Monkey and The Fang

Soul Society- Squad 9 Barracks.

" Gather around, gather around!" Koga yelled.

The squad 9 members all gathered together to hear what it was their captain had to say. 

" The Captain seems like he's in a really good mood today."

" Yeah, no kidding. Anyone know what's going on?"

" No, idea."

Koga stepped out in front of all the soul reapers gathered with a great big smile on his face. 

" Thank you all for gathering so quickly, I apologize for taking up your time. But there's something I want to address with all of you. I know this must be sudden, but I've officially put in for retirement!" Koga exclaimed.

" What?"

" No way, Captain!"

" You can't be serious!"

The Squad 9 members were completely taken off guard. All of them except for Kensei himself, who had already known a week in advance that the captain had plans on leaving.

" Listen, I know it might seem sudden. But I'm going through a big change in my life. I'm going to be a husband, and then I'm going to be a father." He said.

" What?! No way!"

" Congratulations, sir!"

" That's amazing!"

The members of Squad broke out into a rousing sound of applause for the captain. Clapping their hands. A joyous occasion indeed.

" I wanted to wait until we were ready to announce it to you all, but in a few weeks Captain Shirahashi and I will be holding our ceremony at my family estate. You're all invited to come." Koga explained. " Of course, before that, we'll have to watch as the new Captain of Squad 9 takes his rightful place as my successor. Kensei will be taking my place; I hope that you all show him the same kind of devotion and respect that you've shown me over the years. I know he'll do great." Koga spoke.

Kensei stepped forward the Soul reapers clapped their hands for the man, with Mashiro being the loudest.

" YAAAAAAY! Kensei!" Mashiro lunged at Kensei and started rubbing herself against his chest, annoying him to no end.

" Will someone get her off of me?!" He asked.

" Of course." Tosen spoke. He grabbed Mashiro by her collar and forcibly removed her. " My congratulations, Kensei." Tosen spoke.

" Thanks." Kensei replied. " I look forward to being captain and leading all of you. But don't think I'm gonna cut you guys any slack just because I'm moving up. If anything, prepare to work even harder." Kensei exclaimed.

" Ahhhh!"

A collective groan, broke the excitement of the Soul Reapers, causing Kensei to be annoyed. 

" Hahaha!" Koga laughed. He was happy to see his squad getting along so well. 

" Come on, everyone, let's celebrate!"

" To captain Kirigane!"

" And captain Muguruma!"

" CHEERS!"

......................

Later that night, Koga sat on the roof of the Squad 9 barracks alongside Kensei, the two men were sitting together sharing a drink. 

" You know something, Kensei?"

" Hm?"

" I'm gonna miss all of this. Waking up every day to the noise of the squad members running around. Your constant yelling at Mashiro. The sense of family." Koga muttered. " I couldn't have asked for a better squad. Nor a better right hand man."

" Yeah... It's been an honor fighting by your side captain." Kensei spoke.

" The honor is all mine, Kensei. I'm hoping that this transition won't be too much stress on Makoto." Koga muttered. " i know she's going to miss it too." 

Kensei took a sip from his sake cup and sighed. " Probably."

" No, definitely." Koga replied. " But then again, I guess we will have our hands full, raising a kid together." 

" Yeah. Those tend to take up plenty of time." Kensei stated.

" Yeah... Kensei, I have a favor to ask. A rather selfish one." Koga muttered softly.

Kensei placed his cup down and looked at Koga.

His blissful face was bathed in the light of the moon.

" What is it?" Kensei asked the man.

" Kensei if something happens to me, and for whatever reason I can't be here, I want you to take care of my child. I don't know if we're having a boy or a girl yet. But either way, I want you to train'em. Make'em strong Kensei."

" What? Hey, captain, where is all this coming from?" Kensei asked. He was caught off guard by the sudden request. And his mind began to wonder if there was something wrong with his captain. " Is something wrong?" He asked.

" No. Nothing at all. Just... Making sure to have something in mind, in case the worst does happen."

