Chapter 3: Chaos in the Aftermath
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(I have chaos in my poor brain. This is like popcorn I can't put down and can't stop chomping on. Thanks so very much to Picklez80 (Be assured that my tears fall too when I write something that angsty. I am a mess right now, but I am already nagged by my insane muse about what to do in the next chapter. Help! How do I turn it off?), Aizenfan6969 (Yup, as much as I love good humor and drama, angst just grabs me sometimes and won't let go.), Willow (Messed up does not begin to describe poor Uryu's mind, but I will be diving deep into that and bringing it to life very soon.), AvellaAria (I have a like reaction. It's funny, I do and don't control the story. My muse does the thinking while I retreat and watch it happen as my fingers move. I do almost no deciding at all. Weird, huh?), Ricoch3t (The highest praise is hearing that I convinced someone to try something new. Thank you!), Kenni-bun bun (Aww, sorry I made you sad! But Byakuya is on the way. I just want to keep the right pace and play out the important pieces of the story. Nothing's worse than rushing too much and forgetting important things.), Hisuiryuu (The abortion scene made me a wreck too. I have a love/hate relationship with my muse...), Sachiko Heiwajima (I try to make the nobles realistic. There are good ones, but there are some really rotten ones that need a good kick in the ass. I sense some karma in their future!), Izou no Kaizoku (Yeah, some of those guys are extremely cutthroat, but when you have status and money, it can start to be all about protecting what you have to the point of destroying what you love.), and Baerbelhaddrell (I think one of the ingenious things Kubo has done in this arc is point out that both sides are fighting for justice, both are good and bad. Both have a point, but both commit horrible atrocities. I will be focusing a lot during the hearing chapters on bringing out just why some of those elders are so adamant in their bias and so extreme in their views. I feel like I have a responsibility to show the whole crazy picture of two societies struggling for survival and control. And Byakuya and Uryu are caught in the middle of that. I will also be weaving in something really intense that has to do with Uryu's sewing ability. Okay, I have an itch to get this posted and get back to writing!) Enjoy the chapter! Love, Spunky)
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Ichigo rose out of a sleepy haze to find Tetsuya still at his side and infusing his body with a steady flow of healing power. A sliver of worry went through him as he noticed the more pronounced weariness in Tetsuya's eyes and the barely perceptible shaking in his hands. He frowned up at the noble.
"What time is it?" Ichigo asked, "Has Byakuya left yet?"
"No," Tetsuya answered, his voice also reflecting his reduced state, "He is with his attendant, dressing for the meeting. He will be leaving soon."
"Oh," Ichigo said, regarding the noble sympathetically, "Hey, you look a little beat. You all right?"
Tetsuya smiled.
"I am fine," he assured Ichigo, "It is just that there are a lot of injured people and not enough healers. And even when there is short respite, there are not enough beds and supplies."
He paused, blushing.
"Sorry," he apologized, "I've been rude."
"No way," Ichigo said, sitting up slowly and capturing Tetsuya's hand as the noble let his power fade.
Tetsuya looked down at their joined hands and blushed more brightly.
"I think it's just that you're exhausted. It has a way of bringing down your barriers. But why don't you lie down here? This bed is huge, and it's obvious you need to sleep."
"B-but I..."
"What's the matter?" chuckled Ichigo, "you don't trust me? You think I'll sneak away if you close your eyes? I promise I won't. I'll stay right here and rest like I'm supposed to. Go on, Tetsuya. Lie down. Let me repay you for the healing by taking care of you a little."
Tetsuya stared back at him wordlessly.
"I think that is good advice, watashi no itoko," Byakuya said as he entered the bedroom, "I understand you have been up all of last night and most of today as well."
"There are still skirmishes going on between our forces and the surviving quincies. While the more powerful ones seem to have retreated into the shadows, some groups have been making small, disruptive attacks. Arashi even stopped a group from entering here last night."
"Who's Arashi?" Ichigo asked curiously.
