Chapter 9
After stepping out of the shower, Nanao towel dried her hair and looked through her closet searching for a fresh uniform. Her organizational methods lead it to be easily placed, and looking in the mirror, she starred intently at her own reflection, as if trying to access the memories her own head contained by sheer force of will.
Mechanically, as if by rote, she was surprised to find herself reaching into a bathroom drawer for a clip and then using it to pin her hair back. Was this how she always wore her hair? It seemed to naturally fall into place.
Sitting down on her bed, she grabbed the journal, thumbing through its pages with interest, scanning the dates. It spanned several of the last years, and seemed to be one of several in a series. Standing up, she dug around again in her closet, locating a stack of similar journals, all which seemed to span decades and date back to her youth. She placed them all on the bed, and sitting upright, she curled into a pillow and began reading select passages. "What better book to read than the one of my own life?" she verbalized her thoughts subconsciously.
Hours passed as she read, picking through pages for dates and entries that seemed particularly important. As she turned the pages, she found herself smiling at certain parts, especially when she had written about her Captain. He was apparently a goofy man who annoyed her often, but also a formidable Shinigami, and she had been in his squad since day one. She didn't spend too long reading in any period of time, instead choosing to read quickly, picking up important details regarding her personality and her job function. In any event, the journals were more a day to day account of activities and events, not a place Nanao had chosen to spill her every feeling. That alone spoke to the type of person she was, she decided.
It seemed that she had actually not written in the latest journal in several months – the last entry speaking of how busy Seireitei had become to deal with someone named Aizen. Too bad, she thought, I guess I'll have to get Captain Kyouraku to fill in those details.
Standing up, she arranged all the journals into a neat stack, and replaced them back into the closest, leaving the most recent one in its spot in her night stand. Everything back in its place. Her stomach grumbled, and looking at the window, she was surprised to see twilight had fallen. Heading back into her kitchen, she was dismayed to see that not only was the fridge empty, but her cupboards were bare as well, save for tea and coffee. Nothing else to do, she supposed, as she headed out of her room, towards her Captain's quarters.
Knocking on the door lightly, she stepped back, hoping he was in for the evening.
A moment passed, and he opened the door with a flourish, wearing a purple apron of all things, over a yellow kimono, his uniform nowhere to be seen.
"Ah, Nanao-chan! Come right on in."
"Good Evening Sir. I'm sorry to bother you -"
He interrupted her. "No bother! I was actually going to be coming your way in a bit if you hadn't shown up. I'm making dinner, enough for two. Would you like some?"
She hesitated for a moment, feeling like a burden. Before she could answer, her stomach betrayed her, growling loudly in response.
"I guess that's a yes!" He reached down to playfully poke her stomach. Without thinking, in response Nanao popped him lightly on the back of his head.
A look of shock crossed both of their faces, but not for the same reason.
Shunsui regarded her, eyes wide, and she spoke quickly, stammering a response. "I'm so sorry, Sir, I don't know why I hit you, it just happened..." Her face grew red, and she starred down at the ground, refusing to make eye contact.
"Nanao – I've never been so happy to be hit for teasing you." He took his hand and held up her chin, forcing her to look him straight in the face. "Thank you."
He didn't offer further explanation, and she didn't request it, instead accepting the action as some kind of ritual she was not yet privy to, though she may grow to know in time.
"Now, come inside – sit, sit. We'll chat while I finish cooking."
Following his request, she entered, looking around his rooms, noting he was decidedly not neat and orderly. Nanao had to resist the urge to scurry around, stacking books and scrolls, gathering clothes, and folding blankets. With a slight smile to herself, she wondered if cleaning up after him was something else that happened naturally.
"What are you grinning about over there?" He inquired, standing over a pot of some kind of boiling red sauce.
"Just trying to deduce how we normally interact, that's all."
"Hmmm." He hummed to himself in thought, stirring his concoction.
After a moment, he spoke. "I'm making something you like, so don't worry."
"I'm sure it will be wonderful, it smells that way at least." A pleasant aroma was drifting towards her from the stove, reminding her she hadn't eaten since early this morning at the hospital.
Shunsui was glad to hear her dropping the Sir she had previously been including with every sentence, it was another plus to add to the hit from earlier. With Nanao keeping herself busy in his living room looking over his books, the evening felt almost normal.
He still couldn't get over how much things had changed. Two days ago, he'd been beside himself with grief, convinced he had lost his sanity and that Nanao was gone forever. The transition of events was almost surreal. Part of him thought maybe he had lost his mind, and everything that had happened since he left for the real world was just a self manufactured coping sequence. He had to suppress the desire to run over to Nanao, grip her arm, touch her face, prove to himself over and over she was really there, really back. Now he just needed to help her remember, and that too seemed to be on its way.
There was something he noticed he wanted to confirm.
"Say, Nanao-chan."
