Limping Through the Mist
Anos, drained and barely able to walk, stumbles through the quiet streets of a district near the outskirts of Seireitei—Ryūkan District.
His spiritual pressure is unstable, flickering and causing lights to dim and flicker as he walks past.
He hides behind crates near a closed sake shop, slumped down, completely out of breath.
He mutters to himself:
"That was worth it… I hit her."
A weak smile forms.
The Straw Hat Drifter
As he's about to pass out, he hears the clinking of a sake bottle.
A man sits nearby on the rooftop, half in the shadow of the morning light.
Straw hat. Pink haori.
Head Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, also hiding.
Shunsui notices him.
"You look like hell."
Anos: "And you look like you want to be in hell, if your lieutenant finds you."
They both share a moment of understanding. Two runaways, different reasons.
Footsteps and Fury – Nanao Arrives
A calm but terrifying voice echoes through the alley.
"Captain Kyōraku."
Nanao Ise appears, glasses glinting, a stack of papers in hand.
"You have 41 unsigned reports, 3 meetings, and a lecture at the Academy. Don't make me drag you by the collar again."
Shunsui flattens himself like a pancake. Anos is frozen.
Nanao spots Anos.
"Anos Shihōin, correct?"
Anos nods, nervously.
She hands him a scroll. "If you see this man—give him this."
She leaves calmly, heels tapping away.
A Message of Poetry
Anos opens the scroll.
Inside is a short poem:
> "Some mornings are meant to be fled from.
But even cowards must rest their hearts.
When the moon hides behind clouds,
Even shadows need peace."
Shunsui sighs deeply.
"She always writes those when she's angry."
Anos: "She sounds like she cares a lot."
Shunsui chuckles, offering him a sip of sake. "Everyone needs someone who'll chase after them."
Meanwhile at Shihōin Manor…
Yoruichi is meditating, legs crossed, still remembering Anos' strike and how proud he was.
Tōshirō is trying to figure out how he escaped with so little spiritual energy left.
Byakuya: "It seems his technique erases more than presence. It masks emotion. Even Senbonzakura can't sense him."
Yoruichi: "He's learning. But I'll catch him."
She opens one eye, a small smirk forming.
"He's my little brother. He can't run forever."
Tactical Retreat (with Chocolate and Secrets)
Nanao's heels echoed as she walked away, arms full of paperwork—until a soft grunt behind her caught her attention.
She turned just in time to see Anos stagger forward, arms stretched out like a zombie.
Anos (groaning): "Lieutenant Glass Lady… I can't feel my legs. I request emergency evacuation—and chocolates."
Nanao raised a brow. "Excuse me?"
Anos: "I've sustained critical emotional damage. My sister struck me with love… and her fists."
Then, before she could react, he leapt onto her back, clinging like a stubborn kitten.
Nanao (stumbling): "Get off—!"
Anos (melodramatic): "My body is broken. You're my only hope. Chocolate, please."
While Nanao was caught in this chaos, Shunsui Kyōraku tiptoed like a cartoon character behind a stack of crates, pink haori fluttering. He gave Anos a silent thumbs-up before vanishing behind barrels.
Nanao (glancing back suspiciously): "Wait… where did the Head Captain go—?"
Anos (innocent tone): "No clue. But I still smell chocolate on you."
Nanao exhaled through her nose and began walking, Anos still draped over her.
Nanao (deadpan): "You're surprisingly heavy."
Anos (muffled): "Spiritual muscle. Pure suffering."
As they moved, she finally asked:
Nanao: "What happened to you, really?"
Anos (sleepy smile): "I landed a hit on Big Sis Yoruichi."
Nanao froze mid-step.
"…You what?"
Anos: "Yep. Lightning cat. Queen of fists. Boom—ribs."
Hidden in the shadows above, Kyoraku's eyes widened, peeking from behind a rooftop pipe. The sake bottle in his hand tilted slightly, forgotten.
Nanao (still stunned): "How did you…?"
Anos (resting his chin on her shoulder): "A technique I made. It's not perfect, but… it worked. Even if just once."
