After scolding V for snitching on me, I turned to Urahara. He played with his fan while observing us.
Hoshito: "Say, Urahara, are you going to tell me to stop using the notebook?"
Urahara: "Isn't it obvious? This method is dangerous, and it can destroy your mind if you continue using it."
Hoshito: "I see, I never thought about it." I rubbed my head subconsciously. "Sorry for trying to attack you, Urahara."
Urahara: "You don't need to apologize to me; there was no harm in it." he smiled at me, but I don't know if it's playful or genuine.
Tessai looked at me with an unreadable expression.
Urahara: "Now then, I think it's time to let you both start your training."
V: "Urahara, I think you should train Hoshito since he has zero knowledge about swinging his blade properly." He said with a calm voice.
Urahara: "I don't think there is a way to teach him by me. But I know someone who can teach him." he smirked and left us alone.
I looked at V, puzzled, but he shrugged off, just as puzzled as I was.
Hoshito: "Alright then. I guess we should start sparring first, then training separately so we can see what we should focus on."
V: "Agree."
I took out the soul candy and ate it. I saw my soul separate from my body and noticed that I was already wearing the Shihakusho. V took out the Quincy pendant and took his stance. I took my own stance and drew out my zanpakuto.
Then I charged at him and swung my blade, but when it reached him, he vanished. And it didn't take a second until I felt pain in my legs.
Hoshito: 'Ow! He used Hirenkyaku and shot me from behind, not bad.' I moved my head a little and felt a sharp thing pointed at me. My head slowly turned, and I saw V pointing at me with an arrow near my face.
Jinta and Tessai watched what happened and were shocked. My eyes widened, and I froze, not able to move a muscle.
V lowered his bow and turned around.
V: "I won this round… next day we will spar again. Is that alright with you?"
Hoshito: "Huh? Ah yeah…"
Then he moved away from us, going somewhere where we can't see him.
Hoshito: '… I couldn't do anything… is this the gap between me and others right now?' I thought with a shocked expression.
***
After an hour, I sat down holding my zanpakuto on my lap. I gave a meditating pose while my eyes were closed, channeling my reiatsu to my Zanpakuto.
Hoshito: 'I saw this when Toshiro and others were trying to talk with their Zanpakuto. I hope I'm doing it right. I was sitting for thirty minutes.'
Suddenly, I heard a voice. It didn't come from outside; it came from my mind. I started focusing on the voice to hear what it was saying.
???: "Yo… op… en… your… now."
Hoshito: 'Hey! I picked up a voice! Just a little more to hear it clearly.' I focused more on the voice.
???: "You can open your eyes now." The voice said in a calm and warm tone.
I opened my eyes and found myself on what seemed to be a mountain peak. There was an old hut that looked like a shrine. And near it was a pool of water with tall bamboos sticking out from it.
I looked around it, and there wasn't anything other than those things aside from the night sky.
Hoshito: "A moon without stars… I don't like it."
???: "Me neither."
I turned around and found a tall man. His eyes were black, and his hair was black too. He was wearing a white kimono with red Hakama. He was sitting on the tatami, and the door was facing his back. His arms crossed, and one of his right legs was on the top of his left leg.
Hoshito: 'What is he supposed to be?' I approached the man and noticed that his ears resembled a dog's ears, and his eyes were wolf-like. 'There is one anime character I know who has those features.'
Hoshito: "Inuyasha?"
Zanpakuto: "No, I'm not Inuyasha. I'm your Zanpakuto." He said in a calm and gentle tone.
Hoshito: "My zanpakuto? So, you are my Zanpakuto spirit?"
Zanpakuto: "Yes, I am."
Hoshito: "Huh. That was quite easy to have a conversation with you."
Zanpakuto: "Not quite right. Normally, I would ignore you, but after seeing your recklessness and your loss to your friend. I decided to help you get stronger."
Hoshito: "Then you are going to tell me your name?!" I said, excitement rising in my voice.
Zanpakuto: "No, I won't tell you my name."
Hoshito: "But, why?!"
Zanpakuto: "You don't have the resolve to fight Shu."
I flinched when Tsukishima's name was mentioned. The zanpakuto noticed it and sighed.
Zanpakuto: "You know I'm basically part of your soul, and I know what you're feeling towards others." He said while looking at me. "Because of that, I can see in your heart that you don't want to fight your friend. Even though he isn't your friend."
My eyes narrowed down, and I glared at him.
Hoshito: "Are you saying I have to fight him as an enemy?"
The zanpakuto shook his head.
Zanpakuto: "No, I'm saying you don't have the resolve to stop him from getting his revenge on Ichigo."
Hoshito: "What?!" My eyes widened at what he said. "What do you mean?"
Zanpakuto: "I meant what I meant. You don't need to fight him as an enemy. You can fight him as a friend who stops his friend from getting on the wrong path."
Hoshito: "I see, but you said—"
Zanpakuto: "I know what I said. But I never said never."
Hoshito: "Then what should I do?"
Zanpakuto: "First, train yourself by starting to run around the town at least once a day. Second, strengthen your heart. Then I will tell you my name."
Hoshito: "That's it?" I said. He nodded at me and waved at me. Then I opened my eyes and found myself back in the training ground. "This guy… he tells me that and kicks me out, what a jerk." I said with an angry expression.