Per the orders he had received, Gin strode towards the captain's office. It was still odd to walk through the corridors of the Seireitei without Rangiku around, or even the expectation that they would get together for meals. It just was not feasible for a full shinigami and an Academy student to meet every day, so they would have to settle for weekly reunions.
But at the moment, Gin was looking forward to his first in-person meeting with his commanding officer. According to the various reports he had read on his new captain, the man had a long and decorated history as a brutal, cunning leader, and was considered one of the most powerful and dangerous fighters in the Gotei 13.
Coming to a halt before the office door, he made a show of coughing ostentatiously and then announced, "New recruit Ichimaru Gin, reportin' for duty, captain!"
"You may enter," a low voice rumbled in response.
Sliding the door open, he laid eyes on the infamous warrior for the first time.
Stretched supine on the floor with one leg up and the other crossed over it was indeed a man who appeared to be wearing a captain's haori. But he had a pink, flowery kimono as his bedspread, and a straw hat covered the slob's face as he rested his head on one hand, leaving his face a mystery for the time being.
Based on the other rumors he had heard, it seemed like Gin was viewing the vaunted Kyōraku Shunsui in his natural state.
"If I'm interruptin', I can come back later," the prodigy remarked sardonically.
"Not at all," Kyōraku drawled, his voice slightly muffled by his straw hat. "As a matter of fact, why don't you join me?"
"Join ya?" Gin raised an eyebrow.
"Lie down, relax," the tall man beckoned. "Take a load off, kid."
Gin pondered. Well, it was an order from his commanding officer, so who was this lowly rookie to refuse? With that, he plopped himself down on the floor next to his superior and mimicked his relaxed pose.
After a few moments spent doing nothing, the new graduate inquired, "So, there a reason why ya chose this as yer nappin' spot?"
"I'm hiding from my Lisa-chan," Kyōraku answered leisurely.
It took him a second to make the connection. "Ya mean Yadōmaru-fukutaichō? How 'come?"
"Because she is a ruthless slave driver, and she'll force me to do some actual work if she finds me."
Gin felt obliged to notify his captain of the flaw in his plan. "Yer in yer office, where yer actual work is."
"Which is the one place Lisa-chan will never expect to find me," Kyōraku explained with a sigh of satisfaction at his own brilliance.
"Good plan," Gin agreed.
After a couple minutes of comfortable silence, the captain asked, "By the way, Ichimaru-kun, what brings you here?"
"Oh, Yadōmaru-fukutaichō ordered me here, said it would be a good idea fer me to meet my new captain."
There was a moment's silence as the statement sunk in.
"Please tell me she sent you here because she's now searching my other usual napping spots," the captain stated with a measure of dread, "and I have some time to escape before she comes back."
As he spoke the office door flew open and a stern female voice announced, "Wrong. I already knew you were here, and you are making a lousy first impression on our new recruit."
"But Lisa-chan, he just caught me when I was on break, that's all!" Kyōraku pleaded.
"Statistically speaking, it's very easy to catch you while you're on one of your 'breaks,'" Yadōmaru Lisa deadpanned with eyes cold as ice.
"So cruel…" the First Seat whined.
"Yes, that's me, a sadist." With that Lisa came into the room and began selecting several stacks of paperwork from the desk. "Now, break time's over."
She presented the volumes of division memoranda to her captain, who turned his head away with a sulky pout. "…Don't wanna."
If Yadōmaru's expression had been chilly before, it now ratcheted down to temperatures that would have spelled certain doom for any warm-blooded animal. Without breaking her gaze from her petulant captain, she commanded, "…Ichimaru Gin, step outside for a moment."
"I'm up!" Kyōraku leapt to his feet before Gin could find his.
"Belay that," she retracted her order.
"What were ya plannin' on doin' to him?" Gin raised an eyebrow as he followed his captain's example in a more leisurely fashion.
"I'll tell you when you're older," the lieutenant replied, and to her captain she asked, "Now, did you even bother to properly welcome him to the Eighth?"
"I felt welcome," the new recruit opined with a smirk, and then noted, "Ya know, if ya really cared 'bout yer captain makin' a good firs' impression on me, ya woulda gone ahead firs' an' made sure Kyōraku-taichō was presentable. Add in that conveniently timed entrance o' yers, it either means yer not that good at plannin' ahead… or this was a test on how I'd react."
Both his superior officers paused and looked at him with inscrutable expressions. Then, Kyōraku let out a chuckle and remarked, "Well, now, I'd say he's a perfect fit for our division, don't you think, Lisa-chan?"
"Hm, I'd say so, yes," she agreed without too much inflection. "And based on his scores at the Academy, I'd say… Fifth Seat?"
"Sounds good to me," he agreed, and then returned his attention to the young prodigy with, "Welcome to the Eighth Division, Fifth Seat Ichimaru Gin."
"Thanks, Kyōraku-taichō, Yadōmaru-fukutaichō," he bowed, mindful of how much he had just risen in the world over the last few seconds. "Now, what let me pass? The fact I figured it out it was a test?"
