[ gin flashes yoruichi a smile as they pass each other and she knows to follow the direction the other had been coming from to find him. nerves keep her from hurrying along to say hello, and she knows it is ridiculous. it's been a long time but it has not been— alright, a century and then some is a long time but now that aizen has been unmasked everything should be fixed.
he could come back to soul society. captain mayuri wouldn't like that but—
the past could stay in the past. gin feels oddly hopeful as she fiddles with her hair, a loose braid to keep her hair tidy and--she fusses briefly with her appearance before stepping into the kitchen.
[He hadn't seen her prior on the battlefield. Among the captains, Gin had been one of those best suited to assist Ichigo in Hueco Mundo. That much might have been a blessing for him. If he had to count her among the ones who faced Aizen before he could arrive then he might not have stood a chance at sleeping that week. Still, he hadn't realized she was there until she stepped through the threshold, so Gin was treated to a rather genuine flash of surprise in his eyes visible even through the gentle blue light of his holographic monitor.
In two parts, he stood up. There was a wave of pain that radiated from his ankles to his throat that slowed him immediately but, beyond that, his relief in having a chance to see her again fell prey to the doubts that kept him anchored to his shop in the first place. He didn't go to her immediately, restrained by that realization that he'd squandered his obligation.]
Gin--
[What right did he have to speak with her so cordially after all of that? A hundred years of silence after he promised he wouldn't leave her like the others--]
Ah. No, it's Captain Akutagawa now, correct? You haven't been a lieutenant for quite some time...
[ she relishes the look of genuine surprise on his face because honestly, genius bastards are so hard to be caught off-guard, and she does not often manages it. it has been a long time since they both have shared the same space and were gin a more emotional person she may have reached out to touch him. instead, she tilts her head, cataloguing the way he is moving.
the way he gets up does not escape her scrutiny though gin remains where she is rooted in place by that formal address. there is a little glimpse of hurt and discomfort but she shakes it off and straightens.
Little escaped him. The paranoia built up in him for nearly a century had cultivated something completely new in him. The near-constantly jovial young man he was no longer fit who he was in the present. Pieces of him had been shaved off and replaced by bits of a mask and shards of armor.
Still, he could see that miniscule shift in her expression. A tiny squeeze of her eyes that carried him forward. Pain gripped at him but he reached for her arm, regardless, falling into an old habit. The dignity and grace that came with being a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard squad?]
[ everything changes, everything has to or one risks stagnating; the changes she sees in him are concerning but this all feels too much to reach out and ask. gin wishes she could, she wishes she could touch his arm and draw answers out of him-no matter how much he tries to withhold them. but she no longer has that quiet confidence when it comes to him, even if she still feels fond.
the nickname still has the slightest tinge of red creeping across her cheeks and then she's grasping his forearm. ]
It's... it doesn't matter anymore. [ not entirely true, she's not mad at him but it's still...difficult to think of it. gin hates abandonment irrationally so, so even when she can make sense as to why things happened the way they did, she's still prone to feeling agitated. ]
I didn't want to wait longer. [ to see you. soul society bureocracy would take some time in removing his exile, even though aizen had been defeated and kisuke was proven to be innocent beyond all doubt- so gin had come. ]
You look like you need sleep. [ to put it delicately. ]
[He scarcely had the time to give her any sort of reassurance before Gin gripped his arm, the soft pressure of her weight and her insistence on him. 'Kisuke's Little Shadow' had been her nickname upon her graduation and acceptance into the second division as she'd, just so constantly, find her way to his side. With time, he made concessions to free up her schedule to let her have her way as a little apology for the amount of time he left her on his routine missions. The only place she couldn't ever follow him into had been the Maggot's Nest and, for that brief time, meetings between captains.
Quite suddenly, it ended, and he was left with his new labs, sterile and empty of any presence other than his own. He pretended not to notice she wasn't in the corner of his sight anymore though he'd always feel as if he were waiting for that occasional tug on his sleeve.
He didn't often think of much else other than his work as a soul reaper and, beyond that, putting a stop to Aizen's ambitions. Beyond that, he had been ready to give up on any inclination that he could return to--]
It's a little too soon to rest.
