Lethal Hornet, Timid Healer

Disclaimer:

I don't own the rights to anything related to the anime Bleach

The rights to that anime belong to…other people…


Chapter 7: The Path I'll walk

(April 3rd, Day 2)

Soifon had woken up early today, as in earlier than she expected to. "Kurosaki…" she frowned, pacing around her room in her dark blue gown, "Big mouthed…grrr…Why is this bothering me so much?"

Soifon let out an exasperated sigh as she plopped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She wondered why she couldn't block out what Yoruichi had told her and asked. A scoff escaped Soifon as she remembered Yoruichi's question about 'intimate healing' between her and Hanataro.

"I've never been so thrown off-guard in my life," Soifon frowned, rolling onto her side, "Lady Yoruichi…she's always playing games with me…But…why is this game so different…Why do I feel so differently about her teasing me about Taro-uh…"

Soifon paused and blushed at her nickname slip, "Hanataro…" A knock brought Soifon's attention to her bedroom's door, "Come in…"

A frown appeared on Soifon's face as she realized who she just let in: a woman with dark blue eyes and some resemblance to Soifon, except for her smile and overall happy look. Her hair was long and black, tied with a white cloth into a ponytail that reached five inches past the back of her neck. She wore a dark purple-bluish gown with an orange sash wrapping round her waist.

"Izumi…" Soifon frowned, lifting herself from bed, "What do you want?"

"Ahhh, Shaolin, that's not very nice," the woman smiled, playfully pouting afterwards, "I just came to see how my favorite cousin was doing, that's all."

"Don't come here and lie to me, Izumi," Soifon frowned, crossing her arms, "And I no longer go by that name…not in over two hundred years, in case you forgot."

"Oh, I didn't forget, but you'll always be the same, meek, little 'Shaolin' I remember you as, Captain Soifon…despite your cold and elitist attitude…" the woman bitterly replied, "You didn't even bother to greet me when I returned, that's pretty rude!"

"As if you care about my greetings," Soifon scoffed, rolling her eyes before turning her back on Izumi and staring out at the early morning sky, "…Its almost time for work…I hope you're prepared to give me a report on your mission today…"

"I was ready yesterday, and I'll be doubly so today," the woman smiled, turning to leave before pausing, "One more thing, Shao…I heard this interesting rumor about you rushing some boy to the 4th Squad HQ the other day. I didn't catch the boy's name, but some say he might be a 'secret' boyfriend of yours."

"…Leave…" Soifon replied, the tone in her voice suggesting that she was embarrassed, "My love life is none of your concern…" Soifon paused for a moment before covering her mouth as she realized what she had just said.

"Love life, huh," Izumi smiled, "Well, that must've been one rough night! I hope you didn't kill the poor man!"

"Just leave," Soifon stammered, hiding her red face as her cousin left, laughing, "…Damn rumors and gossipers…"

Soifon dropped her frown and stared out at the morning sky again, smiling slightly. "…Hanataro…I wonder why I feel so embarrassed when someone mentions us being together," Soifon sighed, running her fingers through her hair as she went out onto her room's balcony, "Is it because of my pride?"

Soifon let out another small sigh as she continued to ponder the answer to her question. She shook her head after awhile, deciding that she'd be better off working than wasting time on finding the answer to her question, at least not right now.

Her captain's coat gently swayed as the morning breeze brushed against it. She liked mornings like this, when the sun was warm and the wind brought a slight chill to those it graced, as they reminded her of the times she and Yoruichi would go for a walk through the Shihouin Gardens.

She smiled slightly as she let her mind drift into these memories, frowning when a strange spiritual pressure suddenly caught her attention instead. The strange spiritual pressure soon disappeared and was replaced by a more familiar one, which startled Soifon.

She quickly Flash Stepped to energy's source only to find Hanataro sitting in a nearby park, resting against a giant tree. Her stomach began to flutter as she recalled what her cousin had told her earlier, causing her to blush. She shook her head and straightened herself out, putting on her usual countenance of authority before casually entering the park and making her way towards the young healer.

