something that Sozen didn't expect Takashi to be hit by. If Takashi was hit, he would be eviscerated across the belly, and everything would come falling out, and he would die. But there was no way. It was an easy attack. By all standards, Takashi would easily be able to dodge it. That was the plan. So then, what if Sozen had other attacks as well? Right after that stomach slash, he turned his blade up, using the momentum to gain force on his side.

Sozen's foot was twisting and pressing deeply against the ground with the shift of his weight as he moved, as if he was springy and ready to launch off. From the stomach slap, Sozen's attack transitioned fluidly into a vertical slash up the chest and along the face, which would split both open if it hit. And, finally, Sozen ended his attack by spinning his blade as he brought it back down, so that one or both of Takashi's arms would be severed completely from the attack, and the fight would be over by default. It made no real difference as long as they got help eventually and fixed his arm. But, unfortunately, for now, it would hurt like a lot. Well, if he got hit or something anyway.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

The clicking of footsteps echoed throughout the hollow cavernous area. Each step the snow haired shinigami took resonated all throughout the dim lit hall. The atmosphere felt rather moist and humid, going underground was rather humid and moist. The smell which emitted was some sort of algal substance that the shinigami couldn't describe. All he saw was the dim lit candles that lit up parts of the dark stone area. Finally, the circular opening came in to view and Takashi stepped forth. He walked with Sozen up to the middle of the room. He turned towards the man whom spoke to him with a rather hushed tone, there was some darkness to what he said.

The room they stood in was nothing short of a dungeon. The candles that lit the area were dim yet illuminated the room just enough. Living in this sort of atmosphere created some strange sort of pressure. The dim lightning combined with the helpless nature was abundant in the atmosphere. The air felt thicker here as some invisible weight fell upon the shoulders of the man. His disposition was the same, bored, unenthusiastic, and near emotionless. Takashi had an idea of what Sozen meant as he saw the man in front of them.

There was blood...that was all his eyes could see. Takashi's blue eyes narrowed upon the man whom had been nailed to the stone slab itself. His agony was obvious, the man was in quite a deal of pain. Screams, that is what Takashi had heard next. It shook him a bit to hear such a cry, almost resonating in his mind...he can still hear those cries till today. These cries...tortured souls....destroyed wills...empty shells. Whatever they use to be were now as hollow as these caves, the essence of human and sanity sucked from them. They were simply shells that would be tortured time and time again...it was a shame really.

Upon getting closer, Takashi really noticed the reality of the man he was looking at. The man's eyes and eyelids were gouged out. It brought a feeling of anger towards Takashi that someone would do that to another. He kept it hidden however, it was beneficial that no emotions registered outwardly. However, this brought painful memories which twisted his heart about what had happened to his parents. It was then that he noticed the strange cuttings in the man's joints, his ribs were protruding out. If he looked close enough, he could see eyes from his exposed abdomen looking at him...staring. It was only a few seconds before it suddenly disappeared as it retreated into the man.

It was Sozen's voice which broke the silence. Takashi turned towards him without a single change in expression. His eyes returned to normal but his inward thoughts began to resonate within him. He wondered why Sozen would do such a thing. The man would have to speak for himself and Takashi would listen to what he had to say. The shinigami nodded, he understood what the man was saying. This is where he took people to torture them, making them speak. This was also where he would absolutely destroy them. It seemed Sozen wanted Takashi to chose whether to bring Shinigami here or to have Shinigami meet a death by his own hands. It seemed Takashi had to chose, his only response would be as follows.

"I understand. I will make my choice upon hearing him speak. I do not care how he suffers, I care more for why he did what he has done. Death will come either way. Sozen Taichou, let me ask you. When you torture these victims, they lose their will to live. They do not wish to live any longer but welcome it. They believe that anything is better than what they experience now. In that light, you have given them something...hope. This hope is what fuels them, gives them a promise of liberation. However, I feel a greater torture, if I may...would be life versus the void; no torture. The final destination of where they are going...after they have clung to life...is much like being forced into a dark dark abyss."

