I don't own Bleach

This is IchiHime, RenRuk, HitsuHina pairings. Apologies of you don't like that. this isn't really a chapter, more of a rest to show what's going on in the rest of the Seiretei.

4th Squad Barracks…

"I wish you would be more careful, Ichigo," sighed the chestnut-haired girl. She was the 4th Seat of her Squad, a face that Ichigo had known from before becoming a permanent resident of the Soul Society.

Orihime Inuoe had always been so important to him; he had been willing to risk everything to bring her back from Hueco Mundo, the realm of the Hollows, and had nearly died several times during his invasion of Aizen's stronghold of Las Noches.

She had grown more assertive, now possessing a scary side similar to that of her Captain, Retsu Unohana. Her zanpukto hung loosely at her side.

Sometimes, Ichigo missed the original Shun Shun Rikka with its abilities to shield, heal and attack –six fairy-like manifestations that had been embodiments of her will to regret all types of phenomena. This Shun Shun Rikka was able to shield her with its special ability; her Healing Kido was impressive, able to mend anything. She was suited to the 4th Squad –she still didn't like to hurt anyone.

"It's not my fault," Ichigo said, shrugging his top back on and his haori over it. "Kenpachi is still looking to fight me all the time."

It looked as though some things would never change –the 11th Squad Captain had always chased him around when he had been a Substitute Soul Reaper, and still did now that he was a Captain as well.

"Why can't you just walk away?" Orihime asked him. Ichigo snorted –if he could just walk away from the battle-crazy Captain, he would. But the 11th Squad Captain, who was usually as bad as he had once been at sensing and hiding his spiritual pressure, seemed to be able to zone in on him like a bloodhound on a scent.

He took Orihime's hands in his and kissed her on the mouth.

"Don't worry, Orihime," he said as he left the hospital room. "I'll be fine."

He left the Squad 4 Barracks, keeping a careful eye out for Kenpachi on his way back to his office where he still had paperwork waiting for him –one of the negative aspects of being a Court Guard Squad Captain.

Squad 5 Barracks…

The guards at the gates to the Squad 5 Barracks stood to attention when they saw him coming. He passed by, and they relaxed again.

Lieutenant Hinamori was resting her head on her arms on the desk. Ichigo frowned and looked up at the clock.

If he knew the Squad 10 Captain as well as he thought he did, Toshiro should have finished his paperwork an hour ago. And his paperwork mountain was more of a molehill. He could finish it alone within a few hours.

"Momo," he said, gently shaking her shoulder.

His Lieutenant snapped awake, eyes widening as they focused on him.

"I'm so sorry, Captain Kurosaki," she said. She fumbled to pick up another page of paperwork, but stopped when Ichjgo put his hand on the pile first.

"Momo, you've been working hard all day. I know Toshiro wants to see you, and I'm not sending you to him looking so overworked. Take the rest of the day off –I'll finish up here."

She searched his face for some trace of a joke, but found none. She was grateful as she got up from her chair.

"Thank you, Captain Kurosaki," she said, bowing and heading to the door.

"One more thing, Lieutenant," Ichigo called her back. Momo noticed the change in his tone –he was stern, not his usual light-hearted self. It was so different she shuddered.

"How many times have I told you to call me Ichigo rather than Captain Kurosaki?"

"My apologies…Ichigo," Momo whispered before leaving the room.

She felt tears in her eyes –Ichigo was completely different from her previous Captain.

When Ichigo had defeated Aizen at the entrance to the dimension where the Spirit King and his family lived, Momo had fallen into another depression, hating and blaming Ichigo for everything. But, with time and the support of her friends, she had finally accepted the reality of Aizen's betrayal, the fact that he deserved death and Ichigo's promotion to Captain.

She hadn't been the only one with doubts about Ichigo's ability to lead them. But he had proven, time and again, that he really cared for the members of his Squad. They had accepted him and, soon after, so had his Lieutenant.

Ever since he had taken Aizen's place as Captain, he had worked to repair the damage done to the Squad's reputation until it was popular with new recruits. He had been a mix of kind and stern.

Squad 10 Barracks…

Tears were still falling down her cheeks when she arrived at the Squad 10 Barracks. Ichigo had been right –Toshiro had finished his daily paperwork and dismissed Rangiku. Knowing her, she was probably drinking the sake that she had hidden away.

He was startled slightly when the door to his study opened and Momo slipped inside. He looked at her and saw the tear-tracks down her cheeks.

"Momo, what's wrong?" he asked, getting to his feet at leading his childhood friend to the couches. "Is it Ichigo?"

He silently swore that he would make the ginger-haired Captain squirm if he had upset Momo.

"No," Momo said, wiping her eyes. "I guess I'm still not over the whole Aizen incident."

Toshiro sighed –that had been a long and trying time for them all, but it had affected Momo the worst. She had always been loyal to Aizen, and that must have made it even harder on her.

They lost track of time as they sat together. Toshiro pulled Momo closer to him and she rested her head on his shoulder.

Meanwhile, back at the Squad 5 Captain's room…

"Renji!" Ichigo exclaimed as the red-headed Lieutenant barged into his office. He still had paperwork on his desk, and he did not appreciate interruptions when he was trying to work. "Haven't you learnt to knock yet?"

"Shut up!" Renji responded. He was probably the only one who still treated the Captain the same way he had when Ichigo had still been a Substitute Soul Reaper. They were still firm friends, but Ichigo had told Renji several times that during the day he had to obey the structure. Of course, that meant Renji had to show Ichigo respect during the day.

"You'd better have a great excuse!" Ichigo warned, ready to pull rank if he had to. If this was an invitation to drink sake that night, he would throw the Squad 6 Lieutenant through a window.

"I just thought you'd like to know: I've got clearance from the Captain to propose to Rukia!"

"Then go and do it!" Ichigo exploded. Renji found himself flying backwards out of the office door before he thudded into the wall of the corridor.

Ichigo sighed –he was happy for Renji and Rukia, really. The marriage should have taken place immediately after the Winter War, but Renji had been struggling to work up the courage to ask Byakura if he would allow his Lieutenant to wed his younger sister all that time.

Ichigo had managed to persuade Byakura to water down the strict laws of his clan for his sister's sake within a couple of years. But Byakura had been the first to wed under the new laws, not Renji. Raidon had been born before the expected occasion as well.

Right now, Ichigo had more pressing matters to attend to, especially since Renji hadn't even asked Rukia to marry him yet.