Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hornet and Phantom. Enjoy the 1500-word chapter. I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo and a few others do.
It was late when Riku heard the door on his door. He guessed who it was far before he grabbed the door, pulling it open enough to reveal Sui-Feng's face.
"I was somewhat expecting you to be here, captain," Riku stated, the serious tone of his voice still holding a certain warmth that Riku picked up on instantly.
Sui didn't feel offended, she could tell her sentries still patrolled this part of the Soul Society. Riku stepped aside to allow the captain.
"Was this to talk about the mission tomorrow?" Riku questioned, curious more than anything. "Or is this a personal talk between friends?" Riku asked, crossing the room as Sui Feng removed her shoes and socks politely.
"The latter," Sui added, warmth coating her tone. "How have you been, Riku? I haven't talked to you since I talked to my officers." Sui added while Sui started to make drinks.
"Training, I've been dealing with preparing for the mission," Riku added as he rubbed at his temples. "I heard you mention something about a 'personal training regimen' you wanted me to practice?" Riku questioned while taking a seat next to Sui.
"I rather enjoy your company," Sui added as she rubbed at her chin. "My officers do not offer the same amount of camaraderie on a personal level… And all of them are too scared to speak their mind." Sui added to which Riku hummed.
"It's odd to hear you…" Riku started to say before he cracked his fingers. "Speak something like that. I apologize for that, it's not easy talking when you've spent an entire day training. I'm sure your rather tired with the stratagem for tomorrow?" Riku questioned while he looked over at the pot of water he placed on.
"I've had plenty of things on my mind," Sui responded, resting her head in her hands. "However, that is not what I came down to discuss at the moment. I could have gone down to talk to the rest of my officers." Sui added before grinning to herself.
"And they cannot even try and fight me." Sui put in and smirked to herself. "Yet they're arrogant enough to think they can handle a few dozen hollows," Sui added which got a small chuckle from Riku as he shook his head.
"Sometimes I think you're like a shark, Sui," Riku added and leaned on the other end of the sofa. "The second you smell blood in the water? You attack it, ripping and tearing before you kill it." Riku put in, gaining a raised eyebrow as he knew that it was true.
Riku could only ponder what Sui was thinking. The woman was a tiger within a cage, a killing machine that could only rip apart what would be destroyed in her presence.
"And yet I haven't torn you apart?" Sui added, her fingers tapping on his chin. "You came to me for training which I accepted. I allowed you to train with me." Sui put in while Riku chuckled to himself.
"Ah, that sounds like a privilege I had to earn," Riku added which gained a toothy smirk. "Can you tell me something? Have you found a good memory in all those current times I trained with you?" Riku questioned, looking at his sword which was put to the side.
Riku sighed and cracked his fingers, the pain of exhaustion was slowly starting to catch up to the warrior at the moment, but he didn't want to give in to it yet.
"I apologize, my curiosity is making me more cautious," Riku added and cracked his back. "Anyway, I've become much more eager to think back to those fond memories. There's plenty to talk about… I have a lot of fond memories." Riku added as he turned to think at the moment.
Sui-Feng was taken off guard by this, not sure how to process it for a brief moment before slowly gaining back her confidence.
"That night we talked atop the pillars." Sui Feng added which caused Riku to hum to himself. "I rather enjoyed it, no speeches about leadership. No desires to think about, no meetings to have to question." Sui added to himself while thinking back to a moment when she wasn't happy with that.
She drew a blank. Riku was many things, clumsy, loudmouthed, cocky at times… But he was very good at listening and a conversationalist. Sui found herself rather enjoying the company of someone who listened to her issues without the threat of violence keeping them from doing something stupid.
"Your aware we will be outnumbered, yes?" Riku questioned while looking at her. "Remind me why they're sending in this division rather than a more assault-heavy division, captain?" Riku asked, raising an eyebrow as he grabbed a pair of cups from the overhead cupboard.
"Because they need someone to figure out why the hollows are coordinated," Sui stated, pausing only to hum as she turned to the side. "I do question how they're striking like this again. Hollows are beasts, their constantly feral, cutting at everything which they find around them." Sui added which caused her to shake her head once more.
"Maybe, but they seem to still be gathering for something," Riku added before he cracked his fingers. "They're still monsters in a way, Sui. They aren't an organized military group. We're going to have to be more careful." Riku put in, taking a seat next to the woman and placing the tea on the table.
"You still will be eager to train when it comes down to it?" Sui added, picking up the cup which she brought to her lips.
Riku was silent, curious as to what tomorrow would bring. The hollows would have to be cut down, destroyed, and put to rest. Riku was interested in what brought these monsters into a group like this, they were animals banging on a cage. Hollows didn't go from being feral like this to being capable of such an attack.
"I'm well aware we can die, captain," Riku responded as he closed his eyes. "But to answer your question? Yes, I rather enjoy the battles when they're not being something that almost cuts me to ribbons… Though I have somewhat of a feeling you enjoy that more than you think I do?" Riku asked while he paused to take a sip of his drink.
Sui was silent as Riku hummed and looked at her. He opened his eyes a moment later. Sui hummed and crossed her feet under the chair, interested in her plans to fight the hollows and her group would have.
"There's nothing to be concerned over, Sui," Riku stated while leaning back on the seat. "We've planned all we can and nothing we do is going to change that. You're familiar with the phrase 'no plan survives first contact with the enemy', yes?" Riku questioned while Sui nodded at the moment.
"That is exactly while I know this will go sideways tomorrow," Sui said and sighed while rubbing at her temples. "I don't know what tomorrow will bring, the hollows could be a distraction. They will be ready for us. The person who is in charge of them? They know we will come to stop them." Sui added before slowly starting to climb to her feet.
Riku made no effort to stop her. He knew they would talk tomorrow. Sui and he would speak more tomorrow.
"Riku?" Sui questioned which caused Riku to blink, looking at her. "I do wish to thank you. I've rather enjoyed the ability to fight a battle where I didn't have to worry about things like my leadership… Or my insecurities." Sui added as Riku smiled.
"I'm glad we've both simply been able to focus on fighting like equals, Sui," Riku said before slowly getting up. "I hope we can talk tomorrow. There are plenty of things I wish we could talk about without dealing with hollows." Riku put in and seemed to frown for a moment.
Riku was silent as he opened the door which got Sui to question something. Sui nodded and slowly grabbed her footwear before leaving.
"Have a good night, Riku," Sui stated to which Riku nodded and hummed.
"You as well, Sui," Riku responded and cracked a smile. "Just don't stay up thinking about what CAN BE. This mission isn't going to be easy; we knew that from the get-go." Riku stated before watching the captain departing for the night.
Riku rubbed at his temples and went to get some sleep of his own.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out next chapter will start to explain more of Riku's powers and such. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show more of Sui-Fang and Riku talking as they talk on hollows. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter is 1500 words.