I hate this job [Masaru]

Silence reigned over the small room even though one person currently occopied it. Heavy, dark green drapes kept out the sunlight and made the office just look the more stuffed. Silk clothes, peppered with silver and gold glitter, were spun fron one bookshelf to the other, across the room to a pot plant back behind the desk to the frame of the hidden window. The glitter glimmered gently in the light of the many candles that lit up the room. Four of various sizes, colored yellow, red and twice green, were currently lid on the wide, black desk. Others were set ont he bookshelves, a few even littered around the floor and up to the door that the man currently faced.

He prefered it wide and open in his personal quarters. Here, when he was working, he rather hid away.

However working might not be the right term used. Bookshelves held everything but books. From candles to blankets, jewelery and a few kimonos even. At least a few documents were laid out across the desk and even more certainly in one of the drawers lining the right side of it.

Why exactly was he doing this again?

Finally a sound interrupted the heavy silent, followed by the dull thud of a forehead meeting the hard wood of the desk. Legs of the dark chair groaned as his weight pushed it backwards before the tall body simply fell down to the side.

However it never met the floor.

Instead the man landed on top of huge, fluffed up pillows which covered the floor from his desk up to the bookshelf in the far right corner behind him.

"Whyyyyy." the man whimpered and pulled a red silk pillow up against his chest to cuddle it tightly. "Why seventh?" he groaned out pitifully while blindly reaching for a dark green blanket to pull it over his curled up form, which still comfortably rested on a far too huge, dark blue pillow. "Academy. Paperwork. I could have signed up for 1st if I had known!" he complained loudly.

Why indeed. He was not one to like working. He had thought seventh might not be so bad. Not too much paperwork like 1st and 5th. He could write now indeed, but it was still a task he was not all that good in. Math, of course, was worse. Neither had he thought it would need him to do a lot of physical work - like 8th and 11th.

He was wrong. He actually had to visit that blasted Academy so often a day that he was fitter than ever before. On top of that he had to keep information of all the students, schedule meetings with students and Divisions. Plan classes, expenses, field trips and "Oh my god!" he wailed and hid further in his fluffed up sanctuary.

What, indeed, had he been thinking?

Mia had been right, Nozomi did need to start with her studies...and he was extremely grateful for the help Mia had given by starting Nozomi on them; Nozomi was having fun, learning about the various things to be expected of a nobility...

She was also learning various other lessons as well that Mia was teaching her on, and there was also the servants to help them as well...

Nozomi was going along in life, growing up, and now moving forward with her lessons. He was happy that she was an enthusiastic learner, and was willing to do the work and study.

Nozomi's lessons were why he was here today...at Seventh making his way down to Xarath's quarters.

Nozomi had spiritual promise, it would be for the best to see if she could learn more about that side of her before it was time for her to enter the academy.

There was no telling what sort of abilities she may develop, so it was for the best to start while she was still young.

He had had similar teachings, though he'd been started at an even younger age...

Masaru came to a stop at the office door, looking at it before reaching out and giving a polite knock, unaware of the man's disdain towards his duties inside.

The unexpected knock had him tense up underneath his blanket sanctuary. However only then did his brain actually realize that a knock usually meant that somebody wanted to enter. And if he was not quick to speak up that somebody might just enter without him wanting to. And he really, really was not in the mood for anybody to see him like this.

With quick and nimble movements, he certainly must have trained that, he threw the blanket away and settled back down on his chair. One hand already busily swept back his cut short hair while the other straightened his uniform. "Yeah." he muttered, before he realized that might just not be enough.

God, he already sucked now in this job.
His tongue clicked.

"Enter." he added before hastily reaching for a pen and randomly opening a nearby document. It was better if he looked busy!

Yeah?

Masaru waited upon hearing that, assuming Xarath had heard the knock but was possibly busy. He wouldn't want to enter unless he was sure he had been given permission to, otherwise it would be quite rude.

