Four for Four [Social]

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko was full of nervous energy as she adjusted the glasses she was wearing while filling out paperwork. It had not seemed like a long time had passed since she had graduated from the Academy, but it really hadn't been that long. Maybe it was because circumstances had forced her into some extreme positions. Her brother had been kidnapped and when she confronted the kidnapper, she had been trashed. She had made friends, found a mentor and even, finally, rescued Kazu. Now, after all that packed into such a short time, she was sitting at a desk, filling out forms as the newest Fourth Seat of Squad 4. 

The promotion was... bittersweet. Ever since she joined the academy, she had dreamed of becoming Captain. This was a step in the right direction, and her best friend, Iroka, had even managed to get the Fifth Seat. The two of them had skipped much of the line because of how thinned out the Yonbantai was. They had lacked not only a Captain and Vice Captain, but many seated officers. There was no structure in a division that, arguably, needed it the most. 

It wasn't just that, however. Her brother was back, and he had even been promoted to Third Seat. She was happy and proud and everything a big sister should be, but, it would be weird to get orders from  him. As fuzzy as they had become, Fuuko smiled as she recalled the days when they were still alive. She wasn't just a sister. She was a mother, a best friend, a coach... she was everything the boy needed to grow up. And, grow up he had. 

Whatever had happened in Hueco Mundo had changed Kau. He wasn't the young, fresh faced boy he had been. He was tall and handsome and... Fuuko closed her eyes. He wasn't Kazuhiko. Maybe the foundation was there. Generally the things that Fuuko remembered about him existed. His personality seemed mostly  the same. His attitude and other things, but... it was hard to look at Kazu and see Kazu. There was something there that just wasn't right ant Fuuko couldn't place it. All she knew was it was that damn Bum's fault! If he hadn't taken Kazuhiko, he would still be Fuuko's lil Kazu, her most precious brother. Not Kazuhiko Satoshi, some guy that looked a little bit like her and happened to have the same surname. 

Fuuko sighed and took off her glasses. She only needed them for paperwork and she was done for now. There was one more  thing. It was the reason she was stopping her clerical duties for the day. Yonbantai had a new Captain as well. It seemed like once Kazuhiko got back, everyone got a promotion. 

"Heh..." Fuuko scoffed. She didn't know much about the new Captain except she wasn't from the Yonbantai. Fuuko wasn't expecting to get promoted to that position any time soon, so she understood the need to fill the spot, but at the very least couldn't someone from the division be promoted? Apparently the woman had been a Vice Captain in a different squad. But Fuuko had become very protective of the Yonbantai. She was working hard to change their reputation and her connection with Kimiko Nakajima, the Squad 11 Captain, had helped, at the very least, assuage some of the harassment that the so called "Academy rejects" would receive. She could kick almost anyone's ass, so hardly any of the other divisions picked on her fellow doctors, nurses and janitors. Would this Captain understand what it meant to be in the Yonbantai? Or was she just looking for a seat of power and any old division would do? 

That thought pissed Fuuko off and she sneered at her own thoughts. "Tch." She shook her head. She owed the new Captain the benefit of the doubt. Thankfully, she would get a chance to appraise her new CO. She had called for an officer's meeting to get acquainted with her division. Unfortunately, that was pretty much just herself, Kazuhiko, Fuuko and Iroka. After cleaning off her desk and tidying up, she stopped by her quarters and grabbed a large bottle of booze. She could offer it to the Captain as a gift, if she ended up liking the woman, or, she could drink it if she didn't. Or, maybe the new Yonbantai Officers could celebrate. Either way, she was going to need it. Once she had it, she made her way to the Captain's quarters and knocked on the door. 

[Miranda Frost]

 It was said to Miranda that the true mark of a Captain wasn't their climb up the treacherous mountain they faced, but with how many they could help up its jagged, dangerous cliffs. Ever since she took up the sword and donned the robes of a Shinigami, she would be swept up in a storm of hardship and bloodshed. It was her escape from the past, but the past always had a tendacy to rear its ugly head. It was this past that earned her the seat of Captain and made her the woman she was today.

 When she returned from the events on the outskirts of the Rukongai and the events at Vulcan's Forge. The Captain Commander approved of her success and talked with her over what it meant to be a Captain. Miranda would be her squad's shield, their leader. "Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look upon them as your own beloved sons and daughters, and they will stand by you even unto death." Those words reflected upon her memories, and she remembered her fondness for all those who taught her and brought her to this point of her life. 

 Arantima introduced her to the brutal world of combat hospitalizing her to save her life. He would serve as her mentor for years to come. Her valient efforts and dedication shown through because of his mentorship and he'd formally bring her into the Kawada family. Captain Hotaru would teach her discipline and the importance in formality. Though never as rigid as she, Miranda extended these teachings to the more mundane parts of her job, and it helped her become an administrative dreadnought. Celes would show her there is strength in compassion and understanding, saving Miranda from a rather cold path.

 The Boss(Captain Commander) had given her three choices for captaincy, Squad 4, 5, or 7. Seven was the most obvious choice, given that was her first assignment. Oh how satisfying it would be to return to the place she once started, but that would be too easy? Miranda dismissed squad 5 almost immediately as her mastery of kido was severly lacking. That left squad 4, the same squad  that tended to her wounds time and time again. Over the years one could say she spent just as much time there as she did with her own assignment. The cycle would grind anyone's will to dust, but not Miranda. Going from mission, to the infirmery, to another mission, back to the hospital would cripple any normal soldier's will to fight, but not her.

