The two adults walked in silence, Kiyone electing to not use flash step to travel between the divisions this time. She had packed some water and a few snacks knowing that the travel without flash step would take some time, however she was also acutely aware that the little girl in her travel companion's arms was in need of as much time with him as she could have before the inevitable news that he was indeed the father of Chiaki's baby.
Why would she think it's inevitable? Well simply put, Chiaki was not one to lie about anything, to anyone. She never had and Kiyone couldn't see any reason why she would. However, this is now involved another young child, one who by Kiyone's estimate was roughly six years old when she passed in the human world. She had only been in soul society for a season, which meant she arrived during the summer. Already her life here had been filled with troubles until Neji arrived, waking up in the same district where her supposed neighbour had been keeping her to use as a means of gouging new comers for whatever they arrived with.
Most had given into him in the past, but Neji had been the first to challenge him let alone defeat him. The fact that he had risked so much for a child he didn't even know is what had made Suzume trust him. Currently the little girl was resting with her head on his shoulder while he walked with her. A perpetual smile was plastered on his face as he continued on with the shinigami woman in silence, not wanting to wake the child.
Kiyone had a sense that the girl's sleep was never good before she met him. Although he hadn't voiced it, she had a sense that he had the same suspicion. The girl was safe with him, which allowed her to relax and let her over tried and strained body catch up on much needed rest, she couldn't see any reason why anyone would want to break up this little family unit they'd formed. She was certain Chiaki wouldn't.
They passed the ninth division, Kiyone waved to Lieutenant Hisagi who returned the gesture. Neji regarded the man and blinked. In his mind an image of a man with long spiky black hair and dark eyes with a bandage running over the bridge of his nose and under his eyes smiled and nodded to him. A voice echoed in his mind as he recalled a snippet of a conversation: "Neji, who is that one man? The one with the dark hair and the bandage over his nose?"
"Hmm, I don't often speak with him. I believe his name is Kotetsu Hagane," Neji answered after some consideration.
"Why does he interest you?"
"He reminds me of someone back home," Chiaki replied. Neji gained a slightly mischevious smirk as he jested, "oh? I know you don't have a boyfriend. Is this a crush?"
Her mouth made an 'oh' shape as she playfully gave him a gentle shove, "oh as if! He's just a friend."
"Sure he is," Neji persisted.
She gave him a glance from the corner of her eye and giggled while shaking her head. "The day I crush on Shuhei Hisagi is the day the sky turns to grass.
He gently shook his head and blinked repeatedly as he regarded the man and realized that's who Chiaki had been speaking of. A hand slid onto Neji's shoulder, he glanced at Kiyone who's face was taunt although her eyes were soft. Concern, he'd seen a similar look on her earlier.
Giving a soft sigh he assured her, "I'm fine. I remembered some of a conversation from before."
He nodded in the direction of the ninth division Lieutenant and stated, "that's Shuhei Hisagi. There's someone back in my prior home that Chiaki compared him to. I can certainly see why now that I've seen him."
"Huh, I wonder if Shuhei is originally from your world then. We have many people here of different species and origins. It's not unheard of," Kiyone responded.
"It's certainly a strange coincidence. The resemblance is uncanny like they could be brothers or cousins," Neji agreed while he resumed walking. Kiyone kept at his side and watched as the little girl brought a hand up to rub some sleep out of her eyes.
"Ah, the sleeping beauty wakes up," Neji playfully teased as he stopped walking and crouched down.
He looked to her and asked, "do you think you're up to walking for a little bit?"
Suzume nodded a little as she climbed out of Neji's arms and yawned a little. Kiyone dug into the bag of refreshments she'd brought along from the twelfth and offered a small container of orange juice to Suzume.
"I find a little jolt of sugar helps wake me up," she suggested. Suzume smiled as she accepted the juice from Kiyone, sipping it while she held Neji's hand. He readily accepted her hand and they continued on towards the first division. He wasn't about to complain about her sleeping in his arms, he liked that he could help her feel safe and relaxed enough to sleep whenever she needed to, however he would be lying if he said his biceps weren't aching at this exact moment.
Kiyone smiled as she encouraged him, "if what I've seen is any indication, you'll do fine."
Neji gave a slight chuckle and smiled at the compliment, he did enjoy being around Suzume. He didn't mind children from what he could recall and enjoyed teaching them. He felt nervous but also excited to see Chiaki and to meet her nephew, Tetsuya.
As they continued along their path Kiyone suggested, "well, since we've been walking this long do you two mind if we pick up the pace a little? I could carry her, if you'd prefer."
Neji nodded and agreed, "it's alright with me."
Suzume reached up to Kiyone, who gingerly scooped the child up in her arms before flash stepping off towards the first. She didn't however go at her full pace, curious to see how fast he could move. She blinked when he seemed to effortlessly catch up to her.
