Author's note: Wow…hard to believe it's been a whole year that this little story has been live. Now I won't say that it feels like only yesterday that I got the courage to just try, because that's not true, the metaphor might have been better if instead said, only a little while ago, but I digress.
Yeah I think it was around this time that I sent out chapter two. Looking back on it, I was so excited getting 500 total hits, I'm not sure how I would have reacted back then now that I'm at 92,530 total hits. Probably flat line haha. I remember receiving my first positive reinforment from Mako-hero to my first soul crushing but constructive criticizing from reviewer back in two. So I'd like to say not only happy birthday to this little idea, but also thank-you to everyone out there. Without you all this story is, is really little more than data floating in the sea called the internet. So here's hoping to another good year of story progression.
Oh, and do me a favor, if any of you out there practice any kind of religion. Can you like ask god, allah ect to like not end the world in 2012. That'd be really appreciated. You know…just asking, maybe some of you got connection. Anyway let's get this show on the road, in traditional yet…what's the word… 'unique' fashion?
To unknown reviewer known only as 'LG'
I'm glad you like it. For your question…it get's answered eventually.
To 007420 from 20
I'm glad you enjoyed it thus far.
To Jason
Originally speaking I was going to type out Manji, but I wasn't sure if that's what it was called or if it was simply the design. So I went with the only broken cross shaped thing, which happened to be (unfortunately) the Nazi Swastika. But yeah, I'll try to go back and change that later.
To Shilion
You knew it! And you didn't bother to tell me? (shakes head in mock disappointment) For shame, that's not very nice. Anyway all playing aside, (and I really could make a few cracks about evil and not evil simultaneously) you will have to make your answers of it for now. Well…at least until I reveal where they really stand in relation to things.
To Sya
Ahhh…geez. I can't really help the update thing too much. It'll happen when it happens. But reassured I don't stop not thinking about how to advance it, but it's not exactly easy either.
Blackout2010: Oooh Ichigo…(stares perversely at him) your so rugged lately…
Ichigo: What the…?
Shinjiro: Hey! (grabs Ichigo by waist) I saw him first damn it! He's mine get your own!
Hichigo: I call bullshit on the both of you. I've been with him forever we're practically life partners.
(else where)
Mirokumaru: …
Senna: What's wrong?
Mirokumaru: I feel like I'm missing something amazing…
(back)
Ichigo (struggling): Get the fuck off me all of you!
Kenpachi: Ichigo…
Ichigo: (fuck me…) What?
Kenpachi (starts disrobing): Let's have a battle of dominance…
(elsewhere)
Mayuri: Nemu what happened to 'nam evol rebmun enin' (1)! I need it at once!
Nemu: my apologies but I thought you asked me to administer it to target, Ichigo Kurosaki.
Ichigo (distance): AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Mayuri:…(sweat drop) carry on.
Chasing secrets
Gliding through the air on route to squad four, Senna meticulously kept moving her eyes from the back of the giant sting ray Zanpaktou's driver to the ever stretching white labyrinth below them, trying to memorize the route they came should things turn sour. The breezy winds of the ride did little to calm her apprehension, which stemmed from the undeniable facts that one: Ichigo who had fought so incredibly hard to save Rukia was in critical condition, possibly dying this very moment, and she couldn't help. Two: Sosuke Aizen, the man who not only seriously wounded Ichigo, had just escaped with the one thing that would doom them all. And third: The woman she was riding with, was possibly the same woman who possessed the details of who she might be and her origins. So it was all a bit much to take in for the young Kurosaki.
From her seat in the front, the old but youthful looking Taicho sensed the unrest in the woman behind her. Knowing that they weren't going to be getting back to the base any sooner than they were, she turned her head to look over her shoulder and spoke in a calming tone "So might I inquire as to what brings you here Ryoka-san?"
Senna's amber eyes whirled from the city back to the older woman in front of her, as she spoke loosely "Oh, well I'm here to-" she then cut off abruptly with a scrutinizing look at nearly forget who she was talking too, "…why do you want to know that?" she asked cautiously to the still pending enemy Shinigami
"I'm just engaging in some small talk. We won't be arriving for a while now and you seemed to be bored. If I am disturbing you, however, I'll leave you alone until we arrive." She said passively which forced the other girl to re-evaluate her words, since she felt that maybe she'd been a bit rude, even if she did want Ichigo to be ok.
