Doom of the dark Lord
Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite
Chapter 1 : Perfectly Unknown
85 years after the Quincy war.
Seika Naji had been a shinigami for 656 years, he worked in several division before being assigned to the 2nd squad commanded by captain Soi Fon. This was 56 years ago. He wasn't a seated shinigami, but directly working under the 6th seat supervision named Gatacca Umo. The later had come from Rukongaï and had always been a promising recruit.
Ichigo Kurosaki was vice captain of the 1st division under Kyoraku Shunsui, after the war he became one of the main assets of the gotei 13 fighting capabilities. Rumor had it his powers were limitless, still he didn't became captain after the war.
Ichigo Kurosaki was given extensive training in Kido and learned to seal his powers. He became at a completely different level. Many took him as a model. Since the last war increasingly there had been many attempts to steal artefacts from the royal family. So much that a specialized unit had to be created to supervise and prevent incidents.
Many things changed since the day when the ryokas invaded Seireitei and others stayed the same. And maybe as they stayed the same they had been wrongfully forgotten…
DDL
It was dark, it was cold, it was humid, it was everything but comfortable. Since the last time Juha Back came to visit him, he regretted, deeply regretted that the offer wasn't taken. The offer to leave this place. The effect of the trap Urahara had placed didn't wore off, in fact weekly, the spells that kept him bounded were reinforced. He was immortal, but life as he was living it was slow death. The Hougyokou had served his master loyally throughout the years, allowing him to live. But this was it, he couldn't breathe, he was couldn't eat, he could only see darkness. He absolutely needed to get out, but was there a way…
DDL
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was in thoughts, always researching, but was a goal to all that, he wondered. He was meditating about what was there beyond the boundaries of this world, was it all empty? It's been several decades now that soul society was in peace, save for the few who remembering the time when it bore many weaknesses, and tried to steal powers that were too great for them.
Inoue Orihime had been recently assigned to his squad. She was a bright and promising young woman that had been also a scientist in the real world. After the war the friends of Ichigo Kurosaki lead normal lives, until relatively recently they went to soul society.
Yasutora Chad became a renowned musician and in soul society he was remarked by the house of Joko, specialized in music and acting. He didn't want to become a shinigami, too many bad memories from the war. After his physical death, he still kept his powers. He was at the level of a vice-captain and kept on honing them. He and the others had kept close ties and they also kept remembering Ishida Uryu. Uryu had sacrificed himself to kill Juha Bach. The later seemed as immortal as their previous foe. How many souls did he re-absorbed?
DDL
Seika was late as he arrived when all his fellow musicians had begun the repetition. Chad gave him a cold glance.
_ Sorry guys. He quickly said before taking his place.
Seika was the violinist. He had practiced so he wouldn't get scowled any further. They would be playing in front of the Kasumioji family and Kurosaki Ichigo would be among the guests. Chad was the lead and he took everything very seriously.
When the repetition was finished he came toward Seika along with Yuyu Yasutora the guitarist.
_Your style isn't bad, although next time be on time. The later said.
Seika nodded.
_Thanks for having me. He replied.
_Want to take a drink? Chad asked.
_It will be with pleasure.
They headed toward a nearby shack and ordered sake. Seika wasn't a heavy drinker, but accompanied them. Yuyu was a young girl with Asian traits, she had pink hairs and always on makeup that made her face all white. She was enthusiastic with life and with music otherwise she was a maid.
_How long have you been a shinigami? Chad asked.
_Nearly 650 years. Seika replied.
Chad was slightly surprised, he thought most Shinigamies didn't live long.
_ And you come from Rukongaï? He asked.
_ From Zaraki. Came the reply.
_You remember your life as a living? He asked
_No. Seika replied.
Chad took a sip of sake and so did they. Then Yuyu started to talk about how her husband got his leg broken after an accident and wouldn't be able to work for several weeks. They listened, and the way she said it, it wasn't sad at all. She had been married for 65 years.
When the drink was finished Chad had other business to attend.
