Yay, Juuyon-bantai! :D

Chapter 3

'Ugh… leave me alone.' Kitsune groaned, pulling the covers over her silver-haired head. Ookami frown, placing her hands on her hips in frustration.

The captain of the 14th division was already dressed in her shihakusho and haori and even had time to practice and cook breakfast too. 'Kitsune. Get up. I won't let us be late for a meeting on our first day back.' She said briefly, worrying that the food she had prepared would go cold. She was the only one up… Why was this bantai so lazy?!

'Nevermind.'

Ookami arched her brow. Nevermind? She thought briefly. Very briefly. 'The only one I don't usually have to protect, I have to motivate.' She grumbled to herself. 'There's food on the table.'

Kitsune stopped and peeked out of one dark sleepy eye. '5 minutes.'

Ookami didn't pause. She took a short breath and howled. Loudly. Loud enough to resonate within the entire Juuyon-bantai barracks and even a little further. Kitsune groaned before rolling out of bed with her hands over her ears, growling while she stalked into the bathroom. Inu woke up immediately afterwards, her short light blue hair in a mess.

'What the hell is that god awful noise?!' Hebi hissed with confused irritation, sticking her head through the gap in the sliding door. Ookami turned to her with a strained forced smile.

'Who do you think you're talking to huh?' Ookami dared, her voice hard and stressed.

Hebi opened her eyes and blinked before blushing in embarrassment while rubbing the back of her head. '…uh, gomen, Taicho.'

Ookami huffed. 'Go wake Nezumi and Neko. There's food. Dress for meeting and training. Now.' She commanded shortly, walking past the rokuseki to the dining room.

'Yes, Taicho!' Hebi answered with a bright smile. Ookami could see slight dark circles under her eyes and knew that like her, the betrayal of Gin and Aizen had kept them awake. 'BREAKFAST!' Hebi yelled, breaking the captain's train of thought.

Nezumi and Neko rushed out of their rooms, body slamming into each other. 'Where's the food?' they echoed together.

'Wash and dress first.' Ookami demanded, moving to the dining room with a deep breath that no one saw. She didn't want to be caught thinking such things in the presence of her division. They didn't have to worry. She should lighten up, she had been too snappish lately. It wasn't their fault Gin left Soul Society, left her…

If Hebi could handle it then so could she! She put on a smile when she sensed Kitsune and Inu come in, the former stroking her Lieutenants armband absently. 'Eat up, we'll be training with the other divisions today, guys!'

The other three members filed in soon after with bright smiles and pristine shihakushos. 'Really?' Nezumi asked with glinting eyes, shaking out her dark grey hair.

'Yeah! We'll show them why our bantai is so awesome!' Neko cheered, adding an excited meow at the end, seating herself at the table as she tied up her magenta hair, her eyes bright.

'Remember, work your way up but don't be afraid to eventually go all out. We got nothing to hide and I want them to see what Juuyon-bantai is made of.' Ookami said, handing out plates to her teammates.

'Don't worry, Ookami-taicho! We'll definitely make you proud!' Hebi spoke honestly, digging in her food. If her midnight hair hadn't been tied up, it would have been consumed with her sustenance. The rest of them nodded in agreement with her words, eating breakfast vigorously.

Ookami blinked in shock before her face relaxed and settled into a warm smile. Her division really was amazing. She wiped the look of her face quickly. She'd be so embarrassed to be caught looking like that. Instead she sat down and ate with them. 'I know you'll make me proud.' She thought quietly, setting her good mood for the day.

When the 14th division entered the halls of the meeting, they were surprised to see the Ryoka still present but greeted them warmly. The others were even more surprised at how utterly… happy Juuyon-bantai seemed despite last night's destructive activities and too-harsh assassination request. They took their places but didn't have to stay long it seemed. Yamamoto wasn't present and Ukitake stepped up instead.

'Today, I'll just briefly explain a few changes that will happen to accommodate the return of the 14th division.' Ukitake said with a sure but serious smile. 'Juuyon-bantai will be brought into joint practice with the other divisions beginning today and will play their part as a division of the Gotei… 14.'

There were a few murmurs but Ukitake silenced them with a wave of his hand, not allowing any one to interrupt. 'Unfortunately, they will only stay in Soul Society for a short period of time before they will return to Karakura Town with the Ryoka to continue their training and protect the area…' Ukitake continued unsurely, starting to hesitate.

'And plan our assassination mission.' Ookami finished, looking at Ukitake with an understanding, amused smile. 'Don't worry about it, Shiro-chan. Let's just get to practice!' She grinned then.

'Uh… right.' The white haired man answered awkwardly, dismissing everyone. 'Today Juuyon-bantai will train with the 6th, 13th and 10th Divisions, the rest of you get to choose. Ryoka will be with us!'

'Damn it, you took all the strong guys!' Kenpachi complained loudly.

