Into the Tiger's Lair 2 : What the Rabbit Finds
"I must apologize, I haven't been able to clean this place up for a week."
Unohana Retsu
Clanking noises. Shouting voices. Loud cursing.
In the middle of it all, Yamada Hanatarou was doing his best not to get himself killed by an Eleventh Division twelfth seat. Other Fourth Division members were simply getting out of the line of fire; some of them were nice enough to call Unohana.
"Whaddaya mean yer sorry, ye punk?"
"I-I meant it as I said. I am truly sorry!" Hanatarou apologized frantically, bowing his head as deep as his spine would allow him.
The twelfth seat snorted. "I woulda known a sorry when I see one! Ye did it on purpose, Fourth Division weakling punk!"
Hanatarou winced. "But I truly am sorry! I didn't see you coming!"
He was roughly yanked by his collar. The next thing he knew, his feet weren't touching the ground anymore, and the air in front of him smelt as bad as the deepest part of the sewer. If he had been shuddering terribly before, now he looked like he had been in the South Pole for a long time.
"Don'tcha know yer not supposed ta mess with me?" A few drops of water touched Hanatarou's face.
Several of his friends shrieked. Hanatarou could only gulp and shut his eyes. The twelfth seat reached for his zanpakuto.
Surprisingly, he was dropped to the ground. Hanatarou opened his eyes with a yell, which was drowned by the bully's louder voice.
"Who dares touch me?" He bellowed angrily.
Hanatarou, although still terribly shocked, took that moment to crawl backwards. The bully was now holding another shinigami in his hands. Despite still being stupefied, Hanatarou could note how odd that shinigami was, with medium length black and white hair that was styled like folding fingers, a white half-face mask (he had to remind himself that an Arrancar wouldn't just stroll into Seiretei like that), and a zanpakuto whose hilt stuck out from the right hip and the tip from the left shoulder.
"I beg your pardon?" Now that he thought about it, it was her tone that was even more than odd. It was surprisingly calm, as though the Eleventh Division member was just commenting about the weather.
"Ya hear me, ya sniveling Fourth Division punk! I'll teach you an' yer mate a lesson!" He roared in her face.
Idaten grabbed his wrists. "First of all, you need to fix your language so that I can properly understand what you're trying to say. Secondly..."
Her grip tightened, and the wrists owner cursed. She swung her legs forward straight into his gut. He was hurled back by the force, with Idaten landing nimbly at where she stood now.
"...I'm not from the Fourth Division. Are you alright?"
Hanatarou couldn't answer. His heart was still beating as fast as a dog's, and now there were loud footsteps approaching.
"What's going on in here?" It was Isane's, who came as soon as someone told her of the trouble.
"H-He threatened Hanatarou!" Said a timid shinigami, pointing at the Eleventh Division member, who groaned and muttered more curses.
Isane clenched her teeth. She marched up the man and uttered, "As long as you are in the Fourth Division grounds, you are under our rules! Do you understand?"
The man sneered. "And what rules is that? Huh? That yer allowed to just stroll into here just like that?"
"What are you--" Isane trailed off, seeing Idaten. She regained her composure and retorted, "You are still not allowed to create a commotion here! Unless you are here for something important, get out!"
"Tch! Weaklings! Think yer be so high an' mighty once I beat ya?" He scoffed, unsheathing his zanpakuto.
"I'm afraid battles are strictly forbidden in the Fourth Division", said a voice, yet again interrupting. And this time, the Eleventh Division twelfth seat deflated.
Unohana walked casually to them, with her usual dignified aura. "Not, unless you want a special treatment from us."
The twelfth seat opened his mouth stupidly, closed it, opened it again, and this time shut it for good. Unohana nodded. "If there is nothing else that you would like to do, please do not disturb our activities."
"Yes, taichou", he muttered, running off in a manner that would get him a week full of mocking from his comrades.
"Are you alright, Isane, Hanatarou?" Unohana inquired, turning at them respectively.
Hanatarou, who was on his feet and was dusting himself, answered weakly, "I am alright, taichou." His trembling hands picked up his tools. He muttered something about cleaning a division's toilet and left.
"Thank you", Isane bowed.
