An Echoed Roar [Private | Captain Challenge]

The Tenbin. A place where court hearings were heard, cases made, and more often than not a place where people were found guilty of their crimes. Hi-to had overseen enough of the hearings to know how they ran now like clockwork, although this was to be the first time in the Sixth Division's history that he'd ever seen the place used for something quite so delicate. Shinigami filled the area in orderly fashion, Sixth Division members and Captains from other Squads all gathered to push their opinion on who they deemed most worthy to lead. The infamous history of the Sixth Division had always been a flaky one at best, it's system and protocol changing more often than any of their brothers, and today would be the day to see that phase come to an end.

Hi-to had received the challenge only shortly before, and of all the things he'd had to educate himself on in his new role, the fragility of your position was one of them. Soul Society was a hierarchy run by power, and should somebody of greater strength desire your position, there were no fine politics to smooth it out over. Action was immediate, fast and swift, like the death they so often delivered. And it worked. Gilgamesh was gone, they were without a Captain Commander, and action needed to be taken. He'd understood the challenge and rose to meet it accordingly, gathering everybody here today in an attempt to make it as much of a public affair as possible. This involved everybody, and especially their future.

He'd always kept a very tight record on what Shinigami he could. Personal files filled drawers in his office, though for all his information gathering Jomyaku Umi had come up completely clean. No academy files, petty crimes, division admission forms or evaluations, and that in itself was almost completely unheard of among their race. It was an anomaly, something to be figured out and understood, and as he stepped into the organized fray he caught sight of the other preparing to make his stand.

It was going to be an interesting affair.

Making sure to keep his entrance as swift and as slight as possible, Hi-to took his respective seat as Umi prepared to make his case. This was a challenge for an important position, and as such he'd forgone wearing the Captain's haori he'd been commonly seen wearing for the last few months. The act itself would have been arrogant, and although he may have held the position until today they were both here as equals. He felt no angst towards his position being threatened, in fact, he welcomed it. Soul Society needed their ways challenged, strong individuals to come forward, and to rock the boat they liked to pretend was their system. The Sixth Division was something he'd sold himself to his entire life, and he knew better than most what the outside view of the Squad was. Weak. They held no Vice Captain, and their Captain had taken the rank not through a power struggle, but because their previous leadership had apparently fled. As he'd always done, he'd persevered, done what was best for his Division, and stood rigidly by that belief today.

Murmurs erupted as the elusive Shinigami took his stand at the box, confident in his case and demanding attention as his hands met in a silencing clap. All eyes turned to their potential leader, hushed whispers and gossip falling short as the other proceeded to make his case to the gathered jury. Words that on the surface appeared to have the intention to offend, though anybody with the initiative to look past the blunt words would see the challenge underneath. Hi-to could remember a time when he'd first mirrored those thoughts, shortly after Tova's invasion. He couldn't blame anybody for his own failure other than himself, and had pushed for other's to similarly take responsibility for their own actions. A captain was not a babysitter; he was a political and tactical leader in and out of warfare and they'd have all done well to remember that. He could have blamed Noaruji's absence for what Tova brought to the Sixth all he wanted, but it couldn't have changed the fact that they couldn't do anything as individuals themselves.

Another issue with new Captains were their intentions for the division and it's members. The court hearing would leave nothing in the dark, and nobody unaware as to their fate. A large portion of what the other was pleading his case to was the Sixth Division's roots, it's ability (a wasted one as of the massacre) to maintain and exercise the law.

Of course, it was a fact everybody in the room was acutely aware of, and yet chose to never openly acknowledge. It was the reason the Sixth were shunned among their peers; paranoia. Everybody broke the law, and everybody was guilty. The rules may have officially stated the law, but the general belief among their brothers and sisters was that it wasn't breaking the law that was illegal; it was getting caught. Hi-to didn't glance at the others around to glimpse their reactions. He knew they were all guilty in their own ways, as he himself was. Although none as apparent as Jomyaku Umi himself.

The Octava Espada.

