Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, its characters or its settings
Isane paced her bedroom in the moonlight, unable to sleep for the nightmares. An enraged substitute, bursting free of the manga to lay waste to the Seireitei. Except instead of that dreadful mask he held a pen in his claw hand and a striped bucket hat in place of a hollow's mask.
She didn't want to believe it - couldn't bring herself to believe it - didn't know what to do because she did believe it.
The Kurosaki twins knew where their brother was. They had to; Isane was skilled at assessing the condition of her patients, both mental and physical - the way the twins had reacted - for just that split second-
Oh they knew all right, they definitely knew. The pair of them were sitting on the biggest secret in Soul Society and nobody had even thought to ask them.
Of course Ichigo-san would have made contact with his sisters, with them before anyone else. Captain Kurosaki was worried, to be sure, but the way he told it Isshin-san had known full well what his son was doing the time Ichigo-san broke into the Seireitei - Isshin hadn't stopped him then, probably wouldn't stop him now, whatever he was doing.
Captain Kurosaki couldn't know - he had his own oaths to uphold, but if he suspected his daughters knew he might not question them. Ichigo was his son after all.
Oh, what to do, what to do? Isane looped the room again. Should she tell Captain Unohana? Isane wasn't sure - Captain Unohana was duty-bound to turn Ichigo-san in, and what their superiors had done to the Substitute was intolerable.
Isane was starting to get dizzy. She had to tell somebody! But it had to be somebody she trusted, somebody who wouldn't laugh it off, and wouldn't immediately have the Kurosaki twins sent to twelfth division for questioning. Who? Who? She needed someone to talk to, someone she could trust not to immediately tell-
-to immediately tell her captain. Nanao.
------------------------------
Nanao looked up from her paperwork. "Vice Captain?"
"Please Nanao-san, I'm not on business."
Nanao smiled quite warmly, something she seldom did. "Oh, well that's different. What can I do for you, Isane-san?"
"I-" Isane looked around the eighth division office, blushed. "Ah, could we go outside?"
Nanao smiled again. "Of course. My captain's asleep, and I've got nothing pressing." Nanao picked up her large book. She tended to carry it everywhere, and Isane had never known why.
A few minutes later they were walking through one of the Seireitei's many little gardens, this one long but narrow, a meandering path between two rows of cherry trees.
The blossoms were in season, and pink was everywhere.
Nanao breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of the cherry blossoms. She offered the world a radiant smile.
"Nanao-san," began Isane, "suppose you had a feeling-" she wasn't putting it very well. "Suppose you thought something, that you were suspicious of something-" Isane made a little noise. "I'm sorry, I'm not saying this very well. Suppose you hoped something was true but you were afraid to ask or to tell anyone because of what might happen?"
Nanao smiled beatifically as she glanced around the gardens, not meeting Isane's eyes, again inhaling the scent of the cherry blossoms. "I've always loved that smell. It's very romantic here," said Nanao. She smiled again. "Isane-san, it's been my experience that it's always best to be forward and ask."
"But what if you're worried about what the answer might be?"
"You should never fear answers, Isane-san. You'll always be happier knowing. Possibly much happier."
"But this is - well - it's - it'd be serious if anyone found out."
"Isane, never fear the truth."
"Well - can you keep a secret?"
Nanao smiled that warm smile again. "Of course."
"I-" Isane felt herself blushing. "Well I-"
"Isane-chan," said Nanao, again offering that warm smile, touching gently fingers to Isane's wrist. "Just say it. No one else has to hear."
She was right, Nanao was totally, totally right. Isane leaned close to the other woman, wet her lips, and, trembling just a little, said "I think I know where Kurosaki Ichigo is."
Nanao's jaw dropped. She didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then she said, "Oh."
"I know it's a surprise-"
"It certainly is," complained Nanao. "I thought you were asking me out!"
"No, I- what?"
Nanao blushed a little. "Sorry, I was somewhere else and misinterpreted."
"You thought I was asking you out?"
"Yes."
"So you're-"
"Yes."
