10 Chapter ten: Stop posing!

Chapter ten.

''... And so, the brave hero saved the fair lady, Yumiko, and managed to vanquish the horde of villains, saving the day.'' Hideki spun his tale animatedly, his arms moving with dramatic flourish. "

''...'' Yumiko stared blankly, the corners of her mouth twitching, pinching the bridge of her nose as a couple of officers from Squad Six, who had been tasked with cleanup, exchanged looks. They were not used to dealing with students, let alone a student that was as... peculiar, as the one they were currently faced with.

''The mysterious cloaked individual, whose name shall forever remain unknown, was forced to flee, never to be seen again.'' Hideki continued his tale, his eyes gleaming, his audience coughing awkwardly, exchanging uncertain glances as a member of Squad Four finished his examinations, confirming the students were unharmed.

''Just ignore him, please.'' Yumiko sighed, shooting the squad members an apologetic look. ''I think he hit his head.''

''... Well, you kids have had a rough night, huh?'' The Soul Reaper spoke, a hint of sympathy in his voice, his gaze traveling over the destroyed surroundings. ''You two should return to the academy, we'll take it from here. You did well, kids, the two of you should be proud."

''Hmph! Such simple tasks are not a challenge for someone as capable as myself.'' Hideki boasted, a hint of pride in his voice, his hand moving to rest on his zanpakuto's hilt. ''I am, after all, Fujioka Hideki, the greatest—'' Yumiko's hand shot out, her fingers firmly pressing against his mouth, cutting off his words.

''Thank you for your help, officers. We appreciate it.'' The officer on the right nodded, stifling a laugh. ''I have no doubt you do, miss.'' He gave the students a respectful bow. ''Take care, and stay out of trouble, the two of you. You are free to return to the academy through the Senkaimon.''

''I think that's our cue, Fujioka.'' Yumiko said in between gritted teeth, grabbing her partner's arm, dragging him away before he could say anything else. "Thanks, and good luck with the cleanup!"

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

''You are no fun, Yumiko.'' Hideki pouted, the both of them emerging from the Senkaimon, their arrival unnoticed due to the late hour. ''That was my moment to shine. The spotlight was right there, and you dragged me away. That was not heroic at all."

''You're unbelievable.'' Yumiko groaned, rolling her eyes, as the two stepped out onto the grassy courtyard. ''Whatever, it's late. I'm going to go catch some sleep before morning classes, and I suggest you do the same. And, Fujioka...'' She looked him straight in the eye, her voice softening slightly. ''You were amazing back there. Truly.''

"Oh... Um... Yeah.'' Hideki blinked, caught off-guard by the sincerity in her words. "I-I mean, it was nothing, really." He coughed awkwardly, glancing away, heartfelt compliments were his one true weakness! "... Thanks, Yumiko. Good night."

"Yeah... Goodnight, Fujioka." Yumiko gave him a wave, her silhouette vanishing into the distance. Hideki lingered, a light breeze brushing past him, rustling his still damp hair. His hand landed on his zanpakuto's hilt, his thumb caressing the sheath.

''...'' A shudder ran down his spine as he felt the need to sneeze, the cool wind making him shiver. His uniform, drenched from the rain, had long since started to feel uncomfortable. ''Aah, damn...'' He groaned, managing to supress the sneeze. ''This is the worst. I should get out of these clothes and take a bath...''

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

''You can't be serious.'' Jun fell to his knees, his hands gripping his head in despair. ''You fought what? A whole horde of hollows? And I was stuck here, reading... studying...'' The more he spoke, the closer to the ground he sunk, his face buried in the grass, a pitiful groan escaping his throat. ''It's not fair, Yuna... It's not fair!''

''There, there.'' Yuna's voice was dripping with sarcasm, patting his back as Hideki posed, recounting his epic tale. ''Don't worry. Just keep reading. Keep studying. Eventually, you'll be able to wipe out a horde of hollows on your own."

