Ise Nanao stood outside the door, pausing for a moment, her hand just inches from the doorknob. Sometimes, and now was one of these times, she wondered whether she had made the right decision in joining them in the first place. But nah, the job was rather rewarding, and the pay was good. In her sector, there was minimal violence.
Things seemed to be carried out differently here, back in Japan. Everything seemed more threatening, more dangerous, more violent, as compared to the relatively peaceful overseas branch, where networking and dabbling in political affairs were more prominent. They suited her better than violence did. She sighed softly.
"You've come so far, it's a shame to stop here, really. Besides, Kyouraku-san doesn't bite." Her head whirled around as she found herself face to face with a grinning dark-skinned woman leaning casually against the wall. She knew who this was instantly, recognizing the face from the files. "Shi-Shihouin-sama!" She stooped into a deep bow.
"You're from the overseas branch, right?"
"H-Hai."
"Hm… Oh! So you're the one…" The grin on her face turned slightly sly. "This means that I'll finally get the correct share of the spoils, eh?"
"Pardon?"
"Did no one tell you why you were being transferred here of all places?" A dark hand scratched at purple hair. "No? Hm… Curious."
"Why am I being transferred here, Shihouin-sama?"
"Oh, don't Shihouin-sama me, dear. It's Yoruichi-san. Or Yoruichi, since we're practically family anyway. Everyone here is." She winked. "And as for why you're being transferred here, how about you go in and find out, eh? Everyone has been awaiting your arrival."
At that, Nanao blanched. "Pardon me, Yoruichi-san… What exactly do you mean when you say 'everyone'?"
A sly grin. "Oh, you'll see, you'll see."
Just then, a voice rang out from the crack of the door. "Oi, oi, Yoruichi-san! Don't ya keep the new kid out there to yerself for too long! Time's a-wasting!"
"That's your cue then, Ise-san." Turning back to the door, she hollered, "Keep your head on, Ichimaru!"
"There ya go. I'll be right behind you, so don't you worry, 'kay?" She lowered her voice down to a whisper. "Some of them look menacing, but really, they're all puppies inside."
Nanao merely blinked, still stunned. Puppies? Menacing? What? She had a bad feeling about this. She took a step forward and bumped into the door. A chuckle erupted somewhere behind her.
"You have to open the door, dearie. It doesn't open itself."
Blushing, she turned the doorknob and entered the room.
It was completely different from what she had expected. For one, the room was neither dimly lit nor was it empty of any furniture save for a throne right at the end. Sure, the room was large, but with the multitude of furniture around, it did not seem that way.
Sofas were arranged in a circle, a large round table situated in the middle. Various men, and women were lounged in the seats, and she could tell that they had been chatting away just before she had opened the door.
"Ise Nanao, I presume?" She turned politely in that direction, where a man with long white hair tied back in a ponytail sat.
He inclined his head as he stood up. "Ukitake Jyuushiro, Managing Director." Gesturing to the others, he continued.
"Ichimaru Gin. Publicity Manager."
"Pleased ta meet ya, Ise-san." He winked, though how he managed it when his eyes were already mostly closed from the beginning, Nanao did not know.
"Kira Izuru, under Ichimaru-san." A slight bow from the blond seated to Ichimaru's right.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro. Events Coordinator." A polite nod from a white haired teal eyed teenager.
"Matsumoto Rangiku, under Shiro-chan." The buxom strawberry blonde winked at Nanao.
"MATSUMOTO!" Laughter erupted as the icicle glared at his subordinate. Nanao had to admit, the fact that the teenager was holding such a senior position was rather intimidating.
"Sumimasen, Hitsugaya-kun." Sniggers, but a smiling Ukitake moved on.
"Zaraki Kenpachi. Recruitment." A grunt. This would be the person in charge of screening the thugs, she assumed. His large build and the menacing look in his eye did it.
"Madarame Ikkaku, under Zaraki."
"Pachinko head!" A high-pitched squeal which had a couple of the men at the circle blanch slightly as the room turned its collective head to where a small pink-haired girl had poked her head out from behind the gigantic chair upon which Zaraki was sitting.
"Yachiru. 'S past yer bedtime." He frowned as he looked at the girl who immediately pouted, crossing little arms in front of her chest.
"Buuut… Ken-chan! I wanna see the new…"
"Excuse us please." The giant led the little girl out of the room, and Nanao mentally reminded herself to take another look at the man. First impressions and such.
"Urahara Kisuke. Research and Development Office." It seemed that no one else had been surprised by the two leaving the room, as Ukitake moved on. A wide grin and a cheery wave came from the blond guy next to Zaraki-san.
"Kurotsuchi Mayuri, under Urahara-san." This one stood out with dark blue hair and golden eyes, a slight nod given in her direction.
"Unohana Retsu. Welfare Coordinator." She gave Nanao a slight smile.
"Kotetsu Isane, under Unohana-san." An inclination of her head.
"Abarai Renji, Junior Law Consultant." She blinked at the shock of red hair and the presence of tribal tattoos. She had expected something like 'Extortion', maybe?
She bowed low, seeing a break in the circle of chairs, and chuckles ensued all around. "Why tha' bow?" Ribbed the Publicity Manager, "We're all equals here." Nanao blinked.
"Ano, Ichimaru-san… Equals?"
"You didn' tell her, Yoruichi-san? Ooh. Nassty." Ichimaru's ever present grin grew wider.
"She didn't because I'm supposed to, Gin." A voice cut in from a large chair whose back was facing her.
"Sumimasen, Kyouraku-sempai. Didn' know tha job opening was that big."
"Shut it, Ichimaru."
"Aye, aye, keep yer head on, Mayuri-san. Can't a man talk around here?" His grin only grew wider.
The pink lump in the corner turned around on the only swivel chair in the room, a lazy smile on his face.
"Kyouraku Shunsui. Welcome back to Japan, Ise Nanao, General Secretary."
"Whoa. Dude… A nice promotion, tha' is. From tha' secretary of ole' Mori to overall-in-charge of tha' books. Nice one, Ise-san." She bowed slightly, to a chorus of tittering once more. "Don' stand on ceremony, ya? We're just people here. Ain't got no guns or nothing."
"Speak for yourself, Ichimaru. We all know that Madarame's armed to the damned teeth. And knowing you, you're probably armed too. Not guns, maybe, but that wakizashi of yours?"
"So we're done for the day?" It was Yoruichi who spoke up, cutting in and breaking the tension before it even built up.
"Nah. Kuchiki called. He'll be late. Something about family matters. And you know without him, we can't do the damn presentation to the newbies. No one does the 'step out of line and we'll kill you' thing like he does. It's the 'I can bite your head off without even blinking and then go on to kill your family in cold blood' thing. Yeah sure, Kenpachi's scary, but we're a thug society, so thugs aren't scary, eh? He's the only one who can do it, so we're stuck when we're without the guy."
There was a pause. "Looks like we'll be staying on for dinner. Oi, Ran-san… Who's turn is it to cook?"
"I'll cook as long as Kuchiki pays for it."
"He always pays."
"Good point. I'll get right to it." The blond man grinned at them, before exiting the room in the adjoining one, which Nanao assumed was the kitchen.
"It better not be vegetarian this time, Kisuke, or I'm tellin' ya, I won't eat the shit." Oh. Zaraki-san was back.
This was the almighty gang of head honchos she had heard about? The group of men and women which had all the grunts shivering at the mere mentioning of their names? Nanao stood there, a little stunned. Scratch that. More than a little stunned. After all those gruesome rumors she had heard, these were the leaders? Very funny. Now, where was the real bunch?
