alright. more leadup. I don't really have much to say as I am kinda tired. (only just woke up an hour ago) so enjoy.
Yoruichi Shihoin was a busy woman. After the end of the Blood War, or as it was officially called 'the War in Protection of the Soul King' Shunsui had given her two choices, become captain of the eighth division, or become a part-time lecturer at the Shino Academy. It was an obvious ploy to allow Lisa to become captain of the eighth with minimal political blowback. She would have complimented the head captain on the move if she wasn't forced to waste her abilities in such a way. She was a virtuoso in hoho, too much of her ability is instinctual for her to impart it through lectures. This was compounded by the fact that she wasn't the best teacher. Shunsui would have known this. No, he wanted her in the Shino Academy for something else.
It was well known that the Shihoin clan was the best armed and best trained of the five clans. What is now the responsibility of the Gotei 13 used to be the responsibility of her clan. That meant tens of thousands of years of refinement in training, teaching, and cultivating soldiers of incredible strength. She was a prime example of this, Shunsui wanted to tap into that. Most of the clan would have laughed him out of the room, and once upon a time, she would have as well. Now, however, the Seireitei needed to change, and the Gotei couldn't afford to be what it was under Yamamoto anymore, and the shinigami it produced couldn't be as weak as they were anymore. Shunsui knew she was aware of this and knew from her own history that she would be driven to optimize the academy as much as she could. Over the past year, she had seen everything she had wanted to change, everything that needed to change. She could see those who had the bright sparks of potential fail to be engaged, and fail to become members of the various corps that a shinigami can serve in. The Seireitei could not afford that, and thus she was genuinely considering full-time work at the academy.
The only downside would be that as she gained more power within the halls of military academia, she would have less free time. She already hadn't been to the living world in months, and the more time spent in Soul Society, the more time she was exposed to the possibility of interacting with her father.
It was clear he mellowed out from what she saw of her little brother, but her childhood was not happy or fun. It was because of this that she turned down the invitation to be a part of the Shihoin delegation to the event planned by Kukaku, it was also why her attire, save for her obi, had no hints of her connection to the larger clan. She was attending as a friend of the Shibas, and as faculty of the Shino Academy.
It was also why she arrived early. She had already heard Isshin getting his comeuppance from his former lieutenant and was sharing some time with Kukaku before she was expected to greet the other nobles.
"Wish I was there to see that," Kukaku was commenting on the ongoing commotion. As much as Yoruichi had reservations about how Isshin did things as a captain, she had to respect the loyalty he fostered when he led the tenth. He treated the division as if they were family, and they responded in kind. It was unsurprising for her when he instilled the same values that she had learned from Kaien into his actual children.
"He's probably just playing it up because he knows he earned it," Isshin was almost as strong as her. He could have ended it if he wanted to but didn't.
"That explains why he insisted on inviting her, he definitely always had a weird way of apologizing," Kukaku took a drag from her pipe. Her attire was more modest than usual today. Though Yoruichi knew she had about as much shame as she did.
"So, how goes clan business?" Yoruichi was glad to see her old friend again, they were in the same age cohort, and were roommates in their time in the academy. Granted that was not for a long time as for a Shihoin the academy is usually only a formality.
"I don't know, how goes teaching a bunch of kids who care more about gossip than their own classes?" Kukaku's quip caused Yoruichi to groan. She felt wasted teaching those brats.
"Point taken," Yoruichi looked away from her old friend. Someone like her with such an explosive personality and who wore her heart on her sleeve must find the world of politics just as frustrating.
"By the way, there's something concerning about that," Kukaku closed her eyes. Yoruichi was one of the only people she could trust to be discreet about this.
Yoruichi perked up at that. Kukaku was not someone who often was worried about much. She had a rather blase approach to life.
"What?" Yoruichi allowed concern to show on her face.
"I don't think Tokinada became head of the Tsunayashiro by accident," Kukaku said what had been troubling Yoruichi since the news of his ascension over six months ago. Most of the family dying overnight from a mass assassination leaving him and a scant few survivors was too convenient.
