Previous: Thoughts Recalled During the Dark of the Night
He'd brought a watermelon this time, as an excuse and had been cutting it up when it struck him. After the second dry cough had assailed him, Juushiro took a seat at Kita's insistence, waiting for her to prepare the tea while Kisuke finished with something in the back of his shop. Juushiro waited quietly.
As soon as the teapot began to emit its high-ptiched scream, she came out with the tray, pouring tea for the three of them.
"Thank you, Kita." Juushiro murmured and sipped his carefully. The warm liquid eased the pressure on his throat, and Juushiro let himself be relieved once again.
Kita smiled, "You're welcome, Juushiro. I hope that cough isn't a bad sign." She left, returning with the plate of watermelon.
Juushiro frowned slightly in thought. "I won't believe it is, at this point." he murmured.
Kita lowered her slice of melon. "Is something wrong, captain?"
Juushiro shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry. I'm usually not a forgetful person, but I can't seem to find something I lost."
"Did you lose it or was it stolen?" Kita asked, setting her melon back on her plate. "It seems a lot of personal items have been disappearing as of late."
"I've noticed that as well," Juushiro replied quietly. He smiled softly. "Please feel free to take more than one piece of watermelon. It's an excellent melon." He picked out a piece and took a bite. Swallowing, he added, "It's probably nothing to worry about."
Kita continued eating her slice. "But it's all so weird."
"It may be," Juushiro allowed, "but it may be that our minds are jumping to conclusions."
Kita shrugged with a slight smile. "I sure hope you're right. Because what I am thinking scares me. I had a horrible dream last night and I am hoping it was just that and not a bad memory."
Juushiro nodded sympathetically. "I'd ask what kind of dream but we wouldn't want Aizen to hear." He'd hate for that man to have any more substance to use against the girl.
Kita chewed slowly. "He is the last person I want to know anything of my memories. Though my master would not be a good one to hear them either."
She went silent for while then broke the silence.
"What did you lose? I lost my journal."
Juushiro set his melon down again. She'd lost her journal and it would seem that Renji had lost his goggles. Momo had lost a special brush. "I've lost a keepsake of mine that I'd been using to hold notes, a painted handmade clay mug."
Kita frowned, listening.
Juushiro continued, "I've been looking for it everywhere, even dragging Shunsui, an old friend and captain of the eighth squad, in helping me, but we've not seen it." He chuckled quietly, momentarily distracted by his worry as a lighter thought struck him. "If Shunsui had found it, he'd have brought me evidence of its destruction."
Kita blinked. "Destroyed?" Why would he destroy something of yours?"
Juushiro grinned. "Because he made it, and it's highly embarrassing for him now."
Kita giggled into her cup of tea.
