"I understand… but please, Vice-Captain Fūjin, try to hurry a bit.
Because… Lord Chōjirō Sasakibe really dislikes subordinates who have no sense of time," the Shinigami outside said after a moment of hesitation.
"Oh? Subordinates?" Fūjin Taichi's brow furrowed even more as thoughts raced through his mind. I always assumed the 1st Division was the Headquarters… but now it seems that's not quite right.
In theory, the 1st Division also serves as the Headquarters, commanding the Gotei 13—responsible for issuing Central 46's directives and convening the regular captains' meetings.
But from the looks of it, the "Headquarters" and the 1st Division were actually two different concepts:
The former was a legitimate administrative body that truly oversaw the 13 Divisions—much like the head office of a regional authority.
The latter, however, was merely one of the Gotei 13 divisions stationed in the Seireitei, and was itself under the Headquarters' jurisdiction.
It was only because successive 1st Division captains had also served as Captain-Commander that the 1st Division appeared to be the "Headquarters" on the surface—when in reality, the two were still distinct.
It was like Tencent's headquarters and its Nanshan branch office in the human world: even if both worked in the same building, their actual functions and responsibilities were completely different.
"Vice-Captain Fūjin, please—"
"Enough already!"
Fūjin Taichi suddenly yanked open the wooden door. Outside stood a Shinigami with a long, narrow face and thick, arched eyebrows that looked downright comical.
For some reason, Fūjin Taichi felt the face looked familiar, and he asked instinctively, "What's your name?"
"Saitō Keichirō!" the long-faced Shinigami replied casually, then urged again, "If you're trying to buddy up with me, save it for later!"
"What?"
"Lord Chōjirō Sasakibe is an old fossil who strictly abides by division regulations. If the Monday meeting is scheduled for eight o'clock, he won't start a minute early—or a minute late!"
"Oh? And if I don't show up on time, what kind of serious consequences are we talking about?"
Since this was his first day in Old Man Yamamoto's 1st Division, Fūjin Taichi figured it was better to clarify the rules in advance.
"Hahahahaha… Our 1st Division is a unit full of harmony and love. Of course there won't be anything like 'violating regulations and committing seppuku afterward'!"
As he spoke, Saitō Keichirō suddenly wiped the exaggerated grin off his face and said coldly:
"However—every single violation will be recorded by the Headquarters' Disciplinary Unit and submitted to Captain-Commander Yamamoto for review!"
"Damn! That's worse than seppuku!" Fūjin Taichi couldn't help complaining.
After all, Yamamoto Genryūsai placed extreme importance on discipline and order among his subordinates. His personal creed was:
'Those who neglect justice—I shall not forgive.'
For the sake of his so-called justice, he wouldn't hesitate to draw his blade even against his own prized disciples, without the slightest regard for teacher–student bonds.
"Hahahaha… Vice-Captain Fūjin, do you know why other divisions recruit from the Shinō Academy, but the 1st Division recruits only through transfers from other divisions?"
"Why?"
"Because Captain-Commander Yamamoto believes that only outstanding Shinigami are qualified to join the 1st Division—"
"Mm… I am outstanding," Fūjin Taichi nodded seriously.
"Hahaha… Vice-Captain Fūjin!"
Saitō Keichirō raised his thick, arched eyebrows and said earnestly,
"As your senior by two years, let me give you an extra piece of advice:
When Captain-Commander Yamamoto says 'outstanding,' he means that aside from strength, the most important thing is the resolve to obey rules and discipline—even unto death!"
"…"
Fūjin Taichi knew full well that Yamamoto Genryūsai was an old, stubborn loyalist to the Soul King and the Seireitei's system. Any act that dared undermine either would be deemed "rebellion" and eradicated without mercy.
"Oh? Vice-Captain Fūjin, it seems you still don't quite understand," Saitō Keichirō said when he saw Fūjin Taichi fall silent.
"Understand what?"
"Didn't I mention it earlier? The Monday meeting starts at eight o'clock—and the current time…"
Saitō Keichirō grinned widely.
"Ding-dong-ding, it happens to be—seven sixty!
In other words… Vice-Captain Fūjin, on your very first day reporting for duty, you've already violated discipline! Hahahahaha…"
"Oh, thanks for the reminder, Jirō," Fūjin Taichi said with a smile.
"But compared to being 'late,' wouldn't 'skipping work entirely' be the more serious offense?"
"Y-Yes… but my name isn't Jirō, and… what exactly do you mean by that?"
Saitō Keichirō suddenly became alert, staring straight at Fūjin Taichi.
"Don't tell me you plan to openly violate the rules and skip the meeting?!"
"No, not at all," Fūjin Taichi replied, smiling warmly.
"To be precise—you're the one violating the rules by not attending the meeting."
"W-What?!"
Before Saitō Keichirō could react, Fūjin Taichi lightly pressed his left index finger against the man's chest and murmured:
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen!"
Snap!
In an instant, three massive, beak-shaped yellow beams of light shot forward, pinning Saitō Keichirō's wrists and waist to the wall. Before he could even cry out, Fūjin Taichi knocked him unconscious with a sharp elbow strike!
"Sorry about that, Jirō. As the saying goes—the greater the power, the greater the responsibility. As a senior, you should be more experienced than I am when it comes to avoiding punishment and risk!"
Fūjin Taichi released the binding Bakudō placed on Saitō Keichirō, then dragged him into the changing room, hastily disguising the scene before leaving.
…
"The rumors about the Quincy still existing are true, then!"
Inside the 10th Division barracks on Tanzaku Street, Shiba Isshin lay flat on his back atop the lintel of the captain's office door, staring blankly at the vast, cloudless sky as he sank into thought.
"She… saved me, a Shinigami, and even reported herself as a Quincy. That was incredibly bold."
As Shiba Isshin recalled the scene, his mind filled entirely with Kurosaki Masaki's smile, and a strange emotion welled up in his heart.
"What an incredible person… Back then… I should have talked with her more. But…"
Isshin tossed and turned restlessly, his desire to see Kurosaki Masaki again growing stronger by the moment. Yet reason told him clearly:
The last time, he had already violated Seireitei regulations. If it had been any other Shinigami, they would have long since been arrested by the Onmitsukidō and sentenced to ten years in the Repentance Cell.
It was only because Yamamoto Genryūsai took into account Isshin's status as a descendant of a former Great Noble House—and because Isshin had submitted crucial evidence regarding "White Hollow"—that he had been spared further punishment.
However, if Shiba Isshin were to secretly leave again, and even privately meet with a Quincy whom the Seireitei regarded as a walking calamity, Yamamoto Genryūsai would absolutely show no mercy.
Worse still, it might even implicate the Shiba main family.
Thus, Isshin hesitated. On one side was his savior; on the other, the Shiba clan. How could he possibly satisfy both?
After a long while, Isshin ultimately couldn't bring himself to erase his memories of Kurosaki Masaki. Quietly, he made up his mind.
"I'll meet her one more time and properly thank her. Then… I'll come back and focus on my duties. Yes—that's it!"
Once the decision was made, Isshin acted immediately. He rolled off the door lintel in one smooth motion, hurriedly scribbled a note inside the captain's office, and left it behind.
The note was scrawled with just a single line:
To Rangiku—
I'm heading to the World of the Living!
Help me come up with a good excuse to fool the Captain-Commander!!
—Isshin!!!