One last night

[shizu]

Petals… petals upon the wind… It wasn’t a harsh wind, a bit cold perhaps but soft and soothing. It ghosted along the small pathway which led to the 6th division headquarters. The grass swayed slightly to its mild touch and from the trees came a long drown hush as it rustled through them. From somewhere inside a courtyard sounded the clear beautiful sound of a silver bell being struck, it was a bewitching sound. One that made her feel a hint of melancholy… Would she ever hear that sound again?...

Nagato Kasumi lay back on the hard wood of the balcony, a soft sigh escaping her lips. The balcony was on the second story of the seated officer’s hall, a building housing the rooms of the eight highest seated officers. Her legs swung idly over the edge. It would have been better if she had something to do… but this last night she had been allowed time off. Her last night… It was an odd feeling. Empty and unfocused green eyes stared up at the eternal darkness of the night, barely able to notice the small silvery beads that were the stars. She wore her normal Shihakushō but for once in a slightly more relaxed fashion… She would miss the old uniform… the new Shihakushō lay inside, neat and perfect… The wind caught the black hakama and made it flutter slightly. At least she had this one last night… one last peaceful night.

Earlier that day she had attended her last meeting of seated officers. Everything had proceeded like normal… but it wasn’t normal. She didn’t seem to belong there anymore. She was alone… almost like before. The bell had heralded a change of stations, would any of them come out here? She wasn’t sure if she wanted them too.
She sighed softly. What would tomorrow bring?... Who knew? But he would have been proud… at least she hoped he would.
It was already late, very late. Sleep… forgetting and being forgotten. The darkness was comforting that way, but sleep didn’t comfort Nagato Kasumi.

“I wish…”

Again she sighed, ever so softly... Leaves… a leaf upon the wind, was that all? Someone was coming… she felt the reiatsu… Again the wind caught her clothing, rustling the trees and soothing the grass. She liked that sound, the whispering sound of wind through the leaves. It was calming… At least it was a beautiful night…

[kensei]

Sagara sighed as he looked around the court yard. He was standing on barely outside the building as he watched the trees sway in the wind. The grass smelled sweet as dew started to grow on them. He shook all of these notions away as he felt the spirit pressure of soon to be Vice-Captain Nagato. He shook his head and whispered. “Might as well.” He made his way up the stairs before walking out to the balcony. “Shouldn’t you be resting, Lieutenant. After all you have a lot of work as the new Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division.” He said with a small smile before leaning against the balcony and closing his eyes. “Cant blame you for wanting to enjoy the night though.” He said before opening his eyes and looking at the trees.

One of the few things Sagara truly enjoyed was wind. It gave fire its strength, it could calm a raging sea, or destroy a city. It was invisible, but it was powerful. And if you weren’t careful you could lose yourself in it in a heart beat. He opened his eyes as he waited for her response while he looked at the stars.

[shizu]

Strong distinct footsteps… She felt them vibrate through the wood of the balcony and heard them clearly as he approached. How many times had she heard those footsteps? How many battlefields had she felt them on? Too many to count… Would she ever hear them again?
He moved past her, leaning slightly on the balcony, then he spoke. She knew that voice so well, a deep voice, strong and firm… quite harsh and usually enough to scare the wits of most recruits. But… thinking about it she liked his voice quite a lot. It was always straightforward and easy, never hiding emotions or thoughts. She liked that. Sagara Zurui was one of those people that either frightened you or you ended up valuing. In Kasumi’s case it was something in between. When he had first been introduced to the 6th Guard Division she had been quite terrified of the brazen and seemingly random young man. He just seemed senseless… But in time she had come to value both his honesty and his combat powers. He… he really was a strange one.

“I am resting… can’t you tell?”

Her voice was hushed and low, and though the tone remained polite and friendly it seemed almost as if she was trying to sleep. But her eyes remained open, staring fruitlessly at starts beyond her gaze. The deep green shone slightly as she lay there, reflecting the starts above. There was a sense of tranquillity to the scene, a quiet peace. Almost despite herself Kasumi realized she was glad someone had wanted to talk to her. After a few minutes of silence she broke it, adding a few lines… almost as an afterthought,

“But… You don’t have to use such stiff titles… I trust you know that Sagara-san,”

[kensei]

Sagara smiled at her reply. She always was doing things in her own way, apparently resting she did awake. He looked at the stars, innumerable and nameless, the stars of Soul Society. He stayed for a few minutes, in silence. But as he was trying to think of something to say, she spoke. He let out a soft chuckle. “Of course Nagato-sama. I just figured you should start getting use to it, after all it will take a lot of time for the tenth squad to warm-up to you.” He looked down at her as his long, crimson hair swayed in the gentle breeze. He slowly sat down onto his knees and said.

“You sure about leaving the sixth division? I mean, becoming vice-captain is great. Its more then most shingami ever make. But, we could use you, we still need you. The Horror Vacui hit the sixth hard..” He sighed and looked at the floor. He clinched his fist, remembering the day when the tower blew. His hair, which was usually wrapped in a pony tail was free, and it covered his face.

[shizu]

“Your just trying to annoy me aren’t you?... Do I have to beat you up before you stop using those silly honorific?”

She cooked her head slightly and frowned, but there wasn’t any real challenge or threat in her voice. Instead it sounded almost as if she tried to crack a joke, only being too tired to give it any life or meaning. Blank empty green looked silently at the shape by the balcony. In the dark everyone looked almost identical in her hazy world… But they breathed in different ways… It made things easier. His voice… he didn’t like the latest development in their world. Who did? Regret? Was that what he felt?...
Her voice sounded softer as she continued, mild and almost sad… touched by a deep melancholy that couldn’t quite be expressed. The frown had disappeared, she looked tired… very tired,

“I am not sure about anything… Vice-captain? The tenth?... I don’t know what those things mean to me. If I could choose… then I guess I would stay here with you,”
He sighed softly, he properly wouldn’t understand… But saying it felt quite good none the less,
“But its not up to me where I serve…”

Wind caught in long black hair, it billowed softly along the white wood of the balcony, a striking contrast. The trees seemed to sigh as the wind passed through them, a deep collective sigh for the realities of life. Again Kasumi allowed her eyes to flutter close, almost unconsciously.

