Squad Barracks

The place for the squad to sleep and stuff.

[Sixth Squad]

Masaru couldn't help but brighten at Xarath's reply, "Alright then, let's go."

With that, he exited the office.

--

[Fourth Division]

Masaru appeared in a flash in front of the Fourth Division, having now changed into a non-ripped up shihakusho before leaving, he took a small breath before he entered through the front gates of the division.

Once near the barracks, Masaru could already hear a few giggles coming from Nozomi.

Masaru stopped at the door, knocking before opening the door.

"Masa-nii's back!" Nozomi exclaimed happily before Masaru could even utter a single greeting. She turned from the twins at the table they were sitting at and approached Masaru and Xarath.

"Did Masa-nii run into any trouble?" She asked Xarath, seeming to have her suspicions, as Masaru never just left like he did earlier without telling someone. "He didn't tell anyone at the bar we were in when he left."

Xarath arrived right next to Masaru, clicking his tongue while the noble knocked on the door.

Giggling. That little devil surely was torturing the twins again.
A grin appeared on his lips.
Good.

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"Masa-nii's back!"

Yes, Xarath clicked his tongue twice, he luckily was.
Kami-sama knew what he'd have done if the other male had not returned...

Though... it was over... they talked about this, and with his pissy mood he certainly did not want to worry Nozomi.
She was too young.
She needed to stay a child just a little longer.

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"Did Masa-nii run into any trouble?"

"Ah." Damn, why asking him? A bright blush appeared on his cheeks and he clicked his tongue. "N..nnnno." he stuttered in reply.

Akemi looked up from the small table, that was overstuffed with tea cups and tea cakes, as the two men walked in and blushed. He was currently dressed in one of his sisters more western dresses. Nozomi and Yukiko had done his make-up and hair so now he actually looked like a girl. He smiled as Nozomi went over to Masaru.

Yukiko stood up just as Akemi was doing the same. "Greetings Shirakawa-taichou and Shiru-fukutaichou." Yukiko said as she bowed to each of them in turn. Akemi kind of stammered over his greetings. "Ah yes, greetings." He said as he also bowed. Yukiko smiled at her brother as he blushed more from his stammering, then looked back to the two men who had recently entered.

"I trust your trip went well, Shirakawa-taichou?" Yukiko asked before retaking her seat.

Nozomi tilted her head at Xarath's response, but smiled anyway. "That's good."

Masaru looked over at the twins and had to force himself from letting out a laugh, finally getting a good look at them for the first time. Oh it certainly seemed like Nozomi and Yukiko had had a lot of fun dressing up the male twin, Akemi. The poor thing.

"Hello, you two." He greeted in return. "Yes, the trip was...fine." He half-lied. He hoped Xarath would understand him saying it had gone fine, when in fact...it really hadn't. He'd been injured and the arrancar had escaped. So that was anything but successful.

"Did the three of you have a good time?" He asked, changing the subject.

Nozomi gave a nod. "Yeah, we were having a tea party."

Masaru chuckled, "I can see."

Xarath watched Akemi with a small form of envy. "Geeez, even the guys look better in a dress than me." he thought bitterly before putting his attention back onto his captain - he didn't want to ponder too much over that.
He had already made a fool of himself today.

Xarath clicked his tonge.

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"Did the three of you have a good time?"

Well, he rose his eyebrow, two at least seemed to have a good time.

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"Yeah, we were having a tea party."

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"I can see."

"Yes." he agreed, though he was not sure if he should even say something about it in the first place.
Another tongue click.

Sunny left Masuyo's office and went to check on the twins and Nozomi. He made his way to the barracks and felt two string spiritual pressures that didn't belong there. They were familiar, but not terribly. He entered the barracks and saw Xarath and his captain.

"Oh hello. I was just coming to make sure Nozomi and the twins were ok. I hope you are feeling better Captain."

Sunny bowed to the captain. His healing earlier wasn't his best, but Masuyo had drained a good portion of his energy.

"Greetings Ozera-fukutaichou!" Akemi and Yukiko said in unison. "We are doing just fine, just having a tea party." Yukiko said as she smiled up at the small boy as he entered the room. "Would any of you like to join us?" She asked, pouring another cup for Akemi.

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"Oh hello. I was just coming to make sure Nozomi and the twins were ok. I hope you are feeling better Captain."

Before Masaru could say anything, the Fourth's Fukutaicho walked in.

