The Noble House of Kuchiki

AN: The following are the chapters I've written as part of a collaboration with a two other writers. Thankfully, the storylines are fairly separate and the plot is coherent even when reading only the ones I've written. Chapters are numbered as based on the full story. The entire story can be read at Bleach Forums (look in the Writing board).


Chapter 2

In a stark room in the Kuchiki manor, the light of dusk shines on the potted plant on the low table. The shadow of a man sitting on a mat projects on the opposite wall. Byakuya Kuchiki meditates. Here he is free from the duties of the family and the squad. Here his mind is clear of thought. In the fifteen years since the Winter War, it is here where Kuchiki finds peace. But now, it is here, alone with his turmoil, that Byakuya feels the most vulnerable.

Kuchiki's thoughts have been filled with distraught. He has not felt like this since the chaos surrounding the execution of his sister when his conflicting vows of loyalty to dead loved ones clashed. At that time, he knew the forces behind his ordeal. But the forces causing his present distress are unknown. There has been stability and quiet in Soul Society following Aizen's death. Byakuya should not feel this dread, but he does. So he shall go to a place where no one else has gone to talk to a person no one else has spoken to. Byakuya closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

He opens his eyes and he is no longer in a room.

Byakuya is sitting in a field under the shade of a sakura tree. The trickling sound of a nearly stream fills the air. Cherry blossoms flutter in the wind, falling to the ground. The serenity of Kuchiki's inner world calms his troubled mind, but it isn't the reason he is here. He could ease his mind just as easily in the gardens of the manor, but this is the only place where he could have an open conversation with her.

"Hello, Byakuya," a soft voice says from behind Byakuya.

"Hello Senbonzakura," he replies as he turns around to face her.

Senbonzakura's spirit form is a stunningly beautiful woman with a bright face and long black hair. She is wearing a floral kimono that looks oddly similar to Captain Kyoraku's. The hilt of Senbonzakura's sword form hangs on a sash tied around her waist. Hundreds of cherry blossoms swirl around her, the planets to her radiant sun.

"Why are you here?" she says.

"I have something to ask you."

She sits down. "Then ask."

Byakuya ponders the question for a moment, trying to find the exact wording. Finally he whispers it. "What am I afraid of?"

Senbonzakura knew this day would come, yet that knowledge didn't make the question any more surprising or upsetting. She knew Kuchiki, his strength, his heart. She thought that he wasn't afraid of anything.

"Hidden deep within your soul, within our soul," she calmly speaks, "there is something dark. It has remained in secret, held captive. But now its screams are being heard; now its shackles are coming loose. It is a disease and soon it will infect us. You have to stop it, Byakuya."

Kuchiki hides his worry. "How?"

"You have to face it, defeat it, kill it."

"What is it?" he says.

"If you knew what is was," Senbonzakura answers, "then you wouldn't be so scared."

Byakuya is silent in thought. She continues, "Do you see the clouds, the ones over my shoulder?"

Near the horizon, dark clouds hover over the plain, inundating the land with fierce rain. Flashes of lightning burst from the skies every few seconds. It hasn't rained in Kuchiki's inner world since Hisane's death.

"There is a storm coming, Byakuya," Senbonzakura states. "Stronger than all the others before. I fear that the rain may wash away every last cherry blossom."

She is gone with those words. The petals orbiting around her fall to the ground. Byakuya catches one in his hand and closes his eyes. He returns to the manor, the petal in his hand slowly dissolving. He notes the rate of decay. It is much faster than usual. Kuchiki breathes deeply. Well, that didn't help things he thinks.

A knock on the door interrupts his thoughts. The servants know not to intrude on my meditation, so it must be someone from the squad. And the only one with business important enough to see me here would be my lieutenant. "Come in Takahashi," he orders.

Haruka Takahashi opens the door and walks into the room, holding a stack of papers. She carefully places the papers on the table and kneels across from the captain. At this position, the light shines directly on her hardened face and greying, shoulder-length brown hair, the effects of age. She has been a shinigami for one hundred and fifty years and the only one in history to have been a member of all thirteen squads. While the experience has dulled her appearance, it has given Haruka something of far greater value to her: wisdom.

"Sir, the Rukongai scouting reports have been completed," she says.

"The results?" Kuchiki asks.

"All sector activity normal expect for Hollow appearances in Southern 65, which were disposed of by the seventh, and the capture of a rogue shinigami in Eastern 37. Special Forces will be transferring him to the Maggot's Nest in the morning."

"I see. Good work Takahashi. Pass the praise to the squad."

"Yes, sir," she replies proudly. Then after a pause, "Captain, if I may ask, why did you ask for these reports to be done?"

Byakuya carefully words his answer as to not arouse suspicion. "Most threats to Soul Society will begin in the weaker and poorly-defended Rukongai before moving on to Seireitei. By observing unusual activity in the Districts, the Gotei 13 can more easily remove the threats."

Haruka is confused. "But what could be a threat to Soul Society? The traitors were defeated and most of the higher-level menos fell with them."

