He hasn't even been back for more then two days and already he's being pulled away from the seireitei once again. 'Captain Ukitake, I request permission to deal with the Hollow!'...that was how Daisuke had ended up a part of this mission. A group of Hollows which has infiltrated the Soul Society is wreaking havoc in the Rukon and something has to be done immediately. Reports suggested that among the lesser Hollow's there one of at least Tenth Seat strength, and that was when their own Tenth Seat, Eiichiru Matsumiya, had volunteered to take care of it.
While such actions normally fell to the Eleventh Division, this group was in an area Daisuke had personally patrolled and mentioned as completely clear. The Eleventh Division Captain had decided since it was their screw-up, they should handle it themselves...which struck him as odd considering his well known taste for combat. Regardless, there he was.
'I told you it wasn't clear. Next time you'll put your ego aside and listen to me when I'm speaking, whelp.' He sighs in response and then nods ever so slightly.
'Ok, ok. I get it...jeez.' Captain Ukitake had chosen only Eiichiru and himself to dispose of the small Hollow hoard. He knew that Jushiro wouldn't send someone who wasn't capable of taking care of the Hollows...but at the same time he couldn't help but wonder if he WAS actually capable of taking care of them. Not only was the man stumbling over his own two feet but he absolutely reeked of sake.
He'd never once had a drink while working. It's irresponsible as far as he's concerned and even more so of a seated officer like this man. 'Look at this from a new perspective, boy. At least when he dies you won't have to feel sorry for him.' Daisuke surpresses a chuckle.
'Yeah. I guess you're right.' Eiichiru stumbles again and Daisuke catches him before he takes a face plant. "If you were gonna get plastered before this mission then why'd you even volunteer for it?!" demands Daisuke.
"Huh?" questions Eiichiru. "Relax, boy. 's not like we're gonna actually run into any-" A loud roar pierces the air and Daisuke glances in the direction down the road to their immediate right. A Hollow appears and then another and then another. "-oh, crap!" Daisuke releases the man and due to his already bad footing his falls face first to the ground.
He slowly draws Tenshi while Eiichiru stands, suddenly looking much more sober. "Finally sobered up?"
"Yeah!" Eiichiru draws his Zanpakuto. "Let's take care of them, Daisuke!" He smirks a bit in response, drawing Tenshi with a firm nod.
"That's the best thing I've heard you say all day." Eiichiru makes a face in response and then hiccups before rushing forward, raising his Zanpakuto. Daisuke beats him to the Hollow, cutting it down with a single blow across the mask.
"Hey! That one was mine!"
"Gotta be quicker next time, sir." Eiichiru snorts in response, picking a different Hollow to engage. They move fast, making quick work of the weak Hollow's. Bathed in their black blood, Tenshi absolutely radiates pleasure at cutting through them...but they don't seem to be thinning out in the least. It was more then just a few Hollows that had slipped into the Soul Society.
Daisuke ducks under a set of claws, cleaving the Hollow in half at the waist with a single stroke. He turns and cuts an arm off at the elbow with a blow before cutting the top of the Hollows head off at the mouth. Minutes pass as the two Shinigami cut through the weak Hollows until at last they're the only one's left standing. With a flick of his wrist, Daisuke cleans the black blood off of Tenshi and slowly returns her to the saya at his hip.
"Whew...not bad, kid."
"'Kid'?"
"But those were just weaklings." Before he can reply to the 'kid' comment he senses the rapid approach of more Hollows and reacts on instinct, leaping back moments before they fall on Eiichiru. A single ragged scream tears from his throat.
Only moments after they've finished with Eiichiru do they turn to him, blood smearing their white masks. A growl from Tenshi sounds in his head. 'Filthy vermin! How dare they challenge us?! Cut them down for their arrogance!' He doesn't need to be told twice. A Flash-Step covers the distance and he kills the smaller of the pair with a single blow, cutting it's head in half at the mouth.
His feet touch the ground and he turns, jumping backwards to avoid a set of claws. With a single blow he cuts it's arm off at the elbow, black blood spattering the ground in a putrid shower moments before he ends it with a strike that cuts it in half at the stomach. It breaks apart, purifying before his eyes as he cleans the blade with a simple flick of his wrist.
More Hollows fill the street, attracted to the smell of death and destruction. Daisuke starts towards the others, sensing the Hollow worthy of a Tenth Seat among them...but it's actions give him pause immediately. The Hollow turns and immediately strikes down not one, but two of the other Hollows, quickly cannibalizing them. "It...ate them?!"
'Mind yourself! Don't lower your guard for an instant, boy!' It's Spiritual Pressure increases, becoming worthy of a Fifth Seat at the least. More fill in the street behind him, attracted by his Spiritual Pressure as well. There are more then just a few Hollows roaming around here. Daisuke tightens his grip on the white tsuka of Tenshi and glances back for a moment at the Hollows behind him. 'Release me.'
Daisuke does just that, releasing Tenshi into Otsuge no Inori. The blade lengthens and the tsuka takes on black as a result. He rushes towards the Hollows without a second thought. He cuts through many of them with ease, a shower of black blood spattering the ground as a result. Tenshi radiates pleasure as he cuts down Hollow after Hollow. '...Sixteen...Seventeen...Eighteen!' Tenshi all but giggles into his head.
