In the Soul Society, the Senkaimon opened and from it emerged Ichigo, Rukia, Momo, Hanataro, and Yoruichi. They were immediately greeted by General Yamamoto.
"Captain Kurosaki, I was wondering when you would arrive." Yamamoto said as the five Soul Reapers bowed.
"We came as soon as we heard. Where's Karin?" Ichigo asked as Yamamoto nodded understandingly.
"She's at the Squad Four Med center, under Captain Unohana's care." Yamamoto said as the five wasted no time in flash stepping away.
They soon reached the med center which was bustling with activity. Ichigo walked inside and immediately headed for Unohana's office. Isane spotted him as he passed by and quickly grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Captain Kurosaki, if you're looking for Karin, then you should follow me." Isane said as Ichigo paused and followed her down the halls, with Rukia and Yoruichi close behind. Hanataro had left to report for duty and Momo had left for somewhere unknown.
Isane led the three of them to a single room and she bowed respectfully to them when they reached the door. He slowly entered by himself and saw Unohana standing over a bed with Karin lying on it and with a breath mask over her face along with several tubes attached to her arms. Thick bandages could be seen wrapped around her upper body from under the covers. Smaller bandages could be seen covering the wounds she sustained from Angela's Zanpakuto.
"Captain Kurosaki." Retsu said in a soft greeting as Ichigo walked up to his sister's silent form.
"How is she?" Ichigo asked as he looked down at Karin.
"Her wounds are severe and she's lost a lot of blood. She's very fortunate that she was brought to us in time. I foresee that she will make a full recovery so long as she doesn't push herself. Even if your friend Orihime heals her, I still would suggest that she takes it easy." Retsu said as Ichigo nodded.
"Captain Unohana, tell me the truth. Do you know who did this to her?" Ichigo asked, not taking his eyes off of Karin.
"The smaller wounds are consistent with a single blade but the larger wound, the one that nearly killed her, implies a second blade belonging to a different person. I've identified the smaller wounds as having been inflicted with Hassha Hoshi, a Zanpakuto that belongs to Angela Skullini, the tenth seat of Squad One. The larger wound however, was inflicted by a blade that you yourself was wounded by once…Kyoka Suigetsu, wielded by Sosuke Aizen." Unohana said softly as Ichigo clinched his fists and allowed his spiritual pressure to skyrocket, causing him to glow with light blue energy.
"I will make him rue the day he dared harm my sister." Ichigo said angrily as Unohana moved around from behind the bed and headed for the door.
"I have other patients to attend to. I will return shortly Ichigo." Unohana said as she left the room, leaving Ichigo alone with Karin, closing the door behind her. She saw Karin and Yoruichi waiting quietly outside.
"He shouldn't be alone in there. Please keep him company Lieutenant." Unohana said before walking off as Rukia nodded.
"If he asks, tell him I went to take a look around the Seireitei. I'm going to try and find his Aunt and see if she knows what Aizen was after." Yoruichi said as Rukia nodded before entering the room. She saw Ichigo still standing over Karin's bed, only this time from where Unohana was a moment earlier. Rukia remained silent as she walked up next to him.
"There was nothing you could have done Ichigo. We had no way of knowing. But we can only hope that she gave whoever she was facing, hell before she went down." Rukia said as Ichigo's spiritual pressure spiked again.
"Aizen…did this to her." Ichigo said as Rukia sighed sadly.
"Do you need me to do something for you? Find you a chair? Anything?" Rukia asked as Ichigo turned towards her for a moment.
"You're doing it Rukia. You're doing it." Ichigo said as he fell silent again.
A silent hour passed before Ichigo saw someone move near the door. He looked up and saw Yuzu standing at the doorway with tears in her eyes. Ichigo smiled slightly with relief at seeing that she was alright. He quickly moved around to the other side just as Yuzu burst into tears and collided into him, crying into his shoulder.
"Hey…" a weak voice said, "…can't a girl get some sleep around here?"
