Taidana loved sleeping. If he had the chance, he'd sleep all day and spend his nights doing simple things like eat, read and possibly sleep more. He was a creature with base comforts; he didn't need any of those more complex things like having an active social life or trying to achieve bankai. He was comfortable where he was and he doesn't feel the need to change.

Although, if he was serious about wanting to do nothing but sleep, he probably should retire from the the Gotei 13, but being a shinigami is one of the few prides in his life, one of the things that testified that he actually did something. Serving the Seireitei is something that he'll always be proud of.

Which brings us to the fact that if Taidana was so proud on being a shinigami, he probably shouldn't be sleeping on the job.

Taidana's office was averagely spaced, a couple of square feet at best, with the bare essentials occupying the room such as the chip wood desk and a mediocre bookshelf filled with the few knick-knacks he managed to procure over the years and some textbooks he needs but never actually uses. The desk which should be sitting in the very centre of the room was flushed against the wall sideways, allowing Taidana an excellent view of outside through the large window, perfect for daydreaming and leaning his head against when he napped. All in all, it was actually rather nice. To him, anyway. Most assistant captains want a more luxurious room, or more decorations, or better furniture, but Taidana takes what he gets, especially since the room isn't exactly meant to be his in the first place.

Taidana had a joint share of the room with his assistant captain, Rangiku Matsumoto, because she never really used it and Hitsugaya-taichou told him he could share with her in the vain hope that he'd actually use it to help with paperwork. It was a sound strategy, except Taidana is almost as useless as Rangiku with helping his captain with paperwork. All in all, he wasn't exactly the best third-seat in the Gotei 13, but he does his best.

Taidana was leaning against the wall with his bare feet up on his desk, sleeping soundly. A large stack of paperwork that was half-heatedly finished was pushed up to the edge of the table, as if he was sick of looking at his attempt at administration. His zanpakutou was carefully propped next to him, the jet black sheath hiding the equally as black blade. The sun shone gently onto his pale features, warming him in a way that only the sun could do. A quiet, lazy day, just how he liked it.

BAM! The door flew open to reveal an enthusiastic Rangiku, who then ran into the room and flung herself onto the desk, causing the stack of paper to slither off the desk and into a mess.

"Taidana!" Rangiku cried, oblivious to the fact that he was somehow still asleep. She waited a few mL oments, then poked his cheek a few times. "Wakey wakey, Taidana!"

Taidana stirred, a small smile appearing on his lips. He slowly opened one eyelid, looking at his assistant captain with one scarlet eye. "Oh hey, Rangiku-san. You came in quietly."

Rangiku wiggled herself off the desk and onto Taidana's lap and put her arms around his neck. "Oh Taidana, you know you don't have to use honorifics for me!"

Taidana looked up at the roof smiling, avoiding her eyes and her voluptuous breasts. "Yeah, but you know Sir would get annoyed and tell me to respect my superiors." Taidana was too lazy to say 'Hitsugaya-taichou' or even just 'taichou'.

Rangiku smiled sunnily up at Taidana, running her fingers through his jet black hair. He remained completely unfazed by her flirting; he's dealt with this for years.

"To be honest I'm actually surprised you remember me, you usually get so drunk that you can't even remember my face," Taidana continued, that same mild smile on his face.

"Oh Taidana, how could I forget you!" she snuggled up to his neck. You forgot who I was yesterday, he thought, sweatdropping.

"Anyway, it's the end of the day, and Hitsugaya is allowing everyone to leave a few minutes earlier, which means more time for drinking!"

"Yay," Taidana cheered half-heartedly. He knew what would come next.

"So, come with us for once! You barely do anything except work and sleep and train, and that's boring. I want to make some good memories with you." Rangiku fluttered her eyelashes alluringly at him, which may have been effective if he wasn't still looking up at the roof.

"I do go out with you sometimes, you just end up too drunk to remember me there," Taidana reminded her.

Rangiku looked blankly up at him. "You do?"

"I sure do. I always make sure you get home okay." Taidana was nothing if not courteous.

"Oh Taidana, you do care!" she snuggled up to his neck once again. "So you're coming?"

"I'll see what I can do," Taidana promised half-heartedly.

Rangiku leaped out of his lap. "Yay! Well have a fantastic time, I just know it!" She strolled out of the room, yammering on and on about the things she wanted to do that night.

Taidana sighed and wearily stood up. He wasn't really in the mood for social interaction, but then again, when was he? He just didn't have the stamina for it, and if he didn't retire early he found a quiet,place and just sat there. He wasn't renowned for his social prowess.

But Rangiku had asked him, and he didn't want to let her down. Also he knew that if she was going out, then Shuuhei and Izuru will be too, and Taidana would enjoy catching up with his closest friend since the academy. Maybe he might actually make a move on Rangiku tonight, for once, and that'd be entertaining at least.

