Difficult Responsibility
The first thing Rangiku learned about Squad One was that it was much different than Squad Ten. Squad Ten could be relaxed and carefree while Squad One was supposed to set the example. Where even the lowest member was a role model for even the officers of other divisions.
Her Captain/Boyfriend Toshiro made the switch very easily wearing the white cloak of Squad One proudly along with a new hairdo. Lieutenant Chojiro having been in the division for over 200 years was a natural, but Rangiku was something different.
Because she was also Lieutenant she and Chojiro shared an office together, where they attempted work. She didn't mind although she more than once had wished for her own space.
It was a small room fit with two desks and chairs facing each other.
On the left was Chojiro having everything neat and proper, books and papers stacked in alphabetical order. His desk had nothing on it except himself when he sat there. His chair was of standard issue. The only special thing he allowed himself was a desk nearby with a tea set on it.
On the right was Rangiku who was the opposite. She had a customized rocking chair with a cushioned seat and rolling wheels/ Her desk was littered with pictures of her and Toshiro, candles, a vase with a flower in it. Her papers were loosely piled all around the room. She kept various bottles of alcohol not only on the cart nearby but in and around her desk.
Chojiro sat diligently at attention while he signed off on yet another document. Rangiku was slouched in her chair, resting her head on the desk.
"Hey Chojiro." She called to him from across the short distance.
"Yes Lieutenant Matsumoto." He replied not taking his eyes off his work.
"What's say we take a fifteen minute break and relax?" she reached one hand down into her desk. Chojiro turned his head and looked at the nearby clock.
"It's not even ten in the morning." He replied. "We haven't even been working long enough for a break."
"Well a drink never hurt anyone." She snickered. Chojiro looked up from his desk and watched as Rangiku poured herself a glass.
"My word woman!" he cried out jolting in his seat." What do you think you're doing?"
"Drinking, like I said I was." She smiled putting the bottle down.
"Don't you even think about it." He pointed a finger at her from across the room." We are-"
"We are the same rank." She pulled at the white coat on her shoulders, similar to the one he had." You can't tell me what to do." Chojiro jolted upright in his seat while Rangiku dipped her head back and laughed. "Don't be such a stiff. C'mon have a drink with me." She pulled out a second glass and prepared to pour him one.
"None for me, thank you." He said." If there's any drink for me I'll have tea." He stood up and marched over to the cart, turning and placing the cup on his desk. Then he turned back to grab the pot.
Rangiku smirked as she looked to his back and the empty cup on his desk. She leaned across her desk and across the room to add some kick into Chojiro's tea. As he turned around she flung back across the room and back into her own seat. Chojiro saw her fly back and she laughed the second he looked at her.
"Please tell me you're not intoxicated already." He said.
"Oh I haven't even begun." She laughed taking another drink. Chojiro began pouring himself some tea and Rangiku watched as the tea and alcohol mixed. He was unaware and sat back in his chair looking across the room at Rangiku. "I think I know the perfect woman for you." Rangiku suddenly said allowed. Chojiro jolted up once more and starred at her.
"Beg your pardon?" He asked.
"I think I know the perfect girl for you to hook up with."
"Thank you, but I'll pass."
"Don't be such a stiff." Chojiro rested back in his chair and looked content with himself." You and my Captain are meant for this Division. Your both so serious." She said making a face.
"And you are very care-free."
"Thank you." She responded with a bow of her head. Chojiro smiled at her while he brought his tea to his lips. But the taste of it was bitter and hard." By Jove!" He yelled as he lunged forward and spat it out. Rangiku swung her head back and laughed into the air.
Meanwhile Toshiro was standing on the balcony with his back facing the room. He'd been standing there for nearly an hour. He didn't say anything, he didn't do anything, he just stood there. And now it was starting to worry his two Lieutenants who had walked in on this strange sight.
"Something must be bothering him greatly." Said Sasakibe.
"No ya think!" Rangiku replied. "We should do something. I've never seen him so shaken up." So she took a cautious step forward with Sasakibe right behind her." Toshiro, Captain. Is something bothering you." Toshiro let out a deep sigh. Then he turned and began walking towards them.
"What is it, sir?" asked Sasakibe." What's troubling you?" Toshiro lifted up his hand to reveal to them a piece of paper in his hand. As he walked by them he handed it off to Rangiku. She took it and began reading it aloud as Sasakibe leaned in.
