A/N Sorry this took so long! I've been trying to upload it for two days now and the site just kept giving me errors. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think!
Two hours later both Taicho and fukutaicho began the trek to the 1st division. "I don't see why we can't just shunpo there," Nanao complained squinting into the sun.
"Because it's a beautiful day," Kyouraku answered pleasantly, "and it should be enjoyed." He glanced over at her and, noticing her squinting, grinned and offered to let her borrow his hat.
"I'd rather gouge out my eyes, sir," she replied easily. Kyouraku chuckled and let it go. The two walked in companionable silence the rest of the way to the 1st division. Moving through the hallway to their final destination they came upon a large group composed mostly of the Taichos and fukutaichos.
"What's the hold up?" Kyouraku asked as they stepped up to the same spot as Hitsugaya and Matsumoto.
"There's a large group of Yakuza looking people standing out front and the first division's fukutaicho asked us all to wait out here for a moment," Matsumoto supplied helpfully. "Some of them are quite dreamy," she added with a salacious wink.
"Oh? Any women in the group?" Kyouraku asked starting to move forward through the milling group of officers. Nanao reluctantly followed, knowing Kyouraku would notice the oddity if she did not. Matsumoto kept pace commenting that there was a pretty blonde, but that she looked like she was taken.
"Shunsui," Ukitake greeted as they made it to the front of the crowd. "Ise-san."
"Ukitake-Taicho," Nanao responded respectfully.
"Seems we'll be having an interesting meeting today," Ukitake said cheerfully.
"Now that is a fine specimen of a man," Matsumoto growled next to them. Nanao glanced in the same direction that Matsumoto was looking and had to stifle a groan when she realized it was her brother that Matsumoto was checking out. He glanced up from his spot leaning against the building and instantly caught her eye. He gave her a crisp nod of recognition, but quickly turned away as the man next to him asked him a question.
Nanao instantly felt uncomfortable as she realized she now had the undivided attention of Kyouraku, Ukitake, and Matsumoto.
"Isn't that the man from last night, Nanao-chan?" Kyouraku asked casually lowering his hat down further over his eyes.
"Holy crap! That's him?" Matsumoto squealed being completely obvious as she pointed a finger back towards Mamoru. "Tell me you slept with him! You do not have something that hot in your house late at night and just drink tea. I will lose all faith in you as a female if you truly did nothing with that man."
"Wait, what?" Ukitake interjected looking genuinely confused. "You know one of them Ise-san?"
Nanao sighed and resisted the urge to slam her head into a wall until she blacked out. "We were old childhood friends in Rukongai. We hadn't seen each other for years until last night when he stopped by to say hello."
"Saying hello, is that what the kids are calling it these days?" Matsumoto asked wiggling her eyebrows.
"It was just a cup of tea, Rangiku-san," Nanao said clearly frustrated.
"A cup of tea, is that a position?" Matsumoto asked clearly enjoying torturing her in public.
"I think my lovely Nanao-chan is telling the truth," Kyouraku said grinning as he tried to lace an arm around her waist. She quickly whacked his fingers with her book and glared at him. "What kind of man doesn't at least come over to say hello to the woman he had a passionate encounter with the evening before? My pure precious Nanao-chan must have kicked him to the curb," he said smiling.
"Or perhaps he just has a tiny level of professionalism and doesn't need to go around spouting publicly embarrassing proclamations of love," Nanao said angrily. "We're just old friends, and it's not a big deal." Just then the 1st division doors opened allowing both groups of people to enter the meeting room and saving Nanao the further trouble of trying to explain herself.
The meeting itself was a largely boring one, filled with the same routine topics as always. The officers waiting for good gossip were sorely disappointed when the Soutaicho informed them that the members of the Higurashi family were there on a special joint venture and would be working hand in hand with the second division. No other pertinent information on what that undertaking entailed was supplied and knowing the 2nd wouldn't be in the near future.
"The Higurashi representatives have requested a guide to show them around Seireitei," the Soutaicho said finishing his explanation. "I am hoping one of the fukutaichos will be responsible enough to volunteer."
Nanao stood stoically at the request, and couldn't help but notice the way Kyouraku's eyes watched her intently. What an idiot, she thought with an internal snort. How could she possibly volunteer when that meant absolutely no paperwork would get done for the day?
