This Is The Chill Zone [Rangiku/Igendai] (2024)

It had been quite the pleasant surprise to be invited over by Rangiku! HE HAD SO MUCH TO SHARE WITH HER! His training had been going well! His promotion was pretty much already set. Heck, even if he wound up getting bumped down to fourth seat, that was still a REAL big jump! But well, there had also been a lot of ....well... other stuff. His ... participation in the event down in Africa. Well, ongoing campaign against the hollows that were being spit out. There was the Tournament in the world of the living he'd decided to partake in. There had even been ...uh... other things. Maybe not all that great. But STILL! A lot had certainly happened since they last met!

Gently knocking on the door, he waited patiently, only to perk up and smile as Rangiku opened the door, giving a look of surprise before slipping inside.

"Oh, of course! Eheh, I'm a little surprised you invited me over. I guiess we've both been kinda busy. How have things been setting up Squad Eight?" He asked with a bright smile. Nothing quite like one of his more energetic homies to help lift im up. And certainly Ko had come along, though she remained in her Tiger form, staying close to Igen's side and mainly staying out of the way, her shoulder maintaining contact with his calf, though she did peer toward the kitchen and give a few sniffs, to see if she smelled any meat.

Igen couldn't help but snort a bit and put on an amused smile as Rangiku talked about being happy to be a bit hands off. "I'd sure hope so. I do kinda worry a little about some of the divisions . A lot of the upper officers are doin a bit of a poor job with their work balance." He noted with a shake of his head. Sure, he understood getting bogged down now and then. But some of them talked like it was something constant. Which did bring to question just how things were organized over there. Bweh.

He turned as Ko perked up at the offer of food. Giving Igen a glance, before leaving is side to head into the kitchen along with Rangiku. Igen took the opportunity to find himself a seat before Ko returned with her food and promptly laid out across Igen's lap.

"No idea, but she eats all the time. So I guess it's fine." He noted with a shrug of his shoulders.

"It was ...well...IS a work in progress. IT's gonna be a while before we even figure out what's going on down there. But for the time being, investigations are taking place. Dealing with the holllows ...was pretty rough. But I gotta admit, it was a lot better than it could have been. The Vandenreich operatives in the field were able to help out considerably." He pointed out. Certainly he didn't know how well they coukld have handled that hollow he and Tento had fought without Solomon's assistance. And certainly he'd seen reports that the other hollows taken down lent plenty of credit to the Vandenreich involvement.

"Though it DID certainly help a lot! It was certainly a test of my abilities I wasn't expecting. Heh. Though speaking of my abilities, I got promoted recently! I'm not a Twentieth Seat any longer." He promptly declared with a bright and enthused smile, immediately pride showed on his face as the subject came up. Not even the sh*t he'd been through recently could bring down how happy he was to have moved up.

Igan chuckled softly at that and let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I feel like maybe our First Division Lieutenant has .... a bit of a ...weird idea of how things should work in the Gotei. She's always working, and honestly always pushing people to be working if they have free time. But I mean, if things are running PROPERLY we shouldn't HAVE a constant flow of work." He chuckled a bit sheepishly at that. "She's kinda one of those 'work harder not smarter' kinda gals." HE sighed, truth be told, he was a little surprised a woman like her even WANTED to be in First Division. And he ...did wonder about her motivations. Why first division? And some small part of him worried that she only wanted to be First Division lieutenant as a measure of strength. But that was highly unlikely. Especially with Murasaki as the Captain, no... he knew that there had to be something MORE to her. He just ...well...frankly just probably didn't know her well enough to know why that was. Hmm.

He was briefly lost in thought about the subject before perking up a bit as he noticed Rangiku giving Ko a bit more food, the tiger promptly beginning to eat with enthusiasm, drawing a slight chuckle from Igen. Only for that smile of his to brighten once Rangiku's voice hiked up in surprise.

