Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Ai Suru ❯ Chapter 1: Settling In ( Chapter 1 )

Ai Suru

Vb., to love; the action of loving someone or something.

 

Chapter 1 - Settling In

 

-Ai Suru-

 

Ichigo was a mystery to Toshiro. How the other shinigami had managed to graduate in record time, at the top of his class and still have a completely devil-may-care attitude about it all was beyond him. He had also managed to have time to make friends with a couple of the other younger shinigami - Abarai Renji and Hisagi Shuuhei, captains of the 5th and the 9th respectively. Rumor had it that he was going to be placed as the captain of the 3rd division at the next meeting of the Gotei taicho. Toshiro wouldn't have known this if Matsumoto hadn't been dragging in every single scrap of gossip since the incident and regaling him with it. He was getting tired of telling her that, no, he didn't know what the final decision was going to be, but he never told her so. She had to have something to distract her from the crushing betrayal of her childhood friend, and if telling him all the gossip to be had in the Seireitei was how she wanted to take her mind off things he certainly wasn't going to shut her up.

 

Matsumoto wasn't the only one devastated by the betrayal of the three taicho - Gotei 13's most trusted shinigami. Hitsugaya knew that Shuuhei was taking it hard too, and was working double-time as the new taicho of the 9th division. The entire 3rd division was dispirited; working as hard as they could to make up for having had a traitor as their leader; but the acting-taicho was in a frail condition. Kira was working hard, but his neurosis was slowly taking hold of him. He was jumpier by the day and everyone was walking on eggshells around him. Toshiro tried to be nice to the man but it was incredibly difficult to convince the man that- no; he wasn't going to tear Kira's throat out just because he wasn't smiling.

 

Momo was especially worrying to him. She hardly spoke anymore, to anyone, and she always shied away from everyone, especially Toshiro. He knew that Renji was keeping her workload as fukutaicho very light, and he was grateful to the other taicho. He supposed worrying so much wasn't very good for his own mental health, but really - his childhood best friend wasn't talking to anyone; Shuuhei was drowning himself in work; Matsumoto was drinking increasingly more; Kira and the rest of the 3rd division were falling apart around their ears - there was just so much to worry about.

 

He was startled out of his musings when someone's hand landed on his head and proceeded to scruff his hair up. He jumped and turned to glare at the person behind him only to see Kyoraku-taicho grinning at him, and Toshiro scowled.

 

“Hey, Snowy. I was just walking about when I saw you with that amazingly cute zoned-out look on your face and I just had to say hello.” Toshiro's eye twitched at the melodramatic, pink-clad taicho's statement. He was not cute! He had just opened his mouth to make his opinion known to the other man when a jigokucho fluttered over to them.

 

`All taicho are requested to come to the meeting hall for a meeting to decide the 3rd division's leadership.' The creature informed them. Toshiro rubbed the bridge of his nose in irritation. At least they were finally going to do something about it. He briefly wondered if Matsumoto's rumors were going to become true - the higher-ups had been procrastinating about this whole issue for seven or eight years. He thought it was because they had had very few bankai-ready shinigami, but maybe they had been holding out for the Kurosaki boy. If anything, he would help the Third's declining morale. He walked quietly alongside Kyoraku-taicho, who was busy chattering at him. He appreciated the older man's constant attempts to lighten up the gloom that had settled perpetually around all of the Gotei 13.

 

They reached the hall, and everyone seated themselves around the long, rectangular table. Politics in the Seireitei had been in an uproar since the massacre of the Central 46 and the defection of the three taicho, and they were just barely getting back on their feet. They followed the proper meeting procedure - a report from each of the division captains, any issues that needed to be addressed, and field reports on the movement of Hollows. Then they came to the real issue. Yamamoto-sotaicho stood.

 

“It has been decided that the Third division is in need of a stronger hand as taicho.” Kira flinched at this. “In light of recent events, there is no need to feel ashamed of this lapse, Kira-san. You are not quite at the level of a taicho, and I believe you have handled the situation to the best of your abilities. However, we now have a shinigami who can better handle the duties and pressures a taicho is expected to bear.” Yamamoto cleared his throat, “With these observations made, I hereby demote Kira-san from acting-taicho to fukutaicho. Are there any objections?” No one made a move, and Kira slumped, seemingly relieved. Toshiro bowed his head. It was a good move on the sotaicho's part. Everyone could see how the young man was cracking under the strain. “Very well then; I now open the table for nominations.”

 

“I nominate Kurosaki Ichigo for the position of Third division taicho.” Renji said immediately, glaring at everyone as if daring them to object. There was silence for a few moments. Everyone seemed to be contemplating their options.

