Back again with another chapter? I believe I am. Feeling so under the weather at the moment, but luckily the Dayquil isn't needed and my strange, medication induced hallucinations are gone.
-;-
Sayomi, to be honest, wasn't having the best day. Really, as cool as it was to be back in Soul Society, there was just something there that wasn't giving her the same intrigue it once had. Back when she had still been an active member of the militia.
She sighed, tilting her head back and feeling her hair tickle the nape of her neck. The sun still felt as nice as ever, though, so anything else could wait for just a moment while she took a moment of her own time to be alone and soak in everything that was going on.
Her thoughts, and plans, however, were interrupted quite suddenly by a shadow that flickered over her face, closely followed by a tickle on her nose as a Hell Butterfly landed.
"All members of the Gotei Thirteen and Kaijin are required immediately for the testing and placement into the Divisions. All Captains and Kaijin make their way to the First Division barracks immediately."
"It's times like these that I hate my life." Sayomi muttered, falling back onto the roof of the building she was sitting on and groaning.
-;-
Kizuro rubbed his forehead tiredly, wishing that he had a cup of coffee in his hand. The damned butterfly that had woken him up, had, unfortunately, met a tragic demise, and despite the fact that he'd had a catnap, he wasn't in the best of moods at the moment.
Actually, now that he thought about it, he was about to be in an even worse mood, considering that he didn't recognize a damn roof around him and he was smack dab in the middle of some kind of maniacal maze.
"Great. Just fucking great." He muttered, running a hand through his hair before sighing. "I knew something like this was going to happen. I just didn't think that it would be so damn soon…"
Picking a random direction, the eldest Nokeshi shunpoed off the roof and disappeared in a blur of motion. Hopefully, for the sake of most of the lesser ranking members of the Divisions, they wouldn't have the misfortune of running into the irate male. But, given the amount of luck that anyone had, it was, of course, highly predictable that someone would be on the receiving end of a zanpakuto and sent to the Fourth Division before the day was out.
-;-
Rika, luckily enough, was with Sanura and the twins when the Hell Butterfly came flying down from the sky, and even better was that the twins knew exactly where they were going, which meant that they would be able to get there faster than most of the current Shinigami knew how to. The only question would be when Tonbo and Karasu would arrive. Given Tonbo's nature of getting distracted more than a little easily, it would be something of a game of chance for the pair to arrive at the First Division.
Especially on time.
-;-
After many detours, the Kaijin and Captains managed to make it to the First Division Meeting Hall, where Yamamoto sat regally in his large chair, cane held delicately beneath his palms. The Captains all stood at attention, spread in a single long line across from the smaller line of former exiles. Both sides stood silently, several members eying up one another warily before deciding to simply go with it and stare expectantly at the Head Captain for explanation.
"Captains of the Gotei Thirteen. Kaijin." Yamamoto greeted. "You are all well aware of why I have asked your presence here today. As you have been reinstated, you will be placed into a Division of either your own or a Captain's choice. When your name is stated, step forward. The Captains who wish to see you in their Divisions will also step forward."
Sayomi decided that she really didn't like the loud tone of the Head Captain's voice. Fortunately, it appeared that she wasn't the only one who was affected by it. Sanura, standing on the other side of Kizuro, was flinching as well at the elder man's words.
"Nokeshi Sayomi."
She stepped forward, not really liking how all eyes were on her, and straightened her back, crossing her arms behind her back in the manner she'd been taught at the Shino Academy.
To her mild surprise, Shinji, Kyoraku, Kenpachi, Kurotsuchi and Ukitake all stepped forward. However, she already knew where she wanted to go, and there wasn't going to be any questions asked about it. Bowing to Ukitake, she stated, "I would like to be placed in my former Division, sir."
"Is your decision final?"
"Yes, sir."
"Decision accepted." Yamamoto nodded, before his eyes rested on his next target. "Nokeshi Sanura."
Captain Kurotsuchi stepped back from the small band already standing where they were, only to be replaced by Captain Unohana. Grinning, Sanura's golden eyes honed in on the very large and very scarred Kenpachi. "I'm going to Captain Kenpachi." She announced, earning several shocked looks from the Captains present.
"Is your decision final?"
"Yep."
"Decision accepted."
Sanura giggled, stepping back and fist-bumping the twins excitedly.
"Masamune Roka."
