The four shinigami stayed relatively quiet during their trip to the Kuchiki Mansion. Their footsteps were quiet, but amplified by the emptiness of the void they traveled in. To break the distilled silence, Renji had attempted to briefly reconnect with the orange haired vizard, but Ichigo's nearly unbreakable silence had greatly discouraged him.
"So, Ichigo. How's everything in the human world?" The lieutenant began, running a hand through his shortened red hair. No longer was he the pineapple, with only a small red fuzz patch kept him separated from pachinko-head Ikkaku.
Ichigo's hard mask stayed in place, his scowl increasing if at all possible. "Shut up, Abari." Kurosaki's tone wasn't the powerful sound Renji had come to know from him. Even back when the two were bitter rivals, Ichigo's voice was full of his raw emotions and intense power. Now, his tone was dead, his eyes frozen with hatred. And boy did Zangetsu look sharp.
Byakuya, as per his self-imposed silence, said nothing to reprimand either shinigami. He did however, make a mental note of Ichigo's harsh attitude. The Kuchiki prince was actually quite surprised to meet this new side of Ichigo, never expecting to hear the orange haired representative so withdrawn.
"Ichigo!" Rukia, however, felt no need to quell her words towards her partner. "There is no need to act this way, Renji is your friend and comrade." Although Rukia could, in fact, partially understand Ichigo's behavior, she did not condone it. He had lost contact with Seireitei, to regain it so suddenly was shocking. Ichigo went on ignoring the group, his mind dead set on Ichimaru Gin.
"Ichigo?" Renji tried again, his words softer, pleading with the substitute teenager. Ichigo made no comment, but he did let his dark chocolate eyes drift over to each of his old war friends for an instant. Ex-war friends, save Rukia, at this point.
"Now we're talkin' king." Ichigo said nothing, but on this third attempt at conversation, he cracked the tiniest of smiles only his mind could see. Inside his mind, a dark laugh erupted, shaking the solid buildings.
(At the same time)
"This is the captain of Squad One, Yamamoto-sou taichou. Reporting to all officers of the Seireitei. The two ryoka Soifon-taichou encountered earlier have been apprehended. Their motives were deemed illicit and their existence a threat to our current peace. They were put to death via sword this morning, after a meeting of both the captains and the Central 46. The emergency status has been lifted, please return to your regular stations."
(--)
One of the more infamous parts of the Seireitei was the dreaded White Tower. This bleached stone column had become famous for holding many death row prisoners. The actual use of the tower had become somewhat limited over the last hundred years, but Shinigami were reminded of its existence recently due to Kuchiki Rukia's execution. Even in times of peace, the place was kept under strict scrutiny.
Like the tower, their garb was white.
Such a dreary, hopeless color, white.
They sat hunched over, as far away from the room's only door as a circular wall would allow. They were still, and silent, eyes downcast, breath withheld. The two both wore white robes, with contrasting red collars tightening around their necks. They held almost no presence with the outside world spending, hiding out inside their minds. The pull of the soul stone was heavy in their quarters. As such, more complex life functions faded away, until they were left with the simplest aspects of the life after death.
They were cursed with hearing. The noises of the outside world; each sound that drifted into their heavily guarded room resonated in their minds like gunshots. When the world was quiet, their minds were filled with the buzzing, the sound of the soul stone as it worked its evil power, eating away at their reietsu.
Finally, after what seemed like another passing decade. "How…." A sudden, mangled cough, to give life back to vocal cords. "How long have we been in here?"
The other voice was composed, but also ragged due to the lengthy period of silence. "About.. 4 days, maybe extra."
The first chuckled coldly, sounding like steel nails against a chalkboard, as he brought his head up. His green hair dangled down in an erratic pattern. Unfocused emerald orbs drifted around the room, then to the door.
"Anytime now."
(5 days ago- The Cave)
As the ryoka exited the cave, the sun lowered, casting long shadows over the rocky landscape. As the orb dropped down behind the Seireitei, it cast a final light over the mountainous range briefly illuminating the group.
