To Create, One Must Destroy [Ranma, Shura]

Bankai… so her entire game plan relied on him achieving Bankai first and foremost. Oh, poor Hōkamaru was going to bear with a lot from now on. It did spark up a memory of Noharu and Ranny making a point that there was no such thing as needing Bankai, much less that just any Shinigami could achieve it. Shura was not of that conviction.

“Sounds… simple. But I know what Armina’s made of – if that’s her fitness plan, I can have a taste,” Ranma nodded, Still, sounds like two monkeys bashing each other with random twigs they found on the ground until one of them croaks out. If, by some miracle, it worked… damn, he had a lot to reconsider. Then again- wait, brain, wait. Zoom back to when you met up with Captain Hisakawa real quick.

Fear… were you afraid of partaking in Shura’s training? Yes? Okay, would you want to run? Yes? Okay…

What if you could turn it around? What if you could turn living hell into bountiful harvest? What if you were actually rewarded for your bravery, Ranma? For your sense of exploration and curiosity?

“…” Like, he listened, but he also kinda just stood there. Shura had a thing for dramatic effects, eh? There was something all-encompassing about her voice. “… Hey…”

…

“… Have you seen my Shikai? It changed a bit since last time.”

Huh… she expected it to change over time. Ranma found it a bit of a strange occurrence, but now, he’d likely have to get used to it. Good thing I still got a shit-ton of techniques in mind… he thought to himself with a giggly smile, Who knows what shape Hōkamaru will take next? Maybe a straight sword? A circle?! Maybe a fork-like swordy thing?

Possibilities were endless… oh, and Koga was going to join them, too! The dudebros could go far and wide together… but she specifically requested a larger space to initiate their campaign. It made Ranma’s brow rise a little, looking around the current District they were in. “… Whhhheeeeeereeeeee exactly, then? You lookin’ for a plateau, ‘cause I know a few…”

Don’t ask how. Something felt like Shura had a place in mind, already, but Ranma was ready to add his own tidbits of knowledge. After all, did the previous 11th study geography, or did they just follow their gut feelings?

Flat area… huh? That sounded boring. Outside of the Rukongai? That sounded freaky! “Woah woah woah woah woah… how far outside of the Rukongai are we talking? 50s? 60s? 70s? 90s? Kusajishi? Zaraki? Fugai?”

Sounded like places he could meet… types like Captain Nagoshi again. Last time he was just in Kusajishi, he almost got mistaken for the serial killer there! He didn’t want to repeat that mistake! “Do you know someone out there, perhaps? Or are we just manhandling it on autopilot at that rate? Do… do you have family there?”

He wasn’t familiar with Shura’s family name, but then again, she knew squat about his. His wasn’t even a family name – it was just a random name his parents gave him, ‘cause they thought it sounded dangerous. ‘Violent fury’ sure said a lot about their expectations of him… yeah… a violent, furious ape was all they expected from him. Ranma spent his days in the Seireitei proving them wrong – peace and relaxation above unbridled rage and red drive. Names were dangerous.

Outside of the Rukongai? Holy fuck, she had actually lost her mind… enormous amount of room- what, did she plan to throw Hadō #88’s at him in quick succession? Was she planning to cast Bankais? Bankais? Would he die from this or something? He couldn’t die yet! Shit! What did he sign himself up for?! FUCK!

If anything, the true training would be ‘Survive Shura’. Oh well, as long as Koga was with them, then things looked not nearly as dim, grim, and braindead as he anticipated. But really, only time would tell if this meat-drag would actually help make them stronger, or if Shura would ultimately end up getting all three of them killed from exhaustion before they’d ever get the chance to reap the fruits of any training…