"That was part of it, yes," the captain confirmed. "The other part was how willing you were to just relax. Here in the Eighth, we're pretty laid back, and if you were one of the more workaholic types, you probably wouldn't find it up your alley."
"But you are expected to perform your duties to the best of your abilities," Yadōmaru reminded both the rookie and her captain sternly. Then she conceded, "With that being said, yes, it is important to know how to take a break, and not stress yourself too much."
"Work hard, then play hard," Gin agreed. "That's my philosophy."
"Exactly!" Kyōraku beamed. "Now, I'm curious, what made you decide to join our division?"
"'Cause I heard 'bout the way ya fight," the fox spirit answered. "An' I wanted some tips."
"…Is that so?" the captain regarded his new subordinate with a solemn expression from under his hat.
"Yep."
"You don't waste any time, do you?" Yadōmaru remarked. "Not even here a day and already asking your captain for lessons."
"Well as long as I'm here, an' he was askin' why I wanted to be in the Eighth…," Gin shrugged.
"He's got a point," Kyōraku acknowledged lightly, and then asked the boy in a more serious manner, "But why?"
"We're shinigami, ain't we?" the newly appointed Fifth Seat replied. "So we should do the best we can to get stronger an' better."
For a while the First Seat gazed at him with an unreadable expression. "Is that the only reason?"
Gin tilted his questioningly. "I need 'nother one?"
"Well, if it is, then it's too boring," Kyōraku leaned back lazily and tilted his hat down over his eyes, looking for all the world like he had just fallen asleep.
"Eh?"
From beneath the brim of his hat, he replied, "Getting stronger as a shinigami isn't a reason for me to train you; that's an expectation. If you really want me to take a personal hand in your development from here on out, you need a real reason for you to gain power and skill."
"Like what?" Gin asked, unsure how much he wanted to reveal to these people yet.
"That's for you to figure out."
"Can I get a hint?" the youth asked hopefully.
"Nope. Now, while you're pondering that little question, there is one more test you must pass before you can expect to be considered a true member of the Eighth Division."
"And what would that be?" Gin asked curiously.
Kyōraku rolled to his feet and threw that ridiculous pink cloak over his shoulders. After he was satisfied that he was "presentable," the captain ordered, "Follow me and find out," and strode towards the door, his taciturn lieutenant right behind him.
The kit shrugged and heeded his superior's command.
Their stroll was neither hurried nor urgent, and while Gin could tell they were exiting the Eighth Division, he had yet to become familiar enough with the Seireitei's layout to guess what their destination would be. He pointedly did not bother to ask his captain any questions as he was led through the labyrinthian corridors of the Seireitei. Gin figured all would be explained in good time.
Besides, this was hardly any worse than the times Shinsō had made him wait.
Upon seeing the number on the barracks of the division they were visiting, Gin realized he should have guessed their goal sooner.
"Hey, Ukitake," Kyōraku called.
"Kyōraku! Lisa-kun! Good to see you!" the captain of the Thirteenth Division greeted cheerfully in return as he looked up from his paperwork. "What brings you around?"
"Just wanted to introduce you to our newest seated officer, fresh out of the Academy," the Eighth's captain replied, and gestured behind him, "Ukitake, this is Fifth Seat Ichimaru Gin, the brilliant lad that graduated in two years, matching Kaien's record. Gin-kun, this is Ukitake Jūshirō, captain of the Thirteenth Division."
"Pleased to meetcha," Gin said as he bowed to the saintly figure. Further introductions were not necessary.
He was well aware of Ukitake's record; after all it was hard to miss it when reading up on Kyōraku's past exploits. The two men were inseparable friends, brothers in all but in blood, forged through the bonds forged in the centuries they had served the Gotei 13. Gin realized he was now in the presence of two living legends. Even for him, he couldn't help but feel a little awed.
"You as well, Gin-kun," the white-haired soul replied cheerily, and then addressed his old friend companionably, "You know, when I took on Kaien-kun, it wasn't my intention to start a competition."
"Perhaps not, but when I saw him, I knew I just had to have one of my own," the lothario chuckled.
The Thirteenth's captain shook his head in long-suffering amusement, and then returned his attention to the person in question. "Seriously, Gin-kun, congratulations your accomplishment. In fact, allow me offer you a little gift…"
Ukitake reached into the sleeve of his haori. Moments later, Gin was surprised to see a piece of candy pulled out and offered out to him, along with the friendliest, most doting smile he had ever seen on another human being. For a moment, he could only stare at the treat, and then glanced back to his own captain. The only answer he got was an amused smile, which at least meant it probably wasn't poisoned.
"What's the catch?" he asked as he redirected his attention back to the white-haired captain.
"The point of a gift is that there is no catch," Ukitake smiled back. Most peculiarly, despite Gin's experiences otherwise in the Rukongai, the expression seemed sincere.
"Why?"
"Why not?"
Despite his best efforts to divine any nefarious ulterior motives, he could find none. The man simply radiated kindness and goodwill. Finding this rather strange, he nevertheless cautiously accepted the confection with a brief, "Thanks."
"No problem!" the elder captain beamed back at him.
Giving away candy without expecting anything in return; Gin was quickly beginning to learn that the Gotei 13 were composed of some rather odd people.
