Life is far more peaceful for a Soul Reaper than he thought it would be. Granted, the 9th division mostly handles internal affairs: paperwork, Seireitei's art culture, and breaking up fights. There's not much for him to protect to be honest.
He sometimes asks Captain Tōsen for missions to eradicate Hollows, but he's rejected each time. When that happens, he makes sure to be a few days late on his reports.
("Does he realize that it is assumed another division is responsible for our delay?" Fujita asks hesitantly.
The 3rd seat eyes the towering stacks of papers that are bundled up for easy transport. There are deep scratch marks on Shūhei's desk and ink splattered on the wall: a clear sign that the 5th seat is angry.
"No, and he's not to know about that," Captain Tōsen warns.
Hisagi Shūhei's reputation as responsible but unfriendly remains.)
When Kuchiki Rukia leaves for a mission to the human world and doesn't come back, he begins packing his metaphorical bags. He doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, doesn't avoid his captain any more than usual. Instead, he begins picking out hiding spots.
He finds three different places that are hard to sense Reiryoku from. He places emergency supplies in all three spots as a precaution and begins making contingency plans. He has a rough memory of what's coming, and he intends to take cover.
Call him a coward, but he has no intention of sticking his neck out for Aizen. There's no guarantee he'll be safely kicked out of the fight, and he's not a lieutenant which means the only ones who will miss him is his own division. It's easy enough to fool them considering they're all idiots.
(Is that on purpose Tōsen? For the division responsible for guarding Seireitei from outside attacks to be so pathetic?)
He's not a sociable guy; he doesn't go out for drinks, gossiping about other divisions after dark. He's not a lieutenant either. He should have never known about Rukia's reappearance or her sentencing to go before Central 46.
He stares at the report in his hand. Kuchiki Rukia remained in the Human World longer than the time limit. Kuchiki Rukia gave her spiritual power to a human. The words never change. He gently places the report into the correct stack and moves on.
Kuchiki Byakuya's handwriting is impeccable as always. 6th division's paperwork is usually one of the easiest to review as the documents are always well written and on time.
He visits the bar after work. He takes his customary seat in the corner where no one bothers him and orders his favorite wine. It tastes sour that night for some reason.
He avoids leaving his office once word spreads of Rukia's imprisonment; far too much gossip floats around for his liking. He drowns himself in papers and ink even as Kazeshini scoffs at him for looking away. The day the alarms come to life is the day he sighs in relief.
"Shūhei, we must rise above the oncoming evil and shower the world in unbending light," 4th seat, Ako Amari cries, lifting her Zanpakuto dramatically.
"Yeah, sure. Where's Fujita?" He doesn't shout, but the blaring alarm makes him want to.
As much as the theatrics horrify the 3rd seat, Fujita is usually close by to stop Amari from contaminating the rest of the division. Case in point, Amari's personal squad is spouting dramatic one-liners about giving their lives somewhere behind him.
"I do not know where that useless Yoshitoshi is," Amari says crossly, "but perhaps our great captain shall know."
"Right, I'm going to go look for him. By myself. Because it will be faster," he says blandly.
Amari nods as if that makes sense. Never mind that it's against protocol, and she outranks him. Sometimes he wonders if this is the result of being under Aizen's illusion. If the traitorous captain finds it amusing to make him the only smart one amongst idiots.
Amari sees him off with a,
"May we see each other again in whatever way the world wills it! Go now in your devotion to duty!"
He waves a hand over his shoulder with a promise to talk later. He doesn't mind if Fujita gets killed, but it'd be a shame if anything happened to Amari. She makes him laugh.
It's not a straight walk to his hiding spot; he knows better than that. He keeps a frown in place and a hurried pace to make it seem like he has somewhere to be. His crazy route to the nearest hideout—he zigzags instead of circles—ensures no one follows him. When he arrives, he sits down and waits.
And waits some more.
He rather hopes that Central 46 is dead—it's not like he can check—because he's pretty sure abandoning his post is a highly punishable offense. Despite his contingency plans, he finds a reason to be worried about being found out.
"You're bothering me. Either sit down or go away," he says irritably.
Kurosaki Ichigo makes a choking sound, and he takes a bite from his homemade jerky. It's not that great, but it's edible and long-lasting. Also buying jerky is way too expensive for his taste.
"You," Kurosaki pauses, "you're not going to fight me?"
"Nope," he says, "now get lost."
