AN: Ok, I've decided that sleep is for the weak and I've been writing this chapter for a while. ER THIS IS A LONG CHAPTER…TEN THOUSAND WORD CHAPTER... There is a scene in this chapter where Orihime gets a bit crazy. I'm making her not that innocent little girl anymore and she has a…second mind… don't hate me for it, I'm trying to make this different! It get's a bit weird into it, so just bare with me, I'm going away for a week or two so I just wanted to get this out. Ah sorry again for the long chapter that this is! Also, I have a fun Idea for Koko in future chapters, I'm sure it will be entertaining!
"You can't be serious, captain! It's far too early!"
"Come on, don't be like that Nanao-Chan…" A drunken Shunsui was being scolded by his lieutenant who had taken it upon herself to not let him have sake before noon, which was proving to be more difficult than she thought. He glared at her and smirked a little.
"Stop undressing me with your eyes! This is so unprofes-" Nanao yelled at her captain, she turned away cheeks slightly red, but she was caught by his hand on her shoulder, he spun her around, pat her head and smiled.
"Nanao-chan…I am appalled that you think I would do such a thing. You're the unprofessional one…" he retorted. "Let's go for a walk. No sake, it's my apology." He didn't give her a chance to deny as he dragged her outside and they started walking.
"Captain, would you at least tell me where we are going?" Nanao wished for an answer that she would not get.
"No." all she did was sigh at his response.
The two of them continued walking until they arrived at the destination.
"Well, Nanao-chan was it worth the walk?" Shunsui said from under his hat.
"You just don't give up, do you…" They had come up to a bar of all places.
…
Meanwhile at the squad thirteen barracks, Rukia was sitting outside under one of the trees thinking about useless bits and pieces of nothing which didn't help her pounding headache.
'I need to set it straight with Renji, I need to tell him that he gets nothing other than kisses and hugs, at least not until marriage. Oh I hope he does want to get married…' The raven haired girl thought to herself, the thought of Renji had quelled her headache. She smiled lightly and drifted off in her thoughts.
"Rukia!" she heard a voice that couldn't belong to anyone but Rangiku, so she immediately pretended to be asleep.
"Oh Rukia!" A loud Rangiku said while walking closer. "I know you enough to know that you never sleep during the day, let alone under a tree."
Rukia opened one eye and glared with annoyance. "What's up Rangiku?" Rukia sighed, motioning for her to sit down.
"Well…I was wondering…If you would come drinking with me?" Rangiku asked pressing her hands together and smiling with her eyes closed. "please, everyone is doing something and I don't want to be the lonely drunk woman."
"Hell no. Are you forgetting what happened last time I drank with you? Kenpachi almost killed me! And let's not forget, that Nii-sama tried to kill Ichigo."
Rukia had been forced to go drinking with Rangiku, who also forced Orihime to come, and it was no mystery how she managed to get Kenpachi there. Not with feminine charms, she had convinced him Ichigo would be there so they could fight.
"HEY! Yeah, you! Large guy with bells! You think you're strong!? Fight me, you isn't nothin but a princess!" a very drunk Rukia bellowed at Kenpachi, who was both sober, and very annoyed at the drunk girl yelling at him.
"Bring it on bitch! Just don't cry when I snap your bones!"
"Da-Dance! So..So…Sode n-no Shirayuk-" Kenpachi ran out of patience and attacked her. Kenpachi didn't even use his zanpakuto, all he did was deliver a bone shattering kick to her side, and she was done, out like a light, Kenpachi stood over her while she was momentarily conscious.
"Still think I'm a princess!?" The large angry battle happy captain barked in her face.
"N-no sir…" she had lost consciousness moments later.
…
Rukia came to in a room that seemed familiar, but she couldn't remember anything as to where it was.
"Rukia, are you finally going to get up?" she heard a familiar voice as she slipped out of consciousness.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Rukia awoke with a scream in a cold sweat.
"Oh? You finally wake up? Do you know what you made me do!?" It was Ichigo who was covered in blood. "I had to fight Kenpachi again because you got drunk and got him riled up for battle!"
"S-sorry, why am I here in your office? AND DID YOU CHANGE ME INTO THIS WHITE ROBE!? I WILL KILL YOU!" She tried to jump up to attack him but fell over clutching her side.
"No, Kenpachi dragged you in here like that; he said something about Rangiku changing you out of your bloody shihakusho. Either way, I fought Kenpachi for your ass. I sent a hell butterfly to Byakuya, he should be here to take you to squad four soon. Oh, he's here…" Ichigo stood up as he felt Byakuya's spirit pressure approach. He painfully walked up to Rukia and picked her up and started making his way to the door.
"Put me down, fool! And why aren't you going to squad four, you can hardly walk straight." Rukia sighed in defeat when she got no answer, Ichigo put her down at her request only to lose his balance and fall on her.
"YOU DAMN FOOL GET OFF!" She yelled although out of breath from being crushed under him. He was trying to get up, he managed, but slowly. As he was getting up, about halfway off of her he heard the two words he dreaded.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura." It was Byakuya standing in the door, who had no idea that Ichigo lost his balance due to the battle that had recently ended. After the flurry of blades subsided Orihime ran in because she had heard shouting and Ichigo screaming.
"Umm, Captain Kuchiki, I'm sure whatever happened for him to make you mad, I'm sure he is sorry." Orihime was trying to smile at the noble in front of her but his stoic face made her uncomfortable. "Ah, Kuchiki-san! Why did your brother attack Kurosaki-kun?"
"I should have spoken sooner, he was helping me to the door because he sensed nii-sama, he lost his balance and fell on me, neither of us could move well because of Kenpachi, it's a long story for a different day." Rukia apologized to the three of them and with her brother's help she limped out of the room.
…
"Right…I promise I won't bring Kenpachi this time! I thought he would be weird drunk, but he didn't even take one sip." Rangiku sounded sad.
"Still. No." Rukia had shut her eyes again hoping to soothe the pain in her head which had returned when she remembered everything that happened, despite being heavily drunk at the time.
"MATSUMOTO!" The loud voice belonged to a very angry Captain Hitsugaya. The sudden shout made the two girls jump.
