BlackUndertaker and Phantom Claire thanks for another fabulous review! :) I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! I hope you continue to like it as well. :D
BlackUndertaker, I'm glad you like the name! Thanks again!
Onto the next chapter yall! Hope yall love it!
…
Chapter 4
Ichigo's face softened drastically as his daughter ran to him and hugged him tightly.
"Hey there, shorty"
He said softly as Masaki buried her face into his robes sobbing. He put his arm around her and patted her back. He was here. He was real and back in her life. She felt so childish, which was unrealistic for her nowadays. She was always uptight and mature, but the fact of her father being near her again was enough to make that facade disappear. Rukia just stared at the two. She hadn't a clue what to do, considering she was never allowed in Masaki's life. Someone cleared his throat from behind the two.
"Kurosaki?"
Toshiro asked as he and Rangiku walked up. Masaki turned towards them with a huge smile on her face and reddened eyes.
"Oh my gosh!"
Rangiku squealed and got nose to nose with Masaki. Ranguki had to squat quite a ways for this to be possible.
"She has your eyes, Rukia! And your hair, Strawberry! Hmmm…"
Rangiku put her finger to her chin in thought. Masaki stared back at her. Rukia had never been in her life, why was Ran-chan speaking of her in a present tense?
"She wears her hair in her face like you too, Rukia! Her's is just a little bit longer. Gah! You two make a pretty baby!"
Rangiku hugged Masaki tightly against her breast once more. Her face turned purple from the lack of oxygen.
"Matsumoto!"
Toshiro yelled at his lieutenant again. Rangiku looked down at the purple-faced girl and let her go. She giggled and she stared Masaki up and down looking for more characteristics like her parents. Toshiro furrowed his eyebrows at the scene.
"Does the Head Captain know of this matter?"
Masaki glanced at the young captain when she had finally taken in huge gulps of air. Rangiku would be the death of her.
"Yes, but she is what the meeting's about."
The woman that had yet to say a word stepped from behind Ichigo. Masaki turned back around to face the person who had spoken. Her eyes widened and she gasped. It was the same woman from the picture on her mirror in her room. Rukia. The woman she had wanted to meet for so long stood directly in front of her. She looked the same as the picture, barely a day older.
"R-Rukia?"
Masaki stammered over her own words and the woman looked at her and smiled. It looked almost forced. Wait… if she was a shinigami, she could still have visited her and her father? She caused him all that pain for no reason? Masaki's reiatsu flared slightly.
"Why did you never come back?"
She questioned, but before Rukia could answer the white-haired captain placed a hand on her shoulder. Instantly calming her down with the chilling touch. Why had he placed a hand on her?
"Then why does the meeting concern her?"
Toshiro asked and let go of her shoulder. Masaki's reiatsu had dropped drastically as she calmed down. She still glared at the woman in front of her. She glanced back at Ichigo. How could he be so calm with her by his side after she had left them?! A growl came from the back of her throat. Ichigo looked down at his daughter with a look of worry.
"He wants to take vote on whether or not she could become part of the Gotei 13 or executed."
Rangiku gasped.
"No, not Ki-chan!"
Masaki threw her small fists up in the air.
"I wish you would stop talking about me like I am not here!"
She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her face was red with anger. She had stepped off to the side so she was no longer between the two.
"Can we just go to the meeting now?"
Toshiro asked pinching the bridge of nose. This was all such a headache. Masaki watched him head walk off in the direction that they were supposed to be headed in, she guessed. Rangiku turned around to follow him but flashed a smile at Masaki with her thumb up.
"We have your back Ki-chan!"
Masaki looked at her father, ignoring the fact she wasn't happy with him.
"Was everyone okay in the district?"
She finally asked. They were a huge part of her life. Big Bear, Aiko, the other kids, and everyone. They looked after one another, through blood, sweat, and tears. So many of her memories were intertwined in that district.
"Everyone's okay. I have someone watching over the district since they took care of you for all these years. Big Bear, I think that's what you called him, was bound and determined to come here with you."
Masaki nodded. Of course he would. He was practically her second father. He had taught her more in those years than she could have ever asked for.
"We need to get to the meeting, Ichigo."
Rukia said and Masaki glared.
….
At the Captain's meeting
Masaki stood next to her father in line. There were ten captains lined up on both sides, evens were on the left and odd numbers were on the right. Toshiro and Rangiku were off to the left of where Masaki stood with the Third Division captain. Rangiku winked at Masaki before the Head Captain walked in. Yamamoto, she had heard his name murmured under the breath of some of the other captains, was really old with white hair and wrinkles showing his age. Masaki's eye twitched as she noticed how long his mustache and eyebrows were. Would it kill for a trim? She asked herself as he took his seat.