It certainly explained one question; who was he? But in it's place it raised a million more, and the face that had remained passively blank for the speech thus far shifted only in the form of slightly narrowed eyes, tying to piece together the news in a way that made logical sense. Why was an arrancar, or what used to be, trying to become a captain? What were his real intentions? And how on earth did he become a Shinigami in the first place? And who allowed him entrance to the Gotei? Mitsutaka? Gilgamesh?

With the way things had worked out, he wouldn't have been entirely surprised. That he was bringing this up in front of a division of men he may or may not end up leading was either a grave mistake, or a genius move. The other Captains would certainly have a lot to discuss when it became time to cast the vote, and Hi-to leaned forward slightly as he digested the information.

Was he comfortable knowing his position may be taken by a previous Espada gone 'good?' Of course not. The Arrancar are what brought Soul Society to ruin, and the notion that there was an ulterior motive behind his actions was a strong one. Granted, Tova wouldn't send one of his own in for such fickle work when he could just take what he wanted, as he'd so obviously shown. Discarded, maybe? It was possible. Or maybe the other had left of his own volition, though how he'd come forward as a complete Shinigami was a mystery to the best of them. To alter the makeup of one's soul was, theoretically, impossible, and even for a masterful kaido practitioner he certainly had a lot to think about in the coming future, regardless of the outcome of the hearing.

Concluded in his speech, he watched Umi cast away the chair he'd so modestly created for himself, the dramatic flare of a bow and arm for himself and he took the invitation swiftly, rising to meet the other as he came down from the stand. It was an odd feeling, standing in the place of the accused when he'd only ever been the judge, although he certainly had nothing to feel guilty for.

The faces in front of him were familiar, those he'd fought beside, commanded, and would continue to do so regardless of the outcome of the case. This was about the betterment of the Sixth Division, and he'd see it through to the end.

"Thank you for your case, Jomyaku Umi." There was a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and Hi-to had come here with the intention of displaying neither. Like a mission, he had come here to do what had to be done, to the point, and without time wasted. They had a lot of discussing to be do, and as Umi had already stated, they were in rather dire times. They didn't have the time to hold the division members here when they could be doing there jobs, and in testament to that he wasted no time, speaking out to the court house's members with a voice he'd learned to portray at the initial Captain's meeting.

"As you're all aware, you've been called here today to hear both me and Umi make our cases as to whom will receive the Captaincy of the Sixth Division. Rather than standing here and making a case as to why we shouldn't allow Umi that position, I would rather us viewed as equals in this case. I have worked with most of you, seen half of you into the Division personally, but like all court cases bias has no place here. Vote without prejudice or favor. This is for the better interests of the Sixth Division, and Soul Society as a whole."

"As many of you are aware, I have been here in the Sixth for hundreds of years. I joined upon graduating the academy and have never wavered from it. From recruit, to officer, to the head of interrogation, Vice, and acting Captain before taking the role of Captain since Noaruji's absence, I've come to understand the Division better than most. I know it's strengths, as well as all it's flaws and weaknesses from personal experience. I know the voices of it's members from a perspective of not only that as a captain, but as a recruit who once worked along side them on equal grounds. I know what it is that is truly thought of the Sixth, and I know it needs to change."

"What I offer for the Sixth is my experience. I know it's politics, positions and members. I've taken to privately overseeing training exercises and evaluations, and will continue to bring us to a level where what happened during the massacre will not happen again. We all fell to the massacre, lost many of our commanding officers, and in their place we've learned to persevere. With no Captain Commander we have nobody to rely on but ourselves, and it has made us stronger. We have united now more than ever, and we are only continuing to grow.

Both me and Jomyaku Umi have come here today with the same goals for the Division, but it is up to you to decide which of us has the ability and potential to take the sixth father as Captain. This is a decision of great military importance, and I want no bias from any of our members." Scanning the crowd, he noted each individual, and so far the only person of absence he noted was Kiriko. It wasn't like the current Captain of the Second to miss out on important affairs, and if his attention wasn't so preoccupied perhaps he might have worried.

"That is all I have to say on the matter. Jury, if you please."
 
