Chapter 37 What Lurks in the Shadows?
"The hell is going on?" Kenpachi Zaraki grumbled as he entered the hallway leading up to the great hall. He let his hair grow longer in the recent years and it was spiked backwards behind him and his Shihakusho and haori was as it always was loose and frayed. The doors to the meeting hall were closed and locked shut, and the Captain-Commander was clearly talking to someone but Kenpachi could not tell who it was.
"Be quiet," Kuchiki Byakuya said coldly as he stood leaning against the far wall with his arms folded. He glared over at Kenpachi with his piercing slate gray eyes.
"Something is up, haven't seen so much commotion around the Seireitei in a long time. " Kyoraku Shunsui said. He was sitting on the ground cross legged with his arms folded across his chest. His large straw hat was tilted over her face and he is sporting his usual pink floral kimono. Though no one was fooled by his attempt to be conspicuous, but no one said anything about it. Toshiro Hitsugaya stood closest to the door and was looking off in the distance, he was trying his hardest to focus in on the conversation within the hall, but the chatter around him prevented that.
"I am sure what ever it is," Unohana Retsu said quietly, she held her hands clasped close to her chest, "that it is rather important, as we only get called for an emergency meeting every so often." In reality it has been nearly a year since they were called for an emergency meeting of this kind; though the last time it was mainly just a false alarm. It was for Yamamato's birthday.
"You and that damn hat of yours Kyoraku-san," Soifon scolded as she walked up to the rest of the captains. Her short black hair fluttered as she reached for Kyoraku's hat; he quickly snatched it off his head just at the last second, smirking as he did.
"So who are we missing?" The wolf captain of Division seven, Sajin Komamura, said as he entered the hallway, his boots clunking on the wood floor. The other captains looked around to see who was present, but before they could say a word, the large door leading into the meeting hall opened.
"Enter," They heard the Captain-Commander bark. They all immediately entered the hall and took spots along the large wooden table. At the center, Genryusai Yamamato sat with his hands resting on the top of his cane. He looked as frail and old as usual. His Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe stood behind him, not making a single noise. On either side of Captain-Commander Yamamato, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, and Ukitake Jushiro sat. While Ukitake looked distressed and had his head resting on the table, Mayuri looked as frightening as ever; his bare golden teeth gave everyone the impression that he was enjoying the situation, but they all knew he always looked like that. As each captain took a seat, Captain-Commander Yamamato looked around at the captain's present, taking note who was and was not there.
"I am surprised to see you here on time Kenpachi-san," Genryusai said harshly, "though I am surprised Amagi-san is not present for this meeting."
"He is out past the Rukongai on a training exercise with the rest of the Fifth Division," Hitsugaya spoke up slightly.
"I am aware of his where-about at this time, but he should have been back by now. We have more pressing matters than a training exercise." As the Captain-Commander finished speaking, he looked over at Mayuri and nodded. He cleared his throat before he spoke as to get everyone's full and undivided attention.
"There has been an anomaly that somehow has been traveling between the Soul Society, Huecho Mundo and the World of the Living. How, I cannot fathom but I wish I could find it and make it my research subject, would be fascinating how it can move between dimensions without the need of a Garganta, or anything that we can detect in general," Yamamato starred impatiently at Mayuri who paused for a moment to look at his Captain-Commander, "right, this anomaly. We have no information on what it is, but we only know it by its unusual signature once it enters one of the dimensions. This signal is the complete absence of nearly all reiatsu in the immediate area. Though surprisingly enough it does not absorb the reishi itself, just the pressure in general; would make a fascinating test subject I may say again."
"So we don't know what this anomaly looks like?" Soifon asked scolding the twelfth division captain.
"We only know it by its presence, or lack there of," Mayuri said tapping the long fingernail of his middle finger on his forehead, "but as we speak the anomaly is jumping between the dimensions rather sporadically as if it is searching for something."
"By the time any forces got there it was already gone," A new voice, a soft familiar females voice said entering the hall, "Sorry for my tardiness." The voice belonged to Nelleil Tu Oderschwank, her long greenish hair came down her waist and she was wearing a white version of the Shihakusho that fit tightly around her ample frame. The Shinigami captains were quiet as she looked from face to face; she could not believe how dense their collected spiritual pressure was. Though she was seen as an equal to most of the captains, the pressure would be enough to crush any one lesser than she.
