hollow tide, stem

Days always seemed to drag when there wasn't anything 'of the essence' to deter her mind off the mind-numbing responsibilities that was expected of the newly appointed Captain of the Yonbantai. With a kick of her leg, she tilted her chair back onto the two back legs, balancing quite well as her other leg crossed and rested upon the other at the ankle, while balancing an ink pet on the tip of her nose. She had been doing such tedious and repetitive report viewing and reviewing and signing and stamping and-damn, this stuff got boring real quick!

Paper airplanes were scattered about the room, most of which landed near one of the small bins at the far side. Origami folded cranes and other such animal-type shapes were lined along her desk, and with boredom getting the best of her, she took hold of two cranes when the pen had finally balanced on its center along the bridge of her nose, and placed both folded papers on each end.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

It would take a lot more than something as trivial as knocking to interrupt her balancing act! By the time the Vice-Captain opened and closed the door behind her, Kawa's head was arched far back, one leg slightly raised up in the air, the other with the toe of her sandal touching the surface of the desk. Along her face, were various origami; cranes, tigers, an elephant? Maybe that was a giraffe; that one didn't turn out that well... kinda hard to fold paper while balancing all this stuff on your face. Nevertheless, a total of five folded origami stretched along her face; two on her forehead, one on each cheek, and one on her chin. In addition to that collection, many more had started a pyramid along the pen currently teetering along the bridge of her nose, and with a stretched out arm to keep her balance, Kawa was currently in the process of adding one final crane to the top of the pyramid.

>>"Good morning, Shimizu-Taichou."

"R'nt ch'u s'osed t'kn'ck e'ore c'ng in?" Kawa breathed out her words carefully, her upper lip purposely hovering over her bottom to mute the amount of air that came out. Each word forced the pen to teeter and sway, though a gentle twitch of her head, the pen simmered and she was able to continue adding more cranes to the pyramid while the Sanbantai Vice Captain informed her of the reason behind her visit.

>>"I trust your morning has been fine so far."

"H'rd at 'ork," the young woman replied wearily, eyes rolling though continued to keep her attention upon her artful display. Despite the Vice Captain exceeding both her age and experience, Kawa had been granted the position of Captain over their division in place of the Vice Captain, which had certainly not blown over well with some of their fellow division members. Morale was still a bit low in comparison to the other divisions, despite the time that had passed. Kawa's current devices were probably not helping her case... though, it wasn't as though it mattered too much. When it came down to it, Kawa was able to get the job presented before her completed, and with relative haste... when it peaked her curiosity that is.

"Wz'i ch'u 'ant?" the young healer asked as the final crane was placed down, completing the pyramid in all its glory, and with that, her arms stretched outward proudly. Then, the woman's brows wiggled slightly, making the twin tigers on both brows move up and down, as though they were dancing to the accomplishment.

>>"Always so distracted, Kawa..."

With a simple flick, the pyramid and pen came to a fall, and with it, Kawa's head tilted further back, with the rest of the papered animals cluttering the floor around her. Despite the Vice Captain's efforts, the woman still appeared lazy and disinterested as ever, even when she brought up the intended date.

>>"Did you make your calendar into a paper crane too? It’s time for your monthly check up. Or have you some how managed to magically rid yourself of the hollow infection in so short a time?... Did you forget to put the tea on boil, too?"

"Eye's as clear as crystal," Kawa informed the woman as she sat up, those teal-colored hues showing no signs of the infection that, should it being to weaken the seal, would first show its sign in her left eye. Currently, those twin hues matched in coloration, further implicating that the infection was being well maintained, though a well trained eye could see a bit of cracking within the iris, the initial signs of the previous seal reaching its expiration. Nevertheless, she still had some time before that point... for now, at least. "And I could have sworn our little dates were more closer toward the end of the month..."

A failed attempt at a lie, which was obvious for both parties, though Kawa would always continue to provide such an act. Izumi would come to meet her for the check up, Kawa would act aloof, uncertain of their meeting, or at times, not be in her office, to which she would inevitably be tracked down by the Vice Captain. Quite frankly, the young doctor felt it unnecessary. If she felt fine, and her eye was good, then everything was alright; there was no need for this constant check up. If she needed her, Kawa would seek her out; didn't Izumi know that by now?

"And how're the old bones treating you?" Kawa retorted dryly as she picked up one of the paper airplanes line along her desk, then proceeded to pump-aim it toward the bin across the room. "Arthritis acting up again?"

At her final word, she attempted to launch the plane toward the bin..

>>"If that's crystal, I hate to see mud. And you know damn well when our check-ups are, given they've been happening for more than a hundred years now."

Their meetings were as tedious as ever. Kawa rolled her eyes slightly at the response, though hastily focused on the plane as it maneuvered quite freakishly, pulling a sudden loop when it passed the elder Vice Captain and came to strike her right between the eyes. The Captain could do little to hid her hilarity at the situation, bursting out a single, muffled laugh though hastily bit both her lips in a failed attempt to hide her humor.