During the twenty seconds of light provided by the sun, nobody spoke. Within that time, Kayl and Ryou had each located and memorized the positions of the Shinigami Captains and Lieutenants. Standing before them was the Captain and Assistant Captain of the First Squad, with the various other divisions camped out in hard to see areas. With the exception of the Captain and Lieutenant of Divisions 4 and 12, all of the Shinigami's high officers were present. Stalwart Soifon-taichou and her lazy lieutenant from the second, Izuru-taichou and Satome Kiku-fukutaichou of Squad Three. Squad Five was represented by Kaede-fukutaichou and one of the Gotie's youngest captains, none other than the sweet little Hinamori Momo.
Byakuya and Renji, before their departure to the human world, Squad Seven's officers, as well as Kyoraku and Nanao Ise from the Eighth. Making their debut, the newest Captain and Lieutenant, Hisagi Shuhei and Minoru Hikari of Squad Nine. Ten was represented by the taller-by-two-inches Hitsugaya-taichou and his bubbly lieutenant. Zaraki loomed over the entire group, his battered zanpakuto slung over one shoulder, a lieutenant on the other; Yachiru-fukutaichou gazing curiously at the two ryoka. And finally, the Captain of Squad Thirteen, Ukitake Jushiro, stationed on Yamamoto's right.
"You know, Ryou," Kayl interlocked his fingers behind his skull, glancing down, "if we really wanted to annihilate the Seireitei, what would the easiest method be?"
Ryou's unpleasantly cold and swift mind churned out options for about two slow breaths. "Silent assassination of the Council of 46, followed by a fell strike at the captains?"
Kayl broke into a smile at the shocked captain's expressions. The greenhorns in particular wore priceless looks. "And what would be the easiest way to kill all the captains?"
Yamamoto was about to speak, possible to issue a pompous threat of 'silence or death', but Ryou beat him to the punch. "Gathering them together, then unleashing every bit of a Menos Grande's reietsu into a kamikaze Hado strike, possibly a 99, then praying to the deity of your choosing that it doesn't backfire on said caster?"
Kayl laughed again. "You captains need to work on your crisis plans. This was obviously not the best idea, gathering all the fighting Captains for two ryoka who could shunpo faster than Soifon-taichou can follow." He grinned at her in a leering fashion, "Personally, I would put little to no weight on her lackluster abilities."
The aging Captain Commander growled menacingly for silence. "What do you worthless ryoka want, breaking into the Seireitei like this?"
Kayl pretended to think. "Well, Old Man, ya'see….."
(Present evening)
Ichigo sat, Zangetsu on his back, against the base of a large tree, gazing up at the sky.
'He looks so peaceful…' The thoughts of a small violet-eyes shinigami drifted with her steps, until she was standing next to her partner. He didn't look away from the sky. "I won't help them." He spoke at last, and she nodded. "I'm getting Ichimaru for me, not them."
Rukia's mouth arched, her fingers playing with the tips of his uniquely colored hair. He grinned, looking every bit the part of his unofficial titles: Hero of the Aizen Rebellion, the Defender of Seireitei, and (her personal favorite) the Substitute Strawberry. Of course, he knew not of his titles, she had never been able to speak of Seireitei to him, as ordained by the Central 46.
She frowned, following his gaze to the stars. The Central 46, or rather new, Central 46, had been elected during their final attack on Aizen. As told by Yamamoto, they had been very flexible with the Gotei, even going so far as to consider several radical promotions, one of the candidates being Ichigo, vizard and all. But then, suddenly, they reversed all their old decisions and reverted to a stuffy, cold ruling council, The Gotei, didn't like it, but they had no evidence to convict anyone.
There wasn't even a real crime.
And now, to break another taboo, two of the King's Guard had deserted, and fled to the Seireitei. Only to be executed on the spot. That was another bet going around, the manner of their deaths. It was common knowledge that the King's Guard was made up of only Lieutenant and above individuals, not all of them coming from the Gotei. The exact number and nature of the group was unknown, as was the location of the Royal Dimension, or even who the current king was.
Nevertheless, two Renji-or-above level guards had been dispatched without a fight, and the Gotei called for a meeting in light of the events.
'What is going on?' Rukia asked herself, lowering her gaze to meet the closed eyes of a slumbering Ichigo. She smiled.
'Baka.'
