A/N I thank those who have reviewed. Much obliged. :D
GothicFlowers AndEmoButterflies – Thank you! :D Makes me happy to see a fan review. And I have absolutely no clue. I'm kinda stuck. Xp And thank you again. :D
gnarley- – Thank you for reviewing! :D And Christmas was great... for five minutes.
praeses – Yep, sooner or later... Kaori's going to kill someone. D: And yes! "Boss" is a bad thing. I thank you for reviewing every chapter. :D It makes me happy every time I see your reviews. And I'm not scared now! :D
Black Cat Angel – Thank you for reviewing! :D
lollipopswithcream andpie – Getting better? D: I see. ( -.-) And who the man is, you will eventually find out! :D Thank you so much for the review.
Ah, yeah... Christmas pretty much sucked for me. First... one present... socks... And they weren't even from my mom. Then, mom gets fucking drunk, again. Then, my little brother camps out on Christmas day. And now... mom annoying me. And this stupid mutt loves my mom, and my mom hates her, so right now she whining really loud! AGH! Okay, that's it! I hate Christmas now, as well as my birthdays! And valentines! And mondays.
Disclaimer – I do not own Bleach.
Warning – Swearing.
-:-
"I have no money." Riko said, giving the fukutaicho a blank look.
"But I want that!" Yachiru yelled, pointing at the huge lollipop in the store, having spotted it as they walked by.
Riko shook her head.
"I don't have any money."
"I have some!" Yachiru said, giving the woman a bright smile.
The tall woman stayed quiet for a moment before narrowing her eyes dangerously. She had what...? She sighed and nodded, making the fukutaicho grin widely, both about to walk into the store to buy the lollipop.
"Hey."
Both people paused and turned their heads. Riko frowned while Yachiru smiled brightly when they saw their Taicho walking towards them. The fukutaicho ran towards the tall man with a bright smile.
"Taking your time." Kenpachi said, glancing at the woman with a glare.
Riko scoffed and turned around, her arms folded over her chest.
"So? Doesn't matter. I bought the fukutaicho her candy." Riko said, closing her eyes as her frown grew.
She opened her eyes a second later when she shivered, quickly looking up and around the area. It felt like she was being watched. She narrowed her eyes before following the Taicho, her hands clenched by her sides.
That was the day before.
"You have to do something besides sit in your office all day." Riko said, laying on the couch in the Taicho's office.
"Shut up."
"There's other stuff to do, y'know."
"Shut up."
"Do you have to tell me to shut up every time I try suggesting something for you to do?"
Kenpachi growled and glared at the woman, seeing her stare at him blankly before looking away. The idiot was even getting more tough and even stood up to him a little. Riko looked to the sides, thinking of a way for them to at least have fun.
"If you wanna do something, get lost." Kenpachi said, giving the woman a bored gaze.
"Oh, I would love to, Zaraki Taicho, but apparently, to get rid of your crazy stalker... I have to stick around you most of every damn day." Riko said, giving the Taicho a glare. "You should be glad I even agreed to do this crazy thing."
"Oh, yeah. I'm so glad." Kenpachi muttered, looking to the side with a deep frown on his face.
Riko growled and narrowed her eyes, opening her mouth to yell at the man, just as the Taicho glared at her. She shut her mouth and frowned, huffing. She was really starting to hate this guy. Kenpachi still glared at the woman. Sooner or later, he was going to kill her.
-:-
Kaori stared at the papers blankly, standing in the Taicho's office. He had summoned her, which she thought he was going to yell at her, and gave her a stack of papers. She sighed and slumped her shoulders, making Byakuya narrow his eyes while Renji cringed.
"Can't I get you tea or something?" Kaori asked, holding up the pile of papers. "It took me an hour just to deliver the papers yesterday."
"You are expected to do the job I have given you." Byakuya said, reading over some forms.
The redhead narrowed her eyes and clenched her hands, accidentally crumpling up the papers. She widened her eyes, quickly running out of the office just before the Taicho could have her head.
Renji sighed and shook his head.
"Taicho, you have to try and get along with her." Renji said, holding a brush in his hand and a form in the other.
"I will do no such thing." Byakuya said, closing his eyes and scoffing.
"Taicho, she may give you a hard time because maybe someone of nobility gave her a hard time in the past." Renji said, shrugging his shoulders lightly, staring at his Taicho with raised eyebrows.
"That gives her no reason to give me such behavior." Byakuya said, giving his fukutaicho a cold glare.
"Kuchiki Taicho, I'm just saying that I will talk to her if you try to act nice to her." Renji said, giving the other man an exasperated look. "Who knows? Maybe she'll develop an unhealthy undying love for you."
"I do not need that in my head, Renji."
