Flowers From Hell
Rize
Summary for this chapter: The days that Rize took over Kaneki's tasks were possibly some of the most catastrophic days in Soul Society's written history.
Well, ya know, since Ichigo can materialize Rasgar el Cielo (his Hollow), no matter how unwilling, I think it's prudent that Kaneki can materialize Rize (his inner ghoul [or kakuja, whatever]).
Don't own Bleach or Tokyo Ghoul... Spaghetti and meatballs...
There was no doubt that Kamishiro Rize was lovely.
No man (or woman, for that matter) in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads could deny the woman this fact. With long violet locks and a slender, lush body, along with a (somewhat) strict adherence to the rules, she was a model Shinigami.
Actually, she did dress like a Shinigami, in the customary shihakushô, but she was Ken's inner ghoul.
So if she was running errands for Ken, taking his place, it wasn't a good thing.
"Okay, what did Ken do this time?" Asked Ichigo in exasperation when instead of his pale, lean lieutenant, a slight young woman walked in.
"He went exploring in the Rukongai and stumbled upon Tsukiyama Shū, a... Friend of ours. Kaneki-kun, er... lost it," explained Rize, tying her purple mane back with a scarlet ribbon resembling a reiraku. "I think Tsukiyama-kun might have been killed if it weren't for Hiirokari raising hell in Kaneki-kun's mind, then proceeding to knock him out." She leaned her head upon her hand, looking slightly thoughtful. "It was highly amusing, to say the least."
Ichigo suppressed a sigh. Kamishiro-san was an unconventional woman. But then again, his entire division was queer.
He seemed to attract those types of people.
"Just try not to look people in the eye when you walk past them," conceded Ichigo, nodding towards Kamishiro-san's black-and-red eyes, signaling a constantly-activated kakugan. "You might kill my entire division in a day of heart attacks."
Kamishiro-san gave him a sweet smile that seemed to reflect Unohana-san within it. With gooseflesh creeping over his skin, he was unable to come up with a suitable response to Kamishiro-san's "It might not be heart attacks, you know. I haven't eaten in a bit."
"Uh-oh, did you die?" Asked Rize innocently, letting her doubled, watery tone bleed over in her voice, repeating the phrase she had said to Kaneki-kun oh so long ago. She had been tasked with training a group of new recruits for the Fifth Division. To be frank, Ken might have had a gentler approach. The poor young Shinigami, one of the new recruits that came along with three others, was pressed up against the wall, shaking her head.
"Leave her alone!" Cried another—a boy whose name was... Ryū, Rize thought—lunging, although he was clearly terrified.
"Too slow!"[1] Laughed Rize, dancing out of the way. Though it had been ages, her kakuja instincts hadn't lost their edge. If possible, they had grown even sharper. She hadn't revealed her kagune yet—toying with them was much too fun—but she could see that the one recruit hanging back—a fair one with a small freckled face, Kiri—connecting the dots. No zanpaku-tô, non-spirit cloth shihakushô...
"She's not a Shingami!" Yelled little Kiri, and Rize smirked. Time to drop the nice-girl mask.
Their faces were shocked, to say the least, as her Rinkaku burst from the small of her back and flared about her, lifting her violet locks and framing her face.
"I am Lieutenant Kaneki's inner ghoul," she breathed, her kakugan eyes piercing the trembling group. "And if you want to join Kaneki-kun and Kurosaki-kun's Division..." A feral smile curled her lips, completely unlike the ones of childish joy thus far. "You'll have to go through me."
"And if we can't?" Called Ryū bravely, though his shaking hands spoke volumes.
"Suffice it to say you... won't exist," said Rize sweetly. It was at that moment that Ichigo happened to walk past.
"Captain Kurosaki!" All of them bowed, then Ryū said, a bit desperately, "Won't you stay to watch our spar?"
"You're getting your asses handed to you, aren't you?" Asked Ichigo shrewdly. Kiri gulped and exchanged glances with her group, which consisted of Ryū, a lanky girl named Akemi, and an awkwardly skinny and towheaded boy by the name of Kazuya, then said slowly, "Um, we, uh, insist, Captain Kurosaki! It shall be..."
