Everyone had gathered at the front of the gate about to take off to the world of the living.
Toshiro, Rangiku, Renji and Rukia we're placed to escort Yashiro.
The Head Captain had chosen them to accompany her since they had been somewhat accustomed to the way things ran back at Karakura Town.
"Before we leave Yashiro-san, I must inform you that if we are to encounter an enemy at any point you are not to engage unless given orders, do you understand. " Toshiro ordered sternly. Yashiro nodded turning to the Captain.
"I am fully aware of how dangerous it will be, I am not foolish enough to dive into a battle unprepared. " Rukia smiled at Yashiro's reply.
"Well are we just gonna wait around here or are we gonna get going. " Ichigo said impatiently.
Yashiro blinked
"Woah Ichigo when did you get here?" The said strawberry eyebrows twitched in annoyance as Renji began laughing loudly. Yashiro smiled at his growing irritation as he turned his back towards her obviously annoyed.
Yashiro let out one last sigh as she turned back to the Seireitei
"I'll be back soon Hanataro, don't get into to much trouble while I'm gone. "
The wind blew strongly whipping her hair and robes wildly as she turned back towards the others as Toshiro prepared to open the gate.
A distant voice caught the attention of Rukia causing her brows to furrow. "Did you hear that Yashiro?" Rukia questioned puzzled.
Yashiro stared at her in confusion stopping in her tracks. "Hear wha-"
"YASHIRO! " she turned around abruptly at the familiar voice yelling out her name in the distance.
"H-Hanataro!? " She smiled widely seeing his figure running in their direction at a surprising speed. Yashiro grinned about to run over to him when she noticed his panicked expression.
Only then did she spot the Captain of Squad Eleven behind him, sword drawn he was chasing after the frightened medical reaper with a animalistic grin on his face.
"HELP ME! " Hanataro pleaded failing his hands wildly. Everyone sweat dropped at the scene.
"Ichigo! you think you can leave without fighting me! " Kenpachi yelled as Ichigo's face paled at the battle driven Captain. Hanataro had ran behind Yashiro just as Kenpachi raised his sword to strike Ichigo
"FIGHT ME ICHIGO! "
The sound of swords clashing was heard as an enormous amount of dust gathered at the sudden release of reiatsu. When the wind had settled both swords were drawn.
Kenpachi and Yashiro stood both in a fighting stance squaring off each other.
Yashiro glared at the Captain a deadly aura forming around her.
"I don't care who you wanna have petty fights with but... if you hurt Hanataro.. "
She looked up eyes sharp.
"I'll kill you. " She threatened as the others stared at her in slight fear.
"Remind me never to pick a fight with her. " Renji said grinning.
"We don't have time for this! " Toshiro yelled impatiently. He had gotten the gate open but he knew for a fact Kenpachi would follow just for a fight and that would only slow them down.
Kenpachi merely grinned at the girl ready to fight.
"Damn it we need to leave, this guy is obviously gonna stay until I give him a fight what to do what to do... I got it! "
Yashiro looked up Yachiru with a pleading look. The pink haired Lieutenant gave a puzzled look before she smiled nodding furiously as she gave a thumbs up.
"Ken-chan look Byakushi is up there and he's looking at you really angry, I think he wants a fight! " Yachiru said cheerfully perched on her Captain's shoulder.
Kenpachi moved back turning in the direction that she pointed. "Where is he!?"
Yashiro turned back giving them the signal to go. They nodded filling through the gate as Yashiro followed behind the gate closing. Kenpachi turned realizing that the others had disappeared.
"I guess I was wrong he could have run off and now Ichi Ichi is gone, what a bummer. " she said feigning disappointment.
"Let's go look for Byakuya I'll get Ichigo the next time he comes. " Kenpachi declared taking off in a sprint.
"Hai Ken-chan. " Yachiru said enthusiastically.
Time skip.
When they had made it successfully through the gate Hanataro let out a sigh.
"We got really lucky, Zaraki-taicho really does love fighting. "
Yashiro looked over at the male with a smile shaking her head.
"Oh! Hanataro why were you coming to the gate? I thought you had a meeting with Captain." Yashiro inquired.
Hanataro scratched his head bashfully.
"Yeah I was actually asked to accompany you all on the mission, Unohana-taicho said that she talked to the Head Captain and he agreed that it would be wise to have a Medical Officer there just in case."
Yashiro stared at him as he continued to talk animatedly about how he had ended up bouncing into Kenpachi.
"I wonder why she requested Hanataro, as far as I've heard Ichigo has a friend with similar healing abilities. I wonder if she... did it for me?" Yashiro mused
No doubt her Captain had seen her moping about the previous day. In all honesty, after hearing the news about her departure to the Human World Yashiro had been sulking around.
