Chapter 56: Lost Substitute Shinigami Arc: Meddling

Byakuya's POV

"I always had a feeling that your elders would meddle in your relationship one of these days, but I always thought they would do it lot sooner, but not so blatantly."

"I thought so too Senbonzakura, but I guess my elders can still be surprising when they want to be. Hmm, maybe they finally decided to show their true age for once," I mumble as we neared the 1st Division barracks. The streets were quiet, with most taking cover from the incoming rain that was supposed to come later today. The sky was already covered by dark, stormy grey clouds, signaling that it wouldn't be long before the Seireitei was drenched in a possibly long downpour. "Though, I must admit. I am quite impressed that they managed to hold themselves back for this long."

"But now they're starting to interfere in your personal affairs, like it or not. Then again, when do they not interfere . . ? Your aunt has already showed her hand. She's likely the first of many who'll try to push you into a decision that you're not ready for yet."

"Tell me about it . . . I may have rushed into my previous engagement and marriage a little too quickly, but it was to make sure that the elders didn't interfere to the point that they would ruin the entire thing and make Hisana too uncomfortable to continue with it. With Mina, things are different. She's been a noble all her life. She knows all the pros and cons that come with the high positions we live with. Plus, she can easily handle the elders if need be. . . She'll make a great lady when the time comes."

"And the time isn't now?" my zanpakuto almost sounds petulant as we neared the main entrance. "It's been peaceful for a year and a half now, and you two have been dating before that. Almost two years is not enough for you to decide? Some people get married within a month of meeting each other."

"Those are usually the marriages of the arraigned variety, and not all of them work out well in the end. . . I know my relationship with Mina doesn't follow the usual conventions of nobility, and I'm glad it doesn't. Thanks to our high positions, we can afford to take our time. If the elders had their way, Minata and I would already be married . . ."

"With a child of your own?"

"Possibly . . . maybe," I wistfully say. I knew I had to father a child to make sure the clan had an heir, but somehow, I never managed to bring the topic up with Mina. On the other hand, she has never mentioned it to me once, but I had a feeling that she would be open to it if given the chance. If she was going to blush and act bashfully every time she heard someone else mention us possibly having kids - which has been happening a lot more in recent months - then she was most likely thinking about it herself.

I really should bring it up to her one of these days to get her opinion on it. If that doesn't work, at least I will get to see her blush again. She hates it when I mention it, but I think it's a lovely look for her, no matter how much she wants to think otherwise. Plus, she barely blushed when we were younger, so seeing her blush more these days was quite a breath of fresh air.

"Anyway, I don't think the elders will be too troublesome Senbonzakura. As my aunt mentioned earlier, Minata is undoubtedly the most eligible bachelorette today. Her family status, position in the Gotei 13, and her innate power makes her a highly desirable prospect for any single man to pursue. They're not going to ruin things between Mina and I if they see that our relationship is still strong."

"Hmm, it's too bad for those other bachelors that they have no chance with her because of you."

"Yes, I won't dispute that. And Senbonzakura, it's not because they had no chance. They never had a chance to begin with. The situation is just not in their favor."

We had entered the building at this point, well, I did at least. Senbonzakura had returned to his Inner World as soon as I walked through the main gate, thus making the rest of our conversation all in my head. The First Division was relatively quiet. Some of the shinigami were moving through the hallways with paperwork in their hands, but other than that, it was relatively peaceful.

"Still, the fact that you two have been together for this long and still have yet to be engaged may raise some questions. Some will be curious of your relationship. Others may think that you two have slowed down. They may believe there is an opening, a chance at someone they previously thought unattainable."

"If they are thinking that way, then they are sadly mistaken." I say, stopping our conversation then and there. When I reached the meeting room, there weren't that many people there. Soi-Fon, Otoribashi, Unohana, Komamura, Kyoraku, Hitsugaya, and surprisingly Zaraki were already here, along with their respective lieutenants. Hisagi was the only one present for the Ninth, but other than that, no one else was here yet, not even the Captain Commander.

"I wonder what this meeting is supposed to be about this time. . ."

