Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ For The Love of a Friend ❯ Dumb Love ( Chapter 33 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach and the characters depicted therein. The characters in this story are not mine, mostly.

 

Dumb Love

 

She was sad to see Retsu go. For a friendship so recently formed she had come to rely upon Captain Unohana's advice, even if it seemed a little strange on occasions. When she thought about it, she'd decided that her friend might have been voicing her own decisions aloud, rather than providing advice pertinent to Soi's situation. It didn't matter, because at least it broadened the range of possibilities she had to consider.

 

She'd buried herself in work after her last conversation with Retsu. As she ran the conversation through her mind she recalled that a document had been mentioned which she was certain she had not read. It was not on her desk or in her files and that worried her.

 

With her lieutenant on extended leave she decided to look through his desk to see if it was there. What she found appalled her. Food wrappers were layered between urgent reports and requests. Calling her third seat to assist they sorted through the debris, removing all food related items and piling the papers together. Hiding her shudders of disgust she found she was revolted by evidence of the man's greed. On occasions she had been assured that the man was not as lazy or objectionable as he appeared, but all the evidence seemed to indicate the contrary. The rubbish container was full and the paperwork piled to an alarming standard by the time they were finished and she contemplated the incomplete work with horror.

 

While she washed her hands and cleaned up she speculated about what she could do. The situation had to be salvaged by whatever means she had at her disposal and as soon as possible. There could be no accusation made that she was less able to cope with her responsibilities than Toshiro. She had to prove herself to be his equal, no his better. That would provide some solace for her wounded pride.

 

“I want the five seated officers under you to work through this,” she said after taking a deep breath. “Not the lieutenant,' she continued as she witnessed a confused look cross her subordinates face. “Read through everything. Bring me the work that is urgent and the requisitions that need to be actioned immediately.”

 

“Yes, Sir,” he said promptly.

 

“Why didn't anyone tell me the situation?” She had been distracted and had relied on her officers to make certain that matters went smoothly. Her trust has been misplaced.

 

The man cleared his throat and shifted from foot to foot as if the question made him feel uncomfortable. “I didn't know. Every time I tried to find something on his desk, the lieutenant insulted me or, or, well he made…” the man faltered and pulled at the collar of his uniform awkwardly. “I found it hard to breathe and he'd push at me with his reiatsu,” he whispered.

 

As the hint sank through, her mind shied with disgust. If he again approached her with a proposal of marriage she would reject him with even less politeness. Even though she was not fond of the man, at least Captain Kuchiki acted like a noble. Omaeda might be related to a noble family but his behaviour lacked the constraints of even those who were considered common.

 

“Is that all?” Her officers should have persisted.

 

“No. The lieutenant has ways of making people very uneasy if he gets annoyed by them.” The man pressed his lips together and his eyes darted around the room. He seemed exceedingly nervous, but she wanted answers.

 

Explain,” she commanded the man.

 

With a great amount of hesitation her third seat outlined how Omaeda treated the other seated officers. From his observations it became apparent that the man displayed more arrogance than she had imagined possible. His assertion that he would soon be a Captain, and free to choose his subordinates, amazed her. He hadn't achieved bankai, defeated another Captain and no one would even suggest he would make a competent leader. She would never have recommended him for a Captain's position and if she didn't it would be unlikely that any other Captain would do so.

 

“He says the Captain Yamamoto is desperate. The proof is that he appointed Toshiro Hitsugaya as a Captain even thought he's barely out of nappies. When I protested and pointed out all that Captain Hitsugaya has achieved, he told me to shut up or he'd make you demote me. When I asked him about the paperwork he told me it was none of my business.”

 

The outrage she felt at that comment scared her. It was true she had questioned the wisdom of appointing such a young person to an important position, but Toshiro was worthy. He'd proven it many times. Despite her anger at the man she could not dismiss his capabilities and strength. The criticisms she was hearing, made her face the many good qualities that the 10th Division Captain possessed. She wished it didn't. It was easier if she could continue to ignore those while focusing on his flaws. She wanted to hate the man! Most of all, she didn't want to think about him, at all, ever again.

 

That her lieutenant had dared to condemn Toshiro wasn't really a shock. His criticism of others had been regular, but she had ignored it, not caring to respond to his clumsy observations or his hunger for gossip. It was almost as if he believed that his disparaging comments made him appear in a better light when all it did was make her despise him for his inability to try to improve. If he did something to assist another, he expected instant recognition and praise, while ignoring the help he received. Any gossip was immediately spread, if it placed another person in an unflattering light. As she thought about it, she tried to recall Omaeda uttering a complimentary word or phrase about anyone outside his family. She couldn't.