 

“I nominate Iba Tetsuzaemon for the position of Third division taicho.” Komamura said suddenly. Yamamoto nodded in acknowledgement and gazed around the table. No one else was forthcoming so he nodded gravely.

 

“Those who would nominate Tetsuzaemon-fukutaicho please put forth your hand.” He intoned. Komamura and Kurotsuchi cast their votes. “Observed. Those who would nominate Kurosaki-san, please put forth your hand.” Renji, Shuuhei, Kenpachi and Ukitake cast their votes. “Kurosaki is the nominee. Who will stand for this nominee?” Renji, Shuuhei, Kenpachi and Ukitake stood. After a moment's consideration, Toshiro stood together with Kyoraku. Then, to everyone's ultimate shock, Byakuya rose. Yamamoto coughed and quirked his eyebrow, but refrained from comment. “Seven have stood for the nominee. Who will approve this decision?” Unohana, Soi Fon and Komamura cast their votes. “Seven have stood for the nominee, three have approved the nominee. I hereby promote Kurosaki Ichigo to the position of taicho of the third division. Are there any objections?” Kurotsuchi growled deeply but made no objection. “Very well then. Who is willing to bestow on Kurosaki the good news?” Toshiro raised his hand before Renji or Shuuhei could, surprising everyone. “Very good. Meeting is adjourned. We are set to meet again two weeks from now.” Everyone stood and flowed out of the meeting room, leaving Toshiro alone with Yamamoto.

 

“Yamamoto-sotaicho, where shall I retrieve the new taicho's haori? And do you want it to be a ceremony, or shall I just present it to him?” Toshiro asked, his head bowed deferentially. Yamamoto nodded to a stand near the door.

 

“You will find the new haori there, and I believe Kurosaki is not one to stand on ceremony. Just present it to him. I think you will find him down in the world of the living. You are excused from your duties for two days in order to see to this.” The sotaicho replied. Toshiro bowed and stood to leave, collecting the fresh white cloth from its small stand.

 

Two days in the world of the living. A good prescription for over-worrying, if he did say so himself.

 

-Ai Suru-

 

Toshiro always had a slightly hard time blending with a crowd. His small stature, spiky, snowy hair and light tan always made sure of this. He wasn't even sure why his gigai had a tan to contrast his hair in the first place. At least now the outfitters were up-to-date on the current fashions. Toshiro wore a pair of white jeans, an icy blue long-sleeved shirt with a single green stripe down the left front, a small green daypack in which was folded the white silk haori, and a pair of shoes (that he had to admit were very comfortable). What had the annoying lady from the Shinigami Women's Association called them? Converts? No - converse; that was it. So now he was wandering aimlessly, albeit fashionably; looking for the location of the Kurosaki Clinic. He finally broke down and started looking for someone to ask directions from. He was very particular about who he asked directions from. He finally settled on a brown-haired woman who looked about twenty-five.

 

“Excuse me, do you know the location of the Kurosaki Clinic?” Toshiro requested politely. He had a niggling feeling he knew this girl, but he couldn't remember how. She turned to him and stared for a second before beaming at him and catching his arm. He twitched as she started pulling him in a different direction.

 

“Yes, of course I do! I haven't been there in ages though, so I'm going to have to take you.” She chirped. “I'm Inoue Orihime, by the way. What's your name? Why do you need to go to the clinic? I hope you're not sick.” Toshiro was vaguely in shock at how much the girl could talk without taking a breath.

 

“Ano, I'm Hitsugaya Toshiro, and I'm not sick. I was coming to visit an old friend of the family. I hope he's still around here.” He improvised, hoping the girl wouldn't try to investigate further. She came to a dead stop.

 

“You weren't looking for Kurosaki Ichigo-kun, were you?” She asked, deadly serious. He nodded briefly, interested in her reactions only at this point. It was on the tip of his brain where he knew her from, and he was hoping she could jog his memory just a little more. “I'm sorry then, you probably didn't know. He's been dead for two years.” It all suddenly clicked with him. She had been one of Kurosaki's little rescue-team. He didn't have to worry about the pitiful excuse for an alibi then.

 

“And I've been dead for about seventy-five. What's your point?” He asked in a slightly amused voice. She dropped his arm in shock, peering at him with slightly incredulous eyes.

 

“I knew I'd seen you before!” Orihime exclaimed. “You're one of the shinigami who came to school for that time!” Toshiro winced.

 

“Not so loud please, Inoue-san. I'm supposed to be undercover.” She smiled widely and continued dragging him in the direction he presumed was the Kurosaki Clinic's. They were standing in front of the door in a matter of minutes, and Toshiro managed to disengage himself from Orihime's clutches enough to ring the doorbell. A tall, black-haired man answered the door.

