Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hornet and Phantom. Enjoy the 1200-word chapter. I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo and a few others do.

"It's a rather quiet night, don't you think?" Sui-Feng asked as she sat atop the pillar overlooking the rest of the place.

"Most nights are quiet… But yes, I rather do." Riku said from the other pillar as he looked around with interest. "Hopefully the peace lasts… It's very rare to ever see something like that truly live up to the potential at the moment." Riku added while crossing his arms and humming.

Sui-Feng said nothing, curious about the very idea about peace in their lives. A fool's dream, yes… But one that couldn't be seen as impossible. Sui-Feng had known impossible, she had seen just how life had been when it came down to it.

"Riku, what is it you wish to do if you had another chance at life?" Sui-Feng asked before looking up at the stars.

"I do not believe I fully understand the question, Sui," Riku said, the words felt odd on the tip of his tongue.

"If you were given the ability to surpass being a soul reaper?" Sui-Feng questioned as Riku hummed and looked to the side. "What would you wish to be? Do you not have a desire which could only be done while you are not deceased?" Sui-Feng asked while Riku rubbed at his chin with interest.

Riku hummed and then turned and looked up at the ceiling once more. He knew for a fact that there was not much to do at the moment. Riku shrugged and turned to the captain once more.

"I'm not sure if I would be doing something at all, Sui," Riku said while cracking his fingers. "I'm a warrior, I've been a warrior for years… You know that, yes?" Riku said and shook his head with a blink of his eyes as he turned and looked around once more.

He didn't know what to say when it came down to it. That wasn't a question that he could comfortably answer when it came down to it.

"That's not an easy question to answer, you know," Riku said as he crossed his arms over his chest with a hum. "It's not something I even believe I remember when it comes down to it," Riku said as he placed his head in his hands.

He smiled and tapped his fingers on his lips before he looked up at the ceiling. Riku could only ponder what that past was when it came down to it… Still? He knew for a fact that he would be fighting for years.

"I suppose that a question that's not easily answered," Sui-Feng stated and crossed her legs under her. "But you don't even have an idea of a life outside of being a soul reaper?" Sui-Feng questioned which was greeted by a raised eyebrow at her.

"Do you?" Riku questioned which got a blink from the woman as she hummed. "That is what I thought when you asked when it came down to it." Riku pointed out as he tapped his fingers on his lips.

Still? There was plenty he could openly discuss when it came up in the end as he hummed. Sui-Feng tapped her feet against the pillar as Riku cleared his throat to speak.

"If things were that simple, life wouldn't have problems," Riku said while humming to himself. "Besides, somehow I doubt that you're just asking it to be curious," Riku said as he cupped his chin.

He pondered what life would be like if he was human back then. It made him wonder if life would be good back down.

"We need something to talk about, do we not?" Sui-Feng questioned as Riku shrugged.

Riku assumed that Sui-Feng was trying to make conversation. The woman wasn't exactly someone who was the most social of the captains. He couldn't blame her for having trouble befriending people.

"Yes, but I'd like to ask something," Riku stated as he folded his legs under him once more. "What's it like being a captain? Having so much responsibility and power?" Riku asked, raising an eyebrow at this while looking around.

Sui-Feng hummed; she didn't expect someone to ask that question in the back of her head. Then again? She didn't know her men personally. She didn't understand the lives they led, she expected none of them to care as she couldn't exactly expect to understand soldiers who she didn't see outside of official business.

"It's… Interesting." Sui-Feng said, folding her hands over her lap and starting to look around with amusement. "I suppose it would seem hard to understand for someone who didn't understand it. It's far beyond what I expect the majority of people to look at." Sui-Feng pointed out while Riku chuckled and then started shaking his head back and forth.

He knew for a fact that Sui-Feng could be a good friend. She had the compassion and caring to talk with someone on personal terms. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

"I can understand power… But it's not everything in life." Riku said before pointing a finger at Sui-Feng. "You know that skill and speed are pretty good and needed in a battle.

Sui-Feng smirked despite herself. She nodded, speed and stealth were good weapons in battle. Strength didn't do anything but determine how powerful your blows hit.

"You pay a lot of attention to things that I put in front of you," Sui-Feng stated as she turned to look around.

Sui-Feng slowly but surely started to descend from the pillar once more while she looked to the side. Riku watched the captain hop to the ground, landing on the balls of her feet.

Riku rolled his eyes before slowly starting to descend the pole he sat upon. There would be other talks, other fights to try and face down when it came down to it.

"As quaint as this was?" Riku said before leaping to the ground. "I question if that's all that will be occurring tonight. You seem somewhere else in your thoughts… Am I right at all?" Riku questioned while humming and got a nod from her friend who only hummed to himself.

Sui-Feng looked up at the stars above, far more interested in thinking about what the future would bring. There were far too many details to involve when it came down to it.

Riku hummed before leaning against the pillar behind him, curious about what the future held the more it came down to it.

"Would you like to continue this talk, or should I leave?" Riku questioned before looking around once more, interested in her response.

Sui-Feng was silent for a few moments, curious about her next words.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed. I'll probably have them fight hollows again soon at the moment. The next chapter will be 1200-1500 words and will show another fight and bonding and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapter is in 2-10 months. Retsu is 900 soon and other stories are coming after that.