Not really a drabble, but Isane doesn't get half the attention she deserves. Set sometime in the far past.
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Kotetsu Isane – Sisterly Concerns
When she finds out, a whole week too late, that Kiyone – little, hopeless, adorable Kiyone, who should never, ever have been made a Shinigami to begin with – has been accepted into the Gotei Thirteen as a Seat, Fourth Division's Kotetsu Isane does something totally unheard of: she calls in sick (the irony of it all will only dawn on her later when it's too late to do anything about it) and hurries to Squad Thirteen with the vague notion of somehow talking some sense into its captain, who is rumoured to be a kind, sensible man.
But once she is let into his office reality finally hits home. She, a lowly officer from Squad Four of all places, is about to go up against one of the oldest, most experienced, most powerful, most respected captains there is – and what on earth was she even thinking coming here, unannounced, like this?
Kiyone.
She is looking out for Kiyone, because she has always looked out for Kiyone.
Childish Kiyone, who only graduated from the Academy this year and couldn't possibly be good enough to be a Seat yet;
tiny Kiyone, who is still so young;
stubborn Kiyone, who is all she has left.
Please, she wants to beg her little sister's captain. Please don't take her away, too.
But she doesn't, because Kiyone's captain just looks at her and then she can't.
They stay like that for a long, long time: she looking down at the floor without stating her business, and he waiting patiently even though they both know that she is wasting his time. But then the far door is suddenly flung open with a loud, resounding bang and a burst of familiar reiatsu ricochets around the room.
"Taichou!" booms the explosion, clearly worried. "Rin-chan said she saw someone from Fourth Division head for your office! Are you okay, taichou? Do you need anything? Just say the word and Kotsubaka will get it for you!"
Not at all taken aback by the intrusion, the captain shakes his head. "It's alright. I'm feeling fine."
"Are you thirsty? Hungry?"
"Not at all."
"...really, taichou? You're really okay?"
"Yes. Really. But thank you for your concern."
"No worries, taichou! I'm just glad you're okay!"
Isane, who has somehow managed to wedge her not-insignificant height behind the same door Kiyone slammed open, wonders briefly what Ukitake-taichou's secret is, because Kiyone can be terribly selfish and contrary.
"Ne, taichou, that idiot Kotsubaka got really worried!" Kiyone continues at that break-neck speed of hers. "He was this—" and Isane imagines that her sister is measuring out a tiny distance between her right thumb and index finger "—close to crying when we heard!"
And almost as by kidou, a second presence rushes into the room, heading straight into the fray.
"Was not!" hisses a man (Kotsubaka-san?) indignantly. "Lies! All of it! Taichou, don't believe a word she says!"
"Was too!" taunts Kiyone happily and expertly, and the glee in her voice almost makes Isane step forward to apologize on her behalf. "Why are your eyes red and puffy then?"
"They..." the man falters. "It's just an eye infection, dammit! Just an eye infection! I've got allergies, okay?!"
It isn't, of course. And Kiyone promptly dissolves into her special hyena-laugh, and even though Isane knows that it probably shouldn't, the knot in her stomach relaxes ever so slightly from hearing her laugh so freely. Kiyone rarely laughs like that at home.
"Kotsubaka is a crybaby! I can't wait to tell Kaien-fukutaichou!"
"What—no! And who are you calling 'Kotsubaka', you little pest! It's Kotsubak-i! Kotsubak-i!"
"Kotsubaka! Kotsubaka!"
"Shut up! Do you even know who you're—"
"We're the same rank, so bleh~!"
"You're still a newbie and I'm older than you! Didn't your parents ever teach you to respect your elders?!"
Kiyone stops laughing and says, "Nee-chan taught me. And I respect taichou and nee-chan the most. Kaien-fukutaichou and Miyako-san, too. But that's it."
"Ehhh?! What about me?"
"Nee-chan always says that respect is earned... So buy me some snacks after training and I might consider it."
"That... That's extortion!"
"But respect is all about taking and giving."
"You litt—"
"Kiyone! Sentarou! Get your sorry asses out here right now! Where are you? I didn't say we were finished!"
"Uh, Kotsubaki? Kaien-fukutaichou sounds mad."
"No shit. Hey. You don't think..."
"Uh-huh. Like last time. Uh, we should probably..."
"Gotcha. Taichou! The pest and I must take our leave—"
"Who's a pest! Ne, don't worry, taichou! I'll be back before you know it!"
"What do you mean 'you'll be back'? I'll be back first!"
"No you won't, because you're old, remember? Which means you're slow and probably senile, too!"
"Five years, Kotetsu! It's only five years!"
"So you really think you can keep up with me, old man?"
"Who are you calling an old—"
Ukitake-taichou looks a little dazed when he waves the two-man pandemonium along, but is otherwise (mostly) unharmed, and once the bickering has faded into the distance, Kotetsu Isane emerges from her hideout, bows deeply and sincerely, and just a bit apologetically:
"Please take care of my loudmouth sister."
Then, Kotetsu Isane leaves.
