okazaki_masa

OI KIDDOS

2008-11-10T14:19:38Z

Yer teacher is back. A lil' beat up -- you'll find me in th' 4th Division (in th' best care o' course). It might be a while 'til I start teachin' again, but if y'all got any questions don't hesitate ta' come 'n visit.

How does yer ol' teacher look now? Be honest.

Log - I still remember to this day...

2008-06-20T01:37:15Z

A look into th' past.

Note -- If ya haven't read th' manga up to th' current chapters, ya may not wanna read.

A sweat bead rolled down the right side of his face as his facial muscles tensed, his eyes staring intensely forward. To concentrate hard was the only way he could get his mind off the stiffness and the pain. Through the bandages that winded up and down his left arm, the slowly-healing burn wounds were still oozing. Masa had to keep it moving, or else he would likely lose use of the arm for good.

It had been a few weeks since he had been in the 4th's emergency room for a severe burn wound made upon his arm, from the shoulder to almost the wrist. The burn split open his skin and underlying muscles, and even with the 4th's advances in medical care, the pain had been incredible. What made matters worse was that it had been inflicted by his own zanpakutou during a Shikai release. The strange nature of the wound made it that much more difficult to treat.

Gripping his zanpakutou's hilt tightly in his hands, Masa was out in the training grounds of the 9th Division, doing everything he could to hold on to his 10th seat position. Long black hair stuck to his face with sweat, and knees threatened to give out on him from the stinging pain of his arm. Through gritted teeth, Masa managed to utter. "Damn it... I can't be done already...!" With a second wind, he managed to continue his sword forms, swinging his zanpakutou stiffly through the air as his feet shifted through the grass.

Standing at a distance out of the yard and on the walkway that surrounds the yard, the 9th division Captain, Muguruma Kensei is watching one of his officers train. He doesn't draw any actual attention to himself, standing there with his arms crossed over his chest and keeping his same concentrated but neutral look. As a few other shinigami walk by they pass behind Kensei but knowing better than to disturb him now. Only Mashiro would bug him when he looks so stern.

His mouth turns more into a frown as he watches Masa struggle with his sword movements and his eyes pay particular attention to that injured arm. He heard about what happened with that shikai. Must be a wild one to handle. As Masa brings his sword down again an arm reaches out from around him to catch his wrist, the Captain now just behind Masa's shoulder. Kensei's strong arm should be enough to stop Masa's where it is. "That's enough for now."

Being so focused, Masa did not notice the approach of his Captain, which was rather reckless of him. Having been stopped so suddenly, Masa let out a gasp and felt a slight chill through his spine. The voice and strong grip unmistakably belonged to his Captain. Masa quickly turned his head towards Muguruma-taichou, his eyes slightly widened in surprise.

"Taichou!" The one person who he sought to impress the most had realized he had reached his limit. He was sure to be demoted at this rate! Not keeping eye contact for long, Masa's eyes tore away and lowered, and only his left hand fell from the hilt. There was quite a bit of relief in his aching muscles, but the stinging sensations were still there.

"Sir..." Masa's voice was wrought with hesitation and frustration. His right hand had lost the tightness of its grip, but it slightly twitched under his Captain's hold. "...I can keep going. I have t' be able to get over this pain or..." He didn't want to mention the consequences. Falling silent, Masa stood still and braced to be reprimanded.

Kensei lifts his chin a little and eyes Masa's response. So he's that determined? Well of course he is! They're the 9th division, after all. And Kensei knows that all of his officers are loyal and dedicated people. At least, that's what he'd like to think. Maybe in some respects he's a little too trusting. "Or what? You wanna get stronger or you wanna lose your arm?" Because that could happen if Masa pushes it too far beyond the limit before it's healed.

He firms his grim slightly on that wrist, only to let Masa know he's letting to so he needs to take control of that sword again. When Kensei lets go he takes a slight step back with one foot and crosses his bare arms over his chest. "And what good are ya without yer sword arm, huh?" He sounds stern but there's also something else there in his voice. Kensei, maybe not like all Captain's, actually does care about what happens to his men.

