Ok I Can't - Tumblr Posts

Just remember: even if you can’t slay dragons and shoot fireballs from your hands, you can step over small objects in your path, and that makes you more badass than a lot of video game characters.

@hirako5hinji:

              Ojii-san?!! He silently sputtered in protest at her address of him, never mind that she had already taken to calling him ‘old man’ even back during his younger Academy days – wait; he was still young even now, what ojiisan?!! His eyelid twitched comically. Sakanade had always been like this; from when they first met and he realized that his zanpakuto spirit was an impish little flower girl who loved to run around barefoot playing hide and go seek through the intricate hanging gardens that made up a large part of his mindscape, and she was still that same carefree, playful sunshine sprite even now, entire centuries later. Shinji swiftly counted off the rest of the seconds, eyes opening the moment he reached the twentieth mark, already calling forth shunpo to shoot after the giggling young girl.

         “That’s it!! Wait till I get my hands           on yer brat self!”

              Following after Sakanade’s bell-like laughter was both a familiar chore and hobby by now. Once, it had even been a trial and an extremely strenuous training exercise, back when he was still nothing more than a stupid kid himself. But these days, it wasn’t as hard to track the girl spirit. The sweet scent of flowers dogged her child’s footsteps, myriad arrays of colorful flora blooming into vibrant life almost as soon as the bare, grass stained heel of her tiny feet left the ground, touched by Spring. A frown marred Shinji’s expression as he considered his zanpakuto’s comment.

         “Whaddya mean ya’ve been playing           hide and seek with Pharaoh? I told           ya ‘ta avoid him!”

              Once again, if Sakanade had gotten bored enough to attempt interacting with his Inner Hollow of all people, then it was obvious that he had really, sorely neglected her. But war and invasion were not exactly events that would patiently wait to be penciled into his schedule… Shinji silently resolved to make it up to the child spirit all the same. Loneliness was not a thing he would wish on anyone, least of all his Sakanade.

              He picked up the pace, just a tad in order to keep up with her fleet footed and gazelle-like grace, and raced down the pathway in her wake. He would let her have her playtime – she had earned every bit of it. Her tinkling laughter was uplifting, and the skies were bright, sunny and clear, reflecting her joyous good mood. The large expense of the lake spread out like an endless glimmering mirror over his golden head, and he only had to look up (or was it down?) to see her standing suspended on that pristine water surface, smiling that cheeky grin at him.

              Shaking his head at her in mild consternation, he simply released his hold to the garden’s ground and allowed gravity to take him down. At the last moment, Time seemed to slow as he reversed the pull of the land and righted himself top side up, landing with nary a ripple on the surface of the clear salt lake before the precocious child spirit.  

         “Sakanade.”

              His exasperation was soft, fond, warm.

         “Did ya miss me, Kiddo?”

Her sparkling eyes found his golden hair easily enough and she watched his progress, a smile that wouldn’t quit on her face. Hmmm, how long had it been since he’d come to play? Sakanade had lost track. The days ran together without him. She knew that he belonged in Seireitei. Belonged in the 5th division. However, the Sprite could remember the dark days clearly, as though they were yesterday. Her wielder’s life had been tossed away. He’d been called a traitor. He’d been exiled. 

Shinji was her everything, and she could never forgive what had been done to him. However, his happiness was most important, and there was no path Shinji could take that Sakanade would not follow. 

The child’s smile brightened as the blond looked up and spotted her. The spirit fondly recalled the days when such a simple trick would confound him to the point of frustration, but he wasn’t a kid anymore. She’d need new tricks after all. She eyed his approach with a happy heart. The sun burned brightly lighting him with a rich golden glow. As he landed opposite of her, tears pooled in her bright eyes. Not of sadness or loneliness, but tears of joy.

As they spilled over, a soft rain began to fall from the sky. A rainbow arced into life high above the Garden reflected perfectly in the pristine surface of the lake, as Sakanade bounded towards Shinji, nimbly jumping to wrap her arms around his neck.

“Of course I missed you, Shinji.” She said softly. The moment was short-lived as she grabbed his ear and yanked it sharply. “If you leave me alone like that again, I’ll make your record player play backwards and mess up your albums. I’m not bluffing, Ojiisan!”

~okariHirako~