Chapter 10

Aoi woke early the next morning and went to his kitchen. There wasn't really much there so she went to her apartment and grabbed a few things, going back to his place to cook.

She'd made ham and cheese omelets, toast and was just starting to make the tea when he came out of the room, smiling at her. "I see you went back to your apartment."

"You didn't really have much here besides green tea and rice. I thought you went grocery shopping yesterday."

"I got cleansers and shampoo. I don't eat much here." She nodded. She served the food and he ate happily, noticing her eating slowly. "Is everything alright?"

"I keep expecting to wake up." She smiled with a light blush as she took another bite. She looked up at him and her eyes closed as her head softly rolled to the side. He smiled back at her.

His back wasn't hurting anymore.

He'd had this pain in his back for years. It wasn't anything major, just a muscular ache. Unohana had once said it was because his sleeping posture wasn't very good. He'd tried sleeping on a pillow, but it didn't work.

She did. It was so wonderful to be near her. She was helping him through so many of his problems, and he had a feeling she knew the feeling right now as well. It was absolute bliss.

There was a knock at the door and Aoi looked as Kira walked over, opening the door. "Kira Izuru?" He nodded and she heard a voice outside snicker. "Nice shorts." He sighed, leaning against the door frame, blocking Aoi from sight.

"We need to speak to Aoi-Taicho. She's not in her apartment. Do you know where she is?" Kira nodded and switched to the other side of the door frame. "Right here."

The two men stepped in and Kira looked over at her, curious. "Aoi-Taicho, you've been reassigned. Please come with us." Kira's eyes widened. "What?!"

"You'll know soon enough what's going on. Aoi, please go get changed." She nodded and walked back to the other room.

Kira turned to them. "You won't tell me what's happening with my Taicho?"

"She's not your Taicho anymore. You're to come to the tower as well. Please, go get dressed." Kira nodded and turned. "I'll follow. I can't enter with her in that state." They looked.

"I don't know, you guys looked pretty intimate there a moment ago." Kira turned to them and shook his head. "It's not like that." They shrugged and waited till she came out.

"Izuru..." She turned to him and he smiled, waving at her as she leaped towards the tower. The smile slid instantly off his face. He'd put that look on to try and keep her a little more confident, but he was totally lacking that himself right now. He ran back and got dressed. He was getting to the tower as soon as possible.

By the time he got there he knew there was trouble. Yamamoto looked at him with a frown and handed the white Taicho's haori to him. "For the next while you're acting Taicho. It's temporary."

"Sir, please, what about Aoi-Taicho?" He heard her and looked over, standing with her obi on and her head down. She was furious and he could tell. "I'm not your Taicho for the time being." Kira's eyes widened. "Are you the Fukutaicho?"

"Of the sixth division." Kira turned to Byakuya, standing beside her. "What?!" He yelled and Aoi nearly whispered. "Izuru." He turned to her, clenching the white haori in his hand. "No! This is Bullsh-"

"IZURU!" Aoi yelled, not turning to face him and he stilled, his eyes wide on her. "Please behave yourself before Yamamoto-Taicho." Byakuya looked down at her. She was able to stop the avalanche that was about to come forth with only his name. Kira frowned. He nodded and looked at the haori. It was the one she'd just been wearing. This was a last minute change.

"I'll do my best." Aoi sighed relieved. Yamamoto nodded. "Your previous Taicho said she required you to have someone work as your Fukutaicho while she's away. Abarai will act under you." Kira nodded as he slid on the haori. She looked over, afraid. He could see the fear in her eyes.

"This is a temporary movement. Byakuya-san has told me that this girl has had a mental lapse and broke Abarai's wrist yesterday. Kira-kun has had to chase her all around Seireitei nearly nightly for the last five days. I think it's a good idea to give her a little experience before giving her such a responsibility as Taicho."

"Yamamoto-sama, How long are you going to keep things this way?"

"That depends. She may never be ready. Byakuya-sama will be the one to tell me. She may be back to third squad in as little as two or three years."

