. . . and I have touched the sky

[The following message arrives by Hell Butterfly, hopefully at not too inconvenient a time. When it is allowed to land on Chad's finger, it delivers the following message in Shunsui's voice.]

Yasutora-kun,

We're looking into training for you; I've been talking to Jyuushirou as well -- that's Ukitake-taichou -- so don't be surprised if he shows up.

Oh, by the way, Kurosaki-kun's fallen through a Hole and is currently in Seireitai, so don't worry if he's not around. We'll send him back as soon as a convenient Hole opens.

We'll work out some way to get you to wherever's best suited to train you. In the mean time, if you have any urgent problems, repeat them into this butterfly after the message finishes, and I'll receive the message.

Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

Kyouraku out. That is how you say it, isn't it? I need to ask my lovely Nanao-chan about that --

[message breaks off at that point]

It's a pleasant afternoon in Karakura, and Ishida has invited Chad to his little hideaway in the woods by the waterfall. Of course, Chad will have seen the place before, from when he and Yoruichi and Orihime came there. It has changed little; it's still a lovely woodland scene, close enough to the main town for convenience, but far enough out that nobody's going to come to investigate loud explosions and blasting noises.

The return to Karakura hadn't been hard at all. In fact, it had gone quite quickly. A Hole had been located and Chad was escorted there without event. There was a slight reprimand handed out by Soi Fong for even considering going to Hueco Mundo in the first place, and he'd agreed with her. In his current state, he had been stupid. It was foolish.

But now, now he had direction again. And a bit of inspiration. It would just be a short matter of contacting Ishida-san. At the very least, he could get advice, if Ishida-san hadn't...

Best not to think about that. Seeing that it's still early evening, it shouldn't be too hard to find Ishida-san around somewhere. Or perhaps at his house, which Chad realizes he's never been to.

After a pleasant stroll across Soul Society (and a number of curious glances from passing shinigami), Chad's escort manages to deliver him to Eighth Division.

Unfortunately, Ise-fukutaichou does not seem to be around, which causes some problems in finding Kyouraku-taichou. However, popular opinion tracks him down to one of the garden areas, and there is indeed a pink kimono draped over one of the benches there. And a Captain dozing on top of it, with his hat over his face.

Chad's escort hesitates.

Nemu comes to a halt as she and Chad begin to ascend a ridge of hillocks.

She keeps her voice low. "According to the readings, the creature should be on the other side of this topographical feature. How would you wish to approach it?"

Orihime is up and about. It's such a lovely day! Sunny and bright and shining and full of opportunity!

No evil scientists hiding in the background to kidnap her! (Hopefully.)

And if there's just a little hesitancy to her step, and a slight tendency to look both ways and also behind her when it comes to crossing the road, no doubt she'll get over it soon.

But she has to do the shopping! It's not fair to expect poor Tatsuki to feed her all the time. She should provide some of the food as well!

[OOC: feel free to run into her.]

A large figure, a few feet taller than anyone else on the street, wanders through the city. His path is aimless, taking him from well lit shop areas to dark alleys, but he shows no fear. Even no real regard for where he is. Something weighs heavy on Chad's mind, and the last few days haven't helped allay his fears at all.

The exchange with Ichigo at the school had replayed itself in his mind a few times. What if Ichigo decided to go after Twelfth for what they did? Another trip to Soul Society, but what use would he be... He couldn't even lay a finger on the Captain he'd faced, let alone battle one to a stand still like Ichigo, or outright almost kill one like Ishida.

His friends, the people he had sworn to protect, the people important to him, were all going places that he couldn't go.

This is what unsettled Chad. And this is why he wanders sometimes, subconsciously seeking an answer.

Tonight would be a long night.

It's lunch break. Rukia knows about this from her time in the world of the living.

She lurks patiently on the top of the school building, in the area where Ichigo usually comes to eat lunch. She's in a gigai. She's in a school uniform. There is, she flatters herself, nothing about her which could alarm anyone.

Ichigo had better come up here and eat lunch, or he'll regret it.


[OOC note: all Karakura school-age types are welcome to drop in.]