"Dear Captain Hitsuguya you are personally invited to the Soul Palace to meet with his Majesty the Soul King." She read. Then she turned to see Toshiro leaned over his desk, resting his knuckles on it." Well that doesn't sound so bad."
"He wants to talk about my promotion." Toshiro said.
"What's there to talk about?" asked Ranigku walking over to him." You already have it."
"Yes but he" Toshiro pointed to the words 'Soul King' on the paper." Doesn't think I deserve it." He took a few steps forward. For further insult the paper said 'Captain Hitsuguya' not 'General'" He'll want to talk about it and most likely try and get me to resign my position."
"But he can't do that can he?" asked Rangiku. Toshiro was silent so she looked between her Captain and her fellow Lieutenant.
"The Soul King is the one who controls all the Soul Society." Told Sasakibe." He could if we wanted to."
"Or so he likes to think." Toshiro mumbled thinking over what Yamamoto had told him of the Soul King. He himself wasn't looking forward to going or meeting the Zero Division again but he had no choice." Lieutenants." He said turning to them. "I will be taking a short leave of absence. I leave the Division and therefore the entire Gotei 13 in your" He glanced between the two. Rangiku smiled a goofy smile while Sasakibe was stiff and neutral. He shifted his attention from Rangiku to Sasakibe." More than capable hands." Toshiro turned to his desk and grabbed the only thing he'd really need for this mission, his sword. Then he turned and prepared to head out the door.
"Goodbye, Goodbye Toshiro." Rangiku waved." Good luck."
"We'll see you when you get back, sir." Sasakibe said. Toshiro nodded to them and then headed out the door. The two watched as Toshiro's back grew further and further away than vanished as the door closed behind him.
Rangiku kicked her legs and shot her arms all around.
"Party! Party!" she cheered. Just then Sasakibe jumped over and clapped his hand over her mouth. The two tilted their heads over to the door and saw Toshiro's head in the doorway. Rangiku pulled Sasakibe's hand from her face and smiled a toothy smile.
Toshiro rolled his eyes and disappeared behind the door.
Rangiku said nothing this time but she did dance around in the same manner as before. Sasakibe just stood stiff as a pole as she circled around him.
"Are you about finished?" He asked.
"Hardly! This is only the beginning!"
"Beginning of what?"
"Vacation of course."
"What?" He asked turning and facing her.
"Yea a vacation. C'mon even you have to admit we deserve it."
"You haven't even had this position for a half a year." Rangiku went silent for a second.
"Then at least you deserve a vacation." She poked him in the chest." And since!" She turned her back to him and put her index finger in the air." We hold the same rank and are entitled to the same benefits I deserve one too!"
"How very noble of you."
"Thank you." She turned back to him." Wait was that sarcasm, I didn't even know you could do that."
"Look, we're not going anywhere. With the Head-Captain gone you and I are left to run the Division." However the idea of the two being stuck up in the office all day flipping through paper didn't seem as interesting as the idea of kicking back on a beach." Do you understand?" He asked when it seemed he was losing her interest.
"Huh, yea, yea I hear you."
"Good. Then shall we continue."
"Yes, yes." Sasakibe turned and began walking down the hall and Rangiku followed after him. They silently made their way down the hall and arrived at their joined office. Sasakibe opened the door with his arm and stepped aside." Ladies fir-" He turned and looked behind him to see nothing but air.
Rangiku had left the premises. Sasakibe let out a sigh but then walked into the office, preparing to do his work.
Meanwhile at the Soul Palace. The Zero Division now only made up of four members stood around waiting for Toshiro to arrive.
"Does anybody know anything about this cat?" asked Tenjiro." Where he comes from, what he looks like?"
"He was the former Captain of Squad Ten." Said Ichibei." More recently he was promoted to Squad One."
"Squad Ten." Said Tenjiro." No don't remember him. Must have slipped my mind."
"Last time I think a little boy as I charge of Squad Ten." Said Senjumaru.
"Don't think, it was." Corrected Hikifune who had since slimmed down from her plumper self." A foul mouthed little boy. How could a kid like that be promoted to such a high position?!"