"I'd be more than happy to do it," Matsumoto called cheerily from the other side of the room. Nanao felt her Taicho relax next to her and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Hitsugaya looked less than pleased, but he should be used to being left with all the paperwork by now.
"Not to interrupt, Soutaicho," said a calm voice Nanao instantly recognized as Mamoru's, "But if I may make one small request?"
"Yes, Egami-san," the Soutaicho said in his rumbling voice.
"We would just like the fukutaicho in question to be intimately familiar with your library as that is where we will be spending the majority of our time," Mamoru said pleasantly. He nodded in acknowledgement of Matsumoto and said quickly, "Though I'm sure you are and will make a fine guide."
"Well, um," Matsumoto said trying to quickly backtrack on her previous words. Spending the whole day with attractive males was so not worth spending the whole day in the library. Then she got an evil glint in her eyes and said quickly, "Nanao-san may prove more helpful in that area."
Mamoru glanced in Nanao's direction and smiled briefly, "Whatever you suggest Soutaicho, we shall graciously accept." Kyouraku shifted next to her and was about to say something when the Soutaicho cut him off.
"If we gave you a few days extension on the paperwork, would you be amicable to this proposition Ise-fukutaicho?"
"Of course, Soutaicho," she said calmly, finding no acceptable excuse to decline. "I would be honored."
"Then it's settled, meeting adjourned," the Soutaicho said as he quickly rose and left the room. Many of the officers swiftly followed suit, while a few stayed around to converse. The Higurashi family moved to confer amongst themselves and Nanao wondered idly if she was supposed to go to them or wait for them to come to her.
"He did that on purpose," Kyouraku said drawing her attention back to him. "He knew they'd choose you if the library was mentioned."
"Or perhaps they really do need the library for informational purposes. Just because you don't like to use it doesn't make it useless, sir," she said brushing away his concerns. "Besides how could he possibly know Matsumoto would suggest me? He had no idea we were friends or that she likes to tease me. As far as he knew she could have just as well suggested Hinamori-fukutaicho."
"I don't like it," Kyouraku said confidently. "What good could a big mean yakuza want with my sweet innocent Nanao-chan?"
"Probably to ravish her silly," Matsumoto chirped as she broke into the conversation. "Not so good for you Shunsui-kun, but absolutely excellent for her." Nanao grimaced at the thought, wishing desperately that she could tell Matsumoto the truth so she would stop saying such disturbing things.
"My Nanao-chan is much too good for him," Kyouraku moaned.
"You think Nanao-san is too good for everyone," Ukitake said smiling as he'd been standing next to them during the entire conversation.
"That's because she is," Kyouraku replied instantly.
"Which gives you a passable excuse to drive off any potential suitors," Nanao grumbled under her breath.
"Exactly," Kyouraku responded happily, having obviously picked up on what she said. "You deserve someone who is smart, funny, passionate, and devilishly good looking. Someone who will force you to take breaks from your workaholic nature and shower you with presents, Besides, that person needs to be able to stand up to your irritated kido blasts so only someone Taicho level will do."
"Hmm," Nanao said as if thinking it over. "Well I suppose that only leaves one person then."
"Yes?" Kyouraku prodded expectantly.
"Ukitake-Taicho would you like to grab dinner sometime?" she said maintaining her serious expression. Both Matsumoto and Ukitake instantly started laughing at Kyouraku's disappointed face.
"But Nanao-chan," he wined. "Jyuu's too old for you."
"We're the same age, you idiot," Ukitake replied smiling.
"You're seven months older than me," Kyouraku said as if he was pointing out the obvious to a small child.
A clearing throat told them they suddenly had an audience. Mamoru stood about a foot away from them looking amused though he still maintained his professional demeanor. "Taichos, fukutaichos," he greeted bowing slightly. "Is it alright if I steal Ise-fukutaicho away now?"
"You may borrow her for the moment," Kyouraku said pleasantly enough, "But I fully expect her back."
Mamoru smiled benignly back and said, "Of course, Kyouraku-Taicho. We wouldn't want to keep her too long from your paperwork. Ise-san, if you would follow me?"
"Certainly," she said trying not to smirk at her Taicho. Her brother had never taken kindly to being talked down to. "Enjoy your day off, Taicho," she said, well aware that he wouldn't do anything if she wasn't there to force him. She promptly followed Mamoru to where the other members of his group were waiting before her Taicho could respond.