With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
Umi smiles and nod her head, "We're similar, yes. We can...feel each other. Like...well, Kuu likes women and not men and when she finds one she likes I can feel that attraction no matter how far away we are. Right now...I think she's doing paperwork cause I can feel her being bored. She doesn't like doing it. It's...strange, I suppose, for other people. Even our Zanpakuto are linked. They look exactly alike when Sealed...the Spirits, though. Mine is Kaiyou, Spirit of the Sea, hers is Kyuuten the Spirit of the Sky. The Zanpakuto are lovers, but it's a really sad and beautiful story." She smiled softly and decided she'd elaborate to someone. She'd not yet told this story to anyone but Kuu.
"Kaiyou and Kyuuten are always reaching for the other. Sea and Sky, however, can never be together since they are so different. My Spirit is always looking at the skies above the sea and often reaching from beneath the waves to try to breach into the sky to be with her. Kyuuten uses her winds to try to breach the sea, always reaching down towards the waves to be with Kaiyou. They could never reach the other, but fell in love none the less. When Kuu and I were in the Academy and we pulled the two identical blades...the two Spirits were able to touch through our connection. When we release our Shikai...the two intertwine and get to embrace each other. Even our Shikai abilities work together. Because Kuu and I are so close and have such a strong connection...the Spirits chose us to carry them."
She let out a soft sigh, the story was sad, but it was one with a happy ending, right? With Umi and Kuu the Sky and the Sea could be together. She looked up when Yumichika spoke of the 12th Captain. She shuddered a bit. "He's a creepy man and horrible. He released his Zanpakuto and attacked me when I would agree to be his experiment. I owe Kyoraku-Taichou a lot for rescuing me."
She listened to Yumichika speak about the 'Demon of the Gotei' curiously; she could see how much Yumichika respected the man and smiled. "I don't mind Yachiru-fukutaichou being around me. I like children and she may be excitable and hyper, but it's easy to channel. Doing something like teaching her how to make sweet buns or teaching her how to do calligraphy or something like that works really well. Your Captain...he seems really protective of her, yes. I can really respect that. It's why Kuu and I became Shinigami; so we could protect those who were unable to protect themselves. It's just hard for me to be so close to him. His reiatsu is...sharp? I don't know how else to explain it. I guess it's because I'm not a very strong combatant that it's hard for me to be around."
Umi tried to explain, but she wasn't sure she could relay the sensation across. "Well, we all have morals...I hope Zaraki-Taichou wouldn't just kill me to kill me, though. I wouldn't be much of a challenge, especially without Kuu. Together we're more powerful but apart? Apart I can only use the rains of Kaiyou to hide me and allow me a better chance of attack. It's kind of sneaky...just strike and disappear, but it's effective when I have to use it."
Yumichika nodded slowly as Umi described her zanpakuto. "I guess it would make sense for twins to have twin zanpakuto. And yours sounds like a beautiful one. The sky and the sea...both lovely. I wonder what kind of spectacle both your shikai would display together." he said. "Unfortunately, my Fuji Kujaku is narcisstic, vain, stupid, spoiled and egotistical. I could never work with it." Of course, if he called his sword by its real name, then things would be so much easier. But no one must know about Ruri'ro Kujaku. No one. If word spread around the 11th about the true nature of his zanpakuto...he was ruined.
"You like children, you say? But fukutaichou isn't a child. She's a demon! I mean...look at what she did to me!" he said, pointing to his hat and obviously pink skin. Ruining his complexion was one thing...but his hair too? That was just unforgivable. But he knew he would only rant about it...wasn't like he was going to do anything to Yachiru. Hell knows what Zaraki would do. "And the paint won't even wash off! Do you know how bad this is for my complexion? I can feel my pores being clogged. I think that's why Kurotsuchi-taichou wears all that make up; to cover an unfortunate skin." Well, he had never seen the man without his makeup...not like he wanted to, anyway.
He sighed before continuing, "I've already told you...don't worry about taichou. He's not going to murder you. If anything, he won't even look your way. He'd deem you too weak for battle. He'll just ignore you." Looking up, he saw the large gates of Seireitei. "Ah, we're almost there."
Umi looked at him and smiled, "You know, Ayasegawa-san...it's only ugly if you make it to be. If you wore it proudly and simply told everyone it was beautiful...who would they be to say otherwise? You just have to accessorize it and turn it to an advantage. Your could change the colors of your feathers and your orange covering to match it. Make it your own." The fix was simple in Umi's eyes, really.
"Ah, Ayasegawa-san! She is so a child...you just have to know how to focus her. As for Kurotsuchi-Taichou...it may well be. He did have a...a...like a tendril with a hook at the end he drew from...his ear..." Umi shuddered visibly at that and shook her head as if to clear it of the mental imagery. She decided to switch subjects then back to her Zanpakuto, "You should see her Release. I'm still learning how to wield a trident, but the tails are beautiful and move like it's underwater. The metal is blue and it's just....I'm very proud of my Zanpakuto. Kuu's Shikai is a gorgeous fan with a flute for the handle."
