The dorm door slid shut with a soft thud, sealing out the whispers of the academy grounds. Akio leaned against it for a moment, his Asauchi still warm at his side, the dark reiryoku a faint hum under his skin. The room was dimly lit by a single lantern, casting flickering shadows across the tatami. Ikkaku and Yumichika were already there—Ikkaku sprawled on his futon, bald head gleaming, Yumichika meticulously folding his robes.
Ikkaku shot up first, his grin splitting wide, eyes blazing with feral energy. "Well, well the superstar is here. Oi, runt! What the hell was that out there?!" He bounded forward, clapping Akio on the shoulder hard enough to jolt him. "You went from puppy-eyed beggar to Reiatsu monster in a blink! And challenging a captain? Hah! You've been holdin' out on us!"
Akio winced at the slap but kept his face neutral, shrugging it off with a faint smirk. 'Can't let them dig too deep. Not yet.' "What? A guy's gotta seize the moment. Captain Kyoraku was right there—why waste it?"
Yumichika set his robes aside with a dramatic sigh, violet eyes narrowing as he circled Akio like a critic appraising a flawed sculpture. "Seize the moment? That was shameless, Akio. Utterly lacking in elegance. Puppy eyes one second, then that… transformation." He waved a hand vaguely, his voice laced with intrigue despite the judgment. "Your Reiatsu—it wasn't just strong. It felt… different. Unrefined, yet captivating. Since you were hiding it from us. Care to explain how our quiet roommate turned into a storm?"
Akio dropped onto his futon, rubbing his temples to mask his racing thoughts. 'They saw the edge of it. The black threads… damn.' He exhaled slowly, meeting their gazes with a calculated mix of honesty and deflection. "Umm, even I don't know what happened at that time, to be honest. I just.... wanted to show him everything I had so I just did that."
Ikkaku barked a laugh, crossing his arms, his shock giving way to competitive fire. " That Reiatsu of yours nearly flattened half the class! If you're hidin' power like that, prove it—spar with me right now! No holding back this time, runt!"
Akio chuckled, waving him off, his sharp blue eyes glinting with quiet ambition. "Think you can take me as I am now? If you wanna go all-out, let's wait for the fourth-years' final exam 'The Crimson Ascent'. Besides, I'm headin' to train with Captain Kyōraku tomorrow."
Yumichika leaned against the wall, flipping his hair with a smirk, his attitude shifting from judgmental to intrigued ally. "Yeah and after tomorrow training with a captain will boost his strength to another level."
Ikkaku's grin faded into a thoughtful scowl. "Tomorrow, huh? Then I'm finding my own way to get stronger outside the academy. No way I'm lettin' you pull ahead, runt."
Yumichika's fan snapped shut. "What're you blabbering about, Ikkaku? Leave the academy? We're not allowed to just wander off!"
Ikkaku snorted, undeterred. "Yeah, I know, but sitting in class won't cut it. Akio's got a captain to train him—how do we catch up if we're stuck here?"
Yumichika's eyes flashed with irritation. "And you think you'll just stumble into power outside? Who'd even train brats like us?"
Akio lay back, the weight of their words settling in. 'These two… my only friends. If I help them get stronger, they'll owe me. And they were quite powerful in the anime so making them more stronger will make my allies stronger.' He propped himself up, voice steady. "I've got a way to help you guys. Come with me to Squad 8's training grounds tomorrow."
Ikkaku jumped, fists clenched with excitement. "You gonna ask Captain Kyōraku to train us too?"
Akio's smirk widened. "You'll see. Now shut up and let me sleep." He turned off the lantern, plunging the room into darkness.
Ikkaku and Yumichika exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. Trusting Akio's cryptic plan, they settled into their futons, the promise of tomorrow humming in the air.
Dawn painted Seireitei in hues of gold, the air crisp with the tang of dew and steel. Akio stood at Squad 8's training field, Asauchi at his side, heart steady but mind racing. Behind him, Ikkaku and Yumichika trailed, their grins betraying their excitement, like kids sneaking into a forbidden fight.
Akio tensed inwardly. They followed, huh. Fine—I'll make this work. "Just watch, you two. Don't piss him off."
Shunsui appeared in a swirl of pink kimono, sake gourd in hand, his lazy grin fading as he spotted the trio. His eyes narrowed, Reiatsu flaring subtly like a warning breeze. "Kid… what's this? I agreed to train you, not a damn entourage. You think I'm running a daycare?"
