--      ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵈⁱᵉ ᵃˡᵒⁿᵉ. ʸᵒᵘ'ᵛᵉ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ. ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵒᵐᵉ ⁱˢ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵒⁿᵉ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏˢ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ. ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵒᵐᵉ ⁱˢ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵒⁿᵉ ᵖʳᵒᵗᵉᶜᵗˢ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵏᵉᵉᵖˢ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵃᶠᵉ. ˢᵒ, ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵃᶠʳᵃⁱᵈ, ⁱ'ˡˡ ᵃˡʷᵃʸˢ ᵇᵉ ʰᵉʳᵉ.  (  carrd. )

❝ ... huh ? ❞ he'd been spacing out, daydreaming. he was remembering the first time he'd met miyako. she scared the absolute shit out of him. though, she was nothing like unohana -- healing others in order to injure them again until she had her fun -- she had in a way completed his life, his entire being. marrying her was never a regret to him. . .but letting her die a horrible death and feeling like a horrible father, well it weighed on him. ❝ uh -- a memory. s-sorry was i speaking aloud while spacing out again? ❞ he felt his face began to flush out of embarrassment.

❝ DON'T YOU DARE, CAPTAIN HITSUGAYA ! ❞ his voice was brash and loud. His hands gently setting upon the Captain's shoulders. Kaien had seen too many fallen today and most of it from battle. The one's who were left were mentally scarred, unprepared. These Quincy had taken all of them by surprise but then again. . .they had all been prepared for the worse. Who knew the worst part was getting one's bankai taken from them? As if breath being taken from the lungs, a heart ripped -- no, yanked -- from one's chest. ❝ Don't you dare give up hope, d'you hear me?! Hyorinmaru is not gone forever! Don't give me that shit! After Mayuri finds a way, we fight them and take back what was ours. ❞

The Lieutenant quickly took his hands away from Toushiro, a scowl marring his face. There was a sternness within Kaien's gaze, a fire that would never go out. Such was the way of the Shiba men, no, rather the Shiba family. Those who carried the name of Shiba were strong, and built differently. They were leaders. Sure, they may be harsh but their hearts were what they followed. A good place.

❝ SO STAND UP AND LET'S GO GET THIS FIGURED OUT! THERE'S NO TIME TO LOOK WEAK WHEN THERE ARE INJURED OUT HERE, CAPTAIN.❞

This was the second time he called Toushiro properly, respectfully. For Kaien to not lose those he loved, he had to help them back up to their feet.

❝ we're not totally incapable of feeling negative emotions -- ❞ rage, it burned within the depths of his soul. it was a white bird trapped within a golden cage begging & thrashing against the steel to be let out. ❝ one can harbor rage but one must also remember to not stay stuck in that. ❞ he was the pot calling the kettle black. after everything that happened. . .kaien had always been a man who had an inner war with his own rage lately. his rage wasn't like fireworks; once lit, it would set off. no, the lieutenants' rage was like a calm before the storm, a cold chill walking on the shores.

❝ If by god you mean head-captain yamamoto? d'ya think he knows why uncle left? i've been hearin' rumors sayin' he died. . .,❞ head hung low as anger crossed his face. there was no way, right? Isshin was a Captain for gods sake. How can a man that strong die? This was frustrating to Kaien. . .but he knew in his heart -- where he placed his hand now -- that somewhere in the world of the living. . .his uncle was still alive. There was no way that man was going down without a fight. Shiba's were known to have ironheads. ❝ I guess we can't really dwell on it right now.❞

‘…..Kaien…I was only kidding really…’ Rangiku lowered her eyes, she knew about her passing and that Kaien was still recovering, she just figured she could cheer him up but perhaps this was NOT the right way. 

‘ You know that weird holiday the human world has? what was it called..Christmas! well apparently there is a Santa that knows EVERYTHING you are doing, so If you do bad things you get put on a naughty list and given Coal or something as a gift.’  Rangiku said reaching her arms above her, she pushed a hidden cellar open sliding it to gain entrance, she peeked over the edge just to see if anyone was there, once clear she leaped up and turned to hold a hand out to Kaien.