Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Oh Captain, My Captain ❯ Meeting the General ( Chapter 1 )

“My god, it's really chilly out here…”

 

Hi, my names Aaoa Takanari and I'm on my way to the Seireitei to gain the attention and participation of three captains of the Gotei 13. If you didn't already guess, I'm trying for the position of captain. After the Ryoka saved an adopted noble, Rukia Kuchiki, from her execution and returned to their human world, three positions for captain were opened up. So far they haven't filled any of the positions, but I'm hoping for my chance at one of them, the 9th squad in particular. It's said that the former captain was blind but a skilled captain who believed in the path that would shed the least blood. I believe that path is also good, but he is a traitor so poop on him. I want to prevent conflict and reduce the harm that is inflicted upon tainted souls, as others know them, Hollows, and to instead convert them back to human spirits through a process that only I can perform. It's a simple technique, really. I'll explain it too you later because I haven't even told you about myself.

 

First off, for all my lives, yes, even when I was human, I made a living as a Miiko. If you don't know what that means, I'll explain. A Miiko is a Geisha in training. Basically, we are virgin Geisha who are still trying to make a name for ourselves, in most cases. In my case I was a Miiko because I wanted love, not money. A Geisha could not truly love a man for their lives were ruled by being paid too be slept with. I didn't want that, I just wanted to entertain and make people happy, or at least occupy some of their time. In my human life, I was know at the greatest Geisha, though I was still a Miiko, but here in the soul society I am known as the greatest Miiko in all of the Rukon Districts. I'm very proud of my titles, but none of them have helped me find a man, sadly. Maybe one day I'll give up my dream of true love… then again maybe I'll die as an old hag. It wouldn't surprise me. Who wants a famous Miiko as their wife? That is one reason why I want to become a captain. I'm sure that there are more people out there who would marry a Captain of the Gotei 13 then a famous Miiko.

 

As for the rest of me, in other words physical traits, I'm a fairly simple woman, though I am one of the few people in Rukon districts who have dirty blonde hair. It is completely puzzling to me as to why when I was human I had black hair and now I'm a blonde; I wasn't born blonde, but whatever. I guess some of my DNA got messed up during the transition from a human spirit too a shingami. As for the other traits my boobs are decent, though they could stand to be a little bit bigger; my butt is rather large for my tastes, but everyone else stares so I guess it's a good thing; just like every Geisha I have a small waist and rib cage, perfect for those darn Kimonos; my legs are nice and long, at least for the size I am, I stopped growing at the age of 12 which really sucks because I was tall then but my friends kept growing and now I'm the shortest of the bunch, thank god for tall shoes; the rest of me is perfectly normal, small feet, a cute nose, flat ears, flat hair, dainty fingers, long claws… I mean nails, ect.

 

Some… unique traits about me include my memories of my human life. Usually souls that have been sent to Soul Society are born a new and have no memories of their lives as humans. Oddly enough that whole transition between the human world and Soul society didn't go right at all for me. When I died my soul was sealed too the Okiya I belonged too by a Buddhist priest. There I remained for at least 100 years and thankfully I never turned into a Hollow. When a Soul Reaper finally came to send me on my way to the Soul Society he must have been a newbie because the seal on my soul didn't want to let me leave. Thanks to him my soul was torn in two, so to speak, and half of me went to the Soul Society while the other half remained sealed in the Okiya. When I say torn in two I don't mean it literally, what I mean to say is that half of my being went and half stayed. It's kinda like in the series Xaolin Showdown and that ring of 7 dragons, except its only two dragons, if you know what I mean. I guess I watch way too much human television…

 

After a good forty years in the Soul Society I came across a dream one night. It was rather odd, and though I didn't know it, the dream was of my other half back in the human world. Not knowing what it meant I went to a “specialist”, A.K.A. my big sister (When Maiko are given their Geisha name they are also accepted by a real geisha and made siblings by the person who gives them their name.) who told me to seek the help of a Shingami (Soul Reaper). Too my luck of being a famous Maiko I sought out the help of the noble family Kuchiki. The head of their family was a Captain of the 6th division; I knew he could help me, and help me he did, after a good length of persuasion.

 

It was only a day later when he took me to the human world. I was so scared, but amazed at the same time. The human world was so different from what I expected with its blazing lights, flashing screens, and noisy inhabitants. Back in the Soul Society everything was much quieter and so much darker. But too tell the truth, I like the human world better, but don't tell anyone in the Soul Society I said that. They would think I was nuts.

