A bright ray of sunlight annoyed Toshiro as he began to once again look over papers. Apparently there were a lot more academy students who might fit the criteria than he originally realized.
Unfortunately, some people had noticed and started questioning why every captain was swamped with paperwork recently. Toshiro thought he had heard several rumors and theories drifting through his squad in the few times he left his office.
"Captain, are you sure you're okay?" Matsumoto asked yet again. Normally she couldn't care less about paperwork and would disappear at the mere sight of it, but her captain normally demanded that she do her fair share.
Instead he had explicitly stated she was not to get involved and to leave it all to him. All the lieutenants were told that by their captains. Even Captain Commander Kyoraku was doing some of the paperwork.
Only due to knowing him so well Matsumoto could tell her captain was getting tired. Tired and frustrated and annoyed at what she assumed to be a surprising lack of progress. She saw (1) Hitsugaya-taicho's hand twitch, tempted to reach up and rub his temple, but stopped so he could continue to concentrate.
"I'm fine Matsumoto… this is just taking longer than I thought it would." The moment his icy turquoise eyes met her light blue ones she realized he was telling the truth. "I'm sure you can find something to do without me, try not to make too big of a mess."
"...Yes sir…" If he noticed the hesitation in her voice he didn't comment on it. Another half second of hesitation later and she closed the door, leaving him alone.
Despite what he said, Matsumoto wasn't able to find anything she could do without her thoughts drifting back to her Captain. The only problem was he wouldn't let her help him, and his higher authority kept her from the option of commanding him to join her. She also had to consider that only she and Karin had been allowed in his office so that no one could see how the apparently futile work he was doing was worrying him.
She walked by her desk, layered with unfinished paperwork and reports to turn in (1). Giving the papers a quick glance as she walked by led to a specific name catching her eye.
9/23 - 9/28 20XX
Shinigami: Third Seat Karin Kurosaki
Objective: Complete a survey of all squad members in the Okinawa area. Report should include names, jobs and reported discovered hollows. Report should include any additions or removals this officer makes to the team…
The paper rattled on and on about specific information on that subject but that wasn't the part that mattered. The part that was important was the fact that Karin would be returning from her mission today. If anyone could snap her captain out of his habits involving overworking himself it would be his girlfriend.
As she thought about her plan she couldn't help but smile. The two really were adorable together, them being her superior and co worker was not a factor. When they had first met on her and her Captain's mission to the world of the living it had been a surprise to see him show any interest in a human girl- going as far as to agree to play soccer with her. Now that she had seen the kind of chemistry they had it all made sense.
While Hitsugaya-taicho was probably one of the only people who could actually make Karin interested in something Karin was the only one who could get Hitsugaya-taicho to have fun. Taicho was willing to explain why those jobs needed to be done and had the patience to teach Karin on anything she was interested in. Within a week of meeting him-even when Karin was still human- she had gotten him to take part in a soccer game for the first time. Even when Momo (2) tried to get Hitsugaya-taicho to have fun he was always taking part unwillingly.
In all honesty, the two needed each other to function perfectly and the division needed all three of them (with her social abilities allowing both of them to understand their fellow squad members) to really work.
So the only problem she still had to worry about was whether getting Hitsugaya-taicho to relax was the right thing to do. All the Captains were focused on something that was obviously important, would trying to distract him end badly?
Then Matsumoto remembered all the times Karin was able to get him to relax but they still finished all the work. The times Karin would enter the office and sit next to him, not interrupting or being as sarcastic as usual-just letting him know she was there if he needed anything.
And just like that Matsumoto realized she had been worrying over nothing. Hitsugaya-taicho would be just fine with Karin, like she thought, they needed each other. And they needed her to realize that for themselves.
"Hey, Orika!" Matsumoto called to higher seated member. Said girl immediately went to Matsumoto's side and blinked in confusion.
"Can I help you with something, Lieutenant Matsumoto?"
"Could you please spread the work that I want third seat Ka-Kurosaki to meet up with me when she gets back from her mission?"
Orika nodded happily and walked off while Matsumoto sighed. It was a division rule that she had to call Karin 'third seat Kurosaki' because when Karin's fan club started calling both Karin and Hitsugaya-Taicho by their first names with no honorifics he decided that only people Matsumoto trusted could hear her call either of them by their first names.
The fact that he was willing to let them be called by their first names was obviously the result of Karin's influence on him.
