The Reawakening

A lush forest blankets the landscape. Trees sprout out of the life, spreading the gift of life across the land. Thick, impenetrable brush hides all secrets meant to be hidden, and a hidden oasis hides a great secret in its clutches. For years this hidden malevolence had gone undisturbed... Woe had befallen all who had dared to pry its treasure from its depths. Hidden and protected, until now.


The gentle ripple of water serenaded the nearby woodlands; leaves rustled beautifully in the gentle wind and all seemed to be at peace. It was... Unnatural. The ever present forces of nature resonate with power, with life, with beauty. This infinite power creates life and a symphony of sounds more pleasant than the most skilled of orchestra. The tide was picking up; a gentle ripple turned to waves as the oasis' waters licked the land. Raw, deadly power emanated from the depths, and a faint steely gray glow emanated from the water. There was something at the bottom... Promises of untold riches and power invited all to the deadly trap. No mortal could hope to reap from the waters bosom, yet perhaps today a spirit would rescue this secret from the deep.

By chance alone had Kaiyo been close enough to sense anything. The despairing cry of life that seemed so trapped, so cold and so familiar. It rumbled through the girl's core, growling like a wounded animal- caught in such a primal state. A moment was allowed to recognise the energy. Amidst the flourishing sunshine of the day, a light breeze rustled crackling leaves around her ankles. No surge of brilliance shot from her mind. On the verge of abandoning the signal, memory exploded in full colour. The rush alone had caused a spike in the Captains own energy. A questions was gone; left with an imperative.

'Hado?'

The wind howled against her uniform as she leapt from her current rooftop; her golden reiatsu swayed down to her feet as she flash stepped across the city with all her might. Eyes closed, she held her focus, tracking the signal like a beacon as she moved nearer and nearer. Thoughts meshed and collided with worry and remorse. Had her unlikely friend been trapped for so long? At her distance, Kaiyo couldn't even tell what bound him, but there was something unforgettable about the feeling of being stuck. She could describe it no better. The bitter taste of will that battled so unsuccessfully against the bonds that hold a soul.

She reached the edge of the forest. The towering tree's swayed back and forth; trapping the energy within their imposing walls. There was no hesitation in the girl as she leapt through the barrier. Light splintered through the thick shrubs; splashing the ground with wisps of bright air. Blonde hair bathed in the sunshine as she blurred past the cracks of light. She bounded from one arching branch to another; twisting her small frame around the forest to keep her speed. Within seconds, she reached the edge of the pool.

Glistening waves lapped against her feet as she stared, enthralled to the steel cold glow that bubbled under the surface. Beckoning and calling for some kind of release. Was it really him? Something eery seemed to hold her friend there, a more sinister power that curled through the crystal water. She edged closer, peering towards the depths of the energy source. 'Hado?'

A perpetual battle raged just underneath the surface. A prison of Reiryoku based ice held its prize; power pulsated from this lock and sick, malevolent energy eradicated all traces of life within the waters. A powerful Shinigami had entered the cloister, and it would be made clear that any being, especially her, was NOT welcome. The gentle ripple of the water devolved into what seemed to be manic laughter, waves brewed from what seemed to be nothing and an impossibly strong tide attempted to draw the blonde woman to her death. A thick, icy Reiryoku filled the air as the trap had been sprung.

"Hado?"

A voice had suddenly breathed life into a dormant soul with a single word. Amidst the frozen insanity, a spark of life and beauty surged to fruition. The entirety of a single man's will fought valiantly against his shackles, however this losing battle was very quickly brought to its climax. The power seeping through the cracks was immediately being destroyed... No, converted into the vile blackness that was the awful Reiryoku. Slight bursts of familiar energy continued as the being restrained inside yearned for freedom, for the encounter with this familiar voice.

At the bottom of the lake, a young man lay literally chained to stone. Four years had passed, and his power had granted him the boon of growth despite the prison. A long blue mane flowed down his shoulders, and wiry muscles bulged through his now extremely tight clothing. It was truly a spectacle to behold as every aspect of this man's being, supernatural or otherwise, fought against his binding. White orbs stared bleakly at the churning waters; faint, silvery light radiated out from him pushing back at the torrents of insanity. Ice as black as midnight held him within its grasp and was quickly devouring whatever traces of his protective energy he was releasing.