'I'll fight you anytime, Zaraki-kun! It's been a while after all.' Ookami spoke, most of her division members nodding in agreement, their black eyes promising oblivion to their opponents.

Pleased, the large captain left, Yachiru waving at them from his head. Ookami held back the urge to wave too. Of her entire division, she was the only one who liked kids. The rest of them were monsters! Hebi even dreamed of eating children stew! Kitsune cracked her fingers and turned to Inu who's sharp eyes caught the attention of Nezumi and Neko. Hebi and Ookami nodded to each other.

'Remember the plan, everyone!' Kitsune said, clapping once to enforce her not so harsh order.

'Hai, fuku-taicho!' They echoed.

Juuyon-bantai almost used shunpo to get to the training grounds, they were so excited. 'What the hell are you waiting for?!' Neko asked them tauntingly, staring at the other divisions and Ryoka.

With that quick challenge, the divisions raced to the training grounds. Ookami stood at the very centre of the area, looking around as the other shinigami arrived. Her bantai stood around her, doing the same. Ookami was grinning wildly now. 'Pick your opponents, guys! And aim high!' She yelled, letting loose a howl.

Juuyon-bantai answered in a flurry of animal sounds before they all drew their swords. Inu pointed her zanpakuto directly at Toshiro, causing him to raise his brow in question. 'You have an ice zanpakuto. We match.' She said simply. Curiosity piqued, he drew Hyourinmaru.

Nezumi drew her sword against Ishida, smiling in a too-friendly way. Neko took on Rukia, grinning in anticipation. Hebi jumped for Byakuya. 'Fight me, you ice cold bastard!' She yelled uncouthly, surprising the surrounding shinigami.

'Damn it.' Kitsune sighed half-heartedly. 'The captains are taken.'

'I'll fight you.' Matsumoto said, drawing Haineko with a smile. 'We both have wind zanpakutos.' Kitsune allowed a small smile and accepted.

Ookami pointed her sword at Ukitake casually. 'Come on, Shiro-chan. I want a challenge.'

But the man didn't draw his sword, choosing to step back to place himself next to Inoue. 'No, sorry, I'm not well today so I'll be healing the wounded with Orihime.' He rejected, making her frown in disappointment.

Then Renji alighted before her. 'I'll fight you!' He said, smirking confidently.

She smirked back. 'A fuku-taicho.. Renji Abarai. Byakuya's lieutenant, right? This should be interesting. Even our hair matches!' She joked around, referring to their crimson locks. She readied her sword and stared at him with eyes of oblivion and abysses. He should be strong since he was Byakuya's fuku-taicho.

He grimaced at the jibes and released his shikai immediately. 'Howl, Zabimaru!' He exclaimed, using it as a whip against her. Ookami reflected it away from herself, a bright smile on her lips.

'Try harder, Renji-kun.' She sang tauntingly, dodging his rapid attacks. She was using her shikai half-heartedly but she was caught off guard for a moment when Zabimaru detached and snagged her top, tearing the shihakusho to reveal her chest bindings underneath. She sent him a naughty look, intent on using all advantages. 'If I remember correctly, you're supposed to attack me, not trying to rip the clothes off of me.'

Renji spluttered for a moment, his cheeks flamed. He stumbled a step back and Ookami pounced. 'Bankai!' She exclaimed. As if a trigger, more exclaimations followed soon after.

'Bankai!' Hebi yelled slashing at Byakuya.

'Bankai!' Kitsune joined in, taking down Matsumoto with ease and taking on Chad.

'Bankai.' Inu whispered, forcing Toshiro to do the same.

'BANKAI!' Neko and Nezumi screamed in unison, making Ishida and Rukia team up.

Renji breathed hard as he took a moment to inspect the other fights. That's when the opponents noticed the eyes of Juuyon-bantai. 'What are you staring at, Renji-kun?' She asked mockingly, her eyes blood red. All the members of the 14th division had black eyes. Pitch black of absolute darkness. That wasn't it either. Ookami had a tail. And ears. Wolf ears.

'Strange.' Byakuya commented, looking at the glittering scales Hebi adopted with her violet eyes.

In fact all the members of Juuyon-bantai were in the same condition. Neko even purred, flashing her green eyes at Ishida. Nezumi squeaked, her mouse ears twitching but her yellow eyes were fierce. 'You're a…' Toshiro stuttered.

Inu growled, her ears flattening back and blue eyes ferocious. 'Don't you say 'bitch', got it?'

Kitsune straightened from her fight, her fluffy tail swishing back and forth, her grey eyes dancing with adrenaline. All of their eyes were sharp and aware and so full of battle light. 'Surprise.' She said viciously.

It seemed not only were their transformations impressive and diverse… despite being the smallest division, consisting of only six members… Every. Single. One… has a BANKAI.