Toshiro's Choice

Toshiro returned to his barracks that night. He entered the office but found no one else around. Most likely Rangiku was still at Squad Five partying. But he didn't concern himself with others at the moment, he instead thought more about his own predicament. He walked over and sat behind his desk, trying to make sense of this whole situation.

But then he was distracted by the sudden sounds of raised voices. He glanced over his shoulder to see Rangiku still in her bathing suit leaning on Captain Hisagi.

"Hey Captain." Rangiku slurred." Shuhei was nice enough to walk me back isn't that great?"

"Yea spectacular." Said Toshiro trying to sound as normal as he could, but his voice was very glum. Both Shuhei and Rangiku noticed this as well as Toshiro himself. So Toshiro jumped out of his chair and headed out into the courtyard.

Rangiku watched Toshiro as he headed outside and even in her drunken state she knew something was bothering him. She pushed off Hisagi and stumbled off after her Captain.

Toshiro stood outside in the courtyard and listened to the sound of the night. The moon was high in the sky and a soft breeze blew around him. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to make sense of everything.

"Captain." Came a voice from behind him. He turned around and saw Rangiku stumble outside and lean against the wall, straightening herself out and looking at him." Are you alright?" she asked. And Toshiro wanted to talk to her and get her opinion on this matter. But he couldn't, the Head-Captain had ordered him against it. "What is it?" she asked noticing the intense look in his eyes.

"It's nothing." He replied. She moved forward and tried to say more but he turned and walked away." I'm going to bed." And even though he tried that night he could not get any sleep. He assumed at some point the surprise factor would die down and he could act like a functional being, but that didn't happen. And this pent up surprise kept him up all night.

Toshiro could speak of this matter with no one, and that was bad. He was never one for public affections or warm and fuzzy moments, but now more than ever he needed someone to talk to. He couldn't talk to Rangiku or Sajin on the subject but there must be someone.

And he found that person at Squad Four, it's Captain no less. Unohana was a very motherly figure and could maybe help put his young troubled mind to rest.

"I don't understand it." He told her." I-I can't fathom in a million years why'd he'd pick me."

"I'm sure it would be confusing for anyone who was bestowed this honor." She answered.

"An honor?" questioned Toshiro.

"It's a long story." Said Unohanna." In order to understand it, you have to understand the Head-Captain." Toshiro looked across at her and listened intently." 2,000 years ago there was no Gotei 13, all there was ,was chaos. There was an imbalance of Souls with no one to control them they simply wondered aimlessly. The Quincy's exterminated them while the Soul Reapers of that time carried them off to the afterlife. And it was because of this that there was a war. The Quincy's had their army and we had our, led by the wisest and strongest of the Soul Reapers ever."

"The Head-Captain?" Toshiro said. Unohanna nodded before continuing.

"He was just Yamamoto to us back then. He rallied the Soul Reapers and founded and an organization meant to keep the order of the universe. In the aftermath of the war we emerged triumphant."

"How do you know all this?" asked Toshiro. Unohanna turned and looked at him plainly.

"I was there." she answered." Thought I was much different than I am now." She continued on before Toshiro could ask more."But it did not stop there. The name of the Gotei 13 and it's Leader was so well known that the Soul King tried to employee us as his personal guard but Yamamoto refused and instead led the Gotei 13 as it's General. He made rules and regulations we were all to abide by. The Hierarchy of the Soul Society was built with himself at the top, and for good reason. He knew how to inspire us, get the best out of us. There were others who thought they could do his job, but he was the only one who really could."

"That's exactly it." Said Toshiro stopping her." I'm no great warrior. I can't compare to the level of the Head-Captain."

"Have you not been listening to me Toshiro? It all makes sense if you think about it." Toshiro looked at her confused." You are young now, younger than any other Captain in history which is an accomplishment of itself. And despite this you work as diligently and loyally as the rest of us. Yamamoto was like that too in the beginning, he was a young man against the world." She looked down at Toshiro and made sure to made eye contact with him." The Head-Captain sees himself in you." Toshiro was visibly shocked and fell silent for a few moments.

"Me?" he asked." He sees himself in me?" Unohanna nodded.

"And that's why he wants you to continue his legacy and lead the Gotei 13 after he is gone."

"I don't want to lead them." He answered quickly.

"Neither did he." She said." We don't always have a choice." Toshiro stood up and turned to the door.

"We always have a choice." He said to her over his shoulder as he left.

The day continued on and while everyone went about with their ordinary task Toshiro could not. He sat atop the rood of his barracks getting a survey of everything.

Everybody had a job in the Soul Society. As Captain it was the overall security of the Soul Society, which Toshiro thought as an ordinary Captain he performed that job. He was involved against Aizen and his Espada and he led the way against the Quincy's but this, what was going on now was much harder than any fight he'd been involved in.

He protected the Soul Society. The Head-Captain was charged not only with that charge but with the overall success of the Gotei 13. He hand-picked every member to enter the Gotei 13 from Captains down to the lowest seat. And if he thought paper-work now was a pain, the Head-Captain had that tenfold. And when it came to strength Toshiro couldn't even compare. Yamamoto was that strong after years and years of war, he had more fighting experience that Toshiro would ever know. He was one Toshiro could never compare with, there was no way he could do this.

Toshiro looked up and saw the sun setting. It he'd had a whole day to think this over and he knew Yamamoto was waiting for his reply. And he thought it best to not waste his time. His decision was made.

So he jumped off the roof and began making his way to the First Squad Barracks.

Toshiro walked into the Head-Captain's office and stood before the same group as before. Yamamoto behind his desk, Sasakibe to his right, Unohanna to his far right, and finally Shunsui and Ukitake on his far left.

"I have made my choice." Said Toshiro.

"And?" asked Yamamoto. Toshiro took a deep breath.

"I am not a great exception amongst the Captains." Said Toshiro." I excel in neither fighting skill, kido, or knowledge. I have only ever done my duty as a Captain of the Gotei 13." He fell silent once again. Everyone stood back looking visible saddened that Toshiro would refuse, except for Yamamoto. Toshiro looked across the room at him. Even in the face of disappointment he showed no emotion, something Toshiro could never understand. Here was Yamamoto and his staff was putting their trust in him, to protect the legacy of the Soul Society long after they are gone. He could not let them down." And I do so just now." He continued. He dropped to one knee." I will do what I must to protect the Gotei 13."

Yamamoto smiled under his beard while the other's cheered. Unohanna clapped her hands while Shunsui and Ukitake picked Toshiro up.

"Well done my boy!" said Shunsui waving his hat around before placing it on Toshiro's head. Yamamoto made his way over to them, the Captains quickly moving out of his way.

"Are you willing to learn what I takes to make a great leader?" asked Yamamoto.

"Yes, sir." Answered Toshiro.

"Be warned. It takes more than sheer strength and will to hold this position, although those are both skills you will learn. Your entire being both body and soul will tested to its limits in this Ultimate Trial. If you thought that your duties as Captain were troublesome they will increased a hundred fold should you take mine. With this knowledge are you still ready to undertake this challenge?" Everyone turned to Toshiro.

"I cannot be swayed." He answered." You put both your faith and trust in me to undergo this. Not only that but all the others will look to me for answers." Yamamoto nodded.

"An excellent trait Captain Hitsuguya." He said as he began walking past him." Take the rest of the night off. For tomorrow your training begins in earnest."