Author's notes: Long time no see. I am sorry for taking so long to write this, but the last few months have been rather tiresome to me on so many levels... Well, at least I finally wrote, ne?
This is the last chapter to this small tale. Yeah, you read right, it is. XD I originally had about these many chapters planned anyway and I am ending it the way I had planned since the start/halfway into this story.
I'm sorry if this doesn't meet your expectations. Sorry if you expected something bloody, messy, more plot, etc and...well, it is the way it is, I guess.
Thank you for sticking with this fic until the very end! It was a fun one-year-ride! Thank you all very much for your most kind support as well. I didn't expect for this fic to get any attention at all, to be honest. XD And it's my very first actually finished chaptered fic, haha.
Without further ado, here it is.
Thank you!
And Happy New Years!
Chapter Twelve: Learning And Forgiving
The sound of feet hitting the floors of the 1st Division central HQ sounded throughout the corridors as Kensei and Shinji rushed towards the main office where Soutaichou should be residing.
"This is bad...really bad..." Shinji gripped the handle of his zanpakutou, a toothy frown visible on his face. If anything happened to Yamamoto-taichou, it would be on their heads, "I can't believe we fell for dis."
"Yeah... It stunk of bullshit since the start. I didn't think the old man would allow the battle to take place so easily to begin with."
"Who would'a thought he would escape from da underground prison though. We should'a been more cautious."
"Tch... Well, what's done is done. We shouldn't beat ourselves over it. And luckily, there was no disaster. The kid managed to get out of it alive and no one else got hurt. Our top priority is to see of old man's well-being and capture Aizen once more," Kensei doubted the later would be so easy though.
As the two men reached the main office, they flung the doors open and drew their zanpakutous. This was the room all of the Taichous gathered for the meeting, so it was more than familiar to them.
There, they saw Yamamoto sitting in his usual chair, but he wasn't alone. Before him stood two blond-
"Rose?!"
The 3rd Division Taichou turned around to face his Visored companions, Kira-fukutaichou doing the same, "Oh, hey guys!" Rose smiled, "What brought you here, with drawn zanpakutous at that?"
Kensei and Shinji stood there a moment longer, eying Rose, then Soutaichou, then they shed their zanpakutous, taking steps forward.
"Haven't ya heard about da situation? Aizen escaped from prison!"
"We have. That's why we are here to begin with."
"Eh?" Kensei wrinkled his nose.
"My most wonderful Fukutaichou - Kira Izuru, figured out something was wrong with Soutaichou's decision to allow the battle, so we went to confront Yamamoto-san right away about it," Rose turned to face the Head Taichou, "But as it turned out, Aizen has sneaked into the 1st Division and knocked out Soutaichou, posing as him right after."
"That is correct, I'm afraid. I should have had my guard up, but I made a grave mistake of not sensing the attack in time," Yamamoto explained.
"So that's how it was, huh..." Kensei let out in thought, Shinji had a thoughtful expression too, "It's rare for you to let your guard down, Soutaichou..."
"Well, we are all only spirits," Yamamoto's lips twitched upwards a bit, before returning to his serious expression, "9th Division Taichou," he suddenly addressed Kensei, "I would like you to formally apologize to Hisagi-fukutaichou for the caused damage. And at the same time, as compensation, erase the record of all his previous faults."
Kensei's eyes widened, "With all do respect, Soutaichou," the man paused, bowing his head, "I do believe a formal apology should be made, but... Going to this extend to erase-"
"I believe that to be the right decision, considering what has taken place today."
Rose nodded, "It was my glorious Fukutaichou's idea. And I agree with it too," all Kira could do was stand there quietly the entire time as Taichous talked, trying to hide his reddened cheeks.
"Hmm... Well, it seems only fair ta be honest," Shinji eyed Kensei.
After a moment of silence, Kensei bowed lower to Soutaichou, "Yes, sir!"
"Taichou!" 3rd Seat Genshirou Okikiba came rushing into the room, crouching and bowing before his commander, "We have inspected the Central Underground Prison and as it turns out," everyone's eyes were on the man as he raised his head, eyes showing confusion and slight fear from not understanding what was going on, "Aizen has not escaped from prison and is still residing within."
"Ow..." Shuuhei hissed while sitting up, rubbing his sore shoulder.
