*edit: Thanks MJ-Ram'XD for adding this story to your favorite list! I cant PM you a super awesome specialized message, so I hope this will do =p
A/N:
To my word ninja Ilta, IM SORRY FOR NOT SPELL CHECKING MY FIRST DRAFT! /kneels on the floor. Please dont kill me :D
I hope ya'll like this chapter. I had so much trouble writing it, that I considered throwing in the towel to write a KenIchi smut fic /lol, what a drama queen. And a smut fic? really? In the end, in enjoyed writing this chapter , and I hope you guys will enjoy it too!
Setting: Seireitei, 1st Division Headquarters
Summary: Emergency Captain's meeting
Chapter Five
The ten captains of Gotei 13 stood still. They stayed silent and waited for their captain-commander. No one trembled, no one voiced their fears and concerns. For captains, fear meant weakness. A weak man did not deserve to carry the heavy burden of the Haori.
They all knew that one of them will probably die. Even one as young as Hitsugaya Toshiro was not naive enough to believe that they will all survive. Dying to protect evil is the essence of the Gotei 13, a saying that the captain-commander had drilled relentlessly into their heads. Now evil is coming, and they are all ready to face their deaths.
YamamotoGenryusai entered the emergency captain meeting with his vice captain in tow. He gave each one of the captain a stern look, one that could make even the gate keeper giants tremble. Strange as it might be, the look comforted the captains. The look lingered especially on Zaraki Kenpachi, who rolled his eyes at the absurdity of it. He knew that look, it's the same look that the first division captain gave him when he tried to teach him Kendo. Even this close to the battle the old codger still hadn't given up on pushing him to use Kendo. "Senile bastard," Kenpachi muttered, prompting a disproving glare from Soifon and Byakuya. Yamamoto allowed himself a tiny smile before walking on.
"Seireitei has owed great and many debts to the human Kurosaki Ichigo," He started, his hands rested on top of his staff. "We are all aware of his prospect as a future captain, and his most recent endavour has confirm our prediction." Shunsui watched with interest as Ukitake beamed and glowed at the news. Ukitake has a habit of taking in young wondering youth under his wings, and they usually flourished into great shinigamis. Granted his encounter with Ichigo has been limited, but the man felt proud that the brash irrational teenager has achieved a feat as great as this. His resemblance to Kaien Shiba made Ukitake feel like he had known the man for a lifetime. Shunsui looked at his friend uneasily.
"As of yesterday, the traitor Aizen Sousuke recanted his plans for Karakura town. He released the human Inoue Orihime with this,"
Yamamoto held up a spherical cube, the very same cube that Aizen stole from Rukia's body. It's previous glow had dulled and turned the sphere and murmurs could be heard throughout the room. Komamura leaned towards the sphere and sniffed . "It reeks of hollow," he said, "This crack... what does it mean?" he asked, running his finger against a harsh line on the globe.
"The details are not clear, but it seemed like the subtitute shinigami has deactivated this part of the Hogyoku."
"This part?" Kurotsuchi cocked his head curiously.
"Yes, this is merely half of the Hogyoku that Azien stole from Urahara."
The excitement in the room wilted and died. The dread of death was back in their chest. "Damn it! So the bastard still has the other one." Komamura lashed out in anger. Some of the captain stared in disapproval at his behavior. They all understood what it meant.
"Genryusai-Taichou, please keep your dog in it's leash," Kurotsuchi Mayuri said in a bored tone. He held no affection for emotional idiots. He's a scientist, so it's only natural that he hates those who are controlled by their hearts, not by their heads.
"What did you call me, you aberrant fool!" Komamura placed his hands on the hilt of his katana, letting the Hogyoku fall to the floor with a soft 'clink'.
"Please," Mayuri scoffed. "I made a rule to not talk to animals. It's degrading, not to mention unsanitary." The scientist sneered and looked away in disdain, his long nails twitching in irritation.
Komamura's lips twitched and in an instant he drew his sword. Before he could move, a small figure flash stepped near him. "Peace Komamura-Taichou," Hitsugaya interjected quickly, his small hand touching Komamura's massive elbow. "We have other things to worry about." He jerked his head to the little sphere laying abandoned on the floor. Attacking a captain was considered treason, and Hitsugaya would hate if Komamura was arrested. He was rather fond of the canine.
Komamura wanted to charge at the white faced freak, but the hand on his elbow brought him back to reality. With a sigh he turned around and sheathed his sword. Ever since Kaname betrayed soul society, his temper had been getting shorter and shorter. The only one who was able to calm him down was Hitsugaya. Maybe it's because the boy is the only captain in Gotei 13 that Komamura really trusted after the incident, but mostly it's because the adorable looks that they boy had when he's worried. He looked down on Toshiro fondly, muttering his gratitude with a sheepish smile. He bumped his hand against the boy's shoulder as an apology. Hitsugaya nodded curtly, hiding a smile behind a stoic mask of indifference.
"How do we know we are not under his illusions?" Byakuya asked, staring at his own reflection on the Hogyoku. He remembered the shame that he felt when Aizen revealed his true intentions. The man scarred his pride. Aizen might have fooled him once,but this time Byakuya would be prepared. He would not be fooled twice, his pride as a Kuchiki would never allow him that.
"I understand your concern Kuchiki-taicho. Members of the Urahara establishment has verified that this indeed is the Hogyoku. The crack has completely drained it of it's power. It is nothing more than a poorly made ornament."
