I'm back! I missed you all. I am sorry for the delays, once I healed my boss went on her anniversary staycation leaving me in charge of the law office for a few weeks. If any of you know a thing or two about divorces, I'm sure you can all imagine the chaos that is divorcing parents during Covid-19. Did I mention the divorce rates have also gone up since Covid-19 hit? No? Well they did. I went from having five new clients every two weeks to having twenty. It's been fun. Anyways - now that I am over my broken foot and tail bone (not fully healed but healed enough), have dug my way through my severe episode of depression that ended up with me as a GirlX901 burrito for two weeks, two weeks of handling clients calling me to inform me they married their ex I divorced them from three weeks ago (not going to lie - I had to put the client on hold for five minutes while I screamed), and a week of just trying to finish THIS chapter - I am back! I do want to forewarn that I do not have any chapters prepared in advance now so my posts may be delayed a bit more but I am working on this fic. So it is not going to be dropped. Thank you all for your kind words while I was getting back on my feet (haha pun kind of intended). Please let me know your thoughts on the chapter/story. Enjoy!
Okay I lied! I'm sorry one more thing before you start. When I started this fic I could not come up with a good title so I created one based on a future scene. I have since determined the true title of this fic and thus Coffee Flavored Kisses will be changing to it's real title: The Chess Master's Queen. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Chapter Eight: Quincy Scum
About a week after the Kurosaki Clan returned to the World of the Living sans Ichigo, Captain Kyoraku and her began sharing as many meals together. Captain Kyoraku made the effort to ensure that at least they had dinner together every night.
"I'm going to be visiting Kyoko tomorrow. Would you like to join me?" Captain Kyoraku asked Ichigo over dinner one night. He had brought home dinner for the two as he did not cook often and Ichigo had yet to figure out the wood stove.
"Whose Kyoko?" she asked as she poured soy sauce into a little dish next to her plate and passed it to Captain Kyoraku. As he easily took the soy sauce from her hand without fumbling as the two had weeks ago, Ichigo realized just how in sync the two had become with matters of meal time. This realization brought a small bit of comfort.
"She was my caregiver when I was a boy. She did everything. Took care of my early education, fed me, cooked for me on occasion, was my playmate when my brother went off to the academy. She's retired now and I go to visit her at least once a month to check in on her."
"It's nice that the two of you are so close. I'd like to go with you and meet her," Ichigo answered and she meant it. This would be the first personal visit he would take her on and it was nice. It made her feel less like a present being hidden away and more like a person. As he nodded to her response while chewing on a bite of sliced beef, it dawned on her that Captain Kyoraku's first personal introduction was to a caregiver that he visits monthly. But he doesn't visit his mother? Ichigo's mind wandered to her great grandmother's journals as confusion began arising over the fact that he wanted to introduce her to his caregiver but not his family. Ichigo had been reading them since her grandmother returned to the World of the Living. Her great grandmother didn't know her husband or anything about them until they married. It caused some problems when some of his relatives showed up one day making demands. Her great grandfather easily dismissed them with his "barbarian" ways as her great grandmother had called it but it still caused a lot of confusion and stress. Something that seemed a bit foreboding with Captain Kyoraku mentioning his caregiver but not his own mother. She didn't know anything about his household. The only thing she knew was that he was a lesser noble. Her father's teachings of the Soul Society were around the four great noble houses that the Seireitei was centered around. Her father's house and Yoruichi's house. Now that she thought about it, she didn't really know all that much about the goings of the Seireitei.
"Captain Kyoraku," he gave a pained huff at his name but didn't correct her. "What's your household like?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you're the head of your household but you live in the squadron's quarters and not at your manor house. That's a bit unusual isn't it?"
"Mmm well as a captain it's not exactly unusual but it isn't often done," he leaned back and moved his feet to the side in a more relaxed seating.
"Do your parents live in the manor house?" At this question his eyes darted from the meal to her. The usually laid back man's eyes sharpened.
"No, not at the Maple Manor anyways."
"Maple Manor?"
Captain Kyoraku blinked and gave her a confused look. "Sorry, you wouldn't know any of this would you? I'll start from the beginning. The Kyoraku family has three main manors and a handful of houses. The main manor is the Maple Manor. That one resides here in Seireitei where a lot of noble manors are. It's currently being used as the base for research regarding Aizen. The second house is the Pine house which is also in the Seireitei but is closer to the outskirts near some prominent shrines. The last house is the Plum manor which is actually outside of the Seireitei in the Rukongai."
"Rukongai? That's the Districts, right?"
"Right."
"I thought that the Seireitei were strictly separated from the Districts."
"Not entirely. Many families that have houses in the Seireitei also have houses in the Districts. Most will stay in the first forty districts surrounding."
"But I thought that the districts after the twentieth were considered dangerous." Ichigo recalled the stories she had heard during her time spent with the vizards. Kensei had explained the districts to her when she had inquired about his sixty-nine tattoo.
