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Hinata- startled at the appearance of Hatsume at her shoulder- promptly dropped her tea in surprise, choking. Once she had resurfaced from her coughing fit with a red face, she borrowed the barman's tea-towel without asking, hurriedly mopping up the sodden table.

"What- oh this?" she mentioned to the heavy calligraphy paper she had just tucked into her pocket, simultaneously trying to return the tea-towel without attracting Kenta's attention. "Oh, it's a letter from my sensei, inviting me to another one of his 'training sessions'." It was hard to miss the sarcastic edge to her tone. "In fact, all he does is set me impossible tasks, then laugh as he does in one second what I would've been trying to achieve in an hour... Sometimes I wish I'd gotten one of those typical old men teaching me, who bore the socks off you with their "Complete History of Sereitei" lessons. But no, I had to be stuck with the youngest, goofiest and most annoyingly energetic of them all."

Sighing heavily, the grim-looking girl pushed her now empty tea-cup to join the rest of the dirty tableware, before turning to face the newcomer properly. She had seen Hatsume around before, but had never managed a decent enough conversation to find out anything about her, other than that the Kitsune had joined up not long after herself. The fact that she was a Kitsune intrigued Hinata enough- she hadn’t seen one in years, let alone been on speaking terms with one. Even though she was obviously quite a lot older than Hinata, Hatsu’s short stature, furry ears and innocent stare made her all the more adorable.

“Aww, you’re so sweet!” the pigtailed shinigami cried, patting Hatsume’s furry ears. Though this struck her as rude considering they had just met, she couldn’t restrain herself. “Hehe. Sorry about that, why don’t you sit down?” She pulled out the stool beside her.

((Pssh, please. We love company! xD Atleast I do hahaha! Thanks... sorry... long post coming up. @-@))

-:¦:-Hatsume-:¦:-]::. Without much effort at all the vixen went into a quick shock as the cup fell and splattered across the table! O_O;; What did she do...?! Oh noo! This was awful! Horrible 'it's all my fault' thoughts raced pass her head as her hands flailed wondering where a towel or clothe could be, she almost suggested using her own sleeve to wipe it up but by the time she started looking around it seemed as if Hinata grabbed the nearest one in sight on the flick of a dime. "Gawh! I'm sorry! I- I-..." She quieted down as Hinata brought back up the subject of her question locking in her interest and focus back onto that curious nature where she seemed to forget all about the mess. If the bartender had a problem with it, the short female would probably defend her fellow comrade and put all the blame on her... after all it was her fault.
Hinata's explanation intrigued the soul reaper, listening with her emotions feeling bad for Hinata. " Impossible tasks? Nothings impossible! It's only impossible if you give up all your will to do it- otherwise it's a work in good progress! The guy you're talking about reminds me of Ogato. I don't think I'd ever know he was a Captain unless I saw his coat... which is actually kinda what happened when I first met Captain Ogato."
She released a small exhaling sigh as she prompted herself up onto the seat next to Hinata, continuing her story for some more conversation. "It's a long story... but to make it short I met him on the one of the first days of being a shinigami; the day I went training with my best friend Cheiko from the Second Company and the arrancar scenario happened. I was taken hostage from one named Yuan, he wanted to fight a Captain and took control over the entire area... that's when Captain Ogato came! .... But not like how normal captain's come... Hehe.. I met Ogato over and over again in other places too! He's always the same! I love it! He's funny, and goofy, and doesn't mind being who he is... he's overly nice and sweet. Handsome.." It was obvious the more she talked about it the more of a day-dream state she got into. Her cheeks flushed in a pink hue as her tail swayed slowly left to right at the tip. Her dazed state snapped quickly out from it's deep surrender due to the next set of ~you're so cute~ words. Her softer than rabbit fur ears being caressed touched a sensitive area which placed Hatsu in complete submission. @-@;; "I-it's okay.. I- I don't mind." If honestly felt good, and she rarely was touched in such a place. Hatsume wouldn't seem to feel the least bit embarrassed by it either as Mashiro walked in, greeting her as he did. "Hey Brother Mashiro! This is... uhh... She's nice! She even called me sweet! How have you been doing anyways..? " She couldn't recall her name, speaking of which... she didn't think she gave out her name either!
Hatsume gasped in shock as she jerked her head down in a quick apologetic bow to Hinata. "Please forgive me! My name is Hatsume Ukita! It's wonderful to meet you... sorry about your tea too... Do you want me to buy you some more? It's the least I can do..." She nervously spoke, still feeling bad about it- playing and caressing at a crescent pendant around her neck.... Hrrm.. Ogato... she wondered how he was doing..?

