• • •
It felt nice to actually have some free time around here. There were no missions; I wasn't a seated officer so I didn't have any paperwork to complete, so all was well.
So, for now I was bidding my time. I was supposed to be meeting Rukia in a couple of minutes, so I decided I would just arrive early and wait. Because of that, I was seated near a beautiful pond with koi fish that was in the back of our division's headquarters. I was sitting against a nice tall maple tree, overlooking the calmness of the backyard.
"Junko-San..?"
Blinking, I looked around for the person that uttered my name. My bright blue orbs landed on the white haired, sickly Taicho of my division: Ukitake Jushiro.
"Ukitake-Taicho! What are you doing up and out of bed? Aren't you supposed to be recuperating from your last attack?" I asked, lightly standing up so I was next to my Taicho. I know it's bad to talk to a Taicho like that, but Ukitake-Taicho was more lenient than the others.
"Ah, I'm feeling much better now, Kokawa-San. Thank you for your concern." Ukitake said, gently smiling at me. I could feel my cheeks lightly heat up; I wasn't good around people showing kindness. That, and the fact that Ukitake-Taicho was a well-known charmer.
"I'm glad that you are feeling better, Ukitake-Taicho." I replied, smiling up at my Taicho as well.
Ukitake nodded and smiled, before sitting down and patting the space next to him. I slowly sat down next to him, turning my waiting gaze towards his. He was looking out at the koi pond with a serene expression on his face. "You seem to have been waiting for someone."
"Yes, I was waiting for Rukia. She was supposed to be meeting me soon. Actually, I think that she's running late for once. This isn't normal for her."
"I know. Kuchiki-San was sent on a mission to the World of the Living a few days ago. We haven't had any word from her since then." Ukitake spoke, turning his deep brown gaze on me. "You know Kuchiki-San better than most of us do. Do you think that she might be in trouble?"
"I don't know." I murmured, my gaze darting back to the pond as I sat in thought. "Rukia is more than capable of exterminating a few Hollows in the World of the Living. There shouldn't be a problem there. But… I do remember her telling me that she was patrolling that area and her senses felt…stopped up? That's not quite the right word, but it was something to that effect. She had trouble sensing things. Do you think that she's injured and can't contact the Soul Society?"
"I'm not sure, Kokawa-San." Ukitake softly spoke, a sad look on his features. He was close to everyone in his division, and he hated to think badly of them. "I would hope not. However, we can send someone to check things out. Research has looked, and they've had a difficult time trying to pinpoint her reiatsu."
"That must mean that she's in a difficult bind." I spoke, lightly sighing. "Rukia, what did you get yourself into this time?"
Ukitake lightly chuckled at my statement.
"Ah! Ukitake-Taicho, do you think they'd consider sending me to go to the World of the Living to search for her? After all, I do know her pretty well; I can probably scout out areas where she would more than likely be hiding if she were in trouble."
"You know, that's not too bad of an idea." Ukitake mused, his eyes lit up at the idea. "You're just a Substitute Shinigami; you're still among the living. Your body is still in that world, is it not?"
"Yes, it is. I have someone that I trust looking after it, so I know that it's been in good hands. I'm pretty sure that I'm the most up to date on the trends in the World of the Living, so I wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb like anyone else." I said, trying to convince my Taicho to consider letting me go and get Rukia.
"Well, that does make sense. It all sounds good to me. However, the final decision isn't mine to make. It's up to the Sotaicho to decide. I can take this to him and tell him that I agree with it and think that it's a wonderful idea. You have my trust, Kokawa-San." Ukitake said, with a serene smile on his face.
"Thank you so much, Ukitake-Taicho!" I almost screamed. I was sure that I was almost literally beaming with excitement right about now. It made me feel good to know that I had my Taicho's trust; it felt like an honor. And if the Sotaicho accepted me for this mission, which meant that he had some faith in me as well.
"It's no problem, Kokawa-San. You are a member of my division." Ukitake spoke as he placed one of his large hands on top of my head and gently teased my already slightly teased hair.
