Don't own Bleach
The Barracks were busy with action as some new recruits had arrived, it was by no means all of them that the Head Captain promised but it was a start. There were new faces every where he looked. It felt odd to have so many new faces running around, he felt like if he turned around he would still see the old faces smiling back at him. Daichi knew it would never happen and he'd have to get training the new group. Maybe I could have Chiba and Yamauchi train some? he wondered.
He walked through the bustling crowd that ran through the barracks getting things in order and filed away. Daichi looked around and watched as Kiyone began introducing some of the new members to the old ones. He walked over to where Kiyone was and smiled as they all stopped talking, "Don't stop on my account." he said with kind smile.
Kiyone looked between Daichi and the new members of the Squad, she saluted her Lieutenant, "Lieutenant Senshi, how is Captain Ukitake doing? Is he improving?"
"He's doing fine Kiyone. Don't worry, he'll be back on his feet in no time at all. You'll see." he said squeezing the girl's shoulder. She had already lost her constant companion in Sentaro, she didn't need to worry about losing her Captain as well, "Now, I need you to gather everyone up and meet in here. There are some things that need to be addressed."
"Yes sir, Lieutenant Senshi, sir!" Kiyone saluted and sped off left to gather the Squad.
It gave Daichi a moment to think, everyone that was already in the Barracks had gathered round at his order and waited for the rest of the Squad by talking among themselves. He tried to listen in to what they were saying to get to know the newcomers but their whispers were too quiet and Kiyone yelling at the others to get inside. He smiled, Kiyone seems to have bounced back from losing Sentaro. He knew she was still hurting, she wasn't as lively as she was before but, seeing her like this was a start.
When the group returned, Daichi was surrounded by a mix of the remaining old faces and the new faces. It gave a new sense of hope that the Squad could rebuild. He knew, along with the rest of the old Squad, that they couldn't replace what they lost but they can help rebuild what they all lost. Daichi just hoped that the Giants could not attack again for a while, at least until he gets the new Squad members battle ready.
The Lieutenant smiled at the Squad as they gathered round, Yamauchi and Kiyone stood at the front as usual. It wouldn't be a Squad meeting if he couldn't see Yamauchi's bright green eyes and Kiyone's golden brown hair at the front of the group. Chiba was in the middle trying to look like he was paying attention, no doubt Yamauchi will tell him later, the rest were all staring intently, waiting for him to start speaking, "I know you were expecting to see Captain Ukitake but he's out sick at the moment so you'll have to suffer me for the day." he joked getting a few chuckles from the Squad, "Anyway, I want to welcome you all to Squad 13 if you need anything and you can't find either myself or the Captain, look for Kiyone or Yamauchi." the stood up straighter after hearing their names, "I wish I could sit down and talk with all of you right now but unfortunately I have a lot of work to do." Daichi let his eyes fall to Chiba, "Chiba, I need you to assess them all in Zanjutsu today and let me know how they do." Daichi said, it wasn't much but it was an olive branch to Chiba to show that there was no hard feelings.
Once Chiba agreed, Daichi smiled and dismissed the group to their duties. He walked through the Barracks to make sure everyone was working, he observed some of the familiar Squad members helping out the new ones. Daichi knew then that Kaien and he had done a good job in training them and teaching them. Silently, he headed back toward his desk. The stack of papers wasn't inviting but he had to do it so the Captain wouldn't have to.
Before he took his seat, Daichi prepared a pot of tea for himself to help him through all the paperwork. After it was ready, Daichi took his seat at his desk and rubbed the back of his neck. Daichi took up the pen and began filling out the forms accepting the new members of the Squad. After each time he signed his name, he kept telling himself that it was for the best of his Squad. He couldn't afford them to undermanned should the Giants attack again.
He took a break and leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms before picking up his cup and taking a sip of his piping hot tea. Daichi closed his eyes as he let the warmth take over, tea was one of his favorite things in the world, it always relaxed him and after the what has happened. Placing the cup down after he had finished it, Daichi took a sheet of paper of the, now slightly smaller, stack and found it was the form about Rukia.
The return to active duty form was thick, it was like a short novel. Daichi stared at it blankly for a moment but started to read. It was all standard, stating that Rukia was fit and ready to carry out any and all duties that were expected of her. He continued to read the notes from Captain Unohana and Captain Kuchiki on her condition, the Squad 4 Captain praised the girl's resilience in her recovery and how well she had progressed. However Captain Kuchiki was sceptical about how well she was doing and whether she was ready to return to full duty. I wonder if that is just him being the protective brother? Daichi read the form twice and decided to approve her return however, it all came down to whether Byakuya would agree. I have a feeling that I will have to go and speak to Captain Kuchiki, he thought as he signed the document. Daichi rolled his wrist and sighed.
Now, he had to wait for the Kuchiki clan leader to decide whether they want Rukia to rejoin the Squad. It wasn't meant to be that way but, the Kuchiki clan hold some power with being a major noble family unlike many others who come from nobility. It was another thing Daichi disliked about noble families, he didn't understand why being born to a family gave any more rights than a regular person.
As he leaned back in his chair, Daichi wondered how the Squad will react to Rukia returning. He knew the old Squad would welcome her back with open arms, she was very well liked among them. It showed when she was up for execution and they were up in arms when it was declared that she would be executed, but he found himself wondering if the new members would be intimidated by her and her nobility, maybe I should warn them before hand? he thought with a smile, nah, let's see their reaction. It might make me laugh.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Daichi looked up and found Kiyone with a hell butterfly on her finger, "What is it, Kiyone?" he asked with an amused smile at her confused look.
"You're being summoned by Captain Kurosutchi. He wants you to meet him at the Research and Development Laboratory as soon as you can." said Kiyone.
Only one thought came to mind when he wondered why Kurosutchi would want him to go to the Lab, Rangiku. He stood abruptly, "Thank you, Kiyone. You're in charge here until I'm back." he said as he rushed out the door, his orange kimono waving around in the wind as he breezed by Kiyone before he disappeared in a flash.
