Chapter Thirteen: "A Day Worth Celebrating" By: Midorigrove
Midori's training at the 11th division had been going steady. She had started getting back into her normal routine like she did at the Academy. She was becoming stronger in her offensive and defensive attacks. She hadn't seen Captain Zaraki since the day she decided to start training after he pushed her to do something more with her life than sulk. She had become good friends with Ikkaku and Yumichika. She taught them more about Hakudo, and it was interesting that over the past few years since her kidnapping that Sosuke Aizen had not bothered with her. He didn't even seem to realize that his precious Hogyoku was not in his possession anymore. It did not give her pause. She was glad to be off his radar for the time being.
She was walking back to the 4th division after a session of training in mid-December when she overheard two female squad members talking about the birthdays of the captains. She knew that her uncle's birthday was in the summery month of July and Retsu's was in spring like hers. She listened carefully.
She heard them get to Jushiro's and paused, "Captain Ukitake's birthday is coming up soon, I believe it is the 21st of the month."
The other girl with her squealed, it seemed that she like many of the other girls in the Seireitei had a thing for Jushiro, "I need to find something to get him, do you think he will accept my gift?"
The two girls giggled and started whispering to each other. Midori decided that she would pay her uncle a visit, and she turned quickly and walked to the 8th division.
Midori could feel that the temperature was changing. It was exactly 5 days before the 21st, but she had to make sure of the correct date. She only knew one person who would have that information without alerting Jushiro, and that was her uncle. She walked through the gate and was instantly greeted by members of the 8th division. It made her feel warm to know that the members of the 8th division still regarded her as part of their division after so long and after so many things that was said about her. She smiled at them and waved. They waved back to her and watched her walk to her uncle's office.
She knocked on the door, "Come in."
She walked in and noticed that he was alone, today. There was absolutely no sign of Jushiro.
She calmed her heart and waited for her uncle to look up from his papers, "There's my girl!"
He opened his arms for a hug. Midori walked over to him and hugged his neck. She sat down beside of him.
"Uncle Shunsui, I have something very important to ask you." He peered over at her from his sakkat. She looked up at him with a serious face on, "I want to know when Jushiro's birthday is."
Shunsui was surprised that they hadn't told each other their birthdays. He thought that was something that every couple shared between them especially since they had been together over a year, now. He giggled to himself and decided to keep that information from her. She noticed his giggling and rolled her eyes.
"He wants to play another game. I wonder what it is this time, perhaps more sake," she thought to herself, but they came tumbling out of her mouth, "Okay, we will play it your way, but there is something else I want to know."
"Play it my way? If you want more information about Jushiro then it will take a favor per one." Midori raised her eyebrow to show that she was not amused.
She looked at him, "I only need to know two things, his birthday and his favorite food. I am sure I could ask him though, but then again it would not be a surprise if I did," she turned on a sad puppy dog face, "You wouldn't want me to fail on surprising him, and it causing me to be upset, do you."
She saw how Shunsui reacted to her sad puppy dog face. He about melted in her hands but remembered that Midori always pulled this on him when she wasn't getting her way.
He chuckled and protested, "My favors first, then your answers."
"Fine, but don't say one word to Jushiro." He nodded his head in agreement.
Shunsui thought about what he wanted Midori to do. He then realized that his sake jar was almost empty, and he needed some sake buns to go with them.
"I want a new jar of sake and some sake buns." Midori shook her head in disapproval.
She had read him like a book. She knew him like no one else did. He was a very lazy man, but he had a good heart. He loved alcohol, and he loved picking on innocent girls just to see their reactions.
She hung her head as she berated him in her mind, "My uncle is an old pervert."
She sighed, "I will get your sake and buns. I should have just figured that was what you wanted."
"Midori, the best place to get them is in the 79th District of the North Rukon. Please." She gawked at him.
She knew that place was bad. It was a den of wolves. She shook her head in agreement. She knew that if she said anything her anger would boil up from inside her, and she would yell at him. She turned and stomped out of the room.
Shunsui chuckled as she went, "It really is the best sake and buns, but it is dangerous. She can handle it though. I believe in her abilities, but also because she is so determined to know my old friend's birthday. How the innocent do anything when they fall in love."
Midori made it to the 79th District of the North Rukon named Kusajishi. She looked around her. There were people in groups huddled together, and they threw daggers at her as she walked to the central bar in the area. Opening the door to the bar, she got eyes on her, again. She kept to herself and strode up to the bar.
She looked at the bartender and said politely, "May I have one jug of sake and a large box of sake buns, please."
The bartender sized Midori up and noticed that she was dressed like a Soul Reaper, "You come from the Seireitei. Do you know we don't like your kind around here?"
"Well, my kind is the same as your kind, we all are residents in the Soul Society, correct?" The bartender eyed her.
He went to get the jug of sake and the large box of sake buns, "Do you want anything else, girl? If not, it would be best for you to leave."
She noticed that many of the people in the bar had grabbed weapons and were ready to do battle with her. She did not reach for her Zanpakuto but reached for her wallet. She handed the bartender more than what the sake and buns were worth and grabbed them.
She smiled at him, "Thank you, sir."
As she walked out of the bar, someone tried to trip her.
She flashed stepped in front of their foot to avoid their cruel joke, "I don't think my uncle would appreciate his sake and buns getting destroyed before he can partake in them. Would you please excuse me?"
