Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Houkiboshi ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

A/N: This is some sort of AU because I added my own OC and hopefully it's not too mary-sue(ish), though I'm pretty sure I do not look or act or even think (or squeal) like the OC, in other word, it's not my self-insert. And OC pairing is going to happen here sooner or later so those who don't like this kind of story (cheap material) DO NOT READ!

 

HOUKIBOSHI

 

Disclaimer: Bleach characters are not mine; I am just borrowing them for some twisted fun of mine.

 

A/N: This takes place when Urahara Kisuke is still in Soul Society and acted as the 12th Squad Captain. His vice captain is Kurotsuchi Mayuri. My OC is one of shinigami that serve under Urahara. BTW, maybe there would be implied yaoi.

 

Pairings: Urahara + OC1 (Akiko), Urahara + OC2 (Shiho), Urahara x Yoruichi, Urahara + Mayuri

 

Chapter 3:

 

Fourth Squad Headquarter-Patient room

 

Akiko stares outside the window while she sat on the bed. She sighs as she recalling the incident that happened 5 days ago.

 

Out of the four-survivor shinigami, Akiko is the only one who is wounded very badly. Due to her lack of fighting skills, she realized bitterly that she had been a burden and not much helpful to the other, this upset her greatly.

 

“If it wasn't for Urahara-taicho, I'd have been killed…” she whispers sadly.

 

FLASHBACK

 

Akiko's face is pale and covered with sweat and blood. She tries to focus toward the giant hollow in front of her but it is too hard what with the pain and headache, that and the added injuries on her right arm, stomach and left leg.

 

Akiko saw Keiko, Takashi and Tetsu. They were injured as well. They were very brave despite their collected fear that they might not survive to see another day.

 

The hollow notice that Akiko is distracted and move to attack her again. “What's wrong, little shinigami girl? Don't tell me that you're afraid of me and you're thinking of abandoning our little date?” it laughs annoyingly.

 

Akiko is caught by surprise. She dodges the attack a bit too late. She collapses to the floor. Her body tremble and her chest heave with panting.

 

The hollow laughs menacingly. “Good bye, shinigami girl, it's been fun playing with you…” it said as it prepare to give her the final blow.

 

Akiko tries to move or even dodge but she is too tired, too weak and she is losing her focus. She could only watches helplessly as the hollow deliver her the final blow.

 

Suddenly Urahara appears before her and raise his soul slayer to deflect the blow.

 

The hollow is caught by surprise. “Wha…? Who the hell are you?”

 

Urahara smile but there is a sense of dangerous seriousness there. He introduced himself calmly.

 

“A taicho? My, this is my lucky day. I'm gonna kill you and devour your soul and those spiritual power you have there!” The hollow said.

 

Urahara smile softly, dangerously. “You're welcome to try by any means…”

 

The hollow scowls. “Your arrogance will kill you, shinigami-taicho…” It launches to attack him.

 

Akiko doesn't see what happen next because everything happens so fast. Her taicho defeat that hollow in such brief moments.

 

The hollow pulling back as it scream in pain.

 

Urahara turn and walk toward Akiko. He put himself in a squatting position. “Hello, there…”

 

“Tai-taicho…” Akiko replied weakly. “Taicho, that hollow…”

 

“I know. Saya had told me all about it…” Urahara said.

 

“E-everyone…the others are…”

 

“Stt, save your breath… Everything is going to be all right. Kurosaki-taicho and I will take care of the hollow… Can you hang on till we finish?”

 

Akiko nods weakly.

 

Urahara smile as he caresses her hair gently. He slowly stands up and resumes his fight with the hollow that has regenerated its wound and has multiply itself again. He frowned. “To think such ability existed within a hollow…what a troublesome thing to happen…”

 

Urahara notices that Isshin seem to have a great time `playing around' with the hollows Keiko, Takashi and Tetsu previously fight with. Urahara ordered his subordinates to take care of Akiko and each other's injuries while he and Isshin will fight with the hollow.

 

The last thing Akiko sees before losing her consciousness is her taichou approaches Isshin and as they face the amount of giant hollow, he called out his soul slayer's name.

 

END FLASHBACK

 

“Aki~ko~chan!” Amika suddenly appeared. A big smile is on her face.

 

Saya slowly entered the room with a small smile on her lips.

 

Akiko stares at her visitors and smile. “Hi…”

 

Amika approaches Akiko. “So how are you today?”

