What is Love?
It was a hot summer day in the Soul Society. Too hot to wear the uniform, too hot for work so under the guidance of Squad 1 Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto everybody who was anybody went to Squad Six for a little Rest and relaxation.
This relaxation consisted of swimsuits, swimming pools and refreshing beverages. And while nobody present seem to be against the idea there were some who if they knew would have a handful of negative things to say.
Rangiku was laying on her stomach her bikini strap undone allowing her back to take in all the sun's rays. Several feet in front of her was the pool where fellow officers Renji, Ikkaku, Ida and Kira engaged in a chicken fight. Across the way were Captains Zaraki, Soifon and Kommamura enjoying themselves a nice tall beverage. And next to them were some young couples, one of which caught Rangiku's interest.
She pushed her sunglasses down to rest on her nose so she could see clearly. And there she was clear as day Lieutenant of Squad Four Isane Kotetsu sitting down in a beach chair. Standing closely to her was another member of the 4th Division Hanataro Yamada. He was sitting down next to her, his arm laid out so that it was lying next to her's. And by the nervous look on his face Rangiku could tell he wanted to hold her hand. The sight of the two intrigued Rangiku but before she could think further on the subject she was distracted.
"Uh Rangiku." She heard from behind her and turned to face whoever it was. She turned and saw none other than Shuhei Hisagi Captain of Squad Nine standing there.
"Hello Shuhei." She said pushing her sunglasses back up." What are you doing?"
"I- um- I noticed you were sitting her tanning. And I-I was wondering if you'd like some tanning oil?" He showcased a bottle in his hands.
"That would be wonderful, thank you." She said as she turned and laid back down. Delighted Shuhei covered his hands in the stuff and began rubbing Rangiku's back." Say Shuhei have you ever noticed that before?"
"N-Notice what?" He said softly. He didn't even both to look up as he was too busy starring at Rangiku's back only inches from his face and touching with his hands.
"Them, Isane and Hanataro."
"N-No." He cleared his throat, still not looking up." C-Can't say that I have."
"I wonder how long they've been a thing?" Rangiku mused. Shuhei continued to apply the lotion to her back, getting lower and lower as he went. Very soon he found himself coming to the lowest point possible the 'Kill Zone' as most men would call it. But right as he was about to dig his hands deep into that glorious place a shadow suddenly loomed over him.
A grimace on his face Shuhei turned and looked up to see what fool would dare interrupt a Captain's business.
"Who do you-" He stopped shorted as there stood none other than Head-Captain Toshiro Hitsuguya, next to him his second Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe." Oh Head-Captain!" Shuhei snapped to his feet." W-What are you doing here, sir?!" At the very sight of Toshiro everyone in the area stopped what they were doing and force. Toshiro's blue eyes shifted from left to right, scanning everyone and everything going on.
"Captain!" Rangiku boomed as she jumped up. But her bikini was still undone so she held her modesty in place with one arm." Good to see you here. Shuhei was nice enough to rub tanning oil on my back, isn't that nice?!" Toshiro looked at Shuhei squinting his eyes as he thought about what was said. Then he turned and addressed everyone else.
"Last time I checked even officers had to work during the hours of 9am to 5pm. And it is now 1 in the afternoon." Toshiro paced back and forth in a small circle but everyone felt as if he was walking and speaking right to him.
"Come on Captain it's just some fun." Said Rangiku who was now standing behind him.
"Yes Head-Captain." Said Sajin as he walked towards his friend." It's really hot today and everyone's been working hard recently. We could all use a rest day. Even yourself." Toshiro opened his mouth to reply.
"That's true!" announced Kenpachi with his arm around Toshiro." Come along have a drink with us." Soifon pushed a bottle into the General's face but he simply waved her away and pushed Kenpachi off himself.
"Be that as it may." Toshiro said with authority in his voice and his arms crossed behind his back." Good work yesterday does not mean you can slack-off today. Therefore I- OH!" He yelled as Rangiku snuck up behind him and pushed him right into the pool. There was no splash when he hit the water, the water was completely still.
She giggled and laughed thinking now that her Captain was wet he'd want to join into the summer fun. But the petrified looks on everyone else's faces changed her mind.
Toshiro reemerged from the pool yelling and raising his arms into the air, the force of which caused the water to crash away from him, knocking everyone into the pool out of it. With anger on his face and his sandals squishing as he went Toshiro placed himself back on dry land.