She turned around and a sword came inches from her nose, and she let go of the jug of sake and buns. They were headed toward the ground, but she quickly grabbed them and sat them down beside the stairs to the bar, so they wouldn't get destroyed.
She turned to face a group of rough looking members of the Kusajishi District. They all carried sharp weapons, and they were upset at the fact she had come there at all.
Her thoughts filled with her predicament, "What to do? What to do? My spiritual pressure should knock the weak ones down, but I don't want to get Seigi involved if I can help it."
She began to build up her spiritual pressure and let it go. It sent about two-thirds of them flying. The other members got angry and started to charge her. She pulled her Zanpakuto from her sheath, and a loud noise came from it. She went on the defensive against the townspeople. She did not want to injure any of them.
"All Soul Reapers should die!"
Two guys from behind her charged at her and were about to come in contact when a shadow came from nowhere. He held up his sword and helped her in the defensive.
When the townspeople saw who the shadow was, they started to retreat, "Oh, NO! It's Shiba!" Midori was confused about why they all turned tail, but she was happy.
She placed her Zanpakuto back into its sheath and turned to the shadow, her savior, "Thank you."
She looked up to see a man who resembled Kaien. He had brown eyes instead of green. She remembered that one of the townspeople called him Shiba, so she already knew that he was some kin to Kaien Shiba, and now. his face told her the truth.
"You are kin to Kaien Shiba, am I correct?"
He looked down at her and started in this ever so rising excited explanation on how he was the uncle of Kaien Shiba, "Kaien is my brother's son. He is so talented, especially to have gotten into the Seireitei. Are you a part of his division?"
Midori took a second to calm herself from his chipper personality. She wished that he would turn it down a few octaves.
"I am Midori Kyoraku. I am part of the 4th division, and Lieutenant Kaien Shiba is the lieutenant of the 13th division."
"It is nice to meet you, Midori Kyoraku, I am Isshin Shiba."
He held out his hand, she took it and shook his hand. He was so enthusiastic about it that her arm was about to fall off.
She then got a wonderful idea, "Mr. Shiba, I do thank you for helping me. Over the past several years we have not had a captain for several of the divisions, I am sure that if you are just like Lieutenant Shiba that you would make a wonderful captain or at least a member. You seem to have a wonderful presence, and everyone around here seems to respect you in some way, why not become part of the 13 Court Guard Squad?"
"Do you hold a position in the 13 Court Guard Squad?" She looked down.
She wanted to avoid talking about herself, but it seemed disrespectful of her not to answer him, "I used to be the 3rd seat of the 6th division before the incident several years ago. I, unfortunately, have been banned from having a seated position again, but it's okay. I just want to be myself for a while."
He looked at her curious. There was more to her story than she was saying. He watched her pick up the sake and buns from the ground.
"That sounds like a good plan you just mentioned, I will think about it," he rubbed the back of his head, "Let me walk you to the gate to the Seireitei."
"You don't have to. I will be fine on my own. You have a great night, Isshin Shiba." She nodded to him and walked away.
She knew that she needed to tell Kaien about this, but she didn't know how to bring it up in front of him. Isshin was a really nice guy. She was happy that he came to her rescue because if he hadn't, she would not have been back on her way to the 8th division like she was, now. She would have even had to get rough with the residents of the 79th District, and that would have caused her some pauses about her position. She was happy nonetheless about him coming to her rescue.
He did not listen to her. Isshin walked in the woods on the path to the gate to the Seireitei. He wanted to make sure she got there safe.
He watched her deep in thought, "What is she thinking about? Is she even paying attention to what is in front of her?"
When she stopped at the gate, she turned to face him. She stared at the tree he was hiding behind.
"You know if you want to follow someone, it is best to hide your spiritual pressure, right?"
He leaned around the tree he was standing behind and laughed. He was so nervous.
"How did you know I was there?"
"I could sense you since I left. Do you want me to tell your nephew that his uncle is a pervert who follows girls?"
He rushed from the tree to her, "Please, don't. I was only making sure you were safe getting back to the Seireitei. I mean you are a woman, and women cannot protect themselves like us men can."
"Would you like for me to show you what I am capable of? I have fought several men in the Seireitei, and trust me, they were begging me to stop my onslaught before it was over."
The faces of Ikkaku and Yumichika popped in her head, "Sorry guys. I got to act tough."
He peered into her face. A blush appeared on his face as she stared intently into his eyes, "Like I said, we could use someone like you as a captain in the Seireitei, please accept my invitation and join the Academy to get certified. I would like to see our ranks get better captains than we already have for certain divisions, anyway."
She looked disgruntled and she was. She didn't think that Sosuke Aizen deserved his position, but there was nothing she could do. He would uncover himself, eventually.
Isshin saw her facial gesture and questioned her, "Who has upset you in the Seireitei? Why don't you have your seat anymore? What incident are you talking about?"
She looked up at him. She walked over beside of the gate and sat the jug of sake and sake buns on the ground again. They were getting quite uncomfortable in her arms. She stretched her arms and cracked her neck then took a seat beside of them on the ground. She patted the ground to have Isshin sit down with her.
He was older than her, but she was acting like the older one. He hesitated but took the seat beside of her.
"If I tell you these things, will you do as I have asked? It seems everyone wants something for information, so I think it would be fair if we trade those things, what do you say?" He nodded his head.
