Oh geez. This took a bit to get out. I'm so sorry for the delay! I've just had a lot to cope with. But I know you don't wanna hear me rant, so...
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
"...and that's why I think a Ryoka could never get into the Seiretei," Maiko concluded, leaning back across the trunk of a large tree. It was a nice day out, and the captain had given neither Maiko nor Satsuki anything to do, and telling them to simply go out and enjoy themselves. They happily obliged.
"Nah," Satsuki called, atop a thick branch on the same tree her friend was leaning on. Her arms and legs were dangling off both sides of the branch, lying with her stomach down like a lazy cat. In one of her small hands she held a small container of juice that she occasionally took a swig of.
"See, if a Ryoka was trying to break into the Seiretei, they'd probably have to be pretty smart, and think outside of the box. I'm sure they would probably come up with an idea so absurd, the shinigami wouldn't even dare try to wonder about it. Y'no. Out of the box," Satsuki explained, making the outline of a small square with her index fingers.
"Whatever. I still think security's too tight for anyone or anything to get in," Maiko finished, rolling her dark, chocolate eyes. Satsuki raised the jug in her right hand to her lips and tipped her head back, gulping down a few mouthfuls of juice. As she lowered her deep green eyes, she spotted a lone figure walking a few meters away from where the two shinigami were resting. She grinned when she recognized who it was.
"Izuru-fukutaichou!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. A yelp of surprise was heard from Kira and he jumped up from the sudden noise. Satsuki turned her head down to her dirty-blonde haired friend and asked, "You don't mind if he joins us, do you?"
"If he isn't too timid," she responded, smirking slightly.
"Over here, Assistant Captain!" Satsuki yelled, waving her arms to attract his attention. Izuru blinked his wide, blue eyes and looked over at the two girls wondering if he should go over or not. After a few seconds, he decided, "Why the heck not?" He walked slowly over to the tree in which the two girls were seated in his usual shy, hesitant manner. A few feet away from Maiko, he stopped and simply stood there, wondering what to do.
"Come on Assistant Captain, please sit down," Maiko said, gesturing next to her; the spot right under Satsuki. Heart beating irregularly fast, (or at least for a normal shinigami), he slowly and shakily walked the few steps ahead and sat down rigidly in the spot that Maiko picked out for him.
"Yay! Kira-fukutaichou's joining us!" Satsuki cried out, flailing on the tree branch. "Oh, whoops!" She was suddenly thrown off balance because of her irregular movements, and only had time to yelp before she was sent sliding unexpectedly off the branch. As she fell, her jug of juice was thrown from her hands, and was sent flying up in the air; quite the opposite of where Satsuki was headed. Izuru yelped and tried to scramble out of the way, but he wasn't fast enough. With a cry of pain from both of them, Satsuki was sent sprawling right on top of the unsuspecting Izuru. Satsuki groaned and went to sit up, but something fell with a loud "THUNK" on her head and rolled away on the grass.
"Stupid juice..." she groaned, then suddenly realized where she actually fell. Her face turned a bright shade of red, and she quickly leapt off Izuru and skittered back a few feet, stammering, "S-s-sorry, Kira-fukutaichou!" Izuru had jumped back up, his face the same color, if not redder, as hers.
"N-no, i-i-it's okay, I mean, ah, um," Kira stuttered. Meanwhile, the blonde sitting next to them had her hand covering her mouth, eyes wide with surprise and astonishment, yet dancing with suppressed laughter.
"Oh my," she squeaked, hand still concealing her grin.
"W-well, I think I-I should leave now..." Izuru said quickly, standing up as if he had been shocked.
"Oh, no, Kira-fukutaichou, don't leave!" Satsuki said, raising one hand as if hesitantly reaching out to him.
"Well, why wouldn't you want me to? I mean, I-" Kira asked, but was cut off by Maiko shouting out, "For the same reason she fell on top of you!" Maiko burst out laughing, not able to hold it in any longer, as Izuru and Satsuki turned an even brighter red.
"Maiko!" shouted Satsuki, feeling the most embarrassed she'd felt since she was in Shinoreijutsuin. Maiko simply laughed, getting Satsuki angrier by the second.
"We're leaving," she growled, grabbing the collar of her friend's uniform to drag her away.
"Sorry, Assistant Captain Kira!" she called over her shoulder as she stomped away, dragging her squirming friend as she went.
-----
"Ugh, I cannot believe you, Maiko," Satsuki sighed, currently in the very large room they shared.
"Aww, come on, it was funny!" she giggled, sprawled out on the floor, upside-down.
"Maybe for you it was, but not for me! I'm sure Kira-fukutaichou was embarrassed too," Satsuki whined.
"Neh, he'll get over it," Maiko said, staring up at the ceiling. Her long, blonde hair curled around her head, like some sort of an ironic halo. Satsuki sighed and ruffled her own, shifting herself in a more comfortable sitting position. Suddenly, a soft scraping-like noise was heard, causing the two girls to whip their heads around at the cause of the noise that they knew all-too-well: the sliding door.
The sliding door slowly opened, a glimmer of silver, and a mischievous grin was seen thorough the opening. The two gasped at the unexpected visitor, and quickly jumped to their feet.
"Ichimaru-taichou!" they both said at once, bowing at the same time.
"Ichimaru looked surprised for a moment, then returned to his usual grinning face.
"No need 'ta be for formal..." he said. "I just came here to ask for a small favor."
The two both slowly rose at the same time, looking up at Ichimaru with curious expressions.
"Hmm..." Ichimaru mused, "it's kinda odd how ya both do the same thing 'a the same time."
"Nah, it's just means that we're really close, I guess," Maiko said, smiling up at her captain.
"Well, tha's good," Gin responded, nodding his head. "Anyway...about this favor. I have, as ya know, much ta do at the moment, and I need someone ta take care of a couple hollows in the world of the livin' for me. I was wonderin' if ya would do it for me."
"Of course, Captain Ichimaru!" Satsuki said, smiling up at her captain.
"Thas' a good girl," Gin said, patting her on the head once. "If ya have any trouble, ya'll know where I'll be," He smiled at them, then silently walked out of the room.
-----
Satsuki and Maiko stared at the two hollows just feet from them, zanpakuto drawn defensively, ready to battle. Satsuki smirked as she stared at her sword, not even in its shikai form.
"Same plan as last time?" asked Maiko, glancing over at her partner.
"Wouldn't be any different," she responded, and they both disappeared in a burst of speed.