 Miranda would choose them, for they were responsible for forging the Captain she'd become. If all of her role-models were mentors, Squad 4 was her adoptive mother. Now it was time to return the favor and take care of them and protect those who protected her future. Such a response would bring a laugh from the Boss who responded with, "The Fourth Division's Haori suits you well"

 _______

Miranda had her new office organized in a manner not unlike her office in the 1st division's facilities, with some new additions. Miranda was one to treasure scars and momentos from the past. Memories can be faulty, manipulated, blurred, but a physical object can do wonders to cement it in reality. Behind her desk would hang a rather fancy fur coat, once owned by the vandenreich scout that woo'd her years ago. Beside it hung Vulcan's Chain, a rather large, blackened greatsword with a tip not unlike a serpant's tongue. The sword was forged by her father, wielded by her mother and soon her brother. Now it was in her position, the last remnant of her family aside from herself.

 On her desk was a charred greathelm, a helmet worn by a failed attempt to create warriors on par with the shinigami using a dense reishi stream. She kept it to remind herself that horrible fate was almost her own when she lived among that cult. Those poor maidens deserved naught what they recieved, turned into burning husks knowing nothing but rage and violence.

 Miranda sighed, snapping out of her most recent trip down memory lane. A knock sounded from her door, which surprised the new Captain. Not many knew of her appointment just yet. She had intended one making an official, squad-wide announcement. Her gloved hand raised and wafted at the door. A crystal hook would form and catch a little handle on the door put there just so that Miranda could do this. The hook would pull the door open. Behind it stood her Fourth Seat, a newer shinigami that had been powering through the ranks.  

 "How embarrassing, I would have hoped to adress the squad as a whole once I had been fully established." she'd  gesture towards the four leather bound chairs before her. "Please come in, and make yourself at home" her eyes of steel gazed over the woman, attempting to gauge her. Miranda knew she was gifted in the Shinigami arts, but she could tell immediately she could destroy her in an arm wrestling contest. The bottle at her side reminded Miranda of herself, as she stashed a rather sizable jug of vodka underneath her desk.

[Munemasa Iroka]

Everything was changing. And for the better, Iroka hoped. Not only had Kazuhiko been rescued and returned to Seireitei (and how he had changed!), but the Fourth Division finally had a captain as well. Initially, Iroka had thought that her closest friend, Satoshi Fuuko, would end up claiming that seat, seeing the incredible way the brash blonde had been improving. Iroka, for her own part, had not been slacking either, and although she was sure that she couldn't hold a candle to her friend, the carrot top's improvements had come in the form of her ability to heal others, something she was rather proud of.

It was, however, the new captain that Iroka was quite interested in meeting. The presence of a captain in the Division meant that the scary fellows from the other squads would be much less likely to pick on the Yonbantai Shinigami. Even though Fuuko had seemed quite able to repel most of the bullies (Iroka herself wasn't half bad when she was driven into a corner), that the Division now had a Captain, as well as a Third and Fourth Seat meant there would be less idiots misbehaving as they pleased and then pulling the rank card when the earned a solid kick to the rump. Then, the Fourth had no one to run to. They did now.

As Iroka hurried across the halls of the hospital to set her sight on the new Captain, the orange-haired Shinigami wondered what sort of leader this person would be. She also wondered whether the new captain had a healing-based zanpakutou. What were her quirks, her likes, her dislikes? But perhaps what she wondered the most was in what direction the new captain would take the 4th. There were a lot of potential directions that could be taken, and being the kind of follower Iroka was, she was inclined to support the new captain as much as she could, as long as she was certain this new captain really cared for the 4th.

As she arrived at the door of the Captain's office, she saw Fuuko already standing there. Was the blonde Shinigami also just as curious as she was in figuring out what kind of person the new captain was? Before Iroka could greet her friend, however, the door to the office slid open, and she heard the captain invite whoever was at the door in. As she came in, she took note of the woman seated behind the desk, and the paraphernalia that adorned her office. There was a rather ritzy-looking fur coat, as well as a burnt helmet and a strange weapon. Looked more, in Iroka's opinion, like a Kenpachi's office than a medic's but then, a healer could very easily be a killer as well.

The steely eyes that stared from the snow-haired face of the captain unnerved Iroka. Not because the woman was particularly scary, but because the grim determination in those eyes were suggestive of someone with a rather strict demeanor. Iroka could be wrong, but such was the first impression that this woman's expression had on her. Without realizing it, she quietly tried to adjust herself behind Fuuko's larger frame, in order to hide. Strict people scared her, thanks to her background and upbringing. She could work with strict people, yes, but at this point, Iroka was praying that the captain, who bore a rather austere-sounding name, would not be as severe as she seemed.

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

*YYYYOSH!* *YYYYOSH!* *YYYYOSH!* The screaming was energetic and uncannily rhythmic. It was full of excitement and urged its listeners to action! It was exactly the sort of sound a boy thought a hero would sound like! Right out of a children's comic!

*YYYYOSH!* *YYYYOSH!* *YYYYOSH!* Another round of screaming brought a hand down upon it's source. An alarm clock. *YYYOS-* It ceased mid scream and its owner rolled over onto his back with a sigh.

His eyes fluttered and a hand ran through his messy blonde hair. His head lolled lazily to glance at the alarm clock. And what he saw caused him to suddenly sit up in his bunk with a start! "Shi-shimatta!!"

*THUNK*! Resulting in him bashing his head against it's wood frame! Dazed, he rolled out of bed and hit the cold floor in a tangle of covers. "Itaaaai!" He whined... He'd never had to worry about being tall enough to bump his head before going to Hueco Mundo...

_____

Kazuhiko was the last to arrive. Another difference. He had always been first. Where Fuuko had been thirty minutes late, he had been thirty minutes early. But now it was he who had problems getting where he was expected to be... Something that contrasted with the new level of responsibility he'd been granted.