Everyone was silent as Toshiro ran his hand along his face, removing the water from his eyes. And the steam seemed to be emitting from his body as his face turned red. Then with a scowl on his face he turned and walked away with everyone clearing a path for him. Sasakibe following after him. Luckily for everyone he didn't bring up ending the party going on so as far as everyone else was concerned it was still a 'Go'.
This left Rangiku to look back curiously at the odd couple of Isane and Hanataro. But when she looked back the two were separated by almost the entire length of the pool. Curiously she ran her hand across her chin.
Later that day she returned to Squad One still dressed out in her bikini, towel under one arm and wet sandals on her feet. It didn't seem to bother her that she was dripping water all over the place, that was until she rounded the corner and there was Head-Captain Hitsuguya.
Luckily his back was to her as he was busy addressing other members of the division. As quietly as she could with squeaking sandals and a wet floor Rangiku turned around and tried to go the other way.
Later she arrived at his office, nearly tripping over the door and spilling the hot tea she had with her.
"Do you know what interesting news I found out today Captain?" she asked as she fiddled the paper holder on his desk.
"No!" He said reaching out and stopping her further but not taking his eyes off his work. But despite his statement she continued to speak and began circling his desk as she did so. She stopped when she was on his left and began pouring the tea.
"I heard that Hanataro Yamada likes Isane Kotestsu." She said it as if the topic would interest him, however his face remained icy.
"And?" He still did not look up.
"Oh I think it's cute." She continued to pour the tea.
"How my officers feel about each other is none of my business so long as they do their duty."
"Oh Captain don't you see, their just like the two of us." Toshiro raised his eyebrow and looked at her confused." He couldn't be any more younger than you were when we first started dating." She continued to pour the tea.
"He's older than I am, even now." Toshiro said simply.
"But he's small like you were. And timid and shy." Toshiro looked at her confused, they must have been remembering different people." And Isane is beautiful well not as beautiful as I am but if she-" Rangiku continued to pour the tea but now it was overflowing.
Suddenly the extra amount caused the tea cup to fall over, spilling it's hot content all over Toshiro's desk and his pants.
"WHOA!" Toshiro exclaimed as he kicked out of his chair and into the air, his pants steaming with how hot they were. When he set his feet back on the ground he looked at his desk with the papers stained by tea. Then he looked over at the cause, Rangiku who was idly standing by.
"Oh look." She said suddenly looking into the teapot." We're all out. I'll just um- go get you some more" She left as quickly as she could slamming the door behind her. Toshiro let out a sigh as he sank into his chair, looking up at the ceiling.
Hantaro left the eleventh division as quickly as he could. He stepped out into the street not noticing the oddity that was around him, nothing. There was nothing around him, no people or animals or anything.
"Yamamada!" called a voice of authority the made him jump out of his skin. Turning around he saw none other than Head-Captain Toshiro Hitsuguya standing in the shadow of an alleyway." Just a moment now. Come over here will you."
"Y-Yes, sir." He squeaked. Hanataro took cautious steps forward until he was standing before the General and he noticed he wasn't alone. Standing next to him was Lieutenant Sasakibe.
"You're coming back from the 11th division just now?" asked Toshiro.
"Y-Yes sir?"
"And what's going on at the 4th division? With the officers I mean."
"Uh well um. Captain Unohana was in her office when I left and…and Lieutenant Kotetsu-"
"What do you think of her?"
"Well um." Hanataro gulped as Sasakibe moved behind him." She's-She's a nice lady. Ms. Unohana's very experienced and-"
"Not Unohana you idiot! Kotetsu what do you think of Kotetsu!"
"I-Isane, I I mean uh Lieutenant Kotetsu. I uh I…I-" Sasakibe shifted forward and spoke.
"What the General is trying to say, son." Hanataro turned around and faced him." Is that- don't show your back to him it's extremely disrespectful." He added calmly. Hanataro quickly turned back and bowed to Toshiro.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir. Please forgive me!" He announced.
"You can atone yourself by answering the question." Sasakibe said. Hanataro stood up and faced him Toshiro.
"And what question is that, sir?" Sasakibe became a slight pink in the face.
"Well do you uh, uh." He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head." Do you uh fancy her?"