 

Akiko smile. “I've been better, thank to Unohana-taicho.”

 

“That's good. We've just visited Keiko, Takashi and Tetsu. Their injuries are completely healed now…” Amika said.

 

“That's good…” Akiko said with a smile.

 

“Anoo…” Saya opens her mouth to speak. “I'm sorry. If only I…”

 

“Stop it. It's not your fault. We know that you had tried your best to inform the back-up team.” Akiko said. “If it wasn't for your help and the taichos' aids, we'd have been died…”

 

“I still felt so guilty…” Saya said sadly.

 

“I was injured due to my own fault. I should had fought better…” Akiko said then sighs. “Well, bygones. So do you girls know any good news around here? I could have use some good news right about now… I've been gloomy all day now…”

 

Amika grins. “Ah, speaking of good news, did you know that…”

 

Akiko lays comfortably on the bed as she listens with a smile to what Amika has to say.

 

Saya prepare some fruits and tea for Akiko to eat while listening all the while to Amika's chatters.

 

“Speaking of taicho, has Urahara-taicho visit you?” Amika asked.

 

Akiko spill her tea and then cough again. “W-why would he visit me? He does not have the obligation to visit me. After all, I'm just an ordinary shinigami…”

 

Amika grins. “But you're not just an ordinary shinigami, you're his favorite subordinate…”

 

“You're still on that? I told you that Urahara-taicho's favorite subordinate is not I. It's Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho and Miyano-san…” Akiko said with furrowed forehead. “Speaking of Miyano-san, has she returned from wherever she goes for her newest research?”

 

“No, she has not.” Amika said. “So taicho really has not visited you? Look like I'm not going to lose that bet…”

 

“Bet? What bet?” Akiko asked.

 

“Keiko and I made a bet. She said that taicho must have visited you at least once.” Amika said with a grin.

 

“Mou, I told you there is nothing going on between me and taico? Why do you girls find it hard to believe that?” Akiko asked.

 

“Eh? That rumor is not true then?” Saya asked.

 

“Of course it is not!” Akiko said. “I don't like taicho like that!”

 

“So, you're saying that you have no feeling at all for our handsome taicho?” Amika teased.

 

“Amika-chan…” Akiko glares at her as a warning to drop the subject.

 

Amika catch her drift. “Geez, okay, okay. I just want to hear from you clearly because Keiko seem to insisted that there is chemistry between you and taicho…”

 

“Well, she is wrong!” Akiko said a bit snappish. She clutches her stomach in pain. Her wounds are not completely healed yet.

 

Amika sighs but then a mischievous smile appeared on her lips. “But I do know for a fact that you likes Fukai Rimudo from 2nd squad…”

 

Akiko blushes. “Baka! Who would like that annoying person?! He's rude, mean and annoying!”

 

“But you guys used to live together back before the two of you become shinigami, correct?” Amika asked.

 

“Ugh, I hate talking to you…” Akiko said as she clutch her head.

 

Amika laughs. “Sorry, get better soon. Without you around, the paperwork in our divison are becoming a mountain…and no one is as brave and daring as you are when it comes to scolding our taicho…”

 

Saya suddenly said, “Did you know our taicho is quite upset because the others that died?”

 

“He did?” Akiko asked.

 

Saya nods. “He's truly a kind person, ne?”

 

Amika chuckles. “Sound like you admire our taicho deeper than you let on…”

 

Saya blushes. “Amika-chan!!”

 

Amika laughs.

 

Akiko smile solemnly.

 

&&&

 

12 Squad Headquarter

 

A few days later, Akiko is released from the fourth squad's care and is able to join her squad again. She looks around and smiles. “I can't believe this, but, boy, don't I miss work!”

 

“Yo, Akiko! You're back finally, heh?” greeted Hidaka Ken, another members from 12th squad. “Took you long enough… What? The mission is too much for you that you can't handle things properly?”

 

“Sorry, was it you who almost got squashed by a giant hollow?” Akiko snapped sarcastically.

 

Ken grins. “Luckily for you, our taicho saved the day huh?”

 

“Oh, shut up! You make it sound dirty!” Akiko scolded him.

 

“Akiko!!” Amika rushes to hug her. “OMG! You're back! Thanks God!”

 

Akiko is puzzled. “What the hell is going on with you people?”

 

Ken sighs. “Oh, you haven't meet with fukutaicho huh?”

