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Disclaimer – I do not own Bleach, but I do own the three women.
"I'm sure she'll be here any second." Rio said, smiling nervously, eyebrows furrowed.
Both women of the sixth and tenth division were standing in the office of the Captain-General, standing quietly, ten feet away from all the Captains, glancing at each other. They had received messages, saying that Kurotsuchi had finally thought it was time to change them back, having gathered all the information he needed.
Bastard.
"Kitty hasn't talked to you?" Yuri asked, tilting her head, looking at her friend questioningly.
"No. You?" Rio asked, smiling, closing her eyes.
"No." Yuri muttered, lowering her head, her ears pinning against her head.
Rio furrowed her eyebrows, lowering her head as well. They both sensed Shun's reiatsu, checking on it everyday, sensing that she was in her room for several days straight. Now was the fourth day. Why was Shun avoiding everyone?
What has her so... tense?
The door opened, gaining everyone's attention, the fourth seat of the eleventh division standing there with narrowed eyes, a deep frown on her face, dark circles under her eyes. She turned her gaze towards the Captains, everyone feeling a shiver go down their spines from her expression.
Shun scoffed, looking forward, seeing her friends give her smiles, their eyebrows furrowed. Growling, she walked forward, the door closing behind her, hands shoved into pockets. She stood, several feet from her friends, refusing to look at them, making them look down.
"Here!" Kurotsuchi snapped, handing the women pills, muttering that he had no time to be dealing with such a pathetic experiment.
All three women grabbed the pills, but once the member from the eleventh division received hers, she turned, heading for the exit, eyes still narrowed, ears pinned back, her tail swooshing to the sides as she walked. Rio and Yuri looked at their friend's retreating back, going to reach out for her, when they hesitated, looking down.
"T-Thank you, Captain Kurotsuchi." Rio said, giving a forced smile, her eyebrows furrowed.
Yuri nodded, also giving a forced smile. Sighing, they bowed, walking towards the exit, wondering what was wrong with Shun.
"If I may say something," Kurotsuchi's voice cut into their thoughts, making them pause.
"...Yes, Captain Kurotsuchi?" Yuri chirped, turning her head, smiling brightly.
"What is bothering your angry companion? I have been monitoring her movements since she has come back, and she had yet to leave her room for anything." Kurotsuchi said, ignoring the shocked looks everyone gave him.
"I... don't know." Rio said, lowering her head. She looked up, smiling softly. "She's just bothered by something, that's all."
"She's okay!" Yuri chirped, nodding, skipping towards the door.
Rio bowed, walking after her friend, her hands clenched tightly, knowing the Captains weren't buying their act. Why was Shun being so quiet? She looked at the pill in her hand, tilting her head, wondering if she should trust what the Captain had given them. Or trust the Captain at all. Sighing, seeing that she had no choice, she decided she would take it when she would go back to her room.
Yuri stopped skipping, walking several feet in front of her friend, head lowered, eyelids lowered as well. Why was Kitty being so cold? Why didn't she look at them? She was being mean again. Sighing, she glanced at the pill, seeing that it was the same color as Rio's. The pill she had in her hand might turn her back to normal, making a small smile appear on her face.
Their smiles faded, furrowing their eyebrows, sighing, closing their eyes.
What was happening... Shun?
Speaking of the black haired woman, she was already outside, walking down the street, her eyes narrowed, hands clenched. She closed her eyes, sighing, taking a deep breath. That was it.
Her plan was done.
-:-
Rio sighed deeply, walking down the hall, her gaze on the floor, eyes narrowed. She had to take the pill as soon as she got to her room. She frowned. She sounded like she was on drugs.
"Rio."
Said woman whimpered, recognizing the voice, turning her head, seeing the noble walking towards her. She smiled, closing her eyes, clasping her hands in front of her. Even though she was smiling, her ears were pinned against her head, her tail in between her legs.
"Captain... Kuchiki." Rio muttered, smiling brightly, arms at her sides.
"Rio, you have been avoiding me." Byakuya said, eyes narrowed, making a statement.
"No, I haven't." Rio said, smiling nervously, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Yes, you have. And I want to know why." Byakuya said, walking forward, seeing the woman tense.
"That's... because I... don't want you to see me." Rio said, eyes wide, taking several steps back, getting a little panicked that the Captain was taking several steps towards her.
"Why?" Byakuya asked, pressing on further, making the woman really nervous.
"Because... because... because..." Rio whimpered, eyes welling up with tears, getting really scared as well.
