Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

A/N: This is just a little story to take a break from the main plot-line, and an idea I've had since the beginning. Basically, it's canon filler, or something like that. After this, I'll work on finishing up some other things, and then the next mini-arc will begin. It'll have some serious moments and action like the Attack of Nemu, but I'll do my best to make it good and keep in humor too. Just felt I should give a heads-up to be fair.

"Hey, Rukia, have you seen Captain Kuchiki anywhere today?"

"Tch...Renji...I told you to refer to me specifically as 'Officer Kuchiki' when we're on the job!"

"Oh yeah? Well, call me 'Officer Abarai' then!"

"Nah, it sounds too formal."

"Then why should I call you 'Officer Kuchiki'? Besides, you're my best friend, Rukia; it's different from how I call your brother Captain Kuchiki without a problem!"

"What? Just because I'm your friend means I don't deserve the respect of being an officer in your eyes? Ugh, you're such a pig..."

"Hey, cut that out! Look, I was just asking if you know where you brother is. I haven't seen him around town or at the station all day."

"Huh? Stop for a moment. I...I see him now...he's talking to that guy in front of the pumpkin stand..."

"Isn't that Zommari Leroux? The guy who keeps getting arrested for selling pumpkins without a permit, and NOT because he's black?"

"Yeah...I think it is...hey, were you trying to avoid implying any sort of possible racism just because we're police and he happens to have a darker skin color?"

"You can't be too careful these days."

"Too true, too true..."

Police Captain Kuchiki Byakuya and Zommari Leroux stood before one another, simply staring. Zommari was standing in front of his beloved, although somewhat run-down, pumpkin stand with his hands held together in a meditative position. Byakuya tipped his hat slightly to hide his eyes from view. The tension between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"...Zommari,"

"Yes, Officer?"

"I know that you are good friends with my wife, Hisana, as well as the teacher of the weekly yoga class she attends...but that still doesn't mean you're allowed to be above the law."

"I never thought of myself as having diplomatic immunity, Officer. Also, your wife has threatened me several times that she would 'sic the whole police force on my ass' if I tried touching her even though I never had any intention of doing so in the first place."

Byakuya sighed. "Then why are you here again? Why do you have that crummy little stand of yours standing here, blocking sidewalk traffic and being a general eyesore to the public? Are you trying to be a pain in my side, Mr. Leroux?"

"That's rather rude for you to say, don't you think, Officer?"

"I'm a Captain, actually."

"That does not matter to me or to anyone else, because no matter your title, you are still a man who upholds the law for the good of society," Zommari spoke without a hint of emotion, "As I was about to say before you interrupted me, I do not think that I am as troublesome as you imply. As far as I am aware, no one has ever filed any compliments about me to your station. I have not harmed anyone or threatened anyone. I am a part-time yoga teacher, part-time pumpkin farmer, and that is how I choose to make my living. Only during the Halloween months am I able to sell my pumpkins to market, so the majority of the time I am forced to set up shop outside and hope that an interested passerby will be willing to make a purchase. I am a good person through and through, Officer. I am a humble human being."

"You talk far too much, Mr. Leroux...but I do see the point you're getting at. That still does not explain why you cannot take the time to go to city hall and get yourself a permit to sell these pumpkins, and then you wouldn't have to deal with us."

"If I obtained a permit, then I would be charged a monthly fee just to grow and sell my crops...a large one, at that. I am poor, and I would inevitably be unable to pay this tax as I do not make a steady income, much to my personal disappointment. That is why I do not buy a permit. I have to live this way if I want to survive in this world."

"...I see..."

Byakuya sat down on the curb beside Zommari, who soon copied his action. The two of them stared off into the distance for some time, unaware that Officers Renji and Rukia were watching them from afar.

"I understand what you're going through, to be honest," Byakuya admitted.

"Oh?"

"I am a respected member of the Karakura Police Force, and yet...in all honesty, I'm not happy with my state of affairs, but I go through with it because I know it's the only way my wife and I can survive."

"You've never told me something so personal before in our many meetings together, Officer."

"I guess I've just grown to consider you a close acquaintance of mine, Mr. Leroux. My wife may seem to be in good health, but in reality she is quite frail. She uses your yoga classes as a way to help keep her strength and flexibility up. She needs me to help provide her with food, clothing and a roof over her head. I became a police officer because it was a childhood fantasy of mine, and because it paid well. As time went along, I began to realize that I didn't want to be a police officer as much as I thought I did. I have a different dream job, but it wouldn't be able to pay the bills or help me take care of my beloved Hisana."

"May I ask as to what dream job you are speaking of, Officer?"

For the first time since his honeymoon with Hisana several years ago, Byakuya blushed. "I...I want to be a manga artist..."

"A manga artist, you say?"

"Yes," Byakuya dug deep into his pocket and pulled out a small folded piece of paper, "I even drew up my main character for it. His name is the Seaweed Ambassador."

Zommari unfolded the paper and saw what resembled a bizarre, cartoonish leaf-like creature with long, thin arms and short, stubby legs. It had a cocky smirk on its face. Zommari felt a little sick to his stomach just gazing at the twisted monstrosity. He wasted no further time in handing the drawing back to its creator.

"Hisana would just laugh at me if I told her about it. I would lose all the respect of my fellow officers if I told them about it. You, Mr. Leroux, a man I hardly know, have now become the sole possessor of this knowledge beside myself. I gave up the desire to do what I really wanted for the sake of those around me, and for my own sake. In these times, money is the most important thing in the world."

"I...I see...that's a good thing I know about this then, isn't it? Isn't it?"

"Indeed. I just hope you don't plan on TELLING my wife about our talk here...understand? It would be very bad for both you and your pumpkins if you happened to go and tell her about the Seaweed Ambassador during yoga class. If you do, you might wake up one day with far more than a pumpkin or two missing from the patch. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING-"

Zommari nodded.

"Okay! Good! Now, Mr. Leroux, I shall be kind for this one day and allow you to go on selling your pumpkins until 10 p.m.."

"Oh...uh, thank you, Officer."

"Have a nice day, Mr. Leroux."

"Y-Y-You too, Officer."

And with that, Byakuya stood up and walked away. Zommari had no idea what just happened.

"So, Renji, what did the Captain say? You can read lips, can't you?"

"...I'll never look at Captain Kuchiki the same way again..."

"What happened? You gotta tell me what happened? What did my brother say?"

"You really don't want to know..."