The man was not alone in his struggle... The once pure and powerful oasis fought to purge its taint, but this sickness was overwhelming... This ice, suffocating. A familiar taunt would be sent outwards towards the Blonde Shinigami, daring her to try and free the prisoner. An almost exact replay of the events that occurred all those years ago; a gamble with her own brother's life. What a bitch.

The lapping waves grew darker, their venom spitting around the girl with malice as she instinctively stepped back from the pool. The rage only grew from there, from the first utterance she'd made. Had she so easily awoken a beast? Energy pulsated around the pool, thick with spiritual energy it began to put a strain on the Captain. Rarely was she evenly matched by such a power, in such a place. Amidst the depths of the maelstrom, a light emerged. Glistening and strong, raging against the murky water that concealed it. Faces and noises blurred through her mind. She'd left so quickly...Assumed he would have been fine the care of his sister. Rage boiled at the pit of her stomach. The siren call echoed slowly through her ears, taunting and tantalising as ever. Beckoning her into the abyss. A shudder sprang along the girls spine, prickling the hairs at the back of her neck.

Gone was her usual expression; in it's wake, she shut her eyes. Enthralled in her own rage and desires as her golden reiatsu swirled out from her frame. Sparking and jolting against the water. So seemingly bereft of life. No longer benign and screeching for an opponent. She would be too happy to oblige. Fizzling shards of her energy fell into the oasis, fading like stars in the sky. She took a solid step backwards. Exhaling steadily as further tendrils of the black lake whipped around her with ferocity; licking at her frame. Lashed away by her own glistening energy, the girl raced forwards, leaping into the air as she unsheathed her blade and plummeted into the water below.

The venom attacked her eyes within seconds, searing it's dark energy through her body with a malice. Of course the bitch would remember her so well. In the moment she'd had, Kaiyo had found her direction. Her eyes scrunched tightly shut now, as she slashed her sword through the thick blackness. Each time it returned with a greater snap. She held strong, forcing her own reiatsu around her body as she moved deeper and deeper. Sound lost all clarity as the muffled darkness seemed overwhelming. All that remained was the torrent of attack around her, engulfing her small frame. She could feel her friends energy ebbing along the edge of the coldest part of the lake. Could it really be the same place she'd been shown so many years ago. Where such beauty had died, scorned even.

She didn't know how to get him out, that thought had barely even occurred to the girl when she'd leapt into the darkness. Too enticed by the unknown enemy to consider such plans. Brute force usually worked for her though. Close enough to his frozen state, the darkness beyond her closed eyes was illuminated. Slowly, she released her gaze. Light up around the pitch black by her own energy, and Hado's. Things remained a blur though, swaying in muffled silence like a dream. Once more, Kaiyo closed her eyes, determined to fight back the vile energy that corrupted the once perfect waters. A bonus of achieving Bankai, the silent shikai release. A vortex of water was forcefully swirled around her glistening blade, buzzing in it's transformed state as the darkness began to fade. It was a guess, and she could only hope she wouldn't kill him doing so but kaiyo moved around the black ice figure. Freely swinging her blade through the abyss as she lunged it into the ice. Praying she might break free the soul that lay within.

The waves seem to screech with delight as the challenge had been taken. The waters gorged themselves on the overabundance of potent Reiryoku as they swirled faster and faster. The powerful yellow beacon continued to pierce the water towards its source, but the vile blackness grew stronger, colder. Torrents of chaotic energy buffeted the brave Shinigami as she finally reached the eternal prison but the battle already seemed over. Her brilliant golden light was being sapped from her very bones by the nature of the corrupted water and then... Bankai.

The water at first seemed exuberant with malicious intent as the Shinigami would be feeding it more. Energy radiated into the waters and the blackness grew... and it grew... And it began to change hue.(Yeah, I'm Dr.Seuss!) Midnight black waters stirred and violently thrashed against the Shinigami's blow but it was all for naught. The entirety of the black prison was shattered, and the chains that held the boy broken. The mighty stone at the bottom of the lake was freed, and within moments cleansing light joined with the awesome power of the golden Shinigami. Insanity was purged from the depths and the water's stilled. The awe-inspiring power of nature replaced the twisted mass and lifted the two bodies towards the surface. If it were possible for water to be eternally grateful, it would be.