[Her grip squeezed him and he couldn't fault her for it. Even if he wasn't to blame, it didn't change that he'd disappeared.]
Have you eaten since you were treated? I don't have it in me to make anything but I can order something.
[ while most would pinpoint kisuke's intellect as being his most impressive and dangerous quality, but gin disagrees. it's that kindness, the same that keeps him on his feet now still working while everyone else recovers; kindness that forgave gin for that fateful first mugging in rukongai and every time after that. the way he asks after her and her needs as if his are not even important enough to voice. it makes something inside gin ache, longing and wanting to go back to how things were before but not knowing how.
she ducks her head, not shy but unsure. ] I know better than to force you but you really should.
[ and gin isn't in the habit of lying but: ] No, it's fine, I really shouldn't be here but I needed to know how you were.
[ i missed you. ] Everything back in Soul Society is a mess.
Mm. [To that, he wouldn't disagree. As much as he'd love to give Gin exactly what she wanted? He had far too many responsibilities to relax. Even to breathe. Still, it wouldn't stop him from making a couple concessions if she pressured him as she was want to do.
He wondered, watching her carefully. Had she ever grown out of her bratty behavior?
Unlikely. It drew a little smile out of him that she was sure to understand. He missed the little hints she'd give--wanting attention and for him to set at least one thing aside for her.]
I'm sure it is. I'll let Captain Kurotsuchi handle that side of things. I'm sure by now he's figured out how I moved those two spaces.
[So, his concession.]
Now. Want me to teach you how to use a delivery app? [That smile.]
Or he's still trying and really mad that I'm here distracting you from helping him. [ well, 'helping' because kisuke would never make it easy for mayuri, and gin has spent the last hundred or so years being difficult towards the 12th division out of misguided loyalty for its former captain. but that is neither here nor there.
his concession isn't dismissed, gin's eyes widen briefly at it and she flashes a brief smile. ] Well, if you're willing to put aside your very busy, very full schedule for me, then I guess I could do the same for you.[ because she might be a captain but gin always had very defined loyalties.
and iba is capable enough to deal with things for a while. it's not like he's unaware of where she snuck of it. probably more people than she'd liked knew this too but...
she links their arms together. ] Lead me to your couch and let the lesson begin then. [ at least then she could get him off his feet and subtly check his wounds. ]
I'm sure he'll recover. Besides, it'll give him a chance to take credit for the final touches. [And serve as a rude reminder to a junior that he'd always be covering the scraps for his senior but no one had to say it like that.
Standing up straight, Kisuke reached back to stretch his back by placing his palm flush against it and giving himself a fine little shove. When Gin took his arm, he caught himself staring at her--just a touch surprised.
Well. She'd certainly grown braver in that time spent apart. At her suggest, he grinned a little slyly.]
My, my. You think I'm so well-off that I have a couch, Gin? Your accommodations as a Captain have you quite spoiled, don't they?
[He slid open the door to show Gin their extremely modest TV room, complete with the luxury of a single kotatsu and cushions.]
He'll be insufferable if he takes credit for anything, complain about how slopping your blueprints were and so on. [ gin shakes her head, her hand still on his arm light but present. there is still shyness there but the little bubbling happiness of this reunion is making gin do things to make sure kisuke knows he was missed.
and of course, she is naively assuming he will return to soul society after the paperwork erasing those mistaken crimes is fully submitted, his record cleaned out--ah, but gin has always been a touch innocent about the bureaucracy of soul society. ]
I wish you had gotten a couch, sitting on the floor can't be good for your body until you're fully rested.
[ but this was better than him working as he had been prior to her arrival. ]
Take it easy on him. He's sure to be boiling with frustration. On the other hand, you're positively glowing, hm?
[As ever, he felt that gentle impression of Gin's interest, barely disguised especially as she made her subtle excuses to be close. More than a few times, she'd gone out of her way to take care of him after messy missions and, in turn, didn't utter a single complaint when he returned the favor.
Yoruichi once told him she'd crush his manhood if he hurt Gin and he was inclined to believe that vow was back from its pause with Soul Society's relaxation of his exile becoming more a matter of formality.
Even so, he knew he'd have a disappointing answer or two for her down the line.
Continuing to the kitchen with Gin, he was careful to let her follow so she wouldn't need to latch onto him so loosely.]
