Nanao woke up the next morning to soft hands shaking her shoulder and a gentle voice calling her name. "Ise-san."
"Hmm," she hummed trying to drag her self out of the dead sleep she'd fallen into shortly after Kyouraku had dropped her off the day before. It seemed like the only thing she was capable of was sleeping recently. She blinked her eyes open to take in Isane standing next to her, Kyouraku perched by her door, and three hell butterflies hovering above her head. "What's wrong?" she asked groggily.
"The Soutaicho tried to call you in for questioning and no one answered, so Kyouraku Taicho got worried," Isane said simply, dutifully checking her over with reiatsu.
"He sent hell butterflies to wake me up?" Nanao asked, gingerly sitting up in her bed. "You can barely feel them land when you're awake."
"Not to wake you up so much as just to deliver the request," Isane explained. "I don't think he thought you'd be sleeping at two in the afternoon."
"It's two?" Nanao asked shocked and glancing over at her clock to confirm the time. "How'd you even get in here?"
"I have a copy of the key, remember?" Kyouraku said grinning. "And it's a good thing I do or you could have been dying on your floor and none of us would have been able to get to you."
"I'm obviously not dying on the floor," she said dryly. "And if I was I think someone somewhere would probably have been able to figure out a way to get into my apartment."
"The point is you could have been," he pouted.
"I think she'll survive, Kyouraku Taicho," Isane commented. "You really are doing the best thing for yourself in just resting, Ise-san. I'll tell the Soutaicho to give you a day or two before interrogations begin. It shouldn't be too much of an issue as Tanaka is dead. Until then continue to get your rest." Isane allowed one of the butterflies to land and transmitted her own message back, sending all three of them on their way before heading out herself.
"I'm obviously alive and well, sir," Nanao said curling back down in her bed. She was thinking a nap before dinner sounded lovely. "You can go home now."
"And get a fright like that again?" he asked seriously. "I don't think so. I'll just nap here. It's better than the office floor anyway."
With that he started towards her and Nanao cracked an eye open at him. "Sir, I may not have my reiatsu fully functioning, but if necessary I will make you severely regret trying to climb into this bed."
"By doing what, Nanao-chan?" he challenged.
"I bite."
"Feel free," he said grinning as he came closer.
"I will write to your family in your handwriting apologizing for all the trouble you've caused over the year and begging to be married of to a noble girl so as to be presentable at every family function," she threatened, glaring at him as his hand moved for her covers.
"You wouldn't."
"It'd be easy."
"I'd clear it up," he said. "My family would never really believe it came from me."
"You'd still have to interact with them to clear the air," she pointed out. "Plus people tend to believe things they want to believe."
"Fine, I'll nap on the couch, but that's the best you're getting."
"Whatever," Nanao said waving a hand at him dismissively. She really was still tired. She dropped off to sleep as he left her room.
The next time she woke up it was seven in the morning the next day. Hearing snoring from the other room, she rolled her eyes at the fact that he'd stayed. Getting out of bed she winced at all the places on her that had cramped up in her sleep. She pulled on a pair of hakama and a loose western t-shirt that wouldn't sit tight on her sore back or have any sashes pressed against her skin. It wasn't the most attractive look she'd ever sported, but then again there was no one to impress. In fact, perhaps it would go a ways in proving to Kyouraku how fickle his own emotions were. Nothing better than ugly clothes and morning breath to scare a guy off.
Walking out into her living room she saw Kyouraku in his usual position, sprawled out with his hat tilted down over his face. Picking up a heavy book she walked up and dropped it on his gut.
With an ooph of protest Kyouraku woke up rubbing his stomach. "Ouch, Nanao-chan," he whined. "You could have just shaken me awake."
"Yes, but this was more satisfying," she said shrugging. "You can go now. I'm not dying."
"But you could be at any minute," he protested, getting up and following her as she walked into her kitchen.
"I think the 4th would have mentioned something if that was a possibility," she commented, wondering if she had any canned items that would have survived her long absence from her apartment. She pulled a cabinet open and found it stocked with fresh food. She stared at it dumbly for a moment before glancing over at Kyouraku.
"Sorry if things are out of place," he said rubbing the back of his neck. "I just kind of shoved things wherever they would fit."
