"Isn't it a lil' late for you to be out?"
Reiko opened her eyes, peering down at the voice that spoke. She was sitting on the roof of the 9th Division, katana on her lap as she meditated. It was late, that itself was true, but it was also the time of day where she wasn't busy with paperwork or the squad - and when Kensei and Mashiro weren't at each other's throats (again). Reiko pulled the zanpakuto from her lap gingerly, placing it back into it's sleek black scabbard at her hip. She adjusted her sitting position, dangling her bare feet off the corner of the roof. Shinji raised a brow in her direction, giving her form above him a once over.
"Tsukikage is a picky spirit," she began, meeting Shinji's curious gaze, "He's very talkative at night. Besides, it's a nice night and it's quiet out here."
Shinji raised a brow further, not knowing anything about her zanpakuto's ability. Only being familiar with the fact that Kyoraku Shunsui helped train her. And this, he only recalls because of how highly the 8th Division Captain spoke of her and the fact that she was a Lieutenant. Shinji knew, from the way both Kensei and Shunsui spoke of her, that she was not to be taken lightly. He had seen the way she carried herself in the Academy (He's still upset Kyoraku beat him to the punch in offering her a seat), as a seated officer and as a Lieutenant . Shinji's gaze trailed to the black scabbard, eyes moving up to the silver, white and black threading of the handle. A silky silver ribbon hung from the end. He thought it was particularly cute how she matched the sash at her waist with her sword. He looked back up to Reiko, who was glancing around him for a moment, her brown eyes narrowing before she slid her gaze back over to meet Shinji's.
CAUTIOUS.
"Why are you out so late?" She asked, tilting her head. Her black hair tickled her jaw line, sweeping across some of her face as she eyed the longer haired Captain.
"Came to see if I could finally persuade you into joinin' the Fifth, maybe Kensei will agree to trade Sosuke for you," Shinji gave her a lazy grin and she raised a slender brow. A soft laugh left her and she crossed her arms over her chest. He never failed to try and say something along these lines, though it did feed her ego every time he did.
"Unlikely."
"I'm hurt, Lieutenant."
Reiko rolled her eyes as Shinji placed a hand over his heart dramatically. She turned to face another direction, "Are you going to go visit Hiyori? Or Maybe the new Captain, Captain Urahara?"
Shinji's grin faltered a bit, curious as to how she could guess where he was originally intending to go before he noticed her. He and Reiko were, by no means, close friends. They talked amicably and often, but it never got past his own harmless flirting or proposals for her joining the Fifth. He had actually never even pushed her for personal information if the situation didn't call for it. So, sometimes she would really surprise him with her perception.
"I thought about going too," She stated honestly, Shinji felt like she was reading his mind at this point, "I'm wondering how Hiyori is doing... I'd also like to formally introduce myself to the Captain, of course."
WORRIED.
He knew her words held underlying meaning when talking about Hiyori. The two weren't known friends but had been seen together. Hiyori and her sparred quite often, and had an unassumed, unstated, and quite odd friendship that based itself on that. They weren't the best of friends (Shinji doesn't think either of them would even call each other a friend), but they had a nice agreement that wasn't unwelcomed to the 12th Division Lieutenant.
"Feel free to come along."
Reiko purses her lips in thought, "No, I'll be sure to visit during more appropriate hours since I have paperwork for him to sign anyway. Please send my regards, Captain Hirako."
"I told ya to call me Shinji."
"Absolutely not," Reiko shook her head, her voice wasn't as strict as she had hoped and Shinji's grin widens. She jumped off of the roof of her Division as she spoke again, "Have a good night, Captain."
She pauses, taking a step closer to him as she bowes respectfully. As she did, he caught a whisper of a breath as she spoke, quietly, and only so he could hear her.
"Watch your shadows."
Shinji's smiled faltered for a moment and he caught her gaze as she turned. He couldn't help the impressed upturned curve of his lip as she left him.
PERCEPTIVE.