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"MATSUMOTO!"
The shout was a common thing to hear in the 10th Division barracks. And honestly, none could blame Hitsugaya Toshirou's frustrations over his lieutenant. Matsumoto Rangiku was known for many things. Her breasts, her love of drinking, her breasts, her unusual strength, her breasts, her shikai, and let's not forget her breasts.
But what all 10th Division shinigamis know most about her is her laziness. Don't get them wrong, Matsumoto-fukutaichou is well respected among her subordinates. She was someone who protected her comrades, supported them and left no one behind. Whenever she led them on a hollow raid, all knew with certainty that she'll do her best to protect their lives.
But when it comes to paperwork… well, let's just say that everyone let out a sigh of relief when Hitsugaya achieved bankai and was subsequently promoted as captain.
Speaking of Hitsugaya-taichou…
"Where is that woman.." the 10th Captain growled as he stomped down his division's hallways. White spiky hair swayed from side to side, his hard turquoise eyes narrowed. Just when he was about to move down another corridor he heard it.
His pathetic excuse of a lieutenant's obnoxious laugh. Judging by the hiccups scattered throughout, it was obvious the state of mentality she was in…
A burst of shunpo later and Hitsugaya burst into the room, slamming his door in one of his drunk subordinate's face. "Drinking on duty, how much lower can you sink!" he yelled.
"Oh, Toshiro! Hello there~" Said woman was leaning on the only table in the room, her voluptuous breasts practically out of her shihakushō. Her pouty lips were glistening, whether it could be from saliva or just drinking the numerous sake bottles scattered throughout the room Hitsugaya couldn't tell.
There were at least 5 other shinigamis in the room, most drunk off their heads as they slept or drooled away their inhibitions.
She waved an unopened bottle around. "Do you want to join too? Oh, but I can't let you," A manicured finger tapped her lips. "You're still too young!" In one graceful move Hitsugaya unstrapped his sheathed zanpakutou from his back and brought it down right on his lieutenant's head.
"You, just when I'm about to leave for a meeting, you decided to get yourself drunk off your ass?!" He gripped one of Matsumoto's ears and started dragging her away. "These are the times when I wonder why I still keep you as my lieutenant!"
"Ah, ow! It hurts, my ear's going to pop out because of you!"
"I don't care if your ear hurts!" At last the two arrived in the 10th Captain's office. Hitsugaya let go of his grip and pushed Matsumoto towards her desk. He pointed at the piles of paperwork on said desk.
"You see that, Matsumoto?" he hissed.
"Yes? They're just papers right?" She massaged her left ear. Oh how she pitied her ear.
Hitsugaya's right brow twitched. "'Just papers', huh? 'JUST PAPERS?!'" He slammed his left hand on the tallest pile. "All of these papers were given to you a week ago, which you haven't even started!" She cringed at his rebuttal, slinking lower into her suit. "And guess what?"
She gulped. "W-what?"
"They're due tomorrow!"
Blue eyes widened in shock, then horror when she found out about the deadline. "T-tomorrow?! Taichou!" She grabbed her small captain and pushed his face between her well-endowed chest. "I thought I had two more days to complete this, I swear! Please, you have to help me!"
"Mmph!"
"Please taichou, I'll do anything!" the captain finally managed to move one breast aside to gulp a quick breathe.
"Breathe," he rasped, "Let me breathe first!" The golden blond-haired beauty finally let the poor captain free as Hitsugaya collapsed to his knees and gulped down fresh air.
She batted her eyelashes, So Hitsugaya, please help me?"
"That's Hitsugaya-taichou to you, Matsumoto." He raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Fine, I'll help you-"
"Yay, thank you-"
"On one condition." He eyed the seemingly never-ending papers. "If you've gone through at least half of this by the time I get back from the meeting, then I'll help you. And," He took the sake bottle that Matsumoto somehow managed to keep in her hand. "you better not be drinking when I get back."
The woman gave her a lazy salute. "Sir yes sir!"
Hitsugaya let out a sigh. "Ah what am I doing, bringing unneeded stress on me…" He swung his zanpakutou back, tying the strap back in place.
"You're too serious for you age, Hitsugaya-san" Matsumoto was already settled in her desk, pen in hand. "Thankfully I'm here to make sure you don't get too stressed out."