"Fancy? She dressed pretty normally from what I've seen."
"No what I mean is do you uh 'care' for her." Hanataro looked at him strangely." In a romantic fashion."
"W-What?! No, no I could never. I-I-I" Toshiro grabbed Hanataro by his shoulders and yanked him up.
"That's a yes." He said as he did so. He carried Hanataro off and Sasakibe followed him. When Hanataro was finally sent back down it was in front of the Squad Four barracks.
"This is my barracks." He commented." I was coming here anyway."
"Shut it!" Toshiro said almost immediately. He poked his head around the corner, giving himself a straight line view into the Squad Four barracks. And standing right there in the middle of the room was Isane." Alright." He said turning back to Hanataro." She's in there, now walk over there and ask her out to dinner."
"What?!" Hanataro shrieked.
"SHH!" Toshiro and Sasakibe said together." Now go!" Toshiro said in a harsh whisper. Without another word Toshiro shoved Hanataro into the barracks. Toshiro put his arm up against the wall and watched on with Sasakibe behind him.
Hanataro nearly tripped over the top step as he walked through the door but he balanced himself and continued forward. A rocky start but he made up for it by not tripping or falling over as he approached his Lieutenant. Her back was to him and he gulped as he stood there.
"And here we go." Said Toshiro as he watched on. He watched as Hanataro reached up and tugged on Isane's sleeve." Watch, watch, watch!" The two men watched as Hanataro tugged on her sleeve. She straightened herself out and slowly started to turn around. But evidently that was enough time for Hantaro to turn and run in the other direction and Isane to turn around and view nothing." Damn it." Toshiro groaned.
They found Hanataro cowering inside the closet, his foot caught in the sink and a wet mop over his head. He looked up to see the two men shadowing over him.
"You haven't had much experience with women have you, son?" asked Sasakibe.
"N-No." Hanataro said with his head hung low. He pulled one foot out of the closet and then the other but then he tripped and bumped right into Toshiro's chest." G-General!" He shrieked jumping back to his feet." I-I didn't mean…I'm sorry!" Toshiro put his hands up passively.
"It's alright." Toshiro replied calmly. Hanataro shaking looked up at him." Come along." He nodded over his shoulder. " We've got a lot more to work on you than I though." He turned and led the way out while Hanataro followed with Sasakibe.
A short time later at Squad Eight. There was the weekly SWA meeting.
The meeting had it's usual members namely the Lieutenants, the only Captain present was Soifon since Unohanna was preoccupied with her division.
"So did everyone have fun yesterday at the Pool Party?" asked Rangiku cheerfully. And she had a right to be the event was a hit but more importantly it was her idea. And if it hadn't been she'd have blamed in on Nanao.
"Yes, yes." The group nodded.
"Now our first order of business." Rangiku shifted her head to the Lieutenant of Squad Four." Isane!" The girl jolted up for a second.
"Y-Yes, Rangiku?"
"What's going on with you and Hanataro?" All heads in the room shifted like bobble-heads over to Isane.
"H-Hanataro? What do you mean?" The heads shifted back to Rangiku.
"I saw the two of you together yesterday. Talking, swimming, making out."
"What?!" Isane yelled. The room bursted into a sudden uproar at the sound of it.
"Okay, okay." Said Rangiku fanning the room." That last part wasn't true."
Meanwhile on their way to the Squad Four barracks were Toshiro leading the way right behind him was Sasakibe and in the rear trying to keep up was Hanataro.
"Now pay attention." Toshiro said over his shoulder.
"Pay attention." Sasakibe relayed the message to Hanataro.
"Women enjoy special, romantic gestures. Flowers, chocolate, poetry." Hanataro nodded with each word spoken.
"Is that what you did when you asked Rangiku out on a date?"
"Hm?!" Toshiro grunted sharply. He jerked his head and looked at the boy with the eyes of an owl. And Hanataro felt the cold of the ice age bearing down on him.
"And confidence young man." Sasakibe quickly said jumping in. He took Hanataro and started walking a few steps." Over there!" He pointed to the first girl he saw." Go and try yourself with that one." Without consent or an answer he pushed Hanataro forward.
"But-But what do I say?"
"Anything you want." Sasakibe said. As he walked away Toshiro joined him at his side." This fellow is a lost cause."