Takashi looked away from the Captain and then looked towards the man on the slab."This descent into the dark abyss will come for each and every creature. Imagine being forced into leap into a dark dark crater. For these men whom you have tortured, they will gladly leap into the abyss. However, what of the men whom don't wish to go? Who possess the will to live on? Forcing someone to jump into that unknown whom would go through your torture to live... THAT Sozen Taichou...is torture..". He became quiet after he uttered these words.

A moment later, it seemed Sozen had become occupied with this other man. Takashi could see the pleasure on the face of this man. He enjoyed what he was doing, indulged in these men and their screams. He drank their fear and feasted upon their pain. It was a horrible and terrifying pleasure to partake in. However, it was as this man was. There was reasons for even what he did. The cycle of pain and punishment seemed to continue. He would allow his words to reside with Sozen Taichou, wondering what he thought of what he had said. For hours though...this scream continued...until it was no more.

---

Present Day

The snow haired shinigami listened to what the Captain had to say. It was true what he said, no matter how strong Takashi got. The shinigami took the words to heart. He knew as a Kuchiki, that Sozen had the best interest for him. If it weren't for him, he wouldn't have been reunited with his family either. He was happy to hear what the man had to say. It was true too, Takashi needed to realize that no matter his strength...he would always need help. Even if he could defeat every enemy possibly, there was always some affliction that needed another person to tend to; whether they be wounds, illness, emotional, etc. Takashi simply nodded in understanding.

It was then that Sozen pulled something from...seemingly thin air. Apparently the man had been working on his magic skills. In any case, the sword was described to Takashi as an Asauchi. He took it with both hands. The moment he touched it, he knew there was something that was definitely 'off' about it. His eyes narrowed as he looked down upon the sword. Takashi took it in his left hand and grasped teh handle with his right. His eyes followed the pattern of the katana. It was only a second later that he exposed the bare blade of the Asauchi. The man blinked as he noticed the glimmer of the sword, it was such a beautiful weapon.

The man fully drew the sword a moment later, inspect it. He listened to what the Captain had to say. He had no idea that hollow powers could come from the Asauchi. Apparently whatever or whomever did that were called Vizards. Takashi hadn't heard this term before, but he would keep it in mind for the future. "I shall be careful Sozen Taichou, I will not taint the sanctity of my future Zanpakuto" he said. He then bowed towards the man, "Thank you very much Sozen Taichou, for this honor and gift". The man was happy, it was nice to have a weapon he could use.

Sozen Taichou had really turned out to be a great mentor. The man taught him a great deal of things. Despite his habits, he was actually a really good guy. He had hoped he would do more things with the man in the near future. He wasn't sure what was to come but he knew he would definitely follow this man. Though, Takashi had grown up on the streets, he knew when to be careful as well. The man always had his guard up, and that was the interesting thing about him.

---

A week before...

It was finally time. Takashi had come to the confines of the cave. Standing nearly 15 feet from Sozen, he was ready for whatever may come his way. Takashi held his Zanpakuto in his right hand closer to front of his right leg. For some reason, after this training, he was always on edge. His expression seemed cold as ever as he peered into Sozen Taichou's eyes. The man seemed calm, his eyes dancing like fire yet as eerie as dripping blood. Takashi's eyes narrowed upon the man as he spoke. He gave him a slight bow as the man spoke. "It has been all thanks to you, Sozen Taichou". He said as he got up. The man mentioned him becoming a Fukutaichou. It seemed Takashi's skills had increased greatly, far beyond what he himself expected.

However, the training he had been given was not for simple purposes of ranking up. No, Takashi was much different than that. The man was a trained assassin, his goal was to kill those who opposed the Kuchiki. For the debt he owed Sozen, the man took up arms to kill anyone he could. Oddly, despite his cold demeanor, Takashi was a rather sensitive and emotion filled person inwardly. However, his exterior and his actions would tell anyone different; easily fooling most. His expression was the same bored and rather unemotional as he looked towards the man. His eyes were diamond blue that glimmered despite the low lightning.

