Hi I really love your captains finding s/o napping hcs and I hope you do a version with the lieutenants one day
I love this ask! A good exercise as there’s a lot of lieutenants I’ve never written for! I’ve included all current lieutenants as well as Sasakiba and Nemu! Enjoy and thank you for your patience!
Lieutenants if they found their S/O napping
Nanao- Would be absolutely annoyed. But not because you’re actually napping, she knows how pushing yourself to the limit can cause you to lose sleep. What Nanao would be annoyed about would be the fact you had fallen asleep at the same time as the captain. So now she was basically having to do everything by herself! However, she’s more ready to smack Shunsui upside the head. But she couldn’t do that to you. So she quietly leaves, feigning ignorance.
Marechiyo- His first reaction would be “Are you kidding me? You didn’t invite me to nap with you?!” He would be PISSED! But not pissed enough to wake you up. You’re too cute to wake up. Marechiyo drapes you in a (probably expensive) blanket before joining you and napping beside you on the floor. Until of course, Soi Fon nags him to get back to work!
Izuru- Is rather conflicted when he finds you fast asleep. On the one hand, he's very happy that you're resting, you work so hard. On the other, he doesn't want you to be sleeping on something so uncomfortable as the squad 3 common room sofa. He’d decide to gently wake you. A simple, gentle shoulder shake and a whisper “My love… My love, let’s get you somewhere comfier, ok?”
Kiyone- Kiyone would be used to seeing Ukitake sleeping so often, she doesn’t really question or disturb you. She’d instantly start tiptoeing around, being cautious as not to wake you. You probably wouldn’t even realise she’s there. Until of course, you wake up to see an old blanket of Ukitake’s across your body and a note beside a glass of water. “Stay hydrated! Love you!”
Momo- Finding her s/o napping would probably make her giggle. You’re so cute the way you’re curled up, mouth slightly open as you lightly snore. Momo wouldn’t even THINK of disturbing you. A lady should never do that to their partner! So she tucks you in gently and leaves a note beside your sleeping form saying “Don’t forget to hydrate!”
Renji- Will immediately whip out his phone and take a picture. Would probably text a few of the other lieutenants with something like "look at this dork." He’s done similar before so the others just roll their eyes. But he will worm his way beside you if he has the time. Knowing Renji though, he’ll immediately fall asleep with you and wake up a flustered mess as that’s not what he intended to do!!
Atau- Atau would treat you like a cute animal when he has an s/o. What I mean by that is he will treat you like he’s found a sleeping kitten when he finds you napping. You’d have a soft blanket draped over you, he’d kiss your face, probably pat your head. But if anyone tries to wake you? He’d run them tf off!
Yuyu- “Hey baby, you wanna- Oh!" She sees you fast asleep at your desk and she grins. Not just because you're adorable. But Yuyu would pout after she attempted to wake you and you hadn’t woken up. How dare you ignore her! She will be sulking for the rest of the day once you wake up, some part of her convinced you no longer love her.
Shuhei- Shuhei has a feeling he’d find you asleep. He’d smile when he sees you, peaceful and cozy. Probably consider joining you (though he’d probably have to close and lock the door to the room so Kensei doesn’t catch you both slacking).
Rangiku- Would be looking for you when she finds you asleep. Hitsugaya reprimanded her AGAIN for being lazy and sleeping through the last Lieutenant meeting. She wanted to complain to her s/o, but there you were, in the land of dreams. Rangiku can’t help grinning as she wiggles beside you. She gives me the vibe that she’d prefer to be a small spoon. So prepared to stir while she wiggles into your arms. Limbs all a tangle as she smirks like the cat that got the cream before falling asleep in your arms.
Ikkaku- He'd be PISSED you napped without him. Even if it's an accidental nap! How dare you not tell him you're napping! He'd kill to have a nap right now! But noooooo. Now he has to watch over your cute ass. Like his rough and tumble head captain, he’d lift your legs up to settle underneath them. If he can’t sleep with you, he’ll make sure you sleep easier. Ikkaku will rub your legs and thighs, gentle circles to help keep you warm and comfortable.
Akon- Akon would freeze when he finds his s/o asleep. Sleeping in such a public area of squad 12 wasn’t good. If Mayuri caught you, he wouldn’t be as forgiving. However, Akon has a slightly soft side. So he’d chuck a blanket over you before gently patting your head. When you instinctively nuzzle his hand in your sleep, he freezes again. Maybe he’ll stay a while, make sure you don’t get in trouble.
