A Brief Respite (HIRATO~)

[Hirato Murano]

His hand rested on the shoulder of his ravishing companion and she nuzzled into it, making him smile involuntary at the feeling of a beautiful woman respond to his touch like that, welcoming the emotion as if it was a dear friend who had just returned from a lengthy journey. Neliel-san visibly relaxed, his hand on her shoulder seemingly rescuing her from the depths of the depression he himself had brought upon her. Realizing that comforting her was no longer necessary since she seemed to no longer be distraught at her failed attempt to cheer him up, the callused and strong hand of the crimson haired Captain departed from her shoulder and returned to its place at his side. Hirato internally reprimanded himself for allowing the green haired woman to see even a glimpse of his true self, which was typically concealed behind his barriers of cold logic. Sometimes, the guise was so complete, he himself almost forgot who he really was. Her voice interrupted his introspection beautifully, her words only increasing his respect for her as she said not what he wanted to hear, but the essential message that he realized somewhere in the back of his mind.

He nodded, affirming the accuracy of her statement; while sometimes he wished he did not have the painful memories, they were inseparably intertwined with all of the many pleasant and uplifting ones of grassy fields and confessions in the moonlight. The cerulean orbs glanced down, catching sight of Neliel-san's magnificent smile burning brightly on her exquisite face that made him feel weightless despite the iniquities and failures of his past. The dominating logical part of his brain decided to chime in at this point, reminding him that dwelling on the past was both pointless and unhealthy for all aspects of his life. It was something he should have learned long ago and he felt foolish for not discerning the truth of that a century ago yet being unable to move on was also something of the past and therefore, unchangeable. From now on, the red maned lion of the Gotei would continue to stride along the path he had chosen, walking toward an uncertain but increasingly optimistic future.

When she leaned into him again, the mind of the newest Captain entertained an impossible and momentary thought of embracing her eternally, protecting her from the horrors of the world and holding her until the end of time. His face flushed a light pink at that idea, and he turned away quickly to prevent her from gaining more insight into the man he truly was. Despite her compassionate nature, Hirato still worried about her attacking him with that knowledge since regardless of personality, she was still an Arrancar and they had proved to be mischievous beings that enjoyed playing with others' feelings simply for their own cruel amusement. She did not appear to be one of those individuals, but appearances could be deceiving, as the timeless adage taught all. She spoke again about her idealistic belief about peace between Arrancar and Shinigami, one he did not share in any capacity. Frankly, the two races had battled for millenia and that was not likely to ever change, although he was starting to wish it would, if only for the sake of this green haired angel. "Well, Hollow and Shinigami have been battling since time immemorial, yet I do not detect any ill will from you. You're compassionate and sensitive. I must admit that I am fascinated by you, Neliel-san." His eyes met hers, his tone sincere and praising while his expression remained thoughtful, pondering the extent of his fascination with her. Certainly, the traits he had outlined were a factor in it and there was her intelligence, yet something else contributed to his interest, something about her beautiful smile, something about how her hazel eyes sparkled, or perhaps something about the green hair that fell to the middle of her back so perfectly. He wasn't certain exactly what it was, and that mystery only served to magnify the appeal of the green haired angel accompanying the lion to his den.

[itsygo]

The captain’s words twirled through her ears and danced with pink upon her cheeks. This wasn’t like the time the humans would stare idly at the green-haired wonder in stores, or the eccentric woman trying on new jumpsuits to suit her façade. Nay, she presumed his fascination was something far sweeter that she didn’t dare place her tongue on to name. Inside, perhaps she thought she may jinx her incredible fortune. Inside, maybe she pondered the deeper meaning behind his words. Inside, it was possible that she was starting to feel as hot as her cheeks burned. “I think I’ve yet to truly fascinate you, Hirato-kun,” she hummed deeply, nuzzling her face slowly into his shinigami attire. “Just wait and see,” she added with a playful giggle. She meant every word, and she had fun with every word. She’d love to have fun with him! Neliel walked alongside her beau escort with a new zealousness, waves of green hair bouncing, reflecting her excitement on the inside. For the second time that day, she looked up to gaze deeply into the eyes of the eloquent lion. Her depression from before had gone and left, replaced by a welcome and devious mindset.

