A.N: I'm actually sort of surprised at how quickly I got this chapter out. Things just seemed to flow when I finally started it. Anyways, this chapter shows a bit of Mayuri's past, along with the beginning of Benito's endgame. Enjoy!
Chapter 21: Spark
Flashback: 200 Years Ago
Mayuri Kurotsuchi (narrating): I am superior. That is, and will always be, the case. It was even the case 200 years ago. The day I entered the Academy, I knew that I would be the superior being. I was always surrounded by vulgar fools who seemed to fancy themselves as champions. The swordsmen were nothing more than neanderthals who seemed to value brawn over all else. The Kidō experts were nothing but failures who used that particular fighting method to hide their deficiencies. The Hakuda experts were neanderthals as well. Hell, they were even worse than the swordsmen. At least the swordsmen had art in their swings. The worst of them all, however, were the intellectual wannabes. I had to restrain myself form killing them on multiple occasions. I simply could not stand the fact that these men were considered intellects when I, a true intellect, was superior on every level. They were all so vulgar, so beneath me. And yet they were all spared the fate of the Maggot's Nest…
A young Mayuri Kurotsuchi without all of his makeup trudged through the halls of the Soul Reaper Academy. He glared at the conversing crowds. He hated all of them. He hated how these vulgar masses received more recognition than he did. In fact, that was why he was going to see his teacher.
When Mayuri had reached the office of his teacher, Sakamochi, he immediately took a deep breath and entered. The middle-aged looking man named Sakamochi looked up in surprise at Mayuri's presence.
"Mayuri," he said in surprise, "what brings you to my office, boy?"
Mayuri glared at Sakamochi and slammed his hands onto the desk. "Why?" He demanded.
"Why what, Mayuri?"
"Why do you never give me the recognition I deserve. You and I both know that I'm superior to that vulgar trash."
Mayuri's glare intensified as he continued. "So why do you toss me aside in favor of them?"
Sakamochi sighed. "Mayuri, it's true that you are the most intelligent man in your class. Hell, you're one of the most intelligent men to come into the Academy in the past several hundred years."
Sakamochi gave Mayuri a stern look. "But what you fail to realize, Mayuri, is that intelligence isn't everything. There is more to being a Soul Reaper than being the smartest in the class."
"Bah, a fool could realize that, what's the real reason, Sakamochi?" Mayuri asked angrily.
Sakamochi glared at Mayuri. "First off, it's that," said Sakamochi, "that blatant lack of respect. Mayuri, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads is a simple hierarchy. You are not going to get far in life with such disregard for those who are stationed above you."
Mayuri met Sakamochi's glare head on. "Why would I give any respect to those I am above?" He asked.
"Because there are those who are stronger than you, even with your genius intellect, Mayuri." Said Sakamochi.
"Now, second of all," Sakamochi continued, not giving Mayuri a chance to reply, "you are far too untrustworthy, Mayuri."
"Untrustworthy!" Mayuri thundered.
"It's not just that superiority complex of yours, it's another behavioral problem you have," Sakamochi explained, "all of these 'experiments' you propose that will apparently 'improve' Soul Reapers and their capabilities are…are…inhumane!"
Mayuri was furious at this. "Inhumane!"
"The ends do not justify the means, Mayuri," Sakamochi said sternly, "what you fail to realize is that regret is a powerful thing, and even if you can look back on your actions and say they were for the good of something, that good is immediately canceled out by the evil you committed in order to obtain the good."
Mayuri was fuming at this point. His own teacher was against him. A teacher was supposed to acknowledge the intelligence of his students. "Mark my words, Sakamochi," Mayuri hissed, "I'm superior now, and I will continue to remain superior. I can only keep going up, Sakamochi. I will continue to better myself every day and remain superior until the day I die!"