The pale, lifeless body of the Quincy somehow floated to the surface. Science would normally dictate that this was an impossibility, that death should bring about disappearance into the depths. Invigorated and granted supernatural life, the new-found energy of the oasis was benevolent and warm. Gentle waves began to lift the two frames towards the promise of surface. This young man had been with the waters throughout its darkest time, and for that too it was grateful. The silent hum of healing growth filled the young man. His midnight blue hair grew longer, his muscles more powerful than ever and his heart-beat once again circulated his life throughout his frame. As he broke the surface he lay there, motionless. A peaceful, gentle breath arched his chest as he was finally free of his torment.

The oasis waters once again stilled, and the ever-present cycle of life began to flow again. It would take years for the waters to be restored to their former state, but the Shinigami girl gave these blessed depths the chance to do so. They say an elephant never forgets... However nature, will always remember.

Light stretched beyond the darkness, banishing it's minced venom with a glistening light; seemingly floating the girl up to the surface. Slowly, she sheathed back up her blade, allowing the water to carry her in the lapse of evil intent. She opened her eyes when a breeze swept along her face, cool and refreshing. With a sigh she was swept along to the edge of the pool. Pulling herself from the wreckage, she turned to paddle her feet in the oasis. Her mouth dropped ajar at the sight of the man. Water trickles down his body, curving along the outline of his muscles and glistening in his deep blue hair. He surely didn't look so battle-worn last time they'd met; but it had admittedly been a long time.

Her hands grasped the edge of the pool, dripping wet as she shook her head gently to flick sprays of water from her still gleaming hair. She smiled across to Hado, disbelief strewn across her illuminated smile. Shock didn't quite seem to cover it. Could he really have been stuck here for the past four years? It seemed insane. Or surely, would drive a person insane. She opened her mouth to speak, unable to make words come out as she stared down at her swaying reflection in the water. Already it felt so warm and inviting, gathering around her feet in flourishing waves, gentle and soothing. That was how she remembered it to be.

Birds sang in the distance and the thick forest seemed lees gaunt and intimidating. Light showered between bright leaves, spraying light on to her back as she instantly began to warm up. The girls smiled to herself. Slowly, tentatively, she lifted her gaze to the quincy. 'What happened there?' she finally managed to smiled.

Life bearing water slowly carried his form towards the banks. His body finally relinquished from the tight-rope between life and death that he seemed to perpetually walk. Silvery droplets of water slid across his body, accenting the new-found strength that had entered his frame. A slow, powerful heart beat filled his senses, and for the first time in four years his eyes had fluttered open. The potent light of day overloaded his delicate eyes and he reflexively shielded his gaze. What little time had passed seemed like an eternity as the very fiber of his being yearned to gaze upon the light... Gentle hazel hues finally opened wide, and in them a joy that seemed to reach down to his very soul.

He turned his neck slightly to face his savior. Goldenrod hair glistened beautifully in the unfettered light of day, and a soft, mildly worried expression formed her visage. A powerful memory came rushing back to the unfortunate Quincy, one in which a Shinigami had enraptured him so. His gaze finally rested upon her brilliant blue eyes. The warmth and strength of the oasis glimmering in hazel hues as a familiar smirk crossed the battered Quincy's features.

From his lips escaped a quiet voice, raspy and hoarse. He hadn't spoken a single word in four years, and he had almost forgotten the gift of voice that was bestowed upon him.

"I... Don't remember."

His expression soured mildly at the realization. Torrents of memory were rushing back to him, but among the confusion he could not seem to recall the events that had lead to his imprisonment. He could only fathom a guess as to the perpetrator, but surely he was wrong... He had to be. Something peculiar caught the Quincy's eye, a single, ocean blue rose grew out of the ground within seconds. Within it was the same energy as the stone at the bottom of the lake. The Quincy seemed drawn to it, as if he and the flower resonated perfectly. His hand stretched out and took hold of the flower's stem. It relinquished its hold on Earth, and allowed itself to be taken into Hado's grasp. A flower shaped tattoo appeared upon the Quincy's right breast, placed just over his heart.

