Bleach Universe, Soul Society, May 11th, 1803 (88 years before Turn Back the Pendulum Events)
A Shinigami of the Gotei 14 rushed forwards towards the huge, forested pine mountain valley district of Yukiyama (Snow Mountain), the ninth district of North Rukongai. A large group of hollows had launched an assault on the district, through information gathered via Patrol Corps operations in the area reporting abnormal activity. "Damn things always seem like they are getting smarter over the years," Damian Vuokufaia said to himself as he was blazing through the air testing the limits of his Shunpo. He grinned as he contemplated the ramifications of the report- a large group of hollows and a coordinated attack meant the real possibility of a Menos or even an Adjuchas class hollow being involved, especially since this was the third such event this week in this particular district.
It was almost certain, and while many Shinigami would fear approaching an Adjuchas alone, Damian had earned the lieutenant's badge on his arm two decades ago and had little fear of most hollows- in this situation especially as he was not alone and he knew his 3rd seat was leading the men already engaging. Even though he knew the responsible thing to do was standard group combat protocol, the rush of one-on-one combat between a high-level Shinigami and an Adjuchas was exhilarating and rare and he hoped he had such an opportunity before him.
As far as Damian was concerned, as a vice-captain he spent far too much time sitting behind a desk and doing paperwork. He needed to be out in the field more; he thought as a large lake came into view. As soon as he crossed over the enormous lake, he felt the heavy presence of a powerful hollow as well as the shouts and spiritual signatures of numerous Shinigami and lower-level Hollows.
He drew his sword and began speaking the incantation of a Hado in order to catch the leader off guard with an immediate full incantation assault. He didn't see any dead bodies, but he did see an unfortunate Shinigami suddenly sent flying back hundreds of feet by a particularly impressive looking Hollow in the middle of the battle, no doubt the leader, surrounded by at least a few dozen weaker level hollows. The group of Shinigami were technically outnumbered but Damian recognized immediately a couple high seated officers, namely his 3rd seat and 8th seat. No deaths or severe injuries is always a good sign, he thought to himself as he landed powerfully ten feet in front of the leader.
The Adjuchas took the appearance of a scorpion-like hollow with a large yellow stinger and fierce looking bladed pincers. "Hado 32! Okasen!" Damian's sealed Zanpakuto was held out in front of him horizontally, and a yellow orb of lightning briefly ran across the blade before shooting out in a flash of bright fire in a wide arc towards the monster.
The damage of the Kido spell wasn't the main intention of the attack, rather the bright flash of light and wide arc to help guarantee a hit on the scorpion-like hollow. Damian flash stepped and feinted a first strike on the scorpion's tail as it lashed around in an attempt to sting him, but the feint worked, and he was able to follow up with a strong slash nearly cutting through the top segment of the tail-but the hard shell-like armor coating the stinger held through firmly.
Damn, I need to stay away from that stinger. Getting hit by that is not a good idea, he thought to himself as the stinger let out a fast burst of green poison towards his 3rd seat. "Hado 58! Tenran!" the man yelled, causing the glob of toxin to veer off back towards the hollow and hit a large tree behind it, melting away at the bark instantly. "Takeo! Encircle it and tell the men to fall back! Going to need Shikai for this one!" Damian yelled as the scorpion lunged at him with its pincers. "Augh! My stinger! You'll pay for that one!" it roared at the Shinigami. Damian jumped up high over the beast and called out his Zanpakuto release. His sealed blade was not enough to easily cut the hollow and so he would not take any chances. "Raid, Daiōkami!"
A massive silver and black double headed battle-axe appeared in his hands as his sealed katana morphed into his Shikai. With a movement quicker than most regular humans could even detect, a loud metallic clash and a raging torrent of wind erupted out from the tip of the axe. The two front legs of the scorpion were cut off and disintegrated into thin air. The hollow screamed and jumped back in pain, black and red blood gushing everywhere.
"NOT GOOD ENOUGH, SHINIGAMI!" The Adjuchas bellowed and Damian looked up to see his somewhat unsurprising fear come true- ultra high-speed regeneration typical of a powerful Adjuchas class hollow. The two legs were already beginning to slightly reform. "Not this time, hollow," he said and brought his axe up over his head. Damian pumped as much spiritual pressure and energy into the attack and focused directly on the scorpion's head.
