Fumika quickly looked from her fiancé to the strangely bandaged young woman and back. She saw no indication of peculiarity in Makoto’s face, so apparently the girl’s appearance was normal. As such, she adopted a friendly smile as her betrothed continued to address his subordinate.
“No, I can’t really say that I have need for a portrait and I was not aware of this auction until it began. But I must say that I’m glad my fiancée brought me.” With that, the nobleman bid Anya goodbye and began to make his closer to the auction stage. In the time that Makoto spent chatting, the Soutaichou and Ishin had arrived, both clad in civilian garb. With his hazel eyes brimming with mischief, the healer turned and spoke softly to Fumika. “I won’t mind if you sneak in a bid for Sayis or Ishin.” Fumi went scarlet but said nothing, deciding to let another scowl do the talking for her.
“No? Well then, I think I’ll help someone else earn that date with the Soutaichou then.” With a mischievous smirk, Makoto changed course after overhearing a certain hushed conversation.
“Huh,” Fumika began. “What are you—”
“You’ll see,” the nobleman said slyly out of the corner of his mouth. “Ah, Ilsa, Lilith, how nice to see you two lovely ladies. Isn’t this just the most opportune occasion?” he asked, gesticulating to indicate the stage before them. “A date with the Soutaichou would be the perfect opportunity for someone to get to know him a bit better.”
At that point, the nobleman reached within the folds of his shihakushou and extracted his checkbook. “Though it seems I would be unable to aid a certain someone’s effort personally…”
Makoto trailed off and handed the checkbook to his bemused fiancée. “I’m sure Fumi has a bit of extra Kan to lend to a good cause.”
Unable to help herself, Ilsa craned her neck slightly for a better view of the gray-haired man. This was the first time she had seen him in Western-style clothing... as in, something without a haori or loose hakama concealing his physique. Oh, wow.
The blonde shinigami wasn’t the only one staring up at the stage. Serafine sighed dreamily as she contemplated the captain of the Eighth in all his noble glory. "Isn’t Anenokoji-taichou fine? Intimidating, but mmm-mmm! Now that’s a picture I want on my wall.”
Mariko just shook her head and smiled, watching her friends. She turned as Lilith began to bid on the Soutaichou. Hmm... from what she’d heard, the vice-captain of the Tenth wasn’t really interested in Inuzuri-soutaichou that way. And according to Ilsa, she was interested in romance. A devilish smirk appeared on the petite woman’s face as she tugged on Lilith’s sleeve and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in her ear.
"If that’s going to be a present for Isa-chan, I’ll help you out with the money!”
A flash of red hair and a familiar voice drew Ilsa out of her reverie. "Hello, Matsumara-taichou. Is this your fianceé?” She smiled down at Fumi and offered a hand. "Nice to meet you, I’m-" Her voice trailed off as the implications of what the captain had said hit her.
Ilsa whipped around to face Matsumara-taichou, hand still outstretched. "Wait a minute, wait a minute. I am not bidding on Sayis-soutaichou!”
244/733
Sorry this is a bit chaotic. That's what happens when RL hits you in the middle of a fast-moving thread.
“Your fiancée,” Anya silently said after waving back to the walking away captain.
Well I never asked him if he have anyone so it’s natural. Still that girl looks quite surprised when he responds naturally for my greetings, she thought when the bind was slowly getting more interesting. But for here even trying to walk closer to just hear how it progress was too much. Kumiho already was close to ran away so she just looked around for the last time and slowly walked away heading to the Fourth division.
***
“Don’t try to repeat this near Picca or she would be very sad that one of her fellow division members forget about this bazaar,” Kaneda said and laughed for a moment.
“Anya as mutual friend of mine,” he stopped laugh. “No she’s someone more than friend of mine.”
Looking around Takashi saw her walking away.
“I think she was here not so long ago as I can’t sense her near for a few moments. So what you think about that idea of bind for having chance to have ‘a date with captain’?” he asked concentrating attention for a moment at her.
