Encumbrance [Toshiro X Reader]

| 1 | An Unflattering Introduction

Souls Reapers parted for you as you walked, but it was not because you were respected.

"There's something wrong with her." Though you could not hear them, you read their lips. They didn't know. Only a select few knew your secret. Your deafness. Head Captain Yamamoto, Captain Tousen, and a few others. You had been placed in four different court guard squads, and you had been kicked out of four. The head captain was getting tired of placing you in different squads, though he understood why.

In the lower ranks, teamwork is key to get things accomplished. With rumors flying around about you, no one considered you apart of their team, not really. Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai had been your friends, but their associates tried to get them to stay away from you. They spoke about the rumors.

The rumors went something like this: "You can talk to her in a normal conversation, but as soon as she stops looking at you, she acts like you don't exist," or "I heard that she isn't allowed to be promoted to a seat higher than the thirteenth, she must have something wrong with her," or possibly "She may seem nice, but there's something odd about the way she looks at you. It's fiery, and almost poisonous."

You didn't really mind them too much after a while, but in the beginning they hurt a lot. People had talked like that often in your previous positions, and after a while they became uncomfortable with you around. Now you were being re-assigned to a new court guard squad. You were headed to see Head Captain Yamamoto so you could find out who your new captain would be. You hoped that it would be the 9th Division so you could be under Kaname Tousen. You two shared similar disabilities so-to-speak, and you had been friends with him for quite a while. That was hopeful thinking. You knew in the back of your mind that two people with impediments would not be allowed on the same squad.

You sighed and brushed your (h/l) (h/c) hair from your face. There was no use thinking about it and worrying. All you could do is accept the squad that was given to you. You stopped yourself in front of the door. The soft wind tousled your hair and pushed gently against your back. You quickly steeled yourself, then pushed open the double doors.

There, all by his lonesome, was the head captain. He wore his shinigami robe like you current did, and sat on his throne like chair with both his hands resting on the top of his gnarled walking stick. You noticed that his grey-white beard nearly brushed the floor. You knelt and bowed your head. "Head Captain Yamamoto." He tapped your shoulder, and you were allowed to look up. You saw his eyes soften just the slightest when he gazed at you. When he opened his mouth to speak, you began to read his lips.

"Welcome (y/n). I know you would like to be assigned to the ninth division, but that cannot be permitted for reasons I'm sure you already understand. It is hard enough to convince them to let you stay a soul reaper, young one. There is one more division I can place you in, but this time, you cannot allow your captain to know about your deafness. That would only incite him to remove you from his squad, that is the kind of person he is."  You couldn't help but gulp, hard. It was difficult not letting anyone know, but a captain? That was nearly impossible.

Nearly.

Since your spot as a soul reaper was on the line, you would have to make do. "Yes, Head Captain."

The edge of his lips curved into an almost evident smile. "Your speaking has improved."

You smiled back at him. "Thank you, Head Captain." Normally, a person who could not hear, could not speak, since they don't know how a word is supposed to be pronounced. Through sensing vibrations and feeling the air and moving the lips properly, one can learn to speak. You copied that human woman, Helen Keller, you believed her name to be. You refocused on the Head Captain when he opened his mouth once more.