Chapter 26

Would You Like Your Job Back?

By Demon-of-Cats

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, the Tite does. I own my OC's and OOC's

Warnings: This is AU and has some spoilers.

No Flames please, but constructive criticism is welcome.

"Hey sis!" Shinji called as he walked up to the Komamura home.

Moria glanced at him and smiled, "Hey Shinji. How are you doing? I haven't seen you for a little while."

Shinji grinned and then glanced around, "I was on a mission. I can't give details though."

"Ah," Moria nodded and then motioned Shinji inside, "Come in before you get blown away out here."

"Ain't that the truth," Shinji muttered and hurried in.

He was instantly met by the happy noise of Kureno, who began to crawl on wobbly arms and legs to his uncle.

"Hey there big guy!" Shinji said and bent down to lift his nephew up.

Shinji then glanced at his sister and noticed that she was still in her kimono. He decided to pretend he didn't know and ask.

"Why aren't you at the squad building Moria? I stopped by there to see you and Shunsui said-"

"I resigned," Moria admitted and sat down.

A look of profound sadness covered Shinji's face as he sat down next to Moria, "Why? You told me all those years ago it was your dream to become a soul reaper."

Moria nodded, "But my son comes before that."

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi is dead now and Urahara is Captain of Squad Twelve again," Shinji said and then added, "and Ukitake is no longer sick because Urahara, the twat he is, found a cure for him. A man like Urahara isn't going to hurt Kureno for anything."

"I'd turned in the papers several hours before I found out he was the culprit," Moria said, "Knowing how the Squad Eight office works . . . the papers would have already been filed. Lieutenant Ise would have done it as soon as Captain Kyôraku found the papers."

"Why resign though?"

Moria thought back to that day and darkness covered her eyes. Three weeks ago, she had turned in her resignation papers to her Captain. At the time it was the only choice she could make, as a mother.

When put in the position, a mother would choose her family over her dreams.

It was that simple.

Kureno had been hurt because she had been trying to fulfill her dreams.

If her dreams were going to cause her son pain she would avoid them.

"I was . . . or . . . felt I had a choice to make," Moria mumbled, "I had to choose either being a soul reaper or . . . a mother."

Shinji nodded and then stood. He then glanced around and then told his sister to relax and he would handle her chores for the day. She could take care of herself and nothing else.

Truth was Shinji thought she could use a break, a chance to unwind a little bit.

"Go," Shinji said and held his nephew.

Moria smiled and hugged her brother before mentioning she only had dusting left to do. She then grabbed up a few things and headed for a nice masseuse or masseur. One often frequented by squad members.

It was exactly where Shinji hoped she would go.

"You and I are going to have fun today big guy," Shinji said and then took out his phone, "After I make a couple calls."

Kureno smiled and laughed and Shinji put him down on his play mat so he could play with his toys while uncle made a call.

The first call took only a few minutes and then he pushed a few more buttons.

The second call he made lasted a little longer but still not long.

He then went to CD player and checked some CD's that the Komamura's had. He chuckled at one specifically and put it into the device.

After that he lifted his nephew up and turned on the device.

When Rose, Lisa and Love arrived a few minutes later they spotted Shinji through the window with a feather duster in his back pocket doing the chicken dance.

They also heard Kureno giggling madly.

Love then peered in the window and said, "I thought we were entertaining Kureno so you could cook?"

Shinji just nodded and scooped his nephew up before placing him in Lisa's arms, "I had to get him happy before you got here though. That way he starts out happy while you take care of him. Believe me it is just easier that way."

At the masseur Moria was in heaven. She never knew how much she had been hurting before until she was worked on by one of these people.

Shinji had been right, she had needed this.

After the massage she exited the establishment and noticed the trees in the distance swaying from the power of the wind.

She wasn't being attacked yet but that was because the entrance to the establishment was sheltered from that wind.

Once she passed the corner, however, the wind would attack her ruthlessly.

And so would a straw hat.

As Moria walked around the corner she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She glanced at the object and knew instantly what it was.

It was Kyôraku's hat, barreling towards her in the high wind.

She had no time to react and was smacked on the side of the head.

The hat was then grabbed by it's wearer who appeared between Moria and the wind as well.

"Bad hat," Kyôraku said and tucked the object beneath his arm, "No attacking people. Are you alright Moria?"

Moria nodded and rubbed the side of her head where she had been hit, "Your hat is heavier than it looks Captain."

