Here's another chapter! Can't believe I'm actually posting this after several years of thought on the story... :O
Do know, though, that this chapter was the first to be written, and I had to not only modify it several times, but also translate it and change some of the characters ^^; So it might sound a bit blocky...
I'm going to try updating every two weeks. Will I achieve this? See for yourself
Just to warn you readers though, this story's probably going to end up the length of a saga... You're in for a long ride...
Thank you so much to GrowingAHead again, I don't know what I'd do without her...
The theme for this one is a completely different type of music from the previous, AND in a different language... But I associate it with Kyouraku, now as to why...
Theme: "Trois Francs Six sous" by Opa Tsupa
"Captain!"
Nanao slid the door sharply aside, but froze in slight surprise. The two men turned to her, apparently interrupted mid-speech. She immediately bowed.
"Forgive me, I hadn't noticed."
"It's okay, Nanao-chan. This will only take a few minutes, you'll have all my attention right after!"
"Alright. Captain Hirako..."
She addressed him with a slight bow, which he returned. Then she closed the door and took a step back.
Only to notice a figure standing against the wall, who slowly raised a finger to her lips in a silencing motion.
"Yadōmaru-san, what... are you doing...?" Nanao whispered.
The other's eyes glanced at her, before going back to the door. After a long moment of silence, she answered:
"I guess I 'wasn't able' to get rid of these habits. Besides, I'm just practicing."
Huh... It wasn't like she still needed the spying, she attended the meetings for the 8th, right?... But that wasn't Nanao's business. What was though was the letter she herself held, and to which Lisa had now directed her gaze. Nanao straightened.
"This letter from the Sixth Division is my and Captain Kyōraku's business only."
"Oh, so it's from Kuchiki-san...?"
Liza was quick to grab it from her, and - much to the Lieutenant's dismay - to open it, scanning the neat handwriting inside.
Please consider telling your subordinate Ise Nanao
to STOP urging the other members of the Soul Reaper
Women's Association to plant sour figs in my garden.
I agree that their many properties as medicine are impressive,
but I will NOT allow them as these plants are edible and will
leave patches of bare dirt once former Lieutenant
Kusajishi learns about their potential use as food.
Nanao snatched the letter back, blushing as the Eighth Division's Lieutenant mustered all her existing self-control to hold back wild laughter. But both froze as the voices on the other side of the door picked up again.
"So, you were telling me one was found at the outskirts of Rukongai...?" went on the Head-Captain.
"Aye, by Shiba Kūkaku."
"And how was she able to pinpoint it?"
"Was told a young girl crossed it. Haven't met her yet - still knocked out, apparently - thus no idea what her intentions might be."
Kyōraku looked at him straight in the eye, then lowered his hat and asked, with nonetheless a tinge of wariness in his voice:
"Oh well... That's not very practical, is it? Doesn't any of you have the slightest idea?"
His colleague tensed up.
"Nope. No idea."
"...I see. Thank you for your report anyway."
Footsteps were heard, and both women backed away slowly.
"One last thing..."
They relaxed, and to Nanao's astonishment, Lisa even pressed her ear against the door.
"Tell me if I'm mistaken, but I figure you've already crossed one of these portals yourself, haven't you?"
The blond Captain didn't turn.
"I mean, you told me yourself it was a hazardous journey that girl undertook. I don't mean to act nosy, but you know more than you'd like to tell, don't you?"
A moment of silence. Then...
"...That's nothin' of your business."
Kyōraku heaved a sigh.
"You sure don't open up often, do you...?"
This time Hirako didn't answer. He resumed walking to the door, and Nanao watched Lisa tiptoe silently away down the corridor.
The cover picture for this chapter has been updated to 'Light through the Door' by Bui Bao.
The chapters are short right now but they may become longer as the story goes. I guess it's often like that in the beginning? (Maybe?)
Review?