Shinigami/Souls/Humans

Zanpakuto/Kido/Bakudo

A/N: This is my third fanfic, and my second Bleach fanfic. This one doesn't follow cannon at all with it being a completely different A/U. This is post-Thousand Year Blood War arc, with Yamamoto surviving the onslaught of Yhwach. But soon he starts to feel his age and this is where we begin this new journey.

Feeling the Age

Yamamoto Genryusai was sitting in the office of the first division, looking at his lieutenant, Sasakibe Chōjirō. They were having a light conversation, talking about what had become of the Gotei 13 during the one-thousands years that it had taken for Yamamoto to truly defeat the Sternritter A, Yhwach. "It was an error in judgement on my part Sasakibe-san," he grumbled. "I should have killed him when I had the chance." "Do not blame yourself Yamamoto-sama," his lieutenant said. "You couldn't have predicted that he would have held a grudge for that long. And you are only partially to blame; you were following the orders of your superiors in the former Central 46. They were the ones to believe the Quincies to be a threat and they were the ones that gave the order of genocide. Do not wholly blame yourself." "You are wise Chōjirō." He chuckled. "Maybe you should replace me should I decide to retire." "I am not ready for such an honor Yamamoto-sama, though I am flattered by the offer. Perhaps there is another to replace you." Choujirou nodded and was dismissed. Yamamoto sat in his chair. "Are you feeling your age?" Genryusai's zanpakuto, Ryūjin Jakka asked. "That war is over, so now I can finally rest Ryūjin. Maybe even retire." "That will be the day Genryusai-san. I finally get to see you retire after three-thousand years of wielding me. Now whoever you decide to replace you, will you give them me?" "No. You are a part of my soul, not my replacements. Whoever I choose shall inherit my role of Captain Commander and Head of the clan and all noble houses." "Ahh. I understand old friend. I believe you should rest now, I will speak with you later." "All right Ryūjin. Good night old friend." "Good night Genryusai. Sleep well."

At that, Genryusai laid in bed and pulled his covers over himself and slept. He dreamed of him being old and slowly deteriorating and woke up in bed in a cold sweat. He got out of bed and after realizing it was only 2 o'clock in the morning, went for a walk around the Yamamoto clan grounds. He went back to bed around four, after sitting on a bench for awhile.

Once the rays of the sun hit his face, Genryusai woke up and proceeded to get dressed. He held out his finger and a hell butterfly flew onto it. He relayed a message to it and it flew off to find it's destinations. He made his way to the Captains meeting hall and sat in his chair as his lieutenant and the other Captains along with their lieutenants took their place. He ground his cane into the ground and began the meeting. "Captain, it is with great regret that I tell you that it is time for me to hand over the reigns of leadership," he said.

This caused many arguments to start until he banged his cane again. "None of you here are ready or powerful enough for the position. But there is one that I have in mind."

Soi-Feng stepped forward. "Who Captain-Commander?" "Captain Soi-Feng, fetch me Kurosaki Ichigo."

Soi-Feng nodded and disappeared in a flash of shunpo with three Onmitsukido members guarding the room trailing her. The Captains talked about other things that concerned the Seireitei and getting it back to full strength as they waited for the Onmitsukido commander and her subordinates to return with the substitute shinigami.

Said substitute was walking down the street to his house. It was dark; it was after midnight and a night of turmoil for him. After the war, Ichigo explained how he truly felt towards Orihime and they had been together for a little over a year now. He went over to her house to propose, only to find her, Chad and Uryu engaging in things he didn't want to think about. Needless to say it hurt him, and he ran out fuming. He was irritated that no hollows were around for him to take his anger out on.

He was three blocks from his house when Soi-Fong and three ninja shinigami had appeared in a circle around him. He raised a questioning eyebrow at her and she had her classic frown. When she didn't answer, he frowned as well instead of keeping on his smirk as he was while trying to hide his pain. Soi-Feng could see the pain and suffering pass in his eyes, but did not question him yet. "Captain-Commander Yamamoto has requested your presence in the Seireitei Kurosaki Ichigo," she said. "Will you comply with the order or be brought by force?" "I'm angry as of right now, but I will not commit an act of war against the Gotei 13," he stated. "I'll come with you."

Soi-Feng nodded, but was inwardly surprised as his manners. She began to think other things of him, but quickly put them aside and tried to hide her blush. Ichigo noticed it but ignored it. Ever since the war, he had lived alone because Yhwach had ordered the killing of Isshin, Yuzu, and Karin. Isshin held off Sternritters B-D on his own, but died at the hands of Yhwach when the Sternritter King had appeared. Instead of looking for the girls, the Sternritters had opted to burn the house to the ground. Ichigo had found out about this after he had returned home from fighting with the royal guard against the Seireitei's enemies.

Needless to say, he was more than pissed and returned to the Seireitei and found Yhwach and Genryusai in battle. The Sternritter was surprised Ichigo had returned and even opted to get into the battle and ejected Genryusai from the battle to protect the man. In his rage, he killed the Quincy in one blow, cutting off the mans head. His blades returned to their first shikai form of a giant cleaver, then sealed itself.

Ichigo activated his shinigami form and walked through the senkaimon, directly into the heart of the Soul Society. He followed Soi-Feng and the Onmitsukido soldiers disappeared. They entered the captains hall and the chatter stopped as all eyes turned to Ichigo. He had Zangetsu tucked into his sash and was walking with his head held high. Despite all the pain he was experiencing in the last year, his look said that he was determined to get through it. Ichigo stood at the end of the row of captains, while noticing that Captain Kurotsuchi of the twelfth division was slowly scooting closer to him.

He raised an eyebrow towards the captain and looked at him. He shook his head and then looked at the Captain-Commander who he had saved. He kept his left hand on Zangetsu's hilt and looked at him. The Captain-Commander stood and slowly walked to Ichigo and stood in front of him. "Substitute Shinigami Kurosaki Ichigo," he said. "How are you today?" "Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai," the boy replied. "I'm fine how are you sir?" Byakuya gasped and everyone looked at him, but he had his mask back on. "What!" he said. "I am just surprised by the fact that he actually has manners and respects someone." "I respect those that aren't stuck up and snotty with a stick up their ass Byakuya. The Captain-Commander doesn't flaunt his power and position around unless necessary, unlike you do. Now, Captain-Commander what is it that you want me here for?" "I am going to retire Ichigo, and I want you to replace me." Ichigo's face stayed blank as he looked at the man. "Are you serious?" "I am, but because I'm not that old you're going to succeed the normal way." "Which is what sir?" "You must fight Captains Kuchiki, Zaraki, Komamura, Ukitake, Unohana and two lieutenants of your choice." "Lieutenants Kuchiki and Abarai," he said bluntly.

He did not show and fear at having to fight so many captains and two lieutenants, Yamamoto observed. He is already getting into the role at schooling his emotions at facing greater odds. There is another thing about him though. It's as if he's not scared at all, as if he knows he can beat them. And look at his eyes, they seem to be lazy, but they really show power. He's keeping focused and analyzing his opponents so that he can exploit their weaknesses when he fights. "That is not all there is to it Substitute Kurosaki," he said. "Then what else is there Commander?" he asked. "You must also fight me Ichigo," Yamamoto said looking up.

The Captains all looked at Ichigo to see a reaction and were surprised to see no reaction. His face was as blank as Byakuya. "He's very stupid," Soi-Fong muttered. "He'll die."

"I accept Captain-Commander," Ichigo replied.