Please Don't Toss Books

Mia creeped along carefully, her hood pulled up as she snuck through the squad on her way to the Captain's office. She had a huge book delivery that the two Captains needed yesterday, but had been delayed by someone not having brought one of the more important ones back in time.

Having personally gone and retrieved it, she was hoping they wouldn't be too annoyed with the late delivery. She hoped even if it made her nervous to worry about a scolding...

Sneaking past the members of the squad, she called on her old utter ghostness and lack of presence to make her way to the office. Knocking on the door, she tried to speak because this was official business, but it took her a try or two. Finally she got out a greeting. "D-Division Three Captain, I-I'm from the Library division to bring...bring...books..."

Her confidence faltered part way through the greeting as she waited to be invited in.

The Division Three captain that was in charge at the moment was Hayate (Thank God), who heard the timid voice coming from the door. Ahh the Library divison.. that means my books are finally here! She thought to herself as she rose from her seat and strode to the door. Opening it, Hayate was surprised to see the hooded woman standing there and blinked a few times in surprise. "O-Oh, right.. come in, come in!" Hayate says in embarrassment, moving out the way of the woman in question. "Just sit them on the desk."

The books themselves were study material that Hayate wanted on some of the methods of achieving Bankai. Normally such books were for captains only but she was allowed to read them since she was one half of the captain that ran Division Three. Before the woman could skedaddle, Hayate stopped her, speaking to her calmly and softly as to not frighten her. "So, what was the hold up with the books? Did someone else have them out?" She asked, then tilted her head slightly. "Also, please lower the hood, I'd like to know who I'm talking to after all."

Expecting to open the door herself, the Lieutenant was startled as the Co-Captain instead opened it for her. She bowed low, hiding her shock and fluster, before straightening up and taking a breath inside of the cloak. Mia nodded enough to allow her hood to move, showing she was in fact nodding as she stepped inside and headed for the desk. Pulling books out one by one, she set them carefully on the free space for the Captain and then... startled at her question.

The easily scared Lieutenant nodded slowly and tried to speak. "S-Someone had... the book that was cross referenced a lot... I-I would have brought them all but...it's...spoken of in a lot of these so...it was needed."

These were all bankai and how it was achieved and how it tended to work, but the book that had been taken out was rather vital to understanding the rest. The request to lower the hood was met with an audible eep though, as her gloved hands shakily rose to bring it back slowly.

She had to get used to this! This was a test, think of it that way! A Captain wanted the hood down so the hood down it would be! Her eyes were tightly closed as she turned to look at Hayate, her eyes drifting away after a moment. She quickly bowed, a sign of both respect as well as just nerves. "L-Lieutenant Eufemia Nezo, C-Captain."

"Ahh, Lieutenant.. I see.." Hayate mused as she tapped her cheek lightly. This makes the second one that she's gotten to meet on a rare alone occasion. Might as well make the best of it! "How about some tea and snacks, Nezo? Or is it okay for me to call you Eufemia?"

Without waiting for an answer, Hayate busied herself in setting up everything for tea and whatever snacks she could pilfer before Souichiro woke up in her head to catch her. She turned and smiled at Mia, stating, "Please, have a seat! Tea will be ready in a few minutes!"

As she put the water on, Hayate took a look in the fridge to see what she could grab. "Oooh, there's cherry cheesecake! Shall we have a few slices of that?" She calls back to Mia as she rummages through the small fridge.

"M-Mia is best, Ma'am." Mia felt her full name a mouthful and preferred the shorter version, as reinforced by her wince. However her face lit up at the offer and she nodded, still a bit shyly despite her wish for tea and snacks. She definitely had time and the Captain seemed nice enough...

Though it seems she hadn't waited for Mia's response one bit! The shy lieutenant's eyes were wide as she took in the blonde woman's fussing about before giving her a smile of her own. "Th-Thank you..."

