1.6

Hajime patted Nanao's head to calm the woman down.

"Hajime."

Hajime paused in his pats and glanced at his friend.

"Will you join me?"

Hajime huffed and quirked his brow. 'Your Squad barracks, your problem.'

"Awww," Shunsui played, "you don't have to be so mean." He said before a loud explosion is heard in the distance.

A large man was seen spiraling in the sky.

"Not one of your best decisions." Hajime watched the outcome of Squad 8's Third Seat.

"Well I guess it's time." Shunsui said before pulling a large, woven basket out from behind a screen. Inside the basket were red flower petals.

Hajime and Nanao both sweatdropped. "You can't be serious." Ise sighed.

"He's serious." Hajime responded.

"What," Shunsui huffed, "don't give me that look." He said before pushing the basket into Ise's arms, "Here, start throwing petals when the Ryoka arrives." Shunsui stepped out onto the balcony of the building we were in to watch the Ryoka slowly approach. "Whoa, that was pretty good," he commented as the Ryoka stepped into the large open area.

Hajime could sense the Ryoka only a few feet away from them. Shunsui makes his dramatic entrance as he jumps down from the balcony and lands in front of the Ryoka, effectively blocking his from going any farther. Hajime stepped out onto the balcony with Ise to watch over the fight as Shunsui introduced himself.

"My name is Kyoraku Shunsui. Squad 8 Captain. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The rose petals continue to fall as the two stand in silence.

"So I take it you're that last guy's captain." The Ryoka asked, breaking the stand-off.

"Mhh hm, for what it's worth." Shunsui chuckled before realizing something.

Hajime observed the Ryoka with interest as Shunsui tried to get Nanao's attention. He didn't get to really see the Ryoka up close when he watched their fight with Jidanbo. He was a large man with obvious Hispanic decent. "¿Tú hablas español?" Hajime tried, his Spanish a little rusty without use for over 100 years.

"¿Usted hablas?" The Ryoka replied with surprise. He never thought a Captain could speak his native tongue.

"Un poco." Hajime said then paused, "¿Qué nombre?"

"Chad."

Hajime accepted the answer then, looking over at his best friend, found him drowning in flower petals with the basket replacing his usual hat. Hajime glanced at Nanao, his eyebrow quirked upwards.

Chad sweat dropped as he saw the interactions between the two, "Sorry, but, I don't have time to stay and watch your routine." He said, switching back to Japanese. "Please, just step aside."

"Oh, come on," Shunsui took the basket off his head. "Can't you loosen up a little and try to have some fun?" He asked, putting his hat back on. "Life's too short to take it so seriously."

Hajime snorted, knowing that Shunsui has lived much longer.

"I've asked you nicely," Chad said. "I'm in kind of a hurry. You seem like a decent enough guy. So if there's any way to avoid it, I'd rather not fight you."

Hajime noticed how confident Chad is in his powers. Noticing the bulk and strength of the man, he assumed not many Shinigami have won against him.

Shunsui laughed, "Then I guess we have a slight problem," the air changed around the two, tension brewing. "Since neither one of us is anxious for a fight. But, of course, I can't just let you through, either. I don't suppose you'd be willing to retreat, would you?" Shunsui said.

"I could never do that."

"I thought as much. I guess that leaves us no choice," Shunsui said, before shirting to pull something out of his robes.

Chad shifted into a fighting stance, getting ready for an attack.

Suddenly, Shunsui pulled out the jug of sake he confiscated from Aoi, "We'll have to have a friendly drink."

Hajime rubbed his temples, "He's underage, Shunsui."

Shunsui glanced up to the balcony to look at his friend, "Oh, well, that's unfortunate. I'd hate to drink alone." Shunsui turned to the Ryoka, "But maybe it's just as well. This whole thing will be over soon, now that the other Captains are on the move. Probably, if you were smart (Hajime chuckled) you'd just—"

"'The other Captains?'" Chad interrupted Shunsui. "Wait, you mean Ichigo and the others are being pursued by Captains, too?"