"And you think I-"
"Well I did-"
"Oh," said Isane. There was a rather uncomfortable pause, until Isane looked at the other vice captain rather hopefully. "Would you have said yes?"
---------------------------
This was my first Zanpakuto class with other students and I've never been so nervous. I checked my eye patch about fifty times. You wouldn'tbelieve how nervous I was. Wait, I just said that. We started off slow, thankfully, and I'm allowed to be good at this, provided I keep the super speed, the shunpo, the energy attacks and every other damn thing to a minimum.
I was sticking with the sealed form of my Zanpakuto. As long as I keep Zangetsu's name out of it I should be able to do that, but at some point I'm really going to have to get that whole shikai thing down. Maybe I'll see if I can permanently release my Bankai.
I wonder if that can even be done?
Anyway, acting like you don't know what you're doing it a hell of a lot harder than it looks.
I guess I should explain, this was my first second year 'special' class. I skip a lot of my Zanpakuto classes but you miss a special class and you're out. This time around they've got some guys from Eleventh in, and there were a bunch of the better students from the upper classes helping out. One of the 11th squad guys was actually teaching the class. My guess would be twentieth seat or something. How he didn't recognize me I'll never know; I would have thought everyone in eleventh would know me.
Maybe he's new. Or maybe Ikkaku had gotten to him. Whatever, it doesn't matter. I just had to keep on his good side, if I pounded him Zaraki might come nosing around, and that would be bad. Nutcase is still looking to fight me.
The big guy is just a little too noisy, if you know what I mean.
We drilled on moves for awhile, then we were set up in sparring. I already had a reputation for Ukitake knowing me and the first year exemption with the private tutor. One of the fourth years decided he'd go against me.
I should have figured out he thought he was king shit, but Ichi-baka just doesn't make the connection. I mean, it wasn't like I was worried about beating him; me and old man Zangetsu have faced worse than this guy just to get to breakfast. Hell, I've pushed tougher guys out of the way for standing between me and the urinal. No, see the problem was I wasn't paying enough attention, and this guy figured I was making fun of him.
Well I'm sorry but I was worried about staying hidden.
By the time I figured out how pissed off he was this fourth year had brought himself into an absolute rage. I hadn't been thinking, hadn't even made an effort to make it look credible, so half the class had stopped to watch this guy trying to get past my guard.
Shit, what was I going to do now? Let this clown through he'd try to slice me into sections. Or I could go on the offensive and send the fourth year flying, yeah, it wasn't like anyone would notice that. Or I could be really mean and cut his Zanpakuto in half.
I'd get shit for that too.
Crap, now the sensei was coming over. He was eleventh, so if I tossed him around people were really going to talk.
This fourth year guy was starting to piss me off. It's like dude, take a pill. I'm not a-
Okay, maybe I am. technically, but he doesn't know that. The guy needs to chill.
I knocked him back but he didn't take the hint. He didn't get it the second time, or the third.
I thought about lighting up, but not too seriously.
He just wasn't going away.
"Don't toy with him!" roared the guy from eleventh, "Beat him! Now!"
This clown was game and opened it wide, he fought better than he let on.
I sent him packing anyway. With the patch Hana figures I can manage something like the spirit pressure of a tenth seat, though I'd guess a little higher, and let's be honest, I fight like a captain.
Down he went. I tried to help him up but he wasn't having it.
The sensei swore at me, shouted "Take this seriously, damn it!"
"Yes sensei."
Then he flagged another guy from Eleventh up, another full blown Shinigami for me to fight. And you don't go soft on these guys – try to lie down and they'll cut you to ribbons.
Shit.
I was going to hear about this one next time I went for dinner.
And like the Goddamn fool that I am, I had no idea just how much shit I'd just bought myself.
-------------------------------------------
Found out later that day. Morisato, Sei, Seymour and I were sitting around enjoying an afternoon break when Morisato suddenly says-
"Oh my-"
He didn't get the rest out, and by the look on his face I figured I'd better turn around quick.