"You believe he orchestrated the whole thing," Yoruichi knew that was what she was insinuating. Byakuya wouldn't tolerate such an insinuation, in his mind the matters of the great houses were their own. Not surprising as that was case law from Central 46 that had been held up time and time again.
"You believe that too then," Kukaku had noticed how her old friend didn't correct her or debunk her hunch. That usually meant she had the same suspicions.
"The pattern follows. Kill everyone in front of you for the position, kill a few behind, then kill the ones you hired to do the job. Did you check his study for Machiavelli?" Yoruichi had spent her time studying philosophy in the living world, and she was sure 'The Prince' would have been popular reading in the Seireitei.
"I'd never let myself be caught dead in the Tsunayashiro estate. So no, I haven't," Kukaku knew of her old friend's philosophical interests. She knew the name was western, but she really didn't bother much with that, it was definitely more Kaien's wheelhouse.
"Well, enough about him, how's Ichigo doing?" She was concerned for his sake. The Seireitei was not the living world, rights were reserved only for the most 'important' of individuals.
"Well enough, it seems Hisagi got an interview with him recently," Kukaku chuckled, his very human views had caused a pleasant bit of chaos in political circles. She'd have to get him press training eventually, but he didn't cause a controversy.
"Oh, that must have ruffled some feathers," Yoruichi chuckled.
Rukia was walking with the rest of the Kuchiki delegation to the event. Though to say it was solely the Kuchiki delegation would be reductive. Due to her and her brother being the ranking officers of the sixth and thirteenth respectively, they had made stops to pick up those who would be representing said divisions alongside them.
That meant Renji, Sentaro, and Kiyone were all in the same group, and since Kiyone was in their little group, they had rendezvoused with the fourth's delegation as well. Byakuya seemed to be unhappy about the delay, but he had acquiesced, and Ginrei seemed to find Kiyone's enthusiasm entertaining, so that was good.
"Lieutenant Kuchiki, you seem stressed," Isane spoke quietly. The two acting captains had filtered away from the main body of the Kuchiki delegation. Most did so as they were not actually a part of it, Rukia did so as many in said delegation were not fans of her, and she didn't want to hear them complain about how she ran an understaffed division that was still using mostly temporary barracks.
"You could say that," she and Isane had formed a good friendship since Rukia became a lieutenant. This was mostly through Kiyone as it was clear the two sisters were close, she even had the transfer paperwork ready to have Kiyone become Isane's lieutenant once she finally ascended to the captaincy of the fourth. Though Isane was definitely more of a wallflower than her younger sister, an issue she would have to deal with if she was to be respected as a captain in the future.
"Are you worried about how the rest of your family would criticize how you run your division?" Isane was clear with her wording. In Isane's mind, she no longer belonged to the thirteenth, but the thirteenth belonged to her. Rukia held a similar opinion with the fourth and Isane herself.
"Yes," Rukia spoke in a hushed whisper. The Ukitake clan was a subordinate house to the Kuchiki, but Jushiro had run the thirteenth for longer than many could remember. He was seen as one of the 'four pillars' of the Gotei 13. Now only Kyoraku remained from that esteemed number. Her late captain would be a hard act to follow to many, let alone eyes as critical as the Kuchiki.
Isane simply nodded. Isane understood the anxiety. The imposter syndrome that would consume you. Turning to the desk next to you to ask a question on instinct, only to look over and be reminded by the empty desk that they were no longer there. Unohana had become a pillar in Isane's own life, she could understand how Rukia felt. Though Rukia didn't have to deal with her captain giving her what in effect was their suicide note before leaving to die. That hurt, much more than when she found out about Unohana's past.
"How do you do it?" Rukia asked the more experienced lieutenant for guidance.
"I feel I should be asking you the same," but Isane had none to give.
"You're both doing great, don't let anyone else say otherwise," Renji couldn't let two of the strongest women he knew fall into their pit of self-doubts any longer. Frankly, he was impressed they weren't doing worse. The thirteenth was running on just below half strength, and the fourth was an administrative nightmare, especially as the base workload of the fourth had increased due to the sheer amount of construction going on. "I wouldn't be able to do half of what either of you have done."
