5 Chapter five: Zanpakuto.

Chapter five.

Yuna followed the sound of waves, her feet tracing a well-worn path through a dense thicket of trees. The trail was familiar to her, leading her to one of the hidden spots for the three of them to do a little solitary practice. It was a secluded area, where the forest met the river, a place away from prying eyes.

The forest opened up to reveal the river's edge, a wide expanse of clear, flowing water surrounded by tall grass and scattered rocks. A few old trees leaned over the water, their fragile branches providing just enough shade and shelter for those resting below. In the midst of this tranquil place, Jun stood waist-deep in the water, fiercely practicing his swordplay. His movements were determined as he moved through the forms and techniques, each swing of his blade sending ripples across the water.

Yuna paused at the shoreline, unable to suppress a chuckle. "Jun's at it again," she said to herself, her eyes following his graceful movements. "He'll catch a cold one of these days."

Her gaze wandered to a nearby tree, where Hideki sat meditating, his Asauchi balanced on his lap. Yuna approached with a smile, taking a seat beside him. "You're both working so hard. Even at this hour?"

Hideki's eyes flickered open, a touch of surprise in his voice. "Yuna? What are you doing here?"

"Checking up on you two night owls," she teased, clapping her hands. "You really should be in bed by now. Have you lost track of time?"

Hideki looked up at the starry sky and shrugged. "Guess so. Why? Is it really that late?"

"It's past midnight," Yuna replied, her eyes drawn to the blade in Hideki's lap. "Speaking of time, have you had any luck with your sword?"

Hideki's face fell, and he traced the blade with a thoughtful finger. "Not much."

"Give it time," Yuna encouraged, nudging him playfully. "We've only been here a month, you know. You'll get there."

There was a sudden, loud splash, followed by Jun's grunts of exertion as he swung his sword through the water, creating waves that lapped at the shore. Both Yuna and Hideki turned to watch him for a moment as he wielded his blade around, sweat and droplets of water glistening in the moonlight.

Hideki finally broke the silence, his voice softer now. "I thought meditating might help, like when I slept under the trees in District 22. That's where I used to dream about her."

"And?" Yuna prompted, sensing his frustration.

Hideki sighed. "It's not working. But I feel like I'm so close." His hand unconsciously traced the edge of the sword, as though attempting to connect with something just out of reach.

"Close is something," Yuna offered, glancing back towards Jun, who was still swinging his sword in the distance. ''Just be patient with yourself.'' She turned back to Hideki, who had begun to rise from the ground, dusting off his clothes. She smiled up at him, mirroring his decision to call it a night.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

Underneath the bright sky, brushed with hues of late afternoon, the rhythmic sounds of battle resonated through the courtyard. The earth beneath was scarred from the relentless strikes, as the grass swayed in response to the swift motions of Shinigami in training.

Hideki and Jun, locked in an intense duel, moved like shadows in the fading sunlight. Trees framed the training area, their leaves trembling from the force of their movements. Both friends had been paired up for their Hakuda lesson, each one circling the other, eyes narrowed, muscles tense. For Hideki, the challenge was greater. Hakuda, hand-to-hand combat, was his weakness, a part of his training that still felt foreign and elusive.

Much to his surprise, Hakuda had proven to be one of his weaknesses, at first Hideki had thought it would rather simple, after all, he had experience in physical combat. But it took him no more than a single lesson to realize that there was a lot more to this art than just throwing punches.

Jun lunged forward, his fist aimed at Hideki's chest, a precise strike designed to knock the wind out of him. Hideki dodged to the left, his body moving in a graceful arc, but Jun was already there, his other fist connecting with Hideki's shoulder. A grunt of pain escaped Hideki's lips as he staggered back.

"Come on, Hideki!" Jun taunted, a gleam in his eye. "You've got to do better than that!"

With a determined scowl, Hideki charged, his right fist cutting through the air at a sharp angle towards Jun's jaw. Jun parried the blow, his arm snapping up to deflect Hideki's attack, but Hideki was quick to follow up with a low kick aimed at Jun's knee.

Jun leaped back, barely avoiding the strike, his face showing a hint of surprise. The two of them were evenly matched in Hakuda, but Hideki's movements were becoming more precise, more controlled.

They continued to clash, a whirlwind of punches, kicks, blocks, and dodges, each trying to gain the upper hand, each pushing the other to the limit. Sweat poured down their faces, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, but neither was willing to give in. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the instructor called a halt, and the two friends stepped back, chests heaving, smiles of mutual respect on their faces.

