Previously on Bleach – A Breed Apart, we discover what had caused grievous injuries to two of Aizen's Espada, but the mystery remains as to what purpose did the unknown enemy had in attacking Isshin's two young daughters. For what nefarious deeds does the enemy need the blood of two young girls? Also, we witnessed Zangetsu succeed in creating an Asauchi named Nise Tsuki, the False Moon, but will it be enough to protect Ichigo and Shirosaki after Mitchuu finally claiming the Soul-Sword?
~Chapter 24~
Johannes' Lab
"Take them away!" Mitchuu ordered, "And lock them in separate cages!"
The few remaining Experiments lumbered towards the thrashing brats that were still strapped to their respective tables. Mitchuu could hear the cells containing Experiments 4215 and 4215-A began to crack under their continued struggles to break free. The room was loud with the brats wailing and the Experiments howling like the mangy mutts that were incorporated into their DNA. Mitchuu was half tempted to just kill the brats in order to silence them; however, he knew that he still needed them. He did not have enough material to create more of them. In fact, he barely had enough to create these two. No; it was better to suffer through the headaches that the brats' wailing caused then having to go in search for more material.
Eventually, the only sounds that echoed within the chamber was the Experiments' howling. Mitchuu glared at the caged weapons; their eyes gave off a glow, reminiscent of how light would reflect off of an animal's eyes. The scientist sneered at the Master's weapons. Despite the fact that they had revealed their Soul-Sword, they still dared to be defiant. Well… he would make them pay.
"Bring me the Cutter!" He ordered his minions, whom were startled into action.
He did not have long to wait as the smaller version of the device that had separated Experiment 4215-A from Experiment 4215 was rolled in. The device was egg-shaped with a hollow center; large enough to place a Soul-Sword within. Above the device was a razor-sharp blade made of the same amber as the larger device. Without much ceremony and fanfare, Mitchuu placed the Soul-Sword into the device and pulled the level, bringing down the amber blade.
The effect was instantaneous…
The Soul-Sword shattered as if it was made of glass.
Experiments 4215 and 4215-A released an inhumane yowl that caused the technicians to cover their ears in a vain attempt to block out the sound.
A flash of blinding light engulfed the chamber, and an oppressive heat filled the air; making it difficult for the occupants in the room to breathe.
Minutes ticked by…
Mitchuu and his minions' vision returned as they blinked wildly around them.
The air was still too hot, like a mid-summer day in an unforgiving desert.
But what truly unnerved the technicians was the silence that suddenly encased the chamber. No words could adequately describe it. It was a quiet that caused their ears to ring and their hearts to pound in their throats.
Mitchuu, however, was not unnerved by the eerie silence. In fact, his focus was purely on Experiment 4215 and 4215-A. His face morphed into a sadistic glee at seeing the pair laying on the chamber floor. They were unmoving, save for the shallow rising and falling of their chests, and their eyes … their eyes were dull, vacant, and no hint of defiance.
Suddenly, the chamber echoed with a harsh and cold laughter. He had done it! He had finally brought the banes of his existence to heel! He would survive!
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Mitchuu roared the next day as he assaulted one of his minions.
He had given specific instructions on how he wanted Experiment 4215 and 4215-A's Soul-Sword to be re-forged. Instead of the massive butcher knife blade, he wanted a blade that was narrow near the hilt but gradually swell in width into an almost trapezoidal tip. However, the Soul-Sword presented to him was exactly the same as it was before being shattered by the amber blade. Mitchuu happened a glance at the Experiments, who were glaring at him; defying him again!
"I DEMAND AN ANSWER!" He spat at his cowering minions.
"For-forgive us!" They pleaded, "The blade… it did not cooperated…"
"COOPERATED?!" Mitchu screeched, "ITS A PILE OF SHATTERED SOUL PARTICLES! IS DOES NOT COOPERATE! WE MAKE IT AS WE WILL IT!"
Mitchu glared at the Experiments again.
The Experiments were quiet. They were watching, assessing; they were taunting him. He just knew it. He could not believe that their defiance continued even after their Soul-Sword was shattered. Their defiance knew no bounds.
They had been successful in the past in re-forging Soul-Swords, and never had they ever failed in doing so. Mitchuu sneered again, taking the Soul-Sword with him as he left the chamber. The technicians had returned the device to its docking station to be re-charged. Instead of having the device brought back into the Experiments' holding area, Mitchuu simply went to it.
And once again, without fanfare, Mitchuu placed the Soul-Sword back into the device and released the lever.
And as it was the previous day, the affects was instantaneous…
The Soul-Sword shattered once more.
The Experiments released their death-knell.
And the room was filled with a blinding light and a suffocating heat.
Minutes ticked by once more before Mitchuu could see again. He then bellowed for one of his technicians to gather the shattered pieces of the Soul-Sword and demanded for the blade to be re-forged immediately.