This coquettish character had been lying latent with her for far too long, dying with each decade that passed untouched; for the longest time, she felt it necessary to suppress it. Damn her needs, there was an army to prepare and lives to protect! She’d bore that muzzle upon herself towards her later Espada days, quieting her bark to nothing more than polite greetings, denied invitations and barren nights with nothing more than her and that mocking moon. She found it awfully ironic that the only man she had ever loved had coincidentally been the only being to express an animosity for her. She dedicated that day to him, the anniversary of his death to her full rumination and attention. It was part of what she had given him during his living years, and coincidentally that which he gave her far too much of. It was part of the reason their time together had all failed. His fancy in her had turned to greed, then jealousy, and before long the ugly shadows of anger had colored his voice into fury and hate for her; their rainbow had blended into nothing more than dirt brown. Neliel blinked twice, clearing the colors from her head and taking in the vivacious landscape.

That was then and this is now. “You’re quite the intriguing man yourself, Hirato-kun!” she replied cheerily, that somnolent tone from before stirring from its long overdue awakening. “Soul Society is blessed to have a chivalrous and handsome man like yourself among their ranks.” She smiled up at him again and clung tighter to his arm. Ravishing the idea of a new chapter, nay, a new story entirely in her life, she smiled again. She had mused over it a while ago and believed that she no longer deserved that repression; three hundred years had flown by and she was reluctant to waste a single year more. Happily, the green-haired Arrancar thought about how funny their situation was, right here and now, an Arrancar and her Shinigami wafting gently through the human world like misplaced hell butterflies. This really was quite the lovely place and certainly an auspicious time, she noted in her head. She looked forwards once more, not wishing to creep the man with her approving glances. What was his house like?...Human homes, maybe that was something she ought to invest in one day! A luxurious beach house for every single soldier in her army. She would jubilantly surprise them, just like she was ready to be surprised by the man by her side.

[Hirato Murano]

It seemed that she had given greater meaning to his fascination than he had intended for it to have, that hidden meaning lighting up her face with magnificent color and causing her to conceal herself ever more in his sleeve, which he imagined had to be either extremely comfortable or incredibly reassuring, judging by how many times she had done it. Either conclusion was equally reasonable to him, since he had never felt the need to examine how pleasant his sleeve nor found it a source of a comfort when he was tormented by demons of the past. A supposition about the connotation of his intrigue passed through his mind, but he quickly disregarded it, mentally sending to the "trash heap" that existed in his mind. It was far too ridiculous to be pondered for too long and far too stirring to be allowed to remain the center of attention of his intellectual faculties, else it might motivate him to do something foolish, something he would enjoy at the time but regret greatly later. A smile crossed his face as she refuted his statement with her light voice, only serving to increase his fascination even more while he pondered the meaning of those wonderfully mysterious words. Her follow-up was somewhat mediocre, although in this situation it could be forgiven because a sufficient follow-up to the preceding statement would be difficult to make.

The game they had just started playing was one the crimson haired noble was particularly skilled at, possessing plenty of experience and a considerable amount of natural skill that few were blessed enough to be endowed with. She had already made her move and finished her turn, relinquishing the task of responding appropriately to the man whose arm she clung to, accompanying him on his path regardless of the dangers they encountered or what it led to. His face was still enhanced by the smile her cryptic dialogue had brought to it when his mind began working through the possible ways to respond appropriately. Within a few moments, Hirato had figured out the most interesting method to employ to elicit a wonderful reaction from the green-haired beauty walking next to him. Leaning just enough so that his mouth was close to her ear, the smile widening, the deep tones of the red maned lion echoed forth from his throat. "Is that so? I'm really looking forward to it, Nel-san," he said quietly, the coy tone entering it magnificently, the release of his soft breath drifting down the neck of his incredibly attractive companion before he lifted his head again, striding nonchalantly in the direction of their destination.

He was very satisfied with his turn, predicting that her reaction would be both amusing and enjoyable. There was no doubt in his mind that she did not expect a move like that from someone like him, yet if there was a lesson the two of them should have learned by now, it would be that appearances can be incredibly deluding and that no one should ever determine anything about a person simply by their physical image. He had learned that long ago, even though to a certain degree he had ignored it when interacting with Arrancar, allowing his last source of prejudice to control his actions and perceptions in those sort of situations. It was not an idea ingrained into him through the teachings of the elders, but a conclusion he had reached using observations he had made about Arrancar over the years. Each one of them, save the one he had made today, led him to the inevitable belief that Arrancar were malevolent, vicious creatures that delighted in others' pain and suffering.