"Sorry." Renji said, clearing his throat with an uncomfortable look on his face. "B-But you should be glad she doesn't stare at you like all the other girls, huh?" He grinned when he saw the Taicho pause and nod. "She told me she doesn't really care about looks."
"We are supposed to be working, Renji."
"Sorry again, Taicho."
Both people stayed quiet, one working while the other kept glancing at the other.
"She doesn't seem to be getting anything I teach her, though. It took about two weeks for her to get the stance right."
"Renji."
"Sorry, Taicho."
Renji closed his eyes and sighed. She was also very tired. It took her five minutes the day before to be gasping and wheezing for breath. She should really work out more.
Oh, yeah.
He should go see Rukia later on.
-:-
Kayo furrowed her eyebrows and blinked a couple times.
Matsumoto was getting her to help her carry several boxes to a storage room. She didn't know there was a storage room. She carried one box, but it was really heavy. All the others weighed the same. But Matsumoto... was carrying three.
Kayo paled and shivered.
She wondered how strong the fukutaicho was.
"Thank you for helping me, Kayo-chan." Matsumoto said, turning her head and smiling at the smaller woman.
Kayo smiled and nodded. She could only see off the top of the box. And this box probably weighed more than her. She closed her eyes and sighed, following after the fukutaicho.
The fukutaicho was her only friend at the tenth division.
Which is why she probably always stayed near her.
She widened her eyes when the fukutaicho suddenly stopped, taking a step back, her eyes growing wider when she tripped over her one leg. Clumsy! She closed her eyes tightly, ready to be squished under the heavy box, when a hand pressed against her back.
She sighed out of relief.
When she turned her head, she widened her eyes and froze when she saw the Taicho.
She quickly scrambled away and hid behind the fukutaicho, her eyebrows furrowed with worry. He stopped her from falling with one hand. How strong and scary!
"Ah, Taicho!" Matsumoto exclaimed, giving the small man a smile.
"Matsumoto, what are you doing?" Hitsugaya asked, giving the woman a glare. "You have paperwork to do."
"I know, Taicho, but I have to clear stuff that was inside my desk." Matsumoto complained, pouting her lips and furrowing her eyebrows.
Kayo blinked and glanced at the box she was carrying.
What was so heavy that was inside her desk?
"Care to help us, Taicho?" Matsumoto asked, holding out the boxes she carried, giving the Taicho a puppy eyed look, which had no effect on him. "Please? These boxes are so heavy!"
"Well... fine."
Matsumoto smiled brightly, but then flinched when Hitsugaya grabbed the box Kayo was carrying. Oh, how rude! Kayo smiled gratefully at the Taicho, furrowing her eyebrows and bowing down in respect.
Taichos were so strong and cool.
She couldn't believe she was so close to a Taicho.
She stood straight and walked over to the fukutaicho, grabbing one of the boxes, seeing a grateful smile on the fukutaicho's face before the Taicho led the way, since the fukutaicho forgot where the storage room was.
-:-
Riko stood a good two feet from the Taicho, her arms crossed over her chest and scowling. Kenpachi looked away from her, a deep frown on his face, both standing in the office. Where was Yachiru? If she didn't get there soon, they were going to kill each other. Or... the Taicho was going to kill the woman. Ya know, since he's a strong guy.
"Why do you always glare at me?" Riko asked, turning her head and giving the man a snarl.
"Because you're annoying."
Riko flinched before clenching her hands. Oh, what a bastard! She growled before stomping towards the door. Kenpachi stared after her and snorted and looked away. She could leave for all he cared. They didn't even give a shit about each other anyway.
He was about to walk back to his desk, but then he froze, quickly turning around and walking out of the office, grabbing Riko's wrist. The woman jumped and turned, about to yell at whoever it was but grunted when she was shoved against the wall. When Riko looked up, she froze and widened her eyes when she saw the Taicho leaning over her.
"Wha-"
"Shut up!" Kenpachi growled, looking to the sides with a snarl.
Riko shut her mouth, immediately tensing when she sensed one particular reiatsu in the area.
"Ken-chan!"
"...Shit." Riko muttered, rolling her eyes with annoyance.
Aina ran around the corner, narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips when she saw both Kenpachi and Riko. How dare they kiss in the hall! Kenpachi was hunched over so she couldn't really see the two very uncomfortable people, both avoiding the others' stare. They paused when they heard whimpering before a loud wail, then retreating steps.
"...Is she gone?" Riko whispered, trying to look past the tall man.
"Nah, she's still here." Kenpachi muttered, frowning deeply while looking to the side.
"How do you know?"
"I had to train myself to fucking sense her reiatsu because she sneaks into my house!" Kenpachi growled, narrowing his eyes dangerously.
