Chapter 11
"Yukimura?! Your father?!" Rukia asked, shocked.
"It's great to see you again child. Tell me, how have you been?" Yukiamura asked.
Nanashi stared, shock taking control of him, as he stammered over what to say. He was expecting to find him, he was a witness, and the purpose of this mission after all, but he expected something else, something different. He was happy, yet nervously unprepared for meeting him so quickly. He thought he may have more time to process it, to come to terms with seeing his father again after so may years, but the time never came where he could really think on it, and now, here he was, meeting hime face to face. He stood there, a nostalgic feeling taking hold as he remembered the good memories of his father.
"Dad..." Nanashi said.
"I'm happy you're here. Truly. However, I fear I know why." Yukimura said, suddenly serious.
"So then you know about these attacks?" Rukia asked.
"Indeed I do. Firstly, let's get the introductions out of the way. You all know me, but I do not yet know you." Yukimura replied.
"Ah, dad, sorry. This is Rukia, and Kaien." Nanashi quickly said, pointing to his companions.
"Very nice to meet you sir. Nanashi has told me a lot about you." Rukia replied, bowing.
"It is a pleasure sir." Kaien stated.
"The pleasure is all mine." Yukimura replied. "Come, we can warm up, and I'll tell you all I know."
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The shinigami were led by Yukimira to a grand hall, where Yukimira had set himself up. Places within the room were laid out, clearly marking out a place to sleep, and research. There were books, and papers strewn about, all of which were either neatly organized, or crumpled, ripped, or damaged in some way. The man seemed like he was on a mission, almost being driven mad. The signs were obvious, he had a personal stake in this investigation.
Yukimura walked over to the fireplace, lighting it with an already lit candle, and brightening up the room with a warm orange glow. The heat from the crackling fire warmed the shinigami up, especially Kaien, who had immediately sat down close to the fire. Rukia and Nanashi removed their haori's as they sat, waiting for Yukimura to settle into his own spot. He had walked past a small chair, opting instead to fumble with something behind it.
"I've been trying to understand what's been going on myself. I first noticed the hollow attacks increasing as soon as you left for the academy, Nanashi." Yukimura informed them. "First it was realtively harmless, destruction of some buildings, a few people injured, but then they became much more deadly. Soon, lives started being lost, and people kept dissapearing. The only evidence was the small trace of the second, dark energy."
"Void energy." Nanashi affirmed.
"Yes."
"Void energy is toxic to most people, so how did you get close enough to examine it?" Kaien asked.
"I didn't. However, the symptoms of a soul that has been exposed to void energy, are plain and simple to see." Yukimura explained.
"I take it you saw some of the victims after an attack?" Rukia asked.
"Indeed, and a few survivors who lived in the area, yet were influenced by the void energy left behind." Yukimura answered.
"So what brought you here?" Rukia asked.
Yukimura picked up a book, and a few notes, and finally returned to where they were sitting. He sat in the chair, and laid the papers down onto a large table. He opened the book, flipping through the pages, looking for something, and set it down as well. The notes were of a man researching the void energies. Kaien had picked up the book, reading over it with a stoic expression.
"The clan here, was well versed in void relic, and energy research. They developed a special treatments for what they called 'void poisoning'." Yukimura replied. "I had intended to tap into that knowledge, seeing as it pertains to the string of hollow attacks, but stumbled onto something far more."
Nanashi had never seen this side of Yukimura. Serious, to the point, and startlingly stoic, the mood alone showed him that something was wrong. It wasnt like him to talk this serious about much, let alone shinigami affairs. As far as he was aware, Yukimura cared little for the shinigami or their duties, instead focussing his time and energy into his family. Something else seemed off with him as well, yet he couldn't place it, this Yukimura was nothing like the one he'd remembered. Opting to keep his suspicions to himself, he remained quiet, watching his father intently as he spoke. Looking for any signs of a change, or corruption in his father.
"There are a few notes here which theorize the existence of a weapon, or at least something close to a weapon. The effects of which would bring about annihilation, unseen before." Yukimura said.
"What? The found a way to weaponize void energy?" Nanashi asked.
"Its hard to tell. There are mentions of a prophecy, and the name 'Ahriman'. Without anything else to go on, I find myself dead in the water. It could be that 'Ahriman' is a being, but the notes suggest otherwise." Yukimura replied.
"The Memoriam might have information on this." Kaien said, breaking his silence.
