4Chapter 3: Division 13
Jūshirō sat at his desk looking over the schedule for the current semester. "I've been so busy with the academy work I haven't even had the time to start on my own paperwork as a Captain...looks like I have no choice but to take off next week…" He muttered to himself, he laid back into his chair, emitting a low sigh. "This is certainly more work than I expected."
The door suddenly slid open and his co-third seat, Kiyone Kotetsu, walked in carrying an armful of letters.
"More paperwork?" Jūshirō asked with a wry smile.
"No sir, these are the replies from the Captains when you asked if they would allow the students to tour their barracks—you sent them out about a week prior, remember?" She set the letters on his desk then stood back.
"Really now? You didn't have to get these for me, I could've…"
"N-no! It was my pleasure, Captain Ukitake!"
"Hm, well thank you," Jūshirō smiled again, then took a letter from the pile, before indulging into the soft manuscript paper he noticed Kiyone's bothered expression on her face. "Something the matter?"
"Well it's just that...do...do you want me to open those letters for you?" She asked.
"Oh no, it's fine, you've done enough already." Kiyone looked even more displeased, he knew he wasn't going to win this battle so he gave in. "But if you insist
"Thank you Captain, I'll get right on it!" In no time, each of the letters were open and Jūshirō went through them individually.
Division 1- "My time will not be wasted with impatient children."
Division 2- "On a mission."
Division 3- "Sure, I wanna see their frightened faces when they see me."
Division 4- "I would love for them to come, but a vast majority of my division will be gone in assisting Division 2."
Division 5- "My barrack isn't especially designed for children, but I wouldn't mind if they came either way."
Division 6- "No."
Division 7- "Of course they can if we come back in time from our current mission."
Division 8- "The more the merrier~"
"Actually, the division is currently undergoing a routinely cleanup of the barracks, he just wants the kids to help out in cleaning."
Division 9- "If it brings you any justice, however, I alone will be gone for a mission."
Division 10- "It's probably not the best idea. You and I both know if they see me, and how 'young' I look, you'll never hear the end of it."
Division 11- "COME AND BRING 'EM SO WE CAN FIGHT!"
Division 12- "If I use the mixed-breed one for experimentation you wouldn't mind, right?"
Jūshirō set the letters aside, then stood up.
"Where are you going, Captain?"
"I've decided it's best to think this over with some tea."
"Should I—"
"Please, just come with me."
Xx
Unlike the first day of school, Steven woke up an hour earlier than he was supposed to by mere accident. So what better way to spend the extra hour than to finally finish his Gotei 13 captains figurine collection in the local comic book store. The door slid open and Steven walked in, the owner gave him a subtle nod before flipping to the next page of a magazine.
'There's only two other people in here, that means it shouldn't be sold out!' He went over to the figurine rack, every single captain—and their lieutenant was in stock except for the 13th captain. "AGAIN?!" Steven scurried over to the counter. "Do you have any more Captain 13 figurines left?!"
"Sorry little dude, the last ones were bought out by the 13th Division's lieutenants. We'll re-supply in about a month, so check back then."
"NOOOOO—"
"I'm gonna have to ask you take that outside, you're disturbing the customers."
He walked out. "—OOOOOOO!"
"Hello, Universe-kun!" A voice called out.
Yumiko ran up to Steven, her face was smooth and round giving her a cutesy, childlike appeal despite that she self-indulgently adored. She stopped and grinned at him. "How are you?" She said sweetly.
"Hey Yumiko, erm, you don't have to be so formal, Steven's fine!"
"Sure your Dad's going to be ok with that? I'd totally hate to disrespect the Universe family name."
"Yeah, he's fine with it."
"Got it, oh-you're at the comic book store, you never struck me as that type."
Steven rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm actually really into nerdy stuff, nowadays I mostly come here for a Captain Ukitake figure, but it's always sold out."
"I'm sorry to hear that, I know the feeling of having an incomplete collection all too well…" She trailed as if to lead Steven on, but he was completely clueless to her gesture.
They began their walk to school, waving and nodding occasionally to the locals. "So do you go there a lot?" Steven asked.
"To the comic book store? Yeah, I used to go there everyday when I was little and buy a lot of shounen, Mitsu-san even let me check out some of the seinen they had, but these days I don't go there that often."
"Wha-Why?"
"It's because Mitsu-san refuses to sell me any of the books with explicit, erotic content since I'm 'underage' so I see no reason in going there anymore."
Steven's face drew with bewilderment. 'B...but she looks so sweet and innocent…how could she be into that...stuff...' "Uh, um…yeah."
"Anyways, what do you think we'll be doing in class today, I hope it's not another worksheet, I'm not at all book smart like you and your friend, Maheswaran-chan, right?"
"Actually it's Connie who does all the legwork, me, I'm just the guy who took 75 tries just to get in."
"I thought that was just a rumor since you're...you know...…"
"Nah it's okay, you can call me half-gem, half-practically everything else."
