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.
The sun was bearing down on a body hard at work. The practice dummy was being struck over and over by a sword being swung harshly. Who was this man hard at work in the hot sun? Well, it was no one really important. The important thing is that Arashi was currently standing around the training field pretending to practice. Every now and again, he would half-heartedly swing his wakizashi at the dummy in front of him.
He sighed as he sheathed his sword and kicked up some dirt. As he did so, his sheathes clanked against him happily. Almost if asking to be used. Almost pleading to be used in battle. At this, Arashi simply turned his mind of. He didn't talk to his swords; he didn't even acknowledge his swords when he could help it. Shikai meant nothing to him. As such, he didn't care about his swords in that sense. However, he did need something to do. Looking over at the man hard at work, he flashed a smile.
"Heya mister! Wanna play a game of tag?"
The older man turned to him and simply turned up his nose and murmured something. This caused Arashi to simply pout. Older men were so mean; they never just wanted to play. Why didn't they ever just cut loose and play some tag? And why did they always turn up their noses at him? It was so mean!
A fine day for a walk, that was what Jushiro thought when he finished his morning paperwork. As he walked down the halls of his barracks, he was greeted with smiles and hellos. It was so nice to have such polite comrades to work with, even a few offered to get him some tea. The idea of drinking some nice tea while resting came to mind, but for now he walked.
As he went about his walk, Jushiro had entered the training area. Yes, the training area, he could remember when he would train in his younger days. He didn't have to worry about coughing or fainting back then, but he''s grown so use to his illness, that it seemed like an everyday thing now. A few faces were hard at work as he entered, some of different ages.
While it looked like some members were hard at work, Jushiro noticed a young man acting hard at work. A new face amongst his squad, if he remembered correctly Arashi Kazeshi. A very mischievous young man who would rather play than train. If only he would use that energy to better himself, for some reason it reminded him of some young men he knew.
Jushiro looked around and found a very nice spot to sit. A shaded spot so the sun would bother him too much. Maybe he should have gotten that tea after all, oh well.
Some of the others training noticed the captain's sudden appearance and decided to train even harder, Ukitake noticed this with a smile. Hands in his magic sleeves, as certain people call them, Jushiro watched everyone doing their best. What a sight.
Arashi did notice when his captain showed up. He wasn't the kind of brown-noser that pretended to work harder when a superior was watching. He also wasn't concerned enough about his ability to actually practice. However, he was interested in what the captain was doing here. He wasn't much for practice because he was old and sick and other stuff. The young Shinigami wandered over to where Ukitake was sitting and squatted down a bit. At this posture, they were about even in their height. He smiled at the older man and then plopped down.
"So, Ukitake-taichou, do you want to play a game of tag?"
As he said that he leaned in closer to his captain. A small breeze came through and knocked his hat off. He let out a small shriek and chased after it for a bit. It kept tumbling about the practice area. He ducked between people swinging their swords at practice dummies. He almost ran into a close call with one person practicing. They were going for a vertical slash as Arashi ran through. He used a bit of Shunpo to speed himself up and actually catch his hat.
After that, he used another bit of Shunpo to get him back to his captain and remained standing this time. Putting back on his hat he smiled again at the captain. He rocked his weight in between his feet so that he kind of waddled in place. Letting out a small jump, he laughed a bit before sitting back down. He was restless.
It was about this time that the man in question approached him, making sure to be at eye level before he spoke.
"So, Ukitake-taichou, do you want to play a game of tag?"
Now that was an interesting question. It was something to think about, that much was obvious. Placing his hand under his chin, he pondered it for a moment. "Hmm" Some might say that Ukitake was acting aloof, but he certainly didn't want to upset the boy. That was when the breeze caused the hat to fly. Ukitake couldn't help but wince and cover his eyes only to peek to see if Arashi was ok at all his close calls. He placed a hand over his chest and let out a sigh of relief as the young man came back over to him.
Certainly Arashi has some energy in him, but Ukitake could not just play tag...oh wait, yeah he could. Returning the smile and laughing just a bit, Ukitake placed a hand on his knee as he stood up. "I would be happy to play tag, but would you be interested in a wager?" A clever ploy on his part. Of course he would ask that Arashi take a more serious role in his zanjutsu training, but what would he ask if Ukitake would to lose? He could only think of what a few people he knew would ask for.
Shunsui would ask for drinks out and probably get in trouble with some ladies. Yachiru would ask for so many treats that he might end up broke. But he'll let Arashi decide whether or not to take a wager in his game, can't force him.
"I would be happy to play tag, but would you be interested in a wager?"
At this Arashi cocked his head at the captain curiously. He kind of lumbered over him now that they were both standing. It was kind of awkward that he could be so close in height to someone one moment and then be dwarfed by them another second. Being around Ukitake-taichou was like being around Yoh-kun. Whenever Yoh sat and slumped they were about even. When they both stood up, he was at least a foot and a half taller.
Oh well, that wasn't the point as Arashi had to decide what this wager could be about. Ukitake-taichou didn't look like a gambling man, so this kind of shocked him. Arashi figured that it would be something about their game of tag. How could you wager on a game of tag? That would be a fun new game. Maybe whoever was "it" when an amount of time went by lost. Either way, this would be fun. He had never played tag with a captain before.