Matsumoto pulled out one of the mirrors at her desk and fixed her hair, making sure she looked flawless for the rest of her day. While she didn't mind fighting and working hard at something it was so much nicer when she could look good too.
A quick glance at the clock told her only about ten minutes had passed, it would likely be awhile before Karin returned. So, what to do until then.
With a smirk Matsumoto pulled out her secret how-to-get-Karin-with-Hitsugaya-taicho log. It had been a few days since she last updated it, giving it some more information would be a good use of her time. Besides, this was much more important than any of the paperwork Hitsugaya-taicho wanted her to do, so it made sense to handle it first.
9/28
Taicho is overworking himself again! It really should be physically impossible to do that as often as he does but somehow he manages. It's probably a mix of Karin having been gone these past five days and whatever it is that has all the captains so busy.
None of the lower ranked members know about this but all us Lieutenants are worried about how our Captains seem stressed. So, this current operation is help-taicho-relax-using-Karin!
Karin is coming back today and as soon as she does she'll be sent to me. Orika will make sure to spread the word that I want to speak with her. Once she does all I need to do is convince her to join Hitsugaya-taicho and help him relax. I don't know how she does it but if she knows her presence will help him calm down then I'm sure she'll agree.
That part's pretty simple, I'll be leaving most of the work up to Karin when it happens. Side note, she's still wearing the clip captain got her so that plan was definitely a success. More like it must come in the future.
Anyways, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't appreciate it if I gave them romantic music (which makes no sense, it would make every romantic moment they had together perfect). Maybe it would be okay if I used firewor-
Wait no, I already used those, we shouldn't keep using the same thing.
The next best idea might be some food for both of them but Taicho only likes really boring old-people food (though as Shinigami age is kind of relative).
And there's no way I can trust either of them to figure this out on their own, they may have their moments but neither of them has a single romantic bone in their bodies. (Souls?)
The next best plan is helping taicho with his work so they can spend time together. But I both don't really want to and don't think he'll let me so we're back to square one for this.
Another point I should probably consider is how this will impact me if I get found out. Taicho might try to kill me with paperwork while Karin actually tries to kill me. That or we'll have the worst case scenario and they'll work together to try to get back at me.
It seems my number one priority is to not get found out! No, wait, first it's get them together… but they're already together. I'm too used to them not being together and my trying to get that to happen, it seems.
Okay first it's to help Taicho relax, then to let Taicho finish his work, then to not get found out, then to make sure Karin still has fun.
I should probably also get the two of them a please-forgive-me-present in case they do find me out. If that happens maybe they won't be as mad since I'm trying to help taicho relax and I get them a present.
That or taicho will freeze me to the floor for an hour and go destroy my sake…
Let's just hope for the best!
One big question is what sort of presents they'd want. Maybe some sort of watermelon treat? Karin already took him out to a fair before they became a couple. What did they do there that I could help them do together?
Maybe I could get them a sculpture of the two of them! I can't make one but Orihime-chan probably would be able to give me some advice on the matter. Okay, that settles it, I'll get out of getting in trouble if (well, maybe it's more like when) they find me by giving them a sculpture.
Another thing I should probably be concerned over is how to get them together. I may have gotten too worried about being punished and not remembered that part.
Karin will be here any second now, there's not much I can say to get her to join taicho. I know she's going to be worried about him but when it comes to admitting that to other people she sometimes gets too stubborn and won't acknowledge it. It might be easiest if I find some way to trick her into joining him.
Maybe I could tell her taicho wants to see her because he's stressed!
No, she knows him too well to ever believe he would ask me to send her for a reason like that. But she also might even get annoyed by him and not come at all if I make it seem like it's an order for another reason.
Oh, I should tell her that I'm worried about taicho since he won't come out and want to give him a cup of tea but also don't want him to threaten the bar owners to keep me out. That'll work perfectly because making him more calm will already be in her mind, she'll already have tea and I can lock the door as soon as she gets in. I'm pretty sure there's a desk I can put in front of the door to keep her inside.
Taicho won't let her destroy his division door so Karin's going to have to wait until I open the door for him. If I yell that I'm going to keep the door closed for two hours he should wait at least that long until he get's annoyed and breaks it open.
I really hope they like the sculpture.
Well, no reason to hesitate! I can only try and hope I won't fail!