Hitsugaya huffed, "That's what you'd like to think"
There conversation was broken by soft tapping at the office windows. A quick look showed two hell butterflies that wished to enter.
"Hm? Why are they here?" closest to the window Matsumoto let the butterflies in, holding out a hand to hear their message. In the corner of her eye she saw her captain do the same.
"An urgent message. All lieutenants are now required to attend today's Captain Meeting this afternoon. This order is officiated by Yamamoto soutaichou in response to a newly promoted shinigami to 13th Division's Lieutenant seat. Again, an urgent message. All lieutenants…"
A small twitch of her forefinger and the hell butterfly left its post, flying back to wherever they lived. She leaned back on her chair, arms crossed. "Huh, so he finally found someone to fill the post." She looked at her captain, whose brows were furrowed in thought. "Have you heard Ukitake-taichou say anything about getting a lieutenant?"
Hitsugaya shook his head. "No, not at all. However," he scratched his chin. "I was supposed to meet up with him yesterday at a tea shop. He called me the night before to cancel it." Turquoise eyes looked out the window, watching as the two hell butterflies fluttered away. "He sounded a bit distracted. I thought it was because he was behind on some work but perhaps it was because of his new lieutenant…"
Matsumoto looked at the papers swelling her desk, and felt that she was dying a little. Ah, I'm going to have an all nighter. She rubbed her cheeks, letting out a long whine. My skin's going to pay for this!
''She looked at her captain, batting her eyelashes again. "Taichou~"
"Yeah yeah," He huffed, "I'll still help you after the meeting."
"Kira-kun!" A blond, pale man turned towards the call of his name, a gentle smile on his lips.
"Hinamori-fukutaichou, it's nice to see you again." She fixed the man with a pout, her right hand on her hip.
"Kira-kun, no need to be so formal," she punched him on the shoulder. "We graduated at the same time, and we're of the same rank. That's more than enough to just call me Hinamori-san!"
Kira Izuru chuckled, "Very well then, Hinamori-san." The 3rd lieutenant took a sweeping glance at the room he and Hinamori was in. They were in a waiting room connected to the main conference room, where all official captain meetings were held. As expected of any building in the centre of Sereitei, the ceilings were meters tall. Opulent round pillars were organised into two straight lines, paving the path from the exit to the meeting room.
The two were early; the doors to the room weren't even open yet. The meeting would most likely start earlier though, because of the ceremony. I believe no one knows the identity of the promoted shinigami. He eyed the captains and lieutenants already here. There was Hisagi Shūhei, staying close to Kaname-taichou. He gave a brief nod towards the 9th lieutenant.
Even Zaraki-taichou and Kusajishi-fukutaichou are here. He took a step back from the 11th Captain. The man felt more bloodthirsty than usual, his reiatsu permeating the air. Maybe he wants to spar with the new lieutenant? I suddenly feel sorry for the guy... or girl.
"Wow, I've never seen this many people early before." All heads turned to the exit, where 8th Captain's Kyōraku Shunsui sauntered down the hall. The infamous pink kimono fluttered with each step he took, straw sachet tilted upwards to show off his lazy grin.
"Of course they'll come here earlier, taichou, the news of a new lieutenant is almost as exciting as a new captain!" And there was his faithful lieutenant Ise Nanao, frown and glasses in place.
"Nanao-san!" It seems that Hinamori's voice was all that was needed to knock out the woman's frown. With a quick approval by her captain, Nanao headed toward them.
"Hinamori-san, Kira-kun, hello. Where are your captains?"
"Ichimaru-taichou will come well enough." Izuru rolled his eyes. "He was cackling before I left, so most likely he was placing a prank somewhere in the barracks."
Nanao sent him a sympathetic look. "Ah yes, I just managed to talk my captain out from bringing those damn flower petals again." Both sighed at the same time.
Annoying eccentric captains.
"Aizen-sama just had to drop by some books back in the library. I offered to accompany him, but he told me to go ahead."
"Ah, that's good to know." Lucky, Kira and Nanao thought. Both longed for the day when their respective captains acted as expected of their positions.
"Nanao, Momo-chan, Kira!" The casual dismissal of honorifics could only mean that Matsumoto of the 10th Division was here. The curvaceous woman wrapped an arm around Hinamori-san's shoulders, giving her a quick hug.
