Chapter 2 – A walk in the park

All the captains are now walking out of what's left of the main hall. Naomi walked on the other side of the path. She and Raven exchanged a glance in which they both nodded at each other before Naomi flash stepped away after that. Crystal ran up to catch up with Raven.

'Hey, don't walk off so fast' Crystal said finally catching up and panting by him.

'What is it this time?' said Raven, as calm and emotionless as ever.

'How about a sparring match? You could use the practice seeing as you've got a big fight tomorrow. Come on you know you want to.' pleaded Crystal, grabbing his arm.

'With the likes of you? You could never defeat me even if you had a millions years in training. A sparring match with you wouldn't even be a warm up for me,' said Raven coolly.

'Do you have to be so mean' said Crystal pulling a face from behind Raven's back. 'You've only beaten me once.'

'Actually I count three. Besides, you heard what Hisaigo said, I need to ready my squad for battle so I hardly think there's time for a sparring match. Go fight with someone else, I've got things to take care of.'

'Ohhhhhh, fine, go away then' huffed Crystal.

She was standing in the middle of a large platform like structure. There were no trees or any sign of life on this square white platform. Most of the other captains have already flash stepped away to their squad headquarters the only ones remaining are Crystal, Raven and Shunsui (who was curiously watching the two from the hall entrance way). After Raven who also flash stepped away, back to squad 3, Shunsui approached Crystal.

'Don't mind him, you know what he's like' said Shunsui putting a hand on Crystal's shoulder. 'Come on cous, I'm going to the library to do some research on this White Soul Reaper guy, would you like to come and help me.'

'Ohhh, I'd love to come but Raven's right, we need to prepare ourselves or at least tell our squads what's going on.'

'Don't worry about that, I can see that your always prepared to fight, and as for the rest of the squad I'll get Nanao to tell your vice-captain and I'm sure Shuhei will tell your squad.'

'Well if you put it that way, then alright, I'll go with you.'

'Oh, before we go.' he stopped, turned round and loudly said 'Nanao, I need some help.' As soon as he said that Nanao flash stepped in front of him.

'What is it Captain?' asked Nanao.

'Ah my lovely Nanao, how are you to-' he didn't get time to finish because Nanao has just slapped him in the face.

'Don't say that, especially not in front of anyone else' said Nanao through gritted teeth.

'Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have done that, but what do you mean 'anyone else'? The only other person is my cous, she'll understand.' He signed and stood up straight. 'Well I'll get down to business then. You do know that someone invaded seireitei last night, don't you? And that all squads need to prepare for an upcoming war.'

'Of course I know, everyone's panicking and shouting everywhere it's not exactly hard to notice.'

'Good, anyway I'm going down to the library with my little cous here to do some research on the intruder. So, could you go and inform both mine and Crystal's squads to prepare themselves for war?' asked Shunsui looking unusually serious.

'Of course captain. I'll be on my way then.'

'Thank you.' shouted Shunsui after her, she immediately flash stepped away.

'There we go, that's that sorted, now shall we go?' asked Shunsui waving a hand in front of Crystal.

'Yeah, let's go.' And they both set off for the soul society library together.

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About five minutes later Ratiasu was patiently waiting in her room for Ketu to come, her scarf was already around her neck glimmering in the sunlight. She has only just woken up 10 minutes ago sitting on her bed staring out the window at the cherry trees outside. Her room was quite large, with a vermilion coloured theme. Paintings or roses and hills hung on her wall, in one corner stood a small table with many pieces of paper on it and a few pens. And the other a round table with two huge vases with a few branches of flowers in them. Her sword was leaned against the wall opposite her. A large cupboard was by the foot of her bed which was open revealing an array of clothing most of which was vermillion coloured. The room was very bright with five lights on the ceiling and three windows. She sat there waiting, until there was a knock on the down.

'Is that you, Ket?' asked Ratiasu, looking over at the door.

'Who else would it be, Terri?' said the voice outside. Ratiasu breathing a sign of relief went over and opened the door. Standing outside was Ketu beaming down at her. She flung herself at him and hugged him.

'Oh it's so nice to see you.' She said with her arms still round him.

'We've only been apart a few hours, come on let's go in.' he nearly carried her into the room and sat down on the bed.

'So what was that meeting about then?' asked Ratiasu sitting next to Ketu.

'Well to put it simply, this apparently really powerful guy has just declared war on soul society, so we all have to prepare for war and the bad thing is my division has been pulled up to face the first skirmish of his attack. Oh and this guy's name is Usaitar, or aka 'The White Soul Reaper' he's going to lead the hollows to attack us tomorrow. I would've thought Rukia would say something about it to you by now, she is your captain after all.'

