"Get out of my way!" Kyo cried as he slid in mid-air to avoid hitting Shiro.
"What do you mean?" Shiro said. "You're the one that jumped in front of me!"
The Hollow lashed out with its tail and the two Shinigami jumped backward, narrowly avoiding the strike. They had been fighting for a few minutes already, but to Takeo it seemed like hours. He stood on the ground with a look of clear disappointment on his face. It was a low level Hollow and should have easily been taken care of, but the rest of the Division clearly had a lot to learn when it came to teamwork.
Manami landed on the ground on the opposite side of the Hollow and lifted her hands in front of her. "Ye Lord," she said. "Mask of flesh and blood-"
"Its blood and flesh, you idiot!" Eiji cried out.
"Mask of blood and flesh- Ye who- how does it go?"
"You don't need to recite the spell. Just fire the damned Kido!"
Manami grunted and decided to forego the incantation. "Hado Thirty One- Shakkaho!" A blast of red energy erupted from her hands and shot toward the beast, only to fly past its head and nearly strike Shiro.
"What was that for?" Shiro shouted. "Attack the Hollow, not me!"
Takeo slapped his hand to his face and brought it down slowly. He may have to intervene anyway. Whenever Tamotsu was gone it was his responsibility to lead the Reincarnates. The problem was that with the inability to speak the others did not view him as a true leader.
A soft whish pulled Takeo from his thoughts. Naomi had just landed beside him, an inquisitive expression on her face. She was asking about the situation. The two of them had become accustomed to carrying on conversation without any spoken words and in response rolled his eyes and sagged. Naomi nodded and looked at the battle.
The four recent Reincarnates stood around bantering so much so that even the Hollow seemed to be annoyed by them. It struck the ground with its tail and bellowed as if it were an attention-starved child. The Shinigami looked up and managed to dodge the Hollow's next attack.
Attempting to attack it all at once, the group came in from all sides All the Hollow had to do was duck down low and allow the attackers to collide into a tangled mass above it.
Takeo closed his eyes tight, not so much for how much he imagined it would have hurt but for the complete incompetence of the group. They were too independent and needed to work as a team but were too proud. Shaking his head, Takeo leapt into the air above the others as they tried to recompose themselves.
The Hollow howled at the newcomer and lashed out with its hand but Takeo jumped forward using Shunpo and reappeared next to the Hollow's head. There was a flash of metal and Takeo landed next to the end of the Hollow's tail. The creature stood motionless for a moment, then began to dissolve as it fell forward.
"I could have done that," Eiji said. "If the others would have just minded their own business."
"Mind our own business?" Manami countered. "You'd be dead if it weren't for me."
"Yeah, and thanks to you I almost got fried," Shiro said.
The four Reincarnates immediately began yelling at each other in an undiscernable mass of voices. Placing his zanpakuto on his back, Takeo stormed over and folded his arms as he tapped his foot impatiently. When nobody stopped, he thrust forward with both hands and the four were immediately bound by the Kido spell Sai.
Immediately, everyone was silent. They turned around and watched as Takeo slowly approached. Once again, he folded his arms tapped his foot loudly.
"He wants an explanation," Naomi said. "He's very disappointed."
"It wasn't my fault," Kyo said.
Takeo approached and raised his hand and threatened to backhand the Shinigami before him. Kyo braced himself but the blow never came. Instead, Takeo turned his back and took three steps away from the group.
"Supposed to use teamwork," Naomi said, implying what Takeo was thinking. "You're just children."
"We're the children?" Shiro said. "You're the youngest one here, and you're carrying a teddy bear with you! You even stuck your zanpakuto into its back! And you're calling us the children?"
Takeo spun around and pointed his finger at Shiro, who flew back ten feet as he was hit with the Sho Kido spell. When he looked up, Takeo was standing above him and placed his foot on Shiro's chest. The message was clear enough. Never speak of her in that manner.
"I'm sorry, Takeo," Shiro finally said. "It won't happen again."
Takeo leaned down and grabbed Shiro by the collar, lifting him up to stare deeply into his eyes. It had better not.
Stepping back, Takeo turned to see several members of the Punishment Force jumping in and surrounding the group. As the last of the black-clad warriors appeared, Captain Soi Fon jumped into the midst of them and stood directly in front of Takeo.
"Takeo Saegusa," Soi Fon said. "You and the rest of your division are hereby under arrest."
Naomi looked at Takeo with wide eyes, then turned to Soi Fon. "Why?"
"You are guilty by association with Tamotsu Toshiyuki, who has attacked and betrayed the Soul Society at its heart. All of you will be apprehended. Surrender your zanpakuto to us now."
The four Reincarnates that were bound had their zanpakutos taken from them and were then stood up. Takeo and Naomi did not move.
One additional member of the Punishment Force suddenly appeared next to Soi Fon in a kneeling position.
"Have the others been found?" she asked.
"Goro Ojima, Ayame Yamaguchi and Masao Rin have been accounted for," the Shinigami responded. "They are being escorted to Seireitei as we speak."
"What about the others? Hajime and Ifukube?"
"Hajime is unable to separate into his Shinigami form. His memories have resurfaced, but he holds no Spiritual Powers. He did not see us when we approached."
Soi Fon closed her eyes. "I see. What of Ifukube?"
The kneeling Shinigami tensed. "We found him, however... His physical body is dead. The head was twisted around. As for his Spiritual form... It was only recognizable by its reiatsu signature."
