Provident Fall

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Fri Jun 26, 2020 6:42 pm

[Set October 13th, 1947]

The dream came to him again last night. His hands shook in the water basin as he washed his face, trying to scrub the memory of Nao’s horrified look out of his mind. It didn’t work. He looked back up to see himself in the mirror. Eyes couldn’t meet eyes. Shame, or something else stabbed at him, but at least he couldn’t see the burns anymore. Restorative kaido had regrown his hair and covered the burns on the back of his head, but it would do nothing to help his pride.

The twisted scars on his back weren’t as easy to restore. Shards of the bakudo melted and mixed with the destructive force of the hado as the explosion had slammed into him. It was hard for him to put on his robes alone, but he insisted. The flesh stretched and he felt a tingling burn run up his back. He used the pain to remember, so he would never make the same mistake again. With the little he had in his proverbial prison, remembering the pain he caused Nao was nearly a ritual to him. That was the least he could do for the woman he’d never see again. He tied his belt, put on his slippers, and left the room.

He walked through the family estate to a building near the gate where many of the Akimoto House entertained guests. Harsh red leaves fell around him from the tall trees watching over the Akimoto Estate. Autumn breezes blew out across the Rukongai bringing a chill to the air and casting the red across every path. Of course, the servants in the estate made sure to keep them clear. Each leaf seemed perfectly placed to Tetsuya. The dying of the summer heat matched the dying of Tetsuya’s own drives. He held no excitement for today’s activities.

Tetsuya had insisted it wasn’t necessary, but his parents called for a familiar face from the Hatayama House to come tutor him. The nobleman suspected his parents were conflicted. They wished to protect him and hide him away from any dangers in the world, but he grew sullen over the years with no one beyond his cousins to interact with. As much as he didn’t want to see anyone, his parents never took no for an answer, so he walked to the room where his guest was waiting while he contemplated ways to escape the afternoon's activities.

Voices drifted out of the room. The young lord expected not to see his parents today, but he had already spied one of his mother’s handmaidens following him. It would be a long day, and he hoped his guest was only chatting with a servant. After only a single knock, he slid open the door and with the formality becoming his station, Tetsuya bowed and said, “Greetings, Hatayama Zenji. It’s good to see you again. I’m looking forward to our lesson today.”

by **Zenji Hatayama** Fri Jun 26, 2020 7:02 pm

It was indeed a servant, a maid in fact, that the Head of Clan Hatayama was chatting with upon his friends arrival. He was regalling the young, and admittedly pretty, girl with exaggerated tales of Tetsuya’s youth. Any other Lord might have been flirting with the peasant girl in hopes of taking advantage of her but anyone who knew Zenji knew better. He was simply having fun making this stranger, who had started off being so nervous around him, laugh without worry. Zenji’s smile broadened as he turned to see the young Lord’s Entrance.

He was pleased to see Tetsuya, more than pleased, Zenji had never had many close friends. Oh he had the freedom to make them, unlike the son of the Akimoto, but he simply hadn’t the skill. A mixture of his rigid formality with his peers and his higher social status had formed a gap that he hadn’t ever been able to bridge. Meanwhile most other Noble Clans had little interest in the Hatayama who they saw as strange religious fanatics, that is unless they were begging for a Kido Expert or access to their Library.

So it was that his friendship with Tetsuya was one of the few that he could really count on. It was the reason he was here after all. When the courier had arrived at the Hatayama Estate with the request Zenji had decided to respond personally. He had spoken with Tetsuya’s mother and had assured her that he would be most careful with any lesson he provided. Zenji had never known the Master and Mistress of the Akimoto Family very well, they had been his father’s friends, but the friendship between their two families was enough that the concerned woman had seemed somewhat put at ease by his assurances.

Standing Zenji had to fight the urge to hug the other man and refer to him by ‘Tet’, an old nickname from a less troubled time. He didn’t know the specifics of the event that had hurt his friend so but knew that it involved a mistake whilst attempting to control rather potent Demon Arts although whether it was Tetsuya who had caused it or the unnamed accomplice he had no idea. It had been 12 years ago but the wounds had been so severe that even now Zenji didn’t have the courage to breach the topic. Physically, of course, he seemed healed but it wasn’t physical injuries that Zenji suspected still troubled his friend. Something more than a simple miscast had happened. Maybe the accomplice had been a friend and maybe that friend hadn’t survived? Truly he had no idea and because he didn’t know he couldn’t really help.