"Don't bet against him yet." Said Toshiro." I've got a few tricks up my sleeve." The two together now looked forward and saw as Hanataro stood before the girl pointed out to him. They watched as he reached up and tugged at her sleeve much like he had done with Isane. And just like before Hanataro turned and ran before the girl had time to turn around.
Toshiro smacked his lips together after having observed the scene." Oh boy." He groaned.
"You were saying, sir?"
"As I was saying, I've still got a few tricks up my sleeves."
Meanwhile back the SWA meeting had come to a close and the attendants were ready all departing and heading back to their respective barracks.
"Uh excuse me." Called a small voice. Isane turned around and saw Hanataro of her own division standing not to far away." Lieutenant Kotetsu."
"Hello Hanataro, what are you doing here?"
"I-I was wondering if I could walk you back to the barracks?" The air was suddenly still as both of them shielded a red face.
"Uh Yes, yes that would be nice." Said Isane.
"G-Great." And Hanataro stood beside her and the two walked along the road together, but they were not the only pair around. Watching them from the rooftops was Toshiro and Sasakibe.
"You see." Toshiro whispered." Everything's going according to plan."
But maybe not as fast as Toshiro would have liked. The two Squad Four members walked along the road making simple, small talk as they went.
"So uh." Hanataro struggled to begin.
"Hm, did you say something?" Isane asked looking down and facing him fully. But in embarrassment Hanataro looked away and Isane did the same.
"Where are you coming from this late?" Isane asked.
"Oh me?" He replied." I-I uh I just went for a walk."
"Oh really were too?" As she continued to speak the boy's face only went from mild red to red hot.
"Oh just around, here and there you know." Isane just nodded in reply.
They continued on their walking talking like that for most of it. And then they finally came to the Squad four barracks, walking up the steps and to the doors.
"Uh Lieutenant Kotetsu." Hanataro said while scratching his head.
"Oh please you can just call me Isane." He turned and looked up at her in shock." You don't have to address me by rank when we're not on the job."
"Well uh Isane, there's there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
"What is it?" she asked.
Hanataro let in a huge breath of air puffing out his chest and then he sang with a voice so deep and so rich it startled Isane at first. But he would not be alone as his silent guardian angels would jump in to help, only confusing Isane more.
Hanataro: The night is young and you're so beautiful
Here among the shadows beautiful lady
Open your heart the sea is set the breezes sing of it
Can't you get into the swing of it
Lady where do we start
When the lady is kissable
Toshiro & Sasakibe: Oooh
Hanataro: And the evening so cool
Toshiro & Sasakibe: Oooh
Hanataro: Any dream is permissible
In the heart of a fool
Toshiro & Sasakibe: Oooh
Hanataro: The moon is high and you're so glamorous
And if I seem over amorous Lady
Toshiro & Sasakibe: Oooh
Hanataro: what can I do
The night is young and I'm in love with you
And Hanataro did what any man at the point would do. He reached up as high as he could to kiss her, but still he wasn't tall enough. But that didn't matter because his words must have hit their mark so Isane leaned down and kissed him.
But on that warm spring night in moonlight there were some on-lookers.
"Excellent." Commented Sasakibe.
"Come along Lieutenant." Toshiro said turning his back on the scene." We've done our job here."
"Very good, sir." Said Sasakibe and he followed Toshiro in making his exit.
A few days later Toshiro was making his way around the Divisions with his Lieutenants at his back. Everyone stepped aside and offered a humble 'Good Morning' to their Commander. And it was as they were passing the Squad Four Barracks that Rangiku noticed something interesting.
Standing on the front steps was Hanataro and in the doorway was Isane. The two with big goofy smiles on their faces. Then in awe Rangiku watched as Isane bent over and kissed Hanataro right in the middle of the barracks.
"Captain! Captain, look!" She said tugging at his sleeve.
"What?!" He said turning over to her.
"Look, look over there!" She pointed. Toshiro turned and looked over to see Hanataro and Isane walking away from the other.
"What? I don't see anything."
"They were kissing, Hanataro and Isane just like I told you."
"You told me nothing of the sort." He said turning away from her.
"Are you sure you didn't just image it?" asked Sasakibe to Rangiku.
"Oh your both so stuck up." She said. But Toshiro kept his eyes on the road were Hanataro was just about to pass him. And with a genuine smile and a wink Toshiro passed him by.