Masaru quickly glanced at Nozomi, who waved at the young man. Good, it didn't seem that she noticed anything off with what Sunny had said.

"Yes, I'm feeling fine. Are you, Ozera-Fukutaicho?" He didn't want Nozomi knowing anything about what had happened, and Sunny asking if he was feeling better...well, that could have raised her suspicions. He was thankful it hadn't.

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"Greetings Ozera-fukutaichou!" Akemi and Yukiko said in unison. "We are doing just fine, just having a tea party." Yukiko said as she smiled up at the small boy as he entered the room. "Would any of you like to join us?" She asked, pouring another cup for Akemi.

"Yeah! That'd be really fun." Nozomi agreed. "The more the merrier."

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"Oh hello. I was just coming to make sure Nozomi and the twins were ok. I hope you are feeling better Captain."

Immediately Xarath turned his head and glanced down at the other Fukutaichou. Ozera... Sunny. Xarath clicked his tongue, he did not know what to think of that one. On the one hand he looked too much like a brat, on the other hand... the man was skillful and... dedicated. Honest.

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"Yes, I'm feeling fine. Are you, Ozera-Fukutaicho?"

Xarath glanced back at Masaru and clicked his tongue. The way his captain said it... So it was him who had healed the noble. He'd have to make sure to thank the male properly.

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"Greetings Ozera-fukutaichou!"

"Ah yes," Xarath finally murmured and glanced back at the other Fukutaichou. "Greetings Ozera-fukutaichou. And..." Tongue click. "Thank you." The other hopefully understood his message, he wouldn't want to explain himself in front of Nozomi.

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"We are doing just fine, just having a tea party."

Xarath clicked his tongue and looked back at Masaru.

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"Would any of you like to join us?"

Joining them? In his attire? Did those twins want to ridicule him?

"The guy is just that - a guy in a drag. Don't feel bad. You are prettier. Akemi looks ridiculous."
"Thank you. But I don't really trust your judgement of fashion."

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"Yeah! That'd be really fun." Nozomi agreed. "The more the merrier."

Masaru will be unable to decline. Sunny loved such gatherings. Xarath clicked his tongue. He was not one for crowds.

"Thanks, but I think I have over stayed my welcome." he murmured and glanced down at Nozomi. "I wouldn't want to ruin your party." Another tongue click. "I still have work to do."

Tongue click.
He just wouldn't fit in.

"Shirakawa-taichou, Ozera-fukutaichou." Then he nodded to the other three before turning around and left.

Everybody would be over the twins anyway. It wouldn't make a change if he was there or not.

Tongue click.
"I'll just look if I can find some more paperwork." he thought once he left 4th.
The world always turned around somebody else, but never around him.

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"Yes, I'm feeling fine. Are you, Ozera-Fukutaicho?"

"Indeed I am sir. It really was a pleasure bumping into you earlier."

Sunny picked up on the subtle change in Masaru's demeanor. One of two things were probably the cause. One, he didn't want Nozomi to know. Two, he was embarrassed. Either way, it wasn't Sunny's place to blow is cover.

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"Greetings Ozera-fukutaichou!" Akemi and Yukiko said in unison. "We are doing just fine, just having a tea party." Yukiko said as she smiled up at the small boy as he entered the room. "Would any of you like to join us?"

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"Yeah! That'd be really fun." Nozomi agreed. "The more the merrier."

Sunny smiled at the twin and Nozomi. Such innocent fun.

"I'd love to, but I'm afraid I can't. Captain Masuyo isn't feeling so well so she's gone home for the day. I have to take care of things around here."

He really did want to play, but he couldn't. Not this time any way.

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"Ah yes," Xarath finally murmured and glanced back at the other Fukutaichou. "Greetings Ozera-fukutaichou. And..." Tongue click. "Thank you."

Sunny smiled and the taller man and gave a slight bow. He didn't really know Xarath well, but then again Xarath didn't seem like the sociable type.

"Thanks aren't needed when lending a comrade a hand, but you are welcome."

Sunny smiled and gave the man a knowing wink. It made his heart smile to know someone appreciated him and his work.

Sunny nodded at Xarath as he left. He was so...uncomfortable. Interesting, how did the man fair when his entire squad was gathered? Sunny brushed it off. Wasn't any of his business.

"I must be going as well. I will come to the next tea party, promise."

Sunny gave the group and smile, and then he bowed and left.