Unohana shook her head. "Next time, don't fight fire with fire."
"I will remember that", Isane uttered. She stayed by Unohana's side, though.
"The rest of you, you may go back to your works."
The onlookers shuffled back to whatever they had been doing.
"Isane, would you mind checking Kyouraku-taichou for me?" Unohana asked her vice captain.
"But, I thought you said--" Isane was nonplussed.
"Please", Unohana stressed. Isane's eyes widened.
"Oh, yes!" Isane half-ran into the infirmary.
Finally, Unohana turned to Idaten. "Would you mind if we go into my office?"
"Not at all."
As Idaten followed Unohana to the office, she couldn't help but feeling she was entering the tiger's lair.
--------------
"Ah, Kotetsu-fukutaichou! How nice of you to visit me!"
Normally, Isane would have face palmed had it not been for the fact that she was facing a captain.
"Yes, Kyouraku-taichou", she was relieved she had used her normal tone, "I am here to check on your conditions."
Kyouraku waved dismissively. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I shouldn't be here in the first place. Oh, have you seen Nanao-chan?"
"No, I haven't."
She moved closer to examine him, cautiously kept an eye on his hands. Apparently, there was nothing wrong with Kyouraku.
"Since nothing is wrong, can I go home now?" Kyouraku asked.
"We still need to check in case there are other...complications." Of course, she didn't need to tell him she was only there as a reason for Unohana to be alone with Idaten. Nor did she need to tell him that Nanao specifically requested that he was put into the infirmary after a minor incident.
"Oh...I see", he was thoroughly crestfallen, and for a while Isane felt guilty.
"Don't worry, I'll tell Ise-san that you wanted to see her", she suggested.
Kyouraku brightened, even grinned. "That would be nice. Thank you, Kotetsu-kun!"
Ise-san wouldn't like that.
"You're welcome, taichou."
As long as you keep your hands off me.
---------------
The Fourth Division main office was what anyone would have expected from the medical team: a very neat and fresh-looking office where everything was meant to be effective and efficient. It was almost the exact opposite of the Eleventh Division's legendary reputation.
"I must apologize, I haven't been able to clean this place up for a week", Unohana said as though reading Idaten's mind.
Which made Idaten wondered greatly how 'neat' would be defined by Unohana.
"I don't mind", Idaten shrugged, "This is the neatest place I've ever been to."
"Are you sure?" The tone wasn't teasing, it wasn't smug either, it was...knowing.
"As long as I can remember...and that's not much", Idaten admitted.
Unohana smiled. Even from the first sight of the healer, Idaten had known she was a wise woman who knew more than what she let out. And yet, she knew Unohana was completely trustworthy. Thus, the smile was mysterious yet not offending.
"Have a seat then", she gestured to the chair opposite--judging from the pile of papers--the captain's table. The table also had a teapot and two cups on it.
Idaten obeyed, silently thinking about what would happen next. Unohana sat in front of her. Her expression was once again resembling the calm yet strong ocean.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please."
Unohana poured the tea for the both of them. Idaten watched the cup intently. Unohana observed her interviewee closely. It went on for a couple of seconds. Finally, Idaten took the cup and sipped the hot tea slowly. And ,if it wasn't just her imagination, an odd glint showed in Unohana's eyes, but when she wanted to confirm it, it was gone.
"I'd like to first thank you about what you did for Hanatarou", Unohana said, breaking the silence.
"It was nothing, really", Idaten answered honestly, "I didn't see that Eleventh Division man. It was just that someone ran into me, and in turn I ran into him, that's all."
"Nevertheless, you've helped. I am grateful", Unohana replied kindly. Silence passed again. Idaten took her second sip, again watched by Unohana.
"I assume you must have known why you are here?" Again, Unohana had that weird knowing look on her face, only she seemed to be holding back something.
"Yes. I am here for the Taishu test", Idaten replied cautiously.
Unohana nodded. "Soi Fong-taichou has informed a little about you. You are apparently in search of your memory."
"Yes." Either she was very obvious in showing that, or...
"Now, if I may ask, is that why you want to be a captain?"
Idaten didn't answer directly. "That's half of the reason."