Alright, I talked myself into it, Taidana thought. No need to layer on so many excuses. He reached over and grabbed his zanpakutou, Jigoku no Mon, and securely slotted it on the right side of his shihakusou. He ran a finger through his hair and walked out of the office.

The Tenth Division barracks was, in Taidana's opinion, the nicest one out of the Gotei 13. It was spacious and comfortable, but also functional, like the division that occupied it. Taidana felt kindred spirits in this division, and felt much more at home than his previous one, the Eigth Division. But that was many years ago, and he wasn't in there as long as he's been in this one now. He was accustomed to thr people here, and he enjoyed thr sense of normality he felt now.

Taidana walked slowly, taking his time to leave. He knew Rangiku had left to assemble thr others, but that will take time. A group of low seated officers walked past, and they nodded their heads respectfully. "Greetings, Third-Seat Akuma," they said in unison.

Taidana grinned genuinely at them. "Hey guys, have a good day," he said before continuing walking. They grinned back and whispered amongst themselves. With a surname like Akuma, which literally meant devil, most would expect him to be a cold and emotionless monster. Hell, even Taidana would expect that. But he enjoyed being kind, And he can't even remember the last time he lost his temper. He was one of thr least likely people to be a devil.

Soon Taidana was outside, slipped on his sandals and headed towards his accommodation to stash his zanpakutou. He took it with the intent of training today, but paperwork distracted him, so it never really happened. Tomorrow, I promise, he thought to it. I'll even ask Shuuhei or someone to spar with me.

Jigoku no Mon shifted restlessly within his soul. I will remember, it hissed.

I know you will, Taidana thought back, gripping the hilt with his right hand. The hilt was black, with deep red diamonds occurring periodically up to the guard, which was circular with round shapes cut out of it. The blade went straight for a few centimetres, then angled sharply before continuing. It was a very unusual looking zanpakutou, but Taidana was just as unusual slit balanced out.

When he got to his accommodation which he shared with everyone from the Tenth Division save the captain, he kicked off his sandals and went to his room. He threw the sword onto his bed then went back outside, put in his sandals once again and set off back to the barracks. He walked around four steps before he saw Rangiku with Shuuhei, Kira and Renji, who she must've wrangled into the fold. Try saw him and headed over.

"You can come?" Rangiku asked excitedly. Her enthusiasm was almost visible.

Taidana scratched his head. "Hell, why not. I've got nothing better to do."

"Except sleep," Shuuhei added. Taidana grinned at him. They had been at the academy together and entered the Gotei 13 at the same time. He was Taidana's closest friend, and Shuuhei knew this so he was constantly inviting him to outings like these, even though they were vice-captains and Taidana was only a third-seat. Taidana can't help but wonder why the other vice-captains accept him so readily, especially Izuru, since he was terrified of him without warrant. Glancing at him now, Taidana saw that Izuru had an almost panicked look.

Taidana smiled at him. "How are you today, Izuru-san?" he asked politely.

Izuru jumped slightly. "Ah, I'm doing well, Akuma-san! Thank you for asking!"

Renji rolled his eyes. He had no qualms with Taidana, so he couldn't see why Izuru was so jumpy around him. Renji and Taidana were actually both up for the vice-captaincy of the Sixth Division, but Taidana lost out due to his excessive laziness. Taidana had no hard feelings: if he wasn't right for the job, then he didn't deserve it. He wasn't going to make a big fuss out of it. But he knew that Renji still felt bad about the whole affair, mostly because Renji hadn't been a shinigami for as long.

"Okay, let's go then," Taidana said. He stretched his arms over his head; his muscles always felt stiff. Rangiku laced her arms through Shuuhei's and Izuru's and skipped off, half dragging them. Renji and Taidana followed behind, albeit less enthusiasticly.


"Oh lord," Taidana murmured as he looked around the bar. The few people that still hung around them at this time of night were huddled nervously near the bar, with the bartender looking around, still in shock at the near spontaneous destruction that occured. Rangiku was flung over a chair, out cold. Taidana couldn't help but be impressed; she had drank twice the amount that would've knocked him out. Shuuhei was staggering around the room, a few seconds away from passing out and Izuru was chatting up a lamp. Renji had left a few hours previous, stating something about an important mission he was on early in thr morning, so Taidana had let him go and had chosen to remain sober, because somebody has to make sure these idiots get home alright and it may as well be him.

Taidana walked up to the bartender. "Uhh, is everything payed for? I'm gonna make sure these guys get home now," he said.

The bartender shook his head furiously. "N-nno, everything is payed for! If I miss anything, I'll charge it to Matsumoto-san's tab!"

