Chapter 1: I'm a captain? Seriously?

"Emiya-fukutaichou, please head to the soutaichou's office," Ukitake-taichou told me.

"I'm heading there right now taichou!" I replied. Saying so, I left for the soutaichou's office.

By my estimation, it has been about 100 years or so since we ended up in the Soul Society. Rin and I were both surprised when Saber somehow accompanied us to the Soul Society despite having made a contract with the world, and thus should have gone back to her own time when Rin died. Though I simply thought of it as a miracle, Rin denied my assumption and proceeded to pin the blame on Wizard Marshall Zelretch.

Once we got over the initial shock of Saber joining us in the Soul Society, we proceeded to think about what we would do next.

(FLASHBACK)

"Why are you so insistent on joining the Gotei 13, Shirou? You gave up so much in life just to try to save as many people as you could without getting yourself killed. At least allow yourself to relax and have a nice, peaceful afterlife!" Rin pleaded.

"I can't do that, Rin," I replied. "I know I promised you that I wouldn't throw my own life away, but I'm not! You've heard the rumors of how 6 of the taichous, 3 of the fukutaichous, the head of the Omnitsukido, and the head and vice-head of the Kido Corps have disappeared right?" I asked.

"Yes I have," Rin confirmed. "So what?"

"So, that means that the Gotei 13 is heavily understaffed right now, which means that there will be fewer people to deal with hollows and the like. I want to enlist in the Gotei 13 not only because I want to save people, but also because I want to protect the two of you." I told them.

"Protect...us? Is that true, Shirou?" Saber asked.

"Yes, Saber. I lost you once to Caster, nearly once to Gilgamesh, and then once to death. If I can help it, I don't want to lose the two of you again. If enlisting in the Gotei 13 is the price to pay, then so be it." I replied.

"If that is true, then I will join as well," Saber declared. "I don't want to be separated from the two of you either."

"Mou, you are so frustrating sometimes, you know that, Shirou! Fine, I'll join too, if only to keep Shirou from doing something ridiculously stupid," Rin told me.

(END FLASHBACK)

There really isn't much to tell about our time in the Academy. Saber and I ended up excelling at the physical arts, like Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Hoho, while Rin was better at Kido. I guess Archer's E-rank luck rubbed off on me, because although Saber was fairly decent at kido (She was able to perform up to Sokatsui with incantation easily, and the rest with some difficulty), my kido skills were so bad that more than half my attempts at Shakkaho with incantation simply blew up in my face. Under Rin's tutelage I managed to scrape a passing grade, but even to this day my kido skills are dismal. I prefer to leave the kido to Rin and Kuchiki-san. On graduation, we were informed that since our grades were in the top 10% of the class, we would become seated officers in the 13th division. I became the 4th seat, Saber became the 5th seat, and Rin the 7th seat. As such, the three of us entered the 13th division, where we first met Ukitake-taichou and Kuchiki-san. Kuchiki-san also introduced us to Abarai-fukutaichou and Ikkaku-san, with whom Saber and I spar on a regular basis.

I soon learned the name of my zanpakuto, Senken. Too similar to my pathetic magecraft to be coincidence. Plus, the manifested spirit of Senken looks exactly like Archer. I guess that such a zanpakuto is fitting for a 'Faker' like me. The guard even looks like Rho Aias. Oh, the irony. From that point on, I frequently made it a point to venture deep into my inner world, which, not surprisingly, was my Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works. As I communicated more and more with Senken, I realized that I was soon able to materialize Senken's spirit into our world. Saber and I both got a kick out of Rin's reaction to seeing the Archer lookalike.

In time, I achieved Bankai, called Mugen No Ken. As it turns out, that my Reality Marble is now an ability of Senken's, known as Senkei. When I asked Ukitake-taichou about Senkei, he said that he had only heard of one other captain achieving Senkei: Kuchiki-san's older brother, Kuchiki-taichou. After much pleading on my part, he finally relented and helped me train my Senkei. Which brings me to today. For some reason, the soutaicho himself has requested my presence. I hope I'm not in trouble though.

- - Captain's Promotion Exam - -

I arrived at the First Division barracks, where Sasakibe-fukutaichou was waiting. "The soutaicho requested my presence here, Sasakibe-fukutaichou," I told him.

