"Cheers!" The sound of clinking glasses filled the air as a small informal (and impromptu) dinner party took place within the Kurosaki Estate. Aside from Masaki, Isshin, Karin, and Mai Kurosaki, along with Toshiro Hitsugaya, the guests consisted of Rangiku Matsumoto, Nanao Ise, Isane Kotetsu, Kiyone Kotetsu, Sentaro Kotsubaki, Jushiro Ukitake, Kaichou Kurosaki, Shunsui Kyoraku, and Retsu Unohana. Momo Hinamori had been invited but was forced to decline due to her having to run the entire Fifth Division on her own.
"Ah there's nothing like sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying a nice glass of expensive sake. Ain't that right, Isshin?" Shunsui asked.
"It's alright." Isshin said with a smile.
"Alright? Isshin don't you remember those days we spent passed out drunk on this very floor?" Shunsui asked.
"That was before I was married, Shunsui." Isshin said, an arm around Masaki.
"He still looks cool with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, though." Masaki said as Isshin leaned in close to the 8th Division Captain.
"I gave up smoking and alcohol a long ago. I just keep a wooden cigarette around for looks." Isshin whispered.
"Always knew how to look good to the ladies, didn't ya?" Shunsui replied.
"Captain, may I refresh your drink?" Masaki asked Retsu who politely refused. Meanwhile Kaichou noticed Sentaro and Kiyone were bickering with each other in whispers behind her and Jushiro.
"Kotsubaki! Kotetsu! Don't make me come back there." Kaichou warned, silencing the bickering third seats while making Jushiro chuckle in amusement and earning a blush from Isane.
"For a moment there I thought you were talking to me." Isane said bashfully.
"Sorry Lieutenant. Didn't mean for you to get caught in the crossfire there." Kaichou said with a smile and a chuckle.
"I think we just discovered the family dynamics of the Thirteenth Division." Karin said with a smirk.
"Jushiro's the dad, Kaichou's the mom, and Kotsubaki and Kotetsu are the kids?" Shunsui asked, causing Jushiro to laugh while Kaichou smiled while glancing at Jushiro.
"Sounds about right." Kaichou chuckled.
"Does that mean we get ice cream when we get back to the barracks?" Kiyone asked with a cheeky smirk, inspiring laughter from most of those present, save for Toshiro. Rangiku noticed her Captain's lack of amusement, Toshiro having been silent, almost distant, most of the evening.
"What's the matter Captain? You've been gloomy all afternoon." Rangiku said but Toshiro grunted.
"I'm fine, Rangiku." Toshiro groaned, but Karin knew better.
"You know I can tell when you're lying. You start acting like an ice sculpture." Karin said plainly.
"It's not something to bring up at a time like this." Toshiro replied.
"Why not air it out, Hitsugaya? Probably make you feel better." Shunsui suggested, refilling his glass with sake.
"If there's something bothering you, who better to tell it to than your fellow Soul Reapers?" Jushiro asked.
"I'd rather not." Toshiro replied.
"Captain Hitsugaya-." Captain Unohana said, catching the Tenth Division Captain's attention, "-Please tell us what's wrong."
Toshiro sweat dropped fearfully but quickly composed himself.
"Well, if you insist. Since former Captain Kurosaki and I visited Lieutenant Kusajishi in the Penance Cell, and since the Lieutenant recanted her initial admission of guilt, I've attempted to do some of my own investigation into the matter. The day we visited Kusajishi, I attempted to contact Central 46 to receive authorization to examine the evidence against her myself. It took them fifteen days but they finally sent a reply. Fifteen days just to tell me no." Toshiro explained.
"I could've told you they'd say no from the beginning." Kaichou said, unsurprised.
"Although it is strange for them to have waited so long before sending a reply." Jushiro said.
"Not when you consider that midnight tonight ends the thirty day grace period before Lieutenant Kusajishi's sentence can be carried out. I hear they haven't announced a date for her execution yet." Shunsui added.
"What really annoys me is that they've somehow received word of the petition I've been passing around to get Karin reinstated, and they've threatened exile if I follow through and bring the petition before them." Toshiro said with a scowl.
"They would exile you?" Karin asked, surprised, but Toshiro shook his head.
"Not me. You." Toshiro said to Karin who blinked in disbelief.
"Looks like you can cash in on that free mass homicide Captain Zaraki offered you, now." Shunsui said dryly.