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1856 words: 37 GP

To be sitting here was..well, how could one describe it? A former espada, a previous "blade of the enemy", as he described himself, was standing a few feet away, and he was..challening one of the current captains, for their position. Well, calling Kohara a captain was perhaps a bit much; He certainly held the potential, but his way of becoming a captain hadn't exactly been the official way of doing it. Her own rise to the seat of a captain haden't been through the traditional ways either, but with the state of the seireitei was under with Gilgamesh, following the traditions had mattered little, to him at least. 

Grief poured over her cracked heart, causing her to lower her head slightly. It wasn't easy to think back, to the fate of her brother-in-law, but she found herself doing it in this particular moment. Why? Cause Gilgamesh, despite the horrible things he had done, had to some degree, upheld the official way of appointing a new captain; He had asked her to obtain her bankai, and then display it before him or the acting captain commander - he hadn't just blindly picked her out for the position. Her and Kenshou certainly hadn't picked new captains while wearing a blindfold, yet the choices hadn't felt..right in the end, well, at least some of them. 

And most importantly; No captain commander had been picked, with the votes having been split clean down the middle. She knew that she wasn't fit to act as a commander, at least not in her current state, and the only reason why she had stepped up, was because of the man sitting next to her - Kenshou Ine...

The first lady lifted her head up once again, focusing her gaze onto Kyousuke, who had been talking for awhile. Her ears had registered most of his words, and she had found herself agreeing with him, or rather, she had come to the same conclusions as he had..

As her and Kenshou was called to stand up, she did so; She stood up and walked ahead of Kenshou, keeping her eyes looking forward. The ivory hair cascaded down her back in its full lenght, and she smoothed out one of her long bangs, allowing it to rest along the outline of her chest. She was, as usual, dressed in her uniform and haori. Despite her status and wealth, it was a known fact, that she didn't parade herself like it; Simple colors and patterns was her preference, and it could even be seen in the haori; The only "personalization" of it, was that the wide sleeves had been narrowed by 2 inches, and the reason for it was more practical, than it was for appearance. It could be hard to heal, with such wide sleeves getting in the way.

 Brief eye contact was made, as Kyousuke told her to step forward. With a small nod of the head, she gathered her hands in front of herself, making a slight bow towards the gathered shinigami. "Thank you, Kyousuke-san - I shall keep this brief". She glanced over her shoulder once, onto Kenshou, before returning focus to the crowd. "Some of you are likely raising eyebrows at this - Why should one keep something brief, when subject is of great importance? My reason for this is, that I have found myself agreeing with what Kyousuke-san spoke of moments ago - It was a mistake on mine and Kenshou-san's part, to elect the current holders of the captain haori, I realize this now. But in the moment we did it, it seemned the most logical; with only the two prsent canditates to vote for the seat as captain commander, it would surely end in a tie. Adding more people to increase the chances of finding a commander, sounded like a reasonable answer - alas, it still resulted in the votes being split down the middle.."

"I have my own opinions on the two candidates, but as Kyousuke-san said; this is what should be dealt with first". The first lady lowered her head for a moment, rising and lowering her shoulders. She had made important decisions before, but the two choices she had to pick from now was difficult; Why only two?..well.."I am indeed a candidate to be elected for the position of commander, yet I do not consider myself fit for such an important seat - upholding the third division is what I do best. It could be that the two other candidates thinks overwise, but it is how I see myself, so for that reason, my vote will be on..".

She briefly glanced over her shoulder again, before looking at Kyousuke again. This wasn't a question of who she trusted the most. No, this was a question about the future of the gotei 6 - of who could lead them best, given the current situation. She put on a soft smile, and made a bow with her head towards Kyousuke. "I, Aizawa Junko, captain of the third division, vote on Kyousuke Tsukimiya, to become the next captain commander"

Kenshou was not sure why he even bothered to agree to coming, they did not need him for something so boring. He should have sent Lessa in his place, it would have been enough for him to merely send a representative. This whole thing was boring, making arguments on why you should be a captain. How pathetic, this was why the Sixth would never be taken serious or at least by himself. Not to mention that either one of the two in front of him was not exactly what he considered captain material. Kenshou smiled to himself, he wondered if they would draw blades if either of them lost. That would at least be entertaining.  It seemed that the arguments were over quickly, at least they were not going to have to sit through such a long and boring task.

