Okay, everybody, sorry it took so long, but here's Chapter 4 of the story, The Ninth Division Child. So, guys, I at least owe you an explanation as to why it took so long. My life's really busy right now. Had to go there, here, everywhere to take care of errands, two funerals, and a wedding. The good news is that that part is over and I can focus again
Chapter 4—Captain And Subordinate
This was his office...
The excitement of being named captain had not yet worn away from Jin's mind and he felt quite giddy. Out of all the Soul Reapers in the Gotei 13, how many actually became captains? He had felt this way only once before; when he had achieved Izanagi's Bankai. No... even that wasn't tantamount to the euphoria of being named captain.
Jin walked over to his desk, running his fingers along the top. He remembered meeting both of the previous captains... Kaname Tosen had truly been a worthy leader until his betrayal and Kensei Muguruma was no less of a idol. Both of them had garnered quite a following within (and outside) the Ninth Division. Jin swallowed hard. He had a lot of work to do if he was going to match them.
There was a knock on the door and Jin jumped. He looked to the desk for the captain to answer the knock before he remembered something: he is the captain now. Hurriedly, he moved to the desk and sat behind, clearing his throat and adopting what he assumed was an authoritative voice.
"Enter," he said in a higher pitch than he would've preferred.
The door opened and the lieutenant entered, carrying a small stack of documents in his hand. Without pausing, he walked forward and set them on the desk, sighing as he did so. Jin jerked slightly when the papers slapped onto his desktop. How much work had accumulated in a day?
"Captain Narukami, these require just a signature," the lieutenant said. "They're standard forms that come through almost every day. Typical Division upkeep, transfers in and out, and reports from Soul Reapers who had been deployed."
"Okay, thank you..."
Oh, crap! Jin thought. What's his name?!
Jin sat there with his mouth open awkwardly and the lieutenant staring at him curiously. "Are you okay, sir?"
"Yes, Lieutenant... Shikagi...?" Jin ventured experimentally.
"Hisagi, sir," the lieutenant replied, a confused look on his face.
"Sorry," Jin said, embarrassed. His face started to turn bright red and he fiddled nervously with his fingers. "Just... meeting so many people and so much stuff happening, and—I should know your name. Lieutenant Hisagi."
"Please, sir, call me 'Shuhei'," the lieutenant suggested.
"Okay, Shuhei," Jin replied. He reached for the document on top of the stack and immediately found himself bored. It was a report from an unseated Soul Reaper from his own Division about his deployment in the World of the Living, but it seemed so long. Did he really have to read the whole thing?
"How long does all this work normally take?" Jin inquired.
"Depends on how fast you read, sir," Shuhei answered.
"Seems tedious," Jin yawned as his eyes started to scan the paper without really reading it. He signed it at the bottom and reached for another one. "This'll take forever."
"Well, sir, if you like, I could help," Shuhei said. "I did it when Captain Tosen had defected."
"That'll help a lot," Jin stated, exhaling. "Thank you, Lieutenant Shuhei."
Shuhei nodded and picked up a paper from the top of the stack.
"My eyes hurt," Jin yawned as he signed the final paper. The sun had set a small while ago, and the sound of nighttime was coming in through the open window, heard alongside the nighttime breeze.
"Well, sir, the work's done, but a few of these documents have to go to a few other Divisions," Shuhei said.
Jin looked at him with a slight scowl, but sighed. "Do they have to go tonight?"
"Well, no, but the sooner you—"
"OKAY! Then we'll take them tomorrow morning," Jin said happily. He stretched and stood. "Is there always this much work?"
"Typically," Shuhei said, "and the papers come in at various times throughout the day. Most captains will deal with them in the morning and then have the rest of the day to relax and train."
"Okay, then I know how I'll do it from now on," Jin stated. "Thanks again..." Jin extended his hand awkwardly before the realization that he had forgotten his lieutenant's name once more. "Lieutenant."
Shuhei, who had shaken Jin's hand paused. He sighed and said, "Shuhei Hisagi."
Okay, guys, a little bit of comedy to hopefully make up for the long wait. Hopefully, from now on, I'll have plenty of time to write and upload these. Please read and review and once more, I apologize.