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Year: 1986
Area: Second District
Time: 10:00 am
Season: Autumn
Temperature: 50 degrees Fahrenheit

Zane was going for a nice morning stroll throughout the Rukongai, not having anything to do at the particular moment. He actually had come to the second district in particular to see the leaves fall. It was, after all, that time of year when they changed color and began to fall off the trees. What a lovely sight! Zane stopped at the base of one of the tree and stared up at the branches, which were still full of leaves with only a few falling off here and there. Such a peaceful morning and how pleasant it was.

Today was a happy day for the young hollow. She had finally learned something from those two shinigami's about catching fish and had successfully filled her belly with two of the fat silvery fish. But all this catching fish had wasted the night away and the sun had burned through the darkness. Luckily the dragon-like hollow was under the shade of trees, for the sun would hurt her eyes, that only saw in hues of reds and blues, and make it difficult for the youngling to find her way back to the Wastelands. So, Kurai thought, she'd just find a nice tree that could bear her weight and sleep.

Little did Kurai know that there was trouble lurking around....

Zane smiled lightly and moved from where he was, walking down the street, viewing each of the trees. Each of them had varying colors among their leaves and even had varying amount of leaves still on their branches. Zane got about 30 feet away from the spot he started and began to glance up into one of the trees when he noticed something roosting among the branches. Was that a hollow? Why was it roosting here of all places? "Hey! What are you doing up there?!", He called upward.

The hollow was in a deep sleep, explaining why she didn't see the shinigami approaching. It would be when the shinigami rudely woke the young hollow from her slumber, Kurai would become animated. Crimson orbs flickered open and blinked, the sun making it difficult to see.

"Nya, who's the mean one to wake Kurai. Kurai was having a nice dream." When the hollow looked down she would see a blobby red, humanoid form. Once her brain registered that, she would stiffen up immediately and look out of the corners of her eyes for an easy escape route, but failed, for she was stuck in a tree. There was only one thing left to do. Initiate Operation: MAKE KURAI SEEM PATHETIC!

"Eep, Shinigami, at least Kurai thinks shinigami is shinigami, please don't hurt Kurai! Kurai was just being good and sleeping, no trouble here at all. Uh-uh!" Kurai would shake her head in emphasis to support her words. The only question would be, did this shinigami believe her words?

Zane chuckled lightly at the Hollow and her apparent need to explain herself. He shook his head at her, "Kurai doesn't have to worry. Zane won't hurt her. Zane just wants to know why Kurai is in the Rukongai. Hollows usually don't frequent this place.", He announced to her. He truly didn't want to hurt the Hollow, she had a strange, but child-like charm about her that caused Zane to want to keep peace between the two of them. He wasn't exactly sure how others would take to her, but he felt a strong feeling to be kind to the Hollow.

The claws of the dragon would relax, leaving scars in the bark of the tree she roosted in, but didn't lower her guard one bit. The life of a hollow proved to Kurai that you couldn't trust people on their appearance. The way the shinigami talked to her irked the hollow just enough the cause a reaction out of Kurai's usual behavior. Her red eyes narrowed as she leapt down from the tree, keeping her distance from the man.

"Kurai doesn't like how shinigami is talking to her. Kurai may be young, but Kurai has lived long enough on her own to not be babied." Even though she tried to keep her stature strong and unyielding, her voice gave away how lonely she was without the nurturing touch of a mother (even if that mother tended to be really mean and lash out at how the youngling was an improper hollow). "Kurai will be in the human city because Kurai wishes to and Kurai likes to. That is all shinigami should know."

Zane folded his arms across his chest and arched a brow at her as he listened. Since when was he babying her? How does one even baby a Hollow? Were they all this moody too? She seemed to be freaked out no more than two moments ago when she woke up and noticed a Shinigami was yelling at her and now she was pissed. Zane simply shook his head and ignored the posed annoyance that Kurai expressed with him.

"That is fine by me, but what happens when the other Shinigami find you roosting in the middle of the Rukongai? Do you think they will be as nice about you being here? Now, if you don't mind, please tell me why you are really here."

Zane called up to the hollow, determined the answer he had gotten from her before was a result of her annoyance, not her reasoning. Though he knew that if the other Shinigami showed up and found Kurai and him assisting her Zane would be, without a doubt, in trouble as well, but something was telling him not to care.

At the mention of other shinigami showing up, Kurai would give a startled look before turning to move behind the tree. Personally, the hollow never thought that so many shinigamis would enter the forest. Maybe they got word that a hollow had been lurking around where Kurai always liked to fish. If that was the case, she would have to come clean about eating the fish and not get in trouble.. This shinigami seemed nice enough.

"If Kurai tells shinigami why Kurai is in human city, shinigami must not tell other shinigami. Promise?" Kurai waited for a few heartbeats before answering the few questions Zane had asked the girl. "Kurai is in human city because Kurai got hungry and no longer has Neene to help catch other hollows for Kurai to eat. Kurai thought that fishies would be an easy fix to being hungry for years. And Kurai feels safer in this green place than birthplace."

Zane nodded lightly to the Hollow's request to not speak to others about why she was here. Simple enough really. He then continued to nod as he listened to her words and something about it caused Zane to feel.. almost sorry for her. He sighed lightly, knowing all too well what it was like to be alone and having to get by on his own. His parents died when he was young and his brother up and abandoned him without even a goodbye. Zane gritted his teeth at the thought of his brother and would kill him without hesitation if he ever saw him again. He looked toward Kurai and released another sigh.

"Don't worry, Kurai. I won't say anything about you being here. You'll be safe as long as you aren't seen. I promise."

