Training Grounds -- Sixth Division

"Guarded Whispers":

Yorusuke adjusted his grip on his zanpakuto, sweat trickling down his forehead as he faced off against his fellow Sixth Division member, Hisashi. The training grounds echoed with the clash of steel as their blades met again and again, a sharp testament to the dedication of those under Captain Kuchiki’s command.

“Not bad,” Hisashi grunted, swinging his blade in a quick, precise arc toward Yorusuke's shoulder.

Yorusuke parried with a sharp clang, the force reverberating up his arm. “You’ll have to do better than that,” he replied with a smirk, stepping back to regain his stance. The weight of the blade in his hand felt familiar, comforting, as the two warriors circled each other.

Hisashi darted forward, aiming for Yorusuke's midsection. With swift precision, Yorusuke twisted his body and brought his blade down in a hard block, redirecting the attack. The two clashed again, exchanging a flurry of strikes that filled the air with the sound of metal on metal.

Yorusuke’s senses were honed, his focus sharp, but in the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure at the entrance of the training grounds. It wasn’t unusual for people to come and watch their training sessions, but something about this presence drew his attention.

Another quick parry. A calculated step to the side.

Hisashi pressed forward, but Yorusuke’s attention was no longer fully on the fight. He could feel the weight of a gaze on him, and it wasn’t until Hisashi’s next swing nearly grazed his arm that Yorusuke turned his head fully.

There, standing at the edge of the grounds, was Fuu Ayumu.

Yorusuke lowered his zanpakuto, breathing hard from the exertion, and raised a hand to signal a break. Hisashi blinked, confused but respectful, sheathing his sword as he followed Yorusuke’s gaze.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Hisashi commented with a grin, seeing Fuu. “You’ve got a visitor.”

Yorusuke wiped the sweat from his brow, offering Hisashi a quick nod before turning to walk toward Fuu. The urgency in her posture was unmistakable, and though she smiled faintly in greeting, there was no mistaking the tension in her eyes.

“Take five,” Yorusuke called back to Hisashi, before stepping up to Fuu. “I thought you’d be taking a break from work, Ayumu. I heard you’ve been temporarily relieved of duty,” he said with a playful smirk, though the concern was evident in his tone.

Fuu’s eyes flickered, scanning the area before leaning in slightly. “We need to talk,” she said, voice low but urgent. “It’s important.”

Yorusuke’s smirk faded, and he gave a nod. “Alright. Let’s step aside.”

As they moved away from the training grounds, Yorusuke could sense that something was wrong. Whatever Fuu had come to discuss, it wasn’t good. He could feel it in the weight of her words before she even spoke them.

Moved