It was a response that wasn't all that unexpected. He closed his eyes momentarily as his Captain gripped his wrist and looked a little pained, however, the source was far from Muguruma-taichou's hand. It was something that Masa could feel in his throat, an agonizing ache of frustration. As his Captain backed away, Masa's sword lowered, as if he had pulled away all strength in his arm.

"...The scars could heal in a way that make me unable t' move it much... If I don't keep movin' my arm, what can I do?" It was a little awkward to sheath his blade with his offhand, but he managed, and after a few moments, the sword fell into the sheath with a click.

"...Muguruma-Taichou." Masa turned towards him, his eyes still unable to meet his. "...I was unable t' achieve higher rank 'cause I couldn't use my Shikai effectively... Now that I have more control, this happened t' me!" He gestured roughly to his handicap. Lowering his head, he sounded quite bitter. "What good am I t' ya anyhow?"

Moving the arm will be necessary, but Masa needn't be so rough with it. He's going to make it raw and have to visit the 4th division again at this rate. Kensei doesn't want that either. Still, he knows he can't just convince Masa to take it easy. They don't take it easy in the 9th division. They're hard workers to the end! Though Masa doesn't look at him, Kensei's eyes can be felt looking right at the shinigami. "What's with that attitude?" Is he feeling sorry for himself? Or maybe just frustrated.

"Listen, Masa." Kensei looks over the yard and the building of the 9th division. This division and the people in it mean everything to him. "If you wanna get brutally strong by wavin' that thing around, you better get yerself a transfer to the 11th division. I'll sign the papers myself." If that's what Masa really wants. "What do ya think the 9th division is about anyway? Why are you in this division?"

Masa's eyes lifted as he heard his name. Seeing that Muguruma-taichou's eyes were staring out, he slowly followed his Captain's gaze out over the training grounds and the expanse of the Division. He had joined this Division because he had been most impressed by Muguruma-taichou. He was a tough, no-nonsense guy, but he didn't fight for the sake of fighting. Having been raised to protect those who could not protect themselves, Masa closely related to him and had applied to join the 9th Division immediately.

He would not ever dare to join the 11th Division, with their ruthless tactics and bloodlust. Ashamed by Muguruma-taichou's words, Masa tried to calm down and gather his thoughts again. Ever since he had been in the fight where he had burned himself, it was a bit hard for him to focus. "...I am in th' 9th Division t' uphold your ideals, Taichou. ...Forgive me, it's just that..." His voice trailed off momentarily.

"...One day, I hope t' be a member of your squad, so that I might fight at your side." This burn of his was going to be what killed his dream if it didn't heal properly. Masa was young and extremely reckless and impatient, and was anxious to have his wound heal faster. He did not want to be left behind.

Kensei smirks a bit at hearing those words. He knows he has good people in his division and Masa's just proven it to him again. Kensei reaches to clap his hand on Masa's shoulder, the good one of course, giving him a friendly but firm whap. "This whole division is my squad, Masa." Even if he knows what Masa means that is the way Kensei really feels.

He treats all his people the same way. Kensei even takes it upon himself to help out with a few lesser duties a Captain has no reason to do. It just brings them closer together, more of a team, if they all pitch in. That allows them to focus on even more important things like protecting Soul Society. "You must've really wanted to win that fight." That caused Masa to be burned so badly. "But we're not like another division. We gotta be strong, but we gotta stick together, and use our heads, too." Maybe they're not as individually strong as the 11th division, but they're a division that knows how to rely on each other for strength when needed.

The hearty pat on his shoulder was all Masa needed to crack a bit of a grin. He still felt some doubt, but Muguruma-Taichou played big part in dispelling it. The Captain was so much like the man who had raised him in the Rukongai, and Masa felt great comfort in his words. It helped him to focus back on what was really important -- living his life to its fullest, and making sure that others did as well, by protecting the weaker.

"One day, though, Taichou, I will be amongst th' Six of Nine." He looked over to his bandaged arm, seeing that the wounds had started to stop weeping. He would probably still need to see someone in the 4th to get the bandages properly changed. "Even if it takes a hundred years, I have t' learn t' handle my sword not only for my own goals, but t' protect those who need protection, and for th' integrity of this Division."

