Chapter 14

Lisa

With only Kensei, Shinji, Ikkaku and Yumichika still playing, it was Shinji's' turn again to draw the next card. 'Describe a typical sexual encounter with your partner. Make something up if none exists.' he read.

'I am not listening to that.' Hitsugaya said, getting up. Yumichika smiled at Kensei and Shinji. 'You know, we are not going to drop out. Maybe you should just give up.'
Kensei frowned. 'Not happening.' 'Then how about we settle the winner with a fight? The last one standing wins.'

Lisa rolled her eyes. She should be protesting, but it wouldn't help, and their targets had already left anyways.

'You're on.' Kensei said, getting up, Shinji following his example.

'Please keep enough distance from the divisions that your Reiatsu won't bother anyone.' Ukitake said mildly. 'And try not to destroy anything.' Kyouraku added.

Renji also got up. 'Can I join you?' he asked, grinning.

After they had left Kuchiki also got up, and he, and Hitsugaya, who was still standing, excused themselves.

Hitsugaya added a 'Don't get drunk, you have to work tomorrow.' to Rangiku, then they too left.

Well, Lisa should be impressed that they had held out this long.

.

Ukitake

'Well, that confirms our theory, doesn't it?' Ukitake asked him as they left, a few hours later. Kyouraku frowned. 'I'm not sure. It seems to doesn't it? But I still don't get the chocolate...' Ukitake laughed, then he suddenly stopped himself.

Lisa hadn't looked at Nanao most of the evening, she had been watching them. She had made it a rule that pairs had to be of the same gender, after having already paired up with Nanao.

She was trying to create a gay couple, but not with Nanao.

The chocolate had been meant to be understood romantically, and their questions had been designed to test them, even asking if Kyouraku's family would mind him entering a relationship with a man.

But Nanao had seemed so sincere then… That couldn't have been played.

'Ukitake?' Kyouraku said, noticing his absence of mind.

Ukitake shook himself, and focused on his friend again. Friend, not boyfriend, never would be boyfriend, no matter how much Ukitake would like that.
How had Lisa come to the conclusion that this was a good idea?

He choose the indirect way, not sure enough abut his guess to warrant saying it. 'Kyouraku, I'm worried about Nanao. I don't think Lisa is really serious, she's just playing, but Nanao might be serious. Take care of them, will you?'

.

Kyouraku

He saw that Ukitake was really concerned. 'You think she's not serious? So what do you think her aim is?' he asked, realizing that Ukitake had thought of something.

Ukitake sighed. 'I'm not sure, but I think they might be trying to… pair us? Couple us? How do you even say that?'

Kyouraku was silent for a few steps, thinking. It made a lot of sense, and it was exactly how Lisa would go about such an endeavor. But why? He was sure he had never told either of them that he was attracted to Ukitake, hadn't told anyone else for that matter.

'It fits with what they've been doing.' he said aloud. Then he let out a surprised laugh, as another piece fell into place. 'Hitsugaya and Byakuya are in on it.' he said, certain.

He watched Ukitake go over it in his head, then the other nodded. 'They possibly all are in on it. That, or Lisa just got them there anyways. Though Lisa was watching us the most, right? She's the one planning.'

Kyouraku grinned. 'Makes sense. And its her style, and this started when she returned.' He considered. 'Should I talk to her?'

Ukitake shrugged. 'We don't know for sure. I don't know, they'll stop eventually, right?'
Kyouraku nodded. 'Maybe. And no harm done, right? So we'll only talk to them if they go overboard, or if we are sure?' Ukitake nodded, smiling softly. 'Sounds like a plan.'

.

'Kyouraku?' Ukitake called him back as he was leaving. 'We forgot the haori.'

Kyouraku started laughing as he went back to exchange clothes with Ukitake again.

.

Nanao

She spend the next few days focusing on her work, and trying to ignore Lisa, who didn't let her. She dragged Nanao out of the office, towards division ten, four days after the party.

