"What Best Friends are for."
A Bleach Fan Fiction.
Written by trekkiexb5.
Hitsugaya/K. Kurosaki friendship. Rated T for language.
DISCLAIMER: If Bleach was mine…Honestly, I wouldn't know what to do.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Here you go, Ryfee. Your Kuchiki moment. I have an idea for a better one, but that's another story…
FYI: Seiza is a formal way of sitting in Japan.
CHAPTER 9:
CAPTAIN'S MEETING
I watched the dawn break over the Seireitei from my roof. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't keep my dinner down, either. I knew this would happen, but knowing it and living it are two different things. I wish I could take back the last two weeks. I wish…
I slipped off my roof to get a shower. I skipped breakfast. Most likely it would join dinner in the sewers, after being partially digested. My stomach was rolling in fear.
At my front door I quietly put on my waraji and picked up my Haori. Orders were to bring it, not wear it. I sighed and carefully folded the heavy white clothing. Standing up, I took one more look at myself in the mirror. Lack of sleep showed. I looked haggard, paler than normal, with black circles around my eyes. I could feel a dull throbbing pain in my bones.
Well, my uniform was perfect. Deep breaths Toushirou. I stepped out into the quarter angle that is Division 10's senior officer quarters. I saw Matsumoto exiting from her much smaller lieutenant's quarters on my left.
Time to face the music, as the humans say.
We shunpo'd to Division One, at the centre of the Seireitei. We arrived early to the Captains' Meeting Hall, only to find it shut. The meeting was in session. So we went to the courtyard and I sat down in one of the benches situated amongst the edge. I flared my reiatsu for a moment, so they would know I had arrived.
I saw Ichigo and Karin walking across the courtyard towards us. I sighed. I wasn't in the mood for company. I just looked down, staring forlornly at my Haori. I felt naked without it.
"Yo, Toushirou!" The very chipper Ichigo hailed.
"It's not Tous…nevermind. Just shut up. I am not in the mood."
"Man you are grouchy…"
"I said SHUT UP!" My shout startled the pair as I glared at them. Damnit! "Look, I am sorry but I am not in them mood for a Kurosaki pep talk. Not a word out of you, Matsumoto!" Experience told me that she was about to open her big mouth. "Just, all of you leave me alone…please." I sighed. "Just leave me…" I tapered off; my shoulders slumped as my energy was suddenly spent.
It was a useless argument. They would not leave me alone to my black mood, nor would they shut up.
"I give up," I whispered. "It doesn't matter anymore."
They were silent, for once. A few moments later, Karin sat down next to me, and caught my wrist. Her thumb lightly rubbing a small scar on the back of my hand. A shadow on the other side indicating Ichigo sat down on the bench, his hand coming up to grasp my shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. I felt Rangiku sitting on the back of the backless bench, her hand lightly rubbing my back in a circular motion.
I just stared at the '10' on my folded Haori, my hands shaking. My Haori, I worked so hard… I felt my throat tightened, my vision going blurry. Damn those Kurosakis. Damn you, Rangiku! Damn me! Why did I… I will NOT cry. I will not cry. I'm a captain… "I will not cry," I bit my bottom lip as I accidently whispered it out loud. I felt the first drops leak out, turning into delicate snowflakes and falling onto the garment.
I am so, so stupid. I deserve to lose this. Never have I felt so worthless as I did now.
"Captain Hitsugaya?" I looked up into the face of Squad One's lieutenant, Chojirou Sasakibe. "Ichigo and Karin Kurosaki, the Head Captain is ready to see you now."
I blinked to clear my eyes and coughed to clear my throat. "Thank you, Lieutenant." I answered, standing.
He nodded. "Lieutenant Matsumoto. Please stay here." She affirmed that she would. "Captain? Ichigo and Karin Kurosaki, This way please, and oh, Captain?"
"Yes?"
"I am sorry sir, but I am required to take the Haori from you."
"Oh, yes, of course." I handed him my Haori. Damn. My stomach was in knots. Suddenly, I wanted to run away. But that's what got me in trouble in the first place.
We walked in silence behind him to the large doors. Inside, the captains stood on either side, spaces left for the captaincies that were abandoned by the traitors.
And for me.
This place was very intimidating, and was designed to be so. But in the last 20+ years, I was used to being one of the intimidators, not the one in hot seat. I now know for a fact, it does work. Worst of all, at the end of the room, was the most terrifying man that I knew of. But there he sat, resting on his cane and his beard braided, looking like for all the worlds, someone's grandfather; the Head Captain.
