Music Inspiration: Shiro Sagiso- "Da Blues"
One Step Forward and Two Steps Back
Ryo Kuchiki was back in business to teach the new team before an upcoming trip he had planned to expand their exposure to the other Gotei. He had accepted the job as their private tutor out of respect for Ruka and Shunsui Kyōraku but more so for his own Commander. When she emphasized that it was pivotal for the Prime Gotei to open its doors and step into the counterpart Gotei to prevent the same isolation that allowed Sosuke Aizen to rise, he obeyed out of shared agreement. He was certain that the Prime Gotei knew more about the liaison shinigami from the other five Gotei rather than the actual captains that dwelled in each.
"Strike!"
Shūhei's scythe blades shot past Ryo as he kept his released shikai form as it favored a team effort. He preferred to keep his bankai weapon off the field unless it was absolutely necessary, given its form and ability. Having a dual weapon meant intensive training was required due to the accuracy and speed when compared to a single-hand weapon. The chain that tethered both of his blades also required its own training to create fighting maneuvers in close and ranged combat. Overall, training had taken twice as long for him and even in fights, he deferred to his other skills before unleashing his zanpakutō. People could admire their zanpakutō, like Rukia Kuchiki or Mayuri Kurotsuchi, while others feared or even despised (boy, was Yumichika vocal about that) their weapon.
It was why he respected Ruka for never prodding him about his zanpakutō when they sparred together. She was similar in that aspect as she sought other methods of winning a fight before reaching for her sword. In Ruka's case, it was due to a stubborn zanpakutō but she admitted to him once that her spirit could be frightening during their own training. He could see why she'd been appointed as his second as their skills and personalities matched up.
Ryo's released zanpakutō blocked one of the sharp double-sided scythes easily due to its ranged reach. He evaded the second blade with shunpo and a hado spell that struck the zanpakutō to repel it in the opposite direction. The third captain held a blue metal halberd in his right hand that ended in a deadly pointed blade, almost resembling a sleek harpoon. The blade was long enough to use in close combat to cut down enemies and the wooden portion of the pole allowed him to defend himself against foes. The end of the blade held a sharp barb on one side that he could use to impale enemies or rip grievous wounds into them. Shūhei and the others admitted the zanpakutō design matched his elemental abilities with water.
Shūhei pulled on the chain to return his bladed scythes back into his hands as his attack came to an end. Each session, Ryo taught them different forms of attack that played to their strengths and with Shūhei being a captain with a long reach weapon, he was the melee fighter. When it came to using their zanpakutō in cooperation, Ryo would leave it for Captains Kyōraku and Ukitake.
Placing the base of his weapon on top of the dirt, Ryo instructed swiftly, "Engage, obscure, overwhelm, and strike. Go."
The ninth captain was the engage portion due to his zanpakutō's versatility and obscurity would fall to Keiji. The fourth seat stayed at a safe distance to avoid engaging him directly with Shūhei staying on defense with his weapon. Keiji's position was strictly related to kido use due to it being his strength and the redhead quickly activated, "Bakudo #4: Hainawa!"
The yellow rope consisting of reishi constricted the captain's arms and pinned them to his sides, preventing the use of his weapon. The halberd zanpakutō fell to the ground and he thinned his lips, knowing he'd have to lean down and put his flexibility to work. As a captain, he would be able to break through the restraint quickly (due to the major reiatsu gap between the two) but he was training them to fight at a lieutenant's level to balance all four members. This would not only get them to behave fluidly like a team but raise their confidence at it as well. They had improved from their first day fiasco when they'd all fallen over each other in competition to win an apple.
Being an inactive fighter, Keiji could conserve his reiatsu which allowed for quicker recuperation of his reiryoku reserves. When it came to zanjutsu, he allowed his comrades tackle that skill to prevent breaking their balance. Quickly, he raised his hands and called out another kido spell to keep his enemy in place, "Bakudo #9: Geki."
Ryo hated paralyzing kido as it pulled away the control of his body, particularly his limbs. Even if he could break the first spell, the second would take a few more seconds to wear away. Skilled kido users could summon multiple spells in a mixture that would provide a synergistic effect rather than one alone. As an incredibly independent man, he disliked being restrained in any way but irony struck by having him bear the breakable spells to help his colleagues. The fourth seat finished his onslaught of binding kido as his silver eyes narrowed, calling forth, "Bakudo #21: Sekienton."
Red smoke burst from the ground when he placed his palm flat onto it, erupting over the field to conceal Ryo's view. The young shinigami was becoming better at it in Ryo's book instead of becoming flustered. Maybe he wasn't as shabby a teacher as he originally thought. With that in mind, he stood in the center of the red smoke as it obscured the team from sight. The four used shunpo to change their positions to ensure Ryo didn't free himself too quickly and blasted them all with a bakudo or physical strike.
From the outside, Keiji nodded to Ruka to initiate the next phase to overwhelm their opponent. The lieutenant wasted no time as she took the third part of the fight plan and used her shunpo to cross the distance. Disappearing into the thick crimson smoke, the other three were unable to see what occurred from within. Ruka lowered her reiatsu to undetectable levels the moment she entered it to prevent being detected. Her time with Sajin for the past ninety years allowed her to learn a few handy tricks from him just as he had from Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
Once she caught sight of Ryo, who was still restrained, she released that hold to channel her reiatsu into hakuda. The captain was able to dodge the first fist that flew at his head, the rush of air from the force brushing past his left cheek. He might not have the use of upper limbs but he could still activate shunpo to evade her. The two mirrored each other's shunpo across the field as she attempted to strike soft points but he dodged them efficiently.
"Ruka, you know better than this-" he began to tease since she only managed a few strikes to his shoulders rather than his head. Either she was being kind and intentionally missing or was missing horribly. It couldn't be the latter since he trained her himself just a few months prior to her arrival back home.
The lieutenant decided to shove aside her worries for her friend and shifted into a flurry of kicks that struck his midsection consecutively. Ryo questioned whether taking the punches would've been the better alternative because she kicked like a demon in comparison. The usage of her new leather boots added strength to each strike which made it worse for him. Good thing he'd stocked up on some healing salve from Captain Unohana's division. As he landed on the ground on his back from the force, the kido spells broke and set his limbs free. Ha-ha, glorious freedom!
Ruka watched him stand as she leaned down in a kneeling position, watching him carefully. It was time to implement plan B now that he broke free before she could either daze or subdue him. The red smoke had yet to clear which gave her an advantage to release her true skills in combat but at a disadvantage if her friend stopped her. Every time they trained, she enforced that he never take it easy on her in order to push her limits. Otherwise, there was no point to learning.
Ryo brushed away dust from his captain's coat, not wanting to ruin the expensive material again. Otherwise, his commander would ban him from missions outside the Seireitei. His emerald gaze landed on her as she kept her eyes pinned on him and he teased playfully, "C'mon, Kyoraku, you're a lieutenant-"
A pale blue light covered Ruka's body as she allowed her reiatsu to manifest in the outside environment. She had learned many things while living abroad and created her own fighting technique when the need called for it. The benevolent color was subtle against her form but Ryo knew what it meant after seeing her use it in their training back west. It wasn't to initiate a kido spell or intimidate anyone, noting its deceptive intent. He'd mistaken it for a normal reiatsu flare the first few times but learned to read her behavioral cues. Before he could move or raise a barrier to deflect, Ruka shot forward as the blue light pulsed and transformed to engulf her form. She was a living comet of pure energy dashing at him with the force of a wrecking ball as her reiatsu purged outwards the moment her fists connected with his sternum. It was a strike meant to incapacitate an enemy temporarily, particularly with her insistence on keeping her zanpakutō sheathed.
The squad nine members only saw Ryo fly out of the red smoke as the force catapulted him backwards. He could feel the hot energy penetrate through his clothes from where she'd struck and felt his pectoral muscles throb painfully. That particular move attacked the center of a shinigami's saketsu and if Ruka wished it, could penetrate it with full force in similarity to senka with shunpo. Fortunately, his friend was a kind one. At the least, he'd earned a bruise and minor muscle spasms for the day but it was better than broken bones and organs or worse, losing his power as a shinigami.
Landing in a heap on his back from the tumble, he took a few seconds to catch his breath. Well, the sky was still a cerulean blue above him so his vision or head hadn't taken damage. Still, she'd flung him across a field like a rag doll and he groaned aloud, "Damn, Kyōraku! Trying to punch out my lungs here?"
So much for all huff and no puff from her, he thought painfully as his chest wall ached with every inhale of air. He often forgot that the Kyōraku clan played the 'chill and laidback' card until the gloves came off and they struck with frightening powers. In his years as captain, he'd trained with Shunsui and Takashi Kyōraku; one utilizing games and the other mazes. The two brothers combined could be psychologically daunting and he hadn't even factored in the third generation which included Ruka and her three cousins.
Ruka emerged from the smoke as it dissipated behind her, the blue energy of her reiatsu gone from her form. She was sneaky in her abilities but Ryo knew better than to trust that innocent peppy smile. He'd let her handle her own skill set as she deemed fit before ever underestimating her. Laying on the grass to catch his breath, he noticed Noriko's form approach him from the left side.
