This is a bit of a long one, hopefully Rangiku wont let it get too boring. I hope that it isn't out of character for Yumi...I was a bit worried about that.
I do not own Bleach or any of it's characters...Katsumi is mine.
Katsumi had spent the entire morning in the 11th squad's first aid station she had set up. She was inundated with wounded, unconscious squad members; she fixed them up, sent them back, only to have them return in the same condition an hour later. She began to feel she should never had told Yachiru to confess to Kenny about her true form, he was fulfilling the promise he made that night to beat up the entire squad so she would feel better. Blood was splattered on her uniform, smeared across her face, completely covered her arms up to her elbows, and was encrusted under her finger nails. She looked up tiredly as Yumichika entered carrying another body across his shoulders.
"AH SHIT! NO! No more! I swear...if they don't stop or I don't get help...I am going to curse you all in way that will make the entire seireitei cringe!" She could feel the blood pounding in her temples. "You!" Yumi stopped in the middle of lying the injured man onto a mat looking like a deer caught in headlights. They had all seen the gentle, confident, almost joking healer, but this was the first time he had seen her having a Zaraki moment. "Get your white ass over here and help these men, they are the least critical cases. I need to see to those others."
Yumi's expression ranged from incredulous to almost a hint of fear. "What can I do? I'm not a healer or anything."
"Normally, I would coddle your little hangups and humor you, but not now. They are unconscious and wont notice anything you do anyway."
"I don't know healing kido, I don't know what you expect me to do." A flash of unease swept through him. He had kept his knowledge of kido secret for years, but he felt that this woman somehow knew what he was capable of.
Katsumi placed both of her hands on her hips in exasperation, adding to the blood already on her uniform. "Are going to stand there and deny you graduated from the academy with highest marks in the demonic arts? Forget it...wont wash with me. You are helping me...now...this minute, so get over here and get to work."
"Do you swear no one will find out?" Yumichika asked nervously, so out of character for him that she almost felt sorry she had to do this to him. It was so ingrained in him to deny his ability that actually using it this way was terrifying to him.
She sighed, that he was even asking was a very good sign; she had thought it would require more arguing and bullying. "Yes...I swear I will never reveal your secrets to anyone. I would never had told you to help me if Kenpachi and Yachiru weren't so set on decimating your squad." She snorted. "I'm surprised that they hadn't killed anybody yet." Yumi gave a weak smile before turning to give aide to the shinigami nearest him.
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A few hours, and many shinigami, later Katsumi looked up as she heard two female voices approaching the room.
"There you are Katsumi! We were..Good God! What happened here!" Ise Nanao was first through the door, with Matsumoto Rangiku following. "It looks worse than a war zone in here. Are you alone?"
"Yes. As you can see I am rather busy here, may I help you with anything?" She strode forward so that their backs were facing the still form of Yumichika. He had froze completely still where he knelt by the far wall, hoping not to attract any notice.
"We were hoping that you could help us." Rangiku explained. "At the SWA meeting the other day, we had decided to throw a dance to help raise money. We were hoping that you could help with the music. Nanao said you were always listening to it and have a great collection."
"Weelll..." Katsumi drew out, "I suppose I could, but what would I get in return for helping you?"
Both women looked at each other. Nanao suggested.."Free tickets?" and the same time Rangiku mentioned.. "All the free saki you can drink?" Nanao winced as she mentally added to the budget for saki, which was already quite high, maybe they should raise the price of the tickets.
"You expect me to believe that not paying to get into a party that I will be working at is an incentive? And I only really drink whenever Shun-sui is around...and I don't think that Nanao wants a drunken Taichou at the dance." The look crossing the fukutaichou's face at the thought of spending the evening with her drunken Taichou begging for a dance was classic. "I do have another suggestion. I am going to be speaking to Hitsugaya Taichou within the next couple of days. You can buy me dinner tonight and tell me about him, and we will call it even." Katsumi already knew all about him from his zanpakuto, Hyourinmaru, but it is always helpful to get the impressions of a person close to him. His fukutaichou could tell her what she and squad 10 thinks of him. "I swear that I wont ask you to betray any secrets about him, just tell me how you and others think about him and how best to approach him."
She looked relieved at this, assured that she wouldn't have to be disloyal to Toshiro.
"Deal. I will pay for dinner and tell you what I know, and you will take care of the music for the dance. I will meet you around 6:30 by the West Gate. I know a little restaurant that has great food and no one will disturb us." The statuesque blond held out her hand, and she and the healer shook on their agreement.
"I cant leave from here and don't have a hell butterfly, could you send word to Squad 4 that I need 2 or there people here to help me out?" They both agreed hastily, hoping she wouldn't ask them to help her. They retreated back to safer ground.