Nanao: "What kind of technique?"
Anos: "Mu Sonzai. Null Existence. I erased everything about me in that moment—not just reiatsu. Not even Senbonzakura noticed. I became… nothing."
Even Nanao, the ever-calm, blinked at that.
Shunsui whispered from his hiding spot, "He's terrifying…"
Anos (quietly): "But she still saw me. Yoruichi always does."
A small silence.
Nanao (softly): "You're proud of that."
Anos (smiling): "Wouldn't you be?"
Nanao (dryly): "…You'll get your chocolate. If you survive the paperwork."
Search and Stroll
Operation Track the Gremlin
Atop the tiled rooftops of Ryūkan District…
Yoruichi leapt effortlessly across the tiles, scanning every alley.
Yoruichi (thinking): "He's using it again. Mu Sonzai... but only I know the signs."
Hitsugaya (appearing beside her): "Still nothing. It's like chasing a ghost."
Byakuya (stoic): "His spiritual presence is nonexistent. Even Senbonzakura can't detect him."
Renji (frustrated): "How the hell does a kid pull that off?!"
Rangiku (sighing): "He really didn't want that training, huh…"
Yoruichi (soft smirk): "He thinks he's running. But his feet… still lead back to people."
The Calm Before the Capture
Snacks and Shadows
Anos dangled sleepily off Nanao's back, half-dozing, half-chatting as she walked with quiet poise through the district.
Anos: "You know… I never thought someone carrying me would feel this warm."
Nanao (without looking back): "You never thought someone would carry you at all, did you?"
Anos: "...True."
They passed a small tea stall. Nanao stopped.
Nanao: "Tea or sweet buns?"
Anos (perking up): "Both. I'm injured. Spiritually and emotionally."
Nanao sighed, placing an order. While the vendor prepared the tray, she glanced behind her. The alley was empty.
But just moments earlier, Kyoraku had been hanging upside-down from a beam like some sort of lazy ninja, silently praying she didn't spot him.
Kyoraku (whispering to himself): "I'm just making sure she's not overworking herself… that's all."
Elsewhere, in pursuit
On the rooftops above Ryūkan District, Yoruichi crouched, eyes narrowed, surveying the streets.
Yoruichi: "He's nearby. I can feel the flicker of his spiritual pressure… but it's like chasing fog."
Hitsugaya (to Byakuya): "His Null Existence technique… even the trace is hard to sense."
Byakuya (stoic): "This district is large. Split up. Report if you find him."
Renji (from a nearby roof): "He really got you, huh, Yoruichi?"
Yoruichi (grinning faintly): "He did. And now he's going to pay—with training."
Back on the ground, Rangiku sighed while looking around.
Rangiku: "I swear if I find him, I'm dragging him straight to the captain by the ear."
She paused, head turning.
Rangiku: "…Do I smell sweet buns?"
The Feeding Catastrophe
The sun was gentle in Ryūkan District, casting soft light over the quiet food stall. Nanao sat with perfect posture, arms folded, sipping tea. Across from her—
—or rather on her back, arms loosely around her neck like a clingy cat—
Anos rested, wrapped in her scarf like a burrito of spiritual fatigue.
Anos (muffled): "Glass lady… feed me."
Nanao (without looking at him): "No."
Anos (slightly louder): "I'm dying."
Nanao: "You said that fifteen minutes ago."
Anos (dramatically): "I'm spiritually dying now."
Nanao: "Still no."
Anos let out a heavy sigh. Then slowly, wordlessly, he rested his chin on her shoulder. His eyes peeked up toward her glasses—big, watery, and devastatingly innocent.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Nanao (hesitating): "No."
He sniffled.
Not real tears. But the idea of tears.
Nanao (weakening): "...This is emotional blackmail."
Anos (softly): "Even soldiers need kindness…"
Nanao: "You're not a soldier."
Anos (quietly): "Then what am I, if not a wounded soul… abandoned in war…"
Nanao stared straight ahead.
Then closed her eyes and groaned under her breath.
She reached out, broke off a small piece of a sweet red bean bun, and held it awkwardly near his mouth.
