Taken (A bleach story)

Respect and Fear

“He’s really nice, I like him! I think he is the only leader I actually look forward to following!” I said to Captain Ukitake after we left. He was about to answer me when two boys raced towards us yelling:
“Captain Ukitake! Captain Ukitake!” We looked at them and the Captain’s face lost its comforting smile. He obviously didn’t like them.
“Kiyone, Sentaro, how are you guys?” He asked and forced a smile.
“Oh I’m great thanks for asking!” Sentaro said cheerfully.
“Oh I’m great thanks for asking!” Kiyone said and Sentaro glared at him.
“Copy-cat!” He yelled.
“I don’t copy idiots Sentaro!” Kiyone yelled back and they started fighting. Kiyone suddenly noticed me standing next to his captain and stopped fighting. “Hey, Sentaro, who do you think that is?” He pointed to me.
“I don’t know Kiyone, what do you think?”
“I don’t know Sentaro, what do you think?” He asked still pointing at me.
“Well why don’t you just ask? I’m right in front of you am I not? And didn’t anyone ever tell you that it’s rude to point?” I asked with an irritated tone in my voice.
“I think that’s a good idea! Who are you?” Kiyone asked.
“Guys this is your new Squad 3 captain.” Captain Ukitake said and smiled.
“CAPTAIN?! But isn’t she that new girl? How can she reach the level of captain so quickly?” Sentaro asked and I smiled mischievously.
“Well the Head Captain, Captain Zaraki and myself all think that she possess similar skill, strength and potential as that of a captain’s. I’ve battled with her myself and she is truly exceptional! Captain Zaraki fought her as well and said that he used his full power; no eye-patch and no bells, and she still defeated him! I for one am very proud of her.” He patted me on the back.
“Wow!” Kiyone and Sentaro said in awe and the captain turned to face me.
“I’m gonna have to leave now, but could I ask a favour from you?” He asked.
“Sure, want do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Well, Kiyone,” He looked at him, “Could you hand me those papers that I asked you to fill out?” He stretched out his hand to receive it.
“Of course captain, here they are.” He placed the papers in the captain’s hand and he handed them to me. “Could you go over to the Squad 10 barracks and deliver these papers to Captain Hitsugaya? I would really appreciate it.” He asked and I smiled at him.
“Of course Captain Ukitake, but where is that?” I asked and he put his arm around my shoulder to turn me to face the direction in which I had to proceed to. He pointed towards the hallway and cleared his throat.
“Go through that hallway and turn left when you reach the end. Just keep going straight; it’s the fourth one to your right.” He said and stood up straight again.
“Thanks Captain.” I smiled and bowed and he did the same. He wished me goodnight and I thanked him for everything he did and left to find Squad 10’s barracks. I went through the hallway and to the left like Captain Ukitake said I must. I was busy counting the barracks when someone grabbed my shoulder. I turned around and saw a tall guy with long black hair and a dark and distant expression. He looks like someone most people avoid coming into contact with. He didn’t intimidate me though, instead I felt myself sighing in relief.
“Excuse me, but aren’t you that girl that just arrived?” He asked with a serious expression.
“Yes I am, who are you?” I asked and noticed that he was a captain because of his uniform.
“Captain Kuchiki.”
“Oh, I’m Captain Kuro-Getsueki.”
“I don’t remember asking for you name.” He was cold and stern, and I didn’t mind – since I was the same.
“I don’t remember caring. Now what do you want?” I asked sternly. The only way I’m gonna get any respect from this guy was if I responded with a similar tone.
“I’ve never seen you before, I decided to check if you were that girl everyone’s been talking about.” He said and looked sternly at me. “How come you achieved the rank of captain? It usually takes years of practice to…”
“Well I did train quite a bit and there’s a lot you don’t know about me… I was chosen because my potential, strength and skill level was that of a captain’s.”
“Who assigned you?”
“Head Captain Yamamoto himself made the decision; with the influence of Captain Ukitake of course, and obviously you heard what I did to Captain Zaraki in the captain’s meeting.” I said and turned to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going? I didn’t give you permission to leave.” He said calmly.
“Sorry, I have other things to do, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said and started walking off.
“How do you know that you’re gonna see me tomorrow?”
“You’re coming to the captains’ meeting aren’t you?” I asked glancing back at him.
“I guess, but I didn’t say I’d talk to you.”
“Neither did I…” I smirked and Phantom Stepped away from him. I found what I was looking for after a while of searching. It was quite far from Captain Kuchiki’s barracks so I walked quite a distance. I knocked on the door but it swung open and I decided to go in. There was a girl sleeping at desk on a pile of papers. I walked over to her and noticed that she wasn’t a captain. I placed my hand on her shoulder and said roughly: “Hey you…” She suddenly woke up and almost jumped out of her seat.
“I did the paperwork captain! I swear!” She panicked.
“I’m not your captain, fortunately; I just came to deliver these papers.” I said with a serious expression and she got up.
“Wow,” She said examining me, “You must be that new girl! Aww! You’re such a cutie pie!” She screeched and ruffled my hair.
“Get your hand off of me.” I said coldly and she did.
“Why so angry?” She asked and pouted.
“Listen, I was sent to deliver these papers, nothing else,” I said and gave her a stern look. “Now do you know Captain Hitsugaya or not?” I crossed my arms.
“Yeah, he’s my captain, you know, you remind me a lot of him.” She said and I got mad all over again.
“Listen lady, I don’t want to be compared to anybody – got that – I am my own person… Now where is his desk?” I asked and searched around.
“Over there,” She pointed to the desk behind the couch. “He’s not so bad once you get to know him… You guys will get along well… I bet you will be the best of friends the moment you see each other!” She screeched and I turned around in frustration.
