Sotaicho had called a Captain's meeting, and once again, all eyes were on me. Not a continuous gaze like last time, but shifty glances over a period of several seconds. I sighed, wishing I could just have the same respect as a normal Captain.
"So why are we here, Sotaicho?" I asked wearily, just wanting to go to bed.
"I think you know why we're gathered here."
"Okay, well how much details do you want to know?"
"The full story would be nice."
"Well, he found me in the Mortal world, and I decided to go with him simply because I didn't want to endanger human's lives. From there, he took me to Hell, and after irritating both him, Gin and Tousen, He decided we'd fight a day from that moment. I was awake when Tousen tried to get me, and I easily killed him. From there, I fought Gin after several petty threats, and I decided not to kill him for Rangiku's sake. From there, I waited 5 hours until the final fight. We began with basic sword play and we eventually advanced to high ranked Bakudo and Bankai. From there, we both gradually released our power until we were both even. But even then, he still had enough energy to fight back, and that was when he stabbed me with his Zanpakuto. So I released the last 3 butterflies, and by that point, I was moving to fast to be stopped, and I decapitated him. I then advised one of the few Demons to explain how to get out of here and that's basically it until you guys showed up." I explained with a shrug. Everyone looked at me in shock and awe, and I closed my eyes, wanting this conversation to be over with. "My apologies for leaving without specific permission, sir."
"Why are you apologizing?" Komamura asked in shock. I looked up at him with a look of confusion on my face.
"Why shouldn't I be?"
"Because you killed the number one threat to Soul Society and Human world alike." Soifon said in exasperation.
"Leave it to Sotaicho to decide whether or not I should be apologizing." I murmered, turning to him. He glanced around the room of captains before letting his gaze rest on me.
"Admittedly, you're departure without permission was a huge violation. But being that you did kill him, I will think nothing more of your lack of permission."
"Hai. Arigatou Gozaimasu. But now that I'm here, I have something to ask you." He raised a bushy eyebrow, but said nothing. "Allow me to interview Gin Ichimaru. Permission to choose whether he truly deserves the death penalty?" He was silent for a long while. "Keep in mind, Sotaicho, that I am a master at interegation and Psychology." He frowned slightly before saying slowly. "Permission granted."
"Arigatou." I bowed slightly, before waiting for anyone to say anything else.
"Is it true you are the leader of Hell?" Shunsui asked me eagerly.
"Aa, it is. But that is not important. I have no intentions of returning there or actually reigning unless something gets out of hand and I am forced to return." I shrugged once more. It seemed I was doing that a lot lately. I wanted to get off of this damned subject, and I wanted to get off of it now. "Sotaicho, when will I be able to resume Hollow hunting missions?"
"Not until the pain completely stops, and the fatigue of the medicine and physical strain wears off." Unohana said kindly. I scowled at the floorboards before smiling sweetly up at her.
"Wakata." I replied. "Permission to leave? As Unohana-taicho said, I am very tired and would appreciate going to my office to rest."
"Permission granted." I bowed slightly, before turning around slowly and beginning to walk out of the room.
"How'd the meeting go, taicho?" Rangiku asked Hitsugaya as he entered the office.
"Okay, I guess."
"Did you find out what happened in Shikuma-chan's battle?"
"Hai."
"Well?" Rangiku pressed.
"She released all 13 butterflies and used her ultimate speed and power to decapitate him. The rumors are true, she is the new leader of Hell."
"Akurei no Jo'o-sama! Sugoi na! Such an impressive title for such a young Shinigami." She stopped her awestruck exclamations as she observed her Captain's slightly more serious expression than normal. "Is something wrong, taicho?"
"Iie, I was just thinking."
"About how much you like Shikuma-chan? Well, it was really obvious you like her-"
"Urusai na!" He shouted, before turning away, seething. Rangiku's eyes widened in confusion, before slowly turning into a smirk as pieces fell together. "Taicho, you're blushing! Oooooh, Taicho has a crush! Taicho has a crush!" She sang, rising to her feet to circle Toshirou. His temples began to throb and when he could take her chanting no more, he took in a deep breath before yelling. "MATSUMOTO, URUSEE YO!" She flinched, before stepping back and stopping with an expression similar to that of a kicked puppy.
"Mou, You're so mean, taicho!" She whined, before sitting back down. Toshirou folded his arms and glared at her, before yanking some paperwork off of the desk and scrawling his signature on it sharply. How could she possibly think he actually liked that brat?!
When I awoke, I slowly sat up and realized a blanket had been placed over me. I glanced around and saw Shuhei sitting on the chair with his head face down on the desk. I heard him snore slightly, and I instantly knew he must have stayed up all night watching me and doing the paperwork I had needed to do. I smiled slightly, before getting up noiselessly. I gripped the blanket in one hand, and strolled over to him, draping it over him. "Stupid Hisho-san." I breathed. I wasn't worth his concern, Captain or not. With that, I grabbed my haori and slid open the door silently. As soon as I closed the door behind me, I slipped on my haori, and took off walking towards the left. As soon as I was several buildings away from my own, I closed my eyes and sensed for reiatsu's. It wasn't long before I felt Ichigo's vivid one, just as I had predicted he would. He had just entered the Seireite, so he was still quite a ways away from me. I yawned and stretched my arms above my head for a brief moment, before flash stepping to appear before him. When I came to a halt before him, he jumped at my sudden appearance but I payed him no mind, instead, I extended my left leg and leaned over it, stretching out my quads. I was sore all over, and I knew I'd need to start training again, ASAP!
