What does it mean to be a Kuchiki?[NDE, PG-13]

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Thread Title: What does it mean to be a Kuchiki? [NDE, PG-13]

Participants: Hokori Kuchiki, Hotaru Kuchiki

World: Soul Society

Death Setting: Non Death Enabled

Rating: PG-13/R

Location: Everywhere

Special Conditions: None

Circumstances:
OOC: This is a training thread between Hokori Kuchiki and Hotaru Kuchiki, Italics will show flash backs and will show breaks for TP and to accommodate for growth.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru woke up in her barracks room, which she shared with the other seated officers. Thankfully, she had built a wall up to giver herself some privacy from the others. When she woke up, she did as she always do, cleaned her zanpaktou. Right before she started to connect with Rivu~aiasan, someone knocked on her makeshift wall. "I am sorry if I'm interrupting you, Hotaru Kuchiki-san, but you have been called back to the Kuchiki household by Hokori Kuchiki, Captain of Squad Five." She nodded towards him and he left. She had never been called before.

Well, that was interesting young one. I wasn't even expecting one of your new brethren to call you up to the manor house. I guess the captain wants to see you for something. She hadn't even realized that she had made the connection with him yet, but she should've known better. He was always looking out for her. I know my sage. I've never been called before and it's interesting that this new 'cousin' is calling for me. I haven't met him yet and maybe he just wants to meet me? Let's hope it's not something bad.

She continued to clean her sword in somewhat silence. She continued to talk to Rivu~aiasan, wondering why one of her family members would call upon her. She was pretty sure she hadn't done anything against the family, or so stupid that she would embarrass the family name. They threw around theories, but nothing really sounded like a good reason. She told Rivu~aiasan good-bye, but to keep his ears open, just in case, put her cleaning tools away and sheathed her zanpaktou.

She stood up and got her outfit in order. She made sure that her feet were cleaner than normal and grabbed one small pair of socks. She put them into one of her pockets and made sure her zanpaktou was tied securely to her belt and waist. Since she didn't want to get the manor house dirty, she brought the socks to put on her feet when she got there. She took a deep breath and left her barracks on the way to the manor house of the Kuchikis, hoping she wasn't in trouble.

She took her time to get there, taking in everything. Finally after about ten to fifteen minutes of walking to get to the manor house. She has barely been in the house, but she was excited to get to see more of the manor house. Once she arrived, she walked up the steps of the manor and knocked on the door. Immediately, one of the manor servants answered the door and bowed to her. "Welcome back, Hotaru Kuchiki-sama! We have been told to expect you. Hokori-sama is in the library waiting for you."

She walked into the foyer, but not before she knocked some of the dirt off of her feet. The servants were looking at her a little weird, but she paid them no mind. She didn't care what they had to say. She then put the socks on right before her feet touched the nice floors inside the building. She didn't want to dirty the manor. She turned back to the servant who let her in. "Um... could you tell me how to get to the library? I'm not here that often and I have no idea where to go."

The servant looked a little flustered, but bowed and started to walk off. She followed closely behind her, making sure she didn't get lost. She glanced around the halls while they walked. This manor was truly beautiful, reminding her of the palaces of her time. It was definitely a sight to behold. After about five minutes, they arrived at a door. She bowed and took her leave. She knocked on the door three times. When she heard to go ahead from Hokori, she walked in and shut the door. She then bowed towards him. "Hotaru Kuchiki, reporting as requested, Hokori-taichou." She straightened up and waited to see why he wanted to see her.

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Hokori sat in his private section of the library recording and cataloging documents for the private family sections. Here there were treasures lost to time in the hands of the family charged to keep the Soul Society’s histories. He held in his hands the collective history of the known shihoin and Kasumi’Oji Geneology and well known history. Assassins and Artisans of the Soul forge, the two families had been rising to power recently and Hokori hadn’t failed to notice. Recently he had done battle with Taiho Kasumi’Oji and left her severely wounded; he knew it wouldn’t be long before either vied for power. Though it was to be said, Sozen had even in his own capricious way, increased the power standings of their family more than tenfold since his return. Despite the Kuchiki’s annoyance with his cousin, it couldn’t be said he didn’t have an eye for value and a propensity to do whatever needed to be done for the family at least… since his return.

Hokori shook these thoughts away from his mind and recalled his recent memories, he had been looking into one of the up and comer Kuchiki. Hotaru Kuchiki was sort of an enigma. Which to Hokori was infuriating, that wasn’t to say that he was mad at the girl, no she was family. He just hated not knowing things. Curiosity was something that constantly drove him to new highs and lows, and it seemed it would never die, at least not until he did. He was depressing himself and made himself think of himself and Amaya in the library. She made him smile with her odd tangents that were intellectual but all her own. He couldn’t figure her out, which made him just even more determined to solve that mystery. His smile wasn’t full, but he had a solid smirk on his hands when he heard the knock on the door three times.

