Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they are the property of Tite Kubo
Author's Note: Thanks to one of my friends for editing this. You're awesome for pointing out the many flaws in this piece.
It was a quiet day within Seireitei, the streets bare without so much as a hell butterfly anywhere. All that can be seen were the white walls of Seireitei reflecting in the sunlight, standing solitary and alert. The leaders of the Gotei 13 were holding a meeting in light of the disappearances of three of their captains – Ichimaru Gin, Aizen Sōsuke, and Tōsen Kaname. The remaining ten captains were selecting candidates for their replacements to maintain the order of Soul Society, let alone Seireitei. All of Soul Society had bore witness to the escape of the three traitors and doubt and anger were playing their part within the people – active rebellions and chaos were running rampant, diseases, and destruction were spreading. Needless to say, the ten remaining captains needed help to both quell the fear of the people as well as prepare themselves for the upcoming war. Shortly after the sun rose above Sōkyoku Hill, the conference ended, and the list of the three members was finalized. Among the names of the potential candidates, one such name included a certain strawberry.
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The snow haired captain sighed as he was walking back to his office, remembering what had just occurred. The boy prodigy like two other captains was assigned one candidate each to teach. As fate would have it, he was assigned Kurosaki Ichigo, the fiery orange haired ryoka who constantly overstepped his boundaries.
'How is it possible to make Kurosaki Ichigo a captain of one of the squads in the Gotei 13? One who lacks the skills of kido, the teachings of the Spiritual Arts Academy, and most importantly the discipline and patience required of a leader. It is true that his spiritual abilities do make up for his absence of skill and order but it can go both ways, from being a powerful ally to being the worst of enemies. Why was he assigned to me?'
"Something troubling you, Hitsugaya-taichou?" asked a voice behind him, shocking the boy prodigy enough that his hand was immediately on the hilt of his zanpaktou. "You must have a lot on your mind if you had not sensed my presence behind you."
The teal eyed captain turned around to see Unohana with eyes slightly wider with concern. "No there is nothing wrong," replied Hitsugaya.
"I know that you are confused as to why you were selected to train the ryoka, Kurosaki Ichigo so that he may be a captain within the Gotei 13." When Hitsugaya did not respond she went on. "You are the ideal choice to train him with your performance as a captain and your control over your power. With your help, he will be a tremendous asset to the Gotei 13; he will learn order, discipline, and control from you. Were it another captain, myself included, we may not be able to utilize him to his full abilities." With a smile flashing across her face, she added, "Which is why I requested that he be here, he is waiting for you in your office." With a wave, she left the young captain alone.
Hitsugaya could only stare at the space that Unohana had previously inhabited, in internal shock at her "initiative" to help him with his new student. Realizing that he still had other matters to attend to, he continued his way to his office.
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Arriving at the door of his office the snow haired captain could hear muffled voices within, one being Kurosaki Ichigo. Against his moral standards he could not help but overhear the conversation between the substitute soul reaper and his fukutaichou.
"Ichigo, why are you here anyways? I don't think that taichou will be as happy as I am from your unexpected visit," asked Matsumoto, with a smile on her lips.
"I don't know myself. I was just told by Rukia that Unohana-taichou had wanted me to wait here for Tõshirõ." Hearing that, Hitsugaya couldn't help but bristle in annoyance from the casual way that Ichigo had just referenced him.
"You know, I really should tell you that you shouldn't address him like that and you should address him at Hitsugaya-taichou but it's just too funny," replied Matsumoto with a laugh. "If not, well the least you can do is calling him Tõshirõ-taichou to show at least a sign of respect. Anyways do you want to come with me, Renji, and Hisagi tonight for some drinking and fun?"
The door slid open to reveal the icy captain, his white haori billowing behind him as he strode to his desk.
"Taichou! Welcome back! How did the meeting go? And do you know why Ichigo-kun is here with us today?"
"Hey Tõshirõ," came Ichigo's voice from the couch as a head of orange hair could be seen resting on one armrest while on the other rested two feet in sandals.
"It's Hitsugaya-taichou," retorted the young captain as he sat behind his desk. "Kurosaki get off of the couch and come to the desk, you too Matsumoto."
With an audible sigh, the orange haired youth leapt to his feet off of the couch and followed behind Matsumoto to stand in front of the desk. As Ichigo stood, he noticed how Hitsugaya was staring at him intently with his teal eyes slightly narrowed.
"It has come to the attention of the Gotei 13 that the three captains need to be replaced immediately. With this in mind, you Kurosaki Ichigo have been chosen to be one of the three captains." Ignoring their gasps of surprises he continued on, "However, in order for you to fully ascend to that post you have been assigned to be trained by me. Should you fail you will not become a captain. For the time being, you will be residing within the tenth division until preparations can be made to get accustomed to how life works here in Seireitei."
"Taichou, where will he be staying? Will he be staying with me in the lieutenant quarters?" inquired Matsumoto as she thought of late nights of drinking and more fun now that Ichigo would be able to join her little group.
"No Matsumoto, he will be staying in my quarters under my supervision so that he will know the demands of captains when an emergency occurs."
'Oh well no having fun with Ichigo and my drinking group, but maybe he will be able to help taichou open up more,' mused Matsumoto as her previous thoughts were shot down and this new hope arose.
This hope like her previous one was shot down as neither of the two realized that Ichigo had yet spoken.
"No," stated Ichigo as his eyes narrowed and stare into Hitsugaya's teal eyes. "I will not become a captain within the Gotei 13, I can't be part of a group that almost executed Rukia and destroyed the Quincies."
The two males began to stare each other down, each trying to submit the other to his will, while Matsumoto only stared between the two, trying to see who would break first. Although Hitsugaya was reluctant to train Ichigo at first, he was determined not to fail. While the two of them continued to combat one another, there was a light knock on the door frame, interrupting the rising tension and the rising reiatsu between the two. On the other side of the door frame, standing in the corridor was none other than Unohana.
"Is there a problem here?" she asked, as she walked into the office and smiled at the three of them.
"There isn't a problem here, I was heading back to Senkaimon to return back to the real world," replied Ichigo , making his way to the door his black shinigami uniform billowing behind him, with eyes narrowed, and hands clenched. Hitsugaya remained speechless, too angry to restrain him from leaving.
Stopping Ichigo from leaving by taking a hold of the sleeve of his black kosode, she asks, "I take it that Hitsugaya-taichou has informed you of the decision of the Gotei 13 to make you a captain…but why are you in such anger? Is it because you hold us responsible for what has happened to your friends, namely Kuchiki-san?"
Ichigo stayed silent but he wouldn't raise his eyes to meet those of Unohana. He continued to stare downwards while she continued. "Although I cannot defend what we have done, it is not something that can be undone. What we must now do is to focus on the future and the upcoming war, to protect those that we still can, and to not fight amongst ourselves. Also Kurosaki-san, I really insist that you stay within Seireitei and become one of the Gotei 13." A shadow passed across her face as she said this, causing all three within the office to shudder and huddle against one another. "Is that to be understood?" When Ichigo nodded, the shadow left her face and she smiled at the three of them once more. "Hitsugaya-taichou, please do not let us down." With that said, she used shunpo and left the three shinigami to themselves.
"Well you heard Unohana-taichou, you're going to be staying with us Ichigo," cried Matsumoto as her hope was built anew. A hell butterfly flew in from the corridor, telling her something that only built her hope more. "Ichigo, Unohana-taichou forgot to mention that if you decide to leave all of a sudden, she will hunt you down in the Human World and bring you back here."