"What is our role as shinigami? To protect the soul society? Or to protect our pride?"
"Why do the young have to die in pain while we continue to live and bear the title of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?"
"How can we be called shinigami…"
"when we can't even protect the innocence of those who haven't faced the cruelty of this world…"
"Lieutenant Yagami, the team we sent out to the West district of Rukon have returned."
"Oh yeah? Is that so?"
"Y-Yes ma'am! They are currently being treated at squad four. But the official report for the mission is here!"
"Hmm… Is that so?"
"Y-Yes ma'am! Would you like to take a look at it?!"
"Nah! Just hand it over to third seat Aizen. He'll give me the gist of it all later."
The seated officer giving the report visibly deflated at his lieutenant's response.
He hadn't expected her to give him any satisfying answer, but he at least hoped that she would be more serious with this case.
He looked up, watching her draw away on her portrait from where she was seated. He watched her eyes as she glanced at him with her deep red irises before stifling a yawn and turning away.
The seated officer felt something snap within him.
He stormed over to the lounging space and flung the reports onto the coffee table before grumbling and storming off.
Kirin stopped her stroking as soon as she heard the door slam shut.
She sighed, running a hand through her long dark hair, an amused smile appearing on her face.
"As easy to bait as always, fifth seat Hamasaki."
Standing, she reached out and grabbed the report, flipping through it several times to catch whatever important information she could while completely ignoring the rest.
Setting the report down, Kirin stifled another yawn before going back to her portrait. "Now then, where was I…"
She was about picking up the brush when she felt a presence.
She set down the brush and raised her hand, allowing the hell butterfly, a messenger to land on her fingers.
She stayed still for several seconds, listening to the report before sighing exaggeratedly.
"Ugh! Another captain's meeting? Again??"
She hesitantly got up, cleaned her fingers with a rag, grabbed her blue haori and shrugged it on, smiling as she softly stroked the worn out fabric.
She then reached for her zanpakuto before a devious grin appeared on her face.
Flash stepping to her Captain's quarters, she saw the blond man trudging out of his office, the usual bored look on his face.
She landed on the ground, just outside the office and waited for him to notice her.
Kirin watched him look up, spotting her reiatsu and as he raised a hand to motion her over, she shoved the bottom of her zanpakuto into his side.
"Gahh! What the hell, Kirin?!"
Shinji held his side tightly as he watched his lieutenant hold her stomach laughing, her loud cackling echoing practically everywhere.
Shinji felt a vein on his head twitch.
"Hey!" He reached out to grab her, but she suddenly vanished.
"Sorry Captain Hirako,"
Shinji looked up, his lieutenant was waving down at him from her place on a building rooftop. A grin Shinji knew all too well was on her face, making the blond man begin spewing curses at the day that was certain to end with his blood pressure increasing a tad further.
Kirin gave a challenging smirk at her captain before turning around. "See you at the captain's meeting, Captain Hirako!"
"Hope that jab to your side doesn't hold you back!"
With that, she flash stepped away.
Shinji let out a low growl as he used shunpo to go after her.
"Get back here!!"
.
.
Kirin appeared at the front doors of squad one with a victorious, refreshing smile on her face.
She truly enjoyed subjecting her captain to her regular antics.
She was let into the tightly guarded squad and casually made her way to the official meeting room.
Walking along, she spotted two of her favorite captains and smiled before running up to them.
"Captain Kyoraku! Captain Ukitake!"
The two captains turned, their lieutenants standing behind them turning as well.
Ukitake was the first to react as he gave a big smile, seeing Kirin approaching.
"Yagami! Hello, it's been a while," The white haired man greeted.
Kyoraku smiled as well. "Good to see you looking as beautiful as ever Yagami,"
Kirin was just about say her hellos as well when a fist suddenly smashed into her skull, shoving her downwards until her face hit the floor hard.
She let out a shriek as she shot up, holding her bleeding nose.
"W-Why—!"
"Shut it!"
She was cut off by a lighter punch being made to her skull. She shrieked again.
Shinji stood over her, rubbing his knuckles into his lieutenant's head, taking satisfaction in hearing her complaints.
"C-Captain! I'm sorry! Please stop!"
Shinji applied more pressure as he scoffed. "Not a chance. You bad lieutenant! Attacking your own captain like that! I'll punish you for it!"
Kirin continued to let out grumbles, until she spotted a figure flying quick from the corner of her eye.
She jumped out of the way quickly just as a small body tackled Shinji off his feet and hit him straight to the ground.
"Get your fist off her head you stupid baldy!" The figure stood out to be a short girl with sandy blonde hair, wearing a shinigami shihakusho, a lieutenant badge on her arm.
Shinji shot up in annoyance, holding his face that had a red bruise forming on it.
"Hiyori, you brat! I'm a captain you know!" He yelled, pointing at the sandy blonde. "How dare you kick me?! I should report you to Miss Kirio!"
The short blonde, Hiyori, puffed her chest out, looking at him with zero ounces of respect. "Shut it baldy! And stop pointing at me!"