"Sorry…I just had a long day." She apologized as she twiddled her thumbs "I, well, my name is Senna." She introduced first and foremost, which the Taicho replied it was a lovely name "and the reason I'm here?" She paused to word her statement to where it gave a vague understanding "Is to learn about some stuff."
Unohana arched an eye brow "So you are a scholar?" she asked since the girl seemed to be a bit young looking, not that it really meant much since, people's bodies aged rather slowly.
"No." she answered only to think over the question a little more critically "Well, yeah, kinda hmmmm…" she paused since she knew she obviously wasn't making much sense "umm I'm a high school student so I do learn things, but I'm definitely not a text book definition of a scholar." She amended "As for what I mean by learning stuff, it's kinda complicated. I guess the best way to say is that's more like…finding my place in the world rather than figuring how things work." She cringed slightly at her crappy articulation "Do you get what I mean Shinigami-san?"
"Ahh… I understand what you wish to convey." The single banded woman nodded to herself "Well, we all at some point, need to find that place in life we belong; and come to understand what is it we are here to do. To find our 'purpose', so to speak. The fact that you realize that you lack it is testament to taking of the first step toward maturity." She said sagely
Senna found herself oddly enchanted by the way of thinking, and decided to be more amicable to the stranger "So what about you? What's your name?" she asked trying to get into the good graces of the woman
"Oh, forgive my rudeness Senna-san." She apologized with a friendly smile, she then turned around fully and in the seiza position bowed her head "I am Captain of squad four Retsu Unohana." She introduced amicably
'She's definitely the one!' she inwardly shouted now having undeniable proof this was the Retsu Unohana Ichigo had mentioned.
'Hell yeah, she's the one!' Mirokumaru snarked sarcastically; taking her owner's comment and running with it. 'She can be my personal night nurse; any day of the week. I wouldn't mind getting some 'intimate healing' with her or that other one from earlier. What was her name again? Oh right Isane-chan! Eh, A little on the willowy side, but she's still easy on the eyes! Oh and her rack too, yeah…definitely easy…haaah…'
'I gotta control myself.' She mentally promised herself then returned back to the older woman "It's a pleasure to meet you." She said bowing forward respectfully, "May I ask you something then Unohana-san?"
"But of course, ask away." She said as she turned back around to direct Minazuki to bank to the right
"Tell me do you know a lot about my friend, Ichigo Kurosaki?"
The corners of the captain's lips tugged upward "Yes, I do. I've known about him since the day of his birth." She said with a small sense of pride in seeing the boy having proven his and her Sensei's innocence, which eased her heart.
"And could you tell me about his family? Like who his relatives are or where they live?" Senna inquired pulling all the stops to uncover everything.
Her over-eagerness proved to be a blunder.
"That is a private matter which, without my patient's express admittance, I am not allowed to disclose. Doctor-Patient confidentiality, Senna-san." She shot down quietly but firmly, which the Miko could tell was going to be unmoving unless she could really give the woman a reason to share
The ribbon wearing girl inhaled for a moment "Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes." Unohana said after pausing, having to wonder the sudden change in mood in the girl
Senna shifted a bit and placed a hand over her heart and spoke softly "My name is Senna Kurosaki," she said fully revealing herself to the doctor who she hoped would know her now "and I think I have a right to know about Ichigo."
"Sen…na?" the braided woman pronounciated confusedly, the words rolling off her tongue in a broken manner. Turning around fully she eyed the woman curiously, 'it can't be…' she thought to herself as she continued to look at the woman whose name was now picking up another person, while at the same time seeing traces of her Sensei's outline and features "You…" she shook her head in disbelief, a little troubled by the claim "You would…that's impossible. The only Senna Kurosaki that I know of would be my Sensei's daughter, and she died years ago. Even if you were to be her reincarnation, you should have no memory, of being Senna and should be someone else!"
"That's why I want to know, Unohana-san. My 'dad'" she air quoted with her fingers "in the human world told me that I'm not from earth. He said that I was given to him by an unknown entity, but I have reason to believe it might be Ichigo's-our father, when he came to the human world."