"Well, it's scary unless you know them well." Yuurei simply nodded and looked at the people in the podium. There was a woman on the right, donning a gorgeous black dress. The man on the center wore a refined clothing, while the person on the left wore a normal black shirt and a pair of straight pants. Tsubaki-taichou, Anenokoji-taichou and Inuzuri-soutaichou, huh...
"That was a surprising question though. Why do you ask?" She faced the tall arcanist as a sly smile played across her lips.
“It was just a random idea that pops into my head. We all came here to have a good fun buying those pictures even if not everyone would find something interesting,” Takeshi smiled turning for a moment toward the podium.
I may be fool to play with this jerk but if somehow succeed now his expression will be priceless. Maybe I even ask Picca-san to some picture of it for me, he thought and calculate how much kan have to spend on bid.
“I’ll bid 1300 on this charming woman on the left,” Kaneda shouted wondering if the man that called out lower price will try to make a new bid.
I hope that wouldn’t go higher than I can afford, the young arcanist thought and turn his attention to Yuurei.
“You know.” Takeshi looked at her with a teasing, low voice. ”I just wonder what’s so special in Anya that she attract you attention.”
The elder heir glanced at the man outbidding him for the date with Tsubaki. A charitable smile was offered upon the visual of the competitor. "You really believe you can outbid me, a noble?" he asked the commoner.
"Alright then," he added with a deep competitive tone, looking at the Templar Queen once more as he concluded, "1800 for Tsubaki."
"I knew it! Tsubaki-taichou was simply too irresistible for you, especially with that dress on." Yuurei snickered as she nudged Takeshi on the side with her elbow.
"Plus, I'm not really interested. It just so happened that you piqued my curiosity. You and Mitsuhito." She looked away from the man. Her eyes scanned around the area for another familiar face, but found none. Instead, she caught someone with his head turned at Takeshi's direction – with a smile, even. He wore the same coat as the captain on the middle, and her suspicion was verified by the words that followed.
"Ahha! You lose!" She faced Takeshi once more and tried her best to restrain a hearty laugh.
“Risk of been a participant into the auction is that you could lose,” he replied to Yuurei smiling a little bit after she nudged him. “But what’s more important it’s how you handle this.”
”So pardon me for a moment,” he left her and walked closer to the man that outbid him.
“Looks like your need to win this were bigger than mine. So even I suppose you think about me as something below your noble level I want to thank you for this interesting biding, that ended with your win. Enjoy your price and victory noble-san,” Takeshi bowed slightly before Goro and turning around walked back to the female arcanist.
“You know I must admit that view of Tsubaki-taichou is really irresistible for many mans,” and he close the distance between them so he could whisper and no one else will hear it. “But now I tried imagining how you will look in such dress. I suppose as good as her….”
Apparently this was some sort of sport for the kid, Goro thought to himself as he glanced at the crimson-eyed fellow. Poor kid.
"Um, ye...ah. Sure. Whatever you say pal," he added, unsure of what to say in response to Takeshi.
Once all the commotion was done and over with, the Anenokoji heir focused his sights on Tsubaki once more. I never knew just how curvacious she really is, until those baggy clothes were replaced with that elegant dress.
"Well, don't you dare imagine, unless you want to keep expecting something you're definitely not going to see anyway." Yuurei snapped at Takeshi.
"They all look marvelous, don't you think?" She attempted to shift the topic before it got any further, while her eyes continued to look at the people in the podium. "Seeing them garbed in those clothes would probably be the rarity of a lifetime..."
"And oh, the photographs too. They are very astonishing! Have you bought anything?" Aside from the date auction, she remembered about the bazaar itself. It was a fundraiser, but aside from that, she liked all of the photos. In fact, she thought that the time wouldn't be enough for her to peruse all of them.
“I suppose I should feel hurt by such reaction,” Kaneda said mentally cursing himself for been such indelicate.
“I don’t want to comment they appearance for a reasons I wish not discuss here,” he cut short her question about the people’s standing on the podium. Then the arcanist thought about the question concerning photographs that he bought.