Now that I think about it I should probably also figure out how to keep the desk from moving once I put it there, it probably can't hold if Karin get's angry. I don't know enough kido to be sure what I try will work.
Pausing in her writing, Matsumoto dawned a contemplative look and brought the pen to her chin as she sat in thought.
Maybe I can ask Isane and Nanao for help. No, scratch that, Isane's busy at the fourth but Nanao should be able to help…
If she doesn't get too mad at me for trying to set taicho up with Karin. Though she ships them too so it shouldn't be too big of a hurdle to cross.
Okay, plan set. I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can to this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can to this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can to this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can to this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can to this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can to this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this
Let's hope taicho either doesn't notice me or doesn't care or likes the sculpture enough to convince Karin it's all fine.
I can only hope. Nanao should be free now, there should be enough time for me to go check up on her and see if we can talk about some sort of sticking kido.
So, for all that I stand for, getting taicho and Karin together, I am willing to lay down my life to complete this task!
Quietly, Matsumoto imitated a frightened mouse, sneakily putting away her how-to-get-Karin-with-Hitsugaya-taicho log and heading to Nanao's office.
Nanao stifled a sigh when she noticed her friend Rangiku heading her way. Close as they may be and as much as Nanao could rely on her in battle the other woman did not help her finish her work. At best she could be a distracting influence on all the shinigami around her.
"Yes, Rangiku-fukutaicho?" (4) A pen was slowly set down on the table and she stared at her fellow Lieutenant with raised eyebrows and annoyed eyes. "Is there something I can help you with? We're both still on work hours so I'm afraid I won't be able to spend much time socializing."
"But it's important!" Matsumoto whined, imitating a human child despite being over two-hundred years old to date. "Don't worry about it, Kyoraku-soutaicho agrees with me that this subject is super important!"
"That is not a positive description nor one I have much faith in. Is this about drinking?" The guess was, while currently inaccurate, not unexpected and very likely given the woman's usual troubles and circumstances.
"Of course not! It's much more important! How could you ever think that?!"
Clearly, she disagreed.
Reluctantly, Nanao took a deep breath and met Matsumoto's eyes, waiting for an explanation. "Then, do tell, what is it that has you so worried? Did you do something to make Hitsugaya-taicho mad again?"
"No! Why do you always think the worst of me!?"
"...Really? You've never given me any reason to be worried about something like that? Are you completely sure?"
"Of course I'm sure!" Matsumoto lied unremorsefully, "Anyways, it's not even really about me. It's about him and Karin!"
Suddenly Matsumoto had her full attention. By now it was common knowledge they were dating, including to Nanao. There was less than no chance she would be sad if that couple was forced to split up.
"Explain." Flinching slightly at the tone which sounded far too much like a military command Matsumoto complied with the given 'order'.
"Hitsugaya-taicho's been overworking himself lately for whatever secret project the captains are working on and I want him to feel better. Karin should be coming back from her mission today so I have a plan of locking them together in his room but I need to find a kido that will keep the desk I put in front of the door there until she helps him relax!"
Sending a small but still noticeable glance at her pile of unfinished paperwork Nanao considered her options. On one hand she liked the idea of the two younger shinigami working together but on the other she really needed to get her work done. Then again, having the prodigy captain relax and work more effectively probably outweighed her work in terms of importance.
"Alright, I can help you with that." A screech echoed in the mostly-silent office as Nanao scooted her chair back and stood up. Matsumoto's expression shifted from nervous and anticipating to outright overjoyed when she saw her friend give in.
Giving an excited leap Matsumoto reached over to grab Nanao's hand and pull her along when she suddenly found the woman's hand in her face.
"But… I will only agree to this if you promise you'll leave me alone to finish my work and won't come asking me to save you when Hitsugaya-taicho and third-seat Kurosaki inevitably find out about what you're planning."
It took several seconds for Matsumoto to answer but eventually she was able to come out with a small, "...I only promise to try."
For one second Nanao was outraged, then for another she was thoughtful until she transitioned to begrudging accepting and nodded her head.
"That's the best I'm going to get out of you, isn't it."
There was no answer. Feeling a headache coming on, Nanao rubbed her forehead in a way that mimicked the behavior of Toshiro in regards to his Lieutenant, she just had that sort of effect on people like them.
"Alright, let's hurry and get started. We should head over to the training ground to be sure it goes well in case of an accident."
