Punch Day

Yamamoto chews out the captains when the shinigami misbehave

Disclaimer: I still don't own Bleach, or any of the characters.

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"You know why I've called this meeting: 'Punch Day'", the General said.

He paced slowly along the row of captains standing in the great hall, their shadows long in the setting sun. They stood at attention, lined up in order by division.

Sui Feng stood expressionless. Unohana looked absolutely furious. The General had never seen her so angry.

"I don't have to ask who came up with 'Punch Day'. I know it's Section Eleven. They're the only ones stupid enough to think of it. What I can't believe is how it spread."

The General walked further. Kuchiki's head and neck were covered with brusies.

"Captain Kuchiki! Can you explain yourself?"

The captain of the Sixth spoke with his usual air of dignity. "Sir, I think that 'Punch Day' helped to release tension. It also provided an opportunity for training."

The General's face grew redder by the second. "You don't look like that from training. You look like that from you and Abarai hitting each other in the face! Am I right?"

"The Lieutenant did inform me that it wasn't 'Block Day'", said Kuchiki, as if that were an explanation. Someone snickered, but the General didn't catch who.

The General continued pacing. Komamura's fur concealed – what? The General wondered if anyone had the guts, or the reach, to take a shot at the massive wolf. The next in line, Kyoraku, appeared unharmed.

"I see that some of you had the sensibility and control to maintain order within your ranks."

Kyoraku replied, "oh, this is the first I'm hearing about 'Punch Day'. I slept most of the day. I had a meeting with Nanao…she didn't hit me any more than usual."

The General ignored that comment.

"Some of you, however, didn't." He kept walking past Hitsugaya, who was so banged-up and so obviously embarrassed that he actually felt sorry for the boy.

"Some of you, I can only guess, encouraged it", the General said as he walked by Captain Zaraki. The captain of the Eleventh stood there looking as innocent as a child.

'Units of the Fourth Division have been…" The General stopped, noticing for the first time that Kurotsuchi was missing his entire head. "Oh, come on! How are you even listening?" The headless body stood reactionless.

The General shook his head and moved on. "This is the first and last 'Punch Day'. As for the – "

Wham!

On any normal occasion, Ukitake didn't have the speed to hit the General. But the General was unprepared for the fist flying at him, and it knocked him off his feet. He landed on his backside, sliding backward on the marble floor.

Ukitake looked at his watch and grinned. "Three and a half more hours, then."