Thanks to Hylla for reviewing.
Chapter 4: Clinking glasses
It was early evening when Shunsui Kyoraku walked through the dark tunnel-like corridor with a sake bottle in his right hand and two glasses in his other hand. The underground prison where dangerous criminals were sent in before they were judged was placed outside of the center of Sereitei under a great mountain, its entrance was hidden, sealed and guarded and only those of captain rank knew about it. He had to leave his Zanpakutos at the entrance and there was a powerful kido placed over this prison that disturbed ones spiritual pressure. The walls of the corridors were lit by several lights which were flickering in a blue-green light but its flames were more cold than warm.
During his walk through the cold halls he could hear yelling and screaming coming from another corridor that branched off from that one.
"You bitch, what did you just call me?!"
"I think you heard me just right, lumbering oaf."
"I'm so gonna kill you!"
"Try it then, you won't get across your dirty cell anyway."
"Be silent you two, you're giving me a headache with your idiotic quarrel."
"What was that?!"
He halted for a moment when hearing the female voices. They had to come from the three Arrancars they had arrested, the Fracciónes of the third Espada, Tier Halibel. For a moment he thought about going over to the ladies and trying to stop the fight but then Shunsui remembered for what he actually had come down here and continued his walk with a sigh. Maybe he could pay them a visit after the one he was about to do.
Finally he arrived at the cell. A single light illuminated the insights and he could see the outlines of the Espada lying on the simple wooden bed.
"Hey there, I hope I don't interrupt your nap" he said as a greeting and placed the bottle and the glass on the ground. Pulling a cushion from under his cloak he put it on the cold stone floor and sat down on it. He was too old to stay standing there for the whole time. Removing his straw hat he also but it on the ground and then looked into the darkness of the cell.
The shadowy figure shifted slightly but made no intention to sit up.
"My usual drinking buddy dropped out for today that's why I thought I would give you some company. Sadly I can't invite you to my office because that place is really dark and uncomfortable but I guess it all can be solved with a few drinking shots." There was still no reaction and Shunsui sighed. "You're still grieving over your comrade's death, aren't you? I hope you're not angry with me since I was the one who did the striking blow but I understand if you are. I would feel the same; the death of a comrade is always hard to overcome."
"Why did you come here, soul reaper captain?" the figure finally asked and Shinsui smiled, happy to get a reaction.
"In the first place I came to have a place where I can drink my daily sake without my sweet Nanao interrupting me, and to share it with someone. The second reason is to tell you the newest happenings." He told the Espada about the decisions of Central 46 while pouring some sake into the two glasses.
"So you came here to question me about the other Espada and Lord Aizen?" Coyote Starrk said. "Sorry to disappoint you though soul reaper captain, but I don't know anything about either of them. You're wasting your time."
"Please, call me Shunsui. And I didn't come here to question you but to drink some sake with you. However, I can't deny that I indeed wanted to ask you some questions but that can wait." He took his glass and pushed the other through the cell bars.
"So, do you want to clink glasses?" he asked with a kind smile on his lips. First Coyote Starrk didn't react but then he sat up with a sigh and came over to the cell bars. He stopped and looked down at the captain who was dressed like usually in the normal soul reaper outfit plus his white captain cloak and the pink robe. His straw hat was placed next to him and he looked up at the Espada with a smirk and the glass in his hand, waiting for his new drinking buddy to take his. After a minute of silence Starrk sat down and took the glass but made no intention of drinking the sake.
"On what should we clink glasses, soul reaper captain?" he asked frowning, staring into the liquid.
"I told you to call me Shinsui. And I don't know… What's about the fallen comrades of both of us, though this would kind of be depressing…" He thought about it for a moment and then his face lit up and he raised his glass and said: "To life."
"Seriously? I lost a part of my soul and I will be executed soon, my life is already over." For a moment there was sadness and once again grief seen in Starrk's face. It's hard to imagine that he really is a Hollow, Shunsui thought and he even felt sorry for him. Maybe he really shouldn't have killed the little girl.
"Hey, head up. Like I said, you won't be judged that quickly, it's not over so there is still time to hope." He smiled.
Starrk looked up from the glass and into the grey eyes of the captain. "You sound like you hope for me not being executed" he said curiously. "May I ask why? After all we are enemies."
Shunsui shrugged. "In a war it's hard to draw a clear line of who are bad or good, allies and enemies. However, we soul reapers are also bound to rules and if Central 46 judges you Espada guilty and decided to execute you, there isn't exactly much we can do."
"I understand" Starrk only said with a nod. This whole execution thing reminded Shunsui too much at the time where Rukia Kuchiki also had been sentenced to death. Neither of them had liked it but they couldn't have done anything against it. However, this time Central 46 wasn't slaughtered, the orders weren't faked. This was what they had decided and it made sense. The Espada had been Aizen's loyal army; they had battled and tried to kill them. But why did it still feel so wrong?
"You seem to be unsure" Starrk commented, observing the captain. "I wouldn't have thought you would think so much about it. It's unlike your relaxed nature."