Both Kenpachi and Unohana stepped back, and Soifon and Kensei stepped forward. Roka completely ignored everyone, saluting cheerily to Kyoraku and flashing a bright smile in his former Captain's direction. "I want to be placed back in my former Division."
"Decision accepted. Masamune Ryo."
So far, it seemed as though the original group of Captains were staying forward, meaning that most of the members of the Kaijin would have somewhere to go when they were called forward.
"I'm going wherever Roka goes. That's about all you need to know." Ryo snorted, running a hand through his hair and yawning.
"Decision accepted." Yamamoto nodded, although internally he was debating how bad it would be if he decided to completely incinerate this group of insubordinate children. He knew from experience that if Kyoraku and Ukitake teamed up, they stood a very good chance of taking him on…but that could be fixed with a short and very powerful fireball, right?
"Ichirou Tonbo."
Soifon stiffened up suddenly, and the black haired male studied all of the Captains standing forward carefully before his eyes landed on Shinji. Tilting his head to one side, he and the blond haired Captain watched another for a handful of minutes before Tonbo nodded, apparently satisfied about something.
"I would like to go to the Fifth."
"Is your decision final?"
"Yes."
"Accepted."
Shinji, on the other hand, looked rather shocked that Tonbo had chosen to be placed in his Division when most of the other Captains looked down at him as a freak; the weird one. Hell, Kensei got some of the same, but it just wasn't on the same level. However, he remedied the shock by sending a straight toothed grin at the shy looking male. Tonbo appeared unaffected, instead flashing a quick smile in return.
"Nokeshi Kizuro."
Soifon stepped back, replaced by Captain Hitsugaya. Kenpachi stepped forwards as well, but then again, it wasn't all that surprising.
Kizuro's gold eyes flicked across the selection of Captains before settling on the white haired Captain. Quirking a brow, the brown haired male shrugged his shoulders before nodding.
"Tenth Division." He drawled.
"Is your decision final?"
"I would assume so."
"Accepted." Yamamoto's voice sounded strained, and his fingers were a bit white at the knuckles from his tight grip on his sealed zanpakuto. However, after several silent and very deep breaths, he reined in his temper and focused on the task at hand. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could go and burn something to the ground.
"Kasuga Rika."
Unohana stepped forward again, a soft smile on her face. She knew the younger black haired woman well, and she hoped that she would once again be working with her in the Fourth.
"Fourth Division." The black haired nurse smiled.
"Accepted."
Yamamoto knew better than to question her decision. Healers were few and far in between in Soul Society, and he knew Unohana was once a very close mentor of the younger woman.
"Himura Karasu."
Komamura stepped forward, along with Byakuya, oddly enough. However, the noble wasn't allowing any emotion to cross his features, so it was near impossible to figure out what was going through the man's head. But that didn't seem to change the fact that he had actually stood forward for this man. Soifon scowled. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she had been hoping that the noble wouldn't get involved. It meant that he was actually serious about it.
"The Seventh." Karasu stated finally.
"Is your decision-"
"Obviously it is." Karasu interrupted, rolling his eyes and stifling a yawn.
"Very well. Accepted. Meeting adjourned. Kaijin, gather your belongings and proceed to your new barracks. You will be tested for you ranks there."
Now get the hell out of my Division so I can crack open a bottle of sake and attempt to forget the decisions I've made in the last twenty four hours.
-;-
"Yomi-chan, I'm going to miss you!" Sanura wailed, clinging onto her sister as they stood outside the Eleventh Division. The youngest Nokeshi sibling was currently one of the most emotional and dramatic people that Sayomi could claim to know, and she would punch anyone who said anything different. Point in case being Karasu, at one point.
"Sanura, you'll be fine." She sighed, trying and failing to pry her younger sister off of her waist. "All you've got to do is remember not to break any of the guys, okay? You're a lot stronger than them, and they do get hurt easier than Kizuro and I."
"I know…"
"Hey. Sanura. You can come and visit anytime you like. I'm like, seventy feet down the road. I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal as long as I don't have to do anything."
"But- I'm gonna miss you!"
"Yes, I understand that. But you're a big girl now, sweetie. You can do it." Sayomi rolled her eyes. Honestly. How was it that she ended up with these people as her family? They were completely hopeless when they were left on their own.
"Fine. But I'm gonna come and visit you all the time, Yomi-chan." Sanura said seriously.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Sanura." Sayomi sighed heavily.
Why had she thought this was a good idea, again?