“Hang on,” Renji broke in, red eyes wide. “We talkin’ about Ichigo?”
“You fought beside him, and you’re surprised,” Ukitake murmured. Turned an intrigued gaze on Rukia. “Yet you aren’t, quite.”
If it had just been her brother, she could have bluffed with perfect calm. But even all these decades later, this was Kaien’s captain. “He visited my inner world,” Rukia said hesitantly. “This morning. Zangetsu didn’t seem to think it was strange; just that they couldn’t stay long, because we were so far apart….” She let her words trail off, as her brother stared, Renji swore under his breath, and her captain all but buried his head in his hands.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Rukia had to smirk. “Now you know what I’ve had to deal with.”
“It would seem a reevaluation of your abilities would be in order,” her brother noted.
Rukia tried not to stare. Does he mean-?
“Getting soft, Kuchiki,” Renji said dryly. “Keep that up, somebody might get the idea you were proud of her.”
“I am.”
Ukitake cleared his throat before the silence could become too awkward. “If a retest merited it, a seated position would make a certain assignment in the Thirteenth more convenient. Given that I believe the ongoing situation in Karakura may ultimately require officers from more than one division to carry out, and someone with connections to the Sixth and Thirteenth – and no little support in the Eleventh as well, it seems – would stand a better chance of being able to mediate the various differences in institutional approach.”
Which was a polite way of saying any shinigami responsible was going to need the lungs of a dragon, nerves of adamantine, and more than a little insanity. Because the poor bastard who took the job would be caught between the Thirteenth’s “Hollows are our duty”, the Sixth’s “retrieve and execute – not necessarily in that order”, and the Eleventh’s “who cares what we’re fighting, as long as something dies!”
And that didn’t even begin to consider Ichigo’s ryoka.
Crossover Queen's Creative Chaos 
Which was a polite way of saying any shinigami responsible was going to need the lungs of a dragon, nerves of adamantine, and more than a little insanity. Because the poor bastard who took the job would be caught between the Thirteenth’s “Hollows are our duty”, the Sixth’s “retrieve and execute – not necessarily in that order”, and the Eleventh’s “who cares what we’re fighting, as long as something dies!”
And Rukia is not sure whether she is flattered or insulted that they think that description fits her. Parts of it, sure, without question, is nice. What shinigami wouldn’t want that description.
On the other hand . . .
And that didn’t even begin to consider Ichigo’s ryoka.
Which is whole ‘nother can of worms. And she might be the best qualified for. She already knows said ryoka. They trust her. And she managed to keep them, herself, and Ichigo more or less in one piece for a couple of months. Without killing each other either.
And Ichigo listens to her. Mostly because she listens to him. Some Shinigami would just expect Ichigo to listen to or obey them simply because they are the older Shinigami and/or an officer. Which would so not fly.
Not with Ichigo. And certainly not with Uryuu.
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*G* Plus she’s got the nerve to deal with even Zaraki, I think. Maybe from a safe distance, but still….
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*stunned blink*
There’s a “safe distance” from Zaraki?
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…There’s a less immediately lethal one?
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Very good question. I can’t help but think that there needs to be cover involved.
Tall, blond, and grumpy cover specifically.
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*Snrk*
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