However, Neliel-san had singlehandedly disproved this theory, her genuine concern and innocence baffling and intriguing the Shinigami she locked arms with to a very significant degree, making him lower his guard ever so slightly around him, feeling as though he had nothing to fear from his current companion, despite the curse of her race. A different sort of smile, one of appreciation, lit up his countenance, exposing the true glory of it for those who could truly see. "Thank you, Neliel-san. I appreciate it", the lion said, the sincerity obvious in his voice, despite his expression staying firmly dispassionate and aloof, like it was so prone to doing. His cerulean orbs of understanding moved to his companion's face, wondering what sort of creature he had managed to awake in this woman. In some ways, it was troubling how radically opposite it was to the woman who had captured his interest, her intelligence and beauty making her irresistible for both his body and mind, yet in another perception, this side of her had a primal sort of appeal. Whatever the case, he had made his move and now patiently awaited her own, his sea blue eyes staring forward to the beautiful path before them.

[itsygo]

Nelilel felt his warm breath slide down her neck and let out a little whimper. She wanted to know this man, in more contexts and ways than she’d ever know anybody before. And she wanted to tell him certain things too, words she could never say to anyone; she hugged his arm a little closer, preparing to say what she needed to say. She was stopped short, however, as she beheld a grand anachronism in time right before them. Her eyes trailed the gorgeous tiles lining the sidewalk one by one…they were like the stepping stones to a greater world. Slowly, her eyes trailed up to ogle over the beautiful Gothic house standing before them. The dark green of the exterior invited the woman, serene, imperturbable, perfect. Two Gothic style windows appeared above a normal styled door; she briefly wondered what mysteries she could see if only she could see through the windows. Although the beautiful house reminded her of a church, it was much smaller than this; sentimental, even, and she questioned why she immediately felt so close to the home. Nervous green eyes flittered up to the crimson ones of her partner. What was this familiar, welcome sensation?

“You have a beautiful home, Hirato-kun,” she stated with a smile. Truthfully, although Neliel had no idea what to expect from him, his place immediately caught her veneration. Every little minuscule detail of the home’s exterior never escaped her, and she thought him a master craftsman for conceiving such a lovely home. She began to wonder why he wanted this specific home, why he choose this beautiful, specific location in nature, and so much more. If this was only one of his homes, what were the others like? A million questions deluged her and she welcomed the refreshing thoughts. She was impressed by his choices, and caught herself (even for the slightest of moments; she could not deny!) dreaming about how nice it would be to perhaps live here for a day or two. One day she would find her own sweet sanctuary in the human world, preferably nestled in the quiet of the world, a home so sweet that Hirato-kun too would be impressed by her. One day, she told herself patiently at that moment. He inspired her to a great degree right here, right now; of course, he had impressed her earlier with his ultimate politeness and winsome charm, but this right here went beyond anything Neliel had even expected. She had no idea what could come next, and she smiled at the prospect of the mystery. Of his mystery.

She began questioning who the man next to her truly was. Buried under the shinigami robes, over all of the responsibilities of a captain, beneath years of drudgery inured in heartbreak, who was he truly? Finding the true Hirato-kun would be like an archaeological dig, and Neliel happily accepted the challenge. Arriving at his personal home was like beginning to dig, shoving the shovel in its place; Neliel enjoyed these first steps. Every moment she memorized, for she knew that these were the memories that would one day sleep so soothingly in her heart. She enjoyed his company most of all, and wanted, with the most alacrity, to learn more about him. It seemed like she had barely approached his first layer, and even right now, she stood speechless in front of his home. Her eyes fluttered away from the house and onto the man who she began to respect more and more with each moment.

[Hirato Murano]

Despite himself, Nel-san's small outburst triggered a smile on his face, one of pleasure mixed with something akin to satisfaction at her reaction. So as to maintain the facade, to continue playing this fascinating game, it vanished from his countenance extremely quickly, like it was terrified to reveal itself to the visible world. He could see that she was preparing, thinking of what move to make next. However, they finally arrived at his home in the world, derailing her train of thought and his own. It was certainly a unique dwelling, one of his own design, created by his servants while he endured intense training, finding his way again and advancing his abilities. Inclining his head, he returned, "Thank you very much, Nel-san. It is rather unique, isn't it?", his tone full of gratitude at her appreciation of it. Considering his design, one that would be ridiculed by some, the crimson haired Captain had not been entirely certain that she would acknowledge it, yet she did, reassuring him in some way.

