I arrived at the office 15 minutes late. Today was women in the work place seminar. Azumi was coming down from Squad 1 to hold a meeting with all the women in our squad. Periodically every year Squad 1 would do this for every squad. I really didn't understand why though. Both women and men worked as soul reapers with no special pretences. It wasn't like there was any discrimination to worry about. There were females in high positions such as captains and lieutenants. In my opinion I would say that the sexes in the soul society were very equal. So it perplexes me why every year we needed to have a special girls meeting. I mean what makes us so special? The fact we have vaginas? In my opinion those things are only good for hiding things…like cocaine

Azumi walked into the office on her cell phone. Once she was done with her call she requested all women meet in the conference room. Once I heard the announcement I swiftly got up from my desk to go hide in the break room.

Once all women were settled Azumi began the meeting.

"Glad you could all make it. Today we are celebrating women in the work place."

Yoruichi

Every year Squad 1 sends someone down to talk to all the women about….actually I really don't know. But Marechiyo isn't allowed in, she said that about 5 times.

"These days women don't have as many options as men. They face many different obstacles-"

A knock came at the door and Marechiyo walked in.

"Marechiyo what are you doing?"

"Hold on, hold on, I have a few things I want to say."

Marechiyo pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Marechiyo what the hell are you doing?"

"Hey just here me out. So let's talk about equality-"

"Marechiyo-"

"Today's woman is at a crossroads and I just wanna say you've come along way."

"Marechiyo get out."

"Hey I'm their boss."

"I'm your boss." Azumi glared.

"Fine I'll go." Marechiyo huffed and got up to leave,

Marechiyo

"Women in the workplace day means that Azumi gets to talk to all the girls about shopping, pedicures, and tampons….I bet they're talking about me.

I turned around from desk slightly to look into the conference room. I stared at Yoruichi. She seemed to be listening attentively and taking notes. Every now and then a small smile would grace her lips. And I loved the way her long hair would flow whenever she turned her head. I wondered what her hair would smell like….God damnit stop thinking about that shit!

I scolded myself and turned back to my papers. Hideki sat at my side and I caught him shaking his head.

"What's up?" I asked.

"It's such a terrible idea all of them being in there. Their cycles are all going to line up and wreak havoc on our plumbing."

I shook my head. Hideki was such an idiot sometimes.

Azumi continued the meeting in the conference room.

"So why don't we go around the room and say things we're good at?"

"Hi I'm Naomi and I'm an alc- I mean I'm good at supplier relations."

Haruko went next.

"I'm good at emails, spread sheets and all that."

"Really?" Kiyoko sneered.

"Well I don't know, maybe I…"

"Because I've seen some of your spread sheets and they looked shitty."

"Ok let's just stop." Azumi interjected.

Yoruichi

I don't know how I fit in with these women and Azumi. I mean we get along fine. I guess the person I have the most in common with would be Soi Fon.

I stood up from my desk and cleared my throat.

"Ok guys since the women are doing their special thing today we're going down to the training grounds today to work with the lower ranked officers."

Jiro raised his hand.

"Yes Jiro?"

"Why aren't you with the women today? You are a woman right?"

"Maybe she doesn't have a vagina." Katsu remarked

"Shut up! I have a vagina now everyone downstairs!"

Conference room

"So why don't we go around the room and say where we want to be in the next 10 years."

Naomi went first.

"I want to be 10 years sober."

"That's great!" Azumi smiled.

"Ummm maybe 9 instead."

Chiharu raised her hand.

"I want to tell you something I want a man that's going to treat me right!"

"Good for you Chiharu!"

"He better have lots of cash and a big house!"

Azumi's smile faded into a scowl.

Azumi

The main point of these seminars is to find women who are stand outs. Women who would be valuable additions to Squad 1. Honestly it's not going so well.

Training Grounds

I walked downstairs with all the men trailing behind me. When we got the training grounds there were several soul reapers hanging around and playing pick up basketball. Is this seriously what they did while we worked all day?

"You're not getting paid to hang out and play games!" I yelled.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and got into formation. I walked up and down the lines inspecting them. While I was doing my inspection Tatsuya and Shoji came out of the downstairs office. I turned around and faced them.

"Tatsuya, I put you in charge of training and I see you've been letting things slide."

"My apologies Captain we were just taking a break."

I turned back around.

"Today you all will be sparring with a seated officer. This exercise is to give you more experience. I do not expect you to win because they are far stronger and more experienced than you. Choose an officer and begin your match. We will train until the work day is over at 5."

"Yes Captain!" They saluted.

I stood to the side with Tatsuya and Shoji while the officers sparred with the seated officers. Tatsuya opened up a cooler.

