Ayumi woke to the sound of a knock at her door. She sat up abruptly blinking the sleep from her eyes as she looked around the unfamiliar room and remembered in a flash that she was no longer in her room at the Academy. She turned her head and looked at the small black digital clock she had unpacked and sat on the top of her desk before passing out for the night. The fuzzy bright red numbers gleamed back at her letting her know it was only half past five in the morning. She heard the knock come from outside the hallway again and pushed herself up from her futon quickly.
Who was calling on her this early in the morning? She thought as she closed the distance between her and the door reaching for the handle and pulling it open. She was greeted by a small dark haired female with wide dark blue eyes and a youthful round face from what she could see without her glasses on.
"I am sorry to disturb you so early Ms. Otsuka. Master Mayuri instructed me to deliver this to you before you're shift started." The girl announced as she lifted up a folded black Shihakusho.
Ayumi reached out for the new uniform she had been promised by her Lieutenant and gave the girl a warm smile. She didn't have to ask to know who this pre-teen girl was, it was obvious she was the eighth experimental being that her Captain had created himself, his daughter, Nemuri Hachigo.
"Thank you. It was nice of you to bring this to me." Amyui replied.
"It was no trouble at all." She heard the girl's soft spoken voice as she bowed her head.
"You are Nemuri, correct?" Ayumi asked in order to start a small conversation.
She had to admit after reading so much about how Captain Kurotsuchi had managed to create a form of life on his own was fascinating to say the least. While all the information on exactly what had happened to the previous seventh creation was not mentioned, it had been stated in an article that the girl in front of her had been fused with the rescued cerebrum of the previous subject and it made Ayumi curious as to whether the girl had the same memories as the previous version?
"Yes, I am. Is there something else you wish for me to help you with?" Nemuri asked.
Ayumi paused at the girl's behavior, she seemed to be just like any other soul but with the way she was talking and with her mannerisms it was almost as if her meek personality was somewhat programmed.
"No, I was just trying to make light conversation." Ayumi answered honestly.
She watched the small girls lips lift into a slight smile.
"That would be nice but I am afraid I must get back to Master Mayuri now." She answered.
Ayumi squinted down at the girl and was about to reply when she heard the girl speak again.
"You shouldn't squint. Especially when it does not help you see me anymore clearly." Nemuri stated.
Ayumi couldn't help the slight laugh that escaped her chest as she realized her earlier assumption was inaccurate as the girl proved she did in fact have a mind of her own.
"Don't let me keep you from your duties, Nemuri. If you are needed back at the lab you should go, thank you again for bringing this to me." Ayumi replied.
"You're welcome." Nemuri spoke softly before she turned away and began to walk back down the hallway.
Her long purple tinted black hair spilled down the back of her black Shihakusho and Ayumi couldn't help the warm sensation that filled her as she stepped back inside her room and allowed the door to close behind her. She hadn't expected to meet with her Captains daughter so soon and it left her puzzled as to why he had instructed her to take care of an errand that the Lieutenant had promised?
Ayumi rolled her eyes and sighed at herself as she tossed the folded Shihakusho on the top of her desk next to her alarm clock. Her mind kept telling her not to read anything special into the way her Captain had treated her the previous morning and yet here she was standing in the dark wondering if the man may have seen something about her he liked all because he had sent his daughter to complete a simple task. It didn't mean that the man actually liked her she told herself as she plopped down on her futon and laid back down.
"I really need to get a grip on myself." She whispered to nobody as she looked up at the clock and read the fuzzy red numbers.
She figured she would be okay with going back to sleep for another half hour or so as she grabbed her blankets and tossed them over her head covering herself completely.
"I have completed the errand you sent me on, Master Mayuri. Ms. Otsuka has been given her new Shihakusho." Nemuri spoke softly as she walked up to her father figure.
Mayuri turned his head from his elaborate set up of computer screens and lifted his brow at the young girl.
"Very well, go back to labeling all of the samples I had instructed for you to do earlier." He replied.
"Yes, Sir." She replied as she made her way into the back of his personal lab space.
Akon looked up from his own station that was set up to the side of the room and couldn't help but overhear the conversation.
"You sent her to do that?" Akon asked before he could stop himself.
Mayuri sighed loudly as he turned in his chair to look at his subordinate.
"Yes, I took the liberty of making sure the woman had proper attire before her next shift." He replied.
"I was going to give her a new one once she showed up for her shift." Akon stated.
Mayuri snorted.
"What good would that do? Then she would have to go all the way back to her room to change. Honestly, Akon sometimes you're logic astounds me." He grumbled as he turned back to his current project.
Akon's brow rose in question, not from the tone or how his Captain had spoken to him but from what his actions were telling him. He had never seen his Captain go out of his way to make someone feel comfortable before, at least not in the same way he was for Ayumi.
"You seem to like her." Akon continued knowing that he should leave well enough alone.
"Tch. Just what exactly is it that you are implying?" Mayuri countered not even bothering to look back at him.
