It was quiet in the Seireitei. The weather has been quite nice the past week and it had made many of the Soul Reapers lethargic. Even the adrenaline-addicted members of the Eleventh were lounging around, preferring to enjoy the sun in peace.
To Hitsugaya Toshiro, the warmth had no impact on his work. His cold spiritual pressure kept his office comfortably cool and perfect for paperwork.
His lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku, wasn't at her desk. Claiming she couldn't possibly work while the weather was just teasing her to come outside. Hitsugaya knew that, if the sun hadn't been shining, she still wouldn't have been at her desk.
Not that he minded much. Hitsugaya figured he may be the only one who didn't hate paperwork. He didn't love it, either but he didn't mind doing it. His eyes moved swiftly over the sentences. With practised ease, he scribbled his signature on the dotted line and continued to the next.
A rapt rhythm of knocks is what broke the silence. Toshiro paused for a moment, his senses taking a quick look as to who was going to interrupt him.
Strong. At least a seated officer.
'Come in', Toshiro called.
The door was opened, revealing a man that did not look like his supposed age of fifty-four. The only thing that hinted at his years, was the faint crows' feet and streaks of grey that broke up the mess of bright orange hair. A lieutenant's badge was fastened to his left bicep, proudly displaying the division he was part of, the Thirteenth.
'Hey, Captain Hitsugaya', Ichigo greeted in a casual tone as he walked in, closing the door behind him.
'It's Captain Hitsugaya', Toshiro scolded.
'That's what I said'.
Toshiro blinked. The pen stopped its feverish quest of emptying its ink on dotted lines in neat and practised swirls. Rewinding the last five seconds and replaying them in his head, the captain realised the new lieutenant had indeed addressed him properly.
'Oh... my apologies. I must have misheard you'.
'Eh, it's fine', Ichigo waved off.
Placing down his pen, Toshiro gave his visitor his undivided attention. 'Well, then, Lieutenant Shiba. What do you have for me?'
Ichigo raised his left hand, showing the captain a manila envelope. 'Don't know. Ru- I mean, my captain, told me to bring this to you'.
Toshiro smirked, 'Did she say if it was urgent?'
'No, just to bring it to you'.
The captain extended his hand, 'Let me see'.
Ichigo walked up to the desk and handed over the envelope.
'You may take a seat if you will', Toshiro said as he untied the string and opened the folder up.
'Nah, it's fine. After all that paperwork, I'm just glad to stretch my legs'.
Toshiro hummed as he pulled the thick stack of paper up. His left brow rose as a bright yellow post-it note greeted him, underscored fat black letters jumping at him.
"Do NOT tell Ichigo about the paperwork!"
Confused at the demand, Toshiro took out the stack completely and flipped through them. Cerulean widened as big, red letters headed almost every page.
'Something wrong?'
'No. I am merely surprised at the amount of paperwork, is all', Toshiro replied. Seasoned eyes scanned the occasional page for the given motivation. At the first, it already became abundantly clear why Captain Kuchiki did not want her lieutenant to know the folder's contents.
Toshiro sneaked a glance at the lieutenant currently leaning against Matsumoto's desk, taking him in both visually and spiritually. He doesn't look unstable.
Unfortunately, his attempt at discretion was foiled by the fact Ichigo had been looking at him from the start. Brown eyebrows knitted together tighter than was the standard, resignation evident in his eyes.
'They're transfer requests, aren't they?'
'What makes you think that?' Toshiro asked, gently pushing the stack back into the envelope.
'You know why'.
Toshiro put the stack aside, 'It's not your fault they leave'.
'I don't have to be at fault to be the cause'.
'The cause is their short-sightedness', Toshiro corrected. 'If they feel uncomfortable around you, they have no business being a Soul Reaper'.
Ichigo let out an empty chuckle, 'You sound like Rukia'.
'Ever considered she might be right?'
'I know she is right. It's just...' Ichigo trailed off. 'She was doing so well. Paperwork, instructions, training, she did everything on her own and her subordinates loved her, you know?' Brown gravitated to the window, 'Decades of growth under her leadership and I ruined it all by getting my dumb ass killed'.
'If your mere presence drives them away, their loyalty to her was only superficial', Toshiro said. 'It shows they don't trust her judgement. And a subordinate who does not follow their captain cannot be trusted to obey in times of crisis'.
Ichigo shrugged, 'Maybe... but it won't make it hurt any less when they leave'.
Toshiro didn't argue that. Losing a member of your division was never fun. Especially at such a high rate as the Thirteenth seemed to be suffering from.
'Anyway, how's Karin doing?' Ichigo asked. 'She isn't home much these days'.
'She is doing well', Toshiro told. 'Her skill with her Shikai is improving steadfast. I'm contemplating promoting her to a seated position'.
'Really?' Ichigo's eyes brightened at the news, pride radiating from the smile stretching across his face. 'Does she know?'
'No, and I expect that to stay that way, Lieutenant'.
Ichigo raised his hands, 'My lips are sealed, don't worry'.
'Good, that we're clear on that'. Toshiro took the manila folder and offered it to Ichigo. 'If you could place this my lieutenant's desk'.
'You sure?' Ichigo asked. 'You know she won't read it'.
Toshiro sighed, 'Let me pretend my Lieutenant does her job, Kurosaki'.
The grin on Ichigo's face widened, 'Actually... ' He took the envelope with a flourish, 'it's Lieutenant Shiba'.
For the second time that day, Toshiro's mind had to reboot. He blinked, the heat from outside finally getting to him. 'Yes, of course. Lieutenant Shiba. My apologies'.
Ichigo put the folder on the desk, 'No need, I still get it wrong myself most of the time. Straight up ignore people when they're talking to me'.
'Your sister had the same issue', Toshiro said. 'But that's understandable. You have been called Kurosaki your whole life, you don't shake that off easily'.
'I'll always be a Kurosaki at heart', Ichigo said with a shrug, looking at his watch. 'Anyway, I should head back. Got a training session to supervise'.
'I won't keep you', Toshiro said. 'I was good to talk to you'.
'Likewise. Later, Toshiro'.
'IT'S CAPTAIN HITSUGAYA!'
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End
© Bleach – Tite Kubo
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So~ this wasn't the story that I intended to finish but I did so…here we are, I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This one is a little shorter than what I usually upload but I hope you enjoyed it all the same.