"Umm, Hi captain!" Rangiku spoke quickly with a smile, hoping he would calm down. Nope.
"Matsumoto…would you like to tell me why you are here with Lieutenant Kuchiki, instead of doing your work?" He sounded irritated. He stood over his lieutenant staring at her expecting an answer.
"…" She remained silent. "But Captain…" she tried to argue but was cut off.
"Come, Matsumoto." Hitsugaya sighed and turned and paused. "Now." And he flash stepped away.
"Oh well. By Rukia, say hi to Renji for me!" Rangiku called as she took off towards her barracks.
"…Renji…" she said quietly closing her eyes.
"Yes?" It was Renji standing next to her.
"Eh? How long have you been there!?" she spoke as if she had been scared half to death. She stood up and walked up to him, she was about a foot from him when she stopped and her face went sad and stood there looking at the floor
"For about ten seconds. I came to see you. What's wrong Rukia?" Renji's voice went from happy to concerned as she stopped.
"Where do you see us in two years?" she spoke quietly enough that he could hardly hear her.
"Where is this coming from Rukia?"
"Just answer me…" She spoke louder as she looked him in the eye with her round purple eyes.
"In two years…I see us married, very happily, we are the happiest we have ever been, because we have each other." Renji had a serious face but his eyes spoke with love.
"…Thank you. Thank you so much Renji." Rukia embraced him with her head in his chest. She needed this. She had been so stressed, but between hanging out with Ichigo, Orihime and her friends in the world of the living, and this, she felt at ease.
"Rukia, I have been meaning to talk to you. I've noticed that you are uncomfortable when I talk about advancing our relationship, I'm not talking about marriage. I know that discussing sex makes you uncomfortable. I will respect you and not push anything anymore. I will wait for you until marriage, if there is a chance I could lose you because of something like that, I will never ask or suggest anything that you are uncomfortable with ever again. You mean so much to me, Rukia. I love you." Renji spoke with a soft voice that soothed Rukia. She was going to speak when tears started showing.
"I was going to talk to you about that. It's like you can read my mind sometimes. I love you too, Renji!" Rukia couldn't keep speaking because of her tears. So she just buried her face in Renji's chest. She pulled away and tilted her head up and moved closer, they locked lips for quite a while until they were startled by an explosion.
"that's probably Ichigo trying to blow up his barracks again." Renji said earning a chuckle from Rukia before they returned to their kiss.
…
Orihime was covered in sweat and dirt panting heavily. She gripped her zanpakuto, she closed her eyes and focused her spiritual pressure into her blade. Orihime started glowing with a golden aura which completely covered her from head to toe, even on her blade. She opened her eyes and called out to her sword.
"Embrace, Uchiakeru!" When she spoke those words her zanpakuto melted into a pale yellow liquid and covered her right arm, leaving only the hilt and a much shorter blade behind which she switched to her left hand. She looked up to her opponent and took a different stance, her feet spread further apart as she got lower to the ground, her right arm in front of her face, and her left arm crossed her body and under her other arm, the short sword held backward with the blade facing the ground
"Oh, it's been a while since I've seen that, I can't say I like what your Shikai can do to me, though. I hope this means you're fighting seriously!" Ichigo had charged at her, his ripped coat trailing behind him, he brought down Zangetsu on her, which she blocked with her arm and the ground around her feet crushed due to the force of the hit. The rest of the squad was amazed by the fight between the captain and lieutenant. She threw Ichigo back and replied.
"I will fight seriously even against you, I know that if I hold back you'll get mad, and I don't want you to get mad, and there is no point in trying to improve yourself if you pull punches for your opponent! No matter who it is!" Once she replied she attacked Ichigo with the shorter blade bringing it up to him in an attempt to stab the bottom of his chin, which he dodged barely, he grabbed her hand and she replied to his action with a massive punch to the side, there was a cracking sound when her yellow arm collided with him. He was thrown from her and into a wall.
"Oh I hate that arm…let's see what happens when I do this! Getsuga…Tenshou!" his attack had made contact with her, but with little visible effect, she had used her right arm to block most of the attack from hitting her in the face, but some had escaped from her defense and hit her left arm, and blew a hole in the wall behind her, nearly hitting a group of the squad members who had been watching from behind her which made them sit there frozen in fear.
"Let's continue this outside; I don't want to get anyone hurt with some stray attacks." Orihime dropped out of her stance to ask this. She was starting to get a very wide grin.
"Alright fine, I can't use anything too fancy inside anyway." Ichigo nodded and followed Orihime outside, she then turned and asked him something.
"What do you mean by fancy? Did you learn some new awesome technique?" Orihime seemed happy that he said it wasn't something to use inside.
"Maybe, maybe not. You will see..." Ichigo charged her and brought down his blade, she retaliated, but they blocked each other's attacks flawlessly, until Orihime managed to get a punch landed on him, sending him flying back, after he regained his footing, he turned Zangetsu to point at the ground, took his right hand and set it flat on the bottom of the hilt.
"Gesshoku!" In one motion he swung his right arm back around to his side, leaving a trail of what looked like blood, but black, almost like tar. He clenched shut his hand making a fist, the tar-like substance dripped onto the ground and gathered into a pool under Zangetsu, he then slammed the sword down into the pool, the tar crawled up Zangetsu and rested on the edge of the blade.
"That was so awesome!" Orihime exclaimed, although not dropping her defense, because she knew it would hurt if she did. "But, what does it do?"
"That's a surprise…" Ichigo charged her and swung at her, meeting the blade with her yellow arm. The tar shot out at her, crawling on her arm, and over to her left shoulder where it all stopped flowing and rested there, Ichigo backed off and shouted something else, this time putting his left hand on the hilt. Orihime's grin had gone from just wide, to sadistic.