"Do not fret, Nelleil-san," Captain-Commander Yamamato said roughly, "at least you were able to make it as one of our newest captains cannot…" She remembered hearing about a new captain of the Fifth Division and upon looking over the familiar faces again, his words were confirmed. She has heard many things from the Shinigami who patrol Huecho Mundo with her and Tier Halibel's fraccion, but never got a clear image of what he looked like in her head. She had fallen into her own thoughts again, completely forgetting that she was being spoken to by a superior
"… what?" She blinked after he went silent, she swore he asked a question but did not hear it clearly. She got a few scolds from a couple of the captains; especially the ones who dispised anything hollow related. They, Captain Byakuya, Captain Hitsugaya, and Captain Komamura mainly did not like the fact that her presence was even allowed in the Seireitei, no matter how much of an asset she has become.
"Do you have any information on the anomaly?" Captain-Commander Yamamato repeated, more harshly. That is why she is here now, in front of all the captains; after the fall of Aizen and the Arrancar war, Huecho Mundo was left in ruins leaving only the few remaining espada to take command while Harribal became the new ruler of Las Noches. At that time Nel was still locked in her child form, and under the care of Halibel, she was able to regain her adult stature. There were a few incidents where she reverted back into her child self after exerting her self to much in purging a few hollows.
"Well the only thing that we have been able to speculate is that the anomaly you seek is actually a hollow of some sort," Nel said as she looked around the room, "though the exact strength, size and reiatsu of this hollow is unknown. All we know is that it has many Arrancar colonies scared."
"I see, send word back to Las Noches to keep up the search," The captain-commander said. Even though Huecho Mundo is its own entity, it has become almost of a new proverb of the Soul Society; it runs itself but it ultimately answers to the Central 46 and Yamamato himself.
"Also we have not been able to find the two lost Shinigami," Nel said quietly looking at the distressed Captain Ukitake's face as he looked at her, "I'm sorry." She looked away when his expression turned even more dreadful. They must have been close to Ukitake for the way he reacted.
"They were under my care Ukitake-sempai," She said softly.
"It is not your fault that they got lost during that sandstorm," Ukitake reassured her, smiling as much as he could. She went to speak again but Yamamato lifted up his hand and everyone fell silent.
"Send a Jigokucho out to the Rukongai to call Amagi-san and his subordinates back," Yamamato looked at the captains before he continued, "we are on high alert, so Neillel-san you are to stay and accompany Mayuri-san on investigating the anomaly as well as any new information on Huecho Mundo. Everyone else is to go back to their respected barracks and stay there until further notice. Dismissed." He waved his hand and they all stood up at once and bowed deeply before turning toward the door.
Nel followed suit, she did not care what she had to do while she stayed in the Seireitei, but she would rather anything else than to be stuck with Mayuri; he creeps her out and every time he sees her, he blatantly informs her that he would have rather have her as his test subject than an equal.
"Nel-san," Ukitake said as they exited the massive white tower, he gently put his hand on her shoulder to get her to stop walking, "I do not blame you, I do not blame anyone. These sorts of things happen and I hate how it had to happen when we have something that we know nothing about running loose there."
"When I get back I will do everything I can to find them," Nel said smiling as she looked upon the mans distressed face. She tried her best to look at comforting him. He nodded and lifted his hand when Mayuri walked up to them.
"Don't worry Nelleil-kohai, I promise I won't do any tests on you," Mayuri gave her is usual eerie grin as he beckoned her to follow, "yet." She shot Ukitake a horrified look as she unwillingly followed behind Mayuri.
"I don' know Unohana-sama," Kyoraku said as they walked down the main road side by side to their respected barracks, "just something about all this does not make any sense."
"What does not make sense Shunsui-san?" Unohana asked not looking at the captain next to her.
"This anomaly," he added, "it has alluded our forces for months, no one has ever seen what it actually looks like and it seems to be searching for someone or something." He sighed and adjusted his hat on his head, "ah hell, could be just me over thinking things."
"No, you are right," She reassured, "but what strikes me as peculiar is that it first appeared shortly after Amagi-san arrived." Kyoraku stopped dead in his tracks and looked over at her.
"I did not think of that," he questioned," but are you saying that he might have something to do with this?"
