A/N: A boat load of people to thank for reviews: sara-nadia, Rukia's Reflection, "Guest," TVC, MugetsuIchigo, Ignis Draconem, Assault Godzilla, TR4PP3R, KitElizaKing, Iceflame55, Dragon and Sword Master, and NieveDrop. And thank you to anyone who put this or its author on their lists. Surprise! A present from me to all my loyal readers. As you've probably seen by now I'm updating my stories every day between Dec. 25th and Jan. 6th. By the time Jan. 6th is here, all the stories will have two new chapters. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy/Merry Pancha Ganapati and Happy Yule. Hopefully I haven't forgotten any holiday that happens during this time of year.
The Kurosaki Affair
A Day at the Modiste's
Three weeks before the wedding found Ishida neck deep in bridesmaids' dresses, a bridal gown that was waiting for its owner to be fitted into it and a flower girl dress whose wearer hadn't made an appearance once until today. The last thing was probably good for his mental health but not so for the wedding planner. And by planner he meant the Shinigami one, not the human one. Blissfully unaware of what was really going on; Teineina-san was in alt that so much was coming together so quickly. The catering staff was head over heels for Yuzu and her menu while the pastry chef was delighted to be making the Chappy cake. Flowers and fabrics were at the ready, both suppliers seemingly unaware that their prompt efforts would go largely unnoticed. Ise-san on the other hand was likely ready to pull her hair out.
"Lieutenant Kusajishi, if you don't sit still and let Ishida-sensei fit you properly, I'm going to bind you in a kido you can't get out of," Nanao warned.
"But he's a doctor! What if he sticks me with a needle that has yucky medicine in it instead?" Yachiru frown, her face flushed.
"Are you not feeling well?" Ishida asked, frowning at the girl's complexion.
"I'm perfectly alright, four-eyes," Yachiru snapped.
"She's been wheezing all morning," Matsumoto added, trying to adjust her bodice. "Ishida-kun, I think you got this a little too tight."
"No, I didn't. Both the bride and your captain requested that it be fit just so in order for you to not show an indecent amount of cleavage." Ishida stood up, gazing at the young Shinigami. Her face was getting paler by the second. "What have you been into that could get you sick? As far as I know, you haven't even gotten a cold since I've known you." He wandered away to get his medical bag, ignoring Matsumoto's complaints.
"I didn't get into anything. That stupid, short captain froze me in one of his dragons for teasing him about looking at Bun-chan's picture."
Great, Ishida thought coming back into the living room. Toushiro had inadvertently given Yachiru either the flu or pneumonia. "Hold still and breathe normally."
"You're not going to stick me with a needle?"
"The only needles I'm going to stick you with are fabric needles if you don't stay still while I fit you for the dress."
"Okay," the girl agreed easily and had the other three people in the room staring at her in genuine concern. She never submitted willingly and usually would have fought tooth and nail if someone tried to baby her.
Ishida checked her over, taking her temperature and pulse while he probed her reiatsu with his own. "You got one nasty case of pneumonia, Lieutenant. I'll ask Orihime to heal you when she gets back from work, okay? In the mean time, sit on the couch and stay quiet. Watch something on TV if you want. Tatsuki-san's coming over so I'll ask her to stop and get some sports drinks to help with your fluids."
"Does this mean I don't have to get fitted for that dress?"
"No, that means that you don't have to get it fitted now. I'll work on the others until you're better."
Grumbling under her breath, the young adjunct let the dress drop from her shoulders and pool onto the floor before making her way unsteadily to the couch. Climbing up onto the cushions, she searched for the remote and began flipping through the channels. She was glad she'd had Ichii explain the modern contraption to her when she'd visited before.
The adults contemplated the child for a moment before springing into action. There was no telling how long she would remain compliant. Matsumoto threw a blanket over her, covering her in warmth and a bit of modesty. Yumichika had insisted she wear the proper undergarments and Yachiru had thought in the beginning that that's all she'd have to wear. The first ruckus she'd made was when she found out how wrong she was.
Ishida dug out his cell and pleaded help from Tatsuki, earning him a laugh at his expense. Tossing the device onto the table next to him afterwards, he refocused his attention on Nanao who stood uncomfortably in her dress while she held it up. "Would you like some assistance doing it up, Lieutenant?" he asked, picking up Yachiru's discarded formal wear. He gingerly hung it up while he waited for her to answer.
"Rangiku-san, if you would be so kind," Nanao said, uncomfortable with Ishida seeing her undergarments. A doctor he might be but she'd known him since he was fifteen so it was a little awkward for her to let him do his side job.
"Of course. Let's see, up we go," the blonde said breezily, pulling the zipper up quickly. "I wonder if Kyoraku-taicho would like a picture."
"Don't you dare," Nanao warned. "He's enough of a pest about this thing as it is. He wants to attend but so far he hasn't gotten permission to crash the party. There are only so many captains that can be in the World of the Living at once."
"We do not need him, Kurosaki's dad, and Urahara in the same place, at the same time. I don't think the venue could survive." Chad had once told him that the Eighth Division captain had tried to get him to drink when they went to rescue Rukia.
"Ah, but think of the fun!" Rangiku sighed. Her companions could only think of the chaos.
Tatsuki arrived before the busty lieutenant could suggest something else to make things more complicated. She came in slowly, her girth a little more than the last time Ishida had seen her. In one hand she carried a basket that contained cheese, wine and bread while the other held a shopping bag with the required sports drinks. "Who called for refreshments?" she asked, a smile on her face. "Offerings from Orihime as she's going to be a bit late. Something to do with an uncooperative oven at the bakery."
