Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo/Shonen Jump. I do own OC and plot.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late late post, Midterms is coming up and had loads of homework. Thank you so far for reading and commenting. It is greatly appreciated, and I will try to write chapters faster. I noticed that Ulquiorra's Pov has become popular, would you all like me to do more chapters in his pov or someone else? Comment on this chapter to let me know, so I can plan out the next few chapters ;) Without further adieu, here's the next chapter. For better reading experience, listen to the song 'Lurk In the Dark' from the anime Noragami. That song inspired me to write this chapter.
Title: Lurk In the Dark~ Ayahiko Pov
The Kuronosu. They used to say that it's a weapon, that, if ever used, can alter the course of history as we know it. It is an instrument of unparalleled destructive power that no single being should ever wield-well, until me. Many have asked me, 'how did I do it'? How did I, a mere student of the Shunpo Academy become the ruler of everything? Simple. Every successful villain begins with mastering the art of deception, lies, and manipulation. It also helps when you have loyal followers and an all powerful time travelling device.
It didn't take long to master it. I started with going back a couple months, changing a few small important events that had little to no consequence. Once I mastered the Kuronsou, I made my full fledged attack on the soul society. In less than an hour, it fell in my control. A few soul reapers managed to flee to the world of the living and Hueco Mundo, but the next couple months of harsh battling that became under my control as well. Overall, I became Emperor of all in a timespan of a year.
However, my ideal world came at a steep price. It was only an alternate reality, a false direction that lives on a plane of choices. In order to stabilize and keep it from unraveling, I had to continue to go back in time and change certain events, keeping them from happening. As long as I maintain that, my world will continue to exist. I put my loyalest follower on my throne as my substitute. His main job was to keep the rebels at bay as I travelled to permanently continue my reign . Only a handful of the sentinels know my true identity. Everyone else? Why, I'm just the Captain of the Emperor's guard. It wasn't long until I reach my ultimate goal. There was only one more major event I had to change-the one that will give me absolute rule: the war against my father.
I had a simple plan, and I wasn't going to stay long. Like all jobs, I took three of the sentinels with me and bestowed upon them (including the one on the throne) Kuronosukī
(time keys) that granted them a small fraction of the kuronosu. The Kuronosukī were created for a one time use, and were used only in the greatest of emergencies. In order to activate the Kuronosu or the Kuronosukī, it has to be done in the precipice world. There time is fluid.
Nonetheless, that all began to change when the rebels stole on one of the Kuronosukī from Ronin and took a one time jump into the past. I was expecting someone with more of a challenge like the former Head Captain Kyoraku or someone who understands the Kuronosu on a scientific level like Urahara Kisuke or Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Instead, I found out that Urahara Hansuke and Kurosaki Hisana were the ones they sent.
When I saw them fighting the arrancars, I was impressed by how far they've both grown. I calculated that Hisana wouldn't achieve bankai so quickly. It looked premature, but still strong. Not enough to defeat me or the twins.
And what about her older brother? The curious voice in the back of my head asked. Speaking of Kaien, I can feel a senkaimon opening from a Kuronosukī.
The moment I time traveled back from the future with my father who was dumbfounded as ever from what I had showed him, Kaien appeared in the throne room miffed with an injured Ronin, dragged by his side. He has the spitting image of his father, tall, slightly sun kissed skin, and orange spiky hair. The only features that set them apart was his dark blue eyes and a scar that was slashed across his nose. I also saw he came wearing the finest clothing, befitting for an emperor.
"Kurosaki Kaien, I thought I specially told you to stay in the future and not use your key under any circumstances." I said, looking down at him.
"And I thought you promised me to leave my little sister unharmed!" He said, tossing Ronin to the ground before him.
"Tell the him what you did." Kaien demanded.
"Screw you, Kurosaki!" Ronin sneered.
Kaien kicked him in his ass which caused Ronin to fall forward, collapsing in pain.. "Ow-dammit fine! Hisana and Hansuke jumped me during my rounds. They attack me, majesty, and stole my Kuronosukī! Then, the two opened a senkaimon with their zanpakutos, taking a one way trip to this time. Before they left, I stabbed Hisana pretty good and wrecked their chances of arriving in the same place. With a stab like that, she'll need significant help. For all I know, she could be dying in some ditch somewhere."
"Dying in some ditch!?" Kaien roared, raising his spiritual pressure enough to make Ronin, the twins, and some arrancars to choke from his powerful reiatsu. "You killed her!?"
Ronin raised his spiritual pressure to neutralize and cancel Kaien's. A smart move, but also incredibly stupid if you don't know how to cancel someone else's reiatsu properly .
Ronin stood up and started panted. "Y-yeah, she could be dying; I couldn't care less. When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours, Kurosaki! We serve the emperor and kill all those who stand in his way! Hisana is a captain of what's left of the thirteen court guard squads! They're rebels; she choose her side!"
Kaien lost it. He drew his zanpakuto and screamed, "SHUT UP!" He began to flash step towards Ronin, swinging his sword back to kill him in the first strike.
