"Kenny! Grumpy's here!" Yachiru said as she leapt up from behind the sleeping monolith that was Kenpachi Zaraki. She shook her captain awake, the loud clang of her sword against the smooth tile floor echoing and piercing my ears.
Grumpy, eh? I thought as I approached Zaraki. He yawned and sat up, his bandaged sword finding its way into his hand. Even sitting down, it felt like he was almost as tall as me, and probably twice as wide. The bells on the tips of his hair emitted soft chimes as he looked up at me, his face of rested stone telling me two things: to be quick, and be quiet.
"Captain," I said with a nod. "...Lieutenant Yachiru."
"Hi, Grumpy!" Yachiru smiled and ran from behind Zaraki, her sword sliding behind her irritatingly.
"What do you want, Treu?" Zaraki said.
"Sir," I stiffened. "I wanted to ask your opinion on something."
"Eh?"
"Central 46 has been issuing rather... unusual commands, don't you think?"
"Huh?"
"Recently, we've been receiving less and less orders from Central 46, and the commands they do give don't seem to fit their usual thought process. They're attacking various little problems, and avoiding the larger plagues of the Seireitei."
A speech for me. I really hated speaking, but sometimes, even in a world of fighting and monsters, so detached and yet so intertwined with the world of the living, words were the sharpest weapon.
"Uh-huh," Zaraki said, scratching the back of his head lazily. He stood, stretching his massive arms on either side of him, the clothed tip of his sword scratching against the wall. "I dunno, Treu, I really don't think about that kinda stuff."
"Right. I just thought..."
"All I care about is the fight, you know that. Bring the enemy near, and let me cut 'em up. And don't get in my way."
"Yes."
"Anything else like that, well let the other Divisions handle it. That's why they're there. But," he sighed. Speaking wasn't his forte either, one of many things we had in common... "I do feel sorry I can't give you any insight or anything. Ask, I dunno, try asking one of the other captains. Ukitake?"
"Sick."
"Shunsui?"
"...Absent." Absent minded, maybe.
"Why don't you talk to Byak-kun!" Yachiru exclaimed from behind me. I resisted the surprise and the urge to jump, and merely looked at her.
Zaraki scoffed. "Yeah, right."
"Actually," I said. "That's not a bad idea."
"Huh?" Zaraki gave me a curious look. I turned and waved my thanks for their time, and left.
"Thanks, Yachiru."
"Bye bye, Grumpy!" she called after me. I really hate Yachiru, not that I'd insult the Lieutenant of my own Division.
Of course I couldn't depend on Zaraki for 'insight'. But he did tell me one thing- that he was 'sorry'. He wasn't acknowledging my problems, he was acknowledging Central 46 and their blunders. If nothing else, he shared one or more of my beliefs, a fact I often tried to shy from. He didn't see them as infallible. He knew people erred, and he didn't care what mistakes they made, so long as he could live the life he wanted. And that was fine. Zaraki is a good captain, and I'm honored to serve under him, but it didn't help solve my problem.
I lost myself once again in the winding outdoor corridors of the Seireitei, occasionally looking upwards to get my bearings, keeping my scarred hands in my pockets, feeling my sword rock back and forth on the back of my waist, making myself as unassuming as possible. The sun shone, the silence of midday spread around me, and the assumed peace of the soul society was just that, peaceful. Was this a peace I was running from? Here it was before me: quiet days, lazy nights, no guard duty. Just me and my sword, and those who seek my company. That's how I prefer it. But now, hunting down the captains of the Gotei and inquiring to the apparently unquestionable law of the soul society, I was doing anything but enjoying the peace. Maybe if I were more like Zaraki, able to just sleep off what little trouble I had...
"Well look who it is," a voice called from the rooftop. I jerked my head upward and spun to my right as I felt a surge of reiatsu from beside me. "Finally found you."
Ikkaku and Yumichika stood side by side, staring down on me with smiles of different palettes. Ikkaku's feral features glared with their eternal battle lust, and Yumichika's everlasting smile of 'beauty' stuck to him as always. The sun seemed to shine and reflect his features.
"Looking for me?" I said with a rasp. Great. The last thing I needed...
"Actually, yeah," Ikkaku said. "I'm going to fight you."
"Not interested."
Ikkaku was noticeably, and understandably offended. He scowled and stammered as he tried to form an argument, but merely leapt from the red shingled roof and landed beside me, unsheathing his sword in a swift movement. Before I could react, Yumichika was standing on my other side, smiling innocently. Ikkaku's sword pointed toward my chest.
"Interested now?"
I turned away and stepped. My body was consumed in the familiar wind, and I felt the rush of the rich air slide past me. I emerged from my flash step several paces ahead of the two, and just shrugged as a response. I felt the hard patter of footsteps as they ran after me, and flash stepped again. As the air settled around me, I broke into a jog, only allowing myself a glance backward.
Yumichika only was giving chase. As he caught my gaze he lifted his hand in a wave.
That means...
I skidded to a halt and drew my sword from the sheath, swinging it in front of me without looking.
CLANG!
Ikkaku's sword bit down onto mine, the two making an X, as I parried purely out of luck. Already I could feel his superior strength, as well as the strength of surprise, pushing me back. I shoved with everything I had, and stepped away.
"You can't say no to me easily, Treu," Ikkaku grinned. "I've been waiting to fight you for a while."
"Why?" I spat.
"Why not? You're the only officer whose ass I haven't kicked!" he swung again, and I ducked-but barely. I nearly lost my balance, swinging my sword arm wildly to keep myself on my feet, and kept backpedaling. "Come on!"
"I'm busy." I said.
"You're always busy!" he said with a frown, wagging his sword back and forth. "Every time I try to learn something about you, you're busy! Well, no time to be busy now, not with a fight in front of you!"
"I'm occupied."
"It's the same thing! Let's go!" he grew hesitant as I lowered my sword. He wouldn't attack me if I wasn't going to defend, but all the same, if I sheathed or dropped my weapon, I knew he'd take the chance to skewer me for his own enjoyment.
"Ikkaku, I'm busy. I mean it this time. I've got somewhere to be."
"Why are you always so secretive, huh?" he stepped forward, forcing me back. I moved one foot over the other, keeping my weapon before me, the tip edged against his like a fencer. "What do you have to hide?"
"You should talk about hiding things," I said, my voice feeling exasperated already. Today truly was beyond my limit for speaking. "A Third Seat with a Bankai?"
Ikkaku froze. I flash stepped to the right, around him, ahead of him, and then again, forward, as surprise swarmed over his face.
Glad that's over, I thought. Then again, knowing Ikkaku...
Perhaps it wasn't the best idea...
Author: Alright second chapter. Things are starting to get interesting- I hope, as the early characters introduced will be the ones making the biggest impact. I tell you now Ikkaku is going to be something of a major character in terms of Treu's catalysts for development. Lyra will show up again soon but chapters 2, 3, and 4 are all about Ikkaku and, of course, the development of the other plot, the real one. Central 46. Anyways I hope you like it, and these daily updates may or may not be a good idea... Also there doesn't seem to be a good place to advertise this. Oh well, enjoy!