The raven-haired woman frowned to her downed opponent and commented simply, "He's already down, there's no fun in that."
"If you haven't noticed, my hand is clutching my zanpakutō so I could simply impale you through the chest" he quipped in rebuttal to how easily he could change the playing field by feigning injury. His handy zanpakutō had landed close to him and out of instinct, his fingers had flown over the wooden base to clutch it tightly. The moment one's guard lowered, the enemy was capable to seize an advantage and attack; he needed them to be aware of that. Noriko scowled to having a blind spot called out since downed enemies didn't necessarily mean defeated and immobile ones.
"Don't underestimate the enemy, Tanaka" her captain reminded firmly since one wrong move could land you in the healing division or the grave. Confidence meant nothing against a sharp weapon and Noriko nodded quietly to listen to Shūhei. He wanted his seated officers to handle offense fighting of all forms due to being a specialized division.
Sitting up to regain his bearings, Ryo rubbed his chest with one hand to make sure Ruka hadn't numbed his skin from the strike. That, or burned his clothes. Once he was sure his pain receptors still worked and he wasn't on his way to the next life, he waved the group away to dismiss them for the day, "All right, lesson over and I'll be sending you our next meeting time and place."
Noriko quirked an eyebrow towards the third captain, noticing he was still sitting, and asked uncertainly, "Are you okay?"
"Yep, just fine" he assured hastily before getting up to dust himself off, smoothing away any wrinkles from combat. He understood Ruka preferred staying out of the spotlight but if he could draw out her abilities with her new team, he'd take that. Flashing the third seat his classic charming smile, he left the scene to get the ball rolling yet again and rejoined Shūhei. The young captain was complimenting Keiji on his kido combinations and Ryo agreed, "You've all improved from day one but I'm not here to make you perfect. That's all up to you and your commitment."
Keiji had to admit he was no longer hobbling home in blinding pain and could walk off the recent training. Even the screams of horror had dwindled after what Ryo had chucked at them so it had to get better, right? By the Soul King, he hoped so. Ryo's spotless smile unnerved him slightly, slicing through that flame of optimism, and Keiji asked hesitantly, "Um, can we go home now?"
Ruka gently shooed off her subordinates with a warm smile to save their aching joints from an evening of icing them. Clapping enthusiastically, she nodded to each of them and declared with cheerful pep, "Yay, nobody left with bleeding stab wounds or a fractured bone this time!"
Glancing behind her shoulder to the open field, Ruka piped up sweetly, "Isane, could you patch us up before we collapse? I might have a rearranged kidney."
The small group had drawn spectators to see the new team in training with the foreign captain. For security purposes, Ryo ensured that only lieutenants and captains were allowed on the grounds. With his training being only a piece of the entire puzzle, he didn't mind the onlookers. As a captain, displaying fighting tactics was part of the role and he wanted to show a hint of what his Gotei was capable of. He wanted to bridge extensive cooperation between both Gotei to prevent another fiasco like the Winter War from occuring. He didn't care if noble families squabbled or the Central 46 passed useless laws but the Gotei was meant to be the sword and shield against danger to their realm. Otherwise, Zero Squad would become involved or send the Kido Corps; nobody wanted that. It was the ultimate scolding and Ryo had enough of that with his family alone.
Ryo scoffed to her claim because he had to push their limitations in order for them to succeed. Otherwise, he'd have to explain his embarrassing failure to Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Captain Kyōraku, and his own Commander. That wasn't going to happen on his watch. Waving the petite lieutenant away as she motioned to the dust patches on her uniform, he scoffed, "Ruka, don't be dramatic. You barely had kidney failure when we trained for five hours to unlock your-"
"Shut it, Prince Charming" she interjected swiftly before he blabbed anything about their training abroad. Being stranded in the middle of a scorching desert by herself (and an old dependable canteen) had not been fun at all, especially with a cranky zanpakutō.
Ruka couldn't help but notice several women were practically ogling the foreign captain with blushing cheeks. Isane, Momo, and Rangiku practically had hearts of adoration and hidden lust for the man while Nanao shook her head in embarrassment for them falling prey to that. Sure, the man was outrageously attractive but still! Was she the only one with common sense to follow proper military protocol? Izuru and Renji had come by to support Shūhei's project but balked at the women's reaction, stuck between props to the man and envy. They had all been introduced to the man weeks earlier and all shared the shocked reaction of a friendly Kuchiki nobleman. Like an infectious microbe, Ryo's presence overwhelmed the Gotei and had automatically gained a large amount into friends. Even the resistant Byakuya crazed fans (or the deluded giggling psychos as Ruka called them) were quickly admitting defeat and converting. Ruka briefly wondered whether Byakuya would be happy or annoyed with that.
Isane blushed heavily as she broke away from Ryo's naturally hypnotic spell over the masses and began a kido spell to heal the squad. Ruka skipped the healing session to allow Ryo to be the first, partly because she'd flung the poor man through the air. It was also the best and fastest way to remove evidence of her handiwork as well before questions were raised. The modest fourth lieutenant cleared her throat awkwardly before hovering her hands over his chest, "This will take several minutes and um, it should be able to remove any internal muscular damage."
Ruka smirked at Ryo as he managed to send most women into hesitating messes and teased aloud, "You need to come with warning labels for women and men with heart conditions. Do not stare at this man for he is ridiculously handsome and will cause immediate swooning in the dozens. Do not make direct eye contact or you will, I repeat, will be mesmerized and fall under his command."
Shūhei facepalmed to Ruka's endless pep, mainly for playing wingman to a man that really didn't need one, and muttered flatly, "I need to send her to fetch new newsletter subscriptions instead."
Renji and the small group of four men gathered together to watch the rabble of women fawning over the man. It was like watching a safari mating session! Except without actual mating. The redheaded captain straightened his long ponytail in a subconscious effort to appear more presentable and asked his friends, "What does he have that we don't?"
Rangiku's ears were naturally attuned to pick up any noise, mainly for the rush of gossip, and she grinned mischievously. Boy, she would have a field day with this. Before Nanao could lay a hand over the blond's mouth, Rangiku turned to them with a sly smile, "Great hair, flawless skin, gorgeous green eyes, amazing personality, rock hard abs, and an ass that-"
"Great, thanks" Shūhei replied flatly with disillusion and it didn't help that he was being trained by the man. He had to remind himself that everyone was unique and he had his own charm too. Otherwise, he'd be composing blues songs on the guitar for the rest of his life.
Izuru couldn't help but sigh in dismay when Rangiku continued chattily, "He's rich, a captain-"
"We got it!" Renji shot back before their confidence plummeted into nonexistence to the endless compliments to the other captain. It was bad enough they already competed against Byakuya Kuchiki, who literally showed no interest in anything sentient. Now, they had one Kuchiki that was pretty much the entire package with a sparkling personality attached! How was he supposed to beat that?
Ryo didn't aim to make enemies at all by unknowingly drawing female attention. He wasn't the type for relationships at all which was why he sought friends first. It was also how he managed to keep the clan's eye away from him; being second in line if anything happened to his cousin was a major pain in the ass. He aimed a flat deadpan 'why, woman?' look to Ruka but the lieutenant merely smiled innocently. Yep, she was a sneaky little Kyōraku all right.
Rangiku simply flashed her trademark charming smile but before she could crush the men's confidence into dust, Nanao slapped a hand over her mouth. The Gotei didn't need officers instigating their colleagues about romantic conquests and Nanao told them, "Ignore her prattle."
The humorous scuffle between them all caused Ruka to chuckle and tell her childhood friend, "Look at what you've done."
"I didn't even. . .yep, I'm definitely back home" Ryo shot back hastily because he didn't want to look over his shoulder during his travels in case of pranks or new enemies. Damn his natural charisma. Ruka batted his shoulder playfully and the captain quickly motioned to Isane to remind, "Ruka, please, I'm being healed here by the kind fourth lieutenant."
Isane giggled bashfully, leading Ruka to shake her head as he fluttered yet another figurative skirt. When had formidable officers been reduced to blushes and giggles from mere words and a dashing smile? She blamed it on her own age since she was officially the second oldest lieutenant in the Gotei 13. Hmm, she did have a fancy for tea like Lieutenant Sasakibe nowadays.
Ruka didn't let him slide out of the flirtatious smile he flashed at Isane and proposed, "If you're so inclined to our ladies here, why can't I convince you to be the fifth captain?"
Waving a hand to the small crowd that was more or less gossiping about the man, she grinned toothily in an attempt to sway him, "Look at 'em, you've made friends in one week alone already!"
"Ruka, that would not end well with Byakuya next door" he laughed aloud to dismiss the mere idea of transferring yet again, especially into Aizen's old division. Whoever ascended into that seat, they would have to rebuild the trust that had been broken and remove the stigma. There were many reasons to why he left not only the Gotei 13 but the Seireitei entirely and he wasn't going to be changing his mind anytime soon. Besides, the elders of his clan would throw a tantrum since it could be interpreted as competition against their prized heir. He was not in the business of causing problems for his cousin and shook his head to decline, "We'd be rays of eternal sunshine to their icicle kingdom. Besides, I love the freedom at home. If anything, I'm trying to get you to budge over there one day."
