Imparting a lesson in subservience.

Begun at 4:49 PM 9/18/11. Finished at 5:57 PM 9/18/11.

Bleach and related characters, items, names, situations, and et cetera belong and are copyrighted(c) to Tite Kubo. I am not making one single cent from this work of fiction, either, imaginary or otherwise.



" " Represents speech. Italics denote either important words or thought. // followed by words indicate a scene jump.



Imparting a lesson in subservience.



Dawn broke over the Seireitei for the third time since the rogue Zanpakotou spirit, Muramasa, had been successfully slain and the control of the loose spirits returned to their rightful wielders.

Little of great interest had happened in that time frame, and while many of the injured were still resting up and recovering, the more able-bodied of the thirteen court-squad Captains as well as their respective Lieutenants were once again gathered before the Sotaicho, and at least a few who were of alike strength but not of similar rank.



His withered eyebrows rose up to let his gaze roam out over those within the hall, and save for one or two, everyone from before the rebellion was accounted for. Good. That would save him much time and keep the un-pleasantries down to the minimalist degree possible.

"It has come to pass this morning that a new law regarding the defenses of Soul Society must come into effect." He said firmly, watching and waiting for the reaction to what he had to say.

"The newly recovered Central 46 have spoken; Let all Zanpakutou who have participated within the spell and destruction cast by the exile Muramasa be sentenced to retraining at the behest of their wielder." A look of confusion passed over many of the faces looking back at him following those words.

"Whatta ya mean, retrainin'?" Zaraki Kenpachi asked loosely from the back of the hall. Those nearest stepped even further away than they already were in preparation for any kind of poor reaction, but the Sotaicho merely stamped his cane to the floor once.

"I meant exactly what I have said, Captain Zaraki. Each of those within this room will go to the hidden training grounds created by the exile Kisuke Urahara in no more than two Captains, or three Lieutenants, at a time and promptly force their Zanpakutou to materialize a physical form once more," he explained calmly.

"They will ensure that their Zanpakutou will still willingly serve and obey any command issued, including up to semi-permanent self-inflicted damage. I trust that we who posses Bankai will have the needed stamina to keep the spirit active for as long as it takes." Letting that sink in for a few seconds, he carried on to the final statement prepared.

"Your training will be supervised by Yoruichi Shihoin to ensure nothing is missed during this critical assignment. Questions?" he offered, wanting to get this started off as sufficiently and cleanly as he could given what was to come.

Almost no hands or voices were raised, save one. "What, exactly, do the Central 46 intend to achieve with this? I have been in communion with Ashisogi Jizō extensively since the very hour the rebellion concluded -- It is nearly repentant enough to be restored to a proper functioning state once more." Mayuri Kurotsuchi asked flatly.

The Sotaicho stood up. "It is to be a punishment as much as it is a reunion proper, reforging the bonds and strengthening them so that they may never be severed again. You will follow through on this, Captain Kurotsuchi." He explained.

The leader of the twelfth squad hummed disgustedly to himself rather than contradict their commander flat out, and though the motion was not missed, it was ignored in favor of proceeding.

"The training is to begin immediately-- and I expect full reports delivered after the fact. Dismissed." He ordered. In moments and more with frowns of uncertainty if confusion than grim acceptance, those gathered began to file out of the doors.

It was only once he was rather firmly convinced that he was alone the ancient Captain of the first squad set his cane down on the nearest armrest, staring down at the concealed Zanpakutou and the dragon spirit within. You fought remarkably well, Ryūjin Jakka. He thought and ran a burned hand along its length, looking back on the experience of seeing the new law brought into effect first and foremost.

The burns didn't begin, nor end, with his hand.

// Sōkyoku Hill training ground

Fifteen minutes later and the decision for who was to go first was still being debated about between the many involved within the new law. Byakuya Kuchiki was resolved to go forth and lead the charge, so to speak, in insuring it was followed through to the letter, while Rukia, Unohana, and Hitsugaya were likewise anxious to get this over and done with.

If they had known exactly what they were getting themselves into, their eagerness would have waned quite easier. After a time Byakuya put his foot down and said that the Sotaicho had said the limit of Captains at a time was two, not that two must be there at a given period, and that he would train alone for that time frame.

Rukia and Hitsugaya relented at that and joined the rest of the mulling crowd, but Unohana also stood her ground. In the end he begrudgingly accepted the inevitable and followed after the senior Captain.

They were greeted by Yoruichi, standing amid a group of Tenshintai materialization bodies. Her eyes lit up at Byakuya's appearance, and she nodded a cursory hello to the other female, smiling quite thoroughly as they walked forward.

"Old Yamamoto explain the full rules for this 'training' session?" she asked them.

Byakuya grimaced, staring back without answering his former teacher in years long past. Unohana answered for them. "He gave us the cursory explanation, Yoruchi Shihoin, but if that was all than you would not be nearly so excited, would you?" she asked pointedly from behind her own wide smile.

The dark skinned shinigami shrugged. "Perhaps, perhaps not, Unohana-san. I happen to have the full merits of the new law nearby, so choose a Tenshintai and follow me over toward the Hot Springs." She answered evasively but no less happily.

After doing as instructed and a few more minutes later Yoruichi found the stone tablet inscribed with the definitions of the law. "Go ahead and get yourselves acquainted with it, I'll be watching nearby and keeping measure of the details," she told them and flash-stepped some ways off to give them a measure of privacy.

Byakuya's disdain grew as he examined the words cut into the stone, ending with both eyebrows risen into his hair and his hand clenching the edge of his hilt tightly enough to pop the knuckles.

Unohana glanced over at him after finishing it herself, her features rather tauter than usual. "What a love retribution against our Zanpakutous, don't you think, Kuchiki-san?" she asked him lightly.

"If I had not broken my vow already than I would do so this once, now, Captain Unohana," he responded gravely and turned to flash-step off far enough to initiate the properties of the law.

She watched him go and glanced back down at the message in disbelief. It mostly repeated what the Sotaicho had said, but then it got to the aspects he had clearly omitted with the clever usage of training in his explanation.

Any active shinigami serving the Seireitei will dominate the will and bodies of their Zanpakutou spirits, as physically and severely as possible, enforcing the Master/servant mindset a spirit must recognize in order to continue holding the title or rank that shinigami held prior to the rebellion.

IF a shinigami refuses or does not properly educate their Zanpakutou spirit, they will be taken within the Maggot's Nest and sentenced to one month of 're-education' at the behest of the properties therein.

She silently strode away from the message and set her Tenshintai a little ways off, drawing her sword and gathering herself to begin this twisted, twisted mandatory law.

End. We've had Marriage Laws come into play before, but this is something all to its own. Shinigami/Zanpakutou spirit to come in the next chapter! Will have M/M, M/F, F/F, and much, much more. Expect our favorite Captains, Lieutenants, and main character getting yanked into this. Hope you guys enjoy what will become of this story, because I know I'm going to enjoy writing it! Until then, see you around~Ulforce