Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach however the plot and the OCs are mine
Chapter Five - The Truth Comes Out
The new Captain of Squad Ten, Toushirou Kurosaki, was sitting at the desk in his new office, completely surrounded by paperwork. His vice-captain Kin Soma was sitting at her own desk, absorbed by the papers that were in front of her. A momentary flash of memory. . . a situation eerily similar to this.
"You know," Shiro said, glancing over to Kin. "Every time I sit down to do paperwork I get the strangest sense of deja vu."
Kin smiled at her new superior officer. "I would imagine so."
"The up side however is that I already know how to do all of this," Shiro said as he placed his signature at the bottom of the last form.
"That has GOT to be some kind of record," Kin exclaimed as she watched Shiro gather up the papers and organize them neatly. "Even Captain Hitsugaya couldn't do that much paperwork that quickly and I thought he was the master."
"What can I say?" Shiro asked with a shrug of his shoulders as he stood up and stretched his arms up over his head. "I'm just that good."
Kin laughed. "And so modest too."
Shiro turned his head slightly to the side, in the direction of his vice-captain, and offered her a devilish grin. "I have many good qualities however modesty is not one of them."
"Isn't that the truth," a third voice called out cheerfully, joining in the conversation.
Shiro's gaze went to the door and the young boy smiled as his blue-green eyes focused on Hinamori. "Hey Momo. So what brings you to Squad Ten?"
"I have a request to make Shiro-chan," Hinamori said as she walked across the room and pulled the young captain into a tight hug.
"Oh yea," Shiro said as he returned the hug and then pulled away. "And what might that be?"
"I have something that I need to do tomorrow and I was wondering if you could teach my classes."
Shiro's eyes widened in surprise as he heard this request. "You're kidding right Momo? I don't have any experience teaching."
"No," Hinamori agreed, her chocolate colored eyes locked onto the young captain who so resembled her deceased childhood friend. "But you've always been a natural at kidou and I've seen some of the moves that you've taught Kaien and Masaki. I really think that you can do this and I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't think you were capable."
Shiro's heart began to beat more rapidly when Hinamori mentioned Kaien and Masaki. No one was supposed to know that he was teaching his siblings how to harness their reiatsu and use kidou. "Alright Momo, you win. I'll teach your classes if you promise not to tell Dad that I've been teaching Kaien and Masaki kidou moves. I really don't think that he'd appreciate it."
"Deal," Hinamori said quickly. She pulled Shiro into another embrace before she turned and made her way toward the door, a broad smile on her face.
"I can't believe I let her manipulate me like that," Shiro muttered as the door slid closed behind Hinamori.
"I can't believe that Momo actually black-mailed you," Kin said as she came to stand beside her captain. "I didn't think she had it in her and I must admit that I'm somewhat proud of her. And you should know better than to do something that you can get black-mailed over Captain Shiro."
"Oh shut up," Shiro snapped, briefly channeling Captain Hitsugaya.
The next day Shiro woke early and made his way to the office. Kin was already there and the young captain informed her that she would be in charge of their squad for the day since he was playing substitute teacher for Hinamori.
"Don't worry Captain," Kin said with a smile. "I'll make sure that nothing falls apart while you're gone. Have fun at school and play nice with the other kids."
Kin laughed at her own advice and Shiro shook his head. "Oh yea, laugh it up."
"You'd better get a move on Captain Shiro or else you're going to be late for class," Kin said, gently shoving him toward the door.
"So?" Shiro said as he allowed her to push him toward the office door. "I'm the teacher. What are they going to do, give me detention?"
"If any of them are still around from your days in the Academy they just might."
Shiro wanted to say something about that particular comment however deep inside he knew that her words had at least a small amount of truth so he chose to hold his tongue. Waving good-bye to his second in command the young captain left the office and began the familiar and yet long avoided trek to the Academy. Students were milling about outside but as Shiro walked past they all stopped what they were doing so that they could stare at him.
What was a captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads doing at the Academy?
"Come on Kasumi-chan!" Rumi called out from across the courtyard.
"I'm coming." Quickening her pace Kasumi quickly walked over to the spot where her friend was standing. The two girls were both in the Advanced class and had become fairly good friends. "So are you looking forward to kidou training? We're supposed to learn something new today."
