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For The Love of a Friend	By : orionshadow Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 32416 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Tite Kubo owns Bleach and the characters depicted therein.   Most of the characters in this story are not mine. I make no money from the publication of this work.
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On the return to the Captain-Generals’ office, Soi thought hard. The contents of the letter. What were they? Why didn't Lieutenant Rangiku wish for more responsibility or bankai? Why did people seem to care so deeply about her fate? Most of the time she was dismissed as being silly, hedonistic and very casual about her responsibilities and yet Toshiro respected her.
Her recent interaction with the woman indicated there was something more than the flighty female who had close relationships with so many of the senior male members of the Seireitei. There was no doubt that she was pleasing to look at and her very appearance hinted at a deep sensuality, but she was more than her appearance. Was this one of the reasons Zaraki had married her? Aside from his obvious desire for the woman, did he admire her intelligence?
Soi had to suppress a smile. Her thoughts were wrong. Zaraki was the most primitive man she'd encountered, driven only by his lust for fighting, pleasure and drinking. He wasn't a deep thinker and didn't appear to appreciated anything aside from physical drives. And yet...
Once again, perhaps she was mistaken. It was easy to accept the surface people presented and not look any further. If the facade was successful and easy to accept, it made interactions easier.
Matsumoto's voice intruded on her deliberations. “Captain, do you think it might be an idea to send Momo to the human world for a little while? Until this dies down? I feel that she might be safer there."
Momo again. It might have been better if Retsu was not so skilled and Momo had died, but she dismissed the thought. “That girl has put nearly all the Seireitei into an uproar.”
“I’m responsible, too,” was the surprising reply.
Why did she think she was responsible? All the things which had happened to her were the result of other people's actions, except her entry into the bath house while Zaraki was bathing. Has that one relatively minor event sent all these other events in motion?
I haven’t noticed you attempting to kill a friend recently or falling pregnant to a traitor. It is true that you have been the focus of many of the disturbances since the day before the mission went to the human world. However, there have been other unsettling incidents," Soi didn't wish to continue talking and firmly closed her mouth. Any further discussion might be fruitless.
Entered the 1^st Division office Soi felt a sense of relief as she noticed that both Yumichika and Ikkaku were there. Their attitude and expressions made it very clear they were not completely happy with the situation
.
“Fuck that for a joke,” Ikkaku said loudly as he shook his head. “Not happening. Not in this afterlife or the next.”
“I can’t,” was all Yumichika said and it was obvious he was preventing words from being uttered.
Both men were as tense as Soi had seen them.
“If I release you, you will both have to abstain from alcohol and sexual relations until I am assured that your behaviour will not be repeated,” Captain Yamamoto said, revealing he was a killjoy, or at least a prude.
Yumichika glanced around and asked, “Why does it have to be both? Can’t it just be one?”
Soi almost smiled. If she had the inclination she might have commenced drinking after Yoruichi left, but instead she'd turned her attention to stricter control over her emotions. then she caught the implications. Did it mean Yumichika was romantically involved? If so, who with, or was he verging on becoming an alcoholic?
“Are you unwilling to give up sex?” she   couldn't prevent herself from asking, otherwise she might have spent too much time considering the possibilities.
“Alcohol,” he replied, with what appeared to be a great amount of shame.
“You must abstain from both,” Captain Yamamoto insisted. “We need to have clear heads and as you will be directing 11^th Division with 3^rd seat Madarame, I expect you to provide an example. From now until the end of lockdown, the whole of the Seireitei will be dry.”
The man was trying to prevent Shinigami from drinking? It was unbelievable and she couldn't stop her harsh laugh. “Hmmm. I remember how well that worked in the human world, in America,” she commented dryly. “People became obsessed with obtaining any form of spirit and crime flourished as a result. The experiment was a failure.”
"You go too far, Captain Fong.” Yamamoto was turning red and it made Soi feel good to get such a strong reaction.
However, he wasn't going to suppress her, “I don’t go far enough. You don’t consult, you don’t listen and you keep secrets. Now you make unreasonable demands.”
She glared at her commander and he glared back. The tension in the room rose and Soi wondered if she might soon find herself confined to the 1st Division cells or charged with treason. It didn't concern her too much as she'd known this time might come eventually. No person could live in the world without being accountable.
