Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ For The Love of a Friend ❯ Never Friends ( Chapter 35 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach and the characters depicted therein. The characters in this story are not mine, except for the new ones which are now populating 2nd Division. I make no money from the publication of this work.

Never Friends

"Captain, could you please read this and approve it. I think it contains the correct amount of flattery and misdirection, but I'm not sure if it is too obvious," Sano, the Shinigami she had charged with writing the letter had knocked and entered when she gave him permission.

Raising her head from the report she was reading, she was amazed to find that an hour had passed and she had managed to concentrate, once she had wrenched her mind from her useless maunderings about Toshiro. Each time she had begun to think about him she had concentrated on reading and it had worked. While it was a relief to have time when her thought were not constantly straying to the father of her child, it made her miss him more when he popped up in her thoughts.

Holding out her hand, she took the papers that were placed there and glanced over the letter. Without being aware of it, her mouth opened and she found she was torn between amusement and horror. Her subordinate's ability with words was beyond question. When the letter was first read, it provided a compelling argument for her lieutenant to accept the new position which was presented, subtly, as a slight promotion.

Reading the letter again more slowly, she noted the careful manipulation of the recognised weaknesses of Omaeda. Family and status were mentioned more than once; the need for careful management of any prisoners who might provide a potential threat and as the overseer he would not need to have any contact with the people under his 'protection' unless he felt it was necessary. While it was not stated clearly, the position was presented as an interim measure before promotion to Captain was carefully considered.

Trying to keep her face straight she nearly laughed as Omaeda's leadership' qualities were praised, but there were some areas where the letter needed to be ambiguous. The promises were nearly tangible and might later provide ammunition if the man decided to use the letter as a basis to demand promotion. She made notations along the problem areas and handed the papers back.

"Soften those phrases. Otherwise I admit that you have performed well. This is the style required. When it is complete, bring it here."

The man nodded and had nearly exited the room when Soi asked, "How is the rest of the work progressing?" She could have easily gone out and checked the situation, but the man was here. Asking took seconds.

"Quite well, considering," and then he stopped.

"Considering what?" The hesitation alerted her that there may be additional problems with the paperwork and orders that had not been completed.

"That more people are coming forward who have had bad encounters with the lieutenant. There have been a few women who are...." The man went quiet and seemed to search for the right word, "unhappy?" he finally added.

"How are they unhappy?" Immediately after she said it, she regretted the question.

Sano shifted his neck uncomfortably and again took some time before he answered. "They won't tell me. " He avoided her eyes and she began to feel a rising anger as the possibility of what the women were 'unhappy' about came to her.

"They want to talk to you," his voice had dropped to barely a whisper which confirmed her fears.

"I will listen," she said firmly. Taking charge of the situation before it deteriorated any further was the only action possible. All the issues she had not had time to consider or resolve were coming back to her. Flushing slightly she remembered the insults that Toshiro had levelled at her after he'd spoken to her Division about fighting the Arrancar. Now it seemed he had been correct and her false beliefs that it was her instructions which guided her Division were being removed, not through slow erosion, but sudden collapse.

"Now?" Sano words and well as his expression showed his amazement.

"Yes, now. Order, I mean, ask them, to come in," she said, proud that she showed no evidence of how much her inclination pushed her toward going for a very, very long walk.

"Yes, Sir," he said and left the room.

Waiting, she rose to her feet and paced. During this unexpected and unwanted interview she would sit, but for now she would work off a little of the emotional conflict.

Too soon the knock came and she resumed her seat and called out, "Come in." In answer to her summons, the door opened and a group of 5 women filed in. One had been crying and the others expressions ranged from mutinous to fearful. Soi recognised each of them and wondered why such disparate people should wish to see her as a group.