>>"Kawa."

*BONK*

"Aie," Kawa winced at the sudden headbutt, rubbing her forehead roughly and certainly finding no humor in the woman's words.

>>"I will end you if you do that again."

The sudden image of being at the receiving end of the old woman's wrath was discomforting, and though the Vice Captain returned to her chair to play with one of Kawa's cranes, the Captain herself resorted to a rather childish pout as she leaned and sprawled out along her desk like a bored child.

>>"Anyhow, we need to refresh the seal, and I need to see how pure your power is. Have you been meditating the required two hours a day?"

"Yes, mommy," Kawa resorted to her childish antics again as she picked up one of the papered tigers and began to trot it along the table. "And I brushed my teeth before dinner and I even made my own bed, all by myself..."

It was amazing how one would come to check in on the young Captain and put up with her antics for so many years. Perhaps it was patience and understanding like that that had brought the old woman to her Vice Captain status... or simply the wrath of an old woman. Hell, she certainly had the face to scare the young doctor enough to a point. Then again, perhaps it was this back-and-forth confrontation that Kawa actually looked forward to. Despite announcing her failed remembrance, it was, after all, a constant repetitious meeting the two of them had over the centuries, and if nothing else, Kawa was systematic, and enjoyed little to changing events, even if she did express otherwise.

"I-" And Kawa wisely closed her lips as she adjusted her position, straightened her back, and made it seem as though she were merely stretching her limbs. She arched her back left, then right, then let out a loud, verbal yawn before rolling her neck slightly. That slight break in her facade forced her to reach into her drawer and pull out the small prescription bottle, anticipating a migraine. Tapping out two small pills, the woman swallowed them, dry and without hesitation, then placed the bottle back in her drawer.

With that, the woman stood up, reluctant at first as always, but fighting an uphill battle for centuries proved all for naught. It was mostly for show, in the end; Kawa didn't want to just simply allow the woman the comfort of knowing she needed her constant help over the years. Not only that, but looking fragile, vulnerable, and all that crap just left a bad, sour taste in her mouth.

"Let's just get this over with... I have rounds coming up soon..."

The woman with an array of retorts actually remained silent to the comment of her medication, even moreso when the elder Vice Captain made mention of Kawa's previously mentioned jab. The Captain made her way to follow instead, visually reluctant as always, and sat a few paces before the elder woman, legs crossed and the sheathed blade in her hand moving to her lap.

>>"Still haven’t found a husband yet?"

"Still haven't achieved Bankai yet?" was Kawa's witty, yet certainly ruthless remark, knowing full well of the woman's troubling past injury, though when it came to prodding her own personal life, the young Captain did little to hold her tongue; rather, she rarely held her tongue at all, for that matter. Nevertheless, such a snappy response left a sour taste in her mouth, as it usually did, and the woman adjusted her position and rolled her shoulders, but did little in reflecting verbally upon her comment. "Are we done with the theatrics of small talk and touching upon subjects we both wish to leave behind?"

Especially edgy today, the young Captain felt her stiffness throughout her body, evident in her rough breaths, and disconnection with their meditating attempts. Reluctant as always, however, Kawa took in a deep breath and attempted to leave her thoughts at the door, along with the scattered airplanes around the room, and papered critters lining her desk.

>>"Don’t get smart with me, young lady. But yes, let’s begin."

Another breath of hot air escaped her lips as her brows pinched ever so lightly. Once the elder Vice Captain began to speak the repetitive words she had heard so much, Kawa oddly obliged, as she always eventually did. Reluctancy was usually just for show, but today seemed to express a chip in the Captain's shoulder apparently. Nevertheless, their ritual was the same. Despite her efforts, however, Kawa found herself unable to fully relax; she felt fidgety, discomforted, and somewhat on edge. Perhaps that was one reason why she was actually within her office during their meeting, rather than attempting to skip out and run off on the young Vice Captain. Of course, the Captain herself would never admit to such a fact, but it was certainly open to speculation nonetheless.

The flow of spiritual energy that began to radiate from her form was certainly disfigured, as one would expect; stagnant and tainted, as it always was. As Izumi's golden reiatsu spiraled upon summoning and curled around Kawa's body, she felt the pressure within herself condense, tensing briefly before the woman spoke once more.

>>"Breathe in, Kawa. You are the water, and I am the current, and together we push past this blockade."

"I am," Kawa found herself snapping in response, her own frustration showing a bit more easily than normal, shattering her normal collected and calm facade when it came to this procedure. They had done this near countless times, and while only having a bit of trouble a few times prior, the young Captain had never found herself so frustrated at such an easy task as spiritual synchronization. Never before had the woman found such difficulty in such a simple matter, and yet, here she was, simply attempting to produce her reiatsu at a moderate level to prepare for their souls to link.