"Ah, it's been a while since all of us met! I believe the last time was two weeks ago?"
"Yes," Izuru said, "Hisagi-taichou was there as well, when we met up at the bar next to the 7th Division barracks."
Nanao-san's eyes narrowed, adjusting her glasses' frames. "Matsumoto-san, have you been drinking beforehand?!"
The woman gave a sheepish laugh, brushing her golden blond hair to the side. "Ahaha, it was a just one bottle, Nanao-san."
"More like twenty sake bottles," Izuru muttered.
"Kira!" It was at that moment when the doors to the council room opened, calling the start of the meeting. The group split up, each heading towards their captains. Ichimaru-taichou came seconds after Izuru entered, his foxy smile already in place. To his despair Izuru noticed that his smile was a few centimeters wider than usual. Looks like his latest prank will be quite annoying to clean.
Aizen-taichou entered after, the 5th Captain giving HInamori a warm smile and pat on the head when he went up to her. All the way at the end of the room was Yamamoto-soutaichou, both hands grasping his wooden staff with his back ramrod straight. Sasakibe-fukutaichou was right behind him, head held high. Off to the left of the Captain Commander was 13th Captain Ukitake Jūshirō, his face calm and placid. When Izuru caught his eye the captain just gave him a smile.
And there, standing between Ukitake-taichou and Yamamoto-taichou was the soon to be appointed lieutenant of the 13th Division, the man of the hour.
… er, boy of the hour?
The shinigami was so small, around the same height of 10th Captain Hitsugaya. He stood a step behind his captain, head bowed low to conceal his face. His shaggy black hair didn't help either. He wore the signature shihakushō, which seemed to swallow him; the sleeves were longer than his arms!
Prodigies just keep getting younger and younger Izuru thought as he chanced a glance at Hitsugaya-taichou. The 10th Captain's frown was deeper than usual, his turquoise eyes looking at the squirming stranger.
When 12th Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri and his lieutenant slash daughter, Nemu, arrived right on the dot, Yamamoto-soutaichou tapped the bottom of his staff on the wooden flooring three times. A the last thunderous tap the doors slammed shut. None of the captains nor lieutenants flinched at the display.
Except for one shinigami.
"God fucking damnit!" the boy shouted as he flinched at the sound.
Utter silence enveloped the area as all eyes looked at the boy. Oh, definitely not a good impression. Across from Izuru he could see 4th Captain's Unohana's face darken, her smile turning a bit too crooked to look warm and innocent.
"Chigusa Kago," Yamamoto-taichou said. "refrain from rude outbursts in the future."
The boy cringed at the rebuttal. "Y-yes old ge- I mean Yamamoto-san"
Izuru's right eye twitch. Is he suicidal or a fucking idiot? He knew what the newly named Chigusa almost said. He was going to call the soutaichou an old man!
Unohana-taichou's smile started to show her front teeth.
The 1st Captain gave Chigusa a long, hard stare before he focused his attention to Ukitake-taichou. Living up to his character, the 13th Captain acted as if his chosen lieutenant didn't break two unspoken rules right in front of him.
"Ukitake-taichou, do you acknowledge Chigusa Kago as your lieutenant, thus recognising him as the second strongest shinigami in your Division?"
Said Captain stepped in front of the Captain Commander, bending down in one knee. "Yes, soutaichou."
Yamamoto nodded. He turned back to Kago, who was still standing to the side. A pointed glare to Ukitake-taichou's position finally had the shinigami scurrying to kneel beside the 13th Captain. While only the backs of both shinigamis were seen, Izuru could still see the tips of Chigusa-san's ears flushed. "Chigusa Kago, do you accept Ukitake-taichou's request? Do you accept to become the lieutenant of the 13th Division, and shoulder the responsibilities that come along with it?"
"Uh, y-yeah." Oh god, he's an idiot. Chigusa-san's an idiot. The urge to face palm had never been this intense until now. Throughout the entirety of this small ceremony, the brat didn't even acknowledge Yamamoto-soutaichou with his full title.
A long silence, until Yamamoto finally spoke, "You may gift Chigusa the 13th Division's lieutenant badge, Ukitake-taichou. May he strive to represent what your Division signifies; hope."
He tapped his staff once on the wooden floor, forcing the front doors to open up.
"The initiation ceremony has ended. All lieutenants may now leave."
