The White Forest [Houki]

Sōkyoku Hill was a place that was unofficially taboo for the average shinigami to simply wander about. There were those that frequented and patrolled the location as part of their division duties that got the rare opportunity to browse the premise without suspicion. Although located in the dead center of the Seireitei it was one of the places that was least talked about. Always acting as the giant 'elephant in the room' that everyone saw but rarely acknowledged. It was perhaps due to the dark and sordid stories that hailed from Sōkyoku Hill which more than likely contained truthful information the leaders of soul society wished to ignore or simply forget.

It was a place surrounded by those knowledgeable of it but simultaneously steeped in legend and mystery. The long pale haired 3rd seat found himself standing in solitude encompassed by the immediate white forest that grew below. Peering up ever so imaginatively at the hill he would often come simply to craft his own personal tales and legends as motivation to become a better and more powerful shinigami. He would often picture himself in monumental battles and break through training experiences that would serve as plateau's to his ascension in might.

"Taichou Arakaki..." He muttered softly as he closed his eyes momentarily, imagining the potential legitimacy of such an accomplishment as if it rang true to the present. Affirmation was a big tool with which he used as a guiding force. If he could speak it into existence, then certainly it would have no other choice but to come true. But this submission of the universe by way of tongue wouldn't happen today. He had never truly seen a captains level of ability but knew in his mind he was far off from upholding such capabilities. If only he knew exactly what it took, the path might not be so daunting.

The sun was shining, the wind was softly kissing the cheeks of everyone, and the sky was a clear icy blue that showed no signs of changing anytime soon. Houki would look over the last document that cluttered his desk as he half heartedly read it and placed it into a tray marked as unfinished paperwork.

"Well I guess we can call it an evening Lieutenant. Why don't you spend the rest of the afternoon training or visiting some of our officers." Houki would allow his body to lean back into his chair as he slowly stretched his hand a few times.

"As you wish Captain San Hasu." The woman quickly replied as she would press her notepad to her chest and quickly exit the room.

"What a lovely day, I guess I could use some of this free time to go for a walk." With that Houki would slide out of his chair, as his long white robe would follow.

His quickly made his way to the window of his office and shunpoed out of it. He would land on the room of a near by building and continue to keep pushing forward and until he was out of his division complete and on a long alley way that lead to the center of the Seireitei. It didn't take him long to make the journey as Sōkyoku Hill would come into view rather quickly. His eyes would study the forest as he allowed his hands to deep into his pockets and pull out a silver box filled with cigarettes. He would tap the box until one slide out and with the tip of his lips he would grab and pull out a lighter. A flame would ignited from the little silver lighter, as it drawn closer to the edge of the cigarette. With in moments the tobacco would be set a controlled blazed as Houki would allow a small could to fill his lungs before blowing out the smoke through his nose. His eyes would be drawn to a young Shinagmi that was staring at the forest.

"I see the forest has claimed another victim." Houki would say as he walked up on the young man.

His white coat would drape down his body and cover most of his all black clothing. His hair would be tied back into a spiked mess and at the brim of his nose would seat a pair of reading glasses. The cigarette would still hang from his lips, as part of his words would we be engulfed into the clouds mug.

"You know most of the tails about this hill are lies." Houki would refer to one tail directory.

"No matter how much you train here, you won't develop a bankai if you're body isn't ready for it." He would step closer to the man and look down on the forest with a light smile on his face.

The smoke would build up around his face for a brief second before being blown away by a breeze. "Captain San Hasu... That is my name and yours?" He would extend a friend handshake to the man.

His inner reflections were impeded first by the sound of an approaching entity. The alert did not necessarily concern him as often times many shinigami would meander through these parts as he found out over time his hobby wasn't strange nor exclusive. His brow raised as his yellow irises jutted to the side to reveal vision over his shoulder. A voice had engaged him. The voice was completely unfamiliar, and that was something to surely be expected. Most fourth division members were more interested in discerning medical facts than actually performing as a balanced shinigami. Although their role as healers was important, it was lack luster to forgo and neglect the calling of their zanpakuto.

His narrow eyes would widen upon his immediate glimpse of the flowing white haori symbolic only to that of a captain. Turning his head to discern further, the man's features soon struck familiarity within his mind. He was the only captain he remembered that was roughly his same height and build, albeit the young officer a bit smaller in mass. His wild spikey black and blue streaked haired was tied back with a resilient green band while a pair of spectacles encased what seemed to be orange hued irises in the sunlight. What luck it seemed to be as he was fortunate enough to be graced with a captain's presence despite the carcinogenic cloud that followed as part of a 'package deal'.

"Arakaki Kei, 3rd seat of the fourth division. I am honored to personally meet you taichou San Hasu." He replied promptly, fighting his urge to customarily bow as he prioritized the honoring of his extended handshake first with a firm and respectable grip. After taking his hand back he paused with nervousness not shown on his exterior as this was the first time he had formally introduced himself to a captain that was not his own. His mind quickly recapped the trigger word of 'bankai' the thirteenth division captain mentioned, eluding to perhaps a common known fact that was up until now unknown to the young ambitious officer. "You mean this place helps you to develop bankai?"

"Don't be, I'm just an old man that's weathered a few storms." Houki softly removed the cigarette from the edge of his lips as he tapped the bud causing the ash to fall to the ground.

Houki would look across the forest as he's smile lightly. "While it maybe true that quite a few Shinigami have learned to use their bankai here. This place is nothing but a hollow grounds for which they push their bodies to their limits." Houki softly patted the young man on his back as he continued. "Yet in there own right. They trained and prepared for that day as it wasn't simply given to them because they were here." A soft smile brushed across his lips as he rocked back and forth.

