A/N: Oh good Jehovah, I'm so sorry everybody for taking so long to write this. I was getting distracted left right and centre. I hope you's enjoy this update, seeing as how you've all waited so long for it.
Please review guys, because they'll come in hand tomorrow morning when I get in from my fresher's geek party. Not only will I be the coolest geek there, I'll also feel like shit in the morning, so maybe your reviews can help ease my hangover :3
'Can all captain and lieutenant class soul reapers please report to the meeting room immediately.'
Ichigo lay, entangled with his lover, as the hell butterfly on his finger flew away. It had been fluttering around for a while now, so he assumed that they were pretty late. Ichigo gently shook Toushiro awake as the smaller captain was still snoring softly next to him, "Come on, captains meeting now."
Toushiro mumbled something and burrowed his head into Ichigo's exposed chest.
The strawberry smiled at the tired captain's cuteness but persisted anyway. "I'm serious Toushiro, I think we're already late."
The white haired man groaned, rolling over and forcing himself out of the bed, quickly followed by the other. They dressed quickly and made their way to the meeting room as fast as they could.
"We shouldn't go in together." Toushiro said over the wind roaring past them.
"Okay, I'll go in first."
"Hey, no way! I'm not being the latest one!"
"Well neither am I." Ichigo bit back. "So what should we do about it?"
"First come, first serve." Toushiro said simply, taking off ahead his lover with a laugh.
Ichigo growled, speeding up to avoid falling beside. Shoving and foul play was rife as the pair raced towards the meeting room and, being so distracted by the competition, they didn't realised they were already at their destination until they both burst through the doors, going at such a speed that Ichigo narrowly missed out on falling flat on his face as he tried to stop. Well, that is until Toushiro came speeding into the back of him, sending them both to floor with the white haired captain lying on top of the other.
Toushiro jumped up, dragging a half concussed Ichigo with him. They both bowed deeply, their faces painted with a deep red.
"Thank you for finally joining us Captains Kurosaki and Hitsugaya. I do not appreciate your lateness, nor do I appreciate your entrance." The head Captain spoke, his voice stern.
They both mumbled their apologies and made their way to their positions, receiving smirks, disapproving looks and knowing looks from the other captains and lieutenants in the process. The pair avoided their gazes and stared at the floor as the head captain spoke again.
"Now, I have called you here for this reason. Last night, the Department of Research and Development was broken into last night and vandalized, mainly the security and surveillance equipment." The crowd remained silent after hearing the news, though Mayuri scowled around the room, scrutinizing Kenpachi Zaraki in the process. "The perpetrator left no trace behind, not even an imprint of spiritual pressure. And the guards had no memory of the incident."
"What do you expect us to do then Yama-jii?" Kyoraku spoke, his lazy voice holding no concern.
"I want you to be vigilant. With no surveillance or security, we cannot keep track of trouble makers and this person needs to be punished."
Akane spoke up then, "How can you be certain that this person is a soul reaper? Could they not be from the world of the living? After all, a few humans have been here before-"
"Hey! If you're trying to say my friends could have done this then don't bother, they wouldn't." Ichigo said.
"I'm just saying, explore all options."
"Enough." Yamamoto's voice silenced them. "I took into consideration that it was a ryoka, old and new, but there has been no logged unauthorized travel through the Senkaimon or the Dangai, meaning this person must be a soul reaper."
The congregation exchanged glances, strengthening the ramifications of someone in the soul society turning rogue, dredging up memories of the last traitors. As is sensing everyone's thoughts, Yamamoto spoke again.
"The severity of this persons intentions are unknown and nothing has been noted as missing, but the obviously don't want us to see what they are going to do. I need you to tell your squads to keep vigilant and to make sure every inch of the Seireitei is patrolled."
The captains nodded as the Head Captain continued. "Now, if there are no other concerns, then this meeting is adjourned."
The group filed out and snippets of conversations reached the squad five captains ears.
"I don't understand why someone would do it," Ukitake whispered to Kyoraku.
"I suspect it is squad elevens doing," Mayuri spoke to Nemu, receiving a glowering look from Zaraki.
"You don't think Aizen has anything to do with this do you?" Momo whispered to him, her eyes distant.
"Aizen is long dead. " Ichigo replied, grasping her shoulder as they walked, "He can't have anything to do with this. Mayuri has a lot of enemies, it's probably just someone trying to get even" Momo nodded, seeming reassured.
The captain and his lieutenant made their way to their barracks, only to be greeted by a mound of paperwork Ichigo stared at the unruly pile on his desk before looking at the equally large pile on Momo's.
"Do you think there's any excuse good enough that would get me out of this paperwork?" Ichigo groaned, approaching his desk and picking up a document, scanning over it quickly.
"Aww, do you want to go see Shiro-chan?" Momo cooed.
"No."
The small girl laughed as she settled behind her desk, motioning for him to do the same. "I hope I'm not gonna end up like Nanao." She said.