"You bought me groceries?" she asked.
"Well the way you were sleeping I figured you'd be hungry and you had no food in the house. Besides, a petite thing like you shouldn't be carrying all those heavy bags back, especially not right after being released from the 4th. It's the least a good boyfriend could do."
"I can carry grocery bags," she said defensively. "And you are not my boyfriend."
"Of course I am," he soothed as if she were a small child. "And whether or not you can carry the grocery bags is not the point. The point is you shouldn't have to.
"You're insufferable. Fine, it was unnecessary, but thank you for the groceries," she said reaching up to grab some ingredients. She winced and retracted her arms when it made the sore muscles in her back scream. Honestly she'd been moving freer before her long sleep.
"Are you ok?"
"Just great," she snapped, trying to quickly evaluate the best way to go about this without making him go into protective overbearing mode. Perhaps she could find food to make on the lower shelves.
A warm hand slid up the back of her t-shirt before she even registered that he had moved. Every time she thought she had a hold on his level of ability he would surprise her. The painkilling kido sunk blissfully into her back and the muscles instantly relaxed. It was a pity that no other part of her was relaxed in the least.
"I'm ok," she said trying to slip away from his touch.
"Stop squirming and stop lying," he said simply, holding her in place firmly, and continuing his ministrations.
"You really have no personal boundaries," she gripped trying to ignore him and tapping her foot impatiently.
"Medical reasons negate personal boundaries," he said. Silence reigned after that and he finished quickly and efficiently. "How are you ribs doing?"
"Sore, but not in need of painkiller," she said hastily, knowing that if she lied and said fine he'd go ahead and do it, but not trusting her own willpower enough to let him touch her further or in such close relation to her chest. She hoped that if she told a half-truth, he'd let it go.
"And your legs?" he asked, reluctantly dropping his hand down and out of her shirt.
"They're doing alright as well," she said now reaching freely to grab the food. "Everything just cramped up while I was sleeping. It's really not that bad."
"All the same you should probably sit down and take it easy," he said frowning as she started grabbing pans.
"And what? Let you make breakfast?" she asked raising an eyebrow. "The last time you tried to cook something it took the maid a month to peel whatever it was that exploded off your walls, and the time before that you nearly killed the neighbor's dog when you preformed a taste test." Her Taicho didn't believe in recipes or measuring tools to everyone's detriment. She on the other hand followed recipes precisely and had the pleasure of her cooking turning out correctly almost every time.
"Trial and error, my love," he said reaching for the food. She slapped his hand with the spoon she'd just retrieved and glared at him impatiently. "Or I'll just go sit over here and get out of your way."
"What a wonderful idea," she said sarcastically. The rest of the morning was spent in idle chitchat while Nanao delicately kept the subject of conversation away from deeper things. She had a distinct feeling that Kyouraku let her do it.
Later she went to the 4th to check on her brother, and left Kyouraku at the 8th's gates, though she assumed he'd just take another nap there. Mamoru was sleeping as hard as she'd been earlier and she thought it'd be best to let him continue doing so. After about an hour she headed home to take a shower and sleep some more feeling slightly like an invalid.
"Nanao-chan, precious, darling, gorgeous, Nanao-chan," a voice cooed into her ear. "Wonderful, stunning, intelligent, Nanao-chan."
"What do you want?" she groaned groping around on her bed stand for the book she'd left nearby while checking the clock. Eight in the evening then.
"I already took that big heavy book away, my delicate cherry blossom," he said and she could hear the grin in his tone.
"What do you want?" she demanded again putting a hand firmly on his face and shoving him away from her. He kissed her palm and she quickly snatched her hand back.
"It's time to get up sleeping beauty," he said lightly.
"I'll say it once more, what do you want?"
"It's not what I want, it's what your loyal followers desire," he said dramatically. "Unless you are too unwell to get out of bed, in which case I'd be more than happy to nurse you."
"I'm up," she said pushing her covers off. "What now?"
"The 8th is missing you desperately and has decided to throw a small intimate get together in your honor," he said smiling.
"Kyouraku," she growled knowing exactly how the 8th defined small and intimate. "Who gave them this idea?"
