Author's Note: This fanfic has been just physically and mentally exhausting. I planned on writing this story over a year ago and since then have done two different plot outlines and four rewrites for just the first chapter! Finding a way to start this story seemed to be nearly impossible. The chapter you are about to read was already scrapped once because I felt it wasn't strong enough. So seven months later, after writing a second first chapter that I hated, I decided that this one despite my doubts was the better chapter. But I've ranted long enough, on with the story!
Summary: Having been framed for the Hollowfication of his fellow captains, Ryuu Hiromasa is cast out of the Soul Society, leaving his captaincy, his friends, and the woman he loved behind. One century later, he given a chance to return in order to help Ichigo save Rukia and to end the life of the man who ruined his life, Sosuke Aizen.
DISCLAIMER~ I do not own Bleach or the song that is used as this story's title. Only my OC, Ryuu Hiromasa belongs to me.
It was yet another beautiful day in the Seireitei and rather than spend his time enjoying his precious new music he acquired from the world of the living, Shinji Hirako, Captain of Squad Five, along with his lieutenant, Sosuke Aizen, was forced to attend a captain's meeting. What's worse was that on his way to said meeting, he was assaulted by an abusive and annoyingly familiar lieutenant of Squad Twelve, Hiyori Sarugaki. After Captain of Squad Seven, Love Aikawa broke up their face-making fight, the captain's and lieutenants continued into the First Division Headquarters. Once they were inside, Shinji looked up at the Squad plaques hanging from the hooks on the wall.
"Is everyone here?" he asked, looking at the plaques.
"Pretty much," Love answered.
Shinji nodded and noticed that there was an empty space between the plaques that read Squad Nine and Squad Thirteen.
"Where's Squad Ten?" Shinji asked curiously.
"Must be running late," Love said with a shrug of his shoulders. "You know how he loves to run his men ragged for their morning training."
"The Eleventh Squad ain't here either."
"He's playing hooky again. He's blowing everyone off like usual."
"What? I dunno who the Tenth Kenpachi is, but he seems pretty dang laid back. Wonder how the hell a pig like him ever became captain…" Shinji thought out loud.
"Captain!" Aizen chided. That kind of talk was unbecoming of a captain.
"It couldn't be helped. The Kenpachi has been the Eleventh Squad's captain for generations. That's how it's set up," Love explained. "If you want to place the blame somewhere, blame the last Kenpachi who lost to him."
"Good point. He was so boring, I yawned myself to tears!" Shinji exclaimed.
"What's this?"
Everyone turned to face owner of the new voice. It was the captain of Squad Eight, Shunsui Kyoraku. At his sides were his lieutenant, Lisa Yadomaru and Captain Jushiro Ukitake of Squad Thirteen.
"I don't like it when I hear people speak ill of others behind their backs," Kyoraku stated with a friendly smile.
"Oh! You're here early today, Shunsui," Love said in mild surprise.
"What are you talking about? I'm always the first one here," Shunsui said with a light chuckle.
"I grabbed his butt to wake him up today," Lisa said bluntly.
"Don't speak like that in front of the other captains!" Shunsui whispered chidingly to his lieutenant.
"I don't see Hikifune around," Jushiro stated, looking up at the empty space between the plaques. "I guess she isn't coming here anymore."
"It looks like she already joined up with her new group," Shunsui said.
With that, the captains and lieutenants continued down the hall to the meeting room.
"What a disappointment," Jushiro said with a sigh. "It's not like we're in an emergency situation. She should have taken it bit slower."
"You said it," Shunsui said in agreement.
"But ya know, we've been switchin' out captains one after another," Shinji stated. "Rose just became captain of the Third Squad two years ago. And now it's the Twelfth Squad. Are we gonna be okay?"
"Relax. Everything has to change sooner or later. This is just one of those times", Shunsui said reassuringly.
"Come to think of it," he continued, "Jushiro, Old-man-Yama and I are the only one who have been captains for over one hundred years right?"
"You forgot someone! Captain Unohana, remember?" Jushiro reminded.
"Oh that's right! She'd be livid if I forgot about her. Scary stuff…"
"What's so scary?" came a kind and gentle voice from the hallway behind them. Shunsui and Jushiro froze in fear as they recognized the voice; Retsu Unohana, Captain of Squad Four.
