Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."
Chapter Three: The Meeting & The Funeral
The spotless wooden floor reflected the dim yellow light inside the silent meeting room. The nine remaining captains stood silently as they attempted to avoid each others eye contact.
"What the hell is taking the old man so long," complained the bored Kenpachi Zaraki, "We've been here for way too long."
"Yes I agree," Mayuri Kurotsuchi sighed, "I was just getting into something. This is most bothersome."
"Zaraki, Kurotsuchi," Unohana addressed, "Please be patient. I'm sure the Captain-Commander has his reasons, like always."
The room was quiet once again as the captains of the Seireitei waited anxiously. After a few more droning minutes, the large doors slowly opened reveling the tired face of Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the Captain-Commander. He made his way across the long room, his foot steps echoing about in the silence. He sat down in the chair slowly, and gazed across the room, "Captains. Friends. It appears that we have a terrible situation unfolding on us."
"And that's where they found him. Soaked in blood, pretty horrific."
Rangiku Matsumoto shook her head as she leaned back in her captain's old chair. The midday sun shinned brightly into the Captain's room of the tenth headquarters. Piles of unfinished paper worked blew gently with the breeze coming from outside, but they did not blow away. "I don't get it," she sighed, "Chad wasn't weak. How could this have happened? You were there, and so was Ichigo, even Komamura."
He shook his head, "I'm with you, but by the time I finished up it was already done." Renji picked up some of the unfinished paper and laughed, "You know you really should get around to this."
She laughed at him, "Yeah I probably should." Her face returned to being serious, "Tell me, was there anything else? Anything at all Renji?"
"Look," he murmured quietly, "I guess this is classified but before Chad's death there was an insane spiritual pressure. It was so thick you could see it. It was white. And once it was all finished Rukia told me something. She said... it was... familiar."
Their eyes made contact for a moment and she stood up suddenly. She began to move towards the door, but his hand leeched onto her wrist swiftly, "What are you thinking?"
"Let go Renji," she commanded.
"Whatever your planning to do Rangiku, just stop! Calm down and think for a minute!"
She broke his hold on her wrist and stepped forward near the door, "Listen Renji, I think I know what this is." She turned to him and he was in shock to see she was in almost tearing up, "Renji... I think it's him. No, Dammit. I know it's him."
"Two nights ago, Sajin Konamura, Ikkau Madarame, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Renji Abarai, and Rukia Kuchiki all fought and defeated their enemies, the Arrancar."
A few of the captains smiled in response, other stood, waiting to hear more news. Yamamoto let out a long sigh, "But it seems that our victory did not come without a threat. Near the end of all the battles that were taking place, an immense spiritual energy was detected. After the battles had ended, the dead body of Yasutora Sado was found. If you don't remember, he is a close friend to Ichigo Kurosaki with strange abilities. Although he was not quite prepared enough to fight an Arrancar, I believe he could have ran and survived a few attacks from a regular Arrancar."
Unohana spoke up, "Captain, what do you mean? You believe the killer to be one of the strongest Arrancar?"
"Yes. The spiritual pressure of this being surpassed some of your own."
She sprinted down the hall, her bare feet pounding against the wooden floor as her long, orange hair fluttered behind her.
Strong, white spiritual energy. Familiar to Rukia and the others. Killed Chad without raising a finger. It had to of been him.
She slid to a corner, and ran down the adjacent hall. At the end of the hall she could she the two armed guards blocking the giant doorway.
It was him. But, why? Why is he working with Aizen?
"Please! You can't enter! There is a captain's meeting taking place!" She shoved the two guards out of the way. She slammed her hands against the large doors and flung them open.
The half moon shined down upon the desolate hill side. The small grave was planted at the top of the hill. There, it seemed to stand out, to have some kind of meaning. Piles of flowers were placed in front of the grave. The crushing of grass grew louder as the small group of people made their way up the hill. The group stopped and surrounded the grave.
Ichigo slowly dropped to both his knees and sat hopelessly in front of the grave. Orihime covered her mouth with both of her hands as tears dripped down her soft cheeks. The moon reflected off of Uryu Ishida's glasses as he gazed down at the grave in complete silence. Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihoin stood a little ways away from the group, watching them carefully.
Rukia placed her hand on Ichigo's shoulder and whispered softly so only he could hear her, "Come on, it's late. You need sleep."
He gazed up at her, "Rukia... everyone keeps telling me it's not my fault. So why does it feel like it is?"
"Ichigo," she advised, "You know it's not your fault. You need to get to into your head. Chad wouldn't of wanted this."
"I can't be here anymore!" Orhime cried, sprinting down the hill. Everyone watched her, and their hearts all sank even more.
"I'll go after her," Uryu responded, "I'll take her home. Don't stay here to long."
Uryu turned and sprinted after Orhime. "It's time for us to be heading out too," Kisuke said moving towards Ichigo. Rukia stepped out of the way to let him stand next to Ichigo. "Listen. It's not going to get any easier. Chad wouldn't want you to give up. Goodnight Ichigo, don't be like this for too much longer." As he walked away he placed a hand on Rukia's shoulder, "Fix him up, would ya?"
Kisuke and Yoruichi's footsteps faded away. A small group of clouds covered the moon, and it grew a little darker.
"Ichigo. Get up."
She stared at him, but there was no response. His orange hair didn't stand out in the dark. He didn't move. His eyes were glued to the small grave.
"Get up now."
Still, there was no movement from the boy. A tear trickled down her pale skin, leaving behind a slim, moist path.
"Get up! Get up! Get up!"
Her voice exploded in his mind. He turned and looked at her. The moon was reflected in her eyes, and her raven hair blended in with the blackness around them.
