White Howl, Black Scales [Tento, Lerna]

This was most certainly interesting; he was not much to show his ‘nerdy’ side but when it came to kido it was one of the few interests he was very happy to share. What he witnessed was a bit of a wonder. It was nothing he knew personally and even more so, nothing he could recall hearing about before. The finer details of his study aided in a bit of elimination though. Her zanpatuko was sealed so this had nothing to do with that. There was no incantation channel felt so the possibility of kido was unlikely to him, and there was no energy felt involving her spiritual energy or any real pressure. It…was different yet still her. It was something that she was doing, unique.

“Insight, opinion, or a misguided guess of what it is. I would like to think so though. Everyone wishes to be strong. And I at least wish everyone to be strong enough to protect themselves, and what is important to them”, Tento said in response. “At least…that is what I feel in my heart at least. That, I know I can be honest about”. As a spirit there was not much else he could do. He needed food and nourishment unlike many other souls. What better way than as a Shinigami? They were respected, they had an impact, and they could do good. Beyond the whole….keeping the worlds from collapsing on each other. He could find a home in any division, hopefully. Time and friends would grow love; time plus exposure equaled influence. There was no single division whose main duties jumped out to him that he HAD to do. And the Gotei, well the Gotei’s purpose would come true no matter what division he was in. The only thing left…well.

In comparison to others, Tento did not give some god forsaken reason why he chose the 4th division. Not anything dramatic. No revenge, no iron will believe in a select group to change the world. He only had someone important to him. Someone he wanted to fight alongside, someone he wanted to have to rely on him. It was not bold; not worth a large note or a dramatic movie picture. But his strength in it was all the same one of pillars he stood on. His determination was undoubtable to himself. As Lerna continued to speak, her smile came strong in her tone. It was a much different story than his own, but one he could feel some connection to. Lerna got inspired by someone like he did. “It does sound like she helped you a bit finding some comfort. I do know the whole picture of what you may have gone through as a mod soul but I would assume it involves issues of being watched, threats of being erased, and pure hostility?”.

Wishy washy or not it sounded similar to him. It sounded like Lerna did trust Murasaki, followed her even in terms of working under her like any other would once she was stationed under her. That did not mean that Lerna had fogged goggles though. She saw the woman as well as the uniform. Tento silently listened. The life of a Mod soul was hell, and prior changes to the former Gotei they might as well have just been slaves. A being with a soul as well as consciousness; breathing just as anyone else. Memories, feelings, everything you needed to be a person in Tento’s opinion. But because they were once a scientific experiment created and used as a tool, that was all they were. That was their destiny in the eyes of the past, and even now Tento was not sure of that topic.

“I am sorry that you have had to go through being oppressed and used in the past. Regardless of what others may think or say, you are a person; Mod Soul or not”, he said with a calm look towards her. A soul was a soul with its own personhood and individuality. Lerna was a Shinigami fighting like anyone else when deployed on earth. She played a key role in the monitorization and defense of the balance. Captain Commander Murasaki’s influence or not, it should be noted and respected. Beyond that it sounded like Lerna was doing fine in her division. She liked the ease of still being home on earth and defending it first. Hopefully her division treated her well regardless of her mod soul status as well as a sub-shinigami from the outside looking in there was no true way to tell how her relationship with them was.

“Well, be as it may it sounds that you are doing good for yourself now. A substitute Shinigami not only attached to a division but a seated officer. You came a long way and should be proud. You don't need me to say that though”, Tento said with a nod of his head and some words of encouragement. A soft smirk coming along at the end.

Tento wanted to give a smark remark to it. Like who said he couldn’t flirt with them hmm? But he decided to do something else. “Oh, alright I suppose. Still get to have a good time with cool people, try to get along with as many people as I can. Beyond that, my flirting with cute women hasn’t changed when it's a good time. People who seem to like my taste weren’t only in my division after all”. Tento said with a pause. Trying to not sound like a playboy or brag as much as his could.

“No, but there is a first time for everything”, he offered back in remark. Before giving put a jokeful tone, “Just like I would imagine you have laughed this much in a day in a while”. Tento humored as he welcomed the lopsided smile on her face. He would have to give a shrug of his shoulders in admittance.

He had to give credit. What she said was fair. Not everyone wants to be strong. Just like not everyone wants money, or items. Heck, some just wanted to be smart. Everyone had a way to be who they are meant to be. And that's the same for being of aid to the Gotei. Perhaps that was just Tento's way. A defender. Or maybe it was all he knew and it was a defense to make sure he had people strong enough to watch his back while he watched their front.

