Suddenly Kasumi felt the hollow appear right behind her.
"Oh shit!" she shouted drawing her blade and blocking the hollow's fist.
Kasumi frantically sent up a burst of reiatsu trying to let Toshiro or any of the others know where she was. She was just barely managing to avoid the hollow's strikes when Kasumi remembered her sparing match yesterday and shouted "Awaken and fall from the heavens, Hokkixyokuyoruken!" That's when the battle turned in her favor and Kasumi somehow managed to slice the hollow's mask with her blade just as Toshiro and Karin arrived.
"Not bad my pet I will reclaim you soon enough…" a voice stated departing unnoticed through a garganta.
"Are you crazy? You could have been killed!" Karin yelled.
"I'm sorry I woke up and started to go through my usual morning routine…you should try breaking habits almost a decade old. Rising with the sun and my morning run are two things that I can't hardly help doing…I do them on autopilot without even really thinking about them." Kasumi said ruefully scratching her neck.
"One other thing why do you still have fangs claws and that blue moon on your forehead I can understand that you got them when you released your Zanpakuto but shouldn't they have gone away after your Zanpakuto was sealed again?" Karin asked.
"I have fangs and claws?" Kasumi asked looking at her hands for the first time since she had released Yoru yesterday "Holy CRAP! YORU WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE!" she shouted alarmed looking at her claws and testing her fangs with her thumb.
"Relax Kasumi…" Yoru said appearing at her side "the claws, the fangs, and the blue crescent moon mark you as my master by way of you taking on some of my traits…there can be no doubt who my master is when you bear the same crescent as I do…the claws and fangs are for protection of yourself and others when I am not in your possession. They are permanent though I will seal them away when you go to the academy until you release my shikai again."
"I'd appreciate that Yoru…things will be tough enough with me being a human without the added distraction of me looking part wolf too." Kasumi said remembering her years in school where being too different can spell certain doom for your social life.
"We should head to Urahara's since you're feeling better this morning." Toshiro stated calmly headed in the direction of Urahara's shop.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE FROSTY!" Kasumi growled menacingly "what the hell is this stuff you told me to use in an emergency and what the fuck did it do to my body?!" She pointed to where her body was currently squirming trying to escape the ice ropes that bound it to a nearby bench.
"Oh crap not another one…" Karin said taking a closer look at Kasumi's body "Toshiro looks like the S&D of Mod souls was not quite as thorough as was previously thought…we can only hope it's not a perv like Kon." She took a glove out slipped it on her hand then slapped the back of Kasumi's head forcing the pill she had swallowed to come back out. Kasumi then dissolved the ice ropes and slipped back into her body.
"What are you going to do with it?" Kasumi asked concerned since a search and destroy was never a good thing.
"We have orders to destroy any we find. The project that created them was shut down for ethical reasons." Karin said sadly.
"Not on my watch…" Kasumi stated grabbed the little pill and shoved it into her pocket "I don't hold with needless destruction I've seen enough of that to last a lifetime. Are there any other options beyond destruction?"
"Sticking it in a plush toy is really the only other option but we don't know if the soul is functioning properly or not and if it's dangerous." Karin said shrugging.
"I saw a big stuffed dragon around the corner when I was fighting we can put whatever the hell that thing is in it." Kasumi said dashing around a corner into an alleyway.
She found the dragon plushy in question and popped the little pill into its mouth while Toshiro and Karin looked at her like she was nuts.
Seconds later the dragon came alive shouting "What the hell did you people do to me?!"
"I think that's obvious…now I am not about to let anything take over my body and make me look like a fool…" Kasumi said calmly grabbing the plush toy by the neck so that it was forced to look into her icy blue grey eyes that crackled with ice cold fury "I worked hard to develop a reputation for being a calm and sensible person especially in a crisis. I won't have it destroyed by anyone especially not by someone the likes of you and if you ever try a stunt like that in my body again you'll be on the receiving end of my Hokkixyokuyoruken's blades of ice and wind among many other tortures that I can and will use."
Karin and Toshiro sweat dropped while the dragon looked terrified and hurriedly began apologizing for anything it had done to upset Kasumi.