Now, more than ever, Harry wished he had his magic again. So I can apparate the fuck out of here.
But alas the newly minted lieutenant was forced to stay where he was, shuffling his feet as Ukitake-san tied the badge on his shihakushō's left sleeve. Oh, Harry knew he made a lot of mistakes. Most likely all the stuck up nobles hate him with an utter passion. Let me die now. Wait, I'm already dead. Reborn me so I can kill myself again.
Ukitake reached out to squeeze his shoulder. "Calm down, Kago. Yamamoto-soutaichou found your actions more endearing than insulting."
Harry snorted. "I don't care what the old geezer thinks about me. Unohana-taichou on the other hand." Both lieutenant and captain took a quick pick at said Captain.
Her smile was as radiant as the sun.
Harry looked back to his captain. "Ukitake-taichou!" His green eyes were wide and bright, glistening with unshed tears. "May I please-."
"Chigusa-fukutaichou, I'll pick you up later from the medical facility then. Traitor! You're abandoning your lieutenant already to the devil incarnate!
Ukitake patted the boy on the head. "Don't worry, the captain meetings take at least 2 hours. I think that's enough time for you to hide from her."
Harry sent him a heated glare, teeth grinding. "Ooh, you're enjoying this aren't you Ukitake-san. You're a devil in disguise huh."
Said man just gave him a smile. "I'll see you later. And please Kago, at least try to be polite when you meet the other lieutenants."
Harry blew a stray strand of hair from his face. "And if I don't want to hang out with the lieutenants?" Nevertheless he shuffled out of the room, making sure he had a good 3 meter distance from the 4th Captain
He was the second to last lieutenant to leave, the 1st Lieutenant sealing the meeting room doors. It was all a bit overwhelming, the sudden changes in his life. Just five days ago Harry was just one of many shinigamis in training, learning the four skill sets that all shinigami are required. And now here he was, wearing the shinigami robes and sporting 13th Division's lieutenant badge.
Fate must hate me.
"You're going to have to breathe, Kago."
"Ise-san!" His head shot up, nearly head-butting the woman on the chin. Thankfully she managed to step back just in time.
She cocked one eyebrow up, giving a cursory glance over him. What she saw didn't please her. "Kago-san," she sighed, "Honestly," She grabbed one of his sleeves and started to roll them up. "You looked like a drowned cat when I saw you in there. And your hair!" Once both his sleeves were folded until his hands were seen, Nanao attacked his hair with vengeance. "It's worse than Kyōraku-taichou's! I know I combed that nest before I left!"
"Goddamnit Ise, stop it! I'm not a child."
She slapped the top of his head. "In my eyes, you are. And stop swearing!.
He squinted back, "No wonder weirdo-san complains about you. You're such a nagger."
"What did you say you little punk?"
"Don't tell me your deaf too? Blind and deaf, I think you need to retire now - ow!" It seemed the 8th lieutenant had enough of his insults. Before Harry even finished his first question Nanao grabbed his cheeks and started to pull, hard.
"Oh? I should retire huh? I should just go and let some brat run amok? Huh?"
"Ack! Ise-san, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Ise Nanao had been Kyōraku Shunsui's lieutenant for seventy years, and knew him even longer. She was exposed to many of her captain's antics, and many of his strengths. He was annoying yet endearing, childish but wise. He had his faults, but she wouldn't have any other captain. It was always the little things that he did from time to time that made Nanao know she can put her life in his hands.
That didn't mean that she never doubted his actions. There were many instances where Nanao wondered why on earth she kept her lieutenant position. The petal-throwing plan (which was annoying and stupid) and his shallow excuses of avoiding his work were prime examples.
At the moment, learning that her captain was pushing for a little boy to become a lieutenant was topping all of the other hair-brain actions Kyōraku-taichou thought up of…
She couldn't help but stare blankly at the green-eyed boy in front of him. His arms were heavily bandaged, and she could see more wrapped around his chest underneath his shihakushō. His hair, its length reaching his chin, was messy and wind-swept. His small thin fingers were wrapped around his sword, half his height, that rested on his lap.
"So, what do you think?" Her captain wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Won't he make a great lieutenant for Jūshirō?"
She looked at the fidgeting boy - no, child - then back at her stupid, moronic, idiotic captain. "You…"
"Ah, so you agreed-"
Her trusty fan slipped out from the sleeves of her uniform as she slapped Kyōraku with it on the face.
