None of the characters are mine, but they sure are fun to play with :o)

I got tired of waiting for the current manga plot to move on, so I decided to do something about it and write my own fic focused on Nanao (Shunsui will come in later on). This is a sequel to the story I wrote about Nanao and Shunsui a few months back. I don't think too much from that story will come into this one, but I will be referring to things that happened from time to time. I'll try to give context so it's not necessary to have read the other one. I might also bring in some characters introduced in the previous story (like Shunsui's older brother Yoshitsune or his nurse Baba).

Please pass along ideas and suggestions. Thanks :o)

Chapter 1: Change in Command

Nanao inhaled deeply and placed her hands on the edge of the square table in front of her. She noticed her arms were shaking. If her weight wasn't shifted onto the table ahead of her, her knees would have been too. Life and order were out of sync. She and her captain had barely returned from a clandestine mission to the real world – more to preserve the honor and reputation of the Kyōraku family than to protect Soul Society – and suddenly he was off at war and she, a mere lieutenant, was in charge of Seireitei's protection. How had such a thing occurred? She was not even one of the favored lieutenants, but then most of those were serving alongside their captains on the real world. Jealousy sliced through her but she shook it away. There was no time for that. She recalled her captain's parting words.

"I'm going to the front lines, but I know you're my backup. If we fail, Aizen's coming for the real Karakura. Yama-ji's designated the eighth division to be the next line of defense. I'll come back and help you as soon as I can, but if I can't you are in command. You will know what to do. There isn't a single arrancar who can match you in wit, intelligence or tactical planning. They're prepared to meet captains, but they're not prepared to meet you. That alone is a serious advantage on our part."

And this was how she happened to be in the sōtaichō's office, her thin frame the solitary moving object in this massive room. It had been but maybe a half hour ago that the captains had departed, but Nanao felt like weeks had passed. This seemed to be an elaborately detailed dream; for once, she was in charge. She could run Seireitei completely by the book. She could make it a place where order, discipline, hard work and responsible behavior ruled. However, this was hardly the way she wanted it. Now that she had this extreme power, she realized how much she wanted it gone. This was a disaster. While she was certainly well-organized, Ise Nanao was not popular. She lacked the charisma and leadership qualities possessed by captains such as hers. It was next to impossible for someone like her to step forward and announce that she would be leading the diverse thirteen factions. The only word she had ever heard that the eighth was the first line of defense came from Kyōraku-taichō; as far as she knew there was no secret will left behind naming her the temporary leader. What choice was there, though? What other fukutaichōs were left? There were only the fourth, fifth, eleventh and twelfth divisions'. Nanao's inner feminist cried in outrage as she realized only the female vice-captains were left behind; true, one of the thirteenth's co-third chairs was male and he was left behind as well, but this did little to quell her disgruntlement. Although, as she considered this fact, she realized that it helped her claim to leadership. While others like the ninth's Hisagi-kun were more respected and admired by the divisions, he was otherwise occupied. Of those who remained, Nanao had the most steel and determination. She was also the scariest. A mere shift of her glasses could subdue the toughest of bullies. She smiled to herself. It wasn't always a bad thing to be known as inflexible and daunting. She needed that reputation to pull off what she needed to do.

She breathed deeply again and pulled herself together. She could do this. She had to. Her captain was counting on her. Her stomach suddenly flopped as she thought of another thing he had said to her before he left:

"You better be ready for a long heart to heart when I return, Nanao-chan."

She shook her head. That was the last thing she needed to think about. She needed to focus, and focus was impossible if she allowed Kyōraku to invade her thoughts. Their relationship was still somewhat indeterminate, although in the past couple days it had been set on a rather firm trajectory. This was not the time for girlish fancies, though. Nanao had a job to do, and there was no one better at forcing someone to do one's job than Nanao herself. She tightened her lip and stood up straight. Below her lay a detailed model of Seireitei and its surrounding neighborhoods. She needed to plan. Just then there was a knock on the door.

"Enter," she called out. The remaining vice captains and the two third seats from thirteen came into the large room. Nanao paused and took a few breaths before pushing her glasses up and turning to face them all.

"Good. Thank you for coming. Kyōraku-taichō informed me before he left that Yamamoto-Genryūsai appointed the eighth division as the primary defensive force for Seireitei should the battle on Earth move to here. I have not heard official word confirming that report, but I am willing to temporarily take control and devise various strategies until the captains return. That is, if you all agree and will help me do so."

The assembled officers glanced at each other.

"We all sort of assumed it would be you, Ise-kun," Kotetsu Isane, the fourth division's vice-captain, stated slowly.

Nanao started in surprise, swallowed and readjusted her glasses. Perhaps she was more respected than she'd thought.

"Yeah! With four eyes, big bossy lady in charge, we can do whatever we want!" Cried the pink-headed vice-captain of the twelfth. "And since I'm head of the women's association and we're all women except for Mr. Grumpy Brow, I dictate we all have a big slumber party!"

"Ha! Mr. Grumpy Brow! I told you you had a monkey head!" Kotetsu Kiyone, one of the two co-third chairs from the thirteenth division, eagerly hissed at her compatriot.

"Clean your ears, you freaking booger! A grumpy brow is nothing like a monkey head!" Kotsubaki Sentarō shouted in her face. He quickly turned and pushed Kiyone out of the way to address Nanao. "I humbly apologize for this display, Ise-fukutaichō! I promise from the depths of my being that you shall have nothing but the utmost display of loyalty, dedication and hard work from me from this point forward!"

