This was not an uncommon scene in the Ninth Division barracks. In fact it was such a common occurrence that many of the shinigami milling about merely sidestepped the small child in hopes of not being bowled over.
There was a cry in the distance, followed by a whiz of lowly seated officers all shouting one things as they blew past. “Kazue! Get back here!” Or “Your brother will kill us! Please, come back!”
To many standing about it was a humorous respite from their hard work and no one could doubt that the small fire headed child breathed a certain kind of life into the division, and it’s unshakable Captain.
The little girl giggled again, picking up speed in a impressive shunpo that many seated officers could only dream off. Flashing to the rooftops she peered down at the men attempting to capture her. “Ah, ah, ah, slowpoke.” she taunted down at them with a wiggle of her hips and a very uncouth hand gesture. “You losers are gonna have to do better than that.”
There was a chorus of groans and whines as the men assigned to Kazue’s watch realized that they would now have to resort to scaling the building if they wanted to get the hot headed little female down. But then again, they also knew the moment a foot came into contact with the tiled roof she would disappear again.
As was suspected the moment 12th seat, Sora, neared the rooftop the woman child stuck out her tongue and flashed to a different roof entirely. “When are you baka’s gonna learn?”
Just as Kazue went to strut in a victory dance a tile of the roof gave before she could catch herself and she was sent spiraling to the ground below. Six sets of eyes turned panicked as they watch the sister of the 4th seat Eishima tumble quiet possibly to her death.
“KAZUE!” they all shouted only to have their desperate cry for help die on their lips as the child landed quiet hard on a mess of blonde hair.
Shinji surely wasn’t expecting to have a child fall from the sky and land directly in his arms, but he was pleased no the less to be of assistance. “You’re alright now, love.” he said to the small girl who looked up with bright green eyes and smiled.
“You’re funny lookin’,” The girl speculated, giggling as she did so.
Shinji’s grin widened. “Why would ya go and say a mean thing like that?” he questioned with a furrowed pale brow. “What make’s me so funny lookin’?”
She reached out with a single chubby digit, poking the smirking Captain in the nose while the others watching all held their breath. There was no telling what the child might say and they knew that it would be their hides should she insult the rather terrifying man. “Your smiles too big.” the child said with no hint of remorse, as if she were speaking of the weather and not about the faults of the mans face.
“Is that so?” Shinji asked, amused.
The girls head bounced, red curls spilling out everywhere as she nodded frantically. “Well then, what would you suggest I do about it?”
Kazue shrugged. “Nothin’, I like your smile. At least you don’t look like a girl like that sissy, Byakuya.”
Shinji full out cackled at that. This little child really was too much, but who in the hell did she belong too? Surly she was not being looked after by those shit-heads on the rooftop above. “Hey sweetheart, where’s yer momma?”
Kazue scowled and shrugged her little shoulders again. “I ain’t got no momma, no papa neither.”
Shinji’s eyes narrowed as he took in the little girls appearance. She was dressed in what looked like a fairly expensive kimono and she looked relatively clean. It pretty cute though, the way she had her small wooden sword tucked into the folds of her obi. How strange.
“Well then, Princess, who looks after ya?”
In a movement faster than the Captain of the Fifth expected there was a loud crack, followed by a tremendous pain stemming from the crown of his head. He looked down at the child who had just bonked him on the head with said wooden sword. Her face was red as a beet and her lime green eyes were practically blazing with anger. “I’m not a princess, you baka!”
“My apologies,” Shinji stuttered, unsure why the comment had upset the little girl so badly, he would have asked if not for the strong spiritual pressure that seemed to have flashed out of nowhere. It was recognizable, of course, but it was pulsing at a much higher level than Shinji had encountered in the man before.
“Oi, unhand my brat, Hirako!” Kensei yelled, pointing at the small girl still wrapped in Hirako’s arms. Kazue perked up instantly, joy filling her features as she sprung from Shinji’s arms and into the arms of the Ninth Squad Captain. “Ojisan!” she wailed, hugging him tightly around the neck before plastering a kiss directly on the hardened mans cheek.
~
“Psst.”
“Psst. Kazue…”
“Hirako.” I mumbled sleepily, snuggling deeper in the comfort of my oh-so-warm pillow, politely ignoring the idiot trying to wake me.
“Kazue… you’re gonna be late.” The irritating voice grumped. It was a masculine voice to be sure but at the moment it was more annoying than that yapping mutt of Komamura’s.
“Fuck off. I hate dogs.” I murmured, pulling the thick coverlet over my head and sighed in relief.
