Yuichi blinked, trying to process her words through the haze of his half-asleep state. "Training room?" he echoed, sitting up slowly. "You mean, now?"
Mei nodded, standing and retrieving her zanpakutō from its resting place. "Yes. He didn't specify when he plans to begin, so it's best if we're there promptly. You wouldn't want to give him another reason to disapprove of us."
Yuichi sighed, rubbing his face as he yawned and swung his legs out of the futon. "Right, because we don't have enough of those already."
Mei tilted her head slightly, her calm gaze fixed on him. "You're rested enough. Let's go."
He grumbled under his breath but stood up, stretching as he tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Fine, fine. Let's not keep the young lord waiting."
Together, they left their room and made their way through the hallways of Urahara's sprawling mansion. The place seemed to stretch endlessly like Lady Yoruichi's place, with countless rooms and corridors, many of which Yuichi suspected were hiding experiments or contraptions that Urahara had long since forgotten about.
The training room was at the far end of the mansion, and as they approached, Yuichi could feel the faint but distinct pressure of reiatsu emanating from within. Byakuya's presence was unmistakable—steady, precise, and radiating quiet authority.
When they entered, Byakuya was already standing in the center of the room, his zanpakutō sheathed at his side. His posture was perfect, his expression calm but expectant. He glanced at them as they entered, his sharp eyes briefly assessing their condition.
"You took your time," he said, his tone neutral but with an edge of reproach.
Yuichi offered a sheepish grin. "Apologies, young lord. I wasn't aware we were expected to sprint here."
Byakuya didn't respond to the quip, instead turning his attention to Mei. "You'll spar with me first," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "He can observe."
Mei inclined her head respectfully, stepping forward without hesitation. "As you wish. Shall we release our zanpakuto or will this just be a test of Zanjutsu?"
Byakuya didn't respond to the quest but took his stance without releasing his sword answering Mei's question. Mei also took her stance. The two stood facing each other, the air between them charged with unspoken tension. Byakuya drew Senbonzakura with practiced grace, the blade gleaming in the faint light of the room. Mei followed suit, her movements calm and deliberate as she unsheathed Shiro no Shikaku.
Yuichi leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he watched the two take their positions. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement. Sparring with Byakuya was going to be difficult to navigate. He's technically their superior so could they really beat him down or put up just enough of a fight to make their loss look real? For now, he'd see how Mei handled the situation and follow suit.
Without a word, Byakuya moved, his blade cutting through the air in a series of swift, precise strikes. Mei met him head-on, her zanpakutō flowing with deadly precision as their blades clashed. The sound of metal against metal echoed through the room, each strike deliberate and measured.
Yuichi watched intently, noting the stark contrast in their styles. Byakuya's movements were calculated, and each of his strikes was a perfect blend of power and grace but it was very textbook. Mei, on the other hand, moved with fluid efficiency, her blade parried with little effort and calm precision. Essentially it was a fight between someone with little to no real combat experience and another who had some.
The sparring match was intense but controlled, both combatants holding back just enough to avoid serious injury while still testing each other's limits. Yuichi couldn't help but admire the display.
After several minutes, Byakuya stepped back, his blade lowering slightly. "You're strong. I concede," he said simply, his tone carrying a faint note of approval.
Mei inclined her head. "Thank you, young lord."
Byakuya turned his gaze to Yuichi, his expression unreadable. "Your turn."
Yuichi blinked, scratching the back of his neck. "Guess it's my turn to entertain the young lord," he muttered, unsheathing his zanpakutō with practiced ease.
Byakuya stood still, his piercing gaze fixed on Yuichi. His calm demeanor gave nothing away, yet his sharp eyes seemed to take in everything, assessing Yuichi's stance and readiness.
"Are you prepared?" Byakuya asked, his tone as cold and formal as ever.
Yuichi smirked, taking his stance. "As prepared as I'll ever be, young lord. Try not to go too hard on me."
Byakuya didn't dignify the quip with a response. He moved first, his speed and precision cutting through the air as he closed the gap between them in an instant. Yuichi barely had time to block the incoming strike, their blades clashing with a sharp metallic ring that echoed through the training room.
Byakuya's strikes were relentless, each one a calculated attack designed to test Yuichi's defenses. Yuichi, however, wasn't a novice when it came to Zanjutsu. He moved fluidly, deflecting each blow with precision and countering with quick strikes of his own. His style was less rigid than Byakuya's—more intuitive and adaptable, honed through real combat rather than strict training regimens.
Yuichi quickly realized that while Byakuya was precise and skilled, there was an underlying hesitancy in his movements. It wasn't a lack of confidence but rather the inexperience of someone who had yet to face true life-or-death battles. Yuichi decided to push the young noble, testing his limits without overstepping.
"You've got good form, young lord," Yuichi said, parrying another strike. "But form isn't everything."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed slightly at the comment, and his strikes grew faster, his blade coming at Yuichi from increasingly difficult angles. Yuichi grinned despite himself, appreciating the challenge.
The exchange continued, the clash of their blades intensifying. Yuichi shifted his stance, feinting to the left before delivering a quick upward slash that nearly caught Byakuya off guard. The young noble recovered swiftly, countering with a powerful downward strike that Yuichi barely dodged in time.
Mei watched from the sidelines, her expression unreadable as she observed the sparring match. Her sharp eyes took in every movement, analyzing their techniques and silently comparing their strengths and weaknesses.
After a few more exchanges, Yuichi stepped back, lowering his blade slightly as he caught his breath. "Not bad, young lord. You're sharper than I expected."
Byakuya remained composed, his blade steady as he regarded Yuichi. "Your movements are unorthodox, but effective," he admitted. "You fight without adherence to form."
Yuichi chuckled, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Is that a polite way of saying I fight dirty?"
Byakuya didn't respond, though the faintest flicker of amusement crossed his face before he sheathed his zanpakutō. "That will suffice for now."
Yuichi took the opportunity to sheathe his own blade, relaxing his stance. "Thanks for the match, young lord. I hope I didn't disappoint."
Byakuya nodded, his expression neutral but not unkind. "You both performed adequately. I will expect similar effort in future sparring sessions."
With that, he turned and left the training room without another word, his posture as composed and dignified as ever.
Once Byakuya was out of earshot, Yuichi let out a low whistle, leaning against the wall. "He's got potential, I'll give him that. Still a bit green, though."
Mei approached, her arms crossed as she regarded Yuichi. "You held back."
"Of course, I held back," Yuichi said with a grin. "Can you imagine the consequences if I accidentally bruised his ego?"
Mei shook her head slightly, though her lips twitched as if suppressing a smile. "He'll grow stronger. But he's not ready for real battle yet."