Itachi watched the students as they started their Kidō training with the same false-indifference he used in everything else. He wasn't supposed to be here as this was simply not an exercise he mainly taught but he needed something to do to take his mind off things, something other than his work.
So he came back here, to the very place that had become somewhere he could let his breath out for a while. Even if he was not teaching them he would settle himself with just watching them. Most times they never even knew he was there.
Today however, he made his presence known as he watched them, even when knowing that his presence made them a tad more nervous and affected their learning, he silently sat cross-legged under a shade with his hat dipping low.
There were a few good picks among the new students, not as much as the last graduating set but better than the year before them. He could already see those who had budding potential and those who were as stubborn with how hard they worked.
Some remained to be seen and others were still floundering and unsure on which field they excelled at. It was okay for now. They had six years to figure it out, there was no need for them to hurry.
Even as they trained he could see some of them sneaking glances in his direction, mindful of his opinions or perhaps seeking them. Either way it was mostly cosmetic. They had barely started so they should not be so eager to seek judgement.
His eyes trailed over to where the girl, Rukia Kuchiki, stood training with a red haired boy, Renji Abarai. They were quite the pair, complete opposites of the other but they unconsciously complimented the other, either because of their personalities or because of shared history – both were true.
As for Byakuya's request, he hadn't thought much of it frankly because it would make no difference. She was his student. It was his duty as her teacher to make sure that her potential was cultivated.
It wasn't the first time someone had approached him with a selfsame request. Mostly it was his fellow instructors asking for a small favor of him paying extra attention to their ward or family member or something along that line and he always gave them the same answer he gave Byakuya –
Well, Yoruichi was probably right. This wasn't the time to be moping.
His legs shifted and immediately he saw the change in the training yard. A good chunk of the students had perked up and their movements were growing stiff. If this was a test then the majority of them would have failed right this instant.
And it wasn't as if he was doing anything important. He simply shifted from his resting position so that he could be more active in their training. A faint sigh escaped his lips. The older year students sure did a good job in painting him a jaded image.
He didn't care much for it, as it were – rumors, but it sometimes creates unnecessary troubles when dealing with the first years. Case in point.
His presence was dim out of habit so when he moved from his shade towards where the girl stood, none of them noticed until he stopped moving and suddenly every bit of attention was on him.
He could feel their ears straining to hear what he had to say, but honestly he couldn't blame them. With all the inflated tales they've heard of the Shinigami Captains surely their bloated curiosity could be pardoned.
The two students, Rukia and Renji, stood straighter with tense shoulders but he noticed that they had their wits about them when facing a Captain compared to the other first year students. At the very least he could commend their efforts.
"You're progressing better than most, Rukia." He said, causing her shoulders to relax a little, "but I can see that you're already learning some bad habits when it comes to your casting." Her shoulders slumped.
He almost raised a brow at the way her mood dropped. She needlessly braced herself for the next harsh critique when he had none to give. It seems her opinion of him was a step more defined than what most new students thought of him – though it was still wildly wrong but that was a point of contention.
Unfortunately, their preconceived notions of him were working against their benefits. He never bothered addressing it because somehow it seemed to work for their benefit in their latter years.
As for Rukia, she was probably going to take his words with more harsher intent than he meant but that was of no issue. As long as she improved then all was well.
Renji on the other hand; other than the slight anger he felt against Itachi on the way Rukia received his words, the boy was oddly hopeful for his criticism.
"Renji, you're on the right track. Continue as you are." He raised a brow at the boy. "Is something wrong?"
He could feel the boy's dissatisfaction even as he made to answer.
"Rukia is better than me."
"She is." He replied.
"But you said I'm doing good and she's doing bad."
"Renji, shut up." Rukia gritted a whisper from his side.
"I did not say you're doing good or her bad. I said you're on the right track and she's developing bad habits." Itachi calmly corrected. The boy was easily confrontational when it came to the girl which wasn't surprising given their history.
He left both of them to their devices and went to the other students, having a word with some or just staring at some until they got themselves right.
...
The day, being more or less fruitful, something Itachi had long learnt to appreciate passed on quickly as everything slowly came to head.
His biggest concern, Kusaka and Tōshirō's issue, was already taken care of — though not in a way he liked. But the most important thing was that they each had their lives to live, jaded as it were.
And then there was Mayuri. Kisuke had made good on his word and had managed to put something of a leash on Mayuri. Well it was more of a restraint on the amount of power Mayuri had but Itachi would take any amount of supervision and accountability he would get.
He also owed Kisuke. The man didn't say anything about a favor but Itachi knew when one was owed. It didn't matter if it was in the next year or in a hundred years time, he intended to pay his debt.
Another thing was Yoruichi. Well Itachi wasn't exactly sure but he could tell something was up. He heard Amaterasu snickering in his head but anytime he probed her amusement she remained silent.
It was the silence, wasn't it?
For some years now, everything has been silent.
He tried not to pay mind to superstitions but his very soul knew that something was coming. No, not coming. It had overshadowed them and no one seemed to sense it, not even him.
It felt as if everything had become muted.
The peace had grown stale —
"No." He simply said. Paranoia would work no good except make him stare at shadows and question why the sun shone too bright.
The wind felt dry.
His brows furrowed. Nostalgia and regret were entangling in a forbidden dance in his head and he was getting drawn into it.
This would not do.
He looked out the windows and although the sun was shining, Itachi couldn't help but think that the shadows were a tad too long.
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