Soul Society

"What do you mean they're making him a captain?"

Yuuki and Renji stepped into the tavern just as the statement was bellowed out across the expanse of the dining room. Renji and Yuuki exchanged glances for a moment, then headed toward the source of the belligerent exclamation. Renji already had a very good idea who the culprit had been and seeing Matsumoto seated gracefully beside her captain—and fiancee—gave the idea impeccable credence.

Toshiro Hitsugaya had grown quite a bit over the last 50 years, Renji admitted; and his size alone would make a smart man think twice about challenging him—even if one did not know of Hitsugaya's vicious reputation as very dangerous shinigami captain. He'd hit his growth spurt out of the blue, shot up to at least six-two, and immediately realized his undying affection for his fukutaicho at roughly the same time he was able to see over her breasts. Renji laughed to himself as he helped Yuuki sit next to Rangiku and took his own spot across from the frosty-haired demon.

"Makin' who a captain?" Renji asked conversationally, though he already knew the answer. Hell, he was one of the shinigami from which Ichigo had asked for a recommendation.

"That orange-headed freak! Kurosaki!"

Renji dually noted that Hitsugaya's vocabulary had admittedly taken a down-turn about the same time as his growth-spurt.

"He saunters into Soul Society, doesn't join the academy, never considered taking captain-class exams; not once did he serve as a lower ranking member of any squadron—and they're making that damned ryoka a captain!"

Yuuki glanced at Rangiku who was laughing behind her hand. "You told him, huh?"

"I thought he deserved to know...I mean, it's not like he doesn't respect Ichigo. He just doesn't understand why someone who was as feared and hated as him didn't have to go through any of the normal channels for captaincy. Toshiro was a child prodigy and they gave him hell. Ichigo was an intruder and a rebel—among other things—and he literally waltzed in and took a division."

Yuuki very well remembered all the ryoka hub-bub years ago; the boy "stealing" a shinigami's powers; repeatedly saving Soul Society from catastrophe after ridiculous catastrophe; for a good while, she assumed it was some legend—a myth. Then her father had filled her in on all the juicy details, including the fact that the human and the shinigami from which he'd supposedly "stolen" his powers had apparently fallen for each other. She'd thought it tragically romantic. Then, less than a year ago, someone had reportedly spotted the legendary ryoka wandering Soul Society. No one knew exactly how—to this day—he'd died and managed to enter Soul Society, not only on his own, but exactly as he'd been at the height of his substitute-shinigami days. Yuuki supposed it had something to due with his very unique capabilities and doubted she'd ever find out anything more about it. She did, however, understand Hitsugaya's emotional upheaval about the immediate captaincy.

Toshiro heaved a great distressful sigh and drained the bowl of sake in front of him. Rangiku dutifully leaned over and refilled his cup, then proffered two more for Renji and Yuuki. She filled them as well and finally her own. After downing the second bowl, Toshiro looked up from the table and finally acknowledged the presence of his dinner guests.

Truth be told, they were Rangiku's dinner guests, but he supposed it didn't matter. He liked Renji well enough and if anyone in Soul Society could give Rangiku Matsumoto a run for her money in the looks department, it was Komamura's Daughter. "Have they assigned you a division yet?" he asked languidly, arching one eyebrow as if to imply: "Probably not, since they seem to want to give all the openings away to unqualified 'applicants'."

Yuuki shook her head in the negative and sipped from her bowl. "Not yet. It's fine though, I'm just kind of doing my own thing until the time comes. No responsibilities, no squad, no problems. I can be an icon instead of a captain. Hell, I could be a Mascot."

Hitsugaya laughed bitterly and toasted her sake bowl with his own. "And what a lovely mascot you could be," he nodded. "I think Momo's division would benefit greatly from your leadership. I've read all your reports from your previous squad. She doesn't have the will to step up and be a captain on her own—she needs a strong guiding hand. One a bit more gentle and perhaps less...invasive...than her former captain's."

"'Shiro could write you a letter of recommendation for a specific division, if you like," Matsumoto offered. "I would guarantee you'd have your own squad in a matter of days."