Hiyori jumped high into the air and aimed another kick at the blond captain which promptly threw him back into a wall.
Kirin, watching from the sidelines was barely restraining herself from rolling on the ground as her laughter rang in the first division halls.
"Oh, Oh Hiyori! Thanks!" She barely choked out, wiping tears that had gathered in her eyes. "My knight in black shihakusho has protected me again from my terrifying cap—"
Kirin was cut off by another fist being shoved into her skull, making her reel over in pain.
Hiyori too, shrieked at a fist that connected with her head.
The two girls looked up at the same time at the tall, imposing figure of the captain of squad 7. As they all called him, Love.
Hiyori was the first to react. "Hey! What's the big idea with hitting law abiding lieutenants huh?!" She huffed.
Love wasn't deterred as he simply stood over her with his arms folded. "Your captain isn't here yet. Someone has to keep you in line."
"And you!" He said, pointing at Kirin who was rubbing Hiyori's head for her. "You cause trouble at every captain's meeting you're invited to! Stop with the antics!"
Kirin pouted, linking arms with her short blonde friend. "Hey! I didn't do anything wrong! And Hiyori was just defending me from my captain who had begun scolding me for no reason!"
Another fist hit her head and Kirin finally landed on the ground sprawled out.
She glanced behind her, where Shinji stood, his fist raised and several veins already popping on his forehead.
"No reason?!" He growled. "You jabbed me with your zanpakuto damn it!"
Kirin simply stood up from the ground slowly and turned back to him.
She looked serious as she walked up to Ukitake and Kyoraku who were watching nearby.
Ukitake looked suspicious as the dark haired girl approached him slowly with a serious expression. She stopped in front of him.
Then she grabbed onto the white haired captain's haori and hid behind him before turning back to her captain.
Utilizing all the silly faces she had seen Hiyori make to Shinji, Kirin scrunched up her face and stuck her tongue out at her captain, blowing out a raspberry.
She then hid behind Ukitake who looked surprised and startled at having to get involved in all this.
Kyoraku let out a chuckle as he watched Shinji make his way over to them. He could practically feel the burning anger radiating off of the blond captain.
Kirin was just about to make a run for it when she saw someone stop behind her, blocking her path.
She slowly looked up, wide eyed to see the imposing figure of her captain staring down at her.
She turned back to see that Ukitake was no longer hiding her and had gone off to the sides with his lieutenant to watch.
She then looked to the side to see Hiyori staying out of it as well since her captain, Kirio Hikifune of squad 12 had arrived.
Gulping, she focused her attention on the blond captain in front of her, and gave a large grin.
"Captain… If you keep getting angry over every little provocation, you'll eventually get a really high blood pressure."
Those words were all Shinji needed.
Finally, the little thread that was holding his few scraps of patience together for his lieutenant snapped.
A content smile appeared on Kirin's face as she closed her eyes.
'Yeah, what a good day,'
.
.
"We will now begin the Gotei 13 Captain's meeting!"
All the captains, once arrived had lined up into two rows based on number, their lieutenants standing behind them.
Kirin too stood behind Shinji who had an ice pack to his head, courtesy of Unohana, captain of squad 4.
How unfair it was that her head was what was swollen yet he got the ice packs!
Kirin raised a hand to rub her head where three large bumps had formed.
It had taken both Kensei Muguruma, captain of squad 9 and Love Aikawa captain of squad 7, to pull Shinji off of her.
Kirin looked up at her captain again. She almost felt bad for all the mental stress she put him through.
As if sensing her gaze, Shinji turned and gave her a look that said "Don't start if you know what's good for you."
Kirin simply gave him a mocking serious nod, turning back to face the captain commander and whatever he was saying that she certainly wasn't listening to.
She sensed her captain's reiatsu pulse slightly before he took a deep breath to calm down.
'It's a bit too easy to bait him sometimes,'
"The lieutenants of squads 5, 8, and 12 will take charge of this case!"
Kirin's head snapped up at that announcement, turning to lock eyes with Hiyori, who raised an eyebrow at her.
Kirin shook her head, making Hiyori roll her eyes.
They had been friends long enough to know what each other meant.
'Fuck! I wasn't even listening. What are we supposed to handle again?!'
"Lieutenant Yagami!"
Kirin's head snapped to the side to see the head captain staring at her with his intense beady eyes.
"Lieutenant Yagami," He began, "I believe all the details of this mission were handed to you earlier today."
Her eyes widened as she finally understood.
"Ohhh! That!" She beamed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Hehe, Yes Sir! I got the report this morning,"
She wasn't listening.
The head captain, utilizing all his years of developed patience, resisted using his zanpakuto, Ryujinkka to blast her out of the meeting hall.
Instead, he took a deep breath and continued.
"Good, since your squad was sent previously to handle this case, you'll take charge for this mission." He ordered.
Kirin simply let out a sigh at having to work.
She then thought back to the case file that was presented to her earlier.
