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.
Soul Society, roughly one hundred years before the current story line. Before the fall of the Vizards, before the rise of Aizen, before Yamamoto was really, really, really old. It could have been considered a more golden time of the Gotei 13. Friendship weren't broken, teams thrown into chaos, everything seemed to be in its place. Which was probably why a fairly new Shinigami looked so relaxed as she walked down the wooden corridors.
Aina Kudo, was up bright and early, known for being a early riser, she was often tasked with waking other Shinigami to start the day. Fourth Seat of Squad 12, her natural intelligent and curiousity was an assest to the Gotei 13. Granted, she should have been chosen to be a Shinigami much sooner. She had only been out of the Academy for a few years. Before that she had been a leiason between the Gotei 13 and the Districts. She had been born in one of the upper districts, made plenty of allies and then used her connections to help the Gotei 13. though there were several rumors on why she might have wait until now to join, a prominent one was about a Captain.
Aina didn't have time to pay attention to rumors, she had her own reasons to hinder her becoming a Shinigami and her Zanpaktou, Fukurou Gekai, had supported her decision. A rather odd partnership, but it made Aina happy. Fukurou Gekai usually took the form of a small burrowing owl, unless Aina was doing well during a sparring match, then occasional Fukurou Gekai would take the form of a lovely lady with dark brown skin and feather to help her out.
Though, Squad 12 wasn't much of a Squad, unless you considered Hiyori-san knocking around the new Captain. Her problems with sparring was with someone else. Looking slightly grumpy that she was doing this routine, again, it was an everyday occurance, Aina stopped in front of the Captain of Squad Five and stared at it feeling annoyed. Really, he should have been use to the routine by now, he should have been awake, after all their little sparring matches were the only time of the day they got to see one another.
Aina let out a huff of air, he should be so lucky, how many guys would die at the chance for personal time with Aina Kubo. She had a slim build, though her chest size wasn't something to scoff, she had short black hair and light green eyes. She was intelligent, a good fighter, and knew how to have a good time. Which Taicho-Hikaro didn't act better was beyond her. Looking even more irritated she slid open the door to his quarters and walked inside. She cut directly through the living area and back to the sleeping quarters, where she promptly picked up a pillow and chucked it at the sleeping form of Shinji Hirako.
"Hey baka, wake up already," she told him crossing her arms and glaring at his form, but not before she batted at some Hell Butterflies. Why in the hell did he keep some in his room, and why in the hell did they never leave her alone? "Hey, hey, wale up, it's past dawn," she said again picking up another pillow.
"Taichou is a lazeh' un'." Came the voice of a child, no older than eighty, perhaps. " N' it's a week'nd, 'e ain't get up until de' afteh'noon."
A silver-haired boy with slit-like eyes appeared behind Aina, smile set in place like always. It was unsettling, really, that Ichimaru Gin could get so close to a seated member without so much as being detected but that was who he was...
A child prodigy.
The first one for several generations, to be honest. Bearing a regular shinigami uniform, he was actually surprised that they had one of his size. However, it seemed that Aizen-fukataichou had had everything planned out for him, which really had him somewhat confused. Still, don't question your blessings, right?
With somewhat of a giggle, the small child simply raised his hand out open to the older shinigami, apparently expecting something from the girl.
" 'Ow're yeh', Miss Kudo?" Gin's placid smile shining up at the seated member of Squad 12.
"Gin," Aina said grinning as she turned around, of course after she had thrown the second pillow. "I'm fine," Affectionately she rubbed the top of his head before digging into her pocket and producing the child's favorite treat, dried persimmons, in a pretty blue bag and putting it in his outstretched hand. Truth be told, Gin, being a prodigy, powerful, and rather creepy looking caused a lot of the female Shinigami to stay away from him. Aina though, had affection for children, and had taken Gin, somewhat she didn't want to embaress him, under her wing and was a semi motherly figure to him.
