CHAPTER 2i:

The 7th Division: Seretei Defense and Patrol (Gotei Police)

"Well ...well, what about THAT candy shop then, Taro-kun?"

"No"

"nghh...well...well, what about the one farther up there? That one has ice cream, too. You like ice cream, right Taro-kun?

"No"

"nnnnhhhh...but...ghhh...nnnnnh... well...well...what about that pretty flower shop over there? This is a big party right, who wouldn't want pretty flowers at a party Taro-kun?

"No...and we aren't going to a 'party', we are going to a Captains meeting..."

"uhuuuhnngh...but...but...but Hiro-kun's hair would look SOOOO pretty with a big pink flower in it...come on...plplllease.."

Taro couldn't help but smile just a little imagining the Captain Commander's hair with a pink flower in it. He shook off the smile and looked down over his shoulder, responding a bit more sternly to his diminutive Lieutenant.

"No...and Megumi...It's 'Captain Commander, Hirokatsu Goto' or 'Captain Commander' or 'Captain Commander Goto', or at least "Goto-sama"...remember...you're a Lt., and you still need to work on your honorifics."

"bb..bbut..."

"Megumi..."

"Fine..."

Crossing her arms in a fake childish fit she responded under breath.

"...but I still think the CAPTAIN COMMANDER'd look awwwwful pretty..."

They were approaching the flower shop she had spoken of, the street busy with foot traffic and shopkeeper carts. Megumi's eyes widened as she looked over at the large bouquets and beautiful smelling flowers hanging out of the large windowed storefront.

"mmnnfghh...nnhghh...mmmmghghgnmmmm..."

She whimpered as they passed the store, and turned her head to the side cranking her neck back so she could see the flowers and colors as long as she could.

BAM!

"Unnngh!"

She fell to the ground as she wasn't looking where she was going. Then rolling off her back, she sat up and shook her head back and forth trying to make the little stars in her eyes disappear. That was when she realized she was sitting in a big dark shadow and as she looked up to see what was blotting out the sun, she soon realized it was her dear, and giant, 7th Division Captain, Taro Banzuke.

A retired grand champion Sumo wrestler from the Rukongai, his stature was considerably large, even within that sport. He still wore his 'chonmage' half-circle Sumo hairstyle, after being specially awarded the right to do so after his early retirement from the SSSWF (Soul Society Sumo Wrestling Federation). He was very large both in height and girth, his big muscles were hidden by his large mass and his long white Captain's coat did as much as it could to slim down the immensity of his build. A little black fan was tucked into his obi belt next to two swords, a large and long yellow hilted one which was next to a much smaller red hilted one which looked somewhat awkward in his belt.

Leaning down to her and opening his big arms, he grasped her little body and brought her up into the air, holding her with one outstretched arm in front of him so he could look her straight in the eyes. With his other arm, he wiped the dirt and grass off of her wooden Lt.'s badge on her back, which she wore tied there like a backpack.

His face was warm and jovial; his smile seeming to almost lighten his enormous size and mass.

"You know what I think, Megumi Mochimai?...I think YOU...would look very pretty with a pink flower in YOUR hair for the Captains meeting"

Megumi's eyes suddenly brightened and teared up with joy. Her returning smile was even larger than her Captain's and her tiny little voice meeped as she could hardly contain herself.

"YAYY!... I love...Love... LOVE my Taro-kun!"

Her little legs kicked back in forth with excitement and her white knuckled fingers grabbed on to Taro's big arm, squeezing it tight.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"AHEM... Megumi... "

He said clearing his voice in an almost playful-like stern voice.

"urhh…oh! I mean, Captain Taro...SIR"

She stiffly straightened up in his grasp, bringing one hand up to her head to salute.

Taro smiled again and set her down to the ground pulling from his sleeve pocket some coins for her, which she snatched up immediately. Squeaky with glee, she then ran off towards the flower shop.

Taro smiled as she went off, turning to look for a bench. Spotting one across the road, he moved over to it and sat, pulling out his little black fan to cool himself in the midday heat. After a while, Taro began to think of the old 8th Division Captain, and his unfortunate disease and death. Taro knew very well the pain of taking over a Captain's spot which had been occupied for so long, and he knew the new Captain of the 8th Division would at first struggle to find her way just as he did. There was no real preparation for it, and the only thing that got him through it were the other Captain's advice and knowing he had the confidence of the Captain Commander.

Taro smiled a bit to himself sitting on the bench, having made up his mind, he was going to make a point of it to go out of his way to help out the new 8th Division Captain as best he could.

Then out of the corner of his eye, Taro spotted the colors...ALL of them.

Skipping across the road to him was his little Megumi. Her curly orange hair and rosy cheeks were unmistakable and stuck out amongst the others who passed by. But, she hadn't bought just one flower; she had bought at least three dozen, many of which were littering the street behind her with their petals as she hurried across the street to see him. As she got closer he also noticed her chocolate covered mouth which was chomping away on something, and in her little hands she was grasping several paper covered candies.

Taro shook his head, stood up and placed his hands on his hips, looking at her sternly as she got closer.

"MEGUMI!...I said 'A' flower...not a dozen. And where did you get all that candy?...I didn't give you enough money for all of that..."

Clumsily stopping in front of him she reached out her little hand, offering the melted chocolate stained, paper covered hard candies to him.

"Here! I got these for you Taro-kun!"

She said with a big chocolaty smile.

Taro's furrowed brow slowly receded as he leaned down and took the messy hard candies into his hand, unpeeling one and popping it in his mouth. It was apricot flavored, and Taro smiled his trademark enormous smile at her. Megumi smiled a dimple filled smile back at him then began to prance down the street, chomping on her candy.

"Thank you Megumi...but...how did you?..."

He began to say as he started to follow her down the street, the apricot hard candy tucked in in the corner of his right cheek.

"I told the guy in the store I was with you and he said I could have whatever I wanted...he said he'd put it on yer 'credit'...or something like that...he kept showing me things to get and they even had candy and chocolate in the back!..."

She had already moved a short distance away and without looking back she raised her chocolate filled hand to wave him to follow her.

"Wait...Credit?...I don't have credit there..."

Taro said to himself as he turned his head around to see the smiling shopkeeper holding a long unrolled receipt which reached to the ground. The extremely happy old shopkeeper waved cheerfully towards Taro and Megumi as they moved away from his shop.

"Ughh...Megumi..."

Taro exhaled as he hurried to catch up with his little Lt., whom he was going to have a long discussion with about concerning the concept of 'credit'.