Healing Up (Open to One)

Her whole fucking body hurt and as the bandaged 4th Seat looked over the field of her defeat, she wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it all. She’d been humbled by the Captain, defeated so easily that she’d barely made any mark on her superior at all. It was both disgusting and embarrassing for the blue haired beast but at the same time, she felt rather invigorated as well. Her weaknesses had been laid out in front of her, so clearly that even she’d been forced to acknowledge them. There was so much more to learn, to discover and while there had been many instances where she’d considered leaving the Gotei due to her lack of desire to conform, she had to admit that there was more for her to gain as a member for the time being. She’d joined for power and until she’d managed to master her own, there was unlikely to be a better place for her to train.

There was another reason for her staying and that was the promise that she’d made the Captain at the end of the contest between them. Armina had vowed to face her again, once she’d reached her peak and that was quite the motivation for the six foot savage. Respect was something that she simply didn’t feel for those around her and while she doubted that her pitiful display made much of an impression on Captain Nagoshi, Armina had come to respect the fighting prowess of her superior. More than that, she felt a similar rumbling, that desire to take life without a moment's hesitation. That killing instinct was so lacking among the Gotei and to finally find it among the organisation was somewhat of a relief. Captains had come and gone during her time and none of them seemed to have the intent of the current 4th squad Captain. It was enough for Armina to remain.

For once, she wasn’t in the training grounds to practise her own skills and was simply drinking from a flask that she carried with her. Strong spirits that could probably knock out a weak stomached peon but Armina wasn’t in the mood for anything less and after the beating she’d taken, she felt that some booze was in order.

“The girl who healed you said that you shouldn’t be drinking so soon.” The voice of her Zanpakuto uttered in her mind, teasing as always.

“That’s rich coming from you. You’d never listen to a Healer if your life depended on it.” Armina growled.

“I wouldn’t get hurt in the first place.” Her sword snapped back.

“I’ll hurt you in a minute...” The six footer warned in return.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time. Maybe once you’ve healed I’ll consider it.” The voice chuckled darkly before disappearing.

“Bitch.” Armina grumpily hissed.

Quiet times and busy minds. Dedicated work and a lesser will to kick back and have fun had taken a bit of a drag on Tento's body. The effort of patrols outside in the world of the living after the failed defense was a tailwind that lifted Tento's morale ever so slightly, but the bitter taste of it remained all the same. With a refined and renewed vigor he took his duties pushing his combat preparation up three fold. Work and isolation, that was what he had been since recovering from that day. And boy did he go into his mind trying to figure something out.

And one thing was for certain after doing all that in a bit more.

…

The man needed to sit at a bar and just breathe.

The 10th seat was practically deaf to the news occupying the 4th division over the last few months. Return of some standing members from vacation, old faces causing a bit of stir with Captain Kanae, a bit of a fuss with another among other divisions. Tento pretty much burned out a lot of division focus after burying his comrades and bringing remains to family members.

Either way, walking into the 4th division compound, he was in for a sight. A beautifully tall blue hair maiden…mummy. Mummy bandaged looking women, obvious from the…endowment of her chest area. A flask in hand as the women stood in the middle of the training grounds. For one thing or another Tento wondered if the person should be drinking when looking so messed up. Then again, even if by her location she was a member of his division; was this even his business? He blinked and just thought as he could hear the feminine voice growling and talking to herself, a likely heated conversation with their Zanpakuto. Either that or a bit of a cray cray sign. He rubbed the back of his head and began to walk. Either way he had to get through here to get to his barrack. “Got a spar cup?”, he half heartedly asked almost passing by.

To be snapped out of her inner musings quite so suddenly was a surprise and Armina’s head snapped around rather quickly, with a gaze that could melt lead. She didn’t recognise him but that was hardly a surprise, given the fact that the 4th Seat rarely spent any time with her squadmates, outside her small group and most of the rank and file had quite the grudge with her anyway after she’d frozen them solid during her spar with the Captain. Not a great way to form bonds but she couldn’t have given less of a shit about that. Captain Nagoshi had offered some pearls of insight but not one of them was regarding getting closer to her squadmates. Just the opposite in fact.

On any other day, she wouldhave told the man to fuck off and leave her alone but today was one of reflection. More than that, Armina simply lacked the strength to get into another confrontation so soon. The acid that she had been struck with had been brutal and even after healing, she could still feel its sting. So, instead of biting his hand off, she’d fumble around for a second cup, before handing it to him, followed by her flask. “Help yourself.” She answered simply, looking irritated that she’d been interrupted but nothing more than that for now.