Takashi stood, his left staggered back and his right forward. He had been taught to be always ready for combat. The training was that at the drop of a pin needle, Takashi would kill. One could see that mentally had stuck with him a great deal. He seemed calm outwardly however, inside though, was an entirely different story. Takashi was on edge, ready to kill anyone at any time. His skills of observation during most situations would heighten as well.

There was no time, it seemed Sozen was ready for an encounter right away. He came with full force, Takashi could see by the way he was wondering his sword, it was for a horizontal slash. the man's sword was laced with reaitsu, enough to easily slice through Takashi. If he didn't act quickly, he would be easily cut in half by the man. However, Takashi wouldn't let that happen, he had to show the man exactly what he was about. All the training he would go through, it would all be to assassinate any opponent that was in his wake; anyone that needed to be taken out.

There was two things that happened simultaneously. the first was rather straightforward. Takashi simply bent his knees, attempting to get down on the balls of his feet while he was doing so. The second was a bit more complicated. Takashi's right hand began to move in the direction of where Sozen was going to slash. The two movements would come together to produce something truly remarkable. With all his strength, Takashi pushed up on the sheathed sword; throwing a palm facing towards the heavens towards it. The palm would hit a bit further from the middle of the sword. This would have a very subtle but substantial effect.

As Sozen's sword came in horizontally, Takashi's left would push his sheath upwards with all of his might. This motion would cause the sheath to bounce upwards, hitting the soft underbelly of the man's sword. The effect would be to send it skyrocketing up in an arc like motion. The sword would undoubtedly cut or shave off a small sliver of his right scalp, a lot with some of his hair. It was all necessary due to the angle of the arc given the speed; though it'd be basically a scrape. There was another effect of this. Due to Takashi's strength being nearly 8 times that of Sozen, there was a likelihood that the man's sword would be pushed from his hand due to huge difference in strength; but that was unknown as of yet if it'd happen. His next attack would be conducted much like the last attack, at full speed and full strength.

As Takashi was crouched, he flipped the grip with his left hand, now grasping the sword. Rising steadily and pushing off his left foot, he spun on the ball of his right foot. Simultaneously, Takashi drew the blade while he spun clockwise. As he spun, the blade he was holding was glowing a very beautiful blue color. If Sozen still had his sword, his next attack to execute would most likely be the downward slash. Predicting either a vertical or right side attack, Takashi had already began raising his sheath even before he spun. As Sozen would continue his attack for a vertical strike, Takashi would have his elbow bent in a 45 degree angle. He rose it up in a semi circle, straight above his head. The intent would be to once again slap the sword that was crashing down vertically. However, now it would hit the sword's side, sending it far to the left.

Meanwhile, Takashi's sword slashed out. Its intent was to cut Sozen just below the hip and where his legs would begin; leaving only a little gap. In addition, the shockwave like blade would ring out in case the man attempted a retreat. This shockwave would push outwards utilizing Takashi's strength and full speed. In addition, it would carry his weight towards Sozen. Now, all that would be left to see would be exactly how this man would react to such an attack. Takashi wasn't holding back, he was ready to kill the man. Oddly, there seemed to be a bit too much feeling behind the attack....

[Sozen Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Now this!}

Sozen's crude smile, of course, didn't leave his face when he countered Takashi. Well, hey. Why would he not smile? Takashi might have thought that he had some kind of advantage, or a clever guard, but Sozen saw through it immediately. In fact, with his expertise in swordplay, Sozen was able to do something even more remarkable. While most master swordsman could anticipate all the common moves of the sword, Sozen, beyond mastery, was able to anticipate not only the traditional, or the possible, but the unorthodox. Movement sequences that might involve the sheathe, as Sozen was often fond of using himself, or otherwise other possibilities, were all locked down and within Sozen's realm of prediction.