Retsu Unohana pondered the thought, and tried to time frame it in her mind. She recalled that her Sensei had retired close to a century earlier, for reason unknown at the time. She gave some consideration of whether or not the reason was because she wanted to stop living the life of a Taicho, and settle down. It could be in that time frame that she met her husband and Senna and Ichigo's father. She then sized up Senna, the fire happened about fifteen years ago, and the children were about two, so mathematically she'd look about the age the girl in front of her appeared as, going under the assumption that her 'wanting to find where she belonged' was a sign of stepping into maturity.
'Hmm…now that I think about it, I sense Ichigo's spiritual pressure directly in front of me, yet this girl is there, and Minazuki prevents people from being sensed in her stomach.' She threw in to the stew of information, letting it simmer within her mind until a good question could be formed. She wouldn't need to wait long "Assuming your words to be true, I would like to ask you your age."
"17, I'll be 18 come this July."
"July?"
"Fifteenth."
'That's the same day as Ichigo, and Ichigo will be eighteen as well.' Unohana reported "One final question." She then looked deeply into Senna's expression to gauge this next answer "Do you by chance hear any voices in your head? Or have you seen someone who looks just like you in your soul scape? I ask because my Sensei made a mention of that in regards to certain individuals." She said referring to Ichigo specifically, as he had told his mother of meeting such an individual in his early youth, and it had frightened him greatly.
'She must mean my othe-…me.' Senna nodded her head "I do. Ichigo kind of made a mentioning of it too." she said skirting the truth a bit
The captain either didn't catch her lie or simply chose not to voice, and instead cast a thoughtful look "Then I will have to say, you do seem to be in fact, Senna Kurosaki, the daughter of my Sensei. At least until I can perform a more modern medical examination."
'!' Senna quickly leaned forward, her hand reaching out to grab Retsu's arm "Wait! P-Please don't tell Ichigo!"
"Don't tell?" she asked her expression changing to misunderstanding, as she felt that if they were reunited he'd want to know "Why not?"
The stare she received made the girl swallow the lump in her throat as she prepared to answer "I…don't want to overwhelm him." She half-lied trying to build up a more plausible reason "He's been through a lot, and I'd like to give him the opportunity to recover first. And I…" she looked away with an unnoticeable blush "don't want to change things too quickly."
'You just be sure not to rape him in his sleep, Sen-chan.' Mirokumaru said in brutal honesty, already knowing of her intentions in getting closer to Ichigo
"Yes, well. He's going to be bedridden for at least a week."
"A week?" Senna replied weakly, now hearing the true extent of the damage 'That's a long time.' A thought then occurred to her on how to pass said time 'Dad, I should go visit him! He'll be relieved to hear I'm ok.'
"Excuse me, Unohana-san, could you tell me where the exit is? I want to go visit my dad back in Rukongai, after Ichigo is safe of course." She requested, which was met with a disappointed look
"I'm sorry, but right now we're in total lockdown, until we figure things out and recover. It could take a few days. I'm afraid you're stuck in here, until we can reorganize our ranks." She then turned around as she saw the fourth division in sight and mentally commanded Minazuki to bring them down "I will request someone to pick you up, and give you temporary residence."
"(Sigh)" 'Sorry dad.' "Ok, but promise me you won't tell anyone that Ichigo's my brother. I want to keep it as low a profile as possible, Unohana-sama."
The doctor smiled as she landed her Zanpaktou outside the base "Doctor-Patient Confidentiality. My lips are sealed."
Within a matter of seconds the two women, were swarmed by other healers who laid the two heavily injured men on stretchers before taking them to intensive care. Senna could only stand back and let the men and women do their job, since she didn't have the capability to heal them herself. As Unohana directed more Shinigami to action she turned to her Sensei's daughter and beckoned her to stick close.
Upon entering the medical division, Senna was now able to fully see the extent of the damage caused. Medical doctors and personnel were rushing people down hallways, directing traffic and giving orders, and others were heading out of the door they came in to go get supplies from the storage houses.