Before Byakuya could ask why she won't answer, a hand clapped on his shoulder, making him narrow his eyes, looking to the side, seeing his third seat, Starrk, staring at him with a tired look. Rio blinked, widening her eyes, wondering why he was there.
"Perhaps, that is enough, Captain Kuchiki. You are making Rio upset." Starrk said, narrowing his eyes, walking towards the woman.
"You do not order me around." Byakuya said, giving the third seat a glare.
"I think she's had enough of this little interrogation." Starrk said, putting his hand on the woman's shoulder, standing close to her.
"S-Starrk?" Rio muttered, staring at the man with a questioning look.
"Come with me, Rio." Starrk said, walking away, taking the woman with him.
"Rio." Byakuya said, seeing the woman look at him, a distressed expression on her face.
"Uh, Starrk. Can I... talk to him?" Rio asked, pointing at the Captain, eyebrows furrowed.
Starrk stopped, looking at the woman, seeing her expression, sighing. He closed his eyes, nodding, making Rio smile softly. She turned, walking towards the Captain, head lowered.
Byakuya watched her closely, seeing her look up, only to look to the side a second later when their eyes met. Rio opened her mouth, only to close it once more, unable to say anything.
"I... I'm ashamed, Captain Kuchiki. I did... not want to... I'm just too ashamed to look at you without remembering waking up next to you." Rio said, looking to the side, eyebrows furrowed.
"Rio, it is not your fault." Byakuya said, putting his hand on the woman's shoulder.
"I know, Captain Kuchiki. But I need several days to... clear my head." Rio said, closing her eyes, lips trembling, hands clenched.
"I understand." Byakuya said, closing his eyes, nodding.
Rio furrowed her eyebrows, opening her eyes, looking at the Captain's expression. Raising her hand, she rested it on the Captain's cheek, seeing him open his eyes. She smiled softly, closing her eyes. Byakuya put his hand over hers, smiling softly.
Starrk watched, narrowing his eyes, wondering what they were doing. He did not like it. He did not like Rio near the Captain. Why? So confusing.
-:-
Yuri tilted her head, blinking curiously, staring at the Captain in front of her. Hitsugaya was holding her arms, preventing her from leaving, and was taking several deep breaths. Why was he holding her?
"Captain Hitsugaya, I have to take this pill. Can you let me go?" Yuri asked, holding up a pill, blinking curiously.
"Yuri, I want to know why you have been leaving when I try to talk to you." Hitsugaya said, opening his eyebrows, frowning, glaring at the woman.
"I'm not." Yuri said, looking to the side, furrowing her eyebrows.
"You you are. Why?"
"B-Because... I have something to do." Yuri said, nodding, smiling brightly, closing her eyes. "I have to go take this pill." She said, once more holding up the pill.
"Yuri... why?" Hitsugaya asked, narrowing his eyes, mouth in a firm line.
"...No reason." Yuri muttered, trying to shrug off the Captain's hands, getting a little uncomfortable.
"Yuri, I want to know why you are avoiding me. And I want to know why now. Tell me." Hitsugaya ordered, tightening his grip on the woman's arms. "I won't let go."
"Be-Because! I don't have to tell you." Yuri said, eyebrows pulled together, frowned, trying to remain firm.
"Yuri." Hitsugaya said, warning the woman.
"I won't!"
"Yuri, tell me now."
"Because you woke up next to me!" Yuri yelled, trying to pull the Captain's arms off. "And I don't want to be caught in a situation like that again! Let me go!"
"Yuri, I won't do it again. You have to trust me." Hitsugaya said, sighing, closing his eyes.
"...Fine..." Yuri said, nodding. She looked up, holding up the pill. "Can I go and take this?" She asked, tilting her head.
"Yes." Hitsugaya said, releasing the woman, sighing.
Yuri nodded, bowing, walking down the hall. She waved to the Captain before walking away once more, intent on getting rid of her appendages. Hitsugaya sighed, hoping that she forgave him and would start talking once more.
"Perhaps that wasn't the way to get her to trust you."
"What do you want, Matsumoto?" Hitsugaya asked, turning his head, glaring at his lieutenant.
"She looked scared when you did that. Didn't she tell you how her past was? Or that her friend said that something horrible happened to her in the past?" Matsumoto asked, arms behind her back, smiling.
"Mind your own business, Matsumoto." Hitsugaya said, walking down the hall.
Matsumoto pouted. He was so uptight.
-:-
Everything in the mess hall was going okay, the Captain frowning all the while, drinking sake. Ikkaku and Yumichika were also drinking with him, all conversing, until the door slammed open, making everyone turn their heads. Shun.
