Ore No Taichou Daisuki (I Love My Captain)
by Uchiha Xairylle
Seat 8 : Here Comes The Brat
The last part of the test was a bit delayed. Urahara suggested they let Tessai have a "look-see" at Chad and Inoue since they looked considerably tired from the first three rounds. It wouldn't be fair if Enji would face them like that. The rest seemed to agree and Ichigo did, too except he was pretty decided on making Enji understand that he was Vice-Captain. And why.
Ichigo had chosen not to speak much to Rukia because that doll was pissing him off. For whatever reason, it just did. And now that everyone had rested, they proceeded to go to their proper positions. Urahara resumed his throne on the large chunk of rock and beside him was Yoruichi. Byakuya had resorted to watching alone while the other members of the squad sat below the large rock Urahara was sitting on. Aishira was sitting ceremoniously and Soshi was sitting with his legs spread as he leaned back with two arms flat on the ground. Sumire was already standing with crossed arms. Ichigo was just itching for Enji to reach him. He must admit he'd somewhat be disappointed if that punk failed to go past Ishida.
The other Shinigami felt Enji was, in a way, somewhat better than the others probably because he was from the First Squad. And that meant he was under Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni. Now if there's anything people had to know about the First Squad, it was either the members were old or good. And by good, it meant Yamamoto went through the trouble of picking them during graduation. Because of this, the First Squad isn't comprised of a lot of members. It was also probably because Yamamoto-soutaichou did not want to supervise a hell lot of people in his squad.
So Kawamura Enji from the First Squad was not old so therefore he must be good. That or it's an accident or nepotism behind his stay in the First Squad.
"Is everyone ready?" Urahara asked.
There was a "Haaaaaaaai" from Inoue and a nod from everyone else.
Ichigo already had Zangetsu unhitched. Uryuu already had his webbed Ginrei Kojaku bow. Everyone expected quite a lot from Enji judging by how he conducted himself. Rukia was holding his doll, which she seemed to have accustomed herself to already. It was something Ichigo would probably dislike as much as Kon. Maybe he really just wasn't a doll-and-stuff-toys person.
Ichigo could now see Enji standing in front of Inoue.
The closest you can ever get to Captain…
"Onegai Shimasu." Enji bowed at Orihime.
"O-Onegai Shimasu." Orihime replied cautiously.
A few seconds after this exchange, Enji began to squat.
"Are you ready?"
Inoue did not answer.
Taking that as a yes, Enji immediately announced, "Bakudou 61! Luminous Prison of Six Bars!"
To everyone's surprise, six bar-lights came out of nowhere and bound not only Orihime but also Chad. At the same time, Enji had dashed forward.
"Fast cast!" Sumire said as Soshi got up from his previously lazy sitting position.
Oh no, you don't.
"UOOAAARGH!" Chad broke out of the Prison Bars and immediately blasted Enji with El Directo. The male Shinigami dodged by leaping up in the air.
Ishida looked up at the dark-haired Shinigami who was entering his territory. The Quincy lifted his web-like bow and calmly shot a thousand arrows at the Shinigami who was holding his still-sheathed sword in mid-air.
"Hadou 64!" Enji announced again with a wave of his hand as he plunged towards Uryuu, "Madness Of The Tiger's Tears!"
Enji outstretched both of his hands and a thousand drop-like projectiles shot towards Uryuu and met most of his arrows. Enji evaded the others with his Shunpo and blocked what was left with his sealed zanpakutou. The Shinigami landed. The Quincy stopped shooting for a while.
Do you think you can fight me without releasing your Zanpakutou?
"Bakudou – "
"A silver rod strikes the five-fingered stone bed!" Ishida interrupted as he used a Quincy Silver Tube, "Quintuple Restraining Frames!"
A pentacle symbol immediately formed itself right behind Enji and threatened to envelope him but he was quick enough to disperse it using Hadou 4: White Lightning. The Shinigami steadied himself on the ground as his movement highly disturbed the dust around him. The Quincy was no longer where he was.
True enough, Ishida reappeared beside Enji. Seele Schneider was brought down and Enji pulled out his Zanpakutou just in time to block.
"Hadou 33! Soukatsui!"