"And the other half would be?"
"It will be ridiculous if someone's capable of being a captain, offered the chance, and yet still refuses it", Idaten uttered, mildly surprised by the words coming out of her mouth, and yet not fearing the effects.
"Ah...Do you think that you can do it then? Being a captain, that is?" Unohana had dispensed with her smile since the interview began, but now a ghost of a smirk returned.
"...I do feel like I'm walking into a certain tiger's lair, if you don't mind the figure", Idaten answered boldly.
"Not at all. As a matter of fact, I'd like to know precisely why you'd think so." The smirk--if it was there at all from the beginning--was gone. Unohana's gaze met her guest's eyes seriously, observing every change in them.
Idaten looked down, frowning, not out of annoyance but in thought. "I still think that it is suspicious", she spoke slowly, and "that something this important is given to me, when I don't even know who I am, out of a sudden. Also, I know that a captain's job isn't something a new shinigami can do." She looked up and saw Unohana's blank expression.
"I see...Perhaps you should know, that due to the recent events, Gotei 13 won't easily accept a new captain...even under normal circumstances we won't." For the first time, Unohana drank from her cup.
"I know. Isn't that why you mixed something into the tea?"
Idaten knew she marked the spot when Unohana's eyes showed surprise even though the face stayed calm.
"Why, is there any evidence that suggests it so?" Unohana challenged.
"Well, the tea cups were served for two...Even if you were expecting a visitor, normally there wouldn't be any cups on the table at all. And also, you didn't begin to ask me anything until I drank the tea", Idaten pointed out politely. She had watched the kind of strength Unohana possessed, and she wasn't intending to be on the receiving end of that.
"Perceptive", Unohana praised, not showing the slightest bit of annoyance, "And yet you still drank it?"
"You wouldn't poison me. I know I can trust you. And...I want to hear what I really think instead of what I convince myself to be thinking."
Unohana put a finger on her lips; a habit that showed her brain was ticking inside. She removed it when she said, "Even though the Shoujiki potion is supposed to rid the consumer of all fear, I think it will be better if we are truly meaning to be honest."
Idaten nodded in agreement, bracing herself for anything.
How much of your lifetime do you remember?"
"Two and a half years. I remembered somehow being there with a zanpakuto and this shinigami uniform. I didn't remember about anything else...and still don't until now", she added grimly. "Then a group of shinigami trainees found me during one of their trainings. They were a bit suspicious in the first place. They had suggested that I came directly to the Gotei 13 and see if they had any records of a shinigami missing in action. I declined. I thought that if I was indeed a shinigami, then it would be no use if I came back being one but didn't know how to do the job. I chose to enroll in the Academy instead. During all the training and education (a bit tedious, actually), I recognized all of them instantly...it was as though I have known them before. Well...apparently I have."
Unohana tapped her lips again. "The way you act around the captains--Yoruichi-san, Soi Fong-taichou and myself included--is quite unusual. In all honesty, only people who know how to deal with them--or maybe they're so ignorant they're bold--know how to retain their casualty around the captains. Especially." Unohana folded her fingers. "How or why to keep concealing reiatsu to the point that it's undetectable all of the time."
Idaten grimaced. "I've always felt like I can grasp my memories at times. But I can't. I've only seen things as familiar or is normal to my knowledge...when it shouldn't have. It almost as if something is blocking my mind...that I can't recall these memories, but they will spring out when I face something similar to them. About the concealing..."
"...My friends were--and still are--quite intimidated by that. Not only that, it attracted so many attentions to myself. I don't like attention. So I steeled myself to conceal my reiatsu...and my body remembered how to completely conceal reiatsu, as it seems."
Unohana rested her chin on her folded hands. "I see. If you do become a captain, are you sure you will be able to do it?"
Idaten stared, gathering determination. "There will definitely be many things that have to be learned as I go...I'm not exactly sure if that's alright or not."
"Kusanagi-san", Unohana smirked, "No one is ever truly ready or knowing what to do when they first become captains. They learn how to as they go. At least I know I do."
"I meant that I don't even have any experience as a vice-captain, which means that I don't have any experience in that position that high."
