Alrighty Here's another chapter... pretty long... hope you enjoy it!
War90: a little wink at your review (i liked it) ;-)
Chapter 8
Renji was at a loss... On his way back to the sixth division, he had bumped into the woman he had seen that very afternoon. She had mumbled an excuse, eyes downcast, and had been on her way. To say that he was puzzled would have been an understatement. Ukitake taicho had said that she was originally from his division. Did that mean he would work with her in the future? They already had a third seat anyway. So what would she do? Why such an expression on her face just then? Why had she been so withdrawn?
"Yameteoke, Renji", said a strong voice in his mind.
"Yeah! It's not good for your brain to think so much, I can already see smoke coming from your ears" another voice said, which sounded more like the voice of a child. A cocky one at that.
"Temera! Who asked for your opinion?" He answered in his mind.
The inner dialogue between the fukutaicho and his zampakuto continued, the only visible evidence of it was the annoyance clearly written on the former's face. One could see little angry drawings around his face.
Yet, the discussion stopped as he came to a halt. He stopped dead in his tracks when, upon entering the office he shared with his captain, he saw said captain at the window, seemingly deep in thought.
-Ano... Taicho...?
-Yes, Renji.
-Here is the report about this morning's incident with the eleventh division.
A curt reply followed, signaling the end of their conversation. But the redhead had something else in mind.
-Why was Hanawa Ayame coming from your office taicho?
Byakuya did not allow surprise to sip into his voice when he asked how he knew her name.
-I saw her earlier with Yumichika and Ikkaku. Ukitake told us her name, and that she used to be in our division.
-I see, the stoic captain said taking his time before adding, there was a matter to be discussed.
-Is she going to be working in our division then?
-No, tomorrow she will have a test. If she succeeds, she will become the lieutenant of squad 13.
-Wow, she must be strong...
-You may go now, Renji.
-Hai, have a good evening taicho.
Again, a curt nod was the only reply.
Ayame was so immersed in her own thoughts that she did not realize she had bumped into a hard body. She just carried on, still trying to figure out what to do now that her revenge was taken away from her. She knew she had to focus on something else... But what?
"On your job, baka! You have no choice but to live on as though this has never happened", came the reply from her zampakuto.
"I know but... But how can I go on with all this when I have all this pent up rage inside me? You must be feeling it too, right? How do you suppose we get rid of that. It's not like it's going to fade away from existence!"
"The answer is simple: we fight! We concentrate on the duty that is ours. Tomorrow you have that test. Unleash some of it, show your strength, our strength. If we gradually unleash it, we'll be fine... Also, getting an answer from the old man would help I think..." finished the zampakuto wisely.
"You think I should go to the Kuchiki manor? I really do not wish to give the old man the satisfaction*! Although he made an appeal when he learned the truth, it doesn't change the fact that he didn't believe me in the first place! Him, of all people! He knew I could not do something such as this! To kill my own lieutenant! You were there that night, do you not remember the look he gave us? Do you not remember how hard is hurt? And I should go and have tea with him?" She asked disconcerted. Her bewilderment was equal to the amount of emotional pain she had received with this single expression. That single look had been like daggers, each an every one of them labeled with what she had done and what it brought to the division: opprobrium, degradation, dishonor, obloquy... Shame. She was a shame, the ignominy of her action had marked her as a disgrace. It had hurt so much, so strongly, she had thought she would die when his eyes had landed on her. Like a mirror, after the hit of his stare, she had been shattered.
"Enough! Ayame! Don't do this to yourself! Go talk to him. He will not have that look in his eyes. Not anymore. He will have answers. You have to trust in this." The forceful answer was accompanied with a soothing invisible gesture. Suddenly, a dark, blurry figure took form, its dark, clothed hand resting on her shoulder. Ayame turned her head around, eyes bright with tears. A soft feminine voice spoke softly
-I know this hurts. But look ahead. Be strong, mistress. We will make it through. Our will shall prevail.
Taking a moment to compose herself, Ayame looked at the figure with a small smile.
-You always know what to say to me, don't you?
The soft voice was heard again,
-We are two in one, mistress. If you cannot find comfort in others, you will always find it with me.