"Hmm?" Captain Kyoraku gave her another confused look. "Well they are only going out to ten districts on each side. Here, I'll show you." He stood and retrieved a piece of paper from the cabinet lining the wall and a pencil. He drew a circle on the paper and a cross through the circle and listed the directions next to each line. "Okay so first we have the Seireitei in the center and then we have the North Gate, East Gate, South Gate, and the West Gate. Each Gate leads to the districts." He emphasized the gates in the drawing by placing small ticks around the circle and then extended the direction lines from the circle until they took up a majority of the page. After he extended the lines he began slotting nine separate lines across the direction lines outside of the circle. "For those that work in the Seireitei or have family from the Seireitei they will live in the first ten districts from the four gates. So the first forty districts surrounding."
Shunsui had never had to explain this to anyone before. This wasn't the conversation that he had in mind when he invited her over to meet Kyoko. Dinner had been forgotten the moment he took the piece of paper out but he didn't mind. For Ichigo to ask these questions, it meant that she was interested in learning about the Soul Society. It was a good sign.
"Oh! So there's actually three hundred and twenty districts and not just eighty," she confirmed and glanced up from the drawing. It was moments like this he really wished he could see her face around the veil.
"Right. Eighty going each direction but three hundred and twenty total."
"Okay, so where is the Plum manor?"
"In the Fourth District of the East Gate," Captain Kyoraku placed a little in emphasis.
"Are all the manors named after trees?" That took Shunsui by surprise. He thought about it. He wasn't sure why all the manors were named after trees. They had just always been.
"Yeah," he leaned back and smiled at her. "Not sure why actually. It's just always been like that."
"My sisters and I each have fruit sounding names but the spellings are different. No particular reason other than my parents just liked it. Just how it is sometimes"
"Really?" Shunsui blinked. This was awkward, he was sure it was spelled like the berry. Hopefully he hadn't written her name on anything important because he was sure he didn't do it right with this new information. "For some reason I always thought it was spelled to be strawberry."
"Nope," Ichigo shook her head and held her hand out for the pencil. Shunsui handed it over and she flipped his drawing over and began writing kanjis on the back. Shunsui leaned forward to get a look at her work.
"I have the Ichi kanji for number one, and the go kanji for protector. My sister Karin has the kanji for summer, but people mess it up and think it's for the apple. While Yuzu has the Kanji for wanderer, but people think it's for citrus."
One protector. Summer. Wanderer. Names full of hope. Her parents gave positive names to her and her sisters. Put thought and meaning into their names. Like they actually wanted them. Unlike Shunsui's parents, who needed them.
"The number one protector," he mused aloud as he diverted his thoughts to her and away from his troubling family. "You're proud of your name," he observed as her posture straightened.
"I am," she set down the pencil and picked up her cup of tea. "It's more than just my name, it's what I live by."
"You live to protect people?" Given her gentile status as a powerless noble woman Shunsui couldn't help the confusion creep into his voice. He hoped his smile wasn't placating but was genuine as he reached for his chopsticks.
"Always." She said it with such finality Shunsui didn't have the heart to further question it. It must be a poor subject for her. To live in a family full of powers, to have the strong urge to protect, to have a name emphasizing the need to protect, and then be the one that needs to be protected. Certainly, it had to crush her.
"A good code to live by," Shunsui offered and went back to finishing his meal. "So you have two sisters?"
"Uh yeah," Ichigo shook her head and focused on the meal in front of her again. "Their twins actually. Bit of a surprise for my parents. I remember they only had one crib when they were born. Complete surprise but we couldn't be happier."
"What are they like? Are you close?"
"To be honest we used to be much closer. The two of them are polar opposites. Karin's a tomboy. She loves soccer and hangs out with the guys instead of girls. Always competing with the older kids in sports. Yuzu is an angel. Sweet as can be. She spends her time sewing or cooking. When she's not doing that she's taking care of the house. When mom died she kind of took over as the caretaker. I couldn't cook and my cleaning wasn't the best - Yuzu though," Ichigo shook her head again. Shunsui had stopped eating as she delved deeper into the subject that was her sisters. He was entranced by her opening up to him. It was clear by her tone of voice that she loved her sisters dearly. "She's the baby and yet she picked up where mom left off without any problems. Well, there were a few incidents but we sorted it out. I think it's because she used to follow mom around like a little duckling."
"Didn't you have maids to take care of the household?"
"No. Mom and Dad wanted us to have a life outside of the clan as much as possible. To live for ourselves while we still could. They didn't want us dependent on servants so they lived separate from the manor. It works as long as my grandmother is alive but when she passes we, well, they, will need to move back to the manor. So, no, we didn't have any maids or cooks. Mom did everything and then Yuzu did everything. Well, I mean we each had our chores. But it was Mom who did a majority of the chores while Dad worked in the clinic."
Shunsui continued to take in this information she was offering freely. "You said you used to be closer. You are not close anymore?" At this question Ichigo set her utensils down and held onto her cup of tea as gazed into its liquid.
