Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Sleeping with the Enemy ❯ Library Duty ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: Library Duty

 

About a month went by, and Nina easily settled into the routines of her division. She was making acquaintances and familiarizing herself with other divisions through the use of her job duty at the library. Aside from the fact that her duties as a part time librarian allowed her to get to know other division members, it also presented an opportunity for her to people watch and sketch realistic scenes that presented themselves.

Nina pushed a cart down the narrow but tall aisles filled with books and began re-shelving the recent returns. Lieutenant Ise of the Eighth Division was a frequent visitor as well as Lieutenant Hinamori and, of course, Captain Aizen. She placed volumes on the shelves she could reach first before working her way up, pausing only to glance at titles so she could be sure to put them in their correct places.

However, a title caught her eye, and she glanced at it: Honing and Improving Your Kidou. Nina's brow furrowed reflectively as she opened the cover and began skimming the pages of the book. Nina paused on the fourth chapter and read it for awhile as she stood next to her cart.

“Wouldn't you be more comfortable reading that at your desk?” a gentle voice asked.

Nina looked up to see Aizen standing in the aisle holding several volumes of his own, many of which were from the archives department.

Nina stretched up to shelve the book. “I was only glancing at it.”

Aizen came up behind her and took the book from Nina. He pushed it onto the tall shelf. “You looked quite engrossed to me.”

Nina turned to face her captain. “Something caught my eye, and I thought I should read it.”

Aizen took a second look at the title and shook his head. “I actually don't agree with some of the techniques in that book. You should stop by my office and I can give you better material on kidou.”

Nina bowed her head at Aizen. “Thank you, Captain.” She glanced toward his books. “Would you like for me to check those out for you?”

He smiled. “Yes, I would, actually. Thank you.”

Nina led him to her desk and took his books. She signed his name in a ledger and placed a little due date card inside one of the covers. She slid the volumes back to her captain and offered a shy smile. “I hope you enjoy them.”

“I'm certain that I will,” he remarked. Aizen smiled pleasantly and left Nina to her duties.

She went back to her cart and finished re-shelving the books. Nina had found a few archive volumes that wormed their way into the library regulars. She put the cart back and took the few volumes downstairs into the archives department.

“Hello?” Nina called. She wasn't sure if Yumichika was on duty yet or if it was even his day to come in. She saw Yumichika nearly every day, and he would often speak with her at least once during their duty. Nina decided that he was indeed quite attractive, though in a very feminine way, but that didn't matter to her. Yumichika seemed to have a pleasant personality, though somewhat shallow and at times arrogant. Still, she very much enjoyed seeing him daily, and at the moment, he seemed the only friend that she had.

“I'm back here!” he called pleasantly.

Nina meandered down the aisles of ancient volumes, some that were older than their ages combined and twice over. She finally happened upon him in the next to last aisle, and she offered a slight smile toward him. “Hello.”

“Seito-san,” he acknowledged. “Did you need something?”

Nina held the books out to Yumichika. “Actually, these got mixed in with mine, so I thought I'd bring them down to you.”

He turned to her and accepted them graciously. “Thank you, Seito-san. I thought I had some missing.”

Nina glanced up at some of the books he was shelving. “These sure are old, aren't they?”

Yumichika placed a volume onto a dusty shelf. “Indeed they are. Some of these archives are as old as Yamamoto himself, and he's around 2000.”

“Wow…” she breathed, amazed. “So I guess this chronicles all of Soul Society's history?”

“Pretty much, though there are still some documents that reside only within the Central 46 Chambers.”

“Are those only seen by the members of the Central 46?”

“Yes,” he said to her. “Those documents are completely restricted. Not even a captain has ever laid eyes on them from what I understand.”

“Such a mystery to me this place is,” Nina remarked. “It has such a rich history. It must be quite interesting to have the responsibility to keep such important documents.”

Yumichika shrugged. “It's just work, really. I also do much of the filing and work for my division because no one else will do it.”