 

“What can I do for you two?” He asked jovially. “Ah, is that you, Orihime-chan? I didn't recognize you, you've grown up so beautiful! Is this your kid, then? He doesn't look much like you or Chad.” Toshiro buried his face in his hands.

 

“No, I'm here to see your son's ghost. Can we come in now?” He asked, rather muffled. Isshin stared at him for a second before moving aside. “Thank you. I'm sorry to intrude on your son's leave-time, but it's a rather important matter.” Isshin nodded amiably.

 

“It's alright, as long as he doesn't have to leave immediately. The girls were enjoying his visit.” Toshiro smiled, removing his shoes in the genkan and slipping on some house-slippers that the older man handed him.

 

“No, I'm actually the bearer of good news this time.” He replied, shrugging off his daypack. Isshin broke into a wide grin and turned, bellowing into the bowels of the house while leading them somewhere.

 

“Ichigo! You have visitors!” There were some muted crashes, and Ichigo's voice bawled back.

 

“Are ya sure you're not just going senile, old man? The only people who would come to visit are either dead or psychic!” Isshin's grin widened as they entered the kitchen. Ichigo was seated at a table with his sisters looking slightly irritated, as always. He looked up and observed his visitors, as did the two girls. The black-haired one paled slightly at the sight of Toshiro, but she managed a shaky smile. “Oh, so it's both, is it? It's good to see you, Orihime. What brings you here, Toshiro-taicho?” Toshiro twitched at the use of both his title and his given name in combination and he scowled back at the orange-headed teen.

 

“I'm actually the bearer of good news this time so you can relax, Kurosaki-chan.” He addressed the black-haired girl. She had the decency to look rather sheepish as her sister looked at her in mild confusion.  He turned his attention to Ichigo. “Congratulations on your new promotion.” He said, smirking. Ichigo looked confused.

 

“Promotion? What promotion?” He asked, looking incredibly confused. Toshiro's smirk widened, and he opened the daypack in his hand.

 

“The promotion that means you get to wear this.” He said, pulling the white silk out of the pack and lobbing it at Ichigo. Ichigo caught it an unfolded it, gaping at the neat embroidery that spelled the kanji for three. “Did you know you were stood for by seven taicho and approved by three?” Ichigo's mouth dropped open.

 

“Seven? But there's only a requirement of six!” Toshiro nodded, and Ichigo was prodded in the ribs by the black-haired sister. “Ow! Karin!” She gave him a pointed look that almost rivaled her elbow. Realization dawned. “Oh, right. This means I was promoted to taicho of the Third division. Wait a second, what about Kira-kun?” Toshiro winced.

 

“He was declared unfit for duty and demoted from acting-taicho to fukutaicho. He seemed really relieved about it, to tell you the truth. You know how Kira-fukutaicho gets.” Ichigo nodded, looking relieved that he hadn't stolen someone else's position unwittingly after all. “Ne, Kurosaki-taicho, you're returning tomorrow, correct?” Ichigo nodded. “Then I will meet you at the Gate. I also return tomorrow. Goodbye.” He made to leave but Orihime restrained him.

 

“Do you even have a place to go?” She asked in a concerned way. He looked back at her and nodded briefly.

 

“I was going to go to the Urahara Shoten for the night. Why do you ask?” Ichigo winced and Isshin looked indignant.

 

“I won't have you staying anywhere but here!” The black-haired man declaimed.  Toshiro looked at Ichigo with somewhat wide eyes. Isshin was very loud, wasn't he?

 

And so Toshiro was put up at the Kurosaki residence for the night. Morning dawned quickly, and both of the shinigami were promptly assaulted straight out of bed. Ichigo engaged in a shouting match with his father and Toshiro went down to breakfast. Ichigo and Isshin joined them after a few more moments and soon the two shinigami departed. They reached the rendezvous point and Toshiro released his jigokucho. The Senkaimon opened and they reentered the Seireitei, leaving their gigai behind. Toshiro turned to Ichigo.

 

“Well, put on your haori and report to Yamamoto-sotaicho. I'll see you later.” Toshiro shunpo'ed out to is office in the Tenth, leaving a somewhat confused but hurriedly complying new taicho in his wake.

 

-Ai Suru-

 

Okay, the first chapter is complete. Sorry for the longish wait, my beta-reader's on vacation. I still have not used any sentences, but that's just sorta the way it came out. The next chapter will have a couple for sure though. I'm doing set-up right now, really. Thanks ever so much to my beta, CrypticElf and thanks to my reviewers; Hyou-kun, Slytherinett, dnite'07, Pickle Reviver, alisonette, wherearewe, Shimo Ino, lacyrelic, stringer13, Siamh, Ichixrenji-smexy love, StratosphereEnthusiast, and -yoki koto kiku. Thank you for reading, FuzenKomadori/CrazySpark <3