Title: BLEACHed Elements
Author(s): SanadaSayuri & Deragonmaji
Disclaimer: No money is made off this work of fiction. Bleach is not mine. If it was, I would be rich and I wouldn't be writing this, now would I?
Summary: Four months after the events of BLEACHed Blitzkrieg, the Winter War against Aizen is at a standstill. Serieitei is on constant alert and stretched thin as the Shinigami work to repel attacks from Hueco Mundo in both Soul Society and in the Human world. In the meantime, the fragile threads of peace in the human world are unraveling, while humans with high spiritual awareness are getting killed off. Is Aizen the mastermind behind all of this conflict? Only Ichigo can get to the bottom of this mystery, but the actual question remains, can the combined efforts of the Spiritually Aware humans and the Shinigami keep Ichigo alive long enough for him to get to the bottom of everything and hopefully end the conflicts?AU
Pairing: Byakuya/Ichigo
Note: Sequel to BLEACHed Blitzkrieg
Chapter Summary: Preparations are made for Kurosaki Karin to take the stage, preparations that are rendered moot when mother and son awake. Tousen, at the end of his probationary period, reveals the extent of Aizen's reach, and the turmoil spreads.
SanadaSayuri: Yay! Yet another update! Warning to all, this can be considered a filler chapter. What o you think, Deragnmaji?
Deragonmaji: …. Uh…. Monkies?
SanadaSayuri: …. Okay….
Chapter 8
Karin was the first to notice the two males entering Urahara's basement dressed in the formal Quincy robes.
"Ishida-sensei?" she asked tentatively when she saw the older Quincy's tense face. "Is something wrong?"
"Ichigo-san is in critical condition," Ryuuken said calmly, "It is unlikely that even with the superior medicine of Elements and the Shinigami that he will make it. Therefore, we are setting into motion contingency plans that he prepared. As Ichigo-san's heir, you will begin training to take his place, Karin-san."
Soi Fong frowned and said, "What about her shinigami training?"
Ryuuken pushed his glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose and said calmly, "At the moment, the Scenario is more important. Should Ichigo-san recover, then Karin-san's physical shinigami training will continue. Until then, she will have to content with book work."
~*~*~*~*~*~
"…Since he became Acting Japanese Foreign Minister, Kurosaki Ichigo has been the target of multiple assassination attempts since he stepped in for his mother after her injury six months ago. Today, however, he was victim to yet another assassination attempt, and this one is easily the most successful thus far. We go now to Ayano Makoto in the field for more details…"
"Chaos filled the lobby of the Hilton Hotel just west of the United Nations Headquarters when security cameras captured footage of a female assassin attacking Kurosaki Ichigo, son of the Japanese Foreign Minister. Close family Friend, Shihouin Yoruichi was the one to find the body and call Emergency Services. Kurosaki Ichigo is currently in the care of the Elements and his condition is still unknown. In the meantime, the entirety of the Kurosaki family has gone underground, including the comatose Japanese Foreign Minister, Kurosaki Masaki. Eldest of the two Kurosaki daughters, Kurosaki Karin, eleven years old, is now undergoing a crash course in politics to fill in the power gap left by her comatose mother and injured brother, though many are reluctant to allow a child to enter a political arena that has nearly claimed the life of her mother and may well claim her elder brother. With so many attempts against the Kurosaki Family, which for years has been advocates of peace, one can only wonder: Who is so adamant that this conflict that is quickly spreading into a global scale is not stopped?"
~*~*~*~*~*~
"…We're lucky that the Commander was able to reject the injury, and luckier still that the assassin didn't cut his windpipe or Kurosaki-san would never have made it… His vital signs have stabilized, and we're replacing the blood that he's lost, but we're not out of the woods yet. If he doesn't make it through the night…."
Yoruichi sighed and said quietly, "What about Byakuya?"
"We sedated him on the Commander's orders," the Element's Medical Officer said quietly, "and we have orders not to allow him access to Kurosaki-san's room until he is moved out of the ICU."
"But Byakuya is Ichigo's husband!"
"Be that as it may. As long as there are no documents acknowledged by the Living World to verify the union, there's nothing I can do. Of course, we can't stop shinigami from leaving their gigai, and once a person ceases to operate on the same plane of existence, we cannot interfere in their business."
"So Byakuya can visit Ichigo, but only if he leaves his gigai, is that it?"
"That would be the logical conclusion, yes."
"Fine. How is Kurosaki Masaki?"
"Stable, but no changes."
"It seems that we may need Karin then…"
"With this family's record?" the medic said, "I should pray not."
Yoruichi hissed like a cat. To the medic's credit, he held his ground though he could not suppress his flinch.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"So it is true then, even the war in the human war was orchestrated by Aizen."
The gathered Captains shifted uncomfortably under the aged Captain Commander's stern gaze.
"And Ichigo-kun?" Ukitake asked, "What does Aizen gain from killing Ichigo-kun? He has already withdrawn from Soul Society's conflicts for the time."
The blind Captain shook his head. "Kurosaki Ichigo-san showed that he was different from his mother's family. Kurosaki Masaki and her predecessors were pacifists while her son, Kurosaki Ichigo-san has proven that he is not above using force if necessary. If it came down to it, he would likely condone the use of force. The simple fact that he carries firearms on his person while his mother and her bodyguards do not do so is a noted difference. Kurosaki Masaki is a minor inconvenience, but her son is a major threat."
"He doesn't have any military power," Komamura said quietly, "how could Ichigo be any threat?"