"That's more like it" Kasumi smiled sweetly "now we've got to come up with a name for you."
She picked the toy up placing it under her arm and walked in the direction Toshiro had started before Kasumi had asked what the hell had been happened to her body. Once they made it to Urahara's shop Kasumi descended to the basement for her training session with Yoruichi in Hohō and Hakuda while the others caught up on current happenings in both worlds.
"Catch me if you can!" Yoruichi shouted after Kasumi had managed to learn flash step.
"Right a beginner like me…catching you…only in my wildest dreams…" she panted feigning weariness to get Yoruichi to lower her guard it worked well enough that Kasumi was able to use the last of her energy to maneuver herself behind Yoruichi and deliver a tap to her shoulder.
"You're a tricky one Kasumi…you took advantage of my lapse in concentration and caught me. Well done." Yoruichi stated.
"Why must everyone assume that I have no knowledge of combat hand to hand or otherwise? I was a trained navy corpsman…granted after my contract was up I didn't re-up but you don't forget things that are drilled into your skull in what may seem like a sadistic and cruel manner." Kasumi sighed.
"Oh is that so? Well we'll just have to up our game now won't we?" Yoruichi said.
After a couple of months Kasumi was deemed ready to enter the academy for a more formalized education since her power was growing steadily stronger and thankfully her control matched the rate in which her power was growing.
"Yoko you remember what I told you about using my body?" Kasumi asked in the last moments before the senkaimon was set to open allowing her to pass into the soul society and to the soul academy. The mod soul nodded vigorously terrified of the consequences of misusing or abusing Kasumi's body beyond normal wear and tear. "Good…" She smiled sweetly "be sure to be helpful at the clinic since you specialize in medical treatment." Yoko nodded again careful to not annoy Kasumi. "Should I have Yoru seal my wolf like appearance away now or after I meet with the Captain-commander and the other captains?" Kasumi asked pulling the hood of her cloak up and adjusting it so she could see without being seen.
"After will be fine your face is covered by a hood and we'll be arriving after dark so the risk of you being seen before you are ready to reveal yourself is minimal." Toshiro stated as the first group headed through the gate.
"Good I've played the freak before it's not a roll I enjoyed or plan to resume if I can help it." Kasumi said following Toshiro through the Dangai precipice emerging into the soul society near what she was told was the 1st squad's barracks. Kasumi was led to a conference room where an elderly man sat at the head of several others all wearing haories similar to the one Toshiro always wore.
"Welcome young one to the soul society. Please allow me to introduce myself and my captains will do the same in turn. I am Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto Captain-commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of Squad 1." The elderly man stated as Toshiro took his place among his fellow captains.
"I am Soi Fon captain of Squad 2 and commander of the stealth forces." One of the women said rather tersely.
"I am Retsu Unohana captain of Squad 4. It's a pleasure to meet you." The other woman said with a warm smile.
"I am Byakuya Kuchiki captain of Squad 6." The next man said.
"The name's Shunsui Kyōraku captain of Squad 8. Pleasure's all mine…" the man with a pink floral kimono draped over his haori said with a flourish of his straw hat.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya captain of Squad 10 as you already know." Toshiro said as Kasumi chuckled knowing it annoyed him to have to introduce himself again.
"Why on earth should I introduce myself to someone like this? It's not like they're more important than what I was already doing…" the next captain stated.
Kasumi growled at him baring her fangs though they were hidden by her hood before turning to the next captain.
"Ichigo Kurosaki captain of Squad 3 can't wait to see what you can do…especially with the all-star trainers you've had." the tall orange haired man stated looking at Kasumi like he could see through the shadows that covered her face.
"I am Saijin Komamura captain of Squad 7." The large anthropomorphic dog said.
Kasumi's small smile was hidden by the hood but she felt more comfortable knowing there was someone similar to her here.
"Kenpachi Zaraki captain of Squad 11…hope I get the pleasure of fighting you sometime." The man across from Toshiro said with a feral grin on his face.
'Not if I can help it…' Kasumi thought sweat dropping.