That was a place the Nanashi had yet the pleasure if visiting. It was the central chamber where the accumulated knowledge of every single shinigami, from scholar to regular unseated officer was stored. A massive library located in the seireitei itself, it was guarded with ancient, and forbidden Kido. The memebers of the kido corps were responsible for its upkeep, the grand master of the corps taking the role of curator. It was extremely rare for anyone to gain access, and Nanashi knew of only one man to do so. Yamamoto himself.
"I wish to access it. If you'll permit me, I can complete my research." Yukimura said.
"I'd love to help you, but even I can't get in there. Only captains, and members of the kido corps are allowed in there. Unless we can get special permission from the head captain, we can't get in there." Kaien replied.
Yukimura was obviously displeased, and it showed on his face. He sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair, tugging it as he did. The dark circles under his eyes, seemed to exude venom, almost malice. Nanashi was taken back by this, never having seen his father like this either. Something serious must have happened to turn him into this, angry, bitter person. Feeling like he should offer up a solution, rather than tell him he wasted years with this, he spoke.
"What if we bring evidence to Yamamoto? Surely he'd let us in then?" Nanashi asked.
"We cant just walk up to him. Besides, he's rarely been one to go against tradition." Kaien countered.
"Isn't it worth trying?" Nanashi asked, desperation in his voice.
Rukia, who had been silent for the majority if the conversation, finally decided it was time to speak. Something had been bothering her, that she was shocked slipped past the other two men.
"Yukimura, can I ask you something?" Rukia asked.
"By all means." Yukimura replied.
"What was that dark reishi we felt before entering the manor?"
Yukimura's face flashed a look of shock. Had you not been paying attention, you would have missed it, which only served to affirm her suspicions. He was hiding something, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. Something was off, but she couldn't figure out what. She decided to press him more, feeling like she was on to something.
"Did you feel it?" Rukia asked.
"I wish I could answer you. You see, I've spent years here, that the fluctuations of reishi don't affect me like they used to." Yukimura replied.
"They affected you to begin with? I didn't know." Nanashi asked, curious about this new revelation.
Rukia mentally smiled as Nanashi picked up on her line of questioning. She wanted to draw the truth out, rather than accuse him of something without concrete evidence.
"I was rarely around, so its no surprise you didn't know." Yukimura calmly said.
Nanashi was begining to grow more suspicious. The reports of his father acting weird seemed to be coming true, yet without anything solid, they couldn't detain him. Feeling defeat wash over him, Nanashi felt lost. The manor was their best option, and he had a feeling that his father wouldn't exactly let them explore without his watchful eye on them.
"We can try." Kaien stated.
"Try what?" Yukimura asked.
"Let's take your notes, and evidence to the seireitei, and try to get you into the memoriam." Kaien suggested.
"You would try?" Yukimura asked in disbelief.
"Yes, however the process could take a while, and it would just be you and I going. These two have a mission they need to attend to." Kaien replied.
Yukimura became visibly upset by this. He seemed to be hiding something, and Kaien thought that if he took him away, the other two could investigate the manor. Besides, his mission was to investigate the manor, and this was a pretty big piece evidence. Anything else that the two found, they could complete a report, and bring additional evidence. Regardless, a guard force from the 11th would be here to contain the hollow's as they appeared, followed by the kido corps to purify the area.
"Very well. While I will miss the chance to catch up with my son, I accept your invitation." Yukimura solemnly replied. "We will have to catch up once you return from your duties."
"Yeah, we will. I missed you dad." Nanashi replied.
With that, Kaien and Yukimura packed their things. Kaien pulled Nanashi aside, speaking quietly.
"Investigate the manor. Something is definitely wrong here. I will watch Yukimura, speak to him more. Maybe he'll have more information to share." Kaien whispered.
Nanashi nodded, and as Kaien and Yukimura left, let a breath out. He rubbed the back of his neck, the stress of this mission finally taking its toll on him. He had noticed a headache building, but thought nothing of it. It blurred his senses, and he saw stars when he blinked.
"What the hell happened to you, dad?" Nanashi spoke to himself.
"Everything okay?" Rukia's familliar voice asked.
"Yeah."
"Liar."
Nanashi turned, seeing her worried expression. She had obviously been worried about him, vocalizing it earlier. He had tried to be strong for her, to help her focus on the task at hand, but she saw through him. The tough guy act never really impressed, nor fooled her, and he mentally kicked himself for trying.