"Because there is Inoue," Hitsugaya said, "and I will assume that Aizen somehow discovered that she is the current Commander of the Elements?"
Tousen nodded. "If Kurosaki Ichigo asked, Inoue Orihime would send her Elements into the depths of Hell itself. In that way, he is de facto Commander over a very large and very old military organization."
"And the targeting of spiritually aware humans?" Byakuya asked.
"They are brought into Hueco Mundo for study and hollowfication before being converted into Arrancar."
"It would certainly explain the sudden rise in the population of Hollows," Kurotsuchi mused.
"He has been building this army for a long time it seems," Soi Fong said quietly. "I wonder how large it is by now?"
"Unacceptably large," Hitsugaya said shortly, "and without the Kurosaki family to play mediators and to slow the conflict, Aizen will have no problems harvesting the souls of spiritually aware humans to farther bolster his ranks."
"Aizen cannot be allowed to add to his army," the Sotaicho barked. "Soi Fong-taicho and Hitsugaya-taicho, return to the material world and gather the information we need to intercept Aizen. Unohana-taicho, keep us updated on Kurosaki Ichigo's condition."
~*~*~*~*~*~
'You're an absolute idiot King. You should've left your body behind. Sure, you'd be dead, but you'd have evaded the Arrancar with shunpo.'
'There would be no change from our current position.'
'Wha?'
'Oh now he's somewhat coherent!'
'Hush, Hiei. Are you well, Ichigo?'
'Where?'
'Oh, you've got to be shitting me!'
'…'
'Shut up, Hollow. You're giving me a headache.'
'Humph. How are you feeling King?'
'You should know, I think. We are all parts of the whole after all.'
'Let the King speak Old Man!'
'Um… Confused?'
'Rest, Ichigo. You still need to give Kuchiki Byakuya a reply.'
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ryuuken paused in the waving of the laser pointer over the screen as his phone rang. He fished the cell phone from his pocket, glanced at the caller id and sighed.
"Excuse me for a bit," he said to Karin and flipped it open and held the phone to his ear.
"I'm in the middle of a lesson, Isshin," he said shortly. Then his eyes widened before returning to normal. "I see. That's good news then. I'll speak with you later then. Bye."
He flipped the phone closed and slipped it into his pocket. "We will continue your lesson in half an hour Karin-san. If I'm not back in one hour, I will likely not be back at all due to some emergency; in which case you will finish the day's reading with notes and Soi Fong-san will catch you up on practical lessons."
And then he was gone. Karin blinked before marking her spot in the book and putting it aside before heading out of the tent turned classroom in time to see Soi Fong turn toward her and motion for her. The dark haired Kurosaki shrugged and moved toward the Second Divison Captain.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Masaki."
"Ryuuken? Oh, Isshin told me all about what happened! How's my baby boy?"
"Better to ask Yoruichi or Inoue about that."
"That bad huh?"
"Sadly, yes."
"Oh…"
"Inoue is sure he will recover."
"Then Ichigo will be just fine."
"I wish I had your sense of optimism, Masaki."
~*~*~*~*~*~
He woke near instantaneously when he sensed a familiar reiatsu beside him, his nose filled with the scent of antiseptics and sanitizing agents and a faint scent of lavender. He didn't open his eyes immediately, but kept his breathing deep and even, maintaining the illusion of sleep.
"So you're awake?" a cool, baritone asked.
He breathed out heavily and opened his eyes and looked at the pale and haggard face of the dark haired man beside him. He opened his mouth to speak only to find a cool, slender finger on his lips.
"Do not speak," Byakuya said, lifting his finger from Ichigo's lips and lightly brushing his cheek with his knuckles as he straightened, "Your vocal chords are still damaged. Until the healers have the chance to examine your throat, you should not stress your voice."
'He looks tired,' Ichigo thought.
Byakuya studied the teen, his heart tightening as he noticed the glimmer of confusion and concern behind the teen's eyes.
"Your mother will be relieved to hear that you are well."
'Mother's awake?!' He stared at his husband in surprise.
Byakuya nodded. "Kurosaki-san woke four days ago. You have been unconscious for the better part of three weeks."
'THREE WEEKS!?'
Ichigo blinked, and suddenly found Byakuya's face inches from his own before warm, soft lips brushed over his own briefly before the noble withdrew.
"Get well soon, Ichigo. We still need you alive."
Startled, the teen touched his lips as he watched wonderingly as the door closed quietly blocking his view of his husband's back.
'What… what was that?'
~*~*~*~*~*~
"This is unacceptable!" a dark skinned man barked, "We accepted the excuse that you were investigating the assassination of the Japanese Prime Minister's son, but now you assassin has targeted the Vice Foreign Minister's son! He's lucky to be alive! If you really want peace so badly, then why are you throwing the blame on us while sending your assassins after the peace advocates!?"
"We have done no such thing!" the Korean Prime Minister protested, "We don't even know who that woman is! She's not even one of our citizens!"
"Of course you wouldn't confess to it!" another woman cried, "She's probably one of your secret services! Korea has always been militant!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
"It has been three weeks since the attempted assassination of Kurosaki Ichigo, acting Foreign Minister of Japan. Doctors claim that he has awakened at last, a relief to a great many people, especially his mother, the Japanese foreign Minister, Kurosaki Masaki, who woke from her coma only four days ago…"
~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC…
~*~*~*~*~*~
SanadaSayuri:… Um… Yeah…. Feedback? Please?