There was another aggravating grunt and a few “choice” words muttered before the wonderful barrier of my blankets were ripped away, leaving nothing to protect my naked flesh from the damp morning air. I jolted upright startled and cold, smacking something hard on my way up as I flailed in search of my comforter. “Who the hell-” I growled but stopped short when my bleary eyes finally focused on my assailant. His face was as red as his crimson lock and his eyes were wide.
Pointing at his shocked face I threw myself backwards, lost in a fit of giggles. It never ceased to amaze me that he could look that shocked every time he’s seen me naked. You’d think the bastard would know by now that I prefer to sleep in the nude. I barely heard him growl and stomp away over my loud gasps and choked breaths as I tried to regain my composure.
Now it was my turn to growl as I shot up and slung an accusing finger in his direction. “You idiot! I don’t care if you are a Lieutenant, I’m going to kill you.”
He went silent, his eyes widening comically. “P-put s-some close on, will you!” He spluttered, walking backward on his hands. Apparently the idiot just remembered that I still wasn’t dressed.
Laughing in his face, I rose making sure to add an extra swagger to my hips as I sauntered towards my closet and pulled out fresh garments needed for the day. “Don’t be such a prude, Renji. It’s not like you’ve never seen a naked woman before.”
“Y-yeah but…” he trailed off, his face turned away as he gestured to me wildly with the hand not covering his eyes. “It’s you.”
He looked pleasantly relieved by this and though I held no attraction to the red headed misfit, it still hurt to think that a man might be that repulsed by my appearance. I might not have been a grand prize like Rangiku, but I was still a woman damn it, and as far as I was concerned I looked alright.
“So, you ready for today?” Renji asked, nervously scratching at the back of his neck and trying to look anywhere but at my face.
Sighing, I plopped down next to him and leaned my head on his shoulder. “Not really, but I wasn’t given much of a choice, now was I?”
Nudging me, he chuckled. “No, I guess not.”
As much as I tried to pretend that today was nothing special, that it was nothing more than an office change and a few added responsibilities. I knew better.
It wasn’t a position I wanted. I never applied for it and truth be told if it hadn’t been the Captain Commander of all people who asked, I would have turned it down. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to serve my Division, I did. I loved my Squad and my Captain but I wasn’t exactly the best choice for such a respected station, or at least that’s my opinion.
“Hey,” Renji said jabbing me in the ribs, forcing an unwanted giggle from my lips. “You’ll be fine… Besides it’s not like they’re not expecting you to screw up. I mean, come on, it is you were talking about.”
With a thundering crack Renji was sprawled out in front of me, nursing a bloody nose. “Asshole!” I thundered, stomping away.
I heard him laugh just before I turned to the corner to the barracks bath house. “Feel better don’t you?”
I had to give the moron credit, he knew me better than most and pounding his face in has always made me smile.
“So,” I asked casually as we walked the long corridor that would lead to the Third Division court yard. “Still leaving in the morning?”
He smiled brightly. “Yeah. I thought I’d visit Ichigo and Rukia while I’m there.” A light blush blossomed on the apples of his cheeks as he said her name and I couldn’t hold back the teasing smile that formed on my lips.
I beamed at him with my best smile and pleading eyes. He groaned. “What’d ya want?”
“Just that new 100 Monkeys album Hisagi was talking about. Bastards been rubbing it in my face that I don’t have it yet.”
He smiled then, mischievously as his eyes narrowed. “Can’t have that, now can we?”
 |
| Kazue |
“Hey Kazue?”
“Yeah?” Turning my head slightly I caught the nervous look on his face. “What is it, Renji?”
Scratching at the back of his neck, I could tell he was embarrassed about what ever it was he wanted to question. “Oh for Pete’s sake, Renji, spit it out already!”
“Alright,” he bellowed. “You said a name this morning, in your sleep.”
I blinked. “I did?”
“Yeah, you said Hirako. How do you know, Shinji?” He asked, looking rather bewildered.
My brows furrowed, trying to recall that name from anywhere. I was drawing a blank. “Who?”
~
The day had passed much like I had expected it to, lots of catching up and tea with Captain Kira. The latter I was used to, just swap the tea out for sake, add a dash of Rangiku and it was a regular Friday night in the Third Squad barracks. Though it was still strange to see Kira fully dressed. I had seen that man naked more time than I would ever care to count and it was never a willing sight. But I blamed my friendship with Lieutenant Matsumoto for that bit.
