Skeleneko's Note: This isn't my story. I have permission from Twilight Countess (Amy) to repost this. If you like this story be sure to look out for her book "Eris"!
Senbonzakura
Chapter Fourteen: Opportunities
Dedicated to Conterra-san…
Hisana's P.O.V.
Hisana sat on the roof of the 5th Division dojo, angry tears streaming down her face. She wasn't sobbing, just silently letting the salty water fall. She felt dirty, degraded, and used.
So that was how she was accepted into the squad without needing to use Takuaji, Aizen had a physical attraction to her. The very thought made Hisana feel even more disgusting.
"Hey, come on, don't be like that."
Hisana jumped slightly when she heard Takuaji's voice from behind her, not just in her head. She turned around to see him looking down at her.
Takuaji was tall, with black spiky hair and royal purple eyes. His clothes were similar to that of a Shinigami, but there was no katana at his side. The most obvious factors of his appearance were the two ten foot black raven wings protruding from his back.
"I haven't seen you this messed up since you lost your sister," said Takuaji.
"How would you know? I didn't get my first sword until about three years later," said Hisana
Takuaji sighed. "I've always been with you, Hisana. A zanpakuto merely allows me to take a physical form. I have, and always will be, latched to your soul."
Hisana sighed. "I know," She went back to staring at the moon. It was slightly blurry through her tears.
"Personally, I think you're overreacting a little," said Takuaji. "You're making it out as if you actually slept with the man to get the 4th seat."
Hisana gave a bitter laugh. "I'm sure he wouldn't have had any objections."
Takuaji narrowed his eyes. "Hisana…"
Hisana visibly flinched at the sternness of his tone. Her zanpakuto was usually so easy-going, like Kyoraku-taicho. But Hisana knew she was in for it now.
"Screw Aizen-taicho. His lust must really be blinding him if he cannot see the talented woman in front of me. Did you not see how your lieutenant reacted when Aizen told him the truth? He was just as surprised as you. I can tell you for a fact that Shinsou is very impressed by you."
Hisana looked up. "He is?"
"Yes," said Takuaji. "He hasn't even seen my face, but he knows not to underestimate me, and he's probably told Gin the same thing."
Hisana said nothing, still unconvinced.
Takuaji sighed. "Hisana, look at your wrists,"
Hisana brought her hand before her face. On her right wrist four small numbers were tattooed to look like a bracelet: 13, 10, 2, and 5, the Divisions she had been once been a member of. On her left wrist was the corresponding number of seats she had held: X, 13, 7, and 4.
"Is that the history of someone who whored her way immediately to the top? You have worked extremely hard to get where you are in such a short amount of time."
Hisana smiled. "Thanks, Dr. Takuaji."
"You're welcome," he said.
"So, what do I do now?" wondered Hisana.
"Firstly, you need to get out of this division, sooner rather than later," said Takuaji.
"Che," scoffed Hisana. "Where could I go? It'd be kinda suspicious if I transferred to a lower seat in another squad with no valid reason. And I doubt Aizen would let me. If he's been watching me since that party at the Kuchiki Estate, I don't think he'd let me go so easily."
"Then apply for a higher rank," said Takuaji. "I know you're ready. If you were promoted by another captain, then Aizen would be forced to allow the transfer."
"But there aren't any 3rd seat openings," said Hisana.
"I'm sure something will come up, just keep your eyes open," said Takuaji before disappearing into the night.
Hisana stood up and shunpoed inside to a door with the number four set in gold. She opened it and plopped down on her bed.
"I'll show you, Aizen-taicho," she vowed. "I'll show you that I can be more than a trophy wife."
The next day was a Saturday. Hisana rolled over in bed, still half asleep, wishing that the events of yesterday were just a bad dream. Aizen's words awakened her to reality. She sat up and stretched out her arms, giving a loud yawn.
Then she heard a knock at her door.
"Yo, Hisana, ya alive in there?" came the accented voice of her fukutaicho. Hisana remained still. She didn't know if she wanted to face Gin right now.
"Hisana-san, I'm both respectin' yer privacy by knockin', but assertin' my authority as yer lieutenant by comin' in anyway…"
"I'm up!" Hisana said, loud enough for him to hear. "What is it, Ichimaru-fukutaicho? You know it's my day off."
