Author's Note: Woo. Writing drabbles is bloody easy. Due to the length of these chapters, I should be updating fairly frequently. I don't think I'll end up writing anything more than 1000 words. Just another background chapter right now, and I expect to have a few more done within the next couple of days... I just want to get a few things out of the way first, then the real drabble nature will flow. Again, bear with me.

Adjusting to life in Soul Society was remarkably seamless for Ichigo. Despite the military-like structure, things were pretty relaxed, although Ichigo had the luxury of being neither a ranked officer or a member of any particular division just yet. Therefore, he had no responsibilities and no superior officer to answer to directly. He was, however, a little annoyed to find that he would not be immediately given the rank of captain. Even more annoyed at that was Captain Hitsugaya, who was delegated the task of training Ichigo in the duties of a captain.

Late one morning, after Ichigo had been in Soul Society for about a week, Hitsugaya came to his quarters unexpectedly, and demanded that he get dressed quickly and come to the 10th division headquarters to begin Ichigo's training. A half hour later, Ichigo was walking alongside a very agitated little captain to the 10th division headquarters.

"So, Tōshirō, how long do you think it will be until they give me a division?" Ichigo asked as they approached the entrance to the courtyard.

"You will have to wait until later this afternoon. And you are to call me Hitsugaya-taichō, not Tōshirō." Hitsugaya snapped.

"This afternoon? They're making me a captain already?"

"No, they're not making you a captain yet. They will be promoting two other shinigami to captain this afternoon. You're going to be assigned to a temporary position in a division just before that."

They had entered the division building, and walked towards Hitsugaya's office.

"But you're going to start my training now?"

They entered Hitsugaya's office, and Hitsugaya walked towards his desk.

"I have to go speak with the captain general. You are to seal and date each of these reports. I expect them to be done before I see you again."

Hitsugaya pushed a ten centimetre tall stack of paper towards Ichigo, and handed him a pen, ink pad and hanko. He was gone before Ichigo had even made a noise of dismay.

-

"Wait.. what?"

Hitsugaya Tōshirō stared incredulously at his superior. He wasn't quite sure if he had heard correctly, and was dreading the possibility that he had.

"Kurosaki Ichigo will act as your vice captain in the absense of Matsumoto-fukutaichō until such a time that he is ready to take the rank of captain. You will then make preperations for finding a permanent vice captain. In the meantime, as you see to it that he masters the remaining requirements for becoming a captain, he will be your lieutennant."

It was as though a shadow of despair had crept over the small captain. While he would certainly miss having Matsumoto around, he would not miss her laziness and irresponsibility. He was quite looking forward to promoting his dilligent and industrious 3rd seat to the vice captain's position. Now he was to delay that promotion and delegate authority within his own division to Kurosaki. This was certainly not a step up from Matsumoto.

He looked up to Yamamoto-Genryussai pleadingly. "But... sōtaichō, can't he enter my division as an unseated officer? Or a lower ranking position? I was planning to promote my 3rd seat-"

"Kurosaki will take Matsumoto's former rank of 10th division vice captain temporarily. It has already been decided. When Kurosaki-fukutaichō is prepared to take the captain's seat in the 5th division, you may promote your third seat. Kurosaki will be promoted this afternoon."

Hitsugaya supressed the urge to groan, and made a mental note to chide Matsumoto for having obtained bankai and applied for a captain's position. He had no doubt in her ability to pass the examination, but how she had managed to be sufficiently reccomended with herreputation for irresponsibility and laziness had thoroughly baffled him.

"I understand." Tōshiro said, and after bowing low to Yamamoto, turned to leave.

"Hitsugaya-taichō," Yamamoto began. Tōshirō did not respond.

"You will, of course, be responsible for Kurosaki until he is promoted."

Were he capable of hearing such things, Yamamoto-sōtaichō would have heard a small part of Hitsugaya dying inside as he left the room.