The forest was thick with foliage, the grass at her feet dewy from the mist of the everlasting night. Reiko approaches the fire that crackles and dances none too far away from her, the fire casting pale orange shadows against the face of the tall man hunched by it. Piercing blue eyes followed her as she walked towards him, a grin tugging at the man's lips. She feels like she's under the gaze of an enemy, but knows better. The man is just as calculating as he is annoying.

Reiko moves to sit across from him, the dirt and rubble of the cave crunching underneath each of her movements. She eyes the man with a raised brow, giving him a once over as if to question him. Silently asking him why he had asked her to join him here.

She looks him over as he chooses to remain silent, his eyes scanning over her too. Reading her like an open book. His blue eyes were so pale she always felt so small under his gaze, though she'll never say it to him, she's absolutely sure that he's aware. He moves, pulling his long legs closer to him to rest his forearms on his knees. Although he was sitting, Reiko was still able to gauge how tall he was from memory, because the man was quite significantly taller than her - standing at a tall and bold 7'4. She can recall the moment of absolute shock when she saw the man because she, herself, was not an incredibly short woman. But he managed to make her feel tiny.

ZANPAKUTO.

"How are you, child?" His voice is like honey, yet rings with a familiar huskiness.

She raises a brow at the man, tilting her chin down, "You're the one who called me here."

Tsukikage grins, his canine's sharp as they jut out and poke his bottom lip. The thick gray fur coat on his shoulders shake as he chuckles, and he runs a hand through his pepper colored hair - furthering it's messy state and causing even more strands to fall in front of his eyes.

"What if I just wanted quality time with you?" He asks, his lips puckering into a playful pout.

Reiko rolls her eyes, "Really, I wouldn't be shocked, but I also know you as well as you know me by now."

His wide grin slims down to a smirk, and the twinkle in his eye tells her he has more serious issues he'd talk to talk to her about, "Always so intelligent, my child."

The giant of a man moves again, adjusting himself to lean in closer to the flame. He drags his tongue across his lips as he stares at her. His eyes narrowing slightly, his gaze is so scrutinizing that she feels herself grow stiff under it, "You feel it, don't you?"

She's confused, unsure of what he means. She ponders for a moment, trying to think on what he may be feeling, what he thinks she may be feeling, and what he knows. Tsukikage was amazing to her, treating her as amazingly as a zanpakuto spirit could, but she did rue the fact that he would often just not give her a straight answer about things and instead chose to play riddles with his words. She was patient, she was blessed with the ability to be that, but it still didn't make his riddles any less tiring. He always gave her such a hard time with things, initially when it came to his name, and then being absurdly difficult with mastering their abilities together, and even with simpler things like just judging people.

DANGER.

Reiko frowns, she isn't sure what he means but she can only assume it's something negative. He wouldn't drag her here for no reason except for something serious (well, he would. But he wouldn't ask her what he did unless there were a serious reason). But, all Reiko could really think about was her own paranoia. She was overly cautious, and kept anyone outside of her squad within arms reach - Lisa and Captain Kyoraku were an exception. Tsukikage had always told her that this quality of hers wasn't the best, and she never really did disagree or agree with him when he said it. The spirit was fond of multiple Captains and Lieutenants, and would always tell her to "be more sociable", and she was. She just wasn't entirely trusting.

But she didn't think her paranoia would ever really be right. At least, she hoped it wouldn't.

"Now," Tsukikage raises a finger, reading her like a book, "Don't think ill of your own cautious nature, my little Reiko. If you live amongst wolves, you must act like one."

Her frown deepens at the awful riddle.

"But you cannot live forever with no one to trust but you and yourself."

"I trust Kensei," she protests, "As well as Mashiro, Lisa and Captain Kyoraku."

Tsukikage shakes his head, "There are more people that exist than just your Division."

TRUST.

Reiko roused herself from her meditation, only to flinch violently when she noticed the man hovering above her curiously. Her lip curled at the blond, and she gently put Tsukikage back into his scabbard before breathing out.

"You nearly scared me half to death, Captain Urahara."