Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Bleach Ficlets: Dare To Live ❯ 23 Curiosity & Delegation ( Chapter 23 )

Authors Note: I don't own Bleach and make no claims on it. If I did, there'd be a whole hell of a lot of kinky shit going down.

 

23 Curiosity& Delegation

 

Something was definitely up with Renji. He was twitchy and kept shooting me weird looks. Instead of talking and joking with me about the interesting red-head I'd found him in bed with, his mouth was sealed tighter than a drum whenever I steered the conversation back to that Nova guy. Of course, that made me more curious about him. Renji was generally pretty picky about who he took to bed. The disappearing trick that Nova guy did was more than a little strange and I wondered how he'd done it. Renji wasn't saying shit about that though.

 

“You wanna grab a few drinks after your chew out?” I asked. Maybe I could draw a little more information out of him once he had a few cups of sake in him.

 

Renji opened his mouth and I could see refusal in his eyes. He surprised me and, I think, himself by agreeing when I could've sworn he was going to say no. We settled on meeting later at a favourite bar. Renji took a deep breath and squared his shoulders before knocking sharply on his Captain's door. The quiet command to enter had Renji swearing under his breath before stepping into the office and closing the door gently behind him. I couldn't make out anything different in Captain Kuchiki's voice or reiatsu but obviously Renji could and he didn't think his Captain was very happy with him.

 

I made my way back to my division, my shoulders slumping a little. I was drowning in paperwork. It was damn hard being acting-Captain and Vice-Captain at the same time. I was so lost in thought of how to juggle the things I needed to do and the oddity of Renji's new playmate; I nearly knocked someone down when I rounded a corner. I groaned mentally when I saw who it was. Of all the people I could've trampled….

 

“I'm very sorry, Captain Ukitake. Are you okay? I wasn't watching where I was going,” I said as I put out a hand to steady the man.

 

“No harm done. You seemed lost in thought. I can listen if you need an ear. I have been told I am a very good listener,” he said with a gentle smile.

 

I appreciated the gesture. I really did but, the issues with my division were for me to work out. With my Captain gone, it was my duty to fill the void until a new Captain was chosen. I simply had to be patient. Besides, I wasn't about to burden Ukitake with my problems when he wasn't in the best of health. That wouldn't be fair. Even if, because of his long experience as a Shinigami, he might have an idea how Nova did that disappearing trick. That weirdness was really bugging me the more I thought about it.

 

“Thank you, Captain. I'll manage somehow,” I said with a little shrug.

 

“Delegate, Hisagi,” Ukitake said with a little frown. I looked at him, not sure what he meant.

 

He folded his arms and gave me a hard look that reminded me he was a Captain and one that had way more experience than I did. Ukitake seemed to change in an eye-blink from frail and gentle to strong and dominating. I was ducking my head in respectful obedience to him without even thinking about it.

 

“You are exhausting yourself doing two jobs at once. I shall speak to Master Genryuusai on your behalf and let him know that a new captain has to be decided on soon. In the mean time, parcel out the some of your workload to the third and maybe even fourth seats. You are a brilliant man, Hisagi but you will be no good to us if you collapse under the strain. I am not your Captain and cannot order you to do this but, I strongly suggest you do as I advise.”

 

I nodded. I knew better than to argue with the kind of authority now winding through his voice. Ukitake smiled and that commanding presence vanished leaving a frail Shinigami in front of me again. I had no idea how he did that but it was a damn fine trick. Ukitake rested a hand on my shoulder and squeezed lightly. He may have looked like he couldn't swat a butterfly away but his grip felt solid and full of restrained power. I was curious how he could look so weak and yet be so strong.

 

“You have been doing a fine job, Hisagi but a little rest and relaxation would go a long way. You look a little worn around the edges. Go out and have some fun with your friends. Contrary to what some Shinigami's may think duty is not and should not be the sole purpose of our existence.”

 

I frowned a little. Was Ukitake telling me to blow off work so I could party with my friends? “Well, I'm supposed to hook up with Renji for drinks after he finishes his… meeting with Captain Kuchiki. If he's not buried in paperwork, that is,” I said with a tiny smile. It was no secret that Captain Kuchiki disciplined his Vice-Captain by burying him in paperwork.

 

Ukitake laughed briefly before a coughing fit stopped him. He waved away my concern and pulled a square of linen from inside his sleeve. He wiped his mouth and scowled at the spots of blood. I started to offer help to get him back to his house so he could rest when a wicked little smile flashed over his lips. If I'd have blinked, I'd have missed it.

 

“I am quite certain Vice-Captain Abarai will join you later,” Ukitake said with a soft smile as he walked away.

 

I had my doubts about that. No matter how much Captain Kuchiki respected his former teacher, I couldn't see Renji getting off the hook so easily when Kuchiki had the perfect opportunity to bury Renji in much hated paperwork. I sighed and trudged back to my division. I had my own stack of hated paperwork to get through. Maybe I should do what Ukitake suggested and delegate. I was the acting-Captain after all. As simple as that, some of the weight on my shoulders lifted with the decision to spread the workload around to a few capable Shinigami under me. I smiled and continued on to my division, feeling better than I had in ages. Now, if I could just figure out why Renji was behaving so weird and satisfy my curiosity about that Nova guy and his disappearing act, I'd be completely happy.