Katsumi turned to the unnoticed Yumichika. "I expect to have some help arriving soon, or if you want to leave...go ahead. I want to thank you for the help, you just may have saved my sanity there. Sorry I had to push you into helping me. I wont tell anyone: Ikkaku was in your graduating class, he must know what you can do. You are constant companions even longer. He and Zaraki know how well you fight, maybe they wont hold your kido skills against you?"
Yumi snorted. "Ikkaku only notices the thing he wants to notice, and Taichou has stated numerous times how he feels about it. A slightly whist full look crossed his face. "Maybe if he could accept it...," he shook his head, "He'll only change when the sky turns purple with yellow speckles." A slight blush appeared on his cheeks as he said in an embarrassed tone, "I'm glad I could help you. It seems to be taking them longer to return wounded, maybe they are winding down a little. I'll see what I can do to get them to finish up." He briefly bowed and returned to the training grounds, while Katsumi waited for help from the 4th to arrive.
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The three shinigami sat around a table in a small restaurant run by a family member of squad 10. Matsumoto reminiscence about her Taichou. His likes and dislikes were addressed. "And what ever you do...he is Hitsugaya Taichou. Do not mention his height, age, or color of his hair. He hates being called Shiro-chan, only Ukitake Taichou and Momo can call him that; even then he corrects her." Rangiku made sure to get this point across.
At this time Katsumi became aware of just what Himitsu Soyokaze and Haineko were taking about. She had wanted some time to think on what the women told her before approaching the young Taichou, but apparently that was not to be the case. "So be honest and upfront about everything and don't try to sugar coat things to make it sound better than it actually is." Katsumi tried to wrap up the conversation before it was too late. Himmitsu Soyokaze was starting a conversation with Hyourinmaru.
"Exactly." Nanao assured her. The 8th's fukutaichou knew nearly as much about him as here companion, even though they were in different squads. The friendship between the two was odd due to how unlike they were, but maybe that was why they were so close.
As Hyourinmaru approached the restaurant, Katsumi quickly changed the subject. "How about you tell me about what kind of music you want: rock, pop, jazz...there are several dozen styles to chose from."
"I have this song stuck in my head...and I do not know where I heard it from. Maybe from when we were stationed in the mortal world. It went lik..."
"Matsumoto! Where are you!" The three women heard this yelled from outside the building.
"Oh Rangiku! Did you leave without doing your paperwork again?" Nanao reproved her friend. Hitsugaya Toshiro Taichou walked through the entrance.
"There you are! I bet you're drunk again. You have not completed today's duties, and the day is almost over. Now get back to the barracks and get it done." He said in a familiarly force manner. A sweat drop appeared on the blond's brow. Her eyes fell upon Katsumi.
"Taichou! I am so glad you are here. I was going to get my work done, but Katsumi here needed to talk to me." She quickly stood up and grabbed the startled woman's arm; Nanao groaned and closed her eyes. "Katsumi...may I introduce you to my Taichou...Histugaya Toshiro. You were saying you were wanting to meet him and here he is." A huge smile plastered on her face. "And Taichou! They have private rooms here in the back. Why don't the two of you have a nice cup of tea and get acquainted with each other. I have to go back to my important work."
A look of surprise crossed his face, and then his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Adjudicator Katsumi, it is an honor to be able to meet you. What were you needing to discuss?"
"Matsumoto fukutaichou's suggestion is a good one. Let us go to a private room for some tea and conversation." She threw a look at the buxom blond. "She can return and finish her paperwork. Maybe she will have it completed by the time you get back, and I'm sure Nanao really needs to catch up with Shun-sui. Make sure he hasn't fallen asleep on the roof again, possible put him to bed." Nanao flushed. Both excused themselves and fled from the area. The waiter hastened over to bow them to a back room and bring them tea.
He spoke first, "When I became Taichou and was told about Adjudicators I was a bit intrigue. I was aware that the Soul Society wasn't large enough to hold all the souls from the whole world, but I had never really thought about it till that time. Please tell me, are the other divisions similar to ours?" He asked curiously. Hitsugaya was indeed intelligent, of all the taichous over the years, he was one of the few that actually ask questions about her job. As an intermediary she was limited to how much she was allowed to tell him.
"In structure they are much alike. The individual districts, shinigami, the military structured squads, and the council are very similar. Of course they all use different names for them, but they serve basically the same service. Their appearance fits the cultures they come from; here you get feudal Japan. Except for the seireitei, even the architecture from the slums to the noble houses are derived from it. Only the North American Division is more eclectic; the individual districts are not divided by only class, but culture as well. Many wander from one area to another quite freely, but others stay in the district that is more culturally familiar to them. The others are basically mirror images of us. That is all I'm able to tell you about it, sorry. The Spirit King doesn't allow true knowledge to flow back and forth, otherwise what is the use for Adjudicators. Of course when certain things happen, like Aizen, the Commander-Generals all seem to hear of it, but we try to control that."
