1.16

Squad 4 quickly rounded together with the help of their third seat. Iemura was shouting orders over all the commotion, "Groups 2 and 3 care for Captain Kuchiki! Groups 7, 10, 11 and 13 all help to heal Captain Komamura! Lieutenant Abarai is to receive level six surgery. Group 8 and 9, prepare to move out. Let's go!" Squad 4's Captain and Lieutenant were no where to be found. They're busy back at the barracks, healing Toshiro and Hinamori. Squad 4 members were busy running around. "Come on, let's move it, everyone! These people are seriously injured!" Voices shouting around the bustle of people could be heard.

Kuchiki was unconscious, receiving immediate surgery on the floor. Abarai was carried off on a stretcher, most likely to Squad 4's barracks, for level six surgery. Komamura was hobbling his way off the hill, refusing the healings from Squad 4 members. Another team was sent to heal the Ryoka. After the stunt Aizen pulled, the Ryoka are now revered as the saviors of the Soul Society.

Seconds later, Retsu arrived at the site, riding on her sword's shikai form. She immediately received an status report and left to help the others.

The trio of Captain's quickly left after that. Excusing themselves, they and their lieutenants went to Shunsui's barracks.

Stepping through the thresholds, Hajime immediately grabbed the nearest shinigami and pulled him over. "Bring a pot of tea to our room," he murmured before sending him off.

"Hajime," Jushiro scolded, "be nice to Shunsui's subordinates."

Hajime ruffled his robes and huffed, making Shunsui laugh.

"He's just caring for you," Shunsui explained, remembering their friend's scratchy voice from earlier. "Now, let's go relax. All this commotion is making my back sore," he complained as he led the way to a private room.

"It's because you're old," Hajime lightly teased.

Jushiro and Hajime followed after the eldest with their Lieutenants trailing behind.

Coming up to the room, Shunsui slid open the door and offered his guests a seat. Not long after, the shinigami Hajime pulled aside arrived, carrying with him tea.

Once settled, Hajime turned to the Lieutenants, "Do you want to check on your friends?" He addressed the two, knowing some of their close comrades were recently injured.

Shuhei seemed to hesitant before he nodded to his captain.

"Then go."

Shuhei bowed before shunpoing out the room. He needed to check on Hinamori and Abarai.

"And you, Nanao?"

"I'm fine, sir. Thank you." Nanao bowed her head.

Hajime nodded before turning his attention back to his friends. The three chatted quietly, drinking tea to help soothe themselves from the hectic day.

————

Late at night in the Seireitei, at a certain intersection, shinigamis searched for their friends.

"Hey! Rukia!" Abarai shouted. "Where the hell could she have gone?" He muttered under his breath, scowling. Walking past one of the paths and searching for his childhood friend, he disappeared behind another wall.

"Orihime! Orihime, where'd you disappear to?" Ishida yelled for Inoue. Ishida walked into the opening, paused and looked around, before continuing onward.

"Shuhei," Hajime called. "Shuhei, what did you get yourself dragged into this time?" He mumbled to himself. Hajime searched for his missing Lieutenant.

"Ichigo! Come out and fight me, you bastard!" Zaraki bellowed, waving his sword in the air.

Yachiru walked into the scene, "Too much free time on their hands." She continued to faithfully follow her captain and caretaker.

————

The following week was spent dedicated to healing. Squad 4 led the Seireitei in this event, wrapping bandages, healing wounds, and, if needed, doing surgeries.

Hajime spent his time with his best friends, occasionally checking on the Ryoka from afar, and walking around the Seireitei with his subordinates.

The second day into the week of healing startled many strong shinigami. A new soul entered the Soul Society, appearing in the West Rukongai area. The soul emitted strong reiatsu, considering they just appeared. Every now and then it would fluctuate and flare, revealing the emotions of the bearer.

Hajime was sent by Old man Yama to investigate the new soul.

A hell butterfly flew off of Hajime's finger and exited the window in the Captain and Lieutenants's shared office. Shuhei looked up at his captain from his desk, silently asking him what the message was about.