Kensei can't help but smirk, looking pleased by that statement. And with that kind of determination Masa just might keep moving up in the ranks after all. "If it's what ya want then go for it, Masa." If it's his goal to be one of those officers then Masa shouldn't quit until it happens. "Just don't ruin your chance before it's over." By pushing that arm too much before it's ready.

There's lots of time to watch Masa climb the ranks, or so the taichou thinks. Amazing how things end up changing so suddenly. It only takes one bad day. "Now, get that arm looked at and give it some rest." He turns to walk through the yard. "But your ass better be on this field again tomorrow." Of course Masa will be, because he's a member of the 9th division! That's the way they are.

okazaki_masa @ 2008-06-12T08:22:00

2008-06-12T13:44:31Z

A note t' th' kiddos: If Iesada-san puts a Chastity Belt on you, don't try t' burn it off. IT HURTS LIKE CRAP, MAN. It also don't help that my dumbass sentient sword kept breakin' my concentration.

Anyway I've got a couple o' drawin's and some kanji t' share.

'sposed t' be a younger me, like when I was in th' Rukongai. Eh.

That's Hidaruma n' me. =A=;; Bastard.

Umeko-chan n'... well, a lil' girl with a bird. Might be her zanpakutou's manifestation and she don't know it yet.

And now I got some Kanji t' share. If anyone wants their name typed out like this, just ask.

To come for sure: Takemaru. Will probably post later this evenin'.

PS isn't Iki's name so cute? <3333333333333333333

Just have a lil' somethin' t' say

2008-06-01T14:37:54Z

Smoke break's over. Comin' home t'day. Nearly burnt hand off -- forgot that Hidaruma don't like t' be used as a lighter. Goddamn he's an asshole. Also ran int' a group o' guys lead by a guy in a kendo uniform wantin' t' kill me. Dealt with 'em, but they did interupt a party with desert creatures which was kinda' infuriatin'. Rukongai not a good place t' take smoke break.

Will be happy t' see Aibou again -- always a joy t' see his cute face. Hopefully Iesada-san will accept gracious offer of carton of cigarettes; otherwise, might be screwed. Hope Sadakata has been behavin' and that other students are workin' hard. Will have t' educate 'em otherwise.

A set o' handstand push-ups and I'm outta here. Might try walkin' on my hands on th' way there, but will see. Hard to smoke that way.

My first day and already, some action!

2008-02-25T17:27:09Z

I'm gonna get a hang of this teachin' thing, I think. For my future students, I want y'all to read a lil' somethin' called "How t' Not Impress Okazaki-sensei." After hearin' about some of y'all's pranks in th' 13th Division and lack o' progress in class I decided t' confront what coulda' been th' source.

A toothpick casually went flying into the nearby grass shortly before a man's humming started. He was usually pretty happy after he ate. Food in Seireitei was a little lacking when it came to the material world's, but it was satisfying nonetheless. Ramen noodles were gratefully digested as Masa stood under a tree and hummed, a pair of rather lazy-looking eyes staring out ahead of him.

He seemed fairly good-natured for someone that had been waiting for some time. He couldn't have been late to this little meeting -- that would have been kind of a greenhorn thing to do. No, he took this job seriously, or at least he thought so. Humming only stopped momentarily as he sighed and patted at his purring stomach. "So ya liked that, too, did'ya?" He chuckled briefly, then continued to hum as he threw his hands behind his head and tapped his foot. If this person decided to not show up, it wouldn't have been a big deal. He had other things to take care of, too.

Jinkei had shown up at the school, wanting to know if they need any extra help today, and was a bit surprised to find out a teacher was searching her out in particular. She'd been helping out with the swordmanship class, but she'd never had any responsibility for the Hollow classes. That was always a lot different from fighting man-to-man. Although, after her little run-in with Ikkaku in Karakura, she at least had more experience with Hollows than the students. And maybe even a few of the more sheltered teachers.

She made her way through the school, back to the clearing and the wooded area surrounding it, where she'd held one of her substitute classes. Too bad there probably wouldn't be anything easy like that to do, today. No, this was looking like one of those 'talking' assignments, from what she'd heard.

