With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
In a way it was unique when a Division openned their doors to others of differing Divisions to join them in daily training routines. Normally it seemed any time there was cross-Division training it was on the individual level. Perhaps even a little more unique is 6th Division openning their doors for cross-Division training for a day during one of their daily training routines. Then again perhaps it simply seemed odd do to the stoic and standoffish reputation of the Division's captain.
Yet, it was for the sake of 6th Division showing a level of cohesion with others that Byakuya Kuchiki chose to open its doors for members of other Divisions to join them if they so chose. Though coming from Byakuya it was more of an offer of a noble's good graces than most anything else.
There were several who wanted to see the measure of their skill in a practice duel against their captain. On the whole each were lucky if they could last a few second before Byakuya cold grey eyes were looking down upon them with his sword little more than a couple milimeters from their neck, head, or chest. In Shogi terms, with a couple moves within a couple seconds they suffered tsumi. The chasm between the mastery of a captain and that of his unseated subordinates was vast to say the least. But he pressed upon the point that every sword fight is essentially like a Shogi match, and every move was ote. The ultimate goal being to accomplish tsumi in a single move, or at the very least tsumi after the fewest possible ote.
A theory that like many bushido followers, his 3rd Seat Kaida understood. Though, when she challenged him to a practice match his other subordinates had before her--while she lasted longer against their captain than the unseated members, the results ended much the same. It was one of the unique moments she actually openned her eyes wide unveiling her midnight blue eyes by its end; she was disarmed, down on one knee, and the edge of his blade less than a centimeter from her right temple as he stood looking down at her from her right side. Those midnight blue eyes were wide in shock, as her skill with a blade she knew to be nothing to scoff at, yet his skill was the obvious superior.
On the whole, Byakuya observed, though. Certainly indulging a challenge to a friendly practice match when it came his way. But, over all, remained on the sidelines measuring his various subordinates technique as they primarily paired off to practice among themselves. From time to time offering a pithy critique on a subordinates form to be better sharpened.
Isamu wasn't stupid. He was prideful, yes, but not stupid.
He did find it strange for his captain to unexpectedly open the Sixth Division doors for interdivisional training. Of course, it was mostly due to the reputation both his captain and division held among the Gotei 13 that made the decision much stranger than it usually was. But who was he to question his captain? Knowing Kuchiki Byakuya, there probably was some ulterior motive to this, but, again, who was he to know?
The blonde lieutenant simply sat in seiza position along the sidelines, watching the various friendly spars that occurred throughout the training floor. A few unseated members challenged the captain for a spar, with predictable results, and a few seated officers followed suit. While Byakuya emerged victorious, the length of the spar varied from a mere three seconds to an outstanding ten seconds, the record belonging to the Division's Third Seat. Isamu himself briefly contemplated asking his Captain for a spar, but he knew his place. He might have been second-in-command, but the difference between his power and Kuchiki Byakuya's was still gargantuan.
Closing his eyes, Isamu simply meditated. No sparring challenges came his way; after all, why go for the lieutenant when the great Kuchiki Byakuya was right there? For that, he was somewhat thankful. He preferred keeping his zanpakuto sheathed.
But, if the odd challenge did come his way, who was he to refuse?
Oh yes, what a lovely day it had been. The academy student Michael Angelo had been walking along and over heard that the 6th division was having a zanpakuto training day. Working on swordsmanship and the like. Michael sadly was not that great with swordsmanship, in fact, he was mocked that he didn't even have a zanpakuto but rather the training sword the academy gave out. His peers on the other hand seemed to have attained theirs. Could this have been his lack of understanding when it came to swordsmanship? Possibly but, no one could be sure. At the hearing that they had opened their doors, Michael quickly made his way there. He hoped maybe his low reiastu level would be enough so that he may go unnoticed. Though, odds are that would not be the case.
