14. Breaking rules

Musashi walked down the hall toward his room, the echoes of the day's training still ringing in his mind. His steps were steady, focused, and right beside him, as always, was Arasaka, practically bouncing along with his usual energy.

"You didn't need to be so hard on those two first-years, you know?" Arasaka commented, glancing at Musashi with a slight frown. "They're still just starting out."

Musashi returned his gaze, a calm but stern look in his eyes. "They were underestimating me. They weren't paying attention."

Arasaka sighed. "Yeah, but what if the first-years end up being scared of us?" He nudged Musashi playfully. "You're always so serious. You need to loosen up a bit."

Musashi raised an eyebrow. "And you take everything as fun and games."

Arasaka shrugged, smiling a bit. "I just want to enjoy my life, nothing out of the ordinary."

Musashi simply shook his head, choosing not to respond, and quickened his steps toward his room. Arasaka dropped back, looking after him with a chuckle. Musashi slipped inside and sat down cross-legged on the floor. He closed his eyes, focusing on entering his inner world, hoping for some clarity.

But, as always, he found himself alone in the endless meadow with only grass, flowers, and the massive tree standing tall at the center. He let out a quiet sigh, feeling the familiar stillness surround him. Hours passed as he sat there, but still, no presence, no voice, no spirit to guide him. 

It wasn't until nightfall in the outer world that he heard a sharp knock on his door, pulling him out of his meditation.

"Musashi! Open the door!" Arasaka's voice called from outside.

"No," Musashi replied simply.

"Oh, come on, don't be a drag! Open up, please?"

"It's already past curfew. Leave," Musashi responded, his tone final.

"It's really important, Musashi. I swear!" There was a pleading edge in Arasaka's voice now.

With a heavy sigh, Musashi rose and walked to the door. He slid it open and was greeted by Arasaka's wide grin and the sight of a bottle in his hand.

"Let's have a dri—" Arasaka started, but Musashi immediately went to close the door again.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Arasaka hurriedly pulled the door open from the other side, a nervous sweat forming on his brow. "I just want to have a drink with a friend and talk a little, alright? Please?"

Musashi sighed, sensing that Arasaka wasn't going to give up easily. "Fine, but we're not drinking too much."

Arasaka's face lit up in triumph. "Then follow me! I found a great spot."

They walked through the academy grounds, Arasaka practically dragging Musashi along. Before long, they reached a wall on the edge of the academy grounds. Musashi stopped, glancing at Arasaka with suspicion.

"We're going outside the academy?"

"Relax, it's close by," Arasaka replied with a smirk.

Reluctantly, Musashi followed. They leapt over the wall and made their way into the nearby forest. The canopy of trees above filtered the moonlight, creating patches of soft light on the ground as they walked.

"Where exactly are we going?" Musashi asked, his voice tinged with mild irritation.

"Just a bit further," Arasaka replied cheerfully.

Suddenly, they heard a rustling from the bushes behind them. Both of them turned, muscles tensed, ready for a possible fight. But then a voice echoed from above.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

Both Musashi and Arasaka looked up to see a woman perched on a branch, her golden eyes glinting in the moonlight. She had tan skin, her long purple hair tied back in a ponytail, and an amused smile playing on her lips.

Arasaka was the first to speak, albeit nervously. "Hey there! We're just, uh, out for a walk, nothing more."

The woman's smile grew wider, and she tilted her head. "You don't look like shinigami. More like academy students sneaking out past curfew." Her tone was teasing, but her presence held an unmistakable strength.

Musashi took a moment, studying her. Then he noticed the sigil on her clothing. His eyes widened in realization. "Hello, Lady Shihōin. I apologize if we've somehow disturbed you."

Arasaka glanced at Musashi, confusion flickering across his face. 'How does he know her?'

The woman sighed dramatically. "Ah, I was hoping to mess with you a bit more. What a shame." She hopped down from the tree with a fluid grace. "Name's Shihōin Yoruichi. You two brought some good alcohol with you, I hope?"

Arasaka forced a smile. "Actually, yes! Good thing I did," he said, relieved. 'If Musashi hadn't recognized her, I'd probably be in deep trouble by now.'

Musashi shot a disapproving look at Arasaka. "If you'd been paying attention in class, you would've known."

Before he could say more, Yoruichi appeared between them in a flash, casually resting her hands on both of their shoulders. Musashi barely registered her movement. 'That flash step was...incredibly fast.'

Yoruichi noticed the slight shift in Musashi's expression and grinned. Arasaka, on the other hand, looked thoroughly intimidated. "So, where are we heading, boys?" she asked, eyes glinting with mischief.

They finally reached the spot—a small lake, perfectly still, reflecting the stars and moon above like a mirror.

"Not bad," Yoruichi said, swinging her arm around Arasaka's shoulders. "This is actually a pretty nice spot."

Arasaka, who had been planning to show off his bottle, suddenly realized it was missing. He looked over to see Yoruichi already holding it, taking a drink with a satisfied expression.

Musashi gave a small nod. "It's…a peaceful place."

"Don't be so stingy with your words!" Yoruichi teased, tossing the bottle toward Musashi. He caught it instinctively, taking a sip before passing it back. Yoruichi's smile widened as she looked between the two of them. "So, do you two have a thing for each other, or what?"

