A/N: One of the strongest challenges I faced while trying to decide on the kind of story to do here. Was well, how do I stay to him? How do I expand on his character and abilities? So I decided to go a simple route.

The sounds of electronic beeping caused Hanataro to fidget around in his futon. He didn't want to really get up after so many days of work, but then he slowly opened his blue eyes looking around his room. His eyes were drawn to the clock whoses numbers were flashing. He got up and turned off the clock, and then after switching on the lights to his room. He took a moment to look around his small room. I have been here for so long, and yet so much has changed since I first moved here. His thoughts continued to wander in his head, as he changed into his shinigami shihakusho. He looked at the poster on his wall, it was rather simple paper with a few words. Shoot for Sixth Seat, never thought I would reach higher than that. Ironic since I now share the third seat with Mr Iemura. Hanataro's room was quite simple with only the futon and the poster. He sighed as he sat down, knowing that he had at least two more hours before he actually needed to go in to work. Usually Hanataro would be up and ready to go, always one of the earliest workers to show up.

Lately however, things had changed. Ever since the war between the quincy and shinigami, everything had changed. The Soul King was gone with no clue as to how the whole of reality hadn't collapsed in on itself. Only a few quincy had survived and if Ichigo hadn't stepped in for them. It was likely the shinigami would have wanted to kill them in exchange for all their fallen comrades. Hanataro clenched his hands briefly, as he closed his eyes. His body shaking slightly, his thoughts going back to a time when Unohona was still captain. I still can't bring myself to forgive the Quincy, some healer I turned out to be. Hanataro bit back his choking sobs, even as bitter tears ran down his face. After running his hands through his black hair, Hanataro chose to stand up. I best get back to work, someone has to clean those sewers. Hmm I wonder how Ganju is doing lately? Hanataro figured he could stop by after work to check in on his old friend.

One Work Day Later

After having dropped off the cleaning supplies, Hanataro exhaled as now came the 'fun' part of the day. All that paper work to fill out. Hanataro's hands were already aching, knowing the copious amount of sheer paperwork he had to fill out. As he walked through the barracks, which also served as a hospital for the gotei thirteen, complete with hospital beds, and medical equipment courtesy of squad twelve. Hanataro walked up to the desk, where a nurse nodded to him. She handed him a stack of papers, that he didn't want to count as counting always made him wince. Given that were a lot of papers, usually in the hundreds which would just make it fill even longer.

Rukongai

Hanataro watched the massive gates leading into Sereitei close behind him, thanks to the gatekeeper Jidanbo. Who was just giant compared to everyone, yet he was mostly known for his compassionate nature. Hanataro waved to Jindabo before continuing on his way. Hanataro had briefly gone back to his room, after filing out his paperwork. Right now he was wearing a traveling pack with his usual black shinigami clothes, the pack was filled with some fruits and other various foods only found in the Sereitei. Hanataro was also wearing a sedge hat as the sun was quite bright today, and lastly was his zanpaktou tied to his waist. While Hanataro didn't expect to get into a fight or anything, it was best to always keep his zanpaktou on hand. He tried to ignore the stares of the local residents who dwelled in Rukongai, always dressed in rags and covered in dirt. Though things had improved marginally since the war, Rukongai was still in a disorganized rabble state. Rukongai has always been considered low priority unless a hollow attack was happening. He thought of all the people who still wanted to find their families, and the long process that usually led to.

Hanataro came to the only building that didn't look like it was a few moments away from collapsing in on itself. It was the town hall of course, and the mayor was a kindly old man who recognized Hanataro as soon as he walked in the town hall. "Ah Mr. Yamada it is a honor to see you again." The Old man bowed his head to Hanataro. Hanataro bowed in turn to the man, though the elder bowed his head lower than Hanataro. He sweatdropped at that since he didn't feel like he was worthy of that kind of respect.

"Hello Sir, it's nice to see you again." Hanataro said as he untied the travel pack he had brought with him. He then handed it off to the town leader. The Old man smiled brightly at him, as he looked at the fruits, along with seeds that could be used for better farming in their community. As the old man left, Hanataro then went into one of the rooms looking at the white flooring, and red table. He then sat down on the floor, putting one ankle across the other. The seeds aren't that much, yet they keep acting like I solved world hunger or something. Hanataro thought with a sweat drop, he honestly didn't feel like he was doing anything all that special. Especially when he thought of the work Ganju had been up to. Or should I call him Chief Ganju? Hanataro thought with a bit of an amused smile, thinking how in the past few years Ganju had become something of a local hero to Rukongai. He had even begun to unite most of the districts under his gang.