Abandoning all defense and the chance of evasion to deliver a direct killing blow was a gamble, but this time it paid off. His Shikai met its mark perfectly chopping down the middle of the white mask. The scorpion raged and thrashed around- and managed to shoot a large orb of acid directly at the vice-captain before he could react. Suddenly he heard the voice of his 3rd seat. "BAKUDO 81! DANKU!" Takeo roared behind him. The attack hit the huge rectangular shield in front of him created by the Kido. And thus, the last-ditch attack from the Adjuchas was rendered ineffective as its body disintegrated away.
"Damn, quick thinking- and I didn't know you could do that, Takeo." An 80s level Kido with no incantation shunning out an Adjuchas-class hollows attack so easily?" Takeo just smirked and turned his head to make sure no one in the group was injured as a few of the squad members had already come running back. "Well, maybe I should be the vice-captain instead." "Yeah right!"
Raian Sutiramaru, captain of the 14th division, sat at his desk in the captains' quarters pouring over the latest paperwork. Specifically, a report from the Onmitsukido 2nd branch, the Patrol Corps. A strangely increasing number of Hollow activity had been recorded in one specific district of Rukongai in the past few weeks. Specifically in North Rukongai district 9. This was unusual as the inner districts of Rukongai are more commonly patrolled and protected- higher risk for hollows but also higher reward should they manage to succeed in an attack. The closer to the Seireitei, the quicker the response time of Shinigami units and the higher number of more powerful souls capable of resisting hollows living in said districts already.
But these were not normal hollow attacks. Rather, it felt too coordinated and specific. In other words, at least as far as Captain Sutiramaru was concerned, a powerful and intelligent hollow was leading others in said attacks behind the scenes. Likely an Adjuchas, but possibly a Vasto Lorde. As much as the captain wanted to get some combat action himself, as it had been months since he had been out of the field, he knew the danger and death toll that an Adjuchas- let alone a Vasto Lorde- managing to infiltrate the Soul Society for long would bring. It would likely carve through novice Shinigami and even lower seated officers unless dealt with extreme force. As such, he had sent his 3rd seat after to patrol the area with command of ten members in tow, and after receiving word that they were engaging at least one powerful Adjuchas class hollow, he sent his vice-captain ahead to assist as well.
If they did not return within a few hours, he would go investigate himself. Normally, hollows were highly competitive and did not ally with others unless through forceful submission or fear- something an Adjuchas or Vasto Lorde could easily do. Most hollows were also stupid brutes who barely knew how to fight, and any seated officer could dispatch the average hollow with one hand behind their back in a normal one-on-one fight. But if a Vasto Lorde was involved, the captain would have to rely on himself and his top seats. Others would likely just get in the way and die. Of course, every year each division had casualties and deaths, replaced by graduates from the academy- but that didn't mean he should not do anything about it to try and prevent needless deaths wherever possible.
The 14th division had slightly less deaths in the ranks every year compared to several other divisions due to extra training sessions led by the captain personally in order to encourage growth and constant improvement. More members and a slightly overfilling squad meant more paperwork and names to keep track of, but that was a good problem to have in Raian's opinion.
His musings were interrupted by the door suddenly opening and he looked up to see his vice-captain and 3rd seat walk in. Damian decided to deliver the report. "Hello sir, we took care of the problem. One Adjuchas class hollow leading about a dozen lower hollows. Two squad members were wounded, no deaths. Both should recover well from their injuries. Local leaders in the area request-and are rather desperate to be honest but I can understand their fear- extra Shinigami to hang around the district and keep a presence." Captain Sutiramaru nodded and decided to try and gauge how serious the request should be taken. Should he assign five members? Ten? "How many do you recommend we send? Any specific officers?" Takeo spoke up. "9th seat Imari has been jumping down my neck trying to get a combat assignment. Going on about wanting to train his Shikai against hollows."
"He is a hot headed one, but I truly think he can handle it. Perhaps send him and nine newer members to get some experience? As long as he keeps himself reigned in that should be enough." The captain knew well of the man, a bit stubborn and prideful but had his heart in the right place and possessed a good balance of confidence and intelligence. "Alright, tell him to pick nine newer recruits who need some patrol and general field experience. However, remind him that there is no cowardice in asking for backup if any more Adjuchas or even Menos show up- don't want a Menos Grande smashing up the district for too long." Takeo bowed and then left to tell the officer. Damian then laughed somewhat in response to the captain's mentioning of Menos Grande. "Ha, those damn things. Huge, stupid, slow but also scary. I wonder why they always look the same? Pretty creepy to be honest."
