The Phantom's ghostly amber hues fix themselves upon young Himari. She once again proves herself to be a capable asset, a quick study 一 straightening her posture, arms placed and fixed behind her back before proceeding with her report, her heterochromatic eyes meeting her Captain's gaze. How bold.
The woman oddly enough does not open with the death of the Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, but rather her follow-up to his death. He listens as she regales him with her venture at the thirteenth, sharing with him the limited fruits born from her covert venture. It seems she wasn't able to glean much. This is no demerit to the proactive Himari who did well I getting that far. On the contrary she has succeeded, not in uncovering any more information regarding the death of young Katsuo, but in discovering the disorganization of the Thirteenth division, their lack of resourcefulness and inability to perform under pressure. It is a gap in the Thirteen Court Guard squads, one that needs mending sooner rather than later.
Himari upon completion of her report is granted no words, no head nod, no act of acknowledgement. Instead, Kyomu's eyes simply shift from her towards Ochitsuki.
The demented Oda begins with his report regarding the maggots squirming and worming about within the nest. As expected, Ochi confidently attests to have broken the bodies, hearts, and more importantly the spirits of those considered far too dangerous for one reason or another to be allowed to roam about freely, integrated with their fellow shinigami. It would be convenient if that were true. This was not the Captain doubting his fourth seat's ability, but rather him not underestimating the spirit of one who feels wronged, one that hungers and thirsts for freedom...for revenge. While the chances of one or more of the maggots being capable of deceiving the Oda into falsely believing he had broken them are extremely low, the odds
weren't zero.
Now, it was time for the
real report. He listens intently as he is informed on Himari's tolerance towards poisons, drugs and toxins having gone well. While the Oda reports that none of those methods will work on her, Kyomu knows differently. There are a variety of poisons, toxins, venoms and drugs that could still be used, also in various combinations. The foundation to a strong resistance has been formed, but...there was still work to be done. As Ochitsuki goes on, his report reflects what Kyomu has observed the moment she appeared before him. That there is a fire within her, that not just progress has been made, but significant progress. With the conclusion of Ochi's report, the Phantom's eyes drift back over to Himari. He doesn't say anything as he studies the woman, gauges and looks
through her. It is uncertain as to what he is thinking about while staring so intently. Himari would have to be left wondering, as the Captain's attention is finally pulled by the last to report, Fifth Seat Oyama Hoshi.
When it is her turn instead of simply reporting as she was told, the young girl cowers and shrinks behind her safety blanket called Furia. The cowardly Hoshi leaves her tougher half to bear the brunt of her failure. As Furia begins, she attempts to shoulder the blame from Oyama, however she succeeds only in furthering the failure between the two. Furia's words imply that she held the capacity to take over at any time to ensure that they had succeeded, but made a conscious choice not to. By failing to take control to ensure the success of their mission, by failing to refocus the distracted Oyama she has ensured that both of them have fallen below the expectations of their Captain. Yet the Phantom does not react, he continues to listen, waiting for either more excuses to come, or to be surprisingly met with something besides further pathetic explanations for their failure.
Furia provides the Captain with nothing new, reporting information able to be obtained simply from being in the presence of the man he was forced to fight. He already knew Suiyo enjoyed his liquor, already perceived the man to be, at face value a drunk. Information about him further drinking and partying served nothing, the man had displayed remarkable skill in swordsmanship. This meant he wasn't just some lowly nobody within the Rukongai. Even the information regarding him being suspected for Captain Asakura's death is a conclusion Captain Oda had come to and personally informed Kyomu about. After Furia concludes the report of their failure, Oyama the coward creeps back to the surface like a timid animal.
The Phantom's Will
The three before him stand in silence, united under the gaze of the Captain. Eyes drift from Oyama, to Ochitsuki then Himari...and then from her to Ochitsuki, then back to Oyama. The time taken to look over each one of them varying from person to person, as if the Phantom was mulling something over regarding them as individuals.
"Oyama-"
Where Oyama had been addressed last, it seems she is the first to be spoken to this time around.
"Do you know what pains me the most...next to failure?"
His eyes narrow down upon the girl as the room appears to grow dimmer, darker. The floorboards begin to creak under the weight of an unseen force 一 it was of course, the Captain's spiritual pressure. Typically completely subdued, insulated and suppressed this time it comes bearing down, its focus is discriminant, isolated solely on Oyama. His question to the blue haired girl was clearly rhetorical as he gives her no time to give an actual response.
"A cowardly weakling."
The words spat out were cold like ice, sharp like a dagger, and stinging like potent venom. The reiatsu weighing down on the young Hoshi doubles, then triples in its focus and intensity. The sound of the creaking floorboard grows louder as the wood begins to splinter, unable to endure the abuse being brought upon them thanks to Oyama's actions.
"Fear is a poison to which you should be resistant to by now. It is a weapon to be exploited by us, wielded against both our enemies...and our allies. Instead of wielding fear you pathetically become its victim, cowering behind your other personality like a sniveling child. So weak..So sad...so pathetic."
