I have no idea what the genre of "Hurt/Comfort" is but it sounded intriguing, so I put it under that. Hope it doesn't throw anyone off.
(Chapter Two: Ambition)
"Did you hear, Kira-kun? Ichimaru Fukutaichou is being promoted!"
Kira came out of a daze, looked down from the slowly drifting clouds and over to his left where stood a short young lady with brown hair tied up in a bun. She was smiling brightly up at him at the moment, eyes shining happily and reflecting the preoccupied face of her blonde-haired friend. He parted his lips slightly and mumbled back, "What did you say, Momo?"
"I saaaaaaaaaid Ichimaru Fukutaichou is being promoted," she said excitedly. "He's going to be Captain of Squad Three. Do you know what that means?"
"WHAT?" Kira was only slightly surprised by the news, but it was a shock to hear it was happening so soon. It was only a matter of time before Gin became a captain; but Kira had forgotten that it meant he would now be in a different squad. Why did it have to be now?
"Wow, Kira-kun, are you feeling alright?" Hinamori asked, playfully concerned, stepping up on her tippy-toes to feel Kira's forehead. "You shouldn't be shaken up anymore, it was over a week ago. Really." She brought herself back down to her normal height. "You're stronger than that."
At those words, his ears went pink. He had in fact, just been thinking about the incident last week, and had been anticipating the training that Gin had promised him. He imagined the situation happening over again, this time having a different and more positive outcome. But she was right; it was time to move on, to only get stronger. He nodded to show his appreciation.
"But anyway," continued Hinamori, her own face starting to turn red with the idea of what she was about to say, "you know what his promotion means?"
It means I'm going to have to transfer to Squad Three. Kira swallowed that answer, unwilling to worry Hinamori any more; she had the tendency to over-react when she was upset. Instead he sighed a casual, "What does that mean?"
"It means," she said, barely able to contain herself and turning even redder with every word, "that the spot is open for the Vice-Captain of Aizen Taichou!!" She squealed at the very mention of their Captain, and fanned herself with one hand while using the other to keep from falling over. Kira smiled down at her, almost laughing to himself. That girl had an unnatural obsession with Aizen, if he ever saw one. She would faint at the sight of him, post pictures of him above her bed, and sometimes even follow him around. Even the mere mention of his name made her terribly flushed. Kira looked out at the grounds of the Seiretei below the Fifth Squad buildings, at the gravel roads, the wooden carts, and the people running around, training, carrying messages, perhaps. There was no doubt in his mind that Hinamori would be a good candidate for the new Vice-Captain. She would be loyal (obviously), she was an expert at kidou, and definitely had some skill with a sword. She could probably tackle the load of paperwork, too, that Vice-Captains were rumored to get. He closed his eyes for a moment, his left one still stinging from the scar. Maybe he had the makings of a Vice-Captain, too; he certainly had the will to become one, ever since his life was saved all those years ago, and last week just reinforced it. Certainly, if he truly tried, he could do it. But given a choice, he thought, I wouldn't serve under Aizen. I would serve under - -
"Oi, Kira! How've you been feeling?"
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a tingling pain that shot up his spine as someone slapped him hard on the back. "Owww," he spat out, turning sharply to face a man with elaborately tattooed eyebrows and bright red hair stuck up in a messy ponytail. Renji looked dumbly back, as though asking, "What? Don't you like pain?"
"Oh, good, your reflexes are normal," Renji smiled, raising his hand into a "thumbs-up."
"Renji, why must you be so hard on him?" Hinamori asked reproachfully, finally breaking out of her fantasy-world but still retaining the color in her face. "His wounds just healed!"
"It's just what guys do, Momo," said Renji, shrugging. "Anyway, I came to check on Kira. Finally out of the sick ward, eh?"
"Yes, they let me go this morning," he answered, returning the friendly smile.
"And those bastards? What happened to them?"
"They were apprehended," Kira answered simply. "Arrested the next day. I . . . don't really want to talk about it."
"That's alright, then," Renji said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "Hey, you got something on you." He pointed at the jagged line down the left side of Kira's face.
"It's a scar," Kira muttered bitterly.
