No man does it all by himself.
Characters: Konoe Rikichi, Muguruma Kensei.
When: Early afternoon, Feb. 24.
Where: Fifth Division training grounds.
Rating: PG
Summary: An average day in the Fifth Division. Kensei and Rikichi take a breather between training exercises.
Rikichi liked to think of himself as a nice, personable squad leader. With every squad he'd headed up in the Sixth Division, he'd made a point to learn the names of all of his team members on their first day together, doing everything in his power to make them comfortable with each other and with him as their leader. While they hadn't always been the strongest groups, Rikichi had cultivated a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork that was hard to come by. After all, Rikichi wasn't the strongest Shinigami, and he'd learned to make up for it with other skills and abilities.
The Fifth Division's eighth squad was going to be a tough nut to crack, he knew. After the previous Eighth seat had been busted for his involvement in the attack and kidnap of one of the Vaizard ladies, the squad seemed skittish and closed off. They weren't unfriendly or unwilling to cooperate, but Rikichi knew that a betrayal that close to home could make people nervous and doubtful. To compensate, he'd been working extra hard to gain their trust, working out team-building activities that none of them objected to (too violently) and trying to bolster their morale.
His task was made a bit more difficult by the addition of one Muguruma Kensei to his squad's numbers. It was obvious that some of the team felt uneasy around him, but Rikichi honestly liked the man. Rikichi felt bad for him, and knew that he was much better suited to be a captain, not relegated to some squad, taking orders from a guy who couldn't hardly hold a candle to him in strength. But he tried to make the best of the situation.
The afternoon sun was warming, despite February's lingering chill, and most of the members of squad eight had been paired off to spar after warm-ups and stretching exercises. They took turns in their mock battles, allowing for equal time on the training field. Done with his first bout (he always participated in training exercises with his team), Rikichi spotted Kensei across the field and skirted around the edge to go talk to him, occasionally shouting comments and instructions as he observed the fights he passed by.
After a brief detour, Rikichi approached Kensei and offered him a small jug of water with a smile. Not that he seemed winded, but it was the thought that counted, right? "Muguruma-san," he said, "how's it been for you in the eighth squad so far? Not too boring, I hope!"
When: Early afternoon, Feb. 24.
Where: Fifth Division training grounds.
Rating: PG
Summary: An average day in the Fifth Division. Kensei and Rikichi take a breather between training exercises.
Rikichi liked to think of himself as a nice, personable squad leader. With every squad he'd headed up in the Sixth Division, he'd made a point to learn the names of all of his team members on their first day together, doing everything in his power to make them comfortable with each other and with him as their leader. While they hadn't always been the strongest groups, Rikichi had cultivated a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork that was hard to come by. After all, Rikichi wasn't the strongest Shinigami, and he'd learned to make up for it with other skills and abilities.
The Fifth Division's eighth squad was going to be a tough nut to crack, he knew. After the previous Eighth seat had been busted for his involvement in the attack and kidnap of one of the Vaizard ladies, the squad seemed skittish and closed off. They weren't unfriendly or unwilling to cooperate, but Rikichi knew that a betrayal that close to home could make people nervous and doubtful. To compensate, he'd been working extra hard to gain their trust, working out team-building activities that none of them objected to (too violently) and trying to bolster their morale.
His task was made a bit more difficult by the addition of one Muguruma Kensei to his squad's numbers. It was obvious that some of the team felt uneasy around him, but Rikichi honestly liked the man. Rikichi felt bad for him, and knew that he was much better suited to be a captain, not relegated to some squad, taking orders from a guy who couldn't hardly hold a candle to him in strength. But he tried to make the best of the situation.
The afternoon sun was warming, despite February's lingering chill, and most of the members of squad eight had been paired off to spar after warm-ups and stretching exercises. They took turns in their mock battles, allowing for equal time on the training field. Done with his first bout (he always participated in training exercises with his team), Rikichi spotted Kensei across the field and skirted around the edge to go talk to him, occasionally shouting comments and instructions as he observed the fights he passed by.
After a brief detour, Rikichi approached Kensei and offered him a small jug of water with a smile. Not that he seemed winded, but it was the thought that counted, right? "Muguruma-san," he said, "how's it been for you in the eighth squad so far? Not too boring, I hope!"