Artificially Roasted Sparrow (Open, 12th Division)

[AquaAerios]

A quiet creak of one of many doors in the 12th division barracks, and for a while, nothing seemed to be coming through the slight opening of the entry. That is... until a fairly large bird hopped past, about the size of an average bald eagle. Ironically, it had the features of a sparrow, but that was a minuscule detail compared to its glass composition.
Saiku hopped around blindly, feeling a little panicked and stressed. His thought translator that was supposed to be hanging on his perch was taken in his sleep. Perhaps someone took it... and there was always the possibility of moving automatically in his sleep...

Nonsense. He wasn't even organic. He was glass. He couldn't flap around in his sleep to save his life... crash into a wall, maybe.

But this was ridiculous. He had spent a good couple of hours trying to search for his choker that was made just for him. Flapping around in a building proved to be not an easy task; the first near-hit with a wall had made him want to start hopping around. The second near-hit made him apply that mindset into actual action. Therefore, the bird was hopping around in search of the accessory.

Saiku chirped several times, clearly showing his frustration by flapping his wings rapidly. This was proving to be an irritable task indeed, not to mention he was in need of food.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division

[Avatar]

On a good day, the indoors of a house contained mostly human beings, and other paraphernalia that such creatures deemed important. Unless in a cage, birds, especially the song ones, were found outside. It must be noted, however, that the Twelfth Division of Seireitei rarely ever harbors situations that could be alluded to a 'good day'. And this situation was one of them.

While naturally, a captain wasn't usually seen around the unseated barracks, Yin had decided to pay the area a visit. According to her, laboratories and medical wards were similar, except for the sick bodies. In both places, research was done, people wore lab coats and had to be rather smart. Cleanliness, therefore, had to be enforced with an 'iron hand' (a term very relative to the young captain).

She heard the chirping before she saw the bird. She frowned at first, wondering why an avian would be hopping around, then suddenly grinned. Saiku Tsubame. So, he'd finally graduated from the Academy. He was certainly a strange one, and quite a number of the captains had their reservations about him. Yin, on the other hand, believed that the legacy of her former captain was quite worth it; time just had to bring out his qualities. She watched the bird flap energetically, and chuckled.

"I wouldn't really advise you to fly, 'War Hawk'. Ain't enough space to do that. Welcome to being a Shinigami, by the way; you guys from the Academy just graduated, right? Uh... you look miffed or something. Anything the matter?"

'War Hawk' was Yin's nickname for Saiku Tsubame.
_________________
The harbinger of peace is war
Hakkebana Jia Yin - Captain - 12th Division

[AquaAerios]

A couple of minutes spent looking around the floor, and Saiku saw a minuscule glimmer from under the bunks in front of him. The only problem was getting it from such an enclosed space; with his size, he'd have to fall sideways and inch himself forward. He was a bird. Birds didn't crawl sideways. This predicament had him flapping more, hopping around indignantly.

However, a sudden voice behind him made him cringe and turn around. There she was, Hakkebana Jia Yin. She certainly seemed much more amicable than Arasugane, and didn't creak like a broken record everytime she moved. Saiku looked up curiously at the captain, retreating a few hops and bowing his head before moving back to cock his head under the bed, glancing at the superior every once in a while. Perhaps she could help him with getting the translator back. A few chirps resounded, with minor flapping to get her attention.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division

[Avatar]

Yin watched the glass bird with amused interest. He had a good sense of manners, but it was very unlikely that his chirping would be understood by... wait one minute! If she remembered correctly, the War Hawk had some gizmo that could be roughly called a translator. And it wasn't around his neck. She noticed that the chirping bird was often glancing under one of the bunks... perhaps that was where the translator was.

She walked over to the bed, drew it aside with a little difficulty, then peeked behind it. A metallic contraption lay there, probably what the bird wanted. Reaching into the corner, she pulled out the device and held it up.

"Am I right in assuming you're looking for this, War Hawk, hmmm?" She offered it to Saiku Tsubame.
_________________
The harbinger of peace is war
Hakkebana Jia Yin - Captain - 12th Division

[AquaAerios]

Looking at his captain, who seemed to understand him despite his chirp-only abilities for now. As she approached the bed, Saiku quickly hopped aside to give her room. The bed was moved aside eventually, and she retrieved the choker from the ground. When she offered him the choker, he hopped forward and dipped his head through the loop so that it was back on his neck.