Both the tallest and shortest of the lieutenants in the Gotei looked at their peer in shock. Renji had begun to be seen as the model lieutenant over the past few years. He had even turned down the captaincy of the seventh division in spite of having a bankai, something that had never happened in the Gotei's history. He was the strongest of the lieutenants and was probably stronger than some of the remaining captains, and he was telling them they were doing fine. Not only that, but he couldn't do what they were doing.
"What? You both have seen how Hisagi has to ride me to turn my paperwork in on time, doing a captain's paperwork on top of that would already be pushing it," Renji scratched the back of his neck. He really didn't like the administrative parts of his job, they were boring as hell. "Then having to manage a hospital or a massive amount of living world patrols on top of that? No thank you."
Renji's response garnered a chuckle from Rukia and Kiyone. He really was a piece of work.
Ichigo was in the foyer where Rukia had set up the flower displays. Under the lighting that had been set up prior to the event, it was quite stunning. Rukia truly did have an eye for details like this.
"I owe Rukia after this…" Kukaku mused. They were in the foyer greeting the guests and the arrangement had gotten positive reactions as the guests slowly came in, which was good because Kukaku never really focused on being 'ladylike' when she was growing up.
"Don't worry, she won't hold it against you," Ichigo didn't mention the why as they both could connect the dots. He wasn't going to hold it against her either. If she still needed to work through her guilt he would let her.
"It's the principle of the matter," Kukaku didn't like not rewarding someone who did something for her. Not to mention that regardless of her status she had become a friend of the family through being a friend of Ichigo's.
"Fair enough," Ichigo looked around the crowd that had gathered. They were in a lull in the arrivals. He was surprised to learn that he had a following among the younger shinigami when some of the division delegations arrived.
It was at that moment the Kuckiki finally arrived with members of the thirteenth and sixth divisions. Though Ichigo was surprised to see that members of the fourth were also in the group.
Byakuya had moved to meet with Kukaku to be welcomed, as had Rukia and Isane. Some of the others however had come to speak with him. Unsurprising as many wanted to speak with the heir to the Shiba clan.
"So, you're actually nobility. Explains how you were able to kick my ass back then," Renji verbally jabbed at him. He knew how strong a member of the five houses could be as his captain was one himself.
"Please, your zanpakuto has an exploitable weakness and it was clear you never trained to cover for it," Ichigo had started out as a street fighter, and a damn good one. His form may generally be somewhat sloppy, but he was good at finding and exploiting openings.
"And you have the swordsmanship of a wild animal," Renji shot back. Ichigo was rough and unrefined. It's a wonder to Renji how he won so many swordfights.
"Idiots the both of you," Rukia proceeded to slap the both of them for letting their egos momentarily get the better of them. "We're here at an event celebrating a great house's reinstatement and you two are bickering. Way to make yourselves look like children."
"Rukia, is this your work?" an old voice spoke from behind Rukia.
Rukia jolted in surprise.
"Yes Lord Ginrei, Lady Kukaku needed help planning the event so I offered my assistance," Rukia very quickly switched from berating Ichigo and Renji to her polite tone and cadence as though she hadn't just slapped a blood heir of a noble house.
"Superb work," Ginrei knew that Rukia wore a mask when in noble company. He wished she didn't around him, but it was likely that she would continue to use it even if he asked her not to. He then turned to Ichigo.
"You must be Isshin's son, and the one who helped my grandson to see reason," Ginrei looked over Ichigo. He is very much a Shiba. It's surprising nobody considered the possibility given it was known Isshin ran off with a human.
"Yeah, and I guess I did do that," Ichigo rubbed the back of his head. He knew who Ginrei was, though he had never met him in his time helping Rukia with taking care of Byakuya.
"It is good to finally meet you in person, and it is also good to see the Shibas return to their rightful place," Ginrei was appalled at what Central 46 did in the wake of Isshin's desertion. It was a blatant power grab disguised as a punitive act.
