The air was tense as twelve sets of eyes looked upon the head captain, so thick it could have been cleaved with a zanpac-to. Could what he had said be true? Surely she would not be so rash, so foolish?
"But Head Captain, surely sixth seat Hoshigumo would not stoop to such lows as to become a traitor. She has shown nothing but devotion to her role, been nothing short of outstanding in her ethic and motivation. There must be some mistake in the report"
Ukitake didn't wish to believe that she would turn her back on the soul society for the sake of a single human boy. This Ichigo Kurosaki, what power could he hold over her that would draw her away so suddenly. His heart clenched slightly at the thought that maybe it was a bond from her previous life. He had been looking forward to teaching her to yield her zanpac-to, helping her reach full potential and, though slightly optimistic, getting to know the snowy haired angel that could see beyond what others wished. How swiftly reality could appear to rip away his plans.
"Captain Ukitake, the Head Captain has shown conclusive proof that My former sixth seat has deserted the soul society in favour of a lost cause. The precipice world report states clearly that she made an unauthorised visit to the world of the living and has yet to return. Not only that but she has completely masked her spirit energy to prevent her discovery. This is not the act of an innocent individual"
In comparison to the heart felt pleas of Ukitake, Byakuya's voice rang cold as he stated the facts that the other captain did not wish to acknowledge. Behind his mask, Byakuya was almost as hurt as the other. Had her honeyed voice and graceful smile been a lie all along? How could she have thrown her life to the lions in favour of a boy who would be dead in a matter of days? Had she forsaken the brother she searched for so desperately?
"Enough! It is clear to see that sixth seat Hoshigumo is a traitor and will be treated accordingly. Scouts will be sent out to track her movements and then a team will be sent to retrieve her for sentencing… This Captains meeting is dismissed"
Both captains watched as the others vacated the room, their minds in separate turmoil. Neither had seen this coming, the woman with an exemplary record, her honour never in question, their hearts hers for the taking.
"Masami, please. You must train, you cannot simply sit here waiting for Ichigo to awaken"
Her eyes were glazed over as she heard the words of urahara. She couldn't leave him. Not again. She wanted to be there when he opened his eyes, she wanted to be the first he saw. Her beloved Ichigo, how she wished she had been there to protect him, what would his mother be thinking now? Worrying for her little boy after nearly a week since the attack from her captain and lieutenant.
"You don't understand… I left him once before, I haven't seen him in a decade… there is no place more important for me to be than here, right now… Ichigo reminds me so much of Hiroki, and I want to know that I can send him home safely to his family… to his mother"
There was silence as Urahara and Orihime shared a saddened look. Masami didn't know, didn't know that Masaki had long since passed. She failed to see their expressions, intent only on Ichigo as she checked his temperature and refreshed the cloth on his forehead making Orihime smile a little. She really was like an older sister.
Urahara sighed, resorting to the only thing he thought could move the woman away.
"Masami, as much as you care for Ichigo, you are no good to him in your current state. Those you would face back in the soul society would kill you without a second thought and then you would be useless to Ichigo. Your goal is to help him, but by sitting here, you are nothing more than a hindrance. Do you understand?"
Masami frowned, feeling her heart clench in pain. Kisuke was right, without training she would never be any help for Ichigo, she'd die within the first battle and she'd never see him save his friend. Clasping his hand within her own briefly, placing a gentle kiss to his forehead as she stood and turned to both Kisuke and Orihime, a serious gleam within her eye.
"Fine… I am placing my life in your hands to train me to the best of both of our abilities"
With that, she unsheathed both Marisha-ten and Kage no Joou and held them by her side, pure white and midnight black. Orihime shivered slightly as she seemed drawn to the black blade, all memories of her brother resurfacing, all the pain and sadness she had known coming to the front of her mind as something so much stronger hit her. Could it be Masami's own feelings? What had coursed such negativity in the woman?
Urahara could only smile as he felt the raw spirit energy, the power that emitted from both blades now that they were together. He could see it now, Masami Hoshigumo was so much more than she had allowed others to see.
He watched as she sat opposite him, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. She was close to the point of perfect meditation, where she would be able to reach her zanpac-to spirits and begin the process of fully connecting with Kage No Joou, finally releasing her full potential and one day moving towards the goal of Bankai. He could only smile at the thought, her Bankai would be beyond what any had seen, fearsome and beautiful. He hoped he would be there to see it in action.
Masami could feel her heart rate drop as she focused on the connection, could feel the air around her become still as the sound of her own breathing soothed her further. This was the first step of her training, her chance to truly connect with Kage No Joou before learning how to yield both she and her sister together.
"You truly wish to yield my blade? After so long of shunning me?"
The voice that Masami heard was nothing like what she had become used too when dealing with the shadow of Marisha-Ten. It was unsure, scared and so very clearly hurt by her past rejections, Masami hated to hear such emotion in the spirits voice, why had she been so vain, so cruel?
"Kage No Joou… If you will allow me, then I will fight alongside you with pride. I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused you, for my own pride and safety. I was too scared to face the truth, but no longer. If you will accept me, then we will go to battle together, with the moon at our back"
There was silence for a moment as the spirit took a step closer and faced the woman before her, head bowed in repent and fully accepting of whatever choice she made. There was nothing Kage No Joou wouldn't give to finally fight alongside both her sister and wielder. But before she could do that, she had to know one thing first.
"I will accept your apology… But first, you must speak of what happened that night, only then will I allow my power to you, only then will I know you are ready. Masami, you have lived too long in a lie, your smile will never be true and the light you bring will never be as bright until you face your demons and speak of what he did to you, of what you lost that day"
She watched as Masami could only nod, could feel the fear the other was fighting as she lifted her head and found all her courage to speak her next words.
"I promise… I will speak, but it must be to Ichigo first. I promised to him as a child that I would tell him of my death when he was older. He is old enough now for the truth… Of the night Hiroki shot me"
