The Story of Bleach told through the eyes of one Hara Setsuna, Captain of the 14th. As a Captain do not expect her to be all sunshine and roses. Eventual Byakuya/OC although not for a long time, the only other paring is OC/OC. Expect spoilers of all Japanese Manga chapters eventually.
[] = denotes flashback
Not Mine
Sakura and Flame
Setsuna walked briskly down the halls of Kuchiki manor doing her best to smile and nod at the servants politely as she passed. She turned down a long hallway and stopped at the large door there. On the wood paneling she knocked once, and then once again. It was customary, once to show you are there and once more just in case. Anymore was overkill and unnecessary. Behind the door she could hear the shuffling of papers as their owner got them in order. After a moment of waiting the cool collected voice answered her knocks, "Come in."
Sliding the door open she glided in gracefully and then sat down in front of him in seiza-style as if at a tea ceremony. From anyone else he would have accepted less structure but she knew that from her he expected the best. Eventually he put his papers aside and looked up at her, "I am glad you came."
"We are friends are we not Byakuya-sama? I would not have dropped paperwork for anyone else."
When she was done talking he smiled at her, "You may relax, it is only us."
Setsuna let out the sigh she had been holding and then let her feet slip out from under her and to her side, until she was sitting a bit more relaxed, "You asked for me?"
Byakuya reached for one of the papers under his stacks of many, "Rukia is being sent to The World of the Living today, it will be her first solo mission."
It did not take Setsuna much to figure out what he was asking of her, "You wish for me to follow her."
"Yes." He paused and regarded her for a moment, "I know you often give tasks like these to other people in your division, but as a friend I thought I might ask you to do it personally."
Setsuna smiled, "Consider it done."
There was the sound of knocking and Byakuya ushered in one of his servants. The man placed a black iron teakettle down on the table and then two small cups. When this was done the man bowed and then left without practically ever making a sound. Byakuya looked up at Setsuna, "Stay for tea, the two of us can catch up, you have been gone to The World of the Living too much for my liking recently."
Never being one to deny tea with a friend Setsuna smiled and bowed, thanking Byakuya for the food and then held out her cup, "Please."
Byakuya filled her cup and the two of them chatted amiably for sometime about the goings on in Seireitei. Slowly the teapot began to empty signaling that it was time for Setsuna to leave. As she stood he spoke to her, "Do your best to protect her but do not coddle her, and do not be afraid to do you job."
At that she let out a small laugh, "You know I never would, we are friends, but my division must come first."
Words spoken he released her by looking down at his papers. Meeting over she swept out of his office.
[The red of her academy hakama flashed below her as she jumped from building to building. Each time she did she was sure she was going to be seen but so far no one had looked up at the young teenage girl moving from rooftop to rooftop. Eventually she spotted her destination, made a last leap, and then shimmed down into the desolate and ruined courtyard. It was part of Kuchiki manor but it wasn't used anymore and had fallen into a state of decay. Because of that it was unguarded and marked off for disuse. She checked her pocket watch and was pleased to find that she had made it here two whole minutes early, a faster record than her time before. This meant, she was pleased to understand, that her training at the academy was paying off.
Slipping the watch into her sleeve pocket she pulled out the small box she had brought with her. She opened it to make sure that it's contents were safe and grinned when she discovered they were. Closing the box she looked up as the door across from her opened and a young teenager slipped inside. He was holding two books, his large sword smacking against his thigh. He looked up at her and smiled, bringing the books over to her, "I still don't see why you need these."
Setsuna grinned, "I told you before Byakuya-sama, I can't be part of his world without knowing about it first. You agreed."
"Sound's boring. Did you bring it?"
Setsuna tossed him the box and he opened it grinning dipping his fingers inside to pull out it's contents. While there were many things his family could get because of their money there were a lot of things they also wouldn't get because of how lower class they saw them as. Setsuna giggled, each time she brought the academy's spicy hot cake Byakuya acted as if he had seen heaven. It was commoner food to be sure, but it was one of the spiciest foods known to Seireitei.
