A.N: review and enjoy ~AlMo
Thank You
Chapter 4; 3rd Part:
Shinigami & Quincy
Quincy & Shinigami
Byakuya closed his eyes for a moment; it was another meeting, more dire news, more explanations but nothing of his encounter…of his battle. Rukia was fine and unawares and would thus remain so. The scouting times were dissolved and instead training rosters and partners were devised. Rukia and the Ishida boy were partnered which was a better outcome than with that Ichigo Kurosaki.
It was decided, next Friday Soi-Fon would withdraw the Onmitsukido members present in Karakura Town and together with Urahara, Shinji and himself, return to Soul Society to present their case and hopefully receive full assistance.
To say he was in doubt was an understatement, the Sotaichou's opinion had always been strict regarding the Matsuyukisou – engagement against them was more than just forbidden it is treasonous!
Considering what he knew of them now…what he had experienced, Byakuya was not surprised; they had the power to topple Soul Society if they so wished it.
The Army of Fate that is how the Sotaichou had always described them and everyone knows Fate is a b…is difficult.
Byakuya left the Shoten; Rukia was still with the other's training beneath, their teasing, shouting, and laughter were not settling well with him. They had no clue of course, as he agreed with Urahara, but he knew; he knew the truth, and their confidence and faith in one another was not helping him ease his anxiety. Ryuken would arrive at sunset and inform them whether or not an audience was granted.
If he would allow himself the luxury of expressing himself unguardedly, he would sigh in frustration and run a hand through his black locks; but he would never let his guard down even for himself; instead, his features if possible hardened even more into cold indifference. He allowed instead for the afternoon breeze to pass through his hair, its soothing chill caressing his neck.
With his muddled thoughts anxious and frustrated, he let his feet carry him away from the company within the Shoten, too angry with himself to focus his attention for a set direction.
Ulquiorra hesitated for a fraction of a second at the open door of Akira Tomoya's home. The Lake House, as dubbed by the Matsuyukisou community, beautifully designed and built by Akira himself. The large windows emphasized the feeling of being on the lake, as if you could feel the gentle tug of the current beneath your feet, the even larger deck that extended itself as a dock brought that feeling to the senses.
At the end of the 'dock' sat Akira Tomoya, his hakama rolled up over his knees, his legs submerged in the cool lake water, a bamboo fishing rod resting in one hand, the other hand holding an ever-present bottle of sake.
"I looooove to forget
This nightmare scenario…oh...oh
This betrayal, this treason
It's devouring my Soul
I love to forget you
Forget me… forget them
forget this forbidden bond
as it devours my Soul
Forget meeeee… forgive me
It's the only way
To escape this Nightmare Scenario
To forget that I love you
To forget You're devouring my Soo…oooh…uuulll!" sang Akira off-key, off-tune, and drunk as usual.
The glare of sunlight momentarily blinded him, causing his conscious to return to his surroundings.
Byakuya found himself at his sanctuary in the Park, the raised embankment with the solitary cherry tree upon it. For a mere second anger flickered through his mind, anger that his unconscious sanctuary was one of loneliness even amongst company, as if mocking him that this was his true nature. That he could be amidst a crowd but ultimately he couldn't be more alone. A scowl escaped him in that second, disappearing so fast it was if it was never there. Only he knew of its momentary existence, which flared up his anger at himself for a moment longer.
He closed his eyes, sighing inwardly in defeat, he was alone in this, regardless of the others, those that knew the truth and those that did not, his inner mind was conscious of his solitude.
Alone
Opening his eyes, he walked down the embankment to where it met the shimmering water of the little lake, the other banks that lined the lake were relatively devoid of any humans, a few were walking along the paths eager to reach their destination before another heavy downpour. His gaze rested on the small waves on the lake, but he was not mindful of the scene, instead his mind was dwelling on his promise to Hisana.
"Tomi-dono," spoke Ulquiorra briskly, loud enough to be heard over Akira's (howling) singing. Ulquiorra was accustomed to the sight already; it was always the same song. Grimmjaw thought it was a hoot first time he heard Akira 'singing' it, to Ulquiorra it was a parasitic song, the kind that got stuck in your head, the kind you found yourself humming to unconsciously, or would start playing in your mind at the oddest of moments, the kind of parasitic song that Ulquiorra's own mind wasn't immune to.
Akira jumped from his spot, dropping his bamboo rod and bottle of sake, "ANRUI my boy," his voice boomed. Ulquiorra mentally sighed, wondering how Akira could be such a skilled angler despite his loud antics whilst fishing. Akira grasped Ulquiorra by both shoulders, shaking him affectionately as he beamed widely, "So…how was it?"
