So I know by the time you guys get this you are gonna be mad at me... cause I'm gonna write all four chapters and do them back to back. It's the only way I can catch up... And I want to be caught up. Now catching up doesn't mean that I won't be doing a chapter per review. I still will be. But it does mean that its going to be a bit before you get your chapters if I get multiple reviews per chapter. So, here goes!
Chapter 13...Shock
Coyote woke up with a yawn. He was going to have to get up and be productive starting now. Orihime had approached him and told him about the impending assimilation. And that Yamamoto was watching, and that if he didn't do good and lost the chance to be a captain that she would make him come to Karakura and get a day job that he wouldn't be able to sleep during. A little productivity versus a lot sounded good to him. He showered and dressed for the day and made it to the door just as Lilinette came flying through it. She looked stunned to see him already awake and that she didn't have to beat him up. Almost like for a second she didn't know what to do with herself. The she smiled, and started going on about something or another that Stark immediately tuned out. Stark considered telling her to be quiet when her constant chatter started to become too much, but he remembered the one time he'd told her that before. Not only did he get an earful, but she also tried to beat him up.
When Coyote arrives to check his tasks for the day, he finds only a few small tasks and then a 'Report to Captain'. He does what he's supposed to, parting ways with Lilinette when they were done. Then he goes to Orihime's office and finds Tia waiting as well.
"Ok! You two are gonna head over to your respective new divisions and learn how to do your Captain's stuff! I'd be teaching you if not for the fact that mine's...well different. So go do good jobs and maybe I'll cook us all 4 a yummy dinner!" Orihime exclaims. You could tell that she was envisioning what she wanted to cook. Tia and Coyote both immediately excused themselves from the dinner. They left the office, walking side by side.
"I never want to taste that woman's cooking again," Tia said softly as they walked. Stark nodded, remembering the night after the battle when they'd all temporarily returned to Los Noches. Orihime immediately gone to instruct the cooks on what 'super yummy foods' to make for dinner. All of the arrancar had been a little excited to see what 'good food' was in the physical realm. Unfortunately the mess they'd been served...was awful. There was steaks marinated in sweetened orange juice, mashed potatoes with banana slices, bread slices baked with red bean paste smeared on them, salted and soy sauce covered strawberries and several other horrible creations. And for desert...a huge bowl of vanilla ice cream drenched in hot sauce and cherry tomatoes. And for that night, every arrancar dutifully ate her cooking. And ever since they've avoided any 'super yummy foods' Orihime's had made.
The two share a look, both having been remembering the same thing. They reach the edge of nine, Stark having walked with her all the way there. They paused, and stood silently for a few minutes. "We should...take Lilinette to do something fun sometime," Tia says when they turn to face each other. "Its been a long time since me and you...the three of us I mean, did anything fun together," she said. Stark got the message, she wanted to spend time with him. And he wanted to spend time with her too.
"Lilinette is pretty busy usually. She's planned most of mine and her assimilations. But, I'm free later...if you don't mind going without Lilinette," he said. She nodded at him. "I'll find you later when I've thought of something to do," he tells her, and she heads off. Coyote headed back through the division, and into the offices of 9th. He was greeted by several of the Shinigami there, some even adressing him as Captain already. When he entered the office, he froze. Lilinette was already there...and comfortable.
Earlier
"Bye Stark see you later!" Lili called the minute she finished her tasks. She bolted and hurried over to 9th, easily her favorite place to be. She skipped through the division, being greeted everywhere she went. She walked straight into Hisagi's office, only he wasn't there just yet. She flopped into his seat, spinning around in the chair. After only a few minutes, she grew bored, so she leaned forward and rested her head on his desk. She glanced around at the various things. She saw a little planner book in the corner. It was flipped open to today, and at the bottom was 'Hang out with Matsumotto, Ikkaku, Kira, Renji, and Yumichika at Izakaya'. Lilinette was immediately jealous. Hisagi-kun hadn't invited her to go hang out with him outside of the office but the one time. And here he was, going out that very night, with a couple of friends. To make matters worse, he was going with Rangiku Matsumotto, a girl. He'd even put her first on the list of his friends. Did he like her? She stopped herself before she could think up dangerous things. It wasn't her business. She didn't like him, did she? She sighs.
