Nanao Ise stepped forward and pulled the door of the medical unit open and Amaya Aizen stepped inside the crowded room. Her brown eyes scanned the faces that belonged to the inner thoughts she could hear so vividly. The head captain stood in the middle of the room in conversation with both the Captain of Squad 12 and Squad 4.
She noticed the brunette that stood to the side next to Captain Kurotsuchi and she didn't need to ask to know who she was. Amaya smiled as she forced the young woman's private thoughts to the back of her mind. While her abilities did have their benefits, sometimes she found herself stumbling into some rather personal territory. Amaya walked forward with an air of confidence about her, something she had gained after the years of being under the Squad 2 Captain's guidance.
"You sent for me, Head Captain?" Amaya spoke softly as she joined the group.
Shunsui turned his head and his lips lifted in a warm smile as he looked down at the petite blonde.
"Hey there. Glad you could join us." He replied.
Amaya nodded to the Head Captain and decided to skip the pleasantries as she sensed the urgency of the situation.
"I would be glad to help in any way that I can. The best way would be for someone who has already been in contact with Rei to go and ask her questions and I will listen in and let you know whether she is holding back any information." Amaya offered.
"Right. In that case I will go in and ask the questions myself." Isane stated.
"Have you been in direct contact with the woman?" Mayuri asked.
Isane turned her gaze to the Squad 12 Captain.
"I have been wearing a mask and gloves in an attempt to keep myself from catching anything that may be contagious. If that is what you are asking, Captain Kurotsuchi." Isane explained with a bit of edge to her voice.
"Ah. I see. Well, in that case I don't see why you wouldn't let me in to perform my own examination." He countered.
Isane turned her gaze away from the Squad 12 captain.
"I see. So I'm just expected to run the tests and give you all of the answers without ever being given the opportunity to see for myself?" Mayuri continued.
"Now, now. I think we've gotten on the wrong topic here." The Head Captain replied as he held up his hands between the two Captains.
"It would be better if the two of you could try and see eye to eye. The current communication between the two of you is just a misunderstanding. Captain Kurotsuchi, I can assure you that Captain Kotetsu is only looking out for everyone's best interest." Amaya stated without hesitation.
Mayuri turned his golden gaze to the young human soul reaper hybrid that he himself had spent so many hours of his time studying. He should have known that the woman would be able to read him like an open book, especially with him being in such an agitated state.
"Well then, I guess I will let you get back to your eavesdropping, let me know if you find out anything more that will be of use to me." he snapped.
Ayumi stayed silent as she listened to the substitute soul reaper speak. It was one thing to read and hear about the woman's ability but to see it in action was outright exciting. Amaya didn't even have to ask any questions or wonder about anything that happened around her. What would having such a power be like? If Ayumi had to guess she could see it being both a blessing and a curse in many ways. While Amaya would always know if someone was being forthcoming, she would also be able to hear when they were being adverse.
"Come along, Ayumi. We have more important things to discuss." She heard her Captain order.
"Yes, Sir." She replied before taking another peek at Amaya.
The woman's dark brown gaze met hers and Ayumi felt a chill of unease run down her spine as Amaya's lips lifted in a knowing smile. The look on the substitute's face was unlike anything she had ever witnessed and it left Ayumi feeling as if she were standing in front of the woman completely naked, fully exposed and at her mercy.
Mayuri pushed the door too harshly sending it flying open to the point Ayumi had to hold her hands out to prevent it from swinging back and hitting her in the face. She didn't need Amaya's ability to understand that her Captain was dealing with some serious frustration. For a man like him who insisted on having all of the facts laid out in front of him, being told he could not see and examine the subject he was expected to study would be like expecting a warrior to walk away from a promising battle challenge.
Ayumi followed as he turned and walked down the path that would take them back to the Squad 12 barracks. The sun had already set indicating that many hours had passed since Ayumi had left Rin outside of the Research and Development building and she still hadn't had anything to eat for dinner. Once her Captain had come to collect her it seemed that Hanataro had been given new instructions that had left her out of luck.
"The nerve of them all, expecting me to clean up the mess without having all of the proper information, why, it's downright infuriating!" Mayuri continued fuming.
