You're Free Now [Noharu, Ranma]

… What Noharu said before was kind of looking bleaker and bleaker by the second. But Ranma’s fists were clenched, somehow still hanging onto something in order to stay nailed down to the earth. It was… the least he could do right now. Even as his brain was frying.

He’d contacted Koga and talked about the current affairs, even discussing the strange happenstance that was the un-fixed Senkaimon. With the Gotei suddenly dissolving like this, the nobles – damn, just saying the word ‘noble’ today felt like getting an acid reflex in his throat – would likely weave together the Gotei… sooooooooooooooooo his idea was that they knew how to fix the Senkaimon and was withholding it from the Shinigami as leverage. And he didn’t like that.

It was just a thought, though… a stupid one, in fact.

But he’d tried to converse with the rest of the 8th, still remembering his ‘previous’ position as the 13th Seat, figuring that most would like to stick together. They had a sort of squad bond going on, huh… Captain Rose sure raised a good division. Ranma wouldn’t want to see that go up in smo- NOHARU!!!

…

This time, Ranma was led into Noharu’s room by one of the 2nd healers – they even held his ear and slowly walked him into her room to keep him in check this time, like some sort of unruly animal that needed to learn how to enter rooms properly. Ow’ing repeatedly, Ranma was holding a bouquet of flowers that he and the other 8th members had plucked for her. It must’ve been a while since Noharu saw the entire division, and despite the chaotic events, they still wanted to send her their regards.

“H-Hey, we got ya sum’ flowers, me and the 8th… uh, not too sure you like these kinds of flowers. Never really struck me as a flower-type of gal- I HAVEN’T BEEN SLACKING OFF! Not at all! B-But the others wanted to wish you a shitstorm of health, so… and I can't really say they're busy at the moment, b-but at the same time, they're knee-deep in- s-so much shit is happening…”

Planning? Well… okay, Ranma needed to gather all 3 of his braincells for this. It’d been difficult enough to talk with the other members – and he still had a few left he needed to find – but the plan was… well…

Urgh, he really needed to just knead his temples. “Kuchiki Byakuya was proclaimed as the next Captain-Commander by the noble houses… wow, they did not like CC Murasaki at all,” he expressed with an annoyed frown, “The Senkaimon’s still not fixed yet – me and Koga took a look at it, no fuckin’ progress. Almost considered fixin' it myself.”

Huh, wait?! So her lungs could still be recovered? There was hope that she’d return to the gang… and it brought sparkles to his hopeful eyes. But there was still her missing arm… but Noharu surely had that in mind. He just had to gather his thoughts. “Well… not many nobleheads in our squad, y’know?” he spoke, “And the 8th… is special to us. Thanks to Captain Rose, and thanks to CC Murasaki. I, for one, don’t believe the nobles will allow it to remain… and… I’m about to shit my pants…”

His legs were shaking. “Have you heard the rumors? About what they do to unruly Shinigami, or just Shinigami they think will become unruly? Heard of the Maggot’s Nest? I ain’t going there, Noharu – I can’t go there! I have a family now, I-I have a girlfriend, and I’m a Seated officer, for fuck’s sake! I mean, I was a Seated officer, for cunt's sake! I’m not dangerous, I swear…”

Clenching his fists harder and harder, Ranma calmed his nerves and summoned his courage to speak clearly. “I’m proud to be a Shinigami. I’m proud of maintaining the Soul Cycle, I’m proud of my Zanpakutō, I’m proud of everything you gals have taught me. I… I felt more noble than any of their blood could ever make me.”

Yeah, sure, but what the fuck did you plan?

“It was the Second-In-Command who claimed the Gotei’s disbandment, but… she won’t let the nobles have their way, and neither will I.”

Ranma suddenly melted onto his butt, his legs losing strength as steam escaped his ears. He’d overexerted himself. “I-I’m not built to make decisions this grave… but that’s what I think is best for the 8th. To, y’know… remain. CC Murasaki allowed it to be, so why not stick to that? It’s probably what the Second-In-Command plans to do.”

… Goddamn it, not the headpatting again. Ranma kept pouting shyly whenever she did that.

Miss Masamune… the previous Second-In-Command, the one who’d called the dissolution of the Gotei United… yeah, she’d definitely have a plan in mind. She was closest to the CC, after all, and Murasaki’s disappearance must’ve shaken her the most. In that sense, it’d be a good idea to contact her- the Koizumi? Did he really have to talk to the- argh, what the hell… fine. As long as they were on the same page.

But good news about her SDSM stuff – it’d only take a day or two before she was able to get around again. It was a step forward, another flicker of hope lighting his eyes up. Ranma was very joyous to hear that, though Noharu herself certainly began missing her previous mobility by now.

“I can do that. Although, I think I saw Masamune here at the 2nd, too,” he informed her, “There are still other 8th members recovering from injuries here. Was planning to talk to them too… I haven’t seen Beetle around here, though. I should go find her, too.”

Looking around, Ranma asked again: “Captain Rose… hasn’t recovered from coma yet. I wonder what he would think…”

… Hmh, Koga would definitely know some great places in the closer circles of the Rukongai. He’d have to hit him up about that later, but it was a good idea from Noharu – he certainly didn’t want any harassment to himself nor to his squadmates. Who the hell knew what the nobles could come up with? Why would they even get the idea to begin with?! Where was the Shinigami solidarity?!

“I mean… then I wouldn’t have them anywhere near the Seireitei- but still somewhat near the Seirei…tei… yeah… like the 3rd District-kind of near the Sei… noooooooo, wait- I’ll figure it out,” he ruminated, crossing his arms in deep thought- okay, enough deep thinking, Koga would come up with something.

“Right… right! Once Captain Rose wakes up, the 8th will be there – unchanged, as if he only slept a day and a half,” Ranma promised. Kind of a big promise given how long the Captain had been asleep – and would likely… remain asleep for the unforeseeable future of an undetermined duration – but if anything else, it cemented Ranma’s bond to the 8th.

“I’ll go see if I can help out here, too – maybe I’ll find some of the other 8th guys,” he stated before heading for the door again, sending a quick salute back to Noharu, “Make sure to get your lungs fixed, Noharu, before I surpass ya!” With a last retort true Ranma-style, he left her and her room in peace again…

…

…

*CRASH!*

Oh shit, did he break something…?