Sentaro- FREEZES when he finds you sleeping. He has a naturally loud voice and tends to shout. But he would free up and back out of the room the moment he sees you’re curled up somewhere. He’ll be damned if he wakes up his precious! Sentaro would probably pick you up bridal style, really careful not to wake you further.
Sasakiba- He's a hard working man that knows his limits. I don’t know why but Sasakiba gives me the impression (in my mind at least) that he would take naps regularly. So it’s no surprise that napping becomes something of a date thing between you too. Genryusai would know that you’re both off on break, aka nap time. Sasakiba would hold you close, set an alarm and just sleep beside you.
Nemu- She’d definitely wake you up. No question or hesitation! “Master Mayuri does not appreciate when subordinates sleep on the job.” Nemu would tell you as you rub your eyes and apologize. “I won’t tell Master Mayuri. However, if you still need to sleep, I would suggest heading to my bedroom for privacy.” You’d nod before trudging towards her private quarters. She’d follow along. The minute your head hits her pillows, you’re surrounded by her scent, a combo of gentle lavender and pine before falling back to sleep.
Manga panels that live rent-free in my head, Bleach edition: Izuru and Momo clash in the aftermath of Aizen's demise (from chapter 101 "Split Under the Red Stalk").
He didn’t sit up immediately, but he could already feel the dizziness creeping in, accompanied by a sharp, relentless pounding in his head. It felt like something heavy was lodged inside his skull, pressing painfully against his temples. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping the darkness would steady the spinning sensation.
The only thing he remembered from last night was the deafening music of the bar, lights flashing so brightly they burned behind his eyelids, and the overwhelming crowd that made the air thick and suffocating.
It was Friday night when Rangiku Matsumoto had invited them to drink in the World of the Living — together with Renji Abarai, Shuhei Hisagi, Ikkaku Madarame, and Yumichika Ayasegawa. Drinking had always been their way of resting, of blowing off steam and releasing stress after long missions and endless paperwork.
But this time was different.
They weren’t drinking in Soul Society.
They were drinking in the World of the Living.
Izuru let a few curses slip under his breath before finally forcing himself to sit up.
That was when he realized something.
He was naked.
Completely bare. Not a single thread covering him.
His stomach dropped.
Then he felt it — a subtle shift beside him. The faint movement of someone else on the mattress.
Slowly, stiffly, he turned his head toward the other side of the bed.
There was a woman.
Panic shot through him instantly. He bolted upright, heart hammering violently against his ribs. He grabbed the blanket in a rush, yanking it up to cover his exposed body.
But in pulling it toward himself, he accidentally uncovered the woman.
She was sleeping on her side, her back facing him.
And she was naked too.
Izuru froze.
Heat flooded his face as realization dawned on him. Without looking directly at her, he hurriedly pulled the blanket back over her body, making sure she was covered. He kept his gaze deliberately averted, refusing to let his eyes wander anywhere inappropriate.
He didn’t want to see something he shouldn’t.
But then again…
Maybe seeing wasn’t the only thing he had done last night.
They were both naked.
In the same bed.
There was no innocent explanation for that.
Something definitely happened between them.
And honestly he didn’t know what to do.
He didn’t know where they were.
He didn’t know how to contact Rangiku Matsumoto or the others.
For a moment, he simply stood there, frozen, trying to organize the chaos inside his head.
Carefully — quietly — he began dressing himself so he wouldn’t wake the woman.
His clothes were scattered all over the floor, thrown carelessly in different directions. His shirt was near the door. His pants were half under the bed. Even his belt was hanging from the edge of a chair.
And not just his.
The woman’s clothes were scattered too.
His eyes accidentally landed on a lacy red bralette and a matching thong lying near the foot of the bed.
He froze.
Heat rushed violently to his face.
He quickly looked away — but the image was already burned into his mind.
He dressed himself in a hurry, hands slightly trembling. Once he was done, he hesitated for a second… then bent down and picked up the woman’s clothes.
His face was still bright red as he folded them carefully — properly — as if that would somehow compensate for whatever happened last night.
The intoxicating scent of her perfume — mixed with something warmer, more intimate — clung to the fabric.
His throat went dry.
Just as he finished folding the last piece—
“Good morning.”
He flinched.
