A/N: I'm not dead! I swear! XD I also haven't given up on this story, in spite that it's been forever since I updated it. I'm so sorry, minna! *bows deeply* But given the season I have a drive to finish this part at least. There will be one more chapter of the Xmas at the Shoten interlude, but I'm not sure if I'll be pushing ahead with Part 2 after next week's chapter. I may focus on a couple of the others that I know will be shorter, and finish them off before devoting my time to this one again. But I'm not going to abandon it. I swear! Ichi has to have his cubs! Thanks so much for sticking by me and having such patience. I really appreciate it. Well, happy holidays, minna. Enjoy! Ja ne!
"AH! Kissu! What'd you do to it?!" Szayel hid behind Shinji as the turkey once again exploded into flames.
The shopkeeper waved his fan at it wide-eyed, but all that did was make the flames leap higher out of the oven. "I swear I did nothing, Sza-ya!"
"Well, ya had to have done something, Kissu!" Shinji blocked the Beta instinctively with his body, watching the volatile poultry that was supposed to be part of dinner. Fortunately they had several others, given the number of people they were cooking for, but it didn't change the fact that they were now less than an hour away from sitting down at the huge table that had been assembled in the basement and this particular part of the feast had decided to continuously self-combust!
"And I am telling you, Shin-chan, I did nothing! I opened the oven door and it spit fire at me!" He jumped back as a tongue of flame tried to latch onto his hat. With a hand on it, he twisted and called, "Grimmjow! What'd you do to my oven!"
The Sexta peered out of his room with a frown. "Talk ta Nel an' Tesla. All I did was bake yer damn cookies!" He growled.
"Nu uh, Grimmy! You were methin' with the buttonth." Nel stepped out of the room across the hall, nude.
"GAH! Woman! At least don't smell like sex when ya go prancin' 'round nekkid!" The panther glared.
"Grimm, don't pick on Nel." Ichigo's voice came from within their shared room.
At the same time, Nnoitra called, "Woman! Git back in here, ya ain't finished yet!"
"Coming, Nnoi!" The green-haired Arrancar slammed the door shut but not before a final word from her Alpha was heard.
"Not yet, ya ain't."
Kisuke attempted to fan his face but the turkey shot flames through the paper. "AHG!" He jumped back again, and all three males in the kitchen went wide-eyed again.
"Well, if Nel didn't do it, Grimmjow only changed the temperature on the oven, and you didn't do anything, Kissu, then what the Hell happened to it!?" Szayel gripped Shinji's shirt with a glare at the offensive bird. "When I put it in there this morning it was a perfectly fine turkey. I stuffed it with the recipe I found in Ichigo's recipe box and I put it in the oven."
"Recipe box?" Kisuke asked.
"Yes, the little box full of recipes sitting on the counter. See?" He pointed to a small brown box with a strawberry on the lid. "It's even got his name on it."
"Eh, Sza-ya huny, that's not Ichigo's, that's Yoruichi's." Shinji looked nervous.
"Then why's it got a berry on it?" The Octavo was confused.
"For the millionth time, it doesn't mean strawberry, Kami damn it!" Ichigo groused coming into the kitchen. "It sounds like strawberry, but it's written differently! How many times do I have to go over it?!" He looked at Grimmjow as if he expected his Alpha to fix the issue.
Szayel, if anything, looked more confused. "Then…what was the recipe?"
Kisuke opened the box and pulled out the card with the picture of the bird on it. "This one right?" The scientist Arrancar nodded and his Shinigami counterpart turned his attention to reading the card. "Uh, Sza-ya, why didn't you get suspicious when it called for reiatsu?"
"I don't know about these things! We didn't celebrate Krist-mass in Hueco Mundo." The cotton candy Espada huffed.
"Christmas, hun." Shinji corrected absently.
"Whatever!" He stalked off with a wave of his hands in the air.
Ichigo shook his head. "Well, we figured out what caused it. Now what do we do about it?"
"Exploding turkey again?" Hacchi peered over Grimmjow's shoulder, where the Sexta was standing behind Ichigo.
Looking up, the blunette answered, "Yeah, somethin' 'bout Queenie's Ichigo Box."
"Hey!" The orangette scowled.
"Oh! That's an easy one." One pink-haired half-Hollow replaced the other one, as the large healer entered the kitchen, nimbly stepping around the gathered observers to dose the flaming bird with a water-based kido.