"If only Captain Kuchiki or Captain Yamashi would tell us what happened when they arrested Lieutenant Kusajishi. Maybe there might be some new information." Jushiro said before they heard Karin growl.
"Something wrong, Little Karin?" Shunsui asked.
"It's nothing." Karin replied.
"No it's not. Kyoraku mentioned Yamashi. That's what it was." Toshiro said, earning another growl.
"Got a little disdain for Squad Nine's Captain?" Shunsui asked.
"She's never liked him." Isshin replied.
"But she's never given us a reason." Masaki added.
"Haven't any of you ever known someone you've just never liked for no specific reason? That person that rubbed you the wrong way and you had no idea why?" Karin asked. Isshin and Kaichou instantly raised their hands, glaring at each other.
"Siblings don't count." Their hands went down.
"We know what you mean, although I've never really had anyone I've disliked for no apparent reason." Jushiro said.
"That's Jushiro for you. Loves all, loved by all." Shunsui said, taking a sip of sake.
"Didn't you and Captain Yamashi become Captains at virtually the same time?" Unohana asked.
"Yeah we did. Central 46 appointed him the day after I passed my Captain's exam." Karin said, looking towards the ceiling.
"Had you even met him before then?" Toshiro asked.
"No. First time I met him was, a few days after being instated as the Captain of Squad Five. I felt it was a wise idea to at least introduce myself." Karin said as she started to remember…
Squad Nine Barracks,
2 Years Ago…
The newly named (and two months pregnant) Captain Karin Kurosaki, accompanied by her friend and Lieutenant, Momo Hinamori, approached the Barracks for the Ninth Division…
"I still feel like it oughta be you instead of me wearing this, Momo." Karin said, adjusting her Haori. Momo merely smiled.
"I don't mind. Besides, I'm not ready for a Captain's position anyway. I still haven't achieved Bankai and you were a Captain level Soul Reaper by the time your brother killed Captain Aizen. And putting your noble heritage aside, it was inevitable that you got promoted to Captain as quickly as you did." Momo said, not noticing her slip up, but Karin did.
"Even after all these years, you still call that bastard, Aizen, Captain." Karin said, causing Momo to sweat drop.
"I'm sorry, Captain. I didn't mean to-." "Relax, Momo. I know it was just a slip of the tongue. Just be careful who you let hear you say that." Karin said as Momo nodded.
"Yes, Captain." Momo said.
"And you don't have to call me, Captain. We've known each other long enough, I think we can be on first name basis." Karin said with a smile.
"Okay then, Karin." Momo said, smiling back. Soon they reached the Squad Nine Captain's office, Shuhei Hisagi standing outside, looking over some paperwork.
"Hey, Shuhei, is your new Captain in?" Karin asked, the Squad Nine Lieutenant looking up with a smile and a nod.
"Yes, Captain Kurosaki. He's just finished decorating his office and should be taking a tea break." Shuhei replied with a smile and a courteous bow.
"Decorating?" Momo asked.
"You'll see when you get inside." Shuhei said as Karin reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"Here, before I forget. Here's my column for the Seireitei Newsletter." Karin said, handing Shuhei the paper, the latter accepting it with a grateful bow.
"Thank you, Captain. I'll make sure it gets to the Newsletter Office right away." Shuhei said as Karin and Momo started to enter the Captain's Office. Upon entering, they were surprised by the décor. The Office itself was simply laid out. There was a table with two chairs and a couch to the right of the door beneath one of the two large paper windows, a single large couch against the wall to the left, the Captain's desk with two chairs in front of it, and two bookcases on either side of the other paper window, behind the Captain's desk. But the décor, however, easily stood out. Lining the walls were trophy mounts, but on each mount was what appeared to be a sword meant for decorative purposes. There was even one sword in a trophy case on the wall near the Captain's desk.
"Interesting décor." Karin mumbled as she looked around.
"Ah, you must be Captain Kurosaki of Squad Five. An honor to finally meet you. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Captain Takiya Yamashi. Please, come in, sit down, have some tea." Captain Yamashi jovially greeted as he stood up from behind his desk.
"Thank you, but I'll pass on the tea." Karin said as she and Momo approached his desk and sat down, Momo standing behind her Captain, over her left shoulder.
