In the Forest of Menos, time no longer matters. Day and night no longer exist in this deep and desolate forest. Lucy was sitting next to the small entrance of their cave, looking over a sleeping Hozumi and keeping watch [b][i]He's growing much faster than I expected. Is it the hollows he's eating? That's not possible though, I used to eat them too when I was training but never did I grow that exponentially. He can't use my sword forever...I have to get him his own[/i][/b] She stood up, Hozumi waking up and noticing a disturbance "Where are you going Lucy-senpai?" He asked curiously [b]"I'm going to go get you your own zanpakuto...at the Soul Society"[/b] Hozumi's face brightened up. Was today the day he was finally going to go back? He jumped out of the blanket and landed on his feet "Yaaay! I get to go home now right?!" Lucy shook her head [b]"No, in all honesty it's safer here than the Seireitei. It's under watch[/b] "By who?" Lucy turned to him, with a smile [b]"Don't worry about that yet, okay? Now here, take my sword and keep on practicing your skills while I'm gone. And whatever you do, DO NOT leave the cave. Got it?"[/b] Hozumi nodded, grabbing the hilt of her sword and unsheathed it "Got it" He said, with a somewhat sad expression. Lucy sighed [b][i]I swear, this kids cuteness is gonna be the death of me. How am I supposed to train him like you did with me"[/i][/b] She ruffled his hair [b]"Listen, one day you'll be able to go back to your mommy. So in the mean time, train your zanjutsu so you can"[/b] Hozumi smiled "Got it!" He began to swipe the sword multiple times, training his posture and technique. Lucy smiled, seeing him training so diligently for once. She covered the entrance with a barrier that put up an illusion that there was no cave there, but instead a giant wall. She waved at Hozumi, and he waved back "Come back soon!" She nodded, using Sentan Hakuja and vanishing from the cave. Hozumi got serious "Okay, now to train like there's no tomorrow!" He began to slash the sword multiple times

In the Soul Society

A bright white flash appeared in Squad 4's captain's office. Lucy emerged from the white flash, looking around to see nobody [b]"Good, this shouldn't be too hard to get one of those blank swords"[/b] She put her black cloak on, covering her horns and ruby hair. She opened up the windows of the office, a breeze coming in [b]"Ahh, the air here is always so nice. I can see why he liked it here. Well, time to go find me a blank sword!"[/b] She leaped out of the office, landing in the ground between a couple of confused Squad 4 members. Before they could say anything, Lucy had already shunpoed away. She jumped from roof to roof, looking for the Shino Academy.