2 days ago
It was hard to believe, at least for Katsuo, that two days have passed since the Togabito… and challenging captain Kyomu for captaincy. Both were the most challenging yet exciting things in his life. Though he didn't get captaincy, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant for Division thirteen. What came with it next of course was nothing short of hard work, most definitely. All of the division's paperwork, resources, and requisitions came to him at present anyway, because there was no captain of division thirteen.
The first order of business was the report of Karakura Town. He began writing every ounce of detail he could remember that happened, before passing out after releasing the last of his reiatsu to negate the heat effect of the Hell gate until it was closed. Everything after, he was told by Oyama. To whom he had tasked Oyama with returning to Karakura to do a follow-up investigation. She was the head there, and he was confident she'd return with some much-needed information. He wanted to join her in Karakura but had pressing matters to attend to here, from the upcoming meeting he was joining to report, to still have a family matter of meeting his uncle, per his and Tenzen's request.
The second task he had to do was report the names of all Division thirteen members who lost their lives. In total, several had, including 6th seat Shinjitsu Kyo. Friends and comrades lost; Vacant rooms within the Barracks. Katsuo dated the deaths, and how they had gone, some were sucked into hell, more teamed up against the togabito as a distraction for Omoni and gave their lives for it… and Shijitsu Kyo was killed by the Togabito as their only seated Shinigami tragedy to fall at the hands rather foolishly, at least to Katsuo, but that's neither here nor there. The human deaths and destruction of Karakura he wagered in his report was critical. Half the city had been destroyed, and for the humans that had no clue what was transpiring, some would probably remember it, because there wasn't quite enough Shinigami to cover something like this in Division thirteen. He would have to ask Division ten for the assistance in memory removal and clean up in Karakura and owe them plenty later if they would. Division thirteen would have to help them in Naruki as well to pay their debt. He is also written in his reports how Division four and Division eleven needs all the credit for taking out the Togabito in Karakura as quickly as they did. If ever they needed anything from Division Thirteen, they had Katsuo's word he would try to help as best he could… not that such strong individuals needed it, but it showed Katsuo keeps his promises.
The last, and probably most important order of business he would write on papers about would be threats; the rising Quincy numbers in Karakura gave him a bit of concern, but right now they did little else but gave a Togabito Quincy arrows; which wasn't good. If Division Thirteen doesn't shape up soon they could be looking at a full-scale Quincy invasion from Karakura in the future, if they decide to point those arrows of theirs toward his division. In his reports, he described each one he visualized upon teaming up with them in battle… Then went on to say how they all seemed to have stopped fighting the bat Adjucha Hollow once he and some fellow unseated arrived at the scene. He reported the bat Hollow as captured at the scene and delivered under Lieutenant Omoni Hageshi's orders to Division four, and left it in the care of Division five for safe delivery before returning to Karakura to finish his duties of trying to protect the city; in which he failed.
Katsuo summed up all of these papers while listening to his favorite music at the Lieutenant desk. He looked over at the badge, the badge that was placed on the desk after he was given the job, and wrapped it tight around his arm, before looking at it in a mirror momentarily. He didn't give his usual, happy go lucky smile when he wore it. He received a promotion; great. But the cost outweighed the praise… at least to the young Oda. The man who wore it before him was right. Katsuo thought about Arashi, if only for a minute. He was the head of division 13 before Oyama then himself. A bit worried he'd say "I told you so" or something like that… his headphones were removed from his head to rest on his neck again, and his ears pinned back. He skipped that worry and went straight to worrying about something else. He wondered if he would see the mother of a member of Division Thirteen that was lost… what could he say to their families?
What could he say to his own? They weren't quite the sentimental types… perhaps he didn't have to say anything; being the warriors they are they would probably ask him to prove this newfound strength.
Katsuo places the papers in order on his desk and makes them ready for himself to take with him to the Lieutenant meeting as a reference and to give to the head lieutenant; along with a letter, he wishes to give to her for Murasaki, of all people if she could. He knew the man couldn't read it, but thought maybe someone could read it to him if he could get visitors… It was a bit of a personal letter, but still, he hoped it gave Murasaki something he probably needed right now, which was hope. Hope that one day he will come out of this self-purgatory Katsuo had heard about after he killed central 46, and see their world working for a better tomorrow, one where true justice isn't shadowed by greed, money, and hatred. The world needs people like commander Murasaki to Katsuo. Without him risking his freedom and very life to protect TRUE justice… who will?
The Oda just might. They were exiles too, after all.
The Day of the Meeting comes…
One of the new arrivals Honoka was talking about, Katsuo's face was covered by a stack of papers that was as tall as his neck and head. He'd planned on giving the Head Lieutenant all of them once he was finished reporting when it was his turn. He was stopped at the gate, being a new face around there it was only natural the guards had stopped him for a moment.
"New Lieutenant of Division Thirteen, Katsuo Oda requesting access please…"
The guards let him through upon seeing the badge on his arm. He'd be one of the last to arrive of course, and Quickly find the maroon colored chair, near Omoni-san. Well, at least he'd be next to someone he'd already met. As he turned to face the chair, he'd set his papers on the table, and bow respectfully upon hearing Honoka say they had new members joining them. He could only think she meant Arashi and Himself.
He found himself turning his full body toward Arashi upon the man's arrival; as if to show him the badge tied to his left arm. They were equal in rank, but would Arashi recognize and acknowledge his new strength? He wouldn't have time to, with a green-haired man kicking the doors to the meeting hall down, and the door headed toward Arashi. He blinked and turned his head away closing one eye to flinch for Arashi.
"Are we ready to begin?"
Katsuo hears these words from Honoka. Out of respect, he nodded slowly at first; he was a bit shy when it came to new, unknown faces, but seeing Arashi and Omoni here made him a little less anxious… even after being worked up from the door.
"Y-yes ma'am…"
He said gently before taking his seat finally next to Omoni. His eyes gazed silently at the faces before him, as if accessing or gauging their strengths and personalities. He looked upon the pink-haired girl, who seemed pretty young. Gazing upon her it was almost instant he recognized her. He gave her a small, yet warming smile.
Looking over to her left he'd notice the green-haired man with the pomp that walked in before him, and his Division eleven badge. He looked fierce, a true warrior! Tenzen might want to meet him one day! Katsuo's eyes gleamed, at a chance to fight him too. Perhaps not now, but one day maybe...
He'd follow the table in the opposite direction now and look at Lieutenant Fuyuko Kasumi. He couldn't help but blink twice at her hairstyle and color. Both were truly fascinating to him because he'd never seen hair quite that color, or put up in that style before. They all seemed fairly close, Katsuo began to wonder how he could fit in with the Lieutenants. He wondered if because of his barely knowing Fuyuko, he'd have a hard time gaining assistance from Division ten… could division ten and thirteen work together to protect the living world? Even if for a short time?
His eyes moved back to Honoka finally, after checking out the unfamiliar faces. She seemed rather warm, like a breezy summer day; but Katsuo could tell everyone here earned their positions, it was the way they carried themselves in and sat, maybe one day he would carry that full-scale confidence and control they did. He waited, watched, and listened; his anxiousness starting to show through slightly twitching his fingers to the beat of a song playing in his head to keep himself calm.
This was all a little overwhelming, about as much as he anticipated it would be. He felt a bit more comfortable next to Omoni and calmed down in the maroon chair at last once things settled down. He had sneaky suspicion things were just going to get even crazier from here on out.
