The Sanriku Earthquake proved to be the biggest crisis the Gotei 13 had ever managed in the world of the living, surpassing the devastation that had been wrought by a typhoon on Kyushu about seventy years prior that left over nineteen thousand souls needing help to pass on.
So after dealing with this disaster, not to mention the cleanup, Kyōraku and Ukitake decided to hold a joint event for the shinigami under their command to help them to unwind together, to be hosted in the Thirteenth Division's gardens. It would be a simple affair; food and drink for people to enjoy while they caught up with friends in both divisions.
In record time the party was arranged and underway. Once all the guests had arrived, the two captains stood and called for attention.
"Thank you all for coming here tonight, and for all your hard work in the world of the living," Kyōraku started somberly. "Before we continue, let us pay a moment of respect for those who did not return home after this latest mission, but instead of journeyed ahead of us in the next stage of reincarnation."
Quiet contemplation settled on the attendees as thoughts went to friends and comrades lost so recently. Twenty-one officers from the Eighth and fifteen from the Thirteenth had met their end battling the Hollows that had swarmed the Sanriku area in the wake of the disaster. A handful had been fortunate enough like Odaka Ryō to survive their encounter, but still suffered grievous enough wounds to warrant their being honorably discharged from active service.
After about a minute, Ukitake broke the silence. "But even as we remember those we have lost, let us celebrate everyone who did manage to return safely. Each of you is a valued member of the Gotei 13, and we are grateful for everything you have done through these trying times. Now please, help yourself to the refreshments, and allow these festivities to lift your spirits."
With this transition into a lighter mood, the guests started to mingle amongst themselves, congregating with friends from their own division and reaching out to acquaintances from the other to catch up. For her part, Rangiku stuck to Gin as he joined the captains and their lieutenants on a blanket. On the one hand, she never felt more at home than when she was at Gin's side. But the Rukongai waif did feel a little awkward as a Ninth Seat amongst the top officers of the Eighth and Thirteenth.
"So the first order of business is to congratulate Matsumoto here on learning Shikai," Kaien declared raising his cup in a toast. "Kanpai!"
"Oh," Rangiku blinked at the praise, and beamed. "Thank you!"
"How have you been handling your zanpakutō, now that you have learned their name?" Ukitake asked.
"For the most part, it's been really exciting!" she answered giddily. "It felt so limiting, to only have a sword as my weapon. Even supplementing it with Kidō and hakuda, it felt like I was boxed in or trapped or something like that, and unlocking Shikai freed me!"
"Interestin', that ain't how it felt like when I first learned Shinsō's name," Gin remarked. "I mean, yeah, it was excitin', but I didn't feel trapped beforehand."
"That can be dependent on the shinigami and the personality of their zanpakutō spirit," Kyōraku elaborated.
"One thing that does bother me about Kazantora's power is that she's… difficult to control," Rangiku admitted. "She feels so wild, untamed. It's simple enough to point her at an enemy but after that, whatever happens is up to her."
"Meaning you're concerned about friendly fire," her captain surmised.
Staring into the depths of her cup, the Ninth Seat could only frown. "Yeah. I think I've gotten a general idea of what to do from those Hollow-hunting missions, but it still feels intimidating to try and control something so unwieldy and fierce."
"My zanpakutō is a rowdy one as well," Kaien chimed in. "Nejibana is a surging sea, and once he's been roused, it takes a lot to keep him on task instead of lashing out at the most convenient target."
Rangiku perked up at this. "How do you rein him in?"
"In three words: stubbornness, willpower, and patience," the lieutenant ticked off on his fingers. "If your zanpakutō works anything like mine, then it's going to take time and practice for you to learn how to best manage your power."
She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Hm, that sounds like a lot of work." Then the young blonde looked up hopefully at her captain. "Request permission to stop coming into the office so I can focus on training with my zanpakutō."