"…And with that, I learned that acceptin' a piece o' candy from Ukitake-taichō counts as passin' a test in the Eighth Division," Gin recounted.
"If only we got such easy exams here at the Academy," Rangiku giggled.
"Yeah, it was all 'bout compatibility," the boy surmised. "After all, with how tight Ukitake-taichō an' Kyōraku-taichō are, it's prob'ly a requirement fer shinigami in those divisions to work well together." He then threw her a penetrating look. "An' speakin' o' tests, how are yers goin'?"
"Please don't ask," she groaned miserably.
"That bad, huh?"
"I'm passing them all right, but they're just so hard!" Rangiku whined. "Every time I'm finished, it feels like my brain is about to melt out through my ears!"
"Then jus' put in some earplugs," Gin cheerfully suggested, earning an irritated glare for his wit. He chuckled and changed the topic. "So, how's the rest o' yer life goin'? Anythin' interestin' goin' on?"
"Well, I've started to make some new friends, so that's been fun," the girl perked up.
"Aw, bein' replaced already?" the silver-haired boy faux-lamented.
"Of course not, Gin! You're still my best friend!" she quickly assured him.
"I'm jus' kiddin', I don't mind ya getting' more people to hang out with, as long as they make ya happy," Gin replied back warmly.
"Thanks," she returned his smile, and then asked, "So, what about you, have you made any new friends at the Eighth?"
"Nope," he shrugged indifferently.
For a moment Rangiku seemed taken aback. Then she remembered who she was talking to. "Have you even tried?"
Gin turned a blissfully contented smile on her. "Nope."
"Why not? There's got to be someone there you can keep you company until I graduate."
"Maybe, but I don't really care to find out," Gin opined. "Yer the only friend I'll ever need."
"Hey, as much as I love being your best friend, you really should have other friends, too," Rangiku rebutted in concern.
"I'm skeptical."
"Please, just try it?" Rangiku asked, and batted her eyes, "For me?"
Gin met her pleading gaze for a few moments, fought down an urge to squirm in discomfort, and finally answered, "…I'll think 'bout it."
"I suppose that's the best I'll get out of you," she sighed melodramatically.
"Yep," he chuckled.
Later, after he said his farewells to his friend and started wandering back to his quarters in the Eighth Division, Gin's mind journeyed back to Kyōraku's requirement for personal training. In all honesty, he did have a goal more than simply "get stronger." After Shinsō had demanded the same from him in order to learn her name, Gin knew why he wanted to become a better shinigami.
The real question was whether he wanted to disclose that information to his captain. Gin was not one to easily trust others, and despite how much he respected his superior's abilities and sought to emulate him, he was not sure he was ready to admit such a personal goal to him.
But that just might have to be the price if he wanted to advance his skills faster.
Quite the dilemma he had.
Though it took Gin a few months, he reached a decision. He knew life as a shinigami would not be without risk, and if he needed to take one in order to gain valuable lessons on survival, then it would be one worth taking. Besides, it was unlikely Kyōraku would not find out eventually anyway, so might as well have it out on his own terms.
So one day after he had completed his assigned duties, he sought out his captain.
"So, ya wanted to know my reason?" Gin asked. "Why I wanna take lessons from ya?"
"And…?" Kyōraku lifted the brim of his hat from his place relaxing against the side of a tree. Seriously, the man could sleep anywhere.
Despite the vulnerability he was about to show, the trickster maintained a casual air. "There's someone I wanna protect."
The captain regarded him for a few inscrutable moments, then let out a light chuckle. "All right, good enough for me. I'll let Lisa-chan know so we can schedule your first lessons."
"Much appreciated, Kyōraku-taichō," Gin bowed in gratitude, not only for agreeing to the tutoring, but also for not pressing for more details on his reasons.
The next day, after administrative tasks had been completed, not only Kyōraku but also Yadōmaru brought him to one of the training fields for his first session.
"Before we start, do you remember one of the basic tenets of combat taught at the Academy?" the laid-back captain asked.
"Don't seek beauty in battle. Don't seek virtue in death," Gin recited. "Don't make the mistake o' considerin' jus' yer own life. If ya wanna protect that which ya must protect, slice the enemy ya gotta defeat from behind."
"Very good," the captain nodded in approval. "And while this lesson is one that is taught in your lessons, it is unfortunately uncommon for shinigami to remember it after graduation."
This hardly came as a surprise, but Gin still felt the need to ask. "Why?"
Here Kyōraku sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Because in spite of it being a basic lesson, the culture of most of the Seireitei still esteems more… 'honorable' forms of combat, and eschews the tactics they would call underhanded."
His pupil scoffed. "Why does it matter how the battle is fought, as long as it's won?"
"Because people often cannot dissociate what morals they should hold in everyday life and what they must do in matters of life and death," Kyōraku replied.
"I don't got that problem," Gin replied cheerfully.
"Yes, I think the real challenge here is teaching Ichimaru-kun morals in everyday life," Yadōmaru interjected dryly. "He's got the 'anything goes in a fight' attitude down flat."
