A Little Thing Called Fate 08

It was at dinner that evening when Byakuya broke the news to Rukia.  He had actually been surprised that the soutaicho didn't want Ukitake to tell her the news.  In reality, the reason he asked him to do it was three-fold – first, because she was his sister and he would definitely be seeing her this evening; second, because he was the one who had opposed it and would need to fully explain the situation to her; and third, because he was the one who was going to spend the next month preparing her for the new position.

Rukia actually made it to the dining room before Byakuya for once.  She just sat there quietly waiting for her brother to arrive so she could be served her first course.  She was extremely hungry, having spent the great majority of the day working with Sode no Shirayuki on her various dances.  

Byakuya soon arrived and sat himself at the head of the table as he normally did.  After he took his first bite of food, Byakuya dabbed the corners of his mouth with his napkin before speaking.  

"Rukia, do you know where I was today?" Byakuya asked.

"Hai, nii-sama.  Kiyone and Sentaro told me there was a day-long taicho meeting in the squad 1 barracks," she answered.

"Correct.  We were discussing what to do about the unfilled taicho and fukutaicho positions.  Since the defection we have been down three taichos and, as you know, Ukitake-taicho has been without a fukutaicho for entirely too long," answered Byakuya.  

"Oh, is Renji going to be made a taicho?" Rukia asked excitedly, as usual more concerned about the prospects for her friends than for herself.  

"That is not my concern at present time," Byakuya replied.  "Do you know why you are not a seated officer?"

"Ukitake-taicho says it is because I am not yet ready," she replied.  

"What do you think?" Byakuya asked.

Rukia hesitated a split-second before replying to his question.  "If my taicho tells me that I'm - ," she began.

"Rukia," he interrupted.  "Do not give me a canned answer.  I want to know what you honestly think."

"Nii-sama, I'm not sure.  I believe I am more skilled and more experienced than some of the officers in my squad.  It has been quite a burden to me to be told that I am not ready while watching others surpass me in rank," she answered.

"I see," he replied.  "Now it is time for me to be honest with you, Rukia.  Please allow me to finish before you speak again."

Rukia nodded.

"You are currently an unseated officer because of my promise to Hisana to keep you safe.  Seated officers are always sent on the more dangerous missions…," he started.  Rukia looked like she wanted to interrupt him, but he reminded her that he wanted to finish before she said anything by holding up his hand.

"I am sorry that I have deceived you and made you feel like less of a Shinigami.  I have seen what you are capable of and you are right, you could easily have been a seated officer if not for my interference.  I want you to know that I can no longer stand in your way.  Others have seen it and I have seen it.  Effective in one month's time, you will be the new fukutaicho of squad 13," Byakuya said.

"In…one…month?" she asked, stunned.

"Yes, Rukia.  I have asked for one month so that I might prepare you for your new position," said Byakuya.

"Oh Nii-sama!  I'm so happy!" she rose from her chair and in a very un-Kuchiki-like fashion, ran over to her brother and squeezed him around his shoulders as he sat at the dinner table.  Byakuya, of course, wasn't fazed and kept his formal demeanor and straight face the entire time.  

When she stopped hugging him, she released her grasp and asked, "Nii-sama, why isn't Ukitake-taicho going to prepare me?"

"He will be preparing another," answered Byakuya.

"Oh, is it Renji?" she asked again, heading down the same path as before.

"Again, I am not at liberty to say.  Patience, Rukia," he replied.  

OlOlOlOlOlO

It was the next morning when Renji Abari, Izuru Kira, and Shuuhei Hisagi happened across each other on the way to the squad 1 barracks.  

"Renji, what are you doing here?" asked Izuru.

"I was summoned by the soutaicho late last night," answered Renji.  

"So was I," added Shuuhei.

"I wonder if we're in trouble or something," said Izuru.

"For what?" asked Shuuhei.  

"Well, I don't know!" said Renji.  

