A/N I'd like to thank
Dragon of Twilight
Mariliisa
Beastly Rose
SnowyNinja607
rosewhip889
xoxCutie-Chanxox
CaramelTromboneGirl
Ray-nee-chan
Lunar Iris
vivvy09
Amaya chibi-chan
RottweilerFan
Truftbamp
Hioni
imnotinsane13
gnarley-
for reviewing!! You guys are so damn cool!! :D And YES!!! My computer is back and working!!! The only thing that sucks, is that it's still slow. But I don't care!! I'm so happy, I could actually cry! =D Someone! Get me a tissue! -Cries hysterically-
Yuri giggled, Shun frowning while she dried Yuri's head with a towel. Rio smiled, seeing Yuri's smiling face when Shun took the towel off. The angry woman only rolled her eyes, standing up, seeing the happy woman grin. What was with her and being so damn happy? It was getting annoying. She sighed, throwing the towel on the ground, hearing Rio shriek, looking towards her calm friend with a bored look.
"Now I have to clean it again." Rio said, pouting, picking the towel off the ground.
"Whatever." Shun muttered, walking towards the lake.
"Bad Kitty, don't say that to Rio!" Yuri yelled, flailing her arms, trying her best to glare at Shun.
"Shut up! And stop calling me that! It's pissing me off!" Shun growled, glaring at the two women that refused to leave her alone.
She walked into the lake, eyes narrowed, having to take a damn bath because that damn woman said so. She frowned, thinking how it would be to leave those two behind. Later on, in the evening, the three women sat around a fire, Shun looking off in the distance, making Yuri and Rio think she was able to see something they couldn't. She was always doing that. Never talking to them unless they talked to her. She was so quiet.
"Shun, you've heard of our pasts, what was yours like? Before you met us." Rio said, sitting beside the fire with Yuri.
Rio swallowed hard, seeing Shun's eyes slowly move to look at her. She had the guts to ask her, and she couldn't back down now. She stared at the angry woman determinedly.
"Did you have someone special?" Yuri asked, eating meat, mouth full.
Shun paused, hand on her knee and the other arm resting on her leg. Someone... special? Her eyes softened, making Rio and Yuri stop what they were doing. Her... eyes softened?
"I had... my-"
-:-
Shun opened her eyes, just waking up, laying on the couch in the office of the eleventh division. She delicately raised an eyebrow, looking at the ceiling, wondering when she walked into the office. She doesn't remember. In fact, she doesn't remember going to her room the night before. Sitting up, she growled, seeing the Captain looking at her with a bored expression.
"How long was I in here?" Shun asked, frowning deeply.
"I think since two this morning." Kenpachi said, not really caring.
Shun frowned deeply, seeing a book on her stomach. What the hell? She grabbed it, putting it to her face, quirking an eyebrow when she saw it was a love story. The fuck? Where the hell did she get the book? And when the hell did she fall asleep? She sighed. So much damn questions. She frowned, narrowing her eyes, looking down. Dreaming. She was fucking dreaming. She sighed and laid back down.
"What's with you?" Kenpachi asked, chin on his palm, looking at the paperwork, contemplating on signing it.
"Nothing." Shun said, closing her eyes.
Kenpachi frowned, wondering what the hell was wrong with her. Sighing, he stood up, walking over to the couch, sitting next to the woman's head, seeing her open one eye. She blinked, sticking her tongue out, purring, feeling the man pet her head. The Captain only rolled his eyes, wondering why she would even like it when someone would pet her head. Shun blinked, staring at the ceiling, sighing, liking the way the man was petting her head.
"Have you ever cared for anyone, besides the lieutenant?" Shun asked, looking at the Captain questioningly.
"Where the fuck did that come from?" Kenpachi asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Just tell me!" Shun growled, frowning. The Captain kept frowning, making a tinge of red spread across Shun's face. "I'll... I'll let you kiss me if you tell me."
Kenpachi blinked before smirking, seeing the tinge of red darken.
"Yeah... there was someone else. That's it. No more information." Kenpachi said, frowning, still petting the woman's head.
"Fair enough... I had cared for someone else as well." Shun said, closing her eyes, putting her hands on her stomach. "Just don't kiss me until I say stop petting."
"Fine." Kenpachi said, rolling his eyes.
-:-
Yuri lowered her head, blushing in embarrassment, wondering why the Captain looked shocked to see her. She wasn't sick anymore, which was good, but one thing was off about her that Hitsugaya had to point out.
"Are you... wearing makeup, Hikari?" Hitsugaya asked, shocked, eyes wide.
