"Hows the training going? Learning anything?"
The man before them spoke with a friendly casual tone, leaned back in his desk chair with a large floral pink cloak draped around him. The dawn sunlight was peeking through the open wall that only bore a railing to separate them from the large courtyard of the District 1 barracks. He had brought the Mew team in to address them in lieu of training at their respective divisions for today. Nanao stood by the side of the head captain quietly as he addressed the four new comers.
Ichigo chuckled and Minto scoffed while Ryou shot them both a death glare. Zakuro stood quietly, staring at Kyouraku quietly. The relaxed captain smiled as Ichigo spoke up,
"I know I've learned a lot. I've never carried a sword before."
Kyouraku nodded,
"It's quite a new method of training I'm sure. Especially since you experience each division, they are all very different."
He stood up and walked around the desk to stand closer to the four and continued,
"I feel it may be wise for all of us to sort of band together. With that Deep Blue fella's soul lingering around in Hueco Mundo, I figure we will need all the help we can get. If you thought he was strong alive, he'll be ten times the monster he was if he becomes a Hollow."
Ryou shifted his weight, clenching his hands in his pockets at the thought.
"I agree. We need to keep training going on our end and get our other two teammates in here to join up as well."
Zakuro nodded,
"The training has been really beneficial, but we have a long way to go."
Kyouraku seemed surprised at her speaking to him,
"Sheesh I think that's the first time I've heard you talk since you got here. I really agree, I feel you all are a great addition to the Sereitei."
Ichigo nodded in agreement, and Minto was seemingly quiet, feeling frustrated. Kyouraku picked up on her attitude due to the irritated expression on her face,
"How about you?"
With the direct question, Minto shrugged, still wearing frustration,
"I just feel like it's your guys' responsibility to handle the souls of the dead- not ours."
Ryou spat back at her quickly,
"Watch your mouth! You're-!"
Kyouraku cut him off casually,
"Woah, It's all right my friend."
The brown haired captain chuckled at the sudden tension, trying to ease the situation. He spoke again,
"I can understand why you'd feel that way. Ordinarily, I'd agree. However, since you guys have fought him before, you'll be an asset in the fight against him. You also are kidding yourself if you think you're safe in the world of the living."
The last sentence really perked her up, causing Minto to stare right at him as he continued speaking.
"He'll come for you there as well, and without any training... Are you sure you'd be ready for him to be nearly ten times the power he was when you last saw him? I think it's evident we need one another, and we just want to help you out a little."
The tension in the room was rising, and Kyouraku felt it was getting quite too serious for such a monumental day. After a few moments, he changed the subject, casually rocking back against his desk and perking up his tone.
"I know each of you is on sort of your own schedule, but there is a celebration tonight. I am promoting four new Captains here in an hour or so... and there will be a celebration to follow in the Garden behind this district you're in now. It will be at sunset. Although the ceremony itself is very formal and more for Shinigami, you are welcome to attend the celebration this evening. It's for seated officers and superiors, but I figure y'all could use a break and join us."
...
"You look stunning!"
Rangiku cooed as she grabbed Ichigo's shoulders and turned her to face a mirror hung on the wall. Nanao and Hinamori were there as well at the 10th division barracks, dressing out for the celebration. Nanao chuckled as Ichigo reacted to her silk kimono. It was a bright pink with sharp red colored flowers decorated over it with gold and green accents. It also had a long slit up the left leg.
"Oh wow, I really love it!"
Ichigo stated as she gasped and looked herself up and down in the mirror, she felt beautiful. It had been a long time since she had gotten dressed up for anything. For just a moment, she felt a sad feeling tug at her mind. What would Masaya think of her dress? Or was he even thinking of her?
The thought made her smile fade slightly, and she turned back as Zakuro finished getting dressed across the room. The tall girl wore a shimmery black kimono with reddish-violet flowers decorating it. Minto was slipping on a set of silver heels to match her navy blue kimono that had white doves decorating it. Nanao chimed in as the girls finished getting dressed,
"Rangiku knows her dresses, you guys look wonderful."
The blond chuckled and eyed her handywork at dressing up their new found friends,
"They'll be the talk of the Sereitei after tonight I'm sure."
Nanao quietly agreed, secretly feeling somewhat jealous of the dolled up girls. Secretly, she hoped Kyouraku wouldn't pay them any mind. The black haired woman turned back and noted Hinamori sitting in the corner, brushing her hair. It was odd, usually Hinamori was so bubbly and friendly. However, tonight she was so solemn and withdrawn. Himamori was very different since the betrayal of Aizen and the final war, it had really changed her. Nanao walked over to her younger counterpart,
"You okay? You're awful quiet."
