Chapter 14: The Black Haori – An Unfolding Treachery (5)
What a beautiful day, a cool breeze, a blinding sun. I should really just find a nice spot in the shade and have a little nap. Although this offer is to tempting to resist, Yuna wants to see me, perhaps the weather has put her in the good mood, and she needs to see a real man, I knew I was irresistible.
Kinnosuke walked briskly to the first division, excited to see what Yuna wanted, he hadn't spoken to her since Megumi's celebration party. Kinnosuke walked past a couple of the first division's officers.
"Good afternoon captain Kinnosuke," they both said cheerfully.
"Hello you two, go and enjoy the weather, it's a perfect day for relaxation."
The first divisions barracks were finally in view, he quickly pranced towards the door.
I'm finally here Yuna, just a few more seconds before I see you.
He put his hand on the door and pulled, "Yuna I'm here."
"I'm in my quarters, hurry up this is urgent," she shouted.
Kinnosuke took a step forward, he heard a click; the room exploded, he went flying backwards out of the door, more explosions occurred, shrapnel sliced through the air, killing a few officers. Disorientated, Kinnosuke stood up, his ears were ringing, his vision clouded, he could make out the shapes of officers running around in panic, some lying motionless half exposed under debris.
With his voice dry, he shouted, "Yuna, Yuna," he started coughing. Desperate, he grabbed the fourth seat of the first division, "Norio, have you seen Yuna?"
Wiping the blood from his face, Norio tore of a bit of fabric from his outfit and placed it around a huge gash on his forehead, "I haven't seen her, I think she was still inside."
"Shit! I'm going after her."
"Captain you can't, she is probably dead, the flames are rising, we have to move the injured."
Kinnosuke ignored him and ran through the flames and into the barracks, stumbling over rubble; he avoided burning fragments falling from above.
"Yuna can you here me?" he yelled, he heard no response, the flames started to climb the building, he could hear officers screaming for help, he ignored them, he only had one priority. The screams of help turned to pain as the officers burned, a slow painful death, Kinnosuke had no time for guilt now.
He had made it to her quarters, she was lying on the floor unconscious, her leg trapped underneath a wooden beam, black smoke filled the room; Kinnosuke struggled to breathe, his eyes watered as he endeavoured to lift the beam. The ceiling collapsed unleashing a barrage of orange still burning materials, he quickly crouched down on all fours over Yuna taking the full impact. The materials burnt through his haori, and violently charred his skin.
He fought the pain, trying to keep consicious, you idiot, Miyu will heal it later, He said to himself.
He held Yuna in his arms, carefully moving through the flames, something caught his attention.
What is that cylinder?
A spark appeared on a thin metallic cylinder; gas shot out from the top, ablaze by the flames, the cylinder burst. The on looking shinigami outside could only stand and watch as the roof caved in.
Despite the explosions, all was quiet in the thirteenth division, officers acted as if nothing had happened. Lieutenant Karukai came sprinting in.
"We need to help the first division now, good shinigami are dying, and its reported that seated officers including a captain are missing."
No one acknowledged him, they all continued with their duties. Captain Shizuka sauntered in; he wore a black haori with the number thirteen in white, completely opposite to the traditional captain haori.
"Captain, what is going on, we need to help them, before more die!"
"We? I have no interest in helping, in fact it's helping me extinguish the useless vermin that occupy the first division."
"Have you gone crazy, captain, shinigami are dying!"
"They call themselves shinigami, but if they're dying to a little fire, they're weak and are not worthy to live. I've tried to be patient over the last few decades, Ryuusuke has changed things in the Seireitei, captains no longer have the reputation they once had, we were feared and respected out of leadership. Now our underlings think they are equal to us. Join me lieutenant, fight by side, let's retake the Seireitei."
Conflicted by his honour and emotions, he knew what the captain wanted was wrong, reluctantly he trusted is conscience, unsheathing his zanpakuto, he positioned himself to a defensive stance.
"No, I won't go against the will of the gotei thirteen."
"Bravo lieutenant," he said as he clapped. "I was praying you would say that, I can finally show you how useless you are, its time to rid the Seireitei of your pathetic life."
Every member of the eleventh division, stood to attention outside the division barracks, each one of them had their zanpakuto in hand. In silence they waited for their captain, a door slammed open, Akio and Kenta walked out standing either side of the door, Kenpachi Orochi marched out between them, he stood directly in front of his officers.
Clearing his throat, he looked fiercely at the men staring at him. "Men, today is the day the Seireitei changes for the better, no longer will we be behind the scenes training for nothing. I know each and every one of you is a ferocious, bloodthirsty warrior like me. Today we will obliterate the fourth division, leave no man or woman alive, I want the ground saturated in their blood."