(Several Hours Later)
The door swung ajar with the slightest of noise. Sneaking through the opening, a miniature shadow snuck across the hardwood flooring. The room was glowed as she pulled back the old fashioned curtains, letting the bright light rush in. She grinned, turning to the bed. Muscles tensing, the watched his breathing, counting down seconds. In a pre-decided instant, she sprung forward, onto the sleeping lump. Instead of him yelling, however, Rukia ended up doing the honors, as Ichigo miraculously woke up in time to grab her arms and flip both bodies over. Rukia slowly opened her eyes, to meet the vicious orange glow of hair.
"Dammit Ichigo!" She huffed, as he stood, chuckling. "How long did you know?" She asked curiously, sitting up from her earlier position. He grinned.
"When you opened the door." The Kuchiki Princess muttered unmentionable phrases under her breath as they exited the room.
Ichigo could have sworn he heard 'razor' and 'hair dye'. He grinned, grabbing Zangetsu before he shut the door. "When's the meeting?" He questioned, plopping down in the kitchen for breakfast. The Kuchiki Mansion was enormous, and the kitchen was no exception. Ornate decorations and carvings lined the walls, impressive artwork dawning the walls themselves. Nothing remotely bunny related in sight, much to his shock. Damn bunnies from hell.
Rukia looked up from her food.(Ignore regal mannerisms and cuisine. One: she doesn't care, and two: I don't know any. They're eating eggs and toast, dammit, that's final.) "In about an hour. Ni-sama left already, he told us to just show up at Squad One in one hour's time for the meeting."
Ichigo nodded absently, watching the servants busy themselves with the chores, with the occasional 'Good morning, Kuchiki-sama!" He watched her strike up a conversation with a servant, staring a hole in the table, bored as hell.
(--)
The door opened, and black entered the white room. And red, big, bright red An odd sight, these colors after five days of the purest white. A second entered after, wearing the familiar white as well as the new black. The newcomers helped the prisoners to their feet, leading them out of the room. Instantly, the colors destroyed them. Their eyes were bombarded, as well as their senses. The feeling of reietsu flooded them, it was like the pins and needles in their bodies disappeared.
"You have been given an hour to prepare yourselves. Your gear has been stored within this room. After the hour, you will be taken to Squad One. The sou-taichou will decide your fates there. The two nodded, letting themselves be led into another room. "Your hour starts, do not attempt to leave before then." Byakuya's sickeningly cold voice commanded, and the door shut.
"You alright Ryou?" The taller guard said, working the stiffness out of his muscles. He stripped out of the prison clothes and donned his regular attire. The shinigami outfit he wore was Hichigo to the regular uniform's Ichigo. Black and white reversed. Next, he slipped on his specialized haori, again reversed. The only thing inscribed into the shirt was the kanji for 'North' on the left shoulder, as well as an artistic drawing of a vicious looking tiger on the back. He draped his brown cloak over other shoulder, turning to his partner.
Ryou had removed his signature white mask, setting it on the floor then proceeded with a ritual similar to Kayl. White robes, black cloak. The kanji for 'South' was written in white on his shoulder, and the picture on his robes was a Dragon's head. By the time they finished this three minute metamorphosis, the reietsu in the air had all but diminished. Ryou grunted and asked a question of his own.
"Where are our zanpakuto?"
Kayl shrugged, reaching into a pocket of his haori. With a delighted noise, he pulled out his jug of sake and downed it all. He purred like a cat with milk and awnsered. "You honestly think they'd let us keep them? I'm hoping Yama-sou keeps his word to us. The last thing I want to do is beat back the rest 'o the King's Guard."
Under the pale hollow mask he wore, Ryou's golden pupils darted to his partner's form. He frowned, starting up his reietsu sensing powers. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "Two guards on our door, occasional patrol, captains and lieutenants at a meeting."
Kayl's eyes lit up, and he resisted the urge to his happy dance. "Really? They're already together. This'll be way too easy." He snapped his fingers in a commanding fashion. "GO, my all powerful super-midget. Destroy!"
Ryou rolled his eyes again, marching over to a section of the wall. With a lightning quick movement, a black light cut through the air and vanished. After a quarter-second reserved for focusing, he sprung up on his toes and hopped three feet straight into the air.. With silence as his battle yell, he spun around and slammed a sandaled foot into the wood, splitting it from the rest of the wall instantly. The shattered wood, traveling at about twelve-bajillion and two miles per hour, rocketed forward, taking several rows of walls with it. This gave the guards a perfect view of the Captain's room, which they had expected.