But of course, it would take a couple of minutes for the choker to re-establish a connection to his brain, as that was how the translator worked. As soon as he found Arasugane, he'd have to thank her for the beneficial invention.

With the connection kicked in, the bird looked up at Hakkebana, chirping quickly as the translator buzzed to life. [Thank you, Hakkebana.]

Well... so much for honorifics, or lack of knowledge thereof.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division

[Avatar]

Yin waited patiently as the bird wore his translator, and the thingamajig 'booted' up. She was expectant; wanting to see how the gizmo worked, and wanting to hear how well it could translate the chirping. She didn't have to wait long.

"Thank you, Hakkebana."

She smiled and clapped her hands together in delight. It even got her name right... well, Hakkebana like that was sort of... blandish, not that she was bothered about the lack of honorifics.

"You're welcome anytime."

The captain was quite sure that more work could be done on the translator, one that would make Saiku's words much more articulate and colorful. She thought awhile, then spoke up again, veering from the topic on her mind. That would come later. For now, she had to make her newest subordinate feel at home. He kind of looked nervous.

"So, War Hawk Saiku-san, fresh out of the Academy, neh? Congrats on that. Do you like it here?"
_________________
The harbinger of peace is war
Hakkebana Jia Yin - Captain - 12th Division

[AquaAerios]

The glass sparrow cocked his head sideways as Hakkebana clapped, watching her smile and reply in a content voice. What was she happy for? He did not know, but like most answers, the reason for this would probably come to him sooner or later.

Not too bright. An authentic dodo.

In fact, he even had to give some thought on how to reply to his captain's question; no doubt the translator would screw the translation up again, making him look like a fool in her eyes. At the same time, he couldn't just ignore her question either... he chirped several times to test the device.

[Thank you again, yes. Need I just to get used things less.]

Saiku could only cover his face with one wing as the translator had scrambled a part of the response.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division

[Avatar]

Yin took one confused look at Saiku, then burst into laughter. It was all so interesting, so new and so funny. That translator was quite some package.

"Sorry; I don't meant to laugh at you or anything, but, sheesh, that device could put you into some fix, if that's how it always behaves."

Her expression became slightly more serious. "You must have had a very tangled time, or a lonely one, in the Academy... I'm assuming it was the latter."

She rested her chin in her right hand, while the elbow of her right was propped up by her left arm, which ran perpendicular to her right and across her torso. A slender finger drummed on her cheek, while she looked thoughtful. Then she seemed to reach a conclusion, based on her smile.

"Tell you what, War Hawk: I'm going to get you a new translator. Call it a graduation gift or something. Arasugane-taicho must have notes on the original somewhere, so I could work with that. At least, you'll be able to interact much easier with others, neh?"
_________________
The harbinger of peace is war
Hakkebana Jia Yin - Captain - 12th Division

[AquaAerios]

Saiku cringed, hopping up and down in mild embarrassment. He didn't want to be labeled as a fool... damn this translator.

But part of his captain's words were true; he did have a very awkward time in the academy... where he was constantly picked on last for demonstrations since he couldn't say anything to benefit him. Only mockery ensued every time his translator flopped his chirps around severely. Up until a certain point, before Arasugane disappeared, she made an upgrade to his choker. That was several periods before his graduation, but due to fear of being mocked again, he had refused to try it out, even in private.

So far, it had proved to be only slightly better, but still a foolish tool to use for getting him laughed at. The bird could only glance down at the ground, facing away from Yin.

At Yin's offer of creating a new translator, he glanced up, slightly puzzled. A new translator was fine... but would it be better? Still, he had to respond in some way... at least she offered, after all. Saiku nodded slowly, bobbing his head up and down as a familiar sensation rumbled through his body.

Food.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division

[Avatar]

"I don't think it will be necessary to take your translator; it's better than not having any. Try to cope with it for the time being, and I'll see what I can do about the current problem. There ought to be a replica somewhere in the archives for referencing."

Yin studied the bird; he seemed nervous, shy and out of place. She needed to find a way to make him more comfortable in this place, because like it or not, this was his new home, and he'd have to build up some confidence if he wanted to be of any use to himself as well as the Gotei Thirteen.

Just then, Yin thought she heard something. Sounded like... She looked quizzically at Saiku.

"Pardon me for asking... it does seem like you're hungry? What kinda stuff do you eat..? I mean, judging from your physiology..."