After all, it isn't hard to tell that you fixed your hair before entering from the street.
[ a tilt of the head that says 'yes, of course i am, your name is cleared' and shouldn't she be pleased about that? and then she tilts her head in the opposite direction promising that she has no intentions of taking it easy on the usurper of kisuke's captain seat. but that's a whole other conversation. ]
Ha—? [ gin's hand flies to her hair, involuntarily at that last comment leaving his arm. she's suddenly a teenager all over again and trying to discreetly keep her hair in place before slipping out from the shadows to speak to kisuke.
a quick shake of her head and she moves to step past him, trying to hide the uncertain shyness that could spark into embarrassment or an annoyed sort of embarrassment. ]
[The moment she hesitated, his smile grew. There were things he'd never get back after his exile. Opportunities lost, stolen from him. Even with that chapter coming to a close, he supposed they'd never happen even then, if only because he wasn't quite the same as he way--or maybe he was more himself than he'd ever been.
That would have been far worse a problem.
Seeing Gin's expression change to something he remembered, even distantly, he felt a little satisfied despite his disappointment. She made an effort, tactically, to reposition herself, and rightfully so. Snapping open a cupboard, he downplayed his teasing by giving her a moment's reprieve. Tea leaves, kettle, water, stove. Possibly in a particular order.]
I suppose it was. [A pause.] You know, I'd never insult you by giving you cheap tea for the sake of it. I've just come to like this brand.
I don't really care about fancy tea. [ meaning: if he likes this brand, then this is fine. her brother had often criticized gin's easy-going acceptance in these sort of situations. he'd remind her she's a captain now, and gin knows but— that seems a very unimportant thing when kisuke's name has finally been cleared. ]
Have you thought about what you're going to do now? I don't think you can get back your captain spot unless we find ourselves a captain short there...
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he could come back to soul society. captain mayuri wouldn't like that but—
the past could stay in the past. gin feels oddly hopeful as she fiddles with her hair, a loose braid to keep her hair tidy and--she fusses briefly with her appearance before stepping into the kitchen.
she's being ridiculous she knows. ]
What's not going to end here?
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In two parts, he stood up. There was a wave of pain that radiated from his ankles to his throat that slowed him immediately but, beyond that, his relief in having a chance to see her again fell prey to the doubts that kept him anchored to his shop in the first place. He didn't go to her immediately, restrained by that realization that he'd squandered his obligation.]
Gin--
[What right did he have to speak with her so cordially after all of that? A hundred years of silence after he promised he wouldn't leave her like the others--]
Ah. No, it's Captain Akutagawa now, correct? You haven't been a lieutenant for quite some time...
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the way he gets up does not escape her scrutiny though gin remains where she is rooted in place by that formal address. there is a little glimpse of hurt and discomfort but she shakes it off and straightens.
after all, she is proud of her rank. ]
Well, yes, but don't be stupid, Kisuke.
[ we're friends.
although... ]
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[Not those memories of...
Little escaped him. The paranoia built up in him for nearly a century had cultivated something completely new in him. The near-constantly jovial young man he was no longer fit who he was in the present. Pieces of him had been shaved off and replaced by bits of a mask and shards of armor.
Still, he could see that miniscule shift in her expression. A tiny squeeze of her eyes that carried him forward. Pain gripped at him but he reached for her arm, regardless, falling into an old habit. The dignity and grace that came with being a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard squad?]
I'm sorry for leaving you, Gin. My little shadow.
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the nickname still has the slightest tinge of red creeping across her cheeks and then she's grasping his forearm. ]
It's... it doesn't matter anymore. [ not entirely true, she's not mad at him but it's still...difficult to think of it. gin hates abandonment irrationally so, so even when she can make sense as to why things happened the way they did, she's still prone to feeling agitated. ]
I didn't want to wait longer. [ to see you. soul society bureocracy would take some time in removing his exile, even though aizen had been defeated and kisuke was proven to be innocent beyond all doubt- so gin had come. ]
You look like you need sleep. [ to put it delicately. ]
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Quite suddenly, it ended, and he was left with his new labs, sterile and empty of any presence other than his own. He pretended not to notice she wasn't in the corner of his sight anymore though he'd always feel as if he were waiting for that occasional tug on his sleeve.
