So another new story! Very excited for this one I've been having a lot of fun writing it in my spare time. In this fic the characters all have similar physical traits to their zanpaku-to spirits like from the anime, and in this au they technically are their own zanpaku-to spirit and can use their power the same way the spirits could in the show.
Please enjoy the first chapter!
The spirits were restless tonight.
Rukia could feel it in the air from her perch atop the palace roof. She watched as spirits flew through the night sky in random formations, the forest before her alive with activity.
There would be a calling tonight, for the Court Guard. A gathering of the highest ranked spirits in Japan brought before the High Commander to discuss the recent oddities and behaviours of the lesser spirits. Rukia would attend of course, she was a noble spirit after all, along with her brother. Snow blew by her and disappeared into the wind. The cold had never bothered Rukia, and why would it? She was a snow spirit, not a master spirit like the Hyorinmaru, but a powerful class of her own.
A sudden appearance behind Rukia caught her attention.
"The meeting will start in half an hour," he said.
Rukia turned to face her friend, the spirit Renji. Red fur lined his shoulders, bone looping around his waist and torso as a skeleton snake slithered over his body, the head resting on his arm and watching Rukia with it's glowing red eyes. Zabimaru was his spirit name, a snake baboon spirit, and rightly dubbed the king of monkey by the other spirits. Renji served as Byakuya's, Rukia's brother, second in command, a seat that gave him more power than even Rukia could hold.
Renji stood next to her, "What do you think it is?"
"I have no idea. I can't sense any evil spirits, but there may be some hiding or something only the more primitive spirits can sense. Have you tried asking?"
Renji shook his head, "None of them will talk. All I can tell is that they're afraid of something out there."
"A spirit?"
"Most likely. Probably a dark one too if this many wild spirits are leaving the forest. The Court will most likely vote to investigate it."
"And if it is a dark spirit?"
Renji looked at her, knowing she knew the answer already. Dark spirits were a plight on the world, deadly and as toxic as a disease. Normally they stayed within their own borders, the opposite world from the one spirits like Rukia resided in, and kept to themselves. Occasionally one would cross the border to hunt for human souls, but each time they would be beat back by a Court spirit. If it was a dark spirit, then one of the court would be sent to deal with it.
"Come on," Renji said. "We need to meet with the captain."
Rukia nodded and the two dropped down to the ground. They walked to the front of the palace where Byakuya waited for them. Rukia's brother was a powerful spirit, one of the strongest in the court, proud and noble. He was the Head of their clan, and ancient order of noble spirits with superior powers than those of not noble lineage. Byakuya was said to be the strongest Head ever, his spirit title Senbonzakura was well known for it's power among the Court, far more than Rukia and Renji could hope to achieve. Spirits like Byakuya were known as 'captain-class' entities, spirits stronger and more powerful than others and given a seat in the Court Guard as well as command over a small variety of other spirits. Byakuya commanded the Sixth Guard Company, Renji acting as his lieutenant and second commanding officer to the company.
In many ways Rukia envied her friend and her brother. Both held commanding titles, something she strived for, in the Court and for years she had worked make her brother proud. However she had not gained a title, working in the Thirteenth Company only as an unseated officer. Her captain was Ukitake Jushiro, the ancient spirit of Sōgyo no Kotowari, was a fair man whose health had unfortunately began to deteriorate some centuries ago. Despite her lack of office however, Rukia had made a name for herself in the company, some even saying she had the full right to the lieutenant's position since Ukitake had yet to fulfill the seat.
Byakuya, his samurai armour polished and his hair held back in a loosely tied red ribbon, remained stoic at their arrival.
"Rukia," he said. "You are to meet Jushiro at the Thirteenth barracks before the council."
She bowed, "Yes brother."
"Renji."
"Yes sir."
Her friend nodded a goodbye to her before vanishing with his captain, leaving Rukia alone to travel to her own captain's side. It did not take long, a quick trip as a cold wind and she was at the barracks center in front of her captain's chambers. She knocked before entering the cool room, avoiding the floating pools of koi. Her captain rested at the back of the room on top his pond, the pisces spirit holding his scroll on his lap and his head drooped in sleep. Rukia sighed, not liking how she had to wake her poor captain, and sent a cold blast of air towards the man. The top of the pool froze over and Jushiro woke with a start, falling from his levitated state to the frozen surface with a thud.
"Oh! Rukia!" he looked at her in surprise, "I'm sorry I didn't notice you come in."