"…Someone was in my room last night," Hanataro mumbled to himself, watching as he balled and un-balled his fist several times, "And…I feel like I should know who this mysterious person is…The spiritual pressure traces they leave-it's like they're taunting me…"

"Who is taunting you, Hanataro?"

"Captain Soifon," Hanataro stammered, scrambling to his feet in order to bow, "Good morning, may I ask what brings you here today?"

"You," Soifon replied, causing the boy and, once she realized the implications of what she said, her to blush, "I mean, I was on my way to work and I spotted you here…But, I heard you talking to yourself about someone taunting you. Is there something you'd like me to know?"

"Oh, uh, n-no…I was just being, uh, dramatic, I guess," Hanataro nervously laughed, receiving a cocked eyebrow from Soifon, "But thank you for asking…"

"…Are you sure…If someone is bothering you…"

"No, really, there's no one bothering me…but thank you, Captain Soifon…" Hanataro nodded, receiving a slight smile from the woman.

"You're welcome…Have a nice day at work."

"Y-you too, Captain," Hanataro stammered, widening the woman's smile a bit before she left.

"…And Hanataro," Soifon began, halting her exit and looking over her shoulder at the boy, "…You don't have to bow to me, okay? I'm fine with you just saying 'Hi'…"

She left before Hanataro could reply, leaving him curious as to why she would tell him that, even though it seemed as if she would be the most appreciative (out of all the other Captains) to receive such an act of respect.

"You assumed that, Hanataroooo, and assumptions can be wrong…" Hisagomaru yawned.

"Gotta agree with the sloth…and you gotta come up with better lines than 'you too', HanataBro…right," the inner Hollow laughed. Hanataro shook the voices away and left the park, deciding he should get to work as well.

This came as a surprise to Iemura, the first person he encountered at the 4th Squad HQ, "Yamada? It's a bit early for you, of all people, to be here, don't you think? Your shift doesn't start till 8 or so."

"Well, I just thought I'd get an early start," Hanataro replied, letting out a small laugh, "Is there anything that you need me to do right now, or should I go see Captain Unohana for a task instead?"

"Well, uhhh, tch, I don't have anything for anyone to do right now…Things have been pretty tame since last week…" Iemura sighed, taking his leave, "I guess Captain Unohana might have something important for you to do, but don't get your hopes up."

"Okay, thank you…"

"Oh, and one more thing…I heard about what you did yesterday, you know, standing up to that 11th Squad mook," Iemura began, glancing over his shoulder at Hanataro, "…Good job…I never knew you had something like that in you, but try not to get carried away because next time your friends might not be there to help you out."

Hanataro gave the man a slight nod before he finally left, a slight smile subconsciously appearing on the young healer's face as his eyes briefly flashed yellow.

"Heh, we won't need our friends to back us up once we synch up, HanataBro…Heh, we may not even need them at all!"

Hanataro's smile quickly disappeared, being replaced by a look of confused horror. How could he even think about his friends that way?

"Good morning, Hanataro," May beamed as she snuck up behind the distracted boy, hugging him, "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, good morning, May," Hanataro blushed once the girl released him, "No, everything's fine, I was just thinking about something, that's all…"

"What were you thinking about?"

"…Just some changes I'm going through," Hanataro nervously laughed, "Anyways, I'm on my way to see if Captain Unohana has something important she wants me to do…Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure, I've got nothing else to do," May smiled, following after the young healer as he headed to Unohana's office. The 4th Squad Captain greeted them with a smile and assigned them to tend to a patient in the building's west wing, room 42. When they got there, they saw a young girl absentmindedly staring out of the windowsill she was leaning on. She had short, brown hair and freckles, and was approximately Hanataro's height and age.

"I feel fine…" the girl sighed, not bothering to look at the two medics, "I don't know why Ms. Izumi wouldn't accept that…It was just a scratch…"

May and Hanataro exchanged glances before May spoke up, "Well, we're just here to make sure that you really are 'fine', Okay?"

