Be a Man
For a Thousand years Genryusai Yamamoto sat at the top of the Military order he created. And as was expected of a Leader he was stern but not unfair, both respected and feared. And while he never lost these qualities even in old age he did become more reserved. Only those in the Officer's circle regularly saw him leaving the lower members of the Division to know the myth more than the man. And that was something Toshiro wanted to change.
So every several days he put time aside in his schedule and had lunch with the Captain, Lieutenant and the seated Officers of the Divisions. And today Toshiro was going to Squad Five.
"Hurry! Hurry!" Matsuri said as her Division members ran between rooms, moving tables and chairs." He'll be here soon and everything has to look perfect." The haste continued as Momo came into the room and stood by her Captain.
"I don't know what you're getting so worked up over Captain." She said." It's only Shiro coming to visit like he always does."
"But he's the Head-Captain." Matsuri said. "I want him to know he can count on Squad Five and-" There came a sudden knock at the door." He's here. Everyone quick, into position." The Squad members quickly moved around the table all of them standing behind a chair. Matursi straightened herself out and cleared her throat before continuing." Come in." she said with a smile.
The door slid open and there stood Head-Captain of the Gotei 13 Toshiro Hitsuguya.
"Good Afternoon Head-Captain." Matsuri said as he walked towards them, bowing her head. The Division members did the same.
"Good Afternoon Squad Five." He responded. Matsuri stood back up to her full height and looked him in the eyes, something she couldn't do for long.
"We're so happy you've come to visit us today." She finally said." Would you please sit down." She motioned to the seat at the Head of the table.
"Thank you." Toshiro replied accepting her hospitality. He moved around to the seat and the other Squad Members all sat down as well. Matsuri sat on Toshiro's right and Momo on the left.
"Tea?" Matsuri offered holding a pot towards him.
"Please." Toshiro said holding out his cup. And she began to pour. The room began to lighten up and people had already begun eating. This was a time to relax for everyone. A time for them all to sit back and not talk about work but about everything else."So Matsuri." Toshiro said." Tell me how is everything here?"
"Fine, Fine." she said waving her arms. Toshiro nodded as he took a sip of his tea. When he was done he spoke again.
"And how's that brother of yours doing in Squad Eleven?"
Squad Eleven was filled with it's usual sounds on a Saturday morning. Steel clashing and grunting men. Fujimaru along with a group of his fellow 11th Division members watched as their Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame sparred with Lieutenant of Squad Seven and former Fourth Seat of Squad Eleven Iba Tetsuzaemon.
Iba advanced with a swing of his sword, forcing Ikkaku to block as he stepped back.
"Now I have you!" Iba exclaimed. He raised his left hand from the hilt of his sword and opened his palm at Ikkaky." Hado #1 SHO!" And from his hand came a gust of wind, strong enough to push Ikkaku off his feet and out of their fighting circle onto his back." HaHa!" The Lieutenant cheered with his arms in the air." Got you that time Ikkaku."
But the on-lookers weren't in agreement.
"No fair." Fujimaru said standing up." You used Kido."
"A Hado spell." Iba said looking at him." Hado is meant for attacking."
"It's not fair." Fujimaru continued." Battles should be fought with swords or nothing."
"Who the hell is this kid?" Iba asked looking to Ikkaku.
"That is Fujimaru Kudo." He answered." Younger brother of Captain Kudo of Squad Five."
"Is that right?" Iba said turning back and looking at the boy.
"No need to get riled up about it." Ikkaku said noticing the anger still on Fujimaru's face." I lost fair and square, there's no other way of putting it."
"That's right." Iba smiled." And you know what that means."
"Right." Ikkaku said glumly.
"DRINKS FOR EVERYONE!" Iba shouted turning to the group." AND IKKAKU'S BUYING!" And Fujimaru had never seen the group turn so fast. One moment they were glaring down Iba for the manner in which he won but now they were cheering with him.
So one by one everyone began leaving the barracks and heading out to the bar, all except Fujimaru.
"C'mon kid that means you too." Iba said with an arm around him." Ikkaku's buying!" He let out another triumphant laugh.
So after they invaded the next bar Iba and Ikkaku found an officer's table and sat themselves at it. The other lower members were sitting at a nearby table.
"So what's the deal with that kid?" asked Iba grabbing his drink.
"Hmh?" Ikkaku replied with a sip of his drink.
"The boy Kudo. He worships you. Heh, almost reminds me of the way you were around me back when I was in the 11th Division." He took a long last sip of hid drink and set it down.
"Shut up." Ikkaku said as he leaned over and re-filled the glass for him." Matter of fact I've taken him under my wing. And am teaching him everything I know." Iba raised a brow.
"Oh so he's your student, huh?" Iba asked him. Ikkaku nodded as he took a sip of his drink." And what does he plan to do with your teachings? Lieutenant, Captain like his sister?"
"No." Ikkaku said setting his drink down." He's not like you." He chuckled but Iba grimaced for the comment at his expense." No, he just wants to stay in Squad Eleven. But be powerful enough that he can fight powerful opponents."
