It was fitting, he supposed, that this first meeting with Ichimaru Gin's replacement would be characterized by dread. There had never been such a bubbling of fear in his stomach, not even when he'd fought against Hinamori, not even when he faced a hollow while still in the Shinigami academy. There was no way a captain would be capable of trusting him, after the terrible things he'd done out of loyalty to his former captain. It was likely better that way, true, but something deep inside felt broken every time he reminded himself that Hinamori's madness was his fault.

All around him were the other Captains and Lieutenants, their expressions varying from interest to utter boredom. Kira Izuru found himself wishing that Yamamoto would allow these sorts of ceremonies to die out. "You shouldn't look so worried, Izuru-san." The lieutenant shinigami nearly leapt in the air as Matsumoto nudged him, her eyes sparkling. "I'm curious to meet him too."

"Err…yes. Yes, you're right." Kira looked away, feeling slightly embarrassed. Rangiku shouldn't have had to tell him to lighten up. It was all too clear that he still felt the pain of that particular betrayal. Even Matsumoto could hide it, and it wasn't exactly a secret that she and Ichimaru had been intimate.

"I heard a rumor that this new captain is from Special Ops…like that disaster of a captain Amagai…no offense, Kira." Izuru only shrugged at Ise's words, instead focusing on the sudden hush that had come over the collected officers, which were scattered with various murmurs of "He's here!"

The doors were drawn open, and the shinigami standing behind them turned. "Oh…uh…hi there!" Izuru was flabbergasted. He'd pictured his next captain to be another young male shinigami, with powerful wisdom and an even more powerful zanpakuto.

But there stood a young woman, her unruly jaw length black hair loose, save for two pins that held the bangs from her face. Her sky blue eyes searched the room, calculating despite the confusion that was written across her face. There were no welcoming words for the girl; instead there were welcoming stares and whispers.

Despite this, she smiled, and seemed to walk confidently into the room. Izuru paid little attention to the words Yamamoto spewed in his assurance of complete confidence in this new captain. Instead, the lieutenant studied his new captain. She was slender and her robes were loose enough to expose a little of her breasts. Her zanpakuto hung from her back, in the form of a nodachi. That on its own was impressive; if she was already suppressing her blade's energy, it made the lieutenant wonder what other form the zanpakuto took.

He went completely still when she turned to look at him, her eyes piercing him to the core. Even after she turned back to Yamamoto, Izuru found it difficult to relax, as sweat was starting to drip down his neck. That…energy…she can focus it completely…and suffocate me with it. So…terrifying…

A few moments later, the meeting was over, and the various captains and lieutenants were moving from the room, and his new Captain was strolling over to him, the energy roiling in her eyes. No movement of hers was wasted, she was definitely former special ops. But this energy was so powerful, so intense, there was no way she had been left to rot in special ops for so long without a reason. Kira gulped, knowing what that meant. It meant she was especially dangerous, and only now had Soul Society seen fit to move her from storage. But…why?