Written a few days ago, found it again just now... D'oh.

Title :: Individuality
Setting :: Bleach
Characters :: Ikkaku, 11th Division
Words :: 497
When :: Unspecified, later rather than sooner. Tried to take into account the latest developments in the manga, though am not sure I did that justice.

The Eleventh Division was about loving the fight for the pure sake of it, people had that much right. But it wasn't just about that or about being strong, despite what the others might think. This, Ikkaku knew well enough.

There was, in fact, a lot more to things that just that. It was about being strong without turning into some bland, pansy-assed boot licker who would be willing to do anything just to get a pat on the back or a promotion. It was about being yourself and damn the rest, come hell or high water. (But if it had to be either, hell was better since that meant there'd be a good fight in the bargain, of course.)

And it wasn't about looking neat and clean (unless Yumichika happened to show up and go all fearsome at the cleaning crew) and it wasn't about talking nice and proper (no one bitched about that, actually) and it sure as hell wasn't about making the other divisions like you. In fact, as far as Ikkaku figured, they were doing the fourth one hell of a favour every single time they leaned on 'em, because really, the whole lot (except Unohana who could be as scary as Zaraki in her own way) needed the workout. Stupid healers, thinking it was okay to be all wussy and weak. Who the hell was going to heal the rest of them if they kept fainting the second someone looked at 'em sideways, for crying out loud! So yeah, making the healers stronger was all good.

Basically, as far as Ikkaku, Yumichika and pretty much everydamnone else in the Division, being in the Eleventh was about being yourself. It was about being loud and colourful and as in your face as it got (and then more just for the fun of it), with no apologies or second thoughts, thank you very much. It was about being strong by being secure in your sense of self, by having faith in your own abilities and most of all, it was about being strong by never, ever stopping. You didn't stop for fear, you didn't stop for pain and most of all, you didn't stop just because you could choose not to stop. You stepped forward and kept going forward, whatever happened, and you never, ever even considered taking a step back. (Especially not with Zaraki breathing down your neck, because if you stopped then, your ass was going to get handed to you in all sorts of bad and no longer able to be strong ways.) And anything else that happened to help in that, be it a fruity attitude or fukutaichou chewing on your head, well, so be it.

One day, dammit, Ikkaku would be fast enough and strong enough to dodge Yachiru before she pounced.

And sure, it was weird ass and annoying training, he supposed, but if it worked, what the hell did he care about what other people thought anyway?

Current Mood: cheerful