"Damn it!" Rhiannon yelled out in irritation, shaking her fists in the air. In front of the young woman stood another dead end. "Where the hell am I?" Turning away she took a different route. The girl was determined with every step to find a way out of the impossible maze.
"Finally!" she exclaimed in relief, looking around the open area. "But still, where am I?"
There were buildings standing tall, paths stretching and winding around bends. Rhiannon walked into the Squad barracks trying to find someone, but for some reason it was silent. The place was a mess, broken bottles scattered on the ground, sword markings etched into the wood. The girl cocked a brow. There was a loud crash deeper in, drawing her towards the noise.
She could see the back of a Soul Reaper up ahead, clearing the hall and walking into the area. "Excuse me?" Rhiannon questioned. He didn't react so she figured the man probably didn't hear. "Excuse me, could you tell me where I am?"
"Buzz off!" the bald man called over his shoulder.
Rhiannon fumed, bring up a leg before slamming her foot into his back. The Soul Reaper went flying through the air before crashing to the ground in a heap. "Hey! I'm trying to get your attention and it's a simple question! I've never been here before, I'm lost, and I'm trying to find Squad Nine! I've been walking for hours, keep finding dead ends, and I'm exhausted! Can you please tell me where I am?"
"What the hell hit me?" the man groaned.
A loud booming laugh echoed in the area, drawing her attention up. It was then Rhiannon realized they were not alone. No, the girl had stepped up into an arena of some kind, surrounded by spectators that were made up of only men. "You've got guts stepping in here like that," a large man standing across form her stated.
"Look, could you please tell me where Squad Nine is? I was supposed to meet up with Shuuhei Hisagi an hour ago."
"You're in the Eleventh Division," he smirked. Rhiannon's heart dropped. She had heard stories of the fighting Squad, but had never seen any member in person. Just looking at them she knew they were a tough crowd.
"You don't say..."
"How unbeautiful," a man with feathered eyebrows sighed. "A lady should never act like that." Rhiannon's vein pulsed in annoyance.
"No, they shouldn't," the man agreed. "Men, teach her a little lesson of getting involved in Squad Eleven fights."
They rushed forward with their fists and zanpakuto's at the ready, closing off any chance of escape. Rhiannon didn't waste any time, feet pushing off of the ground and snapping out to crack two Reapers in the jaw. Her fists were quick, flying in every direction to hold them off.
"Its just one girl, come on!" someone yelled, sword thrusting forward. Rhiannon's head snapped to the side, dodging the blade before punching the man square in the nose. The bald man had joined in, wooden spear coming down. Dropping to the ground, she performed a split as the tip of the weapon embedded in the ground behind her, stick inches from touching the shoulder. Rhiannon glanced up at him with a glint in her eye before kicking out his leg and standing upright again. She didn't stay there long, back bending and flipping across the arena to avoid more attacks.
Something weighed down on the girl's shoulders, nearly throwing her off balance. However, now was not a time to slip up. The large man was barreling down on her, spiritual pressure flaring and zanpakuto high before swinging down. Rhiannon's eyes widened before disappearing in a blur. Everything stopped, the Soul Reapers looking around for their opponent.
"Knock it off!" Their eyes snapped up, seeing her on top of the high wall in a handstand. "Are you seriously trying to kill me?"
"Come down here and fight, Soul Reaper!" the man yelled up. "Draw your zanpakuto, or are you scared?"
"Do I honestly look like a Soul Reaper to you?"
It was then the men truly looked at Rhiannon. Jean pants, tight white tank top, sneakers, and no weapons. "Who are you?"
"Rhiannon Nara. Who are you?"
"Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of Squad Eleven." She was shocked, recognizing the name from her friends' stories. "If you're not a Soul Reaper, then what are you doing here? I've never seen you before."
"I came with Ichigo and the others."
"You weren't from the Ryoka invasion."
"No, I'm new on the team." Rhiannon lowered her lower body towards the wall, folding in as both legs straddling her arms that had a firm hold on the rock. The young woman finally sat, observing the Captain below. "Courtesy of Urahara."
A blast of air whipped through her pulled back brown hair. "How did I know you were going to get lost?"
"Oh, hey, Shuuhei," Rhiannon grinned at the Lieutenant at her side.
"You're very late."
"Sorry. First I got lost, but then they wouldn't give me directions and they ended up fighting me because I 'interrupted' them."
"Let's get going."
"See you later, Kenpachi."
"Right back at'cha," he smirked before they left.
A child jumped on his shoulder, giggling, "I like her."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
One year later
"Go, Flip! Go!" Yachiru cheered from the sidelines. There was a loud crash as Rhiannon rolled out of the cloud of dirt and hit the ground running. But the sadistic Captain was not far behind, laughing wildly. She hit a wall, running up the side before flipping over Kenpachi. He saw the move, zanpakuto coming up and around. It sliced into the loose t-shirt she wore, but did not hit the skin.
"Hey!" Rhiannon pouted, hands gripping his shoulders while performing a handstand. "You ruined my shirt!"
Kenpachi looked up at the young woman above him, smirking. "You haven't learned to stop wearing things you like when fighting me yet?"
Rhiannon sighed heavily, knowing he had a point. "I honestly think you just try doing that on purpose to catch me in my bra."
"Hmm... that is a thought."
"Pervert," she grumbled, body tipping over backwards to land on her feet. They turned to face each other.
"No longer running for me?"
"Nah," her shoulders shrugged. "I need to go to Squad Nine soon, and I'll need to visit Rangiku now to find a new shirt before going."
He cocked a brow, sheathing his sword. "You spend a lot of time over there. Hisagi your boyfriend or something?"
Rhiannon busted out laughing, holding her sides. "Far from it!"
"Really? Than what's your relationship with him?"
"He's the one who found and brought me to Urahara when I started seeing Hollows. I owe him a lot."
The Captain smirked, stepping closer. "Well then that's an interesting fact."
She cocked a brow. "What do you mean?"
"It makes this much easier."
His lips crashed into Rhiannon's, arm wrapping around her waist. The young woman's eyes widened in surprise before kissing back with as much force, capturing his face in her hands to try and get closer. When they pulled away to catch their breaths, Rhiannon shivered at the intense look in his eyes. "Beautiful," he breathed. A giggle sounded as the Captain bent down further to kiss her neck. Eyes glancing over, the young woman noticed the pink-haired Lieutenant watching on the roof with a grin.
"Watch it, Kenpachi, we're not alone."
"Then tell them to go away."
Rhiannon laughed at the comment before leaving the Captain's hands empty. He blinked in surprise, looking around till he finally saw the young woman standing at the other end of the training ground, smiling. "Down boy, I'll see you later."
Jumping to grip the edge of the roof, Rhiannon swung herself up before running up the side and disappearing. Kenpachi chuckled, smirking wildly. "There will most certainly be a later."