The thing that was going on in his head was, maybe he could observe their training and maybe use it to help his own. He had no hopes of actually joining. After all, he would easily be defeated over and over again, he was sure that this would be so. They were all already graduated and had more experience than he did, this was why he was sure he would lose to any one of them. Peering in from his "hidden" position he observed a number of fights, and even some had gone against the captain, Byakuya. Micahel was both wowed by this spectical as well as disappointed in himself. They had, had the courage to go against their captain, while he himself didn't even want to participate. Little did he know he wasn't hiding his reiastu very well, while thinking these thoughts and being wowed by the training...
He hadn't actually heard that there would be cross-division training. Masaru was rarely in the loop like that, and even if he had heard about it, he probably would have forgotten. But when he reached the barracks he could have sworn he saw an eleventh-division grunt walking away with his head hanging in shame. At least, he thought that was an eleventh-division grunt. And no one seemed to care that he wasn't from the sixth division in the first place.
He poked his head in the door, just in time to see a girl with her eyes opened wide at the mercy of Kuchiki Byakuya - and hey, was that Isamu? Blond guy, really long hair, purple sash, yep, that had to be Isamu. He walked up behind his friend, just out of sight for several seconds, and poked his head over the blond shinigami's shoulder.
"Oi, Isamu, what's goin' on 'ere?" asked the larger man, moving to firmly plant a hand on Isamu's other shoulder. He pursed his lips as he struggled to comprehend that they were training, and this was not some cruel and unusual punishment by sixth-division standards. (To be fair, walking into a sparring match with someone's sword to another's neck or chest was fairly common in the eleventh.)
After potentially surprising Isamu and quite possibly embarrassing him, Masaru stepped back, folding his arms over his chest. Remembering the last time the two fought - not just sparred, but fought - Masaru couldn't help but murmur, "I think it looked kinda like that but I was way up there and you were down there."
He pointed as he spoke, refolding his arms when he had finished and wearing an over-sized grin.
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
With what was going on between Isamu and Marasu, Kaida was not too far away. And perhaps out of her sense of humor, and despite her eyes always seeming closed, she looked at isamu with an expression on her visage that appeared to say, 'You gonna' take that shit?', without her actually having to say it.
While the boy thought he was being sneaking hiding in the shadows. It was only after a moment that he was watching the 6th Division sparring among themselves that without warning--several purple garbed shinobi snatched up the boy. In a flash they had the boy down on his knees, directly in front of Byakuya, who looked down at the lad with his stoic grey eyed gaze looking down on him.
With but a simple wave of Byakuya's right hand, the purple garbed shinobi vanished in blink leaving the boy at their master's feet. He that emotionless grey-eyed gaze of his stared straight into the boy's eyes for a moment that felt like a lifetime. Each of the 6th Division members paused and fell silent like the passing of an order of execution was about to be made.
Perhaps it was Byakuya's way of indulging a childish dream of being apart of the Gotei 13--if only for a day--or maybe it was one of his severe methods of punishment for the boy's eavesdropping. The 6th Division captain's motives have always been somewhat tough to read given his constant stoic exterior. But in the end, he simply commanded with his deep authorative voice, "Join the rest."
The entire squad about cringed and fell over stunned by the order. It was truly a unique day for Kaida, for her midnight blues popped open twice out of shock in response to Byakuya's actions. This time they near popped out of her skull. But quickly they reverted back to their usually seemingly closed state, and abruptly with a swift flash of movement right behind the boy. She figured she better get to the kid before one the more dimwitted unseated members drag him along to spar with him and do so a bit too roughly. Like those dumbasses who keep playing soccer near her garden causing their ball to fall on and crush her lovely flowers. Bastards.
Kaida glomped on the boy from behind, wrapping her arms around his torso, and pulled him into her person, pressing herself against his back. With a warm smile as she leaned her head his left shoulder--her chest firmly against his back, her lips close to his ear--her soft breath tumbling gently across his left ear and cheek as she spoke playfully, "Don't worry. I'll be gentle with you. We'll take slow, 'kay?", even the stone-faced Byakuya raised a brow at the sight. With a titter she looked up at her captain and told him, "I will keep an eye on him, Taichou. Make sure no harm comes to him.", to which Byakuya merely gave a nod.