[color:cf0e=salmon']"Ahah, I mean, if I'm being onest I really didn't expect to be promoted so high! I figured I'd make..I dunno. Seventh Seat, Maybe even Fifth Seat, but this caught me a little off guard." He admitted, but hardly looked displeased. Straightening himself up a little and letting out a little whew.

"But hey. Just means I'm gonna have to keep up the good work and make sure I get used to my new position! It's admittedly a bit tenuous. There was actually someone else who just joined the squad that also has been given the position. It's a sortof...probationary thing. One of us will be demoted down to Fourth based on performance." He explained, honestly even saying that, he couldn't stop smiling. Partially because well... even if he DID wind up being the one demoted down to Fourth Seat, that was STILL a tremendous promotion from where he'd been before! And ....even more than that? He felt....proud. Seeing the look on Rangiku's face as he gave the news, seeing the pride in her eyes at seeing her student succeed. How could he not feel awesome?

"So hey, We'll be practically peers now! Now that we're closer in seat maybe we could start training together."

Igen smiled from ear to ear, taking a moment to enjoy a bit of chips himself as he settled next to Rangiku, perking up and watching with a bit of fascination as she began going through the channels. Truth be told, he had been a little slow in adjusting to television. Sure, he knew how to use his phone, but it was still interesting seeing a larger picture screen.

"More or less! And eheh, yea. Honestly it's a lot of changes I didn't really expect. But I'm glad it's been happening. I feel like I've been more....how do I even say it.... myself? For a long time I kinda just focused on my work and learning. But now that I'm more comfortable DOING the work, I've been able to focus a lot more on my goals." He noted, smiling from ear to ear. Certainly there was a lot to be happy about. Though.... a look of surprise flashed across his face when Rangiku suddenly his him with that question. He paused.... silent for several long moments before he swallowed the chips he'd been chewing. Oh uh.... well this was embarassing.

"N-no! Nothing like that. I mean...well..I guess I ... if I'm being honest I did sortof....not really think I was strong enough for us to do it. Not that I didn't want to! But I usually like to challenge the people I train with! I just didn't really ...uh... think that I would be very interesting for you to do it with.." He confessed with a sheepish smile. Which was a round about way of admitting that yes, he had hesitated to ask to do it with her because of ...well..the disparity between them. One that at least now was much smaller than it would have been before! Well, he hoped.

Igen became a little red in the face as he looked off to the side. Oh he knew ....on ...some level that that was the case. But still, it was embarassing that she had to lay it out like that. No, perhaps he needed to hear her say such a thing. "Still, I didn't want to bother you before. Your new squad has a lot going on. And now that you've had time to erhem, set up. I feel a lot better about uh... you know. Asking you for training." He reasoned, rationalizing as he sat back in his chair before ....glancing to Rangiku and smiling fondly.

"Well you DO have other seated officers to take up some of the load. I hope you're not doing all the paperwork yourself." He ventured, a hint of tease in his own voice, as some DID like to, or allow themselves to be put in such a position.

However, a slight look of surprise crossed his features.

"You have a nephew?" He murmured before his expression lit up. "OH! Toki! Hm, I didn't know you were that close with Lady Hinamori. Uhhh, no I haven't had the chance to meet him yet. I have heard a few things though. Poor kid. I've heard a few things about him, but well. I wasn't exactly fond of everything I'd heard." He sighed and shook his head. Honestly he never was really fond of the whole rumor side of things over there. But well, with so many fresh faces, rumors were practically a currency. And as it was, poor toki had been a bit of a gold mine as far as the students were concerned. Even more than usual.

"I'd be happy to! If he's anything like yourself or Lady Hinamori I'd be happy to call him a friend." He noted with a big grin on his face. Having had a numeber of rumors around at his OWN expense, he could certainly sympathize with the fellow. And well, now knowing that he was Rangiku's nephew? Well now he HAD to meet the young lad.

'; window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-Below', container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({flush: true}); } }); });