Mitchuu, in his frantic rage, had lost count as to how many times he had Experiments 4215 and 4215-A's Soul-Sword shattered and re-forged. He was vaguely aware that in the beginning it was perhaps once a day. But with each failed attempt to re-forge the cursed blade, Mitchuu became more enraged and even more panicked. His Master had pushed the deadline to complete the programming process on the Patron's weapons; meaning his own end was near if he did not complete the programming process, and in his panic, Mitchuu continued re-shattering the blasted blade; over and over, again and again.
Over the multiple re-forging and shattering, Mitchuu did notice that little by little the Soul-Sword was taking on a new shape. Although the thrice-damned blade still had its massive butcher knife style shape, Mitchuu cound faintly see the blade being narrow near the hilt, but it was not enough. One of his minions had calculated that at the rate they were going, it would take several seasons before the blade became the way they wanted it. Mitchuu, however, did not have several seasons. In fact, he barely had a fortnight to completely program Experiments 4215 and 4215-A into proper weapons for the Master and Patron.
Mitchuu looked at the thrice-damned Soul-Sword. He ordered the thing to be shattered once more and re-forged. He told himself that this attempt would be the last attempt. Of course, he had been telling himself the same lie for several days now.
Karin snarled at the cowardly technician that had brought her, her meal. The timid creature squealed in fright as he dropped Karin's tray and immediately slammed the cage close. Under different circumstances, she would have smiled at being able to terrify her tormentors. Unfortunately, the only thing she felt was anger; anger at her captors and anger at herself for not being able to protect her sister.
A pained whimper reached her ears, making her turn to the source. Huddled in the far corner of another cage, Karin watched helplessly as her sister quivered in pain and fear. For the past several days, the air echoed with ear-piercing howls from her brother and the albino, and with each ear-piercing howl, the air carried with it another echo from Yuzu. It was driving Karin mad, watching her sweet sister in so much pain and not being able to do anything to stop it.
The dark-haired girl had no idea how it was possible for Yuzu to still be able to scream, but she was…
Suddenly, another ear-piercing howl shattered the oppressing silence; causing Karin to cover her ears again. And then she waited; waited for Yuzu to begin screaming.
Dark eyes grew wide when she did not hear Yuzu's echoing screams.
Insatntly, Karin scrambled onto her knees and began banging on her cell-wall; terrified by what the silence could mean.
"Yuzu!" She shouted, "Yuzu!"
However, her sister remain in her corner, quivering but not answering.
"YUZU! Answer me!" Karin continued shouting, "YUZU!"
The quiet was peaceful.
She used to hate the quiet. To her, the quiet reminded her of the fact that her mother was gone.
It was why she was always humming. She would either hum a popular song she had heard over the radio or just hum random notes together to make up a song.
Either way, she was always surrounded by noise to keep the quiet at bay.
Now, however, she was tormented by the noise. She could hear the scream of her brothers' souls. Their screams pierced her heart and her own soul. The anguish she heard was twisted beyond description. Their pain was her pain, but it was too much. It was too much for her to bare, and bare it she did try.
She did try to be strong for her brothers, but it was just too much so she shied away.
She shamefully shied away from their reach, seeking safety and peace from their pain in the further reaches of her mind.
The quiet was peaceful.
"Wha…" Mitchuu gasped as he stared at the Soul-Sword.
The technician cowered; waiting for their master's rage to boil over.
They had attempted to re-forge the Soul-Sword for several days without rest; however, without any success. True, they were able to warp the shape a bit, but overall the sword maintained its massive cleaver-like shape.
The chamber echoed with the clattering of the sword dropping onto the floor.
"M-master?" One of the technicians bravely called attention to himself.
"We destroyed it a dozen of times." Mitchuu mumbled, "We re-forged it a dozen of times… and it remains the same! HOW! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?"
Immediately, the technicians backed away as Mitchuu tore through the room, demolishing the furniture.
"They are abominations!" Mitchuu shrieked.
"And now you understand." A cruel, cold voice cackled in delight; causing Mitchuu to snap around.
His eyes grew wide as he dropped to his knees, groveling before his Master.
"M-Master!"
"Now, you understand why the Patron chose Experiment 4215." The Master replied as he picked up the Soul-Sword.
As he picked up the blade, a slight frown marred his face as he sensed something amiss about the blade. However, he could not place it.
"Experiment 4215 has a will that defies all logic. When he should have been beaten – destroyed even, he rose higher and stronger than ever before. It is as if the laws of the natural order do not apply to him. It is as if he re-writes the laws of the natural order.
"It is because of this he was specifically chosen to be the Patron's Ultimate Weapon." The Master absently explained as he studied the Soul-Sword.
It amazed him to see that it withstood countless re-forging. Even though it retained its massive size, the Master could see the imperfection in the blade; random pits, pockets and delineation within the steel. If the sword was real, the Master knew that it would have shattered into pieces if it were to strike another blade. However, it was a Soul-Sword, which meant it should withstand shattering against another sword.
"Only one way to find out." The Master remarked to himself.
"M-Master?" Mitchuu questioned.
"Put them in the Pit." The Master ordered, "Let's see how they do with their new sword."
"Y-yes, Master."