With that she disappeared... Leaving Ayame alone on the street... Well, not really alone...
-I'm glad to have you with me... Raiden ;-)
"Stop calling me that" the voice said threateningly.
-But it's short and to the point! Your full name is so long!
"Yes, and I like it that way, thank you!"
With that, she flash-stepped away. She had people to visit...
When she arrived at the eighth division, she saw lights. Deciding to enter, she was greeted with what sounded like a book hitting something hard... Then she heard:
-Taicho! We haven't finished the paperwork!
Followed by a whiny:
-Mou... Nanao-chan, why so cruel?
-Well, Ise Nanao pushed up her glasses, a look of disdain in her eyes and continued, one of us has to be responsible!
-Demo yo! It's almost time for drinks, was the childish reply.
The pathetic tone made Ayame snicker quietly, thus drawing attention to herself.
-You really haven't changed, ne? Kyoraku Ta-i-cho...she said, punctuating her sentence with those three syllables.
She winked at him and held out her hand toward his lieutenant.
-Hanawa Ayame, hajimemashite fukutaicho-san ;-)
The look of surprise on Nanao's face passed quickly and she took the offered hand, not sure what to do...
-You're supposed to lightly shake it, Ayame whispered to her gently, that's how people in the western countries greet each other.
Doing as instructed, Nanao shook hands with the stranger and realized that her captain was silent. Fearing that he would do something stupid, she turned around, her eyes suspicious, but was unprepared for the sight that greeted her: she saw her captain smiling gently at them. But when he opened his mouth, her astonishment grew to new heights for his voice was quite serious, with a hint of... was it sadness?
-You've been told then, Ayame-chan?
-Yes, Ayame's voice took on a darker tone, I have been told.
-I'm sorry we couldn't find you. Where were you by the way?
-Oh, you know, here and there... Asia, Europe, America... I don't really know anymore... Nor do I care to. This whole charade would've ended then, but because I had decided to travel, it didn't. It's really my own fault, isn't it?
The tone of the conversation changed into something lighter as Shunsui continued:
-Well, you must have learned a few things from your travels though...?
-Yes, a small smile grace Ayame's lips, it wasn't a complete waste.
There she winked surreptitiously at him.
Ise Nanao was feeling completely left out. It was as if she wasn't in the room! Clearing her throat to make her presence (re-)known, she addressed her captain.
-I'm sorry but, we still have paperwork to finish, taicho.
Before Shunsui could say anything, before he could even open his mouth to protest, Ayame turned to the other woman and told her:
-If he gives you trouble, tell me. I have a method that used to work all the time...
And to the lazy captain she said: "finish your paperwork taicho, or else... you know what to expect!"
Said captain looked fearful for a second and in a disbelieving tone he said:
-You wouldn't!
-Oh, I sure would! You have been warned!
This made Nanao unbelievably curious. What could this woman have that was leverage enough for him to, one: look fearful (although it was quite funny to see that look on his face) and two: do his work? She would need to know the secret soon, because her tricks were starting to get old and were not as efficient as before.
Ayame left the building with a smile. It was good to be back. To be among friends. Her depressed and sour mood had evaporated a bit with both the help from her zampakuto and that visit to the eighth division. And she had yet to make her last visit. Even though they were a lot older than her, she considered Ukitake and Kyoraku her friends and it was a nice feeling to see them again. They had been like father figures for her. Father figures and friends and sempai. She had taken a liking to them, and them to her, from the first day.
She could remember that day she had met both of them, in the academy.
Flashback
Some of the captain had visited the academy to talk about their squads to the senior years. She had been one of them. A few months from then, she was going to be a shinigami. When, after their respective speeches, they had taken a break, Ayame had found herself bumping into the white haired captain. Landing on her rear, she had quickly and profusely apologized, on her knees. That's when a hand was held in front of her face. Eyes traveling from the hand, up the forearm, coming to the junction between arm and should, she had looked into kind, warm brown eyes.
-You're not going to refuse my help now, are you? The kind voice came out from those lips right below those gentle eyes. And you're not going to stay on the floor either.
He smiled at her. She smiled at him.
Taking his hand she got up and again, felt the need to apologize.
