Author's Note: The following is pure omake. I'm sorry! I've been really busy the last month or so, and it's destroyed my time to write. It's not likely to let up for at least a few weeks, though if I'm lucky I'll get a little more time here and there. Anyway, given the lack of real material, I figured I'd throw you all a bone. This little snippit is actually more relevant than it may seem at first glance.
We'll get back to Gin and Rangiku just as soon as I get the chance.
Pull Down the World
Omake 1
Urahara Kisuke dozed, his head resting on the cold, polished wood of the Third Seat desk. The day had hardly begun, but already he was bored. Life in Soul Society just wasn't as exciting as he'd hoped. Even in Second Division. And being in charge of the Second Division special detention facility, as Kisuke was, was perhaps one of the most exciting jobs available to him. But by comparison to Rukongai, and to the work his uncle had been doing...
The shoji door to the office crashed open, and Kisuke bolted upright at his desk. Bright sunlight streamed through, framing a tall figure. The light prevented Kisuke from seeing any more than a silhouette, but Kisuke had no trouble making out the lines of the captain's cloak that hung from the figure's shoulders.
"Urahara! I've got a job for you!" The voice was loud and obnoxious, and it made Kisuke rub his temples.
"Uhhh... Captain Kurosaki...? can you, y'know... maybe be a little... quieter," Kisuke moaned. "Was over at the Eighth last night, and you know how Shunsui is." Kisuke firmly believed hangovers were more likely to kill him than hollows would ever be.
The figure in the door laughed raucously and stepped into the office, sliding the shoji screen closed. Without the backlighting, his face resolved into the stubbly face Kisuke knew so well. Kurosaki Isshin, Captain of the Eleventh Division of the Gotei Thirteen, and widely regarded as the most dangerous man in Soul Society.
Not dangerous to hollows. Dangerous to other shinigami. Mostly, his own subordinates.
Captain Kurosaki fell into a heavy wooden chair across from the desk, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "Jushirou an' I got to talking the other night. I said you're better with a sword than any of the vice captains. He doesn't believe it. Got a bet goin' with him about whether you can take his Second. I want you to go over to the Thirteenth and show Jushirou yourself." The Captain's voice was as loud as ever. Kisuke felt like his head would explode.
"Now? Captain Kurosaki... I just woke up, and I'm not in any shape to fight a Second Seat." That wasn't strictly true. Kisuke suspected he could take any of them, except possibly Utagawa, even in his present condition. Certainly the vice captain of the Thirteenth, Kiyomizu Ran, was someone Kisuke could defeat. But it was the principle of the thing. "Are you really gonna make me...? C'mon, Yoruichi-chan didn't actually say she'd let you..." Kurosaki nodded curtly. "Can't it at least wait for tomorrow?"
The Captain's brows drew downward, and Kisuke suddenly felt the oppressive weight of Kurosaki Isshin's reiatsu constricting around him. "No, Kisuke, it can't wait for tomorrow. I told Jushirou you were going to be there half an hour ago. You're already late. Now move your ass."
"Yeah, yeah." Kisuke rolled his eyes, prompting another twinge of pain in his head. With a sigh, he stood and grabbed a katana-shaped letter opener off the desk. Benihime reverted to its original form, and he tucked it into his obi, securing the sageyo, the wide cord that hung from the sheath, in a few quick flourishes.
The Captain stood as well, a wide smile creasing his face. "You gonna use your bankai, Kisuke? Jushirou would never expect that."
"No, Captain Kurosaki. I am not going to use my bankai, and will you please stop asking? I showed you once. Isn't that enough?" Kisuke muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple again. "Anyway, Kiyomizu-dono really isn't a very good fighter, no matter what Captain Ukitake thinks."
With a grin, Captain Kurosaki slapped Kisuke on the back. It hurt. Kisuke coughed, which hurt more.
"Fricking...! All right already, Captain, I'm going! But when I get back, I am taking a NAP. I don't care what you want." Kisuke stalked to the door and slammed it open, marching out into the hall of the Second Division Office Complex.
The situation had changed subtly in his mind. Now, Kisuke saw Vice Captain Kiyomizu as the one obstacle between him and his nap. That could not be allowed. That could not be forgiven. Kiyomizu Ran would know the full wrath of the Third Seat of the Second Division. And then Kisuke would go back to bed.
The fight lasted thirty-two seconds. Kisuke never even thought about using his bankai.
