Two

The stars twinkled over the Seireitei as Ivy walked back to her barricks, a smile on her face. She was lost in thoughts of her sister and the new baby that when Soifon landed behind her she didn't notice. "How was it?" She asked as Ivy jumped then smacked her arm. "Stop doing that." Ivy clutched at her chest and Soi looked at her expectingly. "How was what?" Ivy asked when her heart had finally calmed down. "How was the trip to the nest yesterday? He's awful, isn't he? If he did anything vile we can go and tell Lady Yoruichi."

Ivy sighed and started walking again, her friend trailing behind her. She wouldn't call him awful, not in the slightest. She had almost forgotten about what happened at the nest. Goofy, kind and maybe aloof but not vile or evil. Grey eyes and a dopey smile flashed through her thoughts along with the feel of his calloused fingers as he checked her wrist. She could feel her cheeks heat as she shoved her hands in her pockets. "It was fine. He wasn't that bad." She said offhandedly and Soi's jaw dropped, "Ivy come on. You can tell me. Did he try anything, say anything?" Ivy raised a brow and watched her friend. Soifon sighed clenching her fists and looked down. "I don't like him ok. He just seems slimy, sneaky."

"Does he really or is it that he gets more attention from a certain someone than you do?" At that Soi Fon's cheeks puffed and her eyes narrowed in agitation. She let out a loud shout and her shoulders slumped. Ivy nudged her arm with a small smile. "I get it, jealousy sucks but you gotta understand. They have been friends from longer than you've been in the squad, have they not?" Soifon mumbled something that sounded oddly like I guess. "She's gonna spend time with her friend. Kinda like us." Soi nodded, face falling in defeat. A small soul reaper with blonde pigtails dropped from the roof in front of them, her small sharp tooth digging into her lip. "Have either of you seen stupid Shinji anywhere?"

Ivy pointed behind them as Soifon asked, "Captain Hirako?" The lieutenant grinded wickedly and took off running. Soifon watched her run off, jumping over a wall and disappearing. She turned to ask what that had been about only to find Ivy already halfway down the walkway. "Hey, get back here. I wasn't done yet." Ivy waved over her shoulder, "Come on Soi, I'm tired. I've got a lot of deliveries tommorow and have to get up early. Plus I need to go see Hanna tomorrow."

The small ninja jumped in front of her, expression sour. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted. "Miss Abarai, hello." Both girls turned and saw Kisuke Urahara waving at them from the intersection, Soifon scowled. She didn't see the awkward way her friend lifted her hand shyly and gave a small wave back, the darkness hiding her light pink cheeks. "What do you want?" Soi asked crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at the man. He walked toward them smiling as if he either didn't hear the venom in her voice or didn't care. "Oh and Soifon, Yoruichi was wondering where you were." Soi blushed, her body going ridged as she stuttered out an unintelligible response and disappeared.

"Or at least she was looking for her earlier." He said offhandedly as he took the spot beside Ivy, both of them gazing over the wall where the ninja had just disappeared. "Was she really really looking for her?" Ivy asked skeptically turning to look at him. His eyes rolled to look her way with a mischievous grin. "I may be thinking about different time she was looking for her." He said causing Ivy to chuckle, "No wonder she hates you." He looked shocked and pressed a hand to his chest. "She hates me?" He said sounding appalled. Ivy smacked his arm gently as her laugh took over. His face softened as he watched her. When her giggles subsided he gestured to the road in the direction she had been headed. "Do you need an escort?" She gave him a dazzling smile as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "No," she answered and his face fell. "But I wouldn't mind some company."

He waved bye to her as she disappeared behind the door of the squad 4 barracks. Sighing he turned and started walking back to his room. That had been a lucky coincidence running into her on his walk. If he hadn't gotten out of the nest early then he would've missed her. A black cat jumped down from the top of the wall in front of him and looked at him expectantly. "Yoruichi, hiding from more meetings?" He asked as he picked her up and set her on his shoulder where she hung lazily. "No, I'm hiding from Soi Fon. Apparently someone said I was looking for her." The cat said in a deep voice. "You have a fun night?" She asked and he could fell her tail hitting his back lightly. He hummed and nodded as he started to smile.

Indeed he had. He had been worried when she had initially said no, jokingly. Ever since she had left the nest he had wondered if he would see her again. Her smile had made his stomach flip but her laugh had melted him. He had never really thought about women before, or men for that matter, in that way. He wasn't inexperienced in the slightest but he was usually so focused on his work that he never really thought about things like this. She had asked him his interests and seemed really fascinated when he had started talking about his research. She had asked questions and given suggestions when he had talked about being stuck in something.

"So was this a date?" Yoruichi asked bringing him out of his thoughts. He shook his head. "No, just a coincidence. I was headed back to my room and I found her." The cat jumped down and gave him a flat look. "Somehow I can't fully believe that." Yoruichi's eyes widened as she looked past him. He turned to find Ivy jogging toward him. "Hey wait a second." she stopped in front of him slightly out of breath. She held out small glass jar that had some sort of cream in it, the cork stopper sticking out from the lid slightly. "Can you give this to Akon? He had that weird rash yesterday and the cream I gave him should be running out soon. I'll have to come back by and check on it."

She looked down when Yoruichi's cat form started to rub against her leg. "Hey sweet baby." Ivy said sweetly, scooping the feline in her arms and scratching under her chin. Yoruichi purred, eyes closed in contentment and Kisuke glared at his friend. He had never been jealous of the woman until now. Ivy stopped scratching and held the jar out for him to take. He took it from her, making sure to caress his fingers against the back of her hand. Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink and the arm around his friend tightening a bit. Yoruichi's eyes bulging slightly then she glared as the girl holding her stammered.

He opened his mouth to let her know she was welcome anytime he was there but was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. They looked toward the intersection to find a man with shaggy brown hair and square glasses watching them curiously. "Is everything alright?" He asked in a low voice. Ivy nodded stiffly wrapping her arms around the black cat, Kisuke just nodded and waved. He couldn't help but notice that Ivy had gone incredibly still, her face ashen. He moved so he was standing between her and the newcomer.

"Everything is fine thank you." He said and watched as Lieutenant Aizen give a small nod and walk away slowly. They watched until the glow of the man's light disappear around the corner and he turned. He placed his hand on Ivy's shoulder when he heard her rapid breathing, the cat in her arms looking up in concern. "You alright?" He asked touching her cheek. She looked startled for a second still looking at the intersection then started to laugh uncomfortably. "Yeah, I'm, I'm fine." She said nuzzling Yoruichi's soft furr. "He just, he gives me the creeps." He looked back to the the corner where the lieutenant had disappeared. Kisuke had to admit that there was something off about Sosuke Aizen but he wasn't sure what it was. "Come on, I'll walk you back."