Chapter 11

Aoi was already fairly familiar with the papers, how to order and assign, the parts that needed to be filled in, but there were other things that she'd never been taught about her job. Byakuya was more than happy to throw her into them.

She was put in charge of preparing the itinerary for squad exercises, which her squad hadn't even done. She felt kind of oblivious at the thought that it hadn't entered her mind.

She was dead tired by the end of the day, Matsumoto came by but wasn't able to pull her away. She'd really wanted to get the work done before she headed out, but when Matsumoto got there she knew she wouldn't be done anytime soon. "Matsumoto, I'll try and meet you tomorrow sometime, I'm gonna be busy all day." She sighed, an armload of books she was taking to the academy. Matsumoto sighed. "Alright. I'll make sure to break you out tomorrow." Matsumoto took off at top speed and Aoi frowned.

She returned to the office at seven-thirty, after handling three hollow dispatches herself, being told by Byakuya that she wasn't to use her Zampactoh for any of them.

She had changed after the last one, her uniform was massively missing. She gave her report on site, Byakuya following shortly after to see her work.

She wasn't in the least surprised that he kept his eyes averted as she held the front of her haori up with her hand, more covering her chest with her arm. "Please go change and return to the office."

"Hai, Taicho." She gasped for air and used Shunpo to get to her room without being seen.

She snuck in and sighed. She was getting a moment to catch her breath.

She leaned back against the wall and sighed, drifting off to sleep the instant she blinked.

Needless to say she wasn't thrilled when a moment later the door opened, her falling to the floor outside, looking up with weary eyes at Byakuya.

She jumped up, spinning and covered her chest again with her hand. "Sorry! I'll be ready in a moment!" She bowed, hoping the angle would block her bare chest and tired eyes. He nodded curtly and turned, walking back to the office.

She changed quickly, washing her arms and face with a cloth before headed out.

Her uniform was destroyed. She looked through her closet, only to remember the other had been in the cloths hamper when she'd gotten there. She changed into a sakura print yukata and grabbed her purple obi, which Byakuya had told her not to wear when she'd shown up that day. Unfortunately it was that or a black sash. He'd probably understand...

She went into the office, still tying the badge around her arm. "You're late." Byakuya stated flatly, tapping the stack of papers in his hand flat against the table. "Gomen-nassai!" She bowed, glad that her face was more covered by the darkness of the room. He stood, placing the papers onto the side table and turned to her, his eyes never really reaching her. "Please follow me." She nodded and followed, one step behind.

She was more terrified than relieved that this wasn't another mission, but a welcome party. She looked around the room, Byakuya at the head of the room barely spoke a word, other than to introduce her and comment about her outfit. "I hope you don't plan to wear that to work." He spoke cruelly, almost at a snarl. "Gomen, My uniform was ruined, the spare is in the wash. I'll have it ready by tomorrow." Byakuya nodded.

"This is Aoi. She doesn't appear to have a family name. She'll be replacing Abarai for the time being. I'll expect you all to treat her as you do myself."

"She's naive to the world of the shinigami, so don't be surprised if she does not know the simple tasks. She's here to learn, and therefore, we're being asked to teach her." After that there wasn't a word spoken between the two.

She left the room after the food was eaten, the sake drank and made her way back to her room, knowing she'd have to have the cloths on the line before she went to sleep.

It was nearly midnight when she finally started to hang them. She sighed, totally exhausted as she wiped her forehead with her arm, taking a step back to make sure the uniform hung as to not get any wrinkles.

"You did well today." She turned to see Byakuya standing by her back door, his eyes looking at her, more curious than anything else. "Thank you, Taicho. I'll try harder tomorrow, I promise." Byakuya nodded.

"Good. Tomorrow will be more difficult. You have a mission in the real world. You'll be there overnight." Her eyes widened. "Taicho, please, not tomorrow, I have plans."