"Ukitake-Taicho~!" I whined, as I tried to flatten my hair down a little once he was done, earning a laugh from him.
"Now, if you would excuse me." He spoke, as he stood up. "I'm off to go see the Sotaicho and explain our little situation to him. I'm sure he'll understand. Word will be sent to you shortly by a jigokucho once they have reached a decision."
"I understand. I hope to hear from you soon, Ukitake-Taicho!"
• • •
"Ah, this waiting is driving me crazy~!" I exclaimed to myself as I lightly tugged on the strands of my hair. About half an hour, if not more, had passed since Ukitake-Taicho had left to ask for permission for my mission. Still, I had received no word. No jigokucho had visited.
"Calm down, Jun." I heard the echoing voice of my Zanpakuto's spirit, Ankoku-Tatsu, speak. "There is nothing you can do but wait. Getting worked up will be of no help now."
I sighed again, weakly shaking my head. "I know, Ankoku-Tatsu. It's just… I can't help but feel like I should be doing something; you know what I mean?" I murmured, lightly resting the blade across my lap as I stared down at it in frustration.
"I know that you care about Rukia, and you have to do what's best for her. Getting worked up now won't solve anything." She spoke, and I could almost picture the caring look that would be burning in her deep red eyes. "Rukia is your best friend, I understand. But you just have to be patient."
"Patience…" I scoffed. "That's the one thing I lack; I'm not hundreds of years old like all of the other souls and Shinigami are. I just can't be patient. I am still human after all."
I rose to my feet once more and took up pacing back and forth again. I had started that not even ten minutes after Ukitake-Taicho had left. I was just too nervous and excited to sit still. I sighed in frustration as I looked at the position of the sun in the sky again.
"Jun-Kun~!"
"Huh?" I asked, looking around for the sound of the scream. Before I knew it, I was tackled to the ground by a small plink blob.
It wasn't just a pink blob, though. She was known as Kusajishi Yachiru, the Fukutaicho of the 11th Division. How she got that position, I have to wonder. I've never seen her fight, but if she hangs onto Kenpachi and gets away with calling him "Ken-Chan" then she has to be strong.
"Yachiru-Fukutaicho?" I questioned, looking at the small child wearily. "Was there something that you wanted?"
"Aw, Jun-Kun~! Haven't I told you that you don't have to be so formal! You can just call me whatever you want; just not 'Yachiru-Fukutaicho'!"
"Hehe, I'm sorry. It must have slipped my mind." I said, lightly scratching the back of my head. Truth was, I didn't forget at all. I usually don't use formalities or honorifics, unless it is towards a Taicho or Fukutaicho. I even use honorifics with the Noble families as well, like whenever Rukia takes me to the Kuchiki Manor.
"Alright, so what are you going to call me?" Yachiru asked, a huge smile plastered on her face, "And it has to be cute!"
"Um… Let's see." I thought, "It has to be cute…and a nickname…so… How about Chiru-Chan?"
"Ah! Jun-Kun is good at making up nicknames too!" Yachiru happily exclaimed as she tackled me into another hug. "No wonder you're so fun to hang around!"
Yachiru did tend to hang around me and I couldn't help but notice that she had been around more frequently lately. We did kind of get along. We both enjoyed sweets, so of course we'd hit it off.
"We're gonna have another tea party at the Kuchiki Manor for the Josei Shinigami Kyokai [Shinigami Women's Association]! I was wondering if you wanted to go with me to steal all of the sweets again! We can split them evenly this time; I promise I won't eat them all!" Yachiru compromised, as she tugged on my sleeve. Truthfully, she had dragged me along the first time; I hadn't even really wanted to go. Who would willingly join a group of plotting women?
Somehow, and I don't know how, she had overseen tunnels built in the Kuchiki house. As far as I know, Byakuya hasn't even figured it out yet. However, if he did, Yachiru made countless tunnels, so he would probably have a hard time trying to close them all.
"As tempting as that sounds, I'll have to pass."
"Aw, why?"
