Chapter 5: We Make Our Choices
Tōshirō waited for the Commander-General to start the Captains meeting, noting the new addition to forth Captain Unohana hand luggage, one small baby. He was hardly the only one who noticed this very surprising addition. Kenpachi seemed to find the matter something to be cheerful about and Soifon seemed to be fighting a desire to look at the baby and go all googly eyed.
She was defiantly losing the battle.
"Attention captains of the Gotei Thirteen Protection Squads" Spoke Commander-General Yamamoto-Genryūsai, quickly gaining everyone's attention "We have three separate matters to attend too today."
His gaze rested on the baby.
"First, who is that and why is she here?" Retsu beamed (when did she ever beam?) at the Commander-General.
"This is my adapted daughter Unohana Aiko Commander-General Yamamoto-Genryūsai "She said in her normal serene tones, before going into cutesy mode. "And she's sooooo cute! I mean look at those eyes, that dazzling smile, tell me you don't think she's the cutest baby in the whole wide world!"
The Commander-General blinked
"Couldn't you have left her with your Vice-Captain for the duration of this meeting?" He asked in an authoritarian tone. There was silence for a few moments before Retsu gave a very simple reply in a serene tone.
"No"
The Commander-General paused in silence staring at her; Tōshirō couldn't ever remember anyone ever saying no to the Commander-General when he used that tone.
"She gets upset if I'm away for too long you see and she's too young to understand anything anyway" Retsu added in attempt to break the silence.
"She may stay then… for now "he spoke firmly. Aiko then giggled, causing Retsu to giggle and make silly baby noise to her in reply. The Commander-General decided to tactfully ignore all this and Tōshirō couldn't blame him.
"The second matter to attend too is the creation and funding of the 'battle training preparation centres' that Captain Zaraki has thought up." He stated. Tōshirō looked towards Kenpachi.
"I take over now Shigekuni" Kenpachi said as he stepped forward slightly "My plan is thus; we set up small outposts in the roughest nastiest parts of the Rukongai. In these outposts we take the young uncorrupted children of these districts who have no one to look after them. From there we teach and train them, giving the Soul Society a steady stream of future Shinigami!"
"And incidentally protecting some of the most vulnerable souls in the Soul Society from the worse with four solid walls and well trained warriors" Tōshirō pointed out. Kenpachi made a dismissive wave.
"Just a happy coincidence" he said with a tone just as dismissive. Retsu smiled at him.
"I will put my full support behind this proposal on one condition Zaraki-kun" She spoke in gentle tones "that you let some of my division bring a more human touch to these 'outposts'."
"Seems reasonable to me Retsu" he said while returning the smile.
On my god. Thought Tōshirō. Were they actually flirting or something?
"These children, what will become of them once the reach adulthood if they lack the ability to become Shinigami?" Shunsui asked with a serous tone.
"Then they will be given a sword and a chance to write there own destiny" Kenpachi simply stated.
"A simple but effective gesture that will most likely make them far more loyal to the Soul Society and the philosophy of the eleventh division that most citizens in those districts" Shunsui responded.
Kenpachi grinned.
"Great isn't it?" he said joyfully.
"Understand that some of us may wish to give them options that don't include swords Kenpachi, but I will support you on this" Shunsui said seriously.
"As well I" Jūshirō spoke in support of his friend. Tōshirō then did the decent thing.
"I will also fully support this." He said firmly.
"This could also be a useful way to collect intelligence, so I will also support this measure." Soifon added calmly.
"I see no reason not to support this matter, I will add my support." Byakuya added.
"Me neither, I will support it fully." Sajin said shortly after the sixth division captain. Leaving only one captain left, Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"I don't suppose anyone would mind if I used these warriors in training as test subjects as well?" he asked, leading to the harshest glare that Tōshirō had ever seen Kenpachi give. The looks of the others were far from friendly either.
"I take that as yes then." he said with a note of disappointment as he realised he wouldn't be able to perform what would be undoubtedly sick experiments on children.
"It is decided then." The Commander-General stated "Captain Zaraki measure will be fully supported by the Soul Society at large and logistics shall be set into motion shortly after this meeting has come to an end."
The Commander-General then raised his voice loudly
"Kuchiki-dono, Kurosaki-san you may now enter!" Tōshirō briefly wondered why the Commander-General was calling Ichigo name with a female honorific when he saw who walked through the door with Rukia.