"Mangetsu!" then the tar spread from her shoulder and covered most of her left arm and torso and face, and then it detonated in an explosion of black. Most of the upper half of her shihakusho had been blown away, exposing the bandages she wore to cover her scars from the last time they went full out in a fight with each other, even if no one ever saw her without anything covering herself. Only a little bit of the right side of the shihakusho remained, which she tore off anyway. When the smoke from the explosion cleared so that the rest of the squad could see, every male member of the squad was eyes wide and mouth agape at the sight of their lieutenant with half her clothes missing, Ichigo however noticed this, and spiked his pressure so much that it made them look away out of fear of facing the captain's wrath. Even though they looked away Koko had started to scold them for looking at her mom with uncouth intentions.
"That will just get in the way. That was…amazing, let's finish this!" Orihime spoke with a sadistic smile. As much as she tried not to fight, she was infatuated with it, so when she did cross blades, and got serious, she had a great joy doing it.
"You are pretty damn scary when you fight… you know that? You seem so delicate and peaceful, but when you cross swords…it's like you are a different person. And I like it, so yeah, let's finish this!" he held out Zangetsu in front of him. "BANKAI!" Ichigo yelled, and exploded into a pillar of black spirit pressure. Some of the squad members watching had to get away because they felt like they were being drowned in his presence.
Orihime raised her right arm over her head and the yellow liquid started to condense on her hand. She smirked and brought down her hand in a forward motion.
"Kin Ukeireru!" A massive wave of what looked like liquid gold shot out of her hand and was flying toward Ichigo who returned the favor with a wave of his own, but not before getting hit with it once, it had gotten on his left arm and it snapped. He let out a scream of pain before using his broken left arm for one more attack. Orihime was sent back when Ichigo managed to flash step up to her and deliver a massive kick to her side.
"One more time! Come on attack me!" She didn't need to be told to attack during a fight.
"Kin Ukeireru!" Again she raised her arm as the liquid condensed on her hand.
"Tenga Gesshoku!" He moved his left hand over the chain that was hanging off the hilt and clenched a fist around it. The familiar tar shot out of the tip of Ichigo's sword but this time, it had a tint of red in it. The two waves collided and mixed together for a second before a massive explosion broke out. Orihime shielded her eyes from the dust and behind the cloud she heard Ichigo's voice.
"Bakudo no 61. Rikujokoro!" and six wide beams of light hit her midsection and held her there. Before she knew it he was in front of her with the tip of his sword at her throat. He pulled it away and spoke to her. "That was fun." He bent over and kissed her on the lips despite all the dirt and dust on her face, she was still restricted by his kido but happily accepted the kiss. After a couple seconds, pain shot through Ichigo's arm and torso, and he released the kido.
"We should go to squad four, we each…Oh my god! Ichigo I need to get some new clo-" She was frantic because she realized that she had nothing but bandages covering her body. But she was interrupted as Ichigo picked her and slung her over his shoulder. She hadn't been carried her like this since he had fought Grimmjow.
"Oh just come on, we're going to squad four…" Ichigo had enough energy left to flash step his way there. Once inside he set Orihime down. "I'm going to go fi…" he managed to get a few steps away before collapsing.
…
"Oh good, you finally are waking up." A female voice said, Ichigo thought it sounded familiar but couldn't place a name to it, he looked around and saw who it was from.
"Isane? Retsu? What the hell happened? I felt fine, then…nothing…" Ichigo sat up and turned to the two standing in the door.
"Well, it seems that your lieutenant poisoned you, but don't worry you're fine." Unohana had explained why he was unconscious
"I should have told you Kin Ukeireru is a poison technique along with a physical aspect, any limb it touches, breaks, along with releasing a poison that slowly deteriorates spiritual pressure, usually causing a blackout within thirty seconds, if used on someone with an average spiritual pressure, longer on captain-class, but if I use a different technique, the effect is canceled. I knew it wouldn't affect you so quickly because of your massive spiritual pressure." Orihime came into the room, covered in bandages, fresh ones at least.
"That's alright, but damn! I forgot how much fun it was to fight with you. I think I gave you a few more scars this time." Ichigo smiled as he spoke which made Orihime walk up to the bed and kiss him quickly. "But seriously, you are scary when you fight. At least when you fight seriously." Ichigo had a small smile on his face.
"Well…I…" she leaned in to tell him something that she probably didn't want to say in polite company. "I have somewhat of a fetish for fighting…" as she backed away she stared at the ground and Ichigo's face turned slightly red. Isane who was standing next to Unohana still just looked back and forth between them trying to figure out what it was. Unohana on the other hand let out a tiny chuckle as if she knew something behind that peaceful smile.
"That. That is…unexpected. I…That's good to know…" Ichigo still had a slight redness to his face.
Ichigo stood up and started walking to the door but Unohana stopped him and pulled him off to the side and whispered something to him.
"I must suggest to you that you fight with her more, it seems that it gets her out of her clothes. She reminds me of myself when I was younger, you know…" She let him go but he was petrified at what she had said to him.
'Did Retsu just tell me that she has a fetish for fighting too!? And did she just give me a tip on how to get Orihime out of her clothes!? I think I need a drink, need to find Shunsui…' he thought to himself with wide eyes of shock. He just couldn't believe what he heard.
"Are you okay, Ichigo?" It was Isane who once again had no idea what was going on.
"I don't know… I need a drink." He turned to Orihime and took her hand and walked out.
"What did she say to you to get this kind of reaction?" Orihime asked, and she didn't seem to be bothered that she was only wearing bandages. Maybe she didn't mind so much because Ichigo put his ripped coat on her, it wasn't so ripped it was just cut up around the bottom and right sleeve due to Orihime slashing at him before she released her Shikai.
"Retsu…just told me that she…also has your fetish…I need a drink, I'm going to get Shunsui to bring some sake." Orihime had the same look on her face now.
"That sounds like a good Idea…I need one too now…" Orihime's voice was shaking as if she just escaped death by an inch.
…
"Nanao-chan, don't be so mad at me. I meant well, you needed to loosen up, and I thought you would do it there."
Nanao just continued to ignore him and watch fish swim in a pond, she was forced by him sit in a garden in one of the other barracks, because he didn't want to go back to his office and do some paperwork.
"If I need to loosen up, I will do it when I please." She said calmly, not taking her eyes off the fish. Shunsui was going to say something but was distracted by a hell butterfly from Ichigo.
