A Lovely Day

The weather was clear, the sun was high, the sparse wind blew. Today was one of those days. "Those days" being the time when the Tenrai Kami of the Vizard would draw himself from his seclusion in the grand castle that served as their base. For why would it not? How could it not? Such peaceful days as these were rather rare in his lifespan. All before now, he was always fighting. Just one corpse after the other would pile up in the path that he left behind him. The path that was flooded in blood.

Yes, he had finally gotten away from that. The day that he became a "Traitor" to the Soul Society. The day that he had become a Vizard. The day that would forever haunt his mind and scar more than just his memory. And yet, he somehow couldn't help but grin. For this was just so... peaceful. He sat now on the empty high wall that was built around the fantastic castle that was his home. Simply musing about what was to come in his life. Before he finally died for good.

Did Kuro expect to live forever? No, he did not. ""Truena, it really is such a beautiful day." As though from nowhere, a voice entered into the Vizard's mind. "Indeed." The voice sounded like one that belonged to a noble woman of some elegance. Quite a contrast to the ex-Shinigami. "But, I grow bored. These days have been long and I grow older. How much longer?" What he was musing over, who knew? Truena, of course, but as if one could ask the spirit of Kuro's zanpaktou without his express permission. "Time is a fickle mistress. What she has up her sleeve, none can say." This brought a grin to Kuro's face. "So be it."

An Senkaimon gate appeared high in a mountainous region. Ando stepped through the gate on on a mission to investigate an unknown presence. Previous reports stated that strange spiritual pressure was felt around. It wasn’t a shinigami, nor was it a hollow, but rather, something in between. And whatever it was it was strong. ”I wonder if there is even anything here…” Ando thought, as he slowed down to get a grip on his bearings. ”There’s no humans around here, so it can’t be a hollow, arrancar or not. And from the reports, it’s no shinigami either. I don’t like this one bit Ikazuchi.” Ando let out a sigh, then flash stepped away, trying to find out whatever he could about the mysterious being.

Kuro stood abruptly. A spike in the mountain range within the Vizard territory was quite easy for him to detect. But, there was something about the reiatsu of the person that had come from it. It seemed almost... familiar. He had to investigate it. But first, there was the matter of hiding his own reiatsu. A simple enough matter for someone like him.

And within the next moment, he was gone from the ancient building's walls and into the area around him. The path was an easy one that the vizard would need to negotiate to put him close to the intruder. And he was there within a short span of time. And what Kuro found more than satisfied his curiosity. Oh yes, he more than recognized this reiatsu now.

"Ando...?" It was spoken aloud, loud enough for the shinigami's attention to be caught.

Ando started at his name being spoken. What really startled him though was the fact that the voice was familiar, nostalgic even. He quickly turned around, ready for anything. Or at least he thought he was. Instead, he was caught completely unprepared for the visual that met his eyes. "Kuro.....is that really you?" he managed to say after a brief moment of stunned amazement.

Kuro slowly began to walk toward the shinigami. "Yes. Ando... I... What're you doing here?" It wasn't that Ando's presence was unwanted by the Vizard. No, it was more of his paranoia acting up. If it was just Ando however, then maybe he could come up with something a little more fun for the two of them. After all, Kuro hadn't seen his old love in a long while now.

"It's quite simple what I'm doing here. I've received reports stating that there's a mysterious entity around here." Ando responded to Kuro's question. "The real question, or rather questions, is what are you doing here? You just vanished one day, and now you're suddenly here." Ando started moving forward, a smile starting to show on his face. "Although I can't say this isn't a pleasant surprise."

Kuro finally began to regain his composure, shaking his head slightly. "Let's just say that I found out about and did something that certain people think I shouldn't have done." A small came over his face, as though lighting up his features. "I came out here because there was solitude. And enough other things to hold my interest. But, I really did miss some things from my old life as a shinigami. And one of them just found his way back." He was now right in front of the smaller shinigami. "So how about we go out on a date to celebrate then?" Kuro donned a mischievous grin.

"Define date." Ando sarcastically replied. He looked up at the larger shinigami. "Well, it doesn't really matter, does it. Sorry, but I really should be getting back. If I'm gone too long, someone will probably come looking for me, and then they'll find you, and then goodbye solitude. Although, I must confess, I am curious to see what it is that you found out about that people think you shouldn't of done."

"I take it the news was Captain-Level then. I've been declared a "Traitor" for what I've done. And it's all thanks..." He began to turn and walk a bit away from Ando, an object appearing in his hand as it raised up. "This mask of mine." To put it quite simply, the mask not only looked like, but also emitted the reiatsu of a hollow. "I conquered my Inner Hollow and was rewarded with power. But it also did other things to me." His hand opened and the mask vanished into thin air.

"And let's just say Commander Pendragon wasn't pleased with my actions in regard to my grab at power. I was forced to flee from the Soul Society..." He turned back to Ando. "I cannot return without Pendragon's dogs on my tail. And right now, I just want to spend some time with you." He looked from Ando's face to a place off in the distance. "There's a town nearby that's overflowing with spiritual energy. Come on, they'll think you're there and that you found a hollow or something. Please, just stay with me for a while..."

"Well, you always did have some way to convince me to do stuff." Ando said with a small laugh. "Very well then, led the way." Ando stepped out of the way of the bigger shinigami. Although he was glad Kuro trusted him enough to show Ando his new found powers, Ando couldn't help but be a little scared, though he didn't show it on the outside. He was afraid of what might happen if Kuro lost control of his inner hollow. But not only that, but he was afraid of what might lie in wait for the two of them in the future. "But for now," He reasoned, "Lets just enjoy this brief moment of happiness.".