With that, Mayuri stormed out of Sakamochi's office.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi (narrating): I realized at that point I would have to continuously show off my superiority. That meant not just constantly striving for improvement, but also separating myself from the vulgar masses. I would eventually make people recognize my superiority no matter the cost. The ends do justify the means, and my perfect ending would justify any means…
Mayuri continued to apply makeup to his body. This was his way of separating himself from the masses. Within several minutes, Mayuri was covered in blue, black, and white makeup. This was just one of many ways to show off his superiority to others.
The next day, Mayuri entered class and received several stares from his classmates. Let them stare, he thought, they could never possibly understand my superiority.
People started whispering amongst themselves about Mayuri's new look. Sakamochi looked at Mayuri curiously, wondering what had brought about this change in Mayuri. "That is an interesting new look you have, Mayuri." Said Sakamochi.
"Just a way to stand out from the crowd." Said Mayuri.
Sakamochi's eyes widened when he realized that Mayuri's superiority complex had worsened even after the conversation they had. Realizing that nothing he said was going to mean much to Mayuri at this rate, Sakamochi decided to being the lesson.
Todays lesson on Spirit Energy had been uneventful until Mayuri brought up the subject of enhancements for the bodies of Soul Reapers that would help them gain more power. The idea seemed harmless, but Sakamochi knew that the enhancements Mayuri was suggesting were extremely harmful to the bodies of a Soul Reaper. Spirit Energy is meant to remain at a certain level for certain Soul Reapers. It eventually evens out at a certain level. At that point, all you can do is keep the power you gain sharp. To disrupt that level and completely tip the balance could tear a Soul Reaper's body from the inside out.
"Mayuri, that idea is simply out of the question." Sakamochi said calmly.
"And why would that be, Sakamochi?" Mayuri asked furiously.
"Mayuri, the enhancements you are suggesting could tear a Soul Reaper apart. It could ruin their careers."
"They would simply need more enhancements." Mayuri insisted.
"So you are asking them to become addicted to your creation just so they can remain Soul Reapers?" Sakamochi asked. "If they keep tearing their bodies apart, Mayuri, they will eventually die."
"Than they die," Mayuri said dismissively, "but at that brief moment, they can have enough power to defeat the strongest enemies the Soul Society could possibly have."
Sakamochi shook his head. "Mayuri, as your teacher, I must guide you on the right path. This idea of yours is more insane than your methods of understanding the Quincy and the Hollows."
"If we could simply gain a test subject, we could understand them better and a battle with them could be even easier."
"Dammit boy, we are not going to experiment on humans, even if they were once our enemies. The idea is far too inhumane. We are to protect humans, not experiment on them!"
"Bah, I doubt the dead from the war would agree with you." Said Mayuri.
"The war is over, Mayuri, there is no reason for us to do what you're suggesting." Sakamochi said, growing angrier at the second.
"Well what about the Hollows? We are in a constant war with them. I don't see what the problem is with experimenting on mindless brutes."
Sakamochi saw the murmurs of agreements amongst the classmates. "Hollows are souls too," said Sakamochi, "the only thing we need to understand about them is that they are corrupted and dangerous souls who are in desperate need of salvation. We are not going to experiment on those who need salvation. It is just as inhumane as experimenting on the Quincy."
The class immediately switched to Sakamochi's side. Mayuri glared at Sakamochi, but then sat down.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi (narrating): Little did I know, that would be the last time I ever got into an argument with my vulgar pig of a sensei, Sakamochi. A few days later, that bastard would have me arrested…
"What is the meaning of this!" Mayuri screamed furiously as he was brought to Central 46.
"Mayuri Kurotsuchi, you are here because your sensei, Kenzō Sakamochi, claims you to be a threat to the future of the Soul Society." Said a member of Central 46.
"How could I possibly be a threat?" Mayuri asked incredulously. "All I have done is propose improvements to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
"Mayuri Kurotsuchi, we have lately become aware that some of the actions of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are rather inhumane. We are simply trying to improve our ethical standing." The first member explained
"Dammit, that will simply hold you back."
"Yes, Sakamochi has mentioned that you strongly believe that the end justifies the means. Your talks of enhancements, experimenting on Hollows and Quincies, and so much more is disturbing to say the least." Said another member.