"Masaki Kurosaki, will you please step in the middle."
Yamamoto asked. Her name caused whisper among the captains and their lieutenants, well, except for Toshiro and Rangiku. Rangiku had a serious look on her face, something Masaki doubted she'd ever see again. Toshiro just pinched the bridge of his nose as everyone continued their childish gossip. Masaki stood in the middle of the two lines in front of the Head Captain. Her head was down and her eyes closed.
"What do you think the outcome of this will be, Master."
Koken'nin spoke to her. His deep voice was calm like that of gently moving water.
"I do not know Koken. I guess we shall see."
Everyone else's voice had become a soft hum as she focused on her beloved zanpakuto. While in the 79th district, she had figured out that the voice in her head while she was living was that of Koken'nin. Even before she could use shinigami powers, he was there with her. He had helped her through many tough situations in the district and taught her a lot in the mean time. Koken growled.
"If they decide to hurt you, we can take them all."
"I don't wish to start a fight anytime soon. We will just have to hope for the best."
Masaki opened her eyes and looked at the Head Captain, ending her conversation with Koken.
"We are here to decide the fate of Masaki Kurosaki. She has been in the 79th district since she died over seventy-five years ago. She has the power of a shinigami without going to the academy and, according to the report, has achieved at least shikai. We know nothing of her powers or her loyalty to the Gotei 13."
Yamamoto's eyes had yet to leave Masaki's violet ones.
"Should she be allowed to stay in the Gotei 13 or executed for her actions."
Ichigo stood forward, his face red with anger.
"She was preforming our duty to protect souls in that district! She killed hollows. Let her stay, she seems to already know a part of the work we do and can control her zanpakuto well! She could be a viable asset to the Gotei 13! She never did anything against the rules as far as we are concerned so why should we even have this discussion?!"
A man with long black hair, on the evens side, took a step forward in a calm demeanor. He had some hair decoration and his eyes were dark. His face was angular and stern. His lieutenant had red hair in the shape of a pineapple with a lot tattoos everywhere.
"By existing, she is breaking the law."
His voice was softer than Masaki would have guessed.
"We have already paid the price of that, Byakuya. Rukia was forced to stay here, away from our daughter, and I forbidden to come back till the death of Masaki, which came way too soon. Plus, how could you say that about your own niece."
Ichigo's reaitsu flared once more. Masaki stayed calm and placed her hand on her hip. Was that the reason her mom never visited? Well, she still could have tried. Masaki's eyebrows furrowed. A woman, on the even side, had a wonderful smile on her face. She was beyond beautiful and tall. Her hair was braided in front of her body instead of resting on her back.
"I believe she should have a chance for you throw her to the wolves, Head Captain. She has wonderful potential."
Masaki always had hated that saying. Wolves weren't as aggressive as people made them out to be. They only fought when they hadn't any other choice.
"I do as well. There is not any reason to throw away such a young spirit. Let her prove herself."
An old man, again from the evens, said. His hair was long and white, but his face and eyes were kind. He flashed a smile in Masaki's direction.
"I agree. I say we let her try."
A man with a straw hat, high cheekbones, grey eyes, and long wavy brown hair said. Everyone was giving her a chance! Such a relief.
"Maybe I won't have to hurt these people."
Koken'nin sounded relieved.
"You wouldn't have done so anyways."
Masaki had a small smirk on her face.
"You're like my cub. If they hurt you, I will do something."
Koken was extremely protective.
"By the way, Master, you haven't been to your inner word in a few days. I call for a visit next time you have time."
Masaki missed her inner world it was so peaceful and she surely missed the wolf that resided there.
"I say give her a chance because I want to fight her!"
A really bulk man, on the odd's side, said loudly. His hair stuck up in many different directions into points. He had a masochistic smile on his face, an eye patch, and a huge scar running down the other side of his face. He truly looked scary, but Masaki never lost her composure.
"We agree she should stay."
Toshiro said from his side. His expression never changed. He would be a very handsome man if he smiled more. I bet his smile is amazing. Masaki thought and mentally slapped her forehead. Where did that come from?
Yamamoto stood up from his chair.
"I guess it is decided."
Masaki tugged at the robes she was wearing. Shihakushos weren't the most comfortable thing. She would much rather be in shorts and a tank top. It was easier for her to move. She hated feeling brought down by clothes.
"Masaki, you will be joining…."
…
Please review!
Yall don't kill me for ending there! Haha love you all!