'Are you upset it didn't work?' she asked.

'No.' Nanao answered. 'I didn't expect it to work.'

She was upset that Lisa was acting the way she was, and also that she didn't really have a reason to be upset. Nanao had agreed to help after all. If that was the mistake, change it.

She collected her thoughts, and spoke up when they had arrived at captain Hitsugaya's office, and everyone had settled down.

'I will not participate in the next step of the plan. We have tried, and it didn't work. I believe we should stop trying to influence them, but I realize you do not agree with me there, so I will not stop you. But I cannot participate in what you are doing next, as I believe it is wrong. I will be leaving then, have fun.'
She carefully smiled at them, to show she didn't mean any insult, and got up, and left.

She relaxed as she walked away. It felt good to say what she thought.

I will not let her push me again. She resolved, and smiled to herself.

.

Lisa

She hadn't expected Nanao to just leave like that, and wanted to order her to stop for a moment. But it wasn't her decision, so she didn't say anything. Still, it was a disappointment.

'Well.' Rangiku said. 'I don't have a problem with helping with those notes. Rukia? Captain?'

Hitsugaya was silent for a moment, then he answered. 'I also am slightly uncomfortable with this. I will help if you ask, but since I believe there is nothing that would need my assistance there, I think I will leave you to it.'

He got up, and sat down at his desk, apparently deciding to do some paperwork while they were scheming in his office.

Rukia grinned. 'I'm still in, you will need someone to drop off your notes.'
Lisa smiled at them.
'All right. let's think of a series of notes, increasing in intimacy. Then I will write them, and Rukia can drop one off every few days.'

And they set to work.

.

Nanao

Nanao was reading in her room when Rangiku knocked on her door and, typically, came in right away.

Nanao didn't comment. 'Good evening.' she greeted instead. 'Why the sudden visit?'

Rangiku made herself comfortable on some pillows, and smiled at Nanao mischievously. 'I just wanted to ask a question. Are you in love with Lisa?'

Nanao stared at her for a moment. 'No!' she then replied quickly. 'I'm not.' 'Really? It just seemed like there's that tension between you.' 'It's just that she was my mentor, and now she isn't.' Nanao said, trying to play it down. Rangiku was dangerous if she got interested. Especially if she was right. Which she wasn't.
She just was my mentor. Nanao repeated to herself. Whom I admired, and who I now find out to be much more annoying that I thought. And still admirable, her determination and fearlessness… Nanao frowned.

'Well, Lisa did look sad when you left.' Rangiku said.

'You are bluffing.' Nanao stated.
Rangiku smiled at her. 'Maybe a little. So you don't think she likes you back?'

Nanao shook her head. 'No, definitely not. She treats me like I'm still a child, like a hundred years ago. She doesn't even realize that we have the same rank, and she doesn't listen to me at all.'

And when did I go from denying there's anything there to complaining about her not liking me back? O shit.

Rangiku had said like you back, and Nanao hadn't disputed the back-part. Just hope she didn't notice. Though there was little luck of that with Rangiku.

Nanao kept talking, to distract herself. 'And she's ordering me around all the time during this great matchmaking plan. She didn't even ask for my permission before making out with me, and afterwards she patted my head and praised me, like I'm a little girl...'
She was going in circles now, and made herself shut up. Rangiku looked at her curiously. 'So, you did make out?' she asked.
Damn it!

'As a part of the plan. The first step, remember.' Nanao admitted sullenly.

Rangiku patted her hand. 'Do you want me to talk to her?' she asked gently.

I didn't even admit I like her, there's nothing to talk about. She didn't say it. No reason to insult Rangiku's intelligence. 'Please don't Rangiku.' she said instead. Rangiku looked at her, and nodded. 'Okay. Just talk to me sometimes, yeah? And don't be too pessimistic.'

Nanao just nodded, feeling tired.