As he ate Setsuna began reading one of the books that he had brought her. Books that explained court etiquette – how to sit, how to stand, even how to bow. Last week she had devoured the one on tea ceremony and Byakuya had commented that she cared more about the boring stuff than he did. It didn't stop him from being a good teacher. When they were done with the books she would practice them and he would sit there yelling out orders to her until she got it right. The tea ceremony had been the worst and she had been sure her legs and feet had gone numb sitting so still. The next day at academy had been hell.
The sound of a box closing alerted Setsuna to the fact that Byakuya had finished eating. When she turned his face was a light shade of pink under the moonlight and she laughed again. He glared at her, "Laugh it up. How far into that book did you get?"
"To graceful walking. 'A noble must walk as if the world under him air, as if lifted by the reiatsu under him, gliding effortlessly.'" She looked at him, "Can you actually do that?"
Byakuya smirked, "Of course."
He stood and Setsuna eyed him as he began to walk. As he did it was as if a small gust of air pushed him along. While she was sure his feet were touching the ground it didn't look it. It was actually a bit impressive and left her open mouthed, "Wow."
When he was done he tossed the second book at her. When she looked at it she noticed how ratty it was compared to the other books. A second glance at it told her the reason for the misuse was that it was an old dictionary, but not so old or so new that it's contents would matter, "Put that on your head and we'll start practice. Then when we're done I can show you the new kido jii-sama started teaching me today. We can practice that together."
Once the book was seated firmly on her head Setsuna took her first awkward steps.]
Setsuna's arrival at her division headquarters was met with little fanfare. As she entered her office she pulled off her light blue scarf and draped it on the coat hanger next to her desk. Looking down at her aforementioned desk she could see that the paperwork for Byakuya's request had already gone through and that it had been stamped with the Head Commanders seal of approval. Next to that were The Central 46's own commands for the mission which were the same as they always were: observe, remain at arms length, do not interfere unless expressly need to, report back with any and all findings; the list went on like that for some time.
Reaching across her desk she pulled the string that connected to the bell in her lieutenant's room. While she waited she worked through cases on Shinigami misdemeanors in the general Seireitei area, giving suggestions for punishment and then stacking them in her done pile. It always severed her best to get as much work done as possible before a big mission, it left less to be done by others while she was gone, and also allowed her mind to be at ease.
There was a strong rapping sound at the door and she looked up, her furiously moving pen stopping in its action, "Come in, and close the door behind you."
The door opened and a tall lanky girlish Shinigami entered, long blonde hair and blue eyes started at her. The Shinigami sat down on the couch in front of the desk laying out lazily yet somehow managing to look completely at ease, "It's good to see you in such good spirits Miya. I hate to be the person to ruin it."
He looked up at her, "Ruin?"
"I'm leaving for The Realm of the Living today, a bit of a personal mission, but it's been cleared and I can't say no and nor do I want to."
"Is this about Rukia? I head she left on her first watch today."
Setsuna smiled; despite her lieutenant's tall frame he actually looked quite delicate. And then there were few people in Seireitei who actually knew that he was a he due to how feminine he dressed and looked. Most of them called him; she, and he didn't correct them, in fact Setsuna knew that he liked it better. He was a wily one, and much more aware than most people gave him credit for, "Yes. I'm leaving in about an hour. I want the paperwork in order when I get back, whenever that will be, and I want a report on my desk of the activity I missed, along with reports sent to me in which ever way to pleases you while I'm gone."
"In the many years we have been working together have I let you down?"
"No, you haven't. And that's all the better to keep up the good work." She paused and pulled out her pocket watch, newer – another gift from Byakuya, after her old one had been ruined in battle, and checked the time, "Now, I have to leave or I am going to be late. Remember to report to The Central 46 when you have time, and don't fall behind on that. They tend to be testy when left waiting too long."
Standing Setsuna quickly made four easy to follow stacks and then grabbed her scarf and draped it across her neck letting the two sides hang straight down the symbols for The Central 46 facing out. She grabbed her sword from where it sat on its stand on the wall and then gave a final goodbye to her lieutenant, closing the door on her way out.
Reviews are helpful but not necessary. I understand that this is an OC. If that is not your cup of tea then do not leave a comment saying all OC's suck, that is not helpful and will not make me delete the story. I too understand that most OC's suck, and yet I write anyway.