When he heard the man allow entry, he opened the door and stepped inside; offering a smile, he gave a polite bow to the man after closing the door behind him.

"If I've come at a bad time, I apologize." He stated, noting the man was checking through documents; "I have business I'd like to discuss with you, if you have the time.  A request I'd like to make..."

The very moment that Masaru entered his whole attention was on the man than those randomly picked out documents. Dark green hues stroked along the other's every muscle, trying to detect displeasure and aloofness. Strangely enough it did not seem to bother the noble however where he was, or what this office looked like.

His tongue clicked while he shook his head and lowered his pen.

"It's-" He stopped short however as the other man continued and..? "A request? From me?"

That certainly did sound surreal. Why would anybody request something from him, especially Masaru who did not even have the influece as a captain but also as a noble?
It certainly had him curious.

"I have no pressing matters to attend to." he finally assured and stacked all documents on one pile before adding the pen on top. Then he gestured to the chair across of him. It too was made of a dark wood, however dark pillows covered the sitting part and armrests. "Take a seat."

"Yes, a request." Masaru gave a nod at that, moving to take a seat as Xarath had suggested he do. Once he was seated he began speaking again. "Nozomi is getting older, and I knew from the start she had spiritual promise... As of now she is being educated on various subjects pertaining to the ways of nobility, as well as other subjects Mia thought it important to teach her on... However, at her age I also believe it's important to begin readying her for the academy, if she has abilities that may manifest...it would be best to educate her on proper control and give her the knowledge on such things.

She's eager to learn, and enjoys the lessons she's receiving from Mia; I would not want to overwork her, of course...but she is handling things rather easily.

I would like to request assistance with such lessons, however you see it best fit...whether tutors can be found or if you know of anyone personally that would mind taking up the task. They of course, would paid appropriately."

That was the gist of what he had come her to ask of Xarath; there was no telling if Nozomi would develop abilities early on or not...but she was constantly in the presence of both him and Mia who held rather strong signatures, which influenced her own.

If she happened to have elemental abilities such as them...it would be best for her to learn now so they would possibly not escape her control.

Nozomi. That was that little girl Masaru had collected from Rukongai. Actually, had not Mia been from Rukongai either? The Rukongai women collector - adding them to his mansion like a harem... Xarath's eyebrow lifted highly up on his forehead. Now if hadn't known it any better he'd smack Masaru now for being such a fucking pervert. As it was however he felt nothing but blind jealousy.

Nozomi was the Rukongai girl, small and helpless, the noble had come for and was not turning into a princess. His tongue clicked.
It should have been his fairytale. Should have been what happened to him. What he had been wishing for ever since he was a child. His tongue clicked once more.
Instead he had been a filthy whore, lost it all, was not amazingly skilled in the academy and never had been her favorite either. Yet another tongue click.

The thoughtful expression immediately vanished again and once more his eyes, which had lowered shortly, glanced back up at the other man.

Naturally, he could not blame the girl for never being good enough.

"If she indeed shows promise I see no reason to be the one who keeps her from training." he finally started, his voice still sounding slightly strained. "I would like to meet her first before activating other's to help out."

His hunched over shoulders straightened slightly again. "What areas is she already good in? Which hasn't she developed at all so far?"

Xarath wanted to meet her then before deciding anything? That seemed perfectly reasonable, and Masaru gave a nod to that.

"We can arrange a meeting then, whenever you wish or have the time." He replied, "As for subjects I've taught her a few things during my work whenever she had questions... She has some knowledge on reiatsu, how it works... She knows how the rankings work within the Gotei Thirteen as well, and has memorized some of the names of the captains and lieutenants...

The primary area we're concerned about is teaching her proper control over her own reiatsu, so that control will not be beyond her if she begins showing signs of early manifestation."

Learning how reiatsu worked, how it was controlled...those were subjects that were necessary due to her exposure to such strong signatures...

