Bleach: The Exiled Captain

Chapter Sixteen: The Funeral

Nozomi's POV

Tears began to run down my cheeks, my Captain, no, my friend that I have known for over fifteen years was now dead. I wanted to weep some more but I couldn't, it would show my weakness and I can't show none of that, no, I have to be strong. So as I wiped my tears off of my eyes, I walked towards the door and slid it open

In front of me was Captain Unohana, who by the looks of her, knew that Ukitake was now dead. My brother and April were together, with grim faces. Jason was with his Captain, they seemed to be talking about something but I wasn't able to hear them.

My throat dried up, I sensed a powerful spiritual pressure coming towards me. The Captain of Squad 1 as well as Commander of the 13 Court Guard Squads appeared in front of me. He was bald with a long white beard and eyebrows, scars from over a millennium of battles were shown everywhere. The elder man walked towards me, my throat drying up even more.

He spoke in a raspy voice, "So, you're now the Lt. of Squad 13, go to your new subordinates, inform them of the news and take command until we have appointed a new Captain."

I nodded and walked towards the rail, below me in the courtyard were the Soul Reaper's of Squad 13, however not all of them were here. I cleared my voice and gathered whatever courage I could find.

"It saddens me to say this, but Jushiro Ukitake, Captain of Squad 13 has now passed from this world." I paused, to see the reactions of everyone. Some began to cry, others with depressed looks on their faces.

"However, until we're appointed to a new Captain, I will be in charge as your new Lieutenant. We should continue to work hard to make him proud, because that is what he would want for all of us and even though he is gone from us physically, he will always be in our hearts!"

Nobody said a word, they all left to their duties, in shock of the news, I just walked back. The only person left was Jason, Ash, and April. The other Captains must've been inside, to say goodbye to their old friend.

My brother first spoke, "You'll make a great Lt. Nozomi, if you need help, just ask."

Then April told me, "If you want to talk about it, you can always come to me."

"Thanks guys." I replied, as I tried to hold my tears.

"Well, see you later sis, I have business to attend to." Ash then flash stepped away.

"So do I, talk to you later." April followed and walked away.

Now it was just me and Jason, he didn't say anything, his head was down. A moment of silence came, he walked up close to me and wrapped his arms around my waist and held his head close to my ear.

"Let it all go." He empathized.

I don't know why, but its as if he opened the dam holding all my feelings. Tears began to rush down my eyes as I cried into his chest. He just held me closer into his comforting arms as more tears ran down from my eye's.

A while passed, in fact a long while passed since I was no longer able to shed a tear. The three Captains came out of the room, with the Commander speaking first.

"Nozomi, I hope you will keep the Squad of my former student together." The Captain Commander then vanished into the thin air and Unohana then spoke.

"The funeral will be tomorrow at his family's mansion, please, if you can, come by." She then left, Shunsui said nothing to me, he just walked over towards Jason and whispered into his ear again. I couldn't make out what he told him, but it had something to do with him leaving at this moment, with that, the last Captain left.