Polite, I like her already. He moved away from one of the shelves and spoke, “Come in Hotaru.” He moved towards the door. And as he did so, he began to let his senses spread out sweeping over the girl on the other side of the door. She was strong enough to survive his training, if she was training with Iro, she would be able to survive. If she was training with Sozen she would be able to survive, and so she would train with him and she would survive. In everything that she would be taught the culmination was the potential for great things. Sozen’s analytical ability and mental combat prowess, Iro’s swordsmanship and ability to face things with a calm mind, and with him. Hand to hand and acrobatic prowess that even Iro had not seen before. She had before her great opportunities, now was one such opportunity. “Hotaru Kuchiki, reporting as requested, Hokori-taichou.”

“Thank you for coming Hotaru, you may drop the use of Taicho today. We are of course in a family setting. It is to be expected of course in an official setting, but here Hokori-sama is fine. You’re probably wondering why I called for you. You are here because of the culmination of great things you can and will achieve. Our family has been watching your progress, and I wanted to take a personal hand in such matters. As such today we’ll have a short discussion before we head out to a training ground. But I will train your mind first, and I will do this through the most direct way possible. Through a logical debate.” He sat down in one of the high back chairs, motioning for her to join him. “My first question, why did you choose to become a shinigami, Hotaru?”

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru looked at her new cousin, Hokori. He was definitely strong, there was no doubt about that. But, she just hoped that whatever he called her for, it wouldn't end in the same basement Sozen took her to and 'trained' with her. It was something she didn't really look forward to doing anytime soon. But, she had heard a few things about this man, how he was dedicated to the family and how he loved the library.

She heard that he was called the bookkeeper of the family and she could see why. With the way he dressed and moved in the library, she could tell that he was at home here. It made her smile internally. There was a warmth in this room and she didn't know if it was just from the way this library was decorated or what. It was a very nice room that she definitely needed to come back to frequently.

While standing, he told her thanks for coming and she could drop the honorifics. Since they were in the family setting, she could call him Hokori-sama. She was still, of course, to use taichou in an official setting. She nodded and put it away for future reference. She would definitely need to try to remember this from now on, since it seems she's doing too much formality lately. He then said she was probably wondering why she was called.

She was definitely wondering that and it put her a little on edge. He then explained to her that she was here because of the culmination of great things she can and will achieve. The family has been watching her progress and he wanted to take a personal hand in those matters. She raised a brow at that. She didn't think she would bring the attention of another family member like this. She didn't even know the family was watching, but she should've known better. She was just grateful she didn't screw up anything.

He continued saying that he wanted to have a short discussion before they went to the training ground. He wanted to train her mind first through logical debate. He sat and motioned for her to do the same. She did find one across from him and took a seat. She didn't have high hopes for herself in this debate. She wasn't really the one for logical debates, but she would try her best. His question was why she choose to become a shinigami.

The question, she thought, wasn't too hard. What she was curious about, however, is what kind of answer he was looking for. But, she knew that she just needed to be honest. She wasn't going to lie to her family about a simple question. "Well, Hokori-sama, the real reason I wanted to become a shinigami is to protect the innocent. It is how I grew up and that was one of the reasons that I wanted to join the shinigami. The other reason was to keep my fighting skills honed. I fought in a great war when I was alive, even though I shouldn't have been there. When I finally moved on to Soul Society, I didn't want to lose the skill I had and become weak. Therefore, I joined so I could remain strong and skilled, protecting the people that need it the most."

[Hokori Kuchiki]

A noble pursuit Hotaru, very noble indeed, but let me pose these questions to you now that I know your reasoning for becoming a Shinigami. What would you do if those under your care of protection were more corrupt than those you were protecting them from? The captain crossed his legs, thinking back to his experiences in his past five centuries of life. He had seen horrible things in the history of humanity. Those who were protectors of good, protecting nothing but lawless degenerates and letting them prey on the weaker men and women. Then to liberate those who would prey on the weak, the people who were good at heart would be forced to fight more good hearted people.

“Say the people you wanted to protect, were more evil than the people you fought against. What would you do then? Would you turn on the place you swore to protect? Or would you try to change it? Would you choose to just turn your back on them?” He looked into the fire, his eyes very far away. Hokori was much older than Hotaru and unlike Hotaru or Iro he hadn’t fought in the great wars. He had heard of the carnage and destruction that it had wrought. His expression was passive, watching the dancing flames. He turned back to Hotaru.

“Sometimes, it’s not about why you’ve chosen to do something or become someone. It’s the choices you make after you ascend to the role that make you what you are. I ascended to captain over a traitor, I murdered innocent people without a second thought until after the deed was done. I’ve done terrible things in the name of my name and family and all I can think of is that I have failed them. Over and over again.” He looked into the young girls eyes, “You will kill, you will carve, you will slaughter, people that are better and worse than us.” There was a deadpan expression that killing innocents, having their blood soak her skin and hair. What could she answer now with seriousness and innocence to his declaration that he had killed innocence?

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru listened to Hokori say that her pursuit was very noble, just like she thought it to be, but he then decided to pose more questions based off the details she had already given him. She was hoping that all these questions weren't going to make her head explode. She had tried her best to pay attention when she was taught about the sciences and other such things, but they never really came easy to her. Fighting always did and her mental abilities, she will admit, have not been good lately.