Kaida grinned widely as she then said to the boy--she could tell her was nervous as she held him, "Ready...?", but that was all part of the fun for her to tease the boy. But then it dawned on her as she snickered while asking, "What's your name? I'm Kaida Date, 3rd Seat of 6th Division. You just met our Taichou, and over there is our Vice-Captain, Isamu Makino, and from what I understand the one with him is 11th Division's 4th Seat, Marasu Takeda.", she snickered once again as she gave the boy a small, playful squeeze with her arms, "So, what's your name? Spill it!"
With a heavy sigh, Isamu opened his eyes, feeling one very familiar head poking over his shoulder, and a hand on the other. Of course Masaru would be here. An open-invitation training day with the Sixth Division? He probably wanted to show off, as usual. He could see people looking at him, mainly members of his division who weren't sure how to react to this...stranger from the Eleventh addressing their Vice Captain that way. It wasn't that Isamu was ashamed of his friendship with Masaru, it was...
Well. Masaru was often rather vocal about many things.
"It's just an open training session, Masaru," he replied, without averting his gaze from the ongoing matches on the training floor, "It's not like sparring is new to you."
Straightening after Masaru took his weight off his shoulders, the blonde man stood up, picking up his sheathed zanpakuto and tucking it into its rightful place in his belt.
"I think it looked kinda like that but I was way up there and you were down there." Masaru said, grinning wide. Isamu frowned slightly. The last time they fought, outside the numerous friendly spars they engaged in over the years, he left a permanent souvenir on Masaru's cheek.
"Last time we fought seriously, I left the room with your blood on my sword and a new scar on your face." he replied dryly. That match happened decades ago, and Isamu was certain that event was behind the two of them. But he couldn't help but point that out.
He was certain that it was him who was "way up there" and Masaru was the one "down there".
But as he was about to say more, the activity of the room stopped for a moment as their Captain singled out an individual, recognizing the purple-clad guards of the Kuchiki family. Isamu's eyebrows shot up in curiosity.
"A student?"
How did a student find their way into the Sixth Division training rooms? Granted, it wasn't that difficult, but he was under the assumption that most students preferred to stay away from the larger Division barracks. Fortunately, Kaida seemed to have taken matters into her own hands and taken it upon herself to snatch the student before any (more) trouble arose.
"...well...at least he's in good hands," Isamu remarked, crossing his arms over his chest as he continued to play the observer.
Michael sat from his hidden vantage point in wide-eyed wonder. He didn't even see the guys who grabbed him. They moved too fast for him to see. Before he knew it.... he was staring upon the form of the great Captain Kuchiki. Michael's eyes of wonderment had turned into pure horror. They had caught... what had he been thinking? Of course they were gonna catch him, he was a mere student and this was the real thing. The tactics that worked on other students didn't necessarily work on those who have already graduated. He kicked himself for being so stupid. What would be his punishment he wondered... were student even near the squads barracks? He wasn't entirely sure. Oh god... he was doomed, there was absolutely no way he would get out of this. At least... not alive.
That's when he said it. "Join the rest." Michael's mouth dropped in disbelief. Was he serious? Did he not see he was wearing an academy student uniform? But... its not like he was in a position to argue... with a Captain no less. "Y-y-yes Kuchiki-taicho," He said shyly. He was such an idiot, he could have died from this. Hell, it was very possible he still would die. His eyes shot wide open and his body went stiff as a board in response to being glomped from behind and arms wrapped around. W-what was going on!? That's when she leaned over his shoulder her chest pressed against his back and her words being whispered into his ear. He flashed a neon red in response. "T-t-thank you," he said appreciating it but at the same time in complete horror of what had been transpiring. Also her words seemed... suggestive.
It seemed Byakuya was OK with the idea which lifted a little weight off the academy students shoulders. No way he could have lasted against anyone who going easy on him. At least, that's what he assumed. After all, everyone else had at least graduated. "Y-yes," he said in response to her question. He supposed he was ready or at least as reeady as he would ever be. She went on to explain who everyone important was and even herself. She was the third seat!? Oh dear... things still didn't seem like they were getting any better. After all, he was under the impression that it would be hard to be a third seat. He would also have to try hard and not let any of his senseis down either. He blushed more at the playful squeeze and then went on to introduce himself. "I-i'm Michael A-angelo," He said stuttering, he was still nervous and for good reason.
