Bleached

Chapter 17: Central 46 pt 2

Disclaimer: Uh, me no owny

§ Shiba mansion, later the same day §

Kaien and Ichigo Shiba were sitting together in the meeting room of their mansion. Ichigo had of course told his brother of his current status as a newly inducted member of the C46, or was it 47 now? Kaien had taken the news surprisingly calmly and reacted with the seriousness that is demanded of a Clan Head, something Ichigo was thankful for. After Ichigo's confession, Kaien had turned very serious in regards to his training. The man had achieved bankai a few decades ago, but was only focusing on mastering it now. It reassured Ichigo of the fact that his time-traveling was truly changing things for the better. Though the Soul Soceity still stood no chance against the Quincies, they were much better prepared for them. Ichigo thought that they could be fully prepared for the war in the remaining hundred years before the War would break out.

But the orange haired Captain's new status was an unexpected responsibility. He saw the positives with this position, of course. This newly acquired membership would prevent any attempts that the 46 would have done for Ichigo's eviction from Soul Soceity because of his hollow and Quincy powers. And it would spread Ichigo's influence in the elite community of nobles. Not that he needed that, as the Heir of one of the Great Clans, and as a Captain of Gotei 13. The problems of Ichigo's inauguration as a member of Central was that this was politics. And Ichigo was an unknown entity to the old geezers. Not to mention that the 46 hadn't been notified of Ichigo's induction beforehand. That fact alone made him a pariah in the Central. Ichigo was going to be thrown in a virtual cage with hungry bears.

The orange haired man had no experience with the politics of the 46, since the Central had been abolished during the wars, mainly due to being, well, dead. The wars had been fought under martial law enacted by the Gotei. This inexperience was the reason for the Shiba brothers' impromptu meeting aka politics lesson. The reason Ichigo had chosen Kaien as his teacher was simple. Kaien was his Clan Head, and had been trained in politics since he was out of diapers. And he could direct Ichigo in how to conduct politics in a fashion that befitted the Shiba Clan. Contrary to popular belief, the Shiba weren't just a brazen loudmouthed bunch with too much reiatsu for their own good. When it came to politics, the Shibas were pretty cut-throat, as one needed to be.

"Just remember this. Never loose your cool. Hide your anger behind cold smiles, like the one you use when you get too angry. Also, let your oppnent entangle themselves in their own words. Provoke them in such a manner that they ultimately loose it. Don't be too expressive, and I mean that you should loose your scowl, for that. Appear, cool, calm, and unfazed. Don't let anything get to you, and don't let your inexperience show. That is the secret to succeeding. I think you'll be a natural at this as well, going by the way you've been handling the Clan's inner politics." Kaien smiled wryly. Ichigo snorted. The Clan was Ichigo's family. Central was going to be Ichigo enemy. The Clan's politics had always favoured Ichigo, while Central was going to oppose Ichigo's pattern of breathing. The younger Shiba sighed.

"Oh well, if I mess up to much, I'll just pull a Shunsui and pretend to be hardheaded as fuck. That would be hilarious, now that I think about it." Kaien looked scandalized at this.

"Don't you dare emulate him. You are an Heir, and you should act as such in situations like these. Come now, I've arranged some etiquette lessons. Those geezer are so taken by their customs they'll eat you alive if you so much as twitched the wrong way.." as the Shiba Clan head continued, Ichigo felt his stomach dropping even more. Damn the Reio for doing this to him!

On a completely different note, the Reio felt chills going down his spine as he enjoyed observing the aftermath of his penultimate decision. The King of worlds frowned, but dismissed it as nonscencial. After all, he was the most powerful entity in existance. No one could scare him. Right?

§ Central 46 Chambers, the next day §

Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryuusai, Soutaichou of the Gotei 13, war hero, and the "Dragon" of Seiretei, was feeling, dare he say it, gleeful. When the Reio had announced Ichigo to be the newest addition to the 46, he'd initially been shocked and worried. But then he remembered that this was Shiba Ichigo. If anything, it should be the 46 that should be worried. The Soutaicho sent a glance o his companion. Yamamoto was generally present at the Central's meetings. His presence alone prohibited many of the members from passing laws that were too harsh on the Gotei, or those that were too noble-friendly. Now, with the Reio's intervention, the Gotei would fially be able to prosper as they should've been. All this thanks to one time-traveling war-hero.

Yamamoto and Ichigo made themselves comfortable on the seats in the Central's Colossieum. Noo one had approached them, as the tradition of Central demamded there be no communication before the meeting. Ichigo was sent many a curious glance. Yamamoto had to admit, the young Heir truly was an eye-cathcing sight. With his flowing orange hair braided and slung over his shoulder, his haori flaring around his graceful form, and his sword hanging at his hip, he cut the perfect image for an ideal shinagami Captain. And the fact that he was a well known Heir added the icing on the cake. Yamamoto hid a smirk. He was truly waiting to see Ichigo in action. Those old farts had no idea what would hit them.

