Chapter 4: Leads
Kensei limped back to his office from the hospital, Mashiro in tow. He would have to write a report and give any information, which wasn't much. Nnoitra Jirga. What a stupid name; stupid guy. Man...I'm gonna find these f****** if it's the last d*** thing I do!
Opening the door to the Flash Gods Incorporation (Yoruichi's pet name for the elite police), Kensei led Mashiro and Akina in. "OH MY GOD, KENSEI! WHERE THE F*** HAVE YOU BEEN?! WE'VE BEEN CALLING YOU FOR THE LAST 24 HOURS AND YOUR D*** PHONE HAS BEEN GOING STRAIGHT TO F****** VOICE MAIL!" Kensei face palmed as he dodged a black, cat-shaped paperweight.
"Lisa, throw one of my cats again, and you'll be bald," Yoruichi smirked, sipping some coffee. "Now go pick it up and I'll let it slide just this once; provided it's not damaged."
"Hospital trip," Kensei muttered, standing at Yoruichi's desk. Her boyfriend, Kisuke Urahara, was standing with their two children, Ururu and Jinta Urahara. She cares about Lisa throwing her d*** cats around but not about her two kids being exposed to profanity? What the h*** is this world coming to?
"What happened?" Kisuke inquired curiously, eyes shining beneath the shadows his white and green striped hat provided.
"We were attacked. I know that one was named or nick named Wonderweiss and the other was Nnoitra Jirga. The third never said his name or who they were working for."
"Why didn't you call for back up?"
"I dunno'; maybe I was too busy trying to keep my client from being shot in the f****** head."
"So she was_"
"Jinta. Don't." Yoruichi shot the ginger kid a stern glare, shutting him up almost immediately. Her yellow eyes flit back to Kensei's honey ones. "What exactly happened?"
o0o
As Kensei recounted the whole story to the cat lady, Mashiro looked around, large eyes taking everything in seemingly at once. Cat Lady's office lived up to the nick name Mashiro had given to the dark skinned, yellow-eyed beauty. There were cat figurines and pictures everywhere. On the Cat Lady's desk, there was a picture of her with her arms around the blond man in the hat and around an even prettier young lady no older than 16; short, slightly messy black hair, dark eyes, and delicate pixie features. In front of the three older ones, there were the two children. Behind them, there was a large man-larger than Kensei even, with dark sunglasses and olive skin. It was a nice picture.
Akina buzzed softly, floating into the room. In her insect legs, she held 2 cups of coffee. Wow! She finally managed to grab stuff! Mashiro's face broke into a broad grin. "Thanks Akina-chan!" Everyone turned and Mashiro held up the coffee. Kensei took one, nodding his thanks.
"Are you sure you need that?" The red haired boy asked as Mashiro took a sip. The coffee was sweet and smooth with just a bit of kick to it.
"Yes she does; caffeine settles her down because of her ADHD," Kensei informed the boy. "You're the one who doesn't need the coffee, so quit eyein' it."
"So. Nnoitra Jirga," the blond man muttered in a pondering tone. "I do believe I've heard that name before. Can you move over, dear?"
"Mmmhm." Cat Lady pushed her chair back, giving the blond man room. Mashiro watched, sipping her coffee, as the man typed rapidly on a computer.
"Ah. Nnoitra Jirga. Ooh, nasty character. He's actually in the Las Noches mafia, the same as that girl who wrecked your motorcycle, Kensei, Cirucci Sanderwicci."
"We still have her in custody, right?" Kensei asked, taking another swig of his own coffee.
"Yup!" Cat Lady nodded, taking a file out of her desk. "Cirucci Sanderwicci. Age nineteen, been in the mafia since she was thirteen. Her crimes include three assists in armed robbery, drug cartelling, and underage driving." Cat Lady turned to Hat Man, peering over his shoulder at the computer. "What info on Jirga?"
"Let's see...he murdered 3 men, 5 women, and one 12-year-old. Two accounts of rape against the same young woman, a certain Neliel Tu Odelschwanck. Seven accounts of armed robbery, and two reported stolen cars. He's twenty-three and joined the mafia at age nine."
"Does it have all the members of the mafia?" Kensei asked.
