"I heard him myself! Called her his 'daughter' ...then he laughed all creepy like."
"He always sounds creepy. Looks it too."
"Shush! Don't let anyone hear you call a captain 'creepy'."
"Oh, it's not like no one else has ever thought it!"
"True enough, just ...don't get caught saying it out loud!"
"Hey. Did he really call her his kid? I mean, I thought she was his new lieutenant or something."
"She's both. Look, she looks all hot and shit ...but sometimes, when she stares at something ...it's like she's not really all there."
"Dang. No, wait. It doesn't make sense. I had heard that he basically pieced her together, to make himself a lieutenant. Maybe that's what he meant."
"Daughter. I heard the word daughter. Clear as day."
"Adopted? Created? Or ... biological?"
"All three ideas completely freak me out."
"Me too."
o.O.o.O.o.O
Captain Retsu Unohana moved gracefully and calmly through the Seireitei on her way to report to the Head-Commander. A window display caught her attention and she stopped to admire the new sandals being shown. She was running early, so it wasn't a problem.
In the reflection of the store's window, she smiled at herself. She certainly didn't look like a woman who hadn't gotten nearly a lick of sleep. That thought alone triggered the jaw-cracking yawn which she covered with her forearm.
"Long night, Captain?"
Retsu turned politely and smiled. "Captain Ukitake." She offered the name in greeting.
The other division leader gave a small bow of his head, then turned to look to see what had caught her interest. "Ah."
"Window shopping on a fine morning before duty takes over." Retsu said quietly, without any hint of apology. She ignored the first question, not wanting to tell anyone of her one-night honeymoon. Or explain her lack of sleep. What was she supposed to say? That she had an insatiable husband that no one knew she had? That thought alone made her eyes sparkle.
"Missed you at the Captain's meeting yesterday." The white-haired shinigami commented. "Some complicated piece of healing?"
Retsu blinked slowly, taking a moment to re-order her thoughts. Jushiro was a friend and a fellow captain in the Gotei 13. And he was a perfect gentleman. However, Retsu also knew him to have a steel-trap mind. Jushiro knew many, many secrets throughout the Seireitei. And he kept them all. Still, if one wanted to keep a secret from him, one had to tread very carefully.
"Nothing of the kind." Retsu said as casually as she could. "Herb gathering. Just a day trip this time."
Captain Ukitake nodded without suspicion, knowing the healer often took such trips.
"I have been called to the Head-Commander's office this morning." Retsu continued, trying to glean a little information herself. "I assume this is about what you all met about yesterday? Have I missed something?"
Jushiro frowned very slightly.
Retsu's muscles tensed in response. "I have missed something."
"I should allow the Head-Captain to explain." Jushiro said gently. "Though, you're not the only one missing from yesterday's meeting."
Kenpachi. Retsu already knew he'd not been there. Because she knew exactly where he'd been all day. With her.
"Captain Kurotsuchi was most notably absent."
The medical shinigami gave a small tilt to her head. "Oh?" Not what she'd been expecting to hear.
Captain Ukitake noted her surprise, but attributed it incorrectly. "I know, he often complains about the meetings, but he rarely misses them entirely. But Captain Komamura was also not there."
Retsu thought of the very large captain who kept his head covered with a basket-like helmet at all times. "Oh?"
"And he never misses a meeting." Jushiro added unnecessarily.
"Sounds like a very incomplete meeting." Retsu commented, without offering any thoughts on the matter. "But then, it wasn't scheduled."
The white-haired captain nodded. "Quite last minute. I myself was almost late."
"A travesty." The healer joked dryly, drawing a rueful smile from the other man. Neither mentioned that Jushiro's attendance was spotty due to his health. Although he always kept up-to-date with all the latest information.
"Captain Zaraki was excused, being out on patrol." Captain Ukitake mentioned the name without inflection, but Retsu could feel his eyes on her, watching for any change in her expression.
"Another travesty." She mentioned with equal dryness of tone. Not giving an iota of a reaction to her long-time friend. She knew he was curious about her and Kenpachi's aborted attempt to date publicly. And also knew that Jushiro was far too polite to simply ask.