"I am Jushiro Ukitake captain of Squad 13. It's a pleasure to have you join us." He said kindly Kasumi felt herself calming under his warm and friendly gaze.
"Now that you know who we are please introduce yourself young one." The Captain-commander said.
"I am Kasumi Reitoushin…I would prefer to be referred to by my given name." She said smiling to herself.
"Very well young one…Would you kindly remove your cloak for us Kasumi? I'm sure that like myself my captains with the exception of Captain Hitsugaya are curious to see why you choose to hide yourself." Captain-commander Yamamoto said.
"Of course Captain-commander Yamamoto I just wanted to be sure that I wouldn't be considered a freak because of my looks…" Kasumi said using a clawed hand to remove her hood exposing the wide grin on her face that showed off her razor sharp fangs.
Everyone looked surprised by Kasumi's appearance particularly Captains Unohana, Kyōraku, and Ukitake. Kasumi felt a distant long forgotten memory niggling at the back of her mind as she explained that her appearance was caused by her Zanpakuto and it would be sealed away by her Zanpakuto once more while she was the academy until Kasumi released her shikai again. Once it had been decided that Kasumi would continue in Captain Hitsugaya's care and what further training she would require once enrolled at the academy everyone was dismissed to get some sleep. Kasumi put her cloak back on while she yawned widely she had spoken with Captains Komamura, Unohana, and Ukitake for a little bit while the Captain-commander was informed of her progress as a Shinigami and arrangements were being made for her attending the academy. She felt very comfortable with them especially since they weren't bothered by her appearance and Captain Komamura even seemed to enjoy having a fellow shinigami that didn't look exactly human. All three made it known that Kasumi was welcome to visit their divisions anytime she wished and they would be happy to help her adjust to life in the soul society in any way possible. As Kasumi followed Toshiro to his division where she would bunk with Lieutenant Matsumoto until she could be placed in the dorms on the Shino academy's campus she couldn't help but feel like there was something she had forgotten whatever it was had to do with the captains of the 4th, 8th, and 13th squads. As soon as Kasumi knocked on Lieutenant Matsumoto's door she was pulled into a rib crushing hug by the well-endowed lieutenant.
"Can't…breath…going to…suffocate…" Kasumi managed to get out causing Matsumoto to instantly let her go.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Matsumoto said while Kasumi gasped trying to get as much air as she could after nearly passing out due to oxygen deprivation.
"It's fine just please next time you feel like hugging me please try not to snap my body in half…" Kasumi joked.
"I will leave you in Matsumoto's care until morning. Get some sleep if you're not sent to the academy tomorrow you will have your usual sparring session with me." Toshiro stated before headed off to his own quarters.
"Works for me I could always use the workout." Kasumi said following Matsumoto inside.
Kasumi lay down on the futon Matsumoto had setup for her drifting instantly off to sleep. She woke as usual when the sun's first rays were just coming in through the window leaving a sleeping Matsumoto to her slumbers Kasumi straightened her clothes and leapt onto the roof of the barracks to enjoy the sunrise which was something she rarely did any more. Kasumi felt Toshiro appear behind her she sighed knowing her peaceful moment was over for the time being.
"Enjoying the sunrise Kasumi?" he asked.
"Yes even though I see the sun rise every morning I don't just sit and watch it often anymore…I haven't for a long time." Kasumi said taking a deep breath and letting it out.
"Come with me you will not be going to the academy today so you'll spar with me and observe the daily workings of a squad and later you will be fitted for your academy uniform so that will be out of the way." Toshiro stated headed for the training grounds "I have arranged for there to be no one else on the field since you still have difficulty controlling certain attacks."
"Hey! My blades of ice and wind are designed to cause maximum destruction that's not my fault!" She complained.
"Even so those two attacks are too dangerous to use when others are on the practice field." Toshiro stated "And I believe you can control them given time…many attacks that are designed to maximize damage can be directed with experience and help from your Zanpakuto's spirit."
"Well as much as Yoru and I have trained together he never mentioned that…" Kasumi stated getting irritated with the wolf for failing to mention things like that.
"Most Zanpakuto won't…unless you think to ask…" Toshiro stated with a small chuckle for her ignorance "they want you to work to obtain and master their power. Now draw your Zanpakuto and we'll begin."