It wasn't that he was irresponsible or felt apathetic to his obligations... Rather, it was because of the weight of them. When he and Fuuko had been alive this had been her lot. She had always been pulling extra shifts or working extra hard to care for her disabled kid brother.

He'd thought he'd understood, but he was wrong. The stress had affected his sleep. Every night he had the same dream. He was being pursued by a monstrous fox. It stood on two legs and laughed as it chased him. It was faster than he was, and far more powerful. And just before it caught him, he'd wake up! ...And smash his head.

The door to the Captain's Quarters was being held open by Iroka as Kazuhiko ran up! The white robes he wore beneath his Shinigami attire were unironed and his hair was a mess. And just below his hairline was a bandage.

"I'm sorry I'm late Iroka-chan!" He called out to keep her from shutting the door on him. Assuming she held it open, Kazuhiko would take hold of the door and allow Iroka to pass before slipping in himself.

"Oneesan!" He bowed his head to Fuuko like a dutiful little brother. And then turned to face their new Captain. "Taicho!" He bowed his head to her as well.

There were a few things immediately obvious about the young man. Firstly, he was sweating, it was clear he'd rushed over. Second, the sleeves of his robe were too long. They covered both of his arms completely, not unlike a chinese vampire.

And lastly. He was constantly leaking his reiatsu. He had an absurd amount of spiritual pressure, especially for a shinigami of his strength. So much so that he couldn't keep it inside of him. However, it didn't oppress those around him... Quite the opposite.

It was a constant, but subtle, flow of positive, healing energy. It wasn't quite enough to heal a scratch. However, in his presence that nagging cough or sore neck just didn't seem to bother you. You didn't feel as hungry, or as tired. It just... Felt good to be around him. This too was new after returning from Hueco Mundo.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Satoshi Kazuhiko}

"Satoshi Kazuhiko, Third Seat! Welcome to the Yonbontai!!!"

[Miranda Frost]

 Besides the various decorations for her deeds in the past, one would perhaps notice the reiatsu already seeping from everywhere in this office. It wasn't particularly cold, but it certainly wasn't warm. The three might feel as if they were walking through a lightly sleeting storm as invisible clumps of her reiatsu touched their skin. It wasn't something Miranda could control, not yet. Her Zanpakuto was always released, despite her previous attempts to seal it to a more manageable and presentable appearence among her peers. 

 Kazuhiko, the third seat who had braved the sands of Hueco Mundo brought a little warmth to the room, not just with his upbeat personality, but with the spiritual presence his body gave off. She felt a bit more at ease, perhaps slight uptick in energy. Still, he appeared to be off. Mayhaps he was in a rush to be here? Miranda chuckled under her breath at this. They say that these three had been together since the academy, always nipping at each others heels. Their comradery went beyond the normal Shinigami principles. They were like family.

 Being bounced from squad to squad as she climbed the ranks, the new captain never grew so attached to her comrades. Not once had she forged friendships and grown with another. She only had mentors, teachers, comrades, and now subordinates. To call another 'Friend' was something foreign to the silver haired woman. The closest thing she could think of was her relationship with the head of House Kawada, Arantima, but even then he was but another mentor to her. She had achieved her ambition, losing much along the way that made the journey worth it, and now she sat her at the end of the line alone.

 Nay, she wasn't alone. The fact these three stood before here were proof of this. Her eyes softened and shifted to the girl hiding behind the Fourth Seat, Fuuko. Miranda sighed and leaned back in her chair. Ever since making the sacrifice she was required to make to achieve Bankai, she had found her emotions dulled. It was if her body moved and acted on its own at times with her watching just over the shoulder. To many, she noticed, this was offputting, making her appear emotionly as this steel wall. She'd take a deep breath and reigned herself in.

 Her eyes then shifted to Fuuko herself, a strong wall of muscle of a woman with eyes burning with a flame hot enough to melt away any glacier. Many such as this fourth seat would find themselves among the 11th squad, but not her. This was good. The 4th needed strong wills such as her.

 Once they had all entered, the hook that opened the door would close the door before dissipating into small shards  of crystallized reishi that danced gently over the room not unlike stars in the night sky. "I must say, I am flattered to be welcomed so warmly.", she'd motion once again at the empty chairs before her. "By all means, sit and relax. I'm sure your duties of today are over? Let us speak for a time. I would hear your stories and expectations for your new captain, and you would hear mine."

 Her eyes spotted the jug Fuuko carried. Perhaps that is what was needed to lighten the atmosphere just a little bit more. The talons of her right glove would tap before each of their chairs, forming a mug of crystallized reishi. It was a good parlor trick courtesy of her Zanpakuto, yet just as deadly as any weapon she could have made. They each were of identical design, giving off a soft, pleasant blue hue. "I know you brought your own drink, but if that will not suffice for everyone else, I do have drink of my own. If alcohol is not your fancy, I do have some tea I could share." She'd explain, forming a mug for herself before her.

 "Where are my manners. I am Miranda Frost of House Kawada, previous Lieutenant of Squad 1 and previous third seat of Squad 10. It is an honor to serve you all as Captain."

[Satoshi Fuuko]

"Nn." Fuuko gave the captain a polite bod and walked in. She wasn't usually like this. She was a very friendly person usually, as gruff as she could be. But she was feeling stiff and defensive. Miranda's chilly reiatsu wasn't helping. In her mind, Fuuko thought that wasn't the sort of feeling people needed from the Squad 4 Captain at all. As Fuuko entered, she looked around and found a comfy chair and set her bottle down. She pulled out a cigarette and a matchbook and lit it up. She gave it a quick puff and leaned back in her chair. She crossed a leg up onto her knee and closed her eyes. Very unladylike, especially with her very  short skirt, she was all but flashing her new captain. Miranda did say to make herself at home, after all. 