"Stand up! You cannot sit like this forever! Remember Chad in your heart and soul but don't dwell on his death! People can't see you like this! I can't see you like this! Please Ichigo, stand!"
A cool breeze glazed over the hillside as tears flowed out of her eyes. She tried to fight her body from shaking but she couldn't. Then she watched as the boy in front of her rose to his feet. The clouds parted and the moonlight illuminated him. Beyond her tears she could make out as small smile dancing on his lips.
"Rukia. Thank you."
She grabbed his shirt and pulled herself towards him. She planted her face into his chest, "You baka." Her tears made his shirts wet, and he smiled at her. Her wrapped his arms around her, and suddenly the wind didn't feel so cold. A few moments passed and the two eventually broke apart.
The sound of their synced footsteps faded away from the hillside, and the lone grave stone was left alone for the first time in two days.
"I'm sorry Captain-Commander for my interruption but please hear me out sir!"
The stunned faces of all of the captains gazed down upon the beat red Rangiku Matsumoto as both of her legs fells against the hard floor.
"And what is it you wish to share with us, Lieutenant Matsumoto?"
She gazed up at the room and began speaking, "Sir I believe the murder of Yasutora Sado was committed by Captain Hitsugaya."
The room remained silent as the gazing eyes of her higher ups swarmed around her. The Captain-Commander leaned forward, "And what evidence do you have to support this crazy hypothesis?"
Her eyes meet with the older mans and she spoke loudly, "Sir, the intense spiritual pressure was noted to be familiar by Rukia and others who were there that night. Sado would have had time to run, but the shock from seeing the Captain alive could have given him time to strike."
"Is that it?"
She hung her head low, "Yes... yes sir."
"I would highly recommend that in the future you restrain from making such outrageous conclusions. Even if Captain Hitsugaya some how survived the attack that night, there is no way so a loyal man such as himself would ally with Aizen. Your evidence is simply not enough. You are dismissed."
"But Capt-"
"I said you were dismissed."
"Please sir-"
"YOU ARE DISMISSED!"
"Rukia," the teenage boy smiled, "I don't get it."
The light from the buildings shined down on the gray sidewalk ahead of them. The quiet noise of a car passing by grabbed their attention for a moment, but the it was back to shooting looks back and forth to one another. She raised her eye brow, "What don't you get?"
"I don't want to sound like a creep," he laughed, "But you err... well we've never really hugged before these past few days..."
"You are sounding like a creep," she laughed, continuing to walk past the teenage boy who stopped.
"There's not a way to make it sound not creepy!" Ichigo yelled, throwing his hands up.
She shook her head, "Maybe you shouldn't have said it at all then." She put her hands into the pocket of her black sweatshirt. He sprinted a little and caught up to her. She gazed over at him, "So what are you planning to do now?"
He looked at her and then out in front of them, "Well those Arrancar need to be stopped. Rukia, I'm going to take Shinji's offer. I'm going to learn how to control my hollow."
She chuckled, "That's just like you. Jumping into something you know nothing about head on. You baka."
He laughed, "Jeez stop calling me that." The two stopped at a light, and waited for a single car to pass by. Without waiting for the walk light to illuminate, the two dashed across the street. When they got to the other side he continued, "Once I'm done with that Kisuke said he would get me into Hueco Mundo."
"You'll probably insist on going alone?" She asked, knowing full well of his answer.
She watched as a tiny smile peeled over his lips, "Actually, I want you to come with me. You, Uryu, Orihime, and anyone else."
This time, she stopped. She stared at him. He quickly noticed she stopped, and paused himself. Then she nodded her head, "It's about damn time Ichigo." They both laughed and continued walking. She smiled, "And I can feel it Ichigo, your soul's getting much stronger."
Abruptly, he stopped dead in his tracks. She looked in his eyes and saw a flicker of fear. "Rukia... what about Chad's soul?"
"Be on your top guard. Be ready at all times. We must prepare for the worst, whatever that may be. That is my warning to to you and all of your squads. You are dismissed."
The captains began exiting the room one by one, but just as the last captain was leaving the Captain-Commander spoke, "Soifon, please stay for a moment." The door behind them slammed shut and he glanced at her, "I have an assignment for you."
She nodded her head, "Yes, Commander?"
"I cannot say for sure what the thing was that attacked Yasutora Sado. But whatever it is, I want you to enter Hueco Mundo and destroy it."
"How would I go about entering, sir?"
He lowered his head, his arms placed carefully under his chin, "Do not worry. All of that will be taken care of. You will depart exactly two weeks from now. Please, be prepared."
She bowed and replied, "Yes sir." She turned and left the room. The old man sighed and stroked his beard, silently reflecting upon the days events.
"Aren't you tired of being weak, hollow?"
The Arrancar looked down at the large hollow. Its yellow eyes watched carefully from behind the white mask. Its red body sat curled up in the corner of the room.
"Look," the Arrancar said, pointing at a cage filled with smaller hollows, "You are going to eat them to get strong. You don't want to die do you?"
The hollow stood up, and it towered over the white haired Arrancar. It moved towards the cage, and starred at the hollows inside.
"Now go, ripe their limbs off and devour them, so you can become as strong as me."
The large hollow grabbed one of the smaller ones, and its screeches bounced off the walls of the white room. It's squeals suddenly stopped, and the hollow was no more.
"Good, now don't you want more?"
The large hollow tore open the cage, and began fiercely eating the smaller hollows. They were screaming and squirming, but eventually each on meet their fate.
"I'll be back with more. Keep this up and get stronger. Lord Aizen might even give you a name."