Chapter 5: Off to the Hot Springs
"Hot springs!" Natsuki sang as she bounced towards the hot springs excitedly. "Finally going to the hot springs again!" she cheered, laughing loudly. Hiyori rolled her amber eyes as she watched the taller Lieutenant behave like a child. Kirara smiled as she watched, excited to be at the hot springs too, especially after a long day of wandering through the Rukongai looking for information. However, she hid it a great deal better than Natsuki.
"How old are you again?" Soi Fon muttered, not leaving Yoruichi's side. The Captain, whose hair was a much darker purple than the other Captain, barely reacted, used to Soi Fon's unwavering worship.
"It's rude to ask a lady that!" Natsuki whirled around to glare at Soi Fon. She planted her hands on her hips, looking insulted. "You should be more excited to have time to relax like this," she scolded Soi Fon. The girl just scowled back at her.
"Relax Natsuki," Kirara chuckled as she walked past her best friend. She ruffled her hair as she passed, which was a strange sight considering Natsuki was taller than her. As they all walked past, Natsuki turned and followed them, resuming her excited bouncing as her anger faded and her joy returned.
Soi Fon watched her, baffled that she too was a Lieutenant. She wondered it about a lot of the higher ups. Kirara was disrespectful, Natsuki was childish, Lisa was like a lecherous man in a pretty female's body, and Hiyori...Hiyori had anger issues. Soi Fon shook her head. She'd never understand why Yoruichi trusted Kirara so much.
"You're buying the first bottle after this," Lisa told Natsuki, who shrugged.
"Oh, we're going drinking after this?" Kirara grinned.
"I'm out," Hiyori muttered, shaking her head. Soi Fon's scowl intensified at the idea of them drinking.
"I have to leave early tomorrow, so I can't," Yoruichi shook her head.
"And I have rather important work I need to finish," Kirio shrugged.
"Your loss," Kirara sang, rubbing her hands together as she looked forward to drinking after.
"I've been looking forward to this all week, however," Kirio exclaimed happily as she walked alongside her Lieutenant. When Natsuki had invited the pair while delivering paperwork, the Squad 12 Captain had been quick to accept the offer, much to Hiyori's chagrin.
"Me too," Natsuki smiled widely. "And the drinking afterwards," she added. Kirara cheered.
"Ridiculous," Soi Fon muttered under her breath. They walked into the changing room of the hot springs, with Natsuki still bouncing as she began to strip down. She tied up her long blonde hair into a bun, out of the way as she pulled off her sandals and obi. Kirara hummed lightly as she let her skirt drop to the ground, before untying her badge from her arm.
"Come on Soi Fon, don't be such a prude," Yoruichi scolded as she tossed her haori away carelessly – just like Kirio – and noticed that Soi Fon hadn't started stripping down.
"Yeah, just think about stripping down for Kisuke, you'll have no problem," Kirara teased, and winked. Both she and Yoruichi burst out laughing as Soi Fon went bright red.
"I don't like that lazy idiot!" she yelled out, disgusted as the others looked at her curiously.
"You like Urahara?" Lisa raised an eyebrow as she undid her braids, staring at the girl as if studying her. "Huh. Didn't think he was your type," she turned away and pulled off her glasses as Soi Fon's blushing grew.
"He's not! I don't!" Soi Fon cried. Kirara and Yoruichi were still howling with laughter.
"Take it easy Soi Fon," Kirara giggled as she managed to calm her laughter down. "We're at a hot spring, so relax," she chuckled as she shed her own kosode. She suddenly squealed, however, as Natsuki shot up behind her and grabbed her chest. "I've told you to stop doing that!" she swatted at her, clutching at her chest, which was barely concealed by her orange bra.
"I don't blame her," Kirara found herself blushing as Kirio spoke up.
