Another Day in April
A NightRanger85 Production
Author's Note: Hey, y'all! It's been a while, I know. Writers block sucks big time. Anywho, it's pretty interesting as to what one may think of in the shower (it's 1:00AM). Before anyone asks, this is a one-shot. I doubt that I will have anything resembling inspiration should I try for a sequel.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. So no sue, yes?
There was no real concept of a fixed calendar in Seireitei, regardless of the seasons. Despite this, everyone seemed to know when April 1st came around. Usually nothing got too out of hand.
That changed about a week after the newest batch of recruits that year.
"What the hell?"
It was inevitably the captain of the 11th Division to first discover something amiss. After all, he was considered to be the most openly obnoxious of the Gotei 13 (although Mayuri wasn't far behind).
Unfortunately, he discovered the self-hardening bubble-bath solution the hard way.
And he had a good idea who to blame.
"MAYURI!!!!!"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri was not having a good day.
First, the 4th Division had needed some extra supplies. Hmph! Like they couldn't put the request in with all the other stuff they needed (how wasteful!)
Next, and more importantly, Zaraki-Taicho had practically strung him up by his balls, demanding bloody vengeance for the white fluffy…stuff…that was now covering his hair.
Then he had noticed that Zaraki had stopped his thundering tirade. And was looking at his right hand. Why the hell was he holding a rubber chicken for a pen?
And why did it then explode in a blast of black ink?
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Nanao-chan?"
She sighed before facing her captain.
"Yes, Shunsui-taicho?"
"Is this yours?" For once, the man was honestly confused, holding the pen in his hand. "One of the new guys gave this to me a few days ago. Said he found it on the floor."
Nanao examined the pen, eyebrow raised. Then she swatted the man with her fan.
"Ow! What was that for, Nanao-chan?"
"I don't use pens that look like this! Besides, I think this looks like-"
"SHUNSUI!"
Nanao glared at her captain.
"Mayuri never did have much of a sense of humo-Ow!"
Of course, it didn't end there.
"Matsumoto!"
Blinking herself awake, Matsumoto Rangiku stretched, rising off the couch to mollify her pint-sized superior. Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw.
Scowling up at her, Hitsugaya Toshiro stood in front of his desk, arms crossed over his chest. And…were those bells in his hair? Those little-what did those two call them again-sleigh bells?
"Awww, is Shiro-chan getting ready for Christmas so soon?"
"Matsumoto!"
Thos bells looked awfully familiar for some reason. Oh, well. Wasn't her problem.
"Does Shiro-chan want a candy-cane? I have watermelon flavor."
"MATSUMOTO!!!!"
As Rangiku dug around in her desk for candy canes, it never occurred to her that someone had swiped her…special reading materials for graveyard shifts.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Unfortunately for him, one Kukichi Byakuya certainly didn't recognize the package in that owl's talons for what it was…
"I've got to hand it to you lad; you're right handy 'round this place." Light hazel eyes sparkled with laughter as the young Shinigami blushed under the praise before he added a chuckle of his own. "Did you see Kukichi-taicho's face? I didn't think he could get that red."
Eager footsteps echoed in the tunnels beneath the Seireitei as the two walked towards the predetermined meeting place. Right on cue, they met the third member of their little clique. The Shinigami called Hanataro spotted him first as he bounded down the tunnel, snickering furiously.
"Padufuutu-san! You were successful?"
"More than, kid! Ha ha ha! We're BACK!" he crowed.
Unruly hair dancing with giddiness, the first man asked "D'you have them?"
The other man worked to suppress the instinct to burst out laughing. "Have them? That Mayuri idiot didn't even look up!" He snickered some more, shoulder length locks bouncing. "He thought they were just another round of 4th Division equipment requests!"
Reaching into his sleeve, he pulled out a pair of wooden shafts a little under a foot in length.
Hazel lit up behind gold rims. He grabbed mahogany eagerly. "You got your map, Hanataro?" The boy nodded, a grin on his face.
"Alright. Hold out the map. On the count of three?" Nods all around. The man smiled as he and the other man held the shafts of wood to the parchment "Right. One. Two. Three."
"We solemnly swear we are up to no good."