"Kensei! Kensei!" squealed the ex-captain's irritating former lieutenant, skipping over to him. He cringed at the sound of her voice.

"...Yes, Mashiro?" he sighed with a less than amused look on his face.

"Lookie!" Mashiro continued, pointing to her gloved hand. In it lay a tiny, olive green grasshopper.

All the Vizards were currently on 'Hollow Watch' and dispersed out in partners among various parts of Karakura Town. Mashiro and Kensei were boredly surveying the setting sun from a field above the city, where Mashiro had just spotted the unlucky grasshopper.

"He looks just like me!" Mashiro loudly stated about the small creature. The insect, in response, chirped loudly at her. Mashiro gasped, then realized where the sound had come from and laughed delightedly.

"What are you talking about, idiot? It's a damn bug! It looks nothing like you!" Kensei retorted, quickly losing his patience. They had a serious job to do, and like always during these times, the twerpy midget was screwing around, acting like a fool. He was glad their shift ended at dark.

"Of course he looks like me, dummy! He looks just like my hollow mask," she proclaimed.

Kensei stared intently at the grasshopper, trying to see the resemblance.

"Hmm...I guess you're right." he said after a moment, finally realizing what she was talking about.

"Duh! I'm always right, stupid Kensei. Only a big fathead dummy like Kensei meanie wouldn't know that!" she teased, dancing away.

"Mashiro, you brat!" Kensei yelled, grabbing for her neck and just missing the end of her scarf.

She giggled and ran to the other side of the field, sitting cross legged in the grass, poking her grasshopper gently.

Kensei glared evilly in her direction and could just make out the words, "I shall name you Mr. Chirper. Chirp chirp chirp!" accompanied by an impossibly goofy face from Mashiro.

Kensei's gaze slowly softened, content that she had found something to keep her genuinely amused on such a boring mission. He finally looked away from her and noticed the sun was inches from disappearing. What an uneventful evening, he thought. I didn't even get to kick one hollow's ass.

"Hey, Mashiro, it's time to go home. Put that insect down and let's get outta here," he called over his shoulder to his partner.

He began walking, then hesitated when he didn't hear her footsteps behind him. As he turned, he saw Mashiro looking down sadly at her new friend. She started putting the insect down, then stopped. Feeling Kensei's gaze, Mashiro turned to him with huge, gooey eyes.

Shit, though Kensei, realizing this could end badly for him if she decided to throw a tantrum. Stop looking at me with those damn sparkling eyes, he pleaded silently.

"K..K..Kens-" Mashiro started, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"I know, Mashiro," he sighed, cutting her off. "I guess...Mr. Chirper can come home with us tonight."

"Oh how I love my tall, strong, smart Kensei!" she cried, hopping after him and gluing herself to his right arm, Mr. Chirper tucked comfortably into her scarf.

Kensei looked down at her green, goggled head with a smug smile. Ok, so maybe this night wasn't so terrible...

-The next morning-

As Kensei awoke to the sunlight coming through his window, he noticed a muffled...chirping sound? He frantically pulled back the covers and witnessed a tiny insect with antenna hopping up his left leg.

"Mashiro!"

A suppressed giggle could be heard from somewhere in the house.