"But this is my home" she objected quickly and surprised herself by how easily it flowed from her lips. During her time abroad, home was a place to return to for refuge rather than a residence. When had her mindset changed? Her adjustment to the ninth squad hadn't been easy- there were still bumps every now and then- but her heart was happy in her current location. Was she truly home now after so long?
"Our Gotei would be a clean slate, no prior histories or drama" he enticed with an innocent smile and wag of the brow that failed to lure her. Despite her past issues with certain shinigami, she wouldn't run from the Gotei 13 like a coward. She had finally begun a professional relationship with Mayuri to expand both of their ideals; an optimistic venture for the first time. Her best friends were within visiting distance rather than Hell Butterfly messaging and her paternal family was finally close at hand. When Isane turned to heal Ruka's scrapes from training, the older woman giggled happily to the warm energy that coursed through her skin. It reminded her of getting a cozy hug from her parents during winter, something she sorely missed.
"Ruka" Isane reminded gently to ensure she wouldn't move during the healing session. The brunette lieutenant blew a dismissive raspberry in return but obeyed.
Ryo crossed his arms over his chest and struck a valid point when he advised, "You wouldn't have to hide from anyone or anything. We'd love to have one of Urahara's old students there."
Her blue eyes lit up for a brief moment to the last comment, always eager to prove her potential in science, and Ryo assured, "You already know our units and I'd approve your transfer. Come to the Northwest, Ruka."
Isane shot the captain a mock glare since they barely gained the new lieutenant months ago and joked gently, "Captain Kuchiki, please refrain from stealing our newest troops."
Ruka batted the air with both hands to shoo him away and chastised hastily, "Stop that, Ryo, you're almost as bad as my zanpakutō. Besides, I'm a lieutenant and have actual responsibilities now. Some of which you're currently training me on."
Besides, Captain Bloom and I might get along but our dedication for science veers in different fields, she thought since there was only so much incense and diffusing essential oils that her nose could withstand. While Bloom respected and flourished the biology of their world, Ruka dabbled in technology to advance defense and protect their environment. She couldn't help but wonder why she always hit a bump when it came to Kurotsuchi but not the other science-based captains.
She batted the man away comically to emphasize that she wanted that topic banished. Unless it was an all-access job in a scientific division, she'd stay where she was. It wouldn't look great on her record to suddenly bail on a high rank to head to a new Gotei with a demotion. Thankfully, Shūhei interrupted them when he invited them over with a friendly smile, "The guys and I are going to grab lunch. You guys want to come along? It's a pretty sweet barbecue place."
Ryo agreed instantaneously and declared drinks were on him, automatically grabbing Ruka along. The petite lieutenant squeaked to being dragged along unwillingly without input and quickly objected, "Unhand me, siren of the sea!"
The captain released her and she stumbled out of his grasp clumsily, avoiding a fall onto her tailbone. This was exactly why she disliked being yanked around by tall men; falling and tripping was unavoidable. Standing up with a pitiful groan, she rubbed her sore behind as it took the brunt of the fall and informed her superiors, "I promised Kurotsuchi I'd help him finish a project for Captain Unohana so I have to head to fourth."
Isane protested as Ruka began walking away to leave the field and reminded helpfully, "Lieutenant, I haven't finished yet."
Ruka shrugged nonchalantly to decline treatment since her physical body was stable and reasoned, "I've walked off with worst. Don't worry yourself, Isane. Heal the rest in my stead."
The white-haired lieutenant sputtered to Ruka's dismissal, finding it similar to Shunsui Kyōraku when injured. Before she could recite the risks of leaving her injuries untreated, the brunette flash stepped away from the field. Isane sighed under her breath to having her warnings cast aside and crossed her arms to huff, "Stubborn as always, Kyōraku."
Nanao overheard her words as she stood next to the other lieutenants and stated flatly, "Yeah, that doesn't change."
Ruka had barely gotten one foot in the door when she heard a scathing voice bellow from within, "Well, it's about time!"
She rolled her eyes to Captain Kurotsuchi's dramatics since she was perfectly on time with two minutes to spare. He had instructed (ahem, demanded) that she meet him in one of the fourth division's empty conference rooms since he had stored their newest invention there. They had managed to come together in a joint venture and create a vision machine that detected eye infections before physical symptoms occurred. It had taken a bit of pitching the idea to Mayuri since he wasn't like Captain Bloom of the Northwest that sought to improve the quality of life in Soul Society. Even Captain Östberg lent a hand when asked since his expertise was engineering rather than biology but the intent to help was there unlike Kurotsuchi. You had to twist his arm, break his kneecap, and punch him in the face before he agreed.
Kurotsuchi would've said no to anybody else but Retsu Unohana was a captain nobody trifled with. Having Ruka Kyōraku as one of her friends and playing enforcer practically left him pinned to a wall with that assignment. So, he did what he saw as suitable: give Ruka lab space and let her tinker her way with designing it and he'd simply help her build it. It was a win-win: he gets to escape unscathed and Unohana gets her new machine. Of course, the final approval was under his command and he could alter what he wanted before the final unveiling.
With her return to the Prime Gotei and newly reinstated temporary access to the SRDI, Ruka accepted assignments that were quick to create and aimed at helping others. For Mayuri, it meant he had another researcher that could implement her skills in development as well. Despite the warnings from friends, Ruka couldn't keep away from having access to high-tech tools and materials to design and craft ideas into reality rather than sticking to her tiny lab with a notepad in her quarters. The threat of being under Mayuri's constant watch meant nothing if she could enhance the lives of all individuals in Soul Society. She'd met the man during her late adolescent years and prepared herself to tackle whatever he threw her way (beakers included). A century later, that remained true.
"So, what's next after this?" she asked simply as their new machine bore a strong similarity to visual field testing equipment. The only difference was they chose black metal for the casing and patients would simply peer into lens with both eyes rather than just one at a time.
Mayuri didn't skip a beat in diving into the next project on his personal list since science was the best and only topic to speak about when in his presence. Anything else was a complete waste of his time. She was not surprised in the slightest when he revealed a notepad from within his puffy uniform and waved his book of pending calamity in the air. Proudly, he claimed aloud with a wild grin on his painted black lips, "It's merely a prototype but I've designed a weapon that condenses reishi into its most compact form before unleashing the destructive equivalence at the flick of a finger. With proper funding, I'm confident this little baby could destroy an area the size of a human town!"
Ruka paused in her blinking to the devastation he could incur and raised her hands to object firmly, "But I want to help people, not kill 'em!"
Mayuri scowled to her care to save the many versus efficiency. Honestly, she gave science a bad name sometimes. What had happened to the giddy young woman that had enjoyed destroying things with him? Her brilliance was beginning to dwindle at the cost of a conscience, in his opinion, because there should be no barriers in the field of research. His ruthlessness as a scientist is what kept him as head of the SRDI and he replied snippily, "Oh. Well, to be honest, it only has malicious application."
Her firm expression didn't waver in the slightest because decimating a city was reckless. Wasn't their role as shinigami to maintain balance at all times? Not send both realms into chaos! Mayuri glared at her refusal to dabble in weapons of mass destruction and stuffed his notebook back inside his haori. He was not happy with this outcome at all but wasn't entirely surprised, muttering under his breath, "I guess Nemu will be happy, she's hated this whole thing from day one. Mainly for the production cost."
Ruka merely glanced at him with a deadpan expression before stating flatly, "Let's just transfer this machine to Captain Unohana, all right?"
Taking initiative, she grabbed one side of the machine with both hands to begin lifting it. Unlike the older chunkier eye machines, they used a sleek design to conserve space and a lightweight metal that was strong enough to escape denting. Mayuri grabbed the other end with an annoyed frown on his face but Ruka figured it was just his regular everyday frown. Together, they walked through the emptiest hallway on the farthest end of Retsu's outpatient clinic to avoid the traffic with staff and patients.
Every other weekend, Unohana was present at the clinic to read through updates and assess the condition of the clinic. Being the head of the healing division, she had to ensure her roles as a captain and healer were equal in efficiency. Normally, she had her seated members in charge of the healing facilities to sharpen their skills and expose themselves to a multitude of conditions. The trauma center in the heart of her division fell under her direct jurisdiction but she'd left Isane and her third seat in charge as she headed out.
The captain was ready for them in the eye center she'd designed to share space with the auditory equipment for hearing impairment. It was simply a small office room filled with numerous machines to assess any pre-existing or ongoing condition for all shinigami. Ruka flashed a perky smile and greeted the captain as Retsu calibrated one of the machines meant to catch early glaucoma. Mayuri mumbled out an incomprehensible mumble and half-assed nod as he focused on setting down the machine in the nearest open space.
Retsu was quick to point where she wanted the machine to thwart him but smiled warmly at them, "Welcome."