"One minute," he replied. He then went inside. After a minute or so, he popped back out, and told me, "They are waiting for you, go in." He then stepped back outside, and allowed me to pass, at which point he closed the door behind me.

"Welcome, Emiya-fukutaichou," the soutaichou greeted me. "As you know, recent events have left us short by three captains. You are here because Ukitake-taichou recommended you for the post of captain." I immediately tensed up. Ukitake-taichou recommended ME? To be a Captain? I am honored, but I'm not sure how well I'll do. The soutaichou continued, "Today, I, Unohana-taichou, Kyoraku-taichou, and Kuchiki-taichou are here as witness when you prove if you are worthy to be a captain." Oh, so that's why there are other captains here. "Release your Shikai, Emiya-fukutaichou. Show us its power." the soutaichou commanded. OK, here goes.

I drew my sword, and raised it. "Fill the world with swords, Senken!" I cried. The blade dissolved into dust, leaving nothing but the hilt. Silently, I reached deep into my Reality Marble, looking for a certain pair of swords. Kanshou and Bakuya, the married swords. As I did so, another hilt, identical to the first, formed in my right hand. Then, Kanshou and Bakuya manifested themselves, sprouting from the bladeless hilts in my hands.

The soutaichou addressed me again. "So, your power is to create swords. Well then, show me your Bankai, Emiya-fukutaichou."

"Bankai," I said. As I did so, the hilts I was holding dissolved into dust. The dust the began to swirl around me in a giant twister of reiatsu.

- - Yamamoto-soutaichou P.O.V. - -

"Bankai," I heard Emiya-fukutaichou say. He was then surrounded by a giant twister of reiatsu and dust that obscured him from view. When the dust cleared, I once again gazed upon the form of Emiya-fukutaichou. The first change I noticed was that he was visibly taller, almost like he grew at least a few inches. Then I noticed his now white hair and heavily tanned skin. To top it off, his garb was no longer the standard shihakusho. He was instead wearing black armor and a red overcoat. I then looked at his hands, and then all around him, for signs of his Bankai. Bankai are typically larger than their Shikai counterparts, as Bankai is the release of the zanpakutou's true power. But I was perplexed. Where was his Bankai?

- - Emiya Shirou P.O.V. - -

After the smoke cleared, I was dressed in my Bankai attire. The first time I activated my Bankai, I was surprised to see myself in Archer's attire, red overcoat, armor, and all. It seems I really do take after Archer, maybe a little too much so. I looked to see the faces of the captains present in the room.

Perplexed, the soutaichou addressed me again. "Emiya-fukutaichou, where is your Bankai?" he asked.

"My Bankai, Mugen No Ken, has no visible blade, soutaichou-san, " I replied. To demonstrate, I summoned Kanshou and Bakuya to my hands once again.

"Oh, I see then. Now, Kuchiki-taichou tells me that you have achieved the Senkei form of your Bankai. Please show us that as well."

Senkei, huh? I dismissed Kanshou and Bakuya, and allowed my left arm to drop to my side. "Senkei, Mugen No Ken," I say. As I do so, I raised my right arm, and pulled it diagonally downwards, as if pulling aside a curtain. As I did so, a ring of fire surrounded me, and expanded to encompass the captains in the room. And so, I allowed them to gaze upon my inner world, Unlimited Blade Works.

- - Yamamoto-soutaichou P.O.V. - -

After I asked Emiya-fukutaichou to show his Senkei, he simply smirked, and then said, "Senkei, Mugen No Ken." As he did so, he raised his arm, and pulled it aside as if revealing a hidden secret. As he did so, a ring of fire surrounding him expanded to encompass us with a blinding light. When I opened my eyes, I gazed upon a phenomenon the likes of which I had never seen. A world, perpetually locked at dawn. The land was of a barren land with traces of grass. But the most striking trait about this world was the swords. Swords as far as I could see. Then Emiya-fukutaichou addressed us.

- - Emiya Shirou P.O.V. - -

"Soutaichou-san, this is my Senkei. It is known as Unlimited Blade Works. My Senkei is unique, as it is the manifestation of my inner world. It is the pinnacle of my abilities. My Shikai and Bankai do not create swords; they copy swords whose templates are stored here, within Unlimited Blade Works. In here, I do not need to copy at all. The copies made by my Shikai and Bankai are constructs made of my reiatsu, inferior to the originals. In here, however, I do not need to construct. All the weapons I have seen, both in life, and after death, are instantly analyzed, and stored here. In Senkei, I am able to use them in their much more powerful original forms at a much faster speed." I explained.

