tampered | Log; Ongoing

Log; Ongoing

When; August 19th
Rating; PG
Characters; Open to any and all Shinigami in the City
Summary; Rangiku wants to have a talk with her comrades
Log;

The sand was warm under Rangiku's feet as metal streaked over her head in a graceful arc. She had been lucky enough to find a spot she didn't think she could be spied on from any of the other ships near the area, but she didn't really mind if anyone saw her running her way through the various zanjutsu exercises that she'd learned and mastered so long ago. Her mind buzzed with Haineko's excitement at finally doing something, even if it was merely tedious forms. Privately, she wanted someone to spar with, but there were few in the city she'd allow herself to truly let loose with. Too few she trusted.

She'd spoken to Kira and Momo over the City's journal system and had asked them to join her in the fight against the city, but even now, she was having doubts. Doubts about the war Sands and the others were planning, doubts about herself being able to do all that everyone seemed to expect of her, doubts about everything.

The sleeves of her shihakushou fluttered around her as she sliced the zanpakutou down on an imaginary opponent. Somewhere inside, she wished there was something for the blade to bite into.

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Hinamori fidgeted with Tobiume's sheath as she walked across the sand. It wasn't that she was nervous. At least, it shouldn't be that she was nervous. Thinking about being nervous was making her nervous. She exhaled heavily, hanging her head. The whole thing was silly, at best and she was working herself up over nothing. But something Rangiku had said a while back had stuck with the smaller shinigami, manifesting itself into a desire to do... something.

Hinamori took a deep breath and picked up her pace, glancing left and right for a sign of the other shinigami. Her grip tightened on her zanpakuto's hilt in an effort to stop the fidgeting as she continued on, almost hoping she wouldn't find Rangiku out here.

Ran turned, eyes closed as Haineko followed through with a clean arc to her left. All of her attention was focused on her spirit's partner, listening to Haineko's quiet voice inside her as they both worked out a misture of restlessness and frustration.

Halfway through the next series of moves in the pattern, Haineko murmured that someone was approaching. Rangiku knew the presence from home and continued on with the steps of her dance.

A surge in reiatsu cause Hinamori to sigh again. Of course, she'd already know the other shinigami would be here, and it had been foolish to hope otherwise.

But this was something that needed to be gotten out of the way. She padded over, keeping out of the range of Rangiku's strikes as she neared. "H-hi, Rangiku," she managed to mumble, watching her run through steps the small girl knew too.

In an instant, the blade stopped, then lowered to slide home into its saya. Blue eyes opened and looked over at Momo, staring for a moment before Ran smiled at her.

"You don't look happy to see me."

"A-ah, really?" She managed to smile a little, glancing out towards the ocean. It had been some time since she'd seen it... But it would have to wait. "I'm sorry. I still haven't decided yet."

Hinamori paused there, wondering if that would be enough. There was a lot more she wanted to say, but what with Kira running off on his own for the day and Gin... being Gin, it was all she could do to have left her room this morning.

She caught herself before mumbling something stupid, grip once again tightening around Tobiume. "I hope that's, that it's okay. It's just that there's something I needed to check first."

Ran tilted her head to the side as she watched Momo. It was obvious something was bothering the other vice-captain, but she wasn't exactly sure what it was, or if she could do anything about it.

"What do you need to check, Momo?"

"I, I want to try and attain bankai." She glanced down at the sand as she said the words, a small blush appearing in her cheeks. She couldn't tear her gaze away from the sand, not to see Rangiku's expression.

"At the very least," Hinamori continued, taking a breath to calm herself. "At the very least I want to be able to have Tobiume materialize." The blush persevered as a small smile crept over her face. "I want everyone to see Tobiume. I want to share it with everyone at Seireitei when we get back." Hinamori kept smiling, remembering the time Hitsugaya had first shown her his bankai. She'd felt so proud then, to know him. If she could return to Seireitei and make him feel the same, it still wouldn't be enough thanks for all the times he'd taken care of her over the years. But she desperately wanted to try.

Rangiku sat down in the sand in an inelegant sprawl, looking up at Momo. "You know... I've been working on bankai since just after I got here... I think I'm almost there, but," she paused, voice going silent for a moment. With a sigh, she continued. "I don't know why I can't call Haineko's bankai, but I've been able to call her second shikai... it's nice, really, being able to let everyone see her finally."

She can remember the first time she was able to run her hands over her zannpakutous sleek fur, and the thought makes her smile like she used to back in her academy days.

"Can you see Tobiume... can you hear it?"