He didn't often think of much else other than his work as a soul reaper and, beyond that, putting a stop to Aizen's ambitions. Beyond that, he had been ready to give up on any inclination that he could return to--]
It's a little too soon to rest.
[Her grip squeezed him and he couldn't fault her for it. Even if he wasn't to blame, it didn't change that he'd disappeared.]
Have you eaten since you were treated? I don't have it in me to make anything but I can order something.
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she ducks her head, not shy but unsure. ] I know better than to force you but you really should.
[ and gin isn't in the habit of lying but: ] No, it's fine, I really shouldn't be here but I needed to know how you were.
[ i missed you. ] Everything back in Soul Society is a mess.
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He wondered, watching her carefully. Had she ever grown out of her bratty behavior?
Unlikely. It drew a little smile out of him that she was sure to understand. He missed the little hints she'd give--wanting attention and for him to set at least one thing aside for her.]
I'm sure it is. I'll let Captain Kurotsuchi handle that side of things. I'm sure by now he's figured out how I moved those two spaces.
[So, his concession.]
Now. Want me to teach you how to use a delivery app? [That smile.]
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his concession isn't dismissed, gin's eyes widen briefly at it and she flashes a brief smile. ] Well, if you're willing to put aside your very busy, very full schedule for me, then I guess I could do the same for you.[ because she might be a captain but gin always had very defined loyalties.
and iba is capable enough to deal with things for a while. it's not like he's unaware of where she snuck of it. probably more people than she'd liked knew this too but...
she links their arms together. ] Lead me to your couch and let the lesson begin then. [ at least then she could get him off his feet and subtly check his wounds. ]
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Standing up straight, Kisuke reached back to stretch his back by placing his palm flush against it and giving himself a fine little shove. When Gin took his arm, he caught himself staring at her--just a touch surprised.
Well. She'd certainly grown braver in that time spent apart. At her suggest, he grinned a little slyly.]
My, my. You think I'm so well-off that I have a couch, Gin? Your accommodations as a Captain have you quite spoiled, don't they?
[He slid open the door to show Gin their extremely modest TV room, complete with the luxury of a single kotatsu and cushions.]
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and of course, she is naively assuming he will return to soul society after the paperwork erasing those mistaken crimes is fully submitted, his record cleaned out--ah, but gin has always been a touch innocent about the bureaucracy of soul society. ]
I wish you had gotten a couch, sitting on the floor can't be good for your body until you're fully rested.
[ but this was better than him working as he had been prior to her arrival. ]
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[As ever, he felt that gentle impression of Gin's interest, barely disguised especially as she made her subtle excuses to be close. More than a few times, she'd gone out of her way to take care of him after messy missions and, in turn, didn't utter a single complaint when he returned the favor.
Yoruichi once told him she'd crush his manhood if he hurt Gin and he was inclined to believe that vow was back from its pause with Soul Society's relaxation of his exile becoming more a matter of formality.
Even so, he knew he'd have a disappointing answer or two for her down the line.
Continuing to the kitchen with Gin, he was careful to let her follow so she wouldn't need to latch onto him so loosely.]
After all, it isn't hard to tell that you fixed your hair before entering from the street.
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Ha—? [ gin's hand flies to her hair, involuntarily at that last comment leaving his arm. she's suddenly a teenager all over again and trying to discreetly keep her hair in place before slipping out from the shadows to speak to kisuke.
a quick shake of her head and she moves to step past him, trying to hide the uncertain shyness that could spark into embarrassment or an annoyed sort of embarrassment. ]
It was windy outside.
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That would have been far worse a problem.
Seeing Gin's expression change to something he remembered, even distantly, he felt a little satisfied despite his disappointment. She made an effort, tactically, to reposition herself, and rightfully so. Snapping open a cupboard, he downplayed his teasing by giving her a moment's reprieve. Tea leaves, kettle, water, stove. Possibly in a particular order.]
I suppose it was. [A pause.] You know, I'd never insult you by giving you cheap tea for the sake of it. I've just come to like this brand.
no subject
Have you thought about what you're going to do now? I don't think you can get back your captain spot unless we find ourselves a captain short there...