a/n: I would normally apologize for the wait and say that life has been busy and rough, but what the hell, isn't it always? Hope you guys enjoy the new chapter!

Becoming who we were meant to be

9: Welcome aboard

"Woa… It's…big."

Ichigo stares at the room ahead of him, taken aback. He doesn't really know what he expected from his captain barracks, or rather, he hadn't had time to think about it before now. But in this moment, standing in front of it all, it feels surreal.

Rukia chokes out a light laugh as she walks around the empty room. "Captain barracks are usually pretty big, Ichigo. Don't worry, you'll eventually get used to it."

Ichigo looks up at the ceiling, sighing. "I guess. This still feels crazy, though."

Rukia crosses her arms on her chest, smiling softly. "I know."

"Well," Ichigo scratches the back of his head. "I guess I can't stay at the Kuchiki manor forever." He scoffs. "You know, I thought Byakuya would've wanted me out of his way, but he keeps on surprising me."

Rukia's eyebrow twitches, questioning. "What do you mean?"

Right. With everything that had happened and in so little time, Ichigo hadn't even had the time to fill Rukia in on the whole Byakuya puzzle. Looking back on it now, it nearly feels like a whole damn year has passed since he was last found buying books on the campus with Ishida.

"Yesterday, during the meeting," Ichigo starts, scratching his jaw. "Yamamoto started off by stating that Karin would officially be accepted into the academy, not only because of the Shiba clan's request, but also because of the Kuchiki clan's statement of recommendation."

Ruka's eyes spark up. "Statement of recommendation?"

"Yeah, thought maybe you had something to do with that," he answers.

Rukia narrows her eyebrows in thought, then shakes her head slightly. "Other than Ukitake-taichou, I haven't discussed your sister's situation with anyone. Yet alone my brother." Rukia's hand travels to her chin before her eyes move back up to Ichigo. "You're positive Yamamoto soutaichou mentioned the Kuchiki clan?"

"Yep," Ichigo nods as he pops the 'p' sound of his answer. "Not only that, he specifically said it was a statement of recommendation from the Head of the Kuchiki clan."

Rukia blinks her surprise away. "So, Nii-sama…"

"Yeah, seems like it," Ichigo responds mindlessly. "Not to mention the special recommendation for my captaincy…" That part Ichigo had already mentioned. He suddenly laughs out loud. "Maybe he doesn't despise Kurosakis as much as he claims, after all."

Rukia observes him carefully; glowing in a light she hasn't seen in so long, and she can't help her lips from breaking free into that same contagious smile.

She hits his chest with the back of her hand. "You wish." She crosses her hands over her chest and gestures over to the hallway. "Ready to look at the rest of your quarters?"

"The rest? You mean there's other rooms?" Ichigo stands there with wide eyes.

Rukia scoffs. "Obviously. This is just the multi-purpose room, where most captains usually eat their meals, drink tea or welcome guests. What you would call the living room, in the world of the living, I suppose."

"Oh…" Ichigo answers simply, head lost in the fact that these…captain barracks, as people call it, nearly feel like an entire house. A house all to himself. He half expects it to feel lonely out of the sudden, but strangely, it doesn't. "What else is there?"

"Well, typical captain barracks have a second multi-purpose room, usually a smaller one; a bathing room; a bedroom; and of course, a captain's office." Rukia lists on her fingers. "The sixth division's barracks are a bit different since Nii-sama resides in the Kuchiki manor, not in his captain's quarters."

Ichigo nods slowly, his feet starting to follow Rukia through the narrow hallway. "And what about the vice-captains? Where do they usually live?" Ichigo asks, and it only hits him now that he never bothered to find out where most of his friends actually fell asleep at night.

"Lieutenants have quarters as well, although much smaller. It's usually located closer to the rest of the squad's barracks, and further from the captain's." Rukia stops when they arrive at the entrance of a room. "The bedroom," she says and points to a sliding door. "Also connected to the bathing room."

