S T O R Y : Pendulous
C H A P T E R : Chapter Four
R A T I N G : K+ this chapter.
P A I R I N G S : None (in this chapter)
S U M M A R Y : Its been a couple of years since the last chapter. The pendulum is swinging as it always has, but all good things must come to an end.
D I S C L A I M E R : I am not Tite Kubo, h'okay? Kirio is not my character either, but she is made up in my mind. Who knows who the real Kirio Hikifune is!?
It had gotten old.
Unfortunately, it really had.
The routine had lost its novelty; the ritual of heading over to the First Division's Head Quarters no more than an irritable arrangement that she could not avoid. She gritted her teeth and pushed forward.
The sight of the twin oak doors did little to ease her out of her strop. If anything, her footfalls became long and languid when the sight panned out before her, reminding the Captain of the precious time she has wasted hurrying to this place at the Commander's beck and call. It was silly of her to think this way, but when she thought of the bottle of warm sake going to waste in her room she could only fall back onto her irrational thoughts. No doubt this would be a meaningless meeting about the running of Soul Society in addition to a review of the Captains' progress with their divisions.
A quick natter which skirted around the ominous task of reviewing paperwork – that was all this was.
Kirio was so enveloped that she had failed to pay attention to her petite Vice-Captain hobbling beside her, trying to follow her slowing gait with no success.
"Taichō, don't you think it would be better if you used Shunpo?"
Hiyori murmured, unsure if it was wise to interrupt her Captain when she looked so distraught. The young Lieutenant had already been under her current leader for many years and her attachment to her made the task of learning the woman's expressions simple... most of the time. A hand darted up to her pigtails, fiddling with the red ribbon that bunched her short, blonde hair painfully against her scalp. Brown eyes dropped to focus on her Captain's feet as they peaked under her black kimono; the socks dark with dirt and soot from their walking. Despite her infamous temperamental personality, Hiyori gave an honest frown out of concern for the Shinigami beside her – as if the notion of the woman having to walk on the gravelly floor wounded her personally.
As always, regardless of the situation, Kirio eased her away from her disquiet with the same technique she always used: a smile that was too tight at the lips to be genuine and an affection pat on the head with the ruffles of her long-sleeved Shihakushou. She knew something was wrong, but secretly, Hiyori hoped that the Captain that she loved and served would tell her, her worries if they were anything above trivial. She gave Kirio an awkward grin, wrinkling her button nose in response while she focused on the gates ahead.
It was hard to believe everything was alright, but impossible to query someone she trusted so readily. That would mean questioning the foundations of their relationship, and Hiyori did not have the mental strength to go search for lies or secrets embedded within their bond. The child-like Shinigami would have to rely on faith alone.
"Oh Hiyori don't depend on Shunpo for everything," Kirio replied with a pout, shifting her gaze from her lieutenant to the blue skies above them. "You miss the splendours of this life when you move at such speeds."
Hiyori was hesitant, but he spoke her mind as Kirio had always requested of her.
"You really don't want to come to this meeting that badly, Captain?
Kirio had twirled her long locks into a messy bun which had chocolate tendrils dripping into every curve and dip of her face, but even through her shroud of hair Hiyori could make out the beginnings of a blush on her cheeks. Kirio fanned her down with a flicked wrist beneath the mantle of her furi.
"Arararara, don't make it sound like it is so obvious, Sarugaki-chan," she moaned, her posture slouching further with the reminder of how little she desired being a Captain when such events arose. Her almond eyes were cased with dark rings from lack of sleep that no amount of cosmetics could disguise. Even a pimple – a pimple of all things – was forming somewhere near the corner of her nose! She did not need to be bothered with a meeting when her appearance was occupying every crevice of her thoughts. Still, she was too lazy to bother white-washing her face with powder or cream and reserved her annoyance for this abrupt meeting.
The irksome idea of the Captain's gathering sent a chill pulsing down her spine and she alternated her gaze from the gates – so close, rolling upwards until they were disguised behind the clouds – to the pretty Vice-Captain and her penetrating stare. Despite their indolent strides, they reached the gate well within the time frame. They were also followed by another Captain.
He made a quiet entrance, but the stealth of his movements were ruined by his morning greeting as if he couldn't care less that a Captain and her Lieutenant could not detect his presence.
"'Lo Kirio! How ya doing 'dis mornin'?" Shinji said with a yawn, his broad teeth shining from under his narrow lips when he gave a smile to the Captain. His eyes were unusually calm in contrast to the menacing smile he offered to the two women; intimidating yet, strangely welcoming at the same time. Addressed, Kirio turned to face him, eyes closed in merriment when she recognised the voice of the fellow Taichō.