Fuuko didn't know how long she was going to have to sit awkwardly with Miranda, but she wasn't going to make the first move. Thankfully, Iroka and Kazuhiko weren't too far behind. "Oi, sis." Fuuko said tersely, greeting her best friend with an uncharacteristic terseness and lack of energy. She side glanced to Miranda and then back to Iroka, but then she felt Kazu's reiatsu. It calmed her nerves, like a drag on a cigarette, but she could also smell something else. As Kazu walked in, Fuuko blinked. She still wasn't used to the way he looked. She didn't know if she would ever  get used to her baby brother looking like a man. 

But her nose twitched. There was blood. From working with Squad Four, her own love of fighting and her zanpakutou's own abilities, she had developed an almost uncanny ability to detect the irony scent of crimson. She stood up and immediately caught the bandage that Kazi tried to hide. 'Kazu! What the shit!?" Fuuko barked and rushed over to him. She immediately lifted up the bangs and inspected the injury. "What did you do!? Did you hurt yourself?!" Fuuko's tone balked. "Ooooh, you poor thing!" She said and pulled him close and started kissing the bandaged wound over and over again. "Oneechan will make it better, don't worry!" She said. Before she used to have to lean down to kiss his booboos, but now she barely had to turn her head. Still, as big as he might get, he'd never be too tall for Fuuko to kiss away his booboos. "What the fuck did ya do, anyway!?" She asked and then realized the two of them weren't alone. 

She cleared her throat. "Sorry, Taichou." Fuuko muttered. She noticed the frosty mug and turned to Miranda to receive introductions. "This will do fine, thank you." Fuuko said and popped open her bottle and poured it into a glass. It only took a couple of gulps before it was gone and she was pourring again. A rosy color on her cheeks. it warmed her body and loosened her up a bit. She offered her bottle to Iroka. Kazu, even in his new body, was certainly not old enough to drink. Still, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at Miranda's introduction. Not only was she not from Squad 4, she was also some hoity-toity noble bitch and from Squad one. In her mind, the Ichibantai were the hall monitors of the Court Guard. Glorified pencil pushers, who had egos they didn't deserve because they worked directly under the Captain Commander. Fuuko exhaled and straightened up. 

"Satoshi Fuuko, Yonbantai Fourth Seat." She said like she was being barked at by a drill instructor. "And this is Fifth Seat Munemasa Iroka!" Unlike Kazu, Fuuko was not pleased to meet Miranda. Though she wasn't going to outright show disrespect to the new Captain. Instead, she plopped into her chair, took another short sip of her drink, and one more puff on her cigarette. 

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

Kazuhiko arrived just before the captain welcomed them into her office. Iroka was still not sure she was used to the fact that he had looked like a little boy when he was taken into Hueco Mundo. If not for the fact that everyone else had agreed that this was Satoshi Kazuhiko, Iroka would have asserted that he was a different person. Back then, he had been the shortest member of the Yonbantai. Now, it seemed Iroka had attained that honor. Ah well, it was good while it had lasted.

As everyone filed into the office, Iroka had to get out from behind her hiding spot behind Fuuko, and was about to sit on one of the chairs indicated by the captain, when Fuuko began fussing over Kazuhiko. In the end, no matter how old he looked, he would never be able to outgrow being her little brother. Watching the overflow of affection left bittersweet feelings in Iroka's heart. On the one hand, it was heartwarming to see Fuuko dote on her brother. On the other hand, the realization that family was supposed to be bound with cords of affection, something her own seemed to severely lack, made her feel uneasy. And once again, as she had been conditioned to do, she suspected that the fault lay with her.

It seemed Kazuhiko had hurt himself, though given the way he moved and the sight of his bandaged head, it probably wasn't too serious an injury. Unaware of the Third Seat's reiatsu effect, Iroka began to slowly relax, the tension gradually easing out of her body, which was given proof by her less uptight posture. She giggled softly as Fuuko realized it was probably better to not be displaying such antics in the captain's office. She waited for a moment for Fuuko and Kazuhiko to take their seats, then drew close to Kazu and placed a hand on his head, a mild green glow emanating from her hand, as the cut on the blonde's head healed up. Then she took her seat.

The captain identified herself as Miranda Frost; she was from one of the noble houses as well. She wasn't so sure how Captain Frost's experience in the Ichibantai would specifically help operations in the Yonbantai, except for leadership experience. Still, leadership was important, so that was not to be discounted. Iroka took the proffered jug with thanks, poured herself a drink and returned the vessel to Fuuko. The cups that the captain had created did look impressive, in Iroka's opinion, and she stared at the motions of the liquid in her cup, as Fuuko introduced her.

"Nobody particularly important..." she muttered, still staring at the liquid in her cup.

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

Kazuhiko blushed as his sister descended upon him in front of their new captain. But despite this, he didn't push her away. "I'm okay! I promise!" It wasn't just because it would have been impossible. "Really! I am!" It was also because this was something a month ago he thought he would never experience again. The warmth of her over-the-top concern and affection. And so he indulged without protest. "Th-thank you oneesan!" And leaned into it, giving his sister a brotherly hug back. It was strange that... The hug. He'd always had to be mindful of his head placement given the difference in their size. But now his head was able to rest nicely on her shoulder. It wasn't without its advantages it seemed, this getting taller. It made hugging his sister easier!