"Permission denied," Lisa answered without waiting for a word from Kyōraku. "You can manage your time so you can complete your duties and train with your zanpakutō, just like every other shinigami in the Gotei 13."
"Now, Lisa-chan, we can afford some flexibility," Kyōraku interjected with a chuckle. It dried up at her glare, and he quickly exercised damage control. "I mean that if Rangiku-chan performs well, she can be granted early release if she takes advantage of it to practice her Shikai."
Torchlight flashed in Lisa's glasses, but just when it looked like a full-blown argument was brewing, to everyone's surprise she conceded. "We can sort out the details later."
"Thank you!" Rangiku beamed.
"You know," Kaien leaned forward with a cheerful grin, "while I can't commit to being your full-time teacher, if our zanpakutō do operate similarly, I'd be happy to stop by sometime and give you some tips."
"Really?" This sounded too good to be true. "I'd be honored!"
"Save honor for the future," Kyōraku chuckled, and poured her a cup from his personal sake jar. "Now, let us drink, like friends."
"Yes!" Rangiku cheered. "Gimme!" At Lisa's stern expression, the girl coughed and quickly amended to, "I mean, yes, that would be great. Thank you, Kyōraku-taichō."
"Better," her taciturn elder nodded.
As she sheepishly accepted her first round of sake, Rangiku noted that at least she no longer felt awkward hanging out with the higher-ups.
An hour later the party was in full swing as death gods ate and drank, though alcohol was having an interesting effect on one of the guests.
"Y'know, we gotta have parties like this more often," Rangiku remarked. "Eatin', drinkin', jus' hangin' out an' havin' a good time."
"Since when do you have a Kansai accent?" Kaien quirked a brow.
"I don't," she denied with a confused tilt of her head. "Is all the sake goin' to yer ears?"
"No, though yours seems to go to your tongue," the lieutenant replied cheekily.
"Yer bein' silly," Rangiku pouted, and turned her head to the others. "Am I talkin' with a Kansai accent?"
"Yes," Lisa bluntly answered, while Kyōraku and Ukitake smiled in an apologetic yet amused manner.
"I think it sounds good on ya," Gin spoke without a trace of sarcasm.
His old friend pouted, then shrugged. "I don't believe y'all, but ya like it, whatever."
Gin snickered and then directed his attention to Lieutenant Shiba. "As long we're askin' questions, there's somethin' I've been meanin' to ask 'bout yer family."
"What is it?" Kaien seemed pleased that Ichimaru was taking an interest in him.
"I admit I haven't looked too much into politics, but it's obvious there's some big rivalry goin' on between a couple factions amongst nobles in the Seireitei, right?"
"That's true," the unlikely aristocrat confirmed.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but ain't the Ukitake clan on the opposite side of this divide from the Shiba?"
"The Kyōraku clan is also opposite the Ukitake," Kaien replied. "What's your point?"
"That's only 'cause of how Kyōraku-taichō and Ukitake-taichō have been friends almost as long as the Academy has existed," the younger prodigy pointed out. "Ya haven't even been a shinigami ten years."
"It is true that when nobles join the Gotei 13, they almost always enlist in a division friendly to their house," Ukitake confirmed. "As you noted, Ichimaru-kun, Kyōraku and I are exceptions in that regard, where we have accepted each other's family members under our command. But it is also true that neither of our clans have had the privilege of having a rival member of one of the Great Houses before."
"So, what prompted this radical move?" Gin inquired curiously.
"The radicalism alone was half the appeal," Kaien smirked. "But really, I wanted to remind all shinigami in the Gotei 13 that we should be prioritizing protecting the world over politics."
"Skewed priorities that prevalent a problem 'round here?" the silver kit sounded skeptical.
"Some ways no, other ways yes," Kyōraku waved his hand ambiguously. "It rarely gets as far as violence because Yama-jii has no tolerance for that kind of petty nonsense, but there are more discreet and subtle ways the two sides make jabs at each other without bringing our captain-commander's wrath down on them. Good behavior from nobles of rival houses typically takes the form of ignoring each other's existence."
