7.A Day Off

After my trip to the Human World I had a train of thought. My first mission in Decades? Centuries? Maybe, I no longer knew how long I had stayed here. Then those thoughts focused on myself, had I myself changed in anyway?

"Am I different?"

A careful contemplation had me remember what I had done before. Wandering the Soul Society alone, and that where I fought that Hollow that lead me here.

"Kakashi?"

"Oh sorry, did you need something Captain Urahara?" I asked

"Yes, I need you to send these to analysis, and bring me the results"

Taking a sample I had gotten from the Human World when I encountered that strange man with the rifle. Entering the lab seeing the head tech examining a few other samples.

"Hello Vice-captain Hatake, what can I do for you today" the lead lab tech asked

"Captain Urahara wants these analyzed"

Taking the sample she ran a quick tests. A paper came out the machine, as it was finished.

"Here you go" she said handing it off

"Thank you"

Walking down the halls still stuck on my earlier thought. Thankfully tomorrow would be my day off, and I could spend sometime thinking it over.

"Here you go Captain" I said handing it off

"Thanks, that'll be all for today"

Taking my leave I needed time to compose my thoughts. Taking a nice shady spot by a tree, til that same wolf from my dream appeared.

"Who am I? A question most try to answer"

"Haven't heard from you in awhile"

"I like to take time to myself"

Chuckling she was certainly a card, opposite of my own personality.

"So doing a bit of self searching"

"Unfortunately, yes never really easy"

"Is anything ever easy, well anything worth knowing?"

"You have a point, Lobo"

"Never did like that name" she sighed

"You have a very strange name"

"What do you mean?"

"Your name does not sound like those of other Zanpakuto of Soul Reapers I've trained with"

"For us their just names, and Los Lobo is not my full"

"May I know it?"

"You'll know once you're ready, don't get ahead of yourself" she scoffed

"Very well"

We both sat their as she set her head on my lap. She wasn't physically there, but still it was comforting.

"We meet again"

Captain Shunsui stood watching me, rising dusting any grass off.

"Good evening Captain Shunsui"

"Sorry Vice-captain Hatake seems you were in deep thought" he apologized

"I was but it's fine, saved for another time"

He then held a bottle of sake and a cup. Sitting by me he poured himself some.

"Do you part take?"

"No, sorry"

"It's okay, I just thought a found a drinking buddy"

Downing the drink of alcohol he poured another cup.

"But a buddy nonetheless" he reassured

"So what brings you out here?"

"Oh I'm trying to get out of work" he answered drinking another

"I see"

"You?"

"I was released, and tomorrow is my day off"

"Oh how bout that, any big plans?"

"Nope unfortunately, may just sit and read all day" I said thinking that I had literally nothing to do

"Wow sounds boring"

"I just don't have a lot going on, and I guess I'm doing a bit of self searching you could say" I answered

"What you hope to find on this journey of 'self discovery'?" He asked pouring another cup though he did seem to be listening intently

"Don't know yet, but I'm sure I'll find out somewhere down the road" I answered

Out the corner of my eye I caught a smile as it disappeared behind a cup of sake.

"Well I must get going, I want get home before the sun goes down"

"See ya later Kakashi" he said waving a bit

Walking in the direction of my home, the sun began to set. Just reaching it before the dark night came. The place was empty, sitting down with a book I found at the shop. Setting a pot of tea, and miso soup as well. Placing the bowl of hot food on the table, sitting myself by the table too. My finger traced the cover of the book opening it.

"It won't be as good, but it will make due"

Flipping through page after page, the musty smell hitting my nose. The moonlight peaking through my window, only taking a few bites of soup. Eating til I saw the bottom of the bowl, ending my reading at a good spot.

"I think that's all for tonight"

Closing the book placing it back on the shelf. Then washing my bowl and returning it to the cupboard. Laying down upon my futon, staring at the dark ceiling.

"Well maybe tomorrow will be better" I reassured myself

Morning

A knocking at the door awoke me from my slumber. Glancing at the clock first, it was still early slugging to the door.

"Yes?" I asked rubbing my eyes of sleep

"Hey Kakashi"

"Captain Shihoin? Why are you here so early?"

"Came by heard you had the day off"

Not that she mentioned it, she didn't have her Captains Haori on. Letting her in she scanned the room, I admit there wasn't much inside.

"You don't have a lot do you?"

"Well it's just me here"

"Maybe I could change that?" She suggested teasingly

"No, that's alright I wouldn't want to impose on your company" I reject calmly

Grinning Yoruichi ignored the rejection.

"And I'm off duty as well, you don't have to call me Captain"

"Very well, Yoruichi"

"Anyway let's go, we're going to have breakfast" she ordered

"Let get dressed first"

"Okay, want any help?"

"Nope I'm fine"

A few moments later...

Changing into my uniform minus the badge. We walked into a restaurant, sitting in a secluded corner. I ordered a simple meal, but it had seemed that Yoruichi had frequented the establishment as they knew what she wanted.

"So you come here often?"

"If that's a pick up line it is a rather overused one" she joked

The employees came with my plate, then a large meal for Yoruichi. Four plates, and at least five to six bowls, having a feeling she was holding back.

"So Kakashi tell me how did you become part of Soul Reapers?" She asked taking a bite of her first plate

"Don't know really, they found me after I fought a hollow gave me this job that's all to tell" I answered

"Pretty short tale"

"Not much to tell unfortunately"

"So what about hobbies?" She starting her last plate

"Reading mostly, like I say I'm not very interesting"

"It's okay, I don't mind Kisuke was never really interesting either" she joked

Kisuke was from what I knew was the closest friend to Yoruichi. I could feel an familiar sense about it, like somewhere I myself had felt that.

"So may I ask, how did Kisuke become Captain?"

"There are three ways one to become Captain, one get three recommendations from three other Captains, two trial by combat, but few use that method, lastly master your Bankai" she answered eating her third bowl

"Bankai?"

"Oh it's your Zanpakutos true form" she answered starting on her last bowl

Walking out the restaurant with a lighter wallet. Yoruichi seemed to have enjoyed her meal.

"How long have you and Kisuke been friends?"

"Since we were kids I guess, time gets funny that way"

"I understand"

"Did you ever have anyone like that?" She asked

I had to stop just to comprehend the question, did I? I can't remember much anymore, so much had gone by. Yoruichi too stopped waiting, then she rushed hooking my arm into hers.

"Come on! You need to loosen up" she joked

She ended up dragging me to different places.

Home

Entering my home with an exhaustive form.

"How was your date?"

Lobo sat on the couch as if she had been waiting all day.

"It wasn't a date"

"Pour Kakashi, doesn't know a date even though he clearly went on one" she teased whipping her tail in my face

"Yoruichi can sure eat a lot" I noted after looking in my wallet