"After mom was killed we kind of scattered. Mom," her voice cracked and Shunsui reached a hand out and placed it gently on her forearm. "She was the center to our universe. After she was killed we all folded into ourselves and started trying to not have to rely on each other. I was the big sister, they needed to rely on me. Karin felt the attention needed to be on Yuzu and myself for whatever reason and had to be the neutral middle child. Yuzu, who was Mom's little duckling, had to be the new mom. In a way it forced us to have this boundary between us. Each of us trying to give as much as we can but are scared to give up our vulnerabilities. Because of that we are close but," at this she trailed off.
"You could be closer," Shunsui finished for her.
"Exactly. Still, I cherish the moments with them that we can just be. No worries of responsibilities or protocol. They're getting to the age where they will need to start learning about the Kurosaki Clan and everything that entails. I want to be there for them as they learn. So they don't feel like the weight of the clan is on their shoulders."
With these words Shunsui was transported to his dark past. When the closest person to him was Yamamoto. He was the 'extra' son. His parents had their heir when they had his older brother. While the family and clan overall ignored him and favored his older brother. His brother had hated him then. Shunsui remembered many a cold night that he spent in his damp room at Pine Manor. As soon as they could, his parents had sent him to the Academy. They didn't want to deal with him and Yamamoto had seen promise in him. Both he and his brother had been soul reapers, but there was a clear difference in treatment between the two. His brother, while strong, was given respect and favored straight from the beginning. People went out of their way to make him a great soul reaper. Shunsui on the other hand had to be dragged through the mud first. Not that he wasn't grateful. He would forever appoint Yamamoto's firm teachings and disfavored treatment by others towards the reason he was the man he was today.
After his brother's death the weight of the entire clan was on his shoulders. There was nothing to prepare him. His family, as cold hearted as they were, simply dropped all expectations on him and waited to watch him fail. He knew that his parents were desperately trying for another child in the hopes that he would die when up against a hollow and they would have a third child to put in place as head of the household. One that they had not shipped out to be used as a soldier. His father's death stopped those attempts. His entire focus on being a soul reaper to be used for the greater good was diverted to being the head of the household first and a soul reaper second. As he quickly rose through the ranks despite the pressure from his household he was able to revert his focus to being a captain first and the head of the household second.
His wife and her family were different. They didn't have 'extras.' They had children. Children to love and cherish. To be raised for the benefit of the clan but also to work together. His young and powerless wife wanted to go out of her way to ensure that her sisters would learn clan ways right. She held no ill will towards her sisters for their ability to become head of the clan despite her birthright. She didn't want to drag them down; she wanted to raise them up. Just like his sister-in-law, Aiya, had.
"-raku. Captain Kyoraku?" He was pulled away from his musings as his young wife was leaning towards him and gripping his sleeve. "There you are. Are you okay?" He couldn't see her face as that damnable veil was still in place; but he could still feel her worry.
"Sorry my dear. I fell into my own memories."
"Of your own siblings?"
"Mmm," he confirmed and reached for the sake. "To different times."
"Madame Kyoraku, welcome to my home," an older woman with graying hair bowed to Ichigo and Captain Kyoraku as they entered the gates to a smallish home.
"Thank you," Ichigo stuttered out and also started bowing but was stopped by Captain Kyoraku's hand on her sleeve.
"None of that. Come on Cookie, do you really think I would bring my wife to visit you formally?"
"Well to be honest my boy, I didn't think you'd ever bring a wife to visit me," 'Cookie' smirked and sent a wink towards Ichigo. "Come along, I just finished preparing the tea."
The little home had been near the edge of the Seireitei. Captain Kyoraku had flash stepped them to the outskirts and the two had walked the rest of the way. The two followed the elder woman into her home and sat at the places she had set for them previously.
"Cookie?" Ichigo asked as the elder woman made her way to her kitchen.
"I couldn't pronounce Kyoko when I was little so I called her Cookie. That's been her name ever since."
"That's adorable," Ichigo giggled and took a look around. Captain Kyoraku let out a chuckle as well.
"I had a bit of a lisp as a boy. Grew out of it pretty quickly though."
"Yes, I can see how a lisp may have caused some problems trying to get with the ladies. Needed to get that taken care of before you lost your chances, huh?"
He responded to her jab with a wink. "That and kido spells were a bit more complicated with a lisp."
Near the window a portrait of a young man dressed in the shinigami uniform and a little boy in a kimono sat on a small table. "Is that Cookie's family?"
Captain Kyoraku turned and glanced at the portrait. "Actually that is my brother and I when I was a boy." Turning back to Ichigo he pointed to a picture on her other side of a young couple in wedding attire. "That's her son, Kenji, and his wife, Sakura. Kenji is a soul reaper in the third division and Sakura works in the records department."
"Your brother is," Ichigo trailed off. She didn't want to presume but when she looked at the picture of the two again she saw that Captain Kyoraku was the boy which meant his brother was older and should have been head of the house. That is, unless he was dead.
"Shuichi died when I was still in the Academy."