"It sure has a lot, but I'm pretty sure there's a few we don't know about," Hat Man turned back to the computer. "Let's see, Kaname Tousen, Tia Halibel; though she's one of the ones on our side; I'm sure that we can get information from her. Ulquiorra Schiffer and Grimmjow Jaegergaquez as well as Coyote Starrk and his daughter Lilynette. Hmm...that's interesting."
"What?" Mashiro piped up. Hat Man glanced at her, a slight, inviting smile playing at his lips.
"Two very interesting names have popped up. Gin Ichimaru and Sosuke Aizen. Gin is in a mental institution and Sosuke is supposed to be dead. It says here that he's been sighted right outside our very offices. Now that's a frightening thought."
"But..." Kensei's eyes widened. "That b******'s still alive?!" He thundered angrily. Mashiro looked at him with sad eyes and Akina buzzed around them, nuzzling the back of Kensei's shoulder.
"Kensei?" Mashiro questioned quietly.
He glanced at her, eyes filled with quiet rage; so unlike him. Kensei, like Mashiro herself, was not a quiet person when angry or aggrieved. Maybe a connection with his little brother? He never said whether or not he knew who the driver was.
o0o
Sosuke Aizen listened to Kaname's report, deep in though. "So...Wonderweiss managed to shoot Kensei in the leg and stab Mashiro in the shoulder." Sosuke sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She was not to be harmed; whatsoever. We will have to wait until she is healed to bring her here."
"Yes sir," Kaname bowed, nodding. "I will bring word to the rest."
"One more thing."
"Sir."
"Has Gin Ichimaru been eliminated yet?"
"Last I heard, sir, Cirucci indeed shot him to death."
"And yet there are no murders on her record."
"Perhaps they never found him; either that or Cirucci neglected to tell us the entire truth."
"See that Ulquiorra investigates the matter; thoroughly. If Cirucci failed us, then may God have mercy on her soul, because that will be to whom she will go to." Sosuke neglected to hide the menace lurking in his voice as he sat in his office chair.
"Yes sir. I shall take my leave, now."
Sosuke nodded, brooding as Kaname left. Mashiro defended herself against Wonderweiss's strike, however, from Kaname's report. Which means she does have some fight. So instead of targeting HER, target Kensei or the bee. I will have Szayel and Zommari observe them from a distance; see who will urge her to come to me most.
Sosuke stood, taking a picture of Mashiro from his desk. Her hair was slightly longer and wavier in the picture, instead of the short pixie cut she had now. She wore the black and white dress of a princess of Seiretei; not the jumpsuit she currently wore. She still had the pink scarf and orange goggles, though; Sosuke wondered why before judging that her childish logic was irrevelent.
I will have you, Mashiro Kuna. You will bring me to rule over Seiretei. His dark, bespectacled brown eyes wandered over the willowy frame betrayed by the dress. Among other things.
o0o
The days passed and Kensei and Mashiro slowly recovered. They also became closer, despite Kensei's efforts to remain distant. He just couldn't prevent himself from caring for her; anyone else would've driven him mad and he would've wanted them the f*** out of his d*** house.
But soon Kensei began walking, jogging, and running again as his leg wound healed. Mashiro often joined him, happy to bicker with him as they went, and Akina happy to buzz along behind. Things like that began to become normal. Kensei trained Mashiro in hand-to-hand combat while he trained Akina to headbutt and strike with something other than her stinger. He helped the bee develop muscles to carry heavier loads than that of coffee.
Kensei looked up from the report he was writing to the door someone was knocking on. "I'LL GET IT!" Mashiro called from the kitchen, bouncing to the door happily. Kensei stood to go with her in case it was someone who couldn't be trusted. Instead, it was Shinji, Hiyori, and Kensei's neighbor Hachi and his daughter Orihime.
"So this is Mashiro!" Shinji exclaimed cheerfully. Hiyori rolled her eyes, kicking her dumb blond of a husband in the shin.
"Don't make such a fuss, idiot," Muttered Kensei, opening the door wider for them all to come in. Orihime smiled brightly at Mashiro.
"I'm Orihime Inoue. This is my father, Hachigen, or Hachi, Ushoda."
"How come you have different names, then?" Mashiro asked innocently.
"Oi. Mashiro. Don't ask people questions like that_"
"Oh no, Kensei, it's fine." Hachi chuckled. "I adopted Orihime when she lost her older brother, Sora."
"Oh. I'm sorry," Mashiro replied.
"It's okay." Orihime smiled brightly. "I'll see him again one day; he's in a much better place now, because this was only our temporary home, you see."