Umi reached up and covered her mouth to hide the smile when Yumichika described Fuji Kujaku, "It cannot be so bad...though what Zanpakuto wouldn't be vain with such a beautiful owner? It has every right to be egotistical if you ask me. You're a good swordsman and I know of no one else with a better sense of fashion. Why, you even make Dragon Fruit beautiful." Yumichika was vain and Umi wasn't above stroking someone's ego. Especially since it might make Yumichika feel better about his...condition.
Hm, Umi did have a point. Pink works well with white, maybe light blue, if it was the right shade of course. Or he could match pink with pink, but the wrong pink could make it an eyesore. But it was a challenge. He'd accept it. "You're right, Umi. I can be gorgeous in pink. I guess it could be flattering, with the right colours of course. Of course I make dragon fruit beautiful. I can make just about anything beautiful." he remarked proudly. Yumichika took a deep, satisfied breath. He hadn't felt this gorgeous since...well, he always felt gorgeous. But Umi made him feel extra-gorgeous.
Yumichika put a fist near his mouth, in a thinking gesture. "Tendrils with hooks as ears? How unattractive! And his Pharaoh-look is so five centuries ago. If he didn't disturb me so much, I'd pity his terrible sense of style. Living with such poor taste can make you crazy. If that's the case, then that explains everything."
The subject was reverted back to Zanpakuto. "Your shikai is a trident? Fitting for someone such as you. I would like to see it sometime. It's a pity that my zanpakuto doesn't share that level of beauty. In fact, I think it's jealous of me. Always complaining about true beauty, that one. But I guess it's true, it's lucky to have such an owner like myself." When Umi complimented him, Yumichika put a hand on his cheek and waved the other at her. "Oh, Umi, you're too kind. But you're right though. No one seems to comprehend my brilliance in fashion." he said with a rather effeminate laugh, "But you're not bad yourself. With a little time, I'm sure you could almost be as beautiful as me."
She smiled as she saw Yumicha in deep thought about how to turn his 'malady' into something he doesn't have to hide himself for. She pat his shoulder as he trailed off and continued walking. She laughed softly when he described Mayuri, "Maybe he's so angry because all that ugly has to be painted...I don't wear any makeup, myself...but I suppose some have to have it. As for the style...so long as he stays in his basement laboratories and I don't have to look at him then I'm suited just fine." She smiles a bit to Yumichika and shrugs a bare shoulder.
"Would you? I can show you. I have permission from Kyra-Taichou to practise with it...so releasing it isn't a problem." She didn't wait and stepped off from the main road to a small garden tucked away. She walked forward a few feet and drew the ninja-to from it's sheath. Her palm rested on the back of the blade close to the tsuba. Her eyes closed as she focused herself for a moment before her hand began to slide from the tsuba to the tip of the blade.
"Crash your waves against the land, Kaiyou." The first thing noticeable would be the smell of the sea. The blade shifts in her hand and lengthens to as tall as she before shaping to the head of the trident. Two long tails of blue silk drift around Umi. Following the movement of the cerulean hued trident as if suspended in the water and tugged by riptides. Umi looked along the length and smiles softly. "Kaiyou is light...but wielding a trident is a lot different than a ninja-to. I...I had been hoping that someone in the Eleventh could help me. Kusajishi-fukutaichou said she would help me train...but I'm afraid that that would involve your Captain....he may have morals and secretly nice...but I'd rather not train with him one-on-one. Like I said...by myself I'm not very powerful at all. Kaiyou is a powerful Zanpakutou...but only with Kyuuten with her." She looked along the trident again before reversing the gesture of her hand along the shaft before the trident faded with an audible rush of water before Sealing again. The ninja-to is sheathed and the saya is carried over her shoulder.
"Perhaps it's for the best, though...Ayasegawa-san. If everyone knew your brilliance in fashion then you would be asked to decorate and upkeep all of the Division Barracks and most of the Shinigami wouldn't truly appreciate it. Best that you only show them glimpses of fashion genius. Too much ruins the effect. After all...a rare gem fetches a keener eye than a common one." Smiling before Yumichika complimented her....she thought. Umi immediately assumed that a comparison with himself was a compliment indeed. "I certainly hope so, Ayasegawa-san. I don't want to end up having to wear as much makeup as Kurotsuchi-Taichou! I'd be better off haunting dungeons than offending people." Umi giggled softly and looked at the shop Yumichika had lead them to and she pushed up her one sleeve up her arm.
"Alright!" A determined set of her jaw, "Now to serious business...shopping!"{/color] Laughing as she grabbed Yumichika's hand and pulled him into the shop. "I'll buy us a nice sushi lunch with some good tea when we're done. Shopping can be so draining."
"That is a good thing. Make-up is for those who have no true beauty and rely on artificial products to make themselves look good...except for Kurotsuchi-taichou, of course. I promote true untainted beauty." Yumichika said.
