The Seireitei. The very center of the Soul Society. Inside the massive area held the Soul Reapers, people responsible for eliminating Hollows and protecting souls.
The 4th Company Building smelled of cleaning supplies and flowers. It made sense, seeing how it was a building used by the Healing Company.
The Squad worked on the few people admitted that day.
A 4th Company nurse walked into a small office belonging to the 5th Seat.
"Kiku-Sama! Your regulars are here!"
The long-haired brunette smiled and got out of her chair. Her large brown eyes twinkled excitedly as she looked at the nurse.
"Again?"
The two laughed.
"Thank you."
Kiku Aoyama, 4th Company, 5th Seat, was one of the highest ranking officers in the Company and one of their best fighters. It seemed as soon as she reached her Seat, she was assigned to take care of 11th Company and their injuries. That Company in particular hated 4th Squad.
Luckily, she made some very good friends who made sure the group gave her a chance.
Kiku opened the door and giggled.
"Who's hurt this time? Chika, Ikku, or Lieutenant Yachiru?"
Ikkaku had a large gash on the back of his bald head, Yachiru rubbed her small cheeks groaning, and Yumichika was sitting in the corner trying not to laugh.
"What am I going to do with you lot?"
"Kiku-chan!" Ikkaku cried. "You can't let the Captain see this!"
She laughed.
"Let me take care of Lieutenant Yachiru first."
Kiku kneeled down and felt her cheeks.
"You bit him again?"
"Call'd me sh'rt."
"Short? Well he has a Pachinko ball for a head."
"HEY!"
Kiku gently applied an ointment on Yachiru's cheeks.
"You pulled some muscles. This will help."
She turned to Yumichika.
"Why don't you take her for some of the candy I have hidden down the hall?"
He got up and left with the Lieutenant.
Ikkaku laughed as Kiku sat behind him and applied her special ointment to stop his bleeding.
"I'm amazed the great Ikkaku Madarame, 3rd Seat of Squad 11, could get this hurt."
"I'm a Soul Reaper. I'm not entirely immortal."
She sighed.
"I wish you would take care of yourself better, Ikku-kun."
"And you should grow up," he said before she wrapped his head in gauze.
Kiku was known to be a free spirit and not exactly the most serious of people.
"Ikkaku, I'm serious. Washu hasn't been around in a few days."
"That bird you keep?"
"He's very sensitive to the surroundings. I think something's coming."
Ikkaku laughed.
"Your bird left and you think we're in danger!"
She groaned and smacked the back of his head.
"OW! THAT HURT!"
Kiku laughed.
"Oh yes. How is Kuroma-san doing?"
He flinched.
"Fine."
"I still don't understand why you and Chika-kun needed to beat him up."
When she had her back turned, he looked at her form. She may not have had breasts as big as Rangiku Matsumoto but she was a beautiful woman. Kuroma was planning on asking Kiku out but Yumichika and Ikkaku knew he wasn't good enough.
Kiku gave Ikkaku a bottle with a light brown ointment.
"Here. For Hozukimaru."
"You know I really don't need this stuff."
"It makes me feel better knowing that if you or Chika-kun need it, you'll have it."
He smiled.
"Thanks."
"What is Zaraki-Sama doing now?"
Ikkaku turned to Kiku fearfully.
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The 11th Company sat in their training area and started taking bets. Captain Zaraki was grinning excitedly, Yachiru was cheering him on, and Kiku was stretching.
"Kiku, the Captain won't go easy on your forever."
She was wearing a sleeveless kosode and rolled her hakama up.
"Guys, I enjoy sparing with him. Its to make sure everyone here knows I'm not some little weakling like some of the people in my Squad."
Ikkaku groaned.
"The highest bet this week is three hours."
"Wow! Thats good!"
"Lowest is half an hour."
"Come on!" Zaraki whined. "I don't have all day!"
Normally, the training area would only allow wooden weapons but the weekly fights between Kiku and Zaraki would use ordinary swords.
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The fight lasted two hours. Zaraki spent the entire fight with a smile and chuckles. Kiku enjoyed fighting the Captain, even though she knew she would never be strong enough to beat him.
Zaraki finished the fight when he knocked Kiku into a wall, a pure accident but enough to keep her down for ten seconds.
Squad 11 congradulated their leader as well as Kiku.
Ikkaku and Yumichika tended to Kiku's cuts and bruises.
"I did very well," she said as Ikkaku put a cream on her leg. "I didn't hurt my face this time."
"Your skills are indeed improving."
Yumichika smiled.
"To think our Princess is turning into a brute like us."
Kiku rolled her eyes. For some reason, Yumichika would call her Princess.
"If you don't mind mind, I need to go for my shift in the Medical Unit."
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Once she finished, she headed to her house. It wasn't anything extravegant, just simple house where she would work on her medicine.
"KIKI!" Yachiru called jumping in through the kitchen window.
"Hello! How are you feeling?" Kiku asked as she brushed her long hair.
"Play with me! Kenny's being mean!"
"What do you mean?"
"They found 6th Company's sister and he really wants to see if he'll let her get killed."
Yachiru called Byakuya Kuchiki '6th Company' when she was angry with him.
"Rukia? They found her?"
A loud noise shook her thoughts.
"Red alert! Red alert! Intruders in the Seireitei!"
"Let's go!"
"Assistant Captain!"
Yachiru was already out of the house and running.
A series of explosions came from the White Road Gate.
Kiku stepped out of her house and jumped up on top of a tall building.
"The gate..." she said breathless.
The gate was being opened.
Did someone defeat Jidanbo?
In less than a minute, the gate was slammed back down.
She was able to pick up the smell of blood.
Is Jidanbo hurt? Who did that to him? More importantly, who defeated him in the first place?!