Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of the Bleach characters, that honour falls onto Tite Kubo's shoulders, I do own the OC in this story though (ie Rain).

Chapter 3 : Roses

Rain stared at the rose in his hands, twirling it experimentally. He glanced at the door to Isane's room again and chewed on his lip, he never was particularly good at the emotional stuff. He could remember the speed of light to 6 places and pi to 10 and he could list every kidou move from memory but this emotion stuff was hard to express right. He hoped he was doing this right. Raising his hand, sighing quietly, eyes closed, he knocked. But his hand connected with something soft instead of the hard wooden door frame. He tore his eyes open and stared at Isane's face, his curled fist was resting on her shoulder.

"M-M-My apologies Vice-Captain!" he said stepping back hurriedly. Dammit, I've already made a mess of this.

"Rain? What's wrong?"

Rain was quiet for a moment trying to sort out what to say, "I'm sorry it's late Vice-Captain but I need to tell you something." he paused as he followed Isane's gaze to the rose. He coughed lightly and handed it to her, "May I join you inside, u-unless you wanted to stay outside, I don't want to go inside, well I would like very much to but if you don't want me to...." his voice trailed away, "I don't want to intrude is all."

Isane blushed a little as she took the rose he was holding out to her, she sniffed it, frowned slightly and sniffed again, "It has no scent."

Rain jumped slightly, "Sorry, that's my fault, I wasn't sure whether you liked the smell of roses so I got a scentless one." he held one side of his jacket open, a rack of vials fixed inside it, "What's your favourite scent, I have everything from strawberries to fresh-mown grass to wildflowers."

Isane smiled softly, "Do you have Roses?"

Rain's face fell. "I knew I'd forgotten something."

Isane shook her head, "It's okay, and I was about to go for a walk to see Captain Unohana, would you like to walk with me?"

Rain nodded, "I'd love to walk with you- I mean, uh, I'd like that very much."

Isane stepped outside and closed the door gently. "So, how are you adjusting to the fourth squad?" she asked, trying to make small talk.

Rain was silent for a moment, "Well I've only been in the squad for the better half of the afternoon but I'm enjoying myself so far." he replied still pondering how he was to broach the subject of emotions.

Isane smiled, "I'm glad you like it, Captain Unohana asked me if I thought you should be given a seated position."

Rain froze, "Really?"

Isane stopped walking too, "Yes, she was going to make you an honorary third seat."

"Wouldn't that make the current third seat rather... angry?"

Isane shook her head, "No, I think she was going to give you a third seat position as well so that there were two third seats in the squad."

Rain shook his head, "But I'm terrible at healing and it's not like my zanpakutou does healing either."

Isane shrugged, "I said yes to it so I think she's going ahead with it."

"Why did you say yes?"

The rose twirled in her fingers, "I felt bad about you being experimented on and losing your seat and everything."

"You took pity on me?" Rain asked quietly as he stared at the twirling rose. He lifted his hand to the rose, "May I?" he asked. She handed him the rose and he raised the stem to his teeth, carefully biting off the thorns and leaves. He ran his fingers along the stem to check it was smooth and then slit it behind Isane's left ear, he smiled in spite of himself. "Beautiful."

Isane blushed again and began walking suddenly.

Rain walked fast to catch up to her, his pace slowing as he drew alongside her, he looked at her silently for a few more moments, "I will never accept pity from anyone." he said quietly, "Except you."

Isane glanced at him then squealed suddenly as her foot caught on a warped floorboard, she began to fall forward but stopped almost as suddenly, Rain's arm catching her. He lifted her upright.

"Are you alright Isane?" he asked as she stared at him, he beautiful eyes staring into the concerned emeraldness of his own.

She nodded slowly and stepped back from him, "Thank you." she muttered embarrassed.

"Isane? Rain?" asked a voice.

"C-Captain!" Isane said startled.

Rain bowed, "Captain Unohana."

Unohana smiled, "Third Seat Rain."

Rain stared at the ground anxiously, "P-Please captain, I haven't earned that seat."

Unohana smiled mischievously, "The paperwork is already finished."

"A-Already?" Rain stuttered."

Unohana nodded, "Now what are you two doing out so late?" she asked, silently taking note of the rose behind her Vice-Captain's ear.

"I was coming to see you Captain." Isane said quietly.

"Are you having trouble sleeping again?" Unohana asked quietly.

Isane shook her head, "No, I'm trying not to sleep anymore, Matsumoto told me that sleeping a lot makes you grow and I-" she paused awkwardly, "I'm already too tall."

Rain's left eyebrow shot up of its own accord as he glanced down at his own imposingly tall frame.