So, instead, Zenji bowed in return. Technically Zenji, as the Head of his Clan, stood higher than Tetsuya but the bow was of one equal to another. He wasn’t one to let silly things such as titles get in the way of friendship.

“Lord Akimoto. It’s wonderful to see you again. I shall do my best I can with my humble skillset”

Glancing at the maid he saw the woman was standing stiffly, bright red, perhaps ashamed or even terrified at being caught laughing at the stories. Well the Akimoto were a bit on the more severe side in Zenji’s opinion. Leaning over to her he thanked the girl and told her she should probably be on her way. Leaping at the opportunity she bowed to the two nobles and retreated as swiftly as possible.

Zenji smiled faintly at her retreating figure. Commoners could be so amusing at times.

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:31 pm

“What is it that you have planned for us today? I don’t wish to take up more of your time than I have to,” Tetsuya said with a forced light tone to his baritone voice. He suspected his stoic ruse was easy to see through. He was so focused on the fellow noble, that he didn’t notice the servant blushing red and sneaking out of the quiet waiting room.

His scar itched as a quiet part flared annoyance at his own stiff posture.

He entered the room and closed the door with a hope that it would ward off his mother’s tail. He was too distracted to think of his parents beyond that. Ever since that day at the Academy, he hadn’t cast any Kido. Not even a simple fire incantation or binding spell. Today, he would be expected to weave and enchant the spiritual energy inside of him and the thought of channeling reiryoku out from his internal wellspring turned his stomach and soured his mood. It was already rotten, but the reminder of what they would do today made it worse, like mildew on rice.

Instead of dwelling on what was to come, he looked to Lord Hatayama. An old friend, though, Tetsuya would barely consider him that. Even though he was a noble, Tetsuya’s parents were still adverse to him meeting with anyone else when he was younger unless it was for tutoring or networking. So they had only met a handful of times before Tetsuya had convinced his parents to let him join the Academy.

Of course, Hatayama House was well known for their expertise in Kido and many of Tetsuya’s tutors were from the esteemed noble line. Lord Hatayama was the head of his own house and that in itself held prestige. Tetsuya should be honored that the Lord would take time out of his day to train him, but he found that he didn’t care about lofty titles or honorable gestures. He just hoped the man would forgive him for his stiff, sour attitude on such a lovely autumn afternoon.

by **Zenji Hatayama** Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:43 pm

“Oh it’s hardly as if my time is that precious.” he said offhandedly with a warm smile. “The exciting paperwork of the Third can await my return I’m sure.” he said with a shrug. Ending up in the Kido Division, giving his history, was inevitable. However due to the length of time it had been since Zenji graduated the Academy combined with his rather subpar grades in the more combative courses it had been decided that he was best in a support role. After a few years that had slid into a paperwork role. Given a few decades he had proven himself to be a superb administrator and, as such, they had shoved him into a new role. Now he was handling the majority of the reporting flow within the Division. One way or another most AARs, EUDAs, Cases, Requisition Forms along with other reports or pieces of data would eventually come his way.

“Your mother wanted us to go over theoretical applications of low level barriers today.” he stated absently, pausing to sip on his tea. Only partially true. Lady Akimoto had been quite insistent that Zenji provide a suitable topic for her “fragile little boy”. Irritated by the overprotective woman he’d suggested the most innocuous thing he could think of.

Setting aside the cup of tea that had been prepared for him the man glanced out the window. “Beautiful day isn’t it?” he said innocently. “Shall we take a walk?”

Zenji didn’t like to deceive the mother of his oldest friend but he certainly wasn’t going to waste his best friend's time with such nonsense. There were plenty of useful, non-dangerous, Kido he could teach the younger man. So they would just have to get to that. “Perhaps somewhere quiet?” he added with a smile.

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:24 pm

”A walk?” Tetsuya’s hesitation was plain in his voice. He stepped back, against the sliding door, caught in between a rock and a hard place. His mind was split between the prospect of his parent’s spying on him and the tedium of introductory bakudo. The cloud of judgement that his parents cast over him was ever present when it came to his Kido studies. They were obviously disappointed he hasn’t cast anything since being forced into graduation from the Academy. It would please them to no end to see him using the archaic art.

