Dark Times Reflect On Us All [Private: Shuten/Lerna]

How many wounded were still left? How many more would Shuten need to help? No no, it didn't matter how many, nor how long it would take. What mattered was to treat them, to help them in their time of need. There were those who may be beyond help, but Shuten would do her best to help them all, even if it was just to ease their passing. So Shuten worked... She worked and worked, producing healing sake with all her proficiency and energy. She didn't cease her work unless she was made to, either by her own exhaustion or Rukia.

During one such enforced break, Shuten was aimlessly wandering around the general area of the second division barracks. She didn't have her appetite currently despite her grumbling stomach and her great lack of energy. The Suika didn't venture towards any of the nearby, still remaining, food stalls. Nor did the woman try to do anything else other than walk around and drink her sake on an empty belly. It wasn't the best of ideas, even she had her limits with alcohol without food. Eventually, Shuten ceased her drinking and walking and perched herself upon a circular bench.

The Suika's eyes were pointed up towards the sky, staring out to... What? She wasn't sure. Shuten thought about her family, about the Gotei as it was, and about everything that had happened recently. She looked while lost in thought, her purple eyes glazed over by the reality of the situation. Until they could reliably exit to the world of the living, they couldn't properly govern over the balance of the world. It was a difficult situation, but Shuten only reflected on what is and what could be.

If anyone walked upon the Suika now, they would see her glazed gaze, her oddly still position, and the large bags beneath her eyes that spoke of too little sleep. Additionally, Shuten was outwardly aware of her surroundings, but otherwise she let herself be lost to her thoughts of all that was, all that is, and all that could be.

While Shuten was sitting upon an area she probably shouldn't have been sitting in, someone blonde had bumped into her. It wasn't a particularly rough bump, quite frankly it was rather light, but it was enough to unseat the distracted woman. Despite her distraction, Shuten kept herself from falling over with evident ease, even if it was slowed by lethargy. It took a moment for her eyes to focus on the blonde woman, their glaze slowly growing into focus. After a gentle shake of her head, Shuten finally locked eyes fully with the mod soul before her. Lerna...

Shuten smiled softly at the woman who looked oddly like a certain someone from Shuten's past. But, by this time Shuten was more than able to gloss over it. Lerna was different enough that it didn't matter.

"Lerna...~ I'm alright, thank you." Shuten gave the woman a small nod, gently straightening her clothes. "I was completely lost in thought"

Shuten soon noticed where Lerna was looking off to. Shuten followed her wayward gaze before the Suika realized what the woman was attempting to look at. Frankly speaking, Shuten's gaze wasn't on anything in particular. She was simply... gazing. Shuten smiled sheepishly as she reached up and gave Lerna's shoulder a pat.

"Sorry, I wasn't staring at anything out there. Just the sky as I thought about... This."

Shuten gestured around to the surrounding ruin, and the semi-distant second division barracks. Truth be told, Lerna would probably notice Shuten looked rather haggard. Even if one considered how much alcohol the Oni drank on a daily basis, Oni strength livers are amazing, she never looked this bad. But, her smile did seem to bring out more of the old Shuten through; just a little.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Lerna... Not injured, are you? Anything I can help you with?"