Uncertainty (attn Masaharu)

[Suigintou]

Evening settled slowly over Seireitei. The sky darkened imperceptibly until a stain of pink stretched across the clouds to fade into the approaching violet night, and the shadows lengthened and darkened over the stone-paved streets as they ran from the remaining light. It was a deep, cool twilight, stirred by a light breeze, and Riku shut his eyes, leaning his head back into that faint rush of air. Except for the soft rustle the wind made as it shifted around the walls and the buildings of the city of shinigami, it was quiet, still, and the young ninth seat was utterly alone at the border edge of Hachibantai's district. He liked it that way, preferred it, even. It gave him time to think, and there was much to think about.

This peace, he knew well, was transient, a sigh preceding the roar of an approaching storm. Even now, Kurotsuchi-taichou and Unohana-taichou were in the midst of examining what little remained of the hollows they'd dispatched. Somewhere else, Hitsugaya-taichou was undoubtedly informing the others of what they'd witnessed in Karakura-cho. Fukutaichou and third seats were routinely sent out to patrol Rukongai for any sign of arrancar activity, and the pervading atmosphere throughout the shinigami community was one of tension, even fear. For Riku, it was a lingering sensation of uneasiness, ever-present, like a faint tugging at the back of his mind. He absolutely hated this waiting, this uncertainty, and the doubts that came with it.

As far as he knew, hollows had never acted on this scale before. Emboldened by Aizen's removal from power, perhaps? But it was impossible to guess at their ultimate goal; no matter how much they examined what they knew, how carefully they turned it over and analyzed every angle, they were grasping at straws. Riku sighed, shifting a little to lean against the pillar supporting the wooden porch he sat on. He shoved one hand through the layers of his hair, shutting his eyes as his head hit the pillar with a dull thump. It was all too much, that was the problem. Too much to process all at once.

Above all, though, Riku absolutely hated this sense of idleness. Irritated, finally, he stood up and began to walk with no particular destination in mind, purely for the need to move. Waiting was never something he had been particularly good at, especially not when compounded with the nagging sense of his own weakness that had settled in ever since the arrancar's attack. Any time he was still, he found himself unsettled; this restlessness was the only refrain he could find, slight as it was.

Maybe he'd look for Masaharu. Company wouldn't resolve anything, perhaps, but it could provide a welcome distraction.

[Bishiglomper]

Masaharu stepped out into the cool evening air, wiping the sweat from his brow as he gazed into the setting sun; he hadn't realized how much time had passed. The sun was already halfway obscured by the horizon. Was it already this late?

Each day since the development in Karakura, Masaharu had spent all his free time in the hachibantai dojo strengthening his skills. The recent events in both rukongai and Karakura troubled him, as he knew it troubled everyone else in Seireitei. He knew something was unfolding, but until that came to pass he would make sure he did everything in his power to make sure he was well prepared.

Though his behavior would tell anyone that he was calm, laid back and in control of his situation; Masaharu harbored his own worries and doubts. Whenever they would take over, he would either work through his stress in the dojo, or find time alone for himself to sort out his head. Lately, he had obviously taken the more productive approach.

On top of the tension befalling all of Seireitei, Masaharu had another feeling of unease. The sudden horde of hollow in Karakura were alarming, of course, but it hadn't hit Masaharu until later that it was very concerning to him on a more personal level that so many hollow had been active in such a small area. It jeopardizes the safety of anyone residing there, spiritual or physical. And especially to anyone harboring a decent amount of reiatsu.

Masaharu knew there were an unusual amount of these people in this particular town, which inadvertently attracted even more souls. Which, in turn, would attract even more hollow...

Of course only he would worry about these things. He was not alive, not living there, and his obligations resided in Seireitei. Officially, he had nothing to do with the living world, let alone the town that sat heavily on his thoughts. His only involvement with the place were the hollow that plagued it; in which case it would still only be his problem if orders made it so. No, he had enough worries here, people he cared about here.

He sighed, defeated. Masaharu leaned against the wall of the dojo, resting his eyes, and in a moment of exhaustion, both mentally and physically, let his guard drop and gave the world a glance at his real feelings.

An afternoon and evening had gone to waste. The worries he worked so hard to forget came trickling back into his mind. Perhaps he just needed a more powerful distraction.

Yes, that would cheer him up, he thought. He started to walk, his expression settling back into content. He immediately wondered what Riku was doing. He knew the answer of course, knowing Riku better than anyone else in Seireitei. He would be brooding and sulking in his feelings of weakness, which he had been doing lately, given the fiasco that started it all.

Masaharu was privy to the younger one's worries. Though he himself was helpless in his attempts at trying to lighten him of such a burden.

"Well," he thought with a small, but sad smile, "they do say misery loves company."