She was not surprised to see Matsuri as one of the members of the group. Forthright and brave, the woman was often requesting appointments to speak with Soi. Her lieutenant would inform her of the request and then outline the reason for the request, which was always trivial. Now she faced the woman, she wondered if the man had made false representations and effectively blocked access to Soi so that she would be kept in ignorance of the problems. Matsuri was tall and dwarfed the other females in the 2nd Division, and some of the men.

Oki was slender and delicate, some might call her petite. She kept her hair long and it was often twisted into some style that was both intricate and attractive, making her seem even more fragile and supporting the idea that she was a person more accustomed to being protected.

"I have been informed that you are unhappy. While your emotional state should not affect your work, I have decided to listen to your issues to see if we can reach some compromise." She may as well be blunt. Talking around the subject would only prolong the problem.

Matsuri looked mutinous and spoke before anyone else could open her mouth. "Where's the lieutenant?"

Soi coolly raised an eyebrow. The woman had not answered the question and showed a marked lack of respect. Her behaviour would not be tolerated. "Is that the issue?" was her next statement.

Matsuri noticed her glare and obviously reminded to whom she spoke, her expression changed a little. "I heard that the lieutenant has been given leave. Is it true?"

"Is it?" Oki asked eagerly almost as soon as the other woman finished speaking.

Not wishing to disclose the reason for the man's absence, Soi sat straight in her chair and said, "I have directed Lieutenant Omaeda to take thirty days leave so he may address some family matters."

"Thirty days. Does that mean the porker won't be pushing his snout into other people's business for the rest of the month?" Matsuri was leaning forward, a glimmer of excitement clearly noticeable.

From the conversation it was becoming clear that few people within her Division had a good opinion of her lieutenant. In some strange way his proposal had forced this result; she was now discovering the truth and would be able to reclaim her Division and make it function.

She gauged the expression on each woman's face. They were all eagerly awaiting her reply and she saw no reason to delay. Flitting over her mind was the concern that they were going to reveal cases of forced sexual depravity with the man and it that were so, she would arrange his assassination without hesitation. It was not possible to overlook the attraction of that idea. There would be no need for tedious explanations or worrying about if the man would once more commence his unwanted attentions.

Forcing a composed look on her face she replied, "The lieutenant will be absent for the next thirty days. As I have told him not to report for work during that time, he will not be permitted to interfere with the running of this Division for this month." Not one of them could question her about this again. She had made it perfectly clear.

The reaction of the women amazed her. Two of them turned to each other and after raising their arms high, slapped their palms together. The other two hugged themselves and wriggled with excitement. The other simply shut her eyes. These actions indicated the delight of the women, but appeared to indicate that the anticipated problems might be very different to her fears.

"Sit," she ordered the women. If this was going to take some time, she may as well have them sitting at eye level than needing to crane her neck to look up at them.

A few minutes of bustle and the women were seated, facing her. Deciding to take charge and find out all that was going on she addressed them. "If there is an issue with Omaeda, you will tell me now. As quickly and concisely as you can."

All the women began to speak at once, stopped, looked at each other, nodded then once more began to speak.

"One at a time. You, Midori, you speak first." Midori was the quietest of them and might be quick, at least that was Soi's reasoning.

Midori cleared her throat quietly, opened her mouth, coughed slightly and cleared her throat once more. She cast a panicked look at Soi and then swallowed hard. In a low and quivering voice she said, "The lieutenant demands that I bake him biscuits and cakes every other day. He says it is my duty as his subordinate. I've asked him to pay for the ingredients, but he won't. Too much of my spare time is taken up with making food for that man. He's never thanked me." During the time she spoke, her voice became firmer and almost angry. As her voice faded away and she looked guilty at showing her anger, or at least that was Soi's assumption.

Soi picked up a brush and made some notes. It seemed a trivial issue, but if the demand was regular and she received no form of compensation it was unfair.

"You left out about having to make his meals for him three times a week," Matsuri said.

"I don't want to think about it," Midori said, her face turning white.

