Chapter 7: Shinigami Women's Association = Danger

Toshiro was walking around the Seireitei looking for Matsumoto – the woman had disappeared as soon as she'd woken up – when Unohana appeared before him.

'Would you please take this to Captain Ukitake? It's some medicine for him,' the smiling captain handed him a package and then walked off.

Sighing, Toshiro used shunpo to arrive at Ukitake's house in his family estate, arriving to hear the sounds of tea being prepared.

Walking closer, he realised that Ukitake must have a guest, as the captain seemed to be talking to someone.

His eyebrows raised when he heard the word 'Hinamori', and then he blinked in shock when he heard 'Shiro-chan'. Suddenly realising that it was Kanashimi talking, he continued onwards quickly, arriving at the door to hear Ukitake say 'Shiro-chan' could be him or, what Toshiro assumed would have been, Hitsugaya, then the other captain saying 'you're dead' in a very flat tone.

Toshiro slid open the door just as Ukitake dropped his teacup in surprise, the delicate vessel shattering upon impact and spreading tea across the table, and then opened and closed his mouth a few times looking rather like the koi in his pond.

Noticing that he had another guest, Jushiro blinked and tried to sort himself out as he probably wasn't making a very good impression at the moment. Turning to Toshiro, he wondered how he was supposed to explain everything.

'Sorry to interrupt,' Toshiro moved further into the room, 'But may I ask what you were talking about?'

Kanashimi flicked her gaze to his and said, 'Hinamori asked me to tell a Shiro-chan that they were dead,' and her tone was absolutely indifferent despite the darkening in her eyes.

'I see,' Toshiro was trying hard not to smile, 'It seems that there's been a misunderstanding. If it was Hinamori saying that, then she'd probably be directing it at me,' he paused, 'I bet it's because I made her and Matsumoto leave the office the other day. She's been acting suspiciously lately,'

'We've noticed too,' Ukitake seemed to have recovered and was now back to his usual smiling self, 'I think it's because of some plan Matsumoto's devised and made her part of,' noticing how Kanashimi paled, he asked, 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' she murmured, 'But I think the Association has some plans that I wouldn't want to get caught up in,'

Glancing at the window, and realising that it was twilight, Jushiro sat up straight. Putting on a paternal voice, he said, 'Now, it looks like it's getting dark so you two should go to bed. Children need more sleep than adults,'

Toshiro twitched and leaned towards the occasionally infuriating man, 'What was that?'

Seeing the frost appearing on his floor, Jushiro decided that it would be better not to repeat himself, so he simply said, 'Goodnight,'

Sighing, the other white haired captain turned and left, calling out a farewell to Ukitake, then Yuki stood and politely excused herself, thanking Jushiro for his help.

As he was left alone, Ukitake couldn't help but think that the girl seemed to be constantly sorrowful, and noted that, despite her mistake in delivering the strange message, she hadn't even blinked.

'Hinamori,' Toshiro knocked on the door to the Fifth Division captain's office, 'I'm coming in,'

'Shiro-chan!' the Lieutenant leapt up from the desk and ran over, smiling hugely and not looking suspicious at all.

'What did you do to Kanashimi?' the captain got straight to the point.

'Oh yes,' Momo flushed slightly, 'That was a bit forward of me, wasn't it?' she sighed, 'I just wanted you to come so that I could scold you for kicking me out of your office the other day,' she grabbed his shihakusho and shook him, 'I'm your childhood friend! We're like siblings! You can't do that to me,'

'Sorry, Matsumoto was the main problem,' sitting down on one of the chairs, Toshiro sighed, 'Another question,' Momo came over to sit opposite him, a questioning look on her face, 'What's the Association planning to do to Kanashimi?'

'You're awfully concerned,' the Lieutenant teased, then she grinned, looking quite wicked again, 'Nothing anyway,'

'Ukitake was worried too,' Toshiro mentioned the captain knowing that Hinamori respected him greatly, probably slightly more so than the other captains except Unohana.

'Really?' she sounded uncertain, as if she wasn't sure about going through with whatever idea they had, 'Well, I can't tell you,'

'Just think of Ukitake's face when he learns how mischievous you've become, Hinamori,' Toshiro spoke in such a regretful tone, secretly enjoying himself.

'Oh,' Momo sounded devastated, wondering if the person who'd always been kind to her, visited her when she was injured, and given her presents – albeit strange ones – at random times, was going to think she was a mean shinigami.