Then the doors shut behind us with a thick muffled boom; sealing my fate. Nowhere to run now.
Matsumoto was probably sitting here just a few days ago. Doing my job. Eat the humble pie you deserve Toushirou. I watched as Sasakibe approached the Head Captain and handed him my haori. Then he gestured at me. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, stopping just before Ukitake, and knelt on the ground seiza style. I bowed as I announced, "Cap…Toushirou Hitsugaya reporting as ordered, sir."
I felt, rather than heard Karin mimicking my movements beside me. Ichigo, of course, bows for no one.
The silence was deafening. I was staring at the floor that I tread so many times before as an equal.
"Toushirou Hitsugaya." I sat up, praying that my face was expressionless and looked to the Head Captain. I grasped the sides of my uniform to vainly stop my trembling hands. Damnit! I will not cry and carry on like a child here, in front of these people! I will not!
"Please approach, Hitsugaya."
"Sir!" I stood up; glad that at least my voice was steady. I walked forward until I stood in front of him. I think it is more frightening to stand here than at the back of the room. I was, frankly, terrified of the words that he would say.
"Do you understand why you are here, Hitsugaya?" The Head Captain's voice boomed.
"Yes, sir."
"Please explain why you are here, then, to your fellow captains."
"I…I abandoned my post, disregarded procedures, deliberately hid my reiatsu, attacked and injured members of the Gotei 13, as well as not assisting the substitute Shinigami when he was injured."
"The Head Captain's eyebrow arched. "Not treason and kidnapping of a human and involving said human in the affairs of the Seireitei?"
"No sir," Of that I was very sure of. "It was not my intention to betray the Gotei 13. I was chasing Kusaka with the intent to retrieve the Ouin. I was never in league with him; I just wanted to finish that duel…" I coughed. "As for the human in question, she is Kurosaki, so blackmailing me was well within her capacity, despite being so young."
There was chuckling from behind me, with a chorus of "What?" from the siblings. It eased the tension a little, though it didn't come out the way I wanted. She was not on trial here, I was. They just wanted to speak to her, and maybe use me as an example on not to piss the Gotei 13 off.
Which means nothing but bad things for me.
"Hmmmm..." The Head Captain spoke, instantly silencing the room. "I will give you the fact the human girl coerced you, her brother his headstrong so this, we can say, runs in the family. However, this does not explain how you did not mention meeting a high reiatsu child before in any of your reports, nor when you found out she was Ichigo Kurosaki's sister, inform him that his sister could pose a danger."
"Yes sir, I have amended my original reports to reflect that meeting. My reasoning of refraining from mentioning Karin in my original reports is quite frankly she did not constitute a person of interest at the time. It should be expected with Ichigo Kurosaki's blaring of reiatsu, that his whole family would develop Shinigami powers eventually. This was discussed in an earlier Captain's Meeting, sir."
"True, True. Why did you continue to meet with her after you have found out her name and completed your initial report? You did say she, unlike her brother, had control of her spiritual pressure and was not putting herself into harm because of it?"
"Sir…I…" I paused. Oh boy. I really could not explain a few one-on-one soccer games and ice cream afterword. She had questions, and while I did not, at the time, tell her very much about our world, I gave her enough to be satisfied that her brother was safe, relatively speaking. For me, it was far better company than the idiots I had under my command at the time. She was quiet, peaceful…ok I like spending time with her.
I cleared my throat. "I…uhm…well, she was enjoyable company. I liked talking to her, sir." I said in a rush, but continued. "It did not interfere with my duties or my mission. Also, someone sensitive to reiatsu, I often ran into her when low level hollows appeared."
I heard Shunshei giggle. Damn that man!
"She was hunting hollows?" Komamura spoke?
"I did not know at the time, but yes she was. This is also in my amended report. She would channel reiatsu into her soccer balls and smashed low level hollows' masks. I assume that with her brother 'training' she took over his duties." I heard the siblings arguing quietly in the back. Sorry Karin. I cannot hide you anymore. I spoke a little louder to be heard. "Although, as it has been said, she is not as reckless as her brother, nor does she bleed reiatsu everywhere." I noted with grim satisfaction that the argument got louder.
"Silence!" The Head Captain commanded. "I have read the amended report. I believe we can drop the kidnapping and involvement charges. Now for the treason. What say you, Toushirou Hitsugaya?"
