"That's good," Hajime chuckled. "But what were you doing all the way out here? Please tell me you weren't planning on having a rendevouz with a boy?"
"Hajime-kun!" I pouted. "That's not it! But what are you doing here? I thought that you were supposed to be in Soul Society?"
Hajime chuckled and ruffled my pink hair. "Yeah, but lately there's been quite a few Hollows in this area. Kuchiki-taichou, Abarai-fukotaichou, and I are scanning the area."
My eyes grew wide. "Sugoi! Can I meet them?" Then I blinked. "Oh no! I forgot to get the bucket of water!" I hurried off, Hajime following and chuckling.
*~*~*~*~*~
I watched as Hajime pulled up the bucket with ease. I reached out to take it, but he pulled it away.
"Nah uh uh, not with that sprained ankle of yours," he teased. I gasped, next thing I knew, I was piggybacking him. We were running, I think, but the trees and grass where all blurs.
Could this be shunpo?
In less than three seconds, we had reached home.
"Aah, Nanami!" my mother hugged me tightly. Mizuki was in the background, looking worried.
"We were so frightened when you didn't come back! And when we felt the Hollow's reiatsu..." Mizuki trailed off.
I beamed, despite being hurt. "It's alright! If it weren't for the Hollow, I wouldn't have met up with Hajime-kun!" It was then that okaa-san and Mizuki noticed him.
"Hajime?"
Hajime bowed. "Okaa-san, Mizuki-san."
I looked away as they all hugged each other. "Demo...something doesn't feel right," I whispered to the sky. My mouth dropped when I felt three unbearable pressures.
"Kuchiki-taichou, Abarai-fukotaichou...and the Hollows...These aren't any regular Hollows! They're Menos Grande!" I heard Hajime say. In an instant, he shunpo'd away. I pushed myself up and followed Hajime.
"Nanami!" I heard Mizuki shout, but I paid her no heed. The reiatsu was slowing me down immensely, but I could still feel Hajime's on top.
Finally, I stopped at a clearing. Hiding behind a tree, I watched the battle unfold.
Hajime was in combat with one Hollow, and a redhead was in combat with another. My gaze landed on the last shinigami. He wore a captain's robe and his sleek black hair floated in the wind. He disappeared, then reappeared behind the Hollow. Instantly, his zanpakuto found its mark.
That must be Kuchiki-taichou...
I watched the Hollow turn into small particles like the one that had been chasing me. Not long after, Hajime and the redhead, Abarai-fukotaichou, finished off their Hollows.
I couldn't help but cry out, "Sugoi!" I immediately covered my mouth when Hajime looked over.
"Nanami..." he said with a 'why-on-earth-are-you-here-you-could've-got-hurt-and-now-I'm-pissed' tone. "Why are you here?"
I slowly inched away. "Ano...um...Look! A Hollow!" I pointed in a random direction and Hajime (and Abarai) followed my finger. I turned and ran. "Gomen nasai, nii-san, but I'd like to live just a bit longer!" I called over my shoulder.
3...2...1...
"NANAMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"