"And it's not as bad as it used to be," Ukitake pointed out. "While there's nothing official, there are rumors of how Shihōin-taichō has been having meetings with Shiba-sama to deescalate the conflict."
Gin pondered this for a while. "If that's the case, Shiba-fukutaichō, why didn't ya join the Second Division?"
"Besides the fact I'm not a sneak? As much as I want to be radical, I don't care to be assassinated," Kaien was grinning, but he still glanced over his shoulder, as though expecting to find a Stealth Forces ninja creeping up on him. "I trust Shihōin-taichō, but her retinue tend to be the 'stab first, cover up the evidence later' kind of people."
"Good philosophy," the serpentine youth remarked approvingly.
"Seriously, how are you not in the Second Division?" Kaien threw him a disbelieving look. "With how sneaky and fun-loving you are, you seem like just the kind of person Shihōin-taichō would love to have around."
"Eh, thought about it, but decided not to, since it weren't a good fit for Rangiku, and bein' in the same division as her was worth more to me," Gin explained casually.
Rangiku giggled. "He's such a softie that way,"
"Eh, he has his moments," Lisa shrugged.
"Now don't go spreadin' such slander 'bout me," Gin protested in mock offense, and then returned his attention to Kaien. "So now I'm a mite curious about this rivalry. There really are jus' two sides?"
"Yeah, it's all centered around which of the Great Noble Houses a clan aligns with," the Shiba prince nodded. "Kuchiki and Shihōin make up the core of one faction, while Shiba and Tsunayashiro are the foundation of the other."
"And what about the fifth House?"
"Oh c'mon, did we really come to this party to talk politics?" Rangiku complained impatiently.
"Hey, it was startin' to get interestin'," her best friend protested. "With all this shadow war goin' on, there's bound to be fun stuff like spyin', blackmail, assassinations…"
"Oh yes, plenty of stories like that," Kyōraku remarked as he took a sip of his sake.
"If you're curious, I can indulge you later," Lisa strove to tamp things down. "But now is not the appropriate time for them."
"Fine," Gin sighed. "Alright, Rangiku, since yer so determined to change the subject, waddaya want it to be?"
"Romance!" she demanded. "Ukitake-taichō! As handsome as you are, surely you've gotten a lotta 'tention o'er the years!"
"It's rude to be so intrusive of a captain's personal life," Lisa chastised her subordinate.
"But Lisa-san, you always tol' me there's nothin' wrong with bein' curious!" the younger girl protested.
"There's curious, and there's poking a tiger to see how it will react," the brunette retorted, and was satisfied when her young associate paled in realization. "Discretion is an essential skill when it comes to fact-finding so people don't know to try to conceal information from you."
"While I would advise against such inquires of the other captains, I am not offended," Ukitake chuckled good-naturedly. "And I'm afraid I have no exciting answers, for I am not married, nor I am one for casual encounters."
Her first attempt having come up dry, Rangiku immediately redirected her attention. "What about you, Lisa-san? Got any steamy stories about guys?"
"Yes," she answered simply.
"Really?!" the girl looked elated as she found her mark. "Tell me!"
"No."
Rangiku sagged in exaggerated despair. "Please?"
"No."
"Why not?" she wailed dramatically.
"Because this is more entertaining," Lisa explained with a smug tone.
Rangiku clutched her heart as if she had been stabbed, and collapsed onto her best friend. "Oh, Gin, our lieutenant is so cruel! Do somethin' about it!"
"Right," Gin nodded, and then pointed at Lisa. "You. Bad lieutenant. You oughta be more considerate o' yer subordinate's feelings, and don't tease 'em too much."
The stone-faced shinigami's unimpressed expression exactly how much remorse she felt, and more disappointing to Gin, no reaction to his attempt to volley back the sentiments she often counseled him with.
"Well, I tried," their resident mischief maker sighed to the girl cuddled against him.
