The night air had cooled considerably as Takeo Saegusa made his way back to Urahara's shop. Tamotsu had found him earlier while he was on a stroll and had insisted that he return to the shop. He could sense the urgency in Tamotsu's voice but did not ask why. He knew all would be explained soon. As he entered the shop, he realized immediately what was going on.
The three mod souls Urahara designed were inside the bodies of Masao, Ayame and Goro while Lucky was inside Tamotsu's body. The four of them sat around the table trying to re-stitch three stuffed animals. They did not look up as Takeo entered even though he was sure they knew he was there.
Although he was sure the situation would call for it, Takeo resisted using his own mod soul that Urahara had given him. But, it seemed, he wouldn't have much of a choice. Pulling out the dispenser, he popped the small green pill in his mouth and separated into his Shinigami form. Turning around he faced the incompetent artificial soul that was to be his replacement.
"Can I go outside and play?" the soul asked. It was Takeo's stern features, but it was clearly something else inside. Grabbing his body by the arm, he took and led his body to a room. Gesturing to sit and stay, the soul obeyed and went into a cross-legged sitting position.
"Could you pass me some pink thread?" Kurodo asked Lucky as Takeo entered the room again. Kurodo was working on fixing his rabbit-purse body, which had been torn in several places as well as having the main strap torn apart.
"Are you certain you do not wish to have this done professionally, sir?" Lucky asked. "I doubt your sewing skills are quite up to par."
"Its my body and I'll do with it as I wish," Kurodo responded.
"All done," Ririn said from Ayame's body. She held up a small chicken in a blue dress to show off her handiwork, only to have its head fall off a second later. Disappointed, she picked up a sewing needle and began to work on it once again.
The door to the front of the shop opened and Urahara entered, followed by Tamotsu and Naomi.
"My, my," Urahara said. "Having a little club going on are we?"
"It is most certainly not a sewing club if that is what you are intending my good sir," Lucky said. Naomi and Urahara allowed an expression of uncertainty cross their faces as his voice came from Tamotsu's body. "Those other Reincarnates tore apart the plush bodies of my fellow mod souls and took off on their own."
Naomi walked slowly to the table and examined the excess fluff and hastily sewn stitching. She turned away a moment later. Even though she would admit she had her own streak of morbid humor, she would never bring herself to mutilating any form of stuffed animal in this manner. It was true that she had stuffed her zanpakuto into the back of a teddy bear that Rukia had given her, but in her mind it was tastefully done. Not harsh and demeaning as the scene before her.
Using her own Soul Candy dispenser, Naomo switched into her zanpakuto form. She didn't know exactly what was happening, but when Tamotsu appeared, it seemed that he was quite insistent on returning to Soul Society. He had helped her in facing her past and she wouldn't allow him to face whatever trials awaited alone.
"Now then," Urahara said. "It seems that the two of you are ready. I suppose the only thing now is to await Tamotsu. I wonder where he is right now? Its not like him to keep anyone waiting like this."
Long shadows crossed the ground as clouds moved in front of the moonlit sky. Tamotsu knelt in the center of a field, his eyes closed.
"White butterfly," he said. "I don't know if I imagined you or if you are real. You have helped me once before. I need to ask your help again. Please."
A gust of wind started and Tamotsu felt as if it were carrying a voice.
You will meet me again, but not yet, the voice said.
"Why not? Why can't you come?"
In time, your true calling will be made known. Until then, this trial is one you must face alone.
"Wait! My true calling? What are you talking about? What do you mean?"
When the time comes... you will know.
The wind died and Tamotsu felt as if a presence had left him. The white butterfly was real. He knew that much now. But he didn't know anything past that. What was it? A special type of Jigokucho that someone was using? A special type that the Captain Commander used? Or could it be one of Mayuri Kurotsuchi's experiments? Or something else? It was too elusive. Too many questions.
Standing and taking a deep breath the realization came that he wouldn't receive any further guidance. He had to return to the Soul Society. Maybe there he could find some answers. He just didn't know who he could trust with the information of the white butterfly.
The Senkaimon opened and Tamotsu emerged, followed by Naomi and Takeo. The guards turned to face them, then stood at attention.
"Third Seat Toshiyuki," one of them said. "We were not informed of your return."
"I'm sorry, but I had to come here quickly and didn't have a soul phone to call," Tamotsu responded. "Return to your posts."
"Yes, sir!" the guard cried.
After exiting the main court area with Seireitei's main Senkaimon, Tamotsu stopped and turned to the other Reincarnates with him. "I need to do a few things alone," he said. "You can return to your former Captains if you want. I'll call you when I can explain everything in detail."
Both Takeo and Naomi nodded, then jumped away using Shunpo. Tamotsu felt a pain and his hands went cold. "They can all use Shunpo except for me," he said to himself.
Tamotsu decided to walk rather than run. He wasn't even sure where he would go first. Should he report to his Captain? Seek Rangiku first? The Captain Commander or Captain Soi Fon to discuss Masao and his plans? He didn't know how long had passed, but he soon found himself in front of the Fourth Division Barracks. The first one he saw was Hanataro Yamada.
"Hey, Tamotsu!" Hanataro called out. "I didn't know you were coming back!" Hanataro ran up and tried to stop short of Tamotsu but only achieved in tripping over his own feet. Tamotsu took a step back as Hanataro fell face-first onto the ground, then got up shakily and smiled.
