Wind Beneath Your Wings

Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:44 pm

THE INVISIBLE CRACKS

Artist: Tokyo Ghoul - Song: Glassy Sky

Koyo was preparing to leave the academy soon. His time here was coming to a rather abrupt close. His quiet nature had been something strange, he was already trained at home. But his mother's insistence that he gets proper education from the academy remained. Koyo's friends were struggling to learn Shikai or beyond that gain realization of the name. So with much coaxing, he began a small study group that gotten popular. With permission from staff, he could release his Shikai on the Academy grounds.

He'\d done so a few times to show them what a Shikai looked like. How the energy felt different from the regular sealed form. Koyo wasn't one for long speeches, he struggled with this part of the process. But the students sat in a large circle as he instructed them to.

Taking a mental breath inside of his mind he began to speak. "Your Zanpakuto represents you, the connection between the Zanpakuto and the Reaper is important." His voice was light, some of this was textbook knowledge. But he saw them preparing to say something. Before continuing to speak, he wasn't done explaining it.

"That is what the books and teachers say, that is true but it is only a smaller piece of the greater puzzle. Look at yourselves as pieces of a puzzle that hasn't yet been assembled. Hakuda, Hoho, Kido, and Zanjutsu, these makeup pieces. "

They were still being put together, himself included in this academy. Though his time here was coming to a close. He was making his way towards becoming a valued member of the Gotei. Where he was trying to distinguish himself, to make certain his mother was satisfied with the results.

"Inside of you and those here at the Academy, the Zanjutsu puzzle piece. If you can fit it into the proper place, unlocks a world within you. Where a precious person is waiting there for you to find them." It was a rare thing, but a small smile tugged on the side of his lips. Koyo found joy in his Zanpakuto and the fellowship they had. He'd learned so much from his closest and perhaps only truest confidant in this world.

"A name exists within in waiting for you to call it. It screams and yells but cannot reach your ears as of yet. For some meditation is the key element, for others, it is stress physical or mental. " Koyo said looking towards the many shapes in the sky. Clouds of so many varieties passed them by going through the air.

"I am merely a student, my advice is to listen to the feeling inside. Follow it and the path will be revealed. They are the masters we learn from when we awaken Zanjutsu."

Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:40 pm

Furukawa Asami | Officer of the 5th

Asami was never one to admit her faults publicly, it suited ill an officer of her standing to present anything but a flawless image when interacting with her peers. Fortunately, the students at the academy were not quite her peers yet and this technical loophole gave the lady a reason to snoop around and sit in on whatever classes took her fancy without causing any undue bother. It was the least that the academy could do to repay her for the lessons she ran herself, that was how she rationalised it in her head anyway.

When word reached her ear that Koyo was hosting a class on Zanjutsu, she had at first thought to steer clear of it. Her mentee certainly had some degree of expertise in the field, given the tight bond shared between him and his blade that she had witnessed first-hand, but she was far from the average student's ability - at least in her own mind. Curiosity got the better of her in the end though, and so she found herself at the back of a classroom whilst the rest of the students sat around Koyo in a circle.

A hand rested lazily upon the pommel of the green katana at her waist, the presence of Musai Kyoutei dancing on the edge of her psyche as she did so. She did not particularly require assistance with finding her Zan spirit, nor visiting her Inner World, but there might still be something to learn from listening and observing Koyo's own relationship. There was more to her blades, she felt that every time she released them, so perhaps there was a nugget of wisdom that she had missed but the Kuchiki was willing to offer so readily.

She has slipped in quietly and taken a seat a little out from the group, but her presence was anything but hidden as she sat with an all too familiar red fascinator perched somewhat precariously upon her head. If Koyo wished to approach her then could do so without disturbing the rest of the students, but even if she just sat there in silence then perhaps something would be gained.

From Master to Student | END POST

Fri Aug 27, 2021 11:01 pm

THE INVISIBLE CRACKS

Artist: Tokyo Ghoul - Song: Glassy Sky

Koyo's eyes closed as he listened to the mutters. Some people understood, but others didn't. Breaking that seal is the first step towards a partnership beyond the flesh. "Kido, Hakuda, and Hoho are arts of self, things that require the user to fundamentally master themselves. " He brought a hand towards his chest, touching it softly. "Physically in Hoho and Hakuda's case, mentally perhaps in Kido. " Koyo's eyes closed for a moment as he inhaled, speaking as he noticed Asami-sensei's presence.

"Zanjutsu is a Spiritual matter; the door, when opened, begins a relationship with a Zanpakuto. " Koyo paused, now thinking as he thought about the words. Was it a case of a Zanpakuto mastering you, or you mastering it? He believed it was a case of both in the middle somewhere. Koyo swallowed for a moment wetting his lips. "It isn't as simple as mastering your Zanpakuto; it must master you at the same time. " Koyo's eyes closed as he swallowed again, bringing his hand towards his Zanpakuto.

