Retsu, Nanao, Matsumato and Isane walked through the rubble, and stone that hid the Visored's hide-away. They looked clean, and young. Retsu's hair was not in it's normal plait, but pulled back from her face with a silver headband, than in wild waves, kinks and curls, brushed in an upwards motion making it look big, and full of volume. She wore a black silk kimono, with two long slits up to her thighs. The edges of it had a silver bead rose embroidery. Under it she wore tight black leggings, white legwarmers and black silk ballet pumps. Around her neck was a silver scarf with rose bead embroidery. Beside her, on her right, Isane stood in the same outfit, only the embroidery was that of white chrysanthemums, and she wore a white scarf. Nanao wore a completely black outfit, her hair blowing silkily in the wind, as she stood on Retsu's left. Matsumato stood behind them, wearing the same, with a pink scarf, and pink legwarmers. They were edged with pink lily bead embroidery. Her hair whipped around her, up in a high ponytail, and her eyes looked sadly into the lowering sun.
A chilly breeze danced around them, and cherry blossom's floated around the group of girls. As darkness closed in around them, the lights of the city brightened, and glowing dimly, the four drew their zanpakutous from their waist. They drove them into the ground, a sharp, scraping noise ringing in their ears. The ground shook, as they poured their reiatsu into it, before it imploded, bits of it falling into the dark, dank cavern deep in the ground. They heard a far off crash of the rocks hitting the floor of the cavern, and stood, joining hands. Then, they leaped into the pit, onto the never ending darkness that enveloped them, hiding them from view.
The visoreds were worried about Lisa and Mashiro. Lisa had stopped eating, stopped reading and just all around ceased to do anything other than exist. Mashiro's smiling face had been replaced, by a gaunt, sad, tear filled eyes one. Dark shadows were under her normally bright eyes. Her hair was wavy, and a bit greasy. She was not temperamental any more, ignoring everything and everyone. Everyone except Lisa.
Lisa looked no better. There were heavy black bags under her eyes, which were blood shot. She looked thin, and frail. People were afraid to touch her, in case she broke. She hadn't left her room in three days, and Mashiro hadn't left hers in two. The visored were REALLY worried about their comrades.
Lisa woke silently, after a restless night of sleep, to the sound of arguing.
"--NEED THEM!" she heard a shout, and in her mind it immediately registered at Retsu's.
"Well they are busy." she heard Shinji say.
"Listen, you idiotic Baka, we need to get Karissa back from Aizen. She is too dangerous while in his hands, you know the power she has. Especially as a Visored!" she heard the voice again. It was defiantly Retsu. She could tell by the soft pitch, and worried tone it held. Only Retsu could sound like that when yelling. She shot up, and rushed to her bedroom door, flinging it open just as Mashiro did, and her face lit up like a lightbulb at the sight of her shimai. Nanao and Restu barely caught er, as she launched herself at them, hugging them so tightly they began to turn purple. Mashiro was squealing, and hugging Isane.
"OH My GOD!" she squealed, her tone several octaves higher, and happier. She was bouncing, clapping her hands. "What are you guys doing here!? Wearing the Kariudo haori as well! What if you get caught!?" her tone had changed into a more panicked one now, her hands clasped over her mouth, a fevered expression on her face. Retsu tried to calm her down.
"Mashiro. You know what we have to do, right?" she asked, her tone deadly serious. Mashiro nodded.
"Our sister is missing, it's up to us to get her back. You know the Ol' man doesn't care for her like he should. She is just his weapon. He put her under a false security, yet the minute her back was turned, he ordered her execution. If we get her back, you know he will either kill her, or use her to destroy Heaco Mundo. We have to get her away from Japan, and hidden." Retsu explained. Mashiro nodded, silently noting how Retsu had avoided to use Karissa's name. Lisa looked at her from here she stood, there eyes connecting for a moment.
"It's impossible for us to hide Karissa like that. Even if we did, what would we do about Rei-Aiko? She won't last long without her mother. We could never convince Karissa to leave her for a long time," Lisa stated, her eyes narrowed on the others. Everyone notice how Retsu's breathing faltered, and she slowly looked around the group.
