"Captain Hirako... Before I officially became your lieutenant, I swore to be loyal to you and to Seireitei."
"I believe in your judgement. Even if it doesn't align with mine, I carry it out regardless of reason!"
"So just this once, with your squad's lives on the line, I need you to trust my judgement!"
"Just this once, listen to your stubborn lieutenant!"
.
.
"Alright, you idiots!! We'll be heading out just as soon as Lieutenant Yagami gets here!!"
"Try not to slow us down ya baldies!!"
It was the day of the Rukon expedition.
The squads of the expected divisions were all lined up at the West gate of Seireitei and ready to take off.
Hiyori stood at the front of the pack, her arms crossed and her usual frown on her face.
Lisa stood at her side with her hands planted on her hips, a bored look on her face.
"Hiyori... When are we leaving? This is tiring."
"Huh?! We're waiting for Kirin! You're too lazy, you idiot!"
The squad members of the fifth division began to grumble.
"Ah.. That idiot's late again?"
"Man, she's such a pain."
Just as the squads began grumbling to each other, a figure clad in a blue haori casually walked up to them.
"Heyy!!"
They jolted, twirling around to see the tall lieutenant walking up to them.
"L-Lieutenant Yagami!" One stuttered out.
Kirin gave the guy a wave before using shunpo to go stand beside her fellow lieutenants at front.
"Okay everyone! Sorry I'm late!" Kirin yelled in a chipper tone, a wide smile on her face. "I just slept in and totally forgot about this. Hehe~"
A series of outraged yells followed after Kirin's shameless announcement.
'Aw, look at my squad members go! They all look so energetic. Looks like they're ready to fight some Hollows too.' The black haired girl thought, gazing around at the gathered soul reapers.
Apart from herself, Hiyori and Lisa, the others had spiritual energy ranked below 7th rank.
'One seated officer from the other squads and three seated officers from mine. Alright, this should work. And maybe I'll be able to capture a live specimen this time.'
Thinking back to the days prior made Kirin's fists tighten.
Her smile twitched slightly, showing her sudden annoyance.
The woman let out a sigh, raking a hand through her long hair.
'If only the hollow I caught last time didn't end up disappearing, I might've made some actual progress and wouldn't even have to be at this expedition.'
From her side, Hiyori could tell that something was bothering her long time friend, but decided not to ask.
Not that she would tell her anyway.
"Alright! Now that Kirin's here, we'll review the strategy before we leave!" Lisa announced, effectively taking over.
"Since we're three squads, but we'll divide into two groups. One team will be led by me and another by Hiyori."
"As per the instructions sent by Squad 5, Kirin will falter behind the group while Hiyori and I lead the rest of the squads from out front!"
A seated officer of squad five—Himeji Daisyke who was notorious for his support in Aizen taking the position of lieutenant strode forward, his arms folded pridefully.
"Why would Kirin have to fall behind the rest of the squad?" He questioned, a mocking smirk on his face.
Kirin turned to face him, her usual smile still plastered on.
Just as she was about to respond, Hiyori cut in.
"She's staying back to cover our backs! You weak idiots have a high chance of getting killed in this mission." The short blonde spoke bluntly. "She's in that position to cover all our bases."
The fourth seat didn't let down his smile though, his eyes still fixed on Kirin.
"A single soul reaper able to cover the bases of dozens? That sounds a little far fetched, don't you think? Especially when that lieutenant comes in the form of a handicap instead of a reliable stronghold."
Audible snickers spread amongst the low ranked soul reapers.
"I mean.. Can't say he's wrong."
"I bet she just wants to try to act tough."
"And at the end of the day, it'll be us having to save her."
Kirin felt the reiatsu of the two lieutenants on either side of her become ominous.
She could particularly feel Hiyori's pulsing.
So before the mission could be called off due to a potential murder case on Hiyori's part, Kirin intervened.
"Why I appreciate your concern Sixth seat Daisyke, I'm afraid there will be no changes to the formation." She said in a sweet voice, emphasizing on his position as well.
"This formation was already approved by the captain of squad five. Your captain." She said, her face morphing into a wide close eyed smile.
"You wouldn't want to go against the wishes of your trusted captain now would you? The same man whom Third seat Aizen has respectfully followed all this time?"
Mentioning Aizen's name—as Kirin expected, shut the bald idiot up.
'At least now we can continue without any more interruptions.' Kirin thought, glancing around her squad members.
'The guys who detest me from my squad are either believers of Aizen or Shinji's followers. Mentioning both their names put a stop to any doubts they had.'
"Okay! Now that that's done with, let's head out!" Kirin instructed, already flash stepping to the back of the group.
Hiyori and Lisa blinked, marveling at how quick their fellow lieutenant handled the matter.
Lisa coughed, catching the attention of Hiyori.
"Tch! Hey, idiots! Time to go!" She announced, glancing at Kirin once before turning away.
"You know the mission! Find out all you can about the Replicating hollow case! We've got just one day to report back!"
"Don't you dare die out there without taking at least half that hollow army with you, you hear?!"
"Yes ma'am!!"
.
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"Hmm, so much for not dying."
Kirin stood on a high branch in the forest of West Rukongai, watching her fellow soul reapers fighting hollows below.
Many were getting badly wounded.
And the worst part? None of the hollows were even from the Replicating hollow army.
"A sudden hollow attack right on the day that we just so happened to be on our mission. And these hollows are a bit strong..." Kirin muttered, her reiatsu concealed as she glanced down. "How unlucky.... I wonder if I should help them."
Seeing another Shinigami—a member of her own squad for that matter getting flung back against the tree she was standing on made Kirin decide to take action.
'Meh.. Doesn't hurt to help once in a while.'
Raising her palm, Kirin pulsed her reiatsu slightly making sure to conceal her presence though.
"Hado No 32, Soukatsui."
A burst of blue lightning shot out from her outstretched hand, engulfing some nearby hollow, effectively taking them out.
Raising her other hand, she directed it to the rest of the hollows.
"Bakudo No 62, Hyapporankan."
Rods made out of violet energy formed out of spiritual pressure shot out to embed the rest of the hollows.
Finishing her attack, Kirin used flash step to disappear, effectively allowing the lower ranked shinigami to finish up the rest and meet up with Hiyori and Lisa—who were probably already heading back to Seireitei.
Basically, the mission was a bust.
None of the hollows both teams encountered were part of the race the Replicating hollows were.
They disappeared the way regulars did.
They all looked different.
'Basically, it seems those hollows have either disappeared or gone into hiding.' The woman thought, using shunpo to jump in between trees.
"Although it irks me to think that they're hiding somewhere my reiatsu isn't able to sense." She muttered in a slightly irked tone though her signature smile still on her face.
"Though this is probably for the best. Now I can work on this case until it's rescheduled."
With that settled, Kirin did one last flash step before disappearing.
'I'll be back to settle this tomorrow.'