Yuri looked down, slowly nodding, face red.
"...Why?" Hitsugaya asked, seeing that Yuri looked... cute.
"Because lieutenant Matsumoto said she wanted me to wear makeup, since I was all better." Yuri said, wanting to cry, never having wore makeup before.
Hitsugaya blinked, quirking an eyebrow. Because Matsumoto said so?
"You can take it off." Hitsugaya said, brush in his hand, about to sign paperwork.
Yuri grinned widely, nodding, reaching up and rubbing her face with her sleeve. Hitsugaya paused, furrowing his eyebrows. Should she be doing that? Once the energetic shinigami had lowered her arm, Hitsugaya suppressed a laugh, seeing the makeup spread across her face.
"What?" Yuri asked, tilting her head, seeing the Captain's lips twitch.
"Here." Hitsugaya said, standing up, walking over to his subordinate.
He grabbed his sleeve and started rubbing her face, seeing her close her eye when he scrubbed her cheek. He stopped, not breathing, realizing how close they were. He looked into Yuri's eyes, seeing her giving him a questioning stare. Without thinking, he leaned down and... kissed her?!(GASP!!! D:) Yuri's eyes widened, feeling the Captain's lips against hers.
Her eyes slowly closed, feeling her eyes tear up, wondering why she was letting him kiss her. Hitsugaya, seeming to realize what he was doing, stepped back, eyes wide, holding his hands up.
"I-I'm sorry, Hikari! I didn't know what I was thinking!" Hitsugaya exclaimed, wondering what the hell he was doing.
Yuri blinked and tilted her head, smiling, making the Captain pause. She was... smiling? After what he just did? Yuri grinned, giggling. She... felt something. Her smile widened. She knew what the feeling was. She was starting to... trust him. She smiled brightly, jumping, hugging the Captain, making Hitsugaya blush heavily. She trusted him! She grinned. And only after one kiss. Yuri froze, still smiling. Kiss. Her face reddened. He kissed her!!! They both separated, both blushing, facing away from each other. Yuri put her hands on her cheeks, blushing.
Oh... her first kiss. Yuri smiled softly, turning her head, seeing that the Captain was blushing heavily, seeing him, hesitantly, give a smile back.
-:-
Rio had her head lowered, sitting in the chair in front of the Captain, wondering why she was called to the office. She looked up from under her bangs, seeing that the Captain's eyes were closed, hands in front of him, making her become nervous. Was something supposed to happen?
"Rio Sachiko, I have called you in here, to discuss your position as seventh seat." Byakuya said, opening his eyes.
Rio furrowed her eyebrows. Her position as seventh seat? She lowered her head, swallowing. Having a bad feeling.
"Uh, before you can say anymore, Captain Kuchiki, can I tell you of my past-"
"I am stripping you of your rank, so your missions will be less dangerous. And remember... to never interrupt me when I am speaking." Byakuya said, eyes narrowed, fast and painless, like a band-aid. =D
Rio's eyes widened, shocked, frozen in place, everything seeming to slow down. She was... stripped of her rank?! Her mouth opened slightly, eyes continuing to widen. But... why?! She wasn't becoming weak was she?! She sat, completely frozen, eyes still wide, no longer happy, no longer smiling, just... hollow.
"Now, what is it you want to discuss with me?" Byakuya asked, eyes closed, ignoring the shocked look on Rio's face.
Rio didn't say anything, didn't do anything, didn't even breathe, just kept... looking at the floor with wide eyes, shock written all over her face.
"No... I don't have anything to say... Captain Kuchiki... Please, excuse me." Rio said, voice soft, silently standing up, walking to the door, not glancing at the Captain.
"Rio, is there something bothering you?" Byakuya asked, opening his eyes.
"No, excuse me." Rio said, not turning around, opening the door, walking out.
Byakuya merely blinked, wondering why Rio was not looking at him. Had he done something to upset her so much that she wasn't talking loud or smiling?
Rio walked down the hall, eyes wide, back straight, hands clenched. Stripped. She was stripped of her rank. Why? Why did he do that?! Did that mean she was getting weak?! Rio felt her eyes sting, her vision becoming blurry. No! She wasn't weak, then why would he...?! She closed her eyes, clenching her teeth, still walking. She wasn't weak, so how could he?! How could he- She crashed into someone, eyes widening along with the other person, and together they toppled down.
"Ah, shit. That hurt..." Renji muttered, sitting up, rubbing the back of his neck.
He looked down, recognizing the hair, and blinked, eyes widening. Shit! He crashed into her?! Standing up, he helped Rio, apologizing.
