(A/N) Hey guys, I have been, and want to continue, writing two chapters a week but things are getting hectic at school with finals and all that jazz… and I think I will only have time for one chapter every week. Summer is only a few days away though! So then I'll be able to write a lot.
Thanks again to my reviewers, enjoy chapter three.
Remembering the last time he was here, Ichigo resolved to be as polite as possible as he entered the captain's meeting room in the 1st division barracks. If he wanted to help Momo, he would have to be tried for the 5th division captain seat, and he wanted to make sure he got it. Walking up to the dais, Ichigo inclined his head and waited to be acknowledged.
"Better… but you need to show more respect to your soon to be superior officer." The sotaicho said.
Biting back a smart ass remark, Ichigo tried to bow a bit more deeply but couldn't bring himself to do it; he was too stubborn to do that, so he merely nodded again.
"Sorry sir, I'm not used to the whole bowing thing." Ichigo said as respectfully as he could, but a bit of the retort he had held escaped into his tone.
Raising an eyebrow at the uncharacteristic change in attitude, the sotaicho merely stared back at the top of the boy's head.
"No offense was taken my boy, but I wasn't expecting you for a little while longer, what is wrong?" The wise old man could see that something was bothering the boy, and he had an idea of what it was.
"Something happened sir…something that got me thinking about how serious this coming war is… and I realized that to protect the people I care about, I have to try my hardest. I couldn't just stand around, so I came here, so we can discuss this whole captaincy thing." Ichigo said, looking up and meeting the grizzled old warriors gaze.
Yamamoto sat back in his chair and ran a hand through his long white beard thoughtfully. He knew this boy had potential, but he would've never guessed that he would act like this, young as he was. Smiling Yamamoto said.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with the lieutenant of 5th division… would it?"At that, Ichigo's calm demeanor broke and he shouted.
"Hey! How'd you know that ya ol-" Ichigo stopped himself before he could finish his sentence and continued more respectfully. "Yamamoto-sotaicho…"
"I have my ways youngster, how could I be in this position if I didn't know about what happens in my domain? Come, walk with me." The old man then stood up and grabbed his zanpakto hidden as a cane. Ichigo followed him through a side door and into some sort of meeting room. There was one large, low round table with 13 seats spaced around it.
Yamamoto sat on one of the cushions and Ichigo on the other side, the sotaicho spoke first.
"Kurosaki-san, I have heard all the reports I have received about you and listened to the opinions of my subordinates. Of my 12 captains, 3 have personally recommended you and 4 have given their consent. However, that is not enough to automatically induct you into captaincy, which is why you will be taking a test in front of at least 200 spectators, including myself and at least two more captains."
"That doesn't sound too bad…" Ichigo replied. Yamamoto only grinned in a way that had Ichigo regretting his last few words.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself; you will participate in two battles. One will be a two on one fight against a captain and his lieutenant to show your skill in Zanjutsu, or Hakudo if you choose to do so…"
"I think I can hold my own if we aren't using lethal force…" Ichigo thought.
"…and after that you will be required to fight three lieutenants… using only Kido and Hoho*."
Ichigo's confident face instantly fell and was replaced by a shocked expression. The wily old sotaicho grinned knowingly and said.
"You have been taught kido…have you not Kurosaki-san?"
Ichigo scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Well about that…" Ichigo sputtered out nervously. Yamamoto's eyes glinted with mischief as he replied.
"Then this test will be doubly important as it will see how well you work under pressure. It also looks like we will have to assign you a teacher, a lieutenant, perhaps from the squad you wish to lead."
Ichigo's face switched back to one of determination as he remembered why he went through the trouble of being so polite in the first place.
"Division Five… I want to be the captain of division five." He said, looking straight at the old warrior, no doubt whatsoever clouding his gaze. The Sotaicho's face darkened and he absently stroked his beard again.
"I see… Aizen's old squad… But young Hinamori is… not in the best… state of mind after all that has happened…"
Ichigo's scowl returned full force and he had to strain himself from letting his anger seep into his voice.
"I wouldn't give up on her so soon; she just needs a chance to prove herself, to step away from Aizen's shadow."
"It's your choice Kurosaki-san… but to continue this discussion, are you familiar with the duties of division five?"
