She made her way from the 10th squad back towards the 6th. She felt no need to rush or hurry so her pace was lazy and she wasn't even thinking of using shunpo. She took in the sights around herself while trying to keep aware as well. She was trying to do better at not getting distracted and things of that nature. Some people could suppress their reiatsu after all so one had to be aware in more ways than just by seeking out energies.
"The beautiful flower graces us with her presence once again…" Comes a familiar voice….
She pauses and turns,, offering a bow to the Captain of the 8th squad. "Good afternoon, Captain Kyoraku." She says softly… He still intimidated her but she was getting better at hiding such things.
"A beautiful woman should never find herself without an escort… Where are you headed?" He asks…
"I am almost to my destination, but thank you for your concern, Captain. I am merely returning back to the 6th… So I really do not need an escort, but thank you for the offer."
"Nonsense… No matter the distance, I would be sorely remiss if I left you unattended."
"What would your lieutenant say, if she could hear you now?" Came a different voice… Kyoraku stilled… "Ayasegawa-san… I am sure I do not know what you mean. I was merely offering to walk Erisia-san to her destination."
"And she declined your offer… Should I go tell Nanao that you're up to your usual behavior yet again?" Yumi said in that teasing tone… Kyoraku blanched… "No, no, that is not necessary at all Ayasegawa-san… I'll just be on my way…" The powerful captain said as he turned down a side street.
"Thank you, Yumi… What is up with that Captain?"
"Oh he is a shameless flirt… He's even worse than Ikkaku, but at least he articulates it in more beautiful ways." Yumi titters.
"Every time I have crossed paths with him he starts speaking in that tone… I am never sure how to take it… I mean he is a Captain of the Gotei but…." She sighs and shakes her head.
Yumi chuckled. "Do not worry Eri-chan he does that to every woman. He is harmless though…"
"So what are you doing down this way, Yumi?" Eri asks.
"I came looking for you."
"Why?"
"Because Ikkaku is rather quite ruffled that you landed him on his face like that and in front of a good number of 11th squad members at that. You might want to watch your back for a little while, he's in a royal snit." Yumi chuckles.
Erisia grew concerned.. "What should I be watching out for?"
"He's likely going to attempt to challenge you to a fair fight as he'd call it… One without you using kido."
Eri blanched. "Oh no… No there is no way that I could hope to have any chance of fighting Ikkaku without using Kido… and even with it I'm not certain that I could do much… I only just finished my first year at the Academy."
Yumi put a hand on her shoulder. "It is my suggestion that you stick close to people that would step in for you… at least until he gets this out of his system or you get back to the Academy, he would not dare go after you there."
"But he wouldn't really try to hurt me would he?"
"You would have to accept his challenge but if you did, he would fight you seriously. Ikkaku isn't thinking clearly at the moment, Eri-chan. You wounded his pride and Ikkaku's always been a sore loser." Yumi sighs.
"I was hoping to enjoy this break…"
"Yes well, you still can… just don't accept his challenge. He might try to call you a coward, but I do hope you won't rise to his instigating."
"Oh there is no fear of that… Besides how difficult would it be for him to beat a mere Academy student? Surely there are far more worthy opponents for him to face."
"I do love the way you think Eri-chan. Come on I am sure Captain Kuchiki is wondering what's been taking you so long getting back. I'll walk with you just in case Ikkaku proves to be dumber than I thought." Yumi chuckles.
Eri nods and continues walking back to the 6th. Renji is outside with some of the squad, helping them with forms and the like. "Oy. Yumi, Eri." He says in greeting.
"Hello, Renji." Eri says with a smile.
"So what brings you down this way Yumi?"
"Oh just making sure that Ikkaku doesn't do something stupid."
"What happened?" Renji inquires.
"Eri-chan came to visit Yachiru and myself and Ikkaku tried hitting on her… as usual… Only this time she did not run or hide behind anyone… She landed him on his face, bound him with a silently cast Sai and threatened to show him every kido trick she'd been learning if he didn't get it through his thick skull that she wasn't interested and would never be interested." Yumi recounts with a laugh. Erisia was blushing.
"And Ikkaku's pissed that a kido user got the drop on him - right?"
"And in front of at least 50 members of the 11th at that."
"Oy…. So… He wants to challenge her, doesn't he?"
"That would be correct."
"Eh, she'll be fine so long as she doesn't accept the challenge. He must really be in a mood though to even think about challenging someone like Eri-chan… She's just an academy student… a promising one… but still just a student." Renji sighs.
"I know… but you know how he gets when he feels he's been slighted… I am hoping that he will come to his senses, but history says he's going to need someone to beat sense into him."
"Yeah well, he goes after Eri, he's gonna have a lot of people going after him." Renji chuckles.
"You know, perhaps we should make him aware of that." Yumi muses. Renji gets an evil grin on his face…
"Guys… guys please stop. I don't want there to be anymore trouble… and you'll get in trouble for fighting… won't you?"
"Relax Eri-chan… We're not going to fight with Ikkaku… we're gonna talk sense into him… Remind him of who you've befriended… that's all… Should get him to lay off… Plus… Yachiru likes you, she'd get Kenpachi to kick Ikkaku's hind end all around Seireitei if he tried anything…" Renji laughs.
"No fighting Renji… Promise me… you too Yumi. I just wanted to have fun this break…"
"I promise Eri-chan, I will not engage in anything so ugly…" Yumi promises, smiling.
Renji looked at Yumi, the feather faced fifth seat of the 11th was oft known to exaggerate and lie if it suited his purposes, but then Eri-chan didn't know that.
"Don't worry, I won't be fighting either Eri-chan. The Captain'd have my head if I started anything."
"Alright then. You'd best keep those promises or I will find some way to make you regret it." Erisia warns… Both men looked at her and nodded… As determined as she had already proven herself to be, they did not doubt that she would find some way to get back at them…
She turned and made her way into the 6th squad office.
