Christmas Eve...Christmas Eve should be spent with enjoying the company of friends and family. It should be spent relaxing by the fire and wishing good will towards all others, man and animal.
"I'm...a little impressed," Tia finally admits. The Shark Queen leans back in the seat and crosses her arms as she stares across the table at the young Captain who arches a brow in question.
"Just a little?" questions Daisuke.
"Maybe more then just a little. It must have been difficult to get a reservation on Christmas Eve..." Tia is silent for a moment, sea-green eyes taking in the nice restaurant before coming back to rest on Daisuke. "...but you could have told me we would be coming here. I'd have worn something more appropriate."
He gives her a rather charming smile. "I think you look beautiful in what you're wearing." Tia blushes a bit in response. "Besides...you might have gotten a little suspicious if I told you to dress up. I wanted to surprise you, you know."
"Consider me surprised."
"And impressed," adds Daisuke, smiling. "You know, I can't help bit think...that sounded surprisingly close to a compliment, Tia."
The Shark Queen smirks a bit response. "Maybe it was."
"You're in a good mood."
"Well...why shouldn't I be? Even if we are surrounded by humans we can relax for a bit away from the Fifth Division. And this place is...acceptable." A grin appears on his face and Tia sighs.
"Glad you like it."
"Don't let my praise go to your head."
"Aww, please, Tia? Just this once? It's not every day that I get praised by such a beautiful woman." The Shark Queen can't help but chuckle a bit. To see her smile and laugh those were the things Daisuke loved the most because he was certain that he was the only one she opened up to...even if it was just a bit at a time.
"Well...maybe this once."
"Heh-heh. Oh! I almost forgot. I got you something." Tia arches a brow and watches as he produces a thin black box from his pocket and places it on the table in front of her.
"It's...well, it's not much but..." Mischief dances in his amber eyes as she picks up the box and opens it. "...I thought it might suit you." She picks up the necklace and examines the silvery...shark dangling from the thin chain. "If...If you don't like it I can-"
"It's fine," replies Tia. "I mean, I like it. Thank you, Daisuke." He breaths a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad. Since this was your first Christmas...I wanted to get you something you'd remember." Tia chuckles in response and then fastens the shark charm around her neck. She looks down at the silvery charm and then back at Daisuke. She'd never considered herself a vain person but a part of her had to know.
"How...How do I look?"
"Beautiful." Her cheeks tint a little red and she favors him with a rather mischievous smile.
"Flattery will get you nowhere with me." Daisuke laughs and nods in understanding. "As for your present...I'll give it to you when we return to the Soul Society. That is, if the evening goes well."
"Well, in that case, I'll be sure to be on my best behavior." The two of them are silent for a moment before Daisuke glances out the window of the restaurant at the gently falling snow. "It's...kind of strange, isn't it, Tia?" The Shark Queen arches a brow in question. "Being back here in the World of the Living, I mean."
"How do you mean?"
"Well...the first time we ever met was here in the World of the Living, and we were enemies. But now..."
"We're having a romantic dinner for two?" Both of them chuckle a bit and Daisuke nods. "It is strange."
"True. But..." Daisuke reaches across the table and captures one of the Shark Queen's hands in his own. "...I couldn't imagine this any other way."
"I told you, flattery will get you nowhere with me." A smile curves her lips regardless...at least until Daisuke's phone begins to ring...
- - The Soul Society - -
The two walk in silence, heading in the direction of the Fourth Division with Daisuke humming some kind of Christmas song who's name escapes the Shark Queen. "Our one night off...and we have to spend it cleaning up Ren's mess," remarks Tia irritably. "Again."
"Well, look on the bright side," replies Daisuke, chuckling. "At least we got some time to relax."
"No matter how many times he ends up in the Fourth Division or how many punishments you give him he doesn't seem to learn one thing." Tia snorts irritably. "You should think of a more severe punishment then physical labor."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." They approach the Fourth Division, entering the building and easily locating Ren's Spiritual Pressure in one of the rooms. It takes them less then a minute to arrive and Tia doesn't bother to knock before pushing the door open. Ren sits on the edge of the bed with his torso covered in a wrapping of bandages and Lieutenant Kotetsu kneeling in front of him, finishing the treatment.
