Ore No Taichou Daisuki (I Love My Captain)
By Uchiha Xairylle
Introductory Seat : Defeat For The Noble Captain
Kenseikan. Dark hair. Captain's Cape. Silk Scarf. All of this in the office of Yamamoto-Genryuusai Shigekuni.
Kuchiki Byakuya.
He had been here so many times before but right now really felt rather different and the Sixth Division Captain felt the material of his captain's cape as he forcefully swallowed a sigh. Yamamoto-soutaichou was sitting behind his giant desk and Sasakibe-fukutaichou had just gone out with two wooden boxes containing marked papers. The sound of the closing washi door was followed by the opening of a drawer that Yamamoto started to look into with his serious old eyes.
"Is this really final?" Byakuya said in his monotonous noble voice.
"Have you not been paying attention to the meeting earlier, Kuchiki-taichou?"
Another sigh wanted to come out from the clan leader but he told it to stay put in his throat before swallowing quietly while recalling the earlier events in the Captain's meeting.
This was something big.
--
Kenseikan. Dark hair. Captain's Cape. Silk Scarf.
All of this along with a serious noble woodblock face stood in line with the other captains in the middle of the formal meeting held by Commander General Yamamoto.
The Captains' hands were full and three spots were missing from the ranks. A new squad was to be created and it was to be stationed in the human world. Its job was to deal with the frequent appearances of high-level Hollows as of late as well track down and report all possible movements of rebellion outside of Soul Society.
"Is this really necessary?" Komamura's large voice echoed in the Captains' meeting hall made of wood and concrete, "Preventing rebellion and threats… Isn't that what the Stealth Squad is for?"
"We already have our hands full." Soi Fon spoke up, "After Aizen's treachery, the Stealth Forces have been too busy maintaining covert operations for possible threats within Soul Society."
"Why not create the new squad from select members from the Stealth Forces?" Komamura suggested, "We can not risk creating a new squad from inexperienced members."
"As I've said…" Soi Fon's thin patience was making itself visible in her voice, "We already have our hands full. If you take any of my men, it will take a toll on us and I am afraid it might affect the performance of the squad."
"And the feasibility?" Mayuri rubbed his chin, "Creating a new squad out of inexperienced members and wasting precious manpower, which we are lacking, might be a very awful flaw for us."
"What bright ideas do you have then?" Soi Fon shot back and the scientist flashed his set of white teeth at her as he widened his eyes. The Second Squad Captain glared as Mayuri's eyes moved away from her and his mouth opened to say something.
"I suggest, Yamamoto-soutaichou…" Mayuri spoke, turning his attention at the old Commander-General, "…That we create a test squad. One that comprises of a fair amount members that will perform properly for testing without sacrificing our good men."
"We do not need too many people for this test." Mayuri continued as he observed any reaction that would trace across the Commander-General's face, "For a feasibility study, we need only a fair amount of people to move in an average area."
Yamamoto stroked his long beard in contemplation. Mayuri interlaced his fingers. His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak again, "I suggest the use of the Shinigami Representative in Karakura Town where the appearances of high level Hollows have been observed to have increased."
There were gasps across the room.
"Just him? A person can not comprise a squad!" Komamura exclaimed.
"Tell that to the squads-worth of asses he beat up." Zaraki commented, "Meaaaah… Why not make him Captain of this new squad?"
It was obvious that Kenpachi had other intentions and it concerned stealing Ichigo's Captain's position by rule of "one-on-one defeat" as an excuse to fight him.
"That is not ideal." Byakuya commented as he fixed the end of his left sleeve, "As Ichigo has no Shinigami training whatsoever. Although he is experienced in line of combat, I believe he lacks the knowledge with how the Gotei 13 works."
"I agree. That might cause a flaw in the possible future implementation of this squad." Ukitake nodded, "That is why I suggest that Kuchiki Rukia head this feasibility test squad."
Kenseikan. Dark hair. Captain's Cape. Silk Scarf.
Eyes wider than usual.
Kuchiki Byakuya did not want to believe his ears as the other Captains muttered among each other right after Ukitake's follow-up suggestion. Everyone knew how Byakuya uses his influence to keep her out of the dangerous missions, which is why she had remained to be a non-seated squad member for a long time now regardless of her skills. But even while knowing that, his sister's Captain had just went on and suggested that she be put in a rank that was precarious, away from Soul Society and, worse, experimental. Was Ukitake picking a fight with or testing his noble influence?
"Pardon…?" Byakuya asked while maintaining his noble posture.
"He has a point." Shunsui nodded, "The little princess does have moves and the brains and experience to go with it."
You are missing the whole noble's point!
"Rukia will be perfect." Ukitake nodded with a proud smile.
No, she is not.
Byakuya wanted to grunt.