Mashiro nodded. "Oh..does that mean I'll see my family again?"
"Uh-huh!" Orihime nodded brightly and Mashiro smiled again. Kensei chuckled quietly, his eyes softening.
"So still pissed about the job?" Shinji smirked, elbowing Kensei in the ribs.
"Shut up Hirako..." Kensei snapped. But he knew that Shinji was right; Kensei was grateful for the job.
"Oh please. You're following in my footsteps. I hear wedding bells already."
"No the f*** you don't!"
"Oh I do," Hiyori smirked, lounging on Kensei's couch, crossing her arms. "Despite all your b******* and moaning old man, you'll be just like Shinji and me."
"I'm younger than your husband, so I don't see why you're calling me old, Snaggle Tooth," Kensei snarled.
"Don't change the subject. Grow a pair of balls and ask her out already."
"Shut up; what do you know?"
"Lot's. You love her, she loves you, you'll be f*** buddies, and then marry and batta' bing batta' boom, you'll have little Kensei terrors running around killing innocent people and I'll be watching, laughing my skinny but pert *** off, and eating popcorn."
"F*** off."
"As you wish." To Kensei's horror, Hiyori tackled Shinji, grinding against him as she shoved her tongue down his throat.
"TAKE THAT S*** OUT OF MY F****** HOUSE, D*****!" Kensei roared, separating them and throwing them out the front door.
"Oh dear..." Hachi murmured, watching the scene unfold before him and listening to Hiyori's cackling.
"EEEEWWW! THEY WERE MAKING OUT IN PUBLIC!" Mashiro shrieked. "DIRTY PERVERTS!"
"NOT AS DIRTY AS WHAT KENSEI THINKS WHEN HE SEES YOU!" Hiyori's laughter rang even louder.
"D***** SHUT THE F*** UP!" But Shinji and Hiyori ignored him as they rolled around on the ground, laughing their sorry, skinny ***** off. Kensei sighed, rolling his eyes.
"I suppose it's time for Orihime and me to go. It was very nice meeting you, Mashiro-chan."
"I hope we'll be good friends," Orihime smiled brightly."
"Yeah...nice meeting you two too!" Mashiro giggled as they walked away. Kensei closed the door behind them, banging his head on it. Well f***...
"Kensei?"
"Yeah, Mashiro?"
"Do you love me?"
How to answer that? Kensei turned to look at her. "Well...I mean..."
Mashiro hugged him. "It's okay if you don't. I know I'm hard to love; hard to deal with. Kensei was really my first human friend...so I don't mind if you don't love me back. I won't blame_"
Kensei interrupted her with a quick kiss. "You talk too much, d*****. Of course I love you; you're an annoying bug eyed b**** who shouldn't be with anyone but me."
Mashiro giggled brightly, nuzzling his chest. "And Kensei-meanie is a dirty old man who should only belong to Mashiro!"
"Yeah..." Kensei chuckled, cupping her delicate cheek in his massive, calloused hand. He kissed Mashiro's forehead. "Yeah...So...even when this is all over...I won't leave your side so long as you won't leave mine."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
A/N: Okay, so I came back from San Antonio Monday, but I slept most of the time because we left at like 6 pm and didn't arrive at the band hall until 5:30 am. I spent most of the ride with my legs at awkward angles trying to sleep lol; charter buses are really comfortable...until you want to sleep and lay down. And I would've updated earlier today, but I was gone until like 10:30. Busy, lol.
But the trip was fun because I WENT TO SIX FLAGS! The Superman was my absolute favorite ride there and I went to a restaurant where there was this dude dressed up as Mario and he was a fan of BLEACH! His favorite character is Renji, which is my favorite male character! Hahahahaha! I was soooo happy! Except for the fact I couldn't find any Bleach merchandise and it made me MAD!
Anyway, I digress. About the story, I know that Mashiro doesn't like Orihime because she's jealous when Orihime and Hachi become friends, but I thought they'd click in a different environment given their personalities are actually somewhat similar. Also, I tried to keep the confessions in character, I apologize if I didn't. And I would've finished this yesterday, but I had to get a late night shower because I'd be getting up early to do stuff for prom and yada yada end of life drama. So I hope you enjoyed the chapter because I enjoyed writing it (Though I'm sorry the actual chapter is so short...) . Over and out, good night all~