Hirabayashi Research and Training Facilities

"Kita..." moaned Kenji, sitting up. His bloodied blade laid across his lap as he held his right arm. Blood poured from his arm. "Kita!" he called out to his sister once more. Kenji glanced down to his side where his severed hand and forearm lay on the ground. Looking up, he found his sister standing in front of him. He looked away quickly, filled with shame. "Please...Do not..."

Kita sighed knowing now the reason he was missing his arm. She keeled down beside him. "You fool..." she mumbled stopping the bleeding and that was all complying to his request of not reforming his arm. She then lifted her arm with a wave of a hand as time froze leaving the two of them still free to move. She looked to Kenji and stood. "Clean your blade. You started this you're going to help me end it."

Kenji wiped away a tear before sliding his blade across his pants to clean it. "I'm not the fool you think I am." He rose to his feet slowly, feeling as if he had just fought a war...Not a boy. "That is not the strength of a child, Kita...It's not." Having his zanpakuto to his side, he grabbed Kita by the arm. "Time is literally at a standing still and dad can stand on his own. Your son...Your son became someone else! What is he? What is Abreak?!"

"Trials by Fire":

Ryo walked onto the training field. She looked up at the clear blue sky and smiled. It was a beautiful day. Stopping, she looked to the four members bearing the emblem of the Ninth. Hisagi stood at her side. "Name them, Lieutenant."

Hisagi stepped forward. "Greet your Captain! Kazushige Suga."

"Ma'am!" Suga stepped forward, bowed then stepped back.

"Oda Kikiyo."

Oda stepped forward and bowed. "Captain Komamura." He stepped back.

"Unkei Yonezawa."

Unkei stepped forward with hesitation. Without expecting his Captain to understand, he signed a greeting.

Hisagi looked to his Captain. "He's mute. Usually Suga speaks for him."

Ryo nodded. And, to the surprise of the recruit before her, she signed an order for him to step back. Unkei did as requested with a smile.

"Etsuya Tanimoto."

Etsuya tapped the end of his staff to the ground as he stepped forward. "Captain Hirabayashi...?" The sound of one behind him clearing their throat caused him to look over his shoulder. He looked at Unkei who was signing at him. "Komamura...Captain Komamura." He stepped back quickly. "Sorry..." he whispered.

Ryo raised a hand as the four straightened in posture. "Captain Komamura will do just fine. If it is easier, when in the presence of the Captain of the Seventh, you may address me as Captain Hirabayashi." She looked over the four standing before her. "Relax, gentleman. The four of you are here by the recommendation of your Lieutenant. And, while I trust his judgement, I do not know you or your abilities. I don't know how well you handle trials and triumphs. I do not know how well you follow or, if given the opportunity, how well you lead." Ryo folded her arms behind her back.

"Over the next few weeks, the four of you will be tested beyond your limits. Well beyond them. If you think your Lieutenant was wrong to choose you, leave now. The door is up the hill."

"Choose us for what?" Suga raised a finger as he asked the question. He gave a nervous laugh. " 'Cause I'm not entirely sure why we're here."

Etsuya swung his staff behind him. The end made contact with the back of Suga's head. "Eh, Suga. Lieutenant Shuuhei said that we're meant to be the new Command Unit, yeah. Pay attention."

"When did he say that?" Suga rubbed the back of his head.

"Gentleman...May I go on?" Ryo shook her head. "Kikiyo, step forward, please."

"Suga." said Ryo, looking to the young man. "Step forward."

Suga stepped forward and bowed again. "Yes, Captain!"

"What's your story?"

"Not much to be honest, Captain." Suga laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm nothing special. I come from modest means. I'm fairly average, if I may say so." His expression changed as he thought on what he had just said. "But, uh, if we have to say something inspirational and all...I guess, I wouldn't be in the Gotei today if not for Captain Kuchiki. He set me straight one day while in the academy. Still," he shrugged. "Nothing spectacular."

Ryo smiled. "You're modest. I appreciate it. But, I know there is more than what you say. For example, you've been on your own since you were very young. A closely guarded secret kept by your best friend - a man who couldn't speak." Ryo pointed to Yonezawa then to Suga. "How did the two of you become friends?"

"Well, uh..." Suga hesitated.

"Honest now, Suga."

"We were a lot younger when we first met. And, uh, he was being bullied. I stepped in. That's all."

Ryo nodded. "Thank you." She looked to Yonezawa and beckoned him forward. "Translate for me, Suga."

Suga nodded and moved to stand beside Unkei.

"Why can't you speak? And, why do you trust Suga to speak for you?"

Uknei sighed his answer and waited for his friend to relay what was said.

"He said -"

"I know what he said." Ryo cut the boy off. "And, I am a bit disappointed that you never corrected your Lieutenant."

"Captain?" questioned Hisagi.

"He isn't mute. He's deaf. Born unable to hear. He can read lips. And, the truth of why he allows Suga to speak for him..."

"I would skip class," Unkei signed. "To avoid my bullies. Kaz came to my home one day and told me to start defending myself or else..." He gave a sheepish smile. "Or else."

Hisagi waited for his Captain or Suga to translate. "Captain..."

Ryo nodded and told them both to step back. "It's alright, Lieutenant." She looked to the last of the four. "Tanimoto."

Ryo sighed and walked over to stand by her Lieutenant. She looked over the four men standing before her. "Tanimoto, one last thing," she looked to the boy who would no longer look in her direction. "I know that your end game is not here in the Ninth. You, ultimately, wish to join Captain Zaraki in the Eleventh. See this through, and if by the end you still want to join his division, I will speak to Captain Zaraki myself."

Etsuya's eyes lit up. He looked to his Captain and nodded. 

"Very good, then." Ryo folded her arms behind her back. "We have...work to do. The first thing we need to do is figure out how well you work as a small unit. I need to see who will step forward and lead. So, this is your first test." Ryo held out her left hand. In it was a small bell. "This is a small round silver bell. Captain Zaraki has many hanging from his hair. The first to bring me a bell by the end of the day will be rewarded. The three who fail...Well, you fail."

Ryo looked at the four. Tanimoto was excited. Suga and Yonezawa both appeared eager and to be thinking. Oda...He was a hard read. But, he too was thinking. "What are the four of you waiting for? Go." The four ran off, up the hill. 

"Captain..." Hisagi shook his head. "You just told them to take a bell from Zaraki..."

"Did I?" Ryo smiled. She looked to Hisagi who was rubbed his head at the temples. "Let's see what they do."



"Without a Shadow of a Doubt"

Sajin shrugged and waved a dismissive hand. "It's alright." he said, looking over his shoulder. "You just don't have it in you." He turned around with another shrug. "Today. We can try again tomorrow, perhaps." Sajin looked to his wife only to find her locked on him with a steely gaze. He smiled. They were still fighting. And, he was winning. "I imagine we'll try again once you've gathered your thoughts and courage. Yes?"

"I know what you're doing, Sajin." Ryo gave a smile. "It isn't going to work."

"It's alright. It's alright. So, you've lost your spark. It's fine. Though I think I would be rather embarrassed to admit it, if I were you." Sajin felt his nerves getting to him. His words were far from kind. They were harsh. Cruel even. But, necessary. Ryo had been so filled with doubt since their return. He imagined this sparring match would be the spark to bring her back, as she would light up with her sword in her hand. But, not today. Today she needed an enemy. And, for her, he was willing.

"Admit what?" asked Ryo through gritted teeth. 

"That the second most powerful fire zanpakuto...is barely an ember." Sajin exchanged Ryo's cold glance with one of his one. "She's weak..." He gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. "An ill-fit for her rank."