"Me neither," Lisa nodded, and gave her a thumbs up. "You're pretty well endowed," she commented. Kirara went even redder, and slapped a hand to her face. She grumbled to herself as she continued to strip down, trying to ignore the others. It wasn't as if she was the biggest there. It seemed to be a toss-up between Kirio and Yoruichi, both of whom were curvy women.
"She covers it up well," Natsuki giggled.
"Oh shut up," Kirara rolled her eyes and turned away, revealing a long, thick scar down her back.
"Whoa," Hiyori's eyes grew wide as she saw it. "That's huge!" she exclaimed.
"How did you get that?" Kirio asked her curiously. Kirara glanced at her, her embarrassment changing to something else.
"We're dead, we're dead!" the girl with pale brown hair, wearing the red and white Academy uniform, wailed, before another figure leapt in the way and slashed the Hollow's arm, knocking it away from the screaming girl.
"Everyone get up and run for it!" Kirara yelled at them.
"Hideo's hurt!" the girl wailed.
"Then help him!" Kirara shouted, dodging the Hollow's attack and slashing down.
"Oh...it was a long time ago," Kirara shrugged as she snapped back to the present. "Hollow got me," she muttered.
"A Hollow did?" Natsuki asked, surprised. "But you've always been so fast. When did it happen?" she asked curiously. Kirara's expression grew darker.
"It's not important," she sighed, before shaking her head. "Come on, hot springs, remember?" Kirara grinned widely, and Natsuki cheered loudly. Yoruichi quirked an eyebrow, watching her curiously.
Sinking into the water slowly, Kirara let out a delighted moan as the heat hit her and slowly began to relax her tense muscles.
"Natsuki, you rarely have good ideas, but this was one of them," she told Natsuki as she closed her eyes and got comfortable.
Only to let out a loud squeal suddenly. She shoved Natsuki back, clutching at her chest as Natsuki slipped back into the water with a quiet splash.
"It's a good thing we're the only ones here," Hiyori muttered with a roll of her eyes.
"No wonder everyone calls you a Princess," Yoruichi laughed. "You're so uptight sometimes," she teased as Kirara went red. She lowered her arm and sighed.
"She just does it so damn suddenly. It takes me by surprise," Kirara complained. "And hey, it's only natural to react like that when you get groped!" she added with a frown. Natsuki pouted as she sat down again. "Do it again, and I'll keep you under the water," Kirara warned.
"I can't help it!" Natsuki whined as her pouting grew. "They're just so squishy!" she reached out her hands, but Kirara raised an eyebrow, and she let her hands disappear back under the water. Kirara sighed, and leaned back as she closed her eyes and relaxed again. "I'm so jealous...you, Lieutenant Yadomaru, Captain Shihoin and Captain Hikifune all have such big boobs," Natsuki looked down at her own chest, which was considerably smaller than the the four well-endowed women. "Don't you ever feel that way?" she glanced to Soi Fon and Hiyori.
"Well...I guess," Hiyori shrugged, folding her arms. "But I don't go round grabbing people's boobs. That's weird," she told Natsuki, who pouted again. Soi Fon just shrugged, doing her best to cover her chest.
"Not people! Just Kirara," Natsuki shook her head, stressing her words as if it were vital Hiyori understood.
"Can we please stop talking about this?" Kirara asked irritably.
"Yeah, Hirako here has a nosebleed from all the squealing and talk about breasts," Captain Aikawa's deep laughing echoed over the wall that divided the women's springs from the men's. There was a loud splash, followed by cursing as Shinji snapped at Love.
"Oh...great," Kirara growled, putting a hand to her face as she sighed. "Just when I thought this visit was going to be relaxing," she grumbled. Yoruichi's smirk widened, and she nudged Natsuki, who looked up at her with a frown, before seeing the mischief in the Captain's eyes. Glancing to the wall, Natsuki suddenly leapt on Kirara again, groping her boobs. Kirara squealed again, slipping back under the water with a loud splash and pulling Natsuki under with her, as Yoruichi and Kirio burst out laughing.