"Hey, thanks, Yadōmaru-fukutaichō!" the boy grinned.
"That wasn't a compliment…" the bespectacled woman stared at him expressionlessly, then turned to her captain. "Skip the lecture on how to approach combat, and go ahead and get him started on how to fight."
"I agree," Kyōraku removed his pink kimono and tossed it to his lieutenant who caught it dutifully without changing her expression, and ventured into the middle of the sparring ring.
"We're not usin' bokken?" Gin raised an eyebrow as he took his place opposite his sensei.
"No need for it," Kyōraku told him. "You're not strong enough yet that you could puncture my reiatsu even if you wanted to. As for the reverse, well, the sharpness of a zanpakutō's blade is directly proportional to the amount of killing intent a shinigami has. If a shinigami lacks the will or intent to cut, then the zanpakutō will not cut." He patted the dual hilts of his blades securely. "Since we're just sparring, you will have nothing to fear from my blade."
"No promises about bruises," Yadōmaru supplemented clinically.
"Duly noted," Gin accepted as he readied his wakizashi. "So, when do we start?"
It was a couple years into his career that the aspiring shinigami encountered the first true test of his skills.
"So what's the deal?" Gin asked as he approached Yadōmaru after being summoned by her, standing alongside several other officers from the Eighth.
"There was an earthquake in the world of the living earlier today in the Yamagata region," she answered. "Several hundred humans were killed, and our division has been selected to deal with the aftermath."
"Ya mean with all the souls needin' konsō?"
"There will be teams dealing with them, but that is not our objective," the lieutenant replied. "We will be addressing the other major consequence of so many plus souls appearing on the scene at once: Hollows."
"Ah, I get it, a whole buncha souls means a nice big smorgasbord for 'em," Gin nodded in understanding.
"Exactly." She now addressed the assembled company. "Our mission is to hunt down and purify any Hollows we come across. An event like this is likely to entice more powerful ones to join the fray, such as Menos Grande."
"Sounds like fun," the fox smirked.
"Let's see how long you hold that attitude," the taciturn woman remarked. "Now, let's go."
With that, the Eighth Division followed their Second Seat through the interdimensional portal. After sufficient time had passed, the Senkaimon opened before them, and for the first time since his passing, Ichimaru Gin returned to the world of the living.
"Welcome to Sakata," Yadōmaru announced to her entourage. "Third Seat Odaka, Fourth Seat Kusakawa, you take your regiments to your assigned areas. Ichimaru, with me."
"Right behind ya," Gin nodded as he followed his commanding officer with the rest of the shinigami in their squad.
It was not long before they reached their assigned district, and the roars of several Hollows could be heard crying out.
"Ichimaru and I will focus on cleansing the Hollows," Yadōmaru announced to her subordinates. "The rest of you search the area for plus souls and perform konsō on them."
"Yes, ma'am!" the underlings chorused and then dispersed quickly.
After they left, the lieutenant addressed Ichimaru, "As for us, we are to seek out and cleanse Hollows. Prioritize the ones that are after plus souls and shinigami, and keep a feel out for stronger ones that lower ranking officers would have difficulty with."
"Got it," Gin nodded.
"We split up, but not too far," she continued. "Stay within reiatsu detection range of myself; while most Hollows here will be no trouble to officers of our power and skill, there's always a chance of a Menos showing up, and you will need backup if that happens."
"Understood. Anythin' else?"
"No. Good luck."
Permission given, the prodigy sped off in search of his first target. Leaping from rooftop to rooftop with great celerity, it was not long before he found it.
A Hollow was in pursuit of a family of Plus souls, a husband and wife and two children by the looks of it.
Gin spared no time. He took advantage of the heartless monster's tunnel vision on its prey, and leapt down from the roof behind the beast. Drawing Shinsō, he planted the blade in the back of the Hollow's skull and swung upwards. The malevolent spirit screeched in shock and agony briefly before its body disintegrated.
The family turned around at the sound, and Gin grinned at their stupefied faces and gave them a casual wave. Then he put them out of his mind and leapt back onto the rooftops to continue the hunt for his next quarry, dancing on air.
Several minutes passed, and then Gin felt the killing intent of an impending attack, and promptly jumped out the way. Just in time, for several stilettos impacted on the roof where he had been a moment before.
He looked at the source of the projectiles to see a Hollow in the form of a grotesque porcupine. The beast hunched its back, and let loose another volley of quills at him.
Again, Gin evaded the attack and then pointed his zanpakutō at his enemy. "Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"
The serpentine blade struck forward and effortlessly pierced the Hollow's mask, ending the fight without fanfare.
And so it continued for the next several hours. Find a Hollow, slay it, and move on. With none of his foes providing a decent challenge, Gin found himself getting bored.
When the next monster charged him, a bestial monster that was some grotesque parody of a wolf, Gin let Shinsō fly again, but this time not toward the mask. Instead, the blade chopped off a forelimb, and caused the beast to stumble. The Hollow shrieked in pain and fury, and heedless of its injury, leapt in another attempt to sate its endless hunger.