Only after they asked for a verdict a man slinked to the front, one who had been missing for quite some time, Kyousuke, captain of the second division. He seemed to speak of pride in the military and its rules. It seemed that he would vote last, not much that Kenshou cared but it seemed that the man was mistaken and thought one must have a bankai to be a captain. While Kenshou had achieved his long ago, he had taken careful pains to never reveal it or even need to use it in a fight. It drove Sera and Hannelore mad that he refused to accept their power, that instead he would rather put himself through pain and suffering when fighting if only to prove he did not need any power. He would not mention this and allow those around him to think whatever it was they thought. It was easier to simply just not say anything an allow rumors to hold true.

Junko gave a short speech and in the end she voted on Kyousuke, which was not a surprise. Considering her distrust for Kenshou and what he had done to her daughter. It seemed that after her moment it was now his own turn to vote. If anything there was a few details that had to be discussed before voting could be finished. Junko might not question Kyousuke’s absence, but it was not the first time a captain disappeared when Tova Diabló had come to Seireitei. The last time Mitsutaka had been turned into a being like himself it seemed and then became friends with the monster. He betrayed them all and then again when he aided Lancelot.

“I believe that before any voting can take place, we will need to know a few things. Such as, where have you been recently? Your absence was noted and disappearing suddenly and with no reason left to explain is quite questionable, something I’m sure you understand.” The question was simple enough, but it would be something that he would have to answer. Sure he could lie and no one would be the wiser, but at least an answer would be out there and on the record so to speak.

“I’ll be honest I have no care for the job myself, so do you desire that responsibility? Will you put a former Espada as a Captain, or will you throw him into a cell where he belongs? Your lieutenant seems to be letting many who deserve a cell roam free, it does reflect on you. One can only wonder if you have the stomach to do what she could not.” Kenshou himself found it despicable that neither the Second or the Sixth would lock up a man who had been their enemy. That simply because he now looked like them that his mind was still not twisted.

Kenshou still sitting leaned back in his chair looking out at those in the audience, oh what an exciting time for them. Watching captains determine the future of a broken military. Ai had been effective enough not to start anything major with those in Hueco Mundo, but she had been too weak to keep herself from being cast out like rubbish. Mitsutaka and Lancelot for either selfish goals or to embellish their egos attempted to conquer Heuco Mundo. The plan backfired and both men had fled, hiding away when the consequences too great. Cowards they were, only to move against those they knew they could best. They had left the Gotei broken, discarded their play thing at the first sign of another child who may be bigger and stronger.

While Kenshou could lead the Gotei, he had no ambition to. It was a headache and only more paperwork. Kyousuke seemed to have his own desire to lead and Kenshou had respected the man enough. They were not friends nor were they even acquaintances, but obviously the man had some sense of duty and he was not weak. He had the makings of someone who may actually be willing to force other divisions to hold higher standards for themselves. Half the divisions gave away seated officer positions to the first man or woman who asked for it. No standard and no test to ensure that those who were awarded it had a desire to take it. No they simply gave it away as if it had no meaning and in doing so they devalued the point of a seated officer.

Kenshou cared not for the meeting today, but at least in the end it had become slightly more tolerant. This added bit was more exciting than arguments and debates, it held real meaning. Maybe soon they could even mandate challenges for each division, forcing a challenge that was more than a debate and a vote. Voting on a captain seemed absurd, Kohara should have simply fought for her position to show his dominance or failed and stepped aside. This debate seemed more like a cop out to Kenshou, but he never really did understand the other division. He understood the second somewhat, but his emotions would have never allowed him to do well in such a division. Weakness as some might call it, but in the fifth their emotions were a strength.

1018 Words - 20 GP

1018 Total Words - 20 GP

"It would be you wouldn't it..."

