thanks to everyone who was on this story right from the get-go! i've had this idea cooking for a little while, and i finally got the courage to play with it. happy reading!
"I'm sorry?"
Ichigo was baffled – this was his superior? The blue-haired man marched right past Ichigo without so much as a second glance.
"Yoruichi, is this a god damn joke? Who is this kid?"
"Oh, come now, Grimmjow, remember our manners?" she said delicately, though her impish grin remained. "Use your inside voice."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a god damn child! Now, where's the new director?" he said, glancing around as if Ichigo were invisible. He pointed at Ichigo brashly. "Now that's a fucking joke, Yoruichi. He's a baby! Where's the real deal?"
Yoruichi grabbed Ichigo firmly by the arm and swung him in front of her, as if she was going to use him as a human shield.
"This is your new artistic director for your section, Grimmjow, former sports marketer from Shin'ō's Digest." The bluenette stared at Ichigo blankly.
Ichigo extended a hand, before he began to introduce himself.
"I'm—"
"Yeah, Ichigo Kurosaki. I know, Yoruichi told me." he said, oblivious to Ichigo's obvious distaste – and disbelief as to how someone could be so rude. "I just didn't think you'd be like, twelve. How can this guy be the new artistic director? He's carrying a god damn diaper bag."
"Messenger bag," Ichigo corrected under his breath.
"He looks just like the old one, if I do say so myself. Save for the bright hair. Looks like you two have got something in common!"
"Shut up, Yoruichi," Grimmjow hissed. He looked slightly deflated for a moment, before it appeared he began to register that this was, in fact, not a joke. "How old are you?"
Ichigo held back the urge to tell the man off, huffing to himself in place. "Twenty-two."
"You look like you're fuckin' fifteen years old." he said bluntly. "You know, I wasn't a huge fan of Kaien, but at least the guy's balls had dropped. I'm not a babysitter."
Yoruichi almost burst out laughing before Yamamoto, who had been sitting noiselessly, gave her a look. Ichigo, on the other hand, began to feel anger well up inside of him, first born out of frustration. He gave a sideways glance at Yoruichi and Yamamoto, as if to ask them if it was ethical to be placed directly underneath such a tactless man. Ichigo was almost disappointed; if it weren't for this guy's short-tempered, asinine personality, he might've been attractive.
Grimmjow continued to evaluate the young man in silence, before his phone rang out from his pocket.
"Talk to me," he answered. Ichigo disliked him already. "Uh-huh. Yeah. No. Yeah. Fuck that. Nah. Okay. I'm on my way out."
Yoruichi looked at him inquisitively. "Who was that?"
"Nnoitra struck a deal with some rep from one of those girly yogawear companies and he needs me to sign on it. You know how much reader buyout will go up if we put a nice ass in yoga pants in our section? A shitload. Plus, chicks love that garbage. I don't know about you, Yoruichi, but I sure as hell wouldn't pay 90 bucks to wrap my ass in some lycra." Grimmjow pocketed his phone, and grinned. "I'll see you around later. Nice to meet you, art director."
Ichigo felt a noticeable distaste enter his mouth at the way Grimmjow referred to him. Yoruichi gave him a sympathetic look before taking his arm. "He's an acquired taste. Come; let me show you around a little."
She led him out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"So pretty much everyone in this room is a staffed writer," she said, gesturing out towards everyone in the room, who typed away on a little computer, or chatted with someone the next cubicle over. "We've got some of the best journalists in the country working away in here. Where we're standing, this half is current events. Politics, economics, the boring stuff. Accounting is in the corner. Then over here," she continued, walking to the left, "is art and media. These people are pretty lucky; they get to interview near all the celebrities that walk through this door. Not to mention the free concert tickets, movie premiers, etcetera etcetera."
"Then, all around, we have a few offices. See, mine's over there, the one we were just in belongs to Old Man Yama. Then we've got human resources near the door, and Rukia's office is right over there. That one belongs to Ulquiorra Cifer – he's our arts editor – and that one's Suì-Fēng's – she's current events."
Ichigo glanced around; now having the breakdown of the space, the publication felt larger.
"Where do I get to be?" he asked tentatively. Yoruichi gave him a playful look.
"Sports is upstairs, along with fashion and pop culture – though that's better known as our gossip rag." She led him up the spiral staircase. "We bought out the whole upper floor here, so there's a lot more space."