-Don't! That's okay :-]
Another captain decided to butt in:
-It's not every day we see a young woman bump into you, Ukitake... Usually, your presence is commanding enough...
-Maa Kyoraku, it's been known to happen... What your name, he asked the girl
-H-hanawa Ayame, Ukitake taicho, she answered lowering her head...
Everyone in the room was looking at them. It made her feel uncomfortable... "I'm so stupid" she thought.
-Well, Ayame-chan, said Ukitake, I can take a bump, I'm not made of sugar**... So don't feel too bad, ne?
-Thank you, Ukitake taicho, answered the girl.
Her smile was bright and grateful.
-Kyoraku, why don't we go to the gardens? I would love to see what it has become. It's been a while... Good day to you, Ayame-chan.
-Ha-hai! She stuttered, good day to you too, Ukitake taicho, Kyoraku taicho.
End of flashback
A year after that, she had been assigned to the sixth division, as an unseated officer. When she had seen the two of them, she had yet again bumped into the white haired captain... And he had been as nice as the first time... Always good-natured... They had talked for a while and he had asked her if she wanted to train with him, when she had time off of course, to which she had answered positively.
She would go to Ugendo several times thereafter, training with him and Kyoraku...
"ah... good times, good times..." she thought, nostalgic all of a sudden.
The walk to the 13th division was not long but as she drew closer, she heard screeches and screams getting louder and louder. "What the hell is that?" she asked herself. Then a voice was heard, silencing the auditory chaos.
-Maa, maa, Kyone, Sentarou. Mou ii desu. Kyone will prepare the tea and Sentarou will set the table. You're both good at making tea, so please don't fuss :-]
When she came in, Ayame saw two figures, back to back, huffing in annoyance (probably at one another) and the serene white haired captain, eyes closed and a benevolent smile gracing his lips.
He always knew how to diffuse a situation such as this... Years of practice came in handy, especially with his third seats... Feeling the familiar spiritual pressure, he opened his eyes to find Ayame on his doorstep.
-Come in Ayame-chan. I was waiting for you.
She complied with his request and took a seat across from him.
-Ayame, this is Kyone and Sentarou, my third seats, as if to himself he added, I wonder where Kuchiki is?
"Kuchiki? Another? Who could that... Ah... Yes, the adopted sister..." Ayame remembered what Kisuke had said about her... She was cut off from her thoughts by the sound of Ukitake's voice,
-Sentarou, seeing as you're done setting the table, would you go get Rukia?
-Hai taicho, right away. And in a flash, he was gone.
Ayame smirked.
-They sure are a lively pair, those two! And aiming to please as well, she chuckled softly... So, you were waiting for me?
-Yes, I knew you'd come. Did you stop by the 8th division first?
At her nod, he added,
-So you've met Ise fukutaicho then.
-Indeed, she has grown up a lot since I last saw her, her eyes became distant, the memory making her smile she continued, always carrying that big book of hers, even though it was twice her size...
They both laughed amusedly. After a few moments of silence, Ukitake murmured quietly:
-It relieves me to hear you laugh and see you smile Ayame, I was afraid you would react badly to the news.
She knew instantly what he was referring to and told him what she had told Kyoraku:
-Why should I have reacted badly? Her voice held a note of sadness, it was my own fault for not having been in the vicinity... My exile would have been cut short... No... her voice became even more quiet, what hurt was not that you didn't find me. It's that I was found not guilty and didn't know of that. What also hurts is that I will never be able to get retribution...
At Ukitake's inquisitive but gentle gaze, she added:
-You don't know what really happened and I'm afraid I can't tell you either because it hurts too much and also because I wouldn't be the only one affected if I spoke the truth... I... I wish I could tell you Ukitake-san...
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Both heads turned to see a young woman, of small size, with midnight black hair and big, almost violet eyes.
-Ah! Rukia! Come in, come in! I want you to meet the person who, as of tomorrow, will be the lieutenant of this division. Hanawa Ayame.
At this, Rukia looked at the figure seated across from her captain. Black hair, with a hint of red in them, straight strong back, almost black orbs that landed on her. She was captivating. The strength in those eyes were seen for only but a moment before they closed in embarrassment, a foxy smile playing on her lips.