"Oh really? You know, Zaraki-taichou managed to pull out just fine...and everyone else still thinks it was a big mistake letting him into our ranks...Of course, we only did because he killed the captain before him...and he proved to be a valuable asset in our final battle", Unohana said gently. Idaten was quite surprised she could mention the former captain's name easily...then again; he was not exactly the most well-liked captain in Gotei 13.
"The point is, Kusanagi-san", and this time, her face was very serious, "Once you're truly determined, you will have to go through all that it takes. We will help you, I swear that, but it will take all your efforts and possibly, your everything. This is what this test is all about: to see if you have the proper integrity and intentions to become a captain. I must apologize for the use of the herb. It is required, as we would not dare to take another risk of letting someone dangerous into Gotei 13. Although", she paused slightly, "since you have figured that part out, I think I owe you something. You may ask any questions you want, while I am still under the herb's effect."
Idaten blinked. "You would do that?"
"Only one question. That should be enough, should it not?" Unohana's previously hardened expression melted back into her usual mild one.
Idaten nodded, considering the matter. Unohana waited patiently.
"Why is Soi Fong-taichou so intent on making a stranger like me a captain?"
Unohana smiled slightly. "Because she sees what I see in you: that you can do it. I do believe that she has another motive, it's most likely the same as what that I might have, but it is not in my position to reveal it."
She shut her eyes for a while. When Idaten didn't say anything, she spoke, "That is all I need to do. We shall contact you later for any developments."
"Thank you for your time, Unohana-taichou." Idaten rose from her seat, walking to the exit. Unohana remained seated, her eyes focusing on the retreating back.
"Kusanagi-san, don't you want to ask anything about your past?" The captain called suddenly.
Idaten stopped short before the door, turning around as she answered. "I don't like hearing about myself from other people."
For some reason, that made Unohana smiled rather widely. "But of course." She too got up and made to exit her office. "May I? I need to check on Kyouraku-taichou."
---------------------
Isane nearly ran into Nanao on her way to Unohana's office, due to the fact that her mind was filled with sheer irritation with, ironically, the person she met that day.
"Ise-san! Thank goodness!" She cried bluntly.
"Is there something wrong with Kyouraku-taichou?" Nanao asked quickly. She was definitely worried, a face she normally wouldn't show to her captain.
"Oh, not much. But I can't keep him in longer than now; there's nothing that requires his prolonged stay in here." Although Nanao could see that Isane was annoyed by her captain, she chose wisely not to say so.
"I see. I'm sorry for all the trouble." She paused, a thought occurred. "What did he do to you?"
"I'd rather not repeat it", Isane huffed. Nanao obeyed.
"Anyway, I'm here to escort him back to his office."
"Like I said, there's nothing wrong with him." Isane tilted her head sideways. "But why do you need him to stay here?"
Nanao, for some reasons Isane couldn't figure out, blushed. What Nanao was about to say Isane would never have known, for the door to Unohana's office suddenly opened, and out came Idaten and Unohana. Nanao's mouth dropped open, a sight that was rare to be seen from the librarian-like vice-captain. Unohana noticed this, and made a beeline for her.
"Is there something wrong, Ise-fukutaichou?" She inquired worriedly.
Nanao promptly closed her mouth, but continued to stare at Idaten, who noticed this and showed her uneasiness. Both Unohana and Isane followed Nanao's direction of stare, but only Unohana understood why.
"Are you here to see Kyouraku-taichou?" She asked urgently, placing a hand on Nanao's shoulder.
"Yes...but..."
"Then I'll take you there right away. Isane, come with me."
Unohana half-steered Nanao, who still stared in the same direction, to follow her, a nonplussed Isane right behind their heels, Idaten glanced at them, especially at Nanao.
A part of her wished she had asked Unohana directly who she was, rather than arrogantly trying to figure it out by herself.
-------------------
"How did it go, Idaten-san?"
"Did any of them try to kill you?"
"Did any of them have any clue of who you are?"
"How come you can come back in one piece?"
"Give her some space", Akira moaned, "You're suffocating her."
