CHAPTER FOUR

"Inari Kimiko was a very close friend to Shunsui and I," Jyuushiro explained to Nanao. "Everyone believes it was always just Shun and I who fought and survived together but that isn't true. She was the third in our group. She used to be the taicho for the ninth squad back before Muguruma Kensei. She graduated the academy the year below us and became a taicho not long after we did, though truthfully I believe she may have achieved bankai first."

"You were probably too young to remember Nanao-chan," Shunsui told her. "Kimi left before you joined the eighth."

"She left?"

"There were a few contributing factors," Shunsui looked back out the window. He had a nagging suspicion that someone was watching them. "Kimi loved being a taicho for the Gotei 13. For her, Seireitei was home; Jyuu, Yama-jii, me, and her squad were her family. And everyone loved her. You've seen how Ukitake's subordinates adore him, right?"

Nanao nodded.

"The way the members of the ninth squad felt about her was pretty much the same. They were devoted to her and she was devoted to them. She personally oversaw their training, making sure they could survive without her if the need ever arose."

Jyuushiro took over. "She was a combination of me, Shunsui and Hitsugaya Taicho. She was kind but stern, friendly yet cold; she was a bit of a klutz while still being intelligent; she was often lazy yet always managed to stay on top of things; she hated fighting but was unbeatable in battle. She never expected anything of her subordinates if she couldn't achieve it herself."

Shunsui nodded. "She was everyone's friend while still being their commanding officer. I still have no idea how she managed everything without going crazy."

"It was her nature," Jyuushiro sat back, placing a hand over his wound when it throbbed.

"We should take you to the fourth. Make sure you're healed up alright," Shunsui frowned.

Jyuushiro shook his head. "I'm fine for now."

"So why did she leave?" Nanao wondered.

"She didn't have much choice," Shunsui replied. "There were two contributing factors. The first was because of family troubles. Her family never formally acknowledged her, but they never hesitated to drag her into their messes when they needed her abilities."

"The second was her health," Jyuushiro looked sad. "The last family matter she was unwillingly pulled into caused her to become gravely ill, even Unohana Taicho didn't know what was wrong with her. Kimi was forced to take time off so as not to overexert herself but she didn't seem to get any better. Next thing anyone knows, her father had taken her home and handed over her resignation from the Gotei 13, and she wasn't in any condition to stop him."

"Jyuu and I tried," Shunsui continued. "Yama-jii even refused to accept her resignation at first. In the end, it seems her father won. No one had seen her since then. I guess they decided she was better off becoming a member of the Dragon Corps."

Shunsui stiffened as a shadow outside his window separated and began to leave.

He reached to open the window but paused when the shadow stopped and looked back over at him.

He smelt the faint scent of cinnamon even as his grey eyes met a sad, multicoloured gaze.

All of a sudden, Jyuushiro appeared beside him, eyes wide; he unknowingly clutched his abdomen.

Shunsui looked at him in surprise. "Jyuu, I didn't know you could move that fast,"

"Ukitake Taicho?" Nanao questioned worriedly.

Kimiko was already gone.

"Did you see her?" Jyuushiro turned to Shunsui.

"Barely," Shunsui's eyes turned sad as well. "I'm sorry Jyuu. How did you sense her?"

"She let you sense her, I was close enough that I sensed her too."

"Jyuu, you were on the other side of the room," Shunsui was shocked. "If she only wanted me to sense her, you shouldn't have been able to."

"Baka," Jyuushiro glared. "As if that would ever make a difference to me."

Nanao didn't know why she suddenly felt things were turning nasty, but she quickly insinuated herself between the two friends.

"I don't know what's going on here, but you don't seem your usual selves," she glared at the two of them.

"Gomenasai, Ise Fukutaicho," Jyuushiro apologized, facing out the window again.

"Gomen, Nanao-chan," Shunsui smiled sheepishly.

Jyuushiro sighed heavily. "I think maybe I should go get some rest," he picked up Sougyo no Kotowari and left the office.

Shunsui watched him go before picking up the sake bottle and cup.

"Nanao-chan, I'll be on the roof, should anyone come looking for me."

Shunsui took his seat on the rooftop, not even remotely surprised to see the black-clad figure already sitting there.

"Sake?" he offered.

She took the bottle from him and took a swig before handing it back.

"It was too close Shun-chan, I almost lost him."

Shunsui cringed at the nickname, but nodded at her statement, pouring himself a drink.

"He wants to see you," Shunsui told her.

"Has he forgiven me for the way I left?"

"Baka," Shunsui watched her from the corner of his eye. "You couldn't help it."

She was dressed entirely in black, the silver beads in her hair twinkled in the fading sunlight, and she still wore her mask.

"He's missed you. We both have. Seireitei isn't the same for us without you."

"My father has agreed to let me return, if I wished to."

"Return?" Shunsui raised an eyebrow, facing her as she drank from the bottle again.

Kimiko nodded once. "He said something along the lines of, 'I'm sick of seeing the lack of expression on your face. The Gotei 13 needs Captains. Reclaim your squad if that will put an end to your sulking.'"

Shunsui chuckled at her impression of her father and her lips twitched into a half smile.

"I didn't believe him at first, but then he said that it really would be beneficial to have me back in the Gotei 13."

"Do you want to return?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"I never wanted to leave in the fist place."

"Then shouldn't that answer the question you keep asking yourself?"

Kimiko's teeth flashed as one corner of her mouth tipped into a rough grin.

"I guess it does."

They continued to drink in silence for a moment.

"Should I talk to Aki about it, do you think? Or should I surprise him?" Kimiko wondered as she stood up. "My father finally agreed to let us tell the truth about certain things."

"Hmmm…" Shunsui scratched his stubble in consideration. "That's a tough one. Jyuu will be ecstatic either way, but I'd love to see the look on his face if you chose to surprise him."

Kimiko finally smiled her radiant, infectious smile.

"Arigato Shun-chan, I'll have to think about it."

"Where are you going? We haven't even finished the bottle," Shunsui pouted.

"Some other soldiers of the Dragon Core went to retrieve the other taichos along with the shinigami-daiko and his friends from Hueco Mundo, they should have returned by now. Then, it seems, I'll be needing to have a chat with Yama-sensei," She smiled fondly down at him. "You should get yourself cleaned up. We can drink all night once I'm reinstated taicho of my ninth squad."

With that she was gone.