The New Squad Six

It was the start of a new era for Yushiro Shihouin. Since joining the thirteen court guard Squads all he'd ever known was Squad Ten. It was the place where his sister was Lieutenant and despite the atmosphere it's where he felt most comfortable.

He'd hardly been farther than the Squad Nine Barracks so finding his new division was somewhat difficult. He had mistakenly arrived at Squads Nine and Seven before Captain Kommamura pointed him in the right direction. And there at last he looked upon it for the first time.

A dot over a line with two more slashed under it, Squad Six and Yushiro's new home. He gulped down his fear and took a step inside. There were many of the division's members going about their daily routine, hardly paying him any mind.

"Excuse me." He said trying to get the attention of one but was ignored." Excuse me." He tried to another but got the same result.

"Excuse me." Said a soft voice. But it wasn't his own in fact it seemed to be directed at him. He turned around and there was a young girl probably about his own age with short brown hair and glasses standing before him." Are you lost?" she asked.

"Y-Yes." Yushiro said straightening himself out before her." I've just been promoted to Lieutenant of this Division. So I-I um I'm looking for the Captain." The girl fidgeted in her place and straightened out before him.

"Follow me, sir." She said her voice suddenly becoming more serious. "I will take you to him." So she led the way and Yushiro who did not know the layout of this division had no choice but to follow her. The immediate thing that caught his attention was the large koi pond but personally he enjoyed the flower garden more.

He had one just like it back at the Shihouin mansion although there were many more flowers here with many more colors. The mix of red roses, pink and purple tulips all together brought a smile to his face. He became distract from following the girl so he could walked into garden.

"Lieutenant!" she called taking him from his observing." The Captain is this way and you shouldn't keep him waiting." And the urgency in her voice made Yushiro nervous. He quickly remembered himself and followed after her, entering inside the barracks.

And when he caught up to her before a thick wooden door. And it wasn't until he was beside her that she continued. She reached her right hand up and knocked three times.

"Come in." A cold voice said on the other side. She opened the door and led the way in.

"Sir, 9th seat Mihane Shirogane reporting." She said after the door was opened. It was now that Yushiro knew the name of the girl who had led him here. And looking across the room he got his first sight of his new Captain.

"Speak." He commanded.

"This man here claims he is our new Lieutenant." But Byakuya's eyes had already gone to Yushiro and had reviewed him many times over.

"Thank you 9th seat." The Captain said." Leave us." He finished with a wave. Mihane nodded and took a step back out the door. It was now that Yushiro suddenly remembered himself and remembered he hadn't thanked her for her help.

"Thank you so" But the door had slammed on his face and he was gone." Much." He finished. He slowly turned around to see Captain Kuchiki still behind his desk. The head of the Kuchiki clan rose from his desk and walked over to stand before it.

"Come here." He said in a soft but commanding voice. And it made the hair on the back of Yushiro's neck stand up. He put one step forward and then the other starting with very small slow steps, looking down and acting as if he might trip over himself.

Byakuya Kuchiki was not a tall man by many standards only of average height. But as he stood before Yushiro now it only made the boy fell smaller. As he stood before him Byakuya looked him up and down once more.

"Captain Kuchiki." He began with a squeak in his voice." I am former third seat of Squad Ten, Yushiro Shi-"

"I am well aware of who you are." Byakuya quickly said." You have the same look, the same hair and the same eyes as your sister. You are no doubt a Shihouin." Yushiro gulped down his fear.

"I am, sir." If Byakuya was about to say something else Yushiro did not know. Instead of looking at his new Lieutenant his eyes went to the door. And a second later there was a knock and it opened.

"Captain Kuchiki." A man said as he entered. He was of a similar height and dress as Byakuya. What stuck out to Yushiro the most was his red scarf and headpiece above his right ear where his hair was red instead of black. No doubt he was nobility and in the case of the 6th Division another Kuchiki." I've come to report the-" He took a step inside but stopped when he saw Yushiro standing before his Captain. The man had a piercing gaze that Yushiro did not like.

"Third Seat." Byakuya said attracting the man's gaze." I am occupied at the moment unless your matter is of the utmost importance it will wait until I have concluded my business here." But the third seat said nothing and kept his eyes on Yushiro." Third Seat!" He said in a stricter tone." Can your business wait?" The man shook his head and came back to his sense.

