Chapter 6: Promotion
"You know..." Kirara started as she sat opposite Yoruichi in main chamber of the headquarters. Between them, sat a wooden board, complete with black and white wooden tiles. "Other than this problem with the possible deserters, it's been rather quiet," she commented as she moved a tile.
"You sound almost bored Kirara. Not enjoying the peace?" Yoruichi grinned as she moved a tile of her own, capturing one of Kirara's dwindling pieces. The dark haired Lieutenant made a face at her loss as Yoruichi tossed the piece into the air and caught it easily. "I could always assign you to Hollow duty. Oh! How about in the World of the Living?" she suggested.
"I'm good, thank you," Kirara rolled her eyes at Yoruichi's suggestions. The short haired Captain grinned widely. Kirara then moved another piece, and huffed irritably when Yoruichi moved her own, instantly capturing the piece.
"You know this is a game of strategy?" Yoruichi chuckled at Kirara's childish behaviour. "You're supposed to think about your move before you make it," the noble pointed out. "I would have thought you suited to this, considering it's all about predicting your opponent's moves," she commented.
"It's about capturing little wooden tiles. I can't run background checks on them, check intel or assign stuff to my team," Kirara grumbled as she moved a piece, only for Yoruichi to take it, another piece with her own. Kirara just went red as Yoruichi raised an eyebrow with a pleasant smile. Her brow narrowing in focus, Kirara tried to take the game back as she moved to make herself more comfortable. She managed to take one of Yoruichi's pieces, and her blue eyes lit up in a childish glee. The Captain smiled, before taking her last piece. "I forgot I hated this game," Kirara whined as she slumped backwards on the ground, throwing her arms out.
"Then why do you play?" Yoruichi asked as she tossed another piece in the air and caught it.
"Because I'm bored!" Kirara declared loudly.
"Well, you know what they say. Practice makes perfect," Yoruichi told her as she began to reset the board. After returning all the pieces to their starting location, she pushed it out to Kirara. "Let's see if you can go without falling for one of my traps, at least once," she teased. Kirara scowled, and rolled onto her side.
"No," she huffed. Yoruichi smirked.
"If you do, I'll stop teasing you about your feelings for Shinji," Yoruichi sang lightly. Kirara sat up instantly.
"You mean you'll stop accusing me of liking that dumbass?" she asked eagerly.
"If you don't fall for any of my traps" she offered. Kirara's eyes blazed with determination, and she focused on the board. Yoruichi moved a piece first, and Kirara paid attention this time. Focusing more this time, Kirara managed to think several moves ahead, and even caught several of Yoruichi's pieces without falling into a trap. However, by the end, Yoruichi managed to capture the last two of her pieces, leaving her with three. Kirara groaned, falling backwards.
"I was so close," she whined. Soi Fon rolled her eyes nearby, sitting with the other members of the Onmitsukido and Squad 2 as they watched, waiting for any orders that they may have.
"You did well, but you'll never beat me," Yoruichi laughed, leaning back in her seat. "Not because I'm better, but because you secretly long to see him again," she told Kirara, who glared at her from the ground.
"I thought you agreed to stop that," she pointed out. Yoruichi's grin only widened.
"I said I would if you stopped falling for my traps. Accepting my challenge was a trap," she winked. Kirara kicked the board over with her foot and knocked the pieces all over the Captain, who had burst out laughing again. She'd never beat the noble in any way.
Her laughter died off quickly, however, as a messenger appeared in front of her, bowing his head. Kirara looked over curiously, not bothering to sit up as she watched the interaction curiously. The Captain let out a humming sound as she skimmed through it.
"What is it?" as Yoruichi dismissed the messenger, Kirara sat up, her curiosity overwhelming.
"It's about Captain Hikifune..." Yoruichi read the letter again. Kirara frowned. "She's been promoted," she announced. Kirara's eyes widened in shock. For a Captain to gain a promotion was not a common occurrence. It was the first time Kirara had ever heard of it happening during her lifetime.