"Yes?" She was sitting on his couch, thumbing through a large historical volume.
"You put your hair up the way you always do, I think that's a good sign."
"It just seemed the way it fell into place."
"Maybe that shot Mayuri's man gave you is helping after all." He didn't want to get her hopes up, but also felt she needed to know when progress was apparent.
"I wouldn't read too much into it. And is there anything I can do to help?" She put down the book, joining him in the kitchen.
"It's actually almost ready. You want to set the table? See if you can find the plates and silverware in my kitchen. You've been here many times before, though, I hate to say, not often have you allowed me to cook you dinner."
"Maybe I'm about to find out there's a reason for that." She gave him a sidelong glance, and smiling, she quickly added, "Sir." Opening drawers and shelves, she found the plates, more by process of elimination than remembered location.
A knock at Shunsui's door stopped him from serving them both. Replacing the pot back on the stove, he wiped his hands on a dish towel. "Now who could that be?" The spiritual pressure was not anyone he immediately recognized. With a glance at Nanao, he paused to grab both of his swords and tuck them into the belt of his kimono, causing him to appear a bit absurd, with swords at his hip, their guard matching the color of his apron. He regarded her seriously and deadpanned, "I'll handle this." She snorted at him in response.
The only people who would be bothering him right now would be someone who wanted to make him do something, or go somewhere. Anyone who mattered would know he was helping Nanao tonight. So opening the door, he stuck his head out briefly, saying, "Sorry, but no," and then attempted to close the door quickly, without even looking to see who was there.
A well placed foot caught the door before he could return it to closed. Drat, he thought, that usually works. Sighing he re-opened it. "Yes, how can I help you?"
The tall square looking underling from the 12th stood at his door, the one who'd given Nanao her shot, holding the same medical box as earlier.
"Captain Kyouraku, is Nanao Ise with you?" He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his chin length hair parted sharply, tucked behind each of his ears, yellow in color on one side, green on the other.
"Who's asking?" Kyouraku recognized him of course, and was sure he had some official business, probably even related to helping Nanao, but wasn't going to miss the chance to give anyone from the 12th a hard time, especially one who interrupted this particular dinner.
"I'm from the 12th – we met earlier today..."
Kyouraku narrowed his eyes at the man and pursed his lips. "I don't really remember that, sorry." He stepped back inside, trying again to close the door.
The 12th shinigami was not so easily deterred, and kept his foot in the doorway. A spine huh? Shunsui thought Mayuri must have picked this one to deal with his antics specifically.
"Captain Kyouraku, may I please speak to Lieutenant Ise?"
Hearing the exchange, Nanao joined them at the door before he could begin a new line of frustration.
"Yes. I'm here. Please ignore my Captain. How can I help you?" Shunsui patted Nanao on the head as he stepped back, allowing her to speak to the guy from the 12th. She was managing him, he was so glad to see it. Nanao ignored the head pat, resisting the urge to respond the way she wished.
"Uh, yes – Well, the shot from earlier for your memory – it's actually a sequence of treatments. Here are the additional authorizations from Captain Mayuri. I also anticipated Captain Kyouraku's response, and before coming here, got an additional letter of approval from Captain Unohana."
Snatching the paper from his hand, Shunsui regarded it seriously, murmuring out-loud to himself as he read each line.
"Oh, thank you for coming all this way to the 8th. Can you give me the shot here, if it's all right with Captain Kyouraku?" She looked to him for permission.
"Hmmmm. This appears to be in order." He handed the paper to Nanao, and moved back into his house. "Please, do come in." All dramatic smiles, he tried to act like he hadn't just been trying to throw the visitor out, ushering the man inside.
"Please sit down, and roll up your sleeve, this won't take too much time at all. First though, you will need two of these shots a day for the next week at least. Could you come to my lab at the Office of Research and Development at a set time each day, or is that too much of a problem?" He sat his box down on the table, measuring out the medicine for the needle, preparing the injection.
"I would have no problem with that. Just let me know what time is best to accommodate your schedule. I really appreciate your assistance in the attempt to recover my memory."
He moved towards where she sat, her arm exposed, ready for the shot. "No need to thank us, the 12th is glad to have an opportunity to test out – I mean, to use this treatment. Now, please get ready for a pinch."
She held her breath as he pushed the medicine into her arm, at once feeling light headed, much different than the effects of the shot from earlier. She forced herself to breathe in, and then out, regaining her composure. Behind her closed eyes, colors swirled in her head with dizziness.
Shunsui noticed the change. "This is exactly the same as you gave her earlier?"
"Yes. She is probably reacting this time because the medicine has had more of a chance to be effective. Her dizziness will fade shortly. A glass of water might also be a good idea." The 12th Shinigami regarded Nanao studiously, as if waiting for a specific response.
Shunsui walked to the kitchen quickly, filling up a cup.