“Shut up! I said I don’t want to be compared to anyone!” I yelled and put the papers on his desk and signed it where it said: “Approved by Squad 3 captain.”
“Hey, I don’t think you are allowed to sign that… it says Squad 3 captain…”
“Who do you think you are talking too then?” I asked with a sinister look on my face as I started to walk off.
“You’re the new Squad 3 captain? But you just arrived!”
“So? You don’t know me! I have the skill and strength of a captain; that’s what the Head Captain, Captain Zaraki and Ukitake said after facing me.” I said and saw those papers on the girl’s desk. “Um, say, do you want me to do that for you?” I asked as I looked at the paperwork.
“Would you?” She asked; a little stunned at my sudden change of tone.
“I wouldn’t want your captain to find that you are sleeping instead of finishing your work… That would mean that he has more work to do… And he still has to waste his breath shouting at you.” I said and grabbed them.
“Thanks Captain…”
“Kuro-Getsueki.” I said sternly.
“Oh… I’m Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto... It’s an honour captain…” She said and bowed.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever… Just get some sleep; I can see that you’re tired.” I huffed and walked off.
‘She’s just like my captain; stern and cold, but kind if you really think about it, and they both care for others and like to work hard. They are a perfect match… Now to think of a plan to get them to meet each other…’ Rangiku thought.
I walked for a while; studying the area around me. Being a Captain felt so good! To be feared, yet respected was a good reputation to have. I started to think about what my day was like; I had done a lot of training in the morning – which was a good thing - , I came to the Soul Society, I met and fought with the powerful Captain Zaraki and Captain Ukitake and, most importantly; I became a captain – a rank all people in the Sayratay strive to achieve. I wondered if they would be mad at the fact that I just strolled in here and took their position that they trained years for. I thought about Captain Kuchiki and found that we were in fact much alike; cold, stern and someone to be feared and respected. I fear that it will become a battle for dominance over who is going to respect who first. We both want to be feared and respected by everyone, but I am not about fear him because he doesn’t scare me at all. When I look at him, I guess it feels as if I’m looking into a mirror. I’m sure he feels the same way by the expression he gave me once he found out that I was just as cold, stern and fearless as he was. ‘It is exactly like looking in a mirror… I have found –’
CRASH!
I rubbed my head continuously; trying to make the pain go away. Someone must’ve bumped into me because I couldn’t have fallen all by myself. “What the hell?” I said still rubbing my head.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry. Here let me help you.” That person put his hand out to help me. My vision was a little blurry, but I could make out that he was a tall guy and that he had short silver hair. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me up. My vision cleared and I was right; he was a tall guy with silver hair. But now that I got a better look at him, he had this grin on his face that sort of made me feel uncomfortable and his eyes were shut.
“Thanks, now who are you?” I asked sternly.
“No, no, no, that’s the wrong question.”
“Don’t speak to me like that. I asked you a question.”
“Wow, you’re most certainly irritated. If it’s because I accidently bumped into you, I am really sorry.” He said; his creepy grin still on his face and his eyes still shut. “Now where are you off to my dear?”
“None of your business…” I said coldly.
“Wait, I know you. You are that new Squad 3 Captain aren’t you?”
“Why do you care?”
“You’re looking for your barracks right?” He didn’t even give me a chance to answer him – he probably knew I’d say something like: “None of your business…” or “I don’t need to tell you that…” or something like that. “Luckily for you I know how to get there… I’ll take you there immediately if you want me too.”
“Do I really have a choice in the matter? And you are most probably going to ignore my reply in any case.” I sighed and walked with him.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” His grin became even bigger than usual. He asked quite a few questions and my answers were either: “Shut up!” or “Back off!” or “None of your business…” or “Like I care.” or “Why should I tell you?” so he eventually gave up. We arrived at the door of the barracks and he stopped. “Well, here it is; Squad 3’s barracks.” I turned around; deciding to at least thank him. I knew I would’ve gotten lost if he didn’t show up. But when I turned around he wasn’t there. I was shocked and a bit confused as to what just happened. I knocked on the door and a tall guy with blonde hair opened the door for me.
“Hello Miss… Are you looking for someone? Are you lost?” He asked in concern. I ignored him and walked straight inside.
“This place is quite marvellous… Hmmm… I guess it could work…” I mumbled to myself and examined my barracks.
“Excuse me… Miss… You’re not allowed inside here… I’m afraid you have to leave…” He stuttered.
‘This guy is interesting… He’s scared of me and yet he doesn’t even know I’m his captain yet… He must’ve sensed how strong my spiritual pressure was when I walked in.’ I thought and couldn’t help but smile sinisterly.
“What makes you say that I’m not allowed in here?” I asked and he’s face had a shocked expression. He was obviously stunned by my question.
“Miss… This place is authorised for captains and squad members only.” He informed.
“What does that make me?” I asked sternly.
“Well, miss, I, um, see, you are the new arrival, are you not?” He asked and I sat down behind – what seemed to look like – a captain’s desk.
“Yes, I am.” I said and drew my finger up and down the desk in a very bored fashion.
“So, you are not a squad member and that means…”
“Wow, hold up, I didn’t say I wasn’t a squad member.” I said and pointed at him.
“So you are? Sorry for my pitiful manners miss! I didn’t know! What squad where you assigned to?” He asked and bowed.
“Why, this one of course.” I said and he smiled.
“That’s wonderful! What seat?”
“I wasn’t assigned a seat.” I said and he looked at me with a confused expression.
“What do you mean miss?” I gave him one of my mischievous smiles and got up from my desk.
“Who are you?” I asked coldly.
“L-lieutenant I-I-Izuru K-Kira miss, and y-you?” He stammered.
“Skye Kuro-Getsueki.” I said and stopped when I was directly in front of him. “Say hello to your new Captain Izuru Kira.” I smirked.