'Well you see I only just woke up 10 minutes ago, so Rukia might've come by but I would've been asleep. Hmm, Usaitar, I'm sure I've heard that name before, hmm.' There was a while of silence when Ratiasu was deep in thought. After that, 'ah never mind can't remember. Couldn't this war be avoided somehow though? And are you sure your going to be ok? I wanna go with you.'

'Well, he didn't exactly give us time to say anything, he just declared war and disappeared to Hueco Mundo after that. And of course I'll be fine, don't bother tagging along, cause Rukia won't like it and I don't like it either, I don't want you to get hurt. Anyway enough about that wanna go to Rukungai and walk around for a bit? I'm supposed to prepare for war but you know me, I prefer a walk round with you.'

'Sure why not, that can be your preparation.' she said smiling. She also didn't respond to not going with Ketu tomorrow.

'Alright, then,' he stood up stretched a bit, 'put on some normal clothes over your-'

Ratiasu interrupted, 'Yes, yes I know what I'm doing. I'll just get my coat to cover my uniform.'

'Alright, I'll just get my coat on and I'll meet you at the west gate' said Ketu preparing to leave.

'Alright, see you there' said Ratiasu, before Ketu flash stepped out of her room. She went to her wardrobe and pulled out a large vermillion coloured overcoat and she put it on. She carefully tucked her sword underneath the coat and walked out the front door and immediately flash stepped towards to western gate. She arrived 10 seconds later and saw Ketu already there, standing and waiting, also wearing a large overcoat except it looked like what a poor person would wear (trying to fit in with the crowd).

'When did you get that outfit?' asked Ratiasu landing next to Ketu.

'I got it yesterday, thought this coat fits in better with the crowd, don't you agree?'

'Yeah I guess, maybe I should change to a poorer looking coat as well, I stand out too much in this.' Ratiasu said pointing at her coat, which reflects the sun very well because it's vermilion. 'Ah well it's not as if we're looking for trouble, nothing should happen.'

'Yeah, but being more careful can't hurt.'

'No guess not. Ok enough about that, come on let's go.' said Ratiasu waving her hand in the direction of the gate.

'Well as they say, ladies first, so after you Terri, meet you on the other side.

'How nice, see ya.' Ratiasu flash stepped on top of the gate and disappeared onto the other side. Ketu looked around, saw that no one was watching and followed her. Ketu landed on the other side a second later.

'No one saw us right?' asked Ratiasu, looking around and noticing there was no one here.

'Nope, it was all clear on the other side.'

'Wonderful, then off we go.' said Ratiasu, holding Ketu's hand.

They walked around Rukungai, looking at random spots in the district, 'a walk down memory lane' some people would call it visiting their childhood places, where they met etc. They were right though, Ratiasu's great vermillion overcoat did stand out a bit, seeming as quite few people kept staring at the couple when they were wandering round the streets. It must look odd to the passer bys seeing two people, one who looked rather poor and the other rather rich, walking hand in hand together. Good thing was, no one bothered them, people only stared, caused them no trouble, which was a relief.

They walked around for many hours through many streets past many houses. Ratiasu also saw a clothes shop on their trip and bought a new coat (vermillion coloured 'surprisingly') which doesn't look as fashionable as her other coat (which she secretly got one of her servants to take home) so she doesn't seem as rich. This helped them out a lot because no one stared at them afterwards, which left them to freely enjoy their afternoon out without distractions from random onlookers.

It was nearly five in the afternoon; they turned a corner and walked through what seemed like a busy market type place. There were many small shops on this long street, a few restaurants where many people are having their tea. Many voices could be heard saying things like 'I want that' 'that'll be' 'I'd like' etc.

They saw a quaint near empty little restaurant near the end of the street and Ketu asks, 'Wanna have our tea there? It would be a change to our luxury meals.'

'Sure why not, I'd like to see what they make here.' replied Ratiasu, who seems very cheerful that day.

They both sat down at a table, which was in front of four other men sitting huddled up together discussing something. As soon as Ketu and Ratiasu sat down, the four men broke apart and started eating like maniacs who had a disorder or something.

'Ewww, do we have sit near them, they make me sick eating like pigs' whispered Ratiasu.

'Shhh, keep your voice down Terri, we don't want any trouble remember, and it's not like these people have had any lessons in manners.' said Ketu shushing Ratiasu, at that moment a waiter type person came over to take their order. Their tea wasn't that great compared to what they eat inside seireitei but it was good to eat what they had eaten when they were small. The group of four left half-way during Ratiasu and Ketu's meal. They finished tea 10 minutes later and paid, after that, they just sat there chatting randomly about random stuff.