The way she asked him to join the Seireitei was interesting and her story about her position being taken, and the incident was too much for him not to agree, "Deal!" They shook hands again because he grabbed her hand and shook it vigorously.
Midori told him about graduating the Academy and receiving the 3rd seat position of the 6th division, how she fell in love with a fool who betrayed the Soul Society, and then about the incident that occurred years ago involving Hollowfication experiments. He was completely interested in all of it. She was not happy about spilling things about herself to a complete stranger, but she could see her own dad's reflection in his eyes. His brown eyes reminded her so much of her father. She missed him.
"That was a hell of an incident, and to think, they blamed you for taking part in it. That is some straight up garbage, if you ask me. I mean you can't help you fell in love with someone who took advantage of your good nature."
She showed him a smirk. It caused her great happiness to hear someone she just met understood her side of all of it. She got up from the ground, grabbed her stuff, and went to leave.
Before she went through the gate, Isshin called to her, "Midori Kyoraku! I will become a captain in the Seireitei and help you bring a new generation to the reins of the Seireitei. You have my word."
"Thank you, Isshin." She bowed to him as the gate closed.
A smile crept up on her face as she walked back to the 8th division barracks, "Kaien's uncle is quite a different kind of Shiba, isn't he?" she thought to herself.
She opened the door to her uncle's office with a smile on her face. He looked up to her smile and wondered why she seemed to be in a good mood.
"Why are we so happy? Midori, you didn't eat a sake bun, did you?"
She placed the jug and the box on his desk, "No, just met someone very interesting while I was out."
Shunsui's mouth opened a little, "Are you cheating on Jushiro, Midori?"
She shot daggers at him, "I would never do that! I just met Kaien Shiba's uncle is all. He is an interesting guy. I think he will be joining the Seireitei as a captain in the future."
Her words caught Shunsui's attention, "A new captain, you say. Was he that good?"
"He has potential. Now, before you get me off of my mission and distract me, I brought you sake and buns, now, I would like to have the information you promised me."
Suddenly, the door opened and in came Jushiro to visit Shunsui, "Midori? I didn't know you would be here. Shunsui invited me over for sake and buns, so I came to see him. It is good to see you, though."
He kissed her on the cheek and took his normal seat.
"If you both will excuse me." Midori walked out of the room and screamed.
Both Shunsui and Jushiro looked at the door, "What is wrong with Midori?"
Shunsui chuckled, "Midori is just frustrated is all."
Midori was upset, so she opened the door to her old room and walked in and plopped down on the bed.
Thoughts rushed through her mind, "Stupid, uncle. He wanted me to ask Jushiro, myself. Why can he not just let me have a normal experience like any other girl?"
"Ugh!" she let out in frustration.
Her mind went back to Isshin, and then she realized that since Jushiro was here, she would just go and talk to Kaien about Jushiro. She walked out of her room and went to the 13th division barracks.
In the 13th division barracks, Midori saw two people in the courtyard talking, it was Kaien and his wife Miyako. His wife was taller than Midori. She reminded her of Captain Unohana. She had long black hair that she kept in a ponytail, and her personality was always pleasant to Midori. She was also the 3rd seat of the 13th division. She walked toward them but decided that they just wanted to spend time together, and it would be bad for her to interrupt.
She turned to leave, but Miyako noticed her, "Well, if it isn't little Midori."
Midori liked Miyako. She was a beautiful and genuinely wonderful person.
She turned around nervously, "Good evening, you two."
"Midori, why are you here tonight? Is there something wrong with the captain?" Kaien's concerned for his captain was something to behold.
"Oh no. Captain Ukitake is with Captain Kyoraku, right now."
"Well, what brings you here," Miyako walked toward Midori and grabbed her face. She could see the stress lines on her forehead.
Midori looked at Miyako, "I asked my uncle to tell me when Captain Ukitake's birthday was and his favorite food, but he bailed out after I went and got sake and sake buns for him. I just wanted to surprise Captain Ukitake for his birthday, and I heard it was the 21st, but I wanted to make sure without him knowing."
Kaien came over to her and placed his fist on her head, "You had me worried! You cannot come up looking like you did for just something so simple, besides why can you not just ask the captain yourself."
"Because my love, it would ruin her surprise for him, right Midori?"
Midori shook her head at her words. She knew Miyako would understand.
"Men are so dense, sometimes," Midori thought to herself.
"Well, if that is all. I can tell you."
"Please."
Kaien saw Miyako shake her head in reply to Midori's pleas, and he couldn't say no to his wife.
"His birthday is the 21st, and he loves to eat ohagi."
Midori's eyes lit up, "Really, thank you Lieutenant Shiba!"
She hugged him and Miyako hugged them both. Kaien rolled his eyes at how Miyako acted like a kid around Midori, but she had that way around people. It was like her personality was contagious.
Midori went to leave, but remembered that she needed to pay him back for the information, she didn't know if this was of any help, but she mentioned her encounter from earlier, "I met your uncle while getting sake today in the 79th District."
Kaien's eyes opened wide and then relaxed, "I see. Was he doing well?"
"Yes, he is very energetic. He promised me he would enter the Seireitei and become a captain."
"What! Uncle is too lazy for that. You know how to pick them, don't you Midori." He laughed at the thought.
