Cherry Blossom Park

Ashe smiled crookedly at the man's greeting before nodding. "Good to meet you Lee." She took back her hand and slipped it in her pocket casually before tiling her head in thought, looking around once. "Well I suppose so. I had heard about this park from someone in the Academy and wanted to see it for myself. I know others who would like to visit it." She shrugged simply before turning back to him. "And what about you? Just relaxing?" She asked in token.

He listened as she agreed with the strolling part he had assumed and then brought up that someone from the shinigami academy brought it up. He wondered whom could have known about it from the academy and would have to make sure to keep an eye out. He nodded his head as he looked around "Yes, that would be the best guess. But it is a bit of work and play I guess. This is a nice place to think and thinking leads to work or vice versa. I just so happened to stumble on by here and see some old sights."

Ashe walked to Lee's side and stared into the fountain's water. No koi sadly. She poked at the surface as she listened to the man speak. Then smiling crookedly she teased, "Oh yes, I'm sure. Heh, you're probably just trying to avoid paperwork like everyone else. Hm and just stumble by? Here in District 79?" She raised an eyebrow in slight speculation before shrugging. "I've never heard of this place or seen it before, myself. It's a rather odd sight for such a beautiful park so far away from the Seireitei, I'm surprised that it doesn't have more visitors and attracts more attention..." She faded off as she looked around the more or less empty area before shrugging again. "But then again I'm from District 64 myself so I haven't been way out here too often."

Lee watched as she moved herself over to have a look into the water. He looked into the water before looking back to her as she went on about the area itself. He laughed lightly as he nodded his head "Ah, and I've been found out. Now, if you would be so kind as to not tell anyone you saw me, that would be wonderful."

He laughed a bit more as he looked forward as she started to speak once more. He nodded his head in agreement "Yes, this is pretty far out and its surprising that it hasn't burned down already. Its wonderful that even a place like this can exist so far out without the need for the Seireitei's involvement."

Ashe laughed easily with light amusement as she nodded, "Oh, don't worry, I won't. Promise. I'm just lucky I'm not important enough to have to do paperwork myself."
She turned and leaned her back against the edge of the fountain and glanced sidelong at Lee as he spoke of the park's location. Frowning slightly she nodded, "That's why I wanted to see if it was real. It's sad that places like this don't exist in every district. I want to tell others about this place... But I'm not sure if I want word about it to spread." She smiled sadly at one of the many tall cherry blossom trees.

Lee continued to look out as she spoke about not telling and this was good. Heaven knows who would catch wind of him and what they would do. He was taking a risk already by being so free in the soul society in the first place. The park being where it was made things rather perfect. Far enough out of the range of the squads and under the radar without being dead last. When she spoke about the dilemma of telling he glanced over toward her and then nodded his head

"Yes, but there are some things that are just that much more special for being the flower in the sidewalk. Makes you cherish it more than you normally would." He turned his head to look down at her with a light smile.

Ashe smiled at Lee's explanation and nodded, understanding completely. A diamond in the rough, exactly. Things were too fleeting sometimes...even in the soul society. Then frowning she lowered her head and watched as a slight breeze blew past several sakura petals. "But there are those who enjoy in stepping on those flowers... I won't tell anyone." She pursed her lips, not wanting to think of what would happen if others not as appreciative found this place. She remembered the gangs that ruled the lower districts of the Rukongai and other rif raf not to mention the Gotei 13 coming by and sorting them out rather violently and destructively.

Lee slowly let his attention turn toward the blond woman. He looked toward the trees as this was actually started to flow well and better than he had first assumed it to be. He pulled his hands out of his sleeves and placed them onto his knees "That is why there are people to help keep things like this alive and try to better the world. Spread this kind of wonder to more than just the wealthy."

He leaned forward and then moved his feet around and placed them on the ground as he looked down at Ashe "So, you spoke of having friends at the academy, are you still in the academy or do you have a squad?"

Ashe picked up a stray flower petal on the fountain's edge and dropped it on the water, watching as it floated on the surface as Lee spoke again and smiled. "Yes. That's why I wanted to become a Soul Reaper. To help make things better... No one would listen to an outsider, but one of their own..." She shrugged. She turned her head as the blond man put his feet on the ground and then smiled a little. "Actually I was just accepted into Squad Six."

Lee turned his attention to the pedal that she had taken a hold of and then watched as she placed it on the water's surface. He then looked forward as she continued and he rose up into a full upright posture. He crossed his arms over his chest as he slowly started forward

"Oh? Sixth Squad? Well, I will admit, your a very straight forward kind of girl and your goal's seem really admirable. I can only hope that I can help you someday."

Lee slowly pauses as he turns his attention toward the sound of another voice. He slowly lets his attenuation fall onto yet another voice that came to him. He let his attention move from the girl to him "Hello there...how does so many people know of this place."