"Than again what do I know, I'm just some old timer who still believes in traditions." Houki would turn lightly as he'd place the  cigarette back into his mouth and slowly began to walk. "Kei, come with me there is a nice tea shop around here, and I'm craving a cup... and I can tell that you have a lot on your mind. It would even seem that you have more questions than you can probably count and I think I may have an answer for you." Houki placed the cigarette back to his lips and took a final pull before discarding it to the ground. His foot would than land on it and twist about until he was satisfied that it was no longer lit.

The tea shop wasn't far from the hill at all, and was actually the only once since most shinigamis didn't have a large need for food and drinks. This shop was simply there for those he had ventured to the human world and feel in love with some of it customs. Houki was no exception, he wasn't sure why he like it, but he felt more at ease when sipping on a cup. He would make his way in through the door as he would order a large pot of herbal and lemon tea with two cups. The hostess quickly showed him to a table and placed a small bowl of sugar and biscuits on the table. With in moments she would return to the table, with a large pot tea and the cups. Houki then paid his tab as he bowed softly, before pouring himself a cup.

The prospect of bankai was something that every shinigami dreamed of who had not yet attained it. No matter which division a soul reaper hailed from the secondary release was held as legend. To know that these grounds he stood before were prime real estate for such a dream was tantalizing to say the least. There was a natural urge to test this tradition that yearned deep inside of him. His adolescence by all respects eager to jump the gun and begin making headway down the path many of his predecessors had trail blazed before him.

From what he understood, captain San Hasu had eluded to the grounds as more of a place of ritual than an area of mysterious capabilities. Apparently it was more about the preparation leading up to the training and whether or not ones collective being was apt to handle such prowess. That fact of the matter a bit discouraging as a place teaming with special energies to help attain bankai sounded like a much better alternative. However, such a thing was probably unrealistic anyway as if such a place was so accommodating, the majority of people would have bankai and it's legendary power would be reduced to a commonality.

"Tea?" He had heard the word before many years ago but for all intensive purposes was completely ignorant to what it actually was. He knew at least to be a drink of some kind, perhaps similar to sake? He would soon find out as he followed promptly behind the captain upon being beckoned to accompany. As they entered he remembered passing this establishment many times but had never actually wandered in. The place was rather empty and did not seem to be the most popular stop in soul society. None the less he sat opposite the division commander and watched as he poured the foreign liquid into a cup for himself, inclined only to ask yet another question as opposed to immediately partake. "So how would one know if their body is ready to make an attempt at learning bankai? Are there certain tell tell signs that one is close or approaching the level necessary?"

San Hasu would allow the question to dance around his mind for a second, and then think of a proper way to explain it. Although the bankai was the dream of so many Shinigami, a lot them no matter how hard they tried would be able to honestly obtain the power of Bankai, so never made it as far as getting a Shikai. San Hasu was never the type to lie to anyone, on the flip side, he was never the type to try to crush others dreams. It would seem that the only option would be to tail the truth, and explained all he could about it and see if the young warrior was ready for what he would be told.

"Honestly there is no physical way to tell if you're ready to master your Bankai. It is not like I haven't seen it done before, over a hundred time to be exact." San Hasu's age began to show as he allowed his hand to slide down the edge of his chin.

"What I'm trying to say is that it all depends on you. Now some things that will make bankai seem like a real possible goal will be the ability to master your Zanpakuto, you have to be in tune with your weapon, or bankai is not even an option. Then you should work to master your Reiatsu, I would won't even begin to explain the importance of that."

San Hasu slowly raised the cup of tea up to his lips as he took a soft sip and awaited the next question. Most shinigami asked how or when would they know that they've mastered those two things again it was a question not even San Hasu could explain as because no one shinigami is the same as the next, even if you were to a hundred people at the same time to learn there bankai, the fact is there were always going to be faster and stronger shinigami then the rest.

Captain San Hasu's age did not really strike him as anything more than he would expect form any other captain. He'd known obviously that they were all skilled warriors and had to have been around for quite some time to amass the power and experience they possessed to this day, but it was mind boggling to hear such a fact. According to the jusanbantai commander he had witnessed over one hundred shinigami make their way through the process. The notion to the young third seat was astounding. Outside of the captains he did not really know anyone else who was supposed to have bankai. In fact, he'd never even seen one in his couple hundred years as a soul reaper.

His only concern was that even with picking the brain of someone who has been exposed to the process time and time again, there seemed to be no pattern or method to the journey. Everyone's innate fate and ability was unique as it seemed some had the potential of obtaining bankai while others simply didn't for no real rhyme or reason one way or another. It was discouraging to think that he himself could be one of the majority not destined to tap into the peak of his racial abilities. Even more discouraging was the possibility of him training his entire existence for something he may or may not even be capable of.

Such frustrating torture would be an epic thorn in even the greatest of warriors sides. Although was it a good sign that he had already achieved his initial release? Certainly proving the ability to obtain shikai had to count for something? It meant he was in tune with his zanpakuto and reiatsu to an extent that perhaps foreshadowed the proper path of growth towards the next level? He had a strong inkling to bombard Captain San Hasu with these inquiries but he realized they were all questions just as relative as his last. It all depended. What it actually depended on was the million yen question, that if was known, would no longer be a mystery. "I see. Well what was your experience like? Can you walk me through perhaps the range of feelings and or emotions you went through when obtaining your bankai? If that's not too personal of course, taichou."