That last remark sounded somewhat bitter, but Nina politely shrugged it off. “Oh, I'm sure they appreciate it.”

“Sure they do,” he remarked sarcastically.

“Some people don't express their gratification well, Ayasegawa-san.” She smiled. “I would certainly appreciate it if I were in your division.”

This provoked a small smile from the bob-haired young man. “I'm certain you would, Seito-san.”

“I should be getting back upstairs,” Nina told him. “It's nearly time to lock up.”

“Is it that time already?” He placed the last volume to be put away on the shelf. “I'll be along in a minute.”

Nina returned to the upper level of the library and began to pack her art supplies into her bag before heading off to the building's many wings to notify any stragglers of the closing hour. When she returned to the desk, she found some people still waiting in line to check out their books before they left. She politely complied, not wanting to deprive fellow bookworms of their pleasure and escape from the daily life of training, routine, and combat.

After the last name in the log had been entered and the last due date card was placed within the books, Nina turned the lock on the door and waited for Yumichika so she could let him out. His punctuality was impeccable as he reached the doors in time. The pair turned and exited the building together, and Nina gave the door a final tug to be absolutely sure it was safely locked.

“It's certainly a nice evening, isn't Seito-san?” he remarked.

“Indeed it is,” she responded, adjusting her shoulder bag.

“Hey…would I be out of place if I asked if you wanted to hang out?”

Nina turned her head to look at Yumichika. “Um, like now?”

He smiled a little. “Of course. You're new, and I'd love to show you around.” He smoothed his black bobbed hair. “You're gorgeous like me, and beautiful people are the only ones allowed to be seen with me.”

Nina arched an eyebrow at that last remark, but she smiled anyway. “Um…I don't consider myself as such, but I will gladly accept your invitation.”

“Good!” he said cheerily. “So, are you hungry, Seito-san? I know a really good ramen shop not far from here. My friend Ikkaku is supposed to meet me there.”

“I won't be intruding will I?”

“Nah, Ikkaku won't mind, though he might flirt with you a little,” Yumichika giggled.

“Oh, I don't mind.” Nina smiled. “I'm just glad for the invite. Will I need to notify anyone in my division that I will be late?”

Yumichika shook his head. “The rules of the divisions vary, but for the most part, no one will say anything.”

Nina and Yumichika entered the ramen shop and took a seat. People from all over Seretei were milling about and talking pleasantly while enjoying their ramen bowls. The place smelled of sake, dumplings, and ramen, and held a welcoming atmosphere. Nina and Yumichika seated themselves in the midst of all the socialization, and some greeted the Fifth Seat as he seated Nina before himself.

It wasn't long before Madarame Ikkaku found Yumichika seated with an unfamiliar yet beautiful face. He sat down and grinned at Nina as he propped his zanpakuto against the small table.

“So who's your friend, Yumichika?” he asked.

Yumichika smiled pleasantly. “Ah, it's good to see you Ikkaku. This is Seito Nina. She's from the Fifth Division.”

“Yeah?” Ikkaku said with interest. “You a seated officer?”

Nina nodded. “Yes. I am in Third Seat.”

Ikkaku raised his eyebrows. “Aren't you right out of the academy?”

Nina nodded her affirmation.

“Damn…that's impressive.” He grinned proudly. “We'll have to spar so I can see what you do. I'm a Third Seat, too.”

Nina allowed a soft, amused snort. “We can if you want.”

“Maybe we can do a date, too,” Ikkaku added.

Nina giggled, genuinely amused. “I hate to let you down, but I'm not attracted to bald men, though you seem like a nice enough guy.”

Ikkaku scowled. “No one's bald here.”

“Calm yourself, Ikkaku,” Yumichika told him.

