A/N: I really hate doctors. And needles. And having to get tested for hypothyroidism. And math. And school.
But that's enough ranting for one day: I should be getting on with the chapter, after a couple of notes on the characters.
Has anyone guessed Tarena's secret? If you have, congrats. If not, you'll be finding out later in the chapter.
Hajime's zanpakuto, believe it or not, will be a major part of this chapter. And, the gender is of the female variety, since I forgot to mention it last chapter. Not only that, but you'll be seeing her later on.
Warning: Mentions of rape and abuse.
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Chapter Three
"Mitsuya, Taicho wants to see you."
Hajime rapped once on the door, only slightly surprised when she opened it, fully clothed and alert.
"Hai, Fourth Seat Fukuyama." she replied with a small bow, eyes blank, tone hollow. Turning for a moment, he could have sworn he caught sight of a mottled hand print on the back of her neck before her hair settled back over the nape of her neck.
His eyes narrowed fractionally. That doesn't look like something she recieved from our spar yesterday..
She turned again, sword tucked into the obi at her waist, and glanced at him quickly before slinking past him into the hallway. Hajime reached out to touch her shoulder, but was stopped when she turned her frigid stare on him. She opened her mouth to speak, life sparking in the depths of her eyes, but hesitated. Turning, she walked down the hallway, shoulders ever so slightly hunched over.
Hajime, I have a bad feeling about all this. his zanpakuto stated worriedly. He could practically feel her pacing inside of his Inner World. Keep an eye on her from now on, yes?
He only considered it for a handful of moments, torn. What if she's already figured it out and doesn't need any help? We could just wound her pride further. It seems I did a number on her during our spar.
Well.. she seemed torn as well once the facts were pointed out. Fine. You win this one.
Hajime smirked to himself.
"I always do."
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"Tarena Mitsuya, reporting."
A grunt was her reply, and stifling a growl, she opened the sliding door to reveal her large framed superior.
"Onna, you're gonna earn your keep here in my Squad." he grunted, turning his back on the kneeling woman to look out the window. "Starting today, you'll be assisting in completing and delivering the paperwork to the other squads."
Her head snapped up, mouth already opening to retort, but the low rumble from the man in front of her stopped anything she was about to say.
"Any complaints and it'll be all of the paperwork."
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Two months later...
Tarena hummed softly as she stepped into the Eighth Division, her arms, as per usual, stacked high with paperwork she'd completed.
"Shoo shoo, don't bother me. Shoo shoo, don't bother me. Shoo shoo, don't bother me, or else I'll kill you dead."
"Ne, Tarena-chan, isn't that a little dark for a beautiful day such as this?"
She turned, maneuvering the paperwork to one hand with ease. "Ah, Kyoraku-taicho. I brought your paperwork."
Pulling a handful of papers out from the middle of the pile, she handed them to him with a frown. "Sorry they're so late, but apparently Yamamoto-Soutaicho made an exception for all the paperwork from our Division. I suppose it's because it's actually getting done. Have you seen Ukitake-taicho around?"
"Right here, Tarena-san." the gentle man smiled, appearing next to Shunsui. "I take it you have paperwork for me as well?"
"Fortunately for me, unfortunately for you." she shrugged, pulling another stack out from farther down, almost at the bottom.
"Well, I suppose all will end well eventually." he sighed, taking the papers with a thankful nod. "I believe I am missing paperwork dating back at least ten years."
"Yes, well, it happens when you're in a Division that consists of men only." she near snarled. "Always fighting instead of doing the occasional paper that comes their way. Now look what it's piled up to. Half of this pile belongs to the Tenth Division."
"Oh dear. I don't think Kurosaki-san will be pleased." Shunsui shook his head, pulling his hat lower for a moment before grinning. "But at least you graced us with your ever lovely presence."
Ignoring his comment, she turned, transferring the pile back to two hands, and disappeared in a flash of shunpo.
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Hajime...I'm bored...
You? Bored? That's a new one. He snickered.
It's not funny! Besides, you haven't been keeping an eye on Mitsuya like you said you would. Can I come out?
No.
But why...? She whined.
Hajime, ever so patient, rubbed his brow tiredly. What do you want me to do about it? It's been two months. Nothings happened.
It doesn't mean nothing is going to happen. I want out. Now.
Will you leave me alone if you do?
...maybe.
Done.
Hajime focused, reaching deep inside of himself and grasping the familiar power that rested in his inner world. Pulling gently, he felt the drain on his reiatsu begin as his zanpakuto's murky form took place before him.
She took the form of some kind of kirin of legend, but none that he knew looked like her.
Her form was slender, her chest broad and scaled, leading into muscled legs sheathed in thunderclouds, and as he watched, the familiar lightning flashed throughout the clouds, the electricity humming in the air. Her face was long, taking on the more savage appearance of a chinese dragon more than anything. Regal horns arched up behind elegant ears, running into the dark grey flamelike clouds that ran down her spine and tail, more lightning flashing through it. Her hind legs were similar to her front, if not more heavily muscled. As she breathed, the low clap of thunder was heard. In all honesty, he was startled that such a regal being was his zanpakuto.
"Ikazuchi Megami.." he couldn't help but breathe.
She glanced over at him, tossing her head. What?
"I think you know what. You're too nosy."