She was standing at the entrance, frowning deeply, eyes narrowed, dark circles under her eyes. Everyone watched as she staggered in, looking really weak. Only until she made it to the Captain's table, did she do something.
She grabbed a bottle, and tipped her head back, drinking all the contents inside the bottle.
Everyone widened their eyes, seeing Shun tip her head back forward, sighing deeply, still frowning. She put the bottle back on the table, hands shaky.
"...I'm hungry." Shun said, just before falling backwards.
"Grouchy-chan!" Yachiru yelled, eyes wide, everyone shocked along with her.
Yumichika stood up, grabbing the woman, looking at her closely. He sighed out of relief, closing his eyes. He smiled, looking at the group, seeing them staring at the woman.
"She's only hungry, as she said." Yumichika said, making the woman stand.
He put her across the Captain, her eyes droopy, looking very tired. Only until she looked at the Captain, did she widen her eyes, looking to the side. Kenpachi frowned and also looked to the side, unable to look at the woman.
He did say he was going to leave her alone.
"Here." Yumichika said, putting a plate in front of the woman.
Shun looked down, only to turn green, seeing that there was natto on the plate. Yumichika quirked an eyebrow along with everyone. Sighing, thinking the woman was fussy, he grabbed it and replaced it with rice.
"How long have you stayed in your damn room?" Ikkaku asked, eating the natto the woman refused to eat.
"...Four days." Shun said, eating slowly.
"Four days?! No wonder you look hungry." Ikkaku said, shaking his head, wondering what was wrong with the woman. "What were you doing?"
"Thinking." Shun said, taking a big mouthful, making everyone widen their eyes.
"Of what?" Yachiru asked, smiling brightly, a big bowl of fruit in front of her.
"Nothing." Shun said, burping loudly, having already finished her food. She stood up. "Now I need to sleep." She said, walking away.
"Hey! Hold on! Why does it feel like you're resting up for something?" Ikkaku asked, quirking an eyebrow, confused.
"I'm not. I happened to have stayed up for four frickin' days, and I do not intend to keep on staying awake, dumbass." Shun said, walking away, still staggering.
She fell down, snoring.
The Captain sighed, rolling his eyes, standing up, deciding he would put her in her room. She was so damn tired, she even curled up. She must have taken that pill, because she no longer had her appendages. Picking her up, he frowned, narrowing his eyes.
Why was she thinking for four days?
-:-
Shun had woke up, standing in a courtyard, her friends standing across from her, making her frown deeply. Why did they call for her? And why were they staring at her with such pathetic expressions?
"Shun... why are you being distant?" Rio asked, eyebrows furrowed.
"What the hell're talking about?" Shun asked, rubbing the back of her neck, eyes narrowed.
"You've been being mean!" Yuri yelled, pouting, glaring at her friend.
"So? I don't give a damn. If that's all you came here for, I'm leaving." Shun said, about to turn, until her friend's reiatsu started rising, gaining her attention.
"What is on your mind? Something's bothering you, and we know it." Rio said, taking a step forward, narrowing her eyes, mouth in a firm line. "Everyone can tell something's bothering you."
"...It's none of your business." Shun said, curling her lip back, clenching her hands.
Both Rio and Yuri widened their eyes, clenching their hands, eyebrows pulled together. They grabbed their swords, making Shun quirk an eyebrow, and unsheathed them, jumping forward, bringing their swords down.
Shun acted fast, unsheathing her sword, blocking both attacks, narrowing her eyes, wondering what the hell they were doing. Rio and Yuri narrowed their eyes, jumping back, holding their hands out, making Shun frown.
"Hado sixty-three, Soren Sokatsui!!" They yelled in unison, blue light forming in their hands.
Shun widened her eyes, seeing the kido heading for her. What the hell were they doing?! She jumped to the side, dodging the attack, looking at her friends, seeing them in front of her, swinging their swords down.
"Tell us what's wrong!" Rio yelled, swinging her sword again when Shun blocked it.
"Shut the hell up!" Shun yelled, swinging her sword to the side, sending her friends away.
They kept coming at her, swinging over and over again, irritating the woman. It was her business alone, so why were they even asking? She jumped, kicking her legs down, kicking both Rio and Yuri's stomachs, sending them flying, seeing them hit the ground.
"Why won't you tell us what's wrong, Kitty?!" Yuri yelled, sitting up, eyebrows furrowed, eyes welling up with tears.
"Because it's my business, and my business alone!" Shun yelled, growling, narrowing her eyes dangerously.
