Chapter 10: Let's Get Down to Business

"So where are you taking me, Rukia-chan?" I asked as she led me out of the Kuchiki manor. She smiles excitedly.

"I'm going to take you to meet my captain! The captain of the 13th division!" she exclaimed excitedly as she took off running, "Consider this physical training!" I laughed. This girl was certainly eccentric at times.

We made it to the thirteenth division in after about 15 minutes of running. Rukia led me to a room, and then screeched to a stop. I was actually out of breath, so I gladly stopped as well. This girl's endurance was insane! Or did mine just suck?

"Yours just sucks," I heard Kagekishi say inside my head, and Aisuhime cackle in laughter at him. Don't y'all have a mute button? "Nope!" they said in unison and then were quiet. They are so weird.

Rukia smiled before knocking on the door. We heard a faint 'come in!' and we did. I walked in to see a pale man with white hair that seemed to be about as long as mine. He didn't seem that old despite his white hair that obviously went white prematurely. This was obvious because he had black eyebrows.

"Ah, Rukia! What a pleasant surprise! How can I help you?" the man said kindly with a smile on his face. Okay, so note to self, not all captains are stoic as all get out, minus Captain Unohana of course. She was nice.

I felt Rukia nudge me, breaking me out of my thoughts and letting me know I had to talk. Well dang. She knows I'm shy, but this guy seems really nice.

"Ano (Um)… Konichiwa, my name is Shinkiro Ogawa, and I recently became a soul reaper and due to some extenuating circumstances. Rukia-chan told me you might be able to help me learn some basic things about the Soul Society and what skills I need to have to become strong," I said shyly, but determined. He looked at me shocked at first but then smiled.

"I have heard of your situation, Shinkiro-chan, as I'm sure you prefer to be called," he said seriously, but then went back to his friendly self, "My name is Jushiro Ukitake, captain of the thirteenth division of the 13 Court Guard companies. Do you know anything about these?"

"No," I said shaking my head, "Only that there are 13, and that the 11th division is known as the best fighters without using shikai. Also, the fourth division is the healing division, and the captain is Retsu Unohana-taicho. The captain of the sixth division is Byakuya Kuchiki-taicho, and his lieutenant is Renji Abarai. These are all just learned from experience though." Ukitake-taicho nodded in approval.

"You learned all that just from the observations made in the past two days?" he asked in verification. I nodded.

"Well you are definitely observant and teachable! That's a good sign! Let me begin with explaining the 13 Court Guard Companies, and then, I suggest if you need help with kido to go talk to Nanao Ise or you can ask your mentor, Byakuya. I'll also explain what kido is if you would like," Ukitake-taicho said with a smile as he got up and went and sat on the floor with a bunch of books he grabbed. Rukia left so he and I could get started.

Normally, this would spaz me out. I don't like being alone with older men, but Ukitake-taicho reminded me of what I dreamed having a good father would be like when I was younger and I still had a hope of trying to escape.

-4 Hours Later-

"Let's stop here for tonight, Shinkiro-chan," Ukitake-taicho said as he closed the book on kido, "You really are quite the quick learner, Shinkiro-chan!" His praises made me smile really big, as we both stood up

"Now, I have a question," he says seriously, "Why do you want to become strong?" I looked sadly at the ground.

"You know my extenuating circumstances, right?" I asked sadly, and when he nodded yes, I continued, "Well I never want to have to go through that again. I don't want to be defenseless ever again. I may have given up on being part of a famil.y, but for once, I have friends whom I wish to protect. I want to become strong so that I am no longer a liability to Byakuya-taicho. So that I can fight alongside Yumichika-kun, Rukia-chan, and you, Ukitake-taicho and Byakuya-taicho and even protect them if need be. I know you and Byakuya-taicho are captains, so the chances of me having to protect y'all or even getting to y'all's levels are slim to none, but that is my goal."

At the end of my little speech, Ukitake-taicho gave me a huge hug. "You are already very strong emotionally, Shinkiro-chan," he said with a huge smile, "And your heart and reasons are pure. If anyone can do it, you can. If you need just some fatherly advice or anything like candy, please don't hesitate to come by."

"A-arigato, Ukitake-oto-san!" I said without thinking and then slapped my hand over my mouth as he released me from the hug, "G-gomen nasai, Ukitake-taicho!" He merely looked at me and grinned.

"I probably am old enough to be your great great great grandfather, and besides, you have no family here. I will gladly be your family, but if you call me that, I'd prefer you do so with my first name," Jushiro-oto-san said with a smile, "Now can you find your way back to the Kuchiki manor?"

Just as I was about to embarrassedly tell him no, there was a knock on the door. Jushiro-oto-san told them to come in, and I was surprised when Byakuya-taicho at the door.

"Shinkiro-san needs her rest if she will be any good in training tomorrow morning," he said in typical Byakuya-taicho stoicism.

"Ah, good evening, Byakuya-kun!" Jushiro-oto-san greeted as I walked over to Byakuya-taicho, "That is a very bright and determined pupil you have there, Byakuya-kun. She sought me out to learn about kido and how the Soul society works all by herself. She is quite the quick learner too!" He was making me blush with his compliments. He really did sound like a doting father.

"Good to know. Let's just hope her physical training goes as well as this then," Byakuya-taicho replies appearing slightly surprised and then turned to me, "Now let's go." I nodded and turned to face Jushiro-oto-san.

"Ja ne, Jushiro-oto-san!" I said happily waving at him before following Byakuya-taicho out the door. He seemed shocked at what I called the other captain. Oh well. I felt accomplished.

We made it to the Kuchiki manor in complete silence, not the awkward kind though. I went to my room to get some sleep before the roughest part of my training began.