"Does he want to learn Bankai like y-" Ikkaku suddenly looked at him with wide-eyed nervousness." Like, Like All of us!" Iba rebounded.
"Yes." Ikkaku said." All of us."
The Office was silent. Except for the sounds of pens brushing against papers. Glancing up from his position Byakuya could see Yushiro's desk, the new Lieutenant writing with one hand and putting a cookie into his mouth with the other.
Then came a sharp knock at the door.
"Enter." Byakuya said turning his attention to the door. It opened and he watched as Koga walked into the office. His shoulders were sagged and there was a grim look on his face. Yushiro glanced up from his work to see the Third Seat glare at him as he crossed the room." Third Seat." Byakuya said gaining his attention. "What is it?" Koga now turned his grim face to his cousin but despite the question did not answer him. Instead he raised his right arm from beside his hip showing a piece of paper folded between his index finger and thumb.
Byakuya quickly understood that whatever it was he had to see. And as he brought it back to himself he unfolded it to view it's content. And Yushiro saw his new Captain's expression actually change for the first time. He went from stone cold to shocked confusion, although he only showed it by opening his eyes slightly. Then he turned his eyes back to his cousin.
"Why have you handed me this?" he asked.
"For the purpose written on the paper itself." Koga replied.
"You wish to transfer from the Division?" Koga managed a dry chuckle.
"You always knew how to quickly grasp a situation, cousin." But Byakuya didn't find it very funny. He instead extended his arm returning the paper to him.
"I refuse. Squad Six is meant for the Kuchiki's, we-" Koga let him say no more.
"Your sister in law is in Squad 13."
"She's different." Byakuya replied thinking of the woman he loved and the promise he made." I choose the Division best suited for her. And you-"
"That's all you've ever done." Koga said." All of us the entire family. You've been controlling us this whole time. I will not let you limit me cousin. Not anymore." Byakuya's face stiffened and his eyes widened once more.
Yushiro didn't know if he should intervene or not. As a Lieutenant it was his duty to stay by his Captain's side but this was a family matter and he knew he wouldn't want anyone jumping in on a conversation between him and sister.
Byakuya said no more. Instead he placed the paper on the desk and ran his pen across it. Yushiro then watched as his Captain raised the paper up and back to the Third Seat. But he wasn't the Third Seat of Squad Six anymore instead he was the Third Seat of Squad Nine.
Koga reached out his hand and gripped the paper. And despite a slight tug at it Byakuya did not release it from his hand. Koga's eyes shifted to look at his cousin one last time. Neither of them said anything, because there was nothing to say.
Koga then turned his back to them and walked out the door. Yushiro's eyes shifted back to his Captain who's head was dipped, his eyes staring at essentially nothing.
"We're going to need a new Third Seat." Byakuya finally spoke.
Meanwhile back at Squad Eleven.
Fujimaru was continuing his training only this time it didn't actually involve actual sword fighting.
"To become stronger you have to have better harmony with your Zanpaktou." Ikkaku told. So as his superior told he sat down and with his blade in his lap began meditating. Ikkaku stood nearby chatting with Yumichicka and Iba.
Establishing communication with the spirit wasn't so bad but the communication itself was tricky. Fujimaru was almost ready for a full dialogue until Lieutenant Kusajishi appeared.
"Baldie, Eyebrows, Fudgie!" she pointed to Ikkaku, Yumichicka, and Fujimaru in that order." Get up and follow me!"
"We're already standing up." Ikkaku said.
"Then follow me." She smiled and prepared to skip away.
"What for?" Ikkaku said." We're in the middle of something."
"Kenny has a special visitor. And he's asked for the best fighters of the Division. And besides Kenny that's you, you and you." She pointed to the trio once more." So follow me!" She said nothing more and skipped off.
"Best fighters huh?" Ikkaku said." Then this must be important."
"You'd better get going." Iba said." You don't want to keep your Captain waiting. I'll catch up with you later." Fujimaru followed after his superiors as they made their way around the barracks and in the direction their Lieutenant had gone.
And when they turned the corner they saw that twenty other members of their division had gathered. Shoulder to shoulder and standing before Captain Zaraki, Lieutenant Kusajishi and another figure in a sleeveless white coat.
"Who is that?" Fujimaru questioned pointing at him.
"You don't know?" Yumichicka asked. Fujimaru shook his head." That's Captain of Squad Nine Shuhei Hisagi. But I wonder what he's doing here?"
"Is this all of them?" Shuhei asked Kenpachi. The bigger man nodded and Shuhei turned to face the group.
"Good Morning Squad Eleven." He said.
"Good Morning Captain Hisagi." They answered.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why I'm here. Well to come right to the point it concerns all of you, the best swordsman of the Division. My Squad is still without a Lieutenant and I think one amongst you would be worthy of the job." He turned his head and looked down the line."Third Seat Madarame, Fifth Seat Ayasegawa." Shuehi said. The two men stepped out from the crowd and before the Captain." Your skill is very recognizable." He said." Noted by your Captain and many other Officers. Your ranks do not fit what you are deserving of. And I could use a good man as my Lieutenant. The position can only go to one of you but I can think of few others deserving of the honor. Will either of you accept?" Fujimaru poked his head out from the crowd. What would they say? He'd never considered before what either of them might thinking about a promotion.