There was a chair she could take and so Mia gently sat herself down, looking around the room and wondering if she should do anything... Serve the tea? Bring out her own cookies? Lost in her own worries, she perked up at the thought of cheesecake and nodded enthusiastically. Tea and cheesecake! Yesss!

With the teapot whistling, Hayate clicked her tongue as she pulled out the cheesecake and sat it aside. "Mia, then!" She says with a smile, before turning off the water. "And please, don't call me Ma'am.. Hayate will do! You make me feel old when you say that!"

Hayate laughed lightly as she busies herself in fixing the tea. "I've got a nice apple cinnamon tea that I've been dying to try!" She says as she pours the water into the teapot. "I think it'd go nicely with the cheesecake."

Slicing down the cheesecake and serving it out on two plates, Hayate pulled up a small table for them to eat at. She poured the tea and even set out sugar or honey depending on the girl's taste. "There.. we're all set I think!" The Co-Captain spoke, smiling at Mia. "Sorry for imposing, but I like meeting the lieutenants and getting to know them."

"A-All right... Miss Hayate..." Mia had only been trying to show respect for her position but... she coudl definitely see where the woman was coming from. She gave a small nod and looked at the hands twisting a bit of black hair on her lap. The cloak was settled around her body, allowing her to touch her hair without bringing it entirely back under at least...

Violet eyes lit up at the thought of trying the new tea, her nod showing her enthusiasm if Hayate didn't catch her eyes and smile. "I-I bet so...too..."

Watching her pour the tea and set out the cheesecake, Mia reached for the cup and cradled it in her hands before blowing on the top.After a moment Mia shook her head though, her somewhat free hand coming up. "I-Its no imposition! I-I like tea...and talking...with others... I-It just is hard sometimes... I-Its nice to meet the...other Captains...I-I still don't know everyone yet... I-I was promoted recently... W-Weren't you and your partner...as well?"

"Yes, Souichiro and I are a special case as we share the captain position." Hayate replied with a nod as she picked up her teacup and sniffed it. "Ahhh.. this smells so goood! But yes.. we're kinda inseparable, y'see."

Chuckling lightly at her comment, Hayate sipped her tea, then recoiled suddenly while sticking out her tongue. "Oww.. burnt my tongue.." She grumbles, then goes about blowing off her tea. "Yes, I heard about your promotion as well, congratulations!" Hayate says with a warm smile, then eyes her tea for a moment before blowing on it a few more times. She then takes a cautious sip and is pleased.

"See.. as I was previously only lieutenant rank before I returned to active duty, I hadn't learned my bankai yet as a result. And a captain without bankai is.. well kinda weird." Hayate explains, glancing over at the books. She sighs and shakes her head, seemingly troubled about something. "It seems that the Lieutenants that I've met already have their bankai.. so I feel a bit out of place.. I mean, I would've had it if it weren't for that.. err.. nevermind.."

Mia stifled a giggle as Hayate burnt her tongue, making the lieutenant be more careful as she blew on her cup. "I-I see. That does sound like a hassle to have to have someone else working with you like that...though maybe helpful to split workloads."

She knew Masaru worked himself hard, so it must be nice to have that at least, someone to share all the work of the position even if you lacked a Lieutenant... "Once you get a Lieutenant then...you can have even less work!"

A shy smile came over her face as she finally took a much more careful sip than the other woman, happy at the taste as she nodded. "Thank you a lot... Oh! This tea is really good... I-I might have to... see what kind... exactly so I can get some..."

"Aaah... That is really worrisome!" Mia leaned forward, her eyes sad as she frowned a bit. Poor Hayate must feel so awful... She didn't...have bankai yet... "I-It's okay! I bet if you work hard you'll get it! E-Even if something stopped you before, y-you can do it now! I-I could ask...Masaru for you too...he's good for bankai practice too! I-I bet he knows how to get it even better than the books."

She didn't want the nice woman all upset over this! Noooo....

