She sat on her favorite bench, dressed in a beautiful purple kimono, and starring at the ground deep in thought.
'maybe finally having a new captain is a good thing. perhaps it'll let me finally stop thinking about captain Ai... He seems to be a nice enough person, not half as rough as most of the other captains. I wonder when I'll get to mee…' "Vice Captain Hinamori?" said a gentle voice in front of her.
She snapped out of her deep trance and looked up to find the newly named Captain Oketsu standing there with a questioning smile on his face. She quickly hopped to her feet and bowed. "Hello Captain Itade Oketsu, It's a pleasure to meet you sir." He honestly looked a bit taken back by this show of respect. "OH! P-please, keep your seat. I didn't mean to disturb you. You seemed to be concentrating on something" he replied. He had a very melodic voice.
it seemed to calm her by just hearing it. "it's alright Captain Oketsu sir, I was actually wondering when I'd be able to meet you" she said as she lowered herself back onto the bench. He smiled. "well what a fine coincidence! and please, don't worry about calling me captain. the rank just kinda came with the job. I really don't care much about rank or titles. I'm wherever I can be of the most help. Your quite welcome to call me whatever you like."
"I've been taking a look around the 13 squad's headquarters and I'm a bit tired, would you mind if I joined you there?" "not at all" she said returning his smile and sliding to one side of the bench to make sure there was room. He settled himself down beside her and gazed up at the beautiful trees that surrounded them on all sides.
"it's amazing isn't it, this is the only place in the soul society that the cherry trees are constantly in bloom." the petals danced across the stone paths in the wind and formed tiny twisters. "it is. I've been coming here for years, ever since my time at the academy." the smell of cherry drifted lazily through the air.
He took a deep breath, then spoke in a more serious voice yet still just soft and melodic. "I've read all the reports. I realize how close you were to my predecessor. even though it's been so mant years I know it must hurt you to have to be forced beneath a new captain, especially after having basicly searved as this squad's captian. I don't expect you to enjoy working as my vice captain, or working for me at all. All that I ask of you is to consider, if not working for me, to work alongside me, helping those we can.
he sighed deeply."Who knows, maybe someday we could even become friends."
he looked at her and began to smile, but suddenly his expression changed. it changed back to the same pained expression she had seen him with as he exited the briefing hall that morning.
He bent double and clenching his knees, coughing and gagging, he finally coughed up a rather disturbingly large puddle of blood. "C-captain! Are you alright?!" Hinamori exclaimed clenching his shoulders. He coughed a few more times before sitting back and shaking his head. "I'm fine, I'm fine" he said with what was meant to be a reassuring smile, made rather unconvincing by the blood trailing from the corners of his mouth.
He quickly attempted to change the subject. "A-and I told you that you need not call me captain." he said as he pulled from a pocket a handkerchief that Hinamori couldn't help but notice was covered in dozens of dried blood stains. He quickly cleaned the blood from his face. And stowing the cloth, rouse from the bench.
he dusted off his coat and checked for any blood on it. He quietly cleard his throat. "Thank you for your time, Vice Captain Hinamori." and smiling he turned and began to stride down the path. "Yes."
Captain Oketsu stopped, and turned slightly so to see her. "Yes. I, would really like to serve along side you. And you can call me Momo, if you want." Itade smild verry gently, verry happy to have made somthing like a friend already. "I'm very glad to hear that… Momo. I suppose I'll see you tomorrow, for my first day as captain of squad 5." he turned back towards the path. "Sweet dreams Momo-sama." He continued on down the path, his captains coat flowing behind him. Cherry blossoms dancing in the wind. Until he disappeared from her sight. She sighed and slipped back into daydreams.