Not Close Enough

Along an upper walkway, they traversed that wrapped around a building. Many captains used this walkway when convening for official duties. It sequestered them from the maze of identical buildings Ichigo recalled running along quite a while ago when first in Sereitei. Sensing the tranquility descending on Byakuya’s reiatsu Ichigo figured the noble had calmed down sufficiently.

“Kuchiki Taicho can I ask you a question sir?”

“What is your question Kurosaki Fukaitaicho?” asked Byakuya, turning his head slightly. Steel blue eyes partly regarded Ichigo.

Hesitantly Ichigo began, crossing his fingers behind his back. “It’s been more than a month, and well…”

“I am aware of the passage of time but to what are you referring?” Byakuya asked.

“I’ve been Fukaitaicho for more than a month sir,” Ichigo continued, frustrated Byakuya ignored his question. The bastard was probably doing it deliberately to jerk him around.

“Indeed. Other than your occasional oversights I have had no complaints,” Byakuya said.

“Well it’s just that sir. Remember what happened after one month?” asked Ichigo.

“You should know the rules by now, Kurosaki fukaitaicho. One month later and a position become permanent at the request of a captain.”

Suprise twisted Ichigo's stomach into knots. “Sir, have you forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?” Byakuya said, feigning ignorance again. “I am a busy man, Kurosaki Fukaitaicho. Please be succinct.”

Selecting his words carefully Ichigo drew in his breath. “That if I lasted a month as Fukaitaicho, Renji could have his job back?”

“the other part of the bargain was that if I was sufficiently satisfied with his performance so he would merit reinstatement,” Byakuya said.

“Well he’s done a good job, so why not?” asked Ichigo.

“Show me evidence of such an evaluation in a report, and I will consider your request. Otherwise stop bothering me with such trivialities and focus on your report for the Fukaitaicho monthly meeting,” Byakuya answered.

Coldness spread from the pit of his stomach all over his body in an instant. Both of his shoulders seemed dragged down by an increase of gravity, much like Kira’s shikai. Even Ichigo’s jaw dragged downwards from the frown creasing his face. At once, a lump formed in Ichigo’s throat. Was he serious? Just what sort of game was Byakuya playing? Every urge inside him screamed to reach over, grab him by the front of his haori, and drag him back. Was that what Byakuya wanted? To string him along and then have he slip up one last time, then blow Renji’s chances for good?

Clamping his mouth shut Ichigo said, “As you command, Taicho.”

That was what Renji would say after all. When Byakuya was no longer around, he would change his tune entirely.

*Welcome to your new life, Kurosaki Fukaitaicho,* a voice in his head taunted. You did too good of a job and now he will not ever let you go.

*The hell he won’t,* Ichigo told that voice. *All I have to do is prove that Renji is capable of the job. How do I do that without telling my commanding officer off? One screw up and Renji would…*

One screw up was all it took. Miyamoto was hurt in combat. If he were incapacitated enough then Byakuya would have no choice but to promote him. Such thinking was stupid, Ichigo scolded himself. Would Byakuya be convinced if he somehow became hurt in the line of duty? Still, he could get cocky and overconfident.

Risking life and limb and Renji’s sanity was not worth it. There had to be another solution. Protest and Renji was screwed. Say nothing, and keep doing his job, and his teenage life would pass him by in a matter of mere years. Alternatively, risk grave bodily injury to show he was incompetent, and possibly risk people needlessly in the line of duty.

“I can’t do that,” Ichigo realized, swallowing hard.

Or else the former substitute could sit down quietly with Byakuya and find another option. Convince the captain of squad six that Renji was a better choice as second in command. Use the rule system that was shoved in his face since the beginning and write Renji a glowing review. Of course, Byakuya could say it was impartial. Yet the Vice Captain’s meeting…

He should not even have to think such things. He could ask for help from one of the other captains, possibly Ukitake. Up to this point, he had been embarrassed to talk to anyone about this outside of Renji and the circle of friends. Yumichika and Ikkaku knew, as did Kira and Hisagi.

He recalled meeting them after hours for a drink, bringing up the subject to them about what to do:

Kira had sighed and shaken his head, and touched Ichigo’s hand in sympathy. “Just do what you’re told to do, and I’m sure it will work out. Kuchiki may be hard but he is a fair man.”

“Work with Renji. Find an opportunity to make him prove himself where he can shine. Then sell the hell out of him,” said Hisagi.

“Whatever you do, don’t talk back to Byakuya. Just suck it up and put up with it for the long haul. He wants you to blow up, Ichigo,” Kira had also reminded him.

“Once he has you where he wants you, it’s all over. Make him keep thinking that. Prove that you’re good, but don’t’ overdo it.”

“If I’m too good, then Renji’s screwed,” Ichigo mumbled.

“Or the other way out is to try for a captain’s position,” Hisagi mused. “Like Renji suggested.”