"Oh no, never said such a thing," She smiled at him making him slightly un easy; he recognized which smile that was, "good day Shunsui-sama," and she was gone, leaving him to ponder on the possibilities she just opened up to him. His oldest and dearest friend never seems to change; she always leaves him with something to wrap him head around.
They were in study hall, Orihime sat on a tan sofa with her school books laid out on the small table in front of her while Ichigo sat against the window that over looked the city before him. Ichigo had his back against the steel window frame and had one leg tucked up against his chest while the other hung freely below him.
Orihime, who was just deeply focused on her school work, sighed as she leaned back in the chair. She looked up and admired the man she loved so dearly; how much he has matured since they were younger, and how caring he truly was, no matter how much he tried to hide it. He meant the world to her and she would do anything in her powers to protect him. Though she knew him to well, and seeing him sitting in the window she knew far to well that he was depressed. She hated seeing him like this; it made her feel helpless. Hopping to her feet she walked over to him and climbed into the window opposite Ichigo. She watched the spiky haired man for a moment before she spoke up.
"What's wrong Kurosaki-kun?" he looked up at her and tried his best at a reassuring smile, but ultimately did not have the affect he wanted.
"Nothing," He said flatly, and turned his attention back to the window.
"Kurosaki-kun, I know you far to well," reached over and gently guided his head by his chin to face her, she gave him a stern look before she continued, "I know what is bothering you, and please talk to me about it." He sighed, he knew fighting it was no use; she was concerned for him. He loved her to much, and hated to have her worry about him.
"I…" he began but he could not find the words to describe him sad and depressed he was, "I should be happy that I can now live a normal life, but I got to involved in the dealings of the dead that I actually miss it. I miss knowing that I could protect you no matter what," he said reaching over, gently brushing Orihime's long full red hair behind her ear, "I miss everything about it really." Ever since Ichigo used his Final Zangetsu on Aizen during their battle, his powers slowly diminished, and it was not until just recently when that world he grew so accustomed to vanished. He could no longer see the spirits floating around, and not matter how hard he tried, he could not sense his beloved's reiatsu, no matter how close she was to him. Losing that power, that ability, was as if he lost his true identity and was no longer himself.
"I understand," Orihime said softly as she took his hand from the side of her face and gently kissed the palm.
"We know what's out there, and now I have no way of protecting you," Ichigo said leaning back against the metal frame.
"No, Kurosaki-kun," Orihime said firmly, "You have protected me for far too long. Let me do the one who is doing the protecting, as much as you hate it, ok?" She replaced his hand on the side of her face and leaned her head into it. He hated that idea, but he had no choice, she still had her powers, this fullbringer ability he heard Urahara clam it was. He thought it was a silly name but it made her happy and she enjoyed it so he did not question it.
"Ok Orihime-chan," He sighed leaning forward closer to her.
"Good," She smiled at him coyly. She leaned into him and they kissed; Orihime blushed as she was lost in the flood of emotions.
"Oh what the fuck," Ichigo broke away when his phone suddenly decided to kill the mood. He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the large vibrantly colored screen. He stared blankly at it for a few minutes before he held it up for the curious Orihime to read, "It's a text from Yuzu-chan."
"Niisan, Kuchiki-sama wants to come visit you; apparently there is something urgent that she needs to talk to you about. Expect them soon," Orihime read. She looked up at Ichigo and gave him a concerned look, "I hope they come using their Gigai."
"As do I," Ichigo said with some disappointment; besides Orihime, no one else knows that his Shinigami powers are completely gone.
They had only been there for not even a half hour when suddenly the alarms sounded.
"Captain, come quick!" a Shinigami said as he sat at the large computer monitor, "something odd is coming up on the scanners. I think it is the anomaly."
"About time," Mayuri said as he walked up behind him, Nel was not far behind, she hated every minute she had to spend in this dark room. Even if there were other people around; she still felt very uncomfortable. "Where is it originating from?"
The Shinigami gave him a grave look as he tried to speak, "beyond the Rukongai, around where Amagi-sama was doing his training exercise. One minute they were on scanners, next minute the entire area disappears from them." Even Mayuri looked distressed as Amagi has no idea what is happening.
"I hope that Jigokucho has made it there on time," the Shinigami said as he looked back at the scanner; where the Rukongai once was is now just a dark spot. The alarms continued to sound.