"Here comes Sasakibe-fukutaicho," noted Izuru.  "I'm sure he knows something about this."

The squad 1 fukutaicho motioned for the three men to follow him inside.  

"Sasakibe, what is all this about?" asked Renji.

"I'm not sure," he replied.  "Yamamoto-soutaicho asked me to bring you to the outside of the meeting chambers once all of you arrived."

"That's it?  That's all you know?" asked Shuuhei.

"I'm afraid so," answered Chojiro.  

The three fukutaichos followed their counterpart into the squad 1 barracks.  They were led to an area outside of two huge doors past which they knew the soutaicho stood.  They were only there for about five minutes before they heard Yamamoto bang his huge wooden staff onto the floor.  The doors slowly opened to them.  

Inside they saw Yamamoto standing in the center of the room facing them.  Off to one side were Byakuya Kuchiki and Saijin Komamura. Juushiro Ukitake stood on the other side.  

"You three, enter!" said the soutaicho firmly.  

They walked into the room shoulder-to-shoulder knowing that this meeting, for whatever reason, was obviously being held just for them.  The other taichos and fukutaichos were missing.  

"I think we are in trouble," whispered Renji to Shuuhei, who elbowed him back when he heard him.

"Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira and Shuuhei Hisagi.  You three have been selected as taichos-in-training for squad 5, squad 3 and squad 9 respectively," explained Yamamoto.  

"What?" Shuuhei let out.  Izuru's eyes went wide.

"You heard me!  You three have been selected as the next taichos of the squads I just mentioned.  Do not make me repeat myself.  If you have any issues with this declaration, now is the time to disclose them," said Yamamoto.

The three of them, still a bit stunned by the suddenness of the declaration stood there and shook their heads from side-to-side ever so slightly.

"Very well then.  One of the regular pre-requisites of becoming a taicho is a bankai.  Renji Abarai, you have already achieved bankai.  As such, your period of training is likely to be much shorter.  Kuchiki-taicho will be your mentor and will show you all that you need to know to become an effective taicho."

"T-thank you, sir," Renji bowed.  

"Izuru Kira and Shuuhei Hisagi, your journey to taicho will be a bit more complicated.  You must both work on achieving bankai in addition to training in all the duties that a taicho must perform.  Kira, your mentor will be Ukitake-taicho.  Hisagi, Komamura-taicho will show you the way," said Yamamoto.

"The three assigned mentors will report on your progress directly to me at our regular taicho meetings.  I expect great things from you three so please, do not disappoint me," said Yamamoto.

"Hai," said the three of them in near-unison as they bowed.

"You are all dismissed," said the soutaicho.

OlOlOlOlOlO

Renji could think of no one he would rather share the big news with than Rukia.  Upon leaving the squad 1 barracks, he immediately used shunpo to makes his way to squad 13.

"Rukia!" he shouted at no one in particular.  The squad 13 Shinigami stared at him as they walked by.  "Rukia!"  

Finally, Juushiro made it back to his squad and noticed the red-haired brute shouting out to his newly named fukutaicho.  

"Renji, what is it that you are doing in my squad's barracks?" the taicho asked him.

"Oh, Ukitake-taicho, I was looking for Rukia.  Do you know where she is?" Renji asked.  

"As a matter of fact I do.  I received word this morning that she will be spending her mornings training with Kuchiki-taicho in their private training area outside of the manor," Juushiro explained.  

"Is that right?" asked Renji.  He turned to dart out the door.  "Thank you, taicho!"

Juushiro just stood there slightly shaking his head from side-to-side with a grin on his face.  He knew how bad Renji had it for Rukia.

Renji made his way towards the manor just in time to see the practice between Byakuya and Rukia begin.  He knew better than to barge in on the session – Byakuya was his taicho after all – so he simply stood there off to one side waiting to be acknowledged before saying anything.