Everyone in the room, save for Kuchiki-taichou, was speechless. The first to speak was the soutaichou. "Emiya-fukutaichou," he addressed me, "this phenomenon is something that I have never seen before. I do have one question though."

"As long as I know the answer, soutaichou-san, I will be happy to answer your question," I replied, smiling at him as I did so.

"Just now, you mentioned that you are able to add a weapon to this world the minute you see it. Does that also apply to zanpakutou as well?" the soutaichou asked me.

"I do not know, soutaichou-san, because I have never actually checked if the zanpakutou I have seen were ever copied, if I have that ability. As I have seen Kuchiki-taichou's Senbonzakura many times, it will prove to be an ideal test. Let me see if Senbonzakura was copied." I replied. Saying so, I mentally journeyed all across Unlimited Blade Works, checking the identity of each and every blade. After realizing that Senbonzakura was not copied, I continued, "Soutaichou-san, it seems that Senbonzakura, as well as all the other zanpakutou I have seen thus far, were in fact not copied, and as such do not reside within this world. To answer your question completely however, I would like to also know why I am unable to copy zanpakutou. I know there are some weapons that I am unable to copy, and I would like to check if zanpakutou fall within this category."

"Very well, I will grant your request, Emiya-fukutaichou," the soutaichou declared. Suddenly, his cane fell away, revealing his zanpakutou. "Reduce all creation to ash, Ryujin Jakka!" he cried.

A I gazed upon the fiery blade, I softly whispered, "Trace On," to begin Structural Grasp.

Judging the concept of creation... FAILED

Hypothesizing the basic structure... DONE

Duplicating the composition material... FAILED

Imitating the skill of its making... FAILED

Sympathizing with the experience of its growth... FAILED

Reproducing the accumulated years... FAILED

Excelling every manufacturing process... FAILED

I addressed the soutaichou again. "Soutaichou-san, I am definitely unable to add zanpakutou to this world. I was only able to hypothesize the basic physical structure of the blade itself, but I was unable to completely copy the remaining aspects of Ryujin Jakka. Since only one step of the copying process was completed, the blade itself was not added to my collection of templates." I confirmed for him. I guess that puts zanpakutou in the same category as divine weapons like that sword Gilgamesh had.

The soutaichou thought for a moment, then spoke. "I may not have ever seen a phenomenon quite like this before, but to me, it clearly shows that you have the necessary qualifications to become a captain. Congratulations, Emiya-taichou, you are now the captain of the 9th division. You have today to pack your belongings before your move to the 9th division tomorrow morning. At that time, we will have a captain's meeting to formally celebrate your ascension to captain. Before you go, Emiya-taichou, do you know of anyone else that you think has the qualifications to be a captain?"

"Abarai-fukutaichou," I instantly replied. "He has also achieved Bankai, and Kuchiki-taichou can vouch for that. On an unrelated note, soutaichou-san, I have a request, concerning the current fukutaichous. Can they be rotated through the squads so as to allow me to select a fukutaichou for myself?" I asked.

"Firstly, thank you for the information on Abarai-fukutaichou. We will test him as well," he replied. "Secondly, as to your request, that can be arranged, but who do you have in mind for a fukutaichou, Emiya-taichou?" he asked.

"One of my lovers and the 5th seat of the 13th division, Arturia Pendragon," I replied. "She is well versed in the ways of the sword, and makes up for her currently unachieved Bankai with her skill in swordsmanship." I replied.

The soutaichou thought for a minute, and then replied, "Very well, it shall be done. Would you like your other lover, Tohsaka Rin, to be transferred as well? In this case, I will allow you to have two fukutaichou if you so wish."

"Yes, thank you, soutaichou-san," I replied.

He then told me, "Very well then, Emiya-taichou, you may now return to the 13th division to start packing for your move. You may also inform your two lovers about their impending transfers as well."

"Thank you, soutaicho-san, I shall be going now." Saying so, I bowed once, and then exited the room.

(END OF CHAPTER)

Next time: Rin and Saber's reactions to Shirou's promotion. Shirou and co. meet Ichigo!

This is my first fanfic, so please, no flames. R&R!