"Sotaicho, I feel that Gin Ichimaru should be permitted to live. He seems truly sorrowful and remorseful over his actions, but I did not base this judgement completely off of his mere emotions. I still only trust him about 70 and I have warned him that any action even slightly relating back to his old ways, I will kill him instantly." I declared. He and his lieutenant stared at me, as though surprised at my judgement.
"Very well. However, being that this decision was mostly your doing, you will be solely responsible for any actions he may or may not do."
"Wakata. Arigatou." I bowed and flash stepped out of the building. Ever since I had gotten this metal foot, I had begun to detest walking, being that the minimal speed of it allowed me to feel the bulkiness of the foot, and the metal against my ankle stump. I also felt truly out of the ordinary at slow speeds. Even though no one had noticed that I no longer possessed a real foot, I could tell with every step, with every slight movement, that I would never have a normal foot. High speeds like flash steps allowed everything to pass by in a painless blur, making it feel as though perhaps, I didn't have a false foot. I stopped my train of thought as I realized I had to tell Rangiku about Gin's circumstances, and with that I flash stepped to appear at the 10th squad office. I entered without knocking, and saw Toshirou sitting at his desk, pouring over piles of paperwork. He glanced up briefly from his work, before looking down.
"Where's Rangiku-san?" I inquired.
"I don't know." He said quickly, as though irritated that I was interrupting him. I closed my eyes and sensed for her reiatsu, spotting it almost instantly.
"Found her. Guess like I care more for you're lieutenant than you do." I snapped. I saw his grip on his pencil tighten and I smirked as I turned around to exit the building. I strolled over to the next couple of buildings, where the squad 10 sparring building was located and walked into it. Everyone glanced at the door, before double taking and stopping their fights to gape at me.
"You must be Owasai-taicho!" A male with spikey dirty blonde hair exclaimed.
"Yeah, I am." I said as I folded my arms in impatience. I knew this would happen with my own squad, for they hadn't seen me once as of yet. "Rangiku-san, I wish to speak to you in private."
"Hai." She replied, sheathing her Zanpakuto and following me out of the building. "What do you wish to talk to me about, Shikuma-chan?"
"It's Shikuma-taicho to you until I give you orders not to call me that." I breathed. She nodded once before watching me expectantly. "Gin has been allowed to live. He wishes to speak to you, and I will escort you there." I studied her expression, watching her eyes grow wide in shock and joy.
"Wakata. Can we leave now?"
"Hai. But, just to let you know, I will have to be in the Repentence Cell with you while you talk to him, for I am responsible for killing him if he shows any sign of his former self." Her joy vanished to seriousness and she nodded once more. I gestured towards the tower with a slight turn of my head, and she nodded, before flash stepping with me close at hand. I unlocked the door before folding my arms and following Rangiku in. Gin turned to face us slowly, and when he spotted Rangiku, I could see his eyes widen. I receded back into the shadows and watched intently.
"Gin?"
"Rangiku-chan!" I looked away as they embraced, feeling that moment was theirs and I had no right to witness it. When I sensed that they had released one another, I resumed watching.
"When do you get out of here?" Rangiku asked in a rush, her excitement getting the better of her.
"I don't know. I didn't even know I have been allowed to live." They both turned to me and I looked away, waving it off.
"By the way, their letting you live, on the condition on I monitor you're every move." I said hastily. They let their gazes linger on me for several moments before returning to their conversation. I hardly listened, realizing that it was only pointless small talk and other things in which I didn't have the slightest idea. I then heard my name mentioned and I snapped back to attention.
"Nanda?" I replied teresly.
"We were just talking about how you and Hitsugaya-taicho flirt-"
"URUSEE YO! I just got done listening to the same thing from Shuhei. I don't want to hear it from you either. I DO NOT LIKE HIM." I enunciated everything clearly and sharply, hoping to drill my point into their skulls.
"Uh-huh..." She said slowly with a stupid grin plastered to her face. "You know what's funny? Taicho denied it earlier, just like you did!"
"I could care less about what he's doing. I don't like him." She shot me a final smirk before turning back to talk to Gin. I scowled at the back of her head, before glancing at my watch. I cleared my throat and the both turned to face me.