The two scientists arranged the machine at the end of the rectangular table and Ruka lingered to ensure it was perfectly aligned. Mayuri, on the other hand, merely rolled his eyes to her finicky nature on organization. When she pulled out a white cloth from her uniform pocket and began to wipe off smudges, he began explaining their creation to avoid being there all day, "Your new ocular machine is lightweight and built to withstand blunt damage. It will assess for any visual obstructions, acute deterioration, infections, and internal hemorrhaging."
Retsu was lightly surprised to the multiple uses but two heads were better than one when it came to Mayuri and Ruka. The young lieutenant whipped out the personalized manual for the machine and handed it to the captain with a proud smile. The ingenuities of science that allowed for breakthroughs in improving the quality of life for people is what brought her joy. She didn't want to create weapons of destruction, only when active war absolutely called for it, and preferred the engineering branch focused on safety and longevity.
Ruka motioned to the settings panel on the opposite side of where the patient would peer into the lenses. There were several keys and adjustable dials for the healer to command and she piped up helpfully, "We made the instructions rather easy so the other machines here can continue in-depth analysis of anything that is detected. We're aiming for preventable care first so we didn't want a complicated machine for your squad."
"We'll try three test subjects to demonstrate its efficiency" Mayuri informed the fourth captain as she watched him vigilantly for any funny business. Although his inventions could benefit her squad, she didn't doubt that he'd find a way to seize advantage for covert research. Kurotsuchi's work never ended when it came to improvements and breakthroughs in science but she wouldn't allow for her squad to be his stepping stone.
Ruka cleared her throat purposely before correcting firmly, "Patients, Captain Kurotsuchi, not test subjects."
"Idioms" he dismissed swiftly to ignore her and the moral babble she spouted. If there was a way he could silence her but keep her brilliance, he'd nab it. Unfortunately, he didn't want both the Kyōraku clan and the law against him if he decided to harvest her brain so he tossed that plan. He'd have to bide his time until she fell in battle or passed from old age.
Retsu and Ruka shared a skeptical look as the twelfth captain grumbled about while setting up the machine. The healer decided that the wellbeing of the shinigami came first before questioning the ethics of Kurotsuchi. Despite his ruthlessness, they couldn't argue with the results he provided. She stepped away to retrieve the three chosen shinigami that would debut the machine, all the while hoping that nothing went awry.
Mayuri peered into the lens of the machine to ensure it was on and Ruka took the opportunity to lean against the desk. Gazing at the masked scientist, she couldn't help but breach the question, "Is science what your life consists of?"
His amber gaze shifted from the lens to lock onto hers, his lips thinning to the useless question. The black horizontal stripe over his eyes intensified the hue and Ruka involuntarily cringed at seeing it. It was practically questioning her sanity and his sharp tone followed seconds later in demand, "Are you daft? There's a reason I'm the head of the SRDI and the twelfth division. I don't hesitate to engage and I will pounce on every opportunity."
She wasn't surprised by that answer but she had hoped with the passage of time that he'd find a hobby or something else to have passion for. A life like that was lonely if you didn't have friends or colleagues to trust, especially with him being an introvert by nature. The other fact was that Mayuri had never been one for attachments and she couldn't determine whether it originated from his life before the Maggot's Nest or just a natural part of his personality. Her brow furrowed as she ignored the petty insult and replied evenly, "Science is not my entire life-"
"That's why your life's work will not reach its true potential" he interjected nonchalantly as he fiddled with the machine. Ruka bit the inside of her cheek to keep a straight face, shoving any hurt feelings aside. The man had always been a tad harsh in his manner of speaking, his bedside manner even worse, and it seemed to only evolve over the decades. He added salt to that fresh wound by pointing out shrewdly, "I can assure that your ascension to lieutenancy was not based on your scientific merit."
Ruka grit her teeth as he struck a raw nerve for her but before she could chastise his callous manner, Retsu returned. Not willing to risk a verbal (and potentially physical) altercation with him in her presence, she backed away to retreat to the farthest corner in the room. The change in physical distance didn't escape Retsu as she returned with her three 'patients'. Being a captain, she had numerous duties throughout the day and if she could have the machine running smoothly, her subordinates could begin making appointments for shinigami immediately.
Retsu raised a hand to introduce her colleagues with a warm smile, "They are-"
"No need for temporary acknowledgement, we're only here to validate the machine" Mayuri interjected coldly to evade any pleasantries and get down to business. Retsu's lips thinned slightly to his rude behavior, not keen on having it against her division, but was interrupted from speaking up when he ordered, "I don't have all day so who's first?"
Ruka shook her head with embarrassment and stepped forward, blocking his view, and greeted them with a smile, "Welcome, I'm Lieutenant Ruka Kyōraku of ninth. Excuse my partner's morning grouchiness."
Despite her orders to meet each division during her first month back among the Gotei 13, Ruka hadn't gone past the lieutenant rank. She'd only mingled with the top seated members of Retsu's division and the only one she recognized that morning was the current fifth seat, Hanatāro Yamada. The other two were young women similar in age, one brunette and the other-
"Blondie, you're first" Mayuri ordered briskly since nobody volunteered and made the decision himself. Ruka slapped a hand to her forehead as he cast aside professionalism for efficiency. Just when she believed she wouldn't be surprised by him, she was proved wrong yet again.
The young shinigami glared at the captain but his intense glower power intimidated her into submission. One didn't engage or talk back to Mayuri Kurotsuchi and expected to live five minutes past that. The captain pointed to the opposite seat across the machine and Retsu nodded quietly to her subordinate to proceed. The sooner the exam finished, the sooner she could get him out and keep the new technology.
As the shinigami sat down to begin the exam with the captain, Ruka turned to Retsu and apologized quietly in private, "I'm sorry for his less than stellar attitude, ma'am. I want you to know his behavior is not a reflection of my own."
"I know that, Ruka, but we have to make sacrifices with less than ideal individuals for the greater good" the master healer replied wisely with a small smile because Ruka never disappointed her. If there was one individual that would keep a strict eye on the man, it was her. Akon and Nemu followed their captain's orders faithfully but the ex-SRDI researcher knew where to draw the line. Even so, Kurotsuchi was sneaky with his creations against the sharpest of eyes. No individual landed in a solitary cell inside the Maggot's Nest on accident.
Kurotsuchi cleared his throat loudly as the hushed whispers reached his ears. The fourth division shinigami flinched to the sound out of natural fear for the man. Ruka almost swore they inched closer to Retsu like anxious pups and the lieutenant chuckled awkwardly to subside any worries, "After this, the eye machine will be under your direct control and maintenance will be completed by one of Kurotsuchi's repair squads. It requires little upkeep to run smoothly and I will leave a manual at the front desk for reference."
Approaching the machine to be the mediator between the man and the fourth squad, she smiled warmly at them, "It will detect infections or physical degeneration of the eye. Unfortunately, we were not able to detect chronic diseases but the captain informed me there are machines here for that so we stuck to the acute phases only."
"I didn't know other officers could work in the twelfth division" Hanatāro spoke up with curiosity to seeing her there after being accustomed to her endless gifts for the captain. He'd associated her with the seventh squad from their brief interactions but her ascension to nine left him scratching his head. Who would want to willingly be in Kurotsuchi's company when squad nine was perfectly normal? The young man sidestepped over to her and placed a hand over his mouth to whisper, "Isn't it scary?"
Ruka chuckled modestly to the question because she'd loved science, natural or engineered, from childhood. She didn't find joy in fighting or enforcing laws but rather tinkering and researching to improve life on all levels. Before she could answer, Kurotsuchi let them know he'd heard everything with his acute hearing by claiming coldly, "She's there by Captain-Commander Yamamoto's decree only. Her time at the SRDI will end soon, as all temporary visitors do."
Biting her tongue once more, Ruka reminded herself it would be public insubordination. She was there to ensure everything went smoothly for the recipients of their creation. That was the end goal and emotions, no matter how frazzled, had no room there. She knew her capabilities when she had the right tools in her hands and she didn't need his cordiality or respect to bring her ideas to life. Many would question why she bore such treatment but Ruka knew it was to improve life for the many. What was her one existence worth in the span of thousands of years? Time would keep rolling, whether she existed in Soul Society, lived in the Human World, or slumbered in limbo in the Soul Palace's Chamber of Spirits.
"My head feels warm."
Wait, what?
Mayuri scoffed under his breath to the shinigami's comment as the exam finished and commented, "Normal side effect."
She didn't remember that when she'd undergone the exam from the other end- after insisting he went first, of course. As much as Ruka enjoyed working on project at the SRDI, she didn't have permanent access to it and had to leave it all by nightfall. Had Mayuri tinkered with it? Knowing it would be given to another squad meant to heal others?
Mayuri fiddled with the keys at the bottom of the eye machine and informed the captain, "The results will automatically be updated into your patient's charts. Since they are merely testers, her results are normal."
His screechy voice bounced off the walls as he declared, "Next!"