Captain Ukitake gave no indication of disappointment over her lack of an answer. He simply bowed his head once more, "of course." He wished her a fine day and moved on down the street. "You know ..."
Surprised, Retsu turned and found that Jushiro had only moved a few feet away before stopping. "Yes?"
"We don't simply sit and have tea like we used to, I miss that." The other man gave her a wistful smile.
Retsu nodded. "I too." Neither mentioned that they'd started having tea together as a way for the healer to listen to and offer suggestions for the much younger captain as he and Shunsui had become the first captain-graduates from the Academy. "But then, I think the two of you have moved far beyond the need to listen to me."
Jushiro nodded slowly, then gave a small smile. "Listening can go both ways." He offered.
Mentally stunned, Retsu nodded automatically even as she excused herself politely. After all, the Head-Commander was waiting for her. As she walked up to the Division One meeting offices, she wondered at how people could still manage to surprise her.
Once she had been the fount of information to both Jushiro and Shunsui, letting them find their wings as captains. Like baby birds leaving the nest. Lethal and conniving as well as sweet baby birds. She smiled at the thought. Now one was offering to listen to her problems? How ...odd.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Kenpachi frowned. He didn't even bother to look at the other captains as they arrived.
Captain Kurotsuchi was complaining, which was normal. While Captain Komamura was silent, also normal.
It was Retsu that was making him tense up. He wanted to turn and look at her, but didn't dare. What the hell? They'd been sleeping together for the past seventy years, keeping their relationship a secret. Now that they had finally married, he was having trouble keeping his eyes off of her? Not good.
Kenpachi deliberately sneered before turning, his dark gaze taking in the lithe form and smooth braid. His sneer turned real as he noted her ultra-calm expression. She hadn't looked like that last night, with her back arched and her mouth open for her panting little moans.
Captain Komamura's helmet turned slightly, and Kenpachi stopped, turning his eyes front and center. He didn't need to let anyone see a sappy look on his face. Best to ignore her. Her. His wife. His.
Fucking his. The possessive thought was like a drug to his system. His. He couldn't stop focusing on that one word.
"You're smiling, captain." Head-Commander Yamamoto entered and took his place at the front of the room. "Your patrol went well? I'm assuming from such a relaxed look and that smile that you ...killed a lot of hollows?"
Kenapchi grunted without comment, the needling words acting like a bucket of ice-cold water on his system. He glared at the older man, his leader. Yamamoto didn't react at all.
"We'll save that for later." The Head-Captain said, looking over his captains. "As you are no doubt aware, I had to call in a meeting of my division leaders yesterday, though not all of you were available. Some absences were excused."
Captain Kurotsuchi spread his hands as if in supplication. "I was in the middle of an experiment that could not be left unattended."
"Something to do with your new lieutenant?" The Head-Capain asked quietly.
The Division Twelve leader nodded slightly. "Nemu is working properly again. Now."
The older man gave a soft sigh of resignation. "You and I will address that issue ...later. For now, I have some news."
All four captain stood at attention before their leader.
Head-Captain Yamamoto sighed. "There was a series of ...assassinations the night before last."
Retsu stiffened.
Kenpachi felt confused. "Not our area."
"You mean not YOUR area." Captain Kurotsuchi spoke silkily. "Captain Sui-Feng would say differently."
The Head-Captain grunted without comment initially, then sighed. "These assassinations were not sanctioned by Central 46. Nor were they carried out by the Stealth Squad."
The Division Twelve leader yawned in a patently false manner. "So the dear little captain says."
"Captain Sui-Feng is meticulous and loyal, I have absolutely no doubt of her non-involvement." Head-Captain Yamamoto spoke with conviction. "And she has no motive."
"Who does?" Kenpachi snarled. "And why do we care?"
"The entire main branch of the Rikiya family, five persons in all, have been murdered."
Kenpachi stilled. He knew that name.
Captain Komamura spoke in a deep rumble. "Nobility? Who has the motive?"
"I do."
All eyes turned to Retsu Unohana. The healer looked straight ahead, her gaze meeting no one else's.
