Nightmare
It's so dark and cold in this place…where am I?
"Hello," I called out, but only my words echoed back to me. Falling asleep after such heavy drinking probably wasn't the best idea for me.
Hello again, Mizu.
That dark voice I hear so often answered me. Turning which way, who could tell, I felt an icy chill down my back as a rupture of sound penetrated through the emptiness.
Let's speak on better grounds, his voice heard, but the place he took me to was unfamiliar to me. A garden of sorts perhaps? This place is quite special, can't you see? His shapeless form drifted from the trees to a small pagoda in the center. It's laced with flowers and roses that I never would have thought to be this thing's taste. So many memories, so much time passed…I'm beginning to wonder if it's time to take on a new applicant?
Something shifted in his form; for a moment he had nothing to shape, but now a human figure was visible as his face only revealed his smiling white teeth. Scared, frightened, sick, every emotion I felt was bile to my taste as I swallowed it all down and held the distaste of the one who brought it up.
"Who are you, really?" I asked it. His ear shattering laugh echoed through the gardens and transformed to a woman's shrilled laughter?
I am the beginning of everything, and the birth of darkness itself my dear Mizu, His head slowly turned, shifting into a new pattern across his blank face to form an eye. I am an ancestor of an ancestor of the darkest sin of power. The blood of the Kurai's have been newly born, but not me… I've lived through all the blood. Understanding nothing, he was quick in coming close to me, facing me with a cold stare with his one eye as his smile broadened. Life gives opportunity, don't you think? Even I, the force of all darkness, give out opportunities. His manner of speaking with me unnerved me greatly; what was he getting at, and what was the purpose? I only ask that you call out my name every now and then to fulfill that wonderful anger of yours. His hand caressing the air towards me, a heat surged through my chest and appeared before me in the palm of my hand. A small light, no bigger than my palm was lit beautifully as I touched the outer glowing ring; Ah, yes, that small flicker of light will one day bring great joy to you Mizu. Give him time. I'm more interested in that other fire you hold beside you, motioning for me to turn and stare at a small blue flame, I wondered what it could have been? Touching the outer ring brought warmth to the numbness of my fingers, and a smile crept upon my lips as I kissed the two flickering flames.
"What are they," I asked. The flames flickered more, responding to me perhaps, but my answer was never given.
Call me out sometime, Mizu, I'd love to bring that darker side of you out to the open. His one eye closed, the darkness began eating away the garden, plunging me back into the dark abyss and sitting upright in my room drenched in cold sweat.
"Wh-" shaking, my scream filled the room and several maids and butlers bolted in with ready weapons to the attacker when they saw me.
"My Lady," Albert came in with a short blade held, but he quickly sheathed it aside and fell to one knee beside me to bring me back to focus. "Mizu-san, did something happen?" He asked gingerly.
"Albert…" I managed to choke out. If it was alright to cry, it was exactly what I did because the fear and insanity of that dream seemed all too real for me. Did Raito see it as well? Did he feel my fear and put up with it? I'm more afraid of this nightmare telling me of my lineage power rather than Aizen. And those lights…why did I feel so happy seeing them?
"Mizu-san," stroking my hair and calming me down, I heard Raito come in as the girls moved aside to leave the room accordingly. "Raito-san, take your sister for the night."
"….was it," unable to finish what he wanted to say, seemed Albert knew what he said. "Alright," my brother's hands scooped under my arms and hoisted me to my feet as he quickly without restraint picked me off the floor into a cradle and carried me to his room. "You're spending the night with me sis, I'll keep you safe from those nightmares."
I may be shallow, but having my brother baby me this way isn't so bad every now and then. Thank you mother for giving birth to he and I together, he's the strength I need to live through this.
Hueco Mundo
Aizen has been restless lately, more so now once he grasped the Hōgyoku and experimented with its powers. He wished to use it as soon as possible, but I have quelled him long enough to hold out his attack on the Soul Society until he's further in with fusing to the Hōgyoku. He's grown impatient and asked that we start a fuss in the world of the living. Being sent away to do the task, I've met up with Tōsen several times to see if he was willing to join me and my rebellion, but he was true to being Aizen's lackey. Putting him aside in my plans and heading to Szayel, I needed him to send a message to the Espada's of the attack without getting caught.
His pink hair bobbled as he was teetering with his experiments before I interrupted him.
"Szayel, a word," I said.
"Whatever could it be," his enthusiasm rising in his voice, he twirled around and kept his skeptical eyes on me.
"Harribel sent a message to me days ago saying Mizu created a spell that ties them to her and Raito. The spell won't allow betrayal…this will affect the plan."
"And you need my genius to dispel it," humming, I nodded and he twirled again to show how happy he was to counter an unknown spell. "I need the properties of the spell though, can't do much without knowing the cause it brings." His fingers rubbing his chin, I handed him Ulquiorra's side of the message that explained the spell. "Perfect," facing away and getting to work, he muttered a few formulas before I departed.
The act of betrayal will hurt you both….but this is the only way to fool Aizen. Mizu you astound me each passing day of your growth. My plan setting in motion once more, the hinges it gave me were problematic. To forge a hallow shell I needed hallows and one Nùmeros to complete the project. Thanks to Aizen's continuous numbers of them from his experiments, I've accomplished creating the it.
