A belated reunion (Hado)

Kaiyo tugged on the back of her headband nervously. It had been years, he might not even be alive! Let alone remember her...

She threw her head back with an exasperated groan, 'Argh! Stop worrying' . When Kaiyo first met Hado she'd been an academy student, she had grown and changed so much. Still, he'd trusted her with his life, literally. Kaiyo was at her hideaway, the small wooden cabin she'd long since concealed on the edge of Soul Society itself. Emotion welled up inside her stomach. She walked slowly though the long grass, enjoying the mild crunch of the ground as she round the edge of the cabin. So many years ago, after returning from her first meeting with Hado, she'd discovered this place. For the most precious items she possessed in the world; in any world. Her headband had been tied to the post in the field that engulfed the small makeshift home. It was her flag, only recently returned to her head. A light patter of rain began to echo around her, in loud droplets that turned so quickly for a torrent of noise. The girl was instantly drenched, holding out her arms as she grinned up to the suddenly stormy skies. Slowly, her smile switched with a glint in her eye as she trudged through the puddles that pooled in the soft earth. Kaiyo knelt down on the ground, lifting a large Boulder from the ground as its hollowed centre was illuminated.

...


The air threw its weight against her, slicing against her uniform and trying to sway her left to right. Kaiyo loved the free fall from a senkai gate, she enjoyed the weightlessness of being ragged around by the wind. She twisted and spun around, closing her eyes as she immersed her body in the rush of the world closing in around her. As the ground narrowed towards her she twisted on to her side, gathering reiatsu at her feet as she rocketed through the air like a bullet from a gun. Etched in to her mind was he house, the garden he'd trapped her in and the life force pinned to the collar of her uniform. Kaiyo had donned her Captains robe, having usurped her way through a crafted tournament she was at least heralded as alive. Even if her new vice captain and a few other squad members were reluctant to welcome her back with open arms. Still, she was back and the 11th division was hers, it was home.

In a blurred flash, Kaiyo ground to a halt in the forest. The thick trees allows sprawled scraps of light to crack through the darkness. She stepped slowly through the leaves, filling her lungs with the familiar air. Her demeanour was calm, her breathing regular. Beneath the fascade she could feel the anxiety of their reunion, the excitement of tasting his mind and inhaling his soul once more. Her eyelids fluttered, revealing glimpses of her crystal blue pigments before she exhaled a whisper, 'Did ya miss me?'

A low sigh escaped his lips. Of all the posts he could have applied for within his organization, he just had to choose the one with the most paperwork. Now serving as something of a liaison between the Quincy kingdom and the rest of humanity, he was one of the few within his kingdom whom was required to navigate their bureaucracy. Frankly speaking, he was one of the few with the patience to even deal with the accompanying paperwork. On most days, he would diligently file through his daily work, signing and drafting with an almost robotic penmanship, but today; his mind was elsewhere. Visions of gold swam through his thoughts, and subconsciously his hand rose to rest upon his lips. A warm smile graced his features, and he rose from his desk. His gaze meandered towards the window, and his eyes focused on the forest in the distance. In many ways, that forest felt more his home than the palace he currently reside, fitting that there this reunion was to take place.

Hado eventually worked his way out of the extravagant structure that served as the Quincy headquarters, and began his trek towards his beloved woods. His person was clothed in a white suit, black filigree traced intricate patterns within the already supple fabric. Glints of the purest gold shone from his buttons and cuff links. Ivory gloves perfectly framed his already delicate hands, and an ocean of hair was tamed neatly by ornate braids and a carefully crafted bun. While the average foot soldier of their kingdom had to maintain their appearance to a certain standard; their liaisons were to be even more carefully maintained, a lesson he was forced to learn very quickly. It could be considered treason to soil their image with an unkempt appearance. Fortunately, if there were a silver lining, expensive clothing tended to be incredibly comfortable.

A thin film of reishi collected just above the surface of his clothing, all dust and grime that would have otherwise quickly dirtied his garb harmlessly slid off. Again, a trick he had been taught very early in his new post. A trick that, surprisingly, had not been widely adopted; this had changed immediately upon the announcement of this technique. It goes without saying that this technique was immeasurably helpful when sojourning into a forest.

