3. Defeated
SEREITEI
CAPTAINS MEETING
Captain Commander, Yammamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, glared with tiny eyes at his assembled captains. His wrinkles sagged and his white beard ran across the floor.
"As you are aware, Soi Fon has alerted us to the danger of a group of dangerous ryoka. They have proposed a battle with us and have proven their seriousness. As such, we must be careful. We have lost a captain strength officer already, Matsumoto Rangiku, of 10th squad. She is missing and presumed dead."
Toshiro's face fell at the news. His hope was shattered in an instant by the ancient mans words.
"We shall defeat this menace before it becomes too powerful! We-"
Something flew into the room. It was a dull brown moth with a skull emblazoned on it's back.
"A moth?" Toshiro frowned at it.
A booming voice echoed in throughout the room.
"Hello, Shinigami! It has been too long since we met each other."
"That voice!" Yammamoto slammed his cane down on the floor. "Show yourself you coward!!"
The deep voice laughed. "We have shown ourselves numerous times, you were just too weak to return to tell the story. It is an insult knowing that you banished us from soul society!"
"YOU!!" Hitsugaya roared. "You are the one who attacked Matsumoto! What have you done to her!!"
"Calm yourself child. Anger is a powerful weapon, but only when it can be manipulated."
"Who are you?!"
"We are the reapers! You call yourselves death gods, but you have never faced the powers of the true rulers of death! We are death itself and we shall not be defeated! Farewell, weak little shinigami. Our next meeting shall be on the battlefield. It is time we decided who shall rule over the dead...once and for all!!"The moth burst into flame and turned to ash.
"The western shinigami..." Yammamoto gripped the cane so hard it made his palms bleed.
All captains trained their eyes on their leader. "Captain-commander, you have faced these vermin before?" Queried Jushiro Ukitake, the captain of 13th squad. His long white hair hung limply over his shoulders. His eyes revealed his tiredness.
Yammamoto ignored the question and turned his withered old face to another captain. "Kurotsuchi!"
The odd looking captain raised his strangely decorated face to look at him.
"I want you to try and locate the source of the message. Use any means necessary, they must be found."
Mayuri nodded and his fingers twitched excitedly. He stormed off chattering to himself.
Next, Yammamoto pointed a wrinkled finger at Soi Fon. "Soi Fon, continue the scouting. Ensure that I am informed immediately of their whereabouts once they are found!"
Soi Fon bowed and nodded curtly.
"As for the rest of you..." Yammamoto waved his cane at them. "...I want you to mobilise your forces and prepare yourselves!"
"Prepare for what exactly?" Shunsui Kyouraku asked. He wore a rice farmers hat and a women's poncho over his haori. His untamed brown hair fell across his face and a slight beard adorned his chin.
"You shall find out when the time comes." Was all the captain commander said.
"What do they look like?!" Growled a large man hidden in the shadows in the corner of the room. He stepped out slightly and tall black spikes came into view. Tiny bells sat atop them and they rang with each movement.
"You need not know until the proper time!"
"I'll hunt them down for you, just tell me what I'm looking for!!" The captain was getting irritated.
"Very well." The old man sighed and closed his small eyes. "Are you familiar with the western interpretation of death?"
The captain cocked his head.
"The image of the 'grim reaper'. That is what they look like. That is all you need to know for now."
"So, black hood and a scythe? Easy!!" The captain ran off and his heavy footsteps made the hall tremble.
"Zaraki shall never return now." Murmured a stern faced captain who bore a slight resemblance to Rukia. His hair divided his face, just like Rukia, except there were three bangs instead of one. He wore several ornaments which revealed his high ranking and nobility. He slowly strolled off deep in thought.
The other captains left, except for two: Yammamoto and Toshiro.
The two stood in silence, one fearful of the old enemy that had returned, the other fearful for his lieutenant, friend and something more. Toshiro had always been too nervous to show his affection towards Matsumoto and now that she was assumed dead, he felt unaccomplished and weak. He loved her but the words never had the chance to leave his mouth.
"I know you are mourning the loss of your subordinate, but you must be wary of the reapers!" Yammamoto broke the cold silence.
"She is not dead..." Toshiro muttered in an attempt to calm himself.