Yumiko chuckled. "Don't feel bad about it, I think it sets you apart from the rest of the low life's in the academy!"
"You really think so?"
"I wouldn't of said anything if I didn't!"
The bell rang as the two walked inside the academy, they headed for room 706B then took their seats.
"It took you long enough," Connie said in a mock serious tone when Steven sat down.
"How come you're always here sooooo early, Connie?"
"I live like right next to the school, it's great."
"Sounds like it, you don't ever have to worry about being late and you can sleep in all the time, aw—trade houses with me Connie!"
"No way, Steven!"
Jūshirō walked in, late as always. "Good morning class!" He took a moment to cough then continued on nonchalantly. "–Since it's a beautiful day, instead of sitting in this dusty classroom, I've decided we should take a tour of a Gotei 13 barrack to see first-hand where a Shinigami resides."
Connie raised her hand.
"Yes, Maheswaran-san?"
"Which Division will we get to see?"
"Good question, I originally planned for us to tour all of the barracks, but I decided my own would be the best...for everyone."
Jūshirō led the class from the academy to the barracks, talking all the way. "As you all know, I am the Captain of the 13th Division, our insignia, the snowdrop, signifies hope and the color I chose is maroon. So if you ever decide on joining the 13th Division one day, which I hope you do, remember what our insignia means so that you may wear it proudly."
"...Although we have no lieutenant…" Jūshirō paused, then quickly shook his head. "...we do, however, have two Shinigami holding the third seat—Kotsubakī Sentarō and Kotetsu Kiyone. Right now they're handling the administrative duties, if they weren't, then they'd surely be running this for me," He said, managing to let out a coarse laugh before having another coughing fit.
"...er, as I was saying, our duty as the 13th Division is to watch over Karakura Town, Japan."
"Just Karakura Town?" A student asked.
"Yes, allow me to explain...in the human world there are regions where we Shinigami survey for Hollows and each Division is assigned a region to look after. A region has a varying percentage of the likelihood for a hollow to be 'born', for the most part, the majority of regions in the human world with the chance for a hollow is close to zero, however, there are two areas where that chance is much higher, we're not sure why there is such a disparity, but that's just how the human world functions." He held up one bony finger. "Karakura town is the number one region with a 70% chance of pluses to turn into hollows, and number two, with a 50% chance, is Beach city within the United States."
"Beach city…" Steven muttered to himself.
He continued. "Naturally, the Division who watches over Beach city is the 11th Division, and because we watch over the region with the most hollow occurrences, you must be ready to face death itself, again—that is if you decide to join my division."
The class finally reached the 13th Division barracks, not only were the floorboards recently cleaned, but there were snowdrop decorations hung on the walls and railings. "Here we are." 'I'll have to thank both Kiyone and Sentarō for this now, won't I?'
Steven gawked at the beautiful structure in awe, while mostly everyone else was drawn to the giant koi fish pond in the Captain's Ugendō, Steven focused on the shinigami walking past, each bearing the hopeful snowdrop symbol. 'So this is what it looks like to be a Shinigami a part of the Gotei 13...they all have a purpose, like they know what they're supposed to be doing all the time.'
Connie nudged Steven in the arm. "Pretty cool, right?"
"Yeah…!"
"This is nothing," Hikari barged in. "I heard the 11th Division's barracks are like, 10 times cooler than this lame nursery home."
"Really, didn't know you were so attracted to all the blood smeared on the 11th Division walls." Petey said, happening to catch what Hikari said. "I think it's gross."
"That's what makes the 11th Division so friggin awesome, heh, but I bet you like the 4th Division with all that lame healing stuff that they do."
"Actually, I'm not really interested in joining the Gotei 13, I wanna live past my teenage years."
"—And what do you have against the 4th Division, just because they heal doesn't mean they're any worse than the other Divisions," Connie said.
"Are you serious? They don't get to be in any of the real action!"
"Making sure no one dies is the real action!"
Steven stepped in between them. "Let's calm down guys, every Division is just as good as each other, right, it's supposed to be a balance," He looked to Petey for help to which he shrugged in response.
"I don't know, isn't the 1st Divison supposed to be the best?" Petey said.
"You're not helping, Petey!"
"Fine then, whatever…let's just go, we're lagging behind," Connie finally said.
Steven and Petey followed her as she rejoined with the class, meanwhile Hikari leisurely lagged behind.
Xx
As the class was approaching the barrack training dojo, a woman dressed in Shinigami uniform appeared before the Captain, she had a young, yet defined face with short, black hair, fair skin, and purple eyes. "Sir, Captain Yamamoto wishes to speak with you later on today…" Her attention was drawn to the swarm of kids staring at her.
"Thank you, Rukia-san."
"Of course."
"—hold on, please, will you introduce yourself to my class."