Considering her age, there were still plenty of things she had to learn, which the academy would teach her in time once she was a part of it.

For now though...she needed the training to ready her for the start of all of this.

Whenever he had time. Did he seriously have to make his own schedule on top of all those others too now? God he needed a Vice-Captain he could dump all those things onto! For now he was stuck with them! This was a disaster!

"A meeting with us three." he repeated with a nod while reaching down to open the top drawer. A sheet of paper was placed down onto his desk before he reached for the pen. It was simply a memo as of know. "I will send a hellbutterfly to you once I do have the time. Currently I am busy checking through most of the academy administration." Seeing as he had just been appointed to captain and formerly had not been in seventh this indeed took up most of his time now. "I am certain I can squeeze you in somewhere however." He'd just have to take a proper look.

Nevertheless, the pen was lowered again and both items set to the side as he fixed Masaru with his green stare once more as the other man explained her skills.

She had more skills than he had had at this age. His tongue clicked.
It was no surprise that the prince came for her instead for him. His tongue clicked once more.
He had only been strong enough to have Hollows come after him.

"...." He only had a bunch of tentacles come after him...

Completely forgetting, due to his usual lonliness, that somebody else was with him in the room his forehead smacked down against the hard wood of his desk while he let out a painful groan.

"She's the princess and I'm the hentai porn girl." he wailed, again slipped to the side and then suddenly caught side of a haori.

One that did not belong to him.
Oh....

His tongue clicked three times as he tilted up his head and stared at Masaru with wide eyes. Think! Think!!!! He could not leave it at that!!!

Either make up a stupid excuse - should he say he was part of a play? Or, or yeah, slap the other full with useless academy information! Besides, Masaru was far too much the good guy to make fun of him anyway.
If it had been somebody else however....

That quickly put him back into motion, his eyes still wide with panick as he spoke up once more.

"The academy has different classes tought my different teachers as you know I cannot promise you that every teacher will have the time to teach her something in private because we are already overfilled with students and lack the teachers who take care of them but I am sure I can find some to spend time for her whereas she could just attend the academy for the classes private teachers cannot cover."

Without a single fullstop.

He took a deep breath.
His tongue clicked.
His eyes continued to fix Masaru.

A meeting with the three of them, Masaru nodded at that; when Xarath had time and he received the Hell Butterfly they would ready for such a meeting whenever it may be.

They had things planned then; this was good, definitely good. As captain's their schedules were busy, so the wait it may take for the meeting was completely understandable.

"That sounds good, thank you-"

E-Eh!? The princess and...the... E-Eh?

Masaru's eyes widened at Xarath's wail, a look of confusion crossing his features that onlookers would probably find humorous.

E...Eh!?

Before Masaru could even begin to say...anything Xarath distracted from the statement and moved them on back to their discussion. It... It was probably best to not question, he would spare the man of any negative feelings that may come about being asked about that...

"R-Right, that's understandable; again, thank you. I'll inform Mia and Nozomi of this when I arrive home."

When it came to the meeting they would be prepared; he didn't have many worries about Nozomi, she had the necessary knowledge, and new to be polite, the fact that she was social also helped...

He tried to breath calmly, to make it seem like everything was fine, while his dark green eyes stared into Masaru's to judge the other man. He seemd shocked. Shocked. Yup, still shocked. Shock- oh there he goes - pretening nothing had happened. Xarath refrained from sighing in relief and instead too continued as if nothing wrong had ever been said.

The two of them certainly would make a good team. The awkward whore and the goody good noble. Very soon they'd create a cartoon about them.

Nah.
Now he was becoming pompous.

"Yes." he started a little slower, maybe still careful."You do that. I should find the time soon." Because he rather did that than shuffeling through old documents.

A tongue click.

"Is there anything else you need?"

Masaru gave a nod, his smile returning to his face at Xarath's words; he would get on informing Mia and Nozomi, and readying Nozomi for the meeting for whenever it may occur.