"Some things just didn't add up. He seemed like a completely different person for starters." Nanashi finally said.
"I think that's why Kaien took him and left. Now we can investigate without him hovering over us." Rukia replied.
Nanashi nodded, deciding to take advantage and investigate. He read some of the notes strewn about, and they painted a picture of the type of people who lived here. A relatively normal, if a little uptight noble family, focussed on honour, and scientific research. It almost seemed a little too tranquil, the various journal entries speaking of the summer heat, relationships, and trade.
Nanashi was cursing his luck, not finding anything about hollow's, nor the strange void energy surrounding the place. He was about to give up on the notes, when he stumbled onto something. Something that stuck out from everything else. He picked up the note, and read.
'Medical log,
1422
The subjects have been assessed, and the one deemed worthy, has been moved into the lab. She is a child now, but in the years to come, she will mature, and become a optimal age for my tests.
Y.'
"What the hell..." Nanashi whispered.
Nanashi glanced up, seeing Rukia pouring over notes as well. She had a rather disturbed expression on her face, and Nanashi only assumed that she had found something as well. He was upset by his father, yet seeing her so focussed on the notes, disturbed expression, made him pause, and lightly smile. He couldn't help but think she was cute lile this, as weird as that thought was.
"Rukia. Take a look at this." Nanashi said, as he handed her the note.
"I think you'll want to see this one." Rukia replied, handing him the note she had.
The paper had been slightly stained, dust and grime littered just about everything, so it wasn't exactly shocking. Nanashi read the note, and his face slowly became disgusted.
'Medical log,
1564
The subject has taken to implantation, and is pregnant. She did not want this, but I have made the decision for her. This experiment must continue if we are to unlock the secrets of the dark world.
Ahriman remains my goal.
Y'
Nanashi slowly lowered the paper, breathing deeply to steady his slowly growing rage. The note, if it was true, disgusted him to his core. He wanted to burn it, to destroy the nightmare it placed into his mimd, but he needed the evidence.
"Ahriman. There's that word again." Nanashi thought out loud. "Any ideas on what it means?"
"I don't know. It sounds like a person, or a thing though. Maybe a hollow?" Rukia speculated.
Whether or not it was a hollow, the implications of this 'Ahriman' were something to look into. Nanashi deduced that 'dark world' was more than likely the void, and whatever this guy, this 'Y' was planning, it couldn't have been good.
Rukia had taken some time to gather her thoughts as well, sifting through the notes, and leatherback journals that were around. Nanashi watched her, thinking about what these people had hoped to accomplish here. Rukia looked at another journal, this time finding something significant.
'The subject seems to be accepting the fetus. Under normal circumstances, dark energy poisons the body. The dangers coming from the affects it has on the person's mind.
I have subjected the fetus, and mother to a small amount of void energy, hoping to gradually build an immunity. If I can create a being that is able to manipulate void energy, I may be closer to Ahriman than I initially thought.
I will continue my experiments, and remain hopeful for the outcome.
Y.'
Rukia's jaw openly dropped. She couldnt contain her shock, and horror at this note, feeling a wave of anger hit her. She threw the journal away, grunting as she did, and pinched her nose. She couldn't even comprehend the type of mind that would be okay doing this. An unborn baby, subjected to one of the worst kinds of poisoning, and for what?
Nanashi had seen her reaction, and quickly moved over to her. She didnt seem sad, she seemed mad, downright furious. Deciding not to patronize her, he grabbed the journal, flipped through some of the pages, and read the entry. As he did, his expression became dark, and a memory flashed in his mind.
A white light was shining in his mind, as a dark silhouette quickly walked past. A deep rumbling resonated in his ears, and slowly the image faded to black.
He shook his head, the image too blurry, and unintelligible to decipher. He let it rest for now, and made a mental note to speak with Kauso no Kage about it.
"Are you okay?" Nanashi asked, looking at Rukia.
"I could ask you the same." Rukia replied, a look of concern on her face.
"What?"
"You started mumbling, almost like you were talking to someone." Rukia answered.
Nanashi could see her concern growing as she explained what had happened. His confusion grew, not remembering any of that, but deciding to trust her on it. He thought back to the flash, deciding on whether or not to metion anything about it to her. He didn't understand it at all himself, and he doubted im his ability to describe it.
"I dont know. I wasn't aware I had said anything." Nanashi replied.
Concerned, Rukia walked over to him, placing a hand on his forehead. She seemed to ponder for a few seconds, before placing another hand on the back of his neck. She massaged it, feeling a few knots in the base of his neck, as she seemingly searching for something.