Ichigo leaned back and crossed his arms.
"Unohana-chan talked about it a bit, but not much."
Yamamoto raised an eyebrow at the –chan suffix, but did not comment.
"Division Five is the special forces division of the Gotei 13, similar, but not the same as Division two which is connected to the Onmitsukido, which is directly controlled by Central 46 and out of my jurisdiction. Therefore, Division two operates almost exclusively within soul society and mostly in the Seireitei. The Fifth however, is a Special Forces strike force, expected to work in far flung theatres and even in the Material World. I created the Fifth as a first response while the 46 deliberated and argued. More often than not, the situation would be resolved before they even made a decision!"
"Aren't the Central 46 members dead now?"
"Yes my boy, but they will be replaced from among the elders of the noble families soon enough. Due to the peace that has lasted for many years, since the Quincy wars, the Fifth has been largely assuming normal shinigami duties and have lost their edge in recent years. Looking back, Aizen was not the most logical choice, but at the time it seemed reasonable… probably due to his cowardly shikai!"
Yamamoto exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table, face grim, he then moved his stare back at Ichigo.
"I will not mince words boy, war is coming and the fifth will again be called upon to leap into the fray before anyone else, to weaken the enemy, stab at his back, and make him fear the Gotei 13."
Ichigo's gaze and determined glare never wavered.
"I wouldn't want it any other way."
Yamamoto stared at Ichigo for a few moments, not many could stand the scrutiny of the daunting old warrior, but the boy did not flinch once. Good, he would need nerves of steel. Nodding to himself, Yamamoto replied.
"Maybe you are just what the fifth needs, I will just have to wait until next week to find out. Train hard boy, you will need all the strength you can attain for the days to come.'
With those ominous parting words, Ichigo stood up and manages a shallow bow.
Momo was sitting on her bed in the recovery ward of the fourth division barracks, her knees pulled up and her arms wrapped tightly around them. Her head was down, her eyes closed as she continued the mental struggle that had started that morning with the intervention of one Ichigo Kurosaki, the source of her worrying.
Her mind kept replaying his words, the words that had awakened her from the dark trance she had been in. She couldn't forget that smirk as he told her his name, or the look in his eyes as he had pulled her up from the depths of despair.
She didn't know what to think about him, her mind kept telling her to push him away, to save herself from anymore betrayal. But her heart told her that his words held truth, and that she should trust him.
"I don't know what to do…" she thought helplessly.
Ichigo was walking along one of the many pathways of the seireitei, lost in thought and contemplating Yamamoto's words. He was so into his thoughts, that he didn't notice the small form falling from the sky until it landed right on top of him…literally.
The brooding teenager was abruptly brought back to the real world with a small weight landing on top of his head. Panicking, he quickly grabbed at the creature and brought it to eye level. He was greeted by the brown eyes and striking pink hair of Yachiru.
"Hiya Icchi!" She exclaimed, perpetual smile shining brillianty.
Ichigo could only stare blankly back at the strange little shinigami, before it clicked. Whenever one saw the diminutive lieutenant, her captain was sure to follow. Eyes going wide, Ichigo flung Yachiru into the air and jumped forward, just in time to evade the ground splitting impact of Kenpachi's blade.
Flying through the air and laughing wildly, Yachiru landed on her captain's shoulder.
"ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU COULDVE KILLED US!"
The bloodthirsty captain merely laughed maniacally and said.
"I knew you'd dodge that, now fight me Kurosaki!"
"YAAAY Go Ken-chan!"
"Get away from me you freak!"
And so commenced a rather comical chase throughout the seireitei, which would have had any spectators that happened to be looking on laughing uncontrollably if not for the walls being destroyed and the steel being swung around. Ichigo headed for the only person he thought could save him, someone he knew every member of Division Eleven feared and he hoped that fear applied to its captain as well.
Busting open the doors of the Division Four barracks, he ran past an astonished Isane followed closely by the crazed swordsman.
"Stop running like a coward, where's that ryoka that dared to face me!"
Ichigo just kept on running, he had to get away from this guy, as he turned a corner, he finally found who he was looking for.