"Tokukonki!"
It happened pretty fast. Enji shot with the Way of Destruction and Uryuu retaliated with his Quincy Protective Light Wall. Urahara felt kind of impressed that they were slowly taking this seriously as if a battle for pride.
Seele Schneider met Enji's zanpakutou again. And then again. And then again. Sparks flew. Another clash and Ishida pushed against him. Enji pushed back. Ishida was getting annoyed that the Shinigami still wasn't releasing. Grunting, he slightly pulled back only around an arms breadth. In an instant, Seele Schneider was Ginrei Kojaku and Ishida fired a condensed bow at Enji.
"Such a short range!" Rukia exclaimed, "Ishida!"
"Your pop idol's going to be fine." Ichigo waved at Rukia as he leaned at Zangetsu.
True.
The Shinigami bent back so low Ichigo swore he was driving the Matrix move to shame. The Quincy reverted to Seele Schneider and aimed to stab Enji by the shoulder.
"Turn into the sun!" came Enji's awaited release, "Ryu!"
Ichigo's expression changed. Ryu? That was it? Such a short and common name!
But the Zanpakutou with a short and common name seemed to have done exactly what it was commanded to do. It burst into flames, driving Ishida away to a safe distance. Enji tumbled and landed back on two feet. His sword was burning and its guard had changed into a spiral. There was an inscription of Kanji on his sword but Ichigo could not see what it was.
"Fancy." The Quincy looked at Enji's sword.
The Shinigami nodded in acknowledgement. Ishida pulled out his Ginrei Kojaku and started firing while doing Hirenkyakuy around Enji. The Shinigami lowered his stance and moved in the same circular direction as Uryuu was to deflect his arrows. Enji's footwork was calm but solid and made him look like he was dancing. The flames danced from his sword and with his movement, made it look like a fire dance display.
"Pretty." Inoue commented.
"Yes…" Chad nodded.
The Quincy stopped his barrage of attacks and in an Hirenkyaku, his Seele Schneider met Enji's Ryu. The Shinigami swung his leg to kick the Quincy who dodged.
"Chase!" Enji said again.
A second release command?
"Ryu!"
It wasn't the first time any of them had met a Shinigami with two release commands. Even Urahara had two release commands but they had to admit, you don't come across with such a person everyday.
Enji's blade turned so white and thin that it was transparent. In one flash step he was gone and Ishida could not chase.
Had he gone faster?
It didn't matter. He was gone now.
Here comes the brat!
"Uooorryyaaa!" Ichigo disappeared and met Enji in a loud clash of swords.
"Ichigo!" Rukia managed to say.
Enji and Ichigo pushed their swords against each other. Enji's already thin blade looked even thinner as it met Ichigo's cleaver-like Zangetsu.
"Geeeeetsuga…"
"Turn into the sun!"
"Tenshou!"
"Ryu!"
A black projectile met angry red flames but those responsible for this did not wait to see what was going to happen. Both of them kicked off the ground and speared towards the sky as if knowing they were going to meet there again.
"Bakdou –!"
"Bakudou this!" Ichigo punched Enji in the face but the other Shinigami dodged. Both of them began to plummet downwards at a rapid pace.
"Chase, Ryu!"
And again he was gone but Ichigo was able to grab him by the left arm.
"You're not going anywheeeeere!"
"Oh, I see now." Yoruichi purred, "He doesn't go faster."
"He doesn't?" Sumire asked.
"He just travels a greater distance than usual. Plus something seems to block his spiritual presence so it becomes very faint as he moves and it's hard to tell where he's going."
"As if being aided by the wind, eh?" Urahara held onto his hat and fixed it.
"You could say that."
Ichigo who had grabbed Enji was now swinging him towards the ground. Enji then blasted the ground with a kidou projectile to propel him away from the ground. He then dashed towards Ichigo's left to regroup but the orange-haired Shinigami chose to follow.
You're not going anywhere!
In an instant they were running side-by-side and Ichigo snickered upon finally seeing a change of expression in Enji's eyes. The black-haired subordinate skidded to a stop and Ichigo did the same except he had to plunge Zangetsu on the ground to stop. Enji dashed for Rukia's direction but suddenly found Ichigo in front of him.