They both stood up and was about to leave when they heard a scream coming from further down the street and the four men from before running at high speed away from the street carrying large black bags.

'Thieves, help, thieves stole my shop, stop them somebody' screamed a girl, running after the four men, who tripped in the middle of her run and started crying. It took a moment before Ratiasu or Ketu realized that she had been badly cut across the leg and blood was dripping slowly onto the ground next to her.

'Bastards, they're gonna pay' said Ketu, starting to take his coat off and reaching in his uniform for his sword, until Ratiasu put a hand in front of Ketu.

'No Ket, let me handle this' said Ratiasu, who has already taken her coat off (she isn't wearing her vice-captain band) 'here look after my sword, I won't need it against these worthless thugs,' she gave her sword to Ketu and set off after the four men. She did one flash step and immediately ended up straight in front of the four men stopping them dead in their tracks.

'Hand over the stolen goods and no one gets hurt' she shouted warningly at the four.

'What's a soul reaper doing here?' asked one of the four looking at the other three.

'Never mind that, look, her sword isn't with her, guess it's out lucky day.' said one of the other four pulling out a large blade from his waist. The other three followed and pulled out swords as well.

'So you're going to use weapons against an unarmed girl? How pathetic and cowardly, I don't usually like fighting, but then again it's not exactly going to be much of a fight against you lowlifes,' shouted Ratiasu in a disgusted way.

'You're not one to talk woman, it's four on one. So I'll give you a warning, get out of our way or prepare to die.'

'Ohhh, I'm shaking. Come and get me then if you dare,' said Ratiasu putting her fists up. However, she doesn't really look at all threatening especially with her scarf slightly fluttering behind her in the wind.

The four men took up positions around her, one of them lunged pointing his sword at her. Ratiasu easily dodged by stepping back a tiny bit, she grabbed that guy's arm and threw him into another one of them who just started running towards her, they both flew backwards a few yards. The remaining two charged at her with arms out. Just the second before they were about to hit her she quickly flash stepped behind them, and they both collided with each other (with a comical crash).

'Die, bitch,' one of the two men who just been thrown has already got up and is right behind her, she had no time to dodge. Out of nowhere, Ketu came flying in with a kick aimed at that guys head and it hit with a sickening crunch which sent the man flying straight into a tree and he instantly fainted.

'Don't call her a bitch you fucking prick.' shouted Ketu looking rather annoyed.

'Nice of you to drop by' said Ratiasu smiling at him. She saw one of the guys about to get up and instantly flash stepped right next to him and kicked him in the face, after which he obviously fainted. 'Hey can someone get them to jail or at least tie them up so they don't do anymore crimes.' No one spoke, but two other men came out of the crowd tied up all four thieves and dragged them away, 'that's better.' Ratiasu walked over to the black bag picked it up and looked around to see that a group of people have gathered to watch the fight. She walked slowly towards them and they parted a way for her. She saw the injured girl still sitting there crying.

'Here, don't cry, I've got your things back for you' Ratiasu said placing the black bag in front of her. She looked up, saw the bag and cheered up a bit.

'Oh thank you very much miss soul reaper' she said wiping her tears and smiling at Ratiasu.

'Hey, call me Terri. Now let's have a look at that wound on your leg.' The girl showed Ratiasu her leg which had two sword slashes on it, 'doesn't look too bad, I can fix it' and she put her hand on the wound, a green aura appeared around the wound and slowly it closed up. 'There good as new. Well sort of.'

'Thank you again mi- I mean Terri.'

'Ah, you're welcome' said Ratiasu now standing up.

Ketu walked up by her side and side, 'it's getting late, I think we should go ba-' but he never got to finish because a soul reaper has just flash stepped next to them.

'Well, well, well, so this is where you've been hiding' said the Soul Reaper which happened to be Rukia Kuchiki 'I've been looking everywhere for my vice-captain, and here I am finding her out of seireitei. You do know that we are preparing for war right?'

'Captain Kuchiki, of course I do, I just… well… erm…' she went silent after that.

'Don't worry, I saw what you did for this poor girl, I'm not going to report you, although next time try and be more sneaky, you two were seen leaving via the west gate by, luckily, people from my squad. I'm going to turn a blind eye this time.'

'Thank you Rukia' said Ratiasu looking very relieved.

'No problem, I know how it feels like to just want to spend time with someone you love.' she said in an understanding way. With that word Ratiasu blushed. 'Well, just hurry back. I'll give you a detailed report when you get back. I've set up a training scheme for some unranked officers and ranked ones and I'll need your help to organize them.' she sighed. She turned around and faced Ketu, 'Captain Zakura, you are higher than me in rank as I'm only a standing captain so I'm obviously not going to say anything about you. I wouldn't want to anyway. But I do need to deliver a message from Tetsuzaemon seeing as he couldn't find you. He says that all preparations are complete and that we are ready to move out at your word.'

