Everyone when I publish two chapters in a week: Surprised Pikachu face
Rangiku clicked her tongue and turned to Isane. Her friend rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. Isane said nothing, however, Rangiku knew the silver-haired woman wouldn't open her mouth around Unohana.
'I'll have to invite her out for lunch.'
Before she could extend the invitation, Rukia walked up to Isane and tugged at her sleeve. "Why bring us here? He shouldn't bother with us when he can't explain anything himself."
Rangiku cracked a smile at Rukia's attempt to use manipulation tactics on Isane, or perhaps Rukia acted this way out of deep emotions. "Yeah, he is prioritizing his duty over his family. Does he not know family is the greatest thing in the whole universe?"
She decided to spice up the drama, hoping Kazuya's location would come out of it, or at least the nature of his confidential assignment.
"F-Family?" Rukia stuttered, her cheeks flushing. Her eyes darted to Rangiku's generous chest before she crossed her arms defensively. "I'm not— We're not like— why are you driving a wedge between us? Are you also…?"
Rangiku couldn't help but giggle at the younger woman's flustered reaction. "No need to be so defensive, sweetie. We're just friends. You know the type of friends who get sweaty with each other," she winked mischievously before giggling. "Just kidding. But then again, I won't mind being something to him. His tea is out of this world."
Rukia's eyes widened, and she took a half-step back before making a full dive into Momo's chest. "This lady is dangerous. We can't let her take Kazuya. He'll never be the same again."
Momo wrapped an arm around Rukia protectively and stroked her back. "There, there, Rukia. Those boobies are just lumps of fat. We can't let them intimidate us."
"But she has a point…" Rukia admitted quietly. "I know I say some stupid stuff to him, but I care about him. Leaving us like that isn't funny… it's like he doesn't want us around him."
"Kazuya-kun asked Isane-san to bring us here," Momo reasoned gently. "He's trying to protect us while he's away. You're overthinking it."
"Whenever he gets back, I'll have my revenge. You'll grab him from behind, and I'll punch him like he is one of those wooden dummies. Or better yet, we'll tie him to the bed and tickle him until he begs pathetically."
Rukia already began making plans for revenge.
"You've got it wrong, Rukia!" Isane interjected, flustered by Rukia's increasingly elaborate revenge plans. "Kazuya was pressed for time."
"Did you forget he can flash-step to the academy in minutes?" Rukia looked back at Isane with venom in her eyes. "I bet he was probably sleeping around with Yoruichi."
"Yoruichi?" Rangiku's eyes narrowed like a hawk at the familiar name. "Yoruichi Shihōin, the former leader of Onmitsukidō?"
Rukia scoffed, looking at Rangiku as if she was stupid. "That lazy freeloader? I'll eat my socks if Yoruichi turns out to be a Captain of the assassin squad."
"Makes sense. Last I heard Yoruichi was exiled from the Soul Society. I didn't expect anyone else to share such a rare name."
While Rukia dismissed Rangiku's words, Momo's gleaming eyes took notice of everything. Momo knew how Yoruichi never showed her true self in front of outsiders, as though she was hiding herself.
Isane gently poked Rukia's elbow. "Who is this Yoruichi? If you don't mind me asking…"
"Kazuya's roommate and the only bad influence in his life," Rukia said with a huff before her voice softened. "Isane-san… is this mission dangerous?"
Although she put up an angry front, there was no denying the concern in her voice. She hoped to understand the situation better.
Isane studied their worried faces for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh. "He has gone to Hueco Mundo. That's all I know."
After revealing the secret, she glanced at Unohana. Her Captain didn't look the slightest bit offended.
"I'm sorry, Captain, but it didn't feel right. He either should have told no one or all of us," Isane said in a voice firmer than usual. "They're his family – they deserve to know."
Unohana smiled softly. "You still have much to learn in the way of duties and responsibilities."
Isane bowed her head. "Yes, Captain. I'll do better in the future."
"Wait!" Rukia broke away from Momo and stared at Isane. "That's the world of Hollows. Why is he there?!" She turned back to Momo. "Why are you so calm about it?!"
Rukia grabbed Momo's kimono and shook her in a frenzy. She was freaking out, panicking over the possibility that some accident would happen to Kazuya in Hueco Mundo. She was confident in his strength, but she could not believe he could fight the whole world on his own.
Momo clasped Rukia's hands. "Kazuya-kun wouldn't have gone without ample preparations. He'll be back before long."
Taking a deep breath, Rukia felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. Momo's steady demeanor had a calming effect. "I just... I can't help worrying about him," she admitted. "Why do I overreact when you're the one obsessed with him?"