"The guards are expecting us out of here now." They nodded and I flash stepped to appear behind Gin. I undid the cords potruding from his collar before shoving my index finger and thumb between the collar and his neck, making sure I had a tight hold on him. I then tugged him slightly and we exited the cell. Rangiku kept on glancing at Gin as though still in shock that she was actually seeing him for the first time in 3 years, and I met her glance once telling her silently to stop. I then began telling myself the required chants silently before slamming my fist into his stomach. Rangiku jumped and gasped, instantly running to his aid. He coughed for a long while and I waited until he was done to speak again.
"Rangiku, I'll leave him with you. But I want you both aware that I just placed a Kido on him that allows me to know his movements and motives. It will keep me bound to him so if anything were to happen, I could take care of it immediatly." I glanced at Gin who watched me with a serious expression. "Jaa na, Rangiku-san, Gin." I stated before flash stepping away from that spot.
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Festivals were a waste of time. They were for nerds and squares. Which gave me all the more reason to wonder why the hell even Zuraki was in the crowds of people swaying slightly. He may of had his arms folded and his same serious expression on, but I could tell he had come here on his own free will. I pressed myself even tighter against the wall, hoping that since no one could sense my reiatsu, no one would see me. I was here for security reasons, and that's how I wanted it to stay. The rest of Seireite could celebrate the new year if they wished, but I saw no need to celebrate another year. I folded my arms and scanned the sea of people absently, wishing this whole thing could be over. But before I could wallow in that thought, I sensed Rangiku and Gin's reiatsu coming towards me and I turned to face them calmly.
"Shikuma-taicho, why aren't you out having fun? Eveyone's dancing, playing games and just having a great time, and you sit here leaning against the wall?" She asked in surprise.
"Yeah, so?" I replied calmly, before turning to Gin. "So, did Sotaicho say you could resume your spot as the 3rd division officer?"
"I haven't asked him yet. He probably won't let me until I prove I'm not going to go AWOL on him."
"Makes sense I suppose, being that everyone is glaring at you and they think that you will return back to your old self at any given second."
"Shikuma-taicho..." Rangiku started, as though trying to stop me from saying any more. I didn't have any intentions to do so, so I merely watched her expectantly. "Anou...We better get going. Gotta play those games before the kids take all the prizes." I nodded once, and they took off through the crowds, vanishing from my sight quickly. I resumed leaning back against the wall, and smiled as a song I liked came on through the loud speakers. The smile was short lived, however, for I sensed Toshirou's reiatsu appear next to me.
"What do you want?" I snapped.
"What makes you think I want anything?"
"Okay, I'll rephrase that, what are you and you're lieutenant planning? And why are you getting my Hisho-san involved?" I turned to face him, scrutinizing his expression. It shifted from shock to anger.
"What are you talking about?!" He yelled, sounding truly clueless to what I was talking about. I looked away, and folded my arms once more.
"Today my lieutenant accused me of liking you and later on, your lieutenant accused me of the same thing. Which is ridiculous, because personally, I feel that anyone who ends up liking you must be some hard-headed asshole."
"What?!" He exclaimed, turning to me temples throbbing. I smriked in satisfaction, and he turned around, hands in pockets as he glared at the ground. "Well, besides the insults, Matsumoto accused me of liking you as well several days ago. So, if anything, I'm guessing she's planning to set us up."
"Then let's plan to knock her out!" I muttered angrily.
"Don't be so immature." He told me with an air of bossyness to it. I scowled at him, before grabbing him by a pressure point in the ear. He whimpered in pain and instantly tried to free himself from my grasp.
"I'm not being immature!" I hissed in his ear before releasing him and smoothing my sleeves non-chalantly, as though I hadn't just brought a Captain to his knees. Said Captain, shot me a grimace and masaged his ear.
"Mou...it looks like you guys aren't getting along too well." Rangiku pouted, shoving her way gently through the crowds with Gin close at hand.
"You think?!" Both Toshirou and I exclaimed. Rangiku's eyes widened before smoldering into a smirk.
"I'm definitly seeing sparks." She pointed between the two of us, and we both looked away.
"I'm definitly seeing you're death!" I warned.
"Matsumoto! Leave us alone!"
"You hear that, Gin? They want to be ALONE!" They said alone at the same time, shooting each other looks that must have been a mockery of what they thought Toshirou had meant. They then flash stepped into the crowds before we could yell at them anymore. I inhaled deeply before breathing it out in an angry huff.
"Let me make this perfectly clear. I can't stand you." I spat.
"The feeling's mutual." He growled. And with that, we parted ways and I continued on overseeing the safety of the festival.
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