Wind's Calling

New Ideas

It was a silent scream as the spikes stabbed through her limbs, her joints being separated. The amount of precision it took to do that fascinated her even in the throes of pain that took her. The hollow was like Grimmjow, stronger than a menos but she couldn't name what it was, even as she stared right at it. "Pathetic rat," she recognized the arrancar's hollow form, the antlers what were holding her at eye level.
"Says the real prey," (Y/n)'s hollow hissed. She bit down and an antler, shattering it as she wrenched an arm free.

Y/n) groaned and turned onto her side, grabbing at the closest thing to her. A soft hand took hers and it took a moment for her to focus on the soft skin of the elegant hand in her rough one. "You're safe here," that was Unohana's voice. (Y/n) didn't feel the pain in her abdomen anymore but she felt sluggish as she pulled herself to sit up. Someone had changed her, a shihakusho modeled after Soi Feng's leaving her back open and her jacket folded neatly by the pillow.
"How did I get here," she muttered. She pulled the jacket on, something making it heavier and in turn making it feel like someone was keeping a weight on her arms and shoulders.
"Captain Yamamoto brought you in. It wasn't hard to find out what was making you ill," Unohana nodded. "May I ask what you were doing tone poisoned like that?"
"Found a secret someone wanted kept," (Y/n) sniffed. She reached over and stopped, her other hand clutching the hilts of her zanpakuto when Unohana took her hand again.
"You wouldn't let it go when Captain Yamamoto brought it in," Unohana held (Y/n)'s forearm and helped her stand up. "Please be careful from now on. You're becoming a regular and that's never a good thing."
(Y/n) gave a small laugh, pushing the blade into the floor to lean on it, "Sorry for bothering you. Kamaitachi can make antidotes but I haven't had them on me."
"What a curious ability," Unohana hummed softly. The door to the room opened up, Captain Yamamoto standing with a tight grip on the head of his zanpakuto.
"Forgive the intrusion yesterday, Captain," (Y/n) went to bow, leaning heavily on her blades. Her face was buried in a shoulder before she could go deep enough, arms wrapped around her tightly.
"You are allowed to do many things and be anything you wish," he stated. "I will not, however, allow you to die, (Y/n)." (Y/n) winced a bit, slowly wrapping her arms around him as he patted her back. "Losing your parents was enough."
"Where's this coming from," (Y/n) laughed nervously. "I'm harder to kill, old man." He let go, turning and waiting as she used her zanpakuto to stand properly.
"Fill me in on what's happening," he instructed. He began walking, (Y/n) following her grandfather after bowing to Captain Unohana as best she could in thanks.
"The clan is in a power struggle currently," (Y/n) replied as low as she could.
"You found out the parties involved then," he nodded.
"Regrettably," (Y/n) looked around in confusion before staring at Captain Yamamoto. "How long was I unconscious?"
"We expected you to be out of it for a few days," her grandfather sighed. "I'm glad it wasn't the case. You won't miss the meeting that's about to start amongst the captains."
Her face paled as she stopped, (Y/n) feeling at her eyes, "Is that a good idea, sir? I'm not- there isn't much I can do at these meetings."
"I want a young opinion on what Captain Amagai has to argue," he stated. "You and Captain Hitsugaya will be the youngest minds there. Shunsui won't mind your appearance I'm sure," he teased. The laugh was subtle as her face turned a light pink, the doors opening for them. It took a while for the captains to come together, complaints flying out of Captain Mayuri's mouth about (Y/n) being there once again.

How Shunsui roped her into drinking with him, Amagai, and Jushiro left (Y/n) bewildered. She hadn't had a drop of alcohol because of having to recover but it made her think about the meeting that had just happened. She was in a daze before Amagai hugged Jushiro, his face red even though he had nothing to drink. "He's never going to build a tolerance," she muttered. She understood why he was so grateful to the two, both men being the only ones that supported his idea of a tighter network between divisions, but he was too caught up in the ideals and not the reality. His hopefulness was nearly blinding to her.
"He isn't too bad," Shunsui chuckled. The three watched the man take a drink before falling to the ground, asleep before his body hit it. "I like how reckless he is."
"Why were you brought into the meeting," Jushiro asked. (Y/n) stared and shook her head, leaning over the table a bit.
"The old man wanted a young mind's opinion," she informed him. "Having only one wasn't enough."
"And what were your thoughts," Shunsui questioned.
She sniffed and stared at Amagai, "He isn't wrong but many of you captains are still very independent and traditional. Breaking out of a mold like that isn't easy." Jushiro nodded slowly and hummed as he poured two glasses, sliding one to her.
"That's a fair assessment," (Y/n) stared at the drink and pulled her zanpakuto closer, Shunsui watching her from the corner of his eye. "But what do you personally think?"
"I think they'd have to start small with those that were willing. A good reputation for that sort of thing has to come from those participating," she sighed.
"That still isn't your opinion," Jushiro informed her with a laugh. She scowled and flicked the pommel of the middle hilt open, dropping a bit of the goo-like substance inside into the drink quickly. "Would you participate?"
"Maybe," (Y/n) nodded. The three ate a little before Shunsui poked at (Y/n)'s shoulder.
"You're wearing a shihakusho," he noted. She coughed, hitting her chest as she tried to swallow with her face slowly turning red.
"I woke up in it," she replied quickly. "I still don't feel completely comfortable in it."
"You look good," Jushiro smiled. The three finished eating, Amagai waking up long enough to put food in his mouth before passing out again. The men carried the incapacitated captain between them while (Y/n) walked a bit behind. A butterfly fluttered to them, and (Y/n) caught her breath at the warning of menos in the area.
Shunsui glanced back at her with a serious expression on his face, "You're not going."
"What," she asked.
"You woke up a few hours ago. You're not fighting," he stated bluntly. Jushiro glanced between the two, a scowl in his face as he took them in.
"I can handle a few measly menos, Shunsui," (Y/n) growled out.
"You are not the only soul reaper here and it isn't that place," he sighed. "I don't think a poisoned soul reaper should be walking around anyways. You should be resting."
"Want to bet," (Y/n) snapped.
"(Y/n), Shunsui is right," Jushiro started.
"Stay out of it," (Y/n) warned. "I still have my own rep to fix. I can't let any opportunities pass me by."
"You'll have another nightmare," Shunsui warned. (Y/n) looked him in the eye as she fixed her jacket before tying her zanpakuto to her waist. He sighed, giving a soft chuckle after a moment. "I'll leave my door open then."