A walk around Seireite...

[Firechild]

Mouretsu Arashi, Captain of the 7th Division, also known as the Elemental Mastery Division, stands ontop of the roof of the Barracks in Seireite. He stares up at the clouds, pondering what next to put down in his journal. Grinning suddenly, Arashi scribbles down a few last notes and closes the book, stretching till his back cracks slightly. He rolls his shoulders enjoying the feeling, before Flash Stepping down to the ground, gaining his balance swiftly and steadily.

Placing his hands inside his pockets, Arashi begins walking along the outside of the Barracks, hoping to run into someone that will either talk with him for a while, or maybe be up for a little sparring. Grinning, Arashi rounds a corner and continues on his way.

[Harmony]

Masaru emerged from a nearby training area, covered in dust and blood, a hand clutched firmly to his abdomen. Breathing heavily he steadied himself against a wall until he felt stable enough to stand independently without stumbling. "Dammit!" seethed Masaru quietly, his eyes scrunching as bile rose into his throat. Another full day of training... another full day of beating his goddamn head against the same brick wall. How much longer?!

Frustrated Masaru made a single punch at the air before deciding that was a bad idea and sank to the ground, a bit of a sick smile spreading across his features. "Just look at yourself," he breathed, "Yer a fuckin' mess. What will you tell them This time? you can't just expect them to buy the same excuses over and over!" He glared down at his abdomen, before lifting a blood-soaked hand from the reopened scar on his stomach, right above his belly button. Blood continued to blossom outwards, but rather than growing concerned, Masaru just gave it a hard stare. Quit that, alright? I'm not going to squad four today, so you can forget about it, Masaru thought to himself, his grin fading slightly, How much longer...

Just then Masaru caught the faint essence of Captain Arashi on the breeze, and he gasped, clapping a hand rather painfully over the wound in his stomach, a sudden fear gripping him by the throat. How convenient! How was he supposed to keep the activation of his Bankai a secret will all these people running around all the damn time?! He coughed a little before pushing against the wall with his shoulders to sit up straighter.

[Firechild]

Taking his hands out from his pockes, Arashi yawned deeply, and put said hands behind his head, interlacing his fingers with each other. A scent of blood wafted over him and he raised his eyebrows in concern, before dashing towards the source of the smell. "Great, someone's injured...no good not good...it feels like...Masaru? What in the name of..." The Captain skidded to a halt as he saw the Squad 6th Taisho leaning against a wall, an obvious stream of blood trailing down his abdomen. "Masaru...What happened to you, you look like you're about to faint..." Arashi knealt down next to his fellow captain. "We gotta get ya to 4th Division..."

[Harmony]

There was a rush of reiatsu and Masaru smirked unhappily. He found me...
It was like God's practical joke, but Masaru didn't find it very humorous at all, rather, he found it cruel and unnecessary.

In a flash his fellow captain had materialized before him and he watched with hooded eyes as Arashi knelt beside him, obviously concerned.

"Nono..." Said Masaru with a forced chuckle as he struggled to sit up further, "They're busy right now, no need to bother them." He nodded as if to further affirm this, though his heart was racing in escalating fear. There was no avoiding it, Arashi was going to find out... Dammit! He shook his head helplessly, though the movement was minuscule, enough for only Masaru to notice himself. "It's really nothing... look..." He took his other hand and attempted to wipe the blood away, which only seemed to reveal the true depth of the wound which surprised even himself. Goddamn, was I trying to skewer myself out there?!

He gritted his teeth as his smile disappeared altogether, his lips forming a tight, grim line. His expression began to darken with nameless anger. It was like the fierce aggression a cornered beast feels... that was how he felt. He needed to get out, he needed to get out NOW.

"Arashi," Masaru's voice had grown excessively hostile, "I want to be left alone."

[Firechild]

Rolling his eyes, Arashi crossed his arms. "Yeah...right. You think I'm going to just leave you along in your condition? You got another thing coming. I'll knock you out and drag you to 4th squad if I have to...But just what in Hell's name were you doing? You look like you've been impaled!" Arashi narrowed his eyes. "I consider you a friend Masaru...Don't you consider me one? I want to help you, but if your not going to let me...Then I'll use force if nessesary."

The Captain of Squad 7 unfolded his arms and prepared to either help Masaru...or fight him, if needed.

[Harmony]

Masaru clenched his jaw, releasing a little of his reiatsu, just enough to let it bite at his fellow Captain slightly. He was becoming desperate. "You will leave me,' growled Masaru, the hairs on his neck standing on end. As a captain he knew the implications he faced by lashing out at a fellow shinigami, but Arashi was giving him no choice. "What makes you think you can take me so easily?" Masaru stood slowly to his feet, bracing himself against the wall with a free hand. "You may think us friends, Arashi, but I'll treat you as my enemy if you don't do as I say and leave now. Allow me some scrap of dignity, or I'll fight fight you as I would any hollow."