"What do you mean?"
"She has to chance Captain Kyoraku around all day to make him work, and even then she does most of it while he drinks. So help me god if you make me do that." She said the last part, brandishing her finger at him with a playful smile on her face.
Ichigo grinned and held his arms up in 'surrender', "Consider me warned."
Silence fell as they started their work, Ichigo thinking about how happy he was to have a lieutenant that actually worked.
"Matsumoto!" The damned woman had somehow slipped away on the way to the office and now he was left to face the daily mountain of paperwork alone. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was off somewhere drinking with Renji," he grumbled, "Even as a captain he probably would." He summoned a hell butterfly, recording a message on it before letting it flutter away from its sender. That big-boobed idiot was gonna know she was in trouble and had one last chance to return to the barracks before he came looking for her.
He picked up his pen and started signing papers, all the while grumbling to himself.
Ichigo stood in his squad training ground a week later, faced with his seated officers. "Right, this is your first proper training session of the many that you all so desperately need. The harder you work, the quicker it's over." His eyes passed over the entire group as he spoke. "So first, I wanna start with the basics, swinging your sword."
The crowd groaned very, very audibly.
"Hey! I've watched you all train, some of the swing so hard and wide that you leave yourself open for a counter attack and some of you swing so weak that you couldn't crack a hollow mask!" Everyone looked shifty, "Now, place your hands like this," he demonstrated,, placing his hands in the optimum position, "And swing. Feel the weight of your sword and base your swing on that. You swing and then you can use your bottom hand to control, pull out or maneuver. It sounds confusing, but you need to put you weight into it while having enough room to stop or turn your blade based on your opponents reaction. Practice by yourself then we'll pair you all off."
And with that being said, the group began as Ichigo walked around them and observed, correcting people who were doing it wrong. One squad member actually needed extra help and kept his attention caught for more than a quarter of an hour. When he returned his attention to the others, his temple throbbed.
Four people were just standing together, taking advantage of this diversion vyt talking and relaxing.
"You four! Get back to work immediately! You just earned yourself cleaning duty for a damned week.. Let's not make it a month!" The members grumbled, but did as they were told.
Ichigo smirked at his victory, "Right everybody, I want you all to pair off and practice your zanjutsu fighting with each other. Attack, block, counter-attack, the total works. If any kido is used during this exercise, you can look forward to joining those four," he pointed, "In cleaning duty. I'm sure the fourth squad would love a little break." The group continued to stare, unsure if he was going to speak again, "Wee? Do it."
Toushiro sat on the roof overlooking the training ground Ichigo was really taking charge with his squad, showing them who was the boss and what they can expect if they do something wrong. The only bad thing about all of this was that Ichigo was right when he said they needed this. Their form was bad and they desperately needed to be whipped back into shape, luckily, Ichigo was doing a god job in that department, and was demanding their respect in the process. This division used to be the first on the scene for anything, what with their battle readiness being some of the best, but Momo had had so much to do recently that keeping the squad motivated enough to remain that way had gotten lost somewhere along the way.
He smiled, distracted enough not to notice his childhood friends approach until she was right next to him. He twitched violently in shock, causing her to laugh as she perched herself next to him, trying to sit comfortably on the tiled roof.
"Why are you sitting up here Shiro-chan?" she asked.
"I'm trying to keep a low profile, if we're always together then people might start to ask questions."
Momo nodded, watching as Toushiro's gaze followed Ichigo with a small smile on his face. "You really like him don't you?"
The captain blushed, but nodded all the same. I…Momo, can I tell you something?"
"Of course you can Shiro-chan."
"I…" he paused as Ichigo stopped to shout at some squad members below, before shaking his head. "It's nothing, forget it."
"Are you sure?" Momo looked concerned.
"Yes, I am. It's nothing bad, it just…I've decided I'd rather keep it too myself for now."
"Okay," Momo nodded, "I'll be waiting."
He smiled and thanked her before he switched back into professional mode. He stood up, turning his back on Momo and spoke in his authoritive voice, "Now I have a lieutenant to find, punish and force to work, I was only taking a break. If you see her before I do, tell her she better emigrate to Hueco Mundo if she wants to get out of this. This is the third time she's done a disappearing act since that last captain's meeting and I'm sick of it. Working is more important than drinking. I'll see you Momo."
"Bye Shiro-chan."
And with that he flash stepped away, leaving Momo sitting on the roof alone.
Ichigo glanced at the roof as he felt Toushiro's presence leave and saw Momo sitting alone. He smiled and waved her down before returning back to his work. Her help could come in handy and might just speed up the training session. With some of the division members it was like talking to a brick wall. Or his father. Both were rather dense.
MisaxMisa: Toushi is a lil stalker!
Toushiro: MY NAME IS CAPTAIN HITSUGAYA
MisaxMisa: Fine, but I notice you didn't deny being a stalker ^^
Toushiro: What? I – No - Shut up!
MisaxMisa: BAHAHAHA creep.