Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hornet and Phantom. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo and a few others do.

Sui found Riku by the edge of the garden he showed her. His eyes sat closed. His boots, sword, and shirt hung upon a tree close to the water as he hummed, slowly opening his eyes a moment later in her direction.

"If you're going to ask?" Riku questioned as he slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at her with interest. "I do NOT want to be dealing with the issues… Such as constantly having to retrieve new robes." Riku joked which got a smirk from Sui as she hummed.

"I told you I would train you on how to best use your Kido and such, yes?" Sui questioned as Riku hummed. "After our duel, if you've forgotten," Sui added which got a sigh from Riku.

Riku hummed as Sui discarded her coat and sandals and then gazed at him. He paused for a minute before grabbing his sword.

"Your aware a regular member of the group doesn't have your powers or such?" Riku questioned while he brushed off his sword. "Your abilities at both are far beyond what I could hope to possess," Riku said before he turned and rushed at Sui who began walking him through the basics of it.

"You must summon what energy you have to control Kido," Sui said as she used a small portion to send Riku skidding back. "Like so," Sui added, a small smirk once again gracing her face as Riku hummed.

He dug his blade in, stopping himself as the water soaked his legs and pants. Sui chased after him only for Riku to sidestep the hit and lock blades with her a moment later. He tried replicating her gesture with Kido, but only a small gust seemed to extend from him.

It was still enough for him to kick her back into the center of the pond. Riku mentally sighed, every fight with Sui seemed to be her holding back if only slightly. It made him question if he was going to be powerful enough to face the hollows if he couldn't stand toe to toe with Sui.

"Someone's washed up," Riku whispered, softly hoping that Sui didn't hear him. "I'm guessing they've already started to engage the Hollows or is that a no, currently?" Riku questioned Sui Feng who was already busy pulling herself from the depths of the pond at the moment.

Sui hummed and then rushed forward; her blade pointed like a stinger at Riku who ducked under it. Sui hummed, curious about his question.

"I've heard they have, but I've yet to confirm it with the rest of my scouts," Sui added while Riku held his blade at the ready. "And you have some small amount of skill with Kido, but I see I'll have to work to improve your reserves… As for Bankai and such? It will not come as easily as you may think it will be at the end of the day." Sui put in as she locked blades with Riku who was busy mentally collecting his thoughts.

He dodged another slash only for a burning sensation to race across his cheek. He brought a hand up to see that Sui had slapped him across the face, causing him to stagger backward. A bruise spread across his face.

"Ow… Why did you do that?" Riku questioned only to be greeted with a kick that threw him into the water.

Sui smirked at the small amount of payback that she bestowed upon her friend for the humiliation he gave him. It made him roll his eyes and then started to think about this which made him shake his head and then pondered what to do next.

Riku sighed and stagged out of the water, his clothes soaked to the bone. Riku was quite curious about his next move against the woman. She confidently stood in the water, eagerly awaiting her friend who barely seemed bothered about this at the moment.

"Ow," Riku muttered playfully, rubbing his injured ribs which had a red mark from the force of the attack. "You could have just told me not to knock you into the water. It would have been far easier when you think about it." Riku stated a moment later.

"Where's the fun in that?" Sui questioned with amusement as Riku rolled his eyes and charged forward.

Sparks flew from their blades as the duo pushed their swords against each other. Riku looked at Sui who was busy thinking about what to train Riku with.

"You know, sometimes I think you're as sadistic as Kenpachi," Riku said before sliding backward.

Sui only rolled her eyes. She hadn't started this fight, to begin with, but she could tell both had enjoyed it. She found herself constantly being invested in these fights when it came down to more than constantly worrying over the past.

Plus? It was amusing to cut loose while still teaching at the moment. She blocked a punch from Riku before tripping him to the ground. He countered by grabbing her wrist, dragging Sui into the water while both splashed into the water, soaking their clothes and bodies. Their swords were knocked out of their hands and into the somewhat murky water.

"What were you saying about Kido?" Riku questioned while struggling to find his sword.

"I was saying it's a focus of your energy outwards," Sui said, grabbing their blades and tossing Riku's to him a moment later. "How about we start with Kido training and see if we can learn more about the Bankai at the end of this? Yes?" Sui questioned while she hummed.