That was an understatement. Ichigo took in the magnificent, airy room – tall windows lined every visible exterior wall, natural light pouring in. The ones untouched by the basic structure of the building were lined in distressed brick, complimenting the hardwood floors. Ichigo could only guess that the ceiling was heightened above regular standards, as it towered well above nine feet. On this floor, Ichigo noticed many more rooms bordering the floor.
"So, same deal up here. Over there's fashion, and editor Szayelapporo Granz oversees all of that, then pop culture which is under Gin Ichimaru, and sports, which as you know, is run by Grimmjow. That one there is Sosuke Aizen's, consumer marketing and Kisuke's got public relations and communication. Big ol' break room is in the corner. You'll get to know everyone in due time."
Ichigo glanced over at the array of desks, all of which appeared to be full. "So, where's my workspace?"
"You," began Yoruichi, winking at him, "are over here." She led him over to a tall set of crystal double doors.
"Wait, what?"
"You get your own office, dumbass. You're going to need space to manage all of the projects you'll be taking on."
Ichigo had hardly expected to have been given such a high-up position at an esteemed magazine such as Konso was. Yoruichi laughed at his soft disbelief. "Alright, enough gawking. You'll be spending enough time there in a moment. I'm gonna send you home for the day, just to get your stuff together and all that."
"Well, thanks so much, Yoruichi," he said unaffectedly, heading down the stairs.
"Anytime. I'm the editor of editors, so if you have any questions, come talk to me. I like to think I'm a lot less scary than people make me out to be." she said, inveigling a laugh from Ichigo. "Just a few things before I cut you loose – don't leave your food lying around in the break room, Ōmaeda'll eat it. Use legible fonts in all of your online reports. Don't waste paper, plan your day's work in advance, and don't use the server to play Farmville or whatever it is. That's all basic, but my only piece of advice to you? Don't have an office romance. They just don't work."
Ichigo was about to respond, before he was interrupted.
"Hey, Yoruichi."
It was the same man from earlier on – Kisuke. He looked slightly apologetic at his interruption, but continued regardless. "Do you mind if we talk in my office? I've got a few things I need to show you. Hey, new guy. Looks like you're still in one piece, eh?"
"She wasn't nearly as bad as you made her out to be," said Ichigo, chuckling at the look Yoruichi shot at the lithe man. "I'll let you two get to it. Thank a lot, Yoruichi."
The bronzed woman winked at Ichigo, saying nothing before walking away with Kisuke, discussing important business. Now, he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning to see Rukia.
"How's your first day been?" she asked expectantly. "I did most of my work at home, so I'm done for the day."
"Me too. And to answer your question… busy, but not horrible," he said, sighing and running a hand through his hair. "The guy I work with is a complete asshole."
"Grimmjow Jeagerjaquez?" she questioned. Ichigo nodded. "You'll get used to it."
"He cut me off when I was introducing myself, Rukia," he complained as they stepped out of the office space and into the elevator. "My own damn name. How did a guy with his head so far up his ass make it so far up the ladder?"
"He's good at what he does." Rukia shrugged. "Men love his views and articles. Women just love him. Some people have gifts."
Getting into Rukia's car, Ichigo began to tell her about his interview and how the day went after that. He spoke happily until Grimmjow came back into the frame.
"Oh, and they said I looked just like the old director."
"Who? Kaien?" said Rukia, who took her eyes off the road for a moment. "Yeah, I see it now. He and Grimmjow got along pretty okay from time to time. I don't think anyone really likes him at first."
Ichigo simply grunted after that, and listened to Rukia talk for a while, until they pulled up in front of Ichigo's condominium.
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Renji invited me to dinner at this new restaurant in Midtown. What about you?"
"Not much. Resting up for the big first day tomorrow, I guess." he replied, getting out of the car. "Gonna be a big change."
"Orihime starts in HR tomorrow, too. I'm excited for you two." she said, pulling the car door shut. She continued speaking through the open window. "Make me proud! I'll see you tomorrow morning."
With that, she left Ichigo alone. Making his way up to his flat, he wondered tomorrow would go. The nerves of a new job weren't uncommon, but Ichigo wondered how many people had to deal with a boss like Grimmjow.