A rebellious part of him didn’t want to cast ever again to spite them. Part of him blamed them for what happened. It was because of them and his Akimoto namesake that he was forced to graduate early. It was because of them that he would never see Nao or hear her sweet, shy laugh again. It was because of them he knew every floor board in every room in every building of the whole Akimoto Estate. To find a quiet place was easy, but it would only be quiet on the surface. Underneath, through the bushes, there would be a servant watching. His parents were everywhere.

The young lord saw no way out of Lord Hatayama’s proposition. He decided to be plain with his once friend. With a stiff back, Tetsuya stepped forward and bowed at the man and said, “Yes, very well. I know a few quiet places, but I suspect we won’t be alone wherever we go on the estate.”

by **Zenji Hatayama** Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:37 pm

Tapping his finger against his lip Zenji considered the situation for a moment. He wanted to get the young man away from his parents for a moment, even if just a short respite, to properly give him a chance to use Kido again. He had been such an enthusiastic neonate of the Demon Arts only a few decades ago. He hoped, one day, his friend would open up to him about what had changed so much. This Tetsuya was a pale, sad, reflection of the bright young man Zenji remembered. He hoped he would one day resurface but who knew? He could only pray for his friend, as he always did.

“Excellent. Well then let us start your lesson here.” he stated with a smile. “If one where to ever need to get away from, say, spies.”

Pressing his hands together, as if in prayer, Zenji bowed his head slightly. “Closed eyes. Blinded eyes. Take light and throw it aside. Unseen. Unknown. Scatter to the winds. Bakudō #26. Kyokkō” he said simply. The air around the Shinigami twisted and turned. Then, as if a blanket was being drawn over him, the Lord of the Hatayama simply vanished.

After a few moments he chuckled. The sound was as clear as if he was still standing right before Tetsuya which, of course, he was. “This spell is particularly useful for such times. It bends light around the caster, making their physical form invisible but just as usefully it also masks their Reiatsu.” Zenji explained. He had no idea if Tetsuya knew this one, it wasn’t typically taught at the academy and in his experience most active Soul Reapers didn’t appear to be familiar with it. “Particularly useful if one needs to move around the battlefield unseen to, say, lay traps. However, it is just as useful if one is trying to avoid other problems.” he added a little vagey. Zenji himself had used it more than once to dodge intrusive relatives at his own estate. “Of course it doesn’t mask sound.”

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:33 pm

It was a recognizable incantation. As the words danced the reiryoku up and out of Lord Hatayama, his form bent and an iridescent sheen shimmered across him like a blanket. Tetsuya stepped forward as the Kido master spoke and wove the intricate reflection across his body. To the naked eye, the man was invisible. The young lord suspected his parents might be able to pry through one of his bakudo, but Lord Hatayama’s design was impenetrable. Tetsuya studied it and felt what he could of the spell as his own reiryoku built inside of him.

Nerves buzzed as the energy surged within him for the first time in a dozen years. Like muscles atrophied without use, he felt himself strain like someone new to the art. The energy flowed easily, though, and he began to speak as the energy wove itself around him. Layer upon layer, the weaved energy mimicked the Lord's as closely as Tetsuya's rusty mystic skill would allow. He said, “Closed eyes. Blinded eyes. Take light and throw it aside. Unseen. Unknown. Scatter to the winds. Bakudō #26. Kyokkō.”

Just as Lord Hatayama had disappeared, Tetsuya’s own figure was displaced underneath a blanket of his own reiryoku. Not as precise and masterful as the Lord, but it would convince most shinigami that nothing was there. The energy readily flowed out of him, as if it had been waiting all that time to burst forth. He missed the feeling of the power. And with the eagerness of a new student, he said, “I remember the next one.”