"Karin!" Yuzu exclaimed as she saw her twin open two sleepy eyes.
"Hey, how do you feel?" Ichigo asked with a smile on his face.
"Good, "Captain." Karin said with a smirk.
"Well she's obviously feeling well enough to make wisecracks." Rukia said with a soft chuckle.
"That's a good sign." Toshiro said, startling the whole group.
"Toshiro!" Yuzu yelped.
"Hey, hey, I'm a Captain too you know." Toshiro replied with his arms crossed. He then stepped up to the side of Karin's bed.
"I know that I just…" Yuzu said as Toshiro shot her a small smile, causing her to realize he was joking around.
"Toshiro, I'm glad you could be here." Ichigo said with a smile as Toshiro nodded.
"I'm glad I was there to find her." Toshiro replied.
"I thought that was you." Karin whispered.
"Quiet, you shouldn't be speaking right now. But I'm afraid my coming in here isn't solely for the purpose of checking on your sister, Ichigo. General Yamamoto has called an emergency Captains meeting. The only Captains excused are Captains Unohana and Zaraki. Zaraki was the only Captain who suffered any major injuries." Toshiro said as Ichigo nodded understandingly.
"I understand. Rukia, I'm assuming that they want Lieutenants there too." Ichigo said as Rukia nodded.
"Actually the Lieutenants are not needed at the moment. In fact, Rangiku along with Lieutenants Abarai, Kira, Hinamori, and Hisagi are gathered at your clan estate right now." Toshiro said as Ichigo shrugged.
"Well, do what you want then. You know where I'll be." Ichigo said.
"The Main meeting hall right?" Rukia asked.
"Actually the meeting is at the Kuchiki manor. The repairs to the central structures haven't even begun yet. Until then, Captain Kuchiki has offered his clan estate as a temporary meeting center." Toshiro said as Rukia smirked.
"Oh I think I can find my way there." She said as Ichigo turned towards Karin.
"I'll be back later to check on you Karin. In the meantime, be good for Captain Unohana and her staff." Ichigo said as Karin rolled her eyes.
"You don't have to tell me twice "Captain" Karin mumbled.
"I heard that!" Ichigo shouted from the doorway.
Over at the Kurosaki Estate…
Renji was sitting on the steps of the gazebo, unable to take his eyes off of the red stained blades of grass where he and Toshiro had found Karin. Rangiku, Izuru, Momo, and the recovered Shuhei sat silently on the steps of the mansion itself, just as silent. Ikkaku then showed up and glanced around at the silent Lieutenants.
"Are you guys still sulking about the fact that Kurosaki lost a fight?" Ikkaku asked, receiving dark glares from the lieutenants.
"Shut up Ikkaku. This is my Captain's girlfriend we're talking about, not to mention that she's a friend of mine as well. Besides this wasn't some ordinary fight she lost, she almost died Ikkaku." Rangiku said as Ikkaku crossed his arms.
"She's still alive isn't she?" Ikkaku asked.
"Captain Unohana says she's lucky to be alive. More still, she was injured by Captain Aizen!" Momo said almost tearfully.
"Momo, you called him Captain again." Shuhei said as Momo blushed and fidgeted nervously.
"(Sigh) That does it. Rangiku, have you got any sake?" Izuru asked as Rangiku headed into the kitchen.
"I started stashing a few bottles here after the Women's Association started meeting here last year. So we've got plenty of sake." Rangiku said as she opened a cabinet in the kitchen area and pulled out two dozen bottles exactly, each filled with sake.
"A few bottles, Rangiku? More like half the Seireitei's entire inventory." Renji said as Rangiku scoffed.
"Please. A third of it is Captain Kyoraku's." Rangiku said as she tossed everyone a bottle to everyone.
"Shockingly, that statement is not reassuring." Renji said as Shuhei nodded in agreement. After a moment of silent drinking…
"So, Momo. How do you feel now that Captain Hitsugaya's girlfriend is here in the Seireitei?" Rangiku asked, playfully nudging Momo with her elbow.
