"Etsu, you have the worst handwriting I've ever seen." Kaien scrutinized a sheet of paper that Etsuko handed him. "What is that supposed to say?"
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanin! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat! Bakudo # 9 Geki." Etsuko leaned back against the wall on her bed. It had been a month since she got the books from Byakuya, but her practical lessons would have to wait until she got used to the sekkiseki limiters. "And the drawing is the symbol I'm supposed to make with my hand."
He continued to look at the paper, turning upside down trying to see if he was reading it right. Lisa and Kaien had been her teachers, visiting her at Ugendo whenever they could to make sure she was reading and retaining the theoretical information. Lisa was always super strict on her, the complete opposite of Kaien. Byakuya would visit often, helping her with her studies and to update her on his search for an answer.
"I'm feeling better, Kai-chan! When I can start actually practicing?"
"Whenever your dad says it's time, I guess," Kaien answered vaguely. She had been asking every day since she had gotten the books.
Etsuko pouted. "But I'm doing better since I've been studying. I know the basics of spiritual energy and how you have to control it. Well, I have to suppress mine instead of concentrating, but the cuffs Ki-chan put on me have been doing that for me."
Kaien sighed as the door opened. Jushiro stepped in with a tray of tea and senbei.
"Good afternoon, Etsuko, Kaien," the captain greeted with a smile as he set down the tray.
"Good afternoon, Captain." Kaien made quick work of pouring the tea.
"Good afternoon, Daddy! When am I going to start practicing?" She got right to the point. "I've been feeling better!"
He purposefully took a long sip of his tea before setting it down. "Today, if you'd like."
In no time, Etsuko stuffed her face with senbei and guzzled down her tea. She waited impatiently for her father to be done so they could practice.
The big eyes full of hope turned to despair as father and daughter walked back to the main house.
"It didn't move!" Etsuko cried, wiping away her tears with her free hand. Her attempts at using Hado #1, Sho, was a failure.
Jushiro squeezed the hand he was holding. "I saw it shake a few times! Lots of people can't do that on their first try! I'm sure once Captain Urahara finds the correct balance on how much he needs to block your reiryoku, you'll be able to blast that little log a mile away."
"You think so? When can I see him? Is he working on it right now?"
"He's a pretty busy person, you know," Jushiro explained patiently. "He works on all the technology we have in Seireitei, plus he invents a lot of other useful things."
"Oh, he's super awesome!"
"So even if he won't get to it soon, you still have Zanjutsu, Hoho, and Hakuda to train in as well."
"I guess." Etsuko sounded dejected. She had looked forward to making progress in something that reiryoku had an effect on.
"I think young Byakuya could give you a few Hoho lessons. Captain Shihoin has been goading him into perfecting his flash step." They reached home.
"I do want to see the cherry blossoms again," she said with a twinge of excitement.
"Hey, princess!" Kyoraku was waiting for them. "I heard you had your first Kido lesson! Did our little genius –"
"The log moved a little! It was a great first time! Right, Etsuko?" Jushiro shook his head frantically as the little girl frowned and stared at the ground.
Kyoraku knelt on the ground. "Cheer up, princess! Tomorrow, you have your first Zanjutsu lesson. Captain Hirako is an exceptional swordsman."
"Captain Hirako decided that he would help?" The news came as a surprised to the white haired shinigami.
"He thinks that it would be a fun way to spend his free time."
Hirako Shinji waited patiently for his student to arrive. He stood in the middle of the 5th Division's barracks humming a piece of jazz he was just listening to.
"Good day! I'm Abe no Etsuko! I'm looking for Captain Hirako Shinji!" A small voice nervously called out to him.
"Good day, Etsuko!" Shinji walked up to her and knelt to look her in the eye. Observing her, he smiled. "Oh my, you're even cuter than the last time I saw you!"
Etsuko blushed. It was the first time someone she didn't consider her new family called her cute. He was so close to her face.
