Disclaimer: I can hardly draw a picture worth a crap. D'you really think I'd own something as artistically pleasing as Bleach? …No, I thought not.

"…Hanataro-chan?"

"Huh?"

"I don't really trust those energy pills."

The said 7th seat officer of the Fourth Division, Hanataro Yamada, stares at the tiny animal curled opposite of him in confusion.

"Um…what? I'm sorry, but I don't know…"

"The energy pills with the skull on them, Hanataro-chan. I don't trust them."

With this statement Hisagomaru limberly uncurls himself from the rock he had been perching on and instead flows to his wielder's side, lightly scurrying up one of his arms and nestling comfortably in the crook of his shoulder. Hanataro automatically reaches up and pats the little animal absently, still somewhat bemused by his zanpakuto's sudden statement.

Hisagomaru takes no heed to his new perch's confusion, instead shifting around a little and making himself more comfortable before closing his huge, wide liquid eyes, his tiny leaf-shaped ears flattening against his furry head in a sign of contentment. With the appearance of some combination of ferret and cat, along with his large wet eyes, small nose, twitching whiskers, and small paws with pads of velvet, the zanpakuto spirit could have been a child's favorite plushy toy for all the dangerousness he displayed. His smooth, russet-red fur and overall soft look only added to the effect…but Hanataro knew better than to judge by looks alone.

When he wanted to, Hisagomaru could be a right little monster.

Not that he'd ever displayed any ferocity to Hanataro directly, of course. However, during those times of battle, when he had to direct Hisagomaru to devour the injuries of his comrades and enemies alike, Hanataro could just feel his zanpakuto vibrating with every jump of the gauge on his blade. With every gulp of pain Hisagomaru had to digest his ferocity would grow, until the diminutive little creature metamorphosed into something lethal when unleashed in one great slash upon his foes…only to recede again entirely after that one great bubble of power was spent, popped.

Only then did Hisagomaru ever return to his normal, lazy state. And it was only then that Hanataro dared to actually visit him.

Now was one of those times, having slumped into an exhausted slumber after tending to Kurosaki-san's injuries in the underground tunnels of Sereitei. Weighed down by a large amount of fear and confusion transpiring to the recent events and his joining forces with the ryoka, Hanataro wasn't really even aware that he had fallen asleep until he had suddenly realized that he had somehow slipped into another world, Hisagomaru's domain, sitting upright to find himself perched on a sun-warmed rock with his zanpakuto curled opposite of him on a similar earthy slab, dozing away in the wan sunshine.

Hisagomaru was almost always dozing when Hanataro came to visit or simply came without meaning to in his dreams, an ability that he himself could not quite explain. This world was a lazy, lethargic place, as Hanataro had noted on his first visit, ending up on this very same rock at the time. It was never one specific spot that they would meet each other - sometimes it was in a rocky clearing surrounded by sleepy-leafed trees, like now, and other times Hisagomaru greeted him on a pale forest trail, or beside a small pond edged with cattails and lazily drifting koi. Nothing was ever particularly remarkable or surprising in this world - in fact, everything was rather pale and tired, even the sky and the sun, and hardly any other creature stirred. But it had suited Hanataro just fine.

He didn't think his heart to be remotely flashy or interesting, anyway…

Now he gently caresses Hisagomaru's fur as the little animal stuffs its nose into his sleeve, still recovering from his surprise. His zanpakuto rarely speaks to him at all, preferring to instead grace him with his lazy, dozing presence and comfort, which Hanataro usually gladly accepts. If anything, this is the first time Hisagomaru has even stated an opinion of any sort concerning Hanataro himself. …Or one of his possessions, rather. Still, not that it mattered all that much…unwilling to let such an occasion simply go to waste, Hanataro decides to cautiously prod his companion for a few more details.

"Um…Hisagomaru-san…"

"No formalities, Hanataro-chan. I don't trust those either."

"O-Oh! W-Well then…Hisagomaru…I…why do you not like the energy pills? They are a supplement of the Fourth Division, so they can't be that bad, can they…?"

Hisagomaru shifts a little more on his shoulder, opening one eye to regard him blearily. Then the little creature yawns, displaying a pink tongue and surprisingly sharp-looking teeth.

"Mah, Hanataro-chan, I would care less if they were from the Eleventh Division instead. I do not trust those pills because…hu…they do not look like they work."

"Ah…yes…lots of people seem to think that, too…some even wonder if they are dangerous, because of…"

"The skull, Hanataro-chan?"

"Yes, the skull."

"…It is a very nice skull, Hanataro-chan. It has strange eyes." Now both of Hisagomaru's eyes are open. "I like the energy pills that the other Fourth Division people use, but yours, Hanataro-chan…I do not trust yours."

"But why not? They aren't different from the other ones…"

"They do not look different. But they are different. I do not trust them, Hanataro-chan."

Hanataro stares at his companion some more, but now Hisagomaru has turned away, whiskers twitching, and even as he watches the creature's eyes close, and before he knows it his zanpakuto is sleeping again.

Deciding not to pester Hisagomaru any more than he needs to, Hanataro instead thinks about his companion's statement, wondering what the little creature could possibly mean by his energy pills being 'different' from the others'. He hasn't tried one yet, admittedly, and doesn't really know what to expect, but if they work for everyone else, why would they not be the same for him?

After a while he resolves that he will try one as soon as he wakes up - he will probably need it anyway, if Kurosaki-san decides to get into another fight, which is very likely as he seems hell-bent on saving Rukia as it is. This decision in mind, Hanataro instead returns to absently stroking his partner, thinking that Hisagomaru is probably just restless from not being called for so long. Not that he wants to enter a battle anytime soon…but the needs of his zanpakuto would have to be seen to eventually. Hm…

Hisagomaru lets Hanataro stroke him to his heart's content, while his whiskers twitch in slight annoyance at the fact that his wielder had not taken him seriously. Could Hanataro not tell that those pills might be fake? Well…no harm in letting the boy see for himself, he supposed. He wasn't about to coddle his master into learning the lessons of the world every time. No, he was meant to aid his companion in battle, not teach him the nature of life.

Fake energy pills, he supposed, could be included in that particular quota…

A/N: Hmmmmm…somehow this chapter just feels…weird. Very weird. Not much else I can say about it, really. All the same…I couldn't resist. Surely everyone loves Hanataro and his awesome energy pill? XD Bless the little man's soul…I was laughing for hours afterward when I first witnessed him gulping down that skull-emblazoned jawbreaker-sized medication like it was nothing…