"Grr, Kotsubaki! I am twice as loyal and twice as dedicated and three times as hard working! Ise-fukutaichō, I apologize for this monkey-headed booger's immaturity and for my own speaking out of turn! I will serve you more responsively and respectfully and far more maturely than this bozo!"

Kotsubaki was pushing against his colleague and seemed ready to retort again, but Nanao silenced them both with a simple, "Good, I'm glad we have that settled."

She turned to the others. "If there are no objections, I will begin with the labor divisions. Kurotsuchi-kun," she said, addressing Nemu, "I would appreciate your analytical input. The twelfth will likely be of some importance in fortifying our defenses, though, so I will need you to divide your time between the twelfth's laboratories and being here for counsel."

Nemu nodded slightly. "I will do my best to be of assistance," she responded quietly.

"Kotetsu-san," she turned to Isane, "if the battle on the real world does fail, your attention will understandably be focused on the wounded. Therefore, I will not give you further duties at this time. Keep me advised of the nature and severity of the wounds, though; that will offer significant insight into our enemies' weapons and abilities. You can communicate with me through hell butterfly or through your sister."

Isane nodded. Nanao turned to the younger, more vocal Kotetsu sister and Kotsubaki, who were still glaring at one another.

"I will be splitting you up. Kotsubaki, you will be in charge of the thirteenth until further notice. Kotetsu Kiyone, you will be my courier. I primarily will ask you to be in the command center to apprise me on our enemy's approach and damages."

Kiyone instantly started protesting over Kotsubaki's fervent thanks and promises of superior leadership. This bickering was the last thing Nanao needed.

"Do you have a problem with my division of responsibility, third seat Kotetsu?" She asked icily, her hand gripping the bridge of her glasses. Kiyone fell silent. "As you can see, we are remarkably few in number and I need every high-ranking officer I can get. Considering that you have both proven rather aptly that you are incapable of working efficiently as a team and, on account of the circumstances, you are more useful to me apart than you are together. Moreover, as I will be giving the orders, Kotsubaki is in charge only so far as to carry out my commands. If this is unacceptable, though, I will find a suitable replacement from one of the other divisions so that you can join your comrades on the front lines. I will also pass along your protest to Ukitake-taichō. I doubt he will look kindly upon your inability to follow orders under such tense circumstances. Is that what you prefer, third seat Kotetsu?"

Kiyone gulped. "No, Ma'am." She was visibly shaken, and Nanao's cool vehemence quieted everyone.

"I am glad to hear it. Do you understand your role, third seat Kotsubaki as well as its limitations?"

He sprang to attention. "Yes, Ise-fukutaichō!" he responded stiffly. Kiyone looked ready to retort, but a fierce look from Nanao stopped her before she could utter a sound.

"Oooh, four eyes, big bossy lady's real scary now!" the twelfth's vice-captain Kusajishi Yachiru declared.

"Kusajishi-san," Nanao started.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Yachiru cried with a finger raised in warning. Nanao sighed. Apparently Yachiru decided the present company still constituted a meeting of the Shinigami Women's Association.

"Madame President," Nanao tried again, "by your leave, someone needs to be in charge of all of the divisions, particularly those who have no present captain or vice-captain. I need you to be aware of the factions at all times and make sure that they are moved into their positions after I have given the order. You will essentially be the field commander. Is that acceptable?"

"Aye-aye!" Yachiru cried merrily.

Nanao turned then to the fifth vice-captain, Hinamori Momo. She was still torn with what to do with Hinamori. She was a major question mark in this campaign. The odds were staked highly against Momo that she would turn sides and join the Arrancar the moment she saw Aizen. Slow progress had been made with her, and doubts seemed to be seeping into the intense affection and admiration she had built up for her former captain. Did he still hold a degree of control over her, though? Could he make her turn and massacre whole legions? How much in control of her own mind was she? Nanao got the feeling that her captain would give Hinamori a chance to prove her own mettle rather than judge her by the sins of her traitorous captain. By her own admission, though, Hinamori's loyalties lay with Aizen. She was extremely dangerous. However, with so few skilled officers to choose from, what choice did Nanao have?

"Hinamori-san," she stated through almost gritted teeth, "please assist Madame President in carrying out commands. If you feel the slightest hesitation or doubt, though, inform me at once and you will be relieved of duty for the rest of battle. Is this something you can do?"

"Yes, Ise-san," Momo said quietly.

"I need a firmer commitment than that," Nanao retorted fiercely. "I need you to be completely on board before I commit the lives of so many people to someone who is unsure of her loyalties. Do I have your loyalty, Hinamori-kun? Does Soul Society?"

Momo straightened her shoulders and lifted her head to look Nanao in the eye. The issue had never been stated so directly to her before, but Nanao had no time to ease around so important an issue. It was the first chance Momo ever had to prove herself, actually.

"You have my loyalty," she said in a firmer tone.

"Good. If not, I leave you to Kusajishi-san to deal with if there is any infraction in what you do or what you say. Is that clear?"

"I understand."

"Good. I appreciate everyone's assistance. I will have my first instructions to you by tonight. Isane-san, please send a general message throughout Seireitei about the current line of command. Only, do not specify who is in what position. The troops are still too divided. They need to be able to take an order from any one of us should Kusajishi-san or Hinamori-san be detained. That will not happen if they expect to only respond to one of those two vice-captains alone."

Isane nodded and knelt to begin her message. Nanao turned back to the Seireitei model before her. The foundation was set. Now, it was all up to her. She needed to plan.