"Wine! Finally, something decent to drink."
"Don't get anything on the dress!" Ishida pleaded, horror already spreading across his face.
"Who do you think you're talking to? I'll have you know that I've never spilled a drop of alcohol in my life," Rangiku declared proudly.
"Sad, but true," Nanao confirmed, nodding at Ishida's incredulous look.
"Bring me the wine!" Yachiru demanded before coughing and wheezing.
"Not this time, champ," Tatsuki said, leaving the basket to the older women while she went to sit beside the child. Pulling the drinks from the bag, she shook one and opened it. "You need to drink this right now, Yachiru. I called Orihime and she said she'd make you all better when she got home." The martial artist patted the girl's back when she coughed, offering a tissue when Yachiru coughed up phlegm.
"Gross," the pink haired Shinigami said and tossed it in the nearest bin—which happened to be Ishida's medical bag.
Tempted as he was to protest, he merely removed the offending object and made a mental note to sanitize everything before he used it again. Using a large dollop of hand sanitizer, he went back to studying Nanao's dress. "Do you feel the hem is too long, Ise-san?"
"As I am currently in my stocking feet, I cannot be entirely sure," Nanao admitted.
"How high are the heels on your dress shoes?"
"A measly three centimeters," Matsumoto answered for her after taking a bite of cheese. "Mine on the other hand, are the highest I could find."
"I remember," Ishida growled. He'd stabbed himself with one of the heels when he'd dyed them. Orihime had giggled for a good fifteen minutes. "Then I suggest taking it up just a half of a centimeter."
"I bow to your wisdom, Ishida-sensei."
"Finally, someone with sense." Tatsuki chuckled at her friend's fiancé's sigh of relief.
"Poor Ishida," the pregnant woman teased.
"Laugh now because you're next," Ishida shot back without looking at her. He threaded a needle and quickly changed the hem, ignoring the female chatter around him. "If nothing else feels uncomfortable or too loose, then you are set to go, Lieutenant Ise."
Nanao turned experimentally in the dress, taking a few steps and turning to see how easy it was to move. "This shall do," she told him.
"Are you sure? I want you to feel comfortable in it if at all possible. Are your arms free enough if you have to use them?"
Nanao paused in her second turn to think about what he meant. "You bring up a good point," she mused. Holding out her arms as if to produce a kido, she tested how pliable the fabric was. "Your calculations were correct. It moves just enough without being too loose. It may indeed come in handy."
"I should test that," Matsumoto mused. She held out her arms as if she was holding her sword, testing how she could move in the dress. "I still say the bust needs to be looser."
"Not happening," three voices chorused.
"Fine. Then I'm set too?"
"You're set too," Ishida agreed then had to quickly turn away when she stripped right in front of him. "You could have waited."
"Why so shy, Ishida-kun? You're a doctor, aren't you?"
"But you're not my patient. You're a woman I've known since I was fifteen. It's not appropriate for me to see you in your undergarments in this situation."
"Who says I'm wearing undergarments?"
Ishida blanched and looked at Tatsuki out of the corner of his eye. "Please tell me she's wearing undergarments."
"I see a bra and underwear. Not sure it's what she's supposed to be wearing with that dress, though." The vale tudo champ took a drink from her water bottle and smiled. "You'd have to look to be sure."
"No, thanks. Ise-fukutaicho, tell me she's wearing the ones she's supposed to be wearing."
"I wish I could," Nanao sighed. "Rangiku-san, I'm sure that if you put the undergarments on that you're supposed to, your chest won't seem so restricted. As Inoue-san chose said undergarments, I'm also sure that she took your considerable assets into consideration."
"Oh, well, let me go do that," Rangiku said and was tempted to just do it there but Ishida looked like he was about to expire. Taking her things to the bathroom, the tenth division lieutenant put on what she was supposed to and returned to try the dress back on. "Well, what do you know? The bodice is better."
"Told you," her audience chorused, including a drowsy Yachiru.
"Let me check the flow of the fabric again," Ishida said and started to walk around the tall woman. "Good, the slip evened everything out. I am pronouncing you fitted to the dress."
"Thank goodness," Rangiku breathed and took her clothes to change in another room.
"Alright, Tatsuki-san, it's your turn."
"If you make me look like some fat cupcake, I'm going to kill you. Then, after I have the baby, I'll find you in the Soul Society and kill you again." Tatsuki got off the couch with some help from Nanao and waddled a bit as she found her balance.
"I have done my utmost to take into account how much the baby will have grown by the time the wedding comes around and made your dress accordingly. It may seem a little loose at the moment but I am hoping all will be well the day of." As for the cupcake comment, I'm not touching that with a three meter pole, Ishida thought.
Nanao looked over her glass of wine at the young doctor and raised a brow. "Nice save," she murmured when Tatsuki left the room. Rangiku saluted him with her glass and poured some more wine.
"I thought so," the young doctor muttered and gave a big sigh of relief when Orihime flew through the door. She immediately began healing Yachiru while going into the other room to help her friend get changed.
"And there's the bigger save," Rangiku laughed.
The Quincy could only agree.
A/N: Okay, by the time you've gotten to the end of the chapter, your brain has probably done the math. Five stories in progress times two new chapters only equals ten days. The last three days of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" (there's some disagreement about when the days start and end so I'm having in begin on Christmas and letting it run until Epiphany is actually over ) will yield something special. Not entirely sure what that is yet, but I know you'll enjoy it.