" Come on. You know better than to think like that Captain." Kensei told the man.

" Sure, but..."

" No buts... This should be a time of celebration, not a time of self-doubt. You're not that week." Kensei told the man.

Koga was mildly taken aback. A look of surprise flashed across his face for a moment, before he remembered who it was he was talking with. 

" Hmph! Ever the difficult one, ey Kensei?" Koga spoke. " I know, you'll do it. You're a stubborn one, but you got a good heart. And for that I am thankful, my friend." Koga told the man. " Come on, let's toast one more time."

Kensei smiled." Hmph!" He grabbed his cup and raised it with Koga to toast.

" To new beginnings. And to old friends."

" I'll drink to that!" Kensei exclaimed.

He and Koga then both downed their drinks and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

" Alright, Let's-" before Koga could finish his sentence a messenger butterfly flew by his face, delivering an important message to the captain.

" What is it, Captain?" Kensei asked.

" The Head Captain is calling a meeting of the captains. Come on, Kensei."

" Oh great. What is it now?" Kensei groaned.

He placed his cup down and along with Koga started flash stepping towards the Squad 1 barracks. Jumping over the rooftops of the soul society, Koga could see the silhouettes of the various other captains gathering towards the Grand Hall.

Koga and Kensei landed right in front of the grand door, where the others were waiting with their lieutenants. 

" Shunsui? What's going on?" Koga asked as Shunsui and his Lieutenant Lisa Yadomaru arrived. 

" No idea." Shunsui replied. " Is everyone here, already?" 

" Looks like it." Jushrio said as he and his Lieutenant Kaien Shiba approached the four of them.

" Koga!"

" Hey, Makoto." 

Captain Shirahashi approached Captain Kirigane and gave him a hug. 

" Good evening ma'am. And congratulations." Kensei told the woman.

Makoto turned red and gasped. " Koga, you told him?!"

" Told him what?" Shunsui asked.

" Well, it was to be a surprise, I know. But I just couldn't help myself." Koga told the woman. 

" Oh, now I'm interested." Shunsui stated.

Koga clapped his hands together and smiled as large as he could. " Makoto's pregnant."

" No way!" Shunsui shouted.

Jushiro approached Koga and patted him on his back. " Congratulations to the both of you." 

" Thank you. Makoto and I are planning on retiring from our positions and moving over to other areas." Koga explained. " Starting next week, Kensei here will be the captain of Squad 9 and I plan on teaching at the academy."

" That's amazing. Congratulations to the both of you. I can't wait." Shunsui exclaimed.

" Do you think that's what the Head Captain has called us together for?" Jushiro wondered.

" I doubt it. Doesn't exactly sound like old man Yama." Shunsui replied.

It was then the door to the squad 1 barracks opened up alerting all 13 Captains to come in. 

" Stick close, Kensei. I'm sure this won't be long." Koga told the man. 

He, along with every other captain, then quickly corralled into the Squad 1 Barracks meeting hall. 

" All captains present and accounted for."

" All right. Let us begin!" Yamamoto shouted. " There have been reports of souls going missing near the royal families houses in the north. Central 46 has requested that we investigate into the matter immediately." Yamamoto explained.

" What are you serious? Is it a Hollow?" Shunsui asked.

" It is unknown. However, given the recent events that have transpired, it is not without merit. Which is why I have selected the captain of Squad 9, Koga Kirigane, to investigate the matter." Yamamoto explained.

" Sir."

" Koga, you and Lieutenant Muguruma will go to the Northern district, near the Tsunayashiro estate, and investigate the disappearances. And if possible, eliminate any threat to the soul society with extreme prejudice."

" Yes sir."

" Koga." Makoto muttered.

" Don't worry, Makoto. we can handle this. After all." Koga turned around and smiled at the woman. " I've got a kid coming. No way am I gonna die now."

Makoto turned a bright shade of pink and nodded before Koga vanished from the hall. 

