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| "Division Thirteen" |
In light of the resent party and given how much Rukia had drank during the festivities I decided as a small engagement gift I would let her take the day off. It was only when I settled in for the night and the fog of my own sake inebriated brain lifted did it truly sink. I shuttered in fear, sinking further in to my covers as the truly horrifying consequences that would follow the next morning started to manifest in my mind.
Rolling to my side and snuggling deeper into my pillow which, embarrassingly had my Taicho’s robes from last night wrapped around it. I knew why, of course but I really didn’t want to admit to myself just yet.
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| Yuri |
I was pleased that last night, after the assumed beating of Abarai-Taicho was finished Nozomi did return to tell me goodnight and agreed to allow me to walk her home.
It was a pleasant enough walk, though a bit chilly and I could barely keep the lecherous grin from my face when she allowed me to cover her with my haori. We conversed on a little bit of everything on the short walk back to the Fifth Division barracks. I suppose we could have used shunpo and arrive in a few short steps but as I was trying to prolong my stay with her that idea was quickly tossed aside.
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| Rukongai District # 80, Zaraki |
When we reached the gates of the Fifth I knew my time was up but she surprised me when she gently cupped cheek and asked if she would see me again. My reply was instant. “Most definitely.”
Snuggling in deeper to my Nomi scented pillow, I smiled. I knew that I was acting foolish and brash, especially for my age but I had never in my long life met anyone like the pale creature that had taken hold of my mind in less than twenty-four hours. Even now, having just seen her a less than nine hours ago I hungered to be back in her presence, to have her engulf my senses and immerse myself in her quick witted mind. It was torturing and a bit insane but simply, I couldn't get enough.
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| Third Seats: Kiyone Kotetsu & Sentarö Kotsubaki of the Thirteenth |
Good officers they where but they could wake the dead with their arguing and as it was usually over the simplest things, didn’t help. This morning, however, from the lack of sleep and slight pounding behind my eyes - no doubt left over from all the rice wine I drank, the grace I usually exuded when it came to their volatile mouths was seriously lacking, it was just too much.
Quietly slipping from the warmth of my bed I quickly dressed and stalked out into the hall with purpose. With a slight frown on my face I felt out for their spiritual pressure and found them both spiking in anger and in my kitchen. Grumping to myself the whole way there about ridiculousness of this situation I had little to no time to prepare for what I walked in on when I entered galley. Stopping dead in the doorway and nearly falling over from the shock at the chaotic state that was my usually tidy and serene kitchen.
It was all but destroyed. The walls that were at one time painted the most beautiful shade of red were now scorched in large circular patterns, seemingly from a kido blast. My cabinets and pantry were blown apart leaving sharpened splinters littering my floor, some even deeply embedded into the walls, and both of my Third seats were absolute covered in what appeared to be what was left of my breakfast. I could only deduce that they had engaged in a fight over who would bring it too me. Sigh.
It only took a moment before the usual grip I had on myself to slip and massive wave of irritation to take over. Loudly I cleared my throat, letting my Reiatsu flare and predictably they both froze. Glancing nervously at me from their peripheral vision, they both swallowed heavily before turning and saluting with a loud. “Good morning, Taicho!”
I winced at their tone. They had always been loud but today it seemed that each syllable was drawn out in a blistering tone, another sad after affect of my hangover.
Taking another sweeping view of my ruined kitchen inspiration struck with all the beautiful song of the angels, a way for me get what I wanted while getting something I needed; Nozomi’s company and my breakfast, only I didn’t know which category either one of them fell under. But never the less, I would be going out for breakfast.
“Yes sir!” They replied in unison and as equally loud, and it almost made me take back every good thought I just had. Instead I shook my head and gripped the sleeve of my Kosode, hoping to stave off a biting tone when I gave my command.
“I’ll be taking it myself.” I told them, donning my Taicho’s robe and gathering a few sweets from my decimated pantry for the road. I stopped just in front of them before leaving and leveled them with a hard glare. Making sure my tone was firm enough to let them know that they had not escaped punishment. “I expect you two to clean this mess up before I return.” Smartly they didn’t question or argue.