"Rukia is not even a seated officer." Byakuya said. If it sounded desperate, what the hell! He had promised his dead wife to take care of her little sister and here he was being the cause of putting her into a position that might put her in a unstable situation.
"Exactly. Since it has been stated that we can not send out those with high ranks and seats, a highly-skilled non-seated Shinigami like Kuchiki Rukia will do perfectly."
Byakuya was now beginning to hate how Ukitake was using the word "perfect" in his sentences. Aside from that, he also hated how that last statement of his made perfect sense.
"I will vouch for Kuchiki Rukia's capabilities." Ukitake said firmly with a nod, "I believe she can head this new squad."
"Kuchiki Rukia, huh…" Hitsugaya muttered with his arms crossed and sported his usual scowl to look a bit more mature for his height, "I've worked with her before in the living world. I will vouch for her, too."
Byakuya wanted to wake up from this nightmare in progress. Why was Hitsugaya Toushiro butting his white hair into this matter? Mayuri was wearing the "you-filthy-maggots-are-wasting-my-scientific-time" look but rubbed his chin with a bit of interest as he said, "The Kuchiki girl does pass my standards."
"Meh." Zaraki Kenpachi grunted, bored as usual while he scratched his ear, "The girl's a big girl now and it's high time for her to experience some shit outta this place."
Byakuya did not hold a glare back towards Kenpachi who immediately noticed and returned it. Just what did this walking mass-murder know about big girls, raising sisters and getting people out of places for experience for him to talk?
"What?" the homicidal Captain tilted his head, "You wanna go at me for stating the obvious, rosy cheeks?"
He never thought he'd miss the days when Kenpachi blathered on about seeing no point in standing in discussion that did not involve him slashing or killing anything or anyone.
"Will that be a vote for Kuchiki Rukia, Zaraki-taichou?"
Byakuya took a deep quiet breath.
Say no, you pompous mutton.
"Bah, yeah. Call it whatever you want."
How dare you…!
"Well, then…" Yamamoto finally spoke, "The establishment of the feasibility study squad has been made with Kuchiki Rukia as Captain."
Defeat for the noble captain.
But all is not lost.
"Excuse me." Byakuya spoke, adjusting his scarf as all eyes turned towards him in silence, "I request that this squad be an extension of the Sixth Squad."
A hush.
"What?" Yamamoto raised an eyebrow as he spoke in a gruff tone.
"This new squad being a feasibility study will need supervision. I volunteer to supervise this squad." Byakuya replied, earning a tilted head from Hitsugaya Toushiro who looked like he wanted to shrug.
"Kuchiki-taichou…" Yamamoto told Byakuya, "If anyone would supervise this new squad, I think you will agree that it would be best to let Kuchiki Rukia's superior, Ukitake Jyuushiro-taichou, do this job."
"True." Byakuya nodded with a gesture of his hand as he spoke, "But the Thirteenth Division Captain is sickly and is also busy with the special tasks of his squad. Aside from this, if this new squad becomes the extension of the Sixth Squad, the Kuchiki Clan will shoulder its financial matters."
No one was speaking as the Captains exchanged glances. Yamamoto quietly continued to rub his beard until Shunsui spoke, "I see where you're coming from."
Ukitake contemplated. It was true that Byakuya wanted to protect Rukia but his actions were hindering her growth as a wonderful Shinigami and member of his squad. However, Byakuya had stated facts. Since this was a test squad, an able, interested and dedicated superior was ideal for this. Being sickly was not a good addition to the mix. Also, the financial shouldering from the Kuchiki clan would not hurt.
"Very well." Yamamoto cleared his throat on the matter, "This new squad will report to Kuchiki Byakuya-taichou… However, for this feasibility test to work properly, Kuchiki Rukia will have full authority over this new squad and her decisions may not be overridden by any other Captain unless direly necessary."
"Is that clear?"
Byakuya raised his head in elegance.
Good enough.
"Now, let us move on to the detailed duties, limitations, requirements and members for this squad."
- End of Introductory Seat -
AN: "Ore No Taichou Daisuki" is supposed to mean "I love my captain". If I did something wrong with it or if I made a wrong translation, feel free to tell me and I will change the title and credit you for it. The idea was created as I was walking down from somewhere and remembered often seeing a fan art of Ichigo as captain and Rukia as vice-captain of a squad named the "X-Squad". (I sincerely hope I find the artist so that I could credit him/her.)
As always, I'm hoping to have fun with this fic and I hope you stick around with me as I progress. I'm not sure if this will be as successful as the "Oh My…!" Trilogy so let me warn you that I will NOT be updating in lightning speed like before. I have school now and no computer. All the time in the world is no longer in my hands. Hope you stick around.
Cheerios, cookies and a whole lot of Bankai love!