"How... is Rei-Aiko?" she asked, her voice wavering uncertainly.
"She is well. Pretty little thing. Has these ice-blue eyes which can just stop you as you walk, and knock the breath out of your lungs." she heard Kensei say. "She is just like her mother. Eccentric. And has an uncanny ability to get everyone to love her."
Retsu began to tear up, at hearing her daughter being spoken of like Karissa's, yet wiped them away quickly, as to not draw attention to herself. "Mashiro, Lisa, we need you bathed, fed and read to leave in 2 hours. Can you do that?"
The two nodded, and headed to their rooms. Retsu stopped them. I trust you still have your kariudo haori, right?" she asked, and the two nodded. "Good, put them on, and meet us at Kisuke's. Karissa has spent most time with him, so he will be most likely to help us."
"Let's not forget the man is completely and totally in love with Karissa," Matsumato stated bluntly. Retsu rolled her eyes, and left the cavern, heading for the shoten, followed by Isane and Nanao. Matsumato looked at the Visoreds, and blushed. "We will pay for the door, sorry," then she left.
Karissa looked at Tosen, as he sat opposite her. She wore a black and purple silk charmuese, pieced together, with a kimono style, crossover neck. Her bust was clearly enhanced. Up the front of he dress was rose floral embroidery. Ribbons from the shoulder of it swung as she paced, with tassels at the end. The sleeved went to mid arm, and her hand were covered by silk black, elbow gloves. The dress was round cut, from a front slit into a train, which to an onlooker, evoked the image of a beautiful trailing kimono. The outfit was pulled in tightly at the waist by a black silk belt.
Her hair was up in a traditional Chinese bun, a small rose placed in the bun, while the rest fell in curls. Her face was calm, yet cold. Her features were smooth, and her 24 year old appearance was enhanced by the blue colour of her eyes, and the tattoos that covered her body. Her ankles were crossed, and her posture was straight, her back arched slightly, her shoulders pushed back. In her hands was a small cup of tea, which was cold. She looked every bit the noble she was. In front of her on the table, between her and Tosen was Lait No Daichi in her zanpakutou form, sheathed.
"Why are you here Tosen?" she asked, her tone cold, and sharp. Tosen never acknowledged her.
"You shouldn't be here, Megami-san," he stated, and Karissa let out a sharp laugh. It was humourless, and sent a shiver up the blind mans spine. She sipped her tea, with every elegance and grace she was raised with, and gently placed the cup on the white marble table in front of her.
"Well, don't you think I realise that, Tosen. I was kidnapped while on my deathbed. There was nothing I could do about it," she cruelly rebutted him, with a wave of her hand. He just sat back in his seat, holding onto his cane tightly. She eyed him, her sky-blue eyes burning into the dark mans form. "Why are you here Tosen?" she asked again, clasping her hands together in her lap.
"I would think you of all people would be able to figure it our, Megami-san," he stated, cryptically, and Karissa smirked.
"Gomen, my skills must be a bit rusty, having nearly died twice in the last century," her tone was accusing, her eyes flashed black. Tousen would have winced had he not been used to it. Karissa practically glowed in anger and distrust. "You would do well to tell me why you are here outright, Kaname. I do not enjoy playing games with murderers."
Tosen growled under his breath, and Karissa smirked, knowing she had hit a nerve with the man who stood for justice. "Just what would Kanari say if she could see you now? Working for Aizen? Tut-tut, Kaname."
"Do not speak of my sister in such a blase manner, Megami-san." he verbalized angrily. Karissa chuckled.
"I wonder how your dear little sister is? Hopefully Aizen hasn't caught her, and is keeping her locked up. Although I honestly can't say I care, we never did get along." Karissa said, her eyebrows furrowing, and Tosen chuckled.
"Ahh, I always wondered why you didn't, it seemed unnatural that two of equal strengths wou-" he was cut of by Karissa growling.
"I am stronger." she growled defensively, and Lait no Daichi began to glow dangerously. Tosen smirked.
"Of course you are," he said sarcastically. She looked at him suspiciously, her eyes fading black.