Midori looked upset at him for laughing at her, "Well, I believe he will. He agrees with me when I told him that the Seireitei needed some new captains to change the operations of the Seireitei. They may even need a new Central 46 if you want my opinion."
Kaien placed his hand over Midori's mouth before she could say anything else.
She pushed him off of her, "What?"
"Midori, it is not good for you to say things like that. After everything that has happened to you over the past several years with the incident, they will think you are trying to create an uprising," Miyako told her in concern.
"I just think that certain captains shouldn't be in their position is all," she turned her head and under her breath, "Like Sosuke Aizen." Kaien heard her but did not mention anything else about it.
"Well, if uncle puts his mind to it, I am sure you will see him as a captain in the future."
He wanted to get her mind off of what she had just said. He knew Midori was not stupid, but her thoughts sometimes ran away with her at the mouth.
Midori started to read the atmosphere as being awkward, and she bowed to both of them, "Thank you for the information. I am sorry for interrupting your evening. You have a good night."
They waved to her as she left. Kaien thought back to his uncle, and then to what Midori said. It was true that Sosuke Aizen was someone to not be trusted, but to replace the captains with people who were trustworthy was hard to do when all the trustworthy people didn't want to take the position to begin with.
He looked at Miyako, "You know, Midori would have made a great captain. If she wasn't banned from it, I would have had Captain Ukitake speak up for her."
"I know you would have, and you are right. She has grown up quite a bit since that time. It is a shame that she was banned from having a place here in the Seireitei, especially, since she is so talented."
They hugged each other and went back to talking about what they were before Midori had arrived.
Midori went back to her room at the 4th division barracks. She entered her room and sat for a while in silence. She thought of what she could do for Jushiro since she knew for sure when his birthday was and what he loved to eat. She realized that she did not have much experience in cooking, but maybe Captain Unohana did. She was resolved to ask for her help in the morning. She only had 4 days as of tomorrow to plan something for him. She fell asleep thinking about the many things she could do for him on his birthday.
The next morning, Midori woke and got dressed like normal. She walked down to Captain Unohana's office and did not find her there. She began looking all over the barracks and found her teaching some of the members of the division to use Kaido. Midori walked right up to her and watched as they began to fall in line with their Kaido. She waited there until Captain Unohana gave the members a break.
"No training today, Midori?"
"No, ma'am. I wanted to come and ask you for a favor."
"What is that?"
Captain Unohana was pulling out bags of the chiyu jeru Midori had invented several years ago and placed them in her medical box.
"I was wondering if you can teach me how to cook ohagi?"
Captain Unohana looked up at her and smiled, "Doing this for Jushiro?"
Midori was floored. She didn't know that Captain Unohana would know what Jushiro's favorite food was.
"You know what his birthday is too, right?"
"Yes. Have you had some trouble figuring this stuff out?"
"Have you talked with my uncle since, yesterday?"
"Yes." Captain Unohana smiled like she was up to something, and Midori knew it was her uncle's doing.
Captain Unohana noticed that Midori's usual smile of late turned into aggravation.
She walked over and placed a hand on Midori's head, "I was not trying to pick on you. You want to do something nice for him. I understand. I don't specifically know how to make ohagi, but there is a baker in the East Rukon that I know who will be happy to help you. Her name is Mei. Just go and ask her to help you. Tell her I sent you."
Midori smiled at her and bowed, "Thank you, Captain Unohana!"
Midori raced off to the East Rukon District to find Mei. She walked all over and finally found a small building that had a bread symbol on its sign. She walked in and found a woman who was probably Captain Unohana's age kneading dough.
"How can I help you?"
Midori bowed at her, "Can you please teach me how to make ohagi?"
The lady looked up to see Midori bowing at her. She looked confused but noticed that Midori had a Soul Reaper uniform on.
"Is there not someone in the Seireitei that can teach you, I am busy."
"Captain Unohana sent me to you, specifically. She said you were the best."
"Are you talking about Yachiru Unohana?"
Midori thought to herself. She had never heard anyone call her Yachiru. She only heard one person called Yachiru and that was Captain Zaraki's lieutenant.
"I am sorry ma'am, but Captain Unohana's first name is Retsu by my understanding."
"That's the one. Come on back here, my child. I will be happy to help you."
Midori spent day and night over the next 3 days trying to figure out how to make the ohagi from Mei. Mei was hard on her at every turn. It was something that did not come natural to Midori. She loved the way the bakery smelled and wished she had that type of talent. She had thought several times that maybe Jushiro would love to have a woman who was talented in cooking. On the 3rd day, Midori wiped her brow late into the evening and produced a box full of ohagi that were not perfect but tasted amazing.
"You need some training on their appearance, but these are very tasty."
Midori smiled at her as they both ate one together. Midori was happy she could do something for Jushiro. Before night fell, Midori had thanked Mei by cleaning her shop for her. She bowed to her and took her surprise for Jushiro with her.
"You enjoy those with the one you love, dear."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, again!"
Midori got back to her room at the barracks. She noticed Captain Unohana walking to her room.
She called to her, "Captain Unohana?" Midori produced a napkin with several of the ohagi in it.
"It is nice that you are back. Did Mei help you?"
"Yes, ma'am. Here this is for you. Thank you so much for what you have done for me. I know it is not much, but-"
Captain Unohana interrupted, "It will do, Midori. You are such a sweet girl. Thank you, too."