Everyone but Retsu jumped to the volume and the blond shinigami frowned to the odd sensation of warmth over her forehead. The second young woman hesitated walking up to the empty seat as her colleague shook her head in dismissal. Mayuri struck the table with the palm of his hand and snapped quickly, "While we're young!"
Was this the man I found attractive over a century ago?, Ruka questioned her own mind as she watched the brunette skitter forward nervously to take the seat. Had she been logically sound of mind or had hormones clouded her judgment then? She was able to handle his sharp and no-nonsense attitude back then but he'd grown cruel with his words.
Don't ask me, I'm your zanpakutō, not your brain, her spiritual partner replied bluntly as he chimed in to chide his counterpart. Although she'd reached adolescence without a father, Monosugoikaze made up for that absence by judging every single individual that crossed her eye. He couldn't help but notice her gaze wandered to the intelligent without regard to their rank, social standing, and tons of odd quirks. His voice carried a sarcastic edge when he stated, I don't control your temptations but if I did, I'd choose-
Nobody asked you, she shot back swiftly to his apparent preferences and brushed him aside from her mind. The zanpakutō hissed in her mind before reminding her who was the bonded one out of the two and she scoffed, Please, you and Pinky fought like territorial birds before he asked you-
I wooed him, not the other way around!, her partner corrected defensively to set the record straight. Ruka ignored his rant, accustomed to the old-age dance between the two dominant zanpakutō. It's a tale as old as time-
"Next!"
Her spiritual partner hissed aggressively in her mind as Mayuri's grating voice broke through. How her partner wasn't an aggressive Canadian goose instead of a graceful Whooper swan was beyond her. It figured the Soul King decided a quiet and noble mute swan wasn't for her.
Ruka snapped out of her private mind conversation to tune in to her task again. Uh-oh, her drama radar kicked off instantly at the sight. The second tester was standing with a heated glare aimed at Mayuri, who was intentionally ignoring her. She knew that half-lidded dull gaze anywhere in comparison to his bright-eyed sharp focus. The young woman looked to her captain for insight and support as she admitted with concern, "I don't know what that was but I wasn't comfortable with it."
Retsu took the word of her subordinates to heart, especially with Kurotsuchi's history. Her blue eyes darkened as protectiveness for her division rose and motioned for her seventh seat to move behind her. The young woman nodded obediently, abandoning her argument, and Retsu crossed her arms to question with a sharp edge, "Captain, I do not approve for side effects on any shinigami. These are women and men on active duty-"
"This machine is spotless in detecting abnormalities" he interjected simply as he rapped the top of it with his knuckles. Standing up, he refused to show any hints of intimidation against the second oldest captain of the Gotei 13. He was open to criticisms but not insults to efficiently functioning projects. Pointing towards her meek subordinates hiding behind her, he snapped grimly, "Would you prefer preventing ocular damage with a few side effects or increasing your risk of inefficient shinigami on the field?"
The first tester peered between her colleagues as one scowled and the other huddled behind Retsu. Peeking over the captain's left shoulder, the blond's head was followed by blue eyes as she spotted Ruka and piped up meekly, "The warm feeling went away. . .if that's, um, any better?"
Retsu wasn't satisfied with that because the new gadget had already affected two of her three shinigami. One out of a dozen shinigami was far more preferable than two out of three. Hanatāro was the last on the line and if he experienced an effect, she would reject it until further testing. There were two other scientific captains in the Northern Gotei and she could send it to them for study. With that, she'd rest easy knowing Captain Bloom held a strict moral code while Captain Östberg would study it piece by piece with his machines. Her friendly work relationship with the other two healing captains in those Gotei would also give her another watchful eye.
"The fact is that she has a bacterial infection" Mayuri informed coldly to ignore the complaints that were now rising against him. They had requested a new machine and he'd handed it to them- why were they biting the gift horse?! He could be occupying his time elsewhere and he ordered brusquely, "Captain, your subordinate will require antibiotic drops for a week, twice a day. Ruka!"
The lieutenant flinched to his loud volume this time as it echoed off the walls of the room. She was standing less than two feet away- really! It was a surprise that nobody had gone partially deaf and required hearing aids. Raising her right hand, she waved it in emphasis and pointed out listlessly, "I'm right here, you know."
Shaking her head, she completed the menial task of simply grabbing a printout from the nearest printer. Had inventing made him this lazy? Avoiding his gaze as the printer lay behind him, she swiped the paper to hand it over to Retsu for her to read. The information pertained to the seventh seat's results that Kurotsuchi promised with the invention.
The brunette healer stepped out from behind the living shield known as Retsu and jabbed a finger in his direction to glower heatedly, "There's something fishy about that machine- either's it's malfunctioning or intentional!"
Ruka crossed her arms for having her invention insulted after long hours of work and grumbled under her breath, "Have fun with a festering infection and denying my attempt to improve your quality of life."
Retsu aimed a parenting gaze in her direction and Ruka's shoulders slumped in shame. She couldn't help being overprotective of her work but at the same time, what if it had been intentionally sabotaged? She'd dedicated time and manual labor (plus mental fatigue) to build the machine which dealt a blow with him undoing all that work. Mayuri disliked being questioned in public but it was a burning question now. Retsu's frame of mind ran on that same wavelength and began a test of her own, "Yamada, take your seat please."
The young man let out an uncertain whimper but between Retsu's firm stare and Mayuri's scowl; he didn't have much of a chance. What else did he have to lose besides possibly his life? It was cowardice to linger in his footsteps towards the black machine but he knew enough about Mayuri Kurotsuchi to steer clear of a hundred yards from him.
I'm doing this for my division and to help Captain Unohana, he thought to himself repeatedly as he forced himself to sit down and took a deep breath. If only he could do that to his increasing heart rate and sweaty palms. He reminded himself it was simple test and calmed himself, You can do this. Besides, if you are grievously injured, you have witnesses so there's that. . .unless he kills them too. Wait, this is supposed to be positive thinking!
Taking a deep breath, he sat down with a sudden rush of courage to get the test started. How a little exam caused his heart to hammer away as if he were in the midst of battle surprised him. Despite the passage of ten years after the Winter War, he carried his old quirk of uneasiness against superior officers. Sure, cutting his limp tresses into a layered messy bedhead look improved his identity but the old sheepish Hanatāro remained within.
His dark blue eyes peered into the two dark lenses to begin and heard Kurotsuchi order, "Just keep your gaze on the image without blinking."
The healer thanked the Soul King that it was a normal and innocent brown puppy instead of a monstrous or sickening image. He was more than happy to follow that simple rule and kept his gaze locked on the picture. For half a minute, everything went down smoothly and he almost believed Kurotsuchi's insistence of normal side effects. That is, until his eyes registered stinging that wasn't caused by dryness or a sudden flash of bright light. He blinked repeatedly to lessen the sudden problem but it only caused his vision to blur with natural tear production.
Hanatāro couldn't help but wince to the painful sensation and asked uncertainly, "Um, is it supposed to burn?"
"Sure, why not?"
That was not comforting to know at all and he backed away from the machine to blink repeatedly. Nope, that wasn't helping. He rubbed his eyes to get rid of the blinding starbursts and glanced at his distorted captain with doubt. Wait, when had she been blurry with a bright white halo over her head? Oh no, now his vision was affected! Would he be able to see soon?! Mayuri grumbled under his breath to stopping the test halfway at his squeamishness and muttered out the results, "He's fine."
This is exactly why Mayuri abhorred working with other squads! If one individual complained, the rest would soon follow with the slightest hitch of discomfort. The other captains were too soft in his view, save for Zaraki, and he thanked his genius for having all his subordinates sign liability waivers upon admission to the twelfth division. Those papers protected him against the old man and the Central 46 if anything resulted in death.
Retsu took pity on the young man and immediately found something amiss with a machine meant to detect disease. None of her other machines produced such effects and it raised a huge red flag for her. The puzzled look on Ruka's face confirmed her suspicions and she ordered her subordinates, "You're all dismissed."
The two women nodded but Hanatāro squinted in Retsu's direction and asked sheepishly, "Could I have some assistance to the door, please?"
His vision was no longer perfect but the stinging was gradually decreasing, leading him to walk the closest peach blobs that he saw. Well, he'd survived but his sight would be another thing come nightfall. The worst part was knowing he had patients to assess and treat in an hour! The two women didn't hesitate in helping their coworker and together, they guided him by the arms past the open doorway.
It didn't help Mayuri's case when Hanatāro stumbled out of the room and the scientist justified, "In the machine's defense, he is a clumsy shinigami."
Retsu ignored the insult of her subordinate while Ruka shook her head, hoping the young man was already out of earshot. Leaving two out of three unsatisfied customers was not good feedback for her as an inventor. She didn't want discomfort for anyone and was certain none of it had occurred back at the lab. Retsu didn't hold back this time after seeing poor Hanatāro's condition by questioning firmly, "Besides detecting infection or bleeding, what else did you add? Do I need to remind you that the Captain-Commander will not be pleased to having his healing troops hindered?"
