The hollow had certainly seemed peaceful enough, but could he really be sure? His confidence in himself was great enough. "I think I might be able to lend a hand, he paused for a moment, "That is, if Tachibana-sama says it's alright."

He turned his focus to Kurai and smiled, "You may call me Motoyoshi-san." Renkai tried to seem as friendly as possible, which wasn't hard for him because he was generally a friendly person any way.
However, he now was awaiting a response from Ume.

How could she just leave the hollow unattended to? Surely there couldn't have been more than one hollow this night, could it? Also, it was rather rude to leave the new acquaintances on such short notice!

Well, that... and Ume got lost and wandered around in a circle... eventually coming back.

Grunting, she coughed a bit, almost silently; as if to not stir a sound, or alert the others of her returning presence. However, she stepped on a twig and it snapped loudly, causing Ume's small figure to likely be discovered... Again! While near a bush, she casually and slowly looked back to see if anyone had noticed; her back arched down slightly and her knees bent, as if almost stalking!

"Eh... Heh." Ume muttered between the fabric covering her lower face, as her orange eyes glanced about.

Kurai skipped around in a circle, letting out a squeal of happiness. She had new people she could learn how to catch fish! Maybe Fuzz- er.. Motoyoshi-san wasn't so scary after all? Once she stopped her hyperactive skip, the hollow bent her scaly neck to sniff at the wrapped candies. "Umm... What's a candies? Are they really yummy?"

Kurai then turns towards Motoyoshi-san, frowning slightly. "Motoyoshi-san... You're name is really long. Can Kurai call you Moto-chii instead?"

Nabi lightly laughed, smiling at Kurai.

"Candy is very sweet. It'll melt in your mouth if you eat it."

She unwrapped one of the candies, revealing a small, light-blue colored ball-shaped candy. She held the candy out to Kurai to see if she wanted to try it.

Then Nabi heard the sound of a twig snapping nearby, and sharply looked to the side, wondering as to who it was. The medical shinigami blinked, seeing it was Tachibana-sama, and gave her a friendly wave.

She then turns back to Kurai, and lightly laughs at Kurai's nickname for Motoyoshi-san.

"Keke. Moto-chii. That's quite cute."

He mulled it over in his head for a moment. "I suppose there would be no harm in that. Call me whatever you like."

The river to his right continued to flow, and the sound reminded him that he had agreed to catch a fish for the hollow. Fish were visibly swimming in the shallows, the moonlight glinting off their silvery scales which would reveal their position. Given the warm evening air, the water would be fairly warm, or so assumed Renkai. It only seemed logical, anyway.

He removed his socks and wooden sandals, after all, no one enjoys walking with wet socks. However, there was no way for him to keep his legs from becoming soaked, which was happening now as he waded carefully into the stream. The water was slightly colder than he anticipated, and a slight shiver ran from his legs up the length of his spine. He looked back at the others on the bank, as if to reaffirm what he was about to attempt.

Fishing wasn't one of Renkai's hobbies, though this wouldn't be his first time; it was his first time without using a fishing rod, or any kind of bait. The best way to go about it, he thought, would be to use his sword and hopefully spear a fish onto it. Not a bad plan.

Renkai placed his hand around the handle of his blade, patiently watching the fish as they shifted about in the water. Eventually one would have to make its way closer to him as he advanced further into the stream. A fish brushed against his ankle, giving him a slight start, though he retained his composure; he shifted his eyes to where the fish had moved to. It was only about a yard away from him, easily within reach. Taking a deep breath, he readied himself.

As quickly as he could, Renkai drew his blade and thrust the tip at the fish, in one fluid motion. Alas, the moment he moved even slightly, the fish took off down the stream, causing him to miss. "Damn it," he muttered quietly under his breath. He wouldn't give up. Turning to face another direction, he spotted yet another fish, this one only slightly further than the last, and still within his reach. Standing idly in the water, sword still grasped, Renkai waited for the fish to move closer. At what he deemed to be the precise moment, he thrust the sword into the water, taking great care not to move his feet. Perhaps he should have though, as he too found himself quickly submerged in the water. However, his efforts had not been in vain!

Renkai thrust his sword into the air in triumph! There, speared onto the blade, was one of the very fish they had been trying to capture.

Ume would return the wave from Nabi with the same enthusiasm, stating. "Seems I went around in a circle and ended up back here…" She snickered afterward at her own failing sense of direction, but observed the 4th division Shinigami attempt to catch his first fish of the day; which turned to be an obvious fail.

But, after experience and trial/error, Renkai had prevailed; albeit a little costly, but still! She sat upon a large rock as she watched the trio interact, a smile well-formed upon those pale lips. Though, the group couldn't see that.

Ume knew she couldn't stay too long, but it was a rather peaceful summer's night. She would leave sooner rather than later, but perhaps she wanted to sit back and take a breather… again.

