BLEACH FANFICTION

CHAPTER 1: THE MEETING

I sit near the window in my room. It's a beautiful day in Sereitei. Well, it always is, since it never rains and the four seasons are basically nonexistent. The blue sky here is always bright and has a few clouds drifting lazily on the slight breeze. Of course, this is all an illusion. There is no sky in Soul Society, no earth, no water, no air. It is all a stunning mirage created by an endless space of spirit particles. Depressing, I know. I live here.

I hold out my hand as a Hell Butterfly comes in from outside of my window to rest on my palm. It has a message for me.

Kinisada Taichou, you must attend the Captains' Meeting immediately. There is an urgent matter—

I silence the butterfly with a touch of my finger.

"Arigato," I say as the butterfly flies back into the sky.

"Another meeting? But we just had one a few days ago," I say aloud. I notice the annoyed tone in my words as I put on my captain's robe.

"There is no need for so many useless meetings. It's just another opportunity for the captains to bicker."

I tie my long brown hair back into a ponytail and grab my Zanpakuto. I slide the door screen to the side and walk out on to the wooden balcony that serves as a pathway to some of the buildings here in Sereitei. I decided that I was going to take a nice, leisurely walk to the Meeting House this time instead of tiringly flashstepping from house to house. When I first became a captain, I was quite aware of the messages from my Hell Butterfly. Whenever the call came out for a meeting, I instinctively rushed over as fast as I could, expecting grave or exciting news. I was too easily disappointed; it always turned out to be a few cranky old men arguing over some useless topics. Like which days each squad should do laundry, or where all of the funds for the academy had gone. I shouldn't have assumed that today.

In a fraction of a second, I was flying through the air. Whisked off my feet by—

"Byakuya? What are you doing?… Put me down! Now!"

He sighs as he lands on a rooftop. "You're just fortunate enough that Yamamoto didn't come here himself."

"What do you mean? What's going on?"

He drops me on the roof.

"All captains must attend this meeting. And might I say that this will not be a trivial discussion, Kinisada. You best be on your way."

And with that, he disappears. He himself had to be present at that meeting. He was probably going to tell the old man that I was going to be there soon enough.

I start to flashstep from house to house, but I don't get very far…

"Sit upon the frozen heavens… HYORINMARU!"

… Before I am barraged by a wall of ice.

"Gyah!"

I am frozen in a block of ice. A little kid, about elementary aged, with white hair and a Zanpakuto walks up to me.

"Kinisada? What are you doing here?"

"… an… eeze me… st… (Can you unfreeze me first?)"

The ice surrounding me cracks and breaks. I shake off the remaining ice crystals.

"I was just on the way to the meeting… Weren't you informed?"

Hitsuguya looks at me in disbelief.

"No… I wasn't… stupid Matsumoto… having to go clothes shopping… ugh… of all the irresponsible…"

He stares at me with his light, glowing turquoise eyes.

"I guess I have to go too…" he says, disappointed.

He sheathes his Zanpakuto and flashsteps to the nearest rooftop. He turns around.

"What are you waiting for, Kinisada? We have to get to the meeting. You're a captain now, aren't you?"

I smile as I flashstep to the roof next to him.

"Yeah," I say, "I guess I am."

I stop for a moment.

"Hey… Um… Hitsuguya…"

"Yeah."

"What exactly were you doing with Hyorinmaru?"

There was a long awkward silence between the two of us.

"I was… training," he replies casually.

I guess that makes sense. We are always trying to become stronger. There are still people… Hollows… things out there that are stronger than us. It seems that we are never strong enough.

We arrive at the meeting.

The meeting room is grand and made out of wood. It looks reminiscent of ancient Japan like most of Soul Society does.

"UKI-KUN!"

I tackle the older, white-haired captain.

"Kinisada? What? Get off me! I'm sick! I can't *cough* breathe *cough*!"

"What are you doing? Stop it! He's not moving!"

"Huh?"

I look at Ukitake. He must have fainted.

I start to shake him.

"Uki-kun! Uki-kun! I'm sorry Uki-kun! Please wake up!"

"Huh?" He opens his eyes. "Oh, konnichiwa Kinisada."

He doesn't remember?

"Get off of him, Kinisada," says the blond-haired captain.

I do as she says, and then I smile.

"Ohayo! Lucy Taichou!"

"Yeesh Kinisada, were you trying to kill Ukitake-san?"

"What? No!" I turn to face him. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry—!"

He pats my head and smiled.

"It's okay, Kinisada. I wouldn't be a captain if I was too weak to get tackled by you."

"KINISADA!" The old man taps his cane on the wooden platform. We all turned to face him. Captain Commander Yamamoto.

"Stop causing such a ruckus at these meetings! Captains should not be so prone to childish actions!" he spat.

"Sorry."

"And why are you and Hitsuguya so late? I even sent Byakuya after you!"

"Hitsuguya didn't receive the message… And I didn't want to come here…"

He grimaces and slams his cane on the ground.

"Unacceptable! Kinisada, meet me after the conference! This type of behavior for a captain is inexcusable!"

He closes his eyes and sighs.

"I have received news that Aizen, the traitor, has sent espada to the human world."

There was a great commotion amongst the captains.

"Espada?"

"In the real world?"

"How could this be?"

"I thought Aizen was in Hueco Mundo!"

"Actually," says Kurotsuchi, "bakas, it isn't that shocking."

"What did you call us?"

"SILENCE!" the old man yelled.

"It is the information that I have been told. Now, I have decided to dispatch Lucille-"

"What did you just call me old man?"

He clears his throat and immediately resumes.

"Lucy, Hitsuguya, and Soi Fong to dispose of the espada. Don't forget to take your lieutenants as well. You will need them. Kinisada, you have been exempted from this mission out of your own arrogance." He tapped his cane on the wooden floor. "That is my decision! You are dismissed!"

The captains quickly scatter from the large room. Well, except for me and the old man. He looks at me with his old, fierce eyes.

"Kinisada, do you remember what I told you before you became a captain?"

I thought for a while.

"Uhh… Nope."

He sighs. "I told you that you would never become a captain. I even voted against you," he paused. "And now I have come to the conclusion that you are definitely unfit to be a captain. You are suspended from your duties until further notice. You are dismissed."

I angrily storm out of the room.

"That's it! I've had it!"

"What are you talking about, Kinisada?"

I turn around.

"Oh, It's you Ukitake."

He looks slightly worried. I never call him just Ukitake.

"Kinisada…"

"Old Man Yamamoto has suspended me from my captain duties," I say. "I'm sure that he has made the right decision."

Ukitake grimaces. "I suppose… But cheer up Kinisada. You will be a captain again soon. I've never heard of a captain being permanently suspended."

His logic did nothing. I was not just going to "cheer up."

"Whatever, Ukitake. I'll see you around."

I quickly flashstep to my room and lie down on my bed. I stare outside my window.

It was raining.

But it never rains.