Lisa and Mashiro were behind him, having been trying to get Hiyori to wrap gifts with them, and failing. Kensei was off somewhere nursing a recently healed broken nose from the same attempts, and Love and Rose had holed themselves up in the room they shared with Lisa, refusing to come out for anything short of World War 3. Rumor had it that more Shinigami were coming as well, but Byakuya, who had claimed the corner of the couch for reading, wouldn't elaborate any further than 'it was possible'. Rukia, Jinta and Ururu were hanging paper lanterns outside, under the supervision and direction of Renji and Tessai. The large former Kido Corps Captain was the only reason any work was getting done at all. Others were scattered around the shop, doing whatever it was that made them feel more like the Christmas spirit, but all in all mostly waiting for dinner to begin.
At that moment the back door opened, letting cool, fresh winter air into the stuffy kitchen that smelled horribly of burnt, and soggy, turkey. "Uh, is this a bad time?" A small voice asked from the entryway.
"Yuzu!" Ichigo smiled, crossing the room to hug his sister. "If anybody can help us out of this pickle it's you!"
"Onii-chan!" She returned the hug with the arm not holding up the basket. She hadn't planned on staying long, but if Ichi-nii needed help, what could she do? She smiled up at him, and stepped into the kitchen. Setting the basket on the island, she unbuttoned her jacket. "How can I help?"
Everyone in the room pointed, and the blonde girl bit her lip. "Oh my…" Taking a steadying breath, a determined look came onto her features, making it obvious who's sister she was. She gave a single nod, tore off her jacket, gloves and scarf, stepped out of her snow boots, and grabbed the apron from the wall next to the stove. Wrapping it around her slim waist, she took over the kitchen. "Urahara-san, I need onions, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and any sort of sweet pepper you have available. Shinji-san, could you and your friend fill the largest pot we have half-full of fresh water? Nii-chan, I need everyone else to either clear out or wash dishes. Thank you." She had authority in her voice, but looked so sweet that it was impossible to say no.
In a flurry of movement the various tasks were being completed. Mashiro, Lisa, and Kensei were chopping vegetables. Hacchi set up washing the dishes in the sink. Ichigo was drying for the large Visored. Grimmjow and Shinji ferried clean plates and glasses down to the table. Kisuke was stuck standing over a kido flame on the opposite side of the island from the vegetable choppers, stirring a pot of water that was seasoned with the turkey juices. Yuzu, herself, stood at the stove, pulling as much meat as she could salvage from the carcass of the previously flaming poultry. This she had Szayel put into the broth Kisuke was simmering every time she filled the plate she was using to collect the meat. All in all, though the thing had been volatile and aggressive, it wasn't all that badly ruined.
No time at all found the dishes clean, the table set, and a pot of the most fragrant turkey-miso soup any of them had ever smelled before simmering quietly on the stove, having been moved from the island once the blonde Kurosaki twin was finished with pulling the meat from the bones. Once the part of waiting for the concoction to simmer had been reached all but Yuzu fled the kitchen, some more traumatized by the explosive bird than others.
"Mmm. Smells like home cooking in here!" Karin called from the back door. She took off her boots and entered, carrying a tray of dried fruit wrapped in dough and baked.
"Karin-chan!" Yuzu called happily from her place stirring the soup.
"I knew it was you, 'Zu! Nobody cooks like you!" The brunette set her tray down and glomped her sister.
Behind her, Toshiro grumbled a bit, carrying a roasted turkey almost bigger than he was. "Family reunions are fine, but can we finish bringing in the things Obaa-san gave us?" He grunted, also pushing his burden onto the kitchen island.
"Oh my." Yuzu said for a second time, as she took in the perfectly cooked fragrant poultry. "Karin-chan, come stir this, I'll get some of the guys to help you." Her twin took over the stirring, and the blonde dashed down the stairs. "Ulquiorra-san, Grimmjow-san, could you bring a couple of others up to the kitchen, please?" She asked with a smile without coming all the way down into the living room.
Ichigo and Orihime returned the smile, and answered, in tandem, "Of course, Yuzu." Though Orihime added a '-chan' to the end of the hybrid's sister's name.
