"I have never liked squad camaraderie. I feel that for training purposes, a measure of antagonism between superior and subordinate is essential." — Soi Fon.
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[POV: With Itachi]
Blood splatters painted the walls and the floor boards— it painted as far as his eyes could see. The window panes and the curtains dripped red, pitter-pattering to the pool below.
A trail of red formed from under his feet and stretched to either ends, leaving him conveniently in the middle. Both path bore the same end — he knew. What good was a choice if there was only one option?
He followed the only path opened to him and never looked back, because why would he? There was nothing there and he knew it.
If there was, it would be nothing but a black wall, or a jagged rock. Nothing of note or importance.
The trail of blood below and around him— the dripping sounds created a gnawing cacophony, one that threatened to drown lesser minds. Lesser minds he was not.
He followed the winding paths, not paying mind to, or rather forgetting the sound of blood curdling around him.
He frowned – showed the hint of one – as he came to a slow step, and then took another step before stopping. Now he was back where he started.
Still he didn't bother looking back. There was nothing there, he knew it, but he also knew that the curiosity for certainty led unneeded actions— he didn't look back.
"Is this it?" he asked broadly.
A full curcle— in other words, the expression of futility. Wiser men and philosophers would read tomes out of the broad expression, a simpler man would read it for what it was: nothing.
Nothing. No theoretical or theological meaning behind it. No greater secrets underneath it. At most it was a fanciful circle.
He woke up.
....
"A dream." He said to himself as he stood up from his bed. Those were already rare enough for him, especially ones as colorful.
A circle. It meant a lot and meant little as well, so he took it for what little it meant.
He took a deep breath as he slid into the tub of water, letting it cool him off. Slowly his body descended until he slipped under the surface of water.
The water felt heavy and empty. Little could emulate the sensations it carried and so Itachi buried himself in it for the little time he had.
For a short moment he simply willed himself to forget. Forget anything he would have to remember in a few minutes. Forget everything he would rather remember in this short moment.
A small ritual he did every time he took a bath in his house. It was one of the few luxuries he allowed himself.
The moment the second clicked he rose from the water and stepped out of the tub. That was enough comfort for him in what little time he had in his house.
He dried himself up and stood in front of his wardrobe. He carried out the same ritual he had carried out for decades— first came the mesh shirt and the hakama, then the white shitagi over the mesh and a black kosode over them. Then came his haori.
He picked up a thin thread and tied his hair in a single flow and let it fall to his back. And last was the straw hat.
He picked up his Zanpakutō on his way out and no sooner had he left him home did he have to stop and incline his head in a greeting.
"Soi Fon."
"Good morning to you too." She said as she fell in step beside him.
"Have you eaten this morning?" he asked.
It was a weird question to her because food was mostly an afterthought to Shinigami like them but years of knowing Itachi had forced her to start accommodating it, not because she cared about it, but because Itachi cared about it for some reason and would mostly call her to join him whenever he ate.
"No."
Itachi nodded as if he expected the reply. "We'll grab some food in the afternoon."
She said nothing to that and they continued in silence until they got to their office.
"Those two sent a crow. It is not anything important but they made it sound like they are expecting a reply from you."
"Give them one for me."
Soi Fon cracked the slightest of smiles that was gone as soon as it was conceived. "Already did."
Itachi looked at the neat piles of documents on his table and turned to Soi Fon with a chiding look.
"You haven't slept in a week."
She gave him a look that asked him 'are you serious?' but the look he gave her told her an 'I am' answer.
She scoffed lightly. "If you must ask then there were things I had to do that were more important than a few hours of sleep. Annd, I do have plans to sleep sometime this week."
"Today. After you eat." He said in a way that brokered no further dissent.
Soi Fon shook her head. She was already used to what others would mistake as a coddling from Itachi since they had no idea just how awful of a taskmaster he was.
"Do you have anything important to do today?"
He gave a dry look that also functioned as a sarcastic one.
"I meant as a priority." She corrected.
"Other than the Head Captain and Captain Kuchiki, no."
She nodded, probably already knowing given that she went through his schedules with more focus that he did.
"The students' exams are coming soon and they want their Combat Instructor to be present on their final day. That is what the Vice Head said."
Itachi waved it off. "They are not children. I have no intention to be there. And they make the request every year."
"And you make it a point to be busy on that very day."
Itachi stopped and looked at her questioningly. "You would have me there than here?"
Soi Fon scoffed loudly. "Please. They are not children. And you spoil them as is, without them even knowing. I rather hope we don't recruit any of them into the Division. Dealing with wishful brats every year gets old real quick."
Itachi shrugged. "They are passionate."
"Stupid is what they are." She gave a derisive laugh to the thoughts of said students. "Each one of them gets this wild dream of becoming a Seated Officer as soon as they are accepted. Not to mention the fools who think they can have a shot at being Lieutenant."
"They are ambitious." Itachi shrugged again.
Soi Fon deadpanned at him. "Suicidal is what they are."
"The delusional students aside, is that the only thing you wanted me to know?" He asked, changing the topic.
He made it a point not to meet the students a month or two before their final exams. He wasn't ignorant to the awe he got from most of them but he deemed it detrimental to their paths going forward so he stopped it himself.
Some of his students from the Academy would go months or years without seeing him after they graduated and were assigned to different Divisions.
"You sent someone to keep an eye on Mayuri Kurotsuchi, they sent back a report. If I knew better I would say you are building up a box to trap the Captain. Are you perhaps trying to get him out of the position?"
Itachi pushed open the windows and stretched out his hands for the crows outside who flew towards him and started pecking the crumbs from his open palms.
"Mayuri Kurotsuchi's presence as a pillar of the Gotei 13 was initially backed by Kisuke Urahara before his exile, after which his presence became solidified because of the necessity of the Research Division. Kisuke Urahara is back and has resumed his former position. Mayuri Kurotsuchi is to be reminded of his initial position, else he'll keep tipping along the lines. Right now he is neither a necessity or a backup. He is an interloper at best. Best he remembers."
Soi Fon did not even flinch at the insinuation of Itachi wanting to demote a Captain and instead nodded noncommittally and continued on as if it was hardly a footnote.
"Do I need to send a message?"
"No. Not yet at least. Let him stew in his ignorance for now. Even a loose noose can strangle you if you lose your footing."
Soi Fon poured herself a glass of water and sat at the edge of Itachi's desk and stared at him as he stepped back from feeding the crows.
She poured another glass and held it out to him.
"Have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Lady Hisana's sister.."
"What of her?"
"She's probably going to join the academy in the coming session." She said.
Itachi raised a brow. "So she won't be tutored by the Clan. Not entirely unexpected."
Soi Fon shook her head softly. "It's not only that. If I know Byakuya Kuchiki then the reason he wants to talk with you would probably ask you to go extra hard on his newly adopted sister. Nobles like him have a weird way of showing love and support."
Itachi nodded in understanding. "She is to be brought up to a standard if she is to live as a High Noble. It is expected."
"So?" Soi Fon asked curiously. "Will you do it?"
"If she becomes my student then I will teach her to the best of my abilities. His supposed request will change nothing." He replied and handed back the glass to her.