“Silence, black dog of Rondaniini, Listen to your words and slit your own throat! Bakudo #28, Oudanmari,” he said in an invisible, calm voice. The baritone pushed his energy outward, filling the space around the two shinigami and buffering the sounds that spilled in from the windows. Like the numbing of an arm, a tingled silence replaced any and all sound. Tetsuya could hear a high pitch ring in his right ear, something he only heard when it was very quiet. And the thumping of his excited heart filled his ears as well. When he spoke again there was a strange fuzz to his words and he almost sounded sarcastic. He said, “Do you use this often, Lord Hatayama?”

by **Zenji Hatayama** Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:07 am

Nodding with pleasure Zenji smiled to himself feeling pleased to see Tetsuya weave his Reiryoku into a blanket of invisibility. It wasn’t perfect but it was close enough, and better than most, which was better than he had hoped for considering how long ago it was since his friend had been a frequent practitioner of the Demon Arts. The main point of interest was that Tetsuya’s energy still flowed freely at his command, if it had been a stuttering and uneven burst then any attempts to get the young man back into the ways of Kido might have been more difficult. As things stood it seemed that any lessons would go smoothly enough.

More than that he continued to spin out new magics, Reiryoku flooding their surroundings, as he wove a sort of barrier around them both. This spell would work for them the two Lords and, before long, their voices were both cloaked by the Binding Spell. Many considered Bakudo to be supplementary to the “main” focus of studying on Hado but in Zenjis experience it was the Way of Binding that turned out to be the more useful branch of the Demons to the expert Kido practitioner.

The usual, unnatural, silence had settled over the Lords Hatayama and Akimoto. The silence was so complete that his own breathing, as well as his friends, was practically startling in their sudden intensity. When Tetsuya finally spoke Zenji nearly leapt out of his skin, he wasn’t used to wearing this warding spell in the presence of others.

“Well you’ve met my Clan.” he responded with the dry retort only shared between friends “Sometimes instead of praising the Soul King, one wants to simply have a few minutes of silence to themselves.” he noted.

Zenji was, of course, a deeply religious man but he was also a rather openly passive and inactive Nobleman of the Seireitei. Whilst he would fulfil all the duties suspected of the Lord of his esteemed Clan and he would dedicated hours a day to studying the Mystical Paths, Zenji also tended to put in the least amount of effort to other aristocratic affairs as well as simply floating by doing as little as possible within the Gotei.

“So, lead the way my friend.”

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:11 pm

Tetsuya felt a confidence under the invisible web of reiryoku that he normally only tasted. As much a captor as a resident, the estate left little for him to enjoy with the ever present eyes of the servants around him. Before he even thought of what it might look like, he opened the sliding door. Realization dawned on him, but it was too late. Anyone watching who couldn’t pierce their Kido would be confused to see an empty room and a self-sliding door.

Zenji Hatayama and Tetsuya both left the room onto the patio outside. With the door shut, he only hoped no one caught on that they were sneaking off from their designated room. His parent’s wouldn’t be that happy to know they were wandering. The two of them walked along in the strange empty silence, even their footsteps not making noise. The path along the edge of the buildings was wooden slats that were soft underfoot. Tetuya's wooden sandals normally clacked against the wood, but no noise broke through their barrier.

They were heading through the estate to Tetsuya’s favorite spot. He used to sneak behind the cherry tree to read or practice some of the mystic art when he was a child. The hum of his woven spells were a welcomed distraction as he continued to let his reiryoku flow into the intricate designed blanket. Kido must be in the Akimoto blood, because all of these years without it didn’t compare to these first moments as he let it envelope him as he once did. As they stepped off the porch and onto a stone path, Tetsuya asked, “What is it you intend for us to do, Lord Hatayama?”

by **Zenji Hatayama** Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:10 pm

He followed his friend in relative silence however he did take the opportunity to observe the rather elegant decor of the Akimoto home as they walked unnoticed through the Estate’s halls. He had always felt too rushed while being escorted by the Clan’s servants to really allow himself to enjoy it. He almost paused at one particularly beautiful brushwork painting of what appeared to be a reimagining of an ancient Shinigami encounter, perhaps in dedication to a family ancestor, but remembering the barrier containing the sound he made, the Soul Reaper quickly sped up to move apace with his young friend.

Once they reached the outside Zenji smiled at Tetsuya, despite the illusion making it impossible for the other man to see his expression, before responding. “Well that all depends. The Lady Akimoto wants us to tackle low level Bakudo but we’ve already stepped beyond that.” he told him with a tone of amusement. “So we could instead look at some high level Binding Spells or, if you prefer, we can look into something a little more lively.”