She hoped that maybe the talk with Hokori would brighten her horizons a bit and let her think more on things than she already did. The first question that he brought up was what she would do if the people under her protection were more corrupt than those she was protecting them from. She knew that her father had dealt with the same problem before. Since it was mandated from the Shogun himself, he couldn't refuse. But, if it was just nobles, he picked through those missions to avoid what he just brought up.

The next question he asked her was what would happen if the people she wanted to protect were more evil than the people she fought against. She couldn't even fathom that happening. He asked what she would do. Would she turn on the place she was sworn to protect, change it or just turn her back on them. Those statements definitely made her think more about it. She had been thinking about that lately, with what Sozen has her do now.

Next, he elaborated on why he was asking the questions in the first place. He said that sometimes it's not about why you've chosen to do something or become someone. Rather, it's the choices you make after you get to the role that makes you what you are. He ascended to captaincy over a traitor, murdering innocent people with no second thoughts until it was over. He had done terrible things in the name of their family and his name, just for him to think that he failed them over and over again.

He looked her straight in the face and said that she will kill, carve and slaughter people that are better and worse than they are. He had given her a great amount to think about. She sat, watching the fire in the fireplace while thinking about what to say to her new cousin. She had seen much in her short amount of human life and longer life as a shinigami. She just thought back on what she had done and pictured what she would do in the future. When she was ready, she looked back to him.

"I will answer your questions in turn, Hokori-sama. To the first question, I would hope that I never get put into that position in the first place. But, if I was, it would depend on the situation. If I was ordered to do so, then I would do my duty, even if it causes me regrets. But, if I wasn't ordered, only if these people were in dire need would I help them. I'm the kind of person to help all in need, no matter if they're corrupted. But, in all situations, I would try to tell them the errors of their ways.

But, I know you can't make everyone listen to reason. For your second question, if that situation ever happened, I would try to get to the highest station I could in that organization and try to change it from the inside. I would want to get rid of all the corruption in it, making it as a whole a better organization. I would also want to put something into the structure of the organization to make sure that it wouldn't happen again.

But, Hokori-sama, I do know what you speak of, killing people better and worse than myself. I don't know if you know my history, but I fought during the Mongol invasions of Japan seven hundred years ago. I have killed people in the name of my country and done other things that I rather not think about. I have killed and slaughtered people I knew that were better than me and worse than me. I took everything in stride because I was fighting for the country I loved and to save my father on the battlefield.

It seems that we have both killed innocent people. It's because I did those things for my country that I dedicated my new life to protecting all of the ones that are innocent. I was brought up to do that, but during the war, when I was forced to do it, I made sure that I would never do it again. Never again." With that, she looked off towards the fireplace. She never really talked, let alone though, about her actions during the war. She hoped that she wouldn't have to again. There was a reason she never wanted to think about those times.

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Hokori listened to Hotaru, noting her unusual responses. Perhaps some clarification was in order; it wasn’t the answers themselves that were unusual. It was what she said during the responses that were unusual. She spoke as if she wasn’t a Kuchiki, which while Hokori didn’t show response on his face, was reeling. He had done a little research, and she was a blood Kuchiki. Her biology and backgrounds were in the family and her parents were set in stone in the Kuchiki Genealogy.

So what then could be the cause of this? He listened further to her answers, she was noble and had a good ideology but she seemed much too innocent for the path that she had chosen. Hokori stood letting his form hover for a moment before walking towards the rest of the library. His eyes gazed over the books in this room and though nothing but pleasure. That wasn’t to say that there were only pleasant books, the Kuchiki library was perhaps the largest collection of history and knowledge the soul society possessed second only to perhaps the combined base of the Twelfth Division’s archives, Central 46’s archives and the First Division’s Archives. This was due to the nature of both the Sixth Division and the Kuchiki’s as a family. They’re job, or mandate was the collection and upkeep of the history of the Soul Society itself.

Hokori was the Book Keeper. Not only did he procure information for the family archive, it was his duty to catalogue it all. There were of course private sections. A section dedicated privately to himself that only He, the Family Elders, and the head were permitted to enter. And there were sections dedicated to the history and collective knowledge passed down only by the heads of the family.

Hokori had of course been given the duty of cataloging those sections for Sozen, but even he did not know the full scope what scrolls and tomes it contained. What secrets and mysteries that Sozen like every head before him beared witness to. Hokori had a few guesses, but it was not his place to intrude on such matters. Be that as it may, the section they were in was cheerfully simple and accessible by anyone requesting admittance into the library. Except perhaps Anastasia as all she did was sleep off her hangovers in here, and all it did was incite annoyance with Hokori. Libraries were places were knowledge was kept and accessed, not a place to sleep off over indulgence of debauchery. However, the tome he was looking for was one of the more common tomes. He plucked it out and then taking a walk to another shelf and took down a genealogy book. Taking it out and moving over to the table.

“Please, tell me again two things Hotaru.” He stared as he opened up the first book of the genealogy, turning it to the page of her parents. Then opening the History of the Kuchiki, he set it to the page of the Parable of Nine Flags. “First recite from memory the Parable of Nine Flags and why it was important, and secondly.” Once she had succeeded or failed made no difference, the next book he placed on the table was the genealogy. “Explain to me why you aren’t in the genealogy books.?”

