Chapter 16: Settling in
"How's the 9th squad?" Ania asked Tom as the two of them walked through the gardens of Seireitei. "It's a perfect squad as they have the same ideals I do and get this I also managed to make the 3rd seat!" Tom said happily as Ania smiled "Same here I'm the 3rd seat and the vice-captain happens to be one overly nice person we really hit it off, you know I have to say I'm starting to enjoy this place" Ania said as they stopped above a huge cherry blossom tree that towered high into the sky.
The pink flowers slowly drifted down in the cool breeze reflecting off the sun, "This place is absolutely amazing I can't believe Mitch actually took us here" Ania said as she caught a tiny little speck of cherry blossoms leaves on her slender delicate finger and held it high in the air analyzing the bright pink coloring. "I have to agree this place is quite beautiful" Tom said as he took a seat among the tree's relaxing while Ania wandered off down the path mesmerized by the slow falling flowers onto the concrete ground.
Walking further down the path she heard a calm and collected voice from high up in the trees "This place is truly amazing, the sheer beauty of this place mesmerizes me much to that of your beauty". Jerking her head up she saw Mitch sitting on a branch of the cherry blossom his legs up, hands on his head relaxing away with his eyes shut "Flatterer" she said as he leapt off the tree and landed with a thud onto the concrete ground next to her smiling as he always did.
"So how are you finding your new squad and location?" Mitch asked as they walked through the gardens which seemed to stretch on for an eternity. "I like it and Matsumoto makes me feel right at home" laughing Mitch smiled "Yeah she does that to every newcomer but more so to you as she seems to have taken a particular liking to you". Nearing a bench they both sat down as suddenly Mitch became serious "I know you're getting comfortable and all but I wouldn't get too cozy after all soon we'll be off to aid in the battle against the White Lotus society alright?". "Huh? What do you mean we I thought you were commanding a squad by yourself" Ania asked cocking her head to the side in curiosity as Mitch grinned his serious side washing away "The Captain Commander let me hand pick whoever I wanted that was lower than a vice captain to be on my squad, so well I decided to pick Tom, Hanza, yourself and a few other people that I happen to know".
Ania brimmed at the thought she would be led by Mitch into battle and suddenly didn't feel as nervous as she knew that despite how lazy he was during school he would always put others safety before his own and would do anything to make sure no harm came to either Tom or herself.
Leaving Ania to walk back to her barracks for a nap Mitch wandered over to Tom who was still sitting against the tree relaxing. "Come with me to the bar and I'll get you some sake" he called out as Tom jumped up and quickly dashed off after Mitch the thought of free sake allowing him to move quickly. Arriving at the bar Mitch grabbed a table and ordered two bottles "Alright Tom I'll explain what I told to Ania, now as you know there is a war coming up and I'll be stuck on the front lines as a commander of a specific group". Tom nodded his head as the bottles arrived and they each poured themselves a cup and took a long hard sip from it.
"Now the Captain Commander instructed me to hand pick any shinigami below a vice captain and so I chose Ania, Hanza, yourself and 3 others who you will be meeting eventually" he said as Tom upon hearing he would be stuck on the front lines choked on his sake and spat it out coughing violently, "WHAT! I'm already going to be put on the front lines? But I haven't had enough training" he spluttered as Mitch sighed "Don't waste sake, as for your training you have 2 weeks to prepare for the upcoming battle so I have decided that I'll train both Ania and yourself for 1 week and by the time the battle comes around you should be more than ready". Content with the solution Tom poured himself another cup and took a long sip from it "Woah, slow down there Tom don't want you getting drunk on me".
After an hour of drinking Mitch was busy chasing a drunk Tom around the courtyards of Seireitei "Hehehe can't catch me Mitch" Tom chirped his cheeks a bright red colour from drinking a tad too much as Mitch sighed "I told the kid to limit himself but noooo he doesn't listen to me now look at where we are!". Growing weary of this little game of tag he looked up to find Tom standing next to a statue trying to imitate it perfectly as he simply sat down and watched the drunken moron for a moment.
"This is taking more effort than required" he mumbled to himself as he suddenly leapt forward and using shunpo created one after image of himself that went to grab Tom who attempted to side step Mitch and slipped causing him to go tumbling off the roof and come crashing down onto the ground as the clone of Mitch disappeared and the real on stood above Tom.
"There checkmate though I am not carrying your drunken ass back to the barracks so try and wander there yourself without causing too much chaos" Mitch said as Tom mumbled something and stumbled off in the direction of which he thought the 9th squad barracks were located as Mitch simply stood there shaking his head and sighed. "I need a long hot bath" he said and with that started walking off towards the 11th squad hot springs for a much needed and deserved soak in the warm baths.