Kira looked at him, his eyes wide, his jaw dropped. "Years?"

Aoi looked over, worried now more for Kira than herself. Byakuya looked down at her. "Abarai will have his belongings moved out of the Fukutaicho's quarters within the hour. You have till the end of the day to move your belonging. Aoi nodded. "Hai, Taicho. Is there anything else you need of me?"

"Come to my office and I'll let you know, depending on the time." Aoi bowed and looked over as Yamamoto turned away. Aoi walked up and looked at Kira with a sad smile. "Maybe when I come back I'll be able to make you proud."

"I just want you to be there. I don't care if you're a Taicho or a Fukutaicho, I just..." He wrapped his arms around her, and she did the same. Yamamoto watched with gleeful eyes from the shadows. He stepped back out and cleared his throat, gaining their attention. "You know, you don't always have to stay in the quarters you're assigned. Also, with a situation like this, I'll add that absence makes the heart grow fonder." He smiled as he turned and this time actually left.

It was only a few hours later that her belongings were moved. She'd looked around the rooms as Renji came in and frowned at her. "I'm sorry." She looked up and frowned. "It's not your fault. How's your wrist?" He looked down at the cast and sighed. "It could have been worse. Why'd you break it?" He looked at her and she sighed, shaking her head. "I was having a moment. I'd just discovered something that has haunted me for a few years had something to do with Izuru."

"Who the hell is Izu- oh, never mind." He remembered. "Byakuya-Taicho is a great leader. I know you'll do well with him." Aoi nodded. "Thank you. I'd better go. He wants me back as quickly as possible." Renji nodded as she walked past him with the last of her stuff, a bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap she'd never had the chance to use.

She knocked at Kira's door. It was a moment later that he opened, his eyes instantly lightening when he saw her. "Aoi-Taicho!"

"Izuru!" She dropped her bag and ran in, throwing her arms around him. "I'm sorry about yelling earlier! I wanted to tell you that!" She gasped, seeing him taking a lot more out of her than she thought it would. "I didn't want you to get in trouble! Not over me." She looked up at him and he smiled, cupping her cheek in his hand.

"I need to tell you something as well. I know we've only really been together for a day. I know that this is going to be hard on us, and I just wanted to let you know, it's alright. You're going through a lot, things are changing all the time for you right now, so, if I'm one of those changes, it's alright. I'd never really had a girlfriend before. I can handle being alone." She looked at him, mortified.

"No! Don't think like that!"

"It's alright. I had you to myself for the day, I got to know you and for me, that was the most wonderful thing ever." She laid her head against his chest and he sighed, taking in her scent. "I hope, however, that you'll come to visit often. I'd like it more if you stayed with me." She looked up at him and nodded. "I know Byakuya-Taicho will probably not let you come here that often, so I'll see what I can do." She nodded and turned, picking up the bag she'd held before. "Here, this is for you." Kira looked at the bag and nodded. "I'll try and come back tomorrow night. Is that okay?" She whispered and he nodded. "That would be great." She reached up and kissed him.

Kira felt himself break. He could feel his heart shatter. He knew what would happen. She'd visit him a few times in the first week, maybe once or twice the week after that, then maybe once in the beginning of the month after that.

Then she'd be gone. She'd fall for her new Taicho. Kira smiled. He didn't think he'd had a chance at all in the first place, so he'd already done so much better than he ever would have thought.

He got the chance to spend time with her, to see her smile for him alone.

The chance to fall in love.

She broke the kiss and looked into his eyes. "I have to go." He nodded and watched as she disappeared over the houses.

It was a few hours later that she was finishing the unpacking. She lifted an armload of groceries and started to head for the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door.

Aoi shoved the door open with her foot as she passed, calling behind her. "Please give me a moment!" She dropped the stuff to the table and turned, wiping the condensation on her hakama.

"I trust the moving is going well." Byakuya watched her with interest as she bowed before him. "Yes, Taicho." She was surprised when he lifted her by the shoulder to standing. "Is there anything you dislike about your new apartment?"