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

She watched Hokori-sama while she answered his questions. She answered them truthfully, as the way she saw things. It wasn't until after she actually answered that she realized she might have answered them weird for someone to be born in Soul Society and to be a full bloodied Kuchiki. When she realized this, she looked up at Hokori-sama. It seemed like he was starting to realize the same thing. She didn't know how many people actually knew about how she got into the family.

She was pretty sure not many knew about it. She knew for a fact that he didn't know she was an assassin, since Sozen-sama told her bluntly that only him and the other assassins would know about each other. She didn't picture him as the assassin type, especially being known as the Book Keeper for their family. He was the one that knew about everything that there was to know about the family. Well, almost everything about the family.

She watched him start to go through the library looking for something. She hadn't really been in the library much, but she could tell that he had been here often enough to know the ins and outs of this place. He looked so at home there that she could picture him living in this room. Of course he didn't, but it just seemed to fit him here. He kept looking and she was getting more worried while he looked. She had no idea what he was looking for.

She thought that maybe he was looking for some kind of Kido spell book to use against her to punish her or blast her somewhere. She didn't know her new cousin that well, but he was a captain, which meant that he was strong. He could easily try to do something against her, but she had no idea if Sozen would even do anything to try to save her. Her mind just kept wandering with all of the horrible things that could go wrong right now while Hokori was looking.

She kept thinking about these things and didn't notice when Hokori pulled out two books. She only snapped out of it when she put the books on the table. He asked her to tell him two things. He wanted to know the parable of the nine flags and why it's important and explain why he isn't in the genealogy books. She sat there and looked at the books he laid out in front of her. In the genealogy book, it was true that she didn't see her name anywhere in there.

She didn't look at the other, since she assumed that was the book that had the parable she had to recite from memory. She looked up at him and he was just staring at her, waiting for her answer. She was a person of honor and that being said, she couldn't lie. She wouldn't lie to a superior, but it was more than that. She didn't really want to lie to anybody. She knew that she needed to talk to Asmoskon about what she hadn't told him, but that was the only real thing that she's hidden from people. She told people her past if they asked for it. Since he asked, she would tell her.

"I'm going to be truthful with you. I have never heard of this Parable of the Nine Flags before and I know I should have. I probably should've looked it up but no one's ever told me about it. The other thing is the genealogy books. I don't know how many know of how I became a Kuchiki. I didn't dare ask Sozen-sama, but I'm assuming he hasn't told anyone about it. If he hasn't told you yet, I will say something, just don't say anything to Sozen-sama about it please.

I am a full bloodied Kuchiki. You can run tests on that and it will prove that part. But I didn't start out that way. I was an injured shinigami in the First Division near death from an encounter with a beast much stronger than myself. After that encounter, I went to the Twelfth Division, searching for power. I was chosen to undergo a very experimental procedure that biologically changed me into a Kuchiki. I didn't know that that was going to happen to me at the time, I was just put under and awoke as I am now.

Sozen-sama told me that I was chosen for this procedure because I wanted to become special, to become stronger than I was. Not many people would do what I did to try to and gain strength. But, I did what I thought was right at the time. I have no regrets with my decision. My life is definitely different than I thought it would be, but joining the family has helped me in many ways, and I'm sure it will help me in the days to come that I can't forsee yet. I hope the explanation was enough for you Hokori-sama." She did a small bow after she was done. She had no idea how he would react towards this.

[Hokori Kuchiki]

Play this

As Hotaru bowed, she'd feel it. The pressure, the extreme pressure. Gravity was pressing on her in immense force, forcing the air from her lungs. The air dissipation and increased gravity though was not the worst part of this feeling. It was the pure cold killing intent that was being produced, and it was all being produced from Hokori. His eyes were glowing neon green, and they were solid like acidic emeralds. Live wires inside the Kuchiki's irises, his unique color. The Kuchiki of birth were all noted to have unique eyes. Sozen his crimson eyes, Takashi with his pale blue eyes. Takehiko had his deep brown eyes, and Onuya had his black eyes. Each had their own eyes and when they began to fluctuate their power or their emotions became riled, their eyes would glow.

Hokori's eyes were glowing as he looked at Hotaru 'Kuchiki', his smile and warm nature gone. He walked over to the table's end and picked up a chair. Setting it in front of the table in front of the two books, the killing intent and gravity tappered off. "That... idiot! What was he thinking?!" Hokori barked out at the air around him, he looked at Hotaru, "Sit, now. and recite the Parable of Nine Flags. If my idiot cousin decided to make himself some 'family', without taking the proper procedure to at least introduce you to the culture and the history of the family you would be joining... God! He annoys me to no end." And it would become clear at this point that Hokori was talking about Sozen in front of Hotaru, not only that, he was bad mouthing him and calling him an idiot. Surely Hokori wasn't so bold? Though to be fair, knowing little of the dynamic of Sozen and Hokori's relationship, Hotaru wouldn't know how normal this was.