"He is my horse," Tetsuya explained, "We share powers and intelligence, so he assists me in protecting Byakuya-sama."
"Something that Tetsuya and Arashi do very well," Byakuya said approvingly, "But you will do it better once you've rested. Lie down, Tetsuya. I will have our attendants on duty while you rest."
"Yes, Byakuya-sama."
Byakuya studied the two for a moment before seeming to come to some sort of decision and continuing.
"Tetsuya, after you have rested, I am going to give you a new assignment."
Tetsuya stiffened for a moment, but made no objection. Byakuya went quiet, his eyes looking out the open garden doors and studying the attendants who worked at preparing the land and planting new seedlings where the prior growths had been destroyed in the war.
"You were here in Soul Society, both during the first wave of attacks and after the Seireitei was switched with the quincy lands, and we began our race to stop Ywach from becoming king. With your own eyes, you saw the destruction, the evil that came out of the darkness and stained the ground with our blood. You witnessed this, and I know it haunts you."
"Yes," Tetsuya agreed softly, lowering his eyes respectfully.
"It haunts me as well. And while I know that it was an army of quincies and not the will of all quincies that was responsible, I am as tempted as any to blame the entire quincy populace."
"I think I understand where this is going," Tetsuya said, glancing at Ichigo, "You think someone will try to hurt Ichigo-sama because he is part quincy?"
"You really think that'll happen?" Ichigo asked, frowning.
"Perhaps not," Byakuya answered, "However, the truth is that there are already groups clamoring for another quincy purge."
"What?" Ichigo exclaimed, paling, "How can they think that's okay? Didn't they learn from what happened that..."
"There hasn't been time for realization and calm to set in. "The new king has only just been seated and he hasn't had his coronation yet. Here in Soul Society, the mess is being cleaned up and people are rebuilding, but the focus as they do that is shifting towards the quincies that were captured. The two surviving elites were immediately tried and sentenced to life in Muken, since we were incapable of executing them. The three who assisted us are awaiting judgment by Central 46. They might avoid death sentences, but those who lost family, friends and comrades in the war are angry and want some kind of justice. These quincies can be killed."
Ichigo paled.
"You think they'll kill Bazz-B, Giselle and Liltotto?" he concluded, "Do you think they'll kill Uryu too?"
Byakuya's frown deepened.
"That is the direction I see them going," Byakuya confirmed, "however, I don't intend to let it come to that. I have your official statement, witness accounts and also some information I gathered from our family archive that should protect Ishida Uryu from a death sentence. But even avoiding a death sentence will do no good unless I also get him released from Central 46 custody. That is what I am about to do."
"And you think they'll listen to you?" Ichigo asked, "You didn't seem to think so before."
"I have more information now," Byakuya said simply, "I have a strategy. But you and Tetsuya need to be aware that what I do today will have consequences."
"That is why you are reassigning me?" inquired Tetsuya.
"Yes," Byakuya confirmed, "Tetsuya, you bear a resemblance in some way to Ichigo, because you are a half-blood. You know that hatred doesn't always focus itself righteously, that sometimes it gets focused on the wrong people, and innocent people get hurt. This happened to you when your family was wrongfully incarcerated while you were a child."
Ichigo blinked in realization.
"That's what you were talking about before, Tetsuya? When you said that he rescued you?"
"Yes," Byakuya said, meeting eyes with his cousin, "I rescued Tetsuya when some misguided clan members took the law into their own hands and misused it, bringing chaos and destruction to many mixed blood families, Tetsuya's included. Ichigo, I am concerned that, even though the populace knows that you did end the threat the quincy king posed, they will be mistrusting...and some of them may be hateful towards you. Tetsuya knows well how this could become dangerous for you. He was personally trained by me, and is taichou level. He will be a capable protector for you."
"You want me to be Ichigo-sama's bodyguard?" Tetsuya asked, giving Byakuya a conflicted look, "But Byakuya-sama, what about you? It is bad enough that I had to stay behind while you nearly died in the war! Are you sure this is the right thing to do?"