She was awake.
The woman was watching him with an amused smile on her lips.
Izuru stiffened immediately.
She sat up slowly, stretching casually — completely unbothered by her nakedness.
Izuru couldn’t answer right away.
He had already averted his eyes.
She was still bare.
And now that she was upright, the marks on her body were visible.
Faint reddish imprints scattered across her skin.
There were several along her collarbone.
More along the curve of her breasts.
And even more trailing down her neck.
Evidence.
Evidence of how much she had enjoyed last night.
Evidence of what he had done.
She stepped closer.
Instinctively, Izuru tilted his head upward and squeezed his eyes shut.
The woman smirked.
“I said good morning,” she repeated playfully. “Aren’t you going to greet me back?”
She was right in front of him now.
He could feel her warmth.
Her hands settled gently on his shoulders, fingers tracing lightly along the fabric of his shirt.
He swallowed hard.
“G-good morning,” he stammered, his nervousness doubling.
She chuckled softly.
“Hah… what a cutie.”
His ears burned.
“But hey,” she added, tilting her head slightly. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.”
Slowly — hesitantly — Izuru opened his eyes.
And when he did, he made sure to keep his gaze fixed only on her face.
That only made her smirk widen.
She was beautiful.
Very beautiful.
There was something enchanting about her — playful, teasing — yet there was also something mysterious underneath it all. Something sharp. Something knowing.
“Good boy,” she murmured.
Before he could even process her words, she leaned forward and kissed both his cheeks affectionately.
He completely froze.
His face turned an even deeper shade of red.
“Cute,” she said with a grin. “It seems like you don’t remember what we did last night… but I really enjoyed it.”
She stepped away from him.
Izuru lowered his head again immediately to avoid seeing her body.
“You’re sweet too,” she continued casually while picking up her clothes. “Folding my dress and thong like that after you fucked my brains out last night? Such a gentleman move.”
His breath hitched.
She bent down to put on her thong.
Izuru instantly turned his back to her.
“I—I’m sorry about what happened last night,” he said stiffly. “I don’t remember anything.”
She laughed.
“Do you want me to remind you what we did?” she teased.
“N-no! That’s not what I mean,” he said quickly. “I was drunk… I didn’t know what I was doing. I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
She snorted softly.
“No way in hell. I was drunk too. Honestly, it might’ve been better if I wasn’t so I could’ve felt everything more clearly… but overall?” She smirked. “I’m satisfied.”
Izuru felt heat rush through his entire body again.
“So you don’t need to apologize,” she added smoothly. “You did me good. It felt so good I kinda wished you’d fuck me again… but this time sober.”
His mind short-circuited.
His whole body felt hot — inside and out.
“I’m done,” she announced.
He finally turned around.
She was already back in her black mini dress. The low neckline made it impossible for him not to notice the tempting view of her chest.
“Eyes up, pretty boy,” she teased.
She stepped closer again.
Then she slipped a folded piece of paper into the front pocket of his pants and tapped it lightly — dangerously close to his thigh. Too close.
Too close to the growing ache he was desperately trying to ignore.
He licked his lips unconsciously and looked into her eyes.
“My phone number’s on that paper,” she said softly. “You can call me anytime you like.”
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek again.
Then she turned to leave.
But Izuru reached out and gently grabbed her arm.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
She paused.
Then smiled sweetly over her shoulder.
“Ishida Reme,” she replied. “Don’t worry. You didn’t fuck a minor. I’m already in my twenties.”
And just like that—
She walked away.
Izuru stood there, stunned.
His mind spiraled.
Ishida.
Ishida.
What the hell?
Did he just sleep with someone related to Uryu Ishida?
Did he—
Did he sleep with a Quincy?
He slowly pulled the paper from his pocket and stared at the number written on it.
In regards to that last reblog, I think that Nanami, Levi, and Aizawa would only be able to get hard for their partner bc they're just chronically fucking tired and getting an erection is a job in itself. Not that they find their partner unattractive but it just takes a lot more effort for them, and when it's with that person they're coming home to everyday, it comes easier but is still a challenge.
They also get harder faster when they have an established emotional connection (adding Izuru in here) so if that's not established first, don't go looking for them to be bricked up just off of you being present.