However, grabbing another chair he sat himself down before Hotaru on her left and listened to her recite the parable of nine flags. Turning himself to face her fully, he turned the page when he was finished, the following page depicting the history of the Parable. The Kuchiki girls who were raped and the massacre to the lesser noble families by the Kuchiki head at the time, leading to the rise of Kuchiki power to new heights. However it also depicted the ruthless nature of the Kuchiki, and their ability to do anything to avenge the wrongs committed to the family. Hotaru was in for a crash course as she continued reading the story, Hokori stood up and began to grab book after book on the Kuchiki family history, customs, and genealogy.

Before returning both his arms full of books and putting them on the table with a heavy thump, he then began to organize them. Sorting them into piles, by far history was the largest of the piles that Hokori had collected. Though this was due to the severe lack of education that Sozen, "Jesus, He has not a lick of sense does he...?" The older Kuchiki muttered, looking over at Hotaru, and looking back down to his pile. He handed her a book. "Read Chapter 3." He began to grab more and more books from the Library turning their bare table from a flat surface into a mountain range of books. And with each passage, Hokori would question Hotaru on what she read and if she passed to his personal tests, they moved on. It was indeed study time in the library until the point that the moon was high in the sky. Hokori's eyes moved towards Hotaru, "report back to the library at eight a.m. sharp. We have much else to study." With this he stood up and left the library, he would sleep and they would begin again tomorrow.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru watched Hokori as she talked. She was mentally preparing herself for the worst. She had no idea what Sozen had actually told his fellow Kuchiki, so she didn't know if he was in the loop with her or not. But, while she was making her bow, she assumed she wasn't. Because, while in the bowing position, she felt the pressure hit her. She was strong, but he was a Captain, so the pressure took her to her knees. She had trouble breathing and felt the same thing she did with Sozen's training.

Killing intent. It wasn't as strong as Sozen's, but it was there. She was able to take it to one kneed, but the force was still strong that hit her. It reminded her so much of her training with Sozen that she excepted the younger Sozen to appear out of nowhere and start to torment her like it had before. She braced herself on her own knee and the ground, hoping that the pressure wouldn't last too much longer, but she would be able to withstand more of this. She didn't know if he would be impressed with how she was able to withstand it, but she felt him coming closer.

Honestly, with Sozen, he always assaulted her hard, hitting her with multiple illusions and pain before stopping. But, she knew nothing about Hokori. She knew that the man was pissed, it was pretty obvious. She didn't know what this man would do to someone that he just found out was 'created' to join his own family. She was bracing herself, tightening her muscles, but not moving her hand towards her zanpaktou. She didn't want to over react either. She was pretty much in a pickle right now.

She saw him moving a chair in front of a table, and start talking out to the sky. The gravity pressure tapered off, so she took in a nice, big breath of air to steady herself. She closed her eyes and counted to three. She found it helped her with things like this. She stood upright, keeping her head lowered somewhat. She definitely didn't want to piss this man off again. When he told her to sit, she did so quickly. He kept bad mouthing Sozen and she had no idea if this was regular for him or not, so she wouldn't say anything.

He then told her to read the Parable of the Nine Flags. She nodded and read the parable aloud. "The banner black Oh so cold The banner red Oh so dead And eyes to see Bled from greed. And lord laid waste, and lord laid waste Come forth, he said. Come forth, he said Bring your dead Remember the flood: The tears and rain There are no rebels Remember cold death: Your fear and pain." She thought about the story while reading. It was interesting story.

He then decided to sit next to her, on her left side. She just looked quickly at him and looked back down at the book. She then started to read what was the history of the song. It seemed that there were nine minor families that were angry with the Kuchiki, so some of their sons raped Kuchiki women. She took a sharp intake of breath when she read that. Knowing the current Kuchikis, including Sozen, that wouldn't go over very well with them.

It turns out that it didn't. The head at that time, Seijuro, kidnapped the boys of the heads of these families. He then sent them back home in pieces, and literally obliterated these minor families from history. She knew that the Kuchiki had power, but she had no idea that the Kuchikis had actually done stuff like this. It was impressive, surprising and a little bit scary at the same time. At least, she now knew that Kuchikis take care of their own and she would fit in well here. The last part she hoped.

While she finished reading the history, she looked at her table, which was now full of books. Her eyes widened a little at the amount of books that were now on the table. He handed her a book and told to read a certain chapter. She would obediently read the chapter and answer all of his questions about it. It seemed like it was a never ending stream of books. She read all the books he wanted her to read, answering his questions to the best of her abilities.

After what seemed like hours upon hours of them in the library, her studying and answering quizzes and Hokori administering the quizzes, he looked at her, telling her that she was to report to the library at eight in the morning for more things to study. "Yes, Hokori-sama." She nodded as he left the library. She took a deep breath and knew she was too tired to walk back to the barracks. She wandered around the Kuchiki Manor and once she reached her room, passed out.

She had set her alarm for seven in the morning the next day. She woke up and had a servant go to her barracks to get her a new, clean uniform, while she walked into her bathroom. She found a towel and threw her dirty clothes on the floor. After taking a quick shower, she walked out of the shower and saw a new, clean uniform sitting on the toilet of the her bathroom. She quickly dried, dressed and got herself presentable for Hokori. She left her room in time to where when she reached the library and knocked on the door, it was exactly eight a.m. She knocked three times on the door before talking to him through the door. "Hokori-sama, it's Hotaru. I'm reporting for training as requested."