 

After only mere minutes of searching my other half was found still bound to the spot where I had been sealed, though now it wasn't an Okiya, but a super market full of humans. Meeting my other half wasn't nearly as exciting as what happened after that. Upon contact with my other self I was throw into a fit of strange happenings. First my other self and I united and became one, a strange feeling to be sure, I recommend you never do this, it's a big bother. Next the memories of my human life, what went on while my soul was in two and other things overloaded my brain. The next thing I knew I was back at the Okiya in the Rukon district with my big sister sitting by my side.

 

I don't remember much of what happened for the next few days after that, probably because I was exhausted from the strain of two sets of memories being jammed in this head of mine, but the next thing I do remember is waking up with a zampakuto in my arms and a sudden urge to sing. Yeah, that's right, a sudden urge to sing.

 

Obeying my urge I sent myself on the road to fame once again and began traveling from teahouse too stage while using my new powers to win the affections of all who listened, again. It seemed that my disappearance and cancellations of a few gigs had harmed my reputations and title. Quickly regaining my status as greatest Maiko in all of the Rukon Districts I smashed down the competition and sat on my high horse for a good few years. I hadn't touched that zampakuto that had appeared since it had shown up in my arms that one morning, but upon discovering it buried under one of my more formal kimonos before a performance I took to carrying it around, at least when not performing or chatting with the local rich men. It would have been too odd for a showing Miiko to have a zampakuto decorating her waist.

 

“Excuse me, miss?”

 

Looking up from my blank examination of the ground in front of my feet I stared up at the man before me with a curious stare. “Yes?”

 

“I'm sorry, but you aren't allowed to enter this building.” The man looked down me with slight shock in his eyes.

 

“Oh, this is the building where the captain of the 1st squad's office is, correct?” The man nodded, but quirked an eye brow down at me.

 

“What business do you have here?” He asked, still gawking down at me.

 

“I have a pre-scheduled appointment too see him. It's about the Bankai test to become a captain.” I said simply as I nodded to him to show my respect and continued on past him and into the building.

 

Perhaps wearing a full Kimono and face paint was a little much for meeting with the head captain, but my sister recommended it. After all, just being allowed into the Seireitei was considered a special if not rare occasion, though I had done it once before to entertain for the new years celebration and also to talk to the head of the Kuchiki family, but to also be meeting the head captain in person was unheard of. I didn't want to embrace myself in front of the other captains if my request was denied so I waited for the opening when he would be completely alone, except for his lieutenant of course.

 

Stopping in front of the door to his office, or as it was labeled conference room one, I was greeted by a closed door and a woman standing before me.

 

“I presume you are Aaoa Takanari?” She asked me with a sweetly sickening smiled chiseled into her face. I nodded.

“That is I. I hope I didn't arrive too early.” I said attempting to match that cheesy smile of hers, but with no success. She must have practiced in the mirror for days to get it that cheesy.

 

“You are right on time. The captains are waiting for you inside.” She said turning too the door and stepping to the side while pulling the door along with her.

 

“Wait, captains? Is that Plural? I thought-” I cut my words off as I noticed that I had gained the attention of the room's contents unwillingly. Quickly composing myself under my painted mask I shuffled into the room with silent tread. To my relief the whole cast of captains were not in the room, but instead a total of three stood besides the head captain, who sat lounging behind his desk, and four lieutenants.

 

Coming to a silent and soft halt I bowed my head to the head captain then too the others who stood to my left and right. “I am sorry if I kept you waiting for long.”

 

“Wow, you're the one applying for captain? I didn't expect a Geisha to-” One of the lieutenants began, but having my pride as a virgin I just had to interrupt him.

 

“Sorry, but I am not a Geisha. I may have the fame of one, but I am a Maiko. I have more self-respect, or if you'd rather, more hopes then a true Geisha.” Standing tall I smiled over at the Lieutenant who had spoke out. “Sorry to correct you, but it bothers me when I am mistaken for a high-class prostitute.”

 

“…Oh.” Was all he said before falling silent.

 

“Anyway, I hope that my request to perform my Bankai for the position of captain has been approved?” I said turning to gaze down at General Yamamoto with a questioning glaze in my eyes.

 

“… It has been.” He said after a long moment of suspense. “You will be observed by the captains of squads 2, 7, 10 and I along with who ever else should wish to see.” One by one the captains in the room moved slightly as their squad number was announced telling me who was who.

 

“Thank you, sir. When shall I be demonstrating?”

 

“Today, whenever you are ready.” I smiled and bowed my head once more.

