It's time to tell the truth...

[iwillmendyou]

Characters: Kotetsu Isane, Yamada Hanatarou
When: Friday 25, early morning.
Where: Isane's office.
Rating: PG.
Summary: Hanatarou has some corrections and additions to make in his report to Isane about his encounter with his zanpakuto.

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[frozen_clouds]

Isane had read Hanatarou's report. Several times, in fact. It was... sparse, to put it simply. She didn't think he was lying outright about anything contained in the report, but she did get the feeling that the information it contained wasn't painting the whole picture for her

[iwillmendyou]

"I--" Words meant for him alone, sharp truths made sharper by that mild, taunting tone. Hanatarou's hands curled into tight fists caught in the folds of his hakama. Isane's voice was soft and nonthreatening, cool and professional without being accusing. Just doing her job and gently reminding him he should do his. "It's nothing-- I mean, it's my... It's personal," he finished in a small voice.

Hanatarou looked up at Isane and meet her gaze directly. "Yes," he said softly. "Hisagomaru... when we fought... his--my--shikai was... different. He said it was something he could do, a way we could fight, but..." Hanatarou shook his head. No need to explain words or accusations called out in that steady voice and infuriating sad smile.

[frozen_clouds]

And there it was. Not for the first time, Isane felt immense relief that Itegumo had chosen not to leave her, only to return and test her resolve. She could understand why Hanatarou wouldn't want to share that; it was very personal. The relationship between the Shinigami and their Zanpakutou were intimate things, and she didn't want to intrude, but...

Setting aside her formal demeanor, Isane stood up and moved around her desk to sit in the second open chair next to Hanatarou's. "This is off the record," she said. "Do you want to talk about it?"

[iwillmendyou]

"No," Hanatarou blurted out without thinking and he had to force his hands to relax when Isane sat down next to him. "I need to, but I don't want to," he said in a low mumble. "He left. I tried to take care of him as best I could while he was pulled out of our zanpakuto and he still left." Hanatarou could hear a tone of child-like abandonment creep into his tone and snapped his mouth shut.

He tried again, voice quiet and mechanical, a slight pause after each breath as though to measure the weight of his words before letting them go. "Hisagomaru demonstrated a shikai state different from what I've seen before. A greater range in effect and attack and... Those that were left behind when the Fourteenth Squad retreated... He healed them with it while he was attacking me..."

That was the greatest hurt. More than the stinging swat of the flat of that blade against his flesh or crack of the blunt back against his ankle. The simple knowledge of what his zanpakuto was capable of and the callous ease with which the spirit had shown it.

[frozen_clouds]

There was a long moment of silence as Isane listened to and absorbed what Hanatarou was saying. It was painful for her to see one of her subordinates hurting, and especially one as kind and sensitive as Hanatarou. She knew that when Hisagomaru left that it hurt him deeply, and she could empathize because she'd nearly sent Itegumo away herself.

She wanted to tell him she was sorry, but he didn't need pity. Pity would only make the cut sting worse. So, she collected her thoughts as she gazed somberly at him.

"Hanatarou, you know... there's so much more to being strong than having a good sword arm or powerful attacks. But you already know that." She rested her hand on his shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting, supportive gesture. "The Zanpakutou who left must have all had their own reasons for doing so. If you want to make things better between yourself and Hisagomaru, maybe you should try to find out why he left?"