Fuuko cleared her throat as she snapped out of her familial fervor and reminded both of them that they were with company. Kazuhiko reached up to the collar of his robes with his left hand and gave them a little tug as he laughed nervously. "Heh... uh. Wari wari..." He apologized quickly and his eyes diverted away from Miranda. They fell instead on one of the shards of crystal that were floating in the air. The look away was an attempt to spare himself the Captain's reaction. However... He found that his eyes were somewhat obsolete these days. He could feel everything in the room as his reiatsu danced over it, through it. Like intricate sonar. Things he wanted to see. And things he didn't. He was still getting used to not being overwhelmed by it...

It occurred to him then that he could feel the Captain's reiatsu as well. She wasn't attempting to intimidate them it seemed. It was docile. But it was also constant. He could feel it in clumps of chilly cold energy. "So even some Captains can't control it either, huh?" He asked before moving his left hand over his mouth. He said the quiet part out loud. Oops. That hand slowly moved to the back of his head as he laughed nervously. "It's reassuring, in a way! That I'm not alone!" That he wasn't a liability again... The thought put a frown on his face that was the opposite of reassuring.

His attention turned to Iroka then, as the warmth of her healing reiatsu provided him comfort once again. The hand on the back of his head transitioned to unwrapping the bandages there. And when they were fully unfurled he wound them around his hand with a few circular motions in the air. Then, he gave Iroka a big, goofy grin. "Thanks, Iroka-chan! You're always so kind!" And he gave her a thumbs-up before putting his hand on her shoulder. His gesture wasn't just in appreciation of her good deed. He could feel her anxiety. The difference in her heartbeat. The stiffness in her muscles. And so he gave her shoulder a squeeze and offered her a reassuring nod.

His attention turned back towards the Captain after Iroka's words. His grin didn't leave his expression. "Here at the Yonbontai. And when it comes to healing! We're not exactly the best!" He laughed at that, before gently nudging Iroka forward as if presenting her! "Except for Iroka-chan here! She's a prodigy! Maybe even the best healer in all of Soul Society. Certainly, the best I've ever known! Isn't that right Iroka-chan?" He gave her shoulder another reassuring squeeze before letting his hand fall off of her shoulder. "And she's humble too!" He added as his grin finally started to melt into a plain smile.

"I can't speak for all of us, but you're the first Captain I've had. The only other Captain I've ever really known is Raion, he was my boss in the Rukongai. So in that regard, I only ask that you find a way to open doors without blowing them up, and that you wash your glass after using it so that I don't have to!" He gave a firm nod as if his expectations weren't strange in the slightest. He'd worked under Raion as a tavern boy before entering the academy. Raion-senpai had helped give him the motivation to join the academy in the first place. But he had also been a boisterous and destructive individual. As kind as he was drunk and in constant need of a carpenter.

[Miranda Frost]

Miranda was no behavioral expert by any means, but what she did have was experience. Such experience allows one to see and notice things they normally wouldn't, because they had been seen before. All three of them had cards on the table for all to see. Fuuko was being polite, but that wasn't what was truly felt, truly thought by the muscle clad shinigami, was it? Iroka displayed signs of shyness or insecurity, but was potentially scared of Miranda. Kazuhiko was the hardest to gauge. His positivity was bright, unencumbered by the darkness of recent events. This meeting was to break these walls down, her own included, and forge an understanding between she and her more senior subordinates. They were to be a team, and such things could not happen if their coordination was hampered by personal discordance.

 Miranda turned her head to Fuuko, giving her undivided attention. "I will not tolerate held tongues here in this office. I expect my senior officers to speak their mind. You three are the next in line for Captaincy. That peak, that precipice, is within sight.", She'd tell her calmly but sternly. Her nose wiggled  at the scent of cigarette smoke, but she allowed it. Without a wave of her hand a small crystal ash trey would form next to Fuuko's mug. If she must smoke, she shouldn't ash over the floor she had cleaned herself. "You are strong, command respect, and look after your family. All of these are the essentials for any leadership position here in the Gotei 13, let alone captaincy."

 Her head turned to the passive Iroka.  Miranda thought back on first seing the woman who quickly hid behind Fuuko upon first laying eyes on the silver haired captain. The healer was afraid of her. Nothing about her reiatsu signature was outright hostile. Perhaps it was her demeanor that reflected some past trauma or experience. Miranda would rest a hand on the greathelm on the desk, her claws testing the blacked scorch marks. Frost knew this all too well. 

'Nobody particularly important'

 A subtle, slow anger burned at her heart at this statement. What could have happened in her past that would cause her to believe such a thing? Doubt is not easily uprooted once its seed had begun to sprout and grow. Again, without moving her hand a small flower of crystal would form rather close to Iroka, embedding it in her hair. "I expect one such as yourself to hold yourself in higher regard. I have spent just as much time in the infirmery here as my service in squad 7, 10, or 1. It is through the work of those like you that I haven't become crippled or dead and live to pay back the squad who have given so much to me. I expect you to pick your chin up and have a bit more pride in yourself. This squad wouldn't be what it is without you, nor would your family.", Miranda's voice was calm and controlled. No need to spook the woman further.

 And now she'd turn her head to Kazuhiko, the young man radiating with positivity as if he were the embodiment of the sun itself. Each of these three reminded her of herself in some form or fashion. Fuuko reminded her of her need to prove herself when she first enlisted. In life Miranda was a peasant in the countryside of Russia. In death she was a peasant in the fringes of the Rukongai. You did what you had to to live and those lessons still held onto her to this day. Iroka reminded her of the time her soul was beginning to fracture and imbalance. Darkness was swelling in her heart, the seeds of doubt literally killing her. She reminded her of every time she was on death's door. 'I'm nobody important. I am easily replaceable' was a thought she heard many a time, despite the overwhelming evidence contradicting it.