Makoto wanted to be worried, but the moment Koga left she suddenly found herself being engulfed a large set of boobs. " WHAAAAAAAA! Congratulations." Hikifune grabbed Makoto and smushed her close to her chest, choking the young woman. 

" Indeed. A congratulations is in order. However, now is not the time for celebrations." Yamamoto declared. " I want the rest of you to be ready and on alert along with your squads, just in case. Understood."

" Yes sir!"

.........................

After leaving the great hall, Koga grabbed Kensei and the two of them began heading far north. 

" So, do we actually know what we're chasing after, or are we just working on an assumption." Kensei asked.

" Assumption. But regardless, stay on your guard." Koga told the man.

" Yeah."

Koga and Kensei landed in the northern district, at a heavily populated area, around the Noble Tsunayashiro family's estate.

" Alright. Keep your eye open and if you see anything you retreat and wait for backup. Understand?" Koga told the man.

" Right." Kensei replied.

Koga and Kensei then split up. Kensei headed into the district, while Koga searched the outskirts.

Unaware of the shadowy figures watching them in the distance.

"Alright then. Shall we... Begin?"

A crack appeared in the air in front of Kensei, and suddenly Hollows came pouring out of it. 

" What the hell?" He muttered. " So, you stinking bastards were behind this? Well then-" Kensei's spiritual pressure began to rise.

Sensing the sudden spike in Kensei's spiritual pressure, Koga, who had gone to the outskirts of the town, turned around to head back.

However, before he could, another crack in the air opened up, and Bikou stepped out, looking slightly different than the last time the Soul Reaper had seen him.

' This Hollow... It's the same one from before. But its appearance is different.' Koga noted.

" Hello, again Soul Reaper. Remember me?" Bikou asked the man.

" Yeah. I remember you running away from me." Koga stated. He smiled at the creature and drew his sword.

Bikou's spiritual pressure spiked, and Koga's eyes shot open. 

' He's stronger than before.'

*Bzzt!

Bikou disappeared for a moment, before appearing in front of Koga.

Koga raised his blade and used it to block the staff heading towards him.

" HAHAHAHAHA! Wrong decision, captain!" Bikou shouted. His red staff began glowing and it was at this point that Koga caught on to what it was.

' Shit, a CERO!'

*BOOM!

The tip of the staff exploded right in Koga's face, sending him flying backwards. His right arm was slightly burned, and part of his captain's uniform had been blown off.

" Grgh!" Koga grunted in annoyance.

*BZZT!

Bikou appeared behind Koga and swung his staff at the captain's head.

Koga ducked the attack and swung his blade at Bikou in response.

Bikou twirled his staff vertically and used it to deflect Koga's blade. 

Koga backed away from the Hollow, to try and regain his composure, all the while keeping an eye on the Monkey.

" Not bad, Captain. That was dangerous." Bikou muttered.

" Damn you. You learned some new tricks." Koga spoke. " That weapon of yours... It's a Cero isn't it?"

" Good eye. This whole thing is cero, that's been hardened. I can use it to smash my opponents with blunt force, or...."

" Or use it to fire off point blank Cero's like you did a moment ago?"

" Yeah."

" Am I to assume it can fire off other things?" Koga asked.

" Now, why would I answer that? I guess you're gonna have to figure that part out on your own." Bikou told the man.

Koga's lips parted, and he started smiling at the Hollow. " Very well. I won't let you get away like last time." Koga's spiritual pressure began to rise even more, and his blade started to glow. 

' This is it!' Bikou noted.

" Strike and sever! RAIGA!" Koga shouted his zanpakuto's name and a flash of lightning streaked down from the sky, touching where his blade was, transforming it into a solid bolt of lightning.

Bikou's grin spread from ear to ear. He raised his staff and twirled it into the air before placing it at rest on his back. With his left extended he gestured for the captain to attack.

" Come!"

Bikou and Koga both shot forward, and their respective weapons collided with one another, resulting in an explosion of lightning and red energy. 

To Be Continued!

..............................