"You are not helping." Jun moaned, his voice muffled. The trio was at their usual spot, the three of them sprawled out on the grass near the river, the sky a bright blue, the air crisp and fresh. ''Why do I always have to do the boring stuff while he gets all the action...'' A lone tear trickled down his cheek, the grass soaking up his woe.

''I'ts not all that bad, Jun. It could be worse, I mean, look at him.'' Yuna motioned at their friend, who was posing heroically, his fingers touching the tip of his nose. ''He's still posing. I'm not sure whether to be amused or embarrassed."

''Jealousy is such an ugly emotion, Yuna.'' Hideki chuckled, a smug smile on his face. ''But I'm not mad, really. It's understandable. After all, it must be hard to deal with my awesomeness."

''I pity your zanpakuto spirit.'' Yuna rolled her eyes, the corners of her lips twitching, threatening to curl up. "Having to deal with a soul as annoying as yours, day in and day out... Maybe that's why it still hasn't told you its name."

''I'll have you know, my zanpakuto and I have a special relationship." He spoke, though his confidence was wavering. ''We understand each other better than even the most intimate of lovers.''

"You don't even know its name."

"It's complicated!"

''... Still.'' Yuna said, helping Jun up from the grass, his expression still miserable. ''What's up with that? With how fast you managed to imprint the essence of your soul into an asauchi, I figured your zanpakuto would tell you its name by now.''

''Hah, well, you know, that's... um, not the case.'' Hideki's confident smirk faltered, his lips forming a thin line. ''She's, uh... Not ready yet, so... yeah, it's a process, so, haha, it'll come in due time. I mean, it's not like I'm pressuring her or anything, I mean, uh, he, or... um... you know. It's all about bonding, and trust and, you know, all that stuff...''

''It's giving you the silent treatment, isn't it?'' Jun chuckled, wiping the grass from his uniform, his mood lifting a bit.

''I wish.'' Hideki replied, his teeth grinding together, his expression one of irritation as he recalled a particularly unpleasant memory. ''I don't know what's her problem, whenever see each other face to face, she just can't stop messing with me! The first time I asked her name, she laughed and just struck a pose! What's the deal with that!?''

''A match made in heaven, truly.'' Jun whispered, low enough for only Yuna to hear, the girl's shoulders shaking with laughter. ''You two are perfecto for each other.''

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

''Lieutenant Aizen.'' A familiar voice greeted the brown-haired man, who had been enjoying the peace and quiet, a book in his hands, a cup of steaming tea placed next to him. He sat in a spacious room inside the academy, one which had been granted to him to spend his time at as he pleased, should he wish to.

Aizen was seated in the office which had been granted for his use whenever he was around the academy. It was a spacious room, its walls were adorned with various bookshelves and a single window, offering a view of the academy grounds.

''Oh...?'' Aizen glanced up from his book, his lips curling into a welcoming smile. Hideki stood before him, his hair far less orderly than usual, a testament to the long and trying day. ''Can't say I expected to see you this early. Not after the news I heard from your latest patrol in the World of the Living.''

''You heard about that, huh?'' Hideki rubbed the back of his head, a soft smile present on his face.

''I take it you had fun, hm?'' Aizen's gaze was warm, his voice gentle. ''Please, sit. I can tell you have a lot in your mind, don't worry, I've got time." Hideki didn't even attempt to deny his claims, plopping down onto a nearby chair. "Care for a cup of tea?''

"I think I'll pass on the tea." Hideki's answer came out a tad rushed, his thoughts were all over the place. He shifted his attention to Aizen, who was watching him intently, a calm smile on his lips.

''I have been thinking about your offer, Lieutenant. You know, the one where you said you'll offer me a seated position after graduation.'' Hideki's tone was firm, and despite his earlier hesitation, he looked up, meeting Aizen's gaze, the resolve in his eyes clear. ''I will accept it, should it still be on the table."

''Oh, it is.'' Aizen's lips spread into a knowing smile, the man placing his book down. ''I'm glad you have given it serious thought. You have my word, the spot is yours, should you graduate and pass the graduation exam. I'm sure my captain will be overjoyed to see a talent such as yourself joining the ranks of his squad.''

