This chapter is just a short one but feel free to tell me if you like it or not.
All rights belong to Tite Kubo!
Where do I fit in?
As reward for her hard training and her results, Kisuke invited her for dinner. He took her to a classy restaurant, telling her she could order whatever she wanted. 'Inviting her for dinner? You truly are a gentleman, not thinking about the bill just to make her happy.' 'Stop it already, Benihime. Are you jealous I didn't do that for you?' 'You're kidding me, I'm not jealous… no not at all!', Benihime replied and disappeared back into the shadows of his soul. When Reiko asked him, which squad she could fit in the most, he wanted to say his squad should be her home, but that was not what she asked.
"I can't tell for sure Reiko-chan. You have a lot of talents, you know? Your fighting skills are awesome, maybe you are at a captains level soon… you get along well with nearly everybody and on top of that, you are sharp minded. If you ask me I would say you could fit in in every squad you would like to join.", he answered carefully. "Might be true, but unfortunately it won't help me getting anywhere…", she mumbled. "JEEZ! I'm a big dummy… Reiko-chan I almost forgot! Next Sunday is the recruit's party, why not go there and talk to recruits and their captains, vice-captains or 3rd seats?" 'I wish you would join my squad immediately, I want you near me Reiko-chan… but I'm way too stupid to tell you.', he thought sadly. "I'm not a recruit yet, so I don't think they'll let me in…" "My squad didn't get any recruits but still Yoruichi-san forced me to go, would you like to accompany me?", he asked smiling. She repeated that she wouldn't be a recruit and might not be allowed to join the party. 'I really do have to ask her in THAT way, don't I? Why does it have to be complicated all the time?' 'You don't really want me to answer you this time, Kisuke. Just ask her…', Benihime replied. "It's true, you are not a recruit. Mh… how about you please me with a Date instead?", he asked smiling his special goofy smile for her. Instead of saying yes or no she blushed and nodded slightly. Once she tried to speak it ended up in some weird sounds. After a few more cups of tea and chatting about what could happen at the party in the best or worst case, Kisuke payed the bill and brought her back home. "See you next Sunday, Kisuke-kun. I'll go do some Hollow training with Zaraki Taicho's Squad, so I can't come to the lab to help, I'm sorry. And thank you for treating me to dinner.", she said. Without the smallest piece of warning she gave him a kiss on his cheeks and vanished inside the house.
Kisuke sighed, deciding to take a longer route back to the barracks. He needed time to think without Hiyori running around him talking nonsense all time. She might be a smart girl but too short tempered for being around him in times like this. After that last kiss, he wouldn't be able to sleep for a long time now. Did she even know what she caused with this little action? When passing a bench in the park he chose as little roundabout way, he sat down. Touching his cheek softly with his fingertips, Kisuke could still feel her soft lips touching his skin so gently. That feeling was chasing shivers down his spine and he sighed. 'Maybe it was a bit sudden, but actually… I can't think of anything else, since she is around at the lab so often. Benihime… am I losing my mind?' 'Maybe, where should I know from? Why are you making things complicated all the time?' 'I couldn't just stand there and say something like: Reiko-chan you know I don't know why but I love you, wanna be my girlfriend?' 'Why not, Kisuke? Sometimes you are just thinking too much. Relax a bit, go back there and just tell that little red devil how you feel.', Benihime grumbled. 'I just can't… At the moment I wouldn't be able to say something easy like: I like you very much. And STOP calling her "little red devil" she is no devil…' 'Oh boy, there we go again. You a captain of Gotei 13 are nothing more than a clumsy little boy.', Benihime replied enraged and left him alone. 'Sometimes Zanpakuto's are even worse than their wielders… Mh I wonder if it would be alright to sneak away and get some time with her alone?', he asked himself and finally continued his way back to the barracks.
After a night without much sleep Reiko decided to visit Shunsui, maybe he would know what to do. Standing in front of the 8th squad's gate she asked for permission to enter. While she was wandering through the floors she bumped into a familiar face. "Yadōmaru-san I'm sorry but have you seen Shunsui somewhere? I didn't find him back at his office…", Reiko asked feeling a bit lost. "I'm sorry but he hasn't shown up this morning. Maybe you'll have more luck at the 13th barracks.", the woman replied emotionless and continued on her way.
Reiko sighed and went back outside. 'Kasaikage, what should I do now?' 'You want to ask him the same thing you asked goofy-smile-Captain, right?' 'Jupp, I don't know if this party thing is a good idea for me after all…' 'And still, even if not, you want to see goofy-smile-Captain.' 'Why do you have to call him like this?', Reiko asked morosely. 'I call him goofy-smile-Captain, because that's what he does to make you happy… Back to subject, little cub... If you need advice go to the barracks of the 13th squad. If he is not around there too, ask their captain, where he could be.'
She followed her Zanpakuto's advice and after a few hours of searching their barracks she finally found the gate. 'Jeez I should have asked Yadōmaru-san to tell me how to get here…', she thought gasping for breath. "Reiko Asada asking for permission to enter. I'm looking for Kyōraku Taicho.", she yelled out. "Permission granted.", a dark voice answered and the gates opened. She slipped in fast and asked a guard to lead her to the captain's office. Standing in front of the office, the guard left her alone telling her to be polite.
"And who might you be, young lady?", a gentle voice asked out of the office. "Ukitake Taicho, my apologies for disturbing you. My name is Reiko Asada, I'm searching for Kyōraku Taicho. Yadōmaru Fuketaicho said he might be here." "Come in first, don't be shy." As ordered Reiko walked in slowly, once she stood in front of the Captains desk she stopped. "Yare, yare… what brings you here Reiko-chan? What has happened?", Shunsui asked. She stared at him, gathering her thoughts together. "Take a seat, Asada-san. As long as you have time to spend, be my guest and take your time.", Ukitake Taicho said kindly. "Shunsui-kun I wanted to ask you for some advice… but first of all, Yadōmaru-san seemed to be very angry when I had been at your barracks. You haven't shown up there the whole morning, maybe you should go there first, I think I can wait.", Reiko said with a sad smile on her face. "Lisa-chan is mad? Mh I should return, you are right. But Reiko-chan, you could ask Jū-chan for some advice instead. He'll know what I would say.", Shunsui replied and vanished using Shunpo. Reiko sighed and took a look on Ukitake Taicho with a helpless expression on her face. He smiled kindly and said: "Feel free to ask whatever is on your mind. I'll try to answer as good as possible." She told him about the recruit's party and that she couldn't decide which squad to join. The captain listened thoughtful and answered she should follow her heart. If she could feel confident with the tasks she would have to deal with, it would be the right squad to join and if she felt uncomfortable with her tasks she could apply to move to another squad. "About the party I can't really give you an advice that would be helpful. But as long as you want to go there you should do it.", he said with and apologetic smile. "No, it's not your fault, Captain. Thank you for your help, I appreciate it a lot." "You're welcome, Asada-san. I think I know why Shunsui likes you… you are a very kind young woman. Feel free to come here and visit me whenever you like. If you'll want to visit me in the future and I'm not here… I might be at the 4th or 8th barracks." "Thank you, Captain. I'm sure I'll come and pick a visit from time to time. Well unfortunately I'll have to go now, I take part in the 11th squad's Hollow training this time, I'm very sorry.", she said and had to use her Shunpo to be in time. Ukitake smiled and thought: 'Shu-chan I'm pretty sure I know why you like this girl. Kind, powerful and very sharp minded, I might see her more often in the future.'
If you have some time, tell me - Which squad do you think she'll join?
It'll take one or two more chapters until you know which squad she joined. First of all - Party Time! Have a happy Halloween =)
