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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 11:48:10 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 15, 2011 11:48:10 GMT -5
Karakura was hardly large. If one could memorize most of the Seireitei's sewer system, where to find the best deals on rice and exactly what back alleys one might take in the Rukongai to avoid being seen, one should be able to memorize the few roads Karakura possessed.
However, Yamada Hanatarou was irrefutably lost. Adrift, mislaid! The worst thing about this was that he had visited Karakura before. He had lived there for a few months, so the little shinigami had no idea how he had started out on his way to the local hospital— if he were to spend time in the living world, he thought it would be best to know how to treat living humans— and was currently shuffling along the riverside.
"Oh..." The map in his hands made less sense than the one that burly young man had written out, in their attempts to save Rukia. "This street isn't here..."
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 12:07:34 GMT -5
Post by Kisuke Urahara on Mar 15, 2011 12:07:34 GMT -5
It was always easy to tell when someone was lost; they had a look of either very quiet desperation or slightly apathetic interest in their surroundings, as if to say 'I'm not supposed to be here, but I am. What's up with that?'
Kisuke found that, when most people got lost, they tended to appear rather frustrating. This most likely stemmed from the innumerable times when Kisuke had offered help to the misplaced and had it thrown back at him. 'I don't need your help, I can find it myself!'
Uh-huh. Tell me that again when I come back and you're still here.
However, in this case, he decided that it might be nice to lend his help to the Soul Reaper with his back to Kisuke, bent over a crudely scrawled map as he muttered to himself. Hanatarou had always been nice to have around Karakura, since he rarely got himself into the kinds of trouble that Renji, Ikkaku, Yumichika or Rangiku always managed to find.
So, smiling gently, he came up behind the smaller man and tapped his cane noticably against the ground.
"Hey there, Hanatarou! You look like a man who finds himself in a place he had no intention of finding himself in. What's up?"
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 12:24:04 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 15, 2011 12:24:04 GMT -5
Hantarou was shamed the loud tap against the pavement coaxed a surprised squawk. Startled, he crumpled the map between his hands as he turned on one heel. Almost toppled over due to an unbalanced distribution of weight, Hanatarou was in a slight bow almost as soon as his eyes flickered up Urahara's body. "Ah, h-hello, Urahara-san!" Said a bit too loudly, Hanatarou was in the same gigai he had worn the last time he had visited; hair pulled back in a short ponytail and wearing mismatched socks beneath his slacks. "Erm. I-- I was trying to find the local hospital! H-however, there are...some streets are lacking."
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 12:39:36 GMT -5
Post by Kisuke Urahara on Mar 15, 2011 12:39:36 GMT -5
Kisuke smiled as nicely as he could; something about Hanatarou made him try to ease off of his creepy side lest he frighten the small 7th Seat. The thought didn't sit well with him, so he placed a hand lightly on Hanatarou's shoulder and shook him slightly, forcing him out of his bow and into a less formal stance.
"There's no need to stand on ceremony with me, my friend! Please, call me Kisuke. Come," he said, guiding Hanatarou along the sidewalk, "the hospital's this way."
"While we're walking, why don't you enlighten me as to why you're here, and which oddly-haired Soul Reaper took the time to so carefully draw you that map, eh?"
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 13:07:13 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 15, 2011 13:07:13 GMT -5
That hand on his shoulder was unsettling enough. Hanatarou disliked being touched; male or female, strangers or not, it always made him go stiff and hunch his shoulders ever-more. "Erm. I...I did. Perhaps I misspelled the names? Although, I've double-checked with a comrade who has visited Karakukara– I mean, Karakura–"
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 13:15:38 GMT -5
Post by Kisuke Urahara on Mar 15, 2011 13:15:38 GMT -5
"-It could be, I suppose. Though frankly, from looking at that map, I'm surprised you made it this close; I couldn't tell whether you were looking at a map or trying to translate some poorly-written text when I first saw you with that thing."