That was why when he saw Takashi's subtle movement during approach, Sozen's mind quickly calculated the physical outcome, that being a sheathe coming out to disarm him. A simple but effective counter, Sozen simply accelerated as this happened. Acceleration, or in other words an irregular change of pace, allowed Sozen, who had been moving at about half speed or less, to suddenly put more into this and go at 500. He was still holding back, but he also often held back speed in combat anyways. Sozen had said he would take Takashi's training to the next level. That was why Sozen accelerated. So that Takashi would be forced to realize his moves had holes that could be taken advantage of by subtle counters.

Sozen's speed acceleration for that slash caused his sword to end up much farther and deeper into the slash as Takashi tried to counter it with the sheathe. Now, with the sudden acceleration, Takashi's sheathe was headed for Sozen's sword, but for the cutting blade. Sozen's sword met Takashi's sheathe, and found no delays, not even a nanosecond, as it cut through it like butter and continued on its arc. Sozen had to adjust his own slash because of Takashi's failed defense, which would negate further attempts at stopping the coming blow. Since Sozen's offense had been quite successful, Takashi had been in real danger of a terrible wound, which Sozen probably couldn't allow.

So, Sozen's sword, instead of crudely eviscerating Takashi, cut across the front of Takashi's upper thighs, leaving large cutting wounds, which Sozen had made more shallow than the original strike too, and resulting in a large spray of blood and of a crippling of the legs. Takashi might not even stand anymore, or be able to stand. It was painful, it was neutralizing, and it was almost a worse attack than Sozen's original, though at least this one didn't put Takashi anywhere near death's door, unless he stupidly decided not to get it treated. Sozen's speed returned to 400 after this initial attack acceleration, and he continued on course for another executed strike.

Takashi, in addition, had prepared himself for a counter strike based on his initial counter. Raising a now broken sheathe, and keeping on the balls of his feet with injured legs meant two things. First, Takashi's sheathe would fall short of being able to actually stop Sozen's sword, unless he extended his arm more, thus leaving himself even more vulnerable. Second, his balance was extremely compromised by those leg injuries. Sozen's sword arcing upwards instead of downwards meant that Takashi's own slash would meet it. The sheathe, now much shorter, would either fall short, or have to extend. But either way, Sozen was reacting, with his sword coming up, and Takashi's coming at Sozen.

Sozen, however, saw the blue of Takashi's sword, and decided to finish his own attack by doing something new. Sozen's sword not only struck Takashi's sword, and sheathe too if that was extended, but cut right through them. And, since Takashi had prepared for a downward strike instead of upward, then a lack of readjustment would land him with a deep scar across his face and blood there too. That was an optional wound, Sozen considered. Next, having balanced on his foot, Sozen suddenly used Shukuchi-Ho, a Hakuda technique, and accelerated to full speed to get two steps around Takashi, He moved to the side, continuing his side length attack, his escape from the (now broken) shockwave having occurred at 2100 speed.

Now, with all attacks dodged and most counters thwarted, Sozen's blade was truly in danger from his spinning maneuver of actually completing the attack and severing Takashi's arm. Instead, however, Sozen chose deliberately to be placed just a bit too far, so his slash completed and halted, and he returned his blade to a ready position, and instead completely missed Takashi and allowed the youth some leeway and mercy. This was training, but if he completely incapacitated Takashi right now, then there would be some delays in their training session, which Sozen did not want. Right now, however, the youth was quite injured. Sozen wondered how long Takashi could go now.

"There's no need to be clever," Sozen informed Takashi. "That sheathe counter was too risky. You tried to exploit what you thought might be a hole, but you were being set up for a trap. You knew I could outpace you, and you still executed your movement. In future, dodging is a better alternative. I don't land strikes with the strike or the retaliation, but with the retaliation to your retaliation." That was a combat ability that Sozen had picked up on from fighting many powerful opponents, including the Segunda Espada. Kuroi, a master of defensive combat, had always landed blows by countering retaliations, as retaliations left one most vulnerable.