Sticking close behind the ever calm leader so as not to get lost, she was led to a room with a bunch of chairs lining the wall. "Wait here Senna-chan." Retsu politely gestured to the waiting room
"What? No! I can help you; just tell me what to do!" Senna decried not wanting to be put on the sideline
"The offer is appreciated, but there is little you can do." Retsu said in the most sincere tone possible
"Well, I can give the doctors what they need!" she pointed out
"Do you even know what it is that they need if they asked you to bring it, or the proper ways of handling said medicine, since some are time or temperature sensitive?" Retsu replied in her unchanging peace-filled voice
Senna sloshed her lips from side to side, having been shot down and needing to come up with a better answer "W-well, I can help transport people back here!"
"Could you do it safely for both you and your charge? And without getting lost in the process?" The captain asked another stone walling question
"Maybe…maybe, umm," she stuttered desperately fishing for an answer now "Oh! I could check on the injured, yo know make sure they're ok!"
"True," The woman conceded allowing Senna to smile under the impression she'd finally won out. "But are you sure you could read our charts, which details what ails our patients, and their specific needs?" she asked deflating her Sensei's daughter fully
"Ahh…umm…I-I, err, I could-"
Unohana smiled and put a hand on her shoulder "There isn't anything you can do, I'm afraid. You are an attacker, a fighter, so your place is more on the battlefield. However the fighting is over, and specialized individuals have already taken most of the wounded back here. All that is left is for us, the healers, to heal our friends and allies." Senna opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again, knowing that there really wasn't anything she could do, which the captain saw and made telling her so, that much harder since it was obvious she wished she could. "I will return for you shortly. For now, I have to go contact someone to provide you temporary asylum."
The doctor then turned and left. The door creaked to a close, leaving the worried and useless feeling woman to wait in silence. With nothing to do, she took a quick survey of the room, lining all around the medium sized room were hard wooden chairs that looked like they could use a good dusting, in the corner was a wall hanging push water fountain. Taking a weary seat into one of the chairs, she found herself staring across the two bathroom doors with a clock in the small crease between the doors that incorrectly read time as 8:31.
Senna let out a sigh as she dropped her head back against the wall, a small thump echoed throughout the room. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes while her feet were tapping up and down in a heated pace, a mixture of her feelings anxiousness and impatience. 'Damn it.' she cursed with a frown
A loud buzzing sound rang through the room grabbing Senna immediate attention. Instantly she shot up from the chair and turned towards the door expecting to see Retsu Unohana or some other doctor having returned for her instead she was met with nothing. The pumped feeling she had earlier, once again died out as the sound rang again this time from her left. Raising her sight upward in the direction, she saw the clock now read 8:32 "Damn thing." She said spitefully as she plopped back into the chair loudly, the wood clattering against the tile floor from the sudden increase in weight and directional speed
The woman knew it would be a long wait to say the least.
(Kisuke)
With the Sokyoku grounds finally cleared up of the injured and the Menos Grande taken care of, the sandy blond shop keeper allowed himself to breathe a well earned sigh of relief. His rest was short lived as he felt a battle ready spiritual force behind him.
Turning around the proprietor of the U-shoten was face to face with the old scarred but very well built Sou-taicho, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, whose upper body was exposed no doubt from having to take the cloths off to allow his body to receive air lest he cook himself along his enemies. "I'm afraid I haven't established a branch shop in soul society yet, so I got nothing to sell, but is there something I can I help you with sir? he asked humorously tipping his hat to one side
"I would ask that you explain yourself, but now is not the time. As lives are at stake." Yamamoto grumbled to the considerably younger genius
The shifting in persona of Kisuke was instantly noticeable "I promise I won't leave any detail out. But for now, your right, we need to tend to our wounds." He then turned around "I've got things to think over and plans to make." And then flash stepped off
The ancient Shinigami paused to think about where he would go during the lockdown, but decide it could wait. He needed answers but the soldiers came first, and promptly vanished to go check in on Byakuya Kuchiki.