Kawa continued the breathing exercise, and despite her difficulty, eventually her chaotic spiritual pressure simmered, producing a sky-blue aura around her body, where at the points closest to her, held a corrupted hue of pure ebony and violet, a toxic mixture that would forever remain as evidence of her past mistake. With one final breath, the woman's consciousness faded, to awaken within the constant chaos of her own inner world...

..........

A vast, near endless sea stretched along the horizon, meeting the beautiful star-filled sky. Countless tiny specs sparkled and twinkled within the crescent moonlight, where beyond that, a universe within itself circled near the entirety of the sky itself. Small portions of land peeked through the water, from small beaches to larger peninsulas and massive cliffs. A variety of plant life engulfed those small pieces of land, though it seemed a majority of the world itself was engulfed entirely with water. The sea itself was near crystal clear, though the further toward the sea one approached, the more darker it became; not merely due to the intensity in which the depth foreshadowed, but instead, expressing the very corruption within Kawa's own soul.

That darkened water seemed far more thick as each wave of the water brought more of that sickly, infected water closer and closer toward the shores of the island. While still certainly a ways out, the massive sea itself gave the illusion that perhaps more of that infected water remained beyond the horizon, or perhaps, deeper within the depths itself.

A call to the inner world's most precious resident would summon a ray of lunar light from one of the larger gathered masses of land. Atop one of the cliffs, a wolf sat perched along the edge, staring off into the distance, though its attention would be pulled toward the call and manifestation of those seeking entry, and guiding them toward the spirit. A swirl of sapphire spiritual energy engulfed the wolf, covering it completely as its shape became more humanistic, though still expressing its animal qualities.

"Welcome..." the female fox spirit warmly expressed, attempting to plaster a smile over her obvious worry. "This is the first time I've ever seen someone here other than them."

>>“Thank you. Where is Kawa?”

"I'm not sure," the young fox admitted sheepishly, stretching an arm and lightly scratching the back of her head. The elder woman surveyed the area in a curious manner, and the fox followed her gaze. The very sea that surrounded the island, making the vast land appear like a mere marble in size comparison, appeared thicker than most sources of water, with the black, murky tint of darkness that resided within the her master's soul. "And you're Kunpuu-Fukutaicho... if I'm not mistaken, right?"

>>“So that’s where the hollow is kept, hm?”

"Yes," Mizukitsune nodded to the woman's assumption. "Careful; you shouldn't get too close... the water will swallow you up."

As if on command, the water began to stir. Restless ripples stretched along as the waves became a bit more aggressive, as though merely being mentioned brought life to the darkened water. The fox took a few cautious steps back, her brows lowered in concern.

"How is it you're here?" the fox asked curiously as she moved closer. "I've never thought it possible for someone else to enter the inner world of another... is it similar to spiritual bonding? Are you really here, or are you merely an illusion within her consciousness?"

Her interest was certainly peaked, her words spoken a bit faster with each passing thought. She seemed very much like Kawa in that aspect; when something interesting took her attention, all her focused was placed upon it until examined to its full extent.

"Is this something common among Shinigami now? Is it possible to travel from one inner world to the next?"

>>“It’s something only I can do. I’m as real as the water out there. As real as the stars above. My soul body is outside of her, of course, but my soul has entered. Took me a long time to learn how to do this. Kawa-chan just happens to be the first one I’ve done it too outside of practice.”

"Oooooh; interesting, interesting indeed," the young fox expressed her awe with an index finger pressed against her bottom lip and wide, teal-colored hues that shimmered more intensely when the bolt of lightning struck the water. The element didn't seem to produce much of a reaction to the fox, perhaps indicating that such a forceful burst of elemental energy was common enough to not be shocked by it... or perhaps-

>>“Kakishibu.”

The lieutenant's shadow flinched and danced briefly before forming a disfigured silhouette. The shadow-formed puppet seemed to react to Izumi's wishes alone, bowing to the pair before making its way to the murky waters. The fox's brows pinched as her lips pursed.

>>“He’s going to go check out the whirlpool. I doubt it’ll have much effect on him. Now, we have to find Kawa. Without her, stopping that churning abyss of hollow energy is going to be impossible. Do you have absolutely no idea where she is?”

"No," the fox shook her head in response to the whereabouts of Kawa, though her eyes remained more intently focused upon the shadow. Despite the woman stating the effects upon the shadow would be minimal, it appeared worry still expressed upon the Zanpakuto spirit's features. "Um... I think it would be best not to disturb the water...W-we should leave it be."

As though upon command, the waves became even more restless as before, crashing more forcefully against the shore, and as the shadowed spirit closed in, the murky waters lifted up and slashed outward, attempting to thwart the spirit's advances. The further it moved, the more forceful the water became, though not once was it attempting to pull it into the darkened, corrupted waters; rather, it continuously attempted to keep it away, and prevent it from moving toward the more condensed, blackened portion of the sea.

"It'll get sucked in if it gets too close," Mizukitsune warned Izumi with a worried look. The young fox began to move a bit further away, moving as though attempting to keep the elder Lieutenant between herself and her puppet spirit's current path...