'My office…bring sake…hurry…I'll explain when you get here…'
"Ha, I've been meaning to have drink with him!" Shunsui's face lit up with joy. "Nanao-chan I'm sorry I tried to make you have fun." He stood up and pat her hair, which seemed to really bother her. "Anyway, you can go back to the barracks, I am going to the fifth squad. I'll see you later." And with that he was gone, Nanao kept staring at the fish and sighed before getting up and leaving a few minutes later
…
"Ichigo…" Orihime called for him who was sitting across from her in his desk.
"…" Silence.
"Ichigo!" Orihime raised her voice a little to get his attention
Ichigo looked up from his desk and looked at her, he still wasn't used to her calling him Ichigo, but he had to get used to it. "Yeah…?" he responded to her with a distant response.
"I just Imagined Unohana in the past when she had the fe-" She was cut off by Ichigo
"Nope, I don't want to know, please no." Ichigo threw his hands to his ears, he didn't want to ruin the innocent look of Unohana.
There was a knocking at the door, and it slid open, Shunsui behind it, with a couple bottles of sake.
"Well Ichigo, about time you invited me to drink with you, oh, and Orihime-chan too? Although it seems she has already had a bottle or two." He was referring to her wearing his captain's coat over her bandages. "Yeah well we need this, and no, I blew off her shihakusho earlier during a fight, and she hasn't had a chance to go change, and I'll keep her here until later, when my squad goes to their quarters, I don't want them gawking at her again." Ichigo explained her appearance to him and motioned him to the couch in front of him as he got up and sat on the right of Orihime, putting his arm around her and pulling her close. Shunsui sat on the other side.
"Now tell me, why such an urgent message for just a drink?" Shunsui looked puzzled as he poured a cup for Ichigo, one for Orihime and one for himself. "Drink up." He downed his sake in a matter of seconds, so did Ichigo, but Orihime just took a small sip, she wasn't one for drinking, but this time was an exception.
"Were you close with Retsu when you were younger?" Ichigo asked quietly.
"Yes, we were like best friends when we were young, her, me and Jushiro. We were very close, why?"
"…"
"What happened between you and her to bring this up?" He asked as Ichigo motioned for another cup.
"Did she ever mention how she felt about fighting?" Ichigo said from under a cup of sake.
"Well she was very strong and she seemed to…wait, she didn't tell you that…did she? Ha, why the hell would she do that?" He was laughing madly from under his hat. Ichigo looked to Orihime to see if it was ok to tell him her secret. She nodded hesitantly and took another sip of sake.
"Okay, as I said before I blew Orihime's shihakusho off during a fight, we tried to use new attacks on each other, anyway what was left were some bandages covering her chest to hide scars that no one would see anyway. We eventually finished the fight and I carried her to squad four, then I collapsed because she poisoned me with her Shikai. I woke up in one of the rooms, with Isane and Retsu they said the Orihime poisoned me, after I woke up, Orihime walked in, covered in more bandages, I had told her that she is a bit scary when she fights seriously, like she's a different person, she came up to me and told me she has a fetish for fighting. Let's just say I was speechless. So I got up to leave and Retsu pulled me aside and said, and I quote, 'I must suggest to you that you fight with her more, it seems that it gets her out of her clothes. She reminds me of myself when I was younger, you know…' I still can't believe it was her who said that…" Ichigo had managed a lengthy explanation while drinking a third cup of sake. Orihime hadn't even finished her first before she passed out on the couch lying her head on Ichigo's lap with her face slightly red. "Ha, I should have known…she can't handle alcohol…I guess I should stop drinking, can't change the past." Ichigo handed back the empty cup to Shunsui, who took it back with a smirk.
You can hold yours though, three cups and not a single slip on words. Ichigo I was thinking, you should have a nice garden here, then maybe we can drink there instead of on this couch…I'll even help you design it." Shunsui had stood up and walked to a window to look out at an empty courtyard with a single tree. "In fact, I'm ordering you to put a garden somewhere, it may help you calm down sometimes. Also, women find gardens romantic…" He slightly motioned to the sleeping girl in Ichigo's lap.
"Dammit Shunsui, not you too." Ichigo complained, referencing Unohana's words about getting Orihime out of her clothes. He just chuckled from under his hat.
"I'm just saying, and I'm serious about the garden, maybe Koko-chan would like to keep the garden, it might make her happy." Shunsui turned and left motioning a small wave to Ichigo. He stood up and had Orihime in his arms bridal style, carrying her to his quarters, which she had been using since he slept in his office most of the time. He took his ripped up coat off of her, and lay her down on the bed. She looked so calm, even though a few hours ago, had attacked him with no hesitation at all. He bent down and kissed her forehead before going to the other side of the bed and getting in with her, he moved closer to her and whispered in her ear.
"I love you." And not ten seconds later he was asleep.
…
The next morning…
"Kenji Okomeita, come here please." Koko had said to a very tall member of the squad who had been walking down the hall in front of the captain's office.
"Yes, Third Seat Kurosaki? What do you need?" The tall boy asked quietly, even though he was much taller than her, he was scared of her.
"Go find my father, I think he will want to see this." Koko spoke while looking into the office and out the window on the other side and Shunsui was standing there in a group of other people she didn't recognize.
Kenji had found himself in front of the captain's quarters. He kneeled down and started to speak.
"Captain! Captain Kurosaki!" He heard some shuffling and footsteps. Ichigo picked up his ripped coat and put it on. He opened the door with a tired look on his face.
"What is it Kenji?"
"Your daughter has requested you to go to your office, there is something you should see."
"Is she okay? What does she want me to see?" Ichigo asked sounding concerned.
"She seemed fine, she was staring into your office when she told me to get you."
"Okay, go back and tell her I'll be there in about ten minutes." Ichigo finished speaking and the boy was gone. He turned back to the bed to see Orihime sitting up and staring at him with a smile and an eyebrow raised.
"What are you doing here? I thought you sleep in your office." Orihime asked as she stretched and stood up, straightening her messy hair.
"What? I can't sleep with my fiancé!?" Ichigo asked with a smirk as he walked up to her.
