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 Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:59 pm
For the above purpose. I shall be adding something sometime.
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:06 pm
Why there are no longer extra chairs in the 1st Squadron office: (As written by Somber Ash (duh I'm posting it) and Raine Shiba)   “I really have to remove the extra seating from the room.” Shizuka thought idly, considering the area.
The windows of the 1st Squadron’s office were open wide to allow for sunlight as opposed to doing paperwork by only candle light as the young lieutenant was often apt to choose. She was regretting that decision, it was as though letting the light into the room had given Raine Shiba from squad nine free reign to pull a chair up next to hers at the desk. She’d finally lost Abarai as a part of her squadron but Raine seemed intent on taking up the redhead’s job of pestering her when she had work to do. “You like him don’t you? Byakuya?”
What sort of question was that? Shizuka continued to mark her paperwork and speak to Raine without offering more than a small glance. “Of course I admire him, he’s my captain.”
He nudged her elbow, inspiring a slight frown but gaining the full attention of her crystalline gaze as she’d nearly made a mistake. His voice an amused ‘I know you’re your secret’ teasing tone. “Yooouuuu liiikkeee himmmmm.”
“Didn’t we just cover this?” Shizuka thought, the vague frown remaining despite her face otherwise being perfectly serious. “Of course I like him, he’s my captain. Don’t you like your captain? Should we speak to someone in personnel?”
Raine sighed at Shizuka’s failure to grasp what he meant. “When I say like him, I mean you have the hots for him.”
Shizuka stared quietly, poker-faced as ever, then retorted. “Someone in personnel? I don’t know most of them. Regardless, I don’t ‘have the hots’ for anyone.” She made quotations with her fingers shortly, her tone slightly colored with displeasure yet still somehow polite, that must have taken practice. “Really, you should focus more on your duties.”
“Alright, alright…maybe not the hots…” Raine amended and grinned adding, “…but certainly a crush! And besides, I’m here to drop off paperwork so yes I am doing my duty!”
“Good afternoon – Shizuka-fukutaicho, Shiba-fukutaicho.” Byakuya greeted neutrally as he entered the office, leaving them to wonder if he’d heard the entire conversation as he moved toward his own desk.
“Hello Kuchiki-sama!” Raine stuttered in a slightly higher pitch than normal, hoping that the head captain hadn’t heard their conversation.
“I’m still not certain what you are referencing. Good afternoon Captain Kuchiki, I believe Shiba-san was just leaving.” Shizuka remarked and stood when Byakuya entered in her usual respectful way.
“I was? I mean I was, but I did have some paperwork for you…here!” Raine offered a stack of papers over to Shizuka. Needlessly cheerful as ever.
“I See…” Was all Byakuya remarked.
Setting them to the side of her desk that functioned as the ‘in-box’ Shizuka frowned a little at Raine, staring at the turquoise eyed young man a long moment. “You should visit the 4th squadron if you keep stuttering like that. Are you certain you are in good health?”
Raine flashed a quick glare at Shizuka though she remained nearly as poker-faced as her Captain. “Ah no, Kuchiki-san! You should certainly join this wonderful discussion about how much Shizuka admires you.”
Byakuya glanced over from his own work at his desk. “I’m sorry?”
“Yes,” Raine smirked slightly triumphantly when he refocused the conversation, “she really admires you. She was just telling me about it.”
“I simply stated it was natural for a lieutenant to admire her captain. I believe that Shiba-san might be feverish. I’ll accompany him to the 4th Squadron…wouldn’t want him to pass out and hit his head.” Shizuka commented coolly, setting down her papers. “Please excuse us Captain.”
Shizuka pulled Raine suddenly out the door with a flash step before he could make further remarks. Hissing in a low whisper at Raine in a frigid tone that promised she wasn't kidding as she dragged him toward the medical squad. "One more word I'll request they do a prostate exam." She was holding onto Raine's upper arm, apparently intent on pushing him into a check-up of some kind though he could easily pull away from her. There was minor coloring in her cheeks, but she wasn't about to remark on it or possibly admit to it at all.
Raine's eyes widened to full circles at the mere mention of a prostate exam. He shook his head and dismissed the idea, offering a sneaky grin then whispering as he suppressed a chuckle. "You're blushing! I see it!"
