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Post by Chojiro Sasakibe on Feb 14, 2023 14:13:14 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: Deep RenewalEpisode 331 "Two Birds": Chojiro Sasakibe exited his manor into the back of the home which was composed of two things: a lush flower, fruit, vegetable, and tea leaf garden with sakura trees and a training grounds for zanjutsu and hakuda. In fact he banned the practice of kido from his training grounds after some of the First Division new recruits burned down a cultivation of his tea plants some odd centuries ago. So in the spirit of the teachings of his late master Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Sasakibe only allowed zanjutsu and hakuda practice to "keep the balance between war and peace" as his master had once told him. Though he had to admit part of it was just simply being too terrified and anxious to lose his precious tea plants once more. In all his centuries since first visiting the Western world in the world of the living, he had made it his life's work to cultivate tea plants capable of producing the same delicious black tea in Soul Society that he had tasted in the land of the humans. And in that time he had perfected not necessarily a direct copy of the English black tea he had tasted, but something akin to it--inspired by it. The flavor was different, but the spirit was there, and that was something he was proud of. Though in this moment he was not here to check on his "children" as it were. Rather another child that was not necessarily his, but often times felt like it. A child he considered his nephew. Someone whom he now put all of the belief he had in his master into. His master's pride and joy--aside from his best students Ukitake and Kyoraku--his grandson Haku Katsumi Yamamoto. Sasakibe saw the boy sparring alone, his long white-grey hair pulled high up into a bun. The boy's hair had grown considerably and was now about as long as the elder Yamamoto's beard was at the time of his death. He wore a white training kimono with the sleeves tied up, and navy blue hakama. He was practicing zanjustsu with his asauchi in hand. He sighed, shaking his head slightly as he walked over to the boy. "You're still holding back I see," he said to him, referencing the asauchi in his hand.
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Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Feb 14, 2023 14:27:55 GMT -6
Haku let out a sigh, wiping the sweat from his white brow. He turned to see his uncle, the man who had taken care of him since his grandfather's death, standing before him. Sasakibe was eyeing the asauchi in his hand. Haku lowered his head and looked at the asauchi in detest. "I'm not holding anything back. I'm not the one who's the problem."
He placed the sword on his shoulder dull side down. "Besides, I think I'm doing just fine without it," he said with a grin. "I can do up to Hado 25 without an incantation!"
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Post by Chojiro Sasakibe on Feb 14, 2023 14:34:41 GMT -6
Sasakibe raised an eyebrow at him and gave a low hum, reaching up to smooth one side of his thin moustache. "You were practicing Kido in my training grounds?"
Haku's grey eyes went wide and he lowered his sword. "Uh... no? I mean I was practicing when I was over at the First Division training grounds."
"Interesting. Ms. Kaede told me you've been here all day."
Haku gave a sheepish grin, raising his hands. "Yesterday?"
Sasakibe gave a "hmph" and shook his head. "In any case, you know your grandfather would not be pleased to see you treating your partner this way."
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Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Feb 14, 2023 14:39:04 GMT -6
Haku clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes. He raised his sword, point down and staked it into the ground, crossing his arms. "Partner. Yeah right. This thing has been nothing but trouble."
"That sword will be with you for the rest of your life, whether you like it or not, Haku," Sasakibe shook his head again, speaking sternly, crossing his arms behind his back.
"Ms Yoruichi never used her zanpakuto!" Haku raised his arms. He lifted a hand, gesturing in a random direction. "Ms Ise doesn't even HAVE one! Kenpachi didn't have one until the war! What difference does it make if I have a zanpakuto or not!?"
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Post by Chojiro Sasakibe on Feb 14, 2023 14:46:19 GMT -6
"Because you know this is not how Yamamoto-sama would have wanted you to act as a Soul Reaper," Sasakibe raised his voice, stopping just before yelling at him. "This would not make him proud and you know that. If you didn't, you would not be so defensive over this."
Haku's face twisted as if someone had stabbed a knife into his gut. He snatched up the asauchi and turned his back to his uncle. "Why would you of all people use that against me? You, Kyo-ojisan and Uki-ojisan know as well as I do how it feels without him here."
Sasakibe let out a sigh, his shoulder falling. He stepped up and placed a hand on Haku's shoulder. "It is because I know that I push you so hard. He would be doing the same if he were here right now. But he is not and I cannot guide you forever. You are almost an adult. Soon it will be time for you to walk the path on your own. You may not have his blood, but you have his stubbornness all the same. Do not let that Yamamoto stubbornness be your undoing."
When Haku said nothing he lowered his hand. "This is not why I came to check on you, however. You have a guest." Sasakibe's voice indicated a smile that Haku could not see.
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Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Feb 14, 2023 14:56:15 GMT -6
Haku lifted his head and blinked up at his uncle. "A guest?" When Sasakibe nodded Haku turned and ran for the door, pulling out his hair tie to let his long stormy white hair flow down his back. "I want spaghetti all'amatricana for dinner tonight! With that Sangiovese you've been hiding in the cellar with the sake!" "And why were you down there?! And what makes you think I'm going to let you drink alcohol with dinner!?" Sasakibe raised his fist at his nephew as the boy made a speedy getaway. "Because you promised you'd let me try wine with dinner the next time you cooked something European!" Haku shouted as he disappeared through the door into the manor, ignoring his uncle's first question. He grinned when he heard his uncle let out a groan, running down the hall to greet whoever was there to see him. Moved
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