"You?" Captain Komamura didn't have an expression that could be read, not beneath his concealing head-gear. "Captain Unohana?"
The leader of Division Twelve looked delighted. "Oh my dear. How ... twisted of you. I hope you have an alibi."
"She does."
Kenpachi bit his tongue. The Head-Captain had spoken before he could, which all told, was probably a good idea.
The Division One leader frowned at them all. "Captain Unohana has an unimpeachable alibi for the evening in question."
He said nothing further.
Captain Kurotsuchi frowned. "You're not going to share?"
Kenpachi couldn't help himself. "Perhaps it should be made public." His words had meaning on many different levels. He looked over at the old man.
Yamamoto met his gaze, but didn't back down. "No. I think it best to keep that information close to hand for the time being. I, however, am very satisfied with Captain Unohana's whereabouts at the time."
Kenpachi's lips thinned, but he didn't speak further. Retsu's alibi? Him. Having sex with him all night, getting married first thing in the morning, then spending all day with him. And another night.
He'd offered the old man the option of making them public just then. But Yamamoto seemed to think it a good idea to keep their marriage a secret. So be it.
"I'm confused." Captain Komamura said with a hint of annoyance in his deep voice. "How is this noble family and their deaths, tragic as it is, connected to the Gotei 13?"
Retsu took a deep breath. "Ochiai Rikiya was my former fiance. He'd been killed himself, not that long ago."
"Poisoned." Captain Kurotsuchi mused aloud. "The same for these new assassinations?"
"No." Came the surprising response from Head-Captain Yamamoto. "No, the family all died in their sleep. Throats cut expertly."
Retsu's eyes widened.
Kenpachi felt his hands twitch in response, as he fought the desire to pull out his zanpakuto.
"Children?" Retsu asked, she had to ask. The word sounded hollow coming from her dry mouth.
"No." Head-Captain Yamamoto sighed. "Thank goodness. All adults. Two were married. Their wives were not touched, nor even home."
"All men?" Kenpachi asked, beyond disturbed by this turn of events. He just wanted to know what the hell was going on.
Retsu sighed. "Main Rikiya family, consisted of one grand matriarch and her two sons, and three grandsons."
"Six?" Captain Komamura asked.
"Ochiai Rikiya, the eldest grandson had already passed away." Retsu kept all inflection and feeling from her voice. She hadn't cared one iota for her former fiance. But that didn't mean she'd wished him dead.
"Did you want them dead?" Captain Kurotsuchi had no qualms about asking questions, even hurtful ones.
Kenpachi growled. "If she'd wanted them dead, they'd already have been buried long ago."
Surprised by his defense of the healer, Captain Komamura turned to stare at the Division Eleven leader. "I heard she wanted you dead." He said in a deadpan tone of voice.
"I'm harder to kill than most." Kenpachi smiled menacingly, showing a lot of teeth.
The Head-Captain wasn't through, however. "In the house there was found a large quantity of poison. A certain poison that is very lethal to shinigami most especially.
Retsu shook her head. "No. That doesn't make sense. Ochiai Rikiya was murdered through such a poison. Why would they kill off their own?"
Yamamoto nodded. "They didn't. Papers in the house show that the family was incensed with Ochiai's death. They were working to reverse engineer the poison. Then they were going to use it against anyone they felt wronged them. There was a long list."
"And Captain Unohana was on that list." The helmeted captain spoke with a soft growl.
"Yes. So was her father and uncle. And Captain Zaraki." Yamamoto continued. "A few others for differing reasons."
"Me?" Kenpachi shook his head. "I did nothing to them."
"They weren't sure you hadn't been behind Ochiai's death. Seemed that you left an unfavorable impression on the young man." The Head-Captain said without much humor.
Kenpachi's mouth fell into a scowl as he remembered the only time he'd met the young man. When the noble, along with Retsu's father, had sought him out.
Captain Kurotsuchi steepled his fingers together, looking thoughtful. "So. Three fiances dead. Two by the blade, one by poison. Two looking to harm her in some fashion, the other trying to get closer."
Retsu stirred uneasily. "You are remarkably well informed." Suspicion and irritation obvious in her tone. "Too well informed."