"Hmph," Rangiku scowled. Her longing for gossip outweighed her annoyance, and so she then turned her gaze to the Thirteenth's lieutenant. "Shiba-fukutaichō, you're my last hope here: please tell me you have some love in yer life."
"Uh, aren't you forgetting someone?" Kyōraku sounded a mite offended at being overlooked.
The Ninth Seat looked at him confused. "No, why?"
"Because I'll have you know I possess a rather large repository of amorous tales to draw upon for your entertainment," the womanizer boasted.
Before any skepticism could be voiced, his claim was vouched for from a surprising source.
"I know, I've had to clean up your messes in the aftermath these last few decades," Lisa complained in distaste.
While the other guests had varying expressions of nausea at the implications, Kyōraku had the grace to look embarrassed as he replied, "Lisa-chan, I don't think those are the details Rangiku-chan was looking for."
"Of course not! I want details on love, not lust!" the youngest officer present agreed vehemently. To Kaien she again implored, "Please tell me there's someone you're interested in?"
"There might be," he answered coyly.
"Oh come on please?" the Ninth Seat begged. "There's a depressin' lack o' romance in the life of a shinigami, so I can't help but be excited whenever I see it come up!"
Apparently, Kaien found her persistence more amusing than intrusive. "If the lack of romance is bothering you, why don't you create your own?"
"But where am I gonna find a guy to start a romance with?" Rangiku asked from where she was comfortably huddled up at Gin's side. The captains and lieutenants shared a glance of exasperation with each other.
"I have no doubt you'll be able to find a guy," Kaien replied dryly. "But if you're really that curious, then yes, there is a woman in my future." Just as Rangiku started to squeal in glee he cut her off. "Now before you get too excited you should know that this future is still dependent on how negotiations between our families go."
"Oh, right, nobles have their marriages arranged, don't they?" Rangiku's head lolled as she considered this.
"Yeah, but it's not as bad as you might think, especially for our family," Kaien took this moment to refill his cup before proceeding. "While matches to secure mutually advantageous alliances are still the main goal, the compatibility of the potential couple is taken into account as well."
"It has been noted over the centuries that in arranged marriages where the couple have a poor relationship, it has resulted in negative consequences," Ukitake added. "Attributed to how we are quite literally spiritual beings, matters of the soul have greater impact on our lives than it would for humans. More often than not, forcing a toxic marriage has resulted in the bonds between the families straining and breaking instead of strengthening."
"But that hasn't stopped some families from ignorin' this piece o' wisdom in favor o' bein' greedy, has it?" Gin noted shrewdly.
"That is true," the white-haired captain lamented. "But it is my assessment that such cases are the minority."
"And fortunately, my family does not belong to that minority." Climbing to his feet, Kaien toasted from side to side with much gracious genuflecting. Only the drunken Rangiku applauded his performance, but he just grinned good-naturedly and plopped back down. "Honestly, I doubt there'll be anything that will stop the marriage from happening, and the real reason it's taking so long to finalize everything is because the bureaucrats in our families like to make a game of how many minutiae they can spell out in the contracts."
His new fan tossed her honey-gold locks with a rueful groan. "Sounds like such a hassle. Why dontcha jus' elope and be done with it?"
Kaien laughed. "Tempting thought, but unfortunately, no. I happen to like her family, so I'd rather not tick them off by stealing away with her."
"What's she like?" Rangiku was unwilling to let the conversation drop now that she had found someone willing to discuss their love life. "And ya didn't confirm it, is there actually love here?"
"There is indeed, and I count myself the luckiest man in Soul Society for it!" Kaien beamed proudly. "And let me tell you…"
While the smitten lieutenant gushed about his betrothed to an enraptured Rangiku, Gin rolled his eyes and tuned out this particular topic, glancing around for something to hold his interest until the subject matter changed. His hidden eyes found a target and he smirked. With the others focused on the Shiba romance, Gin stealthily got to his feet and slunk away.
