The wind was unusually cool and inviting in the Seireitei in the mid-afternoon.
"Tousen-sama... Once again today, your light of justice is amazing...!" Whispered a busty five foot two inches Third Seat named Kanoko Oba. She hid behind a tree watching amorously of one of the 13 squad captains, Kanname Tousen, her green and purple eyes shined in admiration and her light brown skin heated profusely around her the bridge of her nose as the Nineth Squad Captain spoke to the Fifth Squad Captain Sousuke Aizen several meters away from her hiding spot.
"Tousen-sama... You're illuminating in truth and justice today... Oh how I long for your autograph..." She whispered while biting the skin of her thumb.
"... It's a shame he's blind huh?" Someone familiar muttered behind her.
"Oh no! That makes him even- Ah Renji-fukutaicho!" Kanoko quietly exclaimed as she turned around and faced Renji's grinning and scowling face, "So, this is where you've been hiding eh? Baka-ko!" "Ouch!" Renji flicked Kanoko on the forehead, "Ooh... That hurt, it really did Renji... Why did you do that?" Kanoko asked while rubbing her forehead, "For sirking off your training today! Tch, honestly! Can't you go one day without day-dreaming and pathetic romance fantasies in your head with you and the ninth squad captain huh?! Baka-Ko!" Renji hit her over the head. "Owie... That really hurt..." Renji sadistically grin while a tick mark became apparent on his face, that made Kanoko nervous, "Oh, really? That hurt? You haven't even begun feeling the hurt! C'mon!" Renji began dragging Kanoko by the ear "Now, You're gonna give m 20 laps around the Seireitei!"
"W-Wah?!"
"Uwah... So tired..." Kanoko said lying on her back as the grass brushed against her naturally brown skinned bare forearms, as sweat bullets matted her face and long grey hair, "I'm sorry, Hibiki, Hissori... I got you covered in my sweat," Kanoko commented sadly as she tiredly pulled her zanpaktou, in the form of a peace-signed hairpin and wiped the moisture off with her arm warmer. The purple circle glinted as the green rods remained unhinged, "Oh, c'mon Hibiki-chan... I said I was sorry... Please cut me some slack... You're right I don't deserve it.... But...!"
As this was going on, Renji watched Kanoko speak openly to her Zanpaktou, which was a rare case, but since it's a secluded area Renji can watch the idiocracy that is Kanoko in contentment. Kanoko's laughter filled the air, it was a small and light giggle, "No, no... I didn't mean that I'm sorry! You're a great zanpaktou! You're strong and tough you really are!" "Huh, you really are an idiot, huh Baka-Ko?" She blinked, "Eh? Really? Hibiki says the same thing... I don't know why though," Renji sighed and lazily lifted up his hands, "I don't even know why I'm training a Third-Seat from Squad Seven for..."
"It's because we've known each other since... Well... You know..." Kanoko whispered with a wistful smile. "Yeah I kn-Wait..." Renji paused listening to the air, "Tch, for real? Again? Man this is frustrating!" Kanoko's eyes lit up, realizing what he meant by his banter, it was another Vice-captain meeting. He sighed, exasperated..." "... Do you... Have to go to another meeting?" Renji nodded, Kanoko hummed, "That's ashame... I promise to be ready for tomorrow's training alright?" "You better be! I'm really getting tired of looking around for you when you're somewhere near either your Captain, or your Captain's best friend!" Kanoko flinched and nervously laughed while scratching the bridge of her nose. "Too obvious?" "So obvious I'm surprise that even he can't see it yet!" "Please don't speak about Tousen-sama like that... It's impolite..."
"'Tousen-sama'? Aren't you going a little far this time?" Kanoko flinched once more."Well... I, um, well i-it's..." "Forget it, I have to go... See ya," "Ah! W-Wait! I almost forgot!" Kanoko exclaimed while jumping up to grab his loose Shinigami standard sleeve, "... What is it now?" "U-Um well... That is... Can you tell me if... Rukia-nee is alright? Please?" Kanoko knew about Rukia Kuchiki's time in the real world, how she lost her powers, how she befriended a group of humans, and how she was captured by another friend which was the red-head, six foot two inch tall Fukutaicho and her own brother.
She cried for three days after all.
She cried more when she heard Rukia will die in fourteen days.
"You know same as what I told you before..." Renji lied, in truth he hadn't visit Rukia in quite sometime not after his first visit at-least. The damn Kuchiki noble is getting too in over her head nowadays.
"Oh... Well, can you tell her I said 'hello' again? If it isn't a bother..." Renji couldn't help but smile at her meek tone, and her big hopeful mismatched eyes, "Yeah, sure, sure," He was about to leave but Kanoko didn't let go of his sleeve yet, "Also..." She whispered while looking down, "Could you tell her that I was sorry... Really I am... For not being able to... Be strong enough to protect her? Please?" Renji sighed, he saw that coming a mile away. "Kanoko... We've been through this, no one could save her, she broke a law and now she's paying for it."
"... With her own life?"
"Oi! Don't say it like that!" Renji scolded, "You'll get the Higher-ups angry if they took wind about it!" "But it's true... Isn't it?" Kanoko whispered. Renji silenced for a moment, then started to laugh, "Now, now, don't get you knickers in a bunch! I'm sure she'll be fine! I mean she does have that 'Mightier-than-thou' brother of a noble!" Kanoko nervously nodded, "So don't worry! Everything will be surely straightened out! By the way... I forgot to tell you this but, Kommumura-Taicho needed you for something after this." Kanoko jumped, "So you better get going, if you don't want him to say mean things about you infront of 'Tousen-sama'!" Renji mimicked with a snicker.
Kanoko blushed, "A-Ah!" "Just kidding! You should get going." And Renji left, his snicker lingered in the air. "Renji-Fukutaicho! Why does he always pick on me...?"
Night was about to end as Kanoko was walking through an area belonging to the 11th Divison, knowing this was a faster shortcut through to get to her Seven Squad Captain. Komamura was an honorable Shinigami and a aspiring person, even though he's not actually seen because he always has the tendency to cover-up most of his face. That didn't matter to Kanoko though, she viewed him like a surrogate father. She smiled, remembering how she was rescued by the said captain more than once, and wished in some way or form to repay the favor.
It was then, a loud gong was heard, "Attention, attention, all Shinigami prepare for battle, the Ryoka are intruding the Sekkiseki. Repeat, the Ryoka are intruding the Sekkiseki. All Shinigami be prepared in your designated areas" Kanoko looked up in the sky with a shocked expression, "What? Ryoka?" An orb of light suddenly came to her line of vision hit the Sekkiseki force field, Kanoko ran a little closer, "Wow... It didn't even exploded! Eh?!" The orb broke through the shield and suspended in the air momentarily. Kanoko couldn't stop staring, her right green eye and left purple eye gleamed in anticipation and awe, "Why do I have the feeling... Something big will happen..."
Somewhere inside Kanoko...
A flutter of yawns were to be heard.
"So it has begun... Please, wait for me, I need more rest..."
Two figures, a tall male and a petite female knealing before the hidden figure nodded.
So it has begun...
