The next morning was Jushiro's day off. He didn't need to be at a meeting and there were no jobs for him to take. So, he was free to show his guest around the Seireitei. After all, since she'd got here she had yet to see much of anything of the Seireitei after all. The two were currently having their morning breakfast together. Rika noticed he looked deep in thought about something. She looked up from her plate and smiled at him, "Something on your mind?"
Jushiro looked up, surprised he had been in a daze. "Sorry, my mind was adrift." He gave her a friendly smile. "Actually I was thinking in the places to show you. There is so much to see. We have a shopping district. The Seireitei is extremely large. Larger than any human city." He was trying to hint to her that he wanted to take her out to see what the Seireitei was like. However, the message didn't seem to get across to her.
"Wow! That sounds awesome." However, just then she changed the subject. She recalled him mentioning the word Zanpakuto when they first met but she'd passed out before he could explain, "Also, I know this is off topic here but I just remembered, when we met you mentioned something about something called a Zanpakuto. What exactly is that?"
Jushiro remembered he had been about to explain it to her that first night when they met but had lost his chance to. Well, now was as good a time as any then, "The Zanpakuto is the formal name of our swords. Each Soul Reaper has one, except most of the ones from Squad 4." Getting up, he went over and retrieved his sword, showing her. "This is my Zanpakuto in its sealed state. As you can see it looks like an ordinary katana sword." He paused a moment, drawing out the blade. "However, when we fight we call out a name or phrase and our sword will transform into something completely different. Each one is different and has a unique transformation."
She touched it and thought she heard a voice. "Did you hear something?" She questioned him. She had no idea the voice she was hearing was coming from the sword itself. She also didn't know that only the Zanpakuto's owner could hear it speak and that it was very odd that she was hearing it talk.
"I'm probably just hearing things though. It's probably just all the stress I've been under. Don't worry about it." She's been stressed? Well, a day showing her around the Seireitei to help her get used to being here may would help with her stress. Seemed she was still in a state of shock from being brought from her own world right into some unknown one she'd never heard of before meeting him.
"You were able to hear that?" Jushiro sat back and gazed at his sword. He was quite surprised his sword spoke out to her and she could hear them. "Normally only the wielder can hear their sword speak. How curious." He brought a finger to his chin. "Sogyo no Gotowari can be quite mischievous." He could see his words were confusing her once more. "Each Zanpakuto is actually a living entity within the sword. We can communicate with our swords, which helps us to be able to work alongside as partners."
"Wow! That's very interesting," she grinned.
"You should see Bankai. Now that can be cool," she heard.
"Bankai?" She questioned, "What's a Bankai?" Now there was no doubt she'd heard his Zanpakuto talking, seeing as he hadn't even mentioned Bankai to her.
Jushiro frowned at his sword. "Now that is quite enough you two. How are you able to communicate with her?"
When the sword didn't speak, he sighed. "Always the tricksters, I'm telling you." He looked to his female guest. "Bankai is the ability each Captain has been able to achieve. It's the ultimate weapon we have after we awaken our swords. It takes years to learn and more to master it. At this point in time there is only one other, who is not a Captain and has obtained Bankai and he's the Lieutenant of Squad 6, Renji Abarai. Mind you he only just learned Bankai and has yet to really master his power."
"Renji? You mean the guy with red hair and tattoos on his face I met yesterday?" She asked him. She remembered that Renji had a bit of an attitude when he'd introduced himself to her. She had already finished her meal and was just sitting at the table talking to him. She didn't yet know that Jushiro had the day off today.
"Yes. He is friends with one my subordinates, Rukia Kuchiki." Jushiro then removed the sword from the table. "He was able to achieve bankai by a manner one of our former Captains created. It was quite remarkable he was able to learn in three days when usually it takes years."
"Do you know how to do Bankai?" Rika asked him. She took a sip of her juice as she asked that, which was almost empty by this time.
Jushiro chuckled. "Yes. But with my age, my bankai can be extremely dangerous. My shikai is quite strong. And just so you know shikai is the name used when our Zanpakuto awakens." He took her plate and removed it from the table. "Since today I have off, lets tour around. I'm sure you would like to see the city." He could tell the poor girl was stressed and he was beginning to worry for her.
"Really? That would be great. Thank you very much," she told him. She finished her juice and took her glass to the sink. She had already done her morning routine hours ago. So, she was already bathed and dressed. Even her hair was already in its buns style that she always wore. All she needed to do was slip on her shoes, which was at the door. Right now, she was wearing slippers on her feet.
Amused by her enthusiasm, Jushiro chuckled as he picked up his haori, putting it on. "Come, let us go and start that tour. There is much to see." He took her by the hand and escorted her to the main area of the house where their shoes were.
She slipped on her shoes, "Wait... did you say Rukia? I know someone by that same name. She went to my school and was friends with another friend of mine. His name's Ichigo Kurosaki." She knew Ichigo? "I believe her last name was Kuchiki... hmm, why does that last name sound familiar?" She wondered as they made their way out the door. She was grateful that they would not be flash stepping this time.
"Yes. Rukia was in the World of the Living under a disguise in the same manner as I already informed you." He thought back to when he learned what Rukia had been doing while stationed in the human world and he was told, surprised him. "Rukia is the adopted sister to Byakuya Kuchiki, but at the same time she's also his sister in law. Byakuya was married to her older sister until her death."
"And now he's with Alison," she pointed out. How did she figure that out? Well, Alison must have mentioned it to her the other day. The two of them were walking around and her eyes sparkled at what she saw, "An ice cream shop!" The place looked a bit fancy for an ice cream place but she wasn't used to seeing places like these so everything looked fancy to her. The way she reacted to sweets though was so cute.
