Chapter 21: Serenity

Ever since that talk, her mind would wonder about what would happen if they did become intimate. Would it cause the relationship to go downhill? What would happen to them? It even felt odd being around him when it came time to going to and getting out of bed.

"Toto!" Yachiru's voice chimed, waking her from her thoughts that were bothering her. The pink haired vice captain hopped up onto the woman's shoulders and ruffled the bluish green hair that the woman had.

"Hai. Yachiru-chan?" Tomoko questioned as she looked up at the child that was sitting on her shoulders. With a small sigh, she turned her attention to the garden that was in front of her. She was just bothered by the fact that he would bring up a question like that when the relationship was just beginning.

"Are you joining us for dinner?" The green-eyed child asked her own question as she slipped down off the woman's shoulders and flopped down on her lap. Looking up at the blue eyes that belonged to the barmaid, she smiled like she was high off sugar again.

"I might."

A nod came from the vice captain who hopped off the woman's lap and ran off to go see if Kenpachi was doing something.

Tomoko's gaze was held by the garden but was soon turned to the sky that had clouds rolling in. She wouldn't be surprised if it was going to rain later on but there was a small possibility of that. For some strange reason she was given the day off.

Picking herself off the deck where she was sitting at, she turned in time to see someone staring at her and she recognized him easily. "Yumichika-kun?"

"Tsubaki-chan. How are you?" The ebony haired shinigami chimed with a small wave to the woman that was in front of him. He could see the curiosity in her gaze, making him wonder what she was curious about. It had to be why he was talking to her.

"Fine. How about you?" She said softly as she kept her gaze on the man. Narrowing her eyes a little, she watched him sit down near the place she was. Whatever he had planned, it didn't seem good to her.

"Fine, fine. Ikkaku wanted me to tell you to go to that hill with the tree on it." Ayasegawa instructed with a small smile on his flawless skin. Turning his gaze to the sky that was above them. He sighed.

Nodding, the long-haired barmaid raised an eyebrow at the bald shinigami's actions. Why was he wanting her to go to the knoll where her father was seriously injured? Turning, she started down the deck but stopped to look back at the fifth seat that was friends with her shinigami. "Why does he want me there?"

"That's a secret. You'll have to go and find out."

Growling out in annoyance, she turned her gaze to what was in front of her and went to the front to get her sandals on. Whatever he has planned it better be good. With her luck, Kusajishi would be mad at her for not going to dinner again. Slipping on the footwear, she stepped out of the barracks and made her way out of the Rukongai. "This best be good Ikkaku."

As she made her way to the location that he wanted her to go to, she slowed a bit in thought. What did he have planned? She really didn't see him all day for some strange reason. Shaking her head at the thoughts that filled her mind, the bluish green haired woman picked up the speed to get to the top of the hill.

Taking the last step that was needed, she stopped with her head tilted a bit at the scene in front of her. Ikkaku was slumped against the tree, his eyes closed with his blade in his arms as if it was the most precious thing to him. She was half tempted to toss a rock or something at him to see if he was awake or not but decided against it. "Ikkaku."

Watching the bald shinigami stir, she smirked a little. His gaze went everywhere before falling on her and he hurried around to get something laid out. With an eyebrow raised at his actions, she took a step closer and stopped.

"Yumichika thought you might like if you had dinner outside of the Seireitai for once." Ikkaku explained as his gaze averted hers but glanced at her face. Setting down Hôzukimaru, the sable eyed shinigami sat down with his hand uncovering one of the dishes that he packed. "I hope you like it . . . I don't really know what you like."

"That'll be fine." Tomoko said softly as she settled across from him and eyed up some of the food that was sitting out for them. Some of them she recognized as dishes from Ofukuwake while others seemed foreign to her. Taking a bite of the meat that he brought, she jumped a little.

"You like?" He questioned with his chopsticks holding some rice to his lips. Taking a bite, he watched her as she took another bite of the meat.

"Hai. Delicious." She chimed and went for a bite of rice. Turning her attention to him fully, she smiled. "Arigatou Ikkaku-kun."

He smirked a little before letting it fall to an emotionless line. As long as she enjoyed what was bought, it didn't matter to him.

"Ikkaku. About what you said yesterday, maybe some time when you're not so busy being a shinigami." Tomoko said and watched as he paused from taking a piece of beef into his chopsticks' grasp. He almost reminded her of a statue with the lack of movement he was giving her. When he did move which was a nod, she went on eating.

A shorter chapter because I didn't feel like it needed a lot also I'm about ready to fall asleep. Evil medicine for a cold. *sighs* Please review, favorite, or alert.