It was obvious that the man was taking advantage of the woman, not sexually, but of her talent in preparing food. This would not be permitted. "You are excused from preparing any type of food for Omaeda. If he makes any further demands, refer him to me. "

Midori nodded and sat back in her chair, her hands folded neatly. She was suddenly calmer and her breathing slowed. Turning to the other woman who had spoken little, once more Soi had to try to remember her name. It started with an N and that was all she could remember.

"You speak next," she said abruptly, hoping that the omission of the name would not be noticed.

"I'm Nana, Captain."

Soi froze. The woman had noticed that she wasn't addressed by name and was either angry enough to point it out, polite in the giving of her name, or hurt. Recently she had run from too many problems, or handled them badly. Instead of trying to slide over the problem, she nodded. "Nana. What did Omaeda expect you to do?"

"His washing," the woman said flatly.

One woman to feed him, one to wash for him. It was becoming clear that the man was using the women in her Division to perform tasks he was too lazy to undertake. "What sort of washing?"

"All of it. His disgusting clothes, his sheets, towels, everything. And he demanded it was washed by hand, scented with vanilla, ironed and returned to his house the next day." The anger in the woman's voice was not directed at Soi and during the time she spoke, she shuddered with disgust, as if affected by the memory. "If he didn't like it, he'd wipe his filthy sandals over if and send it back. My time was not my own."

As the words spilled out, she saw the other women's expression turn to disgust at Omaeda and compassion for Nana. A small idea began to form at the back of Soi's mind. The information which had been presented to her over the last day was making the previous planned punishment of the man seem almost too kind.

Looking at the remaining women she asked, "Which of you was forced to clean his quarters?"

"Me," Oki said, her expression set.

The single word contained a wealth of emotion. While she could tell she would not like what she was going to hear, Soi asked, "Was it bad?"

"I would prefer to clean out a stable. At least horses don't have revolting personal habits."

The reply provided enough information. She had imagined and now the evidence seemed to prove her ideas correct. Swiftly she made another note. Cleaning, washing and cooking. The man had allocated the ongoing tasks to others. What did that leave? She was nervous about the final two possibilities. Preferring to find out the worst she asked, "Were any of you forced to serve him, sexually?"

Trying to prevent the blush from rising to her face as she asked, she stared at them, hoping they wouldn't notice.

Matsuri shook her head and then nodded slightly. This shocked Soi more than any of the previous disclosures. This was one woman she could not imagine permitting the lieutenant to touch her, let alone to have sexual intercourse with the man.

"He made me procure women for him," she admitted.

The gasps that rose from the other women showed that they didn't know either.

"It was humiliating. I had to find women willing to have sex with him and pay them," Matsuri looked directly at Soi. "Before they met him, I described the type of man he was. At least he only wanted straight sex and eventually I managed to find three women who didn't care, as long as they got paid and I had to pay, most times."

"You were not forced to have sex with him?" Soi asked, unable to bear further suspense.

Matsuri grinned fiercely. "There are limits."

One thing was becoming clear. These women had been forced take care of the man, but she still didn't understand why. Surely his rank was not enough to coerce them into becoming his personal staff. There had to be some underlying reason or background issue of which she was unaware which had made it possible for Omaeda to manipulate these women so readily.

She was determined to find out, but before she began the difficult task of questioning, there was one final piece of the puzzle. What did the final woman do? Soi stared at her. Small and plump this woman brimmed with a quiet confidence. It seemed unlikely that she had been used sexually and she did not seem quite as angry or upset as the others. She had been the one who closed her eyes in gratitude earlier.

"What chores did Omaeda make you perform?"

"His shopping, mainly," was the reply. "Or take his shoes or weapons for repair. There was always something that needed to be done." No trace of emotion was shown in the voice. "And his business correspondence. Eventually he stopped telling me what to do and I made the decisions."

That changed everything. Suddenly Soi knew there was another method available by which she could express her displeasure with her lieutenant. Not immediately, but once she had found out all the problems and worries caused by the man, there would be ample opportunity to cause the man to regret the way he'd used these women and other people.