"Alright but after this I'm going to go have a chat with that lupine lump I call my Zanpakuto spirit…" she grumbled as she drew her blade. They kept their Zanpakuto sealed for a bit while they warmed up Kasumi had gotten pretty good at zanjutsu in the time she had been training with Toshiro.
Toshiro was the one to take their match to the next level.
"Rein over the frosted heavens, Hyōrinmaru." He said before charging.
"Awaken and fall from the heavens, Hokkixyokuyoruken…" Kasumi whispered throwing up a shield of ice to halt Toshiro's charge.
The release of Hyōrinmaru's shikai caused several members of the tenth squad to gather at the edges of the field wondering what the hell was going on.
"Kasumi you're losing focus and because of that you're losing control of your attacks!" Toshiro reprimanded dodging a wide spray of ice shards that shredded his left sleeve.
"Right sorry!" Kasumi tried to put their audience out of her mind and focus solely on Toshiro and disarming him so he'd stop sending ice dragons at her every time she turned around.
As usual Kasumi lost their sparring match but she was getting closer to winning every time, she actually had the ice king sweating.
"You still need to maintain focus if you hadn't slipped up there at the end you would have won." Toshiro stated examining his tattered robes "I'll need to change my shihakusho before dealing with the mountain of paperwork on my desk thanks to your ice shards."
"Have fun with that Captain Hitsugaya…I'm going to go have a friendly chat with a certain furry lump that inhabits my soul…" Kasumi stated with a grin that showed talking wasn't really going to be the main mode of conversation "I'll stop by after I finish meditating."
"Very well if you haven't finished before it's time for your fitting I'll send Karin or Matsumoto to get you at…" he asked brushing some ice crystals from his shoulder.
"The highest limb of the tallest tree on Sōkyoku hill…" Kasumi replied before heading in the direction of her previously mentioned meditation spot.
Using flash step she made it to Sōkyoku hill fairly quickly wasting no time Kasumi leapt into the tree canopy climbing higher with each jump. When she finally reached the highest branch of the tallest tree Kasumi sat down on the broad limb while the wind blew playfully around her blowing the one strand of hair that refused to remain in her carefully done ponytail so that it was tickling her nose. Kasumi sighed tucking the strand behind her ear before she proceeded to enter a jinzen state and her inner world.
"Welcome home Kasumi…" she heard the warm baritone voice of her Zanpakuto spirit say.
"Yoru…" she said happy to see the other half of her soul despite her annoyance with his omissions.
Kasumi wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his dense fur while the winds in her inner world whipped around them.
"Why are the winds so much stronger than usual Yoru?" Kasumi asked barely managing to maintain her footing on the slick ice of the glacier with the winds being stronger than she was used to.
"Because Kasumi despite your calm appearance to others you are anxious about going to the academy." Yoru replied moving to block some of the wind which always came from the north.
"So my emotions play a part in the conditions of my inner world…" Kasumi said mulling over this new information.
"Yes they play a very large part in here…for example if you're angry a fierce blizzard will blanket the whole place when you're sad it rains only all the tiny drops are frozen kind of like pea sized hail I guess would be the best way to put it…you see what it's like in here when you're anxious or nervous…but you came here for another purpose have you not?" Yoru asked cocking his head to the side.
"Yes I want to learn to control my more destructive attacks." Kasumi stated planting her feet firmly against the ice and standing against the strong winds.
"That can be done however it will take time…" Yoru stated as the wind swirled around him obscuring him from Kasumi's view.
She gaped at the man that stepped towards her once the winds had settled. He was six feet tall easily and more than likely taller, slimly built with a warm and inviting face that belied the cold glacial blue of his eyes, he had snow white hair pulled back into a ponytail with two strands hanging down to frame either side of his face, like Kasumi he had claws, fangs, and the crescent moon on his forehead, his feet looked like they couldn't decide between being a human's foot or a wolf's paws and settled somewhere in between, he wore a white shitagi with pale blue stripes down the top and undersides of the sleeves and the same for the trim, a kosode of the same pale blue with white trim and broken sleeves a few inches below the shoulder, and pale blue hakama trimmed in white with one horizontal strip of white mid-calf. Tucked into his blue and white obi that matched the sash holding Kasumi's Zanpakuto on her back was a Zanpakuto that was identical to Kasumi's and over all of that he wore a ragged white fur pelt with runes on it.