"Will you stop. There's nothing wrong with me." Nanashi complained, batting her hands away.
"Something is definitely off with you though. I'm just trying to make sure you are not going to drop on me." Rukia replied.
"I'm not going to drop on you. I'm fine, really." Nanashi stated.
Rukia's concern refused ease, yet she knew that they weren't going to settle this here and now. She realized that Nanashi was probably upset about his father, and trying to close himself off, to hide his feelings from the world. A skill that he was so good at, yet she hated. Sympathy washed over her as she put the thought to the back of her mind, and focussed on the mission.
"We need to find out what happened here. If my dad was here, then chances are it's hollow related." Nanashi stated.
"I agree. Your dad was a witness, and if what you've told me about him is true, then that man was indeed suspicious." Rukia replied.
They began searching the room for any clues, notes, items, anything and everything that could be used to trace these attacks. Nanashi was looking at notes that were in a desk in the corner of the room. Rukia was moving books, chairs, and cloth to see if there was anything there. She would never admit it, but she was looking for a trap door, or a key or something, like in the romance stories she'd read at the academy.
Nanashi pulled out a crumpled note, and his eyes widened, the familiarity of the writing, the nuances of the characters. He began shaking, memories flooding back to him, and eventually his hearing became muffled. The images flashed in his mind, then the fear took him. He was in a different place now, unaware of his surroundings as the vision took control of his awareness completely. Eventually he dropped the note, shaking too much to hold it, and more images flashed.
Rukia had noticed him, and immediately ran to his side, discarding the book, and note she was reading, leaping over the scattered chairs to get to Nanashi.
"Nanashi! What's wrong?!" She asked.
Rukia shook him, trying desperately to snap him out of this state, and as she turned his face to hers, she saw fear. He looked like a child being frightened by a monster. His eyes looked through her, and as she shook, and called his name, Nanashi began speaking.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!! YOU CAN'T DO THAT! THAT WILL KILL HER!! MOM!!!"
Rukia, leaning back away from Nanashi's screaming face, felt her heart breaking. She didn't know what this was about, and given how Nanashi had been acting since they arrived, she figured that he didn't either. She resolved to stay by his side, hoping that this was going to pass soon. She never knew Nanashi to panic, but here he was, screaming at nobody, and breaking down.
Nanashi's visions began to fade, and with it the adrenaline. As he regained his senses, he noticed the vibrant colours, contrasted by the dark room. He was sitting, breathing heavily as if he had run for miles, with a very concerned, and confused Rukia holding his face. She had a look of motherly concern as she saw him regain himself.
"Rukia..."
"Nanashi! Are you okay?! What happened?!" Rukia quickly asked, grabbing his neck and pulling him close to her.
She heard a muffled voice, yet didn't let Nanashi go as her worry was at an all time high. She pressed his face into her chest as hard as she could, showing him that she was truly scared, and amidst the cries of Nanashi's muffled voice, and her frantic worrying, a loud, deep, boom was heard. Rukia looked up, releasing Nanashi as she did, and readied herself for an attack.
As Nanashi fell, gasping for breath, holding his throat, as his blue face slowly reverting back to it's normal colour. He coughed, and steadied his breathing enough to talk.
"Damn it Ru! You trying to kill me?!" Nanashi annoyedly asked.
He looked at her, seeing her serious expression, and began scanning the room for whatever threat was near. He was confused, not sensing, nor hearing anything as his face throbbed. He knew she wasn't one to joke about an enemy, so he readied himself.
"Ahhhh..." A deep voice resonated.
Nanashi and Rukia looked around the room, not having any clear idea where the voice was coming from. Hands firmly resting on their blades, they prepared for anything. Nanashi knew that an attack here wasn't out of the question, and quite frankly, he expected it.
"At last... The vessel returns. Come. I will show you the way..." The voice commanded.
As the voice went silent, a door opened behind a bookshelf revealing a dark, and hidden passageway. Nanashi and Rukia walked over to it, cautiously taking in the surroundings. A bitter, cold wind, rushed from the entrance, and Nanashi felt a familliar tug at his senses. He paid closer attention to the strange situation now, knowing that wherever void energy was present, danger usually followed. Anything was possible here, the large unknowns of the manor opened the door to any, and every possibility. Nanashi steeled himself, and grew more thankful that Rukia was there with him, the memories of his episode suddenly in the back of his mind.
