Not one of my favorites, but... what're ya gonna do, right?
Got two pieces of fanart done by a one is from Daily Reprieve and the other is from their academy days Give 'er some love!
Come What May
Wasted Time
"Hey! Hey, Pachinko Head!"
Ikkaku snarled and kept walking. "I'm not responding to that." He muttered to himself.
"Pachinko Head!"
"Not listening…"
"Oi, baldy. I know you hear her."
The captain. Fuck. Putting on his best not COMPLETELY annoyed look, Ikkaku turned with a strained grin. "Ah, Zaraki-taichou, Kusajishi-fukutaichou. What a surprise."
Zaraki snorted while Yachiru bounded up and- to add insult to injury –jumped onto Ikkaku's shoulders. "Lookie, Ken-chan!" She polished his head with her sleeve. "It's just like a marble! See? Just like I said!"
Ikkaku's eye twitched. "…Is that all you wanted me for, captain?"
Zaraki snorted again. "Yachiru." He warned.
"Yes!" She patted at Ikkaku's head to get his attention. "Ne, ne! We're getting bored with the 9th seat. We want you to challenge him again."
"What?" He blinked, looking into the upside-down face of his vice-captain. "Why me?"
"Because you might be more fun with your marbley head!" Yachiru chortled, slapping at him happily again.
Ikkaku's teeth gritted painfully. "Thank you for your sign of faith, vice-captain…"
"You've been 10th for over a year, now, baldy." He looked up, surprised to be addressed by Zaraki again. "All your peers are getting better but you've just been sittin' on your ass. Either do somethin' with yourself or give the spot up."
Cowed by this, Ikkaku bowed his head. "I understand, Zaraki-taichou."
With a grunt, he tossed his head. "Oi, Yachiru. Let's go."
"'Kay, Ken-chan!" Yachiru sang, jumping off Ikkaku's head and onto Zaraki's back. She tugged at Zaraki's jacket. "Oh, Ken-chan, look! Visitors!"
Yumichika, guiding the previously mentioned visitors to his captain, bowed at them both. "Zaraki-taichou, Kusajishi-fukutaichou. Urahara-taichou wishes to meet with you."
"Ya, Zaraki-san! Good morning!"
Zaraki looked over his shoulder and frowned. "Urahara. What do you want?"
Snapping his fan open, Urahara smiled benignly at the group. "We've developed a new strength supplement that's formulated to heighten spiritual pressure. We were wondering if your division would like to test it out for us."
"And?" He jutted his chin to the figure at the end of the group. "Who's that?"
Ikkaku blinked. "Nemu?"
Zaraki's lip curled at the 10th seat. "Huh?"
He jumped, waving his arms around. "Ah- I mean! Kurotsuchi! Er, ju-just a former classmate, that's all!"
"Ah, Madarame-san's so cruel!" Urahara sang brightly. "All those time you snuck into our division just to see Nemu-san and you say she's just a classmate!"
"Sh-Sh-Shut up, you… weirdo freak pervert!"
"Ah! Pachinko Head's turning red all over!"
"I AM NOT!"
"She's far too beautiful for him, anyway." Yumichika threw in, imperiously tossing his head away from Nemu.
Nemu's own cheeks colored at that as Ikkaku flipped his teammate off. "You stay outta this, goddamn flamer!"
"Would you just shut up already?" Zaraki snapped at the lot. "Yer all friggin' annoying. What the hell is she doing here is what I wanna know."
"Kurotsuchi Nemu-san here," Urahara indicated with a snap of his fan, "is my 3rd seat and the one that developed the supplement. If you have any questions on its limitation, side effects or if it can come in grape flavors, she's the one to ask."
"Ho?" Zaraki crossed his arms under his haori, settling them against his belt. "Does it work?"
Nemu nodded. "Yes, Zaraki-taichou."
"Can anyone use it?"
"Yes, Zaraki-taichou."
"It'll work for those with high spirit levels?"
"We haven't found a limit for it yet, Zaraki-taichou."
"It ain't gonna make Yachiru puke if she eats too much, will it?"
Nemu faltered. "Ah… I-I'm not certain, Zaraki-taichou. I… don't believe so…"
Her captain, coming to her rescue, said, "It probably wouldn't be best if Yachiru-chan ate too many of them at once. Wouldn't want to chance another event like last time, would we?"
Yachiru opened her mouth but paused at Zaraki's glaring eye. "No, Yachiru." He told her firmly. "We wouldn't."
She pouted. "Okay, Ken-chan."
"Ne, Zaraki-san. Shall we decide how to test this supplement out?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He grumbled, following Urahara toward the division's main building.
"Ah, Nemu-san!" Urahara called back. "You can head back to our division. Need to make sure your father isn't blowing anything else up!"
"Yes, Urahara-taichou." She replied with a bow. Yumichika and Ikkaku echoed her movement shallowly.
Yumichika flipped his hair back importantly. "Well, Kurotsuchi-san. We can walk you back to the gate."
"Thank you."
"You coming, Ikkaku?"
He blinked. "Huh? Oh, uh, sure. I guess."
Minutes passed in silence as Yumichika led the way and Ikkaku scuffled toward the back. The higher seat kept sending dirty, annoyed looks Ikkaku's way, but he didn't seem to notice, fidgeting as he walked. Finally, deciding he had to take action for the two of them, Yumichika said loudly, "So you're a third seat now? When did that happen?"
Nemu dipped her head slightly. "A few months ago. Urahara-taichou promoted me based on the work that I've been doing for the 12th division."
Yumichika spared another glance at Ikkaku, but the latter didn't seem inclined to respond. "Oh?" He said, annoyed at his silent companion. "I've heard of some of the things you've been doing. You must be very talented."
"It's my father's talent. It's because of him that I can do so well."
Ikkaku snorted and Yumichika nearly had to physically restrain himself from bursting out 'FINALLY!' "Oh? Ikkaku doesn't seem to agree with that."
But he just mumbled out, 's nothin' and continued to lag behind. God, these two were a sight, Yumichika thought, nearly face palming himself. One's so obvious it hurts, the other's so dense it's just as painful.
Trying a different tact he said, "Your captain seems very kind."
"He is." Even from the back, Ikkaku could pick out the smile in her voice. "He's very warm and open. And," Nemu almost moved to look backward, "he makes me laugh."
Yumichika discreetly smiled at this. "Having someone that makes you laugh is very important." Then tossed back, "Don't you agree, Ikkaku?"
"I guess." Came a barely audible reply. Up front, where only Yumichika could see, the happy light in Nemu's eyes dimmed slightly and Yumichika wanted to bash his head against something.
Abruptly, Nemu stopped and bowed to them and it took Yumichika a moment to realize they were at the 11th division's gate. "Thank you for escorting me." She told them curtly.
"Oh, it's no problem." Yumichika smiled, hoping that bitter note was obviously only in his head. "Ne, Ikkaku. Say bye to our guest."
"Do what? Arghmotherfu-mmph!" Biting down on a knuckle, Ikkaku let out a pained sort of wave and smile as Yumichika ground his heel on Ikkaku's big toe. "Nemu…" his voice strained thinly, "I'll see you around…"
Not certain what to make of all this, Nemu dipped her head again. "Good bye." She said before turning to leave.
After she had disappeared from sight, Ikkaku turned to rage at Yumichika, "Hey, what the- owowow!"
Yumichika, pinching Ikkaku's nose and drawing him in painfully, GLARED at him. "Don't even start." He growled. Letting go, he stormed away in a huff.
Rubbing at his aching nose, Ikkaku wondered aloud, "What the hell was that about?"