It hurt him to do this. Arashi had always been trustworthy. He never really treated Masaru the way the other Captains did. To his knowledge Masaru was the youngest and most inexperienced Captain of the Gotei thirteen and yet Arashi never seemed to hold it against him. It hurt.

"Please, move aside and forget this sight, Arashi." Masaru's voice, though still fierce, had taken on a bit of a pleading tone, "Don't push me."

[Firechild]

Arashi closed his eyes. "Then you leave me little choice Masaru..." He clenched the hilt of his Zanpakuto, and uttered the phrase that would release her. "Release your Gale...Hissorihime..." A blast of wind erupted around him, and his Zanpakuto spiraled up and around his arm, forming his Shikai. He leapt back and skated along the air, stopping to hover about two yards off the ground. A blade of wind materialized at the end of Hissorihime, glowing faintly in the midday light. "Kazera!" Arashi shouted, and thrust his wrist forward, sending a blade of wind spiraling towards Masaru with just enough power to hopefully knock the Captain into unconciousness.

[Harmony]

Masaru watched with arching eyebrows as Arashi released his blade. Already?....damn... He glanced down at his abdomen, his hands forming into fists, how long would he last like this? Not for much longer... there were already clouds forming at the edges of his vision. But... he couldn't be taken like this... he needed to find a way to escape this situation. It seemed lately his secret was more and more endangered and this frightened him terribly.

He looked up with narrowing eyes as Arashi skated on the wind, and he was reminded briefly of Gahrok, a fellow wind wielding Shinigami, but he brushed this thought away as quickly as he could. He needed to focus.

"Kazera!"

Masaru gathered his reiatsu and flashed to the right, narrowly dodging the first attack. He shifted his weight a little with a groan as he felt the wound on his stomach open a little, and he drew his own Zanpakuto with a metallic hiss. He held the small dagger by the ribbon at her handle and began to spin her with the gentle flick of his wrist, allowing her to gently circulate around him as he prepared for another attack.

[Firechild]

Arashi could tell that Masaru was in no condition to put up a fight...Never the less, he was stubborn, just like Arashi himself was. "I'm sorry...Masaru..." Arashi muttered, and flash stepped right underneath the other Captain, before shifting his weight and thrusting his fist with Hissorhime straight up into a spot just above the massive hole in Masaru's abdomen. "Kazera..." The word escaped from his lips, and another Wind blade released itself from Hissorihime.

"It's over Masaru, you've lost..." Arashi said solemnly. In a usual spar between him and a friend he is full of passion and taunts. But this is a different story, is was full of compassion, sorrow, and fright that his friend could be seriously injured.

[Galihan]

It was a rather nice day in Seireitei, as usual. Minoru often would wonder to himself why the weather was so often like this when he was younger. He knew that the real world's weather was much more erratic, frequent rain and storms being frequent in most parts of the planet where in Soul Society it was usually always sunny or cloudy at the worst with the occasional rainstorm every once in a while. He eventually realized that the general flat terrain of Soul Society along with the fact that most of the plant life could survive on loose spirit particles alone made rain pretty much useless asides from getting things wet. It then occured to him that he was lost in thought again, as usual.

Despite being one of the oldest members of the Gotei 13, over twice as old as some of the other captains (even though one could argue that being the captain of Squad 12 isn't really a position involving the chance of death on the battlefield,) he was by far not becoming senile as he has always been the person to zone if there was nothing to interest him. But now something interested him, snapping him out of his daydreaming. There was a battle in the making between two of the younger captains, Masaru from Squad 6 and Arashi from Squad 7. He had earlier sensed that Masaru was training himself pretty senselessly for the last while but now with Arashi getting involved things might get out of hand if left to their own workings.

"Now this could be interesting," Minoru stated out loud as he took in a deep breath of fresh air. "but even the interesting has a nasty was of getting violent without intervention, and that wouldn't be a good thing at all now would it?"

With that said, he stood up off the grass he was laying on, tucking his bronze zanpakuto in his sash under his coat and disappeared in an instant using shunpo, leaving only a leaf that had fallen on top of his head to drift carefree to the soft grass below.

[Harmony]

Masaru watched Arashi's body as he flash stepped, though towards the end he lost sight of him. He at first tried also to flash step but he failed. His reiatsu was nearly spent already from the grueling efforts of his training only minutes before. He always trained until he could no longer stand, and now when faced with a fellow Captain, Masarus strength was nearly spent.

