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Post by Suzume Shizuka on Oct 16, 2024 22:58:08 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: The ChaosEpisode 549 “Returning to Earth”: Suzume sat on the floor of her office on a rug she’d discovered at lunch the day before yesterday. She’d decided to go to the Rukongai for lunch to see if she remained calm and stumbled on the seller after visiting a spot she used to frequent with Momo. The pattern on it was a mix of blues, greens and whites, reminding her of the mountain where Toshiro and she had retreated for nearly a month. It made the floor soft, too. There was a lot for her to catch up on so it was easier for her to spread it out on the ground and organize it that way.
She’d propped the door open, too, half listening to the chatter outside. Not too long ago, she would have preferred as much quiet as possible when working, but now, she’d discovered that a little natural noise made everything a bit less jarring for her. She still had nightmares at night but she’d stopped flaring her reiatsu at surprises and the nosebleeds and headaches had stopped during the first week with Toshiro at her side.
Suzume hoped that Toshiro found Hyorinmaru soon. She’d tried to supportive during the training when he’d frown about his loss, but she knew she wasn’t the best company for a while there. And by the time she’d found her headspace, they both had felt the weight of responsibilities they’d left behind. He had got more serious and she didn’t know how to interrupt that. She’d spent too much time trying to stay upright, no matter what trick it took from her, to fall on him and distract him that way.
She shook her head, chasing away her lapse of attention and returned to her sorting. |
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 17, 2024 15:32:22 GMT -6
Hitsugaya was strolling down the hallway with an armful of files when he passed his third seat's office. The door was somewhat open and instinctively his eyes were drawn to the space between it and the doorframe. Looking inside, he saw Suzume on the floor with her files scattered around like a demented game of hopscotch. He took a couple steps back and stuck his head in the door, looking at her as she hunched over the papers.
"What are you up to? Wouldn't the desk be more comfortable for... whatever it is you're doing?" He asked casually.
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Post by Suzume Shizuka on Oct 17, 2024 18:44:57 GMT -6
Suzume looked up, fumbling as her new set of glasses slid down her nose a bit, and shook her head. “I’ll use the desk soon. It’s easier to organize the backlog on the ground. There’s more space.” She giggled. “Like when I first arrived and helped you with Ran- Rangiku’s paperwork.” She continued, deciding to continue onwards after a moment of hesitation. She looked down at her growing piles. “There was so much so I pushed it onto the ground, and you made the same face you’re making now.”
She giggled again. “You know Rangiku- when she heard about that, she said maybe she should try sorting it on the ground, too, because it sounded fun. Like I was turning it into a game. Not that Momo and I have ever seen it that way. The Oni- Captain Hirako just likes throwing things around when he's in a bad mood so it was easier to gather it there first. Well at least he didn't fold them into paper airplanes like the former Captain Ichimaru used to do. If I remember what Kira used to complain about. Can you imagine all the wrinkles? Or trying to find them in the bushes or behind the furniture."
She covered her mouth a moment later. "Sorry, Toshiro, Captain Hitsugaya, I'm rambling again."
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 17, 2024 20:17:40 GMT -6
Hitsugaya walked into the office completely, shaking his head dismissively. "It's fine. There's nothing wrong with talking about the past. Even if..." He swallowed hard around the words, not willing to say them out loud. "Anyway, whatever gets the job done, as long as you don't go losing papers."
He hesitated for a moment as he watched her sorting through everything, then asked. "How are you doing so far? You know if you feel overwhelmed, you can ask for more time off. I've told everyone in the division to take mental health and bereavement days if they need them. Or even if you just need to use the quiet rooms to take a nap. Sleep is important for healing. We've all been through hell and back. Things won't go back to normal overnight and I'm not about to push everyone to snap back into shape immediately."
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Post by Suzume Shizuka on Oct 17, 2024 22:47:44 GMT -6
Suzume waved her hands in front of her. “No, no, no, I don’t think I need that. More time off, I mean. I’m not jumpy here anymore or getting nosebleeds from being unable to calm down. And really, it will get better with time.” She clenched her hands in her lap. “The retreat helped get me to focus, realize what had happened, but now I want to be here. I think it helps more than hurts. And the paperwork is good for that, too.”
When Toshiro raised his eyebrows in doubt, she giggled. “It is. I know most people hate this stuff, but for me, it’s calming. Momo, too. I think we- we got so good at it that it became a retreat from anytihng noisy. That stayed the same here. I may be in a room alone now doing it when I usually had you or Momo or Karin in the same room, but it’s still-”
She covered her mouth again, trying to calm her babbling. “It’s still peaceful,” she finished in a more subdued tone.
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 17, 2024 23:10:04 GMT -6
Hitsugaya hummed as he listened to Suzume speak. It was more than she had been before their training retreat, so that was good. A babbling Suzume was a good step in her recovery. At least he hoped so. Momo had been a babbler when she was trying to drown out thoughts she didn't want to be thinking. Hitsuagaya himself and Rangiku had been... the opposite. For him it had been sleeping or lack thereof. Dreams were easier to write off than waking thoughts. Rangiku, of course, was a drinker. A habit he tried to warn her of and steer her away from. She had beaten the habit, which filled him with pride and admiration for her.