"You, how could you drag a poor innocent boy into one of your hair-brained schemes!"
"Ah, wait Nanao-chan-" Her fan kept on swinging, hitting any part of his body she could get; his arms, his shoulder, his head, just anything to make him regret dragging a random boy out of his comfort zone.
"Your stupid petals were one thing, but using a child?!"
"Nanao-"
"Ukitake-taichou would be disappointed to you when I tell him about this, and let's not forget about Yamamoto-soutaichou!"
A pointed cough stopped Nanao in her tracks. Standing right next to the boy was Ukitake Jūshirō. He was grinning unrepentantly, and the boy was scowling.
"Well, I hope you've got it all out of your system Ise-san."
In quick, silent movements Nanao slipped her fan back inside her sleeves, adjusting her glasses while she faced the 13th Captain. "Ukitake-taichou, I believe you heard what I told Kyōraku-taichou?"
"Yes, however I would have to inform you that it was the Soutaichou himself that proposed Chigusa Kago here," At this he waved his free hand to the boy. "to be taken out of Shin'ō Academy and become my lieutenant."
Her eyeglass slid down in shock. Off in the distance she could hear her captain moaning, grumbling about how his 'lovely lieutenant shouldn't be so violent'.
With natural ease she ignored her captain. "R-really?" She looked at the boy, who was pouting. Nanao couldn't help but stoop down to the boy's height. "I'm sorry kid, but I think you're still too young to become a shinigami."
The boy snarled, "I'm not a kid, you violent hag!"
…
"What?"
"Oi, weirdo-san, I think you made a mistake getting this crazy woman as your lieutenant. She'll scare away all possible shinigamis from joining your division."
Oh, how quick the adorable atmosphere the boy portrayed could be shattered the moment he opened his damn mouth.
"What did you call me, you brat?"
"Ah, Ise-san, please calm-"
"I said you're a violent hag, you violent hag!"
She kept her silence, even though she was vehemently against this idea. As she kept on pinching Chigusa-san's cheeks, she can't help but notice how small he was.
Notice how her hand could hold both of his thin wrists without resistance.
Notice his large green eyes, emphasising how young and small and…
Nanao thinks she'll never see what Kyōraku saw with Chigusa Kago. Her captain saw a strong soldier, someone with one of the most dangerous zanpakutous to have ever been wielded.
All she saw was a young boy with world-weary eyes, living without wanting to. And if this boy didn't care about his own life, then how on earth can he care about the lives of a whole division?
Harry wondered if he was being punished for all the sins he committed when he was alive. It was the only reason why his luck had been utter shit for the past few days.
That's the only plausible explanation, to be surrounded by drunk shinigamis.
He sat next to his escape route, a hot cup of tea cradled in his hands. To his left was Ise Nanao, the 'nagging' lieutenant. At his right was a blond pale man. He introduced himself as Kira Izuru, lieutenant of the 3rd Division. While he didn't like either of them, they were still the sanest lieutenants of the lot.
"So what division and seat were you in before you were promoted, Chigusa-san? I've never seen you before." Ugh, questions. And one Harry really didn't want to answer. But it would be rude not to answer Kira-san's question. His last name sounded familiar so most likely he's from nobility.
He took a sip of his tea (that was not sake, dammit Ise-san!), "Actually today is my first official day as a shinigami. I graduated from the Academy a few days ago. "
"Eh?! oh man, don't tell me you're a prodigy?" 4th lieutenant Kotetsu Isane whined, her chin resting on the restaurant's table. "Wow, I'm really starting to feel old now."
"If you feel old, what do you think your captain feels?"
"Captain's don't count, Hisagi-san!"
And there they go again, diving into another conversation. Harry let out a low sigh, carefully swishing the tea in his cup back and forth. Seriously, what was Ukitake-san thinking when he ordered him to attend the lieutenant's monthly gathering? And asking Nanao-san to look after me? Damnit I can't even drink the night away anymore…
"Chigusa-san, are you really invested in being a lieutenant?" Now that question was out of the blue.
Harry looked up and locked eyes with one Kira Izuru.
"Why'd you ask that?" Or more importantly, how did such a thought come to this guy's mind? Sure, he was quite clumsy during the ceremony, but Harry was certain he showed enough enthusiasm to make it seem that he was nervous. The slip of 'almost' calling Yamamoto 'old geezer' was done exquisitely, thank you very much.
