Title: Paper Thin
Author: Eeevee
Genre/Rating: General/PG
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, may Gin and CHC tremble in relief, ha!
Challenge Fic: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from the Wizard of Oz; song #14 out of 18. Rules: from the pov of an underappreciated character. Can't think of any more kicked around than Nemu :twitch:
Summary: Some things shouldn't be studied so closely.
Warnings: None
The black, velvety wings pulsed gently and wavered as a shallow, gentle breath reached and teased them. The tissue thin powder and paper and veins flickered, but the thick body anchored against the threat. Iridescent flecks of blue bordered the rear wings, glistening in the low light.
Nemu's dark eyes studied the creature perched delicately on her finger nail. It was something she had never done before, and she wondered why. Of course she had studied and memorized all the parts of the butterflies before, as was expected of her. She knew all about the excretory system and the breeding habits of the delicate insect by heart.
The little creatures approached her daily, bearing messages of the going-ons of Soul Society, as they did to most of the other vice-captains.
Yet she never noticed the smug of black powder they left when a wing brushed her fingertip or the way they hovered for the merest instant to adjust their landing.
It made her wonder, in a quiet way in the back of her mind, what else she had never noticed before, being so caught up in the science of things. It would be a disturbing thought, if she had the time to dissect it, which she rarely did, and one she appreciated solely for the possibilities.
The world was full of possibilities, not all of them calculable with math and science. She knew such ideas clashed against her teachings and kept them to herself, but she could not help giving a slight, shy smile when Kyouraku-taichou boldly denounced her father's strict interpretations about the beauty of the cherry blossoms, among other things.
Consequently, the two were not particularly fond of one another, but she found Kyouraku-taichou's amiable, appreciative nature a stark contrast to what she was used to.
"I understand." She informed the little creature and it fluttered slightly. As an afterthought, she added, "Thank you."
Feather-light, the proboscis flicked her nail in acknowledgement, before the insect was sky-borne. It circled a few times before settling on the doorframe, fanning in a slow, measured rhythm.
Rising gracefully from the center of a stack of research papers, reference papers, and the general paperwork that went with being in charge, she padded down the dim halls. Her feet whispered along, the only audible noise in the passage. Most of the rooms were sound proof… especially the ones where experiments were conducted.
It only took a few minutes to find him, but he was busy.
She took a step back and waited demurely with her hands cross just below her stomach and her head slightly bowed. She did not want to incur his wrath for placing an inconsistency in his experiment.
Slowly, agonizingly, a clear drop of unassuming liquid dribbled down into a beaker. It sizzled and foamed when it hit the surface of the substance below, much like a kitten with its tail tweaked would.
Gently he replaced the tube and turned halfway to eye her, "What?" His low, gravelly voice was sharp with annoyance and she could imagine that his pupils must be mere slits at the intrusion. She ignored the tone; it failed to bother her. Instead she deepened her bow slightly and relayed, "Your presence is required for a captain's meeting."
There was silence but she did not move. Captain's meetings were one of the things that could put him in a foul temper. He considered them detrimental distractions and completely unnecessary; his superiors begged to differ.
"A waste." His hissed balefully, glancing at his current project. It frothed weakly, giving off a thin stream of mist that dispersed into the air.
"Shall I inform them that you will not be attending?" She inquired mildly. If he declined, it would not be the first time. She, herself, was not so fond of meetings, thinking there were too many people, too many voices, and too many unenlightened opinions aired.
"No, I will go. Who knows what those fools will decide in their ignorance." He muttered in resentment, "Inform them of my compliance then come back and clean this."
She retreated as silently as she had entered.
A flutter of wings greeted her as she returned. She flicked a slender finger out and noted the tickling sensation the tiny, hooked feet elected from the nerves under her epidermis.
She gave the reply, knowing the creature wanted to escape. It was no secret that living animals shied away from the twelfth division's headquarters. Even the lowest of animals simply stayed away… but only the stupid ones went towards the eleventh division's building.
Even now the butterfly was shivering and shuttering uneasily, wanting to go back, and away from the heavy aura of death and suffering and chemicals that saturated the area.
Nemu found herself wondering why she was not doing the same. But she had not been created to wonder, and instead, went to clean up the experiment as she had been commanded. It was easier to fly if you had wings.
A/N: well, that came out… interesting. And I only had to sacrifice two class periods (psychology and math) to write it up. Made for good practice in any case. Enjoy.