Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
These Stories We Share: In Memories, I am Immortal.
Kaien
In the Seireitei, death is a taboo and funny word. In Soul Society, the dead walk freely, and happily and that is the end. They are immortal. In Seireitei, the dead shinigami who roam it can enter even further into oblivion, killed in battle until they are not even an embodied soul anymore. Just a memory. An odd memory at that, though because memories do not have thoughts, feelings, cannot move, relocate, or become something other than what they are: A memory. . . Usually. The memory of a soul is not the memory of a mind, though, and so a shinigami who is no longer a soul is a memory, and for Kaien, this is exactly where he lingers.
Today he went to the thirteenth division for the first time since his death, he'd been trying to avoid it for a while, because where a memory goes so too do recollections, and he was afraid that maybe his division would not be able to move to happy memories when he visited and he would throw them into depression. Still, he wanted to be back home. And home for him, was the thirteenth.
He first found Captain Ukitake talking about promoting Kuchiki Rukia to Captain Kyoraku Shunsui, and when Kaien came to his office, Ukitake's first recollection was of Shiba Kaien, the Lieutenant who so perfectly balanced the loony-ness of his division. Kaien scoffed.
"I'd say it was more like giving life to our little family." He grinned in Ukitake's ear. Ukitake laughed, not knowing why, and continued on.
"Rukia will make an excellent Lieutenant, I think. I've gone so long without one since Kaien. . . and Rukia has proved more than capable."
Kaien crossed his arms, leaning against the wall and nodded, listening on.
"I think your little Rukia will be honored," said Shunsui "Kaien taught her after all, she idolizes him." Neither seemed to notice the present tense use of 'idolize,' in their conversation, and if they had - knowing what it meant to speak of the past in present - they would have known Kaien was grinning behind them, nodding enthusiastically.
"She's got my vote." Kaien stated, pushing off the wall, walking past the two older men and through the door. He could briefly hear Ukitake's last comment "I feel like Kaien would want this."
And he did.
When Kaien ran into Kiyone and Sentarō, Kiyone had stopped for a moment and Sentarō had run, ungracefully, into her back.
"Why'd you stop!" He yelled. Kiyone huffed at him.
"Well excuse me!" She yelled back, whirling around to face him. Kaien halted at the fiasco, chuckling, and decided he'd like to see what they recalled. "-I was just being the best third-seat in the world and thinking about Kaien-Fukutaichou, not that you would." She pretended to think for a moment then said, "he liked me more anyways is really all I'm saying." Kiyone grinned in superiority and began walking again.
"That's not true!" Sentarō hollared. "Kaien-Fukutaichou and me had a food eating contest one time, I'll bet he didn't do anything like that with you! Me and Kaien-Fukutaichou were closer is all I'm saying!"
Kiyone whirled around.
"Kaien-Fukutaichou was close with everyone in our division!" She stated haughtily. "But he was closest to Miyako, of course. They were inseparable, and Rukia, and then me, and then everyone else. . .and then maybe you." She smiled, running off as Sentarō gave chase.
"Yeah, well. . . Ukitake-Taichou likes me more than you so ha!" He yelled after her.
Kaien laughed.
"Funny aren't they?"
Kaien turned around, giving a grin that was anything but small.
"They've always been like that Miyako." He stated. Miyako smiled warmly.
"You're right, I guess I just miss hearing it everyday." She stated.
"Yeah, I understand that." There was a pause as they both began walking down the hallway to the thirteenth's gardens. "I'm glad their recollections are good ones now." He stated off handedly after awhile. "How have yours been?"
"All very nice." Miyako smiled, "As they have been for a while."
"Have you. . .seen Rukia yet?" Kaien asked. Miyako nodded as they neared the door and, sliding it open, she offered her hand out to the world.
"Your turn now buttercup." She joked, and as Kaien's eyes followed her hand's movement he saw a small black-haired girl standing by the edge of the koi pond. "And of course you'll be telling me all about it when you're done." She laughed good naturally at him. Kaien nodded, shooting her a crooked smile and ventured toward the girl.
"Fukutaichou. . ." Rukia muttered, running her hand up and down the badge of her new position. "Kaien-dono," She turned toward her side. Kaien smiled down at her as she stared at nothingness "Would you be proud?" She asked. She was silent for a moment before chuckling softly, dropping her voice she tried to imitate Kaien's masculine voice "what's with the sour face Kuchiki? Be proud!" Kaien cracked a grin, raising his hand to muse her hair before relizing the impossibility of it.
"Of course I'm proud of you dummy. I gave you the essence of my heart, if you didn't do something productive with it what a waist it would have been!" Kaien laughed, and beside him Rukia found herself laughing at the silliness of being the newest thirteenth division fukuaichou.
"I'll be coming back more often." Kaien vowed. "I miss the thirteenth."
I really wish Kaien was still around :(