"We're always there for you, Shun! And you never let us help! Tell us what's bothering you!" Rio yelled, standing up, eyes wide, tears threatening to spill.
Shun growled, opening her mouth, only to widen her eyes a second later, while both Rio and Yuri blinked, sensing a reiatsu. It felt familiar, but they couldn't place it. Shun cursed, turning her head, eyes wide, seeing someone she didn't want her friends to see.
Both Rio and Yuri saw where their friend was looking, turning their heads, only to widen their eyes, mouths falling open.
"...Who... how...?" Rio muttered, trembling, eyes wide.
"...That can't be... him... right, Rio?" Yuri asked, grabbing her friend's sleeve, eyes wide with fear and shock.
The man smiled, arms folded behind his back, narrowing his eyes. He tilted his head to the side slightly, closing his eyes, smiling pleasantly, seeing the fear in both Rio and Yuri's eyes. He didn't even spare Shun a glance.
"Well, well, well. I never expected that you would fight at all with each other. You guys are so close." He said, smiling widely.
"Shut up." Shun growled, narrowing her eyes, clenching her hands, tightening her grip around her sword.
"You two have become so beautiful, that I barely recognized you." He said, glancing at both the scared women, seeing them take several steps towards the angry woman.
Shun glanced at them, narrowing her eyes, curling her lip back. Shit. She looked back at the man, frowning deeply, stepping closer to her friends, making the man chuckle.
"Leave them out of this." Shun growled, glaring at the man.
"Leave them? Now, why would I leave my pets alone? I came back to claim them once more." He said, taking a step closer.
"Shit. Rio, Yuri, RUN!!!" Shun yelled, jumping towards the man, swinging her sword down.
Rio and Yuri widened their eyes, about to run until something happened, making them gasp. The man, still standing, grabbed Shun's sword, making the angry woman widen her eyes, and swung his sword to the side.
Nothing happened.
Nobody made a sound.
Until Rio and Yuri screamed for Shun, seeing blood spurt out of her abdomen, falling to her knees, gasping. Shun had her eyes wide, looking down, her vision getting blurry, a puddle of blood forming around her. The man standing above her smiled, swinging his sword to get the blood off, releasing the woman's sword.
"How... the hell..." Shun fell forward, eyes still wide, unmoving.
"SHUN!!" Rio yelled, about to run forward.
"KITTY!!!" Yuri screamed, eyes wide, tears streaming down her face. "GET UP!!!"
"Oh... she won't be getting back up." The man said, looking up, smiling widely, closing his eyes.
Rio and Yuri gasped, stepping back, holding their swords tightly, tears streaming down both their faces, fear evident in their eyes. The man smiled, walking forward, gripping his sword.
Two screams came from the courtyard, stretching on, people widening their eyes and looking up.
-:-
Two weeks later
Ichigo sighed, walking through the Senkaimon, his two and a half week vacation already over. The old man said he was going to extend his vacation to three weeks, but he suddenly got orders to return.
At that moment, he was heading for a Captain's meeting, wondering what was going on. They've had so many meetings since his ex-escorts returned from their training. They were so much to work with.
He disappeared, reappearing in front of the first division, walking inside. He nodded to those that bowed to him, wondering why the Captain-General had suddenly ordered him back. He was just starting to relax.
And having to tell his family he was leaving was so hard, again. Yuzu cried. His dad cried, yelling to his wife that his son was a grown man. And Karin simply waved to him with a bored expression.
He was going to miss them.
Standing in front of the large double doors, he waited, eyes narrowed, seeing the doors slowly open. He blinked when he saw it was dark inside, walking in, seeing the two lines of Captains. He blinked, seeing Rio and Yuri in the room as well, their heads bowed lowly.
"Hey." Ichigo said, nodding.
He frowned when everyone looked towards him, everyone inside the room tense. What was wrong? Walking over to his spot, he stood there, waiting for anything. Why was everyone quiet? Not even a greet from Renji.
"Captain Kurosaki,"
"Yeah?" Ichigo asked, staring at the Head Captain questioningly.
"...Something grave has happened." Ukitake said, eyebrows pulled together, frowning.
"What?" Ichigo asked, quirking an eyebrow, wondering what happened.
"Shun Masuyo, fourth seat of the eleventh squad and an assistant to the Captains of the Gotei thirteen... is now a traitor to the Soul Society." Yamamoto said, eyes narrowed, gripping his cane tightly.
Ichigo widened his eyes with shock, mouth falling open, wondering if he just heard right. Did he just say... Shun became a traitor to everyone in the Soul Society? His mouth hung open, not believing it.
What happened during the time he was gone?