I sat on the edge of the bed, Shiro still sleeping behind me. My knees were tucked inside my arms, my head resting in the fabric of my pants. A gentle sob escaped my lips every once in a while. I would never admit this to anyone, but I was crying.

The window near the head of the bed was open allowing a soft, warm breeze enter the room. I had often worried about someone hearing me, but the empty courtyard proved my worrying futile.

After this wave of tears disappeared, being my third this morning, I took a glance out the window. Trees caught wind and blew softly, each of them black with the rising orange sun behind them. I couldn't bring myself to smile, but it really was a nice picture.

There was movement from behind me. Undeniably Shiro was slowly waking up. My tears had dried up well enough, but I still felt as though my face was red. I could say that I was embarrassed… and that someone had walked in to see us lying there. But Shiro knew me too well, would he really believe me?

As Shiro sat up, he didn't say a word. I didn't see him but I could sense his golden eyes gazing into the back of my head.

There was movement again.

I smiled at Shiro when he reached my side, but he didn't return it. His face didn't even bear his usual grin. I watched Shiro curiously as he crawled off the bed and hunted the floor for his clothing. His own body was still exposed, the sun giving it a beautiful morning glow. I then continued to stare as he got dressed, carefully avoiding my eyes, before he paused.

"It bothers ya," he suddenly spoke, catching me off guard, "everythin' that has happened."

"What?" I gasped innocently. "What are you talking about?"

"Don' play stupid Ichi," Shiro scolded. His eyes snapped at me, my smile gone instantly. Shiro was serious, dead serious, and his eyes were unnaturally depressed. "An' save the smile fer yer friends. Ya can' hide from me," he added as an afterthought.

My gaze fell to my hands, my hair falling in my face. Shiro sat down beside me and I turned away. I didn't want him to see me, not like this. He wrapped his arms around me and I pushed away, but his grip remained firm. Shiro released one arm, when I began to shiver uncontrollably, hesitantly stroking my back in long, slow arches. I was willing to try and push away again, but instead I relaxed into the comforting heavenly touch of Shiro's embrace.

He then gathered my body into his arms where I tucked my head beneath his chin. "It's all right, Ichigo. Let it out."

Permission was given; I screamed, my fingers clenching his bleached clothing as I finally allowed myself to cry in front of another. "Mom's gone, Tatsuki's gone, that old bitch Hana killed them right in front of me. It wasn't fair, they didn't have to die! And now I'm supposed to sit here and accept the role as the leader of the place I've been fighting to protect my entire life? What am I supposed to do? I'm not a leader Shi!"

Shiro held me, and didn't let go. "We're here, in this, together. Do ya understand? We don' need anyone else. We'll train with the old man, get stronger and prove tah everyone we deserve this spot. Got it?"

I nodded and we stood, together, still in each other's arms. I moved my head to his shoulder where the last of my tears fell.

"Oh yeah, an' I ain't gonna let anythin' happen tah this tight ass of yers."

"Shiro," I whined, my face undoubtedly red. I squeaked, uncontrollably, as his hand appeared on my ass. His thumb moved up and down making me squirm. Before I could jump away his other hand pressed down against my back and pinned me against his chest.

"Feel better?"

"Uh huh." I laughed, still a little shaken, but I laughed, though I really couldn't help it, both his hands had started poking sensitive spots. I screamed wildly, like a little kid, as his hands trailed my bare chest.

"Good."

"Shi- r- ro," I stuttered, loudly, "St- Stop! That tickles! Augh!"

"Tha's the whole point."

I moaned in frustration, my hands working to try and keep his away. He purred and traced my sides, and I laughed some more.

Shiro finally stopped. "We've got a long day 'head of us," he sighed, warm breath caressing my ear. "An' I guarantee someone's gonna call a Captains Meetin'."

He was right. Sure enough, ten minutes later, one of the Twelfth Division's messengers appeared to us as we were walking through the garden. She said Mayuri was calling a meeting. She also added a warning, "Captain Kurotsuchi's in a bad mood. I think he said he doesn't want to take orders from a kid 'weaker than himself.' Be careful, Kurosaki Sou-taichou and Shirosaki Sou-taichou."

"Thanks," I replied, "We'll both be fine."

The messenger disappeared.

I then turned to Shiro. "Shirosaki?"