"It seems I was closer to death than I thought."

Without fail did his senses tell him that the two were connected. For as long as the Quincy lived, this flower would never shed its petals. Yet the opposite was true, should the gentle flower be destroyed it was likely the man's own life would be forfeit. He felt warmth spread across his entire body as he held the flower, but he knew he would not be the keeper. His gaze returned to Kaiyo, the girl who had indirectly breathed life back into the frozen husk that he once was. His hand reached out and tucked the flower into her hair, just above her ear. Upon the delicate creation touching her skin, her spiritually aware senses would recognize the significance. This flower symbolized and embodied his newly granted life, his rebirth... His reawakening.

"It's good to see you again."


(Duuuude, I actually like this post. :3 )

For a moment, time faltered. Sliding away into the light as she caught the man's hazel gaze and deep and glorious as she had remembered. So rarely did a person show so much emotion in a matter of seconds. The gateway to one's soul; his seemed so gratefully alive. The unperturbed breeze swayed through his rugged hair. She blinked back to reality when his eyes caught a spark of intrigue. Her own gaze followed Hado's to the blooming flower. The most perfect blue she had ever seen, sprouting like true life from the edge of a glistening oasis. She watched in silence as he plucked the flower from it's grasp within the earth. Her own hand wavered towards the marking that appeared on the man. Her inhale caught her awe as she gasped slightly. Kaiyo could not remember the exact moment that magic appeared to have collided with her own world.

Enthralled by the scene around her, she simply nodded along to his words. In any other situation, his voice would surely not have sounded so unfamiliar. Perhaps he himself was not yet accustomed to it. She fought the urge to withdraw when he pulled the flower closer to her; instead, she leant in towards him. A shimmer of light spread from the flower; shining through her golden locks and swaying down her body in a glistening wave of life. Her eyes dropped wider. 'Wow' she uttered.

Her hand slowly raised to the flower, tracing her soft fingertips along the silk petals. Surely it was more study that it appeared. Certainly, she could feel it's energy. Pulsated with a life force that had fought the venom of the water with her. She smirked playfully, 'Heh. You sure you wanna trust me with this?...Took me four years to even find you' There was an tinge of sorrow that edged her words. Regret perhaps. Guilt and blame were quite ugly feelings in such a perfect wonderland.

She banished the crawling shadows to the depths of her mind. They were scarcely needed in this haven. She turned from her seat, basking in the sun that had since illuminated the forest garden. Warmth splashed across her face as she smiled at Hado. 'You too...Feeling alright now?' she smiled lightly. Her voice was soft and cool, swaying in the breeze with the bright creatures that had fluttered from the shadows. The paradox of the garden remained. A place of death that held so much life and energy.

The man's heart fluttered for a moment as she accepted the flower. Her supple hands rose and caressed the beautiful flower. Faint electricity seemed to shoot through his veins at her slightest touch of the flower, it was not an unpleasant sensation. His powerful gaze rested peacefully on Kaiyo, the beautiful flower overshadowed by the appeal of the girl it adorned. A silent chuckle escaped his lips as he folded his fingers together over his chest. His pupils reaching up towards the sky as he watched the purest of clouds meander along.

She remarked over his entrusting her with his life, words that were seasoned with playful intentions but tinged with the faint inklings of regret. It was apparent that the golden girl somehow blamed herself for his being locked up so long, it didn't quite make sense to Hado, but the Shinigami couldn't begin to realize just how much trust the young Quincy placed in her. It was almost inexplicable, yet it was a very definite reality. A deep sorrow burned itself into his betraying hazel eyes. His lips parted and his recovering voice filled the air.

"You are the only one I would trust with my life, and I can assure you. Should you so choose, you can always find me now."

