I looked up to the sky, letting myself relax while I lay down. Sleep was good, but allowing yourself to fall into the area between sleep and relaxation was even better. Today, due to Yamamoto's orders, all divisions had to have an activity together once a week. You know, to heighten the comradere and what not. No one within our division really minded it though.
I pointed up, laughing a bit before naming my discovery.
"That one looks like Kenpachi, all those spikes pointing out."
My discovery was met with a chorus of laughing.
"That one looks like a bowl of ... noooodles..." a long arm shot up. Muko placed her hand on her stomach. The sound of it grumbling could be heard on the rooftop.
"A little food is in order, no?" Shunsui was the first to lift himself off the shingles and stretch.
"All right, before everyone goes on their way, let's go eat." he said. Nanao was still lying on her back, looking up. For a moment, as I turned to watch her, I could've sworn I saw her crack a smile. It was short lived as she stood though.
"All right everyone, you heard the Captain. Let's hurry to the cafeteria before there aren't any seats left."
I walked with Goro, who was the same height as me, about five feet eight. He had a slightly more muscular build and spiky black hair with slanted brown eyes. His katana was a normal one, and his sheath had a neon blue lightning bolt down the side. When I first came to Division 8, he was the first one to help me out. What our division did was handle skirmishes or fights that happened to occur. We did a fairly good job of it.
The cafeteria's seats were taken, mostly by the 4th division. Captain Unohana was sitting with ... Isane Kotetsu.
Now, there were beautiful women within Serietei, but one that caught my eye was Isane. I really didn't understamd why, well, besides the obvious. We didn't come in the same class, we didn't have much in common really. Plus, she was a pretty tall female shinigami as well, even taller than Moku.
"Taiki, I guess you see her too." Shunsui said. I was wondering more on how he got to me so fast without me even sensing him than who he was talking about.
"Yo! Isane-chan!" he said, placing his hand up, waving. The silver haired vice captain of the fourth division looked up, her mouth full of noodles.
"Oh, hi!" she said before going back to her bowl.
"See Moren? That's how easy it is." he said. And just like that, he was gone. Of course, I thought to myself, you're the captain. I'm the ninth seated officer who STILL doesn't have the foggiest idea of how to release his zanpakuto. Yeah, by all accounts I'm a real catch. I furrowed my brow, glaring at my food, as if it had an answer.
"Taiki, are you brooding again? Cause you know you're not a good brooder." I closed my eyes, instantly recognizing that voice. Rora Kangeki was an officer in the largest division, the fourth. She didn't have a seat, but it didn't matter. There were so many officers that many didn't have one. The number stopped at 20, and they were semi-captains in terms of units given to them. Rora was under the 18th healing unit.
Rora was a creative, optimistic individual, who also had a gap in her teeth.She had short brown hair with big walnut-colored eyes. She was a funny girl who always found ways to make everyone's day better. She sat next to me. Out of everyone in Soul Society, she knew me the best. We both grew up together in Japan. I was four years older than her, but someway, somehow, she was one of the few people who could actually generate a conversation out of me. Needless to say, if anyone could get my attention, it was her.
I mumbled something, not even sure of what I was planning to say. Around Rora, I probably was the most alert, and actually the most honest. More probably happened spiritually inside of me when she was just sitting around with me, not even talking, than anything else. The rest of lunch was uneventuful on my side. The 4th division left, and with them, Rora.
"See ya Moren. And, quit brooding and talk to her when you get the chance," she said. That Rora, she really did know me...
The division departed, and since there was nothing else to do, I lay in the corner of the lobby in division 8, this time on the couch. Somehow, I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. I felt footsteps coming my way, and before I could react, I was staring at the tip of a blade.
"Ah ... Moren," Shunsui said, sheathing his blade. "You have an assignment today."
"Really?" usually it was Nanao giving the order, but when a captain told you about an assignment, it meant that it was a serious one.
"What is it?" I asked.
"You know about zanpakutos, right?" he asked.
"Yeah,"
"Report to Division 11. They will help you out. That is all." Shunshui hummed a tune to himself while Nanao followed him, clearing her throat.
"This isn't good." a slightly chubby shinigami spoke, standing next to me. He had brown hair, and his katana was across his waist in the front. He was taller than me, with an annoyed look on his face. He cracked his knuckles together, then looked at me.
"I'm guessing Shunsui told you about Division 11 too?" he asked.
"Yeah. You have to go to?" I asked.
"Yep. I think he said 8th rank and lower have to go." he said, walking out. I never spoke to him much, even though he was the 10th seated officer. His name was Myoto Kendo, and he had a penchant for being self-depricating and sarcastic.
"What a great day," I could hear him talking outside. "Did you think there'd ever be a day where we would HAVE to go to the death chamber?"
"Death Chamber? It's not that bad. We just need to be better trained. Thankfully, we can get away with laziness because of our captain. But this is better than nothing."
The person Myoto was talking to was the 8th seated officer, Shoukou Kiyasui. She stood five foot five, with a slim frame. She had curly chocolate colored hair and alert green eyes, and was in the running with Captain Shunsui in terms of being relaxed. They once had a contest to see who could be the most relaxed for the longest. Of course, being the captain, Shunsui has had more experience, and he easily won.
Anyway, after all that talking, we three ended up outside Division 11's arena like HQ. There were more shinigami there as well. Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. Myoto took a step back, trying to keep his balance. Shoukou closed her eyes, breathing in and out as best as she could. I was too nervous to even think about moving. Suddenly, as the impossing captain of the 11th division showed up at the door, I was slowly beginning to figure what maybe taking place.
"It's times like these when I wish I weren't a captain, so I could wipe the floor with you!" Zaraki Kenpachi bellowed. "But, I'll leave that to my guys..."