His stride quickened forcing her short legs to trot forward in order to keep up with him. He paused in the middle of the pathway and before she could right herself her chest bumped right into his back.
"I'm so sorry, Captain." She stated before she backed up a couple steps.
He turned and met her gaze and by the look on his face she could tell that her clumsiness had not improved his mood any.
"Very well. Although your clumsy behavior is most likely due to your poor eyesight, at least I would hope you don't continue bumping your breasts against everyone after I have treated you." He snapped.
Ayumi felt her face flush again, being around the man was giving her a major complex. He had the uncanny ability to make her feel as if he were constantly observing her like she were a specimen on a slide underneath his microscope.
"I…I won't follow you so closely." She offered as her arms lifted and wrapped around herself.
"Why is it that you insist on holding yourself in such a way? Does it really bring you comfort or does it just enable your self-conscious mindset?" He continued.
Ayumi looked up at him and tentatively let her arms fall back to her sides. He caught her off guard when he reached his hand out and once again took a hold of her chin forcing her head back.
"Straighten your shoulders and walk with intent behind your actions. If you can't find the confidence within yourself you will be of no use to anyone. Nobody is going to take you seriously if you insist on acting like a meek little girl, instead of the woman you are." He blurted.
Ayumi stared up at him with wide eyes as his words sunk in. He dropped his hand from her chin and sighed before turning and walking away from her. While she understood that Mayuri Kurotsuchi was never going to be the type of man to sugar coat his opinions, she couldn't help the way his words of harsh encouragement made her heart race. Was she really out of line to think that the man may be interested in her as well?
"It does not matter what others think of you, Ayumi. It is quite apparent that you feel the need to hide who you truly are in fear of what others may think. That is complete nonsense." He spoke lowly.
She stared at the back of his Captain's Haori as she realized that the man she had unintentionally started to grow feelings for seemed to understand what he was talking about on a personal level. She lifted her hand and was about to press it over the Squad 12 symbol on the middle of his back but she let it drop when he stepped forward and began walking again. She silently followed him as he led them both back through the maze like pathways, careful not to step too close this time.
Isane Kotestu stepped out of the room that Rei Konishi was currently occupying. She had spent the last twenty minutes questioning the young academy student, hoping to get a lead or some sort of clue about where the three women could have picked up the virus. It seemed that Captain Kurotsuchi had been right in his diagnosis. Rei had taken a turn for the worse developing a high temperature and severe nausea within the last hour which had made Isane hold back on a lot of her questions, only asking what she felt would be the most important.
Amaya stood at the back of the hallway with her arms crossed over her chest. The Captain of the 4th division met the substitute's gaze and asked her silent question. Amaya shook her head indicating that the young woman had not been completely forthcoming with her answers which disappointed the Captain of Squad 4 to the point she almost turned back around to scold the sick woman but stopped herself. Now was not the time to let anger or frustration cloud her judgment.
Amaya turned and headed back out to the main entrance of the building as Isane followed. The Head Captain had decided to wait for the outcome of the questioning and she found him lounging back in one of the exam chairs with his straw hat placed over his face shielding his eyes from the bright florescent lights.
"Captain Kyoraku?" Amaya called out to him.
The Head Captain lifted his left hand using the tip of his finger to lift the straw hat from his face and squinted up at the two women.
"That didn't take long. Were you able to find out anything useful?" He asked as he sat up placing his hat back on the top of his head.
Amaya took a seat in an empty exam chair next to him as Isane remained standing, keeping distance between herself and the other two in an effort to keep them away from any possible exposure to germs.
"I would focus your attention on District 79. Apparently this "Mikka" woman had a relationship with a Soul who was expelled from the academy about a month ago due to his behavior. He was crude and inappropriate when it came to the female recruits. From what I can tell from Rei's opinion on the matter, Mikka was being taken advantage of but was too naive to see it. The last time she went to see him was approximately a week ago where an argument broke out between the two. That is the only other area Rei has any knowledge of the two being other than at the academy." Amaya explained.
"District 79, huh? That's a pretty rough section of the Soul Society for two young women from the 3rd district to be traveling too." Shunsui replied with a frown.
Amaya turned her gaze to the Squad 4 Captain.
"Captain Kotetsu, I wouldn't take her dishonesty as something personal, in Rei's mind she is being loyal to her friend." Amaya offered.
