If you had to ask Isane-which not many did-the benefits to being tall would be an ironically short list. You can reach things higher than others can yes, and while she did like to help out where ever she could, sometimes she wondered what it would have to be like to stand on a chair to reach something. She hoped she wasn't being petty.

Others said she could see both better and farther due to a height advantage.

Also not true.

If she could she wouldn't be actively tripping over ever crack in the Seretei- not for lack of trying. And as of now there were a lot.

The Quincy sure we're a violent people.

Then again this captains coat didn't help her at all. At first she had to get used to it so she would often(still) trip over it. Not that she was ungrateful or anything like that. She was very proud to wear this coat just like her old ..Captain Unohana.

But she was trained well by her old captain and had since taken her place. She first started running the division as lieutenant as usual, but once she managed to get Bankai everything changed for the better. Her sister was the lieutenant now which definitely made things easier; at first she was dreading who would become her lieutenant. But that didn't make everything easier. The transition seemed easy enough and it was necessary, but there was still a lot to get used to.

She was the head of an entire division, had to go to routine captain's meetings which you couldn't sit down like at the lieutenants meetings, deal with serious injuries, balance the squad budget, do annual physical exams which her old Captain used to really like to do ("Cough please"). There was always so much to do it was a little hard to keep track of it all. Luckily she had a jar of sweets in her office where she would have some candy whenever she got too stressed out.

Her big duty today was a "Secret Meeting". The Head Captain had requested her personally. She couldn't let the Soul Society down not with everything that's gone on and happened. She would deal with that right after her current, informal one on one captain's meetings.

"What seems to be the problem Captain Hitsugaya?"

The little captain was propped up chair opposite of her. He was violently shaking his blender bottle in his right hand. He had certainly filled out these past few years. He had grown a little taller, his build more muscular, and she thought she could even see the formation of whiskers on his chin.

He took in a deep breathe "Well..Captain I don't exactly know how to describe it" he let out a tired breathe. He looked defeated, like he succumbed to whatever had taken ahold of him "I don't know who else to ask and I thought you being well- apart of the medical division might be bale to help" he sounded so helpless. Well Isane was going to help him. Any way she could.

"What is it?" she asked concerned. She probably sounded like an overprotective mother. "You can tell me" she pleaded.

His eyes darted around the room uncomfortably and he shook the bottle a little faster "Well it's weird. One day everything was fine, normal. Then the next day everything just.." he waved his arms "changed"

She nodded "In what way?"

He shuffled in his seat nervously "Thoughts"

Isane's face tightened "Thoughts?" he nodded uncomfortably "What kind of-"

"It's like I share a office with Rangiku and she bends over to pick something off the floor. Can't remember what the fuck it was" he raised his voice on the curse which startled Isane but he kept going "And one of her tits just slips out of her robe.. and I didn't look away or say anything I just kept staring" Isane's face started to redden, but the Captain of the Tenth Division had more to tell. "She does yoga right there in the office in tight, tight spandes which leaves nothing to the imagination.. and I just stop what I'm doing to just watch-just blank out completely. Then she comes out of the shower and she uses my towel" he emphasized the point to her "and it doesn't cover a damn thing." Isane had become more uncomfortable the longer he rambled. She was covering her mouth with her hands. How was she supposed to tell him this was only natural, a part of growing up "I'm running in and out of the bathro-"

"Alright!" Isane blurted out. She couldn't take any more of this. "Well- I-uh" she stammered and cleared her throat while he looked at her blissfully. As she collected herself he pulled out a tin can, opened it and stuffed it's contents in his lower lip. "Given your condition- that is your condition is nothing out of the ordinary. Many people have them-these urges" he raised an eyebrow. "You just need to find an outlet that's all"

It seemed like he already had far too many of those.

"Cool" he said hopping off the chair "Thanks for the help" he said.