The Sexta and the Cuarto said nothing, though both weren't too happy about being pulled away from their Betas. Getting up off of the couches prompted Byakuya and Szayel, who'd also heard the request, to prod Renji and Kisuke, respectively. The four males climbed the stairs dutifully, and the four left in the living room shared a secretive smile that only Betas could really understand. Along the way, they picked up Love, Shinji, Rose, Tessai, Kensei and Jinta to help as well.
After the giant turkey and the platter of sweet rolls came vegetable casseroles, baked and fried potatoes, all manner of cakes and cookies, and several jugs of what looked to be sweet sake. All of this was brought inside from the cart Obaa-san had lent to her favorite dead grandson and his girlfriend and lined up in the kitchen, though some of it had to be held rather than set down.
"Oh my." Yuzu intoned for a third time. The wheels in her head were spinning, and it was obvious that she was figuring out how it could all go together. Whatever the Shinigami and half-Hollows had been planning before she got there was completely thrown out the window now that the Kurosaki chef was in the Shoten.
After a few moments where everyone stood around looking a bit lost and waiting for someone to decide something, Yuzu nodded and struck her palm with her hand. "Got it!"
Everyone leaned in slightly.
"Let's get everything downstairs. Hacchi-san, could you and Tessai-san please conjure us another table for serving?" The blonde smiled and the two Kido masters set to work in the training-turned-dining room.
As soon as it was finished, she whipped a blanket she'd found in the linen closet over the glowing structure and directed the line of foodstuffs to be arranged flanking the beautiful turkey Obaa-san had roasted. The light from below the tablecloth made the whole thing look like it was lit by candles, which went well with the nocturnal appearance of the false sky of the underground cavern. To add to the effect Tessai created floating kido lights that Rukia, Ururu, and Orihime placed inside paper shades to simulate lanterns like the ones adorning the front of the shop. Yuzu smiled, happily making minor adjustments here and there as she added the dishes the Visored and Espada already had to the feast Obaa-san had provided.
Stepping back, the gathered crowd let out a collective sigh at how pretty it was. Or rather, most of them did. The Alphas too proud to give such sentiments voice in public either pretended not to notice or scoffed with an eye roll. The Betas, Rukia, Yuzu and Kisuke, however, shared an expression of appreciation.
"Mah, Yuzu-chan, ya made it perfect." Shinji complimented.
Yuzu bowed and beamed, "Arigato gozaimasu, Shinji-san!"
The Pack Alpha flashed his signature grin, "But I wouldn't want any sneaky noses gettin' inta all of it b'fore we're ready ta sit down. Maybe a certain captain of the Second could watch over it? Jus' til everybody's here and we're all ready fer it?"
The slim brunette almost huffed and said no, but for the combined looks from both Yuzu and Yoruichi. Under the dual influence of the subtle women, she flinched, and drew herself up with pride. "Anything for Yoruichi-sama!"
"And how do we know you won't simply let the Demon Cat have access once all of our backs are turned?" Came Byakuya's quiet response, looking out of the corner of his eye down at the smaller brunette.
"Ah! Why you…!" Soi Fon glared.
"Mah, Bya-bo has a point, Bee." Yoruichi positively grinned. "That's a mighty fine looking bird on that table." If she'd been in her cat form her tail would have been swaying in interest.
"Then maybe Hacchi-san could watch too?" Yuzu asked, looking up at the large Visored. He nodded with a small smile, and the girl beamed again.
"Heh. Figures a house cat like ya c'n't keep yer paws offa bird like that, Queenie." Grimmjow sneered, holding Ichigo from behind and his own tail making the motions that Yoruichi wished she could.
Next to him, Ulquiorra closed his eyes, curling the tip of his tail in a counter point to the blue feline's. "As though the thought had not crossed your mind, Sexta?"
"Oi! Izzat a poke at me bein' feline, Cifer?!" The blunette growled.
"Grimm!" Ichigo scowled up at him, but neither had a chance to respond.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" The drunken shout rang through the shop. All heads in the dining room turned towards the stairs as Rangiku, flanked by the usual drinking crew, bounded their way down. "Hey, hey, hey! Let's get this party started!" The over-exuberant blonde produced four bottles of Shunsui's finest sake from her shihakusho sleeves and gave a little shimmy that had her assets jiggling for all to see.
Toshiro growled, "Matsumoto!"
