Chapter 46: Gotei 13 Invading Arc: Arraigning A Date

Minata's POV

"I sense the presence of a lot of captains in the barracks master."

I look up from my work to see my blonde haired spirit gazing at the door with a curious look on her face and her arms tightly crossed over her chest, her eyes staring right through it as if it would reveal all the answers she sought.

"I sense them too Mizukiri. The Captain Commander did say that he was calling a captains' meeting today to discuss what's been happening recently in the Dangai." I say as I return to my report.

"Oh yes! Lieutenants Ise and Matsumoto were missing for a time, but then reappeared a while later after going through the Dangai correct?"

"That's exactly right. Apparently, when they returned, Nanao insisted that only three hours had passed since the two last communicated with anyone here in the Sereitei. However, they were gone for a lot longer than three hours. Well, that's what the others are saying." I reply as I quickly put down my signature before moving it to the finished pile.

"I wonder what's being said down in the meeting room . . ."

"What's said in the captains' meeting room is for captains' ears only, and the lieutenants if the meeting includes them," I say as I pluck another report from the undone pile. "If you want to find out what's going on, you could ask one of the captains for answers. Well, if they're willing to give them to you that is."

"True, I could do that. However, I don't really need to thanks to your connection to a certain 6th Division captain we both know," I practically hear the smile in her voice as I continue to read through my work. "You can simply ask him for me."

"Oh yes. I could do that, but I won't," I tell her bluntly as I put my sheet down. "I'm not going to ask Byakuya about information that's only supposed to be known by those higher in rank than me. If he wants to tell me what he's learned from the captains' meeting, I'll let him, but it has to be his choice. I'm not going to force it out of him."

"Damn, you just have to be such a good girlfriend, don't you?" she tells me as I watch the scowl form on her face. "It's okay for a girlfriend to be nosy and want to know about her boyfriend's business once in a while you know. It doesn't hurt to meddle; spy on him if you have to. You do have the skill set for it."

"Okay, you have officially been hanging out with Shika, Maru, and Haineko way too much," I say with a shake of my head as I get out of my seat, giving my stiff joints a much needed break. "I think they're starting to be a bad influence on you."

"I don't know about Shika and Maru, but Haineko does have the tendency of being a textbook example of the phrase 'bad influence' when she wants to be," I hear her say as I stretch out my legs. "Are you going somewhere?"

"I'm thinking of just going down to the cafeteria to pick up a cup of tea. I may get something to eat if the menu is any good today," I say as I make my way over to the door. "Would you care to join me Mizukiri?"

"No thanks, I'm going to pay Suzemebachi a visit. I'll see you later." she tells me with a smirk before jumping out my window, her spiritual pressure fading from the area.

"She could have simply just exited through the door like a normal person. but no. She just had to jump out my window head first like a crazy person," I say as I opened my door, revealing a slightly startled Byakuya standing on the other side. "Hmm, this was unexpected. It's rare for you to come down to my office Captain Kuchiki. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence this afternoon?"

"I just finished attending the captains' meeting, and I thought it would be rude of me to not say a quick hello to you before I left," he tells me as he drops his arm to the side. "I also wanted to ask for your opinion on something."

"Okay," I say as I move to the side so that he could enter, figuring that our conversation should be kept between us and us alone. "What did you want to ask me about?"

"I wanted to ask for your opinion on the idea of me asking you to join me for dinner."

"Hmm, don't I already join you for dinner practically every night?" I say with a chuckle as I walk over to my open window.

"You join me for dinner when we're at the manor, yes," he says in agreement as I feel his eyes on me. "But I meant the kind of dinner people would have at a well-established and elegant restaurant."

"Huh, what you are proposing is sounding like one of those dates couples go on in the Human World," I muse as I closed the window shut. "I wonder, have you been talking to Rukia about this kind of thing these past few days?"

"It has come up in conversations I have had with her recently," Byakuya admits as I finally turn around to face him. "She has suggested to me that going on these 'dates' is supposed to be a great way for a couple to grow closer together."

"And me living in your manor for years now hasn't led to us growing closer to each other?" I asked, amused as I crossed my arms over my chest. I was really getting a kick out of this line of conversation we were having.

"We've grown together as friends, if that was what you were implying. I believe we were busy focusing on progressing as shinigami rather than wondering if the other would be a good match in a relationship or not during that time Mina," he shoots right back, his tone challenging, but in a slightly playful way. "I also had that significant time of my life where I was married to Hisana, remember?"

"Hmm, you got me there . . . And having dinner outside of the manor for once would be a nice change of pace. I actually think that it's a wonderful idea. Do you have any places in mind?"

"I have already said enough on the subject for one day. I will handle the preparations myself. All I ask from you is for your word that you'll be ready when it is finally time for our date."

"If that's the case, I would at least ask for a fair warning in return, just so I can be properly prepared for said date." I say as I walk back over to my desk.

"That's a fair thing to ask, and you shall have it," I hear him say decidedly as I feel his presence move toward the door. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to go meet with Captain Hitsugaya and my lieutenant. We've been assigned to assist Captain Kurotsuchi as he surveys the Dangai while Captain Zaraki acts as the security detail."

"You, Captain Hitsugaya, Captain Kurotsuchi, and Captain Zaraki in the same area . . . that should be fun," I couldn't help but let the sarcasm appear in my voice. My comment is enough to grab his attention because he stops just as his fingers brush the door handle. "Is there something wrong Captain Kuchiki?"

"Staying within the same area as that barbarian Zaraki and that mad scientist Kurotsuchi is never fun Mina," he tells me in his usual stoically, his voice showing just a hint of disgust as he opens the door. "I will see you later."

"Bye . . ." I say with a small wave that he doesn't bother to turn around to see. Once he's safely out my office, I replay our conversation in my head, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hmm, if that was the closest I'll ever hear Byakuya ask me out on a date, I'll take it . . ."

Please review!