Slipping through the party, the fox approached his objective: little Ise Nanao, leaning against a wall with her nose deep in a book. He knelt down in front of her and waited for her to notice him.
When it still had not happened after about twenty seconds, he just said, "Hey, there."
The young shinigami squeaked in surprise and fixed startled eyes upon him. "Third Seat Ichimaru!"
When she made to rise and bow, Gin waved her off. "Hey, none of that. This is a party, so relax."
Hesitantly, Nanao sat back down. "Do you need something from me, sir?"
"Oh, I was jus' curious, seein' as not many people bring a book to a party." He inspected the title but saw nothing of interest. "If readin' was how ya wanted to relax today, why not jus' stay home?"
The girl hugged the heavy tome to her chest. "Lisa-san said that it would be good for me to interact with others."
"Yeah, she's always givin' me the same lecture," he sighed sympathetically. "But ya decided to be a rebel an' sit back here an' read, huh?"
At this the small girl curled in on herself like a pill bug. "It's not that I don't want to join in. I'm the only kid here, and as nice as everyone in the Eighth is to me, I think I'd just be a bother if I tried to talk to them tonight."
Gin considered this. While there was technically no age requirement for enlisting in the Gotei 13, the vast majority of recruits were at least adolescents, leading to a significant figurative as well as literal age gap between Nanao and her fellow shinigami.
"Eh, I guess I can see how it might be awkward," Gin shrugged in commiseration. "So if that's the case, how 'bout comin' to sit with Rangiku an' I, since we're the next youngest members of the Eighth?"
"But you're sitting with the captains and lieutenants…" Nanao protested meekly.
"Pretty sure Ukitake-taichō is a kid at heart, and Kyōraku-taichō acts like a teenager sometimes, so you'll fit right in," the impish Third Seat assured her.
The bespectacled girl bit her lip anxiously. "I don't know…"
"C'mon, Lisa-san is o'er there waitin' fer ya," Gin coaxed her.
Nanao glanced over and realized with a start that the Eighth's lieutenant was indeed unabashedly watching the young pair from where she remained seated with the other officers, open curiosity clear in her gaze. This seemed to settle the matter. "All right, it would be nice to spend time with her."
"Great, let's go then," Gin grinned as he stood upright and strolled back to his party, waiting only long enough to know that his charge would be right on his heels.
With her keeping a close eye on the pair, Lisa was the first to greet the pair as they approached, granting a barely perceptible smile to the girl, and a more neutral but still subtly approving expression to her mischievous subordinate. Noticing the new arrival, the others paused their conversation.
"Ah, who's this lovely young lady now joining us?" Kyōraku asked with a welcoming smile.
"Uh, Ise Nanao, an unseated officer in your division, sir!" the child shinigami stood at attention.
"At ease, Nanao-chan," the captain saluted her with his cup but never lost his grin.
Still a bit stiff in the presence of their leadership, the young bookworm nevertheless settled down, scooting close to Lisa for comfort.
"You've already met Rangiku-kun and Gin-kun," the older woman said, "So, let me introduce Ukitake Jūshirō-taichō and his lieutenant Shiba Kaien."
Nanao sat up straight. "It is an honor to meet you both!"
"Likewise!" Kaien grinned down at her, while Ukitake beamed in radiant fashion and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you." Both chuckled when Nanao flushed and ducked her head into Lisa's side.
"Aww, she's shy!" Rangiku cooed.
"Jus' like ya were when ya firs' met Ukitake-taichō!" Gin remarked as he resumed his place beside her.
"Giiiiin! Don't go spreadin' lies about me!" she whined.
"Yer right." He stroked his chin in consideration. "Ya didn't shyly duck away, ya straight up fainted 'fore he had the chance to offer ya candy."
