So much can happen in so little time and the inverse can also be true; little happening over a greater expanse of time than the human mind can rationalise.
However, that wasn't the case for soul society where dozens of years could go by without a single ripple forming in their vast territory. Of course the hollow always kept them busy. And (at least on the surface) little seemed to have changed over than some shuffling around within the Gotei 13.
Yet the new captain of 12th brought with a lot of changes under the surface of that seemingly calm lake.
Within a particular Izakaya located within Seireitei two captains were discussing that very captain - one adorned in a floral coat & straw hat while the other at least dressed more appropriately. Neither appeared like the studious type, though. Both have some form of rather messy facial hair.
Each with a bowl in their hands as one the one adorned in pink spoke animatedly with his hands moving about as if painting a picture. Meanwhile the younger of the two leaned in with intense focus. His other hand held the bottle as he occasionally refilled their cups with more sake.
"So those two old coots just stood there, staring at one another, leaving me and Jushiro out to dry while they had some talk in a hidden language only fossils like them could fathom. Minutes must've passed with the two just looking into eachothers eyes. Somehow it felt more awkward than romantic…"
"Why would it be romantic?"
"... You'll understand when you're older."
With that Kyōraku took a moment to sip while wondering how someone who achieved captain-hood could be so clueless about interpersonal relationships.
"But I'm already well over one hundred?"
Tilting his head cluelessly yet still refilling Kyōraku's bowl when it was outstretched towards him.
Realising he wasn't going to get an answer from Kyōraku who just looked at him with so much pity that he began to feel judged. Quickly knocking back what was left in his own bowl. Following it up with a cough as if clearing his throat when really he just wanted to get his mind off.
"So what happened next?"
Kyōraku obviously realised that the young captain was trying to do yet he soon decided to just shrug while letting out a sigh.
Shaking his head while promptly continuing from where he left off.
"I don't know how but they somehow came to some arrangement as they began heading away at exactly the same moment without saying a word to either of us. Had us looking at each other to make sure we knew what would happen. Had us running to catch up with them."
"Where'd they end up?"
"That's the real scandalous part… Old man Yama told us to stay back before the two of them headed down into the Muken itself where they remained for 2 whole days."
"... What's a Muken?"
"... You are a captain, as well as a noble, but you don't know what Muken is?"
Once more the captain felt his comrade giving him a look that mixed bewilderment with pity.
"W-well I tend to leave the paperwork to the seated members of my squad!"
Kyōraku opened his mouth to reply but no words actually came out; after all he could hardly fault the young captain for that… Since he was no better in that regard. As such it was his time to clear his throat as he began to think about how to respond however he didn't need to.
"Ooo~ I can answer that one!"
Immediately captain Shiba panicked at the sudden voice that came out from behind/below him causing him to hurriedly stand up. This hurried action would have likely sent his chair flying backwards into the little gremlin who snuck up on them. At least that would have been the case if not for her next actions.
"Seki~."
Black reshi formed into two glowing orbs with one appearing above and the other behind; the latter causing his chair to be pushed back, Meanwhile the former had a far greater impact. One may think that a physical focused captain would easily break whatever spell was used… That wasn't the case.
His power was reflected back at him to essentially force him downwards with twice the power he used when standing up. Usually that wouldn't matter much nevertheless he wasn't just a captain but a powerful yet inexperienced captain. The surprise appearance left him unable to control his power so-
*BANG*
"CHEHEHAHAHA~!"
He went right through that chair much to the amusement of the "new" arrival.
While Shiba was sat on the broken floor, surrounded by the remains of his chair, Kyōraku couldn't help breaking out into laughter. Captain Shiba could only pout as the remains of their sake bottle leaked down his face with white shards visibly in his hair. Unharmed (he was still a captain) but embarrassed.
"Way you stood up it almost felt like you got caught talking behind someones back~."
"Heh I was just telling him the story of how we met, "Captain Stratos"."