Gin easily sidestepped the pounce, and made a quick, shallow slash onto his opponent's back, eliciting another pained roar. This time, the monster paused to study its quarry before its next attack, growling lowly at the difficulty it was having with its prospective meal. The shinigami returned the gaze with smirk of his own, deliberating what he should do next.
The choice was taken away from him rather abruptly when the Hollow he had been playing with suddenly split in two, dissolving away into flecks of shadow. As it dissipated, it revealed Yadōmaru Lisa standing there with her taciturn features etched with a disapproving frown.
Despite the nonverbal chastisement which Gin was unsure how he had caused, he replied without breaking his smile, "Watcha need, Yadōmaru-fukutaichō?"
"We're being relieved," she informed him. "Our shift is over for now."
"Already? Where has the time gone?" he remarked lightly as he sheathed his zanpakutō.
As she led them to the forward camp the Eighth had set up, Yadōmaru asked, "What were you doing with that Hollow?"
"Just messin' 'round," Gin shrugged. "Slicin' an' dicin' got borin'."
"You cannot afford to 'mess around' the battlefield," she scolded him. "Are you so soon forgetting the lessons of efficiency Kyōraku-taichō and I have been teaching you?"
The kit suddenly felt a little less comfortable with himself. "It was jus' to pass the time, until 'nother Hollow showed up," Gin attempted to explain.
"You should be seeking out Hollows, not wait for them to come to you," Yadōmaru corrected sternly.
Sensing he was not going to win this argument, the trickster reluctantly conceded, "All right, fine, no playin' 'round on the job."
"I'll hold you to that," the lieutenant told him as they approached the base camp the shinigami had set up. "Go ahead and have a seat, I'll check in and bring us some rations."
"Bringin' me lunch?" Gin glanced at her slyly.
His leader did not look at him as she summoned a hell butterfly and began imparting her report. "Your behavior at the end of your shift aside, you otherwise performed well on your first real mission. Allow me to indulge you."
"All right, thanks."
Sure enough, a few minutes later after the lieutenant had spoken with the other officers in the camp, she returned with lunches in hand.
"Here you go," Yadōmaru handed the one parcel to her subordinate on the bridge of a temple roof now leaning drastically to one side as a result of the base having caved in.
"Thanks." He was feeling hungry and began to tuck in right away. When Lisa took a seat beside him, he looked over curiously. "Keepin' me company?"
"Yes," she answered after taking a bite. "As your commanding officer, you are my responsibility, and your upbringing is included in that. As such, I noticed that your social skills are rather lacking. In this division, that is a shortcoming I cannot allow to remain unchecked."
Gin had noticed that for their all their ruthlessness on the battlefield, the Eighth was very chummy with each other. It was rare to see members of his division alone, often in groups of at least three in their spare time. Until now, the prodigy had chosen to remain aloof as he had during his time in the Rukongai, and had little interest in befriending anyone else with the expectation that Rangiku would be joining up soon, in spite of her recommendations.
"Not sure if I need social skills as a shinigami," Gin opined around a mouthful of rice.
"You are the Fifth Seat of the Eighth Division, Ichimaru," Yadōmaru returned. "You are in a position of authority due to your power, skills, and intelligence, but in order to truly embrace the rank you hold, you must be able to instill trust in the officers you lead."
"An' ya think chattin' me up is the way to go 'bout it?"
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It's a start."
"…Eh, all right," Gin shrugged. It wasn't like he was opposed to hanging out with his lieutenant. Far from it. With a mischievous smirk, he continued, "So if yer so invested in my upbringin', does this mean yer my mom?"
"If you wish to seek a familial bond with me, I can prepare adoption papers after we complete this mission," Yadōmaru offered with her trademark blandness. "Though if you don't mind, I think I'd prefer take you on as a younger brother than a son; the stigma of being an unwed mother would be a pain to deal with."
"Oh, an' what would the other noble clans think, ya takin' on a Rukongai brat like me?" he countered impishly.
"Well, if I was actually nobility, there would be quite the scandal."
"Huh?" Gin blinked in surprise.
"I'm not a noble," Yadōmaru clarified, noticing his confusion. "I come from a long line of household servants, one that has served the Kyōraku clan for centuries now. I'm actually the first member to show any potential as a shinigami."
"Well, good on ya," the prodigy remarked. It had never occurred to him this powerful fighter would derive from anything but a clan of warriors. "It's funny, I thought everyone in the Seireitei that wasn't a shinigami was a noble."
"And who do you think takes care of all the menial chores the upper echelons can't bother with?" she replied.
"The Fourth Division?"
The brunette snorted, "No, their duties are strictly limited to shinigami business. Nobles have their own servants and laborers to whom they delegate their various tasks."
"In hindsight, that makes sense," Gin nodded. After taking another bite from his lunch, he then asked, "So, how'd ya get to be lieutenant? It's weird that a captain would let his vice-captain boss him around that much, 'specially one that's his family servant."
"Urahara and Sarugaki," Yadōmaru deadpanned.
"…Yeah, well, I figured that was jus' 'cause she came with the division, an' he was too lazy to find himself a friendlier lieutenant."
She took another bite of food. "Ōtoribashi and Iba."