Finally the meeting was officially commenced. The Head of the Central Council, Shinya Ikamu cleared his throat as he sent Yamamoto and Ichigoart an ugly look hidden behind his spectacles. Yamamoto and Shinya had a rivalry, of sorts. When they were young, they had studied the shinigami arts together. But because Shinya had more inclination towards politics and the like, he'd chosen the 46 as his job. At first, Yamamoto and were like brothers, but as the centuries went, Shinya became more and more conservative and traditionalistic. Which had led to a very public disagreement between the two, consequently replacing their friendship with rivalry.

"Welcome all. Today we commence the 100153rd meeting of Central 46, which are, as of yesterday, renamed as the Central 47, as our respected and honorable Reio-sama ordered." That statement, delivered as painstakingly as it was, caused a lot of muttering to erupt. One voice asked hesitantly.

"Who is our newest member, Shinya-sama?" the query seemed to physically pain the Head as he grimaced lightly before he answered.

"Ah, an esteemed Captain from the Gotein. Shiba Ichigo, Heir of the Royal Shiba Clan, Captain of the 10th division, noted prodigy. I welcome you to the Hall." the obviously forced words had no affect on Heir Shiba, as he simply stood to give a speech as was tradition for new members. Just as he was about to speak, one particularly annoying member shot up. Okire Mumi. The man was "pain in the ass" in a physical form, in Yamamoto's generous opinion.

"Presposterous! We all heard how this man has taken us for fools for the past 50 years! To top it off, he's a hybrid! A monster like him should be put down, not invited in these pure halls!" silence greeted the man's words. Many seemed to agree with Okire. Ichigo looked unfazed. Yamamoto gave him points for that. Suddenly the Hall's temprature seemed to drop. Ichigo seemed to not pay it any attention.

"Thank you, Okire-sama, for those...kind seemes like you are all familiar with my past, and my genetical disposition as a hybrid. But that does not make me a monster. Nor do I need to be put down, as you so candidly put it. To tell you the truth, I couldn't care less about the Central. I didn't choose, nor did I have any ambition of joininig the 46. But the King's word is law, is it not?" Ichigo finished his response with a cold smile. The Hall seemed to cool down a bit more. Yamamoto was truly impressed. Ichigo had basically freed himself from following any traditional 46 values with that statement. By saying he was here because of obligation meant that any political schemes wouldn't change anything. Of course, using the King's name was also a brilliant move. Ichigo continued.

"Sorry about that. As I said earlier, I'm here because I was ordered to, not because I wished. The Reio has granted me the membership of Central, but also the additional equalizer for me is that I have as much power as the Head of the Council. The reason for that is simple. For the past half millennium, Central has been using their power where they don't have the right to, in the Gotei. Reio-sama put up with it because you people were actually making progress, but with a gallactical war approaching, we don't have time for your dilly-dallying." Scandalized gasps erupted all around, but Ichigo ignored them.

"The Central 46 were the first to be killed in our time. And they weren't mourned. In fact, strategically speaking, the enemy did us a favour by killing you off, as you would have held us back from even surviving. In the end we lost. But I believe we would've won if you hadn't made incredibly stupid laws regarding the shinigami traning system, and how you demanded paperwork for every single thing. Most shinigami wasted their lives away trying to get it, and were subsequently cannon fodder. All because 46 old farts couldn't handle a little change." this time, Ichigo's scathing remark didn't provoke, but rather embarrassed the aforementioned old farts. Yamamoto was truly amazed. He'd beem tryin to get them see the error of their way for centuries, and here was this youngster, ripping their blindfolds away.

"How dare you! You're an upstart with no respect for your elders. I should've known, you Shibas are cut from the same block anyway. Always respectless, idiotic and arrogant in your ways." The room's temprature, which had been on it's way to normal, suddenly dropped 10 degrees. It became difficult to breathe for many of the members, as Ichigo let them feel a piece of his reiatsu. Yamamoto hid a smirk. Again.

"Okire Mumi. The patriarch of the Okire clan, known in the black market for your business that provides sex-slaves, no? In fact, didn't you sell your own daughters for the same trade? And then you pretended they had died, abbducted by, ah, Shiba Rikichi, who was on to you. Isn't that true?" The Shiba Heir's voice was void of emotion, and cold as the artic. His statement had garnered many shocked expressions, and many looked truly disgusted with the fat lub of tard known as Okeri. Okeri, strugglig to breath under Ichigo's wrath, was forced to admit his crimes. Ichigo smiled coldly.

"Sex-trade is punishable by death, isn't it? Well, I, as High member of the Central, order your execution. I will have the burden of being your executioner. Shinya-sama, if I may." The only thing the Head of Central was capable of was nodding. Ichigo reached for his sword. Seeing this, Okeri made a pathetic attempt at fleeing, only succeeding in falling over. There was a slash, faster than anyone but Yamamoto could see, and Okeri Mumi was no more. The message was clear. Don't mess with High Member Shiba Ichigo. Or you'll end up dead. Some Onmitsukido cleared of the body and the blood from it's position. A moment of silence passed before Shinya finally managed to speak.

"An investigation is to be led against the Okeri family immediately. Anything else you would like to discuss, High Member Shiba?" Ichigo's cold smile told them that they were in for a long, long day. Yamamoto ordered some food.

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-iamAdisco