Her calm voice washed over him and his depression vanished. The eternal warmth of the sun slowly reinvigorated his body, whereas the companionship of Kaiyo revitalized his soul. Hazel hues breathed in the strange landscape; barren, bleak, yet within this death lay the promise of new growth. The cycle of life and death would never be broken, but it was nice to see the dice loaded towards life for a change.

"I'll be well enough soon, it's not every day you wake up from a coma. How long was I gone?"

Through means of surprisingly great strain, he turned himself on his side to face Kaiyo. His expression contorted into something that could only be described as pure intrigue. Surely he couldn't have been gone for THAT long, right? Surely members of the Quincy Order would have found him had he been gone for an extende period of time... Right?

It was as if somebody had turned a blinding light on something that had always been half a shadow. She believed him, she could practically feel him with her now. There was a comfort in that. The residual humidity of the forest raised wisps of steam from the pool, trailing around the pair like fans of smoke; bathing them in it's warmth. Kaiyo shuffled along the ground, twisting around to fully face Hado as well. The sliding material of her obi sash rang like music in her ears as she untied her Zanpakuto; placing it carefully next to as she caressed the guard and pommel with her thumb. Was this another debt to her Zanpakuto? She liked to think of it as a team effort. She owed them a visit though, and the overly spiritual setting she'd found herself in had reminded the Captain on that.

She humbly nodded to Hado, not wanting to interrupt but still showing her gratitude. Kaiyo was usually more trusted than even she realised. The girl was fiercely protective of those she cared for; so even if he was a quincy, she silently vowed to protect the flower with her own life. Allowing herself the vanity of another look at the man, her eyes soaked up all the information available to her. If this was the result of evil ice then more people needed to consider it. She smirked to herself at such a though, shaking her head slightly as her blonde hair fanned out around her neck. She was quite impressed how quickly she'd dried. She suspected the magic flower; Kaiyo couldn't see as well, but her hair felt like it shined more with the flower in it. It drew a smile that curved her light pink lips upwards; in an unrelenting smile.

It froze. Paralysed by the question. Or rather, the answer. She smiled weakly, sinking in to her shoulder ever so slightly as she frowned back at Hado. It made sense he'd had no concept of time, but for such a long period. 'Erm...' She began, forcing her gaze back up from the ground to meet his warm eyes. She could see that wistful hope in his eyes, so oblivious to the truth. She herself was still uncertain of the reasoning behind his captivation. Had his sister really done this to him?...Was he adopted or something? She sighed; dropping her shoulders with a slow blink as she finally answered him. 'You were in there for 4 years Hado...'

From the moment that inquiry had left his lips Kaiyo seemed to grow uncomfortable. Irises brimming with curiosity never abating their gaze. A weak smile adorned her faintly pink lips, and she retracted herself physically at the question. It did not take a genius to figure that these signs made her the bearer of bad news. It was unpleasant to be forced to watch the blonde lightning bolt in such a state, but the curiosity that burned within him was too much to ignore. He waited patiently with bated breath, his mind racing in a fruitless attempt to pry the true number from her features. And then... The ball was dropped.

The Quincy's throat seized shut temporarily as the shock hit him. His wildest imaginations had him guessing centuries, but his most probable estimations only accounted for a few months being lost. There was not a fiber in his body that could believe it had been four years... It was almost incredulous to believe that his body could have been frozen for that long and be suddenly restored breath. What a leg up to cryogenics this imprisonment was, to think of all the scienti~ His mind stopped being ridiculous and returned back down to Earth. He shook his head in disbelief but realized he had to face this unfortunate truth. A brief, long due sigh escaped and his signature smirk found its way back onto his visage.

The Quincy's hand stretched out and rested calmly and comfortingly on the Shinigami's. The gesture struck even Hado as somewhat strange; he had just received the calamitous news and yet he found himself trying to comfort Kaiyo. The thought soon occurred to him that perhaps his motion was as much an attempt to reconcile himself as it was to offer support to his companion. An internal struggle was quickly resolved as the Quincy fought to find strength in his voice. Some parts of his rich, baritone voice began to ebb their way back in but he still sounded weak.

"Damn... I owe people a lot of birthday presents."