'Oh well thanks for delivering the message Captain Kuchiki.' said Ketu politely to Rukia.

'Call me Rukia seeing as I'm not a quite a Captain just yet' she said walking slowly away. 'Oh and good luck in your fight tomorrow, you'll need it,' and she flash stepped away after that.

There were a few gasps following Rukia's departure, mutterings about being in the presence of a captain and vice-captain etc (wouldn't you just love to have everyone talking about you? I actually don't, too much attention I say) .

'Well looks like the cat is out of the bag' sighed Ketu taking off his coat revealing his captain's uniform underneath it. This was followed by more gasps and chattering (too bad no cheering, but oh well). He put his hand on Ratiasu's shoulder and said, 'looks like it's time to go back. It is rather late after all.'

'Yeah I guess we should' said Ratiasu, looking down at the girl again 'well you take care, hope no more bad fortune befalls on you.'

'Thank-you again, Miss vice-captain' said the girl now looking happier than ever for some reason. 'Bye, hope you'll visit here again, oh and by the way, my name is Jenna.'

'Bye Jenna, you take care now' Ratiasu walked away, waved goodbye and she and Ketu both flashed stepped back to seiteitei, leaving the now crowded street and the four thieves.

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On the same day in the morning, Hikari has just arrived back home from the meeting and has ordered to have a meeting with her entire squad regarding tomorrow's war. Meetings starts at 1pm, Hikari took this time to do a little training. She went outside into her back garden and practiced her swordsmanship (which looks like dancing with a sword), after that she invited Haruka to her house for a relaxing game of Shogi. The game ended in an hour, which obviously Hikari won, after long turns for Hikari. They also had lunch together which was rather slow considering they were talking continuously when eating. They had a slight interruption where Tetsuzaemon came by to ask where Ketu was, which their reply to was obviously don't know (they actually do). Hikari's house was quite large with many rooms, the largest room just happens to be the dining room. She also has a very large garden where she either practices her swordsmanship or go for a game of Shogi. The large grandfather clock in one of the corners of the dining room sounded for half past twelve, at which they both thought it was time to go and get ready for the meeting. Haruka left and went back to her house. Hikari got her captain's uniform and put it on grabbed her sword and set off for Division 5 headquarters.

The trip took less then a minute as she flash stepped there and walked through the front door. She made her way to the meeting hall of the headquarters. Only 4 soul reapers were there (one of them being Haruka, and another was the Vice-captain Naomi), but then again she is early by 10 minutes. 10 minutes later everyone was gathered and the meeting started.

'Ok, well you all know why you're here. A ryoka has already broken down the eastern gate and killed the gate guardian. Moreover, he has declared war on soul society. But what you probably don't know is that we've been chosen to fight him tomorrow morning at six with two other divisions as an opening skirmish type of thing.' There was a lot of mutterings after she said that, but she ignored it and went all, 'we will all meet at six in the morning at the eastern gate to face this threat. He will be leading an army of hollows as well, so your job including the vice captain is to eliminate all hollows that try to enter seireitei, leave the ryoka to the captains. Naomi will lead you so follow her orders.' More whispers followed, Naomi just looked at Hikari and nodded. 'Good, and that's that, meeting dismissed.' She got off the 'stage' then remembering something got back up and said, 'Oh, before you leave could Haruka stay behind for a moment, I need to talk with her.' Everyone looked around at Haruka who just nodded and stood there.

Everybody left the hall, leaving just Haruka and Hikari behind. 'So, Rika, war tomorrow, how do you feel?'

'Sleepy,' said Haruka rubbing her eyes, 'and, I'm really not bothered, I can fight, and I won't let you down Kari.'

'That's good, are you sure you're going to be able to hide your Shikai and Bankai? I mean there's going to be a lot of hollows, and your Bankai would really help us against the ryoka.'

'Sorry, but I've said many times, my released forms aren't for show. And besides a few hollows can't cause me much problems and the ryoka is your job, didn't you just announce that?'

Hikari sighed, 'Well I tried, nevermind that then.' She looked at her watch, 'there's plenty of time before tea, what do you think we should do? I've got an idea.'

'Let me guess, another game of shogi?' sighed Haruka.

'How did you guess?' smiled Hikari sarcastically.

'Whatever, let's go then, I will beat you one of these days.' said Haruka in a tired way.

'We will see,' said Hikari waving a finger at her. 'Let's go' and they both set off back to Hikari's house.