"The search has been called off! There is no trace of her or her attacker! She is dead and if not, hopelessly lost and never to be found! Let it go and do as you are ordered!" Yammamoto's intimidating deep voice rasped.
"How dare you!!" Toshiro unsheathed his sword and held it in front of him, ready to attack.
"You are becoming obsessive young one! You think that your threats are worth anything towards me?!" The old man spat on the floor. "If you wish to be beaten then come forward, but if you have any pride as a shinigami left then you will stand down!!" Yammamoto held his cane horizontally and it materialized into a katana.
"How can you abandon Matsumoto?! She is out there somewhere, wounded and in need of help, but you are going to turn a blind eye!! Why?!" Toshiro's shoulders heaved and his chest rose and fell aggressively.
"You are exhausting yourself with such trivial emotions. You are weak!! Now face me or leave!!" The old man removed the sword from it's scabbard and studied the glistening blade.
"You are a disgraceful leader!! You should give up your position as captain commander!!" Toshiro's eyes blazed like the dragon which embodied his blade.
"You runt!!" Yammamoto ran a hand over his blade. "Turn all the world to ash...Ryujin Jakka!!" His blade dissipated in a sea of flames which incinerated the building. "I shall punish you for your insolent remarks!! Prepare yourself captain Hitsugaya!!"
The two blades collided in a spray of sparks. Steel clashed against steel as fire and ice fought furiously. Toshiro had to back away from the relentless onslaught from his commander. Yammamoto glared through the smoke and orange haze. He walked casually forward.
Toshiro roared and dashed forward. He swung his sword down at a distance and an icy dragon soared out of the blade tip. The dragon came close to Yammamoto but before it could strike, a wave of fire melted it on impact. Toshiro's eye's widened. He was no match for this man but he had to defend his honour!! Even if it was suicide!
Toshiro howled and rushed forward again. Yammamoto unleashed an orange sea but Toshiro ducked under it and slashed at Yammamoto's heels. The old man flash stepped to Toshiro's left and hacked at his side. The deadly blow was blocked just in time and the two blades shook under their opponents strength. In a clash of sparks, the two fell back, each retreating to a safe distance before charging forward again.
The two exchanged furious blows and Toshiro was slowly being overpowered. His attacks were not strong enough to knock the commander back but Yammamoto's sent him back against a wall. Yammamoto thrust his sword at flesh but the attack was dodged and the blade buried itself into the wall.
This is my chance!!
Toshiro drew his blade back and swung it at the captain commander's torso. His blade sung with killing intent and his reiatsu had increased as well as his confidence. The blade was inches from Yammamoto's body now.
Time slowed as the blade came within ten centimetres of it's target.
Nine...
Eight...
Seven...
Six...
BOOM!!
Toshiro did not see what hit him, nor could he feel it until he was knocked through the wall and into the courtyard. Dust and rubble fell around him and he tried to rise to his feet but to no avail. He coughed violently and specks of blood stained the ground. Smoke stung his eyes and clouded his vision. A blurry silhouette strolled out of the hole in the wall.
Toshiro coughed again and a torrent of life fluid gushed out onto the ground. The crimson puddle at his feet spread and he collapsed.
The smoke cleared and Yammamoto stepped forward. He was unharmed and his sword was now sealed away inside his cane. His silence revealed his rage better than any words.
Toshiro gasped for air and felt something hit him in the gut. Yammamoto had flash stepped to him and was stomping on him.
"For that dishonourable display...I have no choice but to remove your rank as a captain!"
The words cut through Toshiro like a sword. He was humiliated and beaten and now salt had been rubbed into the wound. His life, his honour, were to be taken from him. He was to be robbed of all that he held dear. He lowered his head and tried to hide the tears that flowed.
"Usually, such acts are punishable by death! But I shall be lenient considering your bravery in the past."
"You mean I can still be captain?" Wheezed Hitsugaya.
Yammamoto snorted and slammed his cane down. "Of course not! You threw away your title the moment you chose to attack me! In this case...Mercy is..."
Toshiro almost fainted at the words. "No...NOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
*****
UNKNOWN LOCATION
Light groans echoed throughout the darkness. All was still, except for several bodies on the ground.