'Hollows with an unusual reiatsu who can replicate and form clones. Sounds troublesome. This might end up as one of the few missions I'll have to take seriously.'
Nodding, Kirin turned back to the head captain.
"Yes Sir."
The head captain, once satisfied with her answer, moved on to other affairs that Kirin couldn't be bothered in listening to.
Once all agendas were cleared up, she yawned as she strolled out of the meeting room.
Just as she was about considering running somewhere to slack off, someone hooked their hands underneath her arms and lifted her up.
Suddenly, Kirin found herself seated at a higher level.
She blinked, her red eyes looking down to see long blond hair.
"Ohhh, Rose?" She tilted her head slightly, meeting the gaze of another of her favorite captains, the captain of squad 3, Rojuro Otoribashi. Or as we all call him, Rose.
"Hello Kirin. Good to see you looking in high spirits as always." He smiled at her, adjusting her on his shoulder before wrapping an arm over her knees to hold her up.
Kirin chuckled, patting the blond man's head.
"Well, why wouldn't I be in high spirits now that I have successfully baited my captain into getting a migraine!"
Kirin was glad that she was being carried by Rose, out of reach. If not, she was sure another bump would've been added to the ones she had already.
Rose let out a quiet laugh. "Your words never cease to amuse me my dear!"
Kirin smiled softly, glancing down at the usual tired look on her friend's face.
"I've finished the piece you wanted," she said, watching in the distance as Hiyori attacked Shinji again with a kick. "You can come pick it up now if you want."
Rose immediately perked up at her words and smiled, stroking her knee. "Thank you my dear. I can't wait to take a look at the art you made for me. Hmm, maybe I could make a melody for you. Something that suits you."
Kirin simply hummed, continuing to pet his blond hair.
"You want to create a song that suits Kirin? Sounds good. How about calling it, "The pain in my ass"?"
Kirin turned back to see Shinji walking past her and Rose with an annoyed frown on his face.
He then stopped and turned back to lock eyes with Rose. "Careful Rose, If you spoil her too much she'll be difficult to handle. Better be strict with her and have a loyal lieutenant than be lax and have a troublemaker."
"Yet she's still a troublemaker despite all your strictness huh?"
Kirin watched as the captain of squad 2, Yoruichi Shihoin walked up to Shinji, wrapping an arm around his neck.
"Eh, Hirako?" She baited, a teasing grin on her face. "Yagami doesn't seem to be changing at all despite all your strictness with her."
Shinji flinched, suddenly feeling the strong urge to throttle his lieutenant off his fellow captain's shoulder.
Kirin shivered, and turned to Rose who immediately understood.
She needed to get out of there immediately before her captain went on another blood pressure induced attack.
Kirin shifted her weight from Rose's shoulder and instead wrapped her arms around his neck, legs tucked into his side.
She felt Rose hook an arm under her legs to hold her up before he flash stepped away to the squad 5 barracks.
Shinji was still arguing with Yoruichi and so did not notice Kirin's escape.
That is until her spiritual pressure disappeared and was suddenly far.
"Kirin?" He looked around to find his lieutenant, only to see that her and Rose had ran off.
He felt a vein pop on his head.
They had gone off without him! She had gone off without him!
Just as Shinji was about to run off to attempt murder, a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Captain Hirako," Ukitake began, his eyes furrowed together in worry. "Don't you think you're being a tad bit too harsh with Yagami? I mean, apart from bothering you, has she really done anything to cause this much of a reaction?"
Shinji's eyes calmed just a bit. He took deep breaths and allowed the tension to leave his body before using flash step and disappearing.
Kyoraku chuckled, seeing him escape. "Yagami can be a piece of work sometimes, Ukitake…"
"I know that. She was in my squad first afterall." Ukitake let out a sigh. "But when needed, she always gets the job done quick and without complication. One of the reasons I recommended her to Hirako in the first place."
Kyoraku hummed. "Yeah, I'll admit that. I bet Hirako knows that too."
"That's probably why he's kept her as his Lieutenant for so long."
.
.
"Bye Rose! I'll come visit you soon. Is tomorrow a good day?"
Kirin stood at the entrance to her squad, waving goodbye to her art loving friend, Rose who was holding onto a large portrait that was covered.
"Of course Kirin. You can come by any day." He smiled, moving closer to plant a kiss to her forehead.
Kirin visibly relaxed into his touch, closing her eyes to relish the feel.
'He seems happy. Didn't think the portrait would make him this satisfied.'
Rose pulled back and ruffled Kirin's hair before walking off.
"See you tomorrow my dear." He waved goodbye before vanishing with shunpo.
Kirin stood at the entrance a second longer before walking back in.
As much as she would've loved to slack off for the rest of the day, she needed to write documents for case files to be sent off to Hiyori and Lisa about their mission.
She also had to begin her own private investigation as well.
If it all worked well, she alone would be able to handle this replicating hollow case.
'Now just to find where the hollows are hiding.'
'Time to make a visit to Rukon.'