Of course as the day wore on I ended up with a lot of sucking up and misguided but aggravating brown noses. The ones with something to prove to themselves and of course the day wouldn’t have been complete without a few chauvinistic pigs thrown into the mix, though those types I handled easily.
It was the ones who felt that because I was a Lieutenant now, that they should lick the dirt from my feet that really got under my skin. A chuckle escaped me as I thought of the fear on the squads face when I threatened to beat our Ninth seat into a bloody pulp because he refused to call me anything but ma’am.
“Do I look like your mother, solider?” I barked, silencing the twittering giggles of a few of the woman watching the stare down between us.
The lanky man gulped, clearly shaken up. “No ma’am…” he stuttered.
My eyes narrowed and it was quiet possible that I burned everything in the near vicinity to ash with my glare alone. Pulling him closer by the front of his robes I growled low. “You call me ma’am one more time and I’ll send you to see Captain Zaraki for babysitting duties. It’s been a while sense he’s been on a proper date, I’m sure he’d jump at the chance.”
Paler than a sheet now, the trembling man let out a shuttered breath and nodded.
“I wanna hear you say it.”
His eye got bigger, if that was possible as he stumbled over himself. “Yes, Lieutenant Eishima.”
Smiling brilliantly, I released him. “That’s better. You may return to your duties now, Ninth Seat Takashi.” With a pat to the head I sent him bustling on his way.
“What are you smiling about?” Renji asked, smiling stupidly at me from the other side of my desk. “Could it be that you had fun?” Peeking up at him from under my lashes I leveled him with a look that screamed how stupid I thought that question was. “Tck, as if filling paperwork could ever be considered fun.” Jerking the box up into my arms I added. “Though, I guess it wasn’t all bad.”
Renji cackled, “Yeah, I heard something about you scarring the shit out of your Ninth seat.” Taking the box from my arms he asked, “What’d he do, anyway?”
Smiling I added another stack into the box, laughing when his arms jerked dramatically from the added weight. “He called me ma’am.”
A tattooed brow rose in question. “Is that all?” When I nodded he laughed, and laughed and laughed some more. “He was just trying to be respectful. You’re a Lieutenant now, get used to it.”
Huffing, I stomped on his foot on the way out the door. He howled in pain as he chased me, griping the entire way about what a sucky friend I was. “You smack me around and make me carry your paperwork. What’s next, you want me to be your house bitch?” he whined as he came to a halt just behind me.
I turned, surveying him closely and making him turn that adorable shade of cherry red before I replied offhandedly. “Naw, not my type.”
I left him there, gaping like a fish as I snatched the box from his hand and slammed the door in his face.
“Hey!” He cried as he pounded on the door. “Eishima, open up! I’m gonna get you for that!”
Giggling, I set the box down in my new quarters and slumped to the floor. Sure the room was amazing compared to my old room in the dormitory, but it was just… I didn’t like it.
When I was sure the tattooed faced idiot had finally given up for the night I gathered my box of paperwork, a bottle of my best plum wine and stripped down. There never was anything quite like rolling around on silk sheets in the nude and honestly I kind of liked the thought of doing something so dirty as completing my division duties while rolling around with out a stitch on. I could just see Captain Kira’s face if he knew. Now that was something I’d be willing to pay to see.
It wasn’t long before I started nodding off, but I blamed on the boring tasks of budgeting division funds and signing off on new uniforms.
Finally resigning myself to the fact that I’d have to continue this at the office tomorrow, I set everything down beside the bed, covered myself up and let the blackness take me.
How wonderful.
‘Don’t panic. Don’t panic. Don’t panic.’ I told myself over and over as I ran, trying to gain some distance between myself and the thing chasing me. The loud roar that thundered just behind me told me it was of little use, that thing was just to fast.
I cursed myself and my inability to listen to my brother as I turned around to face it. My brother had warned me many time about running around outside the barracks after dark. I wish now that I had listened. I shut my eyes and waited for the pain of my death to come. It never did. After another screech loud enough to split the drums of my ears all went silent.
I stood there dumbly for a moment, thinking I was in heaven or quite possibly hell. I always did hate the quiet. Then warm fingers found my chin as a manly chuckle rang in my ears. “You’re alright now, love.” The voice was sarcastic, familiar and fucking sexy as hell.
I couldn’t even respond. It was like being hypnotized only instead of a ridiculous watch or a pendulum it was a set of honey brown eyes, framed by golden locks of hair. A familiar face that I couldn’t place.