"I see." Unohana said smiling, "I don't think depriving yourself of sleep will help Isane." she turned to Rain, "How about you Rain, what keeps you up at this hour of the night?"

Rain glanced at Isane and felt his cheeks burning, "I-I uh, that is, I" he stopped and took a breath, "I came to speak to Vice-Captain Kotetsu about a personal matter."

Isane glanced at him with a mixture of surprise and realisation showing in her face.

Unohana nodded, "I'll leave you two to your discussion then."

"No, Captain, please, you two will have something more important to discuss than I would, I can come see the Vice-Captain at another time."

"No." the Captain said smiling, "You two can speak now and I'll stay up until Isane comes to see me." she said staring meaningfully at Rain.

Rain felt a strange sense of terror flowing through him, "Y-Yes Captain, W-Whatever you want." he stuttered bowing.

Unohana smiled and disappeared around the walkway corner, Rain almost shivered as he turned to face Isane.

Isane was silently fidgeting with one of her braided strand of hair, she looked uncomfortable, "So, what was this -uh- personal matter you needed to talk to me about?"

Rain shook his head, "N-No, Vice-Captain, it's not important, your discussion with the Captain will be much more urgent, I'm sorry for bothering you. Good night." he said hurriedly before turning to leave.

"G-Good night." Isane replied slightly puzzled.

"Hanatarou!" Rain called jogging lightly to catch up to the black haired male.

"Th-Third Seat Sir!" Hanatarou murmured bowing his head as Rain stopped in front of him.

"It's Yamada isn't it?" Rain asked quietly.

"Y-Yes." Hanatarou replied nodding.

"Can we not be so formal?" Rain muttered putting a hand on Hanatarou's shoulder, "I need a favour."

Hanatarou straightened up, "What sort of favour?"

Rain smirked, "I need someone to help me train, can you help?"

Hanatarou went pale, "B-But I'm no good at fighting a-and.." he cast around for excuses, "I don't have my zanpakutou on me."

Rain nodded, "I guessed you might not so I brought it with me." He said holding up the sheathed katana. Hanatarou's face went whiter still, "Listen Yamada, I know you're not a fighter, I respect that, it's just, you're the only one in the squad that I even remotely know, apart from Captain Unohana and Isane- I mean, Vice-Captain Kotetsu."

Hanatarou nodded, "I guess I have to don't I?"

Rain shrugged, "I won't force you to." he sighed, "But I really need a hand, I've been in stasis for thirty years, I need to brush up on my skills.

Hanatarou begrudgingly stood a few metres away from Rain, zanpakutou in hand, the blade swaying wildly in Hanatarou's shaking hands.

"Are you ready?" Rain asked quietly drawing his own katana from it's sheath, he glanced at another shinigami sitting off to the side, "Are you ready with that medkit?" he called to the shinigami.

"Yes sir!" a pair of female voices called back, the green haired twins nodding vigorously.

"Alright, her I come Hanatarou!" he called before disappearing from view and reappearing in front of Hanatarou, sword flashing down towards Hanatarou's shoulder. Rain stopped himself before the katana hit.

Hanatarou yelped and leapt back, accidentally throwing his zanpakutou into the air. The katana twirled and then dropped blade first into the grass.

Rain pulled Hanatarou to his feet and collected the sword, he handed it hilt-first to the embarrassed seventh seat, "Do you want to have a break for a moment?" Rain asked.

"Y-Yes, if y-you don't mind."

"Of course not." Rain said smiling, "While you're having a breather can you drop something off for me?" he asked pulling something from the pocket of his leather coat.

"What is it?" Hanatarou asked taking the ruby red box.

"Its a bottle of rose scented liquid and a bundle of rose-scented incense. Can you give them to Isan- uh, Vice-Captain Kotetsu for me, with my compliments?"

Hanatarou nodded.

"When you get back I'll work on healing instead, afterall, that's what this squad is about right?"

The next day.

Hanatarou shook his head, "N-No Rain, you're doing it wrong."

Rain growled in disapproval and sat back, the green healing aura he'd been creating faded away almost instantaneously, "This is impossible."

"You're not focusing your reiatsu right." Hanatarou muttered moving to the other side of the patient, "I'll show you again."

Rain watched as the cuts sealed themselves and the green aura faded.

"Can we take a break for a moment Yamada?" Rain asked sitting back, "All this kidou is giving me a headache."

Hanatarou nodded, "Do you want me to remove the pain?"

Rain shook his head, "I haven't had a headache in years, let me savour it." he muttered pulling something from his coat, it was another ruby red box, "Can you deliver this to Isane for me?"

"You mean Vice-Captain Kotetsu?" Hanatarou asked taking the box.

