Despite her fatigue, and being deep in thought, Nanao felt that someone was approaching. She wasn't worried, for she knew who exactly it was. She waited for the visitor to speak.
"A...ano, Ise-san?" The frail voice was timid, as if its owner was afraid of angering Nanao.
"Hinamori, what brings you here? You should be resting." The young girl continued to look down at the floor. Nanao knew that while Hinamori had fully recovered physically, her mind was still in a fragile state.
"Is Aizen-taicho nearby?" Although Nanao was caught off-guard by the question, she quickly recovered. The buildup of reiatsu was unmistakable: the traitors are in Soul Society, at the empty town where the rest of the available taicho are gathered.
"He may be nearby, Hinamori. But, you don't have to worry. The rest of the taicho..."
"I don't want him to die," cried Hinamori. Nanao walked up to the girl, and gently patted her head.
"I'm sure that won't happen," said the lady firmly. Hinamori brightened up upon hearing that. Nanao had a thin smile. She couldn't bear to let the young girl know what she was thinking: that Aizen should be left alive to stand trial for his crimes.
"Come, I'll walk you back to the Fifth Division."
Over at Karakura Town...
"Lisa."
The lady looked up from her manga. It was Shinji. Beside him, was Kensei. The rest of the gang were still asleep.
"What is it?"
"I want you and Kensei to find your way to Seireitei."
Lisa's reaction, was to raise her eyebrows.
"The rest of us, will be heading to where the show is."
"What makes you think that I don't want a piece of.." Shinji raised his hand.
"Let's not fool ourselves, Lisa. There is someone in Seireitei whom you want to see."
"Then, what is he going to do," asked Lisa, as she cocked her thumb at Kensei.
"As a former taicho, he's better versed in the art of 'diplomacy'," said Shinji, flashing his usual crafty grin. Kensei couldn't help but grin as well. Lisa thought for a moment, and closed the manga volume, but not before marking the location where she stopped.
"Mess up the bookmark, and I'll have your head," warned Lisa, as she handed the volume to Shinji. The grin on his face grew even wider...
Back at Seireitei...
Hisagi Shuhei and Kira Izuru were patrolling the streets. After all the paperwork and arrangements, both men simply had enough. Since they couldn't afford to get drunk, the next best thing was to go for a walk. However, unlike any other day, tonight was going to be the calm before the storm. Neither spoke for some time, until...
"So, it has began."
Kira nodded his agreement. Both men could sense the reiatsu of their taicho in the distance.
"Kira, how is Hinamori?"
"She was resting, at least when I last left her."
"It must be hard on her, and on you," mused Hisagi. Kira lowered his head.
Hisagi was about to carry on, when two shinigami came running towards them.
"Hi...Hisagi fuku-taicho..." began one of them, as the duo struggled to catch their breath.
"What is it?"
"...There are two intruders at the gates!" The two fuku couldn't believe their ears.
"Who are they," demanded Kira.
"They refuse to say who they are. One of them demanded that a taicho step outside to speak with them."
"Wait a minute. That means..." said a shocked Hisagi.
"They've already breached the gates. For unknown reasons, they aren't entering the city"
Kira cursed under his breath.
"Kira, go find Ise-san. Tell her to come to the gates as soon as possible." Hisagi may look calm, but deep within, he knew that he had no idea how to handle this crisis.
Outside the gates...
Kensei and Lisa looked around them. They must have knocked out an entire division of shinigami between them. Those that were still standing, stared at them as if they were freaks.
"Looks like the academy no longer trains them like it used to," mused Kensei.
"Someone of more substance is coming," warned Lisa. When the approaching group came to a halt before them, Hisagi couldn't believe his eyes.
"Kensei, do you know him? That guy looked as if he knows you," noted Lisa. The former taicho took a harder look at the man.
"That tattoo..." For Hisagi, he was pretty sure that he had seen this man somewhere before. But where, and what did he do?
"Are you a taicho," demanded Kensei.
"Fuku-taicho of the Ninth Division, Hisagi Shuhei." Hisagi tried hard not to show his fear.
"Hisagi Shuhei..." It finally dawned upon Kensei who this man was.
"That's a good, strong name." The words hit Hisagi like a ton of bricks.
"...Are you... the former taicho of the Ninth Division, Muguruma Kensei?" Ever since that night, Hisagi never gave up trying to find out more about his saviour. Yet, all he could ever dig up, was the name and the division he belonged to, and nothing else.
"It's been a while, young man," said Kensei, as he lifted his shirt. Hisagi needed no further convincing.
"Kensei, he is..." asked Lisa.
"A young kid whom I saved that night, and I think we have more company." After instructing Kira to escort Hinamori the rest of the way (as if he needed the reminder), Nanao came straight to the gates. As she caught her breath, her eyes rested upon the female intruder. Both ladies took off their spectacles and rubbed their eyes, before continuing to stare at each other.
"Who are you," asked Kensei. Even he noted how much the newcomer resembled Lisa.
"Fuku-taicho of the Eighth Division, Ise Nanao." Everyone present detected the sense of pride in her voice.
"Lisa, you know her, don't you?"
"Nanao-chan, I think I still owe you a story." The younger lady fought hard to keep back her tears.
For both sides, tonight was going to be a long night.
Afterthoughts
- The usual RnR request.