"Fine, but can we make this quick…" the girl sighed, briefly setting her bluish-green eyes on Hanataro before plopping down on the room's bed, "I'm kinda in a hurry…"

"Of course," May nodded, approaching the girl, "Okay, so, show me where you were hurt." The girl cocked an eyebrow and briefly glanced at Hanataro before attempting to remove the upper part of her Stealth Force uniform, only to be stopped by a somewhat embarrassed May, "Wait, maybe Hanataro should leave…"

"Why, he doesn't seem like he has enough gall to look anyways," the girl smiled as she went to take off her clothing again, "Guys like him are just too nice…and scared…"

And she was right, of course, as Hanataro immediately turned away out if sheer embarrassment.

"If you don't wanna look, why don't you just leeeeaveeee…" Hisagomaru asked. Hanataro agreed with this and began to walk backwards to the room's door, in an attempt to not inadvertently peep at the girl and he was more likely to injury himself (and look stupid feeling for the door) if he closed his eyes. With his being rather clumsy and unlucky in general, Hanataro tripped over himself and fell hard on his back, his eyes closed in pain.

When they opened the first thing they set themselves on was the golden locket hanging on a jade chain hanging off the girl's neck. "What is that…" the inner Hollow panicked as Hanataro continued to stare intently at the locket, specifically at its familiar red crest, "It looks so familiar…ugh…my head hurts…"

"H-Hanataro, how could you," May pouted, breaking the boy out of his trance.

"I am, I mean, I, uh, I'm so sorry," he stammered, blushing before leaving the room.

"…Hanataro…" the girl mused, tapping her temple with her index finger as if she were trying to remember something, "…Oh God…"

May looked at the girl, her eyes wide and mouth slightly open as if she had just discovered a shocking secret, "Is there something wrong?"

"…He's kinda cute," the girl stated in an uninterested tone, throwing May off-guard, "Can I go now, or do you need to heal me or something?"

"Uhh, yeah, I mean, no, I mean…Yes, you're free to leave…" May replied, though the girl was already out the door before she finished, "Huh, what's her deal…?"

Hanataro let out a small yelp as the girl unexpectedly grabbed him by the collar of his uniform before slamming him against a nearby wall, holding him there as she glared at him. "You jerk! I remember you," she growled, smiling as May quickly came into the hall.

"Let him go!"

"Grrr, you jerk, say some-stop stammering," the girl growled, shaking Hanataro, "Don't you even remember who I am?"

"Uh, ah, I'm sorry, I-ah! Y-you're making me kinda dizzy, wait, let go of me-ah," Hanataro squealed as the girl grabbed his hand and flipped him over her shoulder, sending him crashing to the tiled floor on his back, "O…owww…why'd you doooo that…"

"…You don't even remember that, geez, Hanataro, what's been going on in your head," the girl sadly sighed, kneeling over the downed healer. She paused for a moment before snapping her finger, as a brilliant idea entered her mind, and cleared her throat, "Dat's my supaw secwet gweeting, Han-Ta boy!"

May and Hanataro gave the girl confused looks, with the latter being the first to say anything in response. "Y-yeah, well, your "Kitty Haul Special" nearly put me in the hospital the first time…" Hanataro paused and examined his words, a smile forming on the girl's face, "…Kitao…?"

"The one and only," the girl smiled, pulling Hanataro off the ground, "God, I haven't seen you since the academy, Hanataro! I almost didn't recognize you!"

"Heh, I didn't recognize you either, considering how you've cut your 'Kitty Mane' so short now," Hanataro laughed, "What made you finally decide to do it, Kitty?"

"I dunno, I guess I just outgrew it," Kitty replied, smiling slightly, "But, I see you've still got the same old boring haircut…Though, puberty seems to be working in your favor. You've grown cuter since I last saw you!"

"Tha-thanks," Hanataro blushed, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"…So, you two know each other, right," May asked for her own clarification.

"Yep, ever since we were knee-high," Kitty smiled, leaning on Hanataro with her elbow, "He was always getting in trouble he couldn't get himself out of, so guess who had to bail him out?"

"…Captain Unohana?"

"That's ri-what? No, it was me," Kitty exclaimed, frowning at May's smirk, "Han-Ta, who is she, your girlfriend or something?"

"Ah-no, no I'm not Hanataro's girlfriend! I'm 'May', his friend who happens to be a girl," May quickly replied, blushing.

