"Gin, stop it will you?" tinkling laugher was heard down the halls of Las Noches, the young woman and ex-captain playfully pillow-fighting. It was quite obvious who was winning. She was starting to grow accustomed to being around so many arrancar. There was few she knew that didn't think too highly of her, but she didn't mind; she was given a lodging away from the place she used to call home. Of course, now that they were finding ways to put a price on her head, home wasn't exactly the best place to be. Pity that she had to leave behind her little friend...
···
After she got that pesky lieutenant off her back, she finally rested, closing her eyes and focusing on the sounds that surrounded her. At first, there was the peaceful lulling of birds, and the soft whisper of the wind. Then, there was crunching footsteps. Her eyes shot open, aware of a new presence. It was her sensei.
"Hateshinai-kun, that was quite a display you showed us today. I would like to assign you a new mission; you will train a student in one of the sophomore classes. Her name in info are written on this scroll. Have fun with your new assignment! Oh, and you won't need to be attending any classes until you've finished your mission." With those instructions, he left, leaving her to ponder on how he had found her in such a secluded clearing.
She opened the scroll, and read the objective. It seemed absurd that she should take on the mission, but if it meant being able to avoid that lieutenant, she was up for it.
After arriving at the academy's doors, she looked around for the B-1 class. It took her a couple of instances, but she spotted the sign above the main class room and checked the scroll once more for the name of the girl she was supposed to train. The girl was semi-noble; her relation to the Shihoin clan allowing her to have the extra tutoring she would need to be able to be a good addition to the Gotei 13.
Class had just finished, so it would be the best time to pick out whoever the lucky stuck-up kid would be. She noticed a large group in the back, and decided it would be best if she asked them for the whereabouts of the girl.
"Hey, sorry to bother you, but do any of you know an Amai Miyuki by any chance?"
To her annoyance, she could see a couple of guys bullying someone in the corner, and excused herself from the group for a moment. Walking over to the guys, she tapped one on the shoulder, raising an eyebrow and giving a "Ahem, I'm not very impressed at the moment so scram" vibe. The guy turned around, and instead of backing off, smirked. Today was really not going her way.
"Well, hello vixen, aren't you a tough one, we're a bit busy, but we'd be happy to deal with you next." The guys behind him snickered, all of them eyeing her. Thinking back on why she had decided to take the mission, she sighed. Maybe the teasing lieutenant wasn't so bad after all. There was a line between annoying and trash. These kids were definitely trash. With a sigh, she continued towards the middle of the circle, surprised to see a petite brown haired girl in the middle of the crisis. She pushed her way through and helped the girl up. Determined to not go in an outburst and start a mass-murder, she politely side-tracked the idiot's comment.
"Leave this girl alone. I doubt she's done anything to deserve this." She started to walk out of the circle, but one guys put his arm on the wall, the circle now enclosing both her and the other girl.
"Heh, well vixen, that just can't be done, sorry. That's our drinking money right there." He motioned towards the girl, who was glaring at them angrily. She swung a punch at his gut, but he dodged it easily. He kicked at her, sending her towards the floor.
"You can be our companion. How about it heh?" He laughed, the other guys joining in. She really didn't have a reason to not beat them to a pulp now.
"Leave her alone, and let us go, or else-" she was cut off by the same guy again.
"Or else what vixen? You'll slap me?" He laughed, again. Hateshi really was not in the mood to be wrecking things and causing trouble, but she supposed it was for a good cause. For someone that was most likely already starting to learn hado, he was sure dull. Hateshi let go of the girl, just about to knock him out with a good punch under the jaw, when they were interrupted.
"Oh? What's this? Seems as though there as still some ruffians in the academy. That vixen you're speaking to is mine by the way." For once, Hateshi was glad to hear the smooth and teasing voice.
Gin was standing right behind the boys, arms crossed and grinning. The guys scurried to form a line.
"I-Ichimaru-fukutaichou! We apologise, we were simply fooling arou-" They were cut off by Gin.
"Fooling around? Now what makes you think the academy is a place to fool around?" He continued before they could answer. "You are disbanded to Rukongai, and you are to do labour for the next 3 months."
