Featuring everyone's favorite lucky-lucky dance!

Come What May
Distances Between

"You've gotten better, Madarame-san."

His reply was a frustrated grunt.

"Oh, I'm being serious here. You've gotten much faster and stronger since the first time."

Ikkaku let out something akin to a gurgled yell, fist tightening on his sword.

"Aren't you going to try to gain a higher seat? I'm sure you could go up some more. I'd say at least three seats."

He took a deep breath, focused his intent and PUSHED. Kisuke, perched calmly on his back, was almost too much for Ikkaku's jellied limbs to handle.

"You," he gasped, "fluff-brained, pansy ass, ANNOYING sunnov-"

Kiskue idly kicked Ikkaku's right arm from under him, crushing his breath out from the impact.

Tapping his ever-present fan against his chin, Kisuke asked him, "Ne, Madarame-san? Why are you always training with me and no one from the 11th? I can't imagine you'd be hard pressed to find sparing buddies."

It took a minute for Ikkaku to get his breath back, then another minute to get over the coughing fit of inhaling dirt. "Because," he choked out, trying to wriggle his way to freedom, "you're strong. I want to fight only the strong ones, not some mediocre guys."

"Me? Strong?" Kisuke laughed brightly. "What makes you say that?"

"Because you beat Hozukimaru with just your fan?" He grumbled out.

Humming to himself, Kisuke abruptly got to his feet. Ikkaku promptly rolled onto his back and sucked air noisily into his empty lungs. "Well, Madarame-san. If you feel that makes you weaker, I can give you a couple pointers."

That brought Ikkaku straight to his feet. "Really? Kisuke-san, you'd really give away your secrets?"

"It's not so much that they're secrets," Kisuke told him, "as they are basics I've notice you're lacking in. Your attacks have gotten more diverse, that's good. You're still a straightforward fighter, but you've gotten more flexible in your style. That's also good. It means that not only are you learning how to conform to another's style of fight, it also means you're listening more to your Zanpakuto." He walked toward the buildings, indicating the 11th division member to follow.

"You see, this is my Zanpakuto." He continued, reaching around a screen door to pull out a sword. "Her name is Benihime. She can be a bit temperamental and she doesn't like being wielded without a good reason. That's why I use the fan. But," Kisuke added quickly, "just because I'm not using Benihime doesn't mean she doesn't help me. True, I can't unlock her true form or use any of her special abilities when she's not in hand. But she talks to me, even when she's tucked away. She can see where you're going and she can see the strike that you're making. If she feels that I'm in danger of leaving myself open, she'll let me know and I can tighten my guard.

"You've only just gotten your Zanpakuto, so it's a given that you're not as adept to using it like that. I suggest communing with it more. Learn its ways and become as at home in the inner world as your Zanpakuto. The more the two of you bond, the more you can hear what it has and wants to say. And the more the two of you can combine your abilities and become much, much stronger."

Ikkaku looked a little dubious, though. "You sure? I mean, no offense, Kisuke-san. You're strong and all, but I'm not entirely certain how I can get that strong by just hangin' out with Hozukimaru."

The older man tsked. "That's no way to think of it. After all, the more synchronized you are with your Zanpakuto, the stronger you can be. If you're not, the only strength you can fall on is your own." Kisuke leaned in, expression serious. "If you are, at any time, unable to synch properly with your Zanpakuto- either you refuse to commune with it or you're in a conflict with it –it will hinder your ability to fight. If your Zanpakuto will not fight fully with you against an opponent who is perfectly harmonized with theirs- even if your spiritual strength is stronger –you will loose. Once your Zanpakuto has lost the will to fight, your sword will break and you'll be left with nothing to protect you."

Ikkaku swallowed involuntarily, the look and tone Kisuke was giving him sent shivers down his spine. Until Kisuke abruptly pulled back and laughed.

"But that's nothing to worry about! Like any argument among good friends, you can always come to terms with your Zanpakuto again! If it breaks, it will need time to heal and it will need your want to bring it back whole and complete again. They're almost like cats that way! Treat them mean and they'll go off on their own. Treat them with enough kindness and begging and they may consider coming back- if not just to get their egos stroked!" Kisuke laughed again, patting Benihime idly. Ikkaku blinked, some how feeling indignation rolling off the sword.

Then, pausing thoughtfully, Kisuke said, "You know, the problem may be that you don't have enough luck."

Ikkaku blinked. "Enough what?"

"Luck."

"The first character in my name is 'ichi'!" He protested. "I have plenty of luck!"

"Oh, I'm certain that you do! But if you can do something else to make yourself lucky, then that's DOUBLE the luck!"

It wasn't the first time Ikkaku believed Kisuke wasn't all there.

"One of these days," he said, "I'm going to have to teach you my lucky-lucky dance! I do it every time before a difficult fight and it's helped me to get to where I am today!" He beamed proudly. Then, suddenly, he began pushing at Ikkaku's shoulder, shoving him toward the room- someone's office. "But! More importantly, Nemu-san should be coming around from her duties shortly! That'll give you enough time to wash up and be presentable!"

It felt like Ikkaku's heart skipped a beat. "Er, ya know, it's a, uh, it's getting' kinda late and I'm on the roster to deck-towel the division building, so I should- I should probably be going…"

Kisuke gave a compassionate sigh. "It's too bad the only time you get to call on Nemu-san any more is when she's busy. She'd love to see you again, I'm sure."

Ikkaku gave a little laugh and ducked his and was TOTALLY NOT BLUSHING, DAMMIT! "Well, you know how it is…" He swallowed hard. "I'd like to see her again but, you know, duty calls and all that."