"Ohhh." Renji looked slightly embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject. "Er, hey, you hear 'bout Ichimaru's promotion? Frigging out of the blue. Now it seems like everyone's kissing ass at Aizen to get that Vice-Captain position. Can you believe that? Making a complete fool out of yourself to get into a high position. Who the hell wants to be a Vice-Captain anyway?"
"I do," said Hinamori and Kira almost in unison. They were both slightly embarrassed to admit it out loud, but stood by it quietly, looking at a confused Renji for almost a minute before he replied.
"I suppose you two do," he said, attempting to be modest, "maybe it's just not for me."
"Oh, but Renji-kun, you're amazing at swordfighting!" said Hinamori, clasping her hands together. "If you wanted to be a Vice-Captain, they'd take you on for sure!"
"I'm too much of a hassle," Renji said softly. He looked down at the splintery floor, pondering something. Then, it seemed, he decided to say it after all. "They said . . . if I don't clean up my act they're transferring me . . . to Squad Eleven."
"Squad Eleven?!" The other two spoke in unison again, but in completely different tones of voice. Understandably, Kira was absolutely appalled by the news and showed this with his facial expression. Hinamori, however, seemed to become even more excited.
"Renji, that means you definitely have the skills to become a Vice-Captain! Squad Eleven is the strongest, why would they want to transfer you there if not--"
"Unless they're hoping that Zaraki will whip me into shape," Renji noted, "possibly literally. That's most likely."
"It's simple then," Kira said, "just behave yourself and you'll be able to stay." Renji looked away sheepishly keeping his lips tight together, as though holding back on a comment. "Well?" Kira continued, waiting for a response.
"It's not that simple," Renji said slowly, avoiding eye contact. "The two of you are better suited for being Shinigami. You guys actually have respect for the rules. But me . . . I can't stand authority figures. I hate being told what to do."
"Even more reason to be a Vice-Captain," Kira said. "Only answer to two people: your Taichou and Yamamoto-san."
Renji opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't get out any words before the three of them became frozen on the spot by an incredible reiatsu. With long black hair sporting white combs to display his nobility, Byakuya Kuchiki appeared behind them, walking across the bridge they stood upon. He paused for a moment, looked back at them slowly, watching their awed expressions for a minute before speaking in a deep, almost hypnotic voice.
"Shouldn't you three be doing something?" he said monotonously, but it still sent a shiver through them.
"Yessir," Kira answered quickly, his whole body shaking as he bowed in respect. Hinamori soon bowed as well, but Renji was still stuck. Byakuya turned his head back and continued on his way. The atmosphere immediately became less intense, and they unstiffened.
Renji watched after Byakuya's empty footsteps, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. "Damn," he said. "Sneaking up behind us like that! You can feel his presence without even seeing him."
"I know," Kira replied, clutching his bandaged chest. "He's immensely powerful. I don't think that even Aizen Taichou gives off that much reiatsu. Rumors are he's up for a promotion as well."
"Is that so? He is powerful, isn't he?" Renji put a thoughtful hand on his chin, smiling slyly. "Well, just wait. One of these days, I'm going to surpass Kuchiki."
The other two looked at each other then back at Renji. They were both extremely skeptical about his real motives, but it was Hinamori who spoke up about it.
"Abarai-kun," she started gently, "I know you want to grow strong, but . . . Kuchiki-dono is very very strong."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Renji asked suspiciously.
"What she means," said Kira, trying to be vague, ". . .is that maybe you should start your sights lower than Kuchiki-dono and then work your way up to him."
"No, I'm set for Kuchiki, and I'm sticking with it," Renji said, putting a hand on his hip in determination. "I shall surpass Byakuya Kuchiki!" he announced to no one in particular.
"Erm, Renji-san," Kira started carefully, "is this just because . . . he's Rukia-san's brother?"
"What?! No!!" said Renji, but way too quickly, and he couldn't hide the color that appeared on his cheeks.
"It is," Hinamori said.
"It's not!" Renji shouted. "I'll be stronger than Kuchiki, you'll see." He fell silent for a minute, avoiding looking directly at either of the other two. "I have to get back to patrolling," he said. "Sayonara, Momo. Feel better, Kira." And before they could say anything, he ran off and ducked out of sight.