"It's that damn Kira Fukutaichou."

Kira turned around from the 9th squad landing where he had been talking with Hisagi, making up excuses for not meeting up with him for the past few weeks. They were becoming quite lame as well, the most recent one being "had to clean the house." Kira knew that Shuuhei was not quite as stupid as his reputation made it seem, he could not continue with these bad lies forever; but it was all he could think to do for now, hoping that one of these days everything would just somehow go away. But hearing his name from the grounds made him forget what he was doing for a moment, and he searched around below in a slight panic for the source.

His eyes fell upon a small group of Shinigami sitting by a tree, who were complaining in loud voices, pulling apart leaves absentmindedly, taking rocks out of their shoes. Surprisingly, he recognized a few of them from his own squad, and took to eavesdropping as one of them mentioned his name again.

"Kira's got some nerve on him," muttered one with slick black hair. "Why should we follow him? He's been in the squad, what, a month, and we're suddenly just supposed to listen to everything he tells us?"

"I've been in sanbantai longer that that guy's been a Shinigami," said an older-looking man. "In all fairness, he should be under my command."

"That's not the way it works," scolded a female shinigami with curly hair. "It's about power. For all you know, Kira Fukutaichou could cut your head clean off before you even notice he was there. But," she continued, "for Yamamoto Taichou to put two people from Squad Five over us? They should just go back where they came from."

Kira moved down near where they sat, stepping slowly closer. He didn't know that sanbantai was still against him; by now they should give him some respect. But it seemed as though at least this particular group of people didn't like him at all.

"Weren't any of us worthy of being Captain of our own squad?" called a man with a fair complexion. "Instead of them? We didn't even have a chance!"

Another woman corrected him. "Ichimaru Taichou is worthy of being a Captain, more so than any of us," she admitted. "It just doesn't seem fair to us because there happened to be an opening in our squad. But," she continued as the others glared at her, "the Fukutaichou's just some kid picked out. That's what's really unfair. That position should have been reserved for our third seat! We all could have moved up a spot!"

Though he had to admit that they had a point, Kira still felt a bit of anger bubble inside of him. They spoke so freely about this as if they knew every detail on his life, on his Captain's life, as if they knew everything that went on in Seiretei, or rather, should go on. How could they blame him for becoming Vice-Captain? It wasn't as though he forced himself upon them like a hierarchy; in all truth he had been relatively mild towards them, and hadn't really spoken a lot with any of them. But hearing them speak about him this way didn't set right with him.

"Ara . . . they shouldn' be talkin' so loud," came a closer voice. Kira turned his attention to his left where stood Gin, looking good-natured out at his subordinates. Kira was startled, and his hand fell to the handle of his katana instinctively before registering that Gin was not about to start up a training session. It was actually a nice change to find that Gin's attention for once was not on him. He didn't even bother to ask how Gin knew he was at Squad Nine; he just knew. Curiously, he watched his Captain's expression, trying to read his mind, even worried on what he was contemplating.

"They ain't very nice, are they?" Gin continued as a loud "yeah!" echoed from where the sanbantai Shinigami sat. "Want we should teach 'em a lesson?"

In truth, Kira didn't want them to go away unpunished, or it could encourage others to walk on him as well. But he was dry on the details of how much of a "lesson" Gin was thinking of embedding into them. Carefully and hoping Gin wouldn't make a scene, he nodded.

"Tha's what I thought," Gin smiled. "Follow my lead."

He took a step out of the shadows, inching his way closer to where the group sat, Kira walking gingerly behind him, exchanging uneasy glances between his Captain and the Shinigami. They were clearly too preoccupied slandering him to notice them. Gin stopped at a nearby tree and leaned against it, folding his arms, before calling at them.

"There a problem 'round here?"

The group turned to the tree, and their faces were struck with unmistakable terror, though only one of them was unwise enough to keep it on for more than a few seconds.

"Ichimaru Taichou!" cried the oldest one, standing up and offering a respectful bow, shaking. He did not address Kira. "There's no problem here. None at all."

"Really." Gin's smile faded slightly. He paused. "Do ya have a problem wit me?"

"No, no, of course not, what gave you that idea?" said the one with the slick hair way too quickly.

"A lil' birdie told me yer not so happy 'bout me and my Vice-Cap'in bein' from Squad Five," Gin answered ominously.

My Vice-Captain. Kira glanced sideways at Gin. Despite the fact that he wasn't smiling, he seemed to be enjoying himself. Their subordinates were speechless.

"Well, tha's not very respectful," Gin continued, taking a menacing step forward, letting off an amount of reiatsu that rendered the weaker people around them paralyzed. "The Squad should be taught ter respect the Cap'n and Vice-Cap'n. Insolence is not ter be tolerated. Kira." He smiled again as Kira stepped forward, attempting to look fierce. "Cut their heads off."