"I've no doubt," Yuuki agreed. She knew of Hitsugaya's pull among the captains. Especially with Shunsui and Ukitake who were both highly considered to be the next in line for Head Captain. She mulled the idea over a bit and finally responded. "I'll give it some thought and get back to you." She liked the concept of having her own squadron again but truth be told, she was really enjoying the freedom and "playtime" that being unattached warranted.

"Just let me know when you're ready. I understand the need to be free from the bureaucracy from time to time, but you'll get bored eventually," Toshiro remarked. If you're not seated by the time Rangiku and I take our honeymoon, perhaps you'd sit in for me while we're gone?"

"It would be my honor, Hitsugaya-kun."

"Are they moving you to another division after your wedding, Ran-chan?" Renji asked, pushing his sake bowl across the table to her for a refill. "I know it's not horribly uncommon for shinigami to marry, but I've never heard of a captain marrying his fukutaicho..."

Rangiku shook her head, her gaze stealing away to her fiancee's profile, then back again to Renji. "They asked 'Shiro if he thought it would be a good idea but he told them no. I think they maybe worried that the division will become too personal to him—and I understand that—but right now we don't think it will be a problem."

Hitsugaya piped in: "I'd like to keep my wife as close to me as possible, especially if there's danger. If she's with any other division, I have no guarantee of her safety." He reached out and took Matsumoto's hand in his and Yuuki thought she might burst into a veritable fountain of gushy love-rainbows and foil hearts. It was sweet, terribly so.

You're just jealous, she told herself.

Weeks passed and still Yuuki had heard no word on the settling of her seat; she and Renji continued their daily luncheon rituals and Seireitei remained in a relative period of peace. She kept her practices private for the most part, but as other shinigami became aware of her hideaway a few would find their way there to spar against her. Her popularity among the captain-class was growing, even with her reclusive tendencies. Renji was her most common companion, though, and she was still suffering from the elusive nightmares of what she presumed to be her past.

Hitsugaya's and Matsumoto's wedding was nearing and much to her delight, Yuuki received a note from Ran-chan one morning to meet her at their most-frequented tavern.

Sliding into her shihakusho after a morning bath, Yuuki tied her sash and left her captain's robe draped over the back of a chair. No point in that if I'm not actively Captaining a squad, she thought, and hurried out of her father's house.

Matsumoto greeted her with a broad smile and an exuberant hug that left Yuuki feeling a bit violated. Laughing at Yuuki's comment about exactly that, Rangiku sat her down and handed her a small folded piece of paper. Yuuki opened it carefully and beamed at the calligraphy inside.

"You're inviting me to your wedding?" she exclaimed, reaching across the table and squeezing Matsumoto's hand. "I don't know what to say!"

"Say you'll come! Besides, Renji will need a date and you two have been spending so much time together lately..."

Yuuki was positive she blushed but Matsumoto didn't poke fun at her if she had. "There is one slight detail you need to be made aware of, however," Matsumoto said gravely, thinking perhaps if Yuuki knew she may decline. She sincerely hoped not, though.

"What's that?" Yuuki asked, inclining her head and glancing down at the invitation again.

"Do you have a gigai?"

"Um...no?"

"You'll have to have one made...the wedding's in the living world. Ooh! Can we go to Urahara-san's and have you fitted today? You're not doing anything, right?"

As slight of a blow it was to her ego, Yuuki agreed and they hastily made plans to travel to Karakura and hit-up Urahara-san's shop. Matsumoto left to let her fiance know of her plans and Yuuki headed off to Sixth Squad's barracks to let Renji know they wouldn't be having their daily lunch together. As she rounded the tall privacy fence that bordered their training facility, the crash and clang of steel and the grunts and groans of battle-hardened bodies filled her ears. The squad was going all-out in a mock war and instead of instructing from the side lines, Renji was right in the middle of it all. She shook her head as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and plopped her hands on her hips, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence. She was impressed at his ability to leap right into practice with every squad member beneath him; taking hits as well as receiving a few—a miniscule few, she admitted to herself. His mass of red hair had fallen from its ponytail in the fray and apparently he'd misplaced his kimono, as well. Yuuki's mouth veritably went dry at the sight of his broad tanned back glistening with a film of sweat. She shook her head violently to rid her mind of the thought. He leaped in the air, executing a beautiful 180 degree turn and rapped a subordinate across the back with a bokken. Yuuki pulled her lower lip into her mouth and rolled it gently between her teeth as she wantonly visualized some way for Renji to bring all that innate agility to her bed. She felt awful for it, of course; after all, he was probably her best friend here in Seireitei, and there she stood, fantasizing about his "agility". She felt even worse because she was sure he didn't stand around fantasizing about her. That I know of, she admitted to herself, remembering Rukia's quip about him being an "over-sexed rebel".