(Several hours later)
Returning back into the sterile and nearly empty waiting room, the Taicho found the impulsive genki girl, laying stretched out across a few chair, totally clocked out with a bit of drool coming from her mouth, as she gripped her golden staff in her arms. The woman would have thought it cute on first sight, but saw that the teenager's arm was shivering not from the temperature of the room but of some other stimuli, her eye lids pressed tighter for a second before relaxing, her hand gripping and releasing the weapon with each contraction of the eyes 'Poor thing, most be suffering from a nightmare induced by depression, sleep deprivation, anxiety and slight to mild battle trauma.' The doctor analyzed coming to the obvious conclusion
Walking over to the woman, Retsu shook the woman's shoulder for a few seconds, continuing the action until a response was given. The purple haired adolescent opened up her eyes, in surprise as if not expecting to find herself back in the room. Her amber eyes flickering between gold and their normal tone, until it settled on the unusual color. With both her eyes opened she let them glide over to the Taicho in a cold predatorily manner, the rather hostile action deeply perplexing Unohana who was unused to seeing such a look from anyone even Zaraki. 'What's going on? That looks…its almost feral like she sees me as prey. No child should have such a look…'
Doing her best to ignore the odd look and her own uneasiness, but promising herself to look into it later, she addressed the girl as to why she woke her from her disturbed slumber "You can come visit Ichigo-kun now. He's out of any immediate danger, but he's still unconscious. I'll let you look over him while I go talk to your temporary guardian."
After she informed Senna of that, she had to fight hard to keep her face as calm as it was, when she saw the flicker golden hued eyes revert to amber, a scientific or biological mutation she never heard of before, along with the demeanor and aura of the girl shift. "Really? Please let's go!" she exclaimed as she moved to get up, only to slip off and crash to the ground, her Shakujo following after it's master over the edge "Oww!" she winced to herself as she pushed her face off the cold floor
"…" the captain relieved to have this Senna back, couldn't stop herself from making a joke "Please don't increase our workload anymore Senna-chan."
"Y-yes ma'am." She eeped out
After gathering her things, Senna followed the woman to the room that apparently Ichigo was resting in. After being told to wait in here, until she could speak with her guardian on the arrangement, the Taicho once again departed leaving Senna outside the room.
Taking in a deep breath to calm herself, she gripped the handle of the door and pushed the door open revealing a dark unlit room, which the only light came from hallway she'd been in. She stood by the doorway to let her eyes adjust to the dark before walking in, and close the door behind her. There were no windows in the room explaining the lack visibility, and the bed around the center of the room had the curtain drawn, with a small chair and desk beside the bed itself.
Walking as quietly as she could, she moved next to the bed, stopping just to turn the dial of the light switch on the bedside lamp. The woman winced from the sudden intenseness of the light stream. Then adjusted the lamp's shade to where she figured it probably wouldn't disturb Ichigo and his rest, but still allow her to see him unhinged. Lightly grabbing the curtain surrounding the bed, Senna walked beside the track to open the space between them about half-way.
Looking at Ichigo, she let out a pleasant exhalation in seeing that he was breathing, and still alive. "Thank goodness." She said to herself, as she gently took the seat beside him. She silently watched as the rough orange-haired boy beside her breathed in and out steadily, completely free of pain from what her eyes could tell. Without her noticing she had begun to lean over the bed to see if there were any wounds which she was surprised by the power of Shinigami healing when she saw not a single scar on his flesh. Moving her hand upward she moved some of his hair out of his face to look at his forehead and saw not a scratch their either. The smile on Senna's face grew a fragment more. 'Well…I don't think he'd mind, and it's not too unnatural.' She thought to herself, as she gradually moved her face closer to his, the lid of her eyes falling about half-way down, her heart pounding a little more with each second. She drew closer to his lips and continued to lean forward, her eyes closing fully, and then stopped. She opened her eyes barely an inch away from him and sighed defeatedly, her breath ruffling his hair "This isn't right." She whispered to herself, now backing off in her actions
'And why is that! We both know you want to!' the hollow yelled out against the minor stumbling block that could still be recovered from, if the woman acted quickly.
'Yeah, I…want to, I really do. But, I want him to want it too. Doing it while he's asleep doesn't feel right for me and, even if I wasn't being morally self-conscious, it wouldn't change anything between us. He won't magically wake up and remember it, so my feelings will still go unreturned.' She returned solemnly as she gripped the side bar hard, knowing it would be so much easier to do it this way, but she just couldn't bring herself to love him like that. It would make her little different than Mirokumaru's constant lecherous attempts on her. She didn't want him to accept her as the slutty one night stand Mirokumaru, but as friendly and loving Senna. 'Don't worry, Miroku. One day, I'll capture his lips for myself. Just not today.' She then sent a heated glare at her 'And I'll do it without your interference.'