"No nothing! We were just saying that weather is so nice today that it's almost scary, right?" Shunsui asked Jushiro nervously.
"What's all this now?" came another voice. Everyone turned to see a man coming down the second hallway beside them.
The man wore a sleeveless captain's haori with an upturned collar. The sleeves of his shihakushō were tucked into light gold bracers that covered most of his forearms. On the back of his haori was the Squad Ten insignia. The man himself looked a little older than Jushiro but younger than Shunsui and was just as tall as the latter. His light brown hair was long and went into a ponytail that began at the base of his neck. He carried a zanpakuto that was a little over six feet long, slightly taller than it's master, and was sheathed a fiery red sheath with a gold hilt and handle. A bright red thin piece of cloth that wrapped around his torso kept the zanpakuto securely against his back.
As the man passed the lieutenants, he nodded towards Sosuke and Lisa, who both bowed to the senior officer, and ruffled Hiyori's hair which caused her to groan in annoyance.
"Making comments about my wife, Shunsui?" the man asked with a friendly smile which Shunsui returned.
"She's not your wife yet, Ryuu," Shunsui stated.
"Details…" Ryuu said as he walked towards Retsu, his fiancé. The two embraced and shared a quick yet passionate kiss.
"When did you arrive?" Retsu asked with a happy smile.
"Just now," Ryuu answered. "I was running my squad through some drills." Retsu laughed lightly.
"Are you going to keep up tonight healing men from your squad?"
"No, I was actually hoping I could keep you up all night and I could 'heal' you," Ryuu said with a playful smirk.
"There will be none of that before the marriage," Retsu said giving him a playful shove.
"Those two are getting married?" Shinji asked in surprise. "When did that happen?"
"They've been engaged for months, Shinji. How could you not have known?" Love asked.
"I don't pay attention to that kind of thing?" he said with a lazy sigh.
"Maybe it's because your attention is focused elsewhere, Shinji," Ryuu stated. "Might it be little Hiyori that you are focusing on," he said with a teasing smirk.
"WHAT?" shouted the lieutenant and captain in unison.
"Why the hell would I focus on that little snaggle-toothed brat?" Shinji asked, pointing at Hiyori.
"Who the hell you calling a snaggle-toothed brat, you dumbass?" Hiyori shouted.
Everyone laughed at the exchange between the two as they shouted insults and made faces at each other.
"So, is Hikifune no longer with us?" Ryuu asked, bringing everyone's attention back to the previous topic.
"That's right," Shunsui said. "She joined with her new group already."
"Shinji seems concerned about all of the new captain we've been getting lately," Jushiro stated as he looked at the still arguing pair.
"The Third Squad's captain retired and the Twelfth Squad's captain was promoted," Unohana explained. "At least they didn't fall in the line of duty like the previous captain of the Eleventh Squad. It's wonderful that it's so peaceful don't you think?"
Shunsui and Jushiro nodded in agreement.
"Promoted?" asked Shinji's lieutenant, Sosuke Aizen. The captains all looked towards him.
"Hey, Sosuke!" Shinji chided, stopping his argument with Hiyori.
"My apologies!" Sosuke said, realizing he had stuck his nose in matters that were not his business. "I overheard your conversation…"
"No it's fine Sosuke. What is it?" Shunsui asked.
"We Lieutenants hadn't been told anything about this," Aizen began. "Is it true that Twelfth Squad's Captain Hikifune was promoted and didn't retire?"
"That's right."
"A position higher than captain could only mean she's become part of Central Forty-Six, correct?" Aizen speculated. "But, I've never heard of a captain getting promoted to Central Forty-Six before…"
"It's not Central Forty-Six," Shunsui stated. "She entered the Royal Guard, the Zero Squad."
"The Royal Guard?" Aizen asked in surprise.
"What's all this? Can I get through please?" asked an old yet prideful voice.
Everyone turned to see the captain of Squad Six and the head of the noble Kuchiki Clan, Ginrei Kuchiki. Beside him was the captain of Squad Two and head of the Punishment Force, Yoruichi Shihoin. The two were waiting patiently for the lieutenants to move out of there way.
"Our apologies!" Aizen said quickly and stepped aside, allowing the captains to pass.
"Congratulations," Unohana said sweetly to Yoruichi.