She stands and looks over at the two of them the same as Ren. "Captain Arata, Lieutenant Harribel," speaks Isane in greeting. "It's good to see you both."
"And you, Lieutenant. I'd like to apologize on behalf of Ren for making you work on Christmas eve." He favors her with a small bow and she raises her hands immediately.
"N-No, it's fine. I wasn't doing anything important, Captain."
"Come along, Ren," speaks Harribel irritably. "You've caused enough problems for the Fourth Division tonight."
"The fuck?" questions Ren. "Just so ya know this wasn't my fault, Harribel! Some damn guys from the Eleventh jumped me when I was wandering back to the Fifth Division! I wasn't at fuckin' fault here, Harribel!"
"Enough," interrupts Daisuke. "We'll discuss that back at the Fifth Division, Ren. Along with your punishment for making the Lieutenant work on Christmas eve." He growls in response but pulls up his shitage and kosode, slipping his arms through the sleeves and standing. "Oh! I need you to do something for me, Lieutenant Kotetsu."
"Yes, Captain?" asks Isane, watching as he produces a small black box with a red bow on top from without the folds of his kosode. The young Captain holds it out in offer and she takes it from him. "Captain?"
"Would you make sure that finds it's way to Captain Unohana's desk for me? I'd consider it a personal favor." Isane nods in understanding.
"I'll see to it, Captain Arata." Daisuke grins in response and thanks her before they leave the room. Ren follows behind the two of them not saying a single word the whole way back to the Fifth Division.
"So what's my punishment gonna be this time?" questions Ren. The young Captain rubs his temples in response and then sighs.
"I'll decide in the morning," comments Daisuke. "Return to the barracks, Ren." He snorts in response and then turns on his heel, disappearing down the hall while Tia and Daisuke remain. "Think he was telling the truth?"
"Ren lies," replies Tia simply. "About Division duties, about any paperwork he's given...but so far as I can tell he been never anything but up-front about the fight's he's involved in. He doesn't try to explain them away like he did tonight..."
"That's true. Maybe I should cut him some slack this time."
"Don't you always cut him slack, Daisuke?" The young Captain chuckles a bit and then shrugs in response. "I'm more concerned with what you gave Kotetsu."
"It was only Unohana's present."
"That's what I thought. I was there when you picked it out...it seems stupid to have her know who bought it for her."
"Well...maybe I'm a stupid guy. I mean, you should see what I put on Yamamoto's desk when he was out. That one, though, I didn't sign my name on just in case things don't pan out."
"I'd rather not." Daisuke only chuckles in response. "About your present..." He turns to face the Shark Queen a smile on his face. "...come with me." He cocks his head slight in confusion but follows behind her regardless...right to the Shark Queen's room. Tia places a hand on the door to the room and pauses. "In the World of the Living, you told me that I should get out while I can...do you remember?"
"Yeah. It was only a week ago, after all."
"Well...I'm telling you that now."
"Tia?"
"You know what I look like..." Daisuke hear's her jacket unzip and she turns to face him now, the grim smile of her mask-fragments greeting him before her sea-green eyes. "...knowing that are you sure you want to pursue me?" The young Captain turns his head up in thought for only a moment before looking back at her, leaning down and actually kissing her mask-fragments right where her lips would have been.
"Positive, Tia."
She slides the door to her room open. "Good. Then, how about I give you your birthday present?" A mischievous smile appears on his face.
"Really? What could it be I wonder?"
"Daisuke?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut-up." She grasps him by the front of his kosode and pulls him into the room behind her...
The Fourth Division barracks are quiet now that many of the members have gone to sleep. Unohana sets her pen down and releases a small sigh, having had to complete the paperwork for both Ren's admission to and discharge from the Division. It seems that a day doesn't go by without him and a number of others showing up to be treated for some injuries sustained from fighting amongst each other.
