paradisalost | [Log : Renji, Byakuya, and Ino]

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[Log : Renji, Byakuya, and Ino]

Who Abarai Renji ([Unknown site tag], Kuchiki Byakuya (

kageyoushi), Yamanaka Ino (

ireadurmind)
What Ino wants to learn more about the (Soul Society) Shinigami, and Byakuya has offered to give a little demonstration~
Where Room 207, and then probably outside ... ?
When Sometime today.
Rating PG-13 at highest? >>;

Ino had to admit, she was a little nervous. Of course she wanted to know as much as she could about what the shinigami did - her boyfriend was one, after all - but what exactly did that Byakuya guy mean by a demonstration? Maybe she should have asked him to specify, but at the time she had been so excited about finally being able to see ... what had Renji called his weapon? Zabimaru? Well, whatever. The fact was that she was learning something new that she hadn't been able to before.

... But there was still the issue of Byakuya, she reminded herself as she walked quietly down the halls. Even if he had seemed like a decent person when she had been talking to him, what she had heard prior to their conversation was still taking top priority in her mind. Someone who Renji had tried many times to beat, but still couldn't? It was a little intimidating. And besides that, wasn't Byakuya supposedly a figure of authority in his world? Ino sighed quietly as they approached the room Byakuya had told her to go to. Squeezing Renji's hand a little tighter than she had probably intended, she knocked on the door quietly.

{ooc: Posting order is Ino, Renji, Byakuya. Eee~ *excited*}

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Renji could sense Ino's nervousness, and he was beginning to wonder what this was all about. Ino had kept him in the dark about all of this, and if it was making her this nervous? What did his taichou just exactly have in mind?

As Ino squeezed his hand he glanced down at the shorter kunoichi, flashing her the slightest smile in an attempt to comfort her in someway, as well as returning the squeeze. He paused before leaning over and kissing her temple, as well. "M'sure it'll be fine," he said quietly. It wasn't like Byakuya would hurt her. That, at least, he knew for sure about all of this.

He rose from the seat in which he'd waited, his suit slacks falling to their proper lengths as he got to his feet, and crossed the room. Byakuya opened the door, and nodded his greeting to the two waiting at his threshold.