"Alright that's it. You've got a clean bill of health" she said happily to the young captain "Lollipop?" She said offering him it which he dreaded thinking it was watermelon. He looked at it in disgust. "Listen I have to go" she stood up shakily and dusted off her coat "There's something I have to do today and won't be able to do tomorrow" Toshiro stood there dead pan staring at her "so I have to-get ready and need to g-go right now" she said backing away out of her office. Holding the door open she waited for Toshiro who shuffled awkwardly out. Closing the door behind him she then made her way out of the barracks. Not without problems of course; some eleventh division members were harassing some of the nurses and she had to deal with that. She didn't have the commanding presence her predecessor had so that was also a hassle. Something she really should not have to deal with. The lieutenant of squad eleven was surprising helpful in scarring them off, but he instantly asked her took look at a minor wound on his bare chest. She referred him to her sister which he didn't seem to like. Despite that little road block she thought it would be alright if she made a little detour to a chocolate shop to pick up some sweets. Nothing wrong with a little treats now and then right?

Then no more slacking off. She was a captain now and she had something important to do and somewhere important to be!

She rounded a corner but as soon as she did collided with something- or rather someone. She stood petrified in her place as someone's head was lodged between her breasts before retreating out and tripping over himself.

"Oh Hisagi, I'm sorry" she reached down to help him up.

He shook his head as she bent over to help him up only to give him a perfect view to look down her shirt.

"Uh. yeah.. thanks" he said with a red face, taking her hand and she helped him up. She looked around nervously to notice all the other papers lying on the floor.

"You dropped all that"

"Yeah. I know" he said annoyed, bending over to pick them up. Something Isane did as well only when she did she accidentally knocked they're heads together.

"Oohs sorry" she said rubbing his head and he did as well.

"Nah. don't worry about it" he grumbled. She the continued to help him as best she could, often grabbing something before he could due to longer reach. As she helped she couldn't help but hear a muttered cruse from his direction and a scowl adorned on his usual calm face.

"You seem in a good mood" she said hoping to brighten his day, though he sounded far from it.

"My...captain wants me to print all this, but the printers crapped out so I gotta do 'em all by hand"

"Sounds daunting"

"I think it's slave labor. Then the super duper lieutenant" h said in a mocking voice "comes in and kicks em all over the office and then I gotta start over. I don't even know what she does around here" he began venting to Isane. "I thought everything was gonna change when I.." he stopped leaving her in suspense.

"When you what?"

"When I got bankai" he admitted bashfully.

"A lieutenant with Bankai is still impressive"

"Not when you don't get to use it". Somehow he made it sound like it was her fault he was stuck in this predicament. Which to a sense it was, but she said she was sorry for bumping into him. And it wasn't her fault they hired a 'newish' captain for his divison. But Isane had a high opinion of Shuhei so she knew everything would work out well for him. But for her she had somewhere to be. She was late enough as it is.

Across the Seretei struggling with similar problems was a new and fellow Captain. The former Lieutenant of Squad 7 was now it's captain and with no lieutenant of his own it was up to him to lead his division. A task he often found daunting just as he did now as he tried to peer over his desk.

His hands reaching over it he signed with very poor handwriting the notice before him. He then picked it up and looked at it.

"Damn it!" He cursed. Not only did he sign it in the middle of the page but at the very bottom it said in big bold words that any idiot could read "DO NOT SIGN"

But he couldn't undo the damage now.

He put it to the side and reached for another paper that needed his attention, though he was having a hard time reaching it. Not because it was too far away, but because the desk was so big it was a struggle to even see what was on it.

But for all the hassle it gave him he decided to keep it because it was his captains. That and the chair while very comfortable was very oversized for someone like him.

"Captain" the third seat knocked at the door.

"Hm? What is it?"

"You have a visitor sir" he announced "Third Seat Lemura of Squad 4"

"Ah of course!" the captain pounded on the table "Send 'em on in" he waved though all his underling could see was a shaky fist.

The unseated offer left and was replaced by Third Seat Lemura who greeted his friend with a strong, firm, manly handshake.

"Nice to see you, very nice.. You just mind if-" before he even asked if they could relocate somehere more accomidating Iba agreed and they went to the old lieutenants room. "You haven't made any changes?" Lemura asked

"Been too damn busy" Iba said as he took a seat behind his old desk "but if things keep going my way maybe you'll be sitting behind this desk"

Lemura's face beamed "You think so?!"

"I damn well know so. I'm short on staff here. It's just me doin' all the work. I need someone who can help share the load. Someone I have an already good working relationship would make sense to me" Lemura nodded eagerly.

