"Captain's looking for you," he told me. I growled and hit him before making my way to the office. There, Ginrei sat at his desk, the lieutenant across from him, both deep in paperwork.

"You wanted to see me, Sir?" I asked. Ginrei nodded and gestured for me to have a seat.

"I want you to understand the duties and responsibilities of our sixth seat," he stated. "First off, you are in charge of arranging patrols through our area. These are our last sixth seat's schedules."

I took them and gladly accepted the folder I was given by the lieutenant to keep it all together.

"Secondly, it is your task to keep the paperwork delivery both orderly and efficient," he stated. "Our squad is well known for its superior cleanliness and order among other squads. I will expect a full report if there are any incidents involving our squad that would affect our appearance to all others. We have a reputation to uphold."

I nodded.

"Lastly, you are in charge of relief squad five," he went on. "That means, when the other four squads are out on missions or have just returned, it is your squad's job to perform the duties of the mission through to completion."

"Understood, sir," I said. "You are very generous and I will do my best to ensure such kindness is rewarded."

He nodded, a rare smile crossing his features.

"Have fun at the festival," he told me. "Before you become an old hag with um-teen cats."

I blushed darkly in embarrassment, hearing the lieutenant's snickers, a few of my own giggles escaping at my own foolishness.

"I intend to, sir," I answered, bowing out before I could get even more embarrassed.

"Before you go, I need these papers delivered to the ninth," the lieutenant said, handing me a stack. "And these to the tenth and these to the fifth."

I nodded, taking them, keeping them separate by having them laying opposite ways, horizontal for one, vertical for the next. With a smile, I headed off towards the ninth, making my way to their office, occasionally asking directions when I got lost.

"—then why the hell are you standing around?!" came a male voice.

"I'm not the one ignoring my paperwork, Kensei!" shot back a female voice.

"But that's woman's work!" the man stated. I just KNEW that wasn't going to blow over well.

"WHAT WAS THAT, KENSEI?" the woman screamed. "So because I'm a woman I'm supposed to do everything for you, is that it?!"

I knocked on the door, glad for a damn good reason to interrupt.

"Come in!" the gruff male voice called. I walked in to see a green-haired woman glaring daggers at a white-haired captain. Granted, he was also giving her the evil eye.

"Paperwork from the sixth," I said, placing it on the captain's desk and then turned and took my leave. Shortly after I left, the argument started right back up, making me roll my eyes. With a smile, I walked on down the way to squad ten, dropped off my paperwork, and then made my way to the fifth.

Oh, the fifth… Sweet Sosuke. He'd been such a wonderful friend over the years. He never treated me poorly because of my eyes, never looked down on me (unless I really deserved it). Sosuke was just as important to me as Kit was. I was not ashamed to admit that, in the excitement of getting to see him, I was skipping on my way to the fifth division.

"Well, well, well," came a female voice, full of mock and malice. "If it isn't the Seireitei's resident freak."

I frowned and stopped skipping, choosing to walk on towards my destination, not to give her any satisfaction.

"I heard she's going to the festival tonight."

"Probably had to get another pity date from Micah!"

"I can't believe he gave her one in the first place! Worst date ever, he said!"

"Yeah, couldn't scrub himself hard enough to get off the feeling of her hand on his arm."

Laughter erupted from the girls. I tilted my head a bit, feeling tears sting my eyes, hiding them behind my hair. I walked a bit faster… for all the good it did. My tormentors merely followed.

"Did you hear? She got into the sixth squad because no one else would take her!"

"What a loser!"

"Even the court guard squads don't want that freak!"

Against my will, a tear slid down my cheek, down my chin… followed by another… and another…

"Akalia!"

I couldn't even look up. I was now ashamed of my tears and desperately tried to wipe them away, only for more to replace them.

"Lieutenant!" the women chorused, surprised and taken back. There was a quick scrambling of feet as they all hurried to hide their earlier behavior.

"Lieutenant, are you going to the festival?" asked one of them.

"I am," he answered, having finally reached me, stopping in front of me. "I'm going with dearest Akalia."

"Seriously?"

"You're kidding!"

"That's just a pity date, right?"

"Yeah, you could do so much better, Aizen!"

The girls' words didn't even phase him.

"If you'll excuse us, ladies," he said, taking my hand in his own and gently pulling me after him. Only after we were in the office did he let go and tilt my face up, slowly. He frowned, seeing my tears, and started wiping them away.

"Don't let them get to you," he told me softly.

"But they're ri—"

"They're not right," he corrected me, sternly. "And don't you ever think it."

"If you want to back out, now's your chance," I reminded him, my heart squeezing painfully. "Being seen with me is not good for one's reputation."

"And cancelling a date is worse," he argued calmly. "I'm not backing out… now, what brought you out here?"

I sniffled, but held up the papers.

"From my division," I said. "I was made sixth seat, so making sure all mail and paperwork go efficiently is my task."

"As are patrols, if I remember correctly," Sosuke put in. I nodded and held up the folder.

"I was going to look at these later… but I really don't want to go back out there…"

He smiled gently and had me sit down on the couch. As I got a grip on my emotions, stopping my tears, he made me some tea, handing me a cup.

"Chamomile… thank you, Sosuke," I said softly, sipping on it. He sat down next to me and took the folder, looking over the old plans for patrols.

"These are sloppy," he stated. "There are too many openings…"

Then he took a pencil and began to make marks on the map of my division, marking different patrol routes. For the next two hours, we discussed changes to the routes and different types of patrols. He helped me find the most efficient routes and uses for our men that he could. By the time I was ready to leave, I was calm again and full of confidence.