"Ichigo needs your protection more than I do right now. It may be that he will be assigned his own protector by the Shiba family, once they have confirmed his identity and his place in their clan. But right now, he is still just a substitute shinigami. You will protect him on my behalf, for as long as he requires protection."
"Yes, Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya said, with an edge of misgiving, "I will protect Ichigo-sama."
"After you have rested," Byakuya said firmly, "Ichigo, I ask that you see that my rather stubborn cousin takes care of himself while I am gone."
Ichigo chuckled good naturedly.
"I will."
His smile faded and a more worried look overtook his face.
"Byakuya, please get Uryu out of that place," he pleaded softly, "I can't even imagine what could be happening to him. I know he was wrong to even pretend to side with Ywach."
"Do not worry, Ichigo," Byakuya said with certainty, "The law will be on our side today. Trust in that."
"I don't know," Ichigo said warily, "Central 46 doesn't always interpret the law in the fairest way."
"Then, I am not going to give them any way to interpret it, but the one that will place Ishida Uryu's fate in my hands. I will need to have Inoue Orihime accompany me, and, Tetsuya, I will be taking Arashi with me, just in case there is trouble. But, given what I found in my search for precedence, I should be successful in getting Uryu released into my custody."
"I hope so," Ichigo sighed, frowning and looking down at his hands as Byakuya left the room.
He looked up a moment later and caught sight of Tetsuya starting to slip out of the room.
"Hey, where are you going? Are you trying to get us both in trouble with Byakuya?" he complained.
"I will be right back," Tetsuya assured him, "There are just..."
"Nope," Ichigo said, flash stepping into his path and blocking the door, "You heard Byakuya. You're taking a nap, buddy."
"You shouldn't be using your flash step yet!" Tetsuya exclaimed.
"Well, I kinda had to because Byakuya asked me to be sure you rested and you're trying to avoid it. So, I'll tell you what, I'll lie down and you lie down and we'll both rest like we're supposed to, okay? How's that?"
"Oh, very well," Tetsuya sighed in a flustered tone, removing his clothes down to his yukata and slipping into the bed beside Ichigo.
"Byakuya's right," Ichigo teased, smirking, "you are stubborn."
"You are hardly one to talk," Tetsuya answered saucily, "But then...for you, being stubborn has meant you found the strength and resolve to do great things."
Ichigo grinned.
"Some," he agreed, "I think you've done some great things too. I heard on the way back here that you were the one who was responsible for the evacuation plans that saved a lot of lives, and that you saved more lives in the battles. So, I guess being stubborn is sometimes a good thing, right?"
Tetsuya turned onto his side, facing Ichigo and curling around a large, thickly stuffed pillow.
"Sometimes," he agreed, closing his eyes and starting to drift off.
Ichigo watched long enough to be sure Tetsuya slept, and that his attendant had arrived and taken his place outside the garden doors on watch, then he stole a last glance at Byakuya's sleeping cousin and closed his own eyes, dropping off quickly and joining Tetsuya in sleep.
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Orihime watched with rounded eyes as Byakuya's attendant led a tall, black Arabian stallion into the courtyard and motioned for her to approach.
"Oh, Torio-san, I don't know. I have only ridden a few times."
"It's all right," Torio assured her, "Arashi is good to kind people. He won't let you fall, Orihime-chan."
He extended a hand and helped her onto the stallion's back. Arashi nickered and turned his head to sniff at the girl, then stood quietly as Byakuya arrived. Orihime sucked in a surprised breath as Byakuya mounted behind her, then lifted the hood on her cloak.
"I want you to remain cloaked until I tell you to remove it," he warned her, "Some stealth is going to be necessary."
"Yes, Kuchiki taichou," Orihime said, gasping softly as Byakuya touched his heels to Arashi's sides and the stallion broke into a run.
She felt like she might fall, then suddenly registered the presence of barely visible kido bindings securing her in place.