"Kay~!" Ignoring the other girl's response Nanao simply started walking to the training grounds without looking back.
The moment she left the inside of the barracks Nanao had shunpo'd to the training ground. While there were a handful of shinigami currently present they were few and far between, leaving enough space for some kido experimentation.
"Do you have any idea of what kind of kido you want me to teach you? You can use most types so this is a bit of a surprising request."
A large (overly) dramatic sigh from Matsumoto attracted both Nanao's attention and a strong sense of amusement. "I know, I know. The biggest problem is I couldn't figure out which one I should use. Taicho could probably get out of most kido I use in and instant and anything too weak will just be destroyed by Karin."
"What about Bakudo Thirty-eight then?"
"...What about it?" Nanao sighed and rubbed her temples in exhaustion. While she knew Matsumoto was intelligent and more than capable of solving these concerns herself her laziness could rival Kyoraku's and she greatly prefered having things explained to her. Only in times of actual danger and importance would she show any of her true capabilities.
So annoying.
"You're right that it originally doesn't make much sense. That kido is usually used to bind people to a certain area but there's no reason it can't be used to bind something else. It creates beams of light to pin a target to a surface, if you aim it correctly you should be able to get the table to be 'nailed' into the floor."
"Oooooooohhhh! That makes sense! I would have thought you'd use one of the rope bakudo's instead but that should work just as well."
"Your captain would probably expect a rope bakudo and try to disable one of them, even if he couldn't see which one it is since all kido feels about the same when sensing reiatsu. You need to be creative if you expect something like this to work."
"I know, I know, thanks!" Just as Matsumoto began running off, happy with the information she got, Nanao realized she had one more reminder to give and shouted at the woman's shrinking form in the distance.
"Don't forget to practice! You need to have perfect aim for this to work! Try it out a few times!"
The only response she got in exchange was a slight nod before the Tenth Division Lieutenant disappeared in a flicker of shunpo.
Within ten seconds she re-appeared on near her division grounds, an excited smirk on her face. A girl she recognized was walking in front of her, leading her to call out.
"Orika! Is Ka- Kurosaki back yet?" Hopefully Taicho would let her go back to calling their third seat 'Karin' in public as soon as the fan club died down slightly.
"I heard she just checked into the first division to discuss a discovery made with Kyoraku-soutaicho, she should be down in under an hour. Lira told her she was wanted in Hitsugaya-taicho's office as soon as she returned."
"Thanks!" Only a little time left, she had to get started. Matsumoto pulled out one of the spare desks from the division storage room and lifted her arms up, her concentration centered on the desk at a field near the division.
One deep breath in, one deep breath out.
"Bakudo no San Shi, Shtotsu Sansen!"
One of the beams misfired slightly and didn't hit the table but the other two landed on mark. A quick test proved it would keep the table in place for as long as she needed it.
Just a few more tries and se would have the move completely down. A childish but honestly cheerful grin broke out on her face as she pushed a beautiful but annoying lock of hair behind her head.
"Perfect."
1) I'm calling him Hitsugaya-taicho because this section is a bit more from Matsumoto's perspective so it just made sense to me. Don't worry, I won't keep doing this for the rest of the story, I just wanted to change it for now. Hope no one gets bothered by this!
2) I have no idea if she has her desk in a different room than Toshiro but for this chapter let's just say that she either has another desk or it's in a different room. We don't ever get a direct answer to this in canon (I think) so there shouldn't be any problem with me making this up.
3) In know this is terrible of me but I'm not a huge fan of Momo. It's not that I have anything against psychological abuse victims but I find the way she always treats Toshiro as a kid to be annoying. It's also part of the reason I don't ship them, they're way too much like siblings. Still, Toshiro doesn't seem to like most of the things she wants to do with him or take part in any willingly. Momo annoys me because she still keeps trying to do the same things and doesn't consider that Toshiro might feel differently about people or activities. See more on this with Enmity by AzarDarkstar.
4) So I don't actually remember if Nanao calls Rangiku by her first name but for now I'll just say she does. I'm actually pretty sure she doesn't but I figure if they went through wars together I can take artistic license and say they've gotten closer. Why not, it won't be a big part of the story anyways so I don't think it really matters.
5) I appreciate your reviews sultryvoice and SailorStar9 and everyone else, thanks!
6) Thanks for reading!