"Just because one's enemy is unknown does not mean they do not exist."

"Of course. Good night, captain Kuchiki."

"Good night, lieutenant Takahashi."

Haruka exits the room in a flash. Byakuya is alone once again. He produces a kido light and looks through the reports, searching for the unknown enemy.

*********

Kiteiyo Murimoto, second squad lieutenant and head of the detention unit of the Special Forces, awakes with the light of dawn. Save for the night guard, the remaining members of the group are still sleeping. The two of them wake the others and together the hunting party dismantles the temporary camp. Murimoto walks over to the rogue shinigami who is gagged and bound by protective kido. He removes the gag. "Rise and shine, deserter."

A string of expletives explode from the captive's mouth. Kiteiyo grudgingly chants the gag back on. "And I thought we would be able to have an orderly conversation," he mutters.

Kiteiyo's body seems to be tailor-made for the Special Forces: lean and muscular, built for speed and agility. His sleeveless shihakusho is damp from the moist ground and morning dew. Clumps of dirt stick to his dark blue hair. Murimoto claims that it is natural, but several people swear he had black hair when he first entered the Academy. In terms of both appearance and personality, many shinigami say Kiteiyo is the figurative child of his former mentor Shuhei Hisagi and his current superior Soifon. Both captains immediately deny any and all rumours about the matter.

The group has finished clearing the camp and is ready to move the prisoner. Murimoto removes the leg bindings of the rebel and two Special Force members lift him to his feet. "Start walking," Kiteiyo barks.

The captive's legs stay firmly planted to the ground. The lieutenant pulls out his zanpakuto, a sharp ninjato, and holds it to the captive's neck.

"I don't plan on repeating myself," Kiteiyo threatens.

The prisoner slowly shuffles his feet, flanked by two shinigami. The unit begins their march to the Nest. One member of the group whispers to Murimoto, "Sir, I did not know you had the authority to execute the prisoner."

Kiteiyo smiles. "I don't."

An hour later, the group arrives at the Maggot's Nest. Kiteiyo notes that progress would have been faster if they had carried the captive, but the trust and camaraderie gained by the group on the march may have been the most valuable part of the mission. Besides, he had no desire to do paperwork today, so the longer he was transporting a prisoner, the better. He and two others from the group leave their zanpakuto with the Maggot's Nest guards and proceed to escort the prisoner to his new dwelling.

The group walk down the long stairs, deeper and deeper underground, until they reach a large wooden door. The jailors open the door and enter the Nest. The others captives look briefly at the intrusion slightly more fearful than usual. Once they notice Kiteiyo, their interest gives way to boredom. Murimoto releases the remaining bakudo bindings on the prisoner who continues his swearing. A swift right hook knocks him out cold.

Kiteiyo looks around the main hall. Something doesn't feel right. He quickly orders the others. "Head count of the prisoners," he commands. They flash away; Kiteiyo waits in worry. It can't be. It's impossible. When the pair returns, Kiteiyo's definition of possible is going to be radically changed.

"Including the newest prisoner, eighty-four," one of them states.

"Shit!" Murimoto exclaims.

"Sir?"

"Today's addition brought the total prisoners to one hundred and eight. Twenty-four captives have escaped the Maggot's Nest."

The other two stand still in shock. Kiteiyo pulls out his cell phone and begins dialling his captain's number. When Urahara became Captain-Commander following the war, he replaced the outdated communication system with one borrowed from the living world. While the sight of radio towers among the ancient architecture was unusual, Kiteiyo admits that they are far more practical than Hell butterflies. Soifon answers her phone and Kiteiyo prepares for delivering the dreadful news.

"Sir, it's Murimoto... The transfer was fine... A situation has occurred... There has been a breach in the Maggot's Nest... Twenty-four captives have escaped."

Kiteiyo pulls the phone away from his ear to prevent damage from the thunderous shouting coming from the other end. He barely understands her orders before the line goes dead.

"Let's go," he says to the others, making sure the door is securely locked before marching up the stairs.

One of the members, Awigawa, asks the obvious question, "How did this happen?"

"I don't know," Murimoto explains. "The last time I was in there was a two weeks ago for the monthly inspection. How twenty-four prisoners escaped in two weeks when there hasn't been a breakout in over two hundred years is beyond me."

The other Spec. Ops. member, Aidano, continues the conversation, "And the captain's orders?"

"Captain Soifon is informing Urahara of the situation," he tells the two, "while I 'clean things up' on this end. I have a basic idea of how to carry out the investigation."

The group reaches the end of the stairs, exit the Nest and squint into the bright morning sky. One of the shinigami asks "What took you so long?" Aidano informs them of the incident. The group fall silent in shock and waits for Kiteiyo to give the orders.

"Awigawa, get the guard list and bring every guard from the past two weeks to my office for questioning, including these two," he says, pointing to the current guards. "Take your squad with you; begin the interrogations without me if I'm not there in half an hour."

"Yes, sir," Awigawa replies. He, the guards and half of the hunting party flash off.