"Oh, thank you, Kuchiki taichou," she said politely.
"It wasn't me. It was Arashi," Byakuya corrected her, "He shares Tetsuya's shinigami powers. That is why I brought him with us."
"Do you think there will be trouble?" Orihime asked worriedly.
"There may already have been some trouble," Byakuya answered sternly, "I was informed something happened at the compound, but details have not been released. We will learn more when we arrive. Just, stay close to me."
"Yes sir."
The two rode on in silence, Byakuya's determined eyes focusing on the road ahead, while Orihime found herself mesmerized by Arashi's dancing mane and cute, perked ears. The stallion thundered through the streets, showing impressive agility in angling around the numerous people, then stretching out his long legs and sprinting the last quarter mile, down a trail marked restricted, that led to the main entry of the shinigami's Central 46 compound. Arashi slowed as they approached the entry, stopping several yards away and standing quietly as Byakuya dismounted, then helped Orihime down. The human girl flinched and blushed as he leaned over her, adjusting her hood to better cover her face and hide her hair.
"Remember," he warned her, "stay with me and do not remove your hood until I tell you to."
"I understand," she assured the noble.
The two approached the front gate and Byakuya stepped forward to meet the approaching guard.
"Kuchiki taichou," the guard greeted him respectfully, "and this is...?"
"One of my healers," Byakuya said dismissively, "She is here to tend to me as necessary for battle injuries."
"Of course, Kuchiki taichou. Come on through."
Byakuya led Orihime into the compound lobby, where an aged man who looked vaguely similar to Byakuya and was dressed in an expensive kimono met them.
"Byakuya," the man said in a polite, but hushed tone, "You must come with me. The meeting will start soon, but there is something you must see."
"I heard there was trouble, Nori," Byakuya replied, falling in with the elder man as they turned down several hallways and entered into the Central 46 mortuary.
"Oh no..." Byakuya whispered, paling, "You don't mean that Ishida...?"
"No, no the quincy is alive," Nori assured him, "although he is accused of killing a healer..."
"A healer?" Byakuya whispered back, looking surprised.
"Yes. You know him. Aomori Masao...my good friend, Yasuo's boy. I feel horrible because I appointed him for the position only last month. He is a very skilled healer for such a young one. This is terrible!"
Orihime placed a hand over her mouth, going pale as Nori led them to a refrigerated chamber, where he opened a small door and moved the body within onto an examination table.
"I see you've brought Inoue-chan," Nori said hopefully, "Do you think you can do anything for him, my dear?"
"Yes, of course," Orihime said, stepping forward and invoking her power.
Byakuya and Nori watched intently as a golden oval spread out over the young man's bloodied body.
"Luckily, I was able to convince them to put off a full autopsy," Nori said in a relieved tone, "It's good you and Inoue-chan arrived when you did. Now, if we can just heal him and get the truth about what happened!"
"What were you told, Uncle?" Byakuya asked.
"I was told that Saitos Yuudai and Huyu were interrogating Ishida-san in the presence of two guards. All four said that there was a struggle when the quincy broke free, and that Ishida-san stabbed Masao, killing him instantly."
"But you don't believe the story?" Byakuya inquired.
"I feel like we weren't told everything," Nori posited, "We have a bloody knife that was retrieved from Ishida's hand. He was unconscious, of course, and claims he was unconscious when the murder happened. He seems very distressed at the accusation, and it is worse because he has no memory of the killing at all."
"So, it is his word against theirs," Byakuya said dryly, "I suppose we know how that will play out. When he is tried for his war crimes, this will be just the thing to earn a death sentence...an act assuring continuing danger of violence. It couldn't be more open and shut..."
"But you said that you could move things in a better direction?"
"Yes. I am going to take custody of Ishida Uryu, myself. I will incarcerate him at Kuchiki Manor and I will have until the hearing to find a way to help him avoid a death sentence."
Nori paused, watching as Masao's body twitched softly, and he began to breathe.
