five

It had been an almost a day since the festival and Ivy hadn't seen her friend once. It wouldn't be weird if it wasn't for the fact that she knew Soi Fon was mad. Ivy remembered one time when they were younger Hanna had made the girl mad and she had disappeared for days. She figured Soi had duties now so she wouldn't disappear completely. Ivy cut the brownies and placed them in two tins. She was sure if the Captain found out she had been baking again and hadn't left any she would spill their secret. She had finished her shift in the clinic and made her friend's favorite. She would check squad 2 first, see if Soi was there and if not maybe they could give her an idea of where her friend went. She set one of the tins of sweets on her Captain's desk and made her way out of the barracks.

Two hours later Ivy sat at the table by the base of the tree that they usually met at. Her feet throbbed and she could feel a blister on one of her toes. She sighed and opened the tin popping a small bit of sweets in her mouth. Ivy had been searching for her friend for hours but it seemed she didn't want to be found. The guards said she had left that morning so she had plenty of time to find a hiding spot and get comfortable. She grimiced thinking of how bad she may have hurt her friend. She was sure if they could talk then everything would be fine. They always worked things out and this time would be no different.

A shadow appeared on the table making her jump. The black cat that she kept seeing around sat infront of the tin, gold eyes watching her with interest. "Hey sweet baby." She cooed and reached out to scratch the cat. The feline purred and rubbed at her hand. "Soi's so mad. I'm just not sure why." She said pulling the cat closer. It's soft black furr comforting her slightly. "I mean it would be different if she had the hots for me but I know that's not it. I would think she would be happy. It means he's not interested in Captain Shihoin." The cat gave a small deep meow and lightly headbutted her chin.

"That's not the point." Her friend's angry voice said from the branches above. Ivy looked up as the cat made itself comfortable on her lap. Soi Fon sat on one of the lower branchs her arms crossed over her chest a sour look on her face. Ivy looked to her earnestly, "Then what is? Talk to me Soi." The small ninja huffed and glared at something in the distance. "The point is he's evil." She gripped. Ivy scoffed, "No he isn't." Soi Fon landed lightly on the bench across from her friend. "Yes he is," she said venomously, "He took Lady Yoruichi from me and now he's going to take you." Ivy and the cat looked at her like she was crazy. "You're my best friend Soi. He's not taking me away from you. I'm still here and always will be. I mean yeah I may not be as a available as usual but he's a Captain, it's not like he's going to be around that much. You know as well as I do they are busy most of the time. And as for Captain Shihoin, I'm fairly sure no one could take her anywhere she didn't want to go in the first place. You two seemed friendly enough yesterday." He's friends face shone a bright red and she snatched the tin from the table. She opened it quickly and shoved a bit of sweets in her mouth.

"You promise your not going to change or forget me?" Soi Fon asked not looking at her friend. Ivy scoffed and rolled her eyes, "I didn't forget you when I dated that guy in the academy. Now that guy was evil." Soi Fon nodded then finally met her friends gaze."I warned you about him too." Ivy smiled warmly at her and shook her head. "You did and I didn't listen them either but I've got a feeling about this one." The raven haired ninja was quiet as she chewed another piece. "Ok but promise me one thing. If he hurts you I get to kick his ass." Ivy started to laugh, even the cat in her lap seemed to chuckle before jumping to the ground and running away. "Deal."

Kisuke drummed his pencil on his paper and tried to think but failed. The only thing that was running through his mind at the moment was the softness of Ivy's lips and how sweet she smelled. "What the hell is that on your head?" He heard Hiyori ask as she entered his workspace. He pulled the striped hat off his head and sat it on the table. "It was a present. I'm glad your here I need you to run errand for me." He started shifting papers around looking for the information he had gotten for Shinji. "I am NOT your servent." She spat as she reached for the hat on his desk. He snatched it before she could blink and slowly folded it, placing it in his robes. "Who bought you that ridiculous thing anyway?" He frowned at his lieutenant, "It's not ridiculous."