"Because you love him too. You just have a hard time expressing those feelings." Momo drew closer, whispering. "Except when you and him are naked together. Then you get all lovey-dovey."
Rukia's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink. "S-Stop lying! I never did that!"
Momo couldn't help but giggle at her friend's adorable reaction. "Rukia is quite shy when it comes to love."
Rangiku watched Momo and Rukia with a surprised face. "You're really close. He is one lucky man to have you two."
"Three actually," Momo said, glancing at Isane with a mean smile. "Isane-san is one of us."
Isane, who had been standing quietly by Unohana's side, frantically waved her hands, trying to keep things under wraps. "T-There's nothing like that between us!"
Rukia's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "You're lying."
Isane hesitated, her hands fiddling with the sleeves of her uniform. "I... well…" she stammered, her gaze dropping to the floor. "When he confessed his feelings to me, I didn't know what to say at first. But... I couldn't turn him down."
Rukia scoffed. "Did he pressure you into it?"
The Vice-Captain looked up in surprise. "No, I accepted it because… uh… I-I really like him."
Rukia nodded and exchanged a glance with Momo before her steely gaze softened. "It's okay, Isane-san. We're not upset."
"We're happy for you!" Momo spoke cheerfully. "Rukia Nee-san looks tough on the outside, but her heart is like melon bread. All soft, warm, and fluffy."
A look of relief crossed Isane's face. "Thanks… I was worried it'll bother you."
Momo waved her hand before leaning her head on Rukia's shoulder. "Rukia, I want to support Kazuya-kun in every decision."
"Unless that decision is to cut you off," Rukia said with a troubled frown. "All hell will let loose in the Soul Society if he dumps you."
Momo bit Rukia's shoulder, making her yelp. "Don't pick on me, Nee-san."
"I'll not only pick on you, today, I'll tickle you to death!"
The two began wrestling and trying to outdo the other in tickling each other. That was until Momo got Rukia in her special ankle lock, forcing Rukia to surrender miserably.
Rangiku applauded the victor, hyping her up while Rukia sobbed and rubbed her aching ankle. Her friend truly loved to bully her.
"Darn it," Rangiku grumbled after a while. "I was supposed to be the wingwoman between you and Kazuya."
She had prepared to extort a few favors out of Kazuya for getting him together with Isane. Now, she lost the opportunity.
Isane raised her brows in surprise. "I'm happy it didn't come to that. What happened between us felt more… natural."
"You don't say. The destination is the same regardless of the path you take. The destination in this case is you wearing Shiro-muku, the white kimono. All three of you." Rangiku observed the three women while nodding to herself. "I can already imagine three gorgeous ladies in those bride dresses."
Isane turned red, and so did Rukia. The two tried to dispute that this wedding won't happen, but Rangiku kept ignoring the two and giggling, making the two all the more flustered. Momo grabbed the two and left the room, using this chance to bond with her new family member.
As silence fell in the room, Rangiku gazed at the door with a distant look. "The kid sure is making strides in both personal and professional life. I just hope he doesn't let it get to his head."
The Soul Society needed more talented and unpretentious people like him. More importantly, she didn't want Kazuya to be a repeat of Gin, who had become an entirely different man.
Unohana smiled. "I'm training him for that very reason."
"Hah, you finally revealed your true motives! You cunning woman, you've been grooming him to be your ideal man all along, haven't you? The saying about old ginger being the spiciest actually turned out to be true."
"..."
Rangiku chuckled. "I wasn't serious… unless you really are grooming him."
"I am not," Unohana replied firmly, shaking her head. "He is Isane's man. I have no desire to steal him."
Rangiku looked into Unohana's eyes, her lips slowly twisting into a wide smirk. "So you don't mind if I—"
A sudden tremor shook the floor beneath them, then a faint sound of explosion reached them.
"Dammit, who is seeking their death?" Rangiku moved swiftly to the window. Her eyes widened at the sight of dark smoke spiraling into the sky. "Look, Unohana."
"That's coming from Sōkyoku Hill…" Unohana said. "It should be visible across the whole Seireitei."
"Sōkyoku Hill is a site for execution. Who would blow up anything there?"
The black smoke reflected in Unohana's eyes as she spoke, "Someone with dangerous intentions. Matsumoto-san, will you accompany me there?"
Rangiku adjusted her haori with a smile. "Oh my. I'd be a fool to reject a date with Captain Unohana. Just give me a moment to grab my sandals."
***
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