Damn, she knew what card to play. For all his handy injury waivers, spilling it into other divisions would not bode well in the long run. Mayuri rolled his eyes since both he and Retsu could benefit from the gadget but similar to Ruka, their moral compass stood in his path. Hmm, could he invent something to remove it from people? No, that could potentially land him back in the Maggot's Nest again. Waving a hand dismissively, he leaned back in his seat and confessed airily, "The ability to imprint subliminal messages during the test? Say, to maintain their loyalty to the Gotei 13 or carry out certain orders?"
"You did what?!" Ruka snapped furiously to such a disturbingly invasive alteration to the blueprint. The patients were colleagues, what could he possibly want to change in them? Some wouldn't even be under his jurisdiction! What was he trying to do, create an army or a horde of monotonous slaves? Embarrassment tinted her cheeks in rosy pink for failing to notice any new alterations before the transfer and she shut off the machine herself with the push of a button. Glaring with offense at the scientist, her blue eyes narrowed to his audacity as she exclaimed, "I never signed off on that! What gave you the right to do such a thing?"
Retsu simply raised her hand to silence everyone and the brunette nodded quietly, guilt written on her face for being deceived so easily. Again! Why couldn't he just build a project that would benefit shinigami without giving him a devious advantage? Did he think all the other captains wanted to control their troops in such a disgusting manner? It sickened Ruka because she believed everyone had the freedom to choose who and what they wanted to be.
The healer rested a hand on her shoulder, sensing Ruka's reiatsu fluctuating with her internal emotions. Objectivity and protocol was needed for this situation- plus, Isane had informed her she'd been at the training ground with Ruka's team earlier. Energy from battle, whether real or mocked, lingered for hours within high-level shinigami and she ordered quietly, "Lieutenant, you may leave. I wish to speak to the captain alone."
Ruka wanted to give him her two kan's worth (maybe a punch or two) but Retsu had the ultimate authority as the most senior member. With a glare aimed at the scientist for deceiving her, she nodded silently and exited the room with hasty steps. Whatever the captain would say or do had Ruka's approval to enact justice on behalf of the poor test subjects. Hopefully, she'd inject him full of tranquilizers to put him in a temporary coma.
Brushing a hand through her short bob, she headed down the hallway to leave the entire fiasco behind. Her name was on that project and she hoped the fourth division wouldn't think ill of her for working on it. As a member of a prestigious clan, she sought to keep her image in good standing and wouldn't allow for Mayuri to topple it. How were they supposed to maintain a positive working relationship if he did things like that?
Spotting Hanatāro ahead of her as he squinted into a mirror by the front reception desk, she watched him study his image. Regardless of her lack of knowledge on Mayuri's intentions, she felt guilty for his vision disturbance. Approaching him, she cleared her throat to let him know she was there and spoke softly, "Fifth seat Yamada, please accept my apology for what occurred back there. That machine was meant to help your division, not injure it, and I'm sorry for what it did to you."
Hanatāro turned around with surprise, stepping back as he was caught in mid-thought. He was able to see Ruka now without any blurriness and appreciated the words. It would've meant more if the man who caused him harm stepped up to owning that error but everyone knew Kurotsuchi by now. The healer offered his trademark sheepish smile as he waved his hands to stammer nervously, "No, no, it's okay. I mean, I can actually see now!"
Bright light still caused sensitivity but he'd worry if it didn't leave after an hour. Luckily, being part of the fourth squad meant his own colleagues could treat him instantly. Ruka frowned slightly to his dismissiveness because rug sweeping would only keep the mad scientist in that accursed role. Furrowing her brow, she crossed her arms and stated firmly, "No, it's not all right. He could've done worse and we were unaware this whole time. No captain has the right to harm their subordinates unless the law has been broken."
His shoulders slumped in defeat because he couldn't exactly go up to the man and demand an apology. If he did, he'd be gassed by a purple cloud into a painful death by his zanpakutō before that happened. Nonetheless, he was sure justice would prevail and encouraged her optimistically with a smile, "I'm sure Captain Unohana will correct it, don't worry."
Ruka reluctantly agreed that if anybody would set him straight, it was Retsu. Nodding quietly, her fingers tightened over her elbows to release some of her frustration. Breathing in deeply to calm herself, her gaze met his and she smiled sympathetically to offer, "How would you like five issues of the Seireitei Communication for free?"
The fifth seat blinked awkwardly in surprise since he didn't expect freebies for almost being blinded temporarily. Unlike Mayuri, however, Ruka had always been kind to him and brought their division herbs from abroad. He wanted more scientists like her in the Gotei 13 and his dark eyes widened into saucers when she added in, "I'm familiar with Captain Noah Jarvis from the Northeast and he's always looking for healers to teach and learn from. I could request a visit for you to his healing division?"
Never in his life did he conceive the dream of meeting foreign shinigami, much less superior officers! He was accustomed to being ignored or blended into the shadows for most of his career but her acknowledgement filled him with hope. Hanatāro sputtered on what to say, caught completely by surprise, and Ruka grinned to his positive reaction, "I'm hoping that's a yes?"
He nodded vigorously as he cursed his mouth for being slow and bowed respectfully instead. The offer was a great opportunity for any seated member and he was grateful for the chance. For a fifth seat to meet a captain from abroad. . .boy, he couldn't wait to tell his mother! Ruka nodded in return, the guilt dissipating at seeing him happy, and smiled brightly, "I'll be in touch then. If he happens to contact you directly, which he's notorious for, don't be afraid in speaking in our native tongue. The man is fluent in way too many languages to count on all my fingers."
The lieutenant walked away with less of a burden on her shoulders, leaving Hanatāro in the middle of the hallway entrance. He surprised one of the healers walking by when he jumped into the air to declare joyfully, "Yes!"
"You look blue" Ryo commented bluntly to snap Ruka out of her thoughts as she ruminated alone.
Ruka often chose the guest wing of Byakuya's home to recluse herself for relaxation. It was much quieter than the Kyōraku estate, even with the empty homes of the other three sons of the Kyōraku heads. With it being Sunday night, her uncle would be throwing one of his famous all-nighters and inviting half the Seireitei to mingle. After training with Ryo, unleashing a hint of her abilities, and having her project with Mayuri twisted for his benefit, she sought a night that lacked drama or high energy. Her friend's home fit that picture perfectly since the Kuchiki clan was the silent type.
She sat cross-legged on the porch as she sipped cold tea from a nearby shop, gazing at the twinkling stars overhead. Since childhood, she'd always sought to touch one in her hands until she realized their actual composition years later. Nonetheless, their glittering beauty calmed her inner conflict in the silent night. She offered a faint smile to her old friend in welcome before looking to the glittering sky to mumble, "Just realizing again that the science head here and I don't agree on our methods."
Ryo wasn't surprised by that at all since Captains Bloom and Östberg were nothing like the man in their pursuit for scientific breakthroughs. Mayuri Kurotsuchi was indeed frightfully brilliant but he was also viciously ruthless in his research and implementation which is why he maintained his position as the best. Ruka didn't match the man's frame of thought either which is why they clashed continuously but Ryo didn't have the heart to tell her to simply sever that attempt. There was an attachment there that wasn't necessarily healthy but they were all adults and Ruka would make the final call. One would either be doomed to repeat history or learn from it; he hoped it would be the latter.
"By next week, Östberg will be here and you'll have a science buddy" he piped up cheerfully with his classic smile to dissipate the gloom in her tone. Ruka had to admit her friendship with the Swedish captain was in far better standing than with Kurotsuchi- actually, anybody's was. There was no question of biased preference for the company of shinigami who didn't torture living beings for research. Ryo's green eyes twinkled mischievously as he sat down beside her on the wooden porch and added in to joke, "I'm sure he'll take your mind away from Kurotsuchi. Frankly, I think any man would."
Ruka batted his shoulder playfully for the jab to the captain's masked appearance, especially when Ryo shuddered. The Prime Gotei did carry eccentric shinigami but Ruka wouldn't make fun of a person's fashion statement. She wasn't letting Ryo instigate anything for humor's sake based on her past and corrected, "For the last time, Östberg and I are colleagues only. Honestly, you're just as bad as Captain De Voss sometimes."
"No, he'll pretend to help you until he finds a suitable conquest to steal for himself" he deflected quickly with a shake of his head since he had honor like any Kuchiki when it came to friends. He was friends with both Northeast captains but he wouldn't divulge his love life with De Voss at the risk of having it usurped. On the other hand, he was safe since he wasn't the type to have strong romantic ties due to his line of work. Ruka snorted in regards to the Belgian sociopath, who happened to be their friend, and Ryo tilted his head to the side to remark thoughtfully, "I'd like to think of myself as a more suave version of your uncle."
"Ew! I live better by pretending nobody has reproductive parts" Ruka sighed aloud with a grimace on her face, nose wrinkling to that horrid comparison. There were many times she questioned if Ryo had been switched at birth for a Kuchiki child since he fit in perfectly as a Kyōraku. He lacked censorship in her presence, similar to her, but every topic was on the table. She was not interested in the slightest at knowing her colleagues, friends, and family were capable of physical intimacy. It was also the best way to keep her meals down.