Kira's hand flew to the hilt of his sword, but he hesitated. Yes, they were being rude, but cut their heads off? He drew, glanced sideways at his Captain, waiting for a response as the group stood frozen with fear, staring unblinkingly at Wabisuke. If that was what he really wanted . . .

Gin replaced his smile after a moment and said, "Jus' kidding."

Kira could see their faces twitching perplexedly at Gin's lightheartedness at sentencing them to death. He gladly put away his sword and the two of them headed back to Squad Three, leaving the shinigami frozen and confused.

"Thank you, Taichou," Kira said modestly.

"Ya got a lot ta learn, Izuru," Gin replied. "Disrespect ain't ter be tolerated. We was jus puttin' them in their place."

I'm a bit useless, aren't I? Kira thought, but didn't ask for fear of getting "yes" as an answer. He sighed, thankful that the confrontation didn't go as badly as it could have. Gin could have attacked them all without warning with everyone in the Squad watching, could have grabbed one of them by the throat, threatening them softly, or really made Kira behead them one by one. In fact, Kira was vaguely surprised when Gin didn't force him to carry it out. He didn't know if he could have lived with himself after that.

"Third Squad is ours, Kira," Gin continued, speaking almost too casually, "we command it. We command them. It's the ladder of Sereitei. An' if there's a Shinigami who don' wanna follow, he should not be allowed ta exist."

Kira shivered slightly at both the concept his Captain was discussing and being addressed by his surname. In all his weeks being with him, Gin had never before called him like that. There was almost a lack of intimacy and interest all of a sudden.

"They still 'aven't learned, that group," Gin said grimly. "They gonna keep at yer back, Izuru. Don' you be afraid to kill them if ya need to."

"I don't think I'll need to, Taichou," Kira quickly blurted.

Gin shrugged. "If ya insist." He didn't speak for a little while, leaving Kira to ponder if he had the guts or will to kill another. Kira imagined what Renji would say if he was there: Gin was unnecessarily violent, mad, even. Yet Kira trusted that there would be method to his madness, even if he couldn't see it. But murder? What method could there be to that?

Halfway through his paperwork, Kira became aware that he could no longer feel hot breath on the back of his neck nor could he hear gentle slow breathing. Looking over his shoulder, he found that he was quite alone. Slowly, he got up and looked around again, confirming his Captain's absence. This was a rarity: Gin didn't usually disappear in the middle of doing something, especially if that something was making Kira uncomfortable. But the fact couldn't be denied, and Kira used the opportunity to take a break and do something he had been meaning to do for quite some time -- meet up with Hisagi.

It was a long walk from his squad to Squad Nine, and the sun was already setting as he organized the finished papers into a neat pile on the desk. Cautiously he picked his sword up from the table, strapped it around his waist, and headed out.

He walked quickly, avoiding running into people as best as he could. He noticed, as he continued along, that the crowds were starting to thin out. Nearing his destination there was hardly anyone around. He was briefly reflecting on what to say to his friend other than "sorry" when something small and hard hit the back of his neck and bounced away onto the gravel into a corner.

"Hey, blondie!"

Kira turned to find the same group he and Gin had scolded that morning standing readily behind him. He was hardly in the mood to talk to them. "What do you want?" he said sharply.

"Not so tough without Taichou, are you?" teased the younger girl.

"What have I ever done to you?" Kira asked coolly. "You'd be best off if you leave me alone."

"Oh, is that a threat?" said the slick-haired one taking a step forward. "Bring it on."

"I don't want to fight you," Kira said, exasperated at their persistence.

"What's wrong, Fukutaichou?" he mocked. "Scared? Not so up-to-par?" With one swift movement, he drew his zanpakuto. "C'mon, we'll see who really deserves your position, stupid child."

Kira narrowed his eyes in disgust. "How dare you---" he began, but was cut off as the shinigami swung forward unexpectedly.

Kira drew his sword quickly, turned and caught his subordinate's zanpakuto. The latter looked mildly impressed but didn't let it startle him. As determination glittered in his eyes, Kira became less confident, trying hard to keep his own expression fierce. The shinigami took a stab, which Kira deflected, pushing him back. Anger brewed on his face, and he raised his sword high.

"Spread Your Wings, Tobimasusaru!"

The sword changed shape, gaining spikes along its blade, twisting into a strange curve, the teeth sticking out like giant toothpicks. The other shinigami jeered on the sidelines, calling out words of encouragement to their peer. Kira was awed by it, unsure of what to make of it except that he didn't want it near him and took a step back. But it was too late, for the Shinigami had his heart set on bathing it in Kira's blood.

"Death to tyranny!" he shouted, and charged forward, running wildly. Kira's mind went blank, terror filling the void, only able to think to do one thing. He gripped Wabisuke tightly and stabbed blindly forward.