-Maa maa, it's not determined yet Ukitake taicho. Turning toward the girl she said, nice to meet you, Rukia-san.
-Nice to meet you too, Hanawa-san...answered the Kuchiki.
-No need for honorifics with me Rukia-san. I've dealt with your family enough before to know that i'm no noble. And you, as one, don't need to use honorifics. If I pass the test tomorrow, you can call me Ayame fukutaicho, but please, no honorifics.
Rukia was still stuck on the "dealt with your family"... Feeling more than averagely curious about it, she asked:
-Who did you meet from the Kuchiki clan?
-Well... Kuchiki Ginrei for one, he was my captain a long time ago... her voice got a bit harsher as she continued, Kuchiki Soujun, my former lieutenant and your brother's father. Of course, i've met Kuchiki Byakuya, I used to train him after all... ;-)
-You knew nii-sama when he was young?
-Now, don't put it that way Rukia-san. One would think your brother is an old man now, and that's not what you're implying, is it?
Rukia gasped, becoming instantly red from embarrassment. She tried to reply that, no, that's not what she had meant at all, but stuttered... She was saved from the teasing by her captain...
-Now, Ayame-chan, you've embarrassed the girl, there was a hint of a chuckle in his voice. Rukia, would you like some tea?
They continued talking pleasantly for a while, until they were joined by Kyoraku and his Nanao-chan. The discussion then became livelier with the 8th division captain present.
At some point, Ayame turned to Rukia and looked at her, a cheeky smile painted on her face:
-You know, Rukia-san, I could tell you a few things about your brother no one knows... She wiggled her brows to make her point clearer (if that was possible). At this, the vice president of the shinigami women association (SWA) stood at attention, her curiosity picked for the second time since meeting that woman.
"She has tips on how to make my captain work and she knows things about Kuchiki taicho... We need her!" inner nanao yelled!
-Hanawa-san, she started calmly, would you like to join the SWA?
-Why not, I don't see any harm in that...
Inner Nanao jumped with joy, fists triumphantly in the air...
Rukia answered quietly and sweat dropped
-Oh, you have no idea...
The discussions continued, topics after topics, Ayame described how the shinigamis in other parts of the world were, the cultures she learned about, the languages she now knew... How much Europe changed in the years she had been there...
It was well past eight in the evening when Kuchiki Byakuya stopped by to take Rukia home.
-Good luck for your test tomorrow, Ayame-san! She said.
-Mou, "Ayame" wa ii desu yo! But thanks, Rukia-san.
With that, the Kuchiki siblings left. Rukia felt that her brother was tense... Well, more tense than usual. His stoic façade was the same, but the frown was just a bit more pronounced on his brows...
They spoke for a little while about Ayame. She asked him how he knew her, to which he stated simply that she had been assigned by his grand-father to train him. Other questions followed, answered just as curtly. To stop the flow of incessant questions from his dear sister, Byakuya said:
-We will be late for dinner. Come.
And both flash-stepped away.
At the same time, in the 13th division, Ayame was answering questions after questions, much like the poor Kuchiki with his sister... Her two "father figures" were really curious. For that she was grateful. It took her mind off the one topic she did not want to think about. Their genuine interest in her adventures was a nice change of pace as well. Her trips, everything that had occurred to her during the last hundred years was not as tragic as what had lead her to it and she took pride in her broadened knowledge of the world. This was something she could freely share with the two captains...
"Talking about sharing, said her zampakuto, don't you have something to give them?"
-Oh! Reacting to the question, that reminds me, I have something for the both of you! Chotto, shitsurei shimasu...
She came back five minutes later, two big bags in hand. At their inquiring stare, she replied:
-These are things that I got for you while I was away.
She handed Ukitake one of the bags and said:
-There are two things: one is candy, as I know you like them, they're called "bêtises de Cambraie", and they're very nice. The other is more meaningful... I don't know if it will work, but I found that scientists and doctors in the world of the living created a cure for your disease. Maybe Kurotsuchi taicho and Unohana taicho could find a way to make the formula work on spirits...