In truth perhaps he should not have said anything after all while he was on his way to his barracks. Keep it pushing instead
But a bit of relaxation and chatting with a squad mate was always good for his soul. But aaaaah….nah perhaps it was a bad idea. Even if she handed him a cup and the flask that burning look was not the sort that he liked to receive from a woman, let alone anyone. Well, he was here now, so…

“Thank ya”, Tento said in a warm light voice as he took the cup and flask in hand. Filling the cup up before extending the flask up to the bandaged unknown mummy woman. From her voice he was not able to put a finger to who she may be, but it felt like a voice he was unfamiliar with. And with how she was looking, that was out the window as well. Either way he took a sip to get the taste of the drink. Liquor. An alright one he supposed. Hopefully it was making her mood better and not more irritated then she was starting to look. Without another wordless Tento took a few steps away, moving to sit down with a soft sigh before taking another sip, eyes closed in a deep inhale after.

Taking the flask back, Armina would pour out another cup for herself and knock it back without any real thought, the fiery liquor somewhat easing the pain of her wounds. How long had it been since she’d last been defeated so easily? The answer was rather simple. Never. Defeat wasn’t something that she’d experienced in her pre Gotei days, when she’d simply slaughtered all those who’d stood in her way. Sex, violence and blood had been her life back then, with there still being moments now when the 4th Seat wished she could return to those days. Life in the Gotei simply couldn’t compare to the freedom that the Rukongai had granted her. Yet, her craving for power had led her to the squads and like it or not, she was stronger for joining.

Sensing that the male was still close by, she’d gaze at him once again, as though her blue orbs were trying to pierce through him. Now that she had a better look at him, the 4th Seat still couldn’t recognise him although that was as much because Armina never looked at a guy twice. A woman? Well, that was different.

Still, he seemed cordial enough and eventually she broke the silence, her tone rather grumpy still but not overly hostile. “I take it you’re in the 4th as well?” She mused it was probably the case but hotheaded Shinigami from other divisions were known to sometimes come, looking for a challenge.

Tento had his hands resting, nested on his bent knees as they hanged. The tips of his fingers holding just under the edge of the cup he was holding. For a moment there was not raving thoughts going in his mind about the people he had failed. Comrades of the 4th and other divisions laid to rest. Of the unnerving thirst for combat and blood that was becoming stronger and stronger inside of him. Different. Not him. Nor a desire to play his goofy persona. Just a calm neutral state of peace. Despite those piercing deep blue eyes gazing at him.

Still he could not place this woman's voice and he could only guess she was a fellow member at the 4th. This was soon answered by her question, “yep. I assumed you were too given you here and looking”, he said doing a general up and down wave. Gesturing to her full body bandaged mummy look. “Tento Zefa, if ya wanted to know but eh”, he said rather calmly. Relaxing further allowing her space to speak. Her name or something else if she wished.

“Armina Willsaam, 4th Seat.” The six footer replied in kind, feeling hospitable enough to at least reveal that much. She noticed his glancing towards her rather battered form and mused to herself that his assumption made sense. There wasn’t a day that went by where at least one of the squad were getting their asses handed to them although Armina had honestly not expected to have ever been in that position herself. Still, it’d given her that push she needed and her training once she’d recovered would be ten times as hard. There was nothing else for it at this stage. In order to progress further, she’d have to go beyond her limits.

She pondered whether to explain the reason behind her condition to him or not but given the looks he gave her, Armina figured that it’d probably come up anyway in the end. “The Captain’s work. I requested a spar against her and this is the result. Never been defeated so quickly in my life.” Her tone made it clear that she wasn’t exactly happy about it but there was respect there too for her, their superior. She had served under many in her time in the 4th but Captain Nagoshi was something else. An aura of death was what she had, something that Armina would be lying if she said that she didn’t crave too.

The taste of the liquor tickled his tongue once again. Then proceeded to burn his throat. “Blaah”, he said in a mixture of enjoyment of the taste and dislikement of the way it went down. Huh…was rough this take. For less than the surprise about who this person was. “Ohhhh, so you are our 4th seat? Good to finally meet yea”, Tento said in a mixed laid back happy tone.

Tento thought he would just chill and talk. Relax. But finding this out was a sweet treat! Every muscle of his six foot seven inches frame tensed at excitement. He would have to find a good time to request a spar once she fully recovered. He looked forward to seeing what she could do and experience a thrilling fight.