"Men join me," he said taking out his zanpakuto, he sliced part of his arm with his blade, blood slid down to the hilt, he put the blade to his mouth and licked the blood off it. His eyes dilated, as if he was on drugs, "Release you're zanpakuto." Raising his weapon he shouted, "decimate Unmeisu!" A torrent of shouts echoed throughout the Seireitei, various blades changed shape in front of his eyes.
"The peaceful times are over," he ripped of his white haori, now begins the takeover." Akio handed him a new black captain haori. "Tread violently, demolish those who oppose you!"
He marched to the fourth division; the eleventh division was ready for war.
Shortly before the explosion in the first division, Etsuo was with lieutenant Ikoma in the twelfth division.
Lying back on her bed, Ikoma looked at Etsuo lying down on her chair, his eyes closed.
"Do you like what you see?" Ikoma blushed, Etsuo opened his eyes, "did you really think I was sleeping?"
Embarrassed she threw a pillow at him, he caught it with one hand, "Come on Ikoma you're going to have to do better than that."
"Its Sawa," she said faintly.
"Sawa?"
"It's my first name, only you and my captain know," her face crimsoned.
"Only me and the captain," he smirked, "I guess that makes me kind of special then."
She looked down at the bed, "Special? You wish," she looked right into Etsuo's eyes, "I trust you."
Astonished, he stammered, "trustworthy?" She stared at his eyes, "Thank you Sawa, that means a lot to me. If it means anything, I trust you too," he moved to the bed, lying down beside her, "Although I would like to get to know you a bit better."
She advanced towards him, her lips adjacent to his, "Smooth Etsuo, smooth," she whispered. "We have a long time to get to know each other, so lets take it slowly."
"I suppose we do," Etsuo said, disappointed.
"I'm joking!" she said giggling, she gave him a gentle slap, he rubbed his head. She grabbed his outfit and pulled him, she kissed him gently.
Sawa heard a loud bang, "What was that?" She said breaking away from Etsuo.
"Probably captain Kinnosuke, he's exactly like my captain, always up to something ridiculous. Lets just enjoy today and worry tomorrow"
Sawa stared at him, "You're right." Etsuo brushed her hair with his hand, she put her hand on his leg, "show me how passionate first division officers are."
Running manically Hyata rushed past Sawas room, troubled Sawa shouted, "what's wrong?!"
"Don't worry I'll go and check," Etsuo said reassuringly.
Etsuo leaned through the doorframe; he could see Hyata bursting through the doors and away from the twelfth division.
"Should I go after her?"
"I'm sure its just a quick request from another division," she tapped the bed, "come on lieutenant Yano."
"I do love it when you address me formally," he heard a click, "did you hear that?"
"Oh Etsuo, I hope you're not making excuses," she chuckled.
He laughed, truly appreciating her sense of humour, he heard another click, the sound was coming from above Sawa.
"No, it can't be,"Etsuo rushed towards her; suddenly a white light accompanied by a bang blinded him, something hard and heavy landed on him he fell unconscious.
Sawa!
"Explosions!" Byakuya quickly shouted, "Miyu that came from first and twelfth division."
"Captain Shigeyo, he must have had this planned," she said.
"There has to be others on his side no one man could orchestrate this, Miyu you need to go to the first division."
"Uncle, I can't, I must protect the fourth division."
"No Miyu, its your duty to go to the first division, if the head captain is injured or worse, morale of the thirteen divisions will fall."
"But Hajin, if he's under attack," she froze; the thought of the fourth division burning again played havoc with her emotions.
Byakuya grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close, they were face to face. "Don't be so ignorant, you are the best medic, go now to the first division, your indecisiveness is killing shinigami."
Miyu looked solemn, "what about the twelfth division, do I just let them die?"
"In any conflict there are casualties, you just have to prioritise whose life is worth saving more."
Disgusted at Byakuyas logic, Miyu punched the wall next her, the wall shattered, Byakuya didn't move.
"Who are you to say who lives and who dies? Every Shinigami is valuable."
"I was a captain, who fought the quincy, every decision I made had a direct result on the outcome of the war. Chose the most beneficial path."
"I guess I have no choice, I'll go to the first division," she paused, "and let the twelfth division perish."
"I'll stay here and prepare for battle."
Miyu started walking off, Byakuya grabbed her hand, he slipped a piece of paper into it.
"Read it later Miyu, its something my grandfather gave me."
Miyu pulled away, shoving the paper into a pocket inside her haori.
"Uncle, if anything happens to the fourth division, I will never forgive you nor will I ever acknowledge your existence again."