Hn. She's different. she huffed in reply before bunching her haunches beneath her and launching herself upwards. A low rumble of thunder was heard as she did so.
Rubbing his face, Hajime attempted to concentrate on his book.
"I just hope she behaves."
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Tarena was unamused with the amount of paperwork she was forced to do in order to keep the Eleventh out of trouble.
Although, by the look on Kurosaki-taicho's face, they were going to be just fine.
"Thank you for delivering this...thing." Isshin smiled. "It's about time someone took control of that Division."
She rolled her eyes. "This is the only thing that's keeping me in the Division, apparently. Could you give this to Matsumoto-fukutaicho?"
She pulled out a rather thick wad of paperwork.
"What's that?"
"Her sake bill."
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Ikazuchi Megami watched from above as the onna left the Tenth Division, the gigantic pile of paper reduced by nearly half.
Then again, having barracks right next to the Eleventh didn't come without a price...
Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the onna.
She was not as defeated as the last time she'd seen her. She held her head slightly higher, though her eyes were still dull.
Something's changed... she thought. But what?
By now, she'd been following the onna for a few hours, and the sky was beginning to darken.
And that is when things started getting interesting.
Paperwork delivered, Tarena began making her way back towards the Eleventh Division, though it was going to be a long trek due to being over at the Soutaicho's office for her last delivery.
Nine shadows began to follow her.
What on earth-?
Warily, a feeling of dread growing in her gut, she watched as the onna tensed up, her features turning blank and her form speaking volumes.
The shadows circled, and though she couldn't hear what was said, the onna's fearful stance was all she needed to begin putting the pieces of the puzzle into place.
She whirled and launched herself through the air, knowing exactly who she was going to go to, hoping she made it in time.
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Her chest was being crushed.
She could feel them, feel their blows and their laughter as they cornered her.
"You've managed to stay out of sight for this long." one said mockingly. "A shame we no longer have any use for you."
Dread immediately pooled in her stomach, and she couldn't help but whimper as they suddenly grabbed at her. Automatically, she closed her eyes, waiting for the pain she knew was coming-
Cracking open an eye, she realized that they were no longer in Seireitei.
This was far worse than anything she could remember.
Stay strong, Tarena. Help is coming.
She doubted it. She would be dead before any help came. These monsters had hunted her for years. They knew her habits, where she would hide, what she would do when she was caught again.
And now they had no more use for her.
The gleam of something silver caught her eye, and she was suddenly up and running, and she felt the tiniest sliver of hope- but they were following, and they were faster, and unwounded.
She was the doe and they were the wolves.
Lunging, one of them tackled her to the ground. Rolling, she clawed at his face, snarling, refusing to give up now. She had not come all this way just to die, damnit!
But by now the remainder of the group had caught up, and within moments they held her down, their grip cold and relentless. The silver of the knife reared up before her before plunging down into her skin, but she refused to give them the pleasure of crying out.
Again, the knife fell, carving bloody patterns into her body and driving her into the back of her mind, seeking the safety her zanpakuto provided.
Finally, after what seemed like years, the knife stopped, replaced with hands around her throat.
Tarena gasped for air, desperately trying to fill her lungs as the fingers tightened. Weakly, she made an attempt to pry his fingers from her throat to no avail. Black spots began dancing at the edges of her vision, and her lungs couldn't take the abuse any longer.
But then, the fingers were gone, and there was suddenly a light shining in her eyes, and there was a man- NO.
Her body automatically rebelled against the mere thought of a man, trying to escape with a fearful sob. She couldn't see any faces but theirs. Blinking, she recoiled again as a soft voice crooned gentle nonsense at her, refusing to fall for the ruse.
Tarena, let them help you. Those monsters are gone. These people aren't going to hurt you.
Pain. Hurt. Hide. her mind couldn't comprehend the words her zanpakuto said gently to her, retreating farther into her mind than she had ever gone before and letting her primal instincts take charge of the situation.
"Please forgive me, Mistsuya-san." a voice said before everything went black.
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The Soutaicho called for order in his unusually rowdy hall.
The Captains, although in their lines, were murmuring in outrage at the news they had just been given.
"I trust you caught the culprits, Yamamoto-taicho?" Yoruichi Shihouin asked stiffly, being one of the only women present.
"Yes. Bring them forward!" he called to a guard by the giant double doors. He nodded before throwing them open, revealing the nine men.
All Rukon brats, the nine men held their heads proudly as they were brought in, though a couple of them sported black eyes.
"You have been brought before the Gotei Thirteen as a result of your crimes against Mitsuya Tarena. How do you plead."
"Not guilty." each said.
Yamamoto's brows raised. "You do not think that assault and violation of this woman deserves punishment?"
"We were merely killing a witch." one boasted.
"A witch?" Yoruichi nearly spat. "You think that because someone is born with unusual traits they deserve to be killed?"
"Yes. Witches do not belong in our society."
Yamamoto's eyes hardened, and he beat his cane on the floor.
"For the violations and attempted murder of the shinigami Mitsuya Tarena, you are sentenced to the Maggot's Nest for three hundred years."
The hall was silent as the men were led out, but there was a feral grin on Yoruichi's face as she followed them to carry out the judgment.
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A/N: Well, that was a shitty chapter.