"Hey, Captain Hirako," a serious voice piped up. "I don't think you should be making such advances to little girls."
"Hmmm, what are you talking about, Aizen? It was love at first sight. The first and only love of my life, isn't that right Etsuko?"
She was at a loss for words; her jaw dropped in disbelief. How could he say something like that so flatly?
"You're scaring her, Captain." Aizen then proceeded to ignore his captain and turned to address Etsuko. "I'm Captain Hirako's Lieutenant, Aizen Sosuke. I'll be overseeing that he doesn't cause you much trouble."
Etsuko smiled at brown haired man as he handed her a wooden sword.
"Let's work on the basic stances today, Etsuko-chan!"
"Okay!"
Aizen took a seat on the raised porch and watched the lesson, occasionally warning Shinji to not slack off.
"You have to relax your shoulders. Clutching your sword tightly will make them tense up and then it throws off your balance." Shinji put his hands on the girl's small shoulders and squeezed them a little. "Relax."
Etsuko couldn't help but tense up. The beautiful blonde man that professed eternal love to her was massaging her shoulders. "Okay! I'm trying!"
By the end of the lesson, she had managed to loosen the tension in her shoulders and get over the glib proclamations of love that made her uncomfortable. Etsuko considered it a success; she learned the basic forms of the captain's sword style.
"Thank you for the lesson, Captain Hirako!" She tried to be as formal as possible. Thinking back on how Byakuya had gotten so angry about his name, she decided that she would try to be better about it.
"Cute girls like should use cute names. Call me Shin-chan." He grabbed her wooden sword and started walking into the building.
"If that's what you want Shin-chan." She followed behind him, admiring his long blonde hair. It was so beautiful.
"I think Captain Jushiro or Lieutenant Shiba will be picking you up. You can wait in my office."
It was a surprise to find that his office was neat. He had given off such a carefree aura that she thought it would be a mess. She laughed internally when she thought it must be Aizen that tended to its upkeep. Sitting across from the captain's desk, she watched him search for the perfect record to play on his phonograph. It was the first time she had seen something like that.
Beautiful music sprang from the device. Etsuko clapped her hands together. She had never heard music played from a machine. It was fascinating. "What's this music called?"
"Jazz. Isn't it great?" He began to move to the music, offering a hand to Etsuko.
"Mmhmm!" She took his hand and the danced around the room. She laughed as he spun her and lifted her up from time to time.
It felt like no time at all had passed when the door burst open. "Oi! You idiot! What are you doing with that pervert captain! What's with the strange music? You were supposed to be home hours ago! I was waiting like a fool there!"
"Uh –" The dance partners stopped with Etsuko up in the air during a lift. "Byakuya! What are you doing here?!"
"Hey there, Kuchiki's grandson! Is something wrong?" Shinji gently placed the girl on the ground and turned off the phonograph.
"You were supposed to bring her home, blondie!" Byakuya's temper was at an all time high.
"Was I? I guess I forgot! Oh well!" He shrugged his shoulders.
His lieutenant entered the room as Byakuya started to lunge at him. He held him back. "Please excuse my captain, Kuchiki. I apologize for his immature actions."
"I'm sorry too, Byakuya. Shin-chan and I just got carried away." Etsuko gave him a short apologetic bow. She thought that something formal might appease him.
That actually calmed the raven haired boy down.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Aizen. Your suggestions really helped today. If you have any free time to teach me, I would be most grateful." Etsuko was really appreciative of the mild mannered man.
Aizen smiled. "Of course, Etsuko. I look forward to it." For some reason, the girl didn't think the smile was completely genuine, but she dismissed it.
"Shin-chan! Let's play again!" She beamed at him.
"Make sure you practice those stances every day then we'll have even more fun next time." He flashed her a toothy grin. He knelt to meet her face to face and gestured a finger to his cheek, inviting her to give him a kiss.
