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.
4:30 AM, that's what time he had been posted here.
Now it was 5:15 PM. Or rather, that's what he guessed, had he not lost count. He couldn't really complain about a posting as crappy as this though, seeing as how he was late for training the day before. It had been by thirty seconds due to a need to use the restroom, but it was unexcusable none the less.
So he stood there, hour, after hour, after hour.
It was something he had gotten used to by now. Even though it was something he could do without. He hated guard duty, mainly because he couldn't budge a muscle.
His instructor sure was strict.
Ah well, it didn't matter how he got there, what mattered is that he was almost done. fifteen more minutes and Kamair Arcanaz would be free for the rest of the day.
His stomach growled... hmmm, skipping breakfast and lunch was not that great of an idea.
Last Edit: Aug 10, 2009 3:10:45 GMT -5 by kenpachi
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 10, 2009 3:36:45 GMT -5
Soifon walked by Kamair and she heard his stomach rise up against his body. That noise made her stop in her tracks, and her eyes went to him. "Disappointing. He works well, then goes and neglects his health... A step forward, a step back..." She thought bitterly as she encountered yet another person that pushed themselves improperly. At this rate she'd have to personally oversee her entire squad thanks to poorly shown dedication to work.
"Your shift's over. You're going to eat," she said to him without room for question. Mixed in was some disdain at the notion that she had to baby him and tell him when to eat. Her eyes gazed at him as if silently calling him an idiot as she ordered him about. Well, he annoyed her, and with that her open hand flew at the back of his head in order to give him a well known smack for annoying her. It wasn't intended to hurt him badly, but was more intended to punctuate her annoyance at him.
She wasn't ready to have a meal herself, and she loathed the idea of being seen eating with someone to an absolutely high degree. She further hated the notion of being there just to make sure he ate.
She wasn't Unohana. She wasn't his mother. Soifon had no intention to be either, and take responsibility over how people screwed up on their own time. Heaven help those that let those screw ups hinder orders, though.
"Nani? 'What?' " He said out loud subconsciously, surprised that the mistress had even bothered acknowleging him. His eyes widened with bewilderment and he registered what he had just said, mentally berating himself for such stupidity.
Then he received the glare of impunitidy, the glare that made the strongest of them all feel like a complete moron. He shriveled like a comediac chibi character under her pointed glare. The thought of chibi Kamair crying in a corner crossed his mind but he made it a point not to laugh in front of his captain.
If he did, he probably would never see the light of day again.
And that's when the hand of doom flew at his head. After the strike hit, a large bump formed on the man's head and hit eyes went swirly-like.
"Demo... 'But...' I haven't--..." He was about to say that he hadn't really finished his shift when he saw the look in her eyes. He immediately straightened, "I mean... yes mistress!"
His stomach growled, and he looked about rather frantically. Where was the cheapest and closest place to eat? He was kind of short on money this week and the areas closest to the division headquarters were rather expensive.
"Ehh..." Kamair started, nervousness building up as he struggled to ask a humiliating question. "err... Taichou...? Do you happen to know any places nearby that... someone... near broke could get food?"
The cantine for squad members were closed that day, as it was a weekend and he was technically being punished. He hung his head slightly in shame, face red with embarrasment.
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 10, 2009 4:20:25 GMT -5
Soifon slumped in defeat... internally. Outside one could practically see the fires of hell in her eyes as he acted like an idiot in front of her, and questioned her orders. She barely resisted the urge to pummel this one again.
She almost told him about the Mess Hall, but it was closed... and she found that absurd...
Her food was usually delivered to her anyhow, but not today it seemed.
"You need your hand held to eat, then?" She scolded him mercilessly with a frown on her face. She sure as heck wasn't going to admit she had no idea where to eat, and show even a bit of weakness.
She wasn't going to chance it. He would likely go hungry if left alone, and falter if he was needed on the field. "What can you expect from a man?" she thought to herself in disgust.
"There's no place to eat here unless you have your own food stores," and she sure as hell wasn't going to share hers with him. "It can't be helped, it seems. You need to be shown about the Rukongai to find places to eat," she practically called the man a helpless infant as she spoke to him, then she began to walk for the nearest gate.