Your blond, blue-eyed lieutenant gives you a weak smile, it’s like looking at a kicked puppy. He's clearly humiliated that this will be your first impression of him, if you were him, you'd be humiliated too. Still, you're impressed at the lack of stuttering. He's average height, only a couple inches or so taller than you. The complexion of his skin is borderline concerning; pale, appearing almost sickly. He's got a bang that covers his left eye... what was the word they used in the world of the living? Emo?
OR
Lieutenant Kira is underwhelming, but he’s slowly changing your mind.
╭┄┈┄────────❍•
│ 𝐀𝐎𝟑
│Izuru Kira X Reader
│Chapter 1/?
╰┄┈┄──❍•
"Ah… you’ve probably heard about it, but we’re getting a new captain…"
The small group consisting of Izuru, Shūhei, and Rangiku had gotten together at Izakaya for some drinks and entertainment—the entertainment was them getting wasted out of their minds… at least that was the plan. Especially after what he had just revealed.
"Yeah… Shit, I heard."
“Shūhei!” Rangiku elbows him in the arm, shooting him a pointed look . "Chin up Izuru, it might not be all bad." Out of herself and Shūhei, she knows she needs to be the one to keep things light-hearted.
Izuru nods glumly and proceeds to down the remaining half cup of sake, he's only one drink down. Everyone was thinking the same thing: It was too soon. Things had almost started to look up with Captain Amagai's rise to captaincy, but it had been short-lived. Izuru had felt foolish afterwards, having gotten his hopes up, that Amagai was going to be someone that could be trusted, depended on, and looked up to. Not just Izuru, but the rest of the squad too. Just when the division begins returning to normalcy, said normalcy gets ripped out from under their feet. It wasn't going to matter if their next captain was perfect, their entire division had trust issues that weren't going to disappear over a few days, weeks, or even months. He hopes the new captain was patient.
"You know anything about them?"
"The head captain referred to them as 'Captain Marufuji’.” I don't know anything else about them except that they'll be starting next week."
“You know what you should do?”
“What?” Izuru can’t say he has much faith in Rangiku’s ideas.
“You should–”
“No.” Izuru knows what she’s about to suggest just by looking at her, if the goofy grin is anything to go off of. He doesn’t even need to consider it. Hosting a party for Amagai and having drinks in the middle of the day no less, had been a mistake. A huge mistake.
This time around, he was going to treat it as a normal day. Nothing special, no party and no big group welcome. If the captain wanted to address everyone, it would be their decision. He couldn’t—wouldn’t get his hopes up, not again.
“Oh come on–”
“No.”
Rangiku sighs. There would be no convincing him this time, she returns to ponder about the new captain. "Do you guys think it's a man or woman?"
Shūhei’s input is that it sounds masculine. To which Izuru points out, "It doesn't matter; it's a surname."
Rangiku's eyes light up and Izuru can once again predict what she's about to suggest. "A masculine and rather attractive sounding name, I'm guessing it's a handsome man."
"It could be a sexy woman." Shūhei counters with equal interest.
None of this is helping Izuru feel any better about the situation, he hangs his head in misery as his friends continue to discuss the physical qualities of his new captain.
"Hey." Rangiku notices his mood and touches his shoulder reassuringly. "Whoever it is, good or bad, you have us."
Shūhei gives him a friendly punch in the arm, echoing his agreement and raises his glass alongside Rangiku who proposes a toast, "To the new captain of the Third Division! May he or she be compassionate, trustworthy, competent, and hot!” Izuru can't help but chuckle. He feels better, but not by much. Even so, he knows that he’s lucky to have good friends like them.
Your heartbeat thrums steadily as Head Captain Yamamoto highlights your expectations and duties as a new captain of the Gotei Thirteen. You're aware of the powerful souls that are in a room with you at this moment, but you're not letting the intimidation take over, this is your moment. Almost like a wedding, he asks the currently instated captains if they have any objections. There is silence.
"Then..."
The head captain pounds his cane on the wooden floor, the sound echoing throughout the room. The meeting has concluded. You step to the side, allowing all senior captains to proceed before you. Suì-Fēng offers you a small nod of approval before making her exit. Blink and you'd miss it. The grand doors of the captain's hall close behind you, this was the beginning of your captaincy.
You appreciate how the meeting was conducted in a short and sweet manner. You barely had to introduce yourself; the head captain had done it for you. The only thing you spoke on was to express your thanks and gratitude in being accepted into such an honorable position. As you make your way to the barracks of your new division, you begin thinking up a short and sweet introduction of your own to say when you meet your division for the first time. You aren't sure how much they’ve been told, if they were, or if they knew they were supposed to be getting a new captain.