I took several breaths before speaking. My fear, that was cooling a few moments ago, had returned in full force. "Sir, my intent was not to commit treason. I was settling an old debt. I had no idea who or what had attacked the convoy beforehand. Only when I was stabbed," which still hurts despite finally being healed. "The resonance between the two zanpakutos gave me my first clue as to who it most likely was. I pursued the thief, intent on returning the Ouin, and getting answers for myself.
"I was hoping it would be over quickly. But I believe the wound was, 'poisoned?'" I looked behind me at Captain Unodana who gave me a slight nod. I returned my attention to the Head Captain. "Yes, uhm only after my initial chase and subsequent shielding of my reiatsu, did I realized what my actions would look like in the eyes of the Gotei 13."
I paused, sighing. "I had to choose: turn myself in before it was blown out of proportion or continue the pursuit. I foolishly believed it was my personal fight, as so I chose poorly. Kusaka somehow knew I would react this way. His whole scheme was built around it. My…" I wasn't going to say childish. "Impulsive behavior has caused great harm to the Seireitei, but that was not what I intended or wanted."
"So, you have us believe that you chased this guy Kusaka for a personal grudge, not realizing the damage he could inflict? You were fully briefed for the guard duty assignment and knew that the Ouin was powerful. I find it hard to believe such…nonsense coming from a so called child prodigy? How do you expect us to swallow that?"
Soifon's tongue lashing angered me. But I bit back my ire and kept my voice even. "I was not briefed on how powerful the Ouin was, or it capabilities. As far as it was concerned, it could been a child's toy. I simply saw someone I knew for a fact was dead stealing it, and I wanted to finish something we never got a chance to finish."
"Finish what? Your childish duel? The fact you are immature enough to recognize and then ignore infantile behaviour in another. Or was it the illusion that you were doing something important. None of which you have proof to back your claims. Whatever the case you acted your age, not your rank. Not only do you not deserver the Haori, you do not deserve the uniform. Low ranking shinigami behave better, and you are expected to lead them? You should be thrown into the Maggot's Nest and forgotten! You…"
"Quiet, Captain Soifon." The head Captain's sonorous tone broke through her rant. "She does have a point. All we have are your words on the matter. Why should we believe you? After all, the last child protégé caused much more havoc with his words."
He was talking about Gin Ichimaru. I broke all his records at the academy and as a captain. Outside Ichigo, I had the fastest Shikai to Bankai, 28 months. I finished the academy in one year and went straight into the ranks as a 7th Seat. We were both smart, too smart. I understood what it was liked to be envied, feared and loathed and I hated it. I do not know about him. I think he liked being that way, the outsider, the outcast. He channeled his energy into a gilded tongue and a plot to destroy the Gotei 13. I, on the other hand, wanted to help, even those who hated me. I channeled my abilities into my job, and worked hard to improve and defend the Soul Society.
I was also honest, lying never came easy. I remember what Karin said in my hospital room. "Sir. All I have as proof is my words and my actions. It is up to you to decide if I am another Gin Ichimaru. I cannot convince you through persuasive words. I never learned that ability. So, yes, all I have is what I told you and what I did."
Silence. Thick and weighty. While I knew execution wasn't going to happen, there are variety of other ways I could be punished. 1,000 years in the Maggot's Nest, for example. I knew I'd be a popular inmate in more ways than one. Honestly, I wouldn't last ten years. I knew it.
"Toushirou Hitsugaya, it is because of your actions that you were not thrown into the punishment cell or executed." The Head Captain's voice pulled through my panic of the Maggot's Nest scenario. "Nor, is it in the views of your peers, here today, that we believe that you are a traitor." I took a large, shuddering breath. "However, there are crimes that need to be addressed. How we address them, is up to you.
"Everyone here is not perfect, we all have flaws. We have all done foolish actions in the past. You, seem to try to ignore the fact you have several major flaws, and you, along with the Seireitei nearly paid the price for ignorance." He was silent. I however, was scrambling for what he meant. "In those flaws, these Captains and I failed you by allowing you to continue to not to address them."
What the hell was he talking about?
'So, you have a choice: you will deal with them at your own pace, or you will address them now."
Flaws. I have lots of them. My mind was whirling to match up my flaws with the Ouin situation. "Sir, flaws; like I am impulsive? Is that one?"