"I'm not implying anything, Captain. It's just that you're interest in the woman seems…odd." He replied.
Akon stared at his Captains back as he waited to see whether or not the man would even admit he had any form of interest in Ayumi. He wasn't surprised when he heard the rough sigh escape from deep inside the man's chest before he turned his body to face him again.
"Akon, need I remind you that you are in fact my subordinate?" Mayuri challenged, his golden eyes seeming to glow from his frustration.
"No, Sir." Akon replied back.
"Then shut up! Frankly speaking your insistent babbling is getting rather annoying." Mayuri growled.
Akon turned his head back to his own personal computer screen as his lips lifted into a small grin. He couldn't believe it but it actually seemed as if his Captain were really interested in the new recruit, no matter how hard he pushed back with his denial.
Mayuri turned his body back to his own elaborate set up of computer screens. The nerve of his Lieutenant to speak in such a manner had sent his teeth on edge. His interest in Ayumi Otsuka was nothing more than a scientist's curiosity he told himself as he leaned forward in his chair. Why, it almost sounded as if his subordinate was accusing him of having some form of honest attraction to the woman he couldn't help but think.
The Captain lifted his slender pale hands and resumed what he had previously been working on. His research was more important than some asinine conversation about a woman he had only seen for a matter of minutes. His fingers flew over the keys as he tried to concentrate on the new article he was working on for this month's publication. He had been documenting all of his experiments over the years the same way, publishing his articles had become something he had grown to look forward to, yet, he couldn't seem to shake his sense of agitation as he tried to keep his mind set on his task. His hands paused in midair as he allowed his mind to process what it could possibly mean. Why was he in fact sending Nemuri to complete such a personal errand? Why was he finding himself thinking about those green eyes at the most inopportune of moments? Was his agitation really towards his Lieutenant or was he in fact frustrated with himself?
Ayumi groaned as she heard the sound of her alarm clock going off. The insistent Beep! Beep! Beep! Was enough to make her want to throw something at it, instead she shoved her blankets from her body and rose from her futon. It seemed the extra half hour of sleep hadn't done as much as she had hoped as she walked over to her desk and pressed the button that silenced the alarm. She yawned loudly as she stretched her hands up into the air arching her back in the process. She reached up and rubbed her eyes before picking up her glasses and securing them to her face. She glanced over at the clock and sighed. She had roughly twenty minutes before Rin would be waiting for her out in the hallway as they had planned the night before.
She pulled at the silk kimono she wore to sleep and shrugged out of the light fabric and reached out for the newer uniform that had been delivered to her earlier and unfolded it. She held it up and right away seen that the fit would be much better suited for her figure as she threw the top on and quickly slipped into the baggier bottoms to the new Shihakusho and she knew that she would be more comfortable working as the day progressed and she wouldn't have to worry about anymore accidental indecent cleavage being presented which was a plus she thought as she tied the white fabric belt around her waist and bent down into her duffel bag that sat on the floor next to her desk.
She rummaged through it until she found her shower kit and tucked it under her arm as she glanced over at the time. She still had enough to spare in order to make herself a little more presentable for the day. She made her way over to the door and slipped her sandals on but paused turning back to the desk to grab the key to her bedroom before she did something foolish, like lock herself out of her own room. She tucked the silver key in the pocket to her Shihakusho and then pulled her door open and stepped out into the hall. She didn't see any sign of Rin so she continued on her way towards the bathing area in order to freshen up a bit before they went to breakfast.
Ayumi followed the maze like hallways keeping a mental note of each turn she took as she made her way to the Squads bathing area, she passed by a couple other lower ranked officers along the way, each of them smiling to her greeting her a good morning as she passed by, which made her smile. She wasn't used to such wholehearted friendly acceptance. She had to remind herself that being within the Squad 12 building meant that she was around her own kind of people, the intellectual types who may have at one time been in the same place she had been herself back at the academy.
The doors to the bathing area came into view and she silently praised herself for managing to make it without getting lost. She hurried inside and stopped in front of one of the many sinks that lined the wall atop a large counter that was placed across the giant wooden bathtub that sat in the middle of the room. She turned and noticed that some of the other female members were relaxing in the tub and she could only guess they belonged to the third shift color code which she remembered was Black. While the Squad shared a communal bathing area she was relieved to know that it was at least broken up by gender, one doorway would lead the males to their side while the one to the left lead to the female side, just as it had been at the academy.
Not wanting to waste any time and risk making her and Rin late for work she placed her shower kit on the counter and pulled her toothbrush and toothpaste out, twisting the cap and squeezing a blob on the bristles of the brush she reached out and turned on the tap allowing the water to run over the green paste before she placed in in her mouth and started to brush her teeth. If she was going to adopt the candy eating habit from Rin she had to make sure her teeth didn't suffer from it. She brushed for a couple minutes and then rinsed her mouth with some water from the tap and placed her toothbrush back inside the kit and turned her attention to her hair, having realized she was suffering from a major case of bed-head. She pulled the black bag that held her shower supplies open and spotted the small brush that she kept inside. She quickly ran the brush threw her brown hair, once all the knots had been smoothed out she felt satisfied. She was presentable enough to start her day. She tossed the brush back inside the kit and zipped is closed and tucked it back under her arm before turning to leave the room.