The specter returned the glare, with one of her own 'Don't act all high and mighty with me. While we are one and the same, I'm much more powerful than you. I could force you to do any number of things against your weak will.' She said threateningly 'Just. Like. This.'
Senna's hand then started to move from the railing and despite her bodies command, reached into her Hakama and slid down past her breast an touched her stomach and flicked it off handedly, and kept going lower and lower. Despite her best efforts she couldn't stop it. The hand though started to return upward still having not touched anything delicate. Senna's hitching of breath was the only indication in the whole room that something had happened. The possessed limb, then pulled away from the shirt and in it's hand was a red bra, which the horrified girl realized was hers.
'See? You can't stop me, little bitch.' The demon said haughtily, as she made Senna bend back over the bed 'I can make you do this!' Senna's hand then started to go to his chest, and then went up and cupped his face, caressing him softly.
The act was short lived as a dark aura surrounded the limb, and the hand pulled back against the inner hollow's wanting. 'This is my body and you have no say!' Senna yelled fiercely as her spiritual pressure began to pour out of her body, counter acting the possessing power of the Zanpaktou spirit 'Listen, and listen well, Mirokumaru. You will never EVER touch Ichigo again. And if you try that again, I'll rip my own arm off to stop you.' She threatened
'Damn, she can get pretty, fierce given the right trigger.' The hollow observed, not expecting to be overpowered like she had. Her opinion changing just a bit. 'Alright you win.' The spirit gave in, as she started to back off 'I'll trust your judgment on getting this done. Your brief showing of power, has made me reconsider. But remember, I'm still here, and you will need more than a flashy show to beat me. Keep it in mind.' The creature warned as she faded back to the recesses of her mistress's mind, leaving the bra less girl still leaning over the bed.
The woman paused for a few moments to monitor her mental condition; while the dark creature went far and away from the surface of her soul. She then glanced down at the feminine item, and looked at Ichigo's face for a moment. Her face heating up from embarrassment, she waved her hand in front of his face, and then snapped her fingers twice to make sure he was totally out like a light, and then looked behind her to make sure no one was there. And pulled open her clothing exposing her upper half, and put the garment back on clipping the front part together. She then put one arm back through her sleeve and leaned forward as she put her other arm through the hole.
"What's going on and what are you doing?" a cold voice rang through the room, frightening the girl as she jumped up and let out a yelp. Calming her heart down from the sudden surprise, the female Kurosaki looked back and saw standing in the doorway with a hard glare was a woman, with rough dark blue hair and tan skin. The woman was garbed in a black martial arts Gi of some kind that had a ripped yellow sash with a white jacket over it similar to Retsu Unohana, with the difference being the sleeves weren't quite as long, and was obviously designed for the smaller woman's body. The woman crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently awaiting an answer, as two strange bands fluttering to the twist and turning of the woman's head "Well?" she asked impatiently
"How…did you know I was in here?" she asked wondering if this was the person she'd be staying with for the next week
"Unohana informed me that there was someone I should meet in this room, and be providing lodging too. Initially, I thought it was the man beside you, but I'm quickly deducing that she was speaking about you." She then closed her eyes and spoke in a more matter of factly tone "Also I felt your reiatsu increase significantly and I had thought something was wrong. So I rushed here to see you leaning over him." Her hard gaze then reset back on the younger girl, who was inwardly sweating bullets "Which you have failed to give an answer to."
"I was just adjusting my Hakama, when I looked down, and was relieved to see he was still breathing." She said truthfully, just not in the correct order of events.
Which judging by the look on the woman's face she wasn't buying "Whatever." She said letting the lie drop, since the heart rate monitors should have told her he was still among them, and she didn't seem to be malicious in intent "So it seems we meet again." She struck up a conversation with a cocky grin
"Again?" Senna asked confusedly, the female Taicho's face drawing an immediate blank "I don't remember meeting you."
"You wouldn't; but rest assured, I've seen you before. From what Unohana tells me is that your name is Senna."
"That's my name." she said with a nice swing in her voice and a dash of pride, as she stuck her hand out to extend an olive branch "And you must be Soifon, right?"