Stepping rooftop to rooftop, third division barracks are in sight. The first thing that you notice is the lone persimmon tree in the yard. It strikes you as odd, but there must have been a meaning behind it. The division insignia looms above you at the entrance. A deep breath is all you need before you walk inside. There’s a floorplan on the wall to your right and you make sure to have a glimpse at it before navigating your way to your office—your shared office with the lieutenant. The division members that you happen to pass by in the hallway all give you the same spooked and weary looks, you can't blame them, the third was quite messy as of late, you knew that much, but it was your mess now too.
You recall what Suì-Fēng had advised you on earlier about being a new captain. She thought it wise to show a strong arm in the beginning, to make a powerful impression of your command and leadership, then ease up later on if that's what you wanted to do. (It's a shame she never followed through on her own guidance. That woman didn't know what “easing up” meant.) You think it's a smart approach, at the same time, you don't know if that would suit the style of the third division.
Your own approach would depend on the atmosphere of the division; you'd simply adapt to whatever that was. If they were no nonsense, you could do no nonsense. If they were laid back, you would try your best to be laid back. Though, coming from the second division, that might pose more of a challenge considering the very atmosphere of the second was no nonsense.
There's a room coming up on the left, the door has been left open and rays of sunlight are filtering out into the hallway. It looked like you'd be getting some warmth at least, since the office was positioned facing the rising sun. There's someone else in the room already, you can feel their reiatsu; jittery and nervous. It's your lieutenant surely, because according to the floor map, this was where you were supposed to be.
When you step through the doorway you're greeted by the sight of your new lieutenant who is seated at his desk going through, what looks to be, stacks of paperwork. He looks at you and for a split second you can see the surprise written across his face, though he quickly schools himself back to composure. You have no time to wonder what that's about before he jumps up from his desk with such haste that it causes his paperwork to slide off the desk. He snatches the ones closest to him out of the air and scurries to pick up the rest.
"Captain! I apologize, please excuse my clumsiness!" He bows deeply. Once, twice, thrice before raising his head and formally introducing himself, "I'm lieutenant of the third division, Izuru Kira. It's nice to meet you, Captain Marufuji."
Your blond, blue-eyed lieutenant gives you a weak smile, it’s like looking at a kicked puppy. He's clearly humiliated that this will be your first impression of him, if you were him, you'd be humiliated too. Still, you're impressed at the lack of stuttering. He's average height, only a couple inches or so taller than you. The complexion of his skin is borderline concerning; pale, appearing almost sickly. He's got a bang that covers his left eye... what was the word they used in the world of the living? Emo?
If underwhelming were a person, they would be standing in front of you right now.
No, you shake yourself mentally. It wasn't really his fault. This went to show how much Suì-Fēng had influenced you, always being so critical of everyone.
You give your name and offer a polite bow of your own, "It's good to meet your acquaintance, lieutenant. I hope we can work well together."
“Me too.” Izuru replies, rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, "Make yourself comfortable, The empty desk is yours."
"Thank you."
The office is shaped like a large rectangle; the length of the room is shorter than its width. Upon walking in, you would be confronted with the captain's desk which is backed against the window and facing the center of the room, while Izuru’s was to the immediate left also facing the center of the room. The rightmost side of the room has a small lounge area; a couch, a love seat, and a coffee table. Other than a few There aren’t even any bookshelves along the walls, the office was essentially bare, but it is at least tidy.
There's a thin layer of dust covering the desktop, you wipe it off with the sleeve of your captain's haori not nearly as concerned as other captains would be about dirtying it. Contrary to being empty, there are three piles of paperwork sitting at the corner of the desk, each varying in height. You pick up the smallest pile and begin to skim through it. Looks like they're reports that need to be reviewed and signed off on. You sigh, noting that some of them were more than ten pages long.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot." Izuru has popped up from his seat again and is standing at the foot of your desk. "The stack you're holding just needs to be signed; I already reviewed them. The same goes for the others." He gestures to the two piles remaining, and adds, "You don't have to do it all today."
It's a pleasant surprise for you. Underwhelming perhaps, but a diligent worker, nonetheless. That's right, with no captain here, he must be doing at least three times the work he normally did. You feel a pang of sympathy for him. "What are you working on right now?