"You're getting better," Jun panted, clapping Hideki on the back.

"I have to," Hideki replied, cleaning the sweat from his face. "I've got a lot to prove."

In the midst of the conversation between Hideki and Jun, a call rang out, pulling Hideki's attention from his friend. "Fujioka!" the voice called, echoing through the courtyard. His head whipped around, and his eyes widened as he found himself meeting face to face with someone he hadn't seen in over a month. "Makoto," Hideki said, leaving Jun to talk to the air as he approached his mentor.

"It's really been a while," Hideki greeted, his voice steady but eyes gleaming with genuine happiness.

Yeah, I'm sorry I've been hiding from you.'' Makoto's arms were crossed, but a teasing grin played on his lips. "Work's been relentless, but really, who wouldn't want a break from your face?"

Hideki chuckled. "Hm, must be tough. Or did you just miss me so much you couldn't bear to see me?"

Makoto laughed outright, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Miss you? After all the strings I had to pull to get you here? Nah, just wanted to make sure you were suffering properly without me."

Hideki playfully rolled his eyes but shrugged modestly. "I'm managing. So, how's life treating you at the Seireitei?"

Makoto's expression grew more genuine, and he looked out over the courtyard before answering, "Busy, but fulfilling. I've been keeping tabs on you, though. You're not messing things up too bad, Fujioka." Makoto eyed the group of students shamelessly eavesdropping on them. He rolled his eyes, nudging Hideki. "How about we escape this fan club of yours and find a quiet corner? I'm starting to feel like a celebrity."

''You are the celebrity here, though...'' Hideki whispered to himself, did he really not realize everyone was staring at him? "Not enjoying the attention? That's odd, I was guessing you became a soul reaper for the fame."

"Nah, it was for the dashing uniform," Makoto retorted, leading the way towards the academy halls. "So, how's life treating you here? Learned to make your bed yet?"

"Bed-making was overwhelming enough, but learning about all the duties I'll have when I graduate?" Hideki said, feigning a shudder. "Didn't realize I signed up to be a multi-talented hero."

"Thought it was all about swinging swords and looking cool, huh? Welcome to the real world, kid." Makoto replied, laughed heartily as they continued to walk, their laughter subsiding into a companionable silence. After a moment, Makoto looked at Hideki, his eyes twinkling. "Heard you're the academy's new heartthrob. All that Kidō and Hohō stuff making you popular?"

"Well, you know, talent speaks for itself." Hideki couldn't help but puff out his chest a little as he replied. He wasn't exactly humble about it, not after all the praise and encouragement he'd received over the past few weeks. "I'm also helping out the other students when I have the time. The instructors love me."

"Easy there, champ," Makoto teased. "I also heard your Zanjutsu and Hakuda, while good, are not quite as good.''

''Yeah...'' Hideki's pride deflated slightly, he wasn't exactly bad in those two arts, but it was no secret that he wasn't nearly as talented in them. "I don't know. I've always thought I was good with hand-to-hand combat, but..."

Makoto clapped a hand on Hideki's shoulder, his expression turning more serious. "Listen, Fujioka, those are bad habits, they're not a sign of lack of talent; they're a result of your upbringing. It happened to me to, it was a pain the ass to get rid of them when I started. With some extra practice, you'll replace them. And besides, your Kidō and Hohō abilities more than make up for any shortcomings."

"I've talked to your Kidō instructor," Makoto continued. "He's the one who suggested you might be ready to skip ahead. If you want, I could arrange it."

"Skipping ahead? This soon?" Hideki questioned, his brow furrowing with confusion. Despite his confidence in some areas, the idea seemed daunting. "Will I...?"

"You will." Makoto's response was immediate, a knowing grin playing on his lips as he cut off Hideki's doubt. "Trust me, Fujioka, you're doing things that some third years can't. You're ready."

"But..." Hideki bit his lip, his mind replaying the one failure that had been nagging at him since joining the academy. "I can't manifest my zanpakuto. That's the number one requirement to graduate from here, isn't it? I've spent hours with it, every night, and I still can't figure out what I'm doing wrong."

"Oh, that?" Makoto's tone was nonchalant, and he rubbed his chin thoughtfully as Hideki vented his frustration. "Don't sweat it. You never know when it's going to happen. One moment you think you're stuck, and the next, boom! It just clicks." Hideki stared at Makoto, uncertainty in his eyes. The casual dismissal of his concerns was both reassuring and confusing.

