The amount of years in the life of a Shinigami are insignificant. The average Soul can easily live more than five lifetimes, the equivalent of five separate human lives. Ten years to a Shinigami can be perceived by them as two years, as time flows vastly different from the Living realm and the spirit one, ultimately aging one's Soul rather slowly. Surely enough, One Hundred long years pass, many things have transpired from the troubled months post the Shattered Dimensions event. Captains have lived and died, new Lieutenants have been promoted and new Recruits have taken on the mantle of what a true Shinigami represents.
100 Years Ago….
Which brings us to our favorite dark-haired detective. An interesting turn of events took place not three months after the execution of the previous members of the Central Forty-Six. The newest Captain of the Gotei Thirteen, former Second Division Lieutenant, Yasu Yūgure; Captain of Division Nine came to Shusuke with a new task. Former members of Division Two, and disciples of dark shadows that make up the mystery surrounding the Second's methods. Taking note of the feats he had performed since joining the Sixth Division, from holding the highest criminal apprehension rate in not only the Sixth Division but the entire Seireitei. Quickly garnering a reputation for possessing a shrewd intellectual thought process where crime and Anarchy was concerned, Shusuke quickly shot up from entering in as a general Fifth seat to Sixth's former highest ranking member. With Shirogane's death over one hundred years prior, he also became the longest tenured member of Sixth since the Shattered Dimensions event. Taking it a step further, he has implemented and created a kido that is now to be used alongside Sixth Division' apprehension practices. From carrying the load of a senior officer to solving a plethora of cases, Shusuke was asked by the Ninth's newest leader to become her second-in-command. To become the Lieutenant of the Ninth Division.
"Channel your reiatsu within the palms of your hands, think of the thing that links you and the words Justice and Order. However this alone won't allow you to shackle your enemies or quarry. While a part of Sixth Division, you're not to believe in coincidence. Everything does indeed happen for a reason.”
Walking alongside little over seventy five squad members of the Sixth’ finest. All lined up neatly in a row, ten across and down the courtyard of the Sixth’ outdoor break area. Men and women alike, all channeling their energies and reiatsu into their palms, some overly exerting their power others not nearly enough. A difficult thing to master was ones resolve when learning this technique, finding the balance between law and order was what these young
Bengoshi would struggle with for as long as they had a career within Sixth. A battle Shusuke himself still fought within himself, constantly questioning and thinking if he made the correct calls in the heat of duty. He studied the recruits judging them not based on their progress but the determination in their eyes to succeed with this task. He was pleased with his findings, the new crop all had an unwavering sense of justice keenly following the instructions of the Third of Sixth. Finally making his way to the far end of the block of his class, he heard yelling coming from the gate, leaning out slightly more to inspect the source of the noise he found that it was someone whom he actually hadn’t seen since...almost a year after the incident within the Sixth’ barracks. The Vizard incident that involved Shirogane and his wrong doings which ultimately led to the death of all Kuchiki’s within the Seireitei. However, they say that the culprit always comes back to the scene of the crime and while she wasn’t responsible for her personal affliction, she had made the best of it by doing the thing she does best. Be
herself
”Wow. She's grown tremendously...Still hasn’t done anything with that mop of pink hair however….What brings her by” was all he could think. Yasu had arrived suddenly to the Sixth Division wearing her usual attire but with an added touch of a pure white haori bearing the insignia for the Ninth Division seared across the back, lined by the colour of her new division. It was hard to not admit that the look of the white coat suited her much better than the plain bronze badge that hugged her waist. She looked...happy. More so than usual. Her usual happiness would be coated with whimsical silliness with a touch of childish innocence but she had the air of a true seasoned Shinigami about her today and he couldn't help but crack a small grin as she got closer. Almost skipping to him she stood directly in front of the taller shinigami, he had also taken note that she hadn’t grown much since they last saw each other, he wanted to laugh but doing so in the presence of his new superior officer around all the division members wouldn’t exactly instill the largest seriousness about her new post. Before she could utter a word he signalled the large group to take a break, the collective sigh that they let out into the air would have been an indication to how hard they were working and how hard the Kiyoshi lord was pushing them.
Quickly dispersing and fanning out to the shadier areas of the courtyard, Shusuke slightly bowed his head and returned his eyes to the woman now before him. Before he could even get a word of congratulations out, Yasu in her regular fashion took charge.
”Oi, oi, you’ll never believe it, but I did it! I became a Captain!”
He grinned harder, because she might not have remembered how quickly word travels through the lower ranks among the Gotei. Friends of friends of colleagues of family constantly talk within the general unseated and seated members alike. Nodding his head he was proud that she found the time to come inform him herself. He felt special, and it showed how much she cared for him from their days in the Nest together.
”I had heard Bubblegum, you didn't skip all the way over here to brag did you? Trying to break a guy's spirit?”
He obviously only jested. He has made peace with his results of his own captaincy examination, he just simply wasn’t ready. But he felt no ill feeling towards her or any who would go on to become successful, she would make a fine Captain he had faith in it. But he did wonder why she came all the way over to his barracks to just tell her that she made her promotion.