"Very well. I must say, though, it's truly an honor having a member of the great Kurosaki Clan here. Do you prefer to go by Captain Kurosaki or Lady Kurosaki?" Yamashi asked, sitting back down.
"Captain Kurosaki's fine. I've never really been very ladylike." Karin said as Yamashi chuckled in amusement.
"Well it's still an honor having you here. Oh and you as well, Lieutenant Hinamori, I didn't forget about you. I apologize for ignoring you. It was unintentional." Yamashi apologized but Momo merely smiled.
"It's alright, Captain, I didn't mind at all." Momo said.
"You're too kind. So, Captain Kurosaki, how are you adjusting to your new post?" Yamashi asked with a smile.
"It's alright. I'm still getting used to people calling me Captain. I'm used to them calling me Lieutenant. But I'll adjust. I've only had the position for a little over a week. You?" Karin asked. Yamashi merely shrugged and leaned back in his chair.
"It's a new experience all together. I'm used to leading expedition teams into Hueco Mundo after the fall of Los Noches. That's probably how I got noticed by Central 46. Of course you know all about the fall of Los Noches, the leader of your Clan being instrumental in its fall." Yamashi said, Karin nodding.
"I wasn't there, but I have…friends who were." Karin said, hesitating to mention the Arrancar.
"Speaking of which, I haven't heard anything of Captain Ichigo Kurosaki's activities since he killed Sosuke Aizen, and that was twenty years ago this year." Yamashi said, leaning forward curiously.
"All I know is that he's living a happy life in the World of the Living. I don't know many of the details. I haven't been there to know them." Karin replied. Something about Yamashi made her suspicious. She couldn't tell why, but she decided to follow her instincts and not reveal much to him.
"Ah of course. I imagine he would prefer his privacy. Paparazzi can be such hassle. I should know, I command the division that deals with the Seireitei Newsletter after all." Yamashi laughed, but Karin remained silent, glancing around the room at all the swords. Being in the office was giving her an untold sense of foreboding, the swords making the office feel like being inside the fanged maw of a massive beast ready to consume them.
"May I ask you a question that has no bearing on the current subject whatsoever?" Karin asked, still looking around at the swords.
"Certainly." Yamashi said, taking a sip of tea.
"What's with all the swords? Are they real or-…" Karin said before she spotted something. It was three swords, all on one mount, and all three of them eerily familiar to her. As she focused on them, she was able to make out their design. They were each in the shape of an ordinary katana except they each had a skull shaped guard, making it appear as if the blade was emerging from the skull's open mouth, but with different colored hilts, one blue, one red, and one green. The three swords resembled, to a tee, the Zanpakuto once wielded by the Skullini triplets, three brothers who served Aizen prior to his death twenty years ago. Karin, Toshiro, and Byakuya had each been the ones to put the triplets down.
"No-no. They're replicas of actual Zanpakuto. They're just for display purposes. I'm something of an enthusiast." Yamashi said, standing up, grabbing a random sword off the wall, holding it sideways, the broadside facing him, and then tapping it hard on the corner of the desk, causing the blade to break in two where the blade hit the corner.
"Whoa!" Momo yelped as she saw the blade break.
"See? Mere replicas." Yamashi said with a smile, putting both pieces of the broken blade on his desk.
"Replicas of actual Zanpakuto?" Karin asked curiously.
"Yes. For instance, this over here is one of my most prized reproductions." Yamashi said, walking over to the sword in the display case. As Momo and Karin approached, Momo recognized it.
"Wait, isn't that-." Momo said as Yamashi nodded.
"A replica of Suzumushi, the Zanpakuto wielded by Kaname Tosen. My dream, however, is to one day add a replica of Kyoka Suigetsu, Aizen's Zanpakuto, to my collection. But unfortunately I don't have any idea of what the blade looked like and the actual remains of the Zanpakuto was hidden away on General Yamamoto's orders and since Central 46 cannot dispute an order made prior to their reformation, I suspect we'll never see that sword again." Yamashi said as Karin absently rubbed her chest where a twenty year old scar across her chest remained.
"Good riddance. The one time I ever got cut by that blade, it nearly killed me." Karin said as Yamashi bowed humbly.
"I apologize, Captain Kurosaki. I did not mean to remind you of that." Yamashi said as Karin's sense of foreboding finally reached a point that she was uncomfortable.
"I know that. I need to return to my duties however like you do yours. I'll be leaving now." Karin said as she walked to the door.
