Author's note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is AU and draws inspiration from The West Wing. Some of the dialogue is almost directly quoted from the show.


The Power of the Presidential Seal

Economics was one of the subjects were the president knew more than he did. Jyuushiro was more than glad to let him take the reins for the meeting for the most part.

"I'm the only one in the room who isn't an economist, but it seems to me that the annual budget for the new fiscal year is found either in balance, in deficit, or in surplus. I don't know how I can sell congress, to say nothing of people who graduated eighth grade on the idea that there's anything in between." He grinned apologetically.

"Jyuushiro's not talking about the portion being accounted for as off budget and particularly not the long-term capital outlays," Urahara continued.

Jyuu shrugged. "Here's where you lose me."

Urahara continued to speak. "Ten years ago, the federal budget had a deficit of twenty-two billion dollars but the national debt rose from five point two trillion to five point four trillion in the same fiscal year."

Ichigo slipped into the room and handed the president a note.

"Thank you. That's a debt increase of 188 million against a 22 billion dollar deficit." Urahara took a moment to read the note. "Oh, this is good news."

"You knew those numbers in your head?" a woman asked.

"The President's startlingly freakish that way," Jyuu commented; it was true after all. Either that or Urahara had made it all up.

Urahara grinned at Jyuu. "Rukia's coming for dinner."

"She's in town?"

Urahara's youngster niece was a favorite of the senior staff. She was also practically Urahara and Yoruichi's daughter. Technically, she wasn't related to them, but she had been an adopted niece for so long most people forgot about that, and she had been practically raised by Kisuke and Yoruichi. Rukia Kuchiki was the sister-in-law of Byakuya Kuchiki who was both White House Counsel and a distant cousin of Yoruichi's.

"Yes." The president grinned at everyone in the room. "My niece's starting Georgetown after the first and she's scouting off-campus housing. Guys, we're done. I'm sorry, but some of my staff has been waiting and they haven't had the chance to bother me for a couple of hours. Thanks so much."

The president left the room rubbing his hands together. "I'm going to make chili!"

Jyuu had a bad feeling about this. "Yes."

"I'll make it for everybody. Ichigo!"

"Sir-"

"My friends, my niece, my beer, and some chili. Yes!"

"And you're going to be the one to, you know, cook this food?" Jyuushiro asked as they entered the Oval Office. Ichigo followed behind them.

"Yes, sir?"

"Ah, Ichigo. My youngest niece, Rukia, is down from Hanover. I'm making chili tonight. It's her favorite."

The young man bit his lip. "Uh, sir, you know the first lady does not want you to eat-"

"The first lady's in Pakistan. I can eat whatever I want."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm going to need some ingredients."

"Like what?"

"Well, he'll need some chili," Jyuu commented.

"Don't ever listen to him." Urahara instructed. "Look, Ms. Tsumugiya's got it all written down somewhere. Just tell her to give it to the steward's office. And send everyone else in."

"Yes, sir." The young man headed out of the office.

"Thank you, Ichigo!"

"How could you possibly remember that ten years ago there was a one hundred eight-eight million dollar debt increase off a twenty-two billion dollar deficit?" Jyuushiro asked.

Urahara clutched a hand to his chest. "God, I was right?"

Jyuushiro just shook his head. "Ah, see, that's what I thought."

The president laughed, and Jyuu was still shaking his head as the senior staff began wandering in. The president grinned at them.

"Everyone! Come in. Come on in. Hey, listen up everybody. Rukia's down from Hanover. I'm making chili for everyone tonight."

The response was not very enthusiastic.

"Great."

"Okay."

"Chili?"

Urahara glanced at Jyuushiro, clearly wanted a more excited response. Then he shook his head and glanced around at the senior staffers. "All right. You know what? Let's do this. Everybody look down at the big seal in the middle of my carpet."

Everyone looked down at the Presidential Seal on the carpet in the middle of the room.

Urahara smiled. "Now, everybody look back up at me. Rukia's coming down from Hanover, and I'm making chili for everyone tonight."

This time the staff's reaction was loud and overly enthusiastic.

"That's great!"

"I love chili!"

"Terrific!"

President Urahara smiled. "There, you see how benevolent I can be, when everyone does what I tell them to do. Now sit down."

It was time to get this meeting started. Jyuushiro looked around the room. "I would like this meeting to last no more than three minutes. I will allow it to last no more than five."