Chapter 37: Captain Hatake

I stood in the mirror, looking at myself.

"How did I get here?"

In my reflection I wore my uniform with a minor change. I stood wearing a Captains Haori.

Earlier...

"Kakashi Hatake, I am making an emergency order"

Standing in his office as I was called in. My being here still a mystery and awaited for it to be told.

"What is that?"

"I am, making you Captain of Division 9" he answered

My eyes widen as I was put in full shock.

"Sir? Are you sure?"

"Yes, though you have little choice in the matter unlike the previous times that I've given you" he explained

"Sir"

"No, Kakashi this time you must become a Captain, this is the second time we've lost more Captains than we should've so you now must take up the rank"

Present...

"This wasn't what I expected" I said

"What?"

I turned to see Yoruichi standing in the doorway. She approached me and helped fix my Haori, even though there was little to fix.

"I didn't expect to become Captain" I answered

"Really?" She asked with an arched brow

"Yes, I was expecting to stay Vice-captain till my golden years" I answered

"Well here you are"

"Yes, and I'm not going to like the added paperwork"

"Trust me, there is"

Captains Council Chambers

I stood in front of the massive red doors. I sighed as they opened, as every Captain stood. Walking in slowly as I approached the ten Captains.

"Kakashi Hatake, due to your outstanding leadership and your reliability in various situations, I hereby bestow the rank of Captain" Captain-Commander Yamamoto said pounding his cane

I bowed, as the door opened again this time someone came rushing in.

"I am here! The Soul Society's rampaging Green Beast!" He shouted

If I had to be honest he looked a bit ridiculous. His hair was in a bowl style, but what made him noticeable was his bushy brows.

Turning he saw me, as he took in a deep breath and pointed.

"You must be Kakashi Hatake, I am Might Guy and your new rival!" He shouted

"Rival?"

"Yes, I am and I will show you the power of Overflowing Youth!" He declared

Captain-Commander Yamamoto pounded his cane into the floor.

"Enough, Kakashi take your place" he said

Moving to the spot where Captain Tousen would've stood. Then Might Guy took my spot, as I noticed he also wore a Captains Haori.

"Might Guy, due also to your leadership and determination to see the mission given through, I also bestow the rank of Captain of Division 3 onto you"

"Thank you! And I vow any attempt against the Soul Society will answer to me! Might Guy!" He declared once again with a thumbs up

Everyone seemed to be overwhelmed by his burst of energy.

After the meeting I began to make way to my office. Following me was my Vice-captain Hisagi Shuhei.

"Kakashi!"

"Hmm?"

Turning I saw the familiar look of Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Yes?"

"...I need to talk to you"

Division 9

"Could we make this quick, I have a lot of paperwork that needs to be done" I said taking my seat

He stood in front of me narrowing his eyes.

"I have Byakuyas reason, but why did you decide to let Rukia be executed?" He asked

I stared at as he seemed determined to get an answer.

"How long have you been here Ichigo? A week maybe" I asked

I stood seeing this would be a long conversation.

"We've been here centuries, and placing laws for a reason yet you come here thinking what we did is wrong"

"They were going to execute Rukia!" He retorted

"Because she broke the law, and why do you think the transfer of Soul Reaper power is illegal?" I asked him

He bit back his words as he couldn't answer.

"What if you weren't who you are now? What if the small bit of power made you crave for more and decided to fight against the Soul Society?" I asked

"That wouldn't-"

"What if your soul didn't have those latent Soul Reaper powers? Do you really think a normal soul could survive the transfer of power?" I said cutting him off

He again bit his tongue.

"Ichigo what you have to understand is that we have a delicate system and it must be protected, cause someday you will come here or even one of your family will" I explained

He looked down at the floor.

"But"

He glanced up with a surprised face.

"You did remind me of an important lesson that I forgot"

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

I returned to my chair as I leaned back a bit.

"Those who break the rules...are scum, but those that abandon their friends are worse than scum" I answered

As we were talking the young Ishida came in.

"Uryu? What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked shocked

"I came here to ask him a few questions" he answered pointing at me

"You obviously didn't inherit your grandfathers manners"

He gritted his teeth and glared at me clenching his fists.

"How do you know my grandfather?"

"Soken? Hmmm...almost what? Thirty years ago I was investigating a Hollow that was in the area he seemed to have knew about and wanted to help brings back memories" I answered with a bit of nostalgia

"Really? My grandfather a Quincy helped you?" He asked as if I was mocking him

"Is that wrong?"

"I thought Soul Reapers didn't like the thought of Quincys helping" he spat

"I didnt care what he was, he was willing to help so I let him that lead to a long time friendship and if he was here now Soken would tell you to swallow that Quincy pride of yours and be open to such allies" I retorted

He glared even harder, but he knew those would be his exact words.

"Do you know how he died? No one ever told me not even my father" he asked

"...We were on a mission it was our last 'hurrah', but...it seemed the hollow was much stronger than anticipated"

Uryu seemed to have sadden at that moment.

"Still the memory of Soken still brings back good times"

"So how did you receive his pendant?"

I raised my black limb where it was tightly kept close. Looking at it I could still feel Sokens energy.

"He gave it to me"

"Why?"

"We were friends for thirty plus years it was a farewell gift" I lied

Uryu didn't say a word, as he walked out of my office with a new perspective as did Ichigo.

"Young people" I sighed out

Hours had gone by as I began to sift through papers. Signing each one by one with close examination. It reminded me of my first assignment as Vice-captain.

Home

As I came to my newly appointed home. It was a tad larger than my old home, and luckily I didn't have much to move. As I entered the living room itself looked like it could fit my former home.

"Rather big isn't it"

There wasn't much to look at as simple home furniture stood in the empty room.

"Might as well get ready for bed-" I said before a knock alerted me

Opening it was an unexpected surprise. My friends had came to my home.

"Kakashi!"

"Captain Shunsui?"

He entered with a bottle of sake handing it to me.

"A present for you" he said walking passed me

"I don't drink"

"Greetings Kakashi" Captain Utitake said following

As did Toshiro, Rangiku, Renji, Sajin and Soi Feng. The last surprised me most it was Rukia and Nemu.

"Rukia? Nemu?"

"Yes, I was given leave for a few days til I returned to the Human World" Rukia explained

"I requested Captain Mayuri to give this time to congratulate you on your promotion" Nemu answered

"Oh boy"

As I was about to close the door, a hand stopped it.

"Hold on Kakashi"

"Guy?"

"You didn't think I wouldn't show?"

"No?"

"Just what I expected from my rival prepared for any outcome" he said proudly

They all created a circle in my living area. Shunsui was sharing a few shots with Rangiku, and Utitake even though he kept rejecting the cup. Nemu and the two other female Soul Reapers began to talk as well.

"Well ain't this a sight?" Guy asked

"What?"

"You got some pretty amazing people Kakashi" he answered

I looked back at the happy scene and smiled a bit. A few hours went by as we talked and drank well not me anyway. Laughs were shared bonds were made and some stronger due to the entire ordeal.

"To Kakashi" Captain Shunsui said holding a cup up high

I looked as everyone held theirs up as well.

"Congratulations on your rank, and being a great friend, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

I was speechless to say the least, as I smiled as big as I could. As one word came to describe all this.

Family.