The genuine smile that crossed his face seemed to spread like a crack in the gravel, expanding until it seemed to overtake him...or at least actual laughter did. There he was, the man of the hour, the Kinslayer in the flesh. Why would he expect anyone less to interrupt him? It seemed that few people had the gall to try but this one was a bit of a special case wasn't he? They'd never met but that wasn't the sort of feeling that came through his reaction to him. It made his flesh squirm to be in the presence of someone like him...Kenshou was one thing, he was a murderer who seemed at odds with himself as he refused to use the tools available to him. Word on the street and what Umi happened to gather was that he'd never even employed his Bankai, relying on cruder methods to kill. He wasn't concerned with a man like that. Holding back was a sign of weakness and especially such a gross failure to use his abilities as that one. Not to mention that as far as he knew, and that could always be corrected, he was a full blooded Shinigami.

Considering Tova's habits it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect that everyone in the room was a half blooded monstrosity. He certainly treated it as such, it was easier to assume they would disappoint him than expect them not to. That was really neither here nor there however, the shinigami who up until this point had very comfortable in his position adjusted his stance. His legs crossed one another and he rested his elbow ontop of his knee, framing his face with his fingers as he watched the way that this monstrosity had interrupted his coronation for personal matters...he didn't even have the decency to stay dead did he? Not that he ever had been but he was dead to this world, Umi would be lying if he hadn't partially drawn comfort from the fact that he wouldn't be sharing a plane with that...

Thing.

"And here I thought I'd never have the chance to share a room with the infamous Kinslayer..."

He wasn't comfortable around "it", it put him on edge and the chair he'd conjured up for himself sharpened on the edges ever so slightly with every point on its surface becoming jagged. His smile faded.

"Lucky me..."

Umi rolled his eyes, growling under his breathe as if that act would make him just a modicum more fearsome. It was trying to contain his instincts seeing as the majority of them were telling him that he should leave the room and the whole plane as soon as possible because it was very hard to tell if his defense was genuine or not. Taking risks was not a thing he was big on. He'd have been more comfortable with a few walls between himself and that blade-born murder pile shaped into human flesh. It was hard to tell where the myth ended and the man began but he didn't look frightening. Hell, if Pureza had been able to scratch him then surely he wasn't as tough as claimed but that was a fight that Umi was not willing to engage in regardless. He'd killed her and then he'd killed his brother like it was nothing. 

The Shinigami's memories drifted back to when he was not such a thing. He remembered that wound. One mark, one puncturing, swift and direct...it wasn't aggravated as if more than one attack had gone through and it showed no signs of poison or the like, Kyousuke had just stabbed him once. It killed him. That was simply unheard of, nobody died like that...the other wounds he sustained were traceable and he could gauge mostly where they had come from but that singular wound had slain him where the rest had not. That wasn't natural...it wasn't human. One blow couldn't kill an Espada. Yet it looked like it had. Umi's muscled tightened slowly as he recalled it as if he was preparing for an injury of his own. He'd gotten stronger that much was clear but that didn't mean the boogeymen got weaker.

Kyousuke Tsukimiya was his personal nightmare and even if it looked, felt, and acted like a chap in a night gown there was no comfort to be had with that thing in the room. It was in his best interest to make it happy and to that end he spoke up further attempting to balance out his previous statement. "Tsukimiya was indeed in the fortress as stated, if my testimony is of any value then you have it. I thought I'd take some Polaroids at one point but I lacked the connections to sell them back to you guys and photography isn't worth much if I can't make a profit...plus I believe I was the only person in the fortress to take showers so the value would've been heavily diminished by the buildup of sand and grime."

It was a joke but he wasn't having much fun with it. He turned now to face the man accusing him.

"On a more serious note, addressing Captain Kenshou...you and I both know that if you were going to jail me you would've already done it and if you find me so reprehensible then you would've ended my life of your own volition. You'e done neither."

