Sorry for the late update I'm working on writing as much as I can before the summer semester starts
"Um…Kasumi it's time for our patrol in the Rukongai you said you wanted me to come find you when it was time." Momo said hesitantly.
"Right almost forgot thanks Momo. Let's get going then the reports are indicating an increase in hollow activity similar to the increase when I was in the academy. It has me concerned…" Kasumi stated folding her arms into her sleeves a thoughtful if concerned look crossing her unique features "The last time things got this way I wound up in Hueco Mundo."
"Kasumi you don't think that the presence you sensed has something to do with this…" Yoru asked softly from the back of Kasumi's mind.
'It's a possibility I need to consider Yoru. If the increase in incursions is linked to the presence I felt ignoring the possibility could get my men killed…' Kasumi replied quietly forcing the demons of the past that wanted to rise up at the thought of that presence back down.
"Where to first Lieutenant?" Kasumi asked adjusting her zanpakuto on her back.
"The outer districts and then work our way back the others will meet us at the gate to the Rukongai." Momo stated resting her hand on her blade.
"Alright then let's go." Kasumi said leading the way to the gate.
As they worked their way back to the Seireitei from the 80th district Kasumi often stopped to help the locals making a note to issue an order to her squad to be friendly and accessible to the residents of the Rukongai when they're on patrol. After each time she stopped the locals thanked her for helping resolve some sort of problem and Kasumi was happy to help dispel the notion that the shinigami were cold and snobbish. When the patrol was finished Kasumi totaled the number of hollows exterminated by her squad that day then added the numbers to a tally that would be delivered weekly/monthly/yearly to the Captain-commander's office and plotted the data on a graph she had created to keep track of the increases and decreases of hollow activity in the Rukongai and the world of the living. Her worries from earlier in the day weren't getting any better as she glanced at the data calculating the increase over the past few months.
'Yoru I don't like what I'm seeing the number of hollow incursions has doubled in the past month and today was the worst day yet for the month…' Kasumi thought with a frown crossing her already grave expression.
"Indeed it does seem that activity is on the rise and quite sharply as of late. You are concerned there is something larger at work…I am inclined to agree. There is something going on here that needs to be brought to the Captain-commander and the other captains…" Yoru replied echoing his master's concern.
'Then we're in agreement. Yamamoto should still be in his office at this time of day let's go see what he thinks of the data.' Kasumi thought determinedly.
She gathered up all the books she had recorded the data in along with the scrolls that held the graphs packing them carefully into a large messenger bag before she flash stepped her way to catch the Captain-commander before he left his office for the day.
"Ah lieutenant is the Captain-commander still in his office?" Kasumi asked Lieutenant Sasakibe when she entered the 1st squad's barracks.
"Yes Captain Reitoushin he is. Would you like to speak with him?" Lieutenant Sasakibe asked noting the urgency beneath the new captain's calm easy tone.
"Please I've noticed some things that concerned me about recent reports of hollow activity and I thought it might be wise to seek a second opinion." Kasumi replied lifting the bag in her hand.
"I'll see if he's available immediately Captain Reitoushin." The lieutenant said with a bow before leading the way to the Captain-commander's office.
"I appreciate this lieutenant you know my experience with hollows any spike in activity captures my attention." Kasumi stated as the lieutenant knocked on the large doors.
Hearing a rumbled come the lieutenant entered and announced Kasumi's presence. At his gesture Kasumi entered the massive office.
"What was it you wished to speak to me about Captain Reitoushin?" Yamamoto rumbled.
"Sir you know after the Hueco Mundo incident I began tracking trends in hollow activity…" Kasumi began at the elder's nod she continued saying "I've noticed a disturbing trend for this month hollow incursions have doubled over the past month today was the worst day yet this month. The last time hollow activity became this rampant I was critically injured in an attack on the Seireitei and after I recovered I was kidnapped by an arrancar that was later killed by our fellow captains."
"Hmm…" Yamamoto rumbled opening one of his eyes as Kasumi outlined her concerns and the data.
After Kasumi had finished the eye slipped closed.
"You make a persuasive argument young one…" he stated after a few moments of silence "I agree there is something larger at play here than we can see. Bring it before the other captains in the next meeting."
"Yes sir. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice I need to get back and finish drawing up the match-ups for the twice yearly squad wide sparring matches I'm instituting. I'm going to make squad 5 shine come hell or high water." Kasumi stated gathering up her materials.
"Good your lieutenant did an admirable job of keeping the squad going but even the best squads will deteriorate without a captain to whip them into shape when they get too lazy." Yamamoto rumbled glad that the young child he had ordered rescued all those years ago had become everything he had hoped she would and more even if he hadn't expecting her to join their ranks quite so soon.
Kasumi returned to her squad making herself available to her people like she had promised the day before though it felt like an eternity since then. She sat on a bench in a corner of one of the smaller courtyards sketching a design for a garden to provide a restful place for her squad members to meditate or just unwind for a bit. That's where Raiden found her.
"Hey…" he said sitting down beside her "what's eating you? You look upset."
"It's nothing really…I'm just concerned about some data relating to hollow activity. The last time things were like this I wound up nearly dead and then when I finally recovered from that I was kidnapped. I just don't want this to affect my men. I know I'll lose some but…" Kasumi trailed off with a frown.
"They're trained to fight Kasumi and from what I saw in the training today they're good at fighting. Anyway you wanna spar for a bit? Might help get your mind off what's troubling you and help me get ready for going to the academy." Raiden said nudging Kasumi with his shoulder.