Rain blushed slightly, "Yeah, its a pad of rose scented calligraphy paper and a rose shaped and scented calligraphy brush."

Hanararou stood and carried the box from the room.

The next day.

Hanatarou shrunk away as Rain advanced towards him with Hone Nokogiri raised threateningly.

"C-Can we take a break!" the seventh seat yelled, katana held defensively above his head.

Rain nodded and returned his zanpakutou to katana form, his free hand drawing another red box from his pocket.

"Vice-Captain Kotetsu?" Hanatarou asked taking the package.

Rain nodded, "Rose scented candles and soaps." he muttered quietly so that the trio of onlookers couldn't hear.

The next day.

Hanatarou grunted as he dragged the box of clothing inside, "Are you sure you need all these clothes?" he asked weakly.

Rain nodded as he stared bemused at the four-poster bed's assembly instructions, since when had people sold disassembled furniture in Soul Society? What was this world coming to? "Yeah, just leave them there, I'll sort them out in a minute."

Hanatarou let go of the box and closed the paper wall's door, he glanced around the room, there was a lot of black, the paper wall had been changed to depict a graveyard at night, the bed covers that were stacked neatly to one side were pitch black and the wooden desk and chair that sat in one corner had been stained black. Even the floor had an enormous thick black rug covering it.

"Where did you get all your money Rain?" Hanatarou asked quietly as he prodded the thick carpet with a socked foot.

Rain clanked something into place and stood up, "Finally!" he muttered triumphantly as he inspected his handiwork on the four poster bed. It had all been wood to start with but he'd made a few modifications, like the metal skulls that hung on the cords to tie back the black curtains that surrounded the bed, or the metal hawk's feet on the bottom of the bed's four legs. Rain began throwing the sheets onto the bed, "I haven't used any of my wage for thirty years so I've got a bit of money saved up." he said simply, more focused on trying to iron out a crease from the bedsheet. "I still don't understand why I got a place with two rooms, don't third seats only have one room?"

Hanatarou shrugged, "I have no idea, I only have one."

Rain was silent for a moment as he threw the quilt over the top of the bed, it had a strange black and white checkerboard pattern covering it.

"We should go get that table from outside." he mused as he dumped the remaining stack of linen, a pair of towels and a black bathrobe onto the desk.

"It's very heavy." Hanatarou grunted as he lifted the other end of the dining table.

Rain shrugged, "It's not that bad." he took a step forward, the table going with him. Then there was a soft thud and Hanatarou yelped as he stumbled backwards clutching his foot. Rain put the table down gently and crouched down next to him, "Are you okay?" he asked raising an eyebrow as Hanatarou blew on his injured appendage.

"Is everything alright?" Called a concerned voice. Rain turned slowly, he knew that voice, Isane was standing at the door of the next room looking at them nervously.

"I-Isane?" Rain stuttered. He gulped realising his rudeness, "I mean, Vice-Captain, I'm sorry."

She blushed a little, "It's okay, Captain Unohana told me someone was moving in today I didn't expect it to be you."

Rain scratched the back of his neck nervously, his displaced hair sliding over the front of his shoulders. "To be honest Vice-Captain I didn't expect it to be me either, I mean I didn't expect to be moving in next to you, I mean I didn't expect me to be the one moving in next to you."

"Do you need a hand?" she asked glancing down at Hanatarou.

"N-n-no Vice-Captain, there's nothing you need to concern yourself with, I wouldn't want you to lift a finger to help me, well I'd love to be someone you'd lift a finger to help, but what I mean is...." Rain's voice trailed off, Speaking to a girl is normally so easy, why do I have so much trouble speaking to Isane?

"Okay, if you need me just knock." She said before disappearing back inside.

"I'll try my best not to disturb you Isane!" Rain called softly.

Captain Ukitake watched the events outside Rain's new quarters quietly alongside Captain Unohana.

"He's very nervous around her, are you sure this is a good idea?" the white haired captain asked quietly.

Unohana smiled slightly, "I'll stand by my decision for now, Isane is too shy to go searching herself and Rain has a similar problem, but not on the same scale. All he needs is a little push."

Ukitake sighed, "I hope she tells him Roses aren't her favourite soon, I can only take so many unwanted gifts."

Rain sighed as he sat down at the table, Hanatarou sitting across from him.

"What do you think Yamada?" Rain asked motioning to the bookshelf behind him, the golden cage that housed a crow and the small self-contained bathroom he'd decked out with a black floormat and black towels.

"You really like black." Hanatarou commented quietly.

Rain shrugged, "Its a comforting colour, think about it, if everything in the world was black you wouldn't be able to see anything and if you can't see anything you can't fear it." he smirked, "Yes, my logic is twisted."