"Sorry Rio, I wasn't looking where I was-" Renji stopped, eyes widening, seeing Rio look up, tears rolling down her face. "Rio! What happened?!"
-:-
Shun yawned loudly, stretching her arms above her head, eyes closed tightly, groaning. She sighed happily, lowering her arms, a grin on her face. It felt good to stretch. She narrowed her eyes, looking to the side. Weird. It felt like Rio's reiatsu was wavering again. She frowned. Was she--
"What the hell were you doing just now?" Ikkaku asked, appearing in front of Shun, making her yell in surprise.
"What the fuck's wrong with you?!" Shun yelled, grabbing the front of the third seat's robes, glaring right into his face. "You scared me half to death, asshole!!!"
"Heh! I was finally able to scare you, huh?" Ikkaku asked, smirking.
"Shut up! I was thinking okay!!!" Shun growled, narrowing her eyes.
"Whatever. What I was asking, is why you were stretching so damn... happily?" Ikkaku asked, making a face, wondering who would be happy to stretch.
"Will you shut the hell up! So what if I was stretching?" Shun asked, sitting back down on the steps, frowning.
"I was able to see you happy damn face all the way down the porch."
Shun jumped off the steps, cursing, turning around, glaring at the bastard that got her scared. She paused, sighing, seeing the Captain of the eleventh squad frown at her, arms folded in front of his chest.
"Hi, Grouchy-chan!!" Yachiru yelled, appearing over the Captain's shoulder.
Shun flinched, growling, narrowing her eyes, shaking with anger. Again with that fucking nickname. Sighing, she greeted the lieutenant and the Captain. She jumped, seeing the Captain thrust something in front of her, looking to the side, frown deepening. She quirked an eyebrow, looking into his hand. She flinched, face darkening.
"What... the hell... is this?!!!" Shun yelled, holding up the ribbon, which had a bell on it.
"A collar." Kenpachi said, smirking, looking at Yachiru, seeing the lieutenant grinning widely while everyone else in the courtyard looked on in curiosity.
"I know what it is!!! What I'm asking, Captain Bastard, is why... are you giving it to me?!!!" Shun yelled, eyebrow twitching.
"Because so everyone knows you belong to Ken-chan!!" Yachiru chirped, smiling brightly.
Shun growled, eye twitching, looking at the red ribbon and the yellow bell. How fucking degrading!!! A collar? Really? Why couldn't he just declare to the Seireitei that the most angriest damn woman was his?! She paused. Her face reddened. She shook her head. No! She wasn't his, and she wasn't saying she was!! She would never belong to someone like him. She blinked, seeing a large hand grab the collar, making her sigh out of relief, thinking it was only a joke and that he was taking it back to throw in the garbage, until he walked around her and tied it on. Weird thing is... the ribbon turned white before turning red again. She blinked. The fuck? Turning around, she glared at the Captain, lip curled back.
"Hey! Just don't be going and tying things on peop-" Shun stopped, blinking, pulling on the collar.
She continued to pull harder, wondering why in the hell it wasn't coming off. She turned her head, seeing a grin on the Captain's face.
"You! What did you do?!" Shun yelled, pointing at the Captain.
"I had that bastard Kurotsuchi make this collar especially for you. Once he heard... about you, he said something like 'I see. Then I shall make you this collar and you had better not bother me again. Keep your pets under better control.' Something like that." Kenpachi said, smirking widely.
Shun's eyes were wide. Kido. A fucking kido was placed on the collar?! She started tugging harder, eyes wide, not wanting to be seen in a fucking collar!!! She screamed loudly, pulling her hair, eyes wide, shocked. NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
-:-
Yuri smiled brightly, sitting outside, looking at the red sky. Shun would probably be watching the sunset by now. Thank goodness all the snow was gone. But it was still cold. She pouted. She wished it wasn't cold anymor- She blinked, looking off in the distance. Rio? She furrowed her eyebrows. Was Rio crying again? She stood up, about to make her way towards the sixth division, until a voice stopped her, making her pause.
"Yuri."
She turned her head, blinking, eyes shining.
"Lieutenant Kira!" Yuri squealed, jumping off the porch and jumping onto Kira, smiling widely.
Kira smiled, patting Yuri on the head, seeing her grin.
"How have you been, Yuri?" Kira asked, feeling the sixth seat let go of him.
"I've been good! But you haven't come by in a while." Yuri said, pouting, trying her best to glare at the lieutenant, which only made him think she looked cute.
"I've been busy. With no Captain, I've been getting all the paperwork." Kira said, lowering his head, rubbing the back of his head.
