LIGHTNING AND WAVES.

“I suppose it’s just normal to want people to like you, even if they don’t know you personally. It’s not that I can’t take being alone and I never thought it was ‘lame’ to do things like eat alone. Hearing someone say it, made me wonder if I am kinda of…lame.”

    “Such beauty was, already, sullied the moment you chose to speak.”

  He chose to speak plainly; disgust evident and laid out in the open. There was little need to shroud it in lies and false reason, the story of such a rebellious spirit was already known to the man before him. That is why there was caution in the captains’ stance; in the way he chose to speak and act. Eyes trained upon their target were far from oblivious, they drank the sight in its entirety.

  But as the Shinigami’s voice continued that same gaze chose to sharpen.

  I’m not your enemy here, he had said, the sentence running on a short repeat as Muramasa chose to remain quiet. Silence was drawn out, choosing the time between to study the presence of this unfortunate companion. Though his war had ended in ruin and grievances were held ( and spoken only to one unique other ), the grudge that helped fuel it all never fully passed on. It lingered, festering in the still present wounds of a worn, and beaten, heart. He did not regret his hatred; his anger. He did not regret the actions taken against them.

    “… that isn’t for you to decide.” Now, he chooses to speak out. To reply, and with the return of the accursed blades voice came a step forward. Body having turned, attention fully redirected on this unwelcomed guest. Closer, again, did he step – actions halted a mere arms length away.

    “Even here… you Shinigami are an eyesore.”

     The more steps taken towards him, the more the outside world is drowned out by Muramasa’s presence -- his spiritual pressure ( or what was left of it ), his demeanor, his manner of carrying himself -- it was full of the same near - royal stature that all Kuchikis held. Even if Kouga was long gone, Muramasa was still his blade once, and it showed. 

          “ ... Fine. That’s fair, and I understand, “ he steadily replies, having kept his ground without moving. “ What I meant  was that I myself don’t want to cause any trouble with you or anyone else. “ 

Gotta resist the urge to groan there. Come find him, seriously? This place is hell without proper directions but he can’t exactly leave an old guy stranded on his ass. Who knows if he’s still sick too…

[ txt ] : find out what ward you’re in at least or i’ll be looking all night.

[ txt ] : and wherever you are stay there.

     Ukitake couldn’t imagine asking someone to find him and then go wandering off, especially in a place like this. He looks around, only recognizing what ward he was in because he’s near a sign. 

   [ txt ] : Cotes. I seem to be near a park of some sort? 

“Bankai an’ all.  I haven’t seen it fer m’self, though.  I ain’t gonna dare ask someone that’ll pro’lly freeze me on the spot.  I’d say if Byakuya-taichou allowed her t’ become Capt’n, then her power is way beyond wha’ ya remember,” which would go without saying.  Gin knew his dear friend quite well.  Seemed even Ukitake was as pleased to hear it.

“Yes… and no.  Y’see, yer not gonna die here.  Not completely.  Y’ eventually come back.  Pro’lly feel like shit fer a few days.  Trust me on tha’,” rubbing just chest at the thought of being pierced by a dearly beloved vampire.  Probably keep that t’ himself.  Then again, he could have some fun wit’ that.  “But death coul’ come wit’ nasty effects.  Better not t’ die.  If ya can prevent it.”  With that said, there was at least one thing Gin was curious about.

“Now knowin’ how limited y’ were back home.  How ya feelin’ now?  Y’ still sick? or ya feel pretty good?”

          “I ... Don’t know.“

Virgil bristles at the unannounced contact, body reflexively tensing until suspicions of a possible ambush were dispelled ( for now ) by the stranger’s mild mannerisms. Politely pulling his arm back into the folds of his cloak, his head cants to one side, regarding the man with a perplexed air.

 ❛ I see. ❜

 ❛ Are you looking for a lost person? ❜

     Jushiro’s hand, having lingered after he touched Virgil, is pulled back close to his chest, he himself being admittedly a little embarrassed at his assumption. No, this place was too weird to be that simple. 

Oh, right.  If one died and was replaced, how would they know?