The hollow would lick the candy Nabi had unwrapped, an expression of shock and awe. "It tastes funny. What was this stuff called again?" Kurai couldn't decide whether she liked the stuff she was offered or not. Did shinigami always eat these things, and if so, how did they survive on the stuff? The ways of shinigami was difficult for the hollow to understand.

The hollow sniffed the candy once again when she heard a thrashing in the water once again. She turned her head to the source, seeing Moto-chii throw his arms into.... some kind of victory? Kurai started to frown when she saw a silvery object flailing on the blade of Moto-chii's zanpakuto.

She let out a screech of happiness, hopping up and down like an excited puppy. Oh how great it would feel to not have her stomach yell at her! "Kurai is gonna have a full tummy! Thank you Moto-chii!"

Nabi lightly laughed, hearing Tachibana-sama's words, and smiled, nodding. She then turned to Kurai, nodding.

"Perhaps you can try the candy later. Looks like Motoyoshi-san is trying to catch a fish!" She wrapped the candy again and placed it in her pocket.

Then she turned to watch Motoyoshi-san trying desperately to catch a fish. After trying for a couple of times, the male shinigami finally succeeded in capturing a fish!
Nabi lightly laughed, clapping her hands.

"Wah! Good job, Motoyoshi-san!!"

Renkai had started to clamber out of the water, dripping wet in the summer evening breeze. The air caused him to shiver slightly, and goosebumps were forming on his arms and neck. The praise of his peers kept him in good spirits, though, and he made his way over to Kurai with the fish still speared onto his sword. Once he was a safe distance away from the water, he removed the fish from the blade, holding onto it by sticking his fingers into its gills, keeping the scaly creature from slipping out of his grasp.

He wasn't quite sure how he should present the fish to the hollow, so once close enough, he just sort of held it out for her at arms length, hoping that if she took it with her mouth, she would spare his hand in the process.
While he offered the fish to Kurai, he turned back and gave thanks to Nabi, also spotting Ume, whom he hadn't noticed up until now.

He felt slightly embarrassed, having plunged into the river during his attempt at fishing, however his efforts had been successful and that was enough for him to take pride in.

Glancing back and forth at the trio, she then realized that she would move on, slithering into the shadows of the night to not be heard from again, hopefully – well, at least within the night. There were more places to explore, and perhaps more hollows to slay. So, Ume ventured through the forests, departing with a respectful bow and wave to the group. "

Well, I don't think I need to accompany you during your travels back. Good day, everyone, and be sure to return back to the wasteland when you've had your fill of fish, Kurai; for your own safety." She uttered, pivoting on her heel and wandering off.

[Exit][/blockquote]

When Moto-chii approached Kurai with the fish she sat up on her haunches and reached out for the fish, grasping it with her clawed hands. She was about to take a huge bite out of it when she heard the departing words of Ume. She let out a small whine. "Aww.... Kurai doesn't really remember how to get back to the Hollow place..."

The young hollow almost forgot about the fish when it gave one last wiggle, Kurai chomping onto it and ripping it in two, her whining forgotten. "Oh! Moto-chii, Kurai thanks you again! This fish is yummier than Kurai thought it would be!" The hollow then snapped up the fish in two gulps, licking her snout clean of any leftover fish.

Nabi turned her head aside as Kurai ate. As she did so, the unseated Shinigami's eyes fell upon one of the herbs she had been looking for, reminding her that she did have a job to do and it was late. "I'm sorry, I need to go as well," Nabi said before retrieving the herb then bowing to Kurai and Renkai and departing.

[Nabi exited]

SPOILER: Click to show

Nabi exited as per her request in the absence thread. No points will be docked as she gave proper notice.

Renkai gave a slight wave to Nabi as she departed. He probably would have to leave soon as well, though he wasn't sure what Kurai would do in his absence. Granted, she had somehow survived on her own up to this point. Nevertheless, it was starting to get late, and he would have to work somewhat early in the morning.

He looked up at Kurai and said, "I'm glad you are enjoying your fish. Sadly, I will have to be going soon. Will you be alright out here by yourself? You mentioned that you don't know your way back to the wasteland... I could point you in the right direction if it would help."

Kurai let out a hum in thought. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she snagged a tree to sleep in. She did like the forest compared to the complete emptiness of where she was born. "Umm, Kurai thinks she will try to find her way home later. Kurai will just find a nice tree to sleep in for now. Bye Moto-chii! Kurai hopes to get more yummy fishies from you again!"

And with that, the young hollow would bound away and leap into the biggest tree she could find, sleeping with one eye open.

[Exit]

Tonight had certainly contained an odd sequence of events. Some that Renkai would likely never forget, particularly meeting a hollow that wasn't blood thirsty and ready to attack and be killed. It was a nice change of pace though, and it had given him something to do with his evening. However, the evening was drawing to an end, and he would need to be on his way.

Waving goodbye to the hollow, he watched her bound off before turning and heading back to the walls of Seireitei.

[Exit]

Thread Rewards:

Ume - 7 RP (13/2)

Kurai - 15 RP

Nabi - 7 RP

Renkai - 8 RP

Points added, thread locked.