BSD
Administrator
"I... just tried to mitigate the damage the best I could... If I, uhh... took any of his hits directly, I'd be in much worse shape..." Tenzen humbly answers.
"Mmm, yes you would," the young doctor adds, his head still buried in his clipboard as he scribbles more notes. His incessant pen scratching continues for a few more moments before a small grouping of Kido Corps' members now make their way towards the golden-haired duo. For once, his head raises from his notes and as captain, takes it upon himself to address the all-too-familiar organization.
'Hmm? What is this all about?" the young captain questions, expecting an answer to emerge from someone in the crowd. Once a member of the Kido Corps and a distinguished individual in the Fifth Division, their customs and what they considered normal were no secret to Yū– surely, they had an important matter to discuss with the former member, one they could call a colleague. However, without even going as far as acknowledging the youngling, a masked individual steps out and begins her address.
"I, uhh... think I'll just leave–" Tenzen struggles to declare, before being cut off.
"Former Third Seat Tenzen Oda," a woman's voice calls out coldly, simultaneously drawing Tenzen's attention as well as outright embarrassing the young Captain. Instantly, his eyes widen, cheeks stained red, and chills run down his entire body. The clipboard he once loosely held is now held tight against his chest by both his arms, now keeping himself secure in his own embrace to calm his nerves. Rightfully so, the priestess pays no mind to Yū's sudden realization of his own insignificance in regards to this specific matter.
"The Kido Corps have received word of your test. I bring you this personally, as a sign of respect... Captain,” she announces, kneeling down to present the Oda with a fresh haori and a blue robe– one fit for a commander. ”Captain Tenzen Oda, of Fifth Division. We High Priestesses recognize you as the sole Chief of our Kido Corps, in so doing, we bow to your authority and command, and follow you willingly into the boundaries of what is known.” Suddenly, the flush of red that once colored his face seeps away, his expression now displaying both joy and utter shock. With a smile, Yū turns to face the newly appointed Captain Oda…
”Oh, congratulations, fellow Captain! Looks like wha–AUGH!” Yū begins cheerfully, before being forcefully set aside by the Kido Corps members that now formed a tight huddle around Tenzen and the priestess. ”Hey!” he exclaims at one of the veiled Shinigami and expectedly so, is met with no answer. Not one for conflict especially among fellow Shinigami, and especially not in his place of work, the young captain holds his tongue, now patiently waiting in the corner of the lobby for their improperly timed emergency meeting. Minutes go by before the huddle suddenly breaks, Tenzen now draped in his haori and robe and stood by the exit. Still not finished with his examination of the new Captain, Yū parts his lips to speak, but not before Tenzen addresses him first.
"Captain Nakamoto! Thank you for your care and hospitality! I look forward to working with you more in the future!" he shouts, flashing an optimistic grin that catches the young captain by surprise before disappearing into the blinding sun.
‘Such optimism… I hope you never lose it, Captain Oda...,” he whispers in a hush to his lonesome. Just as he is about to find his way back to his office, his attention is instead instantly pulled elsewhere.
“Captain!” a nurse calls out from behind. Turning to face her with eyebrows raised, he inquires…
“Have the morning routines gone alright?”
“Yes, captain, they’ve just been completed. However, two shinigami from the 13th Division have just been admitted… brought here unconscious. They both show signs of brain activity and we have tried our best to awaken them, but… they’re too far gone,” she informs, desperation noticeable with every word. As usual, the captain understands he will be put to the test as per usual. However, this is far from the unordinary.
“Any other surface injuries? Broken bones? Torn muscles?
“All already taken care of, Captain,” she answers, now twiddling her fingers as every empty second that passes could spell trouble for the immobile pair. Confidently, he responds.
“Bring me to them.”
A blonde-haired boy and a blue-haired female lay side by side on their beds respectively, both void of any consciousness or awareness save for what occurs in each of their minds. Their bodies were littered with injuries; it was clear whatever training they had undergone, they would without doubt need more. In between the two beds, Yū stands above them, his scrunched face observing the duo in their placid state. The nurse from before hovers behind him, curious to see what her superior will do to remedy this otherwise dire situation.
After a few more seconds of scrutinizing, the young captain’s elegant hands emerge from the folds of his haori, aiming to rest on their foreheads. An otherworldly light faintly escapes from both his palms, now illuminating Katsuo and Oyama’s faces in a pale shade of mint. Yū’s eyes close as his begins searching for his answer, his passive talent now kicking in to aid him.
Yū now finds himself in the dark, surrounded by nothing, accompanied by no one, suspended in this void. Unknown voices call out, not to him, but addressed to someone else.
“That was certainly wonderful! You gotta let me take control, once more” a demonic voice shrieks, startling the doctor. Still, he remains tuned in. There must be more to discover in the void…
“How could you! How could you be defeated by Arashi so easily! Were you even trying?" another voice chastises.
‘Arashi? That name sounds familiar...’ Yū reflects. Still, he pushes on.
“We have to kill Arashi! He took out his frustration on both us and Katsuo!” the voice demands of whoever she… or it is speaking to.
"You think you are still worthy to wield me?!" this voice interrogates, clearly taking personal offense to what was said to him… or it previously.
‘Wield? Is this someone’s… zanpakutō?’ Yū calculates. Before he can analyze further, the voice from before howls once more...
“But it was so much fun!! OH THE JOY OF HAVING CONTROL AGAIN!”
“Get up, Katsuo Toshiyuki Oda! it's time for more of our own training." this one demands and then… silence. This time, Yū is truly alone, now filled only with Oyama and Katsuo’s emotions. Disappointed in themselves, but now filled with a new resolve to get better, to show improvement.
They would never accomplish this… at least, without waking up.
Yū’s eyes open, his palms still glowing and placed on their foreheads. He draws in a deep breath, the nurse that once hovered behind him, now practically on him as her body fills with anticipation. A surge of reiryoku shoots through his hands, channeling itself into the duo in a forceful attempt to retrieve them from their inner world. Maybe later, the two could reforge the special and important connection between their zanpakutō and themselves, but for now, the Captain would need them up and alert.
At once, Katsuo and Oyama would be jolted awake, first greeted by the bright sunshine that pierced through the windows as well as the equally bright smile plastered on Yū’s face.
“Morning!” the captain cheerily blurts.