6 Chapter 6: Shikai (Edited)

Walking back to the Suzunami household I try to come up with an excuse as to why my attire changed so much. 'I wish she told me that her shikai was a permanent release. Hopefully, this doesn't discourage Matsuri…'

Looking over my attire again I see two katanas attached to my sides. One a white sheath with a black blade inside, the other the opposite of it. The pummel of the black blade being shaped like a tiger head, while the white blade has a pummel of a lion head.

These two aren't the only thing putting me off. My third weapon is a nodachi strapped around my back. A beautiful blue sheath with the image of a throne room filled with people. With a single woman in the middle resting her head on a fist.

The last changes being a laurel crown sitting atop my head as well as a shoulder brace with a roaring dragon. 'She really overdid it with this… I need to practice my reiatsu control more…' Letting out a sigh thinking that a lieutenant level control isn't enough.

(Earlier)

I try to recall the Shikai but realize I don't have enough control yet to do so. Realizing this might be an issue back home I store the weapons and armor back in storage space I received.

I start walking home, but immediately feel a sensation on my head, shoulder, back, and right hip. Looking down I see my weapons back as well as the shoulder brace. Shaking my head I look around.

'Well can't do much about it...' I start heading back home. 'Being considered a genius won't be a bad thing.'

(Inside the Throne Room)

"I'll always be by your side master!" Athena says from her throne room looking up. "You can't get rid of us that easily!" She lets out a laugh, as the hollow starts to crawl away from her. Before he can get any further White steps on his back. Stopping him from moving forward. "Where do you think you're going." Athena says getting off from her throne and unsheathing her nodachi.

'Ah shit.' Hollow Takashi laments his fate and tries to escape from the paw holding him down.

I walk through the door to enter my new home. Looking towards the table I see Matsuri looking at me with shock in her eyes. 'Oh great…' Lord Seigen noticing her gaze turns to look at me. Shocked as well. Lady Konoka places down the food as she turns to look at me. Her face maintaining a gentle smile. "Oh? You're back, Takashi? Come inside and eat!" She sits down and pours a bowl of rice.

Walking over to her I take a sit. Pouring my own food and start eating. Lord Seigen and Matsuri not looking away from my obvious change.

"H-how did you achieve shikai already? It's only been six months since you've started training!" Lord Seigen says on amazed.

'Oh, I broke his calm demeanor finally.' I look at him and nod. "My zanpakuto thought I was ready earlier, but I lacked an asauchi in the Rukon District. She said I'll be ready for the next step sooner than most as well." I say in between shoveling food into my mouth.

"Really are a monstrous talent…" Lord Seigen says with a sigh as he joins us at the table. "You can turn it off?" He says looking over my attire. "Your zanpakuto is really focused on your appearance…"

"You look like a king!" Matsuri says from my side as she moves beside me looking over the designs of my weapons and armor.

"A king, huh?" Lord Seigen says looking over my laurel crown with an interested gaze. "I'll have to teach you to control your reiatsu better. Can't have you running around looking like that."

"I think it's very fitting for Takashi!" Lady Konoka says as she rubs my head.

I look over to Matsuri and see the fire in her eyes from when we decided to become Shinigami. 'So, it didn't discourage her. It just became another source of motivation.' I look at her with a smile.

Matsuri looks at me weirdly before starting to eat herself.

(A Few Hours Later)

Inside my room, I sit in a cross-legged position as I look over my three weapons. 'I'll have to learn how to use a nodachi and dual katanas…' Letting out a sigh I hear a knock at the door.

"You can come in."

The door opens to reveal Lord Seigen in his Shinigami cloak, but without the captain's haori. He looks me over and the weapons. Shaking his head. "You know you can graduate early if you show a decent mastery in the four basic skills." He regards me before speaking again. "If that's something you want to do, I'll help you along the path. You'll also manage to create a record to be one of the fastest graduates."

I make eye contact with him and give him a smile. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't plan on graduating early. Creating a record doesn't interest me. I want to stay in the academy and enjoy the six years there without having to worry. I want to personally watch over Matsuri and help her train. Graduating early won't allow me to do that."

Lord Seigen looks at me and gets the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face. "It's the duty of the older brother to look after their younger sibling, right?"

I nod at his statement.

He ruffles my hair as he starts to leave.

"Takashi after you're done with the academy classes bring Matsuri with you to the 5th division starting tomorrow. I'll be teaching you hoho and shunpo personally."

(Matsuri POV)

'He isn't graduating early because of me…' My fist tightening upon hearing that and tears falling from my eyes. 'I'll prove it to him. I'll become stronger and show him that I'm not a burden!' The fire relit in her eyes as she turns back to her manuals to train.

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