RYUUGAMINE

BOOM!

Crash!

Crack!

BOOM!

BOOM!

" KYAAAAAHHH!!"

"HOLY SH*T "

" CALM DOWN!"

"Don't worry, this is fine! "

" I DON'T WANNA DIE SO SOON! "

" You won't. This is just our daily routine. "

" SAY WHAT!? "

I once again wake up to blessed screams of terror. It's how most mornings go. It's sudden; strikes at the speed of lightning, startles me out of my sleep. I stumble out of my futon* half-running, half-crawling to grab my sword. There's another rumble. My hand curls around the cold sheath. Its coolness is enough shock me out of my frenzied state. I freeze while my brain finally starts whirring, assesses the situation and concludes that it is a false alert. I often think I should have gotten used to it by now but old habits die hard. I've been trained to fight, to protect in such situations. But here it's like a joke; never fails to get me though. A white cup on my desk starts shaking uncontrollably and the whole room follows in suit.

Ugh, not again.

" DEAR LORD NOT AGAIN! "

" WHO THE F*** IS CAUSING THIS ?! "

Since purposefully ignoring such things is my specialty, I gladly do it.

I let out a groan of frustration. My dream was quickly fading from my memory.

And I was getting to the good part! We were about to win!

I comb my hair with my fingers; they're long, thin but callous from hours of sword training. A suprisingly tranquil shower later, I slide on my shinigami uniform: the standard, black kimono. I put a few hairbands in my sleeve pocket, secure my sword, a zanpakuto*, as we shinigami call them, at my hip. It is a normal katana sheathed in a sea-blue scabbard. A small golden bell is tied a the base of the hilt.

I slammed the shoji doors open. Things had calmed down by the time I was ready. I examine my surroundings; I don't want to run into anyone right now. That's when I felt a murderous intent. My whole body shudder.

He just stood there...Menacingly.

At first, I saw only a purple-blackish aura surrounding him. Then I noticed how the man seemed to glare at a crumpled plastic container in his hand. He had his chocolate brown hair down, zanpakuto* with a grey hilt strapped around his hips and a shinigami badge tied around his right arm. The badge has the drawing on a black chrysanthemum engraved on it.

" Good morning, Captain! I hope you're doing well, " I salute him even though he has his back to me. With a cautious tone, " Is something bothering you? "

He whirls around, his peppermint blue eyes stare daggers into my soul. But his whole being relaxes upon recognising me. Captain is taller than me by a good 10cm ( we took measurements so it's accurate ). Sometimes I rub my neck when I need to maintain eye contact for too long.

" Ryuugamine, " He fondly ruffles my hair, " Someone ate my pudding. I even wrote my name on it... "

Captain sighs. He always does. Not one day goes by without him sighing at least thrice. He hasn't shaved yet; there are stubs of hair sticking out of his chin.

" Join me, will you? "

" Morning round as always? "

He nods.

" The day there's a quiet morning in these barracks will be the day Captain Kuchiki looses his wealth, " the brunet jokes.

I fall in step beside him. It's rare for the Captain to be seen interacting at all in the morning. He keeps it to the bare minimum: checking on everyone, dealing with morning chaos, assigns tasks and resumes with any official matter or paperwork. I guess today he felt lonelier than usual and didn't want any of Kyomei's nagging.

Hibiki has pronounced dark eye bags that stand out against his skin. Has he not had enough sleep? Or perhaps no sleep at all? He glances at me and chuckles. Why are they all amused when they look at me? Hibiki pulled out a thermos and two black plastic cups out of nowhere.

" Coffee? "

" Yes, thanks. "

He hands me a cup and then pours steaming hot coffee into it. We don't stop to sit and enjoy our drink but keep on walking. Wanting a break yet not allowing himself to properly take one; how typical of Hibiki.

" What were this morning's explosions about? " I pry cautiously.

The captain snorts, " Who else but her? "

Who else but her indeed! That chaotic vice-captain of ours.

We pass by the mess hall. I can hear the deafning crack of a tray being thrown on the ground, glasses smashing in pieces, someone shouts; it's a whole other level of cacophony in there. Hibiki and I exchange a knowing glance. Nope. No way in the name of the Soul King are we taking a step into that thing.

" SHUT UP!"