Waiting for the feeling to fade, Nanao continued to time her breathing out in slow, metered, deliberate breaths. The colors continued to swirl in her head, and she held two fingers against her forehead, scrunching her nose, trying to work through a sudden sharp pain.
Gasping, Nanao was surprised to feel a flood of memories unleashing themselves into her head, as if a locked drawer had been thrown open, and they were now simultaneously freed, flying towards their proper location within her brain.
Snapping her eyes open, she focused in the 12th Shinigami sitting in front of her, Captain Kyroraku still in the kitchen. Without a word, she met the lab coated man's glance, and a wave of realization overcame her. She...remembered. It all clicked into place, and the contents of her memory were not at all what she had expected.
The 12th's scientist regarded Nanao with a sinister grin, removing his glasses to wipe them on his jacket causally, sitting up straight, appearing to grow a foot in height and stature, looming over her intimidatingly.
He returned her stare and held up a finger to his lips, indicating silence. She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but felt compelled to heed the man's direction. She tried to form words, but each time, her mouth shut of its own accord, and the 12th's underling cautioned her with a glance, wordlessly waggling his finger, the disturbing smile still plastered on his face, his lips curled and teeth bared.
Even if she could have spoken, she wasn't sure she could form a string of words into a coherent sentence. The memories were still foggy, piecing themselves together like a magic jigsaw puzzle scattered to the wind. Not every previous memory was available to her all at once – but there was one thing she remembered completely and crystal clear. She knew her instructions, and she wanted to obey.
Shunsui walked back into the living room, holding an ornately shaped cup of ice water with a lemon added to the side. "I prepared a special glass for you, Nanao-chan."
He dropped his sociable expression on seeing Nanao's face, her eyes open as wide as they could go, starring intently at the other Shinigami. Oddly, she looked completely terrified, her face pale as if all the blood had been drained from her body. Setting the cup down quickly, he moved to her side, placing his hand on her back.
"Nanao-chan? What's the matter?" His voice conveyed his concern.
The yellow and green haired underling had resumed his composed demeanor and replaced his glasses, seeming to shrink back into his shoulders, the lab coat suddenly again appearing a size too large. Nanao stammered, trying to think of a way to respond that didn't interfere with the memory of instructions that somehow been seared into her brain.
She couldn't even enumerate what those instructions were exactly, but she knew they had to be blindly followed, and she knew that they had been implanted into her head by the person sitting before her. It was more a directive to his will than a specific delineated course of action. Still though, she did obviously have some of her other memories about her own life returned as well. She found she could answer that part honestly.
"I...I...think I remember."
Shunsui's chest tightened. This was too good to be true, his head was reeling trying to keep up with the turn of events. He responded the only way he knew how, picking up Nanao, holding her close to his chest, spinning her around his living room.
His glee dissipated momentarily when he recalled Nanao had been dizzy, and he was probably making that much worse. "Oh, Right -" He sat her down on the couch tenderly, and handed her the glass of water. Regarding her expression, he wasn't sure why – but Nanao still looked paralyzed with fright, and couldn't look away from the other person in the room.
Her tone still unsteady, Nanao tried to think of something else to say. "I'm sorry, Captain, I'm just trying to process everything that's going on in my head at once. I need a moment, please."
Shunsui tried to calm himself down, the celebration was obviously going to have to wait a minute or two while she caught up with herself. That was fine, it would give him a chance to get rid of the 12th person and be alone with Nanao. This was an occasion that was not meant to be shared.
"I owe you a round of drinks for whatever you guys gave her. Tell Mayuri he gets one back, as well." He said, slapping the other man on the shoulder.
"It is just my job." The 12th underling walked close to Nanao, looking at her directly, inches from her face.
"Could you please show up at the laboratory at 10 am tomorrow? You will still need additional shots to fully return your memory, and prevent regression."
She nodded in assent, her body rigid with fear of the other Shinigami,. She would do whatever this man asked, it was too ingrained to resist. She did not feel like she was under any kind of mind control, more that obeying him was something built into her very soul.
"Oh, and Lieutenant Ise, you should forget this feeling of dread and dizziness and anything else out of the ordinary, and think only of your returned memories."
With these words, Nanao shook her head clear, wondering what exactly she had just been so worried about. Holding the side of her face, she tried to process exactly what new memories she was able to recall, and the joy of finally being herself again started to creep into her emotions.
"Sure thing, Sure thing." Shunsui answered for her dismissively, coaxing him towards the door. "Oh, before you go, since I'm in your debt now, I should ask - I don't think I ever caught your name?"
"It's Inaba. Kageroza Inaba, 7th seat of the 12th division, head of precipice world studies in The Office of Research and Development."
"Well, you, Inaba-san, have a good evening, the greatest evening ever, for what you've given back to Nanao-chan." Shunsui finally had him out the door, closing it quickly behind him, he turned to join Nanao on his couch.