It came to her that she needed to reassure these women. "You are hereby forbidden to undertake any task, work, request, job or assignment from Lieutenant Omaeda." The thankful smiles on the women's faces indicated that she had made the right choice.

"What about his threats?" Matsuri was the only woman not smiling.

Here was the fact that she knew existed, but didn't know how to discover. "Explain," she said simply.

Fleeting fear indicated that there was a reason that these women had been selected. "He was blackmailing me."

The other women looked at each other and then all nodded in agreement.

"He said I'd be kicked out of the Seireitei if anyone knew what I'd done," Okitsu said, her expression tragic.

"He told me he'd make certain I was locked up in the Maggot's nest," Midori was verging on tears as she made the admission.

"Me too," Nana admitted.

"What had you done?" Soi asked harshly. If these women had broken the law she would have to take the appropriate action, despite the notion that each of them had already been sufficiently punished.

"For assaulting a superior officer. When he first told me I had to find him women, I hit him. No, I attempted to kill him," Matsuri said. "I kept trying to see you, to explain, but he never let me near you."

"He said he'd seen me perform forbidden kido, but I hadn't. I'd made a mistake in performing the spell," Nana said through lips that seemed unwilling to move. "It backfired, but no one was hurt."

"My husband is jealous. The lieutenant told me he'd tell my husband that we were lovers. I love my husband but he thinks all women lie. I pretended all the jobs Omaeda made me do were for us, so I did end up lying to him." The woman whose name she didn't remember admitted.

Matsuri snorted. "Your husband's a fool. I told you that when you married him, Chloe."

Chloe shrugged and looked slightly abashed. "He's my husband."

There was a small, uncomfortable silence and Soi decided she might as well find out the full details. "Was the lieutenant blackmailing each of you?"

They all nodded.

"Had any of you done anything that could be seen as illegal or immoral? We'll ignore the assault charges."

"I objected to the way he spoke to women," Midori explained. "I told him that we were his equal in all ways, but he kept insisting that we should respect tradition. Women should obey any orders given by a male and as he was my superior officer I had to obey him, or end up being demoted."

Matsuri leapt in immediately. "He treated all women like they were little fools who didn't know a blade from a cooking knife."

"I hate him. I want him to suffer," Chloe said unexpectedly. "He kept threatening to tell my husband all sorts of lies. I was so unhappy that I began to make mistakes." Trickles of moisture trailed down her face which she wiped away with the back of her hand. The mixture of relief and anger on her face showed how the stress of the situation was still with her and she had trouble believing that it would pass anytime soon. "My husband began to ask difficult questions."

"I wrote you a letter to tell you everything," Midori said. "Nothing happened. I thought you'd read it and ignored my words."

It was becoming clear why the man had opened all her mail and read it. He must have guessed that some of the women would take action and try to alert her to the problems. The man was not as foolish as she thought. He took advantage of any opportunity to gain servants and then prevent them from escaping from his imposed duties. Why he had never shown this cunning in getting the work done, or finding out important information was pretty evident. The skills he possessed he preferred to keep secret so he could use them only for his own benefit.

"The letter never reached me," Soi said quietly. "Omaeda opened every piece of mail sent to me, despite any written warning that it should be delivered, unopened, into my hands."

Instead of any exclamation or amazement, instead she saw each of the women nod, as if her statement had confirmed a theory. Instead of questioning further she sat awaiting any comments. She had heard the suggestion that sometimes silence could make people talk more than direct questioning.

On a few occasions she recalled Yamamoto would let a silence stretch during a Captain's meeting when he'd asked for volunteers, and eventually someone would come forward. She always tried to resist; the silence seemed to weigh heavily on all, but rarely did she give way. Her pride would not permit her to do so. Let those who carried some guilt salve their conscience by following the dictates of the old man. Her conscience was clear. She had nothing for which she should feel guilty. Momentarily her mind presented her an image of Toshiro which she resolutely pushed away. That was different, she reasoned. He'd made the mistake, not her. Her mistakes were caused by him. Even as she indulged in the justification, she knew it was flawed. At the moment, it didn't matter. She was only trying to convince herself and her experience in presenting palatable lies to ease her soul was almost second nature.

