This is my Reaper. There are many like it, but this one is mine

Overwhelming relief poured throughout Keiko's body from Ulv putting her down. She was the one to ask to be carried, so asking to not be carried felt overly demanding. She quickly looked around to see if anyone saw, and besides the guards at the front and the caretakers that greeted them upon entrance, it seemed no-one of nobility themselves. Keiko gave very aggressive looks to all the servants to let them know that unnecessary words being said, whether here or elsewhere, would be unappreciated. Thank god none of the more mouthy servants seemed to be among them.

Then, Keiko turned back to Ulv, caught off guard from her change of tone and demeanor. She wanted to protest, particularly when it was her intent to have Ulv become her teacher. Being called oujo-sama here felt like things were backwards. Then again, their relationship as teacher and student wasn't formalised yet, and Keiko's noble lessons taught her that it was more appropriate to do things this way first. She was almost flustered for not catching on sooner, but instead she focused up and readjusted herself mentally.

"Of course. This way then, Auber-sama."

A few servants walked behind them in attendance, only a very small entourage, treating Ulv as a special guest. They offered her amenities and such, and should she be in wanting, they would deliver. Otherwise, they simply followed along.

The manor was massive, so it took a little while, walking through the halls, before she arrived at a traditional room, several tatami wide, with a low-table and cushions on the ground.

"Right here, Auber-sama. I had someone call for the tutors to come by, so we can just wait for them here."

Keiko took initiative and sat down, and soon after a few servants came in with green tea and small snacks like rice cakes.

"I only called for the tutors that dealt with hakuda, hoho, and general combatives, just three; but I can try and get a hold of the other tutors, if you mean to review all my curriculum?"

Shortly after they sat down, a servant came into the room to notify the coming of two of the tutors. The first to step forward was a man with long hair held in a pony-tail, and fairly western clothes, though he had eastern features, like sharper eyes, a button nose, and dark hair. He was slightly taller than Ulv's current form. The silhouette of a smaller woman, with short, curly hair down to her neck stood behind the screen door, awaiting her turn.

"You asked for my presence, Keiko-sama?"

"Thank you for coming, Ideitreng-sensei. This is Ulv Auber-sama."

"Yes, I am familiar with her with her exploits. It is an honour to meet you, Auber-sama."

The man did a courteous bow and enunciated himself concisely, like very word was thoughtfully considered.

"Auber-sama, this is Ideitreng Aslan, he is my hoho tutor. He was previously in the Stealth Force as a seated officer, and a member of the noble Ideitreng family, who are known for their production of talented shinigami in many fields. The Ideitreng are a branch family of the Hakunon, one of the other Great Noble Houses."

"You flatter me, Keiko-sama. I retired from the Gotei after an injury received during one the Iceland War four years ago on Earth. After a year of recuperation, I've attended to Keiko-sama as her personal trainer in the Art of the Step, but I confess that my achievements are fairly meager."

"Ideitreng-sensei is being humble, I've heard stories of his adventures aplenty. But, that can wait. The reason I asked for you presence was because Auber-sama offered to be my tutor in a few subjects."

Aslan's face was unchanging, but he was silent for a moment, thinking. There didn't seem to be much flux in his spiritual or emotional state to gain insight in, though Ulv's talents would tell that the man was a vizard, very well in control of his inner hollow. Such that, typically even a very experienced person wouldn't be able to tell. Ulv was uniquely perceptive to his status.

After a moment, Aslan turned to Ulv for a moment as if he were about to say something, but then back to Keiko.

"That is very good news for you, Keiko-sama. Am I to assume this will end our time together, or might there perhaps be some other arrangements you had in mind?"

Here, Keiko looked to Ulv to see what her thoughts were, prompting to ask questions or do whatever it was that Ulv had intended to do to begin with.

Keiko went from serious, to surprised, to shock. First, serious over the form in Ulv's bow. She made note of it and studied it intensely, as if it were something she was going to need later. To the mental notepad that one went. Then, surprised from Ulv's outburst. Was she referring to Takehiko? Ulv hadn't made much mention of anyone from the Kuchiki to Keiko besides Takehiko, so it was the only person that came to mind. He was also the only person who came to mind in the Kuchiki household that generally elicited such a negative reaction. Finally, shock. Her hands slammed on the table with her eyes wide and her body leaning forward.

"Ideitreng-sensei, you're a vizard?!"

For the first time here, Aslan showed more of an expression, his eyes slightly widened in surprise, though he quickly recollected himself right after.

"Well, yes. I am a vizard. I never went out of my way to hide it, but it's something usually kept to myself. Byakuya-sama is aware, of course."

Ulv would've noticed some complex feelings starting to well in Aslan, though at the forefront, there was caution. Similar feelings were being brought up in Keiko, though more confusion than caution. After a while, she sat back down properly, now a lot of things on her mind.

"E-excuse me, I didn't mean to be so unbecoming just now. Anyways, it is as Auber-sama says. I wish to learn under her, though I would admittedly like to keep learning under you as well. It's just more a matter of time-management, so if I am to begin lessons under her, naturally our lessons will have to be less frequent."