"So why have you brought me here?" Mayuri hissed at the judicial body of the Soul Society.
"After reviewing the actions your sensei has described, along with the added testimonies of some of your classmates, we have come to a decision." Said a female member.
"We have decided," the first man spoke up once again, "that for the safety of the Soul Society, we hereby sentence you to solitary confinement within the Maggot's Nest for the remainder of your life."
"What, why?" Mayuri asked, knowing that nobody was ever confined to a solitary room.
"Mayuri, we intend to make an example of the fact that we will not tolerate those who would conduct themselves in such an inhumane manner. Also, we cannot allow you to be among the inmates. Your intellect would be dangerous to the guards of the Maggot's Nest. We simply cannot allow you to rally the inmates." The female member spoke up.
Mayuri glared at them all. How dare they do this to him? How dare they throw him into the Maggot's Nest with all of that vulgar trash!
I swear, Mayuri thought, I will have my revenge on all of these people. They will pay for downplaying my intelligence, my superiority!
Mayuri Kurotsuchi (narrating): I spent the next 90 years in the Maggot's Nest, contemplating my actions once I leave. When Kisuke Urahara visited me and offered me freedom, I was surprised. When he was exiled and I was given his position, I was even more surprised. The fact that the Central 46 would actually allow me to become the second head of the Department of Research and Development after the things they had said about me was the most surprising thing of all. I knew, of course, I had to keep my actions behind closed doors. Not that it had mattered, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads and the Central 46 had finally realized my superiority. I got away with the most horrid things because they knew that I was irreplaceable…
End Flashback
…Yet here I am, defeated by two vulgar beasts. Mayuri thought solemnly. I am superior to them in every way and yet I have been defeated.
Mayuri got to his feet and made his way to the back of the room, hoping to contact Benito. The ends justify the means, Mayuri continued, I had proven my superiority by going through hell. Then, I improved the Soul Society by cooperating on the outside, but then doing the most inhumane things on the inside.
Mayuri collapsed onto the control panel as he started to contact Benito. Nemu sauntered up behind him with a steely glare. I am Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Mayuri thought, I am superior to all of them. I deserve the recognition that those vulgar fools had received. Yet they cast me out. Benito…he recognizes it. I will survive this with his help.
And then, Mayuri continued, I will continue to show the vulgar masses my superiority over them all.
Benito's face came on screen. "Mayuri," Benito said in surprise.
"Your Majesty," Mayuri choked out in pain, "send your men down to save me. I cannot die here."
Benito sighed. "I'm afraid I cannot do that, Mayuri."
Mayuri's eyes widened in surprise. "You have served me well, Mayuri, and your actions have sped up my plans tenfold. But you have outlived your usefulness."
Mayuri's eyes widened. How could he have lived out his usefulness? He was a superior being! "Damn you!" Mayuri screamed. "You could not have completed your plans without my help."
Benito laughed. "You were never crucial to the plan, Mayuri. You were nothing but a catalyst. Things would have taken longer if I had never recruited you, but it still would have worked out the way I wanted in the end."
"So," Benito continued, "I'm afraid I no longer have any use of you."
With that, Benito cut off all communications with Mayuri, ending Mayuri's employment with Los Retazos. Mayuri was seething in anger, in spite of the pain he was in.
How dare he discard me like that? Mayuri screamed inwardly. I am Mayuri Kurotsuchi! I am superior to all of the vulgar trash in the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. He cannot just discard me like that! I am superior! I am meant to stay alive and flaunt my superiority to them all! I…
There was high-pitched sound that filled the air. Mayuri suddenly slumped forward. Mayuri Kurotsuchi hit the control panel with a hole in his head, dead. Nemu stood behind him with Oniya pointed at him.
Hiyori walked up to Nemu. "Why did you kill him?" Hiyori asked curiously. "You saw that basted discard him."
"Killing him now was a lot more merciful than what the Soul Society would have done to him," said Nemu, "killing him now was the least he deserved."
