Bleach Fan fiction:

Those who Harbor Ill Fate

-Chapter Three-

A New Threat!

As the senkaimon opened a Hell Butterfly fluttered out slowly. Momo, on the other hand, burst out of the gate in full sprint the second the gates allowed. "Oh~ man! Captain Kurotsuchi is going to be extremely irritated with me. I just know it." Momo was in a panic as the world of Seireitei blurred around her. Hopefully though, the Captain of division Twelve would be forgiving. I just hope that what I saw last night was a dream. If there are Arrancar out there like that … She let the thought die as a shiver ran up her spine.

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7:24 a.m.
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"I apologize!" she exclaimed bowed, "Captain Kurotsuchi, here is the sample you requested." Sticking her hands out, palms up, the tube of the sample rolled slightly in her hand.

"Humph," Mayuri looked down at Momo with an indifferent stare, "better late than never I suppose. But I would recommend that next time you do it quicker! I could have had several samples of this in the same time it took you to get this one, but," he said trailing off. His pasty white hand snatched the sample and he turned his back to her.

"Again I apologize, but I ran into some difficulties that were unforeseen." Momo quickly stated and straighten only to see that Mayuri was facing her once more. His dull, lifeless eyes were unnerving. So cold and careless. They were colder than Shiro-chan's had ever been.

"Like what exactly?" Mayuri asked, his curiousity piqued. He cocked his head to one side and began to study Momo anew. As if she were some exotic creature being prepared for testing.

"If you wish to know then please read the report that I'll be giving the General Commander, later." She replied respectfully. Her body told her to flee but she held her ground and tried not to look at him directly in the eyes.

"Very well then. I have no more need of you, you may go." Mayuri spoke dismissively and turned away from her once more. He moved to a computer screen and began tapping away methodically.

"Thank you, Captain Kurotsuchi." Momo said in the most respectful tone she had and bowed to Mayuri's back. When she straightened once more she tried not to hurry herself out of the room, but all the restraint she held earlier started slipping and just before the door closed behind her she heard the Captain yell, "NEMU! Get these to the testing lab now!" To which she heard Nemu reply quickly and curtly, "Yes sir".

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8:20 a.m.
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A rapping sound came from the large doors in division One's barracks. A deep commanding and elderly voice crackled, "Enter." And Momo complied. "What is it?" Genryusai boomed as Momo bowed deeply to the General-Commander.

"I am here to give you my report on my latest mission to the material world." Replied Momo in a no-nonsense tone. Talking directly to the General Commander was more frightening than talking to any of the other Captains. Every inch of the General held spoke of command and regal like composure.

"Very well," Genryusai spoke quickly. Momo approached the General Commanders table at a fixed pace and handed the report over to him. Without hesitation the Commander opened the envelope and with drew the pieces of parchment that Momo had used to write her report. His eyes swept over her flowing hand writing, calm, calculating, taking in all the dry details Momo had written up. All the while Momo stood there waiting for him to dismiss her or question her.

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8:38 a.m.
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"Is everything in this document true?" Genryusai set down the papers he had been reading and drew up his gaze to Momo. He knew he appeared to be glaring and wanted her nervous. If she were lying she would falter.

"I believe it to be sir," Momo replied in the same understanding voice she had learned to adopt through service to Seireitei, "Sir. If you have no objections I would like to ask you some things." Momo swallowed hard. What was she doing? Asking the General to answer her questions as if she had a right! She was a Vice-Captain. Nothing more. Yet to her surprise the General Commander said, "I have none. What is it that you wish to speak about?"

"Well... As you were reading my report, I couldn't help but notice that you seemed unsettled by it. Is there something wrong with what is written in there?" Momo's face was smooth and composed but deep down she was terrified. Her heart was beating as if it wanted to jump up her throat. The General-Commander just stared at her until he finally spoke, and even at his words Momo's face wanted to pale.

"I will tell you this much, Vice-Captain Hinamori, what you have written here in this document shows me one of a few things," he paused for dramatic effect before he continued, "either you had gone out of your mind during your encounter with this Arrancar, and during the fight in order for you to cope with the shock your mind created this illusive story you wrote here." His gaze seemed to penetrate Momo. Her breath grew rapid beneath her shihaksho; "This in turn means you are still not fully recovered from your traumatizing event with ex-Captain, Aizen-" Genryusai would have continued if Momo's emotions hadn't gotten the better of her.

"But sir!" Momo blurted out and was stopped when Genryusai's raise his open hand. Momo gulped and relaxed her shoulders as much as possible. All the tension was building up. She knew what she saw, it was not an illusion.

"Or that you have stumbled onto a possible new threat to Seireitei." He finished and lowered his hand, "This might seem like a drastic measure, but if there is a new threat than divisions with no Captains will receive orders that new Captains will be chosen."