Kisuke instantly picked up on the change in Hanatarou's posture and the stiffness of his shoulders, and so easily allowed his hand to fall of the healer's shoulder as they walked.
Guess he's not a touchy-feely kind of person; good to know.
"You still haven't answered me, my friend; what is it that brings you to the World of the Living?"
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 13:47:12 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 15, 2011 13:47:12 GMT -5
Thin fingers timidly worked the wrinkles from the paper, as if it were an odd, ugly treasure. "Erm." It was much easier to blend into the background and avoid direct conversation. Especially with those he did not know or in Urahra's case, slightly frightened him. "I-I've permission from Captain Unohana to study living world medicine– I don't know why, but–" Hanatarou ducked his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Bangs hanging over his face as he continued to smooth the paper. "I do enjoy the living world..."
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 14:19:36 GMT -5
Post by Kisuke Urahara on Mar 15, 2011 14:19:36 GMT -5
"Really? Well, if that's the case," Kisuke said as they rounded a corner, the hospital comming into view a few blocks further on, "I recomend you visit Dr. Hubbard, on the fifth floor. She's an excellent tutor, I'm sure that she'll be able to answer any questions you have."
Looking down, Kisuke noticed that Hanatarou seemed...ill at ease; nervous.
Am I scaring him? Hmmm...
"Hanatarou," Kisuke said happily, though he turned his next few seps to put a little more space between them, "once you finish at the hospital, why don't you come by the shoten for dinner? Tessai makes a fantastic soba, and Jinta and Ururu would love the company. That is, unless you have something else to do."
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 14:36:05 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 15, 2011 14:36:05 GMT -5
"Eh?" Escaped him dumbly, as he blinked up at the former Captain. Hanatarou knew that Urahara's hospitality (while sometimes a bit strange and overbearing) was genuine, but it was still a surprise to have it offered.
"W-well, yes!" Another bow, hands sweating against his crumpled little map. "I definitely know the way, Urahara-san. Thank you." After all, he had spent much time in the Urahara shop the last he had visited the living world.
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 14:48:52 GMT -5
Post by Kisuke Urahara on Mar 15, 2011 14:48:52 GMT -5
Kisuke smiled, turning his head so that his hat didn't shade as much of his face as normal.
"Excellent! I'll tell Tessai to lay out an extra space for you. We don't usually have a set dinner time, so just drop on by whenever you get hungry. And remember," he said, pointing down the street with his cane, "the hospital is that reeeaaally big building with the spotlights on the roof. Just tell Dr. Hubbard that I sent you and she'll show you around. See you at dinner!"
Kisuke tipped his hat and started to head back towards the shoten, his geta clack-clacking against the pavement with each step.
"Oh, and Hanatarou?" he called over his shoulder, getting the healer's attention.
"We don't bite, you know." He smiled widely at the smaller man. "See ya!"
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 16:48:39 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 15, 2011 16:48:39 GMT -5
Urahara received another bow. A slightly embarrassed expression on Hanatarou's face as he hurried away. Inadvertently insulting someone like that was not very high on his list of life choices. Hanatarou was simply not used to someone so powerful being so kind. Outside of his Division, honestly.
The differences between what he knew, and a living human's body were zero; Hanatarou was surprised by how crude some of the living world's medical practices could be, but learned much. Apparently the papers that had been given to him labeled the small man as a doctor.
___
Once this was over, he found himself in front of the shop with ease; memories of the last time he had been here, healing Vice Captain Abarai and that boy... However, Hanatarou had no idea how to announce his arrival seeing as the children who often linger out front of the shop were not there. "H-hello?" Called out as he looked for a bell to ring and found none. "Urahara-san? Tessai-san?"
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Adrift
Mar 15, 2011 23:18:37 GMT -5
Post by Kisuke Urahara on Mar 15, 2011 23:18:37 GMT -5
"Urahara-san? Tessai-san?"