"Oh, Hirako-kun! I'm very well thank you and-"
Midway through her sentence, Kirio was forced to stop at the sound of spluttering and coughing, mingled with the resonance of a slap. She opened her eyes to see her Lieutenant in full glory over the shoulders of Shinji, one small hand wrapped around a bundle of his golden hair while the other was latched at the corner of his mouth, stretching his lips to the tip of his ear. The cry came from the Captain who was torn between throwing Hiyori with the bony fingers that curled round her calf, and saving his face in a tug-of-war game with his lips, which were moist with saliva and a trickle of blood. Already his skin was stained pink at the cheek; the imprint of Hiyori's sandals etched on his milky flesh. The older woman shook her head sadly, pressing her forehead into the cool cushion of her furi while the other flapped beside her, an indication to the two to cut the theatrics.
"Chotto, Hiyori-san! Stop before you tear poor Hirako-kun!"
"You, dipshit!" Hiyori thundered above Kirio's plea, "How dare you address Hikifune Taichō without a proper title!" Shinji could only groan in response nevertheless, there was definite threats admit his slurred vocabulary. Kirio had become so used to their ways and natures that she didn't try to intervene, and gave the pair their space while they battled it out; throwing curses while avoiding each other's finishing blows all the while. It was a wonder how the two of them had lasted so long without inflicting fatal damage. She gave a hopeless sigh and cradled her skull in the palm hidden beneath the sheets of her white haori and black kimono; silk on silk against her worn face.
She tensed when she felt her hair billow out around her; tendrils giving an anxious twitch above her line of sight as a breeze pushed her chocolate threads from her messy bun. But the three reiatsu were unmistakable. The whistle of wind died as two Captains and a Lieutenant entered the scene behind her; the strength of their shunpo movements elapsing into the current zephyr when they touched down.
"Yare-yare, they are at it again, ne, Ukitake-san?"
"It looks quite painful?" the other replied through a soft chuckle.
The third Shinigami only provided a feminine grunt to the conversation.
Twisting her nape around, the sight of Ukitake – lanky, white haired, but impossibly kind – Kyōraku – with straw hat pulled over his eyes – and Yadōmaru with her pristine appearance, brought a sigh of contentment to Kirio's lips. Her mouth slackened slightly, she gave a lazy wave in their direction before turning round to face them full on; tearing her gaze and blocking her ears to the vision and sounds coming from Shinji and her Lieutenant. Kyōraku was the first to greet her, offering a lopsided smile and a heavy pat on her back – strong enough for her to stumble forward with a wheeze – in his usual, jovial ways.
"Kirio-san, you have not come down for afternoon sake with me in too long," he breathed, the scent of his breath so polluted with the aroma of sake that it was enough to give Kirio a feeling of light headedness. She shook her head, rolling her eyes in unison with Lisa who was pushing up her glasses which had fallen (from embarrassment, she assumed) up the bridge of her nose.
"Hikifune Taichō has more important things to do with her time."
Hikifune nodded her head dutifully, a nervous laugh wrecked from her from Lisa impenetrable stare. What she said was far from the truth but it didn't seem right to antagonize the Lieutenant.
"But, Lisa-san, I would feel much better if you could call me Kirio-san, or Hikifune, or-"
"Excuse me, Hikifune Taichō," the librarian look-alike said curtly, bowing her head which made Kirio wonder whether she had taken in anything she had requested. With a brisk stride, she made her way over to her fellow vice-captain and Shinji, making it her interest to watch over the pair while they screamed and ripped at each other's limbs. When she was out of range, Kirio shuddered and leant towards Kyōraku despite the perfume of sake he wore.
"Lisa-san is very uptight! I thought her being your Lieutenant would have loosened her up by now."
Ignoring the discreet insult, Shunsui gave a sorrowful nod, understanding her confusion. "Lisa-chan is acting so cold to me!" he said with a hint of despair which Kirio could not interpret as either sarcasm or truthfulness. The pouting Captain tilted his face forward, shielding his eyes with his cheap hat. "This morning she yelled at me for having a drink of sake – I don't understand why she was so upset."
One drink? Kirio thought skeptically, More like a tankard.
Ukitake read her mind and voiced the accusation. "Perhaps because her Captain was drinking so early in the morning?" he said calmly, reiterating the phrase in hopes of his dear friend understanding that the reason for Lisa's anger was already imbedded within his own words. His cheerful facade never faltered; a youthful touch to his tired and aged features. The blush that crept up along his neck heightened the sense childlikeness that surrounded the old Captain.
"Morning, Hikifune," Ukitake said with an embarrassed wave, realising they had skipped the formalities he was so keen in pursuing. Kirio was happy to oblige.
"The same to you, Ukitake-dono," she responded with a broad smile, her admiration unveiled which had Shunsui staring between the two of them with a dejected pout. He clipped his hat upwards with a thrust of his long fingers.
"Kirio-san, how come I never get such a high honorific?" Shunsui gave an audible whine as Hikifune paced from his grasp, wandering through the doors of the Commander-General's headquarters with Ukitake in tow; sparing one cautious glance at Shinji before retiring to following the female Captain. The three of them did not get very far before Hikifune turned round, brow cocked as her eyes trailed along Shunsui's frame. Against the white-washed walls of the entrance, the Captain stood out like a sore-thumb; his straw hat and flamboyant garments more distracting than the handsome, indolent appearance of the Eighth Division' Captain. Her temple throbbed, her brow knitting at the centre when she finally tore her gaze away to continue her walk.