Thinking about it, Sozen understood that most opponents gave themselves away in retaliation, because it was all of their cards. They thought just far enough in advance to think of their counter and what they would do after their counter, but gave little thought to what happened if their entire strategy was cut away at the mid point or even at square one. Because of this, countering a retaliation made for easy hits. For example, Takashi had run out of time when his original sheathe strike was countered. The moment Sozen accelerated, it was over, and there was no way for Takashi to defend. He had less than a split second because he had just stood there. He had run out of time, and gotten hit.

"You also must learn to plan a contingency," Sozen explained. "Had you had a bit more distance, you might have dodged my strike. However, you chose to stay put, thinking to counter me and thinking you were almost guaranteed to go through. To counter you, All I had to do was move a little bit faster. It wasn't difficult, because you overestimated your guarding." Then again, even if Takashi had been successful, Sozen could also have simply accelerated into him with a Hakuda attack and taken him down. It was also expected of Takashi to understand that not all attacks would come from a sword. Sozen was extremely capable of using Hakuda too.

"Now it's your turn," Sozen told Takashi. "With your injuries, you must still find a way to attack me and take no further injuries in doing so." He held his sword ready for a counter, but in his mind he was thinking about doing something different. Takashi had underestimated the Squad 6 Captain's capabilities, but this was a good lesson. Sozen wouldn't be underestimated again, and Takashi would only come at him harder and with more precision than before. This was what was expected of an assassin. Takashi's goal was to learn how to fight and not take these serious injuries, so that if need be, he could kill a target without stealth, and still escape. Stealth was just a means of making it easier.

[Takashi Kuchiki]

Sozen had been in quite a few battles indeed. His superior speed would give him the edge in battle; quite interesting indeed. This man elegently swung his sword, it seemed he wouldn't stop. He pushed forward, increasing his speed; that was all that was needed. Even the most subtle attack could turn deadly if one weren't careful. In this instance, Takashi was the one whom wasn't very careful. This would indeed cause Takashi some harm.

The white hair shinigami noticed the blade as it came in. It accelerated and cut not only through his sheath but his Zanpakuto as well. He could feel the power in the slash, it was insanity. The man could literally cut through his defense like it were nothing. Takashi figured that at least with the sheath and the Zanpakuto together, they would have been able to protect the man. However, it was too little too late. The worst part was that the man was outspeeding him. Takashi was already moving towards with his feet, hoping to get down further. However, the man was far too quick. The shinigami could have pushed off his left foot, shunpoing to the right.

Takashi however, was in shock for a brief moment when his Zanpakuto was cut in half. That was all the time Sozen needed to attack. When he finally realized everything he was getting ready to push off his foot. However, Sozen had cut his left thigh. The pain instantly hit the man and it was hard to do anything but fall on to his left knee. It hit the ground with a thud as the man gritted his teeth. It now wasn't the time to push off at all. There was yet another attack coming in that would be deadlier than the last.

Takashi could feel the strength behind the man's attack, it was far too great. He was preparing a counter attack when he noticed something, Sozen was changing his strategy. The man indeed was much stronger than Takashi could have guessed. He was utilizing his skills to the fullest. This shinigami was completely on another level. This was the level that the white hair wished to get to. He wasn't strong enough...not yet anyway. So he continued, attempting to use his free hands to try and do something against Sozen. The man was far too skilled, but Takashi had to try anyway. His sword was broken and his sheath was broken as well, it wasn't looking good.

The man was now planning an upward strike. Takashi had some time to defend but not a lot. He had pushed off his left foot and now attempted to fall back, trying to dodge the attack. He had placed his sheath there and his sword instinctively. However, the man was far too fast and far too strong for him to make any type of defense. The man was breathing heavily as he looked down towards the slash, his eyes narrowed, unsure of what was coming his way. There was surely something here that he wouldn't expect; the attacks from Sozen Kuchiki were too much.