He was a bird, and thus, he might have issues with eating some things. She hoped she hadn't misheard, because it wasn't her stomach that rumbled.
_________________
The harbinger of peace is war
Hakkebana Jia Yin - Captain - 12th Division

[AquaAerios]

Yes... hunger. A trait not found in most fabrications such as himself. Despite not having organs, he still had a soul, and with that soul came a desire to eat and drink. Yes, it was a strange trait. However, it was not beyond imagination as the very fact he was alive and flapping his wings with a glass composition proved that it wasn't.

As Yin seemed curious at his sudden quirk, he would have to fill her in at what would sate his appetite.

Saiku chirped. Worms... grains... seeds... anything a typical bird would eat. He replied with a mild flapping motion and another garbled rumbling sensation through his body.

Hopefully, the translator was good enough to understand this time around.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division

[Avatar]

It appeared that Saiku had the digestive system of a bird. That would not be a problem then. Yin decided that she may as well get herself a munch while getting the War Hawk something with which to sate his appetite.

"You just wait right here; I'll be right back, okay?"

Yin turned and walked some distance, until she was out of the barracks, then she took a long step down the corridor. It was certain that there would be no 'bird food' in the barracks canteen... a situation that was going to change soon. Her steps led her to one of the stores situated in Seireitei; with such stores around, one didn't have to needlessly go into Rukongai. There, she bought a bag of rice (uncooked) and some sushi for herself. Then she returned. She would get the canteen to stock up on suitable food for Saiku, but for now, it was best not to keep him waiting.

"Here you go." Yin put the bag down on the ground; it was no use handing over an item to a creature with wings.
_________________
The harbinger of peace is war
Hakkebana Jia Yin - Captain - 12th Division

[AquaAerios]

Saiku flapped his wings, nodding his head up and down appreciatively as Yin disappeared from view. He'd have to wait for food, now.

The kindness from the captain was nice.. something he could get used to; never take advantage of. He was only a bird, after all. However, despite Yin's statement to stay put, Saiku found himself distracted by the open window and the good, sunny day. Hopping several times towards the window, and leaping up to the window sill, the bird flapped his wings, perching upon the barrack's immediate rooftop, which was fortunately the first chamber throughout the complex labyrinth that was undoubtedly the 12th's.

Much to others' dismay, the prismatic light that shined from Saiku was quite the shine, and those caught in the ray had to turn their head away.

Down below, Yin put down the bag of rice in an empty room.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division

[Avatar]

"Not here... where'd he go?"

Yin looked around the room, her hands on her hips. The bird ceriatnly wasn't here; there was little space to hide, if he was intent on playing hide and seek. So, where could he have gone to? She considered calling out, then decided against it as she looked at the open window. Yin walked over and glanced outside. Hmmm... she had always wondered if Saiku could actually fly, and how well he could, too. She'd heard it from people, but it would be a sight, seeing glass birds fly about.

She noticed the weird looks people gave upwards, towards the roofs of her Division, though none of their eyes stayed for long. She could also see some sort of refracted light upon their faces.

"Maybe I've found you, after all..."

She picked up the rice bag and found her way out of the Division building, then looked up. Sure enough, there he was, shining like the sun... well, a smaller version of it. Sure was some pretty visual effect, though. A flash step took Yin to the roof.

"Gotcha! Enjoying the view, huh?"

Yin dropped to a sitting position, set the rice bag down, then gazed at the rooftops. She nibbled daintily at the ball of sushi in her hand.
_________________
The harbinger of peace is war
Hakkebana Jia Yin - Captain - 12th Division

[AquaAerios]

It was bright, and the winds were at their best, at least, in his mind, anyway. He didn't really care about the staring shinigami; mostly because the ideology that prisms shined rays back outward was still a concept unknown to him, ironically. Plus, he was sleeping.

The sudden flash step from below had frightened him somewhat, waking himself from his one-eyed slumber and making him flap his wings, falling back on his rump in a comical way. Nothing was broken, but Yin's sudden appearance had reminded him that he was supposed to stay down where he was supposed to.

Saiku propped himself upright, glancing at the sack of rice, then at the captain sitting beside him and eating her own share. Ah, well. Apologies and gratitude could come later. The sparrow hopped in front of the sack, pecking the base of it with his beak and creating a massive hole, enough to have the rice spill out onto the ledge. Only a few grains slid down completely towards the ground, as there were multiple ledges on the roof to eventually halt the advance of the overflowing rice. Unfortunately, he'd have to hop around on either side of the roof to finish the mess he had made, starting with the nearest pile of grain, which he quickly got started on.
_________________
Saiku Tsubame-Unseated-12th division