Bleach: Crysanthemum

Two swords pressed each other. The very balance that kept them the way they were needed a lot of concentration and each slip of that focus would spell disaster.

Fujimaru let the pressure come crashing down on him and he had to use footwork to distance himself from Jin who kept an eye on him while he retreated.

From the side, Matsuri came swinging her blade and Jin pulled his head back quickly only to see the blade pass by him.

Using his foot he kicked her away from himself and destabilize her footing.

Jin had fought her more than enough to know better than to actually engage with her in close contact. Her strength was something else entirely.

Sometimes Jin wondered where she got that monstrous strength from. Especially since her brother did not possess that trait.

"Alright, That is enough, you three.", shouted Hiyori and looked at them.

Jin only looked at his back where Fujimaru had already engaged him again and was holding his blade at the same position when the sentence was said from Hiyori.

It was so close to his back that he could already touch it by simply reaching his arm back over his shoulder.

"Whew, that is a close one there.", smiled Jin and pushed the blade softly to the side and sheathed his own Asauchi.

Fujimaru only smiled back and sighed. "Seriously, you had me in your perception the whole time. You would have either used Hoho or that trap you laid with your Kido."

It was easy to see what he meant with his speech after looking down at his feet that were being impaled by golden stakes made out of pure reishi.

It was a Bakudo spell laid over as a trap and one of the different sub-categories of Kido.

"What? Feeling disappointed that your speed can be countered by tactics? I really bȧrėly can see your movements. I just use what I have at my disposal.", answered Jin again and laughed lightly.

Fujimaru sheathed his blade. "No use arguing about that, I guess. But are we really that predictable?"

"Yeah, you always dodge my attacks while overwhelming my brother with force.", chimed Matsuri in now while pouting a little. She has bȧrėly ever made real blade contact with in all their spars.

Both Jin and Fujimaru stayed silent and looked at each other hearing her complaint.

"That is because you got monstrous strength like a mad gorilla. And Jin knows that fact. You are also a real slowpoke."

"Hey! Who are you calling a gorilla!?" Matsuri was furious at the blond girl's words.

Now Jin and Fujimaru go sweat running down their necks. Matsuri was staring at them with a bright red flush on her face and glaring at them. She was really pleading that they say something to Hiyori.

But of course, both knew it was really the truth of the matter and Fujimaru even laughed sheepishly.

"You actually think the same!!?" That in itself got him a hit on his head from his sister. "Jin!? You too!?" Now she was pouting and there were small teardrops appearing in her eyes.

"Well, it's not like it is a bad trait. It only means we can rely on you with the heavy lifting." He made a thumbs-up sign but at the end also got a hit on his head.

"Alright, this is about the last day of training I will give you guys. But you better don't slack or all of it would be for naught. Anyway, I wish you all good luck with your expedition towards the wildlands."

Hiyori explained that their training sessions would be over. In the last 8 months, they had learned a lot from her. And lately, the activity of Hollows has increased in Soul Society and therefore she could not make sure for being there for them.

Besides that, they were now put into different groups of various students and are being sent to the wildlands.

"Right, I nearly forgot about that. What do you think? Will we meet a lot of Hollows? Are we even ready for that yet?" Fujimaru asked while scratching his head.

"Not sure. Hiyori, can you tell us more information about the wildlands?", asked Jin now.

"Sure. The wildlands are basically the area around the soul society that was not inhabited by souls. Those areas are all around the Rukongai in each direction. It is basically no man's land. The thing is that Hollows are very active in those areas lately for some reason. But don't worry. Mostly weak ones appear there. There is little to no food for them there and every year squad 11 is sent around in those areas to decimate any hollows they find."

"But then why is the academy sending us on expeditions exactly there?", asked Matsuri curiously.

"Who knows? While it is dangerous it is actually the perfect way to train you guys for actual real combat. Besides, there will be Shinigami with you that will keep you safe if anything bad happens. I even heard that your class will have captains be responsible for that expedition."

"Really? Who are they?" Jin raised a brow now.

Hiyori thought about telling them this information but just shrugged her shoulders. "Hmm, a good for nothing and someone you know well enough."

"So lord Seigen will be present..." Jin connected the points quickly. "But who is the good-for-nothing?"

"Shinji Hirako. The captain of Squad 10 will also be present on that mission...", sighed Hiyori.

Jin laughed lightly now. "Looks like you two got some history together, huh? Is it love or something?"

Hearing Jin saying something so embarrassing Hiyori got a clear red blush on her face and then immediately pulled on his cheeks. "You damn brat!! There is no way I feel like that about that idiot!!"

'You deny it but I can see clearly there is truth to my words. Urgh...She is pinching them too hard!!' Jin could only lament when he felt the pain in his cheeks.

"That makes me feel somehow relieved. it just sounds like lord Seigen to storm off to secure peace around the Rukongai. It kinda makes me remember first meeting him. Don't you think so as well?", said Matsuri with a smile.

Jin did not say anything because he was still tortured by Hiyori but Fujimaru smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, I guess we can keep a calm mind with knowing that. But are we really going to be together with him? We could end up having that other captain."

Finally getting Hiyori away from him Jin could now join the discussion.

"You are right, the captains will very much stay as an emergency if something really goes wrong. But since there are four districts we may even end up with someone else. I for one think there will be four groups and each group takes one such direction."

"Jin is right. I only told you about the two people I know that will join but I don't know about the actual number of higher-ups. From his reasoning, I think it is alright to think there will be more than those two." Hiyori nodded to Jin's words and gave her own opinion.

"Then let us hope that we get someone interesting. I am actually not sure I want to end up under lord Seigen his group. It feels like he will push us through work like a madman.", said Jin and smiled wriyly.

"You both are just hopelessly lazy...", said Matsuri to Jin and Fujimaru and frowned her brows lightly. She on the other hand was eager to help her foster father to keep the Seiretai safe.