“Yes sir.” They replied again in a whining groan. I felt instantly guilty as they both pouted much like my younger sister would when they were up to no good but bereted myself for it. They were neither children nor my siblings and would have to learn to get along eventually. I hoped.
Making my way to the office was as simple as a single shunpo step as I had purposefully built a house of my squad grounds to keep a close eye on my troops while I was ill. The office was thankfully free of any clutter and was in the same working order I had left it in the day before and I knew I had my diligent fukutaicho to thank for it. The floors where spotless and desks where tidy. Rukia’s reports to the Fifth were easy to find and stacked neatly at the corner of her desk.
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| Rukia's Doodles |
I should have known that was too much to hope for, and I should have immediately picked up on the strong, familiar spiritual but I was more concerned with a pair of ocher eyes that danced through my vision than of the unexpected visitor making their way to me, after all it was the last person I expected to see this early in the morning.
“Kyoraku,” I greeted as he landed beside me but became exasperated when I saw his haggard face and desperate eyes. He had done something stupid. “Come on,” I sighed, waving for him to follow me. “Walk me to the Fifth.”
He nodded falling into an easy gate next to me, tipping his hat politely at the passers by. “Why are we walking to the Fifth?” Shun asked confused, and looking more than a little green in the face. “Don’t you have a fukutaicho for that?”
“I do,” I replied easily. “But I gave her the day off and my Third seats destroyed my kitchen.” I said by way of explanation. I really didn’t want to get into this right now, if fact if he was here to seek out my advice why was he hounding me about my plans for the day.
“Oh boy,” He replied shaking his head in amusement.
“Yeah, I get that.” He said fairly serious, though I could still easily find the mirth in his eyes at my unfortunate situation. “But you still didn’t answer my question, Jyuu. Why are you delivering paperwork?” He asked in a knowing voice, glancing at me from the side as a small smirked twitched at his lips.
“I- well,” I stuttered searching for a lie, any lie that would throw him off the scent and spare me his teasing. No use giving him more information for his arsenal but as the seconds ticked by I couldn’t come up with a plausible excused so I relented. “I was hoping to ask Nozomi to breakfast.” I rushed out with a embarrassed moan, wishing I could burry myself back into my warm blankets and forget that the sun had risen.
His smile grew as he slapped by back jovially. “Jyuu, you old dog, I never thought you’d move so fast!”
I winced as his club like hand continued its assault, squeezing to the point of pain as he shook me and continued to go on about how sly I was and that everything he taught me hadn’t been a waste. As his excitement grew so did the volume of his voice until I was sure Nozomi could likely hear us from her office at the Fifth. Batting his hand away with a hiss. ““Keep your voice down, it’s early!” I snapped. “And you know damn well that you’re only younger than me by five months, so who are you calling old?”
“Yare, yare, Jyuu. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of his Third seats.” He said holding his hands up in mock innocence. “And by the way, younger is younger.”
“Sorry,” I apologized. I had no reason to snap at him but I had hardly slept at all and it was quickly taking its toll on my temper. My mind had simply refused to shut down last night and when it did I was filled with dreams of perverse things I had no business dreaming. “So what happened to you?” I asked hoping to change the subject.
His eyes widened as his face grew tight and I had a sneaky suspicion things had finally gotten underway with Ise-san last night. He exhaled quickly. “I slept with Nanao.”
If he was waiting for some great gasp of shock he was surly disappointed for I wasn’t surprised in the least that it had finally happened but I was rather curious as to why he didn’t seem happy about it. “Well…” I started, but it was difficult to find the words. “Why aren’t you happy? You‘ve been waiting for decades for this, you should be celebrating or still in bed.”
He sighed. “I am, Jyuu. But this morning Nanao was acting like nothing happened. I went into the office early and everything.” He pouted, obviously put out from being up at this hour.