"Promoted? To where?" she asked, the fallen checkerboard between them forgotten.
"The Royal Guard," Yoruichi's eyes gleamed as Kirara stared at her, stunned into silence. For Captain Hikifune to have been promoted to the Royal Guard, meant that she had to have done something very impressive. Kirara knew that she was a very intelligent woman, so it didn't surprise her much. "Huh..." Yoruichi's thoughtful noise snapped Kirara back to attention. "I guess that means they'll be needing a new Captain for the 12th Division..." she mused as she fanned herself with the letter, recovering from her own surprise as she fell into thought. Kirara stared at her suspiciously. When Yoruichi went quiet like that, it meant that she was thinking about something important.
"Sounds like you're thinking of recommending someone," Kirara accused in a soft voice. A cat-like smirk spread across Yoruichi's face as she glanced to her Lieutenant.
"Don't sound so eager to be chosen Kirara," she blushed as Yoruichi teased her. "I have someone else in mind anyway. I know you're about as willing to be Captain, as you are willing to join Squad 4," Kirara pulled a face at the thought.
"They both sound horrendous. My Kidos are terrible and I'd probably blow someone up before I'd manage to figure out how to heal them," she pointed out. Yoruichi chuckled, remembering the first and only time she'd managed to get Kirara to demonstrate a Kido to a group of students in the Academy. It had not gone well. They had all been covered in soot and dirt after the explosion, and Yoruichi hadn't been able to stop her laughter for some time. "Besides, I wouldn't be eligible for the Captain position. I don't have a Bankai," she shrugged.
"Uhuh..." Yoruichi didn't sound convinced. Kirara turned away at her smirk, her cheeks burning.
"I can't believe Captain Hikifune is leaving," Kirara cleared her throat quickly, trying to bring the conversation back to the original topic. "That means Hiyori's in charge until a new Captain is appointed..." Kirara mused, before frowning. "Hiyori..." she mumbled, thinking of the blonde Lieutenant. While she was generally rude to everyone, there was one person she clearly respected, and that was her Captain. Kirio had always been like a mother hen to her, and it was obvious to everyone that Hiyori was just as attached to her.
"Is everything alright Kirara?" Yoruichi had gone back to fanning herself with the message. Rolling over and pushing herself to her feet, Kirara smoothed her skirt down. She smiled, and nodded.
"I'm going to Squad 12 for a while," she decided, and bowed respectfully to the Captain before flickering out of view. Yoruichi gave a small chuckle, closing her eyes.
"And she says she doesn't get attached," she commented.
As soon as she stepped into the Squad 12 Barracks, Kirara felt Hiyori's Reiatsu flare in an obnoxious manner. It was soon followed by loud, terrified and pained cries of grown men, and then crashes that told Kirara that Hiyori had managed to convince some of her fellow Squad 12 members to spar. It was a rare occurrence, and Squad 4 usually became very busy afterwards, much to Seinosuke's frustration.
Kirara remembered when her brother had stood up to Hiyori. The two hadn't stopped yelling at each other for hours, and had only stopped because Captain Unohana had returned and calmly asked the two to stop. Needless to say, the two never spoke again. Even in Lieutenant's Meetings, they stayed as far away from each other as possible. And for nearly a year, Hiyori refrained from beating her Squad-mates bad enough to earn them a trip to Squad 4.
Kirara walked onto the training grounds belonging to Squad 12, and sidestepped to avoid a Shinigami as he hurtled past her. With a loud thud, he slammed into the wall, and slumped to the ground with a whimper. Kirara glanced over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow, before looking to Hiyori.
"Hello to you too," she commented lightly as she approached. Hiyori frowned, folding her arms as her guard rose. She watched Kirara suspiciously, and the other Lieutenant could tell that she was in one of the worst moods possible.
"What are you doing here?" she growled.