Kyôraku chuckled, "Where are you headed? Maybe we can talk."

"Home," Moria said.

"Oh," Kyôraku chuckled, "We're headed the same direction then."

Moria smiled pleasantly but inside she cringed.

If Kyôraku knew, he didn't reveal that he did.

"How have you been?" he asked, "You haven't even visited in the last few weeks."

Moria remained silent for a few moments and he glanced at her.

"I've been . . . fair I suppose," Moria said. She refused to look at him.

Kyôraku watched her and then said, "About the same fair that you were after the incident with Shinji and the other Visored?"

Moria's lips became a thin line but she didn't change the subject. She knew he would just change it back. It was best just to let him get out what he wanted to say.

"Kureno is safe now," Kyôraku said, "Urahara AND Nemu declared to all of R&D that he was off limits for scientific investigation. No one will touch him without your or Sajin's consent."

"I know," Moria muttered. She still refused to look up.

Kyôraku frowned and then asked, "Are we friends?"

"Huh?" This got Moria to look up at him with a confused expression.

"Are we friends?"

Moria blinked at him and then nodded.

"Friends look each other in the eye when they are having a conversation. No matter what the subject, and even if we think we are going to cry because of it, even if that friend is not someone that we wanted to see at the moment."

Moria nodded and blinked at the flamboyant Captain. He had known that she hadn't wanted to confront him yet, but, he had come anyway. She realized this when he smiled at her reaction.

"As your friend, I came here to tell you something. When something happens and you have to 'give up' your dreams because of circumstances, it doesn't mean that it has to be permanent. Dreams don't go away and if we don't try to fulfill them once things change we are hurt deep in our hearts. Don't give up on your dream yet Moria. Kureno is safe now. No one is going to hurt him," Kyôraku then looked around and grinned, "And you still have two weeks of unused vacation time to truly decide weather or not you wish to keep your job or loose it."

"Unused . . ."

"Unused vacation time," Kyôraku chuckled, "You still have time. Once that is used up I will THEN file your resignation papers, unless they are destroyed by some force of nature, of course."

Moria blinked for a few seconds and then she wiped at her eyes. What he had just said, had he known how much of a burden it would lift off her shoulders?

Kyôraku blinked and then reached into his pocket when he noticed Moria crying in relief. He then paused when he noticed something behind her.

Then a hand touched Moria's shoulder and pulled her back to him. His hand brushed at the tears in her eyes and he noticed the smile through her tears.

"Hello Kyôraku," Sajin said with a smile, "What have you told Moria?"

Kyôraku smiled and then said, "That she still has two weeks of unused vacation time to decide if she really wants to resign or not. I hadn't turned the papers in yet."

Sajin smiled deeper. He had known how much Moria had been beating herself up over that.

"Thank you Captain Kyôraku," Moria said as she continued to wipe at her eyes.

"Where is Kureno?" Kyôraku asked.

Moria smiled, "Shinji offered to watch him and give me a chance to unwind a bit. From the way he was acting I think dinner will be ready by the time we get home."

Sajin chuckled and then Kyôraku left after saying goodbye, and he left in the opposite direction that the Komamura's went.

As Moria had predicted, dinner was ready for them when they got home.

Sajin's nose told them so.

They peered through the window and saw Lisa holding Kureno in her lap. She had a baby book in front of them and was saying little words to Kureno.

Though, it was very obvious that he was more interested in the smells coming from the kitchen rather than the words from the book.

When they slid the door open he turned and looked, "Ah!"

"Hey there," Sajin said and walked over to Lisa and Kureno to pick up his son, "Thank you for watching him."

"Not a problem," Lisa said and stood, "He's a good listener when he can't smell food cooking."

Moria chuckled at that as she entered the kitchen. As it turned out Shinji wasn't the only one cooking. Well, he was the only one technically cooking. Love was baking bread and Rose was putting the finishing touches on a dessert.

The kitchen smelled wonderful.

"I thought too many cooks in the kitchen spoilt the broth?"

Shinji glanced up at his sister and then chuckled, "It's true. But I'm the only cook here. Love and Rose are bakers. Dinner is almost ready."

Love smiled, "The bread needs a few more minutes."

Moria smiled and then looked around. She enjoyed these once-every-few-weeks invasions. Sajin enjoyed them as well, though he wouldn't admit it except to her.

Several minutes later there was a knock at the door. Sajin answered and allowed several people in, all members of the Visoreds. Then dinner commenced.

End Chapter 26