"I have two releases for my Zanpakuto. I can demonstrate both of them. Cleanse them, Asashio." He pointed his sword towards one of his friends. Small amounts of fatigue had been removed as the water returned and sealed back into his sword. "It is a healing technique that Asashio has; some Zanpakutos have several releases depending on the shikai release phrase." He said, explaining it as he prepared himself mentally for what he was about to do. His mother's disapproval was something his friends didn't understand.

He brought his Zanpakuto to rest in front of him as a white shimmer emerged around him. Creating an outline of spiritual pressure, he concentrated now as he spoke the release. " Emerge Asashio." A swirling tunnel of water twisted around the blade quickly. Steam and heat from the water radiate from the weapon outwards. A towel-like white cloth hung from the hilt dripping water.

Koyo's body began to drip sweat as heat radiated through the air around them. His expression kept a strange calm. The feeling of those close enough was having entered a Hot Spring or a Sauna. Koyo was revealing the nature of his Zanpakuto. His body acted as a Sauna or Hot Spring sending off that humid heat. Koyo sheathed his sword ending his Shikai with the click of the blade.

"Any questions?"

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[THEFROST]

Tue Sep 07, 2021 4:48 pm

Furukawa Asami | Officer of the 5th

A pleasant smile slowly curled its way across Asami's lips as she listened intently to Koyo's speech. It was clear to see his passion, even behind a muted expression and formal attitude, for the boy was truly advanced beyond his years in terms of Zanjutsu. She had felt it when they had trained together, and that night at the Fourth Division barracks, though there had never been a time to truly appreciate it.

The concept of a second release, though, was something that intrigued her a little more than she could truly mask. Her little fascinator almost appearing to wiggle atop her head as she considered the idea. The concept was not foreign to her, for she had attended classes similar to this in her academy days, but it was something that had never come to mind before. What if Musai Kyoutei had another release phrase, different to the one that she had always used, and she had simply never thought to dig deep enough to find it?

So, she raised her hand politely and waited for Koyo to work his way through the questions of his peers. Hers was one that she hoped could be played off as a targetted question to prompt further discussion from the class, whilst hiding her true inquisitiveness beneath it.

"How did you determine that your Zanpakuto had two releases? Was the process something that you had always known or did you discover one form and then the second?"

FROM MASTER TO STUDENT | END POST

Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:08 pm

THE INVISIBLE CRACKS

Artist: Tokyo Ghoul - Song: Glassy Sky

His eyes drifted over towards the voice and the source. It was Asami-sensei, a valid question. A few students nodded to this agreeing with the statement. He wasn't used to talking this much to anyone. So it had come as a bit of a surprise to him that he'd been passionate about this.

"In the recorded history of the Soul Society, there have been cases like mine. I can give names and references if you'd desire them. But in my case, my Zanpakuto taught me the phrases at the same time. " Koyo was very formal on the subject but stopped for a moment.

"That said, Zanpakutos are living beings with personalities and unique ideas and beliefs. They mirror our own in some ways and contrast others when it comes to releases and the power they reign over. It is not something I can tell you if you have multiple releases or not." He said, pausing again, not for dramatic effect. But thinking about how to word his answer and adequately respond to the next part.

"But there is someone who can, that is your Zanpakuto spirit. Just because you have it, though, doesn't mean they will reveal it to you. They know us better than we know ourselves, always watching and observing. That is what your spirit is, and for each of us, it holds a different meaning." Koyo waited to see what was asked next.

More questions were coming, and that was fine. Koyo could answer some of them, though some of this was subjective opinion on his part. The other was part of the Kuchiki records and things he was made to memorize since childhood. He didn't showcase much emotion as he was conditioned to not do so. These things were cracks in a glass panel, his mother said. So to avoid overexposing other people to them.

Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:41 pm

Furukawa Asami | Officer of the 5th

"Naturally."

Her gaze left Koyo's own and travelled around the room to the students that had been interested in her question, nodding her own head in agreement with their teacher's response to show some small display of satisfaction with the answer.

"To truly understand our powers, we must be in harmony with our spirits."

Though Asami continued to exude some outward contentment with the explanation, she would rather have bit her lip in annoyance. She did not have a truly fruitful relationship with her own spirit, split as it was between two forms of vastly differing pleasantness, but they had come to an understanding and a base level of cooperation. Yet perhaps this underlying discomfort was hiding something as revolutionary as a secondary release. There would be plenty of time for introspection at least, for the imminent future held no grand or sweeping plans, but there was no real gauging how the process would go.

Her curiosity at least sated, even if her frustrations still bubbled away beneath the surface, Asami settled back into her chair and was happy to let the rest of Koyo's class grill him on many different elements of Zanjutsu. Were it anyone else teaching then Asami might have simply got up and left him to it, but there was a sense of camaraderie between student and sensei that kept her in her seat and feigning some greater sense of interest beyond the matters that concerned herself directly.