Of course, this time Kouta Ryuu hadn't come in with him. He always seems to be mixed up in the middle of whatever Ren got involved in. There sounds a knock at the door and she glances up slowly. "Yes, come in," speaks Unohana, watching as the door opens and Isane steps in. "Isane, what can I do for you? Did you have another nightmare?"
The tall Lieutenant's cheeks flush bright red in response and she shakes her head quickly. "No, Captain," replies Isane. "I was just coming to complete the paperwork for Ren's-"
"I've already seen to it, Isane. You don't have to worry about it."
"O-Oh, I see." Isane approaches closer. "Before I forget, Captain Arata asked that I make sure that you get this, Captain." The tall Lieutenant holds out the black box to Unohana who accepts it with a small smile.
"Oh, my. It appears he's gotten me a present." The gentle Captain opens the black box and a smile appears on her face as she gazes down at the silvery trinket resting against black and strung with a piece of deep blue wind-silk. "My, isn't that something?"
"Captain?"
"Look, Isane-" A soft, gentle ringing sounds in the room as Unohana lifts the item. "-it's a bell. And it's even got my name on it. How thoughtful of Daisuke." A loud 'thud!' sounds as the tall Lieutenant falls to the ground. "Isane...?"
Yamamoto sits in his office well aware that his space had been invaded by some insolent person. But rather then ransack his office for any valuable bit of information as he thought they might attempt, not that he was foolish enough to leave any lying around, they had left behind something for him. Lieutenant Sasakibe approaches the Head Captain, and his friend.
"Nothing appears to have been taken, Head Captain," speaks Chojiro. "But..." He stares down at the present sitting on Yamamoto's desk. "...does it say who it's from?"
Yamamoto grasps the tag between his fingers and turns it over. "From: Santa," reads Yamamoto. "To: Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto." He tugs on the bow and Chojiro steps closer.
"It might be dangerous, Head Captain." Regardless he removes the bow from the top of the can and then the top. Several fake snakes pop out of the top of the can, landing on the desk around the ancient Captain. Chojiro stares in absolute amazement.
What person had been foolish enough to play such a joke on the Head Captain? A better question might be how would he react? Lieutenant Sasakibe looks at Yamamoto...who begins to chuckle. "C...Captain?"
"Well...I would say it isn't dangerous, Chojiro."
"It...doesn't appear so, Head Captain." He approaches closer, picking up one of the fake snakes. "But what kind of Christmas gift is this? It seems more like a joke then an actual gift."
"A bit of frivolity after such a difficult time in the history of the Soul Society is understandable and...acceptable." Chojiro nods in understanding and places the fake snake back down on the Head Captain's desk. Yamamoto leans back in his chair, looking at the card for a moment. He could tell from a glance at the hand-writing who the present was actually from.
He'd make sure to send the young man some sort of thank you...
"...'Return to the barracks'..." mocks Ren. "Yeah, like I'm gonna do that, Arata." He tucks his hands into the pockets of his hakama and walks quietly through away from the Fifth Division. Kouta once asked him why he was so hostile towards Arata and he'd replied simply that he hated the man. He hated him...but he respected him. And a man like Arata would appreciate his respect a lot more then his friendship.
No one seems to understand that answer, though. Well...no one but Harribel. Ren dislikes Lieutenant Harribel but like Arata he respects her abilities and her right to be the Lieutenant of the Fifth Division. The young man rounds the corner and nearly runs right into another person. Ren leaps back in surprise, one hand going to the black tsuka of his Zanpakuto.
"Was is something I said?" questions the man, who Ren recognizes as Captain Kyoraku.
The man frequently visits with Arata along with Captain Ukitake. Ren know's him as one of the most experienced Captain's in the entire Soul Society. So, he releases his grip on his Zanpakuto and snorts in response. "You're in my way, Kyoraku."
"Oh. My apologies, Ren. I was going for a little stroll and I guess I ended up wandering too far from the Eighth Division."
"I guess so." Shunsui makes a face in response.
"You know, you could act a little friendlier. Otherwise, you're never going to make any friends or find yourself a woman." Ren groans and rolls his eyes in response, walking past the man without a word. "Something I said?"