Ichigo studies the room for a few seconds, and notices how the set up does remind him of the Kuchiki manor. Although, he doesn't have much of a different point of reference when it comes to living quarters of Soul Society.

Rukia continues to walk down the hallway, passing by the second multi-purpose room she had just mentioned. She doesn't stop until they both reach the last room, at the very end of the corridor.

"And finally, your office."

Ichigo takes it in as he steps into the room. The empty book shelves, the carpet in the middle of the room, the large desk, the window, and the door leading to the outside. "So, this is where I'll be spending most of my time, complaining with my head buried in paper work, huh?"

"The complaining part is optional, but in a nutshell, yes," Rukia answers with a grin.

Ichigo smirks with the corner of his mouth and walks up to the desk. He runs his fingers against the feather of the calligraphy pen and opens his mouth to speak when a knock resonates from outside.

Ichigo gives Rukia a questioning look, but the woman shrugs in response.

"Uh…come in?" Ichigo breathes out his attempt.

The door slides open and a man, probably a shinigami soldier, he doesn't know walks in and bows. "Kuchiki-fukutaichou, Kurosaki Ichigo." He greets them and Ichigo blinks, confused.

"My apologies, sir, I was told you might be here." He tells Ichigo as he turns to him. "I carry official documents from the first division." The guy takes out a thin handful of papers and places them on the desk in front of Ichigo.

The boy keeps his eyes down and goes silent. Ichigo frowns in confusion. Is he supposed to say something now or…what? He looks over at Rukia, who gives him a blank stare as if she won't even attempt to help him figure this guy out. He sighs.

"Okay, and…?"

The soldier looks up and blinks faster than Ichigo thought possible, obviously flustered. "Oh, hm… My apologies, sir. I assumed you were aware the documents were for you to sign. I am terribly sorry, I won't make that mistake again."

Ah. This means these must be the documents sent from Yamamoto, or Central 46, or whoever the hell is in charge of this. Ichigo holds up his hands in front of him and attempts a friendly smile. "Hey, no worries. I just wasn't expecting the papers so soon."

The guy nods, looking rather uncertain and embarrassed. Ichigo takes the papers in his hands and scans them quickly. There's a form about being an official soldier Shinigami of the Gotei 13, one about adhering to the Seireitei's rules, and one about accepting the rank of Captain of the 14th division.

Ichigo looks over at Rukia, silently asking for her opinion. She makes her way over to him and looks over at the first two documents, and nods back at him. The third form is unknown territory to her and remains entirely up to Ichigo to analyze.

Ichigo reaches over and grabs the metallic quill, getting rid of the excess black ink on the rim of the small jar. He signs the first two forms without much hesitation, then turns his attention to the third one.

After reading its entirety once, then twice, Ichigo finds himself searching for Rukia's gaze, almost as if it was second nature. When his eyes meet hers, they remind him that his fate is in his own hands, and not anyone else's. They remind him that no matter what comes next, she'll be right here, by his side.

Therefore, he's gonna do the same for her.

Ichigo breaks the eye contact and goes back to that blank line. He brings up his hand and signs the paper in less time than it takes to say 'this is it'.

"There you go," he smiles to the soldier as he hands back the papers. The soldier appears slightly relieved and doesn't dare a smile, but instead bows dangerously low before disappearing out through the office door.

"Well…" Ichigo tries to break the silence that had crawled in unintentionally. "Guess that makes it official, huh?" This still feels like some kind of dream, although far from being a bad one, as strange as it is to say it.

Ichigo looks around the room, this time taking in every detail of what will grow to be his new home. A smile makes its way onto his face without him noticing.

"I'll let you get settled in," Rukia pokes his bubble as she speaks. "I should get back to my division, still have some paperwork to get done."

"Rukia, wait." Ichigo turns around and grabs her wrist before she has a chance to leave. Rukia looks up at him in surprise, but she doesn't say anything.