"Yoru?" she asked too stunned to even process that the raging winds of her inner world had calmed to their normal state.
"It is me Kasumi…" Yoru stated chuckling "I thought using my humanoid form would work better for the purpose of learning to control your more destructive attacks."
"I really need to get to the academy so I don't keep getting blindsided…" Kasumi said shaking her head at her woeful lack of knowledge.
"You'll be there soon enough Kasumi for now let's focus on your blades of wind, blades of ice, and your barrage of ice shards." Yoru laughed drawing his blade. They spent what felt like an eternity to Kasumi working on controlling and directing her attacks and before she knew it she was being shaken out of her jinzen state by Matsumoto.
"Owww…watch where you're shaking will you…" Kasumi said assessing her injuries.
"Come on Kasumi we need to get you cleaned up and to your fitting or the captain will have our heads." Matsumoto said concerned not only because Toshiro would kill her if Kasumi missed her fitting but also because Kasumi was beaten all to hell and back.
"I am a little bit worse for wear aren't I?" Kasumi said with a grimace "by the way do all Zanpakuto have humanoid forms if their regular form is an animal?"
"Yes you are we'll have the 4th take care of you once your fitting is over and I guess most Zanpakuto spirits that are animals like wolves or dragons have a humanoid form why do you ask?" Matsumoto said looking up from a small cut on Kasumi's sword arm.
"Just curious I know so little about everything here and if there's one thing I can't stand it's not having the proper knowledge to make sure I don't make boneheaded mistakes." Kasumi answered.
Seemingly satisfied by Kasumi's answer they departed for the squad 10 barracks to bandage Kasumi's injuries long enough to get her through the fitting and get to the 4th squad to have better job done later. After a couple hours Kasumi had been fitted with a standard female academy uniform. She emerged from the tailor with 7 sets plus the one she had on one for each day of the week with one to spare and a request to be careful with her uniforms since she was a real pain to fit.
"Oh aren't you just sooo cute in your uniform Kasumi!" Matsumoto shouted grabbing Kasumi in a rib crushing hug and twirling around in circles fast enough to make Kasumi dizzy as hell.
"OWWWW!" Kasumi shouted in pain squirming desperately trying to escape Matsumoto's clutches before she was snapped in half which only made Matsumoto squeeze tighter and Kasumi's injuries hurt worse. 'Damn…how in the name of all things holy can she be this freaking strong!?' Kasumi thought 'Maybe it's time to try some kido to get out of this…' "Bakudo 1: Sai!" she said pointing to Matsumoto.
The lieutenant's arms were instantly locked behind her back and Kasumi was on her backside trying not to cry out from jarring her injuries.
"When did you learn kido?" Matsumoto whined wriggling on the ground trying to release the low level binding spell.
Kasumi released the spell and replied "Karin taught me a couple basic spells to help with self-defense before I got here since I was walking hollow bait in the human world."
"I should have known…anyway you want to get something to eat after you've been to the fourth?" Matsumoto asked.
"Sure I'm always hungry…though there is no way in hell you're going to make me drink any of your infernal sake." Kasumi said feeling her stomach growl at the thought of food as they headed for the fourth squad.
"I'm sure you won't mind sushi…" she said mischievously as the two arrived at the fourth squad barracks "wait here and I'll find Captain Unohana."
"Ok…" Kasumi said nervously as Matsumoto vanished.
A few minutes later she reappeared with another lieutenant who escorted the two of them to see Captain Unohana.
"I'm Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu under Captain Unohana." She said offering a hand.
"Kasumi Reitoushin…please call me Kasumi..." Kasumi stated taking the offered hand "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important…"
"Not to worry Kasumi Captain Unohana told me you have a standing invitation to visit here any time you like." Isane stated opening a door to the most beautiful courtyard Kasumi had seen so far.