”N-no I’m not here to brag... I just came to ask you a serious question.”
His face changed with the flow of her sentence, finally ending in a raised brow and perplexed eyes. Slightly getting uncomfortable with his posture he shifted his stance a number of times before finally getting back into being settled. He placed his arms on top of each other but did all this without losing Yasu’s eye contact. He stood straight and geared up for whatever he may be asked of her, but the final question was;
what?
”Not sure if we’ve ever had a conversation like this before...but go ahead.”
She breathed in and then out, calmly. Then she re-asserted her vision to Shusuke’s purple globes.
”Look, you were one of the first people to take care of me when I came to the Second Division; our little history helped me a lot when it came to making this decision, and I decided that I want you to be my lieutenant. I’ve seen you work, and I’ve done my research. I know I’m a wild card but you’d be the exact balance I need to help me be better. I’m good, but I can go further with someone I trust by my side at all times. What do you say?”
Floored by the decision, his face spoke nothing but utter shock. He lost feeling in his arms as they dropped to his sides, the courtyard itself got eerily more quiet as the faces would start to turn and whispers would begin to form. He finally caught himself and closed his mouth. He couldn’t help but look around the courtyard, as a few faces were looking on and grinning to him, some even raised their arms in anticipation while others just were waiting to hear a response. A long moment would pass, he knew that if he said yes his entire set of responsibilities would change and would need to move Divisions immediately. He still sat with it, until a voice from the crowd finally spoke up.
”Just say yes, you know you want this!!!”
Leading to a large chucke among his peers, with Yasu included. Shusuke looked in his direction and shot hima look as if to simmer down. Recollecting his coolness. He found his gaze on the new Captain once more and found himself grinning again. He finally gave his answer.
Present Day…
A good day in the Seireitei. Regular but better than most, however for some it was just another stressful day of work. The transition from active police duty to regular investigative journalism was fairly easy for the Kiyoshi. Both jobs required a level of honesty and active travel around the entire Seireitei, which he was already accustomed to. It allowed his feet to be more light and getting to places quickly became less of a concern. His shunpo could finally be described as very graceful. He allowed the wind to ruffle his attire some, he decided to wear it loose today since his schedule was rather flexible. Just now finishing an interview with a new client of his new Private Eye Agency that he runs out of his office within the Seireitei. Decided to now head back to the barracks to check on things he made little time in leaving and his travel there.
His attire is unchanged, aside from slight aging he has managed to retain much of his physical youth and attire; a sleeveless black shihakusho with white obi sash and black hakama pants to match. He chose to forgo his favored sleek black sandals for the traditional look of white socks and tabi. Not to be missed by his waist of course, now two things. The first being his zanpakuto En’enra, neatly tucked away behind his waist and on his right side you could find the emblem of his new post, the White Poppy of the Division of Oblivion. His badge was still new, the fresh bronze still had a small glimmer on a nice day.
Not taking very long to return to his base, Shusuke entered the courtyard and was greeted by every Shinigami who saw him. One Hundred years ago he nodded as a sign of respect to at least every other shinigami, much time has passed since then and that trend had slowly been put to a halt. Having a reputation of being the
“eldest” of the Division, he found that he required there to be a certain level of respect and demanded it from every member within the barracks. Nowhere near a drill sergeant but not even close to a doormat. He simply passed through the halls and would simply utter once to those who could hear
”At ease”. He made it firmly to his office and closed the door behind him, leaning against it then sighing. He could finally relax. It would only be a matter of time before Yasu found his whereabouts and sent him on a wild goose chase for snacks in her many conspicuous hideouts throughout the entire Seireitei. While it has its
small perks, this would be the only time he would get to himself before having to put out another one of the children’s fires. So there was only one thing to do.
Walking over to his desk area, he had a small couch and gently placed his blades down to the nearest corner upright and ease his badge from his waist and place it down on his desk and he continued walking past it to look out the window. Placing himself in his office chair he opened one of the drawers of his desk and inside would be nothing but office supplies, however, he lifted a what would appear to be used paperclip he lifted a fake bottom out from the drawer and underneath revealed a neatly tucked away stash of blunt cigars. Left by the previous Captain along with his growing materials and book, Shusuke had cultivated a stash of special herbal leaves that soothe and induce the mind into a pleasant euphoria. After being told by Yasu to get rid of it all from the Division's grounds, he kept some plants to study and grow his own cultivar variant. He had
great success. He pulled one out and gave it a long whiff as he caressed it passed his nostrils. Using his reiatsu, he rubbed his fingers together quick enough to force enough heat to form on the surface of his index finger and light the end of the cigar to an even burn and inhaled as he leaned back into his chair. Once fully reclined, he exhaled and released a thick cloud of white smoke.
Placing his ashtray in a favorable spot and he leaned into his chair, he wanted to get good and relaxed before the rigors of the day caught up with him. Because around here, it was only a matter of time.
