"Ichigo Kurosaki, we've called you here today for a simple question."
Ichigo gulped and nodded as he stared at the three people sitting across from him. The stoic Sofion who was busy cleaning her Suzumebachi. Tadashi who was covered in bandages from the neck down but was smiling nonetheless. And Byakuya who was also covered in bandages but looked worse than Tadashi.
"Yeah...what about though? The Old Man already told me about my new responsibilities as a Supstitute Shinigami."
Soifon looked up at him, "What a disrespectful boy, I'm suprised he beat you Lord Kuchiki."
Ichigo inwardly grinned at Byakuya's disdainful look, "Please, do not remind me Lady Soifon."
Tadashi laughed, "Oh this is fun!" At the three confused looks he got he grinned nervously, "Well we have an injured Byakuya, a tired Soifon, and the problem child of Soul Society."
Ichigo frowned, "Problem Child..."
Soifon scoughed, "I have a reason to be tired. I've been doing all the work since my Lieutenant has taken that vacation of his. Not to mention that my squad has been moping around because of that."
Byakuya nodded, "Why don't we get down to the meaning of this meeting?"
Tadashi and Soifon nodded, "Might as well."
"Ichigo Kurosaki," They spoke in unison, "answer this question honestly."
Ichigo gulped, sweat forming on his brow and he resisted the urge to grab Zangetsu.
"What are your intentions with my sister?" They spoke in unison once again as Ichigo facefaulted.
"Wha-"
Tadashi frowned, "Well, you came all the way here to save Rukia from execution. Are you telling me that while you were saving her you didn't think about her than more than a friend?"
Ichigo nodded, his cheeks still red, "Of course! I'd do that for any of my friends!"
Soifon grinned, "Really? I won't doubt that but there is something I need to point out." She paused and Ichigo was afraid of what she would think up, "In a way, Rukia opened up a whole new world for you."
Ichigo's eyes widened and his mouth opened to find an answer. Tadashi, Soifon, and Byakuya all waited for an answer but when Ichigo found one he did the only thing he could.
He ran.
Soul Society, in the midst of rebuilding, were forced to start over as two Captains and a Lieutenant chased and attacked a running Substitute Shinigami.
Saburo frowned as he sat on a cloud in his inner world. He was staring at the dark clouds overhead, looking like lightning would strike any time. Ginrairyu was standing next to him but staring at the swaying grass, and the loudness of the ocean crashing against the rocks.
"After that fight, I suspected that the clouds above would be gone. But if anything they are worse than ever."
Saburo sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "My oldest brother tried to kill me, he cut my arm off. If it wasn't for that woman Orihime then I would've died." He sighed again, "Its not everyday that you find out that your oldest brother betrayed Soul Society and killed your father and chased away your mother."
It was silent after that, Ginrairyu sighing before he punched Saburo in the face. Saburo gasped and fell through the cloud, falling headlong into the ocean.
Saburo jumped as of his bed as he was kicked out of his inner world. He growled and screamed inwardly.
Ginrairyu!
Rukia sighed as she watched as Ichigo and Tadashi sparring. Ichigo and Tadashi agreed to only use shikai or unsealed, no kido, and no hakuda. Ichigo was good, but compared to the experienced Tadashi he looked as if he were an amateur. Without Ichigo's large reserves of reiatsu and Tadashi's reluntance to use shikai, they were both even. Her brother had already left, after watching the fight for a minute, to finish some paperwork so only Soifon and she was left.
Soifon frowned at her, "What's wrong, Rukia?"
Rukia gasped and shook her head, "It's nothing, just my thoughts." Rukia smiled as Ichigo dodged a strike from Tadashi, "After all this, I'm glad to see that Ichigo and everyone else have gotten along fine with Seireitei."
Soifon nodded, but it was clear she didn't believe that was what was bothering Rukia. Instead she smiled down at her, "Why don't we go out to eat, like we used to?" Deep down, she thought that would help Rukia.
Rukia frowned, "Just you and me?"
"Nah, us too!" Soifon frowned at Tadashi and Ichigo's disheveled appearance, "Mr. Problem Child here is hungry too."
"Problem Child..."
Rukia smiled and nodded, "Alright then, let's go."