Hinamori meekly smiled and looked up at her friend, it seemed feigned,
"I'm all right."
...
Music rung out among the crowd, cheering was heard as the new captains were announced. As captains, the Gotei 13 promoted:
Rukia Kuchiki as the Captain of the 13th Division, Shuuhei Hisagi for the 9th Division, Renji Abarai for the 5th division, and finally Neliel Tu Oderschvank as the first Arrancar Captain for the 8th Division. The lieutenant positions were to be decided at a later date and to be chosen by the captains in charge of the divisions with lieutenant vacancies.
Ichigo, Minto, Ryou, And Zakuro, all sat at a table with Nanao and Kyouraku at the head table. Everyone was finsihing up a large feast to celebrate and the drinking and dancing were just getting started. Several large round tables were arranged in a cobblestone patio area part of an enormous garden. Huge looming weeping willows hung over them, and candles lit the area as well as large strands of glowing paper lanterns. The garden had paths in every direction, it was a hidden gem behind the 1st Division Barracks. Koi ponds were strewn about, and there were secluded benches tucked in between rows and paths of flowers.
The warm glow and cacophany of conversation was a nice change of pace from the hard training. Each of the girls were exhausted from learning swordsmanship, kidou, and flash step.
Zakuro propped her face up with one hand on the table under her chin, staring at the numerous shinigami enjoying themselves. Her long grey wolf ears flinched with the different noises from the laughter and voices around her. It was like no one noticed her at all, and she loved it.
Deep inside her, relief washed over her heart. No one here blinked an eye at her fame or fortune. No one was pestering her for autographs; no one pushing to take photos with her. It was nice to finally relax, and not feel so much pressure. She was just part of a larger team now, and it felt almost like... family.
The wolf girl rose from the table to make her way over to a bar set up nearest to the wall of the barracks. She found herself accompanied by Iba and the towering Komamura. The enormous captain was intriguing to her. As she approached, a small black haired girl brushed passed her without saying a word. A depressing
Iba announced Zakuro's presence for her in a joking manner,
"Woah Woah, There's a lady on deck, straighten up gents!"
Zakuro couldn't help but smile slightly at the man as she stepped into the circle near the bar.
"Gee, Thanks."
Ikkaku and Yumichika were near Komamura, facing one another and squabbling over nonsense regarding their division. Komamura smiled down at her,
"Nice of you to join us."
Zakuro stared up at the wolf headed man,
"Thank you. I'm admittedly curious about you, and this place."
As she spoke the second half of her sentence, she looked around her again at the celebrating shinigami. Komamura looked out in the same direction as her,
"I don't blame you, it's a curious place. What is it that intrigues you so?"
"The fact I blend in."
Her words were somewhat soft, and Iba trampled in on the conversation,
"You? Blend in? Sheesh girl you gotta get your friggin' eyes checked. You're a knock out compared to some of these fuckin' women."
Zakuro rolled her eyes, but felt herself trying not to chuckle. He meant it as a compliment. She found herself looking back up as Komamura chimed in,
"He means that in the most respectful manner of course."
Komamura seemed stern, shifting his gaze to Iba, who downed a glass of sake. Zakuro leaned around Iba and ordered a glass of red wine from the shinigami bar keep. The petite blond handed back her drink, and the wolf mew turned back to face the large garden of tables. Ikkaku and Yumichika then piped into the conversation as Iba made Zakuro's presence known to them both as well.
Ikkaku scoffed and nodded his head in her direction,
"Who cares if she's beautiful, beauty ain't shit if you can't fight. Can you fight wolf girl?"
Zakuro's stare shot right to his eyes, but Yumichika piped in before she could respond,
"Beauty is everything you bald cave man. I think you're stunning, and if you can fight, it's just a bonus."
The three men began to squabble about being beautiful or not and fighting ability, and Zakuro found them quite amusing. Komamura's calm voice made the other three's squabbling fade almost entirely away.
"You want to fit in with the shinigami?"
