Chapter 13:
Heather's POV
I was walking down the halls of the manor. I was supposed to meet Byakuya to hang out. It had been a long, weird day and I was hoping to approach him about what Yoruichi said earlier and how he reacted to it. I guess I was too distracted or something because when I got to the gardens I felt a pair of hands pull me into the nearby brush. I panicked not knowing what was going on and struggled out of reflex. Before I could wriggle out of this strangers grasp, I felt my hands being bound and I was soon whisked away.
"Get off of me you asshole! What the Hell do you think you're doing?!" I screamed on the top of my lungs as the stranger pushed me into a kneeling position. "Heather, relax. It's only Soifon." I heard Yoruichi attempt to calm me. My head bolted to the general direction of my captor, "No freaking way!" I yelped looking to the face of a younger, more naïve, Soifon. "I retrieved the target as ordered, Lady Yoruichi." she reported proudly. "It's only because you ambushed me; you friggin' piece of—" I grumbled inaudibly but was cut off by a swift belt to the back of the head. "Silence!" the much shorter woman ordered. My head went fuzzy for a second but I knew for a fact I was pissed. "What the hell's the matter with you?! Are you trying to give me a concussion?!" "Get a grip you two." the darker woman gained both of our attention as she continued apologetically as she untied me, "Sorry about that." "Why didn't you just come to the manor if you wanted to talk?" I asked as I stood up, rubbing my wrists, "Your friend scared the crap out of me." I gave Soifon a hard look which she returned. "You seem to have the best reactions to things that surprise you." the Commander of the Stealth Force commented while grinning at me. "If I could kick your ass, I would about now." I replied almost seriously, even if I could, I don't think I could find it in me to actually hurt her. What could I say? The jerk grew on me.
The older woman laughed aloud and replied, "You wish!" She calmed down a little bit and said, "Ginrei told me that you're holing yourself up in the manor and acting peculiar. So, I'm taking it upon myself to get you out and see the Seireitei." So she's in on this too…what's with everyone, was I really acting that weird? "What? Worried about little old me?" I teased. "Well, you are spending an unnatural amount of time with Byakuya and apparently with Ōtoribashi as well." Yoruichi reasoned and then retaliated with a wicked grin in place, "Is there something you wanna tell me?" "No," I lied, "I'm fine." My friend did not look convinced but then perked up, "Then you wouldn't mind if I stole you tonight. Right?" I faltered, what about Byakuya? He was expecting me…but then again, he would understand, wouldn't he? "I wish you gave me more warning…" I said uncertainly. "Come on! You're going to thank me after this." Yoruichi stated confidently. I sighed. I knew I was beat here, "Alright, alright. What did you have in mind?"
Yoruichi had lead Soifon and me to a building with out telling us exactly where we were heading. As the three of us got closer I heard rowdy yells and laughter of men coming from inside. "Yoruichi…this isn't a bar, is it?" I asked her uncertainly. "It is!" the Second Division Captain smiled, "Best place to go, it's in the middle of everything. Meeting other Soul Reaper will be a breeze here." "What kind of people are you planning on meeting?" I asked her with an eyebrow raised. "Not for me, you goof." Yoruichi laughed, "We're coming here to look for a man for you. He'll get you out of the manor and away from love struck kids." I stopped in my tracks. Did she mean Byakuya? Love struck? I thought she was kidding! "That's not funny, Yoruichi. Byakuya's the little brother I wish I had. He can't possibly think that way about me."
"Ha!" the shorter woman laughed out loud with sarcasm and continued, "Start believing it. You're just too close to notice the signs." I shrugged, she might be right, but I was not willing to believe it unless he came out and told me. "Yeah, yeah. I hope you realize that this is a really tacky way to 'meet' people." I told her, I heard of so many relationship nightmares that started from meeting someone in a bar. "Don't get so worked up about it. Soifon and I will be there to help you out if some one gets too pushy." my friend assured me. The future Captain of Squad Two and I looked at each other equally wide-eyed. I knew that she could take care of herself and she would be more willing to step in for Yoruichi. Me, however, was an entirely different story. It doesn't help that we met and immediately started off on the wrong foot. "I can't see why we can't get to know each other before we set ourselves up as each others wing men. I mean we didn't even say as much as "Hey, how ya doing? Don't mind me, I'm just gonna give you a bloody heart attack.'" I argued. "Think of this as you're first mission with a fellow cohort." Yoruichi stated before walking in first. I looked back to Soifon and offered, "I can do that. Truce?" She looked me over as if she didn't know what to think and huffed, "Let's just get this over with." "Close enough," I sighed and walked into the building.
I sat alone at the table, Yoruichi was preoccupied somewhere in the bar, talking to someone she knew. Soifon was not far behind the flighty woman, not engaging in the conversation itself, but making sure the Commander didn't wind up in any trouble. She was doing too good of a job. Good thing I was sober. "Hey there, good lookin'." An unrecognizable voice slurred and a man I didn't know sat next to me. Oh, crap! I should have seen this one coming. I smiled uncertainly in his direction and turned away. "I noticed you walkin' in a while back with that captain and I wanted to know if I could buy you a drink?" he continued, oblivious to the fact I wasn't interested. "No thank you, I'm expecting my boyfriend any minute." I lied, trying to get this guy to back off. He did not look fazed in the slightest. "You mean the guy that's left you sitting here for a half hour all by yourself?" he questioned mockingly and continued, "Ditch the loser and get with me. I'll treat you good." "Hey, sweetheart. Sorry I'm late." I heard the familiar voice of Shunsui Kyōraku from right behind me. I jolted the second I felt his lips touch my cheek and his arms encircle around my waist. Nice timing, you big lug, where exactly have you been hiding? I wanted to say but I was too shocked. "Who's your friend, dear?" Shunsui questioned turning to the guy that was bothering me. I looked to see the man was absolutely pale and almost fell out of his seat as he dismissed himself, "No one! I'm no one, Captain Kyōraku! Have a nice night Miss."
"Thanks, you saved my life." I thanked him exaggeratedly once the Soul Reaper was out of earshot. "My pleasure. Maybe we can do this for real tomorrow night? I promised Jūshirō that I would see him soon, the smoke in these kind of places aggravates him." he asked and I thought for a moment, he did get me out of quite a pickle. "If you can help me get out of here." I replied. Before I knew it, the captain was helping me to my feet and walked with me to the door.