Matsumoto's voice broke through the tension. Was the woman trying to play peacemaker? “I think the Captain has been working too hard and is tired from today’s events. Maybe we could discuss this later."
Irritated, Soi snapped, not meaning to express her frustration at the lieutenant, but at the whole situation. “I’m not tired. I’m furious."
Did she discern a small smug momentary smile cross Yamamoto's face? Was he thinking it was because of the female metabolism? The smile vanished almost as soon as it formed and his normal stern look returned. “We will not converse about this now.”
Ikkaku made a gamble by offering, “I’ll go without alcohol if Yumichika goes without sex. That do you?”
Of course, it didn't. “No.”
It seemed they had reached an impasse until Ikkaku sighed loudly and said, “Release us from lockdown and I’ll abstain from both, but only ‘til the Captain comes back. I can’t see you telling him to refrain from anything again, or if you try he won’t listen to you, like last time.”
A very strong reminder of how Zaraki handled his Division and any demands placed on him. It seemed Ikkaku was promising repercussions at a later date and Soi wondered if the Seireitei would recover from all these events and ill feeling.
The red in Yamamoto's face grew darker and his expression grim. It must be difficult to handle people who didn't permit you to dictate all their actions, if you felt it was your right. Soi made a decision never to permit that to happen to her, again. Toshiro was a mistake.
“I do not make bargains with underlings. In view of your inability to comply I will return you to the cells and place further restrictions on 11^th Division.” Bad choice. The situation was deteriorating.
“I don’t care what you do.” Never had she expected to hear such defeat from a member of 11th Division, or sadness to that depth.
“Lock me up; deprive me of my only solace. It doesn’t matter. My Captain won’t come back, none of them will, and you’ll appoint some wanker to replace him who has no balls or sense of humour. And all the other Captains will marry; all of them, and I won’t have anyone. No one will be left for me,” was his despairing words. It disturbed her and made her wonder what had caused this level of depression.
Hearing Matsumoto gasp at his words, the quick glance she took of the woman showed how deeply the words affected her. Obviously any consideration her husband would not return was something she was either ignoring or not wishing to accept.   She had to say something, anything to prevent the mood in the room deteriorating any further.
Before she had a chance to speak some cobbled together sentiments, Ikkaku intervened. “Oh, stop being such a doom merchant, Yumichika. You were acting like this in the cells and I told you to get over it. Can you imagine anyone defeating our Captain? Why would all the Captain’s get married now? Is there a bonus or something?”
Yumichika rubbed his head, trying to soothe the place on his head where Ikkaku had hit him. “It’s happened once. Ichigo defeated him. Our Captain married. Others might follow.”
Spontaneously, her face flushed as she wondered what marriage to Toshiro might be like. Quickly lowering her head she listened to the rest of the conversation, hoping no one might notice her sudden rise in colour.
“But our Captain got stronger, remember? The last time I fought him he was so freaking dangerous, I almost went b… begging him to stop. So what if everyone gets married?”
The man seemed to be preparing to say something else. Was there a way of altering the subject so that marriage wasn't mentioned every few minutes? Each time it was like a jolt went through her and made her extremely anxious.
“Shut up, both of you,” she commanded. “Of the people who went on the mission, I have the most confidence that Captain Zaraki will return. He has more compelling reasons to be victorious and return than ever before.” The shot quick looks at each of the people concerned. That should suffice, she hoped.
“You’re right. He does and I should never underestimate my Captain. It’s just being in a cell makes me brood and I think about stupid things. I agree to your conditions Captain Yamamoto. I’ll do what you ask until Captain Zaraki returns. I hope it’s soon.” Yumichika had brightened slightly.
With a great infusion of melancholy Matsumoto said, “It won’t be soon enough for me."
Before she had a chance to stop the next person brooding too deeply Ikkaku remarked, smirking “Yeah. I got that impression."
The look passing between the two indicated a knowledge which Soi did not wish to share or even know existed. Enough secrets were on the verge of being disclosed. Time yet again to change the subject. “Okay, Captain-General, both of them have agreed to those terms. Are there any others?”