Kisuke heard the inquisitive voice and smiled widely; it was always fun to have company over, esspecially company as polite as Hanatarou.
In any given five minutes, Renji could usually be trusted to make at least one unthinking statement, Ikkaku could make up to three threats, Yumichika had been recorded to sigh and disdainfully appraise someone's appearance as often as five times, Rangiku could make one unconcious flirtation nearly once every forty-five seconds, and Captain Hitsugaya never failed to get frosty at anyone who addressed him by anything less than his full title.
But Hanatarou...the short 7th Seat could pass an entire night without a single violent outburst, sexual innuendo, harsh reaction, or even a playful insult.
It was like he radiated a kind of peace and quiet that most people don't seem to find until they're safely burried under six feet of earth in their best clothes (a paradox which made absolutely no sense to Kisuke). In all honesty, Kisuke missed that sense of quietness; just being around it made him feel...at ease, as if Hanatarou's presence was a slow, deep breath that made his muscles relax and his mind clear.
It didn't matter that he could get flustered and panicy at the drop of a hat; during the moments when he wore that unsure smile and spoke with his adorable stutter, Kisuke could feel himself relaxing almost against his will.
So, upon hearing that same voice comming from outside the shoten, Kisuke quickly got up and slid open the door, smiling widely when he saw the healer.
"You're just in time, my friend! Tessai's almost finished with the soba and Jinta and Ururu are already finished with their chores, so we can eat as soon as you're ready. I hope you came hungry!"
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Adrift
Mar 16, 2011 15:12:58 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 16, 2011 15:12:58 GMT -5
If Hanatarou had an impossible insight within Urahara's thought process, he may have melted into the tatami mats and never recovered over such praise, intended or no.
Thankfully, Hanatarou was as oblivious to anothers thoughts as always, sparing another bow that left his ponytail bobbing. "Thank you, for the recommendation, Urahara-san!" He nearly tripped over the step that lead into the shop, distracted as he was. "Your friend was very accommodating!" Well, she had been after seeing those papers Hanatarou now had folded in one pocket. Whatever the case, he was now confidant in his ability to put his own medical expertise to work in the living world.
One of few things Hanatarou had an open confidence in.
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Adrift
Mar 17, 2011 23:23:20 GMT -5
Post by Kisuke Urahara on Mar 17, 2011 23:23:20 GMT -5
"Excellent! Then you're all set to practice here in Karakura?"
Kisuke spoke as he and Hanatarou walked towards the dining room, arriving just in time to see Tessai set a large, steaming pot of the traditional soup on a trivet. Places were already laid out for the six of them. Jinta and Ururu were already kneeling by their bowls, Jinta clamoring for Tessai to serve up while Ururu tried to calm him down; neither had much success.
At one end of the low table, Yoruichi lay on her side, twiddling her chopsticks as she eyed the food hungrilly; she turned her gaze to Hanatarou and dipped her head politely when he arrived.
"Tessai alwaya has to sit next to Jinta to keep him calm, so why don't you sit next to Ururu?"
Kisuke fervently hoped that the fact that the placement would also put Hanatarou next to the shopkeeper himself would not spook the little 7th Seat.
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Adrift
Mar 18, 2011 10:29:36 GMT -5
Post by hanabi on Mar 18, 2011 10:29:36 GMT -5
Hanatarou had dealt with many an unruly child in the Seireitei, but he was glad to be seated next to Ururu. She was quiet and polite, inciting Hanatarou to be the same. His natural state of being was a bit nervous, sometimes accentuated with outbursts of apologies if he felt it would help his situation. Sometimes, hidden completely as if he were the steadiest of souls. Like now; his small remarks were almost missed, but they were accompanied by smiles. Answering someone's remark about having a place to stay, "I had a tiny apartment, last time– but that was with a roommate, and co-worker. I haven't figured myself out, yet."
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