The door slides open and in walks Hisagi. She leaps from his chair, immediately greeting him. He smiles at her and says hello back, before taking his seat. Lili leans against the edge of his desk. "So what are you doing after hours tonight?" she asks. She fights not to slap herself for being unable to censor her words. Hisagi laughs a little.
"I'm going to the bar with my friends. We all have time tonight and its been a while." he said. Lilinette nodded. Apparently it was word vomit time because Lilinette said something else she shouldn't have.
"Do you think I'm pretty?" she asked. Almost demanded. Shuuhei looked shocked. He seemed to debate the answer. He glanced at her face and saw her biting her lip.
"Yea, you're pretty," he told her finally, looking away. Lilinette blushed. She felt her heart beat increase. Why did it make her so happy he said that. She leaned over, and when he looked back at her, she met his eyes. And then she did the most embarrassing thing she'd done yet that day. She kissed him. Just as Stark walked in. Lilinette pulled away. Her face was on fire. She could see the red even in her nose. Shuuhei looked completely shocked, and a little uncomfortable, and Stark looked a little...angry. Lilinette ran. She jumped out the open window and bolted. She had to go see someone. And since Stark was at 9, she could bet Tia was at 5. So that's where she went.
Tia was with her soon to be Lieutenant when Lili ran in. Lilinette immediately went over to Tia and hugged her. Tia patted the skull mask she wore. Momo smiled at her and asked what was wrong. And Lili told them. About how she liked Shuuhei but hadn't really realized it, about what she'd just done, and her jealousy over Shuuhei hanging out with his friends and not inviting her, and about how she had just left an angry Stark with her future Lieutenant. And finally, "Now I don't know if Hisagi-kun is going to want me in his division and I don't know if Stark wants me around Hisagi-kun, so can I come be with you?" Lilinette knew Tia would help. She was the protector of women afterall.
"We'd love to have you here!" Momo said kindly. Lilinette glanced at her. This was the girl Aizen had destroyed before he came to them. She looked ok for now. "But you really should talk to them about what happened. Hisagi-san is pretty understanding. And I'm sure Stark-san will be too," she said. Lili looked back at Tia.
"I will go make sure they are not fighting. Hinamori-san, I will be back shortly." Tia says, and she's gone in a buzz of sonido.
Stark still stood in the doorway. Looking at Hisagi expectantly. Hisagi however, was staring out the window Lili had left from. Finally, Hisagi lookes at Stark. "What was that about?" he asks Stark, wondering if the man knew. Stark shrugged.
"Lilinette is short tempered. Watch out," Stark says simply. He'd calmed himself, it wasn't his business if the two of them were seeing each other. Or so he told himself. With just a look at Hisagi's expression, he realized it wasn't the case. And was angered. "Were you leading her on?" he asks. Hisagi shakes his head. "So you don't reciprocate?" he asked. It was becoming an awkward conversation, and one that was exhausting him. It shouldn't bother him, but he and Lili were originally one being and he should take care of her. He knew his last question was a hard one to answer. If Hisagi said no, it would anger him further, if Hisagi said yes, well it would be the same. "Don't answer," Stark said, and sat down at the Captain's desk. He leaned his head on his hands, his elbows on the desk. He glared at the door. Which then opened to reveal Tia. Stark chuckled, wondering what she'd do. If Lili had gone to her, she'd probably be feeling very angry at men now. It was one of those things she did. The woman in all her beauty, slammed her fist on Hisagi's desk. She leaned down, unzipping her jacket to reveal the shark-like bone structure on her face.
"It will be a problem if she is upset. You will behave as if nothing has happened." Her face turned to Stark. "Are you calm?" she asked. Stark nodded. He could tell she was restraining herself. Usually if a woman came crying to her about a man there would be blood spilled. But she was holding back because of the tenuous alliance with the Shinigami. Tia straightened, zipping her jacket back up. She stepped over to Stark and leaned down. "You, me, Lili, and Apache will be going to that bar tonight," she said softly, and buzzed away.
Ok, so a little bit of a cliffhanger, but not much considering you will be getting your next 5 chapters all at once, but still, there is computer loading time that will make you wait to see how this all goes down. Off to type the next chapter, and will do review responses at the end of the chapter spree. Later!