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.
Hiko Dragon was in his library. The library was vast and full of shelves of books. People were reading at small oak tables. Dragon enjoyed the peace and quiet. The subtlty in the room. Hiko walked down the aisels. His silky grey hair fluttered in the breeze produced by the windows.
He bowed slightly to the readers. He was careful not to disturb them. Most of them were frequent guests. Hiko smiled. It was a good fealing to be able to share the gift of knowledge. He sat down at an empty table. At the table was an old brown book. It said History of Kido volume 24. Hiko had been reading it before and got up to look around the library. Hiko ran his small fingers across the book's dusty pages. He gripped the book in his left hand and shut it hard. A burst of dust blew out like air.
Hiko got up and went to a bookshelf. He ran his fingers down the spines of the books. Volume 23, and volume 25 had an empty space inbewteen each other. Hiko placed the book inbetween the two other books.
He looked at his arm. He had no watch but he had a fealing Hanatrou was running late. He had asked his friend to bring ten books from the warehouse to the library. There was no rush, but Hiko wondered what was keeping him from coming.
"WAAAH!!!" Hanataro screamed as he ran through the streets, trying to avoid a very angry man as he rushed his way to the library, unknowingly missing a book as he rushed into the library, tripping over his own feet as he ran in. He quickly scrambled to his feet, closing the doors to the library and then stopped to hyperventilate. Quickly, he scurried over to the books which were scattered all across the floor and he lifted them in his arms, trying to keep them in order.
"S-sorry!" Hanataro said as he held the stack of books that were piled up to his chin. The book rested right under his chin as he held them. He set them down on an empty table, and approached Hiko. "I, uh, I'm missing one..." Hanataro stated apologeticly.
Dragon smiled. The boy looked tired. Hiko pushed his glasses up higher on his face, so they didn't fall off. It was a pesky habit of his. A common misunderstanding was that Hiko was old. In fact he was only 275 years old. Hiko walked to the table. He pushed the books to the side. He pulled out a chair for Hanataro and then sat down himself.
"No worries Hanataro san. So tell me how you've been," Hiko coughed rather than said. Hiko listened to his reply.
"I want to ask you something very important vice captain," Hiko said in some seriousness. Hanataro was a great guy. He was clumsy, but quite nice once you got to know him. Hiko leaned back in his chair. He coughed. Hiko was being a bit demanding, but it was not for a lost cause. Hiko figured he probably forgot to pick the book up rather than lose it. His new question would deal with something more important.
Hanataro nodded as Hiko pulled out the chair and then he sat down in it. He was really glad that Hiko was nice, and not like the eleventh division members, who didn't even care if he was a liutenent or not. He sat with his hands on his knees, his usually apologetic face holding a hint of releif.
"So tell me how you've been."
"I've had better days," Hanataro shrugged with his permenent seeming apologetic features. Then he heard Hiko say something else that made him spring up in his seat with attentiveness. It was the seriousness that made Hanataro spring upwards involuntarily.
"I want to ask you something very important vice captain," He heard Hiko say. To this, his features straightened, and he nodded.
"W-what is it Hiko-san?" Hanataro asked somewhat nervously. This was terrible, he was nervous around everyone. He would have to stop this soon if he was to be an effective vice-captain.
Hiko was happy that Hanataro was having a decent day. When Hiko mentioned the serious matter Hanataro jumped up, almost literally. Hiko leaned back in his chair letting the conversion have a dramatic pause.
"W-what is it Hiko-san?"
He seemed nervous, even though the two knew each other. Hiko would tell him now.
"It seems a group of shinigami, about three, have gone missing. I ask of you, to come with me to find them, and heal them," Hiko's look ensured that it was serious and dangerous. Hiko sighed.
"Vice Captain, your talent would be put to good use," Hiko ensured Hanataro. He had faith in him, unlike others, unlike squad 11.
"Either way, I heard Ikakku is looking for you," Hiko smiled. It was not a joke though, in all serious matter. These shinigami were sent and haven't come back for hours. It was simple recon. Hiko was afraid hollows had attacked them. A siemenki was ready for use, if Hanataro accepted.
"I don't want to force anything on you, Hanataro-san," Hiko ensured him.
Hanataro nodded as he heard the instructions. Anything healing related was right up his alley, and he was more than happy to assist Hiko in finding the missing shinigami and healing them. After all, if there were allies that needed healing, it was part of his job to help. What was more, Hiko referred to Hanataro's healing skill as talent. It wasn't something he was used to, praise from most people in general.