"Abarai-fukuteichou, Yamanaka Ino. Do you wish to discuss this more here, or shall we to the grounds to learn more by experience?" He stepped out of the doorway as he asked, to not have his question seem entirely one-sided.

~~~

She blinked and stole a glance at Renji before really taking a look at Byakuya. He didn't seem that scary at all, just nicely dressed. Though it wasn't like she could really judge based on appearances. And now to answer the question, right? Well, if it was a demonstration she was going to get, then wouldn't it be best to just get to it?

She nodded and stepped back a little to make sure she wasn't in his way. "Well, unless discussing is a part of what you wanted to show me, then wouldn't it be best to just go outside?" Ino smiled, hoping he would agree. It was kind of awkward just standing here, anyways ...

Renji was, himself, a bit surprised at his taichou's choice of wardrobe. He was dressed casually as he tended to be, in a simple pair of jeans, a tanktop and one of his usual headbands- now tugged down a littler farther due to obvious circumstances- but then again, Kuchiki Byakuya was a man of style and class. Of course he was, being a noble... and speaking of, he was still wearing the kenseikan. That fact didn't surprise the ex-Rukongai resident in the least.

He nodded slightly in agreement with Ino, while flashing his taichou a questioning look, trying to silently figure out what exactly was in store for Ino when they stepped outside.

Nodding his agreement, Byakuya quickly checked the inside pocket of his jacket. Gikongan in place, he stepped out into the hallway, shut the door behind them, and started walking towards the stairs with a simple, "Very well."

As they started to descend the first few steps, he answered his lieutenant's earlier questioning look without breaking his stride. "She wishes to see some of the extent of your abilities, Abarai-fukuteichou. Thus, she will be getting something of an introduction now. It would do well to have those with whom we ally ourselves aware of what they should expect."

Ino raised an eyebrow, wondering what Byakuya was looking at in his jacket. Doing something like that usually meant you had a weapon, didn't it? Ino placed her fingers lightly near the kunai pack strapped to her leg. Even if it was unlikely that he would hurt her if he was who Renji said he was ... there was a chance he could be an impostor.

She listened silently to Byakuya's explanation, glancing back at Renji. She felt a little bad for not asking him directly, but ... he'd understand, right? More importantly, how the hell was she going to be able to see what was going on? Logically, she would have to become a spirit herself ... but wouldn't she have to die for that to happen? No, Renji wouldn't let that happen to her ... She bit her lip and followed quietly, occasionally glancing back at Renji. Maybe it was to reassure herself, but ... this was still very strange to her.

Renji thought about Byakuya's words for a moment. Introduction...? But how? Ino couldn't-

And then a look of realization crossed his face as the answer struck him. Gikongan. Byakuya was planning to eject Ino's soul from her body?

"Yer gonna...?" While it certainly wasn't dangerous, it wasn't usually something that was done casually to regular humans. But then again... these were different surroundings, and different circumstances, and it was the only way. And it really would be best if she got some idea, at least, of what he could do when he wasn't forced to restrain himself to his gigai.

"Yes," he replied quickly. "This demonstration should be particularly important given that I have released you from all restrictions of Zanpakutou use."

Holding the door open for the couple as they walked to the grounds, Byakuya started for a more deserted corner of the courtyard.

"Tell me, Abarai-fukuteichou, how much have you released Zabimaru while here?"

Ino blinked. So Renji did know what was going to happen? She wanted to ask him to explain, but suddenly they were going through the door out into the courtyard and it was probably too late to ask anyways. And what was this 'Zanpakutou' thing? She could have sworn she had heard the word before, but its meaning was pretty much lost on her.

But she nodded in thanks to Byakuya for opening the door, slightly less nervous and a little more excited now. If Renji wasn't protesting whatever this guy was going to do, then it would be alright, right? She sighed and glanced at Renji, wondering what the answer to Byakuya's last question was. Only once or twice, right? She hoped nobody had been causing enough trouble for him to need to do ... whatever it was ... more than once.

He thought about his taichou's question as he entered the courtyard. He'd only really released Zabimaru during the attack on the castle, where he'd both fought alongside Ino and had went down to Rukia's room to make sure she was okay, right? He was pretty sure that was the only time.

"Only once, taichou. 'N only into shikai," Renji answered, wondering why Byakuya had asked. But he felt that either if Byakuya wanted to give the answer he would, or the answer would eventually show itself.

Nodding, he stopped and turned to face Renji and Ino. Reaching back into his jacket, Byakuya extracted his gikongan carrier, and, pressing the top, extracted one.

He proffered it to Ino as he commented, "This is a 'gikongan', or a 'soul candy', as some of the female Shinigami have pressed to have it called. You put it in your mouth, and your soul is ejected from your body, and temporarily replaced with a manufactured one. No, this will not kill you.

"As this will make you a soul, you will be able to see us once we leave these gigai."

She took the gikongan and stared at it for a moment. "So I just eat this and then I'll be able to see what's going on, huh ... ?" she mumbled. The concept was a little strange ... and so was the name, really, but if that was what she had to do, well ...

Ino hesitated for a moment before taking the 'soul candy' and putting it in her mouth carefully. She kept her eyes closed tightly, not really wanting to see what was happening ... but it felt strange for a moment, before she opened her eyes and blinked. Well, this wasn't too different ... except for the fact that her body was right next to her, about to walk away. She knew she must have looked stupid, watching in amazement at that and looking at herself to make sure she was intact, but ... it was so strange.