Riku shrugged, simply enjoying the clash with Sui. It was soothing to be around someone who could talk to him like the person. Still? It was just amusing to spend time with her.

"Let me show you," Sui stated while she closed her eyes and hummed before she spread her feet apart.

Riku was sent skidding backward as more and more pressure cut open the air. Riku could feel the wind slicing at everything and everywhere around him. He had forgotten just how powerful the woman had been. Why did he forget that the woman was the captain? It had been rather smart at the moment not to underestimate her.

He was sent flying backward despite Sui toning down the intensity, no reason to make the other captains believe it was cause for concern… Plus a little power to her still did the trick.

And it was fun as hell for her to see Riku go smashing into the water like a fish that had been hooked. It was something she would be sure not to forget anytime soon.

'Damn Sui for finding so much amusement with this.' Riku thought to himself before chuckling as he remembered HE also found enjoyment in this the more he thought about it… Still? It was rather amusing all the same the more he thought about it.

Sui opened her eyes, dispelling the energy she had discharged around her and allowing Riku to slowly climb to his feet. He sighed with a tone that barely had any frustration in it. It wasn't like he could get frustrated considering he WANTED to learn it to begin with.

"I'm starting to think telling you to meet me at the pond was a mistake," Riku said, looking at the dozens of droplets of water falling from his clothes.

He looked at Sui was in the same situation. Both blushed to realize how the water made their clothes cling to their skin. Riku sighed mentally and cursed this, hoping that Sui wouldn't judge it at the moment.

"It is far more calming than the other locations," Sui said, shrugging off her fears and hesitancy. "I also enjoy fighting at the pillars. It's very fun to exchange blows kilometers above the ground. Let me show you how to use Kido effectively." Sui said while cracking her fingers.

Riku nodded as Sui slowly slogged through the water, her footsteps being as quiet as if she was walking in the shadows. She hummed and shook her head, closing her eyes at the moment to think about how the operation would go. Kenpachi and the others should have engaged the hollows by now. Sui knew the captain might even try to kill the target they had been sent to collect. It wasn't as if they could stop him, but there would still be hell to pay if the creature was killed.

"Like this?" Riku questioned with a hum as he started to close his eyes. "This is far different than when I was showing you the spider stance," Riku said which gained a roll of the eyes from his friend and master.

Sui still recalled the stance. She knew how this had been, she had tried the stance several times. It was interesting, not that she had TOLD him, Riku would NEVER let her live it down at the moment.

"No!" Sui hissed, striking Riku on the arm before her eyes slightly narrowed. "You are too sloppy at this at the moment. Spread your feet apart wider, like this." Sui stated while walking around Riku.

She used her foot to push one of his feet apart from the other. She knew for a fact that if it was one wrong step which would throw Riku into the pond once more. She also shifted his arms apart once more to make sure he was ready.

"You're enjoying this far more than you should be, you know," Riku stated while he rolled his eyes at the woman.

Sui was silent, but a faint smirk pulled at her lips. It told him all he needed to know. He watched the woman retrieve her captain's coat and rest on a stone in the middle of the water, slinging her coat over her shoulders as she looked at her pupil.

No, pupils didn't address the other by name like this. They were partners and friends, and she would miss his company if her friend was going to fall in battle.

"Has anyone in the division asked why you're off so many times?" Riku asked which was greeted by a shake of the head which caused him to close his eyes.

He hated the fact that the woman was seen as cold and indifferent to the rest of the group. The rest of the Onmitsukido probably didn't know Sui as a person. It had also made Riku glad that he knew that this woman was a much better friend.

"No," Sui said while looking at the water drip off her clothing as she hummed. "Are you curious at the moment?" Sui asked which got a shrug from Sui while he nodded.

"Do you think I see you are just as a teacher or something like that?" Riku questioned as he shook his head. "Because I don't. You act like you're as cold as ice, someone who can't allow people to let her see her heart… Do you know that I rather like seeing your heart and knowing you're more than a captain?" Riku questioned Sui was quiet for a moment.

She knew for a fact that there were going to be some issues down the road.

She watched as Riku started to focus and his energy continued to build. He knew for a fact that something was going to be weird at the moment.

This would be interesting soon.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show more of the fight at the moment and more bonding. The next chapter will be 900-4500 words and such at the moment. I do want to point out that these chapters will be delayed and such at the moment. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapters will be hopefully faster and faster.