The answer came to me as easily as remembering the characters of my own name and I wanted to smack him for being so oblivious about the whole thing. And people call him a genius. “Did it ever occur to you that she doesn’t want you hounding her during office hours? Ise-san is a professional through and through and probably doesn’t want the entire barracks knowing that you slept together until you take things more seriously.”
“Really?” He asked hopefully a small genuine smile lighting his face. “I didn’t think of it like that.”
“Of course you didn’t.” I sighed. “If you’re really worried about it trying asking her after the end of her shift. I know Ise-san and she’s not the kind of woman who has one night stands.”
His shoulders relaxed and the rosy tint that I associated with Kyoraku returned to his cheeks. “Your right, thanks Jyuu.”
“Anytime.” I replied offhandedly. Trying to concentrate on my own issues and what I was going to say when I arrived at the Fifth. Would it be to forward to simple throw her over my shoulder and pack her off to Ugendö and keep her there. I smirked slipping off into my fantasy until the prancing ninny in pink slapped my back again. I scowled.
“Well now that that’s over, come on, let’s go get your lady some grub.” He said the obnoxious tone returning to his voice. My face must have conveyed my confusion because he rolled his eyes dramatically and clasped my shoulder, this time gently.
“Think about it Jyuu. It’s her first week and the Fifth hasn’t been in working order in a long time. She’s gonna be busy… so let’s bring the breakfast to her. Trust me, she’ll appreciate the sentiment.”
I laughed and thought to myself, why didn’t I think of that? “When did you get so smart?” I asked, teasing.
“About the same time you turned into a horny schmuck.”
~
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| Fifth Division |
Renji and Nozomi have done well in their first week and I was almost shell shocked by how well they seemed to be working together, considering last night she had beaten him to a pulp. What squad members weren’t on the training grounds were all going about their tasks in the common grounds silently, proficiently and with smiles.
“Whoa.” Shun commented and I had to nod my head in agreement. “Looks like your girl has been holding out on us.” He commented ryely but I was still internally squealing like a boy at the academy when he called ‘my girl’.
As we made our way to the Division HQ several of the unseated officers stopped to greet us and welcomed us to the Fifth and some of them had mischievous grins on their faces as they past us at the door to Renji’s office. Neither I or Shunsui were prepared for what was lurking in Nomi’s office and I got the shock of a lifetime when we opened the door. A low but menacing growl met our ears followed by a whimper from the other side of Renji’s door.
Looking around quickly I was confused, nothing seemed out of place. Nomi’s desk sat proudly next to a window, not cluttered but not tidy either, but rather looked like she had just stepped out. There was a nice sofa set and low table in the center of the room and I could already see Kyoraku eyeing it with glee. But I sensed no danger and could only pick up a faint spirit signature outside of Renji’s and Shunsui’s in the area.
“Is someone there?” Renji called through the rice paper door, squeaking out like a scared child. “If someone’s there please help me.”
“Abarai-Taicho?” I asked still not believing the brass young Taicho was too scared to leave his office. Well that was until I lowered my gaze and saw what was waiting outside said door. It had to be the single largest black feline I had ever seen. Lazing in front of his shoji door, it’s tail flicking with irritation. I had seen many of these creatures in my studies of exotic animals but I had never seen one in life nor had I ever heard of a black panther growing to this size.
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| Fujimaru |
“Please, find my fukutaicho.” His muffled voice cried. “Please get me out of here.”
“Nice kitty.” Kyoraku cooed shakily as he took a step back and swallowing thickly as I took another step forward. “What- Jyuu, what are you doing? That thing will eat you alive.” he cried in warning, causing the beast to stir. I shot him a glare over my shoulder and he promptly shut up.
“Abarai, why your fukutaicho?” I asked in a soft tone, slowly approaching the beast and I was grateful it had yet to snarl or snap at me.
“Because, It’s her damn cat!” He harrumphed, slamming something on what I assumed was his desk. The cat snarled.
“Interesting.” Shunsui commented, scratching the stubble of his beard.
“Aw,” I cooed. “There a good boy. Such a handsome boy, yes you are.” It purred loudly, rubbing it large head against my body everywhere it could reach. “Such a pretty kitty, yes.”