'So these are the snot-nosed brats Captain Ukitake's teaching, jeez, most of them look pretty bored too.' "Hello kids! Pleased to meet you all!" Rukia cheerily greeted, she then bowed down. "My name is Kuchiki Rukia, and I'm an unseated officer of the 13th Division, if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer!"
Jūshirō smiled. 'Rukia's really hamming it up, I'm glad she feels so enthusiastic about this.'
'I really hope they don't ask me too many questions so I can get on with my day…'
Connie raised her hand. "How is it working as a Shinigami?"
"Yeah, is it fun?" Another student cooed in.
"It's...something. Most of the time the are barracks are pretty empty since Karakura Town is such a...demanding place, I suppose seeing the human world must be pretty exciting, but as for me, I'm usually stuck doing my Captain's paper work, or training with my Zanpakutō."
Jūshirō laughed sheepishly. "I work you too much with the paperwork, don't I? Would you like to be assigned to the human world at some point, Karakura town should be easy for you and I'll have my third seat's file in all the paperwork."
"I'll...think about it, thank you."
Steven raised his hand. "Have you ever been to the human world?"
"..."
"Uh...Kuchiki-san?"
"...I'm sorry, I…" She dazed off for a moment. "...yes, I have been to the human world, it's not for...everyone. If you ever end up going to the human world...prepare for the worst."
"Hey, I got a question," Hikari said. "How soon do you think I can become a shinigami?"
Rukia answered almost immediately. "Within a year or two, if you happen to be a kid prodigy like Division 10's Captain and …" She paused, and spoke sparingly "Division 3's Captain."
"Any more questions?" The class was silent, giving her the cue to leave. "Then I'll be on my way," With that, she disappeared around the corner.
"Shiro-sensei,"
"Yes, Nasubi-san?"
"So I know who the Captain of Division 10 is, but who is the Captain of Division 3, never heard of 'em."
"The Captain is Ichimaru Gin, he means well, but I believe he's been following us for far too long…"
"What?"
"You got me," A voice hissed, with his revelation, a tall, slender man with short, silver hair and pale skin approached the class from behind, his eyes were closed shut and his mouth was forever fixated into a chilling smile.
"What brings you here to my humble barracks?" Jūshriō asked warmly.
"You hurt my feelings when I realized your class wouldn't be showing to my own barracks, I thought you skipped us on purpose," He said in a tone that didn't indicate whether he was actually hurt or not.
"Really now, my third seat sent everyone a letter saying I was only going to show them around in my own barracks, you must not of gotten the letter, then, my apologies."
"No problem, say, you wouldn't mind if I introduced myself anyways, now would you?"
"I see no reason not to."
"Fantastic." He faced the class, and waved. "My name is Ichimaru Gin, I'm Divison 3's Captain, which you all should certainly join, scarcely anyone else does so you're sure to be accepted."
Hikari's expression soured. 'This creep is advertising his own Division 'cause no one else wants to join it. That's pretty sad.'
Petey raised his hand in skepticism. "What exactly does the 3rd Division do?"
"Not much, we got assigned a dead region so my team usually assists the 11th Division when dealing with Beach city. Which...if I'm not mistaken, is where the mixed-breed I keep hearing about is from."
Steven shifted uncomfortably. 'Mixed breed…is he talking about me?'
Jūshirō frowned. 'So that's what he came here for.' "Please, Captain Ichimaru, it's rude to refer to my student as such a condensing name."
"Well that's what it is, half-shinigami, half-gem, half-human maybe too. Which one of you is it," He approached Hikari, who was visibly unsettled by his presence. "You, perhaps?"
"Hell no, and if I was a mixed br...I mean, half gem, I sure wouldn't tell a pedophile like you anything!"
"Nasubi-san, don't speak to your elders that way," Jushiro said sharply.
"Well it's the truth, prying on us kids like he has nothing better to do, who let this guy become Captain anyways?"
Although still retaining his smile, Gin's tone got drastically more direct when he spoke to Hikari. "You know, bad kids often meet untimely deaths, at least, that's what I hear. Don't make that same mistake." His smile deepened when he saw Hikari's eyes grow in fear and his confidence shatter on impact.
Jūshirō stepped up to Gin. "And if he does, I'll make sure you meet the same fate."
"Oh, is that a threat? Now you're really scaring me," Gin backed away from Hikari. "See you around then, Captain Ukitake."
"..th...thank you, guys for not telling him who I was," Steven quietly said.
"Of course, Captain Ichimaru may mean well, but that doesn't mean his intentions are entirely clear. Not all Captains are to be trusted, remember that."
Hikari forced himself a weak smile. "...anytime!"
On Gin's departure from Division 13's barracks, he took the extra care to smile at Rukia on the way out, pleasuring himself at the fear she exhibited. 'Well then, since it's obviously not the blonde one, guess I'll tail that chubby kid around…'
A/N: Sorry for the near year long hiatus, I was working on other projects, but I'll be updating regularly from now on...probably