She reddened, but obliged, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Waving goodbye, she followed a surly Byakuya into the dark streets.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were coming," she apologized to the back of his head as they walked. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Do you really want to know? Or do you want to dance around with that foolish idiot?" He was still peeved.
"I said I was sorry, Byakuya!" She was starting to get a little angry herself. "Shin-chan is not an idiot! He's a really nice and kind man who's helping me learn the sword!"
"Oh really? Because it looked like you were just playing around!"
Etsuko got fired up. Byakuya was being too mean. Before she knew what she was doing, she had two fingers directed at him. "Bakudo 1, Sai."
The young man let out a yelp as his hand flew behind his back and bound by the first effective use of Kido that Etsuko pulled off. There was more fear in the girl's eyes than happiness that she successfully completely a Kido spell.
"Aaah! I'm so sorry! I got really angry!" The restraint loosened and Byakuya turned around.
He shot daggers at her. "I came because I thought you'd want to know what I found out about those dreams you can't remember, but you've been a little jerk! I waited at your house for hours and you were just goofing off, fawning over some letch!" He turned and began to walk away.
Etsuko started to cry. "Byakuya! I'm sorry! Don't leave! If I knew you were coming, I would have gone home! Please!"
Her pitiful wails halted him in his track. "Stop whining. I'm only forgiving you this once."
She caught up to him and they walked in silence the rest of the way to Ugendo.
"Can I come over tomorrow?" She asked hesitantly when they reached her doorstep. "Daddy told me this morning that I have lessons with the 9th Division's lieutenant. She's supposed to give me Hakuda lessons, but I'll be free in the afternoon."
"Hn." He gave her a non answer and left.
Etsuko was troubled as she attempted to learn close combat with Mashiro the next day. The young lieutenant was a really fun teacher, but the girl's mind drifted back to Byakuya. In the end, all she ended up doing was learning how to punch and kick a punching bag. Even then she got scolded by the scariest captain she had met, Muguruma Kensei. He would yell at her to punch harder or faster and to get her head out of the clouds as he called her names like shrimp and half pint. What a scary drill sergeant he was, always complaining when Mashiro left to get snacks.
"Hey, bean sprout!" The 9th Division Captain called, causing Etsuko to freeze in fear as she was leaving. "Hurry up and get strong! There are a lot of things I have to teach you!"
She half shouted an affirmation before walking away as quickly as possible before he changed his mind and wanted to continue the lesson.
On her way to Byakuya's house, she stopped by a little bakery. Miyako had taken her there before and they had the most delicious western cakes. All day she was thinking what kind of peace offering she could get for her friend and it was the best that she came up with. Leaving with a small cake filled with cream and strawberries, she made her way to apologize properly. Etsuko hoped he wouldn't fight with her again, it took up too much energy and she was already beyond tired from all the physical activities of the day.
"It's Etsuko!" She called in front of the manor. "I've come to visit with Byakuya!"
The girl was escorted to the courtyard where Byakuya was training with his wooden sword.
"Good afternoon, Kuchiki Byakuya!"
The boy looked over at the little girl. She was in similar training clothes as he was. Smirking at the look of tiredness from her, he hoped she wouldn't be a pain. A little pang of sadness washed over him as she said his name properly for the first time. "Good afternoon, Abe no Etsuko."
"I brought a snack. Do you want to take a break and share it with me?"
He wondered if it was a peace offering. Thinking on it no further, it would be rude not to accept the offer. "Of course."
"Isn't it pretty? I got the nicest looking one." Etsuko had no clue what to say. She carefully took out the cake from its box and handed Byakuya a fork from the box.
"Am I supposed to eat off the same cake as you?" A bit of haughtiness dripped from his voice.
Etsuko blushed. That was another part of her apology. "You see, when I was in the human world, Papa told me that exchanging sake from the same cup with one another created these unbreakable bonds. Daddy says I'm not old enough for sake, so I thought cake might be more suitable. You've been so kind to me and I want to repay that kindness… Will you accept?"