"I am stronger, and you know it, Kaname. I may be 315 years old, but I am still stronger than Kanari," she stated, defiant of any other fact, and then she stood. She walked over to the window ledge and leaned on it, her palm flat against the cold hard glass of the window pane.
"If you are stronger than her, why is she not dead?" he asked. Karissa sighed, and undid her hair. It cascaded around her like a waterfall of chocolate, and her tattoo's faded from her face.
"I don't kill unless it is necessary anymore." she snapped, effectively ending their conversation. The atmosphere became tense, and heavy. Tosen looked at the back of her form, his blind eyes watching her curiously.
"Yet you have." he suddenly stated, and she whipped to face him hissing.
"Yes, I have! And do you think I am proud of my actions!? Do you think I am happy knowing that the deaths of those shinigami are my fault and my fault alone!?" she snapped, gesturing wildly, and stalking over to him. Her eyes saddened. "I'm not. I never have been."
Kaname felt her stomping back to the window, and she glared out of it. "Besides, weren't we talking about you, and your entirely dysfunctional relationship with you darling little sister?" she seethed, her voice sharp. Kaname chuckled. "Say... Kaname... is it true she performed the 100% Barrier once?"
Tosen smirked. "Yes she did."
Karissa harshly laughs, humorlessly, and unhappily. "It's very coincidental, isn't it. It was my own mother who made that Kido. I must say, there are very, very few who could have mastered that. I know strength when I see it, Kaname. If she was just a little better, she could beat me. I know it. She is incredibly strong, for someone so young."
Tosen laughs dryly, his throat burning from the heat in the room. "You obviously underestimate the power you posses, Karissa."
"Or your overestimating it, Kaname. We both know that I am just well trained, so please, stop trying to humor me," her tone was chilled, and distant. Tears silently built in her eyes, and she didn't bother to wipe them away.
Kaname felt her sadness, yet ignored it. He was silently amused that the girl who was stronger than the Soutaicho, part of the monstrosity that was Aizen's plan, was so oblivious to her own strength. It was so... contradictory.
"Please, leave, Kaname." she whispered, and his advanced senses heard her. She turned to face him as he stood, and bowed, respectfully. He reciprocated, bowing as well, before sweeping from the room. As the door closed, and locked behind him, Karissa glared after him, before grabbing her zanpakutou. She gently tied it around her waist, her eyes narrowed in concentration, and tied her hair up angrily. Her eyes flashed, and she took two steps forward, before dizziness swept over her, and she fell to the ground. She lay in a fetal position, unconscious.
Karissa giggled, as she carried Rei-Aiko on her hip, the four year old playing with her hair. The four year old wore a pair of pink baggy jeans, and a white long sleeved t-shirt that had pink butterflies on it. Around her waist a pink sweater was tied, and she wore pink sneakers on her feet. Her long black hair was pulled into a bun, and then a braid fell from it. Karissa wore a simple, white Egyptian cotton kimono, which ended at her knee's. Under it, she wore a black strapless bandage dress, which just covered her knees. Her hair was in a messy braid, thanks to Rei-aiko pulling chunks of it out the braid to play with. They were in the cavern under the Visored's hiding place, Karissa deciding to spend some time with the others like her, and of course, introduce them to Rei-Aiko.
"Mamma!!" she giggled, pointing at the training Visoreds. "I wanna play too!"
Karissa chuckled nervously, and looked into her icy blue eyes. She had gotten them form her father. "Sweetie, you can't play with them, they might hurt you, and we can't have that now, can we?"
Rei-Aiko's eyes began to tear up, and she pouted childishly. Karissa growled, and Rei-aiko just pouted a bit more. "Fine! Jeez! I will find out if they will let you play!" Karissa snapped, and Rei-Aiko giggled happily, clapping her hand and bouncing on Karissa's hip. Karissa rolled her eyes and gently padded over to the training shinigami, careful to avoid their cero blasts. Just as one headed straight for her stomach, she vaulted into the air, holding Rei-Aiko close, and somersaulted 4 metres of the ground. She landed gracefully on her feet, her eyes assessing Rei-aiko in case she was hurt. when sure she was okay, her eyes narrowed on shinji, her reiatsu blazed. "SHINJI! You idiot BAKA! Watch where you are firing those things! What if you had hurt me! Or worse! What if you had hurt Rei-Aiko!?"