Musashi's eyes widened, and he nearly choked on his drink, coughing to cover his shock. Yoruichi laughed at his reaction, patting him on the back.

"Just kidding! You should've seen your face." She leaned back, grinning. "So, what are your names?"

Arasaka straightened, brushing off his earlier embarrassment. "My name is Yuuji Arasaka, and the one with the scary eyes is my friend, Masaharu Musashi."

Musashi inclined his head respectfully. "Masaharu Musashi, Lady Shihōin."

Yoruichi waved her hand dismissively. "Drop the formalities! Just call me Yoruichi."

They settled down, talking as the night wore on. Yoruichi kept the conversation lively, teasing Arasaka and throwing jabs at Musashi's seriousness, making Arasaka burst into laughter repeatedly. Even Musashi found himself enjoying the time.

"Y'know," Yoruichi said, leaning back and gazing up at the stars, "it's rare to meet students with both skill and a sense of humor. Well, except for you, Musashi." She chuckled, poking him teasingly.

Arasaka grinned, nudging Musashi. "See? Even Yoruichi thinks you're too serious."

Musashi gave him a look, but there was a softness to it. "Maybe one of us has to be."

Yoruichi laughed, clapping Musashi on the back. "I like that answer! You two should keep coming back here—it's been fun."

Arasaka looked at her eagerly. "How about in three days? I'll make sure to bring something even better next time."

Musashi was about to protest, but Yoruichi silenced him with a smirk. "Musashi, you don't get a say. If you don't show up, we'll drag you here. Got it?"

Musashi sighed, finally relenting. "Fine."

Yoruichi gave a satisfied nod. "See you both in three days, then. And bring your best stories." With a flash step, she was gone, leaving the two friends alone by the lake.

As they made their way back to the academy, Arasaka laughed, patting Musashi on the shoulder. "See? Wasn't that better than meditating alone?"

Musashi gave a small smile, nodding. "Yeah, maybe it was."

Arasaka looked at Musashi in horror, his mouth slightly agape as he processed the rare sight of Musashi's faint, unguarded smile. Without a word, Arasaka reached over and pulled Musashi into an exaggerated hug, clutching him tightly.

"What happened to my Musashi, smiling all out of nowhere?" Arasaka gasped, holding him as if in shock. "Are you… are you okay? This is scaring me!"

Musashi let out a half-hearted sigh, his usual stoicism returning as he tried to pry Arasaka off him. "Stop being ridiculous. I smiled—once. It's not the end of the world."

Arasaka clung even tighter. "You don't understand! My stoic, intense Musashi, suddenly smiling in the moonlight—it's like something out of a dream!"

"Then wake up," Musashi replied, shaking his head as he finally succeeded in freeing himself from Arasaka's grip. He gave Arasaka a mock glare, but the small hint of warmth remained in his eyes. "Or I'll make sure you never see it again."

"Alright, alright, I'm done!" Arasaka chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender, though his grin stayed wide. "But seriously… it was good to see you enjoy yourself for once."

Musashi's gaze softened, and he looked out over the moonlit forest. "It was a… nice break," he admitted quietly.

Arasaka's expression shifted from playful to thoughtful as he took in Musashi's words. "I get what you mean. Sometimes it's hard to remember there's more out there than the academy walls." He looked back toward the lake, the surface still and quiet beneath the stars. "People like Yoruichi, they remind us of that."

Musashi nodded, his mind already replaying the night's events—the unexpected meeting with Yoruichi, the lighthearted teasing, and the way she'd managed to break through his defenses, if only for a moment. She'd reminded him that there was a world beyond his own strict, self-imposed limits, and that maybe, just maybe, he could afford to let go, even if only a little.

"Three days, huh?" Musashi murmured, thinking back to Yoruichi's parting words.

Arasaka perked up, grinning again. "Yep! And I'll make sure to bring the good stuff next time." He patted Musashi on the shoulder. "You know, she might not say it outright, but I think she enjoyed our company too."

Musashi didn't respond right away, instead studying the stars reflected in the lake's surface. "Maybe," he said finally. He had the distinct feeling that Yoruichi wasn't the type to spend her time with just anyone. But despite that, she had chosen to stay with them, sharing stories and laughter as if they were old friends.

Arasaka nudged him again, snapping him from his thoughts. "So, Musashi… next time we see her, think you'll smile again?"

Musashi shot him a look, but this time, there was a faint amusement in his expression. "Don't push your luck."

"Aw, come on! I'm serious!" Arasaka laughed, nudging him again as they began walking back toward the academy.

As they approached the academy wall, the quiet serenity of the forest lingered, but with it came a sense of anticipation. They both knew that this wouldn't be the last time they ventured out beyond the academy's boundaries. And perhaps, with people like Yoruichi around, they'd keep finding reasons to see what lay beyond.

When they reached the wall, Arasaka jumped over with ease, his movements as casual as always. Musashi followed, landing lightly on the other side and glancing back toward the forest, where the lake still lay hidden under the moonlight.

"Hey, Musashi," Arasaka called out, his voice softened as he stood waiting on the other side of the wall. "You know, I'm glad we did this."

Musashi looked at him. "Yeah… me too."

(End of a chapter)