The vice-captain walked over to a table and poured himself and the captain some tea. The captain merely grunted in response and took the drink without a word. "By the way, sir, about that time off? Anii is roughly seven months pregnant and clearly feeling the effects- she already requested maternity leave from Captain Unohana and was given it. I only ask for a week now and a week in about a month"- but he was interrupted. "Take three months. Ill handle half your responsibilities and Takeo and David can handle the other half."
The captain interrupted him with this generous statement and Damian was taken aback and immediately stood up. "No sir, I cant take that much time off- it would be inappropriate, and normally officers cannot take more than 30 days off in a row at a time unless severely injured or with an approved extended leave request signed by the Head Captain, let me just take the normal amount of time"- Captain Sutiramaru cut him off for the second time. "That is an order. You are an excellent officer who doesn't even use his designated time off that much in the first place, and your girlfriend is far along enough now that she needs the support. However, we are in a higher alert state due to the recent troubling hollow activity in a few districts under our jurisdiction, and so of course if there is an emergency and you need to be called back to the division, I will send someone to inform you as I assume you will be staying at the Vuokufaia residence for a few days time while you figure things out."
Damian was still recovering from the captain's kindness and had to collect himself for about thirty seconds. His captain continued again after taking a long drink and standing up. "However, you know what you must do. If you truly love this woman, and have clearly laid with her and have a child on the way, you must ask for her hand in marriage. It is the honorable and proper thing to do. It is your responsibility. Your father, grandfather as well as the rest of your clan will find out soon anyway and its best you tell them now. I know your father quite well and he is an honorable and forgiving man. Although Anii is a commoner from Rukongai, she is an 8th seat in the Gotei. Her position and status is there, and you should be able to convince your clan to accept her regardless of her not being of the nobility. I understand why you are hesitant, but you owe it to her. There is no way they will exile you or bring any sort of ridiculous charges against you. The other noble clans and perhaps even some within the Gotei may not approve but pay them no mind. It is true that normally such a marriage between a member of a noble clan and a commoner is very rare and often looked down upon, but it is not illegal if the head of the clan agrees to it. Even if you are punished in some way, the blame will rest on you and not your wife and child. If I must personally appeal to the Head Captain as well as captain Ginrei Kuchiki on your behalf to help your case, I will. You have many powerful people in your corner."
Damian was once again shocked but also incredibly relieved. He had been the captains right hand man for 25 years, and even before then when he was a novice Shinigami fresh out of the academy he had quickly learned of Captain Sutiramaru's incredible character firsthand and understood his popularity and reputation. The man managed to be the embodiment of a model military leader as well as still possessing a surprisingly soft heart and almost selfless personality at times. He understood the truly important things in life and would not stand for any harm to come to his subordinates.
"I can't think of any words to describe my thanks, sir," Damian bowed respectfully and turned to leave. Before he could reach the door, the captain stood back up. "Damian, you need to be careful with this time off and try and convince your grandfather that Anii will be a good wife to marry into the clan. I am from the Rukongai myself so I can't claim to know even half of what happens within affairs of the nobility, but I do know this much. Lean on her status as a high ranked seated officer within the Gotei with a spotless record and great healing skills. I know that you and I as well as your father aren't the type of men to be so egotistical, but you know how stern and grumpy your grandfather can be. Try to not get too upset with him if he is initially hostile towards the situation. You have to understand that for an heir of a noble clan- especially with the Vuokufaia's legacy within the Gotei and Central 46 being significantly more than most- to marry a commoner will likely cause gossip and rumors to spread like wildfire. But I am confident it will pass. Just trust your heart and make a good case for yourself and Anii."
Damian did not say anything, as he was still absorbing the captain's words. He merely bowed again silently and left the office. Although he would never admit it to anybody, his eyes fought back tears at the mans understanding and genuine efforts to make his situation easier. He hoped things would work out and he would not bring drama and strife within his closer family or tarnish the 14th division somehow. But mainly, he worried for Anii and how she might face trouble and try to respond to it. She was already far along in pregnancy as is and people were already asking questions. Once he left the captain's office building he jumped up onto the roof and flash stepped towards the direction of the 4th division.
Authors Note- the 14th divisions flower/insignia is the snapdragon. The division color is platinum gray/silver. The insignia signifies Resolve. It is not a "specialized" division like squad 2,4,11,12 etc. Just imagine the Gotei but instead of Yamamoto and 12 others founding the Gotei, there was another captain resulting in 14 squads rather than 13. This story will be largely canon-paced eventually but of course will have multiple OC's and a few events altered. It will also feature many different POV's from numerous canon as well as OC characters and will contain some time skips but will have a "main" character who is revealed in the next chapter.