"I heard rumours about that," Midori admitted. "I heard important documents went missing. And wasn't there something about someone not being taken to the Maggots Nest. Wasn't he a friend of..."

"I think you're mistaken," Chloe jumped in, looking distinctly nervous. "All the people identified as being potentially dangerous have been quarantined." There was a catch to her voice and it was obvious that the mention of this had distressed the woman considerably.

"Or killed accidentally while being taken into custody," Soi said, remembering a report she had recently read. "But that was by the members of 10th Division. The arrest should have been under my jurisdiction."

Chloe dropped her head, refusing to look at anyone. That gave the hint to Soi. Again she refrained from commenting.

Matsuri snorted. "He was your husband's cousin. Bit deal. You can't feel responsible for every weakling produced by that family."

"The order was lost. If he'd been taken discreetly by our Division instead of being arrested in public and then killed in the scuffle, my husband would not be shamed," Chloe said.

A feeling of remorse flooded Soi. These new feelings were unpleasant and she blamed them all on Toshiro. Before him it had been easy. All she had to cope with was anger, disdain and disappointment. Experience had made it easy to manage those feelings, but now it felt like there were too many responses that she didn't want to feel or make.

"It wasn't your fault, Captain. If you did not receive the order you could not execute it," Nana's quiet assurance didn't provide the comfort she obviously intended. "And if your trusted lieutenant did not present the order, you....."

"As his captain, I should have been aware of all his actions," Soi said harshly. Wishing to finish this session as quickly as possible, she rose to her feet. "Lieutenant Omaeda will not be returning here for a month. After that time he may be assigned other duties."

Taking heed of her dismissal, the women all stood and bowed deeply to Soi. "Thank you for seeing us, Captain," one of the women said. The rest chorused their thanks and she bowed slightly in response, lost in thought.

All this time she had been mistaken in her lieutenant. Now it was apparent she hadn't known the man, only accepted what he was prepared to present. He had proved to be a much better at strategy than she expected, but ultimately had permitted his arrogance to overrule his sense. In some aspects she had become aware of certain inconsistencies, but had ignored them, easily convinced that it had been his unconscious errors. Instead of this, he had been in far more control that she had ever expected. It was obvious to her that the man was dangerous, but convincing others of this would prove difficult. Confining him to the Maggot's Nest in the guise of conferring more authority was problematic, especially as it had to be done with his consent.

With reluctance and increasing concern she summoned Sano and once more read the letter. After asking the man to sit, she pointed out some further variations she required to the letter to more thoroughly disguise her intent. The revelation about the man's cunning made it probable he would be able to divine her true intention unless it was obscured even further. Sano seemed to adapt quickly to her new suggestions and made further ones which further muddied the meaning, while still appearing to be a complimentary offer of a minor promotion.

Once she was satisfied, Sano was instructed to have at least three of the other seated officers who were unaware of the plan, to read the letter. It was important to gauge the reactions of others. They were to be taken to a room and asked to read the letter and address their comments to Sano alone.

In a fit of curiosity, Soi stood near the door and listened to the reactions of those who were involved.

"Why is that fat bastard getting a promotion? Has Captain Fong lost it?" was the reaction of the first officer.

"No," Sano replied simply. "Do not mention this to anyone else."

The second officer's reaction was even stronger. "Should I become incompetent so I get promoted? That jerk only does the bare minimum. I'd pay more heed to some ham actor than him."

After the third officer threatened Sano with violence due to the perceived promotion of Omaeda, Soi was confident that her lieutenant would experience the required reaction. Now she could rid her Division of the man and run it to her satisfaction.

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