"What a shame…or not since, I guess, that means you're still available, Hanataro," Kitty smiled, something May immediately frowned at, "Maybe we could catch up on old times…okay?"

"Oh, would you look at the time," May blurted out, glancing down at the nonexistent watch on her wrist, "Well, me and Hanataro should get back to work, now! It was nice meeting one of his old friends."

"Oh, well, it was nice meeting one of his new ones," Kitty smiled, shrugging her shoulders before taking her leave, "I guess I should head back to work too…Wait, Hanataro, I heard there was some guy Captain Soifon rushed to the hospital the other day…"

"Yeah, she did…What did you want to know about it," Hanataro nervously asked, receiving a frown from the girl.

"I heard that guy was you," Kitty stated, poking Hanataro with her index finger accusingly, "How come you didn't tell me? Were you hurt or something?"

"I didn't assume it mattered and, no, I wasn't hurt, so don't worry."

"Well, it does matter and I'm glad you're fine…" the girl sighed, "Anyways, I should really be going now. I'll see you later, Hanataro."

-2nd Squad HQ, Captain Soifon's office-

Soifon was absentmindedly twirling a pencil in her left hand, waiting in boredom for her cousin to appear. Her mind soon drifted to thoughts of Hanataro, a slight blush appearing on her face. "What can I do…" she mumbled, getting out of her seat and pacing around her room, her hands interlocked at the small of her back, "…I'm new to this, um, would I call it 'dating'? Ugh, whatever this relationship I have with Hanataro is, I'm new to it…I wish I knew how to, um, express(?) my feelings to Hanataro properly instead of treating him as if he were just another soldier of the Gotei 13 to me…"

She paused for a moment, glancing out of her window as if some sort of answer would fly in and smack her across the forehead. A small yelp escaped Soifon as her office door suddenly flew open, revealing her cousin and Kitty, "Good morning, Captain Soifon!"

"Next time, knock," Soifon barked at Izumi, receiving a smirk from the woman, "I don't see what you find so funny."

"Did I surprise you, Soifon," Izumi laughed as the Captain took a seat, "I guess you must be slipping, huh?"

"I assume you have a report for me," Soifon impatiently asked, receiving a nod and eyes rolling from Izumi, "Then speak."

"Alright…the mission was a success and the artifact was recovered, but we encountered a strange Hollow that was dark red with giant claws, a long tail, and a mask that had three horns," Izumi began, receiving a raised eyebrow from Soifon as a sign to continue speaking, "It seemed to be following us for some reason, perhaps it was attracted to the artifact? Anyways, whenever my squad attempted to engage the Hollow it would disappear through this strange looking portal. Then, when we finally retrieved the artifact, it suddenly attacked Kitty before disappearing shortly afterwards."

"Hmmm, I assume you've already gone to the 4th Squad HQ and been patched up," Soifon asked Kitty, receiving a nod from the girl, "…Is there anything else you could tell me about this 'strange' Hollow and why it concerns you so much?"

"Uh, well, no, except that I felt a foreign Soul Reaper presence nearby whenever the Hollow appeared…At first I believed it might be one of the three traitor Captains, but upon closer inspection I found out it wasn't. Perhaps this person was controlling the Hollow and is one of those 'Arrancar' Aizen has wrapped around his finger? And, as for why I'm concerned about the Hollow, I merely worry that it would be compelled to seek the artifact out and attack whoever holds it."

"…The General can handle a measly Hollow and the likelihood of it being able to get that close at all is very slim, so don't worry…Though I'm curious about this supposed 'Arrancar' you mentioned, did you happen to catch a glimpse of their face or any other identifying features?"

"Only that they appeared to be male…" Izumi shrugged.

"…Hmm…you're both dismissed…"

Soifon watched as Izumi and Kitty nodded and bowed respectively before leaving her office. She sat there for a bit, wondering about this strange Hollow her cousin spoke of. If it was being controlled by one of Aizen's Arrancar lackeys and was attracted to the artifact the General wanted found, what could be the object's true significance? The General didn't tell her much about it, except for the 'fact' that it was "very important."