"Lies! Slander!" she grabbed his shihakusho to shake him, to which he responded by gripping her wrists and pinning them behind her own back. Had she been sober, a bit of hakuda could have gotten her out of this predicament. But inebriated as she was, the captured girl promptly forgot why she was mad at him and giggled, "Ya know, Gin, if ya want a hug, ya gotta let me use my arms, too."
"Oh, so that's how it's supposed to work," he declared in faux-realization, and obliged the implied request. Releasing her wrists immediately rewarded him with Rangiku wrapping her arms around him and snuggling closer into a more comfortable position. "Dang, yer a really cuddly drunk, aintcha?"
"Yer an easy guy to cuddle with, so when ya think 'bout it, it's yer fault," she returned with "flawless" logic.
"Ah, guess I better face the consequences o' that, huh?" he nodded sagely.
"Indeed," Rangiku hummed with a pleased expression.
Gin shook his head fondly at the silly girl curled up against him. Then he noticed that there was a distinct lack of conversation in the immediate vicinity, and glanced around to see Nanao staring wide-eyed and pink-cheeked, Kaien and the captains all boasted weird smiles, while Lisa was watching them in the same way she did when she saw something that piqued her curiosity.
He tilted his head in confusion. "What?"
"Oh, we're just touched at such a display of close… friendship," Kyōraku answered in odd tone.
Gin was not convinced, rather baffled as to what could really be going on in their minds, so he just mentally attributed it to the sake. Rather than attempt to decipher the rationales of drunks, he instead addressed the only ostensibly sober one. "So, Nanao-chan, I'm curious: how did ya meet Lisa-san?"
She sat up straight as though reciting her lessons. "Both our houses serve the Kyōraku clan. My family is a minor noble line that has been their vassals for a long time, and the Yadōmaru are servants of the library. I met Lisa when I was looking for books to read."
"She helped ya pick out some good ones to read?" Gin surmised.
"Yeah, and she later started choosing nights when she would read to me so I could understand the stories better."
"I'm now curious about something, Gin-kun," Lisa spoke up. "Why did you go over and invite Nanao-chan here?"
"Why didn't ya?" he countered.
"I brought her here to socialize, but I wasn't going to force her into anything," His lieutenant leveled a steely look at him. "Now your turn to answer."
Gin paused as he mulled the question over, and finally shrugged, "I dunno. Jus' seemed like the thing to do."
Rangiku suddenly perked up. "I know why!"
"Well, let's hear it," her new body pillow invited with amusement.
In her head, Rangiku was thinking about how she knew Gin just wanted to do something nice, and was happy he was showing that side for someone other than herself. While people in the Eighth had more or less accepted him as a comrade on the basis of, "he may be a creep, but he's our creep," she still lamented that they didn't see how good Gin could be. This was the boy who saw a girl dying of starvation, and chose to selflessly save her by feeding her from his own limited stores of food.
But intoxicated as she was, Rangiku could only summarize with a grin, "It's like I said before: you're a softie~."
"And yer drunk," the silver fox used the observation to cast doubt on her accusation.
"Maybe, but I'll be sober in the mornin'," she giggled. Then she paused and tilted her head at him, as if something just occurred to her. "Gin?"
"Yeah?"
"Why do ya look sober now?" There was a certain measure of disappointment to the question.
"'Cause I've haven't been drinkin'," he answered simply.
"Why not?"
"Don't wanna let my guard down," he explained with a shrug.
"While your vigilance is admirable, you don't need to be so uptight around friends," Kyōraku admonished his pupil.
"Well, someone's gotta remain sober to make sure this one doesn't get herself into trouble," Gin playfully elbowed Rangiku.
She swatted at him without much enthusiasm. "What's the point o' gettin' drunk if I hafta stay out o' trouble?"
This made him laugh. "What's the fun o' gettin' into trouble if ya get too drunk to remember it in the mornin'?"
"The trick is finding that happy medium of drunk enough to have fun but not enough that you forget about it," Kyōraku spoke with centuries of experience on the matter. "One of these days you're going to need to let loose. Better to do it in a controlled environment among your comrades in the Eighth."