Captain Unohana took her gift from Midori and continued to her room. Midori was happy. She entered her room. She placed her gift for Jushiro on the table in her room and went to bed. She fell asleep thinking of how he would react to them.
Midori woke up the next morning later than she wanted. She did not know what she could dress in to celebrate Jushiro's birthday. She could only think of one person who could help her and that was Yumichika. He had seemed to be someone who had some fashion sense about himself. He even took notice of things about her that Midori had never thought about.
She raced over to the 11th division barracks and finally found him and Ikkaku talking in the courtyard.
"Yumichika! Ikkaku!"
They both looked at her. They remembered that they were going to take a break for a few days, but here she was.
"I thought we were taking a break, Midori? Did you miss us and need some more training?" Ikkaku questioned her.
"No, I just need Yumichika."
She grabbed Yumichika by the arm and pulled him with her back to the 4th division barracks.
"We will talk later, Ikkaku!" Midori yelled as they left,
Yumichika tried to question Midori as they went to her room in the 4th division barracks, but she ignored him for the time being. They entered her room. Yumichika looked around. Midori was a very clean person. Her futon was in the corner of the room bundled up and her desk and belongings were in their place. Yumichika thought that her room was dull, though. There was no color anywhere, and it kind of made him feel bad for her.
"I don't have much here, so please don't stare at it like my room is horrible."
"Here? Where else do you have things?"
"My uncle's. I need your help."
"What kind of help do you need that I can only help you with?"
"I need you to help me get ready for a birthday celebration between Captain Ukitake and me." Yumichika was stunned at her assumption.
He watched her as she pulled from her dressing trunk a dark plain dress and a yellow sun dress.
"That sun dress would be beautiful, but it is too cold outside."
She looked up to him watching her, "What would you suggest? I want to look beautiful."
"Midori that will not be hard for you. Just put on your regular clothes and do something with that hair of yours. It's so unruly." Yumichika reached for her hair.
He placed her in a chair and began French braiding her hair. He pinned it up with some bobby pins from Midori's box on her desk and encircled the end of her hair into a flower on the back of her head. He pinned it down and went to the front of her face. He pulled down two even strands of hair that seemed to curl on their own.
"Do you have any makeup?"
"Yes, there."
She pulled out a small box that Lisa had given her years ago.
Before handing it to Yumichika, she looked at him with pleading eyes, "Please, be careful with it. It was from someone special that I cannot see anymore." He heard the sadness in her voice and gently took the box from her.
He placed some eyeliner, mascara, and pale pink rouge on her lips. He saw a small mirror in Midori's room which he picked up to show her. Midori saw that Yumichika was like Lisa in the fact that they could make her look completely different than she did every day.
"Midori, I would not suggest you doing this every day."
"Why?"
"Guys have a hard time keeping their eyes off of you as it is. I have seen it. If you wore stuff like this daily, those men would increase in number, and I am sure Captain Ukitake would be upset at others looking at what is his."
These words made Midori blush. Yumichika did not apply blush to her cheeks, and he noticed immediately. It made her even cuter to him. Her goofy smile was what made her so mesmerizing to him. She always knew how to show all her feelings in that one smile.
Yumichika rummaged through Midori's dressing trunk until he found a nice green sweater dress.
"This would look good on you, Midori. Wear this." He threw it to her.
Yumichika stepped out of her room and waited. Midori put on the dress and looked at herself in the small mirror she had. It fit close to her hips and breast. It was not really something she wanted to wear. She got it from Lisa one year when she was younger and never wore it.
She went to the door, shyly peeking out from it, "Yumichika, are you sure?"
He opened the door and found Midori standing there in the green sweater dress that came a little above her knees. He was entranced by how beautiful she was. He walked back to her dressing trunk and found in the bottom a pair of black knee-high boots.
"Wear these, too."
She pulled her long socks from the dressing trunk. She pulled them on and placed the boots over top them. He watched her zip the side of them and noticed how mature Midori looked. His heart skipped a beat, and a blush appeared on his face as she looked up placing a piece of hair behind her ear.
"You look like you are ready. Go get him." He patted her on the back.
Midori was unsure about this. She had never worn anything like this. What would everyone think about her? She breathed in and got the confidence to go out like this. She grabbed her gift for Jushiro and walked with Yumichika to the 11th division. Yumichika noticed guys falling over themselves at how Midori looked as they walked by. He chuckled silently to himself.
When they got to the 11th division, Yumichika and Midori parted ways, but not before Midori hugged him.
He felt his face burn as he blushed at her gesture, "Thank you, Yumichika. I will see you guys tomorrow, and we can get back to training."
"Okay."
He placed a hand in front of his face as he walked past the gate, and Ikkaku met him, "What did she want, and why is your face so red?"
"My face isn't red. She just wanted help with a surprise for her boyfriend, is all." Ikkaku picked on Yumichika as they continued into the 11th division.
Midori walked into the 13th division and like Yumichika said, guys were looking at her. Her mind was set on Jushiro, but then she saw a girl run by her that was the same girl that she saw days before talking about Jushiro's birthday. The girl did not see her, but Midori saw tears fall from her eyes. She turned to say something to her but stopped herself. She wondered at what happened. She kept walking, and Kaien saw her out of the corner of his eye.