 

Akiko flinches. “What? Is there punishment waiting for me?”

 

Amika rolled her eyes. “Like I said before, because you're not around, our fukutaicho from hell has assigned everyone double-duty and it started to annoy us! How the hell did you put up with all those annoying paperwork anyway?”

 

“You learn with time…” Akiko answers a bit too proud.

 

“I see that they finally release you out of hospital, heh?”

 

Akiko whirled around and surprise to see Kurotsuchi Mayuri. “F-fukutaicho!”

 

Amika cowered in fear. `God! I hope he does not hear what I said…'

 

Mayuri titled his head. “I assumes you're ready full-time to work again?” he asks Akiko coldly.

 

Akiko bows. “Y-yes…”

 

“Well then be ready to finish the paperwork I'm about to give you. It's going to be a lot to make up for the time when you were hospitalized…” Mayuri said.

 

“Y-yes, sir, I will get right on to it!” Akiko said.

 

Mayuri scowled. He glares suddenly toward Amika. “You! Have you finish with the paperwork I gave you yesterday night?”

 

Amika look frightened. “I…I almost finish it, sir…”

 

Mayuri scowled again. “What is it with the people in these squad? Everyone here is incompetent idiot! Can't even do what I assigned to properly!”

 

Amika has half-scare and half-insulted face but she does not dare to talk back. Neither does Ken and Akiko. They accepted the humiliation from him.

 

Mayuri then left them after order them not to fool around and start working.

 

Akiko, Amika and Ken sigh in relief.

 

“This is the one thing that I don't miss…” Akiko said.

 

“Yeah, he's been in bad mood lately ever since he is summoned by central 46 to assume responsibility for the dangerous mission he assigned to the team…” Ken said. “He's lucky our taicho help him dealt with it, otherwise…”

 

“Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho must felt so awful that's why he takes it on you, Keiko and the others…” Amika said. “…And to the rest of the squad…”

 

“Yeah, but isn't that what he always do? Picking on us even before today?” Ken look upset. “I don't understand why our taicho does not do something about this.”

 

“Maybe taicho does not aware of our situation…” Amika defended their taicho.

 

Ken rolled his eyes. “Or maybe because we are not his favorite subordinates that he does not see fit to help us…”

 

Akiko glares at Ken. “You shouldn't talk about our taicho like that!”

 

“Why not? It's no secret that our taicho is a sucker for pretty face! And obviously you, fukutaicho and Miyano-san are his most favorite subordinates! That's why he always go easy on you guys!” Ken said.

 

“That is not true and you know it! Our taicho treated everyone equally! You should know that taicho never use violence against us and treated us with nothing but kindness!” Akiko said.

 

“Fine, maybe you're right but regardless if he kept slacking off like this, our squad will fall apart. Don't you think we should ask for more responsible taicho?”

 

“And who do you have in mind? Our fukutaicho?” Akiko snapped.

 

“No, of course not.” Ken sighs. “Sorry. I'm just sick of the rumor surrounding our squad! Those bastrad from 11th squad always make fun of us and I can't even defend ourselves because most of those rumor about taicho is right!”

 

“Ok, I admit he has his weakness. He's a sucker for pretty face, likes to get drunk, get himself in trouble for making a stupid prank but above all, he is still our taicho. We worked under him and that is enough reason for us to defend him. Beside our taicho has never done anything dishonorable as most of those people from 11th squad did. They always create havoc and disturb the peace in community. Compare it with their morale, our taicho is much more better than those maggots from 11th squad!” Akiko said rather passionately.

 

“Geez, what the hell with all this commotion?” Tetsu asked as he approaches Akiko and the others.

 

Saya followed from behind. She smiles at Akiko shyly.

 

Amika giggles. “Oh, not much, just hearing Akiko babble about her admiration for our taicho…and she gave us quite a presentable speech…”

 

Akiko glares at Amika. “Shut up!”

 

Tetsu shrugged. “Speaking of our taicho, has any of you seen him today? I have finished the paperwork Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho assigned and I need taicho to affix seal on it.”

 

“No, we have not.” Ken said. “Honestly, I don't know how our taicho wish to handle this squad's tasks…”

 

“Taicho has his own way handling squad's tasks! So far he hasn't completely let us down, has he? He knew what he is doing. He does not want to be rushed because he is calculating in making his every move. You guys should have more faith toward our taicho.” Akiko said even more passionate than before. “I know I do…”

 

“Really? Then who is it that running around, screaming like crazy, looking for our taicho every time things go wrong?” Ken teased.