"There's no rush for him to do so," Lisa stated. "After all, I was older than he was when I first indulged that far."
At this Gin couldn't help but laugh. "I have a hard time imaginin' ya drunk. Why don't ya demonstrate fer us?"
"Not tonight," the lieutenant denied his request, and gestured to her captain. "After all, someone needs to remain sober to make sure he stays out of trouble."
"Ah, gotcha," the silver-haired prodigy nodded in understanding.
"So, Kyōraku-taichō, what is Lisa-san like when she's drunk?" Rangiku inquired eagerly.
"My talented Lisa-chan managed to be both underwhelming and entertaining as a lush," Kyōraku recalled fondly, eliciting a very small blush from his otherwise deadpan lieutenant.
"Waddaya mean by that?"
"Well, at first glance, it seemed like the alcohol had no effect on her, no matter how much she drank," the profligate explained. "She kept her composure, spoke clearly, and so forth. But that all changed in a moment. She stopped talking, her eyes glazed over, then suddenly…" Kyōraku held an arm up vertically, "PLOP!" The arm fell limp to a horizontal position. "Lisa-chan was flat on her face on the ground."
While Nanao reeled in shock that her venerable elder would act in such a way, the other young shinigami burst into laughter while the subject of their amusement kept an air of sangfroid even as her cheeks grew redder.
"That does remind me, Rangiku-chan," the experienced imbiber remarked as they settled down. "You ought to drink some water tonight, too, it'll help with the headache tomorrow."
"I know that, I had parties with friends at the 'Cademy, and I remember my first hangover." Rangiku then stopped as her face scrunched up in thought. "Wait… I don't remember my first hangover. Why don't I remember it?"
"Because if you remembered it, it wouldn't be a real hangover," Lisa supplied.
An enlightened expression crossed the drunk girl's face. "Oooooh…"
Like all good things, the party eventually came to an end. Though in Kyōraku's opinion, one good thing had ended, but another was about to begin.
"I am leaving a party the way a lucky man should: with a beautiful woman under his arm," the amorous captain sighed happily. "And everyone doubted my powers of seduction."
"Only technically true, in that I am beautiful and under your arm," Lisa commented blandly as she supported her captain on their way to his quarters, not trusting the drunken lech to walk under his own power as they departed the Thirteenth's grounds. "But you have willfully forgotten it's not because of any 'powers.'"
"Good thing I have a number of other redeeming qualities to win you over with," Shunsui just strove to keep one foot in front of the other, a positively Herculean task in his condition.
"If I spot them, I'll let you know," she sniped placidly.
"Oh come on, Lisa-chan, say something nice about me!" the inebriated captain whined. "Please? I dare you."
"It says something that you have to dare me to find something complimentary about you."
"You're a smart girl, Lisa-chan, I bet you can at least find one good thing about me," Kyōraku returned flirtatiously.
She side-eyed him for a moment, her expression not shifting a millimeter to reveal her intentions. Then, "I like how accepting you are of my blunt nature and curiosity, I enjoy the time we spend together, and the way you can shift from lazy bum to ruthless warrior is pretty hot."
Despite her face not changing as she dished out this praise, the sincerity was clear, and Shunsui swelled with pleasure. "I asked for one, and you blessed me with three! Truly, my Lisa-chan is too good for me."
Her cheeks became a shade rosier. "Just stating my opinion."
"Not to mention you were quite bold tonight in front of the others, Lisa-chan." His head lolled to one side, covering them both under his trademark hat. "With your little comment of cleaning up after our messes, and teasing Rangiku-chan with your steamy stories."
"It was not made in front of anyone I didn't trust not to blab if they managed to connect the dots," Lisa replied calmly.
"True," he shrugged as they continued down the moonlit lanes.
