Cold Glass Soul [Bleach AU]

Shattering of the Soul

"What do you mean nii-sama is dead?" Kaien Shiba sat with his wife in front of Ukitake Taicho as the corners of his mouth twisted down in frustration. "I mean, Isshin can't..." Miyako's hand touched the fukutaicho's shoulder, causing him to calm down upon feeling her soft fingers against his body. Two eyes closed then to calm down. He took a deep breath when he was ready to present himself they way he preferred to. "He can't be. I saw him just the other day when he got back from the world of the living."

Ukitake's smile remained missing. "I know this is a lot for you to take in, but..."

"Isshin is my twin and one of my better halves taicho. I would know if he was dead. He's also captain level Shinigami. He can't have died." Kaien's hands clenched the seat of his uniform tightly. "Plus... I just saw my brother the other day. Not only was he in good health there is no news of him being sent on any missions."

"Kaien, you know as well as I that your brother tends to... tended to be sporadic. He'd go off and do things on a whim. That's why he ended up in the world of the living the last time. He was following another one of his whims. This time though is what we've all feared would happen."

Miyako placed a hand near shoulder while the other wrapped around his waist. "Ukitake Taicho. We need to prepare for nii-sama's funeral and the time of mourning. My husband also needs to prepare to take over the head position. Otherwise the clan..."

"Miyako... he's not dead." Kaien gently placed the woman's hands on her lap before standing up to leave the room.

The woman gave their taicho a sad look. "I'm sorry Ukitake Taicho."

"Don't be. I figured he would act this way. Kaien has always been close to his brother. Did you know he refused to take the fukutaicho position because he felt Isshin was better suited for the job?"

"My husband also feels that Isshin is better suited for the head of the family."

"What is your position on the matter?"

Miyako fell silent as a frown spreading across her face. "I think the reason nii-sama was so good at being a head was because he had my husband always by his side. They balanced each other out and honestly shared the duties. My husband is going to continue to think that he isn't suited for being the head of the family because things won't run as smoothly as when both of them were taking care of things. Does my brother-in-law's division know of his passing?"

"No. We decided that the first two that needed to be told were you and Kaien. We haven't told Isshin's fukutaicho or his third seat."

The woman remained silent for a few minutes. "May I speak with the two of them. Particularly with that young third seat of nii-sama's."

"While I think Ran-chan will do well with you telling her I really think Shiro-chan needs me or Kaien to tell him the truth. This isn't to say that he doesn't respect you. There are some other things that Kaien needs to speak to him about. For example... the tenth division is going to need a new taicho."

Miyako frowned. "My husband hasn't learned Bankai."

"You know as well as I that Kaien could have learned Bankai a long time ago." The taicho's comment caused the female to flinch as well look down on the ground. "There is nothing wrong with him having chosen to stay in Isshin's shadow most of his life. Problem is that isn't possible anymore."

"I know. I know all to well." The woman bowed to the ground. "I am going to ask for my husband's sake as he is not in a good mood right now. Please... help us with the funeral preparations. There is no way we can handle this on our own. Particularly with the fact my husband is in denial about his brother being dead."