Rukia however, could only think about the mental state of Nanashi. Sure, he looked composed enough to continue on, and she doubted she would be able to handle whatever was coming alone. Yet the image of his panicked, dead look, shook her. She had decided to take the first few steps, leading Nanashi down the presumably safe path.
The corridor was a dark, cold place, with only one direction they could travel. The walls seemed too close together, like this place was an after thought, or a closely guarded secret. Nanashi followed Rukia down the hall, and as they walked, footsteps resounding in the dark, they came upon a door. Seeping, and writhing from the gap at the bottom, came a faint green glow. Rukia approached it cautiously, slowly extending a hand to the door, feeling a tingle on her fingers as she did. He hand began to numb, as she held it there, taking time to ready herself.
"Careful, Rukia." Sode no Shirayuki's voice warned. "This isn't normal energy. Nor is it Void energy. It's something else, something far... older."
Rukia fixed her gaze on the handle of the door, preparing herself for anything, as much as she could. She took her Zanpakuto's warning very seriously, as she rarely communicated with her. She glanced back at Nanashi, who looked at her, nodding his head. Without looking, she pressed the door, and it opened.
The duo was met with a strange room, filled with shelves, tables, and a small, circular pedastal in the centre of the room. The walls were adorned with what looked like the remains of research notes, and various scraps of paper. Torches, amd candles littered the walls, and ground, and everything was a mess, as it was in the main hall.
"What is this place?" Nanashi asked out loud.
"This place..." The deep voice said again "Is the border, the fulcrum, of everything."
They turned, facing a wall that began to glow the same green that illumimated them as the reached the door. Slowly, the swirling, muddled features of the wall formed an image of an elderly man. He had most of his face covered, only showing his mouth, and long white beard.
"Ahh, we meet, face to face." The image said.
"Who are you?" Nanashi asked.
"I, am the owner, and master of this place. I'm afraid that I don't quite remember my designation, so call me what you wish." The man replied.
Confused, Rukia relaxed, letting her Zanpakuto go, and trying to get a read on the new... man? What was he exactly?
"What, or where are you? I've never seen this kind of Kido before." Rukia asked.
"That's because it isn't Kido, my dear. This is a recorded memory. The man I was, is behind you, on the table." He replied.
Rukia turned, to see the skeleton of a man resting on a table. The bones were ancient, and an oddity. The unusual circumstances didn't miss her, and immediately her mind began racing.
"Wait. How is there a skeleton here? When souls die, their entire physical form turns into reishi, and is reincarnated in the human world." Nanashi asked.
"Quite the astute observation. You are right."
"So how are your remains here then?" Rukia sternly asked.
"I was the centre of everything that happened here. I was experimenting with the latent energies of the void, and an accident happened. My reishi was tainted, causing my conciousness to remain attached to it. I am not entirely sure how, but I remain here." The man replied.
"You realize that Void energy is dangerous, right? You should have know that something like this could have happened, so why risk it?" Rukia asked.
"I was on the verge of greatness. There was a plague of the void ravaging the soul society at the time. I wanted to figure it out, and find a way to combat it. Yet my pupil, betrayed me, and locked me here."
"Your pupil?" Nanashi asked.
"Indeed. A vile, cruel man, who only believed in strength through domination. I sought to change his ways, and he betrayed me." The man lamented.
"I'm sorry to hear that. You should know, that the void energy no longer runs rampant anymore. The soul society thrives now." Rukia replied.
"That warms my heart. But I suppose you want to know why you're here." The man said.
"Yes. You said that the 'vessel' returns." Nanashi replied.
The man looked as if he was concentrating, and Nanashi felt a tingle in his mind.
"What... what is this? What are you doing?" Nanashi grunted.
"What are you? Do you know? You resonate here, yet you do not know the path?" The man asked.
"What are you doing to him?!" Rukia called out.
"What the fuck are you talking about?! Speak plainly!" Nanashi shouted.
"There's no need to be crass, child. I will not harm you, nor will I tell you what you must do. I will merely show you."
As the man finished speaking, a darkness gripped both shinigami, dragging them into nothing.
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Authors note:
Hey, just wanted to apologize for the long wait between upload times. My wife, son, and I have had Norovirus for the past week, and we had the flu at the end of January, when I planned on uploading the chapter originally. It's pretty much passed now, and I'll be back to my sort of regulated upload schedule.
Thanks,
Spooky