 

“I shall be ready in one hour.” Turning to the three captains who had agreed to supervise my Bankai release I bowed. “Thank you for agreeing to view my test. You will not regret it.” Standing once again I turned and shuffled out of the room.

 

Incase you were wondering, yes I have gone to the Soul Academy. I didn't take me very long to pass the curriculum, in fact I passed the basics in half the time. As for the 6 year study it took me two and it was surprisingly easy, though I do have to admit it was probably because of my memories of the human world and the special abilities I obtained when my other half joined me that made it so easy. The normal students at the academy were only between 10 and 20 years old, where as I had a good hundred on them and another two hundred or so in brain power. All in all, the academy only showed me how to use my zampakuto and the demon arts. I didn't really pay attention to the rest because once I was able to communicate with my Zampakuto it told me everything I needed to know and more. It's rather odd that it knows all that stuff about the captains and the Seireitei because when you consider that it wasn't given too me by someone at the academy it seems just damn odd. Oh well, I'll take what I can get.

 

It only took me a few minutes to find my ride back too the Okiya where I would prepare for my Bankai Release. I really didn't need to prepare, for I could do the whole thing in this Kimono, but just incase something was to go wrong I wanted to change into a less expensive kimono. If I were to get this one cut up in anyway I would be throwing a good few years worth of performance money down the drain.

 

It took a good five minutes to get back to the Okiya which left me with plenty of time to equip myself in a lighter and cheaper kimono. Normally a Kimono of Geisha stature has at least five layers too it. Usually there are 7 and as for extremely formal ones such at the one adorning my body at the moment they have even more. A kimono like a Junihitoe has 12 layers, but only royalty wore those.

 

Exiting the runner's carriage I silently paid him and entered my home. Slipping my shoes off I shuffled up the steps and too my room. Successfully avoiding the other inhabitants in the Okiya I began untying the many knots that consisted of the obi. Sadly, I'm not very good with knots so I eventually garnered the assistance of my big sister who shelled me of my many layers in a matter of seconds and sent me on towards the closet while she folded the Kimono I had just been stripped of.

 

“Thank you, Hana. I would have been late if not for your help.”

 

“Don't thank me, just hurry and get that Kimono on. You don't need my help tying the knots also, do you?” My big sister said jokingly. I smiled over at her as I gently lifted the tan colored kimono from its box. As I lifted it from the box I noticed something rather odd about the sleeves and hem.

 

“Did the sleeves fall off?” I asked as I flipped the top layer of the kimono over to examine it carefully. “And what happened to the hem? It's all… thready.”

 

Coming to stand next to me, my sister delicately ran her dainty fingers over the freshly dyed fabric. “I've seen how your Bankai is used and I know the long sleeves of your kimonos get in the way with the draw of your sword, so I sent this and two other kimonos to the tailors. I told them, “Make these dresses worthy of a captain of the Gotei 13. She's a dancer, so make it flexible and sturdy.” In the end they chopped off the sleeves, made the Maemigoro and Okumi much smaller so that there is less fabric in the way of your legs allowing you too move more freely. As for the horizontal dashes of black thread they added that so if your kimono is cut it will not unravel, that thought is also the reasoning for the added fan patterns that have been placed in seemingly random places along the edges of the kimono. They also added this new thing to go under your kimono and obi. They called it a waist synch but just for you they added these things that act like armor but look like snake scales.” As she spoke of all the new improvements to the Kimono she pulled out the contents of the box.

 

Holding the kimono in my hand I watched the obi, under garments, which had also been altered for the kimono, and the “waist synch” were laid out before me on the table. Stunned and utterly speechless I slowly turned to my sister and stared at her wide eyed.

 

“What? Are you that surprised?” Hana said smiling as she looked down at me.

 

“I… I don't know what to say! Thank you so much!” I half shouted as I resisted the urge to smother her in a bear hug.

 

“It's my present too you. I may not see you for a long time once you become a captain, so I want to make sure you have something to remember my by.” Hana said, her smile growing with sincerity.

 

“I will always remember you! You are my only family after all.” I said grinning at her. “I could never forget someone who watched over me for so long.”

 

“Oh, you will be late if we linger any longer. Hurry and put that kimono on! We can't have you leaving the Okiya in just your under garments!”

 

~*~

 

Hey everyone, I hope you've liked the first chapter of Oh Captain, My Captain. It took me a while to come up with. Incase you've read my other Bleach Fanfic the principles of the characters are the same in the occurrences that the Zampakuto, Natural Gifts, and background are the same. Other wise this is a completely different story.