He watched as Midori knocked on Jushiro's door, but there was no answer.
Kaien walked up behind Midori, "It's a shame you look so nice, and he is not here."
She turned around, "Where is he?"
"He is down at the oak tree in the field."
"Okay. Is he warm down there?"
Kaien gave her a long haori to wear over her outfit. She handed him her gift for Jushiro so she could put it on. He handed her the gift back as well as a few blankets for them. Midori walked past the koi ponds and down to the field. She found him laying against his favorite tree.
She stood in front of him, and her shadow over him caused him to look up at her.
With a smile on her face she looked down at him with such dear eyes, "Happy Birthday, Shiro!"
His face lit on fire with her calling him Shiro. It was something new that he had never heard from anyone. She laid the blankets and the box on the ground and got down on her knees. She kissed his lips, and he kissed her back.
When they parted, he expressed himself, "Thank you, Midori."
"I'm not done, yet." She pulled her box of ohagi in front of her and gave it to him.
He took the box and looked inside. He noticed that they were his favorite food and wondered how she could have known.
He looked at her, "I made them for you."
He was surprised that she had made something for him which made him love them even more, "I can't eat those."
"What do you mean? I made them so you could enjoy them."
"They are something that my precious girl made for me. If I eat them, they will be gone."
Midori blushed, "I can make them for you, again. Please enjoy them."
Jushiro took one from the box and bit down into it. He took in the flavor of the wonderful treat that Midori had made for him.
He smiled at her, "They are delicious."
She smiled back at him, "I am glad you like them."
She watched him finish his piece of ohagi. He placed the rest of the box beside of him and welcomed her to sit with him between his legs, her favorite place.
She grabbed one of the blankets that Kaien gave her and laid it over both of them. She snuggled into his chest as he sat there and held her.
"Jushiro, are you not cold being out here? It is the first day of winter, today."
"I just felt like being out here, today. I normally don't celebrate my birthday much. Your uncle and Retsu normally send me stuff, but we don't get together for it."
"I want to celebrate it with you every year." This surprised Jushiro. He waited for her to continue. "I want to celebrate it because it is another year that I get to be with you. It is in celebration of the birth of the man I love. That is why I always want to celebrate it with you."
Jushiro smiled at her explanation. It was kind of clumsy, but it made him happy. He kissed her head. They sat there until the sun began to set. Midori was getting worried about Jushiro being too cold. She looked up at him.
He was resting his head against the tree with his eyes closed, "Jushiro? Are you okay?"
He peered through his eyes down at her. His green eyes were staring right at her, and it made Midori's heart skip.
"I am getting a little cold. Do you want to go in?"
"Please."
Midori got up, and she felt how cold it really was as the cold embraced the side of her that was laying against Jushiro. He too felt the cold. She got the blankets up, and he picked up his gift. They walked back to his room. He pulled Midori close to him, resting his arm around her waist.
When they got back to his room, they walked inside, and Midori placed the blankets in the corner of the room and took off the haori that Kaien had given her. She took off her boots and socks and placed them at the door. Jushiro just stood there and watched her. He finally was able to see how beautiful Midori was, today. As she folded the haori and bent down to place it on the blankets,
Jushiro came up from behind her and grabbed her, "You dressed up for me, Midori. Gorgeous as always."
Her face went red as she felt him holding her firmly against him. He placed his arm around her side resting his hand on her hip.
"I wanted to look nice today because it is a special occasion."
She started to fidget with her sleeves. Jushiro noticed and it made butterflies appear in his stomach.
"Midori, I love you." He kissed her neck. She leaned into him.
"I love you, too, Shiro."
Her pet name for him awoken something inside of him. He turned her around and placed her in a kiss. Midori kissed him back. He kissed her bottom lip, and she opened it to let his tongue explore her mouth. His kiss pushed her into ecstasy as she kissed him, eager for his touch. His hands reached around her backside and pulled her up to straddle him. Locked in a feverish kiss, she felt him lay her down on his futon. He began sliding his hand up her leg. She moaned under his kiss. Her sweater dress that was on the little side began to rip at the seam as he pushed it over her hips.
She reached for the front of his uniform pulling at his sash. She pulled it off of him, and then undid the other sash that held his kimono closed. When his kimono was open, there was a knock at the door. Jushiro rolled his eyes as he got back up and tied his sash back. Midori tried to straighten her dress, but the rip was all the way over her hip on the left side. She stood where the person at the door would not be able to see it. Her pink rouge was smeared.
Jushiro opened the door to see a girl standing there, "Captain Ukitake! I think you are awesome, and I wanted to give you this as a gift. Happy Birthday!"
She pushed the gift in his arms and ran off. Jushiro looked down to a perfectly wrapped gift with fish all over it. Closing the door, he looked back to Midori. He noticed that she was standing there looking nervous. She was looking away from the door.
Inside, she was questioning herself and their relationship, "Other girls like him, of course, but does he like the attention. Stupid, he is not like that. I don't know if I can handle other girls liking him. I don't know what I should say or do."
Jushiro saw her face jumbled with stress. He did not think much. He took the gift and placed it on his desk and flew to her. He grabbed her face and began kissing her, again.
Through there kisses he spoke to her to ease her heart and mind, "The best birthday present I could ask for, is you, Ri."
"Ri?"
