The Half-Blind leading the Blind [Fuu/Hyosuke]

To say that her training had been lacking would be an understatement, thankfully as far as that was concerned she could at least get some basic refreshers since she'd returned to Soul Society. The various dojo's that dotted the land that had cropped up from various sources gave her plenty to choose from that's for sure, however a few specific ones stood out more than the rest. While she'd never personally trained directly at any of these particular dojo's, she did know who they belonged too and why they had been erected in the first place, to train Shinigami, the fact they were in the Rukongai just gave her a bigger reason to go to one of them rather than trying to attend one within the Seireitei itself.

Truthfully speaking she'd never had any extended direct interactions with the founding clan of these Dojo's, though that was to be expected given her... caste within general society as a whole. That wasn't to say she held any ill will towards the clan or the dojo's, far from it in reality. She understood there were, quite simply, those of society that had a much more important role. Even so, it surprised her not at all when, as she entered, she was both directed to the back and greeted by one of those heading the clan that paid for these dojo's to be made in the first place.

For her part, Fuurinji had the standard Shinigami garb from her time within the Gotei 13 as to better blend in and attract the least amount of attention as possible. The biggest difference between her look back then and now, was the thick black cloth that now rested over her eyes, whereas before she usually had naught more than a simple white cloth over them. The main difference? The black cloth made it harder to see what was underneath it. For those within the Gotei, especially the higher ranked officers, it was no secret what hid beneath that cloth, severe optical damage that result from a kido spell gone horribly wrong. The lacerations of which had been so extensive as to ensure Fuu would be unlikely to ever be able to see again. However her Zanpakuto's were thankfully equipped with abilities that aided her in this regard and gave her some form of limited 'vision'... if one could even call it that.

But regardless as she was greeted Fuurinji gave a deep bow of respect to Hyosuke "Greetings Hyosuke Taicho." She said softly before nodding to his question "In a manner of speaking, yes. I've only recently returned to Soul Society and figured it might be a good idea to come and get some more training while I'm here. I figure the Gotei United would be unlikely to reinstate me without at least some kind of lengthy questioning given my absence over the last hundred or so years, and truth be told I'd rather not join such an organization as theirs, hence my absence."

Fuu wasn't really that worried about revealing her intentions and feelings towards the Gotei United, it wasn't like her feelings would be that surprised given her absence. "Though I must admit, seeing you here I was hoping to ask you a few questions if you wouldn't mind, I've heard some... concerning things about the Gotei United as of late and it makes me concerned for the future of Soul Society as a whole if they're true."

It was nice to know that she was welcome here, at least somewhere within Soul Society was still a welcoming place. She too sat down at the table and gave a soft giggle at his joke "Truly the greatest tragedy.." She said in response with a smile, taking the pot once it was offered and pouring it into her cup as well "Certainly, thank you." She said to the offered tea with a slight nod of her head.

"Jokes aside though, my concern is of the current roster of the Gotei United. From what I hear few, if any, of the original 13 Court Guard Captain's remain,. and even fewer remain apart of the actual goings on of the Gotei United. Perhaps I'm a relic of ages past, but to me this does not sit well within my stomach. I know times change and they are likely more powerful than when I was apart of it, however they take a reserved, almost passive, approach to the catastrophe that befell Africa. From what I understand, they adamantly refuse to explore it at all or even try to consider what might be in there. The Gotei I remember would've at least sent a recon squad in to get a lay of what might be in there."

Fuurinji took a sip of the tea before shaking her head "Although if that was all... I would not worry for the future of Soul Society itself. Rather it is the other information I have gained since my arrival that makes me so fearful..." She gave a lengthy pause, staring down into the cup of tea for awhile. Her face, while mostly neutral, still had that tinge of worry and doubt "I desired to speak with Komamura Taicho, but was told he went missing after the Winter War, just up and vanished like he never existed." Her hand tightened around the cup, "I wanted to speak to him about what my next course of action should be. I feel lost without him, and now... Kurosaki Ichigo. I've been informed he attacked the City of Light, killed innocent civilians... that multiple organizations, including the Gotei, are after him."

So it was as she feared, it wasn't just that the Gotei had become a shell of its former self... Even the Captain-Commanders after Sotaicho Yamamoto too had became shells of what he had been. Perhaps this was why Ichigo had changed so drastically in the last hundred years, because the Gotei had failed to maintain its ability to do anything correctly.

Fuurinji sipped her tea slowly, her mind focused on both Hyosuke as well as the rather awful thoughts that now plagued her mind of late. However, Hyosuke's words caught her attention yet again when he spoke of her skills being needed once more, but what's more he implied her current abilities to not be what he was referring too. This caused her to tilt her head slightly in confusion, before nodding to him. "That is why I came here, after all, for training and guidance." Whatever could he be referring too she wondered, for her part she was never anything special within the Gotei outside of the Dual Zanpakuto's and the blindness she suffered.

There was a few moments of silence between the two as each finished their respective cup of tea, before Hyosuke stood and broke the silence by having her follow him. Setting her cup down and nodding, Fuurinji stood and followed Hyosuke out to the courtyard. When he drew the X on the ground and motioned for her to start there, she tilted her head slightly but none-the-less did as instructed. Hyosuke then took his place a few feet away at the edge of the pond, and accepted her request for further training before giving her a suitable warning of what was to come.

Fuurinji gave a stern nod before grasping both of her Zanpakuto hilts, swiftly drawing each as she raised the left one above her head with the right moving towards the ground. Both blades faced towards Hyosuke before she swiftly carved each of them in their respective directions, the two blades swapping positions as she spoke "Whirl and Howl, Muraki Kamikaze" As she spoke the wind whipped up around her into a miniature tornado, producing a soft WHOOSHing noise before a three pointed talons pierced through and carved the tornado away. From within the whirling winds now stood Fuurinji with her Shikai release, two metal gauntlets that each had a triple talon formation on the edge that resembled a birds talon as if they were reaching out to grasp their prey.

Each talon was curved and gleamed in the sunlight, Each of the claws is adorned with intricate engravings that depict swirling winds and storm clouds, reflecting the two spirits housed within. "If I am found wanting, then it simply means I am not strong enough." As she said that, the bracelet that once adorned her wrist came falling to the ground, and as soon as it touched the ground Fuurinji slammed both of her gauntlets together. As she did a green-tinted eruption of wind came from the resulting shockwave, surrounding both of the combatants. Kaze Rogoku, a technique devised to trick and deceive even the most skilled of fighters, making fighting harder for most that were unaware of this technique and how it worked. However it was not one that Fuurinji used for offensive purposes, rather for defensive purposes to enable her to make swift counter attacks that left little time for a response from the other.

Fuurinji stood silent as the storm as Hyosuke returned, in kind, his own Shikai release, Benicho Kogo. In earnest she was hesitant on utilizing her own Shikai without a limiter, but now was no time for such doubts... Now was time for the storm to rage free. Fuurinji took in a deep breathe, her head leaning back slowly as her head lifted skywards before... She moved, utilizing every ounce of her speed and holding naught back as she did.

She'd first appear to come at Hyosuke from the front, yet in truth she was to his right. Her right hand raised backwards, the gauntlet in its entirety coated in a black Reiatsu. As soon as she was within three feet she thrust the arm forward, aiming to connect with and dig the sharp talons into, the bones of the shoulder. The question remained now, which direction was it that Hyosuke needed to move to block?