He had closed his eyes just momentarily when his humming became a little more, and when he started to sing to himself. "...nan ka wakatta ki da kedo kekkyoku nan kedo wakattenai - Wakattenai wakattenai-- uh?" He stopped and rose a little off the tree when he heard approaching footsteps. Those were some heavy footsteps, he thought. His arms dropped rather lazily as his neck craned to look ahead. He was standing in a clearing of sorts, so this 'Jinkei' would be sure to see him.

And he sure did see Jinkei. His lazy eyes opened just a little wider, and he blinked a few times. Wait, he thought to himself. Wasn't-- ... Jinkei? Well, this mystery could be solved rather easily. His elbows pushing him from the tree, Masa crossed his arms and jutted his chin out briefly in a gesture of acknowledgment. "Oi, are you Shi Jinkei?" His overall countenance did not suggest his intentions. She was surely a patient girl, she'd see pretty soon.

Jinkei did her best not to clomp most of the time, but she can't always help herself. Especially when she can't ever seem to get footwear that fits properly. Holding her sword's scabbard right below the guard, tilted over her left shoulder and down her back, she also tried her best to keep from bumping it into things. Or people, although it does seem ready for Stooges-esque antics at times. She turned her head towards the noise, as she was called to, spotting the lounging man and his chosen tree. "Huh? Yeah, that's me. You the new teacher?" She altered course towards him. "What happened to the last guy, eh? I thought he did a damn good job. Even if he was a little..." She trailed off, then blinked down at Masa, once she got up close to him. "...n'you look a little..young...to be teachin' here full-time already. But I guess they're pretty desperate, if they got me here." Her wide face broke into a huge grin.

"Guess ya can call me that, yeah." A hand came up to scratch at his jawline -- a little habit he had. His face didn't change much when she went on, even when she said something about him being young and something about desperation. All she did was confirm her identity, really. But, he did have a few things to say about that, and he said them with a slight grin.

"I don't claim t' know about what happened t' Iwao or I'm just an act o' desperation, I'm just here t' do my job." The grin remained subtle for a few more moments, then seemed to widen, as if he was if he were telling a joke, or having fun. "I heard about yer assistance when I was preparin' all my necessary materials, and so I had t' wonder..." He then took on a stance that would have been all too telling to someone like her, especially if she a fighter that could be looked up to and depended upon to teach.

"...if ya really were a dependable teaching assistant."

Jinkei tilted her head. "Iwao? Who's that again?" She looked distant for a moment, trying to remember. Furrowing her brow, she shook her head. No use trying to remember, she's in the middle of a conversation. She turned her attention back to Masa. "Dependable? Well, I think I do pretty good. Just a while back, some'a the kids even joined me for a little-" She blinked, as his stanced changed to something a bit more serious. "...what? S'there somebody sneakin' up behind me?" She twisted and craned her head to look for a moment.

"I know about th' 'help' ya gave t' my new students." He said this rather nonchalantly, but suddenly, Jinkei would realize his voice became much closer. In fact, his voice wasn't too far off from her ear. In the span of a second, Masa was standing at her side, opposite from the side she had turned into. He chuckled a little, and continued to sound as if he was just playing around, though his words would express quite differently. "Let's see. Ya obviously don't know when somethin's provokin' you t' attack or defend, even when they are right in front of ya."

Jinkei finished her glance behind, turning back...twisting just her head to look down and to the other side at Masa. "Provoke? Hell...I'm used to that. Guess it came with the face. Or...maybe the height. 'Sides...what'm I supposed to be worried about? Yah teach how to fight Hollows, not Shinigami. N'last time I got into a fight, right here, some high-up muckity-muck tried ta get me in trouble." She snorted at the memory, even as Masa continued to invade her personal space.

"Talks too much in inappropriate sit'ations. I'll take note o' that, too." Another shunpo returned him to his former spot, his feet lightly landing on the grass as if he had jumped. It was only about six feet between the two spots. Scratching at his jawline again, he began to assess what he had gathered thus far. "So, yer some giant, or so I hear. Ya have graduated already, but haven't been placed int' a Gotei. You've sorta been helpin' the kids out with fightin' with their skills but when I checked my class' progress... Well, lessay you ain't been helpin' 'em much. I asked some of th' staff why you were hangin' around and nobody can give me a good answer."

