Ryuu Shosuke
Ryuu nodded in agreement with what Shizuna said. There were few times from Ryuu’s perspective where the two women rarely saw eye to eye. It was then that what Tenshin said earlier caught up with her when Shizuna spoke of her being soft on her conditions. Frowning it was obvious something was wrong. Looking over at Tenshin, Ryuu’s frowned deepened. “Those were my conditions.” she said carefully and rather slowly, all the while giving Tenshin a sidelong glance. Leaning back in her chair, Ryuu slid one leg over the other at the knee, draping an arm behind her chair and the other holding up her drink.
It seemed the story of her day was something everyone wanted to give their say about since even Ki spoke up about it. “I’ve no intention of hiding Narasuki. Unlike you I plan to excel in rank, maybe go for that vacant spot.” the latter of her reply was said quietly. At this point Ryuu was uncertain as to whether or not she truly did want to go for lieutenant. It would require her to work a lot and considering how the current Kenpachi is, the red head had doubts as to whether she’d even get to enjoy her seat as the second strongest if she had a bunch of paper work to do.
Listening to Ki speak of his own division, Ryuu couldn’t help but chuckle herself at his words. The prospect of tasting the odd concoction created by the bar tender piqued the red heads attention. Trying to hold back a snicker, the expression dancing across Ki’s face and the words spilling past his lips made her wonder if Naratsuki was really Narasuki. In the end Ryuu took the shot glass, raising it in the air with the rest of them but not enough so that it would clink with the others. That would require her lean back forwards and Ryuu was in a rather comfortable position. Spilling the contents of the shot down her throat, the taste was indeed fruity with a strong kick to it. Releasing a satisfactory sigh Ryuu allowed for her lips to curl upwards slightly forming a small smile of content. Naratsuki continued on, asking if there was something fun to do. However at this hour there would be few fun spots in the Rukongai to go to. The idea of sparring with them popped up but then she pushed it aside as something that could be done when they weren’t tipsy.
Looking around the table not many of them seemed to be affected by the alcohol they had consumed. Then again each of them ordered a different amount and it seemed she, Naratsuki and Tenshin had drunken the most. Hearing a sigh, Ryuu turned slightly to face Joel who finally spoke since he arrived. However instead of words of happiness or drunkenness, his words were solemn and rather depressing in Ryuu’s prospective. Reaching out, Ryuu pat the back of his head as if by doing so she could get rid of his negative thoughts. “Joel you’re making yourself out to be one of those damn sob stories. Enough of this talk of appreciation. Be merry like Naratsuki and Reika.” Motioning to the blonde next to her and the red head across the table.
The swaying of blonde hair drew Ryuu’s attention away from Joel, and the red head focused on Reika. It seemed their youngest member was unable to hold her liquor. The blonde rested her head on the table but then brought it up only to let to let it drop on a shoulder, Ryuu’s shoulder. Recoiling, yet not to where Reika would have fallen down, at the sudden physical contact, Ryuu looked down at the young girl. Ryuu wasn’t entirely sure what to do in this particular situation. She wanted to shove the girl off her shoulder but knew that was beyond cruel if she acted out that impulse. Sighing, Ryuu leaned away from Reika and just as she was getting ready to move the poor girls head back to the table a hand reached over, knuckles tapping the girl’s forehead. Finally completing the act, Ryuu looked over at Tenshin who was now standing.
Knowing the look on his face, Ryuu rested her chin on her palm, listening to her fellow squad member give a speech. Rolling her eyes at his words, Ryuu tried not to laugh knowing it wouldn’t sit well with her friend if she did. With his speech ending Tenshin dropped half a dozen tablets on the table for them to take. Reaching over Ryuu took out a tablet and began to fiddle with it, pondering the idea of whether to go with this obvious foolish adventure but finally caved in at the sight of that grin Tenshin wore on his face. “Well I guess I should go with you. It wouldn’t be much fun if I got stuck watching you from behind and not beside you.” Standing up, Ryuu realized how her words came out and thought of saying something to correct the possible misunderstanding but thought better of it. Popping one in her mouth, the slight buzz at the back of her head slowly dissipated into nothing. Ryuu reached for her zanpakuto, holding it close to her body as she normally did. Walking over to where Tenshin stood, Ryuu looked at him and gave him that rare smile before looking over her shoulder at the rest of them. “Well I’ll be waiting outside, might even head to our destination if you guys don’t hurry it up.”
Her impatience was one of the reasons she went outside, the other was simply because she hoped in doing so the rest would hurry as she said. Eventually they did come out of the bar Ryuu stood by the doorway leaning against the wall but straightened at their arrival.
An Hour or Two Later
By now the sun was down leaving them to wonder in moonlit darkness. The small group of friends walked through the forested area of Rukongai; walking the same path those deceased shinigami had treaded upon. As they ventured further and further into the woods the night sounds began to quiet until they eventually ceased altogether. Whether anyone of the group noticed ad pointed this out was up for debate. Ryuu glanced around, her deep red eyes searching the darkness for any possible movement in the shadows.
After walking for another twenty minutes, Ryuu noticed the trees were thinning until they reached a clearing. Stepping into the light the hairs on the back of her neck rose. It was obvious that something about this clearing wasn’t quite right. Ryuu’s gut feeling was proved right when they heard a rustling behind them. Taking quick steps forwards to distance herself from the sound like the rest of them. Ryuu’s grip on her zanpakuto tightened, her fingers inching their way towards the hilt in case she needed to draw it quickly. The rustling sound came again along with what may have been a growl. Yet it wasn’t a kind of growl a normal animal would have made. Ryuu thought of a hollow but the feeling she got from it was different, although she had little contact with them she knew how she’d feel in the presence of one. Frowning Ryuu glanced at her friends, wondering if they were thinking the same thing.
Suddenly a multitude of bodies burst out of the darkness. Counting about 6 of them, Ryuu then spun on her heel eyes wide as a large figure slammed into Tenshin. Calling out in surprise, the fact that the large body was able to move so fast, it was obvious the creature wasn't human. A Hollow? The red head watched as Tenshin was flung back across the clearing and into the tree line. Gripping the hilt of her sword, Ryuu drew her zanpakuto and quickly got into a defensive position. The Hollow that attacked Tenshin rejoined the rest of the hollows.
From the way it stood in front of the others, it was obvious that this Hollow was the leader. Even more so when they got a good look at the Hollows face. Unlike the rest of them, this particular Hollow's mask was crumbling away. The majority of it was gone with only a corner if its face being covered by the white bone that made up their masks. "So what do we have here, a few more shinigami to feast upon." it cackled out through its cracked and broken teeth. Almost as if on cue the other Hollows began to make sounds that could have been laughter. Some edged closer to the group, each one setting its sight on a particular target that met their individual tastes. The rest of the Hollows were smaller compared to the leader but each had a unique build.
The leader motioned with its hand, and the smaller Hollows grouped together in front of their leader. The Hollow smiled at the group of friends before speaking once again. I had originally planned on setting these little fellas down into the nearby town. To get stronger but the souls of a couple shinigami should suffice." Some of the Hollows looked back at their leader, who nodded its consent and the others rushed forwards to have a taste of their meals. The fact that each one went to a single target Ryuu could easily assume they had been watching them for the past while. This thought infuriated her for she had no idea that they were being watched.
Although they were small one could never underestimate a Hollow. They were fodder compared to the leader but that didn't matter once they began to attack their opponents. Even though Tenshin had been knocked back a Hollow still went to his location. The fight was spread throughout the entire clearing while the leader merely stayed in the center watching and waiting to pick off the weakest of the group for his own meal.