"Captain Reiykuu!" Izuru came running into the room where Kei was still lying on the ground being attended to by a medic.
"What is it Izuru?" she looked at him as the medic tightened a bandage around her chest.
"I can't believe you! What were you thinking?!" he cried.
"Just a little friendly competition that's all," she smiled.
"Are you insane?!"
"Maybe…"
"I would have thought you had a little more restraint," he sighed and turned to Yoruichi, "Thank you Lady Yoruichi for not killing my Captain."
"She wouldn't have been able to kill me," Kei stated, "And why isn't no one reprimanding her?!" she jumped when the bandages were tightened on her shoulder, "Damn!"
"Seeing that you needed her and a medic to heal you I wouldn't be surprised if she had. I thought you were coming here to train Miku?" he pointed to the silver haired shinigami in the corner.
"I was, and then Yoruichi came so…"
Izuru spied Yumichika and Ikkaku in the corner, "You two! You two should have stepped in and stopped this!" he shouted.
"Keep your pants on Lieutenant Kira. We weren't going to let it get out of hand!" snapped Ikkaku.
"Yes you were!" Miku ratted them out, and their mouths dropped, "If I hadn't stepped in Captain Reiykuu would be unconscious right now."
"You need to just watch what you do for now Captain," stated the medic, "Your shoulder will be sore and so will your chest. I did my best to heal the cracked and broken bones, but you still have some bruising. So just take it easy," he stood.
"Thanks," Kei nodded and the medic was gone. Kei sat up with a curse as she felt the bruises to her body, "When I'm better Yoruichi I'll fight you again."
"Deal," and she left the building. Soifon turned to leave, but Kei called out to her, "Soifon?"
"What is it?" she turned to the battered shinigami.
"I'm sorry about what happened…" she looked up at her.
Soifon smiled and walked over to her kneeling down and putting a hand to Kei's face, "Apology accepted," she smiled and kissed Kei's cheek before following Yoruichi outside.
Kei stared at the gaping hole in the wall, and then looked to Izuru and Miku, "Guess we should get someone to fix that."
Izuru put a hand to his face and sighed heavily while Miku crossed her arms and lowered her head. Their Captain was strong and on the off occasion intelligent, but mostly just extremely entertaining.
----
"Is the gate ready?" he asked pacing the floor in front of the massive structure.
"Yes it'll work for tonight, but you only have a few minutes in which to do this or you'll be trapped in the Soul Society."
"That could be bad…" he muttered looking at the arches.
"Very bad. The arch will bring you near Kei's quarters, but you can't stay and talk to her too long because of the time, ok?"
"Yes I understand. I must be brief or I'll be trapped."
"Very good."
He smiled putting his hands together as he stood beneath the massive stone gateway.
"Do you think she'll accept your terms, Sir?"
"She'll have no other choice. Kei will have to hear me out and decide within a few days or the Soul Society will fall," he turned to his servant, "And I'll kill everyone close to her."
---
It was close to 3 in the morning and Kei had night watch. She had taken it over because one of the shinigami under her command was sick, and it was a nice night so she wanted to enjoy it. Soifon wasn't very happy that Kei wouldn't be spending the night with her, but she told the Squad 2 Captain that it allowed Soifon to catch up with Yoruichi.
It was spring in the Soul Society and many of the trees were blossoming and some were shedding their flowers as Kei walked under their protection. The stars peered down at her between the blowing flowers. She was still wrapped pretty tightly. She and Soifon had to take it easy because certain movements caused a lot of pain in Kei's body.
The quiet of the night allowed her time to think clearly about what could be around the corner, and it allowed her to think about the man that was controlling things from behind the shadows. She hadn't seen him, but from what she gathered from the other Captains he was strong, but was he human or arrancar?
"What is he planning? Why is he waiting so long?" the Captain's eyes went wide as she felt an unknown spirit pressure around her.
"I've been waiting this long so I could speak to you Kei," she heard a cocky laugh. From the shadows came a tall, slender man. His eyes were mere slits and his hair was silver. He wore a cocky grin.
"Aizen?" she questioned him.
"No," he grinned, "My Master is on temporary hiatus."
"I'm going to guess you're the one whose been doing all this?" Kei asked.
"You are correct I am. I collected Yakunan after that night on the roof, I sent him on you in Hawaii, and I'm the reason why there has been somewhat of an abnormal peace going on, and thankfully I kept my appearance and spiritual pressure hidden enough where I managed to full even the most powerful Captains," arrogance was in his voice.
"Why?"
"Well you see Kei. You were never part of my initial plans. My plans only involved the dimension where the Royal Family lives. And everything was going quite smoothly until you met up with the Princess," he stated, "But don't think your entrance ruined them. Quite the opposite I simply had to change them to fit you into the picture."
"And what do you want with me?"
"Well since my plans to quietly rule from that dimension were scrapped my focus shifted to you ever since you displayed your bankai at the castle. You have a dangerous form of immortality that has caught my attention, and I've spent all my time trying to get to you."
"What are you getting at?"
"I want your gift Kei. I want to use it for my benefit. I have put your through rigorous tests to prove if you were what I was after and you should be happy to know you passed all them with flying colors."
"Who are you?"
"Gin Ichimaru former Captain of Squad 3," he grinned widely, "I see you now wear my haori."
"You're one of the traitors."
"Don't use such harsh words, but yes I guess you could say that."
"Speak what you like, but that doesn't mean I'll listen."
"You best listen, Kei Reiykuu or you could place everyone you love in danger," a nasty smile formed across his face.
"What do you want?"
"To give you an ultimatum," he paused, "In 3 days a rift will be created into Hueco Mundo for which I want you to enter."
"Fat chance…"
"You didn't let me finish," he smiled, "You enter that rift and come to me. Become my right hand, woman and do as I tell you. Help me successfully complete all my plans of action and everyone that you ever cared about will remain unharmed, and if you do this a temporary, but long peace will come over the Soul Society and the real world."
"And if I don't buy into your bullshit?"
"I will destroy everyone close to you in the blink of an eye," he smirked. Kei lunged at him and brought her sword to his throat.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Strike me down right now and everything ends, and it would have been your fault."
"You couldn't destroy the Soul Society not even with all the hollows in Hueco Mundo!" she shouted at him.
"Try me Captain Reiykuu and we'll see who comes out on top," Kei lowered her sword, "I made it into the Soul Society without the slightest detection. What makes you so sure I couldn't bring in every hollow and crush this place?"
Kei looked away knowing he was right in more ways then one.
"Good," he smiled, "Now I've given you two choices, Kei. I know you're an intelligent woman so you'll know what decision is best, but I must warn you. You have only three days to make it or I won't hesitate to seek you out and destroy you even if it means cutting down those that stand in my way."
Gin walked back into the trees and disappeared. Kei was left shaken in the clearing. Her sword was barely in her grasp as she stared at the ground. What choice would she make? Stand and fight off the onslaught? Or go to Hueco Mundo to ensure their lives? If she stayed she knew she would only fight off the inevitable and if she went how long would be peace reside and would it be worth it?
"This...sucks...ass..." she muttered.