"I'm sorry." The two fell into a semi-awkward silence before Cookie bustled into the room again. The elder woman placed a tray with tea and sweets in the center of the table and began setting up the table. Ichigo accepted her cup of tea with a nod and a murmured thanks.
"I really am glad to finally," she glanced at Captain Kyoraku with wide eyes making Ichigo smile. "meet you Madam Kyoraku." She reminded her much of Mrs. Hitachi who lived in the neighborhood and would bring them tomatoes from her garden every summer.
"Please, call me Ichigo. It's nice to meet you too Miss Kyoko."
"Then you must call me Cookie. I understand why I wasn't allowed at the wedding but I did prepare a gift for you two that I hope you'll accept."
"You didn't have to get us anything Cookie," Captain Kyoraku shook his head as he took the tray from her and set it beside him. Ichigo also shook her head. Ichigo felt badly that she hadn't been able to attend the wedding. Sure, she didn't have anything to do with that but this woman clearly cared about Captain Kyoraku. She had a picture of him as a child up after all. If anyone should have been attending the wedding or celebrating it - it was her. It was obvious that Captain Kyoraku felt highly of this woman too. She should have been there.
"Now Shunsui," Cookie began but Ichigo interjected.
"I'm sorry you couldn't come to the wedding. It was a bit of a surprise for us too." At this comment both Cookie and Captain Kyoraku stopped their friendly banter and focused their attention on Ichigo. "But you should have been there. You are Captain Kyoraku's family. Please, let me know how to make it up to you."
Ichigo wouldn't call their expressions shocked but it was definitely those of surprise. Captain Kyoraku had an amused twinkle in his eye, as annoying as that was; but, Cookie seemed awed.
"My dear girl," she shook her head with a laugh and reached for Ichigo's hands that clutched her cup. "I know how these kinds of things happen. I may not be a noble but I worked for the Kyoraku family long enough to know that the planning of the wedding was out of both of your hands. Nothing to be upset about. If rumors are to be believed, which they shouldn't be without proof and confirmation, only your grandmother and uncle could attend; is that right?"
"Yes," Ichigo sighed. Ichigo had considered that before during one of her multiple down moments she underwent while waiting for Captain Kyoraku to finish his work for the day. Her own father wasn't there to see her married. Or her sisters. Or her friends.
"A wedding full of strangers then," the old woman nodded thoughtfully. Besides her Captain Kyoraku gave a sympathetic nod. "It is how it is. You're married now and you're here. There will be many more times to celebrate together in the future."
"That's right," Captain Kyoraku smiled encouragingly and Ichigo gave a nod.
"Now then - is it true that Shunsui is having you live with him at his squadron quarters."
Captain Kyoraku sighed good naturedly. "Cookie we've been over this."
"Does she look like a housewife to you Shunsui?" She barked and Ichigo blinked surprised. This woman had turned from kind grandmother to scolding aunt immediately. "No offense dear," Kyoko smiles kindly at Ichigo and honestly she wasn't offended. She was not a housewife. "They have her move from a noble home in the world of the living and just plop her into your quarters. Expecting the girls to clean up after you and take care of you when she's used to having help. She was raised to run a house not keep house."
"Well actually, I was raised away from the manor. My parents brought my sisters up in a private home," Ichigo interrupted. She didn't know why she corrected Cookie's scoldings. Yes she was raised away from the manor but she wasn't raised to keep house either.
"Were you brought up to be a housewife Ichigo?" Cookie asked directly.
"No," Ichigo stuttered out. This conversation was getting confusing.
"What were you raised to do?"
"Uhm?" At this question Ichigo turned to Captain Kyoraku who was no help at all. He simply leaned against his knee and drank his tea. Completely relaxed to Cookie's frustrations and confusing questions.
"Were you raised to cook? Clean? Care for a husband?"
No. She was raised to stand beside the person she loved. Find something she loved doing and achieve it. Taking care of the house was simply part of that. She could clean. She had tidied up the quarters. She could probably figure out cooking if it weren't for that damned wood stove.
"I don't know how to cook on wood stoves," she confessed to Cookie. "I know how to clean a home but I didn't do it often. But, to answer your question Cookie, no. I wasn't raised to be a housewife. It wasn't something that I wanted for myself."
"Mmhmm," Cookie nodded and sat up more firmly to face Captain Kyoraku. "You refuse to return to the manors?"
Captain Kyoraku sat his cup of tea down on the table. The dull thud making Ichigo focus her attention on him. "Cookie, enough. Ichigo, you were brought here to be my wife. Not to cook for me, clean for me, or care for me. I am a grown man able to take care of that myself."
At that comment, Cookie scoffed. Ignoring Cookie, Captain Kyoraku continued. "I don't expect you to do those things for me. That being said, it is not fair for you to have to figure out meals and have to clean up the house when you should be finishing up your homework for your upcoming school year."
He knew about that? How did he know about that? Ichigo hadn't brought it up to him before.
"School?" Cookie asked.