"No, that's fine, I would much prefer to be together here, it gets lonely sometimes here at night." She smiled as he got close and then she threw her arms around him and pulled him close resting her head on his chest. "I love you, now go to Koko, she's waiting for you. I'll be there soon."
"I love you, too" Ichigo turned and strode out the door, his ripped coat behind him.
He flash stepped to his office, and noticed Koko standing inside looking out the window at the group of people standing there.
"What's up Koko?" Ichigo walked over and put his hand on her head.
"What are they doing in the courtyard?" Koko asked as she looked up at her father.
"Remember when you joined the squad, you said you like gardens, and were sad that we didn't have a garden, well, Shunsui insists I put a garden there. But I didn't think he would make me put it there so soon."
Koko's eyes lit up more than usual, and a wide smile crossed her face as she ran out the door and down the hall to the door that led into the courtyard.
"Hi! Are you really putting a garden here?" Koko asked Shunsui with a smile.
"Ah, Koko-chan, yes, but we need to dig up the ground first, would you like to help?"
"How deep does it need to be?" She had a chance to show off her new technique which she had been working on.
"About two meters all the way around…why?" Shunsui looked suspiciously to Koko as she smirked and put her hands together and started glowing with a green aura.
"I would suggest you move to a higher place, Captain Commander. This is a bit messy." She moved her eyes from Shunsui to the rest of the group, which to her request have moved to the roof.
"Just don't blow up the barracks." Ichigo called from the window where he had been watching. Koko just nodded and spoke out to her zanpakuto.
"Crack and Explode, Shinzo!" and there was a large explosion, but this time she looked the same, Koko didn't notice, She took her white sword and stabbed into the ground and spoke loudly. "Kukan Kakuchu!" The ground started glowing white and slowly started moving like a liquid up the blade and absorbed into the Manji shaped guard. After a few seconds a perfect rectangle two meters deep formed in the entire courtyard. She dropped into the resulting pit and pointed the tip of the blade to the sky again screaming another name. "Kukan Taiho!" and she thrust the blade a little and four thin white beams shot out of the guard into the air each resulting in a small explosion, each one threatening to break her hand. She stopped and looked up at the dumbfounded group on the roof.
"That was something…What exactly was that?" Shunsui asked as he jumped down to her.
"I can excavate the ground, walls, trees, basically anything without a soul, and use it as a weapon, although I have to absorb a lot if I want to do damage. And I can control the shape of the hole I make, but I haven't done something this big ye…" she fell over, still not able to use her Shikai efficiently and Shunsui caught her, and jumped up and went inside and handed her to Ichigo who set her down onto the couch and Orihime walked in and looked over to her concerned.
"What happened to Koko-chan?" Orihime spoke quickly because she didn't know what was happening.
"She used her Shikai and did something to dig up the courtyard, and she collapsed again." Ichigo said as he took Orihime's hand and led her out to Shunsui, and the two jumped into the pit to speak with him.
"So, what do you have in mind for the garden?" Ichigo hoped the answer wouldn't be too over the top because he doesn't share the same tastes as Shunsui.
"I think it would suit this spot to have a large Koi pond, with land bridges connecting two islands with a tree on each, and some flowers, and a bench on each island. What do you think?" Shunsui explained making some hand motions and looking at the two. Ichigo was going to ask for something simpler, but Orihime spoke up instead.
"Oh that sounds so nice, I think it would need more than a few flowers though." Orihime smiled as she spoke. Ichigo put his arms around her and bent over a bit to rest his head on her shoulder from behind.
"That's fine, Shunsui. If she has any more Ideas I'll send you a message, If you need us for any reason, send Koko to squad four, we need to talk to Retsu." Ichigo turned ready to leave, but Shunsui spoke up.
"That's fine, but we need to talk later, I have a few things to ask you. But go have your talk with her." Shunsui turned back to the group and he started giving instructions. Ichigo and Orihime had started flash stepping to squad four.
"Um, what do you hope to accomplish by talking to her…Don't tell me that you're going to bring THAT up?" Orihime sounded worried. When they came up to squad four Ichigo reassured her.
"Don't worry, I want to invite them out for sake or something, is that okay with you? I know you can't hold your alcohol, but I can, I won't let anything bad happen." Ichigo asked as he took her hand and went inside.
"I guess, that sounds fun, I wonder what they are like when they get drunk…" Orihime thought and immediately blushed at the thought of the two women being drunk doing something 'uncouth' and she started shaking her head. 'No! Why did I think that!? There is something wrong with me…'
"That is a sight to see…why are you blushing?" Ichigo turned and looked at her as they got to Unohana's office. Ichigo knocked and waited.
"Come in." Unohana said just loud enough to be heard on the other side of the door. Ichigo opened the door and dragged Orihime in, who had still been blushing.
"Hey Retsu, Isane, are you busy? I could come back." Ichigo asked, not wanting to be a burden to them.
"No no, Come in Ichigo, Orihime, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Retsu asked with her normal smile.
"Well, I was wondering if you and Isane wanted to come out with us for a drink later?" Ichigo asked as he turned to Isane and back to Retsu.
Isane was looking out a window at the sky, but when she heard Ichigo's request she spun around and stared at her captain for her response.
"That sounds like fun, I will warn you though, Isane gets weird when she drinks…" She let out a chuckle before continuing. "the last time she drank was when I took her out to celebrate for something which I can't recall, and she downed around 14 bottles of sake. I was being the responsible one, by comparison, I had only two bottles and the last thing I remember was her taking off h-"
"Captain!" Isane cried to Unohana who ignored her.
"I'll leave that part out, but when we got back to the barracks she couldn't walk so she insisted I carry her, I took her to her quarters and she just wouldn't let go of me then she started to cry then took o-"
"Captain…Please don't tell them about that! I'm not even comfortable that you remembered exactly what I did!" Isane's face was bright red and it looked like she was about to cry.
"Alright, Isane, I will keep the rest to myself, but yes, we will go with you. Come back later around seven or eight, we will be ready." Retsu turned back to Ichigo who was staring at Isane with a raised eyebrow.
