Look who's back with a pretty sizable update. (I am, that would be me). I was having a pretty hard time with this chapter but thanks to a certain some, it is finally here. So special thanks to her. :D
Kyourane Chou had come up with the perfect plan.
With the entrance of Raiden, Chou was feeling more and more wary about Minji Yuki. If anyone was going to prove that Minji Yuki was behind something, and not the saint that everyone believed her to be, it was going to be Chou. She had decided to make it her mission. This decision was sudden and made out of curiosity.
Earlier, after Raiden had been introduced, Chou made her way to the library to find more about Minji Yuki, where she came from, and who Raiden was. First she had looked up Minji Yuki only to find that her file was classified, a Shinigami Taicho does not have the authority to know about her? She looked for a file on Raiden but couldn't find anything at all about him. Where in the world did he come from if he isn't here? Her curiosity grew only stronger.
In desperation Chou went and looked up Minji's zanpaktou, Gilgamesh.
"First owner: Minji Yuki *
* Possibly had other owners, but none documented.
Powers: Shikai- ice pick*
*other forms seem likely
Bankai-multiple weapon that appear*
*not fully tested"
These were all things that Chou already knew. Frustrated, she read further, to find that Kurotsuchi-taicho had written up a report about Gilgamesh,
"Zanpaktou, as of now, is unable to be used during XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
First examination held by Kurotsuchi Mayuri- 12th squad captain.
Zanpaktou, as of now, is unable to be used during XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Second examination held by Kurotsuchi Mayuri-12th squad captain.
Zanpaktou, as of now, is unable to be used during XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Third examination held by Kurotsuchi Mayuri-12th squad captain. "
The whole page was filled with the same sentence, and dated. The most recent was from a few weeks ago, and before that there wasn't an examination for almost 20 years involving Gilgamesh. What in the world are those X's hiding What is so secret that even a captain doesn't have access to?
Chou's curiosity was peaked, she developed a plan to discover to rest of the missing pieces.
She would befriend Minji Yuki.
The plan was flawless in Chou's mind, she had called both Minji Yuki and Shima Akuma. Chou decided her ploy would look more believable if she reached out to both of them together.
"Taicho, are you sure about this? I thought you hated Minji-taicho," Shuuhei had finally come back with refreshments. Why is he smiling so much?! Is he THAT excited to get to be around Minji Yuki? Is he hoping the two of us become friends so that he can see her more?!
"I hope you don't think that you are invited Shuuhei," the way Chou crossed her arms and pouted made Shuuhei's heart melt a little bit. Why is she so adorable when she's jealous? She's so cute.
"Taicho! How could you kick me out? You know Minji-taicho is my idol! And you invited Shima-taicho! I know that I have something in common with her, have you ever seen her use her zanpaktou? There must be something there like with my zanpaktou!"
"Well...when you put it like that...I guess...if you really wanted to..." Chou mumbled from behind her pouted face.
"Good it's decided then!" Shuuhei set the table, "I'm staying!"
There was a knock at the door, She's finally here.
Shima Akuma walked in, cautiously. Although it wasn't who Chou had wanted to walk in first, she decided to make the most of the opportunity, "Shima-"
"Ooooh Shima-taicho!" Shuuhei ran over to her to escort her to the table, "I've been looking forward to actually meet you like this you see I am actually..." as Shuuhei rambled on, Chou looked at Shima with scrutinizing eyes searching for something, anything.
Shima Akuma, there must be something about you that can tell me about Minji. You are always around her; there must be a reason. She is beautiful though. She has such white skin...and such a slender figure. The only thing missing are her eyes. How pretty must they look when they aren't fog. Has there always been that little white at the end of her hair? I thought there were five inches of white...but it looks like there is only three now...
Chou interrupted Shuuhei, " Why does the white part get longer or shorter?" She didn't mean to actually ask, it just slipped out as she was thinking.
Shima smiled in a way that showed she was asked the question many times, yet she was happy, but also embarrassed all at the same time. Shima never was able to answer the question (not that she was going to anyway) because Minji Yuki walked in.
"Kyourane-taicho? You called for me?" Minji stood in the door way, her gaze was hard and only fell upon Chou.
"Minji-taicho! What an honor it is to actually get the opportunity to sit down and talk with you!" once again Shuuhei ran to escort.
Minji's gaze, when directed at Shuuhei, softened completely. She smiled brightly at him. No wonder all the men like her, she feeds their attention. "Hiisagi vice-captain! Feel free to stop by the fifth squad, it would be my pleasure to train with someone as talented as yourself!"
The atmosphere was tense as everyone sat at the table. Minji, across from Chou, only gazed at Chou. Her gaze made it difficult for Chou to think: her mouth was dry, her head was dizzy, and she felt smaller than she had ever felt.
"So why are we here Kyourane-taicho?" Minji finally spoke with her arms crossed. Chou noticed not a single bite of cake, or sip of tea to be missing.
It was now or never.
"I called you two...The reason I called the two of you is..." Chou took a sip from her tea. She feared her voice failing her in this crucial time, "I want to call a truce,"
"A truce? You want to call a truce?" Minji's face showed no waver, there was no indication of what Chou should say. Shima maybe? No luck, Shima's face had also not changed since she sat down. Her eyes seem brighter than earlier? Maybe?