Kurosaki Karin. She was wearing her red cap as per normal, along with some black jeans and a white jumper. She didn't seem to have changed much at all, least physically. Her Reiatsu was notably stronger now however he noticed. As she entered the room, she looked around at all the captains, her gaze resting ever so slightly longer on Tōshirō, Mayuri and Sajin, before finally resting on the Commander-General.
"The young human you see before you is Kurosaki Karin, the younger sister of Kurosaki Ichigo." He spoke "She has come to the Soul Society under the guardianship of Kuchiki Rukia of the thirteenth division to make a request."
"What is your request Kurosaki-san?" Jūshirō asked her in a gentle ton while giving her one of his warm smiles "Do you wish to help your brother in something, or ask questions regarding him?"
"Nether really to be honest Captain, through I suppose you could say I probably end doing a bit of the first if you say yes" She said while adjusting her hat.
"Then what is your request then Kurosaki-san?" he enquired.
"I want to become a Shinigami Captain." She said while looking Jūshirō right in the eyes. "And I want to do it properly, not the crazy way my brother did it. I want to learn Kidō, Hakuda, Hohō and Zanjutsu and become a fully rounded Shinigami who does her duty and brings honour, peace and security to the Soul Society and the world of the living both."
There was a sudden silence in the room. Jūshirō blinked. Then after about ten second of silence Kenpachi's laughter filled the room.
"The kid wants to become a Shinigami!" he said loudly "She, a little human girl want to run around with a Zanpakutō and fight Hallows, like she be any good at it!"
Tōshirō watched in fascination at Karin's reaction to this. She calmly walked over to Kenpachi and spoke in a tone just as calm as her steps.
"Some people consider it rather rude to mock others ambitions Captain Spiky Hair"
Soifon and Sajin stared at the two of them open mouthed. The other Captains looked rather shocked. Then Kenpachi brought down a closed fist down, only pulling the blow a faction of inch from Karin's face. She didn't even blink, let alone flinch. Unlike Rukia who's face was one of horror.
"Somehow I doubted you actually punch a girl in the face, seems I was right wasn't I?" she said with a slight smug look on her face causing Kenpachi to break into laughter again.
"Your one crazy kid Karin, but being crazy that hardly what I call a weakness!" he said in a merry tone "You got my vote!"
"Kurosaki-san" Jūshirō spoke in a gentle tone while motioning her over, she complied with no fuss. "I'm going to ask you a serous question"
He leaned down to her bringing his eyes level with hers.
"Why do you, a girl who not even in her teens, want to take up a Zanpakutō and fight Hallows? You have a strong brother, who I know would never let anything bad happen to you, and a member of my squad, Kuchiki Rukia, who live in the same house as you and I'm just as certain would rather die than let any harm come to you."
"Because a Hallow nearly killed me and several of my friends" She said while staring at Jūshirō "the only reason it failed was because Captain Hitsugaya Tōshirō was just quick and strong enough to save us. Next time I might not be lucky enough to have such a strong protector about Captain."
"You want the power to defend yourself, to defeat whatever foes come at you with your own two hands" Sajin stated abruptly. Karin quickly spun around.
"Right on there Captain!" She said with a smile. Then spun back round just as quick back to Jūshirō.
"So, have I made my point Captain?" She asked as she returned her gaze back to his.
"You been planning this a while haven't you Kurosaki-san?" he said with a heavy sigh "You have my support now Kurosaki-san".
She then walked up too Shunsui and looked up to him.
"You know what I'm going to ask" she said bluntly. Shunsui looked down at her.
"You know becoming a Shinigami a one way path, no retirement, no giving it up. Your one till your very spirit is no more. You have to follow the orders and ruling of the Soul Society, even if it goes against your personal feelings."
"So be it." She replied flatly. "I've already got enough power to be really tasty to Hallows, but not near enough to fight anything past a minor one. Say what you want Captain, but I've already gone down the one way path of the warrior. I've also got enough humanity to realise that I be much better off learning the ways of people who been doing it for millenniums, then trying to make it on my own."
"Then you have my blessings young warrior" he said with a heaviness in his voice.
She moved to Retsu.
"Do you know that with Kidō that you can heal others Kurosaki-san?" she asked in normal serene tones. Aiko was now sleeping.