His eyes, normally so neutral and reserved, remained an open book when around this particular individual. They told a story filled with laughter and elation, yet the happiness was tinged with melancholy and sorrow. He could not shelter his mind from the thoughts that his friends had forgotten him. The pain he could have caused his dearest friends to feel for his sudden disappearance... He almost thought it better that he was wiped from their minds. His smirk grew slightly wider as, through sheer force of will, he pushed these thoughts into the deepest depths of his psyche. The cloud marring his expressive eyes vanished, and his smirk grew wider and more sincere.

"I've quite a bit of catching up to do, don't I?"

Her expression softened when his hand touched hers; she leant in to him, allowing her hair to sway down her neck, brushing her shoulders as she smiled comfortingly back at the quincy. Amidst the silence Kaiyo found herself staring at the man, surveying his own emotions; each as expressive as the last. Eventually, he seemed to settle back in to a more familiar expression, a comfortable smirk that filled the creases around his lips. She scoffed back a giggle. Of course, he was quite behind on gifts but given the circumstances she didn't think people would mind. Plus if his sister had been expecting a birthday present: well Kaiyo figured she'd be crossed from the gift list.

Her smile lingered around her mouth, forming different words that she couldn't muster sound to fully make. She exhaled loosely with a breathy laugh at his words. 'Heh, yeah, a bit of catching up' she grinned. Her blue eyes wandered from his still due-glistening frame; splintering in rays of sunlight as she shrugged. 'Just try not to die again so soon...You'll ruin my flower' she smirked playfully back at him. She leant away from the man, still able to feel his warmth as she leant on the the scabbard of her Zanpakuto and pulled herself up to her feet.

Rather than sweeping away the debris from her uniform the short Captain decided instead to just bounce up and down a few times. It seemed to have the same effect. Tilting off balance she towered over Hado with a grin, holding her hand out to help the man to his feet. Uncanny didn't quite cover the situation. She'd only been around the real world for a few days holiday; such was the beauty of chance. The Captain knelt down beside her blade, turning on her auto-pilot as she tied it back to her hip. The weight felt more comfortable with it there; familiar and safe.

The thought occurred to leave the man. Afterall, he was clearly safe now and he was technically an enemy. Yet something tugged at the girl, willing her to stay a while longer. Enjoy his hazel eyes for a moment more. 'So this sister of yours...You still close?' she called over her shoulder, taking her chance to explore the lost haven as she gated the pool. At the back of her mind, Kaiyo could remember how it all looked so long ago. She almost preferred it now. Un-perturbed nature; raw life. She was just thankful she wasn't caught in any more of those damn quincy traps like last time.

Something unexpected happened; the girl leaned into Hado's chest. The man's heart began to play its rhythmic drum beat a little faster, and a slight flush tinged his pale expression. His arms struggled longingly to wrap themselves around the girl, but the strength to maintain an embrace was nowhere to be found. His eyes slowly sank shut as Kaiyo spoke. Her comment regarding the flower transformed his familiar smirk into a broad grin as his eyes looked upon the world once more. A soft, bemused chuckle escaped his pale pink lips, the first time he had truly laughed in what was probably four years; it brought with it a certain degree of warmth.

Kaiyo leaned away from him and rose to her feet. A flicker of disappointment shadowed his face as the bliss that the Shinigami herself had created. This disappointment was short-lived as he fought back a laugh. The captain's method for drying herself was.. Unorthodox to say the least, but Hado could not deny its apparent effectiveness. His hand reached out and took hold of hers once more, only assisted by the monstrous strength of the small woman did he finally manage to stand back on two feet. His hand gripped hers tightly as he wobbled around unsteadily; he also had not WALKED in 4 years, and unsurprisingly his legs felt a little bit like jelly. A certain degree of steadiness was eventually achieved, and he rose to his full height. His gaze brushed over the nearby landscape, and was genuinely surprised to discover that his surroundings looked slightly... Smaller than he remembered. Hado shook his head gently and allowed his eyes to drift back to Kaiyo.