At that instant, Renji spun on another opponent which happened to put him directly in line of sight with Yuuki who was standing expectantly on the side lines. His brain ceased to function when she was in his presence, he thought ruefully when the bokken broke over his head with far more force than was necessary. His last fleeting thought as he stared at her lower lip rolling between her teeth was, Damn, I wish she wouldn't do that...

The mock-battle had come to a staggering halt when the vice-captain's body had crumpled to the ground in an unceremonious heap. Yuuki blinked a few times just to make sure her mind wasn't playing tricks before she dashed out to the middle of the field and hovered over Renji, pushing subordinates out of the way and settling down in the grass beside him. She checked over him quickly for major injuries, but she saw exactly what had happened. A soldier had gotten a little to hot-headed because Renji had avoided his blows one-too-many times and had splintered his wooden sword over Renji's head when he'd been distracted...by ME, Yuuki thought desperately. This was her fault. The over-exuberant man had sidled up to her as she pulled Renji's head into her lap and tried to work the thick mass of scarlet hair out of his face so she could see if there was any damage.

"I'm...I'm so sorry!" he cried, dropping to his knees beside her. "Is he...dead?"

She spared him a cross look and simply snapped, "Get someone from your Fourth Division over here—NOW! If he doesn't kill you when he comes to, know that if you are not out of my sight in the next five seconds, I will!" With a startled yelp, the man leapt to his feet and practically left a trail of dust in his wake as he headed for Fourth Division's headquarters.

With her vehement proclamation, the rest of the squad backed off as well, leaving an undisturbed ring around the fallen fukutaicho and the mysterious "Komamura's Daughter". A faint groan escaped Renji's lips and Yuuki was using the sleeve of her shihakusho to wipe the blood out of his eyes. "Hey, you..." he mumbled, but his eyes never opened.

She smiled despite herself. "Hi, yourself."

One amber eye cracked open and locked with her blue gaze. "You gotta stop doin' that lip thing."

"What lip thing?"

Renji's face broke into a lazy grin and the other eye cracked open. "You look worried. Am I dyin'?"

"You don't seem to be breaking into spirit-particles so it's a good bet that you're fine."

As she spoke she didn't see his hand coming up and around the back of her head. She wasn't startled at all however, when his fingers slid into the hair at her nape and he began pulling her face down to meet his own.

"That lip thing—you chew on your lower lip. It's very distracting..." he admonished, his breath mingling with hers as her face descended ever lower.

"I think you have a concussion, Renji dear, because you don't seem to know what you're doing."

"I know exactly what I'm doing. It just took me getting knocked in the head to realize I shoulda done it a long time ago..." With that her lips closed over his and it felt as though the air had been knocked out of her lungs. There was something so passionate, so distantly familiar about having his lips on hers that it very nearly brought tears to her eyes. She felt a fool and tried to pull away, but Renji did not loosen his grip. He pulled her lower lip between his teeth and flicked his tongue over it a few times, finally allowing her to sit up. "So, that's what it's all about..." he laughed, referring to her habit. Yuuki shook her head and looked around to glare at the audience Renji had either not known they had or had blatantly not cared. To Yuuki's horror, Unahona Retsu, Fourth Division Captain, stood immediately to their right, arms folded across her chest and a look on her face that said she'd decided she'd been summoned for nothing. Yuuki continued to stare up at her, bewildered, and only when the look of dismay was replaced with concern did Yuuki realize that Renji had blacked out...again.