Umi was obviously goading him, pushing his luck so to speak, but it was vital. He couldn't afford to be seen as weak and he was tired of being pushed around by these people. They'd already made a mockery of him and forced him into the shackles they called laws, requiring that he play nice with people who should've been cut in half the moment they looked at him...much less the weak one that was near him acting as a Captain. This challenge was already working his nerves and if they wanted to see a Bankai he'd have been more than happy to show it in use. The particular target wasn't very important to him though he'd have obviously preferred the boy as a stress outlet. The facts of the matter were that Umi's position was quite firm.

He was more than capable of handling the position and he intended to leave with it in his grasp.

Tsukimiya's distractions and Kenshou's accusations would not detract from that. He wouldn't allow it.

Kenshou watched as Kyousuke pulled back his uniform to reveal a scar line across the chest. Even after the healing Kenshou recognized the type of injury, he had seen it before on himself. The handiwork of the healing was slightly different. Someone slightly less skilled than Junko had done it, they had not managed to smooth the transition of the old with the new. Kenshou’s back had once similarly ripped to shreds and burned off, exposing bone and organs.

 Luckily in the moment in which he had fled, he had taken Junko Aizawa with him. She had felt pity or maybe it had been her paying her debt for saving her life. It mattered not anymore, whatever it had been she had made quick work of the injury. Then again Kenshou knew that Tova was something different now, he no longer was the same monster he had been back then. Now he was something else, something that was different, no longer the Arrancar he had once been.

“An answer I believe everyone can live with, that satisfies that question.” Kenshou smiled slightly at Kyousuke’s next comment, it seemed that he knew more than he should have. Kenshou had to wonder how he knew, the few Arrancar who knew his secret were all dead. A select few of his peers knew his secret and he could only wonder who had exposed him. Kenshou always knew it was only a matter of time before his secret was truly revealed, after all it was impossible to keep a secret when more than one person knew.

The sixth division had been useless, but it had been a spot for useless captains for so long. Since as long as Kenshou  could remember there had not been a captain of the sixth who actually managed to do their job. It was odd that in all that time, there had never been one officer of caliber who would stand up and ensure that the sixth was something that no longer stood as a joke among the other divisions. Kenshou had an idea of someone who would have fit well as a captain of the sixth, but he was neither of those who were present today. It was ironic who he had in mind, a man who had recently been labeled a traitor and a criminal. One Kenshou had wanted to see locked up, not for his crimes but simply to gain leverage against another.

Kyousuke then had an odd request for him, to keep Lessa safe. It seemed odd that those two knew each other, but then Kenshou had been gone so long it was not surprising to see new friendships or work relationships built. “If you know her Kyousuke, then you know she’s quite capable of taking care of herself… but I will keep an eye on her, I’m rather fond of this lieutenant.” It was true, Lessa’s skills matched his own rather nicely. He still had yet to spar with her, but she would actually provide to be a good partner to spar with. Something he had lacked for quite some time and missed from his time when he had been only a third seat officer. Back when there had been so many worthy adversaries, where he hardly had to look for someone to spar with and now it was near impossible to find another in the Gotei he could cross blades with.

“An odd choice of words, Kinslayer. Are they still your kin? I watched that day when he killed some of the Espada, efficient is the word that comes to mind.” Kenshou had watched the war wage on from above on a hill. It had been interesting to see the mistakes of the Arrancar, it highlighted the difference of well trained soldiers and primal warriors. A soldier would win against his equal in a warrior. The training would kick in and allow him to seem as if he was that much better.  “You over estimate me Umi, I have no authority over jailing you and I am simply a sword who only kills those who I am pointed at. You are a potential danger, the lying snake waiting to bite the hand I wager but it is not my job to cut the head off until the hand is bitten.” Kenshou was honest about his position, as it was he had no authority to jail or kill the abomination. How an Arrancar had managed to become a Shinigami was still up for debate, whether Umi lied or told the truth it was impossible to say.

Turning back towards Kyousuke, Kenshou had made up his mind on the matter at hand. “I vote for Kyousuke Tsukimiya, so Kyousuke do you accept the position or will you reject it and use your vote to pick another?” Kenshou was unsure whether the man would or would not take the position. He himself had no desire and no care to lead the Gotei, Kyousuke would do well enough and that was enough for Kenshou. Kyousuke was smarter than Mitsutaka or Lancelot and had an even head on his shoulders. He would not ignore a threat like others might, he knew the monster that Tova Diabló was.