"Of course!" Hanataro said with a slight smile. Then, however, he heard the next words.
"Either way, I heard Ikakku is looking for you.
"WHA-!?" Hanataro said, jumping as his chair fell backwards onto the ground, taking him with it. An eleventh division member!? Looking for him specifically!? There was only one word to describe this! But he didn't know what for, and as he stood up and fixed the chair, sitting back down and gulping. "What for?"
"Of course!" Hiko nodded and smiled. He liked Hantato's upbeat attitude. Hiko coughed into his sleeve. He looked up and pushed his glasses farther up his face. He really did feel that Hantaro had great talent. Whether Hanataro realized it or not, he was promoted to vice captain because of this great talent he posseses.
"WHA-!?" Hiko let out a great chuckle. The boy fell out of his seat. It was unfair to say Hiko didn't see it coming, but it still suprised him. "What for?"
"Oh, he mentioned something about hollow activity. Calm down, there is nothing to worry about. Perhaps some 3rd seat to Vice Captain news, no fighting I can assure you," Hiko laughed. He felt bad Hanataro fell. He seemed okay and sat abck down.
"I have a portal ready. I thank you for your co0operation, Hanataro-san," Hiko said getting up and bowing to the vice captain. Suddenly a white dove flew into the room. It dodged people and shelves alike. It's orange beak cut through the air as it glided. It flew once around Hiko and then perched itself upon Hanataro's shoulder. It seemed Shiro could feel it as well. Hanataro had a good spirit. Hiko started to walk to the main entrance, gesturing that Hanataro should follow.
(OOC: This is not a fighting thread. I see it as a social get together type.)
Hanataro stood up, walking with Hiko and shrugging his shoulder to coax the bird away. He still didn't know why an eleventh division member wanted to speak to him specificly, and frankly, he wasn't in love with the idea. In fact, he was somewhat sure that he was terrified to find out. Well... That wasn't entirely true. At this point, he was a vice-captain. He wasn't going to be in physical danger -he thought. But after all of the bullying he had to put up with, he still didn't like the idea.
"Where are we going Hiko-san?" Hanataro asked as he caught up with Hiko, his face relaxed and calm.
"Where are we going Hiko-san?" Hiko smiled. A bit impatient, but expected if you have no idea what you are getting into. Hiko watched as the dove perched itself on Hiko's shoulder. It nuzzled it's head into Hiko's neck. It's wings snugged into it's body. Hiko was unsure if Shiro had fell asleep or not. He ran one finger down it's belly. Believe it or not, this was his zanpakuto spirit in a dove form.
"I'm sure Ikkaku only has bussiness to talk to you, nothing more. Even though he is a man born to fight, he can be professional every once in a great while," Hiko said turning back. He pushed the library doors open. He had assistants to look after the library, while he was gone. Hiko glanced at the now calm boy.
"I do not expect you to fight, unless you feel up to it. You have great healing abilities, and all I ask of you is to heal the injured," Hiko smiled. Hiko could heal, but he knew Hanataro had great skill. He was of the 4th squad after all.
"Once we go through this portal the sould society has provided for us, we will be transported to human fields. This was the last place we had contact with the three man squad. Are mission is to find them, heal them, and bring them back. We assume hollows have attacked them," Hiko said as his smile turned slightly serious. Hiko smiled again to reassure the vice captain no bad would come out of this. Hiko was talented in Hado and would protect everyone with his life to ensure peace.
"I'm sure Ikkaku only has bussiness to talk to you, nothing more. Even though he is a man born to fight, he can be professional every once in a great while."
Hanataro nodded to Hiko. He was probably right, and Hanataro wasn't so worried about anyone doing any bullying, but he still wasn't sure. At least for the moment he decided to keep calm, and he did. He kept walking with Hiko, out the doors as he heard more words of reassurance, and some of praise.
"I do not expect you to fight, unless you feel up to it. You have great healing abilities, and all I ask of you is to heal the injured.
Hanataro nodded. He supposed he was promoted to vice captain for a reason, and so he was fairly sure that Hiko was stating not just what he beleived, but what others would too. At least a few others that is. Hanataro was perfectly fine with only healing the injured. After all, Hiko was a great kido user, the Kido corps captain even. Hanataro was proficient with kidoas well, but more so with healing kido than anything else.