Rin stood in the middle of the hallway feeling a bit confused by his current situation. Ayumi had agreed to meet him exactly at seven am and to his surprise she wasn't answering the knock at her door. The only explanation was that she was not inside the room, but instead of leaving his new friend to her own devices he decided to wait patiently thinking she may have needed to use the facilities. He leaned his small frame against the wall next to her door and reached his hand into the pocket of his lab coat giving into his sugar craving he pulled a piece of hard candy from his pocket twisting the plastic wrap free and popped the blue clump of hardened sugar in his mouth and continued to wait. His suspicion was clarified when he turned his gaze and seen her walking towards him from the direction of the bathing area holding a black bag under her arm.
"I'm sorry, Rin. Have you been waiting long?" He heard her ask.
"Not too long, maybe ten minutes at the most." He replied as he watched her dig her hand into her pocket and pull out the key to her room.
"I'll just be a second, I need to put this away and grab my lab coat." She explained before she disappeared into her room.
He pushed himself away from the wall and she reappeared with her lab coat draped over her forearm. She looked over at him and met his dark gaze and he couldn't help the small smile that spread across his lips. When you looked past her awkward insecure behavior she really wasn't bad company he thought to himself as he turned and started to lead them in the direction to the cafeteria. He knew it was going to be a long day for the both of them and he was in dire need of something caffeinated. He'd already secured his sugar stash for the day in the pockets of his Shihakusho, and he'd even thought to bring enough to share with his newfound friend.
"Today is going to be a pretty hectic day, many of the lower ranked Soul Reapers who are stationed in the Human world will be calling in for their weekly reports, so I'm afraid I may not be able to give you much direction today." He warned her.
He noticed the flush of panic that seemed to spread over her body as she looked over at him.
"Will I be expected to give these reports as well?" She asked.
His gaze was drawn to the marred marble like scar in her right eye as her eyes widened at the thought of being thrust into the task so suddenly.
"I had thought about it. I wouldn't mind seeing how capable you are at adapting to the situation." He admitted honestly.
Ayumi felt her stomach clinch at the mere thought of being thrown into such a task on her second day with the Squad.
"If you don't feel comfortable yet just say so." He replied softly as they entered into the cafeteria.
Ayumi's shoulders slumped as she continued to debate with herself. Should she show the initiative and just go for it or should she hold back and watch him for a while first? She thought.
Rin reached out and grabbed two metal trays like he had the day before and handed her one and she almost told him she wasn't hungry but decided against not eating, if she were going to be tossed into the fire she would need her energy. The line wasn't nearly as long as it was the previous day and they quickly made their way over to the selections being offered for breakfast. She reached out taking a small bowl of fresh white rice with a fried egg on top and helped herself to a spoonful of natto, placing it next to the egg. She felt that would be all her nerves would allow her to manage for now as she followed Rin over to the Tea station and helped herself to another cup of Black Tea. She found herself surprised when Rin walked over to one of the tables inside and took a seat instead of heading to the smoking area.
"You're not going outside?" She asked him as she took a seat across from him.
"We won't have the time." He replied as he picked up his chopsticks and took a large bite of his own eggs with rice.
Ayumi nodded as she too began to eat her breakfast.
Twenty minutes later Ayumi followed Rin into the main lab and was fighting the overfull feeling she had inside her stomach. It felt as if she had eaten a brick for breakfast and she knew it was all due to her anxiety. Rin looked up at her and gave a soft reassuring smile as he held his hand out for her to take her spot in the cubicle. She was about to face the music and take her seat when she heard a deep voice address her.
"Ms. Otsuka, would you come with me please? Captain Kurotsuchi has requested to speak with you."
She turned and faced her Lieutenant as the brick in her stomach did a somersault. It seemed she was going be let off the hook when it came to the workload, but now her mind was racing with unanswered questions and her heart rate increased as she looked over at Rin.
"It seems you won't be joining me after all." He replied as he took a seat by himself and placed his small hand to the pad next to him allowing it to scan his fingerprints.
Ayumi turned her attention back to Akon and forced herself to try and act normal.
"O…Okay." She replied.
She closed her eyes as her mumbled response betrayed her by revealing her nervous reaction to being summoned by the man she couldn't seem to stop thinking about.
Akon began to walk forward and she forced herself to follow him as he made his way back down the short hallway that lead into the Captains private lab, she had just passed by the empty space only minutes ago but as she stepped back into the room with its elaborate set up she noticed him then, clad in his usual headdress and face paint standing next to the exam chair.
"Ah. There you are. I've decided that I have the time to perform my exam today. Hop up and let me take a look at you." Mayuri instructed her.
Her knees buckled when she met his intense golden gaze and seen his lips lift into a wide smile.