Ichigo's hand moves down from her wrist to her hand and he holds it in his, intertwining his fingers with her slender ones. "Thank you," he says quietly, and she instantly knows as she lets her eyes fall down on their holding hands. Thank you… Thank you for all of it.

Her fingers slide into a deeper hold and she gives a gentle squeeze. I'd do it all over again if I had to. She answers him.

When he lets go of her hand, Rukia smiles to herself, feeling comfort spreading into her chest. Somehow, her will to leave and go do paperwork has dropped down by a hundred.

"Hey," Ichigo says in that playful tone of his, and Rukia's eyes move to him as she forces her legs to start walking away. He grins widely at her. "Guess you'll have to call me Kurosaki-taichou from now on."

How she manages to not kick him in the shin in that particular moment still amazes her. "In your dreams."

"Wow, it's…small."

Karin stands in the middle or the room, if one could even call it that, eyes going from the left wall to the right, then over to the ceiling above her head.

"Well, with the number of students they have, I guess it was to be expected," Ichigo says as he scratches the side of his head. He then shoots a glance at his sister and scoffs, amused. "Don't tell me you already had time to get used to Kuchiki manor standards."

Karin rolls her eyes and huffs. "You're kidding right? I actually like it better here; it's what I need, no more, no less."

Ichigo smirks, as this was the answer he expected from his little sister.

Karin looks over at the tiny little wardrobe. She opens the last drawer to find it empty, wondering if she'll ever have enough belongings to fill it up. She closes the drawer and opens the first one. Inside she finds a piece of folded clothing, which she takes in her hands and let's unfold by holding it in front of her.

The model looks incredibly similar to the black one she's seen shinigamis wear around here, only this one is white and has red stripes and patterns on it.

"Your uniform," Ichigo explains. "You'll have to wear it most of the time you're here."

Karin blinks, feeling the material between her fingers, and smirks. "Finally, a pair of pants. Don't think I could've survived being seen in this yukata for much longer."

Ichigo rolls his eyes as he laughs. Karin puts down her brand new uniform on the tatami, the mat she'll sleep on for the next six years to come, and turns to her brother.

"This is crazy… I can't believe I'm starting classes here tomorrow," Karin says, playing with a strand of black hair. "I mean it all flew by so fast, yet it feels like a hundred years ago."

"Tell me about it," Ichigo answers, then his eyes drop a few shades more serious. "Karin, listen. If you ever feel like this is too much, like you can't handle something… I want you to come to me, okay? I mean, I want you to remember we're in this together. I don't want you to think I won't have time for you just because I'm taking on this captaincy, and-."

"Ichigo," Karin cuts him off before he starts blabbering too much. "I know all of that. And I want you to know this place doesn't scare me. There'll probably be harder times, but I know what I'm getting into, and I'm ready. I'm not a child-"

"Not a child anymore," Ichigo finishes for her. He smiles in her direction. "Right." After a second Karin's face softens and she smiles back. Ichigo moves over and brings her in for a hug.

"Love you, little sister."

Karin smiles and returns the hug. "Love you, too, Ichi-nii," she says, and backs away after a few seconds.

Ichigo turns around, about to leave. "Oh, I almost forgot," he says and pulls out a little brown envelope. "This is from Rangiku-san. I bumped into her and she told me it was for you."

Karin frowns as she eyes the envelope, curiosity getting the better of her. Before she can open it however, Ichigo begins moving out of the doorway.

"Goodluck tomorrow, you better kick some ass," her brother tells her with a smirk.

"Will do," she answers and smirks back until he is out of the room, door closed, leaving Karin alone with her thoughts.

She focuses back on the envelope and opens it, then reaches in to pull out a leather hair band and a small, folded piece of paper. She takes the hair band into her palm and notices two red stones hanging from it. The light from the setting sun comes in through her window and makes the stones glow softly. It looks…beautiful.

Karin then takes the piece of paper and unfolds it. Her heart increases pace by a beat or two as she reads the words, and a smile spreads across her face.