"Are they treating you alright over here?" she asked grinning at the boy, "If they're not, I can kick their asses," she added pointing a thumb to the still sleeping form of Shinji. "Which reminds me, I'm glad you found me. Come by Squad 12, I have a treat for you. There's a thing called Rollar Skates they have in the human world. I made a pair and I need someone to test them out, you up for it Gin-chan?" Aina asked before picking up another pillow and chucking it at Shinji. "Of course while you're there you can help yourself to my supply of dried persimmons as well," her green eyes gleemed a little.
Shinji almost seemed to wake up when the first pillow hit, but it was pointless. He was out. Then, the second pillow came. He grunted. He actually felt it. He squinted his eyes to see both Aina and Gin. Gin still was a bit creepy... But, hey, he'd already proven himself quite talented.
Sitting up, still fully dressed in his Captain's uniform, Shinji yawned. When did he fall asleep? What day was it? He shook his head. It didn't matter... Aina was here! He was tempted to get up and run over and hug her, but as he tried, found himself caught in his blankets, and landing face first on the floor, almost fully tangled in a web of fabric.
"Tch," Shinji muttered. Never did he fail to make an ass out of himself when he tried to do something even remotely human. It was like a sign telling him to just give it up. But, stubbornness goes a long way.
Our bed becomes a grave before we blow ourselves away!
Aina looked rather bored as she watched Shinji try to jump out of bed only to trip over his blankets and crash to the floor. She walked over to him, looking even more annoyed she poked him with her toe, "Baka, either you move too slow or too fast, that's why this happens," Aina said rolling her eyes and taking Shinji under the arm and lifting him up with ease. Her constant contact with the Earth allowed her to be stronger then the average Shinigami. Though she only tended to use it in battle, it was a turn off to most guys being able to out muscle them in dating situtation. With ease she untangled him from the blankets and sighed.
"You slept in your Captain Hatori again?" she said in a disapproving tone, though there was a glint of worry in her eyes. After all, even as they were growing up together she had the tendency to have it together more then him, which led to her sometimes taking a motherly role with Shinji. "Now it's wrinkled all to hell, shesh Shinji, is it so hard to get undressed at night?" she asked him before handing him his hairbrush, "Now come on, are you gonna sleep in or are you gonna go spar with me this morning," Aina said with a look on her face that said, 'choose wisely.'
"No, I'd never sleep in it!" Shinji said, looking offended, "I jus' changed really fast... Ya didn't even see." He seemed pleased with his excuse, as he regained his balance with her help. Normally, he'd kiss her, but Gin's presence alone made that feel far more awkward than it should. So, he pushed the ruffles out of his uniform, which he slept in far too often. He then took the brush from her, grinning.
"Thank ya!" He smirked as he turned to the mirror. His hair was so ridiculously long that he himself was unsure as to how it didn't turn into a giant ball of knots overnight. Yet, with only a few rounds through his hair, it was unknotted and smooth.
"Spar?!" Shinji said, his face drooping into a pitiful look. "I ain't even had anythin' ta eat yet! How the hell'm I s'posed ta fight on an empty stomache!?" He looked even slightly confused. He truly was, too. She wanted to spar seconds after he woke up, and before he ate. And that damn look. So, he knew what he was going to say the second she looked at him like that. Just because it's what he did... "Sleep in, o' course! After this racket's all moved on, anyway."
Our bed becomes a grave before we blow ourselves away!
"Arigato." Came the voice of the boy as he accepted the bag of his favorite treats. Hey, the boy had to have some manners, didn't he?
"Roll-er skates?" The young boy frowned. What was that? Sounded strange, and... child-like. Yeah... he wasn't sure if he like that. Miss Kudo was nice and all, but she always tried to get him to... what was it again? Act... younger?
Tch, the young were never taken seriously.
"Ah' think ah'll pass Miss Kudo." Gin's slanted eyes wiggling slightly as he said it. "Last time ah' tried somethin' ya' wanted meh' ta do, ah' was playin'... video games. It was weak n' din't fight back."
Obviously, Shinsou had obliterated the poor game console before it even had a chance to defend itself.
Turning his head, he bit back a chuckle as his captain tripped on his way out of bed. However, he held somewhat of a frown as the female Shinigami walked over to help her up.
"If ah' evah' get ol' n' clumsy," Ichimaru thought out loud, not really noticing that he was outrightly insulting his captain... or maybe he did, "will Ran-chan help meh' like that?"