 Kazuhiko embodied what Miranda craved the most. Family, belonging, a smile that could make the sun blush. His spiritual pressure was unable to be held down, much like her own. He had even spent a period of time in Hueco Mundo against his will for a period of time, just like Frost. "I can't say I've met Raion, but I have heard the name. I'm sure he'd be proud to see you now.", she'd comment on his small origins with a smile and a nod, but even this faded to something softer. It was hard to talk about that place and maintain a good mood, but it's better she ask about it now than later. "You may not wish to speak of it, but before I ask, know that it is coming from a place of understanding. As a fifth seat, I was captured and taken to the Forest of Menos for a month. Needless to say it was hard for me to recover mentally from the things I saw there.", she started, for the first time since their arrival, her eyes drifted off into the distance, away from the three as she recalled the scenes. The endless, unnatural screams, the smell of blood and decay, and the feeling of constant hollow pressure was still in her mind, despite her years of reflection and recovery. "If you want to talk about it, or you need help. I can get you some help."

 her eyes moved to her crystal mug and sighed. She didn't initially want to drink today but now she'd have a glass or five. She'd reach under her desk, heaving up the hefty jug to her lap. She'd tilt it over her glass, filling it with favorite drink, vodka brewed on the outskirts of the Rukongai. Not only did it satisfy her and distract her on these long days and nights, it was also cheap and in abundance. "I think I'll have myself a drink now." She'd set the jug next to her chair and tilted her head back, pouring the strong fluid down her throat, downing all of it quickly. her body shook momentarily, her head shaking free the memories she previously conjured up.

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko had heard Iroka's utterances and frowned deeply. "Oi! Sis!" She barked. "What did I tell yo about sayin shit like that!? If it wasn't fer you, I wouldn't even be here, so, ya can't even say anythin like that!" Fuuko said, getting irritated even more than usual by Iroka's constant self deprecation. She already had a distaste for it, but with Miranda here as well, she expecially  didn't want Iroka talking down on herself. 

"Tch." The Captain's words, however made Fuuko scoff. She crossed her leg in the opposite direction and looked away. She had scene the ashtray and hissed as she reluctantly ashed into it. "There ain't no reason for me ta say how I really feel cause it don't matter. Heh. Believe me, I ain't got no problem waggin my tongue and sayin what's on my mind, but I respect the chain o command enough not ta needlessly spew some shit. However I feel ain't your  fault. You ain't done nothin wrong, so I ain't just gonna vent because I ain't in the mood for this lil pow-wow." Fuuko said, telling Miranda how it was in spite of saying that she wouldn't. 

"If you really wanna know how I feel, then let's cross swords. Then, maybe you'll have an idea." Fuuko added. "But I'll say this. I don't belong here, but I am here and here is where I wanna be. I don't want my lil brother, or Iroka-chan or anyone  ta have ta suffer. They are my family..." Fuuko pointed at Miranda. "Kazu by blood, and Iroka-chan by bond. The chain o command gives you my respect and my service, but that's all it gives ya for the time bein. I ain't convinced as to why ya chose the Yonbantai, when, as it seems, there were at least a couple other choices." 

Fuuko took a deep drag and then smashed the cigarette into the ashtray, extinguishing it. As she did, she watched Miranda gulp down a drink. She couldn't help but smirk a little. "Nervous, Taichou?" Fuuko shook her head. "I wouldn't be, unless ya can't keep up." Fuuko grabbed her own bottle and just threw it back without pouring it into the glass. After a few gulps, she pulled it from her lips. "Ahhhhhh.... I already drank a Vice-Captain under the table once. Maybe you have a chance to earn somethin after all~" Fuuko mused as she leered at Miranda. 

[Munemasa Iroka]

It seemed none of the people in the room agreed with Iroka's deprecative opinion of herself. Although Fuuko had constantly told her not to talk down on herself, Iroka was willing to believe that Fuuko's concern was because they were practically sisters. As for Kazuhiko, to whom she was less close, and Miranda, whom she practically knew nothing of, she did not expect them to be this affirming. Could it be that they were saying the truth? Years of ill treatment made it difficult for Iroka to accept that she was actually worth something, but maybe it was a little more believable to her now.

The crystal flower which appeared in Iroka's hair made the orange haired Shinigami smile slightly as she admired its beauty in the reflection of her cup of alcohol. She muttered her thanks to everyone in the room, as she dipped her head and blushed. It felt amazing to be commended, though she was quite unused to the feeling. Still, that people, who she considered to be superior to her in every way, seemed to recognize that she had potential was a motivation to continue to aspire to be stronger and get better. Maybe she had hope, after all. She wondered what her parent would say in response to the praise she had received.

Fuuko, in her own way, was already indirectly challenging the new captain to a fight. Iroka was quite afraid that things might get hostile, seeing as the blonde did not seem willing to just accept Miranda. But in a way, Iroka saw nothing wrong with her friend's actions. It was not as though she had anything against the new captain, but it made sense that Fuuko would want to test Captain Frost's commitment to the Division which had been considered, for a long time now, to be the most useless Division in the Gotei 13, despite its important position as the life saving unit of the Gotei. In any case, Iroka thought it a plus to the new captain for choosing the 4th, when there were probably other more prestigious options to choose.

As she listened to the outpour of her friend, Iroka took a sip of the drink in her cup. Weird taste, but not particularly unpleasant. She took a bigger sip, and downed the rest of the cup on the next go. The others might not know, but this was the first time she was actually drinking alcohol. "This is some strange stuff," the carrot top said, her head feeling a bit light, "but it isn't bad. I shall try some of yours, Miranda-sama!" Miranda-sama, as opposed to Frost-taichou. Iroka had next to no idea how to be formal. She was very polite, but very informal as well, an interesting paradox in the order of things. She took the large bottle of vodka on the captain's table, and poured herself another drink.