"She'll be returning to the World of the Living to finish her education during the weekdays in a couple of months, Cookie. That's why I haven't been pushing her to try to 'find' herself here or run a manor. Ichigo still has things to take care of in the World of the Living. When she's done, I'm sure she'll have something that she'll want to start doing here in the Seireitei. Be that running a house or otherwise." Again his gaze met Ichigo's. Under her veil Ichigo was smiling.
"Well then, I should come and take care of the cleaning and cooking," Cookie stated much to Ichigo's shock.
"But you're retired," Captain Kyoraku exclaimed.
"So? You and Ichigo want to stay in your quarters. Ichigo can't keep house at the moment. You can't keep eating from the canteen. You don't want to send strangers in to keep house, and you're leaving Ichigo home alone for hours on end. You should have someone around for her to talk with and talk through all things Soul Society. Why not have me come by every few days."
"Cookie, you've already done so much for me-" Cookie cut Shunsui off again.
"I'm bored, Shunsui. My son has a job and visits when he can. I'm wasting away here. Let me have some fun with you two."
And with that, Cookie was going to 'keep house.'
"Good morning Madam Kyoraku," a brave member of the fourth division called out as Ichigo passed them on her walk around the Soul Society. Ichigo gave an exaggerated nod to ensure they saw her response and kept to her walk.
She had started taking these walks shortly after her grandmother had returned to the World of the Living. For the most part Ichigo enjoyed them. At first everyone just whispered and stared as she made her way out of the eighth squadron and through the different streets. The whispers had died down and now people were greeting her and attempting chatter. Ichigo did her best to indulge them. They were usually questions on how she was settling or how her Captain husband was. Ichigo felt the latter question stupid as the answer didn't ever change, he was good. She was tempted to say something different for once, just for the hell of it, and see how they would react. Though, if Ichigo really delved into how she felt about the repeating question and people wanting to talk to her, she really didn't mind. They weren't harassing her for being a Quincy and for that, she appreciated their kindness.
It only took two weeks of her daily walks for those that disliked quincies, especially Kurosaki quincies, to pop out of the woodwork and begin their attempts at bothering her. The first time was when she was walking near the eleventh division. She was walking slowly as she was enjoying the warmth of the sun. The few days before had been raining and Ichigo had been cooped up in the apartment. It was just another reason for her hatred of rain. With Shunsui off to work and the sun beating down on the Seireitei, Ichigo wanted to go on a long walk and the streets near the eleventh division were very maze-like. Ichigo enjoyed getting lost in them and finding her way out. She was used to being ignored in those parts as well. No one tried to talk to her. They would nod or bow but left her to her own devices. She had made it closer to the ninth division that laid near the eleventh when a random soul reaper walked near her. A large man with no major identifying features and no outward squadron attributes walked past her heading towards the eleventh division. It was so quiet in that area between the eleventh and the ninth division that when the man had walked past her and called her 'quincy scum' it sounded as though he yelled it. Shocked, Ichigo's foot hesitated for just a moment. Her mind raced. She could feel a droplet of sweat slide down her back and the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as her body determined whether to fight or flight. He kept walking and Ichigo finished taking her step. Was she being attacked? Did he really just say that? Did she turn around and respond? No. That wouldn't do any good to engage. He had kept moving and was likely hoping she would respond. It would be better to just keep going on her way. Until they tried to harm her she would not initiate a fight. Ichigo kept to her path and took a deep breath to calm her fight or flight instincts. Unfortunately the incident caused the sunny day's mood to be ruined.
That was the first time. She kept away from that area now and tried to keep her walks on other streets. Unfortunately they would find her. She'd been called a few things since then 'quincy scum', 'killer', 'soul reaper killer', 'quincy bitch', and her new favorite: 'captain's whore.' She questioned the education levels of those that gave that particular remark, after all could she be considered Captain Kyoraku's whore if she was married to him? Either way, it was only talk. No one had lifted a hand to hurt her , yet, so she didn't respond. She also didn't tell Captain Kyoraku. She was handling the situation just fine and it wasn't like she was being hurt. They were just words afterall.
Shunsui and Ichigo's relationship had fallen into a pattern. They ate dinner together when he was available. When they were together they discussed simple things. What he was doing for the day. What she was doing for the day. Where her walks had led her. Why his lieutenant was mad at him. It wasn't much, but they were talking.
While Ichigo considered her marital improvements she neared a cross in the path. She could continue going straight and reach the fifth division or she could turn right and walk towards the tenth division. She wanted to visit the tenth and see what kind of division her father had once run, but with people believing her family to be the cause for the tenth division's previous captain's death that likely wasn't a good idea.
It had been a decent walk to get to the cross roads so she should turn left and head to the thirteenth division. She could make her way back to the eighth from there. As she made to turn towards the thirteenth division something collided into her from the right side of the cross walk. Papers being held in the other person's arms went flying to the ground. Ichigo was knocked back a few inches but stabilized before the 'oomph' that escaped from her lips finished it's 'ph'. A woman shorter than Ichigo quickly fell to the ground and began picking up papers.