Isane met Amaya's gaze and managed a soft smile.
"Rei openly withheld information from a Captain of the Gotei 13, that's not something we take lightly, Amaya." Shunsui countered.
"I understand that, and I agree she should be expelled. As a Soul Reaper we cannot allow personal feelings to dictate how we respond to the safety of the Soul Society as a whole. If she is willing to withhold information that could help in preventing others from falling ill just to protect one person from getting into trouble then she is not cut out to be an officer." Amaya replied.
Shunsui smiled.
"Nice to hear you refer to yourself as one of us." He teased.
Amaya turned and met the man's one uncovered grey eye.
"After three years, Head Captain, it's kind of hard not to embrace it." She replied with a soft smile.
"Well, I guess that covers it then. I'll send notice to Captain Muguruma in the morning, have him and his men take a look around Kusajishi for anything suspicious. We all know if something strange were to happen there it's not likely to be reported." Shunsui stated as he stood up from the chair.
"I think I'll call it a night. Would you like me to escort you back to Squad 2, Amaya?" He asked politely.
"That won't be necessary, Captain Kyoraku, but thank you." She replied as she also stood.
"Alright then, you ladies try and have a nice remainder of the evening." He replied with a tip of his hat.
"Goodnight, Head Captain." Isane replied softly.
"I'll help you and Hanataro set up for the night before I head back." Amaya stated.
Isane smiled warmly at the young woman she had begun to think of as another sister.
"Thank you, Amaya." She replied.
"No need to thank me, Isane. Just make sure you don't wear yourself out trying to take care of everyone. If you need my help, call for me." Amaya demanded, addressing the Captain by her first name.
"I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling I may need to." Amaya heard the Captain's inner thoughts just as the woman turned to head into the back of the building.
Amaya sighed as she followed Isane into the back. She also found herself hoping that this was just a freak occurrence and that there wasn't something lurking in the blood stained shadows of the 79th district.
The building to the research and development center came into view as Ayumi continued to follow her captain down the pathway. She paused as she noticed that he wasn't going to the front entrance like she had expected. Instead of knocking and waiting for someone to open the door, Mayuri passed by the front altogether walking towards the right side of the structure down a small gap just big enough for someone to fit through if they turned their body sideways.
He paused and turned his head to look at her seeing her unsure expression, which made him sigh heavily again, something Ayumi seemed to be making him do a lot lately.
"Don't just stand there gawking at me, if you are not sure of something open your mouth and say so, honestly, it's really not that difficult." He admonished.
Ayumi opened her mouth to apologize but realized he wasn't going to wait for her to reply as he sidestepped down the narrow gap. She stepped forward and turned to her side as she squeezed her body into the small space. As she urged herself forward she couldn't help but feel a bit ridiculous when she had to suck her stomach in, in an effort to keep her chest from brushing against the wall in front of her.
She caught up with her captain and noticed the slim narrow doorway at the end of the gap that seemed to be getting smaller in width as she walked. Mayuri lifted his right palm and pressed it against another scanner just like the one that had scanned Rin's handprint before going out into the smoking area. She heard the sound of a lock clicking before the panel opened allowing them both entrance into one of the main hallways.
Ayumi sidestepped the rest of the way inside and watched as the panel in the wall swung itself back into place aligning with the wall seamlessly as she heard the lock click back into place. She never would have known the one-way door was even there had her Captain not just shown her. She turned her head and realized that he had not paused for her to investigate the hidden door and she hurried forward to catch up with him. His mood was not the best and she didn't want to make it worse by trying his patience even farther.
Mayuri tried to stem his agitation as he made his way down the hallway that would lead him back to his personal lab space. While the current situation regarding the ill students was an important one, he had other things on his mind. If Ayumi was going to be of any real help to him he would need her operating at one hundred percent, which meant fixing the woman's impaired vision was his top priority. He would concentrate on one thing at a time until the other Captains decided to give him more than just a blood sample to work with.
He turned down the last hallway and found his Lieutenant sitting at his work station. Akon lifted his dark gaze and he gave a lazy smile as he saw Ayumi walk into the lab. The Captain paused and stared down his subordinate as his brow furrowed. Mayuri could not place the reason behind his hostility. Why, if he really had to ponder its meaning it was almost as if he felt…territorial.