"Last time we fought seriously, I left the room with your blood on my sword and a new scar on your face," Isamu said flatly. Masaru cocked his head - he knew that. Why was Isamu bringing it up?
"Ah? I meant like...I jumped down at'cha, and you were standing," he reminded Isamu, pursing his lips in earnest confusion. He sometimes wondered why Isamu got pissed off. Maybe he was being blunt, but that was as close to angry as Isamu really got. "I 'member that just fine."
He wasn't angry - just confused. He leaned back against the wall when a student was told to join the rest. Masaru cocked his head - he thought it was some kind of a practical joke. Dressing up as an academy student to pop into an open training session seemed like something Maeru would make Masaru do for a laugh.
"A student?"
"I guess."
"Well, at least he's in good hands."
Once again, Masaru blinked. It was as if they were speaking foreign languages - he didn't understand how a random woman hugging him put him any better off than other students. And the guy stuttered, and squeaked, every time he opened his mouth. A smile flitted over Masaru's face.
"Oi, were we that squeaky when we were kids?"
Masaru started to squirm, looking back and forth and grinning all the while. He and Isamu could try their fight again, but this time Masaru would make sure to win.
"Oi, Isamu. Isamu. Let's go. It's been ages."
Character List "Let's eat, Grandma!" "Let's eat Grandma!" Commas save lives.
The stoic gaze continued to watch over the numerous members of 6th Division sparing and practicing their technique. Eventually those dark steel grey eyes fell on Isamu and Masaru with a placid look as though he were expecting them to get off their keesters and get to clashing some steel. And that gaze of his did not let up in the least.
Meanwhile, Kaida mischievously snickered when the boy at last told her his name. She gave him another squeeze in her glomp of him from beind, her chest once again firmly pressed against his back. Abruptly she grabbed his hand and wisked him away out into the training grounds where the rest of the men were sparring.
"Don't worry, Angelo-kun", she said reassuringly with a wide smile, "I'll protect you from the idiots.", once again she moved herself into position to be right behind the boy. Her arms wrapped around his torso, firmly pressing his back against her front. She then rest her hands on shoulders and slid them down his arms to his hands. Leaning her head over his left shoulder, her cheek was nearly touching his as she spoke softly to the boy, "Nervous, Angelo-kun...?", she snickered, "Aww... don't worry, I told you I'll be gentle."
Guiding his hands to the hilt of his training sword, she told him, "Now draw your sword. Remember the essence of handing your sword. Do not think about drawing the blade, just do it.", she snickered mischievously once again, "Grab hold of your hilt and just whip it out."
"Ah? I meant like...I jumped down at'cha, and you were standing,"
Isamu's ear twitched slightly as he crossed his arms and shut his eyes. "I'd rather not remember that." he replied, remembering their...unusual reunion. One that involved tackling from a rooftop.
He continued to remain silent, content with simply observing the rest of the division, and some guests, in their practice. Date-san had taken the student outside, probably to keep him away from the more unruly members of the group. He could feel Masaru fidgeting, and he knew that his friend was itching for a spar. As much as Isamu enjoyed sparring with Masaru when they were alone, this time was...different. When they were alone, either one could come out victorious and he wouldn't give it a second thought.
But in front of his captain and entire division?
Losing, even a spar, would be unacceptable. He was confident in his abilities, yes, but there were times when Masaru was more powerful in swordplay than he was. And to think, the vice-captain losing to a fourth seat? Disgraceful...he simply couldn't let that happen.
"Oi, Isamu. Isamu. Let's go. It's been ages."
"Masaru, I don't think that's a very good ide-"
The blonde paused, feeling Byakuya's eyes staring at the two of them. He didn't even have to look to know it; you simply felt it. His captain wanted him to fight Masaru.
With a heavy sigh, Isamu knew if Byakuya wanted to see some sparring, then he would have to oblige. If he had to spar, then simply couldn't lose.