"This one tastes more like water, but it does go down well," the carrot-top observed, as she tasted the drink, a rosy tint already appearing on her cheeks. With Kazuhiko's relaxing aura and the alcohol circulating in her system, Iroka was beginning to feel much freer and less inhibited. She emptied her cup and poured herself another load from Fuuko's bottle this time. "Wait! Am I sure I'm not taking too much?" she asked aloud, though to no one in particular. "Maybe I should stop, before I do something embarrassing." But it was unlikely that she would stop, seeing as she refused to put down her cup.

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

His breathing slowed as he paid special attention to her. He was listening to her intently as she spoke... But not just her words. All of her.

While Miranda was no behavioral expert, Kazuhiko was slowly becoming one. His desire for harmony, for peace, had manifested within him an extreme desire to understand the world around him. To process the motives of others in order to find alignment. His mind worked quickly. It had been a burden for him when he was younger. He processed things at a rapid pace, so quickly that he was ready for new stimuli before they could be provided. But now that he could feel the world around him with nearly microscopic precision... He was never short on things to hold his attention. His burden had become an integral advantage.

Miranda addressed Fuuko first. She praised her. But Kazuhiko could already feel Fuuko stirring. Her blood was boiling. But she wasn't angry... She possessed an emotion that was far more dangerous than that. She was indignant. And she didn't need super senses to sniff out their new Captain's hesitation. She was like a wolf in front of her pack. A stranger had come in and declared herself Alpha. That wouldn't do. Not until she'd made Fuuko bare her throat. Though Kazuhiko was surprised to hear his sister relent to the possibility of a battleground of ideology. She was challenging the Captain's motivations rather than immediately demanding a trial by combat. It wasn't that she -didn't- demand that. But that there was another option at all, informal as it might have been, that showed growth in his beloved protector and sister. It put a warm smile on his face.

Next, she addressed Iroka. Her words were kind and her actions mirrored that. This in tandem with the praise of the others in the room seemed to alleviate some of Iroka's gloom. But it didn't seem to alleviate her anxiety. She began to drink. He felt the tension in her body begin to loosen. But in its place were the mind-blurring effects of alcohol. It was familiar to him and strangely comforting. Kazuhiko didn't drink, however, he had been party to his sister's habits his entire life. He wondered if the Captain would stop her.

Lastly, Miranda addressed him directly. "Perhaps." He bowed his head, concurring with her statement on Raion. He hadn't seen Raion-sensei since he'd left the academy. Not strange considering the events that followed it so shortly... He would certainly be surprised. Little Kazuhiko was all grown up. Seated and everything. It still felt a little surreal... Especially his physical changes. He practically sprouted up overnight!

"That's very kind of you." Prior to this, he had been observing the whole room. But he'd done so with his eyes focused on nothing at all. They were obsolete at this distance. And it likely left him with a strange, faraway look. But now his eyes finally turned to Miranda. They met hers as it was his turn to address -her- directly. "But I would very much like to not be the one who needs help any longer." His left hand moved to his right shoulder. He clutched it. And at that moment he couldn't help but note just how cold the strange limb felt against his fingertips. Even through his shihakusho and the robes beneath them.

"Rather. If you'd like to know my expectations. It is that you do everything you can to facilitate us helping as many as possible. That is what I want." His mission statement was clear and delivered with conviction. His intent and his heart were both as pure as he was naive. "The Yonbontai has a reputation for being less capable than the other divisions." He paused to grapple with that shame for a moment. "But I refuse to allow that to be the case any longer. I would like to see the Yonbontai become more active in the way in which we provide support. I don't want to simply help the people who stagger into our barracks or our medical tents. I should like to see us go out and heal the whole world."

The hand that grasped his shoulder fell away from it. Instead, it balled into a fist in front of him, tightening so that she could see the whites of his knuckles. His conviction. And he took a step forward. "I don't want our squad to be the clean-up crew who fixes the collateral damage! I want us to be first on the scene! To be search and rescue! To be strong enough to prevent hurt before it can happen, not just to clean up the blood after it's been spilled." He looked over his shoulder at his sister. And then at Iroka. "I want to heal the whole world and put an end to suffering." Then, he turned his focus back to Miranda. "Those are my expectations. Can you meet them?"

[Miranda Frost]

This Fuuko was quite interesting. In many ways she reminded the captain of herself in her early days when her strength and potential carried her through the overwhelming oversight of her peers. It made her wonder just how different she would have become had she possessed the bonds this Fuuko had. Miranda sat back in her chair and glanced down at her crystal mug, swirling the intoxicating fluid within. She'd see her own reflection in the drink, the steel eyes that reflected no emotion, despite how she really felt. She'd grin and set the mug down.

"Cross swords, now that's an idea.", she'd muse, her mind beginning its work. If there was any trait she held and exhibited, it was her sentilmentality when it came to her growth of a shinigami. Despite owning the ability to perform Bankai, she's yet to actually utilize it. With these three giving it their all to take down their captain, it would more than prove a test to her mental ability to control the flow of battle. It'd benefit her subordinates in giving them experience against stronger captain class individuals.

Additionally, it has been stated that spending enough time bearing the weight of spiritual beings greater than one's own weight can strengthen the weaker one's abilities. It was a similar concept to improving the physical body where training and recovery enhances the physical ability. In short, Miranda whip her underlings into shape, heal them, then do it again until they themselves are stronger than herself. She'd nod, noting how brutal the simple thought was, but these officers wanted more than the flegling reputation this squad provide. Forging them into steel warriors will more than challenge that reputation.