 

Akiko smack him in the head.

 

Everyone laughs.

 

&&&

 

It's lunchtime. Instead of getting something to eat, Akiko is a bit pre-occupied with her paperwork. She wants to finish it today no matter what happen. She does not want to put off her work because she knew if she did, she would get too lazy to do it later on.

 

Akiko's forehead furrowed as a result of too much thinking. She is staring at two paper works in front of her. She seems ready to explode anytime soon; judging from the vein mark on her forehead. Finally she pulled on her own hair and start vent in frustration. “Mou, I can't do this anymore! Why he kept giving me with some weird, annoying paperwork anyway?”

 

Urahara chuckle.

 

Akiko snaps, ready to take her anger on the one who dare to laugh at her. She stops herself when she saw Urahara. “Ta-taicho! S-since when you are standing there?”

 

Urahara leans against a wall, arms crossed, amused smile displayed on his handsome face. “I see that you've been released from hospital…” He stares at the mountain of paperwork on her desk and raise an eyebrow. “What's with all the paperwork?”

 

Akiko shrugged. “Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho asked me to finish this paperwork by today… I've been hospitalized too long that I've abandon my work. I guess this is his way to help me to catch up.”

 

Urahara approaches her and stopped behind Akiko, stretched his arms out to reach the table so that he could lean his weight against it. With Akiko trapped in between his outstretched arms, he bent down to read the paperwork, his face just besides Akiko's.

 

Akiko find herself blushing. She tries to focus as Urahara explain to her about the paperwork.

 

Urahara notice that she is blushing after he finished explaining. He chuckles. He purposely whisper in her ear with seductive tone, “You're cute when you're blushing, Akiko-chan…”

 

Akiko blushes some more. To cover her embarrassment, she push her taicho's hand away from the desk thus allow her to be free. She quickly stands up and glares at Urahara. “You promise that you wouldn't do that!”

 

Urahara grins. “What? Can't I enjoy a good flirting?” He saw her pouts and decided to stop teasing her. “So, why don't you stop working for a while and accompany your handsome and sexy taicho over here to lunch?”

 

“But I…” Akiko look hesitant as she looks over the paperwork in her desk.

 

“It is just one lunch, won't take long I'm sure…”

 

“Is that an order?”

 

“Well, if it can get you to lunch with me, fine…”

 

“Alright…”

 

Urahara fake a gasp. “My, Akiko-chan, if I order you to sleep with me, would you have done it?”

 

Akiko's face turn into an interesting red shade which Urahara snicker at. She pouts. “Mou, I cancel lunch! Taicho can eat lunch by yourself!”

 

“Don't be so mean, Akiko-chan…”

 

“Shut up! Go bother someone else!”

 

“Akiko-chan…”

 

“Taicho, I have to work over here!”

 

“But what about lunch?”

 

“I'm on diet!”

 

In the end, Urahara left Akiko by herself. He goes to ask his fukutaicho for lunch which reluctantly (not really) Mayuri accepted.

 

&&&

 

It was night when Akiko finally finished her work. The office is empty. She yawned and stretches her arms. She stands up and collected the paperwork into a folder and seals it. She drops the folder on the desk in Mayuri's office.

 

Just as she wants to go home, she sees light from the laboratory. Curious who is in laboratory at a time like this, she took a peek. Her heart races when she saw Urahara's figure. She shook her head. `What the hell is wrong with me? The person that I like the most is Rimudo, not him!' she yelled at herself mentally.

 

“Akiko-chan?”

 

Akiko shriek as she snapped out of her thought. She found Urahara's face in front of her. “Ta-taicho, you…you scare me…”

 

“I scare you? What are you doing here?” Urahara asked.

 

Akiko quickly bows. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you…”

 

“You could never be a bother to me, Akiko-chan.” Urahara said teasingly.

 

Akiko blushes. “I…I should go…”

 

“Since you're here, why don't you accompany me a bit?” Urahara asked. “I could use a little company. I just about to take a break anyway.”

 

Akiko agrees. “What are you researching now, taicho?”

 

“It's about the new hollow and its technique… It's quite intriguing actually how a breed of new hollow such as last time existed…”

 

“I'm sure taicho will figure it out sooner or later. Taicho is smart after all!” Akiko said encouragingly.