Nanao (flat): "...Open."
Anos (whispering): "Airplane."
Nanao (glaring sideways): "Don't push it."
Still, she moved the bun side to side—vrrrooomm—in the air.
Anos: "There it is. That's the love."
He took the bite gently, chewing with exaggerated appreciation.
Nanao: "You are absolutely impossible."
Shadows of Sweetness – Stalkers Assemble
A quiet corner of Ryūkan District. Lanterns swayed gently as steam rose from the food stall.
Nanao sat on the bench, posture straight as always, feeding Anos red bean buns one bite at a time.
Anos lay slumped forward over her shoulder in a lazy piggyback, arms loosely wrapped around her neck. His spiritual energy was flickering faintly, but a soft, content smile spread across his face as he chewed.
Anos (chewing): "Mmm… it tastes better when someone else feeds it…"
Nanao (gently, almost blushing): "You're milking this moment, aren't you?"
He smiled sleepily in response. She broke off another piece, watching his half-lidded eyes sparkle under the quiet sky.
Her expression softened.
Unseen by them, a shadow moved across the rooftop above.
Head Captain Shunsui Kyōraku crouched like a seasoned spy, straw hat tilted, eyes narrowed with dramatic disbelief.
Kyoraku (whispering to himself): "Nanao-chan… feeding a boy… feeding…"
Crunch.
He almost dropped his sake bottle from sheer emotional whiplash.
The Hunters Arrive
Somewhere nearby—
Rangiku stopped walking, lifted her head, and sniffed.
Rangiku (squinting): "...Sweet buns."
Renji: "...You serious?"
Rangiku (stern): "That's red bean."
She turned with such determination that even Byakuya followed her. Behind them, Hitsugaya sighed and kept up.
They turned the corner—and froze.
Across the plaza, quietly under a tree…
…Nanao was feeding Anos like a doting older sister, brushing crumbs from his cheek with a motherly touch.
Rangiku (wide-eyed): "...No way."
Renji (choking): "That's… Lieutenant Ise?!"
Hitsugaya: "He's got her wrapped around his pinky."
Byakuya (stone-faced): "Unexpected. But... strategic."
They were about to move closer when a golden blur landed beside them.
Yoruichi, arms crossed, eyes locked on the peaceful pair.
She pointed at Anos, about to call out—
—but then she saw it.
Nanao leaned closer. She smiled softly. And Anos, in his half-sleepy bliss, murmured something unintelligible while chewing.
Yoruichi's mouth half-opened.
She blinked.
Then clicked her tongue and lowered her hand.
Yoruichi (quiet): "...She's smiling?"
Hitsugaya (quietly): "Should we go?"
Renji: "We can snatch him quick."
Byakuya: "Shall I?"
Yoruichi held out a hand.
Yoruichi: "No. Not yet."
They all turned to her.
She narrowed her golden eyes, lips tight.
Yoruichi: "I want to know… why she's feeding him like that."
Back under the tree, Nanao gently dabbed Anos' cheek with a napkin, brushing a crumb away. He stirred, leaned his forehead against her shoulder again, and murmured:
Anos (half-asleep): "Glass lady… soft…"
Nanao (whispering to herself): "...Troublemaker."
And she smiled again.
A Line Too Sweet – Hearts and Surveillance
Nanao held out another piece of red bean bun. Anos, eyes half-lidded with peaceful exhaustion, leaned forward to take it—chewing slowly, savoring every bite like it was the most divine thing in the world.
Anos (softly):
"I think…
If someone like you was always beside me…
I wouldn't mind even the worst days."
Nanao (freezes, eyes widen): "...W-What?"
Her heart thumped like a drum. She blinked once. Then twice.
A rush of heat flooded her cheeks as she stared at the boy on her back, mouth slightly open. She tried to say something—but no words came out.
She looked away, flustered.
Nanao (muttering): "W-what are you even saying…?"
From the rooftop above—
Kyōraku almost fell off the edge.
Kyoraku (whisper-shouting): "Nanao-chan…! You… that look…?!"
