"No, I refuse,"
Fūjin Taichi rejected flatly.
Are you kidding me?
I'm a full-grown Shinigami with a wind-controlling Zanpakutō in hand. Becoming the strongest captain is only a matter of time—why would I board the Shiba clan's half-sunk wreck of a ship?
"Oh? You're not into women? Then… I do have a younger brother—"
Shiba Kaien probed cautiously.
"Get lost."
"Hahaha, alright then!"
Kaien scratched the back of his head and laughed loudly. But realizing it might be inappropriate, he quickly restrained himself and said seriously,
"No matter what, you saved Miyako… I will definitely repay this debt."
"Ah… then thank you, Captain Kaien—"
"Cough! Cough! Cough!!"
Kaien rushed over and clamped a hand over Taichi's mouth, growling in a low voice by his ear,
"Bastard, are you trying to get me killed?!"
"Then give me... and Rukia two seated positions," Taichi whispered back.
"Idiot! Do you think a vice-captain has the authority to appoint seated officers?!"
Kaien snapped.
"Alright then, Captain Kai—"
"Damn it!"
Kaien smacked Taichi on the head, lowering his voice as he warned,
"I'll do what I can. Don't push your luck!"
"Much obliged, Vice-Captain Kaien,"
Taichi laughed, finally stopping his teasing.
After all, the rigid class system of Soul Society was no joke. Even if Jūshirō Ukitake didn't mind Kaien's "disrespect," Seireitei would never tolerate even the slightest offense against its hierarchy.
"Hahaha…"
Ukitake couldn't help but laugh at the scene—but quickly realized it was improper, coughed a few times, and excused himself.
"Alright, you're all exhausted. Go get some rest. I'll handle the rest,"
Kaien said before leaving the barracks to report to the Headquarters and deal with the aftermath.
"Taichi… congratulations,"
Kuchiki Rukia said, forcing calm.
"Congratulations for what?"
Taichi asked.
"On becoming a noble soon—and not just any noble, but part of the Shiba clan, one of the Five Great Noble Houses. You must be happy, right?"
"What nonsense. I only want to marry into the Kuchiki clan—would Miss Rukia be willing to grant my wish?"
Taichi grinned.
"Tch—don't say such ridiculous things!"
Rukia scolded softly, her face flushing red. Seeing how late it had gotten, she added,
"I'm heading back."
"Alright! I'll walk you back."
"N-no, no need! People might see us!"
Rukia waved her hands hurriedly.
"So what if they do?"
"It's not that— I'm worried about my brother…"
Rukia sighed.
"He's very strict with me, and he's always had a prejudice against Rukongai. I'm afraid he might take his anger out on you."
"Oh? I don't think that'll happen,"
Taichi said uncertainly.
After all, judging from Bleach's original story, Kuchiki Byakuya was a classic cold-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside type. As a great noble, he was actually one of the fairest toward Rukongai residents.
In the rigidly stratified Soul Society, Byakuya had defied class boundaries to marry Kuchiki Hisana, a woman born in Rukongai, and devoted his life to her—that was love.
And after Hisana's death, honoring her final wish, Byakuya ignored fierce opposition from the Kuchiki clan and adopted Rukia as his younger sister, caring for her with unwavering devotion.
Of course, as the head of the Kuchiki clan—the foremost among the Four Great Noble Houses—Kuchiki Byakuya would never let his emotions show on the surface. As a result, he always kept a stern expression and spoke in a cold, detached manner, for fear that others might discover he was actually a devoted "sis-con"…
"Taichi, there are some things you won't truly understand unless you experience them yourself…"
Kuchiki Rukia sighed softly. She then declined Fūjin Taichi's offer to accompany her and left the barracks alone.