Ryo shook his head to her romanticism viewpoint since she was strictly monogamous and pointed out, "We're shinigami, it's common to simply not date and just have the friends with benefit option."
"We agree to disagree, Kuchiki" Ruka commented simply because the less attachments she held, the easier it was to relinquish them all. Being abroad had meant she had no dear one or family to worry over when being in the front lines of battle. Secrets could be kept in the dark with the intermittent contact of her Gotei with others rather than breach light and have the dreaded spotlight on her. Cracking her trademark peppy smile, she added in sheepishly, "By the way, sorry about throwing you across the field earlier. A flare of tenacity rose to your egging me."
"Don't worry about it, that's been my go-to motivator with you" he chuckled since he held no hard feelings with training and dismissed her concern. She was softhearted when it came to her friends but he didn't hesitate to push his subordinates past their limitations. He clapped a hand on her back, almost sending her tumbling down the steps from the force, and suggested with a bright smile, "C'mon, I know what'll make you happy. Fireworks!"
"Display or homemade?" she asked cautiously because one could be beautiful and the other could set the estate on fire. She'd promised Byakuya she wouldn't damage anything within his land and wanted to keep her word. Otherwise, she'd owe him a fancy new garden island or something.
His left eyebrow arched to the question and he stated dryly, "Does it really matter?"
Ruka chuckled softly because he was right- fireworks were fireworks. Treading on the wild side never boded well for her but damn it, that was where the adventure lay. At least, that's how her father had been while Sojun Kuchiki had to yank him back when danger neared. The apple hadn't fallen far from the generational tree and the two stood up to head to wherever Ryo had stashed the fireworks.
She didn't realize how happy she was to the prospect of mere fireworks but her day had slowly declined in success. Failure was not an option in her book and having a project twisted for a man's attempt at mind control infuriated her. Ruka practically leapt to match her friend's longer strides as she descended the steps. Unfortunately, she only touched two with her feet before a hand yanked the back of her uniform.
"Ruka, get back here."
Her alarmed yelp echoed through the silent dark gardens as Byakuya caught the two trying to escape for mischief. When had he become the responsible adult over two grown people? He'd given her access to the gardens for meditation and relaxation, not to cause trouble. Ruka wriggled in his grip since she hadn't realized he was already wandering in his home, accustomed to him arriving later in the evening from work. Peace had indeed made their days shorter but Ruka knew it was a wistful thought for it to always remain in place.
"But fireworks. . ." she mumbled weakly to the fun thought and hoped to either get a free pass or have him join them. The more the merrier, right? She hoped to flash him the pitiful and much dreaded puppy eye look but he kept a tight hold on the back of her uniform. Damn, he was smart.
"Join us, the freedom would be worthy of your lifetime" Ryo enticed with a wag of his thin eyebrows but the sixth captain glared in return. How they were related by blood was beyond him. If their clan hierarchy roles were reversed, Byakuya could only wonder how far the Kuchiki name would've plummeted under Ryo. He failed to release the struggling lieutenant and his gray eyes narrowed when the older man teased, "Where's the little Byakuya I knew? The one that exploded plates with kido and stuck beans up his nose?"
Ruka snickered into her hands at hearing that because it must've been before she came into the picture. She imagined a fancily dressed toddler Byakuya sticking beans up his nostrils while sitting alone in the kitchens.
"He grew up, just like you all should" he lectured firmly about his old shenanigans and wanted to erase his childhood from everyone's memories. Hmm, was Ruka capable of it with one of her random gadgets that were often lying around in her barrack? There was no question to his impatient nature until his grandfather stepped in to correct the behavior. He was grateful for that or he would've had the impetuousness of Abarai.
Ruka shook her head to his prissy nature and peered over her shoulder to remind him wisely, "We never fully stop growing, Kuchiki. Our long lifespan is meant to continually allow us to learn and grow."
Byakuya didn't respond to that but Ryo shrugged noncommittally and smiled at his friend, "Let's go, kid."
She whined when his hand clamped down tighter on her uniform and cried out, "I need auxiliary support! Captain detaining lieutenant from fun time."
Byakuya compared her to one of her regal swans, minus the gracefulness, as she swatted at him with open arms to be free. Did his grandfather really have to grant her limitless access to his estate? Had his clan owed some odd and ancient debt that had been collected via that access? Although their childhoods were long gone as the towering sakura trees symbolized the ages that had passed, his friend retained spunk that had been hidden during adolescence. On the plus side, at least he could pick her up off the ground now due to their height differences. If Ruka had inherited her father's height, he would've had a tougher time pinning down the dexterous chipmunk.
The third captain crossed his arms as he observed the interesting spectacle with a keen eye and declared slyly, "You'll detain her but not me? Byakuya, I'm tempted to claim you're jealous."
A switch went off as his gaze hardened into icy steel and Byakuya released Ruka as if his hand had been scorched by fire. That didn't slide past Ryo's attention either. The brunette quickly smoothed down her uniform as she scooted closer to the taller man and Byakuya chastised firmly to his audacity, "Don't be absurd, I'm trying to keep her from walking in your footsteps."
"But I want to walk in them" Ruka groaned pitifully to receive a dose of fun for the night and received a stern glare from her friend. Was he really going to lecture her for wanting to spend time with Ryo? His own cousin? As much as she cherished his concern for her wellbeing, he couldn't overstep and impose his own rules when it came to her mutual friends. She had a right to enjoy her free time and wouldn't allow anyone to seize it from her. For the first time, she squared her shoulders as a defensive gesture to take a stand and pointed out with a firm tone, "I'm a grown woman, Byakuya, I can make my own decisions."
The light playful tone was gone and Byakuya was on the defense instantly out of years of instinct. He hadn't expected that reply at all, accustomed to being obeyed or defiantly ignored. She'd rarely argued against him and he didn't like it, taken aback by it. Away from the Gotei, he was no longer her superior so any orders were null and she wasn't one to hesitate in fighting back when she felt wronged. Ryo felt the atmosphere tense as he stepped into something entirely different, quickly telling himself to scram. He would rather let the two work it out privately, quietly beginning to back away from the manor, and cleared his throat to state calmly, "It seems you two have to chat about this so I'll be on my way. . . far away."
Normally, he would bow or shake his cousin's hand but Byakuya looked none too happy for any physical contact. If anything, he might break bones at an approach. Quickly, he nodded to him in farewell to convey respect and offered a dashing smile to his friend to suggest openly, "Ruka, you know where to find me."
Ryo used shunpo to exit the grounds as quickly as possible, leaving the two behind to figure out their issues. He meant that lightly too since they had volumes worth of issues over the decade that required addressing in his opinion. Those who came between the two when they argued didn't last long and Ryo didn't want to be shredded or minced by their zanpakutō anytime soon.
Byakuya turned around to head back inside his home to abide by her wishes, not seeking an argument. The sixth captain was an impassive granite statue as Ruka stood behind him with worry whether she made the right choice. Was staying with a grumpy captain versus a chirpy one better? She understood he didn't want her doing reckless things but she deserved to have fun. Heck, he did too! She wasn't looking to do anything catastrophic and hoped that wasn't what defined her now that she was home.
He stiffened in surprise when her forehead rested against the center of his back, her hands grasping his shoulders to pin him in place. It was a breach of his personal space but he didn't chastise or reject her, choosing to quietly accept it. She was one of a select few who he would allow at his back, especially in that vulnerable manner, and Ruka murmured softly, "I just had my ass kicked today and had Retsu's new eye machine zap people's brain with subliminal messages because of Kurotsuchi. My machine was supposed to help people, not hurt them."
Her weight shifted as she leaned against him and he heard her sigh with disappointment, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to snap at you, all I seek is peace between us."
Ah, now he understood her problem. Ruka built attachments to her projects and if they were sabotaged, it hurt her after the dedication given to its creation. Byakuya's stoic face twitched to that alarming admission about the eccentric scientist and he murmured, "I did find it strange when he messaged me today about an eye exam being due."
Great, now he was trying to draw the sixth division as guinea pigs. Ruka sighed deeply to the depths Kurotsuchi would stoop down to in order to gain results. Nothing was off-limits or wrongly immoral to him nowadays and it was frightening when she stopped to think about it. Her focus was the improvement of life in Soul Society, not forcing people to bend to her will. A century ago, his self-experimentation frightened her but she never expected it to extend towards others. Their colleagues were their brothers and sisters in arms, not pawns to be played with.
Her fingers grasped his shoulders in a tighter hold, nonverbally telling him of internal worries. Whether she would confess them was another issue entirely. He appreciated knowing her intent wasn't to lash out at him but he worried for her. The association between her and Kurotsuchi concerned him and he wanted to know why it was so important to her. Unfortunately, she evaded the topic when he brought it up.
Ruka kept her secrets for both their sakes, sighing softly under her breath to advise, "Unless you're in the same room with Captain-Commander Yamamoto or another captain, don't listen to him."