That little thing he was looking forward to turned into a very big thing when he heard about the source of his recovery. “Oh ho ho, one on one with the Captain? Now I'm curious about what you can do”, Tento said leaning forward in his seat a little. She felt strong just by her energy, and although he could not examine how toned her body looked at first glance being in the division he assumed she had some decent physical capabilities as well. But to ask for a spar one on one of all things, either she had no idea how strong Captain Kanae was or, she held an extreme level of confidence. Either way, the 10th seat was piqued.

“I can imagine, I only fought her in a team simulation and I was still bandaged up for awhile after not really getting her to sweat”. He had to think about it, but there was talk of a spar with Kanae happening recently. One he had not much details about, nor the one involving Shura now that he thought about it. Eh, he was not much of the gossip type anyway, but he would have loved to see them fight!

He would drop it there though. He did not want to sour her mood, further than how it already was, talking about it more than needed. from her tone and the looks she was giving this entire time, it was clear she was in a foul mood already. Best to try and change the subject. “But there's no need to talk about things like that are of much interest to you. How long you got bandaged up?”.

“Mmm.” The six footer replied, uncertain as to whether she should say likewise or not. He seemed alright compared to most of the scum in the Division but Armina had never been fond of men and there was still some suspicion on her part. A fight was, for once, not what she was after though and so she refrained from being overly rude. Her mind kept drifting back to her fight with the Captain, every strike, every parry and every painful wound that had scarred her body. That bloody acid was foul and Armina knew that next time, she’d have to be fucking ready for it, otherwise she’d be in serious trouble. Captain Nagoshi was hard to read but the woman had at least offered her a rematch in the future which the 4th Seat considered to be a compliment or as close as she would get from the Captain.

“I hit her with all I had and turned this training ground into an ice rink but all I did to her was freeze her damn feet.” She recalled with an unhappy sight, disappointed in herself for just how little she had accomplished. Yes, there was obviously going to be a difference between herself and her superior but to find out by just how much had been startling. “Her acid went straight through my Bankai’s armour like a knife through butter. Embarrassing doesn’t begin to describe it.” Saying such things pissed her off somewhat but it was the truth and there was nothing she could do about it. All she could do was train hard enough that it didn’t happen again.

To hear that he’d been on the receiving end of the Captain’s wrath wasn’t that surprising to the 4th Seat and she mused. “I’m not at all surprised. I doubt that anyone comes out of battle unscathed against her. It's an inspiring thought to have a Captain who is so ruthless though and I certainly plan on scoring a strike or two on her the next time I fight her.”

In answer to his question, she’d cock an eyebrow and reply. “A few days I imagine. I’d quite happily return to training now but the 2nd Division were rather insistent.”

A lady in thought, either a very good thing or a not so very good thing for him. But which would it be in terms of Armina? The ebony 10th seat finished his drink in one last gulp before placing the cup softly on the ground. In the back of his mind Tento began to think about this 4th seat, he did not know anything really of Armina. Her presence and history of character in the 4th Division was nothing but a blank white space for his memory bank.

The offer of battle was put out for later, telling if that would be accepted later and in what way was yet unable to be seen. He would just have to be a patient man for when that time came. With Armina continuing to speak he was able to get a bit of information about her match against Captain Kanae. It seemed she did more than put on a show, turned the training ground to an ice rink huh? That was a bit crazy to hear, and yet it was not enough to truly challenge their Captain. It hurt from the sound of her voice. Not physically but as much as her pride sounded wounded it may as well have been. A pride he felt a kin to and so he chose to not comment on how effective her attacks were or how readily her defense was cut through.

So many people were using Bankai in spars against Kanae though… first Shura and now Armina. Both barely scratched situations or nothing at all. “Absolutely, I dount anyone in our Division could at current standing. No one within the Gotei can go against here unharmed in my belief. And that's a good thing, it means that if she has to come to the battlefield our enemies will have something waiting for them”. Tento said in a bit of dialogue.

Now he would not be the one to say inspiring. If anything though it was good when it came to a warrior. But beyond that he had no complaints about her. She had done no wrong to the division since she had taken over. She was professional, she did her job. Distant sure, but a closeness was not a requirement of a Captain. "oh ho ho? Got a rematch promised? You got heart, I like your spirit Armina. Respect”, he said with a bit of gusto liking how she was responding to such a wall before her.

With her eyebrow cocked she answered his question. A hmm… now why did she do that?? He nodded his head in response. He was just curious of how long a fellow 4th division would be bounded up.

“Well that sounds a bit boring. Not being able to work uo. Sweat, hopefully you can find stuff to pass the days though”, that would be hard though. If she was not allowed to train then most duty orders were thrown out too.