Chapter 2: Mission Assignment
Not long after, in the Eighth Division barracks — inside Mizuma's own room.
Two figures slipped through the corridor like thieves, avoiding every curious eye.
Once the door shut behind them, one went straight to the bedside drawer and rummaged inside. A moment later she solemnly drew out a thin stack of vividly coloured books.
The two whispered together in guilty excitement.
"So these are all hand-picked masterpieces, huh? Lisa, you can choose any one — but just one", Mizuma said in a stage whisper.
"I can't believe I let myself be bribed this way…", Lisa muttered, but her hand betrayed her.
Among all the magazines, her eyes fixed on one that seemed to match her taste a little too perfectly. She reached out, took it, slipped it into her sleeve, and adjusted her glasses as though nothing had happened.
"Fine. I'll forgive you this time."
"Wait, what do you mean this time?"
"You really have no memory, do you?"
Lisa rolled her eyes.
"Guess who ended up finishing those personnel papers for Central 46 two weeks ago?"
"Ah—uh…"
Sweat began to gather on Mizuma's forehead.
She looked ready to lecture him further but stopped herself; the magazine hidden in her sleeve suddenly felt heavy.
"Forget it. Let's go. Captain wants you — says there's an important notice."
"R-right… right away…"
---
A few minutes later, in the captain's quarters.
Lisa entered first, face cold as ice, Mizuma trailing behind with the expression of a condemned man.
"Well now, what's all this commotion?"
The captain — a man in a flamboyant coat and straw hat — raised an eyebrow as he poured tea. "Lisa-chan, still angry with Mizuma? It's only a little paperwork delay. No need to dwell on it, hmm?"
Silence fell.
The speaker, of course, was Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain of the Eighth Division.
And true to his thousand-year reputation, it took just one lazy comment to reignite Lisa's fury.
"You have no right to say that!"
She slammed the table hard enough to rattle the teacups.
"Who patched the holes you left when Head-Captain Yamamoto came inspecting?!"
Shunsui smiled weakly.
"Ah… that would be Lisa-chan."
—And not just once, Mizuma added silently.
He couldn't really judge; he'd caused his fair share of trouble for Lisa too.
Still… watching her shoulders tremble with barely restrained rage made his conscience twinge.
If this kept up, she really might work herself to death someday. Maybe he shouldn't push things so far next time…
Meanwhile, the shameless captain of the future seemed entirely immune to guilt. He dropped to his knees in a theatrical bow, unbothered by Lisa's glare.
Truly, in terms of being thick-skinned, Mizuma still had much to learn from his captain.
"You—!"
Lisa knew she couldn't win.
What could she do — stomp on his head?
That would only encourage him. With a long, angry sigh, she turned to stare at the wall while the two men calmly drank tea.
A bond of mutual understanding between slackers, perhaps.
Mizuma and Captain Shunsui got along remarkably well. They drank together often, shared the same philosophy of minimum effort, maximum comfort, and were regarded throughout the Gotei 13 as pioneers of the sacred art of slacking off.
---
A few minutes later, Shunsui clapped his hands lightly, breaking the silence.
"Ahem. Anyway…"
He tugged the brim of his straw hat lower, a conspiratorial smile curling his lips.
"I actually have a mission for the two of you."
Lisa turned at once, her professionalism snapping back into place. She never let personal emotions interfere with duty.
"First of all, Lisa-chan,", Shunsui continued, completely unfazed by her frosty stare,"the Ninth Division has reported several disappearances among patrol teams in the Rukongai districts. Lower-ranking Soul Reapers simply vanishing without trace. And the members sent to investigate have disappeared as well."
"I've heard the rumours.", Lisa replied with a curt nod.
"Thirty-six people gone, including the Fourth Seat of our own Eighth Division. Central 46 is debating whether to send a captain-class officer to look into it. Don't tell me… it's you?"
"Oh no, no."
Shunsui waved his fan lazily.
"That honour falls to Captain Kensei Muguruma of the Ninth. But you know how his people are — brave, certainly, but not the most… thorough. The investigation may require a steadier hand. That's where you come in."
Both Lisa and Mizuma thought of the rough-and-tumble delinquents of the Ninth Division and nodded in silent agreement.
"Central 46 has already signed the dispatch order, so I can't object,"
Shunsui went on.
"All we can do is lend support. Lisa-chan, that'll be your task."
"When do I leave?"
"This afternoon. Details you can get directly from Captain Kensei."
"Understood."
Lisa lifted her zanpakutō, the Iron Dragonfly, and started toward the door.
"Safe travels, Lisa", Mizuma called after her.
"Give my regards to Captain Kensei. Oh—and maybe, uh, leave that thing in your room. Not exactly field-appropriate, you know."
Lisa froze mid-step, turned to shoot him a strange look, then vanished in a burst of shunpo.
Mizuma exhaled in relief and reached for his teacup—only to find his captain smiling at him in a way that spelled trouble.
"Mizuma-kun.", Shunsui said cheerfully, patting him on the shoulder.
"There's something for you too. Time to put in a little effort, hm?"
"Effort?"
Mizuma forced a laugh.
"Coming from you, Captain, that word sounds… foreign."
"Oh, I have feelings too, you know.", Shunsui protested, mock-wounded.
"If people think of me as lazy, it breaks my heart."
With Lisa gone, the mood loosened. Shunsui slouched against the wall and lit his pipe, while Mizuma half-collapsed onto the table.
"Mizuma, you ought to pay more attention to your reputation.", the captain said, exhaling a lazy smoke ring.
"You haven't made any major mistakes, true, but too much idling isn't good. Central 46 has already labelled you 'unfit for greater responsibility.' Keep that up, and you may lose your post."
"All thanks to my captain's guidance,"
Mizuma replied dryly, sipping his tea.
"If we're talking about idling, you've achieved godhood in that department. Yet you never worry about demotion. Why's that?"
"I'm the captain."
"So the captain can just do whatever he wants?!"
"Isn't that the perk of the job?"
"Tch…"
Mizuma rolled his eyes, defeated.
"Fine. If it's a mission, let's hear it. What are you sending me to do?"
Shunsui's grin widened. "Exploration of Hueco Mundo."
"...What?"