Lee slowly let his hands slide themselves into his sleeves once more as he tilted his head to the side "You found yourself wandering out in some of the farthest districts away from the Seireitei? That is both enjoyable and questionable, liking it thus far?"

Ashe watched as the petal slowly floated closer to the center of the fountain before it was submerged in the crashing water coming down on it. Giving a small smile at Lee's remarks about herself she shrugged before the last sentence at which she turned to look at him. "I hope so too..." Lee... She smiled and decided to remember him and hoped she would see him again. She was about to ask for his information and such when another person came up. Blinking she saw the captain's haori and bowed. "Ah hello Oakranr Taichou."

Lee slowly turned his attention over toward Ashe and then back toward the other man as her name was Oakranr. He seemed to have been someone higher up in the order back in the soul society. He slowly looked from one side to the other as it seemed that getting to close to someone like that from this point would be...worrisome.

He looked off to the side where there was a long pathway and looked back toward Ashe "I think a nice walk would be in order, its such a nice fresh air to simply be standing or sitting around." He turned as his haori shifted lightly in the wind as he started down the well paved path

Ashe blinked at Lee's lack of acknowledgment to the captain before staring at his mention of taking a walk. "Oh! Um, sure of course. Excuse us Captain Oakranr." She bowed again before turning and following after Lee quickly. Glancing sideways at him she wondered what was up with him. Perhaps he didn't like Soul Reapers... But he seemed nice enough to her... She was still thinking on it as she walked, observing him quietly with curiosity and interest as well as taking in the scenery about them as they walked.

Lee slowly looked to the side as he glanced back at the blond haired girl as she seemed to be following him. He looked forward as it was both comforting and a good sign at that. He held his hands over his torso as he spoke

"So Ashe, what is your goal in this life? Anything to share with a friend?"

Ashe caught up with Lee and walked by his side as she slipped her hands in her pockets idly, looking to her left at even more cherry blossom trees, her zanpakuto sheath clanking softly at her hip. Turning her head to look at the taller man as he spoke she stared blankly.
"Eh? My goal? Um..hm..." She never really thought about it. At least not consciously she supposed... But taking the time to now, she stared at her feet as she walked.

"I'm not really sure... I wish I did have a solid one... But all I had in mind when I joined the Academy was protecting those who can't themselves. I was the only one in my 'family' that had any spiritual powers and they looked up to me though I was not the oldest by far. I took care of them... But I knew I could only do so much with what I knew. So I wanted to know more. To get stronger. And maybe make things better too. District 64 wasn't so bad but it's still nothing like in the Seireitei or even close to it. I never really understood why. How things could be this way in the afterlife when it's supposed to be good. So I want to make things better..but don't know how. Not really a goal if you think about it... But maybe I can try. As a soul reaper."

She paused for a moment and gripped her zanpakuto before loosening her grip. Then raising her head she lost her serious expression and smiled apologetically. "Gah, sorry for rambling on. I'm young so I talk too much. Guess I hit some sort of epiphany." She scratched the back of her head, wondering if she was just being annoying to Lee.

Lee listened intently to the words of Ashe as she spoke about her goal and it was indeed a very admirable one. He made sure to remember key points so that overall, her story would be saved to memory and further use later on down the road. He slowly shook his head "No, No, I actually find it very just and something worth fighting for. Never lose that, its something I myself dream to do. It is-"

His voice slowly stopped as he himself did as well, his walk slowing. The faint but slowly growing sound that rang in his ears and made his hands clench. He hated the very sound as he let his red eyes shift till they met the source of the sound but he restrained himself enough not to draw his weapon "What are you doing here?"

Ashe let out a small sigh before glancing back at Lee as he spoke to the contrary. Blinking she then smiled softly before pausing, hearing a tune from a wood instrument. A flute? It sounded almost like at a carnival..but more soothing and hypnotic really. Turning her head to find the source she saw a man wearing a hood and looked to Lee as she felt his aura change to be more hostile. Worried now at her friend's reaction she glanced between the two men as the blond spoke first. She stayed quiet, feeling that it would be better to stay out of it and not draw unwanted attention to herself.

Lee watched as he descended down to touch the ground from his tree-branch getaway. When he spoke his reason, the thought of striking the man was ever clear in his head but he withheld his anger in the presence of Ashe for the moment as he let Daiseisho speak and give out a alias and said nothing of it.

"Well, I'm more than sure that your black cat is gone and you can continue about your business now...elsewhere."

Ashe watched as the masked hooded man with the flute came down from his perch to greet them and as he made the silliest excuse to Lee, Ashe couldn't help but feel a sense of unease...perhaps it was because of his eyes or just his coldness in general. But either way, when he introduced himself politely to her, all the blond could do was nod faintly in acknowledgement before glancing at her friend again. They obviously knew each other and weren't at all friendly... But she didn't really know what to expect or do as the blond man tried to half coerce half order the silver haired man away.