"B-but sir!"
"Do I need to repeat myself?" With frowns on their faces, they bowed, and promptly packed their stuff, to leave for their consequences.
The girl got up and bowed deeply to Hateshi and Gin. By looks of it, she was quite relieved to be free of those morons.
"Thank you, Ichimaru-fukutaichou, er- Miss."
Hateshi nodded, and asked for her name. It would be important to report this to their sensei so that he would be alerted of their absences. She replied, bowing slightly again.
"Pleased to meet you, Amai Miyuki." Although she was surprised the one she was supervising would be picked on, she followed up with her own introduction.
"Pleased to meet you, Kaisou Hateshinai." Ichimaru observed the formalities, his grin still present.
"Vixen heh? It does suit you, getting into trouble with every turn you make. Ne, Hateshi-chan?"
"Coming from someone that's nicknamed fox-face, I wouldn't be one to speak." He laughed at this comment, amused with the information she got.
"You were following me around weren't you? What about your duties, Gin-fukutaichou? A responsible lieutenant shouldn't waste his time following an academy student around now should they?" she asked, smirking.
Gin grinned, but didn't bother to answer; it was a rhetorical question anyhow. Aizen was fine with whatever Gin did; Hateshi could serve (as a very good recruit. Little did he know, she would be much more than a pawn of the chess board.
···
"Miyuki-san, I was assigned to teach you." Hateshi stated once they were just outside of the Miyuki's residence. Miyuki nodded, she had seen it coming up. She wasn't a bad fighter; she had the skills, but she wasn't confident enough to strike anyone with the intention of really hurting them. Furthermore, those guys had her father quite worried for a while. The girl was one year younger than Hateshi, not meaning much in shinigami years.
"Meet me in the training fields tomorrow, and rest well; you're going to need it." Hateshi noted before leaving. Miyuki walked up to front door, noticing her father standing at the window. He had seen the whole encounter, and he seemed pleased with the situation. Miyuki spoke, updating him on what was going to be happening tomorrow.
"That girl is the one who is going to be mentoring me."
"Did she tell you her name?"
"Yes, she mentioned it not too long ago. I think she's Hateshinai Kaisou?"
"Hateshinai-kun? You are quite lucky to have such an admirable mentor Miyuki."
"Hmm? Is there something special about her, father?"
"I hear that she's the prodigy of your generation. It seems that Ichimaru-fukutaichou fought with her as an equal today, and she put up quite an impressive fight. It's not often a student can even withstand a lieutenant's reiatsu, not to mention fighting them."
Miyuki was quite surprised to hear this. If she was so powerful, why hadn't she just gotten rid of those guys herself? She had also seen Ichimaru walk her back to the dorms yesterday...was there something they were hiding from the eyes of the others? They way they spoke wasn't like the usual sempai-student talk at all. They were constantly challenging each other, the banter light and teasing. She let the slight suspicion out of her train of thought, and focused instead on her training for tomorrow.
···
Aizen started out with a question. "Isn't there something you would like to share with us, Gin?"
With a bit of a smirk, Gin spoke.
"Hateshi and I are engaged. There will be a party next week."
Hearing the word engaged still made Hateshi slightly uncomfortable. As much as she loved Gin, it was still a new word on her tongue; engagement and fiancee. They were two words she was going to have to get used to quite soon.
She blushed slightly, seeing the eyes around the table directed towards her in that manner didn't help to the situation. The guys congratulated the ex-third division captain, who seemed to be at ease with the situation. Being the only other female there, Halibel quietly congratulated Hateshi, who nodded with a small smile of thanks.
They continued with the situation at hand and the plans that were to be made for the upcoming battles. Once they were done, a still red-faced Hateshi walked out hand in hand with Gin, heading back towards their quarters. Thinking of the party, she quickly remembered that she had yet to invite one more guest.
All the espada had confirmed their invitation to the party that was to take place next week, that is, except for Aaron Niero, who was busy with a scouting mission. Hateshi and Gin had already planned the location and the activities that were to take place at the party. The main attraction? Drinking.
