AN: I'm a few days late for a weekly update, but not TOO late! ^^ I'm proud of myself :3

Chapter 24

"You're...the new captain?"

I nodded, frowning. "Izuru, what is the matter?"

He flinched slightly and bowed. "I'm sorry, Sa—captain! I was just...surprised."

Now even more curious, I prodded his chest. "Izuru, you're still a really bad liar."

He didn't smile and instead opened his mouth. Before he could apologize again, I sighed and grabbed his arms.

"Izuru. Why don't you want me as your captain? Is it because of my age? Or-"

"No, no, nothing like that. This squad..." After a pause, he looked to the side and finally ended in a whisper, "This squad has not been able to keep a captain with me as lieutenant. Ichimaru betrayed us and Amagai committed suicide. I don't want to lose another captain or friend."

My heart nearly felt like breaking at that, and I gently lifted his downturned chin. "Izuru, look at me. I'm not going to betray the squad, I promise. It wasn't your fault that your previous captains turned out bad. You're the best lieutenant anyone could ask for; I know because I worked under you as a lower officer. You treat your subordinates courteously and listen to their problems, even the lowest and most ill-mannered."

He bowed again. "Thank you, Sa—er, captain." I giggled at his near slip and he grinned ruefully. "I suppose I'll have to work on remembering to call you captain."

"Only in public, Izuru. Now hurry up or you'll be late!" His eyes widened and he quickly resumed running while pinching his nose, turning around to yell a hasty, pinched "Goodbye!" I chuckled and decided to conceal myself with my Zanpakuto; I was supposed to meet the squad officially after the lieutenant's meeting was finished, and didn't want to bump into anyone before then. I managed to make it back to my barracks without further incident and started packing my few belongings into the cardboard boxes stacked outside my door. I was debating whether to try dismantling my desk when I found a note taped to the bottom of a box.

"Your new barracks are located on the second floor of the central building. A desk, closet, quills, and parchment have been provided. Please make sure all belongings have been taken from your previous barracks. Also move all materials from your previous desk to the captain's office; a list of responsibilities and duties will be placed there. Arrive at the office by seven a.m. on weekdays and eight on weekends. Training with your lieutenant is mandatory and must take place at least once per week. Public training for the benefit of the squad is recommended." The note was not signed, and I carefully peeled it off before placing it in a more secure location.

Once my room was bare, I did a final search to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything and straightened up in front of the mirror. Again concealed with my Zanpakuto, I lazily strolled to the main squad grounds, where a small group of people had already gathered. The familiar scent of clean autumn air and a hint of marigold and lavender wafted by me as Izuru hurriedly approached. He looked around the gathered squad and sighed in apparent relief that he wasn't late. In the next few minutes, what seemed to be the rest of the squad had gathered and I decided it was time to show myself. I unmasked my presence while standing next to Izuru, and my sudden appearance caused many of the squad members to start backwards. Izuru, who was accustomed by now to my strange habit of disappearing and re-appearing, bowed to me and yelled at the squad to quiet down. I surveyed the squad before speaking.

"My name is Sayuri Miura, and I am your new captain. I promise to do my best and hope you will do the same so the 3rd Squad will be considered one of the most powerful again." I was cut off by some derisive yells and snorts.

"What the hell? The third seat's the new captain?"

"Sheesh, she's younger than all of us. She gets to boss everyone around now?"

"And she's a GIRL. How can she lead an entire squad? And how do we know she's not gonna betray us too?"

"She's not nearly strong enough. Just look at her! I oughta complain to the Head Captain and transfer to the 11th squad."

"Now we've got TWO pansies in charge. Great."

Izuru was about to silence them, his eyes flickering to me in indignation and embarrassment, but I shook my head, raising my voice and speaking as authoritatively as I could.

"Yes, I am the new captain. Three captains and Head Captain Yamamoto decided I was strong enough to lead this squad. I give you my word that I will not betray you. If you really don't believe I am strong enough, I am open to any challenges."

I waited as murmurs ran throughout the squad, and Izuru looked at me disapprovingly. "Captain, you don't need to prove your strength. Let me handle this." I glared at him, speaking in a low whisper.

"Izuru, your squad seems to have absolutely no respect. I'm amazed you managed to deal with such a group of dumb, arrogant men without a captain. Tomorrow, I want you to meet me in the main open training grounds at nine o'clock in the morning. Understood?"

"Yes, captain, but...why?"

I gave him a small smile. "I'm going to be training you. Maybe then the squad's going to respect your strength." Turning back to the squad, I said, "My first order is for all of you to be present tomorrow at nine o'clock in the morning at the central open training grounds. I will be training Lieutenant Kira and it is an amazing opportunity for you to learn. That is all." I turned and walked away, Izuru trailing me. Once we were out of hearing range, I turned to him and awkwardly began, "Izuru..."

