As the girl finished her report, she allowed herself to glance at the demented man that was Ochitsuki. She knew if she was first, he was going to be the next to speak. Even though she had her feelings towards the Oda, she was curious about what he had to report. Something about him intrigued and disgusted her all at once. So she watched as he exhaled and started speaking.
”All is well with the Nest, Captain. I indulged them in some minor hand-to-hand combat and have broken their bodies and spirits. Their bodies will heal but their spirits shall not. I do not foresee them attempting any sort of escape, not with the fear I put into them.”
Himari allowed her head to tilt ever so slightly as the man spoke. So, even he knew the concept of fear. Even though she didn’t really like the insane man, she was impressed. She didn’t full on agree with his…methods. But, he did get things done. Which lead him to speaking of the training he had put Himari through since she had started training under his wing.
“The girls' training went well. I exposed her to four poison methods, poison via pores, poison through areal dust like agents such as spores and the like, injection into the bloodstream, and through willing consumption of any food or beverage that may be tampered with. By now her body should have adapted and created immunities to these methods of poison and any attempt to poison her should fail.”
As Oda spoke in detail of the training they have done, Himari herself was a little impressed at herself for going through each and everything the demented Oda had laid out to the Captain before them. Yes, she had a disdain for the man, but thanks to him she was a better component to the Division. She had a new skill under her belt. Even though she hated to admit it, she had to thank him for that.
So, as he turned to glance at her she didn’t return it with its usual glare. She just stared back, no emotion on her face. To Himari, that was enough.
“I have also expanded her pain tolerance as well. It should have dulled her nerves to most forms of pain, beyond knowing that she has been hit it would take more than a few slashes from a blade to slow her down, let alone stop her. This also can translate well to any sort of amateur torture someone may attempt if she were to get captured by an enemy. In conclusion the woman has made… Good progress. That is the end of my report.”
As the man finished speaking, Himari didn’t remove her eyes from him. Being put through the torture, her body being ripped apart over and over again from the man. Even through it all, from Himari’s pain and grown disdain at the man, his main goal was to just follow the Captain's orders.
Finally, it was Oyama’s turn. She wondered what she had to report about the Rukon man. She didn’t truly care for it, but if the Captain felt it enough to have her report it then she had to listen to it.
“A failing on my part Captain, Had I taken control I would have gathered more… Useful information. There are only rumors and hear say about this Rukongai swordsman, that they’ve seen him drunk and asleep on sides of pathway or alleyways. Some saw him at a party the night before the games had begun. We wanted conformation on this report and had casted a wider net from those inner court guard out in the Rukongai, to see if there is consistency in these rumors and hear say. reports came back with consistency of him being drunk, and continues to drink, normally such a man wouldn’t garner any attention, even with the scars he has; he would’ve been labeled as a drunk fighting for his life, yet his display in the games has sparked a rumor among unseated members and Rukongai citizens that he might have been the one to kill the Mad Dog Captain Asakura.’
She knew instantly from the switch of her spiritual pressure and the sound of her voice that it was Furia speaking. Himari almost laughed at this. First, it was a little odd that she was speaking at all. Oyama should be reporting. She felt it a little strange that Furia was showing up at all.
Then, her spiritual pressure shifted again and Oyama finally showed herself and spoke.
“I wish I could report more accurately, though… I don’t think this Rukongai swordsman will reveal anything outside of being a drunken stupor, as the latest report that this team behind me gathered was his location at a bar in the Rukongai. That is the end of my report.”
Well, that was anticlimactic. She allowed herself to glance at the Captain, knowing that he wasn’t going to be happy. He didn’t speak. He didn’t show if he was angry or not. He just sat there, his eyes drifting from the three of them like he was choosing which piece of cattle to slaughter first.
Then his eyes snapped to Oyama. His selection was made.
“Oyama, do you know what pains me the most…next to failure?”
Even though she wasn’t being addressed, a chill ran down her spine. Yep, the Phantom wasn’t pleased. She thinks back to her first meeting with the Phantom, she knew that even though she couldn’t feel it, that Oyama was being drowned in the Phantom’s spiritual pressure.
“A cowardly weakling.”
She doesn't flinch or gasp as she notices the girl being pushed to her knees by the Captain's spiritual pressure. She only allowed herself to silently watch, her face erased of any emotion. The older Himari would have looked at this situation with disgust. But the new one only felt a growing sense of respect.
He went on, his words getting even more heated as he spoke of the poison of fear and how Oyama allowed Furia to speak before she even addressed him. She couldn’t help but agree.
‘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 has 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."
She felt nothing, but she knew Oyama was suffering under the pressure of the Phantom’s spiritual pressure. Having fallen victim to it herself, she watched in amazement as Oyama struggled in the trenches of the Captain’s spiritual pressure.
‘Be grateful coward..that you still draw breath. I wont indulge this kind of foolishness a second time. Now go.``
And as the Captain released Oyama from the assault of his Spiritual pressure, Himari released the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She was shocked that he didn’t do more. This wasn’t the Phantom she read about. One that wouldn’t allow someone to walk away without blood. That intrigued Himari.
The Phantom once again speaks to the Oda, surprising Himari yet again. There was another seated officer she hadn’t faced? And they had the nerve to not come when called? She sort of wanted to know who this person was.
But, Himari’s thoughts were placed on hold. As she watched Oyama and Ochitsuki be dismissed, she was addressed by the Captain.
“You’ve adapted well.”
Himari says nothing, just stares back at the Phantom as he leans forward.
“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."
She wasn’t shocked to hear he expected little from her when she first showed up to his Division. She wasn’t even hurt by his words. She had felt the same. The Himari who showed up in front of the Phantom that time was nothing. A girl who was heading straight to die in her own fear, her own coward-ness. The one standing before him now…Had a changed resolve.
What did shock her, was that the Phantom had seen something in her to even say it reminded him of someone who served under him before. Even though he didn’t speak of who the person was, she knew that it was someone who he respected and held high regard for. And for the very first time, Himari had felt seen. Acknowledged.
But he didn’t stop there.
“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."
She didn’t move as the Captain got up from his seat, heading straight to her. Silent. His eyes are not straying away from hers.
“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. Make your choice.”
She didn’t say anything for a few long moments. She just stood there, her hands now going to grab onto the halt of Fudo myōō. She didn’t move it to draw it, but instead to feel him. She knew what he would want her to choose. She had to become someone that wasn’t the old Himari. Someone worthy of wielding him or he would kill her himself.
The woman who was going to wield him wasn’t going to be the young girl who stayed hidden in the Fifth Division. The women to wield him wasn’t going to be the young girl who was scared to kill, drained in her own fear of…Nothing.
And just like that, she allowed herself to bring her right hand to her chest, fist balled into an upright fist. She stood tall, her eyes showing her determination.
“If you are willing to teach me, I will humbly accept your proposal of being your Student, sir. Guide me as you see fit.”