Laughing lightly, Hayate nodded to Mia. "Souichiro is a bit of a slacker.. he's sleeping right now, now that I think of it so having the extra help from a lieutenant would be excellent." Hayate speaks, setting her cup down and picked up her plate with the cheesecake on it. Ahh, the real prize! Souichiro will be quite upset once he realizes she's eaten some of his sweets once again!

Hayate was pleased at how nice Mia was, it made her feel less uptight. "I asked Souichiro but he said he's not the best for bankai training so I should try to figure it out myself." Hayate sighs, then perks up at the mention of Masaru for help. "Really? You'd do that for me..?"

"As for the tea, feel free to drop by anytime and I'll give you some! I stockpile the stuff!" Laughs Hayate, now in a very good mood at Mia's offer of help. "I'll give you some anytime you want it!"

"O-Oh...he shouldn't slack... Th-Thats...rather bad to do when you have as much work... I-Isn't the workload for the Rukon Division a lot?" Mia's eyes were wide, wondering how that man found the time to rest with all the work they must have! She watched Hayate picked up the cheesecake and took another sip of the tea before following in her ingenious example. Cup set down and plate picked up, she took a happy bite from the cheesecake. Not too sweet at all! She could enjoy this...

Mia shook her head a bit, frowning more in response and eating the cheesecake a bit more grumpily as she heard about the lazy captain. "I-It...can be hard to figure out yourself. I-I sorta...stumbled onto mine recently and M-Masaru has been training me in it since it...it compliments mine. I-I...can ask him for pointers and stuff, he'd probably...be willing to pass on any advice or help!"

"I-I will! I definitely will! You are really nice... and tea would be nice to share with more people!" Mia's stutter was disappearing as she smiled, opening up to the other woman and laughing a bit happily.

As Hayate ate the cheesecake, she chuckled softly to Mia, "That's why we're eating HIS cheesecake. It's payback for leaving me here without finishing his workload." Hayate says matter-of-factually, having little problem in eating her partner's sweets without his knowledge. "Maybe it'll teach him not to skimp on work! Hmph!"

"Also did you know he's a skirt chaser? An unrepentant one at that!" Hayate says as she continues to eat. "He kissed a female hollow too! Not an arrancar, but a hollow!"

Hayate didn't mind opening up to Mia; she felt that the two of them could become best friends given a little time. "But he isn't all bad, I saw how he deals with his division and the man's all business when you get him motivated." Hayate says with a smile. "And the people of Rukon enjoy him alot."

"...That is evil..." Mia's voice wasn't upset, she instead took a bigger bite of the cheesecake as she gave a tiny smile. His cheesecake should definitely all be eaten as revenge, no reason to protect and save it for him~ She could help Hayate in her revenge! "H-Hopefully it will teach him..."

"H-He kissed a hollow!? Oh...that's...scary really... S-Skirt chasers are...scary..." Mia would have to stay far away from such a man, they made her way too nervous to stay around at all and she took another bite of the cheesecake. Her papa was the only one she didn't mind being like that! Besides he didn't chase skirts, skirts chased him!

She gave a soft sigh as Hayate admitted his good points, a slight frown on her face. "I-I am glad to...h-hear that at least. J-Just he needs more...m-motivation! Not...leaving you with all the work..."

"Yes, his work ethic leaves a lot to be desired, but he's a good man." Hayate sighs with a small smile as she finished off her slice of cheesecake and picks up her teacup again. "I have a feeling that if he continues pursuing his current woman that he's gonna get himself into something he can't get out of.. and it'll be all his fault."

Sipping her tea, Hayate didn't seem to be concerned about Souichiro's action sat all. "You know what they say, after all.. Those who don't remember the past are doomed to repeat it." Hayate says with a light chuckle. "But enough about that idiot, tell me something about yourself, Mia? You said you gained Bankai which is great, but I want to know more about you!"

"There aren't many...who have both it seems..." Mia sighed, still working on her cheesecake though taking sips of tea between some bites. She was startled by Hayate though, those words sounded... a bit odd to her ears. "Something...he can't get out of? Wh-Who is he...going after?"