The little kunoichi scuttled from roof to the next of Seireitei, her latest mission for the Executive Militia had just ended - her target to put it mildly was... eliminated... She wanted to immediately go to her Captain's quarters to report her mission completed, but the second she got there it was clear to her, her Captain was out. Her little nose wrinkled and twitched a dash at this contemplating where Soifon could have gone. Within a flash she headed off to find her, practically scampering all over the 2nd Division barracks with tremendous speed in order to find her.
Though, it did not take her too long to do so, making her way along the 2nd Division guard patrol routes, she eventually spotting her Captain with another subordinate... Sayuri did not approach immediately, however, Soifon looked irritated... usually not the best - scratch that - it is always the worst time to approach her when she is irritated. Still from what she could tell, Soifon had not yet resorted to physical violence to get her point across, so it... might be safe?
Cautiously, Sayuri inched her way over to them as she listened to them speak, hearing the conversation she became less worried about Soifon's disposition. Definitely she could tell her Captain was irritated, but not to the point of breaking backs... yet... Bowing her to Soifon when the time was appropriate to step into the conversation as not to completely intrude, "Mission Accomplished, Captain.", shifting her gaze to Kamair, she tilted her head and looked back to Soifon, "I do not recognize him... New recruit?", either or, she nodded her head to Kamair, though hearing his stomach growl her brow furrowed a little, "Didn't eat before your shift, did you?... Shouldn't push yourself like that.", Sayuri could not help but pause and blink in response to her words... the irony to profound on her. Quietly gulping upon the realization of what she said she side glanced to Soifon and looked back to Kamair.
He shrunk and winced at the comment, used to this type of treatment, but not by the mistress. However, in between the last two statements, he seemed to have grown somewhat of a brain and decided to stay silent. It was better to take the beating then respond and risk infuriating her more.
He simply lowered his head in shame and waited for the worst to be over and him... possibly being left alone to wallow in his humiliation. No such luck.
"It can't be helped, it seems. You need to be shown about the Rukongai to find places to eat."
"Nani?" It slipped out of his mouth, again! He swore he was going to cut his tongue out one day, it would be better for everyone, including himself! On the rare occasion that he used it, he had to act like a complete fool, and in front of the mistress, no less. "H-hai, taichou."
Almost timidly, he follow her, falling shorting in step beside her, and a polite distance away from her, before heading to the gate.
"Mission Accomplished, Captain."
He almost jumped. Key word, almost.
"Fifth seat Sasaki!" He straightened, after allowing him a couple moments to recover. Next to these two, Kamair felt like a spec of dust.
"I do not recognize him... New recruit?" She had asked as if he was not there, which didn't surprise him. He didn't suppose that someone of her stature would address someone like himself.
Clearing his throat, he got over his initial nervousness and bowed strictly. "Kamair, of the Arcanaz family. Born and raised within this squad."
Sighing mentally, he scolded himself, why couldn't he have sounded this confident from the beginning? It was probably because a figure as powerful the captain made him less like he was less than the dirt on the floor... which he was.
"Didn't eat before your shift, did you?... Shouldn't push yourself like that."
He winced, was it that obvious? He bowed his head gravely, as an apology to both women. "This servant has not had time off since before the sun rose, please excuse my physical condition."
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 10, 2009 5:06:40 GMT -5
Soifon felt Sayuri approach long before she actually got there. It was obvious as she used Shunpou which lit her up on Soifon's radar. A mixed blessing, perhaps. At the least, though, Sayuri likely had the survival skills and know-how to lead them to a cheap place to eat.
Soifon paused her stride, and waited for Sayuri but remained stoic, and statuesque as opposed to her having shown emotion, or even a glance towards her direction.
"Mhn," she gave a grunt of acknowledgment at Sayuri's report. Always good to hear a mission was completed.
She listened to Sayuri admonish the man for not eating near the end of their conversation, "Hn, I see you've learned your lesson well, then, Sayuri?" she said with motives mixed enough that it was hard to tell if Soifon teased the girl, or if she complimented her.
"Kamair informs me he doesn't know of a cheap place to eat... We were about to go visit one, or two. What do you think, Sayuri? Know of any favored locations?" She asked the woman as if she had offered a test. Things just fell in place for her today. She managed to delegate, and thus avoided looking incompetent in any way whatsoever.