"Yes, sir." He responded taking a step back and out the door." Sorry for disturbing you, sir." And he closed the door. Once he was gone Byakuya turned back to Yushiro.

"The third Seat of Squad Six." Byakuya told." My Cousin, Koga Kuchiki." Yushiro did not know what to say so he tried to think of something.

"My sister and I used to be in the same Division." He said meekly. Byakuya said nothing in reply and instead walked back around towards hid desk.

"The Head-Captain had requested you personally for my Division, did you know that?"

"I did, sir." Yushiro nodded." His Lieutenant delivered this to me yesterday morning." With shaky hands he reached into his pocket to pull out a crumpled up piece of paper. Byakuya extended his hand and took it from him. It was simply the paper legitimizing Yushiro as the new Lieutenant. Without a word Byakuya set the paper aside and stared at his new subordinate.

There was something strange about the boy. He was small for his age, timid and shy looking as if a swift breeze might knock him off his feet. Byakuya did not rightly understand why he'd been given this boy as Lieutenant. But if the Head-Captain had selected him directly there must have been a point.

"Squad Six is one of the proudest divisions in the Gotei 13." He said." Founded by my Grandfather alongside Genryusai Yamamoto over a thousand years ago. When the time came, the Leadership of my clan and this Division fell to me." He reached one hand over and into his desk." We believe in the law here and those caught breaking those laws will be punished." He pulled his hand out of the desk to reveal the Lieutenant's badge. The symbol of the Division along with it's insignia Carmellia. Yushiro had seen many of them out in the gardens." This flower. "He pointed to the Carmellia." Represents Noble Reason, and that is how you will live your life while under my command." With one hand he extended it out to Yushiro.

Byakuya's speech had him weak in the knees, his hands shaking like mad. But he managed to reach forward and take the badge without dropping it or falling over.

"Thank you, sir. "Yushiro said looking at the badge." I-I won't let you down, sir."

But unknown to the Captain and New Lieutenant Koga was sitting right outside the door, to hear every word of it.

He removed himself after that. From Squad Six, his cousin and his new superior to the comfort of a bar. The sounds inside were of laughter and fun but only Koga was misery and depression. He meant to keep it to himself but someone else made that impossible.

"Koga." Called Renji as he appeared at his friend's side." Or should I call you Lieutenant Koga now? HeHe. Come out to celebrate?" He meant it in good humor but he did not know the truth of the situation.

"Call me whatever you like." He answered." But not that." He sipped his drink. Renji looked at the third seat confused but the vacant Lieutenant's badge on his shoulder proved the point.

"What?" Renji questioned looking down at him." What happened?" Koga gripped his glass tighter, feeling almost as if he'd break it. He remembered the conversation he'd overheard between his cousin and the Head-Captain. He was complimented on his strength but was deemed ill-suited for a true leadership role.

"My own blood spoke against me."

"Captain Kuchiki?" the silence was his answer." Your cousin does not know what he's missed out on. Who did he choose instead?"

"A boy from Squad Ten. A Shihouin."

"Lady Yoruichi's brother?" Silence was his answer again." I've heard a little of him. He'd only just been promoted to third seat recently and I hear he isn't well versed in swordplay or kido and-" But he was cut off as Koga's rage suddenly got the better of him and he squeezed his glass so hard it cracked. The contents of his drink spilled all over the table.

But Koga said nothing, not even as the bartender began to yell at his face and Renji tried to defend him.

"Don't worry." Renji said waving the angered man off." I'll pay for it." Without another word he took a few dollars from his pocket and sent the angered man away. Then he turned to the gloomy Kuchiki." C'mon Koga." He said leaning down and putting a hand around his shoulder." Let's get you back to the barracks." Koga did not object but could carry himself just fine, he wasn't that drunk." You shouldn't let this get to you." Renji said as they walked along." I'm sure everything will turn out alright in the end." Koga said nothing and Renji could still see the pain behind his eyes. "Any Squad would be happy to have you. "Renji said." And you've done well in Squad Six. You can't let something like this bring you down." And that comment gave Koga something to strive for. This was not the end, not for him. There was still a chance for him to make this work for him. All he'd need was time.