The blush deepened when she realized what she'd been thinking about. "I... I can." Hinamori glanced up and smiled cheerfully, fingering Tobiume's sheath, before returning her gaze to the ground. "I don't really remember not being able to hear, to some extent. Tobiume's been there for me as much as anyone else. And sometimes... Sometimes, when I think about it hard enough, when I want it enough, I can see Tobiume." Her smile slowly faded into a light frown as she continued to think about it.

"But... no one else can see. It's always just me." The smaller shinigami bit her lower lip, somewhat frustrated with herself as she replied.

"Well, if you can see and hear Tobiume, you should be able to call it to you... it's a bit harder than the first release, though. The process isn't much different."

She reached over and poked Momo's knee. "Sit down, silly... such hard thinking isn't good when you're standing up."

"I-I know. I helped Hitsugaya-kun..." She smiled slightly at that thought and followed Rangiku's suggestion, seating herself carefully in the sand.

"It's something I should do alone, I know, but... I'd feel better if someone was nearby, you know? And... umm, please, don't tell Kira-kun, okay? He'd just yell at me or something..." She frowned, remembering his reluctance to take her with him today. She really did hope he'd be okay, even if he did shrug it off as part of her responsibility as his friend.

The mention of her captain made her smile slide quite a bit. She still didn't remember much about him, thanks to Dorian and the City. It frustrated her to no end that she couldn't even remember his name without being reminded...

Hearing Momo mention that she wanted this kept from Kira tipped the smile even further down. "If you want someone nearby, that's how it should be... why would Kira yell at you for something like this?"

"Thank you, Rangiku." She smiled, genuinely this time, at the shinigami in front of her, but it quickly faded when she saw Rangiku's troubled expression. Was she also worried about Kira-kun?

"I just... He's been very distant, and he won't tell me things any more. I know that the things that happened in Seireitei changed our friendship but still... I just don't want to have him worrying over me doing this. He doesn't need to." She rushed her explanation, frown deepening and irritation with Kira growing as she did so.

Ran reached over and patted Momo's hand, trying to dredge a smile up to reassure her. "We're all in an odd situation here. Maybe he's... trying to find his own way. And we all worry about our friends, or at least I do."

Personally, she thought that Kira being around Gin again was problematic, but she couldn't say much about it. It was hard for her to keep from actively seeking him out, too.

"I just... He's gone off by himself today. To the underground. And he didn't want my company... I just don't know what to say to him anymore." It doesn't help that Gin is here, she wanted to add, but thought against it as she watched Rangiku.

"I'm sorry for bothering you with it. It's something I should talk to him about, really." Hinamori sighed, unsheathing her zanpakuto and laying it down in front of her.

"Ah, yes... the underground. It's a good place to go to relieve tensions... I've been there a few times, myself." She absently watches Momo as her fingers slowly stroke over Haineko's molded tsuba.

"You're not bothering me at all. It's been too long since we've had a chance to talk." She isn't referring to just now, but even back in Seireitei.

"I was hoping to have a chance to talk to him as well, but it might be best if that's some other time."

"I've heard about it but... I just worry." The dark haired girl sighed, glancing up at the sky. "If it isn't one thing it's another. And I keep feeling like there's something he's not telling, something he's holding back from me. He's never done that before. Ever. He even told me Wabisuke's abilities, and he never talks about that." Hinamori blinked back the frustrated tears she could feel forming already, and mentally smacked herself as Tobiume murmured reassuringly to her. She was being silly and she knew it.

Ran moved closer and smoothed Momo's hair away from her forehead. "I worry about him, too, Momo. It's times like this I wish taichou was here... He'd know what to do."

It was a little unsettling, hearing that Kira had shared his zanpakutou's abilities so freely, even if Momo was a close friend of his. It just wasn't something that shinigami did, usually.

Haineko mumbled something to her, stealing away her attention for a brief instant, before she focused on Momo again. "Your strength is your kindness, Momo... your good soul. That's why Tobiume answers to you. Your friends are gifted that you're always so concerned for them."

She nodded, sniffling a bit, hands reaching out for Tobiume instinctivly as Rangiku touched her hair. "It's wrong to depend on Hitsugaya-kun but... He was always there for me. I keep thinking about what he'd do, or what he'd say and... It's hard."

She smiled sadly, holding onto Tobiume's hilt as if the zanpakuto could bring her closer to everyone in Seireitei. "But there's one thing I know he'd say for sure. He'd say to me, 'Silly Momo, just do what you think is right.'" She laughed and sobbed at the same time, sounding like she had hiccups as she continued to smile, eyes still wet. "If I think about it, he's never ever told me what to do. Aside from address him as a captain, of course. But we grew up together and for as long as I can remember he's always told me to do what I think I should, what I think is right. I'm sure Hitsugaya-kun would say the same to you."