" WHY'D YOU TAKE MY MISO SOUP? "

" HELP! I'M ALLERGIC TO SEAFOOD! "

Not gonna lie: part of me is curious to know what's going on in there. It used to be so quiet with only six of us at first. Now, despite own numbers not being that big, the mess hall has become a battlefield of its own...I pity the cooks. They have to witness such chaos everyday. It must be draining. Maybe, our vice-captain's behind all this...

Hibiki stretches his arms and yawns, " Let's drop by my office for a sec. Afterwards I need to evaluate the damage done by the earlier's explosions. "

" You don't want me to check it out myself? If you need anything from your office I can just fetch it for you, Captain..."

Hibiki does not say anything. He stretches his arm and his huge hand ruffles my hair once again; smiles before increasing his pace. I quickly scurry behind him while rearranging my ebony black hair.

We've already reached the other side of the Construction Squad's headquarters by the time I manage to settle on whether or not to leave my hair loose or tie it; the latter shall be my hairstyle for the day.

" I'm coming in, " Hibiki says, raising his tone. He carefully slides the shoji door and we enter his office.

The Captain's office is nothing fancy; in fact he's supposed to share it with the vice-captain. Our vice-captain's a bit special: she would not settle for an office but a laboratory out of all thing. So, Hibiki shares it with the 3rd lieutenant instead.

Hibiki's office is the size of a standard room. When we entered, it was almost completely dark. The blinds were pulled down and only a few strands of sunlight filtered into the room. There are two office desk: the furthest one from the door is Captain's and the one directly across it is the 3rd lieutenant's. I managed to find my way to the blinds despite the stacks of documents scattered on the floor and piled up on the desks; this place badly needs lighting. Strangely, Yuusuke-san's desk is free of such documents. Instead, he is slouched on it, sleeping.

He must've worked hard.

" Hey, hey, hey~ " Captain Hibiki says as he approaches Yuusuke's slumped form on the desk. His head lays on his arm; rectangular sunglasses neatly kept aside. I can see him drooling...

Hibiki carefully grabs the 3rd lieutenant's chin to avoid dirtying his hand. He gently lifts Yuusuke's head. Apparently, the man ought not be woken up...yet. I watch as Hibiki lifts his left hand, brings it down at a frightening speed but stops abruptly millimeters near our colleague's cheek.

" ! "

Hibiki gently taps Yuusuke's cheek. It's a small impact but strong to make Yuusuke's head jerk to the right. Switching hands, Hibiki repeats the process. He replicates his movements several times.

" Wakey, wakey, Yuusuke~ "

Maybe he's finding this funny? Because I certainly don't. Or maybe he's testing Yuusuke's limits?

My hypothesis is proven wrong when Hibiki halts and decides to continuously give Yuusuke small slaps on a single cheek instead.

" Wake up, now. We've got a lot of work to do; tons of paperwork has arrived, " the Captain's tone has a hint of annoyance now.

" If you wake up now, I'll take on half of your workload. "

" I'll take half of what's left, " I suggest.

No response.

" All of it? " Hibiki tries, hesitantly.

Still no response.

" I'll treat you to dinner and a drink for a week-- no. One month! "

" Hmmm, try two months? " I add.

" Woah, hold it right there. " Captain sends me a pleading glance, " Think a bit about my wallet, will you? "

I shrug offering my boss an apologetic smile.

Yuusuke's eyes twitch almost imperceptibly. Nonetheless, Hibiki catches it.

" One day off, " the brunet says without missing a beat.

Nothing.

" Two days off? " I add tentatively, " One week? "

Yuusuke's slumping fiure shoots up at a speed which would put Captain Ichimaru's blade to shame. Hibiki takes a few steps back. I have never seen anything move this quickly.

Yuusuke pins us on the spot with his silvery gaze. He does not utter a word and puts on his glasses.

" Yuusuke-san...? " I say.

The 3rd lieutenant greets me with a nod. I feel his gaze shift to Hibiki. I cough and gasp for air. I wasn't breathing...?

" One week off, " Yuusuke hisses, " Give or take. Not a second less. "

Hibiki exhales an audible sigh. Arms crossed across his chest, he levels his gaze with Yuusuke; Hibiki's a good 5cm cm shorter than him.

