One Tin Soldier

Chapter 8: They'll Have It

Kuchiki Byakuya was a stoic, elegant man who could be called many things – dedicated, rich, and the powerful head of a noble clan in the Soul Society. He was also a captain of the Gotei Thirteen as well as Rukia's brother and a very private person.

So when he was sitting at his desk going over a pile of paperwork at his divisional office, he really didn't pay that much attention when a large black butterfly floated in.

Jigokucho or 'Hell Butterflies' are ethereal black butterflies with maroon highlights on their wings. They served two functions: One was sending messages throughout the Seireitei, or rather the inner court of the Soul Society, and the other to escort souls through the tunnel between the Living World and the Soul Society.

When he finally noticed the butterfly the solemn captain looked up from his work and held out his hand for the black messenger to land.

"Greeting Bya-bo," came a woman's voice. He recognized the voice of his exiled former mentor turned traitor Shihoin Yoruichi. However his eyes widened at her playful tone.

"Ichi-kun asked me to send you a message. He has found a new wielder for the Zanpakuto he saved; you know who I mean. He's asked me to invite you to the Living World so that you can meet that person. He didn't want to parade the pair around the Seireitei and cause problems. And yes, Ichi-kun can be discrete when he needs to be. You'll be surprised at the match. See you soon."

The butterfly flew off after delivering its message leaving a very thoughtful captain behind.

A few minutes later the stoic captain stood and marched out of his office, calling to his red-haired vice-captain. "Abarai, I will be out of the office today. I expect all of your paperwork done by the time I get back." He was gone before he could receive a reply, trusting that the work would be done, or else.

"Hai, Taicho."

~~

In the small park not far from his sweet shop, just as the sun was setting in the distance, Kisuke Urahara was waiting for the paper doors of the Senkaimon to slide open. A black hell butterfly floated out the door, followed by the powerful captain of the sixth division of the Gotei Thirteen.

"Ah Kuchiki-taicho, welcome," the bucket-hat wearing shop keeper said softly as he leaned on his walking stick. "Before you meet with Ichigo-kun and his friends there is something I would like you to look over."

"Will he be there?" Kuchiki Byakuya asked as the pair made for the shop.

"They are training in my basement as we speak."

~~

With a cooling cup of tea beside his elbow, the captain carefully looked over the file before him. It showed a picture of a young boy with messy, black hair and iridescent green eyes hidden behind ugly, bent framed glasses.

"You will find that Harry-kun is a lot like Ichigo-kun, with his need to protect," Urahara said in his sing-song voice. He was sitting across from the captain at the low table. "He does not have Ichigo-kun's brash attitude, nor, sadly, confidence in his own power.

"That has been beaten out of him through the abuse of those adults in his life who were supposedly responsible for his wellbeing," his angry words hung heavily between them. "He hungers to belong, for acceptance, and yet will protect anyone he feels is unable to protect themselves."

"I see," Byakuya winced at the taste of his cool tea. As he read the file, he frowned at the mention of a prophecy and the destiny that was being mapped out for the young man. He did not like anything he'd read so far.

He wondered how a rogue Zanpakuto would fit into all of this.

"I think Muramasa has been good for the teen," Urahara commented, breaking into his thoughts. "Both have been the victims of abuse, and so they are healing each other. Add to that they are both, magical beings in their own right. The young man has some Quincy blood in him, Harry-kun can use some of Muramasa's abilities."