 

The list of slights and insults continued to mount as her third seat noticed she was listening. The revelation that Omaeda had officers he preferred didn't make her blink in surprise. Each new fact brought to her how all her instructions were ignored. The changes she'd suggested had not been implemented as they would have transferred power out of Omaeda's hands.

 

While she hadn't trusted the man she had never suspected that he would blatantly flout her orders. It was apparent he was complacent that she wouldn't discover the omission and it had some foundation in truth. There had been much to consider and she cursed her shortcomings.

 

As he talked more she noticed her third seat relax and the more he relaxed the more information flowed from him. She knew she was strict with her subordinates but that was the role of the Captain. And as a female she often felt that she had to maintain a stronger attitude so that no one would perceive her as being weak. While it had worked, it had also had the unfortunate effect that few of her division felt they could approach her concerning their problems. All this had contributed to the issues which were now being disclosed.

 

“I need these charges written down. Instruct the other seated officers to manage the paperwork while you formally assemble these charges against Omaeda. While it may not be possible to remove him from his current position, it will make certain that he never progresses any further,” she saw the look of dismay spread over the man's face. Remembering something that Yoruichi used to do to gain trust, she addressed him by his name, hoping it would remove some of his concerns and make her appear more accessible. “Jin, your name will not be mentioned. I will copy everything in my own handwriting I will be the person making the accusations.”

 

The man nodded, hope flaring in his eyes.

 

“I command this Division,” she said to herself as much as him. “I may appoint him to permanently administer the Maggots Nest and other detention facilities, if you have no objection.”

 

Jin's face broke into a smile at the thought. The 2nd Division lieutenant was known for avoiding the place as much as possible. Originally he had liked going there and enjoyed swaggering around, insulting the inmates and making them aware of all they had lost. On the last occasion he had visited a group of inmates who had experienced enough of his superior attitude, and were seeking to explain their objections, surrounded him. Jin had been forced to extricate him, personally, and Omaeda had accused him of causing the attack and then swore never to return. Forcing him to take on the managerial role would remove him from much of the work he was meant to be doing and she would instruct all her staff working in the prison to ignore any directives which did not have her approval.

 

“If that is your decision, Captain, I will not question it, or stand in your way,” he said.

 

Soi was surprised at the way an understanding had grown so quickly between them. It was probably fostered by their need to address a problem that faced the two of them. If only she could do this with Toshiro instead of taking an opposing position which ended up placing them in conflict once more. Without meaning to, she sighed and then tried to turn it into a yawn. Sighing was useless and only made the person who sighed appear weak or short of breath. She was neither.

 

Resolution made her stand straight and she looked at Jin with her normal commanding attitude. “Get those officers now. I want this paperwork sorted before morning. There will be no mistakes and no extensions of time.”

 

The smile immediately left Jin's face and he looked at her for some time before bowing. “It will be done. I will make certain of it.” Before he left the room he turned and gazed at her once more. “Thank you, Captain. In future I will bring any important problems to your notice immediately.” The smile he gave her showed his appreciation and she waved a dismissive hand at him, grateful that he left prior to witnessing the answering smile on her face.

 

She returned to her office with papers she knew she should read immediately. Shifting her chair around, she then adjusted the light, watered a plant that had belonged to Yoruichi which she kept on her desk as a constant reminder of her lover and then fiddled with her writing tools. Her mind skittered over the conversation and kept returning to the insults that her lieutenant had levelled at her Division, and Toshiro. She heard a snap as she broke the pencil she was holding. Dropping it, she worried that she was losing control over her body. She hadn't meant to exert that amount of strength. It had been a mistake. A further mistake in a long line of mistakes.

 

As she thought through recent events involving Tohsiro, there was only one action she had taken which did not seem either foolish or unfortunate. Strangely that was when she incited Toshiro to fight Kenpachi. That had permitted the two of them to get rid of some excess energy and she had an odd suspicion that it had assisted in the recovery of Lieutenant Matsumoto, though how it had worked she had no idea. Watching the two men fight had fascinated her, watching brawn against youth. Both were talented and she had originally thought they would be unmatched. Watching them she was certain that eventually Kenpachi would have won because of his experience and endurance. Also she knew the man would never give up until he was either the victor, or dead but Toshiro's agility and unpredictable moves had almost made them matched, for a time.

 

She slammed her hands on the desk as she realised she was thinking of Toshiro again. So what if she loved him? It didn't mean she had to think of him all the time. He wasn't that important. The feeling would pass and if it didn't she'd ignore it. She was a captain with responsibilities and love was a hindrance. Love was dumb and only dumb people fell in love. If she could convince herself that she didn't love the man, whom she didn't; (well she hoped she didn't); then she wasn't dumb.