She has a tab here. That doesn't surprise me, Taidana thought dryly. "Is there anything you need me to do then? They did wreck the place pretty bad."

Shuuhei collapsed onto a table with a loud bang.

"Just get them out of here, please."

Taidana shrugged. "Alright then." He walked over to Rangiku and slung her over his shoulder, then grabbed Shuuhei's arm and flung that over his other shoulder. "Come on Izuru-san, we're leaving," he called out to the final member.

Izuru looked up at him with devastated eyes. "But I was talking to Lamp-chan!"

"Lamp-chan will call for you in the morning," Taidana said. "Won't you, Lamp-chan?" He then put on a high pitched voice. "Of course I will, Izuru-kun!"

"Okay Lamp-chan, I'll talk to you later!" Izuru jumped up and swayed. Taidana threw an arm out and grabbed him, at the cost of almost dropping Rangiku. A bit of wobbling took place before both men finally corrected themselves. "Come on, or Ichimaru-taichou will be mad."

That got Izuru moving. He visibly shuddered, then almost bolted out the door. Taidana realised he'd have to run to catch up with him, which sucked because he wasn't a big fan of running. "Thank you very much!" he called out to the bartender, running out. The bartender call back, "Thank you, shinigami-kun!"

Where is he, Taidana thought, looking around for Izuru. He adjusted the still-unconscious Rangiku and Shuuhei.

Come on, Izuru, don't get me in trouble, Taidana begged. He started to run, whipping his head around to catch a glimpse of the missing shinigami. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Izuru, and immediately gave chase. He could hear his cries of, "I'M SORRY, ICHIMARU-TAICHOU! I'M SO SORRY!"

"I am not payed enough for this," Taidana grumbled. He pursued Izuru and managed to catch up to him. "Izuru-san! Please stop!" he begged.

"But Ichimaru-taichou may need me!" Izuru cried.

"But I saw him just a moment ago!" Taidana replied, thinking quickly. "He says to go back to your room and to wait for him there!" Taidana knew of Izuru's fierce loyalty to his captain, and he shouldve remembered that he would reacted to the mention of his captain in his drunken state. But now he was using that loyalty to his advatage: he knew Izuru would now go straight back to his room, no detours. He also wasn't too drunk, so there wasn't a chance of him passing out in a gutter or something. Now Taidana only had to deal with the two other vice-captains on his shoulders.

Taidana decided to go dump Shuuhei in the Ninth Division accomodation first, since it was closer to him at the moment than the Tenth Division's. He felt a bit hesitant going into another division's rooms without permission, but as soon as he was through the threshold a young unseated officer saw him and offered to take his unconscious vice-captain back to his room. Taidana thanked him and headed off home, wondering what rumours about him will surface tomorrow. He set off at casual pace back home, shifting Rangiku slightly. She wasn't too heavy, and he was pretty strong so it didn't bother him. The night had a tinge of chill in it and the moon shine so brilliantly it easily illuminated the streets. Taidana stopped and looked up at it. I wonder what it would be like to live on the moon, he wondered. His mind started to drift away and he probably would've stood there for the rest of the night, but Rangiku started to stir, and Taidana knew that she should be at home, to try and ward off the inevitable hangover she's going to experience. Taidana laughed softly. He wouldn't want to be in her shoes tomorrow morning, not for any sum of money.

The accommodation finally appeared, and Taidana carefully slipped his sandals off and awkwardly took off Rangiku's, sliding them neatly into the place next to his. Her room was conveniently next to his, since the rooms were organised by rank. He slid the tatami door open and carefully lay the vice-captain on her bed. She looked almost innocent when she slept, and Taidana knew that if Shuuhei was in his position he'd probably kiss her goodnight. But Taidana didn't feel anything beyond friendship for his superior, and he knew that while she flirted outrageously with him, she didn't feel anything like that either.

Taidana tiptoed out of her room and into his own. He had a feeling that he was probably going to sleep in tomorrow, and Hitsugaya-taichou will get angry at him, but if he timed it right he may be able to divert some of his fury onto him rather than Rangiku.

Taidana slipped out of his shihakusou and got into bed, then realised that Jigoku no Mon was snuggled up next to him. He propped it on the wall next to him and started to drift off. This was his favourite part of the day, when he was expected to sleep. Even though it was a bit later than he liked, it was at the cost of spending time with his favourite people in the world. Taidana felt a smile creep onto his features. He enjoyed himself tonight.


Thank you for reading. For interest, Taidana's full name is Taidana Akuma, which means "lazy devil". This chapter was to flesh him out and establish who is is and how he interacts with others, but next chapter the story will commence. Please stick around for it, it's gomma be a doozy.