Hitsugaya nodded understandingly. "I know about your lobbying for Hisagi fukutaichou. Let me assure you I would be happy to recommend him being named Taichou of the 9th Squad. He is intelligent and responsible, though he does drink a bit to much. That is not unusual unfortunately, but he doesn't allow it to affect his leadership and job." He took a sip of his tea.
"My thanks Hitsugaya Taichou, I an sure he would be happy with your endorsement. But there is something else that I think will affect you more, and I think I will come straight out and tell you. I am aware of your close ties to Hinamori Momo fukutaichou, and I know the only reason the 5th squad hasn't fallen apart is because of your overseeing it. I feel that you should know that I am trying to get her removed as fukutaichou. She may have made a good 4th or 5th seat at one time, but Aizen is the only reason she made it as far as she has."
Toshiro felt the familiar blaze of anger when he heard Aizen's name, and his feelings of guilt about his failure to protect her threatened to swamp him. But after several months of self recriminations, it no longer caused him to loose his temper as it once had. What bothered him was that he was unable to deny her statement, and that made him feel he was betraying her. He had these same thoughts on his own before the whole issue of Aizen even happened.
"Her squad does not trust her." His mouth opened to object, but she continued before he could say anything. "Do not get me wrong. The all lover her as she is, but trust her as a leader? They do not. They are holding it together because they trust you to lead them. That is what makes Hisagi so impressive, his squad would follow him into Hueco Mundo if he asked it of them."
Toshiro gave a defeated sigh. "You are correct of course, and I can not deny any of it. Wouldn't it hurt the squad to loose her, they are still getting over their Taichou leaving them. I do not know if the 3rd seat would do a good job either."
"Maybe, maybe not, but I feel she is doing more harm where she is at. As long as she stays there they will never move on and get any better. The current 3rd can keep it together long enough till a new Taichou is found, if you continue to monitor it." Toshiro was conflicted. He felt hurt and anger about Momo, the responsibility to Squad 3, and the pleasure at being acknowledged about the job he was doing. "I am trying to get her removed from the Goti 13 completely."
He looked up in anger. "Just a moment... I can see her being demoted, but to be removed completely?
You said she would be a good 4th or 5th seat, being forced out would only make her worse. It would undo all the healing she has already done."
"Before Aizen she would have been a good seated officer, but now she is simple damaged. Aizen has severely damaged her psyche, in effect he mind raped her. The military structure of the Goti 13 is inhibiting her healing. She has not regained enough control to survive in this environment." She hoped he was truly listening to her, and thinking about what she was saying. "She was well enough to return to the battle field, but she did not face Aizen. If he were to appear before her now, would she pull her sword or try talking to him to find some way to justify his actions?" Toshiro remembered the look on Momo's face in the monitor at Orihime's, as she plead with him not to harm that sleazy... Even now she was missing that chirpy attitude she had been known for, when it did show it was harsh and forced. "As Taichou it is your duty to see to the welfare of the Seireitei first, your squad second, and then to personal feelings. She needs to be removed. I am sorry."
He could not argue with what the Adjudicator was saying. "What would happen to her? Where would she go? As a shinigami, we owe her our support."
"Her...mastery of the Demon Arts is very high level, and how she can combine spells without much thought is inspiring. I think the Kido Corps would be an ideal environment where she can heal and use her skills. They only have 2 leadership positions, so she would not really be demoted. They aren't as militarily structured too. If she continues with the therapy and moves to the Kido Corps, she may be able to return in the future. But she might want to stay with them. She would still be close to her friends and you."
"The Kido Corps, that might be for the best. I do admit that I am getting tired of running two squads, it would be nice if they got a new Taichou. At least Momo is better than Rangiku at doing her paperwork." He was still struggling with feelings of hurt.
She smiled at him gently. "You are such a workaholic. You know you would get bored if Rangiku actually did all of the paperwork she is suppose to. It is much the same as Nanao and Shun-sui, only in reverse."
"What were the three of you talking about when I came in?" He suspected they were talking about him.
"I'm going to be supplying the SWA dance with music. Are you going to attend? What type of music do you like?" And she was being completely honest with him. It was BEFORE he came in that they were talking about him.
"That dance is all I hear about. Rangiku has taken up humming and singing to herself in the office. Unfortunately, I'm sure she is going to drag me to it one way or another. I have no preference to music of any kind...well I have been thinking about one band I heard in the mortal world, something like UVERworld."
They sat drinking their tea, talking about the mortal realm and the things he had seen there. Some of which made no sense to him. She tried to clear up some of the strange things the living have come up with. Soon the finished and left to return to their barracks. Toshiro to see how Matsumoto was doing with her paperwork, and Katsumi to the 11th Squad barracks. As Katsumi was headed back to her rooms a humming came to her attention. At first she didn't know what it was, till she recognized it as an off tuned Back in Black. The guard in the next hall seemed unaware of what he was singing. She chuckled to herself, apparently Himitsu Soyokaze had decided to share her joy of music.
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I hope next chapter will be better. Please read and review-that is how I know what to fix or concetrate on.