“Renji, how could you be scared of him? He’s so sweet.” I asked squatting down so I could continue to scratch behind his ears.
“Sweet my ass!” He yelled, stomping to the office door and throwing it open. He was a mess and I wondered to myself if he had already tried to remove the cat with force. His hair was down, blanketing his face with deep crimson and his uniform was disheveled, his Kosode wide open showing off his many tattoos. The beast stirred, turned to him and growled in warning. Renji’s eyes widened and he took a step back. “See what I mean? That woman is trying to kill me.”
“Don’t you think you’re over reacting just a tad?” Kyoraku teased, but not making a move closer to the beast himself. What a baby. “And what does you’re fukutaicho have to do with it not liking you?”
“She told it to protect me, but since she left a half hour ago that… that thing hasn’t moved and won’t let me leave the office. I’m going to kill that brat when she gets back!”
Before I could stop myself I glared, my face showing exactly how I felt about that comment as my Reiatsu rose slightly. The cat mustn’t have cared for it either as it turned it’s head and hissed, taking a clawed swat at his legs.
“Um… I don’t think you should say things like that around, Jyuu. He’s been a little grumpy this morning.” Kyoraku added with a nervous chuckle and Renji nodded his head in understanding. As the large cat turned back to me, he pushed on me with his head until I was sitting on the floor while he took his time smelling, licking and nipping at me. I laughed as his whiskers brushed against my face. “Stop that now, it tickles.” I told him a firm voice but continued to pet him. “Do you have a name?”
A light giggle from behind me answered. “His name is Fujimaru.”
I nearly fell over at the sight of her and while she was beautiful last night, done up in all her noble garb, I much preferred her this way. Incased in her dark Shihakushö and mustard Obi. In her uniform it was much easier to tell her lineage as she did not bother to hide the long tail encased in dark fur and even adorned with a elaborate spirit band at the end. Her hair was much less than it was the night before simply flowing down to her hips in soft waves and it softened her appearance making her more angelic than demon. Yes, I definitely preferred her this way. Peaking my curiosity I noticed a pattern of intricately laid black spots, much like a cheetah starting at her wrists and running the top lengths of her arms, unhidden from view by the sleeveless Kosode of her uniform. My face flamed anew when I caught my thoughts wondering just where and how far those delicious looking spots went and if they would feel any different in texture than her soft cream colored flesh.
“Ah-ha!” She exclaimed and I jumped as she held up one of the many suckers I had hidden in my robes. Faster than I could follow Fujimaru had launched himself into her arms and she caught him easily, which was comical in itself but what had me rolling on the ground along with Shun-sui was that the cat was after my candy all along. Smirking evilly to myself I thought I might have just found the perfect wedding present for Rukia’s new husband in the form of a candy care package for the office.
“What do I owe the pleasure of your company this morning, Jyuu?” She asked, leaving her feline to his candy and standing up. From the corner of my eye I saw Shunsui’s eyebrows shoot up into his hat as he mouth “Jyuu” at me. I just shrugged, I’d deal with him later.
“I had paperwork that needed delivering, my Third seats trashed my house and I thought with this being your first week you wouldn‘t have had time to eat.” I rushed out holding up the brown paper sack in my hands.
She smiled at me, she took the bag with one hand as she rested her delicate and warm flesh on my cheek with the other. “Aw, thank you Jyuu, you too Shun-kun.”
“Nope,” He held his hands up much in the same fashion he hand this morning when he proclaimed his innocence. “This was all Jyuu, I’m just hiding from Nanao.” “Is that right?” She asked him with a devious smile and showed us to the sitting area.
“Oh yeah.” He replied, taking a seat on the couch he had been eyeing all morning.
I thought about my wrecked morning and the good that had come out of it and thought to myself, it really couldn’t get much better than this.
“Oooo.” Nomi squealed in delight, holding up my very favorite treat from the bag the one I was nervous about purchasing. “Ohagi is my favorite!”
I smiled. My mistake.
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