Kuchiki Byakuya, who had, in his perfect-ness, sensed the missile coming, shunpoed out of harm's way. His lieutenant, slightly slower in the sensing department, had not moved in time. The guards casually walked through the holes in the walls, Kayl admiring Ryou's handi-….foot-work. They glanced around the captain's chamber, as Kira and Hinamori-taichous attempted to dislodge their friend from his painful looking position between splintered walls.
During the moments of awkward silence, Kayl calmly examined his fingernails for dirt and Ryou…..did nothing. Perhaps he breathed once or so. Soi Fon was the first to speak up, Kayl noted, after all the available captains circled the pair, blades out. "And just what do you two think you were doing?" She asked venomously, glaring at Kayl's hair. The guard was looking at the ceiling, whistling innocently. Ryou snorted, probably the first noise any of the gathered shinigami had ever heard him make.
He jabbed his thumb upwards, to his much taller partner. "Idiot wanted a flashy entrance." Exasperated sweat beaded on almost every captain's forehead. Yamamoto, through sheer discipline, controlled his urge to roll his eyes. Zaraki was laughing uproariously, hunched over and slapping at his knees. Kuchiki Clan members repelled all forms of perspiration, so Byakuya was exempt from any nonverbal communication. Kayl shrugged, and was about to being speaking when he was interrupted.
The massive double doors slammed open.
A roar of reietsu followed, and the flutter of a black cloak. "Sorry we're late." The voice huffed, "Rukia lost track of time, and I fell asleep." And there they stood in glory, Kuchiki Rukia, red-faced from being carried, and Ichigo, whose bankai's reietsu radiated off him like heat from the sun. He looked around bemused, and reverted to shikai, slinging the behemoth blade over his shoulder. "The hell happened here?" His gaze fell on the broken wall, the crushed Abari, the still chuckling Kenpachi. Ichigo sighed, slamming his palm into his face. "Jeeze, man."
Kayl glanced over at the orange headed substitute and grinned, waving him over. He was either stupid or brave, as the circle of blades never wavered, keeping him and his partner trapped. The captains didn't even acknowledge Kurosaki, their attention tied to the current problem. "Ryou!" He barked the name, and the child reacted.
The boy's form flashed white, and his golden eyes hardened beneath the hollow mask. The swords did not create a sound as they left their sheaths, but the metal managed to glow savagely in the dim light. With a deft but lightning quick motion, he twirled the blades and revolved once, batting away all zanpakuto points. The captains made several different moves of retaliation, but their opportunity ended abruptly. Kayl had, in the second Ryou swung, flipped himself into the air and landed silently next to the Kurosaki boy. Raising an elbow, he rested himself on Ichigo's shoulder, grinning. "So, we gonna start this meeting, or what? I got stuff to say, and not a lot of time to say it."
Ichigo stiffened at the contact, eyeing the green haired man nervously. Kayl spun on his heel with an elaborate flourish, stealing Zangetsu off the substitute's as he did. Ichigo swore in shock, grasping at his blade. Kayl took the weapon in both hands, examining it. With a careless shrug, he tossed the blade upwards, much to everyone's surprise. Another shock: (my this was becoming an exiting day) a shape blurred into vision, grabbing the black cleaver in mid air as it began its earthly descent. The captains, in shock once again, turned around to confirm their prisoner was in his rightful spot. He wasn't, of course. Ryou gripped the blade by the thick grip, testing the obnoxious weight. Kayl shrugged at the captain's expressions. "Don't underestimate us." Ryou, as if in silent agreement, flipped the weapon over in his small hands, spinning the weapon by the cloth. The blade hummed as it spun in its vicious cycle, the air around it burning off from sheer reietsu.
The small boy, whom the captains had placed him at about Hitsugaya's height,(Toshiro himself had pegged the boy as shorter for ego purposes) nodded, finishing his mysteries examination and released the weapon in full swing. Ichigo's shocked expression remained etched on his face, even as he caught the sharp object that was hurtling towards him at about 100 miles per hour. Beneath his mask, Ryou smirked. Kayl chuckled. Yamamoto sighed resignedly.