"The wood's darker. I bought all my decor for the honey colored wood, but I think I can make due." She smiled and he nodded.

"The building here is set up the same as the third squad's area, but I don't live across the office. My house is two blocks to the east." Aoi nodded. "If there's anything you need, just let me know."

"Hai, Taicho." She nodded

"Oh, and Aoi, Please be at the office at eight for training." Aoi nodded. "Hai, Taicho."

Byakuya stepped back, closing the door. Aoi looked around and sighed. She needed to go back to work.

She woke early and frowned. She didn't want to be awake yet, but she had to be at work in two hours. She went to work, making up random foods and got them all together. She packed up a basket and went to the third squad's area.

Kira didn't open his door, she figured he was asleep and she crept in, knowing he never locked his door. She placed the basket on the table and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill, going quickly to work.

She was about three letters in when she heard a soft pat on the ground behind her and turned to see him standing there, soaking wet in a towel. "Aoi!"

"I know you have a tendency to skip breakfast..." She stepped back, showing off the basket and he looked at her, trying to keep from laughing at her expression. "Why do you look so terrified?"

"I technically just broke into a Captain's quarters, now you're my sempai. I don't think that goes well in court." Kira walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "Aoi, Consider this your second home. You're allowed in whenever you want."

"You're so warm..." Aoi said absently, nuzzling into his chest, the moisture sticking her to him.

Kira felt a shiver go up his back and stepped back. "I can't this morning, I don't have the willpower." Aoi blushed and stepped back. "I, uh..." She turned and went to the kitchen, grabbing two plates.

They ate quickly, as Aoi knew Byakuya would probably be visiting her soon to make sure she wasn't lost trying to find the office.

She went to the door after taking care of the dishes, ignoring Kira's protests. "I'll be back soon!" She smiled at him and kissed him softly before running off, Kira waving after her.

She was only about halfway to the quarters when she was stopped. "Aoi!"

"Hitsugaya-Taicho!" She waved and he frowned, noticing the armband. "You're the sixth squad's Fukutaicho?" His eyes narrowed and she nodded. "Such bad timing, too. Me and Izuru started going out." Hitsugaya nearly choked on his own tongue.

"What?!"

"Yeah, the next morning I was demoted and switched places with Abarai. Izuru's acting Taicho of the third squad for now."

"This is good." Hitsugaya smiled and Aoi looked over. "What?"

"There would be problems if you or Kira had been switched to Taicho of another team, but seeing as he's still in third squad and you're now in sixth. With me being Taicho, I can ask Byakuya for assistance and he'll usually send his Taicho. I'll see about strengthening relations between the tenth and third squads." He winked at her and Aoi smiled. "Please, Hitsugaya, can you send Matsumoto over later? Get her to come up with some excuse for me to get out. I need a little time for girl talk." Hitsugaya nodded.

"I'll try. We're swamped today. I'm just hoping she shows up before noon. Be on alert. The sixth squad goes to the human world all the time for missions. You may end out over there for days or even months at a time."

"MONTHS?!" Aoi whimpered in despair. "Abarai has probably spent about thirty to fifty percent of his time for the last few years there." Aoi nodded, groaning. "Oh, Byakuya-Taicho's probably waiting for me." Hitsugaya looked at her with a sigh. "How early is he telling you go go in?"

"Eight. I'll be there in about three minutes, and I'm supposed to be there in fifteen minutes, but from how he seems I better be early." Hitsugaya nodded. "He's a hard ass. Just be thankful you weren't MY Fukutaicho. I'm worse." He grinned before headed out.

Aoi reached the sixth squad office at ten till, still giggling at herself about Hitsugaya's remark. "I'm glad to see you're punctual."

Aoi turned, her hands behind her back and for a flashing moment his eyes were soft. She watched, surprised before nodding. "I'll do my best, Byakuya-Taicho!" He nearly smiled as he slid open the door.