"Like I once said, my characteristic is to act uncharacteristic" he said chuckling and then again held up the sake glass. "So, shall we do clink our glasses to life?"
Starrk sighed. Life… He had started to live when he split his soul into two and gained Lilynette as a comrade… When he hadn't to worry anymore about his comrades dying because of his mere presence…
He looked at the soul reaper captain. He also didn't die because of his power, simply because he was more powerful than Starrk. He had defeated him. But yet he had come into that uncomfortable place that wasn't suited to take a nap and offered him to drink sake with him. He offered him to be his drinking buddy. A comrade…
A small smile appeared on Starrk's lips. "What about clinking glasses to comradeship?" he said raising his glass. Shunsui nodded smirking and the soul reaper and the hollow clinked glasses to comradeship.
With the empty sake bottle in his hand Shunsui walked back through the hallway. It must be already night time but Starrk had been a really good company. The captain even had made the Espada laugh and made him forget grieving about his dead comrade. Now Shunsui was walking back in a slightly drunk status.
"Just shut your shitty trap already, bitch!"
"What?! You're the one who started this!"
"You're both so idiotic it's shameful."
"Shut up!"
The Fracciónes, Shunsui thought and now that he hadn't any business anymore he of course walked into the corridor.
"Hello ladies, what are you all arguing about?" he asked with a wide smile and red cheeks from the alcohol.
All three of them turned to glare at him.
"Who the hell are you?" the dark skinned and brown haired Mila Rose asked, narrowing her green eyes at the captain.
"Oh I'm Shunsui Kyoraku, captain of squad 8. I heard your wonderful voices and thought I'd come by to check if everything's fine." The three looked stunned; they just stared at him, blinking. The black haired Apacci was the first one to recover.
"Are you fucking kidding me?! I'm going to kill you for that!" she screamed, banging against her cell bars, sending Shunsui death glares who looked back surprised.
"My, you sure have a temperament. There's no need in yelling like this my dear" the captain said, still smiling.
"Aren't you the one who fought and defeated Coyote Starrk?" Sung-Sun asked holding her sleeve like usually in front of her mouth.
"I sure am" Shunsui answered touching his straw hat.
"Why did you visit him then just now?" a calm voice asked from the shadow of a fourth cell. Shunsui turned slightly his head to look into the cell.
"You must be Tier Halibel the third Espada I presume?" he asked friendly and the female Espada stepped to the bars, looking at the captain through them with cold green eyes. Her blond hair shone even in the dark cell, reflecting the little light that came from the lights.
"Yes I am. So, why did you come down here to visit Starrk?"
"Well you see, my friend is sick and the last battle didn't improve his condition. So instead of being my drinking buddy he has to keep in bed that's why I searched a new one. Even though we have our differences the first Espada and I are very much alike, that's why I came here hoping he would have some shots with me" he explained, waving with the empty sake bottle. "I'd like to continue the drinking party with you ladies but then I first have to get some new sake."
"Yeah sure, like we'd believe you" Mila Rose said glaring at him. "There's no way a soul reaper would come down here into this prison to visit the one he defeated just to drink some sake."
"You got me" he said lowering his head so that his straw hat covered his face. "I also intended to ask him some questions about Aizen which I did but sadly he didn't know anything that would be helpful that's why we completely concentrated of having a decent conversation. And I must say I really did enjoy it."
"But you're a soul reaper captain and he is an Espada, a Hollow, two opposite beings."
"I wouldn't say that, miss" Shunsui replied friendly making Tier cross her arms, looking at him curiously. "Like I said earlier, Starrk and I are very much alike. The fact that I am a soul reaper and he a Hollow is only secondary. In fact he isn't the first Hollow with whom I tried to have a few shots instead of a fight but he was the first one who ever listened." He laughed as it was the truth.
"You surely are a weird soul reaper" Sung-Sun said, tilting her head to the side.
"I guess that must be right if you say so. Well then, the night is still young, would you mind drinking with me some sake?" he asked looking at each of the women.
"Only over my dead body" Apacci growled wrinkling her nose. "Not with such an old fart like you."
"Ouch that was hard" Shunsui said with a hurt expression.
"Mind your own business soul reaper and get out of here!" Mila Rose exclaimed.
"I wouldn't mind if you'd stay here" Sung-Sun said shyly, making both of her partners look at her shocked. "What, he surely seems to be a better companion than you both rowdies are."
"What was that?" Mila Rose growled, glaring at the green haired girl.
"Enough" Tier said and her Fracciónes immediately shut up. "I appreciate what you were saying, Captain, but you should go now" she said in a voice that was hard to read.
He lowered his head. "I understand" he said and turned around to leave but then halted. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you… Because of some negotiations your judgment was delayed" he added in a serious tone before he waved. "I certainly enjoyed our conversation, ladies. I hope it won't be the last one." And with that he was gone.
I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I love both Shunsui and Starrk, they could be really good friends if they wouldn't fight on different sides. I hope you liked reading it.
Next chapter the Espada and Nel will appear again.
Please review!