"If you're going to congratulate someone, shouldn't it be the person in question, Captain Unohana?" Yoruichi asked politely before continuing on to the meeting room with Ginrei.
"What's that mean?" Shinji asked as the two passed by.
"You really don't pay attention to anything do you, Shinji," Ryuu said with a sigh. "Yoruichi's former Third Seat is the new Captain of Squad Twelve."
"What? Some Third Seat from the Second Squad is going to become a captain?" Shinji asked in surprise.
"I oversaw his examination myself," Retsu stated. "I can assure you he is qualified."
"How the hell can a Third Seat be qualified?" Shinji asked.
"I guess we'll find out," Ryuu said and continued on to the meeting room with Retsu, hand in hand.
"Those two certainly make a good couple, don't they?" Jushiro asked.
"Sure do," Shunsui said with a nod. "Maybe Lisa and I could become like that some day," he said, placing a hand on Lisa's shoulder. The lieutenant reared her elbow into her captain's stomach earning a groan.
"Let's just get to meeting already," she said impatiently as she continued on with her captain trailing slowly behind her holding his stomach in pain.
Everyone else followed after them to meeting hall were the new captain would soon be inaugurated.
Each of the captain and their respective lieutenants assembled in the meeting hall. Neither the Head Captain nor the new captain had arrived yet so they decided to talk amongst themselves.
Ryuu and Retsu were discussing their wedding plans with Yoruichi since she volunteered to cater the affair and also agreed to be Retsu's maid of honor. Ryuu had decided to let Retsu make most of the decisions since he didn't care for the details; his only concern was that at the end of their wedding day he would be married to the woman he loved.
The doors to room opened and Captain Kensei Muguruma of Squad Nine entered.
"It looks like the new guy's coming," he announced. "The old man said to line up and wait for him."
The captains did as he said and got into their respective lines, waiting for the new captain to arrive.
For a while they stood in silence, waiting patiently for the remaining captains to arrive. The Head Captain was the first to arrive. He took his seat and waited with the others. It was several more minutes before the sound of footsteps could be heard outside the door. Finally the doors had swung open.
The man that had opened them was not what most of them were expecting. He didn't look like a professional. To some of the captain's, particularly Ginrei, he looked like an imbecile. He had a look of embarrassment on his face as he looked towards all of the other captains.
"Uh oh! Don't tell me I'm the last one to get here?" he said lamely.
"It looks like a real flake's joined us," Ryuu heard Shinji say.
"How nice of you to join us, Kisuke Urahara," Yamamoto said, slightly annoyed at the time it took for the new captain to arrive.
"Sorry, I got caught up with some things and-
"Kisuke!" Yoruichi said loudly. "Shut up and step forward."
Kisuke nodded and walked towards the Head Captain.
"The induction of Kisuke Urahara, former Third Seat of Squad Two, as the captain of Squad Twelve will begin now," Yamamoto stated as he tapped his cane on the floor.
Once the meeting was over, the captain all filed out of the room and headed back towards there respective squads. Kisuke and Hiyori were about to do so as well, until he was stopped by Shunsui, Jushiro, and Ryuu.
"How may I help you gentlemen?" he asked politely.
"We wanted to know if you would join us for a drink," Shunsui said with a friendly smile.
"We just want to show you that you're among friends," said Jushiro.
"Well, I don't see how I can refuse," Kisuke said cheerily.
"Hey!" Hiyori shouted. "You're supposed to come back to the Squad barracks with me!"
"Oh! I suppose you're right."
"Hiyori, I'm sure you can manage your squad for a few more hours while we show the new captain a good time," Ryuu said evenly.
"We promise we won't take long," Shunsui said.
"Fine," Hiyori grumbled and stomped off.
"She's seems angry," Kisuke said as he watched her leave.
"She just misses her old captain," Ryuu said dismissively.
"Hikifune was like a mother to Hiyori," Jushiro explained.
"I see…" Kisuke mused.
"Well, how about that drink now?" Shunsui said, getting back to the matter at hand.
"Very well, gentlemen, I accept," Kisuke stated and then the four them left.
The four of them made their way to Shunsui's favorite bar in the Seireitei. They had ordered the drinks and Shunsui had offered to pay… well, actually put it on his ever growing tab.
"So do you think you can handle being a captain?" Shunsui asked, after taking the first sip.