"I understand. Well, if you'd like to see what I teach, I would not be opposed. It is late, however, and I can not say I am well prepared for any lessons. We usually have lessons at a set time, and I have my own responsibilities to attend to that takes priority."

The way Aslan spoke might've been very familiar, and that's largely because what he said is what Keiko often parroted. The three years he spent teaching her showed that she learned from him more than just Hoho.

"I am more than happy to have you visit during my lesson tomorrow, and understand how I teach then. I hope you understand that I simply am unable to do it for today."

Ulv's explanation on her abilities served to steel the caution in Aslan's heart, though none of it was close to apparent on the surface. Keiko, on the other hand, had an expression coloured with amazement.

"Can you do that with shinigami in general, or only with vizards? Can you do it with me?"

Aslan turned to Keiko and offered words of caution in response.

"That may not be wise, Keiko-sama. I am sure that Auber-sama is very skilled with such a technique and can execute it very safely, but you are still young and undeveloped, without a zanpakuto of your own. Prematurely entering and meddling with your Inner World can potentially develop irreversible consequences. You should wait until you are more skilled with your energy control."

His rationale was accepted and thereon disheartening, but like with what Ulv said to Keiko before, the girl didn't let it keep her down. Instead, she took that to be a challenge, and also a point of inevitability that they'd get to it later, when she was ready.

Aslan turned back to Ulv and bowed again once more.

"The honour would be mine, Auber-sama. If that was all I was called for, I shall take my leave. Would that be fine, Keiko-sama?"

"Go ahead, Ideitreng-sensei. Unless you have anything more for him, Auber-sama?"

If Ulv didn't, then Aslan would turn about and take his leave. The woman from behind the screen door stepped forward in his place. She had bright, orange hair, and was a full head shorter than Ulv.

"Yaho~, Keiko-sama! What happened today? I was told you couldn't make it on time. This is the first time you've ever skipped out on class! Don't tell me, did you perhaps get a boyfrieeeeend? Heeeeeheee~."

"NO!Ahem, no, I did not get a boyfriend. I apologise for missing the lesson, I was with Auber-sama at the time."

"Oh, I see, a girlfriend then!"

"NO!"

Keiko took a deep breath and recollected herself. Getting swept up in this woman's flow was practically a death sentence.

"Anyways, Auber-sama, this is is Ukitake Yua, my hakuda tutor. Ukitake-sensei, this is Ulv Auber, from Minatumi Harbour."

"Wow, in the flesh and blood~! What a pleasure to meet you, Auber-sama, I'm a fan of your work!"

Yua extended her hand out for a handshake with Ulv, in no small part inspired by Keiko's quiet "tch" in the background. It was evident that, like Aslan, this woman was quite an influence on the Kuchiki child.

"No need to explain things, I was listening in on the conversation. If you want to see how I do things, just follow me!"

She walked with a bounce in her step and her arms swinging wide, changing scenes over to the courtyard, and waited for the rest of the party to follow after. Keiko went up to Ulv to whisper a few things before chasing onward.

"Sorry, Auber-sensei. Ukitake-sensei's a bit of a handful, but she's earnest deep down. She has appropriate accolades for the job as well."

It was a bit disappointing to hear that Ulv sounded just as cautioned against using this ability, and that it was vizards exclusively, but it wasn't too big a deal. Keiko wasn't willing to become a vizard just to experience it, either.


As far as Ulv's skinship went, Keiko couldn't figure out why the sight of that made her irritated, but she made no comments on it. Yua, on the other hand, seemed much more expressive towards it. She brought her left hand up to match Ulv's hand on her cheek.

"That sounds nice, but, sorry love~."

Yua used her left hand to hold match Ulv's because her left hand had a wedding ring on it.

She had a cheeky and flattered smile, but spoke a short "I'm quite faithful" before turning about to the courtyard as she did before. Once all parties were there, she spoke up again.

"Okay! Keiko-sama, front and centre!"

Keiko dashed over to stand in front of Yua at attention ,and let out a "HAH!"

For the next 15 minutes, Yua had Keiko assume basic postures, do some warm-ups, and stretches. Once the girl demonstrated her mastery over the simple fundamentals, they moved on to going over practical techniques for another 30. Quite frequently, Yua used these techniques on Keiko. Her techniques were executed to milimetre perfection, but it was clear that she also adeptly controlled her strength and energy to not be of injury to her student. It was definitely enough to still hurt the girl. In turn, she had Keiko reciprocate.

The whole lesson plan was very militant and regimented, with a procedural process that specifically focused on practicing and learning hakuda safely. In the last 15 minutes, Yua had a lecture on hakuda theory, some homework for Keiko to practice by herself, and brief cooldown stretches. After all was said and done, Keiko built up a healthy sweat while her eyes were unfocused, like she was thinking deep and hard on what she just learned while stretching. On the other hand, Yua seemed to not have broken a sweat, and with her usual preppy smile, turned back to Ulv.

"Well, Auber-sama? I'd like to get some feedback on my methods, if you have any?"