Yamamoto made a show of clearing his throat and eventually nodded. “They agreed to the other terms earlier. This was the only sticking point. In this case your word binds you to the agreement. If either of you fail, you will both be returned to your cells and the 11^th will revert to full lockdown. Make certain the troublemakers are not patrolling the walls, but kept within your Division doing any menial task you can invent. I expect you both to check in once per day.”
Ikkaku almost cut him off, impatiently asking, “Don’t push it. We’ve agreed. Can we go now?”
Soi almost held her breath. The insolence was too obvious. “You may go. I will send further instructions later. One more thing. Captain Fong, you will go to 4^th Division and bring Captain Hitsugaya here. He needs to be reminded that his duty is to his Division, the Gotei 13 and me, not his friend.”
He never let anything go of which he didn't approve. Fortunately she had turned to leave the room and he couldn't see her roll her eyes to the ceiling. “You could send a Hell Butterfly," she suggested.
Of course, he already had. “He has ignored the Hell Butterflies I’ve sent and the other messengers. Bring him here."
She nodded and we finally they were free to leave. If she saw the Captain-Commander anytime soon, it might end with further harsh words exchanged.
Barely waiting until they were out of hearing range, Ikkaku began to grumble. “Damn, why did we agree? I hate giving up anything. Now I’ve got to live like a damned monk until the Captain returns. That will drive me barmy.”
Yumichika frowned and Soi looked at him in astonishment. The man rarely employed any facial expression which might mar it's perfection, at least in his eyes. “I’m not happy either. Because if I can’t drink, I can’t escape the truth, but we had no choice. Captain Zaraki would cut us into miniscule pieces if the Division is a shambles when he returns. I don’t want to think about what he’ll do when he finds out Ran was hurt. The Captain-General gave us no choice."
So many things to consider. Were both Ikkaku and Yumichika involved in tragic love affairs?
Ikkaku continued grumbling. “We’ll have to do something to keep the men occupied. That might help, but they won’t like the edict about it becoming dry.”
While it was a grumble, it was also a fair observation. “I will try to persuade the stubborn old goa… I mean Captain Yamamoto that this will only cause more problems. It would be more sensible to moderate the supply, cut back a little. We should learn from the mistakes of others, not recreate the same ones. Lieutenant, I want you to come with me to retrieve your Captain.”
With so much to occupy their minds, the slip of calling Yamamoto an old goat might be missed.
Matsumoto nodded uncertainly, but it might be due to her mind being on other things.
“Hey, Ran, is it true that twit Hinamori has a bun in the oven and it’s Aizen’s spawn? The guards were talking about it.” The fact Ikkaku asked meant it was general knowledge. How did the guards learn the truth so quickly?
“Yes, but she’s going to marry Iemura,” was the quiet reply.
Again Soi felt a sense of relief that the woman had agreed to marry even someone as forgettable as Iemura. It didn't mean anything for whatever it was she'd shared with Toshiro. Or did it? She felt a thrill of anticipation when she remembered the letter, but quashed that thought as soon as it blossomed.
Fortunately the noise the two 11th Division officers made with their merriment over the news pushed the thoughts from her mind. Both men were guffawing and appeared to find genuine amusement at the news.
Yumichika was the first to gain some control. “So he finally found someone stupid enough to agree to marry him?" A flask appeared out of his sleeve and Soi wondered how he'd managed to conceal it.
She almost asked him how he had managed it, but Ikkaku laughed and replied, "Yeah, remember the time he asked Isane? She’d been nice to him when he was crying over something and he thought she was interested in him. He ended up in traction for a week."
Matsumoto's face remained grave and she seemed troubled as she said, "I think he cares about Momo; and she was relieved. He was so grateful when Momo accepted. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
There was a brief pause as both Yumichika and Ikkaku became more solemn. “I always thought he liked her, but when Aizen was around there was no chance she’d look at him, or anyone. I don’t see her attraction. I prefer woman with a little more character. Women who can fight and don’t cave in under pressure. Strong, beautiful women,” he said vaguely but then became involved in undoing his flask.
Before he could lift the flask to his lips, Ikkaku grabbed it and fastened it. “No more drinking, Yumichika. I told you to stop when we were in the cells and I still don’t know what you said to the guards to get you a refill. If you hadn’t been drinking you wouldn’t have said what you did when we were with the Old Man. You revealed too much. I told you to get over it.”