''Really, Fujioka, I mean it.'' Makoto chuckled at Hideki's expression and clapped him on the back. "It's like trying to force a flower to bloom. You can't rush it. It'll happen when it's ready. Just keep nurturing it, and one day you'll wake up to find it's opened up to you."

Hideki's shoulders relaxed slightly. He knew, deep down, that his mentor was right. Still, the uncertainty lingered.

"Take some time to think about the offer," Makoto said, sensing Hideki's internal struggle. "And in the meantime, don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing great, and everyone sees it. Trust in yourself as much as we trust in you." With that, Makoto gave Hideki a warm smile and excused himself, disappearing in a flash, not even bothering to wait for his answer.

"Show off," Hideki muttered, a small smile creeping onto his face. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his thoughts still jumbled from the unexpected conversation. ''I guess I'll think about it."

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

The first year's classroom was abuzz with whispered conversations as students settled into their seats, but all chatter ceased when Instructor Saito entered the room, his wise eyes reflecting years of experience in the field. Hideki, Yuna and Jun sat together near one of the classroom's tall windows, their eyes fixed on the instructor at the front of the room. The lesson had just begun, but their instructor was already discussing an interesting topic.

"Now," the instructor continued, his tone firm yet inviting, "we will delve into a subject that you all must understand deeply as future Shinigami— the nature of souls."

He paused, eyes scanning the room before continuing, "Most of you are familiar with Pluses, the benign ghosts found in the Human World. These are the spirits of those who have died, their connection to the living maintained through the Chain of Fate."

"When this chain is severed, the soul can no longer return to its body. Normally, we perform a ritual called Konsō to send Pluses to Soul Society before corrosion of the chain can occur. Failure to do so results in a Hollow." After a moment, the instructor's gaze sharpened, "Now, can anyone tell me about a lesser-known type of spirit in the Human World?"

The room fell silent, and Hideki felt a nudge in his ribs as Yuna elbowed him softly. She leaned over and whispered, "Come on, Hideki, you know this. We've been studying together for a reason."

Hideki's cheeks colored slightly, for all the attention he enjoyed during some of the other classes, he still wasn't as confident in anything relating to history, but he raised his hand nonetheless. "A Jibakurei, sir," he replied, his voice clear and steady. "A spirit bound to a specific place due to some regret. They can't leave as easily and are more vulnerable to Hollows."

"Very good, Fujioka," The instructor praised, his eyes twinkling. "There is yet another type, similar to Jibakurei, but bound not to a place but a person. Can anyone tell me what this soul is called?"

A silence fell over the room, the question stumping many. Finally, a hesitant voice, belonging to no other than Yuna, spoke up, "Is it Tsukirei, sir?"

"Yes, indeed!" The instructor's face lit up. "A Tsukirei is bound to a person, with the Chain of Fate wrapped around that individual. This binding by regret can make their transition to Soul Society more complex."

As the instructor moved on to the next part of the lesson, Jun leaned over, a mischievous grin on his face. "Careful there, Hideki. If you keep showing off like that, they'll start calling you 'Professor Fujioka' around here!"

Hideki shot Jun a mock glare, unable to suppress a smile. "And what's wrong with that? Better than being called 'Sword-Swinging Jun.'"

Yuna laughed, joining in on the teasing. "Or 'Waterlogged Jun,' considering where we always find him practicing."

Jun grinned, not missing a beat. "Hey, I'll take those titles with pride. Just you wait and see who's leading the way when it comes to the real action!" The trio broke out into a soft laughter, only to be cut short by a stern glare from their instructor, silencing them instantly as they hurried to pay attention.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

Hideki stood alone, surrounded by an abyss of darkness. The black void stretched infinitely in every direction, a silence so profound it was almost deafening. He could feel the chill in the air, the emptiness around him, but there was something else, something calling to him.

A voice, soft and distant, a whisper carried on an unseen breeze. It was feminine, gentle, but he couldn't place it. He turned, his eyes wide, straining to see through the blackness, but there was nothing—nothing but the voice.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice echoing strangely in the void. The voice laughed, a sound both beautiful and haunting. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Hideki's heart pounded in his chest, his skin tingling with goosebumps.

"What is this place?" he asked, his voice a little hesitant. He spun around, searching for something, anything, but all he found was pure blackness. ''What's going on?''