The white haired captain had nothing to reply, a large lump forming in his throat, caused by the thoughtful act of kindness. He took the offered bag and without words, squeezed the hand that held it. Sensing his emotions, Ayame decided a hug wouldn't hurt. In this hug, she felt the unexpressed gratitude. Placing her left hand on his hair, she whispered softly in his ear:
-I truly hope it will work. I know how much you dread the next attack and hate the feeling of weakness it leaves you with afterwards.
Ukitake nodded wordlessly in her neck, not at all offended by the use of "weakness". He knew it was not meant as an insult.
After a moment of silence, Ayame disengaged herself from the hug and turn to the man with the hat and pink haori, smirking:
-It's a good thing your lieutenant has left already or she would skin me alive, she burst out laughing. Here, something from Europe... I know it will go straight to your heart, or rather your stomach here...
The unmistakable clinging sound of glass answered the unspoken question.
In the bag lay three bottles. One contained a green liquid, which she called "absinth" "very strong so drink with moderation!" she said. The other two had the following labels: "liqueur de prune" (plum liquor) "umenohana no shouchuu" and "Calvados" (apple liquor) "ringo no shouchuu". Then she proceeded to explain the uses and manners in which to drink the alcohol she had brought. The last one, "Calvados" was very intriguing, especially since it was to be imbibed by ice cream, or drunk with the ice cream and that in the middle of a meal... Kyoraku expressed his thanks by hugging her senseless.
-That is an usual concept this... "trou normand"... Eating liquor imbibed ice-cream in the middle of dinner, said Ukitake.
Shunsui was already thinking of the ways he could drink his precious stash without Nanao-chan's knowledge...
-Well, it helps eat more, was Ayame's cheeky reply to Ukitake...
The trio continued talking well into the night until it was decreed by Kyoraku, that Ayame needed her sleep. That the man would be responsible enough to say such a thing was shocking, to say the least. When told about this, his only answer was a smile, a wink, and:
-I will see you in a few hours for the test, Hanawa fukutaicho!
It wasn't the case yet, but he had no doubt that she would make a wonderful lieutenant... who knows, even captain someday...
Japanese words and sentences:
Yameteoke: stop it (from the verb "yamu", i wrote it as i heard it from zabimaru in the anime)
Temera: you! (here idk it's more like "you guys"?)
Raiden: thunder and lightning... That's not Ayame's zampakuto's real name though... I got the idea from Yumichika... :-P
Mou: enough, in a childish way here
Demo yo: again, in a childish way it means "but"
hajimemashite: nice to meet you
maa: well
Mou ii desu: that's okay, (that is enough)
Mou, "Ayame" wa ii desu yo! "Ayame" is enough you know! the "yo" is an emphasis marker and sometimes translated by "you know" at the end of a sentence
umenohana: plum
ringo: apple
shouchuu: liquor
French expressions and words:
trou normand: apple liquor imbibed ice-cream (usually lemon or apple ice-cream, if memory serves), that you eat before the main course to make some more room in your stomach for what follows... People in normandy (therefore the "normand" part of the name) usually have that whenthey have a long... very long meal , like 5 hours or something... I've experienced that before and let me tell you: it truly works! it's amazing!
Calvados: that's the name of the liquor made in Calvados! For those unfamiliar with france (there has to be people interested in that! right?) Geographically and for administrative purposes, france is divided into regions (for example île-de-france, where paris is located), each region is divided into what we call "départements" (smaller areas which then divide into cities and whatnots)... Calvados is a "département"... I hope it made sense ;-)
War90: now that you've read the chapter, i hope you found the little * ;-) Ayame, for the purpose of this story, will give Ginrei the satisfaction, although, i didn't want to either... I was tempted to do as you said, but you'll see in the upcoming chapter (probably chapter 10 or 11) why she has to go see the old man... thanks for the review though, it was nice!
** to be made of suger: i don't know if it is an expression in english... it is in french so i get confused... :-S litterally Ukitake says: "Je ne suis pas en sucre", which means i'm not fragile... I'm not in sugar... whoo... wouldn't that be nice °_° yum yum... sweet sweet Ukitake!
Hope you liked that chapter!
REVIEW! pwease!
