Stones in the Sand [Komamura, Lerna]

Another day, another time Sajin would have to leave the safety and shadows of his Clan's home to go purchase goods for his adopted relatives. After all, not all of them could move about in relative anonymity. Sure rumors of a massive armor-clad ghost had spread in some Districts of the Rukongai, but no such whispers upon the wind mentioned any idea as to his true identity. Outside of the Wolfman Clan, only Shaoling knew he lived; exactly how he wanted it.

Sticking to alleyways and rooftops, Sajin managed to move across ten Districts with little to no attention drawn to himself. Eventually he reached a section of the Rukongai that was more like an actual village, with citizenry hustling and bustling as they moved about the busy dirt streets. In his hands was a rather large wooden crate with pieces of hay sticking out between boards, his main method for transporting goods from places like this and into the Wolfman Clan's hideaway.

At nine and a half feet tall and a hulking body covered in tan armor and robes, Sajin's presence drew nearly every eye on the road. For many of these people this wasn't the first time they had witnessed the gigantic stranger, but they could still hardly believe his size. Sajin thought back about how after finally removing his helmet as a Captain others began to accept him; now with the helmet back on, he was once again a pariah. He could almost laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Sajin approached a road-side bar of sorts he had frequented over the last decade to pick up supplies. A deal with the owner, an aging rough-looking man who'd once been a ruffian in a further out District, had the bar purchasing necessities on his behalf to be bought later on by Sajin. He placed the crate on the bar, away from any other customers, and then gently dropped and slid a few shiny coins toward the owner.

"The usual." spoke a gruff, hidden voice.

Being as large and heavy as he is, Komamura knew better than to take a seat at the bar as the wooden stool would assuredly splinter and shatter beneath him. That was fine though, he wasn't bothered; his bulk was hardly a new thing he had to live differently based on. As he stood by the counter, waiting for the owner to finish gathering up the supplies he paid for, Sajin gently rested his two massive hands upon its surface, ignoring the awe-struck Rukongai citizens shocked by his presence.

Stares didn't bother Sajin. Muttering under breath didn't either. His attention was focused elsewhere, on the hearts of those around him. Having inherited the Heart of the Soul King, he could read the hearts of all those within range of his ability. This was how he avoided unwanted attention, it was how he interfered in muggings and the like in the Rukongai, and it was how he knew there were those with blackened souls within the Seireitei.

Before she entered the bar, Sajin sensed the incoming arrival of the strange woman who would approach and ask to sit beside him. She wasn't the easiest person to read, with both her spiritual presence and heart being abnormal to say the least. Still, not wanting to be rude or to draw further attention, he simply turned his helmet-clad head and nodded once to confirm she could sit on the stool, then turned forward again as he continued waiting.

The establishment's owner taking time to get Sajin's new bar neighbor a drink didn't bother the giant. He wasn't in any kind of rush, and didn't plan on making a scene making a big deal out of things. After the strange woman announced her intention to be be noisy, Komamura merely nodded to affirm he heard and understood her warning.

It seemed being stoic wasn't going to work here. Sajin didn't want to appear rude, even if the woman was okay with him staying silent. He answered her question, his voice gruff and grizzled "No, I do not possess such skill. It was given to me by a friend." Sajin chose his words carefully, refusing to let slip his previous employment by the Gotei Thirteen.

Curious. Sajin was surprised the woman's first thought was to ask if he was in the Rukongai Police, or Sakutaiso as they were officially known. He considered that if the Sakutaiso had officers his size, it might be more effective in the outermost Districts. Her mind jumping to them instead of the Gotei was reassuring to Sajin, who was still hiding his identity.

"No." he answered, not caring to divulge anymore information. Instead, he flipped it on her so as to not be rude "Do you live in this District?" he asked, drawing attention away from himself having ignored one of the woman's questions.

A century ago this District was far rougher than it currently was, a fact Komamura knew well. Much of the Rukongai had come quite far over the last couple centuries, and though only the Inner Districts were near-crime-less, even this place had become somewhat peaceful. Still, having grown up in a much more dangerous time, and being from one of the outermost Districts, for this place to be called nice was surprising to hear, though Komamura was happy to hear it.

Though he didn't visibly react, at least not in a way visible through his heavy armor, Komamura was taken aback by the revelation of this woman being a Substitute Shinigami. They were such a rare kind, the only one Sajin could remember actually meeting was Ichigo Kurosaki all those years ago. To come across another like this...

"Mm." hummed Sajin in acknowledgement of what Lerna said. "Then, you must be in the Gotei?" he questioned calmly, avoiding giving off any signs he might be concerned if she confirmed his suspicion.