    He smiled then, his slightly pointed canines prominent. "They ain't ready t' fight Hollows. Care t' show me why you're a good fightin' instructor?"

                Jinkei relaxed a bit, once he moved away. She hadn't wanted to move too suddenly, after all. Now that she could, she shuffled her feet, adjusting her weight. "Giant?" She smiles at that idea. "I guess. I ain't as big as that one Captain, though. Yah know...the one with the helmet? I wish I knew where he got his clothes'n'stuff made." She plucked at the jacket hanging around her waist with her free right hand.

                The other comments made her scowl for a moment, though. "Nothin' says I gotta apply to a Squad immediately. They asked for help, and I showed up." Her smiles slowly reappears, until it's splitting her face again. "Never said I was any friggin' good at teachin'. But I do like bein' called Sensei." She leaned down towards him somewhat. "I guess I try'n do my best. Mostly teach by example. Doesn't help when somma them can't even remember to bring their damn swords to class." She went quiet...tilting her long sword forward slightly, the hilt tipping...sliding slowly down, revealing inches of the blade. "...so you really wanna just brawl right out here in the open? Nobody watchin' to make sure I don't headbutt you or somethin'?

"So bein' called 'Sensei' attaches you t' this Academy, huh? I don't see how yer earnin' yer keep or nothin'. Ya see... 'Sensei' isn't a title that's just given t' you 'cause you tell a kid t' bring a sword t' class." Seeing that his provoking had finally worked, Masa chuckled a little and let his right hand come across to rest on the dark red hilt of his Zanpakutou. Nothing more.

"There is such a thing as a bad teacher... and I'm just here t' see if yer one of those." His look suddenly became intense as his eyes focused narrowly. Not that she was a hard target anyway. "It don't matter if we're here. This ain't gonna take too long, kiddo."

Jinkei watched carefully...eyes flickering over as his hand moved to his weapon. "...bad teacher? Aren't I better than no teacher at all? I'm only here when one'a the real ones is busy...whatever their reasons for that is. So far, nobody's gotten worse than the first time I saw 'em. Ain't gotten anyone killed...hell, they're not even missin' any limbs'r fingers'r nothin'." Her sword tilted forward just the slightest bit more, as he continued trying to provoke her.

"...what's the point, then? Can't properly enjoy a short fight, or one with no surprises. Why I never got that excited about Hollow class, I guess." She stood up straight, sword clinking back into place properly. She was grinning again. "Even the ones that'd kill ya don't really make a fight as interesting as another real warrior would."

"At the rate my students are goin'... I woulda' rather them had no help at all. It's great that they haven't gotten killed, 'specially when they're 'sposed to stay in th' confines of the Academy." She was putting her sword away. Wow, was she making this way too easy or what? "Seems like ya slipped up there, didn't ya, kiddo?"

"I'll tell ya why I brought ya out here, Jinkei-chan." He said her name rather informally as his blade began to slowly slide out, centimeter at a time. "Yeah, I'm gonna be teachin' th' kids 'bout Hollows. /But/, since the first element of fightin' a Hollow is bein' able to at least swing a sword without hackin' yer own limbs off... I'm gonna be teachin' th' kids th' elements of hand-to-hand combat as well, as I'm /qualified/ t' do so." The rest of the blade was then withdrawn shortly, its sharpness singing in the air before another shunpo was performed.

He was behind her some tweleve feet away, his sword held ready. "Save that real warrior crap and come at me ya big ox."

Jinkei scratched at her ear, before a thick finger started to dig inside. "...haven't heard that one in a few years. Well, unless you can't what Yachiru says..." She half-mumbles to herself, before her attention was called back to that unsheathing sword. "Good luck with a few of 'em. They're destined for the Fourth, I think. But watch out for that one girl with the wooden sword. She'll jump yah outta nowhere, then pretend it never happened." She snorted, opening her mouth to continue as he moved again, behind and further away this time. Jinkei made a face, like she tasted something unpleasant. "Behind? You're as bad as that little kid Captain."