"Who, Karin? I like her. Toshiro and I are just friends. No matter how old he gets, he'll still be Lil' Shiro to me. I actually think he and Karin are perfect for each other. I think maybe I should get to know her a little better." Momo said before letting a hiccup escape.
"Then that means you're available Momo. We should try hooking you up with some cute guy." Rangiku said with another playful nudge.
"Aah leave her alone Rangiku. If she's not looking then don't bother trying to make her." Shuhei said as he reclined on his left side.
"Hey, Izuru, didn't you say that it was Gin Ichimaru who attacked you and Soi Fon?" Renji asked as Izuru sighed and nodded.
"Yeah." Izuru said despairingly.
"Did he mention anything about me?" Rangiku asked as Izuru shook his head.
"Not everything's about you, Rangiku." Ikkaku grumbled.
"Well, I know one thing's for sure. They had some nerve coming here; after all they've put us through." Shuhei said as he stood up.
"They? They who?" Izuru asked.
"Yours, Momo's, and My former Captains. They've put us all though hell in the past year. It's not easy to lead a Squad on your own." Shuhei said as Izuru nodded.
"Even harder when the third seat transfers to another Squad." Izuru said.
"Squad three's third seat transferred?" Momo asked as Izuru nodded.
"He's the fourth seat of Squad Thirteen now." Izuru said.
"Probably to get away from the glares for being in a squad with a traitor for a Captain." Shuhei said as Izuru shrugged.
"I just hope it worked for him. He and I were both kinda distraught from Ichimaru's betrayal." Izuru said, not noticing as Momo staggered off into the back rooms of the manor.
"Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey…" Renji staggered, "…The Captain needs to be an example to the Lieutenant. And we in turn need to be an example to them."
"Renji. Well put." Ikkaku said as he drunkenly slapped Renji on the back.
"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say we were getting drunk!" Rangiku slurred.
"Heh, that'll be the day." Izuru giggled. Momo then emerged/staggered from the back with Lirin on her shoulder.
"Hey look what I found." She said with a drunken smile as Lirin leapt down.
"You guys are totally bagged aren't you?" Lirin asked angrily as she kicked an empty bottle over. No one had noticed that they had almost gone through all two dozen bottles in the seemingly short amount of time until Lirin kicked over the bottle.
"Oops." Renji hiccupped.
"You know what I feel like doing now?" Shuhei asked as he hung off of Izuru's shoulder.
"What?" Izuru asked with a drunken stagger.
"I feel like-…" Shuhei said before hiccupping.
"Throwing up?" Ikkaku asked.
"Falling over?" Renji asked.
"Coming back to us, Captain Aizen?" Momo asked a drunken hallucination.
"All of the above?" Rangiku asked as Shuhei shook his head.
"Nope. I feel like singing! Hey mod soul, hit it!" Shuhei ordered proudly. Lirin shrugged and used her illusion abilities to create a boom box. She then quickly hit play and music started playing. (Music Cue: BRM: Live Bankai Show Code 002: High Risk No Return.)
Shuhei then started…
"Yatteranne (I'm all fed up now)
choui to ippai no tsumori demo (You surely want to have a glass in the morning)
sake wo nondara nomareru na" (But if you start to drink, just don't get drunk)
And Rangiku yelled…
"Nomarechimaee" (Let's get drunk!)
As Shuhei chuckled.
"Too late."
Then Izuru stepped up.
"Nareta mon demo" (Even if you're used to it…)
Then Renji and Ikkaku both replied…
"Tsurai ze baby" (…It's still painful, baby!)
Momo stepped up as she started to sing…
"Saikin, matomo ni, netemasen (Lately, I just can't get any sleep)
nezake kudasai sukoshi dake" (Please give me a nightcap, just a bit)
And Rangiku yelled…
"Anna uragiri" (That betrayal…)
And Renji and Ikkaku replied…
"Nasshi daze baby" (…Is nothing now, baby!)
