Kana was drinking alone at Orihime's coffee table, leaning back on one hand with a cup of sake she stole from Urahara in the other. Orihime was sitting against the wall to her far left next to the open door of the bathroom which was their only source of lighting now that the sun had set. Orihime was moping and hadn't said much after she had welcomed Kana, instead rolling her thoughts around her head and getting moodier and moodier. Kana would have said something, offered her words of comfort but she had no idea what those words were meant to be. So instead she took up a drink while they waited for Rangiku to finish her bath. She had no idea who Rangiku was, only vaguely remembering her as the one who restrained Ichimaru Gin after Orihime described her, and she was the Lieutenant of the 10th Squad, the Captain of which was across the hall in her own apartment.

"Heh, what would my old dorm head say, having a boy in my bed I don't even know." Kana mumbled to herself, throwing back what was left of her drink before moving to pour herself another. She hesitated a moment when Orihime started speaking but ended up giving herself a double serving when she heard the words.

"Rukia is really something, isn't she? Kurosaki-kun was depressed for so long but she cheered him up. She gave him a swift boot and he just perked right up." Oh fuck what the fuck was this. Oh dear god Rangiku, please be good at dealing with jealous emotions like this.

"I'm terrible...aren't I? All I wanted was for Kurosaki-kun to cheer up...but...When Rukia came back and cheered Kurosaki-kun up...I should have been happy and yet..." Oh fuck she was crying oh fuck what the fuck what the actual fuck.

"I-I'm jealous. Rukia is kind and gentle and strong and pretty and she cheered up Kurosaki-kun...I really like her...so why...why does everyone leave me...why can't I breathe when Kurosaki-kun smiles at Rukia..." Kana released a breath she didn't know she was holding as the sound of the bath door opening reached her ears. She turned her head to stare at her drink as long naked legs came into view. There was a thud along with the sound of a few water droplets hitting the floor and she could see strawberry blonde hair cascade down and hide Orihime's teary face from her view. Rangiku started talking softly about how Ichigo was still a kid and needed both Orihime and Rukia since he couldn't stand by himself and Kana returned to her drink, turning her head to look out the patio door as the clouds overhead shifted to reveal the moon, the soft light flooding into the room.

All and all it was very dramatic and emotional so she poured herself another drink as Rangiku held Orihime to her chest. Eventually the teenager's tears dried and she was starting to get back to her overly chipper self as she sound some spare clothes for Rangiku to wear, and headed into the kitchen to get some ice cream. Rangiku sidled up beside Kana with a wide smirk and an expectant stare that Kana scowled at.

"Whadd'ya want." She said flatly once the staring got too much. Rangiku giggled and shifted closer, pressing her boobs against her arm. Kana's face flushed slightly but that's all the reaction she gave. She spent way too much time with Yoruichi to get flustered easily.

"Ne, you're Kana right? Orihime talked a lot about you!" Rangiku was talking to her, but her eyes were locked on the cup of sake in Kana's hand. Sighing, Kana leaned away to dig through her bag and pull out another cup, filling it and handing it over to the beaming woman.

"I am." There was silence for a minute before Rangiku was pouting, throwing back her drink and helping herself to another.

"No fun! You're supposed to ask me what she said about you!" Kana snorted with a half smirk and leaned forwards, looking around Rangiku's head at the outside.

"I don't care what she said about me."

"Ohhhhh." Rangiku 'humphed' and started sulking before Orihime came skipping out with a tray of strange things as well as three bowls of vanilla ice cream.

"I brought all kinds of toppings so we can see what ones we like best!" Orihime beamed as she set the tray down and took a spot across from Kana.

