Golden Hour [Erika, Open to 1]

"You're overthinking things. There's still time before things like that need to be worried about."

She did not have nearly as many issues as she had left for the dogs that nipped at her heels when the Gotei United was vulnerable. They could manage the problems and the shinigami she cared about could receive aid from Shishiyuki and however else still remained dedicated to that vision. As long as they did not rock the boat there was no grounds for reprisal from Byakuya who shackled himself to the law. If it came to bloodshed, she would only use it in an act of defence.

The cynic and warrior inside of her almost wanted them to lash out in their frustrations at having control slip through their fingers. So that she could cut those greedy fingers off and their arrogant heads shortly thereafter. At the moment there was a tenuous peace.

Yeah… okay, Ranma could stop worrying about the future. It reminded him of his Zanpakutō, funny enough. Sighing in relief, he could at least just focus on the task at hand, deciding not to blabber any more for now. Like a docile rabbit.

Ranma’s opinion of the nobles would likely never reach the same heights as hers, though he wouldn’t know. And the Central 46? He barely even gave them a thought these days – in his eyes, weren’t they all the same? Or was that bigoted? Like, hypothetically, if he were to join Lord Kuchiki’s ‘attempt’ at making a new Gotei, would the Central 46 be cool with him? He wasn’t part of the Gotei 13 back in the day, mainly ‘cuz he wasn’t born back then, but he’d heard rumors… no, no, stop, don’t think about it.

Central 86, the way he wanted to- no, stop having those thoughts, those were Rukon goon thoughts… ah, who was he kidding? Many probably felt that way.

“Gee, fine… I’ll just stay here until further notice, then,” he replied, head empty mode tempting him to take the next dance, “You probably got ideas of your own right now, I bet. If you need my aid… if you ever need my aid, like, if you need my aid or something, hit me up. As far as I feel, I’m still a member of the Gotei United, so I'm still working under you. To hell with what a piece of paper says, right?”

"Okay, okay."

He was so oppressive in his loyalty that she shot him an awkward smile at the response. It felt unfamiliar to her cracking a grin like this to someone that wasn't Murasaki but she didn't want her normally cold demeanour to shake that faith in Murasaki. If it had to be something that elicited the weird smile on her face then it was Murasaki's spirit in front of her that brought it out.

"Just relax, you're like an excited puppy."

Ranma’s brow raised in mild protest, but it sure looked like he grew a pair of dog ears wagging the air like fans. He’d probably vehemently deny his puppy-status allegation, but with someone so strongly supportive in front of a benefactor… it was possibly a way to act on her advice and not think too much about the next time. The later time. Futuristic stuff and all.

After all, the Gotei United wasn’t just a job to him – it was a safety net. Starting in the Shin’o Academy was stressful enough, for the friendless, parent-abandoning down-the-street knuckle-boy didn’t just enter an entire damn academy without a single thread of network prior, nor any noble name to carry him in his endeavors – it was also right after suffering a nasty injury from a Shinigami he jumpscared back in the Rukongai. Hell, he was still covering his mouth and jaw with bandages to this day, although he now just thought it looked cool, like a ninja…

Understandably, had the circumstances been much less overbearing, he’d probably have been thrown out straight back to the Rukongai again. Then he’d never have received his Zanpakutō and met Hōkamaru, he’d never have met the 8th Division and all the other Shinigamis… Cpt. Rose, Ranny, Noharu, Koga, Beetle, Shuten, Junichiro, Shura, Komugi…

And his love. He’d probably still be so cripplingly lonely out there if he hadn’t met Erica, right here, in Murasaki’s wonderful Gotei. “I can’t exactly be a calm puppy right now… n-no, that sounds fuckin’ dumb- I just- I owe you fuckers everything.”

His gratitude did go to them. To Masamune, and to Murasaki above all. “Takes more than a disappearance act to get rid of someone like CC Murasaki herself. She’s probably in some secret place training…” Did… did he actually just call her CC Murasaki?

Yes, he fucking did.

"I hope she isn't..."

She went solemn when her thoughts go to Murasaki. She didn't inform him of what happened to her but she knew that she hoped that Julian could bring her back soon. They needed her. She needed her. Murasaki represented a bastion of her humanity, it was like a rope that kept her from discarding it for the sake of having nothing in this world to lose. Going back to that life was miserable to even think about, a monochrome view of the world where nothing but the will to live and instincts guided her. She couldn't go back to that life. She wouldn't.

"Strength isn't what is needed right now."

At the same time was there anything for Murasaki to come back to? She couldn't tell in the immediate aftermath. How long did people's loyalty last before they moved on out of necessity? What did she even plan to do when she came back with the Gotei United gone?

… Guess he shouldn’t have brought her up. Fuck. Well, he didn’t know what else to ask for now… right now just wasn’t that good of a timing. He’d have to save his questions for later, maybe. When Masamune’s thoughts had the chance to settle in the chaos of-

Why on earth was he thinking like this? He wasn’t exactly a psychiatrist! His girlfriend had a much better chance at working with someone’s riddled mind than he…

J-Just do your damn job, Ranma- or I guess it wasn’t exactly a job anymore… but he knew what to do… no… no, he didn’t. He couldn’t just pretend that he had things under control. “Hmh…” he hummed in a rare attempt to gather his thoughts before saying something, “I’m not gonna lie, I'm kinda block-headedretarded, but if strength ain’t it, all the bigger chance I can bring it…”

He felt… futile. Like things were going to happen with or without his input, that his actions ultimately changed little. It was a very painful headspace. “Thanks for helping out ‘round here. To be honest, I thought you were creepy, but you’re actually kinda easy to talk to.” It was honestly silly, and it even made him giggle a bit. Why would a Shinigami be afraid of their own higher-ups to begin with? I mean, sure, Masamune had a face very similar to Armina, but she wasn't stuck-up. If anything, she could've told him to shut the fuck up long ago, and he would've kept his mouth sewed shut, but nope!

That was the kind of Gotei that Ranma loved. If anything, he was grateful he hadn't experienced another 'Captain Nagoshi moment' with the other Captains, or - heavens forbid - another 'Armina' moment.