''Right, the Captain of Squad Five...'' Hideki muttered, almost as if he had forgotten there was someone above the lieutenant himself. ''Hirako Shinji, right? What's he like, if you don't mind me asking?''

''What's he like...?'' Aizen repeated his question, his expression thoughtful. "He's an interesting man, I have to admit. But I don't think it would be proper for me to talk too much about my captain behind his back, even if it's to praise him."

''Fair enough...'' Hideki muttered, leaning back in his chair, his gaze trailing toward the window. ''There's also another thing, Lieutenant Aizen. It's in regards to my zanpakuto, actually."

''Oh...? Do tell, is something wrong?"

"Not... exactly." Hideki's hand reached for the hilt of his sword, a sensation of warmth radiating from his chest, causing him to pause. "I'll be graduating in, what, a couple of months? But no matter how much I meditate or train, I haven't been able to learn its name. I know there are many soul reapers who graduate from the academy without knowing the name, but..."

''... It's bothering you, is it?'' Aizen inquired, his gaze traveling over the boy, noting the unease in his body language. "Shikai, Bankai... There is a reason those things are earned, not simply attained. Your sword has not judged you worthy yet. That being said, a zanpakuto's release is a very personal experience, and it's different for everyone."

"That's... true, I guess." Hideki admitted, his thoughts racing. For someone like him, who wanted nothing but to stand out and be the best, his own sword's refusal to open up to him and acknowledge him was, understandably, quite a sore point. ''There must be something I'm doing wrong, a step I'm missing. Maybe the way I meditate, or the way I train?''

''You have practiced Jinzen, have you not?'' Aizen asked, his gaze curious, and the boy, nodding in affirmation, he continued. ''And you are able to enter your inner world, correct?'' Another nod. ''Then it's not a problem with your skill, or technique. No, the issue lies with the bond between you and your zanpakuto.''

''Our bond, huh...?'' Hideki frowned, his grip on his zanpakuto tightening. "I mean, she's quite talkative, but half of the time she's just rambling on and on about how awesome and beautiful she is, and the other half she's napping. And when she's not doing that, she's making jokes or trying to get me to compliment her... So infuriating...!''

''...'' Aizen just stared, the silence hanging in the air. After a moment, he cleared his throat, his hand reaching up, fixing his glasses, which had begun to slide down the bridge of his nose. "It is well documented that zanpakuto spirit's often take some of their traits from their master's personality. Perhaps you should try a different approach? Being so confrontational might not be the best route."

'Ugh... Am I like that...?' Hideki thought, the corners of his mouth twitching, his thoughts about his zanpakuto's behaviour overlapping with his own, a drop of sweat running down his cheek. I'm not... that bad, right? Right...?' His lips pressed into a thin line, the boy's fingers tracing the hilt of his zanpakuto, his gaze shifting.

Then he paused, a thought occurring to him. If it was indeed true, and his zanpakuto really did share his personality, then her over-the-top ego might actually be a defense mechanism, sort of like... his own. A front, one might say, meant to mask her need to feel accepted and praised.

'Fuck, this is depressing.' Hideki let out a deep sigh. 'Am I that desperate for praise?' Hideki shook his head, a frown creeping up onto his face, his fingers tracing his blade's hilt. He let out a deep breath, his grip tightening, unsheating the weapon, and as the blade left the scabbard, he sat on the floor, adopting an all too familiar position to meditate.

''Excuse me for a minute, Lieutenant Aizen.'' Hideki said, placing his zanpakuto on top of his lap, one hand resting on the hilt, the other on the blade. "This won't take long.''

Aizen smiled, reaching for his tea, taking a slow sip, ''By all means, please do.'' Without a word, the boy closed his eyes, focusing his mind, his thoughts trailing toward his inner world as his consciousness sank, his surroundings blurring, the sound of the gentle trickle of a waterfall filling his ears.

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

The world around him shifted in a heartbeat. He was back in his Inner World, the familiar ashen ground beneath his feet. Before him stood a forest, one of flames, trees with bright blue fiery leaves lighting up the surroundings. The gentle glow of the fire made the place feel alive, even if a little eerie.

