Why do I hafta be here? Ichigo stood between Kira and Renji, wondering again why he had to attend this captains' meeting. So far he hadn't been called on for anything, and he hadn't heard anything he didn't already know.

Mayuri wound down his long-winded report on whatever it was that he'd dissected this week, and Yamamoto took control of ( Read more... )

    "'Preciate this, Shuuhei," Ichigo thanked the shinigami who'd led him to the shop later that afternoon after Unohana had released him from the infirmary following his session with Kenpachi.

"No problem. You want me to stay?" Shuuhei offered. "It might be a bit of a shock, since you don't remember the last one."

Ichigo considered it, ( Read more... )

    "I want you to be the 3rd Division's lieutenant," Kira repeated in a patient tone. He'd been released from the infirmary the day before, and Ichigo had just relinquished command of the 3rd Division back to him.

"I'm not really qualified," Ichigo pointed out. "I'm not even a real shinigami, just a 'substitute'."

Kira waved away his ( Read more... )

    When Ichigo woke, he found the worst of his injuries had been healed, though his spirit energy was still drained almost to nothing. How long've I been out? He looked around, trying to orient himself in the all-too-familiar 4th Division infirmary.

Ichigo had been put temporarily in a semi-private alcove at the back of the main hall. He ( Read more... )

Apotheosis

Chapter 10 - Quality

Ichigo adjusted the acting captain's sash, wondering again if he really had to wear the awkward thing. He was a bit nervous about attending his first captains' meeting; he was confident enough in his ability on the field, but the captains of the Gotei 13 made an art form of intimidation, and Ichigo was well ( Read more... )

    Ichigo surveyed the formation of the shinigami under his command. Good enough for now. They're a lot better.

This was his fifth time leading a patrol as acting captain of the 3rd Division. It didn't feel so strange anymore. Renji was right, of course. I've led people before. This's just a bit more formal's all.

"Kurosaki-taichou- ( Read more... )

Omake
~Ch 8~

Renji: Damn Ichi, ya nearly went Akira on all those punks, that was great!

Akuni: … 'Ichi'?

Renji: Uh… pretend ya didn't hear that.

Ichigo: Hey, I knew what I was doin' the whole time.

Renji: Betcha didn’t expect t' get a captaincy for it.

Ichigo: Hell no. When that fiery old guy showed up, for a split second I wondered how fast I ( Read more... )

Note: I really did have the flu when I wrote this. I was very sick, and I had a lot of very weird dreams… this was only one of them. Hope you enjoy this peek into my twisted, obsessed subconscious, lol!

Akuni: *wanders in suffering from the flu*

Renji: …like a fuckin' horse! Both of us!

Akuni: O_O

Ichigo: Totally mind-blowing!

Renji: Hell yeah. Knew ( Read more... )

    I left them. I left them. I left them.

The chant burned in his mind the whole way, ceasing only when his feet stopped moving and he finally stood in the centre of his one room flat.

He looked around. The furniture was dusty, and the tape had given out on two of the photos stuck to the wall beside his bed. The neatly made bed. Empty and ( Read more... )

~Ch 5~

Yumichika: Oh Rukia-san, this was a very good idea

Rukia: *beams a smile*

Shuuhei: How do I let you talk me into these things, Yumi?

Akuni: Because-

Shuuhei: Never mind! Rhetorical question!

Renji: You guys are acting very suspicious!

Ichigo: No kidding. And since when do they get so much attention, huh?

Akuni: Aw, are you guys ( Read more... )