Unfortunately, Kurosaki doesn't take that as a hint to disappear. Instead, the–fake? substitute?—Soul Reaper takes a seat across from him. It's a cramped space; this used to be an alleyway before getting walled in. A bush hides the broken entrance and something about the buildings next to him make sensing Reiryoku difficult.
There's barely enough room for the two of them. He doesn't appreciate the company.
"Why?" Kurosaki eventually asks.
Kurosaki hasn't stopped staring him down like a wild animal, but there's no hostility in it. Admittedly, the scuffed, bloodied appearance hardly screams "threat," but he knows better.
He chews on a piece of jerky while thinking about what's really being asked.
"Because it's stupid," he settles on. "Kuchiki's crimes don't warrant execution by Sokyoku. Demotion or a punishment overseen by her captain maybe, banishment at the worst."
Never mind the fact Rukia's from one of the four noble families who tend to get lighter sentences. It really does frustrate him that no one questions a Kuchiki getting such a severe sentence. Not even that clan's worst offenders got hit with soul eradication.
"It's obvious something's wrong, but no one cares enough to do anything about it," he continues bitterly.
He thought he didn't care either, but his hangover told a different story. Seems Captain Tōsen really is rubbing off on him if he actually cares about justice of all things.
"Then fight," Kurosaki says as if it's that simple.
It probably is, but he knows his own limits. He doubts his captain will be lenient enough to simply throw him in jail. He doubts he can actually do anything of real importance.
"I can't," he shrugs.
Injustice or not, he needs to look out for number one first and foremost. Still, that doesn't mean he can't do something. He tosses a first aid kit to Kurosaki who snatches it with a frown.
"Clean yourself up," he says bluntly.
Kurosaki scowls at him but digs through the kit without a word. His unwanted companion disappears soon after, and he leans back against the wall, pretending he can't hear Kazeshini's whispers calling him a coward.
It doesn't take long, and he breaks like wet tissue paper. In the end, Kazeshini's mutterings make him leave his nice, safe hiding spot. Honestly, he gives the sword spirit too much leeway.
Blood for the innocent, the Zanpakuto cries, blood for the damned.
The hideout keeps him from sensing Reiatsu, and he almost falls over the moment he steps out. The amount of energy coming from the execution grounds is staggering.
"Guess I know where I'm headed," he mutters.
He touches the tattoo on his face and remembers the few times he's had to deal with Aizen. Remembers how many people has fallen victim to the sociopath. Remembers all the creepy articles he had to review for Seireitei Communication.
"I am not paid nearly enough," he says with certainty.
He's no shunpo master, but his speed isn't anything to sneeze at. He all but flies to the execution grounds, going faster than he ever has before. His severe case of tunnel vision gives him a moment's pause, and he blinks.
Kurosaki and 11th's Abarai Renji lie in a puddle of blood. Captain Tōsen stands over Kurosaki, and Aizen is standing far too close to Rukia for comfort. At first, he doesn't know who to strike at. Captain Tōsen unsheathes his Zanpakuto, and he thinks, that'll do.
He dashes forward to intercept. He doesn't recall Captain Tōsen ever lifting a blade to Kurosaki, but it's not like manga pages are burned into his brain.
"Reap, Kazeshini," he utters, throwing a scythe at the back of his former captain.
Captain Tōsen blocks both his initial and follow-up attack, and he expects it. He doesn't bother screaming out the "whys" or some other sentimental crap; he's too busy surviving. The strength between a captain and him is obvious; he gets his ass kicked hard. To be fair, he expected not being able to land a hit and the blade between his ribs.
But maybe he shouldn't have said,
"I fight for justice, but it's too bad you've lost sight of it."
He probably deserves it when Captain Tōsen throws him off the cliff.
(It's obvious that Tōsen made himself a target, dragged Shūhei's attention to him. Was the captain protecting Aizen or simply trying to put a misbehaving dog down?)
He marvels at waking up in the 4th division's infirmary. He's been there often enough, just never in the recovery ward. He's pretty surprised at being alive.
Itchy, stiff sheets make him shift in discomfort; he hisses as the movement causes a sharp pain from his stomach. He screws his eyes shut as light shines in through the window covered wall next to him. He doesn't deserve this much agony.
"Thought you said you couldn't fight," a familiar voice suddenly says.
He carefully turns his head. Kurosaki sits in a chair, wrapped up in bandages and reading an old issue of Seireitei Communication. The man lifts an eyebrow, and he tries to get his tongue to work. It's difficult as his mouth is as dry as a desert.
"Yeah, well, when you have a murderous bastard screaming inside your head all day, you start to think differently," he says hoarsely.
