His body wasn't even in the grave before the whispers began. A division without a captain could survive for some time, but there was no real leadership in the division without him. At least, there wasn't any leadership that wanted to give up their work and focus on the division as a whole. Everyone had their fears, but no one voiced them, just as no one voiced criticism of her father and his death around her.

She thought, now could be a time to start anew. She thought, now could be different. But, she knew there would never be another Mayuri-sama.

It was without thinking that one afternoon she found herself touching the thin, skin-like material that used to block him from the world. Neatly, she clipped away her hair and smoothed the mask over her face, wide eyes blinking out from beneath it.

She lifted the hat to her head and closed her eyes. When she opened them, the world seemed different. There was no need for another Mayuri-sama.

She took off her uniform, finding hakama as easy to tie as they had been in the academy and the shihakushou she had been assigned fit just as well as the first time she had been issued it.

Finally, her hands fisted over the smooth material of her father's captains mantel.

"Kurotsuchi-taichou," she murmured.