"Well you know what they say." Said a fifth voice. The four looked around trying to find the source. Then a man made himself present and stepped into the light for them to see." Practice, Practice, Practice." He was a tall, broad man with a stern face and his white hair in a top knot.
"Who are you?" asked Senjumaru.
"My name is Toshiro Hitsuguya, General of the Gotei 13." The four looked at him shocked." You can call me General, or you can call me sir." He said looking at them, though they still looked confused.
"Have we met?" asked Ichibei looking Toshiro over." You look familiar."
"We have." Toshiro answer." Though I looked much different than the last time we met." The images appeared to everyone of Toshiro as a young boy and then him as he was now.
"Oh so it is you." Said Hikifune." Your that boy."
"A boy no longer." Toshiro said puffing out his chest.
"So you're the cat they got to replace old man Yamamoto?" Tenjiro asked as he walked a circle around Toshiro. Toshiro only moved his head slightly to view him as he walked around his back. When he came around upfront the long toothpick of his mouth nearly poked Toshiro in the face. He casually lifted his head up and redirected it.
"'They' didn't pick me for it." He responded." Yamamoto did himself. And that's Genrayusai Yamamoto to you."
"Oh tough guy." He mocked in Toshiro's face. Neither said anything as they continued to eyeball the other.
"Enough!" Ichibei commanded with a hand on his fellow Zero division member. Tenjiro took a step back." We are not here to judge the Captain." Toshiro grumbled his annoyance at not being called by his proper rank." That is for the Soul King to decide." He took a step forward now and towards Toshiro." He is waiting for you." He pointed up a set of long, dark steps where at the top was a door. Toshiro nodded his thanks and walked away.
Up, up the stairs he went until he came to the door. Then went inside where he met the Soul King.
Meanwhile back in the Soul Society.
Rangiku had skipped work to go out to the bar with her friends. With her was Captain of Squad Nine Shuhei Hisagi, members of Squad Eleven Ikkaku and Yumichika, and Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba. And Rangiku ever the shining example of Squad One's principles of Truth and Innocence was beating her personal record of putting pool balls in her mouth.
"Four!" she cheered with her arms up. And her drunken baboon friends cheered with her. Then in one breath Rangiku spat the balls from her mouth and rewarded herself with a drink as she sat back down. Everyone drank with her and as soon as the cups were down Ikkaku and Iba reopened an old argument.
"Captain Zaraki hands down would beat Captain Kommamura!" Ikkaku yelled.
"No he wouldn't!" yelled Iba.
"Yes he would!"
"No he wouldn't!" Everyone else just sat back and watched as the two argued back and forth. They continued to rant and rage, Iba mentioning how his Captain had both shikai and bankai while Ikkaku's had neither.
"That doesn't mean shit!" Ikkaku yelled.
"But Toshiro would beat both of them!" Rangiku cheered. There was a time when that could be debated. A time when Toshiro's raw strength and power could have been said to be dwarfed by the larger men. But even though none here had seen their new Commander's powers in full-form none could deny he was powerful.
Shuhei uninterested in this topic turned his attention to Rangiku.
"How'd you manage to get out today?" he asked.
"Captain's gone out on business." Rangiku answered with a hiccup." Leaving me and Chojiro in charge."
"You in charge?" questioned Iba dropping the argument for the time being. Rangiku nodded violently.
"You go girl!" Yumichika hollered.
"And I think you're doing a great job Rangiku." Shuhei added." Nobody could have done it better."
"Sasakibe." Ikkaku spoke up." I can't stand that guy." Everyone turned and looked at him." What's that prick do all day?"
"He does his work." Rangiku swirled her cup in her hands." That's about it." She drank from it.
"That's all I've heard to." Added Shuhei." The guy's never participated in any real battle we've fought in."
"I can't imagine how you feel stuck in that gasty old building with your Captain and that prude." Yumichika added.
"Oh its not all bad." Said Rangiku taking another drink.
"I'd want to fight him on day." Ikkaku said." To test myself against a Lieutenant, see if he's really all he's cracked up to be."
"Rangiku." Said a cold voice from behind her. Rangiku slowly turned her head around to see Sasakibe standing there.
"Oh hey there guy." She said nervously." What are you doing here?" She reached out and grabbed onto the end of his coat." Sit down, join us." Sasakibe kept his face of neutrality and spoke.