Mia was concerned even if Hayate wasn't and shook her head, knowing that the saying was true but feeling a bit bad for the man and whoever he was chasing if he was such a bother... She couldn't chuckle at the pain of those two...

Startled by the turn of the conversation though, her eyes grew wide and she blushed as she looked down at the sliver of cheesecake she had remaining. "U-Um... I already said bankai...and recent...promotion... Oh! My Papa is a shinigami too. I like...books...and games...and sewing...and cooking..."

She fidgeted in the seat, wondering what else she could say...the woman wanted to know so it couldn't be too bad...

"He's going after a poor soul by the name of Yuzuki Morinaga." Hayate answers with a smile.. almost a smug smile for some reason. "She's a noble.. and I think he's gonna mess up and end up having to marry the poor woman. Though.. I'm not sure which one would have it worse.. they both have their secrets."

Laughing lightly, Hayate cut and served another slice of cheesecake. She also then refilled the teacups and listened as Mia answered her question. Hayate nodded slowly, then asked, "..You wouldn't happen to like shopping also, would you?" She was hopeful that this girl would be the one; her shopping buddy.

"..." Mia blinked slowly but surely as Hayate answered with the most unexpected response of all time. "...Lady Yuzuki? I-I think he'll be fine... m-may get his heart broken but... definitely won't..."

Mia nodded in thanks as she picked her cup back up and took a careful sip of the tea. "Aah, really good.. O-Oh shopping? U-Um... well...not... Mmm sorta... in not crowded stores...o-or for fabrics for...sewing..."

She wasn't sure what kind of shopping Hayate meant and blushed as she looked down.

"Oh.. sorry! I'm a bit of a shopping enthusiast, you see.. I like doing shopping of any kind so I'm always on the lookout for a friend that might share my enthusiasm for going shopping." Hayate says, smiling at Mia's words. She was truthful and that's all that mattered really. "If you like or prefer a specific kind of shopping.. well that's fine! I don't mind at all.. it's just that no one really cares for it it seems."

Taking a sip of her tea, she let's out a light content sigh before speaking again. "You said you like sewing, was it? I've tried before but I'm not sure I have the talent for it." Hayate comments with a slight frown before shrugging it off. "Maybe I can bother you to teach me sometime?"

Smiling a bit, Hayate pauses to think. "I was thinking of how I can repay you for your help.. so are you good at hand to hand?" She asks with a grin. "If not, I can teach you something interesting..! Actually, even if you are good at it, it's still worth learning."

"O-Oh! I'm sorry... I wish I loved it more then..." Mia blushed slightly, feeling bad she didn't enjoy such things more. Shopping was just too scary for her if she didn't have a shield or someone to hide with. Even then it was nerve wracking...

"Mm, maybe a-ask around? I don't know if I know...anyone who does love it just to love it..." She went through her short list of acquaintances and couldn't find a one that professed such a love of shopping. Mia perked up a bit as Hayate asked her to teach her a bit and Mia nodded enthusiastically. "S-Sure! I-It can be hard at first but...i-its really soothing once you learn!"

Thinking for a moment, Mia shook her head with a smile before replying. "I-I'm best at zanjutsu. I'd love to learn something interesting... M-Maybe then I can surprise...Masa..."

Hayate sighed a little sadly, but then shrugs it off. "Ah well, can't win them all I suppose!" She laughs lightly, taking a sip of her tea. "But thank you, I've always wanted to know how to sew."

Eying the cheesecake, Hayate considered saving some for Souichiro, but changed her mind. NOPE! They were gonna eat it all! "But yes, as for that thing I mentioned I could teach you.. it was a technique I came up with to counter the fact that I didn't have a bankai. It combined Hakuda and Kido into an interesting fighting style." Hayate explained with a small smile, "Sooo if you ever find yourself in a situation that you can't use your zanpakutou or are disarmed, this'll be a good thing to use!"

