Saving the Damsel

The next morning, he wakes up and immediately starts training on his punching bag. Many Shinigami were experts with a zanpaku-to and Kido, but he took a certain degree of pride in the fact that he was one of the best in the Gotei 13 when it came to hand-to-hand combat. It was a popular rumor that he had once taken down a hollow bare-handed. The truth was that he has bound it with Bakudou 99, Bankin Restrict before crushing it’s mask with his fist. Suddenly there’s a knock on the door.

Tatsufusa: Yamazaki-san, Captain Kyoraku requests your presence in his Headquarters.

He recognized the voice, Tatsufusa Enjoji. The 3rd seat of the same division as him, one step above him in rank, but infinitely beneath him in ability. Kenzo may have only been 4th seat, but it was well known that he was ranked so low by choice. He was the type that liked taking orders as opposed to giving them.

Kenzo: Alright Enjoji-san, I’ll be right there.

He throws his Shinigami uniform on, straps his zanpaku-to to his waist, and heads to the 8th division headquarters. His Assistant Captain, Nanao Ise, greets him at the door, but her greeting wasn’t exactly a friendly one.

Nanao: You’re late, Kenzo.

Kenzo: I’m so sorry, Nanao-san. I got here as fast as I could.

Nanao sighs and fixes her glasses, which have slid down her nose slightly.

Kenzo: I promise, it won’t happen again.

He gives her a big smile. Nanao just sighs again. Kenzo had a charisma about him that seemed to make it impossible to stay mad at him. He was much like Captain Kyoraku in that respect.

Kenzo: Hey, Cap’n. You wanted to see me?

Shunsui Kyoraku turns around in his chair, He was chewing on a blade of grass and spinning his hat on his finger.

Capt. Kyoraku: Oh, hey Kenzo. Yeah, I need you to run a few errands for me.

Kenzo: Errand work? No offense Captain, but that’s work for one of the low ranked unseateds.

Capt. Kyoraku: Yeah, normally. But there’s something I had made special for Nanao-chan I need picked up. I need someone I can trust who doesn’t mind lying to her.

Kenzo: Oh, in that case, sure thing.

Capt. Kyoraku: Great, I had Capt. Kurotsuchi make it for me and I need you to pick it up, Oh, and while you’re in the area, could you deliver this to Capt. Ukitake at the 13th?

He takes a letter out of his pocket and hands it to him. Then he eats another saichu.

Kenzo: Nanao pissed off again?

Capt. Kyoraku: Yeah.

Nanao had a tendency not to let the captain drink when she was angry. Kenzo takes a jug of sake out of his uniform and puts it on the desk.

Kenzo: I had a feeling she was, so I brought you a little pick me up. Remember, you didn’t get this from me.

He leaves the Headquarters and starts towards the higher numbers H.Q.s.

Kenzo: Man, this is perfect. I’ll give the message to Capt. Ukitake, pick up Capt. Kyoraku’s package, then ask her to the dance.

He knocks on the door to the 13th division’s Base. Kiyone Koutetsu and Sentarou Kotsubaki try and push each other out of the way as they answer the door.

Kenzo: Hey guys, is Captain Ukitake in?

Kiyone: Yes, but he’s resting right now…

Sentarou: He hasn’t been feeling well.

Kiyone: I was about to say that until you interrupted me!

Sentarou: Shut up, you stupid Booger!

Kenzo: Okay, I need to give him a message from Capt. Kyoraku, so… pick a number.

Sentarou: Seven.

Kiyone: Three.

Kenzo: It was two.

He passes the letter to Kiyone.

Kenzo: Make sure he gets it when he wakes up.

Kiyone: Yes, sir!

She salutes the man, looking very serious as if he had entrusted her with the means of defeating Sosuke Aizen himself. Kenzo gives the enthusiastic young Shinigami a beaming smile.

Kenzo: So, you guys going to the dance this weekend?

Kiyone & Sentarou: yes, Sir.

Kenzo: Any clue who you’re taking?

Kiyone: I’m going to ask Capt. Ukitake, of course.

Sentarou: No fair! You can’t do that just because you’re a girl!