"Oh, um. I'm assigning missions for this week. You'll need to approve when I'm done."
"I can help with that if you'd like."
Izuru shakes his head apologetically, "I appreciate your offering, but I think it would be best for me to complete it since I'm familiar with our members' strengths and weaknesses."
That's... interesting. It definitely wasn't how the second went about assigning missions and tasks. In the second, you were assigned what you were assigned and if you failed then that was on you. It was also your own responsibility to find and utilize the resources that would help you get stronger because only the strongest were considered for more complex missions.
"I see, that makes sense." It did and it didn't, but you recognize his dedication. Taking the liberty to consider the personal aspects of each member before making assignments? He was going the extra mile, even if completely unnecessary. This revealed a lot to you about the type of person your lieutenant was: A thoughtful person who cared about his fellow division members. At the same time, you can't help but think that such a strategy is for the soft... You have zero doubts that Suì-Fēng would have made a comment about it, alas you are not her, and that was a conversation for another time.
"You should introduce yourself to all of us. I'm sure our members are looking forward to knowing more about you." (It’s an implication Izuru feels that he needs to make considering the squad had no special welcoming activity planned.)
That’s right, you needed to take a walk around the barracks and start learning the names of your subordinates. Other than your name, you hadn't even shared anything else about yourself with your lieutenant. "I’ll plan on that later today." You reassure him. "Is there anything else I can help with?"
Izuru paces back to his desk and rearranges a few papers on his desk. "Well, I was going to get started on a patrol schedule for next week—"
"Of course. Allow me." You realize it would have been more beneficial for you to just ask him everything the previous captain had done and let you take care of that. But it's not like you knew, you've never been a captain before. You'd save that discussion for tomorrow; you were supposed to be getting to know the division members today anyway.
Izuru hands you the patrol schedule template and a laminated list of all your division members; full names, ages, seated position if applicable, and any other significant identifiers. You murmur your thanks and he returns to his desk, quiet as a mouse.
You do a one-over and scan through the list of names for recognition's sake before setting it aside. You'd first much rather get some of these documents signed and off of your desk, they were an eyesore. It was morning at least, you had time.
You flip to the end of the reports, sign, then go back to read them; a little backwards, but it works. You should probably be reading more thoroughly to familiarize yourself with what's been going on, but you imagine that you'd be seeing hundreds of these in the future. After skimming through at least three reports, you come to the conclusion that it's fine to skip the reading entirely and just start signing. These were basic reports on missions and their outcomes; there wasn't anything outstanding that you would have needed to know from them.
Unbeknownst to your comrades at the second, you did have a bit of a lazy streak in you. But if given the opportunity, you'd choose to work smarter over harder any day, unlike your lieutenant who had to have been antsy just waiting to get the extra workload off his shoulders.
Roughly an hour later, all reports have been signed and have been placed neatly in two piles on the groundside of your desk. (You're assuming that someone would be taking them away to be filed away somewhere.) Bringing a hand to the back of your head, you grimace. The sun had been beating on your back for the past hour, and it was starting to become unbearable. You may need to move your desk elsewhere in the room, but in the meantime, you could at least close the blind.
"Do you mind if I close this?"
Your lieutenant looks up from his work to see that you're referring to the blinds. "Go ahead."
Your hand rests on the handle of the blind but you don't close it right away. It was a beautiful day out, even if the sun had been burning you up minutes ago. Your office sits on the opposite side of the courtyard, instead of looking out at the cement you get a pleasant view of the small green yard below. The persimmon tree is down there, the one you saw when you got here. It looks a little lonely, you'd consider planting two or three more for the sake of aesthetics and balance, but you didn't like persimmons much.
"Captain... is something wrong?" Izuru is watching you curiously.
You close the blind shaking your head, "It's nothing."
When you sit back down, you have full intentions of filling the patrol schedule, but you end up just staring at it in all of its emptiness. You don’t feel like doing it now, which meant it was time to do a meet and greet with your new subordinates.
“I’m going to take a walk.” You tell your lieutenant as you make for the doorway. “I’ll talk to everyone when I’m back.”
“Ah… Alright…”
His tone is uncertain, you wait for a second because you think he has more to say, but it never comes. You slide the door shut behind yourself.