He clutched his heart dramatically, looking like a man betrayed by fate itself.
In the shadows nearby—
Yoruichi's jaw hung slightly open.
Yoruichi (whisper): "...Did that brat just say… that?"
Rangiku (gasps): "He has game!"
Renji: "He doesn't even know he's doing it!"
Hitsugaya: "...Is this his hidden Bankai?"
Byakuya (quietly): "Tactical... and dangerous."
Meanwhile, Nanao was completely red-faced, avoiding eye contact as she fed him another bite.
Nanao (flustered): "J-just eat. No more talking like that."
Anos smiled with closed eyes.
Anos: "Okay."
He happily chewed, unaware that he just dropped a romantic nuke on someone's lieutenant heart.
Denial & Red Bean Defense
A few moments later, Nanao stood up abruptly, brushing her skirt.
Nanao (clearing her throat): "T-that's enough. I need to find that old bastard… He's definitely nearby."
She turned, trying to walk away—
But fwump—
Anos launched himself onto her back again with a tired groan, arms wrapped around her shoulders.
Anos (clinging): "Let's look for him together…"
Nanao: "Get off!"
Anos (gripping tighter): "Nooo. It hurts to walk. And your back is warm."
Nanao: "I said—!"
Before she could finish, he held up a red bean bun—
—and gently shoved it in her mouth.
Anos (softly):
"Let's stay like this a little longer…
I like being with you."
Nanao: "MMPH—!"
She froze.
Completely.
The bun halfway in her mouth.
Her glasses slipped slightly down her nose as her entire face turned bright red. She blinked twice… then slowly chewed in silence, trying very hard not to make eye contact.
From the rooftop—
Kyoraku (collapsing): "Nanao-chan… betrayed… by bean bun…"
Yoruichi (twitching): "That cheeky little—"
Hitsugaya (holding his head): "We're never living this down."
Rangiku (clapping quietly): "I'm shipping it."
Byakuya (crossing arms): "We retreat."
Yoruichi (gritting teeth): "No. We observe. I want to know where this ends."
Galactic Sweet Bun Bomb
Nanao stiffened when Anos gently pressed the red bean bun against her lips earlier. She reluctantly took a bite, eyes darting away from him, cheeks burning.
But then—
Before she could even swallow, Anos leaned forward…
—and bit the same bun from the other side.
Everyone froze.
Nanao: "W-What are you—?!"
Anos (chewing calmly): "You didn't finish it… so I helped."
She couldn't even process what just happened.
An indirect kiss.
She froze mid-step, knees wobbling just slightly.
Up above—
Kyōraku staggered back as if physically struck.
Kyoraku (shouting internally): "YOU LITTLE DEVIL!!"
Yoruichi (eyes wide, mouth open):
"D-Did he just…?!"
Renji (mouth full of Rangiku's snacks):
"That's illegal!"
Hitsugaya (blankly staring):
"…Someone put a seal on this kid."
Byakuya (cracked a blink):
"…Unforgivable."
Rangiku (screaming in her heart):
"That was the cutest war crime I've ever seen!"
But it didn't end there.
Anos (cheerfully):
"Oh wait—there's one piece left."
He looked at the now-tiny bite of red bean bun in his hand… then reached forward again.
Anos:
"Here! Let's eat it together!"
And gently put it back in Nanao's mouth.
Nanao (stiffening, face glowing red):
"Mmph—!"
Her glasses fogged instantly. She couldn't even respond. Her body was walking on autopilot, her mind spinning through galaxies.
Up on the rooftops—
Kyōraku (falling to his knees):
"Nanao-chan, no… you're being converted…"
Yoruichi (gritting her teeth):
"I'm going down there."
Byakuya (drawing his sword):
"Permission to erase this memory."
Hitsugaya:
"...I want to cry and I don't know why."
Rangiku (hugging herself):
"That's it. They're canon now. That's law."
As the group continued secretly watching from the shadows, Nanao walked with Anos clinging happily to her back—softly humming with joy, eyes closed.
She still hadn't said a word.