Rukia tried to open her eyes but they were crusted over. She wiped at them and then tried again. It took some time for her vision to adjust to the dark. Someone moaned nearby. She could only make out a blurry shape, no details. She crawled over and whispered to it. "Hello. Are you alright?"
The shape moaned again.
Rukia placed a hand on it. There was a sticky substance on the person and it smelled horrible. It took a few moment for her to work out the familiar scent. It was blood! She withdrew her hand and gasped. After a deep breath, Rukia felt the wound. It was a large gash similar to her own. Rukia continued to use touch to see, as her eyes were not yet adjusted. She found something soft and her face went red. It was a breast.
The shape rolled over and sat up. "Who's there?!" she asked.
"My name is Rukia."
"Rukia?"
"Yes, who are you?"
"Rangiku, Matsumoto Rangiku."
Rukia was crushed as Matsumoto hugged her.
"What the hell is going on?! Some creep attacked me on my way to a captains meeting and then I wound up here!!" Matsumoto said shakily. Her breathing was ragged and shallow.
"Calm down Matsumoto. We'll get out of here! I promise!" Rukia put on a brave face and gazed around. As far as the eye could see it was all dark. There was no way of telling if they were inside or outside, and the ground felt like a mixture of sand and other materials.
"Where are we?!" Matsumoto asked.
"Not sure...I can't feel any reiatsu other than our own, so we may have been abandoned. Our attacker may have thought we were dead and dumped us here." Rukia frowned. She felt a strange sensation in her chest, like her heart beat was being controlled by some other person. It would skip beats and stop or speed up at improper times. Rukia placed a hand on her chest and gasped.
The shadows looked like they were moving. But as soon as they moved, they returned to inanimate darkness.
Rukia sighed and reached for her hip. She fumbled around the waistline of her uniform, searching for her zanpakuto.
It's gone!!
Matsumoto searched herself and she too, had her sword taken.
"Well, we have no choice but to try and get out of here. If our attacker is still here, then we don't want to face him unarmed!" Rukia crept along the sand, making crunching noises underfoot.
Matsumoto followed. Her eyes darted to and fro only to look at the same black distance in each direction.
Something snapped under Rukia's foot and she froze. A dull circle illuminated the area and a group of hooded warriors assembled before them. One wore a red cloak, the others all wore black. The one in red stepped forward, his blood-stained scythe dragging along by his side. One hand raised and the sleeve fell away to reveal what at first glance appeared to be a white glove. It took a few seconds for Rukia to notice it was no glove...It was bone! Pure white, cracked, dirty, exposed bone. The skeletal hand flexed it's fingers and then formed a fist with one finger stretched out. He was pointing at Rukia.
She backed away instinctively but then she found herself immediately walking towards him. The outstretched finger curled inwards beckoning her to come closer. She couldn't stop and her heart somehow retained a normal pace despite her erratic fear. She was possessed. She had no control over herself.
Her unwanted walk ended at the mans side.
"Rukia." The voice was booming and deep. The mans mouth was invisible beneath the shadows cast by his hood.
"What do you want?!" Rukia asked.
"A little favour...I want you to return to your shinigami friends and tell them that the war shall start soon!."
"War? What are you talking about?!"
"My, my. Have we been erased from the textbooks too? You shinigami must really despise us...but I suppose the feeling is mutual!" He clasped Rukia's chin in his cold bony hand. Even when he was standing next to her, Rukia could feel no reiatsu from these people. "We hate them just as much!" He whispered. His touch was unnatural and terrifying.
"We..." A female voice spoke from the crowd. One of them broke free from the group. They were skinnier than the others, which was quite unusual considering they were just bones. "...Are the reapers!"
"Reapers?" Matsumoto asked. A breeze passed along her shoulder and she turned to see one of them restrain her. Red eyes gleamed from under the hood.
The female reaper moved towards Matsumoto. "We were once called the Western shinigami."
"What? You mean you were..." Matsumoto began.
"Yes. We performed the duties of a soul reaper. We could slay hollow and protect the innocent souls in western countries. Different areas had different types of death gods. We took on this form whereas Japan adopted the weak samurai look." She spat on the ground, but there was no saliva, just blood. "You were too merciful! You thought we were extreme in our methods and decided to stop us. A war ensued and due to our lower numbers, we were banished and defeated."