Nemu turned to Hiyori. "I did the right thing."
Hiyori sighed. "I know."
The two walked to the control panel. "So, what do think this was?" Hiyori asked. "Because knowing Mayuri, it was more than a communications device."
"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling…" Nemu said grimly.
"A bad feeling about what?" Hiyori asked.
"That this machine has set off a powder keg." Nemu said, looking at the label of the device.
Their eyes widened as they read it together. The panel had opened up several Garganta. And there were only so many places that Los Retazos intended to go.
"Raoul," Benito said to his subordinate, "I am going into the Garganta. If you see Tia, tell her to follow me."
Raoul Arcano nodded as he stood over the defeated forms of Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa. Benito then entered the Garganta. A few moments later, Tia Halibel entered the room from the stairway. She was not attempting to hide the fact that she had been upstairs, where Ichigo Kurosaki was.
"Ah, Your Highness," Raoul said in a mock-respectful tone, "where have you been? His Majesty was worried about you."
Halibel ignored him and walked past him, making her way to the Garganta. Raoul's next words, however, froze her. "Don't think you can get away with everything, Halibel," Raoul told her, "I know for a fact that boy isn't dead."
Halibel glared at Raoul. "Oh?"
Raoul smirked. "I won't say anything. After all, the boy is a dead man. Either I get him, or His Majesty will."
"Don't underestimate him, Raoul." Halibel growled at Raoul.
Raoul laughed. "Don't underestimate me, Halibel."
Knowing that even she might have difficulty fighting Raoul and that she could not keep Benito waiting lest he might get suspicious, Halibel walked into the Garganta. However, thoughts of Raoul remained in her mind.
That man is pure evil, Halibel thought.
In the Fake Karakura Town, Captain Soifon stood on the roof of the building, staring at the sky. Secretly, she was desperately hoping that she would be contacted by someone who would inform her that her beloved had led a successful attack on Hueco Mundo and that the war was now over. It would certainly bring her Akio closure.
Soifon sighed. Yes, that would certainly bring Akio closure, she thought, it would be good to have the old him back, even after losing Ichigo and Renji.
Unbeknownst to Soifon, of course, the two men were alive and well. No sooner had those thoughts left Soifon's mind, several holes ripped open in the sky. Soifon's eyes widened in shock at this. Akio had failed?
In the center Garganta, two pairs of feet stepped out. Ivan Azgiaro and Luders Friegen looked around at the Fake Karakura Town. "Nice place," Luders mused, "it's a shame we must destroy it."
Ivan was shaking in excitement. His revenge would finally begin. "Yes," he said, "a true shame."
Back on the building. Soifon drew her Zanpakutō and prepared for battle. She had no idea what had happened in Hueco Mundo, but the fact remained was that enemies had appeared in the place she was charged with protecting. She could not let them have their way!
You come back to me safely, Akio, Soifon thought, and in return, I'll come back from this safely.
A.N: God, finally, I managed to kill off Mayuri. Mayuri was never once a character I liked on Bleach. Lets face it, Gin and Tōsen had purer intentions than Mayuri. Gin did what he did for the woman he loved, and Tōsen was simply jaded by what had happened to his friend. Mayuri was just a madman with a superiority complex. The only redeeming thing about him was his views on 'perfection'. When I made him a traitor in this story, you would not believe how much I looked forward to killing him off.
So, with my little rant over I can now recap the chapter. Mayuri's dead, the invasion is starting, Benito cruelly discarded Mayuri, Raoul knows Halibel's true intentions, Ikkaku and Yumichika have both been defeated, and Soifon is now being challenged with defending the Fake Karakura Town. I really enjoyed this chapter because it not only sets a chain of events into motion (hence the title, Spark), but it also develops the characters of two rather important characters, Benito and Raoul. Raoul is now shown to be incredibly perceptive and, to Halibel, is pure evil, while Benito is starting to show off an even crueler side to his normally calm and polite personality. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and keep your eyes out for the next chapter.