"I'm glad you here Hanataro! " Yashiro said excitedly as she jumped into him hugging tightly. Rukia and the others jolted back when they felt her sudden burst of reiatsu fill the air.
Toshiro's eyes widen at the sight.
"Yashiro-san calm down! your spiritual pressure is going to draw out hollows. " Toshiro insisted.
The familiar cry of a hollow was heard before a number of them seem to have gathered.
Yashiro turned back embarrassed. "S-Sorry Captain Hitsugaya. " she said nervously.
"Never mind that, Matsumoto, Ichigo, Rukia. " They nodded as taking off in different directions to dispose of the hollows before they caused harmed to other souls.
"Renji you and I will stay and guard Yashiro just in case, there is no telling who picked up on her reiatsu, we must be careful. " Renji nodded drawing his sword as a hollow appeared charging mindlessly at him which he eliminated with ease.
Yashiro stood protectively in front of Hanataro releasing her sword into its Shikai mode watching the small knife turned into a longer sword.
She cut down any hollow that had come in five feet of her and Hanataro as Renji and Toshiro faced off numerous hollows.
"Damn it there's no way my small outburst cause all these hollows to appear, what the hell's going on, first the Menos now this? "
Distracted she had failed to see one of the hollows wrap it's tentacles around one of Hanataro's leg yanking him towards it's mouth.
"Gyah! "
Yashiro flinched "HANATARO! " She yelled flash stepping to the beast as she slashed it's tentacle right off dropping Hanataro as he fell lightly on the ground.
"Are you alright Hanataro? " She questioned, concerned she gave a side glance at him trying to keep her eyes on the hollow.
In a matter of seconds the hollow's sliced tentacle grew back as it shot out piercing straight through the distracted female's shoulder. Blood dripped from her now injured shoulder.
Yashiro hadn't been able to move out of the way in time, she gritted her teeth in pain as it pulled back it's tentacle. She staggered hands trembling as it had damaged the hand she wielded her sword in. Letting out a roar as it charged at her.
"Yashiro-san! " Toshiro gasped out panicked.
"Shit! " Renji cursed trying to reach her in time.
"Damn it! " she said through clenched teeth preparing for the pain, it wouldn't kill her but it would hurt like hell.
"Fill up, Hisagomaru! " the yell startled her as a blast flew past her. Hitting it's target the hollow was sliced in half. Letting out one final cry it disappeared.
Yashiro was shocked to say the least, she looked down to see Hanataro breathing heavily as his legs we're squared off, his blade drawn.
Toshiro was stunned, he wasn't expecting Hanataro to possess such a strong Shikai.
"Maybe I underestimated him. "
Toshiro watched as Hanataro ran towards Yashiro in worry not before falling flat on his face tripping on thin air. Toshiro sweat dropped
"Maybe not. "
Rukia and Ichigo had returned not long after along with Rangiku.
"We dealt with all that were in the area. " Rukia reported as she landed softly on the ground along with everyone else.
Rukia eyes widened at the sight of blood running down Yashiro's injured shoulder. Hanataro stood beside her worry evident on his features.
"What happened?! " Rukia gasped.
"It was my fault, I got a little distracted and the hollow took a cheap shot. Nothing a little bandage can't fix. " She said cheerfully trying to lessen their uneasy looks.
Ichigo let out a sigh thumping her on the head. "Be more careful idiot."
She rubbed her head with a frown. "Hey that's no way to treat an injured person. "
"I apologize, it was my responsibility to look after you yet I couldn't even protect you from a lower class hollow. " Toshiro said solemnly
"Captain it's not that bad. " Rangiku said trying to cheer him up.
He shook his head stubbornly.
" Hitsugaya-taicho it wasn't your fault I was the one distracted that's all. Head Captain choose you because he knows you have the ability to complete this mission successfully. I believe in his choice and I believe in you. " Yashiro patted him on the head lightly giving him a closed eyes smile.
He blushed lightly looking away.
"A-Alright thank you Yashiro-san. "
Rangiku and the others smiled as his face glowed red at her compliment.
Hanataro frowned.
"Hey I helped too... " he mumbled softly with a pout.
Yashiro grinned at his adorable face as he poked his fingers together nervously feeling left out.
"You sure did. I must say you looked pretty cool blasting that hollow away Hanataro, my hero. " she said moving towards him placing a kiss on his cheeks. He blushed as the others stared at him laughing at his flushed cheeks.
Yashiro laughed along turning to see Toshiro face the other way as he cleared his throat.
"Something is still very troubling, it felt as though those hollows planned to attack before, they usually follow reiatsu but you hadn't released such an amount for them to be attracted that quickly." Yashiro nodded in agreement.