"I knew there was something off about you," Kurosaki says dryly.
Blessedly, Kurosaki scampers off to get a 4th division member instead of attempting to talk more. He manages to fall back asleep despite the pain. If he did so to avoid dealing with the healers that much longer, well only he and Kazeshini know.
He can't stay unconscious forever though. As the only functional member of 9th division, not even being laid up stops the paperwork from being carried in.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant," Fujita says without even a hint of resentment.
"Yes," Amari agrees serenely, "my soul is filled with wonder and happiness to you, my oath brother."
He looks up from the papers stacked around his infirmary bed. The two seated officers don't get along—Fujita having once been insulted by Amari's poem and in turn insulting her—but neither seems ready to bring out the Go set to battle. How strange.
Their words finally pierce through his brain.
"What," he says dumbly.
"It was a long time coming time coming, Shūhei. I could never understand why the captain wouldn't," Fujita trails off awkwardly.
Amari lets out a sniffle, and to his horror, Fujita's eyes begin glistening. Both officers look ready to cry, but he's the one who's just had responsibility of the 9th division dumped on him. If anyone should be ready to turn on the waterworks, it should be him.
"Shouldn't Fujita be the lieutenant?" He asks desperately.
"No, I wasn't asked," Fujita says with a strained voice.
"Neither was I," Amari admits, shedding a few tears.
"Why?" He asks again far more irritably.
Amari lets out a dramatic wail while Fujita spins to kneel unmindful of the sword attached to him; he has to save the paperwork resting on the small table next to him. Why didn't he sign up with the 8th division?
The no-nonsense Ise Nanao would have never given him so much trouble.
"Shūhei, we have shone your light onto all of Seireitei. Your name, no longer hidden by shadow, is known to all! You finally receive the admiration and recognition you deserve," Amari says.
He looks to Fujita for a clearer answer. The 3rd seat avoids his eyes.
"We were questioned after the," Fujita struggles, "event. Captain-Commander Yamamoto was interested in how you held the division together while being at odds with Captain Tōsen."
Fujita hesitates, and he can already see that just saying their former captain's name is going to be close to taboo for the 9th.
"Everything about our division was thoroughly researched, and it was decided you were beyond capable for the position."
While the rest of 9th division was left wanting, Fujita doesn't say.
He lets out an aggravated sigh. Maybe he can get the captain-commander to reconsider. Perhaps if he shows that he's the last person that should be placed in charge. His willingness to run away during an invasion should be proof enough.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto smacks him gently over the head and pardons his crimes. Too useful, the old man says. A good judge of character with the ability to lead idiots is highly valued at this time. They are also counting on him to undo the brainwashing on his division.
Blood runs down his face, and he's left standing outside 1st division as Lieutenant and Acting Captain of the 9th. He supposes his first act should be to go to the 4th and ask for help; he needs both healing and counseling tips.
"I feel like this is Kurosaki's fault," he mutters.
Kazeshini has nothing to say to that.
Leading the 9th isn't as frustrating as he thought it would be. Without Captain Tōsen giving the orders, he's able to do the one thing he's never done before: delegate.
Not the paperwork obviously, there's no way he can trust these idiots with that, but everything else that needs doing is pushed to someone else. He even manages to wrangle the worse of his head cases into the 4th division's tender care.
He's also taken to reading up Muguruma Kensei's old reports in his spare time. Though dry, the man left a good amount of information of how to effectively run the division responsible for protecting Seireitei.
Using Kensei's ideas as a base, he starts slowly changing the 9th's ideals from justice and peace to one of protecting. His Soul Reapers respond positively to the new direction, and they take their training and drills far more seriously.
He doesn't have the heart to tell them that they aren't trusted to defend Seireitei, or that the 10th division is taking over. After all, 9th division still has the chance to prove themselves.
And as acting captain, he's going to beat the idiocy out of them.
His new workload means he takes whatever breaks is offered to him. He drinks a bit more and begins taking walks into isolated places to scream. When a reminder for free food comes up, he puts the brush down and strolls over to the 4th.
Spiky strawberry blond hair pops out against the sea of black uniforms, and he does an about face. He should have known better than to think he could get a quick snack and not run into annoying acquaintances.
Curse free doughnut day. Practically everyone shows up. It never dissolves into a fighting mess because of Captain Unohana's frightening sharp eyes, but her presence somehow makes everyone want to socialize. It's awful.
"Lieutenant Hisagi?"
Damn it, he thinks.