On its face, hardly anyone would react to the relationship these two shared. A captain and lieutenant involved in a romantic affair was hardly unheard of in the Gotei 13. Given that shinigami generally served for life, it was to be expected that they formed close bonds with each other, even falling in love. A captain choosing their lover or spouse as their second had precedent because a vice-captain was expected to be the person they trusted the most.
No, the true controversy and the reason Shunsui and Lisa kept their affair a secret was because of their differing classes. While a noble being involved with a servant was hardly a new occurrence, it was expected that such relationships be kept out of the public eye. Shunsui's reputation would suffer little if they announced their relationship, but Lisa's most likely would. And while she cared little for how others thought of her, she was more concerned how such a "scandal" would affect her family.
Which was why it was her goal to one day attain the rank of captain. The prestige of the position was significant enough that it would grant even a resident from the Rukongai sufficient social status on par with a low-ranking noble, comparable to how barons worked in European nobility. This would ward off the kind of social reprisals that would otherwise haunt the Yadōmaru family.
"The first thing I'll do when you become captain is kiss you silly," Kyōraku declared amorously.
"The first thing?" Lisa blew out her breath. "As in, doing it in front of all the other captains? Including Yamamoto?"
Shunsui balked at the prospect of performing such an act in front of his stern mentor. "Perhaps it should wait until we leave the captain's meeting room…"
The brunette considered thoughtfully. "No, now that you bring it up, I like the idea of making out there."
"Lisa-chan, if we follow through on the idea, we will be immolated by the one raging inferno that is hotter than my passion for you," Kyōraku warned mock sternly.
"Well, there are worse ways to die than in the middle of a make-out session."
"Do you really want that as your epitaph? 'Shortest tenure as captain in the history of Soul Society, executed due to public indecency?'"
"If Yamamoto hasn't cooked you on that charge yet, then he never will." She sounded singularly confident on that score.
"I know I'm safe, but what about you?"
"That's why I would be clinging close to you," she explained. "I trust you to protect me."
"Don't phrase it like you weren't planning on using me as a shield," Shunsui pouted.
"Was never my intention otherwise." She threw him a sharp look under the brim of his hat. "Or are you seriously suggesting that I be the shield in that scenario?"
"I am suggesting we do not let the scenario come to pass in the first place."
"It was your idea."
"And you're taking suggestions from an old drunk man?"
"Hm, good point." She pretended to ponder the matter. "Let's compromise and just find a time to fool around in the meeting room when it's empty."
"Now that's an adventure with acceptable risks," the inebriated captain nodded. "But not tonight."
"Not tonight," she agreed, taking note of his less-than-graceful state.
"Tonight, I'll be satisfied with having you in my own bed tonight," Kyōraku murmured huskily. "That sound agreeable to you?"
Lisa glanced over at her captain, then shrugged, "Eh, okay."
To be continued…
Author's Note: This chapter was actually written long after the rest of this story arc had been completed. Then it occurred to me that after the heavy stuff in the past couple chapters (and what will be happening next chapter), I wanted to return to something lighter.
Plus, it allowed me to sneak in a little bit of world-building earlier than I anticipated, as well as references to Winston Churchill and "Babylon 5."
Thanks to LoveGlutton, Black' Victor Cachat, and X59 for leaving reviews, and I'm glad Odaka was so well received!
Omake: Shinigami Illustrated Guide
Sometimes romances were a gradual affair, where the prospective partners needed to pass through several markers on the path of attraction before they took that final step to give their hearts to the love of their lives. First were the longing gazes, as the protagonists start to come to terms with the budding feelings, which would involve a series of shared moments, contrived coincidences, deliberate misunderstandings-
"Hey, Kyōraku-taichō, I've noticed you gazing longingly at me," Lisa stated bluntly. "Why haven't you made a move yet?"
"Well, I was concerned about the best way to approach you without abusing my position as your captain," he answered sheepishly.
"Your concerns are appreciated, but unnecessary," she returned. "Now, I order you to kiss me."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Yadōmaru Lisa was never one for slowburns.