. Captain Cosplay
@10thdivisiontaicho
Growing up as a child in Rukongai, she had always been mistrustful of adults and strangers. It had only been Shinji and Kirio who had managed to peel away some of the barriers she surrounded herself with. But then, Kirio had left. Achingly and suddenly, without a goodbye or any hope of a return. Her Captain’s office, where her reiatsu and perfume lingered was the only thing that remained for Hiyori to know that she hadn’t made a person up in her head to care about her.
… Except Kisuke came into the picture. New captain. New captain’s layout. New rules… but the same, tender smile. She couldn’t believe it. Hiyori vowed that she wouldn’t be dumb enough to let him get close to her to hurt her in the way Kirio had.
Except that Kisuke did get close. She got attached to her captain. Attached to his distinct dottiness and warmth. She found herself anticipating his orders, doing things for him without being asked- taking interest in his research and even tolerating Mayuri’s grating, sociopathic presence.
Despite all that anger and hostility... she had loved her years as a lieutenant with Kisuke.
Loved her badge. Her shinigami uniform... her squad. Maybe even a part of her... had loved this shitty place, Hiyori thought, staring out into the grounds of the twelfth division’s barracks.
Perhaps it was nostalgia that brought her here, or the fact that Hiyori had to convince herself that she no longer fitted into Soul Society, but here she was, still wandering the grounds as quietly as her skill permitted her. She was small and unnoticeable when she wanted to be... and for the most part... completely invisible.
This was a new Seireitei.
She had been right in thinking that she couldn’t possibly return here. Rose was always talented in charming people and had his squad doing as well as possible. Kensei was a bit rough, but he always had Mashiro by his side. Shinji had been perfectly at ease in his position of commanding the fifth division (she had sneaked by to check earlier) and was already harassing that poor girl. Momo.. or something?
At least... her friends were doing fine. She was heading back to the senkaimon, prepared to never return to this place again when she saw that young boy-captain. The one who had fought beside them AND GOT IN THE WAY - when fighting that Espada woman.
“Eeeh... it’s you!” She was surprised to run into him. “So you are a fuckin’ captain! Geez. They’re desperate. You look smaller than me!”