"It certainly wasn't me," he said trying to look offended. "They were simply asking about your health and I said you were getting better. Then they demanded proof and someone thought of this lovely little idea. Your kido students were so enthused they went early to decorate for the party and some others started making a cake. I even heard rumors of a special song composed in your honor."
"That's low using the squad," Nanao said.
"But effective," he said smiling. "Please, Nanao-chan."
"Get out of my room," she said with a sigh. "I'm going to change." She exited her room a few minutes later in plain civilian clothes. She'd feel much more comfortable wearing her uniform, but she still didn't really have the right.
"Aw, you put your hair up?" he asked cocking his head at her.
"You don't like it up?" she asked, wonderingly lightly if she could start a fight with him and get out of the evening.
"I love it up, it's just been fun making everyone wonder who you are with it down," he said diplomatically.
"Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a party for me?"
"Always so logical," he said shaking his head. "Come on, love."
"Don't call me that," she said.
"Of course, precious," he said holding the door open for her.
"Don't call me that either." That argument lasted them pretty much all the way to the bar. "Nishikado-san," she said pleasantly to the bartender when they entered.
"Ise fukutaicho!" a voice yelled. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't at least a little bit pleased that they still called her that without thinking. She turned to the collected squad and let a genuine smile cross her face at their enthusiasm. Many had party hats on and a giant banner stretched across the room saying congratulations.
"What am I being congratulated on?" Nanao asked.
"Well not being dead for one thing," another squad member yelled, which got quite a few laughs.
"And for getting engaged," a girl yelled unable to hold it in. That knocked the smile right off her face.
One of the secretaries broke free from the crowd and grabbed her into an impulsive hug bursting into tears. "We're so happy. Anytime you need a babysitter I'd be more than happy to help," she exclaimed. Nanao winced at the pain the hug caused and tried not to scream in frustration.
"Maki-chan," Kyouraku said, softly disentangling the girl from Nanao. "That's such a nice offer."
"And a useless one," Nanao said sternly and clearly. "Kyouraku Taicho and I are not getting married."
"Oh no, was it supposed to be a secret?" another member yelled.
"No," Nanao said, about to add that it wasn't true, when Kyouraku cut her off.
"We just haven't set the date yet," he explained.
"Are we all invited to the wedding?"
"Who are you going to have as bridesmaids?"
"Are you already pregnant?"
"Is it a girl or a boy?"
"Is Kyouraku as good in bed as they say?"
"When are you coming back to the 8th or are you on maternity leave?"
"Oh kami, please say you aren't on maternity leave!"
"She's not pregnant, idiots! If she were pregnant she wouldn't be able to enter the bar. That's illegal for pregnant ladies." That comment set off a fight of whether or not it was actually illegal and movements were made towards the bar. Once the drinks got in the squad's hand Nanao truly doubted there would be any stopping either the alcohol or the rumors. Talk about people believing what they wanted to regardless of whether it was true or not.
"I hate you," she hissed at Kyouraku as individual members started lining up to congratulate them and then quickly continue on to the bar.
"No you don't," he replied firmly wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Take it off or I break it off," she said glaring at him.
"Whatever you want, dear," he said loudly kissing her temple before she could avoid him and sauntering off to the bar before she could hit him. She had to remember to start carrying her books with her again. He got a lot of congratulatory pats on the back as he went, and Nanao wondered briefly if her brother could beat the crap out of him when he was better.
The rest of the evening passed like many of them had before. The squad got drunker and drunker and Kyouraku encouraged more and more rumors while Nanao got exhausted making up denials and finally settled for making small talk with members and trying to avoid the subject. It wasn't like anyone was listening to her anyway. A couple hours in though she was starting to feel worn out all over again, and the squad's comments got more and more outrageous as they drank.
"Tell me the truth," said the relatively new transfer from the 9th. "Does Ukitake Taicho ever join the two of you?"
"Kyouraku Taicho and myself you mean?" she asked confused. "Ukitake-san is his best friend, and everyone has seen all three of us together often."
"So best friends get privileges?" the man asked leering at her.
"What?" she asked sharply starting to catch on to the man's implications.
"I wouldn't answer that," Kyouraku said darkly letting his hand fall heavily on the man's shoulder as he came up behind them. "For your sake."