Renji lay on an elevated bed in the Fourth Division's "hospital", wondering futilely if he shouldn't have kissed the woman who was now standing at the foot of his bed. He studied her as she talked to Hanataro, both of them keeping their voices low so as not to disturb him. Evidently, they both assumed he was still out like a light, but the wound had been healed immediately upon his arrival and he'd been shown to a room to rest while the effects of the concussion wore off.

He gazed at Yuuki through heavy-lidded eyes, watching the way her tapered fingers occasionally ran through her short hair in a gesture of worry. Her left hip was propped on the foot board of the bed and her kimono was layered one side over the other in a way that made him realize she was not wearing her customary bindings beneath her shihakusho. In fact, when she turned ever-so-slightly to her left, the sun slanting through the blinds landed lovingly on her kimono and afforded him the wonderful view of the graceful slope of the bottom of her right breast. He groaned imperceptibly and shut his eyes against the sight. It was shameful of him, he knew, but somehow he just couldn't stop himself. He remembered the way those bindings had clung to her body on the day he'd found her practicing in the clearing; the jagged cut of her hipbones, the subtle ripple of muscle on her taut stomach, the swell of her breasts against the fabric of her bindings. The way she wore her hakama, slung low across her hips...keeping his eyes closed was more dangerous than looking at her now, he realized. He honed in on the conversation she was having with his "nurse".

"...he'll actually be fine to leave as soon as he wakes up," Hanataro was saying. Yuuki turned from the window where she'd moved to look outside and nodded at his assessment. "The wound was deep but easily mended. The concussion just needs some rest. If he'll stay in his bed at the barracks, I don't see why he can't be back to work tomorrow morning."

"That's good," she said quietly. "I'm just glad he's okay. I feel like this is my fault."

"Why would you even think that?" Hanataro asked, a look of bewildered awe on his young face.

"He was doing so well till he noticed me. I distracted him and he got injured. If I'd have just waited for him to finish, this wouldn't have happened."

"I hate to break it to you, Yuuki," Hanataro said, a smile easing it's way onto his face, "but you tend to distract the vast majority of the male population around here. If you're worried about anyone getting hurt, you'll have to stay indoors for a while."

Yuuki smiled at his compliment and reached for his hand, giving it a little squeeze. "You're a sweetheart, Hana." She glanced over at Renji who was staring at the two of them with one eyebrow cocked and his hands laced together over his middle. His redder-than-red hair was splayed all over the pillows under his head and half-hid a comical gauze wrap around his crown. Yuuki smiled at him, pleased that he was awake. She walked over to the bed and rested her hip against his elbow, leaning over to brush the unruly hair from his face.

"Better?"

"I'm not sure. I don't like the idea of stayin' cooped up in my bed for the rest of the day."

"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that's exactly what you are going to do, dearest." She leaned over him, unconsciously affording him the best view yet of her breasts. Renji gulped audibly as she kissed him gently on his forehead. "I'm going to Karakura with Matsumoto shortly. I just came to cancel our lunch plans when the attempt on your life was made," she chuckled. Renji rolled his eyes up to meet hers and plastered the most profoundly sad, devastated look on his face that he could muster.

"You came to break our date?" he moaned theatrically, pulling her lower against his chest, fully intending to take up where they'd left off on the practice field.

"Yup. Considering I have to be your date to Toshiro and Ran-chan's wedding, I have to go get myself a gigai." She wound up mumbling against his mouth because when his lips were that close to hers, she realized forming a complete sentence was not within her power. His mouth opened over hers and the breath left her body. Again, she felt a tremendous feeling of déjà-vu swell inside her and she responded to his kiss with a groan. His tongue tentatively snaked in between her lips just as she heard the door to his room fly open and Matsumoto's voice ring out in the hall, "Hope I'm not interrupting anything!"

Yuuki flew away from the side of Renji's bed so fast, he was certain she'd flash-stepped. Both of them hid a disappointed scowl when Rangiku stormed in with the announcement that she had procured the use of a Senkai gate for their trip.