"And save lives that way?" she replied "I do know of it and have every intention of getting good at it too"
"Then you have my support." Retsu said with a gentle smile. Soifon, Mayuri, Byakuya and Sajin simply nodded as Karin made eye contact with them in turn.
She finally came to Tōshirō and locked her gaze with his. Her gaze was familiar yet not familiar. She had a similar air to her brother Ichigo, but while Ichigo screamed 'my name is Ichigo you best watch me world!' hers was more 'Tōshirō, I'm Karin don't even think about not paying attention to me'. He was lost for words for a few moments. But what did eventually come came out of his mouth surprised him.
"I train you myself Karin" he blurted out in front of the assembled captains.
"Well that was surprisingly rash for you" said the familiar voice of Hyōrinmaru in his head. Clearly the rest of the captains agreed because everyone at that moment stared at him in amazement. Karin's reaction was to give him a real and very warm smile. Course now he had to save his dignity and try to bring things back into the realm of normality.
"Assuming of course the Commander-General agrees with me of course" He said in a rather shaky voice before erupting out nervously. "Since its clear she has great passion!"
The Commander-General looked thoughtful a few moments.
"Kurosaki Karin" he said loudly and with considerable authority "From this point on you shall be a Trainee Shinigami attached to the Tenth Division and therefore under the authority of Captain Hitsugaya, upon your death and entry to the Soul Society you shall become a full time member of the Tenth Division."
His gaze turned onto Tōshirō.
"As of this moment Tōshirō you also have full permission to enter the world of the living as you see fit, take into account that Trainee Shinigami Kurosaki is still being educated in more mortal matter and fit your training around it."
"I shall Commander-General." Tōshirō replied.
"You will of course be assisted by Vice-Capitan Kuchiki in this matter, whose considerable understanding of living world responsibilities and customs will be most useful" He said with a playful smile while staring at a very surprised Rukia. Byakuya expression was one of annoyance.
"I was not consulted on this matter." He said sharply.
"I know your feelings on the matter Capitan Kuchiki." Jūshirō said just assharply "But she is a member of my division and as such it is my decision if she is to be promoted or not."
"She is not..." Byakuya started, but Jūshirō interrupted.
"….Anything but talented fighter who can organise and inspire her companions?"
"But…"
"She defeated an Espada" Jūshirō interrupted once again. "I know you desire to keep her safe Capitan Kuchiki, but you're suffocating her advancement and confidence with that desire and the Soul Society truly needs an able officer in the world of the living to keep an eye on things, which she is ideally suited to do."
Byakuya finally sighed in defeat before turning back to look at Rukia, who was clearly still taking it in.
"I trust you will act with honour in your new responsibility?" he asked her in a rather demanding tone.
"I will nii-sama." she replied with a respectable nod to her brother.
And that was the end of one of the most eventful meetings that Tōshirō ever been too.
Magical Boy Ichigo!
Yuzu voice over: Welcome to the wonderful world of 'Magical Boy Ichigo!'
Ichigo: What the hell…
Yuzu: Young naive Ichigo is saved from the heartless monster called a Hallow by his Mysterious Protector, Rukia!
Rukia: He is so sweet and innocent isn't he... *giggles*
Ichigo: Ahh stop it already!
Yuzu: But Mysterious Protector Rukia is wounded!
*shocks and gasps*
Yuzu: And gives her powers to Magical Boy Ichigo! Giving him a really really cool outfit in the process!
Ichigo: …
Karin: You know you life story is a bit like Sailor Moon, you got to admit, lack of killing people, small cute adorable sidekick…
Ichigo: Its not! It story about totally awesome swordfights and honour and…
Yuzu:… and really cool outfits!
Ichigo: It's a Shonen!
Yuzu: Gender flipped Magical Girl story!
Ichigo: Shonen!
Yuzu: Magical Girl!
Ichigo: Shonen!
*continuing arguing in background*
Rukia: Well I best try to sort this out folks, lookout for the next chapter of this fanfic where I finally give in to lust! *winks*
Ichigo: *screams*
Rukia: Mawawawa!
Yuzu: I hope big sister Rukia joking…
Karin: I think she is…
Ichigo: Why did I have to date a nymphomaniac?! There was no hints when we first met she be like this!
Karin: I thought the rabbit obsession be a bit of a clue myself…