Ryoka Rock for the Rukongai

By Whitecloud1

Summary: The Captain-Commander approves a service project to help clean up and reconstruct the Rukongai's worst districts. To raise money, the Ryoka come for a one-night only concert.

Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach or the characters Tite Kubo created. Enjoy.

Chapter One

Turned Down

The Captain-Commander was out making his rounds of the Spirit Academy graduates. These graduates had been on missions in the Rukongai districts looking for hollows and keeping trouble to minimum. One not-so-recent graduate, Yori Macawi, an unseated shinigami of the First Division corps, looked as if she had some information that could be useful for the Seireitei.

"Macawi-san, what would you like to present to the Captain-Commander?" asked the First Division Lieutenant.

Bowing, Yori replied, "I wish to speak to Captain Yamamoto regarding a service project that would help the poorest and the most run-down districts of the Rukongai, Lieutenant."

"Service project?" he inquired, looking puzzled. "We do a great service to all the districts by patrolling them and keeping them safe."

"Begging your pardon, Lieutenant, but the service we provide is just policing, not improving the environment or the way of life in the Rukongai," she replied respectfully.

"The Captain-Commander does not have time to listen to such nonsense," he replied, dismissing the shinigami.

"But please, sir," she countered, "I think we could do something that would be of great use to not only the Rukongai districts, but to the Seireitei."

"Not at this time. We are trying to rebuild the Soul Society after the war, searching for and slaying the errant Espada, Arrancar, and hollows, we have to fill three captain seats, and the Captain-Commander is in charge whilst the Central 46 is being re-organized. He just does not have the time to listen to idle thoughts of improving some of the lots here. He is looking out for everyone." With that, the First Division Lieutenant dismissed the woman.

'So much for spreading goodwill,' she thought as she slid the Lieutenant's door closed. "I will have to figure out how to get the idea to Captain Yamamoto some other way." She sighed, and headed back to the barracks.

Overheard

Captain Yamamoto walked the halls of the First Division. He occasionally took this walk to listen to the troops to find out what was going on with not only his division, but throughout the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. He took this walk not only just to listen to the seated officers, but to those who were on the front lines most often. He had his ear to the ground, taking in the heartbeat of the Seireitei. Although he looked ancient, his instincts were sharp as ever.

Today he heard the usual conversations about food, sake, sleep, fighting, scheduling, duty roster, training, romance, and the like. He sighed…nothing out of the ordinary. The corps seemed well enough and satisfied enough. As he turned to leave, a voice managed to carry a concern that piqued his interest. He stopped to keep the voice in range.

"I cannot believe the amount of squalor in the upper Rukongai districts. We should be able to do something about it; provide some support to the areas to get them cleaned up. We could do a service project—raise money to help with reconstruction and to help the community become self-sustaining."

"We?" another voice interrupted skeptically.

"Yes," the female voice continued. "A joint effort with the people of the Seireitei and the souls of the Rukongai."

"We do enough for those ungrateful souls," the male voice interrupted. "We keep the peace and maintain order; we protect them. All we get in return are jeers, spit, and rude gestures."

Undaunted, the female voice continued. "What protection are we giving them? No, really—protecting them from the outside evils or dangers? They have pride too. When helplessness abounds, boredom sets in and the stronger souls muscle in to conquer and rule. The crime rate should tell you something about that."

"They hate us in the poorer outer districts because we have it better than they do."

"You mean Inuzuri and the other outer districts where the issues are. The closer in towards the Seireitei, the more they like us. You know that. I see you getting free fruit from the vendors in the lower districts."

"Yes, well, the lower districts know how to appreciate us," the male voice grumbled. "Okay, okay, so what is the plan again?"

"Get people to volunteer to help in those districts…"

A very loud male snort interrupted the female. "Like that will happen."

"…and help the people rebuild the community," the female voice continued, ignoring the male's interruption. "Repair housing, build a community center, create public gardens, create a district council are just a few things --don't give me that look -- not all the people in those districts are bad. The misguided…" another loud male snort "…can have their energies redirected to better the community."

"Okay, let's say that you get the volunteers, you will still need money to buy the materials help build those houses and paint the area."

"The materials can be donated. If that does not cover it, a fundraiser will provide the money and the volunteers at the same time. See, I have it in here."