There was a loud clang as the misshapen and spiny katana clattered to the ground. Kira found extra weight lying on his chest, breathing onto his neck, clinging to his kimono, making terrible wheezing noises. The other shinigami were staring in horror, faces white, eyes unblinking and wide. Kira watched, unbelievingly as the Shinigami lifted his head and looked into his face with unseeing eyes, blood bubbling from his mouth as he spoke.

"Fuku – Taichou --" he gasped, collapsing into a heap at Kira's feet as the Vice-Captain withdrew his sword and saw that he had carved a gaping hole in the other's body. He looked from his sword to his hands, all of them now dripping red, a vivid, horrid crimson. He was frozen to the core.

The other Shinigami scattered, scampering off in any which direction they could get to. Kira was left alone, dropped his sword to the ground, staring at the darkness as though asking it for an explanation. What have I done?

"Oh dear. Look wha'cha gone an' done," came a voice from beside him. Kira didn't bother to turn his head. He knew who it was. "Put a hole right innis chest. Carved him up good." The voice came progressively closer.

"I . . ." Kira whispered, still staring at the body.

"Oh, but he deserved it, didn' he?" By now, Gin's lips were an inch from his ear. "Went all up an' attacked his superior. Ya finally learned to stand fer yer principles."

"Principles?" Kira spat almost ironically. "What good are my principles? He . . . he was only standing for his own principles. He had a lifetime ahead of him. But I . . ." he put his hands closer to his face, "I took it away, didn't I? I took it away! What principles did I have then? What was my right? I'm despicable, Taichou! Despicable! Horrible! Why? Why did I do it?!"

He broke into hysterics, tears bursting forth and flowing freely down his cheeks, mingling with the blood that already lay there. Gin stepped in front of him, wrapping his arms around him, stroking his back softly. Kira sobbed into his chest, clinging to his Captain's robes and staining the pure white with red handprints. "Why?" he continued. "I – I --"

"Shh…" Gin crooned softly, bringing his hand up to Kira's hair and petting him gently. Kira clung tighter to the reassurance and warmth that came with that hand, the touch that ran like hot soup to the tips of his fingers.

Kira looked up expectantly at his Captain, searching for that glowing smile. Gin gave him what he wanted, posing a small grin before kissing the boy, interrupting his cries. Kira closed his eyes gently as Gin held him tighter and returned the favor by bringing his own arms around his Captain's torso, savoring the familiar taste and scent of home. Kira broke off, still hiccupping slightly.

"Come, Izuru," Gin said, beginning to walk, "we should go to Squad Four."

Kira followed him miserably to the bright and cheerful interior of the infirmary, waiting aside as his Captain went to send for aid. There was no rightful way that this entire thing could wash over. Either the other shinigami would tell everyone that he was ruthless or they would keep their mouths shut in fear of him. Either way, it wasn't the impression he wanted to make on them. Rather, it had been forced upon him. He hoped at least the victim realized that his Vice-Captain had wanted no part in the battle.

"Did you--" Kira said as his Captain returned.

"Yep," he answered. "He'll be here in no time."

Kira smiled vaguely before his face fell.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, it's . . ." Kira stared up into his Captain's face and spoke from his heart. "Tell me I did the right thing," he beseeched feebly.

"Ya did the right thing," Gin replied, running his fingers over the boy's cheek. Kira sniffled, truly wanting to believe his words, but found it immensely difficult to accept that nearly killing his subordinate was right. If that was Gin's state of mind, Kira finally understood some of the things that he did. Gin sensed that he hadn't been comforted and continued. "He woulda killed ya." He brought his other hand to Kira's face as well, forcing focus on himself. "Most-a Squad Three is better than ya at swordplay, they're older, an' they don' like ya. If ya don't exert yerself, ya gonna get killed."

Kira sniffled again. He was right, of course. The now dying shinigami could have slaughtered him easily if he hadn't gotten there first.

"Po' thing, yer so frail," Gin said, leaning in again and combed his fingers through Kira's golden hair that was speckled here and there with deep red. "All shaken up 'pon nearly killin' only one shinigami." He brushed his fingers lightly across Kira's chapped lips, tracing them over, and pushed his fingertips into his mouth briefly, one of the fingers hooking on Kira's bottom lip and pulling it forward gently as he withdrew.

"C'mon, le's go," Gin said, nodding to the door. "Ya gotta go home and wash up. An' there's still paperwork ta do."

Kira gave his thanks, wobbled slowly to the door, and left as Unohana Taichou, Captain of the Fourth Squad, entered the room. She was a composed woman, smart and calm, though at the moment she looked slightly tense.

"Ichimaru Taichou," she began slowly, and Gin look over at her. "I got to the body you reported. He's from your squad. Would . . . you like to schedule a funeral?"

"No," Gin replied quietly. "I'll take care of it."

The name of the shinigami's sword is a combination of the words for "fly" (verb) and "monkey." I was watching Tin Man at the time.

Thanks to Gohan757 for helping me with this chapter and the last.