She glanced over her shoulder towards him, tilting her sword forward again. "...yeah, a big ox. But you know what they do?" She reached over, right hand out to catch the hilt of her oversized sword as it began to drop. "Charge straight at anythin', horns down and snortin'." Maybe that was a bull, but she thought she was pretty close. The giantess whirled towards him, flickering forwards to close half the distance, scabbard flying away behind her as she pulled her sword free across her chest and outwards. The length was excessive enough to reach the extra six feet between her and Masa, doing her best to charge and seem straight-forward. Three could play at that game, she thought. If he took the bait. It'd probably be her only real chance...

Well she wasn't too hard to figure out, it seemed. She was slow, and came forward like an animal would. She used her height and the length of her Zanpakutou to her advantage to close long gaps. But, when she swung her sword, she would find that Masa was no longer there. He was another three feet back, and out of harm's way. A short burst of speed was all he needed to slide backwards, and she was way too predictable.

The grass that had been displaced from his movement had barely time to settle before they were sent in another direction -- the opposite direction. In another short-distance lightning step, he flew forward with his elbow aimed right for her newly exposed diaphragm. It might have seemed unwise to use physical blows against a person of her size, however...

He was Sixth Seat of the Ninth Division. Being only graduate student level, her level of strength would not be able to compare. If the blow connected, his superior strength would knock the breath out of her.

Jinkei grunted as her sword continued to move through the air, not meeting any resistance. "Damn..." She had a split-second to reconsider her options, as her sword went wide to the side. But, he was already inside her guard. Her eyes widened, mouth opening as his elbow buried itself in her stomach. Time for new options.

Her right hand opened, as she let her sword go flying. Her left hand moved in, trying to clamp around his own, and the guard on his sword. At least she knew her grip would be tight, if she could latch on. Her right hand lowered as it searched for purchase on his clothing or shoulder, time moving slowly as she finally tried to gasp in a new lungful of air. As his blow started to send her skidding back, she did her best to drag him along with her. Now that he was close, she'd have to keep him there. And keep that sword where she wanted it.

Oh, so she wanted to hold back Hidaruma, did she? Well, it's not like he needed to use Hidaruma to fight her, but Hidaruma did really hate being drawn and not being used. Masa would probably regret it in some future fight, but he wouldn't worry about it now. He wanted to see more out of this little upstart who thought she knew how to fight!

That right hand was her mistake. Though she had a firm grip on his shoulder, his arm was still quite mobile. And, since she was so insistant at holding him at close range, her abdomen was left open. The fingers of his gloved left hand stretched momentarily before being closed tightly into a fist and, after he grounded himself properly, he drew back his fist and gave a jab to her ribs with a force similar to his elbowing. And he didn't strike once. Twice. Thrice. Four times. Five times. He was punching until she let go, and he did have all day.

Jinkei gripped his sword hand tightly, twisting his sword away from her. Well, that was goood, at least. And her right hand was able to grab ahold of his shoulder, twisting up his clothing as she dug in tight. She started to double up, though, as she felt that pounding to her ribs. The giantess had barely had time to breathe, before she was letting out grunts of pain. So she pulled him in closer, tighter...hand sliding down his shoulder and back, clamping him to her. She tried to squeeze the air out of him, as she hastily sucked in as much as she could manage. Hopefully no ribs were going to poke her in the lung today.

The sword hand did begin to twist away, it did. For a few seconds. He began to laugh a little as she brought him in. What was she trying to do, hug him? When he was being pressed up against her, his sword arm suddenly tensed and would have felt like steel to her. It slowly twisted back to its natural position. A burst of reiatsu ran through him. It was only something worthy of a Sixth Seat, of course, but she was no where close. The hand that held his sword tore downwards quite easily, even if it took her arm with it. His arm straightened and lowered, and the blade was rested against her leg.

"Didn't ya learn, Jinkei-chan? When ya are clearly outranked... there's nothing ya can do but run and find help!" He drew back his blade just a few inches before cleaving his blade into her leg.