"Yes." Captain Kurotsuchi did not elaborate, returning instead to his musings. "The young man's death by poison ...causes retaliation by the Rikiya family. Secret plans for revenge. Only, they weren't as secret as they'd intended." The strange looking captain turned to look at Kenpachi. "Sometimes secrets are just like that." He purred.
Captain Zaraki narrowed his gaze on the other man. Just what did the freak know? His hand flexed and then settled on the hilt of his zanpakuto, though he didn't grip the blade handle. Not an overt threat.
Captain Kurotsuchi looked down at the warrior's hand, then back up to his face. The Zaraki's smile was less than comforting. "Indeed." He smiled and turned back toward the Head Captain. "So. There were three threats toward our inestimable healer. One is now gone. At the hands of one of the others?"
"Captains Komamura and Kurotsuchi? I thank you for your input. I have further questions for the others." It was a dismissal, plain and simple.
Captain Komamura bowed deeply toward the Head-Captain, taking his leave quietly.
However, Captain Kurotsuchi rarely left a room without some parting comment. He too bowed, though with less respect than the larger captain. "It doesn't seem to pay to be entangled with our good healer. Perhaps you had a narrow escape, Captain Zaraki."
The fighting man growled low in his throat, and the Division Twelve leader walked away slowly as he chuckled. He went so far as to wave one gloved hand in farewell.
"I'd like to add him to my kill list." Kenpachi muttered.
Retsu looked startled. "You have one?"
"I'll make one, just for him." The fighting division leader still looked grumpy. "I really don't fucking like him."
The Head-Captain clucked his tongue lightly. "He's good at his job." He ignored the large warrior's bad language.
Retsu frowned at that. "Captain Kurotsuchi's ethics are below par, at the very least."
"So far he has the support of Central 46." Yamamoto commented diffidently. "Now, onto your alibi, Captain Unohana."
Retsu felt her cheekbones heating up. A blush? Really? How odd. She forced down any feelings of unease. "You know my alibi."
"Me." Kenpachi smiled with true satisfaction. "And I don't mind saying it out loud."
The Head-Captain shook his head slightly. "We will keep your marriage a secret for now. I have that information, as does the Royal Court Guard. There's no impelling reason to reveal your relationship, not yet."
"My uncle was informed." Retsu frowned. "I'm not sure that my father knows."
Yamamoto stirred. "You didn't let him know?"
"He's not claimed me and my uncle is the actual head of the clan." The healer defended her decision, petty as though it might seem.
"Not much of a celebration, I'm afraid." The Head-Captain twitched his mouth slightly. "But as the secrecy was your own doing, I'm assuming you are both fine with that."
Kenpachi's lip curled. "Don't care what anyone else thinks."
Retsu didn't speak, her eyes cast downward. She didn't argue the point. And Yamamoto knew her well enough to know that she wasn't acting submissive, but that she had nothing to say on the matter. Submissive wasn't a word he attached to this woman. Not as Yachiru, nor as Retsu.
"I hate parties anyway." Kenpachi's nostrils flared at the very thought.
The Head-Captain gave a slight smile. "When this is all over, and if you two ever go public. You will definitely have to have some sort of reception. It'll be a huge shock to the entire Soul Society."
Retsu's own lips twitched as she fought not to frown. "I like thinks ...quieter."
The Head-Captain nodded. "The party won't be for you two, but for the rest of us to celebrate for you.
The healer finally looked up, uncomfortable with that thought. Then she smiled. "I have ...We have yet to thank you for your very kind wedding gift."
Kenpachi stirred. He'd forgotten about that. Shit. He really sucked at the social niceties. "It was ...pretty." He said, speaking of the fragile suehiro, a beautifully made fan and a traditional wedding gift.
"It was more than pretty." Retsu looked up at the Head-Captain. "It's too much."
Yamamoto looked directly into the eyes of a woman who in no small manner helped him as he'd built his vision for the current Academy system and the Gotei 13 as it was now. If she had chosen to fight him, rather than surrender, he would have been left far more vulnerable to other forces. Her choice to lay down her sword, even her life, had been a gift.
