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| - Kenji awoke to a glowing sun shining through his skylight directly onto the bed he shared with Ino. She was still sleeping, so he got up quietly and dressed himself in his usual blue shinigami Shihakushō that bore the symbol of the Ying and Yang proudly on its back. With it, he donned a straw hat after the fashion that Shunsui Kyōraku preferred. He slipped out of their home silently, deciding to make his rounds quickly before the day really began. At this early hour, only Yoshiro's defenders lined the streets and each bowed heads or saluted with fist to heart as he passed. He returned the greeting to each one he passed, which to say the least was often. The 5th Division of The Ryu Order, organized into the defense force of the entire village held close to 500 personnel; currently the largest and most fleshed out division with the exception of the 4th Divisions medical bay. In two months since his return, his old Patrol Team had grown into The Ryu Order, and now he was suddenly Head-Captain. He performed his rounds in relative silent, stopping only a few times to converse quietly with guards he knew and others he did not. "Keep it up, folks." He said, passing by a group of three men and four women playing at a game of cards. "I never saw this hand, but keep up your rounds. Never know when a hollow could pop up." The seven faces regarded him with a thankful smile, and when they finished their current hand, went about their duties. "Morale among the men is very high," A voice whispered to his right. Kenji couldn't help but grin and welcomed the man to his side. Naibu Shizuka, wearing his normal all-black Shihakushō with the emblem of a large bird spreading its wings on his right sleeve. "That's a good thing, right?" Kenji remarked with a look over his shoulder, crimson eyes shining in the shade of his straw hat. "No argument here," Came the reply in truthful tones. Naibu was calmness given form as far as Kenji was concerned. "How've things been near the docks?" Naibu appeared serious, expression darkening and his eyes alighting with an amount of anger rarely seen in the man. His voice was steady though. Composed. Calm. Like the wind. "Its not the docks we've got to be worrying about, Kenji. Its the hollow amassing in Hueco Mundo." Kenji sighed and snapped his fingers; a hooded man appearing from the shadows. "Find either Yoshiro or Tyrell and tell 'em both to prepare for a possible attack." With the order given, Kenji returned his attention to Naibu and grinned. "The hollow have always been preparing for an attack, but what troubles me is that I can't predict and movement against us, because we weren't here in the alternate future I came back from." Naibu understood though. He knew the full details regarding Kenji's travels and only nodded agreement. "Well," He began with a smile, "hows the kid? Sorry I wasn't there for the birth, but being in Hueco Mundo kind of took the decision away from me. "Kentaro..." Kenji thought, recalling the moment he became a father with such delight that the smile on his face split it in two. "The little guy's as healthy and strong as I am," He declared proudly, with passing defenders shaking their heads as though such outbursts were the norm, "but nowhere near as good-looking." He added, causing a young female defender to roll her eyes as she walked on. "I don't think she liked that comment much," Naibu remarked. "But anyway, congratulations, Kenji. I bet Dastan was just as pleased as Sensei was." The two continued walking from their, discussing battle tactics regarding the Rukon District and how to foil Averian's attacks, with the occasional off-hand comment about their personal lives that brought laughter from nearby defenders. The one when Kenji sleep walked and smacked his head off the door frame earned more than a few laughs. Both friends continued like that until they reached the docks... where Kenji's eyes widened in surprise as a Garganta tore through the skyline...!
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