Rei's POV
Stupid Akio, stupid Akio! I stormed out of the 6th Division Barracks, the rest of my squad's laughter following me out. Why did he have to humiliate me like that? No one would've noticed that slight glitch in my prank if he hadn't pointed it out and ruined it. He's made he the laughing stock of all of squad 6! There's got to be some way to get even with him. Lost in my thoughts, I almost ran directly into Captain of the 11th squad, Kenpachi Zaraki and his lieutenant, Yachiru.
"Hey, watch where you're going, kid!" The menacing captain towered above me by over a foot. I stopped in my tracks and must have had a frightened look on my face, because Yachiru looked at me and said, "Kenny, stop being a bully! She's scared of you, meanie!"
"Quiet, ya brat!" Zaraki responded. As the two started walking away, a thought struck me. The wheels in my mind started turning, and i called out before they were out of earshot. "Oh, were you on your way to confront Akio?"
"No, why should I be?" Kenpachi said, without turning around.
"Well, it's not my place to pry, but I did hear him mention something about you to some of his buddies. I think it was something that had to do with how pathetic it is that you don't even know the name of your zankpakto? Now, these are his words, not mine, but I think he was saying how that makes you weak."
I got just the reaction I wanted. The captain turned and slowly started walking back to me. "What was that?" He said when he was about two arms lengths away. Hopefully it was far enough that I'd be out of his reach if he decided to shoot the messenger. Though deliberately angering Kenpachi Zaraki is never a smart idea, it needed to be done if I wanted my revenge on Akio.
"Well sir, that's just what I heard, but Akio is the type of person to do this sort of thing. He's always jealous of anyone more powerful than him, and shows it by talking bad about them."
Kenpachi was now only about a foot and a half away, and looked down at me with a smile filled with his lust for blood. I suppressed a shiver as he started talking again. "You tell your friend to be outside my barracks in a half hour for a fight he won't ever forget." With that, he walked away, Yachiru yelling out "Yay, yay, Kenny's fighting, Kenny gets to fight someone!"
A half hour. That will be more than enough time to set up the next part of my plan. After I tell Akio something to get his blood boiling, I'll watch the fight. Akio will get roughed up a bit, and he'll learn never to mess with my pranks again.
I entered the squad 6 barracks to find Akio still there. "Back to show us another one of your 'pranks' Rei? Why don't you just accept that you've been beaten instead of humiliate yourself further?" He jeered at me. If only you knew.
"Actually, Akio, I came to watch the fireworks." I said.
"Fireworks?"
"Yea. Oh, I guess you havn't found out yet. 'Cause when you do, there will definitly be sparks."
"Found out what?" Akio asked me caustiously.
"Well, I was walking outside, and happened to see Captain Zaraki and his lieutenant. They were talking about someone. Someone from Squad 6. As a matter of fact, he was talking about you. Now, these are his words not mine, but I heard him say that you were weak and didn't deserve the position of 4th seat." I shrugged, as if to say that it couldn't be helped.
"What? He thinks he can get away with saying that? Are you kidding? I'm plenty strong!"
"Mmmm," I murmured, rolling my eyes. "Well, you know, you could prove that to him by standing outside his barracks in approximately, oh, 20 minutes."
"Oh, I'll go alright, and give him the beating he would have never expected from a 4th seat."
"Yea, good luck with that. I think I'll come with you."
Crap! What are they doing? They're not supposed to be this serious! This is not good! Akio and I arrived in front of the squad 11 barracks 10 minutes ago, and things are getting way out of hand. Akio is no match for Kenpachi, he just doesn't realize it. But Kenpachi is taking things too far. Akio is hurt, but still fighting. I didn't want things to be this bad. I have to stop this.
"Sto-" Before I could finish speaking, Kenpachi took one finally swing of his sword. It was enough. Akio was on the ground, dead and bleeding.
"Wh-what? This wasn't supposed to happen! He's not supposed to be dead! What happened?" I exclaimed, shocked.
"Well that wasn't fun at all. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything more from a 4th seat." Kenpachi said. He turned around and walked away, Yachiru back on his shoulder.
I stared after them, shocked and wondering how things had gotten so far out of hand.
"She was there."
"Yea, I heard she was encouraging Captain Zaraki the whole time."
"I'm not surprised, really. I mean it's no secret Rei never liked Akio."
Whispers followed me everywhere I went. The fight happened yesterday, and somehow it was leaked that everything was my fault. I felt completely awful, but I have no idea what I can do about it. I stepped into my barracks feeling depressed.
"Rei," Someone called out.
"Oh, Captain Kuchiki, sir, hello."
"Rei, word has been sent that Central 46 would like to speak to you. It is a matter of utmost urgency, so get down there immediately."