[Sozen Kuchiki]

The door opened, producing not Hokori Kuchiki, but someone else. Hotaru would know him well. The man that had adopted her into his family and given her his blood. The man that had trained her to her level of power. A man called Sozen Kuchiki. "I am afraid that Hokori is indisposed," Sozen said with a maddening smile as the door opened. For one thing, it was Hokori's room. Why wasn't Hokori in it, and why was Sozen in it? As it turned out, Sozen had a master key to everyone's room, and he had used it to get into Hokori's after Hokori had asked the Head to fill in, and had chosen to wait for Hotaru. Perhaps to surprise her a bit.

What was more typical of Sozen, however, was the cup of tea he was still holding as he opened the door. It was even still steaming, though it was now only half full, and it was black. Well, Sozen did love his tea. Truth be told, he also had some toast in Hokori's room, and had been drinking tea and eating toast with jam before Hotaru arrived. The Kuchiki Head now gazed at this woman, and with that same smile, he said to her, "I will be filling in for training today." Indeed, Sozen's goal was to fill in for Hokori. But, he had another goal for Hotaru as well. Something he had learned of recently.

"A Quincy?" Sozen had asked when Aoi described to him Hotaru's lover. "Yes," Aoi said. "A Quincy named Asmokon. He works in Xcution, under my brother." Ah, yes. By all technicality was Xcution's leader Aoi's brother. Satsujun, the God of Murder. First true mistake of the Spirit King, a son artificially created and raised, and the one who had been meant to take that mantle one day. Circumstances obviously had dictated that there would be other alternatives to this fate. But, even as Aoi was the eldest daughter of the royal family, and thus the Heir, it was not her who would become King should the Spirit King fall. Well, more on that another day.

"You discovered this when you read her soul?" Sozen asked. "I did," Aoi replied. Sozen pondered this for a moment. He too knew of forbidden love, having eloped with Aoi. To be perfectly honest, Sozen didn't particularly mind. He could not help but wonder if Hotaru kept it a secret from him out of fear of rejection. Sozen, who understood the temptations of love, of course had no problem with it being a Quincy. It might be problematic had Asmokon been a member of the Vandenreich, but that was not virtue of being a Quincy, but rather of being the enemy army. As it was, Aoi had specified that Asmokon worked for Satsujun, who, for now, was docile.

"What are you thinking of doing?" Aoi asked. "I would like to meet him some time soon," Sozen replied. "Hotaru is a cherished member of our family, and I would like to ascertain his honesty and good intentions for her." Naturally, if Sozen found that Asmokon wasn't being honest, or in other words was manipulating Hotaru, then it stood to reason that there would be some killing. However, Sozen also trusted Hotaru's ability to find herself someone genuine, and to take care of herself. He was certain that Asmokon would be fine. Still. It never did hurt to make sure entirely.

"Well, shall we begin?" Sozen asked. "I am not up to speed on what you were learning with Hokori, but I am more than capable of substituting for anything which you had in mind." Basically, he could do anything. It was up to Hotaru to tell Sozen what she wanted to work on, and Sozen would diligently follow that program for her. He didn't intend on bringing up Asmokon just yet, anyway. Sozen first wanted to see how much Hotaru had grown since he had finished training her himself. If she was any stronger, then she might just be a good fit on a mission that Sozen had been holding in reserve for a worthy taker.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru waited for the door to open and when it did, she expected to see Hokori. What she wasn't expecting was to see her family head, Sozen, standing there instead. He was standing there with some hot tea, telling her that Hokori was busy and that he was asked to fill in for him. Hotaru immediately lowered her eyes, aiming to look more at his throat or chin then in the eye. It wasn't because she was afraid of him. It was because it was just the polite thing to do. It was rude to stare someone in the eye that was higher ranking than yourself.

Since Sozen led the family, it stood to reason it would be rude to just stare at him. She did get better by stealing glances as his eyes while she talked to him, but it was ingrained in her from birth to do this, making it hard to actually stop it. When he said he was filling in, Hotaru gave him a deep bow. "Thank you, Sozen-sama. I am honored that you would take time our of your schedule to train me again." When she was done, she stood straight, still staring at his chin. He had trained her before, something that she would never forget.

He then asked her if she wanted to start, and since he wasn't up to speed with what Hokori was teaching her, he was willing to substitute for anything else. Hotaru was glad to hear something like that. She took a breath and started to bring the head up to speed. "Well Sozen-sama, Hokori-sama wanted to train my mind before he trained my body, so he asked questions, which I answered truthfully, then asked me why I wasn't in the genealogy books. I told him the truth and he seemed agitated.

So, after that, he grabbed a lot of books and made he start reading them, pretty much memorizing Kuchiki history. He drilled me into the wee hours of the morning and when I came back here today, I expected more of the same. Though, to be honest, I do love reading and researching, but in my own time, not being forced to learn it and have someone hovering over me while I do it. Between the two of us, it was a little creepy. From you, Sozen-sama, I would prefer more combat training. I know I can hold my own, but I would love to refine my techniques, fight better and think more creatively during battle.