Shunsui hummed.

"That changes things, Kyoraku-san. So I suggest you move, now." Chad threatened.

"And if I refuse?" Shunsui brought a sake cup up to his mouth to drink.

"I'll move you!" Chad's arm started to glow before he launched his attack. The pure energy is shot towards Shunsui.

Hajime doesn't flinch at the sight of the attack, knowing Shunsui will protect the entrance and the building all of them are in. Hajime's swords vibrate, letting his know that Umiko and Aoi have returned to their zanpakuto form having finished their snack. Hajime watched as Shunsui's arm reached out and stopped the attack before flinging it to his left, breaking a wall and flying his haori off his shoulders.

"My, my." Shunsui mused, "I had hoped we could avoid all this but, here we are."

Hajime turned to Nanao, "Collect Shunsui's haori." He ordered, knowing how important it is to him, just like his scarf and his own haori.

Nanao nodded before jumping off the balcony and quickly retrieving the haori. Shunsui glanced over at Hajime, both of them nodding, before Shunsui focused back on his fight.

Chad had been launching attack after attack. Shunsui had moved to an area without the building behind him, knowing that Hajime will stop the Ryoka if he does manage to point an attack at the building or try to run off through the gates. At this point, the entrance was a mess. The tiles were broken and walls were destroyed. The only thing remaining fully intact was the building.

"So, are you ready to reconsider yet? Surely, you can see that this is futile. You have great skills, and for a human, your destructive power is impressive. But you're never going to be able to hit me." Shunsui said, after observing the Ryoka's power for the past minutes. "You're smart enough to realize how this is going to end up. Why don't you go home while you still can?" He offered.

"Thanks for the advice. But nothing's going to stop me!" He powered another attack before running at Shunsui. Aiming his fist at Shunsui's head, he lunged into the attack.

Shunsui quickly dodged downward at the last second before shunpoing behind him and uses tsukiyubi. He pressed two fingers to the Ryoka's arm, letting a concentrated flow of reiatsu shoot Chad backwards. The Ryoka continued to roll away from the force until he's back at where he started when he punched a hole through the wall.

"I'll spare you the usual insults and allow you to withdraw now, gracefully." Shunsui offered another chance.

Chad grunted before struggling to stand again.

Shunsui hummed, "What is it that makes you so unreasonable? What's your purpose? Why did you come here in the first place?" Shunsui asked.

"I've come here to save the life of Rukia Kuchiki." Chad stumbled in his spot.

"Oh, come on." Shunsui berated, "You mean Rukia, the Shinigami who went missing in The World of the Living a few months ago?" He crossed his arms inside of his robe, "That's not enough time for a true friendship. A relationship like that can't be worth risking your life over." Shunsui pointed out.

"I can't deny , I don't know very much about Rukia." Chad said, "That's not the point. I might not risk my life for her, but... Ichigo wants to save her life. And that's all I need to know. What may seem like an unworthy cause to you is more than enough reason for me."

Hajime tilled his head up. Shunsui will have to be serious now, he thought.

"Well, I tried." Shunsui gave in, "But if you're that determined, it would be insulting for me to ask you to back down again. I guess it can't be avoided." Shunsui drawed his zanpakuto before declaring, "Unfortunately, it means now I'm going to have to take your life."

Chad grunted before charging one last time, putting everything he has into this attack. Shunsui waited for the Ryoka as he watched the teen charge at him.

Hajime held onto his scarf with his right hand while drawing his short sword in his left. "Be still, Ise." He commanded.

Chad released his attack. Shunsui shunpo'd past him while simultaneously creating several cuts along the Ryoka's body. Not enough to kill the teen, but to incapacitate him. While Shunsui attacked, he left the building up to Hajime. When the pure reiatsu approaches the building, Hajime countered it, his sword coated in his own reiatsu. The destruction was re-directed to different places, specifically the walls surrounding the area.