A gift he'd given back to her when he'd taken her prisoner, rather than allow her to ease her pain in ritual suicide.
"It is not enough." The older warrior said almost sternly.
Kenpachi looked back and forth between the two, sensing the weight of their history together. Friends and enemies. Both. Neither. "Ah shit."
"Language." The Head-Captain scolded, though he didn't look away from Retsu.
"It looked like an heirloom piece." Captain Unohana took a steadying breath, shaking her head.
Yamamoto nodded at her. "I have no children. My wife ...she made that suehiro back when we still thought we'd have a family together."
Kenpachi blinked. The old man had been married? News to him.
"It's too valuable." Retsu protested.
"The gift is freely given, to both of you." The Head-Captain finally looked over at Kenpachi. "It was not given to just one side of a pair. But to the two of you as a whole."
Retsu's words denying the gift dried up in her throat. She had no response for that, except for, "thank you."
Kenpachi didn't know how to respond. He sighed and shook his head. "You think you have me just where you want me, don't you old man?"
The Head-Captain smiled. "I didn't put you two together. You both accomplished that on your own. I simply sent you a wedding gift."
The larger, younger man simply smiled. A smile full of dark menace, and feral intensity.
The older man calmly looked back at him. Not a twitch, not a flinch, nothing to even suggest he was even remotely intimidated.
Spiritual pressure rose. The older man's spiritual pressure rose to match. Easy. More came to bear. It also was matched, still easily.
"Oh for crying out loud." Retsu tapped her foot in irritation. "Do not turn this into a pissing contest. Kenpachi, it's a wedding gift. Say thank you and leave. Head-Captain, my apologies."
"Don't ever apologize for me." Spiritual pressure rose higher as the young male snarled.
The Head-Captain matched the increased spiritual pressure without effort, then gave a half-smile. "My wife made that suehiro to pass on to our children. She dreamed of having a son that was just like me, when I was much, much younger, of course."
Kenpachi grinned evilly. "And you gave it to me? She must be rolling in her grave."
Yamamoto smiled flicked his pinky finger, sending a wave of small flames angling from him over toward the taller man. "On the contrary, I do feel that she'd approve."
Kenpachi waved his hand, using his spiritual pressure to douse the flames as if they weren't there. It wasn't even a real attack. He looked up and blinked. The old man was standing at the doorway, smiling at him.
Retsu stared at her husband, waiting to see what would happen next.
"What the fuck?" Kenpachi growled, looking around. "You just dismissed me! That was nothing but a distraction. How the hell do you think you can get away with treating me ...oh for fuck's sake, why are you smiling?" He glared balefully at his wife.
The healer shrugged, but her smile didn't dim.
Kenpachi groaned and rolled his shoulders. "What the hell was that all about, anyway?" He looked back and forth between Yamamoto and Retsu.
"I hesitate to sound juvenile, but you started it." Retsu's smile grew, lightening her eyes. "He just gave you a gift."
"Us."
Retsu shook her head. "The fan, the suehiro? That was for our wedding. The words? Those were for you."
Kenpachi snarled. What words? He replayed the memory in his head. His mind stalling as he realized just what the old man had said. "I doubt your wife would ever have approved of me."
"Oh?" Yamamoto seemed almost amused.
"I'm foul-mouthed, evil-tempered, a brawler and a fighter with little to no discipline and I don't give a flying fuck's sake for what ever anyone in this whole damned place thinks about me!" Kenpachi's voice rose as he spoke, ending on a near shout.
The Head-Captain gave an enigmatic smile. "Why would you think she'd disapprove? She married one just like that."
Kenpachi felt stunned, he had no response to that as he watched the old man leave the meeting hall. He looked around, seeing Retsu still smiling at him. "What the hell?"
The healer just shrugged and kept her thoughts to herself. They had a lot to think about, the two of them. More people dead. Enemies still hidden.
"What the hell?" Whispered Kenpachi, again.
Retsu smiled gently. And they'd focus on those other problems later. Right now she had to treat her husband, who was probably suffering from severe shock.
"What did he say?" Kenpachi looked down at his wife.
Retsu nodded. Definitely shock.
o.O.o.O.o.O