Reactions

(Yoruichi POV)

Growing up in the Shihoin household was always a bother for me. I knew that I should be thankful for my upbringing and status, but I just couldn't get over the fact that as a woman, I was constricted so much. I would never become the clan leader, that was my little brother's job, but I knew that there was a way for me to have fun.

I decided to become a Shinigami and take over the position of Captain of the 2nd Squad and Commander of the Onmitsukidō. It was the best way for me to live my life to the fullest and play around as much as I liked. Growing up with Kisuke was fun at times but he was far too intelligent to have a normal discussion or talk with him. He was always planning the next thing and it could get bothersome. 

But then I met the little Kuchiki heir, Byakuya and I knew that I had fallen in love. I felt like I did when my little brother was born. When I saw his serene and stoic face, I thought he was insanely cute and just had to tease him. It has since become my hobby to try and get a reaction out of him. But my looks don't seem to make a difference. I don't understand why that bothers me so much. 

I watched and helped Bykuya train. He had an insane talent for fighting and his intelligence was up there as well. He was always calm and collected. Never did he do something rash ... at least I thought so until I heard the news that Kenpachi Kiganjō had been killed in a challenge and a new Shinigami had become Captain of Squad 11. When I saw the doors open and Byakuya walk in, I thought I was dreaming and when things clicked, I thought I was gonna have a stroke. 

.

"You IDIOT!!", I scream as I punch Bykuya on the head after the meeting ends. 

"What are you talking about?", he has the gall to ask me that. 

"You know exactly what I'm talking about! How can you be so reckless and challenge a Captain and not only that, the current Kenpachi no less?!"

"Well ... he challenged me. I didn't do anything."

"What?! Are you saying that the former Kenpachi, challenged you to a fight?", I ask.

"It is true Yoruichi-san. Had you taken your position a bit more seriously and been there when the Head Captain asked you to, you would know this.", Ginrei said.

He's right, I wasn't there. I decided to skip the graduation of a nobody and rather have some fun with Soi Fon. Had I known that it was Byakuya who was taking the test, I would have been there of course. 

"Haaa, what are you going to do now? The Kuchiki clan normally leads the 6th Division."

"I'll just give the position to someone else as soon as my father decides that he has had enough of being Captain. Pretty simple."

"Aha, pretty simple. You just 'give' away the position. Are you out of your mind? You can't just give away Captain positions like that."

"Eh? Really? Well, then I'll just drop the position and then dip. That works too."

"..."

I was speechless. 

.

.

(Shinji Hirako POV)

"What an annoying brat that is. Not only does he think he can do whatever he likes, but he also ignores me. How arrogant. I don't understand why the Head Captain let him go through with that."

"Strictly speaking, Captain Kuchiki didn't do anything wrong. It is his decision to remove those Shinigami from his squad.", Aizen said.

"Sosuke with the correct answer as usual. What do you think of the new Captain then? Are you jealous that he became a Captain before you?", I tease Aizen. However, he smiles with his eyes closed as usual. It's that friendly smile all the time. It gets on my nerves.

"I am a bit surprised that someone so young managed to become a Captain. But I am hopeful that sooner or later, I will also get there if I get stronger."

"Stronger huh? Well, keep working hard. If a brat such as that could do it, then you should as well.", I tell him. 

.

.

(Aizen POV)

Byakuya Kuchiki ... what an interesting man you are. I do wonder how far you will go. Such talent and to think I didn't know about it. I was never told about it. I wonder why that is. I should pay some attention to you. I can see some problems arising. 

His attitude speaks of pride and confidence. That isn't an act but he truly holds himself that way. Interesting. To think that someone like you has arrived this close before I wanted to begin my work on human subjects. Hollowification needs some more research and maybe our new Captain will be a good choice to use.

I'll have to show him Kyoka Suigetsu sometime soon. Maybe a challenge might do it. I wonder whether he can turn something like that down without losing face. And since he is a member of the Kuchiki clan, he might not be able to accept that. 

Options options.

.

.

(Yamamoto POV)

That brat has fire in him. I could see it in his eyes. He has no trouble with authority but he would throw away any and all pretenses if it helps do what he believes is right. When I saw you for the first time 20 years ago, I knew that you were special when you resisted my will and gaze. But to defeat the Kenpachi when you have just finished your last year of the Academy ... that is something else. 

The fight was special as well. Some might say that the first attack which Kiganjō gave him for free, was the reason for his defeat, but I know better. During the entire fight, Kuchiki Byakuya was never once in trouble. He bode his time and struck at the best times to do chip damage and wear Kiganjō down. But I also saw that he didn't need to do that. 

Byakuya accepted the wish of Kiganjō and fought him head-on in the end. How that turned out, we all know. The fight was over the moment he decided to face Kiganjō head-on. Such talent and such power at that age. He told me that he unlocked his Shikai already and had some experience using it. I haven't seen it personally but the name suggests that it seems to fit him perfectly. 