However, her next action shifted the tone of the conversation. She walked right up to him, that sparkling grin shining like a bright diamond as she asked him a hard felt question. What would he be willing to do to get stronger? Why did he even seek it. Was it improvement for the sake of beating his old self Was? Was it an impact to not feel insignificant? Was it a desperation to protect a home he had now? To have the power to protect what he cherish? Or was it the thrill and bloodlust of battle that all members of the 4th seemed to have or was it something more?

What the heck else could he need when it came to fighting in the battlefield?? Thump. It echoed and rang clear even before she made contact with his chest. Speechless for once, there were no pretty words or attempts at flirtation or even jokes. Just a silence in wait listening. Without a word he drew his zanpakuto out as request. His hand on the hilt loose before digging into a strong vice grip, affirmed.

He closed his eyes and simply, felt. As the silence stretched on, Tento's inner world ignited. He could feel the pulsating energy of his zanpakuto, an extension of his very soul, calling out to him. With a sudden inhalation, his eyes snapped open, a fierce brown flame dancing within their depths. The ground beneath his feet cracked, energy radiating outwards as he drew upon the power of his spirit weapon. With a shunpo he was gone traveling forward in a vertical slash that would hold the intensity to make his sword strike was larger in size than it was. A skyscraper threatening to crash down.

As the accumulation of energy twisted and blended with his blade, crashing down as it met Lerna’s empowered hand. The black scaled armored hand banged against his zanaptuko. The clank was resounding and echoed even through Tento’s own bones. A quick jolt of excitement. His regards to Lerna’s strength were dead on. Only a soft cut on her defended hand was a fruit of his effort as sand and dirt flooded the air as Lerna’s footing sunken. A careful gaze examined her as the scales expanded, scaling up her arm and up to her neck. There was a lot more he could have done in his strike. But this was just a spar, not a life and death struggle on the battlefield. There was no one to protect, no mission or pride to protect. His aim was to show her his resolve. For their blades to talk to each other as they fought. What was strength? What was it for? What did he need in that path…

“Oh come on Lerna”, Tento began in a soft respite. Despite her words he could sense it. That stir of power inside her. The call and response to his spirit. “If you were ‘normal’ Shinigami I would not have dared to put even half of that attack at you. You are a seated officer, 4th. You are not someone that I would fear hurting from just that. I expect more from you from fighting alongside you. I know your base strength and you’ve only grown since. And if I did hurt you, I would regret it and make amends”, Tento said, calming in a bit of stern seriousness. The goofiness fading quickly at the gravity thrown to him. It was enough to know she saved Shura to know she was strong. It was one thing to fight alongside that woman and not get ridiculed if she regarded you weak. But to save her? That took power, ability, and guts to boot.

“The Fourth can be like that. I won’t lie to that case. I can turn a bit…aggressive too when the time calls for it. But I have no desire to be a caged murder who seeks any opportunity to spread violence. Hurting you would only come as a traitor, and you are no traitor to the Gotei, Lerna”. Tento gave a pause before dropping his seriousness. “But I will keep that mind for you and others. I do like the idea of feeling things out if you want”. Tento didn’t resist as she flicked his blade away. Letting the path guide to his side in a low stance to the ground.

Tento looked on at Lerna with a calm focus as she spoke. He expected more of an immediate response but it seemed she wanted to talk more while they fought. That was fine with him, talking while sparing took nothing away from him unlike some in his division. But this was a rather long way to go about it if he was getting what she wanted to say. A lot more than just being strong than being strong? If he was still a boy in the hood trying to live he would have laughed about that. But, he learned that lesson a long time ago. It was character, will, mind. A physical advantage was just a tool in a vessel, strength and power came more with that working together. And heck, with being a Shinigami it was a lot more than just swinging a sword. “Let see…4th members last shorter than 7th because we die on the field more often. Central force when big things happen and all. Bigger threats…more chance of death, no offense to yall with always being on earth constantly”. Tento said in a deadpan serious answer. That was one way to answer…but far to self centered on his own division.

“Or maybe it is the good old childish trial banter of…my division just is better than yours”, Tento seemed to continue a steady calmness as he felt the chilling reiryoku flare, a flash of ice formed into a spike streaked towards Tento before a sudden large spinning disk of condensed Reiatsu yellow energy formed in front of him. Tento’s chantless Bakudō #39. Enkōsen . Eating the attack and breaking a delayed second, a light piece of the ice hit his chest before weakly spreading across his chest, straining to reach his shoulder and neck as its power as well as effectiveness reduced.

“But those are both the dumb easy answers. Perhaps it's because your divison has people who have been Shinigami longer? More time to develop and grow. Perhaps it is because there are many in my division that follow steady the old 11th, blade and body only. A lack of understanding of the four arts leaves an incomplete warrior”. With a swipe of his sword to the side Tento flexed his muscles, the lingering pieces of ice shattering as they fell to the floor. “Tell me, am in the ballpark or am I way off, Lerna?”.