Tsukiro rose from his desk with a sigh. "Good, the morning work is finished." Picking up the signed documents, he strode out of his office and out of the Seated officers' common area. He retraced the route he took daily, to the Captain's office; he was surprised that he hadn't worn a trench in the floorboards by now.
It took him only a few minutes to make his journey from the east end of the Tenth Squad barracks to the north end. He rounded the courtyard, which was filled with other officers, most likely on lunch break. He'd take his after a long training session with Kotaishi.
He arrived at the captain class shinigami's office and hesitated at the door. He reached out and placed one hand on the door then sighed and slid it open. He walked through and paused at the Tenth captain's empty desk. How empty and odd this room felt with their hard-working captain absent.
"Oh," a female voice said. "Tsukiro, you're here early this morining."
He turned to see Lieutenant Matsumoto sitting at her own desk with stacks of her own paperwork. As much as she deserved a nice long day of hard work, he felt sorry for her. She had had to take up the slack since the captain was gone. He almost didn't want to give her the extra work... almost; but it had to be done.
"Yes," he walked up to her. She had bags under her eyes and her hair was a little mused. This, however, did not dent her attractive nature in the slightest. "With Captain Hitsugaya... currently out... I've been making sure to work extra hard to keep Tenth Squad functioning smoothly."
She smiled warmly, albeit a little sadly. "Tsukiro, has anyone ever told you that you and the Captain are like twins separated at birth?"
"Yes, Fukutaichio. However, that's something I try to ignore. The Captain and I may seem similar, but we are two different people none the less." He handed her the documents.
"Yes, of course." She sighed and took the papers. "Well, enjoy your break. You're due for one, aren't you?"
"Hai. Work hard, Matsumoto-san." He bowed and left. As he closed the door he heard a thud and a groan. Poor Lieutenant... I wonder what Captain Hitsugaya has gotten himself into...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Alright, Kotaishi. Your wait is up. Time for training," he called as he entered his room. He flexed his wrist and looked around.
No cold draft. No playful feline growls. No fur lining the furniture. No Kotaishi materialized in his room.
"Kotaishi?" He went into the bedroom. He looked at the shelf nailed above his headboard. His sword was definitely not where he left it. Upon closer inspection, he discovered a folded piece of paper in its place.
He opened it:
That wicked queen She killed them both The bishop said no prayer. Behind the castle wall the king Watched his mate come near. They viewed the battle from afar The stallion and the mare.
If you want your precious zanpakuto back, you'll find the objects listed in the answer.
~~ Phoenix Riddler
"A riddle?" He took a glance out of his bedroom window. "It this some kind of bad joke? If I want my zanpakuto back I have to answer the riddle and find the objects it mentions?"
He re-read the riddle twice over, piecing the words together. "'Queen', 'Bishop,' 'Castle,' 'King,' and 'the stallion and the mare.'"
His mind flashed to the numerous Chess sets Captain Hitsugaya always had set up in the Tenth Squad Recreation Hall. He always kept them around so the officers could "hone their strategic skills."
He slipped the piece of paper in his kimono and left his room. Dashing down the barrack's corridors, he crossed the South Courtyard and over to the Recreation Hall. Several more officers where there on break as well. He quietly and calmly walked around. All of the Chess boards were occupied. Then he noticed one pair of partners were playing using a pair of white disks.
"Excuse me," he asked them. "Were there two pieces missing from this board?"
"Yeah, the two white Knights," the player using white said. "We had to use Checkers pieces as replacements."
The black player scoffed. "If Captain Hitsugaya hadn't ran off and abandoned us, we wouldn't be playing with such ridiculous pieces."
"Right. These Chess sets were important to him," the white player nodded.
"I see..." Tsukiro looked around.
He walked over to one wall and leaned against it, crossing his arms. He ignored the questioning stared some of the shinigami were giving him. He carefully searched the Hall. He did three one-overs of the fair sized Rec. Hall before he spotted two small white figurines underneath a book placed on a work desk in one corner of the Hall. The book was positioned in a triangle position, as if sheltering the figurines. He pushed off the wall and walked over.
He picked up the book. There they were. The two white Knights from the missing Chess set. And underneath them was another slip of paper. He picked them both up and turned to look behind him. The Knights were facing the Chess set from which they were missing from.
"They viewed the battle from afar The stallion and the mare."
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The answer? The two Knights (horses) in a game of Chess. *tosses pieces in the air and smiles triumphantly* I'll be taking that second riddle now. *holds hand out*