Ikkaku took a drink of his sake, and Nina felt badly that she had strummed what was apparently a sensitive nerve. He did seem nice, though, somewhat arrogant at times. But Nina approved of his company nonetheless, and she and Yumichika talked for hours after they finished their ramen bowls. They socialized for so long, in fact, that the crowd in the ramen shop began to thin out, and they were the only ones left.

Nina glanced up to see the annoyed glares of the shop's staff. “Um…I think they want us to leave. We're the last ones here.”

Yumichika glanced around. “Yeah, I guess we better go.”

He stood up and his friends followed suit. They left the ramen shop, and the doors were closed right behind them.

“Will you be alright walking home so late?” Yumichika asked. He glanced at Ikkaku who was somewhat drunk and he wanted to stand by his friend to be sure he didn't wind up in a trash can or in some compromising position.

Nina nodded. “I should be. Thank you.”

“Well, alright then. Goodnight.”

The two men left, and Nina yawned. She had not intended to stay out as late as she did, and from what Ikkaku and Yumichika had told her, Eleventh Division was far more lax in their rules than her own company, and she hoped that she wouldn't sleep through her alarm and receive a reprimand from Hinamori, or worse, Captain Aizen.

She made her way through the Fifth Division gate alone. Not a single shinigami was on the walkways or streets, and even the buildings were darkened. The moon was hidden behind the clouds adding to the opacity. Everything was eerily quiet, and Nina walked toward her apartment silently.

In all the calmness of the evening, however, she somehow didn't feel completely alone. In fact, it rather felt as though someone was trailing her, and she didn't like it. Nina put her hand on the hilt of Kiyohime and ducked around a corner to nail them if she had to. She felt the reiatsu of the presence come closer to her, and she drew her zanpakuto ever so silently. She suddenly revealed herself and brandished her sword only to be startled and met by Captain Aizen.

“C-Captain Aizen!” she yelped. Immediately she put away her zanpakuto and bowed deeply, arms at her sides. “G-gomen nasai!”

Aizen reached out and lifted her chin up to look at his face. “And what are you doing out so late Seito-kun?”

Nina blushed and slowly straightened. Aizen had been calling her `Seito-kun' for a couple of weeks now as he was more comfortable using a less formal address to his subordinates. He didn't seem in the least bit angry that she'd withdrawn her zanpakuto toward him, and he looked down at her with dark brown gentle eyes that smiled even in the darkness.

“I…I was out with some acquaintances,” she told him. “I really had no intention of staying out so late.”

“Ah, well there's nothing wrong in having a little fun sometimes, Seito-kun,” he remarked. “Your apartment shouldn't be far from here. Would you like me to escort you back?”

Nina nodded. “Um, you may if it won't trouble you at such a late hour. Thank you.” She adjusted her bag once more and walked alongside her captain. “Are you enjoying your books?”

“Yes, very much so,” he responded pleasantly. Aizen glanced at her bag. “Have you drawn anything lately?”

“Oh, um, yes. I've been doing a good number of pieces since I've been working at the library.”

“Ah, I suppose that gives you a good chance to watch people in their natural surroundings.” He smiled. “My friend Captain Ichimaru likes to people watch, though he doesn't draw them.”

“Ah, that can be entertaining.”

“Indeed it can.”

They paused at her door, and she opened it. “Thank you, Captain Aizen. Perhaps I will see you tomorrow.”

“I'm certain you will. Good night, Seito-kun.”

“Good night.”

Nina disappeared into her quarters as Aizen turned from her doorway to return to his own quarters.

“Out for a walk with the new subordinate?” a familiar voice asked.

“Yes. She's charming isn't she, Gin?”

“Ah, she is a pretty thing. You could get into some real trouble.” Gin's fox grin stretched across his face.

Aizen sighed and joined Captain Ichimaru. “I don't intend to let anyone know.”

“Tsk tsk. Just don't get attached,” Gin warned. “That could complicate our plans.”

“You know I am incapable of attachments, Gin. You needn't worry about my little plaything getting in the way of things. If she does, then I'll just kill her.”