Hayate wonders if she should mention that activation of said ability blows off the upper half of her clothing upon use. Weeeell.. maybe not. She might not want to learn it if she told her that. Also she was still looking into clothing that'd survive that force of energy coming from her back during that state.

"I-Its not too hard and they invented sewing machines! That makes things a lot easier..." Mia gave a firm nod, she loved her sewing machine and it was her best friend for most works... She took another piece of cheesecake happily, taking a bite before nodding as she listened.

"Th-That would be good... I-I tend to rely on my zanpakuto since... I have to train with it to keep...its power controlled. That sounds... interesting." Mia's words may have been a bit quiet but her eyes glowed with interest as she sipped more tea and ate cheesecake. An impromptu training session? Due to Masaru's help she'd grown to like practicing and sparring a bit...

"S-So if I use it with my bankai... It'd be really powerful then too?" Hayate was a girl so she felt no real qualms with showing her it... well, a pretty refined woman... but she had Masaru! And Hayate seemed not the type to go for ladies...maybe... She didn't know...

"Hmmm, I can't say for sure what'd happen if you used it with bankai.. but it should prove to be interesting!" Hayate muses for a moment before smiling happily. "But we shouldn't start today.. I'll need time to prepare a private place that we can practice away from eyes that may wanna see how it works."

Sipping her tea, Hayate hmms then smiles again. "I'll be teaching you some advanced stuff so be prepared for hard work. Also.. bring a spare uniform just in case." She says, then pauses in thought. "On second thought, I can probably give you one of mine so you don't mess up your own. Yes, we'll do that. Though.. it may be a little tight around the chest area.."

Yeah, Hayate had noticed that Mia was more endowed than she was just by a casual glance. A woman can tell these things, after all. It made her a little bit jealous, but not by much as this one seemed as if she'd turn out to be a great friend. But then, something Mia said earlier clicked in her mind. "..Sewing machine? They have such a thing now?" She asks curiously, blinking. "I've been troubled over pricking myself so many times that I gave up.. but they have a machine that does it for you now? Wow.."

"M-Mm...maybe one day I'll try it and see just to be sure." It would be best to know what it would do first before testing it in live combat! Perking up though, obviously happy with the suggestion, Mia smiled in relief for a moment. "Th-That would be best... O-Others seeing would be nerve wracking."

"O-Oh? U-Um if you feel...that would be good..." Mia, when training with Masaru, always ended up bringing more than a few spare sets of clothing. Her bankai burnt away everything else... She didn't have enough money to keep buying new pairs, so she ended up having to just be careful and strip partially before starting. But if...Hayate wanted... Mia's violet eyes glanced down at her chest before her arms came up a bit self consciously and covered them.

Hopefully she wouldn't have to strip with Hayate... Perking up from her worried thoughts, Mia gave smile and nodded. She could ramble all day about sewing and the nice inventions that were useful and nice to help with it. "Y-Yes! Its not too hard to use, but you have to be careful. A-And it can't do more delicate or intricate tasks too, but its really helpful in getting all the bigger things done."

"Ahhh, I see.. I see.. a sewing machine; I may have to pick one up and see if you can teach me how to work it." Hayate says with a smile, giggling lightly at Mia covering her chest possibly unconsciously. "The move that I'll teach you responds to your inner element, so its effect differs per person, you see."

"But I have a lot of spare uniforms that have built up over the time I was out of commision for a long while." Hayate explains, eating a bit more of the cheesecake. "So if they get messed up, it's no real worry for it, okay?"

"I-I can do that! It's easy." Mia had no idea why Hayate was laughing and turned a bit darker shade of red because of that. She thought for a moment on her words though about the element and then smiled softly. "Th-Then I guess... mine would be fire... I don't think there's...any other element in me..."

Mia gave another nod and looked down. They would be smaller...smaller than hers... that wouldn't be... But if it was just the two of them she could do it. "A-All right Hayate, I will try not to worry. Th-That sounds nice... Um, why were you out of commission for a while? I-If that's okay?"