"Aw, poor lieutenant Kira!" Yuri whined, eyes tearing up, lips trembling, making Kira panic.
"B-But it's no problem at all! I can handle it!" Kira said, holding his hands up, smiling.
"That's good! Maybe I should go to the third division someday and help you?" Yuri suggested, smiling widely, her large eyes shining.
"Uh... if you want to." Kira said, seeing Yuri grin. "I came here to ask you if you wanted to go and get something to eat?"
"Okay! Let's get watermelon!" Yuri exclaimed, flailing her arms, eyes shining, drooling.
Kira started laughing, nodding, saying they'll get watermelon after they get something else to eat instead of fruit. Yuri pouted, slowly nodding, wanting to eat a watermelon for supper.
"Hikari."
Yuri jumped, turning around, blushing when she saw who it was, and smiled brightly. Hitsugaya stood near the entrance to the division, arms folded in front of his chest, hearing their conversation. Taking her to dinner? Hikari? He should be the one taking her to dinner.
"Want to join us, Shiro-chan?" Yuri asked, smiling brightly, seeing Hitsugaya's face redden at his horrible nickname.
Kira blinked, stuttering, only wanting to take her, and not wanting anyone else joining them. Hitsugaya blinked as well. Join them? Make sure Kira doesn't try anything with her? Her gave her a curt nod, hearing her squeal happily before she jumped and hugged him, making his eyes widen along with Kira. The lieutenant watched, hearing the Captain tell Yuri to let go, wondering if something happened between them. They seemed... to be a lot closer than before.
"Let's go!!" Yuri squealed, grabbing both Hitsugaya and Kira's hands, dragging them, almost making them fall.
"Hikari!"
"Yu-Yuri! I almost fell!"
"Watermelon~! Watermelon~!"
-:-
"He stripped you of your rank?! Why?" Renji asked, eyes wide, sitting next to Rio on the porch.
"I'm not sure." Rio said, looking down, hair covering her face.
"It must have been for a good reason. The Captain wouldn't have done this for nothing!" Renji said, tapping his hands on the hardwood floor boards, wondering why the Captain would do something that would hurt the only person he paid any mind to.
Made no sense.
"Maybe it's because... I'm weak." Rio said, closing her eyes.
"You're not weak! Everyone here knows that you're stronger than the sixth seat, and the Captain still didn't promote you. Which is weird." Renji said, scratching his head. "We could talk about it with Ichigo, though he's still watching Rukia, even though she doesn't need watching."
"No. It's fine. I don't want to be a burden." Rio said, hands tightening on the hardwood boards. "It's just that... it's an insult to me. Being demoted, being stripped of my rank. It's like... he told me I was weak, without even saying it. And I... hate being called weak. Me and my friends hate being called weak! I'm... mad. It's been a while since I was mad, truly mad." Rio said, tightening her grip.
Renji's eyes widened, seeing cracks appear in the hardwood floors. She was strong all right... amazingly strong. Which was kind of scary. Rio relaxed her grip, looking at the dark sky.
"I hate... being insulted." Rio said, laughing softly. "I think I got that from Shun. She always hated being insulted, never liking it when people took her for being weak since she was a woman. But... she would show them. She would show them with her skills. And... I'm surprised. I'm surprised she still doesn't have a seat. I figured she would be the first out of the three of us to get a seat." Rio said, hugging her legs to her chest, resting her head on her knees.
Renji stayed quiet, eyes soft, listening to everything she said, listening. Just listening. Never talking. He listened when she told him that her two friends hated, hated being called weak, how they hated it when people looked down upon them, hated it when they were taken advantage of.
"I just don't understand some people." Rio said, closing her eyes. "It feels like... you're the only male I trust."
Renji slowly looked at Rio, seeing her looking at the sky, seeing the stars come out. He sighed, rubbing her head, seeing her blink and look at him questioningly.
"C'mon. Don't say that. I know you still trust Captain Kuchiki. He probably did what he did for a really good reason. So, don't hate him for that." Renji said, pulling out a bottle from his robes. "Wanna a drink to feel better?"
Rio's eyes softened, eyes still red from crying. He was right. She still trusted the Captain of the sixth squad. But what he did... insulted her honor, and her strength. She smiled softly, tilting her head, nodding.
"I think I can use a drink." Rio said, hanging her legs over the ledge.
"Good! Because I don't really feel like drinking this by myself." Renji said, grinning, holding the bottle up.
Rio smiled brightly, both lieutenant and Rio never sensing the Captain that stayed around the corner. In... insulted her? He had... insulted her? He had never meant to do that. He had only meant to protect her.