Changes

When Toji woke up, he found himself in the Dangai for some reason. He looked around and found his doppelganger still standing there and keeping watch. 

"So you woke up. That's good. How do you feel?", the doppelganger said.

"I feel ... great. I don't know why but I don't think that the process is already over."

"It isn't. This will take a while and you will continue to grow as you get closer and understand the Hotgyoku more and more."

"Yeah, but I think my appearance changed. I don't have to imagine a body anymore and I still have one."

"You do indeed. It looks like a Gremmy and Toji mix. You didn't want to lose all of the Gremmy looks did you?", the doppelganger asked. 

"No. It is who I am. I am Gremmy Thoumeaux and nothing will change that. But the body of Toji Fushiguro is still really good for fighting, so it's a keeper."

"Haha. Very well. I'm happy for you. I'll go then. I took you back to the Dangai as I thought you wouldn't want others to see your metamorphosis and start to ask questions. And the time in the Dangai is so much faster than in Soul Society."

"Indeed. Good call. Thanks."

"No problem.", the doppelganger said and started to dissolve. 

.

Toji could feel the difference already. He finally had a real body. A body that he no longer had to imagine, having. And the changes were still going on. He would now have to imagine that nothing was visible to the outside. Otherwise, he would have to answer some very nasty questions. 

Toji felt the boundaries that existed breaking away ever so slowly. His desire to evolve past a simple Quincy was finally taking place. He knew that with time and the Essence of the Blank, he had the chance to reach this level as well. As soon as his imagination didn't vanish anymore he would have reached this level too. But this was simply faster and also granted him with more than just the powers of a Shinigami and Hollow. 

He now also had the powers of Mimihagi and Pernida. But not yet. The Hogyoku would first have to settle and truly finish fusing with Toji and then the rest would follow. He was now a member of the true powerhouses in Bleach. And very soon he will stand at the top. Neither Ichibe nor Juha Bach will be able to do anything about that and he will take from 'His Majesty' what he always claimed no one could take from him, everything.

.

.

(Toji POV)

For imprisoning me, I will take everything from him that he has. But that is still centuries away. 

There was one problem now ... what was I going to do now? I would have to wait before I got even stronger. My Essence of the Blank allowed me to grow limitlessly, but I wanted a break for now. No more training for the next few months. I hope I can escape from Yamamaoto-sensei. Otherwise, he will force me into becoming a Captain. Oh, bother. That would be a lot of work. I'd rather train than do paperwork. 

... although... now that I think about it ... delegation is an important part of being a Captain. I would have to find someone very capable of handling paperwork and then ... voila, more time for myself. 

Sometimes my genius ... it's almost frightening. 

I left the Dangai and went back to my room. It was close to dawn now and I might as well prepare for the day. 

.

.

Some time has passed since that day. A few weeks ago, Furōfushi Saitō, Captain of the 6th Division died while fighting a horde of Vasto Lorde. It seemed like an ambush on the Hollow's side, but I knew better.

Furōfushi committed suicide when she found out that she would never get the chance to truly be herself anymore. I'm sad for her loss. I enjoyed her company and the time we spent together. 

We weren't lovers, but I truly enjoyed her company. She had that sharp tongue that never let you rest. It was never boring with her and she was strong and would challenge me every time we met. 

I was far beyond her at this point and I believe that it was our last spar that caused her to decide to go out with a bang. She was unhappy with me for holding back ... seriously a woman's intuition was truly scary, just like it always said in manga.

Now that I know what she must have thought I am disappointed in myself. I should have given her what she wanted, but I don't think it would have changed the outcome. 

She didn't grow any stronger. At least not significantly. Although I might have changed that if she asked me, she would never ask me such a thing. She was far too proud to do that. 

.

Furōfushi's death had some consequences. First off it meant that the position of the Captain of the 6th Division was now free and if I was right, I believe that a member of the Kuchiki clan would take the spot. 

The Captain of Squad 8 was also dead and the position had not been filled yet. This meant that there were currently four Divisions that didn't have a Captain. The 3rd Division was also without a Captain as he died. I am not sure why or how he died, but I don't care much. 

Now this was huge. Because my friends Shunsui and Jushiro would become Captains of the Gotei 13. I was very happy about that when I heard the news and went to congratulate them. 

They were also quite proud but Shunsui was also not happy about the paperwork it would entail, same as me. 

"Ah, Toji. I tell you, don't become a Captain. It's going to be a drag I tell you. All that paperwork and not one lovely lady to help me with it~"

"Stop it Shuinsui. You're not even a Captain yet and already you are complaining about paperwork.", Jushiro told him.