Byakuya nearly fell off the porch. Thank the heavens for the railing that was there. Etsuko had taken his wish for formality to a completely unheard of level as well as his anger the night before. He could do nothing but accept. He stuck his fork in the cake and took a bite before commenting on the taste. "Sweet."
"Delicious!" Etsuko mimicked his action. As they ate rather awkwardly, Etsuko continued. "Since we've created this bond, could you call me something a little less formal?"
"Hmm, like what?"
"Hmmm…How about Et-chan, or Etsu?" She tapped the fork on her chin as she thought of names.
Byakuya laughed. She had gotten cream all over her chin. He promptly took out a napkin and wiped her face. "Then I suppose you can call be B-chan if it's necessary. It was the first name you ever called me. However, only when it's just us."
Etsuko laughed at the way he said 'B-chan'. "And I'll call you Byaku all the other times!"
"I never agreed to that!" Before he could protest further, Etsuko shoved a strawberry in his mouth.
"We're friends, we don't have to agree to anything!"
Byakuya couldn't help but be pulled into Etsuko's pace. It was a while before they became serious again.
"So what did you find out?" Etsuko feared what he had to say.
"It's not the cuffs Captain Urahara made for you. From what I've read, it's your zanpakuto spirit. It's probably trying to communicate, but you haven't been synchronized yet or it hasn't accepted you as its master." Byakuya fixed his gaze on the swords at his friend's side. She was never without them.
"I don't think I'm having the dreams anymore. I haven't felt horrible waking up anymore at the least. And look –" She shifted her sleeves up. "No more scratches. If my zanpakuto doesn't want to talk, then it's fine by me. I'll get stronger and make him acknowledge me!"
"Him?" Byakuya raised an eyebrow. Usually zanpakuto were the same gender as its owner.
"I just have a feeling, I guess. I don't know why."
The conversation veered away from zanpakuto to mild teasing about Etsuko's lessons. Byakuya promised her to show her the basics of Flash Step. They even fantasized about the future. Again, Byakuya boasted that when he became a shinigami captain, if she was strong enough, he'd make her his lieutenant. That sparked some fire as Etsuko vowed to make him her lieutenant and force him to do everything but fight.
"Ah!" Byakuya just realized they had been talking for hours. "I can't believe it's this late already!"
Etsuko nearly jumped out of her skin. "Daddy's going to kill me! I've been coming back late and he gets super worried! He won't share his ohagi with me! Ahhh! I've gotta get home!"
"Ohagi?" Byakuya let out an annoyed sigh. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
Seireitei was so peaceful at night. With the exception of the odd squad out patrolling, there was no one out. The stars glittered watching the two friends from above. A cool breeze passed by. It was as if there was no one else in the world but the two of them. In the darkness, they had each other; friends with an unbreakable bond.
"Isn't it so nice out?" Etsuko was skipping.
"Hmm. It is." Byakuya walked next to her. "It's so calm…except for the idiot skipping."
Etsuko stopped and matched his pace. "B-chan is a meanie."
"Et-chan is a little girl!" He retorted, his face deep red at calling her a nickname. It wasn't something he did.
"Yep!" She said with a deadpan look on her face before putting on a crooked grin. "But when I grow up, I won't be little and you'll still be a meanie."
He didn't have a chance to make a snide comeback. They were already at her doorstep.
"Goodnight, B-chan," She smiled at him, happy she resolved their problem. "I'll see you later. Thanks for walking me home. Be safe!"
"Safe? I'm Kuchiki Byakuya. Who dares assault me will be defeated. I feel sorry for them already. I look forward to next time. Good night…Et-chan…" He ran away after he said her name when heard the little laugh she accidently let out at hearing it.
The girl watched him disappear into the darkness, wishing that these wonderful days would never come to an end.