*Or Renji… Ichigo trailed off. What if Renji…*

Would he even go for such a suggestion? Three open spots. Yet if Renji succeeded, then he would be stuck as well. Damn it what could he do? Slowly he would have to play just the right hand of cards at the right time. Why did Byakuya suddenly change a chess match to poker? For all he knew Byakuya was probably bluffing.

Bluffing. What did he have in his hand? Renji could do Bankai, as could he. Yet Renji had centuries of combat experience. He was a substitute Shinigami with one month of Fukaitaicho experience. Without even having gone through the academy. Nevertheless, Zaraki Kenpachi was a captain without achieving Bankai. Ichigo did not relish killing Kuchiki in front of the entire squad. First Rukia would kill him, and so would Renji.

He needed the recommendation of at least 2 other captains. Renji probably had a better shot of that. Still was his lover even considering such an option? Ichigo had no desire to be a captain. At least not now. Once you were a captain, you could not step down. They had you for life.

***

At the meeting ten minutes later Ichigo glanced at the other vice-captains clustered around the table. Tapping his fingers, he waited for Chojiro, vice captain of squad 1, to stop droning on. Next to him, Yachiru jumped up and down yelping. In his pocket, Ichigo fished out something that Byakuya had given him that ‘could prove useful’ at the meeting.

*“You will observe the meeting. When the appropriate time comes, you will present Squad 6’s report,” Byakuya had instructed. Then he had handed Ichigo something from his own robe.

“What’s this Kuchiki Taicho?” Ichigo asked.

“Something you will find useful for the meeting. You will meet me here promptly when it is finished, Kurosaki. That is all,” Byakuya said.

“Yes sir,” Ichigo answered, still fuming inside. The longer their walk here, the more Ichigo mulled over the possible ways out of his predicament.*

Fishing through the bag of candy, Ichigo handed a piece of peppermint to the young vice captain of squad 11. She eagerly snatched it away and sucked on it. On his other side Kira Izuru, vice captain of squad 3 sighed with relief. Momo Hinamori across from them sat next to Nanao, both of them glancing at Ichigo with surprise.

Matsumoto whispered something into Momo's ear, and then gave Ichigo a reassuring smile. Nervously Ichigo shuffled papers in the binder just in front of him. He felt out of place in this elite group, now more than ever.

All he had to do was sit through another damn meeting and then it was almost quitting time. He could hardly wait to get home to that apartment and take a hot bath. Perhaps Renji would be there before him, whipping up some other experimental concoction. So far, Ichigo learned several easy dishes to prepare when Renji could not make it in time to stay overnight. There were hardly any nights Ichigo spent without his lover, so he could not complain he never saw Renji.

“Kurosaki Fukaitaicho, please deliver the squad six report,” Chojiro said.

“Ichi, you’re up!” Yachiru said, yanking on his sleeve.

“All right already,” Ichigo grumbled. That blank look Nemu Korotsuchi maintained through the whole meeting creeped him out. Nanao simply pushed her glasses up on her face and looked at him curiously. Sentaro and Kiyone pushed and shoved at one another as they tried to stifle their arguments. Omaeda snorted and scattered crumbs as he snacked on crackers pulled from the paper bag on his lap.

Kira and Hisagi both looked towards Ichigo in sympathy. Drawing in his breath Ichigo opened the binder and rustled papers. He felt like he was giving a report at school.

“Okay… First, Squad six wants to report that all 30 trainees have been properly instructed in basic combat skills as per Kuchiki Taicho’s request,” Ichigo began.

“Next?” Chojiro asked.

“All requisitions are listed here for the monthly supply deposit. I’ve given you copies in detail, ask if you have any questions,” Ichigo said, passing around 12 copies of a memo he had typed up and Byakuya had meticulously edited.

“Any further notes?” asked Chojiro.

Ichigo trailed down the page, marking his progress with his index finger. “Submitted for approval a request for a longer leave of absence for former Shinigami Daiko Kurosaki to…”

"What the he..." Matsumoto whispered before Momo clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Shh," Momo hissed.

Hearing the words Ichigo read, Kira and Hisagi leaned forward on the edge of their seats. Worriedly they exchanged glances. At that moment Ichigo had suddenly blanched white as a sheet. Ichigo again read the words that made his blood run cold. He mumbled, "this can't be right! No way in HELL!"

“Excuse me?” Chojiro asked, coughing.

“I don’t… wait a minute this must be wrong…” Ichigo mumbled, frowning at the words before him. “I didn’t write this part!”

“Are you all right, Kurosaki?” asked Hisagi worriedly.

“It’s just that… damn it,” Ichigo hissed under his breath, flicking the paper.

“Sir, I believe Kurosaki is still unclear about the process of a fukaitaicho meeting,” the vice captain of squad 3 said suddenly.

Hisagi chimed in, “Can we adjourn while Kira and I assist him in his questions?”

“That is acceptable. Don’t take too much longer though than a half hour,” said Chojiro patiently.

***