"I wouldn't" he replied evenly because he'd seen what the ruthless scientist was capable of. It was exactly why he didn't want her anywhere near the man. If she wanted a private lab, she could petition and propose her plan to her captain or Yamamoto himself. Her successful venture in her personal projects was enough to grant her that request. In the end, however, she was an adult capable of her own decisions and had to stand by them. All he could do was advise her without sounding pushy to ensure she stayed safe at all times.
She nodded quietly to that assurance, ruffling the back of his haori, and proposed, "I won't do anything dangerous but I have a right to have fun after a lousy day."
"I don't disagree on that part" he replied quietly since she was free to choose a normal activity. Didn't women of noble lineages prefer to paint or sew something? Why couldn't she do that instead of handle flammable matter or fall into precarious situations? Where were Nanao and Rukia so they could pull her into ladylike projects to pass the time?
"You do as well, Kuchiki" she pointed out gently and his shoulders tensed to the idea of fun outside of his duties. His pastimes were calm and easily forgotten activities, not violent ones. Otherwise, his name would be in the news constantly. Every action he did was watched and judged attentively by the elders; it was the burden of every Kuchiki head. Her voice was soft against the wildlife noises of the estate's exterior as she beckoned, "Let me take you away from here. Cast aside the captain, step out of the clan leader shoes, and be a normal man named Byakuya."
He was silent on her suggestion, not expecting that request from her at all. She was the one who knew firsthand that the Kuchiki elders would be more than happy to criticize him for any slipups. It had been that way since childhood and had worsened after his marriage to Hisana. Before he could decline the suggestion, she reasoned against his unvoiced concerns, "Your roles will be here when you return but we all need to break the surface and breathe every now and then."
"I. . . Ruka, I haven't done such things in years" he admitted faintly to the weight of all of his roles in everyday life as she managed to slip through his defenses. He was always encased in solitude to ensure he maintained every ideal he promised as a captain, clan head, and nobleman. There was no room for error in his life which was why he gave his sister the freedom he couldn't have to provide that happiness for her. Ruka was aware of every hardship endured in his life and he hoped for understanding, "I promised to adhere to every rule-"
"We will but it's time for you to break free of those entities" she smiled earnestly to shift his thinking and squeezed his shoulders to encourage him. She could care less if he broke any silly old traditions if it meant his happiness. It was all she ever wanted for him instead of loneliness in carrying out his duties. Releasing him, she stepped beside him to meet his uncertain gaze and offered confidently, "Have you been to the new shopping plaza near the Blue Stream Gate? You'll like walking the streets and the scenic views, it's not crowded at this hour."
Their last shopping trip together had led her to dropping piles of cloth on top of him and innocent squabbling in a craft store over shades of green. She noticed the corners of his lips crinkling into the faintest hints of a frown and she reassured him, "You deserve it! Frankly, I would tell the clan to suck it if I'm out there defending their right to live every day as a captain. However, you're not me so let's do an acceptable variation of fun."
She watched his lips thin as he mulled it over, wishing she could poke his face to stir any expression forward other than indifference. Ten years had dealt minute dents to the stone mask but she aimed to shatter it (privately, at least) within five. It was time that he began separating himself from his roles and Ruka smiled brightly to entice, "It'll only be window shopping and exploring, nothing dangerous or scandalous. You can wear a hat or something if you're afraid of being spotted."
"No explosions or random public singing?" he asked carefully to ensure her full cooperation and no sudden bursts of energy that would bring humiliation. She nodded fervently and promised her best behavior, placing her right hand over her heart.
"I just want to enjoy myself away from work" she confessed with a strained voice to prove she wasn't always seeking adventurous outings. It was a contrast to her body language but he was accustomed to Ruka's lack of masks in his presence. When she raised them, that was when he was in trouble. The shadows of the night blended against her face, outlining her inner exhaustion as it contoured the sharp angles her makeup normally hid. She loved her work so the comment was rare to hear, piquing his curiosity, and placed both hands over her sternum to vow, "No responsibilities, no drama, just carefree peace. I'm not asking as a lieutenant, nor a scientist, or for nobility's sake."
She pulled down the lieutenant's badge from her left arm and removed a golden pin with the Kyōraku family emblem (flared swan wings encasing a burning star) from her hair. Holding both items in her hands to hide them from view, she smiled widely at her friend to voice truthfully, "I'm simply Ruka . . . please?"
Ruka had never broken her vows or bonds to him and as a friend, he returned the same honorable loyalty.
"All right."
Shinigami Extra:
"Ouch!"
Mayuri's amber eyes narrowed in annoyance as he finished injecting a pre-filled vaccine into a shinigami's right upper arm. Dropping the used syringe into a sharps container bin, he snapped harshly, "The Espada I killed years ago whined less than you did."
The soul reaper frowned in pain since the captain hadn't been gentle in the slightest. Mayuri didn't offer any apologies (not even when he made a grievous error), thinning his lips as he slapped a blue 'vaccinated' sticker onto the poor shinigami's forehead, and called out, "Next!"
Retsu Unohana had ordered for his machine to be transferred back into Ruka's care for modification to the correct specifications. She didn't plan on any sneaky invasive subliminal messages or control of her loyal division, ashamed and disgusted by such tactics. A sharp sword had a far better chance at that than hidden tactics. Thus, she'd forced him to conduct the administration of the yearly vaccines given to their soul reapers to maintain their health. He'd begun to decline and walk out the door until she dropped Yamamoto's name and an immediate order for suspension for his improper conduct with her subordinates. Out of all the shinigami captains, she was the only one he wouldn't cross.
Before the next shinigami had finished sitting down, he was ready to inject them with the sharp needle. The woman's brown eyes widened in shock, mainly in response to his stabbing motion towards her arm. The creepy wide smile and golden eyes filled with malevolent intent were too much for her and she shoved aside preventative care for survival. Shaking her head vehemently, she pulled down her sleeve to protect her limb and jumped out of her seat to decline hastily, "Sorry, I just remembered I left laundry back at the barrack. I'll reschedule at the front."
Great, the only outlet to release his rage towards the painful boredom was now gone! He was ready to yell at her like he did to Nemu and his subordinates but word would undoubtedly reach Retsu within hours. He couldn't pent out frustration on another division unless they broke the law. Unfortunately, Retsu's happy-go-lucky gang of sheep followed the rules.
An idea popped into mind since kindness went far with the pesky healers and Mayuri attempted his first platonic smile in years. Leaning back in his chair, he pretended to appear nonchalant but the words slipped past his lips before he could stop them, "Would you be inclined to join our clinical trials as a subject? Or perhaps allowing exploratory surgery? I can make it worth your while."
The terrified shinigami didn't waste time in running away from him, shoving aside anyone who blocked her path. Everybody lived in fear of the man and allowing him access to any limb caused intense crippling panic. The manic smile passing for cordial didn't help matters at all.
Damn it, we're supposed to play nice, Mayuri chastised his mind-to-mouth control as he botched his own attempt at luring new blood. Even when forced, his psyche prevented him from veering away from his usual methods. In the back of his mind, he heard a voice squeak back with defiant pride, Never!
Throwing his hands up in the air, Mayuri despised having a temporary setback at losing potential live subjects. What was the point of being the most gifted scientist in Soul Society if he couldn't ensure proper materials for his lab?
"Next!"
A/N: Sorry it took forever with this chapter, life got in the way but I was able to rough draft the timeline for this story (about 100 years post Aizen). Rough drafting the next generation was pretty fun as the personalities of the parents-to-be in Soul Society pass on to the kids. After too much youtube, I realize Ruka reminds me a bit of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings with the reluctant hero/king-to-be persona. She tries to keep out of the spotlight but she'll be kicked out of the shadows soon enough. We can already see this with Ryo egging her to attack and Kurotsuchi twisting her work for malevolent purposes isn't helping.
The next chapter will include Byakuya's and Ruka's outing to pretty much begin the road to the Byakuya/Ruka romance in this story, detailing their origin. After that, the introduction of the two Northern Gotei will occur as well as the Kyoraku head family.
Excerpt of the next chapter:
Ruka's expression didn't waver in the slightest, leading him to break eye contact since she wasn't buying it. He was accustomed to having control, particularly over his clan, and she chuckled warmly, "We can't have two destructive people, Kuchiki, the world would implode on us. I'll be the creator, you can be the guardian."
A faint smile hitched the left side of his lips to the role and he pointed out, "Creators do not destroy."
"Of course they do, it's how they chisel and transform the world to improve or decay" she scoffed with a witty grin as she gazed at the glittering stars over the city. She was just one person among the millions that existed in Soul Society but hoped to leave her mark in the world. Leaning forward to rest her elbows on her legs, she smiled at the endless sea of stars and voiced aloud with hope, "I choose to improve it for future generations."
. . .
"Would you join me in that dream?"
Their heart-to-heart talks were always in the privacy of their homes, surprising him to the wise tone in her voice. Ruka worked on numerous projects abroad and he'd no idea what she had in store now that she was home. Despite his loyalty, he wasn't blind in his decisions and he crossed his arms to state simply, "Depends on your vision."