Both captives frowned and Rukia lowered her head. "So. You wish to exact revenge by defeating shinigami?"
"Exactly! You shall drown in your own blood and choke on the corpses of your friends! We shall rule what should be ours!" The female reaper hacked into the ground and the scythe remained free standing in the dirt as she stepped away.
Rukia flinched as sand was swept up into her eyes and mouth. She coughed and doubled over. She was then knocked over. She did not expect the heavy blow from the scythe handle which was now held in both of red cloak's hands. "Dust cannot hurt you!! You shall become immune to pain from now on!!"
Rukia tried to talk but a totally different voice inside of her answered. "Yes master." As the words left her mouth she began to cough and splutter. "What have you done to me?!"
"I have made you stronger. Tell me why you are stronger..."
"Because I am immune to all forms of pain." The unnatural voice answered again. "I am the ultimate weapon. I shall slay all who oppose me." Rukia collapsed and retched.
The man in the red cloak laughed. "You have been reborn, little shinigami!"
*****
URAHARA SHOTEN
A black cat scratched it's little paws on the front door to the shop. The old wooden panels slid open and Urahara stooped down to pick up the cat. It hissed but still allowed itself to be carried inside. As the door closed, the cat leapt from Urahara's arms and to a cushion situated by low table. A cloud of smoke enveloped the area around the cat and when the smoke settled, Yoruichi sat naked at the table.
Urahara wore a wide grin which made Yoruichi go off to find clothes.
"I just remembered that I can't relax in front of you, otherwise you go all stupid over me." Yoruichi called from the other room.
Urahara attempted to answer but his voice cracked and turned to a high pitched croak.
"Seeing me in that state is the furthest you're going to get Kisuke! We're friends and that's as far as it goes!" Yoruichi returned in her black tights and orange top. "I found out about the mysterious abductions." She said while tying her purple hair back into a ponytail.
"Really? What is it?" Urahara asked.
"Well. Rangiku went missing at the same time as Rukia. Also, there were reports of a hooded man attacking a group of students from the shinigami academy. All turned up dead except for one of the instructors. The unfortunate victims were piled up and their blood was used to write a message saying that a war would start soon..."
"A war? Who could it be?" Urahara questioned with a hand on his chin.
"The reapers!"
Urahara's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "What?! They shouldn't exist!! Soul Society wiped them out three hundred years ago!!"
"Apparently not. I overheard the captain commander saying so." Yoruichi leaned back and sighed. "The reapers are mad and they want revenge on us. In short...we are doomed!"
"Their powers are legendary! Even their weakest warriors are captain strength! It looks like even we must return to fight. Benihime shall scream until her throat is sore!" Urahara unsheathed his sword from it's cane shaped scabbard.
Yoruichi nodded and reached into her boots. Her hand came out brandishing two small daggers. "We should warn Ichigo. He may just be our only chance to defeat the reapers!"
Just as they reached the door, they felt a chill run down their spines.
*****
KUROSAKI CLINIC
Ichigo held his head in his hands. He had lost Rukia and Orihime. Orihime had been his friend for years and his last moments with her were spent avoiding her. That was terrible, but the loss of Rukia was tragic. His insides felt torn and he hadn't stopped crying for hours now. Tatsuke had been calling non-stop, but he just ignored it. His family were nervous around him because they thought he would hit them. His life was ripped apart and then the pieces burnt to ash.
A light tap on the door startled him. He rose to his feet and wandered over. He opened the door and almost fainted.
It was Rukia! Cold, with dirty ripped clothes and scarlet stains on her chest, but still the girl he loved.
Ichigo hugged her and chattered frenziedly. Rukia just stood there.
"You look like nervous. Are you alright?"
Rukia looked up and smiled. "Yes"
*****
Outside, the red cloaked reaper watched. He began to clap and his insane laughter echoed throughout the small town of Karakura.
"Soon..." He growled. His grip on his scythe tightened and his skeletal knuckles cracked. "Soon, darkness shall descend on this cursed town!"
You heard him, the war shall start very soon and there is nowhere to run, or hide! Who will win?
Find out in the next chapter!
I hope you enjoyed it. Please review.