But on her lips—
Was the tiniest, most reluctant smile.
A small red bean crumb sat at the edge of her mouth, glowing like the last spark from the galactic bun bomb.
The Interception – Heart Attack Edition
Just as Nanao, still glowing red, carried the content Anos through the district...
BOOM — FLASH STEP.
A sonic boom of spiritual pressure hit the air.
Yoruichi, Byakuya, Tōshirō, Rangiku, Renji, and Kyōraku all appeared around them in an instant—like a damn intervention team.
Yoruichi (hands on hips, staring daggers):
"Would someone kindly explain what I just saw?"
Tōshirō (clearly confused):
"Why was Nanao… feeding him?"
Byakuya (stoic but with visible inner damage):
"I demand to forget what I just witnessed."
Rangiku (low whistle):
"That was adorable."
Renji (squinting):
"Wait… was that bun shared? Like… indirect kiss shared?!"
But before anyone could say anything—
Nanao's glasses sparkled with fury.
She adjusted them slowly, her tone calm… but deadly.
Nanao:
"Head Captain Kyōraku… WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? Were you spying on us again?!"
Kyōraku (sweating bullets):
"M-me? Noooo, I was just doing important—ah—head captain-y things… in a nearby sake shop… which exploded… spiritually."
Yoruichi (glancing sideways at Kyōraku):
"Liar."
Then suddenly—
Anos raised his voice.
Anos (pointing dramatically):
"I don't wanna go with you!! I don't wanna train!!"
Everyone blinked.
Anos (pouting):
"I wanna stay with my Glass Lady!"
And then—he hugged Nanao tightly from behind.
Nanao:
"Wha—?!"
Kyōraku (heart shattered):
"Noooooo!!"
Yoruichi (staggering back):
"My soul just left my body—"
Byakuya (visibly twitching):
"This child… is dangerous."
Tōshirō (deadpan):
"This might be the most dramatic mission I've ever been assigned to."
Rangiku (quietly cheering):
"Get it, girl!"
Nanao, completely red in the face, tried to peel Anos off her back—and failed. His grip tightened like an emotional koala.
Nanao (still blushing, trying to be calm):
"Anos… I understand, but you have to train for your entrance exam. The Gotei won't accept just cuteness alone."
Anos (muffled into her shoulder):
"But I don't wanna be with anyone else. I'm staying with Glass Lady."
Her heart skipped again.
Everyone stared. The Earth might've rotated a little slower in that moment.
Yoruichi's jaw clenched. Kyōraku's hat fell off. Tōshirō was already preparing a kidnap operation. Byakuya's eye twitched twice in succession.
But Nanao, flustered beyond recovery, finally spoke in a soft voice.
Nanao:
"…Fine. One more hour. Then we talk training."
Anos (softly):
"Yay."
She smiled again—tiny, but warm. Still carrying him as everyone else looked on in pure stunned silence.
The Flash Kidnap – Yoruichi's Turn
As the world around them reeled from the emotional chaos…
Yoruichi, the Flash Goddess, said nothing. She just stood there, wide-eyed, watching Anos hug Nanao.
But deep inside?
A storm brewed.
A thunderous ache gripped her chest.
He chose her. He smiled for her. He hugged her.
That was all it took.
BOOM.
With a flicker of black lightning, Yoruichi vanished—and reappeared behind Anos with the precision only a Shihōin could possess.
Anos (blinking):
"Huh—"
Too late.
Yoruichi scooped him up in a fierce embrace, lifting him off Nanao's back, holding him close to her chest like he was everything she couldn't afford to lose.
And with all her might—
She flash stepped away, vanishing in a streak of violet and thunder.
Scene: In the Wind
In the high skies above the Seireitei—
Yoruichi flew, holding him tightly, whispering softly into his ear.
Yoruichi (breathless, voice trembling):
"You're mine…"
Yoruichi (a little possessive, a little broken):
"You're going to train again… but with me. Only me."
Anos (quietly):
"Big sis Yoruichi… you're holding me too tight…"
Yoruichi:
"Good."