"Well, Yoruichi seems to think so," Kisuke answered modestly.
"I'm sure you'll do fine," Ryuu said confidently. "Being captain is not as difficult as it seems."
"How long have you all been captains?" Kisuke asked curiously.
"Shunsui and I have been captain's for over one hundred years now," Jushiro answered. "Ryuu has only been a captain for fifty years."
"It would have been sooner, but all of the positions were taken," Ryuu explained. "So, instead I settled for continuing my training with Head Captain Yamamoto as his lieutenant."
"The Head Captain trained you?" Kisuke asked in surprise.
"All three of us to be exact," Shunsui added.
"I suppose that would make you the strongest captains in the Soul Society," said Kisuke.
"Not necessarily. We're just the most well-trained," Ryuu stated. Then there's my fiancé…" he added with a grin.
"Fiancé? Oh, so you're the one Yoruichi said was marrying Captain Unohana! Congratulations," Kisuke said with friendly smile.
"What a brave man," Shunsui muttered to Jushiro.
"Did you say something, Shunsui?" Ryuu asked gravely.
"Nothing!" Shunsui said quickly after feeling the temperature in the room drop several degrees.
"What can you tell me about my lieutenant, since you seem to now her quite well?" Kisuke asked.
"Hiyori is…" Shunsui began, searching for the right word.
"Aggressive?" Ryuu suggested.
"Temperamental?" Jushiro suggested as well.
"Both of those sound right," Shunsui responded.
"Just don't make her angry," Ryuu advised.
"If she isn't already…" Shunsui added.
"I'll be sure to remember that," Kisuke said, a little unsure.
The three of them continued their friendly meeting for a couple more hours before deciding to call it a day and returned to their squads.
That night, after spending a few hours of training his squad members, Ryuu made his way to the Fourth Division to be with his fiancé. Retsu was finishing up her paper work when he arrived. He slid his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
"I told you I would stop by," he said with a smile.
"Indeed you did," she answered sweetly.
"Are you almost finished?"
"Just this last one and then I'm done," she said as she continued filling out her last sheet.
"That's good, I want to make sure you have no distractions tonight," he said as he massaged her shoulders.
"We discussed this early today, did we not?" she asked keeping her sweet tone, but not objecting to his contact.
"You said we couldn't be intimate, but you never said we couldn't lie in bed wearing nothing but a smile," he said, his tone playful.
"I suppose I didn't," she said, finishing up writing her last signature. "Very well then," she said as she stood up out of his grip. She made her way towards her room and slid her haori off her shoulders. She looked back at him and winked before stepping into her room.
This was a side of Retsu that only Ryuu saw. She was a sweet an innocent woman at all times, but when they were alone, she emitted a kind of playful, teasing side.
Ryuu followed after her, finding her already untying her obi. Ryuu came up behind her and slowly slid her shihakushō down her shoulders before gently running his fingers up her bare arms. Retsu turned around and removed her husband's haori and then began untying his obi. Ryuu smiled at his wife-to-be and wrapped his arms around her waist before planting a kiss on her lips. Retsu gladly returned his kiss as her arms snaked their way around is neck Once there were both fully undressed, the couple crawled under the covers of Retsu's bed and embraced each other passionately.
"Ryuu, do you really think that we can handle being captains and husband and wife at the same time?" Retsu asked.
"You've been a captain for over a hundred years and I was trained by the best. I'm positive we can manage," he said confidently. Retsu smiled lovingly at him.
"Your confidence is one of the many things I love about you," she said before placing a soft kiss on his lips.
"And there are many things I love about you," he said as he held her against him.
"I can only hope that these peaceful times can last forever," Retsu mused.
"They will, you'll see. You and I will live a long and happy life of marriage."
Retsu seemed satisfied with his response and two laid in bed peacefully with each other blissfully unaware of the events that had been set in motion.
I know at the top I basically spoiled the story for you, but just take as a kind of promise that I will get this story finished. But seriously, I was really desperate just to get this story up after a year of planning so don't hold against me that there isn't much in this chapter. The story will get better after I get past the Turn Back the Pendulum arc, I promise. Can't say for sure when the next update will be because if you look at my profile and how many stories I have going on now, you'll see that I'm a pretty busy person. That being the case, Merry Christmas everyone!