"You think I'm qualified enough?"

"You were practically the lieutenant when Isane got promoted. I was shocked you didn't get it over there." A sour look came over Lemura's face.

"Don't remind me" he grumbled then cleared his throat "Now I don't doubt Lieutenant Kotetsu's qualifications for the rank. Her sister I mean not the Captain" he made his statement perfectly clear even though Iba already knew "In fact had she been promoted to any other division I'd understand it. It's just that-well you know," he stammered and Iba took this time to pull out and light a fresh cigarette "the fourth is a very specific division with specific skills. And If I had lost out to anyone" he raised a fist "from within the division I would have accepted that. But then she comes along and she's-"

"Your superior officer" Iba finished.

"The captains sister" Lemura said instead.

Afew awkward moments of silence past between the two as only smoke moved around the room. Lemura then found his voice.

"It's just-" he coughed through the smoke as Iba put his out only to instantly light another "I think this has given me some clarity. Maybe it's time to try something new. Go somewhere different and if some one like you, a captain says I'm qualified I would say that paints a pretty clear picture and.."

He trailed off some more before Iba found time to speak "Well usually with that you fill out a certain form which" he motion ones around the room with his hands as smoke followed "as you guessed I don't have, but when I do I'll fill one out" he rubbed his chin "Maybe I'll ask your captain at the next meeting. Seems like she's got some laying around" he laughed and Lemura chuckled with him.

It was then at that point that the third seat came back in.

"Excuse me sir, you told me to remind you sir. It's almost time for the captains meeting" Iba looked puzzled and looked to the clock.

He stretched his arms and yawned "Oh after five already? Fancy that" he picked himself up and bid goodbye to his friend before proceeded to walk out of the door and his barracks, but not before giving a sharp whistle and having Goro his Captains old dog chase after and accompany him.

Walking down the streets of the soul society all lower ranking members gave way as he passed, giving him a respectful greeting and he returned one back. This all happened until he crossed paths with someone of equal ranking.

"Captain Iba" Byakuya greeted

"Captain Kuchki. How are you neighbor?"

"Just fine." he responded indifferently. Iba then turned to some one with a more friendly demeanor; his lieutenant

"Renji, how have you been?" he firmly shook his hand.

"Just fine, thanks. Helping run the sixth division." something he's been doing for years "What are you doing?"

"Running the seventh." he responded "Wondering when they'll send me someone like you to help me out"

"Well good luck. There aren't many like me" Renji boasted confidently. Iba nodded, but could think of a few just like him. Afterall Renji had been a lieutenant far longer than Iba, even when he didn't have Bankai and there were still some vacant captains positions.

"Any idea what it's about today?" he asked

"A course I do im a Captain after all" there was to be a big announcement today, but what it was wasn't specified. With ten years of peace, rain falling could be a big announcement as far as he was concerned.

"Thats right, your playing with the big boys now" Renji slapped him on the back. But Iba quickly tensed up and looked back to see if there was a hand print on it; he didn't want it getting ruined by his dirty inferior hands. "And since your a Captain.." Renji paused for a moment "Why not get one of these in your size"

Iba was quiet for a few moments before he answered "It was my Captains" he admitted somberly.

Renji's eyes started to dodge around; that was clearly a topic he wished he had avoided, probably because he had no spine.

"Well that's not so bad if that's the worst thing you had to deal with" Iba had previously told him otherwise, but he was clearly eager to change the subject. "Rukia's been freaking out these past few days. Says her captains exam is coming up and she's nervous as all hell"

"It's far from anything to stress about" Iba shrugged recalling his own. Sure the head captain was there, but he'd pass you so long as you had a pulse.. or tits. Captain Rose, Kuchiki and Hitsugaya were his observers.

Renji eyed him envoisly after that statement "Yeah I guess you'd know afterall" he then seemed to have an epiphany "Say maybe you'll be her proctor?" he blurted out. Iba raised an eyebrow, now trying to dodge the topic; he was sworn to secrecy on the subject.

"Nothing's come down the pipe on my end" he said calmly.

"Well if it does you know you better pass her" Renji said now stepping rather close to Iba, squaring off with him "Or maybe I'll have to get involved in it". Was he threatening him? That was just cute.