"I will add hallucinating to your list of symptoms appropriately." Shizuka replied briskly. Her eyes forward, still pulling Raine along. Not pausing until they reached a clinic for day to day medical needs. There weren't many people inside this time of day but they leapt up as seated court members walked in. "Excuse me, Lieutenant Shiba is unwell. He continues to stutter and has just begin seeing hallucinations." She made a mental note to add the prostate exam to Raine's paperwork later...if there was anyone that could make certain paperwork was altered it was Shizuka.
She turned to find Raine had escaped her grasp, only to walk in after her. Remarking cheerfully. "Seems like you're the one hallucinating Shizuka-san."
"If only you were an illusion Raine-san." Shizuka replied drily. "Must you insist on taking Abarai's place in pestering me on a daily basis? I have work to do."
"Ah-no." Raine wagged his finger. "While Renji will pester you about a million minute details - I just care about one particular little matter... Your affection for Kuchiki-sama!"
"As I already explained to you, of course I have a healthy affection for my captain, it is inconsequential beyond that. Why are you so interested in such matters in the first place?" Shizuka asked, brows drawing together as the other person in the office seemed unsure what to do so they made themselves scarce.
"Because I'm the master at matchmaking." He brushed his fingernails off on his robes casually - as if he were a pro. "Consider yourself lucky to have attracted my attention. Now...I can get you and Kuchiki-sama together... I can picture it now... Dates in the gardens! Doing calligraphy together! You'll love it all I tell you!" His voice was teasing as he reached up to pinch her cheek then pulled it back before she could slap it away.
Shizuka frowned at him, pale gaze narrowing as her face tightened, clearly a motion of displeasure. "I shall add getting into controlled substances in the 4th Squadron to your list of possible problems. I'll retain skepticism in the matter of your matchmaking ability, besides, I am disinterested so your attention would be better spent elsewhere. To even suggest such a thing is unprofessional, are you attempting to indicate you consider me unprofessional Raine-san?"
"No, as a matter of fact I think directly the oppsite. You're too professional! Look, I'm honsting a party at the Shiba Manor tomorrow evening in celebration of Obasan's birthday." Raine replied, changing the subject.
"I hope it goes well and all enjoy themselves." Shizuka remarked, it was a practiced reply for her expression had dipped slightly into further confusion. "Is he bring up random topics simply to try to keep me from being annoyed?"
Raine shook his head. "No no no...I mean, you're invited. Come out and enjoy yourself! You know everyone that's coming too! It'll be a great opportunity to dress formally and have some fun."
Shizuka eyed him distrustfully. "I have work but I will attend if you drop this fruitless pursuit of matchmaking?"
"I'll be way too intoxicated to try matchmaking you to at the party - not to worry." Raine assured patting her shoulder. "Not to mention it's far enough into the evening for you to able to attend without letting work get in the way!"
"Mmhmm." Shizuka's noise an indication she wasn't exactly trusting. "I will attend for the sake of your sister if nothing else." Shizuka didn't want to anger the somewhat bi-polar and often frightening woman. "Is there something in particular I should get for her?"
"Sister?...she's my aunt...Oh no, you're not confusing me with my dad too are you?" Raine asked after a moment of confusion.
"My mistake, your face is just so forgettable Raine-san." She replied, though there was a vague amusement there. Was Shizuka teasing him?
He cocked a brow, a little annoyed at the statement and then chuckled. "Oh Shizuka-san you just made a joke! To answer your question though, she...she's very fond of pipes...and boars..."
"Despite the short notice I will attempt to have something made in time." Shizuka said, wondering how well her father's sometimes odd tastes would go over. "If there isn't anything further you should finish an appointment. I need to get back to work if I will be leaving early tomorrow."
Raine made an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "Alright, alright...get back to work then - you." Then tucked his hands back into his pockets.
"Enjoy your prostate exam Raine-san - I'll make sure it is arranged." She replied neutrally as she headed away. This time it was impossible to tell if she was joking.
Raine made a second take after Shizuka's exit, taking a mental note to find that form and cover it up with his illusionary technique. "I'm too young for one of those anywhos!" He called after her as she turned the corner.
