Momo flopped down on her bed, laying there for a moment. She inhaled deeply the smell of her own room was now alien to her, she had spent so much time in the squad four barracks that she was only used to smelling sanitizer instead of the soft sweet smell that was her own.
'The new captain is kind of strange.' She pictured the blonde man in her head, short blonde hair bangs cut at a weird angle, but it suited him. She couldn't deny she did feel a fondness to him but her heart was guarded. She had completely devoted herself to Aizen, he was her mentor, and then he stabbed her in the back. Quite literally. She curled up into a ball tightly, she hated remembering him. Sometimes she'd forget for a moment and then she'd do something as simple as drink tea and the memories would come flooding back. She wanted to be strong, she knew everyone thought she was weak, even herself. And she hated it.
Shinji had met up with Kensei and Rose outside of the bar, they were now sat down in a private room. "So, what are yer guy's lieutenant's like?" Shinji attempted to bring up casually trying to sound bored when he was really curious. All the captains had something in common, they had all taken spots left by previous traitors. Shinji wondered if their lieutenants were the same as Momo. Broken, afraid of those around them. "Kira is great! he brings so much inspiration to me!" Rose said whimsically Shinji sighed
"What about you Kensei?" Shinji said realizing Rose wouldn't be much help. "He's okay I guess, the kids so afraid of his own powers it's humiliating! Tosen must've been a real asshole I'll tell you that." Kensei said gruffly slamming his cup back down. Shinji looked down at his cup of sake "Yeah..."
"Well what about you Shinji? How's the girl?" Rose inquired. "If anyone's going to have it rough it'd be her I heard she was very close to Aizen." Rose of course bringing up the obvious. "Yeah, I couldn't blame her for being frightened."Kensei said sympathetically which was out of character for the silver haired man.
Shinji put his head in his hands. "Yeah, she seems pretty closed off from everyone ya know? I heard she used to be real talkative an' sweet, but when I saw her earlier she just seemed distant and lonely." "Well it's not your problem." Kensei commented. "Don't be stupid Kensei!" Rose interjected "Of course it's his problem it's his lieutenant." Kensei just grumbled and drank out of his dish. "Well i'm going to bed see ya." Shinji stood up feeling disappointed, he wished to have gotten some good advice but it seemed like this convo was going nowhere. He had hoped to have more of an understanding group of friends but he knew them too well. Rose only really cared about flying V most days anyway.
The next morning Shinji walked into his office, surprised to see momo already there. She was way to early it wasn't even eight yet."Stupid girl I told you to sleep last night didn't I?" He looked like a hypocrite his own eyes had bags under them. "Yes Captain but there's a lot to get done and I-" "So? we'll catch up eventually " He waved "No use working overtime when don't even get paid for it."Shinji stretched and made his was to his chair. Momo stood flabbergasted at her new Captain's passive behaviour. "But the head captain is going to be mad Captain." Momo whined. "Jeez take it easy would ya?" Momo's faces flushed red. "The head captain owes me a favour, the least he can do is give us a few days grace." He continued putting his legs up on his desk and leaning back in his chair. "Don't worry, kay?" Shinji said a bit more seriously.
Momo despite being told to take it easy, was feeling incredibly stressed out. She had trouble keeping her hands still as she wrote. 'Maybe it's too soon to be back here.' Momo thought. Everything about the office was exactly the same as when Aizen was here besides that Shinji was now sitting where he would've. Everything she looked at brought back another memory and another pain was felt in her chest. Her head felt really hot and she began to feel like passing out, her hands began shaking more and more she was having trouble keeping her captain from noticing.
"I'm going to the washroom." She abruptly stated before quickly wobbling out of the office. As soon as she was out outside she collapsed against the curled up and pressed her head against her knees. Hot tears ran down her face soaking her kimono. 'Why is this so hard?'
Shinji looked up from his desk only managing to catch a glimpse of the brown haired girl unsteadily walking out. "Idiot." Shinji looked at her desk, she had done more work than him which wasn't a surprise to Shinji, however when he looked at it it was done much messier than his. That in its self was a huge writing was uneven and smudged. "What the?" Shinji compared it to her previously done work, It was like a different persons writing. "Shinji shook his head and grabbed the messy documents and stacked them on top of his. "Guess I'll be redoing these." Shinji noticed it had been awhile since Momo had left. He decided he'd take a quick peek and that was it, he wasn't about to spend his whole day looking for this girl, if she didn't want to be found then he'd let her have her wish.
Quietly he opened the door leading outside, feeling the warm air hit his face he closed his eyes and took a breath in. The blonde walked a few steps forward before noticing the brunette curled up in a ball leaning against the wall. "Man, did I already make ya go full fetal position?"
Shinji questioned crouching in front of the lieutenant. Momo held back a giggle smiling through her tears. "What's up Momo?" he said no sitting in front of her. "It's just... Why is it so hard to be in that room?" more tears flowed out of her eyes "Everything reminds me of him and I-I can't handle it! I thought I could, I'm so pathetic."Momo sobbed.
"Idiot." Shinji shook his head. "I know..." Momo rubbed her face. "No, you don't know Momo. Of course it's hard for you it'd be hard for anyone to face this again and your brave for trying to do so." Shinji lifted her chin up with his hand. "And look at you! You've come so far! It's not going to be easy there's gonna be time where ya wish ya could just say screw it all. But you're trying and that's what counts. Just don't push yer self for godsake."
Momo wiped the tears from her face and stood up "Thank you Captain."
"Go home now Momo you're done for the day, And don't even bother arguing with me got it?"
"Yes sir." Once she had left Shinji stepped back inside the office. "Alright then It's time for a makeover." He stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips. "That paperwork will just have to wait."