Chapter 9

Nanao

Rukia drew the first card, and Mashiro rolled the dice. Rukia read the task. 'Tell us about your first memory of the other person.' she considered. 'Well, I think when I came back from hueco mondo you were being treated by Unohana.' Mashiro looked at her. 'Don't remember that. I think I first saw you… hmm, maybe at the large meeting two weeks ago?'

Not such a great start Nanao thought. Shinji spoke next. 'I know I have told this before, but as far as I remember I first saw you during a lieutenant's meeting as well Kensei.'
Kensei nodded. 'Same.' he said.

Lisa glared at them. 'Can you try to think of something a little more interesting? This is about emotions, not facts.' Kensei rolled his eyes. 'It says first memory, not first emotional whatever. Next.'

Hisagi spoke slowly, and once he had started Nanao understood why. That had to be a difficult memory for him. 'Well, I got to know Kira during a training mission for his academy class. I was one of the advisers. Hollows attacked and killed the other advisers. Kira, Abarai and Hinamori protected me.'
He obviously kept it short, and Nanao was glad when no one asked for details.

Kira spoke up right after, drawing the attention from Hisagi. 'Hisagi was kind of famous in the academy, for going on real missions already and things like that. I guess someone told me something about him.'
That's hardly a first memory. Nanao thought, but she let it go.

Rangiku grinned, enjoying her turn. 'I remember how I woke up after I got injured on a mission, and this sweet woman was caring for me. She was really nice, except she refused to get me some sake.'

Well, that was definitely getting into the spirit of the game.

Hisane smiled. 'We actually met before, but didn't talk. I saw you during a meeting of the Shinigami woman's association.' she recounted.

Hitsugaya was still frowning slightly, though he seemed calmer now that they were playing.
He had come to Lisa earlier, to complain that they still weren't playing, and instead wasting his and captain Kuchiki's time hanging around.

'Captain Kuchiki was already captain when I entered the academy. He gave a lecture once, about… Shikai and Zanpakutos in general I think.'
Kuchiki inclined his head. 'I did give that lecture, though I do not remember you. I remember that your previous captain once took you along to a meeting, insisting that you participate to `learn how it goes.´ Though it later turned out that he brought you because his lieutenant' he glanced at Rangiku, 'was not available, and he then said that you did all the work anyway.'

Nanao had to smile at that. It was just too easy to imagine.

Then it was her turn.
She hesitated. 'Actually, my first memory of Lisa is while I was in the library. I was sitting on the ground, reading, when she suddenly stepped in front of my light. That really annoyed me.'
She could see several people smiling at that.
'I don't remember why she wanted to talk to me, I just remember wondering if she was actually wearing a real Shinigami uniform, and if such short skirts were allowed.' Lisa laughed. 'You were always so overly correct, weren't you?'

'It's a matter of perspective.' Nanao tried to defend herself. 'I mean, you nearly stepped over me, I only could see legs with a face far in the distance.'
It turned out that her defense didn't help, and they had to wait some time before Lisa had stopped laughing, and could answer.
Nanao suddenly wished she had her book, to hit her.

'I did wonder why you looked so angry at me then, I didn't mean to interrupt your reading.' Lisa said, grinning. 'But I actually saw you before. You were the smallest of the new recruits when you graduated from the academy, and you were so cute, running around with your books all the time… that's how I guessed to look or you in the library, too.'

.

Renji and Rose both shrugged.

'I think we saw each other after the battle in Karakura town, right?' Renji asked. 'We did indeed, though I do not remember much.' Rose agreed.

Boring. Nanao thought. Only then did she notice that she was actually getting into the game, and enjoying it.

'We met in Rukongai, in one of the outer districts.' Ikkaku said, as it was their turn. 'We fought, and I was impressed by Yumichika's fighting strength. I asked him to show me some of the tricks he used.'
Yumichika nodded. 'And since Ikkaku's fighting style was close to beautiful, I agreed.' he hesitated, then added 'And because it was fun.'
Ikkaku nodded to that.