"Hey why don't you watch where you're going? Didn't you see me? What are you doing just standing in the road like some idiot?" the short woman barked as she hurriedly reached for papers. She had black hair that was cut in a short style. A single strand of hair fell out of place and rested against her face between her eyes. Ichigo felt herself smiling. This woman's remarks made her happy. Perhaps the joy of being lectured by this woman was due to her only conversing with her husband and in formal situations or due to being constantly overrun with excessive politeness or passive-aggressive threats with no middle ground. Whatever it could be, Ichigo chose to ignore the woman's comments and instead stooped low and assisted in picking up the fallen documents. Within minutes the papers were put together and the woman finally looked up from her ramblings. Ichigo silently held the papers out to her and the woman's mouth dropped.
"Madam Kyoraku," the girl stammered. "Please accept my apologies I didn't realize, I didn't see,"
"You're fine," Ichigo replied with a nod to the papers she held in her hand. "Things like this happen from time to time. Here's your papers."
"Thank you," the woman exclaimed with a blush on her cheeks as she pulled the papers against her chest along with the others. "I'm sorry to have caused you an inconvenience Madam."
"Really, don't worry about it. You were in a rush," Ichigo waved off the woman's concerns again and narrowed her eyes as she took in the woman's dark eye coloration. She recognized this woman from somewhere. "Besides you were right I was standing in the way. I was lost in thought and didn't even hear you coming. Sorry for that."
"No please. I overreacted."
"Believe me, I've had worse overreactions. I recognize you from somewhere but I don't believe you are in the eighth division."
"No Madam. I'm Rukia Kuchiki from the thirteenth division. I attended your wedding to Captain Kyoraku with my brother Captain Kuchiki." Now Ichigo remembered. She was one of the few guests that were smiling kindly towards her during the ceremony and reception.
"Isn't Captain Kuchiki head of the sixth division?"
"He is, but I still attend the functions with him as I am an unseated squad member."
"I see," and Ichigo did. When thinking of Captain Kuchiki she recalled the saying 'stick up his ass'. Compared to the kind and friendly Captain Ukitake she'd rather be an unseated member of that squad then a seated member with the Kuchiki heir. "Are you on your way there now? To the Thirteenth Division?"
"Yes Madam," Ichigo was getting fed up with the constant use of Madam but she let the woman continue. "Uhm, where were you going? Maybe I can show you the way."
"I was actually heading towards the thirteenth division so that I could make my way to the eighth from there."
Rukia couldn't believe her luck, or rather her lack of luck. She was already having a bad day. All around her people whispered. If they weren't whispering, they were outright making snide comments to her or about her. If they weren't making side comments, they were disregarding her. Worst of all, if they weren't disregarding her, they were looking down on her. The last few years had been rough on her to say the least. She'd lost her closest friend to competitiveness. Was selected into a squad based on her adoptive name. The selection and adoption made it even more difficult to be treated as an equal. Instead of being looked down on because she had no desire to show off; now she was looked down on because as a noble's younger sister it was believed she was made a soul reaper because of her last name alone. Still, she had made new friends. People that actually saw her potential and drive. Then, on that fateful day, her dearest friend and most respected superior died on her blade. There were days she didn't think she could make it out of bed, but she did. In her days of weakness as she healed from her attack from the hollow that took over Lieutenant Shiba's body, Aizen put that thing in her. She knew something was wrong. Her body knew it. Her zanpakuto knew it. There was something off. Maybe, if she had been stronger or smarter, she would have known that that thing was feeding off her. But she didn't. Not until it was too late and Aizen was reaching into her center and retrieving the pure hogyoku from inside of her.
Now they all whispered. Of her failures. Of her lack of ability. Of her unearned privilege. It made her so angry. So, today, she took the back streets to run errands for Kiyone. She had dealt with enough crap for the day and didn't want to run into anyone. So, her lack of luck decided to raise it's head and Rukia ran straight into Madam Kyoraku. To make matters worse, she yelled at her. Madam Kyoraku didn't yell back though or make a stinging comment. Instead she had knelt down and assisted in picking up the documents. Now the two were walking in the same direction and Rukia felt a bubble of shyness take over her courage. It was hard to talk to people when she had been hurt by so many before. Still, Madam Kyoraku helped her pick up her papers. She had been kind about it. The least she could do was offer to walk with her.
"I could walk with you if that's alright," Rukia looked around nervously. She had heard the talk of the Quincy bride. She rarely talked to anyone and the veil she consistently wore made it hard to approach her.
"I'd like that," Madam Kyoraku answered to Rukia's shock. She'd witnessed Madam Kyoraku take her walks and she was always alone. Had no one else offered to walk with her? "Want some help carrying those files?" Madam Kyoraku asked, drawing Rukia from her shock.
"No, thank you Madam. That wouldn't be proper," Rukia stuttered. This woman was supposed to be scary. Cold and mean. Similar to all the other noble women. Instead she offers to carry papers like she was a part of the working class and not a part of the maintained nobles.
"Because they are confidential or because I'm married to Captain Kyoraku?"