He pulled from Midori to stare into her eyes, "My nickname for you, Ri. It means reason, and you, Midori, are my reason to live." A tear fell down her eye as he just pledged his never-ending love for her.
"I love you, Shiro," she pulled him closer to her and kissed him, "I love my nickname."
"I love you, Ri."
They kissed each other back down to the futon and continued where they left off. Midori pulled back his kimono and began kissing his chest. She ran her tongue over his nipples which caused him to moan. He went back to sliding his hand up her dress again. She could feel his hand on her stomach and then her breast, which gained him a moan when he rubbed her nipple between his fingers. He lifted her dress further, exposing her breasts to him and her underwear. He pulled her dress over her head and bent down to kiss her. She slid his kimono off leaving him in his pants. She glided her hand down his abs into his pants and felt his erect member. When she went to rub him, he grabbed her hand from his pants and lifted it above her head with the other one.
"I want to thank you properly for my birthday gift." Midori blushed but let him continue.
He kissed her neck and then down to her breasts where he took turns teasing each one with his tongue before sucking on them. He placed his hand inside of her panties and began rubbing her bundle of nerves. She arched her back and moaned in pleasure. He was happy with the way she reacted to his touches.
He slid his finger down to her opening, "You are so wet, Ri."
His words caused her body to pulse from pleasure. She loved to hear him talk this way to her. He placed a finger inside of her causing her body to ache for more. He explored her more until she was dripping wet. He placed another finger inside of her, and when she started to have convulsions, he pulled her underwear off. He slid down to her opening and began to lick the bundle of nerves while his fingers were still inside. He was driving Midori crazy.
In complete ecstasy, Midori did not notice when Jushiro had took off his pants and was now placing his erected member at her opening. She felt him rub her with it and then she sat up and pushed him down.
"It's only fair if I get to tease you, too," Jushiro smiled and let her do what she wanted, "Happy Birthday to my Shiro."
She took his erected member in her mouth. He leaned back and watched her as she worked her head up and down his member.
He was getting more and more excited watching her, "I'm going to-" She felt him come in her mouth.
She swallowed it and looked at him, "It's sweet."
She licked her lips which caused Jushiro's mind to explode. He never knew that he would see this side of Midori. She straddled him, placing her opening above his still erected member. She looked down at him with her hands on his chest. He stared back up at her. She was completely exposed to him and it excited him at how beautiful she was. He placed himself in a seated position, holding on to her. He kissed her lips, running his fingers through her hair causing her braid to fall, and then he pushed himself into her opening. Midori clung to him. It had been so long since she had been with anyone, but all her mind could focus on was how good Jushiro felt inside of her.
She placed her lips at his ear and then began sucking on it while he thrusted into her. She licked the outside of her ear and then sucked on his ear lobe. Her moaning caused Jushiro to go faster. He loved how she felt, and her moaning was driving him on the edge.
Midori whispered in his ear, "Shiro, make me come."
Jushiro could feel Midori's inner walls tightening around his member which caused them both to come at the same time. They sat there entangled in each other, panting. Midori rested her head against his shoulder facing his neck, and Jushiro laid his forehead on her shoulder. She kissed his neck and ran her hands through his hair. Jushiro turned his head and began kissing Midori's neck. It sent electric sparks through her body.
"I want you again, Ri."
She looked at him and kissed his lips, "Take me."
Midori and Jushiro made love again and again until they fell asleep from exhaustion. They embraced each other under the blankets that Kaien had given them. Their clothes were thrown all over the room.
Jushiro noticed that Midori's makeup was smeared when he woke the next morning. He sat beside of her still naked.
He placed a hand on her cheek, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, Midori."
He kissed her cheek. He covered her bare body back up and got dressed. He placed her clothes in a neat pile beside of the futon and went to his desk. He noticed the package on his desk and picked it up.
"You should open it, you know. It would be mean to just throw it away," he heard Midori's sleepy voice.
She got up from his futon and started to dress herself. He watched her beautiful silhouette hugged by the sun trying to come through the curtains in his room. How her body glowed from their love making. She placed her socks back on before pulling a blanket from the futon and taking it over to him. He opened his arms for her to sit on his lap. She did as he wanted and sat down, leaning into him. He pulled the package in front of them.
He opened it up and, it was an issue of a magazine that was popular with kids in the Rukon, the Seireitei Communications. Jushiro smiled at it.
Midori looked at it, "I haven't saw this issue, yet."
He handed it to her and watched her flip to the exact story that he didn't want her to read, 'Rejection of the Twin Fishes.' He started to get nervous.
It was then that Midori noticed the name of the author, "Shiro, you wrote these? I love Sogyo. He is my favorite character of all-time! You really are a genius writer, and I am not saying that because I love you."
He blushed at her compliment. He kissed her head as she read it in his arms. When Midori was finished, she looked up at him. He was still watching her.
"Do you need a checkup, today?"
"Is that code for something?" His looked at her with a perverted expression on his face.
"No, I was being serious. Didn't you get enough last night." Midori tried to get up.
"I can never get enough of you, Ri," he pulled her back into his arms, "I want you every day, Ri. You complete me."
Midori snuggled her head into his chest. She was happy, "You complete me, too, Shiro."
When he let her go, she got up and had him lay down on the futon.
She placed her head against his chest and heard a raspy sound, "I think we over did it last night. I will go and get my supplies and come back and examine you. Have Kaien make you some of the tea I brought you the other day."