That didn't sound right. My confusion, and quite frankly, my panic must have shown on my face, for the head captain sighed and said, "Ukitake, if you will…"
I whirled to see Juushirou Ukitake come up to face me. I looked up at him. He had a gentle smile. He was always gentle and kind to me. Never sure if it was the similar names, the hair colour which we both share or the fact he was a kind soul. Most likely all three. He knelt down, so he was at eye level with me and clasped my shoulder.
"Toushirou, look. You are an amazing person. You have accomplished so much in a short amount of time. You have carried out your duties to the best of your ability, and your subordinates respect you. We all watched you exceed our expectations time and time again. Perhaps that is why we failed to notice that you were starting to fall."
Fall? Fail? What? The thing about grown ups I hate the most is the fact they cannot seem to speak plainly. "Fall? I don't understand?"
"Well, you grew up before you have grown up. We believe you missed some vital steps along the way. Now, it is starting to show."
Ok, very confused. "Like what? And what's showing?"
He chuckled. "Most of us don't comprehend your childhood, as short as it was. Most of us still don't understand why you were in a rush to become captain. Regardless, along the way, the life lessons we got from growing up you missed."
"Lessons?" Grr… Damn! Just say it!
"Like making friends, having fun. Figuring out who you are."
Those are lessons? I know who I am! "What?"
Ukitake shook his head. "Not getting it, are you? Look at the young lady there," he said, pointing at Karin. "I'd bet she has lots of friends. I would also guess she has lots of fun with them. There are places and things that are important to her. She probably also has goals. And while very mature behaving for her age; she is in no hurry to be an adult." I looked over his shoulder to see Karin nodding.
"So," he continued as I looked back at him. "Where does this leave you?"
"Ok, you are mad that I am a captain at my age, or I am not capable of being a captain or I should stop being a captain all together? Just say it, please Juushirou! I am not comprehending you!" I was frustrated and scared. This whole conversation had tilted so bad that I couldn't follow along.
"Very well," I looked up at Byakuya Kuchiki, stepping out of the line to look at me. "Here are my observations: My squad inspected your quarters as a part of the investigation of your alleged treason. We also spoke to the Squad 4 members who regularly clean it. They said out side laundry, your house was spotless. Immaculate. In fact, many of the unseated members of Squad 4 squabble over who cleans your house, for it is the easiest and quickest house to clean, even over mine which I don't even uliltzed except on duty days."
"So…I like my stuff neat and orderly, I don't get it."
A snigger behind Kuchiki and a comment from my personal peanut gallery: Karin. "Anal retentive syndrome…" He brother started to giggle too. Then the captains started to laugh.
I was beet red, I know. "Shut up!" I yelled. "Because I clean my own house doesn't make me anal retentive!"
Kuchiki coughed and the laughter died down. "Your office, outside Lieutenant Matsumoto's area is neat, though worn. Likewise with your home. You tend to keep things until they are worn out and beyond repair.
"You have few personal items outside clothing, most were practical. The ones that were not consisted of a few scarves and a couple of kimonos, all of which were given as gifts. The bookshelves are filled with required reading for officers. There were no novels, fiction or non fiction. No magazines, or other reading material, outside a cookbook.
"You have a modern, if worn, dining and living room set, probably the previous tenants, which adds to the theory you don't like to throw things out. The only personal things that I found in both the office and the house was a platform bed, well made, which was purchased by you in the first year of your captaincy. Also, Three patchwork blankets, one on said bed, and the others on the couches in your office and living room.
"The cupboards are filled with mismatched dishes, again probably left over from previous tenants. Food was pretty standard, though you are on good terms with a watermelon grower in the West Rukon district. There was a package of amanatto from the World of the Living, half eaten. Oh, and sake, but I suspect that is your lieutenant's and not yours.
"And for decorations, you have a go, shoji and chess set, all of which haven't been used in a long time, according to the dust in the back of the closet of the spare bedroom. In the back of one of your drawers there is a worn wooden top. And in the office, there is a beautiful vase with a blue Chinese style dragon sitting behind your desk in the window. I'd describe your décor as sparse, or more accurately, non-existent.
"What does all this mean, you are thinking? Why is this important?" He glared at me, unblinking. "It means, boy, what do you do? What do you do when you are not a captain?"