While those two argue about how fair it is that Kiyone as their captain to the dance, Kenzo heads over to the 12th division headquarters. He knocks on the door. Before anyone answers the door, he slicks his hair back and straitens out his uniform. The 12th division lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, answers the door.

Nemu: Ah, Yamazaki-san. Can I help you?

Kenzo thinks for a minute. Oh boy, how many ways could he answer that one?

Kenzo: I’m here to pick up something for Captain Kyoraku. He said that Captain Kurotsuchi was making something for him.

Captain Kurotsuchi calls out from his lab.

Mayuri: Nemu! Who is at the door!?

Nemu: It’s Yamazaki-san, from 8th division. He’s come to pick up Captain Kyoraku’s gift.

Mayuri: Well come in here and get it, you stupid girl! I’m much too busy to be bothered by something so trivial!

Nemu: I’ll be right back.

She gives him a gentle smile as she turns and leaves. While she was gone, he takes a pack of gum out of his pocket and starts to chew one. Hopefully the mint flavor would freshen his breath. Needless to say, he was nervous. Finally, Nemu comes back with a small, wrapped package. Kenzo tried to suppress a smile, but he’s not doing a very good job.

Nemu: Is something wrong, Yamazaki-san?

Kenzo: I’m just picturing your father wrapping that. I didn’t know he had it in him.

Nemu smiles sweetly.

Nemu: He didn’t. I did the wrapping so that Captain Kyoraku wouldn’t have to.

Kenzo: You’re all heart, Nemu. Which is why I’d like to ask you something.

Nemu: Yes?

Kenzo: Well, as I’m pretty sure you know, the Shinigami Women’s Association is throwing a dance for all of us.

Nemu: I know. I actually voted for it when the committee came up with the idea.

Kenzo: Really? Well, anyway… I was wondering if you would like to go with me to the dance?

Nemu: Go with you?

Kenzo: As my date.

Nemu blushes deeply, her face taking on a deep crimson hue.

Nemu: I… I would be honored.

She knew her father wouldn’t object, since as a member of the S.W.A. she was supposed to attend.

Kenzo: I’ll pick you up at say, 6 O’clock?

Nemu: That would be wonderful, Yamazaki-san.

Kenzo: Please, call me Kenzo.

Nemu: Okay… Kenzo.

She blushed slightly as she said his name.

Kenzo: It’s a date then.

He leans in and gives her a gentle kiss on the cheek.

As he turns and leaves, Nemu touches her cheek where she had just been kissed. She had never been kissed in any way before, then again, she had never felt the way she felt about Kenzo Yamazaki before. She watches as he walks away. Again, her captain calls out from his lab.

Mayuri: Nemu! Get down here! There’s a new serum I need tested.

Nemu: Coming!

She walks back into the Headquarters, a small smile gracing her lips.
That night, at the "Bad Company's" nightly poker game.

Renji: So, the dance is tomorrow night. You guys ready?

Hisagi: No problem here. Ran’s got this dress she’s going to wear, you can see damn near everything.

Everybody sits there, letting that mental image sink in for a second.

Hisagi: So, what about you guys? You got dates?

Iba: Yeah, I’m going with Akemi, my division’s 7th seat. How about you Ikkaku? How’d things go with Isane?

Ikkaku: Excellent. I was sparring with Yumichika and I “accidentally” caught his Fuji-Kujaku right across my chest. I asked her while she was bandaging me up.

Hisagi: She say yes?

Ikkaku: Of course she said yes. I’m too charming to refuse.

He grins and slicks his hand over his bald head.

Kenzo: Speaking of Yumichika, does he have a date for it, or is he going Doe?

Renji: The phase is “going stag” Kenzo.

Kenzo: I know that, but my way describes him better.

Everybody erupts into drunken laughter. A doe really did suit the effeminate Ayasegawa better than a stag.

Renji: Wait a minute, don’t try and change the subject. Why don’t you tell us who you’re taking?

Kenzo leans back in his chair, takes the toothpick he was chewing on out of his mouth, and pointed it at his tattooed friend.