"…Kinda figured the same deal, 'cept Ōtoribashi-taichō's too scared to get rid o' her."
"Not untrue," Yadōmaru conceded. "But point is, having an assertive lieutenant is not a rarity for a captain in the Gotei 13."
"That may be, but unlike those other two examples ya mentioned, Kyōraku-taichō chose ya as his lieutenant, an' I bet he knew ya were no pushover when he gave ya that badge," Gin deduced.
"And you would be correct, he knew what I was like, considered my qualities and strengths, and selected me as his Second because of them," she confirmed conversationally. "Do you disagree with his choice?"
"Nope," he answered honestly. "Yer strong an' smart, an' ya know to do whatever it takes to get a job done. He made a good call."
"It is a relief to know that we have your approval," Yadōmaru remarked flatly.
"I prefer to think of it as recognizin' the wisdom o' my captain's decisions," Gin countered with a smirk.
Another day passes, and Gin continued his mission to cleanse Hollows. Though he was tempted many a time to make things more interesting by playing with his prey, the knowledge that his strict lieutenant was never too far away persuaded him to abstain from such activities.
It was at the end of their shift when he and Yadōmaru were eating together again that curiosity prompted Gin to ask, "So, does this happen a lot in the world of the living?"
"Earthquakes? All the time around here," she answered. "But if you're asking how often they're severe enough that it requires mass mobilization of shinigami…" Her gaze drifted over the ruined locale, as though weighing casualties and losses over a career that lasted decades. "Well, that's pretty random. Sometimes you can go years without a major incident, then sometimes they happen quickly in the space of months.
"The last major earthquake was about three years ago in the plains of Nōbi, left about seven thousand dead. The Eighth wasn't in the frontlines for that one, but we were on reserve in case reinforcements were needed."
Gin craned his head around speculatively. "So this one ain't that a big a deal?"
"With only six or seven hundred dead? Not at all," the lieutenant replied. "Mind you, it's still big enough that we should not treat it lightly, but this crisis is quite manageable. Perfect first-time experience for yourself and other shinigami that need it."
"I thought most souls made it to Soul Society on their own," Gin recalled from his Academy lessons. "So shouldn't there only be a few dozen souls to worry 'bout?"
"Under normal circumstances, yes, but remember the reason those souls stay behind: they have unfinished business," Yadōmaru reminded him. "In a normal life, only a fraction of individuals feel strongly enough to refuse to move forward. But in a disaster that happens suddenly, the trauma it inflicts on the victims means that a much higher percentage of human souls require our intervention to complete their journey to Soul Society. It isn't always earthquakes, either," she added in a casual vein totally unsuited for the topic. "There's also tsunamis, volcanoes, famines, typhoons, landslides, wars… there are a lot of ways for a lot of humans to die."
Ticking the tally of disasters off on his fingers, Gin let out a low whistle. "Well, on the plus side, it means great job security fer us," he remarked lightly.
Just as the lieutenant could scold him for the tackiness of that remark, the sky fell on them.
At least, it felt that way to Gin. Leaping upright, the shinigami gazed up at the source of this dreadful foreboding. Above them the very heavens warped open to reveal a black void. Giant pale hands grabbed one edge of the tear in the heavens and ripped it further open to reveal a white-faced monster clad in a long black robe.
Once the aperture was fully open, the behemoth of a Hollow stepped into the world of the living in search of prey. It uttered a roar no living throat could possibly mimic, filled with hunger that went far beyond the needs of the flesh. Several soul reapers present clutched their ears in agony. Even the Hollows lurking in the vicinity cowered at the appearance of this cannibal predator.
"Well now, he's a big one," Gin noted casually.
Lisa made a distasteful noise as she stood beside him, tossing the half-finished onigiri over her shoulder as though it had lost all flavor. "Congratulations, Fifth Seat Ichimaru, you have now seen your first Menos Grande. They're a much more significant threat than standard Hollows, with reiatsu levels on par with most lieutenants, so don't get careless."
"'Course not," the kit replied. The ground quaked as that enormous monstrosity took its first step upon the earth, sending reverberations that caused any nearby humans to fear an aftershock. If they knew the truth, they'd be praying that was the case. "So, what's the plan?"
"Fortunately, as strong and tough as they are, they're not very smart, acting completely on instinct," the lieutenant signaled to their surrounding forces indicating they should draw back. Without needing to check if her orders were obeyed, she drew her sword. "You go in first; use your Shikai to draw its attention from a distance. Once it's focused on you, I'll move in for the killing strike."
"Got it," the Fifth Seat nodded, and dashed forward to execute their plan.
By this point, Gin well knew the reach of his first release to be about a hundred times its original length, which translated to roughly thirty meters. Well beyond easy counterattack of most shinigami and Hollows, but this monstrosity would only need to extend its arm to have Gin within its grasp.
No cause for concern.
Any apprehension he might have felt subsided upon feeling the zanpakutō's presence. "Shoot to kill, Shinsō!" he ordered, and thrust his wakizashi forward. The elongated blade snapped out and carved into the side of the beast, creating a thin line that seemed like it was doing miniscule damage.