"Well anyway I have to go see about something at squad six's barracks, I'll leave Orihime here to talk with you two. Play nice now, and please…no fighting…"Ichigo made sure to add that last part on his way out the door.
"So, umm, Unohana-san…" Orihime spoke nervously. "Ichigo tells me that you said that I remind you of yourself?"
"Oh yes, that, I was messing with him, it's fun to watch him when he gets confused. But yes, I have the same secret as you. Although there aren't many people who can fight on my level, so I don't fight much anymore, at all if I can help it." Unohana kept her smile, Isane still looking confused because she had no idea what they were talking about.
"Orihime-san, Captain, what are you two going on about, I'm so lost…" Isane said in a confused voice.
"Oh, we're just talking about fetishes, nothing you would know about." Retsu said with a chuckle.
"Captain!" Isane seemed to be on the verge of insanity.
"Calm down I'm joking, mostly." Retsu had reassured her lieutenant. Orihime sat down next to Isane and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Isane-san, you don't seem like a hardcore drinker like she said, I can barely drink a cup of sake, and how do you drink so much?" Orihime had asked while looking up because she was about as tall as Ichigo.
"Drink very fast, don't stop I guess." Isane was blushing slightly at her question.
"Okay, I'll try that, I want to be able to drink with Ichigo instead of slowly drinking and passing out." Orihime spoke with her ever frequent smile.
"Well, I'm sure he gets weird when he's drunk too." Retsu had called from the other side of the room, where she was watering a potted plant of some kind.
"Actually I never am conscious when he's drunk. Maybe he stops when I pass out, I don't know." Orihime put a finger to her chin as to think.
"Isane, is there anyone you have a crush on?" Unohana had spoken up as she came and sat with the two girls who looked surprised. "What? I used to be a young girl once too, plus, it's just us here, nothing leaves this office, unless you want it to."
"Well, if you're sure you want to know…I can usually keep calm and collected but when I am alone, there's only one person on my mind."
"Who might that be, Isane?"
"You captain! I crave you're body! Day and night you are all I think about!" Isane had thrown herself on to her captain causing Orihime's eyes to go wide with shock. Unohana was wide eyed with confusion.
"Isane! I knew you felt that way about me! As do I!" Retsu had replied much to Orihime's surprise
"Captain! I was joking! That's payback for telling my drunken stories. And I didn't know that you felt that way Captain" Isane retorted, although her face was light red.
"And that was payback for getting payback; I can read you like a book, Isane." Unohana giggled like a little schoolgirl. Which both shocked and creeped out the other two. "We both know you used to like Ichigo, but who is it now?"
"You liked Ichigo?" Orihime seemed to be interested in this topic more that earlier. "Whatever it's in the past now. Who is it now?"
Isane mumbled so quietly that only the letter 'N' was heard. "You have to say it louder. If you tell us, I'll tell you a secret." Unohana said with a smile, as always.
"…Nanao Ise …" Isane had blushed heavily as she said the name. Unohana just chuckled and Orihime had nodded.
"She does have that lesbian vibe about her. Doesn't she, Orihime?" Retsu had started smiling wider when she asked.
"Actually, they are a couple I could see happening. Oh I know! I'll invite Nanao-san to come out with us, and then you can see if she feels the same way!" Orihime felt like having some fun with her friends so she decided to play matchmaker.
"No! please you can't! I'll die!" Isane cried to Orihime but with no success because it was Unohana who had sent a hell butterfly to Shunsui telling him to send Nanao at seven. "Why captain. Why do you do this?"
"Because I want you to have fun with us, and I guess I'll tell you my secret now…" She leaned in and whispered something in Isane's ear, and she fainted.
"Unohana-san! What did you tell her!?" Orihime was startled by what happened. Retsu leaned in and whispered the same thing. Orihime stiffened up and fainted as well falling into Unohana's lap. She just sighed and pat her head
'I wonder what would happen if I told Ichigo about that…' she thought to herself as she waited for Ichigo to return. After twenty minutes Ichigo came back in with cuts all over his face.
"Ichigo? What did you do to Byakuya to make him attack you?" Unohana knew exactly what the cuts were from.
"He's still mad about that thing with Rukia, long story, involves Kenpachi. I'll tell it later. And why are they asleep? It's not even five yet." Ichigo looked back and forth between the smiling captain, and the two unconscious lieutenants.
"We were having a nice chat between women, and they couldn't handle what I had said. Would you like to know what it was?" Retsu seemed proud of herself in her feat.
"Hell no…Actually, maybe later, anyway mind if I stay here while Shunsui finishes stocking my barracks with Koi?" Ichigo let his curiosity get the better of him.
"That's fine, here take your lieutenant from my lap please," She motioned him to Orihime and Ichigo picked her up, trying not to touch Unohana, he had enough of inappropriate accusations thrown at him by Byakuya. "Also I invited Nanao Ise along with us. I hope that's alright."
"I won't argue it, she needs to loosen up anyway." Ichigo replied and she chuckled. Ichigo had sat where Orihime was next to Unohana, he had Orihime's head on his shoulder as she sat in his lap. Ichigo and Unohana made small talk for about two hours when Isane woke up still a bit shaken up by what her captain said to her, but she straightened herself out when she saw Ichigo.
"Isane, nice of you to join us. Pleasant dreams I hope?" The smiling woman asked the tall lieutenant.
"Yes, I'm fine, why would I not be fine, don't be silly, you only told me that you and-" Retsu had cut her off when she was talking.
"That will be saved for later Isane, Ichigo doesn't want to know yet." Orihime had shifted a little and Ichigo stroked her hair, which woke her up, and she looked up and kissed Ichigo before asking when he got there.
"It's almost seven thirty, where is Nanao?" Isane blushed as she heard that name, then she looked at Ichigo and thought to herself. 'I know Ichigo is handsome, but he has Orihime, even so…Nanao might just feel the same way as I do. I hope nothing happens tonight. Nothing bad at least.' The four of them continued to talk about the fight between Ichigo and Orihime the day before, and there was a knock at the door, then Nanao came in, startled by the people waiting for her.
"Yes, is there something you need, Captain Unohana?" The uptight lieutenant asked as she stood completely still.