“I didn’t say anything wrong, I was just too honest. That’s all. Give it back. It helps take away the pain. It’s too late for me, now. She’s getting married.” Yumichika struggled with his friend trying to retrieve his flask as Soi entered a state of shock. He couldn't mean Momo! Not Momo! Why would he care if she married. Who else was getting married?
Rukia?
No. There was no possibility the esteemed daughter of the noble house, sister to that stuck up Byakuya might set her sights so low as to become involved with a 5th seat. Then she remembered Kiyone. Could Yumichika be in love with her?
Ikkaku was unmoved and put the flask away. “She’ll never look at you, now. You’re too far below her to even consider. You should have tried for promotion to lieutenant; we know you can rise to that level. We’ve been over this too many times and I don’t want to hear about it again. Forget her and find someone else.”
While the conversation was fascinating and she wished to know more, she wanted to read the letter and get this mess finalised. She permitted her normal stern expression to settle on her face. “Work out the problem in your own time. I’m not interested in your love life.”
At least she sounded convincing to her own ears.
She caught a quick glance from Matsumoto who seemed to be preparing to continue the conversation, but she swallowed and then asked “May I visit Zaraki’s quarters while we’re in 11^th Division? I need to change.”
Another delay? Soi fought to keep the frustration out of her face and voice, “They are now your quarters. I will allow you 10 minutes only," she said as she considered it, but then made a decision. Perhaps it wasn't wise, but the contents of the letter intrigued her. She wanted to know what he had to say. “It will give me time to read the note from your Captain. There may be important information that I should convey to the Captain-General.” The last sentence didn't even convince her.
Trying to work swiftly she took the seated officers to talk to their Division. As soon as the 11th Division were alerted to their arrival members flocked to them until they were surrounded. Soi stood back slightly, unwilling to be surrounded by these men again. There was a great amount of exclamation, back slapping, with some bowing, displays of strength and a great amount of swearing and offensive comments. Men had strange ways of bonding or showing concern for each other and Soi was once more grateful she did not have to leave this bunch of testosterone ridden uncontrolled urge ridden men who could barely walk upright without dragging their knuckles on the ground.
Ikkaku answered any questions rapidly while Yumichika looked sick, whether from emotion, lack of sleep or drinking too much wine, Soi couldn't guess. He brightened up as he waspishly replied to some observations.
"Shut up," Ikkaku finally yelled. "If you shut up I'll tell you exactly what is going on and then you can ask questions. Repeating the same thing over and over again is boring, and thirsty work at that."
It took some time for semi-quiet to settle on the men who still murmured and laughed.
Succinctly and without much respect, the third seat outline the situation, including the rules about no alcohol. Loud groans met the news and a few men feigned anger or tears.
"Captain Yamamoto made the decree. We can either accept it and get out of lockdown, or reject it, still not get any alcohol and stay under lockdown. Use your brains for once!" Ikkaku sound exasperated.
"We all need to focus on training and making sure no one gains access to the Seireitei without warning. I'm sure Captain Zaraki will throw a wild party once he gets back and this is all over. You know what his parties are like?" Yumichika added his support.
A roar of approval met the words.
"All you can drink!"
"Loose women!"
"Food, lots and lots of sukiyaki!"
"Shabu Shabu!"
From the comments it seemed the men were prey to all the basic desires and might possibly be swayed by the promise of a good time planned for an uncertain future. Soi wondered how Matsumoto might view the idea of the party, especially the loose women.
At the same time, any woman who accepted an invitation to an 11th Division party might already know what was expected. Hopefully they would or there would be another rash of unexpected pregnancies with unexpected pairings.
Reminded of her own condition, Soi again fingered the paper in her pocket. How much longer would it take before she had the freedom to read the letter? What had Toshiro thought so important he committed it to paper and gave it into the hands of his lieutenant to deliver?
There was more discussion, a few troublemakers raising unnecessary issues and creating arguments. Finally Ikkaku folded his arms and said, "Not up for discussion. This is how it is going to be and anyone who has a problem with it can meet me for a fight tomorrow morning. After being cooped up in a cell, a little light amputation might amuse me." He smiled, baring his teeth and most of the crowd fell silent.
She felt a presence loom next to her and she turned to see who it was. "Thank you Captain Fong," the man whose name she couldn't remember said. "Thank you for bringing back our senior officers. We needed them."