Suddenly, Kisuke clapped his hands together. "Oh, I have a great idea! Nemu-san can walk you out of the division! Nemu-san!"

Soft footfalls pattered behind him and Ikkaku's body went cold. There's was nothing more he wanted than to see Nemu and talk with her and make her smile and laugh some more but…

"Yes?" Came that soft voice from over his shoulder.

"Madarame-san has to, unfortunately, leave us so soon. If you would escort him out?"

"Of course."

"Oh, and Nemu-san? I took one of the origami cats you were working on earlier to a friend of mine. You should consider opening a gift shop with the things you make! It'd be the most popular place in the Seireitai!"

Nemu smiled softly at Kisuke. "Thank you very much." She told him, a pretty little blush on her cheeks- still so unused to praise. Ikkaku felt a dull, inexplicable anger at this. A part of him hated that someone else could make her happy, despite how glad he was that she was slowly opening up.

"Ah! There he is! Urahara-taichou!"

From around a corner came a messenger, coming to a stop and kneeling before Kisuke. "Urahara-taichou, Yamamoto-soutaichou is requesting your presence in regards to the supply request forms your division has recently put in."

"Hmm?" Kisuke cupped his chin in one hand. "Ah, well. Guess I'll have to go, then. Nemu-san? If you'd get my coat, please."

"Yes, Captain."

She stepped around Ikkaku who seemed stuck on the ability to stare at Kisuke and gape. Standing up, Kisuke allowed Nemu to drape the jacket across his shoulders and stuck Benihime in his belt. With a smile, he clapped Ikkaku heavily on the shoulder. "Madarame-san." He said. "I'm afraid I'll have to show you the lucky-lucky dance some other time. Commune with your Zanpakuto every night and next week I'll guarantee you'll be even better than today. Ne?"

And, completely ignoring that shell shocked expression, Kisuke gave Ikkaku a final pat on the shoulder, a warm nod to Nemu, turned and sauntered away, looking far too happy with the state of living today.

"Ikkaku?" Nemu asked. "Ikkaku." She said again, brushing the inside of his wrist with her fingers. The contact made him jump. "Come, I'll see you out."

Ikkaku's jaw worked soundlessly for a minute, following her merely on instinct. "You…" he somewhat sputtered, "You didn't tell me he was your captain!" He finally managed.

"No."

"Well……WHY?"

Nemu looked at him over her shoulder with- this realization almost made him stop in his tracks again –an almost mischievous little smile. "I was told not to. Urahara-taichou wanted to see how long it would take you to figure it out on your own."

"I've been fighting that guy and calling him names for TWO MONTHS now!" Ikkaku protest, waving his arms about. "You could've told me after TWO MONTHS!"

"Urahara-taichou thought it was amusing."

"Che!" Ikkaku grumbled to himself, kicking at the ground as they walked. Hesitantly, though, he asked quietly, "Was it?"

"Was it what?"

"Amusing."

Surprised at the question, Nemu stopped and Ikkaku took a half-step back to look at her.

"I… I suppose, yes."

"You, uh, really like your captain, huh?"

She smiled wistfully. "Urahara-taichou is very kind and warm and he goes out of his way to make me smile." Like you do, she didn't say. "I am happy having him as my captain." Nemu cocked her head at him slightly before she dug into a pouch she had tied around her belt. "Ikkaku," she said, drawing out a small container and unscrewing the top, "you're bleeding again."

"Eh?" He blinked, watching her dip two fingertips into the container before reaching up and pressing the cool cream just above and to side of his eye. Standing perfectly still he asked, "What is that?"

"It's a clotting agent." Nemu explained, rubbing excess cream off with her thumb. "Developed in conjunction with the 4th division. It's designed to help stop the bleeding of shallow wounds to some life-endangering ones. I brought some back. I thought you might use it."

Ikkaku couldn't help a little snort of laughter. "Sorry, Nemu. Yer always patchin' me up."

"It's fine. I don't mind it." It was just a minor cut, barely even bleeding, but Nemu ran her fingers over the spot again. Having rediscovered her enjoyment of creating, Nemu had come to realize just how much more sense everything made through touch. Things worked in her mind and connected in so many ways when she touched them and handled them. And somehow, following the path down strong cheekbones and a sharp jaw, she thought if she touched him enough she'd be able to finally understand this strange man in front of her.

"Nemu…" her name rumbled out, but her hand moved back along the jaw to curve up by the ear. She had the sudden urge to run her hand down the cords of Ikkaku's neck and dip her fingers along the deep wings of his collarbone. "Nemu." He said again, grabbing at the wandering hand before she gave into her thoughts. She blinked, then blushed, realizing what she was doing.

"I'm sorry." She said, stepping back and pulling her hand away. "I didn't mean to-" she stopped when he didn't let her go. Nemu looked up at him, surprised at how dark his eyes suddenly where.

"Are you happy here?" He asked, so low she felt it more than heard, hand tight around hers.

"I am." She said, just as quietly. Her fingers closed lightly over his thumb and thought that this was the way things should be.

Ikkaku breath caught painfully and he abruptly let her go. "I'm- I'm glad for ya." Feeling incredibly foolish with himself, he fumbled the container from her hand and danced ahead with a wide grin, "Hey, don't worry 'bout me, okay? I know my way around. You just get some rest, okay? Thanks for the thing!" Flashing a big smile, Ikkaku tossed a wave over his shoulder as he jogged off.

Nemu watched him leave, a part of her sinking sadly. But then something yanked on her braid. Hard. Years of abuse schooled her to keep from crying out, but she didn't flinch when a cold, jagged hand covered her mouth and pressed into her cheeks.

"Nemu." Hissed the voice of her father. "I need to talk to you."