Either way it all was on Kyousuke to make a decision on where the Gotei would go from here. Kenshou thought that maybe they would have a competent Captain Commander who would not be toppled so easily. Ai had been competent, but weak. Mitsutaka had been strong, but incompetent. They needed someone who possessed both qualities and now they had a chance for that to happen. Kenshou noted to himself the hush that had come across the hall, where minutes ago whispers could have been heard as many in the audience commented on the events unfolding. Now there was silence, as all waited in anticipation for Kyousuke’s reply. The anticipation was well justified, the need for a Captain Commander was great and all Kyousuke had to do was reach out and take it. Then it would be as simple as filling in the remaining empty divisions with captains.

1017 Words - 20 GP

2035 Total Words - 40 GP

Kenshou sat there and listened as Kyousuke accepted the position and seemingly had a plan already to go. Not surprising to anyone here, the man obviously knew what was going to happen. Whether he had expected Kenshou to vote for him or not had not mattered, his own vote and Junko’s were all he had really needed and so there was no point in prolonging the inevitable. Kenshou was slightly surprised to hear his own name come up and for Kyousuke to make him next in line to be Captain Commander. He had expected for Kyousuke to make his former lieutenant the next in line, but the man seemed full of surprises today.

Almost immediately after all those changes he simply stated that he was retiring and leaving Kenshou in charge. All of that only a minute or two and he left them, as quick as he had returned he left disappearing with a crack of lightning. Kenshou was still sitting in his chair, he watched as many of the faces seemed confused. They were sorting out what had happened, slowly the crowd’s attention all fell on himself. The man in the fifth division haori, leaning back in his chair and his eyes closed. Kenshou could feel their eyes probing him, some wondering if this was the right choice, if maybe some other captain like Junko would be a better choice.

Not moving or opening his eyes he let the silence in the hall hang, it created an atmosphere of suspense. How would the new Captain Commander act, would he simply just turn over the laws Kyousuke had put in place only moments before? The questions would be burning in their minds and he knew it. Finally after a minute or so Kenshou leaned forward, righting his chair and opening his eyes. He stood up slowly and looked across the room, scanning across the faces before him. “Good men and women never depend upon laws or rules, but their personal qualities.” The statement was clear and hopefully those around him would understand. It was a picture of an ideal system, where laws and rules were not needed but here in the Gotei they were necessary. Too many here were simply not altruistic, Kenshou did not blame them, he was one of those himself.

“But we do have laws and while Kyousuke made a good start on some of those, I’ll push them a bit more I think. First things first though, I need to name a successor should anything happen to me. To that end I name Kiriko Chinda as next in line for the position of Captain Commander, but you’ll have to wait a little bit longer than I did.” With that bit out of the way at least the Gotei could move on if something happened to him, if both himself and Kiriko were removed from the equation at once, the Gotei was in more trouble than he could imagine.

“Now to a matter that Kyousuke said nothing about, the Central 46. As you all were told they were all slaughtered, that none remain. So for the time being I will hold that power until something is decided on how to proceed. Kyousuke made a right step in terms of nobles, but he seemed to forget that none of the major noble houses are innocent. So for all the problems they’ve cause I’m going to revoke the major noble status of the Tanaka, and Yasutake clans. As such they will be minor noble families. The other two families, well the Amai already are stripped of everything, they are no longer a noble family. Oh and all Senkaimon owned by noble families are to be destroyed. The Aizawa, such a troublesome family on one hand it was Mokuba’s brother who caused all these problems. On the other a few of the Aizawa are truly outstanding examples of what it means to be loyal to the Gotei. So the Aizawa will join the Amai in losing their noble status, but Junko Aizawa her husband and children will return to Junko’s original family. Too reward Jasper Aiz.. Jasper Shiro for his bravery against a tyrant and his own family the Shio’s will be elevated to a major noble family. Let this be a point for those other minor noble families, prove your loyalty and worth to the Gotei and the rewards shall be there for you.” Such a turn of events, this would cause a great clamor for minor noble families to replace those who had stood for so long. Now it was not only possible for them to move up, but to do so in a manner that would be respected by the other noble families.