"Aw, Taicho! It's the holidays, loosen up!" The lush shoved a bottle into his hands. "Here, get yer girlfriend drunk and get laid!" She laughed at his sputtering blush and danced over to Kisuke. "Urahara-san, Taicho's so mean to me! Come drink with me."
"Ah, I'd love to, Matsumoto-san, but alas I am held captive by the lovely Kurosaki Yuzu-san." The shopkeeper gestured to the smaller blonde woman, who had made her way over to the bottle that Toshiro was holding like it was going to bite him. While they watched, she took it, dabbed a tiny bit of the alcohol on her finger and licked it.
"Mm, very good vintage. You brewed this yourself…?" She asked, looking quizzically up at the flamboyant captain of the Eighth.
"Kyoraku Shunsui, at your service, my lady, and hai, that I do." The brunette had exchanged his typical pink kimono for one in red, and his straw hat was decorated with tinsel in red and green. He swooped across the room to take and kiss her hand.
She blushed deeply, taking her hand back as soon as was polite to do so. A soft chuckle from behind Shunsui made her tilt her head around the larger man. The snowy-haired captain of the Thirteenth, never far away from his beloved partner, smiled gently.
"Shun, I believe you're making the young lady uncomfortable."
"Ah, Juu-chan, I apologize!" He swung back to take his lover's hand and plant kisses all over the knuckles.
Jushiro laughed, a very light dusting of pink on his cheeks. "Shun…"
"LISA!" Shunsui's vice-captain dropped her decorum for once and ran across the room like she was a small child again to hug her long-lost almost-sister.
"Nanao!" Lisa hugged her back and the pair spun around.
Hiyori and Karin rolled their eyes before being glomped by Kensei's Beta. "Mashiro wants hugs too!" She cooed.
"AUGH! Let go, Buggy!" Hiyori tried to reach for her sandal but couldn't.
Karin squirmed, but being more used to the physical affections of her father, mostly went along with the enthusiastic gesture.
"Mashi." Kensei raised an eyebrow, and the green-haired Visored looked up. "Let the girls breathe." This prompted the Beta to release the other two females and pounce her Alpha, who caught her easily after she bounced off of his vice-captain, flattening the tattooed male. Kensei rolled his eyes, "Mashi…"
"What? Mashiro let go of Blondie and Moody!" Her expression was too innocent.
Hisagi twitched and climbed to his feet rubbing his head. He was fine until Rangiku boob-smashed him, clutching him close and squealing something unintelligible due to his ears being blocked by her assets.
"Matsumoto!" Toshiro groused again, his eyebrow twitching.
"Taicho!" She whined, but released Hisagi at least enough so he could breathe.
The captain of the Tenth glared. "You are upsetting my girlfriend. Stop flailing about like a wanton idiot."
"Hmph." The strawberry-blonde crossed her arms under her breasts and downright pouted.
"Oh, Shiro-chan, don't be so hard on her." His sister-in-all-but-blood smiled next to him and held her hand out to Karin. "Hinamori Momo, pleased to meet you, Karin-chan. Shiro-chan has told me so much about you."
"Eh." Karin rubbed the back of her head in vague mimicry of her brother, "Nice to meet you too, I guess. I really sorta suck at all this formality stuff. That's more 'Zu's bag, but if you're important to Toshi, you're important to me too." She smiled, attempting to be reassuring, but failing somewhat. The other petite girl didn't comment on it if she noticed.
She merely smiled, took Karin's hand and drew their faces close together. "If you hurt him, I'll make sure your soul ends up in the 80th district of the Rukongai. Understand?" Her voice was sweet and she wore the brightest smile the dark-haired Kurosaki twin had ever seen, but sparks, like the those from a campfire, flickered in her eyes, and it was obvious she meant every word.
With a nervous laugh and a disturbed expression, Karin shook her head. "Oh kay then I won't." She drew out the syllables deliberately, and was quite grateful when a tall, blonde man stepped up to take Momo away.
"Aw, Kira-kun, I wasn't being mean. Honest." The Fifth's fukutaicho half-pouted up at her boyfriend.
He smiled understandingly down at her. "I know, Momo-chan, but you were getting a little scary. Maybe we should go visit with Rukia-san and Renji-san?" He directed her over to where the aforementioned fukutaichos were chatting easily with Isane and Iba.