"I know and I can't wait," Rumi said, an excited smile lighting up her face. "Come on before we're late. Hinamori-sensei won't like that."
Privately Kasumi thought that Hinamori was probably a very lenient teacher however she didn't say this to her friend. Instead she led the way down the corridor to the classroom that belonged to Hinamori, pulling Rumi along behind her.
Most of the class was assembled inside however Hinamori-sensei was nowhere to be seen. "I wonder what's going on?" Kasumi thought to herself as she and Rumi took the seats in the back that they always occupied. It was common knowledge among students of the Academy that Hinamori never missed class and she was never late. "This is odd."
At that moment the door of the classroom slid open and who should step over the thresh hold but Shiro. Kasumi's eyes widened in surprise as the young captain walked across the room, coming to a stop in the center. Slowly Shiro turned to face the group of students, the barest hint of a smirk on his face.
Gasps echoed around the room as the female population got a good look at the young man who had just entered the room.
"Look at him," one whispered.
"I know," another added, in the same reverent tone that the first girl had used. "He's absolutely gorgeous."
Jumping to her feet Kasumi hurried over to the spot where Shiro was standing, seized him by the arm and pulled him toward the door. "What are you doing here?" she hissed once the two of them were out of earshot of the other students.
"Well," Shiro said quietly. "I was going to introduce myself to the class before you interrupted me. Momo asked me to teach the class today since she had something else that she needed to do. Don't ask me what cause I don't have a clue. And it's not as though I wanted to do this. She forced me into it."
"You mean you're actually going to teach my class?" Kasumi said in a whisper, her eyes focused on her best friend. She couldn't tell if she liked the idea of him being in charge of her class or not. On the one hand it could be interesting but on the other it could be unbelievably embarrassing.
"It'll be fine," Shiro assured her.
Kasumi didn't look convinced but merely nodded and then made her way back to her chair beside Rumi while Shiro once again walked to the center of the room. Turning to face the group once more Shiro said, "Good morning. My name is Shiro and I'm going to be teaching the class today."
"But aren't you a captain in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?" a boy in the back of the room called out.
"I am," Shiro said, thinking that this fact was obvious due to the haori that he wore emblazoned with the number ten. He kept this thought to himself however. "I agreed to do this as a favor to Hinamori-sensei. Now can someone please tell me what you guys are studying? She neglected to share this information with me when I agreed to do her this favor."
"We were supposed to learn Hado 34 today," Rumi supplied, batting her eyelashes as she gazed at the young captain.
Shiro cringed at the mention of the basic kidou, only one step up from Red Flame Cannon. "That doesn't sound like much fun. Are you guys sure this is the advanced class?" Shiro paused a moment, a thoughtful expression in his blue-green eyes. "I have a better idea, come with me."
There were confused expression on all of the faces in the room save for one however the students all got to their feet and followed Shiro out of the classroom. The young captain led the way out to the training grounds were he commenced to teaching the students something a little more fun than Hado 34.
"I can't believe you taught us that," Kasumi said as she and Shiro walked away from the Academy side by side.
"Oh come on," Shiro said as he flashed her a devilish grin. "You know for a fact that you and your classmates all had a good time so don't even bother to deny it. I could tell by the looks in your eyes."
"It was fun," Kasumi was forced to admit. "But it was way more advanced than the stuff that we're supposed to be studying."
"And yet everyone managed it," Shiro said, not really seeing what the problem was. "Guess that means that you guys aren't being challenged enough. Or else I'm a better teacher than Momo, one or the other."
"Hmm," Kasumi said thoughtfully.
The two walked along in silence and it soon became apparent to Shiro that Kasumi was not leading him toward Squad Ten. Turning to his friend he arched a brow. "Where exactly are we going Kasumi? I was under the impression that you were coming with me back to Squad Ten."
Kasumi shook her head, a determined look in her eyes. "I have to go to the World of the Living and you're coming with me."
"Why do you have to go to the World of the Living?" Shiro wanted to know.
"I have to talk to my dad," Kasumi told him.