The captain raised an eye brow and was going to ask how she knew her name, but the answer was obvious, since Ichigo more than likely mentioned who his Taicho was, and there was only two female Taicho's currently in office. "Yes, I am." She then turned around ignoring the outstretched hand "Gather your things and follow me." She then turned to the door and looked over her shoulders and spoke in a flat tone that didn't hold any menace, at least by her standards "By the way, it's Soifon-san or Soifon-taicho. Don't disrespect me like that again." And then walked out
"…" Senna blinked doing a double take, while her hand feebly dropped back down to her side "What a bitch…" She muttered to herself critical of the girl, as she gathered her things.
With all her things, which only really amounted to Mirokumaru and herself, she exited the room to find the Taicho looking not a decibel mellower. The pair walked in silence as they headed for the second division. The one in lead thinking about the actions of her siblings and her missed opportunity to visit Ichigo even if he was unconscious. The other wondering if this arrangement was really going to work out until the week was up, and what Ichigo saw in her since she just seemed to have gotten shafted after being friendly, though she did attribute that maybe lying and doing what she did earlier didn't help her conscious.
The silence was ended when the duo found themselves at the squad two barracks, and were moving through and coming to a shoji door that read 'Taicho'. Now for the first time since they departed the shorter woman looked at her taller traveling companion "Come in we have much to discuss." She said quietly, since she wanted to get a feel for this Senna who had still given no sir name.
Following the Taicho in, the newbie Shinigami looked around and it seemed rather empty. The room for the most part was full of space to move around in. In the center of the room was the desk, which Senna guessed was where the bluenette did her 'Captain work', with a small book case behind the desk. On the left hand side of the wall across the door there was another door which lead somewhere else, with a door on the wall adjacent to that which she guessed might be a storage room or maybe where she lived since this was a barracks. On the right hand wall, all that was adorned on the egg-shell painted wall was a single old fashioned kitty clock, whose eyes and tail moved back and forth with every second while it smiled a cat like grin as it kept the time.
"Please have a seat." The captain gestured boredly to the desk, not trying to make a show of her now visible fatigue
"Are you ok?" Senna asked as she took the seat, only really asking since while she thought the girl was kind of rude, she shouldn't sink to her level.
"I'll be fine." She said quickly "It's just been a long day for me, and firing my Bankai, coupled with the running around I did, left me a little exhausted." She then sat up in her chair correcting her posture "But, I can live with those small gripes, what's really important is that I feel something is obviously wrong here. I run a secret police force that conducts operations filled with treachery and deceit, not a five star resort, so I don't see how or why you should be staying here." She said calmly not trying to come off as rude but more stating a fact "Do you have any idea why?"
"I guess maybe because I know your secret." Senna replied throwing in what she thought might be the connecting thing between both ladies.
Ichigo.
"Know my secret?" she replied sourly, not liking the way it was worded "What do you mean by that?"
"Didn't you date Ichigo-kun?"
The Taicho's eyes opened a little further as she started to shake off the fatigue and surprise "I take it that means you were close to Ichigo then." She said as Unohana wouldn't breathe a word of this, It was kind of shaky if Hitsuguaya knew, and the last two were…unavailable.
"We have a unique relationship, but I don't think I'm close like you." Senna worded carefully, as she wanted to avoid any unnecessary uneasiness.
"I have a feeling there's more to it than what you lead on," Shaolin alluded, making Senna uneasy with how quickly she was cutting through her run around. "but," she continued "I won't push it if you're not going to tell me right now."
Thanking the fatigue or whatever was ailing the captain from pursuing the matter, Senna attempted to change the subject "Ahh, sooo, How long have you been a captain?"
"Nearly fifty-two years." Shaolin replied in a dull robotic manner, only to then let out a yawn "Why do you ask?"
'hmm, she might be strong.' Senna thought to herself "Are you strong then? I mean, well, you must be if you made Captain rank and have been able to hold it for that long."
Shaolin closed and rubbed her eyes with her hand and let out another small yawn, "I must be more tired than I thought. So I'll cut things short as we can discuss this later." She then got up from her seat and motioned for Senna to follow her. The Taicho led Senna down two doors and with a face full of reluctance opened the door using a spare key "You can stay here until further notice."