Renji snickered at Ino's amazed look, grinning slightly. "Puts a new spin on th' phrase 'out-a-body experience' eh?" he joked, ruffling his hair a bit. He'd gotten used to getting in and out of his gigai without the use of gikongan, though it could be a bit difficult at times if he spent too long in the false body.

With a bit of effort Renji pulled himself out, stumbling back a bit before catching his collapsing gigai before it hit the ground. "S'always a pain ta do that," he muttered, fixing his Shinigami robes with one hand, before glancing over at the spirit of the kunoichi with a slight grin.

Shooting a gikongan into his mouth from the dispenser, Byakuya emerged from his gigai, his hair, Shinigami robes, and captain's mantle fluttering slightly behind him. Taking it in stride, he walked, then reached over, and took hold of the chain tethering Ino to her body.

"This is your chain of fate. As long as this binds you to your body, you are alive. It is not normally visible, or damageable, though with a weapon such as a Zanpakutou, this can be severed."

Placing a hand on the hilt of his sword, he continued, "This is my Zanpakutou, Senbonzakura. Abarai-fukuteichou, when you are ready, and Yamanaka-san has no questions, draw Zabimaru and release him to Shikai for a demonstration, please."

Ino blinked in surprise as the other two seperated from their gigai. Well, Renji certainly looks nice in that uniform~ ♥ she thought, flashing him a smile. Her thoughts were quickly interrupted, however, by the chain in front of her that Byakuya was holding on to. So that was what kept her alive, huh?

She stared carefully at the hilt of Byakuya's sword before turning to Renji again as his name was called. This would certainly be interesting to see ... but first she did have a question. "They all have names, then?"

Renji nodded at Ino's question, drawing the zanpakutou from its sheath. "Yeah, they do. But their names have ta be figured out- they aren't given automatically. 'N sometimes their names aren't ever figured out." Like in the case of a certain taichou he knew.

Lifting Zabimaru, Renji ran his hand across the blade, transforming it into its serrated whip-like form of a shikai. "Zanpakutous have two releases- shikai and bankai. 'N they all look different in their release forms. This is Zabimaru's initial release." He slashed once with the blade, the links extending for a moment before Renji pulled back on the hilt, to bring it back together.

"Indeed. Furthermore, the achievement of Bankai is rare. Those who achieve such are noted in the annals of Soul Society history, records kept by the Kuchiki family."

Releasing Ino's chain of fate slowly, so as to not make her stumble suddenly, Byakuya then turned to Renji and continued, "If you would be so kind as to release your Bankai."

Turning back then to Ino, Byakuya continued, "In order to achieve Bankai, it takes years of work and training. Such an endeavor is a monumentous undertaking, one almost always done alone. One who achieves such, though, has their power grow tenfold, easily."

Ino watched quietly, slightly puzzled at ... well ... what Renji's weapon even was. She definitely hadn't ever seen anything like it, anyways. But oh well, it had to be able to do some damage, otherwise he wouldn't keep using it ... and he wouldn't be a fukutaichou, right?

She blinked at Byakuya as he explained Bankai to her. Another thing that was confusing her ... how did you train for something like that alone? Wouldn't you need a mentor of some kind? Naruto had needed both Kakashi-sensei and Captain Yamato to learn that attack he had done on Kakuzu ... she had needed the Godaime to learn medical jutsu ... how could training alone accomplish anything?

Ino decided not to ask - at least, not now - and just continued watching silently, most likely with a confused look on her face.

Renji paused at the request, then nodded, concentrating on manifesting the gigantic form of Hihiou Zabimaru. After all, he'd learned rather quickly how to get the huge Bankai, and consequently still needed some time to get complete control of it. But after a few moments he got it, and relaxed the zanpakutou at his side.

"Bankai!" There was a momentary flash, before it died down to reveal the gigantic skeletal snake of a sword Zabimaru had become, curled around Renji. Renji himself had changed, a baboon fur now around his shoulders and covering his right arm.

"'N this is my bankai, Hihiou Zabimaru," the fukutaichou said, as the snake lowered its head to gaze at Ino curiously.

Ino let out a small gasp, taking a step back, her eyes wide. Her immediate reaction to a giant snake would be normal to anyone from Konoha, but unfortunately neither of the two men would understand. But after a second glance, she realized that it had nothing to do with Orochimaru - and that she had definitely seen this before somewhere.

"That's the thing you drew before ... in the journal!" she said, a look of recognition on her face. She paused for a moment, before nodding her head towards the snake to ask for permission to touch it. "Is ... Can I ... ?"

Renji blinked at Ino's initial reaction to Hihiou Zabimaru's appearance, furrowing his brows. He knew it could be a surprise, seeing such a thing just suddenly manifest out of seemingly nowhere, but it seemed like... more than that? Like she'd suddenly been reminded of something bad...

He withdrew from his thoughts as Ino spoke, giving her a look of surprise. She remembered that doodle from that long ago? He'd drawn that, what... the first time they'd ever talked? A slight grin of amusement appeared on his face as he noticed her motions though, figuring out what she was trying to get at.

"Sure, go ahead. Ain't like he's gonna bite ya," he reassured, free hand resting on one of Hihiou Zabimaru's skeletal pieces.

His expression stoic, as usual, Byakuya let a small moment pass before he continued. "Bankai is not attainable until one can manifest the spirit of their Zanpakutou at will. All Zanpakutou have unique names, Shikai, commands, spirits, and Bankai."

Drawing his Zanpakutou, he held the sword blade-up before him as he resumed his explanations. "For example, my Senbonzakura is released with this command. Chire."

With the emotionlessly stated word, the blade broke apart into the thousand blades of its Shikai, glittering pink on the ground around him.

Ino nodded at Byakuya's explanation. It was different than what she was used to, but it was beginning to make sense. She backed up a little more towards Renji in case Byakuya's sword did something like his had - and sure enough, it did, though this time it was a lot ... prettier.