"It doesn't matter, the mission is complete and whatever the General plans to do with the artifact is none of my concern…" Soifon thought, sighing as she looked at the completed documents on her desk, "I've nothing important to do at the moment, save wait for more work…Or…"

Soifon dug through her pockets and pulled out Black Cat, "I could pass the time reading this…" She flipped through the book, landing at the beginning of its second chapter: Mutts.

It starts out with Kimi wandering her home out of boredom. She stops briefly at a window, staring out at the bright and sunny day, before continuing and wishing it was raining. Perhaps that would prevent her owner's boyfriend from coming in that day, but, of course, nature is a flip-floppy mistress.

She sighed with contempt as she spied her owner welcoming her boyfriend into the mansion. As she took her leave, Kimi overheard her owner exclaim how 'cute' her boyfriend's dog was. A curiosity filled the cat as she wondered what the dog may look like, but she brushed it away.

"I'm not out to get myself killed," she frowned, continuing her wandering. Later, she happened to come across a dark grayish-blue cat, wearing a red collar, named Suzu. The cat was talking to someone Kimi couldn't see, but whatever conversation she was having wasn't friendly.

"What exactly do you think you're doing in my territory, mutt," Suzu hissed, ominously approaching whoever offended her.

"I-I was just looking around, that's all," the familiar sounding 'mutt' answered, "I didn't mean to upset you or anything…"

"Arrogant mutt, you think you're presence has such an effect on me," Suzu hissed moving closer to her prey.

"What are you doing," Kimi nonchalantly asked as she approached Suzu, spotting the dog she had seen yesterday, "…Leave him alone…"

"Why should I? He shouldn't have been wandering around in my territory and what gives you the right to tell me what to do, Kimi," Suzu hissed, halting her approach of the dog. She smirked arrogantly as she flexed her claws, taking up a stance that suggested she was about to pounce Kimi, "You should know your place, little girl. Unlike the others I have no qualms about crushing you…"

Kimi 'convinced' Suzu to leave shortly after that. A smirk was on her face as the aforementioned cat glared at her with her paw clutching the blood drawing scratch Kimi had given her. Kimi ignored the choice words she spouted before disappearing and turned her attention to the white dog.

"…Now, what are you doing here," Kimi 'asked' the dog, who cowered under her gaze.

"I was here with my-my master and I was just looking around, that's all…" he replied, shaking.

"Grrrr…what's your name, mutt…"

"…Balto…"

"LIAR," Kimi growled, causing the dog to yelp, "I want the truth…"

"…Snowy…" the dog whimpered.

Kimi paused for a moment, her rage replaced with quiet surprise. The dog's eyes were focused on the floor, his embarrassment more than apparent to even the most unobservant of eyes. After a few good twenty seconds of silence passed, Kimi snorted and began to suppress a laugh before she exploded, clutching her stomach as she rolled around the tiled floor.

"Snowy! 'Snowy,' he says! Hahaha, dogs these days," she panted as her laughter and rolling winded down before she regained a more composed stature, "…That's a pathetic name for a mutt…"

"It's not pathetic! It's meaningful because it shows just how cold hearted I can be, like a killer!"

"I hear that the snow actually protects acorns and the like during the winter, keeping them warmed for the spring like a blanket," Kimi replied, ominously approaching Snowy, "So, despite your 'surface meaning', it just snows that deep down you're just a fuzzy warm chill. Hmm, snows…I made a funny."

"I…"

"You…"

"Please don't hurt me…"

"How curious you are…" Kimi mused, examining Snowy. It wasn't so much the dog himself that interested her as what he was supposed to be. He wasn't brave our bold like dogs are made out to be, sure he might be loyal to his master or playful around his fellow mutts, but his cowardice around cats was unheard of.

She spent the rest of Snowy's visit quietly examining him, comparing his qualities to 'true' mutt qualities. He was a bit uncomfortable about this, but was mostly glad that he'd made an acquaintance. She had questions she wanted to ask him, but she procrastinated until it was too late.

"Snowy, time to gooooo!"

"W-well, it was nice meeting you…"

"Kimi…"

"Kimi…maybe I'll be able to come again, if that's okay with you?"