In the last instant, Masaru summoned a bit of his remaining reiatsu and braced himself with it to prepare to for the impact that was sure to follow in Arashi's wake and he shifted his hold on Hiketsu so he could hold her by the hilt. Just as he brought her up to block, he felt a stunning blow and began to sink to his knees, his eyes glossing over for a brief moment.

"Kazera..."

Masaru knew in that instant that he could fight no longer, and as the blast of wind hit him fiercely in the abdomen, Hiketsu began to slip from his fingers. He couldn't breathe. He looked up at Arashi, breathless and unable to speak, though his hazel eyes that were beginning to clear spoke wonders. There was a mixture of hate and gratefulness lingering in those cold gems, and Masaru shook his head slightly, before putting a hand once more to the gaping wound in his stomach. It was big enough for him to fit his hand into, if his fingers were straight, and the pain was beginning to catch up to him as the adrenaline pumping through his body began to dissipate.

"It's over Masaru, you've lost..."

At these words Masaru glared upwards at his comrade, his eyes ablaze with contempt. "It's not about winning or losing," he rasped, his face scrunching in anger, "This wasn't some frikkin' game, Arashi... not to me."

He looked to his right side, glancing for a moment at his slayer, unreleased in the dirt, and he moved weakly towards her before wrapping his bloodied fingers about her hilt. Gingerly he picked her up, handling her in a way that did not seem to premise any sort of attack. He ran a trembling finger along her serrated edge.... such a strange zanpakuto she was... such a beautiful little thing. Every aspect of his life however was affected by her in some way... his social life even suffered because of the secret he so heavily guarded. But despite this... despite how it seemed Hiketsu had forgotten and forsaken him with her silence, Masaru loved her. Its ok, Masaru thought to himself Its k to be defeated...

He then returned her to the sheath at his side with a gentle snick of steel before struggling once more to his feet. He could still stand... but the battle -short as it was- was truly over.

"You've beaten me, Arashi."

Masaru made his way over once more to the wall, where he leaned against it, his head bowed in remorse for what had happened. He could still protect the secret... it was alright... it was going to be alright.

In the distance Masaru could feel the presence of the approaching Captain Minoru, and he smirked before sinking to the ground, no longer able to stand. He was swiftly losing consciousness.

[Firechild]

Masaru sank to the ground, as Arashi sealed Hissorihime and sheathed her. "It's not about winning or losing," Masaru rasped weakly, his face showing a look of anger. "This wasn't some frikkin' game, Arashi... not to me." Arashi smiled solemnly.

"I know my friend...but it was the only way for you to see reason..." Arashi sat down next to him at the wall.

"You've beaten me Arashi..." Masaru spoke softly.

The 7th Division Captain sighed. "That was no victory, you were already weakened severely, and you're Zanpakuto was in it's Sealed state while mine was in Primary Release...I took no pleasure in that fight..." Arashi twisted so he was looking his fellow Captain straight in the eyes. "Please Masaru...I implore you to tell me what's bothering you...I want to help you...not hurt you like I just had..." Arashi's eyes were almost pleading. It hurt the young Captain to see his friend in so much pain and distress. "Please..." He repeated softly.

[Galihan]

Just as Captain Daichi of Squad 12 made it to the scene, it seemed that the battle was already over much to his surprise. Minoru made no effort to hide his presence, but it was not like he was flaunting it around like he was making a challenge to the youngsters. He just kept his spiritual pressure neutral as if he were simply taking a casual stroll and enjoying the nice day.

He found himself at the training arena where the two fellow captains were just going at it and sighed. Masaru-chan made a mess of the training pit with his injuries getting blood all over the place. Arashi-chan looked concerned so Minoru was able to make an assumption that their battle wasn't the cause of his injuries.

What the hell is Masaru-chan up to get himself all thrashed like this?[/i] the older captain thought to himself, in a bit of confusion. He wasn't sure on what to think of the situation, as odd as that seemed given his reputation as a wise and philosophical man. He didn't know whether or not Captain Takahashi was just pushing himself too hard in training and Captain Mouretsu was simply stopping him for his own good, or whether the captain of Squad 6 simply has something wrong with his head like Hitotsu of Squad 9, or something weird like that.

Minoru was intrigued, confused and concerned all at once and decided to step in and get a better understanding of the situation. He casually walked up quietly and took a seat on a bench along the wall of the training area. He wasn't even sue if the other captains were aware of him as of yet.

"Please Masaru...I implore you to tell me what's bothering you...I want to help you...not hurt you like I just had... please..."

Arashi said softly to the other captain, he sounded concerned for his friend and it made Minoru smile. Friendship was such an interesting thing, and was one of the roots to one's ultimate power and will to fight.