Silence, then a burst of laughter from the male shinigami. "How are you going to get this to the Captain-Commander? The Lieutenant turned down your audience with the Captain-Commander. Not only that, if you do get this past them, how are you going to convince the Seireitei to participate?"

"Do you think the idea is stupid, or that no one will support it?" the female voice asked.

"Both."

Silence.

"Okay, let's say that you do get the okay for this. Who would run the project?"

"Me, of course," the voice serious.

More laughter.

"You forget, my Shikai is persuasion and my Bankai is determination," the female voice said.

"Yeah, yeah, I still don't know why you are an unseated officer."

"I like to be with the masses," she said. "Plus it involves a lot less paperwork."

Both shinigami burst out laughing. Once the laughter died down, the male voice continued. "You will still need the support of the higher-ups to back you up. Most of the captains and seated officers are buried in paperwork. We're the grunts. We train. We patrol. We don't have time to volunteer."

"There is always time to help those in need - days off, a few hours between duties here and there. You know, a little less sake time wouldn't hurt anyone," she said. "Don't look so scandalized. You could do without all the sake." She continued, "Look at it as saving money to donate to the cause," a smile in her voice.

"If you get this off the ground, I will be the first in line to volunteer," the male voice chuckled, "wearing one of your kimonos."

"Do you want to pick the color now, or decide when the time comes?" the female voice asked.

There was silence. "Hmm, I favor the pale pink with purple blossoms and the butterflies Macawi-san" he said amused, "because I know it's the most girly one, and I know I won't have to wear it."

"With or without the white powder and the hairpins, Oro-san?" Macawi inquired.

"With."

"Shake on it then," she said.

"Sure, sure. But no one is around to witness this," he mused.

"Your honor should be enough to keep you to your promise," she countered.

"Okay, Yori Macawi, Guardian of the Rukongai's poor, collect all those drawings and plans off the sleeping futons, and let's get some dinner."

Captain-Commander smiled, and swiftly went down another corridor.

Tea to Midnight

Lieutenant Sasakibe Chojiro was setting out mid-morning tea for the Captain-Commander when he noticed the leader was preoccupied by something. He poured the tea, and sat with the captain. While the Captain-Commander was always deep in thought, this particular thought pattern seemed to change his facial expression slightly. It looked as if his captain had decided upon something.

"Ask your question Chojiro-san," the Captain-Commander said.

"Sir, what occupies your mind? You have curious expression on your face."

"What expression am I wearing?" Captain Yamamoto asked.

"You look amused. That is the one expression you rarely wear."

"Hn," was the reply.

Silence continued whilst both sipped their tea. The Lieutenant knew the Captain-Commander would answer in his own time. As he poured the second cup of tea, the Captain-Commander began.

"I overheard a very interesting conversation last evening while I walked the First Division halls. The idea that was discussed is one that I have not heard before. It is a very intriguing idea."

"Intriguing? How so?" the First Division Lieutenant inquired.

The Captain-Commander put down his cup. "Chojiro-san, I think it would be best if we spoke to the shinigami who had this idea. Would you please summon Yori Macawi for me?" The Lieutenant knew that name. She was the same corpsman who had requested an audience with the Captain-Commander a few days ago.

"Captain, sir, I heard her idea, and quite frankly, it is a bit strange. I turned her away when she explained it to me. I did not know this would have interested you, or I would have granted her an audience with you," the Lieutenant stated. "You have too much on your plate with replacing the three captains, re-building our ranks, and re-seating a new Central 46, so I thought you would not have time for this pipe dream."

"I see. Do you refuse to summon her then?"

"No, sir. I will summon her. But she is on patrol in the Inuzuri District until late this evening. Do you want me to call her off duty?"

The Captain-Commander smiled. "No. Summon her here as soon as she has completed her shift."

Chojiro blanched, "But sir, that will be midnight."

"I am aware of that. Please show her to my office as soon as she returns."

As his lieutenant left, the Captain-Commander realized Macawi probably rotated between Districts 75 through 80, some of the poorest and the most unruly areas of the Rukongai. The idea probably came to her as she patrolled, looking for a better way to bring order. He was looking forward to the meeting.