“No. I was thinking to buy something for a present for some person I know or for some beautiful young woman I meet some time ago but none of those pictures meet those requirements,” Takeshi said and looked around. Picca was still busy keeping whole auction goes smoothly so it could be hard to even talk to her for a moment.
Well maybe I find her after this to ask about that, he thought and turn back to Yuurei.
“So I should go find it somewhere else. Maybe beyond walls of Seireitei or even borders of Soul Society,” Kaneda said and bowed before her adding. “Till the next meeting miss Yuurei.”
After that he just walked out of the crowd and then using shunpo left the First division grounds.
Lilith smiled upon Mariko, before looking up to see Makoto’s playfully impish grin. Meanwhile, the bids kept coming.
“1200 for the Soutaichou!”
“1500!”
“1800!”
“2000! I want to go on a date with the Soutaichou?”
At once, Lilith's stomach began to spin because the bids more than doubled the amount that she was carrying.
“2100!”
“Can we touch his beard?”
“And the rest of him too?”
At some point, someone must have said yes, because the bids stormed in waves. All of this was proof that the Captain Commander was still one of the most eligible bachelor in all of Seireitei.
“2400!”
“2800!”
Lilith cringed. She didn’t want to ask for so much from Mariko and the noble couple. These bids were almost unethically high. Frowning slightly, the-captain turned to the men and women who offered to support the 'Help Ilsa Date Sayis Foundation.'
With a twisted face that was mixed between a shy smile and an uncomfortable frown, Lilith tilted her head and asked, “Are you still interested in helping out?” The auction was going to end soon. Final bids were already being called for. “I only have 900 kan. I can’t afford any more than that.”
Ignoring the fact that quite a few of the females present were disappointed he would not be on he block, he slipped his hand into his vest and pulled out a small pouch. Quietly slipping it to Lilith, he winked at her then went back to paying attention to the auction.
When she opened it, a gasp escaped her mouth. Inside the pouch was more than 6,000 kan! She looked at him sharply and he shrugged.
"Pay accrues even when you are locked up, and I don't have anything to spend it on. Therefore, I need to get rid of it somehow."
Fumika was just about to extend her own hand towards the First’s vice-captain when she noticed the color drain out of the muscular young woman’s face and then promptly flare scarlet a moment after. The maiden stared perplexed between the shocked Valkyrie and her roguish betrothed.
“And why not?” the nobleman asked of Ilsa. His brow was furrowed to indicate his disappointment in the vice-captain’s unwillingness to accept his aid, but this was little more than a show. Mischief was to be had and it would not be denied so easily. “I suppose if that’s how you feel, I can’t possibly force my help upon you…”
After hearing this, with some reservation (after all, how often does your significant other willingly hand you a blank check) Fumika moved to hand Makoto back his checkbook. However, her fiancé did not move to take it back. He instead changed gears seemingly at the speed of light by turning his focus to the vice-captain of the Tenth.
“…especially when Lilith is more than willing to do so. So yes, I am more than willing to assist,” he said with a nod of his head.
Ilsa looked from one conspirator to the other as the light dawned. Lilith she could understand. She was a romantic matchmaking type who was evil enough to pull something like this. But the two captains? "Matsumara-taichou? Katsuji-taichou? What did I ever do to you?”
The muscular blonde turned back to the healer captain’s fiancée like a woman reaching for a lifeboat in a storm. "Please, can’t you talk some sense into him?” She pointed at Matsumara-taichou. "I don’t need this! I don’t want it! I’m going to die of embarrassment when Sayis-soutaichou finds out that not only did I get the date, three other people, including two captains, chipped in to pay!”
A muffled giggle caught her attention. Ilsa turned to see a guilty-looking Serafine clap a hand over her mouth. Both of her friends were standing right next to Lilith. The vice-captain narrowed her eyes at them. Serafine didn’t have the kind of money this would take; in fact, she had just spent most of her savings on a marimba, a large and hideously expensive percussion instrument. But Mariko... The spy looked totally innocent, but it was part of her job description to look innocent when needed. "Make that four other people, Mari-chan.”