"Do whatever you please," Kimi sighed, "Just try to stay in the living room until you see me the next time you come, otherwise Suzu would gladly torment you for as long as it would amuse her…And I assure you that would be a long time…"

"O-okay, thanks for the info, K-Kimi…Um, I'll see you later…" Snowy nodded before leaving.

Kimi watched with some dissatisfaction as the dog left. Her current questions would go unanswered, at least it seemed that way. Perhaps one of her fellow cats knows a good amount about 'mutts', enough that they could provide her with relevant information.

-Late in the afternoon, training grounds located near the 13th Squad HQ-

Yoruichi smiled as she watched Orihime and Rukia train, mentally noting improvements in both of them. Her smile widened as she felt a familiar presence creep up behind her, "What are you doing sneaking around, Soifon?"

"How…"

"I taught you just about everything you know, but not everything I know," Yoruichi replied, laughing as her former subordinate exited the shadows she hid in, "You can't sneak up on me that easily…Hmmm..what's with that face?"

"What do you mean," Soifon asked, taking a seat next to Yoruichi as she pointed at her.

"You look sad about something-wait, no, more like curious and unsure," Yoruichi replied, placing a thoughtful hand on her chin, "Is there something you'd like to ask me?"

"Well, maybe…" Soifon reluctantly answered, blushing slightly, "I wanted to know something about…um…dating…"

Yoruichi gave her a surprised look before grinning, "Orihime, Rukia, can you come here for a moment?"

"What are you doing," Soifon blushed, panicking before attempting to leave. Yoruichi, however, kept her seated, "Lady Yoruichi! S-stop, let go of me! I-ah-haha-st-stop!"

"What's wrong, Yoru-oh, Captain Soifon," Rukia said, surprised at seeing the 2nd Squad Captain giggling and restrained by Yoruichi, "What brings you here?"

"Soifon wants a little advice on 'dating'," Yoruichi grinned, causing Soifon to blush harder and Rukia and Orihime to smile.

"Ichigo told us you and Hanataro were hanging out with each other, but 'dating'! Congratulations, Captain Soifon," Rukia smiled, taking a seat on the grass.

"Kurosaki is mistaken; Hanataro and I are merely, um, acquaintances…at the moment," Soifon mumbled, now free of Yoruichi's grasp.

"Oh, and speaking of Hanataro…I heard he was…"

"He's fine now, but the Arrancar who attacked him got away," Soifon interrupted Rukia, frowning at the thought of April and Apache, "Anyways…I need, um…"

"Help," Orihime chimed in, receiving a nod from Soifon, "Hmmm, what exactly would you like help with?"

"Well, um, can either of you tell me something about Hanataro…" Soifon blushed, "Since you two are part of his circle of friends, I assume you would know a bit more about him than me."

"Okay, that's simple, well…Hanataro's a bit shy when it comes to girls, but he's really nice when you get him talking and a great listener," Rukia smiled, sighing as she remembered her days trapped in a cell with Hanataro as her keeper, "He used to listen to me go on and on about my stories of the human world…Anyways, you just start out with simple conversations and get to know him that way. Ask him what he likes and things like that."

"That's all? Hmmm…what do you have to say…um…Orihime?"

"Well, I don't know Hanataro as well as Rukia, but I heard that you're usually supposed to spend a lot of time with someone you like," Orihime replied, nervously laughing, "That's all I've got…"

"…But, as a Captain I won't be able to spend a lot of time with Hanataro, considering the difference between our schedules…He'll be off his shift, I guess this based on the schedules of my Seventh Seat, hours before I am…"

"Don't worry, Soifon," Yoruichi grinned, patting the woman on her back, "I'm sure your boyfriend will understand that, even more so if you explain it to him."

"Yeah, I'm sure Hanataro won't mind something like that, especially if he really likes you," Rukia chimed in, causing Soifon to blush.