But evidently, the attack had hurt enough that the Gillian deemed Gin a priority target, for it looked over at its assailant and reached out a ginormous hand.
Fortunately, the towering monster had sacrificed not just intelligence but also speed for its size and raw power, meaning Gin could easily evade the hand that attempted to ensnare him midair. The Menos Grande let out a frustrated growl at its failure, and a red sphere sparked into existence in front of its maw.
Recognizing the threat instantly, Gin flash-stepped up and away from his previous position as he saw the crimson globe grow in preparation for its devastating attack.
Unfortunately, the Menos' head required only a relative twitch to keep up with the small target, and with the size of the impending Cero, there was the chance that he might get hit by the beam. Even a glancing blow from such a shot could prove lethal to him.
"Smash, Haguro Tonbo!"
And there she was; Yadōmaru Lisa with her Shikai unleashed in the form of a hefty polearm twice her height that seemed to be a mix of a spear and monk's spade.
The appearance of a lieutenant at her full power was a mighty sight to behold as the brunette brought down her zanpakutō onto the oversized Hollow mask, which split like an eggshell from the crown to the base of the skull.
There was no resistance as Yadōmaru continued her descent, lengthening the crack in the white visage as she dived. Then with a final sweep of the spear, the new canyon was carved. The Menos Grande gave one final roar in protest as the hundreds of souls within were finally released from their torment and granted passage to Soul Society in a torrent of glowing butterflies.
The demise of such a powerful member of their brethren served as a signal to retreat for the rest of the literally heartless witnesses, and within the next few minutes, hundreds of Garganta allowed the Hollows to flee to Hueco Mundo.
"Well, that should grant us a reprieve for now," Yadōmaru remarked clinically as she noted the rout. "The one good thing about a Menos Grande appearing is if you manage to beat it, the rest of the horde decides to hightail it home."
"So, does that mean our job's done?" Gin inquired as he dropped beside her. To be honest, he felt a little disappointed; the fight was over too quickly for him to really test himself.
"Not quite," His lieutenant sealed her weapon and flipped it back into the scabbard with a practiced click. "Sometimes Hollows get hungry enough they'll risk coming back, if they think the reward is big enough, so we need to remain on guard for a few days more."
At hearing this he couldn't help but grin. "Nice."
Fortunately, Yadōmaru Lisa internally reflected as she recounted the events to her captain after they returned home, everything after the defeat of the Menos Grande had been routine.
"Our biggest loss was Fourth Seat Kusakawa Yoshinori; he was killed by a Hollow during the mission," she reported to her captain without even a flicker of dismay on her face. "It was a combination of him focused on a stronger foe while a weaker one with a venomous attack struck him from behind. They then attacked in tandem, and by the time I reached him, he had already succumbed to his wounds and the toxin."
"That's a shame, I always liked him," Slouched across from her in his office, Captain Kyōraku examined the official death report and dropped it onto the desk distastefully. He rubbed his eyes and spoke in a weary voice long used to relaying bad news. "I'll take care of informing his family."
"Do want me to come with you?" the lieutenant inquired.
"I think I would appreciate that, yes," He threw her a look of gratitude. Regardless of how she might appear to others, his lieutenant was not without sympathy. She simply chose not to make a big display of it like some others did, following her captain's example. "I think his family will, too, since you were his direct superior."
"Very well," she nodded, and then noted pragmatically, "We will need to fill his seat; did you intend on seeing if there's someone who can transfer into the Eighth, or would you prefer to promote Ichimaru?"
"Hm, I suppose you would know the answer to that question better than I," Kyōraku remarked, and then inquired, "How did he handle himself on the mission?"
"Against the Hollows? Phenomenally," the brunette reported. "Perhaps a little too well."
"What do you mean?" the captain raised an eyebrow, sensing a possible point of contention.
"He was doing so well that he started to sacrifice efficiency for fun," Lisa commented, and with a meaningful glance, she elaborated, "He started playing games."
Kyōraku's mouth straightened as he met her gaze. "I assume you took him aside and explained why it is generally a bad idea to be so cavalier in battle?"
"I did, but while he fell into line for a little bit, I'm pretty sure it was only a short-term behavioral correction," she replied. "I don't believe he actually understood the lesson, so he'll do it again if he thinks he can get away with it."
"My, my, that is troubling," the scruffy captain remarked as he stroked his chin. "So, you don't think he deserves a promotion?"
"I didn't say that," Lisa rebutted harshly, which caused him to chuckle in good-natured fashion. "There really is no one better in the Eighth to fill the vacancy. I'm simply recommending that we also keep an eye on him."
"…All right, bring him in and let us congratulate our new Fourth Seat," Kyōraku said.
Gin's elation at visiting Rangiku became rather subdued when he picked up on several tells that informed him that something was bothering her, despite the broad smile she wore as she greeted him. Still, he went through the pleasantries of their reunion, and waited until they had wandered to a more private setting to broach his concern.
"Ya wanna tell me what's eatin' ya?" Gin asked without wasting time. The way she stiffened at how he had called her out confirmed his suspicions. As her friend though, he waited patiently for a response either way, until finally her shoulders slumped.