Slouching, he turns around to face one of his underlings. Dark eyes shine up at him innocently, and he struggles to place a name. Short and with a squeaky voice, it's definitely Sawa-something.
"I was wondering if—"
"Yo, Shūhei."
Sawa-something lets out an "eep" and runs off. He doubts the Soul Reaper had anything important to say, but there's an itching sensation at being interrupted.
"Kurosaki," he says curtly. "Aren't you supposed to be in the human world?"
"Kūkaku's responsible. I don't know why I'm here," Kurosaki replies with a frown. "Hell, I don't even know how I got here."
He tries to figure out whether that means Kurosaki's here as a guest or an intruder. With Kūkaku that could go either way. He should take the man back to Shiba clan ground, but he's currently on a well-deserved break.
"You ever had a peach doughnut?" He asks.
He leaves Kurosaki to his fate once time is up. He's got too many things to do, and too many brats to babysit as it is. He refuses to include this troublesome guy who'd probably break the space time continuum accidentally.
(He hears some explosions in the distance later that day and knows he made the correct choice.)
"Shūhei, I need your help."
Kurosaki is like that friendly neighborhood stray that keeps going back to the houses that fed it once, and no amount of shooing makes them go away. Soul King help him, he tries to get Kurosaki to leave him alone, but the idiot keeps coming back.
"What?" He says without looking up from one of Kensei's old reports.
Being both captain and lieutenant is getting old real fast. He can't wait until the man comes back to deal with this crap. He'll make sure to throw a party when it happens.
"Orihime's been—"
Oh, hell no. He slams the report down to look Kurosaki in the eye. Kurosaki's gaping expression would be funny in any other situation.
"Does this look like the face of a main character?" He demands.
"It looks like the face of a bar boy," Kurosaki says irritably.
He has absolutely no desire to infiltrate Hueco Mundo. His duty is to watch over Seireitei, and Orihime is not one of his. Even Kazeshini is silent on the matter. Still, Kurosaki's kicked dog expression is making him feel things. Damn stray.
"I can't leave my post, but I can give you some expensive tools and supplies we've confiscated as 'dangers to Seireitei,' " he compromises.
Many a fool tries to sneak in bombs and homemade weapons to "better kill Hollows." There's no telling what his division has seized at this point. He's supposed to destroy these items in a safe and orderly manner, but he just doesn't have the time.
How strange that he can arm Kurosaki and friends while getting rid of dangerous items. It's a win-win either way.
"Can you do that?" Kurosaki wonders.
"So long as everyone in this room keeps their mouths shut," he replies evenly.
"Aren't you supposed to be the responsible one?" Ichigo mutters.
He pretends he doesn't hear it. He undoes the seals on his desk and searches for the key to the storeroom. He grabs Kurosaki by the shoulders and steers the man out once he finds it. The substitute Soul Reaper grumbles but stops flashing those puppy dog eyes at him.
He manages to avoid every battle and crazy antic that would threaten his life through sheer skill. For some odd reason, people's opinions of him keep going up. Kurosaki doesn't bother him to do more, and the other lieutenants want to hang out.
Sometimes he even catches the attentions of captains. It's not too weird considering his current status, but the only one that doesn't bother him is Captain Komamura.
(He sips a cup of wine from the corner of his favorite bar. Next to him, Captain Komamura tentatively sips from a large saucer of sake. Captain Komamura's wolf appearance garners a lot of side-eyes. He glares at anyone who looks ready to say anything.)
Kazeshini's so silent it's about to drive him crazy. He'd be worried if he didn't already know that the sword spirit is biding its time, waiting for Tōsen. Paradoxically, he wishes time would both freeze and move faster. He doesn't want to face his former captain, but he's also tired of waiting.
No matter how much he trains, he knows he can't take on a captain alone, but he can't not try to kill his former captain. There's too much between them. If he's going to die, he's going to die without regret.
The day comes, and he's sent to the fake town, ordered to protect a pillar. Kazeshini's excitement makes it hard to stay still. It's almost a relief to be attacked by Hollows. The ensuing battle with the Arrancar is barely worth mentioning. Kazeshini's disappointment rings through his soul, and he promises the Zanpakuto Tōsen's head.
He will kill the man before this day is over. He will have the fight of his life. He will bathe in traitor's blood.
He gets a glimpse of Muguruma Kensei, and a rush of giddiness hits him. Just a little bit more and he can finally be relieved of his duties to the 9th. It's almost over.
(He will either die or be forced to step down. Either way, he'll never be stuck in an office again.)