"Yes, captain?"

"Can you help me move boxes from my old barracks?"

"Of course, captain." Feeling extremely strange for Izuru to be acting so formal and closed, I suddenly had an idea: I winked at him before abruptly flash stepping away. I arrived at my barracks and Izuru appeared several seconds later, breathing slightly fast.

"Captain-"

I finally laughed at the annoyed and confused expression on his face and impulsively hugged him.

"Captain!" Still holding him, I grinned up at the scandalized expression on his face before letting go.

"Izuru, I don't want anything to change between us just because I'm a captain now. The only thing new I want to have in this captain-lieutenant relationship is to be able to function without either of us spelling everything out in words."

"I understand, captain." Though he still spoke formally, he'd finally stopped acting like there was a massive barrier between us, and I indicated the stack of boxes in the center of my room.

"You take half and I'll take the other half."

The boxes contained mainly clothes and were fairly light. "Where are we going?" Izuru asked over the top of a box.

"My new barracks on the second floor of the main building." Once we arrived at the office, I set my load down and opened the door. The room was rather large compared to my former one, and I immediately noticed a sweet smell that caused Izuru to quickly drop the boxes on the floor and blanch.

"Er, Izuru, are you all right?"

"I think so. If you'll excuse me now, captain," he bowed and quickly left. I ran a hand through my hair, wondering ruefully how I would get rid of the persimmon smell so Izuru could enter my room without throwing up.

As I started to move all my belongings, I quickly found that former captain Ichimaru had an exceptionally strange sense of humor.

I muttered to myself in annoyance as a crunch underfoot indicated I had stepped on a dried persimmon leaf and started backwards in shock as a grinning red mask suddenly popped out of the wall when I pulled on the closet's lightbulb chain. Various hidden slots in the walls and floor appeared and I ended up treading extremely carefully before sitting at the desk on the floor with a sigh. I stretched my legs, yawning, when I felt something round and protruding. Curious, I moved the desk to the right and examined the area carefully; there was a small, circular bump in the wall. After some hesitation, I poked it and it quickly scampered back. Nothing happened.

Skeptical that the seemingly innocuous bump was really just what it appeared to be, I cautiously pressed it harder, then pinched, pulled, and wrenched it to no avail. Just as I was about to give up, my Zanpakuto spoke to me.

This is a soul reaper's room. Why not try using us?

I drew my Zanpakuto, wondering what to do and wishing not for the first time that Shinku no Yuri had been more specific. After a moment of pondering, a flash of inspiration struck. I clasped both hands on the hilt of Shinku no Yuri, pointed the blade backwards over my shoulder, and activated Konso. Carefully, I placed the glowing end on the protrusion in the wall, which slid inwards. A small portion of the wooden wall slat moved to the right, revealing a shallow space which held a slim wooden box. A faded sketch of a grinning fox on yellowed, crumbling paper was pinned to the front, and I opened the box.

Inside were two unframed pictures, which I lifted out and examined. I nearly dropped them in surprise.

The first was of a very young-looking Rangiku and a silver-haired boy, both in Academy uniforms and standing in front of a classroom. The second was a full-body picture of someone in a captain's haori who was unmistakably Gin Ichimaru, and a shorter, messy-haired Izuru standing next to him with an awed expression. Though I was surprised to see Izuru without his characteristic haircut, I was even more shocked to realize that Ichimaru didn't seem evil or frightening, even with the wide smile and slitted eyes. As a matter of fact, he was rather...attractive.

I shook my head and quickly closed the box, placing it back and sliding the wall slat. Ichimaru was my enemy and deserved to die for the crimes he had committed. However, even as I sat down in my new office, I could not stop wondering why he had betrayed the Soul Society. There was no real benefit I could see; Tousen had a twisted sense of justice and had thus defected, but Ichimaru hadn't shown why he left. Was he unhappy with the Gotei 13?

My thoughts were interrupted by a woman standing in front of my desk, who bowed.

"Captain? I'm the third seat of Squad 4, Ayaka Sato. I've been ordered to place the Gentei Reiin seal on you."

"Seal?"

"All captains and lieutenants have it; it restrains your reiatsu by eighty percent when you enter the World of the Living. You must only release it when absolutely necessary. The command is 'Gentei Kaijo'."

"I understand. Um, what should I do?"

"The seal goes on your left side under your collarbone. Could you pull down your Shihakusho a little? Thank you." She placed both hands over my skin, leaning over my desk slightly, and intoned "Gentei Reiin!"

I felt a burning sensation and a black marigold tattoo, the symbol of my squad, appeared on my skin.