In truth his only real goal was to get Tetsuya spinning and weaving Reiryoku again. The man had a gift that Zenji greatly respected and he wanted to make sure he didn’t give up on it. Whatever had happened during the incident all those years ago had severely crippled his advancement in the Demon Arts.

So if that took a simple lesson, a more advanced demonstration or even sparring then that was what Zenji would do. “Regardless we’ll probably need somewhere where your family won’t notice us, as long as it’s out of the way we can put a barrier up so as to not get noticed.” pausing for a few moments he added. “So lead on.”

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Fri Jul 17, 2020 12:05 pm

”This should do,” Tetsuya said in a quiet voice, despite himself. The stone path wandered across the field in the center of the Akimoto Estate until it came upon a lush garden. A sparkling pond lay in quiet solitude under a reaching cherry tree. There was a large enough space for the two of them to practice, or train, or even spar. Though, Tetsuya wasn’t sure he was up for that. He continued to speak as he turned back to his companion, and said, “I used to come here before my academy days to sneak away from my parents. There are enough trees for us to stay hidden and enough space for us to practice. But, I would be more confident working inside a barrier woven by you.”

As excited as the first cast had made him, Tetsuya was wholly aware of the rust that accumulated over a dozen years of inactivity. Kido was an artform that rewarded those who dedicated themselves to it. Before his incident at the academy, he would spend an hour a day, at least, focused on memorizing rotes and honing delivery. The entire mystic art took most shinigami centuries to learn and master. Not one to shy away from the truth, Tetsuya said as much, “My skills are a decade out of practice and you have much to teach me. I’d love a demonstration to begin.”

His smile was invisible and his sarcasm was dry. On and on, the longer the two shinigami were together, the more Tetsuya felt comfortable. Stiff shoulders and a stiff neck relaxed from years of being on edge and ready to justify his existence to his parents. In this shroud, he was able to hide away from the world especially with the knowledge that his companion was just as wishful in wanting privacy. If Zenji Hatayama could weave a strong enough barrier, then maybe the two of them could hide away for hours before anyone found them.

It was a spark of hope that warmed Tetsuya’s cold heart.

by **Zenji Hatayama** Fri Jul 17, 2020 1:53 pm

“Not that out of practice, hmm?” came the response of the invisible smirking Zenji. Glancing around the area the Shinigami observed their immediate area before nodding. The area was open and large enough for whatever they needed. “Well I’d best get to it then before I disappoint.” he added in a joking tone.

Clapping his hands together Zenji took a deep breath as his Reiatsu, hidden by Kyokko, began to rise. Luckily this spell, one Zenji created decades ago, was an advanced modification of Kyokko and Oudanmari.

“The four towers stand tall, the four walls stand strong. Blind Eyes. Confound Minds. Turn Away Souls. Slit throats. Defend within. Reject Without.” he said powerfully in a steady voice as the barrier wove around them, encompassing the entire courtyard, the orange light building the outline of a fortress around them.

“Kakushi Toride.”

The orange outline of the fortress remained to those within but outside it the courtyard was empty. Zenji let out a breath as his Kyokko was dismissed and he smiled at the Masterful Bakudo he’d performed.

“My own creation.” he explained. “It hides those within, contains any sound they make, mutes their Reiatsu and turns away those who approach. No Spell or Blade in existence can penetrate this barrier so I imagine we are quite safe.” he said with a wicked smile. “Ah… but don’t tell anyone about this one. It walks the line along what is allowed and what is not by Seiretei law. Not a forbidden art but one that the Gotei would find uncomfortable to find out exists.” he explained.

Of course in the hands of the nobility like Zenji and Tetsuya there should be no question about the legality as only criminals would abuse this power. However the Gotei could be rather close minded about such things.

Smiling Zenji tapped his staff on the ground. “So what sort of education are we in the mood for today Lord Akimoto?” he asked with a warm grin that belied the formality of his words.

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:28 am

As the fortress draped an orange hue across their secluded space, Tetsuya allowed his woven Kido to fall away. The reiryoku was not draining from the wellspring within him anymore, but it wasn’t a pleasant emptiness. There was a comfort to the ever-present pull. When he was at the academy, he practiced a daily morning ritual to weave simple, useful spells around his spirit. Throughout his day there would always be a tug somewhere within him. The nostalgia from the past was a distraction in itself, but Tetsuya was all too aware of his past dragons that lurked if he lingered in memory too long.