The mention of his sister soured his expression. A roaring fire ignited behind his expressive gaze as a scowl contorted its way onto his face. The realization that the person whom he had held most dear in this world had damned him to a fate of imprisonment did not sit well with him. She had stolen four years from the unfortunate man, and had it not been for Kaiyo it almost surely would have been much longer. He shook his head meekly in response to the Shinigami's question, and for another moment his gaze met hers. A deep, powerful anguish embedded itself into his pools of color, the thought that his once beloved sister could have done this almost too much for him. As he spoke of her, a venom more potent than anything his sister's Reiryoku could dream to muster spat from his maw.

"She burned that bridge... She stole my life from me... She stole from me my only true dream to protect those who have done no wrong... Please, don't speak of her again."

He shook his head again as he breathed a deep, exasperated sigh. His expression softened as the storm had quickly passed. He did not wish to further trouble his battered mind with thoughts regarding his backstabbing bitch of a sister. Whatever her reason for freezing him, he would NEVER forgive her. This particular mental turmoil, however, would be dealt with another day. For now.. His arms had finally discovered both the strength and the nerve to wrap themselves around the golden Shinigami. The sight that had captivated Kaiyo resonated deeply with the man's soul. He could only muster a single remark that could even begin to describe the elegantly simple wonder that his stare beheld.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

OOC: This actually came out somewhat longer than I had intended xD

A tinge of remorse shuddered along the girls back when she noticed Hado’s expression. It switched so quickly like a light, twisted with rage. She stopped moving, holding a fixated gaze on his darkening eyes. The shadows pooling in his glare spat his rage with it. Kaiyo ebbed a step closer, unable and unwilling to break the spell. Despite his obvious rage, there was something suddenly more captivating about him. It was intense. Kaiyo’s own frown melted away as Hado finished speaking, she hadn’t even realised her own snarling expression. It was a natural affliction of the girl, sympathy never went as far as her empathy. The sudden heat of the forest seemed to bear down on her, she dragged her hand slowly around her neck and through her hair, her head swayed back down to Hado. She nodded lightly with a smile. Mental note made; don’t mention his sister. Given the spike of reiatsu with his aggression, she figured that was a matter he’d be sorting out himself.
 
When she saw Hado trying to move, she rushed towards him, in case he fell. His arms found he faster and she tugged at his shirt; still damp from the humidity.  She turned her head, unable to see over his broad shoulders as she rested her ear against his chest. His heartbeat rang through her body, beating vaguely to the world around her. She shut her eyes with a smile. ‘Yeah, it is’ she whispered softly. Seldom was Kaiyo able to enjoy such moments. People were rarely willing to be so close to the Captain; of course she never understood what might be intimidating about her (when she wasn’t angry) but it was a lonely sort of job. She relished her friends, and the closeness they allowed her. This man was different, he painted broader strokes, his colours more vibrant and daring. Slowly, she opened her eyes again. Sorrow reflecting off her crystal blue eyes as they glinted in the light that splashed through the foliage.  
 
He was her enemy. Technically…She didn’t care. Kaiyo slowly withdrew from his embrace. Tilting her head up as she flashed her pearly white smile to him. Another gift of the girl, a sincere smile; she’d never quite understood the effect it had on people either. She dropped her eyes with a flutter, tracing her hands along Hado’s arms as she stepped away from him. ‘I have to go, your reiatsu spike probably called in the cavalry.’ She smirked playfully. Of course Soul Society’s reinforcements would be en-route, but they were definitely no match for the girl, but she knew better than to count herself on treason.
 
Her hand moved down to the hilt of her Zanpakuto, tracing her thumb around the guard as she stood motionless for a moment. She was torn. She really had to leave, but she desperately wanted to stay. ‘I’ll have to come to the Real World more often I think’ she grinned at him. She meant it. The blonde girl bit her lip gently as she stood across from the Quincy. Her mind flickered with warning as she sensed the on-coming Shinigami, they’d taken their time. The Captain nodded to herself, ‘Bye Hado’.


With that, the girl practically vanished; flash stepping out of the forest. She needed a while to clear her head. The swirling colours and feelings were muddying the water and fogging her clarity. Before she knew it, she was back standing next to Hado. Her arm gently on his shoulder as she leant up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Then she was gone. She’d see him another time, she’d make sure of it.