"Vice Captain Sagara! My name is Tataki Yousei, of the 4th Squad!" Tataki said, quickly offering a bow to the superior officer before standing straight up. "Sorry about the intrusion, Mr. Sagara, but I came here looking to ask you for something," Tataki would say.

Tataki had approached the Vice Captain at his own barracks, the 3rd Division, and all to make a simple request. The day was clear, warm even, and there weren't many others around. The few that were scurrying about had business to tend too or errands to run, so it was mostly just the Vice Captain and the Shinigami from the 4th Squad. Sozo was probably busy, tending to the weight of his own responsibility, but Tataki had made sure to address him at a time in which Sozo would have at least a little free time.

"At the moment, I'm one of the higher ranking members of my Squad, with others tending to duties in other lands, various paces, and of varying magnitudes...Which has left me with a number of responsibilities that I can't help but feel obligated to manage. I came here looking for a bit of instruction, though not in any management sense," Tataki would say, trying to keep his words and mannerisms as professional as possible. Tataki didn't like beating around the bush and he wanted to get to the point, but drawing in Sozo's sense of honor and duty and loyalty were probably the better way to go about all this, Tataki had assumed that anyway.

"I'm the fourth Seat of the 4th Squad and because of various positions becoming vacant or temporarily out of office, I have been stressed by my fellow squadron about how to run things on top of all organizing all our usual activities. However, even within my squad power is the main thing that runs and, well, we both know about the Qualifications to ascertain rank within the Soul Soceity's System of Standards...So, in order to properly hold the attention of my squad, I was wondering if you could assist me with a little bit of training from a Vice Captain's perspective. A bit of, well, tactical reinforcement." A long winded request and when he finally got to the heart of the matter he felt a lot better. Tataki wanted Sozo's help with training and, like he said, it wasn't just in a practical sense. Not just swinging a sword or learning how to speak, motivation and advice and some direction was also what he was looking for. Really though, Tataki wouldn't mind a bit of sword play, even if it was only a secondary necessity in his opinion. He didn't want to come off as an ineffective leader and he believed, through research and study, that Sozo Sagara was an exceptional Vice Captain.

"Could you help me by offering a bit of your time?" He finished, awaiting Sozo's decision.

Sozo Sagara was walking around his squad base reading a book that he thought was interesting. When he heard some one come up he quickly shut his book and kept the page number in his head. When the person bowed to him Sozo bowed in return showing the one person respect as well. Even though he was a member of the 4th squad and some people looked down towards them since they dont really do any fighting. Sozo gave him a faint smile and stood and listened to what he had to say.

After he was done asking Sozo to help him train his men Sozo nodded in agreement " yeah i'll help train your men with what i can". Sozo saw that he was only carrying his washizaki " I have to get my zanpakuto first". Sozo told Tatkai in a calm voice with little emotion in it. So Sozo headed to his room and picked up his zanpakuto that was on a holder in front of his bed.

After he grabbed the Zanpakuto he put it in his rope belt and started to head to the 4th squad base. He walked along Tataaki " So why are you guys so low on man power ". Sozo asked while walking along the street that would be the quickest way to the 4th squad.

"You will? I would appreciate it," Tataki said, noting that Sozo had been walking around without his Zanpakuto? That was unusual. Wasn't that something one should always carry with them? Pushing the negative thoughts aside, Tataki would only focus on what he could learn from this superior officer. Tataki rested an arm casually on the hilt of his own weapon as he waited patiently for Sozo to come back.


"Actually," Tataki said, remaining where he was, "Here is probably better," This wasn't exactly something Tataki wanted to go around showing to the others. Sure, they would likely find out anyway, but it would seem highly unprofessional and inexpirenced to do it in front of his own squad. It would almost be as if he were being punished with instruction. Tataki would rather train outside of the eyes of his own barracks, which weren't entirely suited for the mission anyway.

"If that is alright," Tataki honestly would prefer to do this here in the 3rd Division's quarters. Tataki crossed his arms, his eyes thoughtful. "To be honest, the Division has had many ups and downs lately and I think the fluctuations have left the others uneasy. It's as if the moment we learn our new responsibilities, tasks, and get familiar with our comrades they leave or vanish. I think that's one reason the edges are so sharp, but, well, we still keep all our duties managed and our tasks are constantly doubled checked by our own. We aren't slipping in profiency, so I think this is really all just a mental thing. Without a steady chain of command, everyone is critical of each other and starting to lose faith in their fellow Squad members. That's why we need a steady, strong, reliable individual to take a brunt of the responsibilities, but also appear as if they can be depended on. I just need...This fine tuning," Tataki felt like he was spilling his life story to a stranger. Really, the troubles of his squad were his own and gossiping about them to outsiders was probably just going to lead to more trouble. Thinking about that though, he came here for help so that he could smooth out all the bends in the 4th Squad so it would only help him all the more. He just hoped he wasn't overwhelming Sozo with all this information. It was probably a lot, especially to be randomly asked to assist in.