He focused himself on the man’s grandiose Kido. The fortress was stark and rigid; it was as if every brick was laid with the care of a master; it was as if Zenji Hatayama’s soul was blazing across their arena. And Tetsuya found the man with a grin as his Kyokko fell away. The Lord of the Hatayama Clan displayed such a cool elegance that Tetsuya himself couldn’t help but relax. He held himself as if he was beholden to no one and no thing.

Tetsuya envied that.

When he took a breath, he felt how tense his back was. The words of his parents echoed in his mind: Stand up straight. He felt his hands clasped meekly in front of himself; Always be courteous. And his mind was still on alert for any servants who might be watching. He already spotted two. The barrier did much to dissuade those fears, but they still remained. His parents were not at the same level of Zenji Hatayama, but the trail of Kido would eventually be found.

Despite himself, he laughed at the absurd events that were taking place. He said in his calm baritone, “After the incident at the Suzumei Estate, I stopped going to noble gatherings. That was three years ago, or more, now. This has been more entertainment than I’ve had in quite a while. So, I’ll be grateful for whatever you have to show me, lord.”

by **Zenji Hatayama** Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:47 pm

“Incident?” Zenji echoed with a faint frown as he attempted to recall the event himself, ultimately failing, the Hatayama had never been very close to the majority of Aristocratic affairs and Zenji was even less so than his father had been.

“Hmm...” he tilted his head slightly before smiling. “Well then we make a good pair. You know I’ve never attended such things despite the invitations. We Hatayama float above such petty noble nonsense.” he added in a tone that could only be described as a mockery of their more foppish peers. Grinning slightly he shrugged. “I find my studies are more than entertaining enough.”

Not only study of the Demon Arts of course but also the wider realm of mysticality as well as theological study along with historical readings and then conducting events at the Family Shrine. He also had the continuous training of his Clan’s Branch Members in the lesser Kidō that they were capable of with their limited reiryoku.

Clasping his hands behind his back he walked to the edge of the barrier and pressed a finger against it, the barrier hissing as he did so and he pulled his hand back slowly with a satisfied nod. It seemed to be strong and properly placed. Good.

Turning back to Tetsuya he tapped a finger against his chin before grinning. “Well this is your entertainment my friend. What would be more fun for you? Bakudo? Hado? Or perhaps a little light sparring?”

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Sat Aug 01, 2020 9:24 am

The hiss of bakudo was a nostalgic sound that reminded Tetsuya of the Academy. For a striking moment, he felt as if he was back in a grassy field practicing with his fellow shinigami students. Over and over, they would take turns to lob crudely constructed hado at each other. The other student would defend themselves with a makeshift barrier of bakudo formed by their nubile reiryoku. As the hado crashed into the barrier, the two clashing energies would hiss and sizzle before both burst into a vibrant display of electric energy.

“A little of all the demon arts, for sure. But fun isn’t a contempt I have much practice with, unfortunately,” Tetsuya said, returning to the present as the noble lord wandered back over to him. He was still stiff and stationary, but his face held a constant grin despite himself. The vibe Zenji Hatayama exuded was slowly breaking down the defenses Tetsuya built around himself after so much time alone. He continued and said, “It would be fun to cast something together or learn some of your lesser known secrets, but maybe I do need a trial by combat."

He stepped back, away from the other shinigami, towards an edge of the barrier they were hidden within. As he took his place for whatever sort of duel they would have, he said, “As much as I’d like to be here all day learning from you, I don’t think my parents will suffer an invisible lord stealing away their child for long. Do go easy on me, but don’t expect the same from me, lord.”

A coy smile stayed on his face as he loosened up. His stance changed as he tried to find a comfortable position to ready himself for a strike or attack or binding from the mystical master. His legs spread and his knees bent, still stiff, but it held a strength good for casting Kido. Tetsuya had no illusions about winning or losing, but he could at least do enough to impress the other shinigami and perhaps show his spying parents he was more than just a fragile child to be cloistered away.

by **Zenji Hatayama** Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:16 am

Zenji considered for a moment before a faint cunning smile touched his lips and a devilish twinkle entered his eyes. “Hmm there may be something I can think of.” he said innocently. “You have heard of the uncategorised spells? Neither allocated amongst the numbered Bakudō or Hadō? They are not taught in the Academy and are not properly documented although they are still listed in the Great Library it’s just a real pain to track them down.” he continued conversationally.