Ulquiorra eyed Akira wearily; unsure of what exactly was being asked,
"Your training with your Kisshōten my boy; how was it to use your shinzui-yumi?"
"Need you ask," he replied, earning a wide grin from Akira
"It's only polite, I guess I could always ask your Kisshōten but I already have an idea"
"Of course you do, if only to avoid speaking to Kisshōten - you have never been within the same room as one another for years now."
"Anyhow..." shrugged Akira avoiding that subject; "was it soul-torturing pain or just your simple run-of-the-mill pain?", he asked rubbing his chin adopting doctor-like inquisitive features.
Ulquiorra arched a brow; Akira Tomoya served Kisshōten-sama and despite the obvious aversion between the two everything Kisshōten knew so did Akira, so it was not surprising that Akira was aware of the 'training' he had with Kisshōten last night. Ulquiorra was puzzled about the rift, a natural clash of personalities or a discord due to something in the past, Ulquiorra however, was neither puzzled enough nor curious enough to inquire.
"Soul-torturing then I take it…well I can fix that! Release your bow, my boy. I will give you 15minutes only to injure me with your arrows whilst I'll use simple kido. Succeed and you are one step closer to mastering your soul, fail and answer to Kisshōten on your return," spoke Akira seriously before grinning and firing, "Hado 31, Shakkahō!"
A jet of red energy blasted into Ulquiorra's chest, pushing him back. He twisted his body mid-air to land, his feet skidding along the dock until finally he stopped, his back whispering against the glass door of the house 20metres from where he previously stood.
Ulquiorra straightened, removing his hands from the pockets of his white hakama, without a thought he grasped his snowflake Quincy cross, the blade-like chain breaking easily from his neck, "Bound in Demon blood, breathe into my arrows and shadow my bow, Gisei kara Tamashi," he intoned coolly, but Akira was not fooled.
Byakuya's solitude was disrupted by the sudden arrival of another; storm grey eyes met emerald green both not truly mindful of the other. A single nod of acknowledge was all that passed between them. Byakuya returned his gaze to the lake but his mind drowned in a never-ending stream of dark thoughts.
Rukia had been safe all along, it had been Aizen trying to sabotage his meeting with Kisshōten, but that could hardly shake the power that he had felt. If that barrier had not been summoned things would have gone differently, but ultimately would it have mattered. Ryuken Ishida spoke of bankai and a hollow-self, if those Quincy's had only released their shikai, how much more powerful could they be at full strength. How much more powerful would Kisshōten be…he who possessed a fully realised zanpakuto as well?
As if the skies moved to his gloomy thoughts, a deafening rumble erupted above shaking the earth beneath. The rain fell heavily with a thunderous beat; it was like the sea was falling upon him. The coldness, heaviness…the sheer gloom of it he welcomed and would have continued to welcome if not for the sudden tug of his wrist lurching him off balance.
Her grip was strong, she ran quickly down from the small embankment, but she did not head towards the main paths, instead, she darted towards the trees, an old path still visible. Once in the thicket, her grasp gave way as the pathway became more apparent, the rain pushed its way through the branches, trying its hardest and loudest to penetrate through to them. A circular clearing gave way, in the middle stood a covered rotunda, old and paint worn, long forgotten by park goers but still standing strong. They dashed towards the covering, a heavy breath released upon reaching the destination.
Byakuya watched as she moved towards the middle of the shelter and knelt down, though he had not needed her assistance, he could have easily used shunpo to return to the Shōten or the apartment though that had not been on his mind then, he had wanted to stay let the rain soak him…drown him at his sanctuary. Instead, he was saved by her…consideration.
Ulquiorra's tired limps worked to bring himself to the surface, his lungs burning with the need for air. His breath broke just a metre before the surface; the cold liquid drowning his lungs, choking him, pushing heavily against his control. Finally, he broke the surface, reaching out to the dock for support, coughing and spewing forth water.
"Here my boy," spoke Akira calmly, extending a hand to pull him up.
Ulquiorra was not a stubborn person, but his pride in his own strength was injured. He tried to pull himself up, pushing against the post with his foot to aid him, but his body was too heavy, too tired, too broken.
"You are not weak, but your pride is bruised my boy," Akira said gently, hunching down, his golden brown eyes rested on Ulquiorra, his tone mentor-like…fatherly. "Your soul may not be conflicted anymore but that does not mean you have mastered it, it only means that it is now allowing you to do so…if you are willing to take that dive." Akira grabbed Ulquiorra by the scruff of his jacket, hauling him effortlessly onto the dock.