With every word spoken, the Captain's disgust becomes more apparent, almost palpable. This disgust stems not only for his hatred for those serving under him being timid and cowardly, something he has mistakenly endured in the past, but because he actually expected more from Oyama. Her zanpakuto was one he considered perfectly ideal for assassination, fit for an agent of the Onmitsukido. He saw potential in the young Hoshi's ability, yet right now he does not see what he once perceived when welcoming her into his division. Instead he is reminded of the others who came before her, timid little things, unfit to be used for spying or killing. They were not assets, they were burdens, and right now Oyama is perceived in equal light. It was clear Kyomu was well aware that Oyama had failed to retrieve anything of note, which is why he specifically had her go last, and focused on the task she was meant to be completing, a task she failed in due to...distractions.
"Your job in gathering intel isn't to be reliant on the target to reveal something himself, but to scour the earth to discover whatever imprints left behind by the man. I know that he is a drunk, I also know he is suspected of Captain Asakura's death, Captain Oda has already said as much. What I don't know is where in the Rukongai he originates from, how he obtained his zanpakuto, and how someone as skilled as him as remained under the radar until now. I also do not know why you felt the need to bring the Inner Court Troops here, I have no need for them for it is YOU Oyama Hoshi, the one who leads them that I must hear from."
The Captain lists the woman's failures, her mistakes as the intensity of the reiatsu constricting her only grows steadily, without end. Pushing back with her own reiatsu ran the risk of upsetting the Captain further, besides...it would be like an infant kicking against the grip of a boa constrictor already tautly coiled around them, strangling the very air from their lungs. Times like these Furia typically took to the forefront to shield her weaker half but...Oyama had already made the mistake once in cowering behind Furia in front of Kyomu..what would he do if she did so a second time? While Himari and Ochitsuki can see Oyama's struggle, they remain ignorant to the feeling she is experiencing, such is the control the Phantom holds over his reiatsu. Kyomu allows his words, his ire to sink into Oyama, soak into her very bones before suddenly..the weight upon her is lifted.
"Be grateful coward..that you still draw breath. I wont indulge this kind of foolishness a second time. Now go."
Despite both the harshness of his words and his treatment of Oyama, she is in a unique position, one rarely afforded to those under the Captain's employ. Though reprimanded the Phantom does not draw her blood, nor does he kick her from his squad or strip her of her position. Oyama, if she is able to look beyond her own fears, and her failure will see that she has been given a second chance. A second chance to prove the Captain was not mistaken in trusting her, a second chance to prove she wasn't a liability. Would she rise to the occasion, or squander the opportunity granted to her?
"Ochitsuki-"
As Oyama who has been dismissed, should be in the process of leaving she is able to hear Kyomu address the Oda next.
"I believe I called for all my seated officers. As you can probably tell Hitsugaya is dead, and Shinobu is once more bed ridden due to her illness. Utsuro however...has no excuse not to answer my call. Find the Kuchiki...handle this situation. I leave it to you..now go."
Where Oyama was reprimanded, Ochitsuki instead is entrusted with a task. Utsuro Kuchiki, on the surface she appears to be the perfect weapon. Devoid of will, an automaton in the guise of a Shinigami almost. Yet, where was this tool when called upon? A tool that couldn't be used, lost its purpose as a tool. He left the matter to Ochitsuki to handle however he saw fit.
Both Oyama and Ochitsuki had been dismissed from the meeting hall, which left only Himari with Kyomu. It is only once the other two are gone, along with the Inner Court Troops needlessly brought along by Oyama, does he finally address the blue haired woman.
"You've adapted well."
The seconds tick by forever before Kyomu's voice is finally heard, and what it is...it is surprisingly in praise of young Shimizu. The Captain leans forward, his posture relaxed, his face still masking his thoughts.
"When you first came to me, I admit...I expected little from you. However, in your short time here you've shown a resilience, a fire and drive I've seen only in one other person within this division that has served under me."
Kyomu does not bother naming the person of whom he is comparing Himari to. From his words alone, it is obvious he held such a person in high regard. Part of what Himari had strove to accomplish appeared to be happening right here and right now. She and her efforts were being acknowledged. Yet, there was more to be said.
"I offer you an opportunity, Himari Shimizu. I will teach you to become strong, I will teach you how to shed your weakness...I will teach you how to kill."
Kyomu rises up out of his seat, his silent steps carrying him forward until he is standing directly before Himari, staring into her heterochromatic eyes.
"Become my student. You will move as I move, learn what I know. You'll be my shadow, where I go so too will you. We will take that fire burning inside you...and use it to forge you into a weapon."
He gives her a minute to weight his words, to take into consideration all that he has said, and all that he offers to her. There is no deception in his words, no hidden meaning, no subterfuge to be had. What he offers is a choice and...if Himari was the woman he perceived her to be, he knew what choice she would make.
"Make your choice."
