Two Souls, One Story

Chapter 13

Izuru slogged through his paperwork with an air of despair. His week-long vacation request had been rejected by Gin, despite being caught up to the point where the captain could nap more than he worked.

"I'd miss ya, Izuru! A week is too long!"

The blond was starting to regret his talk with Gin about being there for him. Masaki just had the twins and they need as much help as possible. Poor Ichigo looked like a tired wreck when they last visited. But now his captain has become... clingy, to say the least.

Speak of the devil and he'll smile down at you... Gin approached his desk and tapped on the wood with a long, spindly finger. Once, twice, thrice.

A walk. Of course.

"Captain Aizen invited us for tea~"

Izuru made a dramatic show of slamming his face onto his desk, boosting the amusement of his captain. "Yes, sir..." With reluctance, he got up.

As Izuru followed Gin to Squad 5's grounds, he couldn't help but ponder just how often Gin and Aizen spent together once the former became a captain? If he recalled correctly, the manga seemed to portray Gin and Aizen's relationship as tense in the Seireitei, or was that just a later thing?

No matter.

"Captain Ichimaru, how about we make a bet?" Izuru nearly stumbled over his feet when Gin looked over his shoulder, not once changing his pace.

"Oh? What kinda bet, Izuru?" Gin grinned widely.

Izuru took a deep breath. "I bet you that I can make Captain Aizen uncomfortable during our visit."

"That's a strong bet, Izuru. In the centuries I'd known him, Captain Aizen never showed signs of bein' uncomfortable." Gin stopped walking and turned to face the blond. "Whatcha get if ya win?"

"If I succeed, you have to approve of my vacation request." Izuru squared his shoulder, shutting off all submissive body language. He had Gin's attention and he was going to use this to his advantage.

"Oh, that won't do. I said no to it. It's not good to keep botherin' me when I say no," Gin spiritual pressure slowly leaked out, wrapping around Izuru's throat and sitting there. "What do I get then?"

"Free entertainment during the visit and if I fail, I will do all of your paperwork for three months straight, no breaks." Izuru recently came across a tea that could keep him awake like someone injected him with pure caffeine. This was the perfect time to see how much he could get done if sleep deprived.

Inside his head, Kira wept. Not that Izuru could blame him. His body was starting to make weird noises due to his sleep-decisions.

"Much of the paperwork I gotta do requires my signature," Gin said, tucking his arms into his sleeves.

"I said: I will do your paperwork," Izuru stressed, and it took all he had to not crack under Gin's growing smile. Did the man not have muscle limitation?

"Yer creepy sometimes, Izuru," Gin commented, but nodded his head. "I agree. Whatcha gonna do to Captain Aizen?"

"My lips are sealed, sir." Right, tell Gin and then he prattles to Aizen in secret? Heck no.

When they reached Squad 5's captain's quarters, they were greeted by Momo, who flung open the door with bright eyes. "Izuru! You came too!"

"Hi, Momo..." Izuru greeted weakly. Great, he had the sunshine child here too. He took off his sandals, following the trio into the main room, where Aizen was skillfully pouring tea. A serene air hung about him, like he wasn't a homicidal maniac hellbent on tossing everything into chaos.