True Trust
Inside the hall, the 13 protection captains, and their vice-captains stood. At a elaborate chair on the far end of the hall, sat old Captain-commander Yamamoto, stern as ever. It was an uncomfortable silence as eyes glanced at each other. Yamamoto's eyes opened as steps could be heard approaching the giant grand doors. Slowly they creaked open to revel a blue-haired lass.
Again I don't own Bleach but do own my OCs Reka and Sleed
Let te story begin!
Ch 1 Ichigo's Subordinate
Slowly the grand doors creaked open to revel a blue-haired lass.
"What is this!? Where is Sleed!?" Yamamoto's voice was stern as his eyes glared the girl down. Ichigo swore he could hear the young girl gulp. She looked no older than him. Shorter though, but that was no surprise for Ichigo was actually somewhat tall. The girl's shoulder length blue hair matched her blue eyes. The only thing she wore that made her different than other shigammi, was a grayish cloth around her collar.
Her eyes flinched as she quickly scanned the powerful captains standing before her, then in a voice that sounded more confident than she looked, "S-sorry sir...I have a message for you from Sleed."
Yammoto's face did not change nor did his commanding voice,
"Well then bring it up to me."
With a nod the girl held a scroll in her hands and nervously walked down the Great Hall, all eyes following her every step.
"She's shaking like a leaf." Ichigo almost whispered to Rukia who stood besides him.
Rukia gave a slight frown,
"I would be too if I was her." she said with sympathy for the poor girl.
Finally reaching the couple of steps before the Captain-Commander the girl knelt and raised the scroll above her head to him. The man with a mustache that Ichigo knew as the second-in-command, picked the scroll from the girl's hands, rotated, and gave it to Yamamoto.
He unfolded it part way as he read it throughly. Trying to read his mood was like looking at a rock. However after finishing part of the message, Yamamoto face actually shifted so everyone could see that he looked crossed.
"Hmpf, He never changes...What's this?" Yamamoto read aloud the end of the message. "I Shoudo Sleed request that former 14th seat Reka to be promoted in Vice-Captain Hinamori Momo's place for the time."
Almost all the eyes in the great hall widened.
"What!? Momo is still resting that's not fair!" The youngest, shortest, light blue-haired captain spoke up, stepping forward.
"Hold you tongue Toushirou! All official requests to me shall be decided by me and me alone. Know your place!" Yamamoto roared
Well that shut him up, and Toushirou stepped back in line a bead of sweat on his angry face.
"Little Momo is still 'recuperating' and since I see no end in sight, I think it not a bad idea to replace her, any comments captains?" Yamamoto said as he glanced at his subordinates
The room was quiet as the captains simply stared, some looking away. Then a sigh was heard.
Everyone turned to look at the man who stepped up. His straw hat over his scruffy beard. His arms folded, his pink decorated robe rustled slightly over his white one.
"I guess I'm the one to say it eh?" He questioned before he gave another sigh, lifting his hat. He looked at Reka. "No offense little lady, but no one trusts you. Sad to say, but few, if not none of us, even know who you are."
"Your point, Kyouraku Shunsui?" Yamamoto spoke
"Suffice to say none of us think there should be any new captain, or vice-captains for that matter, for the time being." Shunsui shrugged, a couple captains giving a nod.
"Oh? So you say that because you know not Reka or Sleed that they are untrustworthy?!" Yamamoto's voice grew as he questioned
"Well, it's just with things the way they are..." Shunsui's voice trailed off
"Way things are? Oh do you mean in how we've been betrayed not once but twice? And how Soul Society is in chaos?" Yamamoto perked his eyebrows up.
"Yeah..." Shunsui gave a sigh
"You say my decision then is wrong? Because we've been betrayed twice, Reka is surly going to betray us as well?! You disappoint me Shunsui. I thought you to know better and to know that now is the time we need new officers, to restore order to Soul Society!!" Yamaoto yelled
"Well...you got me there..." Shunsui pulled down his hat and stepped back in line; the captains that nodded looked away in shame.
"I will grant this request, as well order that Reka, now vice-captain, to take over temperately all division 5 captain duties." Some captains turned, but before they even uttered a word, Yamamoto bellowed "This matter issettled!"