I was rattled. I was angry. Of all of them, how dare HE tell me how to live my life? "What do you do, Byakuya? Besides being so all arrogant and noble? What do you do, besides stopping your sister from becoming anything of note in her squad?" Ukitake's eyes widened as he rocked back onto his heels. A 'boy,' eh? "She should be a seated officer. Maybe even a lieutenant, the kami know that Juushirou needs one and stop mourning Shiba." At this point I knew I was being disrespectful and lashing out, but by the gods, I was so, so tired of this. "So Byakuya Kuchiki, what do YOU do?"
The man never flickered an inch during my rant. His voice was arrogant and in control when he answered me. "I read historical novels, I tend a garden, I pray to my ancestors, particularly my dead wife and grandfather. I do calligraphy. I personally buy rare wines from the Rukon districts and habitually check them. And no, I do not use servants for any of that, so you can put your noble prejudice to rest, boy."
He continued gesturing to people as he was speaking about them. "Ukitake tries to garden, but habitually kills his bonsai. His fish ponds are often rearranged by him. Komamura collects dog figurines and cares for and trains a dog as a pet. Unodana does flower arranging. Zaraki has books upon books he makes; filled with Yuchiro's drawings. He often spends time with his division, not just in training. Many of the lieutenants, including yours and mine get together and do things together, not just drinking.
"Renji whittles, Rukia collects Chappy memorabilia, Himamori draws, Hisagi plays the guitar…The list can go on but my point is; what does Captain Toushirou Hitsugaya do when he isn't being Captain Toushirou Hitsugaya? He stepped back in line, his gaze never wavering on me.
"Well?" I spun around to face the Head Captain. "What do you do?" He asked.
"I…" Shocked, I couldn't even think of anything.
"Heh, you are missing the best parts of your life, Toushirou." That was Kyouraku. I just stared at the wall over the Head Captain's shoulders. "No real friends and no life. All work and no play makes 'Shirou a dull boy." A general nervous giggle at my expense echoed in the room.
"So? I don't have anything but work. So if I took up knitting or tossed a couple shots back once in a while I would not be in this predicament? That's not even logical."
There were several exasperating sighs from the room. I turned back to the captains. "Look, I seriously don't get it. What does a lack of hobbies have to do with Kusaka? What is me working all the time have to do with anything?" I was angry, so very angry. "I have to work; sometimes twice as hard…as…you…" I faltered. I shouldn't have said that. Damn.
"Exactly," Juushirou said. "You work hard, harder than many of us. But you still don't understand. Look, if I was in your shoes, and Kusaka was my friend from the academy days, how do you think I would react?" He asked me.
I didn't have to think about it. "You would tell Kyouraku."
"Exactly. Everyone in this room would have told someone they trusted," He smiled. "Even Mayuri and Soifon, They have a lot of trust in their lieutenants. They would have communicated. Some better than others, granted, but the end result would not have been that person standing here defending themselves and the right to keep their haori.
"You are capable of making friends, you did with Kusaka. Why haven't you made any since then? Himamori doesn't count; while you tell her things to help HER, you rarely tell her things that you need to air. This goes for Matsumoto. Relationships help ease the pain of command and also provide a sounding board for moral choices. I wonder how much different it would have been if you just told Lieutenant Matsumoto at the beginning what you were doing and why."
A lot different. "And the hobbies? I am still confused about that." I asked, quietly. I was comprehending them now.
Ukitake opened his mouth to speak but it was interrupted. We both looked at Kenpachi. "Kid, hell I'm confused. We have been droning on for days about you and this and it's cuttin' into my fightin' time. So I'll tell you what, here's the straight answer. You should not have been accepted as a captain cuz you are too young and too absorbed in the job.
"No friends? Hell even I have friends. I don't even fight all the time, as surprising as that sounds. As much as I cannot wait for the next challenge, I don't sit around and dwell on it. I do stuff, either by myself or with others. Hell, I even do my paperwork sometimes!"
He paused, giving me that one-eyed crazed berserker grin of his. "Personally, I'd say you need to get your head out of your ass. If all I did was paperwork and training all day everyday, all I would do is wear myself down. I'd make myself weak and would be easily defeated. Even I know that. So, old man, let's get this show on the road. I am tired of the gabfest. If the kid doesn't get it now, he'll never get it. And we will have front row seats to his self-destruction."
Self-destruction? I glanced back at Ukitake, who nodded. "He's right, you know" He whispered. "We all thought that was happening, you finally hit the point that you broke down. And it would have been our faults, for we let you be a captain in the first place."
"Very well," The Head Captain replied to Zaraki. Tearing my eyes away from Ukitake's sad ones, I turned to face The Head Captain. "These are your choices: One you can be temporarily demoted."