Jushiro was quite amused as her eyes lit up. He smiled. "Yes. As I said earlier, we do have a shopping district, which is in the center." And seeing her excited face he asked her, "Would you like some?"
"Oh! Really, you don't have to," she told him.
"But I want to," Jushiro grinned.
"Well, if you insist," she smiled as Jushiro pulled out his money and bought her some ice cream. She'd gotten chocolate and strawberry on a cone. She thanked him and begin licking it. After it was gone She saw a reaper struggling with some heavy bags. She ran over to her, "Hey, let me help you with those."
Rika grabbed about half the bags from the woman, smiling at her. Rika being kind to a complete stranger probably brought a smile to Jushiro's face. This girl was so kind and caring to others. She was a crybaby but seemed to really care about people.
"I don't wish to tare you away from Captain Ukitake," said the woman. She had red hair and a blue ribbon tied in a bow in the back of her head. Her eyes were blue and she was very short. That could be why she'd been struggling with her bags.
"Oh, it's fine. No problem." Rika knew Jushiro would come anyway. Hey, maybe he could follow her example and help as well.
"It's no trouble at all," Jushiro stated as he stepped over to the two. "I'd like to introduce you to my guest Rika. Like Alison, she's here for protection." Everyone knew by now there was a human living in the Seireitei under protection from Aizen. Jushiro then lifted some of the bags into his arms, wanting to be helpful as well.
"Nice to meet you. My name's Miki Abarai," said the girl.
"Abarai... Abarai... where have I heard that name before?" Rika wondered.
"Maybe you've heard of my brother. His name's Renji." She looked up at Jushiro, "Well, good morning Captain Ukitake. Thanks for the help."
"No problem," Jushiro smiled.
"You two know each other?" Rika asked him.
Jushiro nodded. "Miki is seeing Captain Hitsugaya and is his Third seat. They have been dating for quite some time and if I remember correctly you two are slowly planning a wedding?" He could remember how Renji was upset when she was adopted into Toshiro's family but he had gotten over it.
"Oh, the guy that hates it when I use his first name," stated Rika. "I'm Rika."
"I know. I heard about you from my Captain. He said you have unusual high spiritual powers and need to be protected from Aizen," Miki answered. "Though, you look like a normal human to me." Miki was as confused as everyone else why Rika had such high spiritual powers.
They got to her home with the bags. After helping her take the bags inside Miki thanked her and invited her to her wedding and the two continued exploring around. They then ran into Soifon a few hours later while walking around. Rika smiled at her, "Hey Soifon, how are you?" She should be the one asking Rika that.
Soifon looked to the human. "That should be me asking you that, not the other way around." Her brows were furrowed. "What brings you here with Captain Ukitake?"
"He's showing me around the Seireitei," she told her. Though it was about lunch time. The two had been walking around for hours. Rika was getting tired. She wasn't used to walking around as much as Jushiro was. And he could probably guess she was getting tired as well.
"It would be faster if you flash stepped. Captains Ukitake, Kyoraku, Kuchiki and the Head Captain are the ones with the fastest flash step," Soifon explained. She didn't know that Rika got motion sick easily.
"Uh… I'd rather not thanks," she responded.
"How about I treat you out to my favorite place to eat," Jushiro suggested to Rika, interrupting.
"I'd like that, thank you," Rika told him. She turned to Soifon, "It was nice seeing you again Soifon." Jushiro had wanted her to bond with Alison but it seemed she was bonding with Soifon instead. Perhaps Soifon could keep her company sometimes when she's not working but he is.
"Enjoy yourself," Soifon stated. She looked to Jushiro. "I have already tightened security."
"That's good to know, thank you. Have a good day Soifon." Jushiro placed a hand on Rika's shoulder and steered towards the restaurant district.
Her feet were sore by the time they reached the restaurant district and they weren't even at the place Jushiro wanted to take her to yet. She was walking slower and slower and was breathing hard. By now he noticed her struggling.
Feeling bad for her, he stepped back to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I hate to do this, but it will be much faster. I'll try to go as easy as I can."
"What are you doing? Aieeeee!" She cried out in terror, feeling the wind rush passed her.
He then flash stepped to the entrance of the restaurant. "After here, I'll take you back home so you may rest."
"Hang on a minute. My stomach's not feeling so good. Sorry, I don't mean to be a burden to you." Well, she wasn't the only human here who got motion sick from flash stepping. There were times Byakuya had told Jushiro he's had to flash step with Alison. Even mentioning a few times, the woman had thrown up on him.
"It's alright. Alison's the same way. Captain Kuchiki's told me he's had to flash step with her and she gets ill every time. We'll just sit out here and let your stomach settle." He walked her over to a bench nearby the restaurant. "Here, take a seat and rest. I take it you're not used to walking."
"Could I have some water please?" She asked him, "And no, I'm not used to walking that much. I have walked some but never that much before."
"Of course. I will be right back." He disappeared from sight, causing her hair to move to the breeze of his flash step. She only had to wait nearly like two minutes when he returned with a glass of ice water. "Here you go," he offered her.
"Thank you," she couldn't get over how kind this man had been to her since they met. She drunk down the water. Then about 15 minutes later her stomach settled down.
"Feel better?" Jushiro asked her.
"Much better, thanks for asking." She noticed the building she was sitting in front of. It was rather beautiful with flowers of all different colors out in front of it. "Is that the restaurant? It's so beautiful."
He smiled once more. "It is. They have recently added more to the menu thanks to our human friends. Are you ready to see the inside?" he asked as he stood and offered his hand to her. "I should warn you, it has a very Japanese feel to it."
She took his hand and they went inside and took a look around. The two sat down to order something to eat.