Zakuro took a deep breath, her voice was low,
"It's a nice change of pace. I'll put it that way. "
Nearby, Ichigo had her plate in hand at the dessert table and pined over the various sweets presented. Her long dark brown tail flicked about in excitement. Gorgeous cakes, pies, and small chocolates decorated the table, surrounded by plates of fruit. The feline mew picked a couple of the small desserts and wiggled happily as she went to back up and turn away from the table. As she turned, she knocked right into a captain.
Ichigo flinched as her plate wobbled right out of her hand, part of a cake dessert tumbled down the front of the captain's white haori and onto the ground. She yanked her hands in to her face in shock upon colliding with the person, covering her mouth and staring at the now tainted haori. Ichigo's face lit up as red as her hair as she stared at the surprised look on his face. It was Gin.
The witty grin only faded from his face for a brief second, and it returned quickly as she fumbled to find words.
"Oh my god, I'm so, so mortified! I'm sorry Captain Ichimaru!"
The shocked girl just kept her hands over her mouth, staring at the colored icing now staining the front of his captain's haori. A chuckle from Kyourkau nearby made her feel somewhat more relaxed. Gin shrugged and waved a hand at her,
"No need to be mortified Ichigo~!"
The silver haired captain spoke in a slick tone, and used a drawn out inflection on her name in a cutesy manner. He grabbed the inner collar and shed the haori, folding it up and placing it aside on his chair at the table just behind him. Through his shihakusho, she could see his lean muscled form as he leaned down and the cloth tightened around his upper back. Ichigo shook her head,
"I'm really so sorry, I feel so embarrassed."
Gin turned back around, still smiling at her. She remembered the fight with the wooden swords she'd had with him, and remembered how fast and skilled he was. The captains really were so far ahead of them as far as training. Gin closed the gap between them and stood close to her, his tone lowered to almost a whisper,
"I'm guessin' ya need another dessert now!"
The girl felt her heart flutter at the proximity and she stood very still as he brushed passed her, his scent wafted through her nose. Gin smelled like fresh rain, ominous and clear. Ichigo turned back and watched him go to the dessert table and look around on it. It was such a strange feeling, like having a snake wrapped around your body and feeling it's quick tongue flicker at your face. Gin's mere presence was thought provoking to her. She stared at the back of his head and almost didn't notice Minto walk up beside her,
"Of course you'd spill something on someone. I can't believe you just did that, how humiliating! It's a wonder Masaya puts up with you."
Ichigo glared at her avian counterpart,
"Oh Shut up! I didn't mean to! He was really nice about it though, and he didn't get mad at all."
The red head felt herself get pulled back to reality upon hearing Masaya's name, like she just remembered her actual life back home. Minto made an inaudible groan in her throat,
"He's weird, I don't trust him."
Minto brushed off the lack of response from Ichigo at her comment and turned to see her idol walking off with Komamura through the gardens. The blue haired girl huffed, feeling frustrated seeing Zakuro walk off without her. Ichigo ignored Minto as Gin brought her a plate with a strawberry cheesecake and handed it to her,
"Try not to toss this one on me would ya?"
...
"Are you ready sir?"
The older arrancar stated flatly, staring at the face of the former alien ruler. Deep Blue nodded to him silently as he walked to the center of the room in front of Munishi. Her dark straight cut bangs hung down over her eyes and a wide wicked grin appeared on her face as the alien approached her. Deep Blue turned his back to Munishi and stood directly in front of her.
The multi-armed woman reached out and wrapped two slender hands over his shoulders, and two lower arms slid around his upper body and grabbed his ribcage area. In a blink, Socrates watched Deep Blue disappear completely from the senses.
The two appeared briefly in random section of the Rukon District outside the Sereitei. No soul noticed them, as he immediately teleported again. Munishi had cloaked them in a barrier, using her ability the 'void'. Her barrier completely severed her from detection from any spiritual being.
Deep Blue appeared again in the Sereitei, but only for a moment to gather his bearings. The alien teleported them again once inside, this time directly in front of the central 46. Munishi sighed,
"Can you get us inside?"
...
-3 hours later-
"I think there is a better way to help your girls and their fighting ability, if I'm being honest. But it breaks all the rules we've followed for thousands of years."
The words of the head captain made the now slightly inebriated Ryou turn his head towards Kyouraku. They had been in one another's company practically the entire night. Ryou shrugged and haphazardly shook his head,
"What do you suggest?"
Kyouraku's casual smile faded somewhat as he sat back in his chair. What he was about to suggest was quite serious, and betrayed the rules of the Sereitei. He stared for a moment quietly before mustering his words,
"They could become substitute shinigami."