[Suigintou]

Hachibantai's district was rather large, and Riku wandered for some time through those familiar streets, scarcely paying attention to where his footsteps took him. What was he doing? Letting all of this weight settle onto him, falling under the shadows of doubt and hesitation? This wasn't like him. He was a better shinigami than that.

Haruka would've laughed at him.

He stretched his arms out in front of him, let them swing as they dropped back down to his sides, and stopped walking at the junction of a little alleyway, laying one hand on the stone wall that marked the border of the street. Sitting back and thinking about what was wrong didn't suit him at all. If he wanted things to change, he would have to make them change, change himself if that was what it took. The spark of resolve felt satisfying as it settled in, and the prospect of returning to some semblance of normalcy was welcome, even a little comforting. If he was too weak, he would get stronger. Arrancar, menos...he'd have to face them either way, and he didn't have any intention of running. He would be ready.

Not far away, the subtle press of reiatsu on his consciousness alerted him to the presence of another shinigami, and moments later Masaharu stepped around the corner. Looking up at his friend as he approached, Riku pushed himself away from the wall, falling into step next to him by way of greeting. It was a moment before he said anything; when he did, he didn't look at the taller shinigami, but stared forward, his voice subdued.

"They're going to attack again." It was a certainty, not an assumption. "They've never acted like this before. We're going to keep fighting."

Though his tone was dark, it was calm, little trace of the shadow of uncertainty that had haunted him earlier remaining. He was frowning slightly, but he straightened as he walked, turning his eyes skyward. "Arrancar and menos...it's not going to be easy. I don't like this."

[Bishiglomper]

Lost in his own musings, Masaharu strolled the streets of the hachibantai district, which were virtually empty this time of evening. He strolled without conscience thought, relying on muscle memory to guide him... wherever it was that it felt like taking him. He had no destination in mind other than the previous need for some company.

He didn't even realize he walked right past his friend.

Riku came up next to him, and Masaharu smiled softly in acknowledgement though Riku didn't look at him. Masaharu waited for him to speak first as they continued their silent walk.

"They're going to attack again.
They've never acted like this before. We're going to keep fighting."

Masaharu frowned but kept silent as he turned his gaze back to the street.

"Arrancar and menos...it's not going to be easy. I don't like this."

He said nothing at first, taking the time to puzzle over his friend's thoughts.

"I'm certain no one likes this. ...Unless you happen to be Zaraki. You know how he feels about a good fight."

He smiled at his own piece of sardonic humor. His gaze turned to Riku seriously this time, his tone soft and understanding.

"In my experience, nothing in life, or death is ever easy." Masaharu returned his gaze forward, back at the road. "But we're not fighting alone. The whole of seireitei is becoming involved, along with those individuals in the living world..." He trailed off, distracted by his own thoughts again; he pushed them aside as quickly as they'd come.


"The best we can do is prepare for it."

[Suigintou]

Something about Masaharu's demeanor was disconcerting. Subtle as it was, the difference stuck out sharply to Riku, clear as if he'd thrown out a flag of indication. He watched him, silently appraising, noting the darkness that seemed to cloud his expression, the uncharacteristic hesitation. In all the time he'd known him, he'd rarely seen this side, this...doubt, was it? That, more than anything, was the proof of the weight of the situation.

And then the impact of Masa's words struck him quite forcefully. He'd been so absorbed in his personal trouble that he hadn't even realized it, at first, but now - now that awful truth stared him full in the face.

Seireitei. The living world. Rukongai. There were people who didn't even have the spiritual power to defend themselves getting caught up in this, and they didn't so much as know what was happening. His eyes dropped, his brows furrowed, and at his side, one hand clenched into a tight fist. Kei was in Rukongai, now, and...

Somewhere, certainly...

"I don't like it, but we're shinigami," he said finally, a soft resolution in his voice. "I..." For a brief moment, he hesitated; then he drew in a breath and raised his head, firmly setting his will even as he said the words. "I'm not afraid to fight. I just want to know what's going on."

Riku sighed again then, glancing at the deepening twilight sky. His thoughts were darkening even as the sky darkened, and a nagging desire for a brief leave of Seireitei had begun to tug at him ever since his friend had spoken his realizations. That was the worst part of all, these questions, this uncertainty. It was oppressive, heavy, hanging almost in the very air like a fog.

"I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I knew what we were up against, at least." His voice had gone even quieter, subdued by his thoughts. "I don't like fighting blind."

[Bishiglomper]

Masaharu closed his eyes, sighing in resignation; he agreed with Riku. It would certainly relieve some of the anxiety brought on by the recent events if they had some idea of what they were dealing with.

"I think it would be worth a shot to pay a visit to Kyouraku-taichou; See if he can tell us anything." Masaharu's features softened, almost returning to his natural expression. His own suggestion made him feel a bit better. Together they could approach Taichou tomorrow and see what could be learned.