Solace 5/12
Things returned to normal and Yylfordt started showing up again, although the rapport he had established with him was all but washed away, doubtlessly dealt a heavy blow during his ‘sickness’. He had also fallen quite out of practice, but what he had lost during that time was quickly recovered. Soon, they found themselves on the porch of his estate talking about various things, and again, he got to see the man’s face light up and smile as he forgot the pain and the differences between them, if even only for a fleeting few hours.
As he bowed and left early to enjoy the moon, Ukitake decided it was best to follow him at a distance. He kept his reiatsu in check to blend into the surroundings. They were headed in the direction of Sokuyoku Hill taking what had to have been the most obscure way there.
Yylfordt paused in a stand of bushes and trees, looked around and drew out something he had tucked into his shitagi; his hollow skin clothing. He began stripping and Ukitake couldn’t help but watch in awe as this flawless being slid into that curious outfit. He then pulled his uniform over him, leaving his kimono open and his obi hung around his neck. He then fumbled around in the bushes and picked up his two swords; the one he arrived with and the academy issued zanpakuto.
When they arrived he slipped into the underground training facility, the once secret training ground of Urahara Kisuke. Ukitake stayed behind waiting near the entrance to let his student do as he needed and monitored the activity of his cleverly disguised reiatsu from the outside. Hours later, he slipped inside when he felt his student waver in frustration like he did when he first tried to use kido.
Ukitake found the young man seated in the middle of the room surrounded by simulated cliff sides, mesas and mountains under a simulated daytime sky. His twin blades were laid out in front of him.
He walked over to where the man was sitting deep in mediation and was steadily growing more and more frustrated.
Yylfordt sighed heavily, opened his eyes, spotted his instructor in front of him and with a fright, glanced quickly to where his straw hat lie on the ground nearby then back at up at his friendly smile.
“Don’t worry; I knew I’d find you here.” He opened his hands to show he was no threat. “You know, your zanpakuto isn’t going to reveal itself if you aren’t used to using it.” He paused glancing at the two blades, certain that the only thing now the man could possibly have issues with was that. “That sword seems very important to you, Granz-san. Have you ever thought about dual wielding?” With that he unsheathed his zanpakuto and challenged him to a friendly duel.
“Are you sure about this?” Yylfordt looked at him uneasy. He didn’t care for the idea of taking his sword to his instructor.
“Of course I am, now watch closely and follow me.” He recited his incantation to open Sogyo no Kotawari’s shikai state, so that he had two swords to teach with.
He held them out to guard and opened his stance, motioning once for Yylfordt to mimic him. After demonstrating how to use one blade to defend and one to attack, he told him to go at him and then effortlessly blocked the student’s blows. He pointed out where the man failed to defend himself and every way that he might have been killed had this been a real fight by bringing his blade within inches of his body. With the ease that he used his attacking sword, it was obvious that Yylfordt was a skilled swordsman; however, his defense was wobbly at best. He didn’t quite grasp the concept of using the two in tandem, his blocking sword forgotten, hanging limp by his side while he attacked, or brought up to catch Ukitake’s blade too late when he dodged. A couple times he struck and blocked with the same blade, meaning he had to work twice as hard against the speed of his instructor’s two blades. When they finished, he was panting, out of breath. His whole body ached from his effort.
He was grateful to sit down to rest and talk about the experience, the good natured camaraderie thick in the air, a welcome change. It was not long before they were candidly talking about other things. Ukitake watched his student with the air of someone who was in love for the first time, without meaning to, he found himself lost in his student’s eyes.
“Ukitake-sensei…” Yylfordt choked the words out, changing the subject to something that had been bothering him since he started in the Academy. “Do you recognize me from anywhere?” He asked finally.
He dipped his head down hiding his face behind his bangs, underneath the polished bony plate on top of his head. He displayed the same far off turmoil and distance from before.
Yylfordt, even in his happiest moments is still a lost soul… Ukitake thought to himself as he felt a pang of sorrow for his student.
“Of course I know you from somewhere. You are one of my students are you not?” He asked with a light chuckle, his voice soft and comforting. “Look, Yylfordt-san. It is not my place to judge you no matter how different you are from the others.”
He ran the back of his index finger through the man’s golden locks, pushing them aside, briefly passing over the cool hard bony streaks, attached to his remnant that separated them from the rest of his hair.
“Chin up Yylfordt Granz, brother of Szayelaporro Granz.”
He held his finely tipped chin to look at him, seeking his coffee brown eyes and held them there. A small smirk tugged at his lips as the man froze in fear at those words, obviously not expecting to hear him say that.
“Come on, let’s get going. I don’t know about you, but I have to get some sleep tonight.” He rose to his feet and offered a hand to help the bewildered student to his feet.
He led him back to his room, past the buildings of the Seireite and through the Academy doors. They walked together in silence lest they woke any sleeping students. When they got there he paused, before saying goodnight.
“Why don’t you come to my estate for tea this weekend, Yylfordt-san? You can bring company if you want. It will be a nice change from all the training we have been doing,” he said.
“Thank you Ukitake-sensei. I would like that.” He bowed in respect.
“Goodnight, young one,” he replied, bowed and then turned to leave.