"Pardon the intrusion, but I agree with Arashi-chan," Minoru calmly said out loud to the fallen Masaru. "It can't be good for you if you keep pushing yourself like this, there is more to becoming stronger than wrecking yourself. I've seen lots of people push themselves too hard and not once has it turned out nicely in the end..." he added, his voice dropping off in silence.

[Harmony]

Masaru stared with fading eyes as Arashi sat beside him, suddenly reminded of when he was very young, when he met his friend Otanashi-kun for the first time. Otanashi-kun always sat beside him like that, when he was hurt. He suddenly recalled so vividly the events of his childhood in Rukongai. He could almost taste the dry dust of the streets between his teeth as he lay there upon the ground, hot blood pooling around him. Blood was always so much deeper in his memories. His eyes fell to the wound on his stomach. Even with the heavy haze clouding his vision, the poppy red seemed to vibrate in its intensity... a stark contrast to the deep brown red rust that flowed through his memories. Perhaps it was because things were darker back then... wandering the streets orphaned and alone... it was Otanashi, his friend, that lit the way. He hadn't thought of Otanshi-kun in a very long time... how interesting that he was reminded of him here... now... with Arashi staring down at him. He could see concern bordering his features, the same concern that borded Otanashi's. How he missed him...

"Please Masaru...I implore you to tell me what's bothering you...I want to help you...not hurt you like I just had...please"

Masaru was pulled to reality and he felt his expression darkening once more, though his eyes held not the aggression they did earlier. The fire was replaced now with a lucid sadness, a helplessness. He opened his mouth to answer, all the while acutely aware of the fast approaching Division Twelve Captain, "I cannot share that which I do not understand...." He choked a little, his throat raw and rough, but a strange smile flashed across his features, nearly comically decorated with the blood between his teeth, "I do trust you Arashi... don't think I don't..." The smile diminished as fast as it had come however with the arrival of Minoru. Even under the spell of his dwindling strength, Masaru was still a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen. Minoru's entrance, serene as it was, did not pass unnoticed, and with the introduction of a second pair of ears, Masaru no longer felt safe to voice his concerns. His eyebrows drew together harshly.

"Pardon the intrusion, but I agree with Arashi-chan,It can't be good for you if you keep pushing yourself like this, there is more to becoming stronger than wrecking yourself. I've seen lots of people push themselves too hard and not once has it turned out nicely in the end..."

How strange it was that Minoru would say such things. He gritted his teeth... how very...appropriate. What cruel nature the fates had with him. It was almost as if... he could hear Hiketsu's soft purring voice lining Minoru's words... it was something she'd say... it was something she had said... before she disappeared... before she left him.

"That is my way." Was Masaru's stoic reply. His voice had grown flat and unreachable once more, "What does it matter if my body is broken... all I have left is my strength." He smiled again but this time it held not the bright quality of before, rather it was the sick grin of a tortured man. "Don't you deprive a man of the only thing he has left. Some live off their love," he swallowed audibly but managed not to flinch with another, rather potent memory at the mention of love, "you would never take a man's love and snatch it away would you?" He glared between Arashi and Minoru, his gaze becoming more and more intense "You can keep your filthy sayings, Minoru, I'll keep what I have."

[Firechild]

Masaru spoke again quietly. "I can not share that which I do not understand..." He glanced down at his abdomen, observing the deep wound in his stomach.

Minoru suddenly arrived on the scene, seating himself uninvited on a nearby bench. "Pardon the intrusion, but I agree with Arashi-chan,It can't be good for you if you keep pushing yourself like this, there is more to becoming stronger than wrecking yourself. I've seen lots of people push themselves too hard and not once has it turned out nicely in the end..." Arashi knitted his eyebrows annoyed slightly at Minoru's interuption. He frowned as Masaru returned to his shell, removing any possibility that he would reviel his troubles to Arashi. At least not in the pressence of any other.

"That is my way." Masaru replied stoicly. His voice had grown once again, unemotional. "What does it matter if my body is broken... all I have left is my strength."

Arashi spat on the ground. "Don't you even think that for a second..." The Captain of Squad 7 growled angrily. "What am I then? Huh? You are one of the few friends I have in all of Soul Society...I won't let you destroy yourself..." Arashi got up immedietly. "I'll be in my quarters when you want to talk..." It wasn't a request to come and see him, it was more of an "we can continue this conversation in a more secluded area" type of a request. The young Captain wanted to get as much information out of his friend as possible, so Arashi could help him master any doubts or troubles he had. Gathering spirit particles under his feet, he vanished into thin air, flash stepping straight up to where he normally slept.