"Captain, there you are. I was looking all over for you, the execution is about to start." Nanao started with a frown and gazed at her lazy Captain sprawled above a rooftop with his large trimmed hat pulled over his eyes, chewing on a strand of grass.
Shunsui lifted his large hat to reveal his eyes and regarded his Lieutenant with a small smile. "Is it?"
"Yes," Nanao deadpanned.
"Well, I'm in a bit of a bind here. You see I put this blade of grass in my mouth, thinking it would relax me, but now I'm beginning to rethink my decision because the more I chew on it, the more I can feel it burning the inside of my mouth." Shunsui declared as a tic mark appeared on Nanao's temple.
"Then why don't you try spitting it out!" she snatched the strand of grass from his mouth and discarded it with a scowl.
"Tell me Nanao, what do you think I should do?" Shunsui asked curiously, though he already knew the answer.
"You would do whatever it is you're planning regardless of my opinion, so it's pretty pointless to waste my breath. But to ensure that I stay out of your mess, I will be sure to walk a few steps behind you." Nanao affirmed pointedly.
Shunsui knew that she would follow him regardless of what she just said; her loyalty would allow nothing less.
"Then I guess I'll be on my own, knowing Old Yama, he would blame it all on me." Shunsui uttered lazily and slowly sat up, with his hand atop his hat.
"Hold it right there! Who said anything about you being alone? When you're in the presence of the Great Haruto-sama, you are never alone!"
A familiarly loud and booming voice butted in from behind them, causing the female Lieutenant to jump in fright. Shunsui and Nanao turned around with massive sweatdrops on the back of their heads when they gazed at a widely grinning Haruto doing a ridiculous pose with his hands raised above his head and his legs bent at the knees.
"Where the hell did you come from?!" Nanao screamed in anger and embarrassment as she tried to calm her thumping heart. She still remembered the slap he had delivered to her poor rear and only wanted to wring his neck! That day, she had chased him around the Seireitei but instead of capturing him AND punishing him for his vulgar behavior, she had received a few more SLAPS to her ass.
Then, the redhead bastard had just disappeared without a trace! She had been left there in the middle of the clearing with wide eyes of shock, dropped jaws of embarrassment, flaming face of anger and a stinging bottom!
"From my friend, Birdie's house, you know the one I have been talking about!" Haruto responded pleasantly as if it explained everything while Shunsui sweatdropped.
"Well, go back because we don't need your help, you redhead lunatic!" Nanao said rudely, causing Haruto to glare daggers at her. Oh she just wanted to wrap her hands around his surprisingly muscular neck and choke the life out of him for daring to assault her in such a vulgar manner!
"Hey, Four Eyes! I never said anything about helping you, I was talking to that lazy closet pervert!" Haruto retorted in mock irritation.
Wait, did he just call me a closet pervert? Shunsui thought with a sweatdrop.
"What did you just call me?!" she snapped.
"Four Eyes, what? You're gonna do something about it?" Haruto challenged with a grin.
They glared at each menacingly, visible lightning flashing between them until Haruto smiled slyly.
"You know what? You look quite beautiful when you're angry," Haruto grinned when he saw her face develop a massive blush so red that it resembled a fresh tomato.
"W-what?!"
Shunsui grinned amusingly when he saw his Lieutenant's flustered and embarrassed state, sputtering and stuttering as she glared heatedly at a grinning Haruto with a massive blush.
"I said you look beautiful when you're angry," he repeated with a grin.
"I-I heard you the first time you idiot! Who gave you the right to compliment me?" she said irritatingly with a large blush, with small wisps of steam leaving her ears due to the sheer redness of her face.
"My friend Birdie," he explained and nodded sagely.
Nanao sputtered incoherently as she tried to come up with a retort while Haruto grinned from ear to ear. Damn, teasing this Lieutenant sure was fun!
"Alright, that's enough you two, though I've to ask, what are you doing here?" Shunsui asked lazily and stood up in all his pink cloak glory.
"To save Shorty's ass," Haruto deadpanned
"What if I tell you that I can't let you go?"
"Well, here is the deal, you guys are going there to witness the execution and I'm going there to STOP the execution, so why don't we go together and when the time comes for fighting, we'll see who kicks whose ass. Get it?" Haruto explained 'wisely' and nodded his head.
"Well, you've got a point in a weird sort of way." Shunsui sweatdropped and let out a small chuckle.
"Ok then, let us go!" Haruto shouted loudly and sprinted away without waiting for them.
"Didn't he say something about us going together?" Nanao asked with a sweatdrop. Damn, she missed her chance of getting him back for slapping her rear!
