Bleach | The Hungering, the Thirst [HIATUS]

5 | Old Pains and no New Gains

Here you go guys *chucks Chapter 5 at you* aight I'm off to hibernate again and regain my strength.

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"Aha, there she is. Ryoichi, where've you been the whole day? It's already past noon!" Miura queried when the woman showed up late for lunch.

"I uh— ahem, heard you were summoned by the Head Captain?" Coughed Toyotomi who turned a peculiar shade of pink at the sight of her bare torso.

Ryoichi's kosode (upper robe) was slung over one shoulder, nothing but the dressings around her chest to shield her modesty.

"I'm damned boiling," she grunted, plopping down on the bench beside Kumagai and all but collapsing on the table in a knot of arms and hair. "What the hell's going on with this weather." Her voice was muffled.

Kumagai chuckled, not at all bothered by Ryoichi's disregard for clothes. "Indeed, this is quite the heatwave. I heard it's supposed to die down by the end of the week."

"Seriously though Ryoichi, where've you been?" Pressed Miura around a mouthful of grilled fish and rice. His plate was surely stacked high.

"Got lost," she mumbled, still not moving.

Toyotomi glanced her way only to immediately cover his face. "M-maybe you should, y'know, bring... ah, bring a map next time!"

All he got was inaudible grumbling.

"Uhm... R-Ryoichi, you don't think you could, uh, put your kosode back on do you?" The man squeaked, desperately trying to focus on his lunch.

Ryoichi sat up and scowled, sweeping her brunette mane out of her flushed face. "Haaah? Are you kidding? Put it on? I used to walk around like this all the time so what's the problem now, huh?!" She looked almost offended as she rambled on about why she wasn't wearing her robe and how she'd catch fire if she wore it, standing up and leaning over to table so she could look down her nose at poor Toyotomi who cowered on the other side getting redder and redder by the second.

Miura and Kumagai shared a look, their mouths starting to twitch when suddenly they burst out laughing.

"Eh?" Ryoichi's head snapped around glaring at them both. "Why are you two laughing? Don't make a big deal out of it! Can't you see how hot it is! I'm melting! I don't think I've ever sweat this much in my entire life! You think I want to walk around in this sun like this?!"

"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Oi, I'll really kill you if you don't stop."

"Sorry kiddo!" Gasped Kumagai, the old shinigami struggling to catch his breath. "We're just glad to have you back is all."

Miura nodded, wiping tears from his eyes. "Yes, it's been different without you bossing everyone about."

Ryoichi sat back down, looking away only to glare at a table of men who were gawking at her. 'Yeah, that's right, look away punks.'

Kumagai pat her heavily on the back. "You're not going to eat?"

"Ah, no, I already ate on the way back." She'd been relieved to stumble across one of the few shopping quarters in the Seireitei and from there had been able to locate the barracks. A few long walks around the area would soon have her sorted out, getting lost was not her style.

"I see, then if that's the case, I'd say now's as good a time as any." Kumagai collected his empty plates and stood. "We've not given you a proper welcome. How 'bout you join me in the forecourt for a good fight, Ryoichi."