They had a plan then, and he was glad he was able to make this request...

"Alright; as for anything else... that had been the request I'd come to make, I have no other business to discuss really..."

He doubted the man would be up for too much idle conversation, he seemed to be swamped with work from the looks of things, and...really he was too in a sense.

He had a few piles of paperwork that had just come in he needed to finish up...

He stared at Masaru a while longer, just below his eyes, while he seemed lost in thought. Nothing else. Was there something else he should be mentioning? Had the captain before him deal with these things differently? Was he forgetting something?

Nothing came to mind however and so, at long last, he finally nodded.

"That will be all then. Expect my hell butterfly soon." he assured the man and then lowered his head again.

So much paperwork.

He had to resist hitting his forehead against the desk repeatedly.
At least until Masaru was gone.

"Alright, again you have my thanks." Masaru answered, moving to stand as he gave another small bow as it was the proper thing to do, his smile remaining on his expression as he did so.

He was thankful Xarath had taken the time to speak with him, knowing the man must be busy with his own work.

He would expect the hell butterfly as was told as he turned towards the door, and made way to leave. He would take his leave now and head back to Sixth, he had been on a small break from his own work and it would be wise for him to get back to it.

It indeed was not all that much later that a black hellbutterlfy was sitting on top of his fingertip. It's wings fluttered gently as it peeked up at the dark haired man who quietly spoke his message.

"If you have the time the meeting shall take place tomorrow afternoon at 3PM. Remember that Nozomi has to attend also."


No greeting. Neither a soft goodbye or anything of that sort. It was not because he lacked manners but simply because he had no clue what to even say. He was not really the type for that - was he?

With a sigh his finger twitched and the hellbutterfly flew off to find the captain of 6th Division. It was only then, already late in the evening, that Xarath shuffled the documents he had forced himself to read into a neat pile and then stood up.

He really needed a Vice-Captain.
Maybe he should send out applications. Or simply force a dumbass student from the Academy to play his secretary.

He snorted and then clicked his tongue. As if they'd all him that. Being captain of 7th and having no perks - how horrible was that?

With a shake of his head and a small yawn stiffled behind his palm he headed out towards his private quarters.

"Understood, I'll have Nozomi ready as well as myself for the meeting tomorrow."

Masaru let the hell butterfly leave his finger, watching it for a moment as it flew off to send his response to Xarath. He would see to it that Nozomi was ready in time, and the three of them would prepare for their meeting.

Nozomi had been focused on her studies rather intently, so he hoped the meeting would go well. He had faith in his sister, and was sure she would behave her best as she typically did.

For now, he'd head home now that he was done with his own work and inform her of the news, as well as Mia if she'd made it home yet...

It drawned on Xarath only the next day, when it was close to 3 PM, that he had never even added a location for their meeting.

With a groan and furious tongue clicking his head once more met the surface of his desk. How could he be so stupid? Why had he not thought about it? What was wrong with him? One first real task slash meeting and damn he fucked it up.

He could only hope that Masaru at least had the brains and returned to the location of their previous meet up.
Of course Masaru would have the brains.
Masaru was Mr. Perfect and he was the failure.

He groaned again and once more flopped down onto a pile of pillows.

He really hated his job.

They'd left somewhat early, but with what time they'd left they should be there just on time. Masaru hadn't wanted to be late, and Nozomi had been ready; it would be rude to keep Xarath waiting for this meeting after planning it with him.

So now they walked; shunpo was an option, but that wasn't something Nozomi knew how to utilize yet at her age, besides...walks were nice in this weather.

He had assumed the meeting would take place at the division; it would be the easiest place to have it for both parties.

After a bit more walking, they'd arrived at the division grounds and then moved on to the Captain's office. Stopping at the door, Masaru gave a polite knock, glancing to Nozomi and offering a smile which she returned.