Yylfordt slid the shoji door shut and slowly made his way up the ladder to his bunk, hoping not to wake Yumichika, who slept peacefully on the bottom bunk, splayed over the covers with a small line of drool from the top of his bottom lip, still wearing his uniform.
Meanwhile, Ukitake made his way back to his Division. As he did, he looked up at the brilliant half moon, that shown down on him casting a silver sheen on his pale face and hair. He tucked his hands into his shikuhasho sleeves, protecting them from the chill of the night air.
As he walked back he wondered if Yylfordt missed the sands he came from, if that was why he preferred the moonlit night.
Perhaps that’s a conversation for another day, he mused, then hummed to himself all the way back to his office.
The morning on the day of the tea party Ukitake rose early, taking a long stretch and yawn before he climbed out of his futon. He went out onto the porch, to bask in the morning glow of the sun and then make sure that everything was ready for when his guests arrived. Although he wished to perform a tea ceremony he wanted the atmosphere to be relaxed and put out a simple table and four of his most opulent pillows for them to rest on. He brewed some tea, and put the pot on the table, on top of a stone warmer, surrounded by four small cups and a dish.
He looked out at the garden outside. The patio was covered partially by the overhang of the ceiling of his first floor, and had a waist high railing with a decorated filigree around it. Three steps led out onto a cobblestone walkway into the front yard. Cherry trees and twisted trunk short-pine trees dotted the landscape. An impressive stone jutted out of the one side of the yard surrounded by more stones artfully arranged around it. Nearby it a small stream flowed over shimmering pebbles. Flowers adorned the rim of the patio and the estate was surrounded by low concrete walls that were on either side of an open gate.
It wasn’t long before the three men came walking up through the cobblestone path to his house, Renji leading the way, Yylfordt close behind him and Hanataro behind them. Yylfordt walked with his head downcast, while the other two talked and laughed.
He’s reserved and guarded even among his best friends, Ukitake sighed heavily.
The three walked up to the patio, leaving their shoes at the entrance and bowed to him. He motioned for them all to sit down and they knelt on the pillows. He grinned warmly as he poured fresh hot tea for the three of them and then himself.
“Welcome, please make yourselves at home.” He said as he handed their glasses to them.
He opened a cloth bag containing teacakes and candies, placing it on the dish in the center of the table for them to munch on while they enjoyed their tea.
Yylfordt regarded the food coldly. He twirled the cup in his fingers and watched the green liquid shimmer with the rays of the morning sun. He didn’t know what to make of food or drink, but instead used it as a distraction to calm his nerves. Although he considered them to be his friends he was still not comfortable with them and it showed.
Ukitake watched them keenly aware of the disconcerted look on Yylfordt’s face. The student sat between Renji and himself. Every time the scarlet haired student glanced at him, the man shifted uncomfortably in his seat, forcing himself to glare hard at his tea, regardless of the subject at hand. If he hadn’t known better, the older man could have sworn he saw his student blush.
“Yamato-san, you met Yylfordt first right?” Ukitake asked, hoping to break the ice.
“Yes.” He smiled back, munching happily on a teacake.
“How did you and Granz-san meet, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Hanataro smiled and chuckled slightly. “I met Yylfordt-san in the Rukongai district one day. He was really hungry so I fed him. He looked powerful and I noticed his clothing was made of hollow skins, so I said he should join the academy.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess you can say I’ve been looking after him ever since.” He ran a hand through his hair absently.
Yylfordt flushed at the answer. He picked up a teacake, rubbed it in his hands and broke it in half before eating it, trying not to show his nervousness. He remembered that day well; when he first walked into Soul Society, ripe with the intense desire to devour the people that filled the bustling avenues of the Rukongai while he listened to their whispers of awe and admiration; watched them point at him and wonder where he came from. All the while he feared that somehow the local shinigami would find out who he was and kill him on the spot. He was thankful his brother had the foresight to invent an amulet to hide his reiatsu, so that he couldn’t be automatically identified.
“How are classes going?” Ukitake asked the students.
“Heh, they could be better, but I’m not worried.” Renji breathed and cocked his head to the side. I
“I’m doing well in most of my classes…except yours.” Yylfordt responded, to which the instructor and Renji merely laughed.
“Meh, I’m not too good at kido either. Either you have it or you don’t.” Renji shrugged and then tossed back his cup, downing the liquid in one gulp and asked for another glass.
Yylfordt watched the muscles and sinew in the other man’s neck ripple with the movement then glanced away, pulling his lips into a tight-lipped grimace and looking up into his hat. He folded his hands on top of his lap and thrummed his thumbs to hide the conspicuous bulge that began to form there. He began wondering if it was a good idea to have invited Renji in the first place, as the deeper, more animalistic recesses of his brain started to fancy activities completely unrelated to sharing tea with him.
They continued talking till the sun sat high in the sky around mid-day, laughing and carrying on. The more they talked, the more Ukitake watched the man’s small nuances regarding Abarai verses how he reacted around the smaller Yamada. Although he started the day rigid with uncertainty, he did lighten up by the end of the morning tea.
After they finished, they got up to go their own ways. He bid the others a nice day and as they turned to leave, he waved warmly and watched them walk down the cobblestone path they came up from, Hanataro skipping down it happily. Yylfordt bowed and turned to leave but stopped when his sensei laid a soft hand on his shoulder.