"I'll assume you meant joining us for dinner," Nanao said angrily.
"Um, right, dinner, sorry," the man said slinking away.
"We should screen our transfers more closely," Kyouraku said watching the man go.
"He's just drunk, sir," she replied being more benevolent than she actually felt. "It's not like I haven't heard worse things about myself. Can I go home?"
"What worse things, and why would you want to go home?" he asked switching all his attention to her.
"Like you haven't heard the rumors that I got my position by having sex with you or some variation thereof," she said rolling her eyes. "The best one I ever heard was that you made me a fukutaicho to basically keep a mistress for Ukitake-san whenever he needed it. It'd be too suspicious if I just went to the 13th so you agreed to keep me on hand."
"Who exactly told you that?" he asked and he looked genuinely surprised.
"I forget that they wouldn't dare say these things in front of you," she said shaking her head. "I mainly overhear them because I'm quite and don't attract much notice. Everyone knows you are coming from a mile away and shuts up."
"Who said them?" he repeated.
"Pretty much the whole Seireitei at different times," she said calmly. She'd been dealing with this crap her whole life, and while it upset her, she'd learned long ago there was nothing she could do about it. "Are you going to go out and give everyone a talking to? Especially when you're half the problem?"
"How am I the problem?" he demanded.
"Your daily proclamations of love and poetic waxing on my physical traits don't help anyone take me seriously," she said honestly.
"I've done that to a lot of women though," he admitted with a touch of sheepishness to his tone. "Why think differently of you?"
"Almost all of those women have crawled into your bed at one point or another. They don't think differently of me. They think I'm more than likely exactly like every other tramp you chase after."
"Nanao-chan," he started and she could hear the apology in his tone.
"Don't," she cut him off. "Don't apologize for being you. They're the gossiping morons. While it hasn't helped, I'm used to it. They don't deserve the time of day."
"I'm still sorry," he said petulantly.
She snorted and waved at the squad members calling for her attention who were trying to form a human pyramid while drunk. She glanced around them, looking for any sharp or hard objects they could potentially fall into when they inevitably tumbled down, and finding none allowed the activity to continue. "It is what it is, sir. The years have dulled the surprise of it. Let me tell you, the first time I was informed I was sleeping with you I was quite upset."
"Hey! I'm not such a bad option," he pouted watching the last squad member trying to scramble up to make the top of the pyramid.
"I barley knew what sex entailed at the time, and I also had a horrible crush on Ukitake-san. I was mortified," she said shrugging her shoulders.
"You what?" he asked as the squad members completely lost his attention.
"I was mortified," she said more slowly. "It means embarrassed or humiliated, sir."
"I know what mortified means," he said giving her a disgruntled look. "When did you have a crush on Jyuu?"
"Like I said it was years ago," she said shrugging. She really didn't think it was that big of a deal. Lots of girls got crushes on their mentors as they were growing up, and she'd not been old enough in the academy to get a crush on her senseis like so many other girls. Ukitake-san had always been kind to her and shared her love of, what Kyouraku like to call, boring old man reading. He'd also added stability to her otherwise chaotic days at the 8th, and he had been the one to guide her in all the rules and regulations as she rose up in the ranks. Without his helpfulness she doubted she'd have ever figured out all the different paperwork as fast as she did. The 8th's members also shared their Taicho's love of slacking off on paperwork and she didn't think she could have found a true guide in the bunch. She'd grown out of the crush naturally and had come to realize that half of the reason she loved him so was because he reminded her a lot of her brother.
"How many years ago?" Kyouraku prodded looking worried.
"I don't know," she said keeping a hawks eye on the shaking pyramid. Down went one of the bottom people and the rest went tumbling after. She was already out of her seat and a few steps away as the laughter started up. No one seemed to be moaning in pain so she resumed her seat and glanced over at Kyouraku.
"You're going to make a really wonderful mother," he said softly.
"Children will be easier than these drunken idiots," she said, but it came out sounding more fond than upset.
"Was it like thirty years ago?" he asked switching back to the previous subject.
"It was a long time ago," she said with a sigh. "I didn't keep track specifically. Get over it."
"Does Jyuu know you had a crush on him?"