-:¦:-Hatsume-:¦:-] A large smile set itself onto her innocent expressions as she heard the name of Hinata. The name brought memories from her past of another Hinata she bearly knew; more like she knew more of a relative of hers than actually knowing her herself. It was hard not thinking about the name after all it was her cocky noble younger brother who brought everything on Hatsu; bringing alive that urging need to want to become stronger and get off the streets. Her ears flickered up after having been put down from such memories, hearing Hinata about the bar tender being so sensitive brought the kitsune to gasp in shock...! Did Hatsume do something wrong by not ordering anything?! He probably hated her! "GAwh!" She gasped again in pure despair of herself of being so selfish of not to think about the bartenders needs... Her brightly coloured eyes rarely left the man until Hinata started to speak again explaining the hardcore training. The training as harsh and almost cruel as it sounded made nothing but a quirky smile lift back onto her tender lips with a soft giggle. "Hehehe! Sound's like good training! Even if you can't win all the time that's why you gotta learn quick before you lose! After all think about the day you grow strong enough and DO beat him and win! That'll be a happy day, not only that but it should be celebrated!" She giggled again, not pressuring her to finish what she was saying. It looked painful, whatever brought her to pause so silent for the time being so it was best not to bring up until Hinata was ready to speak about it.... Hatsu had alot of secrets of her own and although she probably didn't have the same issues- she could understand somethings were best left alone.
Her eyes then shifted to Mashiro keeping her smile as she did. "Maybe if Mashy-sama isn't so busy or your not to tired.... me and him could help you with your training! You know- give you some tips if we think of any... or something.. I dunno. I'm just thinking is all..." She mumbled off, wondering if she sounded stupid at that moment in time. >..> Thus the little shinigami looked away all nervous of her own actions.

(( Oh no, if you guys leave this thread will die again (every time it's just me posting until another person notices)... I'll go train as well then blaugh ))

"Hey! Don't leave me here alone!" Hinata yelled at Mashiro's retreating figure as she slid off her stool. "Well?" she turned to Hatsu. "Shall we all have a battle? Hmm... I might have some tips to share on fighting more than one opponent," she grinned evilly, before following Mashiro out of the bar, tossing a coin to the waitress as she passed.

[Exit to Endless Forest]

((For the sake of the fact that I last posted here over a month ago let's say this is a new visit and conceivably it makes sense Hibiki eventually left last time ))

Hibiki drudged in to the bar, and plopped himself down on the nearest stool. Leaning forward, elbows on the counter, hands propping up his head, he sighed. Glancing down to the other end where the bartender was, and having seen him sit down was heading over. Sitting up a little, but not fully, he tried not to look to be in the daze he was.

"Ah, good evening Kenta-san," He said with a nod of his head to the man. "Sake for me, please." Kenta nodded back, reaching under the counter and pulled out a bottle and cup. Taking it, the shinigami poured some and lifted the cup to his lips, downing it a little too quickly. Pausing a good moment he pour another and just held the cup, thinking.

Mikazuki rushed into the bar and closed the door with a thud behind her. Her face was flushed red and she was breathing rapidly, sweat beads running down her forehead as if she had a fever. Leaning on the door to support her weight, she wiped her brow off with the edge of her sleeve, letting out a sigh of relief, her muscles slowly relaxing.

Her arm moved to keep her notebook inside her robes, making it seem as if she was holding some sort of critical object; her eyes scanned from side to side. She found an empty seat on the bar and clambered onto it, utilizing whatever strength she had left to get on.

With a big sigh, she collapsed onto the bar face-first, her arms supporting her forehead. Mikazuki took a few deep breaths before she even said anything. Raising her right hand up, she pointed a finger and motioned for the bartender, "Give me a Sunset, please, on the rocks."

Hibiki nodded to Okojo as he came in and pulled up a stool beside him. He hadn't seen the guy since that training session in the forest, ((that I realize now I left you hanging on, sorry DX )) and looked like he was adjusting to his one-armed-ness better now. From what Hibiki gathered it had been a new thing to him in their last fight. Nephele stayed silent in her sheath for once, which he was glad for. She at least had enjoyed the work out in that session, getting to go shikai. Letting loose and getting the sparks to fly, literally in his zanpaktou's case.

Pouring more Sake into his cup, he glanced up again passed his overhanging bangs to the girl who had just walked in. He inadvertently gulped, nervous at the mere thought of his stammering in front of yet another woman. She walked over, and order a drink from Kenta at the bar, only to turn to him and Okojo to introduce herself. His nervous sweat was interrupted when she said Vice Captain. So she was the one awarded the rank after the tournament. Well kudos to her! Putting aside the jitters, trying to think of her as a commanding officer rather than a girl he didn't know, since the former was someone he could talk to properly in his mind.

"Ah, well congratulations are in order then Kazuki-san, I didn't know Mock-taichou had made the a-announcement for the new fuku-taichou. I haven't f-formally introduced myself have I? Sorry. I'm Kita Hibiki, but just Hibiki is f-fine." The stammering still snuck in there somehow but it could have been worse. He managed a smile.

"Pleased to meet you both!" Hinata said cheerfully, taking another sip of tea before answering Okojo's question.

"Well, good for you! I myself was shocked when I heard I'd been promoted to Vice- I mean, with so many different talents in the squad, I would have been surprised if I'd managed a fifth seat..." She contemplated this, before adding: "I was actually only going for a third seat at the highest- but really... It's an honour. Heh. And after all these years my zanpaktou nagging me about being too lazy to ever achieve anything..." She laughed, indicating Harikaze, who was lying on the bar next to her. "Let's just say she isn't the most patient of characters."

At this point, she grinned inwardly, for she could feel Harikaze fuming in her mind, but had long learned to shut the complaints out.