The closest you can ever get to Captain…
Enji swung Ryu against Ichigo who averted it with Zangetsu. Enji then proceeded to grab Ichigo by the head.
"Ichigo!"
Rukia's voice seemed to have made its way in the middle of the fight. Enji looked up and beyond Ichigo's left shoulder he could see Kuchiki-taichou holding his doll Kana. She had moved a step forward. Kana was in Rukia's left hand and the other was holding on to the handle of her sword as if to draw. Enji's eyes widened, losing a fragment of his focus.
That was all the opening Ichigo needed.
Ichigo grabbed for Enji's face but he was too absorbed in staring at Rukia to even move.
Hisana…!
"You overconfident puuuuuuuuunk!" Ichigo yelled in between his grit teeth as he dragged Enji's head towards the ground, "The closest you can ever get to Rukia…"
The closest I can get to the Captain…
"…IS THIRD SEAT!"
Enji's head hit the ground with a loud crash. The rocks, dust and other debris covered his swaying vision of Rukia.
Hisana…!
"GET OFF ME!" Enji hollered in an angry snap of his eyes. Urahara had already declared Enji taking a hit but it didn't seem to matter.
"CONSUME ALL OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS!" Enji declared and raised his sword. An already pissed off Ichigo motioned to swing another Getsuga Tenshou.
"ENOUGH!" Rukia hollered, coming in between them just in time before Ichigo could bring down his sword and before Enji could release another Shikai. The small Kuchiki Captain was above Enji and below Ichigo. Her sword was in one hand and the doll was in the other. Inoue's tri-link shield had already formed between Ichigo and Rukia just in time as well. Both men stopped but it was only Enji whose face calmed down upon seeing Rukia holding Kana. It was then that both Enji and Ichigo realized that everyone who was watching was closing in on them to stop the final clash. It was only Byakuya who did not move and Rukia who made it in time. Even Aishira had dashed forward to do something.
"I didn't permit you to kill each other!" Rukia glared at both of them angrily, "You idiots!"
Ichigo straightened and put Zangetsu down. Rukia straightened as well.
"Hey." Ichigo turned towards Enji and offered him his hand to help him up. Enji hesitated for a while but eventually took the offer. There was a moment of silence as Enji got up and there were some sighs of relief from a few. Soshi was so stunned that even his hair seemed to have disheveled itself.
"I guess that finally settles it." Urahara said in a happy voice in an attempt to change the mood.
"Yes, it does." Rukia agreed, sheathing her sword and facing the others, "I would like to thank everyone for participating but right now, let me officially announce X-Squad's first and second seat, Kawamura Enji and Murasaki Sumire!"
"Yaaay!" Orihime chorused with Urahara and both of them as well as Chad and Aishira began to clap. Soshi pouted for a while before clapping as well. Sumire kept on laughing and proceeded to mess up Ishida's hair much to the Quincy's dismay. Ichigo shook his head, not wanting to have anything to do with the ruckus and at the corner of his eye saw Rukia returning Enji's doll.
"Here. I took good care of her." Rukia carefully and slowly handed Kana to Enji.
"Arigatou, Taichou." Enji took back his doll and started brushing her hair with his palm.
"Rukia-bachaaaaaaan!" Soshi's complaining voice cut whatever conversation was about to transpire between Enji and Rukia. The Kuchiki nephew was in between Aishira's arm in what seemed to be a headlock.
"Didn't I just tell you I didn't give you permission to kill each other?" Rukia scratched her head as she approached them.
"Ah, gomen, gomen, taaaaaaichoooooou!"
Ichigo sighed heavily, a bit glad it was all done and over with.
He caught a glimpse of the adjutant badge on his arm.
Her Vice-Captain, huh…
- End of Seat 8 -
AN: Yaaaay! Finished! Mmm, I kind of wanted to use more of Enji's Zanpakutou but I feared it would reveal too much. And yes, he did say Hisana. Twice even. In his head. And that's not a typo. Gawd I missed writing and meeting deadlines. My hands seem to be shaky. Either I've gotten old or I haven't eaten properly. I think both. -faints-
Cheerios, Cookies and a whole lot of Bankai love!
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