"You should be careful in the following week for all of the wounds to heal completely," Hanatarou explained, helping Shuuhei stand up.
"Thanks a lot...for your help," Hisagi grinned, receiving a smile in return, the door to the room slamming open in the meantime, revealing red hair.
"Sempai!" Renji exclaimed, rushing over to Shuuhei's side, eyes worried, "How are you feeling?" he grabbed Hisagi's shoulder's in a good grip, making the other hiss again, inspected the brunet.
"I will be fine, Abarai," Hisagi kept smiling despite the pain as they slowly made it out of the infirmary. Rangiku, Ikkaku and Yumichika were waiting behind the door, their eyes relieved when they saw a bandaged up, but walking and breathing Shuuhei, "Guys, it was not so bad..." the brunet scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Oh, shut up! You went against Aizen, you know?!" Rangiku exclaimed, hands on hips.
"Well, you are in better shape than expected, considering who you went against..." Ikkaku noted, eying Hisagi up and down.
"Okay, guys, lets get him some space to breathe," Renji pulled Shuuhei away from everyone else, their friends smiling as they watched the two go, no one disagreeing with Abarai's words and only wishing Shuuhei a fast recovery.
Hisagi let out a deep breath as he walked, Renji by his side, "What are you doing here anyway?"
Renji blinked weirdly at the other, then looked back to his front, "Sorry...for being late to the battle. Good thing Yumichika and Ikkaku were there."
Shuuhei's eyes widened, "But the order-"
"You think I care about that?!" Renji grunted, "Not when your life is concerned and you know that."
Hisagi gaped at Abarai, a small smile appearing on his face, "Thank you...for your kindness."
Renji glared, "What was that just now..?"
Shuuhei shook his head, snickering, "I healed all of my wounds... As promised," Renji's eyes softened at that, leaning over and kissing Hisagi's lips.
There was a filthy smell in the air, darkness seeping at every corner, screams coming somewhere at a long distance. It was damp and cold...and Kensei fought the urge to rub his naked arms as they made it down through countless cells towards Aizen's.
Something was definitely wrong here. It was obvious as night and day themselves. There was no way Aizen couldn't have escaped his cell. But then again, with how heavily guarded it was, how could he have done it so easily? Not only that, but it seemed like he hasn't escaped after all, but that couldn't have been the case. What they felt back during Hisagi's battle was indeed Aizen's reiatsu... And that reiatsu is not the kind he, or any of the Visored, would forget soon.
"Never thought I would get such an honor to conduct experiments here," Mayuri muttered under his breath, holding a finger to his chin as they walked.
"You are only going ta inspect if it's really Aizen, physically, in da cell," came Shinji's voice, looking at the 12th Division Taichou suspiciously, "So...did ya really need ta bring all of dat equipment with ya?" Nemu was struggling to keep up with Mayuri while carrying a monitor, some gizmos all wired up and whatever other things Shinji couldn't indentify.
"I'll have you know that all of this equipment is the new state of the art, necessary to identify the prisoner's physical presence, for just sensing his reiatsu would be meaningless in this case, for Aizen can conceal everything thanks to his power."
"...Right," Shinji muttered, looking back where he was going again. He didn't need to hear the entire explanation, he already guessed it all.
Finally reaching Muken, a hell hole if there was any in Seireitei, the greatest pit, Yamamoto and the rest went through a few heavy gates, with many guards, before finally reaching Aizen.
Yamamoto, Shinji and Kensei stood outside the white room, in the middle of which sat Aizen, still on the same chair, heavily bound to it. The former Taichou couldn't help a wide smirk as he saw the others, "My my, what a pleasant visit. Not that I did not already expect you all."
No one said anything, Mayuri and Nemu entering the room to prepare all of the equipment, so Aizen continued, "So you enjoyed my great performance far more than I expected. Seems it shook up the entire, useless, Gotei 13."
"Shut your trap, filth!" Kensei let out, almost ready to step forward, stopped by Soutaichou's hand though, "Sir..."
"Do not let a dog's bark get to you."
"It is done," Mayuri finally said and he and Nemu left the room, carrying a small screen with them, which connected to the other equipment standing in the room itself. After a few clicks, Mayuri pushed a button and a light appeared inside the room, like a scanner, going over Aizen and the entire space before disappearing.