Kenzo: Tell you what, Lets see if you guys can guess. I’ll give you a hint, she’s ranked higher than I am.

The four of them think for a second.

Ikkaku: Kiyone?

Kenzo: No, she said she was going to try and get her captain to try and go with her. You’re out. Next hint, she has long hair.

Iba: Captain Unohana?

Kenzo: Nope, that’s your guess. Hint number 3, she has a slender figure.

Renji: Soi Fong?

Kenzo: Yeah right. I try to ask her out, I’d be coming to our poker games in a body cast. Hisagi, down to you bud. Want your hint?

Hisagi: Yeah.

Kenzo: She’s really soft spoken.

Everybody realizes who he was taking to the dance at once. Their jaws all drop at the exact same time.

Hisagi: Don’t tell me you’re gonna take Asst. Captain Kurotsuchi?

Kenzo: Yeah, I am. What’s the big deal?

Renji: Nothing with her. It’s the fact that her father is Captain Mayuri “Out-of-his-mind-bat-shit-crazy” Kurotsuchi. He puts that poor girl through hell for no reason other than he’s a sadistic bastard.

Kenzo: I know, which is why I really think she needs this, man. You know how much I hate to see bad shit happen to good people.

Iba: Yeah, you always were Mr. Chivalry. Guess that’s why Captain Komamura’s always trying to have you transferred to our division.

Kenzo: I know, and Capt. Komamura is cool and all, it’s just that I’m happy in 8th division.

Over at the other end of the Seireitei, The Shinigami Women’s Association is having one last meeting about the dance before it took place.

Yachiru: Now, we need people do put up all the pretty decorations at the hall..

The small child with Bubble gum pink hair was cheerful as usual as she eats another piece of candy. Though she was only a child, she was strong enough to become an Asst. Captain of 11th division and the president of the S.W.A.

Nanao: Is there anyone who would care to volunteer?

A few of the women raise their hands as Nanao, the S.W.A. secretary, jots the names down on a sheet of paper. Soon, they have all of the jobs needed split between the women of the group, and some men who would be informed later that they were “volunteering” to help out. Nanao does a quick check of her lists, then looks up.

Nanao: Nemu, I don’t have you down for any of the jobs that need to be taken care of.

Nemu, who had been in a dream-like state for the entire meeting, snaps out of her trance and looks at the young woman.

Nemu: I’m sorry, what were you saying, Ise-san?

Nanao: Nemu, you have been staring off into space the entire night. Is everything alright? Has your captain performed some new experiment that has been effecting you?

Nemu: Oh no, it’s nothing like that.

Yachiru rests her little head in Nemu’s lap.

Yachiru: Then what’s wrong, shy-chan? How come you’re acting so weird?

Nemu: It’s nothing, really.

Yachiru: Do you not have a boyfriend to dance with tomorrow?

Nemu: No, it’s not that at all.

Rangiku: So you do have someone?

Nemu doesn’t answer, not verbally anyways. The violent blush covering her face was all the answer the other women need.

Yachiru: She does! She does! Shy-chan has a boyfriend! Shy-chan has a boyfriend!

Momo: Yachiru, you’re embarrassing poor Nemu.

Nemu: It’s alright, Hinamori-san. Kenzo will be taking me to the dance.

All the women look over at her, which causes Nemu to blush an even deeper shade of crimson.

Nanao: Kenzo? Kenzo Yamazaki, my 4th seat?

Nemu: Yes, he asked me today while picking… something up from 12th division headquarters and I agreed.

Momo: You’re going to go to the dance with one of the Bad Company?

Nemu: He’s nothing like that at all. He’s sweet and kind.

Rangiku: Sounds to me like you’ve had your eye on him since before he asked you.

Nemu’s face turns so red, the women around her take a step back incase her head explodes from all the blood rushing to the surface.

Nanao: Okay, okay, This meeting is adjourned. We’ll see you all tomorrow.

The ladies all stand up and file out of the conference room. Before leaving, Nemu looks up at Nanao.

Nemu: Thank you, Ise-san.

She smiles sweetly as she steps out the door