I sighed, flash stepping between them. I held out my hand and stopped Kaien's blade in mid swing.
"Emperor Ayahiko," Ronin said behind me shocked.
"Get the hell out of my way," Kaien growled at me.
"Our deal stated that I wouldn't harm, Hisana. You never said anything about the other guardsman's." I said, recalling our agreement. I let go of his sword, and he pointed the blade down away from me.
"Ha!" Ronin cried, pointing at Kaien. I glanced back at him, causing him to look down in a grovel manner.
I turned my attention to Kaien. He scoffed, "Don't play mind games with me. You knew that it was Hisana the entire time!"
"It is not my fault that she left to become a soul reaper- a captain, nonetheless." I continued. "Your death, or should I say your fake death put her on that path."
Kaien frowned and looked away. "Don't lecture me about my mistakes, Ayahiko. I don't speak about yours. I-I just want her safe before things get worse. You-you still care for her and Hansuke, don't you?"
The image of them appeared in my mind, clear as day. I remembered the last day the three of us were together-as friends. It was the summer festival in the world of the living. Hansuke, literally dragging me out of the soul society to share this tradition he and Hisana had before her next term started at her high school.
'We are the best of friends, after all.' He said to me, grinning. 'And best friends spend the last days of summer vacation together! Besides, we promised a certain young lady that we'd be her dates to the summer festival, did we not? Do you want to crush Hisana's feelings?!"
I sighed. 'That was before we knew about the exam, tomorrow, and you promised her. Not me.' I reminded him.
'Psh, that exam? Please, we'll ace that for sure. Besides, you work too damn hard and deserve a break. Come on, Ayahiko. Live a little!'
The moment I saw Hisana, standing in front of the festival entrance. She took my breath away as the moon rose behind her. She wore a beautiful traditional red, gold yukata that brought out her shiny, black hair and brown eyes. Her smile bright when she saw me, clearly showing how jubilant she was to see me. I could still hear the way she said my name with such-
I shook my head, brushing away any further resurfacing memories,
"What happened between her, Suke, and I is in the past now. I hate to say, but Ronin is right. They chose their side. However, if you're so bent on saving her fate, you are fully aware of the price for such promises."
"And I'm ready to pay that ultimate price," Kaien dropped to the floor and knelt before me. He fished out his broken timekey whose power was slowly dissipating. He raised his sword as he held out his right hand that held the key in his palm. In one slow slash, he cut his right hand. The red blood dripping down as he squeezed his fist, coating the golden key.
He said to me with fierce eyes, "I pledge my utmost loyalty to you Sosuke Ayahiko. I pledge my soul to you for all time. Whatever you command, i'll reluctantly do without question... all I ask in return is that you to spare my sister from any and all harm."
I could feel his oath to me being sealed forever. Swearing on time itself is an extremely serious vow, Kaien is a fool to do this. There will be no escaping it. Time is like a lurk in the dark, waiting to hear the last tick of your clock.
"Very well, Kaien. I accept your terms and your solemn vow to me." I said fixing his time key. "Now go back, no one must know you're gone." Or exist for that matter. It's not time for you to make your mark. "I'll summon you when I have her."
"Thank you, majesty." He said gratefully, then vanished in the precipice world.
"Now," I said to myself returning to composure, turning to Ronin. "how should I punish you?"
"For hurting the Lady Hisana, Majesty?" Ronin asked, looking up at me frightfully.
"Oh, no Ronin. Quite the opposite, really. You see, you fulfilled your purpose quite well. However, you know what happens when I have no use for those who serve me. " I said looking down at him.
He started squirming backwards, but the twins flash stepped and held him down.
"Ayahiko, please-don't." He pleaded with wide fearful eyes.
I held out my hand, and pressed my palm against his cheek. "I am truly sorry, Ronin, but your time is up." In a fraction of a second, a pulse went through my body into my hand, causing Ronin to rapidly age into nothing but bones and dust. His zanpakuto clattered to the ground, causing a great silence in the throne room.
"Interesting, not only can you travel to and fro time, but inflict it on someone." My father said. I forgot he was still here, still watching. I thought he was still from his shock.
"Yes, I can do many things with the Kuronosu. Some say its a greater power than you possessed-oh, sorry. I'm doing it again, will possess. You have until tomorrow to think about my proposal. By the way, you should send Kaname to the world of the living. During our little father-son bonding trip, Grimmjow took some espada with him without your permission. He will kill your live test subject in the next five minutes, thus killing mine in the future." I closed my eyes and started walking away, thinking about my next plan of action.
It was smart of Hisana to challenge Yammy and Ulquiorra. That kept history going, kept events in play. Since Grimmjow left on schedule, Ulquiorra will be tasked to retrieve Inoue Orihime as Luppi and the others cause a distraction. Hisana and Hansuke will be expecting that to happen next, but I'll have to change that. I'll have to see all possible outcomes before I start moving my pawns. But first...why can't I sense either of them?
"Kohana, Kentaro," I called, opening my eyes.
"Yes, majesty." The twins said in unison.
"I have a task for you and failure is not an option."