She nodded and quickly spoke to Ikkaku, but before she could finish the sentence she suddenly felt a quasi-familiar reiatsu, one which should not be there, in Zaraki's quarters. Another threat! Moving faster than she knew she entered the house only to witness the fading image of a phantasm fading as Matsumoto slashed at it with a short knife, shock visible on her face. Soi realised she had drawn her zanpakuto, prepared to kill anyone who posed a threat or who might again make others question the vigilance of her Division.
What had happened? She was certain she'd sensed Ichimaru's reiatsu, distorted slightly, but he wasn't here. Had her senses tricked her? Could she trust what she felt or saw?
“I felt that slimy bastard’s reiatsu,” was her explanation. “It was only a small hint of it, but I couldn’t let them do anything to you on my watch. Not again.”
The two freed seated officers rushed into the room, blades drawn and menacing expressions visible on their faces. “Are you okay, Ran? We were talking to the Captain and she suddenly dashed off. Yumichika said he thought he felt a traitor’s reiatsu, but couldn’t tell which.” Ikkaku's eyes were sweeping the room , while Yumichika warily moved into another room to check it for any intruders.
Matsumoto sat on the bed looking stunned and her gaze went to something which looked like a rock. Why would anyone keep a rock in their bedroom? She picked it up and stared at it before commenting with a shocked tone, “I thought I saw Gin, but when I cut at him, he vanished like a ghost. He gave me this, years ago, but now it’s changed. I’ve never seen these symbols before.”
Yumichika came back into the room and took the rock distastefully but speedily from his Captain's wife. "I think I’ve seen something like this before. These markings are recent. What do you see, Ikkaku?” He held out the rock to his friend.
Ikkaku seemed reluctant to touch the object, replying, “Don’t bother giving it to me. Give it to the Captain. She knows more about these things,” as he waved it away.
Soi didn't wish to touch the rock, either but did so, trying not to grimace and examined it as closely as her revulsion permitted. The signs were slightly familiar, and they increased her revulsion. Touching this item made her feel unclean. “I think it’s a focus, but I don’t know. When he was skulking around the Seireitei, I suppose Ichimaru might have come here as you were occupied in the bathhouse for some time, or even when your possessions were moved here. What its purpose is eludes me. Akon might have some idea. I’ll keep this and ask him.” Fortunately there was a small bad nearby and with relief she dropped the item into it and placed it in her pocket. She breathed a sigh of relief as the contact was removed.
Akon was the logical choice. At one time she might have approached Tessai as these symbols appeared to invoke one of the forbidden kido's, but he was no longer available. If, as she suspected the origin of the item was from the 12th Division, Akon might be able to provide the information. Even if he was unwilling to assist there were methods which had proven successful in persuading even the most reluctant to talk.
“What makes you think a skunk from that questionable division will help you?” Yumichika sounded disbelieving.
A small smile was permitted in this instance. “Very few people are stupid enough to deny my requests, at least a second time,” was all she said as she gave a dismissive glance at the two 11th Division officers. The situation outside was too tense for them to remain for long.
Fortunately Ikkaku caught on before she had to make herself understood by other methods. “Better get back to the men. They’ll be wondering what’s going on. See you tonight, Ran.”
The woman seemed sunk in thought and barely roused herself to answer, "Uh, yeah." She remained sitting, staring at nothing as the men left.
Soi waited, but she still remained silent. “Are you ready to talk to your Captain?” May as well make the woman aware she was keeping others waiting.
Finally her eyes focused on Soi. “Not quite.”
Maybe this was the opportunity she was waiting for. While Matsumoto prepared, she could read the note without any observation. Trying to be casual and not interested she said, “I will sit outside and read the note.”   Did her voice betray her anticipation?
Matsumoto simply nodded and Soi left the room, trying to slow her steps and be calm and not betray her anticipation. The letter. At last she had the chance to read it and possibly gain an understanding of Toshiro's thoughts.
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A.N.
Soundtrack
'You're Free' Yomanda (Yes, the irony factor)
'Waiting' Jimmie's Chicken Shack
'Love, Sex and Money' Gravity Kills
'Arise' E S Posthumous
Review. Reviews sometimes amuse.
Happy 2012. If it is anything like this year.......
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For The Love of a Friend