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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx【 SUZUME CHIYOKO 】



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxLoneliness hit me suddenly,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxbut it’s only t h e n that I realized,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxafter all that I have ever DREAMED of,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxI really don’t like F I G H T I N G

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Suzume listened to Daisuke, attempting to follow along. She didn’t know why she was so intrigued by these matters, like fighting and philosophies but perhaps it was just a part of her. However, the philosophies and ideas often disappointed her, due to the fact that a large percentage of philosophies, or at least a lot more than she would like, had the idea of a man leading, of the man being the one who controlled the wife. History had so many instances of these, examples from everywhere. Jumping out of her thoughts, she finally managed to latch onto the conversation, just in time for Daisuke to say something about leaving to drink tea. Well, she was most likely going to linger for a short while, just because she wanted to see whether her sister was alright and meet her new Captain. “Alright, I’ll tell Nu-Taichō if I see you. See you later ~” she said to Daisuke, waving back in reply.

It was at that point that Nanashi started talking, answering her previous question, so she concentrated, trying to make sense of what he was saying. That was a little confusing to tell the truth, but that was most likely due to the fact that she couldn’t really see things properly from his point of view. The idea that Nanashi disliked Hakase Hei because he was too serious, made Suzume raise an eyebrow in Nanashi’s direction. The point was that most people liked him, because he was serious. She’d prefer to be around more serious people, rather than with those who fooled around and were not serious about anything or even life itself. As she thought this, Nanashi had strode over to her, before placing his fingers under her chin. She trembled with rage. The impudence! She had met men like Nanashi before, the ones that liked to flirt and catch pretty girls, but none, none had the audacity to touch her in such a manner. About to tell him exactly what she thought of him, she was interrupted by the sudden shouting of Kyo. Interesting manner to show up in, yelling random things to everyone in the vicinity. Nanashi had seemed to think so too, although he just had to make another silly remark about showing Kyo pictures of Asami in the bath. Her eyes briefly flickered to Asami-Taichō as she wondered how the Captain would reply to that.

As Nanashi called her darlin’ again, anger and fury rose inside her again as she eyed him carefully. Taking several deep breaths in, she started talking, her voice layered with a chilling tone. “Firstly, I am not a little girl, a princess or even a darlin’, so I would refrain from calling me things like that, sir,” she placed emphasis on the last word, deliberately mocking him, “And unlike many of those girls, whom I’m sure you’ve met and had some fun with before, who fall apart after one of those silly, flirting comments from your mouth, I’m not believing any of that and I certainly do not need protection, as I have said before. Oh, and I’d kindly ask you to remove your hand as I don’t like being touched at all, especially by somebody whose name I don’t even know.” She crossed her arms, waiting for him to do or say something back.

✿✿✿

Tadashi had been gritting his teeth the entire time through both his injuries and the annoying conversation between the insane Lieutenant who had needlessly killed Vesper, and the other unfamiliar Lieutenants. He was staying quiet at the moment, trying to calm himself down after the rush that was the battle. This time, he could not blame Tenma for neither his battle lust nor his somewhat disturbing killing intent. True, it had not been night, but even then not finishing Vesper when he had the opportunity had taken restraint. He knew the zanpakuto's nature had influenced him somewhat, but fighting the Exaequare made him realize his own nature was to blame just as much, if not more than, the sword.

'Fear and insecurity are not your best traits,' commented Tenma. Sakamoto ignored him.

"Thanks," he murmured to Eriko as she led him away to a Lieutenant he really didn't know, but assumed was the healer. Then came some searing pain as a result of the supposed healing art, making Tadashi's head hurt much worse than before. When Kwang was finished cauterizing the wound, Tadashi gave another small thanks that could come off as rude and shied away from the scene. All he wanted to do now was report to Hibiki and be that much closer to ending the miserable day. Of course, there was still the issue of the Captains in the Exaequare world, but there was nothing he could do about that.

Dropping his hand to his side almost immediately, Nanashi was dead silent as Suzume tongue-lashed him. His eyes were fixated on her mouth, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He had actually moved his hand because he had been lost in thought, not because she had asked him to. He hadn't even heard that, in fact, his mind had veered off after she had called him sir. His expression had slackened, he no longer even wore a half-grin, and his general demeanor could be likened to who wore bore a heavy weight. All following words came as a buzzing in his ears as his mind was put back into the past.

The first thing he could remember was opening his eyes at the sound of a female screaming over the heavy wounds he had sustained. He had blacked out after that, whether it was from blood loss or losing the will to live, he was unsure. He awoke in the hospital ward and some woman, that he later labeled as the current Captain Commander, was swarming over his body, rapidly using healing spells and sealing his large wounds. Apparently it was the fastest healing she had to do, and the first surgery she had had to perform since her brother had opened up his own spleen somehow. Or so she had said later, implying to Nanashi at the time that he had been very heavily wounded, even beyond the scope of what he had felt when he first woke up. Apparently he was supposed to be dead, yet for some reason he still hung on, much to the amazement of the Captain herself. He had groaned to say something to the woman at the time, but he was quickly knocked out when a masculine hand slipped over his face. He hadn't actually noticed Hei sitting next to him, and he would never be told that this had been the case in the years to follow.

