Fitting In
The following morning at Squad Three, Izuru had just come in for the morning.
"Lieutenant." Called out one of the Squad members. Izuru turned to his right to see an aggravated looking soul reaper walking towards him." I want to talk with you!" The man stood before him and crossed his arms angrily.
"What is it, I can do for you?" asked Izuru calmly.
"I just got back from a job. Do you know what that was?" he asked sounding testy.
"I haven't the fainted idea." Replied Izuru with a shake of his head and a slight swing of his arms.
"I had to clean Squad Seven's bathrooms." Replied the man." That was unpleasant!"
"You think you've got it bad." Said another voice. Izuru looked over to see another Soul Reaper walking towards them." I've become Squad Eight's errand boy."
"Well what about me." Said another man as he approached." I got stuck with doing Squad Six's laundry." Izuru stood back as more and more people began to crowd around him, all complaining and yelling in his ear one after the other about their odd jobs. It was very suffocating.
"Why's the Captain got us running around on this stupid errands?" asked one man.
"Maybe he doesn't know what we do here." Spoke another.
"Gentleman, Gentleman." Said Izuru waving his arms, both to attract the crowd's attention and to calm them down." This isn't as bad as it seems."
"Not as bad?" said one man." If this keeps up we'll be the laughing stock of all the Squads."
"Even more than squad four."
"You take that back." Izuru said.
"All we're saying is." Said one man." There needs to be some change around here, starting with the man at the top." He looked around but noticed that everyone had become silent and looking at him with wide-eyes.
Then the man turned around to see his new Captain looking up at him. The man quickly became frozen in his place.
"Good morning everyone." Bansui said to everyone with a smile as if he'd heard nothing. The Squad however was all silent still looking at him bug-eyed." Is something the matter?" he asked stepping forward." Your all looking at me funny." The squad was silent even Izuru, until he was pushed forward.
The Lieutenant stumbled forward but eventually caught himself and straightened out.
"Um Captain." He said getting the man in question to look over at him." There is a pressing question among the Squad."
"And what is that?"
"Well um.." Izuru took a moment to paused as he scratched his head nervously. Looking around he saw that nobody was willing to jump in and help him on this, much to his displeasure." The Squad wants to know why we've been getting these strange assignments."
"I see what you're asking." Said Bansui, then he turned and faced the Squad." I know this might be tedious for you all but there is a method to my madness. I'm running things different from what your used to but it's all because I'm new to the position. And that's precisely the reason why I have you do these tasks." The Squad murmured amongst themselves confused." By doing these jobs it allows the other Captains to know that I'm a good guy to have around, gets me and the Squad on their good side." The Squad murmured some more only this time more positive." Why I bet right now some of the Captains are talking about my deeds."
The Squad Eleven Barracks.
"The motherfucker!" exclaimed Soifon. Then she kicked the wall.
"You're talking this much too personal." Commented Toshiro. It hadn't been too long since they'd learned Bansui's ability and since then they'd kept it between the three of them, but now that keg was ready to blow.
"An Illusion type?!" asked Kenpachi.
"Yep." Said Toshiro." That's what the book says."
"I think I'll go pay our new friend a little visit." Said Kenpachi as he exited the room. Toshiro and Soifon both stood in opposite ends of the doorway after his leaving.
"You think it's such a good idea?" Toshiro asked pointing in the direction he just left." For him to go out like that." Soifon looked at where Kenpachi was going then back to Toshiro.
"Yea." She said." It'll be fine." In actuality she knew it probably wouldn't be.
Kenpachi all the while marched from his barracks and to the Squad three barracks.
The third squad at that time was very busy, running here and there helping their new Captain get comfortable. He didn't want to be a bother but he had a nice charisma about him that the squad liked.
Kenpachi marched up to the gates of the barracks and pounded on the door. It was answered by the Lieutenant.
"Captain Zaraki." He said somewhat shocked." What are you-" But Kenpachi wouldn't let him finish and grabbed him by his collar and lifted him up.
"Where's your Captain?" he asked in a dark voice.
At that time Bansui was in his new office. He along with several other members of the squad were helping move some furniture around.
"One, two, three." Said Bansui as they lifted his desk up and began moving." Little more, little more. THERE." He said in panted breaths as they moved the desk over to the window." There we are." He said running his hand along his face." Now we're all set." Then he turned to his squad members." Thank you gentlemen."
"You're welcome Captain." They said.
"Now if you don't mind-" but Bansui stopped as there was a knock at the door." Come in."
"Captain." Said Izuru as his head popped into view." Captain Zar-" But then Izuru flew through the door and it flung wide open, revealing Kenpachi to be standing there.