"I'm waiting on word to see if I've been given a mission." I said, not sure if Yachiru was aware about the whole situation. I didn't want to drag anyone else into it if I could help it. The more people that knew, the more trouble it would cause. After all, Rukia was now a Kuchiki; Kuchiki's were a Noble family and everyone looked up to them. If Rukia was in trouble, it could cause several problems for the family.
"Well, I don't see how it's that important. I mean, won't a jigokucho just find you wherever you are? That's its job: to sense your reiatsu, find you, and deliver the message." She reasoned, being as stubborn as ever.
"I can't argue with you there, Chiru-Chan." I sighed, being sure to use her new 'nickname'. "But, I want to be able to leave as soon as I can. Since that's the case, I don't think that it would be smart to be all the way across the Soul Society and have to come back to get ready."
"Aw! But it just won't be as much fun without you there, Jun-Kun!" Yachiru whined, as she glomped my leg. "No one else understands how amazing sweets are!"
"That might be true, but think about it this way: if I don't go, then that means you get all of the sweets. You wouldn't have to share."
"Bye bye, Jun-Kun~!" Yachiru smiled as she waved and took off; I guess my words really had made up her mind. I couldn't help but let the chuckles that I had been holding in go.
"You seem to be in a better mood," Ankoku-Tatsu observed, her voice sounding pleased. "You know, I like you much better when you're happier. My world is much lighter; the gravity doesn't feel as constricting."
"I'm sorry, Ankoku-Tatsu. I don't mean to wreak havoc on your inner world. It's just… sometimes it's hard for me to get control of my emotions. I know that I'll always have you with me, so I don't feel as depressed as I used to. I'm never going to be truly alone again." I murmured to her, lightly smiling.
"That's right; I will never leave you, Jun. After all, we are one."
"Yes, that's right; two in the same."
"Jun, a jigokucho is approaching." Ankoku-Tatsu warned, her voice sounded alert. She could sense its presence nearby.
I nodded my head, as I stood up once more. My eyes scanned the scenery, looking for any trace of the beautiful black and dark red butterfly. I couldn't contain the smile that spread across my face as it entered my line of vision; I could tell that it was coming from the direction of the other divisions, so that it was quite possibly from the 1st Division to me regarding details of the mission.
I knew Ankoku-Tatsu and I were correct when it continued to lazily beat its wings and fly towards me.
I gently extended my hand, letting the butterfly lightly land on the tip of my pointer finger.
"~This is a message regarding Kokawa Junko. Kokawa Junko has been approved by the Sotaicho to go to the World of the Living and locate Kuchiki Rukia. The target is to be found, and then promptly returned for questioning. Repeat, the target is to be found, and then returned for questioning. Kokawa Junko is expected to depart for the World of the Living at sunrise tomorrow. Do not be late.~"
Once its message was delivered, the jigokucho gently flapped it wings twice before taking off and returning to wherever it was supposed to go.
"You're not shouting out in joy?" Ankoku-Tatsu questioned as my silence ensued after the jigokucho flew away.
"Hehe, sorry; I should be shouting, shouldn't I?" I murmured as I placed my hand on Ankoku-Tatsu as she rested on my hip. "I was just too busy thinking about that message. 'The target is to be found, and then promptly returned for questioning.' What do you think that means?"
"They're most likely worried about what caused her disappearance and lack of contact with the Soul Society. They are more than likely considering the worst case scenario." Ankoku-Tatsu thought, trying to find an answer to my question. "They'll probably try to make sure that Rukia did not betray them."
"Rukia would never betray the Soul Society." I argued, a light frown on my face. "That's not like her, not like her at all. She truly cares about the Soul Society; after all, she is a member of the Gotei Thirteen. It's her job to protect them, not betray them."
I took a deep breath, staring at the setting sun. Its dying rays of light were being reflected on the pond, creating a heartwarming sunset.
"Rukia, just wait for me; please don't do anything drastic. I'll be there for you soon, just try and wait for a few more hours. It's my turn to return the favor that you've done for me countless times. I'll help you clear your name."
• • •