If it's not too much to ask of course." She bowed again, hoping that the way she talked to him was respectful enough. Something else struck her while she was in the bow, this time looking him straight in the eye. She needed to see his reaction to her question. "Also, Sozen-sama, I ran into your wife, Aoi-sama, who is a very unique woman that I immediately liked. But, she said that she read me and was able to tell a lot about me just by looking. Did she tell you anything about what she saw in me? I don't want to assume, but if I was married, I would tell my husband everything about someone in my family." She looked back down, a little blush forming on her face, being embarrassed for asking and for her assumption.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

If there was any indication of how powerful the Heir to the Kuchiki Family might one day be, it wasn't Sozen Kuchiki. Sozen was strong, yes. About as strong as the Primera Espada, maybe stronger. Throw in cunning as part of his strength, and he could rival Sonken Kouhai. He had defeated armies, brought genocide to the Vizards, and decimated more than one Espada. However, despite all of that, Sozen knew. He paled in comparison to Aoi No Oshitsu, his wife, and Lady of the Kuchiki Family as well as Heir to the Royal Family. Aoi No Oshitsu: Aoi of the Royal Family. The monster who was Supreme Commander of the Zero Division.

"She did indeed read you, and as you might expect, we keep no secrets," Sozen told Hotaru. "As a result of Aoi, I know everything." There was something sinister about how he said that, but it wasn't meant in that way. Sozen was simply implying secrets did not pass him by. If anything, it was a secret hint about another Kuchiki member, who had betrayed them. Aoi's ability to read into someone's reiatsu was so vast that she can delve into their very soul. And her ability to delve into that soul was so deep that no one could even hope to hide nothing from her. And, it went even deeper than that. But, Sozen didn't need to share that information.

"What you do is my concern only insofar as making sure that you're safe and happy," Sozen said. "I would like to meet him, but there it is not urgent, and I don't hold it against you. We are family, Hotaru." That was fact. Now, it had probably still been wise to keep it a secret from people, because the Kuchiki Elders would not have been nearly so forgiving. They would have thought to themselves of how a Kuchiki should not be with a filthy Quincy or something like that, and then might realize they weren't certain who Hotaru was, look into her, and chastise Sozen for bringing her in. ...Except that Sozen owned them. But anyway it would be inconvenient.

"But, back to your training," Sozen brought them back. "I have just the thing."

---

Fastforward a few minutes, and Hotaru would find herself in an underground dungeon. It wasn't unlike where he had first trained her. Difference? She was now more honed. More experienced. Sozen had had her strip down to tight, elastic shorts and a sports bra. Sozen himself wore a similar outfit. Tight, elastic shorts down to right above his knees, and no shirt. Both were barefoot. The reason? Sozen wanted to expose flesh. When there was cool air on their skin, they would feel each movement more thoroughly. More precisely. And, if that exposure existed, then it would become more imperative to defend.

Sozen was holding his sword--his actual Zanpakuto. A real metal blade. Hotaru, of course was expected to be armed with hers. The dynamics of the training would be more dangerous this time. Hotaru was going to face Sozen with real blades, and if she failed to master his lessons, she would get cut. But, this time, Sozen would be more instructive than offensive. It was a good deal, except that there was still going to be a bit of a beating. After all, what kind of training options didn't come with some sort of large beating? It would be a good lesson for Hotaru, anyway.

"Your goal in this first exchange is to counter speed," Sozen said. "To do so without the use of a step technique, you must understand that even if I exceed you in speed, you can counter me provided you are able to predict my movements. Therefore, using your knowledge of me and of combat, particularly swordplay, you must predict what I will be doing. Watch my body. Understand it. There is a reason I removed my shirt. You can see how my muscles are moving. You can visualize how I will attempt to strike at you. And, when you predict and try to counter me, always leave yourself an escape route, in case you're wrong."

And suddenly, Sozen was there. Fast. Normally, Hotaru was probably a bit faster than he was. But... Sozen was using a technique she lacked access to. A technique he alone among the Captains was still capable of using. Shukuchi-Ho. The Hakuda technique which allowed Sozen to take two steps forward at three times his speed, an effective 2100 movement for no reiatsu cost. Sozen's movement speed caused him to exceed a non step using Hotaru, allowing him to get in close, into her guard, with his sword coming upward, very close, straight up at the center of her chest. Hotaru's goal, therefore, would be to use what Sozen had instructed to defend.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru listened to what Sozen said. It seemed that her assumption was right. Aoi did tell Sozen what she found inside of her, which like she had already told Sozen, honestly didn't surprise her. He now knew everything. She had experienced the power of his wife firsthand. She knew that the woman was powerful, but she was now curious as to just how much about Hotaru Sozen knew, since it seemed like Aoi could just glance at her and tell everything there is to know about her. Maybe even things that Hotaru herself didn't know.

