Chapter 2: illusions part 2
"If there was one thing about the Soul Society, what would you change?" Shunsui asked handing the clay sake urn, nearly out of its precious sake, to Kaien.
"Nothing."the answer was unexpected by both captains. Kaien replied without hesitation or thought continuing "One mans perfection is everyone else's hell."
The cicadas low buzzing wine filled the silence between the three as the two older captains exchanged looks, speaking as all close friends do, without a word.
"And all women and sake to be free for seated officers as well." Kaien took a drink before passing it to Ukitake.
Shunsui started to laugh and Ukitake nearly tripped over his feet blinking at Kaien. "Wouldn't that be a little counter productive to what you just said Kaien?" The White haired Shinigami perched one brow high and one low to show his confusion at the oddly placed comment taking the jug looking down at the well loved 'conversation starter' as Shunsui called it.
Kaien huffed putting his arms up and lacing his fingers behind his head looking to the sky "Well you two had such serious faces I figured it was time to respond with something you'd expect."
Shunsui gave a low chuckle arms crossed hidden under his robes shaking his head, ageless eyes glancing at the fabled noble "Nothing slips past you does it Shiba-kun?" The man shifted the conversation before anyone could respond trying to keep the situation and conversation light "Women- a far less philosophical subject to prater on about. We are to have fun on our night off yes? So tell me Shiba-dono" The man leaned placing a hand on Kaien's shoulder. "Does our young Fuku-Taichou have someone he's watching with a careful eye?" he teased reaching over Kaien's shoulders for the offered jug.
"T-tah!" Kaien gave a half scowled look puring his lips and looking to one side as if that alone would hide the color tinting his tanned cheeks. "I don't think such things are proper to discuss with Ukitake-Taichou present. N-no offense Sir."
Ukitake gave a soft laugh and waved off the worry in the air amused that of all silly rules for Kaien to follow it had to be that one "No need to worry, it is the night off for you is it not? As far as I'm concerned lets just say it slips in and out one's ears easily enough. Speak your mind and Koryaku-san, don't get too nosy."
Shunsui pulled the hat down a little as Kaien threw the question back to the elder captain to avoid the spotlight "What sort of women are you looking for Koryaku-Taichou?"
"The perfect one. One that would be bathed in the most beautiful things, a rare jewl in the heavens..." The Captain turn poet started.
Ukitake finished for his friend laughing softly "Someone who's assertive, a love of sake and has a large...personality."
Shunsui gave a laugh "Come now old friend you can say it." The man teased lightly.
Kaien started to howl with laugher swinging an arm about Koryaku-Taichou's shoulders a grin shining from ear to ear "Remind me to NEVER get you and my Sister in the same room. The world would implode- might be fun!"
Ukitake gave a choked laugh putting his fingers to his lips to cover the expression. The concept was odd but yet somehow ever so perfect. However to his relief he was sure Kukaku Shiba would never act lady-like enough to win the attentions of his beauty captivated friend. "Ah! Here we are. Only the best little bar this side of Rukongai."
Shunsui and Ukitake wore smiles, Kaien's expression was unhinged disappointment.
"This...place?"
It was a shack at best. As the winds blew the place groaned like a fussing old man over aching joints. Repairs had been made with random bits of wood that had been scavenged and poorly hammered back into place. The noren were in tatters, one replaced by an old burlap sack. The kanji scrawled upon the draperies perhaps had been done in black ink was now sun faded and revealed only dark blotches. The pealing paint whispered a rumor that once the building had been a bright red color; by now it had long since been faded by the many hot summers of the Serieti. Kaien studied the two older men with uncertainty, watching as their faces glowed with soft nostalgic smiles.
Kaien slowly smiled. Despite it's appearance the place held sentimental value that was invaluable to the older Captains. What secrets could this old shack tell, what stories had it heard the two friends speaking of? Kaien could help but feel a little jealous of the establishment as he followed the two inside to the back corner, seating quietly. Inside wasn't so run down, homely yes but larger then it appeared on the outside. The bar had the smells and the warmth of an old Granny's kitchen and yet the atmosphere was a favorite uncle's home. No sooner had they come to rest then an elderly man made his way to the table with a sake urn and three glasses.
The old man bowed and muttered off something indiscernible- the voice so old and dusty the words were half blown away by the man's very breath. The laugh that followed was just as frail, a sharp few exhales rather then a note of amusement.
"Indeed! Ojiisan, this is Kaien Shiba, Jyuushiro's new Fuku-Taichou! We've finally taken the time with his good health to come and celebrate" Shunsui slowly removed his hat and gave a warm smile to the old man.
Once more a few dry laughs and more mumbling as the old man patted his knotted old hand on Kaien's shoulder.