Although they didn't physically do so, they were circling Idaten, bombarding her with any questions popping into their minds. Idaten had first ignored them even though her blank face steadily added signs of annoyance on itself. At once they were silenced, continued to stare at her--Did anyone put a 'stare at me' sign on my forehead?--and kept showing signs of wanting to say something.
"There was nothing wrong. It was a simple interview, that's all", Idaten answered curtly once and for all, heading to her quarters.
The others glared at each other, as though blaming anyone but themselves for driving Idaten away.
"Oh for crying out loud!" Akira muttered in frustration. "What are you worked up about? She's Kusanagi! What can possibly happen to her?"
"Anything can happen to anyone", Murasaki replied gravely.
"Not. My. Point. You. Are. Irritating."
"Whatever you say, four eyes."
---------------------
It was night, and even though her roommates were already smitten in their dreams, Idaten couldn't even begin dreaming. Her mind was too much focused on the events of the noon...
...and that a cat suddenly popped its head on her window sill. A black cat that could conceal its reiatsu for all that matters.
"Hey, can I come in?" After all, there was only one talking black cat in the whole Soul Society. Idaten opened the window. The cat graciously hopped inside the room.
"Just call me Yoruichi-san or anything but Yoruichi-sama", the cat said, breaking the ice.
"Yoruichi-san", Idaten greeted slowly, "what brings you here?"
"This", Yoruichi waved her tail, which, now Idaten realized, had an enveloped tied to it, "And I want to talk to you for a minute--or more."
Idaten untied the envelope, then setting it aside. She gave Yoruichi full attention, and apparently Yoruichi was pleased by this.
"All right. It must be surprising for you that suddenly high-level shinigami's just popped into your life like this." Did the cat just smirk?
"Well, honestly, yes."
"Still suspicious?" The cat walked around her, her yellow eyes never leaving Idaten's.
"Yes. I still think that there is something behind this." The familiar penetrating eyes didn't shake her that much; it was more of the familiarity that was disturbing.
Yoruichi smirked (or probably that's what her human mouth would do). "Idaten, there will always be something behind everything. Everyone must have a motive in doing something; you know...it would be the greatest lie if anyone says they don't have any reasons behind their actions."
"I meant something that is not right", Idaten said boldly, a bit surprised they were already on first name basis.
"Hasn't Unohana told you anything yet? Maybe something non-verbally?"
Idaten sighed in defeat. "Alright, I get the feeling that I can trust you, all three of you. It's just that I can never be too sure in one thing."
"Which is why you are a bannougata by training", Yoruichi muttered.
"What? How do you know?"
"I know. Hey, I'm not the Commander of the Onmitsu Kidou for nothing."
Idaten said nothing, something that apparently annoyed the cat slightly.
"Have a confidence in yourself for once, okay? You're not doing anything wrong as far as I'm concerned, and the Gotei 13 really needs another head right now."
Unfortunately, Idaten decided to jump on that.
"Hang on. Why would the Commander of Onmitsu Kidou be interested in Gotei 13's problems?" She asked suspiciously.
Yoruichi grimaced. "Because like it or not, the people I care about the most are--and used to be--there."
Idaten raised an eyebrow. Yoruichi changed the subject.
"There seems to be a lot of people interested in your soon-to-be inauguration. Don't you want to ask them one by one?"
"Unohana-taichou said her motive was the same as Soi Fong-taichou's without explaining further of what that was."
Yoruichi chuckled. "Would it baffle you if I say that everyone has the same motive?"
"And that is?" Idaten frowned. Everyone? She wasn't sure if she could keep up with this 'I know about you better than you know about yourself' talks and stares.
"They need another head. It's not like you have anything against it. There's nothing wrong behind anything here--well except you, but we've covered that--"
"What about it?"
"I thought you didn't like hearing about yourself from other people", Yoruichi reminded teasingly.
"Is it too late to change my mind?" Idaten asked tiredly.
The cat grinned. "It's late. We both need to get some rest."
She hopped onto the window sill.
"Goodnight, Idaten."
The cat vanished from view.
Idaten rubbed her forehead. Somehow, it was true that black cats brought bad luck.
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Note : The kanji U in Unohana's name means rabbit, the fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac. Hence, the title of the chapter.
Shoujiki : honesty
I think.
