"You fool. No one grows stronger overnight. Not me. Not your captain. Not the head captain either."
"We must struggle. Break our bodies and stay consistent. Not even those born with insane amount of talent are free from the struggle."
.
.
Members of the medical unit scampered around the halls of squad four.
It was unarguable that squad four, the medical division, was the busiest division amongst all the thirteen court guard squads.
Squad members pushed medical beds, others carrying bags of medicine and other equipment. And as usual, the troublemakers of squad 11 came around demanding to be treated.
Kirin walked through the halls of the division at a leisure pace with her hands casually folded behind her back. A bright grin was on her face as she made her way to the entrance of the division.
Her squad members, the ones who had been originally sent off to Rukon had recovered from their wounds and were able to take in visitors.
Kirin didn't think their wounds to be so serious to the point of them becoming unconscious for four days.
Then again, there were just common unseated officers. She had to remember not everyone had the same level of endurance she did.
'Regardless, they woke up at the right time,'
She folded a hand into her pocket, stroking the small notebook that was tucked inside of it.
The replicating hollow case was becoming far more interesting than she thought.
"Kirin?"
At the call of her name, the dark haired girl turned around, a smile appearing on her face.
"Kisuke."
The person who called her, a blond man wearing a shihakusho, came into view. His usual lazy smile on his face.
"Haha, or should I call you Lieutenant Yagami?" He joked, running up to the girl that wasn't much shorter than him. "As tall as ever I see."
"You've just stopped growing. As you can see, I'm still growing." Kirin retorted, shoving her elbow into the blond man's side. "Good to see you looking same as ever, Third seat Urahara."
Kisuke smiled softly, walking in step with her. "Hm. Good to see you too. It's been far too long. What've you been up to?"
"Same as ever. You?"
"Same as ever,"
Kirin let out a snort, shaking her head at the childish response. Kisuke will be Kisuke though. Playful yet a cunning, highly intelligent man. Calling him a genius would be fitting for a person like him.
"Had business in squad four?" He asked, looking down at her. "Or you came to get treatment?"
Kirin shrugged. "Had business. You?"
Kisuke smiled a toothy grin. "Same."
Kirin shook her head, elbowing him again.
The two walked in a comfortable silence until they were both out of the fourth division. Kirin was reviewing the information she obtained earlier in her head while Kisuke was enjoying the few moments he had being close to her.
When they both crossed the entrance of the fourth division, Kirin was about to wave goodbye when she felt two strong, muscular arms wrap around her waist from behind.
Turning her head to the side, she was met with the grey eyes of Kisuke Urahara who was staring at her with a rare soft expression.
"I know you're busy with something so I won't ask you to stay longer." He mumbled softly. "Promise you'll come visit me some other time?"
Kirin wasn't surprised by the display of affection. She simply nodded, flashing him a toothy grin.
"Of course! I'll bring some bottles of booze too."
Kisuke smiled, slipping a small bag into her pocket before releasing her.
"Okay! See you later then," He said, the lazy smile back on his face.
Kirin stroked the bag before turning around and using shunpo to disappear.
Kisuke was left standing in the road, a content yet sad expression on his face as he turned to the direction of the second division.
"Doesn't matter if she isn't mine yet. I'm glad we have what we do now."
.
.
Kirin walked through the entrance of the third division with a wide grin on her face.
She could hear the lovely melody of the guitar being played from a distance away and she couldn't help but want to pay a visit to the lovely, artistic captain of squad 3.
Using Shunpo, she made her way down the familiar path until she was right outside the door to the captain's office.
The melody, which grew louder the more she traveled, stopped altogether as she stood in front of the thin door.
"Kirin dear?" She heard a voice mumble from beyond the door. "Is that you?"
"Hm. It's me."
The sliding doors flew open and a man with blond hair stood on the other side, a rare soft smile on his face.
"Come in. I've been expecting you." He said, standing to the side to allow her entry.
"Thanks Rose." Kirin muttered, walking into the office that she'd been in so many times.
Instead of a typical, plain office with a desk, chair, shelf of books and heaps of paperwork scattered about, Rose's office was cozy and had a comfortable feel to it.
A smile came on her face when she saw the portrait she made for him hung directly above the spot where he kept his instruments.
"I figured that's where you'd keep it." She said, glancing back towards the man who had wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to the low couch that was directly in front of the instruments. "Do you gain inspiration from staring at it?"
Kirin was joking when she said that, but Rose nodded seriously, staring at her with a fond gaze.
"Of course! I simply adore looking at the beauty you crafted for me my dear!" He said, walking to the wall where a small guitar lay.
"Now if only you'd take my other request and craft a beautiful portrait of yourself. That way I can be gazing at your lovely features all day."
