The Thing About Names
Chapter 1
It was a well known fact that shinigami were rampant gossipers. After all, with days consumed by the monotonous schedule of training, eating, sleeping, and oftentimes drinking, many shinigami turned to the fast cycle of rumors and the whispers of the latest "news" to satisfy their craving for entertainment.
Betting polls, big and small were run in an underground fashion although the need for secrecy was unknown since even Captain Yamamoto participated in the odd event or two. It was probably due to the instinct of the shinigami themselves since even they knew in their inner (and sometimes very inner) conscience that gambling on peoples' everyday lives wasn't exactly an example of good morality.
However the latest midnight stakes games, surprising, were all centered on a certain aggressive captain: Zaraki-taicho of the Eleventh Division. Why surprising? After all why would anyone bet on a man whose division had such a strong stereotype that in actuality all the members fit the stereotype? There really wasn't any thrill betting on an outcome already set in stone so long ago it might as well have been carved on the ruins of Stonehenge. Which begs the question, what's the one word spoken in the same sentence as Zaraki-taicho that could possibly make half the Seireitei run to the bookies?
"Ken-chan, Ken-chaaaaan, KEN-CHAN, KEN-CHAAAN!" Yachiru's pink hair bobbed up and down as she grabbed her taicho by the shoulders of his hakama. Her pushing and pulling got rougher and rougher as her volume increased.
Zaraki lazily open one eye. He was sprawled on an extra-long cushy sofa in his office. The rest of the office was liberally covered in reports and papers that no one had bothered to look at or even pick up in the last two centuries years. It was safe to say that the captain's office of the Eleventh Division was filthy. Not to suggest that the fuku-taicho's quarters were much better…
"What, Yachiru?" He twisted his neck back and forth until there was a loud crack.
"Gramps wants ya, riiiiight now!"
"Screw what the old fart wants. That's why you woke me up? I'm goin' back to sleep." He promptly rolled over and settled himself on the dark couch.
After a few moments of useless prodding by Yachiru, she placed both hands around her mouth, cupping them, and shouted directly into Zaraki's ear. "KENNY!"
His whole body jolted up and he rubbed his right ear. "Damn it Yachiru, I'm gettin' up, I'm gettin' up alright?"
"Yay!"
"Why'd the old man want me anyways? I never go to these stupid meetings." He pulled on his ragged captain's haori.
"I dunno?" Yachiru shrugged and jumped onto his left shoulder. "He told me to specifically bring you today cuz he knows you always miss these meetings." She giggled. "Somethin' 'bout a Mustafa… Tensai?"
"What? Genius? What on earth are you talking about?"
"No idea Ken-chan, nooooo idea."
He grumbled. "This better be worth missing my nap." Or someone's gonna get punched where it really hurts.
Yamamoto stood at the front of the room. His perpetually grim face was highlighted by the usual presence of a multitude of scars that ran through his deep wrinkles. The wrinkles led to the folds of his hakama which drifted down to the roughed skin of his hands which then trailed down to the deep grooves in his cane. To be honest, everything about him was like a shirt that hadn't been ironed after repeated uses…
"YAMA! I brought Kenny-chan!" Yachiru burst through the doors tugging Zaraki behind her.
The Sotaicho's facial muscles twitched. "Thank you Lieutenant Kusajishi. Now if you could stand with your captain over there… we shall commence with the meeting."
"Gotcha!"
"As I was saying," Yamamoto fixed Zaraki with his usual baleful glare (who just scratched the side of his face), "the reason why I have called all the captains and lieutenants here today is because we are expecting a visitor very soon. She is the current Masuta Kenshi and will be giving her periodic evaluation of each division beginning this month." His red eyes scanned the room as whispered conversations sprung up. "I repeat, this so called evaluation is administered regularly and has no basis on the condition of which myself or others consider your divisions to be in."
"Aahn~" Shunsui spoke up.
"Yes?"
"If this is so 'periodic' so to speak, why is this first time we've had an evaluation?"
Yamamoto looked at him with a deadpan expression, "Well, let's just say, the Masuta Kenshi is rather lax in these assessments. I believe the last one was around two and a half centuries ago and if I remember correctly her exact words were, 'It can't be helped that I only show up every century or so. If I had to deal with these egotistical captains all the time I might as well be stabbing myself in the stomach. Repeatedly.'" The room filled with silence. Huh… was the general thought.
Ukitake looked confused, "But that means Shunsui, Unohana-san and I were present as captains. Why don't we remember her?"
The Sotaicho merely shook his head. "You'll have to ask her that. Besides, with the recent events, namely the betrayal of three of our own and the assassination of the Central 46, such timing is fitting."
Hitsugaya-taicho crossed his arms, "I fail to understand how this time is appropriate. We should be regrouping and planning our next offensive against Aizen. We have no time to waste."
"While your concerns are valid, the reemergence of the Masuta Kenshi will make us stronger than ever before. In fact, i don't believe Aizen even knows who she is. Which many work to our advantage."
"Why has she not appeared earlier?" Byakuya stated. His tone was chilly.
Yachiru mock whispered in Zaraki's ear, "So much tension in the room Kenny-chan! Whatchu think?"
"Swordmaster eh? I'm already burning with excitement." He gave a sharp grin. Zaraki could feel his blood getting pumped up by the second. Besides the prospect of killing Aizen and his followers he could possibly take down the Swordmaster as well. How thrilling.
Soi-Fong crossed her arms, looking annoyed. "I've never even heard of this title. Who the hell is this person?" Her lieutenant nodded his round head.
Shunsui spun around towards Byakuya and Soi-Fong in excitement, "Don't you know? The Masuta Kenshi is somewhat of a ghost member of the Gotei 13. It is said that the Swordmaster only reveals herself in times of crisis and that," He lowered his voice to a conspirator whisper, "she holds the most beautiful zanpakuto ever known and her body isn't bad either." He winked only to be smacked on the head by his fuko-taicho.
Yamamoto sighed. When was this silly girl showing up? She had never ever been punctual but late by three hours? A record even for her.
The people in the room settled down, a tangible sense of anxiety seemed to fill the room. The hands on the clock ticked by and some of the jumpier lieutenants were about to make some excuse and bolt from the room when a loud BANG could be heard from outside. A few seconds later and the double doors to the conference room opened, revealing a slightly out of breath red head. Her glowing amber eyes were framed by a pale heart shaped face and fringed with thick lashes. She wore a flowing deep purple kimono on her lithe figure with a slim zanpakuto attached to her waist by a thin black obi.
"Hello children." Her tone was neither condescending nor patronizing, in fact it was quite cheerful but it seemed to rub some shinigami the wrong way nonetheless. She looked around the room at several of the stupefied shinigami as she strode in. She bowed quickly to Captain Yamamoto. "Hello taicho, apologies for the lateness." she said respectfully.
"You're looking well." He said slowly, not believing her for a second.
"Life hasn't given me too much trouble these last couple of years." The woman replied. Their eyes locked for a span of several seconds. To the amazement of those in the room Yamamoto then gave her a weary smile.
"Then you have accomplished more than I could have possibly hoped."
She shook her head slightly, her expression blank. "We shall see."
Yamamoto showed no expression in her answer, "Well, go ahead then, I can tell you are dying to say something."
She beamed and turned to Zaraki who wore a decidedly very unattractive expression of surprise that quickly turned to irritation as the woman spoke.
She gave him a small smirk and a wave, "Hey kid."
You never truly forget your childhood.
Tensai: genius
Masuta Kenshi: Swordmaster
A/N: Thanks to my one (and only) haha reviewer! But really, it means a lot when you guys review. Let me know what you think!