"I am to go to West Rukon to investigate and possibly recruit the new soul," Hajime informed Shuhei. Swinging his blue haori over his Captain's robe and sliding his zanpakuto into place, Hajime started to walk out the office.

Shuhei nodded, "Of course, Captain." He stared at his captain's back.

"And you're coming with me." Hajime stopped and turned to face his lieutenant.

"Of cour-" Shuhei halted his usual reply, "Pardon?"

Hajime quirked his eyebrow, the slightest trace of amusement showing through, "Let's go."

Shuhei shuffled in his seat. Standing up, he quickly straightened all the papers on his desk before grabbing his own zanpakuto. He swiftly met his captain across the room.

Hajime nodded his head at Shuhei before turning to the office doors. Sliding them open, Hajime caught the attention of his nearby squad members. Hajime breezed by, Shuhei following loyally behind him, a step behind his captain. As Hajime passed, squad members would bow in greeting before resuming their work. The two were about to exit the barracks and shunpo to the West Gate when a call stopped them.

"Captain," a strong voice echoed through the halls.

Hajime and Shuhei stopped and turned around. "Kyoya," Hajime acknowledged.

"May I go with you?" The blackette asked.

Hajime inclined his head, staring at his recently risen third seat, "Very well."

Kyoya nodded and caught up to his captain and the Lieutenant, his zanpakuto already strapped to his waist.

Hajime turned, leading the two out the barracks before shunpoing to the West Gate.

The trio arrived to see that the gates around the Seireitei were still lowered. Hajime paused, should he bother the gatekeeper or just shunpo over?

"Captain?" Shuhei turned to Hajime, staring at his blank-faced captain. "Should I have the gates raised?" He asked, reading his captain's stoic face.

Hajime hummed, craning his neck back to look at the gate. He's made it up there before, however.... He turned to observe his seated officers before chuckling to himself. He has confidence in his officers. "Follow," he simply ordered, earning two nods.

Hajime quickly shunpo'd up the gate, occasionally touching the white wall with his foot, before landing on the top of the wall. He glanced down to see his lieutenant and third-seat following him but a much slower pace. When they made it up, Hajime dropped down the other side of the wall, letting gravity doing its work. Murmurs and shouts from the souls living in the first district could be heard as they watched three shapes fall off the wall. Hajime landed gracefully in a cloud of dust with two more joining his sides. Once it cleared, the trio were met with a small crowd of souls.

"Pardon us," Hajime said to the crowd. He led the trio as they walked trough the crowd of souls.

"It's Captain Saito!" A childish voice shouted in the crowd. Cheers followed by a small stampede of feet gave way to a group of children. A few of them latched onto Hajime's arms and legs, weighing the Captain down. Another group were carefully eyeing his subordinates, with Shuhei and Kyoya doing the same. Kyoya may not like weaklings, but he did have a fondness for cute things, and children happened to fall into that category. Shuhei, on the other hand, didn't know how to handle the children. He didn't have sibling, not that he knew of anyway, and it's been years since he had interacted with some.

Hajime chuckled, the young souls reminding him of his own siblings. Carefully prying the hands off his body, Hajime bent down to their eyes, "My lieutenant and third seat are on a mission, so we have to go."

The children whined, slowly stepped away from the group.

Hajime chuckled, giving the nearest a small smile. "We'll be on our way," he poked the child's forehead with his fingers before walking away.

Hajime led the way out the crowd and followed his senses. Their target was in the third district of west Rukon. Hajime huffed to himself, the soul was rather lucky with the area they resided in.

Behind Hajime, Kyoya and Shuhei were left to their own devices. Both were rather surprised their captain could handle children, but he did have sibling and Captain Kyoraku.

Shuhei turned to the blackette. Hibari Kyoya was appointed as the third seat rather quickly. In fact, it was only a few days before the whole incident started when Kyoya was appointed as third seat. Shuhei remembered that his captain kept his eyes on that specific shinigami. Heck, he was there when they met that day. Turning to the third seat, he furrowed his brows at the man. When they caught each other's eyes, he opened his mouth, "Why did you even come?" he asked the shinigami.

Kyoya looked at the Lieutenant, rather irked at his tone, "Because I recognized the reiatsu."