A pinkish fluster came on Kirin's face at the bold words.
'I'm not usually one to get flustered by stuff like that, but… Damn.'
Rose took a spot on the stool in front of the couch and began playing a soft melody.
One that as he promised, wrote about Kirin. The lyrical rhythm exuded a theme of softness, flair and deep mystery.
The tunes were perfect if one was going for a comfortable, mystical feel on a rainy night. The easy yet strong strings of the guitar all portrayed the view he had on Kirin.
One who appeared soft, simple, easygoing to a fault and extremely carefree. Yet beneath those layers is a woman who no one truly knew or understood.
A mystery.
Kirin found herself becoming relaxed the more he played. Her tense, rigid muscles slowly grew loose as the melody continued to reach her ears.
At a point, she had closed her eyes and leaned back into the soft couch to enjoy the music.
About two minutes later, it was over and Kirin opened her eyes to meet the gaze of Rose who was leaning forward right in front of her, staring down at her with a fond smile.
"Well?" He asked softly. "How was it?"
Kirin hummed, a sly smirk coming to her face. "Well, it was good. Very good."
It almost sounded like the blond man purred. He leaned in so his forehead was directly touching hers.
Kirin relaxed into his touch for some few seconds before pulling away.
She stood up and walked over to the portrait hanging on the wall, trailing her fingers along the edges.
The portrait was one of her finest works. It included a lot of vibrant colors that weren't common at all in the soul society.
She only ever got those colors by sending her squad members stationed in the world of the living to retrieve them for her.
'And damn were they expensive! Not like I'd ever tell Rose that though. He'd insist on paying.'
She felt arms wrap around her from behind which made her remember Kisuke from earlier.
Subconsciously, her hands went to the konpeito candy bag in her pocket.
'I'll have to pay him a visit soon. It's been a while.'
.
.
After spending about an hour having tea and chatting with Rose, Kirin finally made her way back to her squad.
"Hah… Another good day hard at work!" She yawned out, casually waving to some of her subordinates who were on patrol.
Of course, they only glared at her before walking off.
"Aw, so mean this early in the morning?"
"It's actually mid afternoon Lieutenant Yagami,"
Kirin stopped in her tracks, an enthusiastic smile coming on her face as she turned to face the man who was walking behind her.
"Sosuke! Hey there. I hardly ever see ya around nowadays. Been busy?"
Sosuke Aizen, the third seat of squad five, a man with brown hair and rectangular frame glasses, smiled back at her.
"Quite busy Lieutenant Yagami!" He said, walking forward to be in step with her. "That reminds me, have you heard the recent upsetting happening in Rukon lately?"
Kirin nodded, her smile never wavering from her face. "Yup! It's a strange hollow case. I'm in charge of looking into it! Along with Lieutenants Yadomaru and Sarugaki."
The brown haired male hummed. "I'm guessing the mission details are classified?"
"Nah! Not really," She replied, waving a hand. "Some word must've spread about the case anyway so it isn't anything secret! Just some hollow case!"
"A hollow case that requires the attention of three lieutenants and about a hundred squad members?" He asked back, the smile never leaving his face.
Kirin's didn't either.
To anyone looking, they might have appeared to have been talking like old friends.
And they probably were.
"Big hollow case." She clarified, before walking ahead of the male.
"Well, this is where I have to leave." She said, waving to Aizen. "See ya."
"Of course, Lieutenant Yagami." Aizen replied, bowing slightly, watching Kirin walk on the route leading to her quarters.
The smile Kirin had plastered on her face broke the minute she shut the door of her office.
A passive stare replaced it, bringing a somewhat ominous chill into her office space.
'Sosuke Aizen.. How ironic it is that he's the man the fools of my squad members want as their lieutenant.' She thought, shrugging off the Black Rose printed haori she was wearing.
'Well, not that it matters what they want though. He won't have a chance, step or opportunity to become lieutenant as long as the other positions are filled up and I remain in his way.'
'Must be pretty annoying having me as a superior huh?' Kirin chuckled, removing the konpeito candy that was in her pocket and setting it on the coffee table.
After making sure her door and all the windows were locked, as well as using a protective kido to keep visitors out, Kirin went ahead to unravel all the finds she got on the Replicating hollow case.
As well as the new information she got yesterday while spending a marvelous time with her dear Captain Hirako.
"Now then.. The expedition by Squads 3, 8 and 12 to the Western districts of Rukongai will have a date fixed for it by tomorrow."
"Might as well use the rest of the day to work out my hypothesis on this case and make my final judgement tomorrow."
"If all goes well, I can be done with it even before we go on the mission."