Gin slid the door open and stepped inside. Hisana didn't have to worry about being indecent because she was too emotionally exhausted to change out of her black robes the previous night.
He regarded her through his squinted eyes. "Ya sure came in late last night, Hisana-san."
"You were waiting up for me?" asked Hisana. Her eyebrow rose slightly.
"What were ya doin'?" asked Gin, ignoring her question.
"Star gazing," Hisana lied.
"Eh? Ya didn' strike me as the romantic type, Hisana-san," said Gin.
"Well, you don't know me very well, Ichimaru-fukutaicho," said Hisana. "I love the stars. They make people consider how insignificant they are." She took a brush from her vanity table and combed her hair, starring at Gin's reflection.
"Although you're probably right, I shouldn't be wasting such valuable time in something so unbeneficial to my training."
Gin kept the smile, but she saw his eyebrows furrowed together for a millisecond. "I didn' say that…"
"No, but you have yet to contradict the statement." Hisana got up and pressed the wrinkles out of her robes. She gave a low bow. "Excuse me, Lieutenant Ichimaru, but I promised to meets my friends today."
And with that, she shunpoed out of sight.
"This is so great, the three musketeers!" said Matsumoto Rangiku enthusiastically, raising her glass of sake in a toast. She, Hisana, and Nanao were lounged about in the office of the 8th Division. Or rather, Hisana and Rangiku were lying comfortably on the couch, while Nanao sat dutifully at her desk.
"You are so lucky to have the whole day off!" whined Rangiku. "I only get a few hours!"
"One of the perks of seniority," said Hisana. "If you were a little less lazy, you probably wouldn't still be the 8th seat of the 10th."
"But it's so hard…" lamented Rangiku. Hisana just rolled her eyes.
"Hisana is right, Rangiku," said Nanao from a pile of paper. "You really need to start taking your career seriously."
Then the door opened and Nanao's flamboyant captain came swaggering in.
"Oh," he said, eyes drifting toward Hisana and Rangiku. "Nanao-chan, why didn't you tell me you would be entertaining guests?"
"Because Nanao-chan was unable to wake her captain without inflicting long-term damage," said Nanao icily.
"Ah, you wound me, Nanao-chan," said Shunsui, trying to wrap his arms around Nanao-chan, but was slapped away by Nanao's fan.
"Oh," said Shunsui dramatically, stretching his arms to the heavens. "Why has fate been so cruel to bring lovely Nanao-chan to my squad to only remain so far away?"
Hisana was resisting the urge to chuckle.
"Someday, when you've realized your feelings for me, I'll let you tie me to my desk and have your wicked way with me," said Shunsui, winking at Nanao.
"You tied to your desk? That's sounds promising," said Nanao. Shunsui's mouth dropped.
"Then you might actually get some paperwork done," she finished. Rangiku and Hisana burst out laughing. Nanao shot a glare at them, which sobered them up immediately.
"Alas! Foiled again by my lovely Nanao-chan," said Shunsui, admitting defeat for the afternoon. He walked to the door, blew a kiss at Nanao and departed.
"As I was saying," said Nanao business-like, "I concur with Hisana. It's time you started to look ahead, Rangiku."
She rummaged through her desk and pulled out a single sheet of paper. "There are so many opportunities for you."
Nanao began to read aloud. "6th seat of the 1st Division…?"
"I could never work for someone that old," said Rangiku.
"5th seat of the 4th Division?"
"I'd probably kill my patient by accident."
"5th seat of the 12th Division?"
"Don't push it."
"And the 6th Division has yet to find itself a lieutenant."
Hisana choked on her sake.
"Hisana, are you okay?" asked Rangiku worriedly, moving closer to her friend.
"I'm fine!" spluttered Hisana. "Nanao, did you say the 6th Division?"
"Yes," said Nanao, "Kuchiki-taicho is holding the qualification day in three weeks."
"May I see that paper?" Nanao handed it over to Hisana. Hisana stared at the sign-up sheet.
"You talked to Senbonzakura, didn't you," Hisana thought.
"Number of prizes so far: 147," said Takuaji
Hisana took a deep breath before signing her name…
Author's Note: I have nothing to say.