Ulquiorra turned onto his back, avoiding Akira's gaze he stared up into the blindingly blue sky. He was no longer conflicted, logic was not his only reason anymore; he was not betraying his brothers, not truly. Sparing the target…sparing Rukia, would ultimately save them. He is betraying Absolute Order not the Matsuyukisou, he is betraying the Elders…but how could he master a soul that is not his own!
"You think too much my boy," said Akira, shattering through his chain of thoughts, "You are Ulquiorra Anrui Kisshōten, and you will be King! You saw the Kisshōten Blossom; white and pink, it is a sign! The Throne is in question, and it recognises that there is two possible Kings. It knows your betrayal!"
Ulquiorra shot up, staring at Akira coldly, "I am notbetraying Kisshōten; saving Rukia will save them all,"
"Rukia aye?" he arched a brow and fought down a cheeky grin turning away until sobering himself, "hmm yes, the Kuchiki girl. I knew her brother, Byakuya. He was just a child back when I was still a Lieutenant in the Gotei 13," a heavy sigh escaped him, he stood up staring out at the Lake that seemed suddenly cold, "I learnt a long time ago and have been learning ever since, you cannot save them all. If you must lose anyone, lose Kisshōten! The time will come my boy; choose your people, your brothers, choose the Throne!" Akira turned and walked away from him, towards his home.
Ulquiorra's eyes followed Akira's retreating figure, he respected the shinigami to the point he acknowledged him as a Mentor, but…
Kisshōten
Kisshōten; despite the foreboding cloud ever-present around Kisshōten, despite the ruthlessness, hidden-agendas, and secrets, Kisshōten is Kisshōten. Through Kisshōten, he now had a home, a clan, knowledge and power beyond Aizen's understanding, brothers-in-arms…a family.
Family, as odd, illogical, and unnatural as it sounded, it is the truth.
"Thank you," the words escaped him in a low murmur, startled by his voice her head raised and he was dazed by the pure emerald of her eyes sparkling at him, a soft smile of acknowledge from her came in answer. He moved towards her, slipping off his leather jacket at the same time, her eyes hardened, her posture stiffened, he lowered himself slinging his jacket around her careful to avoid touching her.
Realising his actually intention she relaxed, the warmth of his jacket instantly relieving the chill of her skin, "Thank You," she returned.
Pulling out a thermo flask from her bag, she poured the contents into the mug lid placing it on the floor in front of him in offering. She delved into her bag again pulling out her own mug-thermo, popped the lid and refilled the contents. She smiled gently at him before taking a sip, her hands clasped around the thermos holding it close to lips, gathering whatever warmth it offered.
Byakuya finally removed his gaze from her; she was beautiful, so beautiful it was sinful really. The pure grace of her movements was enchanting; he had watched as she poured his tea, kneeling as if performing a tea ceremony, her movements as fluid as the contents that escaped and repeated for her own flask. Her skin was flawless porcelain, her fingers long and dainty, simply manicured. Her lips naturally rosy and in a perpetual pout, her lashes thick and long, her eyes doe like. Her hair though soaked showed hints of its wavy self as it framed her face.
He lifted the mug to his lips; its aroma assaulting him instantly.
jasmine
The taste was different from the tea he had sampled at Ryuken's office, there was a deeper note to it, familiar yet he could not quite decipher what. His eyes lifted to her, catching the small smile upon her lips. "Thank you", he spoke lifting his mug slightly to acknowledge the offering as her eyes opened and rested upon him.
She smiled genially and then began to laugh, "We have a very limited vocabulary it seems,"
Byakuya smiled slightly but warmly in return, "Yes, so it would seemed."
Ulquiorra reached for his Quincy cross pulsating steadily on his chest, "Kisshōten," he whispered. A bright light encased him, a searing pain engulfing his body and then it was gone, taking with it the pain, fatigue and chill. He got up and covered the remaining distance to the house in a flash.
Akira greeted him with a pile of clothes tossed into his arms, "Get yourself into some dry clothes before Kisshōten beats my arse for allowing you to catch a cold."
It was an absurd statement, his system was immune to such trivial things, but still he complied, moving into a far room to change, the clothes were too big and too rough to his liking, he would have to return to his Quarters to change later
"How?" he asked upon returning
"You are a Kisshōten, linked to all other Kisshōten members, which in your case is only your Kisshōten. Anyhow, the link creates a sympathetic-survival connection that you can activate when there is a threat to the well-being and thus notify other members, i.e. your Kisshōten. You were heavily injured; you touched your shinzui-yumi in someway, so it sent help to its other Master, using your Kisshōten's reiryoka to heal you."