Then they all started to sing…
"High risk, no return
dakedo naritai only one (I want to be the only one)
high risk, no return
semete naritai only one" (At least there needs to be, only one!)
Then Shuhei popped back up…
"Yatterannee" (I'm all fed up now)
As Izuru slid up next to him…
"Taichou atte no fukutaichou (Like Captain, like Lieutenant)
munashi kako ni narimashita" (But the past is all pointless now)
Then Rangiku threw back her head and yelled…
"Taichou nante iranee" (Who the hell needs a Captain?!)
Momo then sobbed…
"Oitekebori ni" (Abandoned…)
As Renji and Ikkaku replied…
"Sareta ze baby" (…Is what you are now, baby!)
Then Rangiku started sashaying around…
"Yogorechimatta kanashimi ni, (Getting dirt on is so sad)
kyou mo koyuki no furisosogu" (But fresh snow will cover it up today)
Causing Momo to sob hysterically as Shuhei sang…
"Masa ni kore da ze" (That's how it goes…)
And Renji and Ikkaku replied…
"Nakeru ze baby" (…You will cry, baby!)
Then they all joined in singing…
"High risk, no return
dakedo narite only one (I want to be the only one!)
high risk, no return
semete narite only one" (At least there needs to be, only one!)
"High risk, no return
dakedo narite only one (I want to be the only one!)
high risk, no return
semete narite only one" (At least there needs to be, only one!)
Then they joined up in a circle, facing each other raising their hand with two fingers raised into the air towards each other as they sang…
"Onlyoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
And the music stopped. Shuhei then let out a drunken shout of shock.
"AUGHHHHH!!! It's two after all!!!" He yelled as the others groaned in disbelief.
"You know, you guys aren't half bad when you're drunk you know." A voice said as Renji hiccupped.
"Well thanks…now who are you again?" Renji asked as he lurched forward slightly towards the blurry person.
"Perhaps you guys could stand to chill for a while." The voice said. Then they heard…
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki. Tsugi no mai, Hakuren!"
Without warning, the five smashed Lieutenants and the one soused Third Seat had their feet frozen in ice.
"That should keep you drunkards out of trouble for a while." Rukia said as Lirin leapt onto her shoulder.
"Hey, Rukia, how've you been?" Lirin asked.
"I'll be fine once we get rid of all the sake. I don't care what Rangiku says, I don't think Captain Wrangler wants booze here on the estate grounds." Rangiku said as Lirin nodded.
"I'll make sure these guys don't go anywhere." Lirin said as Rukia chuckled.
"That won't be hard. Look." Rukia said as Lirin turned back and saw that all of them had flopped over onto the ground unconscious in their drunken stupor.
"I'll start brewing the coffee. I'm sure Captain Wrangler's got some around here somewhere." Rukia said as she retreated into the kitchen.
End Chapter 25.
The song above was Nomitai or "High Risk, No Return" (A.k.a. The Drunken Fuku-taichou song) from Bleach Rock Musical, Live Bankai Show Code 002.
Soul Reaper Illustrated Guide…
Captain Komamura was being checked for any serious injuries by Lieutenant Isane and Yuzu.
"Well, there isn't anything that looks like a problem. You seem to be in perfect health Captain Komamura sir." Isane said as Sajin nodded.
"Thank you now…Augh!" Sajin growled as he scratched the back of his head. Yuzu quickly leapt onto the bed he was sitting on behind him.
"Something wrong Captain Komamura sir?" Isane asked as Sajin groaned slightly.
"I seem to have gotten a few fleas in my fur. It's rather embarrassing but fortunately…ooh, Little Yuzu what are you doing?" Komamura asked as Yuzu started scratching the back of his head, especially behind the ears. Sajin started patting his right foot rapidly as a result.
"Well whenever I see a puppy at home, they always like to have the spot behind their ears scratched." Yuzu said as Sajin started panting with a relaxed expression on his wolf face.
"I could get used to this." Sajin said as he started slumping forward lazily. If he had a tail (and that's not to say he didn't) it was wagging happily.
End