I sat up with a start, confused by the dream of the man reminiscent of warm honey, only to realize that someone was pounding on my door. I had been having that dream every night for the past hundred years and yet I have no idea who that face belonged too.
 |
| Kazue Eishima |
Funny enough, it was the very same Ninth Seated officer that I had scared the shit out of earlier. “Well? What is it?” I asked testily when he made it clear that he was too shocked to say anything. His eyes were trained solely upon the deep-v in my kimono and I knew with out doubt he was staring at the swells of my breasts.
Snapping my fingers in the young mans face seemed to do the trick and came to quickly with a fierce blush and a lot of stuttering. “Forgive me, Ma’- Lieutenant Eishima, but the Captain wishes to see you immediately. He says it’s urgent.”
I didn’t bother replying to him and simply slammed the door in his face before he could zone out staring at my tits again. “Really…” I grumbled, stomping to my closet to pull out fresh garments. “You’d think he’s never seen a pair before. They aren’t that great.”
By the time I was fully dressed and standing before Captain Kira’s office I was in a foul mood. I’ve never in my life been a morning person, or one that dealt well with people before I was ready and this morning was no exception. I knocked once, somewhat irritated that he wasn’t waiting for me when I first arrived. He was the one to summon me, after all.
He looked a little bed-haggled himself when he appeared from behind the paper door. His hair was sticking up at strange angles and the deep purple bruising under his eyes led me to the assumption that he had also been woken up by the higher ups. “Lieutenant Kazue,” he bowed politely, much more polite than I would have at being woken at this ungodly hour in the morning. “Please come in and take a seat.” I did as requested, taking a floor cushion directly in front of him as set a kettle of water over the fire pit in the middle of his living area. “I’m sorry for the early hour, I assure you if it could have waited I would have.”
Rolling my eyes at his manners I replied genuinely. “There’s no need for apologies, Captain Kira. I’m sure you have no more desire to be awake at this hour than I do.”
He smiled but it was easy to see how tired he really was, and not just from being woken up tonight. He had it rough, he wasn’t ready when his captainship was forced on him and I guess I could relate to the pressure.
“Thank you for your understanding, Kazue.” He said pouring a cup of tea and setting it in front of me. “Now to get down to why we are both sitting here: I have just received orders from Head-Captain Yamamoto that you are to accompany Renji Abarai to the World of the Living and assist him in helping Kisuke Urahara.”
I gasped. While I wasn’t exactly complaining about a trip the human realm, it was a bit of a shock. “Kisuke Urahara? Why would they need my help?”
He laughed, a little sheepishly if you ask me. “I’m not really sure. But you have been asked for by Urahara-san specifically.”
“I haven’t seen Urahara in over a hundred years,” I whispered to myself. “What the hell is going on?”
“I wish I knew. But if Urahara-san asked for you I’m sure it’s important.”
I nodded, still a bit unsure of this mission and what my mentors crazy friend wanted with me. Resigned to do what was needed, I stood. “When do I leave, Sir?”
“Abarai is set to leave at dawn.” He told me, rising himself and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “It’ll be alright, Kazue.”
“I’d better get going, the sun will be up in an hour and need to prepare myself.” I told him, shrugging out of his hold and bowing.
I could see the pity in his eyes as he dismissed me but for his sake he said nothing. I had a better control on my temper now than I had ever had, but the whole ordeal with Kisuke and the death of my father was a very touchy subject and Kira new better than to tempt the fates by bringing it up.
At the age of only fifty, no more than a child by Shinigami standards I bared witness to one of the most horrible massacres the Soul Society has ever seen. I watched as the members of my brother’s squad were cut down, one by one. I remember hearing their screams as I hid, my spiritual pressure so low no one ever took notice of me. Then like the coward I am, I ran.
 |
| Shinobu Eishima |
Wiping a tear from my eye I entered my room and poured myself a drink.
~
Renji was uncharacteristically silent when I appeared next to him at the entrance of the Senkaimon. I think he knew how difficult this trip would be for me and like the good friend he was he allowed me to deal with it in my own way.
I’ve never been a woman of strong words nor have I ever been enlightened by them. So when in turmoil I found it best to just remain silent and think my problem through. Renji may not understand my - in his opinion - strange ways, but he respected me enough to shut up and let me deal.
“Thanks Renji,” I said sincerely as the gate opened. Two black hell butterflies flittering against my skin as if to say “Get a move on.”
His black brow rose as he looked at me warily. “For what?”
“Not saying anything.” I murmured. Letting one more tear escape my eyes before I hardened myself and took the first step forward.
This was not a mission I signed up for. This was not something I thought I could handle. But everyone has to start somewhere and I decided that it was time to unravel the truth for myself.
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