"R-really?! Y-You chose me as a temporary replacement?! W-w-w-w-why?" stuttered Hanatarou, surprised.

Unohana smiled. "You'll do fine, Yamada. Don't you agree, Isane?"

"Y-yes!" said Isane. Truthfully, she thought that the small boy could be anything but a lieutenant, but she wasn't going to say anything that disagreed with her superior.

"Taichou!" butted in the third seat, Yasochika. "Our....seventh seat has been promoted to lieutenant?! Of the Second Division?!"

"Hanatarou is capable of performing the duties of a lieutenant, third seat."

"Well..." trailed off Isane. "You have to admit, Omaeda fukutaichou didn't do too much either...."

That was a good point that Yasochika reluctantly agreed with, but he did feel admittedly jealous.

"But look at him!" he snapped, pointing accusingly at the bowing Hanatarou. "Taichou, can he even use shunpo?"

"Can you, Yamada Hanatarou?" asked Retsu.

"N-no, I haven't mastered it yet....but I'll do my best as lieutenant!"

"That's good enough for me!" smiled Unohana. "Yamada Hanatarou is a resourceful and kind person."

"Taichou! This is the Stealth Force! The Secret Mobile Corps! He trips over his own feet!" Yasochika said, trying not to lose his temper. "He..he...he'll be nothing but..."

"Yes?" Unohana smiled sweetly at the third seat."Then Hanatarou will have to learn. Won't you?"

"Y-yes, Unohana-taichou."

"Don't worry, it's only temporary. You'll be back within your own squad in no time!" smiled Unohana. "you'll be going over to the Second Squad's barracks tomorrow morning to meet Soi Fon."

"Uhh, Unohana-taichou....is..the Second Squad's captain nice?" asked Hanatarou anxiously. Isane felt a few waves of pity for the small seventh seat.

"She has a kind heart! She's extremely gentle and thoughtful!" smiled Unohana cheerfully. A sweat drop formed on Isane, wondering just how Unohana could believe that everyone was a good person.

"Tai...chou..."

Hanatarou stared with some fear at the entrance of his new barracks, the one where he would be reporting to. He gulped, wondering if he could still back out.

Cautiously he entered, hoping that he wouldn't make a fool of himself. He made a mental check of his belongings. Hisagomaru was with him, as well as his other medical supplies. Hisagomaru was crucial to doing well at his temporary job.

"Um....let's see....they said the Captain's office is straight ahead....."

Soi Fon was waiting impatiently to greet her new lieutenant, when the door opened and a small boy peered through.

"Uh, excuse me, you're...you're Soifon Taichou right?" he asked timidly.

"Who are you?" she snapped, in no mood for niceties.

"I'm...Yamada Hanatarou. I'm...supposed to meet the Captain of the Second Division, because I....I'm the temporary replacement for the lieutenant," he said shyly.

Soi Fon slammed her hand down on the desk, nearly breaking it. Was Unohana intending a joke?! The weak, pathetic boy standing in front of her was an insult to her pride. Surely this boy had not been sent to replace Omaeda. Then again, Omaeda was also ridiculously weak.

"You are the replacement lieutenant?" she asked coldly.

He jumped, staring in fear at the dent in the desk. "Y-yes," he stuttered.

"Are you sure, 100% sure that you are Omaeda's replacement?" Soifon raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Y-yes, really, uh, taichou, Unohana taichou really did send me!" Hanatarou said earnestly, trying not to cower. "Any-any ways, it'll just be before the vice captain recovers! I-I'm sure that he'll be better in no time!"

Kuso! Soi Fon was unlucky with her vice captains. She stared him down intimidatingly.

"Boy, can you use hand to hand combat?"

"N-no, Taichou!"

"What does your zanpakto do?"

"It...It heals people....."

Soi Fon had no need of a shinigami whose sword could not wound.

"What can you do besides healing?"

Soi Fon watched as the boy floundered for an answer. Finally he gave up, and staring at the floor, he mumbled his answer.

"Nothing, Taichou."

"Not even shunpo?" she asked depreciatingly.

"No, Taichou."

"So what," she asked icily, "are you doing here in the Second Division's office, claiming to be on par with a lieutenant?"

Hanatarou trembled under his superior's glare. "I swear, Unohana-taichou told me to come here!"

"Tell her I do not need a replacement lieutenant."

"B-b-but, I'll do my best! I may not be very good at a lot of things, but I'll definitely work hard!"

Soi Fon groaned internally. She would deal with the brat later.

"Fine. Finish the rest of the paperwork."

"H-Hai, Taichou!"

Well, at least he's obedient.... thought Soi Fon tiredly as her new vice-captain proceeded to fill out the rest of the paperwork lying on her desk.

Author's Note: Poor Hanatarou. He's in the stealth force now, but "stealth" isn't really his thing... (remembers falling pots and pans)

Preview: "YAMADA!! SEND THIS LETTER TO THE SO-TAICHOU!"

"Y-Y-Yes, sir! I mean, Ma'am!" Hanatarou rushed forward, holding a large box of kunai that he had just finished polishing. He ran to take the manila envelope, but he sprawled in his haste to take it and ran headfirst into Soi Fon...