While some of the nobles were worried that Ganju's gang known as the Crimson Boars, would eventually invade their districts. For the most part Ganju was focused on the lesser districts that had almost no shinigami jurisdiction. They had both changed a lot in the last few years. Hanataro spent a few minutes nervously shifting around, adjusting his clothes as he wondered if he should have brought something.

The doors slid open, and Hanataro craned his head around with a wide smile seeing his old friend. Ganju cut an imposing figure with his tall and wide muscular frame. His long black hair was like a spiked mullet giving him something of a wildman look. However the imposing man grinned as soon as he saw Hanataro. Ganju let out a deep laugh as he ran over, and picked Hanataro up in a bear hug.

"HANATARO! GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" Ganju shouted out at the top of his lungs. Despite the ringing in his ears, Hanataro couldn't help but smile at the boisterous tone in Ganju's voice.

"Good to see you too Ganju, but umm could you put me down? I think my lungs are being crushed." Hanataro said a bit weakly as Ganju's bear hugs were still crazy strong. Ganju dropped Hanataro apologizing profusely, before sitting down on the other side of the table.

"So Hanataro I hear your co third seat now huh?" Ganju asked with a knowing grin as he got out a bottle of sake, and drinking cups. Hanataro sheepishly chuckled a bit.

"Yes I am, and thank you for everything Ganju." Hanataro said with a smile, as Ganju poured them sake in both their cups.

"Oy don't fret about it. I didn't really do anything, if anything I should thank you. Having a sparring partner in training, helped me as well." Ganju said flexing his right bicep much to Hanataro's amusement. I still remember going to him after giving my energy towards Ichigo. My contribution wasn't much, and it knocked me out for a few days. I wanted to get better so I could be of more use to everyone. What followed next was a rough training for Hanataro, as he and Ganju sparred constantly. Though it did end up paying off as Hanataro developed some muscles, and rekindled a connection to Hisagomaru. Ganju then slid Hanataro's cup of sake across the table to him, and then they both drank their sake.

"So is it true that your unifying the rukongai districts?" Hanataro asked Ganju. His friend nodded, and then refilled his sake cup. He then passed the sake jug to Hanataro so he could refll his sake cup, which he did.

"Yeah." Ganju said after sipping his sake. "Someone has to step up and do more for the people here. Speaking of, I thank you for the seeds you keep giving us." Ganju said a bow of his head, and then he took another sip of sake.

"It's fine, it's the least I can do." Hanataro said blushing a little bit from the praise, and partly thanks to the sake. He then drank more of his sake.

"Hey Hanataro I have always wondered. How and why did you become a shinigami?" Ganju asked taking Hanataro by surprise. His eyes blinking as he held his sake cup next to his lips, he slowly put his cup down. Ganju stopped drinking, and he began to fidget. It was rare to see the big man even slightly nervous.

"Ah that huh?" Hanataro hummed as he briefly wondered that himself. He barely remembered his childhood, he knew that he had grown up somewhere in the rukongai. But then he remembered following his brother into the academy, and he had always wanted to be like his big brother. Seinosuke, Hanataro thought sadly of his deceased brother. "To be honest, I wanted to be like my brother. Then I wanted to just help people. Sometimes I can't really believe I am a shinigami, I didn't even graduate with my shikai at first. That took me a few more years to unlock." Hanataro sighed as he felt some melacholy wash over him.

"Is something the matter Hanataro?" Ganju asked concern in his voice. His big eyebrows furrowed as he stopped drinking his sake.

"Lately I have been wondering what to do with my life. I do still want to help people, and yet I just don't know anymore." Hanataro said with a sigh. I just feel so lost all the time now, and it frustrates me. Hanataro just didn't feel like anything he did matter, everyday it was harder to get out of bed. "Don't get me wrong, I do know that I have made some accomplisments. I helped you guys rescue Rukia, but I wasn't that much help. I advanced up in rank, but somedays I wonder if it wasn't more out of pity than actual skill. And then it feels like I have never done enough." The one thing Hanataro didn't want to talk about was the one thought he kept wondering about. If he had been able to do more, and was stronger would Unohona still be alive along with the other comrades he had lost?

"Hmm. Hey Hanataro have you ever taken a vacation?" Ganju asked his friend. Hanataro blinked in surprise, and he looked down at his sake as though he was in some kind of drunken illusion.

"What's a vacation?" Hanataro asked in confusion. Ganju's face turned real serious, shadows covering it. Ganju then switched Hanataro's Sake cup with the jug.

"I think you need this more than me." Ganju stated much to Hanataro's continued confusion.

A/N: And hopefully the first chapter of a new Hanataro story. This time I intend to fully finish it, I finally do have everything in order.