As he did so he walked around his friend as if without a care in the world. “Amongst these are spells which, really, should be forbidden due to the manipulation of space and, or, time. Also amongst these are spells that my Clan have… appropriated and manipulated to change in some fashion or, from our point of view, improve.”

Pausing as he stood in front of the other noble and leaning on his staff he added. “Say… improved to move pass, without disturbing, even the greatest of Bakudō barriers..”

Still smiling he threw his hand out as a white cloth began spinning around the pair and enveloping them as the cloth seemed to ever expand. “The snake coils. Reality Obeys. Envelop. Carry forth.” he said as they were cast into darkness, the outside world completely blocked out, by the cloth. “Sentan Hakuja.”

A sensation like somehow being dragged in multiple directions, without actually moving, flipping Zenji’s stomach one way then another. The Shinigami felt a little ill as he always did but the spell worked. The cloth collapsed and revealed the outside world to the pair once more.

Both Zenji and Tetsuya were standing in the private courtyard of the Hatayama Estate. Zenji was grinning with amusement as his own act. “Oops it would appear we have disobeyed your mother. If you want to get back you’re going to have to cast the spell yourself.” he suggested before tapping a finger to his chin in mock thoughtfulness. “To avoid suspicion we would need to return to within the barrier I erected in your courtyard yet to pass through such a power barrier one would have to cast Sentan Hakuja flawlessly and with a manipulation of Reiryoku nothing short of masterful.”

Bright eyes met his friend’s own gaze. “Think you’re up to it?”

In truth, to do what Zenji had just suggested would require a skill with Kido the slightest slither from out-right mastery. Zenji himself was capable of it due to his nonstop usage of Bakudo almost every day of his life without any breaks or pauses in training. He wondered if his fellow Kido practitioner would be capable after his decline in practice after the incident.

‘Nothing forces progress like a little challenge.’ he thought to himself with undue glee.

by **Akimoto Tetsuya** Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:51 am

He felt the pull from within Zenji Hatayama before the man stepped forward and shouted the incantation while crisp white sheets turned the glowing courtyard into darkness. Tetsuya could only half-start an incantation of his own Bakudo before vertigo and the sensation of his soul being yanked stopped him short. In as quick of a flash as the white cloth appeared, it fluttered away into nothing to reveal the pair's new location: The Hatayama Estate.

Tetsuya’s recognition was only thanks to the stark styles of the eclectic monk clan. The few times he traveled there as a child were sharp memories in his mind. His eyes only grew wider as he realized the magic the Lord of Hatayama had woven together to bring them there. Forbidden and illegal within the Seireitei, spatial manipulation wasn’t a form of Kido that they taught at the Academy. That and many other forms of the demonic art were considered dangerous and thus weren’t supposed to be cast by anyone.

If anyone was to know how to cast them and be able to cast them successfully it was Zenji Hatayama. But Tetsuya held no such confidence in his own atrophied abilities. He was prepared to cast a number of higher level Hado and Bakudo, at least to try, but to do something as complex as teleportation was beyond him even at his peak... And Zenji Hatayama knew that. His grin returned as he said, “I guess I was being hopeful when I asked you to go easy on me, lord. You and I both know I would never be able to do what you just did! Not when I’m so out of practice.”

“You know what that means?”

“I’ll have to convince you to take me back.”

He didn’t hesitate. He couldn’t. Without time for a full incantation, Tetsuya formed a lower level Hado within his mind’s eye. Energy from the pool of reiryoku at the pit of Tetsuya’s stomach traveled up through his body and into both of his extended arms. It gathered and grew more and more dense as each moment passed. The seconds he had would have to do. He layered what energy he could before shouting across the space between them, “Hado #4:”

“白雷”

A tingling sensation traveled from Tetsuya’s feet, up his legs, and across his back to arc down his arms and ignite the spiritual energy built up within them. A massive bolt of electric energy shot out from his arms towards the unsuspecting noble lord. Tetsuya’s electric Kido was unwieldy, bolts arcing off the main lance as it shot through the air. Tetsuya’s hair stood up in places.

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