"Let's just drink, hm? I've no reason to fight a battle I've no chance of winning.", she'd laugh, raising her class in toast to Fuuko's superiority in the realm of alcohol consumption. "That being said, I didn't choose this squad. The Captain Commander chose for me.", she admitted, her other clawed hand tapping the steel of the helmet's flat top. "It was deemed my abilties were suited with the developement of this squad. Still, I owe my life to this squad, so don't expect to catch me lacking, maybe."

She'd fill up drinks that needed topped off before returning to her own. "You've got me thinking, Fuuko.", she'd begin after a hearty gulp. "Let's take a trip. In the catacombs you three are no doubt familiar, there is a stream of concentrated reishi that flows out all the way into the wilderness beyond. I would have us walk along it." The emotionless light of her eyes seemed to spark with a subtle warmth as she thought back on her early days and just how integral that stream was to her developement. "It'll be a good escape for a few days, but don't think you'll be slacking. The stream is wonderful for training and reflection. After the trip, i've no doubt you'll notice some changes."

She'd nod as if reassuring her proposal. When her zanpakuto threatened to collaspe her soul, the recovery efforts by this division involved meditation and training around this stream specifically. Before the recovery, she was but among her peers of unseated. When she finally recovered from her injuries, she was far above peers and took the 4th seat of squad 10. Such increase in strength was incredible and set her on the path she needed to be. "I can't say there isn't any selfish intentions here."

She'd laugh and slam her mug down after downing its contents. "I've heard you three are prodigies. Truth be told i'm not quite experienced in shinigami on shinigami combat, so I'd say your chances of winning are quite higher than you'd think.", she'd nod again, pulling her legs up into her chair, hugging them to her chest. "Additionally, i'd really like to show someone my Bankai, Ye?"

 Her eyes would fall solely on Kazu, that small ember of flame in eyes dying down from his declaration of his expectations. "I make no promises, not any more, but if there is anything I can do, it is helping you get strong. Squads 1, 10, and 11 can attest to my abilities here."

[Satoshi Fuuko]

Fuuko's eyes narrowed when the captain said that she was assigned the position. "Tch." Fuuko stood up and set the bottle she was drinking from down. "I don't think it was the right call." She said. "But obviously the Soutaichou knows somethin I don't." Fuuko heard what the captain was suggesting and, normally, she might be all for it, but there was entrenched fromt he audacity of the situation. In her mind, Fuuko could see all the gaps where a Captain could be more affective in one of the other divisions. She also had the eye on the captaincy herself and had been training her ass off for it. She needed to be stronger to protect Kazu and Iroka and everyone else. 

Fuuko pointed a finger at Miranda as she spoke. "So, lemme get this straight. You want us ta beat the shit outta you until yer bored and then waste us all with yer bankai? Then we're supposed to hug and giggle an be a happy family? Fuck that." Fuuko raised a finger. "No... I'll do it because I like  fightin. I'll do it because I wanna get stronger. I'll do it because I want you to know you had a hand in creatin the person who is gonna kick yer ass and drive ya off to some other division. The fact that you're toutin this great record a bouncin around divisions..." 

Fuuko could only growl. She held her tongue when she felt like she was getting to the point of being out of line. She hadn't thought that about anything else she had yet said to the captain, but she felt like she was doing a good job of keeping herself restrained. "You said you owe yer life to this division. Well, everyone worth a damn owes their lives to us! How many people have the Yonbantai thanklessly put back together? Because it's our duty. It's our honor. And it's been a long standin tradition ta shit on us because we can't swing a fuckin sword?!" Fuuko poked her chest. 

"Well I can swing a fuckin sword! And we are makin sure that people in this division have some fuckin pride. We have to literally  clean people's shit here. We're done bein the figurative  dumpin grounds!" Fuuko pointed at Kazu. "My lil brother chose  ta be here cause he wanted ta help  people. I just followed because I'm a meathead, but I want to protect people just as much. I'm proud  ta be here and I want everyone who is here to be here by choice. Not cause they were fuckin assigned." 

Fuuko pulled out a cigarette, struck the match and lit it. She took a drag half as deep as the cigarette itself and let a billow of smoke hiss out through her nose and mouth. She grabbed the bottle and flicked the match off into the room. "Ya got me riled up, Taichou. I hope yer ready for a fuckin fight." Fuuko said and pushed the cigarette to the side of her mouth to make room for the bottle she guzzled from as she exited the room. 

Munemasa Iroka

[Munemasa Iroka]

While the others had been talking, the carrot-top had been relentlessly attacking both alcohol sources in the room. At this point, Iroka was really getting the buzz from the alcohol. It was a bit difficult to hear what the others were saying, although she was able to mostly follow what was being said. She did manage to hear, though, that the captain had been given the recommendation to join the 4th, rather than joining it on her own volition.

Frankly, Iroka could understand Fuuko's annoyance. Although Miranda was grateful to the Yonbantai, did that mean much? As Fuuko had rightly expressed, the 4th had been healing the rest of the Gotei 13 for as long as Seireitei existed, and what did they get for their pains? Nothing but ridicule and insults. As though being in the 4th was because one was too useless to be in any other division. That Miranda hadn't chosen the 4th could suggest that she had been simply placed there because she was strong enough to be a captain, but had no better positions to fill.

"Frankly, I'm fine with the hugging and giggling part," Iroka intoned. "Bonus points for if we skipped all the unpleasant fighting. And yet, apparently there's no way that can be avoided, so I'll take you up on your offer of training, Okojo-sama." The stoat, known for its white winter coat. Miranda had earned her own nickname, courtesy of her hair. "I'm looking forward to the trip. In the meantime, may I have more of your weird sake?"