While she was talking, Kurai had noticed the shinigami's face first lighten to a cool yellow before darkening to a deeper red. She hoped he wasn't mad at her. But then he had said kind words, killing the idea of the shinigami being mad a her. Perhaps, he too, had family problems. There was only one way to find out.

"Does shinigami have any family shinigami can rely on?"

Zane shook his head lightly at the Hollow's question. Would she understand his problems though? Seemed like from what she had stated to him before she would, but why would a Hollow care about the plight of a Shinigami. The same could be asked of Zane. Generally it was a Shinigami's job to dispose of Hollows and here he was conversing with one. The Soutaichou would not at all be thrilled with him if he found out. Or so he assumed, but with Malik, one could never know.

"I don't. My family was killed off several centuries ago and my brother abandoned me soon after. My division is the closest I have to family and I don't speak to most of them."

Kurai knew what it was like to lose a parent and someone she looked up to. The youngling frowned slightly, creeping closer to the shinigami until she was barely a meter from him.

"Kurai lost her Neene too. Neene tried to keep Kurai safe and died." The hollow laid down, placing her head on her forepaws. "Kurai misses Neene a lot."

Realizing what the hollow just spoke aloud, Kurai quickly stood up and shook her head. Why would she open up like that to a complete stranger, a shinigami stranger at that! Then again, this stranger had told her about something just a personal. Perhaps they were meant to find each other, like fate was guiding the hollow to more than just a good meal! The possibilities were endless.

Zane stepped forward as Kurai inched closer to him, the gap between the two of them small enough that either of them could easily attack the other. Zane had no desire to strike down the young hollow, but he was unaware of her full intentions with him. Zane reached out a hand and patted the side of Kurai's face. How odd for a Shinigami and a Hollow to interact like this, but it was almost like.. a family bond existed between the two. Zane withdrew his hand slowly as to not make it seem he was upset, but at the same time not upsetting Kurai.

"For such a young hollow you seem to do quite well for yourself, Kurai. I don't see many your age that can fend for themselves or that would even try to approach a Shinigami"

The hollow would flinch and close her eyes, expecting a cuff to the head, just like what her mother used to do, but was surprised to feel the soft touch instead. Kurai would open her eyes to gaze at the shinigami, curiosity hinting the crimson hue. And then all to quickly, Zane had removed his hand. Was there more to these Shinigamis than Kurai thought?

"Well, Kurai is good at hiding and knowing when to run away from trouble. Kurai also doesn't like having to fight."

Zane smiled lightly at the hollow which a part of him found to be a little odd. Zane was happy to know she was able to avoid conflict and not be caught. He was feeling a strange connection to the Hollow. Zane took a single step closer to Kurai.

"Well that is good. Wouldn't want anything to happen to you.."

Zane soon came to realize that he was speaking to the young hollow like they had been friends for years.

Kurai would smile and nod, a giggle escaping her throat. She liked this shinigami, even if he was supposed to be her enemy. Like, seriously, hollows and shinigami didn't have to be enemies right? Even better, Kurai could finally find someone who could fill the emptiness that was left behind when Neene died.

"It is very good, Kurai wouldn't want to die so young." The hollow would sit on her haunches and tilt her head at the shinigami, a smile evident on her lizardy face. "Kurai has decided that she likes Shinigami. Shinigami is nice to Kurai and not mean like the other ones who attack Kurai on sight."

Zane chuckled lightly when she giggled and he nodded lightly toward her. Clearly not all hollows were bad and why should the good ones be punished just for being a Hollow? It wasn't right. Clearly Kurai felt the same way as she hadn't tried to attack him at all so perhaps she didn't think badly of him. This was only confirmed when she openly said that she liked him cause he was nice to her. He couldn't help it though. She was kind and child-like and regardless of her being a hollow or not, Zane couldn't morally bring himself to strike her down. He reached out once again and patted Kurai gently.

"I've decided that I like you too, Kurai. So much that I am going to be so bold to say.. From this day on, I'm going to call you my little sister. I don't care if you're a hollow or not. You're too nice to be attacked and I feel.. connected to you somehow.."

The words little sister echoed in the hollows mind as weird butterflies seized her stomach. Was it finally the end of her life long quest to find the someone who would fill her loneliness? Yes, yes it was. Kurai would hop up and jump around like a little puppy, squealing in happiness for FINALLY finding a new family.

"Yay! Kurai will no longer be alone! Kurai is so happy!" Kurai would tackle the shinigami in her way of giving him a hug, nuzzling his face. "Thank you so much Shinigami! Kurai will be the best little sister ever!"

Zane chuckled lightly as he watched and listened to the words of the Hollow. He then oof'd as she tackled him and nuzzled his face, reaching a free hand to pat her gently. A smile found it's way to Zane lips as he thought about having a little sister, even if she happened to be a hollow, and it excited him slightly.

"I know you will, Imoutochan. I know you will.."

And it was then that something embarrassing had to happen to Kurai! Her stomach had to start yelling at her! GRUGULAARG! Oh how embarrassing! If she didn't have a mask on there would definitely be pink upon the hollows face.

Kurai would then hop off of her new found brother and smile, "Kurai must go and find more yummy fishies now. Tummy is starting to be mean so Kurai must make it happy! Bye bye, Kurai's new brother!" The hollow would then scamper off to her favorite fishing spot, hoping to be lucky once again!

[Exit]

Zane would chuckle lightly as he heard his new found little sister's stomach grumble at her. He sat up as she hopped off him and waved her off as she went off to find herself more fish to eat.

"Goodbye, Little Sister. Please be safe.."

Zane had called out to here, but he wasn't entirely convinced Kurai would've heard him. He brushed himself off and turned, walking back toward the Seireitei. It was time to get back to business.

[Exit]

Thread Rewards:

Zane - 11 RP

Kurai - 10 RP

Points added, thread locked.