"Well, you are a civilian Madam-" Ichigo cut her off with a shake of her head.
"Please, call me Ichigo. That Madam stuff is starting to get on my nerves. I'm just Ichigo." With that sentence Rukia felt her stomach tighten. Oh. Oh no. When she had been adopted into the Kuchiki family, she had been so upset with people stereotyping her and making determinations about her without even knowing her. Despite knowing that pain and frustration she had stereotyped Madam Kyoraku. She treated her as a maintained noble woman, and not a person. If Lieutenant Shiba had been there to witness her behavior he would surely feel disappointed in her. Determined to do the right thing, Rukia turned her body to ensure she met the gaze of the veiled woman and gave her a lopsided grin.
"Still getting used to it huh? I was like that too when I was adopted in the Kuchiki family. One minute I'm just Rukia the next I'm Lady Kuchiki. It was overwhelming."
"So you get it!" Rukia could hear pure delite in her voice. She fondly recalled the days when she had befriended Lieutenant Shiba, Kiyone, and Sentaro. The days where she felt seen for the first time in months. When she felt understood.
"I do. I wasn't adopted into the family until I was in the Soul Reaper Academy so I was already grown up when they started addressing me differently. Maybe it's different for those that grew up with the titles."
"I had the title growing up but I wasn't at the main house a lot so I wasn't addressed by my title unless it was in a formal setting. Even then, not everyone called me by my title at the main house. Here, everyone calls me by my title. It's like-" Ichigo paused trying to describe it.
"Suddenly you're not a person but instead a title?" Rukia guessed with a grin.
"Exactly!" Ichigo's hands flew up with exasperation and joy as a laugh burst from her. Rukia laughed. A real genuine laugh. How long had it been since she had laughed like that? "I just want to be Ichigo."
"I empathize with you there. When I was adopted, my oldest friend wouldn't speak to me for the longest time. When we saw each other again after years of being apart he addressed me as Lady Kuchiki. I was crushed."
"How many times did he call you Lady Kuchiki before you lost your patience?"
"You know, he kept calling me it until just recently. Kind of put a damper on our friendship. Well," Rukia paused and tilted her head as she thought of her oldest friend's treatment of her in the academy. "There were a few things that put a damper on our friendship."
"I'm sorry."
Rukia shook her head at Ichigo's apology. "Don't be. We're on the mends. Just something that happens while we take our own paths."
The pair had started walking towards the thirteenth division as they carried on their conversation.
"How are you liking the Soul Society so far?"
"It's not Karakura Town that's for sure. My way of life is very different from here, er, was very different."
"Yeah. It's something to get used to. Have you been mostly near the squadrons?"
"I think so. People mention manors and houses but all I see around me when I take my walks are training grounds, barracks, and canteens. Captain Kyoraku took me to visit someone near the fence that divides the Seireitei from the Districts. Then there were all those luncheons and dinners. Other than that I've really only been around here."
"I imagine the housing sections of Seireitei are more similar to Karakura town," Rukia chose to ignore the fact that Ichigo was continuing to call her husband by his title versus his name. If she thought about it, it could be considered hypocritical. Despite knowing that, Rukia empathized with Ichigo. She still didn't feel right calling Captain Kuchiki anything other than Captain Kuchiki or Lord Brother. It was far too intimidating.
"Probably. To be honest I've been paying more attention to the squadrons because I take my walks here. Only a matter of time until I have a better idea of all Seireitei."
"I'm not sure about that. I still get lost," Rukia admitted and the pair laughed.
"I'm worried one day I'm going to walk into the mens bathroom or the middle of some sort of meeting," Ichigo continued after her laugh. "I could just imagine entering a Captain's meeting and getting scolded by Captain Yamamoto."
"Nah, they have guards to stop you. If you're going to walk in on any meetings it will likely be the Shinigami Woman's Association or the Shinigami Men's association. So long as it's not the Shinigami Men's Association, I think you'll be fine. Well, if you interrupt the woman's association you'll likely get pulled into chatter with Yachiru or drinking with Matsumoto. So maybe it would be better to walk in on the men's association."
"Is Captain Kyoraku part of the men's association?"
Rukia gave a dry chuckle. "They wish. Not for lack of trying but that's not really Captain Kyoraku's thing. He's more laid back and doesn't participate with things like that."
"What kind of things do they do in the men's association?"
"Honestly, they try to macho out their image. Appear more tough. They found sunglasses in the World of the Living and it's all the rage now. They keep trying to look like gangsters but to be honest they just look ridiculous."
"Ah, I've got friends like that back at home. They claim it's for their "image" but really it's just in hopes of getting a date."
"Does it work?"
"Never."
The pair entered the gates of the Thirteenth Division without taking notice. Subconsciously, the pair paused just inside the gates and continued their chat. The two didn't notice time pass and before they knew it both of their stomachs started to protest.
"Oh no," Rukia gasped and looked around the squadron's courtyard. "I was supposed to have these reports back hours ago."
"I didn't realize how much time had passed," Ichigo glanced around guiltily. "Is there anything I can do? I don't want you to get in trouble."