" Dea-- "

" Throw in a few dinners too. "

" You! "

" I'll treat to drink afterwards and I'll attend the next meeting in your stead. "

Hibiki thought for a while.

" Alright. But I'll be the one to go on vacation next. "

" Deal! "

They shook hands. All's well that ends well apparently.

And then it hit me; like a spark of realisation that ignites in your head.

......

If those two go drinking, they could be out of commission the next day.

......

When Yuusuke and Captain will go poof for a week, our workload will increase.

......

We'll have to deal with the Vice-Captain on our own.

.......

Does that mean we'll be left unattended?

.......

Then who the f*ck will be in charge of the daily schedule and mission allocation?

.......

Oh HELL NO!

***

I should've shut down my marvellous brain. Opened my skull, pulled that broken, pink blob out; scream WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. WHY CAN'T YOU SHUT UP?! And then, quietly slip it under my bed- into whatever universe of lost socks, paper wraps, chips bags is found under there. I would have forgotten about this faulty brain and would carry on happily without it. Ignorance is bliss, they say.

I say Captain Zaraki Kenpachi's hits give you another kind of bliss. The one you can enjoy only when you pass out or sleep: dreams. A wonderful world really. Nothing can bother you there--

Ouch, that hurt! Why does he have to attack relentlessly like that? What is he? A bulldozer? Sucka, I'm trying to monologue here, can't you leave me be?

" BWAHAHAHA! " He cackles.

Why did Captain Kenpachi choose me as he sparring partner? Aren't I supposed to be a simple janitor? A background character. Unlike the janitor in Degenki Daisy-- this one I tell you! He's an ikemen; THE male lead and a hacker to boot!

OUCH!

FOR THE SOUL KING'S SAKE HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RETALIATE IF YOU KEEP SLASHING A THE SPEED OF A MACHINEGUN?!

It's either the monologue or my pride. I don't have much pride.

" C'MON! Not gonna fight back? I sure hoped you were gonna make this fun. "

I skid backwards almost losing my footing. With shaky breaths, I ready my sword in a defensive stance ready to block that living bulldozer's attacks with all my might. My cheeks hurt so much from clenching my teeth too hard. There's an ache in my arms; they're starting to numb. I blink and Kenpachi's giant grin dominates my vision. He lunges towards me with a triumphant cackle. He brings down his sword. I can clearly see the blade's path, its arc but I can't dodge it. I rapidly change the position of my wooden sword so that its flat side faces my opponent in a diagonal block.

THWACK!

Well sh*t.

" JESUS CHRISTO! " Rokujo exclaims, I don't know from where exactly her voice came from yet. It's hard to pinpoint it while blocking.

Captain Kenpachi's strike is extremely heavy. So much so that my leg instantly buckles. Yet I persevere. It feels like I'm being crush by a mountain, a giant who could destroy an entire army in a single strike.

I catch a glimpse of Rokujo from behind the 11th Division's Captain. She is yelling something but I can't hear properly- my ears are ringing. I can see her lips move. She's clapping her hands. Not a fast-paced rhythm but a slow, commanding clap. Her words floated to my ears in bits and pieces.

" Hey!.... Taka.....Hey, Takatin! Hey! " Rokujo said with gusto as she followed my every movements. 

Taka-tin?

Who's that?

Is she encouraging me or someone else?

I leap back to avoid an incoming diagonal slash.

" If you don't win, planet Namek will be doomed, Ryuugamine! "

I glared at Rokujo but sense someone lunging at me. I quickly parry Captain Kenpachi's myriad of attacks.

THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!

THUD!

" Ryuugamine! " Rokujo exclaims.

Her voice is distant. My ears are ringing. It hurts. I can feel the rough texture of the wooden floorboards on my back. Never thought, the floor of a training dojo* could feel this comfortable. It's eons better than the fort I was forced to hold instants ago. My vision is unfocused, blurred. Rokujo's blurred silhouette invades my vision; her red hair is so pretty!

I can hear cheers bombarding my ears.

" Way to go, Captain Kenpachi! "

" You're the best, Captain! "

" The strongest! "

Captain Kenpachi does not say anything. He walks away from me seeking to find a better toy to play with. I am abandonned. Thrown away.

Yeah, I know. Stfu.

" Ryuugamine..." Rokujo's voice is the last thing I hear before I succumb to darkness.