She watched the pink ... whatever those things were carefully before speaking up again. This time. she had a question that was mostly unrelated to Senbonzakura, but more relevant to herself. "So ... when you're like this, can you see any spirits? Are there ones that are still invisible even out of the gigai?" she said that last word carefully, as if she was still getting used to it.

He watched the sakura-like sword fragments of his taichou's shikai, knowing from personal experience just how formidable he could be with shikai alone.

Renji glanced over when Ino asked her question, shaking his head. "Nah, ya can see any spirit like that. Whether it's a friendly spirit, or any of th' less than friendly group," he answered, referring to Hollows, Arrancar and all the beings like them.

He thought for a moment, then decided it might be good to explain just how Hollows can to be. "See yer chain of fate?" he asked, pointing to the chain connected to Ino's chest that kept her spirit attached to her body. "When it's severed, it starts ta eat itself. Sounds weird, I know, but when it reaches the plate on yer chest- that's when a Hollow comes ta be formed. If Shinigami don't reach a severed spirit in time ta send 'em ta Soul Society."

[OOC: .... late post is VERY late. -facepalms- REALLY SORRY.]

"Exactly correct. Once a soul has undergone the transformation and become a Hollow, it must be cleansed."

He punctuated his sentence motionlessly with a flurry of Senbon blades, the petals shearing a tree not only of its leaves, but turning that and its branches into fine mulch before returning to his feet.

"A Hollow that is defeated by a Shinigami's Zanpakutou, however, are not killed. Rather, their soul is cleansed, and allowed to rest in Soul Society, so long as their soul is not truly evil."

So they really could see all spirits, huh? She'd have to try Shintenshin sometime to see if Renji could see it, then. After all, it was just essentially shooting her soul at other people in order to possess them ... She made a mental note to never try to use that technique against a Shinigami, especially if they could see her. Dodging it would be a problem for her ... not that she was planning to fight a Shinigami anytime soon anyways.

"Hollow ... like that huge 'Menos' thing from awhile back?" she asked, glancing at the chain. "I mean, I couldn't see it ... but anyone who couldn't hear it must have been deafer than deaf." She paused. "That was before you got here, I think," she said with a nod towards Renji. "And--"

She cut herself off as Byakuya changed the tree to mulch. "... Not bad," she said, grinning at Byakuya. "You can redirect those little things wherever you want, huh?"

After Byakuya was finished tearing up the tree with Senbonzakura, Renji nodded. "Yeah. Not everybody can see spirits normally, but they can affect physical things, just like we Shinigami can. Though Menos are a lot tougher ta beat than a normal Hollow." He remembered when it took three taichous to beat a Menos... before Ichigo came along and forced one to retreat on his own. But Ichigo was an anomaly to everything the Shinigami knew, so.

He stayed silent after his explanation, to allow his taichou to answer Ino's second question.

Waving his hand dismissively at Ino's question, he only replied, "To a high-ranked Shinigami, a Zanpakutou is wielded practically at will. It is something of a coincidence that I wield mine by willing the blades to move."

Returning Senbonzakura to its unreleased state, and sheathing it, Byakuya resumed, "As Abarai-san was saying, there are Hollows, and there are Menos. Each come in varying strengths and abilities, but in essence, a Menos is a much larger threat than any single regular Hollow.

"Yet, to my knowledge, there have been no occurrences of Hollows beyond the single Menos, and there have been no souls needing soul burial."

After a slight pause, he added, "Not all duties of Shinigami are martial."

Ino raised an eyebrow at the answer. She had been expecting something like chakra strings were behind that, but it was that easy for them, huh? That was almost unfair, really. She dismissed the topic as well with a quiet "Uh-huh."

And that was something she had heard, too - though she couldn't remember from who. "Right, you guys send the good souls to heaven and purify the rest." She paused, wondering if that happened at all in her world. She doubted it, because she had never heard or seen something causing destruction like that ... aside from the Kyuubi, but that was when she had been very young. "Those Hollows, are they easy to find? Back in your world, I mean."

He nodded at Ino's question. "Very easy. There's lots a spirits ta be cleansed, 'n Shinigami don't always get ta 'em in time. Plus, Hollows can also be created if th' process of the chain destruction is sped up in some way, or if they're eaten by a Hollow themselves."

Both were a very common occurrence back home. Even with all the Shinigami it was hard to keep up with the rate of the Hollows that appeared daily, and reports of a Hollow attack could take a while to reach them- not mentioning sending the Shinigami out to fight them.

Oh, there was also... "Whenever Hollows are born, they usually go after those they were close to in life- like family, friends- before moving on ta eat th' souls of whoever has th' strongest spirit they can smell."

Byakuya nodded in complete agreeance to Renji's explanation of Hollow nature. "To expand on what my lieutenant has said, there are also Shinigami in Soul Society that monitor the human world for interference by Hollows, and have very advanced technology for doing so. Such is why, when large amounts of Hollows appear in the human world, there is often a Shinigami left there, to attend to them faster."

Ino nodded, taking in this information easily. Even if it wasn't really a problem here or in her own world, it would be useful to know just in case.

"... So ... is there any reason for them to appear in big amounts like that? Or is it all just totally random?"

... And besides the talk about Hollows, she really did want to test the Shintenshin thing. She'd just have to wait for an opportune moment ... And it'd be better if she did it on Renji. Byakuya didn't seem like the type of person who'd take kindly to being posessed.

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[Log : Renji, Byakuya, and Ino]

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[OOC: Sorry about the late reply!]

{ooc: It's alright! <3}

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[OOC: Don't worry about it. Like Teichou-mun, like Fukuteichou-mun? XD]

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