The longer you wander the barracks the more confident you are in concluding that the third division was at least ninety-five percent male. The Gotei Thirteen was male dominated, you know that already, but even the second division had at least a large handful of women. And while it is of no consequence to you, it is still a disappointing observation. It's no wonder Suì-Fēng had such a harsh disposition, having to prove herself to men time and time again. You hope that it doesn't have to be that way here.
You still get the same unimpressed looks from those around you, but this time you're not passing by. Since you'll be addressing everyone later on, you keep things brief. You ask for names, positions, and years of service. In return, you reveal the equivalent: name, the squads you've been a part of, and years of service.
Most of the division members are quiet and aren't looking for anything else outside of a quick introduction, which is fine with you, it makes things easier. A few members actually recognize you, having been seen alongside Suì-Fēng on several occasions. Just knowing this fact appears to make them more inclined to friendliness. Looking at it from their perspective, having heard of a person was better than not, it was the perceived sense of familiarity.
All things considered, you think that your little self-led tour of the barracks and introducing yourself to your new subordinates was worthwhile, you don't think it's enough to have assuaged any doubts, but it's a start. You let them know that you're going to officially address everyone in the courtyard later; attendance was optional, you weren't going to force anyone, besides it was an address mostly for the people who you didn't get to meet.
Izuru hasn't budged at all since you left, still assigning the weeks missions you assume. He lifts his head to greet you, and you return a curt nod before taking a seat at your desk. Might as well get started with the patrol schedule. You revisit the list of division members, only this time, you are able to put a name to a face having just met them, though some are a lot less memorable than others. You'd definitely need to put in the work on learning names.
Not much thought is put into the schedule. Per each group, you assign one or two seated officers along with three or four unseated members. You make these assignments under the assumption that the more experienced or stronger seated officers would guide the less experienced and unseated members. At least that's how it worked in the second division.
"Do you join these patrols?" You ask out of curiosity, was it standard for the captain and lieutenant to join in?
"I would sometimes, if I had the free time to, but these days I just can't afford the time..."
You nod. "And your previous captains?"
“Captain Amagai did since he was from a patrol unit; he enjoyed it. Captain Ichimaru... he would only join if he was bored…”
"I see..." You understand your lieutenant's hesitation in revealing the second bit. “Only if he was bored,” is comedy.
Having finished the mission assignments, Izuru places them on your desk to be approved. You take this opportunity to study the assignments he made; which members were placed on which mission. You make it through about half of them before you just start skimming and signing. Unfortunately, the assignments themselves aren't really indicative of what the members skills are, although they could very well be based on the combination of skill and personality.
When afternoon comes to pass, Izuru sends someone to alert everyone of the meeting. "Are we ready to go lieutenant?" You ask, hovering near the doorway.
"Yes, captain!" He's at your heels in an instant, and you can't help but be endeared by it. Were all lieutenants like this? Omeada, the fatass that he is, sure wasn’t.
Together you and Izuru head to the courtyard.
There are a number of soul reapers already there. You recognize those who you had spoken with earlier, but there are many who you're seeing for the first time. Izuru greets a few of the members individually, while you continue to look out at the crowd; it's not entirely full of suspicious and scornful faces, you do catch some hopeful gazes. You're glad to know that not everyone viewed you with distrust, and you begin to feel some hopefulness of your own about your future with the squad, that is, until you hear someone say, "Oh great it's a woman."
The kicker is that the comment is spoken in a volume that could hardly be considered a whisper. It's clear that whoever said it, doesn't care whether they are heard or not, perhaps they even wanted to be heard.
Juvenile words and juvenile behavior, you don’t bat an eye; worse has been said. Though, it is still wildly inappropriate. You have full intentions of letting the comment go ignored and move on, as you expect from everyone else too, but it's Izuru who speaks up. "Whoever just made that comment, I want you to identify yourself."
These actions and words are unlike those of the lieutenant whom you spent the morning cooped up in your office with; at this moment, your lieutenant is livid—his eyes are narrowed dangerously, it’s ice cold. When he speaks, it is with all the confidence and strength of a captain... Even so, he is met with silence.
Izuru does a once over of everyone in the crowd, "That was an order."
Seconds pass before the perpetrator finally steps forward, though it's only after getting the side eye from his peers. The man standing before you does not at all look sorry. He is a large-bodied man, a little young to be considered middle aged but close to it, he wears a disdainful sneer and gives the appearance of someone who starts conflict for the fun of it. Suffice to say, you aren't expecting an apology from him—less so a genuine one, nor do you want one. But Izuru is going to ask for one anyway, and you're going to let him.