"Because Ukitake-dono does not dress in a woman's kimono or wear a hobo's hat," she told him bluntly, listening to him expel a breath in a heavy sigh.
"That's not very nice to say!" he grumbled. Even without looking, she could tell that he said it through a smile.
Lisa plucked her glasses from her nose and wiped a string of spittle from the lens. Shinji continued to cough and splutter as Hiyori pulled the corners of his lips upwards, using the blonde's back as a foothold as she exposed the entirety of his mouth.
"Give me a smile, dick-face," she yelled, her eyes ablaze when she felt Shinji's grip tighten over her hands, trying to get her to loosen her grip. When his hazel eyes focused on Lisa busily cleaning her glasses was when he decided to end their playtime. It was easy throwing the blonde over his shoulder, and even easier watching her small body roll a few yards down the pathway, out of sight.
"Yo, Lisa-chan!"
She glanced up, placing her spectacles back onto the bridge of her nose as if she would not be able to identify Shinji without it. She looked mildly agitated when she caught him running the back of his hand over his mouth, coating his arm and part of his haori with his own saliva. Moaning, she turned away, pushing past the Captain to where Hiyori had rolled. It was then did Shinji notice the soft resonance of his fellow comrades as they pushed deeper into headquarters; their voices already a muffled drone from the distance they had created between them.
"You should hurry up and catch them. You don't want to be the last one in," Lisa told him briskly. If she was a cat, Shinji knew that her hackles would be raised and her tongue poking between her lips in a hiss. He backed away knowingly and gave a strange trot in the direction of the other Captains, only turning when he was poised safely at the entrance. His blonde hair swished to one side, he gave a hollow groan at the vision of Lisa – in her lovely Shinigami attire – gliding to Hiyori, now alive and agitated.
"There goes," he said with a grimace like smile, "my first love."
"... all things aside, you look happy, Kirio-san," Ukitake finished, just as Shinji appeared behind them.
She gave a vigorous nod. "What's not to be happy about? Yoruichi-sama has grown into a fine Captain, Little Byakuya – I mean, Kuchiki-kun has just finished his education at the Academy, and Kisuke-kun has become the third seed in the 2nd Division," Kirio explained, listing all the accomplishments on her finger. She swooned like a fan girl, her eyes lit up with stars recalling how all her chicks were growing up into fine hens and roosters. It was a strange thought, but it continued to give her those warm, fuzzy feelings.
Ukitake laughed, sending a knowing look to Shunsui.
"You love children, ne, Kirio-san?" Shinji stated, giving a final brush of his sleeves which were littered with the Hiyori's footprints. "It's the only way you could deal with your brat, Lieutenant!"
Ukitake's thoughts were elsewhere and he backtracked.
"Kisuke-kun? You mean, Urahara Kisuke?"
"Hai, hai," Kirio said proudly.
Shunsui sounded keen on hearing more. "Ah, you mean the friend of Yoruichi-san? The boy genius?"
"Hai! He really is quite something," Kirio commented, gazing wistfully into the distance.
Although she would never admit it, she harbored a secret soft-spot for the blonde. Even if she adored all the children she visited during her years, Urahara's triumph was the closest reminder to the obstacles she had to overcome in her youth. She was glad his hard work was finally paying off with his new promotion.
"If that's true you better guard your position as the Captain of the 12th Division," Shunsui teased.
Despite her high-spirits, the nod she gave was solemn. "I'm sure Yamamoto-dono would be glad to replace me with him."
The four Captains were silent for the remainder of their journey down the corridor, and it was only when they came to the final chamber and organized themselves respectively on either side did Shunsui speak his mind.
"Say, Kirio-san?" he murmured through an easy smile.
"Hmm?"
"Though Ukitake-san said you looked happy, I am guessing something is on your mind ne?" The sudden twitch of her brow told him he was right. Satisfied with his powers of observation, he focused his gaze forward and rocked on the balls of his feet while the gathered Captains waited for their general. He paused for an answer and soon, Kirio gave in.
"Damn your ability to notice every little thing," she said spitefully, unable to wipe the grin from her face, yet still unable to seem a little jollier. "I just have… a bad feeling about this meeting, s'all."
"Bad feeling, huh? I get those."
"It's nothing to worry about. I'm sure it's…"
"Nothing?" he finished with a chuckle.
She laughed with him.
But just like Shunsui, his face grew taught and he inclined his body towards her after what Kirio thought, was the beginning of a lighter chapter. For a drunk, happy-go-lucky bloke, there were always two sides to every character, it seemed and without his trademark smirk, Shunsui looked too serious to describe.
"A Captain's inklings are not something to ignore, you know."
Kirio gave a side long glace, wanting to argue her biased point further; nonetheless, with the arrival of the general, it would have to wait. Straightening, she exhaled heavily.
"I really hate meetings."