He followed slowly as he let himself be lead to a small side garden. He didn't really see the purpose in it; if it was truly beautiful, then she shouldn't hide it. Then again, Umi wasn't the most outgoing person he knew, so it was understandable. He crossed his arms as he watched her prepare to release her shikai. As soon as he felt her reiatsu spike, something oddly peculiar happened. When he inhaled, he smelled salty water...the sea? How interesting; a shikai with a scent. That in itself was unnusual (to him and every single member of the 11th Division). He watched with obvious interest as the ninja-to turned into a long, blue trident, as two silk pieces gave off the illusion that it was floating in water.
When the transformation was complete, Yumichika clapped. "Beautiful! Yours truly is a beautiful sword." he complimented with a smile (not something he often gave out, but seemed to just magically come out of his mouth with Umi), "With its sealed state being a ninja-to, it must be tricky to master swordplay with such a different shikai. But if you ask me, if you wish to have someone from the 11th to help you, my friend Ikkaku might be a good choice. His shikai is a naginata, obviously not the same as a trident, but close enough in my opinion. Besides, I think he'll be a much more capable tutor than Kusajishi-fukutaichou," the last part he added in a murmur. "Does your sword always smell like the sea? It's quite interesting. I've never encountered a sword with a scent before. Then if yours smells like the sea, does your sister's smell like the wind?"
He nodded slowly as Umi made a good point about his genius in the world of style. "That is true. Decorating all the barracks would be too much work, especially if only a few people grasp the scale of its pure artisticness and be thankful of my genius. And besides, if I were to decorate the barracks, that would leave me so little time for myself. Do you know how long it takes to get my hair like this?" he rambled, "Oh, Umi, don't worry. I'll make sure you don't have to hide underneath layers of that pore-clogging concotion." he leaned in and whispered, "Moisturize every day. That's the key to beautiful complexion."
All of a sudden, he was dragged into the store. All the talk about makeup and beauty and zanpakuto completely pushed shopping out of his mind. "Of course, shopping! That's why we took this little trip in the first place. Sushi and tea does sound fantastic, and there's a restaurant I know that sells amazing food not too far from here." he said as he opened the door. He held it open and motioned for Umi to enter, "After you."
She smiled to Yumichika and nodded her head, "Yes, it does usually smell like the sea. And yes, Kuu's blade smells like fresh spring wind. Your friend has a naginata? I tried to train with one in the Academy...I almost took the instructor's head off." Blushing a bit before she nods and smiles again when he switched back to fashion and decor.
"Oh, I can imagine, not to mention the feathers you wear. And the orange of your shihakushou. It's a ver nice effect and worth the effort." She smiled and nodded when Yumichika whispered and reached into the sleeve of her shihakushou that was draped over her hip and apparently where she hid a small satchel. She produced a small jar and unscrewed the cap and held it out to him. Inside was a lightly yellowed cream smelling like milk and honey. Obviously a skin cream. "It's a beautiful mixture and it smells so refreshing."
She laughed when he seemed to remember why they were here and she steps into the shop with a soft 'thank you'. She paused just inside the door a moment before letting out a sigh and walking over to a soft blue kimono with a masterfully sewn effect of scales. "Na, Ayasegawa-san...this one would look so good on you!" She reached up and carefully pulled down a very pale pink kimono, nearly white, with red and yellow petals on it.
Yumichika laughed as Umi told him about her previous experience with a naginata. "Hopefully, you've gotten better at weilding polearms." he said, "Ikkaku won't help you if he doesn't think you can handle it. And let me tell you, his training is...harsh, to put it lightly. What's this?" he asked as Umi held out a jar. He took it and sniffed lightly. Milk...and...honey. Not bad for a moisturizer.
"Interesting, did you make this?" he said, poking his finger into the jar and putting some of the cream on it. He rubbed two fingers together, as if testing the lotion on his own skin. "Not bad, Umi. Milk and honey is good for soft skin. I myself use a mix of cocoa butter and jojoba, but this is pretty good, if I do say so myself." he said, handing the jar back to her. As soon as the subject of his shihakushou was brought up, the fifth seat waved his hand up and down.
"Umi, you really are something," he said with a smile (a rather feminine smile at that). He pointed at his orange half-turtleneck piece, "Do you know how long it's been since someone commented on my shihakushou? It took years to find the right shade of orange to match my feathers!" he said as he entered the store after her. He waved at the shopkeeper and began to look at the various fabrics and kimono on sale.
When he heard his name being called, he looked up and saw her holding a kimono. Walking up to it, he brought his face close to the fabric, examining it closely. He rubbed his fingers on it and nodded slightly, picking up the sleeve and looking at it. "Hm...nice colour...good fabric." he observed as he ran his fingers over the embroidered petals, "Very good embroidery. And the petals match my feathers." he nodded to Umi with a smile, "You have impeccable taste, almost a match for my own." he complimented. He peeked over her shoulder and saw the blue kimono. He pointed to it, "That one over there. It would look very nice with your hair and complexion." he remarked.