It's been 5 weeks since they started practicing and there was a good feeling between them. The next day it was practice again and Seika looked forward to it.
When he came back to his squad barracks there was his captain next to Gatacca Umo. She scrutinized him as he didn't wear his normal shikahusho, but instead a kimono and a violin.
_ I see you were enjoying yourself. Gattaca stated.
He nodded, then he saw the captain make a sign to her 6th seat before vanishing.
_ We have business. His colleague stated.
Seika flashed stepped to his room and in a blink he was ready with his zanpaketo ready to be briefed.
It was probably nothing but there was several hollow reiatsu signature in the south east of Seireitei. Hollows were always able to slip through, nothing about that changed. He was always careful, they were treacherous enemies.
As they arrived there was nothing, or almost. Several corpse were lying on the grass. They extended their senses, and scouted the area. All they saw were shadows, fast moving. Until there was a slashing sound and a scream, one of their comrades had fallen.
They reassembled themselves and 3 individual appeared, a sinister reiatsu coming from their bodies. It was dark and they wore masks. One of them carried a suitcase. Gattaca was the first to attack followed by Seika. They were 5, now 4 as one had fallen.
They moved quickly and this took off guard many of them. As the sword of Seika clashed with that of a relatively short figure his sword meet surprisingly strong power. It was like a beast, although with methodical precision. It was rare to have to fight such a skilled opponent. But then.
_Bakudo no 1 Sai.
As the individual was temporarily restrained he slashed at the mask revealing the face of a woman. She was surprised as her reiatsu considerably dropped.
_Bakudo no 63 Sajo Sabaku. Seika stated.
The woman reiatsu flared frantically trying to free herself. Seika was immediately defending against one of the masked opponent. The later was stronger than the woman, but his sword broke and blood gushed from his chest. He then moved like a beetle on the ground, as his hollow mask dissolved.
He reached in his pocket for a flask of shinten shin poured a droplet on the woman face and she immediately stopped trying to break the spell, still her teeth were clenched. Seika turned toward the others and Gattaca was seeing his opponent flee leaving behind him the suitcase. The seated officer immediately ordered to pursue to see that only Seika was able to fight. He cancelled the order and instead called for reinforcement.
Seika had not been a seated officer because he was in the category of people called the itaranai (inadequate). The zanpaketo that was born into his soul wasn't meant for fighting this in any ways. He was skilled in Hoho, Kakuda, and Kendo, but otherwise, the release of his sword had no useful application on the battlefield. Captain Soi Fon had seen his abilities and although she had been impressed at the display, she instructed him never to use it on the field.
Several minutes passed until members of the 8th unit came. They retrieved the prisoners placing reishi blocking shackles on her and the man that was still breathing, then leaving 3 men, they were instructed to resume the search.
It was fruitless. The intruder had disappeared.
DDL
Seika was used to have the second role in every missions. He was an unseated officer he didn't get to know much of anything. He went back to his quarters and in his bed closed his eyes.
Ichigo Kurosaki was there as the two vizards were being interrogated. Who were they? Where did they come from? Soi Fon along with the captain commander were present. Always watchful, because since the event of the last Quincy war, they did not even trust the ground he was walking on.
Ichigo had looked at the report and one name retained his attention. Seika Naji. How did an unseated officer ever succeeded to restrain and severely wound two vizards when the other men of his rank couldn't, he needed to know more.
The next day in the night Ichigo had some free time, so he decided to spend it with Chad. Listening to music would surely help him relax. It was with surprise and suspicion that he saw Seika. The later was talented with the violin, although this wasn't surprising. His zanpaketo was music and light based. It didn't make the opponent fall into an illusion, it didn't wound his ears, it was healing and giving a feeling of deep relaxation. It was itaranai on a battlefield.
When the repetition was finished they were all going to a restaurant. It was Chad that invited them. It was exceptional to see Ichigo.
_So Seika it's your name right. Ichigo said feigning that he didn't knew him.
_Yes, Kurosaki fukutaicho. He replied.
_How did you learn to play violin? Ichigo asked.
_I took lessons. He replied.
