Disclaimer: Kubo Tite-sensei owns Bleach. Ohba Tsugumi-sensei owns Death Note. I merely own the plot of this pointless story and benefit only in a good time writing it.
"Sousuke?"
Even to Sakura, her voice sounded tiny. And, as late as it was, she felt silly. Trying to strike up conversation at this hour... he was probably asleep by now, anyway. She turned over, burying her face in the blanket.
"Yes...?"
Sakura turned back over.
"I'm sorry." She smiled apologetically. "Did I wake you up?"
"No. I was just surprised that you're still awake." He returned the smile. "So. Did you want to talk about something?"
"Sousuke... wouldn't you say it's a little... well, dumb to send us into battle with only a day's notice? I mean, these things take planning, don't they?"
"Dumb?"
She looked away. "Well, yeah. I mean, we've never been in a real fight before, not even a fist fight... Taiyou-chan had a bit of kendo training before this, but... other than that, we don't know what we're doing. If I were you, I would've talked about it with us first..."
Aizen kissed her forehead. "Are you not so exicted to fight anymore? Is that what this is really about?"
She smacked a bruise she'd given him in a training session the other day as hard as she could. The sound rang through the quiet room. "You don't really think I'm that much of a coward, do you?" she asked darkly as he groaned in pain.
"No," he gasped.
"Okay, then." She smirked and kissed his cheek. "So we have an understanding, then."
He glared at her reproachfully, rubbing his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." she said sincerly. "I didn't mean to hurt you that much. I was just trying to make a point."
He wrapped his warm arms around her and pulled her close.
"Why are you always so cold, Sakura?" he asked, as she placed her icy hands on his chest.
"I'd rather not talk about it." she muttered. "I've been that way for a few years..."
He noticed her reiatsu spike in her rage and kissed her hair. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"'S okay." she said, snuggling closer. "Jus' lemme sleep now. I'm actually tired."
He smiled and tucked her head under his chin. "Whatever you say."
"So. Ladies."
Sakura, Akemi and Mizuki stared at Aizen.
"We're going to wait another week before the invasion on Soul Society. However, in that time, you three are going to train twice as hard, for twice as long. I need to see progress. I need to know that you can hold your own in a long fight." He closed his eyes and pressed a hand through his forehead. "Akemi-san, Sakura, go stretch and get warmed up. Mizuki-san, I need to talk to you."
Mizuki followed him through the door off the balcony, eyes wary as he shut the door.
"Mizuki-san."
"What?" she asked coldly.
"I need to know where your loyalties lie, Mizuki-san." Aizen's eyes darkened.
"My loyalties lie with Sakura. I don't support Soul Society, but I don't support you, either. I support Sakura and her decisions. They may not always be smart ones, but hey, she's my friend."
"So." Aizen said, trying to understand the situation, "I can be sure that you won't be turning against us in the fight?"
"Yes." Mizuki said firmly, "But I can't promise that I will kill any shinigami, either. I will only attack if it is necessary to defend myself. I'm not siding with either of you lot on this. I am Switzerland."
Aizen sighed. "Very well, then. Go warm up or something."
Mizuki bowed politely and walked out, leaving Aizen to ponder. So. He had a crapload of Arrancar, ten Espada, two mixes between Arrancar and Vizards, and Switzerland. That was enough to teach the shinigami who they were dealing with, right?
Aizen sighed again. Why should one doubt one's own abilities? We'll be fine. They're nothing, in the state I left them in. he decided, opening the door.
"Okay. Akemi-san, Sakura, go. I want to see both of your first releases before we're through here." The two girls nodded while Mizuki stood nonchalantly against the wall.
Almost four hours later, Sakura stood in the shower, trying to scrub away the sweat. She and Akemi had gone at it for as hard and long as possible, and now her obsessive-compulsive nature was acting up.
She scrubbed at a small scratch on her right shoulder, wincing as the soap stung.
"You're going to use up all the hot water in this whole desert, Sakura."
Sakura sighed. "Shut up and go away, Sousuke."
"You're taking too long."
"You're being as annoying as hell." She snapped, sweeping her wet bangs away from her face. "You're making this less enjoyable for me, dammit."
"That's what she said."
Sakura chuckled. "Now we're cookin'." she said, leaning over to turn off the water.
Akemi stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, steam escaping the door.
"Shower's all yours, Mizuki." she said, toweling off her hair.
"Thanks," the blonde said, quickly stepping into the bathroom.
Akemi flopped down on her bed, grabbing a few hairties and proceeding to french braid her hair. She sighed, thanking God that Sakura had had the sense to buy some time. She knew full well why her sister had done that.
Sakura had wanted to have more time with her friends, in case one of them died in battle.
Heat behind her eyes made Akemi squeeze them shut. No, don't think about that now, she told herself. Sakura will not die. Not out there, at least.
In the shower, Mizuki realized that same thing. Of course Sakura would want more time with them before the fight; knowing her, she'd rush in without thinking and get killed.
Mizuki wiped the lukewarm water from her eyes, missing the shower at her house, and how you could never really control the temperature of the water. It helped remind her of how much time she was wasting.