"Yeah, though I was caught off guard to learn that," Ichigo scratched the back of his head. He had no idea what to make of the older Kuchiki.
"I can imagine, and I am sorry you had to become involved in the first place," Ginrei knew the way things were supposed to be. He was also old enough however to realize that the world rarely conformed to whatever sense of 'order' you impose on it. "Now then, I think I took up too much of your time already, I have some old friends I want to speak with before the celebration begins," with that Ginrei nodded and left Ichigo to his business.
"Yeah, guess I should be going as well. Need to stick with the captain for now," Renji walked off to go to where Byakuya was, following a half step behind Ginrei. Rukia followed as well, but not after a moment's hesitation.
"Have to say, that was the nicest I've ever seen the old man," Kukaku remarked quietly. She had been listening in after she had finished greeting Byakuya and Isane.
"Huh?" Ichigo looked over at Kukaku.
"Ginrei was Byakuya's predecessor both as head of the Kuchiki and captain of the sixth. He goes all the way back to the original Gotei, he's almost as old as the late head captain," Kukaku's remark caught Ichigo by surprise.
"Former captain?" Ichigo found that confusing. He thought that you maintained your power even as you age.
"As you get older you're supposed to lose power gradually. Yamamoto of course said screw that and only got stronger," she was impressed really. For someone to be that old, yet so powerful that even Yhawach had to plan around him. "Probably trained his ass off to do it though."
"Probably," Ichigo found the lack of Yamamoto's burning presence to be uncomfortable. Without him, the Seireitei, Soul Society even, felt colder.
Then, the final group that they were waiting for arrived.
"Hey, sorry we're late, lost track of time," Shunsui had arrived along with Nanao and Lisa.
"He was distracted by a pretty lady," Lisa said nonchalantly.
"You were looking too," Shunsui responded, feigning a betrayed tone.
"And I didn't stand there drooling," Lisa responded dismissively, then moved to be seated.
"Get seated you old man, then we'll get started," Kukaku knew she could get away with the remark given Kyoraku's normally relaxed attitude.
The beginning of the event was… very Shiba. Byakuya shouldn't have been surprised given that Kukaku was given the role of master of the Kakaku Taiho before Kaien's death and Isshin's desertion. She had set up a frankly obscene amount of fireworks and set them off in sequence. It was a stunning display of pyrotechnical ability, but it was also obscenely loud.
Fortunately, the display was not overly long, and soon the crowds had dispersed to begin socialization. Byakuya had plans to get absolutely smashed today, but he did have some matters to attend to. First of which was observing the interactions between his sister and Ichigo.
It was plainly obvious that the two knew each other on a level rarely seen even among lovers. Rukia was far more relaxed and open with him than he had seen her the entire time he has known her. There were also moments where he could tell that the two harbored feelings for each other. It was plain as day, but it seemed that had too much respect, or were too nervous, to ask for that kind of commitment. Thus, he wouldn't force it upon them.
"Observing your sister?" His grandfather had insisted on following him along. Perhaps he guessed what his plans for the night entailed. "You know, the boy reminds me of you when you were younger," Ginrei subtly teased his grandson. Taking a drink from his own saucer.
"I was nowhere near as foolish," Byakuya retorted calmly.
"Oh? I seem to remember how a particular captain found her way under your skin every time she visited," Ginrei smirked as he recollected Yoruichi's intrusions on his grandson's training.
"I will not entertain this line of conversation any further," with that Byakuya took a deep drink from his saucer.
"Suit yourself," Ginrei sighed. "Do you notice anything strange about the boy's reiatsu?" Ginrei really didn't want to be right about this.
"What do you mean?" Byakuya looked at his grandfather with a raised eyebrow.
"It's nothing," Ginrei shook his head. The topic would cause undue strife if it were overheard. And either way, the boy's loyalties were clear. "Just an old man's wandering mind."
Byakuya nodded. It was clear that his grandfather didn't want to talk about it here.
as always, I hoped you enjoyed, and feedback is always welcome.