Why had her approval mattered to him? The two of them were little more than acquaintances, but she had already fascinated him and dispelled his somewhat closed-minded notion that all Arrancar were foolish, aggressive animals that desired nothing except the immediate and complete destruction of their foes and control over the world of the humans. He had never thought of himself as closed-minded, believing that stagnation in the mind, body, or spirit led to its erosion and weakening; in addition to teaching him something about Arrancar, she seemed to be revealing truths about himself to him. She was truly magnificent, worthy of further investigation, having captured his interest very early on. Now he would have to obtain every piece of information about her he could and examine it later on. Yes, she interested him, he had to admit, purely on an intellectual level, of course. Her eyes meeting his brought him out of this web of thought, and he found himself gazing into the hazel orbs as he had never before. Forcing himself away, his cerulean gaze caught site of his secondary dwelling, one that he enjoyed more than the manor he owned in Soul Society. Perhaps that was because he himself had designed or perhaps it was because it was his and his alone; it did not pass from one generation of the Murano clan to another as the manor did.

Stepping forward, slipping his arm out of hers as gently as he could, the muscular man's figure advanced until it was mere inches from the line of stone steps that extended from the sidewalk to the front entrance of his home. "Please remain here for a bit, Nel-san. When it is no longer dangerous, I will inform you,", Hirato said, requesting this of her so that she would not be harmed. He was acutely aware that he could not bear the sight of it, from some far corner inside himself. His graceful stride carried him onto the first step before he removed his Zanpakuto from its resting place at his side and placed it on the ground, quietly muttering the mantra of his family: "Ato Murano itsudemo houroko goshujin shakusen"*. He grabbed his weapon, replacing it at his side, and advanced onto the next step, which split into five sections, each cordoned off by lines in the stone. With an air of effortlessness, the fiery haired man stepped from one to another in perfectly measured movements, forming a complex and unsolvable pattern for one merely observing the action. His mind was not in it at all, too occupied with wondering what this concern for the woman's well-being meant, although it rejected the obvious conclusion rather quickly.

The sound of composed movement murmured out from the ground as a tall form moved across it, reaching another square step, immediately halting when the muscular being stood in the middle of it. A mirror materialized out of nowhere, bringing a small smile to his face; this was one of his more ingenious countermeasures against anyone attempting to reach his house, although none but he could bypass any of them. He had made sure of that. Whether he should commend himself for protecting his home so well or criticize his own intense distrust of others, he did not know. His finger moved across the mirror for a few moments, the clear glass shimmering prior to disappearing to some unknown region. A grimace marred his face while he stepped forward, recalling the solitary method for disabling this defense. In one fluid motion, he unsheathed his blade and sliced his left hand, the blood flowing freely from the newly made wound. A drop descended from his palm, dispersing on the colorless and cruel stone, which quickly swallowed it like some lowly ravenous beast. He held up a hand to Nel-san, indicating that she should not be worried and do something foolish, particularly following him. Using a healing Kido he had learned many years ago, his uninjured hand glowed green, clasping its wounded brother for a moment, the blood disappearing along with the shallow cut.

Sighing a bit at the sheer amount of defenses he had created, he inhaled and exhaled slowly, preparing his body and mind, clearing it of any thought at all. The white-robed figure launched into a kata, gracefully and perfectly going through the motions, ending with a simple palm strike at the air. On the subsequent step, his hand drifted into his short mass of crimson hair and plucked out a hair, a momentary grimace consuming his face. His eyes closed, concentrating on the difficult task ahead, while his entire body glowed blue briefly, its gleam contrasting excellently with his crimson hair. Hirato placed the hair on the carefully, awaiting the feeling of its danger passing. Cerulean eyes opened lazily, their owner advancing to the final step. As soon as his feet touched it, many tiny slits appeared in the stone, beckoning for his sword. Unsheathing it once more, the newest Captain stabbed into each slit several times in an apparently random order, though he had designed it to seem that way. "The defenses are deactivated, Nel-san. Please join me." echoed in deep tones from the man, who awaited her arrival. In welcoming her into his home, would he learn her mysteries or she his? Either way, the journey ahead would be an enjoyable one for both travelers, venturing into unknown, remote regions.