[P] WORLD OF DRUNKEN DREAMS,

Sokonashi no Hyōtan is a fickle spirit. Constantly changing its attitude toward being my ally in battle and simply leaving me on my own, leaving me to only further my Zanjutsu skill just in case in battle he didn’t assist me. It pushed me to the point where I was able to compete with my peers Shikai without even using my own, but in theory, I think that I might even be able to combat with a Taichō’s Bankai, though that had yet to be tested. All I could hope was that today would be different, that Sokonashi no Hyōtan would be on my side, or I risk embarrassing myself in front of my entire division on the training grounds— though the more important figureheads of the division had been absent.

So, I’ve decided that before I attempted to jump straight into Bankai, I would test the waters and see if he was on my side today. I quickly moved into a battle position; my feet spread shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, my left hand reaching toward my Zanpakutō’s hilt on my lip hip, back slightly bent forward, and my right arm was horizontal held out before me as if it was being used as a shield. “NEVER RUN DRY, SOKONASHI NO HYŌTAN!” With the Shikai’s phrase announced, I quickly drew my blade, performing a horizontal slash under my right arm, bringing it to my left side.

As I had done so, the Shikai had activated; my sword was being broken down into reishi and being reformed at the hilt into a gourd. Upon it being complete, I had performed Jinzen— unlike other Shinigami, I didn’t have to take a meditative position or anything of the sort to communicate with Sokonashi no Hyōtan, for he was far more flexible than most spirits. I entered within his realm to have a brief conversation with him. “So, you’re in the mood today, eh?” I said as I stood before the spirit in Samurai armor, sporting wings with arms, and a bright red Tengu mask.

He had sat under a waterfall of sake in a meditative pose, his head hung down as I had spoken. “Well, you were so energetic, how could I fail you?” His head had risen as he spoke, and my lips curled into a smirk.

I stood there, bleeding to death and drunk, I couldn’t help but wonder what the others of the Rokubantai were thinking of me. They probably watched me, bleeding from my wound, my stance becoming unbalanced due to the intoxication, laughing at me. Regardless, I couldn’t allow myself to lose today, no matter what, no matter what this armored man did to me, I had to keep moving. It was a good thing that he had made me drunk, because now I could ignore the pain of the wound and push pass my limits, but of course it came with a cost.

I wasn’t able to process thoughts well while on the move, and my bodily coordination might be off a bit— I mean, a lot. Though, luckily for myself, I mastered the art of the Drunken Sword for situations like this, but my perception skill was practically non-existent. Before I had known in, some of the sake from behind me had risen up into the air and formed into a Sakegari no Tachi and came rushing down upon me, but before it could strike me, I had fallen backs into a back-bend. The blade had crashed into the ground, though not before going between both of my thighs, missing my family jewels only by so much— the moment I had back-bended, I used my blade to cut the source, and the sword dissipated.

I lacked grace and elegance, but I survived to face another attack, and that was all that mattered to me. I stayed in my back-bending position, because I couldn’t seem to get out of it, as if I had forgotten how to stand up properly. This time, several miniature Sakegari no Tachi was coming for me from all around, aiming to strike my torso, and it prompted me to enter back into survival mode, and I leaned back a bit more before launching myself forward into a summersault, moving pass the blades infront of me. As they all would follow me, I would leap into the waterfall, performing a high-speed spin to repel the blades, as if I had been some sort of spinning top.

But it wasn’t long before the waterfall would catch me within its grasp, the dizziness of the spin had messed up my coordination even more.

“—Spirit, reincarnated into the form of a human soul. More specifically, you are me reincarnated.” All I could do was drift deeper into the ‘ocean’ that I had been in as she, at least I assumed it was a she; spoke about me and what I truly had been. It was strange, when I was younger, I was to have all sorts of abnormal features, all because I couldn’t control my Spiritual Power, but as I had gotten older with the help of Taichō Koshitsu, I learned to control it to the point it never happened again. Ever since then, I had always felt that my true power had been locked down, dormant within myself. How was I to unlock this power that was buried deep down? Was it for this very purpose that ‘she’ had begun to talk to me today? “Yes, you’re correct.”

Great, she could also read my thoughts— well; I suppose they were her thoughts as well, right? “Now you’re catching, En’ei-sama, you aren’t as oblivious to things as everyone makes you seem. The reason why you are losing this fight and unable to obtain your Bankai is because your true strength is being held back, but I can help you unlock half of it, which should be more than enough. The other half you have to unlock on your own, through your own means. But, before I do so, I need to tell you about your unknown ability that you possess— the ability to freely manipulate water (and in turn, sake), it is my power given to you at birth, I’m sure it’ll be helpful to you down the line in the future.

Though, for now I want you to close your eyes, and drift all the way to the bottom of your inner world, that is where you will find the half of your true strength I am giving you. You’re strong, En’ei-sama, always remember that.” I listened carefully to every word she had said, and as she spoke, I felt like we were making some sort of great bond. I didn’t allow myself to be too consumed with what she said, I had more important matters at hand, but for now I heeded what she said, and did so. The moment I had reached the bottom, I had returned to where I was, being ensnared within Sokonashi no Hyōtan’s armor, unable to move. “Die, En’ei-san.”