Akemi frowned as Xarath left the room. Yukiko patted his leg under the table where no on e could see it.

"Alright you two, don't overwork yourselves." Yukiko said with a smile. "How about you Shirakawa-taichou?"

Masaru chuckled, "Su-"

He looked behind him slightly, sensing a familiar reiatsu at the Sixth. Kano?

"Masa-nii, what's wrong?"

Turning back to them, he smiled reassuringly. "It's nothing, I think Uyusei-taicho is at my office though, but I can stay here."

"What?" Nozomi looked a little angry then, "You can just leave Kano-san waiting on you like that! I'll bet she wants to talk with you. Masa-nii you should never keep a lady waiting." Putting her hands on her hips she looked up at the Shirakawa clan head sternly. "I can stay here and we can continue with the tea party, but you need to go see Kano-san."

"Alright, alright." Masaru answered, putting his hands up slightly in defeat. "I'll go check and see what's up now."

He then glanced at the twins, "You two don't mind watching her for a bit longer, do you?"

The twins both smiled. "Not at all, we love spending time with miss Nozomi."

Masaru nodded, "Thank you."

With that, he turned around and exited the building; on his way back to his division once more.

[After Captain's Meeting]

Masaru entered the Fourth Division, making his way through the halls until he came to the familiar doors of the barracks once more today. He gave a knock before opening the door.

"Masa-nii!" Nozomi exclaimed happily, turning towards the door when Masaru entered

"Hi." He said, giving the young girl a smile before looking over at the twins. "A mission has come up, so I'll be needing to take Nozomi back to the mansion now where the servants can watch her."

"A mission? Is it an important one?" She asked, "Do you know when you'll be back?"

"At the time, no. I don't know exactly how long this mission will take."

"It's not too dangerous is it?"

"I'll be fine, promise." Masaru said with a chuckle.

"Okay." Nozomi said, hoping Masaru would keep that promise.

Akemi, now back in his normal clothes, got up with Yukiko when Masaru entered. They both frowned when he said that Nozomi would be going away.

"Do you know if Masuyo-taichou will be accompanying you on this mission?" Yukiko asked, slightly worried.

Masaru shook his head, "No, Nathair-taicho won't be going."

"I hope it doesn't take long..."

Masaru nodded, "Well, we'll see how it goes." He looked over at the twins, "Nathair-taicho may return soon, she may be able to give you more details if you're interested."

Xarath merely clicked his tongue once he stopped right next to Masaru.

"Shirakawa-taichou." he murmured and bowed before he turned to Nozomi, bowing also. "Greetings." he said softly and then, he finally turned towards the twins. "Arai-san." he said just as softly and bowed again.

Then he clicked his tongue and turned his attention back onto the noble.

"I heard we are send on a mission." Another tongue click. "Do you need me to prepare anything?"

"Ok, well I hope your mission goes well Shirakawa-taichou, and for you too Shiru-fukutaichou." The two said in unison as they bowed.

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"I heard we are send on a mission." Another tongue click. "Do you need me to prepare anything?"

Masaru nodded, "Yes, I'll explain more at the mansion after I take Nozomi back home. I need to pick something up there as well, but other than that there isn't anything more I think we'll need. You want to come, or do you have preparations you need to make yourself?"

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"Ok, well I hope your mission goes well Shirakawa-taichou, and for you too Shiru-fukutaichou."

Masaru nodded, "I hope so as well, goodbye for now."

With that Masaru bent down and help Nozomi onto his back before he turned and made his way tot he door.

"Well then, let's get going." He said, giving Xarath a small smile.

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"Yes, I'll explain more at the mansion after I take Nozomi back home. I need to pick something up there as well, but other than that there isn't anything more I think we'll need. You want to come, or do you have preparations you need to make yourself?"

Carefully Xarath listened to Masaru, slight fondness raising up in his chest as he watched the noble's display of affection for his younger... sister.

Then, once his captain had finished, he shook his head. "No, Shirakawa-taichou. If you don't have anything for me to do I have no preperations to make." he murmured softly.

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"Ok, well I hope your mission goes well Shirakawa-taichou, and for you too Shiru-fukutaichou."

Xarath turned to the twins again and bowed once more. "Thank you." he said politely before placing his attention back onto his captain.

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"Well then, let's get going."

Well, seemed like he would accompany the man.

Xarath nodded curtly before following Masaru.