"Byakuya, please don't be angry, but...can you tell me why this means so much to you to protect this quincy boy? I know he assisted in helping to save our Rukia-chan and also helped save Inoue-chan from Aizen Sousuke, but he was an enemy in the war."
"I have proof that the quincy king was responsible for the deaths of Ichigo and Uryu's mothers, and that Uryu only became an enemy so that he could get close to Ywach."
"But you know that isn't enough to sway this group. It wasn't enough to clear Ichimaru taichou when he betrayed Soul Society to get close to Aizen for the purpose of killing him. You have to have more."
"I will," Byakuya assured him, "But first things first. We need this man's story."
"That might be a problem," Orihime said worriedly, "Masao-san was killed and laid dead for a while before we arrived, so it will take time for him to fully regain consciousness, and he might have gaps in his memory."
"Or he might not have seen who killed him," Nori sighed, "Byakuya, this is..."
Nori went still as Masao flinched, then expelled a terrified scream. He sat up, gasping and staring in horror at his naked and bloody body, searching for the source of the blood.
"It's all right, Masao-san," Orihime said bracingly, letting her healing field drop and placing a hand on his arm, "You will be all right now."
Byakuya picked up a lab coat that hung over the back of a chair and wrapped it around the healer's shivering form.
"Wh-what happened?" he asked, clenching at the lab coat, then looking around and realizing where he was, "Why am I h-here? Was I...was I dead?"
"We received a report that you were stabbed while in some kind of struggle with the imprisoned quincy, Ishida Uryu," Byakuya explained, "Can you tell us anything about what happened?"
"I...I don't know," Masao whispered, shivering harder and closing his eyes against rising tears, "I um...remember going into the chamber and seeing him. He was...bound to a table."
"That's very good, my boy," Nori said, slipping an arm around the young man's quaking shoulders.
"I'm sorry," Masao apologized, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I f-feel...confused. I remember some things, but most things are fuzzy."
"You are still in shock," Byakuya said calmly, "We were able to revive you, but you will need time to fully recover. I will have you escorted to Kuchiki Manor, if you wish. But before you go, I need to know if you know who struck you with that knife. Do you remember anything?"
"Everything is really foggy," Masao admitted, quivering, "I do know I walked towards the door and...and I felt horrible pain!"
Tears leaked down the healer's face, but he took a steadying breath.
"Could Ishida Uryu have stabbed you?" Byakuya asked fervently.
Masao's eyes darkened and intensified and he took faster breaths as he struggled to remember.
"I...I heard him scream," he remembered slowly, "and then...I was...walking towards the door."
Masao closed his eyes for a moment, straining his mind. Then, his eyes flew open and met Nori's.
"Nori-dono, Ishida-san couldn't have hurt me!" he exclaimed.
"Are you sure?" the Kuchiki elder asked warily.
"I'm sure," Masao insisted, "I know that he was tied down."
"We were told that he broke free and struggled with you and the others, and that you were stabbed then," Byakuya recounted.
"No," Masao said with certainty, "Ishida-san was tied down, and I didn't struggle with anyone. I was leaving the room when someone stabbed me from behind!"
Can you remember anything from the interrogation, or why Ishida screamed?" asked Byakuya, "Were they hurting him?"
Masao paused and his gaze intensified as he struggled to remember. For a moment, he encountered only blank space when he tried to recall the prior events. But a flash of a vision resonated in his mind and began to swell.
"Th-they forced me to do something," he whispered, "something that made Ishida-san scream. They told me to leave and forget what I saw."
Orihime moved forward and touched a hand to Masao's teary face, focusing on the heavy emotions plaguing the young man's mind, then rejected the pain.
"What did you see?" Byakuya asked, "What did they want you to forget?"
Held in a state of calm by Orihime's power, Masao closed his eyes and let the vision swell and clear.
"They wanted me to forget that...Ishida-san was carrying a child," he said, opening his eyes again, "and...they forced me to end it!"