"Thank you…"

-Later that night, in a forest located within the Rukon district-

Hanataro growled as Hisagomaru smacked against another tree, making a small cut. "Why won't it work," he frowned, making another vain attempt to cut the tree, "Why are you so dull…"

"I'm built to heal…and I'm not in the mood to kill, Hanatarooo…" Hisagomaru yawned, "Perhaps you'd be better off practicing what little Kido spells you can easily perfoooormmm…"

"Sloth's got a point, Bro…" the inner Hollow smirked, hopping to his feet and taking a fighting stance as he scanned through Hanataro's memories, "…Ahhh…what about that trick you were about to nail those 11th Squad punks with? The electricity one…"

"Byakurai? Uh, I…okay, I'll try…" Hanataro sighed, stabbing the ground with Hisagomaru. He paused for a moment as memories of the academy came back to him before spreading his feet shoulders' width apart and pointing his index finger at the tree. He used his other hand to steady his arm as a crackle of electricity squirmed along his finger.

"Hado 4: Byakurai," Hanataro reluctantly shouted, firing a bolt of extremely pale blue electricity at the tree. A small hole appeared in the tree, though the spell was only able to burn halfway through it.

"Awww, c'mon, HanataBro, you can do better than that…" Hanataro's inner hollow frowned, searching through more of Hanataro's memories. He paused for a moment when he came upon a memory of Hanataro's father, whispering something as he pointed towards the sky, "What's this…what's your dad doing?"

Hanataro felt his head throb in pain, causing him to drop to his knees and clutch it. His sight became blurry and a bright flash of light forced him to shut them. The light faded moments after and when he opened his eyes Hanataro found himself in a lush green field.

He looked up to find a man standing in front of him with his back turned as he whispered, "The road I walk is paved in gold, to glorify my platinum soul; within my grasp is a power untold, as parts divided become whole. They turn to the sky and become slaves to its power, consuming it minute by minute, hour upon hour. Their greed leads them down a dark path, leaving them fair game to the sky's unrelenting wrath. The spark at my fingertip is a blessing from that wrathful, storm ridden sky! Hado 4: Byakurai!"

Soifon was quietly staring at the moonlit sky, contemplating how she would go about using the advice Yoruichi, Rukia, and Orihime had given her. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a small flash of light coming from a nearby forest. With her curiosity piqued, Soifon left the comfort of her room and flash stepped through the cold night air until another, more powerful and brighter, flash of light appeared.

"Somebody's practicing their Kido…" Soifon frowned, her eyes widening and her pace quickening when she realized who this 'somebody' was. She was, to say the least, shocked to find Hanataro on the ground, clutching his arm in pain as a few crackles of electricity crawled up and down it.

"Hanataro," Soifon called out to the boy as she rushed to his side. He let out a small groan as the crackles stopped, opening his eyes and giving the Captain a tired smile. She gave him a slight smile and helped him to his feet, "Are you alright?"

He gave her a slight nod. Soifon had seen this happen from time to time. Occasionally, someone with limited knowledge about controlling Kido would cast a spell and use too much of their energy, usually injuring their casting arm temporarily or just leaving them exhausted.

"Captain Soifon…can you get…Hisagomaru for me…" Hanataro tiredly asked, leaning against the woman so closely that it caused her to blush. She nodded and placed him gently against a nearby tree before pulling the sword out of the ground and sheathing it.

When she turned her attention back to Hanataro she found him sound asleep, snoring softly as his head rested against the tree's dark gray bark. She smiled at this, finding the sight to be rather adorable and began to debate on what she should do next.

"I should take him to his home…but I don't know exactly where he lives…" Soifon sighed, as she didn't want to go around asking where the boy lives while she's cradling him in her arms. It might look, well, 'suspicious' for lack of a better word. "I could take him to the hospital, but there's nothing wrong with him…He's just tired, so I'll just take him…home…"

Soifon turned her sights to the direction she came in, immediately wiping away the subconscious smile that had crept across her face, "When he wakes up, I'll just escort him home…or something…"

Report #2 of Hanataro Yamada:

Lord Aizen, nothing important occurred today. Hanataro was still rather quiet and reserved, as he was yesterday, but that's about it…

"You seem troubled by something, April. Speak your mind."

Well, Hanataro told me he was going to start training, for some reason.

"Hmmm…I wonder if it has something to do with the experiment…April, I would like you to observe these training sessions he has, is that understood?"

Yes, my Lord.

"Then you are dismissed."