 

Most of her life she had lived in the shadows of others, always trying to please. When she became Captain she had altered her thinking and she was damned if she was going to change back to the person who focused on pleasing people before she thought of her own needs. Trying to be the person Yoruichi wanted had been a sacrifice she had been willing to make, but that was in her youth. Toshiro was not Yoruichi and Yoruichi was not Toshiro. She loved neither of them. She loved no one. No one loved her.

 

Satisfied that she'd worked that out, she nodded and then buried her face in her hands. At least she was only thinking these garbled thoughts rather than voicing them aloud. They made no sense and seemed to be designed to confuse her rather than confirm her beliefs.

 

Aware that she was permitting emotion to dictate her behaviour she rose from her chair and began pacing the floor.

 

“I won't think about him. Or her,” she said aloud to strengthen her resolve. “The past is another country and I don't want to visit it.”

 

The statement struck her as absurd and she found she was giggling. The humour was wrong and she immediately suppressed the impulse. There was something that would remove any thought of laughter and she turned to the paperwork.

 

Sorting through the papers she found a few loose sheets stuck together and with an expression of disdain she separated the pages with the tips of her fingers. Getting a cloth she wiped of the substance and then washed her hands. Cleaning the papers proved that the loose sheets were in Omaeda's handwriting and the thought of touching those papers revolted her. As she crumpled them, preparing to throw them in with the other rubbish, a few words caught her eye and she immediately smoothed the papers on the desk.

 

Swiftly she read through the information and then stared fixedly at the wall as she sifted through the unnecessary verbiage and purple passages. The bare facts were that Omaeda was tracing his lineage and had made some startling conclusions. She knew that the noble families claimed to be directly descended from the Gods, but Omeada had taken it one step further. He claimed the Goddess Amaterasu, as his ancestress.

 

Only the Emperor of Japan and the royal family were permitted to make that claim. The proof of his claim rested on the possession of the Sacred Sword, supposedly lost in the battle of Dannoura.

 

The ownership of the sword was a flimsy pretext on which to base his assertion. An alternate interpretation could be that an ancestor had stolen the sword during the confusion of the battle.

 

That was not the most disturbing of his pretensions. The attempt to prove some blood relationship to the Commander-General was frivolous and wouldn't convince anyone, except possibly Momo, and only if Oedema was slightly attractive. The last two claims were the most reprehensible. He claimed to be directly related to the Emperor of Heaven. That was treason. He also claimed to be directly and closely related to the Shinion clan and that was the claim that roused Soi's ire. She disregarded his attempt to prove a link with the Kuchiki clan as unimportant.

 

It was not possible to monitor treasonous thoughts, but the man had shown incredible stupidity, pride or arrogance in committing them to paper. If this was his belief then it amazed her that he had condescended to ask her to marry him. Rukia would have been a more appropriate choice, but she was engaged to Renji. He would not have dared approach Yoruichi, and the other female Shinigami did not have the correct lineage.

 

The inference that he felt some affection for her, purely based on their interaction was false. The man saw her as a method by which he could further his ambitions. Looking at the handwriting, it reminded her of other handwriting she had seen recently. She has not removed the flowers sent from her `Secret Admirer' as yet and removed the card. The writing on the card was disguised but there were enough similarities to indicate that the flowers had come from her lieutenant.

 

A flush rose on her face as she recalled the basket that had been delivered to her while she was with Retsu. The handwriting on that card was almost the same as the one in front of her.

 

She had made a mistake! Toshiro had not sent the basket. He had not deliberately chosen banana's to insult her. The black cat was not a reminder of her prior relationship with Yoruichi, but the result of Omaeda's observation of her fascination with black cats. The mauve was the colour of his scarf.

 

Then she remembered Retsu remarking on the cost of the basket and the items contained within. Why hadn't she worked it out at the time? She had been ready to blame Toshiro and take it for an insult and a reminder of some of the harsh words that had passed between them. Replaying the conversation she'd had with Omaeda, it was borne on her that she had misinterpreted his words as being supplied by Toshiro.

 

The man had been dreaming about her.

 

Dreaming about her.

 

The string of words that erupted from her mouth mostly began with `f'. The outrage she felt as she realised the type of dreams that the man had been referring to was overlain by a pronounced physical disgust. It was even worse than when she thought those fevered thoughts about marrying the man.

 

On her feet once more she walked around the room, looking for something she could break, some form of destruction that would relieve some of the rage that threatened to overtake her. If Retsu had not gone to Las Noches she would have sought her out for a talk. If she were on good terms with Toshiro she could have told him. Would he be amused by the news? Was it possible he might have felt some jealousy?

