When Kana next opened her eyes she could almost think it was a dream. She didn't seem to be in much pain at all, and other than her usual grogginess she got when she first wakes up, there was no confusion. She sat up slowly none the less, checking her body for any of her previous injuries. Other that a slight aching in a few joints, a lot of yellow bruising, the only real damage seemed to be to her reiatsu. It was still stuttering, as though it were a fire trying to resist the rain or some other poetic nonsense. Kana stood from the mat she had been laying on, stretching lightly in an attempt to get rid of the aching.
"Ah, you're up. Further inside there's some hot springs. I've had you in there a few times since you got your ass handed to you, but I've mostly had to take care of this other fool." Kana looked down at the sleek black cat, who gestured towards another body that had been laying a few feet from Kana.
"Gotcha'. How long has he been out?" Kana asked, lifting Ichigo's blankets and peering at the sheer amount of bandages. He must have been sliced up pretty good.
"A day longer than you have. He should be waking up any time now, he's been showing signs of waking since morning."
"I see. Well, if you need me, I'll be in the springs." Kana mumbled quietly, heading deeper into the little den she had found herself in.
"Oh, and Kana?" She froze in her tracks, refusing to turn and meet Yoruichi's gaze. Mostly because it frightened her what she would see there.
"Keep your head up. Soi Fon has had hundreds of years of training." Kana scoffed slightly and flash stepped away, not wanting to hear anymore.
It had been hours since Kana had been in the hotsprings, the bruising near non existent and her joints no longer creaking in protest when she moved. Ichigo had woken up about 15 minutes ago, and she had quietly eavesdropped on his and Yoruichi's conversation as it pinged ponged between some series discussion about a mask and his organs, to the hilarious reaction of Yoruichi showing him her true form, to him being in a rush to get to Hanataro-whoever that was-and Ganju being where Kana could feel a familiar crushing pressure that, although the wound was gone, made her chest ache. There was a fluster from the front and then silence, and Kana rose from the hot springs as Yoruichi approached.
"Ichigo has left to fight Kuchiki Byakuya. If we do not get to him in time, he will surely die." That was all the dark skinned woman needed to say before Kana was dressing herself again and they were soon chasing after Ichigo's rolling reiatsu.
"I didn't know Ichigo was this fast." Kana murmured, and slightly ahead of her Yoruichi shook her head.
"He's not. He took an artifact from my family to fly and get there as fast as he can." Dark eyes met golden and Yoruichi smirked slightly.
"There are only two other people I have taught to flash step and you have faced both of them." Kana's face shifted into a dark scowl at the reminder.
"Both have trained themselves after I left, both have risen to become Captains, and both took forever to get to where they are now. Where they got in 10 years, you got in a week. So don't worry too much about losing, because I have complete faith you will become as fast as they are someday." Kana cackled and sped up to flashstep ahead of Yoruichi slightly to hide the slight flush of her face and the soft smile.
"Please, give me another week of training and I'll be using your bee's body to beat the pretentious one." She laughed, grinning as Yoruichi joined in. As they approached the long bridge that connected the white towers, Yoruichi's expression turned serious.
"Hide your reiatsu!" There was a flash of pink ahead and Kana frowned as one of the bulkier figures turned red. Hiding her reiatsu, she made note of who was there as a distinct orange head landed beside a petite white-enrobed figure that she knew just by size alone had to be Rukia. Behind her was another small Shinigami, and facing the group halfway across the bridge she could see dark hair and flowing white robe. Just a few steps behind him was another captain, with long white hair. Yoruichi flung herself ahead and Kana arrived just in time to hear Rukia shout for Ichigo to run. Th elder Kuchiki's blade shone bright pink for a second and Yoruichi's arm flung out and white bands wrapped around his Zanpakuto. Yoruichi landed in a crouch beside Ichigo, and Kana landed in a squat on the railing behind Byakuya.
"Yoruichi." Byakuya's voice was a near whisper, and Kana blinked at the white haired man who smiled politely at her. She sent him an awkward wave in return and he chuckled slightly, waving back.
"It's been a long time, Byakuya." All eyes turned back to the two as they reunited in what Kana was sure was one of the most awkward way.
"Yoruichi Shihoin." Behind Yoruichi, Rukia and the other short shinigami had a quiet discussion where Rukia explained that she heard hear Yoruichi's name before, explaining her previous rank as leader of the Onmitsukido, and her nickname as the Goddess of Flash. Everyone seemed so serious, but Kana had to clutch at her sides to stop herself from falling over in laughter.
"I-It's true! Not only is she fast, but she'll show damn near anyone her body." Kana cackled, receiving a few glares, an amused smile, and a wicked smirk.
"Yoruichi," Everyone's eyes turned back to Ichigo and Kana already felt the need to roll her eyes because she was sure it was going to be some dumb shit rolling out of his mouth.
"It's obvious you came to save me, and really...I appreciate it. But it's not needed. At the moment, I need you to step aside so I can beat this guy." Kana sighed and jumped down, moving to stand beside the white haired Captain as he blinked in shock. Kana laughed slightly and tapped him on the shoulder smiling wider when he jumped slightly.
"Don't worry, we'll be out of yer hair shortly enough so hopefully we don't have to listen to this idiot give cheques his ass can't keep." The white haired captain's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Beat him? You think you can beat this guy?" Yoruichi asked Ichigo, turning more to fully face him.
"You are a fool." Yoruichi moved in a flash, her fist sinking into his wounded stomach. Kana flashed past and positioned herself at Ichigo's side, stopping him from falling forwards as Yoruichi jerked her hand away with a grossly wet sound. Kana shifted Ichigo's arm around her shoulders and took his Zanpakuto in her own hand. He resisted, but was far too weak to do much else other than groan in protest. Yoruichi came to his other side, mimicking Kana's position and smirking at Byakuya.
"Don't waste your time trying to help him. None of you stand a chance of escaping from us now." Yoruichi smirked at Byakuya's bold words and Kana tensed, preparing herself.
"What a big shot you are now, Byaboy. But as far as I can recall, you've never beaten me in a race."
They leapt to the railing as Byakuya broke his blade free of the bandages and swung. There was a weird game of chase as he tried and failed to make her bleed, and it was extremely obvious he was aiming for Kana as the weak point. Eventually Yoruichi guided them to the top of the tower, and she held her hand forward with three fingers upraised.
"Three days, Byaboy. In Three days I will make this boy stronger than you, and this girl faster than you." Well that was fuckin' news to her. But then they were off, Kana focusing hard on keeping in time with Yoruichi's steps.