From time to time, she would chime up with a little statement or clarification that helped Koyo to answer one of the slew of questions when he appeared to be struggling. But this was his show, she just wanted it to go smoothly. Her own lessons within the academy had taken some adjusting to, as teaching was a different beast to using the skills in isolation, but her friends and comrades had helped her to pull through then. It stood to reason, then, that she would be fine to do the same now for him.

FROM MASTER TO STUDENT | END POST

Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:42 pm

THE INVISIBLE CRACKS

Artist: Tokyo Ghoul - Song: Glassy Sky

The class would conclude with little fanfare, not that he anticipated much less. Koyo had some advice for Asami-sensei. About someone very knowledgeable about Zanpakutos, more than he was anyways. As they cleared out he walked over to Asami bidding his friends a brief farewell. Koyo's expressionlessness came as he looked around to see if they were observed.

"Greetings Asami-sensei, I understand that I don't have answers to your question, nor did I provide anything like a clue. But I believe I know someone who can provide answers." Koyo said seeming paranoid as he kept checking around. It seemed whatever he was about to bring up he wasn't comfortable about. He rubbed his left arm and swallowed a bit.

"The Vice-Captain of Squad Two can help in this regard better than I. The thing is though I can't do anything else or I'll get in trouble." Koyo's hands were tied where that one was involved even writing a greeting could mean trouble. Punishment by the figure who was always in the back of his mind. She remained a constant reminder. Takehiko Kuchiki was as far as his mother was concerned a blemish on the Kuchiki.

And no child of hers would be caught fraternizing or even discussing the person. Those were the rules he lived under constantly and he felt himself swallow again. "Takehiko Kuchiki, he is a wise figure on Zanpakutos and his is unqiue."

He continued to showcase nervous signs without changing his facial expression. He could feel sweat dripping down his spine. "I'd suggest him Asami-sensei if you are dealing with an unusual Zanpakuto." He said having said all he intended to on his cousin and his strangeness at this junction.

Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:37 am

Furukawa Asami | Officer of the 5th

Asami could tell from the way that Koyo had approached her that the matter was something confidential, something personal. She spent a moment scanning the rest of the students with a withering gaze that instilled in a few of the stragglers the idea to suddenly make themselves scarce.

"Takehiko Kuchiki? "

At the mention of the Vice-Captain, the barely hidden pieces soon began to click together. She was hardly an expert on the Kuchiki clan, even as a noble herself, but it stood to reason that there was likely something going on behind the scenes that kept them all so secretive about their connections. Koyo was no different from the rest in that regard, something danced behind those emotionless eyes that she did not quite understand but it still clearly affected his every action. But that was his own problem to face, and she had her own demons too.

"Don't worry yourself too much, I'm sure I can wrangle a conversation with him for one reason or another. Squad Five and Squad Two have worked together before, after all." She raised a hand to toss a wayward strand of hair from her face, tucking it away behind her ear, before returning to clap down on Koyo's shoulder. There was a firmness to her grip that he would remember all too well from their prior lessons, but it was not so tight that he could not break free.

"Thanks for the heads up, though, I appreciate it. Suppose you weren't a bad sensei yourself."

FROM MASTER TO STUDENT | END POST

Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:55 am

THE INVISIBLE CRACKS

Artist: Tokyo Ghoul - Song: Glassy Sky

Had his emotions been easy to display a smile may have emerged. But he gave her, a nod, happy for the praise. It wasn't much but he hurried off as though someone may have been watching them unseen. Koyo couldn't afford to be caught discussing his cousin. They would draw unforeseen consequences she wasn't aware of. Koyo was happy to be off and not discussing that one. He was an oddity in the clan and one she'd see soon enough.

With a bent posture, he disappeared using a flash step. Heading off to his next classes and work he had to do. This also let him catch up to the friends he'd made. Something he was desperate to protect in the end. He hoped that his cousin would provide some form of insight into the Zanjutsu arts. For that one had already experienced more than him.

At least if the rumors around the house were to be trusted. Koyo couldn't be sure what would await Asami-sensei in that place. But hopefully some answers in regards to her Zanpakuto. Even so, he had to get himself back to work preparing for his graduation from the Academy. Soon he would be making a choice about where he went.

A subject matter he didn't disclose to anyone as of yet. Even the speculation of Squad Two was merely that. He'd been getting courted by Squad Four as well, their Captain had shown interest in the Kuchiki student.

Nothing was written down yet in his future plans and Koyo would remain that way for as long as possible. The choice had many different trappings covering it. But for now, he left here with his heart frightened but intact despite taking this risk.

Wind Beneath Your Wings

Wind Beneath Your Wings

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