The Captains’ meeting.
The After events.
Author: Beth Brownell
Summary: The Captains meet to discuss Ichigo and decide what to do with him.
Rating: PG13.
Pairings: none.
Spoilers: The Soul Society arch.
Feedback: Desired greatly.
Thanks: To my beta Chana. To my reviewers, Ed(You got your wish!), my sis Rhonda and to ninjakitty.
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything from Bleach, that right belongs to Kubo Tite and I don’t make any money from writing this story. I’ll try not to hurt them or make them seem too out of character.
Author’s Note: I am writing this story from seeing one of the episodes where we don’t see what happens after that episode. I will try not to hurt them much.
The Captains’ meeting: The After events.
The Captains or what was left of them and who were able to get out of the 4th squad’s medical ward after the sudden revelation of the traitorous Captain Aizen who faked his death, Gin and Tôsen who was on Aizen’s side and went to live with the Hollows in their realm, stood there looking very betrayed by their betrayal. Komamura looked the worst from all of the Captains as he was very close to Tôsen, so the betrayal was personal to him. They all looked at Yamamoto for what to do now.
“We will deal with their betrayal in due course. It is Kurosaki Ichigo that I have called this meeting in regards to. What shall do with him considering the circumstances of his arrival in soul society and the events that followed.”
Byakuya spoke up. "What he did affected soul society more then what I had anticipated from him even after our initial confrontations, he fought against Aizen despite being seriously wounded by my own hand."
Yamamoto looked towards Byakuya. “I agree with you. He did try his best to defeat Aizen regardless of his injuries; he did his utmost to make the attempt.”
Kyôraku looked at Byakuya. “You saw him fight and fought against him Byakuya . . . .”
Kenpachi spoke up, his voice showing his disgust at not being included. “What about me? I fought against Ichigo too; I enjoyed it quite a bit.”
“When you did Zaraki, his skills were still lacking unlike he was with me.” Byakuya stated, calmly. “His flash step greatly improved and despite not being Official Shinigami, his was capable of Bankai.”
“That is the main issue for calling this meeting. To decide what to do with Kurosaki-san, never had we have had this problem before - a human who is a Shinigami. Opinions would be welcomed to figure out what should be done with him.” Yamamoto stated, looking at all of the captains.
“We could keep him here and train him, send his friends back to the living world.” Came the response from Hitsugaya.
Kurotsuchi rubbed his hands wickedly. “I think his female friend should remain the one with the light brown colored hair. I could run tests on her to see what her powers are,”
Kenpachi growled. “Harm her and you will be looking for your arms for the next month.”
“Oh touchie, Zaraki. You have feelings for the human?” Kurotsuchi growled off.
“No, she’s a friend of Ichigo’s and so a friend of mine. Harm her and your body will feel my sword.” Kenpachi growled off, hand going to his sword.
A loud bang came from the front, as both Captains stopped and looked to see Captain Yamamoto glaring at them. “This is neither the time or place to argue about that! We have better things to talk about,”
Zaraki looked at Kurotsuchi. “After the meeting fine with you?”
“Yes fine,” Kurotsuchi growled, before turning to look at Yamamoto.
“We could always ask him if he would like to remain here and study at the academy as he does need to learn some of the demon spells we have to add to what he has learned here?” asked Ukitake.
Yamamoto nodded as did some of the other Captains. “Any other offerings we could ask of him to remain here and study with us?”
“And learn how to fight even better,” Zaraki stated. “I’ll even teach him a few new moves!”
Byakuya half smirked. “More like he will be teaching you new moves, Zaraki,”
His comment made a wave of gentle chuckles come from the other Captains. Even Zaraki laughed at it too. “Well, true but I can help him refine his attacks. Make him worthy of being a Shinigami,” Zaraki stated.
“He’s already worthy of the title and role of a Shinigami. The only thing blocking it is that we need to make him official.” Hitsugaya said softly, he wobbling on his sword that he used to balance with at the moment.
Unohana went to his side and tried to get him to return to the fourth division for treatment. But Hitsugaya just waved her off telling her that he was just tired and would retire to his quarters upon returning to the tenth division barracks. She looked at him before resuming her place.
Yamamoto looked at Ukitake. “Find what I had spoken to you about and present it to Ichigo before he leaves the Soul Society. I have made my decision on our young human Shinigami.”
“And that is . . . ?” asked Kyôraku.
~~~~~~~~~
“I’m a what?” Ichigo asked dumbfounded as he looked at the amulet in his hands.
“Yes, you are an Official Substitute Shinigami. You have full authority to go after Hollows and perform Konso on departed souls. Your area that you are assigned to is Karakura Town.” Ukitake stated, as he looked at Ichigo.
Ichigo flipped it around looking at it. “Uh . . . Ukitake, I have one question?”
“Yes?”
“How do I use this? How can I tell if a Hollow is around?” asked Ichigo.
Ukitake pointed to the gemstones in the eyes of the amulet. “These will blink when a Hollow is detected. Just grab it firmly in your hand and you should take on your Shinigami form without the need for a glove to slap your Shinigami form out anymore or whatever you used to get your Shinigami form out.”
‘Kon.’ “Okay, I got it. Just grab hold of it firmly in hand and I should be able to discard my normal body for my Shinigami self?” Ichigo restated the information back to Ukitake, who nodded.
Orihime looked thrilled as did Chad, Ishida just barely took any notice of the amulet only that it was a magical object from the Soul Society and it was now in Ichigo’s possession.
“Captain Ukitake, can other normal humans see the amulet?” asked Ishida, pointing to it in Ichigo’s hand before Ichigo placed it on his belt.
Ukitake turned to look at Ishida. “Not unless they have the ability to see spirits, Ishida, but the answer would be no,”
“So only those who can see spirits can see the amulet?” Ishida asked.
“Yes.” Ukitake stated. “Why do you want to know?”
“Just a small concern, that’s all.” Ishida replied, turning to look at the destroyed beams.
Ukitake looked at them as he started to cast the spell to open the portal and sent them home. Kyôraku leaned on Ukitake’s shoulder. “Think we will see him again, Kyôraku?”
Kyôraku smiled drunkenly. “Yes, we’ll be seeing him and his friends again. Either in this lifetime or as we gather their spirits up from the real world,”
This story is now done. There will be no more of this paticular story. But who knows what my Bleach muses will tell me for future stories from Bleach.