Nanashi's visit to the past ended when he felt Suzume fall into him, due to the unintentional bump by some lady he had never paid attention to before. Nanashi caught her by the shoulders, but he didn't do so eagerly like he had before when he had saved her. Turning, he released her immediately and silently walked to where Daisuke had been, retrieved Sōshinome's saya, then made his way back to the rock where he had left his weapon. Mere seconds before he touched the weapon, each plate, his cup, the saucer, and his fork all vanished with the pop of a bubble. Hefting the trident with one hand, Nanashi looked back to Suzume and cast her a look that was nothing like his previous expressions and was quite somber. "At least you have a name. I guess the difference between you and I is that when faced with someone who cares enough to speak with me in a less-than formal way, I don't push them away." By the time he had finished speaking, Sōshinome was already sealed and tucked away inside his saya. Nanashi gave her one last look before picking the katana up by the hilt, turning it over and touching the length of the saya to his shoulder. "Zaijian, Chiyoko Suzume." With this, he suddenly faded out of sight with a rather impressive Shunpo. His destination point was one of the rooftops in the Seireitei, and once he reached the first, he bounded from rooftop to rooftop until he reached his destination; his own living quarters.

|Exit to Nana's Quarters|

With Nanashi's response to Suzume's almost childish retort and the accidental bump, Eriko could not help but allow her replacement to leave to deal with the issues between her and the fellow Lieutenant.

"Cho, what the hell am I doing here?" she asked her Zanpakuto, attempting to walk away from the clearing in a steady line. She was still a bit out of it. The lack of focus in her immediate surroundings was not helping her much. Everything was fine here. No one was in trouble and all of her regular associates were no where to be seen except for Sakamoto but a conversation with him might be pushing it.

"You wanted to help and you did but currently, your help is not needed." The spirit's voice came out clear and strong. It was another minor change since their battle in the forest.

Eriko hopped back up into her original tree till she was on the highest and most stable of branches. There, the Juibantai-Taicho took off her haori and relaxed against the tree trunk. She wanted to be with the others. Who knew what they were facing in the home of the Exaequare? However, if something happened here, it would be best if at least one Captain was around to keep the potential danger at bay. This is what she told herself as her headache pounded on and her eyes closed again but in a safer location.

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Kyo was literally stunned by Nanashi's question. He was about to burst into a tirade on how immoral even suggesting such an action was much less the fact that he had such an item in possession, but he paused a moment to consider Nanashi's demeanor. He's toying with me. There's no way any lieutenant would disrespect their captain to that extent. Kyo's eyebrow twitched at that realization. He had to put up with so much teasing from his Zanpakuto, the last thing he wanted was another person around that made constant jokes. However, he did note when they were given a glimpse of Nanashi's solemn side after Suzume's tongue lashing. Hmm...seems even he has his soft spots in that armor of happiness he wears...

Not unlike yourself. You pretended to be this brooding silent guy so people don't bother you, because you're afraid of letting people get to close, and when people talk to you anyway you hide your true self beneath a bunch of fake personality traits. Everyone has their demons and they cope with them in their own ways. Yours is to isolate yourself, and his is his intense level of cheeriness, Zetsumeireiki sent.

Kyo was a bit surprised at how serious she was for once. It's better that way, though. I may not make friends easily, but at least when I do I know they can be trusted. Kyo responded while he walked over Cornix's body then kneeled down to look at his face.

Your trust issues are a problem though. You can't let someone watch your back if you don't trust them and you won't always be able to win a fight alone.

Well only time will tell if that's the case. Until then I have no intention of blindly trusting people. With that, he stood up and looked over at Vesper's body. "Who were these guys and why did they attack Captain Hakase's funeral?" he asked not directing the question at anyone in particular.

Kwang-Sun 4th Division Lieutenant





I am sorry for not responding to you in a respectful manner. I assure you Erkio-sama that i mean no harm. My Captain left without saying a word to me so i woulnd't know what to tell you. Kwang looked up at her and noticed something seemed to be wrong with her. HE jumped over to her branch and examined her by looking at her face. Then he moved back a couple of steps until he was at the edge of the branch. He thought about it then spoke Eriko-sama are you experiencing some head trauma? Cause if you are im sure im more than qualified to help you Eriko-sama. Kwang after saying that, thought about what he could do if she was having head trauma. It wasn't anything he couldn't fix. Kwang then sat down on his but with his legs crossed. He awaited for a answer from Eriko and he hoped this time he was a little bit more respectful.
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