"I've been playing checkers all day with Captain Shihoin. There's only so much defeat at a stupid game that I can take," Kirara commented as she approached the suspicious young woman; hands behind her back as she looked around. "I'm dying of boredom, and I figured you could help me out there," she suddenly smirked, and disappeared as she used Shunpo. Hiyori's eyes widened, and she spun around, raising her arms to block Kirara's punch. The force, however, shoved her back multiple steps. Her alarm died down after a moment, and she smirked up at the taller girl as Kirara's Reiatsu signature filled the grounds of Squad 12.
"You must have a death wish, but if you insist," Hiyori launched at her, flipping and kicking out at her. Kirara barely managed to dodge, and as soon as she landed on the ground, Hiyori was pushing herself towards Kirara again.
"Is she crazy?" one of the Squad 12 members stared at the two. "To take on the Lieutenant when she's so mad..." he breathed, wincing at the pressure of both the Lieutenants. Kirara was smirking as she faced against Hiyori, having been looking for a good fight just as much as Hiyori had been looking for a way to lash out. With a laugh, Kirara leapt backwards to avoid Hiyori's next attack, before swinging a punch of her own. Hiyori met it with one of her own, and the two stumbled backwards as the Reiatsu pulsed again. Kirara then darted off to the side, and Hiyori followed her as the other Shinigami watched them curiously.
"Come on Hiyori, I thought you were faster than that," Kirara laughed as she stopped on the wall, giggling as she teased the girl. She stood tall, brushing her skirt off as Hiyori skidded along the grass.
"We'll see who's faster when I kick your ass!" Hiyori called as she leapt up after her. This only served to make Kirara laugh more as she darted off, pushing off the wall and flipping over Hiyori's head to narrowly avoid her. She moved higher into the sky, and Hiyori leapt up after her. Kirara giggled again, and stuck out her tongue before dropping down so Hiyori sailed over her head. She then pushed back up, and Hiyori twisted in mid-air to block Kirara's punch.
"Is the Lieutenant...playing tag?" one of the Shinigami asked slowly as he joined the group that had gathered to watch them. It was rare to see anyone who could keep up with Hiyori's power and didn't end up like their friend; in a heap after slamming into a wall.
"I think so..." another breathed, nodding as Kirara bounced up, and put her arms across her chest to block Hiyori's kick.
"Is that all you got?" Hiyori called as she landed nearby. "They're just giving the title of Lieutenant away now," she taunted. Kirara landed lightly as well, grinning widely at her as she shook out her arms.
"Oh, is that so?" Kirara tilted her head, looking innocent. "Big words from such a shortie," she drew her Zanpakuto, pointing it at Hiyori as the girl bristled. A small, angry smile showed on her face as she lowered her head.
"Shortie, huh?" she growled, drawing her own blade and holding it tightly. The crowd inhaled sharply, not at them using weapons in their sparring, but Kirara's clear goading.
"Did I stutter?" Kirara tilted her head with an innocent smile. Hiyori let out a yell and launched at her again, swinging her Zanpakuto. Kirara moved around her, swinging her blade. Hiyori managed to block it, but was knocked back from the force.
The fighting continued with their sealed Zanpakuto for over an hour, with more and more of Squad 12 coming to see. Even some Shinigami from other Squads showed up, feeling the Reiatsu of the two high-ranking officers as they passed by. Captain Aikawa, and even Captain Kyoraku had come to see.
"Show offs," Love rolled his eyes as they watched. Kyoraku chuckled, holding onto his hat as a gust of wind from the sparring nearly knocked it off. Neither Kirara nor Hiyori were aiming to land hits, but came close to it as Kirara's bare arm was caught, and Hiyori received a minor cut on her cheek. Their uniforms had even taken some hits, but neither looked like they cared.
"Huh. Lieutenant Sarugaki seems to be enjoying herself," Kyoraku commented. Love nodded as they watched Kirara leap off the building and block Hiyori's strike, shoving her back.
"If you jumped around less, and used your Zanpakuto more, maybe you'd actually win this!" Hiyori called as Kirara landed back on top of the building. She recovered from the hit that had knocked her towards it, and pointed her Zanpakuto at the shorter Lieutenant.
"And if you moved around more, maybe you'd hit me," Kirara called back, grinning cheekily at her friend. Hiyori leapt at her, and Kirara surprised her by meeting her halfway. The loud ringing of metal clashing against metal echoed through the barracks as the two pushed against each other. While Kirara had the height and speed to her advantage, Hiyori seemed to be dominating strength-wise. They both leapt back, and landed on the ground, before running at each other again, before finally stepping back, both breathing heavily.
"What, are you getting tired?" Hiyori called, ignoring the sweat running down her forehead.
"I'm getting sleepy waiting for you to get serious," Kirara laughed, and they clashed again, their Reiatsu signatures filling the grounds as they pushed each other harder and harder. Their spectators watched eagerly, making bets on who would win. Kirara pushed again, and Hiyori felt herself slowly being pushed backwards, before they heard clapping.
"Alright, enough is enough," they looked around as Captain Kyoraku approached. "Impressive demonstration you two, but I think you've shown off enough," he told them.
"Sure, sure," Kirara chuckled, nodded as she caught her breath. She was thankful the Captain had stepped in. They would have been going for some time.
"Fine," Hiyori grumbled, before seeming to notice the rest of her Squad. "What are you doing just standing there? Get back to work!" she snapped, and they quickly scattered. Those from other Squads also began to disperse.
"Try not to get too carried away with your sparring in future," Kyoraku warned as he adjusted his hat. "You don't want to destroy anything," he commented.
"Sorry Captain," Kirara bowed to him, and with a smile he left them, talking with Love as they walked away. "How about food?" Kirara turned to Hiyori, whose stomach suddenly growled, answering for her. Kirara grinned. "I'll take that as your answer," she said as Hiyori blushed slightly.
"Hey, uh, Kirara..." the blue eyed Shinigami looked down with a pleasant smile to the girl walking beside her. "Thanks," she muttered, going red as she glared at the ground.
"For what?" Kirara feigned ignorance as she shrugged. "I came here to spar and relieve some boredom," Kirara shrugged, and stretched. Hiyori couldn't help but grin at Kirara's fake oblivious attitude. "Now come on, let's get some food. My treat," Kirara offered. Hiyori gave a small laugh, elbowing her hard.
"Obviously, you lost!" she pointed out. "And I'm starved. You are treating me to a full dinner, none of that noodle crap," Hiyori told her. Kirara sighed.
"You're lucky I get two pay-cheques," she muttered. "And I did not lose. That was a draw," she argued, and the two began to argue as they left the barracks.
After forking out what seemed like a month's wages for the food that she and Hiyori managed to put away, Kirara finally made her way back to the Squad 2 barracks. The sun shone brightly despite the time, and Kirara debated doing her work outside. She was falling behind again and was running out of excuses.
"Kirara!" she looked around and smiled, waving to Mashiro, who was waving like crazy as she walked with her Captain and a couple of their Squad members. She attempted to run over to her fellow Lieutenant, only for Kensei to grab her collar and hold her back, yelling at her. Kirara laughed to herself, and waved again before moving on, leaving them to go on their mission.
"So you're finished showing off at the Squad 12 barracks then?" a voice drawled, making Kirara stop abruptly. Her smile disappeared along with her good mood.
"I fail to see how that's any of your business," Kirara spoke stiffly, turning her head to glare at the Captain with long blonde hair that was longer than even her hair, who was sitting on a wall, looking up at the sky.
"I think it's everyone's business when you're letting your Reiatsu spike like that," Shinji commented, not looking down at her as she glared at him. "Makes it, y'know, hard to ignore, Princess," he received a rock to the face for his comment, and slipped down, crashing to the ground.
"Call me that again and I'll put some real strength behind the next one," Kirara warned, flipping another rock in her hand.
"Why you..." Shinji growled as he pushed himself up, clutching at his nose as it gushed blood. Kirara gave a small, satisfied smirk at the sight. "I would have thought you'd have gotten all your aggression out fighting Hiyori," he growled as he glared at her.
"Yet you manage to piss me off again. I'd be impressed, if you weren't such a prick," Kirara bit back. "What do you want?" she demanded, glaring at him.
"I was just minding my own business, and what do I find? You showing off as always. It gets tedious, Princess," Shinji hissed back at her. He couldn't stop himself from being riled up by the girl who seemed to save all of her anger for him. He dodged the next rock, which slammed into the wall behind him with enough force to crack the wall and shatter the rock.
"Excuse me for reliving some boredom for myself while seeing if Hiyori was alright, asshole," Kirara snarled back.
"The monkey?" some of Shinji's anger died to make room for his confusion. "Why wouldn't she be?" he asked.
"Uh, maybe because her Captain is leaving?" Kirara rolled her eyes. Shinji blinked, surprised that Kirara had been the one to go to Hiyori and see how she was doing about Kirio leaving. "We don't all have our heads up our asses," Kirara muttered.
"You don't?" Shinji asked mockingly. "I figured it was always up there, helping you create as much shit for everyone else as you can. Get off your damn high horse, Princess," he growled, and grabbed her wrist as she threw a punch at him.
"Let me go," Kirara growled at him, but he didn't release his grip on her, glaring down at the young woman. "You think I'm on a high horse? Yeah right! Stop being such an asshole," she snapped.
"Need I remind you, that you're a Lieutenant. You gotta show some respect," he towered over her, but Kirara didn't flinch.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Hirako. I'll show you respect, when you earn it!" she snarled as she struggled in his grip. "So let's see why you deserve my respect, Captain Dickhead," she challenged him, her eyes blazing.
"You're a little brat, you know that?" Shinji kept her close to stop her striking him. "I don't normally question Yoruichi on her judgement, but why the hell did she think you were suited to be a Corps Commander?" he questioned. Kirara opened her mouth to retort, before they heard a chuckle.
"Oh my, I believe we've stumbled across something here," they looked around as Kyoraku and Ukitake walked towards them. Kyoraku just looked amused, while Ukitake seemed a little concerned. Shinji released Kirara's wrist, and she stepped back, rubbing it as she shot him another glare. "Your arguing could be heard for some distance. Why spoil such a beautiful afternoon?" Kyoraku asked, looking up at the sky.
"Yes, wouldn't it be better to enjoy this peace together, rather than ruining it by arguing?" Ukitake suggested with a smile.
"Tell that to him!"
"Tell that to her!" the two chorused together, and glared at each other as the two elder Captains tried to hide their laughter. "You're the one who started this shit, Princess," Shinji growled.
"Yeah? And I'll finish it too, if you're not careful," Kirara hissed back as her fist clenched.
"Honestly you two," Kyoraku sighed heavily, moving his hat to scratch his head. "Can't you just get past the bickering stage already? You should just admit how you really feel!" he told them with a shake of his head. "It's obvious that you like one another!" he pointed out.
"You're delusional, old man!" Kirara yelled at him as she and Shinji looked disgusted, and the older Captains laughed at their expressions.
"You think I'd ever find that stuck up Princess appealing?!" Shinji demanded at the same time. There was a loud crash and a cry of pain as Kirara kicked him through the wall.
"Asshole!" Kirara yelled as she turned and stormed off.
"Oh dear, perhaps, Shunsui, that you shouldn't have said that," Ukitake suggested as he watched Kirara turn the corner, looking furious as she stomped off and disappeared. "I believe you've annoyed her," he commented.
"Of course I should have said something, it's what everyone is thinking," Kyoraku laughed, unapologetic. "They're clearly crazy for each other," he shrugged.
"You two are like a pair of old ladies," Shinji groaned as he pushed himself up and wiped blood from his face. "Do me a favour and leave me out of your damn gossiping," he told the pair irritably as he walked off, leaving the two Captains behind as they grinned knowingly to one another.
Let me know what you think!