'Well, be sure to apologise to him if something interesting happens,' Toshiro sighed deeply, 'He looked like he found Kanashimi quite endearing,'

'The Association was going to take Captain Kanashimi to the World of the Living and make her shop and do human things for a few days and then take her to the beach and make her enjoy herself because she always seems so sad and distant even when she's not – which doesn't really make sense, but we all thought so and even Unohana agreed to give us a sedative. It was all going to be fu-,' Momo started coughing and taking long gasping breaths, unable to finish what she was saying in only a single breath, 'Fun,'

Toshiro found that he was now incredibly concerned about the situation as all of the things Momo had just mentioned sounded rather worrying, leaning forwards slightly, he tapped the Lieutenant's bowed head, 'When were you going to do that?'

Looking up at him nervously, the Lieutenant squeaked, 'Tonight,' then, as the white haired captain rushed to the door, she added, 'Because all the stores in the Human World stay open for ages and we thought it would be a nice surprise!'

Racing through the Seireitei, Toshiro was silently bothered by the fact that Kanashimi emitted little reiatsu, because it made her incredibly hard to find, smothered by the many other spiritual pressures around the place.

He didn't know exactly why he was worried in the first place, but, despite not knowing the new captain very well, he was pretty sure that what the Association had planned wasn't her idea of a holiday.

I know that Kira for one will be horrified if the captain suddenly disappears, Toshiro thought, He'd probably go insane.

Suddenly he sensed a slight flicker of the dark reiatsu and moved towards it, arriving just as what appeared to be Nemu, dragged Kanashimi through a wall.

Oh dear, now, despite not knowing how it became his responsibility, Toshiro was very concerned, How am I supposed to help now?

When she was pulled through a secret doorway and into one of the Association's rooms, Yuki was surprised. At that precise moment, she'd sensed Hitsugaya's reiatsu and had been about to turn and see why.

Now, looking around at the waiting members of the Shinigami Women's Association, she couldn't help but feel a little concerned.

Kuchiki Rukia wasn't there, but everyone else was, and they looked expectant. Suddenly another door slid open and Captain Unohana Retsu stepped through.

'Chairwoman,' everyone addressed her politely and Yuki realised she must be the supervising chairwoman of the Association.

'Here you go,' the kind faced captain handed her Lieutenant, Kotetsu Isane, a package, 'Have a good night, all of you,'

As she turned and left, Isane undid the package and produced a needle like object, glittering with a pale green liquid.

Now very concerned, Yuki glanced at the other Association members.

There was a pause and then Soifon, a captain known for her agility and speed, used shunpo to vanish from where she'd been standing and appear behind Kanashimi, aiming a kick at her shoulder. Surprising everyone, Yuki leaned backwards, dodging the blow, and then used her own shunpo to retreat to one corner of the room.

'You shouldn't have sealed yourself in like that,' Matsumoto laughed, advancing on the captain, 'We'll catch you for sure,'

'Bakudo 4. Hainawa,' raising her hands, Yuki released the glowing ball of yellow light. The tendril of kido wrapped around all of the shinigami except Soifon, who'd used shunpo to dodge it, and Hinamori, who'd used her own kido to negate it.

'You're pretty serious,' Matsumoto struggled to break free but the power the low-level kido spell had was surprising, 'You don't even know what we're trying to do,'

'I don't think I want to,' thinking fast, Yuki realised that the only way she could get out would be to break down a wall, or get one of them to open a hidden door.

'It was going to be so fun,' Momo was still sad over the whole event, 'I was looking forward to it,'

'Me too,' a few of the others agreed, Isane tapping the needle against her palm.

'What were you planning to do?' eyes flicking to the Lieutenant of the Fourth Division and the utensil she was holding, Yuki frowned slightly.

'Kidnap you and take you to the World of the Living,'

Everyone froze and blinked in surprise when they heard a voice that was definitely not female. Turning as best they could with the kido restraints still around them, the members of the Shinigami Women's Association watched as Hitsugaya Toshiro walked through a neatly cut hole in the wall, followed by Kuchiki Byakuya and Rukia.

'C-captain,' Matsumoto was guilty and she glanced accusingly at Momo, who hid her face in her hands, 'What are you doing? This is a Shinigami Women's Association meeting, you know,'

'All of you, leave,' Byakuya's cold, stoic voice made some of the shinigami jump, slate gray eyes flicked open and the captain continued, 'Now,'

Releasing the kido that was binding the shinigami women, Yuki stepped aside as they all filed out one of the secret doors, only Matsumoto staying behind.

'You ruin all our fun! Captain Unohana's going to be mad the next time you see her so don't get injured before she forgives you!' after receiving a particularly cold group of stares, Rangiku turned and left as well, shouting out her words dramatically.

