Chapter 11
When the gate finally opened Ukitake and his squad could barely believe their eyes. Smoke tumbled across the sky and when some of it cleared the familiar face of the Seireitei had changed. Tashi ran across the marble courtyard up onto a ledge to get a look. Several of the squad administrative buildings had been damaged along with key watch towers. '11, 10, 8, 6, and 3!...6' "Byakuya!" escaped her lips then she realized Kiyone and Sentaro had joined her on the ledge. "Our buildings are safe, but I'm sure there is plenty of recovery work to be done."
Ukitake called up to Tashi "Oii Tashi! How does it look?"
Tashi leapt down, unwilling to continue looking at the destruction. "Sir, Captain sir…there is considerable destruction. Our offices are safe, but… 11, 10, 8, 6, and 3 have been obliterated."
Ukitake gasped at the news. "How?"
Just then a hell butterfly flitted down and passed the story onto Ukitake and Tashi.
As the commotion settled down the wounded poured in, Eri was exhausted and treating bleeding, mangled Shinigami. She did her best yet couldn't summon her inner power again. She and the Captain worked hard, but couldn't penetrate the pool of spirit power Eri had within her. The fourth squad was over loaded with injured from the bombings and the flow of Shinigami indeed was not abating. The sun was setting and many were sitting down where they stood to rest. So many of the buildings were destroyed that those who survived didn't have anywhere to sleep.
Captain Ukitake invited as many of the other squad members as he could fit into his buildings, but Tashi said "Sir, I'm afraid that…well…that the enemy will come back to finish the job. If all the survivors are here…" she left her words unfinished feeling she conveyed her message well enough.
He responded "The enemy needs to rest too, Tashi-san. Please rest here, Vice Captain."
"Actually there are some people I want t find, sir. I'll be back after that."
"I understand."
Tashi ran off in search of Eri, Atsumi, and Byakuya. She passed the 4th squad, but thought it best not to disturb Eri amongst all the chaos there.
--
Atsumi sat
alone, separate from her squad. She couldn't help but think about
the peasant her men slaughtered. Tashi bounded down on the 11th
squad and their campsite. The flames from their torches burned
brightly against the sky. The smoke and dust from the days events
blocked out the stars. Tashi spotted Ikkaku and asked about Atsumi.
"Eh? She's over there, sulking,"
"Sulking?" I thought she would've enjoyed party of today at least."
Yamichika said "Seems she only likes fighting those stronger than herself."
Tashi saw Atsumi sitting on the ground hugging her knees with her zanpaktuou loosely leaning on her shoulder. Tashi approached. At the sound of Tashi's foot steps Atsumi knew who it was and said "What the hell am I doin' Tashi? I was one of them once. Now I'm supposed ta…"
"Your were never one of them, Atsumi."
"No? I hated Shinigami too. I hated everyone. When the law would come ta town I would wish damage on Seireitei."
"Atsumi! Don't say such things!"
"But it's true! What happened? Where along the way did I switch sides?" Atsumi then told Tashi about her day and how all of her opponents had been so weak. Then she spoke about the peasant who was trying to slip by them and the slaughter which ensued.
"Atsumi they're different from you."
"Yeah, I know. They ain't got reiatsu."
"More than that."
"Oh? If I hadn't a been blessed with spirit force to develop I woulda been one of them today no doubt."
"I don't believe that. I don't think your old lady would have let you. Baba was it?"
Atsumi then thought of the kind woman who looked after her and the other orphans in her district. Tashi plopped down next to Atsumi on the ground. She looked up at the cloudy sky and said "I've never thought of you as an indiscriminate killer."
"I ain't" said Atsumi knowing what Tashi was driving at. "But I can't help but know they're frustrated."
"I didn't think of that. I can't understand their perspective without your help. This is one of the reasons I value our friendship so much. You make me look at things differently."
Atsumi said "And sit different. What the hell, Ms Proper?" she joked gesturing towards her friends loose posture, and wide knees. "I can be comfy after a day like today. I can't believe the General didn't see through this. Isn't he a master strategist?" whispered Tashi.
Atsumi whispered back "I think he's lost his touch and it's time for his successor to take over."
Tashi was shocked at Atsumi's bold words, but sadly nodded in agreement. Atsumi changed the topic. If anyone overheard this conversation they could be brought up on charges of insubordination. "So what would your Byakuya-boy think of ya sittin' like that? You're still livin' there, right? "
"Yes, and I think today he has more important things to abe concerned with than any posture of mine" she said as she stood. "I want to go find him and see him, but I don't know where he is."
They both saw Renji heading over and Tashi waved a hello. Atsumi stood up and ran over to him. They embraced intensely and quietly spoke to one another. Tashi lingered back for a few moments allowing them to have their moment together. She was also anxious to ask Renji about his Captain's whereabouts. After a few moments Atsumi gestured towards Tashi and she approached the couple. She put a hand on Renji's arm and said "I'm so glad to see you're alright, Renji."
"Ditto. He was in the general's office but the Kuchiki house took some damage. I think he's there now surveying it" he told her, knowing where her mind was.
"Thank you Renji" Tashi gave a quick hug to Atsumi and wasted no time heading to the Kuchiki's house.
Byakuya stood on what was left of a wooden pathway. Tashi appeared and bowed immediately. "Sire, I'm glad you are safe!" He didn't answer and she stood and walked up to where he was.
It was the same hallway she had stood in with Renji, Rukia, and Byakuya and gazed out on the lanterns. The screens disintegrated in the fire, and most of the wood had burned to ash. All the lanterns were now rubble and dust. Byakuya was in a daze staring at where his favorite lanter used to sit. When Tashi realized what had happened she touched his sleeve. "Sire" and he dropped his chin to shi chest, eyes closed. She held onto him also mouring the history that was lost and knowing he felt he did not adequately protect it.