Iba let out a smirk "I think you forgot to say "sir'"

A shiver went down Renji's spine and he sheepishly backed off him. Iba nodded off to the distance "Yer captain's getting away". Renji's eyes bugged open and he turned around and without looking where he was going ran off to catch up with Byakuya. Iba shook his head "Dumbass" he muttered

He lit another cigarette and placed it in his mouth and took a long calming drag from it "She has never liked me" he announced to no one but anyone who would listen "Someday I'm gonna write a book about this place"

He made a point to watch where he was going; last week had bumped into Yushiro Shihoin. Accidentally of course, but Soi Fon started freaking the fuck out on him the moment it happened. Before he knew it they're swords were drawn and the little boy was crying and pleading for it to stop. Luckily he had no such dilemmas today..yet.

He arrived to see Head Captain Kyoraku sitting down having s drink. He imagined things like this got a lot less formal with the change in command. He then noticed the other captains present. Captain Isane was seated yet still high above the rest and he moved to sit down to her left.. until he saw who was sitting there.

Soi Fon glaring at him still clearly pissed off about what happened a week ago. Sidestepping from her he went to put Isane in between them. Grabbing a seat and moving from being seated between the two and moving it to all the way in the corner.

"I don't think you can do that." Isane spoke up nervously "It's breaking regulations"

"Fine by me" the head captain shrugged and Iba took his spot in the corner. Shunsui took a relaxing sip of whatever was in the bottle before him. Iba assumed something alcoholic, Isane assumed water, Soi fon didn't care.

Iba then dragged a match across the floor and lit his cigarette with it. Isane looked like she was going to say something, but thought against it. He saw Soi fon glare at him from across the room, but there was shit she could do if the Head Captain didn't say anything first.

"What's say we get started" Shunshui said before taking another sit. Iba quickly finished his smoke in one quick drag, took it out of his mouth and leaned over to flick it at Soi fon. Isane grew more nervous sitting between them and the Head Captain took no notice.

"Aaahh" he let out peacefully. He then turned to the door. "You can come in now" Shunsui called out while looking down his empty cup.

Shuffling was heard from behind the closed door. The three captains leaned in with anticipation. Then the noise stopped and the door opened to reveal the potential candidate; Rukia Kuchiki.

She looked jittery. Her eyes dashed around the room. From the Head captain, to him, Isane, that other bitch, back to the head captain then him again. She fiddled with the sword in her hand and nearly tripped coming in.

"Oh god" Iba groaned. This was gonna be a long day.

The exam continued on through stutters and stammers from her and brief inputs from the captains; Iba had been lighting up cigarettes throughout. At it's climax she showed them her Bankai which going by all the other's Iba had seen didn't seem that impressive. Isane however, clapped upon seeing it.

Then with all said and done The Head Captain gave his approval.

"There are big shoes you have to fill" he said with melancholy mixed with booze in his voice and a hand on her shoulder. "I hope your up to it".

"Ive waited so many years for it" she said with tears in her eyes

"Alright" Shunsui nodded "I'm going to go tell him of your promotion. He's out of a job now you know" He then took his leave and Rukia gleefully followed him, once again almost tripping on her way out. Soi Fon in a dignified and rigid way excused herself without so much as a good bye to her fellow Captains. As his own goodbye Iba kicked a leg out and tripped her as she walked by.

"Watch that floor, it comes up on ya" he said dryly.

With the room's occupants now cut in half all that was left were two of the most recent captains. Isane sat with perfect posture while Iba slumped next to her, a freshly lit cigarette in his mouth.

'Do we just leave like that' she wondered. She had only stayed because Iba had. She looked him over and he seemed very much comfortable where he was. So she made herself just as so. She sat rigidly in her seat and cleared her throat.

"So you seem to like those things" Only his eyes rolled in her direction.

He blew out some smoke "Been smokin' em for years. Be a waste of time and money to stop now" Isane nodded in agreement only she really didn't.

"Well you know they're not that good for you" she leaned over to him. "They're full of-" he turned his head to look at her fully now "Eh never mind" she backed down.

He took a deep drag before blowing a smoke ring around her face "We all have our little problems" he said before popping it back into his mouth.