"Welcome back." Akon greeted her.
Mayuri noticed the warm smile that the woman gave the other man before she replied.
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
"I have decided that Ms. Otsuka will be assisting the two of us during this new investigation regarding the virus." Mayuri stated.
Akon turned and looked up at the Captain from his seated position.
"Really?" He replied as his brow lifted in question.
"Yes, really." Mayuri mocked his subordinate before he walked over to his own work station.
He just needed to make sure that the eye drops formula had synthesized correctly before administering the treatment to Ayumi's eyes. He felt her presence next to him as she walked over and seemed to be studying the content on his screen.
"What language is this, Captain?" She asked him.
"It is not a real language, it's a code I thought up as a way for me to keep track of my research while keeping prying eyes none the wiser." He explained.
"I see." She replied softly.
Mayuri turned his gaze to the petite woman and noticed the way her palm was pressed against her stomach. His brow tightened with not only with more agitation but also a slight sense of unease.
'Is your stomach starting to bother you?" he asked her out right.
Ayumi looked up and met his gaze.
"I…I'm just hungry. I haven't had dinner yet." She admitted.
The Captain rolled his eyes as silent relief spread through him. He couldn't put his finger on just what it was about the woman that intrigued him so, but he was beginning to see that whatever it was could not be ignored. It wasn't just the woman's abundant curves that had him feeling the base needs of a man against his will, he found himself drawn to the woman's mind as well.
"Would you like for me to send someone to get her something, Captain?" Akon asked seeming to hear the woman's admission.
Mayuri turned and faced the younger man.
"That will not be necessary, Akon. I have yet to eat something so I will simply accompany her myself." He replied.
He noticed the way his subordinate's lips lifted into a different kind of smile this time and it took all of Mayuri's control not to slap it off the other man's face. While he was starting to realize that his affections for the woman were less then platonic, he didn't like that it was so easy for others around him to pick up on.
"Where is Nemuri?" Mayuri asked suddenly seeming to remember his daughter.
"She asked if she could be excused to her room almost twenty minutes ago. She has finished labeling the specimens you instructed her to do, so I didn't see the harm in giving her some free time." Akon explained.
"Very well. We shall return in about an hour, have the bed in the back prepared for when we return." Mayuri demanded.
"Yes, Sir." Akon replied not seeming to find the request odd in any way.
Ayumi looked up at Mayuri, her mesmerizing eyes filled with her silent question.
"I will be administering the treatment for your eyes when we return. I will have to sedate you and monitor the progress over the next twelve hours." He explained to her.
"Oh…Y…You don't want to rest first?" She asked him.
Mayuri couldn't help the smile that spread across his painted features.
"While that is considerate of you, I think I will manage, let's go." He replied as he headed back out of the lab.
Ayumi stole a quick glance at her Lieutenant and caught him smiling again. It seemed that the two men were pretty close to one another with them having the uncanny ability to communicate silently. For a second, she thought that Akon may have been teasing their Captain with his previous smirk in some way.
"Ayumi!?" She heard her name being called impatiently from the hall.
"Sorry, Captain." She called out as she hurried forward and found him waiting for her.
"I don't like to be kept waiting, woman." He scolded her.
Ayumi looked up and met his gaze.
"Yes, Captain Kurotsuchi." She replied as her stomach clinched.
Mayuri reached out and took a hold of her wrist with his left hand and pulled her forward so that she stood next to his side. She could feel the warmth from his simple touch radiating up her forearm and she had to suppress the thoughts that popped up inside her mind as they walked. He dropped his hand from her wrist and she hated the fact that she felt a wave of disappointment.
It seemed that her imagination wanted to read much more into her current situation. While she had to admit she didn't know much about the man's normal day to day personality. She was sure by the reactions from the others around them that his mannerisms when it came to her seemed to be out of his normal character.
Could she have somehow caught the brilliant man's attention? Was he only interested in fixing her and having her assist him in a purely platonic way, or was the look in his deep gold eyes really saying something more? Ayumi shook her head as she walked by his side in silence. She found herself wishing she could borrow someone else's courage because she knew she would never have enough of her own to find out for herself.