She let out a chuckle as she began walking to a seat between the two of them; her cane still present and clacking against the wooden planks. The biggest difference in her appearance was the captain haori she had carelessly thrown over her shoulders. Though it was hard to blame her for that…
Even resting on her shoulders it mostly trailed on the ground due to her five foot stature.
Yet, even as she jumped up to sit between the two far taller captains, nobody could say she seemed to be smaller in anything but height.
"Please don't tease an old lady like me or you may give her the wrong impression - call me Cheshire as it isn't as my time managing a clan is hopefully in the past."
The two just laughed like old friends while the captain Shiba could only sit there with a pout while slowly picking pieces of porcelain out his shabby brown hair. He was a captain for longer than Cheshire yet everyone still treated him as the youngest… Which he technically was but it didn't feel great.
"Ah and I see you brought the one you pilfered from Shihoin-chan~!"
"Well I couldn't let his talent waste away under that young kitten chehehe~."
A familiar shinigami with shaggy blonde hair, now with the vice-captain band around his upper arm, came to stand behind his captain while rubbing the back of his head bashfully.
"Jeez you'll make me blush~."
Though his bashful comment earned him a foot flying right into the side of his head - sending him toppling to the floor only to end up rolling into the wall on the other side of the restaurant/bar.
"Drop the act you dumbass; everyone knows you don't give a hoot!"
Hissing slightly in pain as he stood up.
Wiping the dust from his shinigami uniform as he did, that lazy smile still on his face after spending almost ten long years under Cheshire, appearing at least nominally apologetic to the former vice-captain.
"We both know you don't appreciate how well Miss Cheshire treats you, humph."
Nose high into the air while crossing her arms with a scowl.
Somehow shorter than even Cheshire.
"Do they put all the munchkins in the 12th now?"
Unconsciously letting that slip out of his mouth as he looked between the captain & third seat who certainly had a somewhat similar perspective on the world… At least physically. Hearing his companions comment Kyōraku could only sigh while lifting his cup as if paying his last respects to a dead man.
Cheshire merely laughed at the observation while Hiyori Sarugaki took advantage of the fact the captain was still sitting on the broken floor.
A geta (wooden sandal) promptly bounced off his head sending another surge of pain through him.
"Urgh I feel the 12th division only brings me pain today…"
"Chehehe~ an interesting topic of research, that one, lil' Isshin."
Lifting her own sake bowl up to meet the still raised one belonging to Kyōraku.
Isshin Shiba looked around to try and find a waitress but found no one who could have given it to the cat.
"Muken is a space where a fragment of infinity dwells, a pocket realm whose limits cannot be fathomed by the mortal mind, and a prison where those who Death refuses to take may dwell…"
The easily distracted captain finally stood up from the floor with intrigue into the words of the cat.
"And why did you and the head captain head down there?"
Once more a dark chuckle left from the cat which drew all those in the bar (even the random shinigami who were listening in) to lean in.
"What else would two old fogies have to do?"
Swirling the liquid in her cup as that pale pool reflected her own eerie crimson eyes that sat above the face mask she always wore. Her other hand soon came up to pull the mask down. Revealing a wide grin that caused some to freeze up in instinctual fear at how unsettlingly wide it happened to be.
"We discussed things in a more civilised manner than only two ancient warriors could."
Dowing the entire drink while a muted "wow" could be heard from the crowd of onlookers.
Behind her captain; Hiyori couldn't stop glitter from appearing in her eyes as she held her closed fists in front of her face with her own smile. Face hot with a blush that she ignored in favour of admiring that small but well defined back that hid under several layers of cloth. Body trembled with excitement.
"So cool…"
"Wasn't exactly what you all are likely expecting as my shy little blade wasn't too happy with it's body however it isn't the first child with gender dysmorphism that I've had. So we clashed claws against swords with everything he had. For a kid his skill with both his blade and body was impressive."
Shaking her head.
"Our stubbornness led us to continue on for two days before we realised we were fighting for the sake of fighting so ended it there; an opening recently became… Open and here we are."
"To survive against the old man for 2 whole days…"
Letting out a whistle while lowering his straw hat to cover his eyes.
"Heh~ who is to say who survived against who~."