Popping a dried persimmon in his mouth, he chewed it thoughtfully for a moment as the two bickered like an old couple. Shaking his head, the young boy turned to leave, perhaps it would be better to let the two oldies sort things out.
Hell, maybe he'd be able to see Ran-Chan while he was at it. He hadn't really gotten the chance since he graduated after one year, after all, she was still in the academy.
"Tsk, Gin-chan," Aina scowled, "You might be a Shinigami, but try to have some fun, you only get your childhood once, next thing you know you'll be a Captain, and..." Aina stared at Shinji, "And you didn't do enough childhood things and end up, like so," she said blantenly motioning to Shinji. "She probably will," Aina added sighing, "I doubt you will get that clumbsy, but if she cares about you she will," Aina glared at Shinji daring him to say anything. She watched as Gin left the room, and listened to the outside door shut before she looked back at Shinji.
"Way to impress your Squad member baka," she said looking rather unimpressed before sitting the wrong way in the chair at his desk, "Your mom messaged me, you really need to talk to her more," she added looking rather bored instead of angry that Shinji just wanted to go back to sleep. After all it was a daily battle for the two of them.
"Eh," Shinji said, shrugging as he layed back into the bed, pulling a blanket up over his waist. "I'm captain for a reason, y'know? It ain't some magical random drawin' that I jus' happened ta win."
He put on a very hurt look as he said that, a pout even reaching his lips as he stared at her. Then, his mother. Why even bother? "What's the point?" He said, his thoughts literally forming words as he thought them. It's not that he was utterly insensitive, more that he had simply grown out of touch with everyone. And, then, there was the part where his mom had kept kicking him out of the house... He couldn't even count the number of nights he spent sleeping out in random places. And why? Because he wanted to be a shinigami. Yeah, look where that got him? His life was essentially perfect right now.
Our bed becomes a grave before we blow ourselves away!
"I wonder sometimes," Aina said with a slight smirk on her face as she walked over to the bed and stared at Shinji's covered form, "I always figured they picked the canidate that would annoy everyone else the most. Or better yet, a beauty contest, including a bathsuit portion to it," she said putting her hands on her hips and sighing. There was no way she could force Shinji to spar, even she wasn't stupid enough to second guess he was stronger then her. Of course him occasionally sparring and kicking her butt helped remind her of that fact.
"Hey scoot over," Aina said, setting her Zanpaktou next to Shinji's ignoring the happy humming noise she heard coming from the blade. "If you get to sleep in I get to sleep in too," she stated lifting up the blankets and crawling inside. Most people wuld have thought this strange or distasteful, but Aina and Shinji had grow up together, the two of them had been thick as thieves, and often were babysat by each other's mother. Therefore, both being only children at nap time they would share the same bed, if they napped at all, seeing as the two of them had the habit of being able to disappear at nap time.
Not to mention, once Shinji had been kicked out of the house by his mother, Aina had housed him more then once, until he pissed her off enough for her to boot him out. Yet, once their tempers cooled he always came back. Aina pulled the blanket up over their heads, "I'm not saying that you should forgive her Shinji, but some on, she is your mom. At least talk to my mom and let the word pass through her that you're okay," Aina said laying on her side and looking at Shinji with concerned eyes. He had been so distant since becoming a Captain, and it worried her. Not that they were in a relationship, or ever had been. Though Shinji had occasionally hinted at it, Aina had rejected such a notion. After all, since they had been kids she had always done the exact opposite of what he wanted. When he had suggested for so long that she should become a Shinigami, particualrly when she was able to cause earthquakes, she had said no, and held if off for years until exasperated he said he didn't care if she was a Shinigami or not. Then Aina had joined the Academy and become a Shinigami. When she over heard him telling a pretty girl that he liked long hair on girls, Aina had, had her hair cut short and left it that way ever since, much to the horror of the girls in her class, Aina had been known for her beautiful black hair.
Had he figured out her stubborness, probably, but Shinji had never said anything. "They're just worried about you," Aina added, not saying that she was worried about Shinji as well, but her eyes conveyed it as she looked at him.