[kensei]

Sagara let out a nice laugh at her response. “Well you called me –san. I figured we where just stepping down on em.” He let out a kind smile to her before stating his question. (Last posts question) He shook his head before saying. “If you truly don’t want to go then I’m sure you could deny the promotion. Im sure that it would be fine if you decided you wanted to stay in the sixth...” He said before letting out another sigh.

He stood up and turned around. It wasn’t that they got along particularly well, but she was one of the few that could stand Sagara, and that was saying a lot. He didn’t want to see one of his few “friends” go. “I wish you would stay Kasumi.” But like always, whenever he tried to do anything Kasai decided he would ruin it. Why are you here? What has this bitch ever done for you Sagara. He sighed and clenched his fist. “Excuse me if I get mad Kasumi, Kasai is being a asshole like always.”

Oh im being a asshole? I thought I was asking a legitimate question! IF anything your being a idiot. What did you think would happen if you came up here huh? Your pathetic Sagara! You truly are! “SHUT UP!” He yelled to the air before taking the conversation to his head. Why can’t you ever stay in your damn world and leave me the fuck alone when im trying to do something? Why must you make everything I try to do hell in a bottle?! Not like I have a whole lot of things to do for fun! I mean, my holder is weak and pathetic. My spiritual realm is dull at best! The only thing I have to do is talk to a idiot and fight when that idiot gets into a fight! Frustration filled Sagara, and it was obviously pouring though. Well when I die I hope you find some peace! Can you make it sooner rather then later? “fuck you.” He whispered before looking down at the ground.

[shizu]

Kasumi seemed somewhat puzzled by his sudden outbursts. Or was it because of his words?.... Not that she didn’t know of his Zanpakuto, he often talked to it; it seemed the swords personality matched the owners quite nicely. A mild expression passed across her face… he seemed troubled and pained. Carefully she got herself into a seated position, her hands leaning against the lower railing of the balcony. The breeze was mild and pleasant as it graced her face.

“I know… But that is how life is, isn’t it? It takes us places and we can do nothing but follow…”

It was a strange melancholic look that graced her face. Something halfway between a smile and a sigh. Did she even believe her own words? A leaf? There had to be more then that. But choice?... Such things were illusions… No one choose themselves, they were all the children of fate. Deep green eyes looked up…. But saw nothing,

“Though if it does comfort you… I am sure we will still get the chance of dying together,”

[kensei]

Sagara sighed and cast all of Kasai’s thoughts out of his mind. He learned a long time ago a way of quitting him for some time but not for long. “I don’t think that is true. I think that there is no fate but what we make. This life is ours to live how we want. To do what we want with it...” He turned back around and looked at her with a hint of sorrow in his eyes. “Die together eh? Well if that’s the case then I hope it’s a while still. But who knows what awaits us after we die as souls. I don’t think anyone ever pictured this is where they’d go after they died. Who knows if there is a third life?”

He smiled at the thought of it. Maybe it was like heaven was supposed to be like. Maybe, just maybe, there was peace there. But there was always the chance that there was nothing and you just become energy when you die.. But he didn’t like the thought of that. Another life, a place where he could truly atone for all of his sins, that would be good. He sat back down and looked at her with a smile. “well, if this is your last day with us, then lets make it one to remember!”

[shizu]

“Last night…”

The correction was maybe meant to be funny, but the way she said it, plain and empty, seemed to draw all humour from it. Her eyes had fluttered close as he talked about a third life… A third life? She had known nothing but this one life. The mere thought of a second life occurred to her as fairly odd. How would a life in the human world be? Properly interesting…
But this one life, despite its hardship and sorrows, was a tolerable existence. She liked serving as a Shinigami, it gave her a sense of belonging and worth which satisfied her.

“And I would say… in regard to making this a memorable day… such attempts started awfully late. But I do not mind…”

Her voice sounded a bit fleeting, as if she wasn’t really paying all that much attention but merely conversing because it was polite. Her emerald eyes had a dreamy sheen. They were odd; deeply melancholic they appeared, yet at the same time removed from all such things as sorrow. She swung her legs slightly, a mild and distant smile playing across her thin lips. A few stray leaves flew past, whirling they way through the clear night air. The scene was almost picturesque.

One life… It isn’t too bad. After all, it doesn’t matter where… who is what matters.

[kensei]

Sagara rolled his eyes at her comment and said. “But you can have so much more fun at night. Come on!” HE said grabbing her hand before walking over to the balcony and jumping off. He smiled back at her as he started to fly threw the air. He had planned on doing this event at some point in the future, but tonight would be a better chance.

Within minutes they where on the outskirts of the tenth division headquarters. He had been planning to get those bone heads back for all the trouble they got him in a few weeks back. They had to start a fight with him, and he ended up burning half of the division and part of Seireitei down. He walked into a abandon building right next to the tenth division headquarters and started to hide his riatsu. “Whatda say to testing out the tenths reaction time and skill?” He said with a wink as he pulled out a few homemade bombs. They weren’t going to do any damage, but it would ruin there night for sure.

He put them into a bag that had also been inside the building and threw it over his shoulder before dragging her along into the tenth division. Within minutes he had placed several bombs and he would be setting them off soon. “You ready?”