The man's slash came up finally as Takashi was falling back. He looked towards it as the sword came up. Cutting through his weaponry like butter once more, the sword would continue; unhindered. The slash rushed forward and cut a deep cut into the man's left cheek. Takashi gritted his teeth as the attack came, falling backwards. The attack would have been much more severe had it not been for the man falling back. His sword was now nothing more than a small weapon that he had held in his hand. It was utterly broken and nearly destroyed fully.

However, Takashi wasn't out of the woods yet. AS he fell, he could barely see Sozen as he moved towards his right; how the hell did he move like that? The man was far too quick and he was gaining quickly on Takashi. As the man fell back, he noticed the man's sword coming towards him, or at least he thought. His mind raced with options that he had, there were not many. He breathed heavily as he fell to the ground, unsure of why he wasn't cut. He took the time to catch his breath before opening one eye and looking towards the captain.

The man was instead standing in a ready position. It seemed he was giving Takashi some leg room, or so to speak. He was unsure of how he was just giving him so much room. The man blinked, unsure of how to react. However, it seemed as though Sozen had really given this youth a break. He let out a soft sigh, the threat for now was over. It gave him a chance to rest up, which was nice for Takashi. The Captain's assault had proved far too much for him to deal with in his current state. The man wished to get stronger...much stronger.

This was when the Captain spoke. Takashi looked up at him, his hair spread out on the floor as he watched from the ground. The man had blood coming from his mouth, but his expression was the usual one. He blinked a few times as he looked towards him. What the Captain was saying was beyond true, he really did have to plan better. The man was sure that the other man couldn't counter. It was a good move but Sozen was definitely faster. The man wasn't that great at keeping up with opponents that were stronger than him; or rather, not this strong.

He swallowed as the man continued. He made some good points, suggesting to the man to keep distance as well. It was true, only a small speed up by Sozen was all it took to actually make things go faster. It was strange...annoying even. The man was on a level that Takashi could not get to...not yet anyway. It made him feel much weaker than the captain. He had to progress more and more until he could finally reach a higher plane. He wanted to be able to best Sozen, deep down, he wanted to become the strongest. To do that, he'd have to beat each and every enemy he would encounter; that is what he wanted.

It was finally quiet for a moment as Takashi turned towards the man, it seemed he was curious. He looked into the man's fire red eyes as they looked down towards him. They were so merciless and red, as though they were soaked with blood. However, he was showing Takashi compassion here, which was a rare sight. For his family though, it seemed this man truly would do anything. It made Takashi feel safe, yet he was use to being alone his entire life. He knew the pain of being alone and he wanted power greater than Sozen's to be able to protect those who are weak; regardless of their race. The man never looked down on anyone. It stemmed from the fact that everyone had looked down on him previously and he hated that. Those people, he never wanted to become like them.

It was only a moment later that the man flipped left to get to his stomach. He pushed up with his arms, a broken sheath in hand. He blinked a few times, still able to walk; though through extreme pain. The man was only able to move because of his will. His left leg was killing him but he was pushing past everything ever. He let out a soft sigh until he made eye contact with the man once more. It seemed there was something in his eye, perhaps worry even. However, it was unlike him to have his expression change, and as such, it didn't.

In any case, as the stare continued the man finally began to speak. "Sozen Taichou, tell me one thing. Would you be alright if I unleashed my Shikai? I only worry that it may hurt you if I utilize it. Perhaps not due to this state, but I worry that it may be a possibility. Do you feel as though that would be alright sir? If I were to utilize it, I would grow stronger, that fact is definitely a truth.". He looked towards the man, almost questioning him. He wanted to see what Sozen Taichou thought of his strategy. He had faced the man, now pushing back a little as he looked towards him. He was able to make the distance of ten feet before raising the sword and tossing the sheath down.

The two weapons were broken, cracked all over. There were clean cuts in both the weapons and there was definitely signs of more damage to them. This was in addition to the fact that there were pieces of the sword laid out all along the floor. He blinked, holding the half dead looking sword up to the captain. Was he really challenging the man with such a weapon? That was indeed the question. He didn't break the gaze, simply wondered what the man would do. He was ready though, in case he attacked, the shinigami knew what he would do.