"Gin, I messed up," she confessed in a voice choked with emotion. "I… I didn't pass this year's written exam."
Rangiku shut her eyes and awaited his reaction to her failure.
"What happened?"
Nervously, she cracked open one eye and dared to look at Gin. He wasn't smiling, but he didn't look mad, either. He simply sat there, patiently awaiting an answer to his query. "I… didn't study enough," Rangiku admitted quietly.
"How 'come?"
Again his voice stayed gentle, not reproaching her at all for ruining their plans. She glanced away guiltily. "Well, you remember how I mentioned that I started to make some new friends after you left?" She glanced over to see him nod in confirmation, the distraught girl continued, "I… started spending more time with them… and less time on my studies. I also… put off a couple assignments because I thought they could wait."
Still silence was his only reply.
Starting to feel oppressed by the lack of condemnation, she rounded on him in a fit of pique. "Gin, say something!"
"Like what?" he tilted his head in confusion.
"Like you're mad!"
"But I ain't."
"But… I failed the exam! I won't be able to graduate next year like I said I would!"
"An' I'm sad 'bout that, but not mad," Gin corrected her mildly. "All it means is that we gotta wait a bit longer 'fore we can be shinigami together."
"You're… really not angry with me?" Rangiku asked hopefully.
"Nope."
Overcome by relief, the Academy student pounced on her friend and drew him into a tight hug.
"Whoa, ya were that worried?" Gin started as he slowly returned the embrace, patting her golden head in reassurance.
"Yeah," Rangiku admitted quietly. "I was scared you'd be upset that I messed up, that I failed because I spent too much time goofing off with my friends and not enough studying."
"Aw, ain't mad 'bout that at all," he reassured her. "Do ya like 'em an' have fun with 'em?"
"Yeah," she answered, but quickly followed up with, "You're still my best friend though!"
Gin smiled fondly at her. It might be silly how happy it made him feel to hear that, but perhaps he needed it more than he thought. "Glad to hear it. As fer yer grades, well, I suppose that depends on what ya wanna do now."
"Huh?" the girl pulled away and blinked up at him.
"If ya still wanna graduate early, yer gonna hafta put more time into studyin'," he elucidated for her benefit. There was a new level of steel in his voice that had not been there before, mixed in with honest affection. "An' that means yer gonna hafta spend less time with yer new friends. But if ya wanna spend time with yer new friends, then ya don't hafta worry 'bout studyin'."
Rangiku bit her lip. "I… still want to graduate early, even if it's only by one year."
"Then there ya go," Gin nodded in satisfaction. "I believe ya can do it, jus' gotta focus on that goal."
"But you remember how hard a time I had when we studied together!" Rangiku protested. It just was not the prospect of having fun with her friends that could explain away her poor academic performance, after all. "It's even worse now without you to help me!"
He seemed to ponder this for a moment, silver head tilted to one side. "Have ya tried askin' yer new buddies?"
"Uh… no…" she glanced away sheepishly.
"Then do it. After all, if they're really yer friends, then they'll help ya out." And he smiled, a real smile, just for her. The sight of it caused her heart to soar.
"Okay, I'll ask them," Rangiku decided. She looked up at her friend and smiled gratefully, "Thank you so much, Gin."
"Always a pleasure to help ya out," he replied genuinely back at her.
To be continued…
Author's Note: One of things I always wondered about was how events in the world of the living affect Soul Society. Given that shinigami's responsibilities are to perform konsō and purify Hollows, I figured that disasters and wars would be the times that they're most active in the world of the living. So going off this logic, I did some research on actual historical events that would likely see spike in shinigami activity in Japan.
In this chapter, the aftermath is that of the 1894 Shōnai Earthquake in Sakata.
My thanks to LoveGlutton, ChunkyFunkyMunky, X59, Black' Victor Cachat, ElnaKernor for their reviews!
Omake: Shinigami Illustrated Guide
The day after the defeat of the Menos Grande, Lisa and Gin were again having lunch together when the boy decided to try his luck at getting a rise out of his unflappable lieutenant.
"Ya know, maybe I should ask ya to adopt me, since we got so much in common," he grinned impishly.
"Oh, really? How so?" she returned in a bored tone.
"Well, fer starters, we both got spears as our zanpakutō," Gin pointed out.
"One, my Shikai actually is a spear, while your zanpakutō's name just has 'spear' as part of the name," the bespectacled woman countered. "Second, a spear is not an uncommon form for a Shikai to assume. You're reaching."
"Yeah, that's the point of a spear, to give ya reach," the youngster smirked.
She stared down at the prodigy for a moment, and then deadpanned, "…You're demoted."
"What?! Oh, c'mon, that's a bit extreme fer a bad joke, right?" Gin fidgeted nervously, unable to read her poker face.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Lisa leaned over him without changing her expression.
While the silver-haired boy wondered if that was a trick question, he felt a hand placed on top of his head and heard her state, "I am."
Lisa tousled his hair a bit before walking away. Both dumbfounded and relieved, Gin rubbed the back of his scalp with a sheepish grin as he had to concede victory to his superior once again.