"Captain Zaraki Squad Eleven." He said walking in. Bansui's squad members stood back frightened but Bansui stood there smiling hands on his hips, despite the fear his division felt." And I need to have a talk with you." Said Kenpachi standing over the new Captain.
"Good." He replied." I'm glad you dropped by. I'm sorry I didn't come by to meet you sooner but I've been busy with the moving in process." Then he reached around his hand at a small stand where a tray of fruit was." Fruit?" he asked extending the bowl to him. But then Kenpachi hit the bowl out of his hand and onto the floor." Heh." He chuckled nervously." Right, you look much more like a meat man." Said Bansui rubbing his hand.
"I've come here to talk." Said Kenpachi ."About your ability."
"My ability?"
"Your sword's abilities." Bansui nodded." We've had some trouble in the past with a captain of similar abilities." He said as he hovered over Bansui." So needless to say it'll be hard to learn to trust you." Bansui put his hand up.
"I understand ." he said." But have no fear, my loyalty to the Gotei 13 is unshakeable."
Kenpachi went silent but spoke again." Fine then. But know I'll be watching you. And if we get invaded or anybody dies it's your ass." He said pointing a finger in Bansui's face before leaving.
Meanwhile Toshiro was returning to his own barracks. But on his way back he found himself traveling by the Squad Five barracks. He'd not been there in some time to visit Momo and both of them had been so busy lately that they didn't have any time to catch up. So Toshiro took the little time he had to spare now to go and see her.
So he walked in, not an unusual act in and of itself he'd always been welcome there before , it's just it had been such a long time since his last visit that many watched on curiously as he made his way across the courtyard.
It felt strange with all those eyes on him but then his attention was called to a voice crying out to him." SHIRO! SHIRO!" He looked over to see Momo just in time before she tripped and fell on him.
"You've got to be joking." Toshiro grumbled as she was laid out on top of him.
"Sorry Shiro." Momo giggled." I just lost my step."
"Get off me!" Toshiro yelled. Momo quickly scurried off of him.
The two then relocated to the officer's quarters.
"So how have you been getting along here Momo?" asked Toshiro as he leaned on the desk.
"Well everything's been running more smoothly since the war's been over." Replied Momo. She continued on but Toshiro wasn't really listening because he found his mind wandering.
He'd known Momo for a long time and when she was hurt he took it out on himself. He'd visited her every day in the hospital but when she finally woke up and he expressed his feelings for her, she rejected him. Not the proudest moment of his life but he found love in Rangiku after that and he was a changed man. But Momo was hid friend and had been for years and nothing would change that.
"Shiro." Said Momo's voice breaking him from his thoughts." You listening to me?"
"You know." Said Toshiro trying to look and sound as casual as possible. He strummed his fingers on the desk and kept his eyes everywhere else. Momo turned to him while he paused. He cleared his voice before continuing." If you'd like you could always transfer to my division." Momo's eyes bugged open at the sound of this." We've already have a lieutenant so you could be the third seat, but I'd make sure you were well looked after. And-"
"Thanks Shiro." She said to him." But I couldn't just leave my division like that, without a leader."
"Oh, o-okay."
"Besides it won't be so bad." She said still smiling." I've heard that their working on getting me a new captain soon."
"Alright." Said Toshiro nodding his head. Then he turned and prepared to walk out but stopped himself as he turned into the doorway. Then he turned back to her." Look um, if you need any help with the paperwork or anything don't hesitate to ask."
"I won't." she replied. Toshiro nodded and then headed out the door. Momo turned and watched him walk off, a quick thought going through her mind.
Toshiro had returned to his barracks sometime later. With what had just happened in was in a bit of a saddened mood. He dragged himself along the floor and then over to the couch. Once he was there he turned over and slammed his body down into it. Then he let out a sigh as he stared at the plain white ceiling and the fan that was pushing air onto his body.
Toshiro let his eyes shut as he calmly felt himself falling into a deep sleep. But then he felt a crushing weight fall onto him, and then he was pinned against the couch. All he could see was darkness, so he squirmed and fidgeted trying to get a look at what or whom was on him. It didn't take him much time to free his vision for only a few seconds to see a pink scarf and strawberry blonde hair on him.
"Get off!" he groaned as he still tried to squirm his way free. He heard a giggle and then he was freed. Toshiro let out a big breath as he finally inhaled some air. Then he bent his head over and into his hands. He heard some more giggling and then looked over to see Rangiku sitting there next to him, legs folded onto the couch resting one elbow on the couch and then her head in that hand." What are you laughing at?" he said to her and then looked away.