“Yer division is all ‘n good hands wit’ Rukia-chan at the helm.  Guess she went an’ done a lotta growin’ when ya o’ ya were gettin’ stomped by the quincy.  That’s about as much as I know other than I guess y’ won.”  A hand reached into his kosode to pull out his zanpaktou to just reveal the handle at least.

“Happens t’ all o’ us at the beginnin’.  If ya stay long enough, you’ll get yer pals back.  Pro’lly be quiet fer awhile, still.”

          “Rukia took my place as Captain? I’m glad to hear that. This is all good news, Gin. Thank you.” Well, the good news was in what had to do with his life, anyways. His afterlife though? Gin’s news just made it more difficult. 

She doesn’t think she’s ever seen such beautiful eye wrinkles! Young, but weirdly odd–he’s a bit of an outlier for her tastes, but still very, very pretty to stare at! So she does without a hint of shyness, drinking in his looks like some ravished vampire who lives off of bishounen sparkles and starlight.

“Was she beautiful?” she asks, head tilting to one side. Or he, but she’d wait for him to correct her later.

“They must’ve been, right? Someone as pretty as you definitely had a lover to match!”

Her vision dances with romantic visions and hints of butterflies in her eyes; love was such a whimsical thing.

     Her staring reminds him of the way young recruits would stare at Seireitei’s local prettyboy, Captain Kuchiki. He hasn’t been looked at like that since ... well, probably his school days ... He chuckles a little to himself.                               Maybe this place was good for him, limbo or not. 

“No, well, yeah, I mean, kinda…”

“True love is always there for the taking if you only look!”

“Mister, my eyes are up here! Come and take a peek, just once!”

“You never know if a new OTP’s just around the corners!”

     Suddenly pulled from his thoughts, Ukitake obliges, peeking at her through his bangs. OTP? He didn’t know what that was, but she was so young! He figured it was some term they used. The vibrance of youth had to make him smile, even if she was mistaken. She had lots of lessons to learn still, and that in itself was wonderful.

“It’s just something someone said, that not having a boyfriend to eat with made you lame and not special.”

“I’m not lame for being dateless.  I’m not lame for being dateless.   I’m not lame for being dateless.  I’m not lame for being dateless. I’m not lame for being dateless. I’m not lame for being dateless. I’m not lame for being dateless. I’m not lame for being dateless.”

 “Oh it can be. But for the most part, as long as you stay around for a long amount of time. You will know who to avoid.”

He shakes his head, feathers fluttering with each shake.  

 “it seems we were kidnapped from our respective…I hesitate to say world but thats the truth of it. I have been here since… two moon passings.”

Months. 

 “I would very much want to punch the lords of these lands.”

          “I see ... “ Well, if he felt that strongly about it. 

  Delicate petals, caught in a passing breeze and plucked from their branches. Left to flutter to the ground below, scattered upon the earth and nestled by the feet of those that passed. An almost picture perfect scene, one that Muramasa found himself engrossed with. Familiarity tugged at the mind dragging thoughts partially buried back to the surface – of a yard out front of a manor, decorated in similar blossoms. 

  It was a time long passed, a dream left unreachable. Even the mere thought of it was given little time to exist as a sound broke the tranquil silence. A sound that caused tension to build in, now, stiffened shoulders. For who else, here, would possibly know him by name?

  With a slow angling of the head he’d find his answer.

    “Hm.” A captain, of all things. Stripped of a worthwhile weapon, once again, and daring to speak the spirits name so casually. A former enemy, not only to him but the Seireitei as a whole… and he chooses to approach? What a foolish soul.

  They all were.

    “What’s the matter? You speak my name yet appear so frail once given attention. Ah, but that is how you’ve always been, has it not? … Ukitake, Jushiro.”

     Big words, though Jushiro is far from afraid. While he may have been sick his entire life, he was by no means frail -- he was a Captain after all. If he was right, no one, at least no one new had any of their old powers or abilities. He’s really hoping that Muramasa got here recently, too. 

          “ Don’t sully the beauty of our surroundings with pettiness, Muramasa. I’m not here to be hostile with you. You took me off guard, that’s all. “