Byakuya watched silently as the door slid shut before resuming his passive appearance. Rukia peeked around the door and saw Yuki standing in the corner, eyes still where the opening had been as if she expected someone to come back in and try to attack her again. The shinigami was about to speak when there was a soft swish sound and then the Third Division captain flinched violently.

A sudden silent moment preceded mad yells as the Women's Association raced in through all kinds of doors – including one in the floor – and leapt towards Yuki. The woman's lavender eyes widened fractionally and she raised her hands as if she was about to defend herself again.

'Scatter, Senbonzakura,'

'Aaaargh!' screaming now, the female shinigami scattered once more and vanished.

Byakuya sheathed his zanpakuto and was about to say something when, rather abruptly, Kanashimi fell forwards, clearly unconscious.

'Oh, the sedative,' Rukia mumbled, earning her two stares, 'Unohana devised it. Even if Captain Kanashimi has a tolerance to normal sleeping drugs, that one was sure to knock her out,'

'I can't believe it,' Toshiro sighed, 'And it's not like I can get Matsumoto to take her back to the Third Division,'

'Excuse me,' a voice from behind them made the trio turn, eyes falling on a nervous looking Kira, 'Is my captain here?'

Stepping aside and revealing the sleeping captain, Rukia said, 'Yes, did you come to take her back?'

'That's right,' suddenly Izuru's eyes rolled back and he fell flat on his face, a light snore telling everyone else that he was sleeping.

'I guess they got him too,' Rukia couldn't help but chuckle.

'We have to go,' Byakuya said suddenly, talking to Rukia, 'The rest of the Kuchiki family wanted to see how you're progressing,'

'I almost forgot!' paling slightly, the shinigami rushed from the room.

'My apologies,' the Sixth Division captain turned and began walking away, 'Could you deal with this?'

Toshiro nodded, despite knowing he had no choice in the situation, and sighed once both of them were out of sight.

Glancing down at Izuru, he knelt down and shook the Lieutenant hard. The only response was a muffled mumble and a twitch of muscles.

Frown deepening, the white haired captain moved over to do the same to Kanashimi, ignoring her captain's status and shaking her hard.

To his surprise, pale violet eyes flashed open and the shinigami stood and drew her zanpakuto in one smooth movement, the tip resting against his forehead.

Taking a step backwards and raising an arm to cover her eyes, Yuki sheathed her zanpakuto. Her mind was having trouble functioning because of the drug Isane had secretly administered and her vision was cloudy.

Sensing reiatsu, the captain realised that her Lieutenant and Hitsugaya were also in the room and recognised the fact that only one of them was conscious.

Lowering her sleeve, she tried to focus her eyes and finally was able to see the Tenth Division captain's form kneeling on the ground, light surprise showing on his face. Guessing that she'd been pointing her blade at him, she couldn't help but frown.

This was her second day as a captain, and already things were getting complicated. Why had she ever decided to introduce herself to the Women's Association? All that seemed to have come from it so far was trouble.

'Sorry,' losing her balance again, the captain moved over to lean against a wall.

Toshiro finally snapped out of his frozen state and stood up, realising that, apart from being unstable on her feet, the other captain seemed to be having trouble seeing properly. Wondering just what Unohana had concocted, he glanced at the still snoring Izuru and rubbed his face tiredly.

'No, it's okay,' walking over to the Lieutenant, Toshiro put the man's arm over his shoulder and rose, supporting Izuru's sleeping form, 'Are you alright?'

'Fine,' Yuki managed to clear her vision and watched as Hitsugaya turned to walk out the door, waiting just outside, 'You don't want me to take him?'

'I'll do it,' as the black haired captain walked over, she stumbled multiple times, always regaining her balance at the last moment, Toshiro's eyes narrowed slightly, 'You look like you could use some help yourself,'

Yuki couldn't help but blink at the concern in his tone, unable to clearly see his face, she couldn't work out if he was mocking her or not. The Third Division captain leant on the doorway, eyes losing focus again so that Hitsugaya was only a shadowy blur. She knew it was night and she could feel a slight breeze coming from her left as if there was a door there that opened to the outside world.

'Are you sure you're okay?' Toshiro wasn't sure why exactly the captain was just standing in the doorway, a complicated expression on her pale face.

'Of course,' Yuki walked from the room and began moving towards the open door, sensing that Hitsugaya followed.

As they stepped into the open air, Toshiro sensed the other captain relax slightly and he almost sighed as they continued on towards the Third Division.

Author's Note:

Everyone sounds like they're having so much fun!