"You've finally made it," the voice answered, its tone playful, the laughter continued, growing louder, more insistent. A flicker of light appeared in the distance, a tiny spark in the sea of darkness. "Come to me," the voice urged.

Hideki took a step, then another, drawn to the light, to the voice. But something held him back, a strange resistance, like walking through thick mud or against a powerful wind. His feet felt heavy, his muscles strained, and every movement was a battle. 'What's this feeling...?' He thought.

Sweat dripped down his brow as he fought against the unseen force. He could see the light beckoning him, but it seemed to move further away with each struggling step. His heart pounded in his chest, frustration overcoming him. "I'm trying," he gasped, struggling against the unseen force. "I'm trying to reach you, but something's stopping me."

''You'll have me wait even more?'' The voice asked, its tone tinged with disappointment. "I have been waiting, but you have not come." It was those words that made him realize what was holding him back: his own reluctance. 'I want to meet her,' he realized, his jaw clenched. It was obvious now, how had he not realized? The voice belonged to his zanpakuto, the one that was supposed to be his partner, his companion, his guide.

"Stop hesitating," the voice replied, as though reading his thoughts. "Don't let your fears stand in the way of what you desire." Hideki gritted his teeth, pushing forward, willing himself to move. With each step, he could feel the resistance lessening, the blackness receding, the light growing brighter, just out of reach.

As Hideki fought against the weight holding him back, the light in the distance seemed to grow brighter and stronger. It was no longer just a flicker but a beacon calling out to him, pulling him forward. His fingertips reached out, straining to touch the light, feeling an inexplicable connection that drew him closer.

His breath became more ragged, his heart pounding against his chest, each beat echoing the urgency of his desire to connect with the light. The sensation was overwhelming, almost painful in its intensity, but he couldn't stop. The pull was too strong, the connection too profound. He felt a yearning deep within his soul, a need to understand and become one with the light.

With a final surge of effort, Hideki's fingertips just managed to brush against the brilliance. A shockwave of energy coursed through him, and the light shone brighter, consuming his senses. It was no longer merely a visual phenomenon but a force that resonated with every fiber of his being. He could feel it in his bones, hear it in his thoughts, taste it in the air.

The overwhelming brightness seemed to penetrate his very soul, filling him with warmth and understanding. It was a connection beyond words, a communion of spirits that transcended the physical world. For a moment, everything else fell away, and he was lost in the beauty and power of the light. The struggle, the frustration, the uncertainty—all of it was forgotten as he embraced the essence of his zanpakuto.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

Hideki awoke with a start, his breath coming in heavy, ragged gasps. Sweat covered his body, his clothes sticking to him like a second skin. For a moment, he was disoriented, lost in the lingering sensation of the dream. His heart thumped wildly in his chest as he sat up, eyes wide, trying to make sense of the world around him.

Slowly, he regained his breath, his gaze settling on the rumpled sheets beneath him. One hand rested against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. Despite having just woken up, he felt utterly drained, exhausted from the struggle within his dream. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and emotion.

Then, a sudden realization hit him. His eyes darted around the room, frantic, searching for something. Left, right, on top of the desk, sitting on the floor, his gaze swept everywhere, a growing sense of panic rising within him.

"Where...?" he muttered, his voice filled with urgency.

His search stopped as he felt something brush against his fingers resting on the mattress. Turning, he found himself staring at his sword at last, his golden irises shining with recognition. It was no longer just a plain asauchi, but his very own zanpakuto. Slightly longer than most katanas, thin, with a blue pattern on the hilt and a small complex knot hanging from the back of the hilt, equally as blue.

''...'' A huge smile spread across his face, relief flooding through him. His fingers gently brushed the hilt, a tender, almost reverent touch. "Welcome home," he whispered, his voice filled with warmth. He couldn't quite explain it himself, but he felt complete, as if a part of him had been missing all along.

Makoto's words echoed in his thoughts. "One day you'll wake up to find it's opened up to you," he had said, and now, at long last, his mentor's prediction had come true. His hands closed around the hilt, lifting the blade from its sheath, the metal gleaming in the early morning sunlight streaming through the window.

''Hello, beautiful.'' His smile grew even wider. Hideki held his newfound partner up in front of his face, admiring it for a few moments. He felt a connection with it, a bond, deeper and more profound than anything he had ever experienced before. ''You sure took your time, didn't you?''

End of chapter five.