"What are you doing here, Ishiko?" I heard him exhale thickly as he realized I wasn't going to stop calling him that. I straightened up and placed a hand on my hip, watching him impatiently.
"You know damn well! You freaking used kido to restrain me in my own block!"
"Yeah...and your point is?" I said slowly.
"I want to know why you did it!"
"Why do you think, ahou." He fell silent and I rolled my eyes. This kid was truly an imbecile. "I knew you were going to follow me to Urahara's so I stopped you from doing so. There are some conversations that aren't intended to be overheard. Besides, I also knew you'd follow me here, and you did. Now, get on with asking the thing I know you're going to ask me."
"What are you talking about?"
"You came here because you were dying to know if I really killed Aizen and how I did it." His eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise before his expression returned to it's usual scowl.
"How do you know if that's what I wanted to ask you?"
"Hmmm, well, let's see! I killed him relatively easy and quick compared to you who hardly even managed to injure him. You would want to know because you would like to become stronger am I correct." He looked away in anger. "Am I correct?" I repeated, raising my voice to alert him I wasn't pleased with silence as a response.
"Yeah." He grumbled.
"Good, then if that's the case, I'm not telling you." I replied icily, crossing my arms and turning to walk away.
"NANI YO? What the hell is your problem, kid!" I closed my eyes at the use of the word 'kid', feeling my jaw muscles begin to twitch.
"Both Rukia and I have gone over this with you before, we have lived over a hundred years longer than you, so you have no right to call us 'kids'." I stopped and turned to face him with a fierce glower on my face. "Besides, you don't need to know. After all, shouldn't you just be glad that he's dead, and not wonder how he died?" I narrowed my eyes at him, and I saw him think over what he was going to say next. Wise choice.
"Listen, I'm sorry for saying that. But, I didn't just come here to ask you that question."
"Hou?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Aa, I came here to ask you if you could train me." He bowed deeply and I felt my eyebrows quirk even more. After the initial shock of the unnexpected question wore off, I glanced away.
"Why should I? You are nothing but a brat who has shown nothing but insolence towards me. Besides, you trained under Urahara Kisuke, you should already know plenty."
"But you are a Captain, and a prodigy. You were able to accomplish things I only wish I could do. I want to get stronger, I feel like with each mission, I'm losing my ability to protect them bit by bit." I frowned at him. There was hidden intentions in this speech. Maybe not about the part where he mentioned my abilities, but in the protection part. No one's abilites to protect someone would decrease with more and more battles. There was something else he wasn't telling me. However, I knew better than to ask him about this now, instead, I decided to make this look I was actually considerring his offer, which I was to an extent, so it wouldn't be lying.
"Well, Ishiko, As you're aware, I just got out of the hospital about 2 days ago and I'm no where near top strength. I need to train myself a a bit before taking on the task of training someone else. Besides, you're also aware that I became Captain about 2 months ago, I still have a lot to learn about what it means to be a Captain, and tons of paperwork. And I don't think my lieutenant would be very happy if he had to do more paperwork than necessary. Also, Sotaicho's a stickler for rules, and he probably doesn't want me out galavanting with you while I have other duties to Soul Society. So, I'm sorry, but I don't believe I can train you." He straightened up, and looked at me with an unreadable expression.
"Than I guess that means I'll just have to ask Sotaicho." And with that he took a flash step, and was out of my sight in less than an instant. I exhaled thickly, cursing the fact that I hadn't took into considderation he'd do something dumb like ask Sotaicho. Damn it, this kid was persistent. I figured I might as well follow him to hear for myself what Sotaicho would have to say. I leapt up onto the nearest building, before proceeding to flash step, jumping over 4 rooftops at a time before kicking off again.
I reached Sotaicho's office soon enough and I leaned against the outside wall, focusing some of my reiatsu to my ears so I could hear what they were saying.
"Kurosaki-san, what are you doing here?" I recognized Sotaicho's elderly voice.
"I've come to ask your permission if Shikuma Owasai can be my trainer. She said that you probably wouldn't allow it, so I came here to see for myself." Arrogant bastard. I found myself thinking bitterly.
"She said I wouldn't allow it, ne?" I heard nothing from Ichigo, so I figured he must have nodded. "Well, I don't see anything wrong with it. As a Captain it's her own choice on whether or not to take on a pupil. I think she's toying with you, Kurosaki-san." I felt a surge of his anger, and I had to shove my fist in my mouth to stop from laughing.
"Wakata, Arigatou, Sotaicho." Ichigo said through gritted teeth, and I sensed him coming out of the building. He almost walked right past me, before he realized I was leaning against the wall.
"How much did you hear?" He asked.
"All of it. And yeah, I was toying with you. Just making you look like an even bigger idiot than you already are, baka!" I singsonged. He glared at me, before flipping me off. I chuckled. "Fine. Meet me at Urahara's training grounds in 3 days. By then I should be back to normal. Now, if you don't mind, I have some other things to do that don't involve you." With that, I returned the rude gesture he had shot at me a few seconds before and proceeded to flash step out of his sight.