"You're leaving right, now?"
She placed a hand on his cheek, "You have to be in tip top health if you want any more of what you got last night," she paused to kiss his lips, "Besides I want to make sure you are healthy, safe, and sound."
She got back up and walked to the door, making sure to take the haori with her to cover the rip in her dress. It seemed she would not wear that again unless she mended it first. She placed her boots on and went to the 4th division barracks. When she arrived at her room, she changed her clothes and got her medical supplies.
She walked back to the 13th division to see Kaien's worried face, "What is wrong?"
"Captain went into another fit when you left."
Midori's eyes went wide. She rushed past him to see Jushiro in his futon under a blanket. She saw a napkin that was discarded into the trash and it had blood on it.
Jushiro noticed her worried face. Her hands shook as he pulled her green activating chiyu jeru out of her medical box. She opened his kimono without permission and applied the chiyu jeru and began Kaido. Tears fell from her eyes. She blamed herself. He watched her face while trying his best to be still. He wanted to embrace her, to stop her tears, and to help her from feeling horrible. He could how much she was upset because during the Kaido, her hands would not stop from shaking.
When the Kaido treatment was finished, Midori placed her chiyu jeru back into her box. She sat silent beside of him while he tied his kimono.
She stared at the floor, "It's my fault. I am sorry, Jushiro. If we wouldn't have-"
He placed his hand on her cheek to stop her from worrying and blaming herself. He pulled her face to his and kissed her lips. Her wet cheeks pressed into his.
"Midori, it is not your fault. I just forgot to take my regular tea and medicine, yesterday. I am sorry for making you worry." She hugged him gently.
"I don't want you to leave me. Please, stay with me."
He rubbed her back, "Always. I promise." He kissed the side of her head.
Jushiro knew that Midori had a record of people leaving her. Her parents, 'him,' Lisa, Kensei, Rose all left her. The fact that she could no longer seen any of them anymore is what caused her to create a fear in her mind of being alone. She grasped Jushiro kimono, tightly.
He could feel that she was not letting this go, "Do you want to stay with me, today? Will that help ease your mind?"
She was supposed to train with Ikkaku and Yumichika, today, "I have training, today. I would love to stay with you until then and come back and stay with you, again afterward. Is that alright?"
"As long as it eases your mind, Ri." He kissed her eye lids and then her lips. She kissed him back.
Midori stayed close to Jushiro all morning long. When noon came, she got up and went off to the 11th division, making sure that Kaien sat in with him during her training. She made him promise to stay with Captain Ukitake till she got back. He agreed.
She met Ikkaku and Yumichika at the training grounds. It was empty, but there were two new visitors who came to join them, Captain Zaraki and Yachiru. When Midori saw Captain Zaraki, she knew that he would want to fight with her, but she didn't have it in her. Her mind was on Jushiro.
Yumichika saw the look on Midori's face and it concerned him, "Did it not go well, last night? I thought for sure it would with what you were wearing."
"It went fine. Everything was going fine until he had a coughing attack this morning." Yumichika and Ikkaku looked concerned for Midori.
They could see her mind was flooded with worry about Captain Ukitake.
Captain Zaraki could sense that Midori was not in the mood to train, "I think you should go back and spend time with him. We can fight another day. After the New Year, girl. You and I will fight. Be ready."
"I am sorry, guys. We can resume this, tomorrow. Thank you, Captain Zaraki. I look forward to it." They all watched Midori leave.
"Captain, did you just show concern for Midori? That looked like concern didn't it, Ikkaku?"
"Oh, yes. Kenny has a special place in his heart for that girl!"
"Hush, you," he fussed at Yachiru, "I don't see a reason to fight someone whose spirit is just not in it. We will have a grand battle after the New Year."
Captain Zaraki got up from his spot on the training ground and walked off with Yachiru hanging off his shoulder.
"I think that she has pushed herself into the Captain's heart as well."
"No way. It's her fighting spirit that he wants to fight!" Yumichika rolled his eyes at Ikkaku.
Midori raced back to Jushiro and pushed opened the door to his room.
Kaien was surprised to see her back so soon, "Training was cancelled?"
"Yes."
Midori was breathing heavy. She walked over to Jushiro and hugged him. He could sense the worry that she was washed in.
Kaien got up for his seated position and walked to the door, "I will leave you two alone."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Shiba," Midori's voice was weak.
"Yea."
Midori stuck to Jushiro like glue. Everything he needed; she took care of it. He was happy that she was worrying over him, but for the first time, he felt like a burden on her.
"Midori, am I a burden on you."
She rushed to him, "Never. I want to take care of you. Just let me help you until you are better, and if I am smothering you, I can leave."
He pulled her next to him, "I don't want you to leave. Just sit right here with me."
She leaned into him and began to read with him what he was reading. It was something she had to get used to. She stopped him a few times so she could finish reading what they were reading together, but they laughed about it, and eventually, Midori was catching up to him. They sat together reading for the whole afternoon.
As night fell, Midori and Jushiro were tired. They cuddled together in his futon. It was one of the most calming sensations for her to be wrapped in his arms as they slept. Before she drifted off to sleep, she could hear the raspy breathing from his lungs leave as his strong heartbeat echoed in her ear. She was finally comforted that he was safe and sound. She fell asleep in his arms.