Ichigo looked inquisitively and learned that in Rukongaï there was a music academy. In the 21st district, souls that had been musicians in the past gave lesson.
_How many years?
_15 years, afterward I was chased because I knew already everything.
Ichigo paused.
Shortly after Inoue Orihime came, followed by Rukia Kurosaki. Ichigo mood got better, and Inoue cheerfully greeted everyone. Yuyu immediately begun to speak:
_ So all your friends are Shinigamies. She said to Chad.
Chad nodded.
_Were you a shinigami when the ryoka came? Orihime asked him as though recognizing him.
_Yes. He replied.
_Did we meet before? She asked.
_ No chance, I was assigned in the outer border patrols. He replied.
She became silent, and Ichigo and the others raised their eyebrows. Orihime always had strange questions. Seika thought she probably realized how much they were famous. Then a waiter came and they ordered.
It was not long until Yuyu started to tell a story. It was about the time birds came to attack a specific group of noble. It had remained a mystery for months… Orihime laughed, Ichigo smiled, as well as the others.
Then the plates were served each of them ate hungrily.
_ So how is it ? Having been a shinigami for 600 years? Yuyu asked between two bites.
_ There is always something to do. Seika replied.
_ And why did you want to become a shinigami? Yuyu asked, ignoring how personal was the question.
_In Zaraki there was simply too much misery. He replied.
There was a silence.
_ That was the only reason why you became a shinigami? Ichigo asked.
_I am afraid it was. He replied lightly.
_And when Aizen attacked you were still in the outer border? Yuyu asked.
Seika nodded.
_ Why did you go there? Ichigo knowing it was pretty harsh.
_ I wanted time to train and peace. He replied.
The next day Seika reported for duty and was given the morning free. He went to his laboratory as he always did. He did research on kido contraption and various tools that would be useful in combat. Other than that he researched the interaction of music with reishi.
At noon he reported to the training ground and along with his colleague they honed their skills. The goal was to be able to function as a group. He had not been given any information about the vizards, although he knew what they were. He wasn't the type to try to predict what would happen next. In the gotei 13 it was like that, unseated officers never got to know anything.
DDL
Gatacca observed Seika, this under the orders Soi Fon. To him this man always had a pleasant character with slightly lower than average skills as a shinigami. He now thought otherwise. He did everything to fit, his skills matching that of his colleagues during the training, never pushing himself too hard in anything that he did, just made sure it was done correctly. If he was an infiltrator, the later must have been impressively skilled.
Had he fooled the captain when he showed her the abilities of his zanpaketo? He was suspecting that.
Gatacca was thinking about the elements shared to him by the captain. The strange device that was in the suitcase. The 12th division was in the process of understanding what it was. Was it the dawn of another crisis? Sincerely he hoped not. He knew from history how far crisis in soul society could go?
Gatacca had been a shinigami for 18 years now. First in the 8th division under Captain Rukia Kurosaki, then in the 12th. He had been remarked and received a seat in the 2nd division. He had extensive experience. He knew that every day was a treasure when you were a member of the gotei 13.
The vizards had revealed nothing. What was the point of their action? What was their goal? They eluded the interrogation by fully letting their hollow take over their souls. Ichigo Kurosaki was the one to kill them. They had been deserters, from a past long gone. They came out of the bush for reasons unknown. What was their goal? He asked himself again? Gatacca had ambition he wanted to become vice captain one day, he needed to be able to analyse clearly a situation, and successfully lead inquiries.
He had read the files concerning Seika. The later was the perfect nobody. Never tried to rise up the ranks. Content with his position as unseated officers. He couldn't find examples like him.
_ So what are you up to this afternoon? Gatacca asked him.
_More training, got to keep up the shape. Seika replied.
They left. Gatacca observed him as he did so. It was physical strength training. He piled up weights tied them to his back, then did push up. This relentlessly. He watch for about 20 minutes then was called by the captain. He had a mission.
Along with the 3rd seat of the squad, they were to enquire about the location where the attack with the vizards occurred interrogate eventual witness.