"Problems?" she squeaked through the smoke.

"Vices if you will. We've only just begun our tenures as captains. We have to adjust, but it's even more stressful given the condition of the Seretei. There's never been anything like what we just went through and now we're at the top" she wasn't sure if he made perfect sense or was rambling but she listened to each word intently. "So what if I smoke?" She was about to answer before he kept going making her realize it was rhetorical "helps ease the stress. Relaxes me. You gotta have one too"

"A what?"

"A vice. Something to take the load off" Isane blushed her mind immidelty going to what she had hidden in the bottom drawer in her desk. Her mind quickly tried to think of something else.

"I-uh-I-I sneak a few chocolates ever now and then bits had work, but I think I deserve it"

"There ya go" he puffed "it only makes sense you'd get the promotion. There's no better healer in the Soul Society after Unohana" Isane was a bit uncomfortable when he brought that up "Sorry" he said taking notice "I know what that's like"

"Well.. To be honest I never thought if be captain. I never even thought is make Lieutenant. But I like the fourth. It was easy to take control of things. Was it easy at the seventh?" he nodded "Your mother must have been proud"

He smirked maliciously "They all laughed at me, all those rapid retards they all thought they were better than me. Ikkaku, Yumuchika"

"Because you were a captain?" he shook his head " A Lieutenant? That sounds better than why they don't like squad 4"

"Oh yeah they're so prestigious over there" he mocked "When I left that squad they looked down on me just cause I had ambition, because I strived for something. Look at me now and where are they?" he paused and once again Isane tried to answer, but he did for her "right where I left them". Now it seemed strange that he was the critical one, looking down on all of them. But certainly he couldn't think that of all his former peers right?

"I saw Hisgai on my way over"

Iba scoffed "He's such a herb"

"Herb?". His mouth gaped open as he collected his words.

"No different than the others-and speaking of others" He blew another calm ring "Did Ikkaku come by yet?"

"Lieutenant Madarame?" Isane asked formally. Iba nodded resting his head on one of his hands "He's quite the troubled patient. I mean he fights an awful lot and I keep telling him he could do some serious permanent damage, but even then he's in my office and personally treated by me at least three times a week"

Iba grinned and the smoke he blew took the form of a toothy smile "That's all curtesy a' me"

"You?!" Isane shouted and Iba nodded peacefully. "I shouldn't have to deal with that!" she said an octane high than what Iba thought she was capable of.

"Your right" he said apologizing "But he came up to me askin' for a fight and I obliged him. He ask you anything yet?"

"Like what?" she blinked cluelessly.

Truth is Ikkaku only wanted to be put into the fourth division to try to 'get inside it's captain' as he politely put it. But he didn't want to seem weak so he asked his friend, the new Captain of the 7th Division to put him there. Iba was happy to oblige. But it seems he'll have to give him a few pointers as well.

"Nothing." he shrugged "He's just an dog following his master"

The more and more she heard IBa speak of his friends and fellow soul reapers she started to think he had a biased cynical perspective on things. Even if he did bring up a few decent points, he do it a lot nicer.

"Well.. do you think Rukia has that potential?"

"Not particularly" he said even after just examining her.

"What? Why not? She's got Bankai, has been in her division her entire time here just like you and I and... "

"That's it?" she nodded "Well" he lit a fresh cigarette to accompany the other one "There are four people who had Bankai before you and I" he waved his hand in the space between them. Renji, Hisgai, Rukia, but she knew all of that. Even Ikkaku whose Bankai was the worst kept secret in all of the Seretei. "And there were four vacant captain positions at the end of the war" Squads 4, 7, 8 and 13 once the others were revived that it. "Naturally you think they'd all get first picks right?"

Isane nodded even though she knew none of them received that promotion

"Well they didn't, save Rukia" he shrugged an acknowledgement "and even that took ten years"

"So your saying?"

He leaned in uncomfortably close to her face "Whaddya think I'm saying?"

She shifted uncomfortably from his gaze. She thought long and hard even though he made it seem so clear. Eventually she thought she found an answer; she just wish she could have worded it nicer "They're..." she cleared her throat "not as good as us"

"That's right"