"Reitoushin-san please come in…would you like some tea?" Captain Unohana asked gesturing for Kasumi to join her.
"It'd be very appreciated…" she replied taking the proffered cup.
"Reitoushin-san may I ask what happened to cause your injuries?" Captain Unohana asked sweetly with a concerned look in her eyes.
"I was training with Hokkixyokuyoruken trying to learn to control and direct my more destructive attacks…unfortunately instead of negating my attacks Yoru turned them back on me and though I managed to dodge most of them I got clipped a few times." Kasumi stated allowing Captain Unohana to examine the cuts on her arms.
Kasumi sighed in relief as Captain Unohana used some healing kido to heal her injuries.
"Thank you very much Captain Unohana I feel a thousand percent better." Kasumi said accepting a refill of her tea cup.
"You're most welcome Reitoushin-san your Zanpakuto spirit seems to be a might cold if you can forgive the pun…" Captain Unohana said.
"I'm sure it may seem like it but he's really not…in fact he's the opposite he tries to be cold and aloof to hide his warm and caring heart." Kasumi said with a small smile studying her tea cup "I could ask him to come out if you'd like to meet him Captain Unohana."
"That would be lovely if your spirit agrees." Captain Unohana said with her usual sweet smile.
"Ok just give me a second…" Kasumi stated her eyes got wide and cloudy while she spoke with Yoru.
"Yoru I was hoping you might come out and meet Captain Unohana…" she said.
"Of course Kasumi…" he replied.
Kasumi blinked a couple of times and there was Yoru sitting right in front of her.
"Captain Unohana I'd like you to meet my Zanpakuto Hokkixyokuyoruken…Yoru this is Captain Unohana of Squad 4." Kasumi said nervously.
"It is lovely to meet you Hokkixyokuyoruken." Captain Unohana stated inwardly amazed that Kasumi could materialize her spirit without any formalized training and made a note to tell the Captain-commander about this interesting development.
"Likewise Captain Unohana." Yoru replied making the canine equivalent of a bow.
"Kasumi we'd better get back to the 10th before Captain Hitsugaya wonders what happened to us…" Matsumoto said from the doorway "Uh…Kasumi why is Yoru materialized?"
"I asked him if he'd like to meet Captain Unohana…" Kasumi answered "but I guess you're right we should get back to the 10th…Captain Hitsugaya can be a worry wart sometimes…Thank you for the tea and the healing Captain Unohana I'll try to visit again soon but next time without any injuries…"
"Of course Reitoushin-san that would be lovely." Unohana said warmly with her trademark smile.
Once Kasumi and Matsumoto got back to the 10th squad they checked in with Captain Hitsugaya and then went to eat before observing a training session.
"Kasumi…" Toshiro called "Get over here you can practice your kido before you head off to the academy."
"Sure thing Captain Hitsugaya…" Kasumi responded walking over to join the line of shinigami preparing for target practice.
"Begin." Captain Hitsugaya stated firing a Shakkahō and wiping out the first target.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march to the south! Hado 31 Shakkahō!" Kasumi yelled firing a blast of red energy that obliterated her target and singed the targets on either side of hers.
"Well done Kasumi you've improved quite a bit. I was sure you were going to wind up like Abarai using kido as only a last resort in battle." Toshiro stated pleased.
"Hey I'm not that hopeless! I only blew up a few times!" Kasumi cried indignantly "and another thing I'm doing damn well considering a few months ago I was a normal human with a normal life!"
"She's right captain she already had shikai when we found her." Matsumoto stated shocking the shinigami that were watching the exchange.
"That girl already has shikai?" one of the squad members asked.
"Yes, I do. Why is that so strange?" Kasumi asked looking confused "Lieutenant Matsumoto, Karin, Renji, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Captain Hitsugaya all have a shikai…Captain Hitsugaya and Renji even have a bankai…"
"Usually Kasumi it takes years after manifesting your zanpakuto to learn its name and achieve shikai…some never do…" Matsumoto explained quickly.
"Oh…" Kasumi said embarrassed at her assumption.
"Relax Kasumi if you keep this up I'm going to pour a bottle of sake down your throat…" Matsumoto stated with a mischievous look.