"Oh? So that's it. Trying to figure out if my presence is really here?" Aizen snickered, "Why did you not say so? I could have just honestly told you I am exactly where I was."
"That can't be da case if ya attacked Gotei 13 on the outside," Shinji let out.
"According to my calculations and what the monitor shows though, he is right. Aizen is physically here with us."
"Huh? But how is that possible?" Kensei couldn't hold back his surprise.
"Hmm... Fascinating..." Mayuri got all thoughtful, "Very intriguing indeed..."
In the end, no one had an answer as to what has happened less than an hour before and Aizen couldn't help another snicker, his eyes full of malice, "Gotei 13...will fall."
And it was left at that, with no leads as to what has happened, no matter how many investigations were later made.
"So that's how it was..." Renji said after listening to Shuuhei's story as they made their way back to 9th Division Barracks.
Shuuhei nodded, head lowered as he walked, "It gave me a very strange sensation... To see Kaname-taichou again...right after I was the one to kill him."
Renji let out a breath, patting Shuuhei's back to comfort him, not saying anything else.
The rest of the way was silent, each man in their own thoughts, before finally Renji spoke up again as they entered the main building, "I...ugh... Broke up with Kuchiki-taichou," he watched Shuuhei closely.
The brunet's head shot up, eyes wide on Renji, stopping midway on the stairs, before returning to normal, "...why?"
"Why?! Are you an idiot..?" the redhead sighed, "It's because... I want to be with you, sempai, obviously."
"Don't call me 'sempai'," the brunet stared, going up the stairs, "But... I made some grave mistakes and I don't deserve-"
"I have made enough mistakes in the past months too..." he paused, "Shuuhei..." he smiled tenderly, stopping in his tracks as did Hisagi when they reached the door to his room, smiling tenderly at the other, hand on Shuuhei's cheek, "But I learned that sometimes...it's best to just forgive," his smile turned into a bright grin, which Shuuhei, after a small pause, mirrored as well.
They both knew he was right. Their hearts told them so.
It wasn't an easy step, but at that same second, both men decided to take it - to forgive themselves - and each other, starting anew, from scratch.
Shuuhei moved the handle to the door and it clicked open effortlessly, so he blinked, then frowned, "Did you forget to lock the door like I asked, Renji..?"
"Ugh... Oops..?" Renji scratched the back of his head as they entered the room, "I'm terribly sorry..."
"It's totally oka- my guitar! Where is it?!" Shuuhei exclaimed as he looked around the room, in search of his pride and joy, "It was right here this morning!"
Renji watched Shuuhei run around the room in search of the guitar that was obviously not there with a sweatdrop. When the brunet gave up on making a mess of his room in search of something that was no longer there and looked at Renji accusingly, the redhead decided it was time to bale, "I...um... Should go... Or Kuchiki-taichou will have my-" Renji reacted in time and closed the door as a pillow was flung at it.
Running down the stairs fast, he was grinning brightly and despite Hisagi's loss, he was sure Shuuhei was too. They would find Shuuhei's babe later. He still thought back to Byakuya, but he hoped the man would eventually get better and move on, for he was strong...and deserved happiness too.
But for the time being, he focused on Shuuhei.
They were back together again. And together, they were an unstoppable force.
"Are you sure this is alright, Outoribashi-taichou..?" came Kira's voice as he stared at his Taichou, sited on the desk, playing Shuuhei's guitar.
"Of course it's okay! I will return this baby later," Rose smiled tenderly, looking at Kira, "Come closer, enjoy sweet music with me."
Kira still didn't think it was right, but decided to not dwell on it and smiled his rare smile too, deciding it was time for his happiness to shine as well.
There was no way he could forget Ichimaru-taichou, for he was forever in his heart, like Hisagi-san said, but he wanted to try and be happy again.
It was late in the evening and laughter could be heard for miles away throughout Seireitei coming from the bar Renji, Shuuhei, Izuru and the rest of their friends attended.
Soutaichou stood up from the table he was working on countless papers at and walked over to the window, looking up at the night sky with half of the moon visible and a few stars. Then, he looked down at the streets of Seireitei for a little while, watching Shinigami from all sorts of Divisions and ranks having fun, laughing away and smiling and goofing around wasted, walking the streets clumsily.
A smile appeared on his face. But it was not his rare, natural smile, but rather...
The smile of a menacing devil.
The End.