"We should get going before more trouble shows up. " Yashiro suggested. They nodded, taking off towards their destination.
Toshiro looked back at Hanataro and Yashiro smiling at each other fondly an unsettling feeling setting into his stomach.
"What is this... why am I so agitated ?" He frowned shaking his head as they continued on their way.
At Kisuke's Shop
Entering the store they were greeted by the shopkeeper, He smiled widely fanning himself.
"My my, what do we have here. " Kisuke chuckled standing at the door.
Yashiro gave him a look studying his features as Toshiro briefed him on what was going on.
"I can't help but feel like I know this guy from somewhere... that's impossible I don't think I've ever met him but still.. "
Yashiro's eyebrows we're scrunched up in concentration as she tried to remember where she had seen him before.
Kisuke turned in her direction giving her a once over. "You must be Yashiro Tatsume, it's a pleasure, I'm Urahara Kisuke." he greeted with a creepy smile holding out his hand.
Yashiro blinked before taking his hand with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you Kisuke-san, you can just call me Yashiro. " Kisuke nodded as he released her hand.
Yashiro took a seat by the table as everyone else sat around. Hanataro sat behind Yashiro raising his hands using his kidou to heal the wound she had gotten on her shoulder.
Yashiro smiled. "To be honest I kinda forgot about that. " She laughed. Hanataro breathed out a sigh out how carefree she seemed about almost being completely impaled by the hollow.
"This isn't a laughing matter you idiot, if that hollow had moved it's attack a little lower it could have damaged you badly, our job is to protect you so quit being so reckless! " Renji snapped.
Yashiro pouted. "Fine. No need to yell at me you big meanie. " she mumbled childishly.
Hanataro smiled at her antics.
"She really is something. " He looked over subconsciously, watching as Toshiro stared at Yashiro with an unreadable expression. He could have been imagining it but Toshiro had been stealing glances at Yashiro every now and then.
Hanataro looked at the orange haired female in thought.
"Captain Hitsugaya couldn't possibly... no no no I'm thinking to much. " Hanataro shook his head smiling.
Toshiro sat on the opposite side looking at the Yashiro.
"Why am I so fixated on her, I've never taken interest in her before. "
Toshiro cleared his throat gathering the attention of everyone.
"We must discuss the mission but first, we would need gigais to help us move around freely. " Kisuke nodded going off into the shop. "Tessai get our friends some tea. " He nodded as he brought the tea for the guests.
"Thank you Tessai-kun. " Yashiro said happily sipping the tea
"I'm glad you like it ." He said bowing as he left to help Kisuke.
Hanataro had just finished healing her shoulder. "There, all down. " he grinned happily lowering his hands from her as she flexed her arm experimentally. She grinned glomping the blue haired male.
"Awww, Hanataro your the best. "she said rubbing her cheeks against his as she continued to squeeze him.
Rangiku cooed at how adorable they were as Ichigo and Renji muttered under their breathe about being sick of all the lovey dovey crap.
Rukia merely smiled at both her friends happiness. She had known Yashiro for quite a while and she had always been aware of the attraction that Yashiro had for the shy male.
Hanataro chuckled slightly flushed.
Her eyes popped open as a thought seemed to have sprung into her head.
"By the way Hanataro, how were you able to release your Shikai? I've never seen you actually do it before, it was incredible. " She bubbled excitedly.
"W-well to be honest I have you to thank for that, when you hugged me earlier you released some of your reiatsu it seems that you charged my blade and that's how I was able to use it. " Yashiro looked at him in awe. "Oh I've never really transferred spiritual pressure like that before."
Yashiro mused thoughtfully.
"I'm just glad that I was able to help you back then. " Hanataro smiled, scratching his head bashfully.
She looked up at his expression tempted to grab him by his collar and kiss the crap out of him.
"Hanataro. " she called lightly gaining his attention. He blinked looking down at her curiously.
"What is i-" his eyes widen as she cut him off mid sentence pulling him into a kiss.
Rangiku squealed happily as everyone else in the room blushed turning away.
Yashiro pulled away with a wide smile. "Thank you for saving me earlier. "
Hanataro looked down at his feet, cheeks flushing red as he played with his fingers a dazed expression on his face.
"Would you guys cut it out with all this mushy stuff it's making me sick. "Ichigo complained.
"Your just mad that you don't have a girlfriend. " Yashiro teased showing him her tongue.
"Why you-" She giggled brushing off his annoyed look as she leaned into Hanataro.
Kisuke returned with a grin his face a box in his hand as Tessai stood behind him with a similar box in his hand.
"Let's get down to business shall we. "