.

Kyouraku

Ukitake smiled softly at him before beginning their story. 'We were roommates in the academy, so that's where we met, on the day before the classes started. I arrived early, so I had mostly finished unpacking when Kyouraku came in...' 'Except for your books.' Kyouraku interjected.
'Except for my books. So I offered to help you carry your things, after we introduced each other and all that.'

'And I accepted, though I did feel bad about it, because you clearly had no idea how much stuff the servants had packed for me. Remember all the days we spend clearing it out?'
Ukitake grinned. 'Yes, but some of it was useful. So, we carried your stuff, and then you unpacked. And then you decided to explore with me.'
'Yes, I wanted to get to know you, but also get to know the area, so naturally, I took you along. Though you didn't really talk that much.'
Ukitake shrugged, expression teasing 'Well, you talked enough, so why would I?' he asked.

'But you also only answered my questions with politeness. Don't pretend, you were really shy.' Ukitake smiled. 'Fine. I still hold that you talked a lot though.'
Kyouraku nodded. 'I did. I was nervous too, new place and all. Well, in the evening we went to eat together, and then we went back. And I was really glad for Ukitake's company then, because I doubt I would have found the way back so easily.' 'And then I unpacked my books.' Ukitake said.

'That you did. After asking me if it was okay if the light stayed on a while longer. And it was strange for me to be there suddenly, away from home, so I didn't want to go to sleep yet. So I asked you something about your books, expecting another one sentence answer… and instead you spend the next three hours talking about books. Your voice was hoarse the next morning.'
Kyouraku smiled at him, remembering.

It had been really impressive, watching the formerly shy boy suddenly talk without stopping, enthusiasm showing openly in his face.
Ukitake smiled back. 'I did ask you several times if you wanted me to stop, or wanted to go to sleep though. You always asked me to continue, or asked about another book I was unpacking.' he softly defended himself.

'And then you fell asleep, while I was talking.' he continued. 'I had to carry you to your bed.' Kyouraku laughed. 'I was so confused when I woke up in the bed, I had fully expected to sleep on the floor. You were quite strong, even back then, I didn't even wake up when you carried me.'

'That's because you don't wake up from anything when you're really asleep. And I wouldn't have let you sleep on the floor, that would be rude.' Ukitake replied, smiling.

.

Ukitake

They had become friends fast after that. Though his main memory of that evening was that Kyouraku didn't ask about his illness, and didn't ask about his hair.
Ukitake had requested that his roommate be told about his illness, and be given a choice of moving to another room, so he had known Kyouraku knew about the illness. But he hadn't brought it up at first, until Ukitake had woke up coughing one morning, and then he only asked for specifics on how to help.
And he had never asked Ukitake about his hair, a question everyone else posed within the first ten minutes of meeting him.

After years of rooming together, it had been Ukitake who brought it up, stating 'Kyouraku, you never commented on my hair.'
He was sure Kyouraku knew what he meant, they understood each other well by then, but the other man had just grinned at him, and answered in his own way.
'Comment? Hmm, let's see. Your hair is really beautiful. It fits well with your face, you would look pale with dark hair but now you look like an air spirit or something. And it's so soft and thin, it always flows in the air a little when you move. So I think I will settle with air spirit.'

Ukitake hadn't known how to react to that at all, and Kyouraku had laughed at his expression. Then he had asked Ukitake what he was currently reading, and Ukitake had laughed, understanding that Kyouraku asked that just to put him at ease again.

He had still talked for half an our about his book though.

He smiled at Kyouraku again, remembering, and Kyouraku smiled back.

As Shinji drew the next card, Kyouraku leaned to the side, and whispered 'Air spirit.' into his ear, moving his hand through Ukitake 's hair. Ukitake stared at him for a moment, before smiling widely.

'Reading my mind.' he whispered back, and leaned against Kyouraku, comfortable, feeling the other chuckle softly.