Byakuya could see his fukutaicho out of the corner of his eye but chose to leave him hanging for the time being.  At least that was the plan.  He could also tell that Rukia was a bit distracted by Renji standing there.  Finally, he was forced to acknowledge him.

"Renji, is there something I can help you with?" asked Byakuya.  

"Hai, taicho.  I was hoping to get a few minutes of Rukia's time to discuss an important matter with her," explained Renji.  Byakuya knew exactly what Renji wanted Rukia for.  

"Nii-sama, would you mind a pause in the training?  Just for a minute or two?" asked Rukia finally.

"The two of you, make it short," said Byakuya.

Rukia immediately broke from her stance and ran towards Renji.  Renji picked her up as he would a doll and threw her in the air.

"Whoa Renji!" Rukia exclaimed.  

Idiot, was what ran through Byakuya's mind as he watched the two of them out of the corner of his eye, annoyed.

"Rukia, I'm going to be a taicho!" Renji exclaimed.  "I wanted to tell you first.  Well, I mean, a few of the taichos already know, but you are the first person that I've actually told."

"Renji, that's wonderful!" said Rukia.  "I'm so happy for you.  So what do you mean you are going to be a taicho?"

"I'm not quite ready yet, but Kuchiki-taicho is going to train me," said Renji.  

"Oh Renji, I'm so happy for you!" said Rukia, finally understanding.  "I have some news myself."

"Does it have to do with why you are training here in the mornings?" asked Renji.

"Hai," said Rukia.  "I finally got a seated position!"

Renji hugged his friend.  "Congratulations!  What seat are you?  7th, no 5th seat?"

"You are looking at the new squad 13 fukutaicho!" Rukia exclaimed.

"Your brother allowed that?" asked Renji.

"Yes.  Give him some credit.  He explained everything to me last night and he doesn't want to hold me back any longer," Rukia said.  

"Wow," said Renji, not expecting Byakuya to ever change his mind about letting Rukia progress.  Although Rukia was never cognizant of the situation, it was common knowledge among many of the seated officers that Bykuya had been blocking Rukia all these years.  "Good for you then."

"Thanks," she said.

"How 'bout we celebrate tonight?" asked Renji.  "Dinner?"

"Sure," said Rukia.  "I'll tell Rangiku, Shuuhei, Izuru and the others when I get back to the squad 13 barracks."

"Um…..ok," said Renji, agreeing to what Rukia had just proposed.  He hadn't intended anyone else to be joining them but Rukia obviously misunderstood what his intentions had been.  

"Rukia!" shouted Byakuya.

"Renji, I need to go," said Rukia.  "See you tonight."

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

Rukia and Byakuya spent the entire morning training to improve the various Shinigami skills that he felt she needed to improve in order to make a proper fukutaicho.  Her kido was one area they did not work on as he felt it was already superior to most of the other Shinigami with the exception of taichos.  He sparred with her and worked on her sword work.  He also had wanted to get her used to the idea of hand-to-hand combat should it ever come to that.  Finally, they worked on shunpo – he desired to make her even faster than she already was.  Shunpo was a fantastic skill that could help both offensively and defensively against any opponent.  

It was mid-day when the siblings started to walk back to the manor together.  They had exerted themselves quite a bit that morning and a good shower would be needed before they returned to their squads to begin the workday.  

"Nii-sama, I wanted to inform you that I will be missing dinner this evening," said Rukia.

"Are you going out with Renji?" asked Byakuya.

Rukia noted just a tinge of negativity in Byakuya's question.  "Is that ok, nii-sama?"  By her question alone, he noted that he had lost a bit of composure and quickly reclaimed it.

"Of course," he replied.  "You both deserve to celebrate."

"Thank you, nii-sama," Rukia replied.

"Rukia, I would like you to be at home for dinner tomorrow night," said Bykuya.  "Please do not make any plans."

"Hai, nii-sama," she agreed without questioning.