- - - End Scene - - -
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:14 am
How Shizuka picked 6th squadron: (now with less eye burning colors)  A door slid open with a sharp slam. Then others followed suit, students that were quiet in classes only a few moments before were now an active hum. Excitement that the day had been let out for the term and the graduation that afternoon involved a Captain as a guest speaker. People rushed around the halls and hurriedly did what they could to have things prepared, many speeding up to try to get good seats while Yukumi could only sigh lightly. It wasn't as if they were the ones graduating, they still had another year or two depending on how well they did in their various courses.
“Hurry up Shizuka, you trying to cop out on my graduation? I bet you didn't even get me a gift your so socially inept.” Renji remarked playfully as the redhead set an arm over her shoulder. Since he'd helped her get into the school he'd made it his personal duty to pester her daily. Shizuka couldn't really protest too much given she'd still be at a much lower level without his involvement. Instead she just continued to put her books in her locker without looking at him.
“I am not interested in running and waiting in line for a front line seat, but yes I am coming.” Shizuka stated with a small shake of her head. Drawing a box out of her locker before closing it, it was wrapped in black and red and she clucked her tongue. “I guess if I didn't get you anything I'll have to give this to someone else.”
Abarai lit up a little, he'd been from a less well off area of the Rukongai so he always got so excited over even small presents. Shizuka held it out to him. “Here. It's not much but maybe you can cover up that hideous malformation you put on your forehead with it.”
“What?” Abarai immediately frowned again – but he still plucked the shiny box away from her as his protests continued. “These tattoos are awesome, they'll make me stand out from all the other troops. I wanna get a good position in the sixth squad.”
“Yeah yeah, I know, your personal thing, you told me remember? Isn't he the one coming today to make the presentation?” Shizuka asked, falling into step with the taller student as they went with the dwindling crowd toward the auditorium. She looked unimpressed in general.
“He is yeah, it's why all the girls ran ahead. I'm surprised you didn't. Most of them have a thing for him.” Abarai altered the subject to Shizuka, grinning as she scoffed lightly.
“I'm trying for a position in the 9th Squadron why would I care about meeting the Captain of the sixth?” Shizuka shook her head lightly. “I have no desire to be a part of the police forces. That's all you.”
“You are such a shrew.” Abarai remarked, laughing when she slugged his shoulder and rubbing it. “Ow, ow, okay okay you aren't that bad but you really should get out and be a little more social you know. It's better to build friendships Shizuka.”
“I go out, I just consider my schoolwork more important than getting into trouble with my peers.” Shizuka replied with a shrug. “I'll go drinking with you sometime after I graduate. How's that?”
“I'll hold you to it. I gotta go catch up to the rest.” Abarai remarked, walking away with his box without having even opened it. Shizuka shook her head, a little disappointed since she liked watching his face light up when he got anything new. It reminded her of her younger brothers and sisters during holiday celebrations. She smiled a little and moved into the packed auditorium getting lost in the crowd for a bit before she ended up near the back, which was just as fine for her. She'd of prefered someone from the ninth squadron to the sixth but she was still curious what a Captain would have to say at this sort of event.
There were a few other announcements about other events coming up and then the principle speaking a few words of congratulations to the seated students. Who whooped and cheered, clearly excited, only a few were calmer but Shizuka found herself smiling anyway. It was nice to see them so happy – they'd earned it since they were graduating after all. She glanced back to the stage when the principle quieted everyone and introduced their guest speaker.
“Captain Kuchiki Byakuya of the Sixth Squadron.”
Applauds broke out and Shizuka found her desire to reply to the praise with a roll of her eyes interrupted. The cheering seemed drowned out as she blinked curiously at the nobleman walking to the center of the stage, handsome features dispassionate as he waited for the noise to die down. She supposed she had to give all the rest credit that he was attractive and she swallowed, raising her hands to check her hair's bun in subconscious discomfort for her odd reaction.
“It is a pleasure to see that another class has reached the point where they will be joining the ranks of the shinigami, however this is just the beginning of your journey.” His opening remarks left a sobering effect on the jubilation but it peaked Shizuka's interest. “This day recognizes you as warriors but there is a deeper and never-ending duty as protectors that you accept with this new identification. Do not allow your alleviation in this accomplishment to distort the truth of what you will continue on to become. This is only a step in your path, if you let yourself grow stagnant here then you are failing to live up to the responsibilities you have accepted. If you would call yourself a member of the court guard squadrons you cannot approve less than excellent behavior from yourselves, your peers, your superiors, or your subordinates this day and every day to come.”