"Ah, Gin, a moment if you don't mind," asked Barragan. His large figure was grotesque to see, but I answered him calmly and approached. "The time for battle…when will it be commenced?" He asked stoutly.
"Soon," I answered. "Aizen is making the preparations as we speak to head into Karakura town for a little fun." He grunted in response and continued his way elsewhere. Yes…a little too soon.
I walked rather quickly to my chamber and had the wall close behind me to stare blankly at the bleak room. My hands were trembling after today…so much for composure. Even now I will hear Rangiku scolding me for not doing something.
"Gin, Gin wake up already!"
Her ginger colored hair fell loosely passed her shoulders as she leaned down to see me. I was always awake, but having her bend down close to me was always a pleasure.
"Gin, wake up already!"
"I'm awake," showing a smile, I opened my eyes and she flinched to see I wasn't lying. "What is it, Rangiku?"
Her face flushed slightly as she straightened up, but she acted serious in wanting me awake. "The festival is in a few nights…." She turned away from me, saying nothing more as to how embarrassed she was.
"Go on," I said.
"…..never mind, it's silly of me to ask you." Turning away and beginning to run, I took hold of her hand and pulled her back. "Gin," her face red, I stood up and leaned closer to her.
"Go on, ask," I teased.
"…." Her eyes tore away but she was fidgeting under my grasp. "Will you be able to go…to the festival…with me," so quiet on the last part, I nudged her to speak louder but couldn't get her to do so.
"We still have classes though, Rangiku, are you asking me to skip to have fun?" A cynical comment, but she closed her eyes and tried hiding her face as I had hit the right words. "Well then," pulling her closer and teasing her with my playful hands in her hair, "I'll gladly escort you to the festival." Kissing the strands lightly, she didn't notice what I did.
She was stunned I agreed to go, but her body reacted excitedly like it always has when we were younger watching the festival fireworks from afar. "Really," she asked.
"Of course," lifting her chin and smiling, she was happy to go and pulled herself away as she skipped happily around in circles.
"Great!" Her smile like the sun, I put my hands in my pocket and watched her leave as I kept a promise to take her to the festival.
That day crossed my mind without knowing, I should not be thinking of such a peaceful past. "That no longer exists…" grazing my hand through my hair, the feelings I still have for her linger in me strongly, but that is what Aizen grasped from me into his plan. I cannot put her in danger over my mistake, she, and my pupil I was entrusted with, cannot be hurt over my mistake.
Karakura Town
Something felt amiss since I've spoken with Yoruichi the night Ichigo and the others returned. A few conflicts here and there with some straggling hallow's, but nothing truly out of the ordinary. Tessai thinks something is wrong in the Seireitei, and hearing no word from them for some time now makes it clear that something did happen. An old acquaintance of mine has not given me a weakly status update of the events back home either for a few weeks now too. What was happening over there that kept such a steady flow of information from me?
"Kisuke," Tessai interrupted my thoughts, but was holding a tablet of our next order for the shop.
"Is this the order form?" Taking hold of the tablet and seeing a crisp white envelope decorated with a sakura tree, I was curious to what this meant? "I'm not really a flower man Tessai, mind telling me what this is?" He shook his head and held out another one from his pocket. "You as well?" Now having it eat away at me what it could be, I picked up the letter and opened the small card to see it be a wedding invitation from Mizu! "Is this the moment of truth," can't help but feel excited about the event, Tessai pointed out the name of her husband and I was glad to see it be Byakuya Kuchiki. "That boy sure took his sweet time asking for her didn't he," leaning against the pillar and taking out my favorite fan, Tessai agreed as the years that have gone by surely have been long.
"I believe he has been troubled with the event's that's happened to ask for her hand." Tessai suggested.
"You never know, that boy has a mind like iron. Even when I was close to the Kuchiki's as a bodyguard, he's never once gave me an opening to read his mind. Now the Kurai siblings," reminiscing the days long passed, "those two have given me plenty to think about when I was beside them."
"Very true," leaving for a few moments before bringing back some tea he most likely ordered, he gave me my cup as the aroma was sweet. "Try the Jasmine tea with a slight mixture of ginseng."
"….." afraid, I took a small sip and felt the sweet and tangy flavor of the tea. But the aftertaste was not to my liking. But I will endure this tea until Tessai says something about it himself.
"Oh…" recalling something, he got up and went inside once more and didn't return. My chance to dump the tea under the porch…
"Mr. Kisuke," seen by Ururu, I felt my arm tighten to a dramatic pose when Jinta walked up behind her and crossed his arms. "Why'd you dump your tea?"
"…." Her big eyes unwavering, I held my breath and said it was cold and tossed it under for the soil to drink. Jinta didn't believe me, but she's a bit more understanding and accepted my lie foolishly.
"Kisuke, when is that carrot-top coming around? Haven't seen him for a while," his arms behind his head now while Ururu looked around and was looking for something to do while Jinta slacked off.
"Can't say for sure Jinta, but be sure to be ready for anything, you as well Ururu," both nodded since they know well enough to prepare for anything Aizen throws at us from this side. "I suppose Ichigo should be stopping by soon enough…they might have questions needing answers by me." Looking forward to the visit, I pulled out the wedding invitation again and reminisce in the past.