Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any of the Bleach characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo: the genius behind the captivating manga that started it all. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.
On Pins and Needles
Chapter 1: Freedom
Prompt: Silence
A/N: I find it ironic that my focus for this twelve chapter fanfiction is Kurotsuchi's division. I was originally going to do this for a 12 community on LJ, but rules for writing hinder me. I'm going freestyle, and with my own prompts. Please note that this fanfiction is primarily alternate events written in the viewpoints of characters other than Kurotsuchi. I find it good practice to expand and write other characters (and to also expand the views of my OC).
Kuroda is mine.
It was horrid, being trapped in such a place. There was no strong-willed bastard for him to fight against, now that the captain had long-since gone. He had been derived from the captain's existence. A clone, if you wanted to get down to the grit. He'd always hated being compared to someone so stiff. Although an artificial being, he'd always craved freedom, relaxation, and peace of mind. All of which were unattainable with the captain around.
But now, it was his time to make the calls. He would be the one to maintain order within both the Department and the Division. A great responsibility, yes. But it was also a chance to be free from pressure; to be lifted up from beneath the thumbs of others. Never again would he cater to another as a subordinate, a servant... a lab dog.
At long last, he had attained freedom.
The sensation had been everything he'd ever dreamed of. Only... not nearly as sweet. The satisfaction remained, but the opposition was something to be desired. It was strange that he so suddenly craved the disapproving glower of his captain, the incessant barking of orders, and the demands for him to obey. It was eerie now. Even peaceful. And, within that gentle peace, he felt utterly incomplete.
As of late, he had discovered that Akon, as well as the others, had become far more jovial, yet remorseful all at once. It could be easily said that they hadn't had an emotional attachment to their former captain. Perhaps it had just been an attachment of habit, or just a state of being. The girl, on the other hand, had failed to carry out any duties he'd given her. As such, they'd fallen to Hiyosu and the others.
At night, he would swear her gentle sobs echoed through the darkened halls, haunting the place.
It was foreign to him, this emotion of hers. Although the two of them were of the same kind, he couldn't quite discover, within himself, where such emotions would lie. He'd never felt the sorrow that accompanied death, although his creator had suddenly vanished from the world. He'd never felt any familial bond with the man, let alone loyalty. So... why was this girl so distraught? They were now entrenched in war with Aizen's vast army. And, as such, people had died and been wounded. She had not been the only one to suffer losses. Captain Ukitake had been taken by his illness early on, and Lieutenants Matsumoto and Hisagi had been crushed by a handful of high-ranking Arrancars. Even Third Seat Madarame of the rivaling Eleventh Division had suffered severe injuries.
As he lay quietly within his quarters, he feared that he would never understand his lieutenant's feelings. He was far more inhumane than she. Perhaps he had garnered that, too, from his captain.
His eyes burned within the darkened room, seemingly lighting the walls with ambitious flames. Having been commissioned as the new captain of the Twelfth Division, he was fiercely determined to change the way his predecessor had set things. He stood, turning to the white captain's haori that hung solemnly on the wall. Upon the arrival of the sun, he, Kuroda Mitsuchi, would adorn himself with that emblem of power, and lead his followers to victory.
As much as I love Kurotsuchi, I decided to put an alternate spin on this 12-chapter fanfiction. In order to fully grasp Kuroda's character, I suggest that you read through Vindictive, which is where he originated.