Chapter Text
Half a year had passed since the defeat of the mad king Juhabach and his army of murderous Quincies. Soul Society was slowing recovering, and the rebuilding of most of the critical infrastructures in Seireitei was almost done. The headquarters of each division was finally completed last week, and it was a relief to get a semblance of normality amidst all the chaos.
Surprisingly, and despite his personal losses, the new head captain, Shunsui Kyoraku, had really stepped up to his new roles and responsibilities; probably helped by his ever-devoted lieutenant who was on a constant mission to burn all alcohol on sight in the first division and in his personal quarters. Not that the man had no reason to drink, losing his mentor and best friend of the last millennium must have been a shocked, but, clearly, Yamamoto had a reason to choose him as a successor against other seemingly more qualified candidate. In fact, all remaining captains and lieutenants had contributed to the collective efforts except one unhinged, unstable, notable exception. Even Hirako and Yadōmaru who, knowing their personalities, he did not expect much from, had shown incredible seriousness and reliability in front of all their losses.
Hence, walking alone amongst the ruins of an abandoned area in his section of the Court of Pure Souls, Captain of the 6th division of the Gotei, Byakuya Kuchiki, 28th head of the Kuchiki Clan, is reflecting on all the events he had been privy to in the last few months. More changes had happened than he had ever witnessed in his, admittedly short life, but he doubts even if he was centuries older, he would have felt different. Two wars in the short span of five years…. Three of the founding pillars of the Gotei dead in the span of a few days…. Trauma, injuries, losses, everyone had suffered somehow… He considered himself lucky that he had not lost anyone close to him. His sister and lieutenant being the only two that qualified, but still, it came close. He had been willing to die for his failure to protect, at the end of his own bankai, and the relationship between Senbonzakura and him had been strained since then.
However, with their capabilities and more mediation, Byakuya was confident that he could convince his spirit to overcome its guilt and continue to work in harmony with him. They just needed time. Maybe overcome his crushing sense of inadequacy as well. One can hope…. That was more doubtful, he was reminded everyday by the phantom pain inside of his core spirit center how he was defeated without purpose. He was used to the feeling by now. It was irrelevant to the performance of his duties. He could continue to live with it forever if needed to be, he deserves to carry that particular burden….
Therefore, uncharacteristically, and only in the privacy of his own mind, he dares to have some optimistic feelings toward the future. It is true that he has more information than most to reach that conclusion due to his noble status and his position in the army. Most likely as well because he has a personal knowledge on how the new Soul King feels about what he perceives as inequalities and injustices. He is glad he defied the secrecy of his station to confirm to the young Shiba his fears about his potential future if he didn’t do anything. To be sure, he would not have expected the events to turn that way, but overall, despite the despicable help he had gotten, he is confident that Ichigo would continue to rise above expectations and be a worthy recipient of his trust. He's looking forward to all the changes that are going to be enacted.
To continue that trail of thoughts, he had been happily surprised when an embassy had appeared without fanfare several weeks ago with the ex-commander of the Kido Corps as its head. Magically summoned next to the first division, as if the tall, muscular, imposing man had been preparing for decades to reform Central’s archaic practices. Representing the "divine" authority, with the support of the head-captain and the man’s reputation, no one wanted to directly protest the new position and role. Considering that Tessai Tsukabishi’s theoretical work on kido is still thought in the Academy and a little squint of his eyes behind the glasses told everyone that he had lost nothing of his impressive skills in exile, a lot of prominent members of several councils were only too willing to bury their precedent beliefs to embrace the administrative revolution.
He had not failed to notice either that, slowly but surely, as if he had outside help, the new office was recruiting all the promising functionaries under his sigil, even poaching from the more clerically inclined member of his own division. From what he was able to gather from some political member of his family, so far, several obscure laws have already been amended without protest and little clauses about no exemption and principles about the same justice for all had been added where it was relevant.
All the realms are therefore secure and stable. Hueco Mundo has a Queen that doesn't have any ambition toward conquest and is keeping the most dangerous hollows/arrancar/espadas under control in her land. Some bureaucrats with initiative had even found the time to decide on terms for a treaty and they were accepted. It was unprecedented in the millennial history of Soul Society that Shinigami and Hollows were even in the same room to have a talk about the balance of souls... He could barely fantom how they ever agreed on something. However, after a glance at the determined look of their main envoy, a black-haired, calm girl, Miss Paramia he believes, he was reminded that his previous experience in the sands of their wretched desert was maybe not representative of the bloodthirstiness of the whole race. They had their own reconstruction to do and had suffered as much losses as the Gotei.
Byakuya also fondly recalls the sour face of his clan elders when he had breached the news at their monthly meeting. Their scandalous expression had confirmed that even if all these changes were improvements and positive, it wasn’t everyone that was as enthusiastic about the slowly eroding status quo. Thanks Kami, they have no idea what is coming…. He has his own suspicions of course, but he would keep silent until it is confirmed, which should be soon anyways. Today, even, if he isn’t mistaken about what the massive, imposed gathering was all about.
During those months, he had three private calls via buffed-up Denreishinki with the new king. It had been enough to confirm that he wasn’t living alone up there... and he isn't talking about his guards.... When probed on the Aizen matter, the awkward pauses were telling enough. Ichigo is truly terrible at keeping secrets and hiding his emotions, that did not change, so he inferred what really happened. Nevertheless, sometimes, despite the lack of action toward bloodthirsty revenge, he must admit that he is worried about the orange-hair’s partner in crime’s ominous shadow lurking too close for comfort... Kyoraku refused to discuss the elephant in the room when he politely inquired about their ex-infamous prisoner. He only confirmed that they were no illusions involved and it was really the newest Shiba that was King. He had checked it in person with certainty. Thus, Byakuya had decided that he must keep on believing in the strength of their young savior. As of today, nothing nefarious has come from the Soul King Dimension and, as far as he knows, all the five commanders of the Royal Guards have kept their position and are supportive of the new regime.
Dignity is paramount to a man of his rank, and he doubts he could prevent the upward twitch of his lips if he goes ahead and proclaim what he knows is true. He did not even breach the subject with his sister either. Not because the irony did not escape him, but because he wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face at his compatriots’ dawning horror. That was unacceptable, so he refrained. Smirking when he was alone in his room at night, he reflects that it is the beginning of a great era to be alive.
On his way to the summoning on Soukyoku Hill like most of the rest of the city inhabitants, he stays away from the crowd, finding a perch on top of a massive tree right in front of the giant screen. The 12th division had spent the last few days fussing over the machinery under the bickering, contradicting instructions of their captain and their ex-one, but it seems that everything was finally ready for showtime. Making sure no one is watching him, he permits a small smile to grace his lips, this is exciting...