"Ivy gave it to him." Yoruichi said as she walked through the door. Hiyori rolled her eyes. "I thought she had better taste." Kisuke pouted, "I like it. She said it looked perfect." Hiyori crossed her arms over her chest, a bored look on her face. "I meant about you not the hat." Her comment made Yoruichi snicker. "Just give me what you wanted me to deliver already." She snapped making him remember why he sent for her. He picked up a stack of paper and handled them to the blonde. "I need you to take these to Shinji." She sighed and wadded the papers under her arm. "What business you got with baldy anyway?"

"He asked me to look into something. Remember to not peek, it's confidential." Hiyori rolled her eyes, waving as she left. Kisuke waited until she was gone and pulled the bucket hat back out placing it back on his head. Yoruichi gave him a soft smile as she leaned on his desk. "She's good for you." Yoruichi said watching him flip through his notes again. "Who, Hiyori?" The stealth ninja scoffed and flipped the brim of the hat. "Oh." he said in realization, a familiar goofy grin easing onto his face. "What do you mean by that?" He seemed like he was going to ask something else but she snatched the hat from him. "You get so caught up in your work you forget to sleep or eat. It's good to have something," She said as she slid it over her short hair and looked at her reflection in the window, "or someone to give your mind a rest. A good distraction." She tilted her head in thought then took it off and placed it back on his head, fliping the striped brim again. "She's right too. This hat suits you."

"I'm glad you approve. Would hate to have two ninjas after me." He grumbled and picked his pencil back up. Yoruichi nodded, remembering the conversation between the girls under the tree. She hummed, a mischievous smile on her face as she started to flip through his papers. "Yeah she really has it in for you." He chuckled then noticed his other lieutenant standing in the doorway. Mayuri's blue hair had been pulled back in a small ponytail, his yellow eyes scrutinizing his Captain. "You look absurd in that thing." He sneared before walking away. Kisuke frowned. "I'm glad you're here. I need to talk to you about the nest." Yoruichi had been heading for the door but stopped and narrowed her eyes at him.

Ivy rummaged through her bag looking for the three bottles she had put in it earlier. Soi Fon sat on Hanna's dresser looking out over the field that sat between the small hut and the lake. Hanna sat on the bed rubbing her swollen stomach with a sad smile. Her long red hair was pulled up much like Ivy's in a bun, her brown eyes swollen and bloodshot. Soi scoffed breaking the silence and turned to the sisters. "You mean to tell me he got you pregnant and disappeared. Despicable, all men are pathetic wastes of space." She grumbled crossing her arms over her chest. Ivy shook her head knowing of Soi's hatred for men well, she's been gripping about them for years. "He'll come back, I'm sure he just wanted to get some things from his family's house." Hanna's voice was squeaky from all the crying she had done before the two had arrived. Ivy doubted the man was even alive at this point. He had been a part of the court guard squad before he had met Hanna so they had seen him around but Ivy didn't remember seeing him in a while. If he was alive then he was very good at avoiding her and Soi Fon. Soi turned glaring at the older woman, "For 5 months?" Ivy cringed at the venom in her friend's voice.

"You didn't even know him that well. Hell, you don't even know his last name. What are you gonna do when the baby is born." Soi Fon asked and waited for Hanna to answer, the condescending look on her face telling the sisters that if she said anything along the lines of he's coming back again she was going to go off. Ivy started to pull more jars from her bag while Hanna rubbed her stomach and thought. Maybe he was part of one of the noble clans and that's why he hadn't given her his name. She figured that could be true but highly doubtful. He didn't act very noble nor did he look it.

Finally Hanna smiled and said, "If he doesn't show by the time Renji is born then I'll just give him my last name." Soi's brow rose in disbelief. "Renji, are you so sure it's a boy?" Hanna picked up one of the bottles and shook the small pills inside. "Just a feeling. What are these?" Ivy opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a figure in black that landed just outside the open door. They stood, an imposing shadow the only skin showing was the small bit around bright green eyes. He looked at each of the women in the room stopping when he saw the small ninja. "Soi Fon, your presence is requested immediately at headquarters." The newcomer and young girl nodded to eachother before he disappeared. Soi looked to her childhood friends and shrugged. "I'll come back by in a few days." She said with a wave before running out the door.