"Ahem...yes that's right. Since we are all going to be on the special unit together...I thought it would only be appropriate that there be peace between us so that we can work comfortably," Chou was desperate to get some reaction. She had not anticipated her plan to be so difficult to get off the ground.
"Shouldn't you apologize for your earlier actions before trying to make peace with me?"
How dare she! Why should I apologize? She deserved everything she got, me...apologize, unbelievable. She didn't want to. Every bone in her body felt stiff. No I need to swallow my pride on this one, I need to continue with the plan, I need their trust. I have to do what they want. I have to apologize.
"I'm-" Chou saw it. I was subtle, and it was something no one else would have noticed, but Chou saw it. That slight flash of light in Minji's eyes. My apology would be a red flag to not trust me. It's too suspicious. I have to not alter my character, she watching me, "I'm not sure why you think making a truce of temporary peace means I should apologize. What it means is that I won't do anything to you, and in return you won't do anything to me. The moment this special unit is disbanded, we can go back to normal," Chou was confident in her choice.
Minji smirked, "Very well then. I'll accept your truce on a few conditions. First: You will not ask me any questions about Raiden," Chou nodded her head reluctantly, she would find a way, "Two: You will not try to gain access to my personal file again," Chou's eyes widened, how did she find out I looked at her file? No one was there no one saw- ,"And Three: You will never. And I repeat never, spill a drink on me again." There was malice in her eyes as finished her sentence. Chou had struck the wrong nerve on Minji Yuki and now her plan was suffering because it.
But she couldn't back down. She couldn't let Minji Yuki think she had power over her, they were equals at the very least, "First of all I will conduct my research however I like and in whatever way I see fit. If that means looking in to the members of the unit, then I will do it," Shuuhei's head went from Chou to Minji and back, "Second, if I spill something on you, I'll be sure to give you a heartfelt apology," Chou! What are you doing?! You are supposed to be getting Minji to trust you and give you information! You're just making it worse with your typical stubborn-
"Hahaha," Minji's laugh shocked the whole table, "Very well, perhaps you and I aren't the enemies we make ourselves out to be. We may have more in common than I thought, " even Chou was shocked, "I'll accept the truce," Minji extended her hand out to Chou. It was the first time Chou had ever actually shook her hand and of course she was shocked.
"And Shima-taicho as well? I hope that we can work well together as well," Chou extended her hand to Shima but received only a nod in response.
"Shima-san isn't the touching type, or the talking type. You'll learn I'm sure," Minji smiled a smiled that felt genuine, and even though Chou tried, she couldn't help but feel a little warmth spread throughout her.
An hour later- Third Squad
Akuma couldn't stop thinking about it. Why did Kyourane-taicho suddenly call for a truce, and why did Minji accept it? She was suspicious, Kyourane was up to something and Akuma feared how it would affect her. Will she try to take Minji away? But I need her to suppress him! I can't go back to screams, I can't go back.
She felt a small amount of relief from Minji's words as they left the meeting with Kyourane: "Keep your eye on her, let me know if I need to worry."
It was a sentence that told Akuma two very important things: Minji wasn't sure if she trusted Kyourane-taicho; and Minji trusted what Akuma told her.
That sense of security soothed her. She would not have to fear that Minji would leave her side and allow her to go back to the torture. She would help her keep her sanity.
Fifth Squad
Yuki didn't like it. Why would Kyourane come to her so suddenly. Was she after her past? Or worse, was she after Raiden?
At times like these, she needed Gilgamesh, she needed his comfort.
"Yuki, my Queen, what brings you here at this hour?" as usual Gilgamesh was sitting in his throne enjoying a glass of wine,
"Will you pour me one?"
"Are you troubled by the little girl?" he handed her a glass.
"I don't know what to think. Do I trust her? I could use an ally with Raiden being around, but what if she betrays me?" she sipped her wine.
"I don't trust her. I've seen her zanpaktou, dreadful thing. Terrifying thing"
"The great Gilgamesh is scared of a little girl?"
"You of all people should know better than to doubt my intuition," his face was serious.
"I can't help but think she is calling for help; but she could also be using me"
"Hmmm, a heavy mind indeed. I heard you telling the other captain your story. What made you so trusting all of the sudden?"
"Shima-san needs me. I'm not sure for what, but I can tell she needs me for something,"
"Why would you think that?"
"She's attached,"
"To you?" he swirled his glass.
"To my reiatsu I think. A while back I ran a test,"
"Is my Queen playing with her subjects?" his smile teased her.
"If I kept my reiatsu at a certain level, the white would leave her hair, and the more I lowered it, the more white would be in her hair. The white is some kind of indicator, but I don't know what it means yet,"
"Hmmmm, is that so?" he smiled again as he finished off his wine.
"You know what it is don't you?" Yuki's face brightened.
"Perhaps," he shrugged as he poured more wine for the both of them.
"Oh, tell me please! Pleeease!"
"My dear dear Queen, where would all the fun be if I gave you all the answers you looked for?"
OK OK OK. There it is. Finally you know what it was that Chou wanted...dun dun duuuuunnnnnnn. Update is coming! Be patient people