[Log] Come Out To Play When You Are Hurt

[taichou_tb]

Characters:  Ukitake Jyuushirou (taichou_tb ) and Kazahana/ES!Rukia (snowburned )
When:  Monday, June 7
Where:  The elevator and Adstring!  Wherever they decide to explore, like exploring things.
Rating:  PG?  For the 13th Division being cursed?
Summary:  Ukitake meets Rukia once again.  Or is she...?  Please Daddy Shirou, don't kill off more subordinates.

Comments

[snowburned]

It was her day off, and for once Kazahana had decided to spend it doing...nothing in particular. Normally, after an event of such traumatic magnitude like Zombie's attack, she'd have refuse the time off entirely. Better to serve those who needed her than indulge herself. But the period of emergency, of walking the razor's edge between life and death, was over now. Besides, she had a feeling that Simon would force her out if she tried to work

[taichou_tb]

As soon as the door dinged open on the device, Ukitake smiled at the person he saw. If it wasn't Kuchiki Rukia, dear subordinate of his. She looked a little different than the last time he saw her, but that could have been because of how things were going in Hueco Mundo, or this other world itself.

Ukitake assumed the new mark on the landscape somehow connected the worlds now. That, or the Animus were just messing with them. Again. Even if Kuchiki were a normal new arrival, he would have to be careful.

Ukitake raised a hand in greeting and, hoping not to frighten her, announced, "Hello, there."

[snowburned]

The sound of a familiar voice surprised her-she hadn't expected to run into anyone so quickly, much less someone she knew. But despite her initial desire for solitude, she smiled and walked toward him. This was someone she never had a problem being around.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming down here?" she asked as she drew closer. "I would have gone with you."

[taichou_tb]

She still had a pretty smile. That comforted Ukitake, but her words were a different matter. It seemed that she knew another version of himself. He would definitely have to be careful.

He patted the log beside him, inviting her to sit with him, as he thought about how to introduce himself. Making her feel comfortable was the top priority, as well as staying vague so he didn't hurt her.

A few moments passed as he glanced out over the water. "I've always been here."

[snowburned]

Her smile faded into puzzlement, but she did as he indicated. It sounded awfully cryptic-had he remembered something about himself? But then, why...?

"What do you mean, Koi?" she asked cautiously. It was Koi, wasn't it? Everything her senses told her indicated yes.

But then again, maybe not.

[taichou_tb]

He smiled at her again, trying to keep things light. "My apologies. I believe we're in the midst of a strange occurrence. I think our worlds have collided, somehow."

So his name was Koi where she was from. Fitting, he supposed, and a bit amusing. "At the risk of sounding confused, what name do you go by?"

[snowburned]

"Oh!" Kazahana's hand flew to her mouth in astonishment as she realized what he was saying. "So you're not-my goodness. I'd heard that it was possible to find doubles of people down here, but I never even considered it might happen to someone I know."

She peered at his face, searching for any difference. But his features perfectly matched the smiling, amiable Koi she knew. Had it not been for his gentle correction, she never would have guessed it. "I'm Kazahana," she said. "And you-you are from my world originally, aren't you?"

[taichou_tb]

Ukitake waved her off. Confusion was expected in this situation. "We have also been told about finding ourselves or others we know, as well as warned about using the names we know."

He folded his hands in his lap. "Kazahana," he said to himself, smiling at how that fit, as well. "It's good to meet you. Again. And I am, if we are referring to the world before these two." He inclined his head toward the elevator. "You may call me Koi, or another name if you feel that would be too confusing, should I meet him."

[snowburned]

She nodded. "Yes, we've received that information as well. And it isn't the first time this has happened."

But how head it? And how could there be more than one of them? This obviously wasn't a case of twins. From the same world? Not quite, not both Koi and this not-Koi man in the same one. Slightly alternate ones? It made her head spin. "Koi is the name he chose," she said. "But if you tell me yours, I may be able to hear it. That's not such a rare thing for us."

[taichou_tb]

Hm, not the first time. Events had been repeating themselves lately, or so he heard. Ukitake wondered if it meant something deeper. "I see. At least both of our worlds are on the same page, then."

Could he tell her his name? It didn't seem right. Ukitake wouldn't be responsible for more of his subordinates' pain. "Are you sure that would be all right? I don't want to take any risks."

[snowburned]

"I think so," she said, knowing what his concern must be. "It seems that there were warning signs before Youth...disappeared, and we've learned each other's names before. Friends of mine learned a few facts about our lives the last time this happened."

The truth was Kazahana needed to take this risk. She'd been in the sphere too long to accept a lack of answers as their granted lot. They needed to know more.

[taichou_tb]

He turned toward her, eyes serious. "I'll start out simple. But promise me, if anything hurts you, you'll stop me."

Luckily for Ukitake, his name was long, and he'd picked up a few nicknames from others simply because of that. Still, he took a deep breath, and tried to keep his nerves down. "You may start with calling me Jyuu."

[snowburned]

"Jyuu," she tried the name out. It fit him okay; he didn't not seem like a Jyuu. But at the same time, it didn't roll off her tongue like a frequently-spoken name would.

"I'm guessing that's not what I used to call you," she said, smiling. "I wish I could introduce myself to you properly. I've almost heard my name a couple of times, in memories-but it's always static, or sort of blanked out. Maybe I'm just not ready to know yet."

[taichou_tb]

It was a bit strange, hearing such a familiar name coming from her, especially after years of hearing 'Ukitake-taichou'. She was always so proper and followed orders, that this made him chuckle. Everyone had the right to do something different.

"You don't call me that, no, but it is a pleasant change." Shame she didn't know her own name, though. To be part of the Kuchiki Clan and not know... "I am quite fond of your real name, Kazahana-san. It fits you." Well, everything seemed to be all right for now. "I hope you can hear it soon."

[snowburned]

"Maybe one day." She shook her head, still smiling. "But it's been two years already. I could be waiting a while."

It still surprised her sometimes, that it had been so long-yet it seemed almost like very little time had passed, which was strange, considering she could only remember fragments of her previous life. "What about you? How long have you been in this place?"

[taichou_tb]

"If you've lasted two years already, then I think it's safe to say that you can make it." He looked back out over the Lake, noticing the ripples emerge from the middle. Perhaps the Squid was interested in this conversation, as well.

Her question brought him back to the present. "About a year, though I don't remember the exact date." Showing up in a strange world with a best friend-induced hangover and sudden coughing fit could do that, after all.