Captain Komamura faces off against Tōsen while he's in the middle of getting healed. Kazeshini screams, and he tugs his arm away from Kira Izuru to dash off, leaving the other lieutenant sputtering.
Mine, Kazeshini screeches.
Ours, he thinks.
"Reap, Kazeshini," he utters, throwing a scythe.
Tōsen blocks both his initial and follow-up attack but does not expect his third attack. Wrapping Kazeshini's chains around his opponent, he slams his head against Tōsen's.
"You left me," he growls. "You left me to do the work all alone."
The fight sort of dissolves from there. He thinks Captain Komamura attempted to step in a few times, but the bloodlust takes over; there's no more thinking when he channels his built up rage into every swing of his scythes.
He's almost in disbelief when he stands over his fallen opponent with Captain Komamura alive and well, standing uneasily beside him. Kazeshini's screams have finally stopped.
"Captain, back then, you knew I'd oppose you. Why didn't you kill me?" He asks the dying Tōsen.
To call Tōsen a captain is an honor the man doesn't deserve. He just wants to spare Captain Komamura's feelings and maybe get an answer to a question he's always wondered about. There were so many chances for Tōsen to strike him down.
(If a part of him sort of liked the guy, neither he nor Kazeshini will ever tell.)
"Because you—" Tōsen's soft voice stops suddenly.
Against his will, he leans towards the broken body on the ground. The man mouths something, and he debates kneeling to get closer. Could Tōsen have cared about him after all?
"Because you were the only one who could do the paperwork," Tōsen says flatly.
He feels a vindictive pleasure when Tōsen suddenly explodes.
There's not much to do once Aizen's taken care of. He gets patched up and leads his division for hopefully the last time. He finishes the remaining paperwork with a smile on his face and prepares to empty his office.
"So you're the kid from that time," his new captain says.
It's startling, but he swears that this is the exact same glare he saw when he first got here. Captain Muguruma's shorter than him now, but those brown eyes haven't lost their effect one bit. He's a bit transfixed.
"Ah, yeah," he says, scratching his face tattoo awkwardly.
The captain's eyes go straight for it, and he tries to figure out an explanation, a way to convey what the numbers mean to him. Even a simple thank you would probably get his point across.
"I deeply admire you and got this to remember you by. I've been reading your reports too, so I know you will be better than Tōsen. Please treat me well," he blurts out.
He goes bright red and chokes out an excuse about paperwork. He thinks he hears something about "taking responsibility" from Captain Muguruma as he flees. Kazeshini's unkind laughter and rude comments about wanting to get stabbed by his captain force him to the bar. He's going to need a lot of alcohol to erase today's memory.
(He doesn't curl up with a bottle of wine, but it's a close thing.)
He begins packing his bags. Kuna Mashiro's return signals the end of his tenure as lieutenant. He can't say he'll miss it even if he has to move back to the barracks.
"Where do you think you're going?" Captain Muguruma growls.
"Uh," he answers eloquently.
His captain stares him down, and he grips his bag tightly. He wishes Captain Muguruma would stop that; it's making him feel weird.
"Little Shūhei cleaned out his room," Lieutenant Kuna laughs from behind him.
He jumps at the sudden noise and accidentally drops the bag containing his clothes and knick-knacks. Captain Muguruma catches it, only to sling it over a shoulder.
"Good thinking," Captain Muguruma nods, "Mashiro needs that room. You'll be bunking with me for now until we get you a lieutenant's room."
He's going to what now? With who? He runs that order through his head multiple times as Lieutenant Kuna raves on about painting her new room in the background.
"Wait a minute, lieutenant?" He gapes.
"Be a shame to knock you down, kid. You ran this place all by yourself," Captain Muguruma says. "Worked it out with command. You and Mashiro will both be lieutenants."
"Yay! I get my own lieutenant!" Lieutenant Kuna throws her hands up.
Visions of his freedom from paperwork disappear into a cloud of smoke. Worse, he's filled with visions of Lieutenant Kuna destroying and defiling the paperwork. He pales rapidly.
"No, it's okay. Why don't you make me a seated officer instead? We've got a position open," he pleads.
The unmoving face of his captain fills him with dread. He desperately tries to think of a way out. Kazeshini's only advice is to run far, far away.
"You know what? Just transfer me out, simple as that!" He tries.
Lieutenant Kuna jumps up to pat him on the head, cooing over his adorableness. Captain Muguruma grabs him around the middle, and he lets out an embarrassing squeak.
"Let's go, Lieutenant," Captain Muguruma says.
He wants it on record that he is not blushing.