"As long as we wager about the game of tag, sure. What did you have in mind Ukitake-taichou?"
After he said that, Arashi took a step back and smiled up at the Captain. Then he turned his head a bit at another little breeze. These things always seemed to come when he got excited.
Ukiatke smile when the young boy agreed to the game, as long he was interested that was god. Placing his arms in his sleeves before he answered. "If you win, I'll let you be captain for a day, but if I win," He stopped there for a bit of dramatic effect before he removed one arm to point up in the air with a wink. "If I win, you need to take you zanjutsu training more seriously."
It was at this point that several who had been listening went all bug-eyed with shock. Murmurs of what if Ukitake had lost to this kid, seeing that he is ill. The chances were very slim, but there.
But he wasn't done yet, knowing that even the slightest heistation would result in a refusal. "We'll make it a simple one tag game of course. Whoever is it just has to tag the other once to win." This will play quite interestingly, seeing that they'll chose who is it by rock paper sicciors. The only real downside is that Ukitake was going to make sure Arashi will be it.
He was going to make it a learning experience like he did with that young arrancar girl. Off screen, Lilinette sneezed all over Starrk's face at Ukitake's thought of her. "So, are you interested?"
"If you win, I'll let you be captain for a day, but if I win,"
Arashi could barely contain his excitement at that. All he had to do was win a game of tag and he got to be captain for a whole day. Do you know what he could do in a day? He could make everyone buy him candy or play tag with him. Such power would be incredible for him to have. With all his captainly power he could rule the world! Or at least ninth division for a day.
"If I win, you need to take you zanjutsu training more seriously."
The young Shinigami frowned at this. However, there was no way he could lose at tag. Tag was his game; he was great at it and no one could take that away from him. Plus, Ukitake-taichou was an old man and old men didn't typically play tag. He would be surprised if he even knew all the rules to tag. But, he wasn't going to bring that up. He could win this game of tag and become captain for a day.
"Okay Ukitake-taichou. I'll play tag with you."
"We'll make it a simple one tag game of course. Whoever is it just has to tag the other once to win."
"But, how long does the other have to try and chase them? I mean, we could do this all day."
At this, he cocked his head to show his confusion. It was kind of a confusing concept. Theoretically, he could evade getting caught forever and the game wouldn't end. There had to be some kind of time limit; there just had to be.
"So, are you interested?"
"Of course Ukitake-taichou."
This was going to be glorious fun. This would be such glorious fun.
"Simple," He looked to the sun, it was still raising so they had all day. Pointing toward the sun, Ukitake explained. "Whoever is it has until the sun sets to tag the other one." Indeed a simple plan, an all day game of tag. He can last that long, he won't to exert himself too much to deal with Arashi.
Everything was going the way Ukitake had thought it would, just one last thing to do. "Alright, now we just decide who is it." He tapped his chin pretending to think of a way to decide. He had already figured out that part, but he loved to play the part.
Then, as if he hadn't already figure it out, bopped his fist in his palm in sudden realization. "How about janken? That should be an easy way to decided who is it?" Now the others were getting really interested, although not to appear as interested with the captain around.
In their heads, they had an idea of what will happen. Ukitake takes it in speed and skill, but what if Arashi is it? Can he manage to actually tag the captain? The thought of Arashi's tyranny caused a bit of a murmured disapproval.
"Whoever is it has until the sun sets to tag the other one."
Arashi grinned at this. That seemed more than fair. If he had to simply tag Ukitake-taichou, he would easily win this. He had more than enough time to tag his captain. This wouldn't be too hard after all; Ukitake-taichou was old. If he had to avoid him, it would be even easier. He would simply hide and mask his reiatsu. That would be simple; it would be very simple.
"That works for me Ukitake-taichou."
"How about janken? That should be an easy way to decided who is it?"
At this, the small Shinigami nodded and expressed his delight for a small moment. He got to play a simple game to decide who would get to win this game. No, he could win either way. It wouldn't matter to him. Arashi was really good at Shunpo.
"Alright Ukitake-taichou, that seems fair to decide this."
With that, he took a step towards the larger captain and extends his hand to show that he was ready to play janken. He was ready for this to commence so he could get to his captainly duties for the day. That day would be the greatest day ever.
[ooc: Let's just say Ukitake wins this, makes for that Gody Ukitake moment you hinted at]
"Alright Ukitake-taichou, that seems fair to decide this."
Giving him a smile, Ukitake presented his hand as well. "On the count of three. One..." He started by bringing his fist up and back down at the end of the one count.
"Two." Repeating the process, Ukitake kept a close eye on Arashi. If he was going to cheat, he had to make sure to know what Arashi was going to throw.
Three was not coming soon enough, it lasted forever on those actually watching. Sweat beads had formed as it all moved in slow motion as Ukitake brought his fist up. "Three!" He had brought his fist out and at faster speed then anyone who wasn't his level to see, throw out the winning move.
"Sorry, guess that means you're it." Scratching the back of his head with a big ol' smile on his face, Ukitake was ready to get this under way. Even though Arashi was below him in skill and rank, Ukitake had his guard up just in case of a sneak attack. Who knew if the young shinigami would try to tag him right off the bat.