"I see what is lost here sire, but please don't hate them."
"I will crusth them and pound their bones into dust." He growled.
"I'm not saying not to sire, but don't do it out of hate, but rather to uphold order and to make restitution for the loss. Not out of hate, sire. You have a higher purpose."
"No one, no matter how poor, or bitter or angry, should be allowed to threaten the safety of the people, the history of, or the order of Soul Society." Byakuya then leaned on the only remaining wall and slid to the ground. Tashi, smirking at Atsumi's earlier comment about her posture, sat on her feet like a proper young lady before her lord. "How is the general" asked Tashi "I heard you were in his office today."
Byakuya spoke. "Mm. I was getting approval for the sixth squad's procurement of armaments when the first explosion occurred. The general told me he had sent out other squads and wanted me to stay there and assist with strategy."
"That's wonderful sire!"
He looked at her with a look that said 'You have got to be kidding me.'
"Not the bomb part, but the assisting in high level strategy part."
"Mm. The general…"
Tashi sensed there was something else going on that he wasn't saying. "Sire?" she whispered and sat closer "Was there as reason it wasn't? Perhaps…" Tashi did not finish her sentence. He nodded slowly then waved her closer. She sat by his side and she was surprised he put his arm around her. She snuggled closer to him and said "I suspected something was amiss when I returned from Rukongai. Such unquestioned rash decisions one after the other" she said still whispering.
"Mmm." he responded. Tashi traced the seam in his Captains cloak and he stroked her head. "I'm sorry, Tashi, but your room took some damage.
"Oh?" she said unconcerned. "That's alright, I didn't have anything – MY BOX!" she yelled and jerked up when she realized.
Byakuya then produced the small red music box from his sleeve. "I retrieved this before you came. Your room is structurally unsound and will have to be rebuilt. I did not want you climbing around in there where it is unsound."
"Thank you sire. I don't know how to thank you—"
"Don't. Just stay safe."
"Yes, sire" she said finding her place under his arm again. Regardless of the burnt down palace and the rubble of yesteryear, she did feel safe since she was next to him. She kissed his cheek and just as her lips touches his skin another explosion rocked Soul Society. The explosion erupted and a rainbow of colors polluted the sky. The flames raged different colors and almost all the Shinigami knew what had been hit. The Bureau of Technology, the buildings and facilities of the 12th squad.
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi was enraged. He had gone to personally deliver newly approved medications to a desperate fourth squad and was not caught in the explosion. However many brilliant scientists had been caught and if it weren't for a tremendous and hidden back-up site nearly all knowledge of technical developments over the past few millennia would have been lost.
Eri stood with Hanatarou Yamada thinking of all the side effects the explosion would cause. 'Who knows what that crackpot was cooking up and who knows what will happen when we start breathing it in' thought Eri.
The chemicals climbed upwards towards the domed ceiling of Seiretei's barrier. Then to everyone's horror ash began to pour down. There was little shelter because of all the damage, but Renji and Atsumi found a ledge to hide under. Renji leaned on the wall and let his hand raise up to catch one of the dark flakes which poured down. When the ash touched his hand it burned and he almost panicked when he saw Atsumi also reaching. "No! Fool!" he screamed and grabbed her arm.
He shook his other hand because the pain still persisted. They looked up and saw some Shinigami run by trying to escape the painful ash. Renji went to reach out to them and more ash burned his arm. His flesh smoked and he gripped it close to his body. Soon the ash ignited on the ground and chemical fires spread across the Seireitei.
Tashi and Byakuya stood a wide distance from the world of turmoil starring in awe of the strange ash which was showering down and headed their way.
Eri and her colleagues were exhausted. They were looking forward to taking a rest for the evening, but now that was not going to happen. One after the other burn victims were rolled in. Eri worked and worked, but she simply could not tap into her pool of power.
A fire started on the roof of the 4th squad, but it was put out by a strange slime substance Captain Kurotsuchi sprayed from his hat. He ordered more of the fluid be produced and quickly slathered on the roof of the first aid and triage stations.
He then ordered it to be sprayed on the 13th squad buildings as many survivors were there and he wanted to protect any Shinigami left. He wanted vengeance for his research and thus needed able bodied soldiers. He also sprayed as much of the 1st squad tower as they could manage. The fluid was easily produced with what little resources they had and the 1st, 4th , and 13th squad buildings were the only ones to escape fires. Of course they faced a clean up of a different kind. The other buildings were in ruins as is, and could not truly be salvaged.
Eri felt she was only getting a trickle of what she needed spirit power wise, and that trickle was drying up. The Vice Captain Isane Kotetsu ordered half of each group to rest up while the other half continued to work. In a few hours they would switch. Eri had to continue working.
--
From Rukongai the Seireitei looked as though it were sinking into hell. The flames lit up the smoky sky and the stars were disappearing. Those in the city surrounding the Seireitei who were not allied with the rebels stood in the streets staring up at the dome filling with smoke, and rampant destruction.
The General of the Rukongai rebels was leading this assault on the Shinigami and cheered. The dome which protected the Seireitei from invasion was now their worst enemy. It was keeping everything inside. He said "Now, they will be forced to drop the barrier and we will be ready to overtake them when they do. With their forces depleted we will be able to overtake them!"
They angry peasants in Rukongai waited to pounce. Not all were for the destruction of the Shinigami, but they were too weak to fight the masses. Some were killed by angry mobs and the others deiced to stay silent and alive.
One of the angry soldier's men said "Those time bombs chief were brilliant. It's too bad though about having to sacrifice those men. This is a beautiful sight and I'm sorry they're missing it".