"Other master?...but my shinzui-yumi is different, it is Gisei kara Tamashi, Kisshōten's is no Tamashi"
"Just semantics boy, they are pretty much one in the same, they are twins," replied Akira with a hint of impatience as he rummaged through a trunk for another hook for his makeshift fishing rod. "And it is not your bow that is different, it is Kisshōten's that is different, your father's bow was also kara Tamashi, your Kisshōten is the oddity…as usual!"
Akira Tomoya and Kisshōten were as different as fire and ice, their only common trait was their annoying habit of talking to, with and about him as if he were really a Kisshōten. As if he had been born into the clan and not adopted by Kisshōten-sama, as if he had always existed and knew every father, grandfather, third uncle twice removed…every ancestor of the Kisshōten clan.
"Why is Kisshōten's different then,"
"Why else," replied Akira as if the answer was obvious and the question itself silly. "Kisshōten isn't you boy!" he found the hook and began pushing Ulquiorra towards the front door. "Now get out and explore the grounds while I fish us up something for dinner, Ill summon you once the grub is ready," pushing him out the door, "This may be your last chance to see the grounds like this," was Akira last words before he shut the door.
"It is beautiful, is it not?" she asked her gaze shifting to their surroundings before returning to him,
"The storm? Hmm, every man to his own"
"I'm in love with storms!" she spoke with a smile, "The thunder and lightning, the dark clouds, the rain, the wind; its like Nature's very own nightclub, where everything comes together as a sort of special effects, and the beat, the music of it all you can feel shaking through your feet and pounding on your skin. I find it beautiful and invigorating. But what I actually meant was the embankment, the Sanctuary I call it."
"The Sanctuary is very much a sanctuary in every sense, quiet and remote. And such…enjoyment in storms will lead to illness."
"Nonsense, it'll lead to a hot soothing bath, then a hot drink and good book whilst cuddled near a roaring fire…not to mention the silky wonders it does to my hair that no deep-conditioner could ever achieve," she rebuked, eyes twinkling in cheerful humour and as quickly as her eyes had alighted, they darkened with sorrow. "And I'm sorry you think of the Sanctuary as such; quiet yes, but remote never! It is removed from others, but it is not remote, not in the sense of loneliness. There are always others; in the distance but nevertheless there for whenever you wish to join them or let them join you."
He gazed into her eyes and knew she was right; he was not alone not truly. He had only to let them in, let himself in. "It is not always easy to be a part, even less to include others. Duty… pride have a way of holding oneself back."
She smiled sadly at him, "My Pride is my little brother, my duty above Duty is to him. Yet, even I must admit that all the times I find myself drawn to the Sanctuary, it is over of my duty, of my Pride. It is as if,"
"circumstances and my own self make me remote…alone amidst a crowd."
"Yes," she whispered in agreement and recognition, "my I ask," she hesitated, "you needn't say though,"
"My sister, my younger sister," answered Byakuya evenly, feeling a weight lift that he had not realised had been crushing him,
She smiled in acknowledgement, "your Pride"
Last chance
Once the Elders returned, and then his brothers, then the students for the summer break, there would be no quiet, no eerie peacefulness.
The most beautiful Spirit grounds that existed in the Living World, said to be cursed, though Ulquiorra could find nothing to prove such except that any born without Quincy powers could not return if they were to leave.
He turned left at the fork in the path, choosing to take the long way to the Manor so he could pass by the entrance border, unawares of the shadow that followed.
She finally returned to the apartment, the last rays of light had filtered through the rain clouds before finally giving way to the darkness of the night. She closed the door behind her, moving further inside, the delicious waft from the kitchen summoned her feet there.
A fresh batch of jasmine tea was being prepared over the stovetop.
"Tea, Kisshōten-sama?
She smiled and nodded in reply, placing Byakuya's jacket on the bench as she slid onto the kitchen stool.
AN:
The song that Akira sings is called "Nightmare Scenario" obviously, composed and performed by...Akira Tomoya DUH!, yeah I totally made it up, I was in that kind of make-up-ranDUM-stuff mood.
Kisshōten-sama is a WOMAN, yes indeed and this was planned from way before the beginning; she is the same woman in C2 P2 with Ryuken. There was a lack of gender pronouns in regards to Kisshōten so that was the only clue plus the italics when other Quincy's referred to Kisshōten as "King".
Akira Tomoya is an OC, my own creation of the previous Squad 13 Lieutenant, BEFORE Kaien Shiba; Akira survived the Shinigami-Quincy War and has been serving the Kisshōten clan since. Oh and before anyone may ask No he does not have any Quincy abilities, he's a Shinigami, and No he does not have an inner-hollow either, just coz I said so. The song I made up, I couldn't be bothered finding an actual song to fit, plus I think that's not allowed right? nehu you know the drill