Jinkei gritted her teeth as she pushed back. She was used to being slower, but weaker was a new one. She hardly slowed the blade down, as it twisted back towards her, sliding down. She felt it slicing through fabric easily, pressing coldly to her skin.

"H-help? The rumors always were...those guys in the 11th always fight one-on-one. I can do somethin' else..." She cringed as the blade sliced into her, blood gushing free. She fought to keep her composure, and her grip, still holding him close. "C-can still fight...dirty..." She forced her weight onto that injured leg, letting out a strained grunt of pain, almost a yelp. The other tree-trunk-like leg forced up, fast and hard...right between his legs. "B-been fightin' Hollows too long..."

As that leg came up, it would have been forcibly pushed back. A pulse of reiatsu came from his body. No, it was nothing that would have impressed anyone in Soul Society much like a Captain's, for example, but it was just enough to knock away someone who's reiatsu was inferior. Having the upper hand, Masa knocked himself out Jinkei's grasp with what almost seemed a shrug.

In that one moment he lowered himself as if he were about to leap, and then in a flash step, he was gone from her range and standing at her back with Hidaruma pointed firmly at her right side. Any movement from her would quickly result in a fatal stab wound. "Ya say ya have been fightin' Hollows, but ya drop your sword? That's somethin' ya never do. Grapplin's not gonna impress nobody -- you'll just be able t' bully some Academy students with that kinda technique."

"...To my estimation, any kinda trainin' you'd give t' these kids would only serve t' hurt their chances. From this day on, if I catch ya trainin' with my students or takin' 'em on one of your escapades... Well, let's say that no matter what Gotei ya choose, you'd never become a Shinigami." He started to press the blade into her side, just in case she tried to get herself out of this one. "Is that clear... little Jinkei?"

Jinkei stumbled back, her injured leg slipping under her huge weight, slipping down to one knee. She still had a clump of torn cloth in her right hand, clenching both as she felt that sword digging into her side. "Ungh...bully? Only see one'a them here." She turned her head away, spitting blood onto the grass as he spoke to her...grunting and straightening up as that point dug through cloth and into flesh.

"I'll train 'em if that's the orders I got. When you're strong, you're s'posed to help the weaker kids. Even if yah mess up every once in a while." She managed to grin up at him, her head down a bit lower than his. "Maybe you forgot about that, if yah got nothin' better to do than pick on me. I ain't even armed."

"My kids are gonna be too busy." He stood back and slid his sword back into his sheath shortly after shaking a bit of the blood off of it. Hidaruma got a little action, perhaps he would not be so angry after all. He looked at his shoulder, and sneered a little at the sight. His shinigami robes got all torn up! Ah well. No bumps or bruises that he could see.

"Bein' strong doesn't make ya a good teacher, there is a difference and I'll have ya know that." His expression became more neutral then. "I wasn't bullyin' ya. I told ya what I came here for -- t' see if ya were a worthy teachin' assistant. If ya had, for example, done th' right thing, I woulda' let ya continue whatever ya were doin', no harm no foul." He crossed his arms, shifted his weight, and continued. "But ya did exactly th' wrong thing by disarmin' yourself, by your own will, and tried t' rely on that brute strength of yours. Muscles don't mean nothin' if ya don't got the reiatsu and th' skill to back it up. Don't give me that crap about bein' unarmed 'less you really didn't have yer sword on hand th' entire time."

He the turned away, and looked over his shoulder. "I'll have medics come and look at ya. After that, maybe it's time t' re-evaluate." What exactly needed to be re-evaulated, he'd let her figure that one out. He walked off towards the Academy, and about twenty feet off, he started humming again.

"Handan! Dekinai shitakunai koko wa shiroi yami no naka..."

Jinkei wobbled where she kneeled, trying to keep herself as steady as she could while he spoke. "Well, thanks for your opinion. I guess once you teach alla your kids to fight the same, they'll have all the same weaknesses." She started to laugh...wincing and clutching her ribs. She carefully breathed as he started to walk away.

"Ain't never really trusted those medics..." She was mumbling, though she tried to project so he could hear. "Come back any time yah need to let off some steam. I'm sure you'll get lots better, beatin' up on kids fresh outta your school." She chuckled, breaking back down into coughs as she rolled onto her side.