"…"
After watching Rukia depart, Fūjin Taichi returned to the division dormitory to rest, and before long, he fell fast asleep…
Several days later, after multiple rounds of investigation by the Headquarters, the latest appointment orders for the 13th Division were issued. Shiba Kaien read them aloud at the weekly meeting:
"In recognition of your outstanding performance in duty, the Headquarters Personnel Department hereby makes the following adjustments to the seated-officer roster of the 13th Division:
1. Kuchiki Rukia is promoted to 7th Seat of the 13th Division;
2. Nanami Heizō is relieved of his post as 18th Seat of the 13th Division and is permitted to return his Zanpakutō and leave the division;
3. All remaining seated officers of the 13th Division are advanced one rank in order, with vacancies filled from the top 15 candidates on the reserve list;
4. Kurumadani Zennosuke is added as the 14th-ranked candidate for the 20th Seat;
5. Fūjin Taichi is added as the 15th-ranked candidate for the 20th Seat."
After finishing the announcement, Kaien sighed inwardly. He scanned the crowd, finally resting his gaze on Taichi, and mouthed a silent "sorry."
Despite having asked Jūshirō Ukitake to recommend Taichi for a seated position at the captains' meeting that week, the upper echelons had still rejected it:
"Fūjin Taichi's evaluation results are average and do not currently meet the Seireitei regulations for seated-officer promotion.
However, in recognition of his merit in rescuing Shiba Miyako, he is exceptionally listed as the 15th-ranked candidate for the 20th Seat, as a gesture of Seireitei's benevolence."
"…"
Seeing Kaien look toward him, Taichi understood the guilt behind the other man's expression. He merely shrugged, signaling that he didn't take it to heart.
After the meeting dispersed, Kaien approached Taichi again and patted him on the shoulder with a sigh.
"Sorry, Taichi. I really did everything I could…"
"Kaien, you should relax a bit,"
Taichi said with a grin.
"I'm a Shinigami from Rukongai. Being a seated-officer candidate in just over half a year is already pretty amazing."
"But still… I've always felt that some of Seireitei's systems are outdated and rigid,"
Kaien said bitterly.
"Looks like I wasn't wrong after all!"
Suddenly remembering something, Kaien grabbed Taichi excitedly.
"Taichi, don't get discouraged! I've got a way to make you a seated officer!"
"Hey, wait—this isn't about marrying into the family again, is it?"
Taichi asked, his expression darkening.
"Idiot, of course not!"
Kaien smacked him hard on the forehead and said sternly,
"Fūjin Taichi, I'm warning you—don't joke about the honor of the Shiba clan!"
"Hey—weren't you the one who started that joke in the first place, Kaien?!"
"Bastard, you dare talk back?!"
Kaien raised his hand as if to strike, then suddenly realized something was off and snapped,
"You're getting awfully bold—now you don't even call me Captain anymore?!"
"Yes, yes! Captain Kaien, hello! Captain Kaien, goodbye!"
Taichi bowed repeatedly and hurried off.
"Hey, where are you running off to so fast?"
Kaien called after him.
"…"
Taichi didn't answer—he only walked faster, disappearing from Kaien's sight moments later.
"Tch, what an infuriating guy!"
Kaien scratched the back of his head and turned around—only to freeze when he saw Jūshirō Ukitake standing behind him, wearing a mysterious smile.
"W-what?! C-Captain?! Ahahaha, the weather's really nice today! Might rain later! I'd better go collect my laundry—ahahahaha…"
Kaien laughed awkwardly and scurried off.
"…"
Ukitake smiled faintly, lifting his gaze to the white clouds drifting across the sky, and sighed for no apparent reason.
"Being young really is nice… cough, cough… cough…"
"Captain, are you alright?"
Kotetsu Kiyone hurried over anxiously when she heard his coughing.
"It's nothing,"
Ukitake shook his head gently and said softly,
"Kiyone, I need to go to the Headquarters for a bit… I may be back quite late. Tell the cafeteria not to prepare my lunch."
"Yes…"
Kiyone nodded, then urged him,
"But Captain, please rest for a while before you go!"
"No,"
Ukitake replied as he headed toward the exit.
"A Substitute Shinigami has suddenly gone missing in the Human World. That matter is far more urgent than my health—there's no time to delay."
"Captain…"
Kiyone watched his departing figure with deep concern, worry filling her eyes.