Kaien blinked once before closing his eyes and giving a low seated bow "It's an honor sir."
The man's horse breath rattled with amusement and patted the Fuku-Taichou on the head with a toothless smile, the sagging lips covering the unsightly gums. Slowly he made his way back to the kitchen Leaving the three men to themselves.
"Oh? So next time I have the luck of asking you what he says as well Kaien-san?" Ukitake smiled as he picked up the sake urn formally pouring for Shunsui with one hand, the other holding his sleeves out of the way.
Kaien held his cup up with both hands instinctively following in formal suit quietly admiring how his captain was so graceful without compromising his image, it wasn't his style but was still impressive. "I didn't understand a damned thing."
Shunsui gave a low chuckle at Ukitake's surprise and Kaien's sheepish grin "Kambai! To new and to old friends"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~13~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ukitake had excused himself and Kaien so lost in the little game Shunsui had going that he lost track of how long Taichou had been missing. The two left kept large smiles and pink cheeks through the evening. Eventually the concerned question from Kaien was waved off and a distraction bought with yet another round of drinks. The more sake they drank the louder both Shunsui and Kaien got. Shunsui was a social drunk, quiet and laughing when it was him and Jyuushiro. Kaien on the other hand was just as loud as he was sober and encouraged Shunsui's more vocal side. There was a pause in the drinking and games for some Gyoza, Kaien with a light order of dashi. The two settling down to a low murmur.
"As to the question earlier..."Shunsui started earning a curious grunt from Kaien "Any young woman your young Fuku-Taichou has his eye on?"
"Relentless." Kaien smirked teal eyes glassy and yet still retained a sharp edge. "Yeah. But that is all I shall say to that." Kaien jutted his chin out as if this would show Shunsui he was completely serious about keeping his affections quiet.
"Ah, have we been rejected Dear Kaien-kun?"
"That's n-not it at all! I could get any woman I wanted!" Kaien jabbed a thumb into his chest a little harder then intended leaving a red mark.
"ohhh?" A wolfish grin pressed back the bearded lips "lets put that to the test. See those three lovely ladies there? Invite them to join us."
"And if I do," Kaien grinned toothily back leaning over the table with his tattooed arm "You get to tell me one secret, no matter the question and answer it strait and truthfully."
Shunsui laughed, this made it all the more interesting. "And if you don't, you get to tell me her name."
"Deal!" Kaien put his hand out roughly taking the other mans hand with a firm shake to seal the deal before pulling himself from the table. He paused momentarily to regain his reeling senses taking an uneasy step forward attempting to be as smooth as possible as he made his way to the bar where the three ladies sat.
"Well, now I see why the night is so sad, she saw the three of you and realized she could never be that beautiful. How about you three come join my friend and I for a round, his treat" He leaned against the bar next to a slim woman who wore her black hair down brushing to her mid back.
The woman turned with a soft laugh. "Is that so Shiba Fuku-Taichou?"
Kaien blinked his blurred vision back into focus seeing the face of 3rd seat Miyako Fushimi, Sen Yoshido also of 13th along with Sophia of 10th, Kaien never did catch her family name. He recoiled bringing a hand up rather embarrassed rather quickly back peddling quickly but not going anywhere. "M-miyako..."
Sen, a short redhead with gold eyes and a soft ringing laugh put her hand over her mouth trying not to explode into laughter at her Fuku-Taichou's embarrassment "Sempai! You've been drinking a little I see."
"A little, a few sheets to the wind with Koryaku-Taichou! Man you'll be in fourth by morning." Sophia gave a boisterous laugh shaking her head.
Miyako looked quietly from Kaien who wore a stupid grin on his face rubbing at the back of his head in embarrassment to the quiet 8th division captain in the corner. "Were you going to ask us to join you two for drinks?"
"Ah! Y-yeah! Come on you know you'd like to!" he leaned on the counter top again changing his demeanor to something a little more casual and friendly.
"Shiba-dono, I do believe we are off duty so my answer would be acceptable yes?"
Kaien nodded.
Miyako smiled "Good, glad we agree."
Kaien spontaneously found himself skidding face first over the rough boards of the bar, his right eye throbbing hearing Sophia's characteristic laugh, Sen's concern and and Miyako's parting apologetic and yet kindly spoken words fading as the women left. A strong pair of hands set the young Shiba Lord upright.
"Well, you lose." Shunsui smiled sympathetically offering a tissue he kept handy for the young Shiba to blot himself clean. "better luck next time."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~13~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The two stumbled over the streets, Kaien's arm slung over the Captain's shoulder their merry poorly pronounced drinking song echoing off the white walls as the two slowly almost instinctively navigated the maze back to the division barracks. Kaien laughed heartily despite the purple and black swollen right eye. Shunsui had come from the night unscathed and yet supporting the young Shiba's weight as he was steadier on his feet. The guards on duty half watched trying to look away out of respect but amused none the less by the two high ranked officers staggering their way through the streets singing the drinking songs without care if they were in tune or singing the right words.