"You want a beer Captain, it's Mexican."

"Sure if you don't mind."

I reached in the cooler and took out a carona. Using the bottle opener I popped the top off and took a couple of gulps. I was really thirsty and the ice cold beer hit the spot.

Tatsuya took one and headed back into his office. Shoji took one as well and sipped it lightly. I felt awkward being alone with Shoji.

"So how is it working upstairs with Yoruichi?" He asked.

His question took me off guard.

"Yeah it's cool." I rubbed the back of my neck nervously

"She talks about you all the time, seems to really like you."

What was he getting at?

"We're friends I've known her a long time."

"It's pretty cute I think she has a crush on you."

My face turned beet red and my hand gripped the bottle tightly. I was surprised it didn't break.

"Keep watch I need to do some work."

I turned and swiftly walked away from a horribly awkward situation.

Conference room

"I always wanted a big walk in closet." Haruko mused.

"That's great." Azumi encouraged.

"Yoruichi what about you?" Chiharu asked.

Yoruichi smiled. "Well I always wanted a house with a terrace upstairs. You know to plant flowers on it. I always imagined that as a girl. But more seriously though a future husband, Shoji. And I love to draw, but I'd love to do more with it like graphic design."

Azumi shuffled through some papers and pulled out a pamphlet.

"Squad 1 is offering a design training program in the real world."

"I already have a job, and I can't really take time off."

"It's only on weekends and I'm sure I can get Squad 1 to help you out."

"Well I don't know." Yoruichi bit her lip.

"There are always a million reasons not to do something, but you only need one good reason to do it." Azumi winked.

Yoruichi sighed and looked through the pamphlet.

"Ok now let's talk about clothing!" Azumi announced.

Haruko

I'm very excited for today. I love girl talk!

"Dress for the job you want not the job you have. You can use your clothes to send a message. Wearing classier clothes to show what you aspire to be."

Kiyoko

"I'm not gaining anything from this seminar. I'm a professional woman! I'm the head of accounting and I'm in the healthiest relationship of my life. I just think it's insulting that Azumi thinks we need this. And apparently judging from her outfit, Azumi aspires to be a 1940's whore."

I walked upstairs and went to my desk I picked up my phone to check for messages. That's when I saw Yoruichi sneaking out of the conference room from the corner of my eye.

I started to walk away when I felt smooth, soft fingers intertwine with mine. I turned around and met a pair of radiant golden eyes. My mouth fell slightly open. I knew I was obviously gawking, but how could I not? She was absolutely mesmerizing.

"Hey how are you?" She smiled.

"I'm fine how are the girls?"

"Ha boring, how's the training?"

"Pretty weird." I smiled.

"We watched a video about our changing bodies."

"Are you serious? I exclaimed.

"No." She laughed.

God I loved her laugh she was so warm and beautiful.

"But hey there is this design internship for Squad 1 Azumi told me about. It sounds really cool."

"So what's it about?"

"Well-"

"Doesn't matter you should do it!"

I noticed her caramel skinned hands were still wrapped tightly around my hand.

I smiled at her again. "I've got to got check downstairs."

She smiled back at me and released me hand. I already missed the warmth and gentleness of her touch.

Training Grounds

When I got downstairs Marechiyo was pouring packaging popcorn in front of a fan to make "snow."

Hideki jumped in the excess and started to make snow angels.

I turned around and walked away. I work with idiots.

I walked back upstairs and into the break room. Through the window I could see Shoji and Yoruichi in a heated argument. Yoruichi was holding the design pamphlet in her hand. I think it was ok to assume that she wasn't going to try out the design program from Squad 1.

Yoruichi

"Dreams are just dreams. Like the thing about the terrace it's nice. It was something I read in a book when I was a little girl. In the book the girl had a terrace outside her bedroom and she planted flowers on it, and I just really loved that. It always kind of stuck with me.

Yoruichi came into the break room. She lingered at the sink and she clearly had tears in her eyes.

"So you're not going to do it." I stated

"How'd you know?" She sniffled.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Like no big reason just a bunch of little reasons. Shoji is right there is nor guarantee it's going to lead to anything."

"Shoji said that?"

"What Soi Fon? You have something to say?"

"You've got to take a chance on something sometime. You've been with Squad 2 you're whole life, do you really want to be here forever?"

"Oh excuse me I'm fine with my choices!" She raised her voice.

"You are?"

"Yes!"

Yoruichi

"It's impractical, I'm not going to try to get a house like that. I don't even think they make houses like that in Soul Society. So I'm never going to-"

She lost her words and hung her head as tears slid down her cheeks.

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