Fumiko-san, Yuzu's former roommate was coming towards us. I didn't know what the big deal was, but Morisato, Sei and Seymour had gone pale.
Now I hadn't seen this chick since that first night I went to see Yuzu, and that was a big fraction of a year ago, so I wasn't putting the pieces together yet.
Sure enough Fumiko came right to me. I realized that other people were suddenly watching us. A lot of other people.
Why can't people just ignore me?
She stopped right in front of where I'm lounging on the grass.
"Are you Sado-kun?"
"Uh, yes. Yes I am. May I help you Sempai?" I touched my snow white slimy hair, which I hadn't gotten used to yet.
"I'm Hashimoto Fumiko-san, president of the Red Flower."
I listened politely. What did that have to do with me? And what the Hell's a red flower? Some kind of club?
Anyway, whatever-
"I understand," said Fumiko-san, "that you're the most skilled person in your year with a Zanpakuto."
Where would she have heard that? I'd never -
I suddenly had a very uncomfortable feeling. She'd been waiting for me – nah, she'd been waiting for Yuzu – for Yuzu to graduate.
Oh Fuck I'm bagged-
"I wouldn't say that," I answered. "I'm no more than fair." What the hell was this one after?
"I've heard otherwise." She held out a red flower badge, I realized she was wearing one as well.
"Come to the eleventh dojo tonight, we'd like you to apply for our club." Fumiko put the flower in front of me and walked away.
And I had plans for this evening! And now this shit-
Morisato stared at the flower badge I was holding. I asked the obligatory 'What the fuck is this' and he starts in with "Do you-do you have any idea what the Red Zanpakuto club is? They're the elite of the elite Zanpakuto students! They don't just give out the red flower! It takes a year to get into that club! They turn away over eighty percent of their applicants on the first day, they only take a few people from each grade Sado-kun!"
Great. Just what I need.
"That's nice. I'm not going."
"Konshiro-kun!" wailed Sei, "you have to! You can't just walk away from that! Half the Red Sword Flowers go directly into the squads without sitting the exams! Do you realize what an opportunity it is?"
Fuck! I'm trapped! If I walk away from a shot at avoiding the exams the entire school will know it!
And it was as bad as that, the damn red flower had the rumor mill going in hours. I'm only two weeks into second year - that's practically first year and I find out no first year had ever been invited to apply, let alone just handed the damn flower!
I was going to have to do this. Curse that damn Fumiko!
There'd probably be a fight, that stupid bitch wanted nothing more than to see The Substitute fight, probably to fight me herself.
I was tempted to pop her in the face with a cero, or see how she liked the old Hado-90 Black Coffin. I mean, this is a serious case of 'You want togo, bitch?'"
My next class was Kido and I could hear them whispering all around me. People started passing me notes, asking if it was true. I ignored them, but Rukia got mad anyways, called me to her office.
I swear she's always looking for a reason.
Mmmm. Ruuuukia.
As usual my Rukia wouldn't talk to me until I sat cross-legged and pulled her onto my lap. She's so small she fits very comfortably. She's very exacting though, everything has to be just so. Her head always has to be on my right side, try to sit her the other way and you get slapped in the head. Then I have to pull her legs in snug so her feet rest on my left thigh, and I have to wrap an arm around her knees. My other arm has to go down over her shoulder, reach around and rest on Rukia's tummy, that one's her back rest. Sometimes I have to shift her a little, she's very precise about how her little bum should be placed on my right thigh. Then squeeze my Rukia once, she'll rest her head on my chest. If I've done everything right she's willing to speak to me. If I haven't she thumps me.
It's quite a process.
"I've got a problem, Angel."
"Mmm?" She ran her hand over my head. My slick white hair intrigues her. That was her right hand, her left arm was sort of wedged between us. That she was fine with, but try to hold her right hand and she'd start to fuss.
"Red Zanpakuto."
"The Red Flower? You want to join? Not a good way to keep a low profile. Though usually a good way into eleventh squad. You've got time to think about it."
"That's just it, I don't. Their president dropped off a badge."
Rukia sat straight upright, her perky, kissable nose almost at my lips. It was hard to resist the temptation.
