[R] Volume 100: Just Smile

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It's warm out.

Despite the red dawning sky, the wind that blew through the barren rocks of Southern Rukongai was still an arid gust. Monolithic formations grew in the background, their craggy cliffs barely visible in the low-light emissions of the morning sun. Swells of dust penetrated every part of Yuusuke as the wind wrapped him in a cloak of rough warmth. No creature seemed alive at the early hours of the morning with an eerie silence being his only company through the rough trek into the desert landscape.

It wasn't a completely hidden fact that the former Captain had once hailed from the barren wasteland and given that a silent exit had simply been foiled at the last moment, his top priority was to find one of the many storehouses that littered the less traveled paths. For anyone who didn't know where to look, they were anything but easy to locate as they blended in with the landscape as one of thousands of caves that dotted the sheer cliffs.

A change of clothes would be needed if he were to ever seamlessly blend in with the millions of faces within the endless expanse of towns. Chances of finding a place that would help him in his current state of dress were slim.



Chapter 01: Anyone



"What're you doing here, Shinigami?! Don't you have something better to do-- "

Supply shelters were no better than the towns when it came to tolerating his kind. Some might have said worse, given the situations of people who used them. Vagabonds, mercenaries, thieves, murders...he'd heard all numbers of descriptions used to classify the travelers. Many of whom were there due to Shinigami action. Or inaction. Whichever the case may have been.

And what was the reason he could use this system?

The sound of a jaw shattering through the destructive force of a punch answered the question. "Shut it. These caves are for any traveler to use, regardless of who they are. You know that."

The man gave a nod to him and he nodded back, appraising the mammoth figure before him. A receding crown of dying ebony, sprinkled with flakes of white and grey, sat atop the middle-aged man. His fading brown eyes weren't kindly by any means, but they were tolerant. He was taller than Yuusuke by several inches and might have once been a body-builder of sorts. Now, he was simply a man loosing to the battle of age, wrinkles becoming apparent as well as the sagging fat on his belly. His strength was still apparent, despite it all.

"Though it's quite odd for one like you to stop by a place such as this. What's your business here, Shinigami?"

Yuusuke scratched his head as the man's eyes darted between his face and his side, appraising the weapon and the man wielding it. "Just a quick stop and a change of clothes is all. I take it you're the boss of this set-up, huh?"

The man nodded brusquely before peering at him oddly. "Change of clothing? That set's fine, no holes or nothing. Even if there was somethin' wrong, we don't carry clothing for...you people...here."

"I know," shrugged the auburn haired man, "but I'm not here for the clothing of the Gotei. Just something simple will do fine."

"Eh...wh-- of course. You know these things ain't free though, right? You gotta pay..." stumbled the boss, his thick tongue seeming to fail him. Who could blame him, though.

"I've used these things before..." he hesitated slightly and stared at his folded hand for a second, "...A long time ago, though. Things were a bit different then, but a few gold coins should do it, right?"

Regaining his bearings, the boss nodded the over-sized head of his and whistling sharply, "Richard! Get over here son!"

Within the sparse structure, a boy with brilliantly shining blonde hair dropped a crate and dragged his tiny body to the pair. No older than his early teens, his body was frail -- thinner than normal by any standard -- and it seemed to quake in fear when his father's thick hand rested on his shoulder. "This is my son, Richard. He'll get you something to wear real quickly. Anything else you'll be needing?"

Despite the almost affectionate tone, Yuusuke shivered as suspicions danced through his head. "Just a quick meal. Something to go on the road. And yes," he quickly responded as the boss's mouth began to twist again, "I know it'll cost me more as well."

After another nod from the father, the son dragged him into a series of tunnel-like rooms, each filled with an assortment of random clothing. Most of it had been repaired in some way, various stitches and patches interrupting the flow of the rough fabrics. "Uhhm...I'm not sure how much we have for a man of your height...sir!"

The last part seemed rushed, and the rogue nodded gently at this, before extending an arm to his shoulder. "Then I guess we'll just have to see what you've got. Take me to the last room?"

"Yes sir."

Anyone can use these caves...anyone can use these caves...anyone can use these caves...

The internal mantra continued until they arrived at the last set in the series of elongated rooms, one which was far sparser than the others. "This is where the clothing for a guy of my height would be, huh? I wonder..."

Richard bowed politely a number of times, each time excusing himself to take care of something or another -- most likely gathering the food he had asked for -- before he finally exited the room. "I guess it's just me now, huh? Time to find something decent...if there's anything left to have."

As luck would have it, it took only a few moments to find something worthwhile to wear. Hidden away in the back corner of the room was a set of decent enough clothing. Black boots that rose to mid-calf, brown hakama, a cream shirt that came down to his knees with a split down the sides, a pale brown obi, and a deep forest green cloak.

The sounds of the entering footsteps came several minutes after he had finished shedding his old clothing for the new. "I look rather dashing in this, don't I, Richard?"

The obligatory nod followed and any attempts at humor may as well have been lost as he was handed a small sack of sandwiches and lead out of the system of caves. "I trust everything was in order? Satisfied?"

The boss, who's name he had yet to learn, smiled greedily and extended his palm expectantly. Cash was the language here. "Everything was just fine...except for one thing..."

He frowned as Yuusuke signaled for him to lean in closer, the silk fabric of the shirt feeling gentle as he grabbed the collar of the man's shirt and lifted him off the ground. "Except for a foul being who has nothing better to do than beat his own son. I know the rules here. I know that any human should be able to come here. But I don't think of you as a human."

His hand gripped the tsuka of his Zanpakutou with a fierce intensity and each second a little more metal shone in the daylight. "If I ever come back to find out...well, if things don't change, you won't be head of anything ever again. I'm not even sure you'll have a head."

Somehow, as his back shone to the cave, the man knew that he had only made things worse. He could practically hear the hits pile on within his mind.



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