It wasn't until they had reached the main yard of the 13th barracks that they fell, the two rolling harmlessly and drunk onto the cool grass. The cicadas whirring and buzzing with laugher as if understanding the two men's amusement. Kaien flopped his arms out and stared in the cloudless sky the two falling quiet.
"Why did you two lie to me?" Kaien slurred out childish hurt edging his words.
"Eh?... hmm." Shunsui, also watching the starry sky, dared pry his eyes from the black and diamond velvet to stare at the tossed dark haired lieutenant. "What makes you say that?"
"If I'm off duty and so is Miyako it means that Taichou was the one on duty. Overnights are hard on his heath. I'm hurt, angry and just grr that the two of you did that." He scowled.
"Kaien-san." The change in suffix caught Kaien's attention and he listened carefully "Don't you trust your Captain?"
"I do."
"As a fellow man of honor what would you do to keep Jyuushiro-san's honor?"
"Anything."
"Then stop. He has pride and honor too and when you push yourself to the point of pure exhaustion it hurts his pride a lot. He cares about you. After all he survived this long without a Fuku-Taichou, he can manage. Any weight you can pull is weight off his shoulders is beyond a blessing but he willingly and with great pride carries the duties of Goten's 13th Captain. You do your job well, too well."
"I... Yes sir." Kaien quieted to Shunsui's wisdom. He was true to his blood, stubborn to the last and had they asked him Kaien would have refused if he knew it was Ukitake taking over his shift. The trickery was undoubtedly Shunsui's doing but reflecting back Ukitake had never once said anything about being off duty and he had kept his drinking minimal if at all. They had won...and the night had been wonderful. He was going to sleep well.
"It's going to rain."
"Oh? What makes you say that Kaien-kun?" Shunsui asked tilting his head up to watch the young man from a different -and nauseating- perspective.
"It's in my soul. I can feel it, it's going to rain."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~13~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The soft rhythm of the rain stirred his sleep. The quiet leap of joy his soul felt as the sounds of water shook him completely from slumber. The soft drops falling upon the stone roof of the barracks and the thick clean musky scent of the wet world was the perfect way to wake. Perfection was marred ever so slightly by a rolling throb in his trembles and a snarl in the stomach. Kaien opened his one good eye seeing the form of white and black slowly mold together into a neatly calligraphic letter besides a cup. He reached forward plucking the soft rice paper and with a soft rustle turned the card to read the well schooled characters
"Kaien-kun
You have the morning off so please take it to relax and recover. In the cup is some tea Jyuushiro-san picked to help with my rough mornings. I'm sure it will help. Please take care of that eye.
-Shunsui"
Sighing his first name with a small calligraphic flower besides it made Kaien smile. So he had made a friend and apparently an impression with his Taichou's best friend. He felt accomplished despite the swollen black eye which carried hues to match his hair. Rough fingers perched on the lips of the cup he used it as a pivoting point to drag his wary body from the bed carrying the cup with the hand folded tea bag to the small "kitchen" the officer room had to prepare it, and himself, for the rest of the morning.
The rain drew him in, curled up like a cat on the window sill he watched the rain in a trance. His figure silhouetted, the soft cotton yukata hanging loosely about his muscled shoulders, his down comforter coiled about him like some make shift nest as he sat. His lower back propped against the sill, one knee up so he could rest his tattooed forearm against it. Kaien's fingers lazily gripping to the tea cup as it steamed with a light scent from it's curved lip.
His mind wandering, lost in the rain and the thick beautiful musk it left. There was nothing like a hot summer rain to cool the world and when left to a day indoors made it beautiful and peaceful. Like the rain, peace never lasts.
"FUKU-TAICHOU!" The door was slid to the side the wooden frame snarling open and ending with a hard clack. Sentaro bowed in the doorway head down, fist to the floor. The water dripping from his course hair, the white ties about his torso soaked to a deep gray.
Kaien jumped at the sudden shout the movement causing the precious tea to spill into his lap with the heat taking a second to seep through the layers. Kaien gave a cry jolting from his position and nearly stumbling over the comforter staggering before coming to a stop with a heavy irritated foot stomp. "CANT YOU KNOCK LIKE A NORMAL PERSON?"
Sentaro kept his head down on the ground shouting "Please forgive me Sir but I have urgent news from 3rd Seat Fushimi-dono! She requests you assistance with an investigation! Please follow me immediately!"