"We'll find out eventually Senbonzakura," I tell him as I get into position between Unohana and Kyoraku. When I turned my head, Ukitake and Rukia were walking into the room. "It shouldn't be long now before the Captain Commander makes his presence known."

Renji arrived right behind the tandem of Muguruma and Kuna, a bashful look on his face as he made his way over to me. It was strange to see him looking flustered like this, but I could probably guess why. It was no secret that Abarai had a large crush on Minata's cousin, Akira, a fact that Rukia had a habit of teasing him about whenever she got the chance. He must have walked into her on the way here.

"What's up with the look Renji?" I hear Matsumoto ask him. "Walked into Akira again?"

"No! No, I didn't." he was quick to say, too quick to be believable. "I saw her, but I didn't actually walk into her."

"You have it bad Renji . . ."

"Shut up Oomaeda!"

"Shouldn't you be reprimanding Abarai for his outburst?"

"I should, but I think I'll let his fellow lieutenants needle him about it instead," I tell my spirit as the rest of the captains and lieutenants make their way into the room. "Besides, if he hadn't made his crush on Mina's cousin so obvious that even Zaraki noticed it, he wouldn't be teased on it so much."

Captain Commander Yamamoto was the last one to walk into the room, his eyes steely, yet determined as he made his way to his seat in silence. When he was finally seated, he slammed his cane into the floor, signaling that it was time to begin.

"Now that everyone is here, we can start the proceedings. Earlier today, the exile Kisuke Urahara requested an audience with us, and I've decided to allow it."

That's when the exile made his presence known, stepping into the room while carrying a translucent blue case. Inside the case was a katana that looked standard in design but made entirely out of reishi. Urahara was looking serious and reserved, humble even, which was a far cry from his usually jovial and annoyingly teasing self.

This was a serious visit.

"Kisuke Urahara, state your business here. Why have you requested this meeting with the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13?"

"Well Head Captain, it's a bit of a long story."

That line was only the beginning of his tale, explaining Kurosaki's current predicament, mentioning our 'debt' to him after what he managed to achieve during the previous war, and finally asking for our help on the issue. Urahara's words earned him some irritated glances from both Soi-Fon and Kurotsuchi, but much of the room watched him with rapt attention. When he finished his story, he bowed his head, waiting to hear Yamamoto's verdict.

"I see, and I understand," the old man mumbles as he looked at the blade. "This is an issue that will not go unanswered."

"Captain Commander?" Unohana questions as he stood up, her eyes curious, yet held a hint of disbelief.

"Ichigo Kurosaki did a great deal for us in the previous war, one that cost him a great deal for him in return. At this point, it would be a disgrace on the honor of the Gotei 13, to not respond in kind," the Captain Commander states, his tone increasing in authority. "We owe Ichigo Kurosaki a great debt. So, as Captain Commander, I hereby order for all captains and lieutenants to pour a portion of their reiatsu into the katana. It's time we paid off our debt."

"Well, I did not expect that."

"Neither did I Senbonzakura," I mumble as Zaraki moves toward the blade, a teeth-baring grin blatant on his face. "The Captain Commander has called for something that is unprecedented in the Soul Society's history . . ."

"But with good reason though. If it weren't for Kurosaki's actions, the Seireitei would be a very different place, with possibly a very different ruler."

"That was very much a possibility, well, if it weren't for Kurosaki," By this time, a small line had formed in front of the reishi katana. The front of the line comprised of most of the lieutenants. My fellow captains were a bit more hesitant, but no one was willing to risk going against the Captain Commander's direct order. "Hmm, if it was any other person, the Captain Commander would not have hesitated to strike down Urahara's idea. This is a different case."

"Kurosaki did do a lot . . ."

"Yes; he has been an agent for change. He's manage to break norms that the Soul Society has maintained for centuries." I mumble as I moved toward the line. "It's quite impressive to make the Captain Commander change his mind on something that he's been a staunch advocate for years. . . Kurosaki may be a brash individual that has no sense of proper decorum, but he does deserve respect."

". . . No matter how much it hurts you to say that?"

"Don't start Senbonzakura. . . Don't start."

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