Ran found herself next to Momo, her arm around the younger woman. "I envy you, Momo... I don't remember much about him, thanks to this damn place. I'd like to think he wouldn't scold me for the things I've done here, but I honestly don't know." Her own voice sounded hollow, so she shook her head and tried to mentally push away the cobwebs that crowded her mind.

"What do you think is right, Momo? What do you think he'd do here?"

"Hitsugaya-kun would never scold you." She smiled sadly once more, thinking back to life in Seireitei. "He shoulders blame silently and doesn't tell anyone what's wrong. And even though he acts mean sometimes, it's only his way of showing he cares." She looked at Rangiku, meeting her gaze, as if her own memories of the short shinigami could be transferred just by hoping.

"I don't know what he'd do. But that's why I've got to do this." Hinmori continued, grabbing Tobiume as she stood, holding the blade up to the sky. "For myself. To show him, when we get back, that I'm not just Momo. I'm going to prove to him, to Kira, to everyone that I can be trusted, that I'm more than I was."

Somehow, she knew her captain would find something to fuss at her about, but she found the thought almost amusing. Her arm dropped away as Momo stood, her gaze following her companion up. She leaned back in the sand, knowing her elbows were getting dirty, but she didn't care.

"Momo, don't do this for anyone but yourself. We all know you're not just Momo."

She glanced down at Rangiku, smiling warmly again. "I couldn't do it for anyone but me. It's one of those selfish things I told you about."

She giggled slightly at that, her smile breaking into a grin as she chose a spot a few feet away from the other shinigami. Settling herself down comfortably with her legs crossed Hinamori lay Tobiume across her lap, focusing on the sight of the blade in front of her and what she knew it looked like, willing and hoping that she'd be able to make Rangiku see it.

It's so nice to see Momo smile again, Rangiku thought as she watched her settle herself into the sand. It was easy to see the concentration on Momo's face, and Ran knew if she wasn't able to call Tobiume right now, she'd be able to soon. Very soon.

Haineko's quiet purring startled her for a brief instant, but she knew her partner was interested in what was going on, so she slid the zanpakutou out of her saya and laid her out on the sand, murmuring the release just in time to feel solid warmth against her back. Still watching Momo, Ran leaned back against Haineko's bulk, content in the moment.

She remained there, silently watching for several moments until a shape started to form in front of Momo, wavering in and out. Ran sighed out a quiet breath.

She's so close..

Tobiume hummed beneath her hands and she smiled slightly, listening to it speak. She breathed slowly, doing her best not to move an inch, to do anything that might disturb the zanpakuto as she focused on it. She could see it, feel it, hear it.

And then it was gone - the sword lay sit in her lap, ignoring her. Hinamori opened her eyes to glance down at the silver blade in disbelief.

"Are you... are you angry with me?" She hadn't felt anything at all that would have disturbed her channeled reiatsu, hadn't heard anything that broke her concentration. But no matter what the reason, Tobiume was laying still in her hands, as useless as a katana and ignoring her whispered attempt to communicate with it.

Ran sighed when she felt the reiatsu drain away, shaking her head slightly as the shape flickered a vanished from sight. The purring stopped behind her as Haineko reacted to the change in the air.

She stood and walked over to where Momo sat, staring down at her blade. She dropped to her knees in front of her and laid a hand on hers. "I saw it, Momo. For an instant, I saw Tobiume. You're almost there..."

Haineko followed her mistress and nosed at Momo, purring very softly.

Her hands hovered over naked steel as Hinamori contemplated what to do to reawaken the zanpakuto. It had fallen completely silent and nothing she could do would draw it out again. The dark haired shinigami glanced out at the sea, only vaugely aware of Rangiku's words.

She took a moment to clear her head before sheathing the zanpakuto in a swift motion, turning to look at the other shinigami. "I'm going to leave it there for now, I think." She smiled weakily, feel drained all of a sudden, and clambered to her feet, dusting sand off. "Thanks for putting up with me today, Rangiku."

"I wouldn't call it putting up with you... anytime you want, come find me and I'll do whatever I can to help."

A pang of sadness shot though Ran as she looked up at Momo, wishing she could do something, even though she knows she can't.

"Thank you, Rangiku." She bowed slightly to the other vice-captain, managing another small smile. "I'll be fine."

Hinamori glanced over at the water again for a second before turning and starting the walk back to her building. Plenty of time to think about what went wrong, and why Tobiume was now ignoring her.

After Momo left, Ran collapsed back into the sand, staring up at the rapidly darkening sky above her. "I don't get it..." she murmured to the only other presence on the beach. Haineko settled herself down next to Ran and watched the surroundings.

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Log; Ongoing

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