Woohoo! Another reviewe from Albinos and my story just keeps rolling along. So I'm to the point of my pairings where I just don't know how I'm gonna get some of these people together. Two of them I can't start until the plot goes and the other three...well...it'll be fun. Anyways, onward with the first attempt, and maybe if I work it in, a little furthering of some of the ones I've started. Onward march!
Chapter 7... Sweet Sake
Kyouraku sat on a not so quiet rooftop, a large jug of sake and a cup sitting beside him. He'd barely begun to drink for the evening but he wasn't going to let the woman beside him know that. It would ruin his drunken reputation. "Come on Nanao! Just take a drink it won't kill you!" he says, swaying a little.
"Absolutely not! Someone has to be responsible for this division and because you won't it falls on me!" She exclaims. She flops down to sit beside him though, and opens the book where she'd kept careful track of everything to do with the division. She fiddled with facts and figures in it for a moment, while Kyouraku thought.
"At least let your hair down Nanao, it has to hurt your head keeping it tied up like that all the time," he said, reaching over and deftly unknotting and letting her hair fall. Nanao looked over at him shocked as black locks of hair fell around her shoulders. She blushed and immediately her hands reached up to fix her hair. She started muttering things about drunken perverts and how men don't know how to respect boundaries. Kyouraku laughed, "Nanao, you're a riot." he said, laying back. He tilted his hat down over his eyes.
"You ought to be more serious, Captain." she says. Kyouraku lifts his hat to look at her questioningly. "I have this feeling...like all our hard work a few months ago means nothing anymore. Like it's a calm before a storm. A new storm. After so long of peace, are we never going to have that again?" she murmurs. Kyouraku sits up.
"Maybe you ought to lighten up," Kyouraku says. He throws his arm around her shoulders, causing her blush to come back. "Look, if this bad feeling turns out to be something...I want you to be careful Nanao. I know you're strong...you're my Lieutenant afterall, but I don't want to lose you." he said.
"Captain..." Nanao whispers, glancing at him. Hesistantly, she reaches for the cup he'd set down between them. She pours herself a small amount, and tips the cup to her lip. When she'd finished the drink, she lays back as well.
"Oh Captain Ichimaru!" a drunken voice calls through the corridor. After a lot of questions and a probationary period, Ichimaru had been reinstated as 3rd Captain. Rangiku vouched that she'd witnessed the battle with Aizen and that he'd stated he'd been in it to kill him for a very long time. Of course, one major slip up and he would be executed for treason. So Gin had been on his...almost best behavior.
Gin's office door slid open to reveal Rangiku Matsumoto carrying 4 jugs of sake. Gin smiled. Once a week Rangiku stopped by his office. The two had never really discussed the day of the battle with each other. Over the time when Gin was dying. Gin had started to bring it up, but Rangiku had walked away. She said she didn't want to ruin their friendship by making things awkward.
Kira slid his chair over to Gin's desk to sit it by the chair Rangiku sat in. "Now now Izuru are ya tellin me ya been drinkin on the job while I was away?" Gin asks. Kira's eyes widen and he almost shakes his head. But instead he drops his head and nods. Gin bursts out laughing and pours Kira a cup, while Rangiku opts for a bottle. Together, the three drink.
It was later in the evening, when Rangiku was too drunk to walk back to 10th alone, that Gin decided to ambush her. "Rangiku-san," he begins, supporting her by an arm around her waste. She gives him a drunken reply. "Rangiku, we can't ignore wha happened forever. Ya cried fer me. Ya acted like it was goin ta be the worst thing in the world if I died. Ya can' act like ya don' care fer me Rangiku. I know it's a lie." He says. Rangiku, suddenly sober, steps away from him.
"And you can't act like I've never been nothing more than some kind of plaything for you." she replies, trying to stand strong when Gin can see the tears beginning to form in her eyes. So that was why she didn't want to talk about it. Because she thought she meant nothing to him for all of those years.
"Rangiku-san. I can' believe tha for all those years, ya thought tha ya weren't important. Ya know...I lied ta Aizen so he wouldn' go back for ya. I told him I killed ya so he'd leave ya alone. I've protected ya from him for all tha time while ya were becomin a shinigami and til tha battle and ya still don' believe me. Ya think Aizen woulda let me keep somethin precious? No, he wanted me miserable so I'd follow him like Izuru-san follows me. He wanted someone broken, but I always had ya. I was never broken by tha man." Gin replies, opening his eyes up a bit. Rangiku looked like she didn't believe him. "I had ta pretend ya weren' nothin ta me. Had to pretend Izuru-san wasn' like a brother ta me. Had to pretend tha you two weren' my most precious things so I could keep ya. And ya can' believe me cause I did to good of a job actin," he said. He turned away from her then, and took a step away. He couldn't fight what Rangiku believed. He'd done too much damage for too long. Until he felt the soft skin of Rangiku's hand as it clutched his own.
"I just don't want you to disappear again. You always disappear the minute I start feeling close to you," she said, tears running down her face. Gin frowns, remembering all of the times he left her in the dust. Like the day he became a Soul Reaper in order to protect her. His Rangiku. Gin pulled Rangiku into his chest to hug her.