"Aidano, go to the barracks and divide the forces in six-man groups. The groups are to search Seireitei for the prisoners. As it has been too long for a radial search to be effective, we'll have to search all of Seireitei."

"And you, sir?"

"I'll go back down there and figure out who exactly escaped. I'll send you the list."

Kiteiyo's phone rings. He answers, "Hello?"

The other voice on the line belongs to Kisuke Urahara. "Soifon tells me you have a little problem down in the Maggot's Nest. Can you take care of it?"

"I believe in cleaning up your own messes, sir. The Special Forces should be able to handle this."

"Good. Your captain has ceded control of the Forces to you for the duration of the situation."

Kiteiyo is surprised by the authority and level of trust given to him. "Really?"

Soifon grabs the phone and starts yelling to her subordinate. "Yes, and if you screw this up, you'll be cleaning the barrack's toilets for the next thirty years. Understand?"

"Yessir," Murimoto shouts back.

Urahara is on the line again. "So what's your plan, lieutenant?" he asks.

Kiteiyo briefs the captain-commander on his plan. At the end of it, Urahara has a simple question. "What will the groups do if they find a hostile?"

"Converge and capture," Kiteiyo answers.

"I see. But sometimes capture may not be possible. If someone has to die, I'd rather it be one of them than a loyal shinigami."

Murimoto understands. "Aidano," he commands, "the goal of the units is capture. Lethal force is permitted if necessary. Go."

Aidano and the rest of the Special Forces members flash to duty.

Kiteiyo returns to the phone. "Anything else, sir?"

"The response from the Gotei 13 will be limited," Urahara explains. "The squads will be placed on a low-level alert and patrols will be doubled. And one more thing. I used to be the head of the detention unit. I understand how important this must be to you."

Kiteiyo was speechless.

"Good luck, lieutenant Murimoto," Urahara wishes.

Kiteiyo ends the call and begins the walk back to the Nest. So much for not doing any paperwork today.


Character Bios

Kiteiyo Murimoto

Kiteiyo grew up in Southern Rukongai 58, not quite the slums but not that much of a living. As a child, his memories of Shinigami were mixed. Two Shinigami patrolled the sector: one was cruel and spiteful, the other kind and courageous. When Kiteiyo's powers emerged, he knew he wanted to become a shinigami like the second man, a protector of souls. And he vowed to punish those like the first, those who had forgotten their duty.

Murimoto graduated from the Academy twenty years before the war. He was assigned to the Ninth division, where Tousen's sense of justice meshed with Kiteiyo's philosophies. He sought out his idol in Seireitei, but was worried that he wouldn't be able to find him. He asked his seniors whether they knew of a shinigami named Isshin. Kiteiyo was told that he was gone.

The betrayal hit Kiteiyo harder than most. Again more shinigami were rejecting their duty. We did not become shinigami to gain power he thought. We did it to protect those without the power to protect themselves. Murimoto asked Shuhei how a peaceful captain could support actions against his teachings. Kiteiyo has yet to receive an answer.

Murimoto transferred to the Second division shortly afterwards, assigned the fourth seat and head of the detention unit. He was promoted to lieutenant after Omaeda's death in the war. When asked, those in the second squad say he is a kind and courageous man, but Kiteiyo is cruel and spiteful to those who have abandoned their duty.

Haruka Takahashi

Haruka is unique among the Gotei 13: she is the only shinigami to have been a member of every squad. She has first assigned to the eighth squad around one hundred and fifty years ago. Once Haruka discovered why so many fresh female recruits are placed in the eighth division, she applied for transfer to the thirteenth. She remained there for several years until she was given a seat in the tenth squad. Which is where the trouble began.

The captain of the tenth squad at that time was a great man who would spend all of his time to the care of the shinigami in his barracks. As Takahashi trained under him, she began to idolize him. Haruka was heartbroken when he died. The cycle of torment continued under Hikifune's twelfth squad and Aikawa's seventh. After the repeated pain, Haruka had a change of heart and decided to start using the squads instead of being used by them. She became aloof and distant. Over the decades she went to the eleventh to practice combat, the second to improve her speed and hand-to-hand, and the fourth to learn kido.

Her interactions with the traitors were brief. Haruka found Tousen's order and self-righteousness to be too overbearing. She transferred to the third squad, thinking that Ichimaru's chaotic nature would provide more freedom. Instead Takahashi realised that he was merely creepy and slightly sadistic. She went to the fifth, having heard many good things about their captain, but found his calm demeanour to be even creepier than Gin's. With innate knowledge of the workings and methods of most squads, Haruka served quite well to the organisational processes of the first squad.

When Urahara was promoted to captain commander, he asked Haruka if she would take the role of lieutenant for the sixth division. During the interview, he mentioned that it was odd that she had been a member of all squads except for the sixth. Kisuke asked if there was a particular reason she avoided the squad. Takahashi told him she'd accept the position so long as he never asks that question again. Urahara agreed; he wouldn't ask, but that doesn't mean he won't investigate.