"Demoted?" I asked. My brain was trying to make some sense out of today and frankly I was buying time.
"You would be removed as Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads. You would have a seated position within any squad, of course, but you would not be allowed to wear the rank of captain for 20 years. At that time, if you wish, you would retake the capataincy exam, most likely passing easily. You would return as an older and hopefully wiser person. You would not be punished in any way."
"Except for the fact that the entire Seireitei would have knowledge of my demotion. What's the other choice, sir?"
"Take back your haori and accept the punishment befitting a captain, whether it is non-judicial or the Maggot's Nest. Choose wisely, Toushirou Hitsugaya."
I nodded absently as I stood in thought.
Getting demoted. The concept was so alien and wrong. But the perks…well, little to no stress, no worries about my future; for captainacy was assured, maybe actual time off. To do what, I wondered. Maybe time off to find out what I wanted to do.
I imagined myself as a lieutenant, which I never was, maybe in Ukitake's squad. The 3rd seats were pretty good with the paperwork. The 13th tend to watch the human world, so extended time there. Maybe to visit Karin, my new friend, my first real friend since Kusaka. Maybe time to figure out what a best friend was all about. Not having to be worried about being caught doing childish things. Maybe…even…making friends with the other lieutenants and seated officers, most of which were closer to my age than the captains.
It would be nice.
The negatives. Everyone would know I was demoted. That I couldn't handle the strain. Would they look at me with pity? OR laugh at me behind my back? Or openingly? Would I spend all my time worrying about that? Yes, yes I would.
The captain option was power and all the responsibility that comes with it. There are freedoms, but the idea that captains had the luxury of doing whatever they wanted whenever they wanted is largely a myth. Not even getting into the fact I had a punishment waiting, whatever that may be, I had to accept that being a captain was stressful and difficult. But I knew that already.
I choose to take the captain's exam. Looking back, it was just another challenge to overcome. I had no clue that within months of that exam, I was offered the position of Captain of the 10th squadron. I thought I was too young. They thought I could do it. But it was my choice. I wasn't coerced or forced or ordered. It was explained what my duties and responsibilities of wearing a haori were and I accepted. No, I gave an oath.
For me, the choice was clear.
I stood up straight and faced the Head Captain straight on. I looked the Old Man in the eye and gave him my answer. "Sir, I respectfully ask to remain as a captain, whether it would be for the next five minutes or 5,000 years. My reasoning is simple; I swore an oath on my blood and on my life that I would protect and defend the Soul Society and help keep balance between the worlds. Within the Captain's Oath, it says I must be fair and be an example to others. It also says I must defend the laws of the Seireitei.
"Sir, what kind of example would I be, if I took the easy way out? What kind of example would the Gotei 13 be if they allowed me to take the easy way out?"
I took a deep breath. "Sir, the day I first stood here as a Captain and took that oath, you told me it would be more difficult for me to be a captain than most. And that was saying a lot because being a captain is difficult in itself. I may have been naive and ignorant of how difficult it really was then, but I know now. But, I made a promise, swore an oath and by the gods themselves, I will try my damnest not to foreswore myself.
"Finally, I love my job. Truly. You all may see a workaholic but I actually enjoy my job. Despite my lieutenant slacking sometimes, or being set up with some truly idiotic teams, I really enjoy the people and the work. I enjoy teaching my squadron how to become better and I enjoy knowing I helped make a difference in the worlds. Maybe I do enjoy the job too much. I suppose I will have to work on that, but I cannot imagine doing anything else now, but being a captain."
I coughed, my mouth a little dry from my speech. I bowed to the Head-Captain. "So sir, respectfully, may I have my haori back?" I stood up straight. I was proud of what I have become; I was not going to let them take it away.
I heard Captain Ukitake stand up, sighing. "I was hoping you'd be my lieutenant."
I smirked. "If you wanted that, you should have just demoted me." He gave my shoulder a squeeze and walked away, most likely to his spot.
Head Captain Yamamoto was silent, his piercing eyes opened and boring into me. "Hmmm. Very well, Captain Hitsugaya. Come and receive your Haori."
Lieutenant Sasakibe handed the haori back to me. My knees nearly buckled over at the relief of having it back. I quickly removed Hyorinmaru and the sash, put on the still stained cloth, and replaced my Zanpakuto. I bowed again to the Head Captain. "I am ready to accept my punishment, sir."