An Interesting Guest [Private]

[Bear]

It had been just a little over two years since she abandoner her human job, a dj, to join Hidenseido and become one of its strongest members. She once held the title of Lieutenant within Soul Society but abandoned that too, only because she wanted to work with her father and help protect the human world. Too much time was spent in that boring barracks, one she couldn't leave, and to be separated from family for so long was pretty awful. Now here she was walking the desolate halls of her home, not a single soul in sight.

The indigo-haired color took slow steps, taking in the sights around her as if it was her first time ever seeing such a thing. No, everything just seemed so different now. Ayame was the only one who resided in this over-whelming city, ever since her father disappeared she had taken the reigns and attempted to rebuild. It was proving to be more difficult than she anticipated. Some of the walls were still damaged, fields of grass had dead patches and even craters in them, even the training depot had suffered some damage. Fortunately the inside remained in perfect condition and still functioned properly. Sighing she turned a corner and stared down at the ground. Like her father she no longer wore the standard Shinigami garb, instead she had altered it to look more more pleasing to the eye.

Instead of those boring brown 'clogs' they were forced to wear, hers were now black with red straps to keep them in the place. The leggings of her outfit resembled that of the Shinigami's attire, but instead was a bright red color, loose fitting so that it fell just below her waist, but held up by a tied obi. The outer parts of her thighs exposed. Instead of an upper robe, her chest and a small part of her torso were covered by mere bandage wrap, however draped over that was a Haori. This was her favorite part of the outfit, it was pure white with red ribbons looped through the bottom slits, the Chinese dragon she loved so much (she had the tattoos to prove it) decorated it, making it stand out even more. Her Zanpakuto strapped to the left side of her body, also decorated with Chinese dragons.

This was Ayame Haruo. Temporary head of Hidenseido.

Taking a deep breath she continued her walk through the new home, the one she loved so much. It was eerily quiet, no laughter, no training sessions. Nothing. Not since he had disappeared, it was like he was the life of this place. And when he vanished, he took everything with him. Literally. Barely paying attention she began to make her way up the countless stairs, the ones that lead to Kisho's barracks. It had been awhile since she visited this place, she feared it would be destroyed.

But it wasn't. In fact, it was in perfect condition.

Coming to the realization that she was now atop the Pagoda, where the Captain's and Yokun would often meet, she stared at the barracks. It was perfect. As if a sign had been cast, perhaps he still lived? Of course he did. This was her father. He had escaped death and imprisonment countless times. This was no different. Was it?

"Papa... Where are you?"

There she stood, the sun baring down on her. Silence overtook both Ayame, and everything around her. Unaware of anything going on within Soul Society, no way of knowing. What a life.

[/justify]

[L]

The sky above Hidenseido twisted and churned as its blue veil was slowly torn open to reveal a dark cavity on its surface. Two teal eyes pierced the black abyss of the garganta, cautiously scanning the area for something. It wasn't long before their owner stepped out of the emptiness, her familiar white attire gleaming in the sunlight.

Halibel was a sight to behold. Her golden hair flowing in the breeze, the espada squinted slightly as she adjusted to the brightness here. It had been so long since she had seen sunlight. Not since then.

As she took in her surroundings, Halibel couldn't help but think to herself that she had expected...more. This city was hardly the beaming sanctuary that she had imagined. The walls were cracked and broken, the grass dead or dying. Still, it looked safe enough, and her scan of the area hadn't picked up any threatening reiatsu. It was safe to assume that this wasn't a trap.

Still.

She hadn't sensed the familiar reiatsu she was expecting to find, either. That man, who sat atop the wall dividing shinigami and hollow. This place, which bridged the river dividing allies and enemies. It was all she had been able to think about for months. Las Noches was a shell of its former self, taken over by scavengers and children. She didn't belong there anymore.

As she began to lose herself in her thoughts, Halibel felt something beneath her.

Reiatsu?

How had she failed to notice it? It had been so long...maybe her pesquisa had faltered. Still it was too late now. The garganta had closed, and she was here now. As she met eyes with the girl standing below her, Halibel asserted herself.

"Kisho Haruo...where is he?"

[/justify]

[Bear]

By rights someone of her rank, and status, should not have been so unaware of her surroundings. A black mass and such a high reiatsu would have set her internal alarm off and she would have been confronting whatever the being was, but not this time. She was lost in her own tidal wave of thoughts, too busy thinking of what to do, that the blonde haired woman above her went completely unnoticed. At least for now. Instead her eyes remained focused on that old, empty barracks. In all honesty she hated that sight.

Letting out a sigh she raised one hand to face, rubbing her forehead and allowing her eyes to close. The only thing she could do right now, aside from wait for his return, was to rebuild Hidenseido into what it once was. It would never be what it once was, but at least it would have some life brought to it. And it would not be forgotten. But, her silence, and any form of thought, was broken. The voice of a female rang out, specifically asking for her father. She turned on her heels, her head whipping upwards and staring at the woman who was now completely visible. The one she should have noticed before. Staring up at her she took in the reiatsu signature, it was high, and it was an Arrancar's. An enemy? At least not one of hers, but she seemed to have some form of relationship with Kisho.

"You know.. my father?"

She paused. That was a dumb question. Sighing, she turned back around and faced the barracks once more. This was not an enemy, Hidenseido was not mapped out and only people who were invited knew of its location, which meant this woman had been welcomed to the organization.

"Sorry, but he's not here. He's been missing since the war with Aizen."

There was no need to hide anything, if she was a true enemy then she would have attacked her on sight. And she didn't. However, something was off. She appeared out of nowhere, looking for her father. And if she was invited then that meant...

"Wait!"

The sound of a Shunpo, and Ayame was standing directly in front of the nameless woman. Reaching out with both arms she grabbed onto the womans shoulders, staring directly at her. Her eyes held a glaze of water over them. She had to know where he was, he must have been alive for her to be invited. It was the only explanation.

"My father invited you, right?! That means he's alive! Do you know where he is?!"

Well, of course she wouldn't know right this minute seeing as she was currently looking for him, but they had a previous meeting. A meeting somewhere in the world, if she could narrow down the locations then it would be so much easier to find him. She was a blessing in disguise. However she was completely oblivious to the fact that the invitation had been given two years ago, and that this blonde haired woman took part in the war. Ayame was not allowed to take part in it, her father had prohibited. He didn't want anything happening to her, but he should have been worrying about himself. Not her.

[/justify]