"What? Me?” The petite woman gave her an injured look. "Surely you don’t think-"
"Oh yes I do. I know you.” Ilsa shot her a glare that should by all rights have burnt her to a crisp where she stood.
Serafine reached out to lay a comforting hand on Ilsa’s arm. "Relax, Isa-chan. She’s just trying to-"
"Sera-chan!” Mariko hissed.
"Aha! I knew it! I knew you’d be in on this!”
The spy smiled up at her towering friend. "What can I say, you caught me. People are starting to look at us, you know. Might want to tone it down a bit.” She gestured to the crowd around them.
Ilsa gave the conspirators one last fulminating glare before she subsided.
“You asked for advice on how to get to better know the Soutaichou. And what better way to do so than to spend time one on one?”
It took just about every ounce of self control for the nobleman to resist the urge to chuckle at Ilsa’s desperate plea for Fumika to rein him in. Though he was already being quite cruel to the painfully shy vice-captain, he had just enough decency to know when to ease off the gas.
Fumika gave the frantic woman a pained sympathetic look before speaking at last. “I’d have better luck trying to talk sense into a rock. He’s simply incorrigible when it comes to making trouble.” Here Fumi paused to throw Makoto a dirty expression, but quickly softened and turned back to Ilsa. “Just try to make the best of it. Don’t make it a romantic thing… unless, of course, you want to.”
“3,000!” a woman called, flailing two handfuls of cash through the air. “That’s right. Three thousand kan!”
“Going once!”
Lilith glanced to the crowd of conspirators around her, giggled quietly, and then shrugged her shoulders in mock innocence. “Sorry, Ilsa-chan. There are so many people involved. We can’t possibly back away from this now.”
“Going twice!”
She then quickly nodded to the band of supporters and cried, “3,500 for the Soutaichou!”
“Sold! To Lilith Maikeru, Vice—“
“No, no,” she interrupted. “This goes to Maruyama Ilsa, Vice-Captain of the First Division!”
“Haha, a gift for the lucky lady, I see.” The host winked at Ilsa and gave her a knowing nod.
“Mm-hm,” Lilith agreed. She then spun toward the embarrassed / angry / happy blonde and, in a sing-song voice, crooned, “Enjooooyyyyy.”
Then, while Ilsa burst into a storm of redness, Lilith tilted her head and turned toward Ishin. She extracted a few bills from the pouch but left most of the cash inside. Delicately, she placed the pouch back into his pants pocket and smirked, “Thanks to everyone’s help, it looks like you can save most of that for someone else’s future date.” Lilith then offered a playful wink and returned to embarrassing Ilsa as much as humanly possible.
The sound of wood on wood resounded through the street and Picca swung down a gavel. I have always wanted to dae that, she thought. She had a wide smile on her face that just wouldn't go away. "Bidding is over! Let's have a round of applause for Captains Senesati, Tsubaki and Sayis for giving their time. Thank you everyone for showing up! I really appreciate all of your patronages and I hope you all had a good time," the event organizer announced through a megaphone. "We will be closing up soon so get in any final purchases. Of course, you can always contact me directly if you want anything."
Picca let out a huge breath of air. Her knuckles were white from gripping onto the side of the podium to prevent her body from shaking. The only stable part of her was the artificial leg, which had no shaking quivering. Standing up in front of everyone was nerve wrecking. It was over now and it had gone fairly well despite the fact that everything was for naught. They already had all the money they needed for the observatory. The host wiped sweat away from her forehead.
"Would the lad and lasses who won please step forward? Yes, you guys." She motioned towards three people. "As promised, I have gift cards for any number of fine establishments." One of the staffers had the gift cards neatly tucked into a brochure so they could look at the place before deciding. Picca smirked at how Captain Sayis would be going to Ilsa. That couldn't have gone better.
Picca put the megaphone down and turned to the captains. "And here, please accept these as thanks for helping out. Friends? Or at the very least not kill on sight?" From her pocket, she took out a one day pass to a fancy bath house / spa in the districts.
Whew. After all this, she wanted to go to a spa as well and relax.
"Oh, and be sure to come to the next captain date auction!"