She leaned forward to shut off the water, her blonde hair falling in her face.
An idea popped into her head.
She rumaged through the drawers of the vanity in the bathroom until she came across the scissors. Holding them and another towel, she went into the bedroom.
"Hey, Akemi. Want to help me cut my hair?"
All three girls now sat on Mizuki's bed, Akemi wiping hair off Mizuki's neck and shoulders while Sakura cut.
"Hold still, dammit!" she yelled. "I can't give you bangs if you keep moving!"
Mizuki sighed. "I don't like how closely you're moving those scissors to my face." she explained.
"Don't explain it to me, just shut the hell up and do something about it!"
"Uhm, PMS, much?" Akemi muttered, wiping a lock of blonde hair from Mizuki's chest.
"I heard that!"
"Exactly."
"... What was that? I'll remind you of this conversation when I get to take scissors to your hair."
"Which will never happen."
"Uhm, you guys?"
"What?!" both girls snapped.
"Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you two were paying attention."
Sakura stepped off the bed and admired her work.
"You look great, Taiyou-chan!" She grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her into the bathroom.
"... Why do I feel like Yagami Light...?"
Sakura cracked up. "In all honesty, that's not how it was supposed to be." she said, recovering for a minute.
New bangs fell across Mizuki's forehead, almost to her eyelashes. Her hair had been chopped into several layers and hung almost like a boycut. Overall, though, she was happy.
"Well... at least it's not so annoying anymore. Thanks, you guys."
Akemi smirked. "Anytime, Mizuki!"
"Let's go celebrate!" Sakura cried.
"Yeah... I want popcorn..."
"Shocker..." Sakura poked Akemi's arm lightly. "I want some tea, too."
"Ah, there we go." Akemi said. "I was all for you in the first place, wasn't it?"
"Well. Maybe I won't share my popcorn."
"You're not gonna eat it yourself and you know it!"
Again sitting on the countertops in Aizen's kitchen, the three proceeded to stuff their faces.
"Are you sure this is okay?" Akemi asked, though her speech was hard to understand.
"Totally." Sakura said, popping another potato chip into her mouth. "It's my kitchen too... I live here, ya know." She winked.
"I'm gonna ignore that comment." Akemi said quickly.
"Yeah, me too." Mizuki added.
Sakura shrugged. "Whatever."
"Having another little pow-wow in here?" Aizen asked, entering the kitchen.
"Why yes, it would appear that way, wouldn't it?" Sakura said, spreading peanut butter across a cracker. "Now, then. Leave us to our pow-wow." she added, putting a few M&M's on the top.
"Why are we suddenly the party room?" he asked, putting his hands on her waist.
"'Cause. We have a kitchen. With countertops." She pointed to the countertop she was sitting on. "And I like to sit on those while I eat. Now, scram." she said, waving a hand dismissively.
"Fine." Aizen said. "I just want some tea first."
Sakura held out her cup. "Here, take mine. I'll just go make some more."
Aizen smiled and left.
"I'm gonna ignore that little exchange..." Akemi said quietly as Sakura hopped off the countertop.
"Stop being like that."
"Like what?"
"That." she said, giggling.
Akemi rolled her eyes. "There are times when I would be really terrified to know how your brain works."
Sakura turned the big bowl that had held the popcorn upside down into the trash. She sighed- cleaning up after Akemi could be hell sometimes.
"What are you doing?"
Sakura turned around to face Aizen. "Cleaning up after my friends." she said lightly. "Seriously. Akemi never picks up after herself when she's been at my place. Not since I've known her." Sakura chuckled.
"So..." Sakura turned around to find Aizen right beside her.
"You're bored, aren't you?" Sakura asked.
"Partly." he said, picking her up and placing her on the countertop. "Aren't you?"
"Not really, no." she said. "I'm trying to do something."
"It can wait."
Crap, Sakura thought as she looked into his eyes and instantly forgot the witty comment she had been about to make.
"See? You're already agreeing with me."
"Shut up," she muttered as he kissed her.
"Gin."
Ichimaru sat up, looking at his fellow.
"Hey there, Kaname. What's goin' on?"
"I wanted to talk to you about Aizen-sama's behavior lately."
Gin sighed, pouting slightly. "Geez, Kaname. We can't talk about something unrelated to business...?"
"Gin. Get serious, here."
"Sorry. So, what exactly d'you find usual about his behavior, ne?"
"It would appear he's letting the Sakura girl influence his decisions. It worries me."
"Yeah... almost makes ya wonder..."
A brief silence passed through the room.
"So, then. You will talk to him about soon, I trust?"
Ichimaru waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, sure." he muttered as Tousen left the room.
He certainly is an interesting fellow, Gin thought as he watched the blind man disappear.
Author's Note: I know, I know. This chapter may ave been pretty pointless. But at least now you know for sure that Mizuki is indeed Switzerland. Also, dear Kaname's first appearance! Yay! xD
Reviews would be lovely, you guys! Please? Just one on this chapter, that's all I'm askin' for! xD;;