"I understand, Captain Kurosaki. Please do not hesitate to drop by again sometime." Yamashi said with another bow. As Karin walked to the door, Momo behind her, she began recognizing more of the blades in the room, most of them were blades she didn't recognize but some of them were replicas of the Zanpakuto wielded by Aizen's new Espada, the ones formed from a number of Soul Reapers that had betrayed the Soul Society twenty years ago. The only ones missing were Hanashiro's Kuroseika, Neko's Yamaneko, and Hassha Hoshi, the Zanpakuto wielded by Major Morrison of the Royal Guard. Gin Ichimaru's Shinso was also missing.
"Something wrong, Captain?" Momo asked after a few minutes of silent walking.
"It's nothing, Momo." Karin replied.
"At least, I hope it's nothing."
Back in the present…
"So the man's a connoisseur of different weaponry. Nothing wrong with that is there?" Shunsui asked but Karin shrugged.
"I just dunno. Being around him gives me this funny feeling." Karin said, taking a sip of tea.
"Let me ask this. Who did not sign the petition to get you reinstated?" Kaichou asked curiously.
"Captains Kurotsuchi, Kuchiki, and General Yamamoto. Kurotsuchi didn't care either way, Kuchiki didn't give a reason and I hadn't even approached Yamamoto before Central 46 threatened me to stop. What does that have to do with Yamashi?" Toshiro said, surprising Kaichou with his answer.
"I had a theory but it got blown out of the water when you listed off who didn't sign, unless Yamashi didn't sign it and you forgot to mention him." Kaichou said but Toshiro shook his head.
"No, he signed. I watched him do it." Toshiro said, puzzling Kaichou.
"Hmm."
"Something up?" Karin asked, curious as to what her Aunt was thinking.
"It's nothing. Just some wild assumption I had made. Forget I said anything." Kaichou said, taking a drink of sake. Karin nodded, picking up her drink.
"Yeah let's just forget this whole conversation. I've been enjoying myself this past month and to be honest, it's been kinda nice. Not having to worry about the Squad, spending some quality time with my daughter and my future husband as well as my friends. Being temporarily dismissed has been good for me. It gave me a chance to relax for a while. Sure I want to eventually regain my command, but for the moment, I'm in no hurry." Karin said.
"Sounded like a toast to me." Shunsui said, refilling his glass.
"Haven't you had enough, Captain?" Nanao asked, pushing up her glasses.
"You can never have enough sake, Little Nanao." Shunsui said before suddenly noticing the sake bottles had mysteriously vanished from in front of him and reappeared in front of Masaki.
"Have you had enough, Captain Kyoraku?" Masaki asked with a polite smile. Shunsui sweat dropped nervously before smiling and nodding. She had somehow inherited Captain Unohana's ability to instill great fear while wearing a polite smile on her face.
"I think I'm wasted enough." He said with a nervous chuckle.
"Yeah, let's all just-." Isshin said before he paused at the sound of what sounded like someone hammering on a wooden plank. Everyone's eyes widened at the sound of the hammering since they all knew what it meant. Soon they heard a guard shouting in the distance.
"Alert! Ryoka have been sighted in the Rukongai Districts! Repeat! Ryoka have infiltrated the Soul Society!"
End Chapter 39.
Soul Reaper Illustrated Guide.
"In life, I protected the spirits of the living. But now in death, I shall continue to protect them from the bad spirits! For I, Don Kanonji, the Spirit Hunter have become Don Kanonji, the Soul REAPER! BWAH-HA-HA-HA-GACKT!" Don Kanonji monologued before a soccer ball suddenly slammed into his face. Before him was a row of Fifth Division Soul Reapers, each with a soccer ball on the ground in front of them. Karin was standing nearby in a yellow jersey with black highlights and the number five on her back and a whistle around her neck.
"Alright, if we're gonna beat the Tenth Division in next week's Inter-Division soccer match we're gonna need to be able to actually get the ball into the goal! Today's exercise: Practice Shootouts!" Karin announced before blowing into her whistle. Instantly Kanonji was barraged with soccer balls.
"Um, Captain, I thought we were going to use dummy goalies for this exercise." Momo said curiously.
"Oh we are. Believe me, we are." Karin said, a devilish grin on her face as she watched Kanonji continue to be buried in soccer balls.
End.