The blond man cocked his right eyebrow up, then shrugged as he took a sip of his sake. It was clear by how slowly he drank his stupid drink that he was making Harry squirm on purpose. At last he placed his cup down. "Everyone in the room could tell that you weren't excited about your promotion."
"Bullshi-"
"It's true." Now Nanao-san butted into the conversation, pushing her glasses back in place. "Matsumoto came up to me after you left, asking if I knew why Ukitake-taichou would force someone to become his lieutenant."
Harry didn't know what to say. He was honestly just, speechless. "Wait… what?"
The 8th lieutenant scowled, "Honestly, did you think we were dumb? That you could hide your feelings through such poor acting? All of us here became lieutenants through years of honing and perfecting our skills. We're not as good at reading body manners like the Omnitsukidō, nor are we as strong as our captains, but we have more than enough experience to notice your displeasure during the ceremony and deduce that you were forced into accepting that position."
Harry could barely hold on his cup. He looked at the other people in the room. While they pretended to be drunk off their arses, Harry finally noticed that they were all sober. This… This isn't some party. This is an interrogation.
He turned away from Nanao, focusing entirely on Kira. He sent the blond man a polite smile. "What do you want to ask me then?"
Kira's one blue eye bore into Harry, "Asking why would be pointless. Ise-san told us that answer is confidential, and that only a handful could answer it. For how you got into this position, 12th lieutenant Nemu-san gathered information about your short time in the Academy. This answered who you are, but not how and still brought up more questions. Questions that I believe you can't answer because of confidentiality issues again, right?"
Harry's smile became more strained as Kira kept on talking. He bit his bottom lip, stifling his anger. The room was gradually getting quiet; looks like all of them were going in for the kill.
Kira leaned closer till their noses almost touching. "So after much debate, all of us decided that the most important question we want answered is, Will you be able to properly do your duties as lieutenant of the 13th Division?"
A stifling pause, and then a snort. First Harry's shoulders shook, then his chest and finally his entire body. He covered his mouth with his hands to stifle the laughter. Of all things, that's all they want to know about? taking "You, what type of question is that?"
"I believe it's a reasonable question-"
"It's not reasonable, you fuckers!" He slammed his fist on the table, punching a hole through.
"Fuck, this whole 'welcoming the newbie' party was all a farce, isn't it? I know Ukitake-san isn't in on it, he wouldn't have allowed me to go. And you," The snarl towards Ise made her flinch, but she still kept herself taut and ready. "You lied to him."
Harry let out another chuckle. "'Will I be able to properly do my duties', you ask? Of course not. I've never faced a hollow in my entire life! I just learned the 10th Hado spell a few days ago, and don't even ask about my hakuda matches." Acidic green eyes bore on each lieutenant.
"By that alone, I shouldn't even be a seated officer. But here I am."
Hisagi was the first to answer. He was unable to maintain eye contact though. "Very well, then all of us here - even the lieutenants not present, are willing to help-"
"No thank you." He rose from his seat, "I'll be too busy, and frankly I don't want your help."
"You think we'll accept a no after you told us how ill prepared you are?"
"No. However, do you think I'll accept help from you?"
5th lieutenant Hinamori Momo, who was quiet since the start of the interrogation, spoke out. "We didn't ask the question to threaten you, Chigusa-san. We only asked so that we can help you adjust and take care of a whole division of shinigamis." She was trying to cause guilt, emphasizing the lives that he will have to protect and look over. "We're sorry if you interpreted our meanings in a negative connotation."
He had to applaud at the subtle manipulation, the wording that she used that would have made him feel ashamed of his outburst. Oh I should have paid more attention to them. These guys, while not as annoying as the captains, are still part of the creme de la creme.
Harry nodded to Hinamori, and caught just the hint of smug satisfaction in her eyes. I'm gonna love her reaction after this…
"Pretty words, but I still won't accept it." He stood up, subtly wiping away the wood dust from his hands on his hakama. He gave a jaunty wave, similar to what Yamamoto-soutaichou was given in their first meeting.
"I'll be off, then. Ukitake-san wanted me to come back once the party was over; doesn't trust me to sneak a sip of sake, that mother hen."