Ikkaku bristled, but Akio stepped forward, voice calm but edged with Rukongai steel. "Captain, they're talented—top of the class like me. As a senior Shinigami, isn't it your duty to help the next generation get stronger? Why get angry over that?"
Shunsui paused, gourd halfway to his lips, his grin twitching into speechlessness. This runt… He is trying to set me up again. I won't let that happen this time.' "That's what the academy are for brat."
Akio sighed, "I want to talk to Captain Kyoraku for a minute. Can you guys leave us alone for a minute?"
Yumichika and Ikkaku looked at each other and left without saying anything.
"Brat, I agreed to train only you, why did you bring them? What are planning now?" Shunsui said giving Akio a stern look.
"How could I plan something, Captain? Do you think I am capable of things like that?" Akio gave a look that said he was the most innocent in the world.
'As if I would fall for that face, you brat. He must have a reason for doing all this.' Kyoraku sighed, "Tell me, what do you think I should do."
Akio smiled hearing that, "They came with alot of expectation here Captain, so out right rejecting them may make them demotivated and since they are so talented they are guarenteed to be seated officers in the future, so this incident may also make your relation with them sour. And what would Captain Commander say after hearing all this that you rejected some promising youngesters and caused their downfall?"
Shunsui fell into deep thought after hearing that and seeing Kyoraku's reaction Akio's smile widened. "So I have an idea. Since you can't train them yourself how about asking someone else to train them? This will make them grateful to you and you will also don't have to train them personally."
'So that was your plan all along, huh.' He looked at Yumichika and Ikkaku at the distance who were looking at him with hope. 'If I reject them now, this would look bad for me. Hah, this cursed brat.' "OK! I will do as you say, call them."
Akio then called both of them.
Shunsui eyed Yumichika, noting his precise posture. "You—the pretty one. Kidō Corps suits your style. I'll vouch for you; they'll refine that elegance into something deadly."
Yumichika preened, bowing slightly. "Finally, a path of true beauty. Thank you, Captain."
Then Shunsui's gaze fell on Ikkaku, his bald head and feral grin sparking a memory. 'That fighting style… raw, relentless. Reminds me of Kiganjo's—the 10th Kenpachi who was slain by Zaraki just few months ago. His vice-captain, Goro Takayama, loyal to a fault, had quit in a haze of grief and rage, wandering Rukongai. Old Man Yama hadn't wanted him to leave like that—too much potential wasted. Shunsui's eyes glinted.If Takayama sees this kid's fire, maybe it'll pull him back. Their styles match—brutal, unyielding. Worth a shot.'
"You," Shunsui said to Ikkaku, "remind me of someone. Goro Takayama, former vice-captain of Squad 11. He left after Zaraki killed the old Kenpachi whom he was loyal to. But his Zanjutsu's legendary. I'll send someone to track him down; him training you depends on how well you perform, if he trains you, it'll be hell, but you'll come out a beast."
Ikkaku's eyes lit up, fists clenching. "Squad 11's old blood? Hell yeah! Bring it on! Oh, Thank you Captain."
Shunsui nodded, sipping his gourd. "Done. Now scram, you two. And also remember you have to learn Hakudo and Hoho from the Academy. The ones I mentioned will only refine your specific area which you are best at. I will send someone to take you to them when everything is ready."
Ikkaku and Yumichika departed, buzzing with excitement,
He turned to Akio, "Kid, I will teach you Hakudo. But for Hoho you have to depend on the Academy. I am a captain and have alot of works to do."
Akio smiled instead of lookind depressed at Shunsui's words and somehow that smile made Shunsui chill all over his body. "Then how about recommending me to others for Hoho like you recommended Ikkaku and Yumichika? I heard Kuchiki Byakuya, New Captain of Squad 6 is quite skilled in Hoho so can you recommend me to him? You recommended my friends to Vice Captain figures, so obviously as your student I deserve atleast a Captain level recommendation."
Hearing that Shunsui had a face of someone trying not to vomit blood, 'Brat, what do you think I am? A Recommendation Centre? Hah, He has emphasized the situation in such a way I can't even say no now. And even if I say no this brat will surely ask for something more absurd. Looks like I would just have to ask Captain Byakuya for a favor.'
Akio on the other hand had a face with an innocent smile like he had just asked for a candy.
Shunsui sighed, "Ok kid. I will ask Captain Byakuya to train you on Hoho. But him excepting you or not depends entirely on you."
Akio bowed, his innocent smile masking a predator's glee. "Thank you, Captain Kyōraku."
"So kid would you like to talk about that dark thread in your Reiyarku first, kid?"