"In order to be a leader, I need to learn to properly carry myself as one and to be able to display the right strength that is demanded from one. Without all that, I can't help fix this growing cavity within my squad." And that was where Sozo came in. The one that would help give Tataki the tools to become a stronger leader, physically and mentally.

Sozo stopped walking towards the 4th squad and turned around when he heard Tataki say he would like to train at the 3rd squads area. Sozo started to walk back holding his sword in its sheath. He got a few feet away from Tataki and looked at him with a smile on his face. " So you want to train here to get stronger to lead your squad with out them knowing is that it." Sozo thought about what he was wanting from him Sozo nodded his head in agreement.

Sozo put his sword in his belt and got in a stance that looked like battojutsu but his hand was a bit lower than the battojutsu's normal stance. " Okay i'll make you stronger so you can lead the squad then after that we can talk about being a leader to your squad mates". Sozo's smile on his face left and he got an emotionless look on his face. He waited a few seconds and said in a quit voice "I'm going to show you a move faster than a shunpo its called the Shukuchi".

Sozo instantly got close to Tataki and put his sword to his neck and looked at him in the eyes with a piercing look " Dont worry my sword isnt that sharp i have a few questions i want to ask you when we'er done with are sparing match".

"Nothing that underhanded, but you could say something like that," Tataki said when Sozo figured the reasoning behind Tataki's decision to keep it here, within grounds. Tataki noticed a slight rise out of Sozo. At the start, Sozo appeared to be an extremely laid back person, calm and casual; the taking-it-easy sort was what Tataki assumed. Tataki had been paying careful attention to Sozo's posture, manner of speech and the way he moved. All those were important pieces to an individuals character. Tataki felt that he had, for the most part, figured most of Sozo's outerlayer.

However, his assumptions shifted as Sozo took on a peculiar stance. Tataki was aware of the form and the nature of the skill, as it was similar to his own Iaido. It was a form that emphasized speed, precision, and absolute focus and one that, although appearing as a simple opening stance, could warrant incredible destruction by the proper user. It was because of the nature of that skill that Tataki suddenly realized a number of things about Sozo. So many things that he couldn't even properly articulate them to make sense of all the information.

"Just now..." Tataki started, sweat appearing at his brow. He was trying to take in the motions as well as he could, but it was difficult. Sozo was too fast for Tataki to read, but still he felt like he could almost, almost, feel the incredible draw-step-slash attack. Tataki was impressed, not just with the speed and accuracy of the Shukuchi, but of Sozo's effectiveness in using it. Sozo definitely wasn't any ordinary fighter and Tataki slightly wondered if he picked someone that was a little to much for himself. "It was just like the Fullswing" Tataki said, calling the name of his own, slightly similar, attack.

Taking a hesitant step back, because he enjoyed his neck away from a blade's teeth, he moved a ready hand to his own sword. "The Fullswing is different, though," Tataki affirmed, realizing the various differences in style and execution. True, two swordsmen could fight in a similar fashion, but the teachings and the exercise of these skills would be different. That was the diversity of kenjutsu. So many schools, races, names, purposes and on top of it all the individuality of the swordsmen all created an endless branch of powers.

Tataki wanted to demonstrate this and see, with his own eyes, body and soul, the difference in their sword styles. Tataki crouched slightly, bending in towards that hand on his weapon, and braced himself parting his feet. Tataki swung. It was silent as the blade was freed form it's sheathe and even the air itself didn't stir. It was cut. The very air was cut around his blade as it slashed, with ordinarily blindingly fast speeds, and it rushed to meet with Sozo's blade. A viper's strike on a sleeping rabbit was too slow of a comparison. A slash that was nothing but the definition of grace, agility and haste. If Sozo didn't snatch his sword away he would feel the sword swing upon his weapon. It was light, delicate almost, as it connected. It was a fast lightning strike, though the power of the electricity was gone. There was nothing but a silent thunder behind that quick swing.

Likely, for someone of Sozo's skill, he would probably be able to see the attack from start to finish, though even for him, who was quite a way stronger than Tataki, the attack was definitely still pretty quick. Still, the lacking of power behind it would have, even if it were aimed to hurt Sozo, cause an nonthreatening shallow cut.

Sozo watched as Tataki walked away and started talking about something called the Fullswing. Sozo stepped back when Tataki said he wanted to show Sozo his Fullswing. So Sozo let down his stance putting his sword so it was just resting in his hand. Sozo waited with a cool look. Like he was studding the skill he was about to be see. He looked then in a few seconds Tataki used his move Sozo thought to himself it was fast but it wasnt Shukuchi speed. So while the blade was about to hit Sozo he used his hand to stop the blade and Tataki in his tracks. Sozo used a down ward slash with his revers blade sword " The move I used to stop you is called Hadachi ". Sozo took a few steps back and put his sword in his sheath. He got in his battojutsu stance and looked at Tataki " If you want to get stronger use your full strength on me". Sozo looked at him with a emotionless and focused look.