"You." She said." You look so cute." Then she reached over and began twirling a finger in his hair. But he grunted and swatted her hand away. She giggled and then persisted and began playing with his hair." So where did you go?"
"I was with Kenpachi and Soifon." Told Toshiro." But on my way back I stopped by Squad Five to check on Momo." Rangiku suddenly stopped playing with his hair and sat back, looking somewhat surprised/offended.
"Why did you stop by there?" she asked. Toshiro raised his brow and cocked his head at her slightly.
"Just to check on her, see how she is doing."
"Is that all? What did you talk about?" Toshiro turned and looked at her fully now, noticing the somewhat prying but concerned look on her face.
"I asked her if she doing fine." Said Toshiro as he clapped his hands together." She said 'Yes'. I offered her a position here-"
"YOU WHAT?!" yelled Rangiku startling Toshiro causing him to fall off the couch.
"I just, I just offered her the third seat's position here." Said Toshiro as he put his arm on the couch and picked himself up." Just so she wouldn't have all the work put on her."
"Why would you do that?! We've already got a third seat's position, you can't go and mess that up. It's like fixing something that isn't broken!" Toshiro shot her a confused look, not knowing where and why he was being yelled at like this.
"She didn't accept it." He quickly said to her." If that means anything to you."
"She didn't?"Rangiku let out a sigh and sat her head back against the couch." Oh that's a relief."
"How so?" Toshiro asked her confused. Rangiku picked up her head and looked at him.
"What does it matter." She said smiling at him." There's just you and me." Then she leaned over and got close to him. But then there came a knock at the door that caused the two to jump up, and then roll over onto the floor.
Sajin then slid the door opened and entered the room to see the Captain and Lieutenant of Squad ten on top of each other.
"Oh." He said straightening out his collar and looking away embarrassed." I'm sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No." groaned Toshiro. Then he lifted up his leg against Rangiku's stomach and pushed her off him." What is it?" he asked sitting up.
"The Head-Captain has called a meeting." Said Sajin." All Captains and Lieutenants are to gather at the Squad One barracks." Toshiro let out a breath of air, pushing the dangling hair before his eyes up before it fell back down.
So the Captains and Lieutenants gathered at Squad One. The Lieutenants took their positions behind their Captains, those who still had no Captains like Shuhei and Momo stood behind a vacant spot.
"Let us begin." Began Yamamoto banging his cane to the ground. The introduction to the meeting was all about Hollow control. In the aftermath of the war, many arrancars had been destroyed but obviously not all of them. But then they moved on to another matter." Recently." Continued Yamamoto." We've been able to fill the Captains position of Squad Three, but we must act soon if we are to fill the others."
"Head-Captain." Spoke up Bansui." If I may be so bold as to speak?" The officers darted their heads over to the New Captain.
"Speak." Yamamoto said.
"Thank you, sir." Said Bansui and then he stepped out and faced the other Captains." I understand I'm new here and I might be speaking out of turn."
"Don't waste our time with that." Said Kenpachi." Get to the point."
"R-Right." Bansui stammered at first." Well this is really the first time I'm meeting all the officers of the Gotei 13. But I must say there is a flaw with our staffing."
"Where are you going with this?" asked Shunsui lifting his hat up.
"Well I'm just saying that maybe we need to rethink our staff." Said Bansui. He turned back and looked at the Head-Captain, who seemed unswayed by his argument." Take Squad Ten for example." He said pointing over to the spot where Toshiro and Rangiku stood." Their Captains is the youngest ever, only a boy." Toshiro's face began to grow red and a vein appeared in his forehead." And his Lieutenant is quite the opposite, an older more experienced woman." Sajin turned over and looked at Rangiku who was standing behind a very angry Toshiro. He looked to her and shrugged his shoulders and she did the same." Perhaps it would be in the best interest of them to move the Captain to a more comfortable environment for his growing up. Squad Five for instance."
So that's what this is about, getting Toshiro to become Captain of Squad Five. The Captains all looked around to each other, each with a similar look on their faces. But the other Captains knew something Bansui didn't, Toshiro and Rangiku's relationship. Moving him was not an option.
Momo stood back quietly, her arms folded waiting on every word. The Head-Captain spoke next.
"Your opinion is noted." He said." But the positions we have filled have performed flawlessly in the past, and it would be futile to move a Captain from one position to another." Then he sat back in his chair. Bansui stood down defeated.
"Thank you for the opportunity to speak." Said Bansui with a bow before stepping back into place.