"Oh hell no!" Shiro exclaimed, attempting to pull away from her. Having anticipated his actions Kasumi tightened her grip on his hand and refused to release him. "No Kasumi, I do not want to bear witness to this. He's gonna blame me."
"He isn't going to blame you," Kasumi assured her friend.
"I'm a dead man," Shiro muttered as he and Kasumi came to a stop in front of the permanent Senkaimon that was positioned in the center of the Seireitei. Kasumi rolled her eyes in the direction of her best friend as she activated the portal and pulled her reluctant best friend through.
Shiro hadn't been back to Karakura Town since the day of his wake but it didn't appear as though anything had changed. Not that he'd really expected things to change in less than two weeks. The young captain made a move to walk down the street but was immediately pulled to a stop by Kasumi.
"Wrong way," she admonished.
Shiro bowed his head and followed meekly beside Kasumi as she led the way across town to the house that she had until recently shared with her parents. Orihime was standing out in the yard and her face lit up as her gaze fell upon her daughter.
"Kasumi-chan!" she exclaimed as she rushed forward and embraced her daughter in a fierce hug.
"Hey Mom," Kasumi said as she extricated herself from her mother's grasp. "Is Dad around? I need to speak with him."
Orihime glanced at the clothes that her daughter was wearing and immediately knew what Kasumi needed to speak to her father about. She gestured toward the backyard. "He's out in the back, practicing."
Kasumi nodded and began walking toward the fence that enclosed the backyard. She had released her grip on Shiro's hand however her best friend followed along behind her as though he were still being pulled. He didn't want her to face this alone, knowing how hard it was going to be.
Uryu was standing under a tree, dressed all in white and holding a glowing blue bow in his hand. He had his back to the two teens and seemed unaware of their presence.
"Dad. . ."
Uryu turned around at the sound of his daughter's voice and he immediately took in the clothes that she was wearing. Kasumi noticed the slight changes in her dad's facial features and quickly stepped toward him. "I was going to tell you sooner but. . ."
"But my feelings on Shinigami made you scared to," Uryu supplied as he gazed down at his daughter. His gaze was loving and he reached out and tenderly ran a hand through his daughter's silky hair. "I've known since the day of the wake that you joined the Academy and I want you to know that whatever you decide to do is fine by me. I won't love you any less if you become a Shinigami."
Amazed that he had known the entire time Kasumi nodded and rushed forward to embrace her father. "I love you Dad."
"I love you too Kasumi-chan," Uryu murmured as he held his daughter.
"Oh hey Dad," Kasumi said as she pulled away from her dad's embrace. "I wanted to talk to you about something else. I seem to have kept my Quincy powers even though I died and seem to have attained the powers of a Shinigami."
"Is that right?" Uryu asked, gazing at his daughter in amazement. He'd always known that his daughter was special but this took things to a whole new level. "I've never heard of that happening before. That's truly amazing."
Kasumi nodded, slightly disappointed that her father wouldn't be able to help her understand the strange being that she had turned in to. But at least he understood why she had decided to enter the Shinigami Academy and wasn't angry at her for her decision.
Shiro was relieved that Uryu wasn't angry about the fact that his daughter had joined the Academy and was beginning to relax. Maybe his life wasn't going to end today after all.
"Toushirou!"
Shiro jumped at the sound of his full name being shouted and he turned toward Uryu nervously.
"So how does it feel to be a captain?" Uryu asked, completely shocking the young man with the question.
"Weird," Shiro replied once he had recovered from the shock.
"See Shiro-chan," Kasumi said as the two teenaged Shinigami stood in front of the Senkaimon that the Squad Ten Captain had summoned to take them back to Soul Society. "I told you that everything was going to be okay."
"Well forgive me for being pessimistic," Shiro said as he stepped through the portal. "But your dad has threatened my life over you more than once and I just knew that he was going to blame me."
"I can't believe he knew the whole time," Kasumi commented.
"I think that worked out to our advantage," Shiro said. "He got used to the idea before we saw him."
Kasumi chuckled softly. "Maybe."
A/N - and thus ends another chapter. Uryu knows about his daughter and he didn't go ballistic. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review and share your thoughts. Til next time this is Hitsu-taichou signing out.