"Kira-kun will still be here after your mission is over. It's important to take your work above your social life." Aoi stared for a moment before nodding, sighing. "Hai, Taicho."

He turned and started to walk away but stopped, thinking for a second. "Abarai tells me that the human world is very enjoyable on these missions. It may not be as bad as you believe." She nodded again, not even thinking about his words at this.

He could tell she was upset, but he had to do this. He had to teach her the real work behind being a Taicho. Only then could she really learn to understand him.

She woke at six. She didn't know why she kept waking so early, but she did. She ran to the kitchen, throwing together some omelets before running out and getting her uniform. She knocked at Kira's door, having a feeling he wouldn't answer. She walked in and went to his room.

She had to see him. Even if he didn't know she was there, she had to see him if just for a moment. She was so disappointed when he wasn't there.

She went to the office, finding only Abarai there and sighed. "Aoi-Fukutaicho, is there something you need?" She shook her head. She went back to his quarters and wrote out a note to lay on the basket.

'I wanted to see you to tell you, but you weren't here. I'm being sent to the human world overnight. I'll see you tomorrow.

I miss you.

Aoi'

She didn't like this. She was totally unhappy about this whole thing. She looked around as if she'd never see the room again and sighed. She turned and headed back to her squad. She wanted to be early, hoping there would be some orientation before she went.

No such luck.

Abarai was there, as was Matsumoto and Hitsugaya. They met at the Senkai gate, finding Byakuya there, looking over them. "Abarai, you know what to do. Keep Aoi-Fukutaicho informed as well as possible."

"Hai, Taicho." He bowed and Byakuya turned to her.

"I apologize for this. I hadn't intended for you to leave like this." She bowed, unable to keep the disappointment from her face. "Hai, Taicho." She looked up at him, surprised to find the look on his face almost as disappointed as hers. "Hitsugaya-Taicho will be your acting Taicho during this mission. I ask, though, that you stay near Abarai, as he's most familiar with the customs. You're dismissed." Aoi nodded. "Hai, Taicho."

Hitsugaya turned to them. "Let's go."

They walked through the gate, landing in the interesting world of the humans which she'd been in twice before, but never for long. "Aoi, Don't use the honorifics here. It confuses the living." Aoi looked at him, nearly startled. "We're spending time with the humans?!"

He grinned and nodded. "Have you ever been in a gigai?"

They landed before a shop, Matsumoto and Hitsugaya talking about someone they knew from here, Abarai unable to keep the grin from his face.

"Hey, it's the freeloader!" Aoi heard and turned, seeing a young boy grinning at Abarai. "You brat!" He gritted his teeth as someone else opened the door. She looked at them and nodded, opening the door to the shop and backed up, allowing them entrance. She smiled at the little girl who smiled back, about the same.

They walked in and Aoi noticed the reiatsu. She frowned, looking around, reaching for her sword. "That won't be necessary." She heard and looked over at Hitsugaya who slowly shook his head, telling her not to.

"Domo! Welcome to my shop!" She looked at the door to see the man she'd seen by the soccer game looking them over.

"I see we have a new face."

"Ohayo! I'm Aoi. It's a pleasure to meet you, Urahara-san." He looked at her with a bit of surprise. "Hitsugaya, I wasn't aware that anyone other than you and Byakuya-sama had manners." His eyes shifted over to Abarai, who sniffed, plopping down. "We're here on a mission. We need to get her a gigai, and-"

"A place to stay. I know." Urahara grinned as he looked over. "I'll have to charge your Taicho."

"That's alright. It's-"

"Me." Aoi turned and saw Kira walk in after. "Izuru!" She lit up and Abarai's face grew red. "What are you doing here?!"

"I had a talk with Yamamoto-Taicho. Due to the distress of my recent life, I've been granted an overnight visit here. I've already paid the dues for this visit for everyone." Kira smiled and Aoi couldn't break the grin from her face. "I took you omelets this morning. I guess you didn't get them."