"Forgive me Captain," she apologised and helped the old man stand on his feet.
"No need to apologise, I'm fine. Uh, actually if you would…"
Rukia waved her hand and the ice faded, the pool beneath her captain once again rippling under his feet.
"Ah, that is better. Now," he smiled brightly, "What is going on today?"
"There has been a Court meeting called to discuss the troubled forest spirits. The meeting will begin in less than twenty minutes."
"Those forest spirits, eh? Yes I've noticed how unsettled they've been lately. Poor things. Very well Rukia, will you join me in the walk to First company?"
"Of course Captain."
The old spirit grinned and walked out of the room, Rukia close in tow. She was careful not to touch the orbs of water or her captain's coat, her ice power still just out of her control. She was a young spirit, only a few decades awakened, and was still having slight issues completely controlling her abilities. When she touched something, either liquid or thin material, it would freeze over. It was worse when she was nervous or unfocused, and even the training she received from the Hyorinmaru did not change it. The stronger ice spirit had promise that she would get the hang of it eventually as long as she continued to practice.
Her captain and two third seats, twin spirits, walked along to the First Company barrack center, the captains meeting room doors open. Many more spirits passed by to enter the hall, captains and lieutenants respectfully, all powerful and respectable in their own right. The Court meetings happened rarely, even rarer for everyone to show their faces, which made Rukia wonder just how serious the High Commander was taking the situation.
She couldn't go into the meeting herself, not being a Court officer, and so she would have to wait outside the meeting hall with Kiyone and Sentaro. She wished her captain well as he entered the hall, then stayed herself out of the way and nearer to the wall outside the room.
"Rukia!" a voice called.
She turned her head and saw a familiar face. A young spirit like herself, the lieutenant of Fifth Company Hinamori smiled as she walked towards Rukia, the bells of her dress jingling merrily. Opposite of Rukia, Momo was a fire type plum spirit Tobiume, and an old friend of Renji from his training years.
"Lieutenant Hinamori," Rukia greeted the girl with a bow.
"It's nice to see you again, it's been so long."
"It has. How have you been?"
"Very well, actually. The orchid is especially well off this year, and it's been so long since we've been called to a meeting. I almost didn't believe it when the call came."
"It is unusual, yes."
"Oh but you must not be surprised. After all you live right before the forest, so you must see those spirits constantly."
"Yes, that's how we figured something must be wrong. Normally the forest spirits are much more docile than they are now. We don't know what the problem is, but hopefully this meeting will provide us with a solution."
A deep voice said, "That would be ideal."
Momo's face lite up, "Captain!" The two female spirits bowed in greeting at the man's arrival. The captain of Fifth Company Aizen Sosuke was a well revered spirit, as well as a mysterious one. His ability Kyōka Suigetsu was said to be a reflective water spirit, one that was able to use fog to change his enemies perspective and trick them into attacking something else. A eerie power in its own right, yes, but the spirit himself was far too passive to fully use the extent of its power.
Aizen himself was a well known spirit, whether it was due to his kindly nature or handsome looks Rukia couldn't tell. Momo, like many others, was infatuated with the man and looked up to him a great deal. Aizen's own kindness rivaled that of Rukia's own captain, although the Fifth Company man held a sort of sadness in him. It was said that before Aizen was given the captaincy, his own commander had died mysteriously in an ambush by dark spirits.
"Miss Rukia," he smiled, "It is a pleasure to see you outside of the barracks. Has your captain finally chosen a new lieutenant?"
Rukia tried to hide her shame, "No sir, I am only here as an escort for my captain."
Aizen looked surprised, "Oh? Well that's a shame, I think you'd be a wonderful lieutenant. Your brother would be proud too."
His words were kind, but Rukia felt only weight on her chest. The ground beneath her feet began to frost over. She could deny it, say that what Captain Aizen was saying was wrong and she could never deserve a lieutenancy, but to outright deny a superior spirits praise was outlandish and extremely rude.
So she thanked him, "Yes, thank you sir."
The captain smiled and said to Momo, "Come, it's time for the meeting."
"Yes sir! See you later Rukia."
The two spirits left Rukia, following the growing crowd into the hall, and once again she was alone with her thoughts. Kiyone and Sentaro had gone off on one of their famous arguments, Rukia wisely staying out of their way, and worked on retaining her power until the flooring under her was clear of all ice.
I hope you enjoyed, there will be much more to follow.
Please leave a review and thank you for reading.
Bye bye~