6th Division Barracks-Tamashi
Tamashi stared around his quarters, eyes jumping from one painting to the next. Every wall was covered in various pieces of art, varying from simple landscapes to portraits, all painted by his hand. For most individuals it would bring a smile, or a feeling of satisfaction to the artist, but Tamashi felt no such emotions. Painting was just one of several things he did to occupy his time when he wasn’t out and about doing one of his various duties. With a slow movement he slowly removed the mask from his face, turning it towards him.
“This is the existence I now lead, passing through the world with as little disturbance as possible. What would you think of me now I wonder? Do you still watch over me as you always said you would? Or am I now exactly what I have become. The physical manifestation of nothing.” His dead hazel eyes stared at into the slits of the mask. Without further ado he reset the mask against his face, once again becoming the faceless Lieutenant of the 6th division.
The quiet of Tamashi’s room quickly shattered, as the Captain Commanders voice filled the room, at least from his perspective. As the message ended he stood there for a moment, before lifting his shoulders in a shrug to himself. “I suppose Romiel will be expecting me to at the very least show up. It is a nuisance to be on the bad side of that man. Especially when he decides to send those shrieking horrors of his in a bid to influence my pace.” Tamashi moved over to the mirror on the far wall, more of a glide than an actual walk, and looks carefully over his appearance. With the mask secured there was not an inch of skin exposed, after examining himself from various angles, he nodded before taking off with a shunpo that would put most every other shinigami to shame.
Outside of 10th Division Barracks, Training Ground- Kencho-jo
Kencho looked out at his fellow 10th division members, smiling brightly as they chatted amongst themselves. It warmed his heart to see them all getting along so well, quite the change from when they had first started attending his ‘class’. In all reality it was just a series of lectures, and the occasional training session that he had set up on the recommendation of some of the higher seated members. It had only been a couple of months since Kencho had set aside this time for this, and already the bonds that the still unranked shinigami had formed with each other was formidable.
With a sigh he snapped himself out of his reflective moment. He soon broke his ‘students’ out of theirs as well, the large crack that resounded out from his massive hands slapping together more than enough to accomplish this. Coughing a bit to clear his throat, his booming voice echoed throughout the area. “Alright I know you were all expecting a training day today, but plans have changed. Instead this will be a discussion day, so pay close attention. Now how many of you have ever seen me without my armor on?” Kencho slowly looked around the group, which was comprised of about 15 students. Seeing none of them raise their hands he nodded a bit. “In that case hold on just a moment.” Turning his back to the group he began to remove his armor with practiced ease, starting with the legs and working his way up. As he removed his helmet, which he set off on a small table to the side.
Returning his gaze towards the students he couldn’t help but have a wide grin spread across his lips as he watched their expressions. For most their eyes widened in shock, a couple of the females however had another emotion gleaming in their eyes, one that was not nearly appropriate for their position as his students. While his legs remained covered in a light tan pair of pants, his torso was completely uncovered. While his body was incredibly well toned, that is not what had caught most of the students eyes, with the exception of the girls of course, no it was the layers of scars that crisscrossed his entire torso and even his arms.
Kencho gave the group a moment to come back from their various emotional states, before giving them his signature smile. “This is what happens when you spend your entire life defending the innocent. Every mark upon my body was created while protecting either an ally or an innocent who had no reason to be marked for trouble.” Slowly his smile melted away, replaced with a more serious look. “While the scars I have are proof of my ability to protect they are vastly outnumbered by the wounds I never received, wounds that I would rather have taken myself. Since they did not land on me, they landed on someone else. I am a protector, that has always been my calling, and I know that at least a couple of you are as well even if you have not. I want you all to remember this, if nothing else. You cannot let the weight of the souls you could not protect way too heavily upon you. Carry them as you carry any physical scars you bear, but do not let them tear you apart. Now…” Kencho’s voice faded away as the 3rd seat of 10th division came running up.
“Sorry for the interruption Lieutenant, but it seems the message hadn’t reached you yet. The annual Hakuda tournament is going to start shortly, and everyone that wishes to attend should hurry to the barracks of 7th division!” The shinigami paused after the speech, catching their breath before they took of once again, presumably to inform others who had not yet received the notice.
Kencho just shook his head a bit, before letting his lips form into a smile once more. “Alright any of you who want to participate in the tournament are dismissed. For those who stay the rest of our time will be a training session, so pair off and get started. In honor of the tournament, today will be a Hakuda only session. I will be here if you have any questions.” Kencho moved a little ways away from the group as a couple ran off. Settling himself down he let his eyes roam over the remaining students as they paired off.