As Kira neared the 7th division, he realized that he hadn’t looked away from the book he’d been reading since he left the academy. The first thing he saw when he raised his head was the intimidating image of Ueru Kenpachi. This made him stop walking and, if someone were looking close enough, they could see the wheels turning in his head. He wondered about the beast-mans anatomy and what it would take to heal him, if he were ever around when Ueru were injured. He was going through procedures in his head and possibilities. Muscle placements in the body, possible injuries, and resuscitation requirements on such a specimen were curious to him.

 It was then that he realized who he was talking about. This was a Kenpachi, and the captain of squad 11 at that. They never wanted healing, no matter the severity of their injuries. They wore their scars like badges of honor and would rather die gloriously in battle than accept help from someone like him. 

When Taro Kaeda of squad 1 approached Ueru and they started speaking, Kira was back to reality and put his medical mentality away, for now. He had just now realized that he had been staring blankly the whole time. He kept a stoic expression on his face as he continued to the 7th division arena. His students, who had gotten there before him, caught up to him as he passed them. 

Behind the arena itself were a series of rooms with medical supplies already set up and ready for use. Kira and his students walked into the first room, and they all had puzzled expressions on their faces. Within each room were several cots, IV bags filled with sterile solution, cotton swabs, an array of medical tools on the tables next to each cot and countless other medical supplies. 

“Um..s-sir” one student piped up hesitantly. Kira already knew what he was going to say. 

[b]“Yes, we’re doing this the hard way”[/b] Kira stated bluntly. 

“But sir.. What about your Zanpakuto?” 

[b]“My Zanpakuto?”[/b] Kira said, gently resting a hand on Mizu no Tenshi’s handle behind his lower back, glancing behind him as he spoke, always referring to her affectionately. 

[b]“She is capable of healing the deadliest of wounds”[/b] he said plainly. [b]“But..”[/b] he continued, looking to the group of students.[b] “What if I didn’t have my zanpakuto, what if I was disarmed in battle and I had no Reiryoku left and no medical training? How many would die because I was uneducated and unprepared and relied solely on my sword and my kido?”[/b] he asked. 

[b]“And that’s just one person. What if your zanpakuto turn out to be better suited to another squad. What if your spirit is more attuned to fighting and not healing? What then?”[/b] he continued, looking to the students, who were hanging their heads in shame for asking such a stupid question. 

[b]“Now”[/b] he continued in a less harsh tone. [b]“What we’ll be treating today will mostly be bruises, cuts, and broken bones. That is, of course, if the blows landed are not enhanced by Kido. Some are, some aren’t. In closing an open wound, always make sure that it’s cleaned out before you close it, otherwise whatever debris is in there, stays inside and can cause infection and possibly death.”[/b] Kira continued to talk about instruments used, and about post-operation care, which was sometimes needed. 

[b]“The IVs we use here have a mild sedative because we don’t want people screaming their heads off as we’re fixing them up. Especially the new kids who think they have something to prove. Nobody screams for mommy like they do.” [/b] 

Kira led the students out of the room and into the open doorway that led to the arena. [b]“This isn’t the time for fun and games” [/b]he said plainly. [b]“This is your education. I want you to see how these wounds are inflicted and know what to do when you see it again. Scout out any possible injuries by studying the type and location of attacks. Pay attention to critical points on the body and the force behind the blows. Sometimes it will happen so fast you won’t see it. In those cases, I’m here to help, but this is your show.” [/b]

He looked at his students, some were showing clear signs of nervousness, and some looked like they were going to run away. Kira stood at the doorway with his arms crossed in front of his chest, staring out into the arena and waiting. [b]“Don’t worry”[/b] he said, reassuringly to his students as they waited for the tournament to start.