Fifth Division Captain's Office

Shinji’s eyes narrowed into slits of rage at the indignation in asking about those files again and at insulting his tidy office. He’d kept it much better since he’d returned to the job without a lieutenant to help him. Hell, he did it better than they could. Because it was all his system. But if she was going to stand there and berate him with that annoying chirp – Shinji gave a nasty smirk – he knew exactly how to punish her.

“Calling your captain a dog and jackass, are you?” he repeated slowly. “Are you blind as well as deaf, stupid and weak?  That you can't find one good analogy to use?” He reached into his desk …

And slammed his other arm into the top, making the side collapse with a massive burst of kido. Suzume fell off and rolled as the desk careened to the side before falling over, spilling ink, pens, and other things to the floor. There was also a pleasant tinkling of broken glass. He then reached into the teetered desk and pulled out a leaf of thick papers.

“Let’s find out, why don’t we?” he hissed, lifting them up. She looked up, rubbing her arm. And he threw the documents in the air. “Can you find what you need and clean the mess before the day is over?” He leaned into her face as more papers fell around them. “Or is it game over for the little bird?”

Shinji stalked out of the office and slammed the door shut, making something else fall.

And for someone to fall over. Finally. He grinned and then grimaced. Maybe that had been a bit childish, tearing up his room.  But it felt good. He grinned before striding over to the drills to deliver another batch of orders.

"Prodding an Oni": (continued)

Shunsui watched as the few members close to the captain’s office scurried away, bowing to him, as he appeared. It was as if they knew what would follow. The commander couldn’t blame them.

“Might bring them something tasty next time,” he mused, rapping on the door.

“I don’t hear walls cracking or sirens screaming so go away!” a voice sneered from beyond.

Shunsui set his free hand on his hat and closed his eyes. “Open the door, Hirako-san. I don’t need to kick it down. We both know there are multiple windows on the other side of that room and I can intrude even more so from that angle.”

Silence followed him.

“We’re going to talk for a moment one way or another. It’s your choice how, and don’t make me chase you. You’ll end up with a bloody nose.”

He waited, and stepped aside as the door blasted past him, sizzling from a Kido blast. “Your force is getting better. It stayed intact this time, but I think the hinges are broken.”

Shunsui looked around the room of scattered or tossed files and snagged an overturned chair from a corner. “I know. I saw her walk off, fixing the file you ruined." He sat down, setting the food on his lap. "But I hope you realize that I can’t let you get off with calling her stupid. If you want this to stay friendly, better call her something else.”

Sorry, Nanao-chan. I'm going to use you a bit. 

Shunsui chuckled, lowering his hat over his eyes. “Not sure I should let you get away with brat either, but she is much younger than me, so I’ll let that slide.” He paused. “Observant, nimble, clever bookworm.”

The Visored's palm slammed on the top of his desk, his reiatsu dark red around him. "Get out." 

"You did what you could."

Shunsui sighed deeply and stood up again. "Well, it is, but maybe if you can't say it aloud, you don't quite believe it yourself," he supplied quietly. "I mean, if you did, would you be alive here? Mourning? Demanding answers? Hating your own weakness?" 

He set the package of food down on the chair he had vacated. "You're not alone, Hirako-san. We all feel like that, maybe not in all the same way, but no one is satisfied now."