The meeting continued on after that, Toshiro still annoyed with Bansui's idea and Rangiku keeping him in check the whole time. After some time the meeting ended.
"Why that no good son of a-" Toshiro grumbled.
"Easy Captain." Said Rangiku shuffling him along." Calm down." But Toshiro continued to grunt and groan. She continued to push him along until something caught her attention.
She saw Bansui walking over to Momo. Rangiku stopped pushing Toshiro and then slowly moved over towards them. But when she stopped supporting him, Toshiro flew forward and onto the floor.
Rangiku moved over and stood by the wall close to the two talking.
"We tried Momo." Said Bansui." No one can say we didn't try." Momo must have been upset because all Rangiku heard was a muffled 'Hm-hm'. Rangiku then stood there, trying to figure out what it all meant. But then Bansui and Izuru walked past her, frightening her and causing her to freeze against the wall. Then Momo walked out.
She stopped and looked over to see Rangiku frozen against the wall." Hi, Rangiku." She said." What are you doing?"
"That meeting was so long and boring." Said Omeada as he walked behind Soifon."Couldn't it have just been Captains?"
"Shut up Omeada." Soifon said cocking her head back at him slightly. The two continued to walk down the hall, on the other side of the hall Bansui and Izuru were walking.
"Y-You don't have to be so harsh Captain." Said Omeada.
"I said Shut Up." Said Soifon in a harsher tone. Then she swung her elbow back and hit Omeada in his stomach. The Lieutenant cringed for a moment and held his stomach as he stood there.
"Soifon." Said a voice. She looked over to see Bansui and Izuru approaching her. She was somewhat surprised, all the other Captains called her Soifon and that was okay but the new guy could defiantly NOT." I-"
"Address me by my proper rank." Soifon commanded cutting him off. Bansui stopped short before her and gave a nervous chuckle before continuing.
"Captain Soifon." He said." What has your Lieutenant done there to warrant a hit from you?"
"None of your concern." She replied.
"Well do you think that's necessary? There's no reason to hit your subordinate like that." Omeada picked himself up slightly shocked that someone was sticking up for him like this, but then gave a smile at Bansui.
"Oh?" said Soifon. Then without looking she swung her arm out and punched Omeada on the side of his head, sending him to the ground with a loud groan." You mean like that?" she asked turning back to Bansui with a smile.
But then he quickly lashed out and grabbed her arm." You need some manners!" he exclaimed while holding onto her. This new turn of events caught the attention of all those around.
"Don't you fuckin touch me!" exclaimed Soifon releasing her arm from his grip. Then she stepped several paces back, her body tensed up. Bansui stepped back and his hand slowly reached for his sword as did Soifon's.
The two starred off and prepared to attack. But then before they could do anything Toshiro, Sajin, Byakuya, and Kenpachi were all there to restrain them. Kenpachi standing behind Soifon with his hand on her arm keeping it in place. Sajin behind Bansui holding him down with one arm and Toshiro in front of him holding his arm in place. Byakuya stood in the middle.
"Have some decency." He said." For everyone, not to do this here."
"Step aside." Soifon growled angrily. She made an attempt to move but Kenpachi held her in place. Byakuya cocked his head over his shoulder and saw that the Head-Captain had been aroused by the noise and was coming to investigate.
Byakuya turned and looked to Toshiro, Sajin, and Kenpachi. Then they all shared a similar 'Oh Shit' look on their faces. But then they all flashed a toothy smile at the old man, Sajin adding a wave.
Yamamoto looked over at the group but could only see their backs. He saw six Captains standing together, from what he could hear just talking and laughing nothing to get upset about. Then Yamamoto turned and walked off.
The Captains quickly dropped their false act and each breathed a heavy sigh together.
"Are you going to act sane?" asked Byakuya." Are will you force my hand?" He motioned to his sword. The silence that followed after was unbearable.
Bansui being a reasonable man nodded his head and he was released. Soifon tried putting on a false smile and nodded her head.
"Hold her." Said Byakuya pointing to Soifon, Kenpachi listened and his grip did not falter.
Bansui rolled his shoulders and straightened his coat out. Then he turned and walked off.
"Come Izuru." He said to his Lieutenant. Then Squad Three's officers walked off. Only after they had left did they let Soifon go.
She kicked and jerked immediately upon being released. Then she ran her hands threw her hair. Then she turned and stormed off, Omeada saw her going and quickly followed.
"What a charmer." Said Toshiro after she'd left. But then Kenpachi leaned down and hit him on the back of the head."Oh!" he groaned turning to Kenpachi and rubbing the spot he'd hit.