“Finally that leaves me with two topics, the first being the laws of the Gotei. Those shall be sent to your divisions soon, but you will follow them and anyone who does not will find themselves punished accordingly. Secondly the matter of captains, I will honor Kyousuke’s decisions out of respect for him, but do not disappoint me or those you serve over. For now the divisions will have a set focus, if a captain wants to change that, they are welcome to discuss it with me first. The sixth will serve as the military police, they will arrest those who break the law and serve as their jailors. The fifth will now serve as a protection force, a line of defense in a war or to serve as protection on missions outside of Seireitei. The fourth will serve to handle equipment and monitor hollow activity along with monitoring the Senkaimon. The third will continue to serve as the medic corps of the Gotei, the Kidō Corps will be serve as a separate entity again led by Miki Sakamoto. The second division will serve as intelligence gathers and messengers, along with having the Onmitsukidō as part of it. The first division will serve as an elite squad, where only the best are admitted where they will train under myself. Now seeing as every division except the fifth has a captain or acting captain it leaves me with the final decision. I will appoint Jasper Shiro to the position of lieutenant and he will serve as the acting captain.”

The last proclamation was quite extensive and important as it would set the tone for their rebuilding, not only was their future looking bright, but they were finally transforming back into a military. Soon they would stomp out the smug Espada and their twisted king Tova Diabló, but first they needed to get their affairs in order. This was a first step towards that and soon enough the scars of Lancelot’s tyranny would be forgotten and nothing more than an old story. Kenshou turned around and walked out of the room, he left the crowd not allowing them a word in before he was gone in a single step.

1,153 Words - 23 GP

3,188 Total Words - 63 GP

"If that's all there is to it then I believe we have some work to do, namely in ensuring that this little mess doesn't ripple out and cause too many problems. Then again..."

Umi's gaze seemed to lose its trace of fear an his body posture slackened at viewing what was the most comical thing he'd seen in ages, a man who would use a power granted to him to change the light bulb and then burn the ladder. As if there were never going to be more dead bulbs that needed to be replaced...it was an action that, while it may have inspired some sort of respect in many, left him with the distinct impression that the man who had barged into his home wasn't hiding behind that face anymore. That someone, somewhere, somehow had given him the right to forgive himself and the very idea was like poison to him, a face of disgust appearing before he could swallow it back down like a particularly violent meal. He didn't so much lose respect for the monster as he saw that the monster was being guided around on a leash...

How noble.

This left a question unanswered that hadn't seem to have crossed the other minds in the room.

A knowing smile came to his lips. No matter where the man ran too it wouldn't save him, the blood on a man's hands didn't wash itself clean. Ever. One could only hope fresher layers coated the older ones. No, he couldn't accept that a man like this was speaking as if he intended to hang up his own blade. That blade was far too useful, far too valuable, and even if he had to drag that half-breed monstrosity to the battlefield by hand he wouldn't lose that weapon...not to some altruism or regret or whatever in god's name was motivating such speech. Kyousuke had to fight. There was no other way.Umi refused to lose this one. Everything else had been falling into place neatly, perfectly, almost as if by design but he needed to keep track of every soul of importance. If Kyousuke vanished then that was a Kyousuke-sized hole in any plans he could make considering the man's unpredictable nature at this point. A shinigami would never refuse such an honor so it left him to wonder that if this former Captain Commander did not consider himself such...who would he fight for? 

That man needed to be found. He didn't care if a million men had to be used to do it, that was too vast a margin of error...

If Kyousuke got in his way...

The Captain of Sixth felt his teeth grind into one another.

That man wouldn't stop him.

"Perhaps I also need to make special arrangements."

He gestured towards the man who was to be his new Lieutenant.

"Come, we have things to discuss."