"I did. That's how I knew what to do to beat you here." Aoi smiled, looking over and noticing the smug smiles Hitsugaya and Matsumoto were trying to hide from the beet red Abarai. "This isn't a vacation! We have work to do!"

"And I'll join you." He handed the papers over to Abarai. "Sorry, Renji, I've been officially assigned to this mission." Abarai looked over the papers and sighed. "Hai, Taicho."

It was about three hours later that Aoi, Hitsugaya, Matsumoto and Kira were walking through town. Abarai was furious, walking behind them with his face thoughtful, looking back over at a certain area of town. Aoi frowned after a while, wondering. "Abarai-Fukutaicho, is there something over there?"

"It's Renji. No."

"It's his boyfriend." Matsumoto grinned, swatting Aoi in the arm playfully. Aoi could feel reiatsu of many people in the same place. She noticed the energy changed with each one, something was interesting here.

"That's hot." She had a random Freudian slip and Matsumoto and Hitsugaya just stared, jaws dropped. She turned, confused as to why everyone else had stopped and noticed the attempted hiding of laughter of Kira. "What's wrong?"

"Do you know what you just said?" Abarai asked, just as surprised by the raunchy remark of the innocent Fukutaicho. "Me and a boyfriend, you said 'that's hot'." Aoi stilled, paling at the thought. "Abarai-Fuku-"

"Renji."

"Renji, I apologize! I didn't mean to!" He shook his head. "I'm just surprised. Oi, Rangiku-san." She turned and he frowned at her. "I don't swing that way." Matsumoto was let down by the lack of response. "At all?" Hitsugaya asked, surprising everyone there.

"No, I would maybe consider Ishida, but I think he's yours." Renji walked forwards, smiling at the collective hiss from behind him.

"Oh, not you guys." Aoi looked forwards to see a young man standing before them with a frown. "What are shinigami doing in Karakura town this time? I can protect this city with Ichigo, we don't need you." He lifted his glasses with his finger and Aoi just stared. "You can see us?"

Ishida stared for a moment, so surprised by the lack of intelligence at the remark that he took a second to make sure he'd said everything right. "Of course, who else would I be talking to? Renji, Go home. We don't need you."

"Go to hell." Renji frowned, sticking out his tongue as he passed. "So, where's Ichigo?"

"How should I know?" Ishida looked up at him, the determined anger in his eyes never wavering.

"Oi, Ishida." Hitsugaya got his attention. "This is Aoi. She's new. Don't try and assimilate her or anything." Aoi bowed low. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Don't." Ishida looked her over carefully. "I'm a quincy. I hate the shinigami."

"I don't mind." She smiled, throwing the young man off his mark. "What?"

"I'm not entirely sure I'm in agreement with this whole thing. I don't like the politics involved." She smiled, catching everyone off guard.

"Eh, Aoi, that's treasonous talk." Hitsugaya frowned and she looked down. "I don't mind." She smiled politely.

"That's not the point." Ishida sighed, "It's whether the Taicho minds."

"He understands." She smiled and Kira looked down at her. "What do you mean?"

"I ran across him this morning. I was really stressed out. You know." She turned to Kira with a sad look.

"I lost my temper." Kira paled. "What did you do? Is it going to stop you from regaining my position?!"

"It went something like this. 'Hello, Aoi. Beautiful morning.' ' Shove it, you vindictive old bastard! I hope you rot in hell', or something like that." Kira and Hitsugaya just stared, fear evident in every little piece of them. Matsumoto covered her mouth, trying to keep from laughing. "You can tell he really likes you."

"What do you mean?" Aoi looked at her. "If anyone save you, Ukitake and Kyouraku said that, he'd have killed them. Kyouraku and Ukitake would at least have black eyes. He didn't do anything?"

"He laughed. I bet Izuru had just talked to him..." She smiled, breaking the men from their statuesque positions. Ishida lightly raised an eyebrow, again shifting his glasses. "Who's Izuru?"