"You are coming with us tonight. It's a surprise as to where, I don't even know, it was Ichigo's idea. No buts." Unohana had explained to her.
"Fine, as long as it isn't a plan by my captain to get me to drunk." Nanao replied and sat down next to Isane, which made Isane start shaking and blush. "What's wrong with Isane? She seems to be shaking and her face is red!" Nanao sounded a bit concerned for her.
"She's fine, it's a side effect of some medicine." Unohana assured.
"It's about eight, let's go." Ichigo stood up and waited by the door for everyone to get up, they left the barracks and started walking, Ichigo and Orihime out front leading the way, Retsu, between the two other lieutenants. She started to speed up to walk next to the two in front sliding right up to Orihime and whispered to the both of them.
"Watch Isane tonight, I think something fun might happen."
"Alright, should be interesting with the way she's been acting around Nanao." Ichigo scratched the back of his head when he looked back at the two women, the tall one blushing, and the shorter one just walking normally. "Anyway, Retsu, I like that your finally talking to me other than telling me to get out of your barracks, what happened?" Ichigo's question had startled her. She thought about it for a minute and then she spoke.
"Well I guess I've grown accustomed to you, as odd as that may sound, since that whole Ginjo incident we have been in peace, as I'm sure you can see, but since you let all your injuries from training your squad and trying not to get killed by the occasional assault from Kenpachi or Byakuya, you appear in my barracks as the only one who in being treated for a few days, which I do myself because I get bored. I hope that isn't weird in your eyes." Retsu explained casually staring at the sky.
"Aww, is Retsu-chan lonely?" Ichigo said with a smile and got a muffled chuckle from Isane and Orihime.
"I guess I am…" she said with a sigh at Ichigo's teasing.
"Oh, cheer up, Retsu-chan, I was kidding, that's a fine reason." Ichigo said her name like that because it irritated her.
"I don't mind you calling me Retsu, but you keep calling me Retsu-chan, and I will personally make sure you can't have children." Retsu had kept her stare on the sky only turning to Ichigo when she finished speaking, and smiled. Ichigo had visibly paled at the thought of her castrating him, the four women just started laughing madly.
"Okay, we're here; I requested a private room in the back, so let's enjoy." Ichigo stopped in front of one of the many bars there were, as they were going in, Ichigo was waiting for the others to go in, he heard Nanao say something.
"Oh I hate you so much right now…" It was the same bar that Shunsui dragged her to earlier
"Oh, shut up and have some fun." And he jokingly pushed her inside.
Once they all were inside they were escorted to a room in the back and Ichigo requested around fifty bottles so as to not run out due to Isane's excessive drinking. Little did he know what was about to happen.
Isane was sticking true to Retsu's word; Orihime had managed to finish a bottle which caused Ichigo to worry knowing that Orihime could not hold her alcohol well. Nanao had loosened up a bit and had three bottles. Retsu and Ichigo had had about nine total between them. There was about an hour of small talk before Isane finally jumped up and tackled Nanao pinning her to the floor.
"O-oh N-Nanao I want you so much!" Isane whispered into her ear causing her to blush. Unohana jabbed her elbow at Ichigo who was wrapped up watching Orihime try not to pass out.
"Look this is what I was talking about. Isane has a huge crush on Nanao, that's why I invited her, she used to have one on you, but moved on." Retsu spoke quietly as to not ruin the moment. Nanao stopped struggling and blushed a bit.
"Isane, normally I would believe you, but…you aren't sober, this is probably just the sake making you talk weird." She was looking Isane in the eyes sadly.
"Nanao, she may be drunk, but she told me how she felt about you earlier, when she was perfectly sober. And now that we know you feel the same, have some fun, we're all your friends we won't judge you." Unohana had said in a motherly tone.
"In that case…Isane, I know that you probably won't remember this tomorrow…but I feel the same way!" Nanao spoke with a rare smile that not even her captain would see often, she pulled Isane down on top of her and embraced the drunken girl tightly, and they rolled off into a corner and just sat there, with Isane just hanging off Nanao.
"Well Retsu, it seems you are the only one without a date. Shall I go find Kenpachi?" Ichigo joked behind another bottle.
"If that man comes in here I will give you a real reason to be at my barracks. I'm fine being the odd one out." Even though she spoke through a smile Ichigo knew, even with his mind starting to drift, that she was lonely, but his thoughts were interrupted when Orihime who had been standing in a corner trying to stand, fell over into the pile of empty bottles in the middle of the room, Ichigo couldn't help but laugh. He picked her up, and put her near the door, and took his coat from the floor near where the pile of zanpakuto had been and put it over her. Another couple hours passed and only the two captains had been left conscious. Isane was blacked out on top of Nanao who had passed out much before her, Orihime was still near the door. They had already gotten past the whole fetish thing and agreed that they will keep it to themselves.
"So…I-Ichigo. What was i-it like?" Unohana had stumbled on her words, the many bottles now catching up to her.
"Huh, h-how was wha?" Ichigo was feeling the same effect.
"Being, yo-you know, that hol-hollow thing." Unohana had finished another bottle, she was on her twelfth bottle, while Ichigo had nine.
"H-He was a f-fucking dick. Al..ways calling me k-king and shit. Not to mention…con…stantly trying to control me." Ichigo was finishing his tenth bottle "How bout you? Got a-anything in your head…" he had started another bottle.
"Not…that I…I can say in," she finished another bottle. "polite company."
"How in hell is…th-this polite co...mpany?" he swung his arms around nearly hitting her in the face, pointing out the unconscious lieutenants around them.
"There is…one…voi-voice telling me to…" She finished yet another bottle and started swaying
"Hey, Retsu you okay?" Ichigo managed to keep his words together a little. He looked over to Retsu who had finished another bottle, and just fell over onto the pile of bottles. Ichigo laughed a bit before speaking. "I guess I win. I didn't think you could drink like that Retsu." And with that he stood up, trying to move her off the pile, but fell over on top of her, he tried again, with the same result. He gave up and rolled off her back with the thought 'Fuck it.' And he was passed out next to the large pile.