"It's lunchtime," Sosuke noted. "Captain, would you mind if I took my lunch break now?"

Captain Hirako just waved him off and Sosuke offered me his hand. I smiled and took it, letting him lead me out the door. Knowing everyone was watching, he took me to a nearby restaurant. It was packed with Soul Reapers, but he managed to find us a table alone.

"Just like old times," I commented with a smile. He smiled back and relaxed.

"I'm sorry people treat you so poorly," he said softly. "I will do everything I can to ensure that no one will make fun of you again."

"Sosuke…"

I was touched by his thoughtfulness, but shook my head with a smile.

"Don't worry about me, okay?" I told him softly, squeezing his hand lightly. I smiled at him warmly. "I've got you… That's enough for me. You always make me feel better."

That made him smile briefly, but only that.

"Still, those were members of my own division," he commented. "I'll deal with them later… That is not proper behavior for a Soul Reaper."

I sighed with a smile.

"No matter what I say, you're going to get involved in this, aren't you?" I asked ruefully. He just smiled and chose not to answer.

We spent the rest of lunch just talking and laughing. I almost died when he told me about the time he'd shaved his Captain's head while he slept. Hirako had been absolutely furious and devastated. Just imagining that had me in stiches.

When we walked back to his division's office, we passed those insulting girls again. However, since Sosuke was with me, they seemed to not want to speak up much.

"Back so soon?" Hirako asked, giving Sosuke an unenthused look.

"Forgive me, Captain, but it would seem I need to have a word or two with some division members," Sosuke told him, then looked at me. "Would you be willing to handle some of the paperwork while I'm gone so that it still gets done?"

I nodded, accepted his hug, and then sat down in his desk while he left. It was silent for a while as I simply filled out each form accordingly and sorted and filed more.

"You don't like him," I stated out of the blue, making Hirako look at me. "Sosuke, I mean. It's how you act. If you don't like him, why did you make him your lieutenant?"

He didn't answer.

"You certainly don't treat him like your lieutenant," I went on. "All the other captains at least KNOW their lieutenants… so why don't you?"

He scratched the back of his head.

"Why so many questions?" he asked lazily. I chuckled.

"Curiosity gets the better of me sometimes," I admitted, then changed the subject. "Sosuke mentioned that you liked Jazz, music from the living world."

"Do you?" he asked. I shrugged.

"I've never heard it," I answered honestly. "But I love music… I'm sure that's why Sosuke wanted me to ask you about Jazz… He's always trying to get me to make more friends… and music is a common denominator for many conversation starters… Would I be permitted to hear some of that music, Captain?"

He shrugged and walked over to a weird device. After hitting a switch, a new, interesting type of music filled the office. After a few moments of working in silence, I smiled.

"Sosuke was right," I commented softly. "I DO like Jazz."

"Is that so?"

I nodded.

"It has a nice flow," I stated. "And a smooth sound."

I closed my eyes for a moment, just listening to the beautiful tones flowing from his device.

"They're playing this stuff all over the place in the living world," he told me. "I heard it last time I went for a mission… and loved it ever since."

"What else do you like?"

That made him start, my eyes looking at him inquisitively.

"Well—"

"I'm back," Sosuke said as he swept into the office. As he heard the music, he smiled at me. "Was I right?"

I nodded, smiling.

"It's almost as beautiful as the soundscapes you brought me last time," I replied. "But I should head back to my division now."

"Here," the Captain said, handing me a stack of papers. "These go to your division."

I nodded and took them.

"It was a pleasure to speak with you, Captain Hirako," I told him, then hugged Sosuke and took my leave. I flash-stepped back to the office and knocked.

"Come on in, Miss Sapphirano," Ginrei called. I smiled and obeyed, handing over the paperwork. "Lieutenant Aizen stopped by to tell me you had some trouble on your rounds… but you have come up with some new patrols?"

I nodded and began to explain them. After about thirty minutes, Ginrei approved them and sent me on my way. I gathered my things and started to head out, meaning to tell each of the patrols their new orders.

"Akalia… this isn't paperwork."

I looked back at Ginrei, confused. He held up a single sheet of paper, folded twice. Curious, I took it and opened it slowly.

Immediately, I blushed darkly. On it, was a set of digits. I knew this writing was not Sosuke's… so that left one person.

Amused and embarrassed, I took the paper and left the office. Shortly after, I paused half-way to my barracks and pulled out my communicator, pushing in the digits I'd been given.

"So, you did find it," came the captain's voice, making me blush darkly.

"Actually, Ginrei did," I answered, making the man chuckle. "Why on earth did you give me your digits, Captain Hirako?"

"Am I not allowed to talk to a beautiful girl?" he teased, making me blush, but frown.

"Now I know you're crazy," I stated. "I'm not beautiful."

"Sheesh. You really ARE down on yourself, aren't you?"

I frowned and shifted uneasily.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about Sosuke," he cut into my thoughts. I frowned more.

"Are you going to tell me why you don't like him?" I asked. He sighed.

"Look, I don't know how long you've known him, but I'd stay away from him," he told me. "It's not safe… and you can't trust him."

"On what grounds do you make that accusation?" I asked, my voice full of disapproval. "I've known Sosuke for years. He has never once led me to believe I couldn't trust him or that he wasn't safe."

The Captain sighed in vexation.

"Akalia, just trust me on this, okay?"

I frowned fully.

"Goodbye, Captain Hirako."

Then I hung up. I couldn't believe he had something so negative to say about Sosuke! Granted, I knew Sosuke was no saint, but I could trust him!

Couldn't I?

Against my will, the captain's words began to eat at me.