Senmanzakura - Ten Million Cherry Blossoms. How fitting for someone as silent and collected as Byakuya. Deadly but beautiful. I thought about it for a while now. I tried to judge whether Kuchiki Byakuya was a threat to Soul Society. But I understand that he is a swordsman through and through. Not like Unohana, bloodthirsty and just interested in the fight and killing. 

No Kuchiki Byakuya was more like a painter or an artist in general. His dedication was huge and I couldn't even fathom the supposed 'training' he went through to reach that level. But the matter stands, Kuchiki Byakuya isn't a threat but a great Shinigami.

.

.

(Unohana POV)

I can't get you out of my mind, Kuchiki Byakuya. It is almost impossible to keep my bloodlust contained during the Captain's meetings. I saw skill and power in the way you handled your sword. I want to fight you and I want ... no I can't. Not yet at least. I can't help but agree that you might be the first true Kenpachi since the boy. But I have to pay for my sin and deal with that and after that, I can leave them to have their own fight. 

I'm sure he will come soon. There shouldn't be anyone who challenges him in the Rukongai anyway. So if he finds out that there is a way to fight someone strong, he'll surely come. That would mean that he would fight against Kuchiki Byakuya instead of Kiganjō. And from what I saw, Byakuya is far stronger than Kiganjō. He was toying with the old man. 

.

.

(Ginrei Kuchiki POV)

It is hard to believe what I have witnessed during Byakuya's 'graduation test'. I was beyond frightened when former Kenpachi Kiganjō challenged my grandson. I know what kind of man Kiganjō was. His love for women, fighting and sake were well known. He was not fit to be a Shinigami in my opinion. But I never had a good opinion of Squad 11 anyway. The squad I respected the least turned out to be the squad Byakuya leads first. And here I was beginning to prepare him for becoming the next clan head and Captain of the 6th Division. 

Sōjun's health is getting worse. It won't be long until he will be bedridden. No one knows that yet but I can tell that Byakuya is aware of the bad health his father is in. He tries to help him wherever he can without making it obvious. I'm sure that we'll have to talk about it sooner rather than later. 

.

"What now, Father?", Sōjun asks me when we are drinking tea. 

"In what sense Sōjun?"

"In the sense that Byakuya has become a Captain of a different Squad than ours."

"Do you think he will become disloyal to the Kuchiki clan?"

"Nothing like that. But he might not be able to leave if he does well there. He has kicked half of the members out and if that proves to be a good move, like I am sure it will, the Central 46 might not be interested in having him leave the 11th Division since they always had trouble with that Division."

"Hmm ... you are right, they might believe that it might work out for them to keep him there. But I know my Grandson. He doesn't care about those things. If he has made up his mind on something, he will go through with it. And I know that Byakuya never planned to join any other Squad than ours. So when the time is right or he wants to, he will simply leave."

"You are very certain about that. I hope you're right."

"Of course I'm right. You should know that Byakuya puts his family in front of everything."

"You're right. He does do that. His mother would be proud of him and what he accomplished. This is unprecedented. The Kuchiki clan has two members as Captains in the Gotei 13. Quite the achievement.", Sōjun says after a moment of contemplation. I can see he misses her greatly. I think it hurts him that Byakuya doesn't. But how should he? The boy has never met her.

"I can't say how proud I am of him, Sōjun. I'm sure she would be proud as well.", I tell him.

.

.

(Ikkaku POV)

"Are you alright Ikkaku?", Yuimichika asks me. The Captain got me good, that's for sure. 

"Yeah. I'll manage."

"That was quite the fight you put up. I think he was right though. We shouldn't search for beauty in fighting."

"Who are you and what did you do with Yumichika?!", I exclaim when I hear what he is telling me. 

"I am surprised as well. But he has a point. After all, Zaraki told you something similar. You wanted to continue fighting instead of accepting your loss and taking it as it is. No matter how lucky you are, someone might kill you because of that someday."

"I am the luckiest Shinigami in the Seireitei. There is no way that I'll die like that!"

"Haaa, there is no helping you. So what will we do now? Should we stay here?"

"Of course. Zaraki said that he'll come sooner or later and when that day comes, he'll most probably fight Captain Kuchiki. That will be a fight to remember I tell you. So no matter what, I want to witness it."

"Are you going to challenge the Captain again?"

"He said that I can do that if I wish, to see whether I grew stronger and more skilled. So I'll make the most of it. You can only profit from a man such as him."

"But doesn't it bother you that he is practically a child?"

"He doesn't look like a child and he also doesn't act like one. He acts like a powerful man and that's what he is in my eyes. Everything else is of no interest to me."