…
"What the hell happened here? Nanao-chan? Isane-chan? Even Retsu and Ichigo? Hell, Even Orihime-chan…" It was Shunsui who had come back to the bar and was led into the room by the owner who had complained about two captains and three lieutenants sleeping there. "What did you five do last night, this is something.
"Shunsui…I would suggest you stop talking so loud, please?" It was Retsu who was still face down in the pile of bottles.
"Of course, but what happened last night?" He spoke quieter as he sat down across from her.
"Isane confessed her love to Nanao, Orihime drunk herself into a coma and passed out, and Ichigo out-drank me. That's all I remember." She said quietly as she tried to move off the pile.
"So you're saying that Nanao and Isane are in love? And Ichigo out-drank you, kudos to him."
"Retsu…I win…ow! Why!?" It was Ichigo sitting up speaking, when he got hit by a bottle that she threw at him.
"Because I haven't been that drunk in at least 200 years and the first time you invite me somewhere I end up passed out in a pile of bottles."
"Fair enough. Although, Shunsui, when did you get here? And the thing with Nanao, was Retsu's idea." Ichigo spoke up and had another bottle thrown at him but he caught it this time and set it down, he turned to Orihime and started rubbing her back.
"I just got here, I was concerned when Nanao-chan didn't come back last night but I figured she would be safe with Retsu, and I guess I was right. Oh Ichigo, your garden is finished, Koko seemed really happy that she had some flowers and fish to care for." Shunsui spoke a bit louder only for Unohana spike her spiritual pressure.
"What did I say about talking loud." Her pressure cause the other three still passed out to wake up
"Sorry." He apologized.
"Ichigo…I think I drank too much…" Orihime was sitting up and put her head on Ichigo's chest and embraced him. He returned the embrace and kissed the top of her head.
"It's okay, just close your eyes…I'll take you back to the barracks soon."
"Damn Isane, did you have to be so grabby last ni…Captain!" she had fallen over Isane and landed on her as she tried to stand up to see her captain.
"Nanao don't be so rough…" Isane just mumbled and went back to sleep. Unohana had trouble standing because of the massive hangover she was experiencing.
"Retsu, wait here, I'll take Orihime back then come back and help you and Isane."
No, that's fine I can manage." She managed to stand up but was leaning against the wall, and just sat back down. "Fine, go. I'll wait." Her usual cheerful and happy voice was replaced with an irritated and tired one. Ichigo put Orihime on his back, her arms around his neck, and he flash stepped to his barracks, and walked into his quarters, he took his coat off her and put it on. Within five minutes he was back at the bar. Shunsui and Nanao were gone. And he had to carry the two back to squad four.
"Isane, get up!" he spoke loudly in her ear just for her to slap him without opening her eyes. Retsu couldn't hold back her words.
"You deserved that, you damn strawberry."
"Fine, limp back."
"I'm sorry, I know that you don't like that, just couldn't resist." Her usual smile had come back, but her voice was still different. Ichigo had Isane on his back and Retsu holding onto his arm, limping. He had all his and Isane's zanpakuto, and Retsu had hers over her shoulder.
"I still don't know why your limping, you got drunk not attacked." Ichigo spoke from under the lieutenant hanging over him; she was difficult to carry like that because she was so tall.
"I guess one of the bottles dug into my hip, it's just sore. I better not hear any rumors because of this." Her normal voice had returned with that smile.
"It might be easier if she would wake up and walk, I could carry you instead, I'm sure she won't be limping." Ichigo spoke slowly because it was growing increasingly difficult to hold Isane.
"I don't like what you're implying Ichigo, you can carry around Orihime, and Isane, but you will not pick me up." She spoke distantly to him.
"Hey, I'm only suggesting that because you look very uncomfortable and are limping. Are you still drunk, why are you saying stuff like that?" Ichigo spoke louder this time.
"I'm sorry Ichigo, my mind is elsewhere, trying to beat down this headache. I can't think straight, you just remind me of your father…" She spoke quietly as they were now inside the squad four barracks.
"You knew my father?" Ichigo asked surprised as they went into her office, he set Isane down on a chair and put her zanpakuto in her lap then helped Retsu to her desk.
"Yes. But I'll tell you about that a different time, hopefully the next time we have an outing like this we won't end up passed out in a room of alcohol." She spoke with that usual tone and smile as Ichigo had started walking out.
"I look forward to it!" He said as he walked out. After flash stepping to his barracks he greeted his squad and said the next week will be to improve their kido abilities, along with his, the highest level kido he could do was Rikujokoro; Rukia could do at least Soren Sokatsui. He decided to one up her in the kido aspect. He walked down the halls and came to the door that led out into his garden. It was less of a garden and more of a pond. There was a deep pond with large Koi Fish in it, two islands on either side of the pond, with a winding land bridge in between with flowers along the sides, and a smaller land bridge to the door, on each Island there was a large stone slab, one with the symbol for squad five carved into it, and the other had the names of all the previous captains of the squad. He walked over to the slab with the names, and started reading, as his eyes moved down the names, he stopped at one name. Sosuke Aizen. He ran his fingers over the carving and sighed. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for Aizen, he never would have become the 'Hero of the Winter' never would have been anything other than a normal person who can see spirits. He was thankful to the man to some extent, but would never forgive him for all the grief and pain he caused his friends. Ichigo remembered how without hesitation he threw his power away to try to stop him.
"Ichigo…" It was Orihime calling from behind him, which took his thoughts away from Aizen and put them in the present.
"Yeah?" Ichigo asked as he turned to see her with a wide smile. "What's up?
"Nothing, I just figured that we could sit here for a while and just relax." Orihime took him and pushed him onto the ground and she just lay next to him grabbing his hand. Before she knew it Ichigo was asleep.
"Oh you're no fun…"She leaned over to kiss him, but he startled her when he grabbed her arm and pulled her quickly, and locked lips with her. She initially was shocked but calmed down and returned the kiss.
"I most certainly am fun…"
"Yo! Ichigo!" The voice belonged to someone he was hoping wouldn't show up during a good moment.
"What do you want…damn cat demon?" He spoke not looking at who had called him, but looking up at his own name upside down on the slab.