Regardless, he had to trust Suzume if she said she was fine. This was her journey to recovery. She had to navigate it. Not alone, but she alone made the choices.
Hitsugaya nodded firmly. "Alright. Well, if you've got what you need then I'll be in my office," he turned to leave to get back to work.
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Post by Suzume Shizuka on Oct 17, 2024 23:21:44 GMT -6
Suzume blinked as he made his exit. “Wait, Toshi-” She leaned over and grabbed his sleeve, halting him. She blushed at her disregard for his rank. “Sorry, Captain Hitsugaya. I- I wanted to ask you how you feel. You’ve been pointing me in the right direction and trying to get Hyorinmaru-sama back. You didn’t get much time for yourself. Is that any different here? Do you- do you feel any better?" She looked down at her rug. "On some days?"
Hitsugaya mentally and physically froze solid for a moment. He didn't really want to think about how each day had been. Each day was different, which he knew was normal. But thinking about each day that laid behind him. Thinking about the past... He just wanted to stay focused on the future. His future. His Division's future.
He nodded at Suzume. "I'm doing fine. Thanks for asking. You don't need to worry about me. Just focus on yourself. Knowing that you're getting better every day--that all of my Division officers get better every day--puts my mind at ease the most." It wasn't a lie, but still a deflection.
Suzume frowned over her spectacles, recognizing the bluff as soon as she heard it but also wondering if she should point it out. For a moment, she even wondered what Momo would do, but she started getting up to her feet before she could puzzle that out. As she recalled his help one cold night on the roof of the barracks, she grabbed his sleeve again. “Well, I’m going to anyway, and I got something for you when I found the rug. It’s in my drawer.”
She jumped over her pile, still pulling him along.
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 19, 2024 21:59:03 GMT -6
Hitsugaya protested as she dragged him around her office, making him wide step over her paperwork to avoid stepping on it. "Shizuka, you didn't have to get me anything. I have enough knickknacks in my office and my barracks as it is."
He couldn't imagine what it might have been that she got him. It was either something grand or something small and random. There seemed to be no in between with her. Regardless, he was rooted in place as she rummaged through her desk to find whatever it was she had gotten him.
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Post by Suzume Shizuka on Oct 19, 2024 23:52:13 GMT -6
Suzume pulled out a small narrow box and held it out to him. "I didn't have to, but I saw it when looking for mine and thought of you and Hyourinmaru-sama. So I got it, too. Simple as that."
Inside the box, nestled in some tissue paper, was a set of small metal wind chime pipes dyed a shimmering blue. The ceramic top had a winding dragon carved into it and at the bottom was a metal plate with the Kanji for Fortune.
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 20, 2024 0:31:59 GMT -6
Hitsugaya took the box from her and lifted up the wind chime, examining it. The metal chimes gave a soft tinkling sound. Not loud and distracting, nor sharp and shrill. It was a soothing sound that he wouldn't mind listening to every morning and evening if he hung it in the window above his planter box in his barracks.
"Wow. This is a nice find. The craftsmanship is amazing," he complimented as he turned it left and right to inspect it further. He gave Suzume a soft smile. "Thank you. This was very kind of you."
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Post by Suzume Shizuka on Oct 20, 2024 0:58:04 GMT -6
She blushed and looked down, smiling more because he was happy with it. Knitting her hands behind her back, she nodded. "You're welcome, Hitsugaya-kun." She hesitated and then continued quietly. "Hyourinmaru-sama will be back. He's inside of you. It will just take some time." She peered back up at him. "And we'll all get better."
He nodded firmly, setting the wind chime back in the box and replacing the top. "Yes. Yes we will." Hitsugaya turned and looked at Suzume's paperwork on the floor. "Well, I will leave you to your work. Thank you again for the gift. I'll find a good spot to hang it in time for spring."
"I'm sure I'll hear it before then," Suzume quipped. "You just need wind, but I hope I have some time to put mine together." Toshiro raised his eyebrows and she huffed. "Everyone used to put stuff together for me. I want to try it this time!" She waved her hands. "And the paperwork will be done before you know it. I'm still good at that now that I don't want to run off."
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Oct 20, 2024 21:06:17 GMT -6
Hitsugaya gave out a soft chuckle of amusement. "Sounds like you'll be busy then. Still, let me know if you hit a wall with your work and I'll assign someone to help you out."
He walked towards the door, placing his hand on the knob. He turned to Suzume one last time. "Door open or closed?""Open please, but not too much," she nodded at him with a smile. Hitsugaya nodded in understanding and opened the door to step out. "Good luck and let me know if you need anything." He closed the door half way like she had it and disappeared down the hall to his own office, taking a deep breath to steady himself as he tucked the box with the windchime under his arm. -END- "Grudge"
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