"Trust me I've trained you already well beyond a freshman level in every skill and instead of leaving your training totally up to the academy you'll be living with my squad benefiting from our combined experience…" Kasumi stated using her pencil to poke Raiden in the ribs chuckling when he jolted "You'll be fitted for your academy uniforms tomorrow and the academy's semester begins the day after tomorrow. I'll be escorting you to both and unless you have problems I'll trust you to find your way back here. If you have problems send up a burst of reiatsu and either me or Momo will come get you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Anyway we going to spar a bit?" Raiden asked pulling Kasumi to her feet.
"Of course oh and by the way you'll be expected to preform to the fullest extent of your abilities at the academy. I will be informing the headmaster of your abilities and expect some flak from the other students because of your appearance." Kasumi stated all business as she led the way to the training ground.
Much like the first aborted attempt at teaching Raiden to reach her level of skill Kasumi whirled drawing her blade in one fluid motion attacking Raiden much to his surprise and consternation.
"What the heck?!" he grunted as he blocked Kasumi's attack.
"I told you that you need to always keep your guard up…failure to do so will get you killed eventually after many stays in the 4th squad's infirmary." Kasumi stated flatly increasing the pressure on Raiden's blade "Push back Raiden I'm not going to release the pressure. You have the ability to become my equal and by god you WILL!" she roared overpowering Raiden sending him skidding backwards.
Kasumi pushed Raiden to his limits forcing him to use every technique he knew along with some creative moves he created on the spot. By the time the two paused long enough to realize it was twilight their sparring match had attracted a good number of the squad members many of whom were looking stunned. Kasumi straightened from her defensive stance looking wide eyed around at all the people gathered suddenly she disappeared in the blink of an eye. Toshiro had been in the crowd waiting for Kasumi and Raiden to finish so he could invite Kasumi to join him and his girlfriend for a drink when she took off. With a long suffering sigh he flash stepped to Kasumi's favorite spot to meditate.
"So what was that about Kasumi?" Toshiro said standing on a branch as close to the one Kasumi sat on.
"It startled me…" she replied "seeing all the men and women who are relying on me…"
"You get used to it. Kasumi you may want to make your past known to your squad they'll understand and even more knowing your story beyond what little I allowed to circulate your squad will want to help you. We've all had some trouble with moments that left us scarred mentally or physically granted your traumas take the cake but your squad will help if you'll let them." Toshiro stated pinning Kasumi with the same look he'd use when she was still his 4th seat that said 'You're being an idiot and both of us know it.'
Kasumi chuckled softly at the look she was receiving before she said "I am being an idiot aren't I captain…"
"Yes you are but you get a pass since you're still new…why don't you join Karin and I for a dinner I had meant to ask once you and Raiden were finished." Toshiro said his eyes softening for the girl who had over many years become one of his closest friends.
"Sure I'll leave a note for Momo to gather the seated officers for a meeting in the morning so I can fill them in on my back story…you're right they deserve to know why I will act a certain way when situations arise." Kasumi replied gracefully getting to her feet and balancing easily on the narrow branch she favored as a meditation spot.
"We'll meet you at Jiro's then since it's the closest." Toshiro stated taking off after Kasumi nodded in acknowledgement of the choice of dinner's location.
Kasumi returned to her squad letting Raiden and Momo know that she was having dinner at Jiro's if she was needed as well as asking Momo to let the seated officers know she was calling a meeting first thing in the morning upper seat attendance required lower seat attendance requested before she flash stepped to Jiro's place. Kasumi felt a smile cross her face when she entered the smallish sushi shack Jiro ran as she was waved over to a table by Karin who nudged Toshiro in the ribs to shake him out of whatever long thoughts he was thinking.
"Hey Kasumi I hear the new captain of squad 5 is making quite a splash here in the Rukongai…pausing in patrols to actually help those in need." Karin said grinning widely as Kasumi made a noncommittal sound accepting a cup of tea.
She took a long drink before saying "I thought it'd be nice to have the outer districts realize not all shinigami will ignore them unless there's a hollow in the area. I'm planning to issue a standing order to my squad to be friendly and helpful I'm sure the residents of the Rukongai will appreciate the help as well as helping them see that we are here for their protection."
"I heard you also went to see the Captain-commander this afternoon Kasumi…what did you need to see him about?" Karin asked.
"I was concerned by the data on hollow activity for the month. There's been a sharp increase as of late and today was the worst yet this month. You know how closely I monitor hollow activity…the last time activity reached levels like this I…" Kasumi trailed off remembering the excruciating pain and paralyzing fear of her time in Hueco Mundo.
"I've noticed the sharp upswing in hollow activity as well though I haven't paid as much attention to it as you do since I could always rely on you to keep me updated on the trends freeing me up for other duties. You think there's something larger at play don't you Kasumi? That would explain you hurrying to the oldest and wisest of us." Toshiro said signaling they were ready to order.
After eating Kasumi felt much better then again she always felt better after a good meal of sushi and Jiro's famous miso soup. She walked back to the Seireitei with Karin and Toshiro in a companionable silence enjoying the light breeze that had both hers and Toshiro's haori billowing out behind them. The three of them parted ways when they reached the 5th squad's compound Kasumi heading for her quarters while Karin and Toshiro continued on to their squad's barracks. Once Kasumi had closed the door to her quarters she went to the bedroom as she took off her haori and scarf folding them neatly before putting them away she placed her blade on its stand by her bed then flopped on the bed falling asleep instantly.
In Hueco Mundo…
"The others grow restless mistress as do I. How much longer will we have to suffer the indignities of being slain by the accursed shinigami?" a large hollow asked.
"I have told you numerous times we must plan carefully my brother's pet has grown much stronger in the time since she was taken from her rightful owners. Those cursed shinigami are very protective of her our forces are no match for the shinigami right now and they will not be until it is almost time for my brother to awaken. Now go! Leave me to tend my dear brother…" a voice snapped angrily.