"She really hasn't grown out of that hating guys faze has she?" Hanna asked before shaking the bottle at her sister agian. Ivy scoffed and snatched the bottle from her hand. "No and she probably never will. These are vitamins." She held the other bottle up, "And these are for pain. Only three a day if you have a headache or something. The cream is to help with swelling. I think I had something else." She said setting the three bottles down and digging in her bag again.

Her stomach rumbled causing her sister's bulbous one to mimic the sound. "Are you eating enough?" Ivy asked handing her sister an apple. The older girl too the fruit and raised a skeptical brow. "I could ask you the same thing. When was the last time you ate anything?" Ivy waved her hand in dismissal and pulled out another bottle. "Sometime this morning. This might help too. In case you start feeling sick." Hanna smacked her sister's arm. "This morning? It's almost dusk. Grab some fruit or something, your sugar is going to bottom out." Ivy stood and covered Hanna's legs with the blanket. "I'll be fine." She said then caught her sister's glare. Ivy rolled her eyes, grabbed an orange and started for the door. "I'll come see you the day after tommorow. You send someone if anything happens."

Walking along the dirt covered main road that lead to the Seireitei she saw a small girl staring at a vendors booth full of food. She was pale and skinner than a child should be, her orange red hair had speckes of dirt and some twigs in it. They really needed to help the homeless kids in this sector. The small girl licked her cracked lips, fingers twitching in a gesture Ivy knew well. She was going to snatch some food and run. Before the child could move for the booth Ivy appeared by her side and handed her the orange. The child's eyes lit with excitement then distrust. "Take it and here." she pulled out some coins from her money pouch and handed them over as well. "But I don't understand." The girl said and Ivy patted her head. "Stealing isn't the best decision especially from that guy. I saw him chop someone's hand off once for that very offense." The girl gasped holding the fruit to her chest. Ivy had a sudden realization, "There's a lady that lives in the hut at the end of that lane." She said pointing the way she had come. "You keep an eye on her for me and help her out and I can guarantee you won't have to worry about stealing anymore." The child nodded happily and took off toward Hanna's. "Tell her Ivy sent you." She yelled watching the girl wave and disappear.

Walking through the gates she shook the wave of dizziness that threatened to over take her. She would be fine, it wasn't that much of a walk back to squad 4, she would eat and get a drink when she got back. Come to think of it, when was the last time she had a drink. Geez Iv get your act together, she thought to herself. Turning at the intersection she reached out to steady herself as the dizziness came back. She put a hand to her face as her stomach lurched. I should've kept that orange, she chided herself as her knees shook. "What the hell's wrong with you?" Ivy looked up, her vision hazy, trying to make out the fuzzy image of the blonde infront of her.

Hiyori looked pissed, which was normal with most people but never with Ivy. Mostly Ivy seemed to annoy her but she would always talk to her so Ivy didn't take the tone personally. She thought the girl just needed someone to talk to especially since her former Captain had left. Ivy gave a breathy laugh and sat down. "Nothing, I'm fine." Hiyori cocked her hip and narrowed her eyes at the redhead. "You're a shit lier. Get up I'll take you to wimp boy." Hiyori held out her hand but Ivy just shook her head and tried to stand but only accomplished staggering to an upright position and leaning on the wall. "Are you an idiot?" Hiyori screeched then took Ivy's hand. She started to grumble as she helped the healer walk or more stumble down the walkway.

"Really Hiyori, I'm," Ivy started then stopped talking when her stomach lurched again. Hiyori scoffed, "Tch, I knew you were stupid concidering your taste in guys but I didn't know you were an idiot." Ivy grimiced at the girls harsh words, or maybe it was the fact that everything was getting blurry. "You're as white as a Captain's robe. You take care of sick people so you should be the first to know when your not feeling good and," She was pulled back as Ivy fell, her knees finally giving up. Hiyori turned, her eyes going wide. "Hang on." She said before leaping over the wall and into her home barracks. "CAPTAIN!"