"Eh? I'm a Lieutenant now and already have so much paperwork, what do you think will happen when we're captains? It will only increase.", Shunsui said.

"I agree with Shunsui. It's a drag and if I was not so good with delegating all the work to 'competent' subordinates, I also wouldn't have any free time.", I told them. I had a sagely look on my face when I said that, to show them how far behind they were.

"Baka, we would also do that if we were allowed to. The only reason you are allowed to do that is because Captain Unohana sees you as her sparring pet.", Shunsui smiled.

"Pet? I forbid you to call me such. I am a full-fledged Shinigami with the power to command the ... yeah I guess you're right."

"Hehehe" "Hahaha"

"Yeah yeah, laugh all you want. At least I don't have to become a Captain like you two.", I told them with a smug expression.

"TOJIIIIII!!", we heard a voice that we all feared so much. Yamamoto-sensei was here. This wasn't what good news sounded like, I could tell. I think I just jinxed myself.

"Ah, Yama-ji. What can I do for you this fine day? Tea perhaps?", I asked him with the most strained smile I have ever produced.

"Don't try to bribe your way out of this one! You are still a Lieutenant of Squad 4 while Shunsui and Jushiro are becoming Captains this week. What do you think you're doing!!!???"

"Ah, Yama-ji. You know that it is necessary to master your Bankai to become a Captain and I still have not made much progress. I could challenge Kenpachi of squad 11 but that is a barbarian and I don't want to fight him, he's so strong."

A very big tick mark was visible on Yamamoto-sensei's forehead. It seemed it wasn't working as intended. He might have to flee at a moment's notice. 

"Do you take me as a FOOL?!?! You were always the most talented one and now you're trying to tell me you haven't made much progress?!? WHO WOULD BELIEVE THAT??!!", Yamamoto was screaming at this point. 

"What do you mean? I would never lie to my dearest sensei Yama-ji. I am the most honest student you have ever had. Promise.", I said and tried to look confident. 

"What NONSENSE IS THAT???!! You have clear access to your Bankai and don't try to hide it. We are missing FOUR Captains at the moment and you are still playing Lieutenant while most of the work is doing your third seat!!"

"WHAT?? How did you find that out?!?"

"TOOJIIIII!!!", Yamamoto exploded and a large explosion was heard in the yard where we were currently.

.

.

(3rd Person POV)

"Yare yare, I never thought Yama would explode like that. He sure has an explosive temper. That has to be the secret to his Zanpakuto powers. Am I just not the right character to become strong?", Toji asked.

"..."

"..."

"What?"

"Are you joking?", Jushiro asked, "you're the strongest of us three. I'm sure you're even stronger now since we haven't spared in a while."

"Jushiro's right. You always sell yourself short Toji, but I know that you're strong. So don't act while we're among us three. Besides ... you're already scheduled to become a Captain with us, so no need to act anymore.", Shunsui said.

"Haaa, I guess you're right. But I still don't want to be known for my strength. That only puts a mark on you that the strong want to fight. That's too much of a drag for me. I'd rather do my own training than fight some maniac to the death."

"You sound very different from the Toji I know. You used to love a good fight.", Jushiro said. 

"I do love a good fight. But not with weak wannabe Shinigami who think of themselves as more than they are. That seems to be what the newer generation is."

"It is true, that the second generation of Captains is not as bloodthirsty as the last one. But that's good no?", Shunsui asked. 

"Well, it's good and bad, depending on what you talk about. If we talk about social interactions, then yes, it is good. But if we talk about protecting Soul Society, then it is very much not good. 

I guess our weakness will come to bite us in the ass in the future. Just like Captain Nobutsuna said.", Toji said. 

"Nobutsuna Shigyō, the 7th Division Captain?", asked Jushiro.

"Yes. He told me about his fear that the Shinigami of today don't know war and death as we do. So he thought that this would mean that they weren't prepared and also weaker than our generation was.", Toji explained.

"Well we have Yama-ji, if things get bad, don't we? And you're strong as well, Toji. So there is nothing to worry about.", Shunsui said in his usual calm tone. 

These two had no idea what was coming still. Aizen was not the biggest problem. The Quincy were far more dangerous and they were prepared. Well, Toji was here now and he would make sure that Juha Bach got what he deserved. 

.

.

The day arrived when the Captain's ability test would be held. Jushiro Ukitake, Shunsui Kyoraku and Toji Fushigro were to become Captains that day. 

Shunsui Kyorak, Captain of the 8th Division.

Jushiro Ukitake, Captain of the 13th Division. 

Toji Fushiguro, Captain of the 3rd Division.