The two morphed into the group easily, and together the six vice-captains moved off to discuss the current goings on in the Soul Society since last Rukia and Renji were there. Due to the issue with Mayuri, the two had been officially stationed to the Living World to help keep an eye on and protect those that had been held captive by the psychotic scientist. The Central 46 weren't taking any chances with anyone who had been under his influence for even a short time.
A short time later, Sado and Ishida arrived, bringing more food that Yuzu had to fit onto the table like a gigantic puzzle. She managed it, but were it not for the fact that it was made of kido cast by the very best masters in the Soul Society everyone would have feared for its integrity under the weight of the banquet about to be enjoyed.
Dinner was easily the most chaotic affair Ichigo had ever attended. Afterward he supposed that it all started with the tussle over serving Jushiro's dinner. Everyone was seated, Yuzu directed a line of servers, including the Third Seats from the Thirteenth, to gather plates of food for the rest. With over fifty people to feed, the blonde Kurosaki twin brought the knowledge from her college courses, which was about the only thing that kept the feast from dissolving into blades and spells.
"UKITAKE-TAICHO! YOUR DINNER!" Kotsubaki Sentaro held the plate piled with food high above his head.
"NO! UKITAKE-TAICHO! I HAVE YOUR DINNER!" Isane Kiyone shoved her co-seat to the side offering a second plate, equally as weighed down.
"I SAID I WAS GETTING IT!" The dark haired Shinigami slammed his plate down in front of the pale captain.
Not to be outdone, the blonde mimicked him with a glare. "YOU DID NOT! I SAID I WAS GETTING IT! I KNOW WHAT TAICHO LIKES BETTER THAN YOU!"
"I KNOW WHAT TAICHO LIKES BETTER!"
"YOU BLUNDERING OAF! YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOOD IF IT BIT YOU ON THE NOSE!"
The two were leaning over Jushiro's head now, foreheads pressed together and growling. A tittering of nervous laughter mingled with rolled eyes and several people groaning at the all-too-common display of hostility between the two. A sly smile on the face of one captain of the Eighth as he snuck under the cover of more badly withheld giggles, to snatch the gentle Shinigami from under the man's subordinates, knowing he'd never have the heart to tell them to stop, as he never did.
"Come, Juu-chan!" The flamboyant brunette curled his lover into his side with a winning smile and pointed above them with his other hand.
A delicate hand covered his mouth as his sparkling green eyes caught sight of a long arching 'wing' of white with gentle crimson 'feathers' hanging the deadly white-berried plant that was the bane of every single person's existence at this time of the year. Those closest to the growling pair began to chuckle harder, and as the first full-out laughs broke through their continued argument, they froze looking around confused.
Szayel wiggled the tip of his 'wing' making the bells around the mistletoe jingle lightly, which drew their attention above them. Horror drained the color from Kiyone's cheeks as Sentaro's flushed the color of the tablecloth. As one they looked at each other and swallowed loudly.
Near the other side of the serving table, Tesla leaned closer to Nel, "What's the point of the plant?"
Ulquiorra, on the other side of the former Tercera, intoned, "It is a human holiday tradition. The two must kiss."
"But why?" The slender Arrancar looked thoroughly confused.
Nnoitra leaned on him. "Why's it matter? They're humans. They don't hafta make sense."
"According to Orihime the humans do it to ward off bad luck." The husky alto of the Thirteenth's Fukutaicho broke into the Hollows' conversation as she drifted over with a pitcher of something she'd been told was a traditional drink for the meal, though who'd want to drink eggs she wasn't sure. "Seireitei started doing the first year we were in Karakura back then. Personally, I think it's good for them. They've been dancing around each other for years about this."
She set the pitcher down and Nel grinned at her. "It does thound an awful lot like a Mating Chathe."
"You mean that thing that Qui-kun said was why he went after me when Grimm-kun kidnapped me from Los Noches?" Orihime asked brightly, balancing her plate on her belly.
Before they could answer, Uryuu adjusted his glasses and intoned in his haughty way, "It would figure Shinigami would be no more evolved than the Hollows they fight."
"Ishida-kun!" The healer princess frowned at him, making him flush and mutter about needing to find cookies.
Further conversation was halted by a growing chant of "Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss" started by Shuuhei and Rangiku across the table from the collection of Arrancars and humans. Much to Byakuya's embarrassment Renji joined in, throwing an arm around Izuru to make him add to the din. Mashiro balanced on Kensei's shoulders screeching almost above the others, and Ikkaku elbowed Yumichika, though the Fifth Seat merely rolled his eyes and leveled the co-Third Seats his most disdainful look.