So I didn't.
"That's unusual. More than unusual. Did you do something stupid?"
Well... "Their president was Yuzu's roommate," I explained, "the one who made me at the start of the year. I was safe while Yuzu was here, but now that she's joined the squads Fumiko-san has decided she wants a piece of me."
Rukia made a comfortable noise at me.
"So what the hell is the Red Flower?"
"You know there's a Zanpakuto club?"
I did.
"The elite members of the the Zanpakuto club can earn a white rose badge. The Red Flower grew out of that, the elite of the elite. The whole point was to separate themselves from the White Flower. Renji was a Red Flower." Rukia settled a little, then wriggled a bit because I wasn't holding her tightly enough. "So was Kira. It's a good way onto the squads, my Ichigo, but you'll be out in the open."
"That's what I thought, but I heard it might get me out of exams. I can't walk away from it without blowing my cover."
"This Fumiko-san already knows that," mused Rukia. "So no excuse is going to work on her. Clever girl, she's got you cornered." My Rukia shifted a little, made a contented sound. "She probably wants to fight you." Rukia's little hand tugged at where my jacket folded shut. The saucy little cat took a peek inside.
"Naughty minx." It'd be worth my life to try something like that on her, we have to proceed at her speed, not mine, and Rukia isn't ready yet.
I've been trying to figure out some way to get her into a bikini and I'm having no luck at all.
"She wants to fight you and she knows who you are. She's got more leverage than I like, Ichigo."
"I know Sweetie, and it scares the Hell out of me."
"I could try the memory device," she mused, "but she sounds a little too smart for it. It's a logical step after all. She'll have left herself some sort of reminder. Or told someone else."
"I could turn over her room."
"Too obvious. She'd be more clever than that."
"Well, she wants to fight – so did Aizen and the Espada, look where it got them."
"Or you could just join the Red Flower," replied Rukia. "Consider, anything you do to this Fumiko-san is attacking a student. It'd make you look extremely bad if word ever got out."
"Look, Rukia-"
"Hear me out. The Red Flower is the most secretive club on campus, only the members know who the other members are. Most people can guess, but the only times the Flower is openly worn is graduation. Ichigo, most of the people who know you probably thought you were already a member."
"Wait – why did Fumiko-"
"She was Yuzu's roommate? Yuzu was moved up, so this Fumiko should graduate this year. If she's good enough to be president of the Red Flower everyone around her would already think she was a member. It's not like she's giving anything away." She scratched my jawline, kissed me. "My Ichigo, you have to pay more attention to the world around you. You should know the names of everyone suspected of being Red Flower already. The other students do – you stand out because you're not interested at all in any of your sempais."
She had a point, so I kissed her, wondering how I might get a peek into her jacket.
"All right, I'll talk to Morisato and make some kind of list of honored sempais or something. What about Red Flower?"
"Join it. You can't not join it, especially not with her handing you the flower in public. Everyone would know if you did."
"What do I do then? Play the sympathy card and hope she doesn't turn me in?"
"It's a workable plan Ichigo. Your alternative-" She didn't finish. "If this ever comes into the open, the fact you never hurt anyone will count in your favor. Erasing this girl's memory-"
"What about Ukitake-Taicho? We-"
"No," countered Rukia. "He did that himself Ichigo, of his own free will. He's left me sealed documents in case that ever comes out.
"This girl has really got me by the-" I had to stop that.
Minx-chan smiled up at me. "She has you by the what, my Ichigo?"
I kissed thatincredibly kissable little mouth. "I can't tell you Rukia. You're too little."
She couldn't offer any other advice.
If I didn't take the damn flower it'd look a lot stranger than if I did, and I could also look forward to people challenging me everywhere. That'd be worse than the Hakuda club's gauntlet – too many high end public sword fights and I would get caught.
I'd been trapped.
I didn't need this.
So me and the Red Flower Zanpakuto club, huh?
Had to smile. Darkly.
Fumiko has no frickin' idea just what she's just unleashed on her little group of friends.