The waitress nervously eyed up the table of high ranking Shinigami, before setting down the multiple bottles of sake they had ordered. A large plate of sushi was then placed between them, and the group began to load up their plates. Yoruichi's golden eyes gleamed as she lifted as much fish as possible. Kirara's stomach growled loudly, and she didn't wait for the others before she began to stuff her face. Natsuki rolled her eyes at the sight.
"You're never going to attract a man with the way you eat, Kirara," she chided impatiently, watching Kirara shovelling sushi into her mouth.
"Oh no," Kirara spoke sarcastically through a mouthful of food. She then swallowed what was in her mouth, looking expressionless. "Whatever shall I do. All I've ever wanted is a man who judges me for my eating habits. My parents will be devastated. My mother will never stop crying. My father shall be so angry," she said in a completely monotone voice. Hiyori smirked from beside her, eating her food with as much elegance as Kirara. Natsuki rolled her eyes.
"Who cares about that shit?" Hiyori asked through a mouthful of food.
"She's right," Kirio smiled as she took a sip of sake from her cup. "You two need to work on your table manners," Hiyori frowned as she was brought into it. She glanced to Kirara, and the pair just shrugged. "How else are you going to attract men someday?" she teased, tossing her purple hair over her shoulder.
"I'll worry about that when I'm actually interested in attracting a man," Hiyori muttered, biting into an onigiri roughly.
"Hear hear," Kirara raised her cup and downed the contents. Natsuki rolled her eyes.
"Besides, Kirara already has a man interested in her," Yoruichi spoke up with a smirk. Everyone looked at her, and Kirara frowned.
"I do?" she asked, confused. Yoruichi smirked widely, and Kirara's confusion died. "Oh god, don't start that again," she groaned.
"But it's so obvious that you and Hirako love each other," Yoruichi began to laugh, leaning back as Kirara glared at her Captain. Natsuki began to laugh as well, earning a dark glare from her best friend.
"I have to agree with Captain Shihoin," Lisa nodded. Kirio was laughing lightly as well.
"The day it's true, is the day I run myself through with my Zanpakuto," Kirara told them flatly, shuddering at the thought. Kokoro no Kage hummed in the back of her mind, and she shoved him out, not in the mood to deal with him either.
"Well it would explain why you two are always arguing," Kirio smiled. "Sometimes I can hear you two arguing from my own barracks," she chuckled.
"You're exaggerating," Kirara rolled her eyes, pouring herself another drink.
"You'd be surprised," Hiyori muttered. Natsuki had fallen over laughing, her arms around her stomach as tears ran from her eyes from laughing so hard.
"Oh Kirara, what is the harm in admitting it?" Yoruichi leaned on the table, amused as she watched Kirara. "Argue it all you want, but it doesn't change anything," she told her. Kirara rolled her eyes in response. "You're as bad as Soi Fon and her feelings for Kisuke!" she grinned widely. Soi Fon choked on her tea, and Kirara sighed, continuing to eat as Yoruichi teased Soi Fon, who adamantly denied being in love with the third seat of Squad 2. When she glanced to Lisa, the glasses wearing Lieutenant just smirked back, and Kirara sighed heavily, shaking her head.
"So I've dropped my Zanpakuto, my back against the cliff, with three Hollows ready to tear me apart," Kirara grinned as she sat with Natsuki and Lisa, long after the others had left. "The other guys in my group are absolutely useless, crying and screaming their heads off," Natsuki was laughing at this point.
"Please tell me you didn't try a Kido," Lisa chuckled at the idea.
"I didn't have much choice," Kirara laughed back with a shrug.
"You're insane," Natsuki giggled. It was widely known that Kirara was hopeless with Kidos.
"Well...it did get rid of the Hollows...and half the cliff," she shrugged, and the three continued to laugh. "Needless to say, our Sensei wasn't happy. Then again, he rarely was with me," Kirara mused as she thought back to her Academy days.