All movement stopped, as they all turned to stare at her. She noticed a new face among the visoreds, and immediately whipped out her zanpakutou, holding it in one hand in front of her, hiding Rei-Aiko behind her slightly. The woman had milk chocolate coloured skin, and hazel eyes. She had long black hair, which was pulled back into a messy bun, and her features were prominent, with high set cheek bones, a straight nose and full, pouted lips. She was smaller than Karissa's 5'7, standing at only 5'4. She had a full figure, and currently wore a pair of black jogging bottoms and a baggy white t-shirt which was tied at the front, revealing the flat panes of her stomach. She was sweating.
Rei-Aiko peered round at he, and her eyes widened, before she pointed at her and looked up at Karissa. "PRETTY LADY!"
Karissa sighed, and re-sheathed her zanpakutou. Rei-Aiko wouldn't let her attack the stranger, as expressed in the compliment. She turned her attention from her, to Mashiro and Lisa who were hurriedly trying to get the woman to leave. "Oh, leave her be!" she snapped, before turning to Shinji and Kensei. "You two, come with me."
She gently placed Rei-Aiko on the ground, and kissed her cheek. "Play nicely, okay, I don't wanna be blamed for any broken bones they have."
Rei-Aiko nodded happily, before running over to the group of people. "Hiyori, be nice to her!" Karissa called, before walking away from the group followed by Shinji and Kensei.
When they were about a hundred metre's away, she turned and growled at them. "Who is she!?" she seethed, coldly, and Kensei wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his chest. She growled.
"Her name is Kanari Arashi." came Shinji's voice, but Karissa was just sinking deeper into Kensei's embrace. Shinji rolled his eyes. "She is incredibly strong, stronger than Hiyori with her mask on."
Karissa's head shot up from where it was nuzzeling into Kensei's chest, and a slow smirk spread her face. "Really?" she asked, her tone disbelieving. Shinji nodded. "Nice."
"She also... was trained by Kenpachi Zaraki." he added, and he saw Karissa's eyes flash sadly.
"Ken-Ken channy? Why... why would he train her?" she asked pitifully, and Kensei grunted as her grip on him tightened, pulling him closer. Shinji shrugged, and Karissa sighed. She pouted, before looking up at Kensei. He looked down at her, and she kissed him immediately. Shinji growled, before stalking away, angry. Kensei chuckled into Karissa's mouth, and she just pulled him closer, wrapping her legs around his waist. Then, the shriek of rei-Aiko's childish voice screeched through out the cavern.
"MAMMA!!"
Karissa rolled onto her back, as another flashback hit her like a bullet.
"Megami-san! PAY ATTENTION!" an angry, male voice shouted, startling the day-dreaming 12 year old. She shot up, her black eyes wide, blinking wildly. Her braid swished behind her, and her small delicate hands cupped her pouted mouth as she shrieked. The man growled at the girl and she blushed. Her hands clasped together in her lap, and she bowed her head, in shame.
"Gomen nasaii, Megami-dono," she said, her tone quiet and soft. The old man just growled again, before turning to the rest of the noble Megami family. In a rectangle, sat the Megami elders, and, then extremely out of place, the head of their house, Karissa Ai Megami sat at the head of the rectangle table, her expression one of utmost coldness and grace. Inside though, she was falling to pieces. She didn't understand anything they were saying! These stuffy old men were boring!! Of course, it didn't matter that she was the HEAD of the family, no, they wanted to do everything! They treated her like a CHILD!
"Megami-san!" the voice snapped, and she looked up again. "Would you pay attention! These are important matters!"
"No there not..." Karissa muttered, pulling her braid over her shoulder, and playing with the ends. She looked beautiful, in her white silk satin padded kimono, with a flared edge, and black beaded chrysanthemum embroidery. There was a black oba tied tightly around her waist with white ribbons which floated around her, making it slightly difficult for her to breath. The kimono sleaves were edge with black padded satin, and the under dress had a high, Mandarin style collar. It was tied with Chinese knots, and pink.
