Chapter Three: Late Night Messages

Rukia had given Airi what she called "a spare copy" of the cell phone missions report system. This meant Airi was sitting on her bed that night, staring down at the cell phone in consternation… trying to figure out what the hell she was supposed to write to a Shinigami Captain from a feudalistic-modern realm full of spirits. A cold, serious, intelligent teenage prodigy.

Someone she had never met before.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered to herself, took a deep breath, and typed in the text space Rukia had told her to, "Sorry I haven't reported in. It's been… chaotic to say the least."

She clicked Send.

In another realm, Hitsugaya Toshiro received the message from late night at his desk. He paused - took Kuchiki Rukia's report phone out of an office desk and checked it, frowning.

He messaged back: "You'd better have a good reason not to have reported in for so long, Kuchiki, though I suppose it is diligent of you to text so late at night. Unless there's a problem?"

"No problem. You know, you should have a little concern for a subordinate's wellbeing. I could have been fending for my very life out here!" Airi added indignantly.

"That's your job."

Airi saw the message and made a face. "... So I have been brutally reminded recently. Thanks."

At last, Toshiro softened slightly, feeling a little guilty. "Clearly your reasons for not reporting in are… appropriate. Can you right now?"

Airi was picturing an asshole with a stick shoved up his butt. "Yeah, I can. I got to Karakura Town and began tracking down a Hollow… but I was blocked by this weird force, like something obstructing my senses. I tried to search out both the source of the spirit energy, and the Hollow, and it led me to a human's bedroom. She could see me - a little - I think she was the source of the block. Anyway, the Hollow attacked her family home and I was injured fending off the Hollow, defeating it, saving her family, doing memory wipes.

"That's why I hadn't reported in.

"Nothing eventful other than that. I'm healed now, starting my mission, and I sent on a little kid at a park today using Konso after saving him from a second Hollow - nothing to report there, just standard."

He pictured her kindly sending off a small boy - she seemed surprisingly emotional. "... Thank you. A human who can see a Shinigami. I have never heard of such an absurd thing."

Airi laughed uneasily from her bedroom, still messaging. "I know, right? It was strange.

"I liked helping the kid. It made me feel good." She wasn't sure why she admitted this to him.

Toshiro paused. I… hadn't expected such vulnerability and gentleness from a Kuchiki, especially not from the sister to the clan head. "Probably a positive sign," he finally wrote wryly.

Airi laughed from her bedroom. "Yeah, I guess it would be weirder if it hadn't made me feel good," she messaged back in amusement.

"Indeed."

"Why are you in the office so late?"

"That's… rather a personal question."

"Well sue me for being curious. For all I know, you could be off fighting off something. You could be messaging me while a Hollow eats your spleen or something."

Despite himself, Toshiro snorted and smirked. "As interesting as that would be, I'm afraid I just work late. Message me at late hours if you need to. I'm usually at the office alone."

He paused, second guessing himself, frowning… then clicked Send.

"No one else works with you?"

"She's out getting drunk."

"Why aren't you? Asked out of concern. If it doesn't bother you, I won't ask again."

"I'm… used to it. For most of my life I've tended to make people uncomfortable. Too intelligent, not emotional or free enough. That's not the case with my Vice Captain, though," he added wryly. "She just enjoys spending her evenings getting wasted."

"Fair enough," Airi typed as she chuckled. "... I guess I can sort of relate. People vary between loving me and being terrified of me." My weirdass hair and my weirder-ass demeanor take care of that, she thought.

"With your rank, I can… guess that."

Airi had almost forgotten she was pretending to be Rukia and she… didn't know that much about Rukia's family life.

"You learn to live with it."

"You do." That's… a surprising connection, Toshiro realized to himself, not unpleasantly. If perhaps one that shouldn't be surprising. The strictest Captain and a Kuchiki. Who'd have thought. "It was… pleasant talking to you, Kuchiki. Please try to report in sooner next time."

"Got it! You'll hear from me every day!" she typed mischievously.

His eyes widened. Wait -! But she'd already clicked offline. Toshiro scowled, annoyed - and then bit back the oddest smile.