"I'm honestly amazed you graduated from the Academy, let alone with enough credit to get into the Onmitsukido," Lisa told her. "You were always in trouble," she lifted the bottle of alcohol from the table and poured herself another drink.
"That's putting it lightly," Natsuki smiled. "I attended only a few years later, and there were still rumours about all the problems she caused," she giggled, and Kirara blushed. "But I also heard you were one of two in your class who knew the name of your Zanpakuto," Natsuki sobered very slightly.
"I was," Kirara nodded in confirmation. The two women sitting with her breathed out in shock.
"That's incredible. I didn't learn my Zanpakuto's name until I was stationed in Squad 13 as an unseated officer," Natsuki breathed, her eyes wide.
"It's rare to learn it so early," Lisa stated, looking slightly impressed herself. Kirara just shrugged. "So? Who else knew theirs?" she asked curiously, making Kirara stiffen. Lisa and Natsuki watched her, noticing this. After a moment of staring at her cup, she sighed.
"Hirako," she muttered.
"No way," Natsuki put her hands to her mouth as her eyes grew even wider.
"You went through the Academy with Shinji?" Lisa stared at her.
"Yes," Kirara replied shortly. "Now can we please drop the subject of him? I'm getting kinda fed up of the topic coming up every damn time I'm drinking," she rolled her eyes.
"Is that why you two get on like you do?" Natsuki asked, and earned a glare. She raised her hands quickly in defence. "Okay, dropping the subject," she said with a gulp. Kirara turned her gaze back to her drink. "So uh..." Natsuki cleared her throat before an awkward silence could fall. "Do you want to hear how I learned my Zanpakuto's name?" she asked with a smile.
"You've never told me that before," Kirara blinked, becoming interested again. Natsuki's smile widened, and she lifted the small blade from her side. Tsuki no Usagi was short, even for a sealed Zanpakuto, and had a very pale blue handle that was almost white. The guard was shaped like a half moon, and the scabbard was lined in white.
"It was about 6 years into my time in Squad 13," Natsuki began, smiling fondly at her Zanpakuto as she thought about the past.
"Okay guys," Kirara spoke as she handed out files to the group of 7 Shinigami in her office. "This is all the information we have on the Shinigami who attacked Satoru. I know it's not much," she said as she saw their faces. "But that's why I've got you guys in on it. We need to keep this quiet and under the table, to avoid them becoming aware that we're looking for them," she told her team.
"It's just us?" one man asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You'll be liaising with myself, as well as Third-Seat Urahara and a small team of his own," Kirara told him as he thumbed through the reports. "If necessary, you can speak with Captain Shihoin, but only if neither myself nor Urahara are around," she instructed. Even now, Kirara felt weird giving orders.
"Any idea about this Zanpakuto?" a young woman asked as she looked up from her report.
"Only that it's a large curved blade of some description, if it's the same weapon that caused Satoru's injuries," Kirara answered with a sigh, leaning against her desk. "You guys are the best of the best in the Patrol Corps. If anyone can figure this out, it's you guys," she told them seriously, and they nodded. "Now, I believe some of you had work to do with Urahara separate to this?" she asked with a smile. "Better get going," they bowed respectfully, and flickered out of sight.
'You are quite the Commander. Captain Shihoin was right to choose you,' Kokoro no Kage commented as Kirara straightened up, walking over to her open window.
"I hope we find something before anyone else is hurt," she mumbled back.
'Have faith in your team. You will find out who is responsible,' Kokoro no Kage soothed. Kirara gave a small chuckle.
"Thanks, old man," she grinned, and he hummed in response. She looked out to the grounds of the Squad 2 barracks as a gentle breeze picked up, batting at her hair as she wondered just why the culprit was acting how they were. "I just don't understand why anyone would join the Gotei 13, just to try and abandon it. I get that it's not for everyone, but surely you should know before you join, right?" she wondered aloud.
'People are a confusing species,' was the Spirit's only response, which made Kirara laugh again.
"You're not wrong there," she agreed.