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| - Shinrei Kurosaki sat perched on the edge of a cliff with his legs dangling precariously over the side. Someone else might have been scared out of their wits of the sheer drop and supposed death plunge that his calm gaze took in as though it were merely a small thing. His heart was beating a calm and steady rhythm, not a bit of fear shown in expression. Calm. Composed. But with a scowl that made others shy away from him. "Leave me to my thoughts." He warned internally. And that was exactly what many did. The wind played with the folds of his Shihakushō, blowing through his snow white hair and bringing a smile that lessened the scowl he so usually wore. He loved the wind, and not for the simple point that it cooled him down on a warm day, or brought a welcome chill whenever needed. He loved it because it represented freedom in his eyes. With a sharp inhale of breathe, he leaned back and put his hands firmly on the ground behind him, arching his back a little bit to puff out his chest. The V-neck slit in his Shihakushō allowed the pleasantly cool air to seep into his clothing and cool his entire body. The blue lines of his robes were rippling likes waves upon the ocean and made for a naturally beautiful display. His scowl returned when anyone came to close. So why was he surprised when a pair of breasts pressed themselves against his back and thin arms wrapped around his body? The hands were warm, as was the presence and her voice was like music to his ears. "You have such a nice smile..." The woman was Alma Shizuka - younger sister of Naibu Shizuka - and the only mother-figure young Shinrei had ever known in his short life. Her arms hugged him tightly and he felt something warm well up inside. His arms tightened on hers and his scowl gave way to an innocent, boyhood smile that he showed few others except Kenji himself. "See?" Her musical voice asked. "Much better when you smile." She withdrew her arms and sat herself down beside him, her legs moving back and forth like the swinging pendulum of a clock; seemingly in time with the whistle of the wind through the nearby trees. "I knew I'd find you up here." She arched her neck, looking at him sideways with her clear green eyes. She wore a purple Shihakushō today that showed the top of her breasts, though Shinrei stared at the horizon as if looking would bring it to him. "We'll be moving out soon," He said. While he enjoyed being a child, today was a day that the child needed to be a man. But the horizon, with the sun just setting behind the far off mountains, was captivating and held his gaze as surely as he did Alma's. Her laughter snapped him from his trance, and when he turned, Kaimen Kazuki - his white and red bandanna shadowing some of his face - was standing a short distance away. He too was enjoying the scene of natural beauty laid out before them, his white Shihakushō with red lines similar to Shinrei's blue was billowing in the wind due to his ōbi sash being barely tied around his waist. His lean-built muscles showed in time with the blowing of the wind and his smile was glad and filled with life. "Kurosaki Kid." He muttered in a greeting tone. "Don't call me that!" Shinrei barked back, his shoulders slouching as he began pouting. He hated people calling him a child and that nickname was the worst of the lot and if they thought he was being childish, then to hell with them! Alma threw something that hit Kaimen between the eyes and accompanied the thrown item - a rock, Shinrei supposed - with a glare that would've sent even the most battle-hardened veteran scurrying. Rubbing his forehead and for once not rising to the occasion, the bandanna-wearing Shinigami ruffled Shinrei's hair and snuck a kiss on Alma's cheek before vanishing to avoid one of her bullets. "Insufferable man!" Alma shook her fist at the dust cloud where Kaimen had once been, but she too, was smiling. Pout giving way to a grin, Shinrei got to his feet to Alma's surprise. "Shinrei?" She asked, but he threw on his Gotei Captain-styled haori and strapped the green sash that held his zanpakutō over his shoulder so the haori was both held down and so that his zanpakutō stuck out over his right shoulder. The nōdachi was longer than he was tall and possessed a gray-colored hilt and a square guard missing its corners. "I'm okay now," He assured her, though her look was doubtful. "I promise. I'll get the mission done and meet you both at the area we agreed on." She ran her fingers along his cheek before dusting off the grass marks from his hips and legs. "Hold still," She said. "The more you struggle, the longer it'll take." Giving in grudgingly, Shinrei awaited the torturous episode to end before running off the cliff face and appearing on the ground with a quick Shunpo. Watching the youngster go, Alma couldn't help wanting to leap down and help him. He was strong, true, but he was still only a child. And no child had to face the horrors of Averian's Army. The brushing of feet on grass betrayed Kaimen's presence and his hand rested lightly on her shoulder as he started after Shinrei's disappearing mass from the cliff-side. "He'll be fine," he said reassuringly, and Alma took comfort in them - even though she'd never admit it to. In fact... as she turned to walk away, Kaimen was lying face down on the floor in a fetal position after having his personal area struck rather cruelly. "That's harsh, Alma! You never hit a guy in the place God only intended to be treated nicely..." Her giggles accompanied his pained groans...
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