The taller girl peered into the room and noticed it seemed to belong to someone "But what about the person who lives here?"
"She won't be back." The bluenette stated softly, and then spoke a harsher "at least not till I bring her back."
'She? Girl? Second division…Subaru-chan?' "Do you mean Subaru-chan?" she asked since she had witnessed the departure of the melancholy spy and samurai
"Yes." Shaolin answered as a depressive mood came upon her persons, which Senna couldn't help but notice.
Putting a hand on the Taicho's shoulder, she gave a friendly smile "If you ever want to talk about it. I-I'm pretty good at listening."
The captain merely 'hmmed' as she looked with a fair amount of skepticism, which deflated the girl since she wanted to help since Subaru was her friend too…well acquaintance. "Whatever." She said tersely, though willing to at least give some thought, since bottling things up never seemed to work for her. Silently, she turned around to leave the girl to the room, but stopped when she was shoulder to shoulder with her charge "Rest for now." She instructed coolly "I will come by tomorrow, and we can talk some more." And then resumed walking.
Senna turned around and watched as the form of Soifon walked down two more doors the way they came and enter in. The loud thump of the lock letting it be known she wasn't too be disturbed. 'Well I guess that could have gone worse…' Senna thought to herself as she walked into her new home. Her thoughts filled with worry over the future of her family and friends.
(Hueco Mundo)
As the five golden beam of energy faded letting it's transportees safely land upon the soft sands of Hueco Mundo, the man spear heading the operation, marveled at the gem in his hand. He then looked over his shoulder at his entourage "We will be arriving in Las Noches soon. From there we will begin the process of awakening the Hogyoku, and if possible." His smile grew even wider "Amplify it's power to create stronger soldiers, and then possibly replicate." 'which i'll then implant in myself...over and over...'
"And how do you plan on doing that, Aizen-sama?" Tosen asked for the sake of formality
The devilish grin on the sleek villain's face grew more "Why my loyal pet is the final piece of the puzzle. Once that hollow has becoming arrancarfied, such tasks will become child's play." He then turned around and walked forward towards Las Noches and his destiny "I'm sure you'll recognize the hollow in her new form, especially you two. Shinjiro Taiga and Subaru Kujo." He said while the mentioned individuals looked at the other in worry and confusion, not knowing just what he had planned now.
Senna: Greetings to everyone out there. My name is Senna and I play the role of Senna Kurosaki in this fic. Now some of you, mostly the men, might be wondering what was up with that beginning and no doubt did the following.
Figure a.
It's gone Yaoi! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ (flipping the table)
Why? щ(ﾟДﾟщ) (屮ﾟДﾟ)屮 why god why! (wigging out)
Nooooooo![fax machine noise][flat line]（ ﾟДﾟ）(Blue screen of death)
Senna: Please calm down. Clean up whatever table was thrown around.
┬──┬ ノ( ゜-゜ノ) figure b.
Senna: and if necessary grab a friend to use as a clutch to reality.
I was so frightened… ( ´Д｀)ﾉ(´･ω･`) calm down son
Figure c (above).
Senna: The opening was designed to cater towards the females. See as has probably said before he likes to be fair. So since most of the guys have been entertained by the constant lose of female clothing, molestation attempts by you-know-who, it's only right that the women get some level of reprieve. (bubbly) Unfortunately Mr. writer has no idea how to do that because he can't wrap his mind around the superior female brain, so he makes cheap attempts to try and appease the masses. So rest assured he does try to cater. So long and next chapter we're pretty sure we'll return to our regularly scheduled program. Cheers!
Guide posts of info.
1. Read backwords but kept the words in the same order you get 'man love number nine'.
Author end note: Now as of right now we are entering into the slight breather arc in the story. Some of you might be wondering 'well if it's a breather arc, can we skip it and continue along with the rest of the story?' The answer is yes and no.
Yes. You theoretically could thought some things might be a little 'ok, how'd we get here.' And No because it resolves some of the romantic plot points that we're left in the air back in the first Arc: the getting aquainted arc. This resolves a few final problems since this will more than likely be the last chance to relax before we go on to full on war mode.
Anyway hope it helps. Good luck to anyone out there, and do enjoy yourselves.