She turned to face them both with a less harsh look on her face, and wondered... maybe... would he be another sociable 2nd squad member? She hoped so, but she couldn't know until she saw him interact with others.
On a mission he became a bit of a ghost, but among his comrades? She gave them the material to talk with, so would they make use of it?
Sayuri nodded to Kamair when he introduced himself, and though he already knew who she is, she still formally introduced herself out simply being traditional, polite, and respectful, "Sayuri Sasaki of Clan Sasaki, 5th Seat of 2nd Division.", though Soifon's response about 'learning her lesson' caused Sayuri's shoulders to slump a tad with a tiny grimace of her face as she tittered ever so quietly, "Err... Yes, Captain.", the Captain certainly had a way to instantly humble any of her subordinates.
Though, she paused at Soifon's inquiry, tilting her head slightly in thought, "I can think of a couple, Captain", she responded after a trice, "There are a couple places in the Rukongai 2nd district that I tend to frequent. They are both about the same price... cheap... depends if you want western or eastern style foods. I tend to lean toward the eastern myself, western does not agree with my system."
Though, seeming to suddenly step a little out of character for her, she turned to Kamair, "Which would you prefer?", asking the question in planning to join them, it was a bit out of the ordinary for her; her norm being to take off on her next assignment, but as was hammered into her by her first training session with Soifon, she did learn her lesson. This could very well also be her way of sparing Kamair the harsh lesson she did, such as, having Soifon stomp on his mid-section being deprived of every last shred of air in his longs, as she did to Sayuri to wear her out and concede to stop pushing so hard.
"What do you think, Sayuri? Know of any favored locations?"
Kamair could not help but raise an eyebrow. He wasn't that great at a ton of things, but he was perceptive. When the mistress had first told him to 'explore' Rukongai, he had taken it as somewhat of a test. A test to tell that he wasn't completely dependant and imbecile. But after she had asked Sayuri, it raised suspicions, Soifon had never seemed like the type that would stop testing someone.
Still, he made a point not to point out his observation. Because in his mind, it was silly anyways. His mistress could never not know something. The thought of that made his mind internally combust.
Silly Kamair.
Oh great, now I'm talking to myself. He thought to himself, mentally berating himself for allowing his mind to wander in front of the two women.
"Sayuri Sasaki of Clan Sasaki, 5th Seat of 2nd Division."
He smiled and bowed politely, subconsciously realizing that she couldn't see the smile to the fact that he was wearing a facemask. Sometimes, he wondered how he breathed under there.
"There are a couple places in the Rukongai 2nd district that I tend to frequent. They are both about the same price... cheap... depends if you want western or eastern style foods. I tend to lean toward the eastern myself, western does not agree with my system."
Once again, the man was brought out of his thoughts, listening intently as the fifth seat spoke.
"Which would you prefer?"
He blinked, before drawing back in slight surprise. Was she asking for his opinion? That sounded... highly unlikely. No, she did. His eyes probably communicated confusion and a few moments passed before his voice recovered.
"E-eastern food." He said solidly, bowing his head slightly. "If western does not agree with your system then it should not even be a question to ask, ma'am."
He turned slowly to the mistress. "Unless... you would somehow prefer differently...? Taichou?"
Post by Rebel Raven on Aug 10, 2009 6:02:27 GMT -5
She let them converse, and she, internally, was glad they could so rather freely. She couldn't help but be interested in these two, especially as they seemed to actually get along as opposed to stare death at each other like most of her squad.
"Either is fine with me, so eastern it is, then," Soifon said calmly. Honestly, she was glad that they said Eastern. Such food tended to involve seafood more than meat. Soifon was definitely more surf than turf.
"I'd very much like to see this locale you speak of Sayuri," It likely didn't come as a surprise to hear Soifon say that to her as she seemed interested in how she relaxed when faced with the possibility that she didn't relax, which put her at the low end of health much like the ... dare she say, her male number? Another person in her squad secretly sociable, yet not versed in relaxation?
"Barring another joining us, I think we can safely mobilize," she said calmly, then waited for her subordinates to begin to lead the way. Or at least Sayuri who knew the location.