Sentaro looked at Kiyone. Kiyone looked at Sentaro. Both appeared caught between panic and shame, but shakily they leaned in toward each other and screwing up their faces in the most comical of ways, they kissed. It was short, barely touching, and even Yoruichi couldn't have done it faster, but after they stared at each other like the rest of the party's noise didn't exist, in spite that the roar was enough to rattle the kido-lanterns around the ceiling.
"Al'ight, 'nough pussy shit, let's eat!" Kenpachi's voice cut through the raucous cheers.
And Nnoitra echoed him, "Here here! What's holdin' up th' food, woman!?"
"We must have patience, Gilga-kun." Yuzu came out from around the table to place a plate in front of the mantid Hollow.
"Fuck patience. Hunger inn't sum'thin' ta take fer granted." He shot back, but was immediately beamed across the head with a biscuit.
"Knock it th' Hell off, Nnoitra!" Grimmjow growled.
The look of rage on the Quinto's face made a few of the weaker personalities, like Hanataro, duck behind things, but Ikkaku laughed, "What'sa matter, Bug-boy? Can't handle a pussy cat anymore?"
"If I could see where th' fuck th' shithead was he'd be dead by now." Nnoitra hissed.
"Hmph. Tousen was blind, but you didn't hear him complaining about his weaknesses, did you, Komamura-Taicho?" Yumichika flipped his hair. "So unbecoming."
The wolf-man looked up from where he was chewing on a ham bone and blinked, the insides of his ears staining pink as attention was drawn to him. He swallowed loudly and shook his head. "No. Kaname never let his disability hold him back, even in the end he said he saw more when he was blind than when his Inner Hollow gave him sight."
The fighters turned back to arguing with each other about sparring after dinner, but a soft voice brought Sajin's ear around, "Might you know where I might find one of those?"
Looking down, the captain of the Seventh had to blink several times at the broken man in front of him. "I…Yuzu-chan had them for anyone who was so inclined. May I inquire as to who you are? Your scent is familiar and yet not."
"My name is Coyote Starrk. I was the Espada Primera under Aizen." The wavy-haired Hollow turned his left hand over to display the numeral on the back for emphasis.
"I see. Well, Komamura Sajin, Captain of the Seventh Division of the Gotei 13. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am always interested in getting to know fellow canines. Walk with me a while, and tell me of yourself? Living in the desert must be so draining, but having a moon constantly overhead…"
Their voices faded into the overall crowd as the pair moved off to find a second ham bone for the other wolf. Left behind the blonde current Tercera smiled, her right arm crossed over her ribs protectively to grasp her left bicep. She moved over to take her own seat at the table, nibbling lightly on the plate of treats she had just brought for the Alpha who'd just departed.
Back at the head of the table, in an effort to escape the growing madness between the Hollows and the Shinigami, Hanataro glanced around warily, walking backwards. Unbeknownst to him, the little blonde hostess was coming up from the other direction. And above them both, hanging lazily, because his attention was on a conversation between Shinji and Kisuke, Szayel's 'wing' held the mistletoe out where any poor person could unwittingly get caught under it. So, when the two short, gentle souls ran into each other, it really was kismet that they landed together under the cursed plant.
"AH!" Hanataro spun and almost fell but for the delicate human hand grasping his kosode.
"Oh my!" Yuzu blinked, steadying herself with the same hand that kept the brunette from falling.
Immediately, the quiet healer bowed deeply, "I'm so terribly sorry, Ms. Kurosaki-chan!"
Her tinkling laughter brought his slow blue-grey eyes up to look at her face, highlighted and haloed by the soft glow of the golden kido lantern above their heads. However, it also brought the mistletoe into silhouette. So, the pale man's cheeks flushed a deep pink and he sputtered.
"Y-you're really beautiful! Ah! I mean…"
"Thank you, Yamada-san." She smiled brightly, balancing the tray of drinks she'd almost spilled with her other hand, as she still hadn't removed the one wrapped in his kosode.
She did so now, bringing it up to cup his flustered jawline. The kiss she gave him was no more than a friendly peck on the lips, but as she moved off to the other side of the serving table, he couldn't help but stare after her like a lost puppy. Then he was sprawled on the ground with an exclamation of shock. Looking up, the imposing figure of the captain of the Eleventh towered over him.
