Forced Connections (AizenxOC)

Chapter 6

Years passed the pair by all with very little change in their overall daily life. Cassie grew accustomed to her relationship with the captain; day in and day out, they spent it together—learning everything they could about one another.

Cassie would grow a bit stronger with each year and as she grew, she was well enough to be a second seat—losing only to Gin—and worked even closer with Aizen. Routines formed between them; aside from the usual, they had developed a nighttime routine where Cassie would frequent Aizen's room to sleep in.

Her ability only better developed under Aizen's watch and it seemed she was even getting better at controlling the amount of spiritual energy she took in. Overall, things seemed to be going well for the pair.

Nothing was in the way and everything was quiet and calm...

Today was like any other day in the Soul Society. It was early Spring and Cassie sighed to herself as she sat taking in the fresh air. She opened her eyes seeing the blooming cherry blossoms before her.

"They're really pretty... but I still prefer the fall months," She said to herself, "all the beautiful orange and red just makes my day." A relieved sigh escaped her lips and she rested back using her arms to support her.

"Aw, does that mean you prefer me, Cassie-chan?"

Cassie opened her eyes and found Shunsui leaning above her. He smiled as she moved to sit normally. Cassie began to grumble while he smiled and sat beside her.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

His hand came up to rest atop her head. "Your hair is always so soft. You should grow it out a bit more." Cassie said nothing to that, "but, I'm here to see if I could get you to smile. The day almost seemed emptier without it."

"I'm not in the mood." Cassie simply said, but she made no effort to move away from his hand.

"Aw, why not? Hungry? We could eat over some sake." He offered.

"You know I don't drink."

"I know, but I could drink and you could eat!" Cassie pouted and looked at Shunsui, "don't give me that face, you know I love your pudgy cheeks Cassie-chan!" He said that all while reaching for her face and talking to her as if she were a child.

Cassie let him pull her face, but huffed and spoke once he let go of her. "Is there any other reason why you're here captain?"

He chuckled and relaxed back. "Of course. I ran into Captain Aizen in the hallway, he asked me if I'd seen you."

Cassie seemed to perk up. "He did?"

Shunsui chuckled. "He did. I think he wanted to talk to you about something." Cassie eagerly stood up, "but that's too bad." Cassie stopped and looked back at him, "I couldn't get you to smile."

Cassie let out a small sigh. "I'm not smiling anyways." Shunsui chuckled as Cassie opened the door to head inside, "but... I only let Captain Aizen pat my head so..." She grew frustrated and just left despite Shunsui's growing smile at her comment.

"Still such a sweet girl..."

Cassie huffed in the hallway, "why do I even care if he's upset?" She paced down the hallway while looking for her captain.

Cassie followed her gut and assumed where Aizen was, but after getting a bit distracted, she eventually just decided to go back to his room and thankfully she ran into him around the area.

"Captain Aizen!" She called out to him and he stopped seeing her, "Shunsui told me you needed me?"

Aizen chuckled. "Should you really be addressing him like that?"

Cassie made a face. "Captain Shunsui said you needed me?" She corrected.

"No need to look so vicious." She pressed her lips together, "walk with me." Cassie did as he said and followed behind him, "I wanted you to go on a mission with me."

"R-really?" He nods, "Where?"

"Just a regular recon mission," Aizen and Cassie walked to an empty area in the Seireitei where he stopped and faced her, "It'll just be me and you."

Cassie's face went flush and she cleared her throat. "Are you sure we should be doing that Captain?" He smiled and touched her head.

This felt much different from how Shunsui's felt, Cassie felt her chest grow tight at this feeling. Aizen's hand seemed to cause her to feel something... strange. Even with years of his touches, she could still never quite figure out what that strange feeling she always got was. Though, she would just peg that feeling as the reason why they usually went on seemingly random recon missions alone—perhaps it was something like love.

As a result, no one in the Gotei 13 ever concerned themselves with it as Cassie was one of his squad members and his number two seat, so it just seemed normal for them to constantly be in contact, but...

"Besides, we're alone Cassie, you can call me Aizen."

She huffed and moved from his hand. "You were the one telling me to properly address Shunsui a minute ago." Cassie then felt Aizen's arms wrap around her shoulders.

"Because, being on an informal basis makes it feel like you're intimate with him."

Her body trembled at his words, "I-I'm not!"

Aizen's teasing continued. "So then it shouldn't matter if I just ask you to address others that way."

Cassie let out a small sigh and tired to keep herself calm. "Can I ask how long this mission is going to be?"

"It should be over in two days." He released her from his grasp, "we're scouting out a rather large area; I've already gotten the approval of the head captain."

Cassie faced him, "then I guess we'll be going on your orders."

As their eyes met, Cassie couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Her own face went red, but Aizen just smiled at her.

...

Their calm lives began to pick up later on. Months went by and Aizen called Cassie into his office to help him file away papers, but they discussed something Aizen had been preparing for a while.

"You've requested three students to join our division?" Cassie said to Aizen as they worked. Cassie sat on the floor while shifting through the papers.

"Yes. After Gin's promotion to captain, I figured to have more join our squad to fill the void. Their names are Momo Hinamori, Izuru Kira, and Renji Abarai. They are exceptional Soul Reapers and I believe they'll only benefit our division." Cassie let out a small sigh, "I did have the chance to see them fight and they were able to hold their own very well."

"It's good we're getting some new squad members, but... you're telling me about this in order to vet them?"

He nods to her assumption. "As well as the choice in general." Aizen looked up, "do you believe this to be a good thing?"

Cassie looked up and her gaze met his, she blushed but nodded. "At my captain's orders."

He chuckled, "but do you feel that this is good?" He clarified.

"No matter what I say, I'm just a lieutenant." She got up holding the papers, "your words are final." Just then, Aizen was in front of her. At the sudden appearance, she dropped the papers she was holding, "c-captain! I just finished putting these papers in number order!" She bent down and looked at the papers, "damn it, the numbers are messed up again!" She groaned and sat back down crossed on the floor as she began to pick each paper up and put them in a pile by number again.

Aizen watched her. "I'll leave you to it, but Cassie?" She looked up, "what did I tell you about addressing me when we're alone?"

Her face went red as she focused on the papers. "A-aizen..."

Satisfied with her response, he moved to sit back down at his desk. Cassie grumbled to herself as they went back to work in silence.