Twenty minutes pass and in that time Daisuke is positive he's killed more Hollows then he ever has over a six month period...but the final Hollow falls to Otsuge no Inori with ease and all that remains is a street filled with the Hollow's black blood. He felt certain that not only had he handled the 'small' infestation here in the Rukon bot possibly every Hollow in the Soul Society.
He's suffered only a wound to his left arm and right side as a result of the battle, but he's alive. Daisuke seals his Zanpakuto and approaches the remains of Eiichiru. With just how bad his remains are mangled, he decides not to leave them exposed for anyone to pass by and witness. He sheds his kosode and drapes the black garment over his remains gently. 'Don't you pity that drunk, Daisuke...don't you dare.'
Sensing something approaching, he turns and grips the now white tsuka of Tenshi, preparing to release her again. He relaxes when he see's Kiyone and Sentaro approaching with two others he assumes to be from the Fourth Division. "Daisuke!" exclaims Sentaro. "Captain Ukitake sent us to assist you, but..." They look around at the street awash with blood. "...I guess you don't need it."
"Where's Eiichiru?" asks Kiyone.
"Dead," replies Daisuke simply.
"I see," replies Sentaro somberly. "Well...at least you survived. We should have come along as well."
"Two more wouldn't have mattered, Lieutenant. He fought bravely but they separated us and overwhelmed him," lies Daisuke, not wishing to speak ill of a dead man. Sentaro nods in understanding and then Daisuke picks up the body. "I'll take him back to the Thirteenth Division."
"You should have your wounds treated first, Daisuke," Kiyone tells him.
"I'll be fine, Lieutenant..."
He grunts a bit as he pulls the wrapping of bandage tight around the wound, not noticing the approach of anyone else as he does so. "You really should have that looked at," comments a familiar voice. Daisuke glances back at Jushiro. "May I sit?"
"By all means, Jushiro," replies Daisuke, turning to face the Captain. He pushes his arm back his arm back through his sleeve and pulls his kosode back up over his shoulder.
"Jushiro, huh?" asks another person. Daisuke notices the approach of Captain Kyoraku. "Well, it seems you two get along rather well, doesn't it?" Jushiro laughs a bit in response.
"I'm sure you've known that for quite some time, Shunsui," counters Jushiro. "Come sit with us."
"Well, don't mind if I do, then." Captain Kyoraku sits down beside Jushiro with a bit of a grunt. "I heard about that trouble in the Rukon...you took care of those Hollows all by yourself, am I right?"
"I was only doing what Captain Ukitake asked of me, Captain Kyoraku," Daisuke tells him.
"Oh, so now it's 'Captain Ukitake'...you don't have to be so formal, you know. You're off the clock right now. Relax a bit. You've earned it after dealing with all those Hollows, Daisuke."
"As I said, I was just doing my job."
"Humble and strong...I'm beginning to like this guy, Jushiro." Daisuke smiles a bit a thanks him. "Don't mention it. But since we're all here..." He produces a sake jug and places it between them. "...I'd say we should all have ourselves a drink and unwind after a hard day of work."
"I'll drink to a fallen comrade, if you don't mind, Captain."
"Oh, yeah, that reminds me. Are you going to tell him what you decided, Jushiro?"
"Yes," replies Jushiro. "It is unfortunate that Eiichiru Matsumiya was killed in action...but seeing as the position of Tenth Seat is now vacant I believe now is a good time to acknowledge all the hard work you've done over the past years, Daisuke. You've never backed down from any task you've been given. So the position of Tenth Seat is yours, if you'd like it that is."
"I...don't know what to say," admits Daisuke.
"Well, 'yes' would be a good place to start," comments Kyoraku. Daisuke nods and sits up a bit straighter before bowing.
"I humbly accept the the position of Tenth Seat, Captain Ukitake. I thank you for your confidence in me." Jushiro and Kyoraku both laugh a bit in response...
It is a known fact that unseated Shinigami aren't given rooms at the barracks. Rather, the men sleep in a single large room and the women in another. Daisuke had grown used to this and since he spent no more then a few weeks at a time at the Thirteenth Division it didn't matter. Now, he stands in the doorway of his new room. 'Eiichiru must have had a drinking problem.'
Empty sake bottles lay scattered all over the entire room, evidence of his rather poorly handled problem. 'This place is an absolute pig sty.'
'Whew. No kidding. Cleaning was not what I wanted to spend today doing.' Regardless of his complaints he begins the task in front of him. He wasn't even half way finished when there is a sudden knock at the door. "Uh...come in?" The door slides open and Jushiro steps in. It was rather strange that he was visit so late in the evening, but not unwelcome. "Jushiro?"
"I see you're starting to settle in," observes Jushiro.
"More like cleaning up. I started a few hours ago and I'm even close to being finished. I've found more empty sake bottles in here then I'm sure you or I have ever seen at a bar." Both men share a bit of a laugh. "Jushiro...I heard that Rukia, Lieutenant Abari, Ikkaku and Yumichika are going to be going with Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Matsumoto to the World of the Living and-"
"You'd like to go with them."
"If there's an opening."
"The Head Captain decided who would be going to assist Ichigo in the World of the Living. Not myself. So I'm afraid I cannot send you along with them." Daisuke nods in understanding. "Just relax for now, Daisuke, and get settled in. There'll be plenty of fighting for everyone, unfortunately."
"Alright, Jushiro. I'll take it easy..."