 

Urahara smile gently and ruffles the young girl's hair like one would do to a small kid. “Thanks, Akiko-chan!”

 

“Taicho!” Akiko protested. She does not like it when her taicho treated her like a kid but sometime it's better than have him tries to flirt or seduce her, even if he did it just to make her blush or embarrass.

 

Urahara laughs when he saw her blush, pouts angrily and crosses her arms.

 

Suddenly Akiko look serious. “Taicho…”

 

Urahara curious of what she has in mind. “What is it?”

 

Akiko bows politely. “Thank you for saving me from that hollow… If it wasn't for you, I'd have…”

 

Urahara chuckle. “Don't worry about it…”

 

Akiko's stomach suddenly growled. She felt embarrassed. “I'm sorry…” She grins sheepishly. “I haven't eaten anything ever since today breakfast…”

 

Urahara raise an eyebrow. “Why, Akiko-chan, you really should take care yourself properly. If you don't eat properly, you could get sick and we wouldn't want you roll back to the hospital just after you're released, would we? Shall we have dinner together?”

 

“Fine, but you're paying, taicho…” Akiko said jokingly.

 

&&&

 

“I would like 2 bowl of spicy fried noodle, please!” Akiko eagerly order to the cute waitress in the food stall where she and Urahara are.

 

Urahara order his food and smile as he looks at Akiko. “You really do love spicy food huh? But you got to be careful. Eating too much spicy food is not good for your stomach…”

 

Akiko narrow her eyes. “Taicho, you sound like a doctor, you know that?”

 

Urahara chuckle. He drinks his tea silently.

 

“BTW, taicho, you know about the bazaar event this Saturday, rite? Are you going to come?”

 

“I don't know yet. We would have to see later on. I have things I want to do that day…”

 

“It's going to be fun. You should come, taicho. I thought you would enjoy such occasion. You can ask Shihoin-taicho to go with you.”

 

“Why would I ask her to go with me?”

 

Akiko shrugged and drink her tea carefully. “Well, aren't you two friends? It's what people do, spending time with friends, rite?”

 

“Ah, is this your way of asking me indirect question whether Yoruichi-san and I are lover?” teased Urahara.

 

Akiko spill her tea and start to cough violently. “Why would I want to ask such question? It's not my business if you two are …are lover…” She blushes. “Mou, taicho, why do you kept teasing me? It's not funny, you know?”

 

Urahara laughs.

 

Their order arrived and they start to eat their food.

 

“I'm so full~~!!” Akiko looks happy after finished eating.

 

After both pays for their meal, they go out of the food stall.

 

Akiko stretched her arms. “Uhm, I'm so full and tired~~!” She rubs her eyes and yawned.

 

“Ah, rite, it's past your bed time is it not?” Urahara teased her again.

 

Akiko shot him a glare. “Taicho!”

 

At the time, they come across Isshin, Kyouroku and Ukitake. They are in a sake stand nearby. Except Ukitake, it's obvious the other two are drunk.

 

“Yo, Ki-chan!!” Kyouroku called out then he notice Akiko. He chuckle. “I see that you are on a date with your cute subordinate huh?”

 

Akiko blushes. “We're not!” she snapped. She realized that she has been disrespectful toward a taicho. She quickly bows and apologized for raising her tone.

 

Urahara coughed into his hand, which sounded like laughter at seeing how panic Akiko is.

 

Ukitake chuckle. “It's alright, Yuuki-san, is it?”

 

Akiko quickly bows politely to Ukitake. “Yes, you're right, Ukitake-taicho.”

 

“No need to be formal. We're not in Seireitei, after all…” Ukitake said with a smile. “And I apologized for Kyouroku-taicho's behavior…”

 

“Why don't you join us, honey?” Kyouroku asked. He raises his hand toward Akiko who quickly avoid him.

 

Akiko bows to the group of taicho. “I'm sorry but it's getting late and I have to go back…”

 

“Ah, so early?” Kyouroku sounded disappointed.

 

“Ah, it's past her bed time after all…” Urahara said again.

 

Akiko hold the urge to smack her taicho. She couldn't do it in front of Ukitake-taicho.

 

Ukitake laughs.

 

Urahara turns to Akiko and smile. “Alright, you go back and get some sleep, Akiko-chan.”

 

“Taicho, do not get drunk, alright? Tomorrow you still have work to do…” Akiko said.

 

Urahara chuckle. “She's back…”