Ayaka bowed again and I thanked her before she left. Looking at the stack of paperwork I had, I let out a sigh before starting on the first one. It was awfully boring.

"Has everyone assembled?"

"Yes, captain."

"Good. Let's go, Izuru." I noticed his hand quivering slightly, and I looked up at him concernedly.

"Something wrong?"

"Er, I suppose...well...I'm nervous."

"Nervous? You already fought me before."

"You were a student back then. Now you're a captain so I don't know how strong you are!" His voice cracked slightly and I patted his arm.

"Have confidence in yourself, Izuru. It's just training." We arrived at the central training grounds and I addressed the squad.

"Thank you for all attending. During this training session, both of our shikai forms will be released, so please stand away."

I drew my Zanpakuto and nodded to Izuru. We took up our respective stances and started with a shout.

Our blades clashed against each other, quivering with tension as we tested each other's strength. Izuru had definitely improved but it was easier for me to block him than before. After a few minutes of fighting close-range, I decided it was time.

"Declare our wrath, Shinku no Yuri!" The sky darkened, crackling with lightning. I happily watched as the twin dragons on the blades glowed and flickered.

"Raise your head, Wabisuke!" Izuru came at me with great speed, but I flash stepped away before he could land a blow on my blade. Dexterously, I somersaulted around with flash step as fast as I could, finally feinting at his right arm. He instinctively brought his Zanpakuto up to block but I grabbed his left arm, knocked the blade out of his hand, and kicked him straight in the stomach. At the last second, he moved an inch to the left to escape the brunt of my kick and slid a short distance away. I quickly grabbed his Zanpakuto before he could retrieve it and paused, my eyes widening. Izuru immediately took advantage of my opening.

"Hado 33: Sokatsui!" The blue blast flew at me and I knew I had no time to dodge. I thrust out my hand instinctively and released a blast of my own, which fizzled with Izuru's for a few seconds before finally exploding in a cloud of smoke. "Bakudo 21: Sekienton." Red smoke billowed around me and I was unable to sense Izuru any longer. He had masked his reiatsu.

I warily turned in a circle, trying to figure out where he was. It was no use to try detecting his location by sight, reiatsu, or even where the wind was blowing as this particular Bakudo provided a complete smoke cover.

Then, a lavender and marigold scent passed by me and I quickly tumbled backwards in the opposite direction, just as the smoke cleared and Izuru's clenched fist landed where I had been. The ground split and cracked from the force and I flash stepped directly behind Izuru, placing my blade at his neck. He froze.

"That's all for today. Good job, Izuru." I handed him back his Zanpakuto, which he sheathed while shakily standing up.

I turned to the squad and was immediately drowned out by clapping and cheering. I couldn't help but grin as we walked past them.

"Captain, that was amazing! You were so fast I swear you turned invisible!"

"Imagine the look on the other captains' faces when they see how strong they are at the Shinigami Games!"

"We're definitely gonna be the strongest squad for once!"

"Lieutenant Kira is so cool! I used to think he was a pansy but he really deserves to be lieutenant!"

When we were finally back in the office, I lingered at Izuru's desk.

"You've really improved, Izuru."

He looked at me with a half-amused expression. "You're telling me that I improved? I was worried for my life back there!"

"Are you all right? Did you get injured?"

"Just this cut on my arm from when I landed after your kick."

"Let me see." I grabbed at his arm, but he insisted.

"It's not a big deal-"

"I said the same thing before but you healed me anyways. Think of it as repayment." I smiled before using a low-level healing Kido to heal the cut, which was fairly shallow.

When I was done, I asked, "Izuru, back then when I grabbed your Zanpakuto."

"Yes?"

"When I touched the hilt, it was like I'd touched your soul. I don't know how to explain, but..."

"A Zanpakuto is part of your soul. Thus, it is considered an extreme expression of trust for a soul reaper to even hold another's Zanpakuto. It is heavily looked down upon to do so in fighting an opponent you do not personally know."

I dropped my head. "I'm really sorry, Izuru. I wouldn't have done that if I'd known!"

"It's all right. I trust you and you trust me, so it's not a big deal."

Touched, I grasped his hand.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. But next time, will you let me hold your Zanpakuto? I want to know what your soul's like too," he joked, eyes twinkling.

"Sure, but only if you give me half of your paperwork."

"Half? But you already have so much!"

"I finished mine yesterday. Well?" I held out my hand, and he grudgingly handed me a stack of paper.

"How about we go to the hot springs with Rangiku, Renji, and Shuuhei on Sunday?"

He eyed me. "You do know that as a captain, you've got a personal mini-hot springs?"

"I know, but it's no fun being alone. Besides, didn't Captain Kurotsuchi invent it? Who knows what he put in the water." I shivered and he laughed.