Captain Commander Yamamoto had been through a lot during his time as Captain Commander. He had dealt with the death of many shinigami, Captain and Lieutenants alike. But, in just the past 110 years, he suffered the hardest times. The exile and escape of Kisuke Urahara, Yorucihi Shihoin, and Tessai Tsukabishi, along with the other escaped Captains and Lieutenants that followed him. And now the betrayal of Sosuke Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tosen, and Ichirou Takeshi had crippled Seireitei.
His loyal Lieutenant was out, counting the losses from each squad. The Lieutenant of Squad Three, Five, and Nine were all in the Fourth Division seeing if they were fit to carry on their duties.
He had doubts about Lieutenant Momo Hinamori but Lieutenants Izuru Kira and Shuhei Hisagi should be fine. He had many thoughts, plans, run through his mind on what to do with Squad Five.
He couldn't leave the Fifth Squad Lieutenant-less and Captain-less, but only a few people could fullfil the duty of rebuilding the squad. Out of all the current Lieutenants the only Captain Class was Tadashi Takeshi, who played a major role in the recent event.
He sighed lowly, he'll have to do.
Ichigo growled as a large strawberry with an orange slice next to was placed in front of him. The waitress smiled at him before she walked off to take someone else's order. Soifon frowned in confusion while Tadashi tried to hide his laughter, Rukia didn't even try.
"Ha! Even the waitress thinks you're a strawberry, Strawberry!"
Ichigo's face grew red from anger and he jumped from his seat and stared down at Rukia, "I'm not a strawberry, Midget!"
Soifon chuckled while Tadashi frowned, "Soifon, you're not that much taller you know?"
Tadashi gasped as Soifon's elbow met his gut. He curled into a fetal position and sobbed, and due to that, stopped Ichigo and Rukia's fight.
Ichigo started laughing, "A Captain, Tadashi no less, getting brought to the ground with just one hit?" His laughter filled the restaurant while Rukia just shook her head while smiling.
"Ichigo, it seems you don't understand how Tadashi really works. He can handle any hit from any enemy, but if it's a single tap from Lady Soifon then he'll be crying for hours."
Ichigo's laughter continued to get louder, "I almost feel sorry for the guy!" Rukia sighed as Tadashi straightened up in from his fetal position and glared at Ichigo.
"You're not any better, you handled betting stabbed and cut pretty well but a kick to the shin and your whining."
They were about to argue when a Reversal Counter Force member appeared in a kneeling position next to them. Ichigo and Rukia stopped talking while Soifon refrained from sighing, Tadashi didn't even try to refrain from it.
"Captain Soifon, Lieutenant Takeshi, the Head Captain has requested an audience with you." Tadashi frowned sadly, when the Head Captain requested something, it was more like you will or die.
Soifon nodded and Tadashi stood up, "Thank you, you may leave now." Soifon sighed and stood up as well, preparing to leave, "As you heard we have to leave now, put the bill on Tadashi's tab." She took a few more steps, then looked back as if she remembered something, "And Kurosaki, don't try anything funny." With that said Soifon and Tadashi left the restaurant, leaving a red faced Ichigo and Rukia behind.
The Head Captain looked almost worried as Captain Soifon and Lieutenant Takeshi walked into his office. His trusted Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe was next to him, looking almost as worried as his Captain.
"Are you sure this is safe Captain? I mean, sure his little brother is safe but he just learned that his father was killed and his mother was attacked by his older brother , are we sure that Tadashi can handle the stress?"
The Captain nodded just as the man in question stopped in the middle of the room, along with his Captain, "I have faith in his resolve, I believe he is the only person who can repair the damage in Squad Five." He whispered as to make sure the two others in the room couldn't hear.
"Captain Soifon, Lieutenant Takeshi, I believe you know how delicate our situation is, correct?"
Soifon nodded, "Yes sir, if I may speak freely sir, you did not call us in to talk about the rebuilding of Seireitei as we have already covered that in yesterdays meeting with all the Captains."
The Head Captain nodded, "Perseptive as always, Captain Soifon. The real reason I called you here today was to ask a question. As of now, three Captains have defected and left us in a crippled state. It'd be wise to fill in as many empty slots as possible as to rebuild our strength and morale. Unfortunately we only have one person to fill in one of these slots, and that is why I called you here today."
Soifon inwardly gasped and Tadashi froze, He doesn't mean THAT does he?
"Lieutenant Tadashi, will you become a Captain of Squad Five?"