After a mild rant that lasted half an hour and resulted in only two people getting hit, Ichigo returned to Seireitei on the day of the meeting.

Once inside the 1st Division, he spotted Matsumoto, and quickly made his way over. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Anyone know what this meeting is about?"

"Ichigo! What are you doing here?" Matsumoto questioned happily.

"Got a message saying I had to be here." Ichigo answered. "I thought only the taicho were invited to meetings like this."

"It's rare, but there are times when there is a combined taicho and fukutaicho meeting." Renji said as he walked closer to the couple.

"So what makes this one so special?" Ichigo asked.

"Who knows?" Renji shrugged, not really affected by not knowing.

Ichigo looks around at the others gathered. He sees Unohana and Byakuya talking about something. Yachiru at Kenpachi's shoulder. Kyoraku, Ukitake, Toshiro, and Rukia all talking to each other.

He cuts his eyes away only to immediately bring them back to the last group he saw. "When did Toshiro and Rukia start hanging out?"

Matsumoto had a sly smile on her face that made the two males wary. "No one knows. However, they have been seen around each other a lot recently. Rumor has it that tension has skyrocketed between Kuchiki-taicho and Hitsugaya-taicho due to possible involvement with Kuchiki Rukia."

"If there was something going on, Kuchiki-taicho would know and would act on it." stated a proud redhead.

Yamamoto-soutaicho called for order, thus ending the conversation. The old man waited a little for everyone to get in their correct places. Once everything was in order, he began. "You have all been summoned here for a reason. After deliberation, we have decided that it is time to fill the empty taicho seats."

After a few moments, the mumbles of those that were surprised by the announcement settled down.

"Kurosaki Ichigo. It has been decided to offer you the position of taicho. Should you accept, after your current schooling is complete, you must enter and graduate from the academy before you can take up the position. Do you accept?" Yamamoto asked.

"I accept." Ichigo said with a smile on his face, but kept his voice serious. He noticed Matsumoto, Renji, Rukia, and many others also had smiles on their faces.

"Very well. You shall be the taicho of the 3rd Division once all requirements have been met." The old man paused dramatically. "Shinji Hirako. The decision has been made to offer you the position of taicho once more. Do you accept?"

The blonde man looked completely serious. "I accept." Once those words were out of his mouth, his smile also appeared on his face.

"You will be the taicho of the 5th Division once again." Yamamoto-soutaicho chose to do another dramatic pause. "There was much deliberation about the third opening. Abarai Renji, fukutaicho of the 6th Division, you have been appointed to be the taicho of the 9th Division."

The biggest grin in history was on Renji's face at the announcement. "Thank you, Yamamoto-soutaicho." Renji then turned to face his captain. "Did you vote for me, Kuchiki-taicho?"

"No."

"Kurosaki Ichigo. Due to the time that it will take for you to fulfill your requirements, Ukiatke-taicho has decided to step down as the taicho of the 13th Division, and will help integrate you into your new position. He will run your division until you are ready." Yamamoto announced causing a stir amongst the fukutaicho. "Kuchiki Rukia, current fukutaicho of the 13th Division, you have been appointed as the new taicho of your division."

Rukia bowed deeply toward. "I accept the position of taicho of the 13th Division."

Yamamoto was pleased. The girl had been the most respectful of the newly appointed taicho. And of the few things he liked, he liked respect.

"Very well. You will all start your new jobs tomorrow." It sounded like a dismissal, so some of the shinigami were preparing to leave. The words that followed that statement caused them to stay. "Kuchiki-taicho. Hitsugaya-taicho. It is time that you inform us of the reason you were both late three days ago."

"I was talking with Kuchiki-fukutaicho about something important and lost track of the time. When Kuchiki-taicho arrived to tell me of the meeting, he saw us hugging and demanded to know what was going on. I simply told him that it was obvious. After Rukia left, we made our way here. The rest you know." Hitsugaya said smugly. He was not embarrassed, whatsoever.

Rukia was a different story. She was completely embarrassed. And all of the eyes looking at her did nothing to quell the embarrassment.

Yamamoto was smiling. Not that there was anybody who could tell. He couldn't believe what Hitsugaya had just said. No wonder Kuchiki Byakuya was in a bad mood.

Many of the other captains all had the same epiphany at the same time. Hitsugaya had anterior motives for wanting Kuchiki Rukia to become a taicho. While his reasons were solid, they were also for his own personal gain.

"And just what was your 'important' conversation about?" Byakuya asked. He wanted answered, and he wanted them now!

"This isn't happening… This isn't happening…" Rukia repeated while looking at the floor.

"Simple. I was discussing my relationship with your sister." replied Hitsugaya.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes. "Relationship?"

"Yes. Relationship. Kuchiki Rukia is my girlfriend." confirmed the white haired male.

"Someone's gonna die… someone's gonna die…" Rukia said in a sing-song like voice.

Yachiru giggled at the violet eyed woman. Many others felt some pity of the woman. Not because she was dating Hitsugaya-taicho, but because of the way the information was being revealed.

"And when did this happen?" interrogated Byakuya.

"Right before you entered my office."

That wasn't the answer Byakuya was hoping to get. However, he wasn't done just yet. "And you think yourself worthy of Rukia?"

"It doesn't matter what I think. Only Rukia's opinion matters." stated Hitsugaya.

"He's gonna get us both killed!" Rukia hissed.

"Even still, how will she know if you are worthy if you do not prove yourself worthy?" was Byakuya's clever response.

"You say to prove myself. I could be proving myself to you or to Rukia. Yet going through with it would be pointless. It is known that the answer to a decision is made within the first 15 seconds of consideration. Even if you give yourself time to think on it, you will usually come back to the first answer. It's a clever trap, Kuchiki, but it will not work on me." Hitsugaya replied in all seriousness.

"Is that so?" questioned Kuchiki Byakuya.

"Indeed. Let's say I try to prove myself. You could simply say that I was either trying too hard to impress, or I wasn't trying hard enough. Either way, I come out the bad guy, and you come out as the concerned brother." said Hitsugaya.

"I see. You have my blessing on this relationship, Hitsugaya. You have proven yourself worthy." Byakuya declared.

"But, didn't Hitsugaya just prove himself by saying that he refused to prove himself?" Rukia asked loud enough for everyone to hear.

All eyes look from the little Kuchiki to the two males then back to the woman.

Hitsugaya just shrugged.

Byakuya smirked.