"Sir, does that mean you will not be holding the Captain exams?" Momo asked sounding a little uncomfortable. This was new. She couldn't remember if there had ever been anything like this to happen in the history of Seireitei.

"That is correct. Due to these facts the Captain test will not be held for a while, it is doubtful that if there is a new threat to Seireitei they will wait for us to be ready. They have shown themselves and gotten rid of their only element." Genryusai boomed, "You are to return to division Five's barracks and await these orders."

"Yes sir!" She replied. When Genryusai nodded his head and dismissed her she bowed, turned, and ran back to the barracks where she was to deliver the news. When Momo had returned to her division's mess hall everyone was pleasant and gave her a warm reception. It felt good to be back with her team mates. She put on a reassuring smile and greeted them all kindly. When all was said and done, she had every member of division Five sit down and have the tea ready. They all eagerly obeyed and by the time Momo took her seat at the head of the room, they all stared back at her patiently awaiting whatever it was that she had to say. As she began to inform them, she noticed that some gaped. Others looked down right startled, but one thing was evident. They were all taken aback by her last bit of news.

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9:15 a.m.
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A Hell Butterfly flew into division five's barracks and a voice boomed to all the division members who had been gathered by Momo, "In light of new information of a possible threat to Seireitei, by order of General-Commander Shigekuni Genryuusai Yamamoto, any division without a Captain is to have their Vice-Captain promoted. Also new Captains must choose a new Vice-Captain. Furthermore all Captains and Vice-Captains are to report to the Meeting Hall for an emergency meeting." The voice crackled off and the Hell Butterfly left. Voices began to whisper around and people shuffled themselves to look more presentable.

Momo was shocked. She had filled in for the captain of her division and now she WAS the Captain "W-Well then," she turned to face the others "I guess I should choose a Vice-Captain then, shouldn't I." Momo paused and smiled. As soon as she paused there were a bunch of people jumping and shouting at her to choose them. Her face quickly went from a smile to a shock-of-awe state "That's quite enough!" she yelled, "I will not have my division members acting so disorderly! I will choose who I see fit for the position." At that everyone quickly went back to they're sitting position and bowed to her.

"Please forgive us!" They all exclaimed in unison. Momo giggled to herself quietly. This was going to be unusual. Many of the members of her division already felt protective of her, but not so much that they'd get in her way. Yet still. This was going to be interesting.

"It's alright, just don't do it again." Momo replied bringing one of her hands up to her face and waving it to say "don't worry 'bout it".

"Such an angel!" Declared one Shinigami as he rose to a triumphant stance. "An absolute kind soul with no ill will!" said another taking up the same stance.

"Now let me see," Momo said to herself as she scanned the room full of star-struck Shinigami who looked at her. As she scanned the room a Shinigami caught her eye, he had been quiet the whole time and did not look up from the ground. She pulled out a roaster and looked at it for his name and picture, she found it. His name was Kurimaru, Kyo and his profile stated he was six feet seven inches, natural hair was blonde but it was obvious he dyed it red, "Maybe after Vice-Captain Abari," Momo thought. It also said that he had transferred to division five from division eleven and his mission record since his transfer was more than exceptional, "Oi! Kurimaru-san, who do you think should be the new Vice-Captain?" Momo asked him and patiently awaited his answer.

He looked up, puzzled, but up, "Umm if you ask me Ma'am it would have to be Tsunaki-sama. He's far more skilled than any other in this division that I've seen."

"Come now Kurimaru, I told you just to call me Haseo! And anyways you're too modest, your skills far surpass my own." Tsunaki spoke up and slapped Kurimaru on the back making a loud thwack sound. He was modest; she was glad he was. She didn't like people who were arrogant or full of themselves.

"Well then if no one has any objections it would seem that Kurimaru will be your new Vice-Captain." There was a silence and then nothing. No one moved, spoke, or even breathed it seemed. Then in a split second everyone was cheering and yelping "ALL RIGHT KURIMARU WAY TO GO!" Some of them shouted. It had seemed she made the right decision. "Well then shall we go than, Vice-Captain Kurimaru?"

"Yes Ma'am!" exclaimed Kurimaru happily and rose from his seat. The biggest grin she had ever seen was on his face. That of course brought a smile to her own face as well.

"Now everyone eat up and when we return I expect you all to be well rested and ready for training!" With that Momo walked out of the division Five barracks with her head held high and Kurimaru only a few steps behind her. Suddenly everything seemed like it was going to work out wonderfully.

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9:27 a.m.
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All the captains had lined up on either side of the room, facing the General-Commander. All the Vice-Captains had currently left to attend the Vice-Captain's meeting. "Will the three new Captains step forward and present themselves." ordered Genryusai as he lifted his cane and smacked it against the flooring causing a loud thud sound.