"Unohana-chan! Save me!" Ichigo screamed for his life. At the sound of the gentle captains name, Kenpachi came to a complete stop, a nervous look on his face. He was to late however, as said captain came around the corner, Ichigo in tow.
In her dangerously sweet voice she reserved for rowdy members of the combat division, she said.
"Zaracki-taicho, what do you think you are doing assaulting one of my patients?"
"I-uh…you see…"
"No, I don't, Ichigo-kun here has yet to fully recover and needs his rest. There will also be no fighting in my infirmary, do you understand?"
The insane captain looked like a puppy that had peed all over his masters shoes.
"Yes ma'am…"
Ichigo stuck his tongue out at Zaracki, like a little kid who had gotten his older brother in trouble with his mom. The inseparable duo left soon after that.
"Thank you so much Unohana-chan, I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come along."
"Of course Ichigo-kun." She said, smiling up at the slightly taller boy.
Ichigo's face returned to a scowl as he asked.
"So…how's Momo doing?" at that, Unohana's smile saddened slightly.
"Not much better, she still refuses to acknowledge most people, but at least she has started easting, and she no longer just stares blankly at the wall, but paces around the room, thinking."
"I see… can I go talk to her?" He asked.
"Of course, you are the only person she seems to react to, I hope you can help her, she is such a good person."
Nodding, Ichigo then followed Unohana towards Momo's room silently, his usual scowl firmly in place. Arriving at the door, the captain patted Ichigo on the shoulder, smiled at him, and left. Ichigo stood in front of the door for a few moments, collecting his thoughts and taking a deep breath. Silently, he opened the door, and entered the room.
Momo was nowhere to be seen, but he noticed the door to the garden outside was slightly parted. Stepping through the door, he walked out onto the porch that he had met Momo on and down some steps into the garden proper. He found Momo on a bench by a small koi pond, staring out onto the water. He walked up quietly and sat down on the other side of the bench, not wanting to make her too uncomfortable.
"So…have you thought about what I said…"
She gave no verbal response, but she did tense up and shake her head slightly, as if she hadn't noticed him until he had spoken up. Several moments passed before she looked up at him. His face was scrunched up into a scowl, but his eyes betrayed his worry. She looked away; she still had not come to terms with what had happened that morning. Sighing, Ichigo stood up, and decided to take a more direct approach. He walked up to her and squatted down until her downturned gaze met his. Momo tried to look away, but she couldn't break away from his intense glare.
"Momo, I understand what you are going through, but you aren't going to solve anything by sitting on your ass all day." Ichigo practically growled out.
Momo's eyes widened at the anger she heard in those words, she was expecting more words of comfort, not anger.
"All you're doing right now is letting that bastard have control over you, your letting him cloud your thoughts and influence your actions. If you want to break away, become your own person, you have to stand on your own two feet, not wait for a passing breeze to take all your troubles away." Ichigo said, just as harshly.
"You don't understand what it's like! No one does!" she surprised herself at with the volume of her outburst. Ichigo was as well, but in a good way, at least she was standing up for herself. He decided to egg her on.
"Oh I understand perfectly, I see a little girl wallowing in self pity instead of doing something about her problems!"
For the first time in days, Momo felt a strong emotion well up inside her, who was this person to think that he could talk about what happened to her like that?
"You want me to do something? Hado # 1: Sho!" she screamed as she unleashed a wave of spiritual energy that sent the poor boy flying into tree. As the smoke cleared, and she saw the crumpled form of Ichigo lying beneath the tree and the indentation he made, the anger quickly left her as she rushed forward, afraid that she had seriously hurt him. As she neared him however, he jumped up to his feet and exclaimed.
"Now that's more like it, show some spirit Momo!" he said, laughing.
Momo couldn't be more confused, was this what he had planned all along? She didn't have much time to think on it as he walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her neck and said.
"You're going to be an awesome teacher, with your help; I'll knock gramps out of his diapers!"
Momo could only blush.
00o0o0o0o0o0o0o 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 o0o0o0o0o
(A/N) And that's chapter three, a bit short, but I wanted to give you something seeing that next week are finals and I might not be able to update so soon.
If you liked it and have any questions or comments, please review. Your feedback keeps me writing!
Quintus