While the Captain and Shinigami spoke, Naomi's gaze wandered to an outstretched limb of a tree. Sitting on top of it was the white butterfly with gold trimmed wings. She nudged Takeo, who looked and saw it also. They felt a compelling need to follow the butterfly, despite what Captain Soi Fon insisted upon.
"I will ask you once more," Soi Fon threatened. "Surrender your zanpakuto to us."
Looking once at each other, Naomi and Takeo exchanged a few silent words. Then, rather than submitting to the request, both of them jumped away using Shunpo in the direction of the butterfly. When they exited from the Shunpo, the butterfly lifted off and began guiding them through several twisting alleys.
Soon, the two found themselves surrounded by the Punishment Force due to their superior experience with speed techniques. They all drew their zanpakuto, but the white butterfly flew up and began to glow. The energy in the air increased and a white wave of energy shot outward in all directions and the attackers all fell to the ground.
Soi Fon herself appeared next, stopping only for a split second to view the several Shinigami who lay passed out on the ground. "You should not have done that," she said, her tone menacing.
They did not, Soi Fon, a soft voice said, more in the mind than physically heard. I did.
Soi Fon turned to see the white butterfly seated on the armrest of a bench, a soft white glow surrounding it.
"You... What are you?"
What I am does not concern you. I must ask that you leave these two be. They are to come with me.
"No. I have my orders."
As do I. I am sorry, but you will not remember what has transpired here.
The butterfly began to glow again, then Soi Fon appeared as if she were struck in the back. Her eyes went wide and she fell limp to the ground. Naomi approached her, not sure what to make of what just happened.
She will be fine, Naomi Kanagawa. Please, come with me. A silver slit appeared in the air and began to divide, revealing a vast black void. The butterfly flapped its wings and entered. There is no need to worry.
Hesitantly, the two Reincarnates nodded to one another and entered into the void.
Blackness was everywhere. Above, below, in front and behind. Just blackness. There was no depth nor discernable distance save for the solid sheet of silver-blue reishi on which Naomi and Takeo followed the white butterfly. They seemed to have been running for hours, or it could have only been a few moments. It was difficult to tell.
Takeo began to slow, then stop. Naomi and the butterfly stopped only seconds later. Turning around, Naomi shot a questioning look at Takeo. He only stood there, sighed, and crossed his arms.
Your hesitance is understandable, Takeo Saegusa, the butterfly said. You have questions that you would like to have answered?
Takeo narrowed his eyes and stared at the butterfly.
Very well. We shall rest here for a time.
With a flash of light, the plane of reishi expanded to the size of a small room. Two padded chairs formed from the blue plane, then a table with silver-blue fruit. Naomi looked puzzled, then moved her gaze to the butterfly.
Reishi manipulation. It is a technique of the highest degree. This fruit will replenish your energy. Please. Eat. Sit.
Slowly, Naomi reached toward the bowl and picked up what appeared to be a pear. She paused before taking a test bite, then smiled as her mouth was filled with the greatest sensation she had ever felt. To her, it was the perfect flavor. Soft and sweet, like moist sugar melting in her mouth. Smiling, she tested one of the chairs before jumping up and landing on it. The material looked rough, but it was as soft as anything she had ever felt before.
Will you not join your companion?
Takeo looked at the chair and the fruit, but stood his ground. Not until I get answers.
You can speak to me without hinderance, Takeo Saegusa. I am able to understand your thoughts. Please, ask what you will of me. If it is within my power to answer, I shall do so. Do not worry about time. In this void, time has no relevance.
Takeo turned away. He hadn't really had such an opportunity for asking anything. Why did you take us? What purpose?
The butterfly landed forged a small perch for it to land on, then rested its wings. There are events about to unfold which will be of the upmost importance. The two of you need to be able to partake in them. I could not allow you to be taken.
What are you?
I am sure you are familiar with the Jigokucho messengers of the Shinigami, the butterfly said. I am similar, but of a different breed. I am Tengokucho.
Takeo turned away, somewhat confused. Different breed? You are not of Shinigami? Where are you from?
I cannot answer you completely for that question, but I can give you an idea. As I am sure you are aware, this universe is made of several different dimensions. The ones you are most familiar with are what you call the World of the Living and the dimension called Soul Society. There are others as well, such as Hueco Mundo and Hell. All of them are connected by a sub-dimension which is known to you as the Precifice World.
The Tengokucho paused for a moment to make sure Takeo understood, then looked to Naomi. She was eating another piece of fruit but was listening. Seeing this, the Tengokucho continued.
What you may be unaware is that there are still other dimensions. Some form only when certain conditions are met, and some of these collapse on themselves after some time in a continuous cycle. Others are strong. I come from one of these other dimensions. There are souls there, just as there are souls in the four main dimensions I spoke of earlier.
"More souls?" Naomi asked. "But, when people die... Bad sinners... to Hell... Some souls... Hollows. I remember."
Indeed. You have lived in and experienced more than most.
"The rest go to Soul Society. When they die in Soul Society... Back to World of the Living."
This is true. The Reincarnation cycle. But cycles can be broken. As you said, the souls of those who have performed severe crimes are sent to the Hell universe. There, they must remain.
"But... The good people... They go to Soul Society."
The Tengokucho lifted its wings and cocked its head. Not all of them...