"Oooh, Orihime, this looks delicious! Oh is that curry rice? I hadn't even thought of that!" Kana watched wide mild disgust and widened eyes as the two took their bowls, dumping a little bit of everything on top of their ice cream. Kana ate hers plain as she eyed their spoons turn colour at the mixture the two peppy girls created. Losing her appetite, she shoved the half empty bowl forward and watched with fascination as they set upon it like vultures on a fresh corpse. Returning to her sake Kana grinned to herself as they chattered aimlessly about clothes and jewelry and shoes and what Orihime should do with her hair.

Everything came to a heavy halt as they felt the same thing all at the same time. Rangiku swallowed a pill and sent her Gigai to stand guard by the window. The door flew open to reveal a very short white haired kid in a Captain's Haori and Kana tugged on her own reiatsu to pull herself from her body. Purplish-grey met bright teal and the kid she figured was Hitsugaya-taichou nodded at her.

"Stay and protect Inoue-san. Rangiku, let's go!" They were gone in a flash, Kana frowned slightly as she closed the patio door behind them. Kana sent her reiatsu flying in thin chains to find where the aggressive reiatsu was coming from. There seemed to be six signatures, each leaking in a way similar to a Hollow.

"They're Arrancar from Aizen...like the ones that almost killed Tatsuki-chan."

"They're heading to the strongest Reiatsu signatures...Hime, take my hand." Kana ordered, offering her hand to the shorter girl. After a second of hesitation a slim hand slid into her own and Kana twined their fingers together before tugging her to the couch. She flopped down and Orihime sat gently beside her.

"Kana-chan?" Kana shushed her softly as she concentrated on moving her reiatsu to form a kind of skin around Orihime's. The orangette gasped softly as Kana's reiatsu shuddered before locking.

"What was that?"

"It was a new ability I've learned. Now I can cloak not only my reiatsu, but other people's as well. The skin contact helps since I haven't fully mastered it yet."

Silence fell again and every time there was a spike or fall of someone's reiatsu signature on the outside world Orihime's hand would grasp hers tightly, realize what she was doing, and then slowly relax her grip.

"I'm surprised you aren't out fighting." Kana blinked at the serious tone from Orihime, turning to face her.

"Whadd'ya mean?"

"Mm, well, you love fighting, and you argued with Kurosaki-kun about fighting so I thought you would want to go fight too."

"I do love fighting. And yeah, a part of me is dying to be out there right now...but." Kana exhaled slowly, locking her eyes on Orihime's hairpin when the understanding gaze got to be too much.

"These Arrancar. They're stronger than we are. In order to beat the ones out there right now they're gonna have to be smart in how they fight. I'm not done my training yet. The way I am now...I'm too weak. I'll just get in the way." Orihime's eyes teared up and she reached out to grasp Kana's other hand, squeezing them tightly with a sad smile.

"Kana-chan..." Kana shook her head to cut her off.

"In a month, Orihime. In a month I'll be gone. I just...I didn't know if I should tell anyone...but I can trust you not to tell anyone." Kana's eyes dropped to their clasped hands.

"I'm going to go somewhere to train to be stronger than anyone else. No one will be able to defeat me when I'm done." Orihime nodded slightly and smiled softly at her.

"When will you come home?"

"...I don't know. Sometime, probably."

"I'll miss you." Kana chuckled slightly.

"I'll miss ya too, Hime. I'll be training at the Shoten until the time comes. I don't know if I'll be able to say goodbye before I go." She jumped slightly as Orihime leapt forwards, wrapping her arms around Kana in a tight grip. Her head pressed into her chest and Kana could feel her shirt get damp with tears.

"Awe Hime, don't cry." The arms around her gripped tighter and Kana hugged her awkwardly back, relaxing as the minutes passed with the sound of Orihime's soft sobs the only noise around them.


"Bye, Hime." Kana whispered the next morning, brushing Orihime's hair back from her face before heading out the patio door to go back to the Shoten. She had a lot to get done in a month, and the arrival last night of Aizen's Arrancar told her she'd really have to step up her game. Lucky for her, there was a red headed idiot staying at the Shoten now for her to beat the shit out of until she achieved Bankai.