Reprisal [2000]

The farther away Sumie's quick yet relaxed steps took her away from Kurisuna's office, the louder the gentle hum of the hustle and bustle of the Third Division grew. It still wasn't as loud as the other divisions; members of the Third held quiet in reverence for different reasons. Avoiding offending Kurisuna was one of them, but they also housed the library, a center of peace, warmth, and learning. The essence of the old archive had spread through the entire division grounds, but that didn't mean silence. There were whispered conversations, muffled laughs, the sound of footsteps tapping across the wooden floors, including Sumie's own, as well as the outside accompaniment of nature; birds, insects, and the whistle of a gentle breeze through tree branches.

Kurisuna's office had been stifling despite the open layout and good lighting. The atmosphere after the incident between the female taichou and the soutaichou had left things tense. Chie's unexpected appearance in the office hadn't helped matters nor had her behavior. Sumie felt it was off and Kurisuna had seemed offended by it; a matter which Sumie didn't quite understand, but there was much her superior did that she didn't quite grasp. Sumie didn't need to either, she just needed enough information for damage control which was why she was winding her way to her office in the library.

The majority of Sumie's official work took place within the library, so it had only made sense for her office to be there. The room was far smaller and more cluttered than Kurisuna's. Stacks of papers, books, jars of honey, empty cups, and ink pots dominated the desk and shelves of the room. Personal paintings she had done adorned the wall, and in the corners of the room stood squat pots filled with sunflowers and lavender, letting their scents intertwine and infuse the room. Sumie inhaled deeply as she stepped in, finding the fragrance calming and less offensive than the overwhelming mix that hung in the air within Kurisuna's office from the varied collection of plants.

A large window at the back of the office let light filter into the room and Sumie let it wash over her along with the scent of the flowers as she eased herself into an overstuffed chair which faced the window rather than the door, clearly not meant for an office, but rather, comfort at home. That hadn't stopped Sumie from bringing it in. She sunk into the soft seat and felt the tension from the day start to melt from her frame. Her eyes started to feel heavy and she let them close against the bright light of the sun. She sat there for several moments of blissful peace before a sigh unwound itself from her throat and out of her mouth into the air.

She had work to do.

The first order of business was to see if clean up had been done in the courtyard. She rose and stepped into the library. She could hear the sound of broken wood being shifted from the direction Kiba had made his exited so Sumie headed in that direction to find that most of the clean up had been done. That wasn't the only part of the mess that needed cleaning up though.

The Fukutaichou stopped one of the unseated members as they passed her. She didn't recall them from the scene which had presented itself earlier and if anyone could, it was Sumie. "What happened here," Sumie questioned as if she did not know. "Ano," the young girl squeaked in surprise at the sudden question. "Shuchiku-taichou came through again!" Sumie smiled to ease the girl's fears, but gestured to the area beyond the hole. "And out there?" The girl's eyes shifted to follow where Sumie had pointed. The ground outside was slick with water that had been used to wash away the filth of blood, vomit, and fish. "I think Saikokui-taichou-sama sparred with Tanaka-soutaichou! Tanaka-soutaichou apparently asked her too!"

Sumie's smile spread. That would work fine. Kurisuna seen as someone who never turned back a challenge was not a bad image to have and injuries did happen in spars after all. Especially when two taichou level Shinigami fought. Sumie had just needed to confirm that nothing odd had been said about the circumstances of the fight. She herself had not been present when it had started, but neither had anyone but Kurisuna and Malik, unless you counted peeking out the windows, which was surely done, but without audio, it likely seemed a battle of egos.

"I see," Sumie responded to the girl's answers. "Make sure that the Fifth Division is not sent for. Shuchiku-taichou will be handling the repairs personally." Calling Kiba by his formally title made it very hard for Sumie to control the amusement in her voice. It surprised her to this day that he had become taichou, though not in the manner that he had. She left the unseated female standing there nodding like a bobble head and returned to her office to start writing up the messages she needed sent out. There were four for each of the other divisions stating that the Third Division was now out of lock down, but Sumie had also written two personal notes to be sent along with the messengers heading for the Second and Fourth Divisions respectively. The first was of her lunch request to Harupia and the second was inviting Kiba over that evening.

She had seen how hurt he had looked so she would make it up to him by cooking dinner. Given his own cooking, she was surprised he hadn't withered away by now. Aside from that, filling him full of food would be a good way to soften the blow when she told him that he would be paying for the repairs to the Third Division in addition to doing the repairs himself. She finished writing the notes, adjusted the files she needed to send to Kurisuna, then summoned six runners to her office. Each was given their parcel and sent on their way leaving Sumie to sink back in her chair for a quick catnap before tackling the stacks of paper that towered over her in the seated position.

[end]