The soul reaper is known as Jellial Otaro, your fifth seat. He stands several inches taller than Izuru, who holds his head high and stares the other man down, unyielding. "You owe our captain an apology." It is both a statement and a demand.
Jellial looks like he's considering just getting an apology out and done with, but at the last minute chooses against it. "You don't say anything when people talk shit about the fourth, but you step in now? I never knew the lieutenant was one to think with his cock."
Izuru despairs internally. Why did he always get stuck in the middle? Even without a party to ruin things, things still found a way to be ruined. Jellial had acted out back when Amagai had first been named their captain, Izuru should have known that he was going to act up again. His hands were clammy, and his nerves were frayed, but he couldn't stand by and allow anyone to disrespect their captain in such a vile manner.
"This has nothing to do with the fourth," He says with an emphatic sweeping gesture of his arm, "the problem is that you made things personal. It’s entirely inexcusable to say such things about our captain—in front of our captain and it will not be tolerated."
Jellial's jaw clenches as he wrestles with his lieutenant's command internally. After a moment, he scoffs and utters a half-assed apology. Not a surprise, everyone knows he's only sorry about being called out. In response, you thank him for his apology, but you don't mention anything about accepting it.
He has more to say, but when Jellial opens his mouth, Izuru interrupts, "I suggest you remain silent, before I relieve you of your duties for the rest of the week." Your fifth seat mutters under his breath and retreats back into the crowd, fists clenched at his sides.
You glance towards Izuru with gratitude, he really didn't have to do that, but you nonethelass appreciated it. Of course, you could have addressed the issue yourself, but you felt that it was just a waste of time and energy. People like that weren't going to change just because they got called out, they would need to realize their own flawed beliefs and remedy it. Besides that, this gave you the opportunity to witness how your lieutenant handled things.
It's not hard to see that Izuru is a good person. You can see it through his actions and through his mannerisms. Seeing him take charge with an unruly subordinate; it demonstrated that he was definitely capable of being more than underwhelming. As for the rest of the division... it was looking more and more likely that you would need to strong arm things around here, at least in the beginning. It's a risk you have to take knowing you'll likely be labeled a bitch or Suì-Fēng 2.0, but you weren't going to be respected just by being the captain alone. Nor were you going to gain respect simply by being nice…
When everyone settles down, you begin by introducing yourself and your background just as you had earlier. You're unwilling to take more time from everyone than you need to so it's nearly word for word. You mention that some may have seen you alongside captain Suì-Fēng, as you've occasionally attended to duties with her. You've offered no friendly smiles or fluffy pleasantries, choosing to be as straightforward as you can, however, you try to end things on a more positive note.
"I don't plan on changing anything here, carry on the way you are, it's on me to learn to adapt to your way of life and your needs. That being said, I'll do my best to protect the integrity of this squad and it’s members. Thank you, and I hope we can all work well together in the future." You bow your head to the crowd, "Feel free to leave for the day if you don't have anything else to attend to."
You hear a few quiet thanks from the division as you turn to make your way back to the office.
Izuru is right behind you when you step foot into your shared office. You only came back to lock things up, he should go home, "When I told the squad they could go home, that included you."
"I know..." He wrings his hands at his sides nervously, he can't imagine what his captain thought of them now, after that cluster.
"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to hear that, ever. I promise that the rest of the squad doesn't think like that or support sexism." Well, the rest of the squad minus Jellial and associates.
"You needn't apologize on his behalf." You tell him with a shake of your head, it is what it is, people are free to think what they want to think, even if it is flawed."
"'.. I guess so." He replies, eyes downcast.
"Kira."
"Captain?"
"Don't blame yourself, alright?" Somehow, you know that he's going to go home and agonize himself over what happened even though there was nothing he or anyone could have done to prevent that. People were unpredictable, you could try, but their thoughts and actions could not be controlled. Something like that wasn’t worth dwelling on.
"I’Il... try not to."
You offer him a gentle smile, "Then I'll see you tomorrow."
“See you tomorrow.” Izuru echoes. He wasn't expecting such words from the captain. But she cared… just knowing that, he somehow felt lighter. This was him getting his hopes up for the second time. He knows he shouldn’t but now… he can’t help it.