Because I know how much you must hate having your hair down

- T. Hitsugaya

That first night he spends sleeping in his new bedroom, Ichigo can't seem to fall asleep. He doesn't know if it's due to the fact that he still can't quite believe all of this is happening, or to feeling so isolated from everyone else. He technically is close to the thirteenth's barracks in terms of location, but Rukia is back at the manor, while Karin is tucked in her little bed at the academy's first years living quarters. When they were all at he manor, something about knowing those two were falling asleep not too far away from him made him feel some kind of strange comfort.

The night eventually slips by and Ichigo wakes up before the sun is even up, around 5 am. He stretches and puts on his shihakusho, then moves out into the hallway until he reaches one of the main doors. He slides it open and decides to sit on the porch and wait for the sun to rise. Ichigo's eyes travel a little further away at his surroundings; to his far left, he can see the beginning of the 14th division's training grounds, and to his right remains an untouched hill and meadow, where the grass appears to be longer. He's been told the rest of the division, a.k.a, the soldier's barracks and training rooms, were still under construction. Considering how the squad had only recently been created and that no soldiers were actually part of squad 14, the construction would probably still take a couple of weeks.

"Yo," an oh-too-familiar voice says suddenly. "Didn't expect you to be already moved in."

Ichigo's head snaps left and he sees Renji approaching with a smirk. He realizes the sun has already started rising when he notices the yellow light illuminating Renji's figure. Ichigo frowns.

"What are you doing up?"

Renji snorts as he sits down next to him, elbow resting against his knee. "Dude, most people here are up before six. Rukia told me you liked to sleep in back in the world of the living, so you better change your bad habits sooner rather than later."

Ichigo scowls in a matter of seconds. "Shut the hell up. I'm already up, aren't I?"

Renji scoffs, the long red braid on his head falling off his shoulder. Within a few seconds silence claims back its dominance, allowing the distant sound of a bird chirp to travel into Ichigo's ear. He closes his eyes, somewhat serene for a brief moment.

"Seriously though," Renji's voice overpowers the calming bird tweets. "You really up for this?"

Ichigo's eyes open slowly. He inhales through his chest, then shrugs despite his best efforts not to do so and turns to Renji, who meets his eyes not a second later. "Do you think I can do it? Be a captain," he does his best to keep his voice sturdy.

Although he and Renji spend most of their interactions arguing, most often for reasons Rukia labels as 'immature and idiotic', they have fought enough wars and spilt enough blood over the years to be able to speak like this. Like true friends would.

"I think that if you put your mind to it, there's not much you can't do." Renji answers with a smirk as his eyes travel back to the hills. "But you can kiss my ass if you think I'm ever gonna call you 'taichou'."

Before he can answer back with a clever comment, Ichigo's eyes catch something approaching them, or rather, flying towards them. It looks like a butterfly, but its sharp black and red pigment doesn't leave much doubt in his mind.

Hell butterfly.

"Attention to all captains and vice-captains of the Seireitei; your presence is required momentarily in the first division's assembly hall," the butterfly emits a robotic voice and stays in place for a few flaps of its wings before it flies away, quiet once again.

When he turns his head Renji is already up on two straight legs. He seems to be right on the edge of shunpo, but notices Ichigo and shifts an eyebrow.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

The words get tangled on Ichigo's tongue and the uncertainty appears in the usual frown format. "Wasn't that message meant for you?"

Renji's tough features grimace and he hesitates for a splint second. "You're a captain now, aren't you?"

"I…guess so, yeah," Ichigo answers. The words feel strange in his throat.

Renji's lips twist up as his foot kicks Ichigo's knee. "Well then, the message was for both of us. Come on, let's go. The head-captain doesn't like to be kept waiting."

When they arrive to the assembly hall, almost everyone's already there. By a quick glance around the room it seems like the lieutenants are forming a straight line on the right side of the room, while the captains are doing so on the left side. Ichigo's eyes search for any kind of clue or validation as to where he is supposed to stand, but he doesn't find any. What if he wasn't even expected to join the meeting in the first place?