Sozen spoke again, letting Hotaru's mind wander back into what he was talking about. He said that what she did was his concern only to make sure that she was safe and happy. He wanted to meet him, but it wasn't anything urgent. He didn't hold him against her and that they were family. Hotaru hadn't heard words like that since her father had said something along those lines while she was alive. It was while they tried to use a match maker with her. She hated it and wanted it stopped and her father completely agreed and stopped it.

He did it because he knew it would make her happy and that he wouldn't hold anything like that against her. They were family after all. Hotaru took deep breaths to hold back the emotions that those old memories stirred inside her. She nodded to herself, making a note to actually bring Asmoskon here, or take Sozen to him, sometime in the near future. He then redirected what he was saying to their training and he had just the thing in mind. He walked off and Hotaru followed him, hoping that it wouldn't involve another dungeon.

Of course, once she thought that and saw where they were, it just had to be another dungeon. There must be a lot of those around on the grounds. It was either that, or her family Head really liked dungeons. This time, though, she had her weapon, which was nice, and she knew she was stronger. The training would hopefully be different this time around. Though, she thought it was weird that he had her strip down to elastic shorts and a sports bra. She was a bit more surprised when Sozen did the same thing, down to elastic shorts.

He then explained what the training would actually entail. It seemed that he wanted her to try to counter speed without the use of a step technique. It would be interesting for her to do, especially since that's how she almost always countered speed, either using one of the step techniques she used, or tried to use her speed to get the greater advantage by moving out of the way. This time, however, she had to be prepared and take the attack head on. She knew that she needed to do this. Running only goes so far.

The reason that he was in the same outfit was so that she could read his muscles, to try to predict what he was going to do. It made a certain kind of sense, but it was still weird to see her family Head dressed like that. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and tried to focus. When he said to leave herself an escape route, it was one of the things that she never did. She would always attack and never leave an out in case something bad happened. Though, she guessed using Shunpo was a way to escape.

She noticed the blade in his hand as is actual zanpaktou, while she wielded hers. This would definitely be a different training, since they could potentially maim the other person. Though, she saw herself more on the maiming end than Sozen. While he talked, she got herself in her normal battle stance, feet shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent. Her blade angled tip towards her left shoulder and hilt towards her right hip. She took a few deep breaths to try to read him before he attacked. She didn't really get the chance.

Right after he was done talking, he was there in front of her. She had no idea how he got there that fast, but she couldn't panic. The blade was coming up at her, aiming for a wound in her chest, which could weaken her significantly enough to stop the fight. Her sword was in a good position to block something like that. So, all she had to do, since his blade was aiming upwards, was to quickly, using her speed to the fullest, was move the sword down. She quickly got it to a horizontal position, aimed for the middle of the zanpaktou, and pushed downwards quickly, hoping to stop his momentum.

[Sozen Kuchiki]

Sozen's hand reached out and caught Hotaru's arm, almost reflexively, by the wrist. Now, she had a physical strength capable of powering through him, but the split second of being caught would make two things clear. Hotaru either was going to take some damage by that moment of having to break free, or Sozen would be able to cast a Kido to annihilate her arm. Naturally, none of these would come to pass. As Sozen caught Hotaru's wrist, his blade repositioned itself and flew over her head, missing, and he released her an instant later and spun around, getting behind Hotaru. She might normally expect an attack. None came.

"Your defense was in reaction to my attack," Sozen stated. "What happened was you saw me attacking as I reached you at my immense speed, and you reacted. However, what I want to teach you is not a reactive strategy, but a proactive one." Sozen used Shukuchi-Ho to get away from Hotaru, back to the other side of her, too, so once again at a distance they faced one another. His body was strong, and he was fast, and proficient in fighting. The man that had overcome even the greatest of the Espada, and toppled the Vandenreich army with his invasion. The unimaginably powerful Captain of Squad 6 and Head of the Kuchiki Family: Sozen Kuchiki.

"What you're lacking in your defense is preconception. To guard against my attack, you should have observed how my muscles were going to move, and from that calculated where I would attack and in what manor. This, because of your ability with a sword, is within the realm of possibility for you. That would allow you to save time. Instead of countering me as I reach you, you would know in advance how to counter, and you would be able to move a little earlier, as well as plan in a proper retaliation. If you react to me, who fights proactively in this way, I will counter you quickly, and easily."

Hours of this would pass. Hours of teaching Hotaru the error of thinking only reactively. There was a huge flaw in the strategy of reaction. It was one anyone knew and could identify from battles at Sozen's level. It was a painful lesson to learn against the likes of the Segunda, or even the Primera. And even still this alone, reacting proactively, would not be good enough to stop those kinds of monsters. And after hours of drilling this into Hotaru, Sozen stopped. "I would very much like to encounter your fiancee," Sozen said. "Especially in the event that he might also benefit from this lesson."

After all, Sozen wanted someone who could fight side by side with Hotaru. Protect her when she was weak and vulnerable, wounded by an enemy. Cooperate with her when someone required not one opponent, but two. It was the only way to ensure of course that this Quincy was worthy of marrying someone from Sozen's house. Sozen looked at Hotaru, and then smiled. "I've already extended an invitation to him to join us here. If my servants were successful in locating where best to leave the invitation for him, then he should be on his way, if he was interested, of course, in earning my blessing."