"You sound just like Arata..." Shunsui chuckles a bit in response.
"Do I? I may sound like him but you remind me a lot of him when he was new in Seireitei." A loud growl sounds from the young man and he turns on his heel quickly, facing the experienced Captain with brown eyes glowering. The look in his eyes...that cold, merciless look gives Shunsui pause. 'Where have I...?' Shunsui thinks to himself.
"I am nothing like that annoying bastard, old man! Nothing, you here me?!"
"Really? You both seem a lot alike." Ren charges him without giving a thought to the consequences.
"I'm gonna kick yer ass, old man!" Shunsui leans his head back, dodging his fist entirely before taking a step back to avoid another and then another. Ren follows quickly, trying his best to land a hit on the experienced Captain who easily dodges each punch and kick. The experienced man turns his shoulder and lets Ren rush right by him and onto a patch of ice. "Whoa!"
Shunsui grasps his shoulder and stabilizes him. "Whoa, there." Ren's anger only grows in response and he turns sharply, throwing a punch that connects with nothing but the chilly air as Shunsui not only dodges but moves around behind him again. The young man turns and throws a punch which comes to a stop with the experienced Captain's grip on his wrist. "I see. So that's the kind of fighter you are...interesting."
Ren growls and cocks back with his left hand before he's struck in the middle of his chest. He's no stranger to getting hit, being in as many fights as he has. But to him...it felt like he'd been struck in the chest with a sledge-hammer and he follows the motion straight back, smashing into snow covered ground several meters away and staring up, breathlessly at the full-moon above. "Guh...unh..."
He manages to push himself up to look at the Captain, who had sent him such a distance with the thrust of only two fingers. Arata hadn't taught him that technique. Shunsui approaches slowly, snow crunching under his feet as he does so. He comes to a stop at the young man's side and sighs. "You let your anger get the best of you, Ren. If you continue to fight like that then you're only going to get yourself killed."
"N...No one...asked you!"
"Come on, now." Shunsui offers him a hand. "Let's be friends, Ren. There's no reason for us to be enemies." He growls in response but takes Shunsui's hand regardless. The young man is pulled to his feet with ease. "Well...now that that's settled what do you say we go have ourselves a friendly Christmas drink?" Ren opens his mouth to protest and then grunts.
"Kuh...fine, I guess that'll kill a few hours. Besides, anythin' is better then headin' back to the Fifth Division..."
The room is silent now, except for the soft breathing of the Shark Queen and the young Captain. It had been good...fantastic, even. Only a small light burns in the room and it's flickering orange glow, silhouettes the young man against the shadows of the room.
Tia leans up, blanket pressed to her chest and gazes down at his sleeping form. Even though he assured her that he wanted to be involved with her...she can't but wonder if it is the right choice. 'Will he regret his decision?' Tia silently wonders.
The Shark Queen reaches down to his form, finger-tips gliding across a faded scar on his firm stomach before moving up to gently stroke his temple. She doesn't notice a pair of amber eyes gazing at her until he captures her hand in his and slowly leans up. Daisuke presses a kiss to her knuckles and smiles at her. "What is it?" Daisuke gently questions her.
Mischief sparkles in his amber eyes. "Did you have a nightmare...?"
"Don't be an idiot," replies Tia. He chuckles a bit in response and meets her sea-green gaze with his amber.
"You're worried...aren't you? About us, I mean." Tia responds with a nod of her head and he smiles. "You shouldn't be. You love me, right?"
"I wouldn't have slept with you if I didn't."
"And I love you. So, what's the problem?" The Shark Queen sighs in response and Daisuke chuckles a bit before gently pushing her back to the futon, an action that wouldn't be possible if she didn't allow it. "If you love someone and they love you then you shouldn't worry about what might happen or when. You should just enjoy being close to that person and cross that bridge if you come to it."
"That's...surprisingly wise of you."
"Well, even I can be a little wise if I put my mind to it, Tia. I mean, I'm not as wise as YOU but-"
"Daisuke?"
"Hm?"
Her arms circle his neck and his smile grows. "Shut-up..."