Though he was certain Masa had noticed him lurking nearby, it was a sure bet that brute of a student hadn't. Iki knew this girl well enough. She'd been an unremarkable student as far as he was concerned, though after a near century of teaching, the students all began to blend together when they were unremarkable. Yet he knew about Jinkei's trip to the 13th and he knew of her so-called lessons with the students.

Often he'd be the first to preach against mistreatment of the kids, especially striking them with a blade, though there were certain reasons he had not come forward on this occasion. For one, the brat had been asking for it. For another, her skills with a blade were particularly pathetic... and to top it all off, she had no concept of rank, skill, or the enhanced ability that comes from centuries of experience, training, and strength.

He had just been rising from his seat in the grass to head back to his infirmary (the kid could come to him on her own, or not at all. He wouldn't heal her after such preaching about not trusting medics.), when he heard those final taunts flung at his friend. "One would expect, Jinkei-chan, a person in your position to have some concept of respect for higher ranking officers. Okazaki-sensei is the 6th seat of the 9th Division. Pray tell, what seat are you?"

Jinkei rolled over as she heard someone else commenting to her. "Huh?" She squinted...had she met him before? Who was he supposed to be? "If he wants me to call him 'sir', then I gotta. And I'll follow his orders, if I don't got others. But that can't make me respect him." She broke into coughs after that exertion.

Unbelieveable. For one, he'd taught the brat when she was in the academy. Certainly she would recognize him... that is, unless she had slept through his classes, in which case she was even more troublesome than he thought.

"Young lady, you seem to forget that you are a part of the Gotei 13. This is a military organization. Respect for senior officers is required, that is, unless you would like to be charged and dismissed from service." He took a step closer, pushing his glasses further up his nose. "I don't care if you have no respect for Okazaki-sensei. I don't care if you have none for me, either. But you /will/ behave as befits your station in this organization and treat us, and your other superiors, with the respect we deserve. You've not been chosen yet for a Gotei. If no Gotei chooses to accept you, you will be thanked for your time and dismissed. I can make it very difficult for you, young lady, if I so choose. My recommendations are read by all captains and I will not hesitate to cite you for insubordination, disrespect, and poor character."

Jinkei managed to catch her breath, rolling onto her back. One arm over her bruised ribs, the other reaching down to press agains the wound on her left leg. She listened, concentrating on breathing, recovering. "N...n...no problem..sir." She coughed again, head rolling to one side to spit out another mouthful of blood. "So...his's the Ninth...which one're you, sir? Gotta know what I...what I gotta avoid." She managed another grin, although the reddened teeth don't help her fearsome face look much more friendly. "N'thanks for the...the workout, n'the words of wisdom, sirs. I'll try n'remember it. C-can't really salute from down here...sorry sirs..." She rolled away from the two, to hide her laughter...and the coughing fit that followed it.

With a shake of his head and a soft sigh, Iki approached the girl. His hand stole to the hilt of his zanpakutou and he drew it slowly. It was unusual for a Shinigami to be allowed to release his zanpakutou within Seireitei, but there were some exceptions... and for reasons that would soon become obvious, Kawagiri was one of those. "I'm the 4th. I'm fairly sure we wouldn't suit you."

With Kawagiri held gently in hand, hovering just above the girl, he offered his first words of kindness. "Rest for a while. Yumemiteageru, Kawagiri."

The blade above Jinkei dissolved completely into a white mist that smelled vaguely of fresh rain. This river mist settled upon the girl where she might inhale deeply and be healed... and thankfully for his own sanity, sleep for a time.

Jinkei slowly stopped spasming, mouth opening wide as she sucked in air again, ribs and lungs burning. "Fourth, huh? N-naw...people always said that'd fit me..." She chuckles at her own joke, wincing again. "Hey...I got time to rest when I'm dead. I got a class later..." She rolled onto her back, the first step to getting up...the mist drifting down onto her, into her lungs as she started coughing again. She tried to fight it off, gritting her teeth...but soon her eyes were closed. Jinkei was stretched out right in the middle of the clearing..snoring. Extremely loudly.