Above, strange lakes floated, as if the sky had decided to hold the water instead, elements coming together and melding in an impossible, yet mesmerizing way. Mist, no, clouds, were drifting around the ground, a few rays of light penetrating them, giving the whole place an almost otherworldly feel.

''This place is as strange as ever, huh...?'' Hideki spoke out loud, his words disappearing in the void.

''You are free to leave, you know, I will not stop you.'' A soft voice replied, the tone playful, laced with a hint of amusement. Turning around, and just like every time he was here, his zanpakuto, a tall, beautiful woman, sat atop a pile of rocks, it made for an uncomfortable sight, but the rocks seemed to bend to accommodate her, not even a single one out of place.

''Yeah, yeah, I know the drill.'' Hideki sighed, rolling his eyes, the sight of her never growing old. Her white hair, which reached down to her waist, swayed in the wind, her silver eyes gazing down at him, a faint hint of curiosity visible. Her outfit was, well, unique. She wore a sleeveless kimono, it's edges changing color every so often, shifting from light blue, to a deep orange, to a dark crimson, and back.

''Are you done gawking?'' Her lips twitched, the hint of a smirk appearing on her face, her tone teasing. "I appreciate the attention, and it's only natural that you admire me, I am quite stunning, after all, but please, save it for another time."

'I totally sound like her, damn...' Hideki shook his head, a small, albeit strained, smile appearing on his face. 'I guess she does match my own personality. I'll have to thank Lieutenant Aizen for pointing it out to me.'

''Alright, listen up.'' Hideki started, his words catching his zanpakuto's attention. ''I think...'' He paused, his heart hammering in his chest. This was a new thing for him, something he'd never tried before, not with her. Sucking up to her would be a mistake, and outright ignoring her, well, knowing himself, that wouldn't end up too well either.

Their problem was always the same, each time the two of them would meet, the conversation would always devolve into an argument, one of them would pick a fight, and then it would all escalate. Two personalities that were far too similar for their own good, clashing, neither willing to back down.

''I know I can be an insufferable ego-maniac, and, okay, yes, I love to flaunt, and show off, and boast. And yeah, okay, maybe I do want to stand out and be the center of attention.'' He scratched his cheek, a bead of sweat rolling down his neck the more he spoke. ''I can't promise I'll change, and I'm not really planning to, but...''

''This is the weirdest apology ever.'' His zanpakuto blinked.

''I'm not apologizing!'' Hideki's tone rose, his hand waving dismissively. ''I'm simply saying, if you're the same as I am, our personalities are bound to clash, and I think it's better if we find a compromise, one where you stop bragging every time we meet, and one where I start... trying not to... be such a... a jerk...''

''Fine.''

''What...?'' Hideki blinked, not sure he'd heard her right. ''Wait, seriously? Just like that?''

''You want me to make it more difficult?'' His zanpakuto shrugged, a coy smile appearing on her lips. "I could do with some praise, if that's what you're offering, though. I am the greatest, after all."

''... I think I'll pass.'' Hideki grimaced, the last thing he needed was to feed her ego after the two of them had come to an understanding. ''Now, will you tell me your name already?''

Her expression shifted into a pout. "So demanding, you haven't even asked nicely. I was hoping for a please, and maybe a—''

''Please...'' Hideki said, his eyes narrowing, his lips pressing into a thin line. ''... Will you tell me your name, now?"

''Well, since you asked so nicely.'' She shrugged, stretching her legs, a mischievous grin on her face. "Very well, I, the most beautiful, amazing, strongest, talented—''

'Here we go again.' Hideki suppressed the urge to groan, his foot tapping the ground impatiently.

''—Majestic, awe-inspiring, lovely, charming, and most importantly, the one and only—''

''Just tell me already, damn it!" Hideki snapped.

''Hmph, rude.'' She crossed her arms, her smile still present. "Fine, fine, I was getting to it. I'm...''

End of chapter ten.