 

She stopped and stood very still. Her revulsion was removing her concentration from the more important matter. Omaeda's ambitions. Ambitious people were dangerous. The risks they would take, the actions that might result in harm and danger to other people could threaten her Division.

 

Her earlier decision was correct. The man would be sidelined to administering the prisons, except he would be effectively doing nothing. There would be little change in the amount of work he was doing, but the ability to hurt or impede other people would be removed.

 

Determined not to wait any longer, she sat down and drafted the order, with a letter of intent which she would send to First Division. Yamamoto may not be pleased by her decision, so she hinted at certain disquieting revelations that had assisted in making the decision. Calling a messenger, the letter of intent was dispatched as she turned once more to the order. It had to be carefully worded. To placate the man she had to phrase it so that he would believe he was being given more responsibility and a senior position. Essentially the appointment was a demotion, but if she gave it a new title and presented it correctly he might be persuaded to take the position.

 

Not that he had a choice, but he might protest to his family. Thinking the matter over she knew he would appeal to his family if he felt he was being slighted and that would involve explanations which she didn't wish to make. The man had to be removed but in such a manner that it might appear he was being rewarded.

 

She wrote, read and discarded. Once, twice, three times she tried.

 

“It's wrong. If it is only facts then it's obvious that I have a problem with him,” she sighed as she once more read the page.

 

Raising her eyes, she cast around the room to find something, anything that might indicate another approach. Then she saw the man's lying proclamations and smiled as an idea presented itself. Going to the door she opened it and spoke to the people gathered in the next room who were bent over their work.

 

“Who can write? Not documents, but stories?”

 

Her subordinates raised their heads, looked at her and then at each other as if searching for an answer.

 

There was a face she recognised and she pointed to the Shinigami. “You. I've told you many times to rewrite something to contain only the facts. Come here. I have a job for you.”

 

“M..mmm…Me?” quavered the man as he pointed unbelievingly at his chest. “Sir?”

 

“You. Come in here.”

 

Following her into her office the man stood at attention. As she explained what she wished him to do he became alternately relaxed or tense.

 

“Sir, are you sure you want me to do this?” he asked when she was finished.

 

“I insist you do it.” It was simple enough. “Now.”

 

He dropped his head and she noticed that his shoulders slumped. If he disobeyed her orders he would find himself in the Maggot's Nest before the day was out. “The lieutenant knows my writing,” he said.

 

This was another of her division who seemed to fear Omaeda more than her. Even though the third seat had explained a number of problems that the man had created this was evidence that she only knew of a portion.

 

Releasing an angry sigh she noticed a shock of fear course through the man. “I'll rewrite it in my handwriting,” she snapped. “If you're clever with the words he'll be pleased, not angry.”

 

The sudden flash of understanding in his eyes was followed by a wide grin. “I'll do my best, Sir.”

 

“How long will it take?” There was no point in giving a long timeframe for this.

 

“I can do it in an hour, Sir, or even less.”

 

“Get on with it.”

 

Alone once more, Soi returned to her chair and put other issues aside as she did what was necessary.

 

Unintentionally her mind kept returning to the night when she had told Toshiro he was asleep. Whether he had believed her, or later worked out that she had actually been there was something she might never know. The impulse to return to the room to see if anyone slept there was quickly suppressed. It might seem like a coincidence once, but twice would make it a habit.

 

“I want to forgive him. I want him to forgive me. It can never go back to what it was. Why did he have to ask me that question? It could have continued for years, but he had to ask about that stupid friend of his. Marry? He's too young to get married.”

 

Running her teeth across the top of her thumbnail it seemed clear that if Toshiro had not asked the question the problems she now faced would not have occurred. The realisation struck.

 

“I'd still be pregnant. I'd still have a useless lieutenant. The only difference would be the sex. I miss the sex,” she admitted, finally prepared to concede that there was more than one problem in her life that was not caused by the 10th Division Captain.

 

A.N.

 

Yeah, the apology for the last chapter. That was aimed at those who read both `Different Circumstances' and `For the Love of a Friend'. That's the last time I apologise. Blame a rotten night's sleep and summer. I hate summer.

 

Soundtrack

Omaeda now a theme song. `Upright Man' by Bill Laswell.

 

Kaname Tosen also has a theme song. It is `Upright Man' by Bill Laswell. It applies to both of them in different ways and as they are minor characters they can share it.

 

This is a very random list and compiled due to a number of influences, mainly the conflict of feelings Soi experiences during the movie.

`I Never Liked You' Rogue Traders

`Jealousy' Keoki

`All the Pigs, All Lined Up' Nine Inch Nails

`Pocketful of Sadness' Freestylers

 

Review. Reviews sometimes amuse.