"We shall now discuss who shall take responsibility for the noble scandal. Vice-captain Reka, take your place already." Yamamoto pointed, and Reka nervously took the empty spot of the 5th division.
"Responsibility?" a long, white-haired man who stood by Shunsui questioned
"Yes, the young princess has offered an award to the division that did the most. She also requests that the very same division help with the rebuilding. So..." Yamamoto eyed the group "Who shall it be?"
The room nearly exploded, our at least Ichigo's ears felt like they were as the captains shouted out.
"We should get the reward, but those division 7 guys should rebuild! They did the most damage!" A bald guy shouted
"As if! You maniacs from division 11 were blowing up homes!" came the reply
Ruika slapped her face as the non-stop shouting argument continued. "At this rate Captain-Commander will just take the reward and make everyone rebuild." she thought to herself; Yamamoto opened his mouth. "Here it comes." Rukia flinched, but Yamamoto surprised everyone as he calmly said,
"Yes Reka?"
Everyone shut up and turned once again to look on the blue-haired lass that had her hand raised slightly.
"Sir," Reka started out confidently, but still nervous as all eyes were once again on her. "I've read the report. Isnt it true the substitute-shigammi...oh he's right there." Reka looked to Ichigo, all eyes following her gaze. Soon Ichigo was the center of attention, and it was to say a little shocking for him. "Sir...Strawberry Ichigo right?" Reka asked, not noticing the ridiculous name she just said. Ichigo felt his anger rise but held it check.
"It's Kurosaki Ichigo." he replied
"Oh! Uh...right. Sir Kurosaki Ichigo is it true you helped the young princess and even defeated the man that went after Captain-Commander's life?" Reka asked seriously
"Uh...Yeah." Ichigo was still unconformable with everyone looking at him.
Reka nodded then turned to Yamamoto,
"Sir I propose we give him the reward and leave the rebuilding to the men in Division 5...uh my Division to the task of rebuilding." All eyes widened a little at that, and Yamamoto raised an eyebrow,
"I acknowledge Kurosaki Ichigo helped, but why should Division 5 do the work?" Yamamoto asked curiously
Reka's looked down slightly. "Because we sir, did nothing. Even if Division 3's captain was the traitor, the Division itself performed honorably, as did everyone else. Why should they be weighed down with the task of rebuilding when it was Division 5 that nothing to help?" The nervousness on Reka was gone as she asked this, her eyes staring into Yamamoto's. The other captains were too shocked to say a word. From what Ichigo understood, it meant that Reka was giving the praise to him and taking all the blame. This just stupidfiyed Ichigo watched, Rukia sharing the same face.
Yamamoto sat back and stroked his beard. The room was quite once again. Reka showed quite a bit of boldness suggesting what she did. He imaged the people in her Division would not like this idea. She also showed she was ready to charge in and get to work and help, even if it meant she would take all the blame. Yamamoto felt a smirk but held his face, yes this girl had what it took alright. Sleed did a smart thing recommending this young girl. He decided to test her.
"A strong point Reka. However I could care less." The captains looked to him, and Reka simply held her place. "Not bad," he thought to himself and continued
"The fact is everyone did damage, and everyone is responsible." the captains flinched
"I hereby order that Divisions 5 and 3, under Vice-Captain Kira Izuru shall rebuild. The other Divisions are to return to their barracks and give an accurate report on the damage they indeed did, the cost will come out of the princess's reward and our treasury." Yamamoto then turned to look at Ichigo
"As for Kurosaki Ichigo, he will be granted a rank."
"What does that mean?" Ichigo whispered over to Rukia, who gave a shrug.
"I hear that the 'Real Word' is having more and more hollows appear, growing stronger. We have yet to have any understanding as to why. That is unacceptable!" Yamamoto yelled to them all.
"Reka you are to go back with Kurosaki Ichigo to find out why. Get to work, this meeting is over!" Yamamoto roared as the captains had no choice but to nod and leave.
It took a moment for Ichigo to register what the old man had said, even as the girl Reka nodded at him and walked to Ichigo. Reka took a bow and said politely,
"I'll do my very best sir."
"Huh, yeah...sure." Was all Ichigo's mind come up with as, Rukia, Renji, and now Reka followed him out of the hall.