"G-g-gomenesai, Kenpachi-taicho!" He scrambled back to his feet, bowing profusely.
Zaraki sucked his teeth and was about to add some sort of scathing remark, but a soft cough brought both of their attention to the large fighter's immediate right. Unfortunately this had Hanataro bowing even deeper, tripping over himself in apologies.
"Now, now, Yamada-san," His captain smiled gently, "Why don't you go offer your services to Kurosaki-kun. I'm sure he would appreciate being able to sit down for a while."
"H-hai, Taicho!" The small brunette dashed off.
"Feh. An' ya yell at me fer scarin' m' subord'nates." Kenpachi smirked down at the healer. She directed her smile up at him, and he couldn't quite suppress the shiver that ran down his spine. He did, however, grin like a madman, "Fuck but yer sexy when yer scary!"
"Thank you, Zaraki-Taicho. Now, why don't we see about getting some more nutritious food into young Yachiru? She's been carrying on for quite some time now, and I do believe Sarugaki-san and Hanakari-kun are beginning to tire of chasing her." Unohana didn't wait for her partner to answer, knowing full well that he understood following her suggestion would be very intelligent of him. So, she merely smiled more on her way to joining her oldest friends in gathering a bite to eat when she heard his bellowing from a short distance away.
Once the pink menace was under control, Hiyori and Jinta collapsed against one another, simply too tired to even care about the way they were sitting. At least, until Karin approached them and laughed. Then they quickly scrambled apart and glared at her.
"Aw, knock it off and come get food before the preggos eat it all." The dark-haired Kurosaki taunted.
As the last of the plates were doled out among the gathered celebrants, quiet conversation trumped outbursts of gaiety, though occasionally a guffaw or shout punctuated the rumbling sea of voices. Ichigo smiled, fingers linked with Grimmjow's over their cubs, and leaned back against his mate. As usual, his little sister had turned utter chaos into a seamless, well-oiled, machine of good feeling and even better food. He sighed in contentment. The steps taken on both the part of the Hollows and the Shinigami were really important. Now, if only they could get Central 46 to see this part of the way things were all of his worries would be solved. Well, maybe not all, but certainly a good percentage of them.
Grimmjow was about to make a comment about the change in his mood, when a disturbance down near the foot of the table drew their attention. A Senkaimon had appeared, causing Halibel to shift closer to Kensei, who had a firm hold on the collar of Mashiro's jumpsuit, as the insectoid Visored wanted to jump at the gate. However, when the doors opened, the stoic and well-mannered appearance of the First's Fukutaicho put many of the others at ease.
The rest were reassured when he spoke, "Good morrow, gathered friends, on this holiday feast. I bring glad tidings from Seireitei, and having completed our duties for the evening, Taicho and I thought it might be nice to join in your festivities. That is, if we are welcome?"
A general murmur of semi-confusion rumbled through the crowd, as all eyes were on the newcomer. Then Yuzu broke through it with a broad smile, coming up to the silver-haired Shinigami. "Of course, you're welcome! Come, you can sit up with us at the serving table since most of everyone has their food already."
"Thank you kindly, Kurosaki-chan." Sasakibe bowed with a warm smile. "I have brought a fruitcake as an offering for your table. I'm told that it is a tradition to offer the hostess a token of appreciation for the meal."
She took the offered dessert with the same smile, in spite that several of the others around her, human and Shinigami alike, winced or turned green at the thought of having to taste the hated dish. It was a short-lived distraction, however, as the Senkaimon opened once again and standing in the blinding light was something no one at the celebration had ever thought was possible. He was dressed in a deep red coat, trimmed with white fur, black snow boots on his feet, and although his staff was there, he also carried a large sack, bulging with what appeared to be gifts.
Silence reigned in the underground cavern as shock in varying degrees sank into each person gathered there. The object of their attention cleared his throat in a way that would have been uncertain had he been absolutely anyone else. Because it was him though, it merely broke the spell his appearance had cast upon the group.
Ichigo was the only one who could get his tongue working, however, "Y-Yama-jii?!"
Belly Report:
Ichigo – 14 weeks
Orihime – 33 weeks
Nel – 9 weeks
Tesla – 8 weeks