"Oh no you won't! Yoru won't let you do anything of the sort…" Kasumi growled backing away from the slowly advancing lieutenant "See ya!"
Kasumi flash stepped to the roof of the tenth running away as fast as she could and barely managing to stay ahead of Matsumoto.
"Come on Kasumi! Once that first bottle is down it you'll feel great!" Matsumoto called.
"Heck no! That stuff is beyond foul!" Kasumi yelled back before colliding with a much shorter person.
"Ooof…Owww…" the other person groaned.
"Are you alright?! I'm so sorry!" Kasumi babbled helping the other person up "I didn't mean to run over you I was trying to escape Lieutenant Matsumoto…"
"That's alright no damage done! I'm Lieutenant Momo Hinamori…who are you?" Momo stated.
"I'm Kasumi Reitoushin…I was brought here by Captain Hitsugaya to be trained as a shinigami." Kasumi replied sticking out her hand to the smaller girl for her to shake.
"Oh! You're the girl shiro has been talking about! It's great to meet you!" Momo said excitedly taking the proffered hand.
"Got you Kasumi! Now I've got a bottle of sake with your name on it and you're going to drink it!" Matsumoto stated grabbing the collar of Kasumi's uniform.
"No Way! I could be sent to the academy any time and I don't want to go drunk or with a hangover! Yoru help me out here!" Kasumi yelled squirming trying to get out of the death grip Matsumoto had on her.
"Please let go of my master Lieutenant Matsumoto…" Yoru asked politely lowering his massive head to look the unfortunate lieutenant in the eye.
"Uhhh…sure thing Yoru…ahh I have to go now…Bye!" Matsumoto said releasing Kasumi and flash stepping away quickly.
"Thanks Yoru…Oh! This is Lieutenant Hinamori Yoru…Lieutenant Hinamori this is my zanpakuto spirit…Hokkixyokuyoruken…" Kasumi stated remembering her manners.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Hinamori…" Yoru stated making the canine equivalent of a bow for the second time that day.
"It's lovely to meet you too Hokkixyokuyoruken…" Momo said smiling glad to be on the gigantic wolf's good side "I actually was on my way to see shiro and drop off some reports…would you like to walk with me?"
"Sure again I'm sorry for running right over the top of you sometimes Lieutenant Matsumoto gets a little overzealous when she's trying to make me relax…" Kasumi stated before wrapping her arms around Yoru's neck and burying her face in his fur as a silent thank you he leaned his massive head down placing his cheek against her shoulder accepting.
"You two are even closer than Tobiume and I are…" Momo said slightly confused but happy to see it never the less.
"Most zanpakuto are only a small portion of their shinigami's soul manifested…I am much more than a small portion of Kasumi's soul I am the other half of her soul…we haven't figured out why that is but that is the way things are…" Yoru stated "Would you like a ride? We would get to the 10th squad much faster if I carried you both…"
"Sure come on Lieutenant I promise he won't bite…lay down Yoru so we can get on." Kasumi said helping Momo onto Yoru's back once he had laid down.
"Hold on tight you two!" Yoru said as he leapt into the sky running lightly over the rooftops back towards the 10th squad barracks. In a few seconds Yoru was landing softly in front of Toshiro's office laying down to allow his passengers to disembark.
"Thanks again for your help Yoru I'll come see you later on today so we can continue training…but this time how about negating the need to visit the 4th division…Captain Unohana was worried and I don't want to do that again unless I have to." Kasumi said reaching up to scratch behind his ear.
"Alright then I'll be waiting for you Kasumi." Yoru stated before returning home to Kasumi's inner world.
"Let's see if we can't find Captain Hitsugaya so you can get your reports delivered I'm sure unlike Matsumoto you're very busy…" Kasumi said opening the door to Toshiro's office.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully and Matsumoto didn't try to make Kasumi drink sake against her will again. As Kasumi lay on her futon she couldn't sleep so she snuck out to the roof to watch the stars. Lying back against Yoru who had appeared knowing what his master wanted to do Kasumi was asleep in minutes against his thick warm fur.