It had taken him a few hours journey to casually walk towards his destination, but he was in no rush. Pleasant memories rippled through his thoughts, and soon the oasis materialized into view. The very same oasis to which he was now bound, the one that, with help from a certain Shinigami, had saved his very life. His destined companion had not quite arrived yet, and so he stood by the sparkling water. Suddenly, a very familiar Reiatsu tugged on the edge of his senses, and the still waters of his gaze locked onto the free falling Shinigami. An uncharacteristically warm smile pulled found its way onto his features as he took in the sight of her. She hadn't changed, not much, however such was the nature of a Death God. She landed near him, just beyond line of sight; his eyes denied their treasure by infernal trees. Then, she stepped out, and the immaculate calm that he had slaved to forge splintered faintly. His heart forgot its rhythm, and for a moment the full maelstrom of his emotion manifested behind his eyes. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, he could again see the only source of blessed chaos in his life.

'Did ya miss me?'

The smile on his lips quirked faintly, transforming into an incredibly familiar smirk. He stepped forward suddenly, wrapping the much smaller individual in his embrace. Truth be told, one of the only times he'd actually been able to partake in this particular show of emotion.

"Nearly every day."

She crumbled in to his arms, unable to catch a stolen breath as tears welled in her eyes. The world titled on an axis, spinning around the pair. Her hands clawed at handfuls of his uniform, unwilling to let him go again. She scrunched her eyes tightly, as if she could stop the tears from overflowing. Her heart rattled against her chest, clinging to the warmth of his embrace. Kaiyo had longed to halt the loneliness that lurked in the corner of her life.The world nudged them closer and her soul exploded outwards. The trees stood like guardians around the pair, shielding them from the superficial wounds of the world. They were safe in each others arms.

Luminous petals glistened around the lake, dancing between the flecks of dust that fluttered in the sunlight. The water was liquid gold and silver, a beautiful storm of slurring contrasts, spluttering and rushing through the stream. Slowly, shakily, she withdrew from the man. Small palms traced along his frame, sweeping over his tear dropped sleeves until she found his hands. Her stained cheeks flushed with a part of her that had been hidden for so long. Her eyes glistened with tears, searching his features for the man she remembered so vividly. Each line and freckle on his face was as soothing as the last. She'd found a soul who's hands fit perfectly with hers and that scared her, more than anything.

She glanced away, blinking back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her again. The sky had vanished, hidden by the trees that left behind scattered blue fragments of an impossible puzzle. A smile slowly found its way across her lips, growing and stretching like butterfly wings. Irrational jealousy knotted in her stomach, for the fleeting thought of this man sharing such a moment with anyone else. This world was their own, vibrant and expansive the forest was a haven beyond whatever scorched lives they left behind. Her body was flushed, her bated breath exhaled with a warmth that clung to the air. Sparks of her reiatsu pooled at her feet, fluttering and scurrying in to the air that swirled between them. The wind began to rumble through the forest, harping a celestial symphony to hunched over branches like strings to the lungs of the earth.

Then there was silence. The crescendo of the world faded around the girl as her eyes stared into Hado's. Her piercing gaze scanned his very soul in a single glance. 'Good...' She finally mused aloud. As if words could quantify by any regard how she felt. Her headband licked he back of her neck, swaying in the release of her reiatsu, tapering off in to nothingness. Her hand ran through the front of her hair, trailing down her neck as she unfurled her haori to reveal the flower pinned to its bright yellow lining. She'd been so worried about ever damaging the item, so she'd hidden it with the few treasures we had in the world. It seemed right to return with it.

Kaiyo took a short step back, resting her hand on the comforting weight of her Zanpaktuo, she began to pace around. She knew Hado would walk with her. Or he would at least know she wasn't about to leave, just rediscover their small bliss. Her slow footsteps crunched along the ground, cracking the stray leaves beneath her as she moved, circling the water. 'Sorry, it's been so long' there was so much she had to tell, so much she couldn't even explain and so many scars that were still healing. She bit down nervously on her bottom lip, allowing her eyes he vanity to glance back at the graceful creature in her presence. As if he could ever be her enemy. She had the weight of real contemplation on her shoulders, halting her steps in thoughts that carried her beyond the ephemeral essence of their situation. She brought herself back,   turning to face Hado head on. Her words, as measured as they seemed were filled with sincere care. With a warmth that emanated from her core, it spilled in to her voice, flooding her mind and filling her heart. How are you?' She longed to be closer to him, to be held forever in his embrace.

As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely he cries to the moon if only, if only...