"What do you mean, they are not!? What would you consider more important than your families wealth and status?" the old man asked, his eyebrows raised, and Karissa gulped slightly, before standing. SHe thought of a way to phrase what she was about to say, to make it seem like she wasn't insulting the older men of her family.
"Well, I er... think that dealing with the bigger, more important issues that are affecting Soul Society now would help our house, than holding big fancy balls. For example, if we were to, say... give food and shelter to the people in the lower ranked Rukongai districts, we would be more respected in their community," she said, hoping she had phrased it right. The elders laughed.
"Why... would we give food and shelter to a bunch of... theives and peasants!?" one called out, and Karissa clasped her hands in front of her.
"They are all a bunch of ingrates! Why should we help them if they won't help themselves!?" another jeered.
"That's the main problem though, right! They do help themselves!" someone else howled, and once again the men all laughed. Karissa blushed in shame at her families elders. Suddenly they were all serious.
"Honestly, what a preposterous idea! The child should be beaten!" one shouted, who she recognised to be Xain Lin Megami. Some of the others nodded in agreement. Karissa's eyes widened in terror, as the elders began to stand. She nearly backed away, but her pride as a Megami won her over. She would take anything they dished out.
Three hours later, she was crying alone in her room, as she bathed in hot water. Her hair floated around her amongst the rose petals and cherry blossoms water, and candles were lit around her bath. Her face was buried in her hands, and her knee's were pulled up to her chest.
"Men.. are bad... They... can't be... trusted," she sobbed, and she wiped her eyes. "Men... are evil. The only man I can trust... is my daddy."
She could hear the sounds of the maids shuffling outside her dark room in the large Megami mansion. She had had to move to 1st district when her parents had died. Her eyes continued to sob, as blood dribbled from wounds on her collar bone, the back of her neck, her arms and her torso. "Men... are evil. Men are bad, men are evil."
She continued to repeat it, as she rocked back and forth, her eyes closed and tears pouring down her red puffy cheeks.
Kisuke carried Rei-Aiko through the shoten, as she stared up at him, her ice-blue eyes still a bit sleepy. Her normally silky black hair was messy, and sticking out in all places, her dress was crumpled and she only had on one shoe. Ih her hand she dragged a large white teddy, which was missing an eye. She yawned widely, and Kisuke sighed.
"I want my babbla." she said, her tone whining. Kisuke rubbed the crustiness out of his eyes, and looked at the little girl, as he poured milk into a baby bottle. The kid was 57 years old, yet still acted and thought like a 4 year old, thanks to the slow aging process of souls.
"WHERE'S MY BABBLA!!" she shouted, bashing Kisuke on the head angrily with her teddy. Kisuke hurriedly handed her the bottle, and she pouted in anger, before shoving it in her mouth and drinking from it. Kisuke still had to wonder why Karissa hadn't weaned her off the bottle ages ago. He also wondered how on earth she had managed to look after her for so long on her own. He saw Tessai, Ururu and Jinta eating breakfast, and they smiled and waved to him. He tiredly waved back, as Rei-Aiko continued to drain the milk out of her bottle.
The door to the shoten opened, and four figures walked in. He looked up from Rei-Aiko, to see Retsu, Isane, Matsumato and Nanao. Retsu looked like she was in shock, the minute her eyes landed on Rei-Aiko.
"Rei... Aiko?" she whispered, taking two steps forward. the little girl squealed, and hid herself in Kisuke's houri. Retsu looked hurt, and she glanced back at Isane. Isane shook her head.
"She isn't yours anymore," she mouthed, and Retsu's head drooped sadly, before she nodded, and took a step back towards the group.
"Why are you here?" Kisuke asked. Nanao stepped forward.
"We are going to rescue Karissa, and we need some of yor merchandise to help." she stated, and Kisuke smirked.
"Well..."
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Le Rukia owns Kanari Arashi. I only own the plot and Karissa Ai Megami and Rei-Aiko.