Shunsui pulled his hat over his eyes with a chuckle and started walking away towards the Soukyuko Hill.
***
The Soukyuko Hill was an iconic enormous rocky mesa located at the epicenter of the Seireitei and could be overlooked by the Senzaikyu. The hill was noticeable from all over the Seireitei due to its position in the center as well as its scale. The hill could be accessed by two known paths, one was a long bridge connecting to the Senzaikyu, and the other way was a long zigzag stairway carved into one side of the hill.
The rear of the hill was surrounded by a dense forest. The Soukyuko Hill was the location used for executing those Shinigamis accused of severely breaking the law. In the middle of the hill, a large rectangle shape construction and a great spear held by numerous ropes could be seen, used to carry out the execution.
Haruto was sitting up on a large wooden throne in the middle of the hill, near the rectangle structure, concealed by a Shrouding Genjutsu, while he gazed on impassively at the spectacle of Kuchiki Rukia being ushered by the Kido Corps, with her hands secured behind her back—much to his loathing—a red collar tied around her neck like a dog.
He would crash the party when they were assured nothing would go wrong!
The mere sight of the wrinkly old man in charge of all the Divisions was making him have difficulty with restraining himself from crushing him! Standing there in all his wrinkly glory as if executing a mere child was justice, it sickened him to end! Well, he had all the time to teach him a lesson he would not forget, ever!
He had disciplined far more arrogant children than him!
"Well then, the time for the execution has arrived, let us begin!" Yamamoto declared and brought his cane up on the ground with a loud thunk. "Any last words, Kuchiki Rukia?"
Rukia was escorted to stand in the middle of the rectangle structure as all the ropes and the collar around her neck was released. A few Captains of the Gotei 13 appeared with their Lieutenants such as Soifon with her Lieutenant Omeada, Kyoraku Shunsui with his Lieutenant Ise Nanao, and Kotetsu Isane, the Lieutenant of Squad 4 without her Captain,Unohana Retsu
"Yes. I want you to kindly allow my friends to go home safe and sound. If you do that, I will be eternally grateful" Rukia voiced out in resignation.
Kuchiki Byakuya chose that moment to make his appearance. He appeared as impassive as ever with his eyes drawn to the ground as he walked up the hill without even looking bothered.
So that's Rukia's Elder brother, Haruto mused and eyed the prideful Shinigami.
This man was the second on his 'Shit list', the first being the Head Captain himself. He had nothing particular against this man; he just hated the fact that he would allow his family member to be executed in front of him without doing anything just because of his pathetic pride. Pride is good and all, but to let it even stand in the way of your relation with your family was simply pathetic.
"Acknowledged! After the execution, I will allow your Ryoka friends to return home unharmed." The old man declared firmly.
Haruto scoffed in disgust. Who was the old man trying to fool?
"Thank you, Head Captain." Rukia mouthed gratefully.
"That's cruel. Why promise her something like that when he has no intention of letting them go alive?" Kotetsu Isane murmured quietly when she heard the Head Captain's deceitful assurance. Every last one in the Gotei 13 as well as the Seireitei knew the old man loathed traitors and intruders more than anything and would do anything to annihilate them even if it meant sacrificing one of his own subordinates.
"It's not cruelty Isane, it's actually kindness. By promising to leave her friends unharmed, he has given her the peace of mind to move on peacefully without any regrets"
A familiarly kind and motherly voice said beside her. Isane turned around and saw her Captain, Unohana Retsu standing there with elegance.
Haruto had to agree with the kind looking woman on that front, but on the other hand, he despised lies. He had enough lies surrounding his life to tolerate anymore. The Head Captain may have given her the peace of mind now, but if everyone in the Gotei 13 knew his behavior towards traitors and invaders, then that meant Rukia knew his promise to be a fabricated one from the start.
However, that's not what had him so captivated; no it was the woman herself.
The way she carried herself displayed a resemblance to the trained Kuniochi's from his time. The grace and elegance with which she walked and talked did not resemble that of a healer but rather a veteran killer. Her motherly and kind visage concealed the hungry look of a lioness looking for her next victim. She was an enigma, a puzzle and puzzles were something he loved solving!
"Release the Soukyuko!" The head Captain commanded firmly.
The Kido Corps marched towards the various ends of the ropes keeping the large spear and went through several hand signs. The area around the Kido Corps and the Soukyuko erupted in enormous blue flames, obscuring almost half of the hill as the ropes were severed down. The severed ropes coiled and twirled around the spear in a hypnotic dance and propelled towards opposite ends of the hill with incredible swiftness.