---
Meanwhile… Down Below
Byakuya and Tōshirō, along with Renji and Rangiku, were all trying to chase after her using their fastest steps—but none could catch the Goddess of Flash.
Rangiku (panting):
"She's moving like a thunderstorm on caffeine—"
Renji:
"Damn it, I think she activated Bankai-level emotions!"
Back at the Spot
Nanao, still red as a tomato, tried to keep her composure as Head Captain Kyōraku gave her a long, unreadable stare.
Nanao (clearing throat):
"Let's go. You have paperwork. Lots of it. Endless."
Kyōraku (still staring toward the sky):
"…Right."
She turned to walk.
But Kyōraku… vanished.
Sky Drop – Kyōraku Style
High in the air, just above the zooming Yoruichi—
Head Captain Kyōraku suddenly appeared midair, floating sideways like a lazy ghost.
Kyōraku (waving with a grin):
"Yo~ Sorry to interrupt your kidnapping, Yoruichi-chan."
Yoruichi (growling):
"Not now."
Kyōraku (holding up a bag):
"Anos, here's the chocolates I promised. And…"
He handed him a small shogi board with a label: "Property of Drama Prodigy."
But then—
He leaned in closer.
Eyes turned sharp. Voice low.
Kyōraku (smiling with a death glare):
"…We'll talk about Nanao later."
And just like that—
He vanished again.
In Yoruichi's Arms
Back in motion, still holding Anos, Yoruichi looked down at him.
He had one hand on the chocolates, one holding the shogi board, and a slight blush on his cheeks.
Anos (softly):
"Can we… eat red bean buns after training?"
Yoruichi smiled, this time a little teary-eyed.
Yoruichi:
"Only if you win."
Crimson Sky & Sweet Silence
The wind quieted.
The chaos faded behind them.
They had reached a peaceful hill overlooking the Seireitei, bathed in the deep red glow of the evening sun.
Yoruichi sat down with Anos beside her, his back resting against her side, his eyes wide with wonder as the sky slowly burned into orange and gold.
Anos (chomping chocolate):
"This one's good! Want some?"
Yoruichi (smiling gently):
"Sure…"
He handed her a piece.
But then, mid-chew, Anos took a bite from the same piece she was holding, from her side.
Yoruichi blinked.
Her golden eyes shifted slightly…
From the chocolate…
To the sunset…
Then back to Anos' innocent face, eyes closed in sweet satisfaction.
Yoruichi's heartbeat paused.
A moment of stillness.
An indirect kiss.
A quiet warmth blooming in her chest.
But he didn't notice.
Anos (holding another chocolate):
"Here, open up!"
Yoruichi (soft laugh, a little breathless):
"You're such a handful…"
Later...
The sun dipped lower. The sky turned a dusky purple.
Yoruichi now walked slowly, with Anos resting peacefully on her back.
His arms were draped over her shoulders, his little head leaning against her neck.
He had fallen asleep.
Smiling.
She didn't rush.
She didn't speak.
Just walked—under the stars that were starting to flicker into the sky—her expression soft and unreadable.
A whisper escaped her lips, only the wind hearing it:
"You're growing too fast, dummy…"
End of Arc
Tomorrow would bring training.
Toughness. Sweat. Challenges.
But today?
Today was theirs.
_______________
"The Moon Grew Too Close"
In twilight's hush, the sky bled red,
A silent vow where day had bled.
The moon, she walked with gentle grace,
A cursed child in her embrace.
She bore him high on steady back,
Through Rukongai's forgotten track.
The boy, he laughed with chocolate-stained lips,
Unaware of fate's eclipse.
From shadows deep, where silence clings,
An exile watched with clipped-off wings.
His robes were torn, his eyes gone wide,
As if he'd seen the end collide.
"The moon… she's drawing far too near,
To one the stars themselves still fear.
Does she not feel the omen's weight?
That child walks hand in hand with fate…"
He vanished then, a ghostly thread,
Among the dusk, like whispers dead.
But still the moon pressed through the light,
Unshaken by the coming night.
And on her back, the cursed one slept,
While destiny around them crept.