There was a sense of foreboding that evening in the Slytherin common room. The results of Umbridge's inspections were back and both Byakuya and Kenpachi were on probation. Risa was beyond furious and quickly proceeded into another rant that started in English and switched into Japanese. Jake joined in Risa's rant and Jen was beyond ranting furious. It was only because Renji and Marcus were holding her on the couch that she wasn't shouting at Umbridge for putting her captain on probation. Jake paced the length of the room muttering darkly after helping Risa finish her rant. Renji was about as furious as Jen.
"We have to do something about this," Risa concluded pounding her left hand with her right fist. "This is pure 100 percent injustice, put Kenpachi and Byakuya on probation eh?" she quickly proceeded into another rant. Ichigo knew that consolation was futile when Risa was in this much agitation.
Malfoy swaggered into the common room and sat down with the soul reapers like they were good friends. Jen's expression lightened, finally a legitimate punching bag.
"I heard about our advanced swords arts teacher," he said smugly. "I wrote a letter to father explaining what a horrible teacher he is and that Umbridge should get rid of him wouldn't you agree?"
The look on Jake's face had only been seen once before, last year when Ichimaru had stabbed his girlfriend; Izuru looked at his enraged captain and tried to calm him down.
"Jake, maybe you should…"
"I'm sorry," Jake said calmly to Izuru before rounding on Malfoy. "You snarky little shit, here's the deal, you stop acting like a little crap-heap and maybe I'll consider you for seeker for the team."
Every face went from Jake to Malfoy, threatening quidditch positions was a legit. The fifth year blanched and backed away from his quidditch captain before vaulting over the couch and scampering up to his dorm. Jake sat down.
"Teach that little bastard to insult my taichou," he snarled. Jen sighed her punching bag was running away like a chicken without a head. Risa simply sat down between Jake and Renji with a vindictive look on her face.
"What?" Ichigo, Marcus and Shuhei asked in unison.
"I was thinking," Risa began
"A dangerous pastime," Marcus asked her
"I know," Shuhei finished. Risa threw a pillow at both of them.
"We need to do something about this," she said at her team. "This woman is screwing with us, we need to stop it!"
"We can count Yamamoto out," Renji said leaning back against the couch. "He ain't gonna do shit."
"Dumbledore?" Momo asked. "He was the one who hired that foul woman."
"Nope," Marcus said stroking his chin. "He's not gonna do anything either, we have to settle his on our terms."
"What are our terms?" Renji asked.
"Well get Kenpachi and Byakuya off probation for one," Risa said. "Second get her out of this 'high inquisitor' thing that's why she's acting like a power-hungry person thing…I don't know." She moaned shaking her head. Risa flopped down on the black leather armchair and looked at everyone. "This is totally hopeless."
Everyone looked back in shock; this was the first time they had seen Risa give up ever. Risa always fought in what she believed in even if she stood alone. This sudden display caught Renji off guard.
"You can't give up Risa, we can't afford to at this stage," he said getting out of his seat to stand in front of her. "We've been here over two months and we have no information. Yamamoto made you mission leader for a reason and that reason wasn't because you throw your hands up at difficulty and say you quit. I don't believe you, get yourself together and figure out a way to get through this, because that's what the Risa I know would do. Bring her back because this certainly isn't her."
Risa looked up at Renji, he was right. She was mission leader and couldn't give up; even still the situation was bleak and hopeless. Her fear of failure showed through in her eyes and Renji picked up on it as did the entire team. Risa looked at them all. There were seventeen soul reapers posted at Hogwarts, seventeen people that she was in charge of if she gave up on them now, she was the biggest disgrace to all the Gotei-13, especially Jushiro, her former Captain, he had put her in for the post.
She thought for a moment letting Renji's advice sink in.
"We need to concentrate on Kenpachi and Byakuya first," she said firmly. That was the only thing that made any sense at the moment. "What about Jushiro?"
"Ukitake-taichou should be fine," Toshiro said confidently. "He does bookwork, simple and basic."
Risa raised her eyes at Jake and Jack. They looked back at her and saw her lips curl into a sinister smirk.
"Boys," she said. "Can you figure out the reasons why Byakuya and Kenpachi are on probation?"
"Gimme a Mac and twenty minutes," Jake said saluting before he turned on heel and raced out of the dorm.
Risa raised her arm; hand cupped around an invisible champagne glass. The others followed suit.
"Tonight," she said darkly. "The mission changes from recon to reform."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Umbridge walked around patrolling the corridors looking to put people in detention when a dark shadow flew past her. She looked around trying to find it but it could no longer be seen.
A young soul reaper perched himself on a statue and watched in amusement as Umbridge tried to find the source of the shadow. The soul reaper raised his arm.
"Bakudo Ichiban, Sai!" he said Umbridge's arm twisted behind her back. She cursed in pain. The soul reaper stifled his laughter and continued on his way, his shun-po somewhat lighter.
"Put Kenpachi Zaraki on probation will you, you fat toad?"
~*~*~*~*~*
The team of Soul Reapers sat at their usual corner of the Slytherin table the next morning when Jake sauntered in looking high on something. There was a general air of smugness around him; the smirk on his face was evidence of that. He carried a folder in his hand, a manila one with big red letters reading "Confidential" on it. He slapped it on the table between Rukia and Toshiro, pushed Izuru and Jack out of the way and sat down between them.
"Someone looks happy," Izuru noted on his captain's behavior. Jake's smirk increased.
"Jingle Bells batman smells robin laid an egg," he sang pushing the folder toward Risa. "Well I said twenty but it took about one twenty, so here it is."
Risa opened the folder and examined the contents. Her eyes narrowed with each line.
"Well that explains a lot," she muttered. The group moved in closer. "I can see where she's getting at Kenpachi at but Byakuya makes no sense. The subject matter is within a ministry approved course, I looked it up last night."
"Maybe it's because our captain basically bitch-slapped Umbridge," Jen said simply. "If you remember the lesson he told her off."
"But still," Risa said. "Jake this is fantastic, stay away from the government; they'll want their hands on you."
"Oh really?" Jake asked with a mouthful of eggs and bacon. "I use my skills for good not evil."
"Oh by the way," Toshiro told Jake. "Umbridge came in bound by a bakudo, ichiban to be exact, and Byakuya had to unbind her."
"And you're point to this story is…?" Jake asked.
"Seeing as you were the only one able to perform kido out last night. It could only have been you."
"Like the bitch didn't have it coming," Jake said conversationally.