Bed Check

During lunch the next day, Unohana studied Isane over the low table. The younger woman was eating determinedly, her chopsticks moving rapidly through the bowl of spinach gomaae, moving the miso-sesame dressed leaves into her mouth with a speed that would have done any growing teenager proud.



Setting down her own chopsticks, Squad 4’s captain cleared her throat. “Isane-san.”



“Yes, taicho?” Isane put down her chopsticks quickly, eyes going to her captain’s face.



“I was wondering if you would share your feelings about the other Gotei 13 captains.”



Swallowing hard, Isane blinked. “I . . . Unohana-taicho, I don’t understand.”



“Do you like them, would you like to be more involved with any other Squad’s members?” She smiled slightly, fingers laced together in her lap. “I’m simply curious, but I would like an answer.”



“Oh. Um. Well,” Isane thought rapidly. Had one of the captains asked for her to join them, or . . . that was the only thing she could think of that would have brought this topic up. “The other captains are . . . very nice, I suppose. They have never shown me anything but respect.” Her brow furrowed slightly. “Unohana-taicho, I’m sorry, I don’t know why you’re asking, so I don’t know what kind of answer you want.”



Picking up her chopsticks, Unohana smiled. “Are there any you like? I mean to ask, do you find any of them attractive?” Isane stared at her captain for a moment, and Unohana gestured soothingly. “I consider you a friend, Isane-san, and friends talk about this kind of thing.”



“Of – of course, taicho. No, I . . . several of the captains are very handsome men, but I don’t feel any sort of . . . desire for them.”



“I see.”



A few moments of silence followed, as both women worked at what was left of their lunches. Then, again, Unohana set her chopsticks down, this time across the top of her bowl. “Isane-san, we both have tasks to see to today. But I would like to speak with you in my quarters this evening, before lights-out.”



The silver-haired woman nodded, wondering what on earth this was all about. She hadn’t done anything that she knew of to upset her captain, but . . . perhaps one of the other captains had expressed interest in her? Possible. Or maybe . . . no, that wasn’t possible. Setting down her own chopsticks, Isane stood up and picked up her bowl and Unohana’s. “Cerainly, Unohana-taicho. I’ll look forward to it.”



They both went about their business during the day, each woman thinking about the possibilities the night might have, neither daring to hope that those possibilities would take shape.



At the end of the day, both women were tired. There had been some sort of skirmish, and three shinigami were in near-critical condition, even after the best healing they could receive. But after a quick bath, Isane felt as though she were ready to meet with Captain Unohana, and perhaps even handle whatever conversation they were about to have.



Pressing one hand to her stomach, she knocked on the wood frame of the door, hesitancy in every line of her body. From inside came a muffled, “Please, come in,” and she slid the door open and stepped inside.



She could count on one hand the number of times she’d been in her captain’s private quarters, and her eyes darted around with interest that was just this side of unseemly. But it took her a moment to notice Captain Unohana, sitting crossed-legged on her futon, dressed in a thin cotton robe. But what made her stare for a moment was that Captain Unohana had her hair down and loose, tumbling over her shoulders and down her body to the floor in ebony waves.



Shaking her head slightly, Isane closed the door behind her. She’d never, not once in her entire time in Soul Society, seen Captain Unohana without her customary braid down the from her chest. It was a shocking, powerful, sight. Bowing, Isane knelt near the futon, eyes fixed to the wall behind her captain’s head. “Good evening, Unohana-taicho.”



With a warm smile, Unohana turned to face Isane more directly, causing the robe to open more at the neck as she shifted. “Good evening, Isane-san. I’m glad you had a chance to clean up before coming here.”



“Yes, thank you, taicho.” Hesitating – and trying to avoid looking at the ever-more-exposed chest in front of her – Isane moved her gaze to Captain Unohana’s. “Unohana-taicho, may I ask what you wanted to talk with me about?”



Pushing her hair off her shoulders, the older woman smiled. “Last evening, Isane-san, I was performing my usual bed checks, and opened your door, I admit, without checking to see if you were busy, and –“



“Oh, no!” Isane’s face was bright red, and she had both hands covering her mouth. This was the worst thing that could have happened. “Gomen, taicho, I . . . I never meant for you to . . . .”



“Isane. Stop.” Unohana’s eyes, usually so gentle and soft, were firm and piercing. “You called out for a captain, which is why I asked you this afternoon about your feelings about the other captains.” She shifted again, her robe sliding open even more, and Isane realized idly that it wasn’t belted at all. “But if you don’t desire them, who were you talking about – fantasizing about?”



Isane stared at her hands, the fingers twining together and apart over and over. Maybe if she didn’t answer, Captain Unohana would drop it, and let her go back to her room.



“Isane.” Firm, long fingers reached out and gripped the silver-haired girl’s chin, lifting her face so that two pairs of eyes met. “You have always been honest and prompt with your honesty with me. Why are you not being so now?”



“B-because . . .” her voice dropped to almost a whisper, “I was thinking of you, taicho. I’m sorry, it was presumptuous of me and very inappropriate to even consider . . . .”



One of the fingers snaked up from her chin to press against her lips, silencing her. There was an unfamiliar glint in Captain Unohana’s eyes, and Isane felt herself shiver slightly. “Hush, Isane.”



Without another word, the captain of Squad 4 leaned forward, drew her fingers away, and kissed her vice-captain.



Isane blinked at the feeling of Captain Unohana’s lips on hers, soft and smooth, but then closed her eyes. She hadn’t even suspected that her captain shared her feelings, or that there was even a chance that this might happen anyway. But it . . . Captain Unohana’s lips felt wonderful, and tasted better, like sweet plums and brown sugar.



The kiss broke, and they both looked at each other, eyes half-closed. Unohana licked her lips, then smiled slowly, broadly. “Isane, it’s very flattering that you think of me while you pleasure yourself.” One hand reached out to press against Isane’s neck lightly. “I never knew that you were interested in women as well.”



Isane blushed, her eyes turned downward. “I didn’t know that Unohana-taicho was attracted to women.” It did come as rather a surprise; she’d thought that her captain’s rank was the reason that she hadn’t been involved in a relationship with a man in so long. It was difficult enough dealing with the males in Soul Society as a female vice-captain, she couldn’t imagine how much more difficult it would be as a captain, trying to have a romantic relationship.



But she’d never thought it would be that Unohana-taicho was a lesbian. It . . . she was thrilled, and hope burned in her heart, but she’d never expected.



The older woman reached out and took Isane’s hands in hers, and drew her onto the futon. “Isane, I want you very much. If you want to leave, however, I won’t stop you.” Unohana’s face firmed, and she looked at her vice-captain sternly. “If you choose to stay, however, you’ll let me do what I wish – what we both want, I think.”