To be frank he isn't sure of what he's supposed to do, but surely, he can't follow Renji like a pathetic dog and join the lieutenants' line. If there's one thing he knows not to do right now, it's that.

His eyes then land on a very specific, black-haired lieutenant, one that appears to be shorter, much shorter, than everyone else. With them all lined-up this way, it's almost comical and Ichigo puts a mental note to make fun of her for that later.

Although he knows it isn't showing, the distress on his face must be apparent to Rukia as she instantly gestures to a specific spot, using her eyes only. Ichigo follows her instructions and sees the vacant spot next to Ukitake. The man smiles at him and nods his head and Ichigo lets out an inaudible sigh as he walks over to that spot; the only man not wearing white. He looks back to Rukia and gives her a corner smile as a thank you, to which she adverts her eyes as an answer.

If he didn't know her that well he'd pretend not to have seen that hint of amusement prickling at her lips.

The oh-too-familiar sound of wood hitting wood strips his attention away from Rukia and onto Yamamoto; staff in hand and expression as stiff as ever. Ichigo can't help but feel like this is the billionth time he's walked into this room since he got back to Soul Society. Although now he walked in through the opened doors with everyone else, not in the back ones and escorted by guards. At least that's an improvement.

Plus, he isn't standing in the middle of the room with 13 pairs of eyes staring at him anymore.

Definitely an improvement.

"Captains, vice-captains." Yamamoto starts. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. You may rest assured knowing this meeting wasn't called due to a threatening situation, but rather because official changes are being made into the Gotei 13, and much faster than we had initially anticipated."

"As you all know," Yamamoto continues after a short pause. "Kurosaki Ichigo officially joined our forces only two days ago, in the need to build a new division and increase our strength in the long term." The head-captain's eyes darken in a way that leaves Ichigo confused. He frowns slightly. "Central 46 had initially allocated six months to build the 14th division until it could be evaluated and eventually deemed as suitable to start recruiting soldiers." He seems to hesitate, but only briefly. "That time period has been shorten to four weeks."

Most people in the room remain stern, but Ichigo doesn't miss the few that widen their eyes in surprise, even though ever so slightly. He swallows. He suddenly wants to go up to the front and ask why; why was the time he had been given decreased so drastically. Surely, something must've happened that made Central 46 change their original plan.

"In that regard, Ukitake-taichou, Hirako-taichou and Kuchiki-taichou's guidance will be crucial in the following weeks. I expect every decision to be documented and reported back." Ukitake nods his head to Yamamoto.

The old man takes in a short breath. "In addition to that alteration, further arrangements have been made concerning the new division," Yamamoto stops, something about his frame makes him look almost…nervous. Something Ichigo hasn't seen on the man enough times to even count on one hand.

"The 14th division's lieutenant has been chosen."

Ichigo's body stiffens, and he hears quiet whispers echo around the room. Before Ichigo can compute another thought, Ukitake takes a step forward and walks out of the line of captains.

"Excuse me, Yamamoto-soutaichou, but shouldn't that decision remain in Kurosaki Ichigo's hands? He only just signed the official papers yesterday-"

"I'm afraid the decision didn't lie in our hands," his voice is hard and impenetrable when he interrupts Ukitake's questioning. "It is final."

Ukitake swallows back his words. Ichigo can't see his face, being the last one standing in the line, but he soon sees Ukitake nod his head once, then get back straight in line.

"Now," Yamamoto resumes. "If you would all welcome the newest officer of the Gotei 13." The sound of large doors opening travels loud and clear around the room. Ichigo's eyes snap wide in surprise and his heart rate picks up involuntarily. A few vice-captains stretch out their necks, curiosity getting the better of them in the hope of catching an early glimpse at the person walking through those doors.

"Shiba Atsuyo."

Ichigo's ears become cloudy as he hears the name being pronounced, ringing surrounding his head. He can't help but stare at the figure who walks in, until he stops in front of the two line of officers, right in the middle.

"Yo," he says. And grins.