"Izuru, Kira. Captain of division Three!" exclaimed Izuru as he stepped out of the line of Captains. Momo was next. She swallowed hard and took a few calming breaths before taking her turn.

"Hinamori, Momo. Captain of division Five!" exclaimed Momo in the most regal voice she could call upon. Hisagi was next and he stepped out as cool as could be.

"Shuhei, Hisagi. Captain of division Nine!" He exclaimed in a confident tone. His eyes drifted to Momo for a second and then back to the Commander.

"You may all step up and acquire your Captain's jacket," Genryusai announced. Momo walked up to a plain wooden table that held three jackets. One painted with the Japanese number three, another to its left painted five, and a third painted nine. Momo stopped before the table and picked up the jacket that read five. Kira was to her left, taking hold of the division three jacket. Hisagi simply grabbed the ninth division jacket and flung it on. Momo and Kira followed his example and slide their arms through their jackets. "I will now brief you all on what we believe to be a new-" Yamamoto started when all of a sudden the alarm sounded. A member of the Special Forces patrol appeared in the room by way of shunpo.

"Sir! Three unidentified figures have stepped out of the Senkaimon and have started heading in this direction!" he reported sounding disturbed.

Yamamoto looked up, "Could this be a direct act of war? The briefing will have to wait, you are all ordered to use full wartime force on these intruders if you come in contact with them. Is that understood!" he barked.

"Yes Sir!" All the captains' exclaimed in unison, and turned to leave. As Momo was heading for the door when she felt someone grab her Captain's sleeve. "Momo, be careful." It was Shiro-chan's voice. Instantly her cheeks flushed and she had to swallow before she could speak.

"I will, you don't have to worry about me all the time you know." She was surprised by the steadiness of her voice.

"Yeah I know," Toshiro started, "oh, and congratulations on getting a Captain seat." He replied. Why didn't he sound happy? No. It was just Shiro-chan acting like Shiro-chan.

"Thanks Shiro-chan." She spoke only then to remember her 'dream' of Toshiro kissing her. Her face flushed again. This time a little more crimson then before. Toshiro moved around in front of her.

"Hey! What's wrong? You're as red as an apple." He stated rather matter-of-factly.

"Huh? Wha-? Nothing's wrong." She said quickly turning around and burying her face in her hands.

Toshiro was staring at her and asked "You sure you aren't sick again?"

"NO!" She blurted, "Honestly I'm fine, but thanks for asking." Her face returned to a lesser red, but her cheeks were still flushed. She turned to face him and smiled warmly. This time it was Toshiro's turn to blush and look away.

"Well good. I'd hate to have to drag you back to division Four barracks."

Momo puffed her cheeks in anger, "Toshiro you're so mean sometimes you know!" Storming out of the meeting room she muttered angirly to herself.

"H-Hey now! I was just joking!" Toshiro quickly responded and outstretched his hand as if to stop her. "Oh~ man, what have I done?" He moaned and walked out.

That left only General Captain Genryusai in the room, "How long have you been hiding in here?" He asked seemingly to no one.

"Not long, really, but long enough to see a weakness in those two Captains." a man's voice chimmed in. A man cloaked in black stepped from the shadows, "Did you get this welcome wagon prepared just for little old us?" He mused.

"You know very well that you are not to be here." Genryusai stated and turned his dangerous glare on the man. The man didn't seem phased by the heated stare of the General-Commander, instead he took a few steps closer. Genryusai's hand twitched slightly. All these years, why now? What was he to expect?

"What happened to that caring and hearty man that used to pat me on the head whenever I visited?" The cloaked man asked and tilted his hooded head to one side.

"A lot has happened since my days working to help build the Gotei Thirteen. I have had to learn hard lessons and do things in the name of justice that I am not proud of." Yamamoto said softly and turned his gaze away from the other man. His head sunk low, "I did not think you'd come back again. What is it you want?"

"Yeah, no kidding around for you. Just straight to brass taxes," the cloaked man replied. "My business here will be quick, but unfortunately I cannot inform you on the situation. You will have to trust me Genryusai. Just go about business normally." Such a formality with the General Commander. If anything Genryusai should have struck down the cloaked man. But something inside of him yelled out to trust the other.

"Very well. I shall continue conducting things as if I did not know you. But do not kill anyone." Genryusai pleaded. Why was it that he had to plead? Precious lives were at risk and he couldn't lift a finger. What else could he do?

"We only came here to kill our target. Not one of your men." That being the last of what he would say, the cloaked man stepped back into the shadows and disappeared. Genryusai prayed he had made the right choice.

Charon: Well this is a slightly revised version of my 3rd chapter. A few errors were corrected, repetative words etc. etc. This was one of my chapters that didn't need a whole lot of work plot wise or grammar wise. I think the biggest problem I'm going to have with this is that someone will be ticked about how I portrayed Genryusai there at the end. Meh. Enjoy!