"Oh, yeah," Shiro laughed sounding halfway between embarrassment and amusement. "Yer friends all came up with different names tah call me. Most of 'em were shit, but I liked Hichigo Ogichi Shirosaki."

"Creative."

Shiro laughed.

"So, how about that meeting? Ogichi?"

"Heh. Yeah, let's get it over with."

Shiro and I took off. Neither of us led and neither of us followed. We flash stepped side-by-side, so close that I gained a sudden desire to take hold of his hand, but before that temptation could be fulfilled we arrived. I gently pushed open the doors and we entered.

'Great,' I thought while glancing around, 'We're the last to arrive.'

'We took less than two minutes tah get 'ere and were probably the last ones informed.' I fought the urge to jump. It'd been so long since I heard his voice in my head I almost forgot we could talk telepathically.

'Uhh… R-Right.'

I glanced around at everyone; most of them were familiar faces. To the right was Mayuri, Byakuya, Jushiro, Shunsui, then there was one I didn't recognize, and Toshiro. Then to the left was Komamura, one hidden in long black hair, Unohana, Soi Fon, Kenpachi and- "Dad?"

"Heya Ich-" He stopped, cleared his throat and then continued. "Morning Head Captain." His eyes then turned to Shiro. "Have we met?"

"Not technically, but we do know each other."

Dad nodded, "Right."

Know each other? I was about to question that, when…

"I was under the impression the two of you might've gotten lost," Mayuri jumped in. "How kind of you to grace us with your presence."

"Kurotsuchi Taichou you will show the proper respect when the Head Captains are present," Soi Fon snapped.

"Thank you Soi Fon, but I'll allow Mayuri to speak his mind. He is, after all, the one who gathered us all here," I replied.

"Yes, Sou-Taichou."

"Yes indeed," Mayuri spoke again, his voice filled noticeably with intended disrespect. I was beginning to hate him. "I wish to bring up a subject that must be apparent in everyone's minds. While we, the Captain of the Gotei Thirteen, have provided service to the Soul Society for many centuries and had to go through many harsh battles to prove our worth and many more to reach our current positions, you, a Substitute Shinigami, have suddenly gained power and authority over us all by killing our previous Head Captain after escaping from jail."

"Yer point?"

"My point? For goodness sakes! Am I just to sit back and take orders from a substitute and a hollow? The lowest of the low and a sworn enemy-"

"Mayuri, that's enough," I ordered, sounding more like a threat. "If you have a problem with following orders from Shiro and I, but not a girl who orders torture then what does that say about this council? Besides, Hana was killed by both me and Shiro in front of all lieutenants and captains of the Gotei Thirteen. I, as well as Shiro, both earned Bankai and have fought in numerous life threatening situations. We are more than what you think of us."

"He's right," Toshiro agreed. I smiled.

"And they both have faced my Bankai," Byakuya added. Shiro and I both laughed.

"Right, right, there's truth to tha' too," Shiro snorted. I cleared my throat and our laughter died down, just low enough so we could still hear the others.

Komamura stepped out of the line. He asked, "May I inquire as to what's so funny?"

"Well, Byakuya throws out an excellent point. Ichigo and I have indeed both faced his Bankai. In those terms we have faced Zaraki and lieutenant Abarai as well."

"I wasn't aware that you… were alongside… Kurosaki when…" Komamura mumbled. Shiro and I smirked; it seemed all the Captains were finally catching on. Just as much as we were separate minds, separate entities and separate souls, we form one spirit.

"I'm sure we could discuss this all day, but I really think we oughta get to the point," Mayuri grumbled.

The amusement Shiro and I shared became shattered by this man's hopeless attitude. I received waves of anger from Shiro and I'm positive he was receiving annoyance from me. See? We complete each other.

"Please do," the long black haired girl glared as she shook her hair out of one eye.

"They are not worthy of their positions!"

"If you believe they are not worthy of their position then you have the option of taking it away with your own hands," Jushiro suggested. My stomach twisted, not in fear, but in something I was unfamiliar with, something new, something I liked… blood lust.

"I'll take either of 'em on, but I ain't interested in the position," Kenpachi joined in.

I rolled my eyes, of course he would.

"That's absolutely…" Mayuri began, drowned out by his own thoughts.

"Well Mayuri?" I questioned, "What'll it be?"