Central 46? "Yes sir,right away sir."
Why does Central 46 want me? Oh god, Akio. I had never been there before, but knew I where it was. Everyone knew where it was. As I made my way to the building, I thought about what could happen. You had to be in huge trouble to be called down there. Central 46 has the power to give soul reapers any punishment they deem necessary. I descended the stairs, scared as to what I punishment I would find waiting for me down there.
I took a deep breath as I opened the door to the Central 46 Chamber. They were all seated in circles on multi-layered platforms. I took my place in the center of the ring of people, all eyes on me. Wow, there were a lot of them.
"Fifth seat of Squad 6, Rei Keiichi," the Head of Central 46 bellowed. "You have been sentenced here for being the cause of 4th seat Akio Setsuna's death. You are being charged for murder and conspiracy against your fellow soul reapers. The charges are very serious."
I stared at my feet, thinking about all the things they could do to me. Maybe I would lose my position as a seated officer. Maybe I would have to do chores like the 4th squad. Maybe I would have to stay in the World Of the Living for a bit. That actually would be fun.
"Rei Keiichi, your punishment is expulsion from the Seireitei."
"What?" I shrieked, looking up. They can't do that to me! I have to remain a soul reaper, I have to! I need to find Ashido! "You can't do that! I didn't actually kill him! What about Kenpachi? He's the one who really murdered him! You can't do this to me!" I couldn't help it, tears started streaming down my face.
"You were the one who caused Captain Zaraki to fight him, were you not? All decisions of Central 46 are final. Rei Keiichi, you are no longer-"
"Wait!" Right before the Head of Central 46 could finish his sentence, someone barged in. Captain of the 10th squad, Toshiro Hitsugaya. I knew Toshiro through hanging out with Momo, but I gasped seeing him here.
"Captain Hitsugaya, what are you doing here? You have no business with Central 46." The person about to punish me said.
"I'm sorry sir, but I heard what you were doing to Rei and I couldn't stand to see that happen. Rei is a huge asset to the Gotei 13. She is a strong fighter and has a powerful zanpakto. Losing her skills would be a great loss to us."
"Captain Hitsugaya, she is responsible for the death of a fellow soul reaper."
"Yes, but I'm sure it wasn't intended. Rei is a troublemaker, true, but I have known her personally for years and I can assure you she would never let something like this happen on purpose. Rei is a prankster, but she's sweet. I'm sure this is just a prank that spiraled out of control. While Rei should have known Zaraki would have done more than just yell at Akio, no one thought he would go so far as to kill another soul reaper."
"Captain, everything you said may be true, but her actions cannot go unpunished."
"Then send her over to my squad. I will make sure she has more work and punishments than anyone else. I can keep an eye on her and if she does even the slightest thing I will make sure to inform you."
I stood watching this entire conversation with my mouth agape. Was this really happening? Was Toshiro, I mean Captain Hitsugaya, really going to be able to save me? I held my breath as I waited for Central 46 to make a decision about me going to the 10th squad, hoping against hope they would agree.
"Very well, Captain. Rei Keiichi shall be transferred to your squad. But the slightest mishap and you are out of here, do you understand, Miss Keiichi?"
It took me a moment to get over my shock. I could stay a soul reaper! "Yes sir, of course sir, thank you sir!"
"Let's go, Rei," my new captain said to me. I followed him out, still stunned that I had gotten out of that whole mess.
As we stepped outside, I threw my arms around Toshiro and gave him a huge hug. I felt his body stiffen as he said "what are you doing, Rei?"
"Thank you," was all I said, letting go. He relaxed and said to me, "I've known you too long, Rei. I couldn't watch you get kicked out when I knew there was a chance I could do something. Besides, Momo would never forgive me."
I laughed, and even got a half-smile from Toshiro, something I had only seen him do a handful of times before.
"But get ready for a lot of work," he continued. "Instead of me, you'll be the one that has to do the paper work my lieutenant, Rangiku, doesn't do. Which is all of it. Plus you'll get any paper work a normal 3rd seat would get."
"Third seat?" I exclaimed.
"Yes. I know you're much too strong to be a 5th seat, so I'm promoting you to 3rd. Congratulations."
"Thank you so much Toshiro!" I yelled, and hugged him again.
"Ok, you're going to have to stop that." Toshiro said. "And it's Captain Hitsugaya."
I laughed again and let him go, thinking about how different my life will be now that I'm in the 10th squad. The paper work will be annoying, but worth it. I know Rangiku Matsumoto only by her reputation, and between her parties and my pranks, the 10th squad barracks will never be quiet. Much to the dismay of Toshiro. I mean Captain Hitsugaya.
Who said this is a punishment?