"—fun!" Chirped Rize, and the four Shinigami swallowed hard. Their definition of "fun" and Acting Lieutenant Kamishiro's definition of "fun" was highly different.
"Oh, hell, why not?" Replied Ichigo after a pause. "I haven't got anything better to do."
"Besides paperwork," muttered Rize under her breath. The corners of Ichigo's mouth twitched.
With a war cry—which sounded horrible, thanks to puberty—Kazuya charged boldly at Rize, swiping with his zanpaku-tô. Stepping aside, Rize yawned, showing off her impressive jaw, and sneered. "Is that all? Is that how you will serve Kaneki-kun and Kurosaki-kun?"
Ryū pointed his hand at her, leaping up over her to ensure no escape from that route, as Akemi and Kiri flanked her left and right side, knowing fully she wouldn't risk an escape straight ahead with Kazuya still there and that all three could catch her from the back. Ichigo quirked an eyebrow. They thought she was well and truly trapped.
Oh, how the bold die young, he thought wryly, tugging his captain's haori in an unconscious movement as he pulled his reiatsu more securely about him. Despite it having been over two hundred years since his Substitute days, he still didn't have the best control over it, and though he'd gotten it in some order, it was still enough to kill someone upon contact, which was why he kept a seal on himself at all times. It was like wearing a thick woolen blanket that inhibited his movements, but he endured it, knowing full well that, unchecked, it could floor over half the population of the Seireitei unintentionally.
Rize smiled, and something primal in her eyes came alive. "Gotcha."
Kiri realized what her trap was at the same time Rize's Rinkaku snaked out. "Don't—"
One tentacle caught her in the stomach and she crashed into the wall as Ryū yelled in a rush, "Bakudō Number One: Sai!" The invisible spell didn't hit Rize; instead, Akemi was the one bound as Rize reeled her into the line of fire with another tentacle; a third grabbed Kazuya, while the fourth snatched Ryū from the sky. Both were promptly smashed together.
Ichigo watched with some amusement. "You know, you can't expect them to be at our level, Kamishiro-san."
"They're unseated officers," said Rize haughtily, tying her hair back once more (it had come undone in her frenzy). "I want proper soldiers, not these little scrawny brats."
Her form flickered suddenly—just in time to avoid a rock thrown at her head by Kiri. The girl, beyond caring about her manners, cried, "Hey, that's cheating!"
Rize blinked, surprised. Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "What was that?"
"Uh... Oh, I see. Excuse me for a moment, Captain," she said politely. He knew she was just playacting for the kids when she said "Captain"—she never called him by his rank unless the situation was urgent or she was teasing him—but some uneasiness stirred in his stomach. "What's wrong?"
"Kaneki-kun's plucked his reiryoku IV," said Rize, and disappeared in a burst of Mico, a ghoul's equivalent to Shunpo. There was a strained silence as Ichigo's eyes narrowed. Levelheaded Ken pulling off his IV didn't seem characteristic—unless it was another attack.
He shuddered. Nearly everyone in the upper seated level of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads had what they all referred to vaguely as 'attacks'. In particular, Ichigo, Ken, Toshiro, Shunsui, Jūshirō, Gin and Izuru had it pretty bad. It was like a disease constantly eating away at their perception and their lives.
Rize Mico-ed back into view, and her expression was bordering on irritation. Ichigo sighed. "What'd he do?"
"He pulled off the IV and starting screaming shit," she said with a roll of her eyes. "I had to slap him. It was funny, actually," she added as an afterthought. "I think my materialization is affecting him negatively, though, so I'll retreat for now. Take over, Kurosaki-kun!"
She began to dissipate, then, seemingly remembering something, said cheerily to the seated officers, "Don't die!"
Ichigo facepalmed.
One of those days.
[1] Yes, it's not bolded on purpose. Rize's talking Human/Shingami. Whatever.