"No," Rukia sighed and shook her head. "I've got to face the music. Be responsible for my own actions."
"I get it, but," Ichigo trailed off as Rukia shook her head with a smile.
"Seriously. It'll be okay. Nothing urgent in these reports for me to get into any serious trouble. Next time we should chat when I'm not working though." There it was; the olive branch for friendship. Whether Ichigo took it up or not was up to her, but Rukia offered it just the same. She had really enjoyed talking with the young bride. She wanted to talk with her more and really get to know her.
"I'd like that," Ichigo nodded and Rukia hoped that there was a smile under that veil. "You're going to have to show me those stores you told me about and other things to do."
"That'll be my win Ju," Shunsui smirked as he placed his cards down to show a winning hand. Jushio laughed and placed his own cards down; confirming that Shunsui had indeed won that round. The two had been keeping a weekly lunch with each other. It was usually spent at the Thirteenth Division to accommodate the days in which Jushiro struggled to get out of bed due to his illness. When Shunsui had been a bachelor the two could be found together repeatedly throughout the week as the two worked closely together. Now the two were lucky to see each other more than once a week due to the increase in workload as well as Shunsui's new obligations to his wife.
"Should have known better than to play against you on a good day Shunsui. Whose turn is it to deal?" Today had been a good day for Shunsui. For months he and Jushiro had been digging through years of reports. Squad general reports, meeting minutes from Central Forty-Six, expense reports, everything. It had been painful. Today, after months of digging, Shunsui found some hints of references of Aizen in Sixth Division reports. Considering Aizen was the Captain of the Sixth Division before his true colors were shown, his presence in Sixth Division reports was to be expected. It was his presence in Sixth Division reports prior to his entry of the Soul Reaper Academy that was not expected. Shunsui had found the reports made by Shinji Hirako, Aizen's previous captain, this morning and had immediately found a new trail to travel down. It could lead to nowhere, or, this trail could lead to understanding what Aizen's goal was and how to defeat him. After a successful day, Shunsui had met with Jushiro for their weekly lunch that bled into a much appreciated card game.
"Ah, I think that's a good sign I should call it quits for the day, Ju," Shunsui smirked and rolled his head.
"Oh so you were scared of my last hand. Worried my luck is going to win overall?"
"Not at all, I just know I have a lovely wife waiting for me at home that gets lonely. I know you, a bachelor, do not understand the importance of spending time with your significant other but I assure you it is imperative I get home and spend time with her."
Jushiro scoffed and shook his head as Shunsui finished his "bragging" with a wink.
"That excuse is only going to work so many times, Shunsui. If I remember correctly, your wife has already kicked you so I imagine it's only a matter of time before she's kicking you out of the house entirely. I know I would."
"Ju baby, don't be mean." Jushiro threw the cards at Shunsui. If the pair had been in any else's presence they would not behave in such a manner.
"Come on, I'll walk you out."
As the pair made their way towards the gates of the Thirteenth Division they discussed the reports. The ones they had found only held a hint of Aizen. If they did more digging they hoped they would find more information from Hirako. Hirako's family kept his personal belongings after his death a hundred years ago. The pair made an appointment to go through his personal belongings to see if there was any additional information on Aizen that they could dig up. As they neared the gates they could see two figures standing at the gates.
"Is that Kuchiki?"
"It looks like it. She's been late with some reports; I wonder if she's okay."
"Nothing important I hope."
"Nothing that can't wait until tomorrow. Still it is unusual for her."
"Whose with her? That doesn't look like a soul reaper uniform."
"No, it doesn't." The closer the pair got the two could hear bits of their conversation.
"Leave it to me. How about you and I get lunch on my next day off? I can show you some of the shops and we can get lunch at this cute restaurant I know about." Rukia's offer made Jushior pause. His shy subordinate had never once offered to spend more time with others. She'd spend time with the groups in the squad sure, but never one on one. She'd been hurt too many times and it caused her shields to come up and Jushiro had inherited the task of tearing them down. A task that had proven difficult. Still, Jushiro endured.
"Sounds great!" Shunsui paused at his wife's voice. His wife who had been hiding behind her veil since the moment she stepped through the gates has prevented her from making friends. She had yet to get close to anyone besides Cookie.
"Ichigo?" Shunsui called out. "Kuchiki?"
"Captain Kyoraku! Captain Ukitake!" Rukia exclaimed. "Good evening."
"Good evening. Ichigo is everything okay?" Shunsui's concerned gaze kept his attention on his wife. Had something happened at home?
"I was taking a walk and bumped into Rukia. We got to chatting and lost track of time. I'm sorry Captain Ukitake, I think I kept her from getting some reports to you."
"No, Captain. It was my responsibility to get the reports delivered. My delay was not Ichigo's fault."
Jushiro and Shunsui could not help the grin that danced across their faces. Not only were the two introverted women making lunch plans but they were addressing each other by first names. Surely, this new friendship would be a good thing for both the women and the men who worried about them.