"I don't know, why don't you ask him?" she replied exasperated. "Perhaps he picked up on my blushing whenever he came around or that the chocolates I gave him on Valentine's Day weren't entirely platonic. How should I know? He was too tactful to ever mention it. I was just a kid."
"You gave him Valentine's Day chocolate?" he demanded looking put out. "I've always had to stalk you and beg for it."
"That's because you'd have freaked out and made it a big deal and pretended I'd declared my undying love," she said frankly glancing around to spot where she'd heard the shattering glass coming from. A squad member had dropped a drink, but Nishikado had already swept in and was cleaning it up. "You notice Ukitake-san obviously doesn't make it a big deal and just thanks me for the thought."
"Wait, do you still give him chocolates?"
"Yes, he likes the ones I make," she said shrugging.
"Nanao-chan," he whined turning his big puppy dog eyes on her full blast.
"What? I've made them for you too!" she defended.
"Yeah, but you always write obligation or debt on it," he pouted.
"It keeps your big head in place," she said simply.
"Nanao-chan is cruel to her loving boyfriend."
"You are not my boyfriend," she said getting up to check on one of the members that had passed out in a corner. Gentle touching the man's shoulder he woke up easily and smiled at her drowsily.
"Ise fukutaicho," he said drunkenly. "Good to see you."
"You should go home, Miyagi-san," she said firmly.
"Aye, aye, fukutaicho," the man said saluting her before drunkenly weaving his way to the door.
"Can I go home now, sir?" she asked tiredly slouching down in the recently abandoned seat.
"Why so soon?" he asked. "Trying to get out of admitting your torrid love affair with Jyuu?"
"Oh no, any time you want those details I'd be happy to share," she said done with this conversation. "You should hear all the wild things we've done together. That last tea ceremony we attended was crazy."
"Nanao-chan, is being facetious," he commented.
She debated her options, but decided she'd rather have the smothering it would provoke than have to put up with the rest of this conversation and the drunken riot this party was surely shortly gong to turn into. "My injuries are acting up."
"Want some healing?" he asked smiling, though she could see the concern in his eyes, and she felt his reiatsu wash over her in a searching manner.
"Sir," she said in a bored tone.
"Come on, Nanao-chan, I'll get you home," he said helping her to her feet. Then he turned to the crowd. "Nanao-chan is anxious to get to bed, but you all enjoy yourselves as I'm giving you the day off tomorrow!"
This proclamation was greeted with cheers, whistles and catcalls. "I'm going to kill you in your sleep," Nanao threatened.
"As long as that means you're sleeping next to me in order to do it," he replied with a grin, trying to put his arm around her as they maneuvered through the crowd.
"You wish," she said as they neared the door.
"Vehemently," he confirmed.
"You don't even know what that word means," she snapped.
"I'll have you know I'm a man of many talents," he argued as they stepped into the night air.
"Eloquence is not one of them," she scoffed. They bickered all the way back to Nanao's apartment and she only allowed herself to smile after he left. It'd taken nearly an hour to kick him out of the apartment and she had no guarantees he wouldn't be back that night, but at least she'd made it apparent that she was not the one inviting him in. She crawled back into bed feeling like her life might actually fall back into place eventually.
A/N: Hmm, so this chapter was originally a paragraph in the next chapter, which basically just said she'd been to a party with the 8th. Then so many people wanted to see the return to the 8th that I started thinking about it and expanding it a bit and then suddenly it was it's own chapter…. I have no self restraint. Hope there aren't too many errors as it isn't getting too much editing.
I'm posting this early because I was informed yesterday that my brother is flying in for the weekend today, lol. I doubt I'll be able to get in my normal Sunday update, but I didn't want to do nothing.
darkangel1910, Mamoru's name was actually picked because it means to protect, but then when I was searching the internet to confirm that name meaning (I never trust one site because the internet occasionally lies, sad but true) I did come across Tuxedo Mask. It was funny because when I was obsessed with Sailor Moon it was back when it was on Cartoon Network in English and I always thought of him as Darien. But once I realized that, I really had to use the name in tribute because I used to love that show. So yes, it's a little bit of both :)
Please review, it obviously encourages me to write more, sometimes whole new chapters haha. Happy new years!!