"Well, well. Looks like we need to throw a party for Ichigo-kun. I'll bring the sake, as usual." Shunshui laughed nervously, hoping to usher away the tension in the room.
"Unfortunately, Kurosaki Ichigo would not be joining that party. He has been captured."
Suddenly the air in the room became stiffing. "Well fuck, that's not a good news," Kenpachi said flippantly and sauntered out of his line. "I'll be off saving his ass again. Three members of my division will come with me." He said, turning on his heels. "I'll be coming with you Zaraki-Taichou. Kurostuchi-Taichou, please inform your men to prepare five passageway to the Material World." Ukitake bowed to the dumbfounded captains and followed Kenpachi's lead.
"Nobody will go anywhere." Yamamoto stomped his staff to the floor, stopping the two on their tracks. Kenpachi gave a loud 'tch' before falling back into his line. Ukitake however, was adamant. "What? But Taichou, Ichigo is-"
"Seireitei cannot afford to lose another captain for some boy!" The first division captain thundered, effectively silencing the silver haired captain. Ukitake looked down at his feet, feeling like a freshman in the Kido academy. He opened his mouth to speak but Kyoraku stopped him with a slight shake of his head. It's a bad idea to talk back to their former sensei.
After a stretch of silence, Komamura stepped forward and faced the 1st division captain. "Genryusai-Taichou, that boy fought our battles. He bore the scars that were supposed to be ours, We ow-" " How can we not save him?" Ukitake snapped, unable to contain his anger and disbelief.
"Please Ukitake-Taichou, Komamura-Taichou, Genryusai-dono is correct. It is foolish to endanger yourself, especially you Ukitake-dono." Byakuya chastised his former teacher gently, reminding him of his fragile state of health. "Ichigo can handle himself."
"Did you forget who saved your sister not too long ago Byakuya? How can you be so cold and callous about him?" Komamura turned to Byakuya, his lips pursed into a thin line. He heard rumours about those nobility families, but he could never have thought Byakuya could forget his debt to the human.
"Komamura-Taichou, don't-" Hitsugaya glanced at the livid Byakuya. Nobles won't tolerate such insolence, even from a fellow captain.
"Silence your mouth mutt," Byakuya said disdainfully. "You will address me with the proper form or not at all." Komamura laughed and shook his head in disbelief.
"Enough of this stupidity," Soifon gave her order to her Onmitsukido corps through a hell butterfly. "Taichou, I have the special force ready outside. With your order I will restrain Komamura-Taichou and Kuchiki-Taicou."
"Maa, maa... everyone needs to calm down a little bit," Shunshui said half-heartedly. Komamura already had a hand on his sword, so dis Byakuya. Ukitake was arguing with Soifon, coughing every few sentences, and Kenpachi was ripping off paper from the window shutter. It was a chaos, and if he could help it, he would rather not stand in the crossfire. Hitsugaya looked back and forth, torn between wanting to help Ukitake and stopping Komamura. Kurotsuchi watched the whole scene dispassionately.
" Everyone," a clear voice from the 4th division captain snapped them back to reality. Unohana stepped up quietly with her usual smile. "Please be civil to each other. I have a wing full of injured 11th division men so I would like to get back and attend them," her smile widened and her voice softened, "I would like to get back and attend their wound, so please everyone, be civil." Unohana gave a little fake laugh at the end, which frightened some of the captains.
Everyone was silent, afraid of stepping over the line with the captain of the 4th division. 'She said it twice. It must be imprtant or she wouldn't said it twice,'they all thought nervously, quietly falling back into their original positions.
"Now, isn't it nice when everyone's cooperating? Genrysai-Taichou," She turned to the 1st division captain. "You were going to say something?"
Yamamoto nodded his thanks to the dependable 4th division captain. He scanned the ranks of his men, but zeroed in on an empty space on the end of the line."... Where is Zaraki-Taichou?" the old man asked, his voice cracking with irritation.
In his place lay a piece of paper stolen from one of the window shutters. It said;
'Talking made my stomach hurt. Taking a sick leave. Went to the hot springs in real world. Back with Ichigo soon.
11th Division Captain, Zaraki Kenpachi.'
Everyone stared at the piece of paper blankly, unsure of what to make of it. Yamamoto sighed and rubbed his bald head, a habit that he picked up when he's fatigued from doing too much paperwork. Babysitting children was not part of his job description."This meeting is adjourned. Go! Out with the lot of you!" He slammed his staff to the floor, making Hitsugaya jump on his spot. He hated it when the old man did that.
As the captains emptied out of the meeting room, Ukitake whispered conspiratorially to his kimono clad friend. "Shunsui, I'm also going to take a sick leave," Ukitake said with a determined look on his face, smoothing his haori down in preparation to speak to his old sensei.
"Juu-chan, you're so adorable," The 8th division captain cooed and laughed at his friend, twirling his straw hat in the air.
" Shunsui!" Ukitake blushed at the childhood nickname. "Don't make fun of me," he sulked.
"Ukitake-Taichou," Byakuya called out patiently to his former teacher, "You're already on sick leave."
AN: I hope you enjoyed it! I hoped It wasn't bad. /nervous laugh
Yes, Komamura - Hitsugaya is adorable ...please don't throw things at me! /ducks
Please don't be shy, review! Author loves reviews, even bad ones =D
Next chapter: The cat, the cat! don't forget the cat!