"I've received word that the Head-Captain is on his way back." He spoke with indifference." I'd suggest you come with me." Rangiku blew on her tongue, she knew he was right.
"Okay, okay." She said setting her glass down." Fun's over." She slammed one hand on the table and pushed off to her feet. But failed and landed right back on the ground. When she looked up there was Sasakibe with his hand extended to her." Thank you." She said taking it and he pulled her to her feet.
"Good evening Captain." Sasakibe addressed Shuhei." Lieutenant." He regarded Iba." Gentlemen." He said to the others. Then he turned and walked out the door.
"See you on the far side." Rangiku slurred with a dramatic wave that nearly took her off her feet. Sasakibe waited for her outside and she stumbled after him soon enough and made a left.
"The Division's this way." He called to her.
"I knew that." She swung her leg around, forcing her body to go with it." I wanted to take the scenic route."
Meanwhile back in the Soul Palace.
The division were loitering around outside the Soul King's room. He and Toshiro and been in there for some time and the group found the silence boring.
But then it was suddenly broken as the doors flung open and Toshiro himself jump out, a gust of cold wing a snow coming with him. The room behind him covered in ice and a thick rain of hail. He stomped down the steps making his way past the Zero Division members.
Hikifune and Senjumaru rose up to meet him. But before they could get a word out or even rise to their full heights Toshiro moved them aside.
"Out of my way!" He yelled as he did. He continued walking moving right past Tenjiro. He didn't acknowledge the tall, lanky man at first. But then halted his course and took a few steps back to meet him eye to eye." And by the way." He said into the man's face. Then without another word he reared his arm back and punched the royal guard member in the chin. One punch and he was out cold. With anger on his face but grim satisfaction in his heart Toshiro turned and walked away. Ichibei took a step over Tenjiro and watched Toshiro walked off with his arms crossed.
"Goodbye now!" He waved to the retreating figure." Come back and visit us."
Meanwhile Sasakibe and Rangiku had returned to their barracks. The trip took longer than expected since Rangiku wanted to touch everything she came across. He helped her into their office and sat her down behind her desk.
"Drink this." He said putting a cup of tea in her hands. She did not argue and took a sip while Sasakibe walked over to his desk. On the left side of his desk was a stack of papers, most likely the work from today.
"Did you do all of that today?" she asked.
"Yes." He responded taking a glance at the papers.
"All by yourself?"
"Yes." He responded in the same manner. Rangiku said nothing as he turned his back to her and poured himself some tea of his own. Then he sat down in his chair.
"Why?" she finally asked.
"The work had to be done. And you were not here so I did it." She opened her mouth to speak again but he must have known what she was going to say." And we're the same rank, so I can't tell you what to do." Rangiku said nothing and took a sip of tea. There was a sudden chill in the air and Chojiro shot his head up.
"He is here." He said rising from his seat and heading to the door. He opened it and there stood Toshiro." Good Evening, sir." He said without delay.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe." He nodded to him then to look past and see Rangiku sitting there." Lieutenant Matsumoto?" Though he said it as a question. It was late at night and Rangiku was normally out drinking at this time not sitting in the office doing work. He gazed past Chojiro and was surprised to see all the work done.
"We've been very busy since you were gone, sir." Sasakibe told. Toshiro turned back to him, looking confused on the term 'We've' not 'I'." But there is nothing special to report here." Toshiro took one last look at Rangiku, the work and then back to Sasakibe.
"Good to know." He said." As you were." Sasakibe nodded as Toshiro turned and retreated down the hall. Then he himself went back into his joint office.
"Did you just lie?" Rangiku questioned. Chojiro cleared his throat as he straightened out his collar.
"I told a slight fib, yes."
"Why? Why did you do that?"
"We are a tight unit here in Squad One." He answered." We look out for each other." And that's when Rangiku realized the true merit of Chojiro Sasakibe. And she knew she'd have to repay him for it. He had her back so she made sure to have his from now on.
Now Rangiku wasn't good with fancy words but she was good at grand gestures. So the next morning she stomped into Squad Eleven and found Ikkaku. He was surrounded by his Squad mates. Yumichicka, Fujimaru Kudo and several other unseated officers. Rangiku forced her way passed them got up right before the third seat and yelled right in his face.
"Chojiro Sasakibe would kick your ass!"