"Hello, Hanataro," Tamotsu said. "Glad to see a friendly face."
"So how are things going in the world of the Living? I haven't been there in a long time. Do they still sell those wonderful shakes at the mart?"
"I don't know. I've been rather busy with other things."
Reaching into his back pouch, Hanataro began to search for something. "Oh, did you know? You made it to the cover of the Seireitei News! It got published last Friday. See here?"
Hanataro opened the paper and lifted it for Tamotsu to see. Tamotsu snatched the paper away when he saw what was on the cover. There he was, shaking and waving his fists in anger while being held in Rangiku's arms with a large cheery smile on her face. Tamotsu's fists clenched and smoke began to rise from where he held the paper.
"Uh, are you okay?" Hanataro asked, his eyes growing wide with nervousness. "Its not often that we get a full image on the cover. You should be happy to be seen by so many people."
Tamotsu closed his eyes and the paper burst into flames. At the sudden inferno, Hanataro took a step back and cold sweat began to pour down his face.
"HISAGI!" Tamotsu shouted at the top of his lungs. He took off at a full sprint. Opening his mind, he found a thousand red spirit ribbons surrounding him. Locating the one that belonged to Shuhei Hisagi, he jumped into the air and ran as fast as he could. The other Captains could wait. First, he would have to teach Hisagi a lesson in humility.
Hanataro stared as Tamotsu ran off. He was surprised. The article said he was unable to stand in the air, but he seemed to be doing just fine.
"Who was it, Hanataro?" a voice said. Startled, Hanataro turned to find Captain Unohana. "He sounded quite upset, didn't he? Is there anything we can do?"
"Captain Unohana!" Hanataro said. "No. No, there's nothing we can do. I just think Tamotsu wasn't too happy about his picture being on the front of the newspaper."
"So Tamotsu has returned then?" Unohana asked. "Well then, I suppose that saves us the trouble of calling him here then."
"Wait, calling him? Is he in trouble? What's going on?"
Turning away, Unohana walked slowly to the main office for the Fourth Division. "You will soon see," she said.
The bar was a cheery place as Rangiku sat drinking with Kira and Hisagi. It had been quiet the past couple of nights and Rangiku had wanted to go out drinking. Even though she took the majority of the sake, she always managed to convince Hisagi to take the bill. Of course, it was only after he was a bit tipsy when she suggested it.
"Yeah, sure I'll pay for it," Hisagi said, his cheeks flushed from the alcohol entering his body. "Don't you worry about it."
"Are you sure, Shuhei?" Rangiku asked, almost flirtatiously. "You look like you're about to pass out. If you do, I'll be the one who has to pay."
"Don't worry, I can handle myself," Hisagi responded as he took another sip from his saucer. Lowering the cup from his mouth, his lips spread into a wide smile. No sooner had he placed the saucer on the table, the doors to the bar burst open with a fierce wind. Everyone turned to see Tamotsu Toshiyuki standing in the doorway three feet off the ground with yellow electricity arcing both of his arms.
"Hisagi..." Tamotsu said as he spread his arms and moved the plate of reishi he was standing on across the room toward his target.
"Uh, Tamotsu," Hisagi said. "Gee, I, uh, wasn't expecting you to-"
"Here's what you're going to do. You will recount all images of me that you took that night and then do a proper story with my insight. Do you understand?"
"My, my, Kiyoshi," Rangiku said as she stood. "This is all a bit overly dramatic, even for you. Don't you think?"
"What?" Tamotsu responded. "I saw something like this in a movie once. I thought it looked cool and- hold it right there!"
Hisagi froze, his foot in mid-stride. He had tried to escape Tamotsu's wrath when Rangiku had distracted him but he seemed to underestimate the Reincarnate. Rangiku approached and placed her arm around Hisagi's shoulder and ushered him to where Tamotsu stood, now on the ground since the dramatic effect of his entrance had run its course.
"Come on, Shuhei," Rangiku said. "The least you could do is apologize to my brother."
"Your... brother?!" Hisagi exclaimed.
"That's right. I thought everyone knew about that now."
Hisagi's face turned bright red. "I, uh, must have, er, forgotten... about it..."
Tamotsu came closer and Hisagi tried to pull back but Rangiku stopped his progress. He looked over his shoulder to see his back was pressed hard against her chest, her face only inches from his as she looked over his shoulder. The close contact made his face glow even brighter.
"Hisagi," Tamotsu said. "Do you have a crush on my sister?"
"What? Who? Me? Well, I... Gee, is it hot in here? I think its hot in here."
"Answer the question, Hisagi."
Hisagi felt suddenly damp as a cold sweat came over his entire body. Then, his eyes rolled back and he went limp.
"Okay, seriously," Tamotsu said. "Did he just pass out? He fights the Arrancar, swarms of Hollows and Gillian without a hitch but as soon as I mention you're my sister and he has a crush its too much for him?"
"Oh, Kiyoshi," Rangiku said. "You're not the only one disappointed."
"What? You wanted to hound on him too?"
"No. Since he's passed out he can't pay the tab anymore. Izuru, would you mind? Izuru?" Rangiku turned find that Izuru Kira had already left his place and was nowhere in the bar. "Kiyoshi, you wouldn't happen to-"
Tamotsu interrupted her with a shake of his head, indicating he was neither able nor willing to pay for her tab. Rangiku sighed. She didn't dislike her brother for coming in, but this was the first time in a long time that she'd had to pay her own tab at a bar.