Riko's eyes were wide. Holy shit. She sneaks into his house? She looked to the side with a frown. How creepy. They both stayed still, still waiting, until... they heard snickering. They both blinked and turned, seeing Ikkaku grinning at them.
"Watcha doin'?" Ikkaku said, grinning like an idiot.
Kenpachi immediately moved away while Riko jumped the third seat, both yelling at each other while they tried punching the other. Kenpachi frowned and rolled his eyes. Idiots.
"I'll kill you, you bastard!"
"I'm only saying what I saw!"
"You saw nothing!" Both Kenpachi and Riko snapped, glaring at the third seat.
Ikkaku grinned, laying under the woman while she held his leg.
"I wonder what Yumichika would say?"
"SON OF A BITCH!"
"AH, DAMMIT! THAT HURT!"
-:-
Kaori stared blankly at a group of woman swooning after the Taicho as he walked by.
She stared at them before glancing at the Taicho. She didn't see what was so great about him. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes in concentration, trying to think. Maybe it was the long hair?
She stayed silent for a few moments before nodding.
Yeah, it had to be the hair.
The only person Kaori has ever considered beautiful was...
She widened her eyes before shaking her head. Dangerous territory. She turned and across the courtyard, grabbing her pipe and putting it in her mouth, grabbing her box of matches. Just when she was about to light it, the pipe was taken out of her mouth.
She widened her eyes.
Wha...?
Her expression went dark, her eyes dilating and her eyebrows pulling together, her eyes shadowed over. Renji grinned, holding the pipe in his head and looking it over. He never smoked before, nor did he know anyone that did. Well, except the Taicho from the eleventh division.
Ah, yeah. He was a sixth seat over there before becoming a fukutaicho. He smiled dumbly.
Good times.
When he glanced at Kaori, he widened his eyes and paled at the scary expression on Kaori's face. He dropped the pipe out of surprise and a bit of fear, taking a step back and holding his hands up in surrender.
Kaori bent down and snatched her pipe, giving the fukutaicho a glare before putting it back in her mouth.
"It's like you don't want anyone touching your pipe." Renji said, folding his arms over his chest and frowning.
"It's because I don't. Only few people have held my pipe before." Kaori said, narrowing her eyes. "And I would beat those people."
Renji widened his eyes and gave the woman, and friend, a look. Kaori huffed before looking away, taking a puff before blowing out the smoke. She only let Riko smoke from her pipe because... well, she can beat her up.
And Kayo would only grab her pipe to throw away.
"Well, let's train." Renji said, giving the woman a grin.
She glared at him.
"After you smoke. Jeez."
-:-
Kayo sighed, sitting on one of the couches in the office quietly.
She shivered, slowly turning her head, seeing the Taicho working quietly. Ah, why did Matsumoto leave her alone in the same room as him? He was scary! She furrowed her eyebrows and lowered her head, clutching her hakama tightly from being nervous.
Why hasn't he kicked her out yet?
He said so before himself. No one besides Matsumoto and the Taicho were allowed in there.
She wanted to leave.
And where was Matsumoto!
When the door slid open, she felt relief fill her when she saw the fukutaicho walk into the room. It was quickly squashed when she saw her put down a bottle of sake on the coffee table between the two couches.
Kayo widened her eyes.
"...Ah?"
"Matsumoto! What are you doing!" Hitsugaya snapped, glaring at his fukutaicho and the bottle she had brought in.
"Aw, c'mon, Taicho! I finished a whole pile of paperwork by myself." Matsumoto said, beaming at the Taicho.
"I don't care if you did a measly pile of paperwork, but if you did a whole days worth, I would actually let you drink in here!" Hitsugaya growled, glaring daggers at his fukutaicho.
Matsumoto sniffled as her eyes started welling up with tears, but it had no effect on Hitsugaya.
Kayo stared at the woman curiously, tilting her head to the side, blinking several times. Why was she making that face? Hitsugaya hadn't hit her or said anything that was insulting. The fukutaicho continued to whine, but Hitsugaya kept on saying, "No."
"But, Taicho~!"
"No, Matsumoto."
Matsumoto pouted and crossed her arms over her chest, huffing and looking away from the Taicho. Kayo blinked again. Why was she acting like this? It didn't make any sense.
Or perhaps she wanted the Taicho to pity her and let her do what she wanted?
That seemed most reasonable.
But the Taicho said that he didn't want any drinking in the room, therefore no one can drink in the room. But... if she were to act this way around her friends... then maybe they would do what she wanted? While she was pondering over the fukutaicho's behavior, Matsumoto clenched her hands and pouted. The Taicho was being so difficult!
"Please~?"
"No."