"All right, I'll tell the others. See you later."

On the way back from my office, I met Rangiku.

"What brings you here?"

She waved a hand dismissively. "My captain wants me to drop off some reports. Looks like your fifth seat got in a drunken fight with our fifth seat about whose captain is cooler."

I sighed. "Seriously? I'll have to talk to him."

"See you later then, captain." As she turned to go, I impulsively grabbed her arm.

"Rangiku, do you have time to talk?"

"After I drop these off, I'm free. Why?"

"I want to ask you some questions. About—about Gin Ichimaru." She frowned.

"Why?"

I turned pink. "I just wanted to know."

She eyed me skeptically but nodded. Once I closed the office, we went to my room and sat down.

"Rangiku, what kind of man was Ichimaru?"

"Well, he was a puzzle for most. Slitted eyes, permanent smile, silver hair, skeletal kind of appearance...his squad loved him, though. He worked hard but was famous for pranks."

"Why did he leave the Soul Society, then?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Izuru and I were closest to him, but he never told us before. His last words to me were that he was sorry."

I felt a pang of guilt for bringing up the past, and apologized accordingly. "I'm sorry for asking you all this, but I took his place and I want to know more about him."

"It's all right. What else did you want to know?"

"How did you know each other?"

She smiled sadly. "When I was very young, I was lost and dying of hunger in a bad Rukongai district. Then this strange kid with silver hair gave me dried persimmons and brought me to where he was living—he was Gin. He saved my life again from some yakuza; I don't know exactly what happened, but I remember his face. He wasn't smiling and he told me to run back to where we were living at the time. We were best friends, but he was mysterious even then. He would always disappear without telling me where he was going. Once, when he came back, he was wrapped in a Shihakusho and there was blood on his face."

She took a sip of tea and continued recounting fragments of memories. "He told me that he was going to become a Shinigami so things would end without me having to cry. I joined the Academy with him. I would always tease him about his strange name, and he finally told me he'd made it up because he had no family and didn't remember anything about himself. I was no better, and he told me that the day we met would be my birthday." Tears started running down her face, and I awkwardly offered her a tissue from the box on my desk. She sobbed into it, and I crawled over to her side and placed an arm on her shoulder. After a few minutes, she finally calmed down.

"Rangiku, I'm so sorry for asking you."

She shook her head. "It's okay. It's just that Gin and I...we were so close, but in the end, it turns out I know nothing about him."

In a bad attempt to comfort her, I said, "He saved your life and didn't want you to cry—it sounds like he was a real friend."

"But if he wanted to protect me so much, why did he leave without telling me?" She seemed to be on the verge of breaking down again when she happened to notice the bump in the wall.

"Sayuri, what's that button do?"

Not wanting to mention the pictures I had found, I lied. "What button?"

"Tell me the truth, Sayuri. Gin always loved trapdoors and things like that. I know that button—it activates a door, doesn't it?"

Unable to meet her eyes, I dropped mine. "Yes."

"Will you show me?"

I paused. "All right." I activated Konso and opened the secret door, pulling out the box. Rangiku's face changed and she grabbed it, touching the sketch carefully.

"This was our friendship box!"

"Friendship box?"

"Gin and I kept this box throughout our Academy days and we decided to keep it forever as a memento of our friendship. I wondered what happened to it! I made the sketch on the front. There should be three pictures in here." She eagerly took out the contents and frowned.

"Where's the third?"

"I don't know. There were only two pictures when I found this box. What was the third?"

"It was on my graduation day, when Gin was a lieutenant and I had just received my Shihakusho. It was one of the only times when Gin was truly smiling."

"Truly smiling?"

"Yes. I don't know how to explain." She clapped her hands. "I've got it! You've got that ability of yours, right? Come on, look at my eyes." I did and entered the surface of her mind: she was clearly focusing on a single image. I looked at it.

And made the conclusion that whether I liked it or not, Gin was handsome. Instead of pushing it out of my head like I had been doing, I started pondering Gin himself. During Rangiku's emotional account, my hate for him had definitely lessened, but it was still there. What kind of friend would simply betray the people who trusted him most? And as a captain, it was still my responsibility to defeat him; he was a traitor. Rangiku broke through my confused thoughts.

"Sayuri, will you please promise me something? As my friend?"

"What is it?"

"Don't kill Gin."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"Eventually, as a captain and Gin's replacement, you'll have to fight him in the Winter War. Please, promise you won't kill him!"

My heart broke slightly, but I firmly shook my head. "I'm sorry, Rangiku, but I can't. He's my enemy and a traitor to the Soul Society. Even if I wanted to, I have no choice but to defeat him as a Gotei 13 captain."