"Thank you Captain Hisagi." Ikkaku said bowing his head. And Fujimaru thought that that was it, that Ikkaku would leave Squad Eleven forever." But my place is here."
"I have to agree." Yumichicka added." We've done a lot in Squad Eleven, I don't see a reason to change that now." Shuhei sighed as Kenpachi chuckled.
"I told you." He said.
"We'll see." Shuhei said. He walked away from them and down the isle of men. And along that isle he came across a boy with messy blonde hair and brown eyes. He stopped right before him." Are you Fujimaru Kudo?" He asked.
"Yes." He nodded." I am."
"The younger brother of Captain Matsuri Kudo of Squad Five?"
Fujimaru nodded again." Yes."
"Your one of the younger members of the Division but you've been called out here with some of the better swordsman of the Division. That's very impressive."
"I've had a lot of practice, sir." Fujimaru said.
"I extend the same offer out to you." Shuhei conitnued." You could do well in Squad Nine. We run the monthly magazine which you'd be intimately apart of. We even have an advanced combat unit made up of the first five seats." Fujimaru had to admit it was a tempting offer. He was essentially being given a Lieutenant's position all he had to do was say 'Yes'.
"Thank you, sir." Fujimaru nodded." But Squad Eleven is the most advanced in combat. My place is here." He added another bow. All Fujimaru ever wanted was to join Squad Eleven. If he was going to rise but the ranks in this Division and only this Division. Even if it meant he'd never make Captain or Lieutenant it didn't matter so long as he was in Squad Eleven.
Defeated Shuhei nodded his head.
"You have good men here Captain Zaraki." He said turning to the man." But you've only made my job harder."
"I told you no one would take you up on it." Shuhei gave one last glance to the group and turned away.
"Good Afternoon Squad Eleven."
"Good Afternoon Captain Hisagi." The Squad said together.
After that meeting Fujimaru continued his training with Ikkaku. And the spectator Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon had returned.
"So you turned down the opportunity of being a Lieutenant?" Iba asked. Ikkaku advanced forward swinging at Fujimaru.
"Yea." He grunted as he blocked." It just didn't interest me." He pushed Ikkaku's attack off and then advanced forward swinging downward with his blade. But Ikkaku blocked." I have all I need right here." He said as he grinded his blade against Ikkaku's. Iba raised an eyebrow curious at him.
"Hey kid!" He called. Fujimaru was prepared to ignore him but when Ikkaku stopped fighting he did the same. So he turned his head and looked at Iba." What else do you know besides sword fighting?" Fujimaru looked at him curiously.
"What else is there?"
"Kido, Hand to hand." Iba said as he stood up." You want to be more powerful right?"
"Right." Fujimaru nodded.
"Well if you want to be more powerful." Iba said." It'd be better to learn more than just one tactic. I didn't become a Lieutenant for my sword skills alone. I'm also well versed in Kido, Hand to Hand combat, and Flash Step."
"Ikkaku says you've only become a Lieutenant to please your mother." Fujimaru commented. Ikaku snickered in the background while Iba's fist tightened as he tried to compose himself.
"That aside." He groaned." In battle you'll see that your enemies will have more than one skill. So it'd be better for you if you had more than one skill."
Fujimaru never focused himself on kido. He needed to pass the class to graduate but the bare minimum he needed was a D, so that's exactly what he got. The same went for all the other classes, all of them except swordsmanship. In that class Fujimaru earned an A+.
"What a load of crap." He responded with." Ikkaku's never practiced Kido and he's as powerful as a Lieutenant. And Captain Zaraki doesn't practice kido, and doesn't even have shikai but he's the most powerful Captain around. If my officers don't need it then neither do-"
"Captain Zaraki and I have had a lifetime of fighting over you Fujimaru." Ikkaku said stepping up." It takes a lot of practice and skill to get to that level. And although I don't doubt that you'll get there one day what Iba says is true." He looked at his friend." It is best to have whatever you can in your arsenal." He looked back to Fujimaru." That way it makes the battle more interesting and last longer!" Now with the words from his teacher Fujimaru knew what he had to do.
"Yes!" He said.
"Alright." Iba said." Now show me what you can do."
Fujimaru stepped up not drawing his zanpaktou was unusual but he took his stance and outstretched his arms.
"Ye Lord! Mask of Blood and Flesh" He began.
"Shakkaho?" Iba said." Very nice, that's usually a favorite of the Lieutenants." But Fujimaru's must have said it too fast or said the wrong words because the second he was done the red blast forming in his hands blew up in a puff of smoke.
Ikkaku and Iba covered their faces from the smoke, coughing as they did. When the smoke cleared they saw Fujimaru sitting there with his face covered in soot.
"Maybe start him at the basics?" Ikkaku suggested.
"We've got a long way to go." Iba sighed rubbing his neck.