Steel gray eyes scanned the room a final time and after a few long seconds of quiet he turned away to move gracefully off the stage. Not glancing up to the cheers that broke back out for the end of his short statements. It was less than what Shizuka had expected but the words resonated with her and she found herself watching the aloof noble as he returned to a seat despite the fact the principle had started to speak again. Effortlessly he had captured the room with his intense presence and then let it slide away again. Except perhaps for one individual in the audience, settled in the back unfocused on the names being called at the front. A short speech and her entire focus for the future had been called into question...
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:46 pm
 Yukumi Shizuka
Lt. of Squad One“Honor was never taking the easy way when it was also the wrong one. Never telling a falsehood unless the truth was painful and unnecessary, or a lie was necessary to save others." “They just don't understand...” Shizuka thought to herself, sighing at the thought yet another person telling her she should speak to Byakuya about going out for tea. That wasn't what she was interested in. She pulled open the cabinet, fingers flipping dexterously through the files to the correct one before she slid away the first of many she needed to return before she would be off for the night.
It wasn't about romance, that's what they didn't seem to comprehend. Sure, she'd be lying if she said she hadn't dreamed of her Captain as a knight in shining armor who might sweep her away. But she knew the difference between fairy tales and reality. If she approached him, or took that step, then he might lose his faith in her, and she might not be able to support him. That would be far harsher than any other consequences that might come from such a frivolous request. If he never looked at her as a woman and only ever as a secretary then she still will have done her duty and have every reason to take pride in it.
“Yoooouuuu liiikkeee himmmmm.” She could hear Raine grating at her ears even as she closed one file drawer to open another – already half done.
“Because I'm the master at matchmaking.” Raine brushing his fingernails casually on his robes – as if he were some veteran of the art. “Consider yourself lucky to have attrached my attention. Now...I can get you and Kuchiki-sama together. I can picture it now. Dates in the gardens! Doing calligraphy together! You'll love it all I tell you!”
“Preposterous...” She was quite certain Raine wasn't aware of the first thing about matchmaking – as far as she knew he was quite single himself. Besides, he misunderstood her dedication for obsession. What was wrong with wanting to help structure the world of a man she so admired? If she could act, in any manner, as a crutch in times of urgency or peace – if she could somehow ease his life in any way then she felt fortunate at the end of the day.
Certainly she lived for those moments when she earned a kind word, or on rarer occasion – a gentle smile – but that was only natural given how enthusiastically she focused on making his life easier, she daresay better. Such gestures from him were signs that she was doing her job well – and they were payment enough. Most of her extra money went back to her family in the Rukongai anyway – she had little need for material things.
“But you spend so much of your time making sure things run smoothly, you deserve to have something more than just rare shows of approval.” She could hear her sisters goading her as much as Raine did – perhaps they were even worse than him. “Just confess your feelings, you've loved him since college.”
“I can't do that.” She'd calmly replied.
“Why not!?” Her younger sibling demanded.
“It would just be too...”
“...unfaithful.” Shizuka slid the drawer shut as she finished the sentence. Done with the files and while it was well into evening – she would be the last person leaving the office – she felt good. If her dutiful overtime saved her Captain even a few minutes then she'd done a service. She shook her head, not certain why her thoughts were being so chaotic today.
Of course it would be unfaithful. She was his lieutenant to back him up; not to flash her eyelashes or pucker her lips like some self-absorbed head-in-the-clouds child. How conceited would it be to suddenly ask for more when she already was an important figure in his life? She was happy as she was now, she worked hard, and she helped the person she most wanted to aid – and by doing so helped the entire realm. What more contentment could someone ask for? Romance was a little too subjective a possibility to risk ruining all of what she already had.
Locking up the office she held up a hand to her mouth, coughing into it and then frowning. Feeling her face...was that the reason for her peculiar thoughts? A fever? * * *  * * *  * * *  * * *"Never manipulating the truth to serve only yourself. Protecting the weak and helpless; standing fast even when fear made you weak. Keeping your word.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:10 pm
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