"Sorry I'm late, captain!"
"Actually, lieutenant, this time you're a little early."
"Oh, good."
"It's a pretty big occasion. We don't want to miss it."
"I'm ready, sir."
Captain Shinji Hiraku analysed his lieutenant's appearence. Hinamori had spent the previous ten years working her heart out, as if she was trying to kill herself. He'd long since given up trying to tell her to take it easy.
Hinamori's face appeared as young as ever, if a little thinner and more exhausted. But there were too many strands of white and grey in her hair for someone as young as her.
They began walking towards
"In a way it's the end of an era. Here's hoping this'll be the last new captain we'll need to appoint for a while."
"I agree, sir."
Shinji thought back to the point in time nearly nine years earlier when he had been approached by Yammamoto himself for the purpose of reconcilliation between the Seretei and the Visoreds. Though no one had ever admitted to it, Shinji was certain that the idea had come from Kyoraku or Ukitake, maybe both. The old man had obviously gone aling with it because the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were in desperate need of more captain level manpower. Ichigo probably also had something to do with it.
So three of the Visoreds had regained their old positions as captains. Only Rose, whose original division was unavailible, had refused to be reappointed.
It marked a turning point in the way the Seretei operated. There coldblooded strictness of millenia tradition had begun to fade away, partly because of recent experiences, partly out of necessity.
Only the Tenth Division had been without a captain for the majority of the ten years since the winter war. Until now.
There were several people who had achieved bankai but did not want to be captains for various reasons. Shinji knew of one who specifically did not want to take Captain Hitsugaya's place.
But the latest person to achieve bankai, who again resisted being promoted to captain, had been persuaded to take the position by Ukitake. So all of the captancies were going to be filled by people loyal to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads for the first time in his memory.
Personally, however, Shinji thought it was a terrible idea. This particular candidate was guaranteed to forever live in the former captain's shadow and knew it.
"Hey, Shinji!"
There was only one person's promotion that would be an occasion for Ichigo Kurosaki to visit the Soul Society.
"Long time no see, Ichigo."
"Let's hope it stays that way."
It was a good thing Shinji knew just how tactless Ichigo was. Otherwise he would not have realized that he was talking about the lack of a need for them to work together over the previous five years.
"Did you come alone?"
"Orihime, Chad, and Ishida are too busy. I had to be sure not to miss any classes for a month in order to be able to get out of class today."
"Yes. I remember that you became as famous for skipping school as for getting into fights."
"I always had a good reason." Ichigo nodded at the lieutenant. "Hello, Hinamori. You're looking well."
'You always were a terrible liar, Ichigo.' Shinji thought.
"Well," Ichigo said, "shall we go greet the new captain?"
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'Sometimes I hate my life.' Rukia thought.
"I think a captain's haori looks good on you." Renji said.
"Shut up!"
"It's kind of funny, though. You being the right size to wear the haoris the tailors had prepared for Captain Hitsugaya."
"If you make another joke about my height I'll freeze your butt off!"
"Doesn't that seem like old times, Ukitake?" Shunsei asked, standing off in the corner.
"It sure does." the white haired man said, smiling.
"We'll see whose bankai is stronger!" Rukia yelled at Renji, finally at the breaking point.
"If you use your bankai in here don't expect me to rescue you this time when they sentence you to death."
Rukia turned aorund, the anger in her eyes changing into joy almost instantaneously.
"Ichigo!"
Renji pouted as she gave the substitue Soul Reaper a bear hug.
"And I don't get one?"
"The benifits of not being around for a few years, Renji." Ichigo said with a smirk. "And I can show a little respect to a captain."
"I seem to remember Renji cowering in a corner whenever someone said something about Toshiro's height." Shunsei said. "Then again, all of the lieutenants besides for Yachiru were scared stiff of him."
'It's good,' Shinji thought, 'that they can talk about him like this. That they can joke about the past so easily. I just wish everyone could.'
"Congragulations, Rukia." Hinamori said with a small smile.
"Hinamori..." Rukia said.
"No, really. I'm happy for you. And I'm glad the position is finally getting filled. I feel an empty chair is worse than a taken one."
"Even when the person taking it is hardly more qualified than you are?"
Hinamori chuckled a little. "Don't be silly. I could never take that position." She looked around. "Where's Rangiku? Shouldn't your new lieutenant be here?"
"Oh, she's probably bringing the sake to celebrate." Shunsei said.
Sure enough, when Rangiku arrived, she brought more than enough drinks for everyone.
"Congragulations, Captain Kuchiki." Ichigo said, giving Rukia a toast.
"My, that's going to be confusing." Shunsei mock-complained. "Hey, Byakuya! What'll we do when we need one of you but you're noth in the same place?"
Byakuya Kuchiki, who had been attempting to stand around stoically, replied. "I do not see the problem. You will always address us by our first names, no matter how many times I ask you not to."
"Well, we are friends, aren't we?"
"In the Kuchiki Clan even friends address each other with honor, Captain Kyoraku. I would appreciate it if you would show my sister and myself that courtesy."
"Bah. After all this time you're still no fun."
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Ichigo and Rukia snuck off to find a private place to talk.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"Of course I'm nervous! Not only am I taking on a captain's responsibilities, but I'm also taking over the squad of the man with the most powerful ice-Zanpakto in history!"
"Don't think like that."
"Like what?"
"Like it's still Toshiro's squad. It's yours now, and yours alone."
"Easy for you to say. Everyone knows I don't have anywhere near the potential to match him."
"And you don't have to. No one's looking for you to fail. They don't play that sort of game with the captain's rank here. They want a powerful Soul Reaper to take over the last squad, and they trust you to be able to do that."
Rukia sighed. "When did you get so smart?"
"I am a medical student."
"I think they want to make a tradition out of this, that the captain of squad ten always has an ice-Zanpakto."
"I don't see the point in that. How many people with ice-Zanpaktos approach your level or Toshiro's?"
"Just me, at the moment."
"So they must be counting on you to survive a long time, at least until the next person with a powerful enough ice-Zanpakto shows up. By the way, who are 'they?'"
"I'm not sure. I have my suspicions, though."
"I can guess, too."
Rukia laughed. "It really has been a while, hasn't it."
"Yeah. That's the bad part about it being so peaceful lately, not that I'm hoping for some action soon. The occasional little hollow is enough for me."
"So tell me, what's new in the world of the living?"