"Its goin ta be ok Rangiku. I'm gonna protect ya from now on. I'm not goin anywhere ever again." he tells her before tilting her chin to make her look at him. "I promise." he tells her, before brushing his lips gently against hers.
Soi Fon had received a letter to go before the Head Captain. A 'Request for her presence'. So she went. And was unsurprised to find it was about her no holds barred battle with Grimmjow the other day. She was berrated for over a half hour for foolishness, then finally asked to explain. "First and foremost, I would never do something traitorous, if that is what you are assuming. Secondly, we were told the day that the hybrids arrived that we were to treat them with caution, yes, but also to treat them as any other Shinigami, at the request of their Queen. A Queen, who, as far as any of us know, cares nothing but for the safety of all of her friends, which includes many of us. Thirdly, we were told that many ofj these arrancar would be filling the voided positions as no Shinigami here is truly at the level to do so, and my battle was a test. To prove he was worthy as my Lieutenant. And finally, after such a long period of war, I think all of us need to let go of the tensions for just a moment and learn what it is to live again. To have a little fun every now and then. That is all of the explanation I can provide." she said.
"Then I take it you are willing to be the first to except a hybrid in your ranks?" Yamamoto asks. Soi Fon prevented herself from tensing up. It wasn't what she wanted, but her actions had to result in a consequence. And the premature filling of Omeada's position was not a bad consequence.
"Yes, I am fully prepared to bring Grimmjow Jeagerjacks as my Lieutenant and for him to prove as the test of the possibility of assimilating the other arrancar into our ranks." Soi Fon said. That being said there was only a few more details to work out and she was handed transfer papers to hand deliver to Orihime when she left. After delivering the paper, she planned to clean out Omeada's office space and quarters.
Orihime glanced at Ulquiorra again. He acted just like normal. Like her kiss on the cheek hadn't effected him. But did she really think it would have? She sighed. Of course she had. Because even back at Las Noches she'd felt like she'd affected him in some way. And now, he was still his old, clammed up, unemotional self. She shook her head and went back to her paperwork. Without even a whisper of movement, another paper appeared on her desk. Shockingly, it was a transfer. Her gaze ran up the thin arm to the short 2nd Captain's face. She read over the paper, and was stunned. "Ulquiorra-san...go fetch me Grimmjow-san," she said. Ulquiorra left without a word. "Why now?" she asked. "We've only just started out missions."
"Because Jeagerjacks and I did something foolish. And this is the punishment. You do know this is punishment don't you? Because as the first to transfer, there will be tons of problems. Particularly with the response of my squad. Jeagerjacks will have to be strong and prove himself time and again. If he doesn't succeed in making this work, then 14th will be disbanded. All the way back to Las Noches. There is a lot at stake, riding on one unreliable man." she said.
"Who you calling unreliable Killer Bee?" the very man they were discussing said as he rolled in, followed by Ulquiorra. Soi Fon refused to look at him. Orihime explained the situation, and what was at stake.
"You can refuse Grimmjow-san, if you don't want to. Its understandable if you don't want all of that pressure on you. But if you do accept, then you know all of us here in 14th are backing you and supporting you. If you'd need help with anything we would do our best." Orihime said. By way of answer, Grimmjow snatched the paper from Orihime's desk, took it to Ulquiorra's and signed it. He handed it back to Orihime.
"I can handle it Captain, and I'm not going to need any of your help. And as for you Bee, I can be responsible. I will do good, and I will convince your squad and the Captain-Commander that the hybrids can assimilate," he said. Soi Fon nearly smiled at him.
"Pack your belongings Kitty," she said, taking the now signed paper off of Orihime's desk, and flashing away. Orihime glanced up at Grimmjow and saw the grin on his face, and the look in his eyes. It was that look he got when he was enjoying himself. It was a happy face, that made Orihime feel that even though she was without all of her friends from Karakura, that she was just as happy and at home as long as her hybrids were there. Grimmjow's decision made her feel proud, like she had done something right by bringing them here. Grimmjow left Orihime's office.
Orihime stood, and walked over to stand by Ulquiorra. Looking up at him with a blush beginning to grace her features, she asked him, "Would you like to go get something to eat? It's my treat!" she said. Ulquiorra's face took on his personal brand of a thoughtful expression.
"Isn't the man supposed to pay? In your culture that is." he asked her, genuinely curious. Orihime grew flustered, and became very interested in grinding the toe of her sandal into the carpet.
"Well yes Ulquiorra-san, but only if they are dating. We're just friends, so its fine if I pay," she said. Again, there was that thoughtful expression.
"Nonetheless, I will pay for our lunch," Ulquiorra said.
OK! I think that's good for now! So make sure to tell me what you think of it.
Albinos: Sorry it took me two days after your review to update, but I just don't have the energy or imagination to update